Found at countless com-

munity events, the Mobile

Unit, complete with specifi-

cally trained volunteers and

several shelter dogs, pro-

vides information about the

Pasadena Humane Society

and the services it offers.

If a shelter dog can find a

forever home at one of these

stops, the day has been

made very special indeed!

The Mobile Unit makes ap-

pearances at parades, block

parties, pet stores, concerts,

schools, and numerous other events—

normally at least 10 to 12 community

events each month. The Mobile Unit

sets up information tables that have

nearly 40 different informational flyers,

cards, and brochures. This information

helps individuals in the community to

learn more about PHS, pet care, spay-

ing and neutering, behavior classes,

and support resources. Acting as a

microcosm of PHS itself, the Mobile

Outreach Program is a valuable com-

munity asset!

Additionally, dogs that are brought

out on the Mobile Unit get to spend a

special day playing or relaxing outside

the confines of the shelter and meeting

new people. In this way, new insights

November | DeCember 2011

Staying MobileHave you seen the bright blue PHS Mobile Unit with

pictures of animals and volunteers on the sides?

compassion and care for all animals

pasadena humane society & spca

continued on back

pg

. 2

Exciting partnerships and changes are developing at the

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA.

In October, PHS began a partnership with VCA hospi-

tals to offer additional opportunities to new adopters

and their new pets. Within the first 5 days after adop-

tion, each adopted dog or cat has the opportunity for

a free check up at a VCA group in the area. Your new

cat or dog is also covered by VCA’s Limited Health Care

Guarantee, which means that if specific shelter related

problems are diagnosed, the first $250 is covered. This

benefit is available only through VCA clinics. We are

excited about this new partnership and about these benefits for our new adopters.

October brought new treats to our shelter animals as well, when we began an alli-

ance with Hill’s Science Diet food and their shelter nutrition program. Now all of our

shelter dogs and cats eat the excellent quality food that Science Diet provides. For

many of our animals who were stray for a long time, this excellent food will be to the

start of a healthy diet. Each newly adopted dog or cat is now sent home with a small

bag of Science Diet kibble so that the nutritional benefits continue.

And there is more.

The 24 hour news cycle, decrease in newspaper readership, and snail mail have made

social media an essential tool for animal welfare agencies like the Pasadena Humane

Society. Although traditional media still retain their importance, social media offer

new dimensions in communications and new ways to develop relationships.

Our website, updated a couple of years ago, contains information about PHS, our

programs, the animals in the shelter, and ways to support the animals and our life-

saving programs. People can look for a new pet, discover how to discourage wildlife

from eating their garden fruit, and check out our training classes for their new puppy.

But that’s not enough.

Have you checked our Facebook page lately? Are you following us on Twitter? PHS is

in daily contact with followers so that we know what interests them and what issues

are on their minds. And we let our friends and supporters know what is going on at

PHS. We want to be in touch with you; like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/

pasadenahumane) and follow us on twitter (@PHS_SPCA)

Thanks for your support,

leaDer of the paCk

Pag e 2

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is NOT part of the ASPCA. When

you donate to PHS you are helping animals here in Southern California.

The ASPCA does not distribute donations locally. Each spca in the

country is legally separate from all of the others. Donate to the Pasadena

Humane Society & SPCA and help the animals in your community

http://www.pasadenahumane.org/donate

CommuNity heroes

Pag e 3

The Body Shop supports the local com-

munity in more ways than you think.

Nestled on West Colorado Boulevard

in Old Pasadena between boutiques,

jewelers, eateries and houseware stores,

this company is anything but the norm

when it comes to cosmetics. Stocked

with a plethora of eco-friendly, sulfate-

free shampoos and conditioners along

with lotions, makeup and perfumes

composed of community traded ingre-

dients from around the globe, The Body

Shop’s values are more than skin deep.

Founded in 1976 by Dame Anita Rod-

dick in England, more than 2,500 stores

exist worldwide today (approximately of

which 300 are in North America). Its five

core values are: Against Animal Test-

ing, Support Community Trade, Activate

Self Esteem, Defend Human Rights and

Protect Our Planet. In that tradition, the

Old Pasadena store spearheads many

community outreach programs led by

Shop Manager, Ann Greenwood and

Assistant Shop Manager, Simone Blattler.

For almost a year now, the PHS Mobile

Outreach Unit is one of the programs

the store supports.

On select Sundays every month, Mobile

Outreach Coordinator Marlin Miller and

his trusted team of volunteers set up

shop in front of the store showcasing

PHS services along with adoptable cats,

dogs and rabbits. In fact, the partnership

between PHS and the store has been

so successful that at least one animal

has been adopted each time the Mobile

Outreach Unit visits.

“It’s not just about selling the product,”

said Ann Greenwood. “We want to raise

awareness so our community can come

to us and make a difference.”

More Than Skin Deep: The Beauty of The Body Shop

pg

. 2

wilD thiNgs

Pag e 4

Taking a closer look, however, this rap-

tor stands out with its striking physical

attributes. Vertical black stripes (called

a “mustache” or “sideburn”) descend on

each side of its head. Male kestrels have

slate-blue wings, a rufous tail with a

single black band near the tip and a pale

chest with delicate black spots. Females

have rufous wings with more barring

visible on the chest and tail. Being a

sexually dimorphic species, the females

are larger than males.

Indigenous to the North and South

American continents, this raptor has a

broad habitat range including deserts,

grasslands and meadows. Depending

upon geographic location, kestrels may

be migratory or year-round residents.

A diurnal predator, the krestel stays

perched scanning for prey ready to

pounce. Its diet consists of insects, spi-

ders, small rodents, lizards and even an

occasional small bird.

Pair bonding is strong with couples

returning to the same areas and nest lo-

cation year after year. In urban environ-

ments they can use man-made open-

ings to mimic their tree cavity nests.

Females can lay clutches with three

to seven eggs. Both male and female

share incubation duties while the other

goes out to hunt and bring back food.

The eggs hatch after approximately 30

days and the young mature in less than

three weeks. Kestrels have relatively

short lifespan of two years; the oldest

known in the wild was 11 while the one in

captivity was 17.

Even though the American Krestel is the

most common falcon, the population

has been declining mainly due to land

clearing and destruction of standing

trees, as well as pesticides. For more

information on wildlife, visit our website:

www.pasadenahumane.org/wildlife.

Did you know there are 27 species of raptors (hawks, eagles and

falcons) in California? The diminutive american Kestrel is the most

common falcon found in the U.S., as well as a common resident

of California. Being one of the smallest birds of prey (eight to 12

inches long with a wingspan up to 24 inches), it is often over-

looked and commonly mistaken for other birds.

American Kestrel

Q: My dog gets so excited when we come home he starts jumping. What can we do?

A: Because jumping is a learned behavior and usually a result of over stimula-

tion and attention seeking, you must eliminate excited greetings. Completely

ignore the dog when entering the house. Don’t interact with the dog until it

is calm and no longer jumping. This means do not talk to the dog, pet the

dog, or even look at the dog until all four paws are on the ground. Another

technique to try is walking into the dog. Dogs have personal space just like

we do, so invade their space. Walk directly into the dog and continue doing

so until the dog walks away from you. Finally, give your dog something else

to do. Ask your dog for an obedience command such as “sit” and reward

your dog for giving you a behavior you want. With all training, consistency is

key, so everyone who interacts with your dog must obey the rules.

Q: My dog, Benji, jumps on the furniture. How can I stop him?

A: Allowing your dog to be on the furniture is an individual choice. But again

the key to success is consistency. If one person in the family allows Benji on

the couch, he will always think it’s okay. For instance, if your husband lets

him sleep there but you don’t, it is hard for Benji to make the distinction. To

train out of this habit, you can teach an “off” command, but make sure you

have lots of great treats handy! Start by having Benji trail his leash around

the house. As soon has he jumps on the couch, say “no” and lure him down

using a treat. When he’s on the ground, say “good off” and reward him with

a treat and lots of praise. Repeat this as often as you need until Benji learns

that the best treats come when he’s on the ground!

Q: I think my dog is trying to dominate me. What should I do?

A: Dominance in dogs refers to the relationship that dogs have with the mem-

bers of their social world; this includes the people they live with, other pets

in the house, dogs they meet casually, etc. Dogs choose to be dominant or

submissive with the members of their social world; they don’t try to force

them into those roles. One thing you can do to become more of a leader to

your dog is to have your dog work for everything he gets. Ask him to “sit”

before he goes out the door on walks or before being fed. Ask him for a

“down” before giving him attention or initiating play. By providing more rules

and structure for your dog and offering rewards for good behavior, you can

help him to become a well-adjusted dog.

For more tips and information please contact the Pasadena Humane Society & SCPA’s Behavior & Training Department at (626) 792-7151 ext. 155.

Tips and Myths about Pets

Pag e 5

?

behavior & traiNiNg Q A

pg

. 2

A Little Shelter Dog with a Big Heart

happy tails

Pag e 6

almost two years ago, Marco Costales and his fiancée, Sarah, be-

gan looking for a dog to adopt together. Because they both have

demanding careers, they thought an older dog might be better

than a puppy.

They visited the Pasadena Humane So-

ciety, searching for their perfect match.

As they walked past the puppy ken-

nels, they saw Eddie, a scruffy miniature

schnauzer/terrier mix pushing his little

nose as far as he could through the bars.

He looked as if he was begging them to

take him home. Even though the pup

was under a year old, much younger

then the couple had initially planned

to adopt, they fell in love with him

immediately.

Marco and Sarah were not the only ones

that had been charmed by Eddie—they

put their name down on his waitlist of

potential adopters. They prepared their

house for the prospect of welcoming a

new, furry family member. When they

came back to our shelter a few days

later, Marco and Sarah were delighted to

find out that the people that were be-

fore them on the waitlist never showed

up. The sweet little dog was theirs to

take home!

Eddie acclimated quickly in his new

home and became best friends with

their cat, Leo, who is about the same

age. The two loved to play together and

cuddle on the couch. Marco and Sarah

were having an amazing time with Eddie

in their life.

As fate would have it, everything

changed suddenly for the couple. On

March 30, 2010 Marco lost his 19-year-

old son. At this time, Eddie proved to

be so much more than just a playful

puppy. As Marco explains, “To say that

our world has been turned upside-down

would be a major understatement. Yet,

through all the grief, tears and pain that

this tragedy brought us, Eddie has been

a constant source of comfort, joy and

unconditional love in our lives. I’m not

sure how I would have managed to get

through these past months without Ed-

die’s companionship -- along with Sarah

by my side, I’ve had moments of sheer

happiness that I thought would never

come back into my life.”

Sometimes, in the darkest moments

of our lives, the therapy provided by a

loving pet is incomparable to anything

else. Marco’s advice? “Adopt a dog; it

will heal you.”

A Little Shelter Dog with a Big Heart

eveNt rouND-up

Pag e 7

ToP FUnDraiSerS:

1. Karen Kiefaber

2. Wil and Anne Wheaton

3. JoAnne Turovsky

4. Caroline Reed

5. Lisa Kenyon

The 13th annual WIggLe WAggLe WALK, held at Brookside Park on September

25th was a huge success for the animals! Nearly $300,000 was raised to help

provide food, shelter and medical care to thousands of homeless and abandoned

pets this year. We could not have done this without the amazing support of all of

our donors, fundraisers, sponsors and volunteers. Thank you for making another

Wiggle Waggle Walk a big win for all of the animals!

ToP TeaMS:

1. Punk Rock Rovers

2. Team PHS: Purr, Hop and Slobber

3. Nala’s Knights

4. Team Barktree

5. Hahn & Hahn LLP

non-profitorganizationU.S. Postage

PaiDPasadena, Ca

Permit no. 1142361 South Raymond Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a

private, non-profit, open door, animal welfare

agency serving the communities of Arcadia, Glen-

dale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino,

Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.

Staying Mobile

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a private, non-profit, open door, animal welfare agency serving the communities of Arcadia, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena

are gained about many of these dogs

which then becomes helpful towards

finding them a forever home.

Under the direction of Mobile Out-

reach Coordinator, Marlin Miller, the

Mobile Unit continues to reach into

all areas of the seven cities that PHS

services. If you would like to see the

Mobile Unit at a special commu-

nity event, please contact Marlin at

626-792-7151 ext.119 or at mmiller@

phsspca.org.

Facility HoursTues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am—6 pmSat 9 am—5 pmSun 11 am—5 pm

adoption HoursTues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am—5 pmSat 9 am—4 pmSun 11 am—4 pm

www.pasadenahumane.org

24 hour Emergency Service please call 626.792.7151Glendale residents please call toll-free 818.240.9100

Pamper your pet this

holiday season.

Visit The Pet Store

to find the purr-fect gift.