Donate to become a hero to a shelter animal in need!

Butte Humane Society

Donate! | Email | Contact Us | (530) 343-7917

By

Volunteer Spotlight: Arlene E.

Arlene E.What can we say, Arlene is a rock star! In the last year she has contributed almost 250 hours of her time to Butte Humane Society. After being retired for about a year she decided to find a new way to spend her time, and we couldn’t be luckier that she found us.

Adoptions Manager, Megan Dallas, says, “Our staff really rely on our volunteers, and Arlene is always there to step up and take on anything we need her to. If she hears we are short staffed, she comes straight over to come and help out. She’s an angel!”

Arlene has completed the Level 2 training for dogs and is also one of our Volunteer Mentors, which means that she works with new volunteers as they are training. She is a great asset to our special events and mobile adoptions, including our most recent – a special “Company Cuddle” event for Sierra Nevada Brewery staff and families. Arlene also played a vital role during the evacuation crisis we had earlier this month, helping to organize emergency fosters so that we were able to open our kennels to community animals in need.

Now that we’ve gotten to know her, we don’t know what we’d do without her. Thank you, Arlene!

By

Sweet Success: Charlie

charlie-1Written by Jessica M., loving adopter

“The overall adoption process was very easy. To be honest, I made the decision to adopt a dog on a whim. I went in with some friends and we looked at a few different dogs; some were recommended by staff, and some we picked out based on their personalities in the kennels. All the dogs were sweet in their own way, but none stuck out to me as “the one.” After we had seen 4 or 5 dogs that were not quite right, the staff member helping us said she had one more in mind that was not on display but he was a high energy dog like I had been looking for. When she brought out Charlie, the first thing I noticed was his coloring. His striking black and white face was beautiful and his brown eyes had a very intense gaze. Unlike the other dogs that had been more excited to explore the room, Charlie came right up to us! He stood his front paws on my lap and just put his face right next to mine. He still does this when people sit on the ground with him.

charlie-2I love almost everything about Charlie! Anyone who has met him will tell you he is a very special dog. He has a few neurotic tendencies though… He really does not like ceiling fans, and car rides are tough unless I’m the one driving (weird right?). My favorite thing about Charlie, is our bond. He has pretty much attached himself to me. I have never met a dog more loyal or responsive. He knows well over 30 words and phrases which has made training our second dog a breeze. She takes all her cues from Charlie which helps her pick up on things faster.

I have grown a lot since adopting Charlie. He is my number one adventure partner and I cannot imagine hiking without him. He and I spend most weekends exploring San Diego together and I base most of my hikes around whether or not he can come. He has helped me get into better shape and will be helping me train to hike Mt. Whitney this summer! Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the trail to the summit, but you better believe he will be on every possible hike leading up to the big trip!

I would absolutely recommend adopting an animal from BHS to anyone. Go in with an open mind and an open heart. You never know how some little furry creature will change your life!”

By

Lost & Found Pets: The Search

Written by Honey Souza, Humane Education Coordinator

PART TWO: Searching for Lost Pets
A three-part series of what to about missing pets.

lost pets

Last month we covered some helpful hints for preventing your pet from getting out and getting lost. Hints like ensuring your pet is spayed or neutered to reduce the urge to roam.

Unfortunately, even the most attended-to pets can go missing. If that’s the case, don’t panic. Take a breath, clear your head, then get to work because expedience is key.

  1. Look: First and foremost, get out and look around your neighborhood. Don’t be shy about going door to door asking permission to look in/around their yards. Don’t forget to look up in trees and on roofs. Pets are more inclined to return to familiar sounds… shouting out their names with a twinge of panic in your voice is not a familiar sound and may even make them more inclined to stay away. Traverse a five block radius while engaging in common conversation with the occasional yet normal recall cue. Bring a flashlight to look in dark areas like under porches.
  2. Call: Call your local animal control to ask if your pet has been turned in. Don’t stop there, go to the shelter to check for yourself. Two people can look at the same pet and see two different breeds. While you’re there, you’ll want to fill out a missing pet report in case your pet comes in later. Inquire with neighbor city shelters. If someone has stolen your pet, they might take it to another town.
  3. Access: Leave garage doors cracked and pet doors unblocked. Open your windows and keep noise down in your house so that you have a better chance of hearing their calls to come in, especially late at night.
  4. Check the Net: Check online. First stop: Facebook. The following groups listed below are dedicated specifically to returning lost pets to their families. Then you’re going to want to check Craigslist.org. Be sure to check, the categories of “Lost & Found”, “Pets”, and “Free”.
  5. Post It: Posters really do work. Post them around your neighborhood, library, and vet offices. Print out baseball type handbill of your pet to give to neighbors in the chance that they will see it later on. Of course you’re going to want to create your own “Lost Pet” posts on the internet, too. Be sure to use a variety of pictures with different angles and good lighting. Don’t forget to mention if your pet is on any medications or has dietary restrictions.
  6. Smell: Leave strongly-scented items outside such as your pet’s favorite pillow, toy, or favorite treat, even litter boxes. Cook up something meaty that has a strong aroma. While it’s still hot put it outside. You may attract the rest of the four-legged neighbors, but it’s worth it if your pet is amongst them. Then share some of that with your pet.
  7. Keep Looking: Check your neighborhood, local shelter, Facebook, craigslist, and other online sources every day. It might take hours, days, or weeks for a found animal to be reported. Many people assume that just because a loose animal doesn’t have a collar, it is unwanted or abused. They may think they are helping by taking it in and/or re-homing it themselves.

Stop to think “why”? Your pet could have run away from a fearful situation. Very often they’ve run off to answer nature’s call to mate. Often when animals who have free roam of the neighborhood run off, it’s because they are not feeling well or are injured. Regular check-ups and constant monitoring of your pet’s health could help prevent that. This is also why once your pet does come home, you’ll want to take it to the vet as soon as possible.

For Cats:

They are most often closer than you think. There’s a good chance that they’ve just discovered a new hiding place in your house, tastier food, and a warmer couch five houses down, or a new friend.  Cats are very resourceful animals and can do well on their own for days, or even weeks. Most cats eventually return on their own within about five days.

Many neighborhoods have their own neighborhood watch email/text alert system. While going door to door, find out if yours does and get the contact info to be part of it. If your neighborhood does not have a watch system in place, take the initiative and make one.

By

Volunteer Spotlight: Mandy M.

volunteer-spotlight-mandyWhen she came to volunteer with Butte Humane Society in early January of this year, Mandy jumped in with both feet. In less than a month, she has accumulated over 100 hours of service!

Mandy helps out in all areas of BHS, and has already completed the Level 2 training for Dogs. She puts in hours at the warehouse, spends time with cats, and works tirelessly to ensure that all of our dogs get their time out of the kennels each day. Not only that, but she attends education seminars and always makes sure to post photos and information about the animals that she works with. The information she provides helps both staff and other volunteers know what the animals need and how to work with them.

Mandy said she came to BHS when she some extra time between classes at Chico State, and quickly found herself getting attached to all of our loving animals. She comes in to volunteer every day that she is not in class, and her dedication is inspiring. Thank you, Mandy, for all that you do for Butte Humane Society. You have truly made a difference and we cannot be more appreciative!

About Butte Humane Society

Welcome to Butte Humane Society (BHS). We are one of the oldest non-profit agencies in Butte County, California, working since 1911 to bring humanitarian care to dogs, cats and other animals.

We are a Limited Admission shelter that strives to make our animals as comfortable as possible during their stay with us.

Emergency?

If you have an animal emergency, please call Chico Animal Control (530) 897-4960

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive SMS text message and/or marketing emails from Butte Humane Society for appointment reminders, marketing messages, and general two way communication. Message&data rates may apply. Messaging frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out. For Help, reply HELP. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.