Jacksonville Humane Society’s whole-shelter approach to shortening length of stay
Since winning the Get ‘em Home Challenge in 2018, Jacksonville Humane Society (JHS) continues to innovate, whittling days off the average length of shelter stays for both dogs and cats. At a time when length of stay appears to be increasing nationally, JHS’s length of stay for cats has decreased from 29 days in 2018 to 17 days in 2022, while their length of stay for dogs went from 12 to 11 days. How did they do it? “It isn’t just marketing,” says Lindsay Layendecker, JHS’s Director of Community...
Pit Bull Falls Head Over Paws in Love with a Great Dane
“Where do I beginTo tell the story of how great a love can beThe sweet love story that is older than the seaThe simple truth about the love she brings to meWhere do I start . . .” If George and Sophie had a love song, this would be it! The Facebook group Happy Pit Bull, with more than 45,000 members, is having a blast talking on Facebook about the pit bull named Sophie who has fallen in love with a Great Dane named George. Tracey Kerschner Stahl, Sophie’s human owner, could hardly contain herself as she observed adoggy...
6 dog breeds prone to obesity
Certain dogs have a predisposition to being chubby — but that doesn’t mean it’s a given. One of the frequent myths perpetuated around canine obesity is that some dog breeds are just chubby and there’s no way to prevent obesity for those dogs. While there are conditions that slow pups’ metabolisms down and there are breeds with naturally slower metabolisms and lower energy levels, there is no specific dog breed where canine obesity has to be an inevitability. Here’s a list of the most commonly overweight dog...
Are superfoods worth the hype?
How do we know if a superfood is really “super” or just marketing fluff? As more dog and cat guardians embrace wellness and healthier eating, we have become more aware of what’s on our plates — and what’s in our animals’ food bowls. As a result, superfoods have become an essential piece of the puzzle when selecting the best diet for our dogs and cats. But how do we know if a superfood is really “super” or just marketing fluff? The origins of superfoods The word “superfood” is defined...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Going live on social, We Foster Huddles and more!
Happy Monday! Below is a brief roundup of resources added over the past week. 7 tips for going live on social media during shelter and rescue emergenciesLive streaming on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can help you create connections with supporters and get the word out quickly during shelter and rescue emergencies, but the prospect of live video can feel daunting. However, creating a successful live stream doesn’t need to be complicated. Jennifer Held, Operations Manager for Norfolk Animal… Learn More...
Hunters Mercilessly Abandon Their Hounds in Hampton Roads, Virginia, After Hunting Season
Coastal Paws Rescue is pleading for people’s help to save the lives of many hounds that are being abandoned in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Raquel Linger, who manages the animal shelter, which rescues animals in Virginia and North Carolina, said that these dogs get dumped by their owners between hunting seasons. This year, local shelters are getting overwhelmed by the problem as the number of abandoned hounds doubles up. Photo: YouTube/WTKR News 3 Why Hunters Mercilessly Abandon Their Hounds in the Woods and Rural Roads Virginia is a...
Venomous snakes and dog safety
When hiking with your dog, knowing what kind of venomous snakes you may encounter might make all the difference. Despite the joy we find on a vigorous trail hike, a slithering surprise underfoot will send many of us straight back to the trailhead. Even the most experienced trail runner can be scared stiff by an encounter with a potentially venomous snake. Your dog, on the other hand, may be curious and decide it’s time to play, and that’s when the slithering creatures become dangerous. Snakes are generally as afraid of us as we...
Your pet’s microbiome
A dive into the mechanics of your dog or cat’s microbiome, and why it’s so important to his health and well-being. A few years ago, many people had never heard the term “microbiome”. It has since become an important topic in both human and animal health, and we’re learning more about it all the time. This article takes a deeper dive into what the microbiome is, how it works, and why it’s so important to your dog or cat’s health – and your own. Defining the microbiome Discovered less than 20...
7 tips for going live on social media during shelter and rescue emergencies
Live streaming on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram can help you create connections with supporters and get the word out quickly during shelter and rescue emergencies, but the prospect of live video can feel daunting. However, creating a successful live stream doesn’t need to be complicated. Jennifer Held, Operations Manager for Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center in Norfolk, VA, has been using Facebook Live regularly, to communicate urgent needs and introduce pets who need fosters and adopters. “We...
This Animal Shelter Hired a Veterinary Social Worker!
Human Animal Support Services (HASS) just put out a brand new resource: Integrating Veterinary Social Work Into Animal Shelters. It gets into what veterinary social workers do, ways they can support people and pets in the community and support shelter staff—and how shelters can hire a veterinary social worker full time, or access their services for community and staff. This gives us the perfect opportunity to talk with Kelly Bremken, who became a veterinary social worker after working in animal welfare for over 15 years. Kelly came on...
