Happy New Year!  Have you made a resolution yet?   Maybe you want to exercise more, help your community, or change a life. Consider volunteering at Butte Humane Society where you can do all three at once.

We’ve all been there.  That time in your life where you really, really, reeeally want a pet but your situation won’t allow it.  First of all, thank you for being responsible by waiting until you can provide the best life possible for your future pet.  Secondly, there is a loophole for BHS volunteers.

Come play with our cuddly kittens and walk our loving dogs.  Unfortunately, they don’t get out much while they wait for their forever family to come find them.  They need volunteers to help care for and socialize them, to play with them, and to remind them that there are wonderful people in the world and to give them hope that they might go home with some of them soon.

Wish you could have a dog so badly that you would settle for having one for justa day?  As a BHS volunteer you can…in a manner of speaking.  Approved volunteers get to participate in the Dog On the Go (DOG) program where you can actually take a dog home for the day. Take it to the park, take it for a country drive, or just take it home and cuddle up in front of a movie.

The only people that are more appreciative of our volunteers than BHS staff are the pets we care for.  Yes, pets are people too. Volunteering is not just good for the pets, it’s also good for the mind, body, and soul.  So why not do it at the place that has been voted “Best Place to Volunteer” four years in a row by Chico News and Review readers?

Click here to learn more about volunteering at BHS.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

It’s no secret that stray and community cats can easily find themselves dealing with such medical issues as disease, infection, parasites, injuries, and more.  As with all male cats that come through our doors, Meatloaf had his turn on the operating table to get neutered. But something was not routine about his turn.

The vet noticed his vitals dropping.  Meatloaf was dying.  Thanks the vet’s quick thinking, she was able keep him alive.  She was able to determine that he had a blocked bladder; one of the fastest ways for a male cat to die.  Had BHS not had a veterinarian on staff, he most certainly would have.  But because of the wonderful support of our community, Meatloaf, and countless other animals, are able to receive the medical care they need.

After a lengthy recovery, Meatloaf is ready for adoption. BHS staff practically swoon when his name is mentioned, with each one of them describing him as “sweet” and “cuddly”.  “He’ll touch his nose to yours if you get close enough to his kennel door,” says adoption counselor Stephanie G.  It’s unanimous, Meatloaf would make a great pet.  And now, thanks to the generosity of the community, he’ll have a second chance to be one.

All too often pets are found in dire situations.  Whether they were abused, neglected, abandoned, or just the unfortunate companion of someone who was unable to care for their special needs, they all deserve better.  To rescue an animal is to take it out of such situations, but the animal’s troubles don’t end there.

The transition to a happy, healthy life is not always easy for an animal that knows nothing other than its previous experiences.  Often they are fearful and nervous. Many times they are in need of medical care.

With the help of a very generous community, the staff and volunteers at Butte Humane Society are able to provide that care and socialization that pet needs to adjust to a happy, normal life.   Rather than simply passing off a pet, along with all of the scars of its previous life, to the first person who comes along, we are fortunate enough to able to take the time to learn about that pet, its temperament, dietary restrictions, medical conditions, and the funny little quirks that make that pet unique.  We can then use that information to find the best match we can to ensure both the pet and its new family have a wonderful life together with no surprises, thus reducing the rate of return.

Thanks to such a caring community of supporters, we are able to turn negative situations into positive ones for both the pets and their adoptive families.   We are proud to be able to do more than simply relocate a pet; we take the steps to help it find its forever home.

Lyra, formerly Pepsi, was extremely close to being returned.  But just like those last few steps to the top of a mountain, her adopters persisted and it’s been a rewarding downgrade since.

Lyra seemed like a great match when Casi R. and her family came to meet her at BHS.  The euphoria of the new addition was quickly overshadowed however, when Lyra started jumping on countertops, furniture, and people’s faces.  She bullied the pug and annoyed the cats.  She constantly needed to be on leash, even in the house.

“During the first few weeks, there were lots of tears,” Casi said.  “When Lyra was out, everybody else (two other dogs and four cats) needed to be behind doors.”   Conversations with Casi’s boyfriend began about returning Lyra to BHS.  They decided not to give up and kept up with the training they had begun.  They visited BHS’s Adult Education Seminar led by dog trainer and behaviorist, Shelly Keel, who gave them some pointers and some encouragement.

Shortly after, with perseverance and consistency, Lyra was on the path to becoming that lovely dog Casi and her boyfriend knew she would be when they met.

Now Lyra knows her limits when playing with the pug and she even befriended one of the cats.   “She is fully potty trained and crate trained,” Casi said with pride.  “Crate training is the way to go!”  She does good off-leash and is even taking to clicker training.

Lyra is totally loved by her family.  Her story is a prime example of the reality that all pets need at least some level of work and patience when adjusting to a new home.   Thank you, Casi and household, for putting your frustrations aside to understand what Lyra was also going through, and for your dedication to her training.

Watch a video of the new Lyra here.

 

 

Despite being perhaps the least suited cat to be in a shelter setting, Mimi was one of our longest term residents here at BHS.  One-year-old Mimi came to us in May of 2015, was quickly adopted, then was returned just days later because of her shyness.

Months and months went by and people kept passing her up, misinterpreting her shyness for indifference.  She had the full force of BHS supporting her because we all knew how sweet she really was.  Volunteers told her story.  The Humane Heroes youth group made a video about her.  Interns promoted her on Facebook.  Then, finally, one day, she caught the eye of Nicole G. of Paradise.

It was love at first sight, and it couldn’t have been with anybody better.  Nicole understood that Mimi needed a little extra time to adjust to her new home.  That patience has paid off. Over a month later, Mimi is finally letting Nicole and her family pet her.  They’ve discovered that she prefers playing with pipe cleaners over ordinary cat toys, and that she loves cuddling up on the down comforter on the bed.  “She is pampered like a princess”, Nicole says, “We love her”.

Thank you Nicole, for seeing through Mimi’s timidity and having the kind perseverance needed to make her feel truly loved in her new furrever home.