Washington Humane Society Blog

Decoding the Bark

Back by popular demand - "Decoding the Bark: Interpreting & Managing Your Dog's Excessive Barking", hosted by the WHS Behavior & Learning Center on Thursday, March 31st.

Visit www.washhumane.org/blc for seminar details!

 

Cat Torched - $1000 Reward

 
This innocent cat was set on fire. The poor feline suffered burns to her ears and body. WHS Animal Control Officer, Shawn Covington and WHS Humane Law Enforcement Officer, Jennifer Gardner found her on the 4000 block of Meade Street NE on Wednesday. Residents in the neighborhood say she is friendly and had been living in the community for a few months, and may have been someone's family pet.  We have  named her Nola. She is now recovering from her injuries at a local animal hospital.

This is a horrible case of animal abuse and the person(s) responsible must be brought to justice. If you have any information on who may have committed this despicable crime the Washington Humane Society would like to hear from you.

Callers may remain anonymous. A $1000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for torturing this innocent animal.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Humane Law Enforcement Officer Jennifer Gardner at 202-723-5730 ext. 134 or email her at JGardner@washhumane.org.

If you would like to help nurse Nola back to health, please consider donating to the Sophie's Fund. The Sophie’s Fund is a special account set aside for WHS shelter animals in need of expensive medical care. Every dollar donated will go towards life saving medical care for WHS shelter animals. Please consider donating to Sophie’s Fund the today.

Your contribution will save a life!

Unsolved Animal Cruelty Cases

It’s been almost a year since Bear, a four year old lab mix was murdered in his own backyard in Southeast, DC. Back in May, Bear was playing in his fenced yard when someone senselessly shot him. His family called WHS and our Humane Law Enforcement Officers rushed him to the hospital, but sadly doctors could not save Bear. Bear’s family remains heart-broken and are still wondering why anyone would kill their beloved family pet.
 


In September another dog in Southeast became a victim of cruelty. His name was Thomas and he was left in a filthy cage beside a dumpster at the Douglas Knoll apartment complex. Thomas, a six year old poodle mix, named after the maintenance man who found him was emaciated, matted, and dirty. He weighed just 10lbs; about half of what he should have weighed.  The kind maintenance man called WHS and we were able to nurse Thomas back to health. 
 
We are happy to report that Thomas was recently adopted and is loving his new life. Fox 5 did a wonderful story about Thomas and his family, and all of us at WHS are thrilled that he got the happy ending he deserved. But we are still looking for the person(s) who abandoned Thomas with no food, water, shelter, or chance at happiness.  Thomas could have died had it not been for that maintenance worker.
 
Our humane investigators have been working hard to solve Thomas and Bear’s cases, but the trails have gone cold. We are now hoping the public can help us find new leads. These two dogs deserve justice. The Washington Humane Society is offering a $1000 reward in each case for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for these acts of cruelty.  

WHS officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Humane Law Enforcement department at 202-BE HUMANE (202-234-8626). The rewards are made possible through a special fund called the JUSTICE FUND which WHS set up for this purpose.  If you want to help our humane crusaders combat animal cruelty, please support the JUSTICE FUND. Every dollar you donate will help save a life.

What is My Cat Saying...

Understanding & Interpreting Feline Communication & Body Language

For the savvy cat owner, the significance of a thrashing tail during playtime or a harassing “meow” at mealtime can be easily identifiable, but what about more obscure behaviors or ones that we think we know well? The purr, for example, is the most soothing and charming sound our cats make, but does it always mean a kitty wants to snuggle?

What exactly is your cat trying to tell you when she rubs up against you or wraps her tails closely around her body?

Despite an owner’s good intentions, the misinterpretation or inability to read signals can lead to disharmony in a relationship or worsen a cat’s existing behavioral issue. A basic understanding of your cat’s body language and vocalizations can serve to deepen the bond of friendship with your four-legged friend.

Join the WHS Behavior & Learning Center as we identify and interpret the manners in which our feline friends communicate with us.

We will discuss:  

• How to Read Your Cat's Facial & Body Gestures
• How to Decipher Vocalizations
• Cat-on-Cat Behaviors
• Commonly Misinterpreted Behaviors
• and more!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

7:00 pm - 8:30pm

Seminar fee: $10

Pre-registration is required. Seats are limited.  Seminar is *HUMANS ONLY*

For registration details, contact askthetrainer@washhumane.org

Car Cat Rescue

The expression “she purrs like a kitten” took on a whole new meaning Tuesday when a scarf-wearing cat got stuck in the engine of a parked pickup truck in northeast DC.  We have no idea how she got the scarf, but after crawling into the engine block, the cat’s scarf got tangled around part of the front axle and the feline was trapped. Luckily, an Animal Control Officer was able to cut the scarf and free the scared kitty.  The cat was not injured and is in now being evaluated for adoption at the New York Avenue shelter.

Philanthropy Friday

Toasting a good cause! Join us at The Town Tavern located at 2323 18th Street NW on Friday, February 25^th for drinks and help WHS animals at the same time.  From 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. guests who make a $5 donation will receive $2 domestic beer bottles and $2 mixed rail drinks. 

It’s going to be a fun night! So bring a friend, have a drink, and help us end pet homelessness and animal cruelty.

Two wonderful dogs in search of love!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a wonderful blog from Pam Townsend, one of our favorite volunteer photographers.

She is trying to help Carousel and Bonnie find forever homes.

Please visit these sweet dogs at our New York Avenue shelter and show them your love too!

Solomon’s Adventure

By Liam R. Hughes
Director of Animal Control Field Services

On Monday, Solomon, an eight year old German Shepherd decided it was a beautiful day and that he wanted to go to his favorite place at Fort Totten Park, but his owners had to go to work. What would he do?

It was a nice warm winter day and Solomon could hear other dogs barking and playing in the nearby park, so he decided to see if he could open the gate to his yard. Solomon went to the gate and pushed at it with his nose and suddenly—click! The gate was open. Solomon then went for a walk. He put his nose to the ground and started to wander. Solomon was so happy that he didn’t pay attention to where he was going and walked straight into a bunch of sticker bushes and vines. Solomon tried to free himself, but the thorns and vines only got tighter.

He was far from home, sad, scared, and alone. Solomon was also in pain. Being an older dog, his hips were sore and he hadn’t had his medicine that day. Solomon started to cry. Another dog and his owner who were on a walk nearby heard Soloman’s cries for help. The nice owner immediately called Animal Control and two officers arrived minutes later.

Slowly and carefully, the Animal Control Officers freed Solomon from the bushes. The ordeal had taken its toll on Solomon. He was tired and sore. The officers wanted to bring Solomon back to his home, but he was not wearing a tag or license, so the sweet dog was given a warm blanket and cookies and the officers took him to a local vet. The doctor examined him and found no injuries. Solomon was just tired and needed some rest.

After getting a clean bill of health, Solomon was transported to the New York Avenue shelter.

Having never been at a shelter, Solomon was very nervous when he arrived. His nerves soon melted away when he heard his owner’s voice calling out his name. The two embraced and a family was reunited. Solomon, who had a very long day, went straight home and got into bed. His adventure had a happy ending and he was given a new ID tag to make sure he would be able to find his way home if he ever got lost again.

F4P 2011

 

The Fashion for Paws Runway Show model fundraising competition kicked off on February 3^rd with more than 85 models raising funds for WHS this year! For the next eight weeks models in the Fashion for Paws Runway Show will compete in a friendly fundraising competition in order to secure their spot on the runway on April 9^th at the National Building Museum.
Coinciding with this launch, Georgetown Cupcake has created a new line of Fashion for Paws inspired cupcakes and are selling them at all their locations from now until April 9^th, kindly donating 100% of the proceeds to WHS! What better way to surprise the one you love on Valentine’s Day than with a dozen tasty F4P inspired cupcakes knowing 100% will go to help homeless, abused, and neglected animals in Washington, DC! Stop by or call Georgetown Cupcake today to place your order for the yummy F4P  “Vanilla Purrfection” and scrumptious chocolate “Houndcakes.”

In just five days since launching, thanks to the incredible sponsors and models involved in Fashion for Paws, we’ve already raised $97,000 for the animals and programs of WHS, with the goal of raising $490,000 this year! For more information on Fashion for Paws Runway Show tickets and tables, please click here!

Thank you to our 2011 Fashion for Paws Sponsors: Syzygy Event Productions, vitaminwater zero™, Digital Lighting, Design Cuisine, Vistage International, SVEDKA Vodka, Teatro Goldoni, Cities Restaurant, Georgetown Cupcake, Washington Fine Properties, Alliance Interactive, Tysons Galleria, Toka Salon & Spa, Aba Agency, Wagtime, Merge Creative Media, Moshe Zusman Photography, Bottega Italian Living, CA Indoor Advertising, Barkley Square, FIDM, Cointreau Noir, Fresh FM, City Shop Girl, THE Artist Agency, Quinn Gillespie & Associates, Tradewinds Specialty Imports and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort!

Meet the HLE team

Get to know our Humane Law Enforcement Officers: Dan D'Eramo, Jennifer Gardner, and Ann Russell. These HLE Officers are saving lives every day. Support them by buying this wonderful calendar. It’s filled with great pictures and stories about some of the animals they have rescued in the past year.   

The calendars are just $20 and you can buy them at our Georgia Avenue shelter. If you can’t make it to the shelter, please email Zita Macinanti at ZMacinanti@washhumane.org and she can arrange for you to purchase the calendar.

All the money raised will help Dan, Ann, and Jen continue WHS’s mission of ending animal cruelty and pet homelessness.   Support our HLE team and buy a calendar today. It’s not too late… there is still plenty of 2011 left!