Linda B. has only been a volunteer at BHS since April, but she has already logged 100 hours with our dogs! In addition to walking dogs at the shelter, she also takes advantage of our Dog On The Go program and takes longer term dogs home for the day to decompress. We love seeing her updates of our pups enjoying the yard and cuddles on the couch. When asked about Linda, our Behaviorist Shannon said “Linda is so focused on the dogs when she’s at the shelter. She’s nice & friendly, and you can tell her heart is in it for all of the right reasons. We are so lucky to have someone like her who dedicates time to be with our dogs, helping mold them and prepare them for a forever home.”

Linda told us that her and her mom, who is also a volunteer, love taking dogs on the go and seeing them get adopted. They have a passion for shelter dogs, and they actually adopted a Cattle Dog mix from BHS back in 2000.

Thank you to Linda (and her mom, Lori) for being such incredible volunteers. The BHS Staff really appreciates you – and so do the pups!

 

Urgent News: The Butte Humane Society Clinic has treated 4 cases of heartworm positive dogs in the last 60 days. Did you know that  of those tested,1 in 63 dogs in Butte County have been positive for heartworm? Heartworm is an invasive parasite that is transmitted by mosquitos. Northern California has a large mosquito problem and the American Heartworm Society estimates that 9 out of 10 mosquitos are carriers. Once an infected mosquito bites a dog, the heartworm larvae invade the bloodstream, mature, and then make a home in the heart of the dog. It takes approximately six months for heartworms to become an adult in a new host, according to the American Heartworm Society. As you can imagine, this causes all sorts of health issues for the dog including heart failure, organ failure, and ultimately death if left untreated. Heartworms can live in the hearts of dogs for 5-7 years! Most dogs will not show any symptoms of heartworm infection until the infestation is bad. The most common symptoms are activity intolerance and coughing. Heartworm can be painful for a dog to live with, and if infected, the treatment is expensive and painful as well. It is important to note that dogs are not the only ones who can suffer at the hands of a heartworm infection; cat’s immune systems are better at fending off the worms before they become adults. However, for cats fighting off heartworms, inflammation can occur which can lead to an immune reaction in cats. This syndrome, called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease, is associated with significant inflammation and permanent damage to the lungs. To protect your cat, heartworm prevention should be given monthly even if your cat primarily resides indoors- there is no such thing as an “outdoor only mosquito”. If your dog or cat is over 6 months old, is not on heartworm prevention, and has never been tested; we urge you to set up an exam with our veterinarian to get your furry friend tested and started on monthly heartworm prevention. Schedule your appointment today by calling us at 530.343.7917 x 202. We look forward to keeping your furry family member happy and healthy for years to come!

The Butte Humane Society Veterinary Clinic is excited to introduce you to our new veterinarian, Dr. Mariana Turner! Dr. Turner comes to Butte Humane Society with years of experience in primary veterinary care, spay and neuter, general surgery, and shelter medicine. Dr. Turner is passionate about caring for shelter and rescue animals that do not have anyone else to speak out for them, access to affordable veterinary care, and reducing over population through an affordable spay and neuter program. As a pet parent to 5 dogs, 2 cats, 4 finches and 1 chicken herself, Dr. Turner loves helping educate her clients and our community on how to best care for their pets. We are elated to have her as part of the BHS family and are thrilled to be able to offer her expertise to our community. We have increased our availability for wellness and preventative exams and can’t wait for our clients to meet Dr. Turner and experience the level of care she provides to each of her patients.  If it has been a year or more since your pets last exam, there has never been a better time to get your furry family member scheduled for a check up to make sure they are happy and healthy as can be! Call the clinic today at 530.343.7917 x 202 to book your appointment.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

Proper dental care plays a big role in the health of your pet. By the age of 3, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of dental disease. “Doggy breath” is not normal and can be a sign of tartar and plaque buildup that causes gingivitis, gum disease, and periodontal disease (yes, your pets can get those diseases too!). Left untreated, dental disease can affect your pet’s vital organs and can shorten their life. Thankfully, pet dental issues are easy to prevent, and if caught early enough, can be treated. For prevention at home, pets benefit greatly from having their teeth brushed 2-3 times per week for 30-60 seconds each time. There are flavored toothpastes and toothbrushes made specifically for your cat or dog. Dental treats and chew toys are also a great way to prevent plaque and tartar build up. It is recommended that your pet has a professional dental exam and cleaning after the age of 2 and continue to have professional cleanings once per year while maintaining at-home prevention. The Butte Humane Society clinic offers affordable dental cleaning services for your pets to help keep them as happy and healthy as possible. Contact our office today to schedule your pet’s dental exam!

Written by loving adopter, Amy V.

My ten year old daughter, Lily, had been asking and asking if she could have a dog. Our response was always, “We don’t need another dog.” or “We don’t need three dogs,” to which she replied that we used to have three dogs, so that reason didn’t really hold up! After asking continuously for months, we finally told her she could have a dog if she saved the money to get a dog. So, about a year later, she had the money! The entire time she was saving, she was searching the web for available dogs. Lily had it in her mind that she wanted to rescue a dog rather than buy one from a breeder.  She spent months visiting rescue websites and shelters in any town that we happen to be visiting. She had several heartbreaks as we arrived too late to adopt one she had her eye on, sometimes only minutes too late! Then she found Pippa…

The adoption process went amazingly well. My daughter found her picture on the website. She asked us if we could call and ask to meet her. Her dad called and set up an appointment to meet her, since she was in a foster home. We went to meet her a few days later, and I could tell that she would be a good match for our family, but my daughter was unsure. She wanted to be sure she wasn’t rushing in to it just because she was cute. The shelter staff mentioned that we could put a hold on her and she could think about it overnight without having to worry about her being adopted by someone else. She was very grateful for that suggestion! We took the night to talk and sleep on it and she woke up the next morning knowing she was the one! We went back over to the shelter and the same two staff members who had helped us the day before were working. I wish I could remember their names, they were both fantastic! They were professional and made my daughter feel very comfortable and not pressured! They were very thorough and clear with all of the paperwork and information.

Lily decided to keep the name the shelter staff gave the dog, it fits her well! Her personality is playful, and she has a great temperament. She fits in with our family of 4 humans, and two other dogs very well! It’s almost as if she were meant to be with our family. We also have a large extended dog family and Pippa gets along with all of them. We love how her tongue sticks out, most often when she is relaxed or asleep! Although, sometimes if she has done something naughty, she will look at you with her tongue out almost as if she knows how cute she is and to say, “I’m not a bad dog!!” Pippa is incredibly smart and she loves to snuggle up with Lily at night. Thank you so much for an amazing experience for our family!