More Fun Events with Coulee Region Humane Society!

Yet again I have so much to blog about (lots of fun stuff, too)! So, let’s get started! 

LADIES NIGHT!!!!  Thursday, February 9^th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, Healthy Living Chiropractic and Wellness Center  is hosting a Ladies’ Pamper Night at Nell’s City Grill. This event is open to any woman and her friends with a donation to Coulee Region Humane Society (donation to be given at the event)! There will be shopping, pampering, wine, unique deals, music, and most importantly, learning about how to live a healthier, happier life. Nell’s City Grill is located at 1111 3^rd St in La Crosse, right across from City Brewery. Click here to learn more:

http://www.couleehumane.com/storage/Pamper%20Night%20Flyer%20Feb12.pdf 

Coming soon to The Studio on Main, professional pet portrait packages!  There will be 2 weekends available for the photo specials for your pets! The weekends include February 9^th through the 11^th and February 16^th through the 18^th.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit all the animals at Coulee Region Humane Society. For more information on the package specials and to set up your appointment call (608) 782-1080 or visit their website:  www.thestudioonmain.com. 

On Saturday, February 25^th, we will be holding our 16^th Annual Cause for Paws Banquet at the Lunda Center.  Join us for an evening of happy endings, good company, dinner, silent auction, dessert auction, and more!  The cost to attend is $40/person and reservation is required by February 15^th.  For more information click here: 

http://www.couleehumane.com/storage/Website%20Announce%2012.pdf

Runners and walkers unite! The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Athletic Training Association has organized its 4^th Annual Coulee Chase 5K run and 3K walk to benefit the National Athletic Training Association and Coulee Region Humane Society. This event will be taking place Saturday, March 24^th at the Myrick Park Gun Shelter (789 Myrick Park Dr). Registration begins at 8:30 am with the 5K Fun Run and 3K Family Walk both starting at 10:00 am. The fees are $18.00 before Race Day and $10.00 if you don’t purchase a T-shirt, $13.00 per person for groups of 3 – 10 before the Race Day, $20.00 per person on Race Day, $15.00 for groups of 3 – 10 on Race Day, and kids 5 and under are free! Dogs are more than welcome to accompany their owners, however, be sure to bring proof of current rabies vaccination, license, and sign the waiver on the registration form. For more information and location to register please click here:  http://www.couleehumane.com/storage/Coulee%20Chase.pdf 

Have a great week!

“If You Love Me, License Me”

It’s that time of year again! No, I don’t mean winter (its way too cold for me). I mean its time to license your pets. There are some big benefits to licensing your pets;

1. Lost cats and dogs that are found wearing their license tags are more easily identified. If your dog or cat is found with its tag, Animal Control can look up the tag number to determine that it is your pet, and you will be reunited more quickly. Even strictly indoor pets can get a wild whim and slip out the door behind you, so it is always good to keep the tags on them! 
2. Having a license provides proof of legal ownership.
3. It’s the law. Having your pet licensed by January 31^st will prevent any citations (involving licensure).   

Licenses need to be renewed annually; any dog that is over 5 months of age needs to be current on rabies and licensed. Currently in the City of La Crosse, City of Onalaska, and the Towns of Campbell, Shelby, and Rockland, cats also need to be licensed. Anyone who owns a cat but is not in any of the locations listed is encouraged to check with their Treasurer’s Office on the area’s licensure status.

You are able to license here at Coulee Region Humane Society or at your local Treasurer. For more information on licensing please click here!

http://www.couleehumane.com/licensing/

So much to share...

Dear Loyal Fans,

I have lots and lots to blog about today so lets get started!

Do you have a back up plan for your furry friends if something were to happen to you? Do the people you include in your plan know about it? Many people assume that should something happen to them, their family would step up and remember to care for their furry family members. Sometimes your family gets so caught up in what is going on with you that they forget to care for your furry friends, or they think someone else is caring for them. To avoid your poor pets from becoming forgotten about in a tragedy, come in to Coulee Region Humane Society, and ask for an Emergency Contact Form! You can also find the form on our website under the links tab, so you can print it off. I would recommend printing it off on a cardstock-like paper, it seems to last longer on a thicker paper. They are super easy to fill out and they get all the information needed to ensure care for your animals in 2 convenient locations. There is one form that you hang in your house and another that goes into your wallet, so even if you’re away from home the police or other emergency responder will know who to call.

Now that we finally have a winter wonderland out there, its time to revisit some tips to keeping your furry friends safe while enjoying the snow.

• Keep your animals indoors as often as possible, especially old, young, shorthaired animals, and cats. When they are outside, be sure to always be there to supervise their safety and don’t keep them out in the cold for very long.
• If your dog is an outside dog or if they are outside for longer that 15 minutes, make sure that they have an insulated, dry, draft-free dog house that is large enough to ensure comfort, but small enough to retain body heat. The floor of the dog house needs to be covered with clean hay or straw or other sufficient bedding, as well as raised off the ground about 2 or 3 inches, and the opening should be faced away from the wind with a weatherproof covering. Be sure to keep refreshing the water so it doesn’t freeze, or purchase a heated water bucket. Heated water buckets can be found at Farm Supply Stores. Keeping warm uses a lot of your dog’s energy, so be sure to have food readily available outside for them as well. It is recommended to use plastic dishes or buckets for outside use as tongues can easily stick and freeze to cold metal.
• To a small wild critter, a warm car battery in a parked car is a great way to warm itself up on these chilly frostbitten days. So to avoid and injuries or casualties, hit the hood of your car to scare away any little critters before starting your car.
• Salt and other chemicals are frequently used to melt ice and snow off of walkways. These things can irritate the feet, cause irritation in the mouth and could even cause internal issues if ingested. To avoid these problems, wash your pet’s paws when they come in, before they have a chance to clean them off themselves. Just wipe off the paws with a damp towel or washcloth. There are also pet friendly solutions for clearing the snow and ice off of your property such as, shoveling, using Happy Paws Ice Melt, or a product containing Magnesium Chloride which is still a salt but it is a less corrosive and safer salt for both your pet and the environment.
• Antifreeze has a sweet taste that tends to attract animals and even children, but it is a poison! Be sure to clean up any spills immediately, and to store it in a safe place where children and animals cannot reach it. You can also use an antifreeze-coolant that is made with propylene glycol; if swallowed in small amounts it will not hurt children or animals. This is only a less toxic option but it is in fact still toxic to people and animals. If ingested, please call your vet or poison control immediately.

Save the dates! In February there are 2 weekends that the Studio on Main will be offering Pet Photo Package Specials! This would be a great time to get pictures of your furry friends, and a portion of the proceeds go to benefit Coulee Region Humane Society! The packages will be available February 9^th through the 11^th and February 16^th through the 18^th. Call (608)-782-1080 or go to www.thestudioonmain.com to find out more information on the specials and availability.

Last but not least, Thursday March 29^th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm we will be having our 4^th Annual Spayghetti and Fixin’s dinner! There will be more details in my following blogs, but for now save the date!

Stay Warm and Safe, 

Helen

Happy New Year

Hello!

I hope everyone’s Holiday was filled with love, laughter, and family. Mine was great! There were some of the employees and volunteers that came to spend some time with me throughout the day. They even gave me a few extra treats! New Years is coming up in just a couple of days, and while you and your family may love to go and watch the big loud fireworks light up the early morning sky, many furry friends are scared by the loud noises. So if your dogs, cats or any other animals are scared by loud and sudden noises please leave them home where they will be and feel safe and content. Have a happy and safe New Year!

Helen's Cold Weather Tips

Hello Everyone,

I love this time of year. The leaves are turning beautiful colors and majestically falling from the tree tops, Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose and windows, and it’s the purr-fect season to cuddle up with your families on the couch while they enjoy a cup of hot cocoa. This also means for your families that its time to “Winter Proof” for your pet! Here are some safe Winter Tips to ensure that you have a wonderful and successful snowy season:

1. When you let your furry friends outside make sure to limit their time out to no more than 10 minutes; by limiting their time outside, you are also limiting their chance for frostbite.
2. Make sure to monitor the height and depth of the snow. If it gets too high your pets might be able to jump over the fence, and if it gets too deep they will not be able to walk through it to go potty.
3. Shoveling a “potty trail” is a great idea, especially for small dogs that aren’t able to wade through the snow as easily as the bigger dogs.
4. If your pet enjoys accessorizing I would recommend getting them sweaters or little booties to protect their body and feet from the arctic temperatures. (We have a variety of cute, comfy, and cozy sweaters to choose from at the Humane Society! Just make a donation and your furry friend with be stylin’ all season long!)
5. If for some reason your pet would have to be outside for 30 minutes or more, you need to have a moisture proof durable structure, suitable for their size so they can retain their body heat. The shelter must be at least 2 inches off the ground and the entrance must be covered by a self closing swinging covering or an “L” shaped entrance to prevent wind from blowing directly into the shelter, and there must be enough bedding material to provide insulation, protection, and retain body heat. (Straw works perfectly for this.)

I hope you enjoy the last of these sunny days!

Yours,