ARCH to Handle Haiti Animal Relief Efforts 

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) recently formed the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH). ARCH was formed to allow all animal welfare organizations involved in relief efforts to work together to get aid to animals as quickly as possible.

The ARCH teams will be working out of a mobile clinic donated by the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society. Operating funds will come from WSPA and IFAW. The clinic should be in place soon. It is being shipped to the Sociedad Dominicana Para la Proteccion de Animales in the Dominican Republic and will be driven across the border into Haiti.

In addition to providing medical care, ARCH will also provide food and water and vaccinate animals against rabies. The WSPA’s Animals in Disasters blog is following the relief effort for Haiti’s animals. Click here to read the blog.

  

Puppy Kindergarten Classes Begin in February

Puppy kindergarten classes will be offered at the Society on Saturday, February 6 at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Puppies eight weeks of age through four months may participate in the seven-week series of classes. Instructor Deb McCrossen says "Salt without pepper is like a dog without obedience classes!" If you have a new puppy, now is the time to start training. To register, call Deb at 215-437-1932. An obedience training class application can be downloaded by clicking here.

Stop by the Uno Chicago Grill Dough Raiser to be Held on November 1

 Enjoy a delicious meal at Uno Chicago Grill at Neshaminy Mall on Sunday, November 1 and support the Society at the same time. We will receive up to 20 percent of of the restaurant's total sales that day when  customers present the special Society flier when ordering. Click here to print your own copy of the flier (you'll need an Adobe Acrobat Reader). The flier can be used for both dine-in or take-out orders. Uno Chicago Grill is located at 801 Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem.

Canine Influenza Vaccine Now Available

The Society is now offering canine influenza vaccine injections in our veterinary clinic. Your dog will need 2 shots, given 2 weeks apart to be completely protected from canine influenza. Shots cost $24 each for a total cost of $48. There are also separate $25 examination fees for both the initial visit and the second visit.

Canine flu shots are also available when you adopt a dog. The first shot costs $20 and will be given to your new pet before it is released to you by the Adoptions Department. The second shot costs $17 and will be given during your adopted pet's free follow-up examination in our veterinary clinic.

Canine influenza is a contagious respiratory virus. Dogs affected with a mild case of the canine flu may develop a moist cough that lasts for 10 to 30 days. Some dogs will have a dry cough that may be mistaken for kennel cough. In some cases, a bacterial infection occurs with mild cases of the flu and can cause a thick nasal discharge.

Dogs that have the severe form of canine influenza may develop fevers between 104 to 106 degrees and may also develop pneumonia if a secondary bacterial infection occurs.

Canine influenza is a fairly new disease and very few dogs have developed any immunity to the virus. According to American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines, virtually all dogs exposed to the virus become infected and nearly 80 percent show clinic signs of the disease.

Veterinary Clinic Hours Extended

The Society has extended the hours in our veterinary clinic for your convenience. Operating hours have been extended by 1 hour on Wednesdays. In addition, the clinic will now be open all day, from morning to evening, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our reduced fee clinic is open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis for well and sick visits, routine shots and X-rays. Appointments are required for surgery, including spaying and neutering. You can reach the clinic at 215-750-5252.

Clinic Hours

Tuesday           8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday      12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday          8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday              8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Saturday           7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The clinic is closed on Sunday and Monday.

We Have Obedience Class Openings!

The Society is now accepting registrations for its popular obedience training classes. Classes are held at the Society on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, and on Saturday mornings. Obedience classes help dogs learn the rules of the human world. Because dogs are not born knowing what we expect from them, living with an untrained dog can be an exhausting and confusing experience, for both dog and owner.

Obedience classes teach owners how to communicate basic commands, such as sit, stay, leave it and come in a way that is fun for the dogs and the owners. "Lack of training is one of the most common reasons for giving an animal to a humane society," said Jim Gaynor, managing director. "Almost every dog, big and small, young or old, can learn basic commands. You can teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, some of the quickest learners are the older dogs."

The cost for a seven-week series of classes is $90. Some classes also hold an orientation session. Participants must bring a health certificate from their veterinarian stating that the dog is in good health, has had distemper, parvo and rabies shots and has not external or internal parasites. For more information about registering for obedience classes, call the Women's Humane Society at 215-750-3100.  
  

Doggies in the Ruff

 Our contracted trainer, Deb, has been with us for over 14 years.  She has expanded her services beyond classes at the Women's Humane Society in a comprehensive support service called Doggies in the Ruff.  She considers herself a canine trainer and human educator because both roles are important to success when owning a dog. 

By calling Deb at 215-437-1932 you may get information on enrolling in Puppy Kindergarten classes that are forming at the Women's Humane Society in January of 2009 for those babies acquired over the holidays.  We believe this is a critical opportunity to ensure that your puppy does not become a surrender and possibly euthanasia statistic if your last pet was when you were growing up or you thought all the responsibilities of pet ownership would come naturally.  If that last puppy was just crazy and you are sure that this one will not be so crazy and nothing else has changed in your life or dog-owning strategies, don't risk another crazy puppy!

In addition to classes at our facility, trainers/educators at Doggies in the Ruff offer private sessions, pet sitting for both cats and dogs, pet walking and a phone consultation package.  The puppy package includes a one hour consultation which will enable you to distinguish between normal puppy behavior and problematic behavior.  Trainers will evaluate your household and make recommendations to prepare you for safety and function.  Instructions will be provided on equipment, leashes and collars, and the safest teething products.  Increasing your canine understanding and knowledge will enhance your relationship with your puppy.

The Doggies in the Ruff trainers/educators will evaluate and temperment test shelter dogs and structure a training program that is unique to you and your dog.  They have "first hand" experience with "second hand" dogs and can assist you in reshaping the dog emotionally, mentally, and behaviorally. 

 For more information about their training philosophies and an application download, go to the Obedience Classes page on this website.

Holiday Adoption Highlights

 For the past two years, some of the final adoptions before the winter holidays have been medium-large mixed breed, mostly black  or black and white dogs that were over the age of four.  Two of them had been pulled from a city shelter that does not have the space that we have to offer larger dogs.  You may find more information about Sasher or Sash on our Happy Tails pages following his December of 2007 adoption.  Both Zed (a 6-year-old border collie mix) and Mickey (a 5-year-old dalmation/border collie mix) were adopted out in December of 2008 after being homeless since September of 2008.

 In the days that followed the resumption of adoptions, cats stole the feel-good adoption lime light of the day.  Cats that had been with us since the first and second week of November were adopted in the two days after Christmas.  The Saturday after New Year's; Joy (who had been with us since October 14, 2008) found her furever home.

 The Women's Humane Society continues to place highly adoptable dogs (friendly, healthy, young dogs with good habits that may be purebreds and are not Chows, Pit Bulls, or Pit Bull mixes) almost as fast as we make them available.  If the first applicant is denied, a second or third viable applicant follows.  Small dogs continue to place without even being posted upon the internet.  If you are affiliated with an overcrowded shelter up to two hours from our facility and are interested in establishing a dog pull relationship, please email us at whshelpline@aol.com.  You may learn more about how we define adoptable on our page titled 'Giving Up an Animal.'

X-SITE Program Unveils New Signs, Publicizes Pet Abandonment Problem

State Representative Gene DiGirolamo and Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo helped unveil one of ten signs designed to publicize the problem of pet abandonment. The signs, donated by Mayor DiGirolamo and designed by members of X-SITE (Extreme Service and Intergenerational Training Experience), will be placed in strategic locations in Bensalem where people have been known to abandon cats and other animals.

The signs are just one part of a feral cat prevention campaign that X-SITE members have developed under the leadership of Janice Mininberg, Director of Education at the Women’s Humane Society. “We have a small, but very devoted group of young people who have been amazingly dedicated to educating the public about the problem of animal abandonment,” she said.

In addition to the signs, X-SITE members are circulating a petition in support of Pennsylvania House Bill 499, which would increase the fine levied for cruelty and abandonment of animals. The Bill was introduced by Representative DiGirolamo. X-SITE members have also written a brochure, entitled “Abandonment is Illegal,” which will be distributed to post offices, animal shelters and libraries. T

he brochure will be printed courtesy of Representative DiGirolamo. X-SITE, sponsored by TODAY, Inc. and Building a Better Bensalem Together, provides opportunities for young people aged 13 — 15 to partner with adult mentors in training and community service programs. X-SITE members Ben Applegate, Sheldon Fogle, Jimmy Lamb and Nicole Rivera participated in the unveiling program. X-SITE member Tamarah Rago was unable to attend.

Paul Hartka, X-SITE Project Coordinator and former Society Pet Pals Club member, initiated the project with the Society. “The X-SITE members were so intrigued by Janice’s overview of the project that more than 50% of the members wanted to join the Animal Abandonment Prevention campaign,” he said.