CHS desperately needs volunteers for our low/cost spay neuter clinics! The next training session will be on Tuesday, September 1st at 6 pm at the Caldwell County Public Library. Please come help make a difference in our community!
Upcoming Clinics
Thursday, September 3rd
Tuesday, September 15th
Tuesday, October 20th
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics
Because of the increasing numbers of Caldwell County residents that are using the low-cost spay/neuter clinics, we have added another female-only run on Thursday, May 28th. The max numbers for the April 23rd clinic have almost been met; and the May 19th clinic is filling up fast!!
There have been some changes to the CHS, Inc. policy for the Tuesday night volunteers. We now require any new volunteer to complete a training session led by a CHS, Inc. Board Member. After the volunteer completes this session, they are required to shadow a veteran volunteer for at least one reservation session. The next training session will be held Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 6:00pm. These sessions will be held in the meeting rooms at the library. Please email caldwell4pets@gmail.com if you would like to attend the next session.
Upcoming reservation dates:
Tuesday, April 14th
Tuesday, May 5th
Tuesday, May 12th
Tuesday, June 2nd (New volunteer training session!)
Tuesday, June 9th
Upcoming clinic dates:
Thursday, April 23rd
Tuesday, May 19th
Thursday, May 28th
Tuesday June 16th
CHS, Inc. would like to thank everyone that helps with the Tuesday night reservation sessions and the clinic drop-off/pick-up days at the fairgrounds. We could not coordinate these clinics without all of our faithful volunteers!
There have been some changes to the CHS, Inc. policy for the Tuesday night volunteers. We now require any new volunteer to complete a training session led by a CHS, Inc. Board Member. After the volunteer completes this session, they are required to shadow a veteran volunteer for at least one reservation session. The next training session will be held Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 6:00pm. These sessions will be held in the meeting rooms at the library. Please email caldwell4pets@gmail.com if you would like to attend the next session.
Upcoming reservation dates:
Tuesday, April 14th
Tuesday, May 5th
Tuesday, May 12th
Tuesday, June 2nd (New volunteer training session!)
Tuesday, June 9th
Upcoming clinic dates:
Thursday, April 23rd
Tuesday, May 19th
Thursday, May 28th
Tuesday June 16th
CHS, Inc. would like to thank everyone that helps with the Tuesday night reservation sessions and the clinic drop-off/pick-up days at the fairgrounds. We could not coordinate these clinics without all of our faithful volunteers!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Why doesn’t Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. take in animals, shelter them, and find homes for them?
I think we would all agree that Caldwell County has an overwhelming number of unwanted animals – on average, 5,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year in Caldwell County alone. How can an all-volunteer group like CHS, Inc., with limited volunteer time and resources, do the greatest good for the most animals? By taking advantage of the multiplier effect of spaying and neutering. When an animal is spayed or neutered through our low-cost clinics, that animal will no longer have offspring….and it’s offspring will no longer have offspring….and the offspring’s offspring will no longer have offspring, and so on. If CHS, Inc. receives a donation of $250, we can help spay/neuter TEN animals with that money, and prevent unwanted births of many, many litters. If you took the same $250, it would not go very far towards food, shelter, veterinary exam fees, spay/neuter fees, heartworm & flea products, collar/leash, advertising for adoptive families, etc. for just ONE animal.
Is it heartbreaking that we can’t help all animals in need? YES! We all love animals and would help each and every one if we could. The reality is that the citizens of Caldwell County have created such a burden of unwanted animals that we feel we must focus on the most powerful weapon available – spaying and neutering.
One analogy would be that of a tree you needed to remove from your yard….would you pull the leaves off, one at a time, or would you cut the tree down at the trunk? Spaying and neutering pets is the equivalent of cutting the tree down at the trunk….cutting off the supply chain of unwanted animals, before they can be born to end up in the shelter and later in the landfill.
25 minutes away, at the Humane Society of Catawba County, there is a brand new multi-million dollar building containing a regional low-cost spay/neuter clinic. All they need are the animals to spay & neuter! To take advantage of their capacity, we just need dedicated volunteers to help us administer clinics and give Caldwell County citizens the opportunity to spay/neuter their pets, when they might not otherwise be able to afford to. We don’t have to sit back and wait for government officials or departments to solve the problem of pet overpopulation…..we can make it happen now, ourselves! Can YOU help?
CHS, Inc. welcomes volunteers, whether their available time is great or small. We encourage our volunteers to be involved with other animal groups & efforts, if they so choose, because we respect that each person’s perspective on how to help animals is unique. For those who do not feel compelled to help with spay/neuter clinics, we hope you will help animals in some other way. For those who feel we “should do more”, we challenge you to work side by side with us….at 6am on clinic mornings, in the dark & the cold…at noon on the day of clinic return, shuffling papers in a windy parking lot….cleaning animal carriers after the animals are returned to their owners...come and see how hard we are working to make monthly spay/neuter clinics a reality.
Our group’s specific goal is to put the Caldwell County animal shelter out of business by making spaying and neutering a routine part of responsible pet ownership in Caldwell County. In essence, we are working to achieve a “no kill COUNTY” through spaying and neutering.
Is it heartbreaking that we can’t help all animals in need? YES! We all love animals and would help each and every one if we could. The reality is that the citizens of Caldwell County have created such a burden of unwanted animals that we feel we must focus on the most powerful weapon available – spaying and neutering.
One analogy would be that of a tree you needed to remove from your yard….would you pull the leaves off, one at a time, or would you cut the tree down at the trunk? Spaying and neutering pets is the equivalent of cutting the tree down at the trunk….cutting off the supply chain of unwanted animals, before they can be born to end up in the shelter and later in the landfill.
25 minutes away, at the Humane Society of Catawba County, there is a brand new multi-million dollar building containing a regional low-cost spay/neuter clinic. All they need are the animals to spay & neuter! To take advantage of their capacity, we just need dedicated volunteers to help us administer clinics and give Caldwell County citizens the opportunity to spay/neuter their pets, when they might not otherwise be able to afford to. We don’t have to sit back and wait for government officials or departments to solve the problem of pet overpopulation…..we can make it happen now, ourselves! Can YOU help?
CHS, Inc. welcomes volunteers, whether their available time is great or small. We encourage our volunteers to be involved with other animal groups & efforts, if they so choose, because we respect that each person’s perspective on how to help animals is unique. For those who do not feel compelled to help with spay/neuter clinics, we hope you will help animals in some other way. For those who feel we “should do more”, we challenge you to work side by side with us….at 6am on clinic mornings, in the dark & the cold…at noon on the day of clinic return, shuffling papers in a windy parking lot….cleaning animal carriers after the animals are returned to their owners...come and see how hard we are working to make monthly spay/neuter clinics a reality.
Our group’s specific goal is to put the Caldwell County animal shelter out of business by making spaying and neutering a routine part of responsible pet ownership in Caldwell County. In essence, we are working to achieve a “no kill COUNTY” through spaying and neutering.
Handout from Traci Whiteside's Presentation in January
A big thank-you to CHS, Inc. Board Member Traci Whiteside for the informative presentation she gave at CHS, Inc.'s January 2009 meeting. This handout highlights some of the key points of Traci's presentation...
Safely Handling Dogs at Spay and Neuter Clinics
CHS volunteers should always ask the dog’s owner to put his or her dog in a crate at drop off. The dog's owner should also take his or her dog out of the crate at pick up. There may be times when you will need to assist the owner and it is important that you do so in a manner that is safe for you and the dog. Use these techniques to calm a nervous dog before handling it.
B.A.R.K.
When you first notice that a dog is uncomfortable with your presence, Back away from the dog. Tell the owner to keep the dog secured while you get a slip lead. Ask the dog’s owner to put a slip lead around the dog’s neck. Reach for the leash and take it from the owner while avoiding eye contact with the dog. Walk away from the owner. Keep quiet. Talking too much can make a dog more nervous. Then, use the following tips to gain a dog’s trust.
Steps To Gaining A Dog’s Trust
1. Stand with your side to the dog. Avoid eye contact.
2. Speak slowly and softly. Use words that might be familiar to the dog such as, “good boy/girl, treat, mommy, daddy, kibble, are you hungry, buddy, come and get it”.
3. Move slowly toward the dog.
4. Once close enough extend an arm for the dog to sniff.
If a dog is not warming up to you, ask for help.
Why Slip Leads?
If a dog is struggling to get away from you he could pull his neck out of a regular and run away. A slip lead will tighten around the dog’s neck making it nearly impossible for him to escape. CHS has slip leads available. Familiarize yourself with where they are located and use them when necessary at clinics.
Tips for Crating Dogs
· Allow the dog to first sniff the crate.
· Back a dog in to the crate rear end first.
· Toss a fake treat in the crate and say “go get it”. (Remember: Dogs should not be given any food prior to surgery.)
· Avoid grabbing the dog by the collar with your hands. Always use a leash to guide the dog.
· Keep your eyes on the dog’s head at all times to avoid a bite.
· Be aware of environmental factors (examples: loud cars, a dog that is barking/growling, children, men with hats, beards, or glasses, etc.) that may upset the dog. Adjust conditions when possible to help calm the dog.
For more information contact:
Traci Whiteside, Master Certified Trainer,
Club Canine
www.myclubcanine.com
828.396.2597
Safely Handling Dogs at Spay and Neuter Clinics
CHS volunteers should always ask the dog’s owner to put his or her dog in a crate at drop off. The dog's owner should also take his or her dog out of the crate at pick up. There may be times when you will need to assist the owner and it is important that you do so in a manner that is safe for you and the dog. Use these techniques to calm a nervous dog before handling it.
B.A.R.K.
When you first notice that a dog is uncomfortable with your presence, Back away from the dog. Tell the owner to keep the dog secured while you get a slip lead. Ask the dog’s owner to put a slip lead around the dog’s neck. Reach for the leash and take it from the owner while avoiding eye contact with the dog. Walk away from the owner. Keep quiet. Talking too much can make a dog more nervous. Then, use the following tips to gain a dog’s trust.
Steps To Gaining A Dog’s Trust
1. Stand with your side to the dog. Avoid eye contact.
2. Speak slowly and softly. Use words that might be familiar to the dog such as, “good boy/girl, treat, mommy, daddy, kibble, are you hungry, buddy, come and get it”.
3. Move slowly toward the dog.
4. Once close enough extend an arm for the dog to sniff.
If a dog is not warming up to you, ask for help.
Why Slip Leads?
If a dog is struggling to get away from you he could pull his neck out of a regular and run away. A slip lead will tighten around the dog’s neck making it nearly impossible for him to escape. CHS has slip leads available. Familiarize yourself with where they are located and use them when necessary at clinics.
Tips for Crating Dogs
· Allow the dog to first sniff the crate.
· Back a dog in to the crate rear end first.
· Toss a fake treat in the crate and say “go get it”. (Remember: Dogs should not be given any food prior to surgery.)
· Avoid grabbing the dog by the collar with your hands. Always use a leash to guide the dog.
· Keep your eyes on the dog’s head at all times to avoid a bite.
· Be aware of environmental factors (examples: loud cars, a dog that is barking/growling, children, men with hats, beards, or glasses, etc.) that may upset the dog. Adjust conditions when possible to help calm the dog.
For more information contact:
Traci Whiteside, Master Certified Trainer,
Club Canine
www.myclubcanine.com
828.396.2597
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
How can I become a volunteer for Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.?
We do most of our volunteer scheduling by email. To join the CHS, Inc. email distribution list, please send an email to caldwell4pets@gmail.com. Please include your full name. If you do not have email, please call us at 499-0289 and give us your full name, mailing address, and phone number. Our group is very diverse, with each volunteer contributing time as his/her schedule allows.
Where is Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. located?
Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. does not have a physical location. We hold our meetings in the downstairs meeting rooms of the main branch of the Caldwell County Library in Lenoir. Our clinics are held at the Caldwell County Fairgrounds. We use a cell phone with voicemail service as our telephone – as such, callers must leave a message and a volunteer will call them back.
Why does Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. focus on spaying and neutering?
On average, 5,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year in Caldwell County alone….far too many to be adopted. Spaying and neutering is the key to ending pet overpopulation, because it halts the cycle of pets having litters, and their litters having litters, and so on. Without low-cost spay/neuter clinics, many Caldwell County pet owners would simply not be able to afford the cost of spay/neuter surgery for their pets.
2008 Officers and Directors
The following individuals are members of the Board of Directors of CHS, Inc.:
Lynne Williams
Traci Whiteside
Jeff Clark
Lauren Clark
Jeni Stilwell
Penny Nix
Judy Cary
Joy Waters
The 2008 officers of CHS, Inc. are as follows:
Lauren Clark, President
Penny Nix, Vice President
Traci Whiteside, Recording Secretary
Jeff Clark, Corresponding Secretary
Jeni Stilwell, Treasurer
Lynne Williams
Traci Whiteside
Jeff Clark
Lauren Clark
Jeni Stilwell
Penny Nix
Judy Cary
Joy Waters
The 2008 officers of CHS, Inc. are as follows:
Lauren Clark, President
Penny Nix, Vice President
Traci Whiteside, Recording Secretary
Jeff Clark, Corresponding Secretary
Jeni Stilwell, Treasurer
History of Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.
On June 2, 2003, the three active members of the Caldwell Humane Society (Lynne Williams, Debbie Price, and Ann Campbell) joined forces with four new members (Traci & Kenny Whiteside and Lauren & Jeff Clark) to incorporate Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. and adopt bylaws for the incorporated entity. Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. then applied for and received public charity status under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
CHS, Inc. continued the philosophy of CHS which emphasized spaying and neutering as the primary solution for pet overpopulation in Caldwell County. CHS’s ongoing SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) program was brought into Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. and consisted of 5 spay/neuter procedures each month, donated by local veterinarians. CHS, Inc. screened applicants for eligibility and administered the appointments. In time, the group began using its own funds to pay for additional procedures beyond those donated by the veterinarians. The first “Bark in the Park” was held in 2005, raising funds for the SPOT program as well as the KIND News, another program that was carried forward from CHS to CHS, Inc. KIND News is a kid-friendly monthly newsletter about animal welfare issues that is provided to all 4th and 5th graders in the Caldwell County school system on a monthly basis.
In 2005, CHS, Inc. began considering the establishment of low-cost spay/neuter clinics through the Humane Alliance Low-Cost Spay/Neuter clinic in Asheville, NC. A partnership was created with this cutting-edge group (see their website at http://www.humanealliance.org/HA2/ha-index.htm), and the SPOT program was revamped to use the Humane Alliance clinic, except in cases where the pet did not qualify for surgery in Asheville (in which case the local veterinarians continued to provide donated surgeries). Appointments also became available to the general public at that time. The first Humane Alliance/CHS, Inc. low-cost spay/neuter clinic was held in October 2005, with 22 animals going to Asheville for surgery and returning the next day. The group discovered a great need for low-cost spay/neuter, and the third clinic (held in February 2006) consisted of 74 animals, which remains the greatest number of animals ever sent on a single transport. The clinics were held every other month until March of 2008.
2008 was a year of tremendous accomplishment for CHS, Inc. In March of 2008, CHS, Inc. began holding the low-cost clinics on a monthly basis instead of every other month. The entire appointment process was reorganized and a clinic partnership was established with the newly-opened SNIP Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic in Catawba County, shortening the travel time for animals participating in the clinics. More than 450 animals were spayed or neutered through our 2008 clinics alone. In total, since the CHS, Inc. low-cost clinics began in October 2005, more than 1,000 Caldwell County animals have been spayed or neutered, preventing untold numbers of unwanted litters. CHS, Inc. is an all-volunteer group, and none of the progress described above would have been possible without the hard-working and dedicated volunteers who are determined to create a better future for Caldwell County’s animals.
CHS, Inc. continued the philosophy of CHS which emphasized spaying and neutering as the primary solution for pet overpopulation in Caldwell County. CHS’s ongoing SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) program was brought into Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. and consisted of 5 spay/neuter procedures each month, donated by local veterinarians. CHS, Inc. screened applicants for eligibility and administered the appointments. In time, the group began using its own funds to pay for additional procedures beyond those donated by the veterinarians. The first “Bark in the Park” was held in 2005, raising funds for the SPOT program as well as the KIND News, another program that was carried forward from CHS to CHS, Inc. KIND News is a kid-friendly monthly newsletter about animal welfare issues that is provided to all 4th and 5th graders in the Caldwell County school system on a monthly basis.
In 2005, CHS, Inc. began considering the establishment of low-cost spay/neuter clinics through the Humane Alliance Low-Cost Spay/Neuter clinic in Asheville, NC. A partnership was created with this cutting-edge group (see their website at http://www.humanealliance.org/HA2/ha-index.htm), and the SPOT program was revamped to use the Humane Alliance clinic, except in cases where the pet did not qualify for surgery in Asheville (in which case the local veterinarians continued to provide donated surgeries). Appointments also became available to the general public at that time. The first Humane Alliance/CHS, Inc. low-cost spay/neuter clinic was held in October 2005, with 22 animals going to Asheville for surgery and returning the next day. The group discovered a great need for low-cost spay/neuter, and the third clinic (held in February 2006) consisted of 74 animals, which remains the greatest number of animals ever sent on a single transport. The clinics were held every other month until March of 2008.
2008 was a year of tremendous accomplishment for CHS, Inc. In March of 2008, CHS, Inc. began holding the low-cost clinics on a monthly basis instead of every other month. The entire appointment process was reorganized and a clinic partnership was established with the newly-opened SNIP Regional Spay/Neuter Clinic in Catawba County, shortening the travel time for animals participating in the clinics. More than 450 animals were spayed or neutered through our 2008 clinics alone. In total, since the CHS, Inc. low-cost clinics began in October 2005, more than 1,000 Caldwell County animals have been spayed or neutered, preventing untold numbers of unwanted litters. CHS, Inc. is an all-volunteer group, and none of the progress described above would have been possible without the hard-working and dedicated volunteers who are determined to create a better future for Caldwell County’s animals.
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