Very Special Happy Dog Seeks Happy Now - Applicants Must Be Able To Enjoy The Present.

Update! Valentine has been adopted! Thank you to everyone who passed this on or spread the word about her. More updates on Valentine coming! 

My name is Valentine. It's very important you don't feel sorry for me. Before I tell you my story, I need to know you won't feel sorry for me. What's past is done, the future is unpredictable. It's the now that matters. So don't pity me. Just help me find a happy now, okay? Because I am a happy dog and I deserve that. I'm not sad and sorry for myself and I don't want to be around people who are sad and sorry for me. I want to be around people who hand out treats and like to play and have warm laps.

The beginning was rough. I lived with my two siblings outside. We loved each other a lot and we played but we really didn't get any people-type care. When we were rescued there was no food or water. We don't need to focus on that - I certainly don't - but it's where I came from. It's over now. I like to focus on things like squeaky toys and giving my friends here kisses. If I'm a bit shy at times, it's likely because I came from that place. We don't need to talk about it any more. It's over.

I am a young dog. We bounce back from such things quickly.

Things have been wonderful since I've been rescued. I was brought here, to Humane Society Silicon Valley and they pamper me. I'm pretty spoiled. There's food all the time and soft beds and play time and I've made a ton of friends. I have my choice of laps to sit on. They even sent me to a doctor. At the doctor they listened to my heart. Most hearts goes thumpa-thumpa-thumpa. Or something like that, anyway. Mine goes thummpa...........thuuuuumpa........thuuuuummpa. Apparently this is not so good so they sent me to a special doctor. One who deals with dogs with special hearts. Because I do have a very special heart.

It turns out that while my heart is very big and full of love, it's also very big in a not-good physical way. I won't get too technical about it but it's very faulty. We're all a little flawed in our own way, aren't we? But my faulty-ness means that I probably won't live too terribly long.

Did I mention I don't want you to be sad? I'm not sad. Dogs live in the now. Go ask a dog what he's planning to do tomorrow. We don't make plans. We just enjoy the present.

The Humane Society isn't giving up on me. They say that they know someone is out there who will give me a great life, even if it may not be very long. Are you that person? Can you love me for as long as I have knowing it might not be very long? I have to take some medicine every day but aside from that I am a very normal young dog. You would never guess that there's anything wrong with me if I hadn't told you. And I have a lot of love to give.

If you think you could be that person, please call my friend Nichole at (408)262-2133 ext. 120 and she can arrange for us to meet.

Dog Blotter: Crimes and Demeanors On The HSSV Adoption Floor

At Humane Society of Silicon Valley we have many breeds and ages of dogs available. They all share several common denominators: They are all great dogs. They all need homes. And they all occasionally get into mischief. These are their stories.

Monday, August 5th, 1108 hours: Staff responds to a call of an assault on a squeaky toy in our dog park. Respondents find Dante, a two year old chihuahua mix, in an altercation with a lavender stuffed Wubba. It is unclear who started the altercation though it's noted that a volunteer flung the Wubba in the direction of Dante. No action taken as Dante did not seem to be in any danger and the consensus between staff and volunteers was that the Wubba had it coming.

 Wednesday, August 7th, 1643 hours: Report of a dog down in the Adoption Suites. Respondents find Sparky, a 2 year old Labrador Mixed breed, receiving a belly rub from a volunteer. Due to the lolling condition of his head and wagging of tail it was ascertained that he was enjoying this. As Sparky can be shy with new people and appeared to be very comfortable and happy, it was agreed that said belly rub would continue and respondents assisted in rubbing belly for awhile.

Thursday, August 8th, 1300 hours: Caller notes strange debris left in dog park, appearing to be a mop of some sort. Upon investigation, it was found to be Tee, an 18 month old mixed breed having a bad hair day. Suspect mixed breed was in the company of a volunteer who confirmed that Tee was not a cleaning implement but instead a dog of dubious heritage with an endearing personality but an unfortunate coiffure. Arrangements were made for her to visit the grooming department in the near future.

Friday, August 9th, 1023 hours: Two unruly, menacing tennis balls reported to be at large in small dog park. Upon arrival it was found that Bandit, an eleven month old chiweenie, had performed a citizens arrest and apprehended both tennis balls. It was decided to leave both balls to their fate and allow Bandit to provide appropriate punishment, primarily in the form of being chewed on, flung, dropped in the water bowl and possibly rolled in mud as well.

Saturday, August 10th, 1722 hours: Open container in a public area. Complainant reported drinking in a heavily populated area. Upon arrival Pogo, a fifteen month old chihuahua mix, was found to be enjoying a cold beverage in a play pod. Volunteer had provided the beverage to Pogo. After sampling, it was determined the bowl contained water and not vodka gimlets and therefore was legal. No attempts were made to perform a breathalyzer on Pogo as he is a dog.

Sunday, August 11th, 1004 hours: Reported cookie larceny. Suspect Priscilla, a 1 year old terrier mix, was observed sneaking cookies that had fallen out of a staff members pocket. Though suspect appeared to be familiar with frisking procedure, we declined as she appeared to have already swallowed the evidence, does not have pockets and can be uncomfortable with invasive handling. Suspect was given more cookies for being very brave with strangers.


Dante, Sparky, Tee, Bandit, Pogo and Priscilla are all available for adoption at our Milpitas Animal Community Center. All were found to be wonderful, law abiding canines who would make a great addition to your family. Come visit them today.

He Should Have Been Prince Hugo.

Wanna play tuggies?

When you look like Hugo it's easy to be misunderstood. While the best words to describe him are 'goofball' and 'marshmallow' he can be timid in new situations. Timid in a chihuahua is one thing. Timid when you weigh 90 pounds and have a head the size of a Volkswagen Beetle is another. Even Hugo's shaking, cowering timid can look scary if you're not used to extra large dogs. Once he's comfortable, he's a very sweet, very bouncy boy. Before he's comfortable he's a quivering pile of terrified. A very large quivering pile of terrified.

Hugo's met a lot of people but he still hasn't found the right fit for a home yet. He loves to play fetch, he's fine with handling and will do anything for a cookie. In thinking about who would be a great home for such an awesome, loveable dog who deserves the best, one thing comes to mind:

There might be a little drool on the carpet. No worries.

The Royals.

Why would Hugo be an awesome dog for William, Kate and little Georgie?

They're a young couple with a lot of energy. Hugo would be an awesome running partner for William. He'd love to go for walks with Kate when she's pushing the pram. While he's generally recommended for older kids due to his size and energy level, we offer training referrals to help the family integrate a large dog into the home.

He looks smashing, doesn't he?

They like to travel. Hugo loves to go places and do things. True, he can be a little shy at first but with gentle introductions he does wonderfully. All he needs is his tennis ball and his people to feel at home. And if they have to leave him alone he does just fine - no anxiety there.

They own their own home and have landlord rights over most of their country. This is a huge bonus for an extra-large pittie. Renting with bully breeds (or any large dog) can be difficult. A lot of landlords have restrictions on size and breed. Not only does the Royal Family not have to worry about that, they can also get around potential breed restrictive laws by banning them as Williams' grandmother also happens to be the Queen of England.

My word, he's a heavy chap.

In a perfect world, they'd be rushing over to bring him home. Unfortunately that doesn't seem very likely. They've been a little busy lately, what with the baby and all, and importing dogs from the US can take a while. Hugo is ready for his forever home now. He's been doing very well learning his basic commands and is always ready to make new friends over a game of fetch.

If you're looking for an athletic marshmallow of a dog and like your pooches big and regal, come down and meet Hugo today. Bring your throwing arm and some treats and prepare to abdicate your heart.

A Purrrfect Time for Pawfurred Pricing

Beautiful Boo Boo Kitty came to us because her human, her doting parent, was killed in a car accident.  Her "mom" loved cats and animals very much and Boo Boo Kitty in particular.  The Animal Community Center is a wonderful place with wonderful volunteers, but as you can imagine, a loving, social girl like her expects and deserves more!  

She is a young 14-year-old, hanging out in the Development Team's office to get some quiet time from the dozens of fun-loving kittens already at the Center.  She knows that there are more kittens coming from foster homes into adoption soon and she and her friends don't want to be overlooked. 

So, she asked us to bring back Pawfurred Pricing!  And how could we say no to Boo Boo Kitty?!

Starting immediately, and until Boo Boo Kitty tells us otherwise, ask about Pawfurred Pricing.  As you work with an Adoption Counselor to find the purrrfect cat (older than 6 months), you create an adoption fee that works best for your new feline friend and of course, well, you.  Show some love and bring some love home!

Boo Boo Kitty says it's okay to ask about kittens (under 6 months), but only if it's a two-fer!  For one adoption fee ($175), you can adopt two kittens!  The kittens call it My Buddy & Me!  

The Animal Starz of Humane Society Silicon Valley

By Natasha Dolginsky, HSSV Volunteer

Over the weekend when I was visiting Humane Society Silicon Valley (drooling over all the adorable  bunnies, cats, and dogs!), I learned about the Animal Starz program. I spent a few minutes chatting with Jaime Allen, HSSV’s director of education programs, who told me about this two-session course where kids, ages 10-13, learn more about the animals and get an opportunity to help as well! As part of the curriculum, students get up close and personal with special animals, make cat toys and blankets for the HSSV residents, and even create a piece of art to be displayed in HSSV’s Animal Community Center.

Schools are putting a much bigger focus on giving back and, starting at a pretty young age, kids are getting involved in their communities as part of school projects. In fact, the Animal Starz program was started in part to meet the increased demand from parents and students asking about volunteer opportunities for kids!

As a volunteer myself I’m very happy to see a bigger focus on community service in elementary and middle schools! I remember when I was younger, options for volunteer projects were pretty slim and volunteering wasn’t something I got involved in until high school.

It’s so nice to see programs such as Animal Starz in my own community. They teach kids about the importance of giving back, give them a fun way to complete a school project and help the animals at the same time. And hopefully more young volunteers now means that we’ll be seeing more volunteers as kids get older!

HSSV’s Valentine Adopt-a-Thon – a Matchmaking Success!

By Natasha Dolginsky, HSSV Volunteer

The Valentine Adopt-a-thon this past Saturday was a blast!  Over 930 guests made it to the event, some looking for their “love connection” and others just hanging out with the adorable animals of HSSV and enjoying the sunshine.

Love was definitely in the air in the cat adoption room!  There were dozens of cats who had traveled from Itty Bitty Orphan Kitty Rescue, Unconditional Love, and Nike Animal Rescue Foundation and were waiting to meet their perfect match.  There was Anne, the gray tabby who generously went from one lap onto the next, Larry, a gorgeous tuxedo cat with a very distinctive purr, Spike, an adorable black 7-month-old kitten rightly nicknamed Cuddles who was getting his share of belly rubs, and many, many more!   Thirty cats found their love matches that day at the Humane Society location and at the San Jose and Sunnyvale PETCO locations.  All are now enjoying their new homes!

As folks were happily making their way home with their new furry family members, I had a chance to catch up with two of the families:

Terri had driven two hours to adopt Timmy, a 4-year-old adorable Chihuahua, whom she first saw and fell in love with two weeks ago.  She made the long trek this Saturday and was full of smiles as she headed back home to introduce Timmy to his new family.

For Fred, Paulette and daughter Madison it was love at first sight when they met Sid, a 1 1/2-year-old Chihuahua.   Sid stole their hearts with his contagious energy, playful personality and sparkly eyes.  It was hard to tell who was more excited, Sid or Madison, as both of them were nearly jumping up in place!  What a wonderful match and a great family portrait!

Didn’t have a chance to make it on Saturday?  There are plenty of cats, dogs and bunnies looking for someone to love. 

Also, check out the HSSV event calendar, to learn about upcoming events, classes and much more!

Love is in the Air at the HSSV’s Valentine Adopt-a-Thon

By Natasha Dolginsky, HSSV Volunteer

Do you have a special Valentine this year?  It’s not too late to fall in love with one of HSSV’s adorable animals at the 2nd annual Valentines Adopt-a-Thon this Saturday, Feb. 12. 

I’m very excited about this event because the staff are sweetening things up with a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” offer on dozens of lovable cats (6-months and older) who can’t wait to cuddle up to someone special this Valentine’s day. If you’re looking for a non-feline four-legged friend, there’ll be plenty of dogs, bunnies, hamsters, and chinchillas to steal your heart.

The Valentine Adopt-a-Thon is happening this Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the HSSV’s Animal Community Center and its two satellite locations in PETCO Sunnyvale and PETCO San Jose.  The event is free, no RSVP is required and you’ll be able to “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” for an adult cat at any of these three locations.

If you’d like to become a special valentine to a furry four-legged friend or just want to spend the day surrounded by adorable animals, join me at the Valentine’s Day Adopt-a-Thon this weekend.  I’ll be at HSSV’s Animal Community Center and hope to see you there!

Want to take a peek at your possible love connection? Click here to see HSSV’s available animals.

Animal 911: Aggie’s Story

By Amber N. Yoo, HSSV Volunteer

One of the things I like most about Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) is the extraordinary lengths the staff goes through for every single animal in their care. Just last week, I learned about a kitty named Aggie who is a shining example of the great work HSSV is doing.

Aggie, a 7-year-old kitty, was surrendered to HSSV when her family was no longer able to give her the attention she deserved. Aggie was a healthy cat who absolutely adored being petted. She’d stand up on her hind legs when offered a treat, and enjoyed napping in laps. Like all of the kitties at HSSV, Aggie lived in a luxurious cat condo, complete with a private bed and lots of attention from volunteers.

Despite staff’s best efforts to make Aggie feel at home, Aggie became depressed without a family of her own. The days went by and Aggie’s depression began to take its toll. She stopped eating. No amount of cajoling or coaxing convinced Aggie to eat. The veterinary team was called in for close monitoring. She was hand-fed and showered with love and attention. Most shelters might not have gone to such lengths, but, thanks to the perseverance of HSSV staff, Aggie recovered. And then they found her the perfect home.

Aggie, who now goes by Abbie, was adopted by a man named Scott. The two have settled into a routine that includes a lot of cuddling and playing with furry toy mice. “Every morning when I wake up, she’s right there,” Scott happily told me. While he’s at work she lays on the back of the sofa, looking out of their third floor apartment at the gardens below and “chirping at the birds.” When he returns, she tells him about her day. “I hear about it for about half an hour,” Scott laughingly noted. Abbie provides a positive energy to the house that Scott said was missing before. And now Abbie has her own special person to spend the rest of her days with.

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.

Man's Best Friend Design contest

By Jennifer Bush, HSSV Volunteer

What images come to mind when you think of your pet? What makes our connection to our pets so strong? Earlier this month, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) sponsored a t-shirt design contest with these questions in mind. The theme of the contest, “Man’s Best Friend,” was intended to inspire artists to create a design that embodied the spirit of HSSV. The contest was led by Robin Poncy, manager of HSSV’s pet store, in partnership with Goodjoe.com, a community based t-shirt company with “a passion for doing good.”

Robin hoped to find a t-shirt design that would appeal to everybody, whether man or woman, young or old. She needed a cutting edge design that she could sell in the pet store at HSSV, called Whole Pets, as well as around the community. It would also become the official t-shirt for fundraising and marketing activities. The winning design would need to have broad appeal and fit HSSV’s mission of enhancing the human-animal bond.

Out of 25 designs submitted, Robin picked one titled “Our Very Own Island” as the winner. Simple and sweet, it features a boy and his cat napping comfortably on a private island. The winner, who goes by “kingmilk,” said the design is about “owning your very own island and sharing it with somebody you love.” The inspiration came from a cat that once wandered the neighborhood. The cat was always very friendly, but one day stopped showing up. Kingmilk, who designs as a hobby, has wondered about that cat for years. Robin Poncy loved that the design showed the best of what animals bring to our lives. Though alone on the island, the two are “in harmony and at peace with each other.”

On a personal note, this design really spoke to me. When I was pregnant with my first child, I was on bed rest for a few weeks. I would take naps on the couch and, although my dog, Berkeley, wasn’t usually allowed on the couch, I made an exception. I’d fall asleep, and she would curl up in the crook of my bent knee. Though these days she’d need an island big enough for a good game of fetch, “Our Very Own Island” reminds me of those blissful naps with my first “baby.”

How does the winning design speak to you? What is your favorite place to escape with your pet? Post your comments below!

The shirt will be available for pre-order at this Sunday’s Music and Wine event, for a discounted price of $15. Shirts with the new design will be available in the Whole Pets store later this summer.

Amazing Animals Summer Camp - An Update from the Counselors

Here is an update on Amazing Animals Summer Camp from camp counselors Sniffy (Noreena) and Spaz (Nick):

Tomorrow may be the last day of our current camp session, but there are still many sessions to come, and many more kids who are waiting to have some fun at Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV)! The past several days have gone by very quickly. One of the best parts of camp for the kids, based on what they keep talking about, was playing with HSSV’s adoptable kittens. We had all sat in circles in small groups and allowed a few kittens to play and meet us within the enclosed space. Everyone, after the lesson on cat body language, was attentive and considerate of the kittens’ needs—whether they needed a few minutes to rest, or simply some more time to get acquainted before letting themselves be pet and held. It was great to see teamwork and cooperation in passing around the toys, and a gentle shielding of any gaps between each other if a kitten tried to squeeze out of the circle! We counselors have come to the conclusion that interaction with animals brings out the best of these campers.

Presentations from Sulphur Creek Nature Center and an independent snake expert captured everyone’s attention. Sulphur Creek’s large owl stared imploringly back into its audience’s wide eyes, and they all gasped as the snake presenter lifted up his blue-tongued skink to his cheek for a “kiss” (which was, in fact, just the animal’s way of “tasting the air” with its tongue). We were impressed by several campers in particular that day. One girl named Ria seemed to know, or at least have a reasonably good guess to, the answer to every question that was asked about reptiles. Then, although she was visibly a little nervous, still volunteered to hold a snake—and offered again for another snake! Hands-on experiences truly enhanced the learning experience for the campers this week.

But all good things must come to an end, and today we participated again in our camp tradition of closing circle. However, after mention that Friday would be the last day, one camper named Rachel raised her voice and said, “I never want this camp to end!” Personally, that gives any of us who help manage this camp a sound sense of satisfaction. We are proud to be part of HSSV, that is clearly doing things right!

For more information about our Amazing Animals Summer Camp, please visit our website at http://www.hssv.org/education_camp.html.

FERDINAND THE (PIT) BULL

By Bridget Keenan, Director of Development

I got a call from a woman named Sarah recently. She was near tears and desperate to find help for a sweet pit bull who came up to her in her grocery store parking lot. Although she lived near Sacramento, she had gotten my name from a friend who had come to HSSV for a tour and was so impressed with the work that HSSV has done in our community.

This little 1-year-old pitty had jumped in her car when Sarah was loading her groceries, and wasn’t planning to leave. He clearly had been abused in his short life, with multiple scars on his body, and his ears mutilated and butchered by an apparent home-done cropping job. Despite his appearance, he had the mellowest disposition, laying in the front seat with his head on her lap while she drove him directly to the vet to check for a microchip.

It turned out there was no microchip, and she knew that his owner who did this to him didn’t deserve to get him back. But she also believed that someone had probably tried to train him to be a fighter, but because of his sweet nature it was clear he never would be one, and they likely abandoned him. And so she named him “Ferdinand”, after the famous children’s story, “Ferdinand the Bull”. As you may remember, Ferdinand was a bull that was believed to be mean and vicious, but he’d rather smell flowers and make friends than fight. What a perfect name!

After hearing her description of sweet Ferdinand, I wanted to help, too! Sarah had a friend who was fostering him, but had to leave town in a few days and Sarah couldn’t take him for long herself. She didn’t want to drop him off at her local shelter, because they had a lot of pit bulls, and she feared he’d potentially be euthanized due to space or time.

I checked here at HSSV, but HSSV can only accept pit bulls from Santa Clara County due to overpopulation issues we have with this breed. But even if that weren’t the case, there were no vacancies at our canine foster family homes. (As a side note, we need canine foster homes! Let us know if you can help!)

But I fear not! HSSV has been known to help save lives in other ways. I called my friend Dustin at Butte Humane Society (BHS) in Chico, about 90 minutes north of Sacramento. As a favor, Dustin pulled strings and Sarah was able to bring Ferdinand up to them. Like HSSV, BHS doesn’t euthanize any adoptable pets, and I knew Ferdinand would be in good hands. And he was!!

Not only did many staff members anxiously await this special boy’s arrival, but his many photos and their thoughtful and enthusiastic write-up on their website was worthy of a Pulitzer. He quickly found a home with a lovely couple who understood pit bulls and had a puppy that needed some company. Ferdinand now has a little sister!

But that’s not the end of the story. Ferdinand soon will be having a “glamour photo shoot” because he may be included in a pit bull organization’s 2011 calendar! Word has spread, and he has become quite famous!

Ferdinand certainly chose well when he spotted Sarah in that parking lot, and I’m so glad Sarah reached out to us so we could make the connection with Butte Humane Society. The staff there did a great job in finding him a home. It’s encouraging to see what can be accomplished by organizations that work together for an animal’s future. Here at HSSV, we’re saving one life at a time, quite often behind the scenes, and even for pets that never make it on to our own website.

Fostering My Love of Dogs

By Bridget Keenan, Director of Development

I just enjoyed my first experience as a dog-mom. I’ve found myself being tempted toward dog ownership recently, and I figured becoming a dog foster parent is a good way to learn if I’m the dog-type. My cats are super-affectionate, but I can’t bring them hiking, or to the local coffeehouse, or to HSSV’s dog-centric Walk ‘n Wag event. So I applied to be a foster mom and stuck my big toe in the water, dog-wise.

Casaundra, who manages our dog foster program, went easy on me with my first foster. Enter “Fergie” a little 9-pound Chihuahua/Mini Pinscher mix. She came to HSSV as a rescue from a local shelter where she was a stray, and she was terrified. She clung to me the moment she was put into my arms on a Friday afternoon. I was instructed that my only job was to love her up and build her confidence by introducing her to new things. I could do that! I zipped her into my fleece uniform vest and went back to my keyboard, and in about an hour she stopped shaking from fright.

She was very scared that first weekend, but came out of her shell by Day Two, and started showing signs of confidence. She was so affectionate, curling up on my lap or by my side, or being held on my shoulder like a baby. I nicknamed her “Lovebug”.

Even my cats got used to her, and she soon chose my cat Marigold as her best friend, chasing her around the house and batting at her playfully. My favorite moments were when I’d be watching TV covered by my “pet blanket”: Fergie and my two cats, all asleep along my body (chest, lap, legs). She got along well with my office-mate’s Beagle, Chip, too.

I struggled with wanting to adopt her, but knowing that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to care for other dogs in need in our foster program. In less than two weeks, I had successfully loved her up and built her confidence, and Fergie was ready for adoption. Within two days, she was adopted into the perfect home where she will have heaps of time and love devoted to her. Her new owners are a lovely couple who keep in touch and let me know that she is bonding quickly with them, and is fun and playful; they adore her.

It's a great experience being a foster mom. While it pulls on the heart-strings as I balance loving them completely and trying not to get too attached, I also trust the adoption system we have in place, and know HSSV will find the right home for them. It’s extremely gratifying knowing I’m the critical bridge between HSSV and their permanent home. Next week I’ll meet my next pooch, and the process will start anew.

An Event for Everyone – HSSV’s First Annual Summer Music, Wine & Adoption Festival

By Lauren Gallagher, Controller & Event attendee

When I heard that HSSV was going to host its First Annual Summer Music, Wine & Adoption Festival on August 22nd, I knew that is was going to be my kind of event - dog friendly, outdoor, sunshine, live music, appetizers, and wine tasting, all to support HSSV. What more could a girl ask for! I was so excited to attend the event. Later on I realized that I had promised to baby-sit my niece, Riley, that weekend. I asked her if she wanted to attend the event, and of course, she was so thrilled and eager to go.

Just like her mom and me, Riley is a big animal lover. She LOVES
coming to HSSV’s Animal Community Center, and likes to visit each
cat, dog and bunny in the animal habitats, to pick out her favorites.
She was asking me all morning how much longer until we go to the
Humane Society. When she arrived, she immediately wanted to look for her favorite cat from her last visit. She kept loudly repeating, “Where’s that cute fat cat?” which resulted in giggles from those around us. Did I mention that she is five? That handsome plus-sized cat, Binky (see picture), had happily been adopted, so Riley looked for a new favorite.

We wandered into the Education Classrooms,
and Riley (see picture on left) participated in all the activities that
were set up, at no cost, for the children (see picture on right). She made toys for my two cats, and for the HSSV cats, got her face painted, and played games where she learned about supplies needed for each type of pet. She loved it, and as her babysitter, I really appreciated the organized activities.

We wandered outside, and Riley joined the small crowd of people and dogs dancing to the live band, Ruthie and the Gents.

Many of the adults were tasting the local wines, and sampling beer from Los Gatos Brewing Company while enjoying the music and the appetizers. We saw people lounging with their dogs in the dog parks. In Riley’s words, “This is the best party!”







As we walked around inside, we noticed that the Animal Community Center was packed, and we could feel that magical energy in the air, as there were many families that were going through the adoption interviews, and hopefully meeting their 4-legged match.


Riley noticed that the type of dog that she longs to adopt, a small poodle mix, was adopted earlier in the week, because we saw his picture on the adoption board.

She has been trying to persuade her parents to adopt a second dog; therefore she closely studied each of the dogs in the canine habitats. During the event weekend, there were 20 adoptions of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens and rabbits.

The purpose of the event was to bring more people to the ACC, show them some fun, and to hopefully find new homes for our adoptable dogs, cats, and rabbits. The event was definitely a success for HSSV, for the hundreds of attendees, including Riley and me, and most important, for the animals that went home with their new families to their forever homes.

DNA testing for dogs? What’s so great about that?

By Stephanie Ladeira, VP of Development and recent DNA contest guesser winner

HSSV recently started providing DNA testing for dogs through our medical center using the Mars Wisdom Panel MX. Pretty exciting stuff – and not just frivolous, either. The benefits of DNA testing are many, but probably the two most useful are to better understand your dog’s behavior and to provide preventative care for breed specific health issues. Have a Lab mix that seems more oriented to one person than entire populations, like a normal Labrador? You might find out that there’s a large percentage of Rottweiler in there, which would explain the behavior and help you to provide the most appropriate environment for your dog. Or maybe you have a little dog that looks like a Chihuahua, but nips toes and heels to keep you moving in the right direction. DNA testing can help identify that your small dog actually has a large percentage of Heeler in him. Explaining behavior can be tantamount to managing undesirable behaviors and teaching dogs in ways that they learn best.

Recently, HSSV’s Animal Welfare Director, Dr. Julia Lewis, sponsored HSSV’s first DNA test. She asked HSSV staff and volunteers to vote on a dog to be the first DNA test at HSSV. Many dogs (favorites of staff and volunteers) were voted on, but the winner was Teeka. Teeka and her mother, Cannelita, have been with us at HSSV for 5 months, while they wait for us to find them the perfect home, together (watch their funny video here). We rescued these two silly girls from a public shelter when their time was up (at that point, they were depressed and shy) and they have blossomed into fun-loving, affectionate little “piglets” in the time we’ve been caring for them. To see them in action, watch the video of them after a vigorous play session here.

After 2 weeks, the DNA test came back – and while the most popular breeds guessed were chihuahua and pot bellied pig, only one person even came close to guessing what these girls had in them! In fact, only one person guessed a large breed dog could exist in these little waggy wiggle worms.

The results:
Drum roll: 25% Chihuahua, and 12.5% GOLDEN RETRIEVER (which makes sense, as Cannelita loves to fetch!) and 12.5% Cocker Spaniel! I bet that last 50% is pot bellied pig, which just doesn’t show up on the test...

BTW, Teeka and Cannelita are on hold for a potential adopter – so keep your fingers crossed that all goes well with their introductions to the other dogs in the household and that these girls can finally be in a home of their own. If you are interested in finding your own Teeka or Cannelita, check out our special animals available for adoption.

Self-Absorbed? Over-Weight? Stressed Out? Try Fostering!!

by Jeanne Wu, VP of Humane Resources

If ever there was a magic elixir to cure our ailments, frets, and the day to day annoyances that plague our lives, it’s a litter of homeless kittens. From the moment they come into your life, you will spend your day (and sometimes nights) caring for these precious balls of fur. You’re now Mom and they’re looking lovingly into your eyes.

The task ahead of you can be both exciting and humbling. Suddenly, a small, helpless creature depends upon you for their survival. No time for narcissism now, you’ve got meaningful work to do!

As they grow, ounce by hard-earned ounce, they become more lively and playful; they will become your real-time treadmill around your home, as you enthusiastically follow them while they discover every nook and cranny with fascination. Why invest in expensive exercise equipment when you’ve got kittens?

Now let’s put your problems into perspective. Unless you’re wondering where your next meal is coming from or have no roof over your head, the kittens’ problems trump yours. Yes, it’s a tough economy and you may have good reason for feeling blue, but does your ability to have a nice life depend upon your cuteness? So, get yourself some foster kittens. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have.

I Was Adopted in the Cat Community Room

Bridget Keenan
Director of Development




Our Cat Community Room is certainly a crowd-pleaser. Visitors ask if our cats are revolved from the individual condominiums into this room and back so they all benefit from this fabulous space, but that is not the case. You may wonder how certain cats are lucky enough to live in this room and the adjoining “Sun Porch”, and there’s quite a science to it, dependent on the proper mix of age, health, personality, and activity level. Appropriate cats for this room have been at HSSV for at least 2 weeks so the team can ensure they are healthy (think daycare where “little kids = germ bombs”).

They must be at least 6 months of age, but because they’re mellow and get along with everyone, they’re often “Golden Pets” (age 6 or older). But there may be a few rowdy cats thrown into the mix…the ones who get “The Zoomies”…because they have lots of room to expend their energy, and plenty of space for other less-active cats to get out of their way! These cats must be comfortable being introduced to new cats, and aren’t the type to hide (no fun going into the cat room and everyone is in a crawlspace!). So Cat Community Room residents are often the extroverts, although our cats in the condos can be extroverted, too! It adds up to a diverse room of interesting adoptables (or adopters, I should say, since everyone knows that cats adopt us!).

I myself got “adopted” in the Cat Community Room a few weeks ago, and it was a magical moment. I went into the room for a little kitty-therapy one Monday. I was jetlagged from a European flight the night before, and grieving the recent loss of my sister. I sat down on the wicker couch in HSSV’s Cat Community Room and this cute gray-and-cream muted tabby with green eyes immediately took one look at me, jumped off his perch, and hopped up into my lap. He put his paws on my shoulder and nuzzled my face. Hiya, fella!



But I was told there was a bonded pair, Alex and Rocky, in the room that I should check out, so after a few minutes I put him down and wandered over to see them. They had zero interest in me – it just wasn’t a love match. But ol’ Green Eyes kept following me around, putting his paws on my thighs to get picked up and held like a baby being burped. I finally asked “what’s your name, love?” and went outside to see his card and info. I my jaw dropped when I read his name was “Keenan”! (My last name being Keenan, talk about having a cat with my name written all over him!) After five straight days of similar visits, it was clear that Keenan was the one for me, and WE'RE now the bonded pair. (He had it all figured out on Day 1, and to this day wonders what took me so long.)

That’s why I love the Cat Community Room and condos…you can have your eye on one cat, but another will adopt you instead. Stop by and see who picks you out next time you’re at the Animal Community Center.