Jammin With Judd: Forever Home Checklist

My good side

Judd is an adorable three-year old white and tabby fellow who’s hanging out at the Humane Society looking for a home.  He tells us he will blog every week until he gets adopted.  He really wants a place of his own! Follow Judd's adventures - and share your own experiences with him - on Twitter, #jamminwithjudd

Hello!  This is Judd again, hoping to blog my way into someone’s heart and home!  Since last week, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking a lot about this adoption thing, and I decided to make a list of what I’m looking for so you’ll know if we are meant for one another.

1. People.  If you are reading this, you probably are one.  But just to let you know, I would not like a home without people.  I am a people kind of guy, and really want to be around them as much as I can. 
2. Treats.  I just love treats, and will do just about anything to get one!  I especially go crazy for the soft, chewy ones, but I’ll come running when I hear the package rattling or the bottle shaking.  If you don’t have treats in your house, don’t worry.  I’ve checked around and found out that they have them in grocery stores, marts, and pet stores, so you can get me some right away.
3. Laps.  I’m pretty sure they come standard on humans, but I am such a lap cat that I thought I

   

   I like windows. Does your house have windows?

   should mention it.  If you don’t happen to have a lap, we might have a problem, but if you do we will be fine.
4.  A floor.  Again, I think just about all houses have floors, but I do like floor sprawling, so if you have any kind of floor that’s big enough for a fellow to stretch out on, I think I will like your house.
5. A window.  They are fun to look out.  Here at the Humane Society, I like to watch the humans walking dogs.  That seems like a lot of trouble to me – you won’t need to walk me at all.  Another reason to adopt a cat.
6. Cats.  OK, this one’s optional.  But I do like other cats.  I like to explore the Cat Palace with my buddy Salem (also available for adoption – hint, hint!), and would be very happy to have a family with a mixture of furry and furless members.  But just humans would be fine, too - as long as you have humans.

I think this would be a good checklist to use to see if you would be the ideal home for me.  If you are, I’ll be at waiting for you at the Humane Society.  They’re open Friday, Saturday and Sunday – so what are you waiting for?

We're Having Kittens!!

Just one of our babies! Click here for more HSEC kitten photos!

It's kitten season, and like many animal rescue organizations all over the country, we have been inundated by tiny, fuzzy babies!

In order to keep up with this blessed (and yearly) event, we turn to you, our supporters, with our kitten registry. We'd love your help in "showering" HSEC with items necessary for proper kitten care.

• Canned kitten food is our #1 need!
• Little legs need little litterboxes - small, shallow litter pans allow for easy entrance and exit.
• Stretch and scratchers are great for all our feline residents, allowing for cats to express their natural need to scratch.
• Kitten receiving blankets? Sure! Kittens need extra warmth just like any newborn, and blankets allow us to create a soft, snuggly nest.
• Some kittens love to snuggle up with small stuffed animals.
• Toys, toys, toys! We especially would like wand toys and ball chasing toys (like this)

Check out our Amazon kitten registry here!

How to Give a Dog a Pill

Welcome to our 200th post!! Today we'll take a look at what can be a very stressful part of pet ownership... getting your dog to take their medicine. At the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina, we have become medication administration experts.  Here are our tips to taking the stress out of giving meds.

Go undercover!

Hide the pill in anything and everything.

Pill Pockets:
When we have them donated, Pill Pockets are the easiest and fastest way to give meds.  Pill Pockets are soft, smelly, pliable treats with a hole in the middle.  You just stick the tablet in the middle, close the Pill Pocket around the tablet, and feed it to your dog as a treat.

Peanut Butter:
Peanut butter is our second line of defense.  We take a spoonful of peanut butter, preferably crunchy, smush the tablet in the peanut butter, and then let the dog lick the peanut butter off the spoon.  You can also transfer the peanut butter to your finger if the tablet gets trapped in the well of the spoon.

Make a “meatball”:
Form a meatball made from wet dog food, stuff the tablet into the middle and voila!  You have a medicated meatball sure to be scarfed down.

Hot dogs:
Slice a fully cooked hot dog into ½” thick slices, push the tablet into the middle of the slice and feed it to your dog.

Other suggestions:
Our staff has found other undercover solutions for their foster dogs and/or dogs at home, including:

• Hiding a pill in store bought cheese cubes
• Hiding a pill in fig newtons
• Making tiny peanut butter, cream cheese, mashed banana, butter, or combination thereof sandwiches with bread or crackers.

Tip: Go undercover before meal time for best results

Third time’s a charm

Does your dog get suspicious any time you give him an undercover treat?  Try this technique!

Have three of whatever type of undercover treats.  Let’s say you have cheese cubes.  Take out three cheese cubes, putting the medicine in the third one.  Feed your dog the one cheese cube.  He might search it, and then eat it, satisfied nothing is hidden in there.  Then give him the second cheese cube.  Now he’s starting to trust you.  Give him the third (and medicated) cheese cube.  He’ll be so excited with the game of getting lots of treats, he won’t even notice there’s a pill in there.  This is particularly effective with dogs who like to catch treats in the air. 

Fedicate

Does your dog lick her bowl clean?  Take advantage of her joy for meal time and add her medicine to the bowl.

You can use any of the “undercover” methods and simply add the hot dog slice, meatball, etc to her food bowl.

Another great tip is to mix wet dog food (one with gravy works best) or broth to the dog’s kibble, drop the pill in, mix all around and watch your dog happily lick their bowl clean.  If adding broth to the food bowl, warming the broth slightly will make it smell even more enticing.

*Be sure to watch your dog while fedicating to be sure the dog actually eats and swallows the pill.

And if all else fails…

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and “pill” your dog.  Here’s a video demonstrating how to “pill” a dog:



What tips do you have for giving dogs medication?

Jammin' With Judd

Meow! I'm Judd! Word travels fast here at the Humane Society, and I heard that a dog named Clooney started blogging to get himself adopted.  So I figure I’ll give it a try!

I really don’t know what a nice guy like me is doing in a place like this.  Don’t get me wrong, the people here are nice to me, but a cage?  Really?  At least it’s better than the scary place I was before, a shelter where not everycat was adopted, if you know what I mean – I shudder to think what could have happened to me!  But here, I believe them when they say I’m safe until I can find some humans who will be my forever family.

So here’s the deal.  I really am a nice guy, honest!  I get along well with others of the feline persuasion, and wouldn’t mind living with one or two if they’re cool with me.  And humans!  Don’t get me started on how much I love a good lap!  Laps just bring out the cuddler in me, and I definitely hope to find a home that has lots of lap time!  Oh, yes!  And head boinks and rubbing are lots of fun, too.  I just think humans were wonderfully designed for cat cuddling, don’t you?

Yes, I’m a lover, but I do admit I like my playtime, too.  I may not bend it like Beckham, but I am quite the skilled kitty soccer player.  Little toy mice are my favorite, too.  I’m glad they’re just toys, because I love to attack them!  Grrr…what fun!  I also love to perch myself up high in the play area, and pretend I’m the kitty king of the world! 

OK, since I’m being honest, I must admit that even a big guy like me gets a bit nervous sometimes, you know?  After all I’ve been through, I get spooked by loud noises or new things sometimes, and will even hide under a blanket in my cage where I feel safe.  That’s why I’m so excited about finding a human or maybe an entire family of humans to call my own, with a place of my own – my little corner of the world where I can feel safe and loved!

And that’s why I started this blog.  I’m sure there’s someone out there with a lap and some extra love who has room for me.  If it’s not you, I’ll bet you have some human pals you could pass this along to.  Ask them to come to the Humane Society – the place on Tupper Road – and ask for Judd.  I’ll be waiting!

Follow Judd's adventures via HSEC's Twitter stream! And if you happen to hang out with Judd while volunteering at the facility, send us a tweet or a pic - #jamminwithjudd

Help Us Empty the Shelter!

Pitt County’s dogs need some new best friends.

Pet homelessness is a significant problem in our area, and the need for permanent homes far exceeds

Boss is a recent transfer from PCAS

the supply even when the system is working smoothly.  But recent developments have raised the red flag for stray and unwanted dogs.

A recent inspection of the Pitt County Animal Shelter by the NC Department of Animal Welfare identified issues that must be remedied in order for the Shelter to remain open.  As a result, an older portion of the shelter has been closed for repairs and renovation, dropping the number of available dog runs from 25 to 10.

In partnership with the County Shelter, we’ve long played a key role in preventing the euthanasia of adoptable animals.  The majority of our animals are transferred in from the Shelter; once in our care, those animals are safe with us until they find loving homes.

Sweet Sparrow is another PCAS transfer

In this time of crisis, we’ve been working closely with the Shelter, saving lives by taking in as many animals as we possibly can.  But now we’ve reached our limit as well.

That’s where you come in.  During this time of limited capacity, the need for both foster and permanent homes has reached a critical point.  By freeing a kennel, you’re saving two lives – the dog you’re fostering or adopting, and the dog in need who’s next in line to be rescued.

Boss and Sparrow are only two of our recent arrivals from the County Shelter.  Boss is a two year-old Bloodhound/Retriever mix who’s playful, goofy, intelligent and good with cats, and one year-old Sparrow is a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog mix who’s sweet and friendly.  Both are grateful to be safe at the Humane Society, and are waiting patiently for their forever homes.

If you’ve been thinking of adopting, or can open your home to foster an animal, check out our website for a listing of available pets, or stop by to visit on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays 2-5 p.m.  If you’re interested in fostering, send us an email. 

There’s no time like the present.  Your new best friend awaits!

Fee Waived Adoptions - Three for Free!

During our birthday celebration last month we introduced you to six lovely and loving dogs and cats, so ready to find homes that we waived their adoption fees. We're just plain tickled to announce that five of those original six have found their forever homes! Congratulations to Blue, Max, Precious, Clooney, and Tess!

With two additions to the fee-waived list, we now have Three for Free - three wonderful dogs with waived adoption fees who can't wait to come home with you - or you - or maybe YOU! Let's meet them!

Hector

Hector the shepherd mix is one of the original six, so he's extra ready to find his forever home! We just love Hector's mischievous smile. This guy is everything a dog should be, friendly, cuddly, and happy-go-lucky. He's quite energetic, and gets along very well with other dogs (though it is not recommended for him to go to a home with cats). Hector is heartworm positive, and takes medication for this condition. Heartworm is very treatable, so don't let that dissuade you if you think that Happy Hector might be the perfect new addition to your pack.

Scout

Scout is a sweet, shy, Carolina dog mix who arrived at HSEC after her owner moved to a pet-free apartment. At first this cute little girl was nervous and wary, but she's starting to come out of her shell in order to accept head scratches! She gets along with other dogs, and she's looking for a home that is a bit more quiet and a bit more patient. With some extra care and attention, we know that Scout will be someone's best friend for life.

Midas

Midas the labrador retriever mix proves that cats aren't the only ones with nine lives! Healthy young Midas was brought in for a "convenience euthanasia" because his owner didn't want to care for him any longer. Luckily, the vet called us! This young dog is energetic and playful and gets along well with humans or canines. He is house and crate trained and knows a few commands. He's ready for his second chance - ready for his forever home!



All dogs with the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina are evaluated for temperament, spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines, dewormed, on heartworm and flea prevention and tested for heartworms if one year or older. Their adoption comes with a bag of Hill's Science Diet and one month free trial of pet health insurance from ShelterCare. All dogs four months or older must leave with a collar with their rabies tag as a form of identification. You can either bring your own collar or purchase a collar (priced $2-$10) from HSEC.

We are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 2pm - 5pm.  For more information, please email us at HSECgeneral@gmail.com!

Clooney's Commentary: Clooney Cooney

Clooney’s Commentary is written by a dog who has been a year-long resident of the Humane Society.  He decided to take matters into his own paws and get himself adopted.  This five year-old Shepherd mix recently moved to a foster home, and has been sending updates while waiting for his forever home!

Hey, it’s your favorite commentator, Clooney!  Here I am, grinning from ear to ear with doggie delight.  I found out that some things were just meant to be!  You’ll never guess what happened…

But let me start at the beginning.  A little more than a year ago, a very nice lady started volunteering at the Humane Society.  I could tell she liked me, and I liked her too.  She liked to take me on walks, which just happens to be one of my favorite things, too.  Last fall, she even took me to the pumpkin patch.  The smells there were just glorious!

Time went on and on for me, and I was beginning to give up on ever finding a home of my own!  But this kind lady kept me cheered up, and I always looked forward to her visits.  Then, a few weeks ago, something exciting happened – I got adopted by a young fellow!  He was very nice, and I hoped that we would have a good life together, but after just a few days he decided he didn’t have time for me, and returned me to the Humane Society.  I was very sad and discouraged, and started to think that I would never find my forever home.

The nice lady volunteer entered my life again, taking me for walks and telling me what a good boy I am.  It was great to hear – but even better, she agreed to be my foster mom and let me live with her while I waited for a place of my own. 

I quickly discovered that I just loved living with her!  Although I am not a petite pup, I like to sleep in bed with her, and get so comfy that my foster mom has to wake me up to go for a morning jog.  Oh, and I have actually lost some of my extra puppy pounds from all the walking and jogging.  I adore humans, and I must say her neighbors are fine specimens.  I always like saying hello to them.

While I was busy writing blogs and trying to find myself a forever home, something wonderful happened – my foster mom decided that she just couldn’t  live without me, and wanted to be my honest-to-goodness mom, so SHE ADOPTED ME!

I told you that some things are meant to be, and this is sure one of them!  She was there to spend time with me when I was all alone at the Humane Society, and took me home when I was sad from being returned and needed a friend.  But there’s something else that convinces me that we were meant to be together all along.  Upon being adopted, I got my new mom’s last name.  Yep, I’m now officially Clooney Cooney!




There are many animals just like Clooney still waiting for loving homes of their own.  Please consider adopting, volunteering, or donating to the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina.  You can make a difference for a wonderful pup like Clooney!

Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities!

It's summer! As much as we love hanging out in the sun, summer is usually a slow period at HSEC in terms of adoptions and volunteering. Let's buck the trend this year and work hard to help homeless dogs and cats in Eastern Carolina. Here are our upcoming summer fundraisers, events, and volunteer opportunities. Get involved for a good cause!

To sign up as a volunteer for any of the below opportunities, please visit our volunteer website. If you haven't yet used the website, check out the tutorial to get started.

Empty the Shelter:
Now - end of June
Starting Monday, June 10th, Pitt County Animal Shelter must close for mandatory renovations. For the next three weeks, the shelter will have only 10 dog runs available and will not be able to accept owner surrenders. In order to reduce the number of pets that will face euthanasia due to this closure, HSEC and other rescue groups in the area have teamed up to Empty the Shelter! HSEC has already taken in 16 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens, putting us at full capacity. Read more about the situation here.

How you can help:
Adopt, adopt, adopt! If you, a friend, or family member is considering adoption, now is a great time to save an animal's life. Head on over to Pitt County Animal Shelter, or swing by HSEC or one of the other organizations participating in this effort. HSEC will continue to transfer pets from PCAS whenever space becomes available in our facility.


HSEC Social Media Meeting
Monday, June 10th, 7:00pm
Peasant's Pub, 114 E 5th St
Want to volunteer with HSEC as part of our vital social media outreach effort? We're always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help with the blog and other social media avenues, as writers, photographers, and technical support! Click here to learn more about being part of the HSEC blog. This is a great volunteer opportunity for anyone who wants to help out, but can't work with animals due to allergies or other reasons.

How you can help:
Come to our next meeting and find out what we're all about!

Fluff and Puff Dog Wash
Saturday, June 15th, 10am-2pm
Shell Rapid Lube and Auto Spa, 1625 E. Firetower Rd
Dirty dog? Treat them to a spa day at the first Fluff and Puff Dog Wash of the summer! Services available include a bath ($10 for small dogs, $15 for large dogs), nail trim ($5), and anal gland expression ($10). Baths also include a free ear cleaning!

How you can help:
Volunteers still needed! Volunteers for the dog wash will wash and dry dogs, assist with other procedures, direct traffic, and register participants for the service.


Bow Wow Bingo
Thursday, June 20th, 6:00-9:00 (games begin at 6:30)
Pitt Community Schools and Recreation Complex
4561 County Home Road 
Support HSEC and Spay Today - and maybe win some money! Our next Bow Wow Bingo will take place on June 20th. Tickets are $20, which includes 6 BINGO cards and a dabber. Tickets are available at the door only. BINGO nights take place the third Thursday of each month.

How you can help:
Volunteers needed, for this and future BINGO nights. Volunteers will help sell snacks, check cards, and generally assist with the fundraiser.


PetSmart Adoption Stand
June 10-23

PetSmart, 600 Greenville Blvd SE

Come out and meet some of our adorable adoptable kitties at the PetSmart adoption stand! You might even meet a kitten walking on a ferret leash. A great opportunity to interact with the kitties outside of the facility, and to chat with adoption counselors about which cat may be your next best friend. Here is our upcoming PetSmart schedule.

How you can help:
Guess what - volunteers needed! You can help by staffing the adoption stand, playing with the kitties and chatting with visitors.


Facility Volunteers
Always!
HSEC facility, 3520 Tupper Drive
We always have a need for facility volunteers to help out around the facility. This involves exercising and playing with the dogs and cats as well as some cleaning and other basic assistance. Our current schedule has multiple shifts each day. Filling these shifts is very important for the mental and physical well being of our fuzzy residents. As a facility volunteer, you will make a huge difference in the daily lives of multiple adorable animals - and what's better then that?

How you can help:
We're always happy to have volunteers. If possible, consider taking a recurring shift (for example, every Wednesday afternoon) to make the maximum impact!
 

Wordless Wednesday: Mum Goes Swimming?

Clooney's Commentary: Life in a Foster Home

Hey, guys!  Clooney again.  I told you I’d keep in touch and let you know what’s happening with me. 
Quite frankly, life is good in my foster home!  Although the staff and volunteers at the Humane Society are great humans, there is no comparison between living in a kennel and being in a place where I can stretch out and make my doggie self at home.  But I know this is only temporary, and I really don’t want to go back to a kennel!

My foster mom says I’ve been an absolute pleasure so far.  I told you so!   I really am a good companion, and I love love love people!  She says I’m a cuddle buddy, and I agree.  If she stops petting me, I sort of roll over on her to tell her not to stop.  I just can’t get enough petting. 

I am in doggie heaven when my foster mom takes me jogging!  It’s fun to see all the sights, especially when we run through the ECU campus and see all the friendly humans.  I want to stop and say hello to all of them, but we have a lot of jogging to do.  I know I’ve picked up a few pounds, and all this exercise should help me get my puppyish figure back!  I’ve also made friends with a few of my foster mom’s very nice neighbors.  Did I mention that I love people?

I miss my foster mom when she leaves the house, but I am a gentleman and wait patiently for her to come back.  No point in making a mess for her to clean – that would just take her time away from me!  When she gets back, I’m so excited to see her, and can’t help the kisses and tail wags.

There was something I found rather odd.  She gave me these things called rawhide bones.  I don’t want to be rude, but I’m not quite sure what I am supposed to do with them.  I just politely left them on the floor, and she realized that I’m not interested and picked them up. 

My foster mom says our next thing will be to work on learning to sit, stay, come, and shake, which sounds like fun!  If I do say so myself, I’m a pretty smart guy, and quite the people pleaser, so I’m excited to get started.

So that’s the latest from me.  I’m still looking for a person, or a family of people, to call my very own so I can have a forever home.  Could that be you – or can you share this with your friends?  I’ll be waiting to hear from you!