Paw Print Fall Neenah Animal Shelter Paw Print Newsletter! Dear Friends,

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1 Neenah Animal Shelter Paw Print Newsletter! Paw Print Fall 2017 Dear Friends, As this year comes to a close, I want to thank all of you for the time, talent and treasure that you gave to the Neenah Animal Shelter. To all of our adopters, volunteers, donors, sponsors, community businesses and staff, thank you for your passion and dedication. The love and care you give to the homeless animals that come to us looking for a chance to find their forever homes takes amazing people - you are the best! Warmly, Mary Setton President

2 Keeping the Holiday Cheer in our Homes Although some foods are considered good for people, various kinds can be very dangerous for our pets. Several may cause only mild digestive upset, however, others can cause severe illness and even death. This is not an all-inclusive list, and any decision to provide your pet with food not intended for animals should be discussed with your veterinarian. Here are a few foods that can be dangerous to your pet: alcoholic beverages, candy (chocolate in particular), and any candy containing Xylitol, garlic, grapes, some nuts, onions and raisins. In addition, there are many plants that can cause serious illness or death in our pets, and they are: autumn crocus, azalea, cyclamen, kalanchoe, lilies, oleander, dieffenbachia, daffodils, Lilly of the valley, poinsettia's, sago palm, tulips and hyacinths to name a few. The holidays are an extremely busy time of year. Be mindful of the things that can cause our pets ill will, not only during the holidays, but always. Resources: Humanesociety.org Entirelypets.com Petpoisonhelpline.com

3 Furry Flurry 2017 Furry Flurry Walk for Pets was once again a huge success! It was a beautiful day to walk through Riverside Park and around Kimberly Point. The Neenah Animal Shelter is an integral part of the community, providing lifesaving care to hundreds of homeless animals each year. The majority of our funding comes from donations and fundraising events such as Furry Flurry. This family event encourages people to walk with their pet or in memory of a beloved pet, either alone or in a team. In addition to the walk, everyone enjoyed music provided by WVBO's Chuck Lakefield and emceeing by WFRV-TV's Nate Stewart. The event also included raffles, vendors, a pet costume contest and a bake sale. All proceeds were used to help us provide food, shelter, medical treatment and forever homes for our companion animals in need. On behalf of the Board of Directors, our staff and our animals, I'd like to thank all of our sponsors, vendors, donors of raffle basket items and baked goods, volunteers and participants. You make Furry Flurry possible!! Save the date for Furry Flurry 2018: Saturday August 18th! Hope to see you all again next year. Please consider bringing a friend or forming a team so that we can double our attendance!! Sincerely, Mary Setton

4 Drool in the Pool On August 24, 2017 Neenah Park and Recreation Department closed the Neenah pool for people to swim and opened it up to the dogs of our community. On that day 345 happy dogs came to swim, run around the yard, chase tennis balls and just be a dog. Some stayed for 20 minutes, others for the entire 90-minute session but almost all left happy and exhausted. We want to thank the Neenah Park and Recreation Department for generously sponsoring this event for the dogs of our community and the Neenah Animal Shelter. A special thank you to the Pool staff who are always great to work with. Pictures of this event are available on our website under the Events tab. Hope to see you next year. De-Stress with Dogs This August, the folks at Faith Technologies asked the Neenah Animal Shelter to visit their offices with some of our adoptable dogs. Recognizing the benefit of animals to our health, employees were invited to hang out and pet some of our pups, a way to de-stress from the demands of their day. They also learned about the adoptable pets at NAS and our volunteer opportunities. Multiple studies show that owning pets can be beneficial to one's health. Petting our furry friends helps lower blood pressure and harmful stress hormones that are linked to anxiety and depression. Playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which can calm and relax. The companionship of a pet also offers comfort and eases loneliness. Taking a dog for a walk, hike or run helps fit daily exercise into your schedule. As well as providing companionship, dogs and cats help aging adults find meaning, joy and purpose in their life, especially after retirement. The list of ways pets can improve your health is endless. The Wellness committee at Faith Technologies recognizes the benefits of pets as a way to help their employees de-stress and be more productive.

5 During the past months the shelter has also participated in several other outreach events including Bergstrom's Subaru Loves Dogs, Power for Paws, Menasha Corporation Health Fair and Fox Crossing Safety Day. Winter Exercise for Your Pets The temperatures are dropping and we humans are preparing to hibernate for the long Wisconsin winter ahead. It's easy for us, and our pets, to slip into a sedentary lifestyle. So how do we give our dogs the exercise and stimulation they need during the winter? 1. Layer up and lace up those boots and go for a walk! There are tons of great products out there to keep your pooches warm. If your dog allows it, dog boots are great. They keep pads dry and protect them from salt. As it gets dark early, always be sure to wear reflective clothing when walking your dog at night. requirements, etc. 2. Have you considered doggy daycare? Doggy daycares are a great place for socialization and exercise. Contact your local doggy daycare for pricing, vaccine 3. Stimulate the brain by doing some training! Get those neurons fired up by teaching your pooch some new commands this winter. Consider using some low-cal treats such as carrots as a reward. 4. Play in the snow! Most dogs like freshly fallen snow as much as we do - simply going out in the yard for some quality play time is good mental and physical exercise for your dog. As always, consider all weather conditions before going outside during the winter. There is no shame in short potty breaks during the polar vortex. Happy Holidays!

6 Happy Tails - Gerber Our special needs allergy girl, Gerber, went to her forever home recently! A special thanks to all the staff, volunteers, and visitors who made Gerber feel loved during the 7 months she spent with us. Thank you to Country View Animal Hospital for their expert care, compassion, and treatment of Gerber. Also, thank you to a private donor for sponsoring a portion of her medication and Erbert and Gerberts for sponsoring her adoption fee! Happy Tails - Max Max was surrendered to NAS due to a change in lifestyle for his family. He was adopted out and returned twice during the five month stay with us. Basically, Max was a very clever boy and he needed a busy home to keep him happy. Third time is a charm and he found his forever home in September of this year. Max's family has reported that he's doing great! He accepted his two new feline siblings with open paws and he's made a couple canine friends as well. He knows a handful of commands and strives to be active.

7 Happy Tails - Flapjack and Minecraft Flapjack came to us as a stray with a severe injury. Our best guess is that she had been picked up by another animal causing two puncture wounds and her skin to become a flap. She was brought in by a Good Samaritan and then taken directly to the vet. At first, her chances of survival looked bleak. She was in shock, had a cold, and the wound was infected. A dedicated clinic staff Flapjack Minecraft member saw that Flapjack still had hope and took her home for 3 weeks to nurse her back to health. After she fully healed she was housed with a few other kittens. She was lucky to find a forever home with her kennel mate, Minecraft! Happy Tails - Hayden and Kora Hayden was a TNR cat that found his way to NAS and stayed with us for 3 months. He was very shy and didn't Hayden come out of his kennel much. Luckily, he was exactly what his new dad was looking for. Hayden needed to go home with another cat to help continue build his confidence and Kora was the lucky lady. Upon introduction, Kora went straight up to Hayden and began grooming him. The three made a perfect little family! Kora.

8 Happy Tails - Eden Eden (FKA Coopie) was very timid upon arrival to NAS and would act aggressive out of fear. She slowly began bonding with staff and there was hope. After almost five months in the shelter she found a wonderful foster home who adopted her after 6 months. Here's what her mom has to say, "I can't thank you enough for the pics you sent. It was so heartwarming to see how far she has not only come at this time, but also how far you brought her during her time at the shelter! She is doing amazing! This girl never ceases to amaze me! She has been approaching strangers to be petted which is huge for her and I am so very proud of her. After she does this, she gets all playful as I think she is quite proud of herself! Membership Time Is Fast Approaching

9 If you are a present member we encourage you to once again renew your membership and if you have not been a member, please consider giving us your support and become a member this year. It is so important to our shelter to have a strong membership base so we can continue to grow this shelter and provide our animals with a better environment. Applications for the 2018 year will be available in the near future. Upcoming Events Please join the Neenah Animal Shelter at these upcoming events! Walk Across Lake Winnebago - February 3, 2018 The Garden Party - May 19-20, 2018 Furry Flurry - August 18, 2018 Leaving A Legacy The Neenah Animal Shelter has served our community's homeless animals for over 50 years and we plan to continue for the next 50+ years. To help make this possible, please consider the Neenah Animal Shelter in your estate planning. If you have already remembered the Neenah Animal shelter in your will or trust, THANK YOU!