Greetings Volunteers,
We’re nearly at CAT-pacity and our cat rooms are FELINE a little full – so we’re waiving adoption fees for all our adult cats this week! To celebrate National Cat Day, adopt any of our kitties 5 months & older at any of our locations and pay NO adoption fees, Tuesday 10/28 through Sunday, 11/2. Spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors! Come meet our cats this week and you just might make a new best friend – and a little space!
Shelter update: We currently have 322 animals in our collective care. 134 are at our Novato campus, including 32 dogs, 5 puppies, 52 cats, 14 kittens, 10 rabbits, 7 guinea pigs, 5 rodents, 1 reptile, 5 birds, and 3 fowl. 12 animals are in our Oakland office. 20 are at Kitty Corner and the Woodlands stores. And, 156 are in foster homes!
Adoption update: Happy Wednesday! Happy adoption slideshow viewing! Congratulations to all our adopters and thanks for choosing to adopt! Here’s the Adoption Report for the full scoop on who went to a forever home!
Hopalong happenings: We had a festive adoption event this past Saturday! The Woodlands Pet Foods and Treats store in Novato hosted their annual Great Pupkin Pet Costume Contest and Howl’oween event, with proceeds going to Marin Humane. Our adoptable dogs got to hang out with many people and pets dressed up in costume (see pictures). Event attendees could also make their own cat toy, decorate dog treats, and visit the selfie station. The four Woodlands Pet Foods and Treats stores around Marin County host our weekly dog adoption events as well as facilitate the adoption of cats in their stores. We’re grateful for their long-standing commitment to our mission and appreciate these festive events to bring in new adopters.
Animal Disaster Preparedness Ambassador Training: We’re excited to offer an Animal Disaster Preparedness Ambassador Training workshop for Marin Humane volunteers and staff members who want to help with outreach and increase preparedness within our community. Co-presented by Shiny Caldwell, Director of Animal Services, and Chris Jones, Marin Humane volunteer and retired US Public Health Service Emergency Manager. They will talk about what it really means to be ready — how to plan for people and pets in emergencies and what supplies to have on hand. You’ll learn about local resources, common challenges, and Marin Humane’s role in disaster response. This is the first step toward becoming a Disaster Preparedness Ambassador to represent Marin Humane at community events and help others get their animals ready, too. The workshop will take place on Thursday, November 6th from 11am-12:30pm, including time for Q&A, in the Auditorium in the Whittell building at the Novato campus. Please let me know if you can join us for this informative session; RSVP to me at calexander@marinhumane.org.
Backpacks needed! Do you have an old backpack in the back of your closet that you no longer use? Pet Safety Net can! We give them to clients who are on foot or on bicycle. You can drop off your gently used backpacks in the blue donation bins in the front of the shelter and they will be routed to the pet food pantry. Thank you!
Volunteer High Five to our Community Event Volunteers! “Throughout the year, Marin Humane is asked to participate in a variety of community events all across the county. Some events are general family fairs while others are specifically for disaster preparedness. The only way we can participate in so many events is with the tremendous support of our Community Event Volunteers! These volunteers dedicate some of their weekend to represent Marin Humane. They set-up, take down, listen to a myriad of stories about peoples pets (some of them Marin Humane & Hopalong alumni), and share information about Marin Humane’s programs and services. This year, Marin Humane participated in 14 events! Thank you to this year’s Community Event Volunteers: Ann, Anni, Cheryle, Chris, Christina, Connie, Courtney, Diane, Ellen, Fredi, Gayle G., Gayle H., Kathleen, Kathy, Kendall, Linda, Marci, Mardi, Michele, Sarah, and Susie. We so appreciate your time to do be a Marin Humane ambassador at these outreach events with such good cheer!” ~ Candace, Volunteer Engagement Manager
Volunteer High Five to the Marin Monarch Working Group! “Did you know that there is a Monarch Butterfly Waystation on Marin Humane’s Novato campus? Well, there is! And we have the Marin Monarch Working Group (MMWG) to thank. An all-volunteer non-profit organization, the volunteers from MMWG have created and nursed the Monarch Butterfly Waystation located on the north-side of the parking lot, near the path to the bridge.
We’d like to give a Volunteer High Five to the MMWD volunteers for creating and sustaining a garden that provides essential resources for monarch butterflies to feed, rest, and reproduce during their migration. The Marin Humane habitat includes milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars can eat, as well as other nector-producing plants to provide energy for adult butterflies. Establishing this waystation is crucial for monarch butterfly conservation, especially as their natural habitats have declined. Mia Monroe, one of MMWG leaders recently wrote: ‘Guidelines for taking care of a litter of cat(erpillars): replace milkweed often, water nearby plants, guide eager toddlers (caterpillars), clean frass (poop) off leaves, shoo wasps and birds and squirrels away, send regular birth notices …whew, what a season! Marin Monarch Working Group volunteer Annette has been busy with plants donated by nearby Homeground Habitats and volunteer Tom has been active during an especially hungry period when the caterpillars were devouring every milkweed leaf in sight!’ Mia also added this quote from Jane Goodall: ‘Hope is about taking action in spite of it all. It’s about saying: I will do my bit. And when we join together, those bits become a movement.’ Huge thanks to the MMWG volunteers for bringing the monarch butterfly waystation to Marin Humane!” ~ Sally Holland, Youth Program Manager
Hope you have a fun, safe Halloween!
Candace
