These animals are not only cats and

dogs. Any animal in our service area

that needs food, shelter or care is wel-

come. That encompasses many variet-

ies of animals—and a lot of expertise.

PHS staff is trained to handle wildlife—

from raccoons to raptors, opossums to

owls. We carry the licenses to reha-

bilitate wildlife and can care for them

when they are injured or sick.

The animals that come to the shelter

refl ect the animals in our service area,

which is located near the foothills and

covers 500,000 households. If you

visit our kennels, you can expect to see

cats and dogs, rabbits and birds. If you

are lucky, you may spot owls, a turkey

vulture, a bobcat, and perhaps a pot

bellied pig or a goat or two. In 2009,

you might have seen peacocks, mal-

lards, frogs, opossums, foxes, parrots

or even a tarantula!

Each animal received excellent

individualized treatment.

The PHS mission statement, Care and

Compassion for All Animals, is fulfi lled

everyday by our very capable staff.

So if you see an injured deer, a bear

in your avocado tree or a stray dog in

your neighborhood, let us know. PHS

can take care of that animal no matter

what the situation may be.

May | JUne 2010

Getting the Job DoneThe Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is an open-door shelter. That means we accept any animal in our service area no matter its age, temperament, species or health. In our facility in 2009, PHS staff cared for more than 33 new animals a day, over 232 each week and over 12,100 in the year.

compassion and care for all animals

pasadena humane society & spca

pg

. 2

Founded in 1903, the Pasadena Hu-

mane Society & SPCA has grown up

with the city of Pasadena. Because

of our long history in the area, resi-

dents and businesses have grown to

rely upon PHS for all of their animal

care needs, and expect us to respond

effectively and quickly to any animal

issue that may arise.

In the early years, besides protecting women and children, the humane trend

was to ensure the proper care of working animals. Horses were part of the local

industry. A family’s well-being was tied intrinsically to its horses, goats, cattle

and other work animals. Now although most of our work with animals centers on

companion animals and wildlife, we remain influenced by our beginnings.

The first location on Raymond Avenue was across the street from the Lowe Opera

House just south of Bellevue. The current property was purchased in 1914 and the

historic facility on Raymond Avenue was built in 1932. The Pasadena Humane

Society became a Cultural Heritage Landmark in 1984.

Our first animal control vehicle, a horse drawn carriage, doubled as an ambulance

and was scheduled to appear in the Rose Parade of 1908. PHS was pulled from

that parade to treat an injured animal but we made the complete route in 2003,

with a float to celebrate our 100 year anniversary and the work of all Animal

Welfare Agencies.

I spotted an old photograph of an early motorized animal control vehicle and

thought about the rich and varied history of PHS. Some day in the future, I’d love

to see a modernized replica of this antique truck driving the streets of our service

area delivering pet food for the pets of people who cannot get to our shelter

easily. What a great way to keep the personalized service that has characterized

PHS while attending to the needs of the animals.

PHS has become the excellent shelter it is today because of your support. Thank

you for helping the animals.

For the animals,

Steve

leader of the pack

PAg e 2

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is NOT part of the ASPCA. When

you donate to PHS you are helping animals here in Southern California.

The ASPCA does not distribute donations locally. Each spca in the

country is legally separate from all of the others. Donate to the Pasadena

Humane Society & SPCA and help the animals in your community

http://www.pasadenahumane.org/donate

did yoU knoW

PAg e 3

?* The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA was founded in 1903 and incor-

porated in 1907. PHS has been at the current location since approximately

1914. At that time, PHS was the location was in the middle of the indus-

trial area, close to the railroad station.

* Our offi ce staff has super powers! They answer telephones, welcome

stray animals, give directions, rent traps, reunite lost owners with their

pets, update our database, reply to every question you can imagine—

and that’s just a sample of things they do daily. PHS could not run

smoothly without them.

* The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA provides dog licensing for the

cities of Arcadia, La Cañada, and San Marino. Residents of all other cities

should contact the appropriate City Hall for licensing information.

* Dogs and cats 5 years or older make excellent companions and have

very different needs and requirements than a puppy or kitten. If you

are 60 years young and are looking for a new pet, you might consider a

more mature cat or dog. Because of a generous subsidized program, all

adoption fees will be waived.

* It’s baby animal season! Help us prevent litters of unwanted animals by

spaying and neutering your pets. Encourage your neighbors to do the

same. Spay and neuter will help end the tragedy of pet overpopulation!

Call 626.792.7151 ext. 138.

* Join us on Facebook, the social networking website that allows users

to interact with people and organizations in a unique and modern way.

“Become a Fan” of the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and stay in

touch and informed. We would love to see photos of PHS alumni in their

new homes.

pg

. 2

Hummingbirds

Wild things

PAg e 4

HummingbirdsHummingbirds

Many people may not realize that hum-

mingbirds do not survive off fl ower

nectar or sugar water alone. They use

the energy they get from fl owers to

catch small insects such as fruit fl ies.

It is important not to use pesticides in

your garden as they can be dangerous

for hummingbirds.

Feeders must be thoroughly cleaned

every 2-3 days to prevent the devel-

opment of a common, deadly fungus.

Feeder solution should be four parts

boiled water to one part white cane

sugar. Other ingredients or artifi cial

color may be harmful to hummingbirds.

Be sure to hang feeders out of reach of

neighborhood cats.

In the spring, female hummingbirds

build nests of spider web and plant ma-

terial. After laying two eggs, the mother

bird will incubate them for a couple of

weeks. Baby hummingbirds are born

tiny and featherless but are full grown

and ready to fl edge within a few weeks.

If you fi nd a nest on the ground, place

the nest in a small box and secure it

to the tree to prevent it from falling

again. Your scent and the box will not

deter the mother. Even if it is not fully

feathered, a baby on the ground can be

placed back in the nest.

Older, fully feathered babies can be out

of the nest if they are off the ground.

These fl edglings are likely under the

care of a watchful mother. Stay at

a distance and look for signs of the

mother. If you see the mother and the

area appears free of predators, leave the

fl edgling alone.

If a baby hummingbird appears to be

in distress or has no mother, place the

bird in a box with tissue paper and small

air hole. Keep the bird in a warm, dark,

quiet place and immediately contact a

licensed bird rehabilitator or our wildlife

offi cer at 626-792-7151 ext.110.

Hummingbirds live only in the western hemisphere and

are plentiful in California. Some species live here year-round

while others migrate. People often encourage visits from

these beautiful birds by hanging colorful feeders and

planting fl ower gardens.

Q: My dog growls at people when he’s on my lap! He has snapped at

a few people before and I’m afraid he might actually bite someone.

What should I do?

A: This common behavior among small dogs, lap guarding, is a form of

resource guarding. As soon as your dog begins to growl, give a verbal

correction and place him on the floor. Continue the process until people

can get closer to you. Have them give him a treat if he does not vocalize.

Time and consistency are key.

Q: Should I chase my dog when he starts to become overly active in the

house? I try to call him but he pretends he can’t hear me, ignores me

and keeps going.

A: Chasing an unruly dog does very little to promote positive alternative

behaviors, such as a reliable recall. Try to calm your dog by kneeling

down and calling him to you. Reward your dog if you only had to call

once or twice. If you had to call in an excited voice multiple times,

give your dog a second command such as “sit” and then reward.

This will not only help your control and relationship but will teach a

dependable recall.

Q: My dog is anxious when I leave and whines all day long. What can I

do to help stop this behavior?

A: Many dogs become anxious when their owners prepare to leave for the

day and some may experience isolation distress. Dogs will cue in to the

signals we give such as putting on our coats or shoes, picking up our

keys, saying goodbye to our dog, etc.

To desensitize your dogs to these cues you can repeatedly pick up

your keys and put them down when you are at home and not preparing

to leave. You can also change your routine to make yourself less

predictable.

Additionally, distract your dog with something fun before you leave.

A frozen peanut butter Kong or puzzle toy can provide entertainment

for several hours. Set one down for your dog just before walking out

the door to distract your dog and to create a positive association with

your leaving.

For more tips and information please contact the Pasadena Humane Society & SCPA’s Behavior & Training Department at 626.792.7151 ext. 155.

Tips and Myths about Pets

PAg e 5

?

behavior & training Q A

pg

. 2

The Wall Cat’s Heroic Rescue

happy tails

PAg e 6

Officer Mills called the Arcadia Fire

Department to help out. Together, they

determined that cutting a hole in the

wall would be the only way to safely

free the animal. Officer Mills subdued

the cat using a tranquilizer on a pole to

prevent it from going through any more

undue stress. Then, with permission

from the homeowner, the Fire Depart-

ment cut a hole at the base of the wall.

The cat was carefully removed and

immediately brought to the Pasadena

Humane Society for treatment. The

clinic staff was amazed (and relieved)

to find that the lovely tabby was

healthy and had only minor injuries

from its ordeal. The “Wall Cat” quickly

became a staff favorite. No long after

her rescue, she was adopted into a

loving forever home.

Rescuing animals is all in a day’s work

for our Animal Control officers. They

respond to an average of 64 calls

a day. Not all are this dramatic, of

course, but they do range from animal

cruelty and neglect investigations,

injured wildlife, barking complaints,

stray animal pick-up, animal rescue,

and more. Our dedicated officers work

hard to enforce animal related laws

within our seven service cities, keeping

our communities safe for animals and

people alike.

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA routinely works with other shelters and rescue groups to find homes for animals. Your support helps to make this possible.

It was early morning in January. A gardener in Arcadia heard

the desperate cries of a cat coming from a backyard, and

immediately called the Pasadena Humane Society. Officer Ian

Mills was quick to respond. He found the cat stuck in a tight

space between two seven-foot cement walls. The space was

so narrow that he was unsure how the animal got in between

the walls. There certainly was no easy way to get the cat out

— the walls were too high.

On a balmy evening in March, the

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

hosted a reception to thank the

2009 members of its Director’s

Circle—donors who gave $500 or

more in the last year.

The Humane Society’s training

room, normally the site of our ca-

nine behavior classes, was trans-

formed into a festive celebration

of spring. Guests enjoyed a light

supper while they visited with staff

representatives from Adoptions,

Behavior, Community Resources, Development, Field Services, Front Offi ce,

Health, Humane Education, SNiP, Volunteer Services and Wildlife. Each guest

also had the opportunity to receive

some animal smooches at the “Kissing

Booth” and a photo to commemorate

the fun. President and CEO Steve Mc-

Nall introduced the latest of his famous

slide shows, and newly elected board

chair Nancy Plamann announced the

founding of Angels for Animals, the

PHS & SPCA’s new Major Donor Club.

Together, Director’s Circle members

donated nearly $1 million to help

the animals in 2009. For information

on how you can become a member

of the Director’s Circle or Angels for

Animals, please call Courtnay Bragagnolo at (626) 792-7151, ext. 123, or email

cbragagnolo@phsspca.org.

The Wall Cat’s Heroic Rescue

event roUnd-Up

PAg e 7

Donors Honored at Reception

SAVE THE DATE!The 12th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk will be held on Sunday, September 26,

2010 at Pasadena’s Brookside Park. It’s not too soon to register your team and

create your own personal fundraising page now at www.wigglewagglewalk.org.

For more information, please call (626)792-7151, ext. 167.

PHOTOS ABOVE: GUESTS SHARE A MOMENT WITH AFFECTIONATE SPANIEL-MIX SWEETUMS AT THE KISSING BOOTH.TOP COUPLE: WOODY AND TERRY WALKER BOTTOM PHOTO: DAN LIEN

Facility HoursTues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am—6 pmSat 9 am—5 pmSun 11 am—5 pm

Adoption HoursTues, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am—4 pmSat 9 am—3 pmSun 11 am—3 pm

www.pasadenahumane.org

24 hour Emergency Service please call 626.792.7151Glendale residents please call toll-free 818.240.9100

Non-profitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPasadena, CA

Permit No. 1142361 South Raymond Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91105

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a

private, non-profit, open door, animal welfare

agency serving the communities of Arcadia, Glen-

dale, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, San Marino,

Sierra Madre and South Pasadena.