Sequoia Humane Society

Information may not be reliable

November 1 - 30 -- Adopt a Senior Pet Month. Visit their official website at ASPCA.
November 7 -- Volunteer Orientation 3:30-4:30pm at the Sequoia Humane Society Pet Adoption Center. Call the Shelter at (707) 442-1782 for information and to RSVP your spot and visit the Volunteering page.
November 7 - 13 -- National Shelter Appreciation Week. Visit their official website at Animal Sheltering.
November 18 -- 1-4pm at Tailwaggers Thrift Shop. Pictures w/Santa and your Pet - $5.00 donation. *Dog biscuits, candy canes & hot apple cider provided.

Every Tuesday - 50% Off Microchipping For more info, visit the Microchip page
November 19 - 20 -- Pre-Holiday Sale at Tailwaggers Thrift Shop--50% off all Christmas items.

The Sequoia Humane Society recently received a donation of artwork from the collection of Coleen Kelley Marks, which will be auctioned during their Humane Gourmet gala fundraiser on January 30th, 2011.

The painting comes from the early works of Irene Borg, a native Californian who paints layers upon layers of color to create depth, intensity and vitality. Early in her career, Borg studied with Sergei Bongardt and Joseph Mendez, nurturing her passion for figurative art. The body of work that grew in these years focused primarily on mothers and daughters and the romantic innocence of youth.
This particular piece comes from her vintage collection and depicts two young girls sharing a beloved doll. Purchased by Marks mother in 1968 as a Christmas present for Coleen, the painting has remained in her family for 42 years. Coleen Marks is a third generation fine art collector whose designer grandmother was friends with Andrew Wyeth and owned one of his paintings, as well as numerous other well-known artists work.

At first glance you might not notice anything different about Bob." Hes a handsome kitten, with his dark brown tabby markings and long tufts of fur coming out of his ears characteristics of the Maine Coon breed (such regal ancestry!). You can hear him purring from across the room, but it would take a long time for him to traverse that space, and he might fall down a couple of times along the way.
Bob has a condition called Cerebellar Hypoplasia, which means his cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls motor function) isnt fully developed. In all likelihood, his mother who was a feral or barn cat was exposed to the feline distemper virus while she was pregnant with him. The good news is that his condition is not progressive meaning it wont get worse over time. The bad news is that he will always have a wobbly gait and tremors that make it difficult for him to walk, eat, and perform other basic functions.
Oliver is an adorable tabby kitten who also has Cerebellar Hypoplasia. Bob and Oliver are from different litters, but were found in the same barn and both their mothers were probably exposed to the same virus. Oliver is an extremely playful kitten hell chase a toy mouse around the room on his wobbly little legs for as long as youll let him. But it takes a lot of energy to keep himself steady, and when hes overly excited his tremors worsen, so he has to take a time out to calm down and recover.

by Brandy Link, SHS Board Member
When we were looking for a place to rent it was such a struggle. We are good people with positive past rental references and good morals; we also have pets. This obstacle had stopped us time and again from finding a home to rent. For example, I called on a house that advertised pet okay." I told her that we had a dog, a cat and a parrot, and she replied Well, I only want one pet at the house. Another dead end.
Most of the time when you look for places to rent you are rushed and dont have a lot of extra money. As a result, many desperate renters end up relinquishing their pets to shelters just so that they can find a decent house or apartment that doesnt cost them an arm and a leg.
The shelters are already overpopulated with loving animals that only want our TLC. Landlords that do not allow pets are contributing to this problem.
The same goes for people who are not spaying/neutering their pets. I volunteer at two different animal related places. One is an animal shelter, filled with animals that dont deserve to be there and only want a home and a person to love them.
Its horrible that people have to choose between a roof over their heads or their pets. Pets are a family member and one should not have to choose between your home and your family. For some people, animals are their only companion.

They live in colonies, often close to human habitation but shunned by the very people who abandoned them. They eke out a meager existence eating scraps, drinking out of mud puddles, and hiding under porches or in wood piles anywhere they can find protection from the weather.
Stray, feral, alley cat they go by many names. But to those compassionate souls who befriend these creatures, who day in and day out brave the rain and ridicule to feed them and provide them with a small sense of security and perhaps even some affection, they are our feral friends."
There are tens of thousands of feral cats in Humboldt County - in towns, rural areas and everywhere in between. How did they get here? It all starts with one pet cat abandoned and left to fend for herself. She seeks out easy food and shelter. Attracted to this niche of relative safety other cats similarly dumped join her. Soon one cat becomes ten, ten becomes twenty, and before you know it neighbors are complaining about all those cats, insisting that they want them gone." But where are they to go? Who will take in these forgotten felines?

I just wanted to let you know how happy I am since I came to live with my new owners, The Myricks in McKinleyville. I have been here 9 months now and I love it. I have a nice yard to run around in and lots of toys to play with. I have three boys to play with as well and they take me on a long walk every day. I love to play tug-o-war because I always win, as I am really strong and have lots of energy. I go everywhere my owners go, as I love to be on the move. I love car rides and I have gone on many road trips throughout Oregon and California. I have attached a few pictures, so you can see how much I have grown since I left you. My owners would like to thank you for letting me come home with them, as I
have enriched their lives greatly.

Kittens, kittens everywhere, and not a kitten cage to spare!
Thats our motto during summers kitten season the time of year when momma queens are giving birth to litter upon litter of kittens, filling shelters, rescues and foster homes to overflowing with cute little balls of fur.
They come from all over our community from feral kittens born to wild mothers in a field, barn or alley, to friendly, fluffy neighborhood kittens, born because John & Mary Smith just never got around to bringing Blackie to the vet to get her fixed."
Sometimes we know who the mom is and sometimes we dont. Keeping mother and babies together is helpful in a number of ways. Not only can the mom feed the kittens which is healthier for them, plus it saves us the time consuming task of round-the-clock -bottle feeding duty. We can also test her for contagious diseases, like feline leukemia (FELV) and feline AIDS (FIV).
FELV and FIV can be passed from a mother cat to her kittens during pregnancy. However, kittens are also born with natural antibodies, which given time and good nutrition can kick in to fight off the offending virus. At SHS, we give the kittens all the time they need.
Laser and Luna look just like any other kittens big, round eyes, fluffy little bodies that fit in the palm of your hand. And they act just like any other kittens too bounding from perch to perch, chasing strings and balls, dashing madly about and pouncing on each other, finally ending up in a dozing pile of purring bodies. Youd never know that this pair of kitties is infected with the feline leukemia virus.

Play, Play, Play Thats My Motto!
Looking for a fun-loving guy with an adventurous spirit who still rates high on the snuggly scale? Then look no further youve found your match!
Ive been single for 5 months (thats almost 3 years in doggie-time), and Im just so naturally likeable I cant figure out why. My friends keep saying, Shaymus, youre a handsome guy, put out a personals ad and the dames will be flocking to your door! (Dudes are cool too, cause Im neutered, ya know.)
So here goes: Im cute, cuddly and energetic. I love to play ball, go for a hike, or wrestle with my canine friends. Im curious, so Ill follow you around like a puppy dog (which I really am, even though I stand about two feet tall already Im slim and svelt, though!). I like to curl up in your lap if given the chance, but tell me to back off and Ill take the hint. Even the cats think Im cool - I give them their space and they give me mine.
How did I end up in the shelter, you ask? My parents broke up and didnt have time for me anymore. So its not like I have any bad habits or anything (well, sometimes I sneak a hot dog off the counter when no ones looking, but hey, wouldnt you?).
OK, Ill be honest, if youre a couch potato then Im not for you. But if you like adventure and excitement, exercise and the great outdoors, then Im your man!
You can visit me at the Sequoia Humane Societys Pet Adoption Center just ask for Shaymus!

For many years staff and volunteers have walked our dogs in the grassy area to the west of the shelter, giving their sensitive paws a respite from the hard concrete of their kennels and covered outdoor runs.
While these leashed walks are good exercise and allow us to practice some basic training behaviors with the dogs, weve always thought, Gee, wouldnt it be nice if we could let the dogs off-leash so they can run and play and chase balls with abandon?
Well, our wish finally came true! Volunteer Joann Jones initiated a fundraising effort to raise money so we could completely fence off the grassy field. It all started with a volunteer-organized plant and book sale, which raised $1,300! This brought us close to our goal, so Dorothy Kostriken (on behalf of her feline friends, Tasha & Pasha) made a donation of $150, and Humboldt Fence Co. donated most of the fencing.
Now when I drive up to the shelter I see dogs frolicking and wrestling in our fenced field, almost as if they were in someones backyard. Its just one more way we can help make the animals lives here at the shelter as happy and healthy as possible.

Sunday, October 10th, nationally known speakers came to Arcata to discuss some of the newest and most innovative ideas in animal adoptions during Petfinders Adoption Options workshop.

Topics included: How to market your pets online to increase adoptions; Infection control: Understanding those valuable vaccines; Using social media to increase adoptions and recruit volunteers, members & donors; and Training dogs for adoptability and long-term housing.

The Sequoia Humane Society and Bless the Beasts worked closely with Petfinder.com to bring this exciting and informative workshop to Humboldt County. It usually costs an arm and a leg to send staff and volunteers to trainings, which generally means we cant go, says Cynthia Ryan, executive director of the Sequoia Humane Society. Not only is Petfinder bringing the training to us, since its sponsored by the Petco Foundation the cost is almost ridiculously inexpensive! We feel grateful to have been able to send 5 staff members and 5 volunteers.

Give the Gift of Membership to yourself or a friend -- and help SHS to improve our services and awareness of our programs in the community by joining a growing network of supporting members. We hope that you will consider becoming a partner with the Sequoia Humane Society because your participation as a member will help provide animal welfare and educational services throughout our community.
Members receive a 10% discount at Tailwaggers Thrift Store in friendly Henderson Center and the Pet Store in our Pet Adoption Center, discount tickets to Woofstock and the Humane Gourmet, a subscription to "Animal Tracks" and special invitation to SHS events.
For more information about membership, and other ways to donate to Sequoia Humane Society, see our Donate page.