We LOVE getting pets back home!! We love it so much, we decided to offer FREE microchips for dogs & cats for the entire month of March. Microchips protect pets with hassle-free lifetime identification. While the reclaim rate for lost pets averages less than 10% in Fresno County, pets with microchips have a return-to-owner rate of over 50%! That’s a big return on a small investment, and great protection for your furry family members. You can learn more about the microchips we use and check on your pet’s registration here: https://www.24petwatch.com/pre-login. For more information about our microchip promotions, text MICROCHIPS to (559) 600-7387.
Creek Fire Emergency Response
Fresno is 'ground zero'!
Local, Small-Town Community Promotes Humane Alternatives to Cat Problem
The Journey of Jake and the Crazy Dog Lady!
JAKE’S JOURNEY
A homeless and injured cattle dog has a new fate.
On a sunny summer morning a young man was on his way to high school football practice and spotted an injured dog on a very busy country road. This compassionate young man took notice of this cattle dog and his struggles to walk, he called his mom and told her of the dog and continued on his way to practice as his mom promised to head out and try to help this homeless dog.
Fresno: We CAN Save Them ALL!!
Fresno Humane’s leadership team just returned from the Best Friends National Conference in Los Angeles. The theme of the conference: Achieving Nationwide No-Kill Status by 2025. The strategies presented: Use data to drive decisions, target the problem areas using proven solutions, and collaborate with other agencies to get it done. Everything we heard over those three days reinforced our own mission and the importance of our efforts at a local level. We came back more committed than ever to making Fresno a no-kill community. Here’s a bit of what we learned and how it’s driving us forward.
Ceilia's Healing Story
Ceilia (A37308095) came into our emergency hospital, Fresno Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, (South of Blackstone & Herndon) on December 3, 2017. She was turned in by a “Good Sam” who found her with a rope embedded in her neck. “Our doctors and techs said this was one of the worst cases they had ever seen” said Brenda Mitchell, Fresno Humane Animal Services Board President, who received the call to pick Ceilia up to figure out what to do next. The emergency hospital cleaned the wound removed the rope and sent her off with antibiotics. Mitchell wears many hats, one of the hats that keeps her busiest is rescue coordinator for Fresno Humane. It is her job to find a happy ending for Ceilia. She posted Ceilia in our rescue group on Facebook and pleaded for help. Mitchell knew Ceilia would need ongoing medical care and a safe sterile environment to heal from her severe lacerations to her neck. Our friends at Valley Animal Center answered her plea for help and came to meet Ceilia and take her into their care.
Ashley Slusher, Animal Care Manager for Valley Animal Center said they took her immediately to their shelter veterinarian, Dr. Magnuson. She said Dr. Magnuson sprung to action and began the surgery to sew up her neck wound leaving only a small space at the base of the throat for drainage. Slusher said Dr. Magnuson has been in veterinary medicine over 30 years and not much can shock her, but Ceilia’s wounds did. “The wound was over 2 inches wide and in some spots the lacerations were very deep. Dr. Magnuson took over 2 hours to complete Ceilia’s first surgery,” Slusher said, Ceilia will need a second surgery in a few weeks to completely sew up the wound once it has finished draining and to spay her. Slusher stated, “Dr. Magnuson believed the dog had been tied up with a rope too tightly and Ceilia had been struggling against the rope to escape for at least 6 weeks to have created this type of wound”.
Angyla Brumm, Animal Services Supervisor for Fresno County, stated, “it’s against Fresno County ordinance code: 9.04.055”.
Code 9.04.055 states, 4. No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie,or restrain a dog, or cause a dog to be tethered fastened, chained, tied, or restrained to a doghouse, tree, fence or other stationary object.
Brumm pleaded, “Put yourself in that rope for a moment. You wouldn’t like it either”. Brumm said, “this ultimately resulted from the inability to properly secure the dog and keep her safe”.
Ceilia is on the mend and Valley Animal Center is thinking about her future now. “Ceilia is a doll!” and “She loves people and loves toys!” Slusher also said, “We are working on her manners as she is an excitable jumper but very smart she has already learned sit, stay and lie down”. They have started harness fittings to get her acclimated to harness walking, as they believe it is best to never have her wear anything around her neck again to limit trauma. Slusher said with a smile, “She has that German Shepherd stubbornness as I watched a few of my staff struggle to get her harness on; it was quite comical.” After healing and gaining some necessary weight, Ceilia will be available for adoption come February so look to Valley Animal Center’s Web site and social media platforms for the latest news.
Mitchell said of Ceilia, “She had the great attention of vets and caring shelters all she needs now is a loving home to spoil her for the rest of her life. It’s got the makings of a happily-ever-after!”.
To donate to Ceilia's ongoing medical care needs. Thank you!
Written by Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
The 12 days of Christmas
On the twelfth day of Christmas my County gave to me:
12 fighting roosters...
11 homeless bunnies...
10 kittens weaning...
9 mama dogs & puppies...
8 senior dogs...
Photo by Katie Lewis Photography
7 city kitties...
6 wild dogs...
5 dispatch calls for the same calf on I-5...
Photo Credit: Animal Aid
4 howling hounds...
Photo by Katie Lewis Photography
3 stray goats...
Photo Credit: The Telegraph
2 neglected horses...
and a cat stuck up in a tree...
Photo Credit: The Nest
Fresno Humane Animal Services is the animal control service provider for Fresno County. That means we receive and pick up a variety of animals from the County streets. Our jurisdictional area is the 5th largest in California. We service the unincorporated cities from Huron and Laton to the Madera border and from I-5 to Squaw Valley. We have 4 full-time animal control officers that offer solution-based animal enforcement that helps protect both animals and their owners.
Written by Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
Angels with Wheels: 1st Interview
This is an interview with a Fresno Humane volunteer transporter, Joy. The goal of the interview is to show how easy and sometimes just plain funny volunteering for an animal shelter can be. All it takes is time, a set of dependable wheels and a bleeding heart.
Interview conducted by Amanda Allen, volunteer coordinator.
Amanda: Joy, how many rescue transports have you been on? Do you know approximate miles traveled?
Joy: I've done 9 transports since March 2017, total of 1,500 miles, 59 dogs saved, including six that weren't even born yet.
Amanda: How far did you travel on your rescue adventures?
Joy: Longest trip was 310 miles (round trip) to Los Gatos. Shortest was this week to Clovis.
Amanda: Why Fresno Humane?
Joy: Fresno Humane is rocking it! I am impressed with how well you work with rescues. I am impressed with your euthanasia numbers and the fact that you don't let politics get in the way of saving lives.
Joy: You didn't ask the mechanism that got me involved. It was a Facebook post about a desperate need for a transporter TONIGHT. (Which is why I was cool with you making a post with my picture this week.) Facebook works!
Amanda: What's your motivation?
Joy: I don't have a lot of money... rescue transport is hands down the easiest way I can help. You have amazing staff and volunteers that do the hard stuff. Cleaning the kennels, feeding and play groups. I can't do that; I'm not tough enough. I can't look into a shelter dogs eyes and know I can't help them. I would fall in love with them and it would break my heart because of their unknown fate. The other volunteers are just a lot tougher than I am. :-) Transport is easier on the heartstrings because I deliver dogs to rescue groups who deliver the dogs their happy-ever-afters.
Amanda: Any funny stories from your travels with pups?
Joy: During the Los Gatos trip, I took eight puppies in one large crate, and several of them threw up during the transport. By the time we arrived, they were soaked and covered in puppy poop and vomit, and they STUNK! After transferring them to the waiting Rescue, the poopy newspapers in the crate still reeked, and I knew I couldn't drive all the way back to Fresno with that stench in the back. I decided to stop in at the Los Gatos Fire Department and ask to borrow a hose so I could spray out the crate. (Because firefighters love dogs).
I pulled up behind the station and a couple guys came out to meet me. I got out of the FHAS SUV and explained I'd been transporting puppies and they'd thrown up all over the place, and I needed to clean up before heading back to Fresno. They said no problem and offered trash bags and gloves along with their garden hose.
I went back to the SUV and discovered the keys were still in the ignition and the doors were locked. Embarrassed, I asked for more help. Fire guys got out their lockout kit, took a few minutes and popped the door. They offered to help me get the crate out, but I declined. They'd helped enough. I opened the back, grabbed the crate's front grill, and dragged the whole thing out, letting the back end of it hit the ground. One of the guys yelped and grabbed for it as it fell, the others' eyes bugged out. I didn't understand why until one of them looked a little closer and started laughing. They'd thought the puppies were still inside, and I'd been asking for their help to bathe them. Way to be helpful, Fire Guys!!
Joy headed on her way to transport 8 weaning puppies to rescue. No mom was turned in with this litter but rescue was secured in Modesto, CA with Pupz N Palz. Yay!
4 Puppies Riddled with Foxtails Dumped in the County
Foxtails burrow through the puppies body until weeks later when they make a painful exit.
Make sure to thoroughly check your dog's ears, nose, eyes, toes and more for foxtails after hiking or walking off-trails. Also, keep your backyard mowed to prevent the weeds from encrouching in your pets environment. Dr. LeAnn Dumars, DVM, Pet Medical Center and Spa, suggests: "It's best to avoid letting your pets run through dried grass as foxtails can easily be inhaled up the nostrils." She also said, "Foxtails are undetectable by x-ray and painful to remove and many times need sedation or anesthesia to facilitate removal." Dumars said, "Foxtails are literally a pain for the pet and the vet in many ways!"
Four adorable mix breed puppies were abandoned last night on the outskirts of Kerman. These sweet fur-babies were familiar with humans as they let us brush most of the foxtails out of their hair and let us give them vaccines without any fuss.
Australian Shepherd & Terrier mixes. Their scruffy hair trapped the foxtails in their coat.
So, how do 4 puppies, familiar with humans, end up abandoned on a property?
Humans failed them... these unwanted pups should have been given the opportunity to live at a no-kill rescue in comfort until finding their happily-ever-afters. Please seek help from your local animal shelters when you have found animals that you cannot properly care for. We have the information and tools to help you find a safer alternative!
Written by Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
24 Puppies in 24 Hours
In less than 24 hours 24 puppies have found themselves homeless and in need of help from Fresno Humane Animal Services. Three separate litters from 2 Fresno County areas: Miramonte & Malaga.
Three litters of pups totaling to 24 pups in all.
Fresno Humane got calls from county residents feeling overwhelmed with a puppy pile-up as stray dogs are having puppies on their property. In addition to taking the puppies, Fresno Humane has offered to assist these families capture the stray moms and offer spay assistance to prevent more litters of puppies in the future. Fresno Humane wants to remind people that we are here to assist stray dogs in Fresno County. If you spot stray dogs running loose call us to help before things get out of hand! We offer low-cost spay and neuter assistance to Fresno County residents to prevent unwanted litters. We are also a safety net for thousands of Fresno County animals as we work long hours to send dogs to our rescue partners both local and beyond.
One of our rescue angels answered our call for help!
Written by Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
"Cut the Bull" VOTE Bully 2016
Vote Bully 2016
“Cut the Bull” and let’s talk about the real issues facing Valley animals. Pitbulls are adorable, sweet and dying at alarming rates in animal shelters across the Valley. Fresno Humane will be cutting their adoption fees on Bully breeds by half for the month of November. Let’s see how the candidates weigh in on these issues (see the 2nd picture).
Gisele’s Speech:
I have served as a Bully advocate in your county animal shelter for 12 weeks, I have the experience needed to be elected. In that time, I have seen the issues that plague our Valley’s homeless pets. Too many Bullies flood the local shelters. We must preach spay & neuter. Our lost animal reclaim rates need improvement. Through low-cost microchipping services we can return lost pets to their homes. Day by day I have witnessed adopters pass by not only my cage but the cages of my Bully Buddies as well. No more! Bully Buddies are sturdy and adorable but most of all love-a-bull! Let’s cut the bull and talk about how wonderful my Bully Buddies are. Adopt our Bullies! Love-a-Bull 2016
Kaiser’s Speech:
Americans, I speak to you from a Valley in crisis. Our Bully Buddies are dying on the streets and in local animal shelters daily. Only I can fix it. Nobody loves Pitbulls more than I do. If I’m elected I will befriend charitable businessmen to pay for a new, impenetrable shelter and it will keep us safe. It will be huge with plenty of room to chase our tails. I alone can fix the problems facing us Bullies. Through Big adoption, reunion and spay and neuter campaigns our Bully overpopulation can be solved. I agree with my opponent that microchipping is a key component to reunifying our Bully Buddies with their families and I will steer that program successfully. Bullies need strong, athletic adopters that like to snuggle. We are the ultimate American dog and in need of your love! Adopt-a-Bull 2016.
Gisele (left) and Kaiser (right) are both available for adoption at Fresno Humane. We would like to say a BIG thank you to Katie Lewis for always helping our Bullies by taking beautiful pictures that show their personality. You're the best Bully Ally & Advocate!!!
As you can see both candidates agree that spay & neuter, microchipping, volunteering and adopting would improve the lives of our Valley Bullies. So, be an advocate for Bullies by researching the issues Bullies face and equip yourself with knowledge by visiting the following sites:
www.badrap.org
www.fresnobullyrescue.org
www.animalfarmfoundation.org
Thank you and VOTE Bully 2016!
Written by Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
Never Stop Looking: Spirit's Journey Home
Spirit's mommy, Sherry, first came to Fresno Humane on January 23, 2016 distraught that her fur-baby, a chocolate Labrador Retriever was lost in Shaver Lake in the snow. She looked for her dog that wandered off her property and followed the foot prints until there were no more prints to follow. Sherry came weekly to all the local animal shelters searching for Spirit. She posted on Facebook lost and found pages, Craigslist, and made lost postcards to disperse in the mailboxes of all the neighbors. On July 5, 2016, Spirit was found by a large animal veterinarian near Fowler, CA (60 miles away). Being a vet, she knew to have the dog scanned for a chip and drove it to Fresno Humane Animal Services, her local animal control agency to do so. Thanks to Spirit' microchip information being kept up-to-date we were able to make the happy call that we found Spirit! Sherry was on vacation in Kauai, HI when she got the call. She said, “I was in disbelief, I was screaming and my husband thought I was having a heart attack”. She had her mom rush over to pick her up. We wonder what happened to Spirit along her 60-mile journey but suspect that someone saw a friendly adorable dog and drove her to their home and she got out of their backyard. Maybe they didn’t know to scan for a microchip. Spirit's mom, Sherry, wants to share her love and gratitude, so she came in and purchased 15 microchips for the public to get their dogs microchipped for free. Spirit wants to remind you to love your pets by giving them a voice when you're not there. #microchipsreuniteslostpets #microchipssavelives
Co-written by Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator & Sherry (Spirits Mommy)
Thank You, Angela from State Farm, for Callie's Happily-ever-After.
Foster came in with a list of needs for his future dog. We went over the list together to make sure I got the list in my head before I introduced him to any dogs they were to meet that criteria. His list was the following:
1. Must NOT be Pitbull
2. Must be between 30 and 40 lbs.
3. Must be short haired
4. Must be female
5. Must be around 5 years of age
I had Foster sit in our shaded play yard and wait for me to bring him a dog that met his criteria. Foster is in his 80's and there are several slipping hazards that I wanted him to avoid otherwise I would have had him join me. Surely, we would have a dog that would work. I combed through our shelter dogs looking for anything that could fit. We had just had a big rescue transport the day before that pulled a lot of our medium and little dogs. So, what were we left with? Pitbulls and Pitbull mixes. He wasn't there to see the plethora of wiggly butts and huge smiles of the Bully breeds staring back at me. All deserving to leave this shelter alive with only a few getting the opportunity. Instead of giving up and telling him to check back with us another time I saw a Pitbull mix female about 30 to 35 lbs. with short hair and sweet disposition and I took a chance.
Foster asked us to make sure she got a bath before getting fixed. This was Callie drying off.
I presented Brandi to Foster. Foster immediately referred to his list of needs. And said, "but she has Pitbull in her". I also pointed to his list of needs showing all the other criteria were checked off his list. I reminded him she was mixed with something else, who knows what and that our shelter has so many great Bully breed dogs needing homes. He said he understood but that his insurance agent, who is his neighbor, wouldn't allow him to have one. I understood that the Bully breeds have a hard ban on them with some insurance companies and I about admitted defeat. I let him know to think about her and she was selling herself rubbing all over him wanting to be petted. He leaves and I put Brandi back in her cage.
Over the next couple hours, I thought about how nice Foster was and the opportunity to put a dog in this gentlemen's home. I contact my rescue friend and ask her if she has anyone that would fit the bill. She didn't have any at the moment either but suggested I stretch his criteria and try a young petite Doberman in the Reedley shelter. I call Foster to talk about this younger dog and was ready to set up a meet and greet. Foster stops me to tell me that he called his insurance agent neighbor and that the home policy he has covers Bully breeds. He said, “In fact there is no ban on any dog breeds”. Foster said with excitement in his voice that he can adopt Brandi and that he wanted to as soon as possible! I was so excited about the news but was skeptical so I asked Foster for his agent's information. I called Bob Perry’s office and spoke with Angela and asked about this no dog breed exclusion and she told me the same as Foster did. Is there really an insurance company that gets it? They're on board with all breeds of dogs being individuals and shouldn't have a blanket ban on certain breeds. I was thrilled for what this meant for the thousands of Bullies that will pass through our doors. People can adopt Bullies and still have home owner’s insurance coverage, yay! We can educate the Valley about this company that allows all breeds of dog to be covered. The company is State Farm, a well-known and competitive company. Please support companies like these that help and not harm our Valley's animals. Foster got to pick up Brandi, now Callie, yesterday after many visits with her while she awaited being spayed. She is home now safe and sound.
Foster embracing Callie on their way home!
Foster had me in tears at one point, during one of his many visits with Callie, when he talked about how lonely the past year had been for him since his dog had passed last September and that he had only really made strides to recover from his depression a few months ago. The human and animal bond runs deep. I wish many happy memories for Foster and Callie.
Foster and CALLIE VISITED THIS WEEK AND SHE ALREADY LOOKED SO MUCH BETTER! iT'S AMAZING WHAT A LOVING HOME CAN DO FOR A DOG.
Toodles,
Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
State Farm Insurance, the office of Bob Perry in Fresno CA, ask for Angela! 559-224-4546
Microchips Save Lives!
The Sandhu family was passing out hugs of gratitude the night they were reunited with their beloved pet, Cheeto. He was lost approximately 2 years ago and was brought into Fresno Humane Animal Services. Cheeto was scanned for a microchip and his owners were alerted by Fresno Humane that he had been found! Cheeto, the Sandhu Family and everyone at Fresno Humane would like to remind you about the happiness found thanks to the decision to microchip. Microchips bring hope of happy reunions. Pets found without ID have little hope of reuniting with their beloved families. Pets found with microchips usually get to go home the same day leaving room in animal shelters for dogs and cats that need our help. Fresno Humane offers microchips for $20 at our Vaccine Clinics.
How does a microchip work?
Microchips last the lifetime of your pet and are about the size of a grain of rice. The scanner uses radio frequency to show a unique chip # when your pet is scanned by an animal shelter, veterinarian's office or animal rescue. That number is given to the microchip company and the owners are contacted. This is a safe, easy way to reunite dogs with owners.
There are however some key factors that are crucial to this reunion process:
#1 Always update the microchip company when you move or change your phone numbers
#2 Have a back up person's info when possible and update their info as needed
#3 If you found a lost pet, always have it checked for a microchip before keeping it or giving it away. It's fast and easy to scan for a microchip at your local animal shelter, veterinarian and rescue group and there is no charge to do so!
Cheers to Happy Reunions and may there be many more!
Toodles,
Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
Fresno H.A.S. HEART!
The Shih Tzu featured in the pictures is A30763723. I call him Moxie, but that is not his real name. Truthfully, I don't know his name or if he will ever be called his real name again. He is a stray dog at Fresno Humane Animal Services. He arrived in a matted mess of hair and stickers. As soon as I saw him, I drove home to get my clippers. I had to make this fluff-ball more comfortable. He was an agitated, grumpy little guy but who could blame him? Once I carefully got the mats off his head, he was behaving more and more grateful. I even got a kiss on my face once he knew that I was there to help him and not harm him. I was able to see his clean, very white teeth. This beautiful boy is young and has a lifetime of love to give. He was still a little anxious once we got to his back feet and every once in a while he would strike at the clippers just to show me he could hurt me if he wanted to. Lucky for me he didn't want to. It was a long process of changing from scissors to clippers but eventually a diamond came from the rough, or should I say "ruff"? Now, I am by no means a groomer but I have had years of practice grooming my Cocker Spaniel and Poodle-Terrier, both adopted from a local animal control facility, btw. And I had to do something, I couldn't just leave him miserable and grumpy. If you would like to support this kind of compassionate animal control in your county please think adoption 1st, spay/neuter your pets and sponsor your neighbor's pets to be fixed, vaccinate and microchip your pets and start a collection drive of towels, dawn dish-soap, garbage bags, grooming supplies, newspapers, blankets, office supplies, etc. We could always use monetary donations to help with veterinary care as every single animal that comes through our doors gets vaccinated, all adopted animals get fixed and microchipped and all injured and sick animals get treated. Also, animals can't get adopted if people don't know we are here. So...like us on Facebook and share our stories with your friends!
Paws crossed for Moxie that he gets a wonderful new home soon!
Toodles,
Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
Vaccine Clinic
February 6, 2016. Had a wonderful day at Fresno Humane Animal Services (FHAS)! Dr. LeeAnn Dumars, DVM vaccinated and microchipped approximately 41 dogs and even a few cats too. We offer to the public 2 types of dog vaccines: DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza) and a Rabies vaccination, as well as a microchip, all for only $25 per dog.
Why is this important to FHAS?
Fresno Humane Animal Services is on a life-saving mission to keep dogs safely in their homes. VACCINES: If dogs are up to date on vaccines they won't be spreading deadly diseases throughout the community and if they come into our shelter their immunities will be built up to protect them. This helps FHAS to give healthy dogs back to their owners, or to community rescues, or placed into adoptive homes. We want to be a safe place for animals and these vaccination clinics help to get vaccines into rural communities. MICROCHIPS: If dogs get out of their yard and they have a microchip there are a lot of different animal organizations and veterinarians in the community that can scan for a chip and call the owner to pick up the dog right away. This leaves space in our kennels for the dogs that need us. Dogs with microchips usually = safely home by the end of the day. Sadly, dogs without microchips wait for their owners to come looking for them. Many people don't even know where to look when they loose their dogs and this leads to an overpopulation of homeless pets. Bottom line is microchips save not only your dog's life but the life of the dog that is in our kennel, as we don't have to make room for your dog.
Also...Vaccine Clinics are an opportunity to educate the public of the importance of spaying and neutering. We offer low-cost spay/neuter vouchers and it gives us a platform to talk about what steps they need to take to get the service done.
So, why is spaying/neutering so important?
It prevents unwanted litters. Fresno County has an over-population of dogs and cats. Approximately 100 dogs and cats die in our city and county each day. Several of those that are euthanized are large breed dogs such as Pit Bulls, Pit Bull mixes, Shepherds and Shepherd mixes. The more we are out in the community preaching about the importance of spaying and neutering and offering a low-cost option to do so, the less these beautiful animals have to die in shelters.
Toodles,
Amanda Allen, Community Outreach Coordinator
Dr. LeeAnn Dumars, DVM vaccinated this beautiful Shepherd.
Brenda is scanning the dog for a microchip.
It's time to tell the world!
So many things happen in a day! Trying to save lives is as much about inspiring people to do the right thing, as it is actually doing it. We always think, man we need to tell our stories. Wonderful people need to hear about our days, nights and weeks. The animals of Fresno County deserve to have a voice and we want you to meet the individuals. We have decided to start a blog. We want to share with each of you the good times and even the heartbreaking times. We want you to be a part of our success and yes, even our failures. Our goal is to be the best we can be and to grow as needed. We want to be the force that moved Fresno County to new era in animal welfare. We believe in our community, we are positive that together we an make a difference. Join us in our journey, share our stories, share our tears, our accomplishments and ultimately fall in love with Fresno County's animals.
One of the wonderful faces saved and in a forever home.
Forever is the perfect home.