Fact vs. Fiction: Black pets and Halloween

It's almost Halloween, and that means that the urban legend mill is churning out lots of stories about black pets and animal sacrifice. We want to set the record straight about our raven-furred friends and why we have no qualms about sending them home around this delightfully spooky holiday.

There are tons of myths about black pets, and black cats in particular. Black cats have long been maligned by an association with witchcraft and bad luck, but even the quickest of Google searches will show that these myths are not the same the world over; in fact, there are more superstitions that features black cats as good omens than bad. In Scotland, if a black cat sits on your porch, you'll soon be enjoying untold riches. In Italy, if a black cat sneezes, everyone who hears it will have good luck. French black cats are a little more picky; they only bring good luck to owners who are generous with the kibble and treat them with the respect they deserve. If that part about the kibble is true, Dax (pictured), my adopted black cat, ought to be making me the luckiest gal in the world.

The stories about animal sacrifice are myth, as well. There has never been any credible evidence that animals are tortured or killed more during the Halloween season than at any other time of the year, and that makes sense, if you think about it. For one, the idea that black cats are likely to be harmed by people practicing witchcraft is illogical; in witchcraft, black cats are seen as "familiars" - magical companions or servants - and a practicing witch would not harm a familiar. Secondly, the people who are likely to harm animals - people with sociopathic tendencies - do not act out at any one time of the year, nor do they have any particular preference about what the animals they harm look like.

There is one true story about black pets, though, and it's true all year 'round: black pets are not adopted as often as their more colorful counterparts. Whether it's because of superstition, or simply because they're easy to overlook in a rescue full of pets all waiting for homes, black pets - both cats and dogs - wait longer for a home to call their own. At Woodford Humane, where we have no time limit on any pet in our care, black pets can wait as long as it takes, but in many places they are not so lucky.

We screen adopters very carefully before sending any pet home, no matter what month it is. With so many black pets in our care, we won't pass up a good home simply because of an urban legend that lingers in the back of so many minds. So, this Halloween, if you really want to help out a black pet that is waiting for a home, why not adopt one? You can help us save lives and fight all the misconceptions about black pets, bad luck, and Halloween, all at once. Think of it as a good investment; adoptable Dessa (pictured) can't wait to bring you all those untold riches, if you'd just take her home.

Plus, if you feed that black cat really well and whisper a few sweet nothings to it en francais, you just might end up bringing home a little good luck, too.

Fashionable cruelty: Think twice before getting feather hair extensions

Celebrities (like Hilary Duff, right, and Steven Tyler, lower left) started it. It takes a while for fashions to make it to Kentucky, so I had a little time to do some research and stew over feather hair extensions before I started seeing them pop up around town. Now I see them on visitors, on random folks on the street, and in the salon when I go to get my hair cut, and every time, it makes me cringe. Here's why.

The feathers that are now used for hair extensions used to be feathers for fly fishing lures. The roosters they come from are specially bred to grow long, luxurious, beautiful feathers, like the black and white striped grizzly saddle (now the most popular feather for hair extensions). Before, a grizzly saddle would have retailed for $40-$60. Now, people are paying hundreds of dollars for them; a single grizzly saddle feather recently sold for $480 on eBay. I've seen prices quoted in the thousands for high-end feathers.

Like most things in life, this comes down to an issue of supply and demand: thousands of people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for feather hair extensions, so production of feathers has skyrocketed. What most people don't ever think about is where those feathers come from.

These birds are raised solely for their feathers. It takes about a year for the long tail feathers to grow in, and then the birds are "harvested." Some companies euthanize the birds before plucking, but many do not; most of the birds that are plucked while alive do not survive the process. The meat isn't butchered for sale; the birds are just thrown away. While there are some organizations that collect feathers from molting birds or care for their birds humanely until they are plucked, that is not the status quo. The practices were the same when the feathers were just being used for fly fishing lures, but now that the demand is so high, countless hundreds of thousands of birds are dying each year for no other reason than to make us feel trendy.

As someone who works in the humane field, the weirdest part of this whole scenario is that there are companies who sell feather hair extensions for dogs. Humane practices should extend to all animals, not just the ones that we care for in our homes on a daily basis.

There are humane alternatives, so you fashionistas out there can breathe a sigh of relief - there are synthetic feathers available, and other, non-feather decorative extensions are on the market. If you absolutely must have feather extensions, please make sure that you're purchasing synthetic feathers, and do your part to change minds. When someone comments on that beautiful feather in your hair, tell them that it's not real, and tell them why.

I hope you all will share this with your friends, family, and stylists; sometimes all it takes to change the world is a little knowledge.

The dog (and cat) days of summer

Some of you may have already noticed, but it's hot outside. Like, really hot. Record-setting hot, in many parts of the country (and the world). And while we wish there was relief on the horizon, the fact of the matter is that we can probably expect a lot more of this kind of weather in our future. Summer is a great time to play with your pets outdoors, but heat like this can be dangerous...to you and your pets. We want you to enjoy your summer and stay safe while you do it, so we're gonna give you a few tips to do just that.

First off, know your pet. Certain pets are more susceptible to heat-related health concerns: overweight pets, dog breeds with short/wrinkly faces, long-coated pets, and older pets are all at greater risk. Exercise is just as important in the summer as it is in the winter, but you may need to take it easy if your pet falls into any of these groups. Watch for any signs of tiring or exhaustion: hard or difficult breathing, excessive panting, drooling, weakness, or lethargy. If your pet is starting to tire out, seek out shade immediately. Any more severe symptoms like vomiting, collapse, or seizure require immediate medical attention. Always have water on-hand, and bring enough for you and your pet. Pet supply stores sell fold-up water bowls for the pet on the go, which are light-weight and handy for any kind of outdoor activity.

A good rule of thumb for any pet, but especially for pets who are sensitive to heat, is to aim for lots of little activities instead of two or three big walks a day. Spend a few minutes in the back yard for a potty break and a quick jaunt, or take a walk around the block instead of a walk around the neighborhood. You'll have to go out more times a day, but you won't be making that call to the emergency vet clinic. And, as an added bonus, you can stay close to home; home, where you know there's plenty of shade, cool air, and water to go around in case you or your pet get a little too tired.

If you have a sprinkler handy, turn your back yard into a water park for your pet! Most dogs are absolutely nuts about sprinklers, and the water is a great way to keep them cool in the summer heat. Kiddie pools are fun, too, and they're a cheap, easy way to cool off a warm dog on a hot day...but if you have a big chewer, you might want to buy a couple of back-up pools. We're not sure what it is, but dogs just LOVE to put little tooth holes in kiddie pools. Make sure you dump and refill the pool every day or two, though: mosquito larvae thrive in stagnant water, and if you accidentally start a little mosquito farm you may end up with a case of heartworms on your hands.

If you've got fluffy pets, get 'em a nice haircut for the summer. A good grooming can go a long way, and although your pet may not enjoy the actual process of being groomed, they'll be a lot more comfortable after the fact - yes, cats too! You always want to leave 1/2 to 1 inch of fur to protect from sunburn, but a shorter 'do will help your pet get rid of body heat faster and that may make a big difference on a hot day.

Finally, and this one hopefully seems like common sense to most of us, never ever leave your pet in the car. It doesn't matter if it's 90 degrees or 70 degrees, and it doesn't matter if your windows are open a little. On a day when it's in the 70s, your car will top 116 degrees in less than an hour; on a 90 degree day, it only takes 20 minutes to push the mercury up to 125 degrees. Having all four windows open only makes a 5 degree difference; whether your car is 120 degrees or 125 degrees, a pet left inside for even a few minutes is in serious jeopardy. If you see a pet left in a car, your quick action may save a life: call your local animal control agency or non-emergency police number immediately. In Woodford County, you can reach animal control at 859.879.0598 between 8am and 4pm every day; our non-emergency police number is 859.873.3126 for after-hours calls or any time you can't reach an animal control officer.

Whew! We're getting a little sweaty just thinking about it, but that sums it up pretty well. Got any more tips for surviving summer? Leave 'em in the comments and join the discussion! But above all...stay cool!

More harm than good: The orphan dilemma

Spring has sprung! Love (and pollen, and lots of rain these days) is in the air! Unfortunately, the more down-to-earth side of love being in the air is that babies are on the ground. Several times a year, we have infant animals brought to us as orphans - kittens and rabbits, most often, but sometimes birds, too - by folks who are just trying to do the right thing and save a helpless animal. What a lot of people don't realize, though, is that babies that appear orphaned often aren't, and separating them from their mother can do more harm than good. Before you take a lonely baby under your wing, make sure it's really as lonely as you think it is.

If you come across a baby animal, let your brain direct you instead of your heart. We're all hard-wired to protect something so tiny and cute, but nobody is better equipped to take care of a baby than its mother. Nursing babies don't just get a balanced diet from their mothers' milk, they also get a healthy, functional immune system - something we can't provide if we bottle-feed them, and something that often is the difference between life and death at such a fragile young age. They also learn the ways of the world from observing their parent: how to hunt, how to play, how to fly, when to hide, when to run...although these things aren't necessarily vital for a kitten who will spend its whole life indoors, they are essential for any animal that will be outdoors, even intermittently.

Litters of babies are not continuously accompanied by their mother; she has to venture out to hunt, and it's neither safe nor practical for her to take her young with her when she does. Mothers also frequently will relocate a litter one baby at a time, leaving the babies in each location unattended while she makes the move. And, if she sees you in the area near her baby, she's unlikely to make her presence known until you leave. The point here is that a baby that appears to be all alone in a big, dangerous world, might actually have a mom nearby, just waiting for you to move along. If you find a litter or an individual baby, the best thing to do is leave it alone, and come back later to check on it. If the baby is still there, contact your local humane society, animal control office, or your veterinarian and find someone who can care for it. Bringing orphaned wildlife to a humane society is not usually the best way to go, because organizations like ours just aren't prepared to meet the needs of wild animals; Fish and Wildlife staffs wildlife rehabilitators who are trained to do just that, however, and some vets may do pro bono work for injured or orphaned wildlife.

There are, of course, times when a litter or baby is actually in need of immediate help, whether they're orphaned or not. Babies with visible injuries need more care than their mother can provide. If you find a baby that feels cold or is visibly shivering, that's a good sign that their mother has been gone for too long - it's her body heat that keeps them warm. Dog owners, if it's your dog that brings you a baby, you're not likely to locate the mother and she may be injured or dead; seek help for the baby as soon as possible. And, of course, if you see evidence that the mother has been injured or killed, her young are in immediate need of assistance.

In the end, the decision to take in or leave a baby or a litter is always a judgment call, so make the right observations and take it from there. Remember, though, that time-honored (and true, although it's sometimes hard for us to admit it) saying: Mama knows best. If she's around, let her do her job.




Adorably pictured: Xia (an orphan who was bottle fed from 3 days old by a WHS foster) then (above) and now (below). She's still waiting for a home.

Furry is the new green!

Earth Day is 4/21, and if you're both eco-conscious and a pet-lover, it probably fills you with a mixture of joy and guilt. Pets get a seriously bad rap in the green community, and not without reason: they require lots of resources, they make lots of waste, and they can be hard on native ecosystems. Don't ever let anyone tell you you have to choose between your pet and your planet, though - there are simple ways that you can make your furry friends more eco-friendly (and as an added bonus, you'll make 'em healthier too).

Spay/Neuter, Spay/Neuter, Spay/Neuter!
Biggest reason that pets are hard on the environment? There are way too many of them, and there aren't homes for them all; we would love it if people would spay/neuter us right out of business! Overpopulation is rough on the environment simply because the more animals there are, the more resources they require, but we should also consider the impact of roaming populations of strays or ferals: although they're not necessarily creating demand for petroleum-based pet toys or factory-farmed pet foods, they can decimate local wildlife populations. If you've got an unaltered pet at home, the greenest thing you can do is get him/her fixed immediately. It's also important to be a team player in your community and take steps to get roaming ferals fixed as well - most humane societies have trap-neuter-return programs that provide very low-cost or even free surgeries for unowned animals.

Don't shop, adopt
At the risk of sounding like shameless self-promoters (actually, we are pretty shameless about promoting adoption), the easiest way to get a green pet is to get a recycled one! Adopting a second-hand pet means you're certain you're not encouraging irresponsible breeding operations to continue bringing litter after litter into the world for the sake of making a buck, and that's a big deal: not only are you standing up against inhumane breeding practices, you're also doing your part to discourage operations that go through vast amounts of poor-quality pet food...pet food that uses ingredients from unsustainable, definitely NOT eco-friendly or humane farming operations. Which leads us nicely to our next point:

Feed good-quality food
It's easy to not give a second thought to what goes into your pet's food, but it's worth doing your homework for the sake of your pet and your planet. Poor-quality pet foods contain the worst kinds of ingredients that are at best nutritionally useless and at worst physically harmful for your pet, simply because they are the cheapest. The meat, grains, and (shudder) by-products that go into these foods come from huge factory farms that use tons of pesticides, hormones, preservatives, and who-knows-what-else to keep their yields and profits high; they're bad for the environment and they're bad for your pet. High-quality pet foods aren't hard to find if you know what you're looking for (see our nutrition guide here), and as a rule they're a lot gentler on Mother Earth: look for foods that boast organic ingredients and humane practices with livestock, and you're heading the right direction!

If you've spent as much time as we have taking care of animals, the logical next step after talking about food is talking about...

Poo!
As we all learned as toddlers, everybody poops. How we deal with our pets' poo is what makes the difference, though! Dog poo collected in plastic bags and thrown away becomes dog poo that sits in plastic bags in landfills for literally decades, because those bags don't break down, but leaving it out to wash away isn't an eco-friendly solution either; fecal matter that washes into storm drains goes directly into our rivers and streams, and fills them with dangerous fecal coliform bacteria (the most famous of which is the dastardly E. coli). Clean up after your pooch with biodegradable bags so his droppings can decompose naturally, or, if you're feeling especially adventurous, build a dog-poo compost bin in your yard! Just don't use that compost on any plants you plan on eating...remember E. coli?

We would definitely be remiss if we ignored cat poo here, and the biggest offender on that front is litter. Clay litter (the kind made up of little gray rocks) is more or less a disaster, both from the perspective of your cat's health and from the perspective of the environment. The dust that billows up from clay litter is a known carcinogen (strike one), and clumping litter is a serious health risk because it can clump inside your cat's intestines and cause a fatal blockage (strike two). Oh, and did we mention that much of the clay is harvested through strip mining (serious strike three)? Luckily, all-natural cat litters are becoming more and more popular, and there's an ever-broadening selection available at just about any pet supply store. Here at WHS we use pine pellet litter; it's healthier, it's cheaper, and the pine totally wipes out pee smell. Added bonus: it's biodegradable and septic- and sewer-safe, so you can flush your cat's poo instead of bagging it up and sending it to the landfill! Other options include litters made from wheat, corn, and recycled newspaper. For more info, see our guide to all things litter here.

If you've gotten this far, you're a pretty dedicated blog-reader. Although we could go on for days (seriously, days) about other ways to green your pets, we'll wrap up with one last, extremely important tip:


Keep your pets indoors
Cats in particular get blasted by environmentalists all the time for the damage they do to native bird populations, and while we're quick to come to their defense, outdoor cats are pretty much guilty as charged: in the state of Wisconsin alone, Fish and Wildlife credits cats with the demise of about 39 million birds every year, and they've helped nudge 41 species of birds to the brink of extinction. It's not really their fault - they're just being cats - so it's time for us cat-lovers to do the responsible thing and keep our cats indoors. The indoor life protects your cat against predation by larger animals (dogs, coyotes), traffic, and fatal diseases, too...we think your cat will be ok with trading a few feathery meals for the average 12+ years extra life expectancy that comes with living strictly indoors. Dog owners, you're not off the hook on this one either - although dogs don't make as big of a dent on native wildlife as their feline counterparts, they can still do a number on small mammals.

Alright, we won't burden you with any more words - just get out there and green your pets so you can celebrate Earth Day with pet-lover pride this year! Drop us a note if you want more info on keeping your pets eco-friendly, or any other pet care questions, and we'll be happy to help you out.

Spay/Neuter Saves Lives!

Spay Day USA is an annual event that takes place on the last Tuesday of February (February 22nd, this year) across the country, and although we're always talking about the benefits of altering your pets anyway, Spay Day gives us a great opportunity to really dust off the old spay/neuter soapbox! There are so many reasons to spay or neuter your pet; it's good for them, it's good for you, and it's good for us.

Spay and neuter surgeries are very routine procedures, and although they may seem invasive to us, they are simple and virtually bloodless. While any surgical procedure is stressful for a pet, the risks associated with spay/neuter surgeries are so minimal that the benefits easily blow them out of the water!

An altered pet won't:
-Go into heat. If you've ever been around a cat in heat, you know exactly why this is a good thing! If you've never experienced a pet's heat cycle, think about this: your dog or cat is a mammal, and like human mammals, they have periods, complete with all the usual mess and bizarre behavior. 'Nuff said. (I'm a woman, by the way, so I'm allowed to say we behave bizarrely...male readers, quote me with caution.)
-Develop cancers of the reproductive organs. Uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer are common in unaltered pets, are expensive to treat, and are frequently fatal.
-Be as territorial. While some pets are a little territorial by nature, spaying/neutering reduces urine marking behavior and overprotective aggression towards people and other pets.
-Be as likely to escape and roam. Roaming behavior is usually tied to searching for a mate, and those escapes can be expensive and dangerous.
-Lose its gender identity. We encounter this most often with male pet owners, and we refer to it as the "Dude Factor;" while you might associate your identity with your gender, pets simply don't think that way! They don't have any inherent gender identity to lose. Neutering a male dog doesn't make him a sissy; in fact, he won't even realize that anything has changed. Don't think about how you would feel if you were in your pet's position, because you aren't; instead, think about the extra years you're adding to his life by preventing serious illnesses and reducing his desire to pick fights.

An altered pet will:
-Be the same energetic, active pet he or she was prior to the surgery. There is a big myth that spayed/neutered pets get lazy and fat, but the fact of the matter is that weight gain is caused by feeding and exercise habits, not by any surgical procedure.
-Play better with others. The reduced desire to defend territory makes for an easier-going pet, which means you can rescue another one from your local humane society!
-Live longer. On average, spayed/neutered pets live 3-5 years longer than intact ones.
-Love you unconditionally, just like he or she did prior to surgery.

If you don't see a good enough reason there to alter your pet for his sake, consider altering your pet for the sake of all of the homeless pets that walk through our doors each day. Every year in the United States 4-6 million pets enter shelters, rescues, and humane societies; only half of them ever find homes. The fact of the matter is that pet overpopulation is a very real, very serious problem in this country and across the world and there simply aren't homes for them all. Allowing a pet to reproduce, even just once, brings 3-8 more lives into the world when there are already millions of unwanted pets waiting for homes. So save a life this February: Spay or neuter your pet, and spread the word. That simple surgery is the biggest step you can take to help us work toward a world in which there are no more homeless pets!

To find out more about the benefits, importance, and "how-to" of getting your pet altered, give us a call or drop us a line: 859.873.5491 or manager@woodfordhumane.org. Low-cost options are available, and we'll do what we can to help you get that pet fixed!

If you feel as strongly about spaying and neutering as we do, please donate to our Spay/Neuter Fund and help us continue to provide low-cost surgeries to families in need.

2011 Feline Frenzy: A Purrfect Start to the Year!

We're happy to report that our 2011 Feline Frenzy promotion was a huge success! Donated cleaning supplies from adopters are keeping us looking (and smelling) our best, but more importantly, a whopping 51 cats found their forever homes during those exciting weeks! Those lucky felines came from every walk of life - kittens and seniors, lap-cats and strays - and they're all finally enjoying the loving homes they deserve! Here are a few of their stories:

Popsicle and Slurpee came to us in a litter of 6 orphaned kittens; they arrived in a cardboard box, and they were feeble and cold. We didn't know it at the time, but we soon found out that they also all had distemper, a serious illness that is usually fatal for kittens of their size. Despite the care of surrogate moms and veterinarians alike, only Popsicle and Slurpee survived; Slurpee struggled with neurological complications from his illness, and Popsicle lost an eye. Despite their rocky start, though, this adorable brother and sister grew into affectionate, playful youngsters with so much to offer any family - and this January, that family found them! It would just be silly to break up such a perfect pair, so naturally Popsicle and Slurpee were adopted together.

Loki had a little bit of a rough start the first day he arrived - he was a four-year-old stray cat who was shy of people and used to living on his own, and was understandably scared after being trapped in a crate and brought in! We let Loki relax a little in our exam room, and after spending a little time crouched on top of the filing cabinet, he let us coax him into a few cuddles. It was all up-hill from there! Before long, Loki was as cuddly as can be, and by the time he went home in January he was a completely different cat - confident, easy-going, and keen to make friends with cats and people alike. He was also considerably rounder than the almost-emaciated cat that walked in the door (in fact, his new mom reports that he is now on a diet)!

Coraline and Clover weren't strays, and they weren't surrendered by an owner...they were born at Woodford Humane! Their sweet mom, Calista, came to us from animal control one Monday, and we knew right away that she was pregnant; what we didn't realize is that she would give birth that very night! Calista and her babies spent several weeks with a loving foster family, and one by one the kittens got adopted. Coraline and Clover, the tortoiseshell twins, were the last two in the litter, and their forever home is twice as nice for taking these sisters home together!

We're all refreshed by a big adoption month like January, and we're excited to see what comes next. Help us keep those adoption numbers high in February: take advantage of our Sweethearts promotion! We love to send pets home in pairs, and Sweethearts lets us do just that: cat and kitten adoption fees are two-for-one, and if you adopt a dog you can take home a cat for free!

A long wait for a perfect match

Mercedes first walked through our doors here at Woodford Humane on January 21st, 2009 - exactly two years ago. This adorable brindle and white girl came to us with her sister, Queenie, as an energetic one-year-old with a constantly-wagging tail, a big heart, and a thirst for adventure! Queenie and so many other dogs have found their Forever Homes since January 21st, 2009, but Mercedes is still waiting patiently for her perfect match to walk through the kennel door.

She may be 2 years older now, but the description still fits her to a tee: Mercedes is always so excited to see her favorite volunteers and go out for a long walk, and she's always willing to share her heart with a new friend! We form special bonds with every pet that finds its way through our doors, but Mercedes truly has a special place in all of our hearts. She's a beautiful, vivacious dog who has so much to offer, and we don't want to see her wait here any longer! It's a wonderful testament to the staff and the mission of Woodford Humane that we can keep a dog like Mercedes happy and healthy for years on end, but we know that nothing beats a real home.

Mercedes is the perfect fit for an active home; she loves to play in the yard and go for long walks or jogs, and we're sure she would be a great hiking companion. All the hard stuff is done: Mercedes is already house trained and knows basic commands! She would be happiest in a single-pet home where she can hog all the attention of her loving parents and cuddle to her heart's content.

Please help us give Mercedes the life she deserves: Share her story with your family and friends! We don't want Mercedes to celebrate another anniversary here at Woodford Humane; instead, we want her to be celebrating each and every day in her Forever Home.

Get swept up in the 2011 Feline Frenzy!

To start off 2011 right, we're doing something a little bit special for our cats and all you cat lovers out there! Cuties like Dealer (top left) and Ferdinand (bottom left) can go home for just $20.11 with a donation of large, heavy-duty garbage bags, lemon-scented Pine-Sol, or liquid laundry detergent! (And an approved adoption application, of course!) The donated supplies help us keep all of our homeless pets happy and healthy, but better yet, we're hoping it helps us find wonderful homes for many of the cats in our care. Spread the word, and help us get the fur flying...right out the door!

The 2011 Feline Frenzy ends January 31, 2011, so don't miss out: find your new best friend with us today! Our Adoption Center opens every day at noon, and we're here until 6pm on weekdays and 5pm Saturdays and Sundays.

Goodbye, 2010, Hello, 2011!

Happy New Year! With 2010 behind us and 2011 off to a fresh start, we want to take a minute to look back and look ahead; 2010 was a year of many Forever homes and other joys, and 2011 is shaping up to be another great one!

Highlights from 2010:

• Over the course of the year, we took in about 900 homeless pets, and found Forever homes for 700, including many special needs pets, seniors, and long-term residents. Despite an extra-busy kitten season and a rough economy creating a tough environment for many pet owners and adopters, we are going strong!

• On March 25th, Woodford Humane turned 35 years old! Thanks for the fighting spirit of our founders and the steadfast support of our community, we hope to be celebrating our birthday for many, many more years.

• Our first annual Woodford Wag 5k run/2k dog walk was a big hit! Hundreds of walkers, runners, and volunteers turned out for a beautiful day in the Woodford County countryside. Looks like this event is a keeper!
  

• Freedom Fest, hosted by Annestes Farms, was a huge success, and the highlight of the event came when a generous donor paid off the remaining cost of our new Adoption Center, constructed in 2006.
  

• Our 60 Cats in 60 Days and '09 K9 promotions found homes for many of our longest-term resident pets, who had been with us as long as three years! 45 long-term resident cats and 4 long-term resident dogs found their homes after waiting with us so patiently for that new best friend to walk through the door.

While every adoption is special, there are some from 2010 that really stick with us. Rocco, a handsome (and HUGE) black lab/rottweiler mix, came to us unsocialized, terrified, and thin; on top of everything, he also had severe hip dysplasia at just one year old and needed full hip replacement surgery. After being here for about a week without letting anyone handle him, we came in one morning to find Rocco a completely different dog: he reached out a paw to give us a nudge, and from then on he was the goofiest puppy possible! He was still hard to find a home for, though: as you might imagine, hip replacement surgery is neither easy nor cheap, even with help from our CHAMPS medical fund. But one beautiful day, a young couple walked through the door and asked for him by name! They already had a beautiful lab/rottie mix girl who was even bigger than Rocco, and were looking for a playmate. There was no sight so beautiful as two hundred-pound rottie mixes bouncing around together like puppies! Rocco went home with them that day, and found the loving home he should have had all along.

Aiko came to us in late Autumn, and she was just about the most pitiful sight imaginable: this elderly, long-haired calico cat was declawed on all four paws, and had been abandoned outdoors. Her fur was so badly matted that she had to be shaved, and without any claws she had been unable to hunt; on intake, Aiko weighed less than 5 pounds. But despite the gross neglect she had suffered, Aiko came into our lives with a huge, sassy personality and an easy purr! We all thought Aiko was one of those pets who would live out the rest of her days as our office cat - after all, not many people come in looking for a 15 year old cat - but we were wrong: just before Christmas, Aiko captured the heart of a wonderful adopter who also took home our then-longest resident cat, Eira. Aiko and Eira are now the best of friends, and spend their afternoons cuddled up together, enjoying the good life.

Coming up in 2011:
Despite a wonderful year in 2010 and a very busy adoption season over the holidays, we are, of course, still serving as the temporary home for many homeless pets. Here's to another year of great adoptions in 2011! With the continued support of the volunteers, adopters, fosters, and donors who keep us going, we're going to continue following our motto of SAVE - Spay/neuter, Adopt, Volunteer, and Educate - to get us one step closer to the goal of no more homeless pets. If you're already a part of our Woodford Humane family, thank you for making 2010 so great, and we can't wait to see you in 2011! If you're checking Woodford Humane out for the first time, drop by our Adoption Center for a visit, or just give us a call. We can't wait to show you what we're all about! And hey, we just might find you a new best friend while we're at it.