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.
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.