Deal of the Century: Fee-Waived Adoptions!

We have some exciting news to share today. Seven HSEC residents have just been approved for fee-waived adoptions, which means that there is no cost to take them home with you!

Our adoption fees are designed to cover or defray the costs incurred while the pet is living at the facility - food, medical care, and so on. But these residents have either lived at the facility for more than a year, or they have special needs and will greatly benefit from finding a home right now.

Don't worry - these animals are just as loving and wonderful as any other pet at HSEC. In fact, since we've known them for so long, we've gotten very attached. It's just time for them to move on to their forever homes, which is of course a huge benefit to each animal, but also benefits HSEC since we can use the space for more needy pets.

Remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch. That concept is especially true of a "free" pet. All adopters must meet HSEC requirements.

We're hoping that this is the little extra push these cuties need to find their homes. And maybe they've been waiting so long because you haven't found them yet! Click on the name under each photo to visit that pet's Petfinder page, where you can get more information and see more pictures.

Blossom

Blossom is a true lady, sweet, calm, and friendly. She's mastered the puppy dog eyes, so be warned! She is crate trained and housebroken. This mama sacrificed everything to raise her puppies, and when she arrived at HSEC, she was in bad shape. Now that she's been nursed back to health, she is most comfortable around women but is learning that men are good friends too. She needs to be in a home where she is the only dog - she isn't classically dog aggressive, but she will snap if another dog gets in her face. Our February 2012 Blog Dog of the Month!

Lilly

Lilly is a smart, sociable girl who loves to be outdoors. And doesn't that doggy grin just make you smile? She excelled in foster care, where she learned several commands and had lots of fun camping and canoeing. If you're looking for a dog who will keep up with all your adventures, Lilly's the one for you! Our April 2012 Blog Dog of the Month!

Rocky

In addition to having the world's cutest ears, Rocky is loyal, well-mannered, and easy to please. All he wants is a calm home (preferably one with other dogs to be his friends), a few treats once in a while (cheese is his favorite), and maybe a few toys to play with. Rocky has irritable bowel disease, a condition exacerbated by the stress of living at the facility. When in foster care, the condition went into immediate remission. Read more about IBD here. Rocky is house trained. He's a real favorite at the facility - we've known him since he was a pup, and we're hoping he gets to go home soon! Rocky was featured as a foster success story on the blog in February 2012.

Mona

Mona will always let you know how much she loves you! She's a vocal cat with personality to spare, and her beautiful, silky coat is so wonderful to touch. She loves attention and cuddles. But she doesn't like to share her humans with other cats, and doesn't like to be surrounded by so many felines at the Humane Society. Potential adopters have been mislead by her sulky demeanor, but that's not what she's really like. Give her a treat and some chin scratches, and she's yours forever. Mona needs to be the only cat in her home. Our January 2012 Blog Cat of the Month!

Olive

Olive is a striking girl who loves to play and give head boinks. Pictures don't really do justice to her beautiful and unusual markings, which she keeps exquisitely clean. She's alert and curious (some of her neighbors might say nosy), and will often stick a paw out of her cage to say hello. Olive likes attention on her own terms and needs an understanding family that will give her the affection she wants. Our February 2012 Blog Cat of the Month!

Harriet

Harriet will greet you at the door when you come home and snuggle on your lap every night. She's a beautiful tortie with glowing eyes and is quite the chatterbox, upholding her end of every conversation with purrs and meows. She doesn't always like to be petted, but she loves to be near people and to cuddle up with them. In her foster home, she enjoys limited access to the outdoors, and is available as an indoor/outdoor cat to a home with a safe yard (no busy streets or aggressive dogs nearby). This is the kind of cat who will keep you company when you're sick. Our April 2012 Blog Cat of the Month!

Smokey Joe

Smokey Joe is a laid back, friendly guy who's never met a stranger. He'll greet you with a head boink and just loves to be petted and held. Smokey Joe is FIV positive, a chronic condition that can be managed well with preventative care, and is no barrier to a long and healthy life. Read more about FIV here. Smokey Joe is one of the sweetest cats we've ever had at HSEC. He's looking for someone with a big heart who will look past his diagnosis to see his wonderful personality. Our May 2012 Blog Cat of the Month!



These pets have been waiting a long time for their owners to walk through the facility door. Is one of them waiting for you?

Blog Dog of the Month - Freddy!

We're kicking off June in style with our newest Blog Dog - Freddy! This sweet little guy has quite a story, but luckily for him, it has a happy ending at HSEC.

Freddy on arrival - an itchy, sad little elephant

Early in April, during one of the last frosts, someone dumped a hairless puppy on HSEC's doorstep. Abandoning animals in this fashion is reprehensibly cruel - not to mention illegal. When Freddy was found in the morning, shivering and miserable in his crate, he was immediately rushed to the vet. The diagnosis: demodicosis, AKA demodetic mange.

Demodex canis

Demodicosis is caused by the mite Demodex canis, which most dogs have in small numbers on their skin all the time. When the animal is stressed, malnourished, or has a depressed immune system, the mites can get out of control. Some animals may also have increased sensitivity to the mite. Because all dogs have the mite, demodicosis is not contagious. Usually flare ups are mild and do not cause much difficulty for the dog. Freddy's case was severe, causing almost total hair loss and painful, itching scabs over his body.

Throughout his treatment, Freddy remained affectionate and good natured.

 Luckily for this little dog, treatment for demodicosis is simple and effective. Freddy received baths and medication designed to get rid of the mites and soothe the infections on his skin. His hair seemed to grow back almost overnight. And to everyone's surprise, it came in black with cute little white spots on his chest. The scarring is very minimal, with little indication that he was ever afflicted.

On the road to recovery

Want to see Freddy today? Scroll down!

Today - recovered and ready for the next stage of his life.

The amazing thing about Freddy is not how he came to HSEC, nor his illness, nor his recovery. It is his personality, which remains undimmed by his ordeal. Everyone who meets Freddy describes him in the same way: happy! He's a completely normal puppy, enthusiastic about new friends and playmates and treats. He loves people, including children, and also loves other dogs.

The many faces of Freddy

Freddy is about 7-8 months old, and he's a pit bull mix. Mixed with what is anyone's guess. There's maybe some lab in there, and something else too, because he is quite small for a pit or a lab. It can be difficult to predict exactly how big a puppy will get, but Freddy's expected to reach only about 30 pounds when full grown.

Freddy and Katie Benson

 "I'm floored by what a happy puppy he is and how much he loves people", says Katie Benson, Director of Outreach for HSEC. As they say, to err is human - to forgive, canine. We think it's time for this sweetie to find his forever home. Are you the family that Freddy's been looking for?

Feeling much better and waiting for you!

Freddy has been fully vaccinated, is on flea and tick prevention and has been spayed and dewormed.  He has also tested negative for heartworms and is on heartworm prevention.  His adoption fee includes a bag of Science Diet dog food and one month of free pet insurance!

Thanks to blog photographer Amelia Muse and Magnolia Design Photography for the gorgeous pictures of Freddy!

Success Story - Ezy, Soft, and Balto

Every animal that comes through our doors is loved, but there are those few cats or dogs that really touch the heart. For some reason - length of stay, special needs, health concerns - everyone who works or volunteers at HSEC knows these extra-special guys, and we celebrate even more when they have success. So let's take a look at three of our recent extra-special success stories: Ezy, Soft, and Balto.

Ezy

When we began this blog in October of 2011, we had just one candidate for the very first blog dog - Ezy. By October Ezy had already been at the facility for longer than a year. Ezy was brought in as a stray with an uncertain pedigree and it was clear that he wasn't very comfortable around people. He was never mean or vicious, but he was very shy. Staff and volunteers had to be careful to approach Ezy the right way. He quickly warmed up to his favorites, but was often overlooked by potential adopters because of his shy personality.

A wise volunteer once said "there's a lid for every pot", meaning that every animal had an owner out there already waiting for them. Well, in Ezy's case he's more like a stock pot - and his lid has finally found him. His adopter is a volunteer who spent several weeks getting to know Ezy and making him comfortable before finally taking him home.

Some adoptions are so happy they just make you cry. We couldn't be happier that Ezy has found his pot!

Soft

Soft was another long-timer at HSEC. This older cat came from a home where the owner could no longer care for her, and it was clear that the seven-year-old was stressed out at the facility. We give our residents the best care possible, but our environment can be loud and scary and is no replacement for a permanent home.

Soft was also our very first cat of the month in October 2011, and she had already been in the facility for several months at that point. Because she was stressed, she could be shy and even temperamental. She certainly wasn't putting her best foot forward for potential adopters. Luckily for this beautiful long-haired cat, she was fostered by a wonderful family who finally made things official by adopting her in April.

Older cats can have a difficult time finding a home, and we were all a little worried about Soft. This is an adoption to celebrate for sure!

Balto

Balto was a more recent addition to our facility. A year-old malamute should have plenty of energy to spare, but Balto is hampered by the painful condition of hip dysplasia. He needed two surgeries just to have a normal, pain-free life.

We reached out to our friends through Facebook and on the blog to help us fund Balto's surgeries, using a new tool called ChipIn to track donations. We're happy to announce that we have completely funded Balto's surgery and care, raising $1005 in total!

Balto has already had his first surgery, and is doing well in his foster home. And best of all, potential adopters have stepped forward to give him a forever home! This is the best kind of happy ending and we couldn't be more grateful for the role you played in making it come true.

So from Ezy, Soft, Balto, and all of us at HSEC...

Blog Dog of the Month - Lilly

Excited for some April flowers this month? 

Then we've got the dog for you! 

Meet our blog dog of the month:  Lilly!

Lilly is a wonderful boxer/hound mix who absolutely loves to play with other dogs and spend time with people!  We never have any trouble finding a new playmate for Lilly at the HSEC and we hope that soon she'll find a new home with some forever friends to keep her company!

Lilly can be quite energetic on walks so we recommend that she be walked on a harness but we're happy to report that the secret to harnessing her energy is basic training and affection!  Lilly is one of the smartest dogs we've ever seen and just 20 minutes of clicker training with one of our volunteers made a huge difference in her overall demeanor.  Lilly is a fantastic canine who loves to give hugs and kisses, go on long walks, and wrestle with her doggie friends.

As you can see in this picture Lilly always has a smile on her face and a wag in her tail!  She has a beautiful chestnust brown coat with a white chest and although she has some distinct boxer features in her face she is smaller than the average boxer.  Lilly is about two years old and was found as a stray when she was brought to the HSEC.

If you're interested in coming out to meet Lilly our facility is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2-5.  Like all our dogs Lilly has been fully vaccinated, is on flea and tick prevention and she has been spayed and dewormed.  Lilly has also tested negative for heartworms and is on heartworm prevention.  Her adoption fee is $100 which includes a bag of Science Diet dog food and one month of free pet insurance!

If you're looking for a canine companion for life Lilly if your girl!

Blog Dog of the Month - Blossom

Happy February!! 

Meet Blossom, our blog dog of the month!

As you can see from her picture Blossom is one happy dog!  She always has a smile on her face, a wag in her tail, and lots of kisses to give!  She came to HSEC in the Spring of 2011 with her litter of three puppies who have all since been adopted.  Blossom was an outstanding mom but unfortunately she used up all her energy caring for her pups leaving her in bad shape.  When we first met Blossom she was very underweight and had a variety of skin problems.  Luckily we're happy to report that Blossom has recovered beautifully and all she needs now is her forever home!

We suspect that Blossom spent most of her young life having back to back litters of puppies and that this sweet girl suffered a good deal before she came to us.  Despite her rough start Blossom is a staff favorite because she's put her past behind her and loves just about everybody!  Blossom is currently in a foster home where she is learning to be the best dog she can be and we hope she'll find her forever home very soon!

Because Blossom is a pit bull mix and considered a "bully breed" the HSEC prefers that she go to a home with prior pit bull experience.  We also require a home check and vet check before adoptions can be processed and there are no same day adoptions for dogs like Blossom.  These policies are in place to ensure that our bully breed dogs are going to wonderful and safe new homes with owners who are truly committed to loving and caring for their new pets!

For more information on Blossom please visit our website or give us a call at (252) 413-7247!  Blossom has been spayed and dewormed, is up to date on all vaccines, and is on heartworm and flea prevention.  Blossom is a genuinely sweet and loving dog who deserves nothing but the best!

Woof!

Blog Dog of the Month - Remi

Meet Remi!

The HSEC blog volunteers wanted to make sure we had a good start in 2012 so we've selected Remi as our January Blog Dog of the Month!  This sweet shepherd mix has been looking for a new home for some time now and we think January is her lucky month!

Remi is a big dog with a lot of heart.  Based on her good looks and loyalty we suspect she's got some German Shepherd in her family.  Remi tends to be a little bit shy at first, especially around men, but after just a few moments she'll stick by your side and never forget you.

If you're looking for a dog who is just as ready for a home as you are for a pet then this is your girl!  Remi gets along well with other dogs, she is housebroken, and what a breeze to walk on a leash!  This lovely lady has already been spayed and is up to date on all vaccines.  She has been dewormed and is on heartworm and flea prevention.  Her adoption fee is $100.  If you're interested in meeting Remi please visit our website, send us an e-mail, or give us a call at (252) 413-7247.

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!!!

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!

Blog Dog of the Month - Ezy

Hi Folks!

A regular installment on our blog will be the 'Blog Dog of the Month!'  In each post we will spotlight the dog who is most in need of adoption at our facility. 

This month that lucky dog is Ezy!  He has been at HSEC longer than any of our other dogs and we're hoping to help find him a family as soon as possible.

This sweet boy is about 2 years old and was brought in as a stray.  The woman who found him called him "Ezy" because when she saw him it was so easy to get him to jump right into her car!

We suspect that Ezy has been with us for a while because it takes him a while to warm up to strangers.  When we let him out for exercise in our play yard he tends to shy away from new people but our staff know Ezy has a much friendlier side to him!  When we go to let him out he is almost always waiting at his kennel door and once it's open he bolts right out, eager to play. 

 It takes some patience, but once he warms up to you Ezy loves a good ear rub and will sit calmly while you pet him and give him some loving attention.  As you can see, Ezy is a Shepard mix, mostly black with a white chest.  He also has some very unique brown and black patches around his sholders which in our opinion make him more loveable!

If you are interested in adopting Ezy and making him a member of your family please let us know!  We'd love for you to come out and meet him.  Ezy has been neutered, dewormed, and is up to date on all vaccines.  He is also on heartworm and flea prevention.

Ezy's adoption fee is only $60 and his new family will inheret all his medical records as well as a small bag of Hill's Science Diet Food!

If you are interested in fostering Ezy please give us a call at (252) 413-7247.  Even if you can't provide Ezy with a forever home he would absolutely love to get out of the shelter environment and stay with you for a month or two!

If you have any other questions please feel free to give us a call at (252) 413-7247 or e-mail us at hsecgeneral@gmail.com.