Summer 2018 Animal Tales Until every pet is wanted your gift is needed Community collaboration saves lives We at KHS have a passion to help animals in need when we have space and a surgical facility available. So when Frank and Lola faced an uncertain future at a neighbouring shelter because of their medical needs, we were happy to take over their care. Lola, a three-year-old bulldog mix, had bilateral entropian, a painful condition in which the eyelid grows inwards, resulting in the eyelashes rubbing against the surface of the eye. This can lead to chronic eye infection and ulcers and must be treated by surgery. Our team performed the first of two surgeries that Lola would need for this condition and monitored her recovery. She spent some time in foster care to keep her happy and socialized. Six weeks later, Lola underwent the second surgery, during which she was also spayed and underwent a hernia repair and treatment for ear infection. After three months in our care, Lola found her new forever family and home. Frank s journey with us was shorter just over a month but it was a bittersweet day when he left us for his adoptive home. This pooch was the life of the party. He loved everything and everyone all people, dogs, cats, toys, shoes, balls, you name it! Frank came to us with a prolapsed nictitating membrane, commonly known as cherry eye. Just before his scheduled surgery, he came down with gastrointestinal problems, so surgery was postponed while we did diagnostic testing and treated him for internal parasites. Not long after, Frank was back to his normal self. His surgery was successful, and Frank was adopted less than 48 hours after being placed in our adoptions program. KHS staff and volunteers are glad to be able to help animals outside our community when we have the capacity to do so. This kind of collaboration between shelters and rescue organizations saves hundreds of lives every day.
Our Mission Message from the Executive Director Grants help us open doors to the community Executive Director Connie Ball In June 2017, KHS staff applied for two grants that would benefit our community and its animals. We worked long hours to develop plans for programs, determine the scope of work and estimate costs, then crossed our fingers. One year later, we are delighted and thankful to be rolling out two new initiatives, made possible by our successful applications. Thanks to the Government of Canada s New Horizons for Seniors Program, our Happy Tails: Seniors to Youth for the Love of Animals program will engage adults 55 and over in the community as volunteers with young people in humane education, in a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Chapters/Indigo. The volunteers will read stories, do crafts and have conversations about animals with children. Overseen by a coordinator, the program will run until January 2019. If you are interested in volunteering for this program, please contact our Volunteer and Event Coordinator (see p. 3 for contact information). Although we have an accessibility and accommodation policy in place, we were aware that the shelter was in need of upgrades to meet some accessibility standards for visitors and employees. We are pleased to now be in the process of improving accessibility to our entrance, front office and washrooms so that we can respectfully accommodate all visitors and staff, thanks in part Continued on page 5. Our mission The Kingston Humane Society is committed to advocating for and improving the lives of animals within our community. Our vision A compassionate community where the well-being of animals is valued and respected How we work Compassion and professionalism Promoting and offering programs and services to help animals Promoting the humane treatment of animals Supporting responsible pet ownership Working with volunteers, partners and donors and the community to make a positive difference in the lives of animals Shelter hours Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM The shelter will be closed on the following dates: Sunday, July 1 st (Canada Day) Monday, September 3 rd (Labour Day) Monday, October 8 th (Thanksgiving Day) Contact us Kingston Humane Society 1 Binnington Court, Kingston, ON K7M 8M9 Phone: 613-546-1291 E-mail: board@kingstonhumanesociety.ca Website: kingstonhumanesociety.ca Summer 2018 2
Spotlight on KHS volunteers: The Lead Program Lead Program volunteers work with our canine friends in the shelter who are undersocialized and/ or have behavioural challenges, with the goal of increasing the dogs socialization and basic obedience training to improve their chances of finding an adoptive forever home. Below are the voices of some of the wonderful Lead Program volunteers. Volunteer recruitment for the Lead Program is closed, but keep an eye on our Volunteer web page for new openings. Michelle Lee 9 years as KHS volunteer Moving back to Kingston and looking forward to returning to the KHS as a volunteer dog walker, I told KHS about the Holding walking program at the Ottawa Humane Society, to which I was promoted after proving my worth in the Adoptions walking program. I felt it was an amazing program for the dogs who were struggling in the shelter environment and could use some extra TLC to improve their chances of being adopted. I m thrilled that KHS has created this program for our homeless canine friends. Alex Cushley 2 years as KHS volunteer The Lead Program has been an excellent opportunity to work with a variety of dogs with different backgrounds and needs (medical, behavioural, etc.). I feel it is very important for dogs with behavioural challenges to have the opportunity to get out for some quality time, exercise, play and socializing. It is very rewarding to see many of these dogs progress and become available for adoption and then find their forever homes. Lyndsey Westwater 7 years as KHS volunteer Volunteering with the KHS has been a truly rewarding experience. Whether dog walking, cat cuddling, helping at an event, or fostering, the flexibility of the volunteer program allows my daughter and me to adapt it to our lifestyle. The Lead Program is especially important as it gives dogs who might not otherwise get a lot of exercise the opportunity to stretch their legs and interact with the volunteers. The added bonus is it keeps me busy and active and feeling like I am making a positive contribution to our community. A huge thank-you to our committed volunteers, who strive to improve the services for animals during their stay with us. Many of the animals who come to the shelter face challenges and barriers to finding new homes during their stay. To see our canine friends playing happily outside with these and other wonderful volunteers is heartwarming and creates a sense of hope for their future. For more information about volunteering, please visit our website or contact the Volunteer and Events Coordinator, Tanya Wilson, at 613-546-1291, ext. 106, or at volunteer@kingstonhumanesociety.ca. 3 Summer 2018
Happy Tales: After a bumpy road, comfort and stability Sometimes an animal must find a new home for very valid reasons. Family members may need to surrender a pet after a life-changing event such as a death or loss of a home, when a senior moves into a retirement home, or when a couple who love their furry friend has a child who develops severe allergies. The KHS is here to help in these situations. But the emotional challenges the animals face when they lose their family are always in our mind. Gentle Chaz had been bounced around between a number of homes by the age of eight, when he was surrendered to the KHS. His most recent owners bought him online without realizing their home would not suit his needs. Thankfully, they brought him to the KHS for refuge, but not before he and another cat in the home had a serious altercation. Chaz arrived at the shelter with bleeding abscesses from bites on his hind area; he cried in pain any time the area was examined by the veterinary care team. He also had significant, painful dental disease. As the first step on his road to recovery, Chaz was given pain medication and antibiotics. He underwent surgery in our Gibson Suite within 48 hours of arriving. Our vet cleaned his wounds, placed a drain to help the healing process, and removed 13 decaying teeth! Healing from his wounds and surgery took time. He needed supportive therapy, continued antibiotics and medication to ease his pain. Just when we thought he was out of the woods, Chaz developed a small mass under his tongue and could not eat. We were unable to determine the origin of the mass but treated it with medication, and thankfully, it resolved and he began eating again. Finally he could take the last step on his journey: entering our adoptions program. Although he was initially nervous, he didn t let his history affect his interest in people, and in just over a week, he had found his new, loving retirement home, where he will never have to worry about losing his family again. The Kingston Humane Society participates in the Royal Canin Elite Shelter Program. When you register when you adopt a pet or purchase Royal Canin food from the shelter, we receive rewards points that offset the cost of food for the animals in our care. Summer 2018 4
Timeline of Chaz s road to recovery April 3, 2018: Chaz is surrendered to the KHS. He is examined immediately and prescribed medications. April 5: Chaz undergoes surgery for wounds and dental disease. April 7: Chaz s appetite decreases. He is examined and medications are increased. April 8: Drain is removed from Chaz s hind area. He is healing nicely. April 12: After another exam, Chaz is sedated so that vet can assess a swelling found under his tongue. He receives medications to boost appetite and treat swelling and continues on pain medication and antibiotics. April 14: Vet assesses Chaz s hind area: it has healed fully. Staples are removed. April 19: Chaz s mouth has healed well; he still has some discomfort so continues pain medication. His appetite is improving. He has finished antibiotics so can be vaccinated. May 1: Chaz is taken off all medications and is eating well. May 7: On final assessment by vet, Chaz is medically released and can move into our adoptions program. May 10: Chaz goes to one of our satellite adoptions centres in hopes of finding his forever home more quickly. May 19: A family falls in love with Chaz, and he heads off towards a happy retirement with them. Message from the Executive Director (continued from page 2) to our successful application for funding from the Government of Canada s Enabling Accessibility Fund. We are very appreciative of having received this funding. I applaud our staff for taking on the grant writing task as well as bringing these initiatives to fruition. With our eyes to the future and a strategic goal to guide us, we will be able to better engage our partners, volunteers and community members in the care of our community s animals in need. We re bowled over by your support! A big thank-you to everyone who helped make the 2018 Bowl for the Animals a huge success! For the first time ever, the Cloverleaf Bowling lanes were filled and we had to close registration early, with 21 teams taking part. In total, we raised close to $15,000, through donations, an online auction, sponsorships and canteen sales. The winner of our highest online pledge was Mike Haaima, who won a Master Chef barbecue, donated by Royal Canin. To all bowlers who collected pledges, those who supported by donating, event sponsors, volunteers and auction donors, the animals thank you! A special thank-you to our event sponsors: Platinum sponsors Gold sponsors Media sponsors 5 Summer 2018
KHS 2019 Our Best Friends calendar Want to see your pet in our 2019 Best Friends calendar? This year we re doing things a bit differently: we will choose photos from our files for the monthly featured animals, but don t worry you can still see your pet in print! For $40, your furry family member s photo will appear on one of the calendar s date pages, and you ll receive your own copy of the calendar. See our website and social media for details. The photo submission deadline is August 20 th. The calendar will be available for purchase in November 2018. Our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year, Big Paws a dog walk with many other pet-related activities takes place Sunday, September 16 th at Lake Ontario Park in Kingston. 20 th Annual Big Paws Sunday, September 16 th, 2018 at Lake Ontario Park Registration/ check-in begins at 9:30 AM and the walk begins at 11 AM. The day will also include a vendor marketplace, an online auction, food, music, pet photos, a kids zone, and games for our canine friends. Even if you don t have a dog to walk, come out to support the KHS and enjoy a fun day at the park! Visit kingstonhumanesociety.ca for information on our planned activities and for sponsorship and vendor details. KHS Charitable Registration Number: 11924-0604-RR001 Summer 2018 6
A safe and healthy summer No hot pets! Did you know that, at 21 degrees on a sunny day, the temperature in your car can reach 40 degrees in half an hour? Once a dog s temperature reaches 41 degrees, there is only a short time in which to prevent irreparable brain damage or death. There is never an excuse to leave your animal in a hot car. Know the signs of an overheated pet (not all signs need to be present): Heavy panting Vomiting Loss of coordination Weakness Seizures Drooling How to help an animal in distress: The Kingston Humane Society has no authority to act on calls of animals in hot cars. Because this is a time-sensitive matter, please call 310-SPCA (7722) in Ontario or your local police department, and remember to take note of the vehicle type and licence plate number. You, your pet and ticks Ticks can t jump and don t fall from trees, but they can transfer to animals or humans walking though long grass, bushes and brush. People cannot catch Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever from infected dogs, but the same ticks that bite dogs can cause these illnesses and others if they bite humans. Tick bites can be prevented by regular use of tick control products. Seek professional advice on the type and use of products for you and your pet s needs. Just pulling off a tick can leave body parts attached to your pet. Ask your veterinarian about proper removal of ticks from your pet. Source: www.petsandparasites.org Mark your calendar! Microchip/small animal nail trim clinics Cost: $20. For upcoming clinic dates, please see our social media accounts or visit our website at www.kingstonhumanesociety.ca. 2019 Our Best Friends calendar Submit a high-resolution photo to see your pet in the 2019 Our Best Friends calendar. Cost is $40; a calendar is included. Photo submission deadline: August 20 th. Download the submission form from our website. Big Paws 2018 our 20 th anniversary! On September 16 th, drop by our biggest fundraiser of the year: Big Paws, a pledge walk for people and their canine friends. Details on facing page. Home for the Holidays Enjoy family fun and help homeless animals at the shelter on Sunday, December 2 nd! Our annual Home for the Holidays open house will include apple cider, shelter tours, reduced adoption fees for cats/ kittens, and a kids craft area. Christmas trees and wreaths will be on sale, with part of the proceeds going to the KHS. 7 Summer 2018
Please visit us at kingstonhumanesociety.ca Want to support our community s homeless shelter animals and save money on your pet s food? The Kingston Humane Society is proud to sell Royal Canin! Drop by the shelter any time during business hours to pick up a bag and visit with our shelter residents. No HST charged! Visit Us on Facebook 700 Innovation Drive (behind StarTek) 613-544-7387 (PETS)