In Tough Economic Times Ingham County Animal Control Stands Tough for Homeless Animals Jack, a beautiful 140lb. White German Shepherd, who spent his entire 6 years of life with his human family was brought to the shelter one warm summer afternoon. His owner had to make the painful decision to give him up. We hear stories on a daily basis of people who no longer can make ends meet, have no choice but to move into more affordable housing that does not allow pets, or have had serious health problems leaving them no choice but to let go of their beloved animal companion. Thankfully for Jack, Ingham County Animal Shelter does not turn any Ingham County pet away, and he was given a chance for a new beginning. It wasn t easy. The sights and sounds of the shelter were very frightening for him. Due to his extra large size and his depression, it was determined that he needed a foster home immediately. Jack went into foster care where he began to trust again while he waited for his new home. The shelter staff and volunteers put a tremendous amount of effort in finding homes that are suitable for the individual needs of each pet and sometimes it can take a long time. Jack found his way to a family where he has another canine brother, daily walks, and most importantly, an endless supply of love. Because the shelter staff takes the time to explore each person s circumstances prior to relinquishing their pet, sometimes people are referred to support programs to assist with temporary housing problems, specialized rescue groups or sanctuaries. Local Humane Societies may also take in homeless pets if they have space. Thanks to all the people working hard to find each homeless Ingham County Pet a forever home, many like Jack find just that. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! The 2008 National Animal Control Officer of the Year awarded by the N a t i o n a l A n i m a l C o n t r o l Association goes to Ingham County s Deputy Yvonne Gaines. NEW ADOPTION HOURS! To better serve our citizens that work a traditional work schedule, we are now open until 8 p.m. on Wednesday s! We also have special discounts to adopters on the third Wednesday evening 5-7:30pm of each month. Shelter Hours: 11am-6pm Tuesdays 11am-6pm Wed-Friday 11am-4pm Saturday Adoption Hours: 11am-5:30pm Tuesdays 11am-7:30pm Wednesdays 11am-3:30pm Saturday *Excluding all County Holidays Newsletter 1
FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS Any one who attends our award banquets has seen and heard, Wanda Kester, the Master of Ceremony and heard her hilarious stories about shelter life. What many may not know, is that after the laughing, Wanda and her daughter Sydney consistently rescue the most impaired, depressed and physically disabled homeless animals at the shelter. You ll never hear, What s wrong with that one? People are horrible. What you do hear from Wanda, is I ll take that one home to foster. Oh, they came together? We ll take both. So far, every one of her special needs foster pets have found homes whether it took 6 days or 6 months. Jasmin, a beautiful chestnut lab mix was rescued by the Ingham County Animal Cops after being found pregnant and blind among dozens of other pets in a home. After giving birth and weaning her puppies, her chances of finding a home were slim. Wanda saw what a horrible life Jasmin had and took her into foster care. Mandy, was also rescued by the Ingham County Animal Cops after being found clinging to her owner who had passed away at his home. It was soon discovered that Mandy was special. She only had three legs. Mandy was spotted by Wanda and brought home to foster care. Wanda carried Mandy up and down the stairs and even took her on errands so Mandy could have outings. Wanda and Sydney have fostered over 25 special needs fosterlings and each one knew what it was like to have Wanda a home and and love. Sydney Kester- Foster Parents MY LICENSE IS MY TICKET HOME HAVING AN UP TO DATE DOG LICENSE ENSURES THAT THE INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL CAN REUNITE ME WITH MY FAMILY. IT S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE ME MICRO-CHIPPED IN CASE MY COLLAR FALLS OFF. AT THE AGE OF THREE MONTHS, ALL CANINES MUST BE LICENSED. DON T WAIT, LICENSE ME TODAY! SEE PAGE 5 FOR MICROCHIPPING INFORMATION AND EVENTS YOUR DONATIONS=HAPPY PETS WHEN AN ANIMAL ENTERS THE SHELTER WHETHER IT S LOST, ABANDONED, NEGLECTED, ABUSED OR NO LONGER WANTED, IT S A SCARY TIME FOR THEM. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY DONATING COMFORT CARE ITEMS: SOFT TOYS KURANDA BEDS NEEDED! RAW HIDE BONES KITTY LITTER SOFT BLANKETS LEASHES Every donation goes directly to the shelter ADOPTED Newsletter 2
2008 ADOPTATHON IT S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD Over the past 4 years, barely a day goes by where a visitor doesn t comment on the tremendous improvements seen in the cleanliness and customer service at the shelter. The staff and volunteers make heroic efforts to care for the animals and find adoptive homes, but the building over the past 37 years has taken a brutal toll and many adopters understandably don t want to spend time in the building where the animals are kenneled. Our current facility was built when the purpose of the dog pound was to merely protect the public from rabies and control stray animals. Due to changes in legislation and changing community values our work to serve the community has broadened. Additionally, because the current building is old, many of the systems are inefficient and frequently break down resulting in very high maintenance and operation costs. Thanks to the generous support of Richard Thompson, Founder of Zootoo House who donated $6000 toward the cost of the study to be conducted by national shelter designer "Shelter Planners of America" an assessment has been completed and indeed verified that the current facility built in 1971 is not suitable for remodeling. A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE will be forming and we're looking for members who are interested in fundraising for the new shelter. Contributors to the campaign will leave a legacy of kindness and compassion that represents the very best of our community. Please contact Jamie McAloon Lampman at 517-676-8376 or e-mail jmcaloon@ingham.org Newsletter 3
COMING SOON! THE LANGUAGE OF DOGS Join us for an eye-opening seminar on how dogs communicate. Training Materials and an educational video featuring a presentation and extensive footage of a variety of examples of canine behavior and body language. Check the Web site for dates. FUN WAS HAD BY ALL IN THE DOG DAY S OF SUMMER 4 TH OF JULY PARADES IN MASON AND LANSING. DEPUTY EPPERSON WAVING TO THE CROWD Responsible Cat Owners WANTED! It s easy as 1 2 3 4 Every year, over a thousand cats and kittens end up at our shelter. There are 4 simple actions every cat owner can take to stop the needless suffering and euthanasia of these beautiful animals. Keeping cats indoors will result in longer and healthier lives. Ensuring your cat has identification in the form of an ID tag or Microchip will allow you to be easily reunited with your cat should it end up at the shelter. SPAYING or NEUTERING your cat ensures it does not contribute to the cat over-population crisis, contributes to cats being more sociable, decreases horrible male spraying, and reduces health care costs over the lifetime of your pet. Adopt or rescue a cat in need. THE INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FUND EVERY PENNY DONATED TO THE ANIMAL CARE FUND GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CRITICAL CARE NEEDS OF OUR HOMELESS ANIMALS. I SUPPORT ICAC! CONTRIBUTION FORM 600 Curtis st. Mason Mi. 48854 517.676.8370 ENCLOSED IS MY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT: $10 $25 $50 $100 OTHER $ $50 Newsletter Memorial (see below) Name Address City/State/Zip Phone Email *Memorial Contribution in Memory or Honor of: Please notify the following person of my contribution. (Name and Address) Newsletter 4
Memorials & Honorariums Many thanks to the following for their generous and continued support of the Ingham County Animal Control IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF Ben Ross Maggie Adopted from ICAC 13 years ago! By Esther Niver By Valerie Thrasher Sheri Waldman Dee Williams MSU Veterinary Hospital Ms. Maddox For their efforts on behalf of Lenora The Pratt Family By Anonymous Elmer Jones By Nancy Doty Pennsylvania Animal Hospital Rosemary Sullivan For the puppy that can walk again, pain free Connie Jones By an ICAC Foster Parent Helen Ries By Gwen, Shelly, Anita, Jach Officer Glenn Turcotte Family Affair By Foster Community Center Neighbors Paul & Cora Oesterle Wendall Mears By Elaine Morse Jerry Morse Bernard Eckman Carolyn Dulai Peurach Family Wayne Mears Bethel Stevenson By Mr. & Mrs. Vogel I Know in Time I know in time that you will see, The kindness that you did for me, Although my tail, it's last has waved, From pain and suffering I've been saved." Author Unknown Newsletter 5
HUMANITARIAN AWARDS WHO SAYS OLD DOGS ARE HARD TO PLACE? By Jamie McAloon-Lampman, Director of Ingham County Animal Control Leona came in as a mere rack of bones, scaly skin, depressed as she pretty much had given up on life. When I first saw her in the kennels, I could see her muzzle had whitened with age, and her physical condition told the sad story of a dog who had given birth and raised multiple litters of puppies. And now, here she was an old geriatric dog that had signs that she had given birth to yet another litter very recently. I loaded her in my car and snuck her in the back door before my husband came home. She quickly settled into a comforter placed next to the desk and never made a peep. It wasn't until bedtime that my husband noticed her as she quickly fell in line with our brood of three labs going out for their late night potty break--he looked twice and then shot me a frown and said "who's that, what's that and how long is it going to be here?" She captured his heart as she did mine and I promised she was a short-termer-- and sure enough after a few days we knew enough about her sweet personality to describe her loving nature with her picture on the shelter s web site listing available pets. We soon got a call from a young lady in Manistee, in Northern MIchigan. After a meet-n-greet her new family drove back to Manistee with Leona in the back seat knowing she was finally going home. The older dogs are my favorite to foster as they appreciate the love of a family and are often already housebroken and well mannered. They are genuinely grateful for the kind touch of a hand and the soft spoken accolades we shower them with. If you want to experience true happiness then foster a deserving older dog from the animal shelter and watch them flourish with love and finds their happily ever after. Honoring those who have made a difference in the lives of the homeless animals of Ingham County 2007 Corporate Humanitarian Soldan s Feed & Pet Supply Humanitarian Officer Award Officer Glenn Turcotte Collaborative Effort Award Ingham County Treas. Eric Schertzing Outreach Award Deb Allen & Larry Hagedorn Compassionate Veterinarian Award Dr. Valerie Chadwick D.V.M. Outstanding Efforts by Organization Friends of Greater Lansing Dog Park The Company that Cares Award Lansing Board of Water and Light Service and Education Award Ruth Tatara/Mason High School Radio Personality Award Tim Barron of 101.7 Journalist Award Kevin Grasha of Lansing State Journal Community Service Award Autumn Bennett Extreme Rescue Award Animal Placement Bureau Animal Welfare Award Ingham County Prosecutor s Office Attorney Stuart J. Dunnings III Attorney Patrick O Keefe Humanitarian Youth Award Ryan Beebe Hope Award Sally Beebe Maria VandenBoom INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OLD, DISABLED OR LESS THAN PERFECT HOMELESS PETS. WE ARE COMMITED TO HELPING EVERY AVAILABLE PET FIND A HAPPY ENDING JUST LIKE LEONA. INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL MICRO-CHIP COUPON $$ Bring this coupon to the ICAC shelter during adoption hours and receive a micro-chip and micro-chip injection for your companion animal only $15 per animal. (This procedure and chip is up to a $60 value) This incredible discount is valid through January 1, 2009. Please, only two animals per coupon/visit unless you call ahead. Additional Coupons available Newsletter 6 Thank you Cadillac Club and The Rock Canyon Band
INGHAM COUNTY ANIMAL COPS CRUELTY REPORT Below are a sampling of warrants issued for the arrest of persons suspected of Animal Cruelty: Bernardino T. Gomez III of Holt was charged with two counts of felony dog fighting. on April 9, 2008. Animal control officers seized 28 pit bulls from the Gomez residence at 2511 Grovenburg while in conjunction with another investigation by drug enforcement officers. During the raid the bomb squad was called to investigate what appeared to be a home made bomb found in the basement with the dogs. All 28 dogs were taken to the Ingham County animal shelter where they await a court date for their owner. Ron Allen Sharp of Lansing was charged with two counts of animal cruelty/abandonment. Witnesses claim Allen drove to a neighborhood and tossed his two large declawed cats out his car window and drove away. The cats were later found by Ingham animal control officer Yvonne Gaines who found them hiding under a bush near where they were seen abandoned. The cats are now safe at the shelter. Robin Gene Smith of Leslie is charged with two counts of animal cruelty. Complaints of neglected animals at 3265 Woods in Leslie revealed numerous cats in poor condition. Ingham county animal control officer Gary Ireland seized over 55 cats from the home of Smith in May of 2008. It appears Smith moved out leaving all his cats behind. Kathy Knickerbocker of Lansing was charged with animal cruelty--12 dogs and cats were seized from Knickerbocker s residence at 401 W. Sheridan in Lansing in conjunction with a Special Unit s enforcement raid on May 21, 2008 A court date was set for September which Knickerbocker failed to appear for. A bench warrant has been issued for her arrest. Orlando Valdez, of Lansing was charged with two counts of animal cruelty involving a kitten and a dog whom witnesses claim his children were abusing while he was present. The kitten had been thrown from a roof top by the Valdez children. The kitten had serious injuries and was hospitalized at the Lansing Urgent Care. A puppy was seized after further complaints by witnesses stated that the children were observed swinging the puppy in the air by its legs and letting go as it slammed to the ground. If you witness animal neglect or abuse call Ingham County Animal Control at 517-676-8370 or to report animal abuse anonymously you can leave a message at 517-676-8376. Newsletter 7