WeSNIP NEWS

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Whatcom Humane Society Baker Creek Shelter

Chris registered families in the lobby of the Whatcom Humane Society Baker Creek shelter. It was a warm, well-lit change from other locations where registration is done outside near volunteer cars in the early morning darkness and cold.

MissChief was the first kitty registered. She is a 13 month-old tabby. Her family also has her mother. They read about the Spay Station on a flyer at Big Lots. Cute Violet waited in the car with her Mom. She is 4 months-old and has gorgeous eyes, with what looks like white eyeliner ringing them. She looks like she got into her Mom’s make-up bag. Her family heard about the Spay Station from a friend.

Jazz and Shoo-B waited with their family in their car. They are 8 month-old Lhasa Apso/Pomeranian mix puppies.

Lhasa Apso	Pomeranian
The Lhasa Apso originated in Tibet, and were only bred by holy men and nobles. Thought to bring good luck, this breed was considered to be sacred. For this reason the Lhasa were used as watchdogs in monasteries for over 2000 years. They are highly intelligent, with keen instinct and acute hearing. The Pomeranian. There are not very many who are aware of the fact that this breed of dog has its origins in the Arctic ice of Iceland and Lapland. It claims a genetic bond to the Alaskan Malamute, the Samoyed and the Siberian Husky. They were "cousins" within the Spitz family of canines. Of course, the Pomeranian then was a great deal larger than the dog we know today, averaging about thirty pounds. This dog earned its keep by being a sled dog. As explorers came in contact with the native people, they would bring back the native dogs to their homes. Eventually, these native dogs ended up in an area of Germany known as Pommerania. In Germany these dogs were used to herd livestock.

Six year-old SeAnna and 7 year-old Grayson smiled as they waited in their car. Then the whole family took the puppies for a walk. A friend rescued the dogs from a puppy mill. Another friend told them about the Spay Station.

Binky, the 8 month-old Siamese/Tabby mix, and Buddy, the 4 month-old Tabby, waited in cars with their Moms. Binky’s kitty Mom was a stray who came in and had a litter of kittens in the house. The other 2 kittens were long-haired tabby kitties. Her Mom learned about the Spay Station on the television Pet Watch program. Buddy’s Mom read about the Spay Station on Craigslist.

Sophie’s Mom got her from her employer, who takes care of about 20 feral cats. Sophie is 4 years old. Her Mom found out about the Spay Station on the WeSNIP website. Their dog had surgery on the Spay Station 6 months ago. Bean, the year-old Chihuahua, was dressed for the cold in his winter coat. He was a Christmas present to his Mom last year. She heard about the Spay Station by word of mouth.

Two shelter dogs checked out all the early morning activity at the Spay Station.

Princess, the Rottweiler mix, was abandoned. She had been living under her family’s van and is extremely sweet but shy. She waited in line patiently as her Dad made friends with Sully.

Kat got acquainted with Princess while Sully waited in line. Sully is a year-old Golden Retriever/ Great Pyrenees mix.

Golden Retriever	Great Pyrenees
Great Pyrenees likely evolved from a group of principally-white mountain flock guard dogs that originated ten or eleven thousand years ago in Asia Minor. It is very plausible that these large white dogs arrived in the Pyrenees Mountains with their shepherds and domestic sheep about 3000 BC. There they encountered the indigenous people of the area, one of which were the Basques, descendants of Cro-Magnon Man. In the isolation of the Pyrenees Mountains over these millenniums, the breed developed the characteristics that make it unique to the group of flock guardian dogs in general and the primarily white members of that group. Golden Retrievers were "developed" in Britain during the 1800's. Believed to be included in the formation of the Golden Retriever breed are the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, the Newfoundland, the Irish Setter and a variety of water spaniels. Lord Tweedmouth takes credit for the development of the Golden Retriever. On his estate, near Inverness, Scotland, Lord Tweedmouth wished to develop a dog which was loyal and kind, yet spirited and energetic, with a love for the water and an ability to retrieve. His early vision of a Golden Retriever was for a dog that would have great enthusiasm for retrieving waterfowl.

Kat gave instructions to Sully’s Mom while Bean’s Mom gave him a hug before boarding.

Chris looked on as Bean’s Mom carefully handed him over to Kat. Kat tenderly held him as he was boarded on the Station.

Zara waited at the top of the Station stairs as kitty boarding began.

Families waited while Chris chatted with the last in line.

Kat checked in a kitty and took her carrier to the Station. Then Zara took the kitty to her cage to get her ready for a pre-surgical examination.

More kitties were checked in and boarded.

Koi was checked in – it was going to be determined if Koi is a male or female kitty.

The last kitties were boarded, the Station door was closed, and the pre-surgical exams began.

Thanks go to Chris for her early morning registration work.

Many thanks also to Laura Clark, Executive Director of the Whatcom Humane Society, for facilitating the use of the Baker Creek Shelter. This new location is going to be a Spay Station favorite because of the warm lobby for registration and amount of parking available at the shelter and surrounding streets.

Statement of Principle:
The Whatcom Humane Society believes that all animals, as sentient beings, have value beyond economic measurements and are entitled to legal, moral, and ethical consideration and protection.

Vision:
All animals in our community are treated with kindness, respect, and compassion.

Mission:
The Whatcom Humane Society: Advocates for animals; Educates the community to promote humane treatment and respect for animals; Provides for abandoned, injured, abused or neglected animals.

Targeted Results:
All domestic animals in Whatcom County have permanent, responsible, and loving homes. All animals, regardless of species, are treated with respect and compassion. WHS is widely recognized and respected as a core service in the community. WHS educational programs promote responsible animal care and seek to prevent abuse, neglect, and overpopulation. WHS currently operates out of 2 locations:  3710 Williamson Way (near the Bellingham airport) and 1661 Baker Creek Place (in the Irongate Industrial Park area).

Both the Baker Creek and Williamson Way Humane Society shelters have facilities for dogs and puppies & cats and kittens available for adoption. Other smaller animals such as rabbits, mice, and ferrets are also shown at the shelters. A Whatcom County farm houses large animals such as horses and llamas that are also waiting for adoption. Marian and Adrianna are members of the wonderful, loving staff who take care of the animals.

Animals available for adoption get TLC from the staff and volunteers. Xander got a reading by Joanna, a local pet communicator. He told her that he’s dreaming of being a “couch potato” at someone’s home.

The shelters provide central locations for posting information about lost or found animals. Display boards show pictures of the foster home kitties available for adoption. This information is also on the shelter and PetFinder websites. The wonderful families participating in the Foster Home program open their hearts and homes to animals who are experiencing “cage stress” and need a home environment before being adopted. In addition to cats and dogs, WHS Foster Families are currently taking care of Captain Jack, a Phantom Lizard; Nutmeg, a quarter horse; and Drennan, a Dwarf Hotot rabbit. Additional foster homes are always needed especially during “kitten season” in the Spring.

Facilities are available for the public to place found or unwanted animals in a safe place after-hours. Control and Rescue is also an important part of the shelter mission to care for at-risk animals in the community.

Animals cared for can be well beyond cats and dogs. Mona Lisa, the 600 lb. pig, is an example. Laura soothes Lisa. Lisa has the dubious reputation of freeing her pen-mate, a peacock. (The peacock is still out on the lam.)

The shelter is always in need of financial support from the community. Rebecca, Foster Care Coordinator, and Laura, Executive Director, struck a pose after spending time with Lisa.