Join us for our first ever Meow Mixer; a cat OPEN HOUSE adoption event, on Thursday, May 22nd from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., where you just might find your “purrfect” match!
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and drinks compliments of Whole Foods (P Street) and meet WHS's Mascat, Mr. Pibb. The event will take place at the NEW WHS Behavior & Learning Center (7315 Georgia Avenue). To R.S.V.P please contact, Diana Foley, 202-723-5730 (ext. 150) or dfoley@washhumane.org
By: Kate Zapf, Foster Program Coordinator
It seems like just a few days ago I was bundling up my dog for our treks in the cold winter weather, but with this beautiful balmy weather we’re having, there’s no denying now that Spring is here to stay! With the Spring come the kittens and they’re pouring into our shelters—tiny mewling ones still with their mom, rambunctious boys wrestling with their brothers, cuddly girls just learning to eat on their own. Our most valuable resource in addressing this onslaught is our Foster Program, which gets these vulnerable little ones out of the shelter and into safe, quiet homes where they can get big enough, strong enough and socialized enough for adoption. Without the dedication of our amazing volunteer Foster Parents, we would have few options for these adorable springtime specials.
Fostering is one of the most rewarding ways to help the animals of the District. Just by opening your home to some needy kittens until they are adopted, you can experience the joys of kitten companionship AND the pride of finding them a new, permanent home. You’ll also know that you’ve helped expand the walls of our shelter and opened up more space for homeless animals that need our help.
All you need to care for kittens is a spare room—even a bathroom will do!—and a lot of love. Becoming a Foster Parent is easy—just fill out an application and attend one of our upcoming Cat/Kitten Foster Trainings. To learn more about our Foster Program, visit our website: http://www.washhumane.org/fostercare.asp or email me at kzapf@washhumane.org.
Contact me for an application and then plan to attend one of these trainings:
Wednesday, April 30, 6 p.m. at 7319 Georgia Ave., NW
Tuesday, May 6, 7 p.m. at 7319 Georgia Ave., NW
Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m. at 7319 Georgia Ave., NW
Wednesday, May 14, 6 p.m. at 1201 New York Ave., NW
Sunday, May 18, 11 a.m. at 1201 New York Ave., NW
Monday, May 19, 7 p.m. at 7319 Georgia Ave., NW
Saturday, May 31, 11 a.m. at 7319 Georgia Ave., NW
By: Kate Zapf, Foster Program Coordinator It’s coming! It seems to get here earlier every year…first the soft pitter patter of a few tiny little paws, then the thunder of hundreds and hundreds of tiny little paws. It’s Kitten Season. Due to the nature of animals’ breeding cycles, the warm weather brings with it an overwhelming number of baby animals of every kind, but nothing prepares you for the masses of kittens that come pouring in the doors. In the shelter, our minds are already turning, just trying to figure out the answer to the Kitten Season Question: “Where will they all GO?” The shelter is not a good place for young kittens, or for moms trying to raise their litters. Young animals are extremely vulnerable to disease, and stress adds significantly to the risk. Most of the kittens that come into the shelter in the spring are too young for adoption (they must be at least 8-weeks-old), and the moms and litters of babies must wait several weeks before they can be adopted. We can’t hold them in the shelter for that time—even if we have the space to hold them, the stress and illness will take its toll. All you need to foster kittens is a safe, quiet place for them, isolated from your other pets. Moms and litters do well in spare bathrooms; older kittens are perfectly happy to set up camp in your guest room or study. When the kittens are old enough, we publicize them on our web site, showcase them at our adoption events, and help you find them their new home! Once everyone is adopted you are ready to bring home another group of tiny little kitten paws. Our amazing foster homes help us save hundreds of lives every year, but we need more help to bear the load of Kitten Season. Please consider opening your home to these adorable babies this spring and helping us to save more lives! If you would like to learn more about fostering, or fill out a foster home application, please email me at kzapf@washhumane.org. I will be holding a Cat and Kitten Foster Training on Wednesday, March 26th at 6 p.m. at our Behavior and Learning Center (7315 Georgia Ave., NW), and would love to have your applications before then so that we can get you started fostering right away! 
This is why we need foster homes so much in the spring. Our foster parents are ready, on short notice, to come rescue moms and litters, or young kittens by themselves, from the shelter. They bring them home and give them a safe, quiet space to grow and develop. They socialize the kittens, feed them and love them and then, when the time is right, find the “purrfect” adopters and send them off to their new forever homes. It’s a little work with a lot of reward—not only do you get to play with and love some unbelievably adorable kittens, but you also get the satisfaction of knowing that without you, they wouldn’t have had the chance to find loving homes.
By: Hanna Lentz, Adoption Coordinator, WHS
(Photo below of Hanna with her cat Gaudio) 
I had been working for the Washington Humane Society just one month when I met an unforgettable pair of cats named Sammi and Dizzy. The two were at the shelter for their second time. Having been adopted a year earlier, their adopters had decided they could no longer keep them. The first time they came to us their owners had moved into an apartment that didn’t allow pets. The second time around their owners had started a day-care facility and some of the children were allergic to cats. They decided to give them away, but several days later they opened their front door and found that Sammi and Dizzy had been left in a box on their porch. No one knew how long they’d been waiting outside, alone, just hoping to be let back in. The pair returned to the Washington Humane Society for a second time, and I had the opportunity to meet them.
Immediately I noticed that Sammi and Dizzy were an incredibly handsome pair of cats, but even more apparent was that they loved each other very much. I’d often walk past their cage and see them cuddling together, Sammi’s head tucked somewhere in Dizzy’s soft belly. Occasionally the two would play a disappearing act, curling up beneath the rug in their cage like two children making a blanket fort in their bedroom. Every time the cage door opened you’d hear their little motors rumble in tandem as they blinked their sleepy eyes and prepared for a good head rub. They’d been lucky enough to stay together through two homes and while we wanted to keep them together, there were no guarantees that their third home would be one they could share. We all hoped the right family would come along and amazingly enough, it did.
Michele and David Hartmann had recently lost both of their cats when they came to the Washington Humane Society and met Sammi and Dizzy. It quickly became apparent that this fantastic pair of cats had finally found the loving parents they had always been looking for and had always deserved. When Sammi and Dizzy finally went home, they went together, and it was a wonderful day.
Last week we were thrilled to receive this e-mail and photo.
"I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you. We adopted Desmond and Tiger Lily (previously Sammi and Dizzy) six months ago. They are a joy! Every day we ask ourselves ‘how did we get so lucky as to find 2 such wonderful cats?’ I've attached some photos for you to remind you which bonded pair they were at the shelter. They have found their 'Forever' home & we couldn't be happier."
The Hartmann’s remind me how much it is the power of our adopters, their love and commitment that ultimately changes the lives of animals. When an animal comes to us we do everything within our power to guarantee them a happy fate, but it is truly the generosity and compassion of the community that allows us to do what we do everyday. I am so grateful to everyone who walks through our doors, ready to open their hearts and homes to our amazing animals.
By: Tara
Happy Monday! If you did not pick up a copy of the Sunday Washington Times yesterday, be sure to Click Here to read the article on WHS by Shelley Widhalm called, "Helping a Stray Become a Pet." (Photo below by Peter Lockley, Washington Times)
By: Hanna Lentz, Adoption Coordinator, WHS
(Photo below of Hanna and WHS Adoptable Dog Lee Lee) 
Once a month Adoption Manager, Natalie Kahla and I sit down and spend the day calling our adopters, to offer our services and support if they’ve run into challenges, and to let them know that no matter what we are always here to help with their questions and concerns. This has become one of the most fun and rewarding parts of my job because even though I’m calling to offer assistance, I end up listening and smiling as adopters tell me how beautifully their pets have integrated into their lives. Their stories are precious to us and their photos are quickly covering our walls. Below is a recent update I can’t resist sharing.
Last October a little white poodle was brought in as a stray to our shelter. She was thin and her coat was an uncomfortable mess of mats, but we named her Cotton and after a trip to the groomers it became apparent just how fitting her name really was. Transformed into a little spirited bundle of white fluff, Cotton made her big debut at one of our adoption events and caught the eye of a couple in Maryland. (Top: photo below of Cotton when she first arrived at the shelter. Bottom: Photo of Cotton after her makeover)
They’d been looking to add another pet to their family, but the challenge was finding a dog that was good with their cats. We were confident that Cotton’s sweet personality and gentle nature would make her a safe with their cats Silver and Pretty Girl.
I recently called Cotton’s family and had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer, Cotton’s new mom. She was kind enough to share some photos and stories. It seems that Cotton has become best friends with their 8-year-old Silver, and the two are often found cuddling and following each other around. “When Cotton goes outside,” Jennifer said, “Silver just sits by the door and looks sad and confused about why he can’t go too.” Jennifer promised to send pictures, saying, “Cotton is a wonderful addition to our family. We’re so grateful we got to bring her home.” I have a feeling Cotton is pretty grateful as well.
By: Isabel
Eleanor mentioned that fellow volunteer Marc Jacobson just sent the following message to a whole bunch of friends. I thought I'd post his request here as well:
"Henna is the cutest little girl, sweet as can be and very affectionate. She's been trying to find a home for a couple of months now and could use your help. Please forward this on to everyone you know who might be interested in adopting Henna or who might know someone looking. I met Henna this past Saturday at the Washington Humane Society's Georgia Ave shelter, and if I could have dogs in my building I would have taken her with me."
(Update: Marc's good wishes - and yours! - brought her the new family she's been waiting so long for. She got adopted less than 24 hours after Marc's email went out. She is going home today!)
Henna's got other fans, too! Volunteer trainer Julie Stark says:
"Henna loves to go on walks and is very curious outside. She walks very
quietly and always turns and looks back at me with a cute smile during
our walk. She loves to be close, and always listens to me when we
practice some training skills together."
Henna is an Azores Cattle Dog (Cao de Fila de Sao Miguel). Her previous people gave her up because they didn't have the time for a puppy. She is a little shy at first but, as Julie points out, she LOVES being next to you once she warms up. She will likely weigh 50 pounds when full grown. She needs a new family who'll help build her confidence with lots of affection and continued training.
Having spent lots of cuddle time with Henna, I know she'll be such a joy to have around. If you're looking for a new best friend, she's waiting to meet you at our Georgia Avenue shelter (7319 Georgia Avenue, between Fern and Geranium Streets). It's open from 12-7pm 7 days a week. You can also give Diana, our adoptions manager, a call at 202-723-5730 x150. If you aren't in a position to adopt, please forward her info to as many people as you can. Thank you very, very much!!
By: Isabel
A former co-worker once told me that she struggled for years to get in shape. But once her dog Oliver came into her life, she lost 25 pounds, just like that. So she never complains when Ollie hogs the bed at night. After all, he totally changed her life!
Go Go is looking to meet someone who'll have the same life-changing effect on her. But while she's getting ready to kick off her exercise program after the holidays, she's hoping you'll make room for her to snuggle up. This girl (who is 3 years old and weighs a big and beautiful 125 pounds) is sooo incredibly affectionate!
Believe it or not, Go Go was found as a stray! Can she come home with you? Her happy, pretty face will surely brighten your day. Earlier today she had a vet appointment at our spay/neuter center. By the time you come visit her (she's at our New York Avenue shelter), she'll be ready to ride off into the sunset with her new best friend!
PS - Go Go is one of HOT 99.5's 12 Strays of Christmas. As Tara mentioned, HOT 99.5 is helping us find homes for 12 of our shelter dogs and cats. Thanks again, guys!!
By: Tara
Two days ago when I drafted my first official blog, I remember thinking, will I really have enough to blog about every day? Now, just two days later I can't stop telling myself, don't forget to mention this, this, and this! I have so much to tell you about, I don't know where to start! Today, I want to give a HUGE thank you the radio station Hot 99.5, who has partnered with us on their "12 Strays of Christmas" promotion. I also have to thank a very good friend and supporter of WHS, Heather Guay, (Side note: Heather and I become good friends when we worked together at Washington Life Magazine a few years back) who is the PR Manager of the new Bloomingdale's in Chevy Chase, or "Chevy Chic" as Heather likes to say. Heather was on the way to work last week and heard on the radio that Hot 99.5 was hoping to do this, and e-mailed immediately to tell me.
Starting this morning Hot 99.5's well-known morning host, Kane (see photo), 
will promote 12 of our wonderful Washington Humane Society (WHS) animals available for adoption, featuring 6 cats and 6 dogs on their web site, and talking about it on air all through next week!
In honor of this, we named one of our fantastic Georgia Avenue shelter residents after Kane (see photo of our four-legged Kane below)
This promotion means so much to WHS and to me. Since we operate the only two open-access shelters in Washington, DC, we take in an average of thirty animals a day, and we are committed to our 5-year Good Home Guarantee plan that promises to place every adoptable animal entering our shelters in a loving by 2010. I often find from talking to members of our community that so many do not know the amount of incredible work that WHS does, how multifaceted we are, that we are the only DC based organization answering every single call for help, and turning NO animal away (24 hours a day-7 days a week), and just how much support we give the entire DC metro region through all of our programs and services, (not done yet) and just how committed we are to becoming a model for urban animal care to lead the entire country!
All of this is what brought me to WHS just a little over a year ago, and I can't wait to tell you all the story on how I got here! It is quiet an interesting "tail!" I hope to see you tomorrow at the new Bloomingdale's, Chevy Chase, for our holiday Santa/Frosty photo event! Please keep your comments coming, they are really helping me through this blogging process!
By: Isabel
I'm not sure why, but ever since we starting putting our Georgia Avenue shelter cats through the ASPCA's Feline-ality assessment, most have turned out to be Personal Assistants or Sidekicks. Helen (pictured below with her sister Lily, a Party Animal) is one notable exception. She's broken through the glass ceiling to become an Executive cat!
Helen and Lily are 7 month old kittens rescued from a home where they were kept in a closet. They are among several pairs of best friends who are hoping to be adopted together.
Here are Tyr (orange; Sidekick) and Thor (brown; Personal Assistant), 1-year-old brothers whose previous owner could no longer afford to have pets.
And Midnight (Secret Admirer in a tux!) and Rocky (gray tabby; Sidekick), who are 6 and 7 month old boy cats.
And poor Tom Tom and Rufus, who are on their second stay with us. They were adopted a few months ago, but their adopter got engaged to someone who's allergic to cats :( They are only 6 months old and oh so handsome! Please come visit these and many other adorable kitties at our Georgia Avenue shelter!
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