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June 15, 2010
"LUCKY LADY" by EBHS Staff ,Carol S
Lady or "Lucky Lady" as we call her at Elmbrook is
one lucky and loved little pooch who was reunited with her owner today
after 3 days on the run! Lucky jumped out the window of her owner's
parked car on Saturday near 150th/Capitol. Her owner, Dan, left
her for a short time with the windows cracked. He was devastated
when he returned to find his loving companion of 9 years gone!
He immediately called area shelters and looked everywhere for Lucky
but no leads turned up and they only had one sighting in the 36 hours
since she went missing! Today, after 3 days on the run, the
dog's luck began to change! Almost 10 miles from where she
disappeared, a kind local Brookfield resident, saw Lucky and she
jumped right into his car. Although Lucky wasn't wearing a collar, he
immediately called Elmbrook Humane Society and our staff quickly went
to work searching lost dog reports trying to make a match to locate
Lucky's owner. Within minutes we were on the phone to Lucky's owner
and through tears he confirmed that this indeed sounded like it was
his dog. Lucky was afraid upon arrival at the shelter and had a
few wounds that staff cleaned up but otherwise was in good condition
overall. When her owner arrived, it was a tearful reunion and
Lucky immediately perked up and her tail was up and wagging nonstop!
The kind citizen that helped Lucky was also contacted as Lucky's
owner wanted to thank him personally! The man who helped Lucky
said he did so because he too has a dog and hoped that someone would
do the same for him if his dog was ever lost!
Statistics show that only about 15% of shelter dogs
are ever returned to their owners. Thanks to the efforts of Lucky's
owner when she was lost, the kind citizen that stopped to help Lucky
and the staff at Elmbrook, this story has a very happy ending!
Lucky and her companion reunited:
June 7, 2010
HOW CAN I WORK
AT A SHELTER? by EBHS staff, Carol S
Rarely a week goes by without someone asking the inevitable
question…”How can you work at a shelter?...How sad...I could never do
that.”
Well first of all, I would have to say I’m a pretty optimistic
person and have always preferred in life to see a glass empty versus
half filled. So when someone asks how I can work at a shelter, I’m
confused! You see when I walk into work everyday and say hi to my
co-workers, we often stop to share a brief funny about some antics our
dog or cat did over the weekend or how we had to clean up yet another
poop accident from our foster early in the morning, etc. We share
stories that many around the water cooler at most businesses wouldn’t
understand. We share animal stories, the trials and tribulations of
fostering and the unpredictable life of living with usually several
animals. Why?...Because we all share one common bond. Everyone who
works here is not just a fan of animals, but is a HUGE animal lover!
As we go through our morning routine, one of the ladies at the
front desk makes sure to let me know that either they (or one of our
wonderful volunteers) brought in some delicious chocolate muffin tops!
This is just another perk of working at a shelter if you look at it in
a positive light. That is, non-profit work is hard work, often we are
stressed and overworked and since we seem to have a lot of women at
our facility, we do what women do when we are stressed…we eat!!! I
don’t think there is an employee at the shelter that doesn’t love
sweets and chocolate! Yes, even our ladies on Weight Watchers
occasionally splurge!
So diving into my calls and emails with my healthy protein
drink in one hand (I do start the day with good intentions) and a
chocolate-covered donut in the other, I’m quickly interrupted with a
question from staff. Where else do your co-workers come with 4-legged
friends to ask you a question? Kara will come in to see me with a rat
up for adoption in her pocket, Diane comes with a rabbit snuggled up
to her like a scarf. Sometimes Jeanne will be carrying around her
foster kitten that although she brought back for adoption, she just
can’t quite let go! Or sometimes Julia, our Animal Care Manager, will
pop in just to ask me if she can bring a dog up to my office. The dog
is a little overwhelmed by the kennel, she explains, and she wants to
know if he can spend the day in my office. “Sure,
what’s one more in my office today!?!”
As the day continues
and turns into night and just when I think I’m out of energy, I hear
the page that “Mika” and “Jasmine” are going home and I’m quickly
re-energized! After all, Mika has been here several months waiting for
her forever home and Jasmine is a little on the shy side and is being
adopted by a volunteer! This is great news for these two shelter
animals, and it’s great news for two animals somewhere in need because
now that means we have space to help two more!
You see, to me the
shelter isn’t a sad place at all. The animals that cross our paths are
the lucky ones. The ones I worry about are the ones who do not make it
to us! So when people say, “how can you work at a shelter,” my
response is not only is it not a bad place, but I also know that with
so many animals in need in our society, how can I not??
June 5 2010
TOP TEN REASONS TO ADOPT AN
OLDER DOG by EBHS staff, Carol S
Not a day goes by at the shelter when someone
doesn’t come in looking for a puppy. As someone who is young at heart
and loves to exercise, I think to myself, “why would anyone want a
puppy?” Now don’t get me wrong…I love the smell of puppy breath, the
playful nature of a pup, and their amazement at viewing the world for
the first time as much as the next person. I mean, who don’t love
puppies, BUT I also love a few other really special things in life -
like my carpet, my sleep and my time!
Puppies aren’t housetrained, don’t sleep through
the night and need an incredible amount of training. The other comment
I hear so often is “I want to train the dog right,” but let’s face it:
sure, with a puppy you get a blank slate, but how many people really
know how to fill that blank slate properly? Most people are not
professional trainers. Also many people don’t make the time for
training or have the skills to train a new puppy. (The importance of a
good positive-based training class is essential…more on that another
day!). So that blank slate instead is filled with lots of “Puppy NO”!
and very little real training. If we followed our good intentions and
trained puppies, behavioral problems wouldn’t be the #1 reason dogs
are surrendered to a shelter. It’s also a fact that 80-90% of shelter
dogs have had no formal training so although we may all start with the
best intentions of “training our dog right,” it doesn’t always happen!
We head into our busy season at work or the kids have more school
activities than planned and the next thing you know, we have a 6-month
old, 50-pound “puppy” with no manners and training.
So why not adopt an adult? They have bladder
control which can be a wonderful thing for those of us who love our
sleep! They have some manners and, in my opinion, have the maturity
that makes them easier to train. And do NOT believe the myth that you
must get a puppy in order for the dog to bond with you. All my dogs
were adopted as adults. All were special-need behavioral cases too,
and two of my dogs are now therapy dogs. I am close to all my dogs,
but my first adopted dog who truly thought I put the moon and the
stars in the sky was the oldest dog of any of mine at the time of
adoption. He was almost 5! So if you love your sleep, your belongings,
and your free time, adopting an adult dog can be the perfect solution!
The senior dog project has a great article on the
benefits of adoption of an adult dog.
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/adopt.ten.html
My personal favorite from their list is #10:
10. Older dogs let you
get a good night's sleep because they're accustomed to human
schedules and don't generally need nighttime feedings, comforting, or
bathroom breaks.
May 24, 2010“why
does she do that?” by volunteer, Trudy J
It has been a year since we adopted this little
white bundle of fur. She has changed a lot from the trembling, shaved
down, frightened little girl we first brought home to foster.
She no longer trembles constantly, her hair has
grown out and now she requires routine trips to the groomer.
She appears to be housebroken then leaves a
puddle or pile behind a living room chair.
She comes around for treats like her buddies but
refuses to take them from your hand. Place a treat on the floor and it
will vanish.
She snuggles next to me on the couch contentedly
sleeping but pick her up and she will freeze and avoid eye contact.
She follows me around the house but then hides
under a bed or desk as if unsure of whether she is safe out in the
open.
She watches as one “brother” plays with his toys,
squeaking them and acting silly. She cocks her head and observes her
oldest “brother” loping after a tennis ball but she participates in
neither.
When company comes she’ll run to the door with
the other dogs but if guests attempt to pet her, she quickly backs
away.
“Why does she do that?” We hear that question
many times and the very sad answer is, “She does that because she was
raised in a puppy mill.”
She has come a long way during the past year and has become a very
important part of our family. Each day we see more changes in her. She
is no longer afraid of my husband. She eats her meals with her
“brothers”. And did she really just do that?
I think I saw a play bow.May 20, 2010
DOG WALKING by volunteer, Monica B
I'm a dog-walker, one of the many volunteers at EBHS. I'll
start by telling you why I enjoy volunteering here. The people
are wonderful. The shelter is small enough that most of the
employees remember your name. It is always easy to find someone
to answer a question or help you out. Also, I love animals and I
especially love dogs so this job is perfect for me. I get to
interact with many different dogs; different breeds, different shapes
and sizes, different personalities. One of my hobbies is
dog-training so I get to try to use what I've learned to help the dogs
as they wait to find a new home. It is always exciting to meet a
new dog and try to figure out what it needs most. Some of them
need to burn off some energy so there is always playing fetch in the
outdoor runs. Some of them could use some manners training so
they get walked and we practice sit and down. Others just need
to be loved; a kind word and a tummy rub. The animals at EBHS
are lucky but I think I'm the luckiest of all.
May 19, 2010
NATIONAL BITE PREVENTION WEEK by volunteer, Monica B
I heard a sad story on the radio last week. Another child was
bitten by a dog. That is sad for the child and his family, sad
for the family of the dog, another black mark against the breed, and
the dog paid the ultimate price. What is even worse is that
education and training might have been able to prevent this.
Parents should keep small children under control and teach all
children to never approach a strange dog. If the dog is with the
owner, ask first before approaching and touching someone's dog.
Teach them how to touch a dog. Let the dog sniff their hand;
don't pat it on top of the head. People with dogs should
socialize them with other dogs, other people, new situations, from the
time they are a few months old. Train them with obedience so
that they bond with you and listen to your commands. If you get
a dog from a breeder, make sure that the breeder is responsible and
checks for health and temperament issues before breeding as well as
after the puppies arrive. Dogs from shelters are temperament
tested for adoptability. Find one that fits well with your
family and situation. Always remember that these are dogs, not
people, and don't think like we do. What may be considered
non-threatening or unprovoked to us, may be looked at quite
differently by a dog. Was the dog protecting the person on the
end of the leash? Some dogs are quite protective of family and
the breed was developed with that quality in mind. A toddler,
while cute to us, may be some strange being to the dog who hasn't been
around them and has one rushing up to it. One of my dogs is
well-trained and goes to nursing homes, adult day care, and schools
for obedience training demonstrations and visits. She has no
trouble with the sights and sounds of these facilities. All
sorts of people touch her all over her body. I have never seen
her happier than in the middle of a group of elementary kids, having
them shake her paw and giving kisses in return. But I have also
seen her hackles rise and heard her growl when a group of 3 pre-school
ages girls were running around, squealing and playing. That was
something that she had never been exposed to but I was with her, she
was on a leash, and we both learned something. I have been
bitten by dogs and have the scars to prove it. Neither of the
dogs that bit me were those breeds that come to mind which just
confirms my own beliefs that breed specific restrictions are not fair
to the breed or the owner. I have read that small breeds are
more likely to bite, generally out of fear. The problem is that
when big dogs bite, even if less often, they cause more damage.
Try not to blame the dog or the breed but promote smart dog ownership
and education. That would be best for all concerned.
May 13, 2010
MY FAVORITE BOYS by volunteer, Monica B
I have 4 favorite boys at the EBHS. They are always happy to see
me. Sometimes they cry or have tantrums when I leave. I'm
only with them each about 10 minutes of the day but they seem to think
the world of me. Clem is the oldest. He is happy as can
be, walking down the street. His manners are pretty good but
work with him on a regular basis and it wouldn't take him long to
understand what you want. Next is Sox. He is a puppy at
heart, no manners, but he's so willing to learn. I'm trying to
keep him from jumping up and I can tell he's really trying. He
practically wiggles out of his skin. Waldo's right behind.
He is speed personified (or doggified, I guess). When he gets
loose in the large runs he races around like crazy. He also
could use some work on his manners but wearing him out goes a long way
towards better behavior on the end of the leash. His face and
ears are so soft; I love to rub them. Last is Dexter. He
behaves nicely when we go for our walk but I can tell he'd love to run
and play instead. He is very gentle taking treats and thinks I'm
not quick enough at giving them. I'm starting to get very
attached to them which means they have been here longer than I would
like (a few weeks). I'm sure there has to be someone out there
who would love to give them a fresh start. Come and see.
May 4, 2010
WHO IS THE PERFECT HOME/ADOPTER, forwarded
by volunteer Kathy P
I
wanted to share Dr. Emily Weiss's blog from a couple of weeks ago.
She talks about how she wouldn't have met the shelter's criteria for
adoption when she was younger.
http://www.aspcapro.org/blog/2010/04/i-was-them/
For those that don't know Emily Weiss, she is the ASPCA researcher who
developed the Meet Your Match program that many shelters use now and
that has saved thousands of dogs lives. The whole key behind more open
adoptions is - faster adoptions does not mean they are poorer quality
adoptions. Quality has nothing to do with speed. It is all about
asking the right questions. That is why the ASPCA designed the
program. As you move animals through the shelter system quicker
- you save lives, both by freeing up space - either at the humane
societies or animal control. And also by reducing illness, cage
stress, etc.
National statistics show that over 90 percent of adoptions work out
just fine. It is easy for us to focus us on the 10 percent that don't
work out because they're the ones that break our heart. I'm sure
if you were a cancer doctor it would be the same thing. Pretty
soon it would seem like everybody had cancer, when in fact the
majority of the public don't have cancer and will never get cancer.
The shelter system should be and will always have to be "the safety
net" to catch the 10 percent. That is what a good shelter is supposed
to do. And there will be a very small percentage of people who
are evil. We can't stop them all. In my heart - I truly believe
that God will deal with them when the time comes.
But denying adoptions to the 90 percent is only driving people
elsewhere - to breeders, pet stores and unscrupulous rescues.
May 3, 2010
CAT SOCIALIZER, PETSMART by volunteer, Bryan
E
Hello my name is Bryan and I volunteer with EBHS
(Elmbrook Humane Society) as a Cat Socializer at the PetSmart in
Greenfield. I am one of a few EBHS volunteers who will be providing
blogs on various topics related to EBHS, volunteering in general, and
working with the different types of animals. I have been a volunteer
at the Greenfield PetSmart for over 3 years and love working with the
staff and EBHS volunteers.
EBHS likes to provide a volunteer for each night of
the week between 5 and 9 pm to clean the cages and let the cats out
for some much-needed play time. My night for volunteering is Monday,
although I often stop by just to check on the cats or to fill in for a
volunteer who cannot work their shift.
When I arrive, I check in with the shift manager to
get the keys for the adoption area. First, I like to observe the cats
for a minute to see if any might be sick. Then I check for any new
arrivals and read their health reports and personality profile through
the “Meet Your Match” program. I let each cat out of its cage (one at
a time) and fill up their food bowls and provide fresh water. I also
change the litter if needed.
Then my favorite part: I play with and cuddle the
kitties! Each cat has his or her own personality. Some like to cuddle,
some just want to play, some want a little of both. Some cats are very
shy and don’t want to come out, so I try to pet them in their cage so
they get some love. My goal is that each cat gets at least 15 minutes
of playtime/attention.
When each of the cats has had their cage cleaned, I
sweep the floor and take the trash out. Then I sign out and return the
keys back to the shift manager.
I love working with cats in general. Specifically, I
can say the cats EBHS brings us are adoption-ready. They are
affectionate, fun-loving and love being around people. Having
volunteered with other organizations, I can say that EBHS does a great
job of placing cats for adoption that have great personalities and are
the cat’s meow!
On behalf of my fellow bloggers, I would like to
welcome you the reader and hope that you enjoy reading these blogs as
much as we enjoy writing them!
May 2, 2010
PUPPY SALE, by EBHS staff, Diane staff
member, Diane
I love working at the humane society and I'm happy
to make the 40-minute drive to work each day. Today, however, as I was
listening to the radio, an ad came on for a well-known puppy store in
the area. The announcer excitedly exclaimed that they were having a
puppy sale - $200 off all puppies for the rest of the month! They
followed by dropping names of breeds…they have boxers, terriers, pugs,
and so many more!
Now this upsets me for more
than a couple of reasons.
Number one, I work at a
shelter where we are trying to find homes for many puppies and dogs
who by some misfortune became homeless.
Two, how can this puppy
store know the proper information about the parentage and health of
these puppies when they carry so many breeds? Many of the dogs
mentioned in the irritating ad were mixes found at any shelter. Also 1
in 4 dogs in a shelter are purebreds.
Then there is reason number
3, the big one. Pet store puppies are from puppy mills. NO responsible
breeder sells their puppies via a pet store. The proper reason for
breeding dogs is to improve or keep a high standard within the breed.
Puppy mills keep their breeder dogs in poor conditions, using them
only for reproduction without care or concern about their well-being.
How does mass production of puppies keep a standard within a breed? IT
DOESN'T!
Quality breeders look into
the potential homes of their puppies, they care about where the
puppies go and how they are cared for. Does this sound like the kind
of people that send puppies to be sold at a pet store? No.
Buying a puppy at one of
these stores is no different than buying the food to feed them. They
don't care about the well-being of the puppy or what you know about
the breed, as long as you can give them the money they want. When you
buy from one of these stores, you are not “rescuing” a dog, but
condemning the parents of the dogs to a life of hell. It’s all about
supply and demand. If you empty that cage, it just makes room for
another and perpetuates the problem.
Here is a hypothetical
situation. A young man buys a puppy from a pet store. However he still
lives with his parents, his parents don't want the puppy in their
house, and so the guy gives it to his friend. The friend decides to
let the still-un-spayed dog roam where she wants to since her parents
don't want her in their house either. Before you know it, the dog ends
up pregnant. The girl, not wanting a pregnant dog, takes it to the
humane society. The dog gives birth and now there are 5 homeless
puppies and a homeless dog. It may sound farfetched, but it happens
more often than you think.
This is exactly why we ask
you so many questions when you come to us to adopt a dog. It's why you
have to bring in your family members to meet the dog. It's why we spay
and neuter all of our animals. It’s why we try to make the right match
when you come in to adopt. We only want to make sure our canine
friends get forever homes.
All I want is to be able to
ride to work thinking about the great things that happen at the
shelter, all the animals that get great homes. I DO NOT want to hear
about how some puppy store is having a big puppy sale, for I can
guarantee you some of those puppies will end up in our shelter. And
not to mention, for the $200 that you are “saving” at their sale, you
could have saved a life that is already here with just that amount.
And the animal you adopt from us would already be spayed/neutered, had
initial shots, been microchipped and come with 30-day insurance! Now
that’s a deal!
May 1, 2010
FEEDING SO YOUR DOG WILL LOVE HIS CRATE by
EBHS staff, Carol S
In my opinion, all
dogs should be fed on a schedule (i.e., no open feeding) and if you
crate, their meal should be in a crate. Feeding in a crate allows you
to monitor their food, makes the crate a GREAT place to them, and
prevents dogfights. I have fostered many dogs and I can't believe how
many times I have been told that a dog who comes in for fostering is a
picky eater…NOT AT MY HOUSE. We have no picky eaters. I also have had
dogs leave my house that later "become picky eaters," usually because
I find out they free-feed.
Now for those that
say, "I only have one or two dogs and I want them to be able to have
food whenever they want," I say WHY?? First of all, feeding on a
schedule is a very easy way to have well-behaved dogs. The reason? In
packs, the pack leader controls the feedings. When you free-feed you
lose that easy alpha move. Next is the possibility of an overweight
dog. Some say dogs know when to stop…I say they don't. I have seen
many overweight free-fed dogs, and how many people do you know who at
times overeat? Probably many...if we as people don't always have the
sense to "stop," why should our dogs? Next, free-feeding IMO creates
picky eaters...they’re thinking, “why should I eat THIS…I will wait to
see what else comes along at the end of the day.” Last but not least,
you are setting your pack up for a competitive environment where often
one dog will eat or guard the bowl while the more submissive dogs are
afraid or cautious about eating.
Why feed in a crate?
1. Because it makes the crate a positive place where good things
happen and 2. It forces you to be consistent. Dogs are creatures of
habit and Mondays are a very hard day for many dogs because they often
aren’t crated all weekend and enjoy constant companionship only for
you to go off and leave for 8 hours on Monday! By feeding in a crate,
it forces you to crate your dog daily, even if only for a short time,
so the dog isn’t thrown out of his routine by the time Monday morning
comes along.
For those that still aren't convinced, think about
Thanksgiving...the smell of the turkey, the anticipation of the big
meal, then finally the dinner....and restful nap after. Would you get
so excited if that turkey was out all day long for you to look at? My
point...mealtime is a HUGE deal at my house...the smell, the
anticipation, the nap after. My dogs get excited, they wait, they look
forward to dinner. It's one of the high points of their day…why
deprive them of that excitement by having the same bowl of food
looking at them all day? Free feeding IMO takes the fun out of a dog's
dinner and mealtime...why would anyone want to do that??
So there are many benefits to feeding on a
schedule. Oh yes, and last but not least...it makes housetraining MUCH
easier! Control when and what goes in, and you control when it goes
out!
APRIL 31 WHAT TYPE OF ANIMAL ARE YOU
ATTRACTED TO? volunteer, Monica B
What attracts us to certain types of animals? I suppose
psychologists could write long papers on the whys and wherefores.
I see that one of the other volunteers really likes bulldogs and
similar variations. I'm very ordinary, I guess, because I'm
crazy about labs. My family never owned one. We had cocker
spaniels, a fox terrier, a vizsla, and two mutts. Later my mom
had a yorkie and an English bulldog. My sister loves Airedales and
works with their rescue group. My brother thinks boxers are
great dogs. So, there is nothing that is bred in me toward
wanting a certain type of dog. But I like the way they look
(even though the two I have are built and act quite differently).
I like their personalities. I like their energy. That
doesn't mean I don't like other dogs or I could never own another.
In fact I think pit bulls are quite intelligent and I love interacting
with them at the shelter. I like Dobermans and shepherds and
collies. But with me and labs it is love at first sight.
In my world, there are people for each and every dog and just your
type might be just down the road. So what are you waiting for?
April 26, 2010
"Volunteer Appreciation Month" written by a
very special
anonymous person
Very soon this month
will be
Over, but
Let’s not forget to
Understand that
Never is there spoken
a more profound word than - Thank you.
Thank you to
Each and
Every volunteer
Regardless in what
capacity you serve.
All of you are
helping Elmbrook Humane Society tremendously.
Perhaps we don’t say
it often enough but
Please never think
your good deeds go unnoticed.
Reasons are many that
Each of you are
Called by your heart
In so many different ways to benefit the
Animals in our
protective care.
This being
National Volunteer Appreciation Month
Is a good
Opportunity to thank all of our many volunteers
too
Numerous to mention by name.
Many of you volunteer often and
Others volunteer for our Special Events.
Now is the time to say a big
THANK YOU
from the bottom of our
Hearts!
April 25, 2010
"A perfect match" by
volunteer, Trudy J
It
is always a happy time when a homeless pet finds their “forever home”.
Sometimes, however, it seems the match was just meant to be.
Such was the match I witnessed this week.
One of the small dogs listed on our website
attracted an elderly couple’s attention and they came to the shelter
to meet this dog.
The wife explained, “They had bought what they
assumed would be their last dog six years ago. However, things hadn’t
gone as planned and several months ago their beloved pet passed away.”
After spending the past months without a dog, they had decided now was
the time to look. She told me her husband was really missing having a
dog but the look in her eyes betrayed her. She was missing having a
dog also.
The little fur ball they came to see went into his
well practiced “adopt me” routine the minute he saw them coming.
Little paws pawing the air, little tail wagging, whole body wiggling,
he had the whole act down pat. And, it worked.
They requested to have an up close meeting with him
and after plenty of hugs, petting and puppy kisses that little ball of
fur found his favorite spot to snuggle, right in the husband’s
welcoming lap, and the deal was closed.
A very happy pup and an
equally happy family were on their way to that “forever home
April 21, 2010
The
World's Ugliest Dogs - Erin Y, volunteer
They had me
at "ugliest." I was compelled to watch the episode of Dogs 101 on
Animal Planet in which they profiled the world's ugliest dogs. As the
proud parent of a Neapolitan mastiff and English mastiff, my tastes in
dog beauty definitely run to the large, wrinkly, slobbery ones! The
Chinese crested and some other hairless dogs were discussed, and then
they moved on to my favorite: the Neo! I heard once that the breed
standard calls for the dog's appearance to create fear in the
onlooker, but all it creates in me is the urge to rub behind the dog's
ears and reach up under his lips to scratch his chin. The lips also
make good handles for gently pulling the dog down for a kiss! When we
adopted our Neo, Dozer, from Neo rescue, his foster mother told me
that he gave gentle kisses, "although not everyone likes to be kissed
by a Neo."
I've found that the dogs I think are the cutest
at Elmbrook are ones that others may put on the ugly list. I love
Staffordshire terriers and other pit bull mixes, dogs that get
wrinkles on the top of their heads when they are confused or thinking
hard, and dogs who need to have their water bowl rinsed out (due to
slobber) rather than just refilled. Others may flock to the Labs or
beagles or German shepherds, but these dogs are the ones that catch my
fancy.
A few days later, when flipping through the
channels, I saw there was a different show on Dogs 101. This time,
they were focusing on the world's cutest dogs. I was about to change
the channel when a new category of cutest dogs came up: so ugly
they're cute. Now that's my kind of dog!
April 19, 2010
Come see us at Petsmart! -
Erin Y, volunteer
One of my favorite things to do is take dogs from
the Elmbrook Humane Society to PetSmart
in Brookfield. Adoptable dogs are at the store from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. on
Wednesdays and from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturdays (new dogs come at 1
p.m.). It's a great field trip for the dogs, who welcome the chance
for a car ride, attention from lots of people, and the opportunity to
meet other friendly dogs in the store. It gives them a break from the
kennel at the shelter and provides lots of time to practice good dog
and people social skills with a friendly volunteer. The Elmbrook
station and dogs are located at the front of the store, so there's
usually plenty of action with people coming in, checking out, and
browsing through the merchandise that's near us. Once the dogs figure
out that we're not going out the door even though it keeps opening in
front of us, we're ready to say hi to anyone who comes in! Some people
are dog lovers who can't have a dog for various reasons -- not home
enough, not allowed by a landlord, family member's allergies -- but
need to get their "dog fix." Some are people who came to do their
shopping but were captivated by the dogs we brought and just had to
come over and say hi. Still others are people who are actively looking
for a dog to adopt. The great news for these people is that if they
see a dog that they want to adopt, they can fill out the application
right there at PetSmart and have it faxed over to the shelter. Because
applications are evaluated in the order they are received, this saves
their spot in line if other people are also applying to adopt the dog.
They have an hour to either call the shelter or stop by to follow up
on their application and find out what the next steps are. I love this
chance to chat with fellow dog lovers about the adoptable dog and
learn about the dogs in their lives. We get caught up talking about
the canines who've captured our hearts -- and the dog who's available
for adoption loves the chance to soak up some petting, meet some new
dogs, and show off any commands he or she knows. So come see us at
PetSmart! We'll be waiting for you.
April 19, 2010
Volunteering at Elmbrook Humane Society by Kathy P, Volunteer
The comment/question that most people make when they first walk into
an animal shelter has to be "I don't know how you can work/volunteer
here. It must be so depressing. I would want to take them all home."
If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that I would be a very
rich person indeed! The fun part is, I get to spend the next few
minutes as we walk down the hallway towards the viewing area for the
cats and dogs telling them that at Elmbrook - nothing could be further
from the truth. Elmbrook Humane Society is a happy place. Sure the
animal's stories might have started off a bit sad, but the happy
endings more than make up for it. Everybody has a perfect fit - that's
the great thing about Elmbrook. We draw a diverse group of generous,
kind-hearted people ready to bring a pet into their homes. We find
homes for all sorts of animals, young and old, healthy and special
needs. Somebody is always somebody's special soulmate.
And as shelter workers and volunteers, we CAN'T take them all home -
that's called hoarding. There is nothing better than seeing the
pleasure and excitement in someone's eyes when they've found just the
right fit for their lifestyle. At Elmbrook, sure, we love animals, but
we especially love people because it's people that make it all happen
- adopt the animals, donate the money and supplies and energize us
when they send their Happy Tales for our bulletin board.
So
don't feel sorry for us - better yet come and join us, we'd love
to have you!
April 15, 2010
Thoughts that cross my mind while walking dogs...Monica,
volunteer dog walker
If it's winter- How long will it take me to get past the river and
back, am I wearing enough layers, and will I slip, fall, and look
ridiculous doing it.
If it's spring- How many times have I told myself to leave my raingear
in the car and how wet will my feet be before I'm done.
In nice weather- How many truck drivers will talk to me today and
will I fall for the same old jokes.
How many bags will I need to take with me.
How many people will think I'm crazy as I walk along singing and
talking to the dogs.
Any time of year- Will the right person (friend, family, neighbor) see
one of the dogs and decide to stop in and maybe find a forever friend.
I hope so!
April 14, 2010
Puppy vs. Older Dog by
Trudy, volunteer
If you are contemplating adoption of a rescued dog
for your family, you have already taken a great first step. Now there
are a number of questions remaining- what type of dog should I adopt?
Male or female? What age?
If you are undecided about what age to adopt, you
might want to consider a senior. The many reasons to adopt a senior
and a number of them are listed below.
Top Ten
Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog*
1.
Older dogs are
housetrained. You won’t
have to go through the difficult stage(s) of teaching a puppy house
manners and mopping/cleaning up after accidents.
2.
Older dogs are not teething
puppies, and won’t chew
your shoes and furniture while growing up.
3.
Older dogs
can focus well because
they’ve mellowed. Therefore, they learn quickly.
4.
Older dogs
have learned what “no” means.
If they hadn’t learned it, they wouldn’t have gotten to be “older”
dogs.
5.
Older dogs
settle in easily, because
they’ve learned what it takes to get along with others and become part
of a pack.
6.
Older dogs are
good at giving love, one
they get into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second
chance they’ve been given.
7.
What You
See Is What You Get:
Unlike puppies, older dogs have
grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grown up to be
quite different from what they seemed at first.
8.
Older dogs
are instant companions – ready for
hiking, care trips and other things you like to dog.
9.
Older dogs
leave you time for yourself,
because they don’t make the kinds of demands on your time and
attention that puppies and young dogs do.
10.
Older dogs
let you get a good night’s
sleep because they’re accustomed to human schedules and don’t
generally need nighttime feedings, comforting or bathroom breaks.
* Adapted from Labrador Retriever Rescue’s “Top Ten
Reasons to Adopt a Rescue”
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