Category: Critters

From Seattle to Arizona: Big Mama & Squirt’s big journey

Posted on by Carol Eicher

In January 2020, Rose Tobin, a Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) critter volunteer, adopted two red-eared slider turtles before COVID-19 hit. They had come to SAS about a month or so before, and Rose got to know them during her weekly shifts. Knowing how hard it is to adopt out aquatic turtles, Rose decided to take them in.

Unfortunately, turtles that come into shelters in general are often sick and have shell rot because they haven’t been kept in appropriate conditions. Those who buy turtles from pet stores don’t know how large they eventually end up getting and how much maintenance it takes to keep them healthy. Care for turtles can often become costly, too. Aquatic turtles need powerful filters in their tanks and very regular water changes. They also need a basking area where they can bask completely out of the water. Their care requires heat lamps, water heaters, and UV lights.

squirt basking
Squirt basking

Understanding all of this, Rose knew that when she was adopting them, she was buying time in the hopes that she could find them a good forever home at a place that could provide them with the proper care and environment, as well as they type of life they deserve.

Red-eared sliders are native to the southern U.S. and cannot simply be released in the appropriate regions or place. After speaking with a turtle conservationist, Rose understood that Squirt and Big Mama could potentially spread disease to other wild turtles and would likely not survive because they had been raised in captivity. Rose began looking for potential sanctuaries where they could live in a protected environment, but also have the freedom of living in a pond. Anna Pedroso, a volunteer lead for the critter foster volunteer team, was key in helping Rose find a forever home for Squirt and Big Mama. Anna did some research and found the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. The organization is a no-kill sanctuary that rescues hundreds of reptile species, 90% of which are abandoned, abused, and neglected animals from the pet trade.

After Rose gave the Phoenix Sanctuary a call in January 2021 to confirm they would be able to accept Squirt and Big Mama, Anna put out a plea in SAS’s weekly critter volunteer newsletter to see if anyone travelling to Arizona could give the two turtles a lift. Luckily, they were able to find a friend of a fellow critter volunteer, Karen, who could bring Squirt and Big Mama on their road trip to Arizona. During the day, Karen kept the turtles in small animal carriers and at night had them roaming around in their own water-filled tubs. “Squirt was by far the most social and wanted to see out the window so he got the middle seat with the best view,” shares Karen.

carriers
Carriers

After two and a half days on the road (1,500 miles), Karen and the turtles arrived at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary on April 22, 2021. When the turtles were released, they swam off immediately. “There are hundreds of red eared sliders in this pool. Costco donates their unsold lobster tail, shrimp and produce to the sanctuary. These turtles eat better than a lot of people! Most turtles live out their lives here. All in all, it gave my husband and I great joy to liberate these three turtles on Earth Day to a great new life.”

“I am just so happy about this outcome,” says Rose. “It took a lot of time and work to keep the turtles in adequate conditions (weekly water changes, etc.); I’m so glad it all paid off and that these turtles got a new lease on life. All animals deserve the opportunity to live an authentic life.”


“Although I cared for the turtles, this was a joint effort. Between Anna’s support, research and help, and Karen’s generous offer to transport them, it was a team effort and I couldn’t have done it without them. I am grateful.”

Although Squirt and Big Mama found their forever home elsewhere, Rose enjoyed her time (16 months) with them when they were in her care. Squirt (the male), who was the smaller of the pair, was always very active and quite curious. He would always swim over to the side of his tank when someone walked into the room and swim back and forth looking for food or attention. Big Mama, on the other hand, was shy and hid a lot in her hideaway area. Although they had different personalities, they both enjoyed basking and very much looked forward to meal times, with very good appetites. Rose gave them separate tanks and also had an eight-foot kiddie pool, where she would let them get some exercise on a daily basis.

Thanks to the hard work, dedication, and passion for animal well-being of Rose, Karen, and Anna, Squirt and Big Mama are living happy, authentic turtle lives at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary.

To support Seattle Animal Shelter’s volunteers like Rose and Karen, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation today.

Five Signs of Animal Cruelty and How to Help Stop it

Posted on by Carol Eicher

By Taylor Laidley

In October 2020, the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) faced one of the largest animal abuse cases in its history. More than 220 animals, including dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, mice and chinchilla, were rescued from a West Seattle property after SAS’s animal control team had been called to investigate. An equal number of deceased animals were also found onsite.

“I’ve been with the shelter for over 22 years and that is by far the worst house I’ve been in,” said Don Baxter, manager of field services for SAS. Inside, the smell of ammonia (caused by urine buildup) was so overwhelming, Baxter said his head was pounding. “There were deceased animals inside; there were deceased animals outside, in cages with other animals. It was like a Hollywood horror story where you think there’s no way this is real. It took weeks for me to get over what I saw in that house. It stayed with me when I tried to sleep at night.”

Approximately 95% of SAS’s animal cruelty rescues are made thanks to concerned citizens making those concerns known. All it took to rescue more than 200 animals was one person making a simple call. But not everyone knows what to look for or what to do.

Here are the five most common signs of animal cruelty and hoarding, and how citizens can help—directly from expert Don Baxter:

1. Animals left in hot cars.

“Our highest priority in the summer is animals that are locked in hot cars. We view those as emergency situations because it does not take that long for an animal to overheat and die inside of a locked hot car. Even on a breezy day, it can get up to 100 degrees inside a vehicle. We try to reach the owner if we can get ahold of them. But if not, we have had to break windows and remove animals. A lot of times, we’ll have to have police assistance; though, it’s not illegal to leave your animal in the car. But on a hot day, if the dog is panting severely, or it has vomited, those are signs that it’s in distress—and that is an absolute call that should be made to us. People think, ‘I’m only running into the store for just a few minutes,’ and sometimes that’s all it takes. Also, when a dog is sitting outside in the sun without shade or a bowl of water, a neighbor should be calling us to let us know. This is when we try to educate people because it could turn out tragic if they don’t provide the care.”

2. Too many pets.

“Unsanitary living conditions and animal hoarding often go hand-in-hand. If your neighbor has 10 dogs, they could take care of them perfectly. There may be no issues, but 10 dogs produce a lot of poo, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up on. Those are things we just want to look out for. The city does have a limit on the number of animals that can be kept on a property. There are some exceptions regarding the size of the property, but typically, it’s three dogs or three cats. If you see lots of animals going in and out of the house, give us a call.”

3. Unsanitary living conditions.

“If an owner isn’t scooping up after their pet(s), over time it starts to become a situation in which the animals are living in unsanitary conditions. There’s an ordinance that says they have to pick up pet waste every 24 hours. We’ve seen cases where they let it go for weeks, if not months, and then that becomes an animal cruelty situation. Those are the hard cases to track down. They’re hard to report because a lot of times those are individuals who aren’t having visitors, so people can’t see. It’s going to be more challenging for a neighbor or someone just passing by to see that happening if it’s out in the backyard or especially what’s happening inside the house. But typically, you’re going to see tons of flies around the house. It will smell. We’ve gone to houses where there are multiple pets inside and feces everywhere. If you see multiple animals inside the windows, excessive noise and barking complaints, that’s an indicator that issues are going on. It’s not always the case, but those are things to think about.”

4. Unsafe winter living conditions.

“In the winter, there are a lot of things to look out for if you see animals outside. Doghouses, for example—are they falling apart or non-existent? If it’s freezing temperatures outside, their water bowl is likely going to freeze. People should be bringing their pets inside when it gets to be freezing temperatures. However, the breed of the dog is something to consider. A husky or malamute is going to do a lot better in the winter than a little terrier who has no winter coat or body fat and it’s shivering. In the winter, we also see a lot of drainage in the yard. The dog might be perfectly fine up there in the summer; in the winter, when we get several days’ worth of rain, all of a sudden dog house is inundated with freezing water. An animal may also be losing weight in the winter because they’re working harder to stay warm. A dog needs more calories in the winter. Those are all things that a neighbor would be able to see and tell us about. This is, again, where we like to educate people.”

5. Physical abuse.

If someone is driving down the street and sees someone punching on their pet, they should immediately call us or 911. Any time of year, we need to respond to that immediately. Those are things that should absolutely be reported. If someone didn’t see the abuse but there are wounds, cuts, open sores that are not being treated, that could sign of physical abuse. Pet owners are required to provide medical care for their pet(s). If you see abuse, don’t engage because you don’t know how that person is going to react. But try to give the dispatcher as much information as possible. What road were they on? Which way were they heading? If you can get a license plate number, we can track that down. Even if we have the general area, we can narrow it down. What were they wearing? What did they look like? What did their dog look like? Was the dog cowering? Was it making any reactions? Did it yelp? Was it in pain? Those are the types of things to keep an eye out for.”

What to do:

If you live in the Seattle area and you think an animal is suffering, it’s super easy to help them. Simply save this number to your phone: 206-386-PETS (7387). This will connect you directly with SAS’s animal control dispatch unit. If you have a life-threatening situation involving both humans and animals, call the Seattle Police Department at 911.

Alternatively, you can visit www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/animal-control to file a complaint online. Even if you’re unsure about what’s happening, don’t hesitate to report your concerns. Dispatchers are more than happy to talk through the situation with you and provide you with information and assurance.

“Trust your instincts,” said Baxter. “If you see something that doesn’t look right, it might not be. It may be fine, but at least you said something. The person that reported that case in October didn’t know the extent of everything. They just called and said something didn’t quite look right to them. But that was exactly what we needed. Unfortunately, those animals lived in that condition for a long time. It wasn’t something that happened just over a weekend. Maybe people that walked past that house were focused on their walk or weren’t paying that close attention or didn’t see something that jumped out to them. But there were also some people that probably walked by and saw something but maybe felt, ‘It’s none of my business.’ People need to make it their business. Because an animal could be suffering.”

Foster Parent Spotlight – Karen S. & Bill H.

Posted on by Carol Eicher

At Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), there is a dedicated group of volunteers that foster and take care of animals that come through the shelter. Sometimes, these animals need a different environment than the one provided at SAS. Other times, an animal may need extra one-on-one training that can be provided by a foster parent in their own home.

Foster parents Karen S. and Bill H. are two of the shelter’s valued Critter Foster Parents that help the shelter’s smaller animals (think birds and rabbits) on their journey to a forever home. We had the chance to chat with Bill about his (and Karen’s) fostering experience.

Fosters Bill and Karen. Featured image above: foster rabbit Flori

How long have you been fostering?
About 20 years ago, Karen fostered SAS kittens for a couple of years. About 10 years ago, we talked with a shelter representative at the Seattle Dog Show and learned about critter fostering. We’ve been fostering critters ever since.

What made you want to foster?
We were interested in helping out the shelter; well, to be honest, we were interested in helping out the animals. We were especially interested in helping support the shelter’s work. We had a nervous cat, so fostering dogs and cats wasn’t going to work. We decided to try critters.

What is the best thing about fostering?
We love getting to meet and know the animals we foster. Each one has a unique personality and we like to get to know them. We are always amazed at the ability for interspecies understanding when two living beings want to connect.

Left: Lily. Right: Paloma. Both previous fosters.

Why do you believe fostering is important?
Through fostering, we have helped animals rebuild trust in humans; learn how to live with humans in a home; understand how to interact with a human; and recover their health in a less stressful environment. Of course, it also reduces the load on the shelter staff and frees space for new animals. We especially like to foster chinchillas – to give them a chance to get their sleep during the day so they can party all night.

How has fostering made a lasting impact on your life?
We found out we love rabbits. We had no idea how engaging they are and what personalities they have. We’ve had fosters that were immediately affectionate and some that need some more time to warm up to us. We had one foster, Hershey, that was the perfect house rabbit. He came when called, sat in our laps, and never nibbled on wires or furniture. Teddy, another foster, was very smart and eager for interaction. Unlike Hershey, he did have a penchant for chewing on electric cords. Our current foster, Harvey, craves human contact and snuggling next to us for ear massages and petting. It’s fun getting to interact with all these types of personalities.

Left: Jack. Right: Baxter (now Lucky).
Left: Trinket. Right: Teddy. All previous fosters.

Fostering has had a huge impact on us during the time of COVID. We needed the animals as much as they needed us. Nurturing an animal in need helps us feel needed, important, and connected. We think this is true as we age. Karen has retired and felt some of the effects of not feeling valuable to society any more. Fostering is a great way to stay connected to important work.

We had an amazing experience with two mice. One of them, Kate, was ill, and we had to medicate her a couple of times a day. Her friend would attack us as we tried to reach in for little Kate to give her meds. As soon as we put Kate back in the cage, her friend would check her all over and curl up next to her. It was a beautiful friendship; witnessing special connections like this has taught us that animals care for each other as much as we humans care for each other.

What advice would you give to first-time fosters?

Holly – a foster from 2015.

Choose an easy animal – not necessarily one that you are drawn to, but one that is easy to care for. Learn the foster system and how it works, how communication happens, etc. We would also say don’t be afraid to learn how to do something new – medicate a mouse, rinse an abscess, weigh a baby rabbit, etc. You will be amazed at the new skills you will develop and the confidence that comes with it. We would also say don’t be afraid to take on an animal that requires more from you – more time, more patience, more care. It’s a growing experience.

We have remained committed to fostering rather than adopting the ones we love because we feel it’s important to have strong foster homes for animals in need. Once we adopt, we won’t have capacity to care for fosters as much. We cry when they leave, and we are happy we have done our job and sent them off to their forever home.

Do you have a foster story you’re particularly proud of or excited about?
We fostered Flori, a Florida white rabbit, who had a lot of personality. She lost what trust she ever had in people and would lunge at caregivers at the shelter. She had become the “demon” rabbit. We took her in — and through hours of sitting with her and reading body language, we learned her hot buttons and her likes. Dried strawberries were her weakness and we made use of those for training her to come closer, to touch us, and to allow touch. Being very smart, she was easily bored. We discovered dog puzzles (now known in our house as rabbit puzzles) and stuck dried strawberries into the little slots. After a week or two, Flori was working that puzzle in less than 30 seconds.

We despaired of Flori ever finding a home, given her peculiarities, but love did come her way; she is now happily in the home of the SAS exotic animals foster coordinator and is a beloved companion to one of her cats.

Anything else you’d like to share about your experiencing fostering with SAS?
Thank you for this opportunity to share our story. We haven’t mentioned how much we appreciate the staff at SAS. In a good year, they have so much to deal with and always face tough decisions with animals. We know they see many things that can’t be unseen, yet continue to work for the betterment of the animals. We know that this year has been extremely difficult. It’s difficult, as volunteers, to know that because of COVID we can’t be there to help. We are hoping that by taking in several of the animals, we can be of some help.

What would you say to supporters/donors of Seattle Animal Shelter and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation?
The supporters, donors and members of SASF play a valuable role in providing resources — economic, political, and legal — in our service to animals and their humans in Seattle. The long-term, ongoing commitment of SASF, other supporters and donors has been valuable in building the hard-working, committed shelter we currently have. The constancy of this support has continued to make the shelter stable and growing in its influence.

If you’re interested in supporting Seattle Animal Shelter and its programs, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Foster Parent Spotlight – Meet Kari P.

Posted on by Carol Eicher
Critter Foster Parent Kari P. Featured image above: Rosie and Phyllis

At Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), there is a dedicated group of volunteers that foster and take care of animals that come through the shelter. Sometimes, these animals need a different environment than the one provided at SAS. Other times, an animal may need extra one-on-one training that can be provided by a foster parent in their own home.

Foster parent Kari P. is one the valued Critter Foster Parents that helps the shelter’s smaller animals (think hamsters or guinea pigs) on their journey to a forever home. We had the chance to chat with Kari recently about her SAS fostering experience.

How long have you been fostering?
I only started fostering formally in 2019. I moved from Kitsap County in fall 2016 and started volunteering with SAS in 2018.

What drew you to fostering or made you want to foster?
I adore critters; when my boys were growing up, we had almost every pet possible. It seemed like a logical volunteering step for me once our boys left the nest.

Peanut – a previous foster (and favorite) who loved to snuggle in pockets

What is your favorite thing about fostering?
I love knowing that I am preparing, socializing, and keeping a critter healthy for someone to love.

Why do you believe fostering is important?
I think it’s helpful for critters to live in a home, with people, with both the quiet and activity that comes in a family environment. I think we also get crucial information about the animals themselves when we live with them and observe them in a home environment.

How has fostering changed or made a lasting impact on your life?
Being an “empty nester” (our youngest children are at university), it’s brought some fun, some excitement, and some unexpected joy to our home. It also sometimes brings the “kids” back to the house so they can meet the critters… 🙂

What advice would you give to first-time fosters?
Try something new! Fostering is a great way to learn about new species of animals. Lean on the knowledge of the experienced fosters — don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Any fostering story you’re particularly proud of or excited about?
I’ve fostered different critters, but guinea pigs tend to be my favorites; this summer, I was able to host Beatrice and Daphne — who were part of a large mixed group. Daphne gave birth to four pups in my care and it was so much fun. All four babes, including the runt, thrived. The whole lot (6 piggies total) are now either adopted or getting ready to be available for adoption.

L: Acorn and Walnut R: Daphne and Beatrice. All previous fosters

To read more about what it was like for Kari to care for expecting guinea pig mothers, click here.

How has fostering changed for you in the time of COVID?
It has kept me busy. So thankful!

Anything else you’d like to share about your experiencing fostering with SAS?
I have hosted guinea pigs, hamsters, and a leopard gecko — and so far, I’ve not had a “foster fail.”

If you’re interested in supporting Seattle Animal Shelter and its programs, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Finding reasons to celebrate, big and small

Posted on by Carol Eicher

In a year defined by many challenges, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) continues to find reasons to celebrate.

Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), like many animal shelters across the country, had to make adjustments at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to prioritize the health and care of the animals, as well as the health of the shelter staff. Thankfully, SAS’s volunteer team of foster parents were ready to help. These volunteers stepped up to provide safe spaces for the shelter’s animals to recover and thrive as they made their journey to their forever homes. Foster parents have enabled the shelter to continue to take in animals (including most recently, a group of 220 neglected animals in a single day), despite continued access and space limitations as a result of COVID-19 precautions.

Kari and a former critter foster

SAS is extremely fortunate to have foster parents like Kari Pelaez, who has been fostering since 2018 and has fostered many of the shelter’s critters. Kari continued to work closely with SAS to provide the animals she was caring for with additional medical assistance as needed. She brought in a few of the guinea pigs she was fostering to get the medical attention they needed.

“I had two boys, Jeremiah and Jeremy, who had had some medical issues. They were very sweet despite being neglected in their earlier life. The vets at SAS fixed them up, and they were adopted,” shares Kari. “SAS is exceptionally thorough with their pet care. Every critter is cared for in the best possible way.”

 

Jeremiah and Jeremy

Other guinea pigs under Kari’s care have ranged from babies to pregnant mothers who required extra monitoring. While caring for Daphne and Beatrice, Kari charted their weight frequently and provided them with calcium-rich hay which is good for expectant guinea pig moms and pups. “There came a point where Daphne was so big, she laid down a lot. I watched her closely and often. I also kept their habitat as clean as possible because I knew once the pups came, I wouldn’t want to disturb them too much.”

Daphne (left) and Beatrice (right), both expectant mothers that were cared for by Kari.

In addition to working closely with the vet team at SAS, Kari has also worked closely with the shelter’s Animal Care Officers to help facilitate potential adopter visits. “A few weeks ago, I took Beatrice the guinea pig to meet potential adopters. We were facilitating a supervised visit between Beatrice and the adopters’ current pig. An Animal Care Officer came in to help facilitate the visit and interaction. We chatted, and he shared his appreciation for the foster team. It’s always nice to be appreciated.”

SAS foster parents are also very close with one another and are always willing to offer a helping hand to their fellow volunteers. “The Critter foster team is great – we work with each other by sharing photos, asking questions, offering advice and helping with vacations,” shares Kari. SAS’s 63 critter foster homes have cared for 159 critters so far in 2020.

The support foster parents have provided SAS goes beyond just enabling them to continue taking in animals. Their care helps prepare the animals that go through SAS in their future forever homes. “I think it’s helpful for critters to live in a home, with people, with both the quiet and activity that comes in a family environment,” says Kari. “I think we also get crucial information about the animals themselves when we live with them and observe them in a home environment. By getting to know the animals’ individual personalities, we have a better chance at placing them in the best possible forever home. And that is ultimately the goal.”

Some baby guinea pigs Kari helps feed, weigh, and clean up after.

If you are interested in celebrating the important work that SAS and volunteers like Kari have done this year and continue to do, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. “Donations to SASF help fund all the things most people don’t see,” Kari says. SASF helps fund things like education, operational costs, and veterinary expenses for SAS.

“The work done by SAS and SASF matters: it matters to our community, to potential adopters, and most importantly, it matters to the animals.”

Setting up the right forever home for Thurberi

Posted on by Carol Eicher

Thurberi (previously Hubbard) came to Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) in early June 2020. The two-and-a-half-year-old rabbit was very shy and reserved while he was at the Shelter. Thurberi stayed in a foster home for about three months before being adopted by Allison in early September 2020.

The introduction to Thurberi’s new forever home didn’t go quite as expected at first. In addition to Thurberi, Allison has a senior cat named Matisse who experiences abandonment anxiety and did not react too fondly at the introduction of a new animal in her home. Both animals were very stressed and hiding from each other during the initial introductions. Thurberi actually hopped over his enclosure on the first day and ran around the house trying to hide, while Matisse did the same.

Wanting to provide the most comfortable and stress-free environment for both animals, Allison reached back out to Thurberi’s foster parents, expressing her concerns. While she wanted to keep Thurberi, she did not know if he would get along with Matisse in the long run unless she could provide him with a more secure enclosure that would keep both animals from spooking each other. Unfortunately, Allison was considering returning Thurberi to SAS because she did not have the resources available to provide the environment she believed would help both animals be comfortable.

…Enter Kimberlee Spicer and Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF). Kimberlee connected with Thurberi’s foster parents and learned about Allison’s concerns. Both parties agreed that they did not want financial constraints to stand in the way of Thurberi missing out on a forever home with an amazing adopter like Allison. Kimberlee received approval for funds from an SASF grant to provide Allison with the supplies she needed for a more secure enclosure for Thurberi.

Thurberi's space
Thurberi’s space

With SASF’s aid, Allison was able to set up a private enclosure in a closet, equipped with a high baby gate that would keep Thurberi from escaping and running around. Having a more private space to himself, Thurberi became more relaxed and interactions with Matisse were much better than the first round of introductions. Allison noticed that within the first few days of the new set up, both animals would stare at each other a lot, but neither were spooked by the other like before. Also, both animals would get pretty close to one another, noticing the other while staying respectful of one another’s space — another major improvement since their first encounter.

Thurberi is still a little shy but is starting to warm up to Allison and his new home. “As long as he’s not being pressed for attention, he often approaches me full of curiosity,” shares Allison. He has also allowed Allison to sit with him while he eats and will readily eat from her hand. While he is still a little shy (Allison suspects he is still working through the trauma he endured as a stray), Thurberi is already settled into his space and making it his own. “He’s constantly renovating his space, and any time I touch anything, like to clean his litter box, he’s right in there fixing it.”

 

mattisse
Matisse (likely watching Thurberi from a safe distance)

The way Thurberi has settled in is a true testament to the dedication Allison has in providing a comfortable home for both animals. Allison had planned to adopt a rabbit after Matisse, knowing how many rabbits are often abandoned and left to live on their own. Experiencing homelessness herself, Allison had worked hard to provide Matisse with stability and a comforting forever home. And now she has brought that same compassion and love for Thurberi.

“I don’t want to put any lives I take responsibility for in a precarious situation. The help I received to make things work with Thurberi gave me the confidence and resources to properly provide him with a forever home, without needing to worry about potentially returning him. Having a space of your own to feel safe can make a world of a difference. I can’t thank SASF enough for helping provide that for Thurberi!”

watercolor Thurberi
Watercolor drawing by Allison for Thurberi’s foster parents and SASF

If you’re interested in helping critters like Thurberi find and settle into their forever homes, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

 

Sugar the Senior Bunny

Posted on by Carol Eicher

When people hear about the Seattle Animal Shelter, their first thoughts probably go to dogs and cats being rescued from the streets of Seattle. There’s more to the shelter than that, though! Critters like guinea pigs and birds are also cared for by the SAS team. Like cats and dogs, critters can also present socialization and behavioral issues, so shelter staff and volunteers work with all the animals to help them feel safe. The shelter has a policy that they will not refuse any animal, which means animals like Sugar the bunny are taken in, as well.  

See Sugar’s Profile here

Sugar is a beautiful black and white Dutch-mix rabbit. Her fur looks like cookies and cream, her ears stand up, and she has adorable rolls under her chin. She is currently available for adoption with the Seattle Animal Shelter. It was a surprise to learn about her age — did you know that rabbits can live more than ten years? Sugar is currently eight years old, so she’s a lovely senior bunny.  

Before arriving at the Seattle Animal Shelter, it is believed that Sugar was kept in a garage. Being away from her family led to behavioral challenges, such as territorial aggression. However, SAS staff and volunteers are working on making Sugar feel safe and comforted, so that her social skills can grow. Once Sugar’s safety is reassured, she warms up to humans and allows cuddles. She may even be open to sitting in your lap! 

Now, Sugar is in a foster home, but she still needs her forever home! Please contact the Seattle Animal Shelter for further inquiries about this sweet bunny!

Furevermore and More – Event Roundup 2018

Posted on by Carol Eicher

You knew it as It’s Raining Cats and Dogs in previous years. Beginning in 2018, we’re ushering in a whole new fundraising era. Our 8th annual fundraising gala – Furevermore – brings our donor community to the auction table in honor of Seattle’s shelter animals. Tickets are on sale now!

The Ziva X-Ray Suite is now open and serving the dogs, cats and critters of Seattle. Dedicated to retired Seattle Police Department K9 patrol dog Ziva, Officer Mark Wong and our generous donors celebrated this milestone moment at the Seattle Animal Shelter to dedicate this innovative, high-tech facility to the shelter.

Thank you, Ziva, Officer Wong, our amazing donors and all who attended the event! Special mention to Seattle Barkery, Street Treats and Rachel’s Ginger Beer who gave their time and goods to support this cause.

Beer and dog lovers unite! This summer, Seattle’s craft beer enthusiasts have poured hundreds of pints in the name of shelter dogs. Urban Family Brewery and Floating Bridge Brewery donated proceeds from their fundraising events to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. Coming up, we thrilled to partner with Growler Guys for Dog Day Afternoon on August 26. In November, we’re partnering with Reuben’s Brewery to keep the dog love-fest going well into 2018. For details visit SeattleAnimalShelterFoundation.com/events/

Join us for Creeptacular 2018 at the Seattle Animal Shelter on Saturday, October 6, 1-4pm. This special event promotes awareness of critters at the shelter, as well as educating the public about good critter care. We hope to see you there with family and friends!

It’s the Critters: Creeptacular 2018

Posted on by Carol Eicher

Creeptacular is upon us once again! Join us at the Seattle Animal Shelter on Saturday, October 6, 1-4pm for a special event to promote awareness of critters at the shelter, as well as educating the public about good critter care.

For 2018, we are thrilled to have the following organizations as our guests: All Parrot Rescue, Pacific Herpetological Society and Washington Ferret Rescue.

Bring family and friends for some critterly fun. We’ll have special treats on hand to feed the critters, and photographers to capture the spookiness!

Save the date!

Creeptacular 2018
Saturday, October 6
1-4pm
Seattle Animal Shelter

We look forward to seeing you!