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 Ohio we know what the onset of Winter means. We prepare for cold, blustery, sometimes bitter days with little daylight and lots of snow and ice. But Winter is also the Holiday Season- one of joy, gratitude, hope, and resolve to make things better in the coming year. And it is a time of year when the entire community rallies around efforts to improve the lives of our furry friends suffering from illness, abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
We continue to strive to make the Stark County Humane Society even more effective in its efforts to find loving adoptive homes for our
furry friends. Our “Raise the Roof” Fundraiser
at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on November
12 garnered impressive community support and raised much needed funds to build an eighty’ storage barn on Shelter property. The additional space will be used to store items such as dog and cat food, cat litter and crates and to house farm animals and horses. It will free up space inside the shelter to facilitate enhanced veterinary care and best animal practices, allow for segregation of dogs and cats, and increase exercise areas. All these factors improve the quality of life for the animals in our care while they await being taken to their forever homes.
We wish all of you a joyous and healthy Holiday Season and the Happiest of New Years. We humbly ask that you continue to stand with us as we rededicate ourselves to our mission...
"Speak for Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves."
Jim Fidler, Board President
Giving Trees
We would like to thank and recognize the local Veterinarians/businesses in our community that are hosting a Giving Tree for the animals of the Stark County Humane Society:
Animal Care Clinic
Humble Creatures
Diehl’s Subaru
Lake Cable
Thompson Animal Hospital
The trees in their lobbies will have ornaments with a Wish List item on them. Take an ornament and bring your donation back to their office.
Honoring those who remember us in 2022
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 an would like to honor those who passed.
Deanna Allgood
Shirley Angelo
Chris Asmsey
Ken & Carole Atkinson
Marcella Austin
Bernice Baker
Jean Baker
Jake Barker
Heike Bartholomew
Carole Kay Baumbaugh
JoAnne Baxter
Bradley Beachy
Nancy Denbrook-Beecher
David Best
Karla Jo Bose
Wanda Bowman
Bess Boylan
Doris Bradley
Kathy Lee Brelish
Nancy Brooks
Diana Buckley
Susan Calabine
Christina Cameron
Ede Carretta
Jill Cashner
Wilma Smith-Charlton
Janice Church
Diane Clark
Barbara Cline
Jim Corbett
Dorthy Cordea
Richard Crescenze
James Croskey
Jaime Crowe
Merle Cunningham
Athene Curtis
Judy Dalby
Ronald DeRhodes, DVM
Margaret DeStefano
JoAnne Dively
Donald Dorkoff
Marilyn Eddy
Edgar Ellsworth
Frank Erdely
Frank Esposito
Jean Esway
Don & Marg Everhardt
Harold Filkill
Josephine Foraker
Frank Francis
R. Scott Freday
Jon Galit
Raymond Gardner
Karl Garred
Brandi Gear
Betty George
John Gowins
Shawn Graham
Madelyn Gratop
Linda Gramoy
Don Glick, Jr
Raymond Griffith
Cynthia Hammock
Ronald Harper
Katie Hines
Daniel J. Hosking
R. Scott Hunsinger
Jean Hummel
Linda Ickes
Brian Jackson
Ernest Jarvis
Amy Johnson
Dot Joliff
Michael E. Jones
Paul Jumps
Richard Karlalcic
Sharon Keblesh
James Kershner
Brain Knotts
Michelle Koch
Matthew Kraner
Raymond Krantz
Carl Krisvosky III
Sugakojan Kuhne
JoAnn Kutz
Theresa Lagambo
Beverly Leo
Amy Noel Limbach
Derek Limson
Dennis Lisk
Stewie Lucas
Kenneth Luyster
Chasidy Mayle, DVM
Mary Louise Marable
Anthony J. Marccocia
Robert Marquardt
Carl Martin
Robert Maylor
Carolyn McKelley
Linda Meala
Patricia Merriman
Paul Meyers
Karen Moles
Matthew McNutt
Brian Moock
Deborah Morrison
Evelyn Myers
Jean Newhouse
Roger Nixon
Andrew Owens
Faye Patton
Ruth Parker
Charlie Paul II
Nancy Pelger
Barbara Perez
Glenn Phillippi
Peter Racic
Pete Ramey
Harry Rohr
Holly Reusser
John Richardson
Kathryn Runser
John Russo
Michelle Salamon
Nathan Salyers
Irene Schiffner
Connie Schneider
Thomas Shriver
Billie Sibley
Ann Marie Smith
Barbara Smith
Larry Smith
Terri Jo Snyder
Lynda Sovik
Paul Stevens
Norman Sweitzer
Linda Taylor
Jack Thomas
Cheryl J. Treacher
Annie Trimmer
Marlene Trissel
Macy Wackerly
Jeanette Wager
Ginny Watkins
Kevin Watters
Betty Webb
Gordon Weitzel
Merle West
Joseph Whipkey
Connie Wilkonson
Lisa Willis
Elaine Young
William Young
A Word From... Dr. C.A. Heller III DVM
Winter Pet Safety Tips
As we all enjoy the recent warm weather, we must remember, it will be winter soon. This does not mean, that you will have to stop your outdoor pets activities as the temperatures drop.
Pets, just like us, can suffer frostbite and hypothermia (life threatening low body temperatures). What can be done to avoid these conditions?
In cold conditions it takes more calories to maintain proper body temperature. As a result, pets that live outdoors or spend a lot of time outside should be fed extra food. This will give them the extra calories that they will need to generate extra heat and maintain proper body temperature. Insulated dog and cat shelters will also make your outdoor pets life more comfortable. Also remember to provide a supply of fresh none frozen drinking water.
When walking your pets in subzero temperatures, make sure that their coat stays dry. Wet fur does not insulate their body as well as dry fur. Add in some wind as well as a wet coat and your pets risk of hypothermia increases dramatically. If your
pet has a short coat they will benefit from wearing a winter coat.
Frostbite in pets tends to occur most on the extremities, (ears, tail and toes). When it is very cold and windy check these areas regularly for evidence of frostbite. It is also a good idea to shorten your walks in these conditions. Frostbitten areas will be gray in color and hard
to the touch. If you find frostbitten areas stop your outdoor pet activity and get your pet indoors so that the frostbitten areas can warm up slowly. Do not rub suspected areas of frostbite as this can cause further damage.
Have fun and enjoy your winter pet activities!
Sincerely,
C.A. Heller III, DVM
Annual Meeting & Elections
THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL TENTATIVELY BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023 AT 7:00 PM AT THE SHELTER.
We are hoping to welcome back in person meeting with members in good standing; who wish to attend. If this does change, please watch our Facebook page for updates or call the Shelter at 330-453-5529.
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 applications at the Shelter, during regular business hours.
The deadline for the return of these forms will be Friday, January 20, 2023 at 5:00 PM
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: Welcome Back Volunteers
Volunteers are welcome to contact the Office at (330)453-5529 to schedule an orientation! We will be hosting orientations on Fridays at 4:00pm and Saturdays at 1:00pm! Orientations will be limited to 10 volunteers per orientation. Once you have completed orientation you are welcome to sign up and start volunteering! Groups of volunteers please call the Shelter directly to schedule your group!
On behalf of myself and our furry friends, thank you!
Jackie Godbey Executive Director
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.
Stark County Humane Society/Stark County Dog Warden
Last year, the shelter began working directly with the Stark County Dog Warden’s
office to help place dogs at our shelter when the pound becomes full.
In 2012, the shelter along with the SCDW transferred 306 stray dogs into the Stark
County Humane Society. By the shelter opening its doors to the “pound dogs” the
SCDW was able to drop their euthanasia by 73%. We would like to thank the Stark
County Dog Wardens Office, the staff and Board of the Stark County Humane Society
for making these transfers a true success for the dogs and their forever families!
Your Kindness Can Live Forever
The animals of the Stark County Humane Society will need your help during your lifetime
and forever. If you wish to remember them in your will or through your 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.
*Animals are not lesser creatures than humans; they are just packaged differently!*
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.
