InsIde: - Hornell Animal Shelter

Welcome to our premier issue... Stay up to date with news, events, etc.!
Dear Supporters and Animal Lovers,
In 2015 the Hornell Area Humane Society is looking forward to continue our efforts as a
leader in the community for animal welfare.
Some major milestones have been completed with your support:
Spring/SUMMER 2015
Vol 1. No. 1
Inside:
Board of Directors Letter......... 1
Kathy Dessena
Director’s Letter...................... 2
Josh Farnham
Call for Volunteers................... 2
Veterinarian’s Voice: Keeping
Pets Healthy........................... 3
Dr. Singe K. Hotchkiss, DVM
Five Common Mistakes Adopters
Make When Bringing Home
a New Dog.............................. 4
Jillian Andolina Dog Yard
Opening Soon . ....................... 5
Upcoming Events.................... 5
New Membership Drive........... 6
Our Services............................ 7
• Our own low cost spay/neuter clinic. We have completed over 1600 spay/neuters. We
have set the goal of 1000 spay/neuters in the community for 2015 to help in eliminating
the homeless pet population. We all dream of the day when there will be no need for
our shelter.
• 2014 The community came out in force to support our first annual Cause 4 Paws, an
exciting family event that kicked off with A Blessing of the Pets. The Pet Parade led
everyone to vendors, guest speakers, dunkin’ for hot dogs, and other games for the
pups, the kids’ tent and so much more.
• 2015 It is with great pride that we are be opening the Jillian Andolina Memorial Dog
Yard. This area will give area residents a place where their dogs can learn social skills
in a large but confined and safe area. Dogs, large and small, l will be able to run free
off leash, without the worry of them getting loose. Learn more by checking out the
article on the dog yard in this issue.
• We are excited to have behaviorist and shelter expert Miranda Workman working
with us – she is a professional in the animal welfare field. Under her direction we are
redesigning parts of our shelter, adding a community cat room, training room and
a private room for potential adopters to meet and greet their new ‘furever’ family
member. We are establishing new procedures and protocols to move our organization
into the forefront by providing the best possible humane care of our animals.
• We are working hard to be out in the community starting a trap, neuter, release
program to help the community deal with cat overpopulation in a kind and
compassionate way.
None of this would have been possible without the support from the communities we
serve. Your past and future donations are greatly appreciated and go a long way in
supporting and caring for the animals. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our
organization as we look forward to this year being our best year ever!
Please come and visit – stay for a while – and enjoy all our beautiful dogs and cats as
much as we do. As always, families, children, and clubs are welcome.
With much appreciation,
Kathy Dessena
Acting President
director's letter
The Hornell Area Humane Society is now
in its 109th year of serving the Hornell and
surrounding communities. We strive every
day to fulfill our mission: To nurture and
promote the human/animal bond while
raising community awareness through
education. We do this through the many
services we offer. These services include
adoptions of cats and dogs, low cost, low
income spay and neuter clinic, and dog
control services for Hornell, Hornellsville
and West Almond.
In the past year, we are proud to say we
have adopted out over 200 animals to
Call for Volunteers!
Come join us in our new volunteer program!
Love animals?
Want to meet new people?
Want to make a difference in the community?
Want to become more involved?
Ever think about volunteering at the Hornell Area Humane Society?
What’s stopping you?
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization; much of what we do
depends on the help of our volunteers.
We have started a new volunteer program for anyone interested in becoming
a volunteer. While there is still a volunteer orientation to go through at the
shelter; it is now in the form of a class. The orientation is for anyone who
would like to become a volunteer or is interested in fostering. The class will
allow you to become more familiar with the shelter and all the different
volunteer opportunities.
The orientation classes are every Saturday at 9 a.m. at the shelter.
(You only need to attend one class.)
forever homes and have performed over
800 surgeries in the spay and neuter
clinic. All of this can only be done with the
support of our local communities through
donations of supplies, time and money.
Thank you.
We are looking forward to the future here
at the Hornell Area Humane Society with a
new dog yard, increased training for dogs
and more public outreach. We are also looking forward to working more with our local
communities to increase education about
pets and pet care. Thank you all for your
continued support and love of animals.
Have a great new year!
Joshua Farnham
Director of Shelter Operations
2
Main Office
145 Main Street
Hornell, NY 14843
(607) 324-1822
Visit us at:
maplecitysavings.com
Branch Location
7301 Seneca Rd N
Hornell, NY 14843
(607) 968-8093
veterinarian’s Voice:
Keeping Pets healthy
by Dr. Signe K. Hotchkiss, DVM
A
s I write this, the Hornell area is in the midst of a bitter cold
spell that makes me wish I were anywhere warm. By the
time you read this, I expect that spring will have sprung, and with it
the usual “spring things” that affect our pets’ world.
Easter! Almost all of us recognize it as a time for spring flowers
and chocolate! Those things should be of particular significance
to pet owners, as we need to be aware of the risks they pose for
poisoning.
The Easter lily, along with other members of the lily family such as
the day lily and the tiger lily, is especially toxic to cats. Consuming
only a very small portion, even just one leaf, can result in severe
poisoning. Early signs of illness include vomiting and loss of
appetite, along with lethargy. Blood work may show signs of
kidney damage. Death can follow in as little as five days. It is
important that you seek treatment as early as possible and that
you provide your veterinarian with an accurate history. If treatment
is started early, the patient has a much greater chance of recovery.
Chocolate contains chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine
is one we are likely to be familiar with; theobromine is the other
common chemical found in chocolate. Dogs are far more sensitive
to these compounds than are people. Signs of toxicity can vary
from simple GI upset (vomiting and/or diarrhea) to hyperactivity,
seizures, coma, and death. The amount of methylxanthines
present in chocolate varies greatly with the type of chocolate,
though the general rule of thumb is that the darker the chocolate
the more toxic it will be. For example, my own 50 pound dog
could eat half a pound of milk chocolate and likely suffer only
vomiting and diarrhea, and perhaps some mild agitation; however,
if he ate as little as one ounce of baker’s chocolate it could result in
severe poisoning.
Your veterinarian or a pet poison control helpline can calculate
the amount of methylxanthines your pet has consumed and
determine the severity of poisoning. This is helpful in determining
the course of treatment needed, if any. As with the Easter lily,
the likelihood of recovery is far greater if treatment is started
early. Contact your veterinarian as soon as you are aware that
ingestion may have occurred. Don’t forget that animal poison
control resources or emergency clinics are available if your own
veterinarian is not.
Of course, the best prevention is to keep these potentially harmful
items away from your pet, either out of reach or in a separate room
where they cannot access them.
We look forward to the warmer weather and longer day length
that accompanies spring. For the feline population, these are
signals that weather conditions will be suitable for raising their
young, and the breeding season for kitties goes into full swing.
Perhaps your own female cat shows some quirky behaviors such
as increased vocalization, treading with her front feet, rubbing
your ankles and the table legs, and so on. Those are signs that she
is “in heat” and willing to mate, and while it should last for only
a few days, it will happen again in about three weeks if she has
not been allowed to mate. Or maybe you hear the fierce snarls
and growls of tom cats fighting outside your windows as they
compete for territory. Serious injuries can occur as a result of those
fights and sometimes those felines seriously injured were simply
innocent bystanders.
It’s best to spay and neuter felines before the mating season
begins, but if you haven’t already done so, time is of the essence!
Make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible!
The City of Hornell adopted a Cat Control and Nuisance
Ordinance in the summer of 2013. Those ordinances can be
difficult to enforce, but with the incorporation of a TNR or
TNVR program tremendous strides can be made in controlling
the community cat population. What are these programs?
Trap-neuter-release or trap-neuter-vaccinate-release. Particular
neighborhoods where the stray or feral (born in the wild) cat
population is most dense are targeted, as these are the areas of
greatest need. Members of the community help with the capture
of these cats in live-capture traps, and they are transported to a
sterilization clinic where they are spayed or neutered and then
returned to the community from which they came. They can no
longer add to the population, and over time the cat population
in that area will decrease. The overall health and well-being of the
cats themselves is improved, as are their relations with the people
who live near them. Programs of this nature have been in practice
for decades here in the United States, and it has been proven that
over and above all other efforts, TNR works!
The Hornell Area Humane Society is fortunate to contain a spay/
neuter facility in our shelter on the Industrial Park Road. In the past
we have worked with Barn Cat Outreach, a TNVR program first
established in the Springwater area. We anticipate a continued
cooperative effort with Barn Cat Outreach this summer, and are in
the planning stages of developing our own program which will
provide services to Hornell and the surrounding communities.
We are in need of community support to identify neighborhoods
in need, volunteers to monitor colonies and assist in live capture,
and volunteers to assist our professional staff on clinic days. While
we anticipate that staffing will also be on a volunteer basis, we
are in need of financial support from the community to purchase
equipment and supplies. If you are interested in supporting this
program in any way, please contact the shelter.
3
Five Common Mistakes Adopters Make
When Bringing Home a New Dog
e
veryone knows that adopting a dog from a shelter saves
animals’ lives and makes us all feel good. What people
don’t talk about as much, however, is what the first few weeks
at home with a new dog are like, particularly if it’s difficult. And
even less talked about is the fact that many dogs are returned to
shelters within just a few weeks. Some statistics say as many as
20%. Why is this?
We, the trainers at The Local Bark, have a few thoughts about
this. Keep reading, because these mistakes are NOT what
you think.
We selected Olaf, Elsa, Crystal
and Snow using the same
criteria any potential adopter
might use:
1) They appeared to like
people and other dogs (no
obvious signs of aggression)
2) Olaf is a pure-bred German
shepherd (highly desirable +
handsome)
3) Elsa is a snuggly pit bull
(we love pit bulls and there
are so many homeless ones)
4) Crystal and Snow are adorable small dogs (great companions
and not too barky).
Here’s where we all walk out of the shelter and into the sunset,
our hearts full, ready to give these dogs the lives they deserve.
It’s what we’ve been waiting for! And it is what we do next that
will determine if the integration of these dogs into a family-type
setting goes smoothly, or if it goes, well, to the dogs.
ELSA: First, let’s take a look at Elsa, the kissable 8-month-old pit
bull who went home with trainer Jaclynn.
According to Jaclynn, as soon as they walked in the door, Elsa
happily trotted over to the couch, hopped on, and looked
about as at-home as you could imagine. Jaclynn said if Elsa had
thumbs she probably would have grabbed the remote and
turned on the TV. It would have been easy for Jaclynn to just
leave Elsa there, what with that precious face and all.
After all, a dog fresh out of the shelter needs the comforts of a
couch to feel welcome, right? Wrong.
Hello Common Mistake #1: The last thing Elsa needs is a
plethora of choices in the furniture department. Elsa needs
direction. What starts out as self-inviting to the couch can lead to
other pushy and undesirable behaviors like jumping on people,
4
becoming “guardy” of valuable spaces like couches or beds,
and more. Remember we don’t know anything about Elsa’s true
behavior and tendencies. And we won’t for quite a few weeks.
Remedy? Jaclynn (who hadn’t yet taken the leash off Elsa…more
on that in a minute) simply and quietly led Elsa off the couch.
And when Elsa tried to jump up again – certainly Jaclynn was
mistaken – Jaclynn repeated the calm removal, this time leading
Elsa to her bed. When Elsa stepped onto her bed, Jaclynn said
“good girl!” and gave her a treat and lots of kisses. And remember,
Elsa – not being human – doesn’t get
hurt feelings that she’s being relegated
to a bed made especially for her on the
floor. She was just happy to get kisses.
The reason Jaclynn was able to calmly
show Elsa what she wanted from her
was because Elsa was wearing a
leash. That brings us to Common
Mistake #2: a dog coming from the
cooped-up confines of the shelter
needs freedom and free reign to “get to
know” her new home, right? Nope.
Elsa needs boundaries. Too much
freedom can be overwhelming to new
dogs. And you know what dogs tend to
do when they’re overwhelmed in a new environment? Pee. Even
the housebroken ones. They pee to mark new territory, they pee
because they’re scared, they pee because they don’t know what
else they’re supposed to do. It’s our duty to make sure we’ve set
up an environment where a new dog can’t make a mistake, like
chew the computer cord or the arm of the couch, for example.
Inconsistent and unclear boundaries encourage all kinds of
unwanted behaviors and other problems that keep us trainers
employed. Not to mention the overwhelming-ness of a brand
new environment and all those new sights, sounds and smells
can cause a lot of dogs to go into a very reserved mode, often
leading new adopters to believe they’ve hit the jackpot and
brought home the mellowest dog in the shelter. (More about
this phenomenon in our next edition.)
So, the ideal set-up is a centrally located room, like the kitchen
or family room, blocked off with a gate, with a nice dog bed
and a crate. Crates are wonderful tools. They appeal to a dog’s
nesting instinct. Most dogs quickly learn that a crate with a nice
comfy bed inside is a safe place to rest. (If you think your dog
has a strong aversion to a crate because she appears extremely
stressed at the sight of it, call a dog behavior professional. Don’t
abandon the crate as an option too quickly).
Continued on page 7
OPENING SOON
OPENING SOON
OPENING SOON
OPENING SOON
OPENING SOON
OPENING SOON
OPENING SOON
NEW Dog Yard
Coming Soon!
T
he Hornell Area Humane Society is pleased to
announce that construction is underway for the
new Jillian Andolina Dog Yard! Lowes is sponsoring
the Dog Yard and has donated materials to help build.
We have also received a grant from the Animal Farm
Foundation to help with the construction of the yard.
We are hoping to open the community-based play area
by Spring/Summer 2015.
The one-acre Dog Yard will be located at the south end
of the Hornell Airport, and will be available for use by
local residents, out of town visitors, and the canines
housed at our shelter. Stop by to meet our adoptees
and enjoy the yard! We are sure that this caninefriendly space will provide a source for off leash
recreation, social time for dogs and their humans, and
a chance to enjoy some good old-fashioned exercise.
Even those without a canine companion can come to
learn about dogs through observation and educational
opportunities provided through HAHS.
Check our Facebook page for more updates including
a grand opening date for the new Dog Yard, which
is dedicated in loving memory, to a selfless former
volunteer and shelter supporter, Jillian Andolina.
U p c o m ing E ve n ts !
Saturday, May 2nd:
Ales for Tales Pub Crawl
2nd Chance Auction!
April 17th 7:00 p.m.
(Preview at 6:30)
Hornell Country Club
Please join us for a
Friday evening auction of
collectibles and hidden treasures!
Starts at 8:00 p.m. Free mugs to the first 150 who sign
up, drink specials, door prizes and a grand prize
drawing for a free night’s accommodation and $150
food gift certificate at Seneca Niagara.
Thursday, May 14th:
Chicken BBQ
Tickets go on sale at the
shelter starting April 1st.
Annual Yard Sale
July 17-18
If you wish to donate items for the sale, they may
be dropped off at the shelter.
5
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HUMANE FRIEND LEVEL:
$50
• Member Sticker
• Quarterly Newsletter
4 paw rescuer level:
• 2 Black Cat Event Tickets (Oct. 24)
• Kennel Sponsor
• Member Sticker
$200
•Q
uarterly
Newsletter
• 2016 Calendar
distinguished patroN level:$500
• 4 Black Cat Event Tickets (Oct. 24)
• Quarterly Newsletter
• Black Cat Sponsor Mention
• 2016 Calendar
• Kennel Sponsor
• 2-Day Business Ad on Calendar
• Member Sticker
• Newsletter Ad
champion protector Level:$1,000
• 8 Black Cat Event Tickets (Oct. 24)
• Kennel Sponsor
• Member Sticker
•B
lack Cat, Cause 4 Paws, Basket
Auction & 2nd Chance Auction Sponsor • Quarterly Newsletter
Mentions
• Four 2016 Calendars
• 2-Day Business Ad on Calendar
• Qtr. Page Newsletter Ad
premier guardian level:
• 12 Black Cat Event Tickets (Oct. 24)
• Black Cat, Cause 4 Paws, Basket
Auction & 2nd Chance Auction Sponsor
Mentions
• Business Logo Plaque at Shelter for
Dog Yard, Spay/Neuter Clinic, TNR
Program, or Community Cat Room
$5,000
•
•
•
•
•
•
Member Sticker
Quarterly Newsletter
Four 2016 Calendars
2-Day Business Ad on Calendar
Half Page Newsletter Ad
We Will Like & Share Your
Facebook Page
HORNELL AREA HUMANE SOCIETY
SERVICES
Our shelter offers many Pet
services to the public!
Take advantage of our professional
services simply by calling 324-1270
to book an appointment!
• Dog Bathing
(Includes ear cleaning)
• Nail Trimming
• Microchipping
MEET MR. S
NAGGLES!
• Cremations
• Burials
Mr. Snaggles is a Pug who was recently adopted,
and his new owner’s name is Diane. Mr. Snaggles
came to the shelter with a hurt leg, which, after an
xray, ended up having 4 fractures and needed to
be pinned. If you are interested in adopting
a pet be sure to stop by or call the shelter!
Maple City
Discount
Liquors & Wines
HOURS:
607.324.1004
10 am - 9 pm
Mon. - Sat.
Hornell Walmart Plaza
Noon - 5 pm
1044 State Route 36
Sunday
Hornell, NY 14843
Five Common Mistakes…
Continued from page 4
When you have to leave the dog alone for short-ish periods
of time, which you will, the crate is the safest place. Nobody
gets into trouble. When you have to leave for long periods of
time, like to go to work, you’ll need to make sure the dog has a
reasonably sized space, like a room that doesn’t contain a bunch
of tempting-but-forbidden items that might get chewed on.
When you’re home and supervising your dog, make sure she
drags a leash so you can lead her outside for potty and remind
her to stay off the couch.
Plan on employing these boundaries for several weeks at least.
Jaclynn said it was a month before she let Elsa have any free
access to the house, and even then Jaclynn would call her
when she went out of sight.
To learn about mistakes three and four (five comes in our third
edition…we want you to come back!), be sure to get the next
edition of Paw Prints. Shared with the express permission of
Ann King of “The Local Bark” in Rancho Cordova, California.
Many thanks for allowing us to use her article.
7
FIRST
CLASS
POSTAGE
HERE
7649 Industrial Park Road
Hornell, New York 14843
(607) 324.1270
HornellAnimalShelter.org
[email protected]
“We are your one stop recycling spot!”
There are many ways to help our shelter by bringing your
recyclables and other items to us. We will gladly take:
Our shelter is always in need of the following items.
Perhaps the next time you are in a store, pick up
an extra one or two of these items to bring to the
shelter. No matter how little these donations may
seem, we really appreciate your support!
• Cat Litter (clay only
please)
• Cleaning Supplies
• Canned Kitten Food
• Laundry Detergent
• Canned Cat Food
• Kitten Formula
•A
dvantage, Advantix
or Frontline Flea Meds
• Trash Bags (any size)
• Bleach
• Dish Soap
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Cat & Dog Toys
• Dryer Sheets
• Dog Shampoo (regular)
• Dog Collars & Leashes
• Green Scrubbies
• Gift Cards for Gas
• Walmart Gift Cards
• Postage Stamps
• Copy Paper
• Empty Cans and Bottles • Used Clothing
Bins for these items are outside and may be left at any time.
• Electronics
Bring your electronics to the shelter during business hours and
we’ll help you put them in our shed. We take:
Phones
Scanners
Blenders (no glass)
Cell Phones
Printers
Computers
Audio/Video Equip.
Fax Machines
Monitors
Microwaves
Copiers
Keyboards
Vacuums
VCR Players
Mice
Fans
DVD Players
Cables
Electric Heaters
Video Game Consoles Digital Converters
Coffee Makers
Christmas Lights
(no glass)
(no bulbs)
We cannot take: TV’s, bulbs or glass; major appliances such as
refrigerators, freezers, washers or dryers, etc.
• Shoes & Sneakers
Shoes and sneakers can be dropped off at the shelter during open
hours. They should be gently worn, and they have to be a pair.
Boxes are available if someone would like to place one
at their work for a community donation too.