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Message from the Director
By Amy Cooper - DirectorDear Friend of the Animals,
Remember the old “This is not your Father's Oldsmobile” television ads from General Motors?
As the new director of Sonoma County Animal Care and Control, I believe that we are not the agency of the past. Goals, philosophies and procedures are rapidly changing in the animal welfare world and we are changing with them. I’d like to share a few of those changes with you.
Animal Care – We take in more than 5,000 animals every year. As the county shelter, we don’t screen or decline any animal because it is sick or old or common or fractious. We provide care and compassion to every animal we have. And we are making changes in how we evaluate and seek homes for the animals in our care. We’re working harder now than ever to see that every adoptable animal goes to it’s new, forever home.
Statistics – Few things are more important to the operation of an animal shelter than statistics including how many animals come in, how many are adopted, and how many are euthanized. For the past several years Animal Care and Control has struggled to get that data accurately and in a timely fashion. I am committed to solving this problem and we have made significant progress recently.
In March we will publish our FY 08/09 numbers. Shortly thereafter we will publish first and second quarter statistics from FY 10/11. And going forward we’ll publish accurate, timely statistics.
Volunteers – We need you – today – to walk dogs, cuddle cats, sit quietly with frightened and abused animals, socialize tiny puppies or foster special needs animals in your home. If you have a skill or talent you think we could use, chances are we can. Call us and we’ll meet with you and discuss how we can get you started – or restarted – helping the animals.
Relationships – The staff and I have been working to improve and expand our relationships with other shelters and rescue groups in and around Sonoma County. We can do more together than we can alone and at the end of every day, what matters is how many animals we place in appropriate, lifelong homes. And you should know that we’re not just sending animals out to other shelters – we’re also taking them in. This month, for the third time in as many months, we will take in dogs from extremely overcrowded shelters and find them homes.
Spay/Neuter Program – We are developing a more efficient, effective countywide spay/neuter program. This is challenging in our current budget climate, but we realize the importance and impact of this program.
Donations – You can now make a tax-deductible donation to one of two Sonoma County Animal Care and Control funds:
- The Animal Welfare Fund – For projects and programs that directly benefit the animals including environmental enrichment such as Kongs and cat scratching posts, and medical diagnostics and care.
- Spay/Neuter Fund – For spay/neuter programs.
Like you, the shelter staff and I are committed to and passionate about animal care and welfare. If you’ve never been here, or it’s been a while since your last visit, please stop by and have a look around. And if you have questions or suggestions about any of our programs, please contact me at acooper1@sonoma-county.org.
Ty’s Story
By Animal Control Officer Shirley Zindler
On May 5, 2009, Sonoma County Animal Control Officer Matt Diaz received a call about an injured dog in Petaluma. When he arrived on the scene he was shocked at the dog’s condition. The blond Husky/Shepherd mix was terrified, emaciated and covered with ticks. But it was the large wounds that were the most shocking. The dog’s neck was lacerated from the mouth to the shoulder and another large wound stretched across the dog’s bony ribcage. His jaw was also broken.
The dog was transported to our shelter off Airport Boulevard and examined by our veterinarian, Dr. John Strathman. Dr. Strathman sedated the dog and stabilized it’s broken jaw. He administered pain medications and antibiotics, then cleaned the wounds and put in several rows of sutures and staples. We named the dog Ty.
Slowly, Ty’s wounds began to heal and he was able to lap gruel (soft mixture of wet and dry dog food) from a dish. Even though he began to heal physically, Ty remained so terrified of people that we feared he might be hard to place. Even the most gentle approach caused Ty to cower - trembling and urinating in fear.
After extensive and patient coaxing and hand feeding by the veterinary technicians and other shelter staff, Ty began to show slight improvement. He was absolutely terrified of the leash and panicked at the sight of it, so initially we had to carry him each time he had to be moved. I decided to take him home for foster care and rehabilitation to see if there was any hope for him to become a happy, well-adjusted pet. Some animals that have not been handled when young or those that have suffered significant neglect and trauma do not come around.
When I got Ty home, I placed him in a large kennel in the yard. I normally bring foster animals straight into the house; but because he could not be led, I felt it would be less traumatic for him to start outside. When I set him down in the kennel, he rocketed to the far corner, cringing and urinating. With a heavy heart I wondered if I was just exposing him to further stress and trauma. I sat quietly in the other corner with a pocketful of treats and wondered about his past.
My own four dogs crowded curiously around the kennel sniffing and wagging at the newcomer. I was pleased to see that Ty was showing an interest in my dogs. Eve
ntually I let my gentle rescued Doberman into the kennel and Ty seemed happier as they greeted each other. Ty approached me tentatively and accepted treats and petting.
Each day my husband, teen-age kids and I spent time sitting with Ty, feeding him and petting him as he slowly blossomed before our eyes. He remained afraid of the leash but gradually I began to let him drag it and he learned that he could not come out to play until the leash was on. He would run and play with my dogs, dragging the leash until eventually it didn’t worry him so much.
Gradually we progressed to three, one-minute sessions daily of actual leash walking. He got loads of treats and praise and was released after just a few steps in the right direction. The panicky, bucking bronco act finally subsided and was replaced with cautious strolling.
I began to invite friends and family to meet Ty and offer him yummy treats. Although hesitant initially, he took his cues from my friendly dogs and grew more and more confident. He started greeting strangers calmly with a gently wagging tail and very relaxed demeanor - so different from his prior behavior. A really silly, delightful and intelligent dog began to emerge. He spent more and more time in the big yard with my dogs, adapted to my cats and joined us on our daily trek to get the newspaper.
Ty learned to sit in a matter of minutes and would plop his butt down and give me a big goofy grin while waiting for his cookie. Ty has a blue eye and a brown eye and his ears go out sideways. He’s just an adolescent goofball and people find him irresistible. We began to invite him into the house and after some initial reluctance, he decided that house life suited him very well.
After about five weeks of steady improvement, a friend who had met Ty contacted me about a couple she knew who was looking for a dog. Scott and Bree came to our home and were instantly smitten. It seemed mutual, as Ty was very comfortable with them. After the adoption papers were filled out, I arranged to take him to their home to help him settle in.
My husband and I took Ty and our super confident Golden Retriever “Hula” with us to Ty’s new home. It was interesting to watch Ty take his cues from Hula’s behavior. He repeatedly looked to her for guidance as they explored his new house and yard. Seeing that she was happy and comfortable helped him to relax.
Multiple follow up phone calls found that Ty, now called “Cassius,” is settling into his new home well. Scott and Bree have been very happy with him. He will probably always have some residual issues from his past, but overall he is a loving and delightful companion. The satisfaction of watching Ty’s life change from one of pain and fear to one of play and affection is endlessly rewarding.
… But Can an Old Dog Teach a Shelter New Tricks?
By Volunteer Coordinator Greg MortensenEach year at Sonoma County Animal Care and Control we take in more than 5,000 lost, abandoned, abused, neglected and surrendered animals. And nearly every day we reunite lost pets with their grateful owners and place homeless pets in new forever homes.
When you work with this many animals, it’s impossible not to learn something from them. Animals don’t know the difference between county and city, or public and non-profit, and this has become a lesson we have decided to put into practice! Thanks to this open-minded approach, we’ve developed successful partnerships with other animal shelters and rescue groups within and outside of Sonoma County. These partnerships enable us to transfer animals when we are full, as well as take animals from other shelters when they’ve run out of room.
Transferring animals allows shelters and rescue groups to better control their census, helping to make euthanasia of adoptable animals virtually unnecessary. We are fortunate to have relationships with more than 50 transfer partners.
This past October, we took in a record 25 dogs from several overcrowded animal shelters in Monterey County. Those shelters found themselves inundated with dozens of surrendered and abandoned dogs – mostly smaller breeds.
The dogs we took in included an Australian Shepherd, a Bull Terrier, Poodles, and many Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes. All of the dogs were seen by a veterinarian, spayed or neutered, and those who needed a little sprucing up were groomed.
With the hard work and dedication of our transfer adoption partners, all of these dogs were quickly adopted into new, forever homes. We’d like to say thanks to all the shelters and rescue groups who work with us throughout the year. Working together, we are saving more lives than ever before.
Good News
By Volunteer Coordinator Greg Mortensen
Remember the last time you were asked if you wanted the good news or the bad news first? Perhaps you asked for the bad news, hoping that by the time you heard the good news, the bad news would all be forgotten. Well, this is one of those times.
Recently a stray cat was brought to us. We named her Ginger. She was not in good shape. She had a large wound that covered her head and was so severe it obstructed a portion of her vision. You could tell she was in pain, just by looking at her.
The wonderful woman who brought Ginger to us was obviously concerned. She had been watching the cat for several days, and had worked hard to gain her trust. She began by feeding her outside. Eventually she was able to feed her inside her house. Finally, she was able to pick Ginger up. When she brought her to us, she feared Ginger would be euthanized because of her physical condition, but she could no longer stand to see her suffer.
Here’s the good news. As it turned out, Ginger was friendly – very friendly. And spayed! Our shelter veterinarian, Dr. John Strathman, cared for her and treated her wounds. Despite our fears, he was even able to save her sight. Since the extent of Ginger’s injuries were so severe, Dr. Strathman took Ginger home to foster her back to health.
It took several months, but Ginger’s wounds have healed completely, she has gained weight, and is back to grooming herself. As of this email, Ginger is ready for adoption. Do you have room in your heart for a beautiful, courageous, healthy orange cat?
The Spaniel and the Hound
By Volunteer Coordinator Greg Mortensen
As many of you know, Dry Creek Road on the way to Lake Sonoma is very busy with boaters, cyclists, tourists and winery trucks. Because of the heavy traffic, both domestic animals and wildlife are at risk when attempting to cross from one side to the other.
Sonoma County Animal Control Officer Matt Diaz was patrolling the county area west of Healdsburg this past November when he saw a small tan and white hound mix running on Dry Creek Road. He could not easily or safely pull over because there was not a good spot, so he had to park some distance beyond where he had originally spotted the dog. Parked on the shoulder of the road, Officer Diaz stepped out of his truck hoping the dog would run toward him. But just as his foot hit the pavement, he lost sight of the dog. Accustomed to working with loose dogs, he patiently waited, walking toward the area he had seen the dog, hoping it would return to view. After several minutes of looking and waiting, Officer Diaz determined that the dog had run onto someone’s property and gotten away.
Disappointed, he returned to his truck. But just as he was about to get in, K.C., Officer Diaz’ faithful sidekick (an adopted Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) began barking wildly. Officer Diaz looked in the direction K.C. was barking and spotted the dog across the street lying down by a small bush.
He approached the dog carefully. She was frightened but very friendly and allowed him to pick her up. Once he was holding the dog in his arms, he noticed that she had several wounds on her body.
As he carried the sweet hound back to his truck, Officer Diaz saw a look on K.C.’s face that he had never seen before – he swore if K.C. could talk he’d have said “don’t send a man to do a dog’s job!” With a grin on his face, Officer Diaz drove the injured but friendly dog back to the shelter where she could get medical attention.
Our veterinary staff was able to treat all of her wounds, and Reba recovered fully from her injuries, continued to be particularly friendly and has been adopted into a wonderful, forever home.
According to Officer Diaz, his work involves a fair number of fractious and aggressive animals, and that it’s always nice to find a loose dog that is so friendly – and to be able to help it receive medical treatment and a caring forever home. Its happy endings like this that keep Officer Diaz and K.C. out patrolling day after day.
Leo and La Rae
By Volunteer Coordinator Greg Mortensen
Running an animal shelter is no small feat, and there is much we could not do without the outstanding support of all of our dedicated volunteers. Among our many excellent volunteers, there are two special individuals whose contributions have significantly improved our ability to place hundreds of cats and kittens into happy, loving homes.
La Rae and Leo Lefor have volunteered at the Sonoma County Animal Shelter for nearly four years and have donated thousands of hours during that time. They volunteer fostering cats and kittens and also manage our off-site cat and kitten adoption locations. Their positive impact on so many cats and kittens makes them truly irreplaceable.
Volunteering as a feline foster home, La Rae and Leo show their affection and dedication for our feline friends. 
They have fostered hundreds of cats and kittens for the animal shelter over the years they have been with us. This has given the cats the attention and devotion they deserve, and prepares them socially for adoption into a forever home. The Lefors have helped place many of the felines they have fostered, and many others, into wonderful homes.
La Rae and Leo manage our pet store adoption program and transport the many felines placed in and adopted from these local pet stores. Last year alone, 365 cats and kittens were adopted from 49’er Pet Store of Cotati, Homegrown Pet Supply, and Animal Farm Pet Store and Western Farm Center of Santa Rosa.
We’d like to take a moment and thank La Rae and Leo for all that they do for the cats and kittens of Sonoma County. We could not do this without you!
If you are interested in volunteering at the shelter, please contact Greg Mortensen at (707) 565-7116 or visit us on-line at www.theanimalshelter.org for more information.
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