Humanely Speaking - Hinsdale Humane Society

Humanely Speaking
H I N S D A L E
H U M A N E
S O C I E T Y
/
F A L L
2 0 1 5
Black Cat Ball/Ambassadors
Adopt-a-Dog Month Puppy Party
Jr. Board Events and Outreach
Clear the Shelters
For more information go to our website at www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org or call 630-323-5630
Black Cat Ball
makes its mark
in Hinsdale on
Halloween Eve
Costumed supporters of HHS came out
in force to raise funds and have a ball
The Black Cats strutted their stuff, from left: Amity Comiskey, Tina Weller, Jen Chillo,
Kirsten Douglass, Mistie Lucht, Courtney McCarthy, Cathy Hofmann, Jaclyn Cantore,
Amanda Ivanelli and Gretchen Matzelle.
Sarah and Chad Erwin, won the Best
Costume of the evening for their interpretation of Buddy the Elf and Jovie.
The black cats and about 300 other impressively costumed Ball goers, came out
on Halloween eve, Fri., Oct. 30 for a night
of pure fun for a great cause.
With costumes from the hilarious to the
spectacular, HHS supporters brought
down the house at Katherine Legge
Memorial Lodge, pulling out all the stops
with their creative get-ups and their support of HHS.
Christie Cuthbert, Event Chair, right, gives
and deserves a big thumbs up for envisioning Black Cat Ball and bringing it to
life with the help of HHS Ambassadors,
including Silent Auction Chair, Ali Rago,
left.
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A spread of Halloween-themed finger
foods and cocktails including the signature “Purple People Eater,” set the tone
amidst piano-playing skeletons, cobwebbed branches and flying paper bats.
Hinsdale band, Paparockzzi, helped set
the tone of the night with their music.
At the height of the evening, the black
cats (pictured above) came out to get the
bidding started.
“We worked hard over the past year to
make sure guests would have an awesome Halloween eve to remember,” said
Black Cat Ball Chair, Christie Cuthbert.
“From the looks on everyone’s costumed
faces, I think we succeeded.”
A paddle raise, raffle tickets, live auction
and a room filled with impressive silent
auction items gathered by Auction Chairs,
Kate Hunley, Ali Rago and all of the Ambassadors, all contributed to the more
than $50,000 raised that evening.
Cuthbert led the HHS Ambassadors (a
group of young, talented women helping
to raise funds for, and spread awareness
of HHS) in pulling off the costume ball
event of the season.
Costumed contest and auction winners
were announced, the silent auction
closed out, and the masquerading attendees worked their way back out into the
night through the candlelit pathway.
As guests entered, they took part in
a photo opportunity “cat”walk where
everyone was able to debut their costumes beside a stairway filled with lit jack
o’lanterns carved by Ambassadors and
volunteers.
The HHS Ambassadors pulled off a spectacular, sold out event, that raised much
needed funds and awareness for our
homeless animals. Although, their dedication, creativity and talent are absolutely
priceless to HHS.
Cover photo and all Black Cat Ball photos are courtesy of
Ken Ashley, K. Francis Media (kfrancismedia.com)
A BLACK CAT THANK YOU!
Director’s Desk
What would we do at HHS without the support of so many? From the tireless
Ambassadors who create events like Black Cat Ball, to our passionate Volunteers who number 300 strong, our big-hearted staff of hard-working animal
advocates, and our remarkable Board of Directors, we are truly blessed to
have such amazing people working on behalf of our homeless animals.
“There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.”
To our 34 Black Cat Ball sponsors, we say thank you for your generosity and
kindness. These wonderful individuals gave so much to help make this event,
and the funds it raised, such a big success. Just as we help the community
with our service, so do they with their local businesses, so please take a moment to look at their logos and consider using their services.
-Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
For me, home is where I feel safe and
loved. Home is a place of joy and companionship. At the end of a long work
day, I just want to go home and “hang
out” with my family which includes
humans and furries.
We look forward to a fabulous 2016 thanks in large part to funds raised at
Black Cat Ball.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Mistie & Nate Lucht
The Pavlik Family
Allstate Madeline LoPresti Agency, Ltd.
Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff Realty Group | Matt Booth & Family
| Buddig | CHT Orthodontics | Sharon Foley | May & John Haarlow
Lori & Michael Halligan | Heather Gustafson Group | Hinsdale Bank & Trust
Company | J. Jordan Homes | MPI Investment Management, Inc.
The James E. Jones Family | Legat Architects | Mark Hickman Homes
Nothing Bundt Cakes | Oak Brook Kennel Club | Carolyn O’Mara & Tony
Gange | Jorie & Jeremy Parwani | Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Ruby | Two Bostons
Jeanne & Trey Van Dyke | Weller Dental | Willowgrove Pet Clinic
At Hinsdale Humane Society, we talk
a lot about home… forever homes for
adoptable animals… temporary foster
homes for animals who are on medication or too small to go up for adoption.
Helping homeless animals is at the
heart of our mission. There’s nothing
quite like the feeling when a pet walks
out the door with a new family to
experience the endless possibilities of a
new home.
But home isn’t just a physical place like
a house or apartment. Home is also
a sense of community and a place of
belonging. As the popular song goes,
“Home is wherever I’m with you.”
At Black Cat Ball, I truly felt at home
with people who care deeply about
homeless pets. You shared your pet
stories. You couldn’t get enough of the
Ben Bradley, ABC-7, and emcee extraordinaire, commanded attention in his furry
costume.
“Little Red Irene Wood,” Black Cat
Ball Decor Chair, created the dramatic
ambience in the Lodge and tents.
continued on page 8
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GOOD NEWS!
Our volunteers
are the best
We are so proud of our volunteers,
many of who came out on Sunday,
Oct. 4 to take a moment together for
a meal (provided by Chase Lotfi and
Casa Margarita), and awards honoring
their many achievements. We couldn’t
do what we do without you. Many
thanks to each and every one of you!
Marcy Mossburg receives the Above and
Beyond Award from Jennifer Vlazny, HHS
Operations Manager.
Volunteers chatted, listened to a presentation honoring their work, and enjoyed a
fantastic meal donated by Casa Margarita.
PAW S F O R A P P L AU S E
Giving from the heart
So many young, generous friends of our
animals have supported us recently in their
own special ways through allowance and piggy
bank donations, birthday supply drives, toy
and supply collections, lemonade, bake sale
and vegetable stands, and so much more.
Our sincere thanks to: Sydney Holmes and
Mara Hooten, Elise and Lauren Coury (extra
thanks to their dad who matched their donations).
Tommy and Jake Martens, Olivia, Alexa and
Claire, Ava Ciardelli and Lexi Parillo, Katie Wilson, Scott and Ava Towery, Isabella, Harper and
Nolan Benton, Samantha and CJ Borkowski,
Zaria Giannotti Frye and Hannah Marino,
Hannah Florence, Jacqueline and Matthew
Bousquette, Jack and Cooper Rathburn,
Olivia Staub, Sydney Wolfe, Michael Weiland,
Nate, Grace and Luke Charmody, Lillian Lucht,
McKinley, Emily Timotic, Leila Gjeldum, Devon
Pounds, Molly Andrzejewski, Ava Silverstein,
Morgan and Paton Mehrhoff.
Owen and Rion Stufflebeam, Natalie Waters,
Gabi, Mia and Teagan Gehrisch, Madeline
Gilhooley, Izzy, Tyler, Emily, Freddie and Johnny
Horton, Quinn, Molly and Declan Robinson,
Hank, Eve and Will Rosenberg, Brooke and
Grant Bauer, Ellie, Katie, Emma and Molly,
Aden Si- Ahmed and Zade Si- Ahmed.
Reese, Sara, Krishangi, Scarlett and Nadia,
Lucas, Liam, Nico, Will,
Maya and Caden McCartney, Matt, Elena,
Michael Kielczynski
and Jack Buel, Bella
Pisani, Jack, Charlie
and Brady Harrington,
Emma Schnur and
Ryann Knapp, Gibson
and Eden McCarthy,
Charlie and Nora
Jeffords, Gigi, Mia and
Jake Gottfried and
Cade and Dylan Nelson, Haley Tuck, Grace
Wright, Molly and
Thank you to Izzy
Nora Waldron.
who raised funds for
Friends of HHS
our animals.
Our thanks to Patricia
Wayman who collected HHS donations during
her vacation with Tiger Lily. Thanks are also
due to McGrath Acura, Citadel and Impact
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Dance Studio for their continued support of
HHS. Thank you to The Center for Dance for
“Bring Your Dog to Dance Day” and to the Village Cellar in Hinsdale for Dog Days of Summer
Wine Tasting. Thanks also to PetYourShirt.com
and Back Alley Burger for their special promotions to help our homeless animals. Ruff Life
in Elmhurst kindly donated large quantities of
gourmet pet food to us.
Our Volunteers
100+ hours club: Mistie Lucht, Susan D’Alexander, Ginny Wesley, Dee Downs, Katie Underwood, Judy Kapicak, Kathy Cragg, Jennifer
Arney, Kristen Venetsanopoulos, Rita Trainor,
Carol Funderburgh, Susan Gerow, Cheryl Antalek, Kim Dybas, Paola Orozco, Frank Harkabus
250+ hours club: Glenn Bjorkman, Sandy
Buie, Connie Giuntoli, Joyce Meyer, Vicki Gerberich, Cynthia Dionne-Rohr, Bill Santucci, Kelly
Corry, Don Finlay, Deborah Kraus, Sally Porter,
Kathy Rainey, Caroline Johnston, Marilynn
Pavlik, Joan Hoffman, Cindy Rein
500+ hours club: Barb Parsons, Kathy Irving,
Carole Cech, Mary Sheuren, Mary Jane Laws,
Lauren Tvrdik, Diane Novak, Vicki Jacobson
750+ hours club: Michelle Mason & Paul
Hollis
1500+ hours club: Eileen Zaba
2000+ hours club: Sandy Hayes
1 year: Susan D’Alexander, Mistie Lucht, Nate
Lucht, Ginny Wesley, Susan Gerow, Elise Glaser,
Heather Susnik, Claire Walsh, Martha Underwood, Jennifer Arney, Debbie Hood
5 Years: Eileen Zaba, Caroline Johnston, Ken
Johnston, Laruen Fertig, Pam Entwistle (&
Harley), Jeff Jede, Sandy Buie, Paola Orozco,
Michelle Mason, Gay Pollitt (& Delilah)
10 Years: Cindy Rein, Joyce Nemec, Madeline
LoPresti, Carol Koepke
15 Years: Lauren Tvrdik, Connie Giuntoli
20+ years: Deborah Kraus
Foster Home Volunteers with 5 or more
years of fostering: Laura Donohue, Robyn
Garrison, Linda Grissm, Kathie & Kevin Irving,
Madeline LoPresti, Barb Parsons and Jeanine
Vaughn
Our Above & Beyond Recipient: Fostering
over 120 animals in more than 12 years of
service: Marcy Mossburg
Corrections from our last issue: The Anderson
Family made a donation in memory of family
dog Lily Mullins. A donation was made In Memory of Napali by Heather Davis. We apologize
for these errors.
Adopt-A-Dog Month Puppy Party!
Every October is Adopt-A-Dog month nationwide. It’s a time when HHS offers special promotions and events for adopters
and the general public to raise awareness
about Adopt, Don’t Shop.
This year we threw our first “Puppy
Party”, Sat. Oct. 3, where everyone was
invited to enjoy a free afternoon of puppy
cuddles, face painting, a Smooch a Pooch
booth, training demonstrations and refreshments, all in support of Adopt-A-Dog
month.
Friends of HHS snuggled a sweet black
puppy.
Attendees of the Puppy Party got in some
puppy playtime with shelter residents.
“As an animal shelter, HHS has the
responsibility to be an advocate for
homeless animals and find ways to dispel
misinformation about shelter pets,” said
Jennifer Vlazny, HHS Operations Manager.
“Adopt-A-Dog Month provides additional
opportunities for us to reach out to the
public and showcase all of the wonderful,
adoptable puppies and dogs that are at
the shelter through no fault of their own.”
Adopt a Dog month adopters received
special gifts for their new pets, entry into
a raffle drawing, an HHS cozy sweathsirt
and more.
DOGS 101: Humane
Education Outreach
Program
The next segment of the program focused
on all aspects of dog ownership and included tips for training and interpreting a
dog’s body language. She was assisted by
We can’t thank our friends at Classic
Kids Hinsdale enough for their Dog
Days of Summer campaign to help our
animals. The promotion benefitting
HHS, ran all summer long, and will help
our homeless pets all year long.
Rotary Run
Volunteer Betty Tetens, and her pooches, manned the table at Rotary Run.
Each year we are so blessed to be a
recipient of funds raised at the Rotary
Run Charity Classic, held on Sept. 20.
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Hinsdale Foundation for your continued
support.
In conjunction with national Adopt-ADog month, HHS sponsored DOGS 101, a
free, family-centered outreach program
designed for dog owners and dog lovers.
DOGS 101 was held at Hinsdale Library on
Tues., Oct. 13 from 7-8:30 PM.
After a brief introduction, HHS Humane
Educator and Obedience Class Instructor,
Kym Iffert began the evening’s program
by discussing characteristics of various
dog breeds and how having this knowledge is critical to determine an appropriate family pet. She explained different
options for getting a puppy/dog and
outlined the many advantages of shelter
dog adoptions.
Two Paws Up!
Congratulations!
Chopper, her own therapy-dog-in-training
and HHS alum, pictured above.
DOGS 101 was enthusiastically received
and complemented HHS Adopt-A-Dog
month activities while supporting the
shelter’s mission for humane education.
We are so thrilled for former staff
member Katie Wolfe-Baran and her
husband Mike on their birth of their
son, Jakob Fredrick.
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Morris the Cat
Pet Therapy News
HHS Pet Therapy teams certainly know
how to leave their mark when they make a
therapy visit. Whether it’s visiting nursing
homes, helping a child read, or brightening
the day of hospital patients, these pet and
human teams leave a lasting impression.
Recently our team of Sharon Detro and her
Coton de Tulear, Bijou (pictured below),
visited a patient at Adventist Hinsdale Hos-
pital. Several weeks later, HHS received
a call from the patient’s daughter, letting
us know how upset her mother was to be
without her dogs during her illness and
how it cheered her up to see Sharon and
Bijou.
Sadly, her mother passed away. In planning the funeral, the family extended an
invitation to Team Detro, who attended
the visitation. A story like this makes it
clear what a profound impact our HHS
Pet Therapy teams are making in the
work that they do.
Lori Halligan, Executive Director, HHS,
is pictured with George Martwick and
his wife Janine as they donate a print of
Morris to HHS.
One of HHS’ claims to fame is that
Morris the Cat, was adopted from our
shelter. Bob Martwick was Morris’ original adopter, training him to become
the star of 9Lives. George Martwick,
Bob’s son, and his wife Janine, kindly
stopped by recently to donate a “pawtographed” print of Morris. We are so
grateful to them for keeping Morris’
memory alive, and are hopeful the next
Morris might come from our shelter as
well.
Darien Pet Parade
Clear the Shelters
Our shelter was fortunate to be a participant in NBC-5 and Telemundo’s Clear the
Shelters event. On Aug. 15, all pet adoption, spay and neuter fees were waived for
those adopting animals ages 5 months or
older.
It was an exciting day nationwide as 200
shelters took part in this initiative, including 19 Chicagoland shelters.
Many thanks to Liz Huskey and the
Darien Chamber of Commerce for making
HHS the beneficiary of their third
annual Pet Parade held on Sept. 13. We
were thrilled to be chosen again and so
appreciate the work you do on behalf
of our homeless animals!
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“We were thrilled to be a part of this
drive to spread the word about Adopt,
Don’t Shop,” said Jennifer Vlazny, Operations Manager, HHS. “With all of the
media and promotion, we had a shelter
filled with adopters, and a lot of dogs and
cats went home that day.”
HHS adopted out 23 pets and 49 total
that week. Both are new records for HHS.
We plan to be a part of it again in 2016,
and we hope the goodwill and attention
carries on.
A Family Making an Impact
Peter and Stephanie Crist and their family
have been good friends of Hinsdale Humane Society for years. When one of their
four sons, Jordan, passed away in 2007,
they chose to honor him by acknowledging
his love of animals.
To assist future generations of animal
lovers, they designated gifts to HHS to
help the homeless animals at the shelter.
In 2008 they went on to create The Jordan
Crist Memorial Externship Program
named for their exceptional son and his
passion for the well being of animals.
The Externship program continues today
seven years later, and is a paid scholarship position, helping future veterinarians
gain valuable, hands-on experience with
advanced medical equipment by working
alongside staff members at West Suburban
Veterinary Associates.
Externs also spend one day a week for
six weeks working at HHS, learning breed
identifications, behavior counseling,
animal handling skills, temperament
assessment and customer service. Today
there are eight Externship recipients who
are fully trained, practicing veterinarians,
and another four who are still in their
doctorate training.
Jordan Crist
The legacy of Jordan Crist has gone on to
help so many others in such a substantial way, from the veterinarians who get
specialized training, to the animals who
benefit from advanced medical proce-
dures. The Crist Family has made a huge
impact in our community and beyond.
“Jordan’s great love of animals made it
easy for us to put our philanthropic interests into HHS,” said Stephanie Crist. “It is
a wonderful venue.”
Philanthropy runs in the Crist family.
When Josh married Megan McNaughton,
the couple had cards created for each table informing guests that in lieu of favors,
contributions were being made to HHS.
“We can’t help but think at times that
Jorden’s spirit touches those who care for
the animals,” said Peter Crist.
HHS is so grateful to the Crist family
for their altruism and generosity, and
is proud to provide The Jordan Crist
Memorial Externship Program within our
organization.
“We can judge the heart of a man
by his treatment of animals.”
-Immanuel Kant -
Focus on Philanthropy
The homeless pets of Hinsdale Humane
Society need help and depend on the
goodwill of loyal friends and supporters
all year long to provide for the costs of
everything from medical care to daily
food. Our shelter receives no government
funding, and we rely heavily on help from
supporters to keep operations running
smoothly, particularly at this time of year.
Approximately 25% of our operating
budget comes from adoption fees. Less
than 1% is from corporate or foundation
giving. The remaining 74% is made up of
gifts from individuals and supporters.
We do all we can to reduce costs at the
shelter while maintaining the highest level of care possible. But as costs rise, that
becomes a challenge, one that is helped
immensely by our donors and sponsors.
If you are in a position to make a donation to HHS, monetary contributions
made by Dec. 31, 2015 are deductible on
your 2015 taxes for those who itemize.
We will provide you with a tax receipt
letter for the IRS.
For the actual After-Tax cost of a contribution, consult with your tax advisor. For
someone in the 35% tax bracket, a $1000
donation to HHS costs $650 because the
allowable charitable tax deduction reduces
taxable income.
the capital loss as a tax deduction and
then make a charitable contribution.
Our Giving Tuesday promotion will occur
December 1 and is another great way to
give back to homeless animal. For more
information, visit our hinsdalehumanesociety.org.
However you choose to give, we sincerely appreciate the financial support for
our animals as they wait for their loving
“Charity and personal force are the homes. We cannot help them without the
only investments worth anything.” help of our donors and are so thankful at
- Walt Whitman- this time of year for the wonderful community that surrounds us and helps us
Some people may have stocks that have
make a difference in the lives of homeless
appreciated values which trigger capital
animals.
gains. Securities may be given directly to
your favorite charity. You get to deduct
the entire amount of the gift, avoid
This article is intended to provide general inforcapital gains taxes and help animals all
mation, not as professional advice. For assistance
at once. If you’re selling stocks that have
with tax planning, please consult your accountant,
depreciated, it is better to cash out, take
financial planner or attorney.
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Continuing Education at HHS
Staff education and growth is invaluable
to operations at HHS because of the primary focus on evolving animal welfare.
Staff members were recently certified
in Animal CPR and First Aid, to prepare
them for any emergencies that arise.
They attend seminars relating to their
specific roles, learning the latest about
everything from animal adoption trends,
volunteer management and social media
to brand awareness and fundraising.
These opportunities are supported by
former HHS obedience instructor, Carla E.
Fisher who provided funds for additional
staff training in her estate plan.
Recently, HHS Shelter Operations Manager, Jennifer Vlazny, attended a “Rethinking
the Cat Symposium” sponsored by the
Humane Society of the United States.
The break out sessions included ways to
minimize shelter time and strategies to
increase adoptions.
At another workshop, Vlazny learned
about “Adoption Options” from presenters PetCo, Petfinder, and other
animal-related groups who addressed
adoption-related concerns ranging from
achieving and maintaining a healthy shelter environment to showcasing adoptable
animals.
At the administrative level, Executive Director, Lori Halligan received a scholarship
to attend a 2-day workshop, “Strategic
Leadership”, at Northwestern University.
As a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA), Halligan attends seminars
yearly to maintain her certification and
believes that staff training builds personal
skills as well as organizational competencies.
This fall, the entire HHS staff gathered
for an in-service with Linda Harper, a
licensed psychologist who specializes in
job-related compassion fatigue. Research
shows that compassion fatigue is prevalent among nurses, social workers, animal
shelter employees and others whose jobs
Directors Desk continued
adorable dogs who came for a visit. You opened your hearts (and your wallets!) to
help these vulnerable creatures who cannot help themselves. Your involvement
with our organization and your passion for the animal-human bond amaze me.
HHS staff members gathered at Oak Brook
Kennel Club for Pet CPR training.
are continually emotionally and mentally
demanding and challenging. Staff learned
ways to de-stress and other coping strategies.
These professional development experiences provide relevant information and
knowledge as HHS considers current issues
and trends related to animal shelter work.
In Memory of
Pet Therapy Dog Gus
I am overwhelmed by gratitude. My heart is bursting with joy and thanksgiving
for all that has occurred in the past few weeks. I share my sincere appreciation for
tireless dedication of event chair Christie Cuthbert and the Ambassadors; for the
amazing staff who give so selflessly of their time and talent; and for the hundreds
of supporters who came out to help homeless animals.
Now that it is behind us, I think we all agree Black Cat Ball was a wonderful success.
Why? Because the funds raised go directly to saving animals’ lives.
In 2015, we are on pace to set a record breaking year for the number of cats and
dogs adopted into loving homes. Many have come from difficult circumstances:
puppy mills, benign neglect, or high kill shelters where being transferred to HHS
was their last chance. Others have become homeless through no fault of their own:
divorce, moving, allergies, foreclosures. Whatever stories they may tell, they all
have something in common. Like Dorothy, they are longing for “home.”
“A heart is not judged by how much you love,
but by how much you are loved by others.”
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-The Tin Man
The Voss family (long time friends of HHS)
said goodbye to their beloved Labrador
Retriever Gus recently. As one of HHS’
Therapy dogs, Gus visited local area nursing
homes and assisted living facilities for many
years until he became more comfortable
going on quieter hospice visits with his
“mom”.
We will all miss Gus who left his pawprints
on the hearts of so many.
Jennifer Vlazny-30 Years at HHS Board President Anne DeSimone
We are so fortunate to have
Jennifer Vlazny as our Shelter
Operations Manager, and even
more fortunate that she has
been with us for 30 years!
Anne DeSimone has been an
extraordinary leader during
her six-year term on our Board
of Directors. As President for
two years and Secretary for
another three, Anne’s list of
accomplishments during that
time is lengthy.
Vlazny always wanted to work
with animals and attended farrier school prior to beginning
her HHS career as a part-time
animal care technician and
adoption counselor in 1985.
She has listened intently on all
levels, allowing her to implement, guide and position the
strategic planning initiative
that is now in full motion under her leadership.
She quickly became Assistant
Shelter Manager and for the
past 27 years, has been Operations Manager.
“I am so fortunate to have
found a career that I love
where I can use my passion for
animals to help those in need,”
said Vlazny. “As with any job,
30 years is a milestone, and
not typical in animal care
and shelter work, which can
be very demanding. There
is accountability 365 days a
year, and you always need
to be ready for any possible
animal-related situation. My
commitment to caring for
homeless animals until they
are adopted overshadows the
daily challenges.”
Throughout her 30 year tenure, Vlazny has seen an evolution in shelter animal care,
including changes at HHS such
as removing the ban on accepting pit bulls, and expanding the foster care program, to
providing enhanced medical
care for sick animals.
Vlazny is most gratified
through her work with transport groups that rescue and
bring animals from high-kill,
overcrowded shelters and
animal control facilities in
southern Illinois and Missouri.
She has been able to transfer
many wonderful, adoptable
animals to HHS, saving their
lives in the process.
Animal shelter work continues
to evolve in terms of medical
issues, treatments, and shelter
policies and protocols, and Vlazny stays on top of it all with
continuing education.
Vlazny’s love of animals extends well beyond HHS with
her two horses, two dogs, two
cats, lovebird, hedgehog and
guinea pig.
Her guidance has prepared
HHS for a financially stable
future. Her focus on staff,
programming and operational
efficiencies has cleared the
way for improvements that will
positively impact the organization for years to come.
“My reason to serve on the
Board was my love for animals
and my desire that we help all
homeless cats and dogs find
new loving homes,” said Anne.
“It has truly been an honor and
privilege to serve on the Board
and to be associated with a
group of individuals who are
dedicated to the mission of the
shelter.”
Anne’s favorite part of leading
the shelter is knowing that every year HHS continually grows
and improves, becoming better
able to help animals so they
can be adopted.
“Our Adoption Counselors
are not just skilled animal
care takers, but are attuned
to the people who come in
our doors,” said Anne. “They
work hard to find the right cat
or dog to join their home and
that’s such a key part of it all.”
It’s hard to see Anne exit our
Board, but she has made
“We have had six cats over the such a strong impact on our
past 30 years, four from HHS... organization, that the benefits
will carry on even after she
each one giving us uncondigoes. And we’re hopeful we’ll
tional love. Our current two
still see her watching over our
cats have been with us for 12
cats, or caring for visitors at
years.”
the shelter, in her very kind,
attentive and welcoming way.
Vern Goers “Deck The Halls” Shop-N-Share
Hinsdale Humane Society • Nov. 22nd through Dec. 23rd
Poinsettias • Wreaths • Gifts • Ornaments • Holiday Garland • Christmas Decorations
Name__________________________________________________________________________Vern Goers Greenhouse
Date___________________________________________________________________________5620 S. Oak St. Hinsdale
Sales Total______________________________________________________________________630-323-1085
Hours: M-Sat 8am-6pm. Closed Sun. • Vern Goers generously donates 10% of purchase to help HHS animals.
9
Ask Jenny...
HHS Operations Manager, Jenny Vlazny answers
pet-related questions and offers advice.
Q. Why is it so important to Adopt,
don’t Shop?
A. Thank you for the excellent
question! The Adopt, don’t Shop
campaign was started to bring public
awareness to the plight of homeless
animals and to encourage prospective pet owners to adopt from
animal shelters and rescue groups as
opposed to buying pets from on-line
retailers or pet shops.
While there are many reasons to
choose to adopt your next pet, one of
the most important ones is to ensure
you are not supporting and inadvertently endorsing commercial breeding
facilities (puppy mills) that supply pet
stores and sell pets online.
Puppy mills are massive “factory
style” breeding operations where
hundreds of dogs are kept in filthy,
deplorable living conditions without proper food, water, veterinary
care, or human interaction. The sole
purpose of a puppy mill is to mass
produce puppies and sell them for
monetary gain. There is no regard for
the welfare of the breeding stock or
the puppies that are produced.
Puppies from puppy mills are often
seriously ill, poorly socialized, and
many times suffer from life-threatening congenital defects as a result of
being poorly bred. Tragically, too, the
breeding stock live their whole lives
being bred over and over, and when
they are no longer profitable, are
simply discarded - either abandoned,
sold at auction, or killed.
National pet store chains that sell
puppies take great pains to advertise
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that their puppies are from reputable
breeders, but it has been proven time
and time again that is not the case.
Reputable breeders will never sell
their puppies to a pet store.
By adopting a pet from an animal
welfare organization such as Hinsdale
Humane Society, you will free up
space for another homeless animal to
have the opportunity to find a forever
home. And by doing so, not only will
you get a great companion, (as most
pets in shelters are happy, healthy
animals just waiting for someone
to take them home) but you’ll get a
great bargain, too.
Adoption fees are much less than the
cost to purchase a pet, and animals at
HHS are behavior evaluated, vaccinated, treated for parasites, tested
for life-threatening disease, micro
chipped, and come with health guarantees. Many are already spayed or
neutered, too. If it’s a purebred you
are seeking, over 25% of the dogs we
receive are purebred.
Whether you’re looking for a high-energy running partner, a lovable lap
dog, or a fun feline friend, our skilled
adoption counselors are eager to
help you find the right match for your
family and home environment to help
ensure you and your new four-legged
family member share a long and happy life together.
And lastly, the personal satisfaction
and pride you will feel from knowing
you helped save a life will last a lifetime. Help us spread the message...
Adopt, don’t Shop!
Humanely Speaking
is published quarterly for
friends of Hinsdale Humane Society,
22 N. Elm Street,
Hinsdale, Illinois 60521.
630-323-5630
FAX 630-318-7930
www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org
Shelter hours:
Tuesday 2 - 8pm;
Wednesday - Friday 12 noon - 6 pm;
Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 4 pm;
Closed Monday
Board of Directors
President: Anne DeSimone
Vice President: John Haarlow
Secretary: Sharon Foley
Treasurer: Cindy Rein
Members: Matt Booth,
Dave Grooms, Ann Marie LoPiccolo,
Nate Lucht, Carolyn O’Mara,
Jeanne Van Dyke
Staff
Executive Director:
Lori Halligan
Development Director:
Jorie Parwani
Operations Manager:
Jennifer Vlazny
Assistant Manager:
Samantha Cheatham
Public Relations/Special Events:
Robin Carroll
Animal Care Staff:
Patty Powell, Alan Lis, Brie
Stevanovich, Nuha Abdessalam,
Kelsey Barry
Receptionist: Kathy Daly
Volunteer Coordinator: Kym Iffert
Contributing Services
Bookkeeper:
Mary Alex
Pet Therapy Coordination:
Deborah Kraus
Website Coordination:
Mary Drew
Junior Board Supports HHS Animals
We are so proud of our teen Jr. Board.
They are incredibly committed to all
aspects of well-being for our homeless
animals. Since 2014, they have been
reaching out to peers and the community
to spread awareness of responsible pet
ownership and the humane treatment of
animals.
supplies and cash for the shelter.
There are approximately 15 active members
who assist with events and activities
throughout the year, in addition to initiating their own fundraising and shelter
awareness projects. They also serve as
camp counselors during the summer.
Two recent events this fall generated
more than $300 in donations for HHS.
A Dog Wash (unfortunately rained out
after only one hour) at Pet Necessities in
Western Springs and an outdoor movie
night on HHS grounds, featuring “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey”
attracted attention and support. For
both of these events, Chopper, the
group’s unofficial mascot and Iffert’s HHS
adopted dog, assumed the roles of “Rottstar” at the Dog Wash and then movie
“Canine Critic”.
At the Board’s monthly meetings, members discuss and plan their own projects
with guidance and encouragement from
their director, Kym Iffert. Events like
Pet-A-Palooza, and a supply drive at Pet
Supplies Plus brought in nearly $1,000 in
Several Jr. Board members have also
become HHS Volunteers as cat/puppy
socializers. In order to work with shelter
animals, teens must be at least 16 years
old and have demonstrated their commitment as active Jr. Board members.
Photos with Santa
Save the date for our second annual
Photos with Santa event, Sat., Dec. 5 from
noon-3pm at Two Bostons, 535 Village
Center Dr. in Burr Ridge. Photos for holiday cards will be taken for a donation and
of course furry friends are all welcome to
join in the fun and photo taking.
Jr. Board members, Emily Pender, Moira
McDermott, Elizabeth Erickson & Alexis from
Pet Necessities.
New members are welcome, and any high
school student interested in joining can
contact Kym Iffert at [email protected], or at 630-323-5630
x33.
‘Tis the Season for Holiday Cards
Combine furry paws, wet noses, lots of
energy and treats, and you’ve got the
makings of another great photo shoot for
this year’s HHS holiday cards.
In mid-September, HHS adoptable/
adopted animals, a few staff members,
and volunteers gathered at Classic Kids
Photography in Hinsdale to capture some
holiday magic.
Except for one scampering gray kitten
who was more interested in exploring
the studio than being photographed, all
of the animals were cooperative models
with bright eyes, endearing expressions,
and a few animal antics along the way.
We are so thankful to photographer Jamie, Jamie Andrekopoulos of Classic Kids Hinsdale,
and to Crystal, her assistant, for donating makes friends with a playful kitten.
their talents, time and creativity. They tell
us it’s their favorite day of the year, and it happens to be ours too.
The finished cards will be available at the shelter and at area vet’s offices and businesses for purchase by early to mid-November.
Please check the HHS website for specific information. There will be several card
design options of our shelter cuties, and each package of 12 cards is $12. All proceeds
directly benefit the homeless animals at HHS. Let’s make this holiday season brighter
for them!
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Hinsdale Humane Society
22 N. Elm Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #279
Hinsdale, IL
Save the Date! PHOTOS WITH SANTA: December 5, noon-3pm
Beloved Bella
I just wanted to let you know a dog we
adopted from you about 10 years ago
has now passed. My parents were the
original adopters and due to them being
elderly, I had signed to resume care for
Bella should anything happen to them.
My father was in early stages of dementia and Bella brought him out of a deep
depression over losing another fur baby.
She went on from there to bring comfort
and joy to him through his journey and
ultimate passing. That was a lot for a
little pup who was not in top top shape
herself. She had developed Cushings
and a heart murmur over the years, but
it did not stop her. When my mother
was also facing dementia, Bella became
her buddy and remained so until her
passing.
Bella then became a welcome member of a bigger family. I myself have three
adopted dogs. She moved in with us and got the rest, play and love that she truly did
deserve. Bella was a Blonde Scottish Terrier. She was 4-ish when she became ours
and she will never be forgotten.
Thank you so much for the gift you
gave my mother and father and my
little furry family. We did all that we
could but unfortunately she suffered
a heart attack and possible stroke.
She passed in her forever home in
my arms, being comforted to the
end. Not to get weird, but toward the
final moments, she lifted her little
head and thumped her tail loudly
on the floor six or seven times. I like
to believe she saw her friends and
owners (my dad and mom), waiting
to welcome her over the bridge.
Thank you so much for allowing us
to be her people and her forever
home. Tears will be in my eyes and an
absence in my home for long time I
imagine.
-Debbie C.