Spring Newsletter May 2020 On behalf of the Humane Society of the Lakes Board of Directors, staff, and felines and canines in residence, we are pleased to bring you this spring 2020 edition of our newsletter. We would like to encourage you to become a member or renew your membership for 2020. Become an important part of our mission, to provide services for abandoned, stray, or unwanted animals while they await lifelong homes. Thank you! ~Candace Rastedt & Shelby Rasmussen, Membership & Marketing Committee Meet our new Shelter Manager, Alyssa! The Humane Society of the Lakes Board of Directors is pleased to announce a new hire, Alyssa Cahoon, Shelter Manager. Alyssa has done a wonderful job since starting her position late January-early February. Alyssa has been more than enthusiastic and is ready to tackle every project big or small. With Alyssa’s education, special set of skills and diverse background, we know she will bring the shelter to new heights. We have already begun to develop new guidelines, update procedures and implement different techniques to ensure our animals have everything they need and more. The HSL board is looking forward to collaborating on projects, old and new, and seeing where the future of HSL will lead us. Without further adieu, please meet Alyssa Cahoon. Hello, my name is Alyssa Cahoon. I have volunteered with animal shelters since I was 12-yearsold, starting with a small shelter in my hometown of Bismarck, North Dakota. My passion has always revolved around conservation, environmental education and animal welfare. This goal lead me to pursue a degree in Zoology at North Dakota State University and gain experience helping our beloved furry friends. Currently, I have a black Labrador name Kiiri and a white cat named Pangur. I am excited to connect with the community and help our animals find a loving home! Please call us any time at (218) 841-0511 or contact me directly at hslsheltermanager@gmail.com. Save the date Due to recent health and safety concerns, events may change dates or locations July 10 + 11 9am-3pm Shelter Days Shelter in Detroit Lakes July 11 11am Dog Run Shelter in Detroit Lakes August 30 12pm-4pm Shelter Fest TJ’s Bistro on Lake Eunice
Greetings from our Board President! “How are things?” “Are you okay?” I hope you have been asked these questions in the past month, and I hope you have people in your life that have listened and given their support and empathy. Here at the Humane Society of the Lakes, we have been reminded rather dramatically of how many people care for our organization, our staff and our animals. We have received several offers to foster from supporters new and old. We have received checks in the mail from people that have likely seen a financial hardship, and yet they choose to continue to share their treasure with us. We received a fabulous box of squeaky toys with the note: “Hang in there! You are all doing an amazing job! We are going to get through this!” It is support like this that makes our organization thrive even in times of uncertainty. We have been closed to the public and will remain so until the stay-at-home order is lifted. We have 25 cats and 7 dogs in our care. We have applied for the Payroll Protection Program loan, which would help keep paychecks coming for our amazing staff. We have canceled our Sisters & Whiskers fundraiser scheduled for June, and we are applying for grants and looking into online fundraising options to make up for a significant loss of income. We have our building renovation and expansion plans on hold, but have a final set of floor plans that we are eager to move forward with when the time is right. “Thank you” really can’t say enough for all those that have lent their support during this time. HSL appreciates you and wish you good health and happiness always. -Alissa Mork, Board President Adoption update January Dogs: 8 Cats: 12 Total adoptions: 20 February Dogs: 5 Cats: 14 Total adoptions: 19 March Dogs: 2 Cats: 13 Total adoptions: 15 April Dogs: 1 Cats: 1 Total adoptions: 2 You may have noticed the number of adoptions has decreased this year compared to previous years, this is due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Following our governing body's shelter in place order, we have made the difficult decision to close the shelter to the public and cease all programs, including adoptions, to encourage our adopters and our staff to stay safe. This decision became effective as of 03/26/2020. Additionally, on March 23rd, we and our PetSmart partner made the decision to retrieve the cats residing at the PetSmart location in Fargo, ND for their safety during this time. Even though our adoption numbers seem low, there's no need to worry. We have been spending extra time with each and every animal to ensure they receive exceptional care during their stay, and look forward to reopening once the Shelter in place order is lifted! Thank you! Thank you to Detroit Lakes Floral & Gifts, Mainstream Boutique-Detroit Lakes and Becker Pet & Garden for teaming up to raise funds for the Humane Society of the Lakes. With their close-out floral sale, there was a $5 donation from every order. We thank you for thinking about HSL and your willingness to always be our supporter. 2
Get involved! Do you love cats and dogs too? Join us as a volunteer! You could be part of our Book Buddy Program and read to our animals, make some creative toys at home, help socialize our residents by playing with them and so much more! We have several volunteer options for all ages. You can learn more about our volunteer program on our website or by calling us at the shelter. Please note that while we are not currently allowing volunteers due to COVID-19, you can still sign up for our upcoming volunteer orientation dates. See you at the shelter! A temporary home By: Sarah Marie Hello there, my name is Sarah and I have been a shelter attendant for the past 4 1/2 years. My life is very active with a 13 yr old son, 3 dogs and 2 cats. Animals have always been a huge part of my life so working at HSL is a dream job! I would say the best part of my job is finding each animal their furever home. Every dog and cat that comes through the shelter has a unique story that makes them special in their own way. For some, finding their home comes easy, but for others it takes patience and understanding. Working at the HSL, I find that each animal creates a special place in your heart. When seeing them leave, it is sometimes bittersweet; however, being able to see pictures of the animals in their homes living a great life is what makes my job complete. Each morning when I arrive at the shelter, whether I am caring for the cats or the dogs, I always like to give a hello and pet to each animal. While they are in our care here at HSL, I do everything I can to give them a little piece of home that each of them so much deserves. I am forever grateful I can make a difference, big or small. Shelter wish list HSL relies on donations of items needed to operate the shelter and feed and care for the animals. Please consider making an in-kind donation from the list below: • Feeliway cat diffuser refills • Adaptil dog diffuser refills • Digestible rawhide • Small bookshelf • Various puzzle toys for dogs • Martingaledog collars • Sturdy dog harnesses (with handle preferred) • Bleach • Canned Dog food • Wet kitten food • Soft Dog treats • Clorox Wipes Meet Mickey! Hi, I’m Mickey! I came into the shelter as a stray. I am very sweet but can be a little shy at first. I am looking for a patient family to adopt me and show me that I don’t have anything to be scared of. I do get along with other cats and I would do fine with children who play nice with me as long as I have time to get used to them. I might even like a dog fur sibling. I love looking out the window and curling up on a nice fluffy bed to nap the afternoon away. I can’t wait to meet my new family! Donations can be brought to the shelter Tuesday-Friday from 12:00pm to 6:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm. There is a drop box at the front door for afterhours donations. If you would like to donate online, please visit: https://givemn.org/organization/hsofthelakes or try scanning our QR code! Shelter spotlight 3
Do you recycle? If you are looking for a place to take your recycled goods, you can help out the Humane Society of the Lakes by bringing them to MinnKota Enviroservices! HSL will receive a cash donation from all of the material recycled by our supporters. Drop off your separated aluminum cans, steel and tin cans, glass, plastics (labeled #1 & 2), newspapers, magazines, corrugated cardboard, and office paper at MinnKota, located on Highway 59 North, about a mile south of the shelter. They are open M-F 9am-5pm & Saturday 8am-noon. Let the attendant know you’d like to donate your recycling proceeds to us. Call 218-847-4790 with questions. The resident animals thank you for your contributions! Community involvement Lake Park Audubon High School Philanthropy and Youth (PaY) Committees surprised HSL with their $600 PaY grant. This grant will be distributed mid-May and will give funding for pet food products, toys and medications. HLS is proud to be the recipient of this grant and to have so much community backing. We appreciate all of the support from local schools and area businesses and residents. Thank you! LPA 4th grade class made adoption posters for all of our available dogs and then hung them around town. Teacher: Paige Babler LPA showed Benz & other animals a great time, But Benz sure was sad to see them go. Happy tails Bumble Hello! I am sending you all an update on Bumble! This little guy is doing great! He was so scared at first, though, for the first few days I couldn’t get him out from under the bed. He would come out just to eat/drink, play and use the litter box. As soon as I could come into the room, he would bolt right back under the bed. But after a few days, he would come right up to me wanting to be petted, which of course I did ! He has come a long way from being so scared. We did a gradual introduction with him and my other cat. I went at their own pace and what I could see they could tolerate. They get a long, and are starting to play together. 4 He is such a sweat heart! He can’t get enough cuddles and loves to be petted. He will arch his back so much when we pet him that sometimes he ends up lifting his front paws off the ground! He plays with all the cat toys, loves boxes and enjoys watching the birds from the top of the cat tree. We all love him so much, he is one spoiled kitty! Perham exploratory group played, cleaned and showed some real love to many of our animals this day.
Have you heard the good news? We updated our website! Check it out today at: www.humanesocietyofthelakes.org. Foster spotlight Why I foster By: Samantha and Evelyn Hello! My name is Samantha and I am a licensed Veterinary Technologist and I work at the Detroit Lakes Animal Hospital. I have worked closely with the Humane Society of the Lakes for around a year now. I helped get a routine set up between the Humane Society and our animal hospital to examine and vaccinate all of the animals that come into the building. Through this work, the staff has come to have a very large soft spot for cats, especially ones needing more intense medical attention. While at work one day, I received a call from the ladies at HSL and it went something like this: “Hi Sam, we have a huge favor to ask! We received a call about a mother cat who gave birth yesterday and the kittens did not make it and she is not doing well. We really want to give this girl a chance but we are over capacity. Would you be able to foster her if we can get her in?” When she came in she was not in a good place. Frankly, we did not have high hopes for her making it. She was extremely malnourished, frail and had an obvious mass in her abdomen that we had hoped was a lodged kitten. We tested her for possible infectious diseases which all came back negative and proceeded to take radiographs. On these radiographs it was obvious she had a mass and needed surgery immediately. With all of our results we discussed with the HSL staff our options moving forward. This was not going to be a cheap expedition and she was going to require a lengthy hospital stay. Through the help of the community we were able to raise the funds needed for her supportive care and we went into surgery. When we went into surgery and opened Evie up, we did not find a kitten as we were expecting; we found that her intestines had twisted upon themselves. Things got a little hairier at this point. After an hour in surgery we had removed approximately 7 inches of her intestines and she was in recovery. Now it was a waiting game. The day after surgery Evelyn was doing amazing. She was eating and drinking on her own and moving around like a mad woman. She was deemed medically “okay” to come home with me to continue her care over the weekend. Taking a medical foster home is always nerve wracking but I am thankful to have the knowledge and resources to do so. Mrs. Evelyn was just the sweetest, most appreciative little girl when we got home. For the first week she was not strong enough to jump or climb and so she would come up to you and meow until you picked her up and let her snuggle. She would also give us scares by laying down in the middle of the floor and not moving, but we soon learned that was just her favorite way to relax. Evelyn came with me to work every day and I would weigh her every morning. It was a beautiful sight to see the scale go up. Even if it was just 0.2lbs, that was worth a celebration! As I write this up she has gained over 2 lbs. and acts like she runs the house. She has a fiendish appetite and is a big fan of a fuzzy blanket. We do not know exactly what caused her intestines to become twisted in the first place and may have to face the big cancer fight eventually. We as a community have given her more time to enjoy the pampered life she deserves. I am thankful for my ability to foster and help animals like Evelyn have a fighting chance. For information on how you can become a foster just like Samantha, please contact the Shelter or visit: https://humanesocietyofthelakes.org/volunteer/ 5
License #: 31973 Due to the CoVID-19 PanDemIC, all CharItable GamInG at the sItes has been susPenDeD. We look forWarD to beInG In all our sItes aGaIn anD raIsInG money for the humane soCIety of the lakes We want ot thank these amazing establishments for allowing us to conduct Charitable Gambling Heisler’s Campground & Pub Voyager Lanes Learn more about our sites at hslgaming.org Our sponsors 6
HSL photo contest winners Best Smile: Hunnie Submitted by: Dee Chromy Work from home buddy: Louie Submitted by: Whitney Tufte Winning this Quarantine thing: Ace and his sister Malia Submitted by: Britton Ramsey HSL is extending our special t-shirt fundraiser for our newsletter recipients. Order yours today! 7
Humane Society of the Lakes 19665 US Highway 59 Detroit Lakes, Minnesota 56501 218-847-0511 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED The Humane Society is dedicated to providing services for stray, abandoned and unwanted animals while they await lifelong homes. The shelter relies 100% upon donations for its operation. If you are interested in adopting a pet, making a donation, or volunteering your time, please visit our website: www.humanesocietyofthelakes.org/ or you can stop by the shelter at: 19665 US Hwy 59, three miles north of Detroit Lakes, MN Awaiting furever homes All of the animals featured below are now available for adoption, along with many others. Please check our website and Facebook page for more photos and information, or stop out to the shelter during business hours. Thank you! Piper–1 year Chewy–9 months www.facebook.com/HumaneSocietyoftheLakes/ Sorrell–7 months Yoda–1 year Questions? Please call: 218-847-0511 or email: info@humanesocietyofthelakes.org
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