Kitten Houseguests: Nevada’s Summer Trend

by Jessica Branton

Remember the time that summer meant having ice cream on the porch, playing in sprinklers and chasing fireflies? Yeah, us either.

Now summer means, “Oh my god, you’re SO close to Lake Tahoe! We’re buying plane tickets now…cool if we crash in your guest room?!” Awesome.

So right about now, that feeling of obligation settles in as you give in to your in-laws. And then you get to use some of your hard earned PTO to play host for a week to people who say “Nuh-Vah-Duh.” And let’s be honest, how many times is the baby going to be “sick” before they catch on to your game? Luckily, Nevada Humane Society has a solution for you. Instead of filling your guest room with tourists, fill it with something much cuter—baby kittens.

Every summer, Nevada Humane Society is inundated with kittens—receiving dozens every single day that are too young for adoption and need a place to crash for a couple of weeks. They are the ultimate house guests—providing hours of cuddles and entertainment. And they don’t require stopping at every slot machine in El Dorado to get a picture of Aunt Beth with her mojito. You simply bring them back when they are big enough for adoption!

All supplies are provided to foster volunteers by Nevada Humane Society (with the exception of pool floaties and tacky Tommy Bahama button-ups). All you need to provide is that guest room and an excuse to your in-laws about why you just simply do not have a place for them to stay. I hear the GSR has excellent rates this time of year…

If you’re interested in fostering, contact our Foster Care Coordinator at 775-856-2000 ext. 314. One-on-one training is provided and no experience is necessary. Applications are also available online at www.nevadahumanesociety.org.

Sign up to foster and avoid those awkward conversations with family members today. After all, who can argue with, “Oh, sorry cousin Sally, but the guest room isn’t available right now because I’m too busy saving lives.”

***Nevada Humane Society fully supports the tourist industry of Northern Nevada. We appreciate all of the out-of-towners who support our economy and share the beauty of our town with us…no matter how you pronounce Nevada.

 

 

Jessica Branton is the Volunteer Services Manager for Nevada Humane Society and guest columnist for Animal Files.

 

The Walk for Animals is Back!

by Kimberly Wade

You asked, we answered. Remember our Walk for Animals, the event we used to hold at Sparks Marina several years ago, where you (and your pets) would raise money for homeless pets, then join us for a two-mile walk and a fun-filled day? Well, it’s back!

Here’s the deal. Normally our Duck Race & Festival is in August, but due to challenges out of our control (a raging Truckee River), we’ve temporarily cancelled that and brought back the Walk! We’ve coined it #SaveTheDucks and #Walk2017 instead!

The Walk for Animals is on Saturday, August 12 (two months away!) from 10am to 2pm at Sparks Marina. Festivities include vendors, food trucks, a carnival and so much more in addition to the walk. You can’t miss it! It’s easy to participate too—simply register online, start fundraising and join us on August 12 for all of the fun! The other cool thing? You can bring your dogs! Yes, this is one of the few events that is for pets too, so we welcome leashed, friendly dogs or other animals if they would enjoy it! In past we’ve seen everything from cats in strollers, to pot-bellied pigs on leashes, to snakes! Just remember, there will be hundreds of dogs there so if your four-legged BFF doesn’t love the excitement and energy of others, you should probably carry a photo of him instead (we’ve seen this too).

Now for the best part. Dick Campagni’s Carson City Toyota has partnered with us to offer a very lucky someone the very best summer gift… a brand new 2017 Toyota Corolla! We’re raffling off this cool car to help our furry friends, and even though the raffle drawing will be at the Walk for Animals, anyone can get a raffle ticket and win! Raffle tickets are $25, available at either of our shelter locations (2825 Longley Lane in Reno or 549 Airport Road in Carson) and Carson City Toyota on South Carson Street. The winner doesn’t need to be present to win so even if you can’t attend the Walk, you still should definitely get a raffle ticket for the new car!

Many of you know we hold several events every year, from family-friendly events like the Walk to a champagne brunch to an evening gala, plus all of the adoption events. All of this is done to raise awareness for homeless pets, and it’s especially important this time of year, when we see hundreds of kittens and puppies coming into the shelter, unwanted and in need of our help. When you support us at these events, of course you have a great time, but really, you’re standing up for homeless pets in Northern Nevada. We offer low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccines, behavior help and more—pet adoptions are only a piece of it. Lately we’ve been reaching out to our smaller shelters in Nevada too, as well as cities like Las Vegas, who need us. They don’t have the same resources that we do, so we’ve been bringing in animals from their shelters, helping them save lives, while delivering to our local community—because you folks love your pets and just keep adopting—and for that, we thank you.

So join us for the Walk for Animals, or any other event, or just visit us… because truly, you are making a difference.

 

Happy Birthday to Charlie and Pati!

by Kimberly Wade

You’ve probably heard me mention, whether through this column or my personal and our Nevada Humane Society social media, a couple of kitties who have really touched my heart—Charlie Brown and Peppermint Pati. Next Wednesday, June 7, is their birthday, so I wanted to share their unique journey and ask if you’d donate to us in their honor—because since then, we’ve saved so many lives that came from similar circumstances.

I had been with the organization for about a year when our Operations Director, Denise, and our Cat Care Manager, Vonice, went out to rescue some cats. They were called after a home in Reno caught fire (Truth? This is awful, but a meth lab blew up, causing the home to explode) and burned to the ground, because nearby residents kept hearing cats meowing from within the debris. It was sad, unfortunate, and frustrating all at once. The cats appeared to be somewhat feral, not socialized to humans, and scared of what had happened. It wasn’t clear if they lived in the home or roamed the neighborhood, but no one claimed them, and no one cared. No one, that is, except Nevada Humane Society.

Denise and Vonice went out to the home and found several cats. Mama, a beautiful calico, was easy to get—she pranced her way right into a humane cat trap seeking food. Her kids, who we now know as Charlie Brown and Peppermint Pati, were a bit harder, but after several hours we were able to get them, together, also in a humane cat trap after bribing them with stinky tuna. The three of them were brought back to Nevada Humane Society, covered in dirt and soot from the fire, a bit underweight, and not quite sure what to do with us humans.

I was actually one of the first people to meet them because it was my job to get to know them, take some photos and start to promote them to the public. Luckily none of them had injuries or sustained severe smoke inhalation, so they were able to be overcome their adventure quickly. Mama kitty was the first to be adopted, but Charlie and Pati were not very social. They were about four months old so we put them into a foster home to see how they did with people and other cats. They remained there for about six months. As the foster had a full home and we wanted to try to find them forever homes, they came back to the shelter.

We knew putting them in a kennel wouldn’t cut it, so we put them in our admin offices to give them space and more contact with humans. I immediately volunteered my office, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Charlie and Pati stayed hidden in my office for months. It took a year before they really began to come around. We knew they weren’t the typical affectionate, friendly cats and therefore knew it would take a special person to adopt them. We also knew we didn’t want to put them into our Barn Cat program, because to be honest—they didn’t seem to have the street smarts other outdoor kitties did. So they stayed with me and became our office kitties.

Several years later, during a special adoption event, Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days, I made it official and adopted them. They reside with me still today, and let’s be honest, I spend more time at the office than I do at my home so they probably see me more than my own pets!

Today, six years later, Charlie and Pati are finally social(ish). Though they may not be lap cats, they throw themselves against my shoulder, or my face, begging for attention and treats. They have cat trees and water fountains and toys and cat grass and so much more. They are spoiled, on so many levels, not just by me, but by everyone else whose hearts they have stolen. They even have their own Instagram, the NHSBossCats and their duties are to supervise us human servants, making sure we are at their beck and call every day.

I adore these two, with their unique purrsonalities, introverted quirks and simple beauty. Office pets, as many of you know, are a benefit in the work environment. They relieve stress, keep things fun and assist with sending emails before your message is complete and hanging up on VIPs. Looking for an office pet? Adopt!

In honor of Charlie and Pati’s 6^th birthday, would you donate to all of our pets who still need homes? We have about 200 cats and 180 dogs in our care (not including foster homes) and they need you. When you donate, the funds go to providing care to those like Charlie and Pati, who came out of a tough situation and need help. Donations may be sent to 2825-B Longley Lane, Reno, NV 89502 or called in to me at 775-856-2000 ext. 324. Thank you for celebrating Charlie and Pati’s 6^th birthday by giving back to those that need it.

P.S. Speaking of feral kitties, we’ve enhanced our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program thanks to funding by PetSmart Charities. We now offer more TNR in Washoe County (775-856-2000 ext. 200 for details) and have kicked it off in Carson City (775-887-2171 for details) to stray and feral cats in the community. We’re here to spay/neuter and vaccinate to keep them healthy and to humanely reduce the pet population.