Winter 2015 - Bitter Root Humane Association

Bitter Root Humane Association
Pet Portraits
Help Support
BRHA
Volume 15, Issue 1
Winter 2015
When local artist Mich
ele
Kapor heard that Ra
valli
County in 2013 had
eliminated
any type of funding
for Bitter
Root Humane Associa
tion,
she wanted to find so
me way
to help the shelter.
“BRHA
is such a necessity for
our
County”, she says. In
order to
provide financial as
sistance,
she offered to do pe
t portraits,
usually pastels, with
half of
her normal fee being
directed
to BRHA. To date sh
e has been
commissioned to co
mplete
nine paintings, seve
ral of them
shown here.
Ms. Kapor is still offeri
ng her
wonderful pet portrait
s; if you
are interested, call th
e shelter
at 363-5311 and we
will pass
your information alo
ng to
Michele.
Immortalize your fur
ry
companions and he
lp fund
BRHA!
Shelter hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri - 1-6pm; Wed - CLOSED; Sat - noon-5pm; Sun - 2-5pm
Member of Humane Society of the United States • Montana Animal Care Association • Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce
Annual Meeting Notice
The 2015 Annual Membership Meeting for the Bitter
Root Humane
Association will be held Wednesday March 18
at 6:30 PM at the Bitterroot
Valley Board of Realtors Building, corner of Fourt
h and Cherry, Hamilton.
Your membership must be current in order to vote.
The mailing label on this
newsletter indicates the year through which your
dues are paid. If you are
not current, send your payment prior to the date
of the annual meeting. Dues
are: Senior $10.00, Regular $20.00, Business $30.0
0. We hope to see you at
the meeting.
262 Fairgrounds Road
P.O. Box 57
Hamilton, Mt 59840
406.363.5311
e.org
brhafront@bitterroothuman
org
ne.
ma
thu
www.bitterroo
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kathy Good; President
ent
Jim Coulter; Vice Presid
Kathie Butts; Secretary
Linda Williams ; Treasurer
Linda Turner
Mary Fox
Rhonnie Leonard
ly at
contact the Board direct
.org
brha@bitterroothumane
STAFF
Eve Burnsides
Operations Manager
Kennel
Sponsorships
d
During our 2014 Year En
which
in
ys
wa
Appeal, one of the
s
wa
HA
to offer funding to BR
p. The
with a Kennel Sponsorshi
ing! The
response was overwhelm
recently
2015 sponsorship cards
and a
els
went up on the kenn
lobby
new plaque hangs in the
of our
with a list of donors. All
your
te
cia
pre
guests really ap
support!
are
Sponsorship opportunities
e one for
always available: mayb
these cuties?
Michele Craig
Volunteer Coordinator
Char
Medical Specialist
Jennifer
Front Counter/Adoption
Counselor
Amber, Nate
Eric, Tristan
2
Bitter Root Humane Association
It’s a new year and
I still live at the shelter.
Won’t you take me home?
Winter 2015
Be Aware – There are killers out there!
First Hand Experience by Kathy Butts
They go by names like Rampage, Rat B Gone, Mouse B Gone, Fast Kill and Mole Tox. Fortunately, my dogs ate
d-Con and not one of these other toxic rodenticides for which there is no antidote. Fast action and quick thinking
saved the day for my furry family.
There are many different types of mouse and rat poison available. They come in a wide variety of colors and
formations like grains, pellets, or blocks. They can have similar names and similar looks but contain very different
poisons. If you have access to the package and can read either the active ingredient or the EPA registration
number – you will be steps ahead in helping your pet by correctly identifying the poison. Take the package with
you if you suspect your pet has ingested any of the poison. Even products that are similar can vary in how much
or how little is needed to cause poisoning or irreparable damage.
My dogs ate a long acting anticoagulant, brodifacoum. This poison prevents the blood from clotting and leads
to spontaneous internal bleeding within 3 to 5 days. Even a small amount of this poison can kill a small dog. We
don’t use ingestible mouse control products at our home – our dogs were with us at another house. In 2 minutes
they found a box of d-Con. We were lucky to see the box to take it with us to the vet. Without treatment, signs
of internal bleeding include pale gums, weakness, lethargy, coughing, and, ultimately, difficulty breathing.
Vomiting and diarrhea (with or without blood), nose bleeds, bruising, blood in urine, swollen joints and bleeding
from the gums are less common signs but can occur. Brodifacoum has an antidote that can be administered by
your veterinarian - Vitamin K1, a vitamin essential for blood clotting that is disrupted by the poison. I can’t stress
enough to call your veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten poison directly from the container or indirectly
from eating a mouse or rat killed by poison. This poison’s ability to remain active in the lifeless body of a rodent is
a real threat to pets. Likewise, a rodent that has ingested the poison but has not died is also a threat.
Bromethalin can be mistaken for a long acting anticoagulant because the active ingredient names look similar
but this poison results in brain swelling. Signs of poisoning include tremors, seizures, paralysis and a lack of
coordination, eventually death occurs. Signs can develop in 2 to 36 hours after ingestion and the severity of the
signs correlates with how much poison has been ingested. Cats are more sensitive to this poison than dogs, but
bromethalin has a narrow margin of safety in all species requiring prompt veterinary intervention.
Vitamin D3 also known as Cholecalciferol is very dangerous to pets causing high calcium and phosphorus
levels in the body leading to acute kidney failure. Signs of poisoning include increased thirst and urination,
weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, bad breath, and kidney failure within 2 to 3 days. There is no antidote
for Vitamin D3 poisoning but supportive care at your veterinary clinic may prevent a fatal outcome.
Zinc and aluminum phosphides are commonly found in gopher bait but can also show up in mouse and
rat poison. This poison releases a toxic gas called phosphine gas in the animal’s stomach. Signs to look for are
associated with stomach bloating, vomiting, abdominal pain, shock, collapse, and seizures. Gas released from
vomiting dogs can be irritating to human lung tissue as well. Phosphides are extremely toxic even in small doses
and there is no known antidote
The best thing a pet owner can do is to be educated on household toxins both inside and outside of your home.
Keep all cleaning and gardening and lawn products labeled, in tightly sealed containers, out of your pets reach.
sociation
Bitter Root Humane As
Allegra proudly supports the
EC
1151 N. 1ST, SUIT
840
HAMILTON, MT 59
406.363.7645
ALLEGRAHMT.COM
PAREL
MAIL • SIGNS • AP
DESIGN • PRINT •
Winter 2015
If you do suspect poisoning call your vet right away
and follow instructions carefully. Don’t feed your pet, bag
the poison container, and wash your hands!
And consider this……. if our dogs had been on leads
we would have had an opportunity to stop them before
they ate that d–Con.
ASPCA Poison hotline
is 888-426-4435
Pet Poison helpline
is 800-213-6680.
Bitter Root Humane Association
3
A for about a year, a litter
, when I had been volunteering at BRH
2005
In
ed.
pen
hap
t
wha
’s
here
so
Okay,
. They needed
the muddy-mouthed kittens by the staff
bed
dub
and
ter
shel
the
to
e
cam
ns
of 3 week old kitte
correct potty habits, exercise,
t. Exactly—to my home. They learned
a foster home. Guess where they wen
navigate stairs, up and down. One,
a “The Man”, and ultimately how to
alph
by
led
,
den
the
r
ove
all
ing
runn
n several times to become
to be personally helped up and dow
had
he
hts;
heig
of
ed
scar
was
”,
“Lover Boy
ite my tears at
their search for their forever homes, desp
in
beg
to
k
bac
t
wen
all
They
it.
comfortable with
Somali cat sadly opened the gate
weeks, when my treasured 19 year old
letting them go. Fast forward a few
So, those twin boys came home
not yet adopted, nor was Lover Boy.
was
Man
The
ge.
brid
bow
rain
the
to
and finally “Twinkle Toes”, all
wed “Samuel Whiskers”, “Macavity”,
follo
t
Nex
d.
tren
a
ng
inni
beg
thus
with me,
crazy cat lady.
time my family were calling me the
from different fostered litters. By this
companion was
came to the shelter when her human
s,
cros
dale
Aire
an
Toy,
s.
ction
dire
Okay, switch
old Toy. Adopters are generally
there was no one to care for 13 year
arrested while she was in the vehicle;
—she came home with me. Then
a senior dog, so guess what! Exactly
not much interested in taking home
e little 2 year old Shi
Matti, both seniors. Most recently cam
oss
e/cr
colli
er
Bord
and
ie,
Sad
Tzu
came Shi
from her veterinarian
teral fracture of her pelvis. With help
bila
a
had
and
ned
ndo
aba
was
Tzu, Tessa. She
d, walked and swam to good
many shelter volunteers, Tessa exercise
surgeon, and many hours of help from
health. Yep—home she came.
a are still at home with me,
sed the bridge. All the cats and Tess
Toy, Sadie and Matti have all now cros
rs of the house. And Tessa, as
me, and generally being supreme rule
with
ping
slee
and
led
spoi
lly
tota
getting
elf. Somewhere along
all times, claiming the throne for hers
at
them
ge
llen
cha
to
tries
do,
to
t
Shi Tzus are won
9 years of joys and sorrows,
asked to join the BRHA board. Through
there, 9 years ago to be exact, I was
these were some of the best years
ss and sadness, I am delighted to say
frustration and achievement, happine
r dedicated
of my life. In the surround of many othe
I have watched,
board members, staff and volunteers,
a well-respected
and helped to direct, BRHA become
Bitter Root valley.
and well-loved focal institution in the
end. BRHA
But, all good things must come to an
s are limited
term
’
bylaws stipulate that board members
to the end of my
to three 3-year terms. That leads us
tinue to volunteer
term as of the end of March. I will con
to attend all those
here and there, but don’t expect me
I will leave that to
late night, monthly board meetings!!
hope you all will
our current, very dedicated board. I
mission and the
continue to join me in supporting our
has been my great
needs of the animals of our valley. It
community. I
pleasure to serve the BRHA board and
nity to be involved
thank the organization for the opportu
of my four legged
and for the priceless gift of adoption
family.
Kathy
Snow comes down hard as
I crouch beneath a big tree.
My only shelter.
4
Bitter Root Humane Association
Care You Can Trust
406 / 363-7600
246 Marcus Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
Barnings
Dr. Mandy Barnings | Dr. Jack
ES
JAM
D
N
O
M
Y
A
R
FINANCIAL
, INC.
SERVICES
Member
NASD/SIPC
k
Paul M.anKaginer
M
ch
Bran
as-Rupert
e
n
Dia ThomAdvisor
Financial
87
P.O. Box 18
rse Road
172 Golf Cou 59840
MT
,
on
ilt
am
H
93
(406) 363-42
66
(800) 800-67
3-4303
Fax: (406) 36
na.com
imr@monta
Winter 2015
What do Volunteer Dog Walkers
n?
do at the Bitter Root Humane Associatio
shelter and seen people and dogs
Have you ever driven by the animal
It looks pretty fun for both the dogs
playing out in the front fenced area?
ring as a dog walker is fun…and
and the people! The fact is voluntee
in the successful adoption of shelter
provides a critical and important role
dogs.
there are many volunteer
At the Bitter Root Humane Association
s or cats, you can help with dishes
opportunities: you can work with dog
r positions with marketing,
or laundry, and there are even voluntee
nts and fundraising. There are
photography, gardening, special eve
can help with the dogs: socializing
actually many ways that volunteers
and special events, grooming and
the puppies, walking dogs in parades
nteer dog walkers at the shelter
even providing foster care. But the volu
whole, new level.
take their volunteer commitment to a
, come in 365 days a year!
The volunteer dog walkers, like the staff
or 20 degrees below the dogs still
Remember, that even if it’s a holiday
are scheduled from about Noon
need to go out. Volunteer dog walkers
er) every day of the week, 52
until 2:00 p.m. (sometimes even long
, the snow, the heat, and the
weeks per year. We work in the rain
mud.
What does it take to be a volunteer dog
walker?
Be patient and compassionate.
Be a leader.
ing.
Be confident and clear in communicat
Possess great listening skills.
can be a
You must be committed because this
ing job.
physically and emotionally demand
als and people
You must be reliable, because both anim
are relying on you!
about two weeks hands
Be willing to learn, training requires
on experience.
able to walk steadily.
Be in good physical condition and be
walker?
What do you get out of being a dog
The time you spent with that dog
Knowing that you made a difference!
dog get adopted!
brought happiness and helped that
Let’s go for a walk!
Fresh air, a good snow romp, yet…
You still ignore me.
Winter 2015
Bitter Root Humane Association
5
Nov. 11, 2014 through Feb. 1, 2015
BRHA gratefully acknowledges the support and generosity of so many who wish to honor the memory of
loved ones. We are humbled by the dedication and love of animals that those departed loved ones
exhibited, and are truly grateful to their families for suggesting that memorials be sent to the BRHA for
the benefit of the animals.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF PETS
For Sheila
From Sally Richards
For Jack and Bleu
From Ann Bachman
For Jezibel,
From Patti Rosa & Paul
adopted 16 yrs. ago
Policastro
For Gaby
From Dick & Cindi Hayne
For Blue
From Dick & Cindi Hayne
For Star Baby
From Dee Dee & Jim Glick
For Wilbur
From Fred & Cathy Beringer
For Daisy & Wayne
From Jennifer Laing
For Lady, Shatsie, Penny, King,
Kimba, Blotter, Baron,
Fire, Tundra, Molly
And Milo
From Don and Linda Williams
For Jackie Carbon
From Kate Shandra
For Trigger Weber
From Jeanette & Michael
McKee
For Bailey Laursen
From Carrie Storrow
Michele Craig
For Toby
From Diana Brandt
For Nicky
From Esther Foss
For Patrick
From Susan Alves
For Drake Moreland
From Herb & Melinda Depp
Charlotte & Charlie
Oliver
Joan & Don Lodmell
For Lyall
From Leonard & Barbara
McCann
For Boojum and Shammy
From Janet Lee & Ted Libbey
For Lily and Mogy
From George Masnick &
Reisa Kahn
For Sunny and Betty B.
From Melanie &
Wendell Bakken
For Stella, Phoebe & From Kris Reddin
Sheila – Judith Lane Friends
For Bailey
From Judy Paul
For Oscar Ellis From Susan & Brett Young
For Cricket
From Dan & Marie Myers
For Dorsey Jones
From Marilyn Warren
For Maverick
From Teri Webberley
From Paul & Lina Gyles
For Sophie
6
Bitter Root Humane Association
For
For
For
For Grace
Heidi
Lily
Speedy Draper
From
From
From
From
Vic & Anne Frugoli
Peter Samulevich
Ann Marie Carbin
Dave & Sue McCormack
IN LOVING MEMORY OF PEOPLE
For Howard Rapp
From
For Lynn Huskinson
From For George Vandergrift
From
For Tim Teator
From For Nealann Akari
From
For Jill Clyde Morgan
From
For Jeanie & Jessica Collar From
For Verne Bowers
From
From
For Terri Chisholm
From
For Dennis Claxton
From
For Thomas Heiland
From
For Bridger Lee Meyers-Reeves From
For Stetson Nielson
From
For Benjamin Ouellette
From For Bobbie Holst
From
For Helen Laing
From
For Charlie Waliser
From
For Willa Sargisson
From
For Willy Burgdorfer
From
For Ron Plaja
From
For JoAnne Stuth
From
For Fern Robinson
From
For Rose Anderson
From
For John Hossack
From
For Julia Christian
From
For Kelly Nelson
From
For Barbara Boatwright
From
For R.B. Baird
From
For Jean Lemon
From
For Herman McClung
From
Alice Foster
Kea & Joseph Yanzick
Alice Foster
Deirdre Swanson
Don, Lori, Lynda, Cheyn, Emma
Beth Robbins
Bob & Jane Popham
Valerie Collar
Cynthia Nixon
Bill Bowers &
Michael Growler
Jim Chisholm
Kea & Joseph Yanzick
Kea & Joseph Yanzick
Kea & Joseph Yanzick
Kea & Joseph Yanzick
Kea & Joseph Yanzick
Laura McManus
Jennifer Laing
Jennifer Laing
Janet Sigmond
Alice Foster
Lois Micheletti
Julie Gothrup
Deanna Raisl
Pat Stevens
Alice Foster
Beth & Ann Robbins
Kim & William Malensek
Charlotte Sibley &
Leif Magnusson
Larry Fulbright
William &
Wilma McCart
Anita &
Sandra Chapple
Laura McManus
Winter 2015
Nov. 11, 2014 through Feb. 1, 2015
For Mary Kathryn “Kathy” Oliver From Mary Fox
Lori & Larry Draper
Sue & Dave
McCormack
Pat & Mark Moreland
Eileen Toulouse
Joan & Don Lodmell
Melinda & Herb Depp
Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C.
Sandy Bradley
Stock Farm HO
Association
Jim & Sharon Schroeder
James & Johanna Oliver
Jim & Becky Cote
William & Patricia Doody
For Farrell Johnson
From Beth Robbins
IN HONOR OF
For
For
For
For
For
For
For
For
For
Deuce, Farley, Mustafa
& Ekmek
Grace Ann’s birthday
Our dogs Lucy,
Mickey & Max
Sue & Jim Ascario’s
3 pets
Munchkin NiNi
Ranger, Mary Berry,
Li’l Scout
Shiloh & BeBe
Dr. Linda Kauffman
My Brother Kent Myers
Mabel McKillop
Happy 103rd
From Mommy
From Candice Swiger
From Jan Cabe
From John & Val Winn
From Laura & Alvin Watlington
From Carolyn Thornton
From Judy & Dick Estler
From Carol Wymore
From Carol Neeves
Spread the Word!
2014’s numbers were great!
We took in over 700 animals-all sizes, shapes, colors and attitudes!
• 96% of the animals that were our guests were either adopted or reunited with their owners.
• There were over 200 animals reunited with their owners through our phone contact system.
• Jennifer created and launched the Bitter Root Valley Lost and Found web site to help reunite pets
and their owners throughout the Valley…We’ve already had great results!
• The Keystone after school readers are back and the critters love ‘em! A nice dinner, a short walk to
assist digestion, a nice book (the kids have to hold the book-our critters don’t have thumbs) to relax
and then it’s nap time-for the animals-not the kids. They say their goodbyes with promises to return
each week.
• We stay pretty busy throughout the year tending to our guests and we couldn’t do it without the
staff, volunteers and community support from people and organizations –like you!
With Heartfelt Thanks,
Eve Burnsides
Operations Manager
Winter 2015
Bitter Root Humane Association
7
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Hamilton, MT 59840
Permit No. 38
262 Fairgrounds Road
P.O. Box 57
Hamilton, MT 59840
PASS IT ON
to a friend when you are
finished reading your
newsletter. By increasing
readership and awareness
you will be performing a
valuable service for the
animals we’re trying to
help. You can assist us in
cutting costs by advising us
of your change of address
or duplicate mailings. We
would appreciate your help
in updating our records.
CANINE
FIRST AID
SEMINAR
open to the public
CANINE
FIRST AID
SEMINAR
Saturday, February 21 • 10am - noon
VICTOR HIGH SCHOOL, 425 4th Street
topicS will incluDe:
• wound management
• allergic responses
• ingestion of toxins
• when to seek emergency care
and more!
bring your queSTionS & noTePaDS
Call Dr. Linda Perry Turner, D.V.M. to register at 360-7387
$30 Donation benefits
bitter Root humane Association& Victor School
Keep ‘em healthy!
open to the public
Saturday, February 21 • 10am - noon
VICTOR HIGH SCHOOL, 425 4th Street
topicS will incluDe:
• wound management
Keep ‘em safe!