Posts by Wendy Welch

3 Dead Puppies found in Ypsilanti’s Peninsular Park; Humane Society of Huron Valley asking for Tips

3 Dead Puppies found in Ypsilanti’s Peninsular Park; Humane Society of Huron Valley asking for Tips

December 21, 2020 | Comments Off on 3 Dead Puppies found in Ypsilanti’s Peninsular Park; Humane Society of Huron Valley asking for Tips

Ann Arbor, MI (December 18, 2020) — A woman who regularly walks her dog in Ypsilanti’s Peninsular Park was startled to see a dead puppy off the side of a floating dock last Thursday night. She contacted the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV). Upon investigation, a Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) Field Agent found not one, but three deceased puppies. The puppies were found at the edge of the river, just off the side of the floating dock past the main parking area; and a deceased iguana was discovered a little further out in the water. The cause
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Helping Community Cats Through Winter

Helping Community Cats Through Winter

December 16, 2020 | Comments Off on Helping Community Cats Through Winter

Sheltering Shelters come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials. For the most part, as long as the shelter is well insulated, anything from a styrofoam cooler with a hole cut out to a fancy cat house bought online will help. The most important part is that the shelter is well insulated, small enough to keep in the heat, waterproof and full of straw to help keep the cats warm. Do not use blankets in a shelter, as they get wet and freeze.  Water Water can be a tricky thing to provide during the winter months. Some things
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Turn Your Passion for Cats into Action

Turn Your Passion for Cats into Action

November 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Turn Your Passion for Cats into Action

I’m Stacy LeBaron, the host of the Community Cats Podcast (CCP), and the title of this post is the tagline I use in my introduction to each podcast episode. I started the podcast in 2016 as a way to help connect people who are helping to create a humane community for cats. I was very pleased when the Humane Society of Huron Valley reached out to me to ask whether I’d to contribute a blog post for their TNR page. Based on the great work I hear is happening there,  I was happy to contribute. And I’m also pleased to say
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Children read to homeless animals, helping both

Children read to homeless animals, helping both

October 13, 2020 | Comments Off on Children read to homeless animals, helping both

Ann Arbor, MI (October 13, 2020) –  What would dogs like to read? Fortunately for our community’s kids, everything! “Rescue Reading,” a new program at the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV), gives children the opportunity to practice their reading skills in front of a nonjudgmental audience: homeless animals. In turn, the animals receive extra attention and a calming experience with local little people. “It’s so heartwarming and a real win-win,” says Karen Patterson, a former elementary school teacher and VP of Humane Education and Volunteering at HSHV. “Research shows that children can improve their reading speed and accuracy by reading
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Article in Prominent Conservation Journal Disputes Conclusions of Anti-Cat Studies

Article in Prominent Conservation Journal Disputes Conclusions of Anti-Cat Studies

October 9, 2020 | Comments Off on Article in Prominent Conservation Journal Disputes Conclusions of Anti-Cat Studies

October 9, 2020 – An article published recently in the highly respected peer-reviewed Journal of Conservation Biology focuses on key issues within the ongoing debate over how to control feral cat populations. We found it quite interesting and think it is a worthwhile read. Some key takeaways: While cats are predators, arguments that community (sometimes referred to as feral) cats are a main contributor to mass extinctions were found to be both overblown and oversimplified, according to an interdisciplinary team of scientists and ethicists In some cases, there is evidence that cats can contribute to the the conservation of endangered birds
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Should you let a new dog sniff your hand?

Should you let a new dog sniff your hand?

September 30, 2020 | Comments Off on Should you let a new dog sniff your hand?

  How many of us were taught to extend our hand when meeting a new dog to allow them to smell it? The “sniff test” is common advice that we have probably all done, but is no longer the advisable way to introduce yourself to a new dog.  Extending your hand towards a dog you don’t know could be seen as a potential threat, and trigger a defensive bite.  Instead, turn sideways, avoid direct eye contact, and possibly toss (don’t hand) the dog some treats. Dogs have amazing senses of smell – they can gather information just fine from where
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Need childcare? Animals to the rescue! Essential workers get 50% off school-day camp

Need childcare? Animals to the rescue! Essential workers get 50% off school-day camp

September 18, 2020 | Comments Off on Need childcare? Animals to the rescue! Essential workers get 50% off school-day camp

Ann Arbor, MI (September 17, 2020) — Navigating the new school landscape may be a challenge, but the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is lending a helping paw. “Camp PAWS is one of our most popular programs during school breaks,” says Karen Patterson, VP of Humane Education and Volunteering at HSHV. “We are happy to extend this program into the school year to help support the wonderful essential workers and their families and offer a safe, fun place for their children to learn.” Camp PAWS provides a school-like environment for ages 5-11 with supervision and instruction from HSHV’s humane
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BOW… Wow! We’re the Best of Washtenaw because of you!

BOW… Wow! We’re the Best of Washtenaw because of you!

September 14, 2020 | Comments Off on BOW… Wow! We’re the Best of Washtenaw because of you!

Only because of you can we do what we do! Save animals. Help people. And keep spreading the love. And every year, you push us to do better, and we couldn’t do that without you, either! (Check out our annual report here.) So we are thrilled not only to be nominated for several 2020 Best of Washtenaw and Family Favorites awards… but win them! You make us who we are, and we are so honored to share the news of these awards with you. WINNER: BEST ANIMAL NONPROFIT WINNER: BEST VETERINARIAN WINNER: BEST ACTIVIST – HSHV’S CEO TANYA HILGENDORF WINNER:
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Building A Community Around Your Colony

Building A Community Around Your Colony

September 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Building A Community Around Your Colony

September 10, 2020 – Adding on to last month’s post on pre-scouting the area to help ID cats, another helpful step to take can be talking with members in the community about what they see and know about the cat population to help paint a fuller picture of the size/range of the population.   Before going out in the area it is best to be prepared with talking points on why TNR is the most effective and most humane way to reduce the cat population, and having handouts ready to give out is always a plus! At the very least
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