Summer Heat: Hard on animals as well as people

If you thought several weeks this July were boiling hot, you are not alone. Just imagine how your outdoor animals must have felt, some of them wearing thick fur coats! Please remember some common sense guidelines for protecting your pets from extreme weather:

• Walk dogs during the cooler hours: early morning or dusk.
• Provide plenty of water always, but check it often in the hotter season when it may be evaporating quicker. Sometimes I provide my outdoor cat with a treat by adding a few icecubes to the bowl to cool the water. Don’t be surprised if your cat likes to play with the cubes, however, and splashes the water out of the bowl!
• Make sure outdoor pets have a shady place to rest, preferably with some breeze. In other words, don’t tether a dog in a spot that will become too sunny later in the day. Be aware that dark-coated animals will absorb the sun’s heat faster. Check on the animals frequently. Provide a water-filled baby pool for an afternoon romp.
• NEVER leave an animal in a vehicle unattended during the summer, even for "just a minute." Outside temperatures of 90 degrees can lead to inside temps of over 150 degrees within minutes. Some surfaces inside can burn on contact, (as some of you know when you touch your seatbelts or steering wheel!) It is not recommended that you leave a dog in the pick-up bed, either. Your dog may enjoy rides with you, but if you have errands to run in the summer, please leave the dog at home.

Clarinda Animal Shelter Issues and Solutions

Due to the increased number of stray and abandoned animals at the City of Clarinda Animal Shelter this year, the resources of both the City and the Volunteers with SWIHS have been taxed almost to the limit. From April to July the shelter has been over capacity, with some animals housed in temporary homes until kennel space opens up again. The shelter is built to hold a maximum of 8 dogs, and 5 cats, but we have been holding as many as 10 dogs, and 13 cats at one time. Several issues continue to plague us, and we need your help to get information out to the public in an effort to end the unnecessary suffering of innocent dogs and cats. Each newsletter will feature one or more of these issues and some solutions, (or at least explanations of shelter policy.)

Abandoned animals can lead to serious fines for owners. Abandoning animals includes: dumping the animal in ditches or rural areas; moving from your residence without taking the animal with you; leaving the animal outside your home without adequate food, care and shelter; leaving the animal tied, boxed, or unrestrained outside the Animal Shelter. Not only is abandonment cruel and unethical, it is illegal. You are not doing that animal any kindness to leave it in the wild to fend for itself. These animals are at high risk of dying from starvation or disease, being eaten by predators, hit on the roads, shot by hunters or angry farmers, or becoming targets of cruel humans. The shelter volunteers can tell you too many sad stories of abandoned animals that died, even some left on our doorstep. Animals are not "disposable" as though they are trash. If you find yourself in a situation where you can no longer care for your pet, (or know of someone in this situation), you may relinquish that animal to the City of Clarinda for a fee of $15, as long as you are a resident of Clarinda. This must be done by contacting the City of Clarinda City Hall, (by phone or in person.) DO NOT bring an unwanted animal into the shelter without first contacting City Hall. They will inform you as to when and where to take the animal. If you are not a resident of Clarinda, please call the shelter for other suggestions.

News from the Family

Everyone who adopts from our Shelter becomes another link in the chain that is our extended "Family". All of our animals are special to us, and we always hope that they will be going to loving, special homes. We have been pleased to hear from adopters after they have had time to "settle in" with their new family member, and many have written or called to let us know how they are getting along. We will feature a different story in each newsletter, and everyone is welcome to share their "happy ending" with us for printing here. Just drop a note by U.S. Mail, e-mail, phone, or in person at the Shelter or to any of the Shelter volunteers. Be sure to indicate if we have your permission to re-print your letter here.

From Deb Reiling of Carroll, Iowa:

"Just a short note to let you know how Oscar is. He is just wonderful. Everyone laughs at me for he now has 3 dogbeds. I see one and think, ‘Oh he will like this one better than what he has.’ At night he actually sleeps at the end of our bed. It is hard for us to imagine now what life without him would be like. He goes everywhere with us. He is very loved. We haven’t had any problems with him. His first night here was just like he had been here forever. He got along great with the horses and our large dog outside. He truely is a family member. Thank you so much for this wonderful addition to our family."

SWIHS Fundraising

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped out at the Face/Hair painting booth at the Page County Fair, July 28 - 30. This continues to be a successful fundraiser for the society. If you notice colored hairspray (especially in purple, pink, and blue) on sale, for example after Halloween, please let us know. Of course, donations are always welcome!

Next fundraisers will be:

1. Saturday, October 1, (morning) - Band Jamboree booth downtown Clarinda. Needed: workers, baked goods, coffee & cocoa.

2. Saturday, October 15, 8am to 5pm - Clarinda Craft Carnival Food booth in the Clarinda Pavilion. Needed: workers, food, beverages, paper products.

Don’t be surprised when you get a call asking for help with these events, sometime in the next month or so!

Nascar Drivers and their pets – on a new Calendar!

Just in time for Holiday gifts, a full color, 2006 calendar featuring photos of Nascar drivers with their families and pets, (guess who has a monkey rather than a dog or cat? Check out the calendar page for August!) The calendar also gives bios on each of the drivers’ pets as well as interesting facts about the pets. Nascar driver, Greg Biffle, has teamed up with Shelters across the nation to sponsor this fundraiser. The mission of the Greg Biffle Foundation for Animals is "To create awareness and serve as advocates to improve the well-being of animals by engaging the power and passion of the motorsports industry." The calendars cost $13.99, with profits to go toward our local Humane Society, as well as the Greg Biffle Foundation. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing, please contact any SWIHS volunteer, or stop by, or call the Shelter, (542-3605.)

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

(found in an old magazine, and submitted by Gail Conte)

Mel Harris of Topeka, Kansas says if people were taught by dogs, we’d learn stuff like:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
• Take naps and stretch before rising.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• No matter how often your’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be loyal.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

SOUTHWEST IOWA HUMANE SOCIETY (SWIHS)

President - Jayne Davidson

Secretary - Gail Conte

Treasurer - Lisa Nellis

Shelter Coordinators - Karen Switzer and Gail Conte

Fund Raising - Karen Switzer and Lisa Nellis

Adoptions - Susan Moore

Membership - Carol Bellairs

Publicity & Education -

Newsletter - Carol Bellairs

Spay/Neuter Grant - Jayne Davidson

Shelter Phone: 712-542-3605

Shelter Hours: Monday - Friday 4:00 to 5:00 PM; Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM

If you are interested in volunteering in any way - fund raising, showing animals for adoption, helping at the shelter, donating items for fund raisers, donating shelter supplies, etc. - please contact any of the people listed above or call the shelter.