Spring 2014 Newsletter - Calaveras Humane Society

SPRING NEWSLETTER
2014
Calaveras
Humane
Society
Newsletter
Spring Issue
FABULOUS FEBRUARY FLIGHT
OUR FIRST CHS AIRLIFT
Some 15 Chihuahuas and mixes - all
of them small and rescued from a
home where 30 had lived - took off
Monday on a flight by Wings of
Rescue to the Idaho Humane
Society, which has pledged to find
the wee dogs new homes.
Thank you for a chance
Former owners of the dogs
surrendered 23 of the dogs to the
Calaveras Humane Society, keeping
seven.
Tears & Cheers
Nine of the dogs needed to stay
behind, as they have tested positive
for heartworm and are receiving
treatment for the potentially fatal
infection.
Trust
The Calaveras Humane Society led
the rescue effort, providing volunteers
to prepare the dogs for their flight and
sending money to Wings of Rescue.
They are off
According to Debby Beaufort of the
humane society, the dogs included
Dachshund, Pomeranian and Corgi
breeds.
From the shelter to the airport
This group of dogs came from the
third haul of dog hoarders found
recently in Calaveras County. One
had eight pugs, and one had 28
Pomeranians. (story continues page 3)
Ed Ransom
2014
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY -
CHS Board of
Directors
President
Joann Ingraham
Vice President of
Operations
Karen Elliott
Vice President of
Marketing
Kathy Hamlin
Secretary
Vacant
Treasurer
Mary Foye
Assistant
Treasurer
Lynn Keever
Members
Nancy Cohen
Joanne Elliott
Randy McNurlin
Russell Thomas
Blair Wiley
If you are interested in
becoming a CHS Board
Member, email your
resume to
[email protected]
or mail to:
Calaveras Humane Society
P.O. Box 1390
San Andreas, CA 95249
2014
Welcome our new interim President: Things are moving at a fast pace for the
Calaveras Humane Society Board. In February, Jo Ingraham was elected
President of the Board to finish out the term of Bob Seiler which comes to an
end June 30th. Jo has been President of the County’s Domestic Animal Advisory
Committee (DAAC) for all but one year since it’s formation by the Board of
Supervisors in 2005. We are happy to have someone of her experience join us.
We are also anticipating the return of Board member Russ Thomas from his
work in Somalia and have an additional new Board member hopefully joining us
in April.
Thrift Stores are successful: In May of 2013 we opened our second Thrift Store
in Angels Camp and it is now under the competent and experienced
management of Mike Tyndall and staff. The first store in Arnold continues to
thrive presently under the direction of Acting Manager Teri Aspesi. We at CHS
have received well over $200,000 in proceeds from the operation of that store
for our programs. Both stores have very successful Cat Adoption rooms totaling
over 375 adoptions. We hope you will take your gently used items to our stores
and donate them to our cause. We will also pick up your donations if you call
our stores.( phone numbers)
Animals Service is a great partner: Our new partnership with Animal Services
is a strong reinforcement of not only our volunteers’ commitment to the
animals but of the newly staffed Animal Services Shelter under Brian Moss and
the Department of Environmental Services. The manager of AS, Henning
Schreiber, and his staff and our volunteers have worked together to paint and
improve the shelter, establish a viable transfer program moving shelter animals
to better opportunities for adoption, and vastly improve cooperation between
the County and CHS. This is so important in laying the groundwork for a new
shelter.
New ideas/New Programs: The other programs on the drawing board are an
onsite spay/neuter clinic, a Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats, and the
possibility of more temporary buildings to expand the ability to improve health
conditions for our animals temporarily housed at the County shelter.
Your contributions are so important to our success: We are asking you to
help us achieve these goals. There is no contribution too small. Please think of
the Calaveras Humane Society in your annual giving, or when you pass our
donation boxes while shopping. Your support is very important to us. Thank
you.
Karen Elliott, Vice President of Operations
Newsletter Contents
Board Notes-Pg 2
Ducky’s Update-Pg 5
Team Work Helps Muffin-Pg 9
Fabulous Flight con’t-Pg 3
Microchipped Cat–Pg 6
Cog In the Wheel -Pg 10
New Shelter Update –Pg 3
Shenzi’s Adoption-Pg 7
It is Kitten Season -Pg 11
Animal Services Notes-Pg 4
Chases’ Day at the Thrift Store-Pg 8
2
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY -
2014
Fabulous February Flight (con’t
from page 1)
For more information on Wings of Rescue click here
Ed Ransom, a volunteer with the Calaveras Humane Society, flew with the 15 dogs in the
. Cessna P210, piloted by Steve
Sweeney from San Ramon. Sweeney has made more than 15 flights for Wings of Rescue.
Volunteers showed up some two hours before scheduled takeoff to take the dogs out of their kennels and on short walks.
.
Calaveras Humane Society and Calaveras County Animal Services teamed up to coordinate
the transfer to the Idaho Humane
Society through Wings of Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency air transport for animals.
“I think it’s the most fantastic thing we’ve ever done,” said Debbie Beaufort, who coordinates volunteers for the Calaveras
Humane Society. “We’ve never transported this many dogs.” Animal Shelter Assistant Amanda Murphy worked with
Beaufort and a couple of other volunteers to make the transport possible, Beaufort said. Animal Services Manager Henning
Schreiber said the 15 Chihuahuas came from a group of 23, all from the same home.
Wings of Rescue asked for a minimal contribution toward the flight expense; Beaufort said the Calaveras Humane Society
donated $1,500 for aviation fuel. Volunteer pilot Steve Sweeney of Livermore loaded the pooches to be taken to Boise.
New Shelter Update
Well, here it is… MARCH, the month we promised an update regarding the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) state mandated review, and the improvements
required before the County can grant us the property. It now seems the company
the County contracted is scrambling to complete the review before the end of the
month.
This could end up being a good thing for us, because we want them to grant us a
Negative Declaration for the property. That would mean that it passes state
inspection, requires no improvements and the County can grant us the use of it.
Cross your fingers! More news coming!
Want to help build a shelter? Click here
3
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
Calaveras Humane Society Directory
Calaveras Humane Society
Operation Information
Calaveras Humane Society Thrift Stores
Angels Camp Thrift Store
Angels Towne Center
240 S. Main St/Hwy 49
Angels Camp, CA
209-736-2429
Office location: 576 St. Charles
San Andreas, CA 95249
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1397
San Andreas, CA 95249
Angels Camp Adoption Center
Open Thurs-Sat, 11am-5pm
Phone Number: 209-736-9417
Email: [email protected]
Arnold Thrift Store
Meadowmont Shopping Center
2182 Hwy 4
Arnold, CA
209-795-GIVE
Website: www.calaverashumane.org
Facebook: Friend us now and follow breaking
Stories: CHS Facebook
To view our available pets click here
Hours: Tues-Thurs 10am-5pm/Fri-Sat 10am-6pm
Arnold Adoption Center
Open Thurs-Sat, 10am-5pm
Do you like the newsletter, or have a
suggestion?
We want to hear from you. Email us here
Volunteers are needed to work the County Animals Services Office.
If you like working with the public and love animals, but do not want to work directly
with the cages and kennels this might be for you. To learn how to apply for this
contact Calaveras Humane Society. Just click here
4
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
Help Ducky
5
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
MICROCHIPPING CAT PAYS OFF
from Cindi Garringer, Cat Team Lead
Two years ago, July 2011, I adopted two young adult females from the shelter to a couple here in Murphys. They
were Cricket and Grasshopper. The adopters had called me looking for garage cats that they could let out during
the day and in at night. At the time they wanted hunters and were really willing to do all I required to make a good
home. The shelter was stuffed as usual in mid-July so I selected Cricket and Grasshopper who weren't sisters, but
similar in personality and about the same age, 10-12 months, and Torties (grey and brown).
These adopters borrowed cages from me, kept the ladies cages for over two weeks, even installed a permanent cat
door in the wall of their garage so the cats could go out during the day without the garage being left open. They
called the cats in at night and sealed the cat door during the night. I couldn't ask for a better place for these cats.
Grasshopper had an accident in 2012 resulting in a hind leg needing to amputated, but she recovered very, very
well thanks to her people caring so much.
So, all was wonderful until this past Thanksgiving when Grasshopper disappeared. Her owners, who live out on
acreage and quite remote, figured she must have been caught unaware by a critter. They left town two weeks
after Thanksgiving for an extended vacation, with a pet sitter at home for the other cats. While gone they got a
call from a family who live in San Bruno. These folks had been renting a cabin in Blue Lake Springs and a three
legged cat showed up on their deck (about 15 miles from where the cat lived). They couldn't leave her; because of
her three legs they were sure someone was missing her. The story should have ended there with them going to a
veterinarian or the Shelter and getting her scanned, but no. They had to leave so they packed up the stray cat and
took her to San Bruno with them. They took her to their vet who scanned her and got the cell number for her
owners. They called the owners who were just returning via SFO from their trip east. The owners landed, drove a
few miles and picked up Grasshopper, who has now returned home.
They don't believe Grasshopper made her way to Blue Lake Springs from Murphys. They think she may have hitched
a ride in any one of many vehicles that had been at the house up to Blue Lake Springs and luckily found her way to
this vacation cabin. Amazing story, right? It is also a good reminder why microchipping your pet is so important.
To learn more about Microchipping contact Calaveras Humane Society by sending an email here
6
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
SHENZI’s LIFE BEHIND BARS
Is behind him now by Amanda Scott
Shenzi is a “1 year old, 63 pound”, neutered male. He is a very
active boy with a brilliant mind. Shenzi was trained in a
prison training program and knows: sit, down, stay, come, off,
heel, no, stop, with me, leave it, get it, and crate. He has
spent his entire life in various shelters and programs and has
never had his own family. Shenzi’s story went out on the
Internet, Facebook, Petfinder, our Website, PetHarbor and we
asked that people share his story. The plea was:
“ If you or someone you know wants to make a
difference in Shenzi’s world, please come to the shelter
immediately! We do not recommend him with cats, other
males, or dominant females, as he is a macho man and may
create a stir. Shenzi would do best with a strong active
handler who can put Shenzi’s brains and brawn to good use.”
Shenzi got adopted!!! Two people with no other pets or
children drove all the way from Redding, spent the night in
town, and then were here waiting to meet Shenzi as soon as we
opened. Their last dog was a German Shepherd, so they have
experience with big intelligent dogs. They also plan to work
with one of our volunteers, and a trainer in the area, so Shenzi
can have ongoing obedience work.
Shenzi jumped right in their car and sat down while we all
looked on victoriously!
Because of you sharing Shenzi’s story and other stories on
Facebook, these animals have a chance of finding their forever
homes.
Thank you all.
Forward this newsletter to a friend so they can follow great stories like this by
joining our email list
SUCCESSFUL BRET HARTE SENIOR PROJECT
by Hayley Rizzi
For my Bret Harte senior project this year, I chose to raise money for the Calaveras Humane
Society. I was given permission to set up a display in front of the Angels Thrift Store during the
annual Paws and Claus event where I accepted donations in exchange for dog treats and cat
toys, which I had made.
The Calaveras Humane Society has been a significant part of my life as my family adopted
both of our cats from the organization. I knew that for my senior project I wanted to give back
to the group that has given me and my family so much.
Thanks to your help, I was able to raise $116.80!
7
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
Chase’s Day at the Thrift Store
By Teri Aspersi
Click here
HereClick
We often tell stories about dogs rescued by our volunteers. This story
has a different twist and was told by our Arnold Thrift Store Assistant
Manager,Teri Aspesi. On one of our few rainy days in February, Teri
noticed a VERY wet dog outside the store. She went outside and
several out-of-town customers and their kids were hovering around
him. Teri brought out some old towels and they all started rubbing the
dog to dry and warm him. Since the store always keeps a leash and
water bowl on hand for just these occasions, she situated the dog
safely in the store.
This lucky boy had a current rabies tag on his collar and Teri called our
County Animal Services to ask them to help identify the dog from the
numbers on the tag. She gave Gina, one of our local Animal Control officers, the veterinarian’s number, as well as the
owners’ number and Gina called the vet in San Leandro, who gave her the owner’s phone number in Arnold.
Gina called the Arnold number and found the owners, who were frantic about the loss of their dog. She then called Teri
to let her know the lost owners had been found! The owners arrived at the Thrift Store within ten minutes and were
reunited with their dog. During all this time, customers were waiting at the store to make sure this guy got reunited
with his missing family.
It turns out that Chase, the dog, is 19 years old! They had let him out to do his business the previous night and for the
first time ever, he wandered off. Poor guy was blind in one eye and couldn’t hear very well. The grateful owners made
a cash donation to CHS, (Thank you!) customers and kids were happy, and Gina was thanked for her participation. All
ended well.
We are so proud of our Thrift Store employees who all take our mission so seriously!
See our Thrift Stores "click"
You can help CHS animals directly by helping us with our wish list
on Amazon.com
.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
CLICK HERE
8
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
Team work pays off for Muffin
by a Shelter Volunteer
‘
It’s amazing that almost all this took place in just a couple of hours...
Muffin, a sweet, short-haired gray and white adult female, first arrived at the shelter on 7/16/10 and was adopted on
8/21/10. Then someone brought Muffin back to the shelter on 10/30/13 and said she had been dumped on her
property. A 10-day letter was sent to the owner, but the owner didn't respond. Muffin was then adopted for the
second time on 12/11/13, but was returned to the shelter on 12/18/13 because the new owner said he was
allergic. This was now Muffin's third time at the shelter. Muffin was a very frustrated kitty being back at the shelter
and we all felt badly for her.
“Karen,” a neighbor of the man who adopted and returned Muffin because of his allergies, emailed CHS on a
Saturday, saying she and her husband really wanted to adopt Muffin and asked whether or not the shelter would be
open the following holiday week so she could "manage expectations." That email was forwarded to the Cat Team
Leader, who was traveling, but able to pick up the message. She forwarded the email to me on a Sunday morning at
7:50 am and later called to see if I read the email, which I had just read.
Just after 8:00 am, I called the Animal Services staff member who was working that Sunday to see if Muffin could
somehow be adopted that day so she wouldn't have to be at the shelter until the following Thursday. Since Muffin had
recently been adopted, her paperwork was in order. The staff member said that was fine.
Then I called Karen (who thankfully included her cell phone number in her email to CHS) to let her know she could
adopt Muffin that day or wait until Thursday. Karen was at a hospital in the middle of signing the discharge papers for
her husband who had surgery the previous day, so we talked very fast. She said she and her husband met Muffin when
the kitty lived next door for that short period of time and that they both liked her very much. She said they recently
lost their dog and knew the kitty will be a big part of her husband’s recovery. She said that as soon as she got her
husband home and settled, she would be at the shelter around 2:00 pm with a cat carrier.
Then I called the staff member again, gave him Karen’s cell phone number, and told him to expect Karen around 2:00
Calaveras
Humane
Society
209-736-9417
pm. When Karen didn’t show up by
2:30, the staff
member
called her
and found out she was lost, so he gave her
directions to the shelter.
Karen called me at exactly 3:00 to let me know Muffin was in the car with her and she was headed home. She said
Muffin would get lots of love, have a wonderful home and be an “indoors kitty.”
It is truly a pleasure working with folks who are willing to do back flips and somersaults to get our feline and canine
residents out of the shelter and into loving homes. It’s amazing that everything just worked out. If someone hadn't
forwarded an email or answered just one call, the lovely outcome would not have happened.
Karen must have had a really crazy day––getting her husband home from the hospital, then getting lost while going to
the shelter to get their kitty! It was wonderful that Muffin was out of the shelter and truly home for the holidays with
a couple who really, really wanted her.
We are in need of Cat Room volunteers at the Shelter.
To find out more about volunteering click here
9
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
COG IN THE WHEEL – Are you one??
By Anne Ellis
In my years of volunteering for Calaveras Humane Society and organizing other CHS
volunteers through fund raisers and adoption centers, I often have people tell me,
“Well, I didn’t do very much today.” My reply has always been, “We couldn’t have
done it without you.” Sometimes an adopter of a foster cat will thank me for what
WE do. I thank THEM for what they do. Because every minute someone does
something; or adopts an animal from us-or donates money that helps Calaveras
Humane Society. All of it makes a tremendous difference. We could not do it without
the least of them.
I started thinking of all the different ways people SUPPORT the Calaveras Humane
Society and the image of cogwheels came to my mind. Each piece is essential to the
gear continuing to run. Some might be small and some large, but they are ALL
essential.
Some people volunteer many hours weekly. Some are at the shelter; at the office;
some on the board; and some “behind the scenes” on our website. Others donate
money. Others adopt animals from us. Some donate to our thrift stores. Others
purchase from our thrift stores. These are just a few of the ways we ALL support
Calaveras Humane Society.
So instead of feeling guilty that you cannot help at the shelter or foster cats or even
be a volunteer or “do more to help”, please think of yourself as a cog in our
wonderful machine – the Calaveras Humane Society. If you adopted an animal, you
helped move CHS forward. You made room for another animal to get out of the
county shelter. If you write a check or put money in our change banks or use a
SHARES card, you make it possible for us to pay vet bills or for us to give out more
spay/neuter assistance vouchers.
Yes, we need volunteers. We will always need volunteers. Yes, we need more
money. We will ALWAYS be asking for more donations. But rather than thinking of
yourself as someone who does NOT support Calaveras Humane Society because you
only “do a little”, please know you make all the difference. Thank you for being a
part of our wonderful “machine”. And as we all keep working together, we can
continue to save lives and make lives better for the animals of Calaveras County.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Park Minkler
Nancy Park Attorney
1111Dunbar Road,
Office 209.795.0271
Suite A-200
Fax 209.795.0419
Arnold, California
www.parkminkler.com
[email protected]
10
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
WHAT IMPACT WILL THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE PETS’ LIVES HAVE?
This chart represents one unspayed female, and her mate and all the offsprings,
producing 2 liters per year with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter.
By spaying and neutering just one male and one female cat, more than 2,000 unwanted
births can be prevented in just four years and more than two million in eight years.
Call for your Spay and Neuter Voucher today
Calaveras Humane Society 209-736-9417
11
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
EMAIL HERE
DONATE WHILE YOU SHOP ONLINE AT NO COST TO YOU!
You can now donate at no cost to you when you shop online
at your favorite store with iGive. Over 1400 merchants,
such as Amazon, Best Buy, Staples, Lowe’s, PETCO,
PetSmart, Pet Food Direct, and MANY, MANY more are
available for you to choose from. CLICK HERE to sign up
for an account benefiting CHS. You can view the full list of
merchants here. This is a fabulous and simple way to help
the animals while doing something that most of us already
do regularly and it’s free!
12
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
DONATE WHILE YOU SHOP LOCALLY, NO COST TO YOU!
Just swipe and donate. It’s that simple and it doesn’t cost you a penny!
Supporting the Calaveras Humane Society just got a whole lot easier thanks to Sierra Hills & Angels Food Markets,
Mar Val Market, and the fundraising program eScrip.
Sierra Hills Market
Angels Food Market
Mar Val Market
117 E. Highway 4,
396 N. Main St./HWY 49,
55 S. Highway 26,
Murphys, CA 95247
Angels Camp, CA 95222
Valley Springs, CA 95252
(209) 728-3402
(209) 736-4243
(209) 772-2393
Pick up a Sierra Hills & Angels Food Markets Community Card or a Mar Val Community Card, swipe it
during your next shopping trip and up to 5% of the monthly purchase amount will be donated to CHS.
Signing Up is as Easy as 1, 2, 3!
1.
Pick up a card at Sierra Hills Market/Angels Food Market or Mar Val Market.
2. Fill out the form in store to register.
3. Show your card each time you check out.
You can access your personal donations on eScrip.com to see how much you have earned for the Calaveras Humane
Society. Support the Calaveras Humane Society while you shop. Sign up today!
Using a S.H.A.R.E.S. CARD gives the CHS a 3% rebate of your shopping total at Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Food
Maxx, & Lucky stores. There is no cost to you. To request one or more S.H.A.R.E.S. Cards, please contact: Lynn
Keever at (209) 754-4453, Connie Caldwell at (209) 728-2442, or the CHS office at (209) 736-9417.
13
CALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY
2014
14