The season is on for the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society! Over the next 7 months, our staff, volunteers and animals will be out and about in the community with a wide range of events to raise much needed funds for the shelter and to promote adoption of the puppies, dogs, kittens and cats in our care.

We will have a three rabies and microchipping clinics in Tuckasegee (April 2 and October 1) and Cashiers (July 10); a Pet Adoptathon weekend at the shelter on  April 30-May 1; 12 Stop ‘N Adopts in Cashiers, Highlands, and Sapphire from May 14 to October 22; Rotary Cats and Dogs Bingo in Highlands (May 5); our Pawsitively Purrfect Evening fundraiser on June 17; partnering with the 4^th Annual Highlands Motoring Festival (July 15-17); Annual Mountain Tail Waggers Walk and Pet Fest (September 3); and the Blessing of the Animals in Cashiers (October 2).

Because we have such strong support from the community, we have been able to maintain high adoption rates. In 2010, we found forever homes for 141 animals, returned to owner 25 lost animals, assisted in the spay/neuter of over 250 animals, and provided low-cost vaccinations to 301 dogs and cats in the community.

Plus, we have worked with a number of the regional animal shelters and rescue groups to find homes for many other animals that never came into our shelter. I am proud to have been part of the solution and to have worked with so many people who are truly dedicated and passionate about animal welfare.

This is my last article for The Laurel Magazine because I have resigned as Executive Director. Since I accepted this position two and a half years ago, I have been amazed every week by the extraordinary support we receive from the community — donations of cash, supplies and volunteer hours from school children, families, tourists, businesses, churches and service groups. So, thank you to all who have supported my work and supported our shelter. Wish me luck on my move to Blowing Rock, NC!

Did you know that 8-10 million lost, abandoned and homeless pets enter animal shelters each year in North America? Unfortunately, only 14 percent of the dogs and 4 percent of the cats return to their home, sweet homes.

If your pet comes into a shelter with no collar and tags, or the information is worn away or out of date, it is almost impossible to reunite him with you and your family.

The good news is that if your pet is microchipped, he or she has a permanent form of identification. Shelters, vets and animal control can scan your pet for a microchip number and then track you down – usually in the same day.

A microchip is a tiny computer chip — about half the size of a grain of rice — implanted by injection between the shoulder blades. The chip cannot be removed or lost, and it is easy for you to update your contact details by mail, phone, mail or internet. Each microchip has a code unique to your pet.

In the next 6 months, we will be running low-cost microchip and rabies clinics for the public – April 2 and October 1 from 11am to 2pm at Tuckasegee Trading Company on 7987 Highway 107 in Tuckasegee and July 10 from 11am to 2pm here at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. The cost for microchipping is $20 per animal.

For more information about the clinics, call us on 828-743-5752 or drop by the shelter any Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

As a private, nonprofit shelter, the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society relies on income generated from donations, adoptions, fundraising, grants, and community support. These funds make it possible for us to promote and subsidize our rabies and microchip clinics, as well as our spay/neuter assistance and trap/neuter/release programs for the community.

Are you looking for a devoted and loving companion that is mature and well-behaved? Then, consider adopting an older animal from ou shelter. Here are a few of the many benefits:

1.  What you see is what you get. No second guessing how big the animal will be or what type of personality when he or she grows up.

2.  No chewed shoes or shredded curtains. Puppies and kittens both go through stages of growth, and the first 6 months can be trying – and expensive – until they are trained and learn some manners.

3.  Knows what “no” means. If older animals have not had some training and discipline, they are usually easier to train because they have a greater attention span. Most are already leash and car trained.

4.  Usually housebroken or litter box trained. If not, then an older dog or cat is generally easier to train because they have more bladder control.

5.  Sleeps through the night. Puppies and kittens can both be high energy with two main “speeds” – 100 miles an hour and asleep – in short bursts!

6.  Will give you time for yourself. Older animals don’t make the kind of demands on your time that puppies and kittens do, so you can read your new novel or watch a movie without interruptions.

7.  You will be saving a life. While puppies and kittens may steal your heart, older animals will be forever grateful that you can them a second look and a second chance.

At the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, we want to ensure that any animal you take home is going to be a good match for you, your family, lifestyle, and any other pets. So, we encourage “slumber parties” or “overnights” where you can take an animal home “on approval” for a night or a week. We don’t finalize the adoption until you are sure this is the companion for you.

For more information about any of our animals available for adoption, call us on 828-743-5752 or drop by the shelter any Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

CHHS Newsletter Winter 2010

When people ask what can they do and what do we need, we say there are so many ways you can contribute to the well being of the animals in our care, as well as assist us in the running of our shelter.

VOLUNTEERS

We are always in need of volunteers who can help with the many tasks that must be completed on a daily basis. We need people who will help scoop poop in the outdoor dog runs, weed the gardens, socialize puppies and kittens, groom animals, wash dishes, fold laundry, answer the phone, and type thank you letters.

Come on Fridays between 10:00am and 12:00pm where we pair a walker with a dog of an appropriate size (and energy level!) for socializing and exercise. Trained and socialized dogs have an increased chance of adoption.

We organize and participate in a number of local events throughout the year, such as the Christmas parades, our Stop ‘N Adopts, and rabies and microchipping clinics. We welcome volunteers who can help us set up and break down our displays, handle animals, and greet the public.

If you have any specific skills or experience that may be of benefit to us, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 828-743-5752. All volunteers must sign an agreement/waiver and be 14 years or older.

WISH LIST

We always welcome donations of items that will help defray our operating expenses. Here is a list of items we always need:

Cleaning supplies – bleach, heavy-duty trash bags, paper towels, towels of any size.

Pet supplies – MilkBone or plain dog biscuits, cat treats, non-clumping cat litter, toys, collars, leashes, halters, coats, sweaters, beds, crates, litter trays, bowls and washable blankets and sheets – new and gently used.

Shelter equipment – digital camera, small appliances, air conditioners, fans, heaters, outdoor furniture, lawn and gardening tools, wheel barrows – new and gently used.

The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is recognized as a 501(c) 3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service, so all donations and contributions are tax deductible. For more information on how you can help, call us on 828-743-5752

or drop by the shelter any Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Winter is approaching, and that is always the slowest time of the year for us at the shelter. Slowest in terms of adoptions, donations, and volunteers.

When people ask what can they do and what do we need, we say there are so many ways you can contribute to the well being of the animals in our care, as well as assist us in the running of our shelter.

As a private shelter, we receive no support from any federal, state or local agency for operating expenses. We rely on donations to provide humane care and treatment and to secure forever homes for the animals in our care. Donations also make it possible for us to promote and subsidize our spay/neuter programs, rabies and microchipping clinics, trap/neuter/release and other educational programs in the community.

Donations

You can donate cash, stocks and bonds, real estate, life insurance policies, and motor vehicles. We also welcome in-kind support of products, services and manpower.

Instead of flowers, presents or gift cards, why not choose to make a donation in memory or honor of a person or animal? For a donation of this kind, we will send a card of acknowledgement so the family or person is aware of your generous donation and a thank you letter for you to keep as a tax record. Donations make great Christmas and birthday presents!

Planned Giving

Your support of our animals can be never ending through planned giving. By remembering the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society in your will with a bequest, you can provide care, protection, and save many lives after you are gone.

Foster

Because our shelter is licensed and regulated by the State, we can only accommodate a certain number of dogs and cats and cannot exceed that capacity. We always need temporary foster homes for some of the animals in our care, as well as others on our waiting lists.

Fostering an animal — dog, cat, puppy or kitten — is not only beneficial to us, but more importantly it is beneficial to the animal and rewarding to the foster “parent”. The animal gets to experience a home environment, and more socialization and training. You supply the home and attention — we supply the food and any veterinary care.

Did you know that 8-10 million lost, abandoned and homeless pets enter animal shelters each year in North America? Unfortunately, only 14 percent of the dogs and 4 percent of the cats go back to their home, sweet homes.

If your pet comes into a shelter with no collar and tags, or the information is worn away or out of date, it is almost impossible to reunite him with you and your family.

The good news is that if your pet is microchipped, he or she has a permanent form of identification. Shelters, vets and animal control can scan your pet for a microchip number and then track you down – usually in the same day.

A microchip is a tiny computer chip — about half the size of a grain of rice — implanted by injection between the shoulder blades. The chip is activated by a short radio wave that can be read by a scanner, and lasts throughout your pet’s lifetime. The chip cannot be removed or lost, and it is easy for you to update your contact details by mail, phone, mail or internet. Each microchip has a code unique to your pet.

The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society now microchips all of our dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens with 24PetWatch chips as part of the adoption package.

We will be running a microchip and rabies clinic for the public on July 17 here at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society and on October 2 at Tuckasegee Trading Company on 7987 Highway 107 in Tuckasegee. The cost for microchipping is $40 per animal.

For more information about the clinics or the Cashiers-Highland Humane Society, contact us by mail:

CHHS
PO Box 638
Cashiers, NC  28717

Or call 828-743-5752
You can also drop by and visit any Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter, located 2.3 miles east of the Cashiers Crossroads, off Highway 64 East and behind Reid Real Estate.

June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month and, with kitten season upon us, there are more cats than ever in need of a home.

For centuries, cats had only one function and that was vermin control. In the last 100 years though, people began selective breeding of cats for companionship. Still, less than 10 percent of the world’s cats, both in and out of shelters, are purebred. The majority — common house cats – have claimed the spot of the number one most popular pet in the United States.
At the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, most of the cats that come into the shelter are strays. They are found under decks, in vacant houses, around garbage cans, and even on the side of the road. Some kind-hearted people borrow our live traps to capture and bring them in, and some less than kind people drop them off at the gate in the middle of the night. We also “pull” and transfer in cats and kittens from kill shelters when we have spare capacity.
A small percentage of our cats are owner-surrenders, and they are generally brought to the shelter because their owner has moved into a nursing home or died. And, we have had a number of kittens born in the shelter when a stray female is brought in pregnant.
Regardless of how they arrived at our shelter, all of the kittens and cats receive excellent care, food, and attention from staff, volunteers, and visitors. Every cat and kitten adopted from the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is spayed or neutered, up-to-date on all vaccinations, microchipped, and they come with a free 30-day health insurance policy from ShelterCare, and a free bag of food, training manual and DVD from Hills Science Diet.
The adoption fee is $65, and we encourage overnight stays or “slumber parties” before finalizing the adoption to ensure the best possible match for both the animal and the adopter.

For more information about our shelter and the cats and kittens available for adoption, please call us on 828-743-5752 or drop by the shelter any Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter, located 2.3 miles east of the Cashiers Crossroads, off Highway 64 East.

“So many animals, so many ways to be kind” is the theme of this year’s Be Kind to Animals Week on May 2-8. The American Humane Association started this annual event in 1915 to encourage compassion toward animals. Now the event is focused around raising awareness about animals in our homes and communities and celebrating the unique bond between humans and animals.

This year the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society will be expanding on the week with open house tours and adoptions starting on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Rotary Club of Highlands has organized Cats and Dogs Bingo 11 on May 6 at 6:30pm, and there will Friday Dog Walking on May 7 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. The week will end with the Highlands Girl Scouts working on projects and volunteering on May 8.

“We invite everyone to drop by, meet our staff and animals, and volunteer some time with us,” said Cassie Welsh, Executive Director of the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. “Come cuddle a kitten and pet a puppy.”

In honor of Be Kind to Animals Week, Ms Welsh says there are many ways you can show kindness and appreciation for the animals around you:

• Commit to adopting your next pet from an animal shelter
• Donate to or volunteer at your local animal shelter
• Spay or neuter your pets and encourage friends and family to do the same
• Make time to spend quality time with your pet
• Make sure your pet has an ID tag and microchip
• Report any suspected animal abuse or neglect
• Drive cautiously through areas populated by wildlife
• Plant flowers in your yard that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds
• Speak out in your community about the importance of respecting animals.

The Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter, located 2.3 miles east of the Cashiers Crossroads, off Highway 64 East. For more information about our shelter and the animals available for adoption, please call us on 828-743-5752 or drop by the shelter any Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Contributed by Cassie Welsh, Executive Director

For centuries, cats have featured prominently in folklore, mythology, and history. These creatures have been portrayed as everything from soft and sweet purring pets to prowling and perilous killers that can suck the breath out of a baby and smother it. So, what is superstition and what is true?

Cats have nine lives

One of the most famous myths and misconceptions about cats is that they have nine lives. Although no one knows exactly how this myth originated, the number nine is historically a lucky number because it is the “trinity of trinities”. The most likely origin for this myth is that a cat’s agility and reflexes allow it to escape what looks to be certain death – over and over again.

All calico cats are female

Calico cats – with black, orange, and white coats – are usually females. Male calicos are possible, but rare, because it comes down to genetics. Female cats have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y. The chromosome that controls black and orange coats is an X chromosome, and a separate X chromosome controls white coats. Male calicos have a rare XXY combination, and the unusual genetics leaves them sterile.

All cats hate water

Cats are self-cleaners. They don’t like to use water in cleaning, and being immersed in a bath leaves them cold and vulnerable. While most cats prefer to stay warm and dry, there are some cats that love to play in water or the rain. Dripping faucets and wet shower floors are playgrounds for water-loving cats.

Cats always land on their feet

Probably the most famous of all myths and misconceptions about cats is that they always land on their feet. Cats have extremely flexible backbones and an innate sense of balance and direction. They can twist like a gymnast in midair and quickly right themselves. Given enough time to rotate their bodies, cats will land on their feet nearly every time. But, that doesn’t mean that some cats won’t get hurt and sustain injuries from falls.

Photo caption:

There are many colorful and crazy myths and misconceptions about cats.