Making Families, One Pet at a Time

This is the time of year when many of our adopters reach out to us to tell us stories about their Pets Lifeline cat or dog. Many of these stories are funny, some are wrenching and others are bittersweet. All of them, however, remind us why we are here. We're here to help an animal ride out a bumpy time in his life until he can become part of a real family.

Remember Blue?

Blue was a young, beautiful purebred Black Lab that was picked up as a stray in Sonoma Valley. We expected his owners to come looking for him and reclaim him in short order, because he was such a beautiful young dog. Sadly, no one did.

After a few days at the shelter it became clear that Blue was victim of a subtle form of neglect that is seen in too many young animals. He was simply an untrained adolescent that had not been exposed to the world. Now he was getting big, hard to handle and nervous when out and about.

Dedicated volunteer handlers worked with him to help him gain confidence and experience. Adoption volunteers and staff worked hard to find an adopter for him. Months passed and no one took him. We stepped up our efforts to get him out there and known and finally, one day in October, a wonderful couple came all the way from Walnut Grove, near Monterey, to meet Blue.

Judi and Greg instantly fell in love with Blue and adopted him. Just a short while later, we received a package in the mail. The package contained photos of Blue swimming in the pool, camping, playing with his canine sister, practicing his obedience moves and generally having a blast! Also in the package was a letter from his adopters and a letter from Blue himself. Here is some of what his loving family wrote:

~"Blue has adjusted and adapted to us and our home so well. He is smart, friendly, curious and such a goof at times!"

~"He has totally mellowed out and he minds wonderfully."

~"He has some really funny things that he does...like when he's sprawled out on the kitchen floor and you go to step over him, he grabs your ankles with his front paws and wants you to rub his tummy!"

~"We love Blue to death and we are so happy that he is part of our family!"

Blue certainly looks happy about this happy ending!

Macy's in San Francisco has nothing on us!

We are happy to report that 5 out of 13 cats have been adopted into families from the Shelter on the Square Adoption Center. One terrific story is about my friend Paloma. Paloma, an adult princess of a female cat, had been at the shelter for more than a year. She decided to try her luck in the well-trafficked downtown location of the Shelter on the Square. In fact, Paloma went to a special window display in the Index-Tribune offices and, to make sure she was noticed, she donned a festive clown collar.

Well noticed she was! An observant local child saw her in the window wearing the clown collar and went home to send an email to local celebrity, "Popo the Clown." She wrote to Popo that she had seen "Popo the Cat" downtown. Popo the Clown was so touched by the message that she came to meet Paloma (aka Popo the Cat) and the rest is history! Congratulations to you both!

11th Annual Santa Paws

The Shelter on the Square will be the location for this year’s 11th Annual Santa Paws Photo event on Saturda,y December 5, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Professional photos of you and your pets taken with Santa Claus will be available for a $20 donation to the Shelter. Custom holiday cards will be available for purchase.

Please bring your favorite pet to the Sonoma Index-Tribune building's west side entrance at 117 W. Napa St. and take a family photo with Santa Claus! Ho, ho ho!

Shelter on the Square Opens Friday!

Eat, Shop and Adopt for the Holidays!

The first ever Shelter on the Square for the 2009 Holiday season opens Friday at 4 PM. The Sonoma Index-Tribune has generously donated space in its downtown building for a special holiday adoption and gift center.

Open weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Pets Lifeline will have some very special felines available for visits and adoptions. Young kittens will be on the square at Sonoma Home and adult cats at the Sonoma Index-Tribune Shelter on the Square. To help adult cats at the Shelter on the Square find a home by the holidays, Pets Lifeline has reduced adoption fees to $30. The gift shop at the Shelter on the Square will have holiday wreaths and wonderful seasonal merchandise including handmade crafts and tasty sweets handmade by our super duper Petslifeline Crafters. And if you're a dog lover, Three Dog Bakery will offer extra special holiday dog treats for that special canine in your life. All of the proceeds - that's 100% - from this holiday season event will go to supporting the animals of Pets Lifeline.

Hours and Dates to Eat, Shop and Adopt
The Shelter on the Square will be at the west side of the Index-Tribune building at 117 W. Napa St. The Shelter on the Square will be open on weekends from November 27 through December 20. The hours are: Fridays 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For additional details on the Shelter on the Square check out our web site.

Help Pets Lifeline Win a $20,000 Grant!

Vote for us at The Animal Rescue Site and we could win $20,000 to help pets in need.

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes - a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations. Think how many animals we could help for $20,000! Help us win!

All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, through December 20th, 2009. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Vote today!

Click here!

The Animal Rescue Site is a "Click to Give" website. You can click on a button to help fund food and care for animals. It's free, and only takes a second of your time. Click every day!

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

While the Indian Summer weather may be deceptive, November is already upon us! And that means that this week, the first week of the month, is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!

This year, Pets Lifeline has joined up with five of the area's animal shelters to create a Cat-A-Thon Adoption Event. This Saturday, if you visit any of the Sonoma County animal shelters, the adoption fee for all cats and kittens has been reduced to an across-the-board 30 dollars. An exam by a veterinarian, spaying/neutering, vaccinations, viral testing and a microchip are all included in the fee.

There are more than 500 cats and kittens in the county looking for new, permanent homes. So if you're looking for that perfect pet to compliment your family, why not come out on Saturday and see the many animals in search of a loving family?!

Participating shelters include: Pets Lifeline, Healdsburg Animal Shelter, Petaluma Animal Shelter, Rohnert Park Animal Shelter, Sonoma County Animal Care & Control, and Sonoma Humane Society.

Black Cat Cabaret a SUCCESS!

We here at Pets Lifeline wanted to extend a big thank you to all of you who attended, sponsors, donated and volunteered for the Black Cat Cabaret. You were invaluable in making this fundraiser a huge success! Your contributions, large and small, make a difference in the lives of the homeless animals of Sonoma Valley!

Pets Lifeline OPEN for Adoptions and Intakes

Pets Lifeline staff and volunteers had no time to bask in the afterglow of the successful Black Cat Cabaret fundraiser. Instead, we rushed back to the Shelter the very next day to do what we do best: help the animals in their time of need. Pets Lifeline learned that a cat was positive for Ringworm. Ringworm is a mild fungal skin infection similar to athlete's foot in people but is costly and time consuming to deal with in a Shelter because it is contagious and stays in the environment. Ringworm can be difficult to detect because cats can be asymptomatic carriers. Heartbreakingly, in meeting our mission to help an unwanted animal, we now must manage this exposure in our entire feline shelter population. In response to the situation, Pets Lifeline closed for adoptions and intake of all animals for two weeks. This was a precautionary measure designed to help limit exposure. Since then we have diligently worked with our veterinarians and followed the recommended procedures and protocols. Based on veterinary advice, the shelter has now reopened for dog and cat adoptions and intakes. You can also visit places like Brocco's and Sonoma Pet Center to meet some of our kittens. There are so many cats and kittens that need homes so please consider adopting.

Critter Carnival

We will be holding the Critter Carnival, a family FUN raiser, on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 onsite at the Shelter at 19686 8th Street East in Sonoma. From 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., the entire animal-loving community is invited to celebrate the critters that make the Sonoma Valley special, with a variety of festivities for all ages.

There is no admission fee to the Critter Carnival, which will include a magic show by Lee Blackwood, live music by Mark Dennis and games for kids. Several turtles and a large tortoise will be on hand from Turtle Rescue & Friends as well as an exotic bird show. Hump-free the camel from Lyon Ranch will make a special appearance. For a small donation, attendees will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with Hump-free and to have their face painted by Popo the Clown.

Tickets will be available for traditional carnival food like hot dogs, cotton candy and soda, as well as healthy snacks like fresh fruit and juices. For adults there will be a Mimosa and Wine bar. Costco in Rohnert Park and Korbel Champagne Cellars are sponsors of the event. In addition, a silent auction of fun items including animal-themed artwork will be available. All proceeds will support the animals at Pets Lifeline.

The Critter Carnival will culminate in a “Sonoma Overnight Experience” drawing. For each $20 ticket, which benefits the Shelter animals, there are three chances to win either:

• An overnight stay at McArthur Place and dinner at Saddles Steakhouse. Valued at $525.

• An overnight at The Lodge at Sonoma along with a Raindance Spa 50 minute signature massage. Valued at $440.

• Dinner for 4 at “the girl & the fig” and Maya’s in downtown Sonoma. Valued at $310.

Tickets for the drawing can be purchased in advance at Casey's Place, Hardin Gardens, Fine Line, Reader's Books, Sandbox, Sonoma Pet Center and Tiddle E. Winks Vintage Five & Dime in Sonoma through Oct. 3 and at the event on Oct. 4.

Coming off the success of the Black Cat Cabaret, Pets Lifeline wants the Critter Carnival to be a community-wide party that honors the animals in our lives. “We hope that families and supporters everywhere will come out for some animal-themed revelry,” said Desiree Stinson, executive director of Pets Lifeline. “Come one, come all!”

We're Overloaded with Cats and Kittens!

Caring adopters are urgently needed for many deserving cats and kittens. Please visit us during the August Adoptathon for special reduced and waived adoption fees. Don't forget to say hi to me while you are at the Shelter.

¿Hablas Español?

Yesterday, my good friend and wonderful shelter volunteer Alice Fisher did us all a great service. She appeared on KSVY, as a guest of radio host "El Guapo," to tell the Spanish-speaking listeners about the services we offer here at Pets Lifeline. ¡Muy bien! ¡Gracias!

My Spanish is a bit rusty but I know that for many members of the Sonoma Valley community it is a first or a favorite language. So we are working to make Pets Lifeline more user-friendly for Spanish speakers. We now have a few handouts available on our web site that address common pet issues en Español. You can find them here. We also have the Google translation tool available on the site and on this blog. I know, I know...automatic translators are far from perfect but we still hope it might make it easier for some people in our community to find help or answers when they need it.

And if you want to help me in my quest to be the best official greeter ever at the Pets Lifeline Shelter, and you are bilingual, consider joining us as a volunteer. And if you are not bilingual, no worries. We need you too! Go online and sign up to join our team.

We're Number One!

In the Animal Category, that is. Our beautiful pink cat float won first prize in the animal category for the City of Sonoma's 4th of July Parade! Ooo-la-la, isn't she a beauty?

Thanks to everyone that came out to wave and cheer us on!

Cats on Parade!

I was really sad to miss the 4th of July parade last year, so this year I am twice as excited! I hope everyone in town comes on out for the 4th of July festivities tomorrow. We've got a colorful, fun display for Pets Lifeline this year that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Our float and booth will be a celebration of the wonderful animal companions in our lives and in our community. The float includes a colorful surprise that sure made me say "meeeeeowwwW."

We hope to see you there!

Got a good dog? Prove it!

I just learned that Pets Lifeline will offer the Canine Good Citizen test on July 25th for $20. All proceeds will benefit the Shelter and, let's face it, your competitive side wants to get out there and show the world that your dog is, in fact, a respectable member of our community. Getting a CGC certificate is the way to do it!

500,000 dogs have been certified since the AKC started the program in 1989 and most dogs, with 6 to 8 weeks of training (attending a class one-hour per week and the owner/dog practicing 15-minutes per day), can be ready to pass the CGC Test. The CGC is a 10-step evaluation that tests basic obedience such as recall, polite walking, polite greetings and acceptance of handling. The program also requires dog owners to sign the Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge.

We know that training enhances the bond between people and their dog(s). We also know that dogs who have solid training are a joy to be around -- they respond well to household routines, have good manners around people and other dogs, and they enjoy the company of the guardian who took the time to provide training, intellectual stimulation and a high-quality life. Rarely are these the dogs that are abandoned in a shelter like PLL.

So make the commitment and get on out there and take a basic dog training class with your pooch so that every dog in Sonoma Valley can become a ‘good citizen’ – even if they don't take the test -- you'll know.

Or get a cat. Felines are naturally good citizens!

Research Shows "Canine Guilt" is All in the Mind of the Human

A report out today from the BBC News presents some scientific evidence that, contrary to the belief of many dog owners, they cannot accurately identify when their dog is "guilty" of doing something wrong.

The research, Canine Behavior and Cognition, looked at how dog owners interpreted their pets' expressions, when they believed that the dog had stolen and eaten a forbidden treat. As it turns out, humans project their own emotions onto dogs if they believe their dog to have broken a rule, researchers found.

You humans sure are coming a long way in your understanding of us, your beloved animal friends!

Read the whole article here and check out this link to pictures showing some pretty guilty dogs!

Warm Days Bring Baby Animals to Sonoma Valley

Our local newspaper, The Sonoma Index-Tribune, did a wonderful article today about what to do if you find a baby animal. It is spring and that means BABIES! Here is a link to the article.



Aren't the kittens in the photo adorable? Credit goes to outstanding photographer and animal lover Robbi Pengelly of the Sonoma Index-Tribune.

Life is No Circus for Animals

Years ago when people heard the circus was coming to town, children screamed in delight and families packed tent arenas for the "greatest show on earth." Nowadays, the video footage of circus animals being mistreated behind the scenes causes many animal lovers to scream in disgust.

We recently learned that Carson & Barnes Circus is coming to Sonoma County June 8-11 with stops in Petaluma and Santa Rosa. While laws and regulations are now in place to offer some protection of animals who perform, they are minimal and rarely enforced. Carson & Barnes Circus has violated many of them and still uses bullhooks on performing elephants.

Pets Lifeline is against the use of animals in circuses and the misery they face everyday. Circuses with animals also teach the wrong message to children; that wild animals are meant for our pure entertainment.

Wild animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. To force them to perform these unnatural and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks and other painful tools.

Wild animals who are forced to perform pose a real threat to public safety and are unpredictable. Remember the elephant in Wisconsin who charged the crowd injuring a child at a circus? No amount of training can eliminate this danger.

So please forgo the Carson & Barnes Circus this year and let them know that animal mistreatment is not tolerated in our community. There are many wonderful circuses that do not use animals, like Cirque du Soleil, that are just as exciting and even more entertaining than those that do.

Organizations that oppose the Carson & Barnes Circus and performing animals include:

Pets Lifeline
Sonoma Humane Society
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County
Marin Humane Society
IDA (In Defense of Animals)
FAPP (Farm Animal Protection Project)
CCFE (Citizens for Cruelty Free Entertainment)

Biting Commentary

Spring is in the air and that means several things. Kittens, of course! But we've already talked about that. It also means its time for National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- May 17-23.

Approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs annually and the majority of these victims are children bitten by the family dog or another dog that they know. Dogs most likely to bite include those not spayed or neutered, not properly socialized, and those that spend their lives chained in a backyard or otherwise lacking in attention. However, any dog, regardless of breed, has the potential to bite in specific circumstances.

Some of my best friends are dogs and they assure me that they would rarely bite out of the blue. A growl is often one of the final signals. So don’t punish the growl. Take the message and get help immediately from a qualified dog behaviorist before someone gets hurt.

The good people at Pets Lifeline recommend that guardians reduce the chance of a bite incident through spay/neutering their pet, providing regular veterinary care, proper dog training and socialization and by educating themselves on bite triggers and canine body language.

Doggone Safe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bite prevention education recommends the following to keep the kids in your home or neighborhood safe:

The 3 Most Important Things to Teach Kids
1. Dogs Don’t Like Hugs and Kisses – Teach your kids not to hug or kiss a dog on the face. Hugging the family dog or face-to-face contact are common causes of bites to the face. Instead, teach kids to scratch the dog on the chest or the side of the neck.
2. Be a Tree if a Strange Dog Approaches – Teach kids to stand still, like a tree. Trees are boring and the dog will eventually go away. This works for strange dogs and any time the family dog gets too frisky or becomes aggressive.
3. Never Tease a Dog – That includes never disturbing a dog that’s sleeping, eating or protecting something.

The 2 Most Important Things Parents Can Do
1. Supervise – Don’t assume your dog is good with kids. If a toddler must interact with your dog, you should have your hands on the dog too. Even if your dog is great with kids and has never bitten – why take a chance?
2. Train Your Dog – Take your dog to obedience classes where positive-reinforcement is used. Never pin, shake, choke, hold the dog down or roll the dog over to teach it a lesson. Dogs treated this way are likely to turn their aggression on weaker family members.

The 3 Most Important Things Dog Owners Can Do
1. Spay or Neuter Your Dog – Neutered pets are calmer, healthier and less likely to be aggressive. Neutering prevents unwanted dogs that end up in shelters or in situations where they may grow up to be poorly socialized or aggressive.
2. Condition Your Dog for the World – Give your puppy lots of new positive experiences. Train using positive methods.
3. Supervise Your Dog – Supervise your dog at all times around children. If visiting children are bothering your dog, put the dog away or send the children home.

For information on summer puppy socialization and dog obedience classes and summer camp for kids to learn animal safety, call one of the wonderful staff at the shelter at 707-996-4577 or visit www.petslifeline.org.

Stay Safe!

Cats Rule and Dogs Drool!

Did you know that cats outnumber dogs by nearly 10 million, making them America's #1 pet?

The recently formed organization called CATalyst Council is working to raise the stature of America’s number one companion, the cat. A week ago they announced the CATalyst 2009 Top 10 Cat-Friendly Cities. The CATalyst Council, a coalition of the veterinary community, academia, nonprofits, industry and animal welfare organizations, hopes to call attention to how much the cat is loved and cared for in these cities, and set the bar for other cities to follow in the annual rankings. The cities named include two cities in California: San Francisco and San Diego, followed by Portland (Ore.), Denver, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, Phoenix, Atlanta and Minneapolis.

The list was compiled after reviewing the top 25 standard metropolitan areas for such data as cat ownership per capita, level of veterinary care, microchipping and cat-friendly local ordinances. Extra points were given to cities with mayors who have cats.

Can Sonoma make it to the Top 10 next year? Maybe with your help. Come and visit some of the wonderful cat companions we have available for adoption at Pets Lifeline today!

My buddy Arrow the dog

Have you heard the story of Arrow? A sad tail. He was tied to the fence of the shelter one day. A three-legged, mostly blind, hard-of-hearing older little guy.

He must have been terrified. Fortunately, the good people here at Pets Lifeline brought him in and did their best to make him comfortable. Not the same as "home" but he seemed happy to have the companionship of people and he LOVES to sit on laps! I can relate.

It seems his elderly owner could no longer afford to care for him and so now he waits for the right person to come along and give him a cozy spot to live out his golden years. Could you be the one he is waiting for?

Click here to read his full story.

Kittens, Kittens Everywhere!

Kitten season has arrived! Look at this video of the little scrappers that showed up at the Shelter yesterday.




Pretty cute, huh? But pretty scared too. Poor things. These kittens came from a Mama cat that was either feral or had her babies outside and so they haven't had much, if any, human contact. Without the help of Shelter staff and volunteers socializing these little buggers they have almost no hope of getting adopted and finding a lifelong, loving home off the street. Thankfully, it's not too late for this crew. They are young and with the right foster home they will make it.

Anymeow, if you are interested in helping waifs like these survive, thrive and feel good around humans, you can volunteer as a kitten foster parent! We will train you to work with kittens so that you can help get them ready for adoption. Email our foster care coordinator, Monna Throop, at monnathroop@petslifeline.org to find out more.

Meet Milo!

Hello. My name is Milo. I am the official Shelter cat at Pets Lifeline in Sonoma Valley. Usually I spend my time greeting visitors, playing with friends, lounging in the sun and eating just about anything. But the remarkable volunteers at PLL have convinced me to chronicle my adventures here at the Shelter and introduce you to all the extraordinary animals, people and events that are part of this special place. Not sure why they think I'm the guy for the job... maybe its my catitude!