Lee County Humane Society

Puppy Adoption Extravaganza this Saturday!

"Jack," a 6-week-old Great Pyrenees mix will be available for adoption this Saturday at the Puppy Adoption Extravaganza.  "Jack's" siblings, Diane, Bonnie and Clyde will be there too!

     The Lee County Humane Society will hold its first Puppy Adoption Extravaganza of the year this Saturday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Puppy Adoption Extravaganzas are held every other Saturday during the summer months at the shelter.  At the Extravaganzas, all LCHS puppies that are available for adoption will be set up in the shelter parking lot in kennels. 
     Adoption counselors will be on hand for anyone interested in adopting a puppy.  The adoption processing fee will be discounted from $80 to $60 for all puppies adopted at the Puppy Adoption Extravaganzas.  If you are interested in adopting, you will need to bring a copy of your current pet(s) vaccination records and a copy of your lease agreement stating that pets are allowed (if you rent your home.)

Join LCHS for the the first Puppy Adoption Extravaganza this Saturday!

Meet Your Match at the Shelter

Watch out Match.com, eHarmony and Yahoo Personals, the Lee County Humane Society now has the Meet Your Match program for our dogs.  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) developed the Meet Your Match program in 1999. Here is what the ASPCA has to say about the program: 

It’s fun and it’s got serious science behind it. Developed by the ASPCA and Emily Weiss, Ph.D., C.A.A.B., the program uses proven behavior assessments to predict how a shelter dog, puppy, or cat may behave in his or her new home for the first several weeks. The assessments are used with innovative adopter surveys to match adopters with appropriate animals.

It’s also highly effective. Shelters using the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match™ report reduced return rates, better customer service and increased adoptions; and the use of this science-based methodology also helps them to better highlight the animals they have available for adoption.  

Potential adopters at the Lee County Humane Society can choose to participate in the Meet Your Match program or take the traditional route. If they choose Meet Your Match the adopter is given a one page Dog Adopter Survey that helps the staff understand what type of dog they are looking for. The survey is lighthearted and upbeat, and after taking it, potential adopters find out what color they are.

• Green adopters are most successful with pooches who like to be physically and mentally engaged.
• Orange adopters are a good fit with middle-of-the-road dogs who are responsive and enjoy regular activity and interaction.
• Purple adopters are comfortable with canines who have a laidback attitude and prefer an easygoing lifestyle.

 

With color code card in hand the adopter heads to the kennel area to find their match. Each dog has a color-coded card hanging on his or her gate that helps the adopter find the right match. The dogs have been assessed using the SAFER method. 

Since 1999, the Meet Your Match SAFER Assessment has helped animal welfare professionals all over the country identify potential aggression and opportunities for behavior modification, ultimately leading to more adoptions through appropriate placement. MYM SAFER is a program of the ASPCA, and was developed by Dr. Emily Weiss, C.A.A.B. 

The Meet Your Match program is a fun and proven method to help match potential adopters with dogs who need a new home. Come by the Lee County Humane Society and give it a try. There is no obligation, as the ASPCA says “Love at first site does happen” without a matching program.

Jack Fisher
Board of Directors

Meet Our Newest Star Pet, "Olivia"

                                                                       

     Star Pets are the four animals who have been at the Lee County Humane Society the longest.  These pets have a discounted adoption processing fee of $50.  "Buttons" the American bob-tail cat was adopted on Friday, April 3.  Our newest Star Pet is "Olivia."


"Olivia" is a young America short-hair mix who is pleasant and bright.

Our other three Star Pets, "Bosco," "Victor," and "Ivory" are still looking for happy homes.

 
"Bosco" is a American Cattle Dog, Blue Heeler, Pit Bull Terrier mix who is one-of-a-kind. "Bosco" is strong-willed, but charming.

 
"Victor" is a hound mix who would make a wonderful companion pet.

 

Easter Rabbits: Stuffed or Real?

                                                        photo courtesy of istockphoto.com

     Easter is one of the best holidays of the year.  It’s a great opportunity for families to get together and celebrate the season.  Easter also marks the time of the year when the weather turns pleasant and the flowers begin to bloom.  But for traditional Easter pets; rabbits, chicks and ducklings it can mark the beginning of the end.

     Baby rabbits are the most common animal gift for Easter, but chicks and duckling are also given.  More often then not they are chosen because of their cute, fluffy appearance that appeals to parents and children.  Sometimes they are even dyed with pastel colors so they can fit into the perceived color scheme of the Easter holiday.

     After the excitement of receiving the baby rabbit wears off what happens to your new pet?  There are exceptions of course, but most often they are kept in a cage and rarely played with.  Many are let loose to fend for themselves in the wild, which they cannot.  And some are brought to Humane Societies in the hopes that they will be adopted.

     Rabbits and even ducks and chicks are like any other animal, they are a lifetime commitment.  Many can live to be 9 or 10 years old and when the cuteness disappears the animal then becomes the victim.  The Humane Society of the United States points out several facts that need to be communicated about rabbits, chicks and ducklings:

 

• Baby animals grow up quickly and may no longer be as appealing to a child.
• All animals require a serious commitment of time and energy—they need daily interaction and playtime with people, food, water, exercise, attention, and regular veterinary care.
• Chickens, ducks, and rabbits need special care.
• Chickens, ducks, and rabbits are among the species that can transmit Salmonella.
• Rabbits are not “low maintenance dogs”, they require special care and have specific needs not similar to the needs of dogs and cats.
• Baby animals can be accidentally killed or permanently injured if children (or adults) handle them incorrectly.

 

     If you are thinking about buying a pet for your child or anyone else for Easter, please reconsider.  These animals are a lifetime commitment and not a toy that can be put aside once the novelty wears off.  Think about buying a stuffed animal instead; they are furry and soft like the real thing, but don’t require the time or financial commitment.

Jack Fisher,

Board of Directors