As you may have noticed, the volunteer department at the Humane Society has been undergoing changes in order to improve our program and make it stronger.  The newest of these changes applies to the minimum hourly requirement in place for volunteers.  Starting in April, all volunteers will be expected to devote at least four hours per month to working with the Humane Society.  All new volunteers entering our program are given the same requirement, but they must be willing to make a four month commitment.  This new requirement will ensure that our volunteers have a high level of dedication to our shelter, its mission and resident animals.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this change.  Thank you all so much for your continued cooperation and understanding.
 
Great News – Special Animal Adoptions
 
We’ve had another fantastic month for adoptions!  Many of our long term kitties found their forever homes in February including Misty and Dusty who both spent over six months with us.  We have a particularly exciting story with Toffee who found a home after waiting for one year and two months here at the Humane Society - how fantastic!  Don’t forget about the great dogs who found homes this month, too.  You may remember Ronin, the Great Dane who spent some time with us this month.  Well, before he was adopted, we snapped some pictures of him wearing a CCHS volunteer t-shirt!  He looked absolutely fabulous – you can check it out on our website!  Two of our older friends found families – Cookie, who was ten years old and Shadow who was a spry seventeen were both adopted by loving families.  Another Cookie is in the spotlight this month - Cookie the guinea pig was adopted, too!  Keep up the good work, everyone!
 
Announcements
 

• Dog Walkers:  Please check out the information board in the dog walking area for new updates!  We have changed a few things slightly within our program.  From now on, you should use only the leash that is hanging from the dog’s run or cage.  Also, check out the new instructions on how to use the scoopers, which are located in the small dog room.
  
• Cat Socializers:  As of March 1st, we will no longer be housing cats at Petsmart on Prospect Avenue in Champaign, therefore we will no longer need volunteers to socialize at the store.  However, we will be holding adoption events in the store periodically and will need a group of volunteers who are willing to take on leadership roles during these events.  Please contact me if you have any questions about this new activity.
  
• Don’t forget – March 4th is Community Day at Bergner’s at Market Place Mall.  We still have coupon books available at the Humane Society.  If you or anyone you know loves shopping, you should pick up a book!  They are only $5.00, have tons of great money saving coupons in them and all of the money goes directly to help the animals at the Humane Society.  Speak with any front desk staff member for more information!
  
• March 14th is Share a Meal day with Community Shares.  Area restaurants are listed in a city-wide marketing campaign in exchange for financial support to Community Shares.  On the 14th, those restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to local charities and non-profit organization (CCHS included!).  Check out www.share-a-meal.org for details on how you can help.
  
• The front desk staff has replaced the old, red ‘dirty toy’ bins with a new bin.  The bin is located in the same place as the old one.  If you have any questions, speak with any front desk staff member.
  

Reminders
 

Mark your calendars:  April 22nd is the University of Illinois Animal Science Department’s 8th Annual Humane Education Seminar spotlighting “Building Community Relationships.”  Check out http://events.ansci.uiuc.edu/companion/humane/ for more information on speakers and topics.

Mark your calendars:  April 29th is Petstravaganza!  This event is a day for fun and humane education about pets.  Sponsored by the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, CARE Center, and the Champaign County Humane Society.  Check out http://events.ansci.uiuc.edu/companion/petstravaganza/ for more information!

Please remember that you must wear a volunteer nametag at all times while volunteering in the shelter.  This applies even if you are wearing a CCHS volunteer t-shirt.  Our staff and visitors need to know who you are!  Thanks for your cooperation.

You can relay animal issues to our staff by using our three different communication logs.  Always remember to use the pet’s name and the animal ID number located at the top of the cage card to properly identify which animal you are referring to.

Animal Information Updates:  These forms are located in the Volunteer Center and are to be used when you have a behavior note to share.  This can be that a dog knows a trick, that a cat loves to be brushed, or other behavior notes.

Grooming List:  This list is located next to the medical lab on the cork board.  If you notice that an animal needs to be bathed, needs mats clipped out or any other grooming concerns, they should be listed on this log sheet.

Health Communication Log:  This list is also located next to the medical lab on the cork board.  If an animal is showing signs of illness such as diarrhea, sneezing or discharge, you can let our medical staff know on the health communication log.

Please do not put blankets into the dog runs or puppy cages.  Not only do they hold germs and pathogens in them, increasing the chance that a dog may become sick, they also pose an additional health concern.  If a dog chews on the blanket, it can choke or become obstructed by the threads of the blanket.  Our medical staff will put a blanket or Kuranda bed in with any dog that may have joint pain or difficulty lying on concrete as they see fit.  If you are concerned about a dog, you can put this on the health communication log.  Thanks for your help.

Morning cage cleaners:  when you are cleaning cat cages, please use only one scoop of litter in each litter box.  Our staff and volunteers replace litter every morning, so they only need enough for the day.  If you have any questions about how much to use for multiple cat cages or other scenarios, please ask any front desk staff member.

Don’t forget about the CCHS Cook Book – they are selling fast!  These books are available for just $15.00 and contain hundreds of great recipes, compiled by friends of the Humane Society.  They make great gifts!  You can purchase a cook book at the Humane Society or via our website.

Please make sure that we all make an effort to keep the drawers of the volunteer desk clean.  Please do not leave cat toys in the socializing ring/grooming supplies drawer.  You can always get clean toys from the bins when you need them.

In an additional effort to keep the Volunteer Center clean, please try to fold your nametags in half before throwing them away.  We have noticed tags stuck to the desk top, the side of the garbage can and the walls of the Center.  We realize they are not being put their intentionally, so we ask that you try to make sure that this doesn’t happen.  Thanks!

If you are cleaning feces or urine from get acquainted rooms (or anywhere in the shelter, for that matter) please make sure that you are throwing away your clean-up supplies in the garbage bins either in the adoption rooms or in the laundry room.  If they are disposed of at the front desk or in the Volunteer Center, the reception area of the shelter does not have a welcoming smell for our visitors.  Thanks for your help!

Don’t forget – if you haven’t picked up your Volunteer Handbook yet, there’s still time.  You can pick up a book at any time while you are in the shelter.  Once you read the book and are familiar with the information, we ask that you sign and return the Acknowledgement of Receipt.  This is our way of ensuring that everyone is up to speed on the Humane Society’s policies and procedures.  If you have any questions, please let me know.
 
Notable Notes
 
For those of you that have already picked up your handbook, please note the following correction on page 11:  The Seniors for Seniors program applies to cat adoptions only.  This program does not apply to dog adoptions.  I apologize for the mistake.

Check out the following link for a new feature involving the shelter: http://wqqb.com/skin/blurb.php?sectionId=180&contentId=96449.  (Scroll to the bottom of the page.)  Q96 has started a featured spot with our executive director, Jason Smith to discuss adoptable pets at the Humane Society.
 
 
We’re lucky to have volunteers like you! ~ Katie Widlacki
 
 
Katie Widlacki
Volunteer Coordinator
Champaign County Humane Society
1911 East Main Street
Urbana, Il 61802
2.volunteer@cuhumane.org ~ www.cuhumane.org
Phone: (217) 344-7297 ~ Fax: (217) 344-7299