THE PET SCOOP. Happy Summer to All!

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1 PAWS of Nor theast Louisiana THE PET SCOOP Summer Issue Letter from the President by Jo Traylor Happy Summer to All! Our mission is to reduce and aid the population of unwanted and lost companion animals in our community and to support and encourage the positive interaction between pets and people. We are an all volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in May 2003 to help the communities in northeast Louisiana. Inside this issue: Transport - Fostering 2 Planning - PAWS Events 3 Shelter Spotlight - PEP 4 Happy Tails 5 PAWS SNS Update 6-7 SNS Supply List 8 Cat s Corner 9 Tonore s Wine Tasting 10 Catfish Festival 10 While we re concentrating on fundraising, rescuing, and raising pet welfare awareness, another milestone crept up for the organization. This Summer, we will celebrate PAWS 8 th birthday! Just a short time ago, we had 5 board members, a handful of volunteers, a handful of money, and a limited website. Today, we can boast 77 current members, 1500 in our contacts, adequate funding thanks to grants and generous donations, and our 3 rd website is in development. In 2003 there were no MySpace, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. Today, we not only have a presence on all but a blog and a database are also in the works. Each of the major Programs have grown over the years resulting in the 2011 Board of Directors growing to 10 people with 4 Members at Large to conduct business and events. Pet Therapy is enjoying a resurgence of team members to cover the increase in visitation requests. Who knew in 2007 that the first Mardi Gras Pet Parade would still be successful 4 years later... it grows better every year!!. In spite of efforts to reduce animal overpopulation through Tag Your Pet, Shelter Animal Rescue, Spay/Neuter Assistance, and Humane Education, the conclusion was obvious that our community needed more aggressive measures. After nearly 2 years of fundraising PAWS Spay-Neuter Services, will be open as a separate business to perform pet surgeries for anyone that asks for help. Eight years ago, we never thought in this direction, but watch our progress over the next 8 weeks. We ve come a long way with the generous donation of time and money from our volunteers, donors, and supporters. PAWS growth has been the reflection of their (your!) dedication. So... Happy Birthday to all of you. Thank you for being an intregral part of PAWS success. Happy Safe Summer and enjoy the Scoop Jo Member Welcome 11 Low Income SNS Service 11

2 PAGE 2 THE PET SCOOP SUMMER ISSUE 2011 Recue Dog Transport Now Picking Up in West Monroe by Jennifer Pesnell Beginning June 16 th, Peterson Express Transport Service (PETS), LLC will be picking up rescue dogs in West Monroe to drive them on to forever homes or rescue groups in the northeast. Kyle Peterson and PETS, LLC were featured on the Animal Planet show Last Chance Highway. Prior to this, they only came as far south as Little Rock, AR. While we have used Kyle s company in the past, we primarily sent our dogs north via Rescue Road Trips which has a pick up in Jackson, MS. The new PETS, LLC West Monroe pick up is huge for both PAWS of NE LA and the animals that our rescue program saves from the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter! Fostering...It SAVES Lives! by Jennifer Pesnell PETS trailer and a look at how they do it. Our Animal Shelter Rescue Program is ALWAYS in need of foster homes! Learn more here or rescue@pawsnela.org. With this new transport picking up in our hometown, we have no excuse not to get these unwanted shelter pups into loving homes up north! Meet Buck and Zoey two of the NINE Rhodesian Ridgeback mix pups who were scheduled to be put to sleep due to overcrowding at OPAS, but fostering SAVED their lives! Both Buck and Zoey live in New York now. Buck is a city boy and Zoey is a country girl. PAWS of NE LA also wants to give our fearless transporter Cathy Hilton a special shout out! Cathy made most of our transport runs to Jackson these past few years and has spoiled us with her dedication, reliability and kindness. Every dog is happy to hop aboard with Cathy and she has a gift of getting great photos and video of the transport process. Thank you Cathy! "Living with animals can be a wonderful experience, especially if we choose to learn the valuable lessons animals teach through their natural enthusiasm, grace, resourcefulness, affection and forgiveness." - Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM Christy Whitaker, Member At Large, completed her degree in June as an Associate of Applied Science in Business Technology. She is working part-time at Faulk and Foster. CONGRATULATIONS!!

3 SUMMER ISSUE 2011 THE PET SCOOP PAGE 3 Planning for PAWS of NE Louisiana By Nina Bennett Do you want to help ensure that PAWS can continue their community programs assisting the homeless companion animals in the future? You can do this by including PAWS of NE Louisiana in your estate planning. PAWS of NE Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donation options have tax benefits. Here are a few simple ways to remember PAWS in your financial planning: Include PAWS of NE Louisiana as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy. If you show PAWS as the owner and the beneficiary, the premiums may become tax deductible also! This allows people to give a larger gift than they would other wise be able to make and avoid probate. Create or amend your will A well-planned will can avoid problems for your heirs and direct a gift to charity, which can reduce taxes and estate settlement costs. Include PAWS of NE Louisiana as a beneficiary. These are just a few simple ways to help PAWS. As with any financial planning, you will need to consult with your financial advisor and legal consultant to attain maximum benefits for both you and PAWS. PAWS of NE Louisiana cannot provide legal or financial advice. Because of our 501(c)3 status with the Internal Revenue Service, all donations have tax benefits according to current laws. Please remember to check with your financial and legal advisors to find the option that would be most beneficial to you. Whiskers, Wine & Dine Fundraiser By Angie Pritchett A wonderful crowd of about 100 people turned out for the 1 st Whiskers, Wine & Dine hosted by Genusa s Italian Restaurant on May 23, It was a fundraiser for Spay-Neuter Services and the highlight of the evening was the many gourmet pizzas that were hand-prepared by Cherry Genusa herself. A wide range of people attended from all walks of life, but everyone had something in common, the love of animals. The funds raised will be put towards renovations of 1601 Southern Ave in Monroe which will be the new home of PAWS Spay-Neuter Services. PAWS of NELA and Spay-Neuter Services would like to thank Genusa s Italian Restaurant and the Genusa family, Guy Campbell with Southern Beverage, Choice Brands, Glazer s Distributing & Jay Morris State Representative Candidate for sponsoring this event. Without you it would not have been possible. Party with PAWS By Jo Traylor Grazie a tutti! On May 7, Boudreaux s Restaurant on Tower Drive was the place for Party with PAWS, a fundraiser for Spay-Neuter Services. Bucky and Brenda Newell, owners, served a delicious cajun buffet while Marsala Beverage provided the beer. The Reactors entertained listeners with classic rock. During their break, Angie Pritchett, Pres. of Spay-Neuter Services, addressed the crowd with an update on the center s progress and its importance to the community. Throughout the evening, a variety of door prizes were given away. Many thanks to those that partied with PAWS!

4 PAGE 4 THE PET SCOOP SUMMER ISSUE 2011 Shelter Spotlight Each issue of The Pet Scoop will feature two adoptable animals from the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter. Please visit the shelter or check out their website at to see many more! CHLOE... is a sweet but shy girl who needs a loving family to give her the forever home she deserves! This pretty girl is already spayed! Chloe's adoption fee is $50 and includes a 4-in-1 vaccination and a dewormer. June is National Adopt A Shelter Cat Month...celebrate by bringing a purrfect companion from the Ouachita Parish Shelter's cat building home today. TUCKER...is giving his best sad face for the camera because he once again has found himself back at the OPAS shelter. He is already neutered and microchipped and is current on vaccinations, housetrained and good with kids. This sweet, young fella just needs a chance and hopes his 3rd try at a home is his last! Tucker's adoption fee is $60 and includes a 7-in-1 vaccination and dewormer. PAWS for PEP...Pet Education Project by Samantha Luttrell One of the ways PAWS of NELA addresses pet overpopulation is through education. By providing humane education to children and adults, we hope to create responsible pet owners. To help further this goal, PAWS will be partnering with the Shreveport Pet Education Project (PEP) in a new program, PAWS For PEP. We will be offering humane education classes that address pet care, spay/neuter facts, and pet overpopulation and adoption. The curriculum is geared towards elementary age children, but can be adapted for all grades. The 30 minute sessions are held during class time, and will be lead by PAWS volunteers and therapy teams. This program is free to local schools and youth organizations. Please contact us if you d like to have PAWS visit your child s class or school, or if you d like to volunteer to help with this exciting new project!

5 SUMMER ISSUE 2011 THE PET SCOOP Happy Tails From our Animal Shelter Rescue Program by Jennifer Pesnell PAGE 5 Bart found himself loaded up in an animal control truck and taken to the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter in September of No owners came forward to claim the scrappy little terrier and PAWS volunteers took him to an offsite adoption at Petco in late September. He was not adopted but charmed many of the volunteers. Thanks to the power of Facebook, Bart s photo and Petfinder profile were shared far and wide! His time at the Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter was quickly running out Bart had a bad eye and adopters weren t exactly lining up to check him out. About that time is when New York resident, Jane Dinh fell in love. Jennifer Pesnell posted Bart on her Facebook page and commented on his urgency in needing a home. Jane replied with a simple, I ll take him. Bart at OPAS Offsite Adoption Day After many s and phone calls, we had a plan! Jennifer would foster Bart until he could be transported to Jane in New York. Despite finding out Bart was heartworm positive and would need to go through expensive treatment, Jane was not deterred from adopting a shelter dog she had not even met. While in Louisiana, Bart had fun testing his foster mom and earned the nickname Smart Bart. He was an internet celebrity (well, in our eyes) and had quite the following when he boarded the Rescue Road Trip transport out of Jackson, MS. On October 23 rd, 2010 Bart met his amazing new mom! PAWS of NE LA, has been sending dogs North with the help of various rescue groups since 2003, but Jane and Jennifer started a special project after Bart made it home! In honor of her Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter pup, Jane wanted to sponsor another "OPAS" dog, to help save a life and ensure them a fabulous northern home. Through her experience she was able to rally more great folks who also wanted to sponsor OPAS dogs. The sponsors get to follow the dogs (through photos and video) from the shelter to their local PAWS foster home and then as they are transported to their forever homes! For this project we work mostly with The Chi Society out of CT Bart and his new mom, Jane who has been amazing to us. They are now listing most of our mixed breed dogs that travel north. We also work with several northern purebred rescues. Since its formation in November 2010, 38 dogs have been helped thanks to the Bart Project and are now in fabulous, forever homes! Jane has become our resident camera lady up north and spends many Saturdays meeting the transport trucks on Gotcha Day to film our dogs meeting their adoptive families. Her special photos and videos are treasured by the southern foster families, sponsors and the adopters. We often only get to see the bad side of rescue GOTCHA Day!!! down here and Jane s happy videos inspire us all to keep going! She has truly paid it forward after adopting her special shelter dog and is one of PAWS greatest supporters!! View some of our happy tails made possible by the Bart Project sponsorship program here - rescuevideohappytails.html.

6 PAGE 6 THE PET SCOOP SUMMER ISSUE 2011 PAWS of NELA Spay Neuter Services Center Tribute / Memorial Tiles What better way to honor a beloved pet, friend or family member, than to purchase a tribute or memorial tile that helps support the PAWS SNS Center at the same time? Each 6x6 tile will be displayed in the lobby of the SNS center, as space permits. There's still room left, but hurry to make sure you don't miss the opportunity to show everyone how much you care! Two Tribute Tile Options: ~ $250 gift~ Tribute / Memorial Tile including the PAWS SNS logo watermark in the background and wording of your choice. ~ $500 gift ~ Tribute / Memorial Photo Tile including your chosen photo in the background and wording of your choice. *For additional naming opportunities, please view and "like" the PAWS of NELA Spay Neuter Services Center Facebook page.

7 SUMMER ISSUE 2011 THE PET SCOOP PAGE 7 PAWS SNS UPDATE...THE BIG FIX! by Amber Osbon The PAWS SNS Center really is The Big Fix! Fixing pets and saving lives! Back in December of 2010, we told you all that PAWS SNS needed approximately $30,000 more to adequately fund the new spay neuter center. Well, as you ve probably noticed, we continue to raise funds and request your support. This is because as we ve entered the final stretch, we re waiting on the state fire marshal s approval and renovation is about to begin. With that always comes a heap of unexpected and unforeseen expenses. Our project is no different, although we anticipated some increase of expenses. All of this is to say, we re now looking to raise approximately $50,000. So many wonderful supporters have gone above and beyond, but we need you to keep pushing, keep helping us to raise funds because we know that when we work together, there isn t anything we can t do! Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. ~Helen Keller We re asking that you help us find ways to cut costs by having building materials and subcontractor labor donated or discounted. Plus, we ask that you get out there and get creative. Host fundraisers on your own or organize and head up a larger fundraiser with our assistance. Everyone s effort is needed. Every little bit helps. CALLING ALL CONTRACTORS! WE NEED YOUR HELP! To cut the costs of renovating the s/n center building, we re looking for materials and services to be donated or discounted. If you or someone you know is an insured, state licensed PLUMBER, ELECTRICIAN, or HVAC TECH, please contact us for bid information. spayneuter@pawsnela.org or If you own one of the following types of businesses, we need your assistance, as well: Heating and Air Co Commercial Door Co Concrete Co Building Supply Co Glass/Window Co Drywall Installation Co Painting Co Flooring & Acoustic Co Carpentry Co In thanks, all companies that donate or discount building materials and/or labor will be listed on a Renovation Plaque of Appreciation in the lobby of the Spay Neuter Services Center and each company will also be listed as a renovation partner on our website. Reminder- PAWS SNS is also a 501 3, not for profit! PAWS of NELA Spay Neuter Services Center: Preventing the next generation of homeless pets!

8 PAGE 8 THE PET SCOOP SPRING ISSUE 2011 PAWS SNS Supply List by Amber Osbon Supplies To Services Wondering how you can help the PAWS of N.E. LA Spay Neuter Services Center SAVE LIVES? Sponsor supplies and services for our first year! Supplies (*need lots of this item) *Bleach *Paper Towels *Laundry Detergent *Sealing Sandwich Bags *Copy Paper *Newspapers *Pink & Blue 3x5 Index Cards Kitchen Trash Bags Industrial Size Trash Bags Gallons of Distilled Water Rubbing Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Dish Soap Soft Soap Pine Sol Lysol Spray Spray Glass Cleaner Face Masks Lint Rollers Tube Socks Uncooked Rice Kitchen Sponges Towels Dish Towels Pillow Cases Masking Tape Pens Labels Post It Notes Electricity Phone Internet Gas Water Waste Management Building Insurance Security Alarm Service Services Gift Cards Wal-mart, Lowes, Home Depot and Gasoline cards are very helpful See our Wal-mart Gift Registry under PAWS NELA. You must print this list from home, as local stores no longer have printing capabilities. Why not add some of these items to your weekly or monthly grocery list and help us save the lives of pets at the same time!!!

9 SPRING ISSUE 2011 THE PET SCOOP PAGE 9 Cat s Corner by Jo Traylor Cat Naps Summer Reads Summer means more time spent outside enduring the oppressive heat & humidity, and formidable mosquitos. Just a reminder to supply your pets with plenty of water, shade, and keep heartworm preventive up to date. There are 2 books I highly recommend if summer means more time to read while soaking up the sun or the air conditioning. Both books detail a place in the hearts of a community, one a town and the other a hospital floor, for a special cat and how the lives of each cat reached out to heal those around him. Their stories are different but confirm the bond that cats hold in our lives. Keep some happy-sad tissues handy! Dewey, The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron Dewey is a book by Vicki Myron that tells the whole story of Dewey Readmore Books. How Vicki found him on that cold day, how Dewey won her heart and the hearts of many, and how she eventually had to watch him take his last breath in her arms 19 years later. It also is a story of a bit of history, the transformation of people and a town, a story of hope, and is a must read for cat lovers everywhere. Four years after his death in 2007, people still visit Spencer Public Library in memory of Dewey. Making Rounds with Oscar by David Dosa, MD Click on read more about oscar under About Oscar Adopted by the nursing home as a kitten, Oscar has lived his entire life on the 41 bed advanced dementia unit... Though his visits originally went unnoticed, family members and staff began to realize that Oscar s appearances coincided with the deaths of terminal patients on the third floor. Dr Dosa s research into the mystery uncovered the comfort Oscar s presence brought to families with loved ones on the third floor of Steer House. Overall, an encouraging guide for those with family members facing dementia. Oscar is 6 years old.

10 PAGE 10 THE PET SCOOP SUMMER ISSUE 2011 SAVE the DATE! Tonore s Wine Tasting By Amber Osbon Tonore s Wine Cellar will graciously host a wine tasting to benefit the PAWS of NELA Spay-Neuter Services Center on Thursday, July 21, The fundraiser will be held from 6pm to 8pm at 801 Louisville Avenue, Monroe, LA. The entry fee of $5 includes a complimentary wine glass and appetizers. Approximately 40 wines will be sampled and sold at a 15% discount during the event. Please plan to come out and enjoy a wonderful evening with friends and support PAWS of NELA Spay Neuter Services Center at the same time! Supporting PAWS of NELA Spay Neuter Services Center is helping to prevent the next generation of homeless pets! FUR BOWL Come on out and BEAT THE HEAT on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Bayou Bowl from 1-4pm! Please join us for the FUR BOWL, our 3rd annual bowling fundraiser for PAWS' Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. Lots of fun and door prizes this year and it's inside in the air conditioning! Sounds pretty good right now, doesn't it!? Cost is $12.00 per bowler which includes your shoe rental and 1 door prize ticket. Additional door prize tickets are available for $2.00 each. Help us STRIKE out the pet overpopulation problem and SPARE lives by getting your pets spayed or neutered NOW! If you have any questions, please call PAWS at or Bayou Bowl at ! W e h o p e t o s e e y o u t h e r e! Catfish Festival by Samantha Luttrell PAWS hosted an information booth at this year s Catfish Festival, distributing brochures and answering questions about spay neuter assistance vouchers, pet care, and various PAWS programs. The one day festival was held on April 9 th in Winnsboro, and was attended by over 15,000 people from surrounding areas. Board members and PAWS volunteers also handed out several hundred flyers about Spay Neuter Services, the new low cost clinic that is scheduled to open in Monroe this summer. Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills. ~Voltaire, letter to Count Schomberg, 31 August 1769

11 SUMMER ISSUE 2011 THE PET SCOOP PAGE 11 WELCOME We would like to thank and welcome our nd Quarter new and renewing members! NEW MEMBERS Janet Cooper Leslie Duffey Victoria Ellerbe Beau & Lauren Ferguson Diane Griggs Jerry & Carol Lewis Annie Morgan Janna Rorex Ann Sumlin Khyra Trahan Maren Williams Cheryl Yarbrough (12)-New Pet Members RENEWING MEMBERS Nina Bennett Sherry Free Ed & Sharol Handel Deanna Kramer Johellen Maddox & Family Connie Miletello & Family Deborah Miletello Ruth Milonski (11)-Renewing Pet Members 2011 Board of Directors: Jo Traylor Nina Bennett Christy Primm Amber Osbon Angie Pritchett Jennifer Pesnell Rebecca Smith Samantha Luttrell Shari Littleton President Secretary Treasurer Spay Neuter Director Website Administrator Rescue Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator Pet Therapy/Humane Ed Grant Acquisitions If you are a low income pet owner and need your pet spayed or neutered, please contact us today or Help spread the word. Pet overpopulation is a problem we can solve.

12 PAWS OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA Post Office Box Monroe, LA Phone: Website: Join the fun and become a member today! Looking for a way to help but you are not sure how? Why not become a PAWS member? Each member will receive a special gift. Pet members receive a purple PAWS bandana. You ll be helping to fund our programs that will allow Renewing us to Member reach even more people & pets. Just cut out this form and mail it to the address Please above select along with number your and membership type of pets fee to be or join online at added. Pet memberships are $5.00 per pet per year. Dog Cat Other (please list) PAWS of NE Louisiana Membership Application Name Address Phone Please select a membership category: Please select number and type of pet memberships: Student/Senior $17.00/year Dog Individual $27.00/year Cat Family $52.00/year Other New Member * Pet memberships are $5.00 per pet per year.