Surely, we need no more finicky, aloof furballs

Surely, we need no more finicky, aloof furballs

THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Published: December 12th, 2008 12:05 AM | Updated: December 12th, 2008 06:29 AM

Let’s give a big Christmas cheer to the people who are pushing passionately toward one noble goal: a Pierce County free of unwanted ankle-scratchers, tush-sniffers and tail-chasers.

No, we don’t mean the Sheriff’s Department vice squad. We’re talking about spay-and-neuter evangelists.

They preach a vital message: More than 8,000 animals were needlessly put down in the county last year.

We love them because they, like us, realize the planet has too many cats. The difference is that we think “too many” equals one: the clueless clawbeast who’s likely playing tetherball with our tree ornaments right now.

What say we have him neutered again. Knock him down a few pegs.

We also love these folks for their tacky sense of humor. To wit, the Peninsula spay/neuter group that holds an annual “spay-ghetti” fundraising dinner under the title: “It’s hip to snip!”

Now the Coalition:Humane clinic, which opened in March, is celebrating its first Christmas in Tacoma with a $5-off special for male cats and dogs.

It’s called “Deck the Balls.” One of the group’s veterinary assistants conceived the name. Call 253-627-SPAY to find out more about the discount.

We’ll let you write your own fa-la-la-la-lyrics. Ours wouldn’t pass the censors. Suffice it to say “collie” rhymes with “holly.”

Heartwarming Tale from the Humane Society

This is a great story from Kathleen Olson, Executive Director of our local humane society - The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County.

Mike and his dog became homeless in August. The dog ended up at the shelter when he escaped a yard where Mike had left him with a friend. Mike walked to the shelter on Sunday after chapel services at the Mission and was relieved to find that we had his dog in a safe, warm kennel. The Tacoma Rescue Mission helped Mike with housing and assistance to get medical issues resolved through the Veteran's Administration. We were able to find a foster home to care for his dog until he has housing again.

UPDATE: Mike stopped by today to get his dog’s neuter certificate. He has housing now where he will be able to take the dog. He also has a pass so that Anu can go on Pierce Transit with him. He is enrolled in training classes for him and the dog.

We did not recognize Mike when he came in, as his hair is neatly trimmed and he is much healthier following the assistance he received from The Tacoma Rescue Mission and Veteran’s Administration.

So now you know the rest of the story.

Spay/Neuter Veterinarian(s) Needed!

Coalition: HUMAnE, located in Tacoma, WA, offers many opportunities for the right candidate. We are a nonprofit spay & neuter clinic primarily dedicated to sterilization. Coalition: HUMAnE operates using the nationally recognized Humane Alliance model (www.humanealliance.org). We are looking for full or part-time veterinarians to work as a team with the staff and board of directors. The clinic is operational Monday–Thursday. No nights or weekends, minimal administrative duty. Position is available starting January 2009.

To apply please contact board@coalitionhumane.org.

National Feral Cat Day - October 16

Happy Howl-O-Ween!

Coalition: HUMAnE will recognize National Feral Cat Day by partnering with the Humane Society to spay and neuter up to 100 cats free-of-charge to their caretakers on October 30. More information can be found at www.coalitionhumane.org.

Clients may come from any county; there are no residency requirements. If your organization knows of traps available for loan, please let us know at info@coalitionhumane.org. We anticipate a need!

National Feral Cat Day was launched in 2001 by Alley Cat Allies, a national advocacy group for feral and stray cats. Alley Cat Allies is the foremost authority on a program called Trap-Neuter-Return, a humane method of care that improves the lives of outdoor cats. With Trap-Neuter-Return, outdoor cats are humanely trapped and brought to a veterinarian to be evaluated, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. Cats that have undergone the procedure are ear tipped – a small portion of the ear is painlessly removed for identification.

GIG HARBOR PUTS ON THE DOG DURING THE 6TH ANNUAL HARBOR HOUNDS EVENT

Come on out and support Coalition: HUMAnE!

Every dog has his day in Gig Harbor, Washington, especially during the
annual "Harbor Hounds Walk the Town," a fun romp that celebrates
canines by the sea. This year's tail-wagging affair takes place on
Saturday, September 27, 2008.

Dogs and their devotees come from far and near to participate in
Harbor Hounds, a benefit for the Prison Pet Partnership Program,
Coalition: HUMAne (formerly Peninsula Spay/Neuter Project) and Gig
Harbor Mid-Day Rotary.

The action begins at 10 a.m. as hounds and humans stroll two miles of
picturesque Gig Harbor waterfront between Donkey Creek Park and Skansie
Brothers Park, stopping along the way for water, pats and chats. The
frisky festivities continue until 3 p.m. with a mix of entertainment,
contests, demonstrations, information, vendors, and food.

Pooch-loving participants can pick one of three ways to register for
Harbor Hounds. The $30 Top Dog fee, limited to the first 100
pre-registered dogs, includes a 2008 Harbor Hounds t-shirt and a
commemorative Harbor Hounds 2008 color poster. The $24 Standard rate
($26 on event day) comes with the t-shirt, dog bandana and goodie bag.
The $10 Hound registration ($12 on event day) provides the bandana and
goodie bag.

A Letter to Our Friends & Supporters

The Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic has been open since March 3, 2008. The clinic staff has seen over 1,700 animals in this short period of time! What an amazing accomplishment and contribution toward pet overpopulation in our region. Although we announced from the beginning that we were following the Humane Alliance model, it appears that now is a good time to provide some reminders and additional information about Coalition: HUMAnE (formerly Peninsula Spay/Neuter Project).

Thank you for taking the time to read,

Coalition: HUMAnE
Board of Directors

Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic

What we are:

-A Humane Alliance model clinic: www.humanealliance.org

-A giving nonprofit that would like to help as many people as it can get their pets altered at affordable prices.

-A business that relies on cash flow to stay afloat. Everything we offer at a discount or for free, we must find a way to pay for ourselves - through fundraising. Our clinic is self-sufficient based on fees for services, i.e. if we collect our low fees, it will cover the cost of rent, salaries, utilities, expenses, etc.

-A clinic that is able to offer discounted services to certain populations, thanks to our fundraising efforts as well as the generosity of funding from grants and local organizations such as the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County and the Dugan Foundation.

What we are not:

-A feral cat clinic. FCSNP in Seattle is its own model, but is not the model we selected for our community. We will serve feral cats to the best of our ability. Without an available project leader early in the planning of the clinic we have had to start small, but plan to grow this area.

-A full service vet clinic. We are limited by state law as to what services we can provide, and who we can serve.

-Offering the same services as PSNP did.

-A small, all-volunteer organization working out of our homes. We now have the obligations that come with running a freestanding spay/neuter clinic – including the payment of rent, salaries and supplies.

Regarding free-roaming and feral cats:

-We set aside up to 5 surgery slots every day for free-roaming cats. These cats are provided with our Project Catnip package which includes sterilization, rabies vaccination, ear mite treatment (if needed), ear tip and tattoo.

-We ask that caretakers bring in their own cats. We recognize that transportation is an issue for some people and hope to address that when resources become available.

-We have discussed the idea of special free-roaming cat clinics and have always supported this idea.

-We no longer provide free TNR services to caretakers with transport to Seattle’s Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project.

Feral Cats in Our Community:

One challenge that feral and free roaming cat supporters encounter are convincing others about the benefits and success of Trap/Neuter/Return programs. Even if Coalition: HUMAnE altered every unowned cat and kitten it doesn’t stop the killing of those same cats. If a person does not want a free roaming altered cat on their property they have a right to remove the cat.

As the laws are currently written, animal control officers are mandated to respond to calls and remove cats if requested. Our laws do not protect free roaming altered cats. It is up to all of us to put our energies into addressing cat overpopulation and work to educate our friends, neighbors, co-workers and government about the economical and non lethal methods of reducing cat overpopulation.

Coalition: HUMAnE has made a commitment to providing the highest quality service and medical care for animals at the lowest prices possible. Our pursuit of the nationally recognized and proven Humane Alliance model will ensure that we optimize our operations, maintain the highest levels of medical protocol and keep costs to a minimum.

In Closing:

Coalition: HUMAnE’s mission is to promote and provide spay and neuter services in order to address pet overpopulation. Our clinic will sterilize thousands of dogs and cats every year. The board of PSNP together made the decision to open a Humane Alliance model clinic.

For more information on that, feel free to visit www.humanealliance.org. There's a good video link here that explains the program:

http://humanealliance.org/HA2/what.htm We hope you will agree that all animals matter. We invite you to come and tour the clinic if you have done so already. We are sure you'll be please at the work going on there.

Questions and comments may be directed to board@coalitionhumane.org.

Summer - Time for Outreach!

Coalition: HUMAnE's summer outreach season started with participation in the Maritime Gig Parade in Gig Harbor on June 7. This was the first use of our new banner with our new name!

It's always nice to hear people in the crowd cheer for us, and cheer for spay and neuter.

If you are out and about this summer, please visit us at these events:
July 25 - Dogathon, Fort Steilacoom Park
Aug 3 - Woofstock, University of Puget Sound
Sept 27 - Harbor Hounds, Gig Harbor

Hope to see you out & about real soon.

Eat! Drink! Save Lives!

Dine To Be Kind, presented by Coalition: Humane

Help make Pierce County a community with no more homeless pets.
On Thursday, June 12th, 2008, please enjoy a meal at one of the following restaurants and you will help maintain a high quality/low cost spay & neuter clinic in Pierce County.
A portion of the sales during the following times will be donated:

Babblin’ Babs Bistro
2724 N Proctor, Tacoma
253.761.9099
10:30am - 8:00pm

Doyle’s Public House
208 Saint Helens Ave, Tacoma
253.272.7468
11am - midnight


Old Milwaukee Café & Dessert Co.
3102 – 6th Ave, Tacoma
253.761.2602
6:00am - 4:00pm

Le Bistro
4120 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor
253.851.1033
6:00am - 4:00pm

Hope to see you all there!

Setting Up the Clinic

So, we got back from Asheville Friday night. Early Saturday morning it was time to set up the clinic! All the equipment and supplies were waiting for us. Construction work was complete - well, almost! It was a tremendous team effort getting the place cleaned up and organized and ready for business in a 48 hour period. We had to make do with cage banks stacked on the floor since we didn't receive the castors needed for the mobile platforms.

A special thank you to: Sally Andrews, Kristi Busch, Chris Dysart, Chris Kim, Tracy Kim, Denise McVicker, Jeff McVicker, Rick Olson, Kathleen Olson, Yvonne Rose, Matt Rusnak, Shelley Ryan, David Wemmer, Marilyn Wilfong, Nancy Wolf - and of course, to our staff! A special thank you goes to Dave McCormick as well for getting those cages put together a few weeks after the fact! We could not have done it without your help!

Humane Alliance Training

These are a few photos from our training session at Humane Alliance in Asheville, NC. It was a rewarding, yet long and tiring week getting ready for our hometown opening March 3. (More on that soon!) Asheville is a beautiful place, and the Humane Alliance team is amazing. Our group brought some snow along with it - an unusual occurrence in Asheville! Here we are in class with Dr. Karla Brestle on our first day, and then behind the counter on our last day at Humane Alliance. Humane Alliance routinely completes over 100 sterilizations a day in a space about the size of our clinic here in Tacoma. It's a busy, busy place! This spring they will move into a 13,000 square foot facility with many features in place to train future NSNRT groups.

Introducing Our Staff!

And, check out that great sign that now appears on our rooftop! Meet and please welcome the staff dedicated to ending pet overpopulation in our community. Some of them were able to tour the facility and seen here posing with a SpayDay USA sign. We're happy to have them on board!

Jayme Bennett: Veterinarian Technician
I am Jayme Bennett, Licensed Veterinary Technician since 1994, though I have worked in veterinary medicine since about 1990. Most of my experience is in Emergency and Critical care medicine, but I have worked in many types of practices as a full time "relief tech" in the last 2 years and off and on throughout my career as an LVT. I have worked in animal rescue for 15+ years, and founded Companion Animal Rescue in 2003 (a 501(c) (3) organization) where I serve as the Executive Director at this time.

Cyndi Michelena: Clinic Coordinator
My working background has largely been legal secretary in law firms around the country and a legal assistant in a Seattle biotechnology company. I am currently 'owned' by 5 Siberian Huskies, 3 feral cats, 3 rescued horses and 2 rabbits from a rabbit sanctuary. I first started helping Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue in 1999 as a Siberian Husky foster home; I became the Siberian Husky Rep for SPDR in December of 2000. I've been wanting to combine the knowledge I've gleaned from my working experience with a position that enables me to help the animals that need us. I'm very excited to now be able to bring my skills together with a passion that has grown within me for many years to help the animals who cannot help themselves!

Sandy Peterson: Veterinary Assistant
I will be a veterinary assistant at the clinic and I have been in the veterinary/animal care world for over 10 years . I have a warm snuggly spot in my heart for pit-mixes and ferrets and grumpy old kitties... having known and loved several in my lifetime.

Elizabeth Tolbert: Veterinary Assistant
I have lived in Tacoma for almost 15 years. I have had animals all my life. I currently have a 10 month old Shih Tzu and a 10 month old Chihuahua that I rescued. They joined my Rott mix and Lab mix that I adopted from the humane society 6 years ago. I enjoy helping my mother with her dachshunds that she and I rescue. I have worked as a veterinary assistant for over 3 years in the Tacoma area.

Dr. Keiko Young, DVM, Clinic Veterinarian
Dr. Young will be joining the team at Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic. Dr. Young is a graduate of Washington State University. She has practiced shelter medicine in various capacities including spay/neuter surgery at PAWS and on the Spay Station.

Whiskers Wine & Dine 2008

In the midst of all this craziness, we are also preparing for the 4th annual Whiskers Wine & Dine fundraiser on March 14 in Tacoma, held in recognition of SpayDay USA.

"Whiskers Wine & Dine" will feature a vegetarian "spay-ghetti" dinner, wine tasting and auctions –silent, live and dessert! Local artists will display their works and donate a percentage of event sales to PSNP. It's sure to be an enjoyable evening for all who attend. Come out to help us fight pet overpopulation at its source!

Reservations for "Whiskers Wine & Dine" are $45.00 per person in advance, $55 at the door (on a space available basis). To make a reservation, please call 253.241.9403 or visit our website: www.psnp.org to download an order form.

This year you can preview some of our great auction items. Click here!

And here's some information about our talented artists! Check out their websites too.

Christy Camerer, Blue Water Artworks
Color Pencil and Digital Photography. Bluewater Artworks creates fine art originals, prints and letter sized note cards in Olalla, Washington on the beautiful Kitsap Peninsula.

Shelly Wilkerson, Cat Companions
Fine Art. Shelly has dabbled in many mediums, she currently couples her love for cartoons with her love for painting—the results, she hopes, will make you smile.

Eileen Patterson, Rosemary’s Garden
Jewelry—original designs, handmade beaded jewelry. Eileen’s objective is to offer fine quality products that you will be proud to own and wear.

Hope to see you there!

The Walls Go Up!

Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic is a messy place these days. Sally Andrews from Puyallup Animal Rescue braved the sheetrock dust for a tour recently. But things are moving right along! We've been super busy over the past few weeks, and have not had a chance to post many updates.

We are happy to report that our clinic staff has been hired. A big thank you to our partners who helped with the interviewing process. We had a lot of great candidates!

Clinic staff is getting ready to travel to Asheville on February 24 for training. Whether it's ordering equipment, purchasing supplies, installing computers and phones, making travel arrangements, developing forms, plans and operating procedures and websites - we are busy getting ready and very excited about our opening date of March 3, 2008!

Time Flies!

As they say, time flies... We are busy working on upcoming interviews with potential staff members. The job posting period is now closed. However, if you are interested in employment at our Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic please feel free to submit your resume to coalitionhumane@psnp.org for future consideration. More updates soon!

Almost to Drywall!

Work continues to progress on schedule at the clinic, with the electrical and plumbing rough-in just about finished. Next comes the drywall where we will really see the clinic take shape!

Coalition: HUMAnE would like to welcome Dr. Keiko Young to our team! Dr. Young is a graduate of Washington State University. She has practiced shelter medicine in various capacities including spay/neuter surgery at PAWS and on the Spay Station.

We are continuing to accept applications for the following positions:
Clinic Coordinator - Full time
Veterinary Technician - Full time
Veterinary Assistants - Full time and Part time
We are looking for experienced professionals who support our mission.

Please send an email to coalitionhumane@psnp.org to request a job description for the position you are interested in. Salary is competitive in the industry and based on experience. In the subject line: put the position title you are applying for; in the body of your email include a brief cover letter and attach your resume.

Tentative interview dates for candidates are 1/31 and 2/1. All positions require training in North Carolina (2/24-2/29). Expenses are paid by Coalition: HUMAnE.

Job posting closes 1/27/08

Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic - Moving Right Along!

What a difference a week makes! It may look like a jail to some, but the framing is now done at the clinic, transforming the once seemingly vacuous space into the rooms that will make up our high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic!









Today we conducted our first official tour! From left to right are Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County staffers: Denise McVicker, Kathleen Olson, Marguerite Richmond & Carrie O'Connor. Thanks, ladies, for braving the dust and dirt to see the clinic take shape!

Now Hiring!

It might not be much to look at just yet, but we promise it's an impressive spay & neuter clinic in the making! PSNP/Coalition: HUMAnE is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

Clinic Coordinator
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Assistant

Interested candidates can inquire via - coalitionhumane@psnp.org