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Insider Report
- February 2017 -
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Board Report:
The Coronado Animal Care Facility and PAWS in 2016
by Sharon Sherman, Chairman of the Board
Such great news!! 2016 was a busy, busy year, but so rewarding. The Coronado Animal Care Facility (ACF) staff and over 100 PAWS volunteers brought purrs and tail wags to the hundreds of dogs and cats we cared for over the year.
In 2016, PAWS of Coronado found forever homes for 92 cats and kittens. This is a record for us. Each applicant was carefully interviewed, any other animals in the home were brought to the ACF to meet the prospective new family member, and lots of education was done to teach new cat owners how to best handle the "special" personalities of felines. One of those adopted finally found her forever home after a year at the ACF, and a bonded pair was welcomed into their new family after nine months living at our facility.
There is always a competition between the Cat Adoption Team and Dog Adoption Team as to which is ahead in the number of adoptions completed. In 2016 it was a tie and another record set, with PAWS finding 92 forever homes for our dogs as well. The same thorough approach to the applicants was accomplished by the Dog Adoption Counselors, ensuring that the best home for each dog was chosen. And, by Christmas Eve, all of the ACF dog kennels were empty and there were no dogs available for adoption, except our lovable Skye who is still patiently waiting for her new family to find her.
In addition to the PAWS adoptions, the ACF is responsible for returning lost Coronado animals to their owners. Over 100 of these escape artists were returned to their families, which made for many happy faces when owners found their little troublemakers safe and sound at the ACF.
Sadly, we did lose several animals that came to us in an unhealthy and untreatable condition. There were ten animals that we were not able to save during the year. But, that low figure in comparison to our adoptions gave us one of the lowest live release rates in the State, a statistic our community should be very proud of.
One of the most important services PAWS now provides, currently to 15 dogs and cats, is its Lifetime Medical and Hospice Program. For these ill and aged animals, often determined to be unadoptable by other shelters, PAWS finds families who will give these dogs and cats the love and devotion they deserve for the remainder of their lifetimes, with PAWS paying for all of their medical costs as a supplement to the taxpayer funded budget of the ACF. It is this type of cooperation between the Coronado public and private sectors that makes our community a leader in the animal welfare world.
So come on down to the Coronado ACF and see the ACF staff and PAWS volunteers in action. Maybe you will find that perfect addition to your family and become one of the statistics for 2017.
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A Dog Adoption Story: Marley and Caroline
by Ryann Haines
Being my mom's daughter, there are a few things I admire most about her. One being that any dog that enters her home has truly won the lottery. After our sweet Australian shepherd (Charlie) went to doggy heaven at age 13 following a year of hard medical issues, I knew it would be nearly impossible to find an incredible dog that would suit my mom's lifestyle and compare to our Charlie boy. Yet after months of grieving and years of volunteering with PAWS, I could see that my mom was finally starting to be open to the idea of adopting.
Now let me be as honest as I can when I say my mom had never rescued nor adopted previously... She had the normal concerns of rescuing (health issues, toy aggression, not knowing the full background of an animal), so it wasn't until November this past year that my mom happened to mention to her friends at PAWS that she may be ready for another dog. Yet after conversations of breeders and more hesitation, we decided together maybe it still wasn't time.
But then she heard about a new PAWS dog named Marley.
It wasn't until my mom laid eyes on our sweet Marley girl (part golden retriever/border collie) that she truly knew the feeling of rescuing an animal. We fell in love instantly. Although we didn't think that she would be close to perfect, we were blown away by the love and calmness she brings. Marley has all the attributes of a therapy dog: gentle and calm with older people, great with other dogs, loves kids, loves long walks and treats, and wags her tail every time you look in her direction. Marley was the dog for my mom.
We knew when adopting Marley that she had a few health concerns, luckily PAWS was there every step of the way. PAWS made it possible financially to take care of Marley's needs as long as we gave her a loving and safe home. The process of rescuing through PAWS of Coronado has been so rewarding, easy and honest. Thank you PAWS for the best addition to our family!
Editor's note: Caroline Haines is a member of the PAWS of Coronado Board of Directors. She is responsible for the Pet Parade and Yappy Hour.
(Photo by Kim Johnson)
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Children are Our Future
by Kim Johnson, PAWS Photographer
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| Gunner Denius, Sarah Alexander and Grace Denius with Schultzee |
Teaching children to treasure their animal friends is on the forefront for any volunteer involved with animal rescue. Three students from Coronado Middle School are doing more than that. They are educating their own generation on the value of our four legged friends.
Gunner Denius, Sarah Alexander and Grace Denius
recently took time to video record daily life at the Coronado Animal Care Facility. This project will be shared with their classmates. With two new dogs to photograph that day, they assisted me in capturing each dog's personality, in a series of images. It was fun to see them so focused on their mission, while actively getting to know their subjects.
Our new PAWS puppy, Schultzee, was in good company as they cuddled with her, threw toys, and provided such kind energy to this sweetheart little dog. It made me smile to realize, that one day, these children will mature and likely continue our legacy of "no more homeless animals."
(Photo by Kim Johnson)
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Judd's Weekend Adventure
by PAWS Dog Adoption Team
Sometimes we at PAWS like to see how a dog is going to adapt to home life. That was the case with our Judd, the Puggle (Pug/Beagle), as he was a stray without a bit of history when he arrived at the Coronado Animal Care Facility.
So, last weekend, he traveled to the southern part of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park for a bit of a slumber party.
Judd was great! He loved being in the car; he watched out the window for about a half an hour, then lay down nicely on the seat and went to sleep. When we arrived, his ears perked up, his eyes darted and his nose twitched. New sounds, new sights, new smells, cold and windy, all to his enjoyment. He loved watching the squirrels and birds at the feeding station. He wasn't so sure about the coyotes howling at night, but then that is an eerie sound in the stillness.
Judd can walk until you drop and love every step. He only got into the cholla cactus once, lifted his paw for me to remove it and avoided the little barbs ever after... a very smart decision, indeed. Inside the house he was a perfect gentleman. No potty accidents at all and he was fine when I left him alone for a few hours. Judd sniffed the company when they arrived, but then lay down and was polite the entire visit. No barking. He is a bit of a beggar at the table and I have no doubt he could learn some new tricks, as he is very treat motivated. Judd liked to climb up in the recliner with me while I read, or sleep in his little bed right next to me while I napped.
Judd is a people dog: perfect for a single, couple or family. And he is as gentle, cute and sweet as he can be. Please come meet our Judd; I know you will fall in love.
(Photo by Kim Johnson)
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Volunteer Needed: Reading to PAWS Dogs Program Coordinator
PAWS would like to start a
Reading to PAWS Dogs
program at the Coronado Animal Care Facility. Children ages 7-17 will be invited to read to our dogs. To begin, we will meet monthly on Sundays from 11:00am-12:00pm.
(Photo courtesy of The Bored Panda)
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Update on Skye: A Staffordshire Terrier Blue Nose for Adoption
by Lisa Missett, PAWS Dog Walker
It was pouring rain so sitting outside was not an option. I found myself sitting on the floor of Skye's kennel, inches from her face and all 92 pounds of her. Big brown eyes met mine. In a lightning fast move, she went in for the stealth slobber. And came away with a big smile on her face. What can you do? The only sensible option seemed to be to wipe off my face, get out my phone, and take a selfie of us.
I have been walking Skye for about 3 months and this is what I know:
- She has good manners when it comes to sitting, shaking, and coming when called. She has much, much better manners when a treat is involved.
- She needs exercise, but is not keen on being hot, wet, or uncomfortable in any way. I suspect her highest calling may be as a TV watching companion. On the couch. Next to the bowl of snacks. Snuggled up next to her person.
- She is a very calm dog. After every walk, I sit in her yard or kennel with her and pet her. She just wants to be loved and touched. Her most aggressive move is to hit my arm with her paw if I stop petting.
- I can take food out of her mouth. I found this out when she very delicately lifted my package of breakfast biscuits out of my pocket. I was hungry so I took it back. Ok, ok, then I shared them with her. I'm a soft touch.
- You can ask her for a kiss and she doesn't make you feel stupid, she just joyfully gives you a huge wet slobbery kiss. When I ask one of my own dogs for a kiss she gives me a look that says "you sad, pathetic human, begging for attention," so I know the difference.
- Sometimes she's hard to walk because she doesn't like some other dogs. I also walk PAWS dogs that weigh just 10 pounds and some of them don't like other dogs, either.
- She loves all people. However, she's a 92-pound Staffy. Even with her flowered collar and "Adopt Me" vest, some people are afraid of her due to her size and breed. She wants to say "hi" to everyone; not everyone wants to say "hi" to her.
- She knows how to get her way. When I'm leaving she flings herself on her back and demands a tummy rub. And I stay and rub her tummy.
My husband and I want to adopt Skye, but we have two large, bonded dogs, one of which is elderly. We've agreed it's best not to upset their balance. We often talk about whom the right people or person for Skye will be. We can envision a family, a single person, a couple. All scenarios involve people who want to love and be loved by Skye, a very special dog.
To learn more about Skye, please check out her profile.
(Photo by Kim Johnson)
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Overstimulation in Cats
by Corinne Mitchell, PAWS Cat Adoption Team
Overstimulation in cats refers to a cat's negative response to being touched. This can be because the cat doesn't like where or how you are touching it or if you are touching it for a longer period of time than the cat likes.
Cats who are easily overstimulated are friendly cats who will seek attention from people, but then strike out after a short period of petting. The cause of overstimulation is not known, but it seems the cat has low thresholds for how much touch they can tolerate (or are sensitive to where they are touched) before pleasure turns to discomfort and then they react negatively sometimes swatting or biting.
Know the signs of overstimulation
A cat will usually let you know when they are getting irritated. Tail twitching that escalates to lashing/thumping, turned back or flattened ears, shifting of body position, rippling skin down the spine, direct looks from the cat and dilated eyes are all indications that they have had enough petting.
Know when to stop
The key to reducing the incidents of overstimulation is to stop before the cat gets to the point where they strike out. Watch the cat's body language and when you see signs of overstimulation, stop petting. Pay attention to how many pets before the cat gets overstimulated or how long you pet the cat and stop before they get irritated. Also take the time to figure out if there are spots that the cat does not want you to touch.
By consistently stopping stroking before the cat gets to the overstimulation point, the amount of time it takes to get to the point of overstimulation should get longer. Over a period of time some cats will no longer get overstimulated and overstimulation behavior may be slowly eliminated.
If you don't see the signs
Although most cats will alert you to their imminent overstimulation by biting or swatting, not all cats exhibit warning signs. If your cat is completely unpredictable, then it is best to use a wooden back scratcher (or similar tool) to pet them until you figure out the points of overstimulation.
End the petting session on a positive note
It is still important to time these sessions so that you stop petting on a positive note. Ending on a positive note will hopefully add up to your cat reacting well to petting in the future. You may even want to offer a treat at the end of the petting session to reinforce the petting as a good thing.
Play sessions
Another way to help resolve these forms of aggression is the use of regular play therapy. It helps to redirect the pent up energy that may contribute to overstimulation. You should always have a remote toy handy such as sparkle balls, furry mice - a rolled up sock if nothing else is at hand - something you can have in your pocket. At the moment the inappropriate behavior begins, throw the remote toy as a distraction, and to re-focus the cat's attention.
When overstimulation occurs
If biting or the dreaded all-four-paw wraparound does occur, don't struggle or try to pull away. Instead, go completely limp and give a sharp "OUCH!" This will distract the cat verbally, and at the same time not trigger the instinctual prey drive. If you stiffen or struggle, your hand resembles prey even more. Above all, don't yell or punish your cat. It will frustrate them further, effectively infusing them with even more negative energy, and it will probably not make you feel too good, either.
(Photo by Kim Johnson)
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Recent Successful Adoption Stats
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Nov 16 Dec 16 Jan 17
Cats 9 7 12
Dogs 6 5 5
Click to view our
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Here are some of our current adorable adoptables:
To view all our animals for adoption, click here. (Photos by Kim Johnson)
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Many thanks!
by PAWS Staff Writer
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| Emma Lund (in striped shirt) |
Emma Lund
recently celebrated her birthday with a tour of the Coronado Animal Care Facility.
Rather than receiving gifts, she asked her friends to donate towels to PAWS. In addition, Emma donated her allowance and her parents donated $200. Many thanks to the Lund family and friends!
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Carrie Chandler
In December, the residents of
The Landing donated many gifts to PAWS. Many thanks to Carrie & Ron Chandler and all of The Landing residents for their generous donation!
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