of the Animal Humane - Animal Humane Society

A Day in the
of the Animal Humane
10 • ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2008 • www.animalhumanesociety.org
by Lori-Anne Williams
Life
Society
If you were to arrive at the Animal Humane Society
hours before opening, you’d find that every site—Buffalo,
Coon Rapids, Golden Valley, Saint Paul, and Woodbury—
is humming with activity.
After all, animals don’t sleep in!
Throughout the day, the Animal Humane Society buzzes
with customers, staff, volunteers, and animals all moving
about, working toward the goal of caring for the animals
and finding loving homes for them.
Above: Veterinary Technician Beth Daas with Oscar
Above right: Volunteer Joey Haswell assists in the surgical area
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7:00 a.m.
Animal Care
The hallways are dark, but Animal Care has been on the job for an hour.
At the Animal Humane Society, every cage is kept clean, with fresh water
and bedding to make the animals more at home. Animal Care technicians
are responsible for the good living conditions of AHS animals. They keep
the animal areas clean, do laundry and feed the animals. Tara Stevenson,
head of Animal Care, says the job is a hard one, but rewarding. “We spend
more time with the animals than anyone else,” she says. “This is the most
rewarding work I’ve ever done.” Starting as early as 6:00 a.m., the Animal
Care staff work their way through every cage and animal area in their
site—including those being evaluated and treated before being placed on
the adoption floor. As Tara says, “they need us.”
8:00 a.m.
Volunteers
While Brad Glorvigan, a volunteer in Saint Paul, takes Buster for a walk,
over in Golden Valley Edie Shumaker is working with Teenie, a fearful dog,
to gain her trust and build her confidence. At every AHS site, volunteers
work with the staff to ensure that the animals are well-treated throughout their stay, and remain healthy and adoptable. Brad and Edie are just
two of many volunteers working at AHS. Volunteers help prepare animals
for surgery, feed animals, assist prospective adopters, clean kennels, and
work in almost every area of the organization.
Brad returns from his walk with Buster and then helps the Animal Care
staff do some cleaning and feeding. Edie, who works adoption preparation (“Ad Prep”), helps even the shiest dog shine when brought to the
Adoption Center. She knows that she has done her work well when the
animals she has helped find new families.
Above: Animal Technician Beth Voyles prepares a clean kennel
Right: Animal Technician Gary Westbrook visits with some puppies
12 • ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2008 • www.animalhumanesociety.org
Above: Volunteer Edie Shumaker with Sadie
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Above: Dr. Susan Spence in surgery
Right: Dr. Joanna Swanson with Beth Daas
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Humane Investigator Keith Streff removing
an underfed horse from a property
Humane Investigator Wade Hanson with a neglected dog
9:00 a.m.
Surgery
Gilda is a mixed-breed kitten in good health, but she’s seeing the doctor
today—it’s time to get spayed. Seven days each week, veterinarians perform this much-needed surgery on the animals in AHS’s care. The Animal
Humane Society spays or neuters every dog, cat and rabbit prior to
adoption, which creates a long line of surgeries—as many as 70 every
day. Each animal is “prepped” for surgery by veterinary technicians who
shave the area, administer anesthesia, and watch over recovering animals—calling each one by name. Dr. Lisa McCargar gently talks to Gilda,
despite the fact that she is asleep. When she is taken back to the recovery area, Gilda sleeps soundly for almost half an hour before slowly waking up. In a little while she will be strong enough to go back to her
kennel, and in a day or two, she’ll be ready to go up to the Adoption Center. For now, Gilda lies quietly in her recovery room bed, her surgery behind her and a new home just ahead.
In AHS’s two mobile surgery units, veterinarians and vet techs are performing spay/neuter and other surgeries at other locations. Today, Dr.
Kim Culbertson and her team are headed to Brainerd to help the HART
Humane Society with sterilization surgeries. Yesterday, they were at
AHS’s Coon Rapids campus and last week they traveled to the Red Lake
Reservation where they performed 64 surgeries over a two-day period.
10:00 a.m.
Vet Tech Exam
A stray female German Shepherd arrived this morning. Tense and a little
defensive, she is being petted by a veterinary technician, one of a team
of trained “vet techs” who examine animals that come into the shelter.
Matt Vaughn, supervisor of the Exam department, watches over those
who watch over the animals. Animals receive a health assessment to determine what, if any, treatments a pet may need. Dogs also receive a behavior evaluation. Animals that arrive without a name are often named
by the Vet Techs (there are baby- and pet-naming books on the bookshelves), and today’s unclaimed stray German Shepherd, it is decided,
will be named Margot. During Margot’s health exam, the Vet Techs find
BB pellets lodged in her hind leg, but also note the wounds won’t keep
her from having full use of her athletic body. She remains shy, however,
so after a veterinarian treats her wounds, she will go through “Ad-Prep,”
adoption preparation, where a volunteer team work with shy and fearful
animals preparing them for adoption.
11:00 a.m.
Humane Investigations
It has been a busy time for the Humane Investigations unit. Investigators Keith Streff and Wade Hanson are often involved with high-profile,
difficult investigations—like the puppy mill case near Rochester that
brought in 72 small breed dogs and 132 rabbits two weeks earlier.
Those animals now in AHS’s care are housed in a separate area and are
receiving medical treatments. Unfortunately, seven dogs and five rabbits
had to be euthanized because they were too ill. Today, Becky the pug,
Meadow a Brussels Griffon, and Quinn, a Chihuahua are headed to the
Adoption Center. The Minnesota Rabbit Companion Society is assisting
AHS by finding foster homes for many of the rabbits.
Out in the field, Wade Hanson is investigating a case of neglected cattle
in Norman County. He was contacted by the county sheriff’s office. When
he and a deputy sheriff arrive on the property in Gary, MN they find
more than 300 cattle—most of which are severely underfed. They
arrange for immediate veterinary care and a plan for legal action.
The Humane Investigations team also works with hundreds of cases that
are troubling, but not nearly as disturbing as those that make the news.
They rely on the public to report ill-treatment of animals, receiving some
3,000 calls and emails each year about animal neglect. Their first job is
to determine whether there is criminal intent. “Most animal cruelty is
out of ignorance on the proper ways to take care of animals,” says Keith.
“People get in over their heads.” But anytime there is animal negligence
or worse, Humane Investigations steps in.
Investigators start by determining the facts in a case, then assess the
intent— was the abuse intentional? The team works with local law enforcement and others in order to make their case under Minnesota’s animal cruelty laws. Typical penalties for animal cruelty include removal of
animals from the property, fines, and community service. In all cases the
goal is to keep animals safe, sheltered, and fed in a clean environment.
City ordinances and strays are taken care of by local officials, but AHS
addresses the larger issues. It’s a simple formula,” says Keith. “If an animal bites someone, call your local animal control. If someone bites an
animal, call AHS Humane Investigations.”
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1:00 p.m.
Noon
Adoption Center
The Adoption Center is just opening. There is a line outside to get in
—interested adopters, those who stop by on their lunch break, and those
who just want that “animal fix” of visiting with the animals. Inside the
cat room is Angus, a beautiful 11-month-old cat. He is almost to his full
size: 12 pounds of grey, white, and orange fur, with just a little black on
the tip of his tail. Brought in as a stray, he seems content to lie in his
cage, waiting for food and attention. During the day, he will be brought
out to play with volunteers and other cats in a larger room with scratching posts and a climbing apparatus. His life at the Animal Humane Society is pretty good. But it could get better.
The Johnsons (Bette and her two kids, Kate and Sam, are looking for a
kitten. They walk past Angus’s cage in search of someone younger. But
Angus is patient. Kate stops. “Is this a kitten?” asks the four year-old.
Bette glances at Angus and says “No, honey, but he sure is cute.” Both
children are entranced with Angus’s sweet demeanor and his unique coloring as he extends his paw to greet them.
Bette asks if the family can take Angus into a private room. Free to roam
around, Angus takes one quick walk around the room, then jumps into
Sam’s lap. Sam laughs and strokes the cat’s head. The Johnsons and
Angus play with a few toys. Bette reminds the children about the big
responsibility they are taking— that Angus will need food, water, a clean
litter box, and a little grooming. A half-hour and some paperwork later,
the Johnson family is taking Angus home. The staff at the Adoption
Center provides them with some literature about taking care of cats,
and they buy a few supplies.
In the car, Bette Johnson straps her two children into the back seat,
and places Angus’s carrying case between them. Angus begins to purr.
Sam says, “I think he knows where we’re headed.”
“Home,” says Kate. She peers into the cage. “Angus, we’re taking you home.”
As an open admission organization, the Animal Humane Society accepts
all pets whether owner surrendered or stray. The Incoming Animals unit
checks all stray animals for tags and microchips. Strays are kept on impound hold for several days, in hopes that their owner will come forward.
During that time, the animals receive an exam and treatment for any
issue they might have picked up on their adventures outdoors—fleas and
ticks being the most common.
The Incoming Animals area can be a joyous place when owners find
their pet safe and sound. Yet it is often a sad place, when people need
to surrender animals—the most common reasons being they are moving,
lack of funds or the time for a pet, a death or divorce or have an unexpected litter they can’t care for. But as Steve Schwartz, an Incoming
Animal specialist says, “People are doing the important thing—they are
giving the animal another chance of having a safe and happy life. Without us, these animals might be turned to the streets or abandoned.”
Over in St. Paul, twelve Labrador retriever puppies are being surrendered by the family of a Wisconsin breeder whose operations got out of
control. His family contacted Kathie Johnson, director of animal services
for assistance. “We appreciated that they have come to us and view us
as a safe haven,” she says. “That is what we are here for.”
As news crews from WCCO, KARE and KSTP TV are on the scene to document this unusual surrender, Animal Technicians Erin Lynch and Melanie
Gustafson gently remove the timid dogs from a large van. They carry
them inside to the shelter to Vet Techs Maggie Lusk and Becky Barnard
who are ready to give vaccinations for distemper, bordatella and parvo.
As a puppy is being held, he decides it’s time to relieve himself—with a
spray hitting three technicians. Laughing, Melanie turns to one of the
cameramen, and asks “Did you get that on camera?!” Veterinarian Dr. Jim
Meiners will spend the rest of the day examining each of the puppies.
All animals are examined by AHS’s veterinary staff and treated for special issues, spayed or neutered, and given a microchip before becoming
available for adoption. Incoming animal specialists interview surrenderers and ask for any background on animals brought in—whether they
lived with other animals or children, why the animal is being surrendered
as well as any behavior or medical problems.
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Visitors at the Adoption Center
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Jenney Miller of the Customer Service staff with Gus, the rabbit
Participants in the Training School
4:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Buffalo
Wildlife
“Are you a foster?” someone asks. Mary Jo Bonner, a volunteer foster “mom”
for kittens, is picking up her temporary brood—three kittens without a
mother, and too young to be adopted. Mary Jo will feed the kittens and keep
them warm and safe in her home. The Animal Humane Society’s foster program matches trained volunteers with animals that need temporary homes.
Incoming Animals doesn’t just take dogs, cats, and bunnies. All kinds of
wildlife are brought in to the Animal Humane Society. Many people find
injured animals on their property, and don’t know what to do with a bird
that can’t fly or a squirrel with an injured leg. They bring the animals in,
and Laura Nelson takes it from there. Laura is head of AHS’s Wildlife unit
at the Golden Valley facility, where she and her team examine and treat
cases ranging from birds with broken wings to orphaned raccoons. The
Wildlife department works closely with the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources and local animal control agencies to ensure that injured or orphaned wildlife are brought to AHS, treated, and released
back into their native habitat.
“I’m blessed every day,” says Laura as she picks up a duck with a wing injury and some missing feathers. “This little guy may be here for awhile,
but he’ll be back on the pond before summer,” she says. Next, she turns
to a baby squirrel and gives him a few drops of water with an eye dropper. “An orphan,” she says. “If we can, we’ll find a new family, so that the
squirrel can be raised with others of his kind.”
While Mary Jo waits for the staff to get the kittens ready for transport,
she wanders outside. It’s a quiet, sunny afternoon in Buffalo. Although
there is activity in each of the two AHS buildings on the site, the adjoining
Memorial Garden is peaceful and serene. Mary Jo walks through the
grounds, reading the memorial plaques that speak of much-missed animals and the people who cared for them. Birds sing as the garden, in its
spring bloom, winds around toward the remains of an old farmhouse—the
first building on this site over one hundred years ago. The Memorial Garden is a place to remember the people and animals commemorated here
in a lovely rural setting. Mary Jo takes in the calm of the garden before
embarking on her new adventure— young, demanding, but darling kittens.
6:00 p.m.
Behavior and Training
3:00 p.m.
Education
Just as Kristin Kern is coming back from a presentation at Holmes Elementary School, Jake Stroup is on his way out the door to give a group of
Girl Scouts a tour of the Animal Humane Society. These are the Education professionals—a unit that provides information about animals, animal care, and the Humane Society to interested groups and students.
This unit is growing because there is an interest in introducing kids to
the importance of treating animals with compassion. Educators usually
bring along a rat to presentations. “They travel well,” says Tammy Noack,
head of the unit. “And kids and adults are often surprised by what
friendly and smart pets they are.”
Meanwhile, Jake takes the Girl Scouts through the Adoption Center. “That
looks like my cat!” one of the girls cries. “I wish I could have a dog,” says another. They stay in the Adoption Center for a long time, not wanting to leave.
Jake is patient, though. He knows that some of these girls will come back to
the Animal Humane Society one day to start their own animal families.
18 •
Cody shivers, even though the temperature is mild. The schnauzer is
on his way to his first training class. Cody’s family, Bob and Chris, are
nervous, too. As they file into the training room, they quickly see that
everyone else is looking around warily. Everyone wants to know if they
are the only family that “doesn’t quite know what to do with their new dog.”
In the evenings, the Coon Rapids, Golden Valley and Woodbury sites play
host to dog training classes and playgroups—some 40 a week. Dogs
progress at their own pace from one obedience level to another. “Animals, like people, learn at their own pace,” says Paula Zukoff, supervisor
of the Behavior and Training department. And from the “Yappy Hour” for
small dogs to the “Wallflower” sessions for shy dogs, the Behavior and
Training unit serves both dogs and their owners—giving them information that will help them love and respect each other.
Bob and Chris leave the training class feeling much better. They have
learned a lot, and they know how to work with Cody before their next
class. “What I learned most,” says Bob, “is that praise gets more response than ‘no’ in training. It’s a very positive class.”
ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY MAGAZINE AUTUMN 2008 • www.animalhumanesociety.org
Humane Educator Kristin Kern with students
at Meadowbrook Elementary School
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7:00 p.m.
Boarding
Things are hectic at the Boarding facility in Golden Valley. Each week,
dozens of cats, bunnies, dogs, birds and even the occasional potbellied
pig are given excellent care by the Boarding team. As staff member Jen
Laskewitz walks through the animal rooms, she calls out “Hey Kaiser, hi
Tommy, hey Lexi, how are you doing Mackubin,” remembering the name of
every animal she passes. “This is their home away from home,” Jen notes.
“We treat these animals like family.”
Staff member Kris Campbell returns from a walk with first time guest
Paddington. On her way in Kris stops to get a glimpse at the two beta
fish, named Two Beta Fish, who are spending the week at AHS.
Guests are exercised four times each day and fed according to the directions of the family. Many owners provide toys that will help their animal
be more comfortable in new surroundings. As Jen says, “When an animal
goes home healthy and happy, you build a sense of trust.”
8:00 p.m.
Even with Behavior and Training classes taking place, the building is quieter. AHS’s five sites are getting ready to close to the public for the day.
The Animal Care staff will remain for some time making sure the animals
have food, fresh water and a clean cage for the night. There won’t be
much of a break in activity, though. Tomorrow morning it all begins again.
Lori-Anne Williams is a writer. She and her puppy, Bailey, are learning
new things every day.
Wayne Aubrecht of the Animal Care staff
Above: Sandra Engelmeyer of the Boarding staff with Jessie
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