Guelph Humane Society News

Transcription

1 Guelph Humane Society News HOPE. CARE. COMPASSION. July th Edition WIGGLE WAGGLE 1KM WALK & 5KM FUN RUN! The Guelph Humane Society proudly presents the 24 th annual Wiggle Waggle Walk-a-thon. This year we are excited to announce that we have added a 5km Fun Run to our event. The Wiggle Waggle is one of the Guelph Humane Society s largest events, and one we really look forward to! Mark your calendars for Sunday September 24 th at Riverside Park. Join us for a fun filled day with vendors, contests, food, prizes, and more! We look forward to seeing all of our two- and four-legged supporters! WHY WALK/RUN? By asking your friends and family to sponsor your walk or run, you are helping the many animals that come into our care receive the hope, care & compassion they deserve. If not already done, we spay/neuter, vaccinate, and microchip all cats and dogs. Not only do we help cats and dogs, we help any animal who need our services. This can vary from chickens, chinchillas, sheep, horses, rabbits, rats and more! Some animals may require additional medical care, others will need a foster home, special training, special food and more. The pledges you collect help these animals have a home before they can find one to call their own. WALK/RUN AS A PACK! The More the Merrier! Create a team with your friends, co-workers, and family. Dress Up! Stand out! Be the dream team and run or walk in style. Create a theme, wear costumes and have fun with it! It s Fun to Compete! Challenge other teams to a friendly competition! See who can raise the most funds for our furry friends! Run or Walk with a four legged companion! HOW TO GET STARTED! Create a Pledge Page! Create a personalized pledge page for yourself or for your team at Share with Your Friends: You are doing something great! Let your friend know through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and . Have Fun! Get creative and have fun with it! If creating a team, get everyone excited and create an epic team name to get you started! 1

2 SPECIAL SOULS ADOPTION PROGRAM It is with great pleasure that the Guelph Humane Society announces the launch of its new program, the Special Souls Adoption Program! At GHS, we believe that all animals deserve a loving home, and at GHS, they find one no matter how long it takes. Some animals such as seniors, bonded-pairs, long-term medical cases, and small animals, often spend a longer time at the shelter than others. These Special Souls need a little bit of extra help finding their new family, and that is why we created the Special Souls Adoption Program! Do you have room in your heart and home for a Special Soul? If so, we invite you to complete a Special Soul Survey. You can let us know what kind of animal you're looking for, and/or what level of care you're willing to take on. We hold your information for 6 months, and if in that time an animal comes into GHS matching your survey, we'll let you know! If you re still looking at the end of the 6 month period, no worries, we re happy to extend the time and keep looking for you! We're hoping this new program will help match pets with their new families and get them adopted faster! If you have any questions, or would like more information about the Special Souls Adoption Program, OR if you would like a survey- please adoptions@guelphhumane.ca. Let us know what type of animal you re looking to add to your family! GHS GETS A MAKE OVER! The GHS is proud to be your local humane society for almost 125 years and we thought it was time for a new look! We have adopted a new color palette of green, teal and dark blue, along with the tag line Hope. Care. Compassion. - 3 words we strongly believe in and practice on a daily basis. Not only can you find cats and dogs at the GHS, you can also find any animal that is needing our help! This can vary from hedgehogs, budgies, snakes, ducks, goats, pigs and more! With our new look, we are letting our community know that we are more than an adoption centre. We have several amazing resources, programs, and dedicated staff in place to provide the highest level of service to our community. To learn more about the many great services that your local shelter is providing for you, visit our new website at 2

3 WORKING CAT ADOPTION PROGRAM The Working Cat Adoption Program (WCAP) is for cats that would suit best in a non-traditional home. These cats are feral or under-socialized and afraid of humans. Other cats considered for this program are those consistently not using the litter box, even after medical care and a trial in a foster home. The Guelph Humane Society wishes for all cats to be adopted into their perfect homes. For feral cats, their perfect home is a barn, warehouse, feed mill or any other building where they will be cared for with food, water and warm shelter, but can keep a safe distance from humans. Cats adopted through the Working Cat Adoption Program are spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, treated for fleas and worms, microchipped and tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV. While we do not have a set fee for the adoption of working cats, we do ask for a donation of your choice to help support the program. Donations will contribute to the spay and neuter surgeries and other medical care provided for future working cats. GHS EXPANDS TO FERGUS! We re excited to announce that we will be expanding our Satellite Adoptions Locations into the Fergus area this summer! For those who are unfamiliar with Guelph Humane Society s Satellite Adoption Program, the concept is quite simple! Our shelter is in a difficult location to access, limiting our ability to reach families looking for new furry, feathery and scaley family members. The Satellite Adoption Program allows us to place animals looking for homes with community partners, making those animals more readily accessible to fantastic future pet parents and increasing our capacity to care for more animals! It s truly a win-win for all parties involved! Currently, we are working with the Pet Valu on 882 Tower St S in Fergus, and hoping to have more soon! Keep your eyes open, as well as your ears, as we tell you more about animals near you needing a home on our weekly adopt-a-pet segment with Cogeco TV and The Grand101.1 radio station! You may just find a new member to join your family! If you are located in the Centre-Wellington or Guelph-Eramosa areas and are interested in becoming a Satellite Adoption Location for the Guelph Humane Society, please contact us at OR us at adoptions@guelphhumane.ca! Thank you for supporting our journey to help animals find new loving homes across Wellington County! 3

4 MEET MOGAN! Let us tell you about Morgan, a sweet, wonderfully spirited 4-year-old female Shepherd/Collie, who was surrendered to the Guelph Humane Society suffering from a very serious and painful autoimmune disease. The disease affects her face, ears, hind-end and even her gums and tongue. She is now on five medications including an antibiotic for the infected areas, special medicated cream and eye ointment, as well as a special diet. Skin conditions can be extremely debilitating, but through our excellent care we are keeping her comfortable, loved, happy and playful. Her condition is one of a few autoimmune diseases that causes ulcerations and crusting of the skin as well as cysts and lesions. In order to provide the best course of treatment, a biopsy was required which had to be performed under anesthetic. With the expense of this procedure, the ongoing blood work and continuous medications, we made a special appeal for help to cover the costs of her recovery. We had an overwhelming response and Highway 24 Veterinary Clinic generously offered to cover her health costs. We are extremely grateful to everyone for the many donations we received, which were put towards Duke s Fund to help other animals in our care. Sweet Morgan is currently receiving extra special attention in one of our many loving foster homes. Morgan is a true trooper with such a wonderful zest for life despite all of her ongoing health issues. She truly is an inspiration! Please follow us on Facebook for updates on Morgan s progress. Each year through the Duke s Fund, GHS helps many others like Morgan, who require specialized veterinary care and costly medical treatments. Please consider making a donation to the Duke's Fund and helping us help the many animals in need of extensive medical care on the road to recovery. Donations can be made online at NO HOT PETS WHY PETS AND VEHICLES DON T MIX: Even with the windows down, your pet can overheat in a matter of minutes. A dog has a normal body temperature of about 39 C (102 F). Unlike people, a dog has a limited ability to sweat to cool off. So even a brief time in a hot environment can be lifethreatening. Even on a mild day, with the windows open and parked in the shade, the temperature in a vehicle can rapidly reach very dangerous levels. After reaching a body temperature of 41 C (106 F), it doesn t take long for a pet to begin suffering irreparable brain damage or death. Every summer, too many pets are left in life-threatening situations inside hot vehicles. If you find a pet unattended in a hot vehicle, call your local police department and the Guelph Humane Society. 4

5 ELLIE & PORTER June 13th is the third anniversary of the Friday the 13th Black Cat Adoption event, where we were chosen by our two mini-panthers. HAPPY TAILS Porter (who was Orson) is the most easygoing little lover boy. He loves snuggles, belly rubs - and yes, even kisses - and he puts up with a lot of shenanigans from his little brother (a cheeky ginger). He enjoys playing with toys, scratching his scratching posts, and lazing in a hammock that is way too small for him! Ellie (who kept her name) is still a complete diva. She does NOT put up with anything from the cheeky ginger! She cuddles on her terms, but when she cuddles, she means it. Her hobbies include boxes, playing with toys, and asking for treats. Thanks again for our little lovies! - Karen SNOWBALL Snowball's doing great since her adoption. She settled in quickly and was hopping around doing binkys for hours the first day I brought her home! All is well. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to find this little gal a home! - Kendra RIVER I was looking for a cat to keep my current boy, Luke, company. The Guelph Humane Society staff were very professional when I explained Luke was quite passive and nervous and needed a friend who wouldn't bully him. He had lived with other cats in the past (he would always try to be friends and they would beat him up) and I believed he was lonely with me and Jay at work all day. It took a few visits to the shelter before River came in, and then they told me that they had a cat who would likely be a good match for us. The first night we kept Luke and River separate and did a supervised introduction in the morning. As soon as we opened up the bedroom door, River strutted out purring, rubbing on Luke and they were instant best friends (strange for a cat-jay is a vet and was quite surprised how easily the introductions went). River loves getting out of the apartment; and I bought a harness and leash for her. She comes outside on walks, rolls in the grass and climbs up trees. When she's tired of walking, she sits on your shoulder like a parrot. Her face, for some reason, always looks grumpy but she's actually the happiest, friendliest cat. River has been the perfect addition to our family and we are very grateful for all the hard work the Guelph Humane Society does, and their help in choosing a cat that would be a good fit for Luke. Laura & Jay 5

6 WILDLIFE FACTS SO HOW CAN YOU TELL IF IT S A FLEDGLING OR NOT? It s the time of year when the GHS receives lots of calls about fledgling birds! Birds go through an awkward teenage phase called fledging! They re too big to stay in the nest but they can t fly quite yet, so they hop about on the ground. Their parents are still taking care of them, warning off predators and feeding them. Fledglings do not need our help unless they re injured or in distress! Just because you can t see the parents doesn t mean they re not around! They re probably nearby keeping a watchful eye on you! A Nestling has no developed feathers and is considered naked. Its eyes might be closed and it can t move about on its own. Hence, should not be on the ground! Call the humane society for advice if you find one out of the nest. Fledgling A Fledgling has feathers over its entire Nestling body but its tail feathers are still short. A Fledgling will be mobile and can hop around. It s okay that the bird is on the ground, as it means the bird is learning to be on its own. You can leave it alone, unless it s injured or in distress. If it s injured, in distress or you re unsure if it is a Nestling or a Fledgling, we are here to help. Call us at and our wildlife team will help you determine a best course of action. FAWNS ONLY SEE THEIR MOM AT DUSK & DAWN During the months of May and June, deer are giving birth to their fawns. We get lots of calls from the public concerned because they ve found a fawn alone. The interesting thing about fawns is that this is a defense mechanism! Fawns do not emit an odour of their own, so by lying perfectly still they avoid being found by predators. Many fawns won t move even if you walk right up to them! The mother deer only visits the fawn around dusk and dawn to feed it so that her smell doesn t draw predators to her baby. If you see a fawn lying still in the grass and no sign of the mother, that is perfectly normal! The mother is likely nearby, keeping a sharp eye on you! If you notice the fawn wandering around and crying for longer than an hour, or if its ears appear crinkled up or its skin looks wrinkly (indicating dehydration), then call the Guelph Humane Society! WHY FEEDING WILDLIFE IS NOT A GOOD IDEA Many people, especially in urban and suburban areas, enjoy feeding wildlife, as it gives them a sense of connection with the natural world. Unfortunately, this practice isn t always the best for wildlife. It can create conflict between wildlife and people, and can lead to unhealthy, even deadly, circumstances for the animals. Here are some reasons why you should not feed wild animals: Habituation a.k.a. Losing Their Fear of People: When food is put out for wildlife, they will quickly learn to return to that spot day after day, or night after night, because they know it s an easy and steady source of food. In urban and suburban areas, this can lead to wild animals losing their fear of humans, especially when people observe the animals eating from nearby, or hand-feed the animals. Habituated animals are also at a greater danger of coming into contact with other human-made dangers, such as roads, vehicles or fences. 6

7 Unnatural Population Dynamics: Putting out unlimited food sources can lead to populations that are unsustainable by the natural environment, which can lead to starvation, if the food source is taken away. Unnaturally high population densities can also lead to disease outbreaks, some of which can be dangerous to humans as well as animals, both domestic and wild. Feeding wildlife can also lead to migratory species staying longer into the year than is natural, which can lead to starvation and death, when the animal tries to migrate too late. Unwanted House Guests and Property Damage: Habituated animals, especially when several generations of animals have been habituated, often don t know how to find food in their natural setting, or even what foods to look for. This can lead to animals attempting to get into your house, garage or shed in the event that the food they re used to is not provided to them. This often causes damage to property, to the outside of buildings when they try to find their way in, or the inside once they do find their way in. Leaving food out can also attract unintended visitors, such as coyotes or birds of prey, who are attracted to the prey species being fed in backyards. This poses a danger for both people and domestic animals. People Food is Not Good for Wildlife: Many wild animals will happily eat people food, but the food we eat and like to feed to wildlife is like junk food to them: tasty, but not all that nutritious. Some people foods can even cause serious health issues to animals who eat too much of it. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP WILDLIFE? Rinse out recycling and garbage bins with food residue on it and securely store your garbage bins. In public areas, such as parks and trails, clean up after yourself and dispose of waste in a secure container, or take it home if no secure container is available. Feed pets inside or bring uneaten food in as soon as your pet is finished with their bowl. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT BOOBOO? Earlier this year, a stray brown tabby cat, whose name we later found out to be BooBoo, came into our shelter. On arrival, we scanned her for a microchip. Luckily, she had a microchip and it led to her owners in California. This amazing story is a great example of why it is so important to microchip your pets. The microchip is a small chip that looks like a grain of rice. This chip is implanted just like a needle, under the skin, typically between the shoulder blades. The microchip holds a unique code of numbers and or letters that is searchable in a database that contains the owner s contact information. Vet clinics and animal shelters have a device that scans your lost pet s microchip to see its unique code. We can then call the microchip company and read them the code for them to give us the pet owner s contact information. If the information is up to date, we can get in touch with the owner, and let them know we have found their pet. Having your pet microchipped is the only definitive way of ensuring your pet will arrive home, if lost. You can get your pet microchipped at your vet clinic. It is important to update your contact information associated with the microchip anytime you change your address or phone number. This can be done by calling the microchip company. The microchip is a simple form of permanent identification to help get your pet home if they ever get lost. BooBoo would not be home with her owners right now, if they did not decide to have her microchipped. Microchipping pets keeps families together. 7

8 SAVE THE DATE! GHS GARAGE SALE Saturday, September 16 th 2017 Mark your calendars for the Guelph Humane Society Fall Garage Sale. Come down for a visit as you may find some hidden treasures! You can also support by donating your new or gently used items the week of September 11th. WIGGLE WAGGLE WALK-A-THON & 5KM FUN RUN Sunday, September 24 th 2017 The Wiggle Waggle Walk-a-Thon is a fun filled day for our two- and four-legged supporters! Attendees are encouraged to bring the whole family out to this event, including their canine friends. Participants collect pledges in support of their fun walk or run, and celebrate with contests, prizes, vendors and more! SANTA CLAUS PARADE Sunday, November 19 th 2017 Mark your calendars and join us in Guelph s Santa Clause Parade. Have fun and represent your local humane society by walking with us. Your canine pal is more than welcome, permitted they are good with people, sounds and other dogs. Keep an eye on our Facebook page at Guelph Humane Society to keep updated! THE GREAT CANADIAN ADOPT-A-THON! It's Canada's 150th Birthday and Guelph Humane Society is recognizing this milestone by helping 150 animals (or more!) find loving homes for an adoption fee of $150 or less! Our goal is to find happy tails for 150 dogs, cats, birds and small animals between Canada s official birthday (July 1 st ) and Labour Day (September 4 th ). With the community s support, we know we can make it happen! Animals with Canadian-themed names (think Rocky, Gretzky and Queen Elizabeth) will be eligible for this promotional adoption fee. First, we need your help to come up with Canadian-themed names! For a donation of $15, you can help us name our Canadian animals. We know that Guelph is a creative community and we can t wait to hear all the suggestions. You can find all the details on our website at WISH LIST Gift cards from any pet store, hardware store, department store, or gas cards Unflavored pedilyte Plastic pet pal tanks (medium) Kitten milk replacer (KMR) Canned kitten food (Royal Canin preferred) Peanut butter Cheese strings Heating pads (with no auto shut off) Soft training treats Large freezer zip lock bags Monetary donation of any amount Communications & Events Coordinator: Kelly Robison krobison@guelphhumane.ca Executive Director: Adrienne McBride Ed@guelphhumane.ca Guelph Humane Society 500 Wellington St W P.O. Box 684 Guelph ON N1H 1L Website: To receive an Electronic copy of the GHS Newsletter krobison@guelphhumane.ca Humane Society 8