Serving the animals and citizens of Iowa County and its surrounding communities
ICHS would like to give thanks to Terri Davis for creating and writing our shelter newsletter. Terri has invested an incredible 10 years (at least) in providing our members and the community with monthly news of events, important updates, and "happy ending" stories on our adopted animals. This is on top of the hundreds of hours she has donated as a volunteer dog walker, cat cuddler, laundry washer and folder, kennel cleaner, landscaper, gardener and ... the list goes on.
We would not be where we are today without Terri and all of our other volunteers. We are eagerly awaiting the day we can reunite staff, volunteers, and animals; COVID will be gone, and ICHS will still be here.
Contents |
| Letter From The Editor |
| Volunteer Update |
| Upcoming Fundraisers |
| Adoptions |
| Success Stories |
Letter From The Editor......It is hard to believe that July is winding down (and, yes, I am still working on the newsletter). Despite the monotony of the days (I’m referring to COVID-19) time has flown. I say ‘monotony’ because staying at home 24/7 “gets old” after awhile – I am sure many of you feel the same way! And it’s not just staying home; it has more to do with the uncertainty of how much longer this situation will go on! I’m sure many of you agree with that also. This will be the last issue of the PawPrints newsletter – at least in this format and written by me. I guess you could say that PawPrints is a victim of COVID. It is difficult to put a newsletter together when you no longer have contact with the animals, staff and other volunteers. And not just that, the time comes when it is time to move on. This newsletter will be devoted to “my fosters” since there is little else to comment on, so here goes…As you read this letter it is important to remember that I am a volunteer and these are MY thoughts.
As mentioned in the May issue, I had never given any thought to fostering animals because I already have a full house. But since it would only be for a month, it didn’t seem to be a big deal. After two months of fostering (when I wrote the May issue) I still had this silly thought that it would just be a few more weeks before the 3 fosters would be returned to ICHS (btw – I know that I can return them whenever…). Right after I wrote the May issue, I realized that in order to get them adopted, I needed to get them accustomed to living in a house – not just a room. So, little by little, the three of them (Bat was adopted) were allowed out of “the room” and are now out approximately 9-10 hours each day. They could actually be out even longer but my other cats and I need a break from them! The 3 fosters don’t mean to cause trouble, but let’s just say there’s never a dull moment in the Davis’ house when Midnight, Jax and Jamie are on the loose!
Before I describe each one individually, just know that all 3 of them are very shy. Although Midnight and Jax are “fairly manageable”, anything out of the ordinary – such as applying flea & tick treatment – causes them to revert back to being little ‘wild cats’! If YOU would have any interest in one or more of these kids, just know that you will need PATIENCE and a QUIET home. Drum roll, please! Here they are – Midnight, Jax and Jamie!!
Midnight is a good guy – kind of “plain” – not much stands out about him. He is about two years old and is very slick, shiny and sweet. He still plays and loves to explore, but you can tell he’s maturing as he spends a lot of his free time doing what cats do – sleeping. He likes 1-2 minutes of lap time each evening (has to share my lap with Jax). In going to a forever home, Midnight would probably prefer to have one or two cat friends – I don’t think he would want to be an only cat. He and Jax could certainly go together.
Jax is about a year old. She is very much a kitten yet when it comes to playing. She is constantly on the move when she is outside of “the room”. She is a bit bossy and I have to watch her closely when she’s out with the other cats – especially the females. She has learned very quickly what a spray bottle is used for. She has been hard on my window screens – climbing them to get at flies and moths and let’s face it, screens these days aren’t built for climbing cats. She also likes sharing my lap (with Midnight) at bedtime. Although she is bossy, I think she would be unhappy as an only cat. A male would probably be best (don’t forget about Midnight) or a mellow female.
Jamie is a bit of an enigma – I have yet to figure her out. She is a small cat – perhaps 3 years old but possibly older. She likes to be petted and scratched – but on her terms – otherwise she will nip your fingers. She “freaks out” when I attempt to pick her up so I don’t if it can be avoided. She definitely keeps Midnight and Jax in line – they steer clear of her. I call her “squad car” because when 2 cats (any two) get into a squabble, she’s right there (I’m not sure if she’s there to break it up or get in on the tussle). I think she would prefer to be an only cat but I don’t know for sure. Sometimes when she “goes after” Jax and Midnight, it is possible that she is trying to play but she just doesn’t know how to play nice. She does play with toys. She likes to be in the kitchen rubbing up against my ankles when I am doing the dishes or cooking. She is always the first of the three to greet me in the morning. She really has come a long way since coming to ICHS in early March!
Upcoming Fundraising Events and Volunteer Needs
We are currently in the process of creating virtual events for a day or night of family fun. Please look for updates on these events at our website www.ichs.net.
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May Cats |
May Cats |
May Dogs |
Jun Cats |
Jun Cats |
Jun Cats |
Jun Cats |
Jun Dogs |
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Success Stories
Hollie - Many of you are familiar with Hollie who had been at the shelter for quite awhile. Hollie was adopted by Donna shortly after the "stay at home" order came about. FYI – Donna is one of our dedicated "cat cuddlers" and an ICHS Board member. She is also one of our reliable foster moms (kittens) and she adopted, Dijon, a special needs kitty in 2018. Hollie's story just goes to show how totally different animals are once they leave the shelter. Thank you, Donna, for providing a loving home for these two kitties as well as all of the many things that you do for ICHS!
PS - I just had to include the pic of Hollie sleeping in the window. At the shelter – especially after having been there for awhile – she seldom left her "hidey-hole" cubby.
I met Hollie her first week at the shelter in 2018 and loved her immediately. She had been through losing her home with her elderly owner, and was desperate for affection and comfort. But as the months went by without being adopted, she became cranky and very particular about whose touch she would allow. We promoted her through advertising and on our Top Ten/Hopeful Hearts feature on our website, but no one came for our little princess Hollie.
As her persnickety-ness advanced, we began telling prospective adopters that Hollie needed to be an ONLY cat, and that she wouldn't tolerate even a glance from another cat. And so more months passed ...Then came COVID-19 and a mad scramble to adopt or place into foster homes as many of our animals as possible before going into lockdown (We continue to provide full adoption services and animal care, but we meet with the public on an appointment-only basis.). As our animals were chosen one-by-one by their new families, only a handful were left: those still on stray holds, those who were receiving medical treatment, and Hollie ... Enough, I thought. She's coming home with me as a foster. Even as I carried her out to my car, I knew she would NEVER leave my home to return to the shelter.
I gave her a separate room, but within three days she'd had enough of that, and sashayed down the hall flicking her busy tail at my three other kitties while pretending to ignore them. No hissing, no fighting, no hiding. Of course, it's all on HER terms. Hollie is, after all, still a princess.
And that's how it's been ever since. The cat we had judged to be an "only cat" joined this multi-cat home and made it, and the other kitties, hers.
Before Hollie joined the family, there was Dijon. I adopted Dijon from ICHS the same month that Hollie came to us. He'd been brought in as a young stray with a dental and upper respiratory infection. Several teeth had to be removed, and we also discovered that he was FIV Positive. Dijon's goofy, happy-go-lucky personality charmed us all, but his FIV + status put a halt to any interest potential adopters showed. Again, as with Hollie, the months went by. I watched this sweet boy be passed over many, many times. When I couldn't stand seeing him in his cage anymore, I put my application in for Dijon, taking him home.
He's still that sweet, goofy, happy-go-lucky guy, but magnify that times ten! He's loved by the other kitties, and whenever my daughter comes over I watch to make sure she doesn't sneak Dijon into her bag and make off with him: he makes her smile (and she is SO not a cat person).
Each animal that comes to us at ICHS has a story, and each one deserves a happy ending. Hollie and Dijon have taught me not to make assumptions about an animal based on how they behave in the shelter environment. Hollie was deemed anti-social with other animals and difficult to handle. Nope, she's a sweetie pie. Dijon was perceived as a sick cat with not enough going for him to overlook his FIV + status. But he's an energetic bundle of orange delight and silliness.
I'm lucky to have them both in my life.
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Iowa County Humane Society
305 Co. Rd. YZ
P.O. Box 195
Dodgeville, WI 53533
Phone: 608-935-1381
Fax: 608-935-2884
e-mail: office@ichs.net
For additional contacts go to:
Board of Directors and Staff
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