Blog it! Susie is leaving us.....

It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog. As some already know, Susie Kaznowitz, our volunteer and development coordinator, is leaving us in a few weeks. The reasons are written in the space time fabric of the universe and if you are intuitive enough to read it….it is there for all to see. For those of you who are space time fabrically challenged, I will say only that she is moving on to ever changing adventures and higher levels of growth on her journey. She will be sorely missed.

 Reasons Susie will be sorely missed:

1. When people use the expression, “So and so is a breath of fresh air,” they are talking about someone like Susie. When she walks into a room, the ether literally changes. Sometimes we used her as air freshener…..but we couldn’t find the ‘silent’ button, so that was short lived.

2. Susie is a straight shooter. If you want a completely honest and unbiased opinion – ask Susie. And she has them aplenty. But I’ve found, in coming to know Susie, that her opinion was always in line with how a decision affected the animals. For example, “Do we choose Sun Chips or pound cake to put in the vending machine this month?” Easy……what does Patricia like? Pound cake. As I said, always on the side of the animals…..

3. Susie is a team player. And what’s more, she is a versatile player. Just tell her what hat to put on and what position to play today, and our little chameleon is on it! From getting sponsors for fundraisers to planning birthday parties to constructing our website to managing all volunteers to helping in other departments when shorthanded……I could go on and on. Her excitement in answering the phone to make an appointment for the vet clinic is simply an inspiration in and of itself.

4. Susie’s laugh is contagious. Laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. And when Susie laughs from the deepest recesses of her soul (which is every time she laughs), I can see that even Michelle cannot stop the corners of her mouth from turning upward.

5. Her compassion is intertwined with the rarest commodity on the market: common sense. People are so worried about being politically correct, that their compassion at times seems more like a half- hearted attempt at being pathetically sympathetic. Susie hits you hard with a soft heart. THAT is compassion.

6. Susie is geographically challenged. And it makes us laugh.

7. Susie loves to color outside the lines. Not everyone appreciates this, and to these people I can only say, “Your world of black and white must be a dull one.” Here is her latest project:

8. And lastly, Susie fills her days with a colorful passion that must make passionless people simply green with envy. She LIVES. She LOVES. She RESCUES. And she has colored the lines of the St. Tammany Humane Society with a spirit that we should all strive to possess.

This is why we salute Susie, why she will be sorely missed, and we wish the world luck in dealing with her when she is in a bad mood.

STHS Staff

The Philosophy of Understanding Sid

Namaste

We tout the fact that we are a no-kill shelter here at the St. Tammany Humane Society. And why not? It is a status to take pride in. I want you to keep this in mind as I veer from that point for a moment.


This morning, as I drank my jasmine tea and glanced at a short passage by Thich Nhat Hahn, I read, “To be true, love needs to contain both real understanding and right action which takes time and patience.” And I thought about this: To be true, love has a requisite of real understanding. Such a commonly accepted truth is oft times taken for granted, as these two words are linked together in our language almost ad nauseum. But when I took a moment to reflect upon this little over-quoted truism, I realized that I didn’t ‘understand’ understanding at all. When I think of the things in life that I truly love, then (and only then) do I fully comprehend what it means to understand, or empathize with another person, animal, or plant (I once had a very special friendship with a rubber tree with whom I felt a strong connection). Conversely, if I consciously make an effort (right action which takes time and patience, according to Thich Nhat Hahn) to understand a fellow being, a feeling of true love and compassion will naturally follow, as the two can hardly be separated.

Now that I have more accurately and clearly defined the relationship between love and understanding, I can see that you cannot have one without the other. If I love, I understand. If I understand, I love. And yet this simple equation has the masses confounded…..for we do not know how to begin the path which leads to understanding. It begins with ‘seeing’ what we are looking at.

I am the ideal example of one of the ignorant masses, as I am mediocre in almost every aspect of one’s mental, physical, and philosophical leanings. Therefore I shall use myself as the guinea pig in the following vignette.

Sid, as many of you who are familiar with STHS already know, is the longest resident at the Humane Society. He is a 4 year old mixed breed and has been here for about 3 of those years. I have walked past Sid’s kennel several hundred times, and watched with a wary eye as he sometimes (not always) lunged at the potential adopters walking by. I must admit, my level of understanding at this point was very low. And so, in an effort to socialize Sid, he was brought in as the ‘office dog’ for a while. Trying to scoot him out of the break room one afternoon, he whipped around and snapped at me in a sinister warning. Again….my level of understanding sunk even lower, probably teetering near rock bottom. In addition to negative firsthand experience, hearing negative second and third hand accounts seemed to accumulate and harden my already unfavorable feelings toward Sid.

And then I made the decision to mentally ‘stop’ and instead of merely looking at Sid, I made a sincere effort to ‘see’ Sid. And what I saw jarred me a little. For in trying to see Sid, I saw many aspects of myself.

I saw a soul sinking in the sedentary, trying to make sense of his world and those in it. I saw his fear of change. I saw confusion when he could not read the minds of people in knowing what was expected of him. I saw his yearning for affection and pleas for guidance. I saw his grit and spirit rise up when he felt cornered and misunderstood. I saw his hope wane behind the bars that he has unwittingly secured, blocking his path to freedom. I saw us all.

It is difficult to raise our awareness to a point to which we can truly ‘see’ ALL people and animals in this light. But not impossible. STHS challenges you to begin that path of understanding. And if you, or anyone you know, is an experienced dog owner and looking to adopt……..we ask that you consider our Sid. And in returning to my initial statement: St. Tammany Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, but we must be mindful of saving the spirit as well as the physical body of every animal in our care! Until then no shelter or rescue, in all honesty, can claim to be no kill. UNDERSTAND. LOVE. RESCUE.

STHS: Looking back at 2011

As we usher in a new year, we at St. Tammany Humane Society wish to take a few moments to reflect upon the changes, growth, and success of 2011. We have seen both physical and financial growth, ranging from new buildings and programs to an increase in donations and fundraising.

Of course, everyone is familiar with our much anticipated spring and fall   fundraisers: Woofstock and Unleashed: Bash on the Bayou. Woofstock, held  at Pelican Park in 2011, ushered in spring fever for the pet lovers of the community with our low cost vet clinic, replete with all the pet care provisions and festival activities that make Woofstock such a howling good time. And though the absence of our honorary chairperson of Unleashed (Ian Somerholder) was certainly felt by his fans in attendance and those who acknowledge the wonderful things he has done for STHS, the event was a smashing success, raising $90,000 for our shelter!

Other fundraisers that our community supporters look forward to are our annual Poker Run on the Mandeville lakefront and Yappy Hour. STHS’s second annual Poker Run had a turnout that could definitely be considered a “full house” and the money raised had the shelter pups feeling pretty “flush.” In 2011 Yappy Hour got bitten with wanderlust, dubbing the monthly canine social hour “STHS Yappy Hour Road Tour,” rotating between our favorite local eateries and watering holes such as the Columbia Street Tap Room, The Beach House, Sorelli’s, and of course Yappy Hour’s birthplace…..Ruby’s Roadhouse.

And what other changes can be seen at the shelter? For one, 2011 also kicked off STHS Birthday ‘Paw’ties for youngsters who want to celebrate by ‘partying like an animal’ on their special day! Spay Day really drove home our mantra of “Fix Dat!” by spaying and neutering over 200 cats. Our rabies drive offered free rabies vaccinations, ensuring that pet owners in need would go mad with delight, but their dogs would not. And the grand opening of Scruffy 2 Fluffy (a do it yourself dog spa) made all of our, and your, dirty dogs a thing of the past.

All said, STHS (with the generous support and donations of those who believe in our no-kill cause) raised a total of $175,000 in fundraising efforts and $40,000 total value in physical donations such as food, cat litter, toys, etc.  All of which goes directly back to the homeless and abandoned dogs and cats of our community that we have committed to help and rehome. STHS’s low cost vet clinic, our yearly FUNdraisers, new programs, and hip additions are all in place for one reason: to better serve our mission to ‘save the life of every adoptable animal in our community through education, adoption, and spay/neuter programs.’

So just how many dogs and cats are finding new homes through St. Tammany Humane Society’s adoption program? In 2011, 700 dogs and cats were adopted to new forever homes. 150 of those dogs were adopted by forever homes in the north via our transport program Waggin’ Wheels.

And last but not least, the staff of St. Tammany Humane Society would also like to take this opportunity to welcome to the helm our new director, Vicky Kreeger, as she drives STHS into 2012 behind the wheel of our new Chevy Cruze Eco, the environmentally friendly car lowering our carbon ‘paw’prints one milestone after another.

Thank you to all of our donors and supporters who have made, and continue to make, it possible for STHS to maintain its place as the largest no-kill shelter in Louisiana. Our hope that 2012 brings with it continued growth and support lies with the animal lovers of our community. Happy New Year! 

National Adopt a Dog Month

October:  Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

In celebration of National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month in October, St. Tammany Humane Society is asking those who are thinking of adopting a new furry member of the family to remember the advantages of adopting from your local animal shelter.  For the month of October, the no-kill shelter has a goal to adopt out 50 pups to new, loving homes!  That's not all.  The St. Tammany Humane Society will be giving away 2 Rescue Dog Baskets consisting of:  dog bed, leash and collar, flea and tick preventative, gift certificate to STHS, and many other goodies to either welcome a new pup or treat an old friend. 

How can you win one of these baskets?

For each dog adoption throughout the month of October, each adopter will receive a raffle ticket.  At the end of the month, the winner ticket will be drawn!

Secondly, we are having a “My Rescue Dog” contest throughout October.  Simply email your heartwarming story of adopting your rescue dog with a photo attached to Jessica@sthumane.org.  The STHS staff will vote on best story at the end of October and winner will receive a Rescue Dog Basket.  All stories and photos will be posted on Happy Tails on our website (www.sthumane.org).

Thoughts on Adoption

It is true, those searching for that perfect new pet do have the option of purchasing from a dog breeder, but as with all else, it is worth your while to weigh the pros and cons of such an important decision. Should logic and reason enter the blissful world of ‘puppy love?’  I say, “Yes.”

In this day and age, we seem to be a culture and society burgeoning with those who seek immediate gratification and give little thought to the consequences of their actions.  Even those who would agree with this, and make the feeble attempt to avoid it are nonetheless victims in countless ways.  Pet adoption is no exception.  From adopting a puppy when you are not prepared to purchasing from a disreputable breeder, dog or puppy adoption should be something that is weighed heavily before being acted upon.

In reading other articles written about the spirit of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, I came across many which enumerated solid reasons for adopting a shelter dog.  Those of us who are animal lovers and dip into animal welfare literature from time to time can probably list these reasons verbatim, for they are ubiquitous and are certainly touted in most articles or essays on the advantages of adopting a rescue dog.  However, many of these reasons certainly hold true for adopting from breeders or puppy mills as well.  Of course we all know that a dog, no matter how it came to enter this world, is certainly deserving of a wonderful, loving, and responsible home.  And it is difficult, when you are looking for a new puppy, to resist those cute faces that we see in shopping mall parking lots or listings in the newspaper or Craigslist.  But let us take a macro-view of dog adoption for a moment.

Working in a shelter setting, I certainly know and have come across folks who have purchased puppies from breeders and are breeders (in some case hoarders) themselves.  Are these ‘bad’ people?  No, of course not.  And as this is not an article for Psychology Today, we will fast forward over the root cause and diagnosis of those who animal hoard or run puppy mills and focus on what WE can do (as potential pet adopters) to stem the number of dogs that are being bred irresponsibly and therefore euthanized unnecessarily. 

Currently, thousands of dogs are euthanized each year in St. Tammany Parish.  

The St. Tammany Humane Society works in many ways in conjunction with Animal Services in ensuring that we can save as many dogs as possible, but the pet overpopulation is staggering in its proportions.  A surprising percentage of the dogs that are being euthanized are pure bred dogs that came from the above mentioned situations.  How do we stem the number of homeless dogs that almost seems to grow exponentially each year in our community?  The first step, as most would respond automatically, is spaying or neutering your pets.  The second step?  Stop supporting disreputable breeders or puppy mills by taking or purchasing dogs from them.  Every puppy bought from a breeder or hoarder is an incentive to continue breeding, which results in thousands of needless deaths each year.  You have the power to stop the cycle. 

And so, in conclusion……if you are thinking of adopting a puppy or adult dog for yourself or your family, WHY should you adopt from a shelter during Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month???

1.      By adopting from a shelter or rescue group, you are helping to save the lives of two animals: the dog you adopt and a homeless pup somewhere who can be rescued because of the space you have freed up.

2.      The St. Tammany Humane Society is simply brimming with happy, healthy pups just waiting for the perfect family to take them home.  It is a common misconception that shelters are full of dogs who have ended up there because they’ve been abused or something is ‘wrong’ with them.  Most dogs end up here because of ‘people’ problems or rescues from hoarding situations.

3.      You will save time and money.  The St. Tammany Humane Society’s adoption fee includes vaccinations, spay/neuter, micro-chip, and six months of heartworm preventative.  If you were to pay for those services yourself, you’d be paying much more.

4.      Who can argue with receiving unconditional love?  Ask anyone who’s adopted a rescue dog:  these dogs seem to know that they have been saved and return that favor a thousand-fold in love and affection!

5.      You will not be supporting cruelty.  Each dog adopted rather than purchased means less of a market for unhealthy, inbred puppies bred under cruel conditions in puppy mill operations throughout this country.

Growing Pains

As the St. Tammany Humane Society expands both virtually and literally, we are now faced with the necessity of accommodating our growing number of fans….I mean, clients and potential adopters by adding more parking area to our small shelter (a good problem to have, if you’re going to have one). Over the last 3 years St. Tammany Humane Society, as I alluded to previously, has grown exponentially in terms of community outreach, new programs, vet clinic growth, and a huge increase in adoptions. Most of these positive changes can be attributed to innovative and dynamic leadership, and a hardworking caring staff.

However, another factor that has been instrumental to our recent growth and success is the help and support of Ian Somerhalder, star of the TV series Vampire Diaries. Ian is a St. Tammany native, and his relationship with the St. Tammany Humane Society began about 2 years ago, shortly after the devastating oil spill in the Gulf. Ian reached out, using his resources in aiding his hometown and local community in a cause that is close to his heart: animal welfare and rescue. His PSA urged people to not only be aware, but actively assist in any way they were able in helping to stem the loss and devastation to the environment and state wildlife as a result of the oil spill (special emphasis on the Louisiana Brown Pelican).

Ian’s work for those who have no voice did not stop there. After visiting STHS directly following the tragic oil spill, he became actively involved with our no-kill shelter. His role as chairperson of our annual Fall fundraiser “Unleashed” brought fans (who are now some of our most generous donors and supporters) from around the world. “Unleashed 2010: Bash on the Bayou” was our largest event to date, bringing in much needed proceeds which were used to make improvements and additions to our 50 year old shelter. Among Ian’s myriad contributions to STHS include spotlighting some of our hard to adopt pups, donating proceeds from his autographed picture to the shelter, publicly supporting our no-kill shelter and mission whenever he can, and joining with us in spreading awareness in many facets of animal welfare. Ian’s newly formed non-profit organization, the IS Foundation, touts the mission statement, “The IS FOUNDATION aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.” Animal welfare is a main focus of the IS Foundation, and his active role in this arena has not gone unnoticed by many animal advocates around the globe.

So, in returning to our humble St. Tammany Humane Society…….and our parking lot in progress. In addition to the necessities and pragmatics involved in the construction of our new parking area, we thought that a little touch of ancillary aesthetics for your viewing pleasure would be in order: a beautiful flower garden adorning the perimeter of the parking area. This would serve a dual purpose. Not only would you have a visual sensory overload when you pulled into STHS (which can be quite pleasant), but also a gorgeous background to showcase all of our adoptables on the website. The garden’s beauty will demand that it have a name… The name, in honor of our supporter that has made it possible in the first place: The Garden of Ian.

For more information and how you can help build the Garden of Ian, please CLICK HERE
Vaughn Maurice
Executive Director
St. Tammany Humane Society

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Pup Friendly Poker Run

STHS will be hosting the northshore's first pup-friendly poker run along the beautiful Old Mandeville. best hand wins up to $1,000 plus other great prizes for top 10 hands. A saturday night of gambling and strolling around with your pup all while helping orphaned animals! What can get better than that? Sign up before May 31th, and receive two registrations for the price for one! For more information on the event or to register visit our website!http://http://www.sthumane.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=77