Pet Dish - January 5th, 2012

Joey, last but not least!
ASPCA transport pups find forever homes in Minnesota
Now Boarding turns three
CRAVE creates deliciousness during January for AHS
Pet Tips with Paula Zukoff
More Treats
Scratching Posts

Tales and Tails

Joey, last but not least!
Home for the New Year

For the past month or so since her beloved dog, EllieMae, had died, Susan W. had been looking at the AHS website, hoping to fill the gap in her heart.

“I have two cats, Baby Rock and Francie Pants, that I adopted as a pair from AHS. While I love them dearly, they are just not the same as having a dog. I was really missing a best friend.”

Susan, who lives in Minneapolis and works at the University of Minnesota, has always had cats and dogs in her home. In fact, she knows a bit about dog training, having trained a Kuvasz and other breeds that she’s owned.

On New Year’s Eve day, Susan was out with a friend who lives in Woodbury. They stopped in at AHS, so she could meet a dog she’d seen on the AHS website. Another dog, named Buster, was recovering from sterilization surgery and literally reached out of his cage to her while lying on his pillow. An eight-month-old Airedale/Wheaton terrier mix, “He just wanted to be petted, and he stole my heart,” said Susan.

Buster, now Joey, has begun the New Year to his new family, including Baby Rock and Francie Pants. “They are not so enamored with him yet,” Susan confides.

While Susan knows that Joey has some training issues to be addressed, she said he’s settling in. “He slept in his kennel at home the first night but then I let him out the next night. I woke up and he was laying on the bed, on his back with his legs straight up in the air, his head almost hanging off the bed, snoring,” she said. “I think he’s pretty comfortable now.”

ASPCA transport pups find forever homes in Minnesota

The South Carolina shelter needed help because many of the dogs were not being adopted. That is when the ASPCA stepped in to help. They relocate animals to shelters where chances of adoption are greater.

Kristen Limberg, ASPCA animal relocation manager who oversaw the transport, says the trip was a lengthy one. After stops at the Capital Area Humane Society in Hillard, Ohio, and the Bay Area Humane Society in Green Bay, Wis., the team headed for Minnesota.

“I think they were all about ready to be done with the ride,” Kristen wrote on the ASPCA blog during the journey. “… The ‘Minnesota 20’ have been fed a light breakfast, got some pats and scratches, and are settled in for the last leg of the trip.”

Kristen remembers the two sisters named Thelma and Louise. “They were super sweet and social. I had no doubt they would be adopted.” Louise was adopted within two days of being placed for adoption at AHS, while Thelma was adopted after just four days.

Another of the “Minnesota 20” was Mulan, now called Bella. John and Joan Minczeski of Maplewood adopted the female 11-month-old black Labrador on their first visit to AHS’s shelter in Woodbury.

“We had looked online and at other dogs. We knew we wanted a dog that was a little older than a puppy,” says John. “At the beginning she was fearful of loud noises, but she’s settling in and becoming part of the family.”

Bella is now enrolled in training classes at AHS and walks 20 miles a week with her family in Battle Creek Regional Park. “She loves belly rubs and walks,” reports John.

Minnesotans have big hearts. All but one of the “Minnesota 20” has found a new home through AHS. One dog—appropriately named Miles—is being cared for by AHS veterinary staff and volunteers as he receives medical treatment before being placed for adoption into a new home.

Now Boarding turns three

When you walk through the gleaming glass-and-steel entrance at Now Boarding, you know this isn’t an old-school kennel where you feel a little sad about leaving your pet for the day or week.

Boarders with names like Coco Chanel, Bill Clinton, Prince Charming and Mel Tormé have called Now Boarding their home-away-from-home, but pets with more pedestrian names like Rufus and Rover enjoy the surprisingly affordable comfort too.

One look at the sparkling clean facility and you’ll never again worry about your pet when you take a trip or need daycare. You can pick your pet’s suite size and add extras like special treats, grooming, and exercise time in a pool. All enjoy indoor and outdoor playtime and rest time. Owners, too, feel pampered by the round-the-clock access to check up on or pick up their pets anytime.

Recently featured in Minnesota Monthly magazine, Now Boarding sets a new standard. According to Now Boarding General Manager Lisa Hinickle, it’s the 24/7 access, the location near the airport, and the animal care expertise that was incorporated into the design that sets Now Boarding apart. “Each dog kennel is designed with continuous fresh water delivery, instrumental music, ample natural light, and other stress-reduction features, and our spacious cat room features natural light, tiered kennels and a large play area. We also have a top-notch air quality system to help prevent airborne diseases and a huge outdoor play area.”

Rabbits, hamsters, lizards, snakes and the occasional bearded dragon have also been among the guests.

Many protocols and policies were adapted from Animal House, AHS’s boarding facility in Golden Valley. “And our customers really like the fact that proceeds from Now Boarding support the animals at Animal Humane Society,” says Lisa.

Pets and people can also take AHS training classes at the convenient south Minneapolis location, and programs have been added such as “Late Departure – Play & Stay Daycare Package” for owners who need to leave their dog past 7 p.m. and “MiniRomp,” a playtime for small dogs from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Lisa and her staff go the extra mile for their customers. “Last summer we had a couple who were getting married, and they were boarding their dogs during the wedding and honeymoon. The groom’s father asked if we could bring the dogs to the wedding, so we groomed them and brought Charles and Happy as a surprise to the couple. It is great to have this relationship with our customers and their pets.”

CRAVE creates deliciousness during January for AHS

Get your crave on! CRAVE restaurants have created a special menu for the month of January and a percentage of proceeds are donated to AHS!

Culinary Director Jim Kyndberg and Executive Sushi Chef Tony Lam have developed mouth-watering lunch/dinner features such as Minnesota Chowder, Baked Brie in Pastry, Korean Miso Shrimp, Tuscan Burger or Tuscan New York Steak and a Cheesecake “Sushi” Roll (vanilla bean cheesecake with strawberry, mango and Valrhona chocolate sauce—drooling yet?) plus two wine selections. Visit any of CRAVE’s four locations to enjoy a great meal while helping AHS: Galleria, Shops at West End, the Mall of America, and Downtown Minneapolis.

“The CRAVE Cares program gives team members the opportunity to feel proud that they can go to work every day and raise awareness and financial support for organizations,” says Zach Sussman, CRAVE marketing director. “We started working with AHS as a vendor at the annual Walk for Animals … and were blown away by the participation of the organization’s supporters, everything we learned about the AHS mission and the services they provide to animals and humans alike. We’re incredibly impressed with the AHS Bound for Home initiative and the success experienced since the program’s implementation.”

Pet Tips with Paula Zukoff