Every so often I am startled awake by a ruckus near the back door of the Adoption Center here at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. In my sleepy delirium, I immediately think: A burglar! Santa Claus! The sky is falling!

Then I shake off the sleep and realize it’s just another batch of “Dixie Dogs” arriving from their long journey.

Fernando

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Ahoy! Captain Chip here.

I’ll make this post brief: I’ve got six special friends I’d like you to meet. Jae, Siegfried, Tigger, Tea Ching, Darren, and Hugo Wolf are all available for adoption at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

Because they are so special, we’ve decided to make a short video that includes each cat. Please take the time to watch this film, and spread the word! These five gentlemen and one lady are in need of homes.

For more information on the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), please visit this page created by the Best Friends Animal Society.

For information about adoption at Dakin, please visit our adoption information page.

Please note that the adoption fee for FIV+ kitties is waived. The adoption includes sterilization surgery, rabies and distemper vaccinations, appropriate blood tests, parasite treatment, a collar and ID tag, a bag of kitty food, and thirty days of emergency health insurance. Donations are welcome, of course!

All the best,

~Chip ^..^

Banana, fostered by Danielle Graziano Nov. 19 – Dec. 17, 2011. Adopted Dec. 20, 2011!

Ah, winter. Time to curl up on the couch, watch the snow fall, and rest up in preparation for Kitten Season 2012. Kitten what?, you ask. Allow me to explain. Kitten Season encompasses the warmer months of the year, which is when most of the kittens are born. It’s the time of year when we rely most heavily on our foster families to take babies (those with and without moms!) into loving homes to provide the TLC kittens require to become healthy, happy house cats.

It seems like just yesterday that my friend Leslie Harris, Executive Director here at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, was posting on her blog about Kitten Season 2011. What a year it has been! More than 1,200 animals were placed in foster care in 2011. That’s an increase of about 33% compared to 2010.

The Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society Community Spay/Neuter Clinic is working diligently to reduce the number of kittens born in western Massachusetts. Unfortunately, there are currently more cats being born than homes available for those cats. Spaying and neutering is the best way to reduce animal homelessness right here in our community.

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Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It’s a time when many of my friends will be showing their appreciation for some of the activities I love most: eating and napping.

Although the Adoption Centers are closed on Thanksgiving, the staff here at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society work 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to ensure all of our animal residents receive daily care. In addition to their usual daily tasks, the staff will be preparing for our Black Friday Felines Adoption Event, which will take place on Friday, November 25, at both the Leverett and Springfield Adoption Centers from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m.

This Friday only, any cat or kitten with even a hint of black fur will have his usual adoption fee—$150 for kittens and $95 for adults—waived. Dakin exists thanks to donations from people who care about the animals in our community, so adopters are welcome to make a donation when they take home their new family member. The adoption includes sterilization surgery, rabies and distemper vaccinations, appropriate blood tests, parasite treatment, a collar and ID tag, a bag of kitty food, and thirty days of emergency health insurance, so it’s quite a deal!

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This past Saturday was National Pit Bull Awareness Day, and here at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, we celebrated with some very special guests.

Cherry Garcia, Vicktory Dog

Cherry Garcia once lived on the estate of Michael Vick, forced to participate in the cruel, gruesome, abusive, and illegal activity of dog fighting. In January of 2008, after Vick and others were indicted for numerous crimes, Cherry and twenty-one other dogs made their way to the Best Friends Animal Society in Utah.

Cherry is one lucky fellow. In September 2009, after being rescued from a life of terror, Cherry moved in with his new forever family here in the Northeast. Suddenly, Cherry had loving parents who devoted themselves to his well-being. What a change that must’ve been! His new parents make him homemade meals (due to his allergies), take him hiking, and provide all the love and affection he deserves.

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On October 6, staff, volunteers, interns, and foster families gathered for our annual Volunteer Recognition Celebration, which is our small way of thanking the hundreds of people who dedicate their time to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.

Dakin does not receive any federal funding. We are supported by donations from animal lovers like yourself. With an annual operating budget of about $3 million, we simply could not exist without our volunteers.

“The volunteers dedicate the equivalent of $400,000 in time every single year,” said my friend Ian Vukovich, President of the Board of Directors.

Many of our long-term volunteers were recognized and applauded at last Thursday’s event. Joanne Parker, Leverett Adoption Center volunteer, was recognized for 10 years of service. Marcia Pauly, who has also been with us for 10 years, helps with mailings, makes handmade cat mats, and does can-collection drives with volunteer Marion Markwell.

Trina Cysz, who has been at Dakin for 11 years, has done animal care, participated in our trap-neuter-return program, and runs the pet food bank.

“Trina now practically single-handedly runs the distribution of our pet food bank, which distributes food throughout the Pioneer Valley, and we deliver over 20,000 pounds of food a year up and down the Pioneer Valley,” said my friend Lori Swanson, Manager of Humane Education and Volunteer Services at Dakin.

Click the image to view the volunteer milestones for 2011.

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Orangina

Since the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society opened its second location in Springfield in 2009, we have found new families for more than 7,000 homeless animals. Some are homeless as a result of a change in family circumstances. Others come in as strays, picked up by good Samaritans who have found them wandering the neighborhood.

One of the very first things that happens with each new animal, even before her medical exam, is that she is given a name. We feel that each animal is important and should be recognized with a name. Some animals come in with names already, while others are named at intake.

If you’ve ever tried to name your child, human or furry, you know what a task it can be. Dakin staff are constantly trying to collect new names so they can have them on hand, especially during the spring.

“Kitten Season,” as it’s known, starts around April and ends in October or November. Because animals who have not been neutered tend to procreate during the warmer months, Dakin has an influx of kittens during this time period.

So far this year, Dakin has taken in 1,142 kittens. That’s 1,142 names!

Yahoo

Many litters are named as a group. For example, we’ve had the internet litter (Twitter, Yahoo, Google, and Mozilla), the cars (Jeep, Isuzu, Subaru, Kia, and Chevy), the local towns litter (Leeds, Florence, and Williamsburg), the college litter (Stanford, Harvard, and Yale), the punctuation litter (Asterisk, Comma, Ampersand, Dash, Bracket, Ellipsis), and the metal bands (Pantera and Metallica).

Let’s take a look back at some of the memorable names we’ve seen here at Dakin in past years.

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On Monday, September 19, the Five Star Building Corp. hosted the 4th Annual Dakin Charity Golf Tournament. This year they raised over $25,000 for the Buddy Fund.

“Named for a young shepherd mix with a cardiomyopathy, the Buddy Fund is the special account we use to provide treatment beyond the standard spay/neuter surgery or vaccinations. When an animal comes to us sick or injured, but with good prospects for recovery and a full life in a new home, we call on the Buddy Fund to help him out,” said Executive Director (and dear friend) Leslie Harris.

Check out these photos taken by my friend Sarah, who helps coordinate our volunteer program here at Dakin:

Starz, available for adoption in Springfield, with volunteer Laura. Starz has been at Dakin since July 27 and is part of the Lonely Hearts Club.

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Holy fur balls! Yesterday was quite a day at the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. Both adoption centers were open from noon to 4:30 for our “$5 Feline” event. For one day only,  the adoption fee for cats and kittens dropped to just five dollars. The adoption fee includes sterilization surgery, rabies and distemper vaccinations, appropriate blood tests, parasite treatment, a collar and ID tag, a bag of kitty food, and thirty days of emergency health insurance, so it’s quite a deal! The crowds began lining up long before the doors opened. Excitement was in the air. I could barely take my mid-morning nap! (Don’t worry, I managed to squeeze it in.)

The crowd started lining up at 11AM!

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There are lots of wonderful animals awaiting their forever homes at our adoption centers in Springfield and Leverett, MA. From baby hamsters to bulldogs, animals in all shapes and sizes are looking to be loved.

Because I’m an older gentleman myself, I’d like to take a moment to recognize my older friends who are up for adoption this week. If you have room in your heart for an adult cat or dog, these fellas are ace. Continue reading »