Paws to Consider

Outstanding Limited
Admission Shelter
in Michigan!
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We have many wonderful pets here at the shelter waiting for their forever home.
Some stories are so special they deserve a little extra thought to "pause and consider."

Is your dog protected from heartworm?

Heartworm Prevention With the arrival of spring, we can expect other things besides flowers -- MOSQUITOES! We live in an area that has a large population of mosquitoes, and, therefore, a high risk of heartworm disease in dogs as well as cats. Heartworm disease is transferred from infected animals to non-infected dogs or cats by mosquito bites. Animals can only be infected if they are bitten by an infected mosquito. Dogs are the most common host for this disease, but veterinarians are now recognizing that cats are becoming infected also. The treatment aproach is different between cats and dogs. Animals that spend a substantial amount of time outdoors have an increased risk of the disease.

Once bitten, it takes about 7 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms in dogs. In the early stages, signs of the disease such as tiring easily, difficult or rapid breathing, or coughing may not be recognized. In more advanced cases, abnormal lung sounds, weight loss, and abdominal distension may be present. It is very important to make sure your dog is tested before starting the preventative. It is NOT advisable to give heartworm preventative to a positive dog. Puppies under the age of 6 months can safely be given heartworm preventative without a heartworm test. Dogs over the age of 6 months should be tested initially and immediately started on heartworm preventative.

Heartworm disease is a PREVENTABLE condition. It is much more costly to treat the disease than to prevent it -- not to mention that treatment can often be hard on an animal. The HSLC encourages all dog owners to get their dogs tested and then get them started on heartworm preventative right away! Consult your veterinarian or bring your pet to one of our scheduled clinics for heartworm testing. Refer to HSLC Vaccine and Microchip Clinic Services for more information including scheduled dates, times, and locations.

A little extra effort can mean a LOT more JOY!

Hi. My name is Joy. I'm a 4 year old Lab mix with a special story to share about the wonderful people at the HSLC who helped me overcome my fears so I could find a loving home again...

Sarah with Joy Sarah Mews with Joy

When I first came to the shelter, I was really overwhelmed and very nervous. See, in my first home, I had only been with one lady who loved me very much, but didn't take me many places so I never learned how to meet new people or other animals. I didn't know there were so many things outside my home that could scare me. Everything was so confusing at the shelter. It was not like the quiet home I was used to and I couldn't even eat for five days because I was so scared. I was not ready to trust anyone or let anyone get to know the real me. Even though everyone I met was very gentle, I thought they would hurt me.

My future seemed uncertain, but one special lady at the shelter, Sarah, had a lot of faith in me and thought I would make a good family pet. She and some other very caring people at the shelter spent a lot of extra time working with me before I was even able to be put up for adoption. I especially liked going for car rides to McDonalds for hamburgers like my former owner used to do with me. Sarah was very patient and helped me get used to meeting as many new people as possible. I soon discovered "Hey, people really like me and I like people!" I even had my picture taken with Santa!

After a couple months at the shelter, I was finally comfortable meeting new people and adapting well to my new surroundings. I was just starting to learn how to interact with other dogs, when a special family came to visit.

They were hoping to find a playmate for their dog, Teddy Bear. They looked at everyone...and, then they took a closer look at me again. I was so excited when they took me into the adoption room so we could get to know each other... and then it was like magic! I went right up to the lady and she really liked me. So, then I climbed right up into the man's lap and licked him 'hello!' That went so well, they decided to come back so I could meet their dog, Teddy Bear. I was a little scared at first, so my first reaction was to BARK REALLY LOUDLY in Teddy Bear's face. But, when he reacted very calmly, I quickly realized that I didn't need to be afraid anymore... He liked me, too! That was such a great day and the beginning of my new life!

So, I must really give a BIG THANKS to Sarah and all the wonderful staff and volunteers at the HSLC who helped me overcome my fears and gave me a chance to find such a HAPPY HOME with a TERRIFIC FAMILY who love me!

Hugs and Kisses from Joy!

A thank you letter from George, our "3 legged" Shelter Alum!

George Hi Everybody! My name is George and I'm a 10 month old Golden Lab. Some of the best people in the world took me in when I was injured and needed a safe place to go called the Humane Society. You see, I had been hit by a car and there was so much nerve-damage that my leg had to be amputated. The vets did a fantastic job of providing me with great care both before and after my surgery. So much so that the morning after the amputation, I was actually greeting them at the door of my kennel! That was a great sign if you ask me! Once that obstacle was out of the way next came the job of finding a home. Even though I am a handsome purebred lab, I knew a lot of people wouldn't want a three-legged dog so I waited, keeping my paws crossed that someone would take a second look at me. And, wouldn't you know it, it happened with a family who has always adopted shelter dogs. They took one look at me, as I did them, and we all agreed that it was love at first sight!

Home I went with my new family whom I love to hang out with. I like to chase my 3 kitty cats and explore the 5 acres at our house. The only time I need a little help is to get in and out of the car and I have to take my time on the stairs but my family is always patient and helps me. At the end of the day when I'm dog-tired, I like to relax in front of the fireplace and count my blessings.

I'm so grateful for my family who loves me more than I could have ever dreamed for adopting me and for the generous donations from animal-lovers that make it possible for the Humane Society of Livingston County to give animals like me a chance to find a fur-ever home. The rest they say, is history.

We are so happy when dogs like George who face challenging medical conditions can start a new life with our care. To help HSLC assist more pets like George, learn more about How You Can Help to enable us to continue to provide that extra medical care for our animals in need.

Mandy - A Special Dog for Special People

Everyone knows we have special pets here at the Humane Society, but we also have very special people who come to volunteer. For example, Mandy and her special visitors. Two days a week, a group of people with special needs from the Excell Group come to visit our pets at the shelter. They were immediately drawn to Mandy who seems to know they need her as much as she needs them.

Mandy is a very INTELLIGENT, LOVING, Pit Bull Terrier mix. She is very PATIENT and GENTLE with her special visitors and also VERY ENTERTAINING as she does all her tricks for them. Mandy looks forward to their regular visits as much as they look forward to coming to see her. It never ceases to amaze us how special animals seem to know who needs them the most!

Mandy enjoys all the attention she gets here at the shelter, but would be much happier in a forever home of her own. If you are considering a new pet, take time to know Mandy. She would LOVE to show you all of her tricks and get to know you better!

Watch Mandy's VIDEO>>

Learn more about Mandy on Petfinder>>

. Mandy and friends

Over 70 small dogs rescued from a local home

Over 70 small dogs, mostly Dachshunds plus a few other breeds were rescued from a local home in Deerfield Township where they had been used primarily for breeding purposes. Most of the dogs were well-socialized with people, but had never been exposed to things like grass, carpet or leashes. The dogs are of various ages, sexes, colors, and coat lengths. The HSLC has been able to take many of these dogs into our shelter where they have been altered, received current vaccines, and are now ready for adoption. If you are interested in adopting one of these sweet dogs, please visit the shelter during open hours: Wednesday through Sunday noon – 5 pm, Mondays 12 – 8 pm. Closed Tuesdays.

<< Pictured: HSLC Volunteer, Kara with two of our adorable Dachshunds.

UPDATE: All of the dogs taken in by the HSLC were ADOPTED!

Special Pet Pairs for Adoption...
There are times when we at the HSLC feel very strongly about placing animals together. In such cases, the animals have either grown up together finding comfort in one another or they have formed a special bond while at the shelter awaiting their forever homes. Two wonderful examples are Tom and Thurston. This special pair is available for adoption at "Two Fur the Price of One."
"Compatible Canines," Tom and Thurston - Update: We Have Been Adopted!
Our "Compatible Canines," Thurston and Tom, are 9 year old Beagle and Lab mix brothers. They have been together their whole lives sharing a small, outdoor dog pen before coming to the Humane Society. They were neutered by their previous owner, but not much else was ever done for these very lovable dogs beyond basic feeding and watering. Both are super-sweet, gentlemen who love to be around one another. They are housed in separate kennels at our shelter, but do get time to hang out together. They greet each other with kisses and tails wagging like crazy! Thurston is quite playful if given the chance but, for now, Tom has to take it easy for a while because he tested positive for heartworm. Too much activity for a positive dog can be fatal. So, for now, Tom and Thurston are allowed only short periods of interaction. Once Tom completes his heartworm treatment, however, we're sure they will both be happy to run, play and sniff to their hearts' content.
Won't you please consider adopting these two senior brothers who so much deserve to be spoiled and loved in their golden years? They would do well with cats and children making them a good fit for just about any home!

We are brothers who are not shy to show affection in public!	...brothers who share a long history and may be even a few secrets!	...brothers who are happiest when we are together!

Chance is giving back to others while he waits to find his forever home.

Update: ADOPTED! Such a good boy...we'll miss you Chance!

All of our pets here at the Humane Society are special and all have their unique stories to tell, but some have exceptional qualities that may go unnoticed unless we take time to share them. Chance is one of our extra special pets who is giving back to others while he patiently waits to find his own forever home.

Chance is a Border Collie / Husky mix who has captured the hearts of our staff and volunteers. Because of his gentle and caring nature, one of our volunteers thought he would make a great pet to visit a local nursing home to brighten up everyone's day, including his own. and that is exactly what he has been doing every week for the past couple months!

Chance seems to know that when he gets to put on his special bandana, he has an important job to do. Chance is always welcomed at the Northfield Place nursing home in Whitmore Lake. He already seems to know what to do when he gets there. He follows the aide around looking in the rooms to see if there is someone who needs a little companionship. and there usually is. The residents at the nursing home look forward to visiting with Chance and share their stories of dogs they used to have. This is a win - win situation for Chance and the residents at Northfield Place to share some special time and affection, but this loving, giving dog deserves a home and family of his own.

Chance LOVES people and is good with children, but would be happiest in a home where he does not have to share attention with any other pets. He is very smart and enjoys playing with interactive dog puzzles. He is also completely house trained, walks nicely on a leash, and has very good manners!

Chance is a very gentle, but active dog, so his next home must have a fenced yard and a family who will spend time with him on a daily basis. He would be a great companion for someone who works from home or can take him along with them. One thing for sure, whoever adopts this special dog will surely gain a loving, loyal companion for life!

Bluebelle and other small breed dogs rescued by our Livingston community

Bluebelle

Imagine living every day of your life with filth surrounding you. This was the life for several small-breed dogs that were recently rescued from a hoarding situation in Livingston County. The literally voiceless animals, some had been de-barked, were used to satisfy the greed of a human who, rather than seeing them as living breathing beings, treated them as a means to make money. Their previous owner is now facing animal cruelty charges.

The dogs, although very friendly, were obviously deprived of medical attention or care for quite some time. Some dogs tested positive for heart worm disease and some, whose skin was so badly inflamed and infected, were hesitant to be touched. The dogs were removed from the home by Livingston County Animal Control officers and some were transferred to our shelter for adoption.

UPDATE: Bluebelle and all the other dogs at the HSLC from this rescue have been adopted!

Fanny, a near tragedy turned lucky for this sweet kitty!
Update: Fanny is ADOPTED!

Fanny’s near tragic story has a happy ending that can only be made better by finding her a home! The beginning of her life is unknown to those of us at the Humane Society. Fanny could have been someone’s indoor/outdoor cat or perhaps she was a true stray who was just trying to survive on her own. She was not micro-chipped and any collar that may have been on her would have been cut off by the fan belt that nearly decapitated her. Lucky for Fanny, a Good Samaritan saw her on the side of the road and picked her up. Not knowing exactly what to do for her, he drove to a vet clinic, but it was already closed for the night. Obviously, the cat needed immediate care, so he decided to bring Fanny to us.

When she was first seen by a vet, it was uncertain whether or not she would survive. In fact, it was nothing less than a miracle that she’d made it that far. We were all, of course, rooting for this sweet cat who, despite her intense pain, still managed to purr and knead her little paws when she was being examined. Fanny required approximately forty sutures to close her gaping wounds plus a drain tube to ensure she would heal without the risk of deep infections. She came through it all with flying colors and showers of affection for all the caring people who helped to rescue her!

Fanny has been receiving lots of love and attention here at our shelter while she recuperated, but now she needs a home of her own. Fanny is estimated to be between 1 ½ - 3 years of age. She has been spayed, micro-chipped, and has current vaccines. She can be a little shy if there’s a lot of commotion, so would do best in a home with older kids and no rambunctious pets. Fanny LOVES attention and would make a wonderful feline friend!

Fanny is an example of how HSLC goes above and beyond for a pet. Sadly, at other animal organizations a cat like Fanny would have been euthanized. To help HSLC care for more pets like Fanny, learn more about How You Can Help or click on the Donate Now button below to donate securely on line using PayPal.

Read Fanny's Happy Tail Story>>

Update: Black Jack is ADOPTED!

For those of you following Black Jack’s story, we are happy to report he is doing very well and ready to find his new home! The photo on the left was taken shortly after Black Jack arrived at our shelter. After receiving medical treatment at our shelter the past couple months, he is making great progress to recover from skin infections due to mange and his fur is growing back nicely as he is very happy to show you in the updated photo on the right ->

Black Jack is a Black Lab & Shepherd mix. He is approximately a year old, house trained, neutered, and up-to-date with routine shots. He is a very exuberant, young dog and loves to play as you can see by the recent photo below! Black Jack will need continued medical treatment until his mange is fully under control. The HSLC will provide this to his adoptive owner at no cost to be administered from home.

Read his full story below…

Black Jack's owner moved up to Michigan after losing her home down south. She brought with her an autistic daughter plus two dogs one of which was Black Jack. They'd been staying in a motel but they would no longer allow Black Jack to stay. You see, his mange had gotten so bad that his skin had developed small pockets of infection not to mention that he looked very unsightly. The motel was concerned that if potential guests caught sight of Black Jack that they may lose business. Black Jack had to go.

When Black Jack arrived at the HSLC shelter we knew we had to take him in. If he'd been refused and had to go to an animal control facility he surely would have been destroyed. Black Jack didn't seem to be any worse for the wear and was an exuberant and playful young dog! Taking Black Jack in would mean a lengthy stay at the shelter to treat his mange plus he would need to be neutered and up to date on his vaccines. Black Jack's mange is the type that is not contagious to other animals or to people. It is called Demodectic Mange. Treatment can vary based on resources available and also the severity of the mange. Because Black Jack's case is rather extreme, we started his treatment right away. Almost immediately, we saw improvement in the infections and the overall appearance of Black Jack's skin. Relief was on the way for this poor dog who'd likely suffered from being uncomfortable for quite some time.

Black Jack is an example of how HSLC goes above and beyond for a pet. Sadly, at other animal organizations a dog like Black Jack would have been euthanized. To make a donation to help care for Black Jack and others like him, please donate now.

Chance. Found the Love of His Life!

Chance is a very special success story for the HSLC! He arrived at the shelter back in December of 2008 as a stray. Not much was known about his history at that time, but he seemed to be a friendly enough dog. Chance was temperament tested and, overall, did well, but his intimidating look, black color and the fact that he was a Pit Bull mix would likely hinder his chances of finding a home quickly. As the days went on, we all remained hopeful that Chances' forever home would come soon, but the days turned into weeks which turned into months. It seemed poor Chance was being overlooked for dogs that were traditionally thought of as family pets, the Labs and Beagles and smaller mixes.

The HSLC volunteers and staff noticed that Chance had started to become a bit harder to handle. It's no wonder. he'd been homeless for so long and desperately wanted and needed a family of his own. It was during this time that a small group of volunteers at the HSLC implemented a program to work with our in-house dog trainer to add additional physical and mental stimulation for those dogs whose temperaments or breeds demanded more. Chance was just one of the dogs that this group worked with to improve his quality of life while at our shelter and increase his chances for adoption.

Then, finally the day came. Chance was going to be given his chance at a new life! A woman walked into the shelter and browsed the dogs available for adoption. When she expressed interest in Chance we were all elated, but also apprehensive. You see, she already had a senior dog at home and there were some dogs that Chance just would not accept. With her approved application and her eagerness to adopt Chance, we knew we had to do whatever was necessary to make this a success! Chance met his future "brother" a couple of times in a controlled situation before the final decision to adopt was made. Chance seemed to respect his "older brother" and maybe knew that he'd better be on his best behavior in order to be adopted! Well, Chance made a very favorable impression as expressed by his new adoptive owner: "When interacting with Chance it was apparent that he is intelligent, friendly, social, quick to pick up new information and devoted to the individuals who interacted with him on a daily basis."

We are pleased to report that Chance continues to thrive in his new home. His adoptive family couldn't be happier. They hope others will read this story and be inspired to find an animal to adopt at the HSLC! You can read more about Chance in his new home on our Happy Tails page .>>

Kitten Season - We Need Foster Homes
Each spring we receive an influx of kittens who not only need homes but need nurturing in foster care before they can be adopted. For many, spring offers a hopeful spirit and a chance for new beginnings; the grass which lay dormant during the winter months starts to show signs by turning from brown to green; a colorful tulip bulb emerges through what's left of winter's snow; those birds who migrated to warmer climates appear suddenly almost as if they had never left. For those in animal rescue, however, spring often leads to less-hopeful thoughts.

"Kitten season" begins as soon as the first signs of spring are revealed. This marks the time of year when cats give birth, resulting in unwanted litters too large to even enumerate. "Kitten season" starts in spring, peaks in late spring or early summer, and ends in fall. Rescue groups who take in cats and kittens prepare as best they can for the homeless felines who'll enter through their doors.

According to statistics, a fertile cat can produce 3 litters in one year's time. In each litter, an average number of 4 to 6 kittens are born. This means that one female can produce 12 to 18 kittens per year. In seven years then, one female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats! In every community, there is an over-abundance of unsterilized cats mating. The easiest way to help reduce the disturbing number of unwanted cats is to spay and neuter your own animals and encourage others to do the same.

The HSLC is currently looking for experienced, compassionate, caring, dedicated individuals to foster for us. Our biggest need for foster homes is for kittens/cats that are ill or otherwise unable to stay at the shelter. For instance, orphan kittens, nursing moms with babies, or any kitten under the age of 8 weeks are too small to be in a shelter environment. Usually, healthy adult animals do not need to be fostered but, at times, it does become necessary to look for a temporary alternative to a shelter environment.

The HSLC will provide the necessary supplies needed to care for the animals; all you provide is your home, time and lots of TLC!

If you are interested in fostering for the HSLC, please contact Sarah at sarah@humane-livingston.org for more information.

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Last Updated 3/31/12