Two staff members from the Oregon Humane Society depart tomorrow, May 25, to provide hands-on help to the Central Oklahoma Humane Society affected by the devastating tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma.

The OHS staff members will be in Oklahoma May 25 through May 31 helping to manage the extraordinary influx of calls that the Central Oklahoma Humane Society has been receiving. The calls are from people wanting to donate money, resources and time to help the pets that were affected by the tornado. OHS also expects to send more people to assist with caring for animals that were displaced by the storm and are on standby to deploy these additional staff and volunteers.

The first OHS staffers departing for Oklahoma will be available for interviews tomorrow morning as they check in to board their flight at Portland International Airport, from 6-6:30 am at the Southwest Airlines ticketing counter. The OHS staff members deploying to assist in Oklahoma are Jennifer Barta and Jordan Buck.

OHS was contacted for help through the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA). “The Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) collaborates with a national emergency response coalition to help animals affected by national disasters,” said Maurine Dyer Stevens, SAWA President & CEO. ” At their request, we work with the local shelters affected by disaster and are so happy that the Oregon Humane Society was able to respond quickly to our callout for help.”

“OHS has a long history of helping out with disaster responses across the nation,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS Executive Director. “Real life experience is invaluable in furthering OHS’ readiness to respond in Oregon if the need arises.”

Pet Press news event courtesy OHS (Oregon Humane Society)
http://www.oregonhumane.org/

Microchip “Chip Your Pet Month “Special for Feline Spay/Neuter Clients (extended through the end of June)

May, and now June, is “Chip your Pet Month” (has nothing to do with potato chips)!

CAT is spreading the word that microchips are a valuable form of secondary identification. Is your pet chipped?

Who:              
Cat owners taking advantage of CAT’s Spay & Save ($10 for income-qualified cat owners) or budget priced spay/neuter surgeries in May ($33 (male cat) and spays for $49 (female cat); no income qualifications)

What:             
Have their cat or kitten MICROCHIPPED FOR JUST $10 – includes chip registration (most vets charge between $35 – $65).

When:            
Appointments scheduled during May and June 2013

Where:          
Cat Adoption Team
14175 SW Galbreath Dr., Sherwood
(503) 925-8903 http://www.catadoptionteam.org/

How:              
Cat owners must request this service when scheduling their cat’s spay/neuter surgery through CAT’s veterinary hospital

Call:  
(503) 925-8903

Restrictions:  
The $10 microchip offer is only for pet cats of spay/neuter clients. Appointments must be scheduled during May and June, 2013. And microchip must be requested prior to surgery.

Details about CAT’s low-cost spay/neuter services for owned cats can be found at www.catadoptionteam.org/spay 

Pet Press Spay/Neuter Event courtesy CAT (Cat Adoption Team – Sherwood, OR)
http://www.catadoptionteam.org/

The Washington County Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter’s adoption program will be closed for one day only on Thursday, May 23. Shelter staff will be participating in a regional disaster preparedness exercise.

The adoption program will re-open on Friday morning at 11 AM.

All other shelter operations will be functioning. The Bonnie Hays shelter will continue to accept stray dogs and cats and return stray dogs and cats to their owners on that day. The building will also be open for license purchases.

Pet Press news item courtesy The Washington County Bonnie L. Hays Samll Animal Shelter
http://www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/AnimalServices/AnimalShelter/

Six Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA animal shelters of the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP) are recipients of the Maddie’s FundR Community Lifesaving Award totaling $1,000,000. This prestigious award is only given to communities that have saved all healthy shelter dogs and cats for multiple years and can demonstrate the ability to sustain this “adoption guarantee” for healthy pets in the future. The community further needs to exemplify strength in collaboration and strategic initiatives that could serve as a model in other communities across the US.

The award check was presented today, Tuesday, May 21, at 10:00 am at the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter (Washington County Animal Services) at 1901 SE 24th Ave, Hillsboro, OR. The Executive Directors of all six ASAP shelters and other ASAP member organizations were present to receive the award and answer questions.

“The award funds are being allocated to the six shelters based on adoption and transfer numbers while some monies will be pooled for future collaborative projects to further benefit shelter animals”, says Britta Bavaresco, Co-Founder of ASAP. “This generous funding is a huge boost for the community and helps our shelters meet the on-going needs of our homeless pets while saving even more lives by focusing on medical transfers and treatments, behavior training, adoption promotions and special efforts for hard-to-place pets.”

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our life-saving efforts by Maddie’s Fund. Establishing a safety net for our community’s homeless cats and dogs has been a priority for all of us.” says Mike Oswald, Director of Multnomah County Animal Services. “ASAP’s life-saving commitment ranges from Troutdale to Battle Ground, from Cornelius to Damascus which is changing the whole region, not just the city of Portland. This grant helps animals throughout the whole metro area. ”

The Portland Metropolitan Area has reduced euthanasia in local shelters by a dramatic 65% percent from 2006 to 2012 thanks to the efforts of ASAP. With over 33,700 cats and dogs entering the six shelters last year, the community’s live release rate was an astounding 85%, compared to the national average rate of around 50%. Nine out of ten dogs, and eight out of ten cats, left animal shelters alive. No healthy, social cat or dog has been euthanized since 2010. For metro areas with a human population of over two million people, this puts Portland in the top three safest communities for homeless animals, joining New York City and the Denver Metropolitan Area (source: Maddie’s Fund National Community Statistics Database).

Since its founding in 2006, ASAP has worked diligently to end the euthanasia of healthy, social, and treatable dogs and cats in our local shelters.

Starting with a live release or save rate of 62% in 2006, ASAP has implemented several programs that decreased shelter intake and increased the transfers of animals between shelters. Its successful “Spay & Save” program has altered over 30,000 cats owned by people needing financial assistance, resulting in a 25% decrease in shelter intake of cats within just two years.

“As a coalition, we have worked very hard to save all healthy cats and dogs and the majority of the pets that come into our care who need treatment before adoption,” says Sharon Harmon, Executive Director of the Oregon Humane Society. “But there is still more to do. We want to save all of the animals that need some extra help and that we know would make wonderful pets in an adoptive home. The Maddie’s Fund grant will help us get on our way but it is our hope that this award will inspire even more animal lovers to take action. These generous funds, coupled with further involvement by our community could be a springboard to the next level of animal sheltering in Portland.”

ASAP encourages all Portlanders to make 2013 the year they get involved with their local animal shelter, helping Portland become a community where every shelter pet finds a home. To get involved today, please contact ASAP at http://asapmetro.org or your local animal shelter and become an adopter, volunteer, foster parent or donor.

Pet Press event announcement courtesy ASAP (Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland)

Every Tuesday, OHS will offer an adoption special for people 60 and older

Looking for a senior discount? How about free? Starting May 21, 2013, every Tuesday at the Oregon Humane Society will be a special day for people 60 years or older. A select group of 15 pets will be available for adoption to seniors at no charge every Tuesday. All other pets will have their adoption fees reduced by $50 when they are adopted by a senior on Tuesday.

OHS recognizes that a pet can not only make you feel young at heart, but pets may keep you healthier. Researchers have documented that living with pets is associated with lower blood pressure and less anxiety. Pets are also good for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Dog owners were 34 percent more likely than non-owners, for example, to complete a recommended minimum 150 minutes of exercise per week, according to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.

“Here at OHS we see the joy a pet can bring into a life, no matter what your age,” said Sharon Harmon, OHS executive director. “We are delighted to help promote adoptions to people over 60 because many of our pets would fit well in a household with older adults.”

OHS will select the 15 pets each week by looking at personality traits that will be a good fit for a mature household. These pets should enjoy being petted and handled without getting aggressive; they also won’t be overly loud or too active. If a senior can’t find a perfect match among the 15 free pets, all other pets at the shelter will be $50 off the listed adoption fee (only for individuals 60 years of age or older).

What: Find Love at Any Age Adoption Campaign: Approximately 15 pets every Tuesday will be free and all other pets are $50 off for people 60 years or older

When: Starting May 21st, continuing every Tuesday thereafter

Where: Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97211

Call: (503) 285-7722 for directions and adoption information, or visit www.oregonhumane.org

Pet Press adoption events courtesy OHS (Oregon Humane Society – Portland, OR) www.oregonhumane.org