“Creatures that we think should be enemies but get along can teach us something about how we treat animals – and each other.”
– Jennifer Holland, conservation biologist and author of “Unlikely Friendships”
Friends, did you ever wonder why someone adopts or buys a dog and then chains it to a dog house as far away from the house as possible, only to feed and water it and occasionally give it a pat on the head? Meanwhile, the poor dog keeps his eyes trained on the door of the house, waiting for some tidbit of attention from the owner. Dogs and cats are social, domesticated creatures who can feel pain, sadness, loneliness, joy, love, loyalty and happiness. They are not just a possession but a living, breathing being with feelings. If a person is not able to treat a pet as a beloved, valued family member, do the pet a favor and don’t adopt or buy, then sentence it to a miserable, lonely life on a chain.
This and that at the shelter: We desperately need dog blankets/fleece material to cut out blankets for shelter pets. They enjoy snuggling in a blanket. It comforts them and they rest better. Thanks to Peebles for sponsoring Adopt a Shelter Pet Day last Saturday. We currently have a purebred white Great Pyrenees pup, some darling Chihuahua/feist who are perfect companion dogs, some cute lab-mix pups, a feist/Chihuahua/corgi, several yellow lab-mix pups and adult dogs, a black lab/heeler mix, some rottie-mix pups who have a gentle, playful nature, three adorable Australian shepherd/blue heeler puppies, several black labs, three adorable chiweenie puppies (Chihuahua/dachshunds with a touch of pug thrown into the mix), a white lab/shepherd, a purebred female mastiff who has a gentle nature, a small tri-color beagle, perfect for a family, and many more. On the feline side we have a seal point Siamese-mix kitten with blue eyes. The classic color, this is the Siamese that has appeared in films, advertisements, and cartoons. Genetically, this color is black, translated into a dark-seal brown by the Siamese pointing gene. For a time, this was the only Siamese accepted. Other colors existed, but were usually classified as “any other variety,” and records are unclear as to what they may have been. For some, this color remains the only “true” Siamese. (Source: Fogel’s The new Encyclopedia of the Cat) We also have a tuxedo kitten, several tortie kittens and adult cats, a dilute calico, several medium-hair, blue-eyed white kittens, a green-eyed white kitten, four medium- and longhaired orange kittens, an extra-large orange tabby, a longhaired orange-and-white cat and many more. Please visit the shelter to see all of the deserving pets who are desperately seeking homes. We receive over 20 pets a day and stay at capacity. Check us out on dyerhumane.org or petfinder.com and type 38024 zip to see a partial list/pictures of our pets. Visit The Pet Stop any day of the week to see a selection of shelter cats and kittens.
‘Garfield’ is an extra-large, orange-colored kitty who is looking for a home with cat lovers. He loves attention and will make a perfect companion cat. ‘Sterling’ is one of the most handsome medium-haired tabby kittens at the shelter. He has gorgeous markings. Sterling had a rough start in life. He was thrown from a car at the mall and left to fend for himself at the tender age of 6 weeks. Fortunately, he was caught before he died from heat exposure/starvation/dehydration. He only wants a safe, loving home with people who will take care of him properly. He must be an indoor kitten and despite all he has been through, still loves and trusts people. He enjoys being petted and talked to and wants to be where you are.
‘Peaches’ is a beautiful, very sweet buff lab. Labs make wonderful companion/family type dogs and Peaches is no exception. She has a gentle, happy nature and loves human contact. Peaches is heartworm negative. ‘Tiny’ is a small, beautiful little Chihuahua/feist who enjoys being held. She has a gentle, sweet nature and is very loving. She had puppies, who are now weaned, and her owners kept the puppies but surrendered her. Tiny is so lonely and wants someone who will love her and give her a stable home. If you are looking for a small lap/companion dog, please adopt her and save her life. Shelter pets’ lives depend upon adoption. Taking in over 100 pets a week, we soon run out of room. Time is of the essence.
Now that summer is here and if you have some free time, please volunteer at the shelter. Our pets want attention and enjoy taking walks, receiving treats and toys, baths, socializing, and any way you would like to help. Besides monetary donations, we need paper towels, Germex hand sanitizer, Clorox bleach, dog blankets, high-quality dry dog and cat food, canned dog and cat food for special diets, kitten and puppy food, and pet baby bottles, kitten and puppy formula and low-dust kitty litter. We always need fosters. By fostering, you save two lives, the one you are fostering and the one who takes its place.
Please help our local homeless shelter pets by making an honorarium or memorial donation to the shelter. Please specify who the donation is to, with complete address where notification or acknowledgment should be sent and your complete address. We will do the rest. Categories are: The Cot Fund (dog beds), The Beagley Fund (heartworm treatment) which seems to stay depleted, General Fund, Champ Lewis Fund (monetary adoption assistance), Save-a-Life Makeover (professional grooming to make a pet more appealing and adoptable), Honorariums and Memorials. Mail to the Dyersburg-Dyer Co. Humane Society, P.O. Box 223, Dyersburg, TN 38025-0223. Thank you for helping the animals!
Please visit the shelter between 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. The shelter is closed to the public on Sunday. Our telephone number is 731-285-4889.
