Scary world turns welcoming thanks to a new friend

For most dogs, going into a shelter is an overwhelming experience. There’s noise, strange smells and a lot of uncertainty. And these feelings were magnified exponentially for little Tarsier, a mini-Aussie/retriever mix. 

After being found on the streets of Capitol Hill and brought to Seattle Animal Shelter, Tarsier was immediately identified as a pup in need of additional support. She was placed in Shelter Behaviorist Tina Hope’s office to get one-on-one attention as well as a little peace. Tina spent the day with Tarsier trying to socialize her a bit, but she still wasn’t eating well or engaging with toys. 

An urgent call for foster ended up with Tarsier going home with shelter staff member Jeff. Once there, Tarsier was still showing a lot of fear, specifically hesitancy around going outside. Tina worked diligently with Jeff to manage this behavior with a specific plan suited for his environment, with clear goals and steps on what to do.  

“Bringing home Tarsier was an invaluable experience in demonstrating how we can help facilitate the space for agency in fearful dogs,” Jeff said. “With the help of Tina’s multi-step plan, we were able to have Tarsier be able to choose to go outside on her terms rather than carrying her outside, which could increase long lasting anxiety or stress by removing her agency.”  

Tarsier wasn’t in foster for long. This darling girl with soulful eyes caught the attention of Kim Bryan of Edmonds, who was visiting the shelter with her 13-year-old son to see if they could find a good companion for their current shepherd mix, Finn.  

“We just had this feeling, because we had Finn and we knew his temperament, that she might do better having a dog friend,” Kim said. “We knew any adopted dog who has gone through trauma would have challenges, but we were OK with that.” 

For Tarsier (now Olive), it was bonding at first sight.  

“Finn was so relaxed when he first met Olive that when she first spotted him she immediately perked up. She was still scared, but immediately started watching him and following him. The first ‘puppyness’ we saw was when she met our dog.” 

It was an obvious decision that Olive would go home with them. Kim got a lot of support from shelter staff around Olive’s needs.  

“They were great, Jeff in particular. He let us know what he’d been working on with her, which was promoting puppy behaviors. Oftentimes people are trying to get their puppies to mature, but if she jumped for joy or spun around, he would praise her for that. That was good for us to know. In our two meetings with Olive before adoption, shelter staff allowed us as much time as Olive needed. They sat on the floor with us, helped us introduce our dog Finn to Olive in a safe, drama-free way, and let us know how to best interact with Olive, who was very, very cautious at first. It feels like the shelter staff get to the core of what’s going on with each dog quite quickly: Olive was only there five or six days and they already understood her really well.”  

“On that very first day she would go up to the door and stop, but she kept watching Finn go in and out. I swear he told her, ‘It’s fine.’ By the end of the day she was going out on her own, following along behind Finn.” 

And now, two months later, Olive is living her best life. She loves playing with water, and especially playing with Finn.  

When Kim brought Olive home she had a gradual introduction planned, but Olive had other ideas.  

“They wrestle, play tug of war, they race. She’s very confident in saying, ‘You’re going to play with me now.’ They are very bonded.”  

When the family visits their Anderson Island cabin, now Olive comes along, too.  Her earlier caution has given way to a huge curiosity. Her current fascination is standing for long moments in the yard, watching the island deer. 

“It’s quite remarkable,” Kim says, “because she was literally afraid of the outdoors,  and now she’s the first one out the door.” 

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation funds many shelter programs, including the Behavior Program. To learn more about the Behavior Program click here, or follow this link for information on how to donate.  

Beluga’s journey through a sea of doubt

Beluga is adorable, big and white, just like her namesake whales. And these days, she is sociable and super friendly. But it took time and lots of loving encouragement for her to show it.  

Found on the streets of Magnolia, Beluga was afraid, confused and defensive when she was secured by animal control. In her kennel, she was too scared to eat and reacting vocally, so it was time for a behavioral intervention. 

“The first time I interacted with Beluga she was huddled at the back of her kennel, trembling, tail tucked fully under, barking and growling,” said Seattle Animal Shelter behaviorist Tina Hope. “I spent time getting her used to my presence tossing treats until I found what she liked most. I was able to get her leashed up and she tentatively followed me out of the kennels. I brought Beluga to my office to spend time out of her kennel and to provide some enrichment for her.” 

In Tina’s office, Beluga enjoyed human company, treats and toys. Time in an office can help a dog suffering from fear-related reactivity in the kennels and can help fearful dogs in general with getting to know and trust new people.  

Knowing what type of interventions to apply in which situations is a huge benefit of the behavior program. Supporting work like this is a central piece of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s mission, which is able to fund elements of shelter programs like toys, supplies and even staff. Which Beluga showed strong appreciation for. 

“After a few days of office time and calming enrichment with me Beluga was interrupting my meetings regularly to give me kisses,” Tina said. 

After Beluga got more comfortable in this environment, Tina began working with the Animal Care staff on how to interact with Beluga. She emphasized making sure Beluga felt safe and always giving her plenty of space, in addition to lots of treats! Soon, Beluga’s social circle got even bigger and she was enjoying outside time in the shelter and beyond.  

Beluga continued to learn and grow in the shelter for three months, until her forever dad showed up and it was love at first sight. Beluga’s new owner got ongoing support from Tina to set them both up for success in their new relationship and home.  

And based on the pictures, it looks like Beluga is living her best life, right at home on the water. Just like her namesake. 

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The Seattle Animal Shelter behavior program receives funds from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, which helps support cases like Beluga’s. Watch this video to learn more about the Behavior Program and animals that the volunteers and staff have helped.  

Strength, Spirit, and Determination: Celebrating Hard Work and Happy Adoptions

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) strives to support each animal that comes into the Seattle Animal Shelter by funding programs above what the city can provide, whether it be behavioral, medical or environmental. SASF’s support helps the most in-need animals receive the care and nurturing they need in order to live their most fulfilling lives and be surrounded by love! We are happy to share these updates on animals that came through the shelter in 2022, overcame challenges thanks to the amazing Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) team, and moved on to their forever homes. 

Zip the Cat

Little Zip lost his namesake for a while. When he came to the shelter at 5 years old he had a prolapsed rectum that was inhibiting his zest for life. He came in very fearful and not comfortable with people. Seeing that, the behavior team and cat volunteers spent time getting to know Zip and bringing out his personality, and getting him used to being around people.  

Zip!

Thankfully, a simple “purse string” surgery from the Seattle Animal Shelter vet team fixed him up and he moved right into foster. His foster parents continued to work on his socialization, and when he was ready he was able to find his forever home! His adoptive family named him Charlie and he is thriving with lots of love around him.  

Toast

Sweet Toast was struggling to pop out of her shell when she came into the shelter. This beautiful gray-and-white cat came to the shelter very shut down and displaying avoidant behaviors, making it hard for anyone to really get to know her.  

The SAS team stepped up to help Toast by spending time with her to get her comfortable enough to sniff around a bit and feel more at ease around people. She was adopted but it wasn’t successful, leaving Toast reverting to her old behaviors. The vet team evaluated her and decided medications might help, she was moved to a roaming room, and together those changes brought Toast to a new level of happiness.  

Toast is now in a loving home with people who are thrilled to have her as part of the family.  

Bubba

Bubba was in a tough place when he came to the shelter. This sweet but overwhelmed Shih Tzu was non-responsive, wedged with his face in the back corner of his kennel, and he refused to eat or drink. Because of his serious stress, he was moved to foster for more holistic support.  

After spending time in a foster home environement, Bubba’s personality re-emerged and he started eating and dogging again! His foster-to-adopt mom, Laura, took advantage of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s offer for Ahimsa training (funded by a behavior grant) and says it’s been so helpful! We are confident that Bubba has a bright future ahead of him.  

Rubiana

This pretty pitty struggled with trust when she came to the shelter, and that created an ongoing challenge for her. As the longest in-shelter dog available for adoption, Rubiana needed some help.  

Thankfully, the SAS team only saw potential in her. Rubiana spent some time in the spay/neuter office to overcome her stranger reactivity, and though she took a little while to warm up she was soon a wiggly happy girl! From there Rubiana kept expanding her “circle of trust” by spending time with volunteers, and from there Rubiana’s world just continued to open up. She was soon added to the Dog Behavior Team’s roster for ongoing support.   

And to no one’s surprise, this shining little gem found her forever home and is doing amazing.  

Mei

Mei’s journey with the shelter started at a pretty dark time for her. This darling girl was picked up by field officers on a warm day in October with a mesh muzzle on, limiting her ability to pant and drink.  

When she got to the shelter she was shut down and growly in her kennel, which might have been partly due to the massive bladder stones the vet team found. After removing them, the SAS team kenneled Mei in a doctor’s office to help work on her reactivity to people. The SAS behavior team worked with her five days a week and SAS Animal Care Officers supported her the other two.  

Gradually her reactivity subsided, so the next step was to give her the opportunity to be adopted. She soon had a meet-and-greet with a potential adopter who already had a dog. But it was meant to be for Mei. The two pups hit it off and the adopter understood Mei’s need for space and time to come around.  

Mei is now living her happiest life out on an island, accompanying her new mom daily for walks on the beach. 

A total of 750 animals were supported by the Seattle Animal Shelter Behavior Team in 2022. In recent years, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation has been able to fund the expansion of the program, including hiring a full-time behaviorist and working with animals other than dogs. The program is foundational to the success of animals leaving care and has a profound impact on their overall wellbeing.  

The longevity of the Behavior Program and other shelter endeavors is dependent on the generosity of donors like you. If you are interested in donating, please visit https://seattleanimalshelterfoundation.org/donate-today.  

Mr. Tibbs – From Lost to Forever Home 

Mr. Tibbs, a miniature Schnauzer/miniature poodle mix, was picked up by one of the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) field officers after a Good Samaritan reported finding him abandoned in an apartment lobby. At intake he was so matted from nose to tail that he could not stand or walk well on his own, and he was dirty and soaked in his own urine.  (Note: attached is a video of how he looked when he arrived in our care.) 
 

Video: clip of him matted & trembling on the exam table:

Once in the care of SAS, he was evaluated by a veterinarian, then clipped, bathed, and groomed. Once the mats were removed, SAS could see that he was thin and had some muscle weakness from being so matted and not being able to stand and move. He spent time in staff offices initially and quickly became a staff favorite…and he loved them as much as they loved him. 

After a short time in their care and after having his medical and grooming needs met, Mr. Tibbs blossomed into the sweetest dog! He quickly gained strength and was soon running, jumping, and playing. He then went to foster care with one of their awesome volunteers.  

Notes from Mr. Tibbs’ foster family: 

Mr. Tibbs was easier than most of the other dogs my husband and I have fostered. It was surprising given his history that he still had so much love to give. He was really sweet and cuddly, loved his walks and his food and treats.  

Mr. Tibbs enjoying his first “pup cup” treat in foster care
Mr. Tibbs enjoying his first “pup cup” treat in foster care 

Mr. Tibbs had a tendency to pee out of excitement and he didn’t seem to be potty trained. It can be frustrating when that happens but it’s something we expected to get better once he was fixed. I took him out several times a day to get him started on house training. He was also an attention seeker, probably because of his fear of being left alone. I sometimes had to do my office work with him napping on my lap.  

I was told he resource-guarded food so I worked on training him to sit calmly at a distance while I put his food down. He seemed to learn that pretty quickly and I never saw any resource-guarding. While he did have separation anxiety, he was comfortable if left in his crate; that was his safe space. He also slept through the night in his crate which he loved. I highly recommend crate training for dogs. 

I personally felt that he was very happy in foster care. I never saw any aggression towards me or my husband. His real fun personality came out which is always wonderful to see. It was very noticeable that he’s a smart dog and will respond positively to training if given proper resources. He loved his people and said hi to all dog friends on the walk. He even started playing with toys which was a good sign to me. Given proper care and routine, I could see that Mr. Tibbs was the perfect dog for anybody who’s willing to commit. 

Mr. Tibbs on a walk with his new family 

Mr. Tibbs has since been adopted by an amazing family who loves and cherishes him. They say that he is a “happy hiker and a big snuggle bug.” His favorite place is on the couch, and they’re considering another dog as a friend for him when he is ready. Cheers to Mr. Tibbs, the SAS team of staff and volunteers who had the honor of being part of his journey, and to the family that he now calls his own. 

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) is proud to support animals like Mr. Tibbs so that he and every other animal in need has the opportunity to be nourished back to health and well taken care of till they find their forever family. This financial support includes veterinary care, foster care support, and behavior support. Thanks to generous donations, SASF is able to give that support to SAS, helping give animals like Mr. Tibbs a second chance at a happy ending. 

Styx makes a stunning comeback!

When you hear of a dog named Styx, you might assume he’s called after the infamous river of Greek mythology. Or you may remember the rock band, with cigarette lighters waving in the dark of a packed auditorium. But Styx came by his name organically. It was born out of affection and a wry sense of humor.  

Styx will soon be able to chase squirrels and balls again. He’ll be freed from the wrappings and orthotics encasing his front legs these last several months. His foster mom marvels at how resilient he’s been through it all.     

We don’t know how Styx was injured. In his foster family’s Instagram feed, he jokes that he jumped from a cruise ship. Probably not. Styx was found in a ditch by the side of a road, unable to walk or pull himself out. Someone had cared for this handsome young pitbull mix, though: he wore an expensive halter designed for dogs with pelvis issues. He was otherwise in good condition and was calm and trusting when approached by the good samaritan who came to his aid.      

Upon examination at Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), there were no outward signs of injury. A visit to a vet and imaging, however, revealed that Styx’s carpal joints (wrists) were hyperextended, and the tendons torn and bruised. It’s suspected that Styx jumped or fell from a great height. He’d need surgery and months of rehab, but it was highly likely that the dog—not yet two years old—would make a full recovery. That’s when the SAS Foundation stepped in to cover the cost.    

SAS placed Styx with a very dedicated, experienced foster parent who happens to manage a vet clinic. She’d like everyone to know this: not only is Styx’s recovery going “perfectly,” he’s also a very good boy.    

At first, the splints were uncomfortable and rubbed sores. At that point, Styx didn’t want to walk much and wasn’t interested in interacting with the humans or dogs around him. That changed when he was fitted with custom splints made by Pawopedic, paid for by the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF). It’s amazing how quickly he adapted to walking on his “sticks,” says his foster mom, who’s lovingly documented his progress and playful nature on Instagram. Though his wrappings still had to be changed every 5-7 days, Styx was patient and cooperative. When it came to hour-long foot soaks, Styx just laid down and relaxed.  

He had surgery on his left front leg to fuse the joint three months and it’s healing nicely. He’ll have his right leg done later this month. Fingers crossed, Styx should be able to shake off his braces at the end of his treatment in another 5 months or so. Then he’ll be able to hike, jump and play like the healthy 2 year old he is.          

His idea of a perfect day? Styx likes to sleep in a little and then, after breakfast, take a nice little walk followed by a soothing belly rub. He’s obsessed with his Chuckit! Ball and carries it around, chewing on it, perhaps dreaming of the day soon coming that he’ll be able to chase it at full throttle. Yet he’s a couch dog, too, and sometimes a lap dog. And he enjoys following his person around. He is a gentle soul who seems to go with the flow.   

Styx comes when called and “sat” well on command when he first came to his foster family. He picked up “lay down” quickly and is now learning to “spin.” He does bark when people come to the door but once they enter the house, he’s “all over them” in a friendly way. A big, enthusiastic dog, he’ll likely need more leash training once he shucks his splints. He’s great in the car, gets along with other dogs in the home, and hasn’t shown separation anxiety. He’s not sound reactive:  he even took Fourth of July in stride. 

When pressed about any behavior challenges, Styx’s foster mom had to think hard. This is what she finally came up with: He’s freaked out by helmets and cowboy hats. But baseball caps are ok (maybe it’s because he heard the Mariners did so well last season? Baseballs remind him of his favorite chuck it ball?).  

His most endearing quality? His foster mom just can’t get over how resilient and how patient Styx has been throughout his treatment and months of rehab. She also loves his funny voice. He’s very talkative, she says, especially if bored or if his ball rolls under the sofa.   

Styx is her 27th foster and she says he’s one of the easiest dogs she’s every had. “I just don’t understand why he’s not adopted yet,” she says. “He deserves a nice, stable home.”  Now, he has one!     

Great news! Styx has found his forever home! If you are interested in meeting other currently adoptable animals, visit the Seattle Animal Shelter adoption portal. To help animals in need like Styx, please consider making a valuable donation to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation 

From abundant adventures to sidelined by surgery and back again 

Ra is still available for adoption! If you are interested in meeting him or other currently adoptable animals, visit the Seattle Animal Shelter adoption portal. To help animals in need like Ra, please consider making a valuable donation to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation

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If there’s something that can dim Ra’s adorable smile, this sweet bully boy hasn’t come across it yet. And considering the challenges he’s faced, that’s saying a lot. 

Ra’s journey to finding his forever family has been a bit bumpy. The Seattle Animal Shelter was Ra’s home when he was a puppy, and again at 3 years old after an owner surrender. And unfortunately, another challenge was coming his way. 

In March 2022, Ra needed a break from shelter life. For some dogs, the noise and activity can be mentally taxing, and Ra was thriving less over time. SAS put out a call for foster homes for some of their animals, and Devin Reynolds and Kelly Knickerbocker of Seattle were in the perfect position to help. 

The two had just said goodbye to their second dog in four years (both pit bulls, Diego and Jersey), and they missed the daily presence but weren’t fully ready to recommit. “Because we knew fostering would be temporary, we thought, we can help in this way, we can provide a dog with support and love while they are looking for a forever family,” Kelly said. They met a couple of pups but Ra was the standout.  

“When we took him out for a little walk he had the ear-to-ear bully breed smile, something we fall for 100 percent of the time,” Kelly said. “He was so happy to be out and about. We thought he could benefit from being outside of the shelter.” 

So off he went, to a home full of physical and mental stimulation, which is just what he needed. Right off the bat, he was “a little adventure guy,” going on three-mile-long runs with Devin, where he picked up directionality easily, and car trips, but also loving sunning in a grassy patch in the yard.  

“He’s so amped on life,” Kelly said. “He is as excited to wake up as he is about ending the day.” 

But then, he started showing signs that something was definitely not right. 

“It turned out he had a piece of rubber Kong in his intestine,” Devin said. “We kept noticing runny stool, and we figured he was anxious from all the change in his life. We added some pumpkin to his food to (help), that seemed to trigger vomiting and diarrhea. We had to take him to Animal Medical Center for evaluation.” 

They took Ra in on a Wednesday and were sent home with some instructions to try to fix him up, but by Friday it was worse. They took Ra back and when the clinic did an ultrasound, they found the obstruction. 

The doctor advised that Ra needed immediate surgery. Though it was an expensive treatment with a long recovery time, there was no other option in the minds of Devin and Kelly and Seattle Animal Shelter. 

“We felt very supported and were so grateful to have access to the SASF support during Ra’s time of need,” Kelly said. “It made a huge difference in Ra’s life, and probably saved it.” 

Ra needed two weeks of home care and bed rest after his surgery, something Devin, a former vet tech, and Kelly were serendipitously prepared for. They had spent months caring for Jersey (their pet who died in February 2022) when she was sick with cancer, and were well-versed in how to support Ra. While they had come into fostering with the expectation they wouldn’t be back in this situation so soon, they found a silver lining. 

“It wasn’t what we were signing up for, but it gave us an opportunity to bond with Ra. It engendered more trust,” Kelly said. 

As Ra recovered, they started helping him get out some energy by doing “nose work” with him by scattering kibble around, and found he responded very well to it. They got him a fun activity mat to encourage even more mental engagement. 

And it wasn’t long before Ra started making his way back to his old playful self.  

“If you didn’t know (he’d had surgery), you wouldn’t know,” Devin said. “He’s doing zoomies around the back yard.”  

Ultimately, Devin and Kelly just want this wonderful boy to be able to fulfill his potential by finding the perfect person or family. 

“He has amazing potential to be a wonderful family member,” Kelly said. “The support we got allows him to ultimately make it to the place where he is with the forever people who he deserves. It would not have been possible if he hadn’t made it through that traumatic experience.” 

Thankfully, Ra won’t ever have to worry about that. 

From Helpless to Happy: How Rue Found Her Courage

When Rue came to the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) in October 2021, she could barely look at anyone. For weeks, the four-year-old American pitbull terrier mix remained curled up in the corner, averting eye contact, and avoiding all human interactions. The more staff and volunteers tried to engage with her, the tighter she curled up against the wall, even staying in that position overnight.

One of the shelter’s more difficult cases, Rue was rescued by the Seattle Police Department from a hotel room, where she was found penned in her own waste alongside several other dogs. Her companions were covered in scars consistent with dog fighting. While SAS’s medical examination showed Rue to be physically well, her emotional scars ran deep.

Rue scared
Shortly after arriving to SAS, Rue curled up in fear.

“If you looked at her, moved towards her—even to just place a food bowl down—she would curl up tighter or push herself even further against the wall,” said SAS’s lead behaviorist Kimberlee Spicer. “We would attempt to take her out on walks, but she did not want to move. If we needed to get her out to clean her kennel, she would walk with a tense body—tail tucked, ears back, closed tight mouth, and pupils dilated.”

Kimberlee explained that Rue was exhibiting behaviors consistent with a condition known as learned helplessness, which can develop when a dog is repeatedly frightened or abused and learns to shut down, believing they have no control.

SAS’s behavior team immediately stepped in to help, starting by moving Rue out of her kennel and into a quieter shared office space. Typically, a behavior training session consists of walks, treats, and lively positive reinforcement. For Rue, the trainer would come into the office, sit down at a comfortable distance, read to her for several minutes, drop a tasty treat on the floor, and then slip back out.

Rue and Kimberlee at the shelter
Kimberlee sits with Rue in a non-threatening manner.

Progress was slow and steady. Rue would not eat in front of anyone (a significant show of trust for a dog) or move from her corner, even to go to the bathroom. But around a month into the behavior program after constant and consistent support, Rue began improving, moving about the office space, taking a treat from an outstretched palm, and allowing the staff and volunteers to take her on brief walks around the parking lot.

Rue dog getting pets
After a brief walk with Kimberlee, Rue allows a shelter volunteer to pet her.

Finally, Rue was taken in by an amazing foster family. Her foster parents, Krista and Andrew, were endlessly patient with her, allowing her the time, space, and praise to learn to be a normal dog again. They worked with Rue on house training, leash training, being around people, exploring the yard. They also exposed her to different people and rooms in the home, sounds and textures.

Rue especially benefited from being around her foster brothers and sisters. While she was hesitant to seek out interactions with them, she was observant, watching how the other dogs behaved and slowly mirroring their behaviors.

Rue
Rue takes cues on how to relax from watching other dogs.

After two and a half months in foster, Rue was adopted on February 9, 2022. Some animals will backtrack when they are adopted, but Rue leaped forward. Less than a week after her adoption, she was eating in the kitchen (not in her crate), sleeping on a dog bed in an open room, and spending time with her new family in the open living spaces. Like her namesake, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she was courageous.

Her new favorite activities are performing zoomies and leaping over the small stream in her backyard; taking car rides with her little head out the back window; and eating vanilla ice cream from Salt & Straw with her big brother, Spike, another SAS rescue.

“Our goal was to get Rue’s little tail to wag, even just once, by her 1-year ‘Gotcha Day’ (adoption) anniversary,” said Shannon Ryan, her adoptive mom. “I am happy to report that Rue’s little tail now wags daily, and it makes my heart so happy every time I see it.”

Successes like this would not be possible without the continued generosity of SASF donors, who provide support for programs such as dog behavior training and the vet clinic. If you are interested in supporting the important work SAS does in getting animals to their forever homes, consider joining the annual Furry 5K. Held at Seward Park on June 12, 2022, the proceeds from this fun walk/run go directly to the Help the Animals Fund at the Seattle Animal Shelter, which supports medical care for pets in need.

Rue dog snuggles
Roo is comfortable in her forever home and loves snuggling with her new mom.
Rue dog snuggles

We Weren’t Looking for a New Cat

Originally posted 4/29/20

The Seattle Animal Shelter has been making a difference in the lives of pets and pet owners for nearly 50 years. Irina Mueller, SAS volunteer and cat mom, shares how SAS helped her find a best friend for life.

“We lost our previous cat in August 2017. It was devastating. We weren’t looking for a new cat. We even moved into a new apartment with a “no pet” clause. I started volunteering at the Seattle Animal Shelter in the fall of 2018. Oliver, a handsome tabby originally called Cheezy, came to the shelter in early March 2019.

Oliver was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and unfortunately his previous owner could not afford to take care of him. At the shelter, he received the treatment needed to control his diabetes by taking insulin twice a day. We were so happy to see the shelter give him the care he needed. Having a cat on insulin is an extra monthly expense, and the shelter was able to give him the very best treatment regardless of cost, thanks to donations from the Seattle community.

Despite his medical needs, Oliver was such an affectionate cat. I would sit on the floor and he would climb into my lap, purr, put his head in my hand and nap. He quickly became my favorite cat. I could not stop talking about him. I even got special permission from our landlord to have a cat! Then I talked my husband into meeting him.

We brought Oliver home in early April 2019. As advised, we kept Oliver confined to one room to allow him to adapt to his new surroundings – for about a night. He could hear us from “his” room and was not happy being by himself. He owned the apartment within 24 hours. Our adjustment period was significantly longer than his; we never had a cat with medical needs before. The veterinarian on duty showed us how to give Oliver his insulin shots and check his blood glucose levels. It took a while, but we figured it out -it was well worth it to have Oliver in our lives.

What seemed daunting in the beginning is now routine. We had to adjust our lifestyle of being home every 12 hours to give Oliver his insulin, and my work-life balance greatly improved. All the adjustments have been worth it. Oliver has been part of our family for about a year now, is much loved, and is spoiled rotten. He is still a total snuggle bug, an excellent biscuit maker and has the loudest purr (some drooling included). He loves being around people. The lap is still his favorite place, and he can stay there for hours. Now that he’s a senior cat, he also enjoys sleeping in the sun in our tiny, escape-proof and safe yard.

I am thankful that the Seattle Animal Shelter gives animals like Oliver a chance to find forever homes and live happy (and hopefully) healthy lives. Oliver taught me that he is more than an “older cat with medical needs” – I just had to look past the label. I am glad I did, because I cannot image him not being a part of my life and our family.”

To help pets like Oliver get the love and care they need, donate to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. 100% of donations help pets, like Oliver, get the care they need while waiting for their forever homes.

Mario – a SAS Behavior Program Success

You may recognize Mario the dog from Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s (SASF) Furry 5K event promotion back in the summer. Mario was featured as one of the adoptable dogs during Furry 5K and received many sponsorships to participate in the fun run/walk. Before he was the star of the annual 5k, he was working closely with Seattle Animal Shelter’s (SAS) animal behaviorist, Kimberlee Spicer, to address his behavioral issues.

Mario – Furry 5K star

Mario was brought to SAS in late November 2020 and stayed at the shelter for seven months before being adopted in June 2021. During Mario’s time at SAS, Kimberlee and the dog behavior team (DBT) worked with him almost every day (sometimes even twice a day!) to address some of his behavioral issues. Mario was wary of strangers and would occasionally display reactivity to strangers while out on walks. He would also play tug with his leash and jump on his handlers while mouthing their arms and hands.

In addition to these behavioral tendencies, Mario would often try to eat non-food items such as dog toys. He had two foreign body removal surgeries during his time at SAS. After his second foreign body removal surgery, SAS veterinarians deemed him unfit to be left alone with any bedding or toys unsupervised – since that risked him eating something and requiring another surgery.

Thanks to the dedication and time of Kimberlee and the DBT, they were able to address many of these issues — and got creative with solutions. These solutions included:

Mario ready for a walk with his two toys for the road

— Providing Mario with a double kennel with only a durable bed. Over the months, Kimberlee and the DBT would slowly introduce hard, durable Nylabone-type toys that he could have in his kennel.

— Getting creative with kennel enrichment. Kimberlee would freeze his meals in large containers so that his kibble and wet food would become a large ice cube. Mario was also provided with regular ice cubes and music.

— Taking a plushy toy on walks. With his mouth occupied, Mario was less likely to tug on his leash or mouth his handlers. Sometimes he’d even carry two or three toys in his mouth!

— Spending office time with Kimberlee.

— Training on specific things, like introductions to strangers, four on the floor, crate training, pattern games, and walking on a leash without tugging or mouthing.

 

Spending some at home time with Kimberlee

There was a point during his stay when Kimberlee and her team wanted to see how Mario would do in a home. Since he was brought in as a stray, there was no home history available for him. “I ended up doing field trips with Mario in his last couple of months at the shelter to my house,” shares Kimberlee. “On days that my son was in school and husband was at work, I brought him to my house once a week for four hours. He got to play in the yard, hang out on the deck or couch, do some enrichment and go for neighborhood walks. He was a gem, and we didn’t see any of the wanting to eat non-food items in my home.” Shortly after that, Mario was able to go to a foster home for a couple weeks so the team could learn even more about him.

On June 12, 2021, Mario was adopted. The happy ending to his journey through SAS would not have been possible without the nearly 300 sessions with Kimberlee and nearly 80 training sessions with the DBT volunteers. It also would not have been possible without the support of SASF’s loyal donors who provide support for programs such as the DBT and staff like Kimberlee.

 

“Mario was a complete goof ball at heart and bonds strongly with his people. He has SO many amazing qualities. He, like a lot of our behavior dogs, may not have had such a happy ending if it weren’t for the donors that support my position and the entire behavior program! It is them that I say thank you to for giving me the opportunity to work with Mario.”

-Kimberlee Spicer


If you are interested in supporting success stories like Mario’s, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Getting Ziggy the Care he Needed

Often times, critters that come into the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) require much-needed medical care and attention. Thankfully, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF)-funded programs, like the SAS vet clinic, provide this much-needed care.

Ziggy, a little albino hedgehog, received the nourishment and care he needed at the vet clinic after being rescued from a deplorable hoarding situation. Ziggy eventually won over the heart of a SAS critter volunteer, Jenny S., who adopted him, and their story was featured in SASF’s 2019 Annual Report. An excerpt of the story is included below.


ziggy in a blanketZiggy’s journey starts with a common occurrence for a lot of the animals who find themselves at the Seattle Animal Shelter. He was one of many animals rescued by SAS animal care officers from a deplorable hoarding situation. There were so many animals of different species that were found starving, in dire condition, and needing immediate medical attention.

Luckily, Ziggy was able to be fostered by one of SAS animal care officers who took great care to bring him back to health. He was traumatized, would not trust anyone, and would only come out from hiding to eat and drink a little water. With the help of the SASF-funded vet clinic at the shelter, Ziggy’s needs were completely taken care of so that his recovery was guaranteed.

Jenny S. had been a critter volunteer for almost three years when Ziggy arrived on the scene. She remembers being so taken by him that she instantly fell in love. He was so sweet and was such a trooper. She remembers looking forward to seeing him on her days as a critter volunteer and decided to adopt him when she realized how much she would miss him if he were not part of her life.

ziggy gets along with the dogEvery night, Jenny sat on the couch and gently petted him while he burrowed into a blanket or a sleeve of her sweater. Because he needed a lot of socialization and bonding, Jenny found this the best way to ease his concerns and give him confidence in his new surroundings. She found that Ziggy felt cared for and nurtured when allowed to nestle and cuddle on her lap. And now, Ziggy and Jenny’s three dogs like to cuddle up and be with him while he burrows under their blankets. The dogs are very careful with him and appreciate his need for solitude and his night-time rituals. But they love nothing more than to greet him in the mornings with nose sniffs and kisses.

I can’t get over how much of a trooper he is and how loving he is. He doesn’t mind being picked up, doesn’t chew or nibble, and for a hedgehog is very sociable. I just love him. He is so special.


To read more about Ziggy’s journey, explore the SASF 2019 Annual Report.

Consider supporting valuable SAS programs like the vet clinic by donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.