upcoming shelter renovation • meeting special needs of ... · $3,000 for pre-adoption spay/neuter...

One of Routt County Humane Society’s biggest challenges since taking over the management of the shelter in May 2015 has been finding a home for Sherman. Sherman, a two-year old Border Collie/Great Pyrenees mix, was aggressive towards new people but not towards his caretakers. As part of our mission to “encourage respect for the dignity and worth of all animals,” we explored many possible solutions to find a brighter future for him. Though he posed a notable challenge for RCHS, Sherman was not the only troubled RCHS dog needing socialization and training to be a suitable pet. Saving Sherman ultimately became a learning and growing experience for us.

Sherman made friends with shelter staff and showed those who cared for him a cheerful, cooperative dog that would make a welcome addition to someone’s life. But, shelter staff eventually witnessed reactive behavior towards community service workers at the shelter. Sherman’s unpredictability worked against him when meeting new potential adopters.

Without understanding why he was reacting this way to new people, we didn’t know the best approach to

address the behavior. And we didn’t feel that we had the tools at RCHS to help Sherman. Our quest to find a local professional that would take him on failed. Fortunately for Sherman, just when we felt we had exhausted all efforts, a blessing from the skies materialized–Sherman was accepted to Sunny Day Acres.

About Sunny Day AcresSunny Day Acres is owned by Jennifer Gray, the former Director and Senior Head Trainer of Cesar Millan’s renowned Dog Psychology Center. So, the tools and strategies seen on the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan were used to rehabilitate Sherman. Much like her mentor, Jennifer trains other professionals in the field of dog psychology and rehabilitation further enlarging the competent pool of professionals who can behaviorally balance and harmonize dogs.

RCHS Aims to Give Every Shelter Dog a Chance by Gaining Socialization Know-how

Animal Advocates Since 1985

Summer 2016 Volume XIX

NewsletterMark Your Calendar

Tuesday, July 12 @ 6:00pmQuarterly Public MeetingRoutt County Humane Society760 Critter Ct

TBD in AugustRCHS Open House and Celebration

Tuesday, October 11 @ 6:00pmQuarterly Public MeetingRoutt County Humane Society

Upcoming Shelter Renovation • Meeting Special Needs of Shelter Dogs

1Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org

Sherman was adopted upon completing the

program at Sunny Day Acres.

Thank You Dog Kennel Sponsors!

A Friend of the Humane SocietyAce HardwareBob and Holly LarsonCarol and Russ AthaCentral Park ManagementDéjà Vu ConsignmentsDonna GarthDustin’s Family & FriendsFrances JenkinsGinger and Michael KirbyJanet and Tim BordenJeff Hoch – Omaha, NEJesse LaughlinKaren and Bruce SchillerKatherine and Rick ArendtKerry & Ron ContarinoMarty and Judy Hoch – Hastings, NEPauline O’BrienRed Rover ResortSarah Katherman & Robert EllsworthSharon BigelowSMR GuestsThe Woodside FoundationTIC

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routthumane.org/donate

Gidget, a special needs black miniature poodle/

shih tzu mix with diabetes is currently in foster care.

1. Keep your pets at home in the air conditioning or a cool room.

2. Call 911 to report an animal inside an unattended vehicle. (If the vehicle is running with AC blowing, leave it alone.) You will need a description of the vehicle including color, make, model and, if possible, license plate number.

3. Go inside the nearest business and ask management to assist you. If the owner of the vehicle and pet are located, ask them to come help their pet who is in danger.

4. You cannot legally break a window to save the animal! The police/authorities can.

You can help save these animals by taking proper precautions.

How long does it take for a car to get hot?

Outside °F Inside °F10 min. 30 min.

70° 89° 104°

75° 94° 109°

80° 99° 114°

85° 104° 119°

90° 109° 124°

95° 114° 129°

Protect Pets from Heat Stroke! Do Not Leave Pets in Hot Cars!

Average rise in interior temperature of an enclosed vehicle, over time. Graphic by HeatKills.org.

Gidget, a black miniature poodle/shih tzu mix, came to Routt County Humane Society as a stray known to wander around Hayden. She was taken in by a woman who thought she would keep her. But, she realized that something wasn’t right with Gidget. She was urinating in the house a lot, drinking a lot of water, and couldn’t seem to gain weight.

The woman relinquished Gidget to

RCHS, because she was unable to provide Gidget with the immediate medical care that she needed.

Upon receiving Gidget and hearing the woman’s concerns, our shelter staff had a suspicion that Gidget could have diabetes. She showed all the classic signs; drinking excessively, frequent urination, early stages of cataracts, and she was very thin.

Go, Go Gidget

Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org

Sherman spent a month learning how to enter new environments and meet new people and challenges in a non-reactive manner. In the beginning, volunteers would be staged along his walking route and he learned not to react to each new person he encountered. Eventually, he visited parks, shopping malls and other venues with no reactivity to people, noise or unique encounters. He now enters new situations with

confidence and ignores people who previously would have been worriseome to him.

It can be very difficult for dogs to start to listen, trust and come out of their protective shells at the shelter. In working with Jennifer Gray, RCHS hopes to implement new stategies and techniques to confidently correct bad behaviour and safely socialize our shelter dogs.

Please support our efforts by donating today! Be a volunteer dog walker!


She slept a lot and seemed detached. We discovered her blood glucose was excessively high, and insulin was prescribed. Gidget was also suffering from pneumonia in addition to diabetes. Over the next few weeks her glucose levels were monitored and stabilized as the correct insulin dosages were determined.

With proper care and medication, Gidget got better and better. After a thorough grooming and a lot of love from staff and volunteers at the shelter, her personality came out. Gidget showed that she was sweet, loving, playful, and spunky.

Gidget started to let staff know when she needed to go outside, and she gained weight. She also obeyed some basic commands. She greeted shelter guests in the lobby and enjoyed socializing with the cats. She even shared her space with a diabetic cat, and they got their shots together every morning and night. Gidget went home with one of our shelter technicians each night, where she lounged around with two labradors and a golden retriever.

Gidget was very lucky to come to RCHS where the staff immediately cared for her well being. A bottle of insulin for a cat costs $175, but for a dog it is only $25 and each bottle lasts several months. Special diets, needles, glucometer, and sometimes veterinary visits to recheck glucose levels and insulin dosages can make caring for a diabetic pet expensive. At RCHS, we do everything we can to give each pet the love and medical attention they deserve.

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Put your pet in the 2017 Yampa Valley Pet Calendar!

routthumane.org/calendar

Find that special photo of your favorite pet to be

included in the 2017 Yampa Valley Pet Calendar. Your

placement/donation is tax deductible and supports

shelter animals in our community!

Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund$3,000 for pre-adoption spay/neuter surgeries, veterinary care and micro-chipping.

El Pomar (Hambrick Fund)$5,000 for general operating and program support.

Petco Foundation$5,000 for pre-adoption care of shelter animals and RCHS van interior.

Petfinder Foundation$2,500 for spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, medical care and shelter dog training.

Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation$10,000 from the Snowball Community Grant.

Yampa Valley Electric Association, Operation Round Up$2,500 to to support shelter medical care.

Thank You, Grant Funding Agencies!

Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org


It has been a little over a year since RCHS took on management of the animal shelter in Steamboat Springs. As we have settled in, we’ve realized that we could make some advantageous changes to our facility.

Kitchen RemodelThe shelter was originally built in 1997, so the kitchen, which is now also used as an exam room for the in-house shelter veterinarians, desparately needs an update.

Thanks to our grant writer and Board of Directors member, Sarah Katherman, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation awarded us a grant of $14,700 to add new flooring, countertop, appliances, and cabinets.

It is the biggest community grant that Yampa Valley Community Foundation ever awarded!

New Isolation RoomThough technically “grandfathered in” regarding state pet facility code, which requires isolation facilities in animal shelters, our shelter lacked a separate isolation room. We are now creating an isolation room. We are expanding one of the cat quarantine rooms so that it can accommodate two 4’ x 4’ dog kennels (which can be converted to a 4’ x 8’ dog kennel) and six cat kennels.

This isolation room project is being partly financed by the Rainbow Bridge Fund, made possible through cremation services offered at the shelter.

New Office FlooringOur last change is removing the almost 20-year-old carpet from the office and replacing it with vinyl flooring. After 20 years of foot traffic from people, cats, and dogs, the old carpet must go!

Our whole remodel will cost about $25,000, and currently, we are looking for an additional $5000 to cover the last bit of cost. When the remodel is finished we will host an open house to celebrate our one year shelter anniversary!

Hogs for Dogs Charity Bike Rally Dude & Dan’s Bar and Grill in downtown Steamboat held their first annual Hogs for Dogs Charity Bike Rally on Saturday, June 11. With over 40 riders, the event raised nearly $1,000 for the Routt County Humane Society. Event organizer and Dude & Dan’s Owner, Brandon Pfaff, hopes to continue to grow the bike rally and host it annually.

Other Small Fundraisers

Trish Carpenter (book sales)Annie and Kristin Hager

birthday moneyEllie Brown (in lieu of birthday

presents)Charlotte Teuscher

Thank you for raising money for the Routt County Humane Society. Your contribution helps us save lives!

Motorcycles line the streets of Oak Creek during the Hogs for Dogs Charity Bike Rally.

Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org4

This grant was made from the following funds:

• $1,200 McEvoy Share Plan• $1,000 Travis Family Memorial

Endowment• $10,000 Ski Corp. Charitable

Fund• $942 Environment Field of

Interest Endowment• $1,558 YVCF Community Grant


Changes Are Afoot, Shelter Renovations Are Starting


Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org 5Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org

Okay, I’m a sucker for dogs. Especially the ones who have not been given the opportunity to live up to their full potential, to demonstrate who they were meant to be. Some are unable to thrive or show their true (often amazing, sometimes goofy) personalities in a shelter environment. Some sweet, loving dogs can come across as aggressive or anti-social, when in reality, they are fearful of their unfamiliar surroundings. New sounds, other dogs barking, different scents and visual stimuli can be overwhelming. Removing a dog from this situation and putting him in a more calm, typical environment can greatly improve his chances for a successful adoption. This is why we like to have individuals and families sign up to be foster parents for our wonderful, deserving animals.

My husband, daughter and I have fostered many dogs over the years. I cannot begin to describe how rewarding it is to witness them

thrive in a home environment in a way that would not have been possible at the shelter.

Fostering is a family endeavor. This allows the dog to be exposed to different dynamics and behaviors in safe surroundings. I use my dog Sydney as a mentor to teach our foster trust, confidence, and manners (well, except for the barking…). It is amazing to watch her assume that role as soon as a new dog enters the house. She takes her job seriously! And, I love the fact that when each one leaves for their new life, they take a little bit of Sydney with them. I make it a priority to socialize and exercise our foster, to expose him to varied people, noises, movements, and other dogs. People on the trails are always willing to help us out, depending on the needs of our specific dog.

I experience great happiness and fulfillment when I see our successful

fosters around town Some of these dogs would have likely been euthanized if they had not been given the opportunity to leave the shelter. I feel like they were waiting for their just right forever family. The owners of the first dog we ever fostered (approximately 8 years ago) still keep in touch with me and send pictures every year. Their dog still does not like strangers, or to be touched on her hind quarters. I recently got to see her after many years. She let me hug her and pet her in a way she typically does not allow. Her family feels confident that she remembered me. What an honor that was for me!

My husband is an angel. He generally doesn’t even blink an eye when I bring another dog home. He just flows into the routine of helping to make this dog whole, of allowing him to flourish. We know there will be more dog hair in the house, things chewed that can be replaced (hopefully!), inconveniences with walking. These are minor troubles when compared with the gift of witnessing a “problem” dog blossom. We have seen many growly, fearful dogs transform into trusting, cuddly dogs who like to rest their heads on our laps and have their bellies scratched This development of trust, which has been sorely absent in the past, is heartwarming. It is the foundation of a much-deserved life.

Yes, it is difficult to give up those dogs we get attached to and fall in love with. But, we need to make room for the next one.

By Linda Liman

Become a Foster Parent to Nurture and Enrich a Shelter Dog in Need

Sydney and RCHS foster sister, Brownie, pause for a

winter photo op!


Thank you to our Animal Rescue Partners!Mountain Pet RescueMPR is a Colorado nonprofit organization dedicated to finding forever homes for pets in need. MPR focuses on active mountain dogs that face euthanization or are considered unadoptable in other areas of the country, but are in high demand in Colorado’s mountain communities. mountainpetrescue.org

Animal Assistance League of Northwest ColoradoAAL offers humane education and support to citizens, animal shelters, and rescues in Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Grand and Jackson Counties.

Colorado Animal Rescue ExpressCARE is dedicated to providing safe transportation of homeless pets to approved rescues and adoptive homes. CARE is committed to reducing the number of homeless pets by funding spay and neuter programs. CARE assists homeless pets with veterinary care through Jake’s Fund. CARE helps individuals keep their pets during times of hardship, and assists pets and shelters affected by natural disasters. CARE provides donated food, supplies, and capital improvements to disadvantaged shelters and rescuers. caretransport.org

Thank you for your recent donations, memorials, honors and commitment to animals!In Memory Of

Rico, by Linda and RichDanter, Natalie Hurtig,and Stephen Dearholt

Kitty, by Mary KurtzDarrell Stonebrink, by Viola LookBlue Ditrani, by Scott and Colleen

WhitemanLilly King, by Charity JeckelNancy and Matzoball, by

Jonathan LevinShep Landy, by Susan DreskaZoe Inglefield, by Ute and Michael

Lichtenstein and Susan DreskaJean Stratton, by Rosanne

AndrewGiz, by Fred and Candi GarrisonFaithful Companion of John and

Tara Yohannan, by Fredand Candi Garrison

Bella Wiedemer, by Diane andMike Lane

Missy May, by Frances JenkinsFannie-Rose Oxman, by Linda and

Les LimanDoak and King George, by Diane

and Mike LaneSweet Pea Haubert, by Jacqueline

TeuscherCheli Elliott, by Ute and Michael

Lichtenstein

In Honor OfLauren Ehrlich’s Bat Mitzvah, by

Caitlin EmanuelCarla Ooyen and Eric Jensen, by

Rosemary OoyenScott Giller, by RSM US LLP

Xena FundCarol and Russ AthaMike & Mary CirclePaul Ralston & Mariana Ishida

6 Routt County Humane Society l PO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org

Gary with Pilots N Paws brings Stella and her

puppies to Steamboat. Thank you, Mountain Pet

Rescue, for coordinating the transport from a high-kill

shelter in Oklahoma on May 20. All have been adopted

from RCHS!


Our Animal Rescue Partners make it possible for RCHS to save more animals from overpopulated shelters and find them suitable forever homes in Routt County and the Steamboat Springs area. Please consider supporting the work that they do by making a

donation to them!

Ana AcostaSusan and Gerard AlbersBruce AllbrightLaura AndersonEllen ArcherGordon BakerAlpine BankMatthew BarberHannah BisbeeNichole BoettcherKaren and Gene Brander Julian BristowThomas Brown April BrunkSarah BucknerThe Buddhist Center of

Steamboat SpringsRobert BurksBusiness for Isness

FoundationGarrett ByeByrne Equipment Sales Barbara CannizzioMichelle and Stephen

Caragol Katherine Carroll,

throughRevolutionEHR

Trish and Rob Carpenter Charles ChaseJanet CinoJoseph ClynesWilton CogswellCarter ColeMonique Cole Kerry ContarinoJerry and Kathy CraigAnnette Della CroceLynn and Bill Davis Déjà Vu ConsignmentsJim and Ann Dery Susan Dreska Doc’s AutoDan DooleyECOPHONESCarole EimersRhonda EricksonExxonMobil FoundationJohn FawcettNikki Flamio

Douglas FleenerSheree FredaBarb FultonIzzy Gagliano Cheryl GarrityDolores GallBerenisse GarciaCandi Garrison Bernice Gates Hopper Family FundBeth GavelleKatherine GeorgeSara GezonScott and Jennifer GillerLilly GonzalezDon GoreBeth GravelleScott GrosjeanBrady, David, and Lewis

GrootersGondola Pub & GrillStu Roberts and Lulu

GouldJeffry and Wendy

Gustafson Gary and Dot Haberlan Heather and Peter HackCarol HalikJohn Harris Carrie HendersonPat HennessyAmy HillenbrandTeresa and Bruce HindeDenyce and Mike

HodderThomas HollidayNancy HummelRick HubinaRobert Ellsworth and

Sarah KathermanD’Ann KavanaughKaren KellenbergerJames and Lynn KelleyChristine KentonSue KimesJames and Laurie KohlerPaul KomorBryan KoplowJohn and Leellen KoroulisLeeEllen Korous

Rob KossackDiane and Mike LaneLee’s Keys Plus, LLCLinda LeonardKristen LileLinda and Les LimanErica LindemannKaren LinskyLuck Family FoundationVerne and Nancy

LundquistCarol MahoneyCarol and Willy

MarkowitzLisa and Richard MarxAntonio MarxwachNora MatteoNancy MayerAnne MayberryMarilyn McCaulleyDave and Linda McIrvinSusan MeadTerri MeeksJames MeyersKristina MitchellWilliam MitchellKatie MooreSandra MorrisonMicheal MowCathleen Neelan Larry NelsonJohn NydamPauline O’BrienHunter OgdenJessica Olsen Abby Olson Karen OlsonApril ParsonsCindy Patten Linda PringleHolly PropstWendy PuckettPamela RicheySkye RichardsErika RickHenry RoathElizabeth RobbinsCurtis and Wendy

RogersJanie Romick

Alicia SabinBarbara Ann SachsSteven and Tammy

SchiblineLane SchrockMr. and Mrs. Fred

SchvetzJessica ScrobleShirt Off My Back John and Mary Jane

Singer Chan Spear Caryll and

Norman Sprague Jr.Foundation

Deb and Phil StreetSteamboat Engineering

& Architectural DesignSteamboat ResortsMark and Lindsay SteppErin Sudmalis Ellen SullivanCatherine Swan Joy and Denny SwansonJoseph TatarBeth TaylorTICYvonne TrueloveSara VanblarcumVerizon FoundationRon Gordon and Kelly

VictoryStephane Vordermeier,

throughRevolutionEHR

Molly WatersBlair and John Weibel Andrew WeinraubTina WeintraubLarry Klingman and

Joella WestAndrew WilderLisa Williams Lily YamashitaYampa Valley

Community Foundation

Martha YoungKathrine ZdeelickKathie and Pat ZelekTracy Zuschlag

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Thank you to all who have donated to the Routt County Humane Society!We sincerely apologize if we inadvertently omitted anyone due to our new software.


Routt County Humane SocietyPO Box 772080Steamboat Springs, CO [email protected]

NonprofitPOSTAGE PAID

SBS, COPermit #58

RCHS Board of DirectorsMaggie Smith, Co-PresidentPatrick Welsh, Co-PresdientLindsay Stepp, Vice PresidentMarilyn McCaulley, SecretaryKaren Schiller, TreasurerEllen ArcherLisa Archer-LeachSarah Katherman Larry KlingmanLinda Liman

“The Routt County Humane Society is a non-profit, dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals, providing humane education, promoting spaying and neutering as a means of decreasing the number

of unwanted pets, and encouraging respect for the dignity and worth of all animals.”

Become a Member of the Routt County Humane SocietyPO Box 772080 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 l 970-879-RCHS l routthumane.org

Individual $15

Family $25

Business

Basic $50

Supporting $100

Benefactor $150

Corporate Sponsor

Contact us for details.

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upcoming shelter renovation • meeting special needs of ... · $3,000 for pre-adoption spay/neuter...

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