Letter from the Executive Director Focus On Programs Bringing Your Lost Pet Home

Paws To Honor Paws Up Meet Sarah Tayse, CAWA Creative Kids

The fluffy gray tiger kitty was brought into admissions by a Good Samaritan at the end of October. She and her four siblings would alternate between bristling and hissing and settling in to be petted. (Then) Animal Care team member Nicky S. noticed something unusual about the kitten’s eyes, which were completely black.

Dr. Laurie Millward performed an eye exam and immediately confirmed that this kitty was missing the iris portion of the eye! There was no color around the pupil but the kitty could see and track objects with both eyes normally. A veterinary ophthalmologist at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine was consulted and the consensus was that this

kitty had a congenital birth abnormality. Her eye health was otherwise unaffected but she was one in a million! The name for this condition is congenital aniridia, which doesn’t impact quality of life but carries a higher risk for lens luxation or glaucoma in the future.

Nicky and the veterinary services team named the little kitty Tribble, because she looked like the furry little space creature from an episode of the original Star Trek TV series. Tribble quickly became a shelter favorite, tearing across the carpet in the veterinary office. Nicky asked if she could foster the special little girl at her home. During her time in foster care, she was kept isolated from other pets (standard foster guidelines), but she was fascinated with Nicky’s kitty Baboo, also adopted from CAHS. Tribble would cry and cry for his attention if Baboo walked by, and he would constantly sit on the other side of the door watching her.

Not wanting to separate the two kitty friends, and having fallen in love with Tribble, Nicky officially became Tribble’s mom. Tribble and Baboo have been inseparable ever since.

Nicky says, “She is my adorable little ball of fluff, with this thick, poufy hair you can’t help but pet. She and Baboo tear through the house all day, even allowing my cattle dog, Ellie, to join in the chase, then curl up next to each other at night while my other kitty Nubby glares at them and sleeps on my pillow with me. We are a happy little family.”

Nicky is a former employee and current volunteer at the Capital Area Humane Society.

Tribble, a very unique kitty!

What’s Inside?

WINTER/SPRING 2014NEWS FROM YOUR HUMANE SOCIETY

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SAVE THE DATE

Tuesday, April 296:30 pm - 9:00 pmHuntington Park

BOArD OF TrUSTEESPete Dunlap *PresidentLaurie Marsh *Vice PresidentJeanne Tierney *Second Vice President Trish Elkind *SecretaryTed Stimson *Treasurer

Tod Beckett, DVMJ. Quinn DorganMatt HallLinda Lord, DVMScott MorganSherri OrrNorm RankinBrant Rhoad *Barbara K. ShepardSteven P. ShepardLinda Stickney *Lisa SwartzwelderDenny Tishkoff *

*Executive Committee Member

MAnAgEMEnT TEAMRachel D.K. Finney, CAWAExecutive DirectorScott BaxterAnimal Care ManagerMegan HiderCustomer Care ManagerLawrence Hill, DVMAssistant Professor – OSU Shelter RotationMary HiserCommunications ManagerJessica KendroVolunteer Programs ManagerKerry ManionChief Humane AgentTara PahlAssistant Customer Care ManagerJennifer SteinhoffAssistant Animal Care ManagerSarah Tayse, CAWAVeterinary Services ManagerEmily Walz, DVMStaff VeterinarianLori WilliamsFinance ManagerEmilie ZionDevelopment Manager

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By the time this message hits your mailbox, we will be within inches of Spring; but I’m writing in the clutches of a polar vortex and the wind chill is below zero. In the spirit of forward thinking, I’m excited to share that 2014 is going to be one our very best years in service to animals. The Capital Area Humane Society is an organization constantly on the move. While we’ve had great successes in 2013, we have so much more good work to be done for the animals in our community. Let’s reflect and project:

Our live release / placement rate for cats continues to climb. This year, we will take those advances further to save even more lives. Get ready for increased partnerships with local animal welfare agencies, a deeper commitment to providing spay and neuter options for cats, and some very aggressive adoption promotions, just to name a few.

In 2013, we accepted 158 dogs into our adoption program from partner shelters! This year, we are aiming to double that number so that even more dogs have an opportunity to find a loving home. Speaking of loving homes, 23 women and 10 children are safe and comfortable in their new homes thanks in part to our Safe Haven for Pets program. Studies show that victims of domestic/family violence often remain in dangerous relationships because they fear for the safety of their pets in the hands of an abuser. You can read more about our life-saving Safe Haven work later this edition.

At the Capital Area Humane Society, we believe pets are family and we focus every day on keeping families safe. In 2013, our Cruelty Investigations Department saw an increase in the number of visits made responding to animals in need; over 6,300 visits in total. That’s a direct result of more reports of animal cruelty in our community. Our Humane Agents brought 1,226 animals to our facility for care in 2013. Sometimes our work feels like an uphill battle, but we have so much for which to be grateful. Thank goodness someone in our community cared enough to report animal abuse and we were prepared to respond to their plea. And thank goodness we had your support to make it all possible.

In pursuit of more goodness for animals,

Rachel D.K. Finney, CAWAExecutive Director

Letter from the Executive Director

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Rachel and Buttercup

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This unique program is designed to support victims of domestic violence who are attempting to leave an abusive situation, but fear for the safety of their companion animals. Violence against animals is a precursor to violence against humans. Studies show that a high percentage of pet owners entering shelters reported that their abuser had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets.

Currently, no local domestic violence shelters offer services to pets. We offer a temporary housing option for pets so victims can seek safety for themselves and their children while knowing their pets are receiving outstanding care and are safe from harm. During their stay, all pets will receive complete veterinary care including vaccinations and treatments for illness and injuries, as well as a microchip. Dogs, cats and rabbits will also receive spay or neuter surgery if unaltered. All services are offered at no cost to clients within Franklin County.

In 2013, the Safe Haven for Pets program provided service to 34 individuals and families and coordinated foster care for 56 companion

animals. The Average length of stay for animals in this program is 46 days. There are pets being sheltered as part of the Safe Haven program 365 days a year.

Our customer care and cruelty investigations team members frequently recommend the program to clients in need of assistance. Referrals to the program also come from community partners such as the Center for Family Safety and Healing, the Columbus City Prosecutor’s Office, local veterinarians and an extended network of social service agencies and emergency responders such as Choices and Salvation Army.

The Capital Area Humane Society maintains a Safe Haven dedicated cell phone number (614-305-0102) so that potential clients can seek information without phone records revealing the name of the Capital Area Humane Society. The program may also be reached via email at SafeHaven@cahs-pets.org.

Don’t wait. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the Safe Haven program.

Focus on programs: Safe Haven for Pets

In memory of their beloved kitty Sophie, our friends Barb and Steve Shepard generously offered to MATCH all monetary contributions made here at the shelter during the month of December, up to $5,000! These could be “round up” donations from adopters, hand-delivered contributions or cash and coins placed in the historical horse trough in the lobby. This effort was so well-received that Barb and Steve increased the match to $7,000 to raise an incredible $14,000 (plus) for the animals!

We believe pets are family. When your pet goes missing, it is a crisis situation. What should you do to help bring your missing pet home?

Be proactive. Having your pet wear id tags or identification on his collar is the easiest, most obvious way to help him come home. A microchip is the gold standard for determining where a pet belongs. Most veterinarians and shelters have universal scanners

that can check for a chip and identify the microchip company. If your pet is microchipped (all cats, dogs and rabbits adopted from the Capital Area Humane Society are microchipped), it is critical that you keep the associated contact information updated. If you have dropped your landline at home, changed cell phone numbers or changed jobs recently, check to be sure your microchip company can still reach you.

Picture this: Keep current pictures of your pet that clearly show identifying markings. A couple of close-up and full body pictures kept on your phone and your computer give you quick access to what you need if your pet goes missing.

Act Now! If you’ve lost your pet, start looking immediately. Always leave recently worn clothing at your front/back doors so the animal can use the scent to smell its way back. Ask your neighbors to open their garages and sheds in case your pet has become trapped inside. Thoroughly search your house, yard, garage, etc. Enlist help to search the neighborhood and distribute flyers.

Spread the word. Post flyers in the area where the animal was last seen. Make sure it’s easy to read, brief and large with an accurate picture and details about identifying markings and basic information. Hit the streets and hand the flyers out to everyone and anyone. People are typically very helpful in looking for a lost pet.

Post Notices• Local grocery stores• Community centers• Schools• Gyms• Playgrounds• Parks• Close Neighborhoods• Veterinary offices/emergency

veterinary clinics• Traffic intersections• www.petfbi.org, petfinder.com and

www.pets911.org as well as social media sites

When describing your pet, details count. What distinguishes your pet from others?

• Male or female• Spayed or neutered?• Identifying markings• Length of hair/coat• Length/fullness of tail• Color of eyes• Approximate weight and age• Condition of teeth (missing, broken,

freshly cleaned)

Always include a way for people who see or find your pet to contact you – preferably a cell phone number.

Utilize the Internet. Share your missing pet information on your social media accounts and ask friends in your area to help share as well. A great resource is PetFBI.org (Pets Found By Internet). They are a not-for-profit organization in Central Ohio, helping

reunite pets since 1998 (over 40,000 reports received!). Do more than post to their Facebook page – utilize their database. If someone has taken your pet in and is looking for the owner, especially as time passes, searching a database is more efficient and thorough than reviewing days of Facebook posts. Also list your pet on petfinder.com. Search the “Found” categories on these websites and in your neighborhood newspaper.

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Bringing your lost pet home

Dory, reunited by microchip

Jonesy, reunited by microchip

Go where the pets go. In Franklin County, all stray dogs picked up by Animal Care & Control Officers are taken to the Franklin County Dog Shelter, located at 4340 Tamarack Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43229. They also receive many stray dogs turned in by private citizens. File a lost dog report with them (including a picture) and visit daily in person. Their phone

number is (614)525-3400. Due to volume of calls and animals, they are unable to positively identify missing pets over the phone. If you have FOUND a dog, you may call this number and they will pick up the dog. If the dog you found is wearing a license tag, you may look it up online at https://doglicense.franklincountyohio.gov/dogs/FoundDogSearch.jsp.

The Capital Area Humane Society will accept stray cats from within Franklin County during our admissions hours. Ohio statute provides no requirement for the sheltering and holding of stray cats, therefore, most county and municipal governments do not provide for the pick-up and sheltering of cats.

To see if your missing cat has been brought in by a Good Samaritan, visit the Capital Area Humane Society Admissions Department, (614)777-7387 ext. 208. Due to volume of calls and animals we are unable to positively identify animals over the phone. If you have found a cat, you may bring it to the Admissions entrance during open hours. Check other local shelters (CHA Animal Shelter, Cat Welfare, Colony Cats) that accept stray cats. For dogs outside of Franklin County, check with your local dog warden to see where dogs running loose are taken.

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Helpful phone numbers:

• Franklin County Animal Care & Control: (614)525-3400 4340 Tamarack Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43229 www.FranklinCountyDogs.com

• Capital Area Humane Society: (614)777-7387 ext. 208 (Admissions) 3015 Scioto-Darby Executive Ct Hilliard, OH 43026 www.cahs-pets.org

• Cat Welfare: (614)268-6096 741 Wetmore Rd, Columbus, OH 43214 www.CatWelfareOhio.com

• CHA Animal Shelter: (614)891-5280 3765 Corporate Dr, Columbus, OH 43231 www.CHAAnimalShelter.org

Helpful websites• www.FranklinCountyAuditor.

com/dogs/bulletin-board-info• www.PetFbi.org - local resource,

covering pets all over Ohio• www.PetFinder.com• www.Pets911.org• https://doglicense.

franklincountyohio.gov/dogs/FoundDogSearch.jsp

• Good source for hints on locating missing animals: www.missingpetpartnership.org

Little One, reunited thanks to

social media

Lynx, found during a “lost cat” walk through

of the shelter.

Board President Pete Dunlap, honoree Mike Elkind, honoree Dr. Tod Beckett,

Executive Director Rachel D.K. Finney, past Board President Brant Rhoad,

honoree Trish Elkind

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thank youPAWS TO HONOR

PAWS to Honor! Thank you to our honorees, sponsors, supporters, guests, volunteers and staff for a great event!

This event celebrated the incredible support provided to the entire Central Ohio animal welfare community by Dr. Tod Beckett, Medical Director of VCA Sawmill & VCA Mill Run Animal Hospitals, and Trish and Mike Elkind, Owners of PetPeople Enterprises, LLC.

“Our community is so fortunate to have people like these who passionately care about animals and about helping all of us provide the highest level of care for our pets,” said Rachel D.K. Finney, Executive Director of the Capital Area Humane Society.

Sarah Eagleson

VCA Sawmill & VCA Mill RunJane Williamson

In-Kind support: Z Cucina, Capital City Ice, Oberer’s Floral

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2HMAR Automotive for sponsoring “Miles of Smiles” contest on Facebook. The Capital Area Humane Society was the top vote getter and received $5,000 to support the animals!

PetPeople Enterprises for producing a “Give Paws” t-shirt to benefit rescues and shelters throughout Ohio.

Frontgate Marketing for choosing the Capital Area Humane Society to be one of their beneficiaries from their fall in-store event.

The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2015 for choosing CAHS to benefit from their Vets for Pets 5k Run/Walk. We celebrated our first MARV dog adoption (Carmella), at this event!

Parker Hannifin Corporation hosted an employee cookout lunches to benefit the animals.

School Employees Retirement System of Ohio with their employee “dress down” day proceeds.

Steph Mizer for volunteering her recruiting expertise to assist us with filling a position on our management team.

Dublin Power Plus students for helping keep our facility clean.

The estates of Alba Coletta, Norma Lewis, Francis Martin and Mary Stoneburner for their planned gifts to the animals.

Thanks to K&M Kleening for doing an awesome job getting our facility “sparkling clean” for our PAWS event back in November.

Keith Schlaich (Cat Care volunteer) for donating two brand new storage benches for our cat rooms.

We are thrilled to announce that Sarah Tayse, Veterinary Services Manager, recently passed the exam to be a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator. She joins the ranks of just 109 other shelter professionals who have attained this distinction.

UP Tim Heer with Mad Metal Welding for helping us repair our holding kennels. Mad Metal has been a great resource for CAHS.

Morgan Green for transporting a pair of leopard geckos to Arrowhead Reptile Rescue in Cincinnati.

Meg Werner and her sister Melissa for transporting a ball python to Arrowhead Reptile Rescue.

Special thanks to Ryan A. Gordon, Esq. for assisting us with our endowment plans.

Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service for helping us celebrate the life of our beloved volunteer Jack Whitaker.

Sarah Eagleson of Eagleson & Co. for support of Paws to Honor, Cruelty Investigations and the Safe Haven for Pets Program. Margaret and Jerry Cunningham for including mention of the Capital Area Humane Society in their programming support of WOSU.

Supply Drives were held by:Byers Airport SubaruHatfield SubaruOSU Veterinary Medical Center at DublinPro Musica Chamber Orchestra of ColumbusGroovy SpoonExel DirectClaudia Ruedrich (milestone birthday)Hilary Kirchner (milestone birthday)Scioto Downs

If your business, classroom, civic group or scouting troop would like to hold a supply drive for the animals, visit www.cahs-pets.org to view our Wish List or check it out at www.smile.amazon.com.

PAWS

Congratulations Sarah! CAWA to Capital Area Humane Society

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IMPOrTAnT PHOnE nUMBErSCapital Area Humane Society (614)777-7387Ext. 250 – To Report Animal Cruelty, Neglect or AbandonmentExt. 208 – AdmissionsExt. 218 – AdoptionsExt. 240 – Dog Behavior Training ClassesExt. 280 – Directions to the Shelter (recording)Ext. 248 – To VolunteerExt. 233 – Special EventsExt. 221 – To Make a Gift

A publication of the Capital Area Humane Society3015 Scioto-Darby Executive Court

Hilliard, OH 43026(614)777-7387 or www.cahs-pets.org

Facebook.com/Cahs1883Twitter @CapAreaHumane

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creative kids

Sadie M. (C) collected donations for the animals for a school project.

Brooklyn C. (F) celebrated her 4th birthday by asking for donations for the animals.

Ms. Shea’s Language Arts class at Edison Intermediate School (G) held a supply drive for the animals.

Artie R. and his sister Abby celebrated their birthdays again this year by asking for presents for the animals.

Brad and Caley, along with their friend Caroline, (not shown) (J)celebrated their birthdays with a combined party and asked for items for the animals. They brought in a huge supply of items and cash donations.

Hilliard Special Needs Preschool (E) held a supply drive for the animals!

Keegan R. (D) celebrated her 10th birthday by asking for supply items for the animals in lieu of gifts.

Nicole G. (A) celebrated her 11th birthday by asking for supplies for the animals.

Hastings Middle School Special Needs students (K) made and sold homemade dog treats to raise $500 for the animals!

STUDENT/YOUTH DONATIONS AND PROJECTS:

Charlotte and Amanda J. (H) had a lemonade stand and raised $131 for the animals!

A B C

Gabrielle J. (B) collected donations for the animals in honor of her Bat Mitzvah.

D E F

G H

I J

K