Disaster Preparedness Are You Ready? Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center Every year we develop emergency evacuation plans and kits for ourselves around hurricane season. However, humans aren't the only ones that need to be prepared for disasters. Pet owners should have an emergency plan that includes the safety of their animals, and always be informed about the potential for evacuation in their area. More than 358 million pets reside in 63 percent of American households. According to a Zogby International poll, 61 percent of pet owners will not evacuate if they cannot bring their pets with them. "It is crucial that residents are prepared to take pets with them if asked to evacuate in the face of this potentially destructive storm," advised Laura Bevan, Eastern regional director for The Humane Society of the United States. "If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets." Don't get caught unprepared! Prepare Get a Pet Emergency Supply Kit. Just as you do with your family s emergency supply kit, think first about the basics for survival, particularly food and water. Consider two kits. In one, put everything you and your pets will need to stay where you are. The other should be a lightweight, smaller version you can take with you if you and your pets have to get away. Plus, be sure to review your kits regularly to ensure that their contents, especially foods and medicines, are fresh. Food. Keep at least three days of food in an airtight, waterproof container. Water. Store at least three days of water specifically for your pets in addition to water you need for yourself and your family. Medicines and medical records. Keep an extra supply of medicines your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container. First aid kit. Talk to your veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet s emergency medical needs. Most kits should include cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution. Include a pet first aid reference book. Collar with ID tag, harness or leash. Your pet should wear a collar with its rabies tag and identification at all times. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag in your pet s emergency supply kit. In addition, place copies of your pet s registration information, adoption papers, vaccination documents and medical records in a clean plastic bag or waterproof container and also add them to your kit. You should also consider talking with your veterinarian about permanent identification such as microchipping, and enrolling your pet in a recovery database. Crate or other pet carrier. If you need to evacuate in an emergency situation take your pets and animals with you provided that it is practical to do so. In many cases, your ability to do so will be aided by having a sturdy, safe, comfortable crate or carrier ready for transporting your pet. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down. Sanitation. Include pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach to provide for your pet s sanitation needs. You can bleach as a disinfectant (dilute nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to purify water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per Volume 4, Issue 4 July 1, 2012 Inside this issue: Disaster Preparedness (continued) Enchanting Evie 3 What does it take to be an Animal Control Officer? Fostering... 5 Animal Spotlight 6 Some Animal Facts 6 Get to Know Your Breed 7 Meet the Staff 8 Youth Volunteer Program 8 Facebook/Twitter 8 Meet the Officers 9 Meet the Volunteers 9 Volunteer Opportunities and Miscellaneous 2 4 10
Disaster Preparedness Are You Ready? (continued from front page) gallon of water. Do not use scented or color safe bleaches, or those with added cleaners. Use a picture of you and your pet together. If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet. Include detailed information about species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics. Familiar items. Put favorite toys, treats or bedding in your kit. Familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet. Plan What You Will Do in an Emergency. Be prepared to assess the situation. Use whatever you have on hand to take care of yourself and ensure your pet s safety during an emergency. Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the emergency the first important decision is whether you stay put or get away. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use common sense and the information you are learning here to determine if there is immediate danger. In any emergency, local authorities may or may not immediately be able to provide information on what is happening and what you should do. However, watch TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet for instructions. If you re specifically told to evacuate, shelter-in-place or seek medical treatment, do so immediately. Create a plan to get away. Plan how you will assemble your pets and anticipate where you will go. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you if practical. If you go to a public shelter, keep in mind your animals may not be allowed inside. Secure appropriate lodging in advance depending on the number and type of animals in your care. Consider family or friends willing to take in you and your pets in an emergency. Other options may include: a hotel or motel that takes pets or a boarding facility, such as a kennel or veterinary hospital that is near an evacuation facility or your family s meeting place. Find out before an emergency happens if any of these facilities in your area might be viable options for you and your pets. Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. Talk with your pet care buddy about your evacuation plans and show them where you keep your pet s emergency supply kit. Also designate specific locations, one in your immediate neighborhood and another farther away, where you will meet in an emergency. Talk to your pet s veterinarian about emergency planning. Discuss the types of things that you should include in your pet s emergency first aid kit. Get the names of vets or veterinary hospitals in other cities where you might need to seek temporary shelter. If your pet is micro-chipped, keep your emergency contact information up to date and listed with a reliable recovery database. This is essential to being reunited with your pet. Gather contact information for emergency animal treatment. Make a list of contact information and addresses of area Animal Control agencies, municipal shelters, humane societies or SPCAs, and emergency veterinary hospitals. Keep one copy of these phone numbers with you and one in your pet s emergency supply kit. Obtain Pets Inside stickers and place them on your doors or windows, including information on the number and types of pets in your home to alert firefighters and rescue workers. Consider putting a phone number on the sticker where you could be reached in an emergency. And, if time permits, remember to write the words Evacuated with Pets across the stickers, should you flee with your pets. Stay Informed Know About Types of Emergencies. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling an emergency supply kit for yourself, your family and your pets, is the same regardless of the type of emergency. However, it s important to stay informed about what might happen and know what types of emergencies are likely to affect your region as well as emergency plans that have been established by your state and local government. For more information about how to prepare, visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY. Be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene. With these simple preparations, you can be ready for the unexpected. Those who take the time to prepare themselves and their pets will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry. Take the time now to get yourself and your pet ready. Preparing for Your Pets Makes Sense Volume 4, Issue 4 Page 2
Enchanting Evie Eagerly Waiting at the VBACAC for you! Hello, darlings! My name is Enchanting Evie. Evie is short for Evelyn and I absolutely love my new name. No, it s not the name I was born with too be honest with you I can t even remember that name anymore. But Evie is the name my shelter mama gave me when I started my new life as an ex-mama dog. One of the first things you might notice about me is that I ve had dozens upon dozens of puppies and I m only three years old! I ve had a hard life but not anymore. Now I spend my days getting cuddly with all my friends at the shelter, sleeping on the biggest pile of pillows and blankets that my shelter mama can fit into my kennel and eating lots of delicious treats. My only complaint is the number of times my shelter mama shoves her camera at me and tells me to smile. I didn t mind the first few times but now it s just getting ridiculous! She tells me I m such an adorable, photogenic beauty queen that I let her, though. One of the first things that my shelter mama did was make sure that I got spayed. It wasn t super fun but she explained to me that it meant that I would never have to be used for my puppies again and I was on board in a heartbeat. I came in in rough condition but now I feel like I m living the life of a Princess. I get scrubbed clean and shiny regularly and they tell me that it makes my fur gleam and I smell so good. I get lots of love and I get to give the sweetest kisses in the world to everyone I meet. But now I think I m ready to move on and set down roots of my own. I d love to have a nice squishy couch that I can cuddle up on and a place that I can call my forever home. Single, brindle female seeks single, couple or family that can give her love, hope and affection for the rest of her life. Yup, that s what my ad would read. I enjoy long walks on the beach but I m not much of a runner. I m much too pretty to sweat, you see. I love yummy treats and the worse they are for me the more I love them, of course! My shelter mama calls me the most awesome dog she s ever met. She says anyone would be lucky to have me and I have to totally agree. Just one thing though, I m a little picky about my doggy friends. I d like to meet them first, get to know them a little bit, before I make a lifelong commitment. I d prefer that they be laid back and easy going, like me. I m not one for confrontation but if another dog starts it I ll definitely defend myself. Could you be my best friend? Come and find out. Page 3
This question is asked to Animal Control Officers (ACO) and staff at the shelter all the time, and there are many different answers. The basic requirements when applying for the position are a valid drivers license, a high school diploma or GED, clean criminal history, and some form of experience that could apply to the field of work. Once the application is completed, if selected, an interview is conducted, and a polygraph, a physical exam, and a background check is conducted. All of that is the easy part compared to the next few months. What does it take to be an Animal Control Officer - by the Enforcement branch of the Animal Control Unit Each animal control officer must complete a multitude of training to include firearms, OC spray, ASP training and qualifications. They also attend classes on constitutional law, report writing, interview and interrogation, forensics, professional standards, defensive driving, traffic direction, and a few others. On top of all of these classes, each ACO is assigned a Field Training Officer that they ride with for three to four months for on-the-job training. This is where most of the learning occurs, on actual calls for service. Each new officer works both day and evening shift during the training period. Once the new officer has completed their time with the Field Training Officer they have an evaluation ride with a supervisor to determine if they are ready to be release on their own. So that covers the basic requirements and training, but what does it really take to be an ACO, because this job is not for everyone. The remark that comes to mind most, is when a citizen says I could never do your job, I love animals too much. This is sometimes hard to hear, because there is not an officer in this job that does not love animals. This job requires ACO s to make tough decisions based not on their opinions or feelings, but what the law states, even if they feel differently. It requires an officer to put their opinions aside to complete task, to put their feelings aside when making tough decisions, like euthanizing an animal, and to put their ego aside when dealing with irate citizens. An ACO must have people skills, because on every case they are dealing with a citizen, whether it is the one calling in the case, the owner of the animal we are there for, or the victim in a case. An ACO must be able to react quickly to the changing dynamics of a case, and must be able to make decisions on what actions to take. An ACO must have a healthy respect and understanding of animals. They need be able to handle any animal that they may come across, like dogs, cats, snakes, pocket pets, horses, cows, donkeys, sheep, pigs, raccoons, opossums, birds, bears, otters, deer, chickens, rabbits, alligators, peacocks, and coyotes just to name a few. Being an ACO is more than just loving animals, it is about being professional, respectful, ethical, dedicated, compassionate, understanding, responsible, and knowledgeable about animals, and the laws that involve animals. Page 4
FOSTERING WITH THE VIRGINIA BEACH ANIMAL CARE AND ADOPTION CENTER Are you afraid of a longterm pet commitment but miss having a furry friend in your life? Are you in the military and worried about short notice deployments that would keep you from owning a pet? Try fostering! The Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center needs volunteers to provide short-term in-home care for friendly dogs, cats, or other animals in need until they are adopted. The length of fostering can vary from a few days to several months. The Animal Care and Adoption Center will help you get started and veterinary care is provided by our staff veterinarian! Who needs foster parents? Kittens and puppies who are too young or too small to be adopted. Animals being treated for illness or are recovering from their injuries. Orphaned puppies or kittens. Mother dogs and cats with their babies. When the shelter is full. Pet owners on extended absence. Animals needing to be socialized. The goals of the fostering program are simple: 1. To prevent unnecessary euthanasia of potentially adoptable animals by providing special needs in temporary foster homes. 2. To provide a less stressful environment where injured or sick animals may fully recover. 3. To ensure that puppies and kittens are completely weaned, old enough to vaccinate and to spay and neuter, and have been properly socialized before being placed for adoption. 4. To increase the adoptability of animals that have unknown histories or questionable behavioral traits by observing their behavior in a home setting and socializing them to human companionship. Our goal for 2012 is to have one hundred foster parents by the end of December and we have used June as a recruiting kickoff to help us achieve this goal. On Wednesday night, June 13 the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center hosted a first ever Foster "Meet and Greet" where potential foster parents could learn about the program and talk to experienced foster parents. At the "Meet and Greet" we enrolled three new foster homes and talked to people who already had an interest in the program. We also approved seven new foster homes during the first half of June. Does this program sound like something you would be interested in participating in? If so, contact Supervisor Wayne Gilbert at wpgilber@vbgov.com or Pat Wise at pbwise@cox.net for more information. Also, you can find the applications for being a volunteer and foster parent at beachpetpals.org. OPEN YOUR HEART AND HOMES TO A FOSTER PET! Military members and people who travel frequently are strongly encouraged to apply! Page 5
Maximus - Domestic Long Hair (Neutered) Soft coat, loves pets & pretty laid back. A year old, loves toys & scratching posts. Just right for your lap when its time to relax! Kito - Pit Bull Terrier Stunning looking fella who is patient and smart. He is a year old and energetic. He is very affectionate and eager to meet you. Oreo - Rabbit Sociable guy. He is active and very friendly. He has a beautiful color mixture in his fur. He is fine being handled. Relative of the South American rodent. Most common breeds are the Smooth-Coated, Abyssinian and Peruvian. They are docile animals and rarely bite. Their teeth continue to grow so keep plenty of things to nibble on handy. Vocal animals and are known to squeal and communicate with owners.. Social and playful animals that do well in small groups. Great family pet and can live 5-7 years. Originate in rainforests from Mexico to Brazil. Thrive in hot and humid habitats They eat leaves, flowers and fruit. They lay eggs and baby iguanas are on their own once they hatch. They can grow up to six (6) feet long. They are cold blooded animals and must regulate their body temperature with heat. Their color helps them to blend into their surroundings. Page 6
Labrador Retriever Callie is available at the shelter Originally from Newfoundland and were companions of fishermen. Crossed bred with Setters, Spaniels & other Retrievers to develop better retrieving skills. Medium sized strongly built animal that have a good stable temperament. They have a short dense water resistant & weather proof coat that sheds seasonally & an "otter like tail. Coat colors include black, yellow & chocolate. An obedient and devoted animal that is good with kids and other pets. Active & physical animal that can work & play all in a day. Bombay Developed by breeder Nikki Horner of Louisville, Kentucky in the 1950 s. They are a cross breed between a sable Burmese and a black American Shorthair. Distinct characteristics are medium builds, sleek jet black coats and gold to copper colored eyes. They can be leash trained and enjoy playtime. You can play fetch with this one. They are intelligent as well as gentle and affectionate creatures. Good with children and have an easy going temperament. Page 7
Meet the Staff Meet Gene Rimer... She is the Administrative Assistant for the entire Animal Control Unit; both shelter and enforcement. You may not see her out and about through the shelter but she is the behind the scenes person that keeps us up and running, paying the bills and maintaining records. She is always available for a chat with employees and thinks of herself as the grandmother to all. She has been with the Animal Control Unit for 8 ½ years and enjoys her job, which is challenging at times. Genie, as she is affectionately called, grew up traveling the world as her dad was in the army. She finally landed here in Hampton Roads and attended ODU where she received her certification in dental assisting and dental practice management. She happily worked in this field for 33 years! In her spare time she absolutely adores spending time with her baby granddaughter who is nearly 2 years old and her four pups. She is a long-time resident of Virginia Beach and enjoys socializing with Youth Volunteer Program friends and is very involved with her church. She has two wonderful, happily married children, one who is a Methodist minister and the other a teacher for Virginia Beach Public Schools. She met her loving husband in high school, married as high school sweethearts, and celebrated 45 years together before he passed away. If you ever need cheering up swing by Genie s office and grab a piece of chocolate and a sweet smile. Genie loves doing her part to help shelter animals find a great home and, as a self-described people person, she enjoys helping find people their perfect match. She likes to do whatever she can to help make others happy and feel special. When asked about her most memorable moment in the shelter this is what she had to say, I am really not sure I could boil it down to one or two moments. Every single day is a learning experience for me and I have the pleasure of watching God work miracles through these wonderful little creatures!! These animals spend so much of their time trying to please people and do things to make them happy. They want the love as much as we do. I think there are three groups in the world who need advocating more than anyone or anything else the elderly, the very young children, and animals. When we leave this world, if we have been a successful advocate for any of these, we will have fulfilled our role as a loving human!! Our youth volunteer program celebrates more than 10 years of successfully facilitating the needs of our community to provide a safe and educational way for young adults to serve their community. As youth volunteers pour their time, attention, enthusiasm, hope and positive attitudes into our shelter they are not only enriching the lives of the animals in our care they are also energizing our adult volunteers, visiting future owners and staff. We are growing into our new shelter each and every day. Our program started when a group of animal control officers saw the potential in the enrichment of young volunteers to assist in basic kennel chores while safely interacting with animals in our care. The Humane Enrichment Learning Program (HELP) program was started with the support of the command staff and for over 8 years, Animal Control Officer II Debi Gregory lead the program to an early success that soon gained momentum and thrived. Through the guidance of officers like ACO II Gregory, caretakers and staff oversaw the growth and development of countless youth volunteers in all stages of the program.. Since we have moved into our new kennel, the program has been amped up to match the growing needs of our state of the art facility. With new expanded space, come the needs of many more animals in our care and more opportunities for volunteers. We are actively seeking application for youth mentors. Mentors are adults 18 and over that would like to help train our new youth volunteers to help fulfill their potential. If you or someone you know would like to be a youth volunteer or a youth mentor please send your email of interest to smellott@vbgov.com. GIVE US A LIKE! Have you liked us on Facebook? Do you follow us on Twitter? One of the easiest ways for us to let potential adopters know about the many adoptable pets at the shelter is by using social media. We post information about adoptables and current events at the shelter. So join the 2050 people already liking us on Facebook and our 601 Twitter followers as we get the word out! Find us at www.facebook.com/vbanimalcareandadoptioncenter and @adoptablepetsvb on Twitter and join in the conversations, and while you re at it, invite your friends too. The more who know, the better the animals have at finding FURever homes! Page 8
Meet the Officers Meet Officer Morgan Marshall Officer Marshall was born in Williamsburg, Virginia in December 1984. She lived in Williamsburg until she was 15 and then moved to Yorktown. She was recently married in September 2011 and currently lives in Hampton with her husband, James, and two pit bulls, Griffin and Diamond. Morgan has had a strong passion for animals ever since she was young. When she was 18 years old she got a job working at Seaford Veterinary Medical Center and worked throughout the veterinary field for the next seven years before coming to animal control, working for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) along the way. In her spare time she volunteers for a pit bull rescue. She also enjoys coming into the shelter when she has some downtime to work with the pit bulls on socialization. Her other hobbies include photography and travel. Right now she is working on becoming a licensed animal behaviorist and hopes to eventually be able to work with shelter dogs rehabilitating them and helping to place them into their perfect forever homes. Meet the Volunteers Meet Barbara Vaden Barbara has had pets her entire life and her last pet, Zak a 14.5 yr old Malamute, passed away in August 2009. She has rescued and fostered animals over many years and wanted to help in any way that she could. In December 2009, Barbara saw an ad in the newspaper that Virginia Beach Animal Control needed dog walkers and so she became a volunteer with VBAC in February 2010. That was only the beginning! She, also, became a transporter and foster for VBAC. Barbara said she failed Fostering 101 because she now has three dogs (former fosters) that she has adopted!! Barbara also helps to take pictures of the animals at the shelter and write bios for them to place on the pet portal. The more information one has about the animal and the better the picture, the more likely the animal will be adopted. She, also, is an Adoption Counselor and helps to answer questions for potential adopters to make sure it's a good fit for both the animal and the family! Animal Rescue is Barbara s passion and she tries to see every animals potential because a shelter environment is very stressful for them and most animals are very different once you get them out of their kennels. She believes we owe it to all animals to give them a fair chance at a better life. And her daughter, Erica Vaden Erica has always had an overwhelming love for animals! About four years ago, she was working a very demanding corporate job and while she was financially satisfied, she missed having spare time for animals. She lived in Georgia at the time and went to the local animal shelter to donate blankets, treats, etc and saw a woman walking a dog. She was a volunteer and stated how much the animals needed people. Shortly after that, Erica quit her job and started her own pet sitting business. The money was not there, yet and she was exhausted- but she was so happy!! She moved back home to Virginia with her cat, Nala. Her mom was a new volunteer at VBACAC and always talked about how much she loved it! Erica immediately started volunteering. That was over two years ago. She absolutely adores the animals. So many of them touch your heart and will be a part of you forever!! It is so vital to take time to give the cats some TLC and playtime. It really means a lot to them. Erica tries to go every day to walk the dogs, because she knows how much volunteers are needed! There is nothing better than taking them out of their kennel for a walk or just some fresh air and watching them smile; then they come up to you and give a big hugas to say Thank You! It is so rewarding to see an animal you have developed a bond with, go to it's furever home!! Volunteering is Erica s life and she will always try to make a difference!! Volume 4, Issue 4 Page 9
Volunteer Opportunities: Do you love animals and want to give back to the community? We have the answer for you there are many ways that you can help, from walking dogs, cuddling cats or advertising pets that are up for adoption. We also are in need of foster homes to increase the amount of animals that we can serve. Listed below are volunteer opportunities Volunteer Front Desk Greeter Newsletter Team Member Adoption Counselor PetsMart Cat Center Volunteer Foster Parent Animal Transporter Pet Portal (Petfinder) Call Center Volunteer Lost/Found Assistance Volunteer Small Animal Companionship Special Events Volunteer Vet Assistant Youth Mentor Adoption Follow-ups Virginia Beach Animal Care & Adoption Center 341 S. Birdneck Road Virginia Beach, VA 23451 Phone: 757-385-4444 Fax: 757-227-9687 E-mail: VBPDAC@vbgov.com Cat Room Volunteer Dog Walker If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Jean Deliz at policeanimalsheltervol@vbgov.com. She ll be looking forward to hearing from you. Shelter Statistics It s the Law May/June 2012 May/June 2011 Dogs Impounded 652 598 Dogs Reclaimed 315 315 Dogs Adopted 193 143 Dogs Transferred 36 16 Cats Impounded 748 650 Cats Reclaimed 27 32 Cats Adopted 124 68 Cats Transferred 47 65 Other Companions Impounded 65 51 Other Companions Reclaimed 2 1 Other Companions Adopted 34 21 Other Companions Transferred 3 23 Did you know It is unlawful for any person to own a dog or cat four (4) months old or older in this city, unless such dog or cat is licensed. Hours of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (reclaims only) Thursday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Do you have a suggestion? We d like to hear it. Please drop off suggestions in our suggestion box and we ll post the suggestion and the response in our newsletter.