Pet Watch from the director- 4/24/11

The Humane Society of Stillwater met this past Monday for their annual meeting. Elected board members for the 2011-14 term are Cheryl Chilton, Melissa DeLacerda, Cydney Foster, and Dorothy Meeks. Newly elected board members are Marilyn Middlebrook and Tienna Helford. We are excited to have these ladies join us. The HSS officers for 2011 are President-David Francis, Vice President-Pam McGraw, Secretary-Debbie Gann, Treasurer-Cydney Foster, and Liaison-Casey Fussell.

Adoption is one of the greatest experiences a pet owner can have when matched with a pet that matches their lifestyle and personality. Our “pet tales” are proof of this. We receive letters all the time telling us how one of our adopted shelter pets has made a difference in someone’s life. Here is a tale of Hank, one of our previous residents.

“Hank is our Chihuahua/Blue Heeler/Rat Terrier geese chaser! We adopted him from your shelter after fostering him, his mom, and three siblings. The mom was found in a ditch suffering from heat exhaustion last July and brought to Animal Welfare. After treating the heat exhaustion, it was discovered she was pregnant. All the while, the staff wasn’t expecting her to live to give birth because it was apparent there was something else wrong with her. She gave birth to four healthy pups, but couldn’t nurse them so the pups had to be bottle fed. That is where we came into this tale. My husband reluctantly gave me the “okay” to foster mom and her four babies. I wasn’t sure about taking in a sick mom who might not make it. But, fortunately, the vet found she had Rocky Mountain Spotted-Tick Fever which treated with a round of antibiotics, resulted in her quick recovery. She soon began nursing and caring for her puppies. She was a wonderful mother. It was inspiring to see her will to live and then care for her pups. It was such a joy to see her regain her strength and personality. The puppies were very smart and trainable. They kept us laughing with their antics. At 8 wks old, all the pups were adopted and mom too. Three days later Hank was returned due to the adopted owner’s jealous dog. His dog was going to hurt Hank. Hank had always been one of my favorites because of his tri-coloring so I convinced my husband we had to keep him. Hank is the most affectionate dog we’ve ever had and smart to boot. We love our “Hankster”. He’s also proven to be an asset on the golf course. He loves to chase the geese off the greens! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience mom and puppies and, most of all, add Hank to our family!”

Don’t forget the Young Professionals Golf Tournament at Lakeside Golf Course is Friday April 29. Registration/lunch will begin at 12:00 and a shot gun start at 1:00. The tournament fee is $85 per person. You can take a look at our animals by logging on to the website www.hspets.org We can also adopt out the great animals from Animal Welfare when they are closed on Saturday and Sunday. So, please consider adopting and stop by the shelter. Our hours are: Monday - closed, Tuesday through Friday 1:00-6:00, Saturday 11:00-5:00, and Sunday 1:00-5:00. We are located at 1710 S. Main Street in Stillwater. Our current “needs list” includes cat litter, paper towels, High Efficiency laundry detergent, and kitten food, dry and canned.

We invite anyone interested to join us at our monthly HSS meetings. The next meeting will be held at the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce (409 S. Main) 7:00 p.m. on May 16^th.

Pet Watch from the director- 4/10/11

When a potential adopter comes to the Humane Society looking for the newest canine member of their family, they are asked many questions. This helps us to find the best pet match for the family. These questions are ones that the potential adopter should ask themselves before coming to the shelter to adopt a dog.

When adopting a puppy, families must be aware of how much time and energy is needed to train and nurture a puppy. Puppies need a lot of leadership and guidance. Puppies also go through a teething stage where they will chew on everything in the house. It’s important to note that some dogs continue to chew up until the age of two. Most puppies are considered adult dogs when they reach one year of age. Less than one year is spent with the cute cuddly puppy, the next 10-15 years will be spent with the adult dog.

When adopting an adult dog, consideration needs to be given to your activity level, available room for your pet, and having time for social interaction with your new friend. Dogs are so adorable and yet can be so destructive if not trained and cared for properly. Other questions the family should ask themselves include: Are you the passive type? Can you be stern enough with the puppy or adult dog? What size dog do you want? Do you have a fenced yard? How long are you gone during the day? How much time do you have to walk or exercise the dog? Adopting a puppy or a dog should not be taken lightly. It should be a well thought out decision which involves the entire family.

You can take a look at our animals by logging on to the website www.hspets.org

We can also adopt out the great animals from Animal Welfare when they are closed on Saturday and Sunday. So, please consider adopting and stop by the shelter. Our hours are: Monday - closed, Tuesday through Friday 1:00-6:00, Saturday 11:00-5:00, and Sunday 1:00-5:00. We are located at 1710 S. Main Street in Stillwater.

The Humane Society will hold their Annual Meeting which is open to the public on Monday, April 18, 2011 at Joseppi’s located at 223 E. Hall of Fame. The meeting will begin at 7:00PM.

Our current “needs list” includes cat litter, paper towels, High Efficiency laundry detergent, kitten food and white printer paper.

Pet Watch from the director- 4/3/11

The Humane Society of Stillwater placed 34 dogs and 12 cats in their Forever Homes last month. It makes our work so rewarding when we hear back from the wonderful families that give one of our homeless animals a new life.

Leiko was a beautiful Lynx Point Siamese mix that came to us as an adult. She had slightly crossed eyes and even though she was about 3 years old she acted like a kitten. Her new family had this to say about the newest member of their family. “She loves her home and us. It is now Her House and we are there to serve her. Wherever I go she goes, she lays in my lap or right behind my head on the couch. She sleeps with me or one of her girls, but always there to wake me up at 6. She head butts me then gives me a kiss to wake up. I love this cat. I love Leiko more than any cat I have owned. She is just a sweetheart; she doesn’t meow for any reason. She talks when I talk to her. She loves to snuggle with me. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. She loves to be a Pet, because she expects us to pet her. She loves to be brushed and nails clipped because I massage the bottom of her paws. People ask where she was adopted from and we tell them she is Poke from Stillwater!”

Hearing these stories from wonderful families that have given one of our great animals a new home, makes what we do so rewarding.

We can also adopt out the great animals from Animal Welfare when they are closed on Saturday and Sunday. So, please consider adopting and stop by the shelter. Our hours are: Monday - closed, Tuesday through Friday 1:00-6:00, Saturday 11:00-5:00, and Sunday 1:00-5:00. We are located at 1710 S. Main Street in Stillwater. You can also take a look at our animals by logging on to the website www.hspets.org

Our current “needs list” includes cat litter, paper towels, High Efficiency laundry detergent, kitten food and white printer paper.