Fall 2009 - Humane Society of Boulder Valley

Fall 2009
Dear Friends,
The summer was a real marathon here at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, as it was
once again a very busy one for all of us. The number of animals we served — from adoptions
and animal training classes to transfers and stray intakes — increased in the summer
months. We experienced extreme overcrowding despite far exceeding our weekend average
of 40 pet adoptions typical for summer weekends.
We know this fall will continue to be busy for everyone. We’ve just wrapped up our incredibly
successful 20th Annual Cause for Paws Doggie Dash and Walk-A-Thon. This year’s event
raised $45,000 and brought together nearly 700 people and their dogs to support us on
this fun-filled day. The coming months are filled with many more events, including humane
education day camps, Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contests and our Family and Pet
photos in time for the holidays. And of course our adoption center, veterinary clinic and
training center will be busy all the way through the end of the year. You’ll read about these
events and much more in this newsletter.
We all count on different things to get us through and help us rise to meet our challenges.
At the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, we rely on our staff, volunteers and supporters to
help us through critical times of need. I want you to know how much we appreciate you.
By adopting animals, providing volunteer assistance to our staff, giving donations for
our operations, serving as foster home caregivers and learning how to properly care for
companion animals, the Boulder Valley community continuously assists us with our mission.
Together we are saving animals and improving lives in our community.
Lisa Pedersen, CAWA
CEO
Red Rover, Red Rover, Send a New Family Over
(continued on page 2)
In This Issue:
Red Rover, Red Rover Safe Adventures Humane Education Upcoming Events Love Letters 1
4
7
8
10
Page 1
Anna and her one-year old Australian cattle dog, Red Rover, were hiking near Rollins Pass
when Red Rover got spooked and took off running. Anna desperately called and searched for
him but Red Rover was gone. She filed a lost report with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley
and notified other organizations in the area about Red Rover’s disappearance.
red rover, red rover
(continued from front)
It is the mission of
the Humane Society
of Boulder Valley
to protect and enhance the lives
of companion animals by promoting
healthy relationships between
pets and people.
moe
When we called Moe, he came running. During
playtime, it wasn’t unusual to see Moe chasing his
own tail in circles. What’s remarkable about this?
Well, Moe is a cat. A cat that is so sure he is a dog he
really, really does not like cats AT ALL. Moe doesn’t
like other cats so much we couldn’t even house him
in the Cat Adoption Center. Just the sight of other
cats drives him crazy!
So, Moe hung out in the Administration area while
he waited for a new home. The staff quickly fell in
love with his gentle, laid back doggy self. And Moe
fit in just perfectly, getting along great with the
visiting dogs that came and went during his stay in
Administration. After all, he is just one of the dogs!
Five weeks later, a stray dog resembling Red Rover was brought to a nearby
emergency clinic for severe emaciation. He was stabilized and brought to the
Humane Society of Boulder Valley. Kind hikers in Rollinsville had found the
starving and sickly dog and brought him to the clinic. Our staff recognized the
dog from the lost report Anna had filed weeks prior and gave her a call. Anna
rushed to our shelter and confirmed this dog was indeed her beloved
Red Rover!
Merci Beaucoup!
We extend a hearty “Merci Beaucoup!” to all of the incredible sponsors of this year’s Puttin’ on La Leash: The Streets of
Pawris held on April 25. We raised more than $325,000 at this year’s event and couldn’t have done it without the amazing
support of these businesses and individuals who care so much about the animals we serve.
Auction Night Sponsor
Title sponsors
ADVERTISING
During the time Red Rover had been missing, Anna had learned some very
difficult news about her own health—she had been diagnosed with breast
cancer. With a pile of medical bills and months of treatment to come for both
Red Rover and herself, Anna made the difficult decision to relinquish Red Rover
to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.
Red Rover was still too weak and malnourished to undergo neuter surgery or
enter our adoption center. Our staff remembered one of our foster families,
Roger and Suzanne Haston, had recently lost one of their dearly loved German
Shepherds. The Hastons met with Red Rover and decided to foster him while he
recovered and prepared for adoption.
Sponsors
Buddy Zuckerman &
Laura Koby Zuckerman
Marilyn & Jim
Reynolds
A friendly, affectionate and playful dog, Red Rover quickly worked his way into
the Haston’s hearts. He also began to put on weight and soon was well enough
to be neutered. While recovering from surgery in his foster home, Roger and
Suzanne decided they simply couldn’t give him up. They adopted Red Rover, now
called Ringo, as their own.
Ringo’s story had many twists and turns but truly has a happy ending. Because
of the thoughtfulness and care of so many people along the way, Ringo also
now has a new beginning and a new home.
Susie Coit | Greg Greenwood and Tammy Sciortino | Trent and Stephanie Hein | Mike and Cindy Nelson | John Thacker
LIKE Thank You!
Finally, after two weeks of sharing our offices with
the most doglike cat we had ever known, a family met
Moe and fell in love with him, just like we had. Moe
may never catch his own tail but we are so happy he
has captured the hearts of a new family.
FOR
Thank you for making the 2009 Cause for Paws a success! With your help we raised $45,000
for homeless animals! And thanks to your efforts we diverted 92% of material out of landfills making Cause for Paws a Zero Waste event!
4K DOGGIE DASH AND 3K WALK-A-THON
Page 2
Suzanne and Ringo, photo courtesy of Greg Feldman of Phylum Photography.
ACES | Ahsha Hazen | Antech Diagnostics | Boulder Emergency Veterinary Clinic | Boulder School of Massage Therapy
Café of Life | Camp Bow Wow | Cascadian Farms | Centennial Valley Animal Hospital | Chocolove | Dog City
Doghouse Studios | Dogswell | Eldorado Artesian Springs | Fanciful Faces | First Main Street Insurance | Katie’s Bumpers
KBCO | Larabar | Moe’s Bagels | Mountain High Yoghurt | Naturally Tear-Free Canine | Only Natural Pet Store
Peet’s Coffee | Running Bears Race Timing | Sterling Spike Consulting | The Hydrant | Woof Wallet
Page 3
ADVERTISING
It’s hard to think about leaving your pet at home while you are off visiting family and friends.
If you do decide to take along your companion animal, there are a few things that the
Humane Society of Boulder Valley would like you to remember so both you and your pet have
a happy and safe journey!
If you are planning a domestic airline trip with your pet, the Humane Society recommends
you check with your airline to ensure you have the proper documentation, such as a travel
certificate. Most travel certificates require a veterinary exam, so plan ahead. You don’t want
to wait until the day you fly to call your vet!
New Director of
Communications
& Newsletter
Editor
Planning a road trip? If your animal is not used to traveling by car, now is the time to get
your pet accustomed to car rides. Don’t wait until your trip! A great way to start is with short
practice trips around the block. Placing your pet in a crate is the safest way for you and your
pet to travel by car.
Following these simple tips can help make your travel plans safe and fun for both you and
your dog. Have a great time!
Humane Society of Boulder Valley has hired
Kim Sporrer, APR as its new Director of
Communications. Kim was most recently with
Linhart Public Relations in Denver.
Kim has earned her Accreditation in Public
Relations (APR) and brings more than two
decades of communications and public relations
expertise to the Humane Society of Boulder
Valley, including 11 years with public relations
agencies and 10 years of non-profit experience.
Kim is primarily responsible for creating,
managing and executing both internal and
external communications strategies to increase
the promotion and visibility of its animal welfare
initiatives through marketing activities such as
public relations, media relations, community
outreach and fundraising support.
If you have story ideas or suggestions for Kim,
contact her at [email protected]
or call 303-442-4030 ext. 636.
Photo of HSBV Alumni Zilla courtesy of Frannie Metz
Safe Adventures
with Your Pet
As you gear up for outdoor and travel adventures, don’t forget that a little preparation
needs to go into getting your dog ready as well. As you set out to explore the great
outdoors, keep a few things in mind:
• Only take your dog on a hike if you’re sure that he or she is healthy and able to make the
trip. Make sure your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and is wearing current ID tags.
• Make sure the hiking trails you choose are pet friendly. For local hikes, you can
check online at http://ci.boulder.co.us/ or get a trail guide to help find a destination that is suitable for you and your pet.
• If your dog is wearing a backpack, make sure it doesn’t weigh more than 1/3 of his
body weight on flat hikes and 1/4 on mountainous hikes.
• Carry enough food and water for your dog to last at least a day or two longer than you
plan on spending outdoors. Collapsible water bowls are convenient and easy to pack.
• Pack a pet first-aid kit, similar to the one you have at home, along with an
antidiarrheal medication that is safe for animals (ask your veterinarian to suggest
a product.)
Page 4
• Make sure your dog doesn’t become overheated. Dogs have a higher body temperature
than we do and can easily become overworked and exhausted. If your dog begins to pant
heavily and you see he has bright red gums, feel his inner thigh for his temperature. If he
is extremely warm, sprinkle cool water over his head and on his belly to slowly lower his
temperature. Simply pouring cold water over your dog won’t be as effective in cooling him
off. Once your dog is feeling better, it’s a good idea to call it a day and head home.
Shop the Humane Society of
Boulder Valley Thrift and
Gift Shop!
Searching for great values and great selection? From antiques to designer label
clothes and furniture—our Thrift and Gift Shop has it all. Each day brings fresh
inventory and new treasures to be found. The Thrift and Gift Shop is open seven
days a week and accepts donations Monday through Saturday. For more information,
please visit www.boulderhumane.org.
Wags & Menace
Foundation
Helps the
Animals
For some people, sponsoring an animal
in the adoption center is a way to help
the Humane Society of Boulder Valley
without taking additional animals into
their home. For others, like Cindy Lee
and the Wags & Menace Foundation,
doing so is also a way to inspire others.
Cindy Lee is often drawn to our longterm residents like Lester and Sugar.
She is an amazing advocate for these
wonderful pets who often just need
some medical support or post-adoption
resources. Her sponsorships help us
offset the costs of caring for these
animals while they are with us for an
extended period of time.
The Wags & Menace Foundation
seeks to provide medical treatment
for sick animals in Colorado, to fund
organizations and activities that
benefit animals, and to inspire, teach
and motivate other individuals and
organizations to achieve similar
objectives.
Thank you to Cindy Lee and the Wags &
Menace Foundation for their continued
support. If you would like to sponsor an
animal, visit any animal on our adoption
page and submit your donation online.
Page 5
Travel certificates are valid for thirty days, so it is important to keep your return date in
mind. If you are traveling internationally, know that each country has specific regulations and
often require specific airline-approved carriers. Check with your airline for details. You can
find FAA regulations at www.faa.gov. Also, make sure your animal is wearing an I.D. tag and is
micro-chipped.
Special thanks to
Roche Colorado
Roche Colorado is a great community partner and a longtime
next-door neighbor of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley.
Lisa Pedersen, Humane Society of Boulder Valley CEO, and Don
Fitzgerald, Roche President and Site Manager recently opened the
Canine Cove walking path.
Wish List
This private property, located behind the Humane Society and
Roche Colorado buildings, is now open to Humane Society canine
shelter residents and their human companions. Roche Colorado
wants to make sure that the shelter’s animals and volunteers can
enjoy some much needed extended walks!
CONTRARY TO
WHAT YOUR CAT
MAY TELL YOU,
CATS CAN BE TRAINED.
We offer cat behavior consultations to help you
resolve specific behavior problems including:
· cat introductions
· litter box issues
· furniture scratching
· excessive vocalization
· fear and aggression
· even how to train cats fun behaviors such as
‘high five,’ ‘come,’ ‘sit’ or how to walk with you
on a harness and leash.
Visit www.boulderhumane.org/training for
more info and upcoming courses.
Humane Education Happenings
Do you know about the humane education day camps offered every Boulder Valley
School District holiday and teacher in service days?
Humane Education camps offer a unique experience by giving campers a chance
to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals through lessons around
responsible pet guardianship, veterinary care, philanthropy and community
volunteerism. All camps include an animal safety lesson, a behind-the-scenes tour
of the shelter and veterinary clinic and plenty of animal interaction. Snacks are
provided. Campers must bring a sack lunch.
Dates: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Boulder Valley School District holidays & in-service days
Program Fee: $60 per day
Eligibility: Children age 6-10
Registration: Online only, opens two weeks before camp date. E-mail our Humane
Education Coordinator Catherine Casper at [email protected]
to be added to our email notification list to receive registration updates.
FALL Wish List:
C anned cat and dog food
Meat baby food
S hallow ceramic food dishes
for young kittens
6 -foot leashes
Paper towels
Professional grooming clippers
Size 357/AG13 Cell Batteries for
Snuggle Critters for our kittens
P eanut butter
B lankets and towels
C ash donations to purchase any of
the above
Go to www.boulderhumane.org, click on Support then Humane Ed for
more information.
Interested in Volunteering?
Attend our next volunteer information session
Date:
Thursday, November 12
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location:Humane Society Education Center
2323 55th Street, Boulder
Applications are available online or at the information session. You can
also request that one be mailed to your home by contacting our
Volunteer Dept at 303-442-4030, ext 612.
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Pictured at the entrance of Canine Cove with our shelter dogs are
(from left to right) Volunteer Barb Beard Passalacqua, CEO Lisa
Pedersen, Roche President & Site Manager Don Fitzgerald and
Volunteer Donese Brittingham.
The number of animals needing care
this summer was quite high and
depleted many of our resources. Please
help ensure that all animals can receive
the attention they need and deserve by
helping with our wish list or by making a
cash contribution today!
upcoming events
2009 Board
members
October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month!
It is the mission of
the Humane Society
of Boulder Valley
to protect and enhance the lives
of companion animals by promoting
healthy relationships between
pets and people.
Help us celebrate by visiting our shelter at 2323 55th Street in Boulder or
by visiting us online at boulderhumane.org/adopt. See all the wonderful
dogs we have available for adoption into good homes like yours!
Chair
Roger Haston
4th Annual Pawsi-tively Merry Halloween
with Omni’s Golf Club Mascot Divot
Vice Chair
Bruce Joss
Saturday, October 24, 2009
2 to 4 p.m.
Omni Interlocken Golf Resort, 800 Eldorado Boulevard in Broomfield
Secretary
Marilyn Reynolds
Pets costume contest, photos with Santa Tom and treats for two-legged and four-legged
friends. Cost to attend is $25 per couple (with dog), $15 per individual (with dog), children
under age 12 free with entry fees donated to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. We will
also have adoptable dogs and cats at the event.
Board Development Chair
Carol Lathrop
Sally Bracken
Space is limited, so make your reservation today by e-mailing
[email protected] or call 303-464-9000 ext. 16
Frank Bruno
Trent Hein
Howl-O-Ween Canine Costume Contest
Curtis Johns
Macy’s Plaza at Twenty Ninth Street
Saturday, October 31, 2009
1 to 3 p.m.
Enjoy spooktacular events for your pet and family, featuring a costume contest, parade and
adoption fair! The $5 contest entry fee will benefit the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. For
more information call (303) 444-0722.
Linda Lannen
David Manley
Jennifer L. Thompson
Todd Vernon
Michele Wells
Get your pet costumes and treats at the Humane Society’s Sonnyside Retail
Store or visit your local PetSmart or PETCO stores.
TEBO Car COLLECTION special Event
Saturday, November 14, 2009
4 to 7 p.m.
$50 - Includes Cocktails and Hors D’oeurves
Join us for this unique opportunity to attend a Private Event featuring Stephen Tebo’s
extensive collection of antique and classic motor vehicles. Mr. Tebo started his car collection
in 1975 when he purchased a sleeve-valve, three-door 1925 Willys Knight for $2,500. Recent
additions include a 1929 Duesenberg and a mid-1960s Shelby Mustang. Other highlights are
John Lennon’s white Rolls Royce, Steve McQueen’s Indian Chief, Frank Sinatra’s jeep, the
taxi used on the Jerry Seinfeld show, a limited-production 1954 Kaiser Darrin, a room of
Corvettes, a room of British cars, vintage fire trucks and much, much more.
Steven Woods
And the winner is!
Thank you everyone for participating in our first-ever digital photo contest. We received
more than 120 entries, the votes have been counted, and we are excited to announce
our Grand Prize winner and five category winners. The winning image was submitted
by Joan Strosin of Boulder, who describes her entry of Stanley as a “new beginning.”
Congratulations to Joan and Stanley.
Your pet still has an opportunity to be a Humane Society star — look for announcements
about our next photo contest!
Visit boulderhumane.org to purchase tickets.
Please consider
the Humane Society
of Boulder Valley
in your will.
Family and Pet Portraits
Mark your calendar and plan now for our favorite family event!
YEAR-TO-DATE TOTALS, AS OF AUGUST 2009
Adoptions
REUNITED LOST & FOUND ANIMALS
Page 8
A professional photographer will take 8 - 15 exposures with your choice of neutral or holiday
backdrop. Bring your whole family, pets included! Print packages start at $40, including
your choice of print sizes and/or holiday cards. Purchase a CD with the digital files of your
entire photo session for only $100!
Space is limited, so make your reservation today by e-mailing [email protected]
3,366
Animals in Foster Care Training & Behavior Center Clients Animal Welfare Investigations 948
756
3,278
394
Page 9
November 21 & 22 and December 5 & 6, 2009
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Humane Society of Boulder Valley
National Pet Obesity
Awareness Day - Wednesday,
October 14, 2009
Little Princess Sambra
Merlyn
Love Letters from Happy Adopters
Dear Humane Society of Boulder Valley:
Dear HSBV:
Back on Mother’s Day of this year I went to the Boulder Humane
Society to meet with a dog by the name of “Taz” after seeing a photo
of him on the web-page and sensing an immediate attraction for him.
As it turned out, not only were we a perfect match, but my Golden
Retriever, Maddie and he were also.
A couple months ago I visited HSBV with the idea of just “browsing”
for a new cat companion (I should have known better!). An hour later I
came out with Sambra, a gorgeous black kitty just over a year old who
had had a bit of a rough time of it in her short life. I was assured she
was perfectly healthy and playful. Little did I know…
Ever since that fateful day that we welcomed him into our home,
our lives have been enriched even more so than had already been. I
truly could not have asked for a better dog. Although possessing a
(possible) formidable appearance, he is absolutely as gentle as my
“Golden”. Adults and children alike can — and do — approach him on a
daily basis while out on our walks, and he is a true gentleman, sitting
to be patted.
She has been an outstanding addition to the household, taking to the
other two cats in my place in less than a day. At her first vet appointment I was told she is alert, curious (probably because she tried to
climb both the vet tech and the vet!) and very healthy (she left them
all giggling!). She amazes me by getting into spots I would not have
thought her capable of and looking at me quizzically when I ask her
how she got there. I have taken to calling her Noodle because of this
and because she will find any way at all to curl up in my arms or on
my head.
I would like to encourage everyone that might read this that hasn’t
already gone the route of adoption to PLEASE give these homeless
dogs a chance. They are oh so worthy of your love, and the rewards
will come back to you one-hundred fold.
Thanks a million!
Louie, Maddie and Laura :)
P.S. From my understanding, “Louie” (I changed his name upon
adoption) was kept in a Utah dog shelter for six months, preparing to
be euthanized — for no fault of his own — when the Humane Society of
Boulder Valley took him under their wings. What a terrible shame that
would have been, and IS for the approximately 4,000,000 homeless
dogs that are put to death each year in the United States. So even if
you cannot provide a home for one of these loving animals, please
find it in your hearts and wallet to make a small donation.
After losing my two oldest kitties within a year of each other, I didn’t
know if it was possible for another kitty to come into the house and
keep me from mourning any more, but Sambra has done it seemingly
without effort. And I also somehow knew that HSBV was the place for
me to go for the perfect companion!
I am attaching two pictures: one of my beautiful Ragdoll, Merlyn,
adopted from HSBV 10 years ago and one of Sambra, sitting still (take
it from me, this doesn’t happen very often!). Thank you, HSBV, for
introducing me to two delightful companions who appear to be just as
happy to have me as their “momma”!
Sincerely,
Cindy H., a happy adopter
Do you have a fat cat or a pudgy pooch? Sometimes it’s obvious when our pets have
put on too much weight, and we just don’t realize how heavy our pets have become.
Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in pets. It often leads to serious
issues including diabetes, orthopedic issues and cardiopulmonary problems. Our
veterinarians can help you put your pet on a weight management program, and they
may recommend some testing to determine if your pet’s weight is related to food or
is caused by a medical condition. We can help your pet “live large” without all of the
extra pounds!
National Pet Obesity Awareness Day is annually recognized on October 14 by the
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Its mission is to obtain real-world data
concerning pet obesity in the United States through its Third Annual National Pet
Obesity Awareness Day Study. The first two studies included data from more than 100
veterinary clinics, schools and pet-related organizations. On October 14, the Humane
Society of Boulder Valley will participate in this study by recording weight-related
information for each pet we examine that day and educating our clients about the
importance of pet weight management.
Thanks for voting
us best non-profit
organization in
this year’s boulder
county gold awards.
Page 10
boulderhumane.org
Fall
Workplace
Giving
Campaign
Does your employer participate in a
workplace giving campaign such as
Community Shares or United Way?
You can choose to make a difference in
the lives of homeless and abandoned
animals at Humane Society of Boulder
Valley by designating your gift to us.
Other similar workplace giving
organizations include the Colorado
Combined Campaign, Partnership
for Colorado and Federal Combined
Campaign. We’ll be visiting workplaces
this fall to give presentations, and if
you’d like us to visit your workplace
during your campaign kick-off event,
please check with your human
resources or benefits coordinator for
more information.
Page 11
Louie
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Denver, CO
Permit No 152
2323 55TH STREET
BOULDER, CO 80301
now you can
follow us on
If you’re on Facebook, we’d love to be your friend! Simply
do a search for “Humane Society of Boulder Valley” and
become a fan of your favorite local organization helping
your furry friends.
You can also get up-to-the-minute tweets, if you follow us
on Twitter at twitter.com/humaneboulder.
These tools are a great way to learn about upcoming
Humane Society of Boulder Valley events and share
stories about great pets you’ve found at our shelter!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO help us save on postage and printing costs?
Sign up to receive this newsletter electronically by registering your preference at www.boulderhumane.org/info.