Eli Meets Bobby Flay

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

Since Abbie the surfing dog’s visit, celebrities have been making guest appearances at HSSV. “Don’t be surprised if you see Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen out for a walk, or Brad and Angelina playing with their tails,” says Adoption Manager Rachel Deichman. These incognito stars are helping us celebrate our “My Buddy and Me” promotion for pairs of pets. From now until September 12, adopt any two animals of the same species and pay only one adoption fee. As Eli can tell you below, life really is better in pairs.

Eli came to HSSV with his brothers and sisters, but he was the first one you noticed. Outweighing his siblings, he won every wrestling match and was the first to the food bowl. One by one he watched his littermates get adopted until he was all alone in the large cat condo he once shared with them. The lonely meows started soon after, and we knew we had to find him a friend fast.

We paired Eli up with a feisty yet friendly redhead who we named Bobby Flay. It was a slow friendship; Bobby Flay was used to a solo career and was more independent than our Eli. But one day, Bobby partook in Eli’s game. They ran! They jumped! They tussled! Eli had found his new best friend.

Much to our delight, a couple came in soon after looking for two older kittens, one brown and one orange. Guess who they fell in love with? That’s right; our dynamic little duo had found a home of their own.

Looking for the perfect pair of dogs? Check out Lola and Bruce, she’s a pistol and he’s more practical. Together, they are spectacular!

Pet of the Week

Lola and Bruce

Hi, we’re Lola and Bruce: best friends forever!

Lola is the go-getter and Bruce is more laid back and sensible. Together we're unstoppable! We love to go for walks and Lola even has a pink stroller that she likes to ride in!

Our foster mom says we are the best pets because we’re loving and get along with kitties. Now we just need a family of our own!

To meet us, please contact our Social Secretary,
Casaundra Cruz at (408) 262-2133 ext. 183.

Learn how to adopt me!

How You Can Help

Every week, we ask the community to help us find one special pet a loving home. There are three easy ways to help, and you can do them all from the comfort of your home!

1. Click here to see Lola and Bruce's video, then share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

2. Print out Lola and Bruce's profile and post it at your local hangouts.

3. Donate online to help animals like Lola and Bruce get the care they deserve.

Together We Can Make a Difference!

This Weekend: Pet First Aid and CPR Class

By Valerie K. Kane, HSSV Volunteer

Do you know what to do if your pet is suddenly injured or suffers a medical emergency? I know that I don’t, so I’m glad to see HSSV is sponsoring another practical, useful class for pet owners: Pet First Aid and CPR.

In this class, Diane Troup from A Dog’s Life will teach techniques that could save a pet’s life, including controlling bleeding, applying bandages, treating shock and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Students will also take home an easy-to-use first aid book and a go-anywhere first aid kit.

The Pet First Aid and CPR class will be held on Saturday, August 28 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm in Classroom B of the HSSV Animal Community Center. I plan to attend and I’m looking forward to feeling much more confident and knowledgeable about handling a medical emergency with my dog, Tosha, or the other companion animals I interact with. If you’d like to join me, there’s still time to register; just click here.

There’s still time to register for the Pet First Aid and CPR class. Find out about other upcoming seminars and events on the HSSV Event Calendar.

Why You Should Have a Family Veterinarian

By Dr. Julia Lewis (pictured right), Director of Medical Services for HSSV

As soon as you acquire a pet, you should develop a relationship with a veterinarian so that you have a family vet. Even though pets adopted from HSSV are fully vaccinated and checked by our staff veterinarians, you should have your vet examine your new best friend within one to two weeks of bringing him or her home. This allows your vet to be introduced to your new family member and to establish a baseline by which to compare should your pet develop any problems. Your vet can also serve as a resource to provide advice about feeding, grooming, training, etc. It's also advisable to have a relationship with a veterinarian that you trust before a problem develops and you find you must go to the first veterinarian you can get in to see.

Use your pet's first visit to the vet as an opportunity to determine if that vet meets your and your pet's needs. If you do this while your pet is healthy, you won't feel pressured to go back to that vet if you or your pet doesn't feel comfortable.

Your pets should have an annual exam with your family vet, while older pets may require twice yearly exams, even if you don't sense any problems or health issues. By seeing your pet annually, your family vet may be able to detect problems in the very early stages providing a diagnosis and treatment that may be minor versus waiting until a problem is so advanced that the cost for diagnosis and treatment becomes a burden.

Did you know that HSSV offers medical services for family pets? HSSV veterinarians and medical support staff offer expert, affordable medical services to the public, including spay/neuter surgeries, microchipping and vaccinations. Bring your furry friend to HSSV and take special pride in knowing that, not only are you keeping your pet healthy, but also all proceeds go back to Humane Society Silicon Valley to save animals' lives. For more information, visit http://www.hssv.org/medical.html.

Happy Tails

Join us every Friday as we celebrate one of our many “happily ever afters,” brought to you by Jamie Emming, HSSV Satellite Adoption Manager.

Isaac’s HSSV story began with a run-in with the law. Animal control found Isaac roaming the streets. He was brought to HSSV, where we neutered and vaccinated him. The ginger tabby had none of the makings of a vagabond kitty. In fact, he was a perfect addition to Sunshine’s Community Cat Room, making himself the center of attention among the other eight cats.

While Isaac was making friends with the fellow felines, his future family started their search for an easygoing guy to join their 1-year-old kitty, Nesta. They looked at Pixel, a feisty Siamese, and our veteran Isaac. It was Isaac’s cat communication skills that secured his new home. Even a temporary stay in our multi-cat room provides a lot of insight as to how a cat makes same species friends and Isaac was certainly a charmer!

The seasoned adventurer, Isaac adjusted quickly to his new house. His adopters tell us Isaac explored his new domain “in minutes and settled down on the couch.” You can see by the photo of him on his new “throne” that he’s already taken over the remote control. Always the gentleman, Isaac is kindly giving his new feline sibling, Nesta, some space as she gets used the idea of having him around.

If you’d like to learn more about how to invite a second cat into your home, click here to open an informational PDF.

A Purrfect Match

By Jennifer Bush, HSSV Volunteer

HSSV finds homes for more than 3,000 animals every year. But the HSSV mission goes beyond adoption. It is “to save and enhance lives.” And sometimes HSSV makes an extra special match - one that seems truly meant to be.

In HSSV’s recent eNewsletter, one such special match was featured. Flynn, a black and white kitty, came to HSSV with a neurological disorder that made it hard for him to keep his balance. Although many shelters would consider a cat with a permanent neurological disorder to be “unadoptable,” HSSV knew Flynn deserved a loving home.

Then one day, Delores Anderson visited HSSV in search of a dog. But, fate had other plans for Delores. As soon as she saw Flynn, it was love at first sight. Delores, who is in her eighties, said she knew he would be slow and that they would “make a good twosome.” She shakes a little herself, and thought they could both “wobble together.”

In fact, that wobble inspired Delores to give her cat a new name, “Wobbles.” Despite his challenges, Wobbles loves to follow Delores around the house and play with his mouse and other toys. Delores said that “sometimes he falls into something, then he’ll just think that is where he’s supposed to be!”

I asked Delores if there was anything she wanted us to know about Wobbles. She responded “a little friend like that will really help you with your loneliness.”

If you’d like to read more stories like Flynn’s, sign up for HSSV’s eNewsletter here.

Pet of the Week

Sasha

Hi, I'm Sasha! I’m an 8-week-old kitten and I love to play. I pretend I’m a big cat when I stalk my toy mouse. After a good play session, I like to curl up in the sun for a cat nap.

If you are looking for a new best friend to share your life with, come meet me at the Humane Society Silicon Valley, in Milpitas! I’m ready to purr my way into your heart...

Learn how to adopt me!

How You Can Help

Every week, we ask the community to help us find one special pet a loving home. There are three easy ways to help, and you can do them all from the comfort of your home!

1. Click here to see Sasha's video, then share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

2. Print out Sasha's profile and post it at your local hangouts.

3. Donate online to help animals like Sasha get the care they deserve.

Together We Can Make a Difference!

Iggy the Tubby Tabby

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

Let me introduce you to Iggy, a 6-year-old tomcat built like a linebacker with a small head and big shoulders.

Iggy was found roaming the streets trying to fend for himself. A Good Samaritan brought him to HSSV and in no time he became a favorite for cuddle sessions, using that big handsome head to butt up against you, purring with contentment.

After a few weeks in our adoption center, we wondered why no one had taken home such a love-bug. Was it his tendency to nap during peak visiting hours? I knew we could expedite his departure if we gave him the chance to stand out. So, I transferred him over to our Satellite Center and we included him in our July adoption promotion.

Two days later, he was swooshing his tail goodbye on his way into the adopter’s carrier. Overjoyed with their new addition, Iggy’s new family could not contain their fat cat jokes. From behind he looks about three holes short of a bowling ball. Currently adjusting to his new digs, Iggy (who goes by Oscar now) looks forward to playing with his new workout buddy, a big black lab.

Next week we continue our happy “tails” with Isaac, a ginger tabby who had been bounced around from home to home before HSSV found him the perfect match.

Pet of the Week

Oliver

I was born without my two front legs, but I don't let it get me down.

I love to bounce, chew on my toys and play with other dogs just like a normal puppy!

Right now I'm staying in a foster home, but I'll be hanging out at

HSSV’s Community Center

August 14 from 12PM - 2PM

with my other foster dog friends, so come out and play!

Do you wish you could be a foster home for puppies in need like Oliver? Find out more by visiting http://www.hssv.org/foster.html

Learn how to adopt me!

How You Can Help

Every week, we ask the community to help us find one special pet a loving home. There are three easy ways to help, and you can do them all from the comfort of your home!

1. Click here to see Oliver's video, then share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

2. Print out Oliver's profile and post it at your local hangouts.

3. Donate online to help animals like Oliver get the care they deserve.

Together We Can Make a Difference!

Reactive Rover with Kim Moeller: Tools for Managing Reactive Dogs

by Valerie K. Kane, HSSV Volunteer

Last Sunday, I attended HSSV’s Reactive Rover seminar, led by Kim Moeller. As I mentioned last week, the seminar discussed how to manage a “reactive” dog, one who barks and lunges on leash. Walking with your dog should be enjoyable, but with reactive dogs, walks can be stressful, frustrating, and embarrassing. After awhile you may even avoid taking your dog out at all, which isn’t healthy for your dog or your relationship with your furry best friend.


Kim taught us that it is important to start with a good training foundation: teaching “Sit,” a relaxed “Down,” loose leash walking and recall. Then, we learned specific techniques to manage reactivity, such as “Find It,” “Look at That,” and “Leave it.”

Find It: Move your dog away from an approaching dog by throwing treats in the direction you want to walk. Make Find It a game, so that your dog associates fun and treats with the presence of other dogs.

Look at That: Encourage your dog to look calmly at an approaching dog and then return focus to you to get a treat. Your reactive rover learns that he can look at another dog without reacting.

Leave It: Teach your dog to ignore objects, such as approaching dogs. Leave It teaches your dog impulse control, which is a good skill for all dogs.


These techniques are not difficult to master, but they require patience and consistency. More importantly, these techniques will help you manage your dog’s reactivity and will making going for walks something you both look forward to. I’m looking forward to practicing Kim’s lessons when I walk the dogs at HSSV.


Find out about upcoming seminars and events on the HSSV Event Calendar. The Reactive Rover seminar was sponsored by South Bay Trainers and Positively Trained, and videotaped by Tawzer Dog Videos.

HSSV Saves 229 Feline Lives this July

By Jamie Emming, Satellite Adoption Manager

Mid-July, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) was bursting at the seams with 83 adoptable adult cats. Any cat who could share an apartment was already with a roommate, rollaway cat condos lined every hallway, and one special 10-year-old girl was bunking in an executive’s office. We knew we had to do something special to help our adult cats find homes during our busy “kitten season." We decided to include all our cats over a year in HSSV’s Homeward Bound Adoption Scholarship for the remaining two weeks of July.

HSSV’s Homeward Bound program waives the adoption fee on shelter guests who have been waiting the longest for a home of their own. These adoptions are no cost to the new family and include all of our matchmaking and follow-up services.

I’m happy to announce that, as a result of this two-week special, we found homes for 83 adult cats in July! And, the extra media buzz around the adults led to 146 kitten adoptions, making a record-breaking month for our felines! Our adoption staff was thrilled to meet so many caring families. As one counselor put it, “I love it when we’re busy, because I know we are helping more animals.”

We still have adult cats in the Homeward Bound program, so when you visit us, look for the bright yellow Homeward Bound tags letting you know that a particular pet is a long-term resident. Take a stroll down by the cat adoption apartments at our Animal Community Center and say hi to Snow who has been with us since November. He'll be the fluffy white kitty looking out from his window perch; maybe you are just what he's searching for?

Stay tuned next week to learn Iggy’s story – one of the kitties who was adopted during this special promotion.

---

Meet Our Pet of the Week

Bailey

Hi, I'm Bailey and I can't wait to hop into a new home!

I'm a very inquisitive bunny who likes to explore everything around me by standing on my hind legs or bumping objects with my nose.

I love to play with my toys, dig around in my blankets and nibble on fresh veggies.

If you're looking for some bunny to love, I promise to make you smile every day! Learn how to adopt me!

How You Can Help

Every week, we ask the community to help us find one special pet a loving home. There are three easy ways to help, and you can do them all from the comfort of your home!

1. Click here to see Bailey's video, then share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

2. Print out Bailey's profile and post it at your local hangouts.

3. Donate online to help animals like Bailey get the care they deserve.

Together We Can Make a Difference!

The Festival was Huge! Bow-Wow-Bunga!

by Valerie K. Kane, HSSV Volunteer


Last Sunday I attended HSSV's Music and Wine Festival. As you know from my recent post, I was especially excited to meet Abbie, the surf dog and HSSV alum.

Luckily, I arrived early because so many people showed up to meet Abbie that we had to create a formal line!


Lots of kids and dogs got to pose with Abbie and her surfboard, and Michael, Abbie's Dad, talked about how he used sports to bond with Abbie, transforming her from frightened pooch to confident dog athlete.


After meeting Abbie, I stopped by the HSSV dog park to see the flyball demonstration. It was fun watching the dogs run like the wind over the hurdles to the flyball launcher.



The dogs and their handlers seemed to be having a great time. I was reminded of Michael’s comment about how bonding with your dog through sports builds a foundation of trust.




After the demonstration, I made my way to the band stand. People had already set out lawn chairs and umbrellas, staking claim to their spots for the concert. Everyone made sure there were shady spots for the dogs and lots of water to drink. I thought it was very special to have such a big event where pets were as welcome as people and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Next, I headed to the community center where there was a long appointment list for adopters looking for a new companion. I heard from the adoption counselors that we matched up many of our guests with new homes.

I can’t think of a better way to end such a special day!

Overall, the festival was a huge success and I can’t wait until next year’s Music and Wine Festival. As Abbie would say, “Bow-Wow-Bunga!”





There are even more photos from the Music & Wine Festival in our Facebook photo album. Also visit our Facebook fan page and become a fan of HSSV.

Reactive Rover Seminar Coming Up

by Valerie K. Kane, HSSV Volunteer




On Sunday, August 8, HSSV is hosting a full day "Reactive Rover" seminar, taught by Kim Moeller, a dog reactivity expert. If you have a dog who barks or lunges while on a leash, especially when he sees another dog, then this seminar is perfect for you.

Luckily, my dog, Tosha, is not a reactive rover, but as a Dog Socializer volunteer at HSSV, I'm always looking to expand my dog training skills. So, I'm signed up and looking forward to learning from Kim. I should note that this class is for people only, so Tosha will have to stay home this time.

If you want to join me, the seminar is from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the HSSV Animal Community Center, with lunch included. HSSV is co-hosting the seminar with South Bay Trainers and Positively Trained. Hope to see you there.


To register for the Reactive Rover seminar, visit http://hssv.convio.net/site/Calendar/260476682?view=Detail&id=104562.