Wiley had only been missing about 10 minutes when I received a phone call.
“Just wanted to let you know that your dog is out here.”
Wiley had accompanied me to the barn and was sticking close, but suddenly I didn’t hear the jingle of his tags (the sound of his tags clanging can tell me where he is, what he’s up to and when he’s getting too far away), and so I started calling him.
As I was checking a pasture, where I figured he had gone, I received that call of relief from a nice man who had stopped his truck on a nearby road when he saw my chubby corgi mix. He saw my cell phone number on Wiley’s tags and harness, and called me right away. Wiley hadn’t been gone long, and I figured he’d pop out of the grass any minute with that delirious look on his face that running off leash in the country causes. Though I was fretful, panic hadn’t had a chance to set in when I received Camden’s call. (THANK YOU!) He helped return my dog to me quickly, preventing what could have been hours of stressful searching, and he prevented that awesome little dog from wandering further and getting hurt.
Wiley was returned to me quickly and without harm thanks to the number on his collar and a conscientious young man.
Just a few weeks ago, I encouraged you to put a current phone number on your pet’s collar, and to not rely solely on a microchip. Last night was proof that equipping pets with this information works, and I’m grateful.
I encourage you to also be that person who stops when you see a wandering pet, who makes sure the pet is safe, and who calls the number on the tag right away. You might just be saving the pet’s life by getting it away from traffic or other harm, and you’ll also be saving someone heartache by facilitating a quick and happy reunion.
-- Prudence Siebert, pet photographer and grateful pet owner
Trooper and Tracker, both male crossbred foxhounds, received second place in the couples class for the Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club at the Central States Hound Show earlier this month.
Lee McGuire of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club holds crossbred hounds Tracker and Trooper’s ribbon May 5, 2012 at the Central States Hound Show in Bucyrus , Kan.
Sentry was the star -- first place in the singles class, and champion dog and reserve dog in the overall crossbred class.
Six hunts clubs from the Midwest states participated in this event.
Hounds are judged strictly on conformation and presence, similar to AKC standards.
-- Submitted by Stephanie Wilcox-Carter of the Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club
The two organizations profiled this time have one phenomenal lady in common. Ruie Gibson is a name you won't often see in the news, but she is the Advisor for the Fort Leavenworth Human Animal Bond (HAB) program, and the energy behind the Waggin' Tails Dog Park in Leavenworth. Ruie is a great lady, a true humanitarian in the best sense of the word. People AND animals love her, but Ruie wouldn't like too much attention, so this piece will focus on what HAB does and what the Dog Park offers.
Fort Leavenworth Human Animal Bond (HAB) is a recognized installation organization on Fort Leavenworth. There are similar programs at a few other Department of Defense installations across the U.S., but what makes this HAB different is their reach. They go nearly anywhere! Volunteer pet owners take their pets to visit school children in classrooms and libraries, developmentally disabled adults, behavioral health patients, veterans in the local Domiciliary, short and long-term care patients, rehab center residents, and elders in retirement communities, assisted living, and even end-of-life care. HAB also visits patients and care-givers at Munson Army Health Center on Fort Leavenworth twice a month. They do this because these owners know the comfort, pleasure, entertainment, and sometimes flat out hilarity of sharing life with pets. The visits that HAB does bring a little levity to any situation, a lot of unconditional love, permission to share a touch, and very often draws people out who otherwise are isolated from the world around them. Many times, people who haven't talked or smiled for weeks will brighten simply at the sight of these HAB pets. With or without a touch, they begin to talk about pets they had when they were younger, or people they've loved. It's just magic. Even if a person doesn't want to directly interact with the pets, HAB-sters (as the members call themselves) know that everyone will be talking about the visit after they leave, many with the first smiles they've enjoyed in a long time.
It's easy to become a HAB-ster. All the details for signing up are at http://www.ftleavenworthhab.org You just have to have a couple of hours a month (though you CAN do more) and have a pet dog or cat or domestic rabbit that likes to visit with people in a variety of situations. Each pet is evaluated for temperament by a veterinarian, and certified healthy twice a year. Some pets do fine in classrooms, libraries and group visits, others do better with the more individual visits at care facilities. Both are needed and welcome. Some visits are during the workday/week, some are in the evenings, some are on weekends. HAB also participates in various pet events throughout the year in Leavenworth County. HAB has a facebook page http://www.facebook.com/humananimalbond, or you can contact them through the website.
(HAB is the first volunteer venue I explored back in the fall of 2006 when I was near retirement from the Army and investigating ways to become involved in the local animal community. I made some GREAT friends in HAB, friends that I treasure, trust, and rely on today. You won't meet a better bunch of PEOPLE and pets than those in HAB.)
Waggin' Tails Dog Park provides an off-leash exercise and socialization venue for dogs of all sizes, convenient for both Leavenworth and Lansing residents, at the north-west corner of the Eisenhower VA Medical Center campus. The grounds belong to the City of Leavenworth, but the fences, fountains, signs and benches are there because of the Friends of the Dog Park, who worked for several years to raise the money to give this wonderful gift to the community. There are 4 acres on the large dog side, and 2 acres on the small dog side, fenced, shaded, and with lots of grass! Dogs should be current on vaccinations and not aggressive. No dogs in heat, no puppies under 4 months of age. PEOPLE are responsible for the actions of their pets, to include picking up after them. The park is free to use, open from dawn til dusk daily. Food, treats and glass are not to be brought into the off-leash areas. Children should be closely supervised and controlled. Learn more about the park at http://www.facebook.com/waggintailslvndogpark or http://www.leavenworthdogpark.org or better yet, take your best friend to the park and see what great people and pets you'll meet!
Reminder to anyone working with pets in Leavenworth County -- we'd LOVE to include information about your business, service, or interest in the Pet Post. Just drop a note to LvnCoHS@live.com.
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
Last summer I kept a photo blog for my nephew so he could watch the pumpkin patch grow that he had planted at my house.
Each week I photographed his garden plot and posted the photos online for him. So my nephew could better see how quickly the pumpkin vines were growing, I asked my dog Wiley to pose in the same spot each time.
Wiley poses in the pumpkin patch, June 3, 2011. (Photo by P. Siebert)
Soon I didn’t even have to ask him to pose; he would happily jog over to “the spot” whenever he saw me with the camera.
Wiley goes to his "spot" in the pumpkin patch June 14, 2011. (Photo by P. Siebert)
Earlier this week I quietly walked out into my yard holding a small point-and-shoot camera with the intention of snapping a few quick pictures of purple vinca and ajuga blooms.
Vinca blooming April 16, 2012. (Photo by P. Siebert)
Without any prompting or positioning whatsoever, Wiley appeared and stepped perfectly into the shots.
Wiley enters the frame all on his own. (Photo by P. Siebert)
I laughed, then I turned to photograph another patch of flowers ...
Vinca and ajuga blooming April 16, 2012. (Photo by P. Siebert)
... and there he was again.
Wiley poses all on his own. (Photo by P. Siebert)
Well trained?
Sure, he is super smart and eager to please.
Conditioned from last summer’s garden blog experience and numerous other photo opps?
Probably, he has had his photo taken a million times.
Or maybe he’s just a ham.
-- Prudence Siebert, pet photographer
When we decide to be against one thing, we're deciding to be for something else.
When County officials decline to provide animal control services to residents in unincorporated Leavenworth County, they say they're opposed to spending the resources, that the problem is not big enough, or they don't want to infringe on the "culture" of the county.
They're also saying they're in favor of other things.
They're saying they're in favor of uncontrolled, owned, stray, or abandoned pets taking up residence at YOUR house and YOU being responsible for humanely dealing with that.
They're saying it's okay that county residents can't enjoy their own property unthreatened by uncontrolled pets.
They're saying people who abandon pets in the county can get away with it, because that crime is not likely to be investigated or prosecuted.
They're saying it's okay that a homeowner in southern Leavenworth county abandoned her home, leaving multiple dogs in an unsecure yard to fend for themselves, with access to part of a garage, filthy water, and food reportedly provided no more often than weekly, in the dead of winter, and that even after multiple visits to this home, and multiple complaints from neighbors, there was nothing the officials were willing to do to prosecute abandonment or provide for the humane care of these pets.
They're saying we'll wait until a dog bites or mauls or kills a properly controlled pet, or a child, and then maybe deal with the problem.
They're saying we'll wait until someone is seriously injured in a vehicle accident caused by a stray/abandoned/uncontrolled pet, when the pet COULD have been picked up, impounded, returned to its owner, or rehomed.
When they say the problem isn't big enough, they're saying they haven't heard the voices of those who call the Sheriff's Department, who've emailed their elected representatives, and who so often contact humane organizations in Leavenworth County for help with stray and abandoned pets. And they are not considering the many who've simply given up on expecting the county's Animal Control Authority to provide services.
Humane organizations in Leavenworth County are not empowered to impound animals, investigate animal abuse or neglect, or prosecute anything. Leavenworth County Humane Society and Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society are prohibited by our state licenses from picking up stray or abandoned pets. We can only intake pets from legal owners.
I hope it doesn't take a serious incident to cause county residents to make a clear and unmistakable demand for animal control services. The Animal Control Authority has been trying for years to be resourced for this mission they've been given. We just have to get the elected officials to act appropriately, and not "kick the can down the road" any longer.
Contact bocc@leavenworthcounty.org. Call 913-684-0417. Send a Letter to the Editor of your local paper.
And when those lost/stray/abandoned sometimes ill/injured pets show up at your house and no animal control services are provided, remember that there are people who decided that's okay. Perhaps they'd like to deal with it themselves like they're asking us to do.
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
I've been asked a lot of questions since I started my small flock of laying hens.
Here are a few chicken myths dispelled:
-- Don’t you have to have a rooster for a hen to lay eggs? NO!
Unless you are planning to hatch eggs, a rooster is not necessary. Hens will happily lay eggs without ever seeing a rooster. In fact, eggs last longer if they are not fertilized, and your neighbors will be happier if you don’t have a crowing rooster.
-- Does what you feed a chicken determine if you get a white or brown egg? NO!
The breed, not feed, determines eggshell color. Breeds such as Buff Orpingtons and Silver-Laced Wyandottes lay brown eggs, and Araucanas, sometimes called Easter egg chickens, lay light greenish-blue eggs.
These chickens -- a Buff Orpington, a Silver-Laced Wyandotte and a white Plymouth Rock -- lay brown eggs, except for the gray Araucana on the right; she lays light greenish-blue eggs.
Eggshell color may not be determined by a hen's diet, but the yolk color can vary from a light yellow to a dark, orange-yellow depending on what a hen is fed. A hen’s diet can also affect the taste of her eggs. Click here to learn more about what can affect egg quality.
-- How many eggs does a chicken lay per day? ONE OR LESS.
A hen can lay one egg a day, but depending on her age, time of year, amount of sunlight, stress level, etc., it may be less frequently.
-- Eggs will only stay edible for about one week. WRONG!
For easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs, you’ll want to use eggs that are at least one week old.
Though they may lose some nutrition and will even dehydrate a little, unfertilized eggs will last for a month or more in the refrigerator.
- Prudence Siebert, pet photographer and chicken owner
This installation of "Who's Who" introduces Safe Harbor Prison Dogs, a 501(c)(3) corporation, and Pets And Loving Seniors, two programs that help people as well as pets.
Safe Harbor Prison Dogs began with a small group of unwanted dogs and a small group of inmate handlers at the Lansing Correctional Facility in August 2004. The program's number one goal is saving the lives of as many dogs as they can, providing them with a safe harbor, and giving them a second chance at life. Most of the dogs are "pulled" from high-kill animal shelters across the Midwest.
Over the years, additional carefully screened and trained inmates have joined the program, bringing their numbers to about 100. The resident handlers take great pride in their work and do a wonderful job. For some, the pets they care for provide the only unconditional love they've ever experienced in their lives, and being responsible for a pet gives many a sense of purpose. These guys may be rehabilitating pets, but the pets are working their magic on the handlers at the same time. Initial focus of training is on socialization, then they work with the dogs on house-training, leash training, and basic commands. All dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and current on heartworm preventative.
Dallas, a recent Safe Harbor graduate
Safe Harbor Prison Dogs are at the Shawnee Petsmart (Shawnee Mission Parkway at Lackman) nearly every Saturday from 10AM - 3PM, or late afternoons at the Correctional Facility by appointment. You can view the Safe Harbor Prison dogs on their website.
Donations fund animal care for Safe Harbor Prison Dogs, and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. There is a donation link AND a wish list of desired items on their website. You can get more information about the program by emailing info@safeharborprisondogs.com or calling 913-634-5955.
Pets And Loving Seniors (PALS) is not a group, but a program coordinated by Ron Piche at the Leavenworth County Council on Aging. When Council employees and Meals on Wheels volunteers learned that clients were sharing their delivered meals with their pets because they weren't able to get out to buy pet food, PALS was started. With PALS, pets and their loving seniors BOTH get adequate nutrition. PALS provides pet food, and sometimes other pet items, to be delivered with Meals on Wheels. They also offer assistance in a program called "Pet to Vet" so that enrolled pets get to their veterinary appointments and stay healthy. PALS has donation boxes in many businesses in Leavenworth. Cash is better than donated food, so pets can be maintained on a consistent diet without tummy upsets from switching brands and formulas abruptly. PALS doesn't stop with food and transportation. They often coordinate with animal groups for assistance with feral colonies, or securing low or no-cost spay/neuter services for their clients.
Keeping pets with their senior caregivers is not just good for the pets, it's good for the seniors. There's a great article from the American Animal Hospital Association on Pets and Senior Citizens here. But please don't run out and get Grandma a pet without talking with her about it first. Pets should match the owner's lifestyle & capabilities, be suited to the home, and WANTED. Even though there are many benefits, pets are also work, and a responsibility. Younger pets in particular may have a lot of energy to burn, teething/training/house-training issues, and may not be best suited to a senior lifestyle. It's also important to make plans for where the pet will go when the senior owner can no longer care for them.
You can get more information about PALS by emailing seniors1st@leavenworthcounty.org or calling 913-684-0777. The Council is a government agency, but many of their programs (including PALS) would cease if not for donations. Donations may be sent to PALS, c/o Council on Aging, 1830 S. Broadway, Leavenworth, KS 66048.
Next Time -- Friends of the Dog Park, and Fort Leavenworth Human Animal Bond
(Other groups working for pets and people who love them in Leavenworth/Lansing are encouraged to contact PetPost for publication of information about their organizations.)
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, LCHS, Inc.
As I write this blog, I'm obliged to disclose that I am not an insider at either the Fort Leavenworth Stray Facility nor the Sheriff's Department. The information in this blog post is based on my several years of interacting with both. If official representatives of either have better, more current, or more accurate information, I hope they'll share it.
Fort Leavenworth's Stray Facility is not exactly an animal control entity, but they do house and care for stray pets picked up on Fort Leavenworth and pets relinquished by their owners who live on the Fort. They are staffed by the personnel who run the Veterinary Treatment Facility and some very committed and compassionate volunteers. This partnership has made Fort Leavenworth essentially a "no-kill" city for the past few years. They care for and find homes for pets.
There are some challenges, though. It appears there is no clear delineation of mission for who is responsible to pick up and impound stray pets on Fort Leavenworth. Maybe it's the post security forces - after all, not all of the post is housing. Maybe it's the contracted housing folks, at least in the housing areas. Maybe it's neither. It would seem someone needs to clearly be given that mission by the installation command. It's not "just" a matter of compassion, it's a public safety and health issue.
There has been talk lately of the Stray Facility on post closing, which may have a significant impact on the numbers of abandoned pets in neighboring communities. If the Fort doesn't take care of its own (residents and resident pets) who picks up the slack? If people don't have a legal, accessible place to relinquish pets they can no longer care for, they may resort to abandonment, which is a crime under KSA 21-4310. If the Stray Facility closes, an increase in the number of pets abandoned OUTSIDE Fort Leavenworth will be a black mark on the military community, and the Fort Leavenworth leadership, whether it's the military abandoning pets or not. And what happens to pets who turn up as stray on the installation? Without the Stray Facility, where does a person on post take a stray who shows up at their office or quarters? The only animal control shelter in the county (Leavenworth Animal Control) can't currently intake them.
The Sheriff's Department (SD) is the Animal Control Authority for unincorporated areas in the County. Unfortunately, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has not resourced the SD to perform that specific mission, so they decline to perform many animal control functions. We're told there is one deputy to investigate cruelty/neglect complaints, one vehicle in which animals may be transported, 24/7/365, throughout the 463 square land miles in Leavenworth County. There is only one shelter where the SD may impound pets - Leavenworth Animal Control. There is only one designated Animal Control Authority. Animal welfare groups are prohibited by our state licenses from picking up and impounding stray pets, even if we did have 24/7 response capability like the SD. And we receive no public funding.
The SD requested funding to begin to build an animal control capability in the 2012 budget, and it was the last line item deleted. The BOCC has convened an Animal Control Committee to document the demand for animal control services, and devise proposed capabilities and resourcing for 2013. There have been two meetings in the past 3 months, with little progress made. With the SD reporting approximately 1000 "animal calls" in 2011, and the fact that they say calls about animals are either #1 or 2 in call volume every month, there is clearly demand. This isn't just about doing what's right and humane, it's a public health and safety issue, it's a law enforcement issue, it's a matter of resourcing and performing a mission given to the SD by the elected representatives of the Leavenworth County citizens, residents and taxpayers, and providing services that the citizens demand.
Anyone with an opinion on the matter, with a story to tell about how the SD did or didn't respond to your call for service, should communicate with the BOCC at bocc@leavenworthcounty.org or phone 913-684-0417.
Next week: Safe Harbor Prison Dogs and the Council on Aging's Pets and Loving Seniors
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
Every week, stray dogs find me.
At least one stray dog shows up in my yard every Sunday.
They are NEVER wearing identification.
Most of the strays that find me are wearing collars, but just collars -- no identification, no way to find out who they belong to through rabies tags, city license tags, or even a scrawled number.
I could have had these pets home within minutes of finding them if they had only had a current phone number on them.
Please, please, PLEASE, put your phone number -- a current phone number -- on your pets’ collars.
Ways to put your phone number on your pet, even if it is microchipped or wearing a GPS device:
1. Write it on the collar/harness with a permanent marker.
Include your area code and re-mark numbers as they fade.
2. Engrave your phone number onto the metal rabies tag or have an ID tag engraved. Having a tag with only your pet’s name or their microchip number does me no good when I’d like to call you to tell you where your dog is.
Engrave your number on a metal tag.
3. Have an embroidery shop stitch your phone number onto your pet’s collar.
4. Use an engraved slide-on or clip-on tag, which are great for cat collars. Even indoor-only kitties need phone numbers on their collars. They can escape when visitors/workmen leave the door cracked too long or in the event of a fire or other emergency.
Gracie is in the post shelter. Her name is on her tag but the phone number isn't current.
Put your contact information on the collar, but microchip, too!
I highly recommend microchipping pets, as collars can be lost, but, again, you must keep your contact information current.
Please, if you find a stray, have it scanned for a microchip. You can have this done (free) at virtually any shelter or veterinarian’s office.
-- Prudence Siebert, pet photographer, multiple animal organization volunteer and apparent stray magnet
For more tips on reuniting strays or finding your lost pet, click HERE.
Did you know that the last military-affiliated hunt is right here and active at Fort Leavenworth?
The Fort Leavenworth Hunt was established in 1926, coming to the Army foxhunting scene a bit late, but with a dedication to continuity that today sees it as the last surviving U.S. Army foxhunt.
In the early years, it claimed its staff from elements of the newly arriving 10th Cavalry Regiment, the famed Buffalo Soldiers. Who better to chase coyotes and foxes with hounds than those who had cut their teeth on the pursuits of the likes of Geronimo, Vittorio and Pancho Villa?
Today the Hunt members demonstrate respect and appreciation for the FLH lineage by participating in ceremonies at the Buffalo Soldier monument. In addition to the men of the 10th, other famed Army personages also contributed to the organization, such as then-Lt. Col. Jonathan Wainright, later hero of Bataan and Corregidor. A hunt leader in the latter 1930s, Maj. Hank Reed would later as a regimental commander, wrest the Lipizzaner horses from the control of the Soviets at the end of WWII, thus saving the breed. Today the Fort Leavenworth Hunt is proud of a former FLH member, Becky Douglas Holder, who has competed in the Olympics as a member of the U.S. Three-Day Event Team. Becky rode with FLH as a teen and young adult.
And what is different now in foxhunting, given the quantum changes in the world since our establishment over 85 years ago? Foxes and other wildlife are no longer killed, but keeping the horse between the knees while quickly following hounds in full cry, unraveling the mysteries of scent, is as relevant today as it was in 1926.
-- Bob Fullerton, Fort Leavenworth Hunt Club
We're fortunate in our area to have some great people working in Animal Control, and some super animal welfare groups. Sometimes people who don't work with animals every day get a little confused as to who's who. That's okay! The good news is we're all working for the good of the animals, and people who love them.
Sometimes I'm asked why there are several groups and not just one. Well, it's for the same reason there are Kiwanians and Lions and Optimists and Rotarians, and multiple chapters of these groups in different cities in our county. People can try different groups, and work with one that fits them best, or like many of us, support several! We'll address the different animal welfare groups in later blogs - and of course will encourage each group to introduce themselves.
Leavenworth Animal Control is a division of the Leavenworth Police Department. They are taxpayer supported. They operate the only animal control shelter in Leavenworth County at 1720 S. Second Street in Leavenworth. (That's the one that was closed a good part of 2011 due to Missouri River flooding.) Leavenworth Animal Control is staffed by a Supervisor, a Kennel Attendant and 3 (when they're fully staffed) field operations officers. Their phone is 913-682-0268. Hours are normally 9-6 Monday thru Thursday, 10-6 on Friday. They do a special adoption day the second Saturday of each month from 10-4. The City is planning a new animal control shelter to open in 2014 that will replace the one built in the 1970s that floods nearly every year.
Leavenworth Animal Control accepts material donations. Visit their Petfinder.com website to see what items are most needed. Monetary donations to Leavenworth Animal Control are processed through Leavenworth Animal Welfare Society. Individuals may volunteer at Leavenworth Animal Control in a variety of capacities. Volunteers must complete an application and pass a criminal background check. Visit Leavenworth Animal Control for more information.
Lansing Animal Control is another taxpayer funded entity, a division of the Lansing Police Department. Their mission is accomplished by one superb part-time officer, assisted by Police officers. Contact Lansing Animal Control at 913-727-3000. Lansing does not have their own shelter, but can impound pets at Leavenworth Animal Control for a fee when space is available. Visit Lansing Animal Control for more information.
Next time -- The Stray Facility on Fort Leavenworth and the Animal Control Authority for Leavenworth County (Sheriff's Department.)
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
First on the list of guidelines for responsible pet ownership from the American Veterinary Medical Association is making a lifetime commitment to your pets. http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/ownership_guidelines.asp
Another important consideration for owners is choosing a veterinarian.
There are twenty or more practicing veterinarians in Leavenworth County, and many more in surrounding areas. Leavenworth County Humane Society encourages all pet owners to establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship with a local veterinarian for ongoing regular health care for your furry, fuzzy, fluttery, slithery, slippery, shelled or farmy pets.
Nearly all veterinarians in local practice "do" dogs and cats. You may have to work a little harder to locate a practice that serves birds, exotics, aquatic or amphibian or reptilitan pets, or large animals. Just choose the one (or several!) who's right for you and your pets. To download a list of veterinary practices in Leavenworth County, visit http://www.lchsinc.org/lvn_co_vet_practices.
Please remember to say "thank you" to your chosen veterinarian. These are hard-working professionals, many are small business owners, who chose a career working for people and their animals. And when you get great service from the staff, thank them, too!
(You can download a free PDF brochure from the AVMA on how to choose a veterinarian at https://ebusiness.avma.org/EBusiness50/ProductCatalog/product.aspx?ID=109 Petfinder.com also has suggestions for selecting a veterinarian -http://www.petfinder.com/pet-health/choosing-a-vet.html )
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
The special Saturday Adoption Day at the Fort Leavenworth Veterinary Treatment (Stray) Facility Feb. 25 coincided with PAIR Day, and it turned out to be a success.
Although we had fewer adoptions than the last Adoption Day, we had twice the people come through the door. This Adoption Day we featured five dogs and four cats, and we adopted out one-third of our pets -- two dogs and one cat.
BALBOA
Balboa has been adopted!
A mellow black cat named Balboa went to a wonderful home. The lady who adopted him wanted a lap cat so she could sit and read while hanging out with her lap cat. She was very excited and couldn't wait to race home and read a book! Balboa was a perfect fit!
PATRICK
Patrick has been adopted!
A young boy and his father adopted the young Labrador retriever named Patrick, and I think it will be a great fit, too, because Patrick and the young boy can grow up together. It was especially gratifying to see Patrick get adopted because he was a transfer from the Fort Riley stray facility and was just days away from being euthanized.
BELLA
Bella has been adopted!
The boxer named Bella was also adopted by a nice family. I saw them yesterday walking Bella on post, and while it looked like Bella still needs some leash training, the couple was smiling as they all walked along. This made me very happy and confirms why I volunteer at the Fort Leavenworth Stray Facility! Truly there is a family for every cat and dog, but as the caregivers of these animals we have to work hard to find them homes. (Bella’s brother, Bear, is still available for adoption at the post stray facility. Click here to learn more about him.)
Big Boy still needs a home!
My disappointment on the latest Adoption Day was the fact that a tabby named Big Boy wasn’t adopted. He is such a cute, mild-mannered, easy-to-get-along-with cat, so I don't understand how he is still at the Stray Facility. He has been with us since Oct. 13, 2011.
Chief still needs a home!
Our other long-term resident is Chief, a mixed-breed dog, and he has been with us since Nov. 11, 2011. Chief needs someone to train him, who will give him A LOT of guidance and who has a fenced-in yard. We advise that he be adopted by a with a family without children — he is just too exuberant and could injure kids in his play, which is not aggressive but is rather rough. Where is the Dog Whisperer when you need him?
ADOPT ON POST
One thing I think is important for everyone to know is that the Fort Leavenworth Stray Facility is open for EVERYONE to adopt -- not just military. Visiting Fort Leavenworth can be easy if you are prepared when you come to the front gate. When you come in the front gate of Fort Leavenworth from Metropolitan in Leavenworth, and you are not military, go to the ID check line on the far right. Make sure you have your driver's license, car registration and proof of insurance, and you can get on Fort Leavenworth with no problems. Go to the Fort Leavenworth Veterinary Treatment Facility, and there you will find the Stray Facility. The address is 831 McClellan Ave.
-- Kim Krogh, Fort Leavenworth Stray Facility volunteer
The funds received from the event go to help cover the expenses of the LAWS free spay/neuter program for Leavenworth County pets. We are starting to see a decline of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. Your contributions will help make it possible for us to continue this program until there will be no more euthanasia of unwanted pets and every pet will have a home.
The dinner will include spaghetti, meat sauce or meatless, salad, rolls, beverage and dessert. It will be a fun evening with lots of animal loving folks gathered. There will be a few vendors and a silent auction of some really neat pet related things will be held.
Please come...tickets may be purchased at the door.
ABD
This may come as a surprise to some people.....dogs bite. It's usually nothing personal. Most dogs only bite when they perceive it's their only way to resolve a situation. Dogs most likely to bite are those who are ill or injured, driven by hormones to breed, caring for puppies, tethered or across a barrier, or cornered. We can all reduce the likelihood of being bitten by learning to greet dogs more appropriately, recognizing signs of anxiety in dogs, and knowing when NOT to act like such a HUMAN. These posters from Sophia Yin, DVM, MS are informative and entertaining.
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
Welcome to the community blog, Pet Post!
Pet Post’s administrators are all deeply involved in what I call the Pet Network, a growing group of people assisting pets in need, matching adoptable pets with good homes, and helping pet owners enjoy life with their furry (or finned, feathered, scaled, whatever the case may be) family members through education, resources and activities.
I am a professional pet photographer and a “farm girl,” so becoming a committed part of the Pet Network happened naturally.
I photograph strays and relinquished pets available for adoption at the Fort Leavenworth Veterinary Treatment (Stray) Facility for each animal’s Petfinder profile, and I send a featured “Pet of the Week” through e-mail to the Pet Network. Pets of the Week are also highlighted in the Fort Leavenworth Lamp and the Leavenworth Times. This exposure helps these animals find forever homes, reunites lost pets with their owners and keeps the community aware of the ongoing needs of its homeless and lost pets.
Even if you are not in the market for a pet, please don’t dismiss the Pets of the Week. You might know someone who would be a good match for the pet, or you might even recognize the animal as a friend’s or neighbor’s pet and can help get that pet back home.
This week’s Pet of the Week is Pixie, a female orange-and-white tabby available for adoption at the Fort Leavenworth Veterinary Treatment Facility. Pixie had been living near the Post Exchange parking lot, accepting handouts from a VTF volunteer. When she was trapped and turned into the shelter last month, we thought she might be best suited as a barn cat, but she has started to warm up to human affection, allowing her head to be petted, and she has never hissed nor offered to swat. Call (913) 684-6510 for more information.
Pet of the Week - PIXIE
The post stray facility, at 831 McClellan Ave. on Fort Leavenworth, will be open for a special Saturday adoption day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this coming Saturday, Feb. 25. Military affiliation is not necessary to adopt a pet from the VTF.
Welcome to PetPost...I hope everyone will freely leave comments about anything that is on their mind about pets. What you have to say matters.
This is an opportunity to dialog and share thoughts about the joys...or concerns resulting from having pets in your lives. Questions can be asked or issues can be brought up...we hope that other pet owners will relate to what you have to say and respond with their wisdom and personal experiences. Also, there are several knowledgable people among the blog's management group who will lend their expertise. I'll start with something that has been on my mind a lot.
Recently there was a very sad and touching letter, in the Times, to the editor telling of the tragic death of one of the person's cats. My heart went out to her. I was especially touched by the descriptions of the other household cats' reactions to the sudden absence of their "sister" pet and how comforting they were to their owner. Many people have reported similar experiences. One of my dogs secluded herself for almost a year in the bedroom after we lost her "buddy", who had been her playmate and companion since since coming into our home as a puppy. When I once had a personal sadness my two cats sat on each side of me and leaned into me and nuzzled when I was grieving. They followed me around everywhere that day.
I do believe that pets do form strong bonds with other animals and that they grieve when they are gone. I also believe that when a loss occurs, pets are very sensitive to a person's feelings and moods and they somehow instinctively will respond in a caring way.
What do you think? Have you had similar experiences? I would be interested in hearing your stories. I think this kind of animal caring is more common than we realize.
ABD
Thanks to the Times, and to Dale, for inviting "pet people" in our communities to participate in this blog!
We hope readers will visit often - for information, entertainment, and dialogue, and of course some great photos and videos.
We hope contributors include veterinary professionals, kennel/daycare operators, groomers, pet sitters and dog walkers, trainers, those who market products for animals, Animal Control personnel, members of various groups working for people and pets in our communities, and of course, those who share their lives with pets, and even those who just have something to ask or share about pets.
Those working for and with pets in our area may have differences in focus or approach, but we share a commitment to making life better, right here where we live, for people and pets. It's an honor to participate in Pet Post with all of you.
So.... let's get going!
What do YOU think is the biggest challenge concerning pets in the Leavenworth/Lansing/Fort Leavenworth communities?
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, President, Leavenworth County Humane Society, Inc.
Welcome to newest community blog at leavenworthtimes.com. This one is dedicated to our pets, and their human friends who care for them here in the Leavenworth, Lansing and Fort Leavenworth areas.
This will not be the random rantings of one blogger, but a true group effort from some of the leading pet advocates in the community. You may find tips on pet care, information about lost pets or ones up for adoption, pet health issues, hot topics that effect our pets, links to interesting stories, information on where to get pets registered, or just honest discussion about our pets and why we love them so much.
So whether you have a dog, cat, bird or any other kind of pet, this should be a one-stop forum with helpful and interesting information. There will be a handful of regular posters over the next few weeks, but readers are invited to contribute their comments and ask questions of our contributors. If anyone wants more information or would like to become a regular contributor themselves, please contact me at dale.brendel@leavenworthtimes.com. In the meantime, we home you enjoy Pet Post.
