Kelly's Casuals Fashion Show

Kelly held the fashion show at Players on December 2 and what a success!

The benefit brought in $650.00. North County Humane Society would like to thank Players Restaurant for allowing Kelly to hold the benefit there.

A big Thanks to Kelly from all of us at NCHS for her continued support and love for the felines!

STUDENTS SUPPORT SHELTER

Fifth grade students in the Canyon Creek After School Program recently learned about, and raised money for, the Shelter cats at North County Humane Society.

The Canyon Creek After School Program is one of many services offered by People’s Self Help Housing in Paso Robles. People’s Self Help Housing (PSHH) is a non profit organization that provides affordable housing to low income residents. This includes affordable rental facilities, many of which also provide learning centers, child care facilities, health services, and more.

Kimberly Gaspar, the Educational Enhancement Program Coordinator at the Canyon Creek Apartments, explains, “we try to provide educational assistance for the children of the low income families living in our apartments. I have 60 students in grades kindergarten through fifth, for which PSHH provides after school help with homework, a nutritious snack, and enrichment programs that include workshops, guest speakers and field trips.” The Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP) helps to build youth self-esteem, promote parent involvement, improve academic success, and thereby, increases the rate of High School graduation.

Gaspar recently invited North County Humane Society Board Member Carol DeHart King and Volunteer Kathleen Bockius to speak before fifteen 5th graders as part of YEEP’s Canyon Creek After School Program. The 30 minute NCHS presentation on May 26th covered the Shelter, the cats, and included many student questions.

The students then held a Bake Sale at the Center as part of a Community Open House on Wednesday, June 2nd from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., raising over $ 36.00 for NCHS. These monies will be used towards the care of the cats. The Bake Sale involved working in the kitchen, baking cookies, cupcakes and decorating them, and then attending the tables at the event. The 5th graders also made up poster boards to advertise their Bake Sale, featuring photos of cats cut out of magazines.

The Open House, attended by parents and community members, included a Mexican dinner, pinatas, a carnival, and the aforementioned Bake Sale. Anita Rouse, NCHS Board President noted, “We are very grateful when community groups, especially young people, put this kind of time and effort into learning about our local Shelter and to raising money to ensure its’ continued existence.” People’s Self Help Housing and the North County Humane Society plan more future collaborative efforts involving youth

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NEWSLETTERS

Short Tails

Our newsletter is published quarterly and is free to our members. Often we include an insert; it may be for a fundraiser, a memorial/tributes page, or other information we hope you'll be interested in reading. You may download Adobe pdf formatted issues and "extras" by clicking on the month listed below.

Winter 2010

Spring 2010

Winter 2009

Spring 2009

2008 Newsletters

January/Feb 2008 • April/May 2008 • June/July 2008 • September/October 2008

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1-877-NEW PET LINE Launches to Help Owners Manage Their Pet’s Behavioral and Nutritional Special Needs

Hill’s is also launching 1-877-NEW PET LINE, a resource to help new and current pet owners understand and manage a variety of their pet’s behavioral and nutritional special needs. Staffed with live experts trained by Dr. Jacqui Neilson, DVM of the American college of Veterinary Behaviorists, pet owners can discuss special needs including acclimating a pet into a new environment, obedience/house training, proper nutrition and pet fitness. The New Pet Line is open Monday through Saturday from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Central Standard Time.

Transforming Pet’s Lives through Nutrition

Hill’s is currently the largest corporate sponsor of shelters in the U.S., providing well over 1,000 shelter partners with free, high quality nutritious food they need to help their pets get healthy soon and adopted faster. To date, Hill’s has donated over $100 million dollars worth of food and helped millions of cats and dogs get adopted.

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CELEBRITY CATS

North County Humane Society gratefully thanks local radio station KVEC out of San Luis Obispo, for providing regular opportunities to appear on the Dave Congalton show.

Every month, on the 3rd Friday from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m., a Shelter cat is featured on the Dave Congalton show on KVEC 920 AM. In the last twelve months, this exposure has led to several adoptions and at least one new Shelter volunteer. Thank you Dave and KVEC for your support of our Shelter!


Special thanks to this radio station for helping to find good homes for our wonderful cats and raising awareness about North County Humane Society.

MID STATE CRUIZERS DONATION

The North County Humane Society would once again like to THANK the Mid State Cruizers for their continued support of the many cats and kittens we care for. Special thanks to Carolyn Stone, Mary Hawkins & Gayle Tavernetti.

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SPOKESCAT RECEIVES NATIONAL ATTENTION!

Billy McPaw, Spokescat for the North County Humane Society, appeared in the July issue of “Cat Fancy” magazine in a special article featuring “45 Extraordinary Cats.” Of course those at the Atascadero shelter have always found him extraordinary, even before his recent national attention!
Congratulations Billy! Does this mean gourmet shrimp will now replace your kibble?

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Spay/Neuter Certificates Available at Shelter and DAS

Spay/Neuter certificates are sometimes available at North County Humane Society for Atascadero residents only.

PLEASE NOTE: SUPPLY IS LIMITED!!!!!
Call to check on availability

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THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY!

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PLEASE HELP OUR CATS

This is a particularly difficult time economically. As our President has noted, this is the most difficult time financially in our nation’s history since the Great Depression.

The severity of California’s weak economy has had an impact on us at the North County Humane Society. Many families on the central coast are losing their homes to foreclosure. When this happens, some have contacted us to take in their loved pets, while others are so overwhelmed by their circumstances, that they leave their pets behind to fend for themselves. Others, are unable to manage the cost of pet food and medical care, and have had to resort to getting rid of their beloved animals, due to their dire economic straits.

In addition, last summer we all saw a significant rise in gas prices. As you may recall, as a result of this, food and other products went up significantly in price. This includes the cost of pet food and cat litter. Unfortunately, when gas prices were finally decreased, the cost of many products that are necessary to the running of our Shelter did not go down as well.

To make matters even more difficult, there has been a decrease in how much some of our steady contributors are able to give. Although they want to help us out, as they know how long we’ve been in operation, how much we love the cats we care for, and the importance of what we do, they have lost significant amounts of money due to the stock market decline and therefore, are not able to give as they would like.

A society is judged by how it treats its animals, especially during rough times. This is particularly apt, when all of us are feeling the effects of an economic downturn. It is even more important to help those who cannot help themselves, when times are tough.

Will you please open your hearts and wallets, to help us remain open? Any amount is appreciated. The kitties under our care need YOUR help if we are to stay open. Thank you for whatever help you are able to give.
The staff, volunteers and cats at the NCHS.

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Meet Billy McPaw, SpokesCat for NCHS

SHELTER NEWS By: Billy McPaw, NCHS Spokescat

When I wrote last in June, I thought I'd seen alot of activity around my home at NCHS, but wow! What a pawsitively awesome summer we've had at the shelter! I already saw myself as "the cat's meow", being that I'm the NCHS Spokescat and have such a prominent place in the front office. In July however, I had my 15 minutes of fame on the national stage when "Cat Fancy" magazine featured me as one of "45 Extraordinary Cats." I expect it was my beautiful snow-white fur and sensitive nature that caught their attention.

Then, once I finished putting my paw print on issues of "Cat Fancy" for all those human groupies who wanted my autograph, the pawparazzi came around again, seeking an article about me for a national animal anthology project. The resulting article can be read at: http://theanimalanthologyproject.yolasite.com/.

Needless to say, after all this excitement I was ready for a cat nap! But, that was not to be as the shelter's been too busy! I believe I mentioned that in May, 42 of my furry feline friends were adopted - possibly an all-time 33 year high! Well, my human friends must be doing something right because in June, 27 kittens and 5 adult cats were placed into good homes. And this month? Looks just as pawsitive. Although I miss my friends, I'm really happy for them. Visions of them being petted and cuddled by their new people makes me smile and purr in my sleep.

It's not just the adoptions that have kept things moving around here. There's also furniture being moved in and out. How do they expect a fella to get any sleep? Don't they realize I'm a nationally recognized celebrity and need my beauty sleep?

Yes, the humans are moving furniture, and boxes, and cans of paint, and who knows what else? I must say, things are looking cleaner and brighter in the Reception/Store area with the new sage green paint on the walls. Very pretty! The white molding color was clearly matched to my fur. Those humans are so organized some times!

I hear they expect to move in freshly painted furniture (also white to match my snowy down fur) soon, and then there will be merchandise back out for sale around the first of September, right in time for all the fall holidays! I"m looking forward to it, as I hear they will be selling catnip toys to go into Christmas stockings! I hope someone buys some for me for my Christmas gifts! (Hint! Hint!)

I'm sure there will be lots of great stuff for sale for 2 and 4 legged creatures: quilts, pet beds, pillows, mugs. . . . I find it hard to drink out of a mug as my paws have trouble grasping the handle, but the humans around here like the paw print and cat themed mugs for their morning coffee. Me - I prefer cream, without the coffee.
As you know, I'm content with staying close to my basket. But, I hear things. . . . So I know that the Reception/Store area isn't the only recent improvement: the stairs to the Dome building have been repaired, the walk way between the Dome and Modular has been rebuilt and is now concrete, the Sun porch on the Dome nearest Intake has been repaired making for another secure outside area for the Dome cats, the outside fence has been repainted, and, yardwork is underway. From what I can see from the front door, it looks nice!

So, to summarize: I've become nationally famous, the exterior grounds are being fixed up, the Reception/Store is being remodeled, and adoptions are up! Sounds to me like you need to come by to see all the changes and to rub me behind the ears.

Until then, may you enjoy some fresh gopher meat and the friendship of fabulous felines!

Your friend, BILLY

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LOST OR FOUND PET

We have all experienced the situation where a small child or animal has become excited or frightened and has run off blindly. In the blink of an eye, an animal or small child can become lost. If you’ve lost, or have found a dog or cat, what should you do? The following is a list of steps to take that will hopefully result in a happy reunion between owner and cherished animal:

1) Notify the neighbors. If you have a photo of the pet in question, show it around the neighborhood. (If you don’t presently have a photo of your pet, take one!)

2) Put up signs in the immediate vicinity that include the above mentioned color photo (as local ordinances permit).

3) Contact the San Luis Obispo County Department of Animal Services (DAS). All SLO county animals that are picked up by Animal Control are turned in to DAS.

If you’re looking for your animal, go online (or phone DAS) for their animal hotline directions. It’s important to check the hotline regularly for at least several weeks. The pet may wander for a time before it is found and turned in.

4) Call other local shelters. Any local shelters can give you a list of local dog and cat shelters in SLO county. Remember that frightened animals can travel farther than one might expect.

5) If you’re looking for a pet, personally visit DAS and other shelters in the area where you live. No one knows your pet like you do and unless your pet as very distinctive markings or is a rare breed, there could be several pets at local shelters that meet its’ description.

6) When you adopt a pet, be sure to place a break away collar around its’ neck with a tag on it that gives your home number. Because these collars are meant to break away in the event the animal becomes tangled on a fence or some other object, also have your pet microchipped. Nowadays, most shelters microchip for either a nominal fee, or as part of the adoption cost. At North County Humane Society, microchipping is included in the $89.00 cat adoption fee. At NCSH microchipping is available for a low fee of $15.00.

7) Contact the local newspapers. All have Lost/Found Pet Sections in the classifies, and not all charge for this service.

8) On occasions where there will be loud noises, such as the Fourth of July and Birthday parties with balloons popping, consider keeping your animal at home in a safe location where it cannot break free if it becomes fearful.

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