dog Archives - Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation

Seattle Animal Shelter Behaviorist Tina helps animals and humans live better together

Posted on Dec 3Dec 11 by Tom

By Madeline Johnson

The Shelter Behaviorist role, crucial to many animals’ success at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), was created thanks to and continues to be made possible by the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF). Tina Hope took on this position at SAS in July 2023. Recently we talked with her about her work at the shelter and in the community, the importance of improving human and animal relationships, and how it impacts the animals she works with.

What is a behavior success story that you were a part of recently?

T: Kafka! He’s a 110-pound Giant Mastiff mix dog who was surrendered to us in February, due to his owner losing their housing. He had some resource-guarding tendencies, and he had one minor bite on his record, due to a bandage being changed on his arm. The owner wasn’t quite sure how to manage the resource-guarding, and they were having trouble finding housing with a dog his size. When he came in he was very fearful and had intense barrier reactivity (which can sometimes go away as soon as you open the door), and touch sensitivity. Understandably though, he was intimidating to a lot of people. I started working with him through the kennel, tossing treats to him, and got him to be less reactive to the kennel barrier. I opened the door, asked him to go for a walk, and we went for a walk. He was very wary of me so it took a couple weeks for me to be able to touch him, but by the end of it he would climb up and sit in my lap (even though he didn’t fit). He was adopted in September by two folks who he immediately took to.

While he was here, Kafka actually helped another dog named Merci. Merci was a victim of significant physical abuse and was very anxious around humans. In my work I’ve often found that some dogs who are victims of abuse will feel more confident and comfortable in the presence of another dog. He gave her space, he let her come to him, he helped us introduce new people to her on paired walks. I don’t know that we could have helped her come around as quickly as we did if it wasn’t for him. He’s a success story and he created another one too.

What’s your background in animal welfare? Have you worked for other shelters/rescues before?

Tina: I’ve been working professionally in animal welfare training and husbandry for about 18 years. I started my professional career with horses, but I’ve worked with a number of species including dogs, cats, fish, guinea pigs, goats, birds, reptiles, pigs, and more. Prior to moving to Seattle, I worked at a high-intake shelter in California, the Municipal Shelter for the City of San Jose. There were a lot of differences between sheltering in California and Seattle as far as what challenges we faced on a daily basis, although some of the problems remain the same. When I started there we had about a 50% positive outcome, which was very low, and during my 8 years on the team we were able to build the positive outcome rate to 89% by the time I left. Part of that was I developed their first behavior program, and coordinated rescue transfers, including large transports of dogs to Southwest Washington Humane Society, in Vancouver Washington. So I came up here during a drought in California, it was green and pretty, and found that Seattle was for me.

What’s one of your biggest challenges in your work?

T: One of the biggest challenges is the lasting impacts we see from systemic racism, ableism, and classism, and how humans and non-human animals are treated, viewed, and often dismissed by the organizations that have been established to provide support. We are still operating as a punitive institution from the Animal Control perspective, so trying to bridge that gap to being more of a community support organization is our challenge. We’re really fortunate to have our Director Esteban because he’s leading the charge, getting those things in motion. You wouldn’t necessarily think that it impacts Behavior but it definitely does, because we see animals coming in that maybe don’t need to come in, ones that we potentially could have diverted a surrender if we were able to provide some behavior training or support, so it really all trickles down. So we’re working on creating more of a community organization that is here to help keep animals at home unless of course those homes are mistreating them.

As this behavior program continues to grow, we’re hoping to get to a place where adopted dogs and their families can come back and do training classes, and maybe an internship program for at-risk youth. I’m big on sharing the knowledge and getting everybody involved if they’re interested. And for me it’s important that we are reaching into communities that we haven’t historically served or had positive relationships with, and building that up.

What drew you to the animal behavior field?

T: Animal and human behavior has always fascinated me. I grew up in California, and when I was 7 or 8 years old I would exhaust my mom by always asking her to go to the animal shelter, Santa Cruz SPCA. I would sit in front of their kennels and just talk to them. I had my own dogs (I like to say I was raised by pitties), and ever since I was a small kid I was really interested in animals and just felt this very strong connection with them. I’ve always wanted to be able to better communicate with them and better understand their needs. We ask them to live with us, we ask them to do things that aren’t species-specific behaviors, and I wanted to get a better understanding of the ways they think and how we can help improve our relationships with them.

Animal shelters in particular I really enjoy working in because it gives the opportunity to reach folks and animals on a grander scale. In my day I get to talk with volunteers, my co-workers, members of the community, and help them all better understand their animals and the animals they’re interacting with. As far as working with the community, it’s really great to be able to start a conversation where this person feels like they’re doing everything wrong, and end the conversation with them feeling empowered and they have the tools to be a good pet parent.

Tina at the Seattle Animal Shelter with a fuzzy friend

It seems like it’s a real calling for you! It also seems like so much of this work is about improving the relationship between the humans and the animals – it’s not just a human training an animal, it’s the relationship, connection, and how you’re understanding each other.

T: Definitely. We tend to forget the human side of it, but until we help the humans heal, we can’t really help them help the animals they’re working with.

Why is behavior training important?

T: Training really helps build that bond between the human and the animal. It’s a give-and-take of trying to understand what the other being wants. You can gain that trust and bond with cohabitation, but training helps form that language between the two of you on a deeper level, so you can coexist more harmoniously.

What is one of your most eye-opening or teaching moments in your work?

T: When I first started in sheltering, I was helping a person who wanted to surrender their dog for some behavior reasons and also wanted to adopt a dog back-to-back. I was upset with them, went to my supervisor to talk about it, and she told me something that still resonates with me today. She said, “Let’s start with they showed up here today, and that was the right thing to do. And then we can figure out what’s happening with this dog that they think they can’t hold on to. Then move on from there.” Once I gave them that space to talk, I learned it was more that the dog wasn’t getting along with the children at home, he was showing significant fear, and they were worried he wasn’t having his best life. Once I gave them room to tell their whole story, it all made sense, and I knew they did do the right thing by bringing this dog in. If they hadn’t, he probably would’ve eventually bit the kids, since he might feel he had no other choice in communicating. That was a turning point for me in the way that I realized that I’m not here just to help these animals, I’m here to help these humans too.

Seems like having that empathy for the humans in that situation actually turned around and helped the dog as well, because it benefits both parties to find the right fit.

What would you say to people interested in animal behavior/animal behavior training?

T: It’s important to keep your mind open if you’re interested in animal behavior because there are so many ways to approach and operate in the field and help animals and humans at the same time. I think if you’re just starting out volunteering with the species you’re interested in working with, try things like volunteering at your local shelter, aquarium, and local groups to get a better idea of what part of behavior you’re interested in. There’s a lot you can do within this field, and it’s important to cut out the misinformation, be a good student, do your research, and think about the impact on the animal that you’re working with. Make sure that you are allowing them their autonomy and allowing them to choose to participate in the training or not, and not forcing any training on them.

The SAS Animal Behavior team and training program is financially supported by donors of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. Visit the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation‘s website to donate.

And to learn more about adopting animals, visit the Seattle Animal Shelter website at https://www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter.

It Takes a Village

Posted on Oct 30Nov 14 by Tom

Shelter teams pull together to see through the hardest cases

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation strives to support each animal that comes into the shelter by funding programs above what the city can provide, whether it be behavioral, medical or environmental. The Foundation’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 2023, overcame challenges thanks to the amazing team at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), and graduated to their forever homes.

Moon

Sweet Moon came into the shelter as a stray with a challenging medical issue that was making her very self-conscious. She was dealing with incontinence, which had soaked her fur and created a situation where she didn’t want to eat or go for walks, or meet new people.

The SAS team started by spending time with Moon to better assess her needs. She had office time with SAS staff behaviorist Tina, and it became apparent that Moon needed medical and emotional support. Her physical needs were immediately addressed by getting her medication for her incontinence and a full grooming session. Getting all 80 pounds of her into the tub was not easy but she was a trooper! She was very patient and even happily accepted the not-so-great hairstyle she left with. Moon also needed surgery to remove mammary masses and get spayed, so after that was completed the team gave her space to relax by sending her home with Tina for support and to build trust in new people.

This girl was a quick learner and after just a few days with Tina she was feeling much more confident and ready to move to a new adoptive home. To make sure the transition was smooth, Tina spoke with the adopters directly about Moon’s needs and the new family’s animals. They had been wanting to adopt a husky for some time, but many facilities will not allow huskies to go to homes with cats. Thankfully, Moon had spent time with dog-savvy cats in Tina’s home and was more than prepared for this new environment.

Moon seamlessly found her place in her new family, and is even respecting her new feline sibling.

Harbor

Harbor had a tumultuous and confusing introduction to the shelter. He had been lost with his sister and found shelter in a stranger’s yard. The kind people who found him called Seattle Animal Shelter and Harbor was able to be safely contained until the shelter arrived, but tragically his sister ran away in fear, leaving him isolated from his support system.

When Harbor arrived at the shelter, behaviorist Tina noted he was fearful of humans and the environment, and he was placed in the quieter wing of kennels and put on a plan that included office time for desensitization and dog play sessions to build his confidence.

He learned fairly quickly that shelter staff were kind and Tina continued to help him make progress by introducing him to Millie, another SAS dog. Millie accepted her role as auntie with patience and grace, helping Harbor learn to walk on a leash without pancaking and engaging in fun playtime with him.

Soon thereafter, Harbor moved into a foster-to-adopt home. While this new environment was a much better fit for him, Harbor had a hard time being left alone. This separation anxiety was concerning to his new parents, who weren’t sure whether they were equipped to handle the challenge. But SASF was able to support them with a grant-funded trainer, and with the tools they needed his new family was able to move forward with adopting Harbor … now Dempsey!

Diego

Diego returned to the shelter after a challenging misunderstanding. He had bitten his owner but behaviorist Tina suggested the situation had likely arisen from misreading of body language, handling sensitivities, and fear. Shelter staff discussed the situation, saw Diego’s potential and committed to making this boy available for adoption again.

When Tina met with the pup she found him to be quite a “silly, bouncy boy” and renamed him Diego Maradona, after the much-beloved Argentinian soccer player. She considered how to make accommodations for him so that he could engage in activities safely and while learning new skills.

Diego was fit with a harness that would make it easier for walkers to clip a leash on him without getting their hands near his head or neck, and he took part in playgroups to help maintain his social skills. The team of staff and volunteers worked together on improving Diego’s foot-mouthing behavior on walks by clicking for calm and/or redirecting him to a toy.

Diego made such progress that he was adopted in February into a new family. He is living his best life now, a happy boy and with lots of room to run.

Zissou

Zissou came to the shelter during what was probably the hardest time of her life. This pup had been hit by a car and her leg was broken in multiple places, leading to amputation of the limb. Zissou came to foster to give her time to heal.

This little girl’s challenges were layered: She was fearful of new people and also terrified of cars because of the traumatic incident she had survived. So the team decided to take it slowly and help her build confidence and trust with people while she recovered, and then work with her on her fear of cars.

Zissou’s plan focused on mental enrichment while she was healing, and then desensitization and counterconditioning. She demonstrated a severe fear of cars, so Tina adjusted their walk times/routes to times with fewer cars around, and began helping Zissou learn that someone would help keep her safe. Tina also worked with Zissou on being in public places, where there was plenty of room for her to be around humans without needing to interact with them.

All of Zissou’s hard work paid off when she was adopted into her forever family and went home with a little chihuahua mix brother who is helping her continue to build confidence and face the world’s challenge

Marble Cake

Miss Marble Cake, a senior American bulldog, was a ball of stress when she was found in an alley, scared and confused. She came to the shelter more sour than sweet, showing fear-based aggressive behaviors like avoiding, growling and barking.

The team saw an opportunity to work with Marble Cake to reveal her true personality through behavioral intervention. She was able to broaden her social circle and spent time in offices for additional support and love. Soon enough this little gal was notorious for her hippity hoppity happy dance!

Marble Cake’s transformation had her adopted soon thereafter, but it wasn’t quite a perfect fit. Her new home was in a high-rise in a busy area of the city, and she was fearful of leaving the apartment. The team provided support and training recommendations but ultimately the adopter and SAS decided it was too much to ask of Marble Cake to continue to live in a situation that was so stressful for her. Sometimes the kindest thing for these pups is recognize that an environmental change is ultimately what they need.

And for Marble Cake, that ended up being the best decision ever, as it led to her meeting her true forever family. Marble Cake is now Myrtle, and thriving in her new home and enjoying many adventures in the water, far from the bustle of city life.

In recent years, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation has been able to fund the expansion of the behavior program and the ongoing success of the medical program. These programs are foundational to the success of animals leaving care and has a profound impact on their overall wellbeing.

The longevity of shelter programs is dependent upon the generosity of donors like you. If you are interested in donating, please visit https://seattleanimalshelterfoundation.org/donate-today.

Lachy’s Strength for Success

Posted on Aug 18Aug 25 by JenniferW JuliaL

Today, Lachy is healthy, and you’d never guess what happened! Unfortunately, Lachy fell out of a four-story window. Although he survived the fall, that was the beginning of his recovery period. He was diagnosed with pneumothorax (air in his chest), multiple rib and pelvic fractures, and he was non-weight bearing in one of his hind limbs. After time at the vet, he was transported to the Seattle Animal Shelter a few days after his accident.

Senior veterinarian at the Seattle Animal Shelter, Dr. Watlington, was able to provide us with more details of Lachy’s medical condition. When he arrived at the shelter, he was very sweet and easy to handle. His pelvic fractures were non-surgical. He was put on exercise restriction and pain medication to help manage his discomfort. The shelter’s behaviorist, Tina, did a wonderful job identifying his enrichment needs. Lachy is a Belgian Malinois, a very high-energy breed, so he needed a bit more stimulation in his kennel since he wasn’t going on long walks or able to play. Being confined was a tough situation for this active boy. On top of being active, his foster parent said, “He’s driven, smart, affectionate with his people, guards the house, good with other dogs. He picks things up super-fast…Things like advanced obedience, agility, nose work etc.” After some time, Lachy was sent to a veterinary rehabilitation facility for a consultation, and it was concluded that his pelvic fractures were healing very well. He was able to move to a foster home to continue his healing in a more peaceful environment for about two months.

Since Lachy is a breed that is both active and smart, his foster family mentioned, “He’s a really good dog for someone that wants and knows how to work with driven guarding and working breeds. If I was able to fully have the choice, he would not go to first time dog owners or to someone that lives in an apartment downtown or someone that wants a “normal house” dog.” Belgian Malinois are known for being highly obedient and protective, which means Lachy needs extra room for activities!

While in foster, his foster parents did only on-leash activity for a month with slowly increased walk time. As activity increased, Lachy’s foster family started to explore more of his interests, “I learned today that he LOVES water, from a kiddie pool in our yard. He’d be the best hiking and alpine lake swimming buddy!”

Luckily, this good boy was adopted last week and has gone to a loving home. We are proud of our animal success stories here at the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, and we owe a lot of thanks to our amazing sponsors for making these types of stories possible!

Scary world turns welcoming thanks to a new friend

Posted on Jul 13Jul 13 by JenniferW JuliaL

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.

Furry 5K 2023 Raises Over $118,000 for Animals in Need

Posted on Jun 15Sep 7 by JenniferW JuliaL

The 24th annual Furry 5K is in the books! The weather cooperated and was perfect for running, walking, strolling, and petting dogs. Over 1,300 amazing humans registered for the race and Seward Park was a sea of teal with the adorable face of Ezzie everywhere.

Tracy Taylor-Turner, Vice President of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, served once again as the event’s MC and knocked it out of the park. The Seattle Animal Shelter Director Esteban Rodriguez gave a heartfelt thanks to the participants as they gathered at the start line. Former Seahawk Walter Jones hyped the crowd up. Then, Mayor (and Seattle Animal Shelter fan) Bruce Harrell counted down the start of the race as the crowd of participants, both two- and four-legged, were raring and ready to run.

RACERS TO WATCH

There were plenty of speedy people and pups on hand, with some truly impressive finishing times.

The fastest runners in each category were:

Male:

Michael Stewart (20:50)
John O’Hearn (21:04) + Dog
Taylor Kesler (21:18)

Female:

Julie Vieselmeyer (20:51) + Dog
Cleo Baernstein (20:57)
Ran Huo (22:15)

Non-Binary:

MJ Jenkins (23:13) + Dog
Vyas Savanur (25:54)
Katie Lyle-Beshai (30:33)

TOP FUNDRAISERS

In the weeks leading up to the Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk, individuals and teams worked diligently to fundraise to great success! Through generous donations, they raised nearly $14,000. Commercial Industrial Ruffing was the top fundraising team, raising over $1,000. The top fundraising doggo Hector (and his human Frank Massaro!) was presented a medal at the Pet-a-Palooza celebration.

BY THE NUMBERS

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Over 4,100 miles walked or run

Over 30 vendors and sponsors

587 Runners

737 Walkers

Countless dogs!

And perhaps most importantly of all:

$118,949 raised to help the animals of Seattle!

THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED

None of this would have been possible without the support of donors, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors.

The Furry 5K has always been run by volunteers dedicated to raising funds to cover the Seattle Animal Shelter’s veterinary needs. This year’s race was put on by more than 100 volunteers – the glue of this beloved event! Whether you ran, walked, donated, led a team, shared a post on social media, or anything in between — thank you. Your support helps the Seattle Animal Shelter keep doing amazing work.

It takes a village to put on a race like the Furry 5K, and a huge part of that community are our sponsors. These sponsors provide the shelter with invaluable resources to create a fun, impactful event that truly matters to the animals in need of the care that the shelter provides. Thank you to:

A special shout out to our presenting sponsor, Mud Bay, for also donating $1 for each mile ran at the Furry 5K, for a total of $4,108!

Please join us at our Furevermore Auction & Gala on October 21^st at Fremont Studios for a night full of fun and love for our community’s animals. Tickets are on sale now!

Check out more event day photos in our 2023 Furry 5K photo album.

See highlights of Tracy’s takeover of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s Instagram on Furry 5K day here.

Shelter diversion keeps pets happy, healthy, and with their families

Posted on Jun 5Jun 27 by Tom

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation financially supports programs at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) through yearly grants. One highly impactful grant supports SAS’s “Shelter Diversion” program and its Owner Support Fund, which started in 2020 and continues today.

In 2020, the uncertainty and drastic adjustments were tempered by the positive outcome of implemented changes at SAS. These changes included a new way of managing SAS intake requests – which is when owners contact the shelter to surrender their pet. Shelter staff began talking to families considering relinquishing their pets and working with them to find alternatives or to rehome their pets themselves. The grant funds received from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, which continued in 2022, made many of these new and expanded services possible.

SAS’s initial goals included:

Reducing shelter intake

Keeping established pets in their homes

Collecting information to better inform future efforts to create programs and services that continue to address goals one and two. Specifically, to:

Identify the top reasons for owner surrender to SAS and the most common needs expressed by pet owners surrendering animals.
Track how often the family leaves the shelter with their pet and resources, versus how often intake was the solution.
Use information obtained to better assess SAS’s ability to provide solutions for every family that needs help.

SAS has learned a lot from administering this grant over the past few years. The initial strategy of working with owners who called the shelter about relinquishing their pets had limited success. SAS discovered that by the time people called about surrendering a pet, they had often already made up their mind and were not open to accepting support for alternatives. SAS’s initial tracking indicated that 63% of the recipients declined support and wanted to proceed with the surrender. SAS heard comments like “We’re at the end of our rope” and “I just can’t do it anymore.”

SAS had the greatest success when their Field Officers identified recipients while working with them in the field where pet owners are being offered support before pursuing punitive measures.

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In 2022, assistance was provided for pet medical needs, pet behavior support, and emergency short-term pet boarding. Not surprisingly veterinary care was the single greatest need requested. The cost of veterinary care is significant and represents one of the challenges of sustaining a program like this, especially as people become more aware of the opportunities for support. While parameters may need to be put in place, this often is not helpful to the pet owner in need who cannot neither afford any amount nor have any further capacity to incur debt via credit cards etc. Solutions to these challenges will exist through partnerships and collaborations that help to leverage funding and the possible expansion of SAS’s own veterinary team and the reevaluation of services they are able to provide to the public.

“Without the help of the Owner Support Fund, I could have never kept Bella! I was having a really tough financial year with health issues when I found Bella, an 8-month-old cat abandoned next to an apartment dumpster, left in a carrier with no note or water. The apt manager where I found her saw video of a tenant bringing her out and leaving her with the trash. SAS made it possible for her to receive essential medical care, so I could keep her. I hope the funding continues so that you can help more people keep their pets!”

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Behavioral support was the next most common need identified. Concerns included: Aggression to people and/or pets, separation anxiety, barking, and reactivity.

“I am beyond grateful for the assistance that the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s Owner Support Fund has offered me and my dog, Koda. He is an adult husky with severe separation anxiety and has trouble walking in unfamiliar neighborhoods. So, an overall very nervous pup. The assistance fund came to me during a critical time. He was getting more destructive, and his stress and anxiety was pouring into me to the point I thought I should rehome him after the 8 years of having him. The fund helped me afford an amazing trainer that I would otherwise not have been able to afford on my own. My dog means the world to me and seeing him less stressed on our walks and unfazed when I leave home truly gives me peace of mind. This program not only helped Koda become a more confident dog, but it helped me become happier and healthier mentally. I can only hope more people get to utilize this program and get a second chance like Koda and I did.”

____

Without the support provided through the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation funding this program, many pets would have been relinquished or may even have suffered through medical conditions or other substandard conditions. One of the additional benefits of this program is that it enabled SAS staff, particularly field officers, to create positive relationships in the community.

An essential ingredient to reducing intake is shelter diversion. As the old saying goes—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And to cure animal homelessness, we must continually invest in programs that address the root causes of that homelessness. This is how we move the needle of lifesaving forward—and keep it there.

Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s support of crucial shelter diversion programs assures our community can meet the growing needs that exist for pets and the people who love them. By providing as many resources and services as possible, we reduce the barriers to keeping pets and people together, healthy, and safe.

Face of the Furry 5K 2023

Posted on Apr 18Sep 7 by Tom

On June 11, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) is holding the 24^th annual Furry 5K at Seward Park. A chance to get outside, gather with our furry family members, and support animals in need. What’s more, 100% of funds raised on this fun day go to the Help the Animals Fund at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS).

Every fall, SASF hosts an auction and gala called Furevermore to raise funds for SAS. Last fall, Heather and Pete made a generous donation to win the Face of Furry 5K for their dog, Ezzie. We had a chat with the two about their history with animal welfare and how Ezzie brought new energy and joy to their day-to-day lives.

OUR CONVERSATION WITH HEATHER AND PETE

SASF: LET’S START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT PART… CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EZZIE?

Heather: We got Ezzie in 2021 at a rescue in Eastern Washington, because he fit exactly what we were looking for and there are so many dogs over there needing adoption. Someone found him on the side of the road with an eye hanging out. Our last dog had both eyes removed so when I saw Ezzie with just one eye, that caught my attention. He has some stranger danger but once he gets to know you, he is the sweetest, most empathetic little guy.

WHY WERE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR DOG BE THE FACE OF THE FURRY 5K?

Pete: I’m on the Board of the Seattle Humane Society, we’re long-time supporters of the Seattle Animal Shelter, and we’ve been going to Furevermore for many years. Heather was also involved in the very first auctions for a number of years. We loved the idea of giving Ezzie a platform to show that one-eyed stray dogs can be amazing dogs.

HOW DOES EZZIE AFFECT YOUR LIFE? HOW IS HE A PART OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY?

Heather: In the morning he likes to climb on me and we’ll have a little chat. He gets me to walk every day, we play ball, and he’s next to me all work day long. He always wants to be with us, and he’s a great traveler, he goes with us down to Palm Springs.

Pete: He wants to be part of our lives and we want to be part of his. He’s very joyful, very athletic, and he has this way of running that is purely for fun. He doesn’t care about how fast he is, he just wants to have fun.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WITH EZZIE SO FAR?

Pete: Our first two dogs were older and quieter dogs, and the first day we brought Ezzie home, he was about a year and a half old, he went puppy crazy and played in our backyard for hours. But of course, he was nervous being in a new situation. So first day was wild and new. We were worried about what we got ourselves into, but it’s all been awesome. He sat on the console the whole ride home, so he was comfortable with us from the get-go.

Heather: He also has this ball he likes to play soccer with. He pushes it around with his front paws, then he jumps over it to stop it, and then pushes it back with his head.

OKAY, LAST QUESTION. IF SOMEONE WAS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE FURRY 5K THIS SUMMER, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’D TELL THEM?

Heather: It’s an amazing way to support animal welfare and any support goes a long way!

HOW TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN

There’s still plenty of time to sign up for this June’s Furry 5K! Check out the Furry 5K website to learn more about participating.

And if you’d like to see your pet be the Face of Furry 5K at a future event, stay tuned for more news about the Furevermore Auction & Gala this October.

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

Posted on Mar 15Mar 25 by Tom

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.

Styx makes a stunning comeback!

Posted on Dec 19Dec 19 by Tom

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 27^th 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