Pizzeria Piccola “Society Sundays” to Benefit Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever

Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever, Inc. (WAAGR) is the nonprofit group that will be featured for “Society Sundays” Feb. 12 at Pizzeria Piccola, 7606 W. State St. in Wauwatosa from 4 -9 p.m.

Enjoy a meal and help WAAGR raise funds to help the Golden Retrievers in the group’s care.  WAAGR members will be the wait staff, the table bussing staff and greeters for this event.  WAAGR makes a profit from every meal sold (including take out) and keeps all the tips.  Take-out orders can be placed in advance.  Some frozen menu items can also be pre-ordered and picked up the day of the event to take home:  Margherita, Sausage, and Spicey Salami (pepperoni) pizzas.  Call the restaurant at (414) 443-0800 or visit www.pizzeriapiccola.com for more information.

“Stop by to enjoy a fantastic meal while helping the Golden Retrievers rescued by WAAGR,” said WAAGR President Amie Trupke.  “WAAGR volunteers look forward to participating in this event twice a year, and the restaurants’ patrons always have been so supportive of our efforts.  We rely solely on donations to help fulfill our mission.  We thank everyone who has attended in the past and we hope to see you again!”

WAAGR has taken part in this fundraiser since 2006.  WAAGR’s volunteers are appreciative of the response the organization has received at the restaurant.  For more information about this event and other WAAGR events, visit www.waagr.org.  If your nonprofit group is interested in participating in Society Sundays, contact Pizzeria Piccola General Manager Irene Lannoye at (414) 443-0800.

About Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever

Wisconsin Adopt A Golden Retriever received its 501(c)(3) status in February 2005.  WAAGR’s mission is “To provide bright new beginnings to displaced Golden Retrievers.”  WAAGR is a volunteer rescue organization based in Southeastern Wisconsin.

  WAAGR has no paid staff and depends on the generosity of individuals that want to help provide a safe and happy life for Golden Retrievers that have lost their homes.  For more information about WAAGR, visit www.waagr.org.

 

Have you seen the new Ozaukee Campus?

Have you seen the new shelter that you made possible? Located 2 miles west of I43 on Highway 33 in Saukville, the Ozaukee Campus has become a major destination point in Ozaukee County! Adoptions have doubled in the new building, we’ve hosted a variety of tours and classroom field trips, and the first Scout Night Open House attracted over 100 children from the community.

• If you haven’t yet stopped by, join us for a free tour. See the journey the animals take from the minute they walk into our Animal Arrivals to when they are adopted by loving families in their Adoption Suites.  Reserve your spot TODAY.
• Reserve your Boy or Girl Scout troop’s spot for the 2012 Scout Night festivities. Come meet a certified therapy dog team, learn about animal safety, experience an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, animal interaction and more!  For more information, click here or email Andrea.
• Register for a dog training class. We also offer a Small Animal Care Seminar, indoor Pooch Playtime for well-socialized dogs, and more.
• Become an Animal Care Volunteer. These very special people help us keep the animals happy, and the facility looking new. We do require that these volunteers be at least 18 years old, and commit to a 2-hour weekly shift.  If you are interested, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 262-988-5949 or email for further details.
• Adopt. Check out the available puppies, kittens, dogs, cats and small animals at the shelter.
• Donate! Whether you can give $10 or $100, every dollar makes an impact in our ability to save more lives, offer educational programming and continue to build a community that values animals with respect and kindness.

 

 

Tellington Touch Dog Massage Class

Thursday, February 2, 2012, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Wisconsin Humane Society – Milwaukee Campus, 4500 W. Wisconsin Avenue
De-stress your dog and yourself with the therapeutic effects of Tellington Touch (TTouch). Tellington Touch is a gentle and easy to learn method of touch and movement. TTouch can help with challenges such as barking, biting, chewing, digging, noise sensitivity, aging, anxiety, aggressive or reactive behavior, shyness, grooming or vet visit concerns and more!
This workshop is for dogs of all ages and their families to discuss what causes stress, signs of stress and how you can help free yourself and your dog from it.
This two-hour hands-on session with your dog will introduce you to the benefits of incorporating TTouch into your pet’s life and will help you and your pet achieve the highest quality of life through mental, physical and emotional balance.

TTouch uses gentle movements and manipulations that help change behavior patterns and teach the animal to think, rather than react, improves learning ability and performance and helps to calm and focus. There is a $40.00 fee for this class and space is limited to 6 dogs and their families.

 

Scout Night at Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus

Boy and Girl Scouts from Ozaukee County are invited to Scout Night on Wednesday, February 8 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. at the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, 630 W. Dekora Street in Saukville. The kids will take a behind-the-scenes tour of the new shelter, getting to see the veterinary clinic, doggie day spa, the behavior department, and more! Learn about and interact with cats/kittens and make a cat toy to take home.  Scouts will also learn about dogs and dog training while spending time in Pooch Palace.

 There is a $5.00 per scout and $3.00 per adult chaperone fee due at the time of registration. The shelter can accommodate a total of up to 60 scouts per date (multiple troops attend).  If you have questions, please contact Andrea Swanson at (262) 988-5947 or aswanson@ozaukeehumane.org.

 

Fred M. Tileston Jr. Shares Humorous And Touching Stories Of A Lovably, Crazy Rottweiler’s Life

“Lessons I Learned from Myra (And Other Valuable Life Lessons!)”, a book by Fred M. Tileston Jr., contains lessons learned by the Tileston family from their fun but challenging experiences raising, training and caring for Myra, the family dog.

When the family first brought Myra home, they did not know what they were in for. Their unique dog caused all kinds of challenges but also worked her way deep into their hearts, leaving their lives forever changed by knowing her. Each of the 20 chapters contains a humorous and touching lessons learned from the experiences of Myra’s life. The lessons include “You cannot stop a fast-moving BMW with your teeth,” “An invisible fence is not really invisible” and “Obedience is a relative expression.”

“The stories describe the lasting impact Myra had on our family and on myself as the alpha male in particular,” says Tileston. “They are authentic, humorous and Myra taught us more than we ever imagined at the time.”

Titleston tells of the time his family first brought Myra home after she had rendered him helplessly enamored by climbing into and snuggling asleep in his lap, of the family’s misadventures as they tried to teach Myra to obey and of Myra’s final days. Written to engage, entertain and touch the heart, the book is intended to appeal to pet lovers of all ages.

“Lessons I Learned from Myra (And Other Valuable Life Lessons!)”is available for sale online at Amazon.com (both paperback and e-book) as well as other channels.

About the Author: Fred M. Tileston, Jr. lives with his wife in their house on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area where they raised their sons and the family dog, Myra. “Lessons I Learned from Myra (And Other Valuable Life Lessons!)” is his first published work.

 

Please join us for a fundraising event for the Safe Haven Program!

Companion Art Gallery Friday, Feb. 17

2680 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.*

                                                                            Bay View

The Wisconsin Humane Society and Sojourner Family Peace Center have partnered to provide the Safe Haven program, which offers up to 60 days of shelter for animals of domestic violence victims. Many victims are hesitant to leave a dangerous situation because they fear for their animal’s safety. This program makes it possible for victims to leave a dangerous situation without losing their companion animal. Animals provide companionship, comfort, and unconditional love to families affected by domestic violence, and preserving the bond between families and their animals is vitally important.

Companion Art Gallery will donate 20% of sales during the event and will sponsor a Silent Auction and Raffle on behalf of the Safe Haven Program.

Bay View Bean Company, Le Boutique so Chic, and Oscillations Art & Music Eclectic will also offer art and gift items for sale and will donate a portion of proceeds to the Safe Haven Program.

Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages provided

 Music by Gary Alan

 * Remarks by Jill Cline, WHS Education & Advocacy Manager, at ~7 pm

 Admission is free, donations to Safe Haven Program appreciated!

　Please contact Sandy Sykora at 486-1891 or

sandy@companionartgallery.com for more information or to RSVP.

Or, visit Companion Art Gallery on Facebook and click on “event” to RSVP.

 

‘Shelter Stars Showcase’ Dog Adoption Event

The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) will hold a “Shelter Stars Showcase” adoption event on Saturday, Jan. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at Central Bark Doggy Day Care – Menomonee Valley. Central Bark is located at 333 N. 25th St. in Milwaukee. The event will feature adoptable dogs from MADACC and is a great way for people to find a companion animal to add to their family. Dogs will be available to do meet-and-greets, and foster families will be present to share information about the dogs’ personality and behavior. The adoption fee is $100 and includes age-appropriate vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchipping, heartworm testing, and flea/worm treatment. There is also an additional $12 fee to license a dog over five months old who will reside in Milwaukee County. To view all of the adoptable animals, visit www.petfinder.com/shelters/WI13.html. MADACC works with over 75 area shelters and rescue groups to place animals into adoption programs so they have a second chance at finding a permanent, caring home. Dogs and cats that are eligible for placement but have not been taken in by a shelter or rescue group are available for adoption directly from MADACC. “In 2011, more than 2,700 animals were placed into adoption programs. More than 500 animals were directly placed into new homes from MADACC. Adoption events like the ‘Shelter Stars Showcase’ help connect people looking to add a new companion animal to their family with some of Milwaukee County’s neediest animals,” says Kevin Wilken, MADACC’s shelter supervisor. MADACC currently rescues and assures safe, temporary shelter, veterinary, and humane care for over 13,000 stray, unwanted, abandoned, mistreated, and injured animals each year — more than any other animal control shelter in Wisconsin. MADACC provides a central location for owners to find and recover their lost pets and is open seven days a week, including evening hours on weekdays. MADACC also offers low-cost spay/neuter assistance, rabies vaccinations, and micro-chipping services. For more information about this event or MADACC, visit www.madacc.com or call 414-649-8640.

 

For the dogs: Team performs open-heart canine surgeries

Plagued with a defective heart valve that caused fluid accumulation in his lungs, Leo was in need of serious medical help.

His loved ones opted for open-heart surgery. And after a successful operation, Leo is recovering nicely and leading a full life: Chasing balls, chewing toys and barking at friends.

Leo, a nearly 2-year-old Australian Shepherd from Ann Arbor, was the first dog to undergo open-heart surgery last fall at Michigan State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Since then, Augusta Pelosi, a cardiac surgeon with the College of Veterinary Medicine, has led a team of more than 20 veterinary and human health experts in performing two more successful open-heart canine surgeries.

She is one of the few veterinary cardiac surgeons in the world who performs the rare surgery on companion animals.

“Our service provides an alternative that can save lives,” said Pelosi, who joined the college’s Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in 2008 after previously completing residencies in surgery and cardiology at MSU with pioneer veterinary surgeon George Eyster. “Medications can be used to treat a variety of cardiac conditions, but sometimes they can only do so much and come with side effects.

“The only way to fully correct many cardiac defects is to target the problem itself with open-heart surgery.”

After several years of training and research, Pelosi now leads about 20 veterinary professionals – specializing in critical care to cardiology to anesthesia – as part of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s open-heart team. Pelosi also partners with human health professionals from the University of Michigan’s cardiac surgery team.

The result: A world-class team of experts performing surgeries for dogs to correct congenital and acquired diseases ranging from deformed valves in the heart to the abnormal narrowing of vessels.

In Leo’s case, he came to MSU for correction of a dysplastic mitral valve, a condition where a valve in his heart did not form properly during development and resulted in improper closure and fluid congestion of the lungs.

Despite good response to medication, Leo’s condition progressed and would have shortened his life expectancy. Bari Olivier, an MSU cardiology section chief, recommended surgery to correct Leo’s condition.

During surgery, a mitral valve ring was placed and secured in Leo’s heart to provide support to the valve, thus eliminating blood from flowing back into the atrium. After surgery, Leo was assigned to the critical care group of the open heart team led by Amy Koenigshof.

Leo was assisted by a mechanical ventilator for a night; one week later he returned home and continues to do well. His owners report he is now eating normally and taking short walks outside.

While the surgeries are of course risky, many owners are willing to provide the best services available for their pets. After surgery, dogs with cardiac defects often fully recover and go on to enjoy a normal life, Pelosi said.

“There is a perception that heart surgery does not work for animals,” she said. “In human cardiac surgeries, this perception also existed many years ago. We have the need, we have the skills and we have the ability to do it successfully.

“While surgery is not an alternative to medical treatment or interventional procedures, it is an option that should be offered to our patients when it is the superior treatment option or other options have failed.”

For more information on the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the services offered at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, go to http://cvm.msu.edu/.

 

 

Stray Cat Alliance targets South Los Angeles with “I Spayed L.A.” spay/neuter program

Stray Cat Alliance’s “I Spayed L.A.” program kicked off late last year in South Los Angeles, and is already making progress toward serving the feral, stray and homeless cat population. I Spayed L.A. provides L.A.’s poorest demographic areas with spay/neuter and other health services for cats and kittens, both owned and free-roaming in the neighborhood.

The program, unique in the nation, is expected to take three years. It began in the zip code 90037, an area just south of the USC campus with a population of about 60,000 residents and 10,000 cats.

Stray Cat Alliance, a nonprofit with an 11-year history of serving Los Angeles, along with local organizational partners, more than 60 volunteers, and residents of 90037, canvasses the neighborhood on an ongoing basis to offer information about spay/neuter services. Like a grassroots political campaign, I Spayed L.A. uses proven community organizing tactics. Volunteers go door-to-door; block and neighborhood captains provide information and resources so local residents are empowered to help their own communities. Stray Cat Alliance has set up two trap depots in the area, and is teaching residents how to use them humanely. Spay/neuters are performed locally at Animal Rescue Center in South Los Angeles, and paid for by Stray Cat Alliance.

“I can’t say enough about the work that Stray Cat Alliance is doing in South Los Angeles,” said Animal Planet’s Jackson Galaxy, animal behaviorist and star of “My Cat from Hell.” “From hands-on rescue to educating the community about responsible pet care, I Spayed L.A. is a model program for trap/neuter/return that urban areas all over the country should be implementing.”

“U2” and Jay MacNeal, currently homeless in the 90037 area, help feed and take care of cats, even sharing their own dinners with the local cats if necessary. “There are a lot of stray cats around here,” said U2. “They keep getting pregnant over and over again. Get your cats spayed or neutered and stop the population, because no one wants to take care of them.”

In addition to nearly 300 cats already spayed/neutered by Stray Cat Alliance, the organization has saved numerous abandoned, injured, ill and dying animals in 90037. In just one day, three dogs, two cats and two kittens were rescued, treated for injuries, and placed into foster homes.

“I Spayed L.A. is a partnership with community residents to give them the tools and resources they need to continue this work,” said Stray Cat Alliance executive director Christi Metropole. “We know that even if we came in and fixed every single cat, two years later, the population would return to its original numbers. Our goal is to change hearts and minds so there is ongoing positive momentum, and 90037 can solve this problem without outside help.”

Stray Cat Alliance estimates that by sterilizing 70 percent or more of all cats in this zip code over the next three years, it would eliminate, or nearly eliminate, intakes from that zip code at the South Los Angeles shelter, where the kill rate for cats exceed 80 percent.

About Stray Cat Alliance

Stray Cat Alliance works for a no-kill nation, where every cat has a right to be safe, healthy and valued. Since 2000, it has empowered hundreds of volunteers and thousands of community members to care for more than 75,000 Southern California cats in need. Stray Cat Alliance performs Trap-Neuter-Return and other health services, and runs an adoption program in Los Angeles, placing thousands of cats in homes. Stray Cat Alliance advocates humane care of homeless cats, and reducing kill rates for cats in shelters today. See www.StrayCatAlliance.org for more information.

 

Opponents of “PUPS” bill most active this week

 

Bill regulating dog breeders provokes most messages to Congress

The Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act (H.R. 835), introduced by Representative Jim Gerlach, provoked the most messages to Congress in the first week of 2012 on POPVOX. From December 31-January 6, over 1,400 people sent a message to their Congressperson regarding the PUPS bill, 80% were opposed to the bill and 20% in favor.

Several small dog groups from across the country posted statements of opposition to the bill, which they view as adversely affecting small breeders. The California Federation of Dog Clubs wrote that “the bill would have a chilling effect on dog breeding in the US. It would force many ethical breeders to abandon their hobby, and shut down larger hobby kennels immediately.”

Organizations opposed to the PUPS Act include the Alabama Canine Coalition, Inc., American Herding Breed Association, Bull Terrier Club of America, California Federation of Dog Clubs, California Responsible Pet Owners’ Coalition, Federation of Maine Dog Clubs, Inc., Minnesota Cat and Dog Council, Mississippi Canine Coalition, Inc., Missouri Federation of Animal Owners, Inc., Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA), and United States Working Dog Foundation.

The PUPS Act is supported by The Humane Society of the United States and Iowa Voters for Companion Animals. According to the HSUS, the bill “will ensure more humane treatment of dogs by closing the Internet loophole in AWA and requiring dogs at USDA-licensed facilities to be given the opportunity to exercise outside their primary enclosures.”

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, H.R. 835 amends the Animal Welfare Act’s definition of a “high volume retail breeder” as someone who sells more than 50 puppies for use as pets in a year. The bill requires new USDA rules on daily exercise for dogs at facilities owned or operated by a dealer.

The second most active bill on POPVOX from December 31-January 6 was the H.R. 3621, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Over 750 people weighed in on that bill over the week, adding to a total that is now well over 5,000. 98% oppose SOPA, while 2% support.

About POPVOX

POPVOX is a neutral, nonpartisan advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertiseand numbers.

For more information, visit: www.popvox.com