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CLINIC LOBBY

IN THISISSUEFRITZ & JONATHAN: MedIcAl SucceSS STORIeS

HuMANe educATION

THe BeuScHel FAMIlY’S legAcY

FOSTeR STORY

SucceSS STORIeS

eveNT RecApS

THANk YOu

New peT clINIc BuIldINg

S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

cONNecT wITH uS

NEw PET CLINIC BUILdINg

NOw OPEN!details on page 8

3040 State Road 590clearwater, Fl 33759(727) 797-7722HumaneSocietyofpinellas.org

We are noW able to serve you and your pets 6 days per Week, on site and off. our neWly renovated clinic building opened in april, With 4 neW Walls, a reception area, 2 exam rooms,

and a treatment area. come visit us and learn more!

CLINIC wORKSTATION CLINIC SINK

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Call (727)797-7722 or go online for an appointment

TODAY!

SUCCESS STORIES

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Fritz is a friendly, long-haired, 8 year old cat who has claimed the hearts of all the staff here at HSP. Shortly after arriving at HSP, Fritz became very sick and spent one and a half months with Dr. Stanton at AA Animal ER Center. It was discovered that Fritz is diabetic and has a deficiency in his digestive system. Just a glance at his picture makes you wonder how he could still be here at the shelter after nearly 2 years! We think people pass him by because of his diabetes. He is on medication, and is well managed, but many shy away from having to give insulin injections. But don’t let this regime of medications deter you. Fritz eats all his medications well in prescription diabetic food and doesn’t mind his insulin injections at all. Fritz wants us to tell everyone taking care of him is EASY! And while his prescriptions can seem costly, they last a long time. At HSP we give all of our pets a chance at a happy ending, and we want Fritz to have his too, despite his diagnosis. Fritz may be an older man but he shows a lot of energy and loves attention. In May, Fritz celebrates his two year HSP shelter-versary. We are rooting for him and hope to change his luck before then - he needs a Forever Home-iversary! Visit Fritz today and let his personality win you over.

Fritz Above & beyond CAre

In January 2015, Jonathan, a 5 month old American Pit Bull mix, came to HSP with very severe demodex, a non-contagious skin irritation, and a skin infection. Although itchy and uncomfortable, he still wagged his tail and wanted to play like any other healthy puppy. Our medical staff started him on his road to recovery immediately. While undergoing treatment, Jonathan spent his time healing in a foster home. In his time there, his foster family not only nursed him back to health but also helped him grow and learn with house training, proper playtime etiquette and leash walking. Jonathan is a very loving, intelligent dog and was very trainable. By March he was once again back at HSP and had become his cuddly and adorable happy-go-lucky self. Thanks to the help of staff, volunteers and supporters we are able to put in the extra time and resources needed to give an animal like Jonathan a second chance. A week later, Jonathan found his forever family! We’re told he loves to snuggle with the kids in the home when they sleep or watch TV.

Jonathan MedICAL SUCCeSS STory

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When making planned giving choices, every story is as unique as the pets that walk through the doors of the Humane Society of Pinellas. The story from Jack and Ursula Beuschel shares why they have selected to leave a legacy gift to HSP:

“My wife and I have been married for 51 years and have adopted 5 cats during the course of those years. A history of those adoptions started in Holland in 1967, another a stray showed up at our house in Connecticut in 1971 who moved with us to Holland, Denmark, New Jersey, and Belgium. In 1984 we adopted a cat from a Belgium flea market that moved with us to Oldsmar 1996. When he passed away in 1998 we adopted our first cat from the Humane Society of Pinellas and in 2014, our current cat. Alfonso is a black and white tuxedo cat and is quite a character as have been all of our cats. As you can see cats make good international travelers. We believe it is very important to not only adopt pets from animal shelters but also to contribute to them on a regular basis. In fact we have included the Humane Society of Pinellas in our will.”

We greatly appreciate the example set by Jack and Ursula, their love of animals and their commitment to the pets that have been lucky enough to make their way into the Beuschel family.

To find out how you can leave a legacy gift to the Humane Society of Pinellas, contact Sarah Brown at (727) 797-7722 x224 or Sarah@HumanePinellas.org.

The Humane Society of Pinellas offers camps to youth of all ages, in memory of Deanna Marie Palestra. Kids have fun and learn about animals, animal issues, and animal careers at HSP’s kids camps. We are proud to help the next generation learn about animals.

2015 Kids Camps are offered for 2 different age groups: 7-11 and 12-15. Registration is just $175 per camper for a week of fun and education.

HUMANE EdUCATION

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The Beuschel Family legacy

“I just want to acknowledge how much my niece Ilana enjoyed her week of HSp’s kids camp.Thank you all for what you do.” – Robbie p.

IT’S noT Too LATe To regISTer for KIdS CAMp!

LeArn More And regISTer AT HUMAneSoCIeTyofpIneLLAS.org/KIdS-CAMpS

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FOSTER STORY

“I have been a foster parent for over 4 years. And yes, I still have my first two fosters.

I’ve had over a hundred foster kittens that I kept track of. I wish I could say that all made it and lived happily ever after but I

took in the weakest of the littles and gave them as much love as I could in the time that they were with me. As heart breaking

as it is for one to pass on, I felt that I gave it the best chance to live as I could. And there were so many more that made it

and I fell in love with each and every one of them. The only way I can give them back is knowing that there are so many more

kittens that need a chance to thrive.

I can’t say that it’s always been easy, but it has always been worth it. To watch them grow up to be nice healthy kittens is one

of the most rewarding accomplishments I’ve had. Would I do it all over again? Well, I can’t see me stopping any time soon.

Way too many kittens need that extra care to survive. And this way – I have kittens forever.”

Kitten season is upon us once again! If you are able to open your home and your heart to fosters in need of extra care, contact

Danielle, HSP Foster Coordinator, at Foster@HumanePinellas.org or call (727) 797-7722.

2015 marks the third

year of our revamped

foster program, and we

can’t think of a better

way to celebrate than

to feature one of the

volunteers who has

been with us from

the start of our

foster program.

CHrIS KeenAn: foSTer pArenT exTrAordInAIre

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ANIMAL SUCCESS STORIES

dunkin In November 2014, 5 year old Dunkin came to HSP as a stray with a severely broken pelvis bone. Our medical staff here took him in and nursed Dunkin back to health. He was placed on strict cage rest, given pain medications and kept comfortable until he was ready to live and heal in a foster home during the second phase of his recovery. He healed but the bones healed at an odd angle. Because of this he will always have a slightly irregular gait, but that did not stop Dunkin from running around and acting like a normal cat. He became playful and, just like the coffee, as sweet as can be. Once back at the shelter, it did not take him very long to find his perfect home.

“Not only has Duncan (I changed the spelling) settled in, he is really quite smart. He also comes when I call him to go to bed and promptly goes to his favorite spot and gets on his back with all four legs up in the air.”

“I adopted an older cat and he has been a complete joy…He is a total joy and friend”

– Ken, Adopted in March 2015

milo Milo came to us in April 2014 simply because his previous owner was moving and could not take him along. He was a one year old American Pit Bull mix with all the puppy goofiness you would expect. Since April, he watched other dogs come and go, off to find their own forever homes. He was patient, knowing his person would be an extra special one. Along the way, Milo made a few friends and melted the hearts of staff and volunteers. During his extended stay at HSP, Milo became worried and stressed. Shelter life was becoming harder and harder for him. After nearly a year in January, Milo found his new home where he could relax and be the happy, goofy boy we all knew and loved.

To learn about becoming a foster parent with HSP, visit HumaneSocietyofPinellas.org/foster

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2016 CALendAr ConTeSTJULy 1-SepTeMber 1Entering is easy & only $10!

Enter ONLINE at HumaneSocietyofPinellas.org/Calendar or TEXT pictures to HSP@mulabula.com.

Votes are $1 each.

Top 13 pets will be professionally photographed and featured!

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Fur Affair presented by Rogan & Associates Financial Planners was a spectacular night filled with great eats, treats and drinks by nine local restaurants and craft breweries. A sold out crowd of over 200 guests enjoyed the beautiful Earthscapes Garden Room for the 2nd annual Fur Affair sponsored by David & Helen Henwood and Ed & Liz Foss that raised over $9000. These proceeds will support over 600 pets during their stay here at the shelter; 1 day of care costs $15. Mark your calendar for the next Fur Affair in March 2016.

EVENT RECAPS

fUr AffAIr

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PrESEnTED bY:

SprIng peT feSTIvALSpring Pet Festival presented by Fran Haasch Law Group and Banfield Pet Hospital on Saturday, April 11th was a great day that offered adoptable pets, shopping with vendors, and a pet walk while raising funds to help support the pets and people of our community.

On event day, 21 of HSP’s own pets were discovered by their new families and we were excited to have several other rescue groups in attendance including our community partners Pinellas County Animal Services and SPCA Tampa Bay. Ghira’s Goodies Interactive Kids Zone made its debut with amazing activities and games that will be a new tradition to carry on at future events. With 50 vendors on hand including treats provided by Dunkin Donuts and Lure Coursing for the dogs, it was a nice day had by all. We are already looking forward to Spring Pet Festival 2016.

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Thank you Fitzgerald’s

Countryside Subaru

for making HSP your

hometown charity of

choice for the 2014 Share

the Love event. HSP was

honored to be included

in this annual event that

gives back to the community with each purchased vehicle from

Thanksgiving through New Year’s. With the support of Fitzgerald

Auto Mall and car buyers, over $7500 was generated; the same

amount it costs to provide 500 days of pet care at HSP.

YOUThank

Thank you to Dr. Shawn Stanton at AA Animal ER Center in Palm Harbor. She and her team are always ready to help HSP pets after hours, in addition to the quality care they provide to owned pets and strays. Dr. Stanton frequently watches and treats HSP pets overnight that might need a little extra TLC or overnight attention that we can’t provide when the

shelter is closed. We always know that our shelter pets are in the good hands with Dr. Stanton.

Thanks to you and everyone who voted, HSP won a $20,000 technology makeover from Milner’s JumpStart contest. We plan to use the grant to replace our outdated phone system. Thank you for all your support!

dogS Aren’T CoLor bLInd And oTHer SUrprISIng MyTHS…We have all heard “facts” about our companion animals...But where do these ideas come from and how true are they?

dogS Are CoLor bLIndThe origin of this myth is unknown, but the fact of the matter is dogs do see in color. They just see a more limited spectrum than we do. This is because they have more rod cells on their retina compared to humans, which allows them to see in much dimmer light; however, it also means they see more shades of gray than we do. Mostly dogs see in shades of gray, yellow and blue.

CATS ALwAyS LAnd on THeIr feeTCats do instinctively try to fall feet first, but this isn’t always the case. They have a uniquely flexible skeleton, which allows them to twist their bodies in mid-air to correct their position; however, a cat needs ample time to right itself and if she is surprised, sick or injured, she may not be able to do so despite the height. Furthermore, if a cat fell from too high, it would not matter if she landed feet first, as the impact would injure her anyway. And no, attaching toast butter side up to a cat will not result in anti-gravity… although that would be an awesome cat trick.

If A dog IS wAggIng ITS TAIL, IT IS HAppyWe hear this one at the shelter all too often. While most dogs wag their tails when they are happy, tail wagging is really a sign of arousal or attention. Much like a human smile, a wagging tail can mean a variety of emotions – tense, anxious, submissive, annoyed, frightened, aggressive, excited. Also a fun fact – research has shown dogs tend to not wag their tails when they are alone.

HSP HAPPENINgS

HumaNe SocIety of PINellaS 3040 State Road 590 • CleaRwateR, Fl 33759 • humaneSoCietyoFpinellaS.oRg

NEw PET CLINIC BUILdINgNow Open!We started offering public vet services at HSP in late 2011 just two

afternoons a month. We quickly realized that not only was there a need, but people liked the idea of supporting their local animal shelter with their pets’ wellness visits.

Soon we were offering services every week, then a couple days a week, and then we added public spay & neuter services. The word got out that we were offering low cost, quality service. By the time we rolled out our mobile medical center just one year ago, we knew we had something special to offer that people wanted.

We offer spays & neuters for public pets once per week at the shelter, and once or twice a week around the county on our Mobile Medical Center.

The demand quickly outpaced our available space. We remodeled the clinic to have a reception area, two exam rooms, and a treatment room. We have an industry standard software system to track our clients’ pet medical records and our inventory and expenses to be sure our dollars are being spent wisely.

The grooming salon moved into the adoption center where people can watch their pets being groomed.

Thanks to your support we are able to serve the pets and pet owners in our community.

In addition to everything we offer for owned pets, we’ve also started offering spaying & neutering for community cats twice a month. Trap – Neuter – Vaccinate – Return is now legal in Pinellas County and we want to do our part to reduce the community cat population humanely. Community cats have no owners but are just as deserving of a quality of life.

To learn more about our public medical services, including hours and prices, visit HumaneSocietyofPinellas.org or call (727) 797-7722.