Unleashed – PAWsitive Stories from Salt Lake County Animal Services
cat-tail hour
February 18, 2016
New cat cages, new paint, and new decor! Join us for the Grand Re-Opening of our Cat Rooms.
1 PM - 3 PM "Groom the Room" - Local Groomers will make our cats look fancy for adoption.
3 PM - 5 PM "Cat-Tail Hour" - Meet our felines in the remodeled cat rooms. Light refreshments will be served.
Groomers from around the valley will be washing, scrubbing, brushing, fluffing, and trimming up all our cats to make them gorgeous for the "Cat-Tail Hour."
Kitty Couture
Meowsers
Groom with a View
L'Mew
The Classy K9
Refreshments will be provided by Tinker's Café and Les Madeleines.
mad hatter tea party
February 10, 2016
Meet Alice, the White Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts at our Mad Hatter Tea Party on Saturday, March 5 from 11 - 2 PM. This is a free event for children to celebrate our newly remodeled cat rooms and relaunch our Book Buddies program. Children can decorate cookies at our tea party, play checkers, and listen to parts of "Alice in Wonderland" being told in our new cat room. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Located at Salt Lake County Animal Services: 511 W. 3900 S., SLC 84123.
Date: March 5
Time: 11 AM - 2 PM
Cost: FREE
MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
february volunteer of the month - liz dranow
February 01, 2016
Liz Dranow began volunteering for SLCO Animal Services in January of 2015 as a volunteer photographer. Liz has a passion for photography and for animals and it shows in the pictures that she takes of the animals here at the shelter waiting for adoption.
Liz is always willing to jump in and be flexible about the photography session. Whether she is taking a picture of a dog, cat, bunny, goat or even a pig, Liz is always more than willing to help.
Liz always has a smile on her face and enthusiasm for the task at hand. Taking pictures of animals is not always an easy task but it is always a fun experience.
Liz continues to bring great ideas into the shelter to help improve our adoption and social media photos and even recently helped us to set up a photo booth for our animals to take fun pictures showing the animals personality.
A picture truly speaks a thousand words and for shelter animals can make the difference of being overlooked or being seen. Liz has a true knack for helping our animals be seen and her passion shows through her work. Liz is a wonderful example of what volunteering is all about.
From all of us here at SLCOAS, Thank You Liz!!!!!
You are appreciated!!!!
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~Dr. Seuss
january volunteer of the month
January 05, 2016
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: MASON DANSIE
Mason began volunteering with SLCO Animal Services 4 years ago.
Mason is one of our Sunday volunteers and comes in to make sure that the dogs are getting out and exercised during our closed hours.
A few years ago, Mason, along with other volunteers, made Kurunda beds for the dogs here at the shelter. This was such a wonderful gift for the dogs. It gives them a nice place to rest and feel comforted while waiting for adoption. Through the years the beds have needed repairs and Mason is always willing to grab a bed, take it home and repair it. Thanks to his handiwork, the dogs still have beds in their kennels.
Mason has helped dogs that struggle at the shelter get to K9 Lifeline for assessments and “Pack to Basics”. This not only helps dogs learn to socialize better but results in their adoption because they are seen at K9 Lifeline and they develop the social skills necessary to be adopted.
Mason has provided needed treats to dogs with skin allergies, spent extra time and attention with dogs that need more structure, provided valuable feedback, made sure dogs with kennel stress get out to adoption events , helped provide and distribute Thanksgiving Dinner……the list goes on.
Mason is a true and wonderful example of what volunteering is all about!
From all of us here at SLCOas :
THANK YOU MASON!!!!
YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!
“Volunteers are love in motion“~ Unknown
pick your price cat adoptions
January 04, 2016
Adopt a cat this month, and pick the price of their adoption fee! Before heading home with your new feline family member, here is an idea of what services ALL cats receive before they're adopted:
- basic veterinary exam
- vaccinations
- spay/neuter
- microchip
The estimated value of these services is $400. But the cost of a forever home full of purrs is PRICELESS!
foster now forever: Julie Bee's Story
December 28, 2015
At Salt Lake County Animal Services, we're fortunate to have a foster program that provides animals with a short or long-term home, while they wait to find their furever home. Our foster families love these animals, and sometimes the animal fits into their home, and fills a spot in their heart, that they decide to adopt the pet. Here is the story of Randy and her fosters: Hayden and Jujubee (Now Mrs. Julie Bee.)
Randy loves Mrs. Julie Bee
I am new to the foster program. I lost Annie, my companion of 12 years in August of this year. After speaking with a friend at work, Teresa, she suggested fostering for one of the local shelters. I decided to see what it was all about. I live in the Ogden area and so I started with the shelter close to home. I visited several shelters and submitted foster applications at each but after three weeks I still didn’t have a foster. I mentioned my frustration to Teresa in passing. The very next morning October 1st (my birthday), she sent me an email about a senior at the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter, a shelter she has worked with for years. She told me told me about Julie Bee and mentioned that she had come in with another dog (Hayden) but they were not sure if they were together. I went to the shelter on my lunch and was introduced to Mrs. Bee (approx. 15 yrs.). I asked the staff about the Hayden (approx. 10 yrs.) and they brought him out for an introduction as well. The instant that Mrs. Bee saw Hayden it was obvious that they were a bonded pair and needed to be fostered together. I filled out the foster application before I had to go back to work and asked if I might be able to foster both Mrs. Bee and Hayden. I left not knowing if I would get them. They were both sick with Kennel Cough and needed to be seen by the Vet. Kathy Joe contacted me before the end of the day and I picked up both Mrs. Bee and Hayden after work and brought them home with me.
I instantly bonded with Hayden but Mrs. Bee was so sick that she was withdrawn and reclusive. After a couple of weeks Hayden had completely recovered from the Kennel Cough but Mrs. Bee needed another round of antibiotics. It wasn’t until Mrs. Bee had recovered that I was able to really meet her, and what a wonderful friend she has become. We lost Hayden a week after Mrs. Bee’s recovery to heart failure, we were devastated.
I believe that everything happens for a reason and has a lesson in it for us. I was really struggling with the reason and lesson in losing a second dog within a few months of each other. I really didn’t feel that I needed another lesson in pain and loss. When I realized that I may not have bonded with Mrs. Bee if it hadn’t been for Hayden. He was her guardian-angle, and needed to make sure she had a place where she would be loved and cared for before he could leave.
Hayden accomplished his mission in life. He made sure his Mom (Mrs. Bee) had a forever home. He bridged the gap between Mrs. Bee and myself and brought us together and for that I am forever grateful. I was reminded of the importance of service to another and was given the best example of service to another in Hayden’s selfless act of compassion.
We now go everywhere we can together and our favorite thing is to walk along the Ogden River and watch movies with some serious tummy action. Mrs. Bee recently adopted me and has agreed to make me her forever home. We have become the very best of friends. We still miss Hayden and I think we always will, but having each other has made it that much easier to bear.
If you're interested in fostering please visit our Foster Page for more information or send an email to foster@slco.org.
holiday gift card
December 14, 2015
Donate to a dog or cat this holiday season. Purchase a Holiday Gift Card at Salt Lake County Animal Services for $50. This will cover the cost of any adoption, dog or cat. You can also make this a donation in your name or the name of a loved one. All animals come spayed/neutered, microchipped, and current on vaccinations.
May this gift bring joy to you knowing that you're helping provide for homeless pets.
For more information call 385-468-7387 or email animal@slco.org.
part-time janitorial staff openings
November 09, 2015
Salt Lake County Animal Services is looking to fill 2 part-time janitorial positions. Please send resumes to mtalmon@slco.org. Application deadline November 20, 2015.
JOB SUMMARY
15 hours/week $9/hour.
Performs a wide variety of custodial duties.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS.
Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire.
Custodial experience is preferred.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Mops tile, hardwood, and concrete floor areas. Vacuums carpeted areas.
- Cleans restrooms. Replenishes supplies as needed.
- Dusts all furniture and fixtures.
- Cleans kitchen sinks and counters.
- Cleans windows, doors, and hardware.
- Washes all marks from walls, doors, hardware and glass.
adopt a senior dog
November 05, 2015
November is National Adopt a Senior Dog Month! To celebrate our seniors here at Animal Services, we've reduced their adoption fee to $25 through November 30. This includes all dogs over 5 years of age.
Remember a "senior" dog has a lot left to live. Many dogs live to 10 - 15 years of age. Most older dogs who come to us, are here for a variety of reasons, usually having nothing to do with behavior or temperament. More often it's because their owners can't keep them for reasons including: allergies, death of a guardian, a new baby, loss of a job, a move, and various other lifestyle changes.
Have you heard of our Senior to Senior program? If you're over the age of 55 and you find a furry friend here over the age of 5, their adoption fee is completely waived.
Just think of all the benefits of adopting a SENIOR DOG vs. a PUPPY:
- Older dogs are calmer and less energetic than puppies
- They make instant companions
- Older dogs usually are potty trained and know basic commands
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
november volunteer of the month: steven hale
November 02, 2015
Steven began volunteering with SLCoAS in July of 2015. He started as part of our Sunday Running group that meets every 2 weeks to run the shelter dogs.
He definitely found a passion in helping and decided that he wanted to learn more about being a shelter and event volunteer. Steven quickly took his orientation and signed up for his one-on-one training. He started coming in and spending a good portion of his day with the dogs, and the Special Programs Team here at the shelter, learning as much as he could. Due to Stevens knowledge of the dogs he was able to take over as a lead for the Running Group.
Steven has come out to our events and helped us from start to finish. He was an integral part of helping us set up, tear down and get pets adopted at our largest event this year Pet-A-Palooza!
When the running group needed new leashes, he took the lead and bought supplies for the group to make 15 leashes. Steven has since donated the items needed for us to make leashes and even came in and showed us how to make them. This will give us the ability to create projects for other volunteers and help those that may not be able to afford a leash for their dog.
Although Steven has only been volunteering with SLCoAS for a short amount of time he has made a huge impact and a wonderful impression on us all and truly projects what volunteering is all about.
From all of us here at SLCOAS:
THANK YOU STEVEN!
YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!
Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.
~David Thomas
halloween pet safety tips
October 29, 2015
Happy HOWL-O-WEEN Pet Safety Tips
Festive and fun, most children and adults enjoy the tricks and treats of Halloween. But this isn’t necessarily the case for dogs. Here are some tips on how to keep them safe from the ghosts and goblins.
1. Keep candy out of reach: All forms of chocolate and the artificial sweetener can be poisonous to dogs & cats. Call your emergency vet if your pet has eaten either.
2. Keep pets confined and away from the door: Dogs may be likely to dart out the door, or become anxious with trick-or-treaters in costumes and yelling for candy. Put them in a crate or a backroom and keep everyone safe.
3. Close the blinds or drapes, disconnect doorbells: If your dog reacts every time someone walks by or rings the doorbell close the drapes and disconnect the doorbell.
4. Keep outdoor pets inside before and after Halloween: Keep dogs and cats indoors to prevent them from being injured, stolen, or poisoned as part of a Halloween prank.
5. Don’t approach dogs while in costume: Even if you know the dog, a strange costume or mask can frighten them. They may not recognize you in costume. If a dog escapes a house or yard and runs up to you, tell your child to stand like a tree, and wait for the owner to grab the dog.
6. Test out pet costumes before: Make sure the costume isn’t causing them distress, or giving them an allergic reaction. It shouldn’t restrict their movement, ability to breath, bark or meow.
7. Leave them at home: It may be best with all the distractions to leave your pet at home while trick-or-treating. Take them for a walk earlier in the day before the ghosts and goblins come out for the night to spook them.
meet woodstock part 1
October 28, 2015
Woodstock, a two year-old border collie mix, came to Salt Lake County Animal Services this past July with severe physical problems. He walked with a severe limp due to fractures on both hind legs. In order to help him heal he would need two surgeries: a total hip replacement on his left side and the other would require surgery on his right hock, a joint similar to a human ankle. As for his emotional problems: being scared of touch, of humans, and not knowing how to be pet, those would have to wait. The staff at Animal Services decided to tackle his physical boundaries first.
In order for him to have the surgeries living in the shelter wasn’t a possibility for multiple reasons. Imagine being put on roller-skates for the first time and pushed out onto a slick floor like linoleum. Our flooring isn’t conducive to a dog that can barely walk. The surgeon needed to make sure Woodstock was healthy. He needed to live at least 2-weeks outside of the shelter for us to make sure he was germ free. We had to find Woodstock a foster family.Family #1 seemed like a great fit but Woodstock couldn’t stand to be in a crate, he tried to break free and scratched up his face trying to do so.
Family #2 was just a temporary solution until we could find him a long term foster because they were moving out of the country.Family #3….well that’s another story.
Follow Woodstock on his adventure here at Unleashed: PAWsitive Stories from Salt Lake County Animal Services.Part-Time Animal Care Specialist
October 09, 2015
Salt Lake County Animal Services is hiring part-time Animal Care Associates! These staff will work with both cats and dogs, and must be available to work mornings (weekday mornings and Saturday mornings). Pay is $13.00/hour, approximately 15-25 hours per week. If you are interested, please send your resume to MRoach@slco.org. The deadline for applying is Friday, October 16.