Posts by Wendy Welch

Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

May 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

[print-me]   It’s been an uncertain time for all of us – including the kitties in our lives. We’re home more and our cats are likely wondering why their nap schedule has been suddenly thrown off by human intervention.  Cats thrive on schedule/routine, and even if they’re used to you being home, they’re likely not used to you being home ALL of the time, and their normalcy can be easily disrupted.  Cats may respond to this change in many ways, like being active at times they’re usually not (cat suddenly waking you up at night?), vocalizing more than normal, seeking
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Dogs and Masks

Dogs and Masks

May 6, 2020 | Comments Off on Dogs and Masks

[print-me]   There is no doubt, the recent weeks have been strange and stressful for all of us.  Coming months will also likely bring more changes and adjustments in our lifestyles for both us and our pets.   One of the new sights that you might increasingly be encountering out on walks may be people wearing CDC-recommended face masks or other facial coverings.  You may be getting used to this new sight yourself, so imagine how strange it may look to your canine companion, who is suddenly wondering why humans look so different.   Help your dog out by getting
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Returning to work? How to prepare your dog

Returning to work? How to prepare your dog

April 24, 2020 | Comments Off on Returning to work? How to prepare your dog

[print-me]   Is your dog actually loving the current stay-at-home order?  Pets may be the one part of the population who are not minding this new routine, as now they have you all to themselves all day long!  While you are hopefully enjoying all this extra time with your pets, you may have concerns about how your puppy or dog is going to adjust when things start to return to normal and we are leaving during the day again.  Now is the time to start working on preparing your dog for this eventual change.   First, set up a special
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Animals and COVID-19

Animals and COVID-19

April 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Animals and COVID-19

As you may have recently heard in the news, a tiger in the Bronx zoo became mildly ill and tested positive for COVID-19. There have also been media reports about a small study just published suggesting that domestic cats are susceptible. Dogs may be vulnerable too, but the evidence points to this being less likely. In this study, a few cats and kittens were injected with mega doses of the virus, contracted the disease and infected other cats. Understandably, these stories are adding to the confusion and worry about how to keep ourselves and our animals safe.  But neither the zoo
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Humane Society goes virtual during Covid-19 crisis

Humane Society goes virtual during Covid-19 crisis

April 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Humane Society goes virtual during Covid-19 crisis

April 6, 2020 (Ann Arbor, MI) – Like many other animal shelters in Michigan, HSHV is offering only essential services and following all official recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19. Adoptions and animal intakes are by appointment only. The outpatient veterinary clinic is no longer performing outpatient sterilizations or other non-essential exams. All onsite programs and events have been canceled and HSHV’s cat cafe, Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center, remains closed until further notice. But, during this time of social isolation, community members can still connect with animals and people from the comfort of their couch.  HSHV has gone
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How You Can Help Animals Now

How You Can Help Animals Now

March 26, 2020 | Comments Off on How You Can Help Animals Now

HSHV is deeply committed to our animals, our animal loving community and the many vulnerable families in our community. In this time of turmoil and uncertainty, there are many things we can’t do, but many things we can.
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HSHV reminds community, “We’re still here for the animals and you”

HSHV reminds community, “We’re still here for the animals and you”

March 18, 2020 | Comments Off on HSHV reminds community, “We’re still here for the animals and you”

As many hunker down with their furry friends, others suffer quarantine loneliness or economic uncertainty, and Washtenaw County's 120+ year old Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) wants to remind you they're still here. "Our pets are so important to our families, health and wellness. While HSHV has cancelled or postponed all group activities, we remain open for the most critical needs of our beloved animals," says Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV's CEO.
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What is a feral cat and what is a stray?

What is a feral cat and what is a stray?

March 12, 2020 | Comments Off on What is a feral cat and what is a stray?

  To determine if a cat is simply a visiting community cat from the neighborhood or a lost or abandoned stray cat, monitor the cat for a few days. If the cat is clean and healthy, it is likely a community cat just visiting. You may notice that the cat already has an ear tip on its left ear, indicating it has been sterilized through a TNR program. If the cat is friendly, you can place a collar on the cat’s neck with a note asking the owners to notify you if this is their cat. This way, an owned
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It’s like he’s always belonged here.

It’s like he’s always belonged here.

March 9, 2020 | Comments Off on It’s like he’s always belonged here.

I’ve had animals as part of my life for as long as I can remember. After I lost my last cat two months ago, I thought I would wait until the fall to travel over the summer and then commit to another animal. Needless to say, I only made it three weeks. I came to the shelter and kept circling back to a cat that one of the volunteers was petting. When I asked if I could see him, of course she said yes! And when I bent down to pet him, he licked my hand. That was it! I
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Marzipan moon pie

Marzipan moon pie

March 9, 2020 | Comments Off on Marzipan moon pie

Before my husband and I were married, we attended college together at the University of Michigan. We both loved cats and knew that we needed to find the perfect companion to complete our little family. We went to the Humane Society and fell in love with Marzy (previously Honey). Since then we’ve been through graduate school, multiple city moves, new jobs, and Marzy has been by our sides for everything providing soft comforting purrs and warm cuddly naps. A few months ago, we bought a home and moved to Dixboro, so close to where our little family started at the
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