Saturday, September 13, 2008

PAW PRINTS

URGENT NEED FOR DOG FOOD
Due to the increasing number of animals coming into the shelter, the shelter is in desperate need for dog food. Please consider donating at least one bag of food. If getting it to the shelter is a problem, call 358-2882. The staff will contact a volunteer to arrange for pick up. Your assistance in feeding our furry friends is very much appreciated. See related story in PAWS APPLAUSE.

DONOR LEAVES $25K FOR PAYMENT OF NOTE
In her will, Allie C. Kingsbury of El Paso, Texas, left the shelter $25,000. While the use of the donation was not specified in her will, Elaine Wilkes, Ms. Kingsbury niece, said her aunt intended the money to go toward a principle payment on the mortgage of the shelter. Our sympathies go to Ms. Kingsbury family and our deepest appreciation to Ms. Kingsbury for her generous donation.

SHELTER NEEDS RELLIABLE TRANSPORTATION
Several months ago, the vehicle used to transport animals to outside adoption events quit running. Sadly, it is beyond repair. Since that time, the shelter staff and volunteers have been using their vehicles to transport the animals. So far, attempts to obtain another vehicle have failed. Now we are sending out a call for help. We are looking for a mechanically reliable vehicle with cargo space and working heat/ air conditioning (necessary to keep our furry friends healthy). If you or anyone you know has a mechanically reliable vehicle to donate, please call Shirley Moxley at 358-2882. The donation is tax deductible.

DID YOU KNOW????????
There are 45 dogs and cats for every person born.
Only 1 out of 10 dogs born ever get a home.
Only 1 out of 12 cats born ever get a home.
800 dogs and cats are euthanized each hour in the U.S.
Because there are not enough homes for them.
Please spay or neuter!!!

Check out our new website: http://www.autaugahumanesociety.com/

OPEN HOUSE AND YARD SALE
On Saturday, August 9th, shelter hosted its Annual Open House and Yard Sale. To say it was a tail waggin’ success it putting it mildly. The weather was fantastic as treasure seekers found what they were looking for in the wonderful array of donated items. No one went home empty handed. Proceeds from the yard sale will go a long way in helping provide for our animals.

The day was a success in other ways too. Many animals found forever homes on Saturday, while others were adopted later in the week by folks who had visited the open house. Thru our advertising efforts we were introduced to people in the area who have donated pet food (more pet food is needed, especially dog food) and supplies.

The shelter would like to extend its thanks to all those who donated items, time and talents to the Yard Sale/Open House.

AND SPEAKING OF THE OPEN HOUSE/YARD SALE SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND. . .
The purpose of the money raised was to go for the care of our homeless friends. Volunteers made the signs. Volunteers and staff put the signs up around town. Sign Masters donated materials for some of the signs. All to make sure our homeless animals are taken care of. What a great group of people!!!
Unfortunately, come Saturday morning, the day of the event, all but one or two signs had been taken down. The City of Prattville did not take the signs down. The only assumption left is individuals removed the signs so others would not beware of our fund raiser or compete with their personal yard sale! For whatever reason they took the signs down, taking food and medical care away from any homeless, defenseless creature is about as low as a person can go.

EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS FOR PETS Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits Keep emergency supplies handy for your pets. Make sure that everyone in the family knows where it is. This kit should be clearly labeled and easy to carry. Items to consider keeping in or near your pack include:
Pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include)
3-7 days' worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food (be sure to rotate every 2 months) with feeding and water dishes
Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
Litter or paper toweling, disposable garbage bags for clean up
Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
Extra harness and leash (Note: harnesses are recommended for safety and security)
Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires (Food and medications need to be rotated—otherwise they may go bad or become useless.)
Bottled water, at least 7 days' worth for each person and pet (store in a cool, dry place and replace every 2 months)
A traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
Flashlight
Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
Recent photos of your pets (in case you are separated and need to make "Lost" posters)
Especially for cats: Pillowcase, toys, scoopable litter
Especially for dogs: Long leash and yard stake, toys and chew toys, a week's worth of cage liner.

MEET THE STAFF
Gena Moxley, Assistant Director

Question: What are you goals as the Assistant Shelter Director?
Answer: “To place every animal in a forever home.”

Question: What are your duties as the Assistant Director?
Answer: “Radio station advertisement, newspaper articles, “Pet of the Week”, Pet Finder (anyone in the United States can view the adoptable animal on this website), PetPoint (an online program that every animal in the shelter has to be registered on), contacting all rescues centers, assists and oversees all employee duties.

Question: Would you like to send a special message to the public?
Answer: “Every animal needs to be spayed and neutered to prevent unwanted pets.”

Question: What are the future goals of PAHS?
Answer: “We need more kennels, a larger facility to house our animals, which has a stable air conditioner, and promote more public education on animal population prevention.”

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM GENA:
HELLO MY NAME IS GENA MOXLEY AND IM A WIFE AND A MOTHER OF ONE. I ALSO HAVE ADDED 2 CATS AND 3 DOGS TO MY FAMILY THAT I HAVE RESCUED FROM THE SHELTER. THE CAT WAS REALLY SICK WHEN I TOOK HER HOME AND NOW SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 8 POUNDS AND IS A BUNDLE OF JOY TO OUR FAMILY!! ALSO THE BOXER I RESCUED WEIGHS ABOUT 100LBS AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BECAUSE SHE WAS VERY PROTCTED OVER EVERYTHING. NOW SHE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE!! I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED AT THE SHELTER FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS NEXT MONTH...WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE SHELTER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 THERE WAS A LOT OF BAD TALK ABOUT THE SHELTER. SO THERE WAS ONLY ONE THING WE COULD DO TO PROVE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE WERE THERE FOR THE ANIMALS. AND THAT WAS TO GET THE SHELTER CLEANED UP AND HIRE PEOPLE THAT WAS NOT THERE ONLY FOR THE MONEY BUT FOR THE HOMELESS PETS ALSO…I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFULL FOR THE SUCCESS THAT THEY HAVE HELPED THE SHELTER MAKE INSIDE AND OUT!! WE HAVE A GREAT BIT OF VOULENTEERS THAT ALSO NEED TO BE RECONIZED FOR ALL THERE HELP AND IF IT WASN’T FOR ALL THERE HARD AND DEDICATED WORK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST.THERE ARE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON OUR BOARD THAT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK FOR THE 5 WONDERFULL YEARS THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR THEM AND THEY HAVE PUT SOME REALLY HARD WORK IN TO MAKE SURE WE GET WHAT WE NEED TO RUN OUR FACILLITY " PAM BRYANT"" NANCY WILLIAMS" MIKE CANHAM" JOE WALTER" PAT WANGLIE" ASHLEY NORMAN" " MARTY EDGE" ALICE FLOYD" SHEREE WARD" THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK YOU PUT IN THE SHELTER!!! AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO A VERY DECITATED AND LOYAL BOSS SHIRLEY MOXLEY!!! HOPE TO HAVE ANOTHER GREAT 5 YEARS WITH YOU!!!

PAWS APPLAUSE
The past month there have been numerous people making a difference at our shelter, and each and everyone one deserves a huge PAWS APPLAUSE!!!!

Sign Masters
Owner Tommy Trucks
A very special thank you to Tommy Trucks, the owner of Sign Masters. Mr. Trucks donated 6 hard plastic posters boards to our shelter in order for the staff and volunteers to advertise for our annual Yard Sale and Open house which was held on August 9, 2008 at the Prattville/Autauga Humane Shelter. Without these signs, the yard sale could not have been a huge success. Thank you again, Mr. Trucks for supporting PAHS!!

PAHS Staff and Volunteers
To the PAHS staff and the volunteers who contributed their time, hard work, dedication, long hours of preparing and pricing the yard sale items for the Annual Yard Sale & Open house, which was held on August 9, 2008. This event would have never been a huge success without each and everyone’s unselfish deeds. The money raised by this event, was donated directly to the health and care of our animals.

A very special thank you to Kelly Ingram and Ria’s's Pizza. Mrs. Ingram volunteered 20+ hours, in the scorching sun and sorted thru boxes in order to price the yard sale items. Ria’s Pizza deserves our heartfelt thanks (and stomach filling) for providing us meals as we set up for the sale. Our staff, volunteers, and animals thank you for all your hard work you dedicated.

Seth Hayden and Amy Shell
Prattville Autauga Humane Shelter Website
We would like to thank Seth Haden of Prattville for his generosity which allowed us to proceed with this project. Thank you, Seth.
And many thanks to Amy Shell for her IT talent, creativity and patience with those of us who are IT challenged.

Troup 111
Trinity United Methodist Church of Prattville
(Ben Scheierman, Amy Davis, Tyler Davis, Benjamin Scheierman JR, Joe Scheierman, and Cory Adams)
This troup dedicated so many hours building and placing large blue tarps over the free standing cages and all the large cages located at the back of our facility. Thru thunder and lightning storms to the scorching sun, these wonderful people never once complained of the weather conditions and kept steadily working in order to see this project completed. Thank you to each one of you, our animals are very grateful for your compassion and kindness. (These tarps will keep the animals out of the direct sunlight and keep partially dry in the rain)

THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS OF DOG FOOD
September 9, 2008, the shelter had one bay of dog food left. An urgent request was sent out via email. JT and Leanne of MIX 103 received a copy of the email and broadcasted an appeal for food. Mark Bullock of WSFA came to the shelter and interviewed Director Shirley Moxley and Board of Directors president Pam Bryant. (The clip is available for viewing on WSFA’s website.) Within a few hours, many responded, bringing food to the shelter. There are not words to express our appreciation for everyone who donated food. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of these animals.

Sandy Harper, the crocheting machine, made 17 mats for our feline friends.
TWO PAWS UP!!!!

ANOTHER PURRRFECT ENDING
Mimi’s new forever Mom said it only took a few days to spoil her.

Happy Tails
Sad Beginnings with Happy Endings
Roughly three months ago, Danette Brooks brought her 10 month old lab, Roxy, to the Prattville/Autauga Humane Shelter to place in our care due to her recent behavior, and the fact the Mrs. Brooks could not afford to take her to a local veterinary clinic to be treated. Mrs. Brooks explained to the shelter director, Shirley Moxley, that after Roxy delivered her first litter of puppies, Roxy became very depressed, irritable, and experienced sufficient weight loss, and placing Roxy in shelter care was her only option. Shirley explained to Mrs. Brooks that this is a very common side effect after animal pregnancy, and basically the only option to help Roxy is to have her spayed.
Last week, Mrs. Brooks came back to our facility. This time she was joined by her daughters, Krissy and Judy and a very healthy and happy Roxy stating that she is “back to her old self again”. Mrs. Brooks just wanted to come thank the staff as well as personally thank Shirley for the advice she provided. Before leaving, Mrs. Brooks stated that she is now aware of the importance and why our shelter, along with other Humane Shelters, stresses the importance of spay and neutering.


MESSAGE FROM ALICE FLOYD, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

As the Volunteer Coordinator, I cannot say “Thank you” enough to all the wonderful volunteers who help our organization. Without a doubt we could not do what we do without you!! Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and I am truly amazed and humbled at the giving hearts and dedication to animals that so many of you have.
During the past few months I have seen volunteers exhibit their best characteristics as they work to help our homeless animals. They have unselfishly given countless hours of their time to make a difference and the work is not always easy. There is usually sweat, and sometimes tears, involved.
This year’s Bark in the Park was much larger than in years past and this was in part due to the amount of volunteers who stepped up to help. I am especially grateful to Roxanne Ackers, the volunteer who coordinated the event. She did an outstanding job!!
We have more opportunities volunteer, just let me know of your interest and I promise I can find something for you. I can be reached at floyd@mindspring.com or at 334-365-2958. If volunteering at the shelter interests you, please contact Shirley Moxley at 334-358-2882 for more information.

CONGRAULATIONS to Beethoven (Pam Bryant), Bella (Eugenia Garner), Fancie (JoAnn Drummond), TJ (Michael Hill) and Sunny & Bonnie (Mary Wilson) on becoming Certified Therapy Dogs.

Show Your Care…Get Your Spay-Neuter License Plate!
The Alabama Veterinary Medical Foundation (ALVMF) is urging residents of Alabama to participate in its Spay-Neuter License Plate program unveiled in November of 2007.
The cost of the tag is the standard $50 like other specialized tags, with $41.25 of each sale going to the Foundation to assist low-income families with the cost of spaying and neutering their pets. 1,000 tags must be pre-sold by October 30, 2008 in order for the program to be implemented.
The Alabama Veterinary Medical Association and the ALVMF encourage all Alabama residents to consider purchasing one of these special plates in support of the ongoing spay/neuter efforts. Alabama residents, currently on Medicaid, will be eligible to have their pet spayed or neutered with funds collected from the sale of these license plates.
Supporters who wish to purchase a Spay-Neuter license plate may visit their local county license plate office, complete a “Commitment to Purchase” application, and pay the additional $50 fee. You will continue to use your current license plate until the Spay-Neuter plate is produced (after 1000 have been pre-sold). The Foundation will notify you after the plates are produced and are available in the county license plate offices. In order to receive the Spay-Neuter plate, the person can then go to the license office where the original application was completed, present the original “Commitment to Purchase” and the receipt for $50, along with their current standard license plate. Please note: you must have these two original documents to receive the plate.
In the event 1,000 plates are not pre-sold, the Foundation will refund money to individuals who signed up for the plate, unless the individual wishes to designate the funds as a donation to the Foundation for spay/neuter efforts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 19th-20th - Lock up at Prattville Walmart.

September 27th – Adoption event @ AUM

October 11th – Bass Tournament @ Cooter’s Pond

October 25th – Adoption event @ Spinner’s Park

UPCOMING PAWS EVENTS

September 27th – PAWS will be hosting a picnic. Sloppy Joes will be furnished. Please bring a side dish to share, drinks for you and your family, and water for your canine companions.

Speaking of PAWS, visitation will resume on October 4th at Hickory Hills (9:30 A.M.) and Sunbridge Merrywood (10:30 A.M.)

PAWS will resume the PAWS to Read at Daniel Pratt Elementary School early in October. Reading will be from 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. and 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.

Prattville Library has requested PAWS to participate in the After School Reading Program from 3:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. every day except Thursday.

To volunteer or for questions, email poodles4us@knology.com or call Lee Ann @ 358-3946.