I'm making this post to thank those who have been helping us get the word out in our area. Marjorie Young with Carriage Trade PR has been a long-time supporter, allowing us bulletin space in her weekly emails to notify the community of our events as well as pets for adoption. And recently, I made the acquaintance of April Groves, a local real estate agent and eWomenNetwork member. April has a dedicated post on her blog to local charities, and Coastal Pet Rescue was a featured.
So to these ladies, we say "Thank You" for giving a little of your space and time to help us in our mission.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Most Eligible Bachlorette
It's that time of year again, the annual Connect Savannah Best Of awards. I posted my MySpace bulletins asking everyone to vote Coastal Pet Rescue for Best Charitable Organization, but I was shocked yet flattered to see my friend Shannon start a campaign to get me listed as most eligible bachlorette. Does that mean I can get out for a free dinner and a movie? So, since Shannon left a plug for me, let me leave a plug for her and boyfriend Josh. Vote for Shannon Kuanfung for best local actress and Josh Holley for Best All-around Local Musician. Both are great people and avid supporters of Coastal Pet Rescue. I will also make a request to have WRHQ voted Best Radio Station, not just because it was the last station I worked for, but because they consistently and avidly support animal welfare and the pet rescue community in Savannah. We just can't beat that!
Want more ideas of who to vote where? Visit our sponsors page and help them get a leg up on the competition. After all, they're supporting us helping those with two more legs than us.
Want more ideas of who to vote where? Visit our sponsors page and help them get a leg up on the competition. After all, they're supporting us helping those with two more legs than us.
Waiting on the World to Change
My friend Ashley told me about John Mayer's song, Waiting on the World to Change, during our trip this weekend. Having left the world of radio back in November, I really haven't kept current on new music; I opt to listen to my MP3 mixes in the car, mostly of 80s rock and pop, Jimmy Buffett, and Blue Collar Comedy. But I decided to check out his music and I must say, not a bad tune at all. But it did strike a different chord of sorts with me.
The song mentions waiting on the world to change. Where would we be if all we did was wait? I like to think Coastal Pet Rescue is progressive, working to make changes happen. We give what little free time we have after work, school, families to change the lives for many needy and deserving animals in our community. Now, what I would like to change about the world is how disposable pets seem to be. But we all know that is a gradual process; we can't expect things to happen over night. I am hopeful we'll have new ideas and better results in our local community this year. It seems more people are taking notice of how slack things have been allowed to be handled for far too long. They've waited around long enough for change, and instead, have decided to make changes themselves. I'm always one to admire those that are willing to try rather than those who stand back and watch someone to fail.
The song mentions waiting on the world to change. Where would we be if all we did was wait? I like to think Coastal Pet Rescue is progressive, working to make changes happen. We give what little free time we have after work, school, families to change the lives for many needy and deserving animals in our community. Now, what I would like to change about the world is how disposable pets seem to be. But we all know that is a gradual process; we can't expect things to happen over night. I am hopeful we'll have new ideas and better results in our local community this year. It seems more people are taking notice of how slack things have been allowed to be handled for far too long. They've waited around long enough for change, and instead, have decided to make changes themselves. I'm always one to admire those that are willing to try rather than those who stand back and watch someone to fail.
Monday, April 23, 2007
The Respect of Others
I take great pride in the respect Coastal Pet Rescue receives from our community, but I was moved to tears this afternoon when I went to pay our vet bill.
I go in to Crossroad Animal Hospital on an almost-daily basis. The vets and staff know my face well. They see me in most unflattering looks, having just wrangled a dog, gotten myself tied up in a lead, covered in dirt paw prints, hair tangled from the ride over, baggy eyes from no sleep due to a new puppy arrival the day before, etc. They are always patient and understanding as we go through the routines: shots, dewormings, heartworm treatments, spays, kennel cough, coccidia, parvo. They see us through arrival and adoption, and even sometimes, through loss of life. But I was truely touched when I arrived today and was told they had set up a donation jar for us. It was a cute puppy bank that they had received from Bayer to use as they wish, and the clinic staff all voted to donate to us. Crossroad is always so giving to us with our needs, I was overwhelmed with their generosity.
This show of support comes after a wonderful email I received over the weekend. While in Atlanta, eWomenNetwork notfied me that I am a finalist for their International Femtor Emerging Leader of the Year award. While it is a great honor, I am more honored by the letters of recommendation I received from Coastal Pet Rescue volunteers. I know everyone's time is already maxed, but that several people chose to take some to do one on my behalf was extremely touching. So, I get to head to Dallas this June for the awards ceremony and naming of the winner. I'm looking forward to the trip, though this means I have to find a pet sitter again.
I go in to Crossroad Animal Hospital on an almost-daily basis. The vets and staff know my face well. They see me in most unflattering looks, having just wrangled a dog, gotten myself tied up in a lead, covered in dirt paw prints, hair tangled from the ride over, baggy eyes from no sleep due to a new puppy arrival the day before, etc. They are always patient and understanding as we go through the routines: shots, dewormings, heartworm treatments, spays, kennel cough, coccidia, parvo. They see us through arrival and adoption, and even sometimes, through loss of life. But I was truely touched when I arrived today and was told they had set up a donation jar for us. It was a cute puppy bank that they had received from Bayer to use as they wish, and the clinic staff all voted to donate to us. Crossroad is always so giving to us with our needs, I was overwhelmed with their generosity.
This show of support comes after a wonderful email I received over the weekend. While in Atlanta, eWomenNetwork notfied me that I am a finalist for their International Femtor Emerging Leader of the Year award. While it is a great honor, I am more honored by the letters of recommendation I received from Coastal Pet Rescue volunteers. I know everyone's time is already maxed, but that several people chose to take some to do one on my behalf was extremely touching. So, I get to head to Dallas this June for the awards ceremony and naming of the winner. I'm looking forward to the trip, though this means I have to find a pet sitter again.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
A Weekend Away
On Friday, Ashley, Heather and I left to attend the Petfinder.com Adoption Options training in Atlanta. We were fortunate enough to have At Home Pet Sitters sponsor us for the trip, and our friend and volunteer Maari hook us up with a fabulous room at one of the DoubleTree hotels in Atlanta. The trip up was late, but we were greeted with warm cookies to start the night out.
After settling in our room, we headed downstairs to ask about a great place to eat. The guest relations gentleman informed us of a nice little joint called Wild Wing Cafe, to which a woman who had been with us in the elevator for maybe 20 seconds said, "You girls would do well there." Should we have been insulted that she thought we belonged in a bar? Regardless, we went there, having a pretty good idea of the food and atmosphere. I was quite content with my order, but poor Ashley and Heather had to return their Margaritas. Apparently, there was a new mix being used. Perhaps some Savannah bartenders should call up and give them some hints.
After a long drive, we decided to cut out after dinner and head back to the hotel before our morning drive to the seminar Saturday. We got into our jammies, and Ashley headed for the fabulous hotel lotion, which she discovered the next morning was actually hair conditioner. I didn't sleep well, tossing and turning most all night, and morning came quite early.
Saturday was a long day, but very educational. We started out with a great breakfast at the hotel, complete with Southern grits. The drive took us only about 30 minutes, so we were actually early for registration. We settled in our seats, noting that we were the only group in matching attire, all three of us having packed our 2006 Cruise for Critters T-shirts without knowing the others were doing the same. It seemed most of the groups kept to themselves. We made friends with two ladies from Alabama, and an older couple just starting a new rescue in the Atlanta area. I did get to reacquaint myself with Paul Jolley, VP of Petco, and Lynn Katz from Petfinder that I met last year at Adoption Options in Jacksonville, FL. We chatted about some other possibilities for CPR, so that's always a good thing. The other presentations taught us about medicines to use for our rescued pet, how to increase hits for our Petfinder website pages, and how to evaluate and promote Pit Bulls for adoption.
We decided to hang out around Atlanta Saturday evening, which included a terrible meal and service (although fabulous Messy Sundae dessert) at a restaurant across from the hotel. We then ventured to Roswell for what became a private screening of Firehouse Dog since we were the only patrons. We killed time prior to the screening by playing Skeeball for a few. There were so many experiences just withing those two hours that I would have to write an entire other blog post about them.
Sunday, we treated ourselves to sleeping in since we all had pet sitters and haven't known what sleeping in can be like in quite some time. We decided to take a detour home and visit the Georgia Aquarium. What a great experience that was. I had no idea what to expect, and was thoroughly impressed, though I had a difficult time differentiating their version of "rescue" from my version of "dinner."
The trip home was much shorter than going up, but I won't say that our driver had a lead foot. It was all safe and sound, and that's what mattered. Of course, there was so much to be done when I got home, including calling someone over to fix the kennel that Carolina chose to tear apart during my absense.
All in all, it was a great trip, and a much-needed mini vacation.
After settling in our room, we headed downstairs to ask about a great place to eat. The guest relations gentleman informed us of a nice little joint called Wild Wing Cafe, to which a woman who had been with us in the elevator for maybe 20 seconds said, "You girls would do well there." Should we have been insulted that she thought we belonged in a bar? Regardless, we went there, having a pretty good idea of the food and atmosphere. I was quite content with my order, but poor Ashley and Heather had to return their Margaritas. Apparently, there was a new mix being used. Perhaps some Savannah bartenders should call up and give them some hints.
After a long drive, we decided to cut out after dinner and head back to the hotel before our morning drive to the seminar Saturday. We got into our jammies, and Ashley headed for the fabulous hotel lotion, which she discovered the next morning was actually hair conditioner. I didn't sleep well, tossing and turning most all night, and morning came quite early.
Saturday was a long day, but very educational. We started out with a great breakfast at the hotel, complete with Southern grits. The drive took us only about 30 minutes, so we were actually early for registration. We settled in our seats, noting that we were the only group in matching attire, all three of us having packed our 2006 Cruise for Critters T-shirts without knowing the others were doing the same. It seemed most of the groups kept to themselves. We made friends with two ladies from Alabama, and an older couple just starting a new rescue in the Atlanta area. I did get to reacquaint myself with Paul Jolley, VP of Petco, and Lynn Katz from Petfinder that I met last year at Adoption Options in Jacksonville, FL. We chatted about some other possibilities for CPR, so that's always a good thing. The other presentations taught us about medicines to use for our rescued pet, how to increase hits for our Petfinder website pages, and how to evaluate and promote Pit Bulls for adoption.
We decided to hang out around Atlanta Saturday evening, which included a terrible meal and service (although fabulous Messy Sundae dessert) at a restaurant across from the hotel. We then ventured to Roswell for what became a private screening of Firehouse Dog since we were the only patrons. We killed time prior to the screening by playing Skeeball for a few. There were so many experiences just withing those two hours that I would have to write an entire other blog post about them.
Sunday, we treated ourselves to sleeping in since we all had pet sitters and haven't known what sleeping in can be like in quite some time. We decided to take a detour home and visit the Georgia Aquarium. What a great experience that was. I had no idea what to expect, and was thoroughly impressed, though I had a difficult time differentiating their version of "rescue" from my version of "dinner."
The trip home was much shorter than going up, but I won't say that our driver had a lead foot. It was all safe and sound, and that's what mattered. Of course, there was so much to be done when I got home, including calling someone over to fix the kennel that Carolina chose to tear apart during my absense.
All in all, it was a great trip, and a much-needed mini vacation.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
We Are Not a Shelter, and I Do Not Get Paid
I don't know how many times I have to reiterate this. Animal rescue is a very tough business to be in, but even tougher when you have limited space and no income.
I wear a lot of different hats and have lots of people to communicate with on a daily basis. I also work full time as a web programmer, work part time as an animal care worker at Animal Control, and am enrolled full-time through Duquesne University. Basically, I don't sleep. So it is a little frustrating when people are pushy with me. Just today I had an email from someone that had sent us some hand-made bedding for kittens. I had already written her that we didn't have any at the time, but appreciated the gift and hoped to use them later. Instead, I went to using them for our very young puppies (I did try it with Sia, but she much preferred her litter box). So imagine how disheartened I was today to get an email demanding me to return the items to her because they were not being used as specified. Our supplies are always limited and we use evertyhing that we can. It is probably my fault because I didn't overwhelm her with gratitude. I had assumed that my simple thank you and acknowledgement was enough. But it wasn't. So I took the one away that Dixie had been using, placed it in a plastic bag, and put it in a box to be returned. We were blessed last month to have Peggy donate a bag of baby blankets, so although it is larger than I wanted for Dixie (didn't want to smother her), it did provide a comfy alternative.
Why is it so hard for people to do nice things without great expectations in return? We always send a hand-written thank you to our donors, and I like to think we are very approachable. But geez, can't we get some consideration for our time? Everyone who works with us does so for their love of animals; none of us receive any montetary compensation. We answer emails on our own free time, which is already limited by work, school, and family life. Sometimes, we have to prioritize how/when people are contacted. We have a secretary that returns all voicemail, an adoption coordinator who handles all correspondence for adoption, a foster coordinator to handle some of the intake and veterinary requests, and a TNR coordinator that handles all correspondence relating to our feral cat program. That leaves all other correspondence to me, which can be anywhere from 80 to 200 emails a day. So yes, it may take a day or so or longer to get a response from me, but I really do the best I can.
And as for us being a shelter, I really don't know how best to explain this. We are not a shelter. We do not have a physical facility that you can drop in anytime you want. We're a foster home organization. The animals live with us in our homes. Again, this means our free time is given up to provide veterinary care, socialization, training, and rehabilitation. So yes, you have to have an appointment to meet one of our pets. And when you do arrive at my house, do not expect Martha Stewart to live here. It is me and the dogs. If it is a long week like this one, there may be laundry in a basket waiting to be folded that has been sitting for four days, dog fur that hasn't been vacuumed in a week, Cutters Point frappe cups stacked on the coffee table, and maybe even a Pizza Hut box on the end table. Or even a hair dryer and wet towels in the corner from the last round of baths.
So please, cut me a little break, will you? I am only one person, and I am really doing the best I can. If you disagree, come spend one day with me and see just how much one person can accomplish in 24 hours, or take a proactive approach and become a volunteer.
I wear a lot of different hats and have lots of people to communicate with on a daily basis. I also work full time as a web programmer, work part time as an animal care worker at Animal Control, and am enrolled full-time through Duquesne University. Basically, I don't sleep. So it is a little frustrating when people are pushy with me. Just today I had an email from someone that had sent us some hand-made bedding for kittens. I had already written her that we didn't have any at the time, but appreciated the gift and hoped to use them later. Instead, I went to using them for our very young puppies (I did try it with Sia, but she much preferred her litter box). So imagine how disheartened I was today to get an email demanding me to return the items to her because they were not being used as specified. Our supplies are always limited and we use evertyhing that we can. It is probably my fault because I didn't overwhelm her with gratitude. I had assumed that my simple thank you and acknowledgement was enough. But it wasn't. So I took the one away that Dixie had been using, placed it in a plastic bag, and put it in a box to be returned. We were blessed last month to have Peggy donate a bag of baby blankets, so although it is larger than I wanted for Dixie (didn't want to smother her), it did provide a comfy alternative.
Why is it so hard for people to do nice things without great expectations in return? We always send a hand-written thank you to our donors, and I like to think we are very approachable. But geez, can't we get some consideration for our time? Everyone who works with us does so for their love of animals; none of us receive any montetary compensation. We answer emails on our own free time, which is already limited by work, school, and family life. Sometimes, we have to prioritize how/when people are contacted. We have a secretary that returns all voicemail, an adoption coordinator who handles all correspondence for adoption, a foster coordinator to handle some of the intake and veterinary requests, and a TNR coordinator that handles all correspondence relating to our feral cat program. That leaves all other correspondence to me, which can be anywhere from 80 to 200 emails a day. So yes, it may take a day or so or longer to get a response from me, but I really do the best I can.
And as for us being a shelter, I really don't know how best to explain this. We are not a shelter. We do not have a physical facility that you can drop in anytime you want. We're a foster home organization. The animals live with us in our homes. Again, this means our free time is given up to provide veterinary care, socialization, training, and rehabilitation. So yes, you have to have an appointment to meet one of our pets. And when you do arrive at my house, do not expect Martha Stewart to live here. It is me and the dogs. If it is a long week like this one, there may be laundry in a basket waiting to be folded that has been sitting for four days, dog fur that hasn't been vacuumed in a week, Cutters Point frappe cups stacked on the coffee table, and maybe even a Pizza Hut box on the end table. Or even a hair dryer and wet towels in the corner from the last round of baths.
So please, cut me a little break, will you? I am only one person, and I am really doing the best I can. If you disagree, come spend one day with me and see just how much one person can accomplish in 24 hours, or take a proactive approach and become a volunteer.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Humane Euthanasia in Chatham County
I have dedicated my life to helping homeless animals in our community, most of which I pick up from our local animal control. Because I had always only seen things from my brief trips in to evaluate animals or bring them home, I may have had some narrow-minded thinking about how things should be done. However, after having worked the last six weeks part time as an actual shelter worker, a lot of my thinking has changed.
There is a strong movement against gas chambers in Georgia, I think quite a bit of the storm comes from people who have yet to witness the process first-hand. While I agree no one wants to think of animals having to be gassed, I think there is a gross misunderstanding of the actual process used at our animal control. I cannot vouch for the process elsewhere, but from what I witnessed during my time at animal control, and actually being a part of the process, I believe our euthanasia process is more humane than most give credit.
The process seems to be a rather simple one: tranquilize the animal, put it in the cage, place it in the chamber, turn it on, and walk out. But that is just the physical part. Everyone who works at the shelter cares for animals. We spend five days or longer getting to know them, trying to talk people into adoption, holding them, giving them medicines when needed. But when their time is up, we are the last kindness they get to know. I watched as one by one, each animal succumbed to the tranquilizer. They did not know we were picking up their bodies, they didn't know that we were placing them with others, they did not know they weren't coming back.
I have only witnessed one lethal injection in my time, and it wasn't quick, and it didn't seem to be as painless. The animal was aware something was going on, and struggled to get free from me as I held on, trying to offer comfort. It was a medical need to act humanely. But having to hold the animal so close as the life drained, drained me just as well. I could not imagine trying to use this process on some of the animals at the shelter, the ones that take two to three people to get off a truck and into a pen safely, others that are foaming at the mouth, bite cases.
I don't think there is an all or nothing humane solution in euthanasia. So instead, why not focus on prevention? How about a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, free spay days, or more microchip clinics to keep pets out of the shelter in the first place? If all we do is focus on the end, we do not solve the problem that brings the pets there in the first place.
I understand that my position counters those who are working around me. It may very well lead to my being ostrasized within our local animal welfare community. But I've never been one to give in easy to group-think and hope my position will open up others to alternative ideas.
There is a strong movement against gas chambers in Georgia, I think quite a bit of the storm comes from people who have yet to witness the process first-hand. While I agree no one wants to think of animals having to be gassed, I think there is a gross misunderstanding of the actual process used at our animal control. I cannot vouch for the process elsewhere, but from what I witnessed during my time at animal control, and actually being a part of the process, I believe our euthanasia process is more humane than most give credit.
The process seems to be a rather simple one: tranquilize the animal, put it in the cage, place it in the chamber, turn it on, and walk out. But that is just the physical part. Everyone who works at the shelter cares for animals. We spend five days or longer getting to know them, trying to talk people into adoption, holding them, giving them medicines when needed. But when their time is up, we are the last kindness they get to know. I watched as one by one, each animal succumbed to the tranquilizer. They did not know we were picking up their bodies, they didn't know that we were placing them with others, they did not know they weren't coming back.
I have only witnessed one lethal injection in my time, and it wasn't quick, and it didn't seem to be as painless. The animal was aware something was going on, and struggled to get free from me as I held on, trying to offer comfort. It was a medical need to act humanely. But having to hold the animal so close as the life drained, drained me just as well. I could not imagine trying to use this process on some of the animals at the shelter, the ones that take two to three people to get off a truck and into a pen safely, others that are foaming at the mouth, bite cases.
I don't think there is an all or nothing humane solution in euthanasia. So instead, why not focus on prevention? How about a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, free spay days, or more microchip clinics to keep pets out of the shelter in the first place? If all we do is focus on the end, we do not solve the problem that brings the pets there in the first place.
I understand that my position counters those who are working around me. It may very well lead to my being ostrasized within our local animal welfare community. But I've never been one to give in easy to group-think and hope my position will open up others to alternative ideas.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Just $10 to Save a Life
It doesn't seem like much, but $10 can really mean the life or death for a pet. How so? Imagine your pet finds itself in the grasps of a local animal control facility. They have 3 to 7 days, sometimes more, most times less, for you to reclaim them. But how do you know they are there? If your pet has a microchip, animal control workers will scan your pet, get the id number, and give you a call to reunite the two of you.
So where does the $10 come in to play? Many vets charge between $30 to $60 for your pet to be microchipped. If you have multiple pets, this can be a huge expense. So we started offering low-cost clinics three years ago using the 24PetWatch program. So for just $10, you can have piece of mind that your pet will be reunited with you rather than counted among the millions of homeless pets euthanized each year.
Yesterday, we held a low-cost microchip clinic at Tybee Island's Memorial Park (thanks to Tybee City Council for their help). Pet owners brough 103 pets to us, 83 dogs and 20 cats. We never got to sit down, and Dr. Charra and Anne of All About Pets Mobile Vet even stayed late to get everyone chipped. But most astounding was that the pets were not all from Tybee; in fact, only 28 were. The rest came from much farther away: Midway, Guyton, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Pooler, Springfield, Bloomingdale, Richmond Hill, Garden City, Collins, and Savannah. It really brought home that what we are doing makes a huge difference for these pets, so much so that we are going to add more clinics this summer instead of just one a quarter. We just have to find more businesses to allow us the space, and a few more vet techs to give up their time.
So where does the $10 come in to play? Many vets charge between $30 to $60 for your pet to be microchipped. If you have multiple pets, this can be a huge expense. So we started offering low-cost clinics three years ago using the 24PetWatch program. So for just $10, you can have piece of mind that your pet will be reunited with you rather than counted among the millions of homeless pets euthanized each year.
Yesterday, we held a low-cost microchip clinic at Tybee Island's Memorial Park (thanks to Tybee City Council for their help). Pet owners brough 103 pets to us, 83 dogs and 20 cats. We never got to sit down, and Dr. Charra and Anne of All About Pets Mobile Vet even stayed late to get everyone chipped. But most astounding was that the pets were not all from Tybee; in fact, only 28 were. The rest came from much farther away: Midway, Guyton, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, Pooler, Springfield, Bloomingdale, Richmond Hill, Garden City, Collins, and Savannah. It really brought home that what we are doing makes a huge difference for these pets, so much so that we are going to add more clinics this summer instead of just one a quarter. We just have to find more businesses to allow us the space, and a few more vet techs to give up their time.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
A Mouth I Don't Have to Feed
It is amazing to me the hearts my volunteers have. They are the people who have come to know me in a way any person off the street would never imagine. Some of them have seen me through rough times, others have been there to share in our glory. So imagine my surprise today when Joan and her hubby Mike showed up with a special treat just for me.
Working at animal control, it was not uncommon to have someone come to the gate with a box, usually with kittens or puppies inside. So my surprise when Joan and Mike visited me at the nail salon (I haven't been since last May and looked rather awful) turned from excitement to grave concern when I saw Joan holding a white box. My first question to her: "Is it alive?" (Nothing surprises me anymore, really.) All she would say is, "just open it." So I did, very cautiously, and errupted into laughter and relief when it turned out to be a little Siberian Husky... stuffed animal. Joan and Mike had been by Build-a-Bear earlier and built me Artic, a gray Husky with beautiful blue eyes. He even barks at me when I hold his paw. Artic came complete with a birth certificate, and a "Stuffed with Love by Joan & Mike" line. I can't begin to say how touched I am. I've been a little sad since baby Tyler was adopted last week, so it's fun to be holding Artic in my lap while worked tonight. And best of all, he's not on medicine, he won't wake me up to go out at 5 am, and he doesn't have to be fed any special food!
Working at animal control, it was not uncommon to have someone come to the gate with a box, usually with kittens or puppies inside. So my surprise when Joan and Mike visited me at the nail salon (I haven't been since last May and looked rather awful) turned from excitement to grave concern when I saw Joan holding a white box. My first question to her: "Is it alive?" (Nothing surprises me anymore, really.) All she would say is, "just open it." So I did, very cautiously, and errupted into laughter and relief when it turned out to be a little Siberian Husky... stuffed animal. Joan and Mike had been by Build-a-Bear earlier and built me Artic, a gray Husky with beautiful blue eyes. He even barks at me when I hold his paw. Artic came complete with a birth certificate, and a "Stuffed with Love by Joan & Mike" line. I can't begin to say how touched I am. I've been a little sad since baby Tyler was adopted last week, so it's fun to be holding Artic in my lap while worked tonight. And best of all, he's not on medicine, he won't wake me up to go out at 5 am, and he doesn't have to be fed any special food!
Monday, April 9, 2007
Pet Insurance: To Buy or Not To Buy
My friend Telli caught me online as I was getting ready for my fabulous TV interview this morning and told me that the TODAY show was going to have a segment on pet insurance. Unfortunately, it took too long to come on, and I had Mickey on leash and out the door as it was starting. I told her that we give a pet insurance policy as part of the adoption process, though it now costs $1. She didn't realize that, which means I didn't explain it to her when she adopted from us late last year, oops.
Anyhow, before I go sounding like a paid infomercial, let me say that I carry insurance on my beloved dog, DaVinci. Like our adopters, I got his policy as a gift with his adoption, and decided to continue it. It costs me a bit over $200 each year, which I pay out of my tax refund. I like to think I provide adequate care for my pets, but since I live paycheck to paycheck, there's no way I could afford for something major to happen to my Vinnie bear. Given his natural lack of grace, it makes me feel better to know that I can provide him care when he needs it.
Now, how do you choose the insurance policy that's right for you? The choice was made for me. ShelterCare by PetHealth Inc. has been providing us with insurance policies for our adopted pets for several years. I've had the opportunity to meet their director in person, as well as several of their staff. So, I feel confident using them for my personal pet. They also made a major announcement a few weeks back that their policy would cover expenses relating to care needed from the pet food contamination.
There are many options to choose from. Your best bet would be to do a Google search and get information from several sources. But my point remains: pets are a part of your family. You have insurance for you and/or your family members, so why not your beloved pet?
Anyhow, before I go sounding like a paid infomercial, let me say that I carry insurance on my beloved dog, DaVinci. Like our adopters, I got his policy as a gift with his adoption, and decided to continue it. It costs me a bit over $200 each year, which I pay out of my tax refund. I like to think I provide adequate care for my pets, but since I live paycheck to paycheck, there's no way I could afford for something major to happen to my Vinnie bear. Given his natural lack of grace, it makes me feel better to know that I can provide him care when he needs it.
Now, how do you choose the insurance policy that's right for you? The choice was made for me. ShelterCare by PetHealth Inc. has been providing us with insurance policies for our adopted pets for several years. I've had the opportunity to meet their director in person, as well as several of their staff. So, I feel confident using them for my personal pet. They also made a major announcement a few weeks back that their policy would cover expenses relating to care needed from the pet food contamination.
There are many options to choose from. Your best bet would be to do a Google search and get information from several sources. But my point remains: pets are a part of your family. You have insurance for you and/or your family members, so why not your beloved pet?
Extreme Make-over: Home Edition - Puppy Style
I just love watching the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition every Sunday. A few years ago, I drew up the plans of what I hoped to build for the rescue after watching several episodes. Tonight, I decided to bathe Mickey before I went to bed, so he'd be clean for his stay at the vet the next few days for his heartworm treatment.
Let me start off by saying that Mickey is a wonderful dog. He's very good, usually, for me. He loves to be near me, have my attention. For this reason, I thought I could take on an under 40 pound husky on my own in the shower... I was wrong. He's lean, and determined. His fur really should probably be shaved down so new, healthier fur can grow, but instead, I went for a full shampoo. I used almost an entire bottle, as Husky fur is very thick. I underestimated that, despite him being lean, anything I put on him he could turn into bathroom decor... and he did. And the hallway. And the kitchen. The floors are now cleaner, too, since I had to wipe up all the shampoo paw prints and water he traced throughout the house.
The good news is that we finally came to an understanding and after thirty minutes of negotiating, got all the shampoo out of the fur. The bad news is his part of the negotiations did not allow for a blow drying, so instead, I had to put more towels down on the floor in the kitchen for him to dry himself. Ugh. But at least I'll feel less like the vet will want to call doggy DFACS on me tomorrow since he at least smells a little better. It's a darn good thing he can't talk though...
Let me start off by saying that Mickey is a wonderful dog. He's very good, usually, for me. He loves to be near me, have my attention. For this reason, I thought I could take on an under 40 pound husky on my own in the shower... I was wrong. He's lean, and determined. His fur really should probably be shaved down so new, healthier fur can grow, but instead, I went for a full shampoo. I used almost an entire bottle, as Husky fur is very thick. I underestimated that, despite him being lean, anything I put on him he could turn into bathroom decor... and he did. And the hallway. And the kitchen. The floors are now cleaner, too, since I had to wipe up all the shampoo paw prints and water he traced throughout the house.
The good news is that we finally came to an understanding and after thirty minutes of negotiating, got all the shampoo out of the fur. The bad news is his part of the negotiations did not allow for a blow drying, so instead, I had to put more towels down on the floor in the kitchen for him to dry himself. Ugh. But at least I'll feel less like the vet will want to call doggy DFACS on me tomorrow since he at least smells a little better. It's a darn good thing he can't talk though...
Sunday, April 8, 2007
What is a Microchip?
Coastal Pet Rescue will hold another low-cost microchip clinic this coming Saturday, 1 to 4 pm, at Memorial Park on Tybee Island. We've had some questions recently regarding the clinic, so I decided to make a post that will hopefully answer them and encourage people to bring their pets.
How big is the microchip?
The chip itself is only the size of a grain of rice. The needle, therefore, is larger than the standard needle they would get with their annual shots.
Does it hurt them?
It pinches. Most of them react to the pressure they feel from the insertion of the chip. It is very quick, and we do use Lidocaine gel to numb the skin as much as possible. Some dogs will act as if nothing is going on; others will show you just how great their drama skills can be.
Where do you put the chip?
The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades just underneathe the skin.
Does it GPS them, so you can see where they are?
No, this isn't Lojack. The chip is essentially a bar code, much like what you see on products you purchase when grocery shopping. The scanners read the chips like the scanners at the grocery check outs. So someone must find the pet and take it somewhere to have it scanned for a chip. Coastal Pet Rescue maintains three scanners and has gone numerous times to scan found pets. Only once has a chip been found, but it was never registered correctly.
What information does it carry?
The chip itself does not carry any information other than the barcode. An ID number displays when the chip is scanned by a microchip reader. The person scanning calls a registry database with the ID number to get the owner's information (there are several registries: HomeAgain, AVID, 24PetWatch, PetLink). The owner is then called to reunite with their pet.
How do I register my information?
Coastal Pet Rescue submits registration forms from its clinics directly to 24PetWatch. The information on the form includes the owner's name, address, three phone numbers, the pet's name, date of birth, breed, age, sex, neutered status, date of last rabies vaccination, special medical needs, veterinarian's information, and an alternate emergency contact name and number. At the time your pet is microchipped at our clinic, you will receive a tear sheet with information and 24PetWatch's website. You have the option to register your pet that same day online or by phone for free. Once your pet is registered, you may use 24PetWatch's online tools, such as uploading a photo or adding additional information.
What do I do if I move or change my number?
24PetWatch does not charge you to change your information. This is the only way a microchip will truely work for your pet. When you have a change, you may login online and update it yourself or call their 800 number.
Why does Coastal Pet Rescue charge on $10 for this service?
We started doing the microchip clinics over three years ago because we found people were not doing them through their vets, mainly because of the cost. 24PetWatch is a program designed for shelters and rescues to make microchipping pets affordable and keep them from euthanasia. We do the clinics as a public service; this is not a fundraiser.
My pet never goes out of the house, so why should I do this?
Maybe your pet always lives indoors, but what happens in the event you have a sitter or friend that accidentally lets the pet out? Or how about if we have to do a hurricane evacuation again and your pet gets away? The microchip provides a permanent identification that will help your pet to be reunited with you, even if it travels thousands of miles away from home.
How big is the microchip?
The chip itself is only the size of a grain of rice. The needle, therefore, is larger than the standard needle they would get with their annual shots.
Does it hurt them?
It pinches. Most of them react to the pressure they feel from the insertion of the chip. It is very quick, and we do use Lidocaine gel to numb the skin as much as possible. Some dogs will act as if nothing is going on; others will show you just how great their drama skills can be.
Where do you put the chip?
The chip is inserted between the shoulder blades just underneathe the skin.
Does it GPS them, so you can see where they are?
No, this isn't Lojack. The chip is essentially a bar code, much like what you see on products you purchase when grocery shopping. The scanners read the chips like the scanners at the grocery check outs. So someone must find the pet and take it somewhere to have it scanned for a chip. Coastal Pet Rescue maintains three scanners and has gone numerous times to scan found pets. Only once has a chip been found, but it was never registered correctly.
What information does it carry?
The chip itself does not carry any information other than the barcode. An ID number displays when the chip is scanned by a microchip reader. The person scanning calls a registry database with the ID number to get the owner's information (there are several registries: HomeAgain, AVID, 24PetWatch, PetLink). The owner is then called to reunite with their pet.
How do I register my information?
Coastal Pet Rescue submits registration forms from its clinics directly to 24PetWatch. The information on the form includes the owner's name, address, three phone numbers, the pet's name, date of birth, breed, age, sex, neutered status, date of last rabies vaccination, special medical needs, veterinarian's information, and an alternate emergency contact name and number. At the time your pet is microchipped at our clinic, you will receive a tear sheet with information and 24PetWatch's website. You have the option to register your pet that same day online or by phone for free. Once your pet is registered, you may use 24PetWatch's online tools, such as uploading a photo or adding additional information.
What do I do if I move or change my number?
24PetWatch does not charge you to change your information. This is the only way a microchip will truely work for your pet. When you have a change, you may login online and update it yourself or call their 800 number.
Why does Coastal Pet Rescue charge on $10 for this service?
We started doing the microchip clinics over three years ago because we found people were not doing them through their vets, mainly because of the cost. 24PetWatch is a program designed for shelters and rescues to make microchipping pets affordable and keep them from euthanasia. We do the clinics as a public service; this is not a fundraiser.
My pet never goes out of the house, so why should I do this?
Maybe your pet always lives indoors, but what happens in the event you have a sitter or friend that accidentally lets the pet out? Or how about if we have to do a hurricane evacuation again and your pet gets away? The microchip provides a permanent identification that will help your pet to be reunited with you, even if it travels thousands of miles away from home.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Pet Identification: Why Not?
This is another repost from my personal blog this past January. The info is updated to reflect our next microchip clinic.
Identification for a pet seems so simple, yet too many pets go without. We see them every week at Animal Control. They have collars, but no I.D. or rabies tags or microchip, and, unfortunately, only five days to be reclaimed. I look into their faces, see them wag their tails, sit on command, give their paw and clamor for affection. It is all affection they should be sharing with their owners, who, for whatever reason, never came to animal control to see if their pet was there, or never brought a flyer with photo identification so they could be called. They don't know what their fate is in five days, but they have a sense that they aren't supposed to be there, nor do they want to be. Sometimes, we're the last friendly pat on the head or scratch behind the ears they get. We just don't have room for them all, but neither does animal control. They do what they can, allowing licensed rescues to take animals out for adoption, but that won't save them all.
In an effort to lower euthanasia rates at animal control, Coastal Pet Rescue began offering low-cost microchipping clinics to the public three years ago. Before we started the clinics, we asked area vets how many of their clients were getting their pets chipped. The number was very minimal, and that means an unnecessary increase in the homeless pet population. Overwhelmingly, it seems cost was a factor. I know some vets were charging $30 to $60, but it's not all their fault. Avid and HomeAgain charge registration fees, and then charge you again to update the information. Subsequently, too many times contact information isn't updated and the pet can't be reunited. I would rather spend $100 to see that my pet never ended up in a gas chamber, but not so many other folks share that sentiment. I've even been in the office when an owner was notified their pet was there and they told animal control to keep it. It makes me sick to see how little value is given to the life of a pet.
Coastal Pet Rescue's next microchip clinic will take place Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 4 pm at Memorial Park on Tybee Island (next to City Hall). For just $10, pets will be microchipped with a 24PetWatch microchip. There is no cost for updating information after registration, and 24PetWatch provides online tools to help reunite your pets when they get lost. Additionally, the chips can be read by any scanner at shelters, rescues and animal control facilities.
It's just $10, $10 to keep a pet from a tragic end. It doesn't seem that inconvenient to me.
Identification for a pet seems so simple, yet too many pets go without. We see them every week at Animal Control. They have collars, but no I.D. or rabies tags or microchip, and, unfortunately, only five days to be reclaimed. I look into their faces, see them wag their tails, sit on command, give their paw and clamor for affection. It is all affection they should be sharing with their owners, who, for whatever reason, never came to animal control to see if their pet was there, or never brought a flyer with photo identification so they could be called. They don't know what their fate is in five days, but they have a sense that they aren't supposed to be there, nor do they want to be. Sometimes, we're the last friendly pat on the head or scratch behind the ears they get. We just don't have room for them all, but neither does animal control. They do what they can, allowing licensed rescues to take animals out for adoption, but that won't save them all.
In an effort to lower euthanasia rates at animal control, Coastal Pet Rescue began offering low-cost microchipping clinics to the public three years ago. Before we started the clinics, we asked area vets how many of their clients were getting their pets chipped. The number was very minimal, and that means an unnecessary increase in the homeless pet population. Overwhelmingly, it seems cost was a factor. I know some vets were charging $30 to $60, but it's not all their fault. Avid and HomeAgain charge registration fees, and then charge you again to update the information. Subsequently, too many times contact information isn't updated and the pet can't be reunited. I would rather spend $100 to see that my pet never ended up in a gas chamber, but not so many other folks share that sentiment. I've even been in the office when an owner was notified their pet was there and they told animal control to keep it. It makes me sick to see how little value is given to the life of a pet.
Coastal Pet Rescue's next microchip clinic will take place Saturday, April 14 from 1 to 4 pm at Memorial Park on Tybee Island (next to City Hall). For just $10, pets will be microchipped with a 24PetWatch microchip. There is no cost for updating information after registration, and 24PetWatch provides online tools to help reunite your pets when they get lost. Additionally, the chips can be read by any scanner at shelters, rescues and animal control facilities.
It's just $10, $10 to keep a pet from a tragic end. It doesn't seem that inconvenient to me.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Where have all the homes gone?
This is a repost from my personal blog this past January, but with recent intakes at Animal Control, I felt it very appropriate to once again reflect upon the subject.
Each week, I take two to three trips to our local animal control. I'm appalled at the number of pets with collars but no id, no microchip. I spend time with them, determine where I can fit them into our rescue. I know they had homes, they had to. Several of them have looked recently groomed; others are well-mannered and starving for attention. They came from somewhere, but no one has been to look for them. They have five days, five days in which I make phone calls and send emails to see if we can give them a second chance at life, something they deserve. Sometimes, people say yes. I go back to get that one out, holding my head as high as I can to try and distance myself from the sad eyes of the others I had to say "not today." I fill out the paperwork, dog tugging at my arm, eager to smell freedom and feel love. I open the backdoor, and 90% of the time, the dog is in before the door is all the way up. The panting and tail wagging ensue, and we venture to my home and a new life: a good bath, a clean place to sleep, fresh food and water, and a new hope. Then we wait. We wait in hopes that someone else will have compassion and open their hearts to a pet in need, give them a chance to know the love of a family and a permanent home. It doesn't doesn't happen fast and for some pets, it just never happens.
For every pet that remains in our foster care, another is turned away. We don't even have enough foster homes for all the emails and phone calls we get each day, let alone all the pets at animal control. Just this week, I received an email from a person who was under great "hardship" because she didn't have her two dogs spayed and neutered and didn't like having to pay to care for them plus their seven puppies. They had to be gone immediately; it was too much for her to handle. She wanted to bring them to us. I replied that we didn't have the room but that since she needed an immediate solution, she could take them to the humane society. What was the reply I got? "Thank you so much for your lack of interest and help. The humane society would only be used as a last resort." A last resort to what? The "hardship" could have been prevented at a much reduced cost than what she is paying now. Do I think she will regret giving her pets up? Probably not; so few of them ever do. I've heard it all: had a new baby, can't have pets; moved to a place that won't allow them; new love interest is allergic; 12 year old child is suddenly allergic to a cat they've had for 15 years, etc.
This is not a job that gives great recognitions or pay; we don't get paid for the rescue work we do, yet so many people assume so. We don't get a lot of pats on the back for what we do; we get hateful emails accusing us of not doing enough. So what do we get? Lots of kisses from the animals we help and thankful hugs from new families that adopted. But mostly pride in knowing that we gave something of ourselves for a greater good. Sure, I don't get a full 8 hours of sleep each night, and I would like to have a bedding set that still had all its filling and no patches from being ripped apart, or maybe even blinds without teeth marks. However, these are trivial when compared to saving the life of another animal.
Each week, I take two to three trips to our local animal control. I'm appalled at the number of pets with collars but no id, no microchip. I spend time with them, determine where I can fit them into our rescue. I know they had homes, they had to. Several of them have looked recently groomed; others are well-mannered and starving for attention. They came from somewhere, but no one has been to look for them. They have five days, five days in which I make phone calls and send emails to see if we can give them a second chance at life, something they deserve. Sometimes, people say yes. I go back to get that one out, holding my head as high as I can to try and distance myself from the sad eyes of the others I had to say "not today." I fill out the paperwork, dog tugging at my arm, eager to smell freedom and feel love. I open the backdoor, and 90% of the time, the dog is in before the door is all the way up. The panting and tail wagging ensue, and we venture to my home and a new life: a good bath, a clean place to sleep, fresh food and water, and a new hope. Then we wait. We wait in hopes that someone else will have compassion and open their hearts to a pet in need, give them a chance to know the love of a family and a permanent home. It doesn't doesn't happen fast and for some pets, it just never happens.
For every pet that remains in our foster care, another is turned away. We don't even have enough foster homes for all the emails and phone calls we get each day, let alone all the pets at animal control. Just this week, I received an email from a person who was under great "hardship" because she didn't have her two dogs spayed and neutered and didn't like having to pay to care for them plus their seven puppies. They had to be gone immediately; it was too much for her to handle. She wanted to bring them to us. I replied that we didn't have the room but that since she needed an immediate solution, she could take them to the humane society. What was the reply I got? "Thank you so much for your lack of interest and help. The humane society would only be used as a last resort." A last resort to what? The "hardship" could have been prevented at a much reduced cost than what she is paying now. Do I think she will regret giving her pets up? Probably not; so few of them ever do. I've heard it all: had a new baby, can't have pets; moved to a place that won't allow them; new love interest is allergic; 12 year old child is suddenly allergic to a cat they've had for 15 years, etc.
This is not a job that gives great recognitions or pay; we don't get paid for the rescue work we do, yet so many people assume so. We don't get a lot of pats on the back for what we do; we get hateful emails accusing us of not doing enough. So what do we get? Lots of kisses from the animals we help and thankful hugs from new families that adopted. But mostly pride in knowing that we gave something of ourselves for a greater good. Sure, I don't get a full 8 hours of sleep each night, and I would like to have a bedding set that still had all its filling and no patches from being ripped apart, or maybe even blinds without teeth marks. However, these are trivial when compared to saving the life of another animal.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Animal Control and Care in Chatham County
As is mentioned on SavannahPets.org, there is a new facility in the works for Chatham's animal control. Members from animal control, the humane society, county commissioners and the architects travelled to another county to check out their facilities last week. What they got were more ideas of how a good shelter can help to decrease euthanasia rates in our county. Since I do the paperwork for that every day, let me tell you, there is a lot of room for improvement. So, what would I like to see changed? Having spent the last four weeks working part time, here are some of my suggestions:
1. An adoption counselor on site. There is no reason the public shouldn't be able to come and do an adoption of a pet from animal control. Yes, there needs to be some screening in place, and definitely policies for spay/neuter, but why not keep them alive as long as we can?
2. Segregated areas for bite cases. Each day, at least one person has to walk through the kennels looking for their pet. We always have a least one bite case being held for ten days, and recently, they have been anything but friendly. I consider it a safety issue, as well as a well-being issue. These animals project their constant barking/aggression towards the animals around them. Even if they are placed in the pens with the fiberglass dividers, it can still unnerve one of their neighbors.
3. Lighting. The kennels are so dark and dreary. It's a very sad place to have to walk through with someone who is searching hard for their missing pet, and in many cases, it's harder to see identifying marks. I know animal control is not known as a cheery place, but I don't see a reason why we can't try to make it a bit more inviting to the public coming through.
4. Segregated areas for puppies/kittens from adults, and for that matter, sick/injured animals from general population. I know it is a lot to ask, but just take one walk through our kennels right now. Our cat room is littered with cats full of upper respiratory infections, and while healthy cats may be moved away from them, they all still share the same air and possibility for contraction. The same goes for puppies as I keep hearing about the number of parvo cases increasing at our local vet offices, though only know of one pup recently pulled from animal control that was positive (which would be our very own Chipper).
5. Educational opportunities for the public. When people are coming to reclaim their pet, why not have a packet of information available with a contacts list to help them keep their pets out of animal control? We do low-cost microchipping, and I try to remember to put flyers out for our upcoming clinics. Instead, I should have flyers up there about microchipping year round since we can do appointments. I don't mind driving if it can help save a life. Additionally, we really need spay/neuter awareness. Most of the pets come in are not spayed/neutered, and many have been giving birth in the kennels recently.
6. Exercise areas. We have two areas where pets can be taken out to be leash walked or showcased to a potential rescuer/adopter. Wouldn't it be great if these babies could all get the chance for some exercise, especially if it may help them bide their time?
7. Standards of Procedure for Medicating and Euthanizing severely sick or injured animals. Our goal should include providing humane care for the animals upon their arrival. Many times I have walked through and had to make special requests to have animals sent to the vet for care or euthanasia. This would be great to be able to do this on site. We do medicate as we can, but there have been several cases where the animal was so injured, it needed to be put down on arrival. Instead, we have to send it to another vet and let them make the call, taxing their resources on top of the animal control officer's that just delivered the animal to the shelter and did the paperwork. (In the last week, two puppies were brought to animal control by concerned citizens that both had to be put down at the vet.)
8. Automated phone answering. With all that goes on in the kennels with the numerous daily intakes, the phone is often missed. I feel like our outgoing message is too long. Instead, give options, such as press 1 for hours of operation and location, 2 for instructions on reclaiming a pet, 3 for bite cases, etc.
9. Lost and found service. We need a better way of getting the public to understand how to use animal control for lost and found. Often times, a flyer is dropped off, and the owner doesn't return after two visits. It's hard to clearly identify a pet from a black and white copy, in particular for the number of cats we see every day. This would be where offering microchipping and information on id tags and collars would be very appropriate.
10. Customer service training. I will admit, the guys at the shelter work hard, and deal with a lot of BS on a regular basis. We need them to do a lot of the dirty work. But there should be a friendly front person to assist people in and out of the kennel, make their experience less stressful, and provide as much information and options as possible. I'm not saying it has to be a woman, but someone with good people skills and tact.
I could keep going on and on, but I do need to sleep as well.
1. An adoption counselor on site. There is no reason the public shouldn't be able to come and do an adoption of a pet from animal control. Yes, there needs to be some screening in place, and definitely policies for spay/neuter, but why not keep them alive as long as we can?
2. Segregated areas for bite cases. Each day, at least one person has to walk through the kennels looking for their pet. We always have a least one bite case being held for ten days, and recently, they have been anything but friendly. I consider it a safety issue, as well as a well-being issue. These animals project their constant barking/aggression towards the animals around them. Even if they are placed in the pens with the fiberglass dividers, it can still unnerve one of their neighbors.
3. Lighting. The kennels are so dark and dreary. It's a very sad place to have to walk through with someone who is searching hard for their missing pet, and in many cases, it's harder to see identifying marks. I know animal control is not known as a cheery place, but I don't see a reason why we can't try to make it a bit more inviting to the public coming through.
4. Segregated areas for puppies/kittens from adults, and for that matter, sick/injured animals from general population. I know it is a lot to ask, but just take one walk through our kennels right now. Our cat room is littered with cats full of upper respiratory infections, and while healthy cats may be moved away from them, they all still share the same air and possibility for contraction. The same goes for puppies as I keep hearing about the number of parvo cases increasing at our local vet offices, though only know of one pup recently pulled from animal control that was positive (which would be our very own Chipper).
5. Educational opportunities for the public. When people are coming to reclaim their pet, why not have a packet of information available with a contacts list to help them keep their pets out of animal control? We do low-cost microchipping, and I try to remember to put flyers out for our upcoming clinics. Instead, I should have flyers up there about microchipping year round since we can do appointments. I don't mind driving if it can help save a life. Additionally, we really need spay/neuter awareness. Most of the pets come in are not spayed/neutered, and many have been giving birth in the kennels recently.
6. Exercise areas. We have two areas where pets can be taken out to be leash walked or showcased to a potential rescuer/adopter. Wouldn't it be great if these babies could all get the chance for some exercise, especially if it may help them bide their time?
7. Standards of Procedure for Medicating and Euthanizing severely sick or injured animals. Our goal should include providing humane care for the animals upon their arrival. Many times I have walked through and had to make special requests to have animals sent to the vet for care or euthanasia. This would be great to be able to do this on site. We do medicate as we can, but there have been several cases where the animal was so injured, it needed to be put down on arrival. Instead, we have to send it to another vet and let them make the call, taxing their resources on top of the animal control officer's that just delivered the animal to the shelter and did the paperwork. (In the last week, two puppies were brought to animal control by concerned citizens that both had to be put down at the vet.)
8. Automated phone answering. With all that goes on in the kennels with the numerous daily intakes, the phone is often missed. I feel like our outgoing message is too long. Instead, give options, such as press 1 for hours of operation and location, 2 for instructions on reclaiming a pet, 3 for bite cases, etc.
9. Lost and found service. We need a better way of getting the public to understand how to use animal control for lost and found. Often times, a flyer is dropped off, and the owner doesn't return after two visits. It's hard to clearly identify a pet from a black and white copy, in particular for the number of cats we see every day. This would be where offering microchipping and information on id tags and collars would be very appropriate.
10. Customer service training. I will admit, the guys at the shelter work hard, and deal with a lot of BS on a regular basis. We need them to do a lot of the dirty work. But there should be a friendly front person to assist people in and out of the kennel, make their experience less stressful, and provide as much information and options as possible. I'm not saying it has to be a woman, but someone with good people skills and tact.
I could keep going on and on, but I do need to sleep as well.
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