The Shelter Animals Need YOU!

As most of you already know, I am the OFFICIAL spokesdog for the Foothills Shelter.....and if you have not been over there lately, you are missing out!

For one thing, my handsome photo is hanging in the doorway and I have to say, Shelley Dayton did an awesome job of capturing my good looks!

Come check it out! And take a look at all of our adoptable animals while you're there!

You know, I hear so often, from folks who genuinely care, that they do not want to take an animal to the "pound", or they are afraid if they take an animal to Foothills that it will be euthanized. I think everyone should understand what is really happening at the Foothills Shelter.

The folks there are working extremely hard to save every single one of the healthy, adoptable animals. This past month, the live release for dogs was close to 90%, with more than 80% for the cats. Do you realize how difficult it is to save all these animals that are brought in? Right now, they are only euthanizing animals that are aggressive to humans, or who are old with multiple health problems, or seriously ill or injured.

It would be a whole lot easier to just send them all to Heaven and not have to worry with where to put them, but that is not what the Shelter is about! The goal is to save ALL healthy, adoptable animals. But the question is -- where do you put them?

There are lots of options, but community support is necessary to utilize them. Animals are adopted directly from the shelter, or taken off-site to places like PetSmart, the Hospice Thrift Barn, and community gatherings for people to see and adopt. Some animals get into rescues from as far away as New York. Sometimes they need a little more time for just the right human to adopt them, and they get that time in foster homes, right here in our community. There is even a boarding program for emergencies when too many animals come in at one time, so we have somewhere to put the ones who haven't been adopted yet.

So...where do we begin and how can you help?

1. Volunteer for our Fantastic Foster program! Take an animal into your home for a few weeks. Help the animal by giving it regular food, love, and in the case of dogs, walks on a leash. This frees up the shelter runs for new admissions and socializes the animal, which makes it that much more adoptable.

2. Take a shelter animal to PetSmart with our On The Road program. Each animal that goes with this group needs a human to watch over it and show it to potential adopters. This only takes a few hours of your time.

3. Offer your time to be a Shelter Volunteer. They need folks to walk dogs, play with kittens, wash blankets and bowls, stuff envelopes occasionally, and more. Do you have a special talent? Tell the Volunteer Coordinator. They are working hard on this program right now!

4. Get your pets spayed or neutered! There is really no excuse not to do it now, with the incredible deals offered by Foothills Shelter. It is affordable for EVERY human in our community to have their pets sterilized.

5. Let them know if you are taking care of feral cats! The Po'Kitties program can help with making sure they are not reproducing endlessly!

6. If you have a pet, socialize that pet! Get dogs used to walking on a leash. Teach them not to jump or be too rambunctious. Help your cat learn to be petted and held. These are little things that make it easier on YOU as a pet owner, and if there ever comes a time when you need to bring the animal to the shelter, it makes them more adoptable. Yes, it takes time -- and patience, and work. Just like any other job you do. The good things don't always come easily. And it is unbelieveably sad to see a half-grown pup struggling desperately on the end of a catch-pole, because a caring human has not taught them how to act properly.

7. If you have to bring an animal to the shelter, know that they understand -- but also, please try to help them if they ask you to keep the animal for another night, or another week, while they work to find a place for that animal. They are overloaded and need all the help they can get. And if there is any way you might be able to keep your pet if you had some help, ask to speak with someone about it. Sometimes there are solutions that can be found to allow you to keep your beloved pet.

8. If you know someone who is bringing in puppies or kittens, please ask them to let the babies stay with their mothers until they are about eight weeks old. These babies learn critical behaviors during their first eight weeks, and need their mother's milk until their own immune systems are up and running. The shelter cannot take care of these tiny ones, many of whom need around-the-clock care, and they must go to foster homes. Some do not survive because they need what humans just cannot supply, and there are only so many foster homes available. It is a hard job hand-raising these babies, and so sad when they don't make it. Once the puppies and kittens are eight weeks old, and socialized to humans, the shelter can adopt them out easily.

9. They are trying to save the lives of some of the healthy cats and kittens who must be removed from a colony in Columbus. If you have a barn or shed, and are willing to share it, and food and water, with a healthy cat or two, call and ask for Dana!

10) And lastly, if you are in the market for a dog, cat, puppy or kitten, please consider adopting from the shelter...you will not be sorry!

The folks at Foothills are doing so many wonderful things to save lives, and YOU can help! There is nothing more exciting as when you know that you have helped an animal get a new home, and a new life.....well, almost nothing.....

Please help us save the lives of the animals in OUR community!

Woof!

CHAMP



Photo by Shelley Dayton