Starting off 2018 with our four-legged friends

CHEYENNE ANIMAL SHELTER

RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT FROM

PETSMART CHARITIES®

The Cheyenne Animal Shelter has announced their receipt of a new grant of $25,000 from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America. This funding is designed to help the Shelter transport and relocate pets so they can find forever homes.

On a typical day, the Shelter can receive twice as many animals as are adopted out. In Fiscal Year 2017, the Shelter received approximately 5,400 animals. If trends continue for Fiscal Year 2018, the numbers are expected to reach between six and seven thousand animals, which is where transportation is important.

"This money has given us the ability to purchase a truck to pull a trailer," said Chelsey Fletcher, Cheyenne Animal Shelter's Director of Operations. "Kennels will be placed in the trailer, allowing us to increase the number of animals we can safely transport in various situations. When we are facing overcrowding, animals can be transported to other shelters and rescues. We will also be able to move animals from other rescues when we have space and can assist other shelters in saving animal lives."

The Cheyenne Animal Shelter will also gain the ability to transport greater numbers of animals when Animal Control officers respond to hoarding cases. As well, the Shelter will be able to assist during disasters that may occur - locally or nearby -- such as flooding, tornadoes or fire evacuations providing the capability to move large numbers of animals to safer places.

Pet Transport is one of PetSmart Charities' ten new grant categories designed to provide year-round opportunities for animal welfare organizations and non-profits to apply for funding support. Funding from PetSmart Charities can help to cover the costs associated with pet transportation, veterinary and shelter care and vehicle maintenance and modifications. With the help of its animal welfare partners, since 1994, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 7.4 million pets in need find forever homes.

Thank you Spradley Barr Motors for helping us find the perfect truck! We're excited to see what great things we can accomplish with a new mode of transportation!

SHELTER INITIATES BIG PUSH IN TRAP, NEUTER, RELEASE PROGRAM

The Cheyenne Animal Shelter is initiating a big push in its Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) Program. Emilee Le Clair is our new Community Cat Program Coordinator. Her position was created with funding through a grant from the Best Friends Animal Society.

Emilee is originally from North Dakota and holds Bachelors degree in Animal Science and an Associates in psychology. Emilee grew up on a farm with feral and barn cats around and says, "I have always wanted to work in a shelter."

Feral cats are unsocial, afraid, hide from people and just try to survive. The goal of the Trap, Neuter, Release Program is to reduce the feral population by spaying and neutering 428 cats in one year, which is about 36 cats each month. Once the weather warms up, Emilee will start setting traps for feral cats and will need volunteers to help with the program.

However, right now she is relying mostly on the public. To qualify for the program, the cats need to be brought in with a physical address listed as their home so that the cats can be released into an atmosphere that is familiar to them, where they can live and thrive.

Emilee is encouraging caregivers or anyone interested in volunteering in this program to give her a call. She says, "We're wanting to make sure that the animals are as healthy as possible and control the population." Emilee can be reached at 307-278-2410 or by calling the Cheyenne Animal Shelter at 307-632-6655 ext. 203.

SHELTER DOG GETS NEW GRIN THANKS TO WESTGATE DENTAL CLINIC

Gunner, a ten-year-old male Australian Shepherd in our care has a new smile thanks to Westgate Dental Clinic!

Westgate Dental Clinic has partnered with the Cheyenne Animal Shelter providing new grins to some of our pups. Pucca was the first dog who was able to receive an extreme make-over. Now, Gunner is looking extra handsome, with a bright smile after some serious dental work.

Thanks to the donation, the Shelter's medical staff is able to determine when a cat or dog needs dental clean ing or tooth extraction. The pet is then sent to Cottonwood Veterinary Clinic LLC where Tiffany Healey, DVM, performs the service.

Westgate Dental Clinic's generosity is providing these animals with a better chance of getting adopted. It gives the owner a chance to adopt without worrying about added expenses for the procedure and gives the animal a healthier life.

"We're so happy to see these animals going to great homes" says the Cheyenne Animal Shelter's Development Director, Sue Castaneda. "Hopefully he's not eating too many treats with those new teeth!"

GIRL SCOUTS MAKE TOYS

FOR SHELTER ANIMALS

While the humans at the Shelter love them for their cookies, the animals are loving the Girl Scouts for a whole different reason!

Girl Scout Troop 1400 recently donated handmade cat and dog toys to our furry friends. The Brownie troop is "girl-led," which encourages the second and third graders to make decisions and to support and guide each other. One of the ways they do this is through their service projects.

The girls voted on three areas of service to focus on - homelessness, homeless pets, and hospitalized children. They used mostly recycled materials for the toys for the Shelter animals. The leaders helped gather and purchase materials, and the troop spent a meeting making them.

The girls also earned their "Pets" badge through this project. To earn the badge the girls must find out what care different pets need, keep a pet comfy, help a pet stay healthy and safe, and make a pet feel loved. These cats and dogs were definitely feeling the love when the girls dropped off the toys!

You can find more information on how to to make home-made cat and dog toys on our website.

GET TO KNOW ANIMAL CONTROL

Cheyenne Animal Control serves the city of Cheyenne and Laramie County area for all ordinances related to animals. That can include dogs at large, found dogs, issues with wildlife, barking dogs, dog attacks, and assisting with other agencies like Wyoming Game & Fish, the Cheyenne Police and the Laramie County Sheriff's Department.

There is no dispatch center. When you call Animal Control you speak with an officer, and often times the person you speak to is the officer who will respond to your call.

Animal Control officers don't just chase dogs around the city. Officers say that actually is only about 10% of what they do daily.

Officers have to take a law perspective in a majority of the calls they respond to. Animal Control charges Animal Cruelty, both abuse and neglect for people who fail to meet the minimum requirements of owning animals. They can also see cases in dog attacks, where a dog bites someone which can all carry a fine of up to $750.

In 2017 ACO responded to almost 3,000 in-field calls for service.

JANUARY BLOG

Kitty conundrums: Why is my cat urinating outside the litter box?

Inappropriate urination in cats is a frequent reason for veterinary visits. January's blog discusses some reasons that may be the cause.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Volunteer Orientation: February 4th, 12th, 25th and

Foster Orientation: February 8th, 22nd. More information on orientation can be found here.

April 14th: 2018 Fur Ball "Dogaritaville" tickets are now available.

JANUARY ADOPTIONS

CATS: 81

DOGS: 93

CRITTERS: 12

TOTAL: 186

THANK YOU!

Thank you Sam's Club! The Cheyenne Animal Shelter was the Business Member of the Month for the month of January! What a great way to start off a new year!

2017 Corporate Sponsors

Sponsor of Critter Camp & Shelter Medical Fund:

Cheyenne Animal Shelter | 307.632.6655 | http://www.caswy.org
800 Southwest Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82007