FHS Spring 2015 Newsletter

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Pet Gazette
A publication of the Fayette Humane Society, P. O. Box 244, Fayetteville, GA 30214!
www.fayettehumane.org / [email protected] / phone: 770-487-1073!
!
www.facebook.com/pages/Fayette-Humane-Society/490710464325091!
Last Call for Pet Gazette
As we indicated in our last issue, the Pet Gaze5e is going digital to reduce our prin8ng and mailing costs, which will direct more funds to help the animals. Please ensure we have your email address so you don’t miss out on future issues. Send your name and email address to [email protected] and let us know you wish to receive digital copies. While we hope most supporters will choose this format, we realize some readers prefer a paper copy. If so, please call 770-­‐487-­‐1073 and provide your name, current address and phone number so you can keep receiving the Pet Gaze5e by mail. We will con8nue to feature adoptable animals, news about our community outreach events and other important issues rela8ng to animal welfare. Stay tuned!
!
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Adoptions are held every
weekend.
April !
18 - Adoption event at Splash and Dash, PTC, 10 - 2 p.m.!
26 - Bark for Life, Shakerag Knoll, PTC, 1:30 p.m.
May !
2 - Wags to Whiskers 10th Anniversary !
!
Celebration, PTC, 10 - 6 p.m…………………..…..see page 8!
2 - Belk's Charity Day Sale, 6 - 10 a.m.!
8 - Fayette Celebrity Dancers, Starr's Mill !
!
High School, 7 p.m……………………………..…..see page 3 !
21 - "Paws for the Cause" at Crosstown !
!
Grille, 5 - 8 p.m…………………………………..….see page 8
July !
4 - Peachtree City Parade, 9 - 11 a.m.!
4 - 4th Fest, 151 Willowbend Road, 5 - 9 p.m.
Please see our website for more information!
PetSmart
2701 Highway 54
Peachtree City
Saturday
12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday
12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Dr. Phil
!
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A Message from Our President
Who we are...
!We cherish our pets, and no ma5er how much love and devo8on we Dear Friends, Incorporated in 1973, the Fayette
Humane Society is the oldest
nonprofit humane organization in
Fayette County, Georgia. !
We are staffed by volunteers and
show them, they manage to give us back even more. It’s a special kind of bond that touches both the heart and soul of our ongoing efforts at the FHS. Whether it’s the medical care that ensures our cats and dogs are spayed/neutered, healthy and vaccinated, or the foster care that keeps them socialized and happy, everything we do supports our goal to place our companion animals with loving families. are supported entirely by
individual and corporate donations. !
!
Because we do not have a shelter,
To that end, we’re proud to announce that we achieved an all-­‐8me high of 491 most animals we rescue live in
adop8ons in 2014, and our spay/neuter surgeries increased to 1,182. These successes temporary foster homes until they were made possible with the support of our generous benefactors and dedicated volunteers. They also reflect over 40 years of hard work completed by our predecessors are adopted. !
at the FHS, who progressed through the lean 8mes, the tough 8mes, and made this We believe all companion pets have
organiza8on the strong advocate it is today. intrinsic value and deserve to be
treated with love and respect.!
!
FHS Board Members:!
President: Stephanie Cohran!
Secretary: Sharon Marchisello!
Treasurer: Sabrina Brown!
!
Members At Large:!
Karin Keller!
Rani Rathburn!
Leah Thomson!
Molly Young!
!
The adop8ve families deserve our ul8mate gra8tude, and let’s not forget about those cats and dogs that have been given a second chance, but s8ll need to adapt to their circumstances and figure out how to become cherished family members. In fact, it takes an en8re community to make things happen, and we want to express our thanks to all of you for taking part in it. !
!
!
!
Un8l they all have homes, Stephanie Cohran President of the FHS Advisor: Dr. Chris Lea
How to Make a
Recurring
Donation
Many of our donors have
asked for the ability to set
up recurring donations to
the FHS. Now you have the
option of specifying through
PayPal that a certain dollar
amount be automatically
charged to your credit card
each month. To sign up, go
to our website at
www.fayettehumane.org/
how-to-donate.
SPRING 2015
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FHS Volunteer In Profile (VIP): Karin Keller
Since becoming a part of the FHS in January 2012, Karin Keller has immersed herself in so many of
our volunteer areas it would be easier to tell you what she has NOT done. And when Karin says
she'll do something, she gives 110%! When she and her family moved here from Wisconsin in
January 2007, they adopted Jessie, a border collie mix, from a rescue group in Canton, GA. Karin was
impressed with how selflessly this group took in homeless dogs, cared for them and found them
homes. She knew she wanted to do the same thing.!
!
Karin began as an adoption volunteer and quickly advanced into the positions of adoption
coordinator, dog foster, adoption lead, and board member. But mostly, Karin loves being a dog foster.
"It's a lot of work, especially when fostering puppies. Lots of cleaning, and some missed sleep
because of midnight potty breaks.“!
!
Karin finds it enriching to gain the trust of dogs who were neglected or even abused. They all have
their own personalities, and she finds it fascinating to watch them interact with each other. “Don't
ask which is my favorite; they are all my favorites. Although it's bittersweet to see them go, my greatest joy is to receive updates
from the adopters on how they are doing in their new homes. Some even stop by at adoptions to say hello. Almost every foster
mom or dad ends up being a ‘foster failure’ at some point, and that's how we adopted Joey, a lovable mix, who is the sweetest
cuddler. Jessie and Joey are in constant danger of having another foster failure join the family."!
!
Karin and Jessie were a registered therapy dog/handler team with CaringPaws and visited nursing homes and read with
children at Senoia and Tyrone libraries. Jessie is now retired, but Karin still leads the Tyrone READ (Reading Education
Assistance Dog) program twice a month.!
!
She also works with our fundraising group. We were wowed by Karin's woodworking skills and she has made unique items for
us to sell in the FHS tent in the community's annual September Shakerag festivals.
Interested in volunteering? Call 770-487-1073 or fill out a form
online at www.fayettehumane.org. Thank you!
Our Own Local "Dancing With the Stars"
!
We are excited to announce that the Fayette Humane Society will be one of the
recipients of the 2015 Fayette Celebrity Dancers Benefit show. Fayette Celebrity
Dancers is a fundraising event for local Fayette County Charities in which local
celebrities pair with local dance professionals in competition for your donation
dollars. This fun event is sponsored by the Fayette County Board of Realtors® and by
Rachel's Dance Connection. The FHS is proud to have one of our foster volunteers,
Jeremy Smith, dancing in the show. Assistant Director for Rachel’s Dance Connection,
Beverly Ferguson, is an animal lover and supporter of the FHS which gives her a very
special purpose to her dance and all the hard work and dedication that goes into
producing and getting ready for the show.!
You can help raise money for the charities in several ways. One way is to go online at
www.fayettecelebritydancers.com, go to the "Meet the Stars" page and click "Vote for Us" to
vote for your favorite team. The winners will receive the People's Choice Award which is based
on the dollar amount raised by one of the 10 competing couples. Additionally, all money
received from the sale of tickets to this exciting event will also go to the charities represented.
Tickets can be purchased online or from any of the participating dancers.!
!
This will be a show you WON’T want to miss so please plan on joining us on Friday May 8th at
Starr’s Mill High School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:00 p.m. What a fun
way to support the Fayette Humane Society and see a GREAT show!
SPRING 2015
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TNR Gains Momentum in Controlling
Community Cat Populations
Community cats—often referred to as feral cats—are free-roaming felines without owners. They may or
may not be social with humans, but they are often well-adapted to their surroundings and either find a food
source or have one provided for them. Unfortunately, the populations in cat colonies multiply quickly, and
bringing these cats to the shelter does not provide a long-term solution. Remove one cat from the
community, and another cat is likely to take its place.
!To humanely address this challenge, the Fayette Humane Society has partnered with the Fayette County
Animal Control and the Fayette County Commissioners to adopt a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) approach this past year. It relies
on volunteers and grant funds to trap community cats, spay or neuter and vaccinate them, and then return them to the same
locations where they were found. Cats that have been spayed or neutered are “ear-tipped,” in which the very tip of the left ear is
surgically removed to identify them after they are returned to their colony.
!TNR is a strong and proactive form of population control.
“Thanks to volunteers like Linda White, TNR has proven far more effective than trapping and euthanizing,” says Kimberly
Davis, Fayette Humane Society TNR representative. “In the past six months we have trapped, neutered and released 233 cats,
and Linda is responsible for 142 of them. If we estimate that half the cats are females, Linda’s efforts alone have prevented 355
kittens this spring and many more in the years to come.”
!TNR is successfully practiced in many other counties around the country and it is proving beneficial in many ways. Spaying and
neutering decreases unwanted behaviors associated with mating such as spraying, fighting and yowling. Returning cats to their
colonies allows them to live out their natural lives in their own territory while breaking the breeding cycle and slowly decreasing
the population through natural attrition. Not to mention the savings in taxpayer dollars.
!“Simply put, our aggressive TNR approach is working,” says Davis. “It stabilizes the cat population, improves cats’ lives,
addresses neighbors’ concerns and helps us reach a solution that benefits everyone.”
!!
!
!
Paws to
! Give!
Donations are needed at any level and are greatly appreciated! Because we do not receive
government funding, we rely heavily on the generosity of people like you. !
Donations can!be made by check or money order and mailed to: !
Fayette Humane Society, P. O. Box 244, Fayetteville, GA 30214!
!
!
!
!
Your Name: __________________________________________________________________________!
!
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________!
!
Phone: ______________________________!
Email:________________________________________!
____$10 ____$25 ____$50 ____$100 ____Other $_________
!
Building Fund $_________!
!
You can also make a special donation that can be posted on our website's "In Honor/Memory" page. For example:
donate in memory of a beloved pet, a family member, or special friend; recognize someone's special occasion or
accomplishment; or donate to the care of a sick or injured animal. !
!!
!
!
!
To pay via PayPal or to set up monthly donations, go to http://fayettehumane.org/how-to-donate/!
!
My donation is for this special needs pet_________________________________________________!
My donation is in memory/honor of____________________________________________________!
!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION. 100% GOES TO THE SUPPORT OF THE ANIMALS!
SPRING 2015
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Help Your Pet Beat the Heat!
Summertime is almost here, and every year we hear of tragic stories involving animals, whether it is a dog dying in a hot car or
a family’s dog going missing on July 4th. We all love spending time outdoors with our furry friends, but some activities are
dangerous. Please take these precautions to ensure your pet has fun—yet stays safe and healthy—during the hot summer
months:!
!
! Never leave your pet in a parked car! Even with the windows open and parked in the shade, your car can become an
! oven in a very short period of time. Temperatures can become 20 – 40 degrees warmer and reach 120 degrees in !
minutes. Please don’t ever take that chance. Leave your pet in the safety of its home.!
! Pets can easily get dehydrated as the temperatures climb. Provide plenty of fresh water, shade and
ventilation when outdoors. Do not over-exercise and avoid peak heat times. When extremely hot, keep pets
indoors.!
!Beware of hot asphalt. It can quickly cause animals to overheat and their feet to burn. If unsure, you can test
the asphalt yourself with your hands or feet. If it is hot for you, it is hot for them.!
!Supervise your pets around water. Teach them how to get out of a pool safely. Remember – not all dogs are
good swimmers.!
!Keep pets away from fireworks. Many animals are traumatized by the noise and attempt to run away. July
4th is an exciting holiday – but not for Fido. Pets should be kept indoors.!
!Just like humans, animals can get sunburned, especially on the nose, ears and stomach. Shade is crucial.!
!A summer check-up with your vet is always a good idea. Year-round heartworm prevention and flea and
tick control is a must. !
In the event heat stroke does occur, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately and use cool, wet cloths to lower the body
temperature. Warning signs to look for include excessive panting, difficulty breathing, drooling, thick saliva, staggering,
lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and collapse.
Congratulations, Rani!!
Congratulations to Rani Rathburn, who has been selected as the new Director of Fayette County
Animal Control (FCAC). Rani has been an Animal Control Officer at FCAC since 2008, and she has
worked hard to improve the relationship between the FHS and the shelter. Her support was crucial to
obtaining approval from the Fayette County Commissioners to implement a TNR program in Fayette
County.!
!
Raised in Wisconsin, Rani has been an animal lover all her life. When she was eight years old, her
father showed her a picture from the Milwaukee Journal of the ten cats and dogs who had been
euthanized that week in the local shelter. That picture still haunts her, and it awakened her desire to combat pet
overpopulation and homelessness. Her first job was kennel cleaner at a local veterinary clinic.!
!
Rani served four years in the Marine Corps and was chosen as a Military Police dog handler. She graduated with
distinguished honors from the Department of Defense Military Working Dog academy, where she worked with narcotics
detection and bomb dogs. Since then, she has held various law enforcement roles and has volunteered at animal shelters in
Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and even in Japan.!
!
Rani's career included a stint in the National Guard, which took her to Kosovo and Iraq. She was deployed to New Orleans
after Hurricane Katrina; her animal rescue efforts there came to the attention of Governor Sonny Perdue and were written up
in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.!
!
"My goal for the shelter is to give it a facelift, to make it a happier and more welcoming place that people will enjoy visiting,"
said Rani. "We need to become more proactive than reactive, and focus on pet retention. If we can address the reasons why so
many animals wind up in shelters, we can reduce homelessness and euthanasia."
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Featured Pets Available for Adoption
Donnie is a six-year-old
Felix Hernandez, or "King
Pointer mix with tons of
Felix," is a sweet and
personality. He was
loving guy. He's not a big
rescued
from Animal
fan of strangers, but once
Control
in
hopes
of helping
he gets to know you, he is
a fuzzy orange ball of fun him find his forever home.
He is an energetic and
and loves to play! Felix is
playful
little guy. At the
roughly 1 1/2 years old.
same
time,
he is content to
He was found by a lady
lie back and relax while
who fed and fostered him,
and now he is ready to find getting a good belly rub!
Donnie would be very
his forever home!
grateful to be included in
your family -- he has a lot
of love to give.
Meet Dr. Phil. The FHS
volunteers saw something
special about this handsome
boy at Animal Control. It was
his eyes! When he looked at
them with those eyes so full of
love and sweetness, they just
couldn't resist taking him to
help find a forever home for
him. Dr. Phil is a tri-colored
Beagle mix with beautiful
long, velvety ears. Will you
be his lucky new family?
SPRING 2015
Autumn was adopted as a
kitten into a loving family 11
years ago, but in the last year,
her mom developed severe
allergies to animal fur, and her
doctor ordered her to find
another home for her cat. The
separation was heartbreaking
for both Autumn and her
mom. Autumn would do best
in a quiet home with adults or
older children and no other
pets. This little tabby is
declawed, spayed, and current
on vaccines.
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Visit our website to see more pets
waiting for their forever homes!
Shelley is a gorgeous tortoiseKaylee is a two-year-old
shell colored cat with beautiful
Poodle/Schnauzer mix.
green eyes, who was fostered as a
She’s a relaxed and
six-week-old kitten. She was the
friendly dog who loves
cutest, sweetest thing! Today
being petted and held. A
Shelley is a quiet and observant mix of Miniature Poodle
feline who enjoys watching the
and Schnauzer adds up
activity going on around her.
to a great combination.
Earning her trust takes time, but
She is playful and
the bond that is created is well
would make a great
worth the exercise in patience.
family companion. What
Shelley needs a quiet place to
a package this adorable
retreat when the activity level in
little Kaylee makes!
the home gets too high for her.
She gets along well with other
cats and enjoys their company.
Raleigh has silky, short grey
and white fur with white
feet. He is a lover. He will
come right up and sweetly
bump his head under your
chin to let you know he
wants some love. He is an
explorer, no space will go
undiscovered. Yet, he also
wants to be your
shadow...always right where
you are. He adores chasing
his foil crinkle ball and
playing with his brother or
his foster family's older cat.
Daphne is a four-year-old
Hound mix. She has been
successfully treated for
heartworms so with a
clean bill of health, she's all
set to find a forever home.
She is gentle, reliable, and
would make a great
companion for both
children and adults. With
her good looks, good
health, and good Hound
breeding, Daphne has all
the makings to become a
beloved member of your
household.
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COME VISIT ZOLA AT MINUTEMAN PRESS!
123 Huddleston Road
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770.487.8016
[email protected]
minutemanpressptc.com
Consider advertising in our Pet Gazette. !
It’s a great way to reach thousands of other pet
lovers and supporters! Contact the Fayette
Humane Society at 770-487-1073.!
Thank you for supporting the businesses
advertised in our Pet Gazette!!
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10th ANNIVERSARY
CE LE BRATIO N
SATURD
AY
MAY 2 ND
10AM-6
PM
Door Prizes Games Pet Adoptions
Photo Booth-FREE photo of you and your pet. Fun props provided!
10 Cent Teenies!
Caricature artist on hand from noon-2pm to draw pet portraits!
Discounts on purchases all day long.
ONE LUCKY CUSTOMER WILL WIN THEIR ENTIRE PURCHASE FREE!
Delicious freshly baked dog treats
Large selection of premium all-natural foods
Full service grooming by appointment
Unique items for dogs, cats and their owners
100 N. Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 16
770-486-4WAG (4924)
FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214
www.fayettehumane.org
FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214
P.O. BOX 244
FAYETTE HUMANE SOCIETY !
PERMIT NO. 42 !
PAID!
U.S. POSTAGE!
NON-PROFIT ORG. !