Purrfect Post Cat of the Month - Lucy

For the month of December we've selected a special little lady to be our

Cat of the Month:  Lucy!!

Lucy is a darling black cat who came to HSEC with her two sisters who have since been adopted.  She loves to play and makes the most adorable chirping noises you've ever heard!  We call her our little Purr Monster because once you start showing Lucy some attention she just can't stop purring up a storm!





Lucy recently returned from a loving foster home which she shared with one dog and several cats.  She did great in a home environment and got along well with her other four-legged housemates.  Her foster Mom had some wonderful stories to share about her experiences with Lucy:

"Lucy is a cautious kitty. Though maybe cautious isn’t the right word for it. It’s more that she doesn’t want to do anything that isn’t her idea.

She has the SOFTEST fur! And she keeps herself immaculately clean. She’s also ladylike about her food and prefers to graze throughout the day rather than eat all at once.

She’s very playful and gets the “night time crazies” (as they’re called at our house), zipping around from room to room with a half-wild look in her eyes. It’s a lot of fun to play with her when she’s all wound up.

She loves to lie in the windowsill and look out; it’s what she did most of the day."

Here is a video of Lucy with her foster Mom!

Lucy's adoption fee is $70, she is spayed and up to date on all vaccines.  All cats with the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina are dewormed, on flea prevention, and tested for FIV/FeLV. Adoptions come with a small bag of Hill's Science Diet food and one month free of pet health insurance.

If you're interested in Lucy please give us a call at (252) 413-7247 or e-mail us at HSECgeneral@gmail.com.

Tips for a Happy Holiday

 


 It’s a busy time of year, but it’s important to make sure that your home is safe and happy for your pets. So visit the HSEC gift wrapping station in front of Belk’s inside the Greenville Mall, and take some time to read these handy holiday tips.

• Hang breakable ornaments high on your Christmas tree where animals can’t reach, and set up the tree so that your animal can’t knock it over. Only water the tree with plain water - no preservatives or chemicals. It’s common for pets to drink out of the watering bowl, so cover it if you can!
• Don’t put wrapped boxes of food under the tree - those noses are very sensitive.
• Avoid tinsel and clean up ribbons after unwrapping gifts. Both can cause serious problems if ingested.
• Keep light cords out of reach so they can’t be chewed on.
• Always supervise animals around lit candles.
• Don’t give out too many treats and make sure your pets won’t get into bones, trimmed fat, skin, discarded giblets, or those tasty little strings you used to tie up the turkey.
• Be careful to keep poisonous plants and decorations out of reach. Mistletoe, lillies, and some ivies are poisonous. Poinsettias, amaryllis, and hibiscus can cause severe digestive problems. Potpourri can cause skin and oral damage and can also be poisonous.
• Take standard party precautions. Cats in particular - even the friendliest - won’t want to be in the middle of all that noise. Keep shy animals isolated in a quiet, calm room with water and some toys to occupy them. If your pet is a true party animal, make sure that partygoers are treating them with kindness and common sense. No handfuls of greasy treats, no chocolate, and especially no drugs or alcohol.

Giving pets as gifts

Dogs and cats are cute - puppies and kittens are even cuter. And they’re pretty much a rainbow explosion of adorability when they’re sitting underneath a Christmas tree wearing a big red bow.

But you know what’s not so cute? The increased numbers of animals that are turned into shelters after the holidays are over. Because a pet is about more than a photo op, it’s a 10-18 year commitment of your time, energy, love, and money.

So what if you still want to get someone a pet for Christmas? Well, it might be the perfect gift - as long as you follow these important guidelines.

Do not surprise someone with a pet - especially an adult!

Even if you are sure that your loved one wants to get a pet, it should be up to the pet owner to decide if they are ready to take on the responsibility. Additionally, the bond between a pet and an owner is a special thing. Choosing a pet is very personal, and it’s important that the prospective adopter actually be present when the animal is chosen.

It’s best to give a pet a few weeks before or at least a week after the holidays.

Holidays are stressful enough for the people and pets already in a home. New decorations, family members hanging around, parties, noise - all of these things can freak out even the most well-adjusted cat or dog. Bringing a new animal into a home is also stressful. Don’t make it hard on yourself or your new furry friend by combining stressors.

Ok, so you’ve thought it through and you’ve decided that it would be appropriate to give someone a pet as a gift. Here’s how to do it.

Give the recipient a large wrapped box full of pet supplies and a coupon for the animal of their choice. It’s ok to offer to go with them to pick out the pet, but don’t push. It might take a couple of visits for the adopter to find their perfect fit.

If you absolutely must give a pet during the holidays, remember:

• Plan on spending quiet time at home so bonding with the new owner can occur and the pet will learn that home is a safe environment.
• Clean up all the present wrappings before introducing the new pet.  The new pet should be the last present received.
• No parties at your home and limit the time you are away from home.
• Make your house pet safe.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season,

 

Your friends at the HSEC blog

Changes at HSEC - and how you can help.

If you come to the HSEC facility, you will see cats and dogs who are healthy, alert, and energetic - ready to become pets. The HSEC is the region’s largest no-kill facility and we’re proud of the work that we do. But the economic downturn has also hurt animals, and we need help to maintain a high quality of life for those in our care and to increase their chances for adoption.

The good news is that you can help! Your support is essential to the Humane Society’s continued success in providing exceptional care for the animals we serve.

The HSEC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which has been in operation since 1978.  rescuing animals from Pitt County and the surrounding areas. Thanks to you, we see an average of 400 adoptions per year! Through adoptions and transfers from local county shelters, HSEC helps decrease local euthanasia rates and assists in reducing the pet overpopulation problem.

Our facility can take care of up to 100 animals at a time but can’t operate without community support - financial gifts, donations, and volunteers. We receive no funds from city, state, or national government, nor do we receive financial assistance from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Due to financial restraints, HSEC has had to decrease animal intake by 25 percent and eliminate supplemental programs. We’ve come up with temporary ways to reduce our expenses: decreasing the facility’s hours of operation and reducing animal capacity by 40 percent.

But here’s where you come in. Community support is vital to the facility’s status and the animals’ futures. You can help the Humane Society return to full operating capacity. It costs the Humane Society $5 per day per animal to provide shelter, a clean environment, food, and basic medical care. If you can help care for an animal for a year, month, or even just a day, your support is needed.

In Pitt County alone 2500 animals are euthanized yearly. With your assistance more animals will have a second chance at life.

All of your donation will benefit the homeless animals in eastern North Carolina. To make a tax deductible donation or to learn more about the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina please call (252) 413-7247 or visit http://www.hsecarolina.org/.

Blog Dog of the Month - Wiggles

Happy December Everyone!

Meet Wiggles! 

This month we've selected Wiggles to be our blog dog of the month!  She is a sweet pit bull terrier mix who is on the small side and full of energy!  She was rescued from a hoarding case in Pitt County this past summer and has been with us ever since.  Wiggles is mostly white with brindle spots and a brindle face, she is just too cute!

Wiggles is a special gal who needs someone with a little extra time on their hands to give her the attention she needs.  You see, Wiggles suffers from separation anxiety and when the staff and volunteers go home in the evening Wiggles' little heart breaks in two.  When her human friends come back in the morning she is SO excited to see them she just can't stop jumping and wiggling around in circles! 

Aside from wiggling, one of Wiggles other favorite things is treats!  After just two milkbones Wiggles was sitting on comand and after long walks her favorite thing to do is relax on her doggie bed with a snack between her paws.  (Wiggles thought you should know how much she loves treats just in case you would like to buy her a Christmas present...)

Please consider meeting Wiggles today!  She is spayed, up to date on all vaccines and the only thing on her Christmas list this year is for Santa to bring her a family of her very own!  (And maybe a few treats!)  Her adoption fee is $100 which is quite a bargain according to Wiggles because she says she has at least 101 kisses to give everyone she meets!  Please stop by our facility, visit our website, e-mail us, or give us a call at (252) 413-7247 for more information on Wiggles!

XOXO Wiggles



Gift Wrapping!!

The holidays are finally here and WE are here to help you wrap all those gifts you bought!!  Volunteers for the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina will be at the Greenville mall every day from now until Christmas Eve wrapping gifts and spreading holiday cheer!

Now through December 24th we will be ready to assist you with all of your gift wrapping needs from 11am until 8pm each day!  The cost is based on gift size ranging from $3 to $10 and the proceeds go to help the animals at HSEC!  Our table is located outside of the women's Belk right near the North Pole.

This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and we hope you'll come out and support us! 

Not buying any gifts this month?  Please consider helping the Humane Society in another way!  It costs us $5 per day per animal to provide the necessary care to our canine and feline residents so we could really use your help!  Below are some ideas on how you can support our organization and all we do for the animals:

Interested in volunteering at our gift wrap station?  Great!  We always need more elves!  Please contact our Director of Outreach at hsecvolunteer@gmail.com , or sign up here!

Hope to see each and every one of you at the Greenville mall this month, remember, only 18 days until Christmas!

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!