WASHINGTON—It is a dog like Nautica that gives animal shelters
a really good name. Nautica, a young, cattle dog mix, was given
up by her first family to The Humane Society of Baltimore
County, Maryland for being “too active.” But that’s not what
Robin Haines thought when she was looking for a dog to be a
companion for her 14-year-old son who has cerebral palsy.
Nautica was identified as a match, not only as a companion
to Bryan, but as an assistance dog. For the teenager, who is
unable to speak and has a limited ability to move, Nautica has
become not only a constant companion, but also a means of
communicating with the rest of the world. Among her amazing
feats, Nautica is learning to pick up objects that Bryan drops
or can’t reach and is learning to go for help if Bryan is
having a seizure. Read more about Nautica at www.hsus.org.
Nautica and Bryan are just one chapter of a book full of
success stories many animal shelters nationwide can share.
During the first full week of November for eight years now,
The HSUS has been drawing attention to the life-saving role
animal shelters play in their communities through National
Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. It is a chance to spotlight
the accomplishments and even identify the needs of shelters,
whose mission encompasses tough and often misunderstood work.
This year, The HSUS is proud to announce its partnership
with Pets 911, a nationwide public service that provides easy
access to local pet information. Anyone wishing to see pictures
of animals waiting to be adopted, or who simply wants to locate
their nearest animal shelter, can visit www.Pets911.com or call
1-888-PETS-911. The service can also be accessed through The
HSUS Web site at www.hsus.org.
Here are some more amazing animal shelter stories:
* The Healdsburg Animal Shelter in Sonoma County, California
wouldn’t give up on Norman, a frightened and seemingly
unsociable stray dog. While the staff was working with the
pooch, they found out through a microchip scan he had been
missing for one-and-a-half years. Norman was successfully
rehabilitated and reunited with his family.
* Duke was an unlikely candidate for adoption. A blind, pit
bull mix, not many people would be willing to take this special
needs pet into their home. The Humane Society of Sarasota
County, Florida took Duke’s story to the airwaves. Tennis star
Martina Navratilova saw the story and went to meet Duke. It was
a love match. Navratilova adopted Duke who now lives the
celebrity life with Navratilova and her other dogs.
* Mikkimoto, a Siamese mix was a pet-lovers dream. Ever so
affectionate, the cat would jump into your arms and give a hug
with both front paws wrapped around your neck. Mikkimoto was
one of hundreds of animals rescued by The Caroline County
Humane Society in a case of animal hoarding where over three
hundred cats were living in horrendous conditions in a house
last spring. The shelter cared for the rescued cats, including
Mikkimoto, and posted many of them on its Web site for
adoption. A man caught Mikkimoto’s story online and came
calling. He now shares a cozy home with a feline “big sister”
in the Washington, DC area.
* Chula, a hound mix once relegated to a dilapidated
doghouse during cold, Wisconsin winters, found his way to The
Oshkosh Area Humane Society. Chula had hip dysplasia and it
would take a very special family to care for him. A woman who
had a dog with similar problems adopted him into her family of
six children and Chula now has a loving family for life.
In honor of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week,
Patrick McDonnell, the award-winning cartoonist and creator of
the nationally syndicated comic strip Mutts®, will again
dedicate a weeklong series of the comic strip to shelters and
shelter staff everywhere. The series begins in nearly 500
newspapers across the country on Sunday, November 2. McDonnell
recently kicked off a publicity tour for his new book “Mutts:
The Comic Art of Patrick McDonnell (November 15, 2003; $45;
0-8109-4616-5). For a list of author appearances with guest
appearances by his characters, Earl and Mooch, go to
www.muttscomics.com.
Help your animal shelter make your community a better place
for animals and people:
* Lend a hand. Volunteer your time at your local shelter.
Bathe and groom the animals, walk dogs, or play with cats.
Stuff envelopes for a mailing. Help publicize an event.
* Give a little bit. Donate food, old blankets and towels,
or other needed supplies. Contribute to one of its special
programs.
* Find that special someone. Choose your next pet from your
local shelter, which has many wonderful dogs, cats and other
species of different shapes and sizes just waiting for a
permanent, loving home.
* Help spread the word. Tell your friends about your local
shelter's services. Promote animal safety and responsible pet
ownership.
* Be a responsible pet owner. Keep current identification on
your dog or cat at all times. Spay or neuter your pet. Always
keep your dog or cat properly confined or supervised. In
addition to the basics—food, water, shelter, and veterinary
care—give your pet lots of love and attention.
* Vote for the animals. Support legislation to protect
animals. Contact government officials about animal issues and
urge them to support pro-animal legislation.
* Spay/Neuter postage stamps. The U.S. Postal Service has
sold out of 250 million spay/neuter postage stamps. You can
lobby the USPS to issue another run of spay/neuter stamps. Go
to www.americanpartnershipforpets.org for information. If you
are thinking about holiday gift giving, stamp-related
merchandise is still available, including a plush puppy and
kitten, t-shirts and tote bags.
* Be a hero. Report animal cruelty and neglect as well as
injured or stray animals. You may prevent suffering and even
save a life. Consider starting a Neighborhood Watch for
Animals. Go to www.hsus.org/firststrike for more information.
* Teach your children well. Instruct children in how to care
for animals properly and how to treat them with kindness. Set
an example by doing the same.
The HSUS is the nation’s largest animal protection
organization with more than seven million members and
constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with
active programs in companion animals and equine protection,
wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm
animals and sustainable agriculture. For nearly 50 years, The
HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation,
investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The
non-profit organization is based in Washington, DC and has 10
regional offices across the country. Go to www.hsus.org for
more information.
