April 23-29 is National Volunteer Week. A week set aside to celebrate the best of the best…those who give freely of themselves to make a difference for others.

Our HSMC volunteers are the unsung heroes of the shelter. Many people attend orientation and some even stop by few times but then life gets in the way and priorities change. And then there are the hardcore dedicated group that becomes family to our pets, our visitors and our staff. We wish we could make every volunteer here a Jefferson Award Winner, or have the Prize Patrol or maybe the Ellen Show come and lavish them with gifts and accolades!  Yet for our volunteers, a simple heartfelt “thank you” and the love of the many animals here whose lives they have impacted is all that is needed.

When we were short staffed, volunteers were there to pick up the slack. Loads of soiled blankets and towels, stacks of smelly and yukky litter pans, hundreds of food bowls met their match with our volunteers. There are dogs needing to be walked, kitties needing playtime and socialization, bunnies and small critters needing handling? It’s Volunteers to the rescue.

Off site visits to Petco, Katzenbarkers and Marathon Town and Country get our adoptables seen in a new light away from the encumbrances of the kennels. Volunteers take special adoptable pets to various assisted living facilities… a gift for the pets and the residents!

HSMC volunteers organize and work fundraising events, help with special mailings, squelch rumors and untruths about the shelter, perform classroom visits, pick up supplies and donations, mow the yard, weed the landscaping, unfold newspapers for the cat cages, and perform poop patrol duties in the pen and yard. Some take pictures at events and of our pets for our website.

Our volunteers bathe dogs, brush cats, comfort the frightened, reassure the elderly and assist interested adopters in meeting new pets.

Out volunteers give us a shoulder to lean on, a reminder that the privilege we have to work here should not be taken lightly, and that volunteers who receive no pay do the tasks shoulder to shoulder with staff without grumbling.   The list is so long and it is likely many tasks have been missed, but the sentiment remains the same…

HSMC VOLUNTEERS ARE THE BEST VOLUNTEERS… AND WE SALUTE YOU!  

https://catsndogs.org/directors-corner/2017/1637/

One of the biggest reasons dogs end up in shelters, rescues, garage sale sites and craigslist has nothing to do with the dogs…it’s the lack of training provided by their owners. People who choose to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue know they are usually getting someone who comes with a little more baggage than their adoption papers and favorite toy. They come prepared to take on the training which was often overlooked before and help them become the best pet they can be!

Too often we humans get wrapped up into anthropomorphizing our pets and think of them as furry children. When they are little and cute we ooh and ahh and even chuckle at their helplessness and mistakes, and when reality sets in we get them into day care and preschool and reserve training for the classroom. But the fact is every species learns every second of each day! Daily repetition from home to school and back is the key to reinforcing knowledge and behavior we want see. Professional doggie day care providers and obedience trainers are awesome! But our dogs are OUR DOGS and we own the responsibility for providing for all of their needs so they can become “good canine citizens”. The sooner the training begins the better! Get them socialized to people and other dogs, and acclimated to diverse surrounding and stimuli.

Make it a habit to practice having your dog sit quietly until he is “freed” from the command. If you are out in your yard and a passerby stops, or if the doorbell rings when you are indoors, have your dog sit and wait quietly until you release him.

Planning a supply run to the pet store? Bring your dog along! There are other stores including some home improvement stores, lawn and garden centers, parks, outdoor cafes…heck every dog knows Brigs has awesome puppy cones and what bank doesn’t have treats for dogs?! It is an awesome opportunity to teach your dog your expectations, i.e. how to safely ride in the car and exit/enter the vehicle. How to heel on leash and focus on YOU for direction instead of lunging out of the door, bolting through the parking lot and marking the side of the building! A dog’s sense of security comes from learning to trust you as his loving and consistent leader.

Make his training as habitual to you as taking the mail from the mailbox or opening the refrigerator door. Practice “sits” and “down stays” ONLY when you are calm and relaxed. Do it at the dinner table, making a meal, talking on the phone, packing lunches, doing bills, watching TV. Do it OFTEN and be calm and consistent! We too often hear, “We’re just so busy now and have no time to train a dog” despite the fact the dog is 8 month old and lived there since 8 weeks.

Take your dog everywhere you safely can. Practice having him sit and wait after taking a short walk to relieve himself when picking kids up from practice, paying bills, wherever your routine allows.

The next step to having that dog everyone wants is to master the recall! Practice having your dog respond immediately to being called throughout each day. Is your dog mesmerized with chasing squirrels from the comfort of your living room windows? Call him! FedEx approaching? Call him away from the door. Does your dog bolt for the door to the car in anticipation of the trip…RECALL.

Just like us, pets respond to motivation. Study gets good grades (reward). Good grades have rewards (happy parents, great GPA). Eventually your dog will respond to praise and love, but start out with tasty bite size treats. Keep them in your pocket. IMMEDIATE reward when the command is complied with.  A “Sit” command is complied with before you put the bowl on the floor. “Free” releases him to eat.

If you watch TV with pet stars, all of it stated with the basics. Find out what they want, reward them when they earn it.

Remember animals need routine and consistency. They are binary minded. 1 equals 1. Treats may be the motivation, but they attach the word command to the action to the treat. And overtime you have the pet you wanted and a bond formed with a dog who will love you up to and with his last breath.

You CAN do it if you have the commitment to do it. Just like the folks who will take them from the shelter and rescues. A little older and rough around the edges, people will adopt them, train them, love them and have that same eternal relationship.

Just like us, pets never stop learning!

We get lots of phone calls and emails here. Some of the questions we field are pretty common to animal shelters: What does it cost to adopt a pet?  What does it include? Can I just stop in and buy one? Do you have any purebred (name the breed) puppies there…and are they housebroken yet? Why does everyone in the household need to visit…isn’t the dog friendly??

Then there are some questions that are just regular, good-to-know and glad-you-asked questions. So let’s focus on answering those today:

What brand of food is best for my pet?  Any major brand of pet food is fine. Kibble versus canned depends on what owner and pet prefer.  But you should feed puppy or kitten food for the first year and then switch to an adult food.

How much food should I feed?   Each pet food is different as is each pet.  You should use the food bag and your pet as a guide. The amount of food fed depends on your pet’s lifestyle and metabolism. For instance, if you have two identical and healthy pets, the more active one will need more food. Overall, you should feed your pet three times a day until it is 4 months old, and then reduce it to twice daily.

How do I know if my pet is too fat?  Many pet owners simply don’t know how to determine if their pet is overweight. You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs, but also feel a thin fat covering over them. Behind the ribs there should be a waist. If you think your pet is overweight, try cutting back on its food by 5 to10 percent. If that doesn’t work, ask your veterinarian about low-calories diets.

What vaccinations do I have to give my pet?  Well, for a healthy pet vaccinations should be started at 6 weeks of age and given every three weeks until the pet is 4 months old.  Puppies are given DHLPP vaccine, which protects against many contagious diseases including hepatitis. A kitten is given FVRCP vaccine to prevent many potentially deadly contagious illnesses. Both puppies and kittens are given a rabies vaccine at 4 months. Puppies also get a vaccine to guard against kennel cough. AGAIN…schedule an appointment and talk this over with your veterinarian!

Can my new puppy go outside yet?  It is safest to wait until the puppy has finished the series of vaccinations before letting it go outside, which is usually at 4 months old.

How often should my dog get a bath? Most dogs without a skin issue don’t need a bath more frequently than once a month. Over bathing can cause dry skin. It is a good idea to clean your dog’s ears more often to prevent infection….once or twice a week is a good idea depending on how much wax or dirt you find. Just use your finger, a piece of gauze and any major brand of ear cleaner for dogs.

How come my pet eats poop?  Gross as this is, it  may just be a bad habit. A pet could also be doing it out of boredom or just have a huge appetite. Generally speaking, a pet isn’t automatically eating feces because he’s missing an essential nutrient. Perfectly healthy pets with no deficiencies will also do this. BUT it is best to discourage the behavior because it is one way of introducing parasites, not to mention the bacteria. Yuk!

Can my pets make me sick?  For the most part, if your pet has a cold…or if you have the flu…you can’t transfer it to each other. With that in mind, there are a few conditions, including intestinal parasites and skin diseases, that could be transferred to people. And maybe don’t let your poop eating pet kiss you on the mouth any more. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

• Make your annual veterinary appointment for your pets. Take the time to have your vet assess how your pet is doing, update all vaccinations, schedule a dental if in order and get set up with stool samples and blood work to get this year’s flea/tick and heartworm preventatives started.
• Mark your calendar ahead each month for the day preventatives are due. 
• Schedule grooming appointments so you don’t find yourself scrambling when “it HAS to be done NOW!”
• Check your pet food and be sure you are feeding the right formula for your pet’s needs. Puppies need puppy food, adult needs can vary due to allergies, weight, activity, etc. Senior needs are special, too.
• While you are at it, get an 8 ounce scoop to keep with the food. Stop eyeballing how much you are feeding and insure your pet is being fed according to the product guidelines for his weight and activity level.   
• Teach your pet a new trick! Keep the neurons firing by teaching a new trick to your pet. A special treat reward to be used during training makes it an enjoyable adventure for pet and owner.
• Set aside time to groom  your pet daily.  This is a great way to spend some quality time while keeping your pet’s coat healthy and tangle free. It also helps owner’s spot unusual bumps, lumps, abrasions and external parasites early.
• Dental hygiene is vitally important for a healthy pet.  Get your pet accustomed to having its teeth brushed with a special pet safe toothpaste and brush. If your pet says NO WAY to that approach, talk to your vet or stop at one of the many good pet supply stores for a fun alternative for your pet. There are a lot of options available from chewable dental treats to toys that massage the teeth and gums.  If your pet’s teeth need it (look inside their mouth, you’ll know!), set up a dental with your veterinarian and then follow his advice for daily maintenance.   
• Choose a new activity that you and your pooch can enjoy. Hiking, snowshoeing, swimming, geocaching, running, Frisbee…exercise is good for the body, mind and spirit of you and your pet.  Playing with your cat with feather toys, laser lights, glitter balls or a new climbing tower will have them acting like kittens in no time!
• Time for new dishes and litter pans? Time and use can really take a toll on our pets food and water bowls, beds, litter boxes and toys. Give them the once over and toss out any that are damaged or unable to be sanitized properly.

Make 2017 the year you and your pet celebrate each and every day!