Promoting turnover in the kennels

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

After a whopping month online, the city’s budget survey results are

in, and the folks at City Hall are just thrilled with the

participation. In a city of nearly 200,000 people, city officials

think it’s just spectacular that they got 1,617 responses on the

online budget survey.

Considering it was only online for one month and they didn’t let

residents know it was happening, they should be tickled pink. That

means 1,600 heard about it despite their best efforts and remembered

to log on in the short time span. Either that, or 1,600 stumbled

across the city Web site.

Well, kudos to those 1,600 people -- especially the 1,400 or so

who took the time to fill out the comments section. I can’t wait to

read those 130 pages of public suggestions.

I feel for the people who took the time to write lengthy comments,

though, as I doubt the city will pay much attention. I can

commiserate, I keep writing too.

Be sure to check out Jenny Marder’s story with the preliminary

survey results.

*

In February, the Independent started a feature called Pet of the

Week. Each week, Jon Vreeland, a volunteer at the Orange County

Humane Society, sends information and a photo of one of the neediest

animals.

Since the feature began, there have been 16 animals featured -- 15

dogs and one cat. (Only one cat because there have been many more

dogs that need to be placed, Vreeland said.)

Each week, Vreeland also began sending me little messages.

“Sebastion went home to a wonderful family yesterday after five

months in the shelter. Glacier has two families interested in him. We

are confident he will find a good home soon, there has been more

activity on him than ever.”

I found these messages heartwarming. I thought, rather than just

share the puppy sales pitch with readers, we should share the good

news, too.

Of the 16 animals featured in the paper, 12 have been adopted.

I thought this was a fantastic success rate, but Vreeland assures

me it is actually much higher than this. People come in to see the

featured animals and end up taking another home, he said.

“I can tell you that during this period since the articles, the

humane society has placed more than 150 dogs and an equal amount of

puppies, cats and kittens,” he wrote to me. “Because of these

adoptions, the humane society has been able to rescue approximately

50 dogs from high-kill shelters and place them into homes. These dogs

would not have had a chance otherwise.”

Here is an update on where the featured pets are now.

* Daisy, the 1-year-old basset hound, went to a nice home after

leg surgery.

* Glacier, the lead sled dog, went home with a volunteer and is

enjoying the good life after 10 months in the shelter.

* Sebastion, the sharpei mix that had not had a home since he was

a young pup, is now with a very nice couple who wanted a companion

for their other dog.

* Wyatt, the border collie mix, got a rural home with some acreage

and is a very happy addition to a family.

* Quincy, the Rottweiler mix, is living with a family that has

another dog and considers itself “blessed” to have Quincy with them.

Quincy had been in the shelter for five months.* Harley (Mr.

Muscles), the lab pit mix, went home to family and is now the

husband’s fishing buddy. Good choice: He’s a perfect outdoorsman.

Harley was in the shelter for 10 months.

* Dakota, the malamute, had a hard time getting placed because of

his size, but found a great home.

* Rocky, the Doberman, went home with a woman whose Doberman had

just died.

* Brutus, our largest dog ( a mastiff mix ), was taken home by a

police officer. Brutus needed a job to be happy and he got one with

his new owner.

* Tom, our featured cat, was adopted the same day the article came

out and went home a happy guy.

* Cassidy, our senior lab mix, went with a foster mom who found a

real nice home for her. The senior dogs have more trouble in the

shelter environment and need to be placed as soon as possible, even

if it is temporary, so that they can get more personal care and

attention.

* Val, a friendly 4-year-old Labrador retriever, has gone to a

good home.

* Levi, a 2-year-old male Basenji/ pit mix, is very sad in the

kennel and is still waiting to go to a good home.

* Maybelline, an affectionate boxer/pit mix that dances with

anticipation when greeted, is still waiting to go to a good home.

* Lacey, a 1-year-old lab chow mix that has been in the kennel

much of her young life, is still waiting to go to a good home.

* Rufus, a sweet male chow, is still waiting to go to a good home.