January 2012

Editor: Jeanne Weber Ringe, President, HSJC

We have lots of good news to share:

The shelter has been awarded a $3000 grant to be used for rescue. This award was sponsored by Bissell. A total of $30,000 was offered to 10 different shelters. Each shelter received $3000. Pet  Finder made the final decisions. Being one of 10 to get this grant is a great boost for our rescue program and will save many lives. Melissa Enck, our shelter manager, worked hard to get this grant for us.

Also we were awarded $1700 from the state of Tennessee. The Animal Friendly Grant is to be used for spay/neuter assistance for those unable to afford this service. We look forward to allocating this grant and hope it will make a difference in the number of unwanted puppies/kittens. 

The progress of our rescue program is definitely good news. We can’t save all the animals but rescue allows us to save more than ever before. Because there are a limited number of adoptive homes available locally we partner with rescue groups that transport dogs to areas where there are few adoptable pets. Every effort is made to verify the integrity of the organizations with which we work. Up to 65 pets have been saved in this way in one month alone. 

HORSES

Have you ever thought of owning a mini-horse? We have a really nice one available for adoption! Winston is ONLY 32” TALL . Winston is at the end of this newsletter. Found with his halter embedded above his nostrils he has healed nicely.  We always have horses available for anyone needing a “pasture buddy”.

Currently we have: Sam - Thoroughbred Gelding 7 yr. 15.3h; Matrix - Thoroughbred Gelding 13 yr. 16.1h; Hopi and Lady - 4 yr. Quarter Horse Mares, buckskin and red dun, both 14.2h

                         Call Justin Levi at:  865-382-3890  for more information                            

HAPPY TAILS

Callie, below right, mothered 3 litters of kittens at the shelter. She made a difference to so Many kitties that she was a favorite. We decided to give her every opportunity to be adopted, she deserved it! Amazingly she was adopted the day she was spayed and ready to go! A great ending for a special cat.

The pitiful, starved Great Dane at the right came into the shelter as a stray. At first he was a bit grumpy and hungry!! Fortunately for him Majestic Danes agreed to take him into their rescue program, they are experienced in dealing with starved animals. A happy ending awaits this sad dog.

Look forward to follow up pictures of this fellow in our next issue. The rescue group has promised to send “after” pictures! And please, don’t hesitate to contact the shelter or Animal Control if you see a neglected animal.

DONATION BOXES

Have you seen our donation boxes? It seems they are everywhere; they remind people  of our presence and bring in much appreciated money for rescue and spay/neuter assistance. We thank the following businesses for allowing us to have donation boxes at their premises:

Angelos at the Pointe                            Greystone Mkt                        Shorty’s Food Mart  BP

CNB Jefferson City                               Lakeway Veterinary                 Solomon’s Furniture

Captain Bob                                         Love’s Truck Stop                    Southern Comfort

Jefferson Farmer’s Co-op                     Maxwell House                        Stonegate Veterinary

Cowboys                                             New Market Grocery               Tinsley-Bible

Dandridge Cleaners                              Patriot Hills Golf                       Unique Repeat

Dandridge Golf Course                         PennzOil                                  Waffle House Dandridge

Family Dollar Dandridge                        Perkins                                    Walgreens Jefferson City

Fox Feed                                             Pizza and More                        WalMart Jefferson City

Gary’s Hilltop Mkt                                 Roper Mansion                         White Pine Bookstore

 HOLIDAY WARNINGS

1) During the holidays, most animal related ER visits are due to eating something inappropriate.Some foods cause upset stomachs, some are poisonous, and some can cause life-threatening obstructions.
2) We know that 60% of us will share our holiday meal with our pets, but you should follow a few basic guidelines.
3) A small amount of white turkey is an acceptable treat but definitely avoid the turkey skin and the turkey bones!skin is often fatty and can cause pets to develop pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pet’s pancreas.also applies to ham which is fatty.
4) Poultry bones, especially cooked, have potential to both break off and cause a perforation of the digestive tract or, if large amounts are consumed, could cause an obstruction.
5) Other foods to avoid include:and raisins, excessively salty foods, foods flavored with onion or garlic powder, desserts and sweets containing Xylitol, and chocolates.
6) All leftovers should be secured behind a pet-proof door.
7) Remember, keep your trash can secure.items used in the meal preparation and then thrown away can be dangerous.A turkey string, foil wrappers, etc may smell like food and be eaten by a curious pet.
8) Decorative plants are also a source of danger.Mistletoe and holly can cause vomiting and lilies are often deadly to cats.Poinsettias, despite their reputation, are not deadly and often cause little more than mild stomach upset.
9) Some holiday decorations are also dangerous.and tinsel are especially attractive and hazardous to cats.an eye on electrical cords to insure puppies and kittens don’t chew on them.
10) During family gatherings, it might be best to keep pets confined if they are overly anxious.Also, monitor people going in and out of the front door.might take advantage and try to escape.
11) Keep your veterinarian’s phone number and the local animal emergency hospital handy.quick call to either of them can give you life-saving advice or even help you avoid a trip to the ER.

PREVENT A LITTER

We provide space for the Prevent A Litter(PALS) mobile clinic monthly to provide low cost spay/neuter services to our community. Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors about this valuable service.Spay and neuter saves lives,dollars, and heartbreak. There are simply not enough homes for all the animals in our community. Call the shelter to make an appointment and check out the cost.                                   

HISTORY

I recently had the chance to look at a newsletter of the Humane Society from Summer1998. It was interesting to read that animal intake was 2839 for 1997. Compared to 3500 in 2010. In 1997 606 (21%) of those were saved. In 2010—934 (27%) were saved. It is nice to see that we are making progress in spite of the intake numbers going up. There were only 6 members on the board compared to the current 10. United Way funding was lost but we now do receive money if specified to the United Way by the donor. Volunteers were appreciated then as they are now.

OUTREACH AN ONGOING SUCCESS