A publication for the friends of the Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA
The Tattle Tails
Summer 2016
Animal Palooza Coming Soon! September 24 | 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Harrison Park | Bridgewater, VA
In the first ever Rockingham County Parks and Recreation Animal Palooza event, you can register your dog to compete in up to 3 events for $10! Call 540-564-3160 or visit www.rockinghamcountyva.gov/recreation to register by September 14th. Use the QR code above to open the link. All proceeds benefit the R-H SPCA. The event includes: 1. Dog vs. Food (Bobbing for Treats) 2. Pup Pageant (Best Kisser, Eyes, Tail Wagger) 3. Amazing K9 Race (Individual Timed Distraction Race) 4. Dancing with the Dogs (Best Owner/Dog Dancing Duo) 5. Rockingham Ruffs Got Talent (Dog’s Best Talent)
Food trucks | Rain or shine event | Open to the public Bring a lawn chair and current rabies vaccination record
Board of Directors 2016 Officers President Dr. Darnice Pettigrew Vice President Brandon Howdyshell Treasurer Brenda Long Secretary Justin Bridges
Directors Aaron Graves Karen Mast Butch Strawderman Dr. Nina K. Smith Dr. Charles H. Henderson, III
Staff Executive Director Anne Anderson Shelter Manager Maggie Rucker Rescue & Adoption Coordinator Taryn Bromser-Kloeden Humane Educator & Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Watson Director of Development Patricia May Assistant Managers Candice Dodson, Amber Nesselrodt Receptionist Kim Sites Animal Care Technicians Heather Cook, Connie Delamater, Claire Pitt, Katie Taylor, Olivia Towe, Ashley Williams, Charlotte Wylie
Hours of Operation:
Incoming Animals & Adoptions Monday-Saturday 10:00 am–4:00 pm Wednesday evenings from 5:00 pm–7:00 pm 2170 Old Furnace Road, P.O. Box 413 Harrisonburg, VA 22802 540-434-5270 info@rhspca.org www.rhspca.org
Welcome to our redesigned newsletter! We are working to provide more information in a more reader friendly format. We hope you enjoy the new design, and the additional news we are able to provide! Let us know what you would like to see in future newsletters. Email your ideas to devdirector@rhspca.org.
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The Tattle Tails is published quarterly for supporters and friends of the RockinghamHarrisonburg SPCA. Email devdirector@ rhspca.org if you would like to receive The Tattle Tails electronically. Money saved will go directly to the care of animals!
We are launching our new website soon! Visit rhspca.org to see the new user friendly design. Many thanks to: An Anonymous Fund of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County for a recent grant providing funds for new shelving units for our pet food storage room. The Petfinder Foundation for a recent grant providing funds for three cat towers.
Memorials In Memory Of Our Friends Robert “Bob” Burner James and Noland McHone Rhonda Clough Jane Cline Lough James Cook Elizabeth T. Ozer and Family Eliza Winston Wayne and Dorothy Daniels Garry and Leah Sherman Dorris Jean H. Darne Cathy Barker Linda and Tom Hurt Herman and Charlotte Landes Connie L. Warren Nyoka Faye Eppard Riddleberger Brothers Herbert Winston French Michael and Jean Cornwell Doug Funkhouser Denton Family Charitable Foundation Marylee Ford Huffman Pat Loomis and Charles Funkhouser
Debbi Paul John A. Paul Chad Rhodes Logan and Lindsey Bare Larry and Angela Caplinger Betty Chowning Donald and Linda Driver Emily Everling Earl and Sharon Fink R. Kelley and Edith H. Good Betty Sue Melchor Cynthia and Michael Noble Patrice M. Oliver Janet Rhodes Michael and Julie Shiflet Top Bead Welding Service John and Alice Williams Joanna Yankee
Margaret Shifflett RR Donnelley Evelyn Kelley Ronald “Butch” and Lynne Stover Jim Sipe Sherry and Eugene Leffel Souvanh Thanousin Eddie Ney and Margee Greenfield-Ney May Issie Thompson Eddie Ney and Margee Greenfield-Ney
Jeff Harold The Rhodes Family
Donald Troup Julie Liss
Charles “Charlie” Knighting Faye Cash Jane Halterman Diana Knighting The Rhodes Family
Thomas R. Trunzo Jean and Frank Gearing
Deborah Leake Louise Burtner Sandra Crippen Randy and Jeanne Gibson Ella Joan Grandle Jill Howard May Supply Company Fred and Elaine Norton Ronald and Andrea Rhodes Ray and Ann Wine Vicky Zapata
Billy Neff Jr. Sherry and Eugene Leffel
Gracie Warner with love from your M.E.S. family Shannon Dean Michael and Bonnie Downey Lisa and Sonny Lasam Paul and Kimberly Phillips Raymond Whitmore and “Millie” Margaret Whitmore Kathleen Wine Sandra Conrad Charlotte A. Zucker, Terri Denton’s Mom Sherry and Eugene Leffel Pat Loomis Dale and Waneta Wegner
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In Memory Of Our Pets “Abby,” beloved canine companion of Char Susan Palocsay
Avery Caffrey’s Birthday Caroline and James Hewitt
“Bart,” a special feline friend Robert and Sharon Moreland
Mary Cason Jo Rinaca
“Bee” Brumback Julie Brumback
Cricket Driver Terri Denton
“Biscuit,” Albright beloved dog Kathy Albright
Charles Funkhouser/Pat Loomis Marylee Ford Huffman
“Brady” Eric Rynar
Eli Gatesman’s Birthday Caroline and James Hewitt
“Buckshot” Vernon Huffman
The Dedicated Staff at Heartland Veterinary Clinic Robert and Sharon Moreland
“Cammie,” beloved cat of J.M. and Lil Bauserman Carolyn and Roger Bauserman
Pat Loomis Terri Denton
“Cuffy” and “Chessy,” loyal and devoted cats of Kitty Bennett Kathryn Bennett Anna Marie Plowman Ellen Sumner
Miller’s 5th Birthday John and Jennifer Riner
“Elizabeth Ann” and “Michal” Sally Lance “Fizzle” and “Misty,” our adopted dogs Linda Looney “Holle Berry” Janice Judd “Maggie” Vickie Dean “Maggie Mae” Marty Shifflett In Memory of our GSD “Reno” Norman and Joyce Bradburn “Rudy” Paulette Dean “Savannah,” the sweet dog of the Eye Family Beverly Eye “Sparky” Jennifer A. Welcher “Tom” Lucy and Dick Seymour
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In Honor Of Our Friends
The glowing Volunteers and Staff at R-H SPCA Pat Loomis and Charles Funkhouser
In Honor Of Our Pets “Alexis” Linda Looney “Beau” Peter and Elizabeth Martens “Brad,” “Smokie,” and “Bear,” our newest SPCA adoptees Sue McDaniel Our SPCA Pets Jennifer and Keith Sampson “Gracie,” beloved cat of Dorris Jean H. Darne Herman and Charlotte Landes
You can honor or memorialize a special person or pet in your life by donating to the R-H SPCA. A gift to the R-H SPCA helps us care for the orphaned and abandoned animals in our community. What better way is there to honor or memorialize a pet, a friend or a family member than by helping our animals in need? Email devdirector@rhspca.org or call 540-434-5270.
Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer Housden Photography is holding a pet portrait event to benefit the homeless pets of the RHSPCA! This is your chance to have a professional photo taken of your beloved pet. Schedule your appointment today before all the slots are filled! We appreciate all that Housden Photography does for the R-H SPCA. In addition to this photo special, Chris Housden visits the shelter each week and photographs all pets available for adoption. Quality portraits of the pets available have aided in increasing adoptions and transports.
Summer Jam Thank you so much to those who participated in Summer Jam this year! The great weather, fantastic bands, and superb fireworks show helped to make this year’s event one of the best Summer Jams yet! We would like to thank the Massanutten Resort & their dedicated staff, Fins of the Valley, Miller Coors Volunteers, Sarah Elson Staniunas, and the R-H SPCA volunteers. A special thanks goes to our sponsors listed below! We hope to see you all again next year!
GOLD:
SILVER:
When: August 26-27 Where: 1688 Port Republic Rd, Hburg Price: $25 per pet; $15 ea add’l pet Time: 15 minutes each session
Upcoming Events Aug. 26-27: Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer Aug. 27: Green Valley Book Fair Pet Showcase Aug. 28: Dog Swim at Westover Park Sept. 6: Volunteer Orientation 5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Sept. 9: Volunteer Orientation 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Sept. 10: Bridgewater Farmer’s Market Pet Showcase Sept. 17: Harrisonburg Sprint Store Pet Showcase Sept. 24: Rockingham County Parks and Recreation Animal Palooza Event Oct. 8: Bridgewater Farmer’s Market Pet Showcase Oct. 29: Rocking R Ace Hardware Pet Showcase
BRONZE:
BEVERAGE:
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MEDIA:
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Top 10 Pet Toxins Provided by the ASPCA Animal Posion Control Center, these are the top ten pet toxins. The ASPCA provides a 24-hour veterinary diagnostic and treatment hotline at 888-426-4435. Their website can be visited at ASPCApro.org or aspcapro.org/poison.
1. Human Medications: Human prescription medications are the number one category of toxicants that animals get into. They mirror what people are being prescribed. Cardiac medication is the most common, closely followed by antidepressants and pain medications. 2. Over-the-counter Medications: Perhaps due to the popularity of herbal and other natural supplements, OTC products include more than 6,900 different products and has become increasingly popular. 3. Insecticides: Insecticides account for 9.1% of the call volume. 4. Household Items: Items such as cleaning products, expandable glues, and paints are often accessible for pets. Household items account for 8.1% of the call volume. 5. Human Food: These mainly included grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, and xylitol. 6. Veterinary Medications: Medications for pets have become more palatable! This is great news, except when pets get into their tasty chewable medications and eat them all in one sitting. Heartworm medications, joint supplements, etc., account for 7.3% of the call volume. 7. Chocolate: Chocolate ingestion results in, on average, over 26 calls a day. Holidays such as Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Christmas are particularly high-volume calls. 8. Plants: Particularly houseplants account for 4.8% of the call volume. Cats are most likely to get into trouble with plants. 9. Rodenticides: Anticogulants cause the most concern. 10. Lawn & Garden Products: Garden products account for 2.7% of the call volume.
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DID YOU KNOW?? We are excited to announce our newly updated online donation system! Visit rhspca.org to donate to the R-H SPCA with ease and convenience! Check out our new online donation buttons pictured below! You may choose to make a onetime donation, or a recurring donation.
Success Stories Gunther Gunther came to the SPCA as a stray. While on stray hold, it was clear that Gunther was a little fearful. It took him time to warm up, but once he was out of the kennel, he became playful and enjoyed being walked outside. Feeling that Gunther needed a little more attention and some time to decompress, we felt a foster home would be best. Thomas had recently signed up as a foster parent. He wanted a dog that was energetic and enjoyed long walks. We felt that Gunther and Thomas would make a great match! It was during this month of fostering that Gunther’s personality was allowed to shine through. Thomas discovered insightful information while fostering Gunther. He learned that Gunther did not like enclosed spaces and was very fearful in the crate, but was housebroken, could freely roam around the house, and got along well with dogs of all sizes. After a discussion with Thomas, it was decided that it would be best for Gunther to be adopted out from the foster home so that he did not have to be in a kennel. Thomas helped write Gunther’s online bio, and soon enough a family fell in love. Thomas, Gunther, and the Johnson family got together for a meeting. The Johnson’s adopted Gunther less than 15 minutes after meeting him and Thomas. There were happy tears from Thomas, and a new friendship was established. The Johnsons and Thomas exchanged contact information so he could visit Gunther. Thomas enjoyed his foster experience so much that he has signed on to foster another dog, while the Johnson family is very happy with their newest family member.
Johnson Family (left), Gunther, & Thomas (right)
Grandma Baby
Ruth, Grandma Baby, and Friend
Grandma Baby first came into the SPCA as a stray; she was reclaimed by her owner, and eventually returned to the SPCA in March. She was familiar with the shelter life and was a very calm, relaxed, and loving cat. Feline Assistant Manager Amber says, “Grandma Baby would get on your shoulder and nuzzle you. She would keep you warm and loved human interaction.” At 9 years old, Grandma Baby was often overlooked by potential adopters because of the healthier, younger cats at the shelter. With lots of love and affection by the shelter staff, Grandma Baby’s health improved. She was put on a diet and exercised by chasing a laser light. Grandma Baby was at the SPCA for four months before she was adopted by Ruth, who had come into the shelter looking for a younger cat, like many potential adopters. A volunteer, Joyce, introduced Grandma Baby to Ruth. Joyce loved Grandma Baby, as all volunteers and shelter staff did. She convinced Ruth that Grandma Baby would be a great fit for her family. After meeting this loving cat, Ruth agreed, and decided to adopt her. There were many happy tears shed as she was finally adopted. Thanks to the help of Joyce, Ruth, Amber, and the shelter staff, Grandma Baby found her forever home. The staff is grateful that Ruth was very flexible, and was willing to look at an older cat. All potential adopters are encouraged to talk to shelter staff and volunteers and learn more about the individual animals up for adoption.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Harrisonburg, VA Permit No. 9
2170 Old Furnace Road P.O. Box 413 Harrisonburg, VA 22803
Please join us in thanking our extraordinary Pet of the Week Sponsors!
Harrisonburg Towing & Storage 137 Towman Lane Harrisonburg, VA 22802 Heavy duty towing, recovery and heavy hauling