Serving the animals and citizens of Iowa County and its surrounding communities
The summer of 2012 was one for the record books! We didn’t quite make the most 90 degree days ever recorded. In 1952, the record was set at 40 days and as of this writing, we have only had thirty-nine 90° days. Hopefully the heat wave is behind us, but the drought shows little sign of letting up. The last report I saw said that we are 8+ inches below average when it comes to precipitation. The ‘spotty’ rain showers that were/are occasionally forecast on TV have been (and continue to be) elusive. I remember turning TV on the morning of July 18 th and the Madison meteorologists were reporting rain in Madison (as well as showing video of the rain coming down). The radar was showing nothing in the Dodgeville area. I truly was happy for the people and the areas which were receiving the rain, but it was difficult to look outside and see a dry patio – I felt like crying. Then later that day, there was a “severe thunderstorm watch†(even though the sun was shining brightly outside). But then the clouds started to roll in. It grew darker and darker. The wind was howling. Lightning illuminated the sky and the thunder was deafening! And then - it happened – the electricity went out! But more importantly we had slightly over two inches of rain in our rain gauge before it was over. However looking at the rain totals on TV the following morning, I again felt like crying when I realized that some areas in southwest Wisconsin had received little or no rain at all! Let’s hope for some timely fall rains. It is probably too late to make a difference this year, but hopefully it will make for a better growing season in 2013!… As you read this letter it is important to remember that I am a volunteer and these are MY thoughts.
The 2012 Iowa County 4-H Dog Project is over for the year and it was an “interesting†year. I didn’t make it to as many practices as in the past because of the weather. Looking back it seemed that Monday was usually the hottest day of the week – one practice was even cancelled due to the extreme heat. I would like to share the brief stories of two of the participating dogs, Tara and Mikey. Tara, who was featured as a special pet in the past couple of Pawprint issues, was one of the lucky ICHS dogs to participate in the 4-H project. But even luckier for Tara, in mid-July she was adopted by Sara. To add to the story, her young 4-H handler, Zoey, had worked with three ICHS dogs last year (2011). Three dogs – because the first two were adopted early in the summer (one after the other) and then the third dog, Nala, was also adopted before the dog project was completed. So it was difficult to break the news to Zoey that once again she was “dogless†(I still haven’t decided if Zoey was experiencing bad luck because her dogs kept getting adopted or if she was a ‘good luck charm’ for the dogs). At any rate, Sara brought Tara on Monday eves to the practices as well as to the two dog shows so that Zoey and Tara could compete in the 4-H Dog Project. Thank you, Sara, for sharing Tara with Zoey and I wish you the best with that wonderful dog. And Zoey, let’s see how many dogs you can help get adopted next year!
Mikey, a long-term ICHS resident, was Renae’s dog in the project. Last year, Renae showed Duke (since adopted) and they had scored 192 out of 200 points in the obedience class! This year, Mikey surpassed Duke’s score with an AMAZING 198 points! Talkabout perfection! I actually had tears in my eyes during the ‘down/stay’ command. This is where the handlers tell the dogs to “stay†and the handlers walk away – out of sight! Well, let’s just say the other ICHS dogs need to continue to work on the ‘stay’ command☺! But Mikey stayed and stayed and stayed. The three minutes must have been about up when a new group of dogs entered the other show ring. The dogs entering the ring were behind Mikey and he appeared to get nervous so he got up and wandered off! It was an awesome performance! Mikey also went to the state show in Madison a week later. Although Mikey didn’t place in Madison, it was HUGE that he was there!
A big thank you goes to all of the kids, their parents, the project leaders and the ICHS Board and staff for making it possible that these ICHS residents were allowed to benefit from the 4-H Dog Project. Thank you, Patti Finley and Mom’s Got The Camera Again Photography, for taking the pictures at the fair. A special thank you goes to Jessica Levin and the Knutson family who helped transport the dogs to Mineral Point and to Madison.
In the last newsletter, I had mentioned that the ICHS directors are working on a plan which will benefit the dogs at the shelter. On August 23 rd the entire ICHS staff spent the day with Dr. Claudeen McAuliffe who is the Behavior Department Manager at HAWS (Humane Animal Welfare Society) located in Waukesha. In the morning, staff reviewed canine body language & discussed behavior assessments as a tool to evaluate dogs that come to us from the community. The afternoon training sessions involved hands on opportunities with staff participating in actual behavior assessments and behavior modification scripting. The idea is that proper assessments will lay the groundwork for incorporating behavior modification strategies. The behavior mod techniques will change unwanted behaviors so that our dogs can have a better chance of finding a home. The work with Dr. McAuliffe will be on-going. A follow-up session is scheduled in October for continued staff development. The staff will then train and supervise volunteers and it will be the volunteers who work with the dogs. Volunteers actually become the “mainstay†of the program. The staff doesn’t have enough time to work with these dogs – that’s why volunteers are needed. Our goal is to no longer have ‘long-term’ dogs in the shelter and to accomplish this by having a program in place that will immediately address the needs of the dogs who come to us needing a helping hand with manners or socialization. This in turn should get these dogs into a forever home as soon as possible. These dogs aren’t going to get that help without a commitment from volunteers. The issue of housing unwanted dogs for long periods of time at the shelter has to be addressed! I feel that it starts with basic training and volunteers. Please ‘stay tuned’.
If you have any suggestions or ideas about the content of ICHS PAWPRINTS, please contact me, Terri Davis at roadhogbiker@gmail.com
A small, but enthusiastic group of volunteers meet monthly to plan the ICHS fundraisers. We meet the 3 rd Tuesday of the month at 7 o’clock at the shelter (call Cheri for verification). Our meetings include the discussion of ideas for possible events as well as the planning of actual events. The Fundraising meeting follows the 6 o’clock Outreach and Education committee meeting (for information regarding this committee, see the November 2011 Newsletter or call Cheri for details). Please join us if you would like to be a part of either of these two committees. And if you can’t make it to the meetings, please e-mail Cheri at ICHS and share your ideas with her.
Paws n Claws University – the Sundays of October
P&CU, a series of informative and entertainingevents,continues into the fall.The October P&CU will be a different format from previous seminars. This seminar will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. CGC is a program designed to help dog owners and their dogs learn the basic skills which will make them welcome wherever they go. This seminar will be limited to 8 dogs/owners. To be included you must pre-register by September 30 th. The two-hour sessions will be held the first three Sundays of October. The final session on the 28 th is where your dog will be tested with an actual AKC CGC test. There is a $25 fee for this P&CU.
Lands’ End Fall Farmers Market – October 11 th
Weather permitting, ICHS will have a booth at this event. This will be from 11 am to 3 pm in the Lands’ End parking lot.
Feast for the Beasts/â€No Fleas†Flea Market – October 7 from 10 am to 3 pm
You may remember that our flea market was cancelled in July because of the hot weather. We have rescheduled this event and we will also be serving a delicious lunch consisting of pulled pork sandwiches, beans, chips and a drink. Thank you to Brad Bishop from Bishop Farm in Cobb who has donated a hog and Leix Farms, in Montfort, who has donated a ½ beef (and processing). Thanks also go to Wayne Zoha from Montfort who will be the master chef preparing the pork for your dining pleasure. We will be holding a live auction for two quarters of beef and ½ hog at approximately 2:30 pm in the afternoon so if you’re looking to stock your freezer for the upcoming winter, here is your chance!! Additional activities to keep the day fun and exciting are a bake sale, face painting, a bouncy house (courtesy of Mueller Implement) and games for the kids. Peter Schwei will entertain solo from 11:00-12:00 with Cajun banjo music. “Three For Allâ€, a local band, plays a variety of music and will perform from 12:30-3:00. The “No Fleas†flea market will be from 10 am to 3 pm and the “Feast†and games will be from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Please join us for an entertaining and fun-filled day.
Spaghetti Dinner – October 29 th
The Ristorante Italiano Sole Sapori located on Main Street in Mt. Horeb will be the site of a spaghetti dinner with all proceeds going to the ICHS. We did this fundraiser back in 2010 and it was well attended by ICHS supporters as well as people who were not necessarily involved or knowledgeable about ICHS but were simply there to enjoy a delicious meal. Please consider reserving the evening of Monday, October 29 th, for this delicious event. Watch the website and Facebook page for more details.
ICHS Silent Auction – November 11 th
ICHS is sponsoring its 13 th annual “FUNâ€-Raising Benefit Auction on Sunday, November 11 th, from 1-3 pm at Dodger Bowl Lanes in Dodgeville. This event is one of our largest and most important fundraisers of the year. We are still coordinating this event so there are not a lot of details to share at this time. Please mark this date on your calendar and plan to find some great deals as well as enjoying a fun afternoon. Check the website and Facebook page for additional information as it becomes available.
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.
Sarah, Noreen, Duchess & Jorge
These 4 kitties are special needs cats – they have been diagnosed with FIV. There is a lot of information about FIV on the Internet, but for starters you can go to the March 2012 PawPrints Newsletter to learn more. Although I am not an expert on FIV (and FeLV), I addressed these two ‘conditions’ in a previous issue. These four cats are normal, happy cats and are waiting for a home. Since these cats are (and will be) included in PawPrints until they find homes, I thought I needed to know these cats personally. After meeting these cats last February, I can’t begin to explain how ‘normal’ these cats are. If I were able to have one or two of these cats, I don’t know how I could possibly choose among them. So if I can convince you to open up your home to one of these sweeties, you will have to come and meet all of them - I can’t begin to do them justice. Noreen and Duchess are grandmother and granddaughter and ‘sweet’ is definitely in their genetic make-up! I was told that it wasn’t necessary to carry these two kitties to the ‘meet & greet’ room; they go by themselves! I was skeptical, but guess what? They do! You just open their cage door and they walk right to the ‘meet & greet’ room! And, guess what? When it is time to go back to their cage, they go back by themselves – directly to their cage! How cool are these two? Sarah is ‘sweetness-personified’. Jorge (hor hay) came to the shelter on Cinco de Mayo – hence, his Spanish name. He is a real sweetie and a lover! Trying to get a picture of him for this article was difficult as he wanted to be on my lap and kept giving “kitty kissesâ€. I am wondering if “sweetness†isn’t one of the symptoms of FIV as all of the FIV+ kitties are especially sweet. And as a reminder, please rememberthat fostering ICHS animals is a good way to determine if you and the animal are meant to be a family. So…if you are looking for a kitty companion, these kitties are looking for YOU!
Lance & Russell
Both of these guys are FeLV kitties and, as a reminder, this condition is a bit more adverse condition than FIV. Although both of these kitties are healthy and free of symptoms, they really must be “only cats†or live in a household with other FeLV cats. Lance is a young, orangetabby. He is a sweetheart! Russell arrived at ICHS in early April. He is an orange with white long-haired kitty. He is also a ‘lover boy’ and quite the ‘talker’. Trying to take pictures of him was quite an ordeal as he just wouldn’t be still! These two kitties would make a beautiful pair – assuming that they would get along with each other. Because of their FeLV status, ICHS doesn’t have the ability/space to put them together to see if they would get along with each other. An ICHS staff member, Carol, has had several FeLV kitties over the years, so I suggest that you speak to her about her experience living with FeLV cats. So…these two sweeties need a home!
Vegas
Vegas is considered a special kitty because of her ‘cattitude’. Anyone who knows cats is aware that most Torties and Calicos are known for their “unique†temperaments. Vegas is approximately 5-6 years old. She had been abandoned by her previous owner and has been at ICHS for three years. She was very scared and confused when she came to the shelter. She lives in the quiet Catnip Lounge where she hangs out with the other cats who appreciate peace and quiet. Our resident Diva has some very special skills. Vegas is a masseuse in training—she loves to give back rubs to her favorite human friends. She likes to rule the world on her own terms and might be persuaded to share her home with others who understand who is in charge. She prefers the wild, open spaces of the entire house, not appreciating being sentenced to solitary confinement. An experienced ‘cat-family’ living in a quiet household is exactly what Vegas needs. So…Vegas needs a home.
Lonnie
Lonnie is a small black and white Rat Terrier mix. He is about 7-9 years old and the sweetest little guy that you will ever meet! Like a fine wine that gets better with age, this “experienced†gentleman has a lot of worldly wisdom to share and loves talking to anyone who will listen. Still spry despite his years, Lonnie enjoys going for walks and even though he has impaired vision and doesn’t seem to hear well, he is still on a mission of retrieving as many balls each day as he can. Lately, he has been really excited about the award that he won at the 4-H agility show at the Iowa County Fair. Handling the hustle and bustle of a household with children would be a lot to expect of Lonnie but he does enjoy the company of other canine friends. No kitties, though! Lonnie thinks that they make the best squeaky toys!! “Puppies drool but seniors rule†and Lonnie would love to share his zest for life with you and show you why they’re called the “golden yearsâ€!! So…Lonnie needs a home.
The “Dobie Pupsâ€
What do Chaz, Daisy, Keelie, Justin and Lily have in common? From the title you may surmise that they are all Dobermans – No! You may think that they are all puppies – No! OK, so what do they have in common? They are all young, happy, friendly and extremely energetic dogs who desperately need homes! These young dogs all came to the shelter within a few weeks of each other. They are all approximately one year old. They are intelligent and eager to learn. They all participated in the Iowa County 4-H Dog Program (and I give the young handlers a lot of credit for working with them as these dogs are very exuberant!). They all need room to run and play mixed with continued obedience work. They need consistency and love. Want to know a little more? Chaz is the largest of the bunch. He is a very handsome Dobie mix with a lot of pizazz. This is a dog just waiting for a job! Justin is probably not a Doberman – maybe a Lab mix. His ‘puppy ears’ give him a comical appearance. Justin also went to the 4-H State Dog Show held in Madison with his handler, Alexia. The girls Keelie, Daisy and Lily, are just what little girls should be—sugar, spice and everything nice plus they are full of energy, life and love! Lily has a deformed front leg but it does not slow her down at all. Her 4-H family fostered her for a short time this summer. Besides participating in the county fair, Lily also participated in Madison at the state show. So...what do these dogs have in common? They are all young, energetic dogs who need a home!
Peter Cottontail
ICHS has had a few resident rabbits over the years. Peter Cottontail has been with us for a couple of months and seems to be content, but it would be nice for him to have a permanent home. I don’t know anything about Peter – other than he is a cutie! Actually I didn’t know anything about rabbits so I went to the Internet to find out more about living with a rabbit. Rather than repeating what I learned about rabbits, you can go on-line yourself or refer to the January 2012 PawPrints newsletter. Having a rabbit isn’t quite the same as having a cat or a dog, but depending on your situation, Peter might just be the perfect pet for you! So…Peter 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.
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 sharing 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 may have and whatever else you would like 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!
Waldo
You can well imagine when working/volunteering at the shelter, some dogs/cats make a greater (or more lasting) impression than others. And the longer the animal is at the shelter, the greater that impression may be. Waldo spent approximately 4½ years at ICHS. He was an anxious and fearful dog. He was quite stressed living in the shelter environment. Although my husband prefers that we remain “doglessâ€, I was trying to figure out a way to tell him that Waldo was coming home with me and then…Joann came into Waldo’s life. This is Waldo and Joann’s story:
Joann says, “I’m so lucky to have Waldo in my life. I’m sorry it took so long to find him, but the timing was perfect for both of us.†But to know what Waldo was like at the shelter and to realize how much his life has changed, it is apparent that Joann didn’t waste any time catching him up on all that he had missed. Joann says that he is the sweetest dog. He is loyal and kind and wants to be with her all of the time. He listens well and is eager to please. He can be goofy and fits right in with Joann’s other dog, Caesar (the ‘goofy pair’ provides Joann with a lot of excuses to laugh). He loves to eat and has a favorite bed in which to sleep. They walk everyday and in the cooler weather, Joann rides her bike while Waldo runs along beside her. At ICHS Waldo was fearful of anyone that he didn’t know – especially men. Joann says that he is much better with kids, men and people in general. And he loves to ride in the car. She takes him to the pet store and for rides. They even stopped by ICHS on a ride this past spring for a visit (Joann, if you and your dogs visit ICHS again, please call ahead so that I can be there). And when I heard that Waldo had been at Dog Fest in Sun Prairie last year, I couldn’t believe it! I remember saying, “Our Waldo? Impossible! No way!†But yes, Waldo was at Dog Fest! And are you ready for this? Waldo received his Canine Good Citizen certificate and continues to go for advanced training in Madison and Beaver Dam. Joann says that when she walks her dogs, she is so proud when people make the comment, “What well-behaved dogs!†Joann says, “I’m so proud of the great improvements Waldo has made in such a short time. Looking back over the past year and a half, Waldo has helped me through a rough time in my life. We continue to learn together everydayâ€.
Joanne definitely should be proud of her dogs, but Joann, you should be proud of yourself as well to have the foresight, courage and patience to take a ‘challenged’ dog such as Waldo and perform miracles. When I talked with Joann (on the phone) she wasn’t taking any credit for Waldo’s accomplishments, but Joann I beg to differ! If not for you, Waldo still might be at ICHS (yes, I am serious) or he might have ended up with me and that might have been disastrous (at least from my husband’s perspective). So, you do deserve a lot of credit for providing Waldo with a wonderful ‘forever’ home.
Joann spent time visiting, then fostering before she adopted Waldo. For others who read Waldo’s story, let it be an inspiration that ‘challenged’ dogs can have a new ‘lease on life’ when someone like Joann (or yourself) is willing and able to take that challenge. Thank you, Joann! My husband thanks you too!☺
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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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