Woodford Humane Blog

Fact vs. Fiction: Black pets and Halloween

2011-10-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-04-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-02-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-02-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-07T09:27:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

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.

Black Friday finds homes for black pets!

2010-11-26T20:22:00.000-08:00

The day before Thanksgiving, we decided to create a promo for Black Friday: for one day only, we waived Adoption Fees for our pets with black fur!

Six pets:

Cats: Jinx & Alister,

Senior Cockerpoo: Heath

Kitten: Cairo

Lab/Boxer mix: Tiana

Kitten Pax (no pic)

were all adopted!

7 Year Old Helps Homeless Pets

2010-11-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

Emily Harper turns seven on November 25th.

Nine friends attended her birthday party, but instead of gifts for her, Emily asked them to bring items to help our homeless pets.

On Friday, November 19, she and her dad delivered the presents to our Adoption Center and our animals thanked Emily in person! She especially enjoyed visiting with our adoptable bunny, Deloreon.

Emily has made a difference in the lives of our homeless pets. What an inspiration!

Happy Birthday, Emily!

Humane Red & Humane White Wine

2010-11-17T14:25:00.000-08:00

Philanthropy at its "winest"

Lovers Leap Vineyards & Winery has created Humane Red & Humane White wine to benefit our homeless animals. The labels feature two adopted Woodford Humane pets, beautifully photographed by Peggy Maness Photography.

Each bottle of wine costs $20, and of that Lovers Leap will donate $5 back to our animals. In addition, the total Humane Wine donation will be earmarked to Woodford Humane's SAVE Matching Gift and Endowment Fund, so each bottle purchased goes twice as far helping our animals!

To get Lovers Leap Humane Wines to give as a gift, or for yourself, please visit Lovers Leap at 1180 Lanes Mill Road, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Or contact them at info@loversleap.com or (502) 839-1299.

Must be 21 to purchase Humane Wines. Lovers Leap promotes responsible drinking.

Let the games begin!

2010-10-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

If you're sad the 2010 World Equestrian Games are over, we invite you to join us for our Annual Canine Olympics event, Sunday October 17, 2010. And check this out: Parking is free and there are no admission fees for spectators!

Woodford County Park (at the Big Red Barn)
Next to Falling Springs Rec Center
Versailles, Kentucky

This day is filled with smiles and tail wags celebrating our love for the homeless pets in our Adoption Center.

To help us raise money for our animals, it's $6 to enter your cute canine in:

Best Trick
Straight Dash - under 16"
Straight Dash - over 16"
Frisbee Catch
Dancing with the Dog Stars
Outfield Catch
Hot Dog Dash - under 15 lbs
Hot Dog Dash - over 15 lbs
Halloween Costume - cutest
Halloween Costume - scariest
Halloween Costume - funniest
Halloween Costume - best homemade
Friendliest Dog - kisses
Friendliest Dog - wags
Obstacle Course - beginner
Agility Course - experienced
Cookie Toss - under 15 lbs
Cookie Toss - over 15 lbs
I'll Eat Anything!!

To save time, download and complete this registration form and bring it with

you. Get a free t-shirt per canine participant.

Bring your lawn chairs, kids and friendly dogs to enjoy shopping our Olympic village & silent auction. We'll have concessions, an Agility Course to test your dog's skills, and Alumni Parade for Woodford Humane adopted dogs, Canine Caricature Portraits by Linda Boileau and, of course, our adorable and adoptable pets!

Noon - Registration

12:30 - Blessing of the Animals

1:00 - Games and Alumni Parade

To help our animals, please print and post our event flyer in your office or favorite hang out. Click here for our facebook event invitation and invite your friends.

Help us thank all of our event sponsors, volunteers, vendors and our participants.

Event Judge: Mary Ann Zeigenfuse of Best Friends Obedience

Event Emcee: Steve Sullivan of Star 103.7

Foxy's Smile

2010-09-09T11:24:00.001-07:00

This photo of Foxy remained posted on Petfinder for almost a year while she stayed at our Adoption Center.

We just knew someone would open their home and heart and adopt this happy girl and we waited together. Foxy greeted every day with cheerful tail wags and this big and beautiful smile. You can imagine the joy in our hearts when she finally found her forever home!

Foxy and her dad visited our Adoption Center earlier this week. Her smile put smiles on all of our faces! Her dad said, "It's so nice to see the staff here remembers her and her name!" and told us he introduces Foxy those who are uneducated or uncertain about Pit Bulls and Pit mixes. We are honored that Foxy is now an ambassador for her breed and continues to touch so many hearts.

Her smile still is as big as ever, but today it's because she is loved in her forever home.

Foxy, 9/8/10

Sniff 'n Mingle

2010-09-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 17

7:00-9:00pm

Sniff 'n Mingle

Sniff 'n Mingle is our annual event debuting our beautiful fundraising Limited Editions Engagement Calendar. Our

calendar is packed with stunning pet portraits, output in gorgeous sepia tones and a must for all animal lovers!

Bring your friendly dog on a leash and join us at Lexington Green, hosted by Bronte Bistro and Joseph-Beth Booksellers, on Friday, September 17 from 7pm to 9pm.

This event is free, so come out and mingle with us, while your canine companion sniffs.

Our 2011 Calendar Sponsors:

Blue Willow Farm at Rigby's Green

Peggy Maness Photography

Ace Weekly

All About Aussies

Artique

Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists

Brittany Farms

Buffalo Trace Veterinary Services

Carol McLeod, DVM, MS

Citizens Commerce National Bank

Computer Surgeons

Dean, Dorton and Ford, PSC

Fowler, Measle and Bell, PLLC

IncrediPet

Joseph A. Lasheen, DMD

Kentucky Eye Institute

McEwen Creative

One Job at a Time

Quality Feeds

S&S Tire / Vision Advertising

Silver Dogs Custom Jewelry

Stites and Harbison, PLLC

Summit Family Chiropractic

Suran Trade Bindery

VCA Woodford Animal Hospital

Event Hosts: Joseph-Beth Booksellers and Bronte Bistro

Event Emcees: Star 103.7

These calendars make fantastic holiday gifts, so start shopping early! And along with this calendar as a gift to your animal lovin' friends and family members, purchase a gift of an image space for them to include their pets in our 2012 calendar (pets do not have had to been adopted from Woodford Humane Society).

If you miss Sniff 'n Mingle, you can get your 2011 calendar by visiting our website to find the list of generous local retailers selling it for the animals. List to be posted after event.

Check out our event invitation on facebook and invite your friends. Mention Sniff 'n Mingle on your Twitter posts, we're @WoodfordHumane. All of your networking helps our homeless animals have a voice.

Adopt an '09-K9!

2010-08-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

Hattie, Mercedes, Chelsea, Livvy, Diego, Gulliver, Rocco, Cash, Cherry, Coppola & Lavinia all arrived homeless in 2009.

These K9 companions have incredible, tail waggin' personalities and we want so badly to see them in their loving, forever homes! They've been homeless way too long.

Our August 09K9 Adoption Promotion is waiving the adoption fee for any K9 who arrived in our care in 2009 (with, of course, approved adoption applications). Each is spayed/neutered, dewormed, up to date on rabies & routine vaccinations and micro-chipped and all go home with a dog training DVD, heartworm check and a free visit to a participating vet clinic.

Lavinia has been adopted from our '09K9 promotion!

Since our '09K9 August Promotion began Coppola, Diego, Chelsea, Rocco, Lavinia and Cherry have all been adopted! We need your help networking for our other 09K9s to help find them their perfect, forever homes!

For more info, contact us at manager@woodfordhumane.org or (859) 873-5491. Or, stop by our Adoption Center. We're open Monday-Friday: Noon-6pm and Saturday & Sunday: Noon-5pm.

If you can't adopt, perhaps you can sponsor an '09K9's stay with us to help us care for them. Info at http://www.woodfordhumane.org/Adopt_A_Friend.htm (under our list of pets).

6/24 Scenes of Annestes Farms Sneak Preview Party

2010-06-11T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Headley-Whitney Museum hosts our 'Scenes of Annestes Farms' Sneak Preview Party on June 24, 2010 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

Event is free to attend with Hors d'Oeuvres by The Invisible Chef Catering and Cakes by LouNana, and tastings by Four Roses Distillery and Lovers Leap Vineyards & Winery.

This rare art collection is a silent auction to raise money for our homeless pets. Thirty-eight talented artists and photographers visited the gorgeous Annestes Farms in Versailles, Kentucky to create and donate work depicting the horse farm for this unique collection. Our Sneak Preview Party debuts the exhibit and opens the bidding.

'Scenes of Annestes Farms' remains at Headley-Whitney through July 18. It then moves to Annestes Farms where the auction closes at our largest annual fundraiser, Freedom Fest presented by L.V. Harkness on July 24. Click here to get tickets and to bid online to own a piece of this amazing collection.

The 2010 Freedom Fest Signature art "Animals in Command" was painted and donated by Adaline Wichman and will be featured in our Freedom Fest Live Auction on July 24!

Please help our homeless pets thank each artist & photographer, in-kind donor, volunteer and sponsor for their help making our 11th annual Freedom Fest Celebration and Scenes of Annestes Farms Art Auction so special!

Handy? The animals could use your help.

2010-05-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

We need skilled friends to help us with mowing and maintenance at our Adoption Center. If you can make a commitment to stick with us with a few hours or more each week, please email marty@woodfordhumane.org.

Woodford Wag is May 15

2010-05-10T08:21:00.001-07:00

Get ready to WAG for the animals!

Join us at our first annual Woodford Wag

Saturday May 15

Woodford County Park, Falling Springs Rec Center

8:30am: 5K Cross Country Race for humans timed by John's Run/Walk Shop

8:45am: 2K Walk/Run for humans with or without a friendly dog on a leash

Advance registration $18 (closes 5/12): online

Start a fundraising team for the animals!

Day of Race $20: 7:30-8:15am, cash or check only

Pre-registrants are guaranteed an event tee; first come first serve the day of the race. Awards ceremony following the race presented by ABC 36's Mary Wasson.

5K - top male and female by age group
2K - Woodford Wag logo lookalike, best tail wagging dog, first dog/human team finisher
Top fundraiser and top fundraising team

Please thank our Woodford Wag event sponsors: BB&T Wealth Management, Nature's Own, Versailles Family Medicine, Animal Clinic at Equestrian Woods, Animal House Pet Hotel, Ashview Farm, Fitness Plus, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Hills Science Diet, Graviss McDonalds, ABC 36, AVT Audio Visual Techniques, Post Printing, Pretty in Pink, Summit Family Chiropractic, The Wright Design Screen Printing and Bill & Janet Tincher Hay & Feed.

A tail-waggin' thanks to our Volunteer Woodford Wag team: Mike Bell, Priscilla Aguila, Marc Cousoulis, Alex Kershaw, Steve Smith, Marcia Taylor, Sue Van Patten and Bud Watson.

If you can't participate, maybe you can help the animals and volunteer. Email marty@woodfordhumane.org for details.

Help our "Team Woodford'" employee fundraising team. We've set a goal of $500 and need your help to reach it!

Joseph-Beth Gives Back!

2010-05-03T11:29:00.000-07:00

Since 2008, Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington has donated over $13,000 to the homeless pets at the Woodford Humane Society! As a 501c3 nonprofit without any government funding, this sure helps our SAVE mission (Spay/neuter, Adopt, Volunteer, Educate).

You can add to this donation each time you shop at JB. Become a Gives Back Member and select Woodford Humane as your partnering charity. Then, each time you shop, the animals will benefit from your purchase (details).

May is Joseph-Beth's Gives Back Month

and you can Give Back even more!

Become a Gives Back Member

Print this special voucher

Bring it and shop on Wednesday, May 5.

When you do, TWENTY PERCENT will be donated back to the animals waiting for homes at our Adoption Center!

PRINT & BRING THIS VOUCHER

If you can't join us May 5, become a Gives Back Member now and help our homeless animals every time you shop at Joseph-Beth throughout the year. Please join us in thanking our friends at Joseph-Beth Booksellers!

Shop Woodford Humane retail (tees, tanks, totes, license plate frames, cards, etc) at Joseph-Beth in Lexington. Our display is located at the fire place as you enter Bronte Bisto. Each item sold helps us raise awareness and funds for the animals.

Woodford Humane Society's adopted Copper photographed by Peggy Maness Photography.

VISA helps the animals!

2010-04-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

Citizens Commerce National Bank offers a special VISA card that benefits our homeless pets. Each time you use your Woodford Humane VISA, the bank will donate up to 1% of what you spend to the Woodford Humane Society.

If you're looking for an easy way to support the animals, this is one of the best things you can do. Since the start of this program in 2007, Citizens Commerce has donated more than $15,500 to our orphaned pets!

Applications are available at our Adoption Center and at Citizens Commerce Bank locations at 534 Marsailles Road and 231 South Main Street in Versailles or at 108 Sea Hero Street in Frankfort.

PHOTO: On April 20, 2010 CCNB presented our homeless animals with a Big Check! This incredible donation was generated by 2009 purchases made on the VISA. Please join us in thanking our friends at Citizens Commerce!

Back Row (L to R): Missie Wood (WHS Bookkeeper), Board Treasurer Steve South, Board President Peggy Maness with adoptable Tipper, CCNB VP of Operations Eli Barber, CCNB President and COO David Brown, and CCNB Loan Operations Supervisor Blythe Gayheart. Front Row (L to R): Board Member Susan Adams, Executive Director Diane Kops, Community Outreach Director Marty Vaughn with adoptable Asia.

Our pets seek homes at Equus Run Vineyard

2010-04-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Join us at Springtime in a Bottle at Equus Run Vineyards on April 24 as they debut their 2010 Derby Wines.

Pack a picnic and meet our orphaned pets in Midway as they look for forever homes.

Saturday, April 24
Noon-5:00pm

Live Music: Noon-4:00pm
Adoptable pets: Noon-4:00pm

Event is FREE. Wine Tasting (for those over 21) is $2.00. More info, call Equus Run at (859) 846-WINE

Make your pet a star!

2010-04-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

May 1, 2010 is the last day to submit an image of your precious pet(s) to be included in our 6th Annual Limited Editions Calendar!

Our artful calendar is spiral bound and output in beautiful, warm sepia tones. It features stunning pet portraits from the talented Peggy Maness Photography and is packed full of friendly fur faces (pets need not have been adopted from Woodford Humane to be included) sent in from animal lovers, just like you!

Our calendar is an annual fund raising effort which directly raises monty to care for the homeless animals in our Adoption Center. Without any government funding, every image sent in truly helps pets in need!

Submission is easy so send in your favorite pet picture (or pictures) now. Image space starts at just $25 and sponsorships are also available.

Plan for a special holiday gift for your loved ones, submit their pets' photos and surprise them with our calendar as a personalized present! Our 2011 calendar debuts on Friday, September 17 at our special event called "Sniff n Mingle" hosted by Joseph-Beth Booksellers and Bronte Bistro, Lexington Green in Lexington, Kentucky. It's free to attend and you're friendly dog on a leash is also invited to join us!

For more info about pet photo submission, our calendar, or the Woodford Humane Society, email calendar@woodfordhumane.org

Join us as we celebrate 35 years!

2010-03-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

Adoptable Gandhi is ready for our birthday party at our Adoption Center today from 4-6pm.

We planned our very special day with Woodford County Chamber of Commerce to host their Business After Hours event. We hope you join us!

If not, please visit our Adoption Center anytime and bring a gift for the animals! The Woodford Humane Society is a 501(c)3 non profit organization and does not receive any government funding.

Our animals need literally everything! For a complete list, visit our website.

Meet our longest residents

2010-03-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Meet our Longest Residents
Sandy Davis, Public Relations Director

Chelsea (2 year old, Brindle & White Terrier Mix) is our longest resident canine. She became homeless in January of 2009.

Ava (2 1/2 year old, domestic short hair black cat) is our longest resident feline. She became homeless when she was just 8 weeks old in July of 2007.

Both are lovable, gorgeous girls and we have no idea why they're waiting so long for their forever homes.

Chelsea's red collar and Ava's green toy have been donated to the Woodford Humane Society for the animals. Without any government funding and approximately 200 homeless pets in our care every day, we are in constant need of supplies. Some items on the animals' wish list include:

Feline Pine Brand Kitty Litter
Toys & Treats
Grooming Supplies
Stainless Steel Feeding Bowls
Paper Towels
Bleach
Laundry Detergent
Gasoline Cards
Postage Stamps
Copy Paper
Paper Clips

Please note: The Woodford Humane Society is on the incredible Hill's Science Diet Shelter Program and feed our pets only Hill's. If you wish to donate food, please be certain it's Hill's brand so we can use it.

Please help us thank our volunteers.
Image of Chelsea by Volunteer Photographer Richard Labunski.
Image of Ava by Volunteer Photographer Regi Goffinet.
To become a Woodford Humane Society Volunteer, email our Community Outreach Director, Marty Vaughn.

It's our Birthday!

2010-03-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Happy 35th Birthday, Woodford Humane Society!
Sandy Davis, Public Relations Director

Imagine if the Woodford Humane Society didn’t exist. What would have happened to the over 1,000 animals we provided care for last year? And, to the thousands upon thousands of orphaned pets who found homes since we were founded in 1975?

Of course, no one wants to think of these answers or what it would be like if Woodford Humane were not serving our community’s homeless pets. No one wants to know how many perfect and precious pets die needlessly across this nation each year. It’s estimated that only 25% of pets nationwide who find themselves homeless will get adopted. 25% is not good enough. Today, the Woodford Humane Society finds forever homes for approximately 90% of our community’s homeless pets.

How could we possibly reach this unbelievable adoption rate? The credit goes to Woodford Humane Society’s founding Board of Directors (then called “membership”) which included Phil Mulholland, president; Julie Hahn, vice president; Barbara Walters, secretary; Betty Borowiak, treasurer, Dr. J. E. Barrows, Mrs. Zane Young, and Wendell Harris, directors; and Mrs. Greta Denny, special projects. This group of concerned citizens simply said, “No more.” On March 25, 1975, they created the Woodford Humane Society and began saving lives, one pet at a time. They started without a building, without funds or supplies, and, of course, without computers or the internet. What they did have was courage, will and determination to make changes for the animals. They worked closely with then dog warden, Clarence Jones. They looked into the future and led us to where we are today. It is because of our founders that we are able to draw strength and continue improving the lives of our community’s homeless pets while we work to find them a home.

Happy 35th Birthday, Woodford Humane Society! And a special thank you to all who make this organization possible - our Community, Founders, Board of Directors, Advisory Council, Volunteers, Supporters, Staff and, of course, to our furry friends. Together, we continue to reach a day where there are no more homeless pets. The Woodford Humane’s mission is SAVE: Spay/Neuter, Adopt, Volunteer, and Educate. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization without any government funding.

Help celebrate Woodford Humane’s birthday! Bring a birthday present for our homeless pets to our Adoption Center. We open every day at noon and are located on 265 Thomas Lane in Versailles. The animals always need toys and treats, paper towels and bleach or just a cuddle or a belly rub.

Or, stop by on our birthday. On Thursday March 25, our Adoption Center hosts Woodford County Chamber of Commerce’s “Chamber After Hours” social from 4-6pm. Free to attend and refreshments provided. For more information and to attend, visit woodfordcountyinfo.com.

This article written for and published by The Woodford Sun. March 18, 2010

Tobi’s “Paw of Love”

2010-03-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Tobi’s “Paw of Love”
Sandy Davis, Public Relations Director

When Ella and Jeremy brought Tobi home, they had no idea how much love this sweet Pit Bull Mix would bring into their lives. And, Tobi had no idea her forever home would be so wonderful!

“Tobi is an amazing dog who has taught us about love and responsibility,” says Jeremy. "She greets us at the door with her unconditional love and wagging tail." He adds, "Her calming effect has lowered my blood pressure.” Friendly Tobi also greets children, adults and other canines with her big smile.

She makes a great social coordinator to her “canine cousins” when they visit. As hostess, she makes sure each dog gets plenty of play and rest time. Sit, shake, speak, “inside” and “outside” are easy for this bright 5-year old. , by far, the fastest at the Dog Park, running circles around others. Jeremy shares that Tobi also makes a great assistant at the grill!

Best of all, Tobi loves to snuggle up close to Jeremy and Ella. She’ll curl up quietly by their side and gently place her “paw of love” on one of their laps as she sleeps. Tobi's sweet paw reminds them both just how much she loves them. And, Tobi reminds us all just how much comfort a canine’s love can offer.

A healthy pet is an altered pet!

2010-03-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

Spay and Neuter Spotlight: A healthy pet is an altered pet!
By Beth Oleson, Adoptions Counselor

Pet owners, get out your party hats: February 23rd is Spay Day USA! We think every day should be spay day, but we’re taking this opportunity to put the spotlight on exactly why spaying or neutering your pet is such a good idea. Today we’ll be focusing on how altering your pet benefits you (and your loving dog or cat) directly through numerous health and behavior benefits.

First, the basics: if you have a female pet, she gets spayed; if you have a male pet, he gets neutered. The spay and neuter surgeries are fast, simple, and virtually bloodless, and while any surgical procedure can be stressful for an animal, the risks here are so minimal that they’re virtually nonexistent. Most veterinarians recommend having the surgery performed before your pet hits its first heat cycle – generally at or before 6 months of age. Early surgery is gaining popularity among vets, and is generally a requirement for adoption facilities, so if you have any questions about when to fix your pet, don’t hesitate to ask!

In addition to being crucial in the fight against pet overpopulation, spaying and neutering is just good sense, as far as your pet’s health is concerned. A spayed pet has less than a 1% chance of developing mammary tumors, compared to more than 50% in unspayed pets, and she will never be at risk for life-threatening uterine infections, ovarian or uterine cancer, or ovarian cysts, all of which are fairly common and require extensive surgery to combat. A neutered pet has a minimal chance of suffering from an enlarged prostate, compared with more than 60% of unneutered pets, and has a greatly reduced risk of suffering from prostate, testicular, or colon cancer, as well as a reduced chance of suffering a perineal hernia – a rupture of the abdominal wall.

If all of that isn’t enough of an incentive to spay or neuter your pet, consider the behavior benefits as well. 90% of aggression cases in males are resolved simply by getting them neutered! Urine-marking is an expression of territoriality that is fueled by testosterone, so if you’re in a constant battle with pet urine in your home, get that pet fixed! And female pets who are spayed will never go into heat, which means no more howling, yowling, escaping, and roaming…and no more cleaning up after a pet on its period. If that doesn’t sound good, we don’t know what does.
In these economic times, the cost of spaying or neutering a pet can be a burden; if the only thing standing between you and a healthy, well-behaved, altered pet is money, call us today to find out more about our low-cost spay and neuter voucher program. We’re here to help, for you, your pet, and all of the unwanted litters of puppies and kittens that are born each year. You can reach the Woodford Humane Society at our Adoption Center at 859.873.5491 or by email at manager@woodfordhumane.org.

This article written for The Woodford Sun. Published 2/4/2010
Featured adoptable pet: Burlap. To adopt, email manager@woodfordhumane.org