Serving the animals and citizens of Iowa County and its surrounding communities
…Six newsletters, six deadlines (sometimes met), a year later - the ICHS PAW PRINTSnewsletter marches on. The plans a year ago were to ‘publish’ the newsletter every two months on the ICHS website. I wish to thank Chuck Pound, the webmaster at GetSirius Internet Services, for his continuing commitment to this project. I also need to thank my husband (the other Chuck) for helping me get the newsletter ready so it can be sent to Chuck (at GetSirius). The newsletter’s purpose was/is to be all about the animals – those waiting for homes as well as those who have already been adopted. I have pretty much adhered to this plan, but I am always looking for ideas, stories, and feedback from those of you who read PAWPRINTS. And as you read this letter, it is important to remember that I am a volunteer and these are MY thoughts.
A year gone by – way too fast! Lots of dogs and cats made their way through ICHS’s doors over the course of the past year. It is bittersweet knowing that these animals will have a safe haven until their ‘forever’ families come along – but also knowing that there are way too many unwanted, abused and neglected animals roaming about or in dire home situations that we cannot do much about. So many people say to me, “I can’t come to the shelter. It hurts to see so many unwanted animals.†My response is always, “But these are the lucky ones. They are safe and taken care of.†Of course some of these animals arrived years ago and are still waiting for a home. This is especially true of the larger dogs. I truly believe that there are homes for all of these dogs – it is just a matter of time – and the right family will come along. Dominic and Zoe were hard-to-place dogs but they have homes. Kala, Myra and Rheanna (cats) found their special homes – it’s just a matter of time!!! And in the meantime, we need to have a socialization program for these animals and I am hoping that the new building will be more conducive to this type of needed program. Spay and neutering programs are at the center of the unwanted animal situation. Not much progress has apparently occurred in this area as evidenced by the huge number of kittens that have arrived at ICHS throughout the past year. Any thoughts on what can be done regarding this situation?
Most of you are aware that the ICHS will be moving to a new location at the end of December. Are you familiar with the “Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays†program? Petfinder.com is once again hosting this program. This ‘fostering initiative’ was inspired by Greg Kincaid’s book and movie, “A Dog Named Christmas†(CBS on Nov. 29). The story is of a developmentally challenged young man who sets out to convince his family, and subsequently, the community to participate in a local animal shelter’s “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Programâ€. More than 2,000 shelters and rescue groups participated in last year’s inaugural event. Petfinder.com is hoping to draw an equal amount of participants this year. What I am wondering about is not so much the holidays, but I would think that many of the animals – the dogs especially – are going to be somewhat stressed during the days leading up to the move to the new building. Do you possibly have the time and the situation to foster one of the animals during this move (or the time leading up to the move)? Some of the older, calmer dogs or the smaller dogs would benefit so much from being away from the shelter while the move is taking place – and also for the holidays. And who knows, just maybe the foster placement will be such a good fit that you won’t want to return your houseguest!!!
Silent Auction “Funâ€-raiser
( Thank you, Carrie Baumhover, for submitting this write-up.)
Join us for the Silent Auction “Funâ€-raiser on Sunday, November 14 th at Dodger Bowl Lanes in Dodgeville, Wi. This year’s Silent Auction “Funâ€-raiser will feature a wonderful mix of both new and old. New will be the lunch immediately before the auction begins, and the bake sale to satisfy your sweet tooth. Old includes the Silent Auction itself, where themed baskets are displayed along with bidding sheets. Write your bid and then watch to see who tries to outbid you. The bidding wars and last-minute outbidding are always entertaining!
The new includes wine tasting in your home, a rain barrel, gift certificate for donuts every month for a year, a Kindle, more tours and gift certificates for local attractions and much, much more. The old includes favorite auction items like the gift certificate to stay at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells, many pet-themed baskets, unique art items, an HD TV/DVD combo, numerous gift certificates to area businesses, spa baskets, and sports items.
There are so many amazing items this year. The committee keeps saying that we have the best items ever, and I have to agree. More than 100 baskets will be available the day of the event. There are far too many to list here, but pictures of many of the baskets are available on the Silent Auction website page. Some baskets are also on display in Spring Gate mall, near Dicks Piggly Wiggly in Dodgeville. A big thank you to all of the generous donators and to Dicks Piggly Wiggly. This event is one of the biggest fundraisers for ICHS, and it would not be possible without everyone’s generous support.
A selection of 30 baskets is available for online bidding only this year. These baskets will not be available at the auction on November 14 th. Bidding started on October 18 th and will end on November 5 th. Winning bidders will be able to pick up their items at ICHS the week of November 8 th. Some items can also be mailed to the winner. Register today at www.ichs.net/auction/2010.pl . Start bidding and join in on the fun. It is hard not to get excited when you get an email saying you have been outbid, then place a new bid and are winning again!
The committee is very excited about the lunch that will be part of the Silent Auction event this year. The lunch will be held at Dodger Bowl from 11am to 1pm. For a cost of $7, enjoy “all you can eat†BBQ pork or turkey & dressing sandwiches, au gratin potatoes, bronco beans (vegetarian), and more. The Silent Auction baskets will also be on display during this time, so you can get a sneak preview and plan your bidding strategy. Weber Realty of Dodgeville is sponsoring the lunch, with all proceeds going to the ICHS.
There are more treats as well. Don’t forget about the bake sale, which will be held all afternoon. Satisfy your sweet tooth while providing a treat for the ICHS residents as well. Scott Stieber and friends will be providing entertainment throughout the event. These local musicians play a wide variety of music. You can have a wonderful afternoon just listening to them and watching the auction.
Murphy Desmond Lawyers S.C. is sponsoring the Silent Auction again this year. The auction will be held from 1pm to 3pm. Please consider supporting this Madison business if you need a lawyer. Murphy Desmond has sponsored this fundraiser for many years now, and also provides pro bono work for ICHS. With their generous support, every penny raised at the Silent Auction goes directly to ICHS.
Please come out and enjoy the Silent Auction. Come out just to watch the fun, or join in to be part of the excitement first hand. Bid high, bid often, and win big!
We all know that all animals are ‘special’ but the animals featured in this section are indeed special. These are ‘special needs’ animals. The special person/family who adopts one of these animals knows that this may/may not be the long-term relationship which we hope for when we open our hearts and homes to a new family member. These animals’ ‘forever homes’ with us may be just for a short time before they move on…But, nevertheless, these animals need a home and a loving family just as we all do. Are you possibly the family that could provide a home for one of these animals? If not, do you know of a family who could provide a loving home for these animals? If so, please come out to ICHS and find out more about these animals from the ICHS staff.
LORENZO
Lorenzo is a senior Redbone Coonhound (some people feel that he resembles a Vizsla). He has been at ICHS since mid-November. It hurt to look at Lorenzo when he first came here. He was so thin; it took so much effort to take him on a short walk. Although he is eight-months older now than he was in November, he is acting like a dog much younger than his 10-12 years. Now when he goes on his daily walks, he is alert and forever on the trail of something (after all, he is a hound). Lorenzo did ‘showmanship’ in the 4-H Dog Project. It was so heart-warming to see this old guy going through his paces with his young handler. He was so proud when he posed with his red ribbon for the camera, and I was so proud of Lorenzo and his handler, Winndie. Lorenzo gets along well with other dogs. Although Lorenzo seems to have a new ‘lease on life’, we still have to accept that he is an older dog and who knows how much time he has left. So…Lorenzo needs a home.
JAX
Jax is a handsome, long-haired, grey kitty who tested positive for feline leukemia. He is probably 2-3 years old. He is quite playful and loves all of the attention that he can get. Since Jax cannot be with other cats, he has been allowed to play with the Beagle pups. It is so fun to watch him play with them. And, on a side note, I believe that Jax is the cat who helps out when staff are doing temperament testing with the dogs. 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. He is in wonderful shape right now – lots of energy and has a let’s play, play, play attitude! So…Jax needs a home.
BARNEY
Barney is a big, handsome (if you haven’t noticed, ALL of the cats at ICHS are handsome, beautiful, gorgeous, etc. J ), male, orange tabby. Barney is probably 2-3 years old. He is an absolute sweetheart and so loving. He is a definite lap cat and loves to rub against you. Barney has tested positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Barney needs to be an ‘only’ cat, and he must be kept indoors. I can’t go into the specifics of Barney’s condition, but it can’t be ignored that he will probably have a shorter lifespan than most cats. So…Barney needs a home.
WALDO
Waldo is SPECIAL!!!-but no one seems to notice! No one notices Waldo! Waldo is a black and white terrier-mix. He is approximately 5-6 years old, and he has been at ICHS since September of 2006. Waldo was a featured pet on the ICHS website last fall and he is still here – FOUR years!!! Waldo does not have a PHYSICAL malady. He is energetic, shy and STRESSED! I am sure that a shelter can be a stressful place for animals. And just like people, some animals handle the stress better than others. In my opinion, Waldo is probably handling the stress quite well – considering it has been FOUR years! You notice Waldo’s agitation when he is indoors. He constantly ‘runs’ back and forth (5 feet), leaps and slams into the fiberglass wall of his kennel. It is so heart-wrenching to hear that sound. I don’t know if he stops this behavior after he is fed and the lights are turned off OR if he continues this behavior off and on through the night!!! Can you imagine what it must be like for the other dogs (or at least his neighbors) if this goes on all night!?! Waldo was fostered for a time in 2009 and it was a GREAT experience for all concerned. The gal who fostered WALDO had no intention of adopting him as she already had several dogs. The plan was simply to see how Waldo would do in a setting other than ICHS. There were no problems! Waldo gets along well with most dogs and older children. Can you, or do you know of anyone, who can possibly foster/adopt Waldo? He needs a chance to show how SPECIAL he really is!!! So…Waldo really, really needs a home!
MISTY
If you have been to the shelter in the past year, you have probably met Misty. She is the little Shih Tzu mix who roams and rules the ICHS office (along with Max the supervisor cat). Misty has been at ICHS since August of 2009. She was surrendered when her elderly owner was no longer able to care for her. It is unusual to have a small dog at the shelter after all of this time, but Misty has special needs and she needs a special family. She is 9 years old, and is an absolute sweetheart once she warms up to you, but it takes her a while to “warm upâ€. It’s not her personality that makes it difficult to find her a home; she has health issues. I don’t know a lot about her health problems, so I can’t give you too many details. She has limited vision and ‘dry eyes’. She needs eye drops 2-3 times per day. She also has a skin allergy and is on steroids for that condition. There is a chance that the allergy may improve if she is away from the shelter. If that isn’t enough, she also has ‘yeasty’ ears which comes and goes. Misty is probably fine in her role as ‘greeter’ at the shelter, but she truly needs her own special family to love and who will love her. So…Misty needs a home.
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.
Add Crossing Over text here or delete this block
I need your help if I am to continue to feature the success stories which begin the moment your adopted companion chooses you. It is not difficult for me to write a paragraph that showcases your pet. The problem that I have is finding YOU and your pet. I don’t know who you are or how to contact you. If you would be interested in having your pet’s story in the newsletter, please e-mail me at roadhogbiker@gmail.com . A picture and a brief write up about your pet(s) is all that I need. If I don’t have enough info, I will get back to you. It would be helpful to know your pet’s shelter name (if you renamed your pet), when you adopted, pet’s favorite activities, other pets that you have and whatever else you care to include. If you are not able to send a picture, that’s OK. Many of you send periodic updates regarding your adopted pet to the shelter. I can use those write-ups if you would please indicate (in your letter to ICHS) that you are giving me permission to include your pet’s story in the newsletter. I hope to hear from you!
LIL
Here is a little of Lil’s story since she was adopted in January of 2010 by Alecia, Joe and Caitlyn Rauch:
Lil has been doing fantastic in her forever home. She thoroughly enjoys basking in the sun in her special dog bed. She tried it out at the store and the polka dots were just calling her name. Lil gets a little nervous from time to time but her anxiety has drastically reduced since she has come to realize we are her family. She is safe and protected here. Lil is cool in the summer and toasty warm in the winter. She gets lots of attention from our 4-year old daughter and her kitty siblings.
Lil has made many new friends at Camp K-9. She goes to doggie daycare several times a week and has met a * special man* there. The caregiver, Dustin, looks forward to the days Lil comes to doggie daycare - the two are nearly inseparable . At first Lil did not come to the fence when we arrived in the afternoon to pick her up. She probably figured no one was coming back as she had been surrendered twice before. One day I showed up and was looking and looking for Lil and there she was standing right up by the fence with the other dogs. She was just like a regular dog! Now, she recognizes the vehicles and leaps to the fence. She enjoys her time at Camp K-9 but certainly likes her relaxation at home also.
Lil is an older gal and does not see or hear very well. There are days though when she looks toward the open field and recognizes the sounds of the ducks and geese flying overhead. She knows she doesn’t have to chase them anymore….Lil is retired!
We would like to express our true gratitude toward the shelter for their care for Lil.
Thank you, Alecia, Joe and Caitlyn for adopting Lil and giving her a wonderful home. I remember when Lil was a resident at the shelter. She had arrived shortly after Lorenzo (see Lorenzo in Special Pets) and I remember thinking that she probably didn’t have much time left as she seemed to be worse off than Lorenzo. I remember coming in to walk the dogs and her kennel was empty; I thought that she had died. I was delighted (and amazed) to find out that she had been adopted. It certainly sounds as if you have given her a new ‘lease on life’. It sounds as if she is doing wonderful!
ANYA
Anya is one of our five cats. I wrote about her in the November 2009 newsletter so this is an update. I brought her home in August of 2004. She wasn’t necessarily the cat I was looking for at the time. She was extremely obese, had missing hair and when she was allowed out of her cage, she always hid under the couch. It was never an easy feat getting her out from under the couch. Since living with us, she has lost quite a bit of weight and much of her hair has grown back although it is still thin in some places. She has always been a ‘fraidy cat’. She is especially fearful of the vacuum cleaner which works for me. With Anya around, I have an excuse to hold off on the housework! She never asks for any special favors and is so appreciative of the attention she receives. She is an absolute sweetheart and I am so glad that I am hers!
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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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