Humane Society of Warren County • 540-635-4734 Summer 2007P.O. Box 1435 • Front Royal, VA 22630-0030 • www.warrenco.petfinder.com

CELEBRATE THE GRACE AND BEAUTY OF CATS

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EVERY SPRING AND summer, animalshelters across the country receive dozensof litters of kittens. These kittens are inaddition to all the adult cats who find theirway into the shelters. Animal sheltersdon’t have the space or the resources tocare for that many animals. Out of themillions of cats who enter shelters eachyear, only about one in four are adoptedinto loving homes. In fact, more than 70percent are euthanized—simply becausethey do not have a home.

Why adopt a cat?Scientific studies have consistently shownthat having a pet can help reduce yourblood pressure and help prevent heart dis-ease. And these studies were not evencommissioned by a group of pets!

Cats can provide benefits that otherpets cannot. Here are some other reasonsto adopt a cat:• A cat can help fight depression and

loneliness.

• Cats are entertaining to watch and funto play with.

• Cats will cuddle up with you on a coldevening.

• Cats are independent and can be leftalone while you are at work or school.

• A cat’s mere presence will ward offunwanted mice and pests.

• Cats are comfortable in small spaceslike apartments.

• Cats are very clean; they bathe themselves!

• A cat’s purr is instantly calming and relaxing.

• Cats are affectionate.

• Just 15 minutes a day of playing withyou will satisfy a cat.

• Cats are easy to house train and mostadult cats have already been housetrained.

• Cats bring a little bit of the wild intoyour house.

• Indoor cats and spayed/neutered cats livelonger lives than their feline friends, pro-viding up to 20 years of companionship.

• Cats are less expensive to spay/neuterthan dogs, especially big dogs.

• Taking care of a cat can help teach achild responsibility and humane values.

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Disaster Planning: Do Not Wait Until It’s Too LateWHEN A DISASTER strikes, residents are often told they need toevacuate their homes for “a short time,” only to find that they can-not return for weeks. Even disasters like gas leaks and minor flood-ing can keep you from tending to your animals for extended periodsof time. To prevent situations such as these, always take your animalswith you. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s also the law.

It is best to be overly cautious during a disaster warning. Alittle preparation and quick acting is the best way to keep you andyour family, including your pets, out of danger.

How To PrepareHere are some simple steps you can take to be sure you are pre-pared in case of a disaster:• Assemble an animal evacuation kit (see page 3 for essentials!)• Familiarize yourself with each type of disaster that could affect

your area, including a hazardous materials spill.• Develop an evacuation plan for all of your animals and practice it.• If you live in an apartment, make sure your animals are on

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WELCOME TO THESummer 2007 issue ofShelter Tails. And what asummer it has been!Even though WarrenCounty is in a drought,

its been raining cats and dogs, puppies and kittens. Since the lastnewsletter, we have taken in 150 more dogs and almost 500more cats!

I would like to say a special thank you to the followingorganizations who helped us in a time of need.

The Humane Society of Warren County greatly appreci-ates the Warren County Fair Association for thinking of us and

the animals at the current Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. The War-ren County Fair Association auctioned off several items, includ-ing an autographed guitar by Lynyrd Skynyrd which brought ina $5,000 donation to The Humane Society!

The Humane Society of Warren County also greatly appre-ciates the hard work from Long & Foster/Webber & Associatesof Front Royal for holding its 2nd annual Yard Sale called“Everybody needs a new home”. They raised over $1200 dol-lars for the Humane Society.

We will have pictures of both events in our upcoming Spe-cial Edition Fall newsletter.

Thank you to everyone who supports the Humane Societyof Warren County. We could not do it without you.

Greetings from the Desk of Jeanette Farrell

A Special Thank You—or SixThank you to all of the generous peo-

ple who made a donation toward addition-al cat cages/kennels. We almost haveenough money to buy six more cages!

Thank you to the Rusty Cricket Cruis-ers Riding Club for their donations offood and for holding a fund-raiser for theHumane Society of Warren County.

Thank you to the students of the Ran-dolph-Macon Academy Upper SchoolMentoring Program. They have madecash donations, helped out with choresaround the shelter, dropped off supplies,and spent some serious quality time visit-ing with the animals. (We cannot begin totell you how much the animals appreciatethe attention and companionship. Itmakes their live so much happier!)

Thank you to Dr. Smith, D.V.M., whovolunteered his time and services to vacci-nate and microchip pets at the MicrochipClinic. (Thanks, too, to all the animalsthat were so very well behaved!)

Thank you to the Riverton Group formaking kitty beds.

Thank you to the local Girl Scoutstroupe for making doggy blankets.

Top, the Rusty Cricket Cruisers Riding Clubdonated food and held a fund-raiser. Middle,Students of the Randolph-Macon AcademyUpper School Mentoring Program. At bottom,local Girl Scout troupe made doggy blankets.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

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record with management and are able toevacuate via the stairwell.

• Keep written directions to your home nearyour telephone. This will help you and oth-ers explain to an emergency responderexactly how to get to your home.

• Identify alternate sources of food andwater. Some local food and water sourcesmay be disrupted or contaminated forextended periods of time.

• Have backup generators for use in food-animal production operations.

• Keep all vehicles well maintained and fullof gas.

• Keep emergency cash on hand.• Place a “Please Save Our Pets” sticker on

your front door, which will alert emer-gency personnel that pets are in thebuilding in case of a fire or other unex-pected emergency.

EVACUATION ESSENTIALS

Here are some items you will want tohave on hand:

• a two-week supply of food (dry andcanned) per animal

• a two-week supply of water in plasticgallon jugs per animal

• batteries• a cage/carrier (for each animal, labeled

with your contact information)• a manual can opener• copies of veterinary records and proof

of ownership• a photograph of each animal• emergency contact list • an animal first aid kit• a leash, collar, and harness per animal

(with identification on them)• litter, litter box, litter scoop• extra blankets/towels/paper towels• non-spill food and water dishes• a spoon• trash bags• maps of local areas (plan your evacua-

tion route)• a flashlight• a battery powered radio

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THERE IS NO doubt about it. Employees at the Humane Society of WarrenCounty are among the best of any shelter in the United States. These loving, ded-icated and talented individuals make up a wonderful team. In each issue of Shel-ter Tails we will put the spotlight on two employees. We want you to get to knowthe people who serve the people and animal of this community.

TraudeTraude moved to Warren County in 1973 and hasworked as a bookkeeper for many years. She hasbeen working for the Humane Society of WarrenCounty on a part-time basis since April 2004.Traude maintains the books, records cashreceipts, and handles disbursements. She preparesa written report for the Board of Directors everymonth that provides an update on the financialcondition of the Humane Society. If you have notbeen receiving an acknowledgement of yourdonations to the Society, please let Traude know.We appreciate all the help we get from the caringpeople in our community and we want you toknow it. Traude loves her job and looks forwardto her time spent with her office cat, Lucky.

LorieLorie has been a part-time “rookie” for the past sixmonths, but she has resided in Warren Countyalmost her entire life. Lorie has learned a lot sincejoining our staff and, as a “natural born animallover,” she finds it very rewarding to see one of ourshelter’s animals (especially cats) find a “foreverhome.” Lorie finds her work to be challenging attimes because there have been a few kitties (actual-ly 20 or 30) that have stolen her heart. While thismakes for a sad “goodbye,” it is also a joyous “good-bye.” Lorie did just adopt Peaches, one of ourhouse cats. She would love to have you stop by andvisit our four-legged friends (and their two-leggedcaretakers as well). Who knows? Maybe your nextlifelong companion is waiting for you!

An Evacuation Order Has Been IssuedSo now what do you do?

Evacuate your family, including youranimals, as soon as possible. By leavingearly you will decrease your chance ofbecoming victims of disaster. Specifically:• Bring your dogs, cats, and other small

animals indoors.

• Make sure all animals have a collar onthem with some form of identification(waterproof) securely fastened. (You maywant to have all your animals micro-chipped in case the collars come off).

• Place all pets, including cats and smalldogs, inside individual transportable car-

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WHEN YOU COME into the cat area at theHumane Society of Warren County, you willprobably meet our wonderful volunteer namedCharles. A retired Randolph Macon AcademySpanish teacher, Charles also taught inSwitzerland and two other private schools inVirginia. He can often be found in one of ourcat visitation rooms petting and grooming andgiving love to our friendly felines.

Due to Charles’ regular visits, some veryferal young kittens have become tame andfriendly. In addition, he spends much time dot-ing on the older cats, which are less likely toget visitors or potential adopters. Thank you,Charles, for the time and the wonderful careyou give our shelter felines!

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Volunteer Spotlight

THE HUMANE SOCIETY is always inneed of certain basic items. Donations ofpet foods have taken a dive ever since thescare over the sale of poisoned pet food.We are in DESPERATE need of KittenChow and Puppy Chow, as well as cannedcat and dog food, and dry cat food (noFriskies dry please….it gives the kittiesupset tummies). If you have any to donate,please drop it off at the shelter (andremember, all donations are taxdeductible!). We could also use:• washable dog and cat toys• peanut butter (for dog treats)• washable dog or cat beds• towels (always a big need)• small litter pans• cat litter (clay type only, please;

always a big need)• baking soda• bleach (always a big need)• anti-flea products (Frontline,

Advantage, or Revolution; no HARTZproducts, please)

• laundry detergent• paper towel• fabric softener sheets• blankets• hand cart on wheels

By the way, please remember that alldonations made to the Humane Society ofWarren County are tax-deductible asallowed by law. (We’re happy to give youa receipt.)

Wish List

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Microchip ClinicTHE HUMANE SOCIETY of WarrenCounty once again provided citizens ofWarren County with a chance to receivelow cost rabies, distemper, and bordatellavaccinations for their pets at our May2007 Rabies Clinic. At the same time weoffered low cost micro-chipping for dogsand cats. More than 113 pets received vac-cinations and more than 30 were micro-chipped.

• A lot of cats need good homes; whenyou adopt a cat you are saving a life—literally!

And please do not forget the identifi-cation tag. Since your cat cannot carry awallet, he or she needs a collar with an IDtag. Even if you keep the cat inside, he/shecould slip out one day and get lost, andyou may never see him again. Be sure toinclude your name, address and phonenumber on the tag.

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riers. (When stressed, an animal thatnormally gets along with people andother pets may become aggressive.Please make sure each animal hashis/her own “house.”

•Make sure the carriers are large enoughsince it may be necessary for them toserve as temporary housing for youranimals.

• Secure leashes on all large dogs.

• Load the animals into the vehicle.

• Load the evacuation kit and suppliesinto your vehicle.

• Evacuate your animals–ASAP.

What If You Are Not Home? As noted above, place stickers on front andback house doors, barn doors, and pastureentrances to notify neighbors, firefighters,police, and other rescue personnel thatanimals are on your property. Be sure toindicate the kinds of animals and howmany are there.

Designate a willing neighbor to tendto your animals in the event that a disasteroccurs when you are not home. This per-son should have a key to your home, befamiliar with your animals, and knowwhere your evacuation supplies are kept.

Remember: Your pets depend on you tohelp them in an emergency. They would neverlet you down. Don’t let them down.

Let Us KnowIf you have moved, please let us knowyour new address.

Call our office at 540-635-4734 or mail usyour new address to Humane Society ofWarren County P.O. Box 1435 FrontRoyal, VA 22630.

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