Houston and Harris County animal shelters kill roughly 80,000 animals a year, as much as 54% to 89% of all animals entering the shelter, depending on which Houston shelter is involved. San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth and other shelters kill tens of thousands as well. But that number could plummet if shelter leaders attend the upcoming “Building a
No Kill Community” workshop taught by Nathan Winograd, director of the national No Kill Advocacy Center. The No Kill model of animal sheltering created by Winograd will teach shelter directors and the community the practices that allowed shelters like Austin’s animal control and Williamson County, TX animal control to save 90% – 96% of all dogs and cats entering their doors.

“This workshop will teach us how to “Turbo Charge” adoptions so that animals have a real chance for a new home. It teaches “marketing” strategies to effectively market shelter animals so new pet owners will choose a shelter pet instead of looking elsewhere. It also teaches shelters how to work with rescue organizations and foster parents efficiently rather than kill animals,” said Bett Sundermeyer, President of No Kill Houston. “It makes no sense for Texas shelters to kill animals, especially at taxpayer or donor expense, when rescue organizations and private citizens are willing to save them”.

This No Kill model of sheltering has created No Kill communities nationwide including Reno, Nevada, Shelby County, Kentucky, Marquette, Michigan, Tompkins County, New York, and elsewhere. In addition to the United States, shelters in Canada, Australia and New Zealand are following this model and are consistently saving 90% or more of all animals. (“No Kill” means that 90% or more of all healthy and treatable pets are saved.)

Last year Austin, Texas passed a city ordinance mandating parts of these No Kill programs and their save rates have risen every since. H.B. 3450 or Texas CAPA, based on this No Kill model of sheltering, was also recently introduced in the Texas state legislature.

“People of all walks of life want to protect pets, so this workshop appeals to a wide range of people.” said Sundermeyer.

Workshop details:

Date/time:
Saturday, April 30, 2011; 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Location:
South Texas College of Law, 1303 San Jacinto, Houston, TX 77002
For Tickets: Go to No Kill Houston’s website at www.NoKillHouston.org

Saturday, August 28, from 2pm – 7pm, Barker Street Gourmet Dog Bakery and Boutique

On Saturday, August 28, from 2pm – 7pm, Barker Street Gourmet Dog Bakery and Boutique will host the Bow Wow Bash with proceeds benefiting Friends of Montgomery County Texas Animal Shelter (FMCTAS). The fundraiser boasts a special appearance by Sonya Fitzpatrick, Animal Planet’s The Pet Psychic. Sonya will host a meet and greet, and will not be giving on-site readings. Still, pet owners with inquiring minds can enter to win a one-on-one psychic pet reading or one of two books autographed by Sonya.

Attendance is free, but guests are urged to bring pet food and/or supplies as donations – organizers hope to “fill a car” with items for Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS) animals. Event activities include a moonwalk, popcorn, snow-cones and games for the kids as well as pet tricks and costume contests.

Over $2,500 in raffle prizes have been donated, including a 32” Magnavox Flat Screen TV, dog training by Paw It Forward, dog and human gift baskets, gift certificates and more. One hundred percent of ticket sales will go directly toward aiding dogs and cats from Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS).

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About Montgomery County Animal Shelter: MCAS is a county-run facility founded in 2001. MCAS works to find homes and provide care for homeless animals, and to bring people and animals together. The shelter is located at 8535 State Highway 242 in Conroe and is open weekdays from 10:00 am – 5:30 pm and weekends from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. For information, visit www.mcaspets.org or www.facebook.com/mcastx.

About Barker Street Gourmet Dog Bakery and Boutique: Barker Street, founded in 2006, provides the dogs of The Woodlands and the North Houston area with gourmet delicacies and luxury accessories. Barker Street’s all- natural recipes are veterinarian approved and made only of human-grade ingredients. Barker Street includes no preservatives or processed sugars to create healthy treats for dogs. The bakery is located at 442 Sawdust Rd., in The Woodlands and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. For information, call (281) 465- 1703, or visit www.barkerstreetbakery.com.

By definition, that phrase means it’s fairly difficult to make someone change the way they do something, when they’ve been doing it the same way for a very long time.

I completely get that.

I come from the generation of Texans that came before the generation of Texans who were school with computers.   My first contact with a word processor came  year’s later in the mid-80’s.  It was big, bulky and looked incredibly menacing.  I remember thinking, “I’ll never learn how to use this contraption”.   And yes, I think I channeled my dead grandmother by actually calling it “a contraption”.

But in the 25 years since, I have become an “old dog” myself and in that time, I’ve learned how to appreciate those canines (and felines, too) who, if possible, could count their existences on this planet on two paws.   If they were human, they’d be considered wise and worldly.  I respect the lives they’ve lived and for many, they’ve survived and endured in spite of innumerable odds.

Here at the Houston Humane Society, we have older dogs and cats and they are glorious creatures.  They’ve got years and miles behind them, but really, that’s such a plus.   More often than not, they’re sweet, calmer than their younger counterparts and very adaptable to many different environments.

The good news is they’ve outgrown that crazy puppy energy:  like turning your sofa or Aunt Margaret’s antique run or your new Chanel pumps into one big makeshift rawhide chew toy.

With older dogs, what you see is what you get.  Size wise, they’ve maxed out.  They’re already as big as they’re going to get.   Plus, their personalities are fully developed, so you get a better idea of the true demeanor of the dog.

If you choose to adopt an older dog, establish that new routine early!  Many older pets are already housetrained, and they already know what the word “no” means.  It won’t take them long to figure out what makes you happy.  The transition period will probably be short. Many are like water—they’ll fit in any container in which they’re placed.

For these loving, grateful creatures, home is where YOUR heart is.

Adopting older animals can be a wonderful experience and it’s one we invite you to check out for yourself at the Houston Humane Society.  We have some incredible older shelter residents here.

And as for that old adage about teaching old dogs new tricks, you can you know.

I wrote this article on a computer, thank you very much!!

By Laurie Kendrick, Houston Humane Society

Agador by Kim Hartz Photography

By Kim Hartz-

Photographing a pet can be a tough job!  It’s not easy to get them to sit still, look at the camera, or even just cooperate.  Since I photograph pets for a living, I have discovered some tips and tricks that may help.  I’m sure there are a lot of you out there who have tried numerous times to get a good photo of your dog or cat and failed…miserably!  You are, most definitely, not alone!  It’s hard to get your furry friends to do what you want, i.e. sit still for 2 seconds.

People ask me (a lot) “how did you get them [the pets] to sit still??”  Here is the answer: Patience, treats, and breaks.  I know you are thinking, patience??  Really?  I don’t have all day!  Well, true, but I am one of the most impatient people you have ever met, but I can give dogs and cats their time if it means capturing that one image that really shows that animal’s personality.

Soda by Kim Hartz Photography

Number 2 is treats.  I’m sure you have tried this tactic before, but before you rule this one out, here is how to use the treats.  This part is key.  You can’t just give away the whole bag right off the bat – they have to earn it!  With dogs, I usually show them to the treat first and then place it right on top of my lens and leave it there.  The dog will (usually) sit still for a little bit and focus on the treat (right at my camera).  It isn’t a huge window, but it’s enough usually.  When I photograph outside, I give them a toy and let them play wherever they want and back off a bit.  I’ll get set up and then, when I’m ready I’ll shout their name.  It’s just enough to perk up the ears and get them to look in my direction.

Breaks are also important because if you hound the dog or cat to perform for too long it just isn’t going to happen.  I usually photograph for about 10 to 15 minutes, and if I’m not getting the result I want I just take a break and try again in a few minutes.  This works really well because the dog or cat doesn’t get overwhelmed.

Sometimes you have to play the waiting game, especially with cats.  It’s also a good idea to follow the cat or dog around so they are more comfortable.  I sat on the floor with my cat, Oscar for an hour waiting for the perfect shot.  I eventually got the shot and a very sore back, but it was worth it to me!  I do use treats for cats, but that doesn’t always work.  Occasionally, I will break out my catnip spray…a little bit of cheating perhaps???  It gets their attention though!

Blink by Kim Hartz Photography

One other tidbit to keep in mind when photographing outside with your pets is to make sure you don’t go out in the middle of the day.  The sun is at it’s highest and the shadows are very harsh.  The best time of day to go outside and photography are either early morning or late afternoon sun.  4:00 PM is a great time to get really beautiful, soft light.  If you are photographing indoors, try and position your pet by a window.  Window light is absolutely beautiful, and the same times of day for photographing outside apply as well.  If you can avoid the flash do so because it can create harsh shadows, and it doesn’t create the same quality of light that you find in natural light, which is both soft and flattering.

Kim Hartz is a Houston pet photographer who specializes in pet portraits through her genuine love of animals and patience for them.  To visit her website, please click on the link above.  To schedule a consultation, please call- 713.521.7272

First off, Rose-Rich is not a new clinic by any means; the clinic was originally started in 1964 by Dr Tucker Robinson and Dr. Charlie McDonald over on Hwy. 90.  They built the older building on this site in 1969 and serviced countless pets there for over 40 years. Dr. Sharon Moore became a partner in 1998 and eventually became the owner in 2007. Dr. Moore is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and has been practicing for 27 years. Looking back Dr. Moore stated, “I decided to be a veterinarian at such a young age that I can’t even remember how young I was, likely 4 or 5 years old.” Dr. Moore adds, “Dr Duty has been with us over 10 years and is the mother of twins, Dr Rainer is a more recent graduate, he and his wife have 2 children.  Dr Pappan’s practice is limited to surgery and is with us two days a week on our surgery days.” Rose-Rich is primarily a small animal practice for dogs and cats, but Dr. Mac still sees livestock a couple days a week. The doctors are supported by a staff of 20. Leslie Walenta, the office manager, has been with Rose-Rich for over 25 years since she was just a kid working in the kennels.  Many of the staff has been with Rose-Rich for over 10 years.  They are a talented and dedicated crew with tremendous love for animals and their care and health.

So with a practice as dedicated and experienced as they are, it was only a matter of time until they ran out of space in the older building. Says Dr. Moore, “We had so thoroughly outgrown the old building that there was really no choice, but to expand.  We carefully contemplated ways to incorporate the old building into an expansion but its plumbing, wiring, and weight bearing walls couldn’t allow for our needs.  It was sad to see the ‘old girl’ go a couple weeks ago and many clients have asked for a brick because the practice is special to them.  We saved dozens for that purpose.”

When we asked Dr. Moore how it all started coming together, she said “My husband Michael, who has managed the building project, and I started working on the project 3 years ago.  We broke ground in the summer of 2009.We wanted to use regional architecture but Houston doesn’t have a classic look of its own like some cities across the country.  So we borrowed from the Texas 19^th century architecture of limestone arches and towers like many public buildings of that time.” Adds Dr. Moore,   “Then we brought in the idea of a two story plaza with talavera tile and fountain reminiscent of a coastal house’s walled courtyard.  The palm trees in the lobby remind us of the nearby beach and we used earth tones for a warm and welcoming feel.  Our patients as well as their owners should feel relaxed as they come in.” The new clinic offers their clients some of the most state of the art medical equipment and an amazing hand painted mural on the ceiling in the main area.

Robin Schwenke, who is a client and Richmond native, painted the mural.  “She looked like Michelangelo in a harness up on the second story indoor roofline of the Lobby painting the sky.” Says Dr. Moore, “Her animals are so realistic and many of the animals painted in the lobby, playroom, and luxury suites are the animals of the staff members.  She even painted my 34 year old horse in the barn room of the luxury suites.” The new hospital is over 10,000 sq feet with an extra large lobby that looks like a plaza or park.  It features a hand painted sky, a 3 tiered fountain, park benches, beautiful talavera tile, a second story balcony, and a 15ft silk palm tree to complete the park theme.

There are 7 exam rooms, an ICU, a spacious surgery suite and treatment room, digital x-rays that display on touch computer screens in every exam and treatment room, boarding kennels for over 125 and a full grooming salon.  There are also 8 luxury suites, all themed and hand painted such as the Jungle Room, Under the Sea, Sports Mania, the Royal Suite, and a Day at the beach.  The suites have full length windows, TVs and cameras for you to watch your pet over the internet via the Rose-Rich website.  They have two large outdoor play yards and an indoor playroom for Doggie Daycare.  The second floor houses a large conference room and offices. The 40 year old building didn’t really have a separate ICU, but now they have space for 10 in the new building with the ICU visible from the treatment and surgery rooms.  They can house well over 100 animals with runs, large kennels, 3 sizes of cat condos (1 style has 5 ‘floors’ and is 6ft tall!) and the luxury suites. Dr. Moore states “We started in July and have already moved in thanks to the outstanding work of our contractor Rosenberger Construction.” The landscaping will be completed in May and the open house is right around the corner. Michael adds, “Our open house will be Sat May 22^nd from 1pm until 7pm.  We will have fun activities for adults and children such as “what’s that in the xray of the dog’s tummy” also known as ‘what in the world did you eat?”  We will have the surgery room set up for Teddy Bear surgery for the kids to be a ‘surgeon’ with cap, gown, and gloves.   Bring your camera!”

We will have dogs from various rescue groups and fosters!

All these pets are awaiting a home and can not do that without you.

We will also have free hotdogs, popcorn, bottled water and music! We promise you’ll have a great time!!

Find out more at www.Hapi4Pets.org

Luckily, KBAC has continued to grow and a year ago moved into a brand new facility across from Taylor High School.  Dr. Randlett treats dogs and cats, and her special interest is feline medicine.  “For 26 years I bred and exhibited Persian cats which afforded me many opportunities into the world of feline husbandry and medicine.  I loved every minute of it.”  Fortunately, Persians and all types of felines are still a large part of her days at KBAC.  Although she has retired from breeding and showing, she still has one adorable, orange and white Persian cat, Red Beans and Rice(aka Reddy).

But do not think for a moment that Dr. Randlett has only one pet.  Reddy shares her attention with four horses, three Schnauzers (her babies), three very talented barn cats and six miniature donkies.  Because she lives in the county, she is able to enjoy and care for all these animals.  A portion of her property is used to grow and harvest hay which she enjoys shredding in her John Deere Tractor.  Dr. Randlett shares all this with her husband of 33 years, Dwight. She and husband have one married daughter, Kristy, and three grandchildren.

Although life on the farm keeps her busy, she finds time to enjoy a number of hobbies.  She loves to water and snow ski, to hike and to ride horses. Along with her husband, they love to travel, especially to areas where hiking is available.  When Dr. Randlett turned 50 years of age, she decided to take up a sport that involved animals for which she had a life long passion: horses. In order to become a recreational rider, she took lessons.  Because the sport of dressage looked easy and she was at a disadvantage because she was getting such a late start in life, she decided to find a dressage instructor.  All that is to say that she now has four horses and participates in a sport that “is the most difficult thing that I have ever done—more challenging than hanging cheap wallpaper!”

Just when you think that you know Dr. Randlett , she recalls “Oh yeah, I got my private pilot’s license years ago.  We had several small planes, and I learned to fly in a Piper Cherokee Warrior.  This was not one of my passions, but I am glad of the opportunity.  Due to the expense and time I no longer fly.  I have had some truly marvelous experiences and am forever grateful to all those people (relatives, friends and clients) and animals that have made them possible.”

Professionally, she has had a number of experiences.  She is a member of the Harris County Veterinary Medical Association (HCVMA) and was on the executive board for approximately eight years.  Also, she is a member of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Association.  She was one of the original members of a veterinary emergency clinic board and continues, at times, to serve on the board of directors.  “My 33 years in practice have seen a lot of changes in veterinary medicine.  I am still very proud to be part of a profession and clinic where we can practice OUTSTANDING medicine, demonstrate compassion and engender trust.  I always wanted to become a veterinarian (even though it was not fashionable for women 30 years ago!) and I have never regretted my choice.”

Regarding her goals for KBAC, she always wants to provide quality medicine for a reasonable fee, make clients feel comfortable and special during each visit, and demonstrate compassion.   The KBAC slogan “Caring For the Ones We Love” is more than a slogan- it is a way of life.  “It has been wonderful and exciting to see our clinic grow.  This is a testimony to the quality of service that we have provided to the community through the years.”  On any given day you walk into a busy practice, with clients and their pets in exam rooms, on treatment tables, in the surgery suite, in the hospital ward, in the bath tub, or in a boarding kennel. “We have fabulous clients, many of whom have been with us since the beginning” she says. “Thank you for your time and dedication to our family while we become part of your family!”