Greetings Volunteers,

How are you? Really, how are you feeling?

Since our last e-mail, much has happened in our country. Coupled with the experience of SIP, we  acknowledge that this is a topsy-turvey time of emotions where you you may feel even less grounded, and more off balance. Although we may not have control over the things occurring out in the world, what we can control are the choices we make in how we take care of ourselves. And taking care of yourself will enable you to help take care of others.

Here are some of the basic tools of self-care to maintain a sense of balance: 1) get plenty of sleep/rest, 2) try to make healthy food choices, 3) get some daily exercise/movement, and 4) consider meditation/mindful pauses. And, of course, spend time with your pets :-). 

We hope the following updates and resources help lift your spirits!

Shelter Update: Our current shelter population is 122 animals. There are 90 animals in foster and 22 in the shelter. The shelter residents include: 3 dogs, 17 cats, 9 kittens, 1 turtle, 1 rooster and 1 guinea pig.

Adoptions Update: Since SIP started on March 16th, we have completed 343 adoptions – which is just 11% behind the adoptions done during the same period 2019. And here’s another fun fact: the average return rate is 4% and during this new way of “matchmaking,” the return rate is just 6%. We thank our awesome adoptions team! For this week’s adoption slideshow, click here.

Select Fosters Needed: If you’re looking for a way to help while waiting to return to the shelter or Kitty Corner, we could use some fosters for specific needs. From Suzanne Gollin, our foster care coordinator: “We need fosters who could take a mama dog with puppies (although fortunately we don’t get many of those); behavior dog fosters (which can be just for shy dogs, not necessarily aggression issues); fosters for a mom cat with her kittens; fosters for a single cat where there’s no other cats in their household; and lastly, fosters for a single kitten if you think your cat would play with the kitten. Right now, we’ve got plenty of fosters for kittens!” If you’re interested in fostering in one of these specific areas, please contact Candace a calexander@marinhumane.org and she will forward your contact info to Suzanne. Thank you!!

Marin Humane Calendar Photo Contest! Just a reminder that the Calendar Photo Contest is still open! Please consider submitting one of your recent or favorite photos from long ago. It’s easy to participate – just submit your favorite photo of your cute canine, fabulous feline, or other companion animal and encourage family and friends to vote for your pet (all donations will benefit the shelter animals). Top vote-getters will be featured on the cover or as one of the pets of the month throughout the year. Calendars will be mailed to more than 10,000 homes in Marin and beyond and every entrant will receive their own copy of the calendar. Voting ends 6/26/2020 at 5:00 PM PST.

“Bread Ingestion in Pets on the Rise.” Many of us have been baking at home more. When you do, please make sure your pet won’t be able to snack on raw dough, as the yeast can cause severe bloating and discomfort or worse. Read this article to learn why bread dough consumption is so dangerous for both dogs and cats, and what to do if dough is ingested.

Staying at home? You can train your dog remotely! In this week’s Tails of Marin article, Karen Schuerholz (one of Marin Humane’s dog training instructors and behavior consultants) writes about the success of virtual dog training. For more information on our virtual dog training opportunities, click here.

 

Stay strong and be well,

Anne and Candace