11.19.12 Edition.indd

SPCA of SW Michigan
November 19, 2012/Issue 200
VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
The SPCA is a non-profit animal rescue group based in Southwest Michigan. Thanks to volunteers like you, we
have rescued over 11,000 dogs, cats, puppies & kittens since we started in 2002!
*** UPCOMING ADOPTION EVENTS ***
Subject to Change As Needed
November 24th:
December 1st:
December 8th:
Rescue Center: 11 am - 4 pm
PetSmart: 11 am - 3 pm
MVPets: 10 am - 2 pm
Rescue Center: 11 am - 4 pm
Oak Ridge Feed: 11 am - 3 pm
Pet Vet: 11 am - 2 pm
Rescue Center: 11 am - 4 pm
Petco: 11 am - 3 pm
WHAT’S NEW AT THE SHELTER?
Have you seen the puppies in Holiday Mode?
It’s a digital world and we are delighted so many
of our supporters and volunteers stay connected
with us often by the touch of a finger. Check
back DAILY to www.spcaswmich.org - why not
add to your Favorite’s Bar?
1) See Home Page for connections for the latest
pets, needs, events and links.
2) Check the Volunteer Page for connections
the ways your time and talent can help. Your
help is what sets us apart for each innocent life.
3) Newsletters are always available online.
Don’t wait for an email copy, just jump off the
home page to Newsletters for your current
edition and maybe a previous one you want to
share with a friend.
4) Donate menu will give you easy access
to drop a few dollars off for the rescue and
rehabilitation of another special life.
5) Needs List at www.spcaswmich.org/donate/
needs list will keep you updated of urgent
needs, why not share on Facebook? You may
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
know a source for items our animals can use;
space is limited at the shelter, so we appreciate
you targeting our current and ongoing Needs
List items.
If we cannot use your donation immediately,
we do share with others in our community with
immediate needs too. For items NOT listed,
please email [email protected] to confirm
our need and make arrangements for delivery.
If you wish a Donation Receipt, just ask a front
desk volunteer.
SEE SANTA SOON!
Your pets wants
you to take
them to see
Santa!
Photo
opportunities
for your family
and pets to see
Santa with a donation to the SPCA:
11/24 at MVPets on Westnedge
12/1 at Petsmart on West Main
12/1 at Pet Vet on Drake
12/2 at Petsmart on West Main
See more details at:
www.spcaswmich.org/CalendarOfEvents
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]
SPCA Volunteer Newsletter
November 19, 2012
Page 2
SUPPORT THE SPCA THIS
HOLIDAY SEASON!
Something for everyone
When you
boot up your
computer or
smart phone;
think first,
HOW can I
help the cats
and dogs
rescued by
the SPCA of SW Michigan today?
By simply changing a few habits you CAN with
make your everyday AND holiday shopping do
MORE for the cats and dogs!
Take a moment to designate SPCA of SWMICH
as your organization to benefit with
www.igive.com. Set iGive as a Favorite’s Bar
Button.
Enjoy discovering their site and set your favorite
online stores in your personalized home page
for easy reference.
Find your regulars for Flowers, Rental
Cars, Vitamins, Cat & Dog needs, Jewelry everything!!
Before you purchase on-line, select iGive as your
browser. Then shop as usual and a percentage
of your purchase will donate back to the shelter
to benefit the homeless animals in our care
waiting for their Forever Homes. They are
counting on all of us.
Details always available at
www.spcaswmich.org/donate.
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Our new pet families get
the news about Bissell
supporting the shelter, and
you can too! Visit
www.spcaswmich.org/donate for details
on how your Bissell purchase supports us.
REMEMBER to shop through www.igive.com
when you make your Bissell purchase - you’ll be
giving TWO donations through your purchase.
Just BROWSING on the Internet?
Make every click
count when you
use www.goodsearch.com and select the SPCA
of SWMich for your donation. GoodSearch
donates directly to the shelter for every click,
every day.
Petango for all your pet
care needs online.
Just follow
www.spcaswmich.org/donate for Petango great
values on pet needs and a bonus back to the
shelter. Always specify SPCA of SWMI as your
designated organization.
FACEBOOK, TWEETER and
YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL
Are possibly the most precious
gifts you can share with the
cats and dogs. Share pages from the website, a
link to a special pet, share the news of an event
they will what to attend, promote the iGive and
other ways to donate all year long.
We reach NEW friends of the shelter because so
many people know the power of just including
the SPCA of SW Michigan in their Social Media
Lives.
Take a moment each week, each day, to include
the shelter in your conversations online. Print
a flyer, share an email, it truly does make a
difference. (continued on next page)
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]
SPCA Volunteer Newsletter
November 19, 2012
Page 3
We have much to be proud of about in our
community. Many supporting businesses to
acknowledge their generosity. Plenty of events
to share with families and friends through their
FACEBOOK.
So even if you don’t have time to walk a dog or
stroke a cat, or maybe you are not in Kalamazoo
at this time, you CAN help with your clicks!
DONATE WITH YOUR GROCERY BUDGET
How could your weekly grocery trip help the
shelter?
Hardings Market
donates a percentage
of your purchases
directly to the shelter!
All locations participate.
Get your card today and share the opportunity
on Facebook with your friends and family too!
See www.spcaswmich.org/donate for details on
how your everyday shopping trip can give back.
GFS coming soon! We
are delighted that GFS
[Gordon Food Service]
is joining the local
businesses supporting
the SPCA of SW Michigan.
Watch the www.spcaswmich.org/donate page
to get your $10 coupon for your first shopping
trip and link
to make
your
purchases
at their
stores
donate back
to the shelter!
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Adoptable Pet Focus
By Holly Casteel
At the SPCA, all
of the dogs are
assigned a color
to represent
their energy
level. Green is
assigned to
dogs with a very
high energy
level. A dog,
whose energy
level is orange,
means that they
are in between a high energy level and a low
one. Purple represents a dog with a low energy
level. The main objective of assigning energy
levels is to ensure each dog is placed in a home
that best suits their needs upon adoption.
Today’s feature pet is a green energy level dog
named Rudy.
Rudy is a very energetic dog who is a lot like the
Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going.
If Rudy could have a perfect day, it would be one
where he could spend the majority of his day
outside in the fresh air and soaking up the sun.
He loves to go on walks and doesn’t need much
persuasion to get a leash and harness on and
take off. He loves toys and can spend a good
amount of time amusing himself with a favorite
toy. He is currently in a foster home where his
foster mom raves about him. Rudy is cratetrained as well as house-broken. He also knows
some basic commands and could probably be
able to learn a few more. He is also good with
most other dogs.
If you are interested in Rudy or would like to
know more about him, please go to
www.spcaswmich.org and fill out an Adoption
Contact Form. Rudy may just be the dog you’ve
been looking for.
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]
SPCA Volunteer Newsletter
November 19, 2012
Page 4
MVPets Holiday Event
Don’t forget to bring
your favorite pets to
MVPets, 7429 S
Westnedge, on
Saturday, November
24th, for our “Santa
Paws” photo and nail trim day from 12 pm - 4
pm. Photos with Santa and nail trims are $5
each and there are a lot of other fun activities
planned. MVPets is pulling out all the stops to
make this an exciting and profitable day for
the SPCA. There will be an Angel Tree and
customers can select a SPCA dog or cat
ornament from the tree and purchase
Christmas gifts for that animal. The store is
offering discounts to shoppers in honor of
Small Business Saturday, a day designated for
shoppers to visit local merchants after the big
shopping crush of Black Friday. Several prizes
will be available throughout the day and we
plan to have a bake sale. We can still use some
baked goods for the sale and are looking for
someone to bring a punch bowl and make
punch. We can still use a couple more people
to help out that day. Contact Jane King
([email protected]) with questions or if
you can help that day.
Home for the Holidays
SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, December 16th, will
be our annual “Home for the Holidays” open
house at the Rescue Center from 1 pm - 4 pm.
It’s a great opportunity to show off our facility
and pets while people are in the holiday
spirit and hopefully secure some additional
donations and adoptions.
We plan to serve light refreshments, maybe
cookies and punch. If you would like to help,
please contact Sara Singleton at
[email protected].
Additional details can be found in the
December “weekly update” emails.
SHOPPERS, ADOPTERS & VOLUNTEERS
Your mouse will want to visit www.spcaswmich.org
often during November and December.
Lots of opportunity to give, share, celebrate and
enjoy the good work of the SPCA of SW Michigan.
How can black Friday or Cyber Monday impact
our cats and dogs? With your help, of course!
Help share the web postings on your Facebook,
Tweets, email, and at the water cooler. Just
another way that YOU are the heart of what we
do. See you on the Home Page!
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]
SPCA Volunteer Newsletter
November 19, 2012
Page 5
WRITERS NEEDED!
Write for
Rescue
Funding!
Are you looking
for something
more you can
do for the SPCA?
Do you have
big ideas, great
writing skills and/or like earning big bucks
for the SPCA? The Grant Writing Committee
is looking for creative individuals that would
like to help earn the organization money by
submitting grants! No experience necessary.
Grants are a great way to help the organization
continue current programs and start new
programs. They are also a great way to get
money for big ticket items such as vehicles,
kennels, medical equipment, and building
updates. If interested, please contact Alex
at [email protected]. The next grants
meeting will be on Tuesday, November 27th at
6 pm at the Rescue Center. Please join us!
Be the Voice for our Cats & Dogs!
Do you just love getting to know the SPCA
animals and have a natural talent of telling
others just how amazing they are? Well
there is a way you can tell everyone! We
need volunteers to help write the bios for
the SPCA animals to share with the world
just how amazing they are! We are looking
for volunteers that can make a regular
commitment to write the memos and have
access to the internet to post them. Just
know that the things you say about the
SPCA animals can be what helps to get them
adopted! If interested, please contact Alex at
[email protected].
Check out more volunteer opportunities
at http://www.spcaswmich.org/volunteer/
whatvolunteersdo.html
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Dog Fosters Needed
The Holidays are just
around the corner!
For some people, it’s
a time of fun and get
togethers. For some
it can be a lonely
time. Instead of
being alone, how
about fostering a dog from the SPCA? We offer
two options. Short term is just for the
weekend. This gives the dogs a little mini
vacation. They get to be out of the kennel for a
couple of days and enjoy human
companionship. The other option is long term
fostering. With this option you have the
opportunity to have one of our fabulous dogs
full time in your home. We furnish any and all
meds with a open line of communication
regarding any questions you may have. It
might be the first time they’ve ever known
security and love. It can work wonders! Make
your holidays a little more enjoyable. Please
contact [email protected].
Cani$ters, cani$ters!
If you have a canister placed
somewhere that really isn’t
doing too much, feel free to
switch it up to somewhere else
that maybe has never had one
of ours before. Always let
Nancy McKinney know the
location and the amount you
collect every month. Gas
stations, locally owned businesses, and
restaurants usually welcome one of our
canisters. The canisters have been a consistant
support every month for our rescued animals
from our community. Thank you to everyone
who takes care of one or several like Hazel and
Jo Harvey! It all helps. If you have an idea of a
new spot and need a canister, contact
[email protected].
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]
SPCA Volunteer Newsletter
November 19, 2012
Page 6
Nora
Camille
Submitted by: Cathy Wright
We adopted Camille
the cat a week ago
and I just wanted to
pass along how
much we love her
and are so happy to
have her as part of
our family. She didn’t
even need an
adjustment period,
and acted like she
knew she was home from the minute we
brought her home. She loves the kids, and they
absolutely love her! I spend most of my time
after our children go to bed just cuddling her
on my lap. She is such a joy (she’s currently
sleeping and sprawled across my lap and
keyboard as I type this)!
If anyone remembers, she has abscesses on
her canine teeth and also has a terrible cold.
She wasn’t eating much the first couple of
days, but our vet said she had a sore throat
from her cold and also couldn’t smell due to
it and he gave her a shot as well as a different
antibiotic to help her feel better. She has been
eating with gusto ever since! Her Dr. will fix her
teeth in a couple weeks, he just needs her cold
to improve a bit first. She’s already improved
though just this past week. I will send pictures
in another few weeks as she progresses. I just
wasn’t sure if any volunteers were wondering
about her, so I thought I’d send along our
thanks and a happy story for now.
Submitted by: Kelsey Lundstrom & Shanzi Haggerty
Here are
some
pictures
that I wish I
had sent
sooner.
Nora, or as
we call her,
Yoshi, is a
wonderful
companion
and a
wellbehaved
dog. She loves when I take her for runs at the
parks or rides in the car. After we brought her
home and started playing with her, while
rubbing her tummy (which is another one of
her favorite things), I noticed she has a heart on
her belly, which makes sense because she’s full
of one. She’s
always giving
affection
with kisses
and cuddles.
She’s also
great at
being very protective of us and I feel safe and
secure with her “standing guard” at our
bedside. We love her and thank you so much
for giving us one of the greatest gifts of all
time. We’ll be sending Christmas cards in the
near future.
I still can’t believe nobody else wanted her
before we found her. Even with her snotty cold
and bad teeth, she’s just the best cat!
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]
SPCA Volunteer Newsletter
November 19, 2012
Page 7
GET INVOLVED - MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Everyone welcome. Email contacts for more info or to share ideas - Subject to Change As Needed
WHEN at RC:
NEXT:
WHAT:
WHY:
WHO to contact:
1st Sun 2 pm
Dec 2nd
Foster Orientation
Become a foster
[email protected]
2nd Sun 12 pm
Dec 9th
Fundraising
Revenue projects
[email protected]
3rd Tues 6 pm
Nov 20th
Volunteer Recruitment
People power passion
[email protected]
4th Tues 6 pm **
Nov 27th
Grants - Research/Write Sub-Com
Grant revenue
[email protected]
Virtual Meetings
Ad Hoc
Marketing/Media Sub-Com
Get the word out
[email protected]
Per training schedule
Ad Hoc
Animal Care
Quality of shelter time
[email protected]
As Needed
Ad Hoc
Financial
Tracking numbers
[email protected]
As Needed
Weekly
Medical Transport
Wagging tail taxi
[email protected]
Event Submit Form
New Idea
Approval, tracking & support
Marketing, social media
At RC or [email protected]
ADOPTIONS - THANKS TO YOU!
CATS: Chanel, Daphnie, Emmy, Janis Joplin, Joan Beaz, Mittens, Morris, Rose, Stormy,
Venus
DOGS: Bev, BLU Ice, BLU Jake, BLU Jewels, BLU Marvel, BLU Moon, BLU Sky, BLU Suz,
Bosco, Cindy, Diablo, Hunter, Mariella, Maximus, Naya, Opra-Bela, Pandora, Pixie,
Ralph, Shanelle, Suez, Sunkist, Theodora, Theradora, Thor, Tonya, Vinny, Vixen, Whiskey,
Xena, Zeezar, Zorro, Zelda
Thank you for opening your hearts and your homes to these animals! See all our
adoptable dogs, cats, puppies & kittens at www.spcaswmich.org. Click on the link to
view adoptable cats or view adoptable dogs.
~ Please send Volunteer Newsletter submissions to Jess Baker @ [email protected].
SPCA of SWMI
6955 West KL Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 344-1474
www.spcaswmich.org
[email protected]