Featured Pet of the Week: Ikea

It may be August now, but October is rapidly approaching. Wouldn't you love to welcome a Halloween cat into your home? Ikea is a beautiful black cat. Contrary to popular myths and superstitions, she won't bring you bad luck -- only love and affection! Can you give the same to her?

Ikea is currently an indoor/outdoor cat, and I'm told she is an excellent mouser. She'll bring you presents as long as you adore her! Ikea gets along wonderfully with other cats, but is terrified of dogs, and as such, can only go to a house without canines. She's a happy, healthy girl who is up to date on all of her shots, litterbox trained, and spayed.
If you feel that you can provide Ikea with a loving forever home, the first step is to fill out our adoption questionnaire.

There are some things to consider before adopting any animal, a list of which can be found here.

If you're sure you're ready to adopt, but not sure Ikea is the right match for you, check out our other adoptable animals. We have both cats and dogs who are just looking for a loving, caring home.

Dog Swim Event!

We're happy to announce the first ever, first annual DOG SWIM! We've teamed up with the City of Athens' Parks and Recreation department to bring you this extra special super fun day. Are you ready for the details?

The dog swim will be held at the Athens City Pool on East State Street, in Athens. It will last from 10 a.m.until 2 p.m. on Saturday August 29. The cost is $5 per dog. Humans are free of charge. The event is rain or shine, but will be canceled in the event of lightening. The weather report as of August 23rd is calling for scattered thunderstorms. Let's hope they pass us by!

So what's the catch? You can't go in the water! That's right, your dogs can swim away the end of the pool season, but you have to stay comfortably dry and watch as they have all the fun. But what's a better way to spend the day than watching your pooch get some quality time in the water and make some new friends?

Vet records must be shown for all dogs stating they are current on rabies, bordetella, and distemper vaccinations. Any dogs showing aggression, or females in heat, will not be allowed at the event.

We ask kindly that when your pooch isn't in the pool that he's on a leash.

In addition to all this (Yes, there's more!) The Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) will be around to provide education and information about pets and disaster preparedness. Friends of the Dog Shelter will be there with some adoptable dogs, as well as a few of the Humane Society's own companion-less canines who will hopefully swim right into the hearts of someone who can give them a forever home!

This occurs on the same date and time as our Cat and Kitten adoption event, which will be held just down the road at the Market on State (formerly University Mall).
As always, check out our list of adoptable animals. At least two of our pooches will be at the pool that day, but I'll leave you guessing as to just who they are. Go check out all of our animals, they're all waiting for just the right human. Maybe that human is you?

Featured Pet of the Week: Kong

Kong is just a littlebaby, but is already growing larger and stronger than his littermates. Kong bosses them around in a playful manner, and it's clear who is running the show! He's a little blue-gray ball of energy, and so loving and sweet he'll melt into your heart. Kong and his siblings had a rough start to life, and his mother Stripe is also in need of a good, loving forever home. Take a look at Kong's photos. Are you able to resist the urge to give him a spot in your heart and home? I'm not even sure I can!

There are some things you should consider before adopting any animal, a list of which can be found here.

Absolutely certain you want to take Kong home and treat him like a king? (King Kong? Get it?) The first step is to fill out our adoption questionnaire.

Are you looking for a pet, but not sure that Kong is the right one for you? Check out our ever-growing list of adoptable animals, and see if any capture your heart.

As always, many of these animals will be available to meet in person at our next Adoption Event, being held on Saturday, August 29th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Market on State Street in Athens.

We hope to see you there!

A Chance to Rally

Are you looking for a chance to make a small difference in a large issue? We received a letter this week explaining how individuals might help in a very local puppy mill case.

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

You may recall that there is a Pre-Trial Conference scheduled for this
coming Friday, August 21 at 2:00 PM in the class-action lawsuit filed
against Donald Dutiel and his cohorts in the "Wagon Wheel Ranch"
operation. (Black, et al., v. Dutiel, et al., case no.: 09CV-00170, Court
of Common Pleas, Perry County, Ohio, Linton Lewis, Judge).

Click here to read the article, "Lawsuit seeks to stop breeder - Wagon
Wheel breeds sick puppies, it alleges."

Although this is not an absolutely crucial event, it is important, and it
would be helpful to have a solid presence from the Ohio animal advocacy
community. If you cannot attend in person, we invite you to contact the
news media or other parties interested in humane causes, and ask if they
can send a representative.

The Pre-Trial Conference will be held in New Lexington, Ohio, in Perry
County, about an hour east southeast of Columbus:

Date:
Fri., 8/21

Time:
2:00 PM

Address:
105 North Main St.
New Lexington, OH 43764

Phone:
(740) 342-3156

Fax:
(740) 342-2188

Map to Courthouse:
http://www.perrycountycourt.com/map.shtml

Perry County Court Website:
http://www.perrycountycourt.com/

Support from concerned citizens would be very much appreciated, and could
very well help the many, possibly hundreds, of Dutiel's victims for whom
we might eventually get a small measure of justice if we can keep this
case going and growing (not to mention the scores that we might keep from
becoming victims).

We'll continue to keep you informed of developments in the case, even if
you cannot attend this week.

Thanks so much for serving as a strong voice for the dogs!

Mary O'Connor-Shaver
Cell: 614-271-8248
Columbus Top Dogs
http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
http://www.banohiodogauctions.com/
http://tejasanimalrefuge.ca/
http://www.lostpetusa.net/

Monthly Adoption Event!

Our monthly adoption event will be held on Saturday, August 29 from 10AM to 2PM at the Market on State (formerly the University Mall) in Athens.

Fill out an adoption application on-site and interview with an ACHS representative to find the right match for you and your lifestyle. If you intend to adopt a cat please bring a carrier for safe transportation to your home. No cats will be permitted to leave the event without a carrier.

Check out our list of adoptable pets, some of which will be available for viewing at the event.

Make sure you're ready to adopt a friend by taking some time to figure out the answers to the important questions to ponder before adopting.

We'd love to see any of our animals go to wonderful, forever homes. If you have a space in your heart and home for any of these guys, please don't hesitate to drop by and fill out the paperwork! We have so many lovable, and loving, companions. If your life is missing a furry friend, we're the place to go!

Featured Adoptable Cat: Spaz

Spaz might be his name, but this young guy is anything but. He loves to play, for sure, but also likes to cuddle. He even has a marking that looks like a milk mustache! Spaz loves to cuddle, especially on your chest. He will lay in the windowsill and bask in the sun, and all of the typical cat activities that make cats special. Spaz has no special needs, and is a healthy young guy. Do you have a spot in your home and your heart for Spaz?


Not sure you're ready to adopt? Here are some things to consider before taking responsibility for an animal.

Absolutely smitten with Spaz and want him in your life? Here's our adoption questionnaire. This form is your key to having Spaz as a forever friend.

Want to adopt, but maybe not looking for a cat like Spaz? (although why you wouldn't, I haven't a clue!) Here is a list of our other adoptable furry friends.

A Word On Feral Cats

So what's the difference between feral cats and stray cats?
According to the Humane Society of the United States' page on Feral Cats:

• A stray cat is a pet cat who is lost or abandoned. Feral cats are the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats who are not spayed or neutered.

• Stray cats are accustomed to contact with people and are tame, but feral cats are not accustomed to contact with people and are typically too fearful and wild to be handled.
• Wheras stray cats may be reunited with their families or adopted into new homes, feral cats do not easily adapt or may never adapt to living as pets in close contact with people.

Here's a more in depth video for your viewing:

Many feral cats in our area adapt quite well to being barn cats once they are spayed/neutered. Younger kittens have a higher chance of being rehabilitated and placed in good homes, and with enough patience and expertise, most adult cats can as well.

Visit the Alley Cat Allies in our links section for more information as well.

Adoption Event

We will be having our monthly adoption event at the Market on State Street (formerly the University Mall) in Athens on Saturday, August 29th from 10AM to 2PM. Come by to meet just some of the cats and dogs we have available for adoption.

If you plan on adopting an animal, please bring a secure carrier. No animal will be allowed to leave the event without one.

Not sure if you're ready? Here is a list of things to consider before adopting an animal. Absolutely sure you're ready to adopt? Check out our list of animals up for adoption.

Representatives will be on hand to match the right animal to your lifestyle. Ready to make a new, lifelong friend? They certainly are!

Community Support - Featured Adoptable Pets of the Week

Communities all over the nation are pulling together to help animals in need. In a recent flood of the Louisville, KY area, shelter workers received assistance from the community to pull together and save most of the 600 residents of their animal shelter, both dogs and cats. The fatalities have been reported so far as only 1 dog and 12 cats. The whole story can be found here.

As heartwarming as it is to hear about the community pulling together to save animals in their time of need, similar things are happening right here in our own county. The animals pictured above were found in the basement of Donkey Coffee in Athens. Donkey Coffee was more than happy to pay for the spaying and neutering of these beautiful cats, as well as helped find a foster for the kittens Anna (left) and Andy (right) of the beautiful mama cat, Jolene, pictured center. Shelley Lieberman, our vice president, was there attending an event the night they were discovered, and was called in to help. Over the next few days, the cats were humanely trapped and given the health care they needed.

It's safe to say that not many companies or organizations would help out a cat, much less more than one cat, who had taken up residence in their basement. It's commendable not only that Donkey Coffee called the ACHS about these cats, who so desperately needed love, affection and attention, but fronted the cost for them to receive medical attention as well. On behalf of everyone at the ACHS, thank you, Donkey Coffee, for doing such a commendable and honorable thing.

Many people are also aware that there are often cats roaming around the Import House, another Athens fixture. These cats are often fostered from the Athens County Humane Society. Imagine being able to provide support, love, and care. If you are the owner of a local business and would like to get involved with us in some way, whether it's fostering adoptable animals or contributing financially to their upkeep, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Because of the amount of involvement and support from Donkey Coffee, this week's featured adoptable animals are Jolene, Anna, and Andy.


Jolene, a beautiful Russian Blue cat, is approximately 8 months old. She gave birth at a very young age, and came to us as a skittish kitten who would hardly trust a soul. She has been spayed and is quite healthy. She is fostered in a home that currently has two medium sized dogs (30 pounds) and two cats of it's own, and she has taken to all of them quite well, particularly the dogs! She has never met children, but we do not feel she would do well around them. She's independent and sassy, and prefers to seek affection out when she feels she would like it, rather than being constantly cuddled and picked up. She would make a wonderful companion to someone who is able to provide a quiet, calm environment for her, and didn't need constant cuddling!

Anna, or Anna Banana, her daughter, has very much the same spunk and sass as her mother. Anna is a dilute tortiseshell, with spots of the blue coloring her mother has. Anna is playful, and able to amuse herself for hours with anything that she finds be it string, puff balls and of course, toy mice. Anna is still a very young kitten, and has been spayed and is healthy.

Andy, Anna's brother and Jolene's son, has the sweetest, most mischievous look upon his face every time you meet him. And mischievous he is! The ACHS warns to put away your toilet paper, as he has quite the affinity for unwinding rolls of it! If you could use a little prankster, a joker, someone who will make you laugh and smile every time you see him, Andy may just be the kitten for you. He has been neutered and is healthy.

Andy and Anna can be visited on most days at White's Mill in Athens between the hours of 9am and 5pm. It's recommended to call first to see if they will be there. The number is (740) 592-1521.


Thinking about adopting any of these three? Here's a list of what to consider before adopting an animal from the Athens County Humane Society. If you're certain you'd like one of these three sweethearts in your home, filling out an adoption questionnaire is the first part of the process.

Andy, Anna or Jolene just not quite your speed? Check out our list of other adoptable animals to see if we have the right one for you.

If you own a business local to the Athens area, and would like to support our efforts, please call or email us. If you are an individual interested in helping with a time, monetary, or supply donation, please see our list of needs. Our contact information is, as always,

Athens County Humane Society
P.O. Box 765
Athens, OH 45701
info@athenshumane.org
740-592-6047 (voicemail only)