Shelter Pause
 
As the summer comes to a close, the weather has (finally) begun to cool down and school is back in session.  We would like to thank all of the volunteers, especially the dog walkers that have been faithful through the summer and have been out here spending time with the animals regardless of the heat or rain.  The dogs truly appreciate your dedication and we can all see it in their happy faces and wagging tails!  Now that the UI students are busy with their studies, we really need you to commit to coming out on a regular basis to ensure that all of the dogs are walked each day. 

We are planning a Master Dog Walker program that would encompass 15-20 dog walker volunteers committing to a schedule to ensure that at least one Master Dog Walker is here each day.  The Master will be responsible for ensuring that each dog is walked and that “I’ve been walked” and “I’m very housebroken” signs are being used.  If you think you might be interested in becoming a Master Dog Walker, please let me know and we can discuss the details.  Thank you all again for all of your hard work and dedication.  We truly could not do what we do without your help.
 
Special Animals – Look who’s been adopted!
 
Due to a tremendous effort on the part of CCHS volunteers, we have had yet another wonderful month for special animal adoptions!  I am VERY pleased to tell you that Kyla and Sophia were both adopted shortly after becoming ‘free roaming’ shelter cats.  As you may remember, both of these beautiful girls were a bit on the ‘hefty’ side and because of their demeanor with people and other animals were given the opportunity to stay at the front desk to encourage them to get more exercise.  A few notable pairs of cats found forever homes this month, too.  Brian Wilson and Que, Mrs. Bucket and Isaiah, and Mr. Toots and Fergie were adopted into wonderful families in August.  What a treat! 

Let’s not forget about those tail waggers – Susie and Hercules were volunteer favorites and were showcased on our pet of the month board.  It was great to see those two sweet dogs find their home.  It’s hard to forget Whitney, the Saint Bernard.  That sweet girl was transferred to a breed rescue group this month.  For those of you that aren’t familiar, breed rescue groups work similarly to humane societies with the exception that they concentrate on specific breeds or breed groups.  Since they are specialized, they can focus on breed specific behaviors and home requirements.  I’m also very excited to tell you that Hannah, the tan Staffordshire mix was also adopted.  Remember, I can’t list all of the animals that were adopted this month, so you can always contact me to find out about any particular animal.  Keep up the good work, everyone – your socialization efforts really pay off!
 
 Announcements – What’s New?
 
 Like I mentioned in the Shelter Pause section of this newsletter, we really need to get more dog walkers in, especially in the morning.  Many of the dogs in our care are very housebroken and will not go in their run.  If animals force themselves to retain waste, it can eventually cause problems like bowel obstructions and urinary tract infections.  In order to prevent this, we would like to see more morning dog walkers to ensure that these dogs have the chance to relieve themselves and have a bit of exercise each morning.  Don’t forget that afternoon dog walkers are just as important.  Anytime that you can visit the humane society is helpful.
 

We are also looking for 2-3 new volunteers to be trained to walk the dogs that are being housed in our isolation area.  These dogs have upper respiratory infections, eye infections, kennel cough and other ailments that can pass from dog to dog so they are housed separately, but they still need to be walked!  Isolation dog walker volunteers will be specially trained and supervised to ensure that the proper sanitation procedures are being followed to keep the dogs as healthy as possible.  The one big restriction is that isolation dog walkers are not able to walk adoptable dogs on the same day.  If you are interested in being considered as an isolation dog walker, please let me know!

 A BIG thank you to those volunteers who worked with us on August 19th to clean up and organize the interior shelter garage.  Everyone worked very hard and the results were beautiful.  Thank you so much for devoting a Saturday afternoon to getting dirty and making a difference!
 

When you are walking a dog down the hallway toward the west entrance, they sometimes can’t quite hold it as long as they’d like and may urinate a bit on the floor or wall on the way.  When this happens, it is very important that you get a mop and clean up any messes left behind.  Even if you’re walking past and notice a mess, we all have to work together to make sure to clean them up as quickly as possible. 

Teamwork is the key.
 We have a large quantity of unfolded newspaper piling up in the garage.  If everyone can work together to take some of it home, fold it and bring it back, we would really appreciate it.  Having the newspaper already bundled saves time during cleaning.  Thanks!
 

Another BIG thank you to everyone who has worked together to keep the Volunteer Center clean.  Keeping the desk organized not only makes the entire area look better to volunteers and visitors, but organized drawers prevent wasted nametags and lost time sheets.  Keep it up, guys!
 

If you haven’t been out in the past week or so, come and check out the progress on the new, improved Kitty City.  The wall is up and painted and it looks great!  The cats will be housed in cages for a while to give us time to get the doors up and gather supplies for furnishing the rooms.  We are currently asking for donations of new or very gently used cat trees, scratching posts, multi-cat feeders and water bowls and large covered litter boxes.  We are also taking monetary donations so we can order pictures for the walls as well as other decorations.  If you or someone you know would like to make a donation, just ask for our Shelter Manager, Michelle McKnight.  Thanks!
 
Reminders – Don’t forget!
 

• Don’t forget that the large bin next to the emergency exit is for clean, unused dog walk bags.  Please do not put used bags into this bin.  All used bags should go in the large outdoor dumpster.
   
• When you are walking dogs outside, please keep in mind that our boundary (between the shelter and Art Bartell Rd.) is the fire hydrant.  Please do not walk dogs any farther west than the hydrant.  Walking too close to the Animal Services Facility risks passing pathogens between the two populations and also gets the ASF dogs riled up.  Thanks!
   
• All CCHS volunteers MUST wear closed-toe, rubber soled shoes at all times while volunteering!  This is for your safety.  The rubber soles will prevent you from slipping on wet adoption room floors.  They must be closed-toe to prevent injury to your feet and toes.  I’ve heard that it Is helpful to have a spare pair of shoes in your car so even if you’re out on the town and decide to stop in, you will be prepared!  We really appreciate everyone’s cooperation on this item.
   
• If you are approached by a humane society visitor who has questions regarding our policies or procedures, please remember to use the information provided in the Volunteer Handbook.  If you are confronted with a questions that you are unable to answer or don’t know how to answer, please refer the visitor to an adoptions staff member.
  
•  If you are walking past the reception area and notice donations of food, toys or newspapers on the counter or outside the front door, we would appreciate it if you pitched in and put those donations away.  Newspaper can be taken to the center of the east wall in the garage and added to the collection.  Donations of food and toys can be placed in the kitchen next to the chair.  That way our Facilities staff can go through the donations and put each item away.  Thank you!
   
• I’d like to send out another reminder about the volunteer communication logs.  The Animal Information Updates sheets in the volunteer center are for behavior/personality notes, the Health Communication Log is for health concerns and the Grooming List is for grooming/bathing notes.  Please use the Animal ID Number (located on the cage card) on all three lists and try to write legibly so we can read your notes.  We can’t use your notes if we don’t know which animal they apply to.  We really appreciate your help with this.
   
  

Notable Notes – Did you know?
 
 The Champaign County Humane Society holds an Annual Membership Meeting each year to elect new board members, vote on any changes to the CCHS bylaws and discuss the activities of the past year.  This year, our meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 27th at 6:30pm at the Urbana Civic Center.  Anyone can attend, but you must be a current member of CCHS to be eligible for voting on board members and bylaw changes.  You are a current member if you have made a minimum annual monetary donation of $35.00 at least thirty days before the annual meeting.  Visit our website at www.cuhumane.org for more details as well as candidate biographies and proposed bylaw changes.
 

In last month’s newsletter, we gave a date for Mutt Strut as an upcoming event.  I have been informed that we will be foregoing Mutt Strut this year in an effort to concentrate our efforts on a bigger event akin to the Doggielympics that was held during our open house.  I apologize for the confusion.
 

Our annual dinner and auction, “Cold Noses, Warm Hearts” (formerly “A Fetching Ball”) is fast approaching.  This year’s event will be held on October 20th at Hawthorne Suites.  Guests at this event are invited to bid on live and silent auction items to raise money for the humane society.  Tickets are $75.00 each and include a sit-down dinner.  Visit www.cuhumane.org for more information!
 
The World Needs Volunteers…
 
“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life; that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
 
Katie Widlacki
Director of Volunteer Programs
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