Shelter News is a good place to check out what's happening at the shelter. We’ve also added our Facebook Calendar so that you’ll always know where to find us & our furry friends throughout Stark county and surrounding area to promote animal welfare, adoption, and education.
Shelter News aslo informs you with updates from our board president, articles from area veterinarians, and other contributors that “speak for those who cannot speak for themselves”.
We're always looking for ideas for articles, or other information for Shelter News so please Contact Us with your ideas.
President's Report
In the month of December we take the time to reflect on the significant events of the year that is
coming to a close, contemplate the oys of the Holiday Season, and prepare for the onset of another
Northeast hio winter. As always, uppermost in our minds is the welfare of our furry friends.
Securing their safety and comfort during the winter months requires a heightened emphasis on
ensuring we have state of the art equipment and the most up to date training possible. Diligence in
stewarding our resources and vigilance in performing our duties are essential if we are to accomplish
our mission to rescue sick, abused and abandoned animals provide recuperative veterinary care
and help them find loving adoptive homes.
Throughout the past 12 months weather patterns changed and a myriad of challenges, sometimes
extremely unusual, presented themselves but our commitment never waivered. Rescue operations
continued seven days per week. We continue to pursue construction proects that enhance the
Shelter's physical plant and infrastructure which provide a safer, healthier environment for animals
in our care and which create a more inviting environment for those visiting with a view toward
adopting one of our furry friends into their loving home. ur education eorts were augmented, our
adoption locations were expanded, our participation in community events increased, and new and
imaginative fundraisers in new locations expanded our outreach to the community and improved
our eorts to explain our mission to the public at large.
As we approach the Holiday Season we are buoyed by the feeling of hope and oy emanating from
the fact that the community overwhelmingly supports our pursuit of a very worthy endeavor.
Winter brings shorter days, colder temperatures and severely inclement weather conditions that
make our task more daunting. We will persevere. Renovation at the Shelter will continue. ur
determination to alleviate the suering of our furry friends and shield them from cruelty, neglect
and the harsh conditions of winter will not cease. We will continue to employ social media to get
our message out and respectfully request support for all of our activities. And we reaffirm our
commitment to demonstrate that we continue to be worthy of the confidence placed in us by our
many supporters.
On behalf of the sta, employees, volunteers and Directors of the Stark County Humane Society, I
express to all of you Best Wishes for a Blessed Holiday Season and a Happy New ear. Thank you
for continuing to walk with us as we...
"Speak for Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves."
Jim Fidler, Board President
Holiday Giving Trees
We would like to thank and recognize the local veterinarians in our community that are hosting a Giving Tree for the animals of the Stark County Humane Society.
Animal Care Clinic
Humble Creatures
Lake Cable Animal Hospital
Please feel free to stop by, take an ornament, and bring your donation back to their office.
Wishing all of you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
Annual Meeting & Elections
THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2025 AT 7:00 PM AT THE SHELTER.
Six Trustees will be up for election. Any member in good
standing wishing to be considered for nomination to the
Board, may pick up a nomination application at the Shelter,
during regular business hours.
The deadline for return of these forms will be Friday, January 24, 2025.
Official Donation Drop-off sites
With all the hustle and bustle of the Holiday
season please feel free to drop off your donation
to the animals of SCHS at any of our
Official Donation Drop off Sites!
Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers
Diehl's Subaru
Rabbitt Landscaping/Paper Twigs
On behalf of our furry friends, thank you!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Grooming
Regular grooming should be a consistent part of your pets care. Brushing or combing your pets coat keeps the
hair smooth and silky. During the grooming procedure it is very common to find health concerns. Things like
fleas and ticks can be
detected in the fur that accumulates in the combs and brushes. Also lumps and bumps can be found in this way.
Most lumps and bumps are benign
growths but never-less you should make your pet's veterinarian aware of any that you find.
While grooming take the time to look and smell your pets ears. Ear infections create a lot of debris and
odor. If all looks and smells well take an alcohol soaked cotton ball and gently swab out each ear in order
to keep them clean. Don't attempt
to use a Q tip in your pets ears unless your have been taught how to do it properly by your veterinarian.
Next pay attention to your pets nails. All nails need to be trimmed so that they do not grow too long. This
is especially important in older
animals. Since older animals often do not walk as much, their nails don't get any wearing action. As a
result, they can continue to grow
right into your pets foot pads. This is very painful and can become infected as well.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Honoring those who remember us in 2024
Over this past year we want to acknowledge the generosity of those who are no longer with us or their family members,
who remembered the Humane Society while suffering the loss of a loved one. We thank you for thinking of the animals during
a very difficult time and would like to honor those who passed.
Clyde “Ed” Baughman
Richard Beeler
Dorothy Bell
Curtis Bluhm
Marilyn Ann Bole
Donna Bolek
Debbie Brazek
Mary Brodzenski
Beverly Jean Brown
Kathy Byers
Susan Caghan
Peter Calac
Betty Calai
Ronald Mark Caldwell
Patricia Canning
Helen Ciraldo
Jane Coleman
Carolyn Cooper
Rick Croston
George Dalrymple
Cleve Diehl
Phyllis Doty
Ron Dougherty
Shirley Draa
Wayne Ted Draa
Nell Fetzer
Velma Feucht
Linda Filimonuk
Tim Flaherty
Richard Fowler
Priscilla Fricke
Judith Gaspar
Elizabeth Golech
Robert Good
Edward Gorey
Debra Gross
June Guest
Jennie Hanson
Joan Harrold
Austin Healy
William Hensel Jr
Lois Hornberger
Carol Horton
Dorothy Hostetler
Donald Hunter
Marjorie Johnson
Mary Juersivich
Claire “Popie” Kargadouris
Carol Kessler
Tom Kinsley
Carol Kirk
Carol Kraft
Molly Labriola
Dorothy Lang
L. Elaine Langman
Roberta Lau (Scheck)
Tim LeBeau
Frank Leonard
Gloria Lipster
Barbara Little
Jean Logan
Dan Lucas
Chris Maxihimer
James McDermott
Virginia McKelley
Faith Meiser
Mary Mercer
Mariah Milleman
Juanita Mingle
Mary Lou Monnot
Tammie Moore
Sandra L. Moskowitz
Ted Murphy
Herbert Nye
Sharilyn Obermyer
David Orr
Todd Ostapack
Stanley Owens
Janet Penley
Virginia Price
Denise Prowell
Michael Raymondi
Patricia Rotsteen Ralls
James & Carol Raymond
Debi Remenaric
Natalie Robertson
Jeff Rocheck
Sally Rodgers
Connie Johnson Sago
Chloe Schaffner
Todd Schubert
Denny Scott
Patricia Sellers
Father Deacon Eugene
Senderak
JoAnn Shisler
Frank Simon
Dave Smith
Gary L. Smith
David Spangler
Carol Speicher
Charles Stewart
John Sutherland
Carol Sponseller
Kathleen “Kathy” Svik
Nancy Taylor
Dr. Kent Thompson DVM
Dr. Richard Wade
Elin Wagner
Susanne Wagner
Victoria Watson
William “Ted” Welsch
Caryll Weston
Ronald Whisler Sr
Jimmy Winter
Dale Young
Annual Donation Week
Cathy Cowgill Flowers [MAP] invites you to participate in our Annual Donation Week, October 28 through November 2, to support the shelter. Bring 3 or more items from the Fall WIsh List and receive a FREE bouquet of flowers! There wil also be pet adoptions Friday, November 1 from 11AM to 2PM.
Pet Photos with SANTA!
Join us from 10AM - 2PM on Sunday, November 3 at Cathy Cowgill Flowers [MAP] for Pet Photos with Santa.
$15.00 per pet
You will receive one 5x7 print and 4 wallet photos
Additional photos available for $10.00
We finish off a week of collecting donations and raising awareness for
the Stark County Humane Society with our fun Sunday Pet Photos with
Santa. Bring your house pets for a visit with Santa. Family
members welcome too!
UPDATE: Volunteer Training
Volunteer orientation is every Friday at 4:00 PM and Saturday at 1:00 PM (by appointment only). Volunteer hours are Monday-Friday from 3:00-5:00 PM
Volunteers are welcome to contact the Office at (330)453-5529 to to check for availability and schedule their orientation. Orientations will be limited to 10 volunteers per orientation session. Once orientation is complete volunteers are welcome to sign up to volunteer. Groups of volunteers please call the Shelter directly to schedule your group!
A training class must be completed to walk dogs. These training sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00 PM, and some Sundays (you must call the shelter to sign up)
On behalf of our furry friends, thank you!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
COVID Puppies
During the Covid lock-down many people found themselves unable to travel to work.
As a result of all of this extra time, many of them took new pets into their households.
Since many of these new pets were dogs, they were called Covid puppies. Now that work
schedules have returned to more normal schedules, many of these newly acquired pets are
being surrendered to shelters such as our local Humane Society.
Please do some research if you are considering adding a new pet to your home. People
who are not home a lot may find a new dog requires a lot of care and as a result may not
fit well into their lifestyle. For these people perhaps a cat/kitten would be a better choice.
Cats can use litter-boxes to relive themselves and as a result can be left alone at home for
longer times than a dog.
Also remember the cost of adding a pet to your household. Many young animals require
a series of vaccinations to prevent serious diseases. Then there is the cost of spaying or
neutering them. Also regular preventative medications for heart-worm and flea and tick
prevention may be needed.
If you are considering a purebred cat or dog do some research. Many purebred animals
are prone to certain breed related illnesses. Many of these illnesses are genetic in nature
and can be screened for with special tests. As always your local veterinarian is your best
source of information for what to be on the lookout for when selecting a pet.
Once all of the pros and cons of adding a pet to your home have been considered, then
you can make an informed decision as to whether or not a new pet will be a good fit. This
can prevent future time and financial stress and result in a lifetime of enjoyment for you
and your new pet.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Reverse Raffle at LaPizzaria
We would like to thank all those that helped
make this event a success! It was great to see
our old friends and to make some new friends!
We appreciate all of you!
A huge thank you to “Get Down Sound” and
the awesome staff of LaPizzaria, and some
pawtastic volunteers from Falcone’s Tavern for
a wonderful evening! On behalf of myself and
our furry friends, thank you! Hope to see you
next year, Friday, June 13, 2025!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Signs of Illness in Pets
Since our domestic cats and dogs are not far removed from their wild brethren, they are very
good at hiding their illnesses. As a result, their signs and symptoms of illnesses are very subtle
and can easily be overlooked. I can’t tell you how many times clients would bring their pets
in to the office and tell me, I think my pet is depressed because of changes in the household.
After running diagnostic tests we would find that their pet was actually suffering from a
significant and serious illness.
So, what are the signs of illnesses in our pets that owners should be aware of?
Most of the signs that indicate something is wrong, are minor changes in their behavior.
Things like sleeping more, taking longer to eat their food, drinking more water, urinating
more, weight loss that occurs with no obvious reason, not wanting to go for walks like they
used to, all of these can indicate something is wrong.
If owners notice any changes in their pets behavior a trip to the veterinarian is in order. To
investigate these subtle signs expect that your pet’s veterinarian will need to do diagnostic
tests. Things like a complete blood count (to look for evidence of infection or anemia), a
metabolic panel (to look for kidney and liver disease as well as electrolyte imbalances), a urine
sample (to look for kidney disease and diabetes), X rays (to look for intestinal obstructions or
cancer). It might seem like a large expense to run all of these tests but since our pets can’t talk
to us and tell what is wrong it is the only way to find out.
Remember, you as your pets owner, know what
is normal for your pet and if you are worried
that something is wrong a trip to the
veterinarian is needed.
Have a healthy spring and
summer with your pets!
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
UPDATE: Raise the Roof
The pole building is complete! The
final cement, outdoor work, and asphalt
is scheduled for completion early in
the Spring! The pouring of the cement
will also include the slab for the
Catio! We are excited to be moving
into the building opening need space
within the Shelter for our next phase!
With us winding down Phase I the
Pole Building we are excited to move
forward with Phase II! Phase II will
consist of combining our current kitchen
and laundry areas into one section! By
combining these areas this will allow
us to open more space for upcoming
Phases! Feel free to follow us on
Facebook for details in our Phases as we
are moving along!
On behalf of myself and our furry
friends, thank you!
A Special Note of Thanks
We would like to take a moment to thank our Monthly and Quarterly Pledges! We greatly appreciate their willingness to include the Stark County Humane Society among the causes that they give to!
The Stark County Humane Society appreciates all our members and donors and feel the Importance of saying, thank you! Our mission would not be possible without your continued support!
On behalf of all of us at SCHS and our furry friends, thank you! Happy Fall Y’all!
Puppy Bowl Tailgate Party
We would like to thank everyone that came out for our Second Puppy Bowl at the Pro Football Hall of Fame!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
PLATINUM
Dave & Laura Adante
Animal Care Clinic
James G. Fidler
North Canton Veterinary
Clinic Dave & Nancy Walter
SILVER
KWGD Attorney’s at Law
Ed Schory & Son Builders Supplies
BRONZE
B-Lee Electric
Coyle General & Cosmetic Dentistry Harris Battery
L.T. Harris
Henderson Roofing & Construction
Jason P. Reese - Law Director
Jeffries Company
R.G. Smith Company
Schulman, Roth & Associates Co. LPA
Young Trucks
415 Group
We hope you had as much fun as we did! On behalf of all of us at SCHS and our furry friends, thank you!
Free Initial Exam Voucher
We would like to thank and recognize the local veterinarian hospitals and clinics that so generously accept the Stark County Humane Society Free Initial Exam Voucher!
This voucher is given out with every adopted animal from the Shelter! This Free Initial Voucher entitles the holder to one (1) Free Examination for the pet adopted from the Shelter! The voucher is good for two weeks and waives the office visit fee. As a first step in caring for your pet’s medical needs, is to have a client / veterinarian relationship. This voucher allows our adopters to get started with a free office visit/ physical examination. We appreciate the local veterinarian hospitals and clinics for their continued support of SCHS adopted furry friends!
Alliance Animal Hospital
Animal Care Clinic
Camden Animal Hospital
Companion Pet Care
Co-Twins Vet Clinic
Dove Vet Clinic
For Paws
Fulton Animal Hospital
Hartville Vet Clinic
Hill-Crest Vet Hospital
Hometown Vet Services
Lake Cable Animal Hospital
Manchester Animal
Market North Vet
Massillon Animal Hospital
Mellet Animal Hospital
NavarreAnimal
North Canton Vet
Northwest Animal
Nose to Tail Vet Clinic
Oak Point Vet
Red Stark Vet Clinic
Stay @Home Mobile Vet
Thompson Animal
Town & Country Vet-Bolivar
Town & Country Vet-New Phila
Tri-County Animal
Valley View Animal
VCA Green Animal
Veterinary Wellness
Viking Animal Hospital
Westside Animal Hospital
Humble Creature
On behalf of all of us at SCHS and our furry friends, thank you!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
New Parvovirus Treatment
Parvovirus infection strikes fear in all new puppy owners. It is a viral infection of the intestinal tract. Its main symptoms are severe vomiting and diarrhea, often with blood. Infected dogs will be very lethargic and have no appetite. Most infected dogs are either incompletely vaccinated puppies or unvaccinated adult dogs.
Treatment up to now has only been to provide supportive care. IV fluids to correct dehydration, anti-vomiting and anti-diarrhea medications and antibiotics to prevent sepsis. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease treatment involves hospitalization, often for many days. Despite this intensive treatment one third of infected dogs may still succumb to the effects of the virus.
There is a new treatment coming that may change this situation. This new drug is a monoclonal antibody treatment. This drug is given intravenously once. This single treatment can reduce
the parvovirus’s ability to cause such severe symptoms. Less severe symptoms means shorter hospitalizations. Since this is a new drug it may not be available at all veterinarians.
Remember the best treatment is prevention. This illness can easily be prevented by making sure that your puppy receives it’s vaccines once every four weeks until the age of four months. Boosters after that should be given as advised by your veterinarian.
Wishing you and your pet a wonderful Autumn.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Stark County Humane Society In HoF Parade
The Stark County Humane Society is grateful to be in a community with such amazing animal advocates! A special thank you to Ziegler Tire for their generosity!
Proud part of this years Pro Football Hall of Fame Grand Parade. A note of thank to the Canton Chamber of Commerce and Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers!
The Stark County Humane Society is launching Readers to the Rescue! We're encouraging kids, and adults, to stop out to the Shelter and read a short story to one, or maybe even a few, of our furry friends. We have a variety of books on hand or feel free to bring your favorite book with you! Call to schedule your Readers to the Rescue at 330-453-5529.
On behalf of myself and our furry friends, thank you!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
A lot has changed since 1975, the year the current shelter building was built, including how animal shelters are structured and operated.
So despite multiple additions and upgrades over the last forty plus years, the shelter is still in need of improvements. The Board of Directors have been working with the shelter director to implement plans to keep pace with the ever changing needs of our pet population and our building.
Following is a short summary of the projects that are underway and the plans to be initiated over the next three to five years.
Years of Ohio winters and weather have resulted in parking lot settling and drainage pipe collapse. Unfortunately during heavy rains, the shelter lobby and office area are taking on rainfall run off as water enters the front door. As with everyone’s homes and businesses, storage space is at a premium. The shelter needs to free up storage space to allow us to move forward with animal housing improvements.
The above two concerns are being addressed in a project that has been underway for over a year. Regrading the parking lot along with replacing the drainage system will correct the water issue and the building of a pole barn for storage will free up space within the shelter building to create new animal housing. After months
of surveys, rainfall/drainage/runoff calculations, permitting, soil samples and estimates, this project should break ground this Summer with the cooperation of the weather.
Already underway is the planning for our next phase, animal flow and housing improvements. We have electrical, plumbing, and exhaust drawings in the works that will allow us to consolidate two laundry areas into one. This space along with the now open storage areas will result in the relocation and creation of dog housing units. We can then upgrade our cat housing resulting in a new standard of pet care and complete species separation.
Please join us in this endeavor with your continued and greatly appreciated support.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Spring Time
Our pets will soon be spending more of their time outdoors. With the extra time outside pet owners notice a couple of things more often.
Lots of pets enjoy eating grass. This normally occurs in the early springtime, when the grass comes out of it’s winter dormant state and starts growing rapidly. Pets are attracted to this lush grass. They have not seen it in a while and it looks like a tasty salad to them. Most pets will eat a mouthful or two and then wind up vomiting. This vomiting is oftentimes alarming to the pets owner. If your pet has been eating and drinking normally, as well as behaving normally prior to eating the grass, there is most likely no cause for alarm. Simply try and limit your pets exposure to the grass so that they do not eat enough to cause the vomiting. However, if your pet was not eating and drinking normally as well as not acting normally before eating
the grass, I would consider contacting your veterinarian. Some pets when not feeling well will eat the grass in order to induce vomiting. The theory is that if they ingested something bad for them this is natures way of expelling it from their body. As a result, in this type of situation, this behavior could be an early sign of illness.
The other thing that owners notice in the late spring or early summer are circular areas of dead grass. These will occur in the areas where their pets urinate. These circular areas of dead grass can be very distressing to owners who pride themselves in having a healthy green lawn.
This dead grass is caused by uremic waste that is normal in urine. If the urea is too concentrated it will burn and kill the grass. Much like if you applied too much fertilizer to your lawn. Teaching your pet to eliminate in a far off corner of the yard is one way to combat the issue. Also encouraging your pet to drink more water will help. This dilutes the amount of urea to the point where the grass will not die. Watering down the area that was just urinated on will also dilute the urea and prevent the death of the grass.
Enjoy the warmer weather!
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
WHAT FUN WE HAD AT OUR FALL FUNDRAISER AT TOM BENSON HALL OF FAME STADIUM
For those of you who attended we hope you enjoyed the view from the club level!
Our sincere appreciation to those who attended, who were a lucky winner of one of our fabulous raffle items or the winner of our 50/50. We appreciate you!
We thank those of you who have contributed to our Raise The Roof pole barn fund since we asked earlier this year- We cant do it without all of you who support the shelter and our furry friends.
The goal of your Stark County Humane Society over the next several years is to separate our dogs and cats into different sections of the building, increase their kennel size and create additional community cat rooms. There are plans in place to further update all parts of the building to better serve our furry friends awaiting adoption and to better serve you as you visit to adopt or spend time as a volunteer.
With sincere appreciation,
Kathy Cowgill, Chair Ways & Means
UPDATE: Callin All Cat Lovers!
The funds donated by you for the “CATIO” are much appreciated and still needed. We experiencing a drainage issue at the shelter during rains and steps are being taken to correct this as it impacts the area where the “catio” will be built. Once the drainage issue is resolved
the “catio” will be built and enjoy by our feline friends. We are also going to create more community cat rooms and reduce the number of kennels for cats. Studies show that the communities are better for them.
Catio: A catio is a cat enclosure or “cat patio” that provides feline enrichment outdoors.
We need your help-while our cats are at the shelter awaiting adoption we want to give them the best possible environment. A “catio” would allow them to enjoy the outdoors safely. The catio will be installed to the west of our main
entrance for all to enjoy. Please consider making a donation to this need.
Call the shelter at 330.453.5529 or online and note “catio”.
Kuranda Dog Beds
Give the gift that keeps on giving.
Each canine friend gets a Kuranda Bed in their kennel! This bed provides them days and evenings of comfort.
We are currently in need of several bed. Once the need has been met, Kuranda will mark our wish list as full.
We would like to thank and acknowledge the Piero Memorial Fund for their kindness! With their kind donation we were able to complete our Ringworm Feline area. This is a section that was once utilized for air handlers over the past several years our HVAC system has been upgraded. With the upgrades of our HVAC system so where the air handlers. Therefore, we had an open area to be filled and utilized!
This area is now an area that allows us to safely treat our feline friends for ringworm if needed!
A Message of Thanks from the Executive Director
We would like to take moment to thank and recognize the Essential Employees of the Stark County Humane Society! During these trying times and Covid 19 our staff has continued to work diligently to provide for the less fortunate animals of our community! A huge thank you to all of you for your continued support of our mission, “We speak for those that cannot speak for themselves”! This would not be possible without you!
We wish all of you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season! On behalf of myself and our furry friends, thank you!
Jackie Godbey Executive Director
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Selecting/Adopting a New Pet
There are many things to consider when contemplating adding a pet to your home. Things like how much time and energy are available to dedicate to the care of the new addition. How much will the care of this pet cost? What type of pet would best fit in your home? How much training will be needed?
Someone who has limited mobility may find it best to consider adding a fish tank or a pet bird. These animals can be easily enjoyed in one location. They also do not require walking outside for exercise and eliminations.
Another person might be very busy and not able to be at home a lot. For this person a cat might be the ideal pet. Cats are very independent and do not mind being alone. They do not require much in the way of training. They perform all eliminations in a litter box and as a result do not require walks. Because they graze when eating, they can be left with plenty of food and water and it will last the day.
For people who have more time available a dog might be the correct choice. They do require a higher level of training in order to get them housebroken. They also need to be taught some basic commands like how to sit, come when called, stay in place, heel when walked and drop unwanted things from their mouth. There are lots of other things that they can be taught to do, it is just a matter of time and effort. Remember that dogs come in all sizes and energy levels. Someone who has a very active lifestyle can select a breed that is very active and requires a lot of exercise. The next person may require a laid back and calm dog. Your local veterinarians are excellent sources of information about what pets may or may not fit into your home. Please do not hesitate to ask for their input before making your selection. Many dog and cat breeds are known to have genetic susceptibilities to certain illnesses. Your veterinarian can provide you guidance to help minimize selecting an afflicted individual.
Above all do not rush the process! Take your time and the right pet will eventually find you.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
We Need Your Help
The Stark County Humane Society is successful today all because of you. Through the years you have supported us whenever we have asked.
We have installed new air handlers in our facility to provide quality heating and cooling for the employees and our furry friends. This project was a large undertaking for us, successful due to past fund raisers and donations from you.
The shelter has a wonderful walking path on our property, it is used daily by staff and volunteers exercising the dogs. The love the opportunity to get out and spend time with a handler. Along the path we have several “paw-tios” that were constructed from memorial bricks, purchased by you.
The PAWS wing is now complete-we received a generous donation from PAWS.com to start the project and with help from you it was completed. It is a wonderful addition to our building, featuring extra large kennels and a indoor play area.
But we still need your help. The SCHS was constructed more than 30 years ago and it has met our needs in every way. Generous donations from you have filled many areas of the shelter that could be put to better use. We are creating a 10 year plan to better use our building to best keep our cats and dogs comfortable while awaiting their forever home.
In order to achieve this we are going to have a pole barn constructed on property that can house “cold storage” items so the interior of our building can be better utilized.
This is where we need your help. With the pandemic of 2020 carrying into 2021 our major fund raisers have been put on hold. We were fortunate to hold our Reverse Raffle in June and just recently enjoyed the Mutt Strut at the shelter. But we need to raise funds for our pole barn. Please consider making a donation to our “Raise the Roof” fund. If you wish you can mail us a check or call the shelter with a credit card number, but be sure and tell us it is for the pole barn. You can also donate through our website, but please make a note that it is for the “Raise the Roof” fund.
If you donate to help us complete this project you will be invited to the SCHS to write your name on our “wall of donors” in our pole barn once it is completed.
I thank you for your support of the Stark County Humane Society, and I want each of you to know how important you are to our continued work in the community.
In appreciation,
Kathy Cowgill,
Chair Social/Ways and Means
Foster the Fuzzies
Kitten season is coming soon, and the shelter needs fosters. If you love kittens and have a safe space and some time for tons of cuddles and kisses, please become a kitten foster. The SCHS will provide you with a starter kit, instructions for fostering, scheduled checkups and medicine if needed, and support from an experienced foster mom.
Call Shetzi, Foster Coordinator, at 330-453-5529 to learn more and to put your name on a list to become a kitten foster.
Want to help those in need, but cannot forster? Please consider donating items for the Foster Kitten Take-Home Box (newborn to three-week old kittens):
Plastic Storage Tub to house kittens*
Package of bottles and nipples*
Container of KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement)
Box of rice cereal powder
Wash Clothes*
Hand Towels*
Soft blanket*
Puppy pads*
Heating pad*
Roll of toilet paper
Roll of paper towels
*These items are to be returned to the Humane Society Shelter when the kittens are ready for adoption.
Welcome to Pawzshop.com Addition!
We are happy to announce that the Pawzshop.com addition is Open!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Obesity
One of the most common problems that pets face is the illness of obesity. This is usually the result of a lack of exercise and too much food. Most house pets will eat more food than they really need. Long term obesity can lead to diabetes, premature arthritis, early heart disease and slipped spinal cord disks. Maintaining a proper weight has been shown to result in a longer lifespan. As a result, it is well worth a pet owner’s time and effort to prevent excessive weight gain in their pets.
The best way to determine if your pet is too heavy is to simply run your hands over their back and sides. If it is not possible to just barely feel the backbone or the ribs your pet is too heavy. Conversely if your pet is too thin you will be able to see the ribs from a distance. If you can’t feel the ribs and backbone decrease the amount of food your pet is eating. If you can see the ribs increase the amount being fed.
Most pet's are not active enough to eat the amounts of food that are recommended on the food bags. As a result you should use these recommended amounts as a general starting point and then tailor the amount to your individual pet's needs.
By maintaining your pets’ proper weight you will be helping them live a longer healthier life. Enjoy your summer and have fun with your pets.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Animal Care Clinic
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Pets & COVID-19 and Pets
We are now one year into the Covid 19 pandemic of 2020. By now we all know to wear masks, stay socially distanced, wash our hands frequently and get vaccinated when our turn comes.
What do we know about this virus’s effects on our animals? Just like with our human knowledge, our level of understanding of the virus is constantly changing as time passes and we learn more about it. We do know that there have been scattered reports of cats and dogs who had symptoms consistent with respiratory infections, who when tested were positive for Covid 19. These animals were found to be living with their human owners who were sick with Covid 19. It is felt that these animals were exposed to large populations of Covid 19 virus from their owners and then became sick. There has been no indication, that these positive animals were able to infect other negative Covid 19 humans.
So if you are sick from Covid 19 what steps can be taken to protect your pets? You should not only self isolate from your family but also from your pets as well. Wear masks when you have to be around your pet. Avoid close contact when grooming, feeding or letting your pet eliminate. Once you test negative for the virus it is then safe to resume normal activities with your pet.
The only animal that has been found to become infected with Covid 19 and then go on to pass the virus to none infected humans are mink. It is for this reason that the commercial mink farms in Denmark were depopulated of all mink. At this time I do not know of any vaccine that is in development for use in animals.
Keep up all current precautions until we are told that it is safe to do otherwise. Be well!
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Blue Green Algae Toxicity
During the past several years, there has been a increase in the number of algae blooms in Ohio’s lakes and ponds.
What many people do not realize, is that some of these algae blooms are caused by a type of algae called Blue Green
Algae.
Blue Green Algae can produce toxins that can affect people, livestock or pets, that swim or drink from water where
Blue Green Algae is growing.
Two toxins are produced by this algae. The first one is Micosystin. Mycocystin is a liver toxin. It is capable of
causing vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the feces, weakness, pale mucus membranes, siezures, disorietation, coma and
even death. The second toxin is Anotoxin. This is a neurologic toxin. It can cause salivation, muscle tremors,
muscle rigidity, paralysis and death.
There are no known antidotes for either of these toxins. If you think that your pet has been exposed to Blue Green
Algae, the first step would be a good bath. The second step would be to consult with your pet’s veterinarian. The
only treatment is aggressive supportive and symptomatic treatment in the hospital.
If you see any algae in a body of water that you or your pet is going to swim in, it would be best to just assume
that these toxins are present and look for another location to swim.
Have a good year and keep yourself and your pets healthy.
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Animal Care Clinic
r old Pony of the Americas mare that came to the Humane Society from a backyard in East Canton with a body condition score of 1/9. Despite her age and shocking condition, the old girl has a great will to live! When she rst arrived at the farm, it took her 4 days to pass a pile of manure! A normal horse will pass 4-8 piles of manure per day! Cinnamon has been with us for 2 weeks and she gets a little stronger everyday!
She nickers with joy when we bring her food and she even trots around her paddock. She is slowly but surely gaining weight and shedding hair. She gets fed four times a day with senior feed and hay, plus small turnout sessions four times a day. Once she is stable enough, she will have her teeth oated and will receive vaccinations. We will continue to post updates on Cinnamon and we are happy so far with her recovery process!
Church & Dwight
We would like to thank Church & Dwight of Old Port, OH for their generous donation of cat litter totaling 64,000 POUNDS!
We received the frst truck load on Thursday, February 9, 2017, and would like to thank Gary of Car Kare LLC for transporting it to the shelter and the SCHD staff for unloading the cat litter! On Tuesday, March 21, we would like to thank the local company for transporting the litter, they have chosen to remain anonymous! For the second load we had a friend of the Humane Society offer to bring and use his company’s tow motor to unload; a thank you to Bob Phillips from Action Recycling! We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of those who helped make this possible!
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Neutering
We have all heard the term neutering at one time or another. But what exactly does it mean and WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?
Neutering is the surgical removal of a male dog’s or cat’s testicles. It is performed under a general anesthesia. In dogs, it is performed through a single incision, just ahead of the scrotum. Your veterinarian may or may not use sutures that need to be removed 10-14 days later. In cats, it is generally performed through an incision on the scrotum directly over each of the testicles. Sutures generally are not used in the male cat.
From a shelter viewpoint, neutering is done to help prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. Shelters are usually overwhelmed with a seemingly endless population of unwanted animals. Anything that can help reduce the tide of unwanted animals is a great help in the situation.
From the pet’s perspective there are a number of health benefts. Neutering helps prevent roaming in both cats and dogs. It can reduce unwanted urine marking. In dogs it can prevent enlarged and sometimes abscessed prostate glands. It can also prevent perianal adenomas in dogs. Perianal adenomas are benign tumors, that grow near the rectum, in response to hormones that are present in un-neutered dogs. Un-neutered dogs can also develop perineal hernias. These hernias form in the distral part of the colon. Once this type of hernia forms, feces accumulate in the herniated portion of the colon. Affected animals will strain and be unable to pass feces. Once a perineal hernia develops, it requires invasive surgery to correct.
For all of these reasons, it is very important to have all non-breeding male animals neutered. It is for this reason, our shelter strives to have all male animals neutered prior to being adopted.
Sincerely
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Animal Care Clinic
Rocky’s JOURNEY
On January 8, 2017 at 5:14am Rocky came into our Shelter. It was apparent he had a hard life and was in need of medical attention. He was emaciated and had been injured. With his determination and the dedication of all those at SCHS, he began to show improvements. It took nearly six weeks to bring him to health. Once healthy he was then neutered and microchipped and ready for adoption. An amazing volunteer dog walker from the Shelter fell in love with him and decided to adopt him. This gentlemen and his wife are forever loving Rocky. The pictures show his journey and his new beginning in his home. The Shelter accepted 4,649 dogs and cats into the facility last year! Rocky’s journey is just one of the many animals that found their forever homes. These journeys would not be possible without the support and efforts of the Board of Directors, Staff, Volunteers, and your friends and supporters!
On behalf of myself and our furry friends, thank you! Jackie
Sadly, It Is a Story That We Hear All Too Often
Life happens, & the pets become less of a priority. However, sometimes they don’t become a priority at all & end up neglected. One of the most common neglect injuries that
we see at the Humane Society is an embedded collar. If a collar is too tight, eventually
it causes irritation, infection, & a complete break in the skin. This is often a gradual,
painful process. In Rocky’s case, he was tied outside with a choker chain that continually rubbed his neck as he moved around. He arrived at the shelter with deep, infected
wound around about 50% of the circumference of his neck with the collar still in the
wound. The collar was immediately cut out, & Rocky was started on antibiotics & pain
medications. Wound care was done to help
the infection clear before surgery was performed to close the wound, which healed
beautifully. Just as important as the physical healing was Rocky’s emotional healing.
He came in scared & depressed. Quickly,
his sweet, gentle spirit came to the surface.
He was adopted within a few weeks on the
adoption floor to a precious couple.
Dr. Kim Carter, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Feeding and Stimulating the Kitten
Things to consider when caring for a kitten:
When the kittens are brought home, set up the box with the heating pad in the bottom, followed by puppy pad and then hand towels or small thin blanket. (Heating pad should be positioned so that the kittens can maneuver away from it.)
Set the heating pad to low, at frst to gauge the temperature. It should not be hot, since it could burn the kittens.
Follow instructions and mix the formula making sure not to have lumps in the liquid. A whisk will work very well in mixing the formula. Mix up enough formula for several feedings.
Warm the bottle with formula in a glass/cup of hot water until it achieves the warm temperature. Formula should be warm not hot when given to the kittens. Do not microwave the formula.
Keep the unused formula either in a container or bottle in the refrigerator until next use.
Kittens that are newborn to two weeks should be fed every one to two hours. Newborn kittens to three weeks old should be awakened to eat.
Two to three week old kittens will eat every three hours.
As soon as a kitten has eaten, use some toilet paper and stimulate the anus of the kitten. The toilet paper may be dampened in warm water before use. Discard toilet paper in trash or toilet. Be sure to wipe the kittens face with a wet-warm cloth before stimulating kitten.
Kittens should urinate and possibly have a bowel movement after every feeding. Kittens will urinate more frequently than have a bowel movement.
Place kitten back in the plastic tub with the heating pad on.
At four weeks old, add rice cereal to the formula. Mix it according to the instructions. You can also start putting soft canned cat food into the mixture at about four weeks also. Use whisk to mix in.
Volunteer Orientation
The Stark County Humane Society hosts a volunteer orientation every Saturday here
at the Shelter. Orientation for volunteers is at 11:00am. Please come to the lobby
of the Shelter. The Shelter is located at 5100 Peach St NE, Louisville. We recommend
interested individuals to come out for orientation and we encourage you to speak
with your veterinarian prior to volunteering. Many of us just want to give back.
With this, you need to make sure your children, and pet(s) at home are protect from
any possible fomite and zoonotic diseases.
Stark County Humane Society Facebook
We would like to invite all members to join us on Facebook. Our site is, Stark County
Humane Society. Give us a “like” and keep up with all the wonderful animals of the
Stark County Humane Society. The staff would like to recognize Shetzi Powers as
our Facebook mistress! She updates the site daily.
Not only is she working diligently on pet photos but also on keeping all the upcoming
events and outreaches posted. For the most current details of the Stark County Humane
Society “Like” Stark County Humane Society.
For those whom choose not to go on Facebook you may also see our adoptable animals on Petango.com. As always, for more information please call the Shelter at (330) 453-5529 or visit our Facebook page.
Your Kindness Can Live Forever
The animals of the stark County Humane Society will need your help during your lifetime and forever!
Animals are not lesser creatures than humans; they are just packaged differently!
If you wish to remember them in your will or life insurance policy, our proper name is “Stark County Humane Society.” In providing for the animals by making the Shelter beneficiary, you can provide for the animals needs after your gone.
Recycle
The shelter is always in need of newspapers. We accept newspapers as long as they
are bagged and or bundled. The shelter recycles any paper we cannot use for the
animals. We keep a Slesnick Recycle bin at the shelter; please feel free to recycle
paper products at the shelter. We also recycle aluminum cans. So before you throw
away cans – papers please remember by recycling you are not just helping the environment
but also the homeless animals of Stark County.
When you replace your old washer and dryer – please remember the shelter is always
in need of one or the other. Our staff starts laundry in the morning and the washer
and dryer keep running all day long. The staff cleans and dries every cage – every
dish in the shelter on a daily basis. The blankets, bathes, and general housekeeping
of the shelter equals a lot of laundry. So before, you “pitch” your old working
washer and or dryer please call the shelter.
No Time Limit...
Sometimes we see some confusion on our no time limits on animals up for adoption.
We have noticed recently that a lot of misinformation has been conveyed to the public
regarding our policy.
The shelter does not enforce a time limit for the animals in our shelter. The animal(s)
may remain at the shelter as long as they stay healthy and friendly. There are three
main factors when euthanasia has to be considered. The first being an “owners request”
this is when an owners pet has become very old and poor physical health warrants
this. The second is when an animal has been at the shelter for an extreme long period
of time and begins to show signs of “cage psychosis” in this event a veterinarian
will make the diagnoses. The third reason would be due to illness, particularly
ones that are highly contagious, and the severely injured animals that we pick up,
usually from being hit by a car.
The Board of Directors and the staff have worked over the past several years to
implement a new Veterinary Care Protocol & Policy in which the shelter follows diligently.
Training programs have been provided by area veterinarians for the staff. Audits
of the animal cards and medical charts are performed by Board Members on a regular
basis.
Animal sheltering is one of the most difficult fields that one could choose to go
into. The Board, employees and volunteers that are associated with the shelter do
so willingly, so rest assured, the care and love given to the animals is truly the
best we can give.
