Volunteer Scoop
V o l u m e
5 ,
I s s u e
1
F i r s t
Q u a r t e r
2 0 1 5
Wisconsin’s Volunteers
In this issue:
Canines
2-3
Felines
3-4
Critters
5
Livestock
6
FLWC
7-8
Reception
8
Admitting
9
AMS Clinic
10
FIT Center
11
Main Shelter
Adoption Center
12
Satellite Adoption Centers
13-15
Foster and SAAV
Programs
15
Education
16-17
Grants
17
Major Events
18
Community
Events
19
Volunteer
20-22
Calendar of
Events
23-24
Committees
24
Staff Contacts
25
1
Every DCHS staff member knows
that our volunteers are the best,
but it’s great to find out that this
fact is supported by statistics! According to a study conducted by
the Corporation for National &
Community Service, Wisconsin
ranks fifth among the 50 states and
the District of Columbia in volunteer participation.
In 2013, the most recent year for
Wisconsin’s volunteer rate (shown in blue) is consistently
which numbers were published,
above the national average (in red). (Source:
35.1% of Wisconsinites volunteered volunteeringinamerica.gov)
their time. Utah had the most volunteers at 44.6%, followed by Idaho, Minnesota and Kansas. The states with the
lowest rates of volunteerism were Arkansas, Florida, Nevada, New York and Louisiana, with the lowest ranking.
Wisconsin boasts 1.61 million volunteers, who donated 163.8 million hours in
2013, which equates to $3.7 billion worth of service. In addition, 74.4% of the
state’s residents do “informal volunteering,” such as doing favors for neighbors.
From the looks of things, this great volunteering trend will continue well into the
future; Wisconsin’s college students and teenagers are volunteering at even higher
rates than their elders, at 37.7% and 36.4% respectively!
Among adults, 29.6% of Milennials (those born roughly 1980-2000) volunteer,
while 29.7% of Generation X (born roughly 1960-1980) does so. Baby Boomers
(born 1946-1964) boast a 35.5% volunteer rate and older adults (born 1945 and before) have a rate of 35%.
When looking at medium-sized American cities, Madison fares even better than
the state overall with 43.4% of Madisonians volunteering their time. This puts us
in fourth place, behind Provo and Ogden, Utah and Boulder, Colorado.
You, our volunteers, are a valued and vital part of the DCHS team, and we truly
couldn’t do half of the things we are able to accomplish without you. Thank You!
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 2
Canine News and Updates
Those of you who work with the dogs may have noticed
that we have new clipboards attached to all of the kennels.
These clipboards help us keep track of the enrichment items
for each dog – and our dogs are so lucky because they get a
lot of enrichment every day!
Each dog gets a Kuranda bed to keep them comfortable and
raised off the floor. Most of them get their meals from a
Kibble Nibble or a KONG Wobbler to challenge their minds
a little bit each day and make them work for their food.
Enjoying an afternoon snack in bed
They also receive a frozen KONG, and, if the frozen KONG
is too much of a challenge for a dog, Carestaff will give
them an unfrozen KONG.
Three times a week, the dogs receive a consumable chew
item like a rawhide, a bully stick (sometimes called a pizzle), or a compressed rawhide. The rawhides are the lowest
cost, so we start every dog on a rawhide to see if that can
satisfy their need to chew. If they don’t chew the plain rawhide, we will offer them a bully stick, which some dogs prefer. Dogs that don’t chew the bully stick get to try a compressed rawhide. Most dogs will chew either a regular rawhide or a bully stick, though. Some dogs love to chew on
their rawhides so much that they don’t want to go out for a
potty break! If that happens, don’t try and take the rawhide
away – just come back later to see if they want a potty break
after they are done with the rawhide.
Every day, each dog also gets a crumpled up newspaper
with the scent of a wild animal on it. Currently, the dogs
get a rotating “menu” of raccoon, duck, deer, grouse, squirrel, quail, and rabbit scents. Dogs
have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million receptors in humans. The part of a dog's brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times greater than ours. So it’s important to exercise this part of their brain
each day! (Continued, next page)
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Canine News and Updates, continued
In the afternoons, the behavior interns and volunteers
walk through the kennels and spray a light mist of essential oil blends to help calm the dogs before our busiest adoption times. These have names like
“Relaxation,” “Calming” and “Peace,” but they are all
blends of oils like lavender, ylang-ylang, lemongrass,
sweet orange and chamomile. Some dogs are scared
of the sound of a spray bottle, so you may see the
spray scent crossed off on the clipboard – that tells the
behavior interns and volunteers not to spray near that
particular dog.
Her nose knows!
3 chicken broth and water that
Dogs also get frozen ice treats every day. These are a mixture of
is poured into the ice cube trays; then, we add a few tiny treats before freezing them. Some
dogs really enjoy playing with the slippery treat like a toy, while others prefer to lick or crunch
until they can reach the tasty treats frozen inside. Whichever they prefer, it’s all enrichment!
Feline News and Updates
After taking many factors into account, DCHS has decided that as of April 27, 2015 we will no longer be
testing all cats for FeLV (feline leukemia) and FIV
(feline immunodeficiency virus). With the relative rarity
of these diseases, the cost of testing and the limits of
the tests themselves, our policy will now be to test only
those cats who display symptoms consistent with FeLV
or FIV, as recommended by our veterinarians.
We will also continue to test cats prior to placing them
into communal housing environments if they will be housed with cats with whom
that they were not previously living (for example, a bonded pair housed alone in a
community room would not be tested, but cats sent to a Mounds location would).
These tests will still be made available to foster providers (for $15) and adopters (for
$30) upon request. These fees are significantly less than what a private clinic would
charge and will offset the cost to DCHS. (Continued, next page)
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Feline News and Updates, continued
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is most commonly transmitted by bite
wounds. Infected cats may appear normal for years. However, infection eventually
leads to a state of immune deficiency that hinders the cat's ability to protect itself
against other infections. An infected cat’s health may deteriorate progressively or be
characterized by repeated bouts of illness due to secondary infections.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is most commonly transmitted between mother and
kittens in utero or via milk, but may also be transmitted via bite wounds or mutual
grooming. It is the most common cause of cancer in cats. It may cause various
blood disorders, and may also lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders the
cat's ability to protect itself against other infections.
Why has DCHS stopped testing every cat prior to adoption?
4
3

The prevalence of FIV and FeLV in owned and freeroaming cat populations is low. Approximately 2.5% of
the United States feline population has FIV or FeLV.
The prevalence in cats that appear outwardly healthy is
only 1.5%.

Testing is not always accurate. It often takes 8-12
weeks after exposure before an animal will test positive, while some cats may only
be in our shelter for a few days! Blanket testing of every healthy cat in the shelter
makes false results (an animal testing positive that is actually negative, or vice
versa) much more likely. Cats that are incorrectly identified as positive may end
up staying at the shelter much longer, increasing stress and decreasing wellbeing. Additionally, the test for FIV cannot differentiate between truly infected
cats and those that have been vaccinated for FIV.

These diseases are not highly transmissible and do not live outside the host for
very long.

Spaying and neutering greatly reduces the main causes of transmission of FIV
and FeLV. These include fighting amongst intact cats for FIV and transmission
from mother to kittens for FeLV. Spay or neuter surgery is included in the adoption fee for all cats adopted from DCHS.

Testing every cat is extremely expensive. DCHS will save thousands of dollars and
many staffing hours per year by eliminating FIV/FeLV testing of every cat. This
money can be used to help other homeless animals in our community.
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Critter News and Updates
As most of you know, cats are our #1 species in terms of numbers, with
dogs a distant second. But do you know what our third most populous animal is? That’s right—rabbits. These gentle and sociable creatures can
make excellent pets, especially with a same-sex rabbit buddy to keep them
Dutch
company. We thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the many
types of rabbits we see here at DCHS.
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) recognizes 48
unique breeds of rabbits, and we see many of these here at the shelter. In the first quarter of 2015, we’ve already seen rabbits belonging
to 21 different breeds!
French Lop
The most common breeds of rabbit that we see here are the Dutch,
French Lop and Mini Rex. The Dutch rabbit is round and balanced. It
comes in a variety of colors, with the eyes and ears matching the hindquarters. The front of the body and the nose and forehead are white.
Lop rabbits have floppy ears, rather than erect ones. The French Lop is the
largest of the lop varieties. Rex rabbits have a thick, velvety coat, and as its Mini Rex
name implies, the Mini Rex is the small version of this type.
Some of the more rare breeds we’ve seen in recent months include the
American Fuzzy Lop, Jersey Wooly, Polish, Rhinelander, Satin and Silver
Martin. Be sure to check out the bunny adoption stories on page 14!
American Fuzzy Lop
Polish
Jersey Wooly
Rhinelander
Harlequin
5
Lionhead
Volunteer Scoop
Californian
Satin
Silver Martin
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 6
Livestock News and Updates
Tack Sale
Dane County Humane Society’s 2nd annual tack sale was held on
Sunday March 8 at Oregon Middle School. We had beautiful weather, over 40 vendor tables and saw more than 200 shoppers in a matter of four hours. We made close to $1,200, which is almost $300
more than last year, and all proceeds go towards our new barn project. We also made great connections with area horse owners and enthusiasts! Thanks to all of the amazing volunteers who helped us
with set up, check in, concessions and clean up – we couldn’t have
done it without you and we can’t wait until next year!
DCHS alum Sara Lee
This Little Piggy
Samuel and Annie are currently calling DCHS home while they wait
to be adopted into loving forever families. Samuel is an adult pot
belly big that arrived to the shelter as a stray with only a little known
history. While he started off shy and scared, he has quickly learned
through clicker training and has found human interaction to be quite
rewarding. He has learned “touch,” enjoys head scratches and loves
apples! Annie is a juvenile pot belly pig that was found in a cat carrier next to a dumpster. This little lady is full of character and personality – she is very chatty, loves belly rubs and is as cute as can be!
Both Samuel and Annie have had some adoption interest and we’re Samuel
hopeful both will be in new homes soon.
Pot belly pigs are fantastic pets as long as their owner is up for a little challenge. They are very intelligent, need lots of attention and can
be quite entertaining. They live for food and will spend tons of time
searching for anything they can eat. Using puzzle toys, like those we
use for DCHS dogs, gives them good mental stimulation and uses
their natural instincts. We feed our pigs a combination of pelleted
pig feed along with a healthy veggie and fruit salad. Pigs can also be
taught to walk on a harness which is a great way to give them the
physical exercise that is a very important part of their daily routine.
Annie
Pigs can live to 20 years (or more) so they are a big commitment!
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 7
FLWC News and Updates
The New Year brought a flurry of winter activity to FLWC. Our first patient of 2015, #15-0001, was admitted on January 1, and it was one species
that we rarely see in Wisconsin: a Snowy Owl! A businessman from Beaver Dam, WI found this owl unable to fly and called our program immediately to help with transport. After the owl arrived (aided by one of our
fabulous rescue volunteers, John Kraak), we performed a full physical exam and determined that he was a male bird based on his plumage and
weight. He had minor damage to his left wing, an injury to his left eye,
and a laceration on his foot. Over the winter, his condition improved and
2015’s first patient, a
he was released on March 13.
Snowy Owl
The admission of our Snowy Owl must have set the stage for a few more
arctic visitors, because only a few days later we received the first of three
Tundra Swans to FLWC! Another rescue volunteer, Zoom Platt, had noticed the bird on Lake Monona. It was having trouble lifting its head, neck
and wings, and it was struggling to keep itself upright about 300 yards
offshore. After careful observation of the swan, he decided to get some
extra help from others to make this rescue attempt.
After a daring and successful rescue, the swan was admitted as patient
#15-0003. Clinical signs made us suspect heavy metal toxicity, so we took
a blood sample for testing. Lo and behold, this swan had acute lead poiFLWC volunteer Zoom
soning - the values were off the charts! Swans and other waterfowl most
Platt with Tundra Swan
often get lead poisoning by ingesting lead pellets, fishing sinkers or other #1
tackle from the bottom of the lake. Although lead ammunition was banned
for waterfowl hunting in 1991, spent lead shot still remains in the
waterways. Something as simple one pellet or sinker can cause a
very slow and painful death for many birds such as this one.
In all, we treated three Tundra Swans, some Canada Geese, and
two Bald Eagles for lead toxicity. Treatment takes a remarkable
amount of time and care from our staff and volunteers. It's a long
road to recovery, but that's what we're here for!
Update: Sadly, the swans and geese lost their fights, but the eagles
are in the final stages of rehabilitation at facilities that have 100’
flight pens and should be released soon.
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Another rarely-seen guest, this
star-nosed mole spent some
time with us in March.
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 8
FLWC News and Updates, continued
Thing are going batty at FLWC! In February 2015, our program began rehabilitating cave bats. All cave bats are now
listed as a threatened species due to the
imminent threat from white nose syndrome. White nose syndrome is a fungal
disease that has killed nearly six million
bats in the eastern United States since
its discovery in 2006. Unfortunately, the
disease arrived in Wisconsin last winter and is expected to continue its migration westward. Visit this link to learn more about this devastating disease:https://
www.whitenosesyndrome.org/about-white-nose-syndrome.
Bats are a vital part of many ecosystems. Bats in our area help control insect pests
and are also credited with helping to control agricultural pests. As predators of biting
insects, bats may also play an important role in reducing risk of insect-borne diseases
such as West Nile virus so we want to do all we can to protect them!
We have admitted and cared for more than 15 bats this winter, and now most of them
are getting ready for release by exercising in our special outdoor bat tents, which are
actual camping tents! We have also partnered with the Wisconsin DNR to tag each bat
so that we might be able to track where they go after they are released.
Reception News and Updates
In the first quarter of 2015, more than 1,000 animals came to DCHS! Reception processed each
one of these intakes. Reception volunteers and staff are the first faces that people see when
they walk through our doors for any reason. Thank you for being our ambassadors to the public, and also starting animals on their journey through the shelter.
First Quarter 2015
Stray
Cats
Dogs
Others
Total
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209
156
20
385
Surrender/
Returns
182
101
83
366
Transfer In
63
117
26
206
Return to owner
34
111
1
146
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 9
Admitting News and Updates
Coming to the shelter can be a frightening experience for each of the 3,000+ animals that come
through our doors each year. Fortunately, most of
them find out fairly quickly that all of the humans
here at DCHS love animals and want to make their
time here as comfortable as we can.
Providing each animal with the best care possible
starts with a thorough admitting exam. Our admitting technicians assess the health of every cat, dog
A technician uses a Wood’s lamp to identify likely
and critter as soon as safely possible after it comes
ringworm infection
to us. (Some animals need a bit of time to adjust before their exam.)
Cats and dogs are checked for microchips, and all species are
examined for signs of illness or injury. Any serious condition is
reported to Animal Medical Services (AMS) staff so that it can
be treated. Technicians also look for parasites such as fleas,
mites, ticks and tapeworms, and if any are found, treatment is
started immediately.
Critters and cats receive Revolution to protect them from fleas,
heartworms, roundworms, hookworms and mites. Dogs are
treated with Frontline for flea and tick prevention and given
Flea and tick preventatives are
Heartgard to prevent heartworm infestation. All receive other de- applied to the skin between the
shoulder blades
wormers according to their age. Birds are dusted with parasite
preventatives as appropriate.
All animals are inspected for skin issues and hair, fur or feather loss. Cats are checked for ringworm fungus infection by observation and the use of a Wood’s lamp (pictured above). Dogs
are usually not tested with the Wood’s lamp, but a visual assessment is done. If an infection is
likely, a dermatophyte culture is taken.
Finally, cats over four weeks old are vaccinated with the FVRCP vaccine, which protects them
from the feline rhinotracheitis, calici and panleukopenia viruses, and dogs receive the DA2PPV
(canine distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza) and bordetella (kennel cough)
vaccines. After the admitting exam is completed, the animal is moved to its temporary home
where it is one step closer to finding its forever family.
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 10
AMS Clinic News and Updates
All of our animals are special, but some of them come to us
with exceptional needs. We are so happy when we are able
to make a real difference and transform their lives. One such
patient was Analyse, a 4-year-old Cocker Spaniel mix who
came to us as a transfer from Richland Area Rescue on
March 13.
When she was admitted, Analyse was overweight, with an
overgrown and severely matted coat. She had serious dental
disease and most of her teeth were quite worn down, as often happens with dogs who habitually chew on rocks. Her
Pretty Analyse in the yard
left eye was blind and bulging—it was definitely causing her
pain. Her right eye was also almost blind, affected by both a cataract and glaucoma.
Over the next few weeks, Analyse underwent a number of procedures to relieve her medical issues and make her more comfortable. She was treated to a bath and a good grooming
session. Next, her painful left eye was removed and her teeth were cleaned. She recovered
from her surgery in a foster home and was started on medication to relieve pressure in her
remaining eye in hopes of retaining her vision and keeping her comfortable.
Once she had recovered from her eye operation, Analyse returned to the shelter where she
was spayed. She was made available for adoption by someone willing to take on her eye
issues with the knowledge she may need to have the other eye removed in the future.
Update: On Saturday, April 25, Analyse met with a wonderful woman who fell in love
with her cute looks and loving personality and placed a hold on her right away. The next
day, the woman’s husband came in to meet Analyse and was just as smitten. They took her
home that afternoon to join their pampered menagerie of three other dogs and three cats!
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 11
FIT Center News and Updates
We had a fairly busy winter out in the FIT Center,
with 28 kittens graduating from treatment. The average stay in the FIT Center is about 45 days. But some
cats need a bit more time. Here’s the story of two kitties who were with us for 140 days!
Hawkeye and Pierce came to DCHS in October 2014
from a small shelter in Iowa that was unable to provide long-term ringworm treatment. They had been
found in the basement of an abandoned building,
alone, starving and covered with ringworm lesions.
Hawkeye (l) and Pierce, upon arrival in the FIT
After a six-hour drive from Iowa they were admitted Center, and, more than five months later, at home
to FIT. We knew they would take a long time to cure
but little did we know how long! Though they were
scrawny and thin, the two boys were spunky and
soon began putting on weight and charming our
group of volunteers. They were such fun to watch
grow up and, thankfully, get healthy. At one point
we decided to put them into separate cages to give
them both some more room but they were both so
despondent that they were soon reunited.
A FIT volunteer, Missy, was particularly enamored
with the pair and once they are cleared for adoption she welcomed them into her home forever! They’ve gotten new names, Dawson Pierce and Jasper Hawkeye.
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Page 12
Main Shelter Adoption Center News and Updates
In the first quarter of 2015, 537 animals were adopted from the main shelter! Rescue Waggin’
transports are in full swing. We have increased our transfers to every other week, and the dogs
are still being adopted within a few days of arrival. How wonderful that we can provide these
animals with a chance at a happy home and fulfill the lives of our brilliant adopters!
Sometimes we take in transfers of animals that need some extra care before they can be made
available for adoption. One example is Analyse, the adorable Cocker Spaniel with a wealth of
medical issues (see page 10). We also took a litter of puppies with ringworm infections from
another Wisconsin shelter that was unable to treat them. They were with us throughout their
treatment, getting socialization from a special group of Advanced and Pre-Adopt Canine
Companions and CBT interns.
Here is a look at the first quarter adoption numbers for the main shelter:
Anole—2
Fish—1
Parakeet—20
Cat—245
Gerbil—2
Rabbit—17
Chicken—5
Guinea Pig—22
Rat—6
Cockatiel—2
Hamster—2
Snake—2
Dog—200
Hedgehog—3
Turtle—1
Duck—1
Lizard—1
Ferret—4
Mouse—1
Peepers the duck
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Hancock the cockatiel
Gerbils Midnight (l) and Sandstone
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 13
Cat Satellite Adoption Center News and Updates
After ending 2014 with a huge promotion and 682 adoptions at Adoption Center West, we
moved into 2015 with a record low number of cats! Despite this, we had 84 adoptions at Adoption Center West and 13 adoptions at our Mounds Sun Prairie, Middleton and Janesville locations between January and March! The Mounds locations also find homes for cats from partner
organizations Dane County Friends of Ferals and Friends of Noah.
We want to sincerely thank our volunteers for sticking with us through it all – from the times
this winter that we only had two cats at Adoption Center West and no DCHS cats at Mounds, to
the upcoming summer months when we know we'll be filled right back up and busier than ever!
As our cat population begins to grow, we are excited to see what spring and summer will bring.
At Adoption Center West, we see all types of cats. Cats
that are young or just young at heart, cats that love dogs or
hate cats or want to be queen of their castle, cats that crave
attention or prefer independence. Each animal has its own
personality, its own unique behaviors and history. One
very memorable resident at Adoption Center West was
Lilah, a 15½-year-old black cat that found herself in the
shelter after her owners became homeless. A mature lady,
Lilah knew what she liked (or more aptly, did not like). In
the shelter, she was not the most social or affectionate cat Lilah at AC West
you’d ever seen, so she was one that was easily overlooked. These circumstances led her to stay at Adoption Center West for a number of months,
until a very special couple came in to meet her.
Susan and Ray had recently put down their cat and had decided that they would not adopt again
since they were getting older themselves. They donated their previous cats’ belongings and began to move on as best they could. One day, however, Susan just happened to be looking at the
DCHS website and noticed Lilah. After several phone calls and visits, Susan and Ray made the
decision to welcome Lilah into their home. Susan said she could not imagine Lilah spending
whatever time she had left in a shelter.
What happened after Lilah got home was a profound transformation. Lilah shed her hard exterior and showed Susan and Ray her sweet, affectionate side as a lap cat. She also discovered her
inner youngster and began running, pouncing and playing again! This, coupled with a new diet
and some cat grass on the side, even led to her losing a few pounds and becoming healthier than
ever. Lilah now gets to spend her days watching the birds out of a large sliding glass window
and getting plenty of love from her new people. That made all the difference.
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Page 14
Critter Satellite Adoption Center News and Updates
We are so lucky to have two Mounds locations to house our critters, and the fabulous volunteers
and staff who care for them and help them find their forever homes. This issue, we’re highlighting some of our wonderful rabbits that were recently adopted.
One of our Mounds bunnies, a Harlequin named Amber (now Makona) that
was adopted on February 26, gained a new friend when another Mounds bunny, Trix, a mixed breed, went home on March 25. Their adopter gave an update of how thrilled she is with her bunnies and that they are bonding quickly.
Thank you to all who helped with the making of this happy home!
Maxee, an adorable Holland Lop rabbit, had a rough start to her journey. She
was found stray, and when she arrived at DCHS last July, staff noticed she
had cloudiness in both her eyes. It turned out that there were
ulcers on them. Veterinarians from DCHS and East Towne Pet
Clinic treated Maxee's eyes with a special glue that covers the
surface of the eye while giving the ulcers time to heal. She
spent several months in foster, then came back to the main
shelter for her spay surgery.
Although we don’t expect her eye problems to continue,
Maxee needed an adopter who would carefully monitor her
for signs that they had returned. Because of her great personality—she will jump in a person’s lap to get cuddles and pets—
Maxee found her new mom soon after going to Mounds and
she went home on January 29.
Perhaps our biggest achievement these past few months
was finding the right home for Lop rabbit Sonja. She was one
of the hundreds of rabbits confiscated in a hoarding case in
Indiana. DCHS transferred in about 30 of these rabbits last
June. Sonja was one of the last rabbits to be adopted because
she was so shy, which is not surprising due to the conditions
she was living in. Unfortunately, she was soon returned to the
shelter and was again in search for a forever home. Well, she
found one and was adopted for good on March 31! It goes to
show that there is someone for every bun!
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Top to bottom:
Amber (now Makona), Trix, Maxee
and Sonja
Volume 5, Issue 1
Page 15
Satellite Adoption Centers, continued
Satellite Adoption Center Totals—First Quarter 2015
Species
Cat
Mounds
East
AC West
Mounds
Fitchburg
Mounds
Janesville*
Mounds
Middleton*
90
1
Mounds
Sun Prairie*
11
Total
102
Chinchilla
2
2
Dog
1
1
Gerbil
2
1
3
Guinea Pig
2
1
3
Hamster
2
1
3
13
18
31
3
1
4
22
22
Rabbit
Rat
Total
93
1
11
149
*Mounds Middleton and Sun Prairie also find homes for cats from Dane County Friends of Ferals and
Mounds Janesville for Friends of Noah. These numbers only reflect DCHS animal adoptions.
Foster and SAAV News and Updates
During the first quarter of 2015, compassionate volunteer
foster families opened their homes and hearts to more
than 90 animals! Foster homes are sought out for our resident animals for many reasons, but the most important reason is to give that animal the best chance to be available for
adoption and to move on to the rest of their healthy and
happy lives. So far this year foster families have helped 20
dogs, 39 cats and 27 critters. Our Sheltering Animals of
Abuse Victims (SAAV) program has helped six animals and
their owners escape domestic violence.
DCHS accepts all animals that need our help, and our foster needs are just as diverse. Pregnant guinea pigs, newborn kittens and shy dogs are just some of the animals thankful to have a special foster home waiting for them. If you would like to help
a shelter animal in your home, visit our website to download an application, or email
our foster team at [email protected] for more information.
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Page 16
Education News and Updates
It was with sadness that we bid farewell to Sherbert, our
much-loved classroom rat. Sherbert was suffering from
cancer that was spreading too quickly. She brought much
joy to the shelter – teaching young people humane education lessons about having kindness and compassion and
brightening the days of staff members and volunteers. If
you couldn’t find Sherbert on one of her daily outings out
of her finely furnished cage, she could always be found in
her favorite spot, nestled in a special box. She may have
been little, but she filled big spaces in our hearts.
Sherbert
In March, a new rat was added to the classroom.
After a month of voting, the youth volunteers in
the Humane Heroes program chose to name her
Luna. Although Luna was very sweet, she was extremely shy. She spent all of her time in hiding,
which made it difficult for people to visit with her.
In April, Luna completely came out of her shell
with the addition of a new friend. Star, a much
more confident rat, gave Luna the encouragement
she needed to become a successful classroom animal. Within a day of their meeting, Luna began
Star (l) and Luna
spending more time running, playing and exploring! Now, Star and Luna are inseparable. They spend all of their time together, including nap time.
Camp Pawprint: Spring Break was held from
March 30 – April 3. This session was extremely successful with four out of the five days being completely full! Each day focused on a different animal theme, which gave the campers
the opportunity to interact with a wide variety
of animals. Thanks to great support from staff
and volunteers, the campers were able to interact with dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea
pigs, rats, goats, pigs, alpacas, snakes, lizards Spring break campers had a fantastic time!
and exotic animals all in just one short week!
The campers also loved having their faces painted by the talented Nuria Vega of MetamorFaces. This truly brought out the wild side of the campers!
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Education News and Updates, continued
If you missed the opportunity to send
your favorite youngsters to Camp
Pawprint: Spring Break, there is still time
to register for Camp Pawprint: Summer
Break! Although many of the camp sessions are full, we are still enrolling for our
Go Wild and Wild Wisconsin themed
camps. These camp themes offer the best
of both worlds because campers will have
the opportunity to learn about wildlife or
exotic animals AND companion animals!
Grants News and Updates
We are pleased to announce that we have raised 90% of the
funds needed to begin construction on our new barn and
the remodel of our wildlife center!
Our planned construction for a new barn includes six stalls
opening onto a large fenced pasture, an indoor arena for
year-round training, and storage rooms for hay and tack. Having horses and livestock located
on our property will increase public awareness of their availability for adoption.
The wildlife center remodel will increase our patient capacity and provide flexible-use space to
better accommodate a variety of species. The space will allow for faster recovery and less stress
on the animals. We want to provide the best possible care to rehabilitate the wild animals that
come to our center. Thank you so very much to all who have donated to this important project.
Update: By press time, we had met our goal!
In other good news, we received enough in donations to purchase an automated
external defibrillator (AED) for the shelter. A good portion of the funds were
raised by First Business Bank. This lifesaving piece of equipment will soon be installed and key staff will be trained in its use shortly. Thanks to volunteer Karen
Kaminsky for bringing this need to our attention and leading the effort to raise the
necessary funds.
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Page 18
Major Events News and Updates
Though the cold temperatures and snowy winds of February may feel like a long time ago, we want to take one
last opportunity to thank all of the volunteers who
helped make Toto’s Gala a huge success! We had overwhelming support from you on everything from stuffing
invitation envelopes to making silent auction asks, from
working the coat check to thanking our Fund-A-Need
donors. Our dedicated volunteers came together with
DCHS staff to create a seamless event that inspired great generosity in our community.
Because of your hard work and dedication, we were able to raise nearly $88,000 in one night!
Thank you for joining us at this exciting event. We hope you had a great time and look forward to working with you at future events!
Be sure to save the NEW date for Bark & Wine – moved to September 19. See you this fall!
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Community Events News and Updates
Hartmeyer Ice Arena’s Skate to Donate Day
Ice-skating enthusiasts were invited out to Hartmeyer Ice Arena on Monday,
January 19 to donate $5 or a wish-list item to DCHS and skate for free. Dog or
cat food, toys, blankets and treats were all accepted, supplying tons of goodies
for our pets, in addition to raising nearly $500 for them!
Frosty Dog Jog
In February, owners could finally stop worrying about their dogs
getting cabin fever from being inside. Despite the bitter cold, several awesome DCHS supporters brought their pooches out to the
Capitol Square for the 2015 Frosty Dog Jog & Walk presented by
WPS Bank. The 1.5-mile run and walk took place in the heart of
Madison, where runners could take in the sights and the sounds
as they traveled down State Street, past the Overture Center and through the scenic blocks of
downtown Madison. All proceeds from $25 registrations and additional donations to this
event supported DCHS, raising nearly $1,500 for our pets in need!
Benefit Concert with Kitt Reuter-Foss & Jennifer Hedstrom
In March, our amazing volunteer and pianist, Jennifer Hedstrom,
teamed up with renowned mezzo-soprano Kitt Reuter-Foss to
give Madison a performance they’ll never forget and help raise
money for DCHS. Their concert was hosted by First United
Methodist Church in downtown Madison on a glorious Sunday
afternoon, where guests were invited to come and enjoy the show
and provide donations for our pets in need. The show got an incredible turnout, as supporters
came from all parts of Madison and beyond, raising over $1,000!
Spaghetti Dinner
Dane County Humane Society and our Four Lakes Wildlife Center staff
and volunteers cooked up some delicious, home-cooked spaghetti dinners on March 28. The dinner was hosted by Cranefield’s VFW Post
1318, and got a great turnout as people gathered to enjoy a scrumptious
meal, interact with other shelter/wildlife supporters, and of course help
cheer on our beloved Wisconsin Badgers in the Final Four. At the end of
the night $1,500 was raised for our main shelter and wildlife center!
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Volunteers of the Month
Volunteer of the Month nominations are reviewed by our Leadership Team, who choose
the winner based on several factors, including the time of year. Congratulations to our recent honorees!
January: Steve Roatch
Wildlife Caretaker, Wildlife Receptionist, Transport Assistant,
Wildlife Rescue, Wildlife Volunteer Trainer, Wildlife Building &
Grounds Assistant, Special Events, Volunteer Orientation Assistant
February : Kelly & Andy Ball
Adoption Counselors—Main Shelter
March: Chuck Ritter
Advanced Canine Companion, Rescue Waggin’ Volunteer, Special
Events, Volunteer Orientation Assistant
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Volume 5, Issue 1
Welcome New and Returning Volunteers!
January Orientations
Sasha Anderson
Katelyn Aumann
Joan Behm
Jennifer Boyd
Emily Boyd
Kayla Brenner
Mary Cardarella
Ashley Chartrand
Corinne Coburn
Meaghan Dooley
Charles Dopf
Julia Frangul
Steffanie Gissal
Lillian Gissal
Lisa Grulke
Sabrina Guger
Karigynn Hansen
Marilyn Hanson
Taryn Hemmerling
Carly Herzog
Kayla Horak
Wendy Jacobson
Danielle Jarchow
Henry Johnson
Hannah Kerwin
Jason Kingstad
Rachel Letzing
Sylvia Lewis
Heidi Lezotte
Kirk Lornson
Caitlin Marks
Troy Marshall
Lorelei Matteson
Tabitha Matteson
John Meltzer
Casey Menick
Michael Mitmoen
Ryan Muckel
Vicki Nabholz
Lindsey Nichols
Anna Nielson
Ashlea Pardee
Isabelle Parenti
Jennifer Peck
Jill Perez-Guerra
Becky Perry
Megan Pitney
Rebecca Porter
Ryan Quint
Annika Quint
Jodie Radtke
Nickelle Raschick
Kate Rose
Marcie Ruland
Alissa Scales
Grace Schield
Jaclyn Schmidt
Nancy Sikkema
Ellen Skatrud
Angela Smith
Sharon Smith
Marianne Spoon
Elizabeth Sugden
Mike Sullivan
Samantha Thao
Glen Thio
Mandy Thompson
Samantha Trinidad
Kelli Wozniakowski
Betty Zahid
Kay Zheng
February Orientation
Dylan Adams
Paige Anderson
Lora Blakley
Margaret Chumley
Alana Converse
Caycee Dary
Rebecca DeCabooter
Barb Durham
Carrie Ensrud
Teri Feiner
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Brendan Franklin
Lynrene Frueh
Jenny Gagas
Courtney Giessel
Armand Grabowski
Julie Gulling
Janet Heimbruch
Carter Henry
Donnie Henry
Jacqui Hilliard
Volunteer Scoop
Kathy Holmes
Cody Huston
Amanda Johnson
Gene Juul
Danielle Keller
Lindsey Kobussen
Serenity Kunick
Molly McBride
Kimberly Miller
Scott Mueller
Trisha Mundt
Adam Olson
Elliott Paletz
Signe Paletz
Miriam Snyder
Laura Van Slyke
Erin VanderWeele
Carol Waggener
Erin Weinkauf
Kabnpauj Xiong
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Volume 5, Issue 1
March Orientations
Sarah Allen
Lily Babler
Natalie Becker
Ryan Berg
Chris Bianco
Laura Boone
Steven Brandsma
Alyssa Brenner
Jordan Brisbois
Dave Bunger
Nick Checolinski
Erica Christensen
Rachael Conger
Meghan Conley
Michelle Cortez
Lauren Daering
Tara Dedolph
Abby Diamond-Tumbush
Terrie Disch
Visnu Fraenkel
Kelsea Fredrick
Becky Funk
Erin Giblin
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Volunteer Scoop
Sam Gieger
Sarah Hau
Diane Howard
Tara Howard
Lora Karpinski
Bethany Kitzman
Sam Knopp
Amanda Kretschmer
AJ Lara
Jennie Lent
Sybil Levine
Leigh Lottridge
Rachel McFalls
Ashley McFarland
Ryan Mellenthin
Haley Melton
Andrea Murray
Ken Murray
Sam Murray
Taylor Nash
Patty Neumueller
Joshua Osness
Arika Parks
Chelsea Poeppel
Justin Polywacz
Mason Poon
Chelsea Pray
Bug Richardson
Claire Rossmiller
Torie Sailer
Sonya Saunders
Steve Sawher
Renee Schmitt
Erica Schock
Tenley Schwarz
Catalina Serrano
Mary Shannon
Angela Shetler
Hannah Singer
Rachel Thompson-Fleming
Marlyse Wehber
Haley Wild
Alesha Yahr
Melissa Zener
Catherine Zimmerman
Check out www.giveshelter.org for
Calendar of Events
June
July
27
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Sit, Stay, Ride
When: Saturday, June 27, 2pm
Where: Black Earth Public Library,
1210 Mills Street, Black Earth
Across America, there are dogs of all
breeds riding in the open air of motorcycle sidecars, whether on short trips
around town or extended adventures on
the highway. "Sit, Stay, Ride: The Story
of America's Sidecar Dogs" is a delightful and inspiring documentary film about
motorcyclists and their beloved canine
co-pilots.
Join us for the movie. Stay to meet featured rider and Wisconsinite, the amazing Rhonda Reynolds (Burnett County),
her dog, Mooloo, and their motorcycle
and sidecar. Bring your own motorcycle
and sidecar, if you have one! Let's let
Mooloo be the only dog, though, please.
A donation to DCHS for admission is appreciated; 100% of all admission proceeds will go towards the care and welfare of our animals in need .
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updates and details on events.
Bark in the Park
When: Friday, July 17, 7:05pm
Where: Mallards Stadium
2920 North Sherman Avenue, Madison
July 17 features the Madison Mallards
against the Lakeshore Chinooks. Help
DCHS sell out the park! $5 of every ticket sold will be donated to help our sick
and homeless animals. Bring your dog
to the park and watch the game with
your best friend.
Come say hello to the DCHS team and
our furry ambassadors before the game.
If your dog needs their own seat, don't
forget to get them a ticket too. There will
also be a chance for you to bet your luck
and get involved with our 50/50 raffle. Keep up to date with our website at
giveshelter.org for ticket details. See you
this summer!
Check out www.giveshelter.org for
Calendar of Events
updates and details on events.
Save the Date!
9/19
Bark & Wine
When: Saturday, September 19
Where: DCHS Main Shelter
COMMITTEES
Committees are made up of staff and volunteers who
work together to make DCHS the best we can be!
VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT
Volunteer Department
Volunteer & Training Supervisor - Karen Yandell
Disaster Animal Response Team—This group of volunteers are at the ready for animal emergencies. Staff
Lead: Pam McCloud Smith

[email protected] (608) 838-0413 ext.177

Volunteer policies, concerns and suggestions, training &
retention
Garden Committee—These folks help to keep our
shelter a beautiful and relaxing place to be. Staff Lead:
Patty Zehl
Volunteer Coordinator - Patty Zehl
Lost Pets Committee—Works on getting the message
out to the public about how to keep their pets home
safe and sound. Staff Leads: Sarah Byerley and Jessica Christianson, Lead Volunteer: Dave Groneng,
[email protected]
Yard Improvement Committee—Works to improve
our dog yards and walk areas with mud reduction and
better drainage. Staff Lead: Karen Yandell, Lead Volunteer: Don Johnson, [email protected]

[email protected]

New volunteer orientations, volunteer administration &
volunteer recognition
(608) 838-0413 ext. 114
Volunteer Training Coordinator - Robyn Krause

[email protected] (608) 838-0413 ext. 178

Schedule changes, animal care training & animal handling questions
Volunteer Trainers - Each volunteer assignment has a staff
member assigned as the trainer and main volunteer contact
for that assignment. These contacts are listed on the following
page.
Please send any newsletter comments or suggestions to Karen Yandell at [email protected]
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VOLUNTEER TRAINERS
Adoption Counselor - Main Shelter, Pet Profile Writer, Mounds East and Fitchburg Volunteers (all positions)
Nicole Hein - (608) 838-0413 ext. 102, [email protected]
Adoption Center West, Mounds Janesville, Middleton and Sun Prairie Volunteers (all positions)
Amanda Rieger - (608) 838-0413. ext. 198, [email protected]
Animal Medical Services Assistant
Laura Knepel - (608) 838-0413 ext. 183, [email protected]
AMS Ringworm Annex Assistant
Beth Rodgers - (608) 838-0413 ext. 120, [email protected]
Barkins’ Thrift Store Assistant, Pet Food Pantry Assistant, Volunteer Administrative Assistant
Patty Zehl - (608) 838-0413 ext. 114, [email protected]
Building & Grounds Assistant
Sara Hoven - (608) 838-0413 ext. 112, [email protected]
Canine Behavior Team Assistant, Behavior Modification Canine Companion, Canine Behavior Team Administrative Assistant, Bathers & Groomers
Bridget Pieper - (608) 838-0413 ext. 126, [email protected]
Canine Companion, Critter Cuddler, Feline Friend, Carestaff Assistant
Robyn Krause - (608) 838-0413 ext. 178, [email protected] or [email protected]
Advanced Canine Companion, Pre-Adopt Canine Companion, Rescue Waggin’ Assistant
Karen Yandell - (608) 838-0413 ext. 177, [email protected]
Development Administrative Assistant
Jo Withers - (608) 838-0413 ext. 167, [email protected]
Education Assistant, Birthday Party Assistant, Animal Visitation Assistant, Classroom Animal Assistant
KeriAnn Rubin - (608) 838-0413 ext. 115, [email protected]
Equine Handler
Betsy Halat - (608) 838-0413 ext. 160, [email protected]
Foster Program Administrative Assistant, Foster Parent
Eric Holsinger - (608) 838-0413 ext. 179, [email protected]
Photographer, Photography Animal Handler
Michelle Livanos - (608) 838-0413 ext. 164 [email protected]
Reception Assistant, Microchip Clinic Assistant
Ana Grimh - (608) 838-0413 ext. 182, [email protected]
Special Events Assistant
Sarah Linn - (608) 838-0413 ext. 185, [email protected] or Nick Pelzer, ext. 118, [email protected]
Volunteer Veterinarian
Katie Kuehl, DVM - (608) 838-0413 ext. 105, [email protected]
Wildlife Caretaker, Wildlife Receptionist, Wildlife Building & Grounds Assistant
Jackie Edmunds - (608) 838-0413 ext. 186, [email protected]
Wildlife Home Caretaker
Brooke Lewis - (608) 838-0413 ext. 192, [email protected]
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Volunteers in Action!
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