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Looking for a Home -- 'Pet of the Week' Will Feature Humane Society Animal

Posted on: Friday, 3 September 2004, 06:00 CDT

The painted image on the side of the building shows a puppy and a kitten snuggling together, very much the image of "warm and fuzzy." But the animals at the Memphis Shelby County Humane Society aren't that coddled. Despite the best efforts of a dedicated staff, these sweet creatures are living their lives in cages just waiting for someone to come take them home.

Central Gardens resident Kathy Simonetti serves as the organization's executive director. Having met her, I can only say with the greatest admiration what a wonderful, caring person she is and how she, like the rest of her staff, genuinely wants to make things better for the wards that come to the Humane Society. Her stories of unwanted or abandoned pets could melt the coldest hearts.

But then there are hearts that also break when family changes such as divorces, moves or allergies mean well-intentioned owners have to relinquish their pets. Fortunately for the furry friends, there is a state law that stipulates that an animal must be held for 72 hours while an owner search is conducted before euthanasia can be implemented. It's after the owner search that the Humane Society's role comes into play and animals can be brought to them and kept until a suitable home can be found.

Two other staff members, Elizabeth Norton , accounting manager, and Sarah Stepp , development manager, bring their "home to work." Rather than taking work home with them, they bring a little bit of their home life to work every day in the form of their pets, respectively, Mona , a black Lab, and Botox , a pug. With an average of 70 dogs and 50 cats at the Humane Society on any given day, the two family pets feel right at home.

As for the animals that temporarily call the Humane Society "home," the options for housing become quite creative, with kittens and puppies going to volunteers who have agreed to serve as "foster homes" until the animals are at least 12 weeks old. Putting a younger animal in the general population before that age increases the likelihood that it will succumb to a disease such as Parvo or kennel cough. Kathy Spicer is the group's foster care coordinator. She says that one of the real benefits to serving as a foster family is that allows people to help, but with only a limited time commitment.

Central Gardens resident Leah Roen Wiederspahn, one of the newest members of the Humane Society board, says that with her love of animals, her new role is a natural fit.

Not to mention, she is such a softie when it comes to the four- leggeties; she has a 3-year old Wheaten terrier, Jamie , and a 2- year-old terrier mix, Cody , both of whom are, to use her term, "recycled pets" as they came to her through animal rescue efforts.

Wiederspahn says, "One of my biggest concerns since coming onto the board centers on the adoption of black-furred animals. Since joining this group I've learned that they tend to be the hardest to adopt, maybe because they are frightening to some people or maybe because of ingrained superstitions."

Lauren Shepard , community outreach manager, is one of the people responsible for bringing the animals together with prospective owners.

Shepard works with Alan Vesey , director of operations, to put the whole show on the road by taking animals to visit the public at special events that encourage adoptions. The animals are transported in a trailer known as the Mobile Pet Waggin' and taken to events at places such as the Children's Museum and Central Library.

And along for the ride are also some special little helpers, sort of a junior volunteer crew, called KPAW (Kids Promoting Animal Welfare).

This group of children, ages 8-17, offers a special esprit de corps with their open affection for the animals. The kids get T- shirts that identify them as KPAW members and have their own newsletter. They spend time helping with the animals at public events and even lend a hand with dog washes. The cost to join the group is $15 per child, and there is no mandatory attendance required at the various events.

I tell you all of this as a means to announce a new feature we will have in Midtown & Downtown Appeal on Thursdays - Pet of the Week .

Starting with this edition, we will feature an animal from the Humane Society that is ready to go to a good home.

To launch our efforts, we have Tres, a shepherd mix beauty featured on our cover. In fact, it is fitting that she is the first nonhuman "face" in our Faces & Places column.

Tres has been at the Humane Society since January 2003. She's housebroken and loves long walks, so if you are looking to get into shape, let her be your inspiration!

For September, the adoption fee for Tres will be waived.

Contact the Humane Society at 272-1753 for more information about this dog and other great pets!

Also, I wanted to bring to the forefront the opportunities that are available to work with the animals.

For more information, call the Humane Society at (901) 276-7770.

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Volunteer Opportunities

Foster Care

be at least 21 years old

complete an interview with staff

have a fenced yard

pose no problems with other pets or children

Dog Walkers

be at least 18 years or older

if younger, must also walk with an adult

complete a volunteer application

sign a waiver of liability and a volunteer agreement

make a minimum of a six-month commitment

complete an orientation session (two-part class)

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