Greetings Volunteers,
Since I was away last week, there are a lot of updates, articles to read, and happy endings to share … you’re welcome!
Shelter update: We currently have 289 animals in our collective care. 208 are at Marin Humane: 80 animals in foster and 128 animals in the shelter/Kitty Corner, including: 20 dogs, 4 puppies, 56 cats, 12 kittens, 8 rabbits, 12 guinea pigs, 2 rodents, 7 reptiles, 6 birds, and 1 fowl. 81 animals are with the Hopalong Foster Program: 12 animals are in the Oakland office and 69 are in foster or offsite adoption sites!
Adoption update: Happy Wednesday! It’s your lucky day — two adoption slideshows to enjoy! Here’s the slideshow from last week! And here’s this week’s! Now, we’re gearing up for another week of finding forever homes for our animals. Congratulations to all the adopters! 
Also enjoy this two week Adoption Report to bring even more smiles!
Volunteer High Five for Paula Spencer! “I want to give a HUGE High Five to Paula Spencer for the incredible effort she has dedicated over many, many years to the Woofstock raffle! Paula spends countless hours soliciting raffle donations, big and small and unusual, and then organizes the raffle prizes resulting in beautiful, eye-catching table displays at the event! Paula’s dedication, creativity, and attention to detail stand above and beyond. Her hard work played a huge role in making Woofstock such a success, and the raffle was a real highlight for attendees. We appreciate everything she did to make it all come together so smoothly. Thank you, Paula, for your outstanding contribution!” ~ Molly Foley, Special Events Manager
Kitten Shower! Kitten season is here and we need your help! Every spring, we see an influx of little ones in need of extra care – and extra supplies. So you’re all invited to our virtual kitten shower to help us stock up for what’s looking to be a very busy kitten season! Your donations of kitten food, toys, beds and more can set us up for success as we raise oodles of itty bitty babies until they’re ready for their forever homes. You can find everything we need on our Amazon wish list and your purchases will be sent straight to the shelter! We (and the kittens) thank you!
Do you want to be in a parade?! Well, now’s your chance! Marin Humane will be participating in the Fourth of July Parade in Novato!! We’re looking for a few volunteers who would like to join Marin Humane staff and Board members promote our “Pets Inclusive Novato” program – walk along our Marin Humane vehicles wearing a Pets Inclusive Novato t-shirt, and carry a small sign about this special program! It’ll be fun!! Here are some details: Timing: 8:30am staging in downtown Novato, 10:00am parade start; finished around noon. Length: The parade route is about 3/4 of a mile. Pets: Pets aren’t allowed at the event unless they are specifically part of a parade entry. Please let me know if you’d like to join the parade!
Tails of Marin x2! Recently, staff and volunteers from Marin Humane proudly represented our county at the state Capitol for Animal Advocacy Day. This annual event brings animal advocates from across the state to Sacramento for a day of meetings with legislators to advocate for a variety of important issues affecting pets, people and wildlife in the Golden State. This year’s focus was on legislative bills in three main areas: closing the puppy mill pipeline, increasing access to veterinary care, and enhancing animal protection. Read more about Animal Advocacy Day in this piece: “Advocating for California’s animals.” In this week’s Tails of Marin, Lisa Bloch writes, “It seems like every time I open my Nextdoor app, I see posts from people who’ve lost their pets and are worried sick. I’ve been there myself, so I know how it feels. Cats go missing more than dogs and, sadly, have much lower rates of being reunited with their pet parents.” Read What to do if your cat goes missing, for good tips if this happens to you.
B&Tea blog: For more entertaining (and heart-warming) reading, check out “Saving Sally; How a Drone, a Machete, the Internet – and Neighbors – Saved Our Dog,” by longtime volunteer Neil Lurssen.
Vote for us! Marin Humane is one of the finalists in several categories in the Pacific Sun’s Best of Marin contest. Please add your vote for Marin Humane in the following categories. Family & Pets: Best Summer Camp, Best Place to Hold Children’s Birthday Parties, Best Place to Adopt, Best Dog Obedience School. Arts & Culture: Best Charity Event (we’re nominated for both Woofstock and Tails by Twilight!), Best Festival – Woofstock. Services: Best nonprofit. Vote here!
Behavior & Training round-table event: Barking, lunging, growling, jumping at the end of the leash, fixating, refusing food, ignoring well-known cues, all because a dog or other trigger comes into sight…does this describe your dog? This is what we call “reactivity,’ and no matter where you are on your training journey we invite you to join us for this round-table discussion with three leading experts in the field of dog reactivity. Whether you’re attending Reactive Dog Camp May 30-June 1, the full camp is beyond your schedule, or you’re new to working with a reactive dog, come listen, learn, and ask questions of these incredible teachers. Check out the fantastic presenters and learning options on this page.
Happy ending! Exciting news! Debbie, the yellow-naped Amazon parrot who arrived in rough shape back in March, was adopted! For those who missed Debbie’s story, this beautiful bird came to the shelter after her guardian passed away. Sadly, Debbie was alone in her home for about two weeks before she and her deceased owner were discovered. We suspect she survived – just barely – off bits of food she’d previously dropped in her cage. This sweet, old girl was medically fragile when she arrived – thin, weak, and arthritic. After her ordeal, we weren’t sure if Debbie would make it. Thanks to a LOT of TLC and patience from our amazing Manager of Shelter Operations, Sam, and a wonderful foster, Carina, Debbie made a stunning turnaround. She is still an elderly lady with arthritis, but she improved by leaps and bounds and we’re so thrilled that she found a forever home! Congratulations, Debbie!
On vacation! I’ll be heading out on vacation from May 26-June 6th. Hence, the Volunteer Blog will also take a vacation for a few weeks. See you in June :).
With appreciation!
Candace
