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.

Honey, a youthful 7 -year-old female Chihuahua, came to Butte Humane Society in May of 2015 after being surrendered by her owner of six years.  She was so depressed she would not eat, not to mention that she had a level 3 heart murmur and was riddled with mammary tumors.  In many other shelters Honey would have been deemed hopeless and subsequently euthanized.

Fortunately, and all because of your support, Honey was instead able to be placed in a foster home, receive diagnosis, and was started on treatment for her heart condition.  Her mammary tumors were tested and removed, and she was finally ready for adoption.

Today Honey is doing well.  Her heart medication is keeping her murmur in check, her mammary tumors have not returned, and she is patiently awaiting a family to adopt her into her furrever home.  This story would have had a much different ending if it was not for your support!

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it could be a dangerous time of the year for your pet.   Think animals don’t mind the cold because they have fur coats?  Think again.  All pets, from cats and dogs to horses and goats are subject to hypothermia and even frostbite.   It is best to keep your pets indoors.  But if that’s not possible for whatever reason, say you have guests over and have to kick the horse out of the house, make sure they have a shelter that is:

• Dry
• Draft-free
• A few inches off the ground
• Big enough for comfort
• Small enough to keep heat in
• Lined with dry, soft padding

Ok, so that’s some pretty commonsensical information, but here are some tips that maybe you haven’t thought of.  Keeping warm depletes energy faster.  Add a little more food to their diet if they stay outdoors in cold weather to give them that needed energy.

Did you know that pine sap mixed with water makes a poisonous drink for your pets?  Keep your pet’s water bowl covered if near pine trees and keep Fluffy away from your Christmas tree stand.

Ever think about your pets’ nails?  If they are spending more time indoors, they miss out on the normal wear-down from being outside.  Trim them as needed, but be careful, trimming too short can cut the quick.  Ask your vet for tips.

Did you know that more pets get lost during winter than any other season?  Pets can wander off looking for warm shelter or can get lost in the snow when it covers up familiar scents and sights.  Keep them on leash at all times when in snow and make sure they are properly identified with up-to-date information.

Last but certainly not least, are you thinking about giving a puppy as a pet?  Well, get ready to spend extra time and energy potty training.  Baby animals are not built to be outside in the winter and should be in the house always, meaning that there will be a lot more accidents inside.   You can save yourself a lot of frustration, and stain remover, by adopting an older pet.  Trust us, pets at any age are just as awesome!

Check out some more safety tips here.