Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.

Upcoming Events - Volunteers Needed

2011-09-19T11:45:00.001-04:00

Sawmills Fall Festival – Saturday, September 24th 10am – 4pm

Caldwell County Agricultural Fair – Wednesday, September 27 – Saturday, October 1st - 5pm – 9pm each evening and 1pm – 9pm Saturday

Caldwell Animal Control Community Outreach and Open House – Saturday, October 8th 10am – 2pm

Please Volunteer!

If we all pitch in and do our part, then we won't have to depend so heavily on the same few volunteers. There were 461 dogs and cats put down in Caldwell County in August. We have to spread the word and educate the public, and these events will help do just that. CHS is sending an average 60 to 75 animals per month to be spayed or neutered. This amount saves thousands of animals per year from euthanization.

Thank you for your concern and help!!!

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

2011-06-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.
Annual Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2011
7:00 pm – Lenoir Public Library

CHS, Inc. President Joy Sharpe opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.

Minutes
The minutes from the January 22, 2011 meeting had been distributed via email prior to the meeting; and were unanimously approved after a motion from Phyllis Braswell and a second by Julie Hallock.

Board of Directors Elections & Recognition
Outgoing Board members Jeni Stilwell and Lauren Clark were recognized for their years of service to the Humane Society. Under Article V, Section 3 of CHS Bylaws, a director may serve a maximum of two consecutive three year terms in which they were elected by the membership. After a mandatory one-year absence, a member may again stand for election or be appointed to the Board. Both directors were commended for their dedication and were awarded plaques in recognition of their service.

Educational Events
Penny gave a brief report on education events that CHS participated in during 2010; and plans for the coming year including PetSense, Blackberry and Butterfly Festivals and Bark in the Park. We are also handing out flyers at the Rabies Clinic April 2nd. Penny turned in $64 that she and Chia collected at the last spay/neuter clinic.

Volunteer signup sheets for April reservation sessions and clinic were passed out. Pre-orders for BIP t-shirts were taken at $7. They will be $10 at BIP. A color has not yet been decided.

2010 Year in Review and Treasurer’s Report
Jeni passed out the Profit and Loss Statement for last year showing a loss of $1,009.30; which was good considering the number of SPOT surgeries performed last year. Jeni answered a question about the telephone bill and explained it is for a cell phone which is the only way we can do our voice mail.

Joy reviewed 2010 Year in Review that had been distributed. Each year shows increased surgeries each year which can’t be done without our volunteers.

Ballots
Ballots were collected from CHS dues-paying members. All votes were affirmative to accept the slate of directors as nominated: Phyllis Braswell and Joy Sharpe for re-election to new three-year terms; the election of Evin Conrad to one year (completing the third year of Emily Warren’s term); and the election to three-year terms of Julie Hallock, Regina Jones, Dianne Miller, and Lynne Williams.

Clinic Report
Ruby reported on the reservation and clinic numbers and encouraged volunteers to participate on Tuesday nights. April’s clinic is booked and we’re well into May. It was discussed whether we could do another clinic in April but Humane Alliance is fully scheduled for the month.

7th Annual Bark in the Park
Julie read the Bark in the Park report for Phyllis. Tonight is the deadline for sponsorship turn in; vendor deadline is April 22nd. Phyllis passed out a volunteer signup sheet and took orders for the BIP t-shirts which will be ordered on April 11th. Phyllis thanked everyone who worked on sponsorships and for the pet items turned in for the Silent Auction baskets. April 4th we will send out the volunteer signup sheet; and May 1st at 4:00 pm will be the volunteer meeting for BIP.

Pledges for Walk. Joy explained this is a way to raise money. We like to mention that $25 pays for a surgery. But any amount is good. It all adds up to prevent more unwanted pets from being born. Phyllis explained the release has to be signed on the Pledge Form – some of them were printed with the signature line cut off. There will be prizes for top pledge raisers.

Recognition of 2010 Volunteers
We had approximately 80 volunteers last year; some just one time and many faithful that come over and over again, putting in hours and hours of volunteering. We have a lot of hard-working volunteers. We made it through a wet clinic day last month, doing 76 surgeries and that’s worth getting a little wet for. Joy thanked the volunteers and encouraged all to invite their friends. We need all the volunteers we can get. Children are welcome, too. (They just can’t be in the crating area near the animals.)

With no further business, the meeting was concluded at 7:40 pm. Refreshments were served.

Future Meeting Dates
Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 4:00 pm (Bark in the Park volunteer meeting)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 (regular meeting)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 (regular meeting) Cancelled
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 (regular meeting)

Attachments
Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. 2010 Year In Review
Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. Profit & Loss by Class

GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, June 28th @ 7pm

2011-06-22T09:52:00.002-04:00

Please plan to attend the General Meeting Tuesday night, June 28th at 7PM in the lower meeting rooms at the Lenoir Library.

EVERYONE in the community is welcome to attend. This is the time to make a difference in our community. Come join us in the discussion.

Thank you.

Minutes from January 2011 Meeting

2011-03-23T10:24:00.001-04:00

Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.
Regular Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2011
7:00 pm – Lenoir Public Library

CHS, Inc. President Joy Sharpe opened the meeting and welcomed attendees and guest speakers.

Minutes
The minutes from the October 26, 2010 meeting had been emailed previously and were unanimously approved after a motion from Phyllis Braswell and a second by Penny Nix.

Presentation of Certificate to Emily Warren
Joy presented a certificate of appreciation to resigning board member Emily Warren who is moving to Raleigh. Emily has made many valuable contributions during the past three years – logo designer, reservation session leader and Bark in the Park Coordinator, to name a few.

Clinic Report
Ruby Boldin presented the clinic report. Since the last meeting in October, 75 surgeries were performed in November and 45 in December; for a total of 776 in 2010, versus 697 in 2009. The January 2011 clinic was cancelled due to snow.

City/County Initiative – Resolution of Support
Ron Stilwell reported on the efforts under way to get municipalities involved with county animal programs. To date, the cities of Lenoir, Hudson, Granite Falls, and Sawmills have adopted resolutions of support for adoption and/or spay/neuter in support of the county program. The cities recognize their responsibility in working together with the counties and all cities have assigned an official to serve on the Caldwell Municipal Advisory Committee. This can lead to more funding, legislation and get people responsible for their animals. All animal groups can work closer together with greater communication toward a common goal.

Guest Speaker – Denise Michaud, Caldwell County Health Department Director
In Caldwell County, Animal Control is under the Health Department. Denise has arranged for Kimberly Alboum, NC president of Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), to hold a grass roots meeting to speak about issues that face animal lovers, such as coyote penning, puppy mills, and what volunteers can do to help the Animal Control Department. The session will be February 10th at Human Services building on the third floor, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Kimberly has good ideas about shelter improvement. Attendees must RSVP on a link that will be forwarded to the CHS email group. The conference room holds 100. It should be interesting and help kick off and reinforce what we are doing together. Commissioners will add to the February 7th agenda to issue a proclamation of spay/neuter month for Caldwell County to help communicate to the public about this important effort. HSUS has been a huge help to the county when Caldwell Animal Control (CAC) was dealing with dog fighting event in 2008 with over 80 pit bulls discovered on a property. They also sent help during a cock fighting investigation. A good turnout will show Kimberly how much Caldwell County cares about its animals and its community by being supportive of one another, and by being there to hear what Kimberly has to say.

Guest Speaker – Greg Greene, Caldwell County Animal Control Director
Euthanasia is the biggest topic in Animal Control. Call volume from January 2010 to January 2011 was 3500. With four (4) officers besides Greg, there is not a lot of time for adoptions. Two ladies work front office. Dispatching protocols take a lot of time. Three officers are licensed to euthanize animals. One to 14 animals per day average have to be euthanized due to limited kennel space. This is per state mandates. Most of the animals are adoptable but due to space have to be euthanized. Pet Partners and Pet Pals have taken some of the animals for adoption. A school program was started in 2010 with CAC and Dr. Beth Jones targeting 6th grade students to promote responsible ownership. Adoptions are not going to solve the problem. No way to find 5,000 people a year to take the animals. Adoptions are declining instead of rising. Education in spay and neutering is where we’re going to see the numbers start changing. Any ideas to help educate, contact Greg at any time. [Denise mentioned the flyer going into the February water bill promoting spay/neuter month.] Greg answered a question concerning policy on releasing adoptable dogs or cats to animal groups. A 501(c) (3) registered rescue group, can come in at any time and if an animal is available for adoption, can take the animal at no charge, but must transfer ownership. It’s difficult to manage legally having animals out of shelter w/o transferring ownership. This makes the animal the property of rescue group, not Caldwell County. Economical, sensible thing to do. These animals are eligible for the $8 rabies as CAC doesn’t want any animal going out over 4 months without a rabies vaccine. Can’t do $65/spay neuter for animals going out to Rescue groups. If animals are not available for adoption yet, because of the period mandated by law for strays, CAC will hold and put name on that and contact at end of hold period. The more space CAC has, the more animals they can hold and not have to euthanize as many. A visitor may see two or three empty kennels and wonder what is going on. Eight kennels are to strays for the 72 hour period. Six to eight more kennels are for quarantines, cruelty, dangerous dogs. CAC has to keep those kennels open in case. It doesn’t mean they’re not full. CAC does contact specific breed rescue groups – lately most have been full, unfortunately. CAC is open the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for adoptions and rabies vaccines only. CAC charges $2 to replace a lost rabies tag when the rabies was given at Animal Control.

Debra Venti, Pet Pals
Debra moved to Caldwell County nine years ago and was appalled to hear about the local animal problems. She started researching, investigating, helping and came to believe lack of information is the biggest problem in the County. There will be an infomercial beginning in February about spay/neutering and adoption. She spoke about what she would like to do at Animal Control to help with adoptions, i.e. rotating and marketing animals, and help make improvements on site.

Greg said that due to budget constraints no new building is in the foreseeable future. Fencing is needed. Recently two horses were held in the front yard of Animal Control. Denise said CAC is doing the best it can with the available tax money. Some counties don’t have an Animal Control Department. Ron spoke of the possibility of the municipalities having an animal control officer/ representative for feasible cooperation. Police control leash law in the city. If in a city limit, contact local PD. The police department can commission CAC to remove the animal. If a dog is loose in the county, CAC can remove animal from your property or set live traps. CAC cannot go out in the neighborhood and take animals off another person’s property without having a signed release form. CAC has no control over wildlife unless it’s possibly rabid. A wildlife depredation officer must be called in to remove animal if it isn’t sick; just being a nuisance.

Debra continued identifying things that are needed at Animal Control; i.e. cutting trails for walking and socialization. Pet Pals wants to help CAC with adoptions, socialization, and raising money for needed items. Debra showed the Pet Pals t-shirts that are sold for a $15 donation. They are printed with “Rescue Me” Adopt, Adjust, and Adapt. Pet Pals encourages people to adopt, adjust their way of thinking and adapt to a new way of living so Caldwell County can move forward with solutions for the animal problems. CCAC is on the sleeve with a memorial stripe for animals put down in the past. Pet Pals wants to help CHS with spay and neuters, and help Pet Partners promote adoptions at Tractor Supply. They are getting the word out about February being spay/neuter month. Suggestions were made from the floor about asking businesses and municipalities to put up signs promoting spay/neuter month.

Joy said all the animal groups want to reduce the euthanasia rate. She wanted to let Greg and his people know how much we appreciate the job they are doing. Greg said 2,500 surgeries is a tremendous accomplishment for our County and he commended CHS for its role in helping reduce the number of animals CAC has to euthanize.

Ron opened the floor for any concerns or questions about communications or any contact with CAC. We are all here for the same purpose. Greg wants any problems brought to his attention. If he doesn’t know what’s broken, he can’t fix it. Ron just wants to be sure we have open communication. A question was asked about the shelter not being open every Saturday, and more information not being available about the day it is open. There have not been many people coming in for adoption. Banners are put out during the week CAC is open on Saturday. Some months it may be same day as Pet Partners adopt-a-thon. CAC has staffing issues with non-exempt not being able to work more than 40 hours week. If more individuals showed an interest in coming that one Saturday, it would make it easier to justify a recommendation to increase the Saturdays to increase adoptions. People are struggling to pay the $65 adoption fee. So if they can’t afford that, then they can’t afford to feed or provide veterinary care. Then they end up surrendering the animal because they can no longer afford to pay to keep the animal. There is a rise in owner animals being turned in. It’s bad enough for CAC to deal with strays, but owner-surrendered animals are making CAC go over the top. Owner animals may be the best animals to put up for adoption as they are already socialized, but strays have to be held for 72 hours mandated by law. Unfortunately the most adoptable animals get euthanized due to the space constraints. [Animals turned in by their owners may be euthanized immediately.] Just the facts of the way things go. CAC does use microchip scanners.

Denise said if anyone has any concerns or misunderstandings or needs further explanation about shelter policies or procedures, please feel free to call. Being familiar with what Animal Control has to do, rather than what people think they can do, will eliminate a lot of misunderstanding and negativity. Greg said anyone should feel free to call him with any questions or concerns; or for a tour of the facility.

Joy thanked the speakers and adjourned the meeting at 8:13 pm.

Important Dates:
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm (annual meeting)
Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 4:00 pm (Bark in the Park volunteer meeting)
Saturday, May 14, 2011 at noon (Bark in the Park)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 (regular meeting)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 (regular meeting)
Tuesday, October 25, 100 (regular meeting)

CHS Contact Information:
Email address: caldwell4pets@gmail.com
Phone number: (828) 499-0289 (leave a message and a volunteer will return your call)
Blog: http://caldwellhumanesocietyinc.blogspot.com/

ANNUAL MEETING & MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

2011-02-27T08:36:00.003-05:00

Our Annual meeting is coming up on Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:00pm at the downstairs meeting rooms of the Caldwell County Public Library in Lenoir. Everyone is welcome! This is a great opportunity to learn all about Caldwell Humane Society and its activities, since we'll be discussing our 2010 accomplishments and our goals for 2011. One of our business items at the meeting will be the election of new Board members. As announced at the last meeting, Emily Warren is leaving us to move to Raleigh. Evin Conrad has accepted the nomination to complete the third year of Emily’s term. Phyllis Braswell and I (Joy Sharpe) are nominated to be elected for another three-year term. We are thankful for the following who have accepted nominations to our Board: Julie Hallock, Regina Jones, Dianne Miller and Lynne Williams. We’ve got some big shoes to fill with three very key members leaving the board this year. Not only are we losing Emily, but Lauren Clark is taking a mandatory, much-earned year off after serving CHS since 2003. Jeni Stilwell is also taking a welcomed year off after serving CHS since 2005. A special thank you to these ladies for all their hard work.

Our annual membership drive is ongoing. Those paying at the meeting will receive one of the sharp black & white CHS magnets. Members who have paid their dues may vote on CHS business, but we welcome all to our meetings, especially our loyal volunteers. We could have all the money in the world and not be able to do what we do without volunteers.

NEXT RESERVATION SESSIONS

2011-02-22T19:40:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 and Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The next reservation sessions to sign up for our low cost spay/neuter clinic will be the first two Tuesdays of the month, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in meeting room #3 of the Caldwell County Library in Lenoir.

Minutes from October 2010 General Meeting

2011-02-04T21:56:00.000-05:00

Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.
Regular Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2010
7:50 pm – Bo’s Entertainment Center

CHS, Inc. President Joy Sharpe opened the meeting and welcomed attendees following the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner that was held at 7:00 pm at Bo’s for volunteers and guests. The attendance sheet and sign-up sheets for the next reservation sessions and clinic were distributed. Each attendee then introduced themselves with a brief synopsis of their involvement with the Humane Society, followed by a round of applause for all we do to help reduce the animal population and improve the quality of life in Caldwell County.

Presentation of Certificate to Odell Watson
Joy next presented a certificate of appreciation and recognition to Odell Watson. After many years of faithfully volunteering, Odell announced his retirement this fall. Not only was he in charge of crate transportation, working three days each clinic for several years, he also brought heaters and organized our crating system.

Minutes
The minutes from the August 24, 2010 meeting had been emailed previously and were unanimously approved after a motion from Penny Nix and a second by Jeni Stilwell.

Drawing for Prizes
Names were drawn of those volunteering during September and October. First prize, a $150 gift certificate to Bo’s, was won by Joni Hall. The second prize of a $100 Bo’s gift certificate was won by Lisa Miller. Dianne Miller, Regina Jones and Lynne Williams each won a $10 gift card to Bo’s.

Clinic Report (CORRECTED)
Joy announced CHS officially reached our 2,500th surgery! (However, later it was determined by the board that this number was not reached until during the December 2010 clinic and these minutes have been corrected to reflect this information.)

Event Report
Penny Nix reported on the busy month of October. CHS had a display or booth at the County Fair, PetSense Adoption, Caldwell Community College Fall Fling, and All God’s Creatures Event. [CHS will also have a display at Club Canine October 30th.]

Other Business
Joy once again expressed appreciation for all our volunteers, reporting four or five years ago we only had about 20 volunteers. We have about 80 people that have volunteered in the past year. As we continue to grow and work hard, we can do so much more.

Lauren announced her personal campaign to amend the City’s current dog ban at recreational parks. She asked anyone interested in signing her petition to see her after the meeting. A brief discussion was held about dog parks and experiences various attendees have had at dog parks.

With no further business, the meeting was concluded at 8:20 pm.

2011 Bark in the Park Sponsorship Kick-off Meeting

2011-01-04T14:09:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year All!

Just a reminder about the 2011 sponsorship meeting being held this Sunday, January 9th at 3:00 pm at the Caldwell County Public Library in Room #3. Please attend this meeting if you would like to help raise sponsor money from different companies and individuals throughout the area. If you cannot attend, but would still like to volunteer, please let us know by emailing us at caldwell4pets@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!

2010-08-26T22:02:00.001-04:00

CHS is holding a training session for our "Tuesday night" volunteers that take reservations for low-cost spay/neuter appointments. Training will be held on Tuesday, August 31st at 6pm at the Lenoir Library, lower level meeting rooms. Reservation sessions are held the first two Tuesdays of every month. Volunteers should be available from 6:00 to 7:30 pm to take appointments. Email caldwell4pets@gmail.com or call 499-0289 to learn more!!

March 23rd Annual Meeting Minutes

2010-04-13T13:29:00.000-04:00

Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.
Annual Meeting Minutes
March 23, 2010
7:00 pm – Lenoir Public Library

CHS, Inc. President Joy Sharpe opened the meeting and welcomed attendees.

Minutes
The minutes from the January 26, 2010 meeting were distributed by Lauren Clark and unanimously approved after a motion from Penny Nix and a second by Michelle Wood.

Board of Directors Elections & Recognition
Outgoing Board members Jeff Clark, in absentia, and Lynne Williams were recognized for their years of service to the Humane Society. Under Article V, Section 3 of CHS Bylaws, a director may serve a maximum of two consecutive three year terms in which they were elected by the membership. After a mandatory one-year absence, a member may again stand for election or be appointed to the Board. Both directors were commended for their dedication and were awarded with plaques and a much deserved respite from the Board.

Joy called for a motion to approve nominees Ron Stilwell and Donna West as the two new incoming Board members to serve three-year terms. Lauren Clark moved/Jeni Stilwell seconded and the nominations were unanimously approved.

Phyllis Braswell, who was appointed to the Board last fall after the resignation of Judy Cary, was unanimously approved as a Board member for a period of one year to finish the remainder of Judy’s three-year term. Penny Nix moved and the motion was seconded by Michelle Wood.

2009 Year in Review (See attachments)
Joy reviewed clinic figures beginning with 51 surgeries in 2005 and up to 698 in 2009, which represents many dedicated volunteer hours. At the conclusion of April, CHS will have spayed/neutered more than 2,000 animals since the inception of its low-cost clinics.

Caldwell County Animal Care & Control Report for 2009 was distributed, showing almost 5,000 animals being euthanized in 2009. This is not the fault of Animal Control, but a result of the citizens of Caldwell County allowing their pets to create unwanted litters. Our goal is to reduce the euthanasia numbers by the low cost spay/neuter clinics and by re-educating the public about spaying and neutering. Many pet owners think if they turn an animal in to Animal Control it will be adopted; however most animals are euthanized.

On a happier note, Bark in the Park 2009 raised almost $8,000 in spite of the uncooperative weather; and Joy encouraged everyone to participate for 2010.

CHS spent $2,254 to subscribe to KIND News, a kid friendly newsletter about animal welfare issues, which was distributed to 98 fourth and fifth grade classrooms.

Joy reported on the education and community events held during the year, giving special mention to Chia Dog who goes along to many of the interviews and educational events, as well as fund raisers.

Clinic Change
Joy announced that CHS is returning to Humane Alliance in Asheville after two years with the SNIP clinic in Hickory, and turned the floor over to Lauren Clark. Lauren explained we had previously transported animals for surgeries to Humane Alliance in Asheville until the Humane Society of Catawba County opened their SNIP clinic two years ago in Hickory, when the switch was made to help support the new clinic as well as cut down on the longer trip to Asheville. After two years, the Board has decided to go back with Humane Alliance due to several factors. Since the SNIP Clinic was and is in its growth stage, we are having to shoulder more of the financial burden, do more administrative work and the number of animals being done on any particular day was capped at 60 (30 females and of the females no more than 20 dogs). Humane Alliance can do 70 a day with no restrictions which will cut down on our paperwork and the extra scheduling of clinics. Also, we subsequently became aware of some issues between the veterinarian running the clinic and the Humane Society that leases the building to the clinic. SNIP really tried to work with us and we let them know Asheville just seems a better fit for our needs. We received a nice note from the veterinarian saying she understands our position. Members are urged to look at the Humane Alliance web site and follow them on FaceBook.

Our next clinic on April 20th will be headed to Asheville. Joy noted that since more animals will be going for surgeries, more volunteers will be needed each clinic day to facilitate the larger number of animals. Lauren reiterated that no advance training is needed for clinic days.

Treasurer’s Report (See attached)
Jeni Stilwell presented the Treasurer’s Report and explained the slight loss was mainly due to the larger number of SPOT surgeries for which CHS pays half. ($25). There were no questions concerning the treasurer’s report.

There were no further questions or comments on 2009 in review.

2010 Goals
Joy reiterated the continuing goals to sustain growth and expand our volunteer base which is so very, very important. The more volunteers we have, the more animals we can spay and neuter.

Joy reminded attendees that if they paid their membership dues tonight, they would receive a free CHS magnet to help spread the word. Joy mentioned that paid dues are not a requirement to attend meetings or volunteer. However, any members that are financially able to pay dues are encouraged to do so as the dues go into the general fund. (And CHS Bylaws require a voting member to have paid the dues.)

Update on Tuesday Night Reservation Sessions
Emily Warren announced a record 72 animals were booked for surgery at the last Tuesday night session. The next reservation sessions are April 6th and 13th with a mandatory training session for new volunteers scheduled for May 11th. Approximately 55 animals are already booked for April 20th in Asheville.

6th Annual Bark In The Park Information
Emily Warren, 2010 BIP Coordinator, reported all is going well. The final sponsorship turn in will be April 13th. BIP flyers and pledge forms were available. Emily explained the difference between a business sponsorship and the pledge forms that are used mainly by volunteers to raise money for the dog walk event the day of BIP. An informal discussion was held between Emily and new volunteer Cindy Khalsa about possible sponsorship she might be able to obtain for BIP. Emily will email information and forms to Cindy.

New CHS T-Shirts
Several members were wearing the new T-shirts. Emily explained this is not a fund raiser but a PR opportunity to spread our message. All colors are available at a cost of $7 for short sleeve and $10 for long sleeve.

Other Discussions
Informal discussions were held concerning the continued use of the printed brochures indicating Catawba’s SNIP clinic rather than the Humane Alliance. Since there are so many printed at this time, volunteers will be instructed to inform people when they register of the change. Also, the price we charge for regular spay/neuter is now $50 instead of $49 and this change has just been marked through on the current brochures. Members were encouraged to take brochures and set them out wherever possible. A Spanish brochure will be printed once all the changes are made.

Penny Nix asked if Tuesday night volunteers might let clients know they will be asked for a donation when leaving after picking up their animals from Clinic on the second day. Many complain they don’t have money with them or that they gave their donation by paying to have their animal fixed, not realizing CHS pays $25 toward the SPOT surgeries. Even though regular clients paying $50 are paying the full clinic cost, we have fuel charges and admin fees that a small donation could help alleviate. Lauren Clark commented that the reminder sheet clients receive does mention the fact that donations are appreciated.

Lauren Clark passed around the euthanasia stats from other counties that she obtained from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. If anyone is interested, here is link to the site: http://www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/vet/index.html

Joy thanked everyone who brought items for the BIP silent auction baskets. Any further items are welcomed and can be brought to one of the Tuesday night reservation sessions.

Recognition of 2009 CHS, Inc. Volunteers
Joy recognized and thanked all the volunteers and again stated how nothing could be accomplished without the volunteers and urged everyone to bring in more volunteers as this is the only way we can accomplish our goals.

Laura Kerekes announced one of her father’s relatives passed away and he is using part of his inheritance to sponsor his grand-dog in the BIP walk with a very generous donation. This good news sent everyone scurrying to have Laura be on their team. Lauren Clark explained that sometimes it’s fun to compete among ourselves to see which team can raise the most money.

Drinda Goodell said she has more time to volunteer but does not have email so she is being put on the call list to be notified of clinic dates by the volunteer coordinator.

With no further business, the meeting was concluded at 7:57 pm.

Future Meeting Dates
Sunday, April 25th at 4:00 pm (Bark in the Park volunteer meeting)
Tuesday, June 22nd at 7:00 pm (regular meeting)
Tuesday, August 24th at 7:00 pm (regular meeting)
Tuesday, October 26th at 7:00 pm (regular meeting)

Attachments
Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. 2009 Year In Review
Caldwell County Animal Care & Control Monthly Activities Report Dec.’09
Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. Profit & Loss by Class

CHS Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

2010-03-17T10:55:00.003-04:00

4/6/10 6:00 pm, Library, Reservation Session

4/13/10 6:00 pm, Library, Reservation Session

4/20/10 6:00 am, Fairgrounds, Clinic Date-Owners Drop-off Animals

4/21/10 11:15 am, Fairgrounds, Clinic Date-Owners Pick-up Animals

4/25/10 4:00 pm, Library, Bark in the Park Volunteer Meeting

5/4/10 6:00 pm, Library, Reservation Session

5/8/10 Noon-2 pm, Redwood Park, Bark in the Park

Bark in the Park

Volunteers will begin set up at 9:00 am at Redwood Park in Hudson. Rain location is the National Guard Armory near West Caldwell High School. In the event of inclement weather, a decision will be posted on our voicemail at 499-0289 by 9:00 am on 5/8/10.

5/11/10 6:00 pm, Library, Reservation Session

Annual Meeting

2010-03-16T16:14:00.002-04:00

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 23rd at 7 pm at the Caldwell County Public Library lower level meeting rooms for CHS, Inc.'s Annual Meeting.

We will be discussing the upcoming year, as well as our successful spay/neuter numbers for 2009! Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

Come on out and bring a friend and don't forget, if you pay your CHS yearly dues, you will receive a free car magnet!

Follow CHS on Facebook and Twitter

2010-03-16T16:12:00.000-04:00

For all of you facebook and twitter fans out there....CHS is now on both! Search for us on Facebook under "Caldwell Humane Society, Inc." and become a fan!

Follow CHS on twitter @caldwell4pets

February Clinics

2010-02-10T22:29:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, February 9th, CHS sent 39 females to the SNIP clinic at Catawba Humane Society, bringing our total spay/neuters to date to 1,845!!

Next week we will be sending hopefully all 51 animals that are signed up for the 16th.

Our upcoming reservation sessions in March are the 2nd and 9th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in Room 3 at the Caldwell County Public Library lower level meeting rooms.

Other important dates:

Tuesday, March 16th SNIP clinic
Tuesday, March 23rd CHS Annual Meeting

Don't forget Bark in the Park is Saturday, May 8th beginning at 12 pm at Redwood Park in Hudson (rain location: National Guard Armory near West Caldwell High School). Tell everyone to bring their pooches and come support CHS, Inc.'s yearly fundraiser!!

Bark in the Park 2010

2010-01-14T20:14:00.004-05:00

This week we have set a date for our 6th Annual
Bark in the Park! It will be on Saturday, May 8th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Redwood Park in Hudson (rain location is the National Guard Armory near West Caldwell High School).

Please email caldwell4pets@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with our annual fundraiser.

The 2010 sponsorship team meeting will be on Sunday, January 31st at 4:00 pm in the Caldwell County Public Library. Please come out and help!

Upcoming Clinics & January Meeting

2010-01-14T20:10:00.004-05:00

We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! On January 19th we have 48 animals going to the SNIP clinic. We have an extra all-female clinic booked on February 9th and that is almost full.

Our upcoming clinic dates are as follows:

Tuesday, January 19th
Tuesday, February 9th (up to 40 females only)
Tuesday, February 16th
Tuesday, March 16th

Our next volunteer training session will be on March 2nd at 6:00 pm. We had our first session of the year on January 5th and trained 4 new volunteers! Thank you Sherri, Jackie, Jeri, and Rhonda for committing your time to help the animals of Caldwell County!

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 26th at 7:00 pm at the library. The annual meeting has been set for Tuesday, March 23rd at 7:00 pm at the Caldwell County Public Library as well. At both meetings we will have our new CHS car magnets! If you pay your dues at either one of these meetings, you will receive a FREE MAGNET!!

Volunteers Needed!

2009-08-19T20:40:00.003-04:00

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

Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics

2009-04-11T18:24:00.002-04:00

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!

Why doesn’t Caldwell Humane Society, Inc. take in animals, shelter them, and find homes for them?

2009-03-03T15:56:00.001-05:00

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.

Handout from Traci Whiteside's Presentation in January

2009-03-03T15:39:00.003-05:00

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

How can I become a volunteer for Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.?

2009-01-27T12:57:00.000-05:00

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?

2009-01-27T12:56:00.000-05:00

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?

2009-01-27T12:54:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-27T12:44:00.000-05:00

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

History of Caldwell Humane Society, Inc.

2009-01-27T12:37:00.001-05:00

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.