1. pets
2. cats

Wood County Humane Society
Animal Corner
The WCHS
Minnibelle Conley
Shelter
801 Van Camp Road
Bowling Green, OH
43402
(419) 352-7339
HOURS:
Monday & Tuesday:
Closed
Wednesday: 12 to 7
p.m.
Thursday: 12 to 7 p.m.
Friday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Shelter Manager
Erin McKibben
Humane Agent
Debra Loprete
Assistant Manager
Megan Baker
Event Planner
Tara Moore
Outreach Coordinator
Megann Smith
Dog Trainer
Scott Beard
Animal Care Staff
Scott Beard,
Olga Clay,
April McCurdy,
Emily Watts,
Cassie Williams
April 2015
WCHS TO HOST ANNUAL WINE &
DINE FUNDRAISER ON MAY 15
The Wood County Humane Society’s (WCHS)
annual Wine & Dine
event, which raised more
than $10,000 for the organization in 2013, will
be held on May 15 at
Greystone Banquet Hall
and Conference Center
on Hufford Road, Perrysburg. The event will
take place from 7 p.m. to
10:00 p.m. and is generously sponsored by Paws
and Remember.
Guests will enjoy a meal
prepared by Carolyn’s
Catering and live entertainment provided by
Velvet Jones, a 1980s
cover band originally
from Toledo, Ohio.
The event will feature
fine wines from Heidelberg Distributing Company. Guests at the event
will be able to enjoy a
photo booth and both a
silent and a live auction
with celebrity auctioneer
Jerry Anderson.
Some of the items up for
auction this year include:
a timeshare getaway
package to Las Vegas or
Florida, autographed
memorabilia from award
-winning mystery writer
Sue Grafton, fine art
pieces provided by local
artists, and tickets to a
variety of regional and
national attractions including Tecumseh: The
Outdoor Historical Drama, Sauder Village,
Schedel Arboretum and
Gardens, Paramount’s
Kings Island, and Walt
Disney World.
For a preview of some of
our fantastic auction
items, see page 24 of this
issue of Animal Corner.
A complete
list of auction items will
soon be available for preview at the Wine and
Dine website.
Advance tickets for the
event cost $50/each, $90/
pair. Tickets can be purchased at the WCHS
website or from one of
the WCHS Board members. Cash, check, and
credit card payments are
accepted.
Proceeds from the Wine
& Dine support the
WCHS.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Shelter News
2 — 21
Upcoming Events
22 — 27
Wine & Dine 2015
23 — 25
Adoption Updates
28 — 31
Honors and Memorials
Around the Country/Around the World
32
34 — 39
In the Library with Mary Boone
Check us out online at:
www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org
40
P age 2
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
Tail Wags
*Rupert Fawcett for graciously granting us permission to reprint his hilarious dog-centered comics,
Off the Leash, in our
newsletter!
Each month, Nagoya generously sponsors the adoption fees
for one cat and one dog.
Thank you, Nagoya, for your
continued support!
“Kisses” is a bit of a misnomer for this little lady. In
fact, she doesn’t much like kisses at all—whether on
the giving or receiving end. That’s not to say that
Kisses isn’t affectionate. She is. Or she can be. But
affection needs to come on her terms. When she is
ready to be petted, she enjoys it very much. When
she wants to cuddle, she can be a real lover. And
when she wants to play, you better be ready for
some fun and adventure! Kisses definitely loves to
be spoiled rotten but, again, it has to happen on her
terms and her timetable. And when Kisses doesn’t
want affection? You can find her lounging around
the shelter on any free surface.
Check out Kisses’s Petfinder profile.
*Eric Myers and John
Aleksander for being very
dedicated SNIP drivers!
*Mike Frost and Jeff Postl
for loading and transporting new (used) cabinets
and countertops for the
shelter kitchen!
*Newlove Realty for the
use of its trailer in transporting cabinets!
*Chad Hughes and Mary
Kate Picolo, for being
amazing BGSU practicum
students!
Trilla is a special little lady. She came to us without her left hind leg, but no worries. That missing leg doesn’t slow this boxer/terrier mix down
one bit. In fact, Trilla is especially fond of taking
long walks, so she is looking for an equally active
human with a strong sense of adventure. Trillia is
sweet-tempered and very affectionate. She also
enjoys being pampered and receiving extra love,
attention, and, of course, treats. We recently
introduced Trilla to a play group (of dogs), and
she does quite well with them. However, she
doesn't get along with all dogs, and plays best
with “easy going” dogs.
Check out Trilla’s Petfinder profile.
Board Members
Sought
We currently are seeking
applications to our Board
of Directors, a voluntary
working Board, comprised of between 11 and
15 members of local
leaders dedicated to
providing direction and
guidance to the organization. Board members are
elected annually for a
term of two years. The
WCHS Board of Directors meets once monthly
for two hours. Other
time commitments vary.
Those interested should
contact Heath A. Diehl,
Board Secretary.
6190 Levis Commons Blvd.
(419) 931-8400
Website
Facebook
Join the WCHS or Re-New Your Membership Today
Life Membership ($1,500 and above)
Animal Angel ($500—$1,499)
Pet Patron ($250—$499)
Pet Pal ($100—$249)
Pet Sponsor ($45—$99)
Friend ($30—$44)
Kids Club ($1—$29)
Name ___________________________________________
Address _________________________________________
City _____________________ State ______ Zip ________
E-mail Address ____________________________________
I am giving this membership to the person/family
named below:
Memorial to: ________________________________
In honor of: _________________________________
Other: _____________________________________
Amount enclosed: ____________________________
Send your tax-deductible donation to:
Wood County Humane Society
801 Van Camp Road
Bowling Green, OH 43402
Join Online NOW
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3
ANIMAL SPOTLIGHTS
Katu is an incredibly sweet girl who has patiently been waiting for her family for two
years. When she first arrived at the humane
society, she was quite shy and suffering from
some gum inflammation. Once that was addressed, she turned into quite the social butterfly. As a result of the inflammation, Katu has
had her teeth removed. This doesn’t stop her
from enjoying her hard food dinner though!
The patience of this phenomenal feline is
astounding. Come see how adoring Katu can
be and who knows, you may end up finding
your new best friend.
Check out Katu’s Petfinder profile.
2015 Board of
Directors
Officers
President
Lori Young
VP of Administration
Kathy Dean
VP of Shelter Operations
Deb Johnson
Secretary
Heath A. Diehl
Treasurer
Pending
Committee Chairs
Budget & Finance
Maddy may not always demand your attention,
but she does want it. And she deserves it. This
fancy feline has been with us since February of
2013. She loves to sit on laps and be adored. Be
warned, though, she will let you know with a
feisty paw slap or two when is she is done. What
makes Maddy so special is her sweet demeanor.
Most declawed cats tend to have a lot of attitude
and fight in them, whereas Maddy is a delight.
She is on a special diet and requires a medication, but that just makes her affectionate meow
all the more endearing. If you have a little patience and time, please stop by and see what
makes Maddy so delightful!
Check out Maddy’s Petfinder profile.
Pending
Building and Grounds
Connie Black-Postl
Fundraising
Emily Keegan
Membership/Contributions
Sue Frost
Outreach/Education
Pending
Public Relations
Heath A. Diehl
SNIP
Omar can best be described as “sweet and
needy.” He loves to be around his humans, so
much that he barks and cries when left alone for
lengthy periods. Omar is very fond of lap sitting,
sloppy kisses, and food sharing (we use the word
“sharing” very loosely here!). He also is very high
energy. He will go on as many walks as you’ll
indulge him. He would probably play 24-7 if he
could. This Dachshund really needs a human
who can give him enough time and attention to
tire him out! Omar is a still a bit skittish. He is
frightened by quick movements and strangers, so
he would be best placed in a home without children.
Check out Omar’s Petfinder profile.
Leyna Jennings
Eric Myers
Volunteer
Kathy Dean
Member
Deb Higgins
Check out all of our
available animals on:
Want to help our animals but can’t adopt?
We are usually in need of the following items: liquid bleach, hot dogs, hard cat food, sandwich bags, sponges or scrubbies to wash
dishes, blood lancets (to test our diabetic cats’ glucose), antibiotic ointment, A&D ointment, and catnip.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 4
From the Friends of the Wood County Humane Society:
Living Without Animals
At BGSU, a group of college students has organized to form the
Friends of the Wood County Humane Society (FWCHS). Not
only are we college students, but also we are animal lovers. Volunteering with the shelter helps us fill the void when we are apart
from our families and pets. Along the way, we fall in love with
the animals at the shelter and this makes us want to keep coming
back and volunteering with them. Playing with the animals is a
mutually beneficial relationship. We get to cuddle the cats and
dogs, which helps us relieve stress, and the animals get to be
loved on. The cats and dogs are easy to fall in love with and we
only want to continue taking care of them in the future.
FWCHS is a student-run organization at BGSU that is focused
on volunteering and fundraising for the WCHS. The group’s
meetings are held bi-weekly on Mondays at 7:00pm in Olscamp
121. The organization is advised by Kathy Dean.
FWCHS regularly volunteers for Advocats and
Dog walking/cuddling at the shelter. The focus of
Advocats is to socialize with the cats at the shelter,
including cutting their nails, grooming them, and
cleaning their ears. While at the shelter, FWCHS
members also help clean the shelter, do laundry,
and any other tasks to help the staff. Along with
volunteering, FWCHS holds multiple fundraisers
during the academic year to raise money for the
WCHS.
For more information on this organization, check
out its Facebook page.
Tell Us What You Think
MONTHLY READER POLL: April 19-25 is National Pet ID Week and
we want to know: What do you do to ensure your pet’s safe return if
lost? E-mail us by 22 May 2015 to have your response included in the
June 2015 issue of Animal Corner.
READER SUGGESTIONS: Have suggestions for articles or columns that
you’d like to see in upcoming issues of Animal Corner? E-mail us! We’d
love to hear from you.
CORRECTIONS: Notice something incorrect in this issue of Animal Corner? Please e-mail us to let us know so that we can run a correction/retraction in our next issue.
Photograph taken from Adam Rifkin
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 5
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: MEGAN BAKER
By MEAGON SHAFFER
A hero is one who is an illustrious
warrior; one who is admired for her
achievements and noble qualities; one
who shows great courage. Shelter
Manager Erin McKibben uses this
word to describe shelter Assistant
Manager, Megan Baker. After almost
seven years with the shelter, Megan
will be leaving March 31st. Tiny Town
Animal Clinic in Tennessee will be
blessed with Megan’s talents and love
for animals as she completes her internship for the last phase of earning
her vet tech degree.
in many ways but more so recently in
her dedication to stay at the facility
during inclement weather. While
Megan has two pets adopted from her
time at WCHS, a short haired black
cat Mina who was adopted as a kitten
and a five year old chow mix dog
named Nala who actually picked Megan as her new mom.
Megan’s character can be exemplified
Working alongside Erin, Megan has
been part of a very effective, hardworking team who has brought the
shelter to a higher standard of care for
the patients of Wood County. And
being part of a this dedicated team is
something Megan finds very hard to
leave. Megan likes to think this isn’t
goodbye forever…just goodbye for
now since her fiancé’s family is from
the area and she will be coming back
here to get married late this fall.
A few of Megan’s co-workers expressed their respect of Megan and
their value in having her as part of the
team. (See more testimonials on page
7.)
Megan moved to Bowling Green
from North Canton to attend BGSU
and earned her degree in Applied
Health Science in 2012
before deciding to go on
and pursue her vet tech
degree from Stautzenberger College. While at
BGSU, Megan met her
fiancé who currently
serves with the military in
Tennessee.
In 2008 after hearing a
classmate in her chemistry
class talk about interviewing for a job with the shelter, Megan decided to
apply as well and was chosen! Her career began on
the animal care staff then
led into being an administrative assistant in the office and has evolved into
her current position as Assistant Manager of the shelter.
four nights.
most of us would rather stay home
where it’s warm and dry when bad
weather strikes, Megan offered to
make it a slumber party at the shelter
and stay on air mattresses with a diet
of popcorn, snacks and good food to
be sure the animals were cared for on
a daily basis when others might be
prevented from getting to the shelter.
At that time, what began as an overnighter, turned into a mini-retreat of
Shelter Manager Erin
McKibben, Megan’s left
hand through her venture
at WCHS, says, “Selfless,
devoted, caring…these all
describe Megan, she goes
above and beyond to get
her work done, take care
of the animals, and the
staff. She really cares for
the animals, and the people involved with our organization. Megan leaves
big shoes to fill.” While
Erin has lots of great
memories of working with
Megan, she generalizes by
saying working with Megan EVERY day is always
a memory! “Each day
brings something new (usually some
new challenge to overcome), and we
have helped each other grow, seen a
lot, been there for each other to share
in the highs and lows. It's great when
we can share a laugh together, or
make each other laugh.”
Thank you for all your hard work,
endless love and never ending support, Megan…we wish you well!
Congratulations, Megan! And thank you...
Congratulations, Megan! And thank you...
Dear Megan, There are not enough words to thank you for all you have done for our shelter, for our Board, for me personally with care and advice for my own furry creatures, and most of all for being such a wonderful friend. Always keep
that huge heart of yours, the passion you have to help those who cannot help themselves and your joy of life and you will
be happy forever. Your presence will be missed but we will always be friends no matter where life takes you. My best to
you always, Lisa * Meg, You've been such a wonderful addition to our team, and your presence and
expertise will be greatly missed. Best of luck in your new ventures. Love, Connie * Megan has been in
invaluable to me over the past few years. She has always been very patient and understanding of me when explaining things
that I need to do at the shelter. From general health knowledge to more advanced issues, I can't imagine how the shelter
would have managed without her there on a daily basis. Even though she is the Asst. Manager, she treated everyone like
they were family and it was always a fun atmosphere when she was there working. I looked forward to being around her
every day because she had a way of making things fun. She was always the go-to girl when I needed something done with
the animals and was unsure what to do. She always had an answer for any and all of my issues! We are really going to miss
her. Scott Beard * Although I have not worked with Megan nearly as long as I would have liked to, I
can see that her knowledge and expertise will be greatly missed. We will miss her terribly but wish
her success in her future as a Registered Veterinary Technician! Deb Johnson * I haven't known Megan very long and at first we had our differences but she became a big part of my life. If I ever needed someone to talk to,
she was always there. She was amazing when it came to the animals whether they were hurt or just scared Megan was there
to comfort them. Her number one priority was the animals and what was best for them. She is an amazing person and I
know I'm going to miss her and the animals will too! I know she will do great things no matter where her life takes her.
Chelsie Guck * Megan, I want to thank you for all that you have done for the animals at the Wood
County Humane Society. Your love and passion for animals is evident through the many times I've
witnessed your work at the Shelter. I, along with Mike, Peep, Stewie and Phoebe wish you success
with your internship and graduation. Thanks also for taking care of the cats when we were away. It
was always reassuring to know that when we were gone they were looked after by someone who
loves animals. Last, we want to wish you much happiness with your upcoming marriage. You have
so many great things to look forward to in the coming months. Sue Frost * I don't know the words to convey what Megan means to our organization and to me personally. She is the heart of our staff and will be missed beyond
words. She loves each and every animal that comes through our door and cares for them as if they were her own. She has
saved so many lives and has taught me so much. Personally, Megan is a great friend and is always there when you need
her. She has been there for me through the ups and downs that accompanies our job and also personal tragedies. She always knows exactly what to say whether its a joke to cheer you up, a word of advice, or just being a shoulder to cry on. I am
going to miss our morning coffee, making "healthy" lunches for each other, discussing whats going to happen next on The
Walking Dead, singing Disney songs during morning cleaning, sleepovers when the weather is bad, talking about wedding
planning, dressing up the animals and having "photo shoots", the list goes on and on and on. I hope the vet clinic she is
going to treasures her as much as we do and realizes what an amazing person she is. I am going to miss her SO much! Cassie Williams * Megan has been a valuable asset to the shelter. Her hard work and dedication to the
care of WCHS’s animals has been second to none, well maybe to Erin. She will be missed and the
vacancy she leaves will be a big void to fill. Lori Young * I have worked with Megan for almost a year; I respect her for the hard work, compassion, and dedication I have witnessed her display in maintaining the shelter. She shows
great compassion towards the animals that come to our shelter. Many of the animals that come to the WCHS are abused
and have experienced cruelty in their lives. I know that having Megan caring for them eases their suffering a great
deal. During the past year, I have seen her work full-time and attend school (to be a Vet Technician) full time. Many
mornings I could see the fatigue in her face, but I never heard her complain. Doing either thing alone is daunting, but she
managed to do both successfully. I am going to miss her very much, but her spirit and dedication will remain with
me. She really has been an inspiration to me. When, I first started the position of Humane Agent, I had to investigate a
particularly difficult hoarder situation. I looked at Megan and said, ‘How am I going to do this?’ Megan calmly looked at
me and said, “Just go do it. You can.” She was right. Deb Loprete
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P age 8
FROM THE SHELTER: WCHS HOSTS
Help Our
Humane Agent M A R C H M A D N E S S A D O P T I O N E V E N T
The WCHS employs a
Humane Agent to investigate reports of neglect,
cruelty, and abuse from
concerned citizens, social
services, health departments, and other law enforcement agencies.
As part of her job responsibilities, our Humane
Agent often must photographically document instances of neglect, cruelty,
and abuse. Yet at present
she only has access to a
small point-and-shoot
camera that produces very
low quality photographs.
We’re asking for you to
help us get our Humane
Agent a better quality camera so that she can do her
job even more effectively.
Ideally, she would like to
have either a DSLR Canon Rebel Series or a Nikon DSLR that is at least
18 megapixels. However,
any DSLR camera with 18
megapixels and a built-in
flash would be much appreciated.
We are seeking someone
to donate a camera or provide us a deep discount on
one. If you can help our
Humane Agent get a new
camera, then contact the
shelter at (419) 352-7339.
We jumped
into the spirit of spring
by hosting a
"March
Madness"
adoption
event this
past month.
The event,
which officially kicked
off on
Wednesday,
March 11,
offered reduced adoption fees for select featured animals in an attempt to place as many
current shelter residents
as possible in their forever homes.
The WCHS March
Madness adoption
event was patterned on
the annual National
Collegiate Athletic As-
sociation (NCAA)
Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Like its namesake, the
event pitted a number
of animals—both cats
and dogs—against one
another in a head-tohead competition to see
which animals would be
adopted the quickest.
All dogs
over one
year old
and all
cats over
the age
of six
months
were
grouped,
or bracketed,
based on
adoption
fees.
Prices
varied by bracket, but
all featured animals
were offered at a pre-set
reduced adoption fee of
$4, $16, or $64.
Look for updates on
this special adoption
event in the June issue
of Animal Corner.
FROM THE SHELTER: WCHS HOSTS FIFTY
SHADES OF GREY CATS ADOPTION EVENT
This year we celebrated
Valentine’s Day weekend by holding a “Fifty
Shades of Gray Cats”
adoption event.
gray, black, and white
cats. The adoption fee
for kittens was $50, and
the adoption fee for adult
cats was 2 for $50.
From February 13
through February 15,
we offered a special
adoption fee for all
Look for updates on this
special adoption event in
the June issue of Animal
Corner.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 9
HELP US IMPROVE OUR CATS’ LIVING
CONDITIONS WITH NEW CAGES
We need your help to
raise $12,000 to purchase cages for our cats
to live in while waiting
to be adopted. Our current cages are small,
rusting, and not able to
be adequately disinfected to prevent the
spread of diseases. Our
goal is to purchase a
bank of twelve cages
from Synder Manufacturing. These cages can
be converted to six larger cages for times when
we have fewer cats to
house.
We currently have two
open, "cageless" cat
rooms, where cats can
be free to nap, hide, or
play as they like; however some cats just can't
be housed that way due
to illness, needing to be
observed, or just not
playing well with others.
These cats will still
make great pets, but
they currently don't
"show" as well due to
their housing. They also
don't have as much
room for enrichment or
play as we would like to
provide them with. We
work very hard to make
sure their stay here is as
short as possible, and
we believe improving
their quality of life
through better housing
will help even more.
Once we hit our goal,
any additional funds
raised will go towards
cosmetic renovations of
the cageless cat rooms,
including a sink for
cleaning and cabinets to
store supplies, paint,
and cat beds, toys, and
treats.
Hurry! Fundraising
event ends April
23rd!
Want to support
our fundraising
project?
Visit our project page at LoveAnimals.org. And don’t forget to
Share the Love through social media while you’re there!!
Don’t Forget
to Re-Enroll
Remember that April is
the time when you once
again must re-enroll in
the Kroger Plus card
Community Rewards
program. Once you link
your Kroger Plus card
to the Wood County
Humane Society, funds
will be donated to
WCHS each time the
card is used! This program does not use any
of your points, but it is a
significant means of financial support for our
organization. In fact,
last quarter, you heled
us earn over $1,700 just
by taking a moment to
register your Kroger
Plus card and by going
Krogering. To enroll
(or re-enroll) in the program, visit the Kroger
Community Rewards
page and follow a few
simple instructions. For
more detailed instructions, check out our
helpful instructional
flyer, which can be
found on the next page.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 1 1
BGSU Students Partner with WCHS for Service Learning
Experience/Course
By HOLLY BIRD
Instructor, General Studies Writing, BGSU
In January, several students enrolled in the Chapman
Learning Community @ Kohl at BGSU began volunteering at WCHS as part of a service-learning course.
each student had to try to match his/her partner to an
appropriate cat or dog based on the AICPA’s Meet
Your Match® criteria.
In addition to class time learning about issues regarding pet rescue and adoption, each student is also required to complete 10 hours of service work over the
course of the semester. So far the students have primarily volunteered in the cat room helping with morning cleanings or as feline companions. A group of 3-4
students visit the center every Monday to volunteer in
the cat room as feline companions. They give the cats
some much needed love and playtime. Also, a group
of 3-4 other students visit the center every Friday and
on some Saturdays to help with morning cleanings.
Despite the effort helping with the morning cleanings,
the students have unanimously agreed that they enjoy
their volunteer work because they feel they are contributing to the betterment of the animals.
Each student in the Chapman @ Kohl learning community must take a service learning course as part of
his/her enrollment in the community. One such course
that is offered is titled “Pet Rescue & Adoption.” The
students were able to choose among a variety of service
learning courses, and the “Pet Rescue & Adoption”
course this semester garnered the largest enrollment
among courses with 18 total students.
Class time is devoted to reading, discussing and learning about issues related to pet rescue and adoption.
For example, Debra Loprete, the WCHS Humane
Agent, visited the class to educate students about animal cruelty and neglect and the laws regarding these
acts. She specifically discussed her work and how the
WCHS intervenes to rescue mistreated or neglected
animals. In another class, the students performed a
mock adoption with a partner where they each filled
out a dog or cat adoption form and then decided if
their partners would be approved. If approved, then
The class will culminate with a final Poster Board
presentation project that will showcase what they have
learned over the course of the semester and how the
community can help with pet rescue and adoption
efforts. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, April 29 from 3:30-5:45 in 007 Kohl Hall on the
campus of BGSU.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 1 2
From the Shelter: WCHS Completes Grants
care?
The WCHS employs a part-time
dog trainer to work with all dogs
that enter the shelter, as well as
after they are adopted, in an effort
to keep them in their forever
homes if any issues arise postadoption. Being awarded this grant
allowed us to provide more hours
for our dog trainer to work more
with our dogs, to do home visits
for some of our dogs (postadoption), and to train our volunteers how to handle the dogs in our
care.
In recent months, our shelter staffers have been quite busy applying
for, being awarded, and fulfilling
the conditions of a series of grants
designed to help both our shelter
animals and animals within our
local communities.
In December, we reported in Animal Corner that the WCHS had
been selected by the Petfinder
Foundation for one of its Orvis
Animal Care grants. We now have
successfully completed the grant
and can report on how it has
helped us in shelter.
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your
How many pets did this grant
help?
The Orvis Animal Care Grant
helped 33 dogs between December 2014 and February 2015. It is
hard to highlight specific dogs
helped during this period, because
they were all helped! Of the 33
dogs we took in during this period,
18 have since found their forever
homes. Our dog trainer, Scott
Beard, works with all dogs entering
our shelter, and also conducts a
post-adoption follow-up to make
sure the dogs and adopters are adjusting well after adoption. When
dogs arrive at our shelter, they are
assessed to see what they know and
what they need work on. Scott then
works closely with the staff and volunteers so they are able to continue training during all interactions
with the dogs.
The Petfinder Foundation is a
nonprofit charity whose mission is
to ensure that no pet is euthanized
for lack of a home. Founded in
2003, the foundation helps homeless pets by saving lives through
adoptions, helping shelters prepare
for and recover from disaster, and
working to make shelters across
the country more sustainable.
Read more about our successful
completion of the grant at the Petfinder Foundation website.
Last October, we received a grant
from the Merrimack River Feline
Rescue Society (MRFRS) and
PetSmart Charities to assist in
managing the free-roaming feline
population in Wood County. The
grant period ran through February
2015 and the grant monies specifically were earmarked for providing
free spay/neuter services and rabies
vaccines of free-roaming, outdoor
cats in the 43402 zip code. Our
goal for this pilot program was to
spay/neuter 250 free-roaming felines while partnering with Humane Ohio, which is a low-cost,
high-quality, accessible spay/neuter
clinic in the Greater Toledo Area.
We also sought to provide resources for and promote responsible pet care.
With the $8,001 we were awarded,
we were able to fix 219 cats. Of
these cats, 85 were neuters, 134
were spays, 9 were pregnant, and
13 were in heat at the time of their
procedures.
Continued on page 13
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 1 3
From the Shelter: Grants (Continued from page 12)
Additionally, 46 were
owned cats and most
of the fixed cats were
from the 43402 zip
code. We did have to
branch out a bit
(geographically) to
help us complete the
grant in a timely fashion. Ten of the fixed
cats were from our
next largest intake zip
code, 43551.
With the approximately $1,300 that we
were awarded for equipment, we
purchased 15 new live traps, a feral
cat recovery cage, and a box trap
with transfer cage to catch stubborn community cats that will not
enter conventional traps.
After the pilot program was completed in February of this year, we
began plans to extend this program
to other areas of Wood County.
Expanding the program was de-
Graphic borrowed from the Feral Cat Awareness Project.
We are completely overwhelmed by the continued
generosity of Jean Miller, who
recently donated a total of
$10,000 to our organization!
This donation has been earmarked for the purchase of
pendent on our successful fulfillmedical equipment. Purchasment of the original grant conditions for the pilot program, as well ing this equipment will be the
as additional fundraising efforts for first step in establishing an inshelter surgery suite. Thank
the cause.
you so much, Jean! Your gift
We are accepting donations for
will help so many kitties!
our “Spay it Forward” campaign to
be able to help assist with future
spay/neuter surgeries for freeroaming cats. For more information about this program, please
contact our Shelter Manager, Erin
McKibben.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 1 4
The intake room at the Wood
County Humane Society is used
as a feline quarantine room for
“new to the shelter” cats and kittens needing vaccinations, testing,
de-worming and flea treatment.
Having a secluded place to observe the new arrivals is such a critical piece of
their successful care. The space was limited and
in dire need of updating, so Boy Scout Troop 344
out of Pemberville, Ohio, tackled the project. Under the direction of Jared Briscoe, who is working
to earn his Eagle Scout honor, the room was enhanced by cosmetic updates, and by an increase in
the capacity
available. A
total of five
new cages
were added.
Thank you
to Boy Scout
Troop 344
and Jared for
their hard
work!!!
Food Assistance at WCHS
The WCHS is pleased to offer pet food and cat litter
assistance to Wood County residents and their pets in
need. Our food and cat litter bank is large enough to
help a few families each week, but unfortunately not
large enough to help the same homes on an ongoing
basis. We also offer food assistance for caretakers of
free-roaming cat colonies to encourage spaying and
neutering, and continued care of these felines.
If you need assistance with an owned pet, then please
complete the Pet Food Assistance Application. If you
need help feeding a free-roaming cat or colony, then
please fill out the Free-Roaming Cat Food Assistance
Application. Food assistance is only offered during
adoption hours. If you are new to the program, then
please print and fill out an application and bring your
driver’s license to the shelter during adoption hours so
that a staff member can review your application. Food
assistance is by donation. We typically ask for at least
$1.
In partnership with the Cocoon shelter, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safety, healing, and justice for battered women and their children,
our shelter offers a SAFE Pet haven for Wood County families in transition due to domestic violence. All
cases are completely confidential and quality care of
the pet(s) is assured. If you are a victim of domestic
violence, and have a pet(s) that you need help sheltering until you are able to make arrangements for them
to be back in your life, then please contact the Cocoon
Shelter at 419-352-1545 or 1-800-472-9411. You can
also find out more information about the Cocoon
Shelter by visiting their website.
Wanted: Volunteer Coordinator
We are seeking community members who are interested in chairing the Volunteer Committee. Specific
responsibilities would entail monitoring the online
volunteer database, helping with volunteer orientation
and volunteer assignments, and communicating with
Shelter Manager and members of the Board of Directors. If you are interested in the position, then please
e-mail Kathy Dean.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 1 6
THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING AN OLDER CAT
By DEB JOHNSON
VP of Shelter Operations, WCHS
So you’ve decided to add a new
feline family member, and you
want to adopt them from a shelter –
bravo ! Great thinking. BUT –
instead of an adorable kitten, have
you thought about adopting an
adult cat?
Bringing an adult or senior cat into
your home instead of a kitten has
so many advantages.
First and foremost, what you see is
what you get. An adult cat’s personality is already fully developed.
Couch potato or party animal, lap
cat or independent spirit, you can
feel confident about what you are
bringing home.
Kittens are admittedly cute, but
they can also be rambunctious and
at times destructive. Don’t want to
risk your potted plants, drapes, or
furniture ? Adopt an adult cat.
An adult cat will likely be happy to
greet you at the door then settle in
for a night of your favorite tv show
and snuggling. With a kitten, there
will be no relaxing after a long day
at work – get ready for an evening
of running, jumping, and playing.
Ready for bed ? Your adult cat will
be happy to curl up at the foot of
your bed or find another cozy spot,
while your new kitten will want to
run around all night and wake you
up for more playtime.
Adult cats are already litterbox
trained, have good manners, and
may already be trained to use a
scratching post. Adult cats may
also be a better choice when adding
a second cat to a household, as they
tend to mind their own business
and ease into things, while a young
kitten may be too active for a resident cat.
Additionally, adult cats can often be
a better choice for families with
very young children, as they may
unintentionally be too rough with a
fragile young kitten.
The best reason to consider adopting an adult or senior cat is that you
will be a hero! Every year an estimated 3.4 million cats enter shelters nationwide, and senior and
adult cats are typically the last to be
adopted. The average lifespan for
an indoor cat is 15-18 years, so by
adopting a seven year old cat, you
are giving them the best years of
their life !
At Wood County Humane Society,
we have cats of every age available
for adoption, from eight weeks to
ten years. We use the ASPCA’s
Meet Your Match program to evaluate our adult cats, which assigns
one of nine personalities, called
“Feline-alities” to each cat, helping
us match them up with adopters.
We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about our available cats, or stop by the shelter to
meet them in person.
How else can you help homeless
cats besides adopting one ?
VOLUNTEER your time. Whether it’s walking dogs, playing with
cats, taking photos of our animals,
fostering puppies or kittens, or serving on a board committee, everyone has skills they can contribute.
Volunteering as a family can be a
great experience for families that
don’t have pets of their own, and
teaches children valuable life lessons.
DONATE – whether you donate
money, products, or your time,
every gift helps. Necessary medical
equipment and shelter renovations
require resources we don’t currently have. If you have a little extra
this month, consider making a
monetary donation. If you or
someone you know has construction skills, consider donating your
time. Ask your employer if they
will match funds through NWOhio
Community Shares, or similar programs. Wood County Humane
Society exists solely through donations from caring individuals and
earned revenue. We do not receive funding from national humane groups, The United Way, or
taxes.
SPREAD THE WORD ! This
one doesn’t cost a thing and can
still make all the difference in the
world for a homeless animal. Like
us on Facebook and share pictures
of adoptable animals. Subscribe to
our electronic newsletter and share
it with family and friends. Check
out our website for events and invite your friends to attend with you.
Adult cats end up in shelters
through no fault of their own, most
commonly from families who are
moving or have an allergy issue.
They are not secondhand or defective – each one is perfect in their
own way, and just waiting to once
again be a valued family member.
We encourage you to visit our shelter soon
to see for
yourself !
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 1 7
M E E T O U R O L D E R (6 + Y E A R S ) F E L I N E R E S I D E N T S
ABRA (DIABETIC)
Abra has been at our shelter for over a year and we honestly cannot figure out why. This
black beauty has one of the sweetest dispositions that we’ve seen. She loves to cuddle and
curl up in laps. She enjoys being petted and will let you scratch her ears for hours on end!
She is rambunctious and likes to play with everything from toys to our staffers’ hair. Admittedly, Abra has been through a lot in her short life. She is diabetic and requires a prescription food along with twice daily insulin injections, so she is going to require a very special
and loving family that can not only keep up with the cost of her treatment, but also provide
the very special care that she needs. But Abra will give back love and affection in spades, so
if you think you have the love that this very special kitty deserves, then stop out at the shelter and meet her today.
Check out Abra’s Petfinder profile.
ALLIE
If Allie possessed the power of human language, then she would probably be constantly asking
questions like a five-year-old child. This girl is so insatiably curious. When the door to the cat
room opens, Allie wants to know, “Who is it???” When she hears a noise from outside, Allie
wants to know, “What’s going on out there???” When staffers bring new toys into the cat room,
Allie wants to know, “What’s that? What’s that?? What’s that???” Allie also loves to follow people around and she is perpetually in search of the action (and wants to insert herself right at the
very center of that action). Not only is Allie the perfect sidekick, but she also is as sweet tempered as they come, both to her human and to her feline companions. Allie has lived with her
mother, Jules, for Allie’s entire life, so they would love to go together to a forever home.
Check out Allie’s Petfinder profile.
Check out her mother, Jules’s, Petfinder profile.
DEMI
Around the shelter, our resident explorer is Demi, nor Dora. Indeed, Demi is quite the
adventuress, spending much of her time carefully examining the nooks and crannies of
the cat rooms, as well as surveying her surroundings with a keen and perceptive eye.
Demi also has an insatiable curiosity and she seems to always want to know what everyone in the shelter (whether cat or human) is doing at every moment of the day. Thankfully, Demi is incredibly lovable, so her curiosity comes off as charming, rather than just
plain nosy. This girl loves attention in all forms, but she especially adores lap and cuddle time. (And she really, really likes to be brushed!) So if you’re an interesting human
who has a lap for cuddling, then Demi might just be your girl.
Check out Demi’s Petfinder profile.
ERVIN
If we gave out a Sleepyhead Award at the shelter, then Ervin would certainly be the recipient! This guy just loves to nap, nap, and nap some more. But that shouldn’t be too
much of a surprise since this handsome tuxedo and tabby fella is about 10 years old.
When Ervin is not napping (have we mentioned how much this guy likes to nap?!?), he
is pretty even keel in personality. (Kind of a “been there, done that” attitude.) He gets
along very well with other cats and he seems to just want to hang out, relax, and enjoy
his golden years. Do you have some comfy places around your home where Ervin
could catch some “zzz”s? Then stop by the shelter and meet him today!
Check out Ervin’s Petfinder profile.
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P age 1 8
M E E T O U R O L D E R (6 + Y E A R S ) F E L I N E R E S I D E N T S
HETTY (FIV+)
Hetty is an introvert through and through. In fact, we suspect that if she could, Hetty would
spend her days in the quiet solitude of her own company, endlessly exploring the recesses of her
thoughts without other feline companions to interrupt or distract her. Most of the time, Hetty
can be found flying solo in her kitty condo, tucked away in one of the hidey holes while she
grooms her gorgeous black coat, or dozes, or observes the other cats in the FIV room. Hetty is
the kind of girl who would most likely thrive in a quiet home where she is either the “only
child,” or she can peacefully co-exist with other low-key animals. In fact, we suspect that if Hetty
had a forever home where it was more serene, then she would feel more confident and would
not hide away most of the time. Do you have the patience to win Hetty’s trust? If so, then you’ll
more than like early her love forever.
Check out Hetty’s Petfinder profile.
JULES
There is absolutely no bigger perk to being a cat than being able to nap whenever, wherever, and
however you want. And Miss Jules would certainly agree with that statement. Most days, Jules
can be found lounging or, more likely, napping in a variety of favorite spots throughout the cat
rooms. Jules also sometimes enjoys lying around and taking in all of the attention that staffers,
volunteers, and shelter visitors inevitably provide her. (She’s a bit of a diva, our Jules!) Miss Jules
may be a bit “mature” (age-wise), but she seems to get along well with most cats. So, if you’re
looking for a friend to lounge around with and don’t mind picking up a brush from time to time,
then Jules is your lady! Also, Jules and her daughter, Allie, have lived together for Allie’s entire
life, so they would love to go together to a forever home.
Check out Jules’s Petfinder profile.
Check out her daughter, Allie’s, Petfinder profile.
KISSES
“Kisses” is a bit of a misnomer for this little lady. In fact, she doesn’t much like kisses at
all—whether on the giving or receiving end. That’s not to say that Kisses isn’t affectionate. She is. Or she can be. But affection needs to come on her terms. When she is
ready to be petted, she enjoys it very much. When she wants to cuddle, she can be a
real lover. And when she wants to play, you better be ready for some fun and adventure! Kisses definitely loves to be spoiled rotten but, again, it has to happen on her
terms and her timetable. And when Kisses doesn’t want affection? You can find her
lounging around the shelter on any free surface. Think you might have a few kisses to
spare? That’s probably all this girl will ask for anyway!
Check out Kisses’s Petfinder profile.
MANNY
Manny came to the shelter in July 2014 after being attacked by another animal. While
he was pretty battered and shaken up when he first arrived, this tabby cat has been quite
resilient! In fact, no matter the situation—whether his favorite napping spot is taken by
one of the other cats or whether he’s feeling a little under the weather—Manny seems to
find the bright side of anything that comes his way. This total sweetheart of a guy loves
to be petted and he generally has a happy-go-lucky attitude…at least with humans. Manny isn’t always sure how he feels about other cats, though with time he could warm up
to them and become best friends. So, if you think you have room in your home and
heart for Manny, then stop out and meet him…you won’t be disappointed!
Check out Manny’s Petfinder profile.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 1 9
M E E T O U R O L D E R (6 + Y E A R S ) F E L I N E R E S I D E N T S
NASTIA
Nastia originally came to the shelter in February 2014 as part of a cruelty case. She had been
treated pretty poorly and eventually abandoned, so when she first joined the shelter, she was
rightly quite skittish around humans. After a year of being in the shelter, though, this girl has
undergone a somewhat dramatic transformation. She can still be a bit reserved and it takes a
while to gain her trust. But once you earn that trust, this tuxedo and tabby mix will always be up
for a snuggle, or a cuddle, or just some good, old-fashioned affection. During her extended stay
at the shelter, Nastia has cultivated an interest in birdwatching, so her forever home would ideally have lots of large windows from which she can hone her skills even more. Does your home
have lots of comfy places to nap, a great birdwatching window, and plenty of love? Then maybe
you should give Nastia an invitation to come home.
Check out Nastia’s Petfinder profile.
NOGGIN
This dapper flame-point Siamese is Noggin. And while Noggin is technically a “senior”
cat, he is far from a crotchety old man…most of the time. Noggin prefers quiet and lazy
afternoons spent watching his programs (especially The Lawrence Welk Show), dozing
in the sunlight, and savoring a delectable meal. Of course, Noggin would probably skip
the programs if you have a nice can of shredded ocean whitefish or chicken and turkey
waiting for him. Noggin has a very sweet disposition and has been a wonderful addition
to the cat room here at the Wood County Humane Society. But now he is ready to find
a nice, relaxing home to call his own. If Noggin sounds like the kind of cat that you’d
love to have in your family, then come meet him today!
Check out Noggin’s Petfinder profile.
PROMETHEUS
Like his ancient namesake, Prometheus is a god-like Titan of a man. He is quite buff—both
in color and in physique—and he keeps himself that way through a daily exercise regimen
that includes play time, a little light birdwatching, and, of course, some serious and intense
napping. He also can be large and in charge of the cat room—but never in a forceful or
mean-spirited way. Prometheus is genuinely friendly with his feline peers and staff alike. He
sometimes even enjoys an occasional head scratch, but he does not really need (or demand)
excessive attention. For the most part, Prometheus likes to lay around and survey his kingdom and nap. Actually, he mostly likes to nap. Do you have a comfy kingdom over which
Prometheus might reign? Then come and check him out today!
Check out Prometheus’s Petfinder profile.
ROBERT (FIV+)
When Robert first came to the shelter, one of his hind legs was pretty severely injured
and eventually it had to be amputated. But that missing leg doesn’t seem to hinder this
boy one bit. He navigates the shelter just fine. And having only three legs absolutely
does not stop him from doing what he absolutely loves—which is playing. Robert loves
all sorts of toys—balls, feathers, milk jug rings, pom-poms, doo-dads, shoestrings, laser
lights. You name it, this boy will play with it! Robert also gets along well with other cats
and even sometimes enjoys playing with them. This guy has been through a lot in his
short life and he really deserves a comfortable home with humans who adore him. Are
you Robert's humans?
Check out Robert’s Petfinder profile.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 2 0
M E E T O U R O L D E R (6 + Y E A R S ) F E L I N E R E S I D E N T S
SABRINA
About a year ago, Sabrina was a stray who was found by a kind couple in the community. This couple took her in, learned that she suffered from an injured jaw, and nursed
her back to health before turning her over to us. This dilute tortie is in perfect health
now, aside from missing her teeth. (But don’t let that fact worry you! Sabrina can eat,
mew, play, and even cat nap as well as the next feline, with or without her teeth!) This
girl can be a bit shy when she is getting to know humans, but once a human is familiar
to her, she is so affectionate and loving. Sabrina would enjoy nothing more than to curl
up on the couch with her forever family. If you think your home could be her new forever home, then drop by and fill out an application today!
Check out Sabrina’s Petfinder profile.
From the Outreach Coordinator:
May I See Some Identification, Please?
By MEGANN SMITH
Outreach Coordinator, WCHS
It’s an all too familiar phrase: Lost
Pet. It’s usually paired with a picture
and short story of how much the animal means to the family. Yet, what are
the chances that the same person who
sees that posting will also see that pet?
In reality many lost cats become straggly strays fighting for survival and lost
dogs tend to be taken in to unfamiliar
locations such as shelters or a
passerby’s home.
These bleak outcomes do not have to
happen; April 19-25 is National Pet Id
Week. It serves as a reminder to purchase a license or tag, as well as to
have them microchipped. Licenses
and name tags are quick ways for your
family friend to be identified if they
were to get loose. Unfortunately they
are also removable. One quick jerk or
sneaky maneuver and your pet could
be id-less. That’s why it’s imperative
to get your family companion a microchip.
Microchips are the size of a grain of
rice and are placed under your pet’s
skin. They use a radio frequency that
is read by the appropriate scanner.
The chip remains inactive until
scanned. The chip itself takes seconds
to administer and the animal barely
notices the placement. In fact, from
experience it seems the animal is
more concerned as to why they are
being held still as opposed to the needle that holds the chip. Once the chip
is in, the animal is unphased and behaves no differently than normal. It’s
comparable to a flu shot in experience.
As an owner, you may feel the microchip, but that tends to happen only if
you are actively seeking it out. The
small size prevents it from being noticed.
This minor alteration to your animal
is one that could save its life. A recent
study found that cats with a microchip
yielded a return rate 20 times higher
than years past and 2 ½ times higher
for dogs. Those are all pets that
avoided life as a stray, life in a shelter,
or euthanasia.
Nationally in 2014, 7.6 million cats
and dogs entered shelters. Over 500
passed through the Wood County
Humane Society alone. Each animal
that comes in is scanned. Not just by
our organization, but by any community organization that takes in animals.
That scan is a signal that the animal
has a family and a home. The alternative is not always positive. While the
Wood County Humane Society does
not euthanize and keeps homeless
animals until they find a home, sadly
many other organizations do not operate the same way.
Within Wood County, a majority of
veterinary offices offer microchipping
services. The average cost is around
$50.00 and that will also include registering the animal’s contact information. $50.00 is all it costs to help
provide the security that if your animal is lost and found, they will be returned to you. Don’t wait until National Pet ID week to secure your
pet’s safety. Call and set up an appointment today. You never know
when your dog may decide to chase
that stray squirrel or leaf down the
street or cat may just let their curiosity
of what’s past the window get the best
of them.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 2 1
From the President:
Spring Has Sprung...Sort Of
Greetings!
The robin is back and the cold air and
snowflakes will slowly move to the
background as the birds flock to the
feeders, the squirrels tease the dogs
and the delicate crocus flowers begin
to appear. Spring is a wonderful time
of year and I for one am looking forward to the warmer and longer days.
This time of year also brings many
kittens to feed and house at the Wood
County Humane Society shelter.
Hundreds of kittens are born each
spring in Wood County and it is one
of the busiest times of year for the
shelter. The staff will be busy coordinating foster care and finding forever
homes for newborns. We are forever
thankful for the many foster families
that work with us during this time.
Many people contact the shelter and
offer their assistance by dropping off
supplies, volunteering at the shelter
and helping with our trap and release
program, all of which would not be
possible without the tireless efforts of
our volunteers. Others offer assistance
Want to subscribe to
Animal Corner?
Send a message to our Board Secretary, with your e-mail address! Look
for the next issue on the first Monday of June.
through their membership and all of
this funding allows the shelter to offer
the best possible care and find forever
homes for its animals.
This time of year also brings our
Wine and Dine fundraiser. Not only
is this event a significant fundraiser for
us, but also allows WCHS staff and
board members to meet and mingle
with our membership that help make
every year of service possible. This
year the Wine and Dine will be held
on May 15th from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at
Greystone Banquet Hall and Conference Center in Perrysburg through the
generous sponsorship of Paws and
Remember. The delicious food will
be prepared by Carolyn’s Catering
with wines featured by Heidelberg
Distributing Company. Velvet Jones
will be playing throughout the evening
and celebrity auctioneer, Jerry Anderson, will be making our live auction
memorable. Tickets are $50 each or
$90 for two. To read about our outstanding list of live and silent auction
items please look at our website under
Events. Please join us this year and let
us personally thank you for being supporters of our event and helping us to
take care of the many, many animals
that will travel through our shelter this
year.
Happy Spring!
Sincerely,
Lori Young,
WCHS President
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 2 2
WCHS Night @ East Wooster St. McDonald’s
Thursday, April 16
4—7 P.M.
East Wooster St.
McDonald’s
Bowling Green
A percentage of all sales
will be donated to
WCHS. No flier is need- WCHS volunteer Jan Harr (center) is presented with a check from E.
Wooster Street McDonald’s employees for WCHS Benefit Nights in 2014.
ed.
Thank you for your long-time support!
Sunday, May 3
Friday, May 15
WCHS Open House
Wine & Dine
801 Van Camp Road, BG
See next page for full details
Have a few questions you've
been meaning to ask? Been
wanting to visit with some of
the animals? Or just looking
for something to do? Stop
out at the shelter for our
open house from 12:30-3:30!
There'll be food, fun, adoptable pets, and entertainment
provided by local band The
Eight Fifteens. We'll also be
dedicating our cat wheel to
two amazing volunteers who
make an amazing contribution of time, energy, and resources every year!
Saturday, May 16
HarborTown Fair
Farmers and Merchants
State Bank, 7001 Lighthouse Way, Perrysburg
11 a.m—2 p.m.
Saturday, May 16
Canine Compatibility
Wood County District
Public Library
2:00—2:50 p.m.
Are you ready to adopt a forever friend? Stop by the
WCDPL and let us help you
decide how to pick the right
pet! There are certain things
to consider when getting
ready to adopt an animal and
This fun Spring day event will it's not always easy to know
have lots of activities for the what questions to ask. Come
family. Pack up the car, grab on out and we'll help you
the kids, and come on over. learn how to choose the perIf you're not sure where
fect dog for your home.
you're going just look for the
lighthouse!
Saturday, May 16
Handle with Care & Love
Wood County District
Public Library
3:00—3:50 p.m.
Have you recently adopted or
rescued a canine companion?
We're here to help you on
your journey to pet
parenthood. Unfortunately
dog's don't speak English and
this can lead to some frustrating moments in training. Let
us help guide you to better
options and show you some
tips and tricks!
Friday, May 15, 2015
7:00—10:00 P.M.
Greystone Banquet Hall
29101 Hufford Road, Perrysburg
(419) 874-5016
Delicious Food * Fine Wine * Live Entertainment * Auctions
Directions from Perrysburg, Bowling Green, Toledo
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 2 4
Sneak Peek: 2015 Wine
& Dine Auction Items
An entire year’s worth of car washes (as many car
washes as you can pack into that year) at any one of
the six area locations for Expresso Car Wash
A gift certificate from Chef Erika Rapp’s award-winning Bistro
located in the historic former
Secor Hotel on Superior Street
in downtown Toledo, Ohio
CASUAL | ELEGANT | REGISTRY BISTRO
A selection of autographed books from
Sue Grafton’s awardwinning alphabet series,
as well as autographed
photographs provided
by the author specifically for our event
A backyard BBQ for up to
20 people, including hamburgers, hotdogs, and all the
trimmings as well as punch
and desserts
Five-course dinner for 6 by self-taught Chef
Michael P. French
And...we have tickets available for many EXCITING getaway adventures, including:
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 2 5
Proud Presenting Sponsor of the Wood County Humane Society’s 2015
Wine & Dine Event
1021 Warwick Avenue
Toledo, OH 43607
(419) 578-7387
[email protected]
Paws & Remember was founded to support pet owners in their time of loss. Since 1997, we have
been providing full-service memorialization for pets of every description. Our high-quality pet
cremation, pet urns, and pet remembrance products help pet owners and families express their
feelings and pay tribute to their pets.
Paws & Remember works to help pet owners in a time of mourning and reflection. By bringing
together support services and memorialization options, Paws & Remember helps pet owners
cope with loss and honor their pets in an appropriate, meaningful way.
Wood County
Humane Society
Garage Sale
Under the Grandstands
Wood County Fairgrounds
Bowling Green, Ohio
DONATIONS ACCEPTED
Monday
May 18
9 AM—6 PM
Tuesday
May 19
9 AM—6 PM
Wednesday
May 20
9 AM—7 PM
SALE DATES
Thursday
May 21
9 AM—5 PM
Friday
May 22
9 AM—5 PM
***10 Cent Clothing***
Saturday
May 23
9 AM—NOON
***BAG SALE***
All proceeds benefit the Wood County Humane Society.
Donations of good and useful items appreciated and tax deductible. Please no console televisions, A/C units, large appliances, or organs. For information, to volunteer, or to
make an early bird donation, call (419) 669-0701.
P age 2 8
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: ADOPTION UPDATES
(ABOVE LEFT) This is Jasper, formally Malcome. Who couldn't love this face?! He is adjusting wonderfully
in his new home! Thank you Scott for all your help! (ABOVE RIGHT) We adopted "butterball" who we renamed "emmet" in December after our Siamese passed away. He is a wonderful addition to our family. So
sweet, playful, and adjusting nicely.
(LEFT) They say when a kitten is content, muscles relax
and their tongues hang out. We love our Humane Society
Adoptee. He is perfect! (ABOVE) In January, Nagini
found her human and her forever home thanks to Everything for Pets. Look how happy both of them are!
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 2 9
(ABOVE) Chessie, formerly known as Mrs Norris, napping on
her new kitty sibling!
(ABOVE) We renamed Eloise, Kitty! Kitty
felt at home the first day we brought her
home. We love her to pieces!
(LEFT) You guys do a great job! We love our baby, Persia, who
we got from you on January 28, 2012, and she is still our sweet
baby. Love her so much! (ABOVE) I wanted to give you an update on Gabby (Gabrielle). She is doing wonderful! She is really
starting to get comfortable and loves to cuddle and purr. She is
such a joy already in the 2 days that I have had her!
Want to see your furbaby/furbabies featured in Animal Corner’s “Where Are They Now”?
If you have adopted from the WCHS, then we would love to know how your adopted animals are doing. Send
(to Heath A. Diehl) a photograph of your furbaby (or furbabies) along with a brief note about where he/she is
now and how he/she is doing and we’ll feature him/her in our next newsletter. Deadline for the June issue of
Animal Corner is 22 May 2015 by noon.
P age 3 0
(ABOVE) Hi! My name is Mika. My humans Nic and Larry adopted me last
month. I've been doing AWESOME. They
gave me tons of blankets, tennis balls, toys,
and my own Kong! Nic lets me sit and cuddle with her on the couch. Larry lets me
sleep in the big bed! I went to the Doc today. He gave me an all clear and said I was
a good girl! My humans take me on walks
around the neighborhood and Larry is getting real good at tug of war (but I always
win!). Thanks Wood Co. Humane Society
for taking good care of me until my humans
made me a part of their "furever" family!
(RIGHT) I just wanted to update you all
about Marigold. We decided to keep her
name. She is being spoiled to bits and is a
perfect fit to our family. Here are a few pictures of her new fur-ever family. Thank you
so much, she is having the time of her life!!!
You were right on the money about a lap
dog!!! She also loves going outside to chase
the squirrels and to say hello to the neighbor dogs. The bottom left picture she is actually "pointing" at a squirrel in the tree.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
(ABOVE) Boyd (formerly Knox) welcomed Odessa home with
kisses. They are both sweeties who love to be petted!
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3 1
(ABOVE) Hi! I just thought I'd send a short adoption
update. Kenzi (now Mysterion) is a seriously happy
cat. She bosses the dog around, but also sleeps alongside him when she allows it. She stands on the counter on her back legs and "hugs" me with her front legs
every time I come home. She's obsessed with sinks
and water, and she loves going catnip crazy. I'm so
glad I adopted her. Thank you, WCHS!
(TOP LEFT) I got Luna (formerly Pearl)
around the beginning of August 2012. She
was so standoffish about people but now she's
one of the friendliest cats- loves people and
loves to cuddle
(ABOVE and RIGHT) Dobby, adopted in
January, joins Dexter, adopted in July! They
get along great and keep each other busy.
They both love to be snuggled, which we love,
too!
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 3 2
HONORS
THANK
AND
MEMORIALS
YOU FOR YOUR
In Memory of...
Buzz, Bo, Ellie, Rigby, & Sammy
(pets) from Dan Klein
Donna Trudel (For the Kitties)
from Celia Johnson and Jaci
Aldrich
Gail Millicent Craig from
K-Limited Carrier LTD
Sue Brodbeck
The Monclova Historical
Foundation
J. J. Kosmider and Dorrin Birch
William Vaughan Company
Skiver, Beier, Billmaier, &
Cuneo LLC
Peter Taylor
KINDNESS
Marvin Johnson & Assoc., Inc.
Lynn Corrigan
Paul & Luann Cummings
Laura V. & Dave Weaver
Linda & John Fadel & Family
Nancy Hart
William Kudner & Bonnie R.
Martin
Garold Hillard Weston from Betty
& Calvin Linkey
John Espen from Keri Espen
Kaspar Bwc (pet) from Mary A.
Butorac
Maurice I. Hines from
Kevin & Karen Lindquist
Mr. & Mrs. Carlton Dippman
Wood County FSA Staff
Micha Olsen (pet) from Ned & Jo
Baker
Peanut (pet) from Farmers and
Merchants State Bank
Employees
Springer & Webster (pets) from
Donald S. & Mary Ann Rife
In Honor Of…
Joseph (now Tucker) (pet) from Adam
Reinbolt
Honors and Memorials from January
29, 2015 through March 15, 2015
Our kitties absolutely love the
bird feeders outside the cat and
FIV rooms. They would not be
possible without the McCurdy
family donating them and filling
them weekly! Bravo McCurdy
family for being so thoughtful
Some of our feline residents go crazy over a new toy that the volunteers
and awesome!
introduced to them in February.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3 3
Keep Your Pets Safe This Spring with
These Helpful Pet Safety Resources
We are so thankful for Hannah Rickels
and Dawn Urie for coming out and
spending their entire day bathing our
dogs once a month. It is a big job, but
Hannah and Dawn love every minute of
it. It is great socialization for our dogs and
it makes the whole shelter smell amazing. They even
brought us Buckeyes at Christmas time and always support our fundraisers. Thank you for being amazing Hannah and Dawn!
Want to advertise in Animal Corner?
Our newsletter is distributed electronically six times annually—on
the first Monday of February,
April, June, August, October, and
December—and its boasts a circulation of approximately 2,000
unique subscribers (most of
whom reside in the northwest
Ohio area). Additionally, our
newsletter is made available to the
public on our organization’s website.
June Issue
ONLY
June & August
Issues
June, August,
and October
Issues
All FOUR remaining issues
in 2015
1/16 page
$10
$20
$30
$35
1/8 page
$20
$40
$60
$70
1/4 page
$30
$60
$90
$110
1/2 page
$40
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$140
1 page
$60
$120
$180
$200
Deadlines for receipt of camera-ready advertising materials are as follow: June
issue —March 22 by noon; August issue—July 24 by noon; October issue—
September 25 by noon; and December issue—November 27 by noon. All materials should be sent to Heath A. Diehl.
Checks should be made payable to “Wood County Humane Society” and should
be sent to our shelter at 801 Van Camp Road, Bowling Green, OH, 43402.
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 3 4
AROUND THE COUNTRY/AROUND THE WORLD:
SCENES FROM A KOREAN CAT CAFÉ
By KATIE CURRAN
ESL Teacher, Korea
Anyone who says that Disneyland is the happiest place
on earth has never been to a cat café. Before I moved
to South Korea, I heard about the cat cafes that are all
over the country. Any message board concerning a
move to South Korea will include these magical places
as a necessary addition to your to-do list. My first visit to
a cat café was in Incheon, a metropolitan city next to
Seoul. This visit was more amazing than I could have
ever expected. The café was on the third floor of a
building with multiple businesses. At the top of the
stairs was a heavy metal door that was tastefully painted
with a cat under a lamp post.
After entering the doorway, there’s a small foyer with
shelves filled with slippers. In the foyer, I exchanged my
shoes for a pair of cushy blue slippers. In the foyer is a
second door that leads to the actual cat café. After ensuring the previous door was closed, I opened the smaller
wooden door and entered the cat café. Before getting
comfortable, I paid 7,000 Won (6.15 USD). This nominal fee bought me a coffee and unlimited time with dozens of cats.
There’s a cat café in just about every city in Korea, and
they generally have the same set-up. After paying the
entrance fee, you will find plenty of comfortable places
to sit. Typically, the outer wall is a set of large windows
overlooking the street below. Along the windows are
high top tables and chairs, exactly like you would find
“Cat Cafés” continued on page 38
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3 5
AROUND THE COUNTRY/AROUND THE WORLD:
DECLAWING CATS COULD SOON BE ILLEGAL
By RHETT JONES
Originally published on AnimalNewYork.com; Reproduced with permission
would need approval before requiring a signature
from Governor Andrew
Cuomo.
Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal,
the legislator behind the
recently passed bill toban
tattooing and piercing
pets, now wants to ban the
practice of declawing cats
in New York. Rosenthal is
seeking a co-sponsor for
the bill, which would allow it to be introduced to
the state Senate. There, it
Rosenthal claims that the
practice of removing cats’s
claws is cruel and that it
should only be allowed
when medically necessary.
The assemblywoman said, “It’s really an amputation, it’s like if you
amputated your finger or
your toe at the last joint.”
She went on to emphasize, “[Cats] are born with
claws and they are meant
to have claws. It’s cruel to
remove them for the sake
of human convenience
and saving your furniture.”
The American Veterinary
Medical Association and
various animal rights
groups agree with Rosenthal. The AVMA has
agreed to call the procedure an “amputation” that
“should be considered
only after attempts have
been made to prevent the
cat from using its claws
destructively or when its
IN
NY
clawing presents an above
normal health risk for its
owner(s).”
If the legislation passes,
New York would be the
first state to ban declawing, which is known to
cause paw irritation (in
some cases it affects a
cat’s ability to walk). Alternative options to deal with
feline claws include
scratching posts, trimming
regularly, or using plastic
caps that can be glued to
the tips of the claws.
On A Related Note
“Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than a Manicure” at The Humane Society of the United States
“Declawing Cats: Positives, Negatives, and Alternatives” at WebMD
“Declawing of Domestic Cats” at American Veterinary Medical Association
“The Facts about Declawing and the Alternatives” at the Partnership for Animal Welfare
“New Documentary Condemns Declawing of Cats; Who Is Right?” at National Geographic
Note: We at Animal Corner do not advocate any one particular stance on the issues that are raised within the articles that
we print. Rather, in the spirit of education, we strive to provide a variety of perspectives (in the form of articles and weblinks) about current issues around animal rights and animal welfare, thereby providing our readers with the necessary information to make their own informed decisions on these issues.
PENDING LEGISLATION: COST OF CARE LAWS
When abused and neglected animals are rescued, sometimes they are
held for months, or even
years, while cruelty charges are prosecuted. That's a
significant cost for animal
shelters and rescues that
are already underresourced. They end up
carrying the financial burden instead of the person
who caused the abuse or
neglect. Sometimes these
high costs for animal care
prevent state or local
agencies from rescuing
animals from cruelty because it is too expensive.
There is a solution.
Strong "cost of animal
care" laws shift the financial burden of animal care
away from the shelter or
local taxpayers and onto
the person(s) from whom
the animals were rescued - either by requiring that
they post a bond to pay
for the animals' care or by
relinquishing the animals
so they can be put up for
adoption. To learn more
about “cost of animal
care” laws, visit the Hu-
mane Society of the United States’ website.
Read more at:
The WCHS Wants
YOU
to
ADVERTISE YOUR
BUSINESS
Here!
For information on advertising in Animal Corner, please contact Public Relations Committee
Chair Heath A. Diehl.
6190 Levis Commons Blvd.
(419) 931-8400
Website
Facebook
Wood County Dog Shelter
115 Clay Street
Bowling Green, OH
(419) 352-5417
1912 E. Gypsy Lane Rd.,
Bowling Green
(419) 354-9242
1-866-860-4140, ext. 9242
Emergency: (419) 353-9802
Visit their website for
more information
E-mail
Website
Check out the adoptable dogs currently avail- Facebook
215 N. Main Street
Bowling Green,
OH
(419) 352-5104
We’re your library
Bowling Green * Walbridge * Bookmobile
Website
Facebook
108 N. Main Street
Walbridge, OH
(419) 666-9900
able at the Wood
County Dog Shelter on
their Petfinder!
Shelter Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
3:30—4:30
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
8:30—4:30
8:30—6:30
8:30—4:30
8:00—12,
8:30—4:30
9:00—1:00
Closed
Pet Sitting
Puppy Visits
Pet Transportation
Daily Dog Walking
Good Manners Training
Overnight Stays
Yard Clean Up
Customized Visits
www.petamigopetcare.com
13270 Bishop Road
Bowling Green, OH 43402
(301) 471-0296
Website
E-Mail
Facebook
Check out our
exclusive WCHS
merchandise at
3131 Tremainsville Road, Toledo, OH 43613 (419) 266-5607
Website E-Mail Facebook
P age 3 8
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
“Cat Cafés” continued from page 34
in a pub; this is my favorite spot to sit. If you don’t
want a side of people watching while you play with the
cats and drink your coffee, you can sit at any number
of tables with benches and chairs.
As comfortable as a cat café is for a human, the cats
truly have it the best. The tables are on the outskirts of
the café. Along the walls are paths from floor to ceiling.
For the antisocial cat, there are paths easily accessible
for cats and impossible to
reach for humans. In the center of the café, there are kitty
condos, scratching posts,
ramps, and twice as many toys
as there are cats.
For those who want a quiet,
relaxing atmosphere, cat cafes
are the perfect place to be.
For good reason, there are
many rules. The rules are simple enough and are generally
the same across all cat cafes.
The first rule is no kicking the
cats. Obvious, but people can
sometimes forget themselves.
Other rules include no picking up the cats, don’t bother
them when they’re sleeping or
eating. And perhaps the most
important rule is never leave
both doors to the café open.
Every café has a heavy main
door that leads to the foyer
where you change your shoes,
then a smaller door that leads
to the actual café. Because of the strict rules, young
children are typically not allowed in the cafes making
cat cafes the perfect place for a quiet and peaceful
time.
In addition to playing with the cats, you can also pay a
small fee and feed the cats treats. Sometimes the café
employees will give you a small amount of wet cat food
on your hand (for free). This is perhaps one of the best
parts of the cat café. Cats will surround you and lick
your hand with their little sandpaper tongues.
Truly, cat cafes are one of the happiest, relaxing places
to be. Cat Cafes quickly became one of my favorite
places to read and think. Nothing compares to a book
in your face and a sleepy cat purring in your lap. But
there is a dark side to the cat café business because
they are just that: a business. As is true with many businesses, often profits and lowering costs can become
more important than quality. Although I’ve never seen
it, I’ve heard reports of cat cafes with extremely sick
and dying cats. I’m not sure why, but cat cafes have a
high number of purebred cats. Sometimes it’s clear
that a few of the cats were the
product of several generations
of inbreeding. I don’t claim to
be an expert on cat breeding
or even cat breeds, but I
think I’m savvy enough to
know when a cat isn’t exactly
normal. I’ve never seen a cat
at a cat café who was in need
of immediate medical attention, but I’ve seen purebred
cats that look less healthy and
comfortable than their mixed
counterparts.
If I could offer one criticism
of cat cafes, it’s that the owners look for purebred cats
and buy the cats from a
breeder or pet shop. Like the
US, animal shelters in Korea
are overwhelmed and animals
are put down far too often. In
a perfect world, every cat café
in Korea would find their cats
from a shelter. The only way
a cat café could be a happier place for me is if I knew
all the cats were rescue cats. A few cat cafes have
popped up across the US, but they’re not nearly as
prolific as they are in Korea. Business adventurers take
note; there is an untapped market in the US. Americans love coffee and Americans love cats. Coffee and
cats is a harmonious combination. Not only can you
run a successful business, but you can give dozens of
desperate cats a happy life surrounded by feline and
human friends.
All photographs reproduced courtesy of author.
A ni m a l C o r n e r
P age 3 9
AND
T H E D R E S S -U P -Y O U R -P E T
W I N N E R I S ...
The winner of our Dress Up Your Pet
contest in January was Christof! His Viking braids were a big hit with our staff,
but choosing the winner was very difficult! All of our submissions were super
cute! Above is a picture of Christof and
his family when they stopped by the
shelter to claim his well-earned prize,
which was a basket full of toys, treats,
and catnip.
CALLING
ALL
We currently are looking
for community volunteers
with interest and experience in grant writing.
Persons interested in this
opportunity would be expected to research potential grant projects and
identify relevant ones that
would assist us in raising
GRANT WRITERS!!!
funds to support the treatment and quality of life
for the animals of Wood
County. Grant-writing
volunteers might spearhead a capital campaign as
well as seek out grants to
fund animal care or education/outreach positions,
in addition to other projects. These volunteers
would be expected to work
closely with the Shelter
Manager and other relevant
persons in the writing of
grants.
Interested parties should
contact Kathy Dean, VP of
Administration, for more
information.
Giving Made Easy
The next time you're
buying a book by
your favorite author,
or downloading an
album by your favorite band,
check out our wish list and
donate something to the animals as well. To do so, visit
www.amazon.com and, from
the main menu in the upperleft-hand corner, left click on
“Full Store Directory.” Scroll
to the middle section of the
store directory and, under
“Gifts & Lists,” left click on
“Wish List.” In the search bar
on the next page, type in
“Wood County Humane Society” and you’ll be taken to
our wish list.
Did you know that
Amazon.com will
donate 0.5% of the
price of your eligible
AmazonSmile purchases to
the charitable organization of
your choice? All you need to
do is visit https://
smile.amazon.com/, log in,
and then designate the
WCHS as your charitable
organization of choice.
Have you enrolled in the
Kroger Community
Rewards® program? Did you
know that Kroger Community
Rewards® has contributed
thousands of dollars to the
animals at the WCHS??? The
program was designed to
make fundraising easy for
everyone involved—and it
couldn't be simpler to enroll
and participate. Just visit the
Kroger Community Rewards® webpage and follow a
few simple steps. Then, every
time you shop at Kroger, just
swipe your card and a percentage of your total bill will be
Cont. on next page
A pr i l 2 0 1 5
P age 4 0
Giving Made
Easy
cont. from previous page
donated to WCHS!
What if WCHS
earned a donation every time
you searched the internet? Or
how about if a percentage of
every purchase you made
online went to support our
cause? Well, now it can! The
GoodSearch toolbar is free to
download and allows you to
raise money for WCHS virtually every time you search and
shop online! Each time you
shop at more than 1,400
stores, a percentage of your
purchase will automatically be
donated to WCHS—at no cost
to you! The toolbar also has a
search box and each time you
search the internet, about a
penny is donated to our cause.
It adds up—already over $635!
Just go to GoodSearch,
choose WCHS as your cause,
and then search as usual.
Did you know that
you can support the
care of homeless
animals simply by
walking your dog, or just yourself? When you use the
WoofTrax app during your
walk or run, your logged miles
will turn into a donation to
benefit the pets in our care.
Simply install the free Android or iPhone app, select
the Wood County Humane
Society as your chosen shelter,
and go! You can select the
organization you are walking
for in the setup tab of the app
for iPhone users, or in the
settings menu for Android
users.
Thank you for
your support!
IT’S A ZOO AT THE LIBRARY
By MARY BOONE
Public Relations
Coordinator,
Wood Co. District Public
Library
You may not think that
many animals visit or
live at the library, so
you might be surprised
to learn otherwise. At
the Wood County District Public Library
we’ve welcomed a hive
of honey bees, have a
licensed therapy dog
who comes every week
to Paws for Reading, a
special story time, and
the library is home to
Newberry, a vibrant
blue Betta fish with digs
in the Children’s Place.
For the past several
summers the Toledo
Zoo has brought small
mammals and reptiles
to the library as an integral part of the Summer
Reading Program. The
library once held a special costume contest just
for dogs.
Many library staff have
companion animals,
and who are especially
happy when able to
plan programs that put
animals in the spotlight.
In the past, these programs have included
two Community Reads
with books featuring
animals—Marley and
Me: Life and Love with
the World’s Worst Dog
by John Grogan and
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R.
King.
The theme for this
year’s Summer Reading
Program is “Every Hero Has a Story” and
features author/
illustrator’s Jarrett J.
Krosoczka’s popular
Platypus Police Squad
characters as the summer’s official mascots.
(Young readers can
meet Jarrett Krosoczka
when he comes to visit
the library Tuesday,
May 19th!) And when
Youth Community
Reads returns in the
fall, Kate DiCamillo,
whose books frequently
include extraordinary
animal protagonists, will
be the featured author
(Ms. DiCamillo will be
coming to the library as
part of Youth Community Reads, too!).
You’ll find these authors’ books and more
at the library.
They say a picture is
worth a thousand
words, and so I’d like
to end this edition’s
article with photos of
some of the animals
you could meet at the
library on any given
day. If you’d like to
learn more about animals in the library, give
us a call (419-352-5104)
or stop by. See you at
the library!