Serving the animals and citizens of Iowa County and its surrounding communities
I am going to take this opportunity to introduce the editor/author of the ICHS PAW PRINTS newsletter. That would be me – Terri Davis. I always looked forward to receiving the quarterly PAW PRINTS newsletter in the mail. But because of the increased expense of paper, printing and postage, the newsletter became a thing of the past. I miss it, and so I asked permission to start the newsletter again – but rather than being paper, it will be electronic. The plans at this time are to ‘publish’ the newsletter every two months on the ICHS website. The newsletter’s purpose is to be about the animals – those awaiting homes as well as follow-ups of the animals who have been adopted (that’s where I will need YOUR help.) I have written the ‘pet features’ that have been on the website for the past couple of years – usually a dog and two cats. I will continue to write those and if they are not included in the newsletter, you will find them displayed elsewhere on the ICHS website. There will also be ten additional write-ups of animals awaiting adoption – no pictures at this time. I will also include the animals that are in need of ‘special’ homes. I would like to include 3-4 of your “success storiesâ€. By “success stories†I am referring to the animals that you have adopted from ICHS. Many of you send in updates and pictures of your adopted animals to ICHS and they are posted on the bulletin board. I would like to share these stories with a larger audience and put them in PAW PRINTS. The volunteers and staff develop attachments/memories of the ICHS residents and it is always nice to find out how they’re faring. I will also include one article about a fundraiser that will be forthcoming.
On a personal note – I have lived in Iowa County all of my life. My husband, Chuck, and I live in Wyoming Township with six cats – four of which came from ICHS and two that wandered in. I work full time in Spring Green. I have volunteered at ICHS since 2002. Although most of my volunteering has been with the cats, about a year ago I started walking the dogs two afternoons per week. I began walking the dogs so that I could get to know them. I find it difficult doing write-ups of the dogs when I don’t know them. When you read my write-ups of the animals, keep in mind that I am not an authority on any of the animals and do not claim to be. My observations of the animals come from my brief contact with them as well as help from the other volunteers and staff. I also help out with fundraisers when I am able to do so.
If you have any suggestions or ideas about the content of ICHS PAW PRINTS, please contact me. And, I need your animal success stories. My address is: ichspawprints@ gmail.com.
What do pets and pancakes have in common? Well I tried to think of a ‘catchy’ common denominator, but all I could come up with was the reality (or realty) of this opportunity for the shelter. The First Weber Group in Dodgeville generously offered to host a pancake breakfast with proceeds going to the animals at ICHS. The breakfast will preclude the annual silent auction in the afternoon. Details that you need to know are:
What: An-all- you-can-eat Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
When: Sunday, November 22 - Serving from 7 – 11 a.m.
Where: The Dodger Bowl in Dodgeville
Price: $6.50 for ages 12 and over,
$4.50 for children ages 5-12
Free – children under 5
Both Nancy and Mindy from First Weber Group have adopted dogs from ICHS. They feel that ICHS is a worthy cause and wanted to do something to support the organization. This is just one more example of people ‘helping to make a difference’.
After 11:00, there will be an opportunity to view the many donated baskets which will be ‘auctioned off’ between 1-3 p.m. later in the afternoon at the 10th Annual Silent Auction.
Jax
Jax is a long-haired grey kitty with special needs. He tested positive for feline leukemia. He is probably about two years old. He is quite playful and loves all the attention that he gets. Jax does not get along with other cats so he probably needs to be an ‘only’ cat, and he must be kept indoors. I can’t go into the specifics of Jax’s condition, but it can’t be ignored that he will probably have a shorter lifespan than most cats. It is difficult to adopt a pet with special needs because you know that ‘heartbreak’ lies just around the corner. But at the same time, these special animals need a home and a loving family just as all animals do. If you are possibly someone who could provide Jax with a loving home, please come in, meet him and talk to the staff to better determine if he could be a part of your family.
It is never easy to say “goodbye” to our friends and family, but please note that your adopted pet has touched many lives. When your pet crosses the Rainbow Bridge, feel free to let us know about your loved ones passing.
Howie was one of the ‘special needs’ pets that had been featured on the ICHS website for the past couple of months. I left his story there longer than perhaps I should have hoping that someone would be able to give Howie a home – even if for a short time. Howie was a delightful cat! To look at him and watch him play, you would never have imagined that he had feline leukemia. However a few weeks ago, Howie started to exhibit signs that all was not well.
When I was at the shelter to walk dogs on Saturday, October 31st, it was apparent that Howie didn’t have much time left. The office gals (between phone calls) were sitting next to his cage petting and talking to him. When I came back into the darkened office at 5:30 to say good-bye to him, he was being held by yet another staff member (who had come in on her own time when she had heard that he was dying). She was telling him all about ‘cat heaven’. Although Howie seemed to be breathing easier and appeared to be somewhat relaxed, it was a very somber and stressful situation – knowing that what Angela was doing for Howie was all that anyone could do – just allow him to be a lap cat one last time. Angela was still with him when I left. Howie died the next day.
I am writing about Howie for three reasons. #1 To let those of you who knew Howie know that he is no longer with us. #2 Boyd and Jax, the other two featured special needs pets still need homes. I would have thought that Howie had a few years to go when I wrote that article last July, but it just goes to show how quickly things can happen. #3 Lastly, I wish to thank Angela and the rest of the ICHS staff for – not just taking care of the ICHS animals - but for their love and compassion for the homeless animals that are ‘fortunate’ to have a temporary home at ICHS.
Peanut
Peanut is a large long-haired torti. I fell in love with her in the summer of 2004 but someone else had first dibs on her. For whatever reason she was returned to ICHS later that fall. I promised her that when I could have another cat, she would be the ONE! That didn’t happen until August of 2006. Just like at the shelter (she was in the large communal cat room) she just wants to be left alone. If she wants attention, she comes to me. She sleeps by my side at night. She also makes a good alarm clock letting me know when it is 4:30 a.m. and time to be fed. The problem with that is she doesn’t understand Saturdays and Sundays are for sleeping in. Oh well…
Raymond
Raymond was at ICHS for about six weeks in the summer of 2004. His name at the shelter was Regis. When I brought him home, I named him Raymond after the television show Everybody Loves Raymond.
He was/is a special needs cat as he has no eyes. Well, he had eyes at one time, but they were no longer there by the time he came to the shelter. I brought Ray home in August as a birthday present to myself – that is how I justified him to my husband. Ray is quite the cat – I don’t think he knows that he can’t see. There are not a lot of dull moments with Ray around.
Anya
Anya was found wandering in one of the Lands End parking lots in December of 2003. I brought her home in August of 2004 (two days prior to bringing Raymond home). She had/has a mild hair/skin condition (probably an allergy to something) and that is why I adopted her. I didn’t know if anyone else would want a cat which loses patches of hair at certain times of the year. She is an absolute sweetheart. She and Raymond are best friends. She is the type of cat who never asks for anything and is so appreciative of attention.
Socks
Socks was a young, scared cat that I got to know in the summer of 2006. I didn’t get to do anything with her except talk to her that summer which I did a lot of. I never did get to pet her that summer. By the summer of 2007 the staff/volunteers had socialized her enough so she was in one of the small rooms with some cat friends. Although she enjoyed being petted she didn’t want to be picked up. I brought her home in September of 2007. Although she stays in at night (sleeps at my feet) she spends most of her days outside. She is constantly ‘on the go’. She loves to tackle Raymond (he loves it too) even though he is twice as big as her. Sometimes he wins and sometimes she does – but it’s all in fun for them and I enjoy watching them.
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PetFinder
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
WI Dog Seller & Dog Facility Operator license #267019-DS
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