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A Look Back at 2007 |
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed. We’ve
had a good year in many ways and a very bad year
in others. Some wonderful adoptions have taken
place with our long-term residents. Pearl, after 3
years at the shelter, finally has a home. Buddy, after
2 1/2 years, can’t smile enough playing with his new
canine brother. Armand, a beautiful grey feline
with a head injury after being struck by a car, has a
new family after a year at the shelter. See page11
for more of these wonderful heartwarming stories of
some of our especial needs and lengthy stay adoptions.
So many of these animals have little idiosyncrasies
but then, how many of us don’t? Given a
chance, most will love you unconditionally as you
can read from our Happy Endings.
Unfortunately, a virus hit. Our cats and kittens took
ill with this deadly virus and
despite the dedicated care
and ompassion of our staff,
approximately thirty of them
succumbed to the illness in
October and November.
Due to circumstances beyond
our control, our numbers at
the shelter were at an all time
high of 180 cats in the late
summer and fall. An extended
kitten season and an
increasingly large number of
animals being abused and
abandoned throughout
Durham Region had led to
these incredibly high numbers
at our cramped little shelter.
Fred, our beloved 3-legged shelter cat, had a difficult
autumn. He was increasingly unwell and having
seizures. He was referred to Guelph Veterinary
College in December where he had his remaining
eight teeth removed, as well as several oral abscesses
on his gums and cheeks treated and drained. He
is a remarkable cat and we love him dearly. He’s
making a full recovery, eating every stray morsel of
food he can find and sharing (or should I say tolerating)
the front office with Tucker, another long time
resident.
Ulrich, our shelter rat for three years passed away in
2007 and has left a void in his little cage in the front
office. Ruby just informed me that 12 domestic rats
that were meant to be food were rescued from a
home with illegal reptiles. Most were starving but
are now thriving after receiving food and treats at
the shelter. Among them, Ruby found tiny baby
Bernard, who has now been adopted as the shelter
rat. For many of you who think of rats as vermin, domestic rats are extremely social, clean and loving
little animals.
Our staff is phenomenal.
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Through their loving
ways, hard work and dedication they have saved so
many animals in this past year who otherwise would
have died.
Ruby, our shelter manager, gives every
animal a chance and has a way with so many, particularly
when they first arrive, frightened and
unsure. Every little dog that comes from a bad situation,
always adopts Ruby as his mom and cuddles
in her arms.
Melissa our receptionist takes care of
the front office with her kind and pleasant manner,
greeting and thanking everyone and absolutely
adores out little stray kittens.
Candy, with her caring
ways works so hard diligently looking after our
cats in treatment, with illnesses and requiring medications,
it’s not an easy job and
she does it well.
Kay, a gentle soul
who sheds many tears of happiness,
cares for and socializes our
special needs kitties, finding the
perfect homes for our long-term
residents.
Sam, with her beautiful
smile, loves to work with animals
with wounds, abscesses, even warbols.
When others stomachs
might turn, Sam is there.
Lindsey,
with her wonderful infectious
laugh, is the overseer of every
area, the Mother hen, aware of
everything going on. A dedicated
front line worker, who enjoys
hands on with all of the animals
and helps with the volunteers.
Mike, our practical
joker, with a heart of gold who loves to cuddle our
cats and has a way to needle and medicate those
that others can’t.
John, kind, devoted and hard
working, our dog whisperer who socializes and
works with our dogs, bringing out the best in them.
Karen, with her warm gentle ways, working with
cats with a failure to thrive often because of illness.
She cuddles, bottle-feeds and force-feeds and has
brought many back to health who otherwise would
have died.
Barb, our loving foster mom, enjoys giving
one on one care and attention to our cats and
has fostered many back to health when they needed
her individual attention.
Alison, a quiet, hard
working girl, is responsible for all of our little animals,
including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats
and mice. A job not many want to do but Alison has
a way with them, particularly her
beloved guinea pigs.
The majority of our animals
at the shelter come through
animal protection services.
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A Look Back at 2007 continued
Debbie, our dedicated inspector, and Leanne our
devoted agent, two extremely committed and hard
working individuals, have the difficult task of
answering all abuse and neglect calls that come in.
Debbie and Leanne confront some of the worst of
society, when they to a home or farm where an animal
has been starved beaten or mutilated, often to
death.
We’ve had some tragic cases this year including
Xena, who is still waiting at the shelter for a new
home. Her ribs were protruding after she was left
starving. A little 14 year old poodle taken home by a
board member, left outside in freezing temperatures,
arthritic, blind and so badly
matted, his upper legs were
entangled with his body. Two
horses emaciated, now at a
farm where they have the freedom
to graze and run. These
are but a few of the cases that
were dealt with.
All of our wonderful employees
of the shelter work together
to give so many animals in
need the second chance the so
desperately need.
Equally important are our
many volunteers, young and
old, who give so much of themselves. From helping
at the shelter to individual fundraising efforts to
helping the society’s various fundraiser's, we thank
you for all that you have done. We couldn't do it
without you.
Our biggest disappointment of this past year has
been the lack of progress for a new building site, as
most of you are aware. Unfortunately, municipalities
and regions expect us to be there to deal with
the abuse and abandonment of animals, without
one cent of support, but no one wants us in their ‘backyard’. How is it that there is always plenty of
money and land to give for arenas, sports fields, blue
painted theaters, renovations and so many other
things, but nobody has an acre of land for the animals
in need?
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Our fundraiser's in 2007 were varied, successful and
above all, fun. Swing Shift Big Band dance,
Country dance, People for Pets Walkathon, Golf
Tournament, Pooches n Puddles Dog Wash, Pause
for our Paws and Pet Pics with Santa. Many people
and their pets came out to our different events and
helped us raise funds and awareness for our shelter.
Two Pet Valu's joined us to help adopt out some of
our felines. Pet Valu in Courtice and Pet Valu in
Bowmanville Mall. It’s been very successful and we
thank them for all their support.
Above all, we thank you, our donors and members.
Without you and your belief in
us, we wouldn't’t be able to take
care of so many animals in need.
Your support and kind words
mean so much to all of us.
So
many times, the staff can be overwhelmed
and things just aren’t
going well. A letter arrives with a
lovely kind word thanking them
for all they do; it truly makes a
difference and helps to lift everyone’s
spirits. Wags and purrs to
all of you.
On a final note, for many of you,
2007 was a year with grief, with
the loss of a loved one, be it
human or animal. Remember when you leave
home every morning, whisper to those close to your
heart that you love them.
From all of us including
Fred and Tucker, the staff, our board member Barb,
Bill, Caroline, Carol, Cindy, Claire, Dr Makowal,
Joanne, Joan, Shelley and myself, Karin, we wish
you a healthy and happy 2008.
Sincerely,
Karin Martens
President,
Humane Society of Durham Region |
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