the Newsletter

Vol. 32 No. 2
Summer Issue - Published Quarterly
Summer 2015
Doggie Dip Time is Just Around the Corner!
August 25th is the last day for swimmers in Spokane City
pools. Before the water is emptied and the pools are readied
for winter, Spokane Parks and Recreation allows four days to
go to the dogs!
Pet owners can bring their pooches to dive, swim, and
frolic with other canine water enthusiasts in the 5th Annual
Doggie Dips to benefit SpokAnimal and the Spokane Parks
and Rec Foundation. For $10, dogs can spend time lounging around or in the pool playing fetch or doing laps. For
the past four years SpokAnimal has used the funds raised
from the popular event to help maintain and enhance its
Dog Park at High Bridge. Dog owners may pre-register for
the Doggie Dips through Parks and Rec or pay $10 at the
pool, the day of each event. Well-mannered dogs must be
attended to by an adult owner and must bring proof of a
current rabies vaccination.
Dates and times to be announced! Visit SpokAnimal’s Facebook page or watch for announcements through Spokane
Parks and Recreation’s calendar of events.
What’s Inside:
Page
Peppy Le PEE-U!................................................................ 3-4
How You Can Help................................................................3
Happiness Starts with a Wet Nose ................................. 4-5
From the Executive Director.................................................5
Calendar of Events.................................................................5
Purrs, Licks & Tailwags.........................................................6
Hot Weather............................................................................7
Thank You Pet Sponsors......................................................11
Recent Adoptions............................................................... 8-9
Volunteer Corner..................................................................10
In Loving Memory and Honoring Tributes......................11
Insights From Inmates................................................... 12-13
Stanley Speaks................................................................ 14-15
Peppy Le PEE-U!
Board of Directors
Pres: Cynthia Schwartz
Vice President: Molly Lundberg
Treas: Barbara Grant
Secretary: Angela Scheres
Terri Atkinson
Christel Carlson Suzy Dix
Sam Evans
Kathy Hull
Kim Kamel
Carmen Murphy
Advisory Board
Terryl Black
Location:
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.
710 N. Napa • Spokane, WA 99202
Phone:
(509) 534-8133 • Fax: (509) 535-9630
Clinic: (509) 534-4253
Website:
http://www.spokanimal.org
Shelter Hours:
11AM-6:00PM ~ Mon-Fri
Noon-4PM ~ Sat-Sun
Veterinary Clinic:
Vaccinations, microchips and
well-care exams.
Sterilization by appointment.
Walk-in Clinic Hours:
Closed ~ Monday & Tuesday
1:00-5:00PM ~ Wednesday
2:00-4:30PM ~ Thursday
2:00-4:30PM ~ Friday
~ OUR MISSION ~
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. is pas-
sionately dedicated to the placement, protection and health of
animals through legislation,
education and programs for pets
and their people.
I am generally a “live and let live”
sort of person. I enjoy wildlife and understand that the animals were here
long before this neighborhood was
built. It was their home first. We have
taken over their turf. I feed the birds
and squirrels and enjoy watching the
bats that flit around the house in the
evening. We have co-existed with our
skunk neighbors pretty well for many
years.
In mid-July, the days of summer
were extra hot and the skunk stench
in our north side neighborhood was
at an all time high as well. Two years
previously, we had spent much of the
summer thwarting the den-making attempts of a pair of skunks that were
determined to move in under our deck.
After one of our dogs got sprayed in the
middle of the night, we went into high
gear, going to great lengths to “skunkproof” our yard to keep them out of our
living space. We were successful, until
this year. Within a two-week span, we
had three separate skunk incidents.
One of those events was not the dog. It
was me. I went out at 11:00PM to turn
off the sprinkler and as I reached to turn
off the faucet I felt something brush
against my leg, followed by rustling in
the bushes behind me and the all-to-familiar stench. The putrid aroma of fresh
spray smells of burned tires and petroleum before it “blossoms” into the familiar full-fledged odor that you smell
when you drive past road kill.
The good news was the skunk solution ingredients were well stocked and
close at hand from the dogs’ de-skunking a couple of days before. Luckily, I
stayed calm and slid away quickly to
try and avoid alarming him. I made it
a few feet away before he really let go
and dodged a direct hit. It was awful,
but it could have been so much worse.
The next day I discovered that the faucet where I had been standing was covered in oily, stinking goo.
De-skunking dip:
1 quart of peroxide,
half cup of baking soda
2 tsp. Dawn dish soap.
I also add a few drops of organic
limonene (Citrasol cleaner) to my
recipe.
Apply to dry fur (do not shampoo first!) with a cloth soaked in
the solution. The heaviest spray
is usually in the face and chest.
Sponge the face carefully to avoid
getting it in eyes, nose, mouth or
ears. Lather to the skin and let it
set for 3-5 minutes before rinsing.
Support the dog’s muzzle to keep
it from shaking and spraying the
stuff everywhere. (The skunk guy
said better to leave it 30 minutes to
give it plenty of time to activate before rinsing.) Rinse and repeat. We
also found that tea tree/peppermint foot spray really helped with
the lingering after odor.
Continued on page 3
Come See Us Online!
We’re on Facebook! Stay up to
date with all things SpokAnimal and
talk to us! Our Companion Animal
News quarterly newsletter is available
for download on our website at www.
spokanimal.org. We hope you will
share your paper copy with another
animal lover when you have finished
reading it - reduce, re-use, recycle! For
2
an up-to-the-minute update, we also
put out a regular e-letter. If you would
like to join our email list, you can submit your email address on our website,
or email [email protected] to
be included.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
SpokAnimal is a non-profit and tax-exempt organization.
All contributions, donations and gifts are tax-deductible.
Sponsor a pet or donate to one of our
many special projects or send a general
donation and allow us to choose how
we need to use it most. SpokAnimal is
not funded by any government sources.
We do what we do entirely because of
YOU! Your support makes everything
possible.
Fred Meyer Community Rewards
The Kroger Family of Stores is committed to bringing hope and help to local communities. They do this through
a variety of activities, including charitable giving, sponsorships and the unique
Community Rewards Program of Fred
Meyer. “Your supporters (65 households) who shopped at Fred Meyer
between 04/01/2015 and 06/30/2015
(Cycle 2015, Qtr 2) have contributed to
your $302.99 total donation. Your organization will be receiving a Kroger
check in this amount within 30 days
from 06/30/2015.”
Thank you, Fred Meyer! We appreciate their continued support for local
organizations like ours.
You can make a difference by linking your Fred Meyers Rewards to SpokAnimal. Visit their website at www.
Peppy Le PEE-U! (continued)
Our skunk professional advised,
“Tomato juice doesn’t work – and don’t
let anyone tell you that mothballs or
ammonia soaked rags will fix the problem either. Every neighborhood Tom
cat in the area will come mark your territory and you’ll have an even worse
problem,” he warned.
Why, all of a sudden, were we inundated by a skunk invasion?
Matt of Skunkworks explained
that this was the time of year that
baby skunks leave the nest and parent
skunks teach them to forage for themselves. “There are generally four in a
litter; usually two girls and two boys.”
He assured us that our skunk-proofing
was good enough that the adult skunks
wouldn’t be able to get into our backyard, but the baby skunks had been able
to find their way in through tiny openings. He showed us where the access
points were so we could block them.
Hiring a professional with years of
experience turned out to be way more
than “here’s the trap, call me if you
catch anything.” He toured the entire
property, looking for entrance points
and paths of travel and analyzing their
feeding routines. He plucked fur from
the wild rose hedge and described the
three cats that used that path as well
as the skunk family. He sniffed. He
scanned. He showed me places that
the skunks weren’t using yet, but could
be potential entrance points that we
should block before they find them.
He also told me (over the phone,
before he’d seen the yard) exactly why
they chose my house. “Skunks love
cherries. When the cherries are done,
they move on to apples. And in the fall,
grapes are a delicacy.” He described
our yard to a T. The first aromatic dog
encounter was a baby skunk under our
cherry tree. They discovered it munching on fallen over-ripe cherries. And,
yes, there is an apple tree and flowering
plum. The grapes are starting to hang
heavy on the vines. When we walked
the property, he added, “And you water
and have lovely gardens. Where there
is water, there are grubs and slugs.” We
live in skunk paradise.
“I’ll also tell you something you
don’t want to hear. Black oil sunflower
seeds are a favorite of skunks.” Our
bird feeder is a skunk restaurant, too.
It’s located right outside our kitchen
window – right where I got skunked.
I interrupted their dinner. He also assured us that “our” skunks are really
someone else’s. “They don’t live here,
they are neighborhood visitors. Their
den is probably under someone’s porch
or shed in the neighborhood.”
The good news is skunks rarely
spray unless they are startled and feel
in physical danger. They leave the area
quickly after they have sprayed be3
fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
Thank you for your continued support!
The more our supporters shop with
Fred Meyer, the more money our organization will earn!
Do you need a location for your next
meeting or event?
The SpokAnimal Event Center is
available for meetings and gatherings. It has a nice kitchen area, bathroom, tables and chairs. We are able to accommodate 100-125. Call Dori to schedule: 509-534-8133 ext 209.
cause the scent is like a beacon telling
predators that there is a potential meal,
so they don’t hang around. By the time
you smell a skunk, it is usually long
gone.
Three humane live traps were set to
corral our smelly intruders. If caught,
our black and white striped friends will
be relocated 75 miles away. For as long
as the traps are set, we must be diligent
to check the traps every morning and
call if any are tripped. He comes within
a few hours. The traps are baited with
a liquid solution that he says doesn’t
generally attract kitties, but if a cat or
squirrel does get caught inside, he will
release them.
In his 16 years in business, he has
trapped and relocated nearly 12,500
skunks. But he says marmots are gaining fast on that number. He was on the
phone when he arrived to pick up our
first trapped skunk and his phone rang
three more times while we chatted.
After he left us, he was off to collect a
bat that was caught in someone’s bathroom.
“I work seven days a week because
the animals don’t take a day off.”
Before next skunk season, we’ll be
revising our bird feeder situation and
shoring up our skunk proofing so we
can hopefully go back to our “live and
let live” arrangement with future skunk
families.
HAPPINESS Starts with a WET NOSE
and Ends with a WAGGY TAIL
Choosing the right pet for YOU
Unfortunately, many people choose a dog because they
like how it looks, without considering what kind of life it
needs or how its genetics will make it behave. Few people
really examine their own lifestyle and schedule before they
jump in and get a dog. Do you have realistic expectations?
First question: why do you want a dog?
“I want that puppy because it is SOOOO cute!” is not a
well-thought out reason to add a dog to your family. He will
double in size in a few weeks. For the next few months he will
poop and pee and bite – a lot. You might as well invest stock
in Band-Aids and paper towels. He will chew all your favorite
stuff.
Puppies become adolescents in a matter of 3-4 months
and they stay teenagers through 18 months or more. Teenaged
dogs grow out of that cute, cuddly phase and into gangly halfgrown dogs very quickly. They will figure out a way to climb
within reach of things you thought were safe. Without plenty
of management, guidance and supervision, they will eat food
from your counters if you leave it unattended. The most common age that dogs are relinquished to shelters worldwide is
8 months of age because cute puppies grow up. A puppy is
for life. Don’t get a puppy because you want a puppy. Get a
puppy because you want a dog.
“The kids have been begging for a dog.” Do YOU want
a dog? I know, they’ve promised to take care of it. They’ll do
EVERYTHING! (And they really mean it!) But at 4 AM when
the dog has diarrhea, it will be you scrubbing the carpet and
standing in the rain in the dark with him hoping he will barf
up that toy they left out and he ate. You will be paying the vet
bills and you will be reminding the kids to feed the dog and
scoop the yard. When they go off to college, the dog will be
your dog. Get a dog for you; share it with the kids.
How do you imagine life with that dog will look?
“He will bask in the glow of the fireplace and lie next to
my chair while I check email, read a book, work from home.”
Then you should probably choose that calm, mature dog of
a breed that loves to be a couch potato most of the time. Not
that jumping puppy. Not that high drive working breed that
wants to play ball all day. Not the demanding bark-untilyou-get-the-heck-out-of-your-chair-and-DO-something dog!
There are many older dogs at area shelters that get overlooked. Please consider one of these wonderful soul mates!
“He will behave while we are gone all day at work and
then we will go for leisurely evening strolls to the park.” Does
“behave” mean he will sleep the whole time you are away?
Not bark at the window when people walk by, not get in the
trash or counter surf, and will know that when you aren’t
there to tell him to get off the couch that he still shouldn’t?
How many hours is your work day? Can you come home
mid-day to let your puppy out? Have you thought about how
potty training will be accomplished when you aren’t there to
guide him? Can you afford to hire a dog sitter to come let him
out and walk him on a regular schedule?
“I want a dog to keep my other dog company.” If your
current dog is bored and getting into things because you don’t
have time for him, what makes you think you’ll have time to
walk and throw a ball for two? Chances are likely that you’ll
have twice as many trashed gardens and barking complaints,
not less.
Do you have young children or are you planning to start a
family soon?
Look for a dog that doesn’t just tolerate kids, but welcomes their attention and truly enjoys little ones of all ages. If
you are getting a puppy, make sure he has an outgoing, gentle
temperament and ensure that all his early experiences with
kids are safe and confidence building; not overwhelming or
traumatic.
You’ll need to train the puppy – and you’ll also need to
train the children. They will need to be taught how to be gentle when they interact with the puppy – and most importantly, to leave the puppy alone. Puppies are not stuffed animals.
Dogs are not ponies to be ridden. Children and puppies need
supervision to get it right.
The puppy will jump on and bite the children until you
gently teach him how to play with them properly. He will
Continued on page 5
Spreading Smiles in the Community
We were invited to bring a dog to the animal birthday party at the Rockwood Retirement Center!
4
HAPPINESS Starts with a WET NOSE
and Ends with a WAGGY TAIL (continued)
Choose an older pet. You’ll give a great home to an animal
who might not otherwise get a chance. Be sure to discuss who
will take care of your pet if something happens to you.
snag their clothing and chew their toys. Sometimes he will be
tired and cranky and not want to play with them at all. When
his teeth are falling out and coming in he will be fussy and
short tempered. Sometimes the kids will be, too.
Is the timing right? Getting a puppy when you already
have toddlers who are on the floor and into things or if you
are expecting a new baby, a puppy can be like adding one
more very needy, time intensive, busy fur-child to an already
hectic situation.
How many “dog years” do you have left?
Can you handle the frenetic activity and athletic enthusiasm of an active puppy? You may have had German Shepherds when you were younger. But are you healthy and active
enough to keep up with one now? Can you give them the
exercise they need? Do you live with an elderly or un-well
family member? Will that exuberant pup crash into them and
knock them down? Will you trip over a small dog when it
gets underfoot? Maybe a medium-sized laid back older dog
would be a better choice. Or a cat who won’t need to be taken
on a walk for exercise!
Is retirement in your future? Do you have plans to travel?
How will the dog you choose fit that life change? Will this
dog fit in your RV? Remember, it will take a good amount of
socialization and training to have a travel-ready companion.
If you are older, will your next pet likely outlive you?
From the Executive
Director
Dear Friends,
I am very excited to share with you
exciting news about our success in saving lives. For the first 6 months of the
year, we have saved 136 more cats and
339 more dogs than we did for the same
time in 2014. We are excited to be helping other shelters and rescues to place
more animals. YOUR support allows
us to do these transfers, offer care and
preparation for adoption and keep the
doors open. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Many of you have
been donating for years, and some are
new to SpokAnimal but want to help. We have the most fantastic group of
volunteers and staff that make these life
saving efforts possible. All three facets
work together to make a difference –
both locally and West Coast regionally. Thanks to all of you.
Gail B. Mackie
Executive Director
Perfect match! This amazing 101 year old lady adopted one of our 14
year old cats at PetSmart North.
Calendar of Events
July
•7/31, 8/1/, 8/2 HUGE garage/
yard/stuff sale at SpokAnimal in
the event center (715 N. Crestline
St.) Household, furniture, clothing,
bedding
August
•Annual Doggie Dips (Dates TBA),
Bring your dog for one last end of
year swim in one of the local pools!
Watch our Facebook for dates and
times!
•8/4 Target National Customer Appreciation Day, Northpointe Target, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
•8/8 Volunteer orientation 10:30
a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at SpokAnimal
•8/8 Garland Street Fair, animal
adoption booth, 9-4
•8/14, 8/15, 8/16 Petco South (29th)
grand re-opening, animal adoption
days 11-3
•8/15 Mutt Strut (Liberty Lake at
Pawpular Companion 21950 E.
Country Vista Lane) 9-2
•8/22 Millwood Days 8-3
5
•8/27 Volunteer orientation at SpokAnimal 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
September
•9/11, 9/12, 9/13 PetSmart National
Adoption Weekend, Northpointe
and South Hill locations
•9/11 6:30-9:30PM at Diamonds in
the Ruff – “What is My Dog Saying?” body language lecture. FREE
to shelter volunteers!
•9/19 SpokAnimal First Annual
Barn Dance (TBD on time and location)
•9/25 Valleyfest Parade
•9/27 Valleyfest Responsible Dog
Ownership Day (Mirabeau Park)
October
•10/17 Fall Festival/Craft night at
SpokAnimal in the event center.
(Time TBD)
•10/23, 10/24, 10/25 Man Show,
Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds,
times to be announced
Purrs, Licks & Tailwags
Thank you!
KREM
SpokAnimal has partnered with KREM since the mid 80’s to
feature our “Pick of the Litter”. Thousands of animals have
been featured on the 1225 lunch news on Tuesdays. We have
dedicated viewers who not only watch religiously, but also record the show if they cannot watch. On the spot, we talk about
educational things, upcoming events, special pets in need, and
volunteer opportunities. KREM has partnered with us on the
Subaru Share the Love event each year, advertising the event,
sponsoring, and actually broadcasting live. We cannot say
enough kind things about this long time partnership.
Thanks to Marie Shepard of Shepard CPA for assisting us in
the transition to a new bookkeeper.
Diamonds in the Ruff has acted as a retail site for pet supplies
in their training hall for years. Each purchase you make there
helps us save more lives.
A big thanks to Walmart, Costco and Target for their continued donations to our Pet Pantry food bank for those in need.
KXLY features our pets for adoption every third Monday during the 6 am hour. Thanks to Mark Peterson and the team for
your continued support.
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center deserves high fives
for their recycling team. Not only do they help Doctors without Borders, but they also help SpokAnimal and other shelters
in the area with weekly donations.
Thanks to Rachel Todd and the North Central High School
Teen Outreach Program (TOP) for inviting Kim Imel and
Carol Byrnes to come and talk about the Pawsitive Dog Prison
Training Program. They got to meet prison graduate Ellie.
The students were excited to brain storm ways to raise funds
for the prison program. These great North Central students
held a fundraiser at the dog park. They sold treats and tennis
balls and donated the money to SpokAnimal.
Spokane Club Day Camp spent a day with us and brought
donations.
Deanna Hanley and her team at Inland Northwest Bank do
their best to keep our financial affairs in order. Thanks to
you all.
Thanks to all our kitty people who have gone onto the Fresh
Step site and entered their points for purchasing those products. AND then donating the points. You are awesome and
helping us save $$.
Thank you to the Harvard
Park Children’s Learning Center North for their
amazing annual penny
drive donation. This year
they raised $307! Carol
Byrnes and Stanley came to
visit the kids and show off
his tricks.
Thanks to all of our
great volunteers who
help us at special
events like Bark in the
Park.
6
Hot Weather!!
Dogs Loose in Pickups - Is It Illegal? YES!
Transporting your loose dog in the
back of your pick up truck is illegal and
dangerous.
Any person who willfully transports or confines or causes to be transported or confined any domestic animal or animals in a manner, posture,
or confinement that will jeopardize the
safety of the animal or the public shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Transporting your dog unrestrained
in the back of an open truck bed can result in a $250 fine and is further enforceable through some local city ordinances
as well.
An estimated 100,000 dogs across
the country are injured or killed annually as a result of falling out of, jumping
from or being accidentally thrown from
the back of truck. If the dog survives the
initial impact, serious injuries like broken bones, head trauma, road rash and
sever joint pain are common.
Lisa Lasswell commented on our Facebook page: “Yes, they get the benefit of
the breeze when the truck is moving, but
how about that hot metal on their pads,
and the sun beating down on them? Followed a guy across town today on Francis, lab in the bed of the truck pacing
constantly, he in his (air-conditioned)
crew cab with no
passengers. Really?
If the dog has to go
s o m e w h e re   w i t h
you, can’t he ride in
the cab?”
Many drivers
report they didn’t
even notice their
pet missing until
they arrived at their
destination and discovered an empty
truck bed. Often,
motorists hit these
animals or cause
further accidents while trying to veer
away.
Even if your dog stays in the truck
bed, road dirt and debris such as gravel and insects can lodge in your dog’s
ears, eyes and nose. Constant wind can
cause damage to your dog’s eyes. On
hot days, the metal, vinyl and rubber on
the truck bed can burn the pads on your
dog’s feet.
If travel in the back of an open
truck bed is necessary for your dog,
there are a couple ways you can safely
and legally transport the animal. Secure
a dog crate in the truck bed so it can’t
slip, slide or tip over. Make sure there
is proper ventilation, as the crate will
get hot in warmer weather. A secure,
cross-tether harness is another option.
A regular leash, rope or chain is not, as
they do not and will not prevent your
dog from falling or jumping out of the
truck and possibly being dragged or
strangled behind the vehicle.
Of course, the easiest and safest solution for transporting dogs in trucks
is to travel with your dog inside the
cab of the truck or purchase a canopy
so your dogs or other pets can safely
travel with you.
Thank You, Pet Sponsors!
The following amazing pet lovers have donated $25 or more to sponsor homeless pets in our adoption center.
Thank you, so very much, for helping us find homes for these wonderful animals.
Debbie Walker x 3
Erin Clason x 2
Shirley Alexander x 16
Molly Kinghorn x 2
Tina Powell x 1
Robert & Micaela Sutphin x 8
Will Parks x 4
Carole Zuppe x 2
Bernice Furukawa x 12
Ocean Fletcher x 1
Richard Reierson x 1
Boyce Clark x 3
Pam Whitcomb x 4
Joann & Peter Klager x 1
Robert & Patricia Wilson x 1
Kathleen Hazel x 1
Nancy Bookamer x 1
Kathi & Bob McKinney x 4
Linda Ashburn x 1
Leigh Sheldon x 2
Gayle Hennings x 1
Romie & Jean Hilderbrant x 2
Ken & Ellie Adams x 1
Lisa Emory x 1
Marilyn & Edgar Basler x 1
Mary Ellen Murphy x 1
Pamela Wheelwright x 1
Truella Stone x 4
Robbie Dennie x 1
Howard Bates x 4
Bernadette Brown x 1
Thomas & Mary Fuget x 3
Dana Ault x 1
Donnetta Havens x 18
7
Pam & Mark Pierce x 1
Ken Norikane x 1
Lev Volynskiy x 1
Juanita Keck x 1
Jan & Johnny Humphreys x 4
Ellen Tanaka x 1
Louise Mariani (Pets for Vets) x 1
Christi Montgomery x 1
Mary Ellen Wall x 1
Duane Berger x 1
Melanie Claggett x 1
Patti Citrin x 2
Dennis Holt x 1
Melanie Claggett x 1
Corinne Davies x 1
We Love Our Pet Sponsors!
Just some of the animals that
found their Forever Homes
in the last few months.
8
9
Volunteer Corner
Volunteer of the quarter
Sharon Simmons
Sharon has been volunteering with
SpokAnimal since January 10, 2015 but
boy has she been a busy lady for us! The
moment she went through orientation,
we knew she was going to be a special
part of our team. Sharon immediately
started walking dogs and socializing
the ones that have come to us with fear
issues. After being with us only a couple of weeks volunteered as the weekend cleaner at the PetSmart South location giving up her Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday mornings to help then decided
that she could also do one morning per
week at our Petco offsite location. This
means that she gives us four mornings
per week!
Sharon transports cats to and from
PetSmart for us to save us time and
manpower. Many times, you will walk
into Kitty City and she is in there picking out the perfect cat(s) to take offsite.
Not every volunteer is comfortable with
both cats and dogs but Sharon just loves
them all! She is a member of our volunteer A-Team and can be called at the last
minute to help with a problem animal,
transport an animal, work an adoption
event, mentor a new volunteer, work
directly with management at the offsite
locations, and so much more.
Last Friday, Sharon called and
asked me if she could take a little dog
up to Petco to hang out to find her perfect home as she had some extra time
and was worried about the dog. She
transported the dog up and talked with
potential adopters. No one asked her to
do this; she just gives because she acts
on what she believes in so much.
Sharon is a joy for the staff and the
volunteers to spend time with at the
shelter and during events. She is cheerful and fun and never misses an opportunity to laugh and enjoy the time with
everyone. Take a moment to meet her
at PetSmart South, Petco, SpokAnimal,
or one of the offsite adoption events.
When you meet her, please thank her
for the countless hours and love she has
given and keeps on giving to our furry
friends.
way of helping and giving back to not
only our local community but other
communities and animals that so desperately need it. The shelters in other
areas in our country are overcrowded
to the point of 6-7 dogs in a run at some
of them.
These highly adoptable dogs that
we are taking not only fill a hole in
someone’s home and heart but by saving them, the shelter workers and rescue groups in other areas get the much
deserved moment of joy as well. We
are so proud to partner with so many
amazing groups both nationally and locally that have the same goal and mission that we have.
It takes a lot of people and a lot of
effort to pull together a transport trip.
We wish to thank all of the staff and
volunteers at each location for their
dedication and time to saving lives.
On Target!
Saving lives one trip at a time!
That is truly the motto that SpokAnimal has adopted. Vern Woodworth
lives every day. Vern has been volunteering at SpokAnimal since Fall 2014
and has become an incredible asset to
the team. Vern retired as a long haul
trucker so has time and talent for the
many transport trips that are needed.
Since becoming a volunteer, Vern
has traveled to St. Helens, Oregon,
Caldwell, Idaho, Seattle, Sandpoint,
St. Maries, Portland, Oregon, and Kennewick numerous times. He loves to
drive, listen to the radio, and rescue
animals so it is the perfect combination
for him as a volunteer. Many times he
leaves late at night or the middle of the
night to drive to a destination to pick
up the animals and drive straight back.
It doesn’t matter where or when
you send Vern to pick up a transport,
the folks on the other end always ask
if Vern will be visiting again. We laugh
when they ask and tell them, yes, it will
be Vern to which they reply, Oh good!
Partnering with the ASPCA, Wings of
Rescue, local rescue groups and shelters
and taking in owner surrenders have
become the mainstays of SpokAnimal’s
10
Amazing volunteers from the South
Hill Target Pharmaceutical Dept. They
are stuffing emergency kits for cats and
dogs that are displaced by fires here locally. They filled 50 dog kits and 50 cat
kits for the American Red Cross! These
kits are given to families with animals
that need immediate help. What a wonderful partnership coming together to
help our community!
In Loving Memory and Honoring Tributes
of Betty Hollenbeck, who cared
greatly about animals
- Elsie Hollenbeck
of JoJo loved by
Bonnie
Turnbeaugh
– Diamonds in the Ruff
of Golfo MacDonald
- Paul Sims
of Catherine Willis
- Jan Baker & JoAnne Bailey
of Frank Elliott
- Sandra Smith
of Murph
- Luanne & James Standish
of “Mr. Puffy Cat & Gracie Lou”
- Camille VanHorne
of Miss Kitty
- Richard Parker
of TomTom
- Richard Parker
of “Fritz Flash”
- June Nelson
of Debra Lynne Price, and Spot,
Maggie, & Jake
- Frank Puschak
of Spats
- Tom & Will
of Lavaune Joy Boe
- Bonnie Heimbigner
of Joey
- Donna Messinger
of Don Peck
- Sandra Johnson
of Shirley Tew
- Michael Burdette
of Betty Zurenko
- Thomas Gebo
- Karen Morley
- Jane & Roger Smith
of Sharon Neumann
- Pam Mundt
of Ann Dubay
- Betty Pascual
of Yoda the cat
- Kati Lutz
of Tucker
- Dawn & Gerald Halladay
of John Arvan
- Harry Hoglin
- Victoria Carding
- Patricia Severud
- Kathryn Atkins
- Sherry Hugdahl
- Paul & Kerry Funke
- Peter & Nancy Kleweno
- Mara and Maria Napolitano
of Richard Runyon
- an anonymous donor
of “Sadie”
- Louis Helgert
of Ann
- Karen Johnston
11
of Tosha - loved and missed
by Barb Baumann
– Diamonds in the Ruff
of Mickey - loved and missed
by Cathy & Larry Fox
– Carol & Dana Byrnes
In Honor & Tribute
of Cole Gamon’s Birthday
- Theresa Gamon
of Alice Gingrich
- Allison Gingrich
of Rocky & Blacky
- Blaine Burrell
of John Arvin
- Harry Hoglin
of my mother, Isabelle Nickerson,
for Mother’s Day
- Jaime Soule
of Judy Killin’s birthday
- Alan Kiefer
of Jaxx
- Katie Boer
Insights From Inmates
An inside look at what it means
to be a part of the Pawsitive Dog Prison Training Program at the Airway
Heights Corrections Center in Washington State. “https://www.facebook.
com/PawsitiveDogPrisonProgram” What the Dog Training Program
Means to Me
by Dan in K-unit
at Airway Heights Corrections Center
My name is Dan and I am currently
a Dog Handler in the Pawsitive Dog
Training Program here at AHCC. I have
been in the program now for almost 1
year. Before I became a dog handler in
the program, I had never had any dog
training experience. I had several dogs
when I was growing up, and I also
played with my brother’s dogs as well
as my friend’s dogs. When I interacted
with these dogs in the past, I can’t say
that a whole lot of training occurred.
When I think about what I know now
versus what I knew then about dog
training, let’s just say our dogs and my
friend’s dogs could have used some of
the training that I am using today in the
dog program.
I have been incarcerated now since
2003 and I have had a variety of jobs
here at the prison, but I would have to
say that being a dog handler and working with these dogs has been the best
job ever. Most of the jobs here in prison
are tedious and boring, but we are required to program and staying busy is
a must or else your time here just drags
by slowly. I have worked hard on myself in the last 12 years to be a better
man and I feel that I need to be able to
make amends for the people that I have
hurt because of my negative actions in
the past. I feel being a dog handler and
giving these dogs a second chance at
life, helps me to make amends and give
back to the community in some small
way.
Being a dog handler allows me
and my training partner to take a dog
that comes to us with a variety of behaviors both good and bad, then over
an 11 week period through observation,
trial and error, we shape the dog into
one that is obedient and the type of dog
anyone would be proud to have.
Working with the dogs teaches you
to be responsible, compassionate, caring, dedicated, organized, and have
good listening and communication
skills. When I get a new dog to work
with I always wonder about what kind
of life the dog had before it came to me.
Was it happy? Did someone love it and
take care of it? Why did they give up on
it? How can I shape him into the type
of dog that no one would want to give
up? The dog’s welfare is of great concern to me and I really want them to
succeed. In order to achieve this, my
partner and I will formulate a training
schedule based on the dog’s strengths
and weaknesses, and we will also incorporate the training that will be expected
so that the dog will pass his collar and
graduation tests. This is where the good
listening, communication, and organization skills come into play.
Here in K-unit, we have 4-5 dogs
and several handlers who all live together and work together to achieve
the common goal of getting the dog
trained and up to speed on what he
12
needs to know. So it actually feels like
a small community of people with the
same common goals and interest. We
have a mentor, as well as each other, to
help out when we need a helping hand
or some advice on some area of training that might need work. It takes a
community to train our dogs and also a
little help from our friends.
We also have excellent support here
from the outside staff. We have a professional training staff who takes time
out of their busy lives to come into the
prison once a week to train us on new
techniques, answer questions, test the
dogs, and give us and the dogs whatever support we need. The outside staff
are wonderful people who inspire us
week after week to want to be better
trainers, and men who can be trusted
and looked up to in life. The outside
staff has always been diligent, dedicated, and they give us lots of encouragement to let us know we have what
it takes to get the job done. They really
show that they care because it isn’t easy
coming into a prison week after week
to work with people that society looks
down on. We never get the impression
that when these ladies are here that
they would rather be some place else.
They are always upbeat, pleasant and
professional, and they always treat us
with dignity and respect. All of these
same statements hold true for the prison staff as well, and we applaud all of
these people for their support and encouragement.
These dogs mean a lot to the other inmates here at the prison, who live
and interact with the dogs on a daily
Continued on page 13
Insights From Inmates (continued)
basis in the units. They are a constant
source of delight and fun. They make a
dark place a lot brighter. As much as we
love these dogs and enjoy what we are
doing, there are many inmates who also
love and care about these dogs’ welfare as much as we do. A dog doesn’t
care about what you have done or who
you are. They will accept you unconditionally and love you no matter what
you’re about. That’s very appealing
to people here in prison because love
and acceptance are a rare commodity
in a prison setting. Many of the men’s
faces light up when the dogs arrive in
the prison for the first time. There is
an atmosphere of joy and excitement
in the air. When it is time for the dogs
to go, there is also a lot of emotion. But
most are glad to see them go on to their
next step in their lives and get the good
home they deserve. We also know that
somewhere in the dog’s memory we
will be there. There will remember their
time with us, and they will know that
they were loved and that we did our
best for them. Each dog presents a new
challenge. Each dog has their own per-
sonality and each dog brings laughter
and joy into our hearts.
It is extremely rewarding when a
dog that you are working with learns
a new behavior that you have been
working on and is able to reliably show
you that he knows that behavior when
cued, either during testing or just dayto-day normal routine. At the end of
the training session it is bittersweet to
see the dogs go, but getting them ready
for their new owners and new homes is
what this program is all about.
At the end of the session, we are
proud of our accomplishments; we are
proud of the dogs; we are thankful for
the support and encouragement. We all
feel a little bit better about ourselves,
because we cared enough about a living
creature to love it, teach it new skills,
possibly save its life and then let it go
on to a new home to be loved by someone else. This program makes me want
to be a better human being and these
dogs and the people who support us
help make that happen. Thank you for
caring!
Maggie Miller-Stout, former superintendent at
Airway Heights Corrections Center along with
trainers Kim, Stacy and Carol from Diamonds in
the Ruff.
High five to all the wonderful people that have donated
to the Pawsitive Dog Prison Training Program.
13
Donations for Prison Pups!
Huge thanks to the many folks who
send regular donations to the prison
program – many who have adopted
prison dogs continue to support our
good work at the prison through donations of money and Amazon wish list
donations. Special thanks to prison pup
Jerry’s family who donate care packages every session, to Cari Haider of
Shear Heaven Pet Salon for continuing to provide settle down mats every
session and Prairie Dog Pet Mercantile
who serves as donation central for people who want to add a purchase for the
prison program when they shop at PD.
We’d like to also congratulate Maggie Miller-Stout, former superintendent
at Airway Heights Corrections Center.
Maggie has been a strong supporter of
our dog training program at the prison.
She came to visit the program before
her last day (see photo) and she also
sent bags of biscuits for the prison pups.
Good luck on your future endeavors in
retirement!
Baffled By
Behavior?
Dear Stanley,
ter
t from the shel
I adopted a ca
ed
her. We intend
and we just love
t,
ca
or
do
entirely in
to make her an
vi
ob
able. She was
but she’s miser
or
an indoor/outdo
ously raised as
and
day she paces
cat and every
she
ce
e gets a chan
yowls and if sh
en door.
runs out the op
Signed,
utdoor kitty?
Indoor kitty? O
Dear Kitty,
Indoor kitties live longer, healthier
lives than their outdoor cousins because
they can’t get run over by cars, chased
by stray dogs, or fight with and catch
diseases from stray cats. It’s not surprising that your new kitty is determined to
go out. Once a cat has enjoyed chasing
butterflies and napping on the patio,
they want to continue! With a little creativity and some cat fencing mesh, you
can create a safe outdoor area for your
cat that will keep her in the yard and
other animals out. Then she can be safe
and both of you can be happy!
St a n ley
Hope That
Helps!
✁
Our animals need you! Become a Pet Sponsor!
Your one-year Sponsor helps us care for the thousands of homeless dogs and cats that come through our doors each
year. Every animal is a unique individual with their own hopes and needs. Through our Sponsor-a-Kennel Program you can
be part of the work we do and make a difference for our animals. We provide tons of love, and your sponsorship will help
to provide food and shelter, vaccinations, treatment and medications, blankets and toys.
$100 to Sponsor a Dog Kennel
$100 to Sponsor a Cat Kennel
$250 to Sponsor an Outdoor Play Area
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Name_____________________________________________
Address____________________________________________
City________________________ State_____ Zip__________
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Email______________________________________________
Payment Method: Check
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Card #________________________ Exp. Date:_ _________
Signature_______________________ CVV Code:_________
Please print your message below:
Your Inland Northwest Humane Society
710 N. Napa Street
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 534-8133
14
[email protected]
www.spokanimal.org
Stanley Speaks (continued)
Dear Stanley,
, I’m
t this Summer
It’s been so ho
pg my Husky/She
debating shavin
t.
won’t be so ho
herd mix so he
n’t.
ld me I should
People have to
ink?
What do you th
Signed,
Hot and Hairy
Dear Hairy,
Different breeds have different coat types. The answer to whether or not to shave your dog has much to do with what type of fur
your dog has. Single-coated dogs like Poodles and Shih Tzus are
generally clipped short in summer – but it’s important to remember
that any dog with a very short hair cut is at risk of sunburn. Keep
them in the shade until their hair starts to grow back!
The fur that keeps a double-coated dog like yours warm in winter, also keeps it cool in summer. As the weather warms, the thick insulating coat “molts” – falling out in thick tufts. Once this undercoat
has been brushed out, the remaining outer coat shades the skin and
helps keep them cool.
“A dog’s coat is kind of like insulation for your house,” explains
Dr. Louise Murray, Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Hospital.
“Insulation stops your home from getting too cold in winter, but it
also keeps it from overheating in summer—and your dog’s coat does
the same thing.”
Visit your groomer for a bath and a ‘de-shed’ brush out – not a
hair cut!
Always-Shedding Stanley
Top Ten Shedding Breeds:
1. Alaskan Husky
2. Alaskan Malamute
3. Labrador Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever
6. Siberian Husky
7. Akita
8. Chow Chow
9. Great Pyrenees
10.St. Bernard
Stage 1
Coat freshly groomed and free from undercoat.
Cool air can reach the skin and circulate when
undercoat and mats are removed. The sun’s rays
will bounce off the coat.
Stage 2
Stage 3
Coat with moderate undercoat.
Coat with impacted undercoat.
Cool air is blocked when the undercoat starts growing in, causing dog to overheat. The undercoat will
absorb the rays due to a more porous structure,
trapping the heat in.
When the coat is shaved the cool air flows above
the skin. The sun’s rays penetrates whatever thin
hair is left causing the dog to overheat. And since a
dog’s skin is only 6-10 layers deep (compared to a
human’s 16-20 layers) they will easily sunburn.
15
Support/Donation Form
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.
710 N. Napa
Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 534-8133
A non-profit organization dedicated to
pets and their people.
Pet Sponsor . . $25
Cat
Dog
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Spokane, WA
Permit 1012
Either
Yes, I’m a SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. supporter!
Please use the following supporter/donation
of $__________________________ in support
of SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. in its work with animals
and public education.
Mr/Mrs/Ms _________________________________
(If different from label)
Phone _____________________________________
Address _ __________________________________
City___________________State _______ Zip______
Email _____________________________________
I’d like to volunteer! Please call me!
Looking to adopt
a cat or dog?
Upcoming Events
Pick up a
mouse!
Volunteer & Foster
Orientations - Meetings are
held twice per month on the
2nd Saturday at 10:30am and
the 4th Thursday at 6:00pm at
SpokAnimal, 710 N. Napa.
See page 5 for a complete list
of upcoming events.
Mailed quarterly to over 13,000 animal lovers.
Editor: Carol A. Byrnes
Executive Director: Gail B. Mackie
For more info, call Nichole
at (509) 534-8133, ext. 218 or
email: [email protected]
When you finish this newsletter
pass it along to a friend !
Issues of SpokAnimal’s Companion
Animal News are now available
for download online at
www.spokanimal.org!
We Need To Know !
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Companion Animal News cannot be forwarded.)
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If so contact Angela Scheres, 534-8133, ext. 210 or [email protected].
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