Blog Dog of the Month - Ezy!!

It's time for our third and final installment about Ezy!!  Ezy has been our Blog Dog of the Month for October AND November and unfortunately this sweet dog is still waiting to find his forever home!  Ezy has been living at the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina longer than any of our other current residents, 18 months!!  Wouldn't you say it's his turn to find a forever family?

Mixed breed dogs often come into the facility, and sometimes these mysterious mixes create some uniquely interesting animals. It can be very rewarding to adopt a mixed breed dog who will fit perfectly into your family. Like Ezy (pronounced Easy), our Blog Dog of the Month.

Everyone seems to have a different opinion about Ezy’s genetic background. He definitely has some Shepherd in him, but the rest is anyone’s guess - Akita? Chow? Brown bear? He’s not a very tall dog, but he has a powerful barrel chest and neck and beautiful thick fur. In fact, it’s hard to tell where the fur ends and Ezy begins.

Ezy is not exactly the athletic type. He gets very excited to go on a walk, but he’s been known to sit down and refuse to go another step without a short break! Especially when it’s hot, it’s easy for him to become overheated under all that gorgeous fur. Ezy would do well in a family who took him on short walks, but he would probably not be a good match for someone who wants to take their dog jogging.

Adopting a mixed breed dog also ensures that your dog is totally unique! Ezy is such a handsome boy, though it’s hard to see that clearly when he’s in his run. In the sunshine, the brown highlights glow in his black coat. There’s definitely no one else who looks like Ezy!

In the end, it doesn’t really matter what Ezy “is”. All that’s important to know about Ezy - or any dog - is the singular set of traits that define his personality. Ezy is shy, and sweet, and loves attention. He tends to have favorite people, and he loves his favorites completely.

He’s an amazing dog just waiting for the right person to come along and take him home. 

If you're looking to add another canine to your pack please consider Ezy, he's a wonderful dog who just needs a little extra time getting to know you.  He loves other dogs and he'd LOVE to meet you!  Please come by the facility to meet Ezy, give us a call at (252) 413-7247 or e-mail us at hsecgeneral@gmail.com.  Ezy is up to date on all vaccines, neutered, and his adoption fee is only $60!!! 

Let's find Ezy a home for the holidays!

Blog Dog of the Month - Ezy!!

It's time for the next installment of our 3-part series on Blog Dog of the Month - Ezy!  This sweet guy is still looking for his forever home so, please, read his story below and help spread the word about the incredible dog!

When our Blog Dog of the Month Ezy (pronounced Easy) first came to the facility, staff and volunteers quickly learned that he needed some extra attention. Like many residents of HSEC, Ezy was a stray, so we don’t know very much about his background. We have to take our cues from his behavior and can only guess at the experiences that shaped his personality.

And Ezy has a big personality! But at first, you wouldn’t know it. Sometimes it takes Ezy a little bit of time to warm up to new people, especially men. Once he gets over his initial shyness, he loves attention. He loves to have his ears and chest scratched, and he’s a leaner - he’ll push against your legs as he totally relaxes into the attention.

Ezy’s cautiousness has sometimes worked against him when visitors come to HSEC. Like most shy dogs, he can be easily overwhelmed by new people who approach too quickly.

When meeting any dog, but especially a shy dog, it’s important to move slowly and speak softly. Try squatting down to their level and let them approach you. Don’t make eye contact right away, as dogs can perceive this as aggressive. Once the dog seems comfortable, pet them on their chest. Bringing your hand over the top of a shy dog’s head can be scary to them, and some dogs don’t like to be touched in a place they can’t see, like their hind end.

If you give a dog a bad first impression, don’t worry - you can overcome it with some time. Just retreat and start over again with the techniques suggested above. But it’s far better to use patience at the first meeting so that you can easily form a connection with a new dog. Go slowly and the dog will learn to trust you.

Volunteers and staff know that it just takes a little bit of patience to get close to Ezy, but once you do, he’s yours forever. So come out to the facility and spend some time in the play yard with Ezy. Your reward could be a lifetime friend!

Interested in meeting Ezy?  Stop by the HSEC facility during our open hours, give us a call (252) 413-7247, or e-mail us at hsecgeneral@gmail.com!  Ezy is neutered, up to date on all vaccines, and his adoption fee is only $60!!!

Purrfect Post Cats of the Month - Tom & Jerry

It's time again for a special HSEC blog post spotlighting our feline friends!  This month we have double the fun with two brothers, Tom and Jerry!

               Tom                                                                                                                    Jerry

Who doesn't love a fat orange cat?!  We have TWO!  Tom and Jerry were adopted as kittens by an elderly couple and unfortunately their human mom passed away in the Spring.  Their human dad then went to stay in an assisted living facility which is how they came to us at HSEC.

Tom and Jerry are both gentle giants and when they first arrived at our facility it was a bit of a shock for them.  They were both very afraid of the staff and would escape from their cages every time they had the chance!  Fortunately over the past few months both cats have really come out of their shells.

Jerry is a sweet boy who can still be a bit shy at first but he really does love attention once you get him out to play!  When volunteers take him into the HSEC cat play area he struts his stuff and and head butts them for attention!  Jerry also loves to roll over on his side and, a sure sign he wants you to pet him!  Jerry is a classic orange tabby, the smaller of these two brothers.

Tom is one big gorgeous ball of fur!  His coat is a rich tabby mixed with reds and oranges, what a looker!  Tom absolutely loves chin rubs and being petter, although, like his brother, he can still be a bit shy when you approach him at first.  Once he realizes you are there to play and pet him he'll start to purr right away!

These awesome cats have been living at HSEC for several months now and we'd really like them to go to a new forever home where they can get the endless love and attention they deserve!  Tom and Jerry have been together forever so we would prefer that they went to the same home if possible.

All cats with the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina are spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines, dewormed, on flea prevention, and tested for FIV/FeLV.  Adoptions come with a small bag of Hill's Science Diet and one month of free pet health insurance!

If you're interested in meeting Tom and Jerry please visit our facility, give us a call (252) 413-7247, or e-mail us at hsecgeneral@gmail.com!

Foster Home Fun - Ginny ADOPTED!

HSEC relies on the generosity of volunteers who not only donate their time at our facility, but also those who open their hearts and homes to care for our animals in need on a temporary basis as foster parents. 

We are always looking for more volunteers so we can continue to build our foster network and we'd like to share a special foster story with you now! 

Ginny's Story:

As you can see from her picture, Ginny is quite a unique American Pit Bull Terrier Mix!  She has a lovely brindle coat but instead of the regular black with brown stripes, Ginny is a reverse brindle with a gorgeous caramel coat feathered with black stripes.  What a beauty!

This sweet dog was found as a stray in Falkland and lucky for her someone picked her up and cared for her until we had room at HSEC!


In late August of 2011 Hurricane Irene was on the horizon so HSEC staff made the difficult decision to evacuate all the animals at our facility.  We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our local Pitt County community when we successfully evacuated every single animal into a temporary foster home!

Ginny was lucky enough to find a weekend home with Jeremy and Sarah who absolutely fell in love with this sweet canine and were sad to bring her back.  In October they heard we were having a Foster Parent Orientation and decided they would like to help out again!  Because Ginny had been displaying some signs of stress in our shelter environment we agreed that Ginny would again be a good candidate for foster care with Jeremy and Sarah.  They were so excited and came to pick Ginny up just a few days after orientation!

Here is the first installment of their story:

"We chose to be foster parents because we wanted to have an animal in the house again. Giving an animal a loving home with attention and affection can enrich the animals lifestyle as well as our own. Caring for Ginny gives us a sense of well-being, knowing that we are giving her a pleasant environment and a break from life at the shelter. She has been quick to learn the trick “shake”, adding to her repertoire of commands and has adapted to our house rules.


Recently, Ginny meet the neighbors dog and played well with him. It released a different kind of energy and she was more tuckered out then when I take her on a 3 mile run. We feel like she would benefit from doggy companionship, however, this was only the first encounter. We hope to try to introduce her to other dogs in the near future. On a walk we saw a friend and his 5-year-old son; Ginny didn’t react differently when the boy was petting her. The difficulty we are working on is her jumping habit, which occurs when she gets overly excited.


At the grocery store we picked up a beef bone from the butcher and she really enjoys it. It keeps her occupied for longer periods of time. She also really enjoys playing with the ropes. When she gets really worked up she will run from room to room, back and forth, like she is playing tag with herself. She is a great exercise friend and doesn’t pull on the leash. She is completely house broken and a complete ham as she lays on her bed while we write this message.


One weird action we have noticed is that Ginny always accompanies us when we go to the bathroom!"


-Jeremy & Sarah

Stay tuned for more updates from Jeremy and Sarah as they continue to foster Ginny! 

If you would like more information about our foster program or if you are interested in adopting Ginny please contact HSEC at (252) 413-7247 or hsecgeneral@gmail.com.

***UPDATE***

Before we even had a chance to do a new post about Ginny she was adopted!!  We are so happy that Ginny found her forever home!!

The Results are In! October 2011 Stats

October was a busy time at HSEC. We took in 43 new critters, the most of any month this year, and 30 pets left the facility for their forever homes. Here’s a quick look at what happened in the facility last month, but first, a little terminology.

An animal can enter the shelter one of five ways.

1. Abandonment: dropped anonymously at the facility. This irresponsible behavior is not only extremely dangerous to the animal, it is illegal!
2. Returned: the result of a failed adoption where the animal is returned.
3. Stray: the animal is found with no indication of its ownership.
4. Surrendered: the owner of the animal surrenders it to the facility.
5. Transferred: the animal is brought in from another group or facility, often the Pitt County Animal Shelter. Animals are often transferred between shelters in order to increase their opportunity for or likelihood of adoption.

Here’s the breakdown for October:

Cats:

32 cats entered the facility.

• 4 abandoned
• 0 returns
• 0 strays
• 15 surrenders
• 13 transfers

We had the opportunity to transfer in several cats this month, including more than one litter of kittens! We love to cooperate with other groups in the area for the benefit of the animals.  

                                                         

13 cats were adopted this month, including 7 adults and 6 kittens!

Dogs:

11 dogs entered the facility.

• 1 abandoned
• 0 returns
• 0 strays
• 6 surrenders
• 4 transfers

We did not take in as many dogs this month as at other times during the year. One reason for this is that we have so many amazing dogs available already for adoption.

17 dogs were adopted this month, 7 adults and 10 puppies - that’s more than we took in!

Congratulations to all the dogs and cats who found their forever homes this month! And if you’re one of the lucky new owners, we always love to hear how our former residents are doing!

Blog Dog of the Month - Ezy!!

It's that time again!  For the month of November we've selected Ezy to be our Blog Dog of the Month!  Look familiar?  Ezy was also spotlighted in October but unfortunately he is STILL waiting for his forever home and we hope to share more of his story with you throughout the month.  This is the first in a series of 3 posts we have planned for this special canine to help him find a family!

Since he entered the facility, our Blog Dog of the Month Ezy (pronounced Easy) has made huge improvements in temperament and training. Ezy came in as a stray, jumping right into his rescuer’s car. He must have known that she was trying to help him, because Ezy can be very shy with new people.

When he first came to HSEC, Ezy wasn’t sure what he’d gotten himself into. The facility can be an overwhelming place, with lots of new sights, sounds, and smells - not to mention new people. Like many new residents, Ezy was initially hesitant to trust volunteers and staff. We don’t know what Ezy’s background was like and so we don’t know why he tends to be so cautious. Whatever the reason, he needs a little extra love to help him compensate.

When Ezy was given a bit of extra attention, he really began to blossom. He made one volunteer into a special friend, and once he’d decided to trust her, he began to realize that other people weren’t so bad. He got used to the set of familiar faces that he saw at the facility every day. Being exposed to so many different people was very beneficial for him.

Like many cautious dogs, having a doggy buddy helped Ezy become more comfortable with people. Shy dogs may have a difficult time reading humans, and so they are alarmed by what they interpret as unpredictable behavior. But when a shy dog has a more confident dog as a buddy, they can read the confident dog’s body language. If the other dog isn’t afraid, the shy dog will see that the situation isn’t threatening, and they will have a large reduction in their own anxiety levels.

Ezy gets along very well with other dogs, and loves to wrestle and play tag. He’s also what trainers call food motivated, which means that he is willing to work for a treat. As soon as he figured out that just sitting would get him a reward, he was on top of it! If he knows that you have treats in your pocket, he will cut you off and “sit” very insistently in front of you, waiting to be praised and rewarded. This makes us think that he would be relatively easy to continue training.

Unfortunately, Ezy has outlasted several doggy buddies because he has been at the facility so long. He’s watched his friends leave for their forever homes and has always been the one left behind. We think it’s Ezy’s turn to get to go home.

If you are interested in adopting Ezy and giving him a forever home please let us know!  All HSEC animals are spayed & neutered and up to date on all vaccines.  Ezy's adoption fee is $60 and you will also receive a free bag of dog food!  Give us a call at (252) 413-7247 or e-mail us at hsecgeneral@gmail.com for more information on Ezy!

13 SPOOK-tacular tips to keep your pets safe this HOWL-oween!

Many dogs and cats thrive on routine, which means that the noise and activity of Halloween can be upsetting and confusing. Furthermore, holiday decorations and parties can pose dangers to your pets.

Keeping your animals safe during Halloween requires just a bit of extra forethought. But by following these thirteen easy and common-sense suggestions, you can make sure that Halloween is fun and stress-free for every member of your family.

1. Many children can be frightened by overly friendly dogs, and the door opening and closing provides a great opportunity for curious pets to slip outside. Unless they are extremely well behaved, don’t allow your pets to come to the door with you. Instead, keep your dogs and cats in a quiet, secure room with food, water, litter, toys, and a comfortable place to relax.

2. If the sound of the doorbell is frightening or stimulating to your dog, consider taping a sign over your doorbell asking trick-or-treaters to knock instead.

3. Urban legends suggest that cats - and black cats specifically - are in danger of being targeted by violence during late October. In reality, the increased danger is slight and is probably the result of local kids’ pranks. However, it certainly won’t harm your indoor/outdoor cats to be kept inside around Halloween. Most cats won’t be thrilled to be outside amidst the chaos of trick-or-treating anyway.

4. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, due to the presence of Theobromine and, to a lesser extent, caffeine. Both compounds are stimulants that can cause nausea, vomiting, and even death. Keep candy bowls out of your animals’ reach and make sure your kids’ goody bags are also untouchable. If you suspect that your dog or cat has ingested chocolate, call your vet.

5. Decorative corn and pumpkins can also cause stomach upset if consumed, and these decorations should be kept in areas where your pets can’t access them.

6. Animals should be supervised around decorations. Ensure that your pets aren’t nibbling on wires or other trimmings. Do not leave animals alone with lit candles.

7. Having a party? It’s always a good idea to keep your pets out of the action in the same quiet room described above.

8. Speaking of things that animals shouldn’t eat - do not feed pets alcohol or other intoxicants. And don’t let party guests do it either! Cats and most dogs are much smaller than humans and are affected differently by intoxicants.

9. Pet costumes are adorable! But before you take your dog out on the town, try on the costume and make sure that it’s comfortable for your pet. And if your animal really doesn’t want to wear it, don’t force them. Your pet’s stress and upset is not worth the cute picture.

10. While your pet is wearing a costume, keep an eye on them to make sure that they are safe - that they aren’t eating the costume, that they can see properly, and that they remain comfortable. If in doubt, take it off.

11. Some dogs will love to come trick-or-treating, while some will not enjoy the fuss and commotion. If your dog accompanies you, they should be properly leashed and should act like good citizens - no barking or jumping on kids.

12. It’s a good idea to have reflective patches on your children’s costumes so that cars can see them. Similarly, put reflective patches on your dog’s harness, collar, or leash if they come trick-or-treating with you.

13. Whether they are staying inside or coming along, dogs and cats should all wear proper identification with your contact information, just in case they wander off. Take this opportunity to look into ID microchips as well. This is a tiny electronic ID inserted under the pet’s skin. They are relatively cheap, painless, and can can help reunite you with your pet if they become lost. Ask your vet for more info about ID microchips.

And don’t forget to have fun! Happy Halloween from HSEC!

Black Cat Adoption Stand - Last Day!

Earlier this month we took 6 of our black cats to PetSmart in Greenville for a special black cat adoption stand and today is the last day for this special event!  We have had FIVE cats adopted over the past two weeks and there are currently five cats still at PetSmart waiting for their forever homes!

So far we've had two of our long-timer adult cats find homes, Shadow & Brandon, and three kittens, Belle, Aurora, and Jim!

If you're interested in adopting one of our black cats please stop by the Greenville PetSmart today!

Sunday October 23rd from 2-5pm

Below is information on the 5 cats available for adoption at PetSmart:

Genevieve a sweet little lady who is mostly black with some white, she is a little cuddle bug!  Genevieve loves to play with the other cats, Stanley is her boyfriend at Petsmart!

Stanley, the last kitten left from "the Office" litter, who is always busy doing a crossword puzzle waiting for his forever home!**ADOPTED**

Two adult sister cats named Lucy and Aggie **ADOPTED** who have been with us for a while and would love to go home with YOU!  They are about one year old and have been with us for some time so we are really hoping they get adopted during this special event.

Olive a gorgeous calico who is mostly black.  This sweet girl has been very shy at Petsmart since her arrival on Wednesday but when she comes out of her shell she can be a real sweetheart!

Please visit our website http://www.hsecarolina.org/ or check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/HSECarolina to see photos of these great cats!

Adoption fees for adult black cats (this includes everyone at PetSmart except Stanley) have been lowered during this special event to only $55.  If they are not adopted today they will return to our facility and still be up for adoption but their fee will return to the regular $70.

And, as always, there are more cats available at our HSEC facility!  Stop by today from 2-5 to find a forever friend!

National Pit Bull Awareness Day 2011

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today is a great day for animal rescue, it's National Pit Bull Awareness Day!

Today animal rescue organizations across the country are working together to raise awareness about the struggles and discrimination pit bull terriers face every day and unite against breed specific legislation.  For more information please visit Bless The Bullys website about the campaign. 

Pit Bulls are one of the most loyal and loving dog breeds, but also the most misunderstood; often associated with fighting and violence, an image the media tends to support.  Here at HSEC we'd love to show you just how wonderful pitbulls really are.  We currently have 5 pit bull terriers under our care and we'd love to see them get some special recognition today!  Below is more specific information about each of our pit bulls so if you have time please stop by the facility any time today between 1-5pm to give them some treats, a nice long walk, or a forever home!

Blossom

This sweet mama has been through a lot.  She came to HSEC early in the summer of 2011 with a litter of three pups who have since been adopted.  She is one of the absolute sweetest dogs in the world and as you can see from her picture she always has a smile on her face and a wag in her tail!  Blossom came to us severly underweight, covered in scratches, and with multiple skin conditions.  With some love from the HSEC staff and proper vet care Blossom has bounced back and is ready for her forever home  Blossom is definitely a lover, not a fighter!  She is at the HSEC facility today so come check her out!

Ginny

Ginny is a gorgeous brindle pit bull who loves attention!  She left for a temporary foster home this week to get some extra love but she is still very much available for adoption!  Ginny loves to go on long runs and she is also housebroken!  Ginny does not get along well with other dogs or cats so we want her to be in a one-pet household.  This sweet girl has been waiting a long time to find her forever home and we hope that happens soon :-) ***UPDATE*** Ginny has been adopted!

Hadley

Hadley is the newest bully to join the HSEC pack and unfortunately she is not available for adoption just yet as we finish caring for all of her medical needs.  Keep this image in your head though 'cause she's quite a looker!  We will keep you posted when Hadley is ready for some love in a new forever home!

Porkchop

Porkchop is currently the only male pit bull at HSEC.  He is still a young dog full of puppy energy who greets everyone with a smile!  His unique hazel eyes make him even more endearing and we hope you'll come out to take a look at him soon!  Porkchop has a classic bully build and when he's full grown is going to be so handsome!
***UPDATE*** Porkchop has been adopted!!

Wiggles

We've saved the best for last!!!  Wiggles is one of the friendliest dogs on the planet, we guarantee it!  She was rescued this past summer from an animal hording case, but you'd never know it!  She is a smaller pit bull but she makes up for it with her amazing jumping skills.  Wiggles LOVES to go on walks and when she's done she always has energy left over for lots of hugs and kisses!  Wiggles only struggle is that she loves too much, she has separation anxiety when her volunteer and staff friends leave for the night so we hope she'll find a special home with a big family who has lots of time to spend with her!



We prefer to adopt bully breeds to owners with successful previous bully experience. The adoption process for bully breeds involves a home check, vet check and possible reference check. There are no same day adopted for bully breeds. We want to ensure that all our pit bulls find the right homes and the right families. Come meet them today!

All dogs at the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina are spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines, dewormed, and on heartworm and flea prevention. All dogs 6 months or older are tested for heartworms. Adoptions come with a small bag of Hill's Science Diet food and a free one month trial of pet health insurance. Call or stop by for more information!