Coalition: HUMANE has a new Cafepress Store!

Hello friends, We hope that you are enjoying the holiday season! As 2010 comes to a close, all of us at Coalition: HUMAnE would like to thank you for your support. We are very proud of our accomplishments and hope that you are too! Over 14,000 dogs and cats have been surgically sterilized at our high-quality, high-volume, nonprofit spay and neuter clinic since opening in March of 2008. The end of pet overpopulation seems within our reach! We are very excited to let all of you know that we have just opened a Cafepress store with some great designs created just for Coalition: HUMAnE - and just in time for your holiday shopping! Please take a look and spread the word to other animal welfare advocates. Purchasing items from our store is another way to help Coalition: HUMAnE raise much needed funds to support our mission while, at the same time, spreading the spay/neuter message! Thank you so much! Your Friends at Coalition: HUMAnE .....Saving Lives Through Prevention Other ways to help: - Become a Fan on Facebook! - Make a gift donation in the name of an animal lover! - Volunteer!

Whiskers Wine & Dine 2011 – Save the Date!

In 2011 we move to a Saturday! On March 12 Whiskers Wine & Dine will be back at the Sharon McGavick Center in Lakewood. Please join us to help raise funds for spay and neuter.

We are currently looking for companies and businesses who would be interested in sponsoring Whiskers Wine & Dine or perhaps donating an item for the auction. If you of someone who would be interested in sponsoring, donating to the auction, or attending please let us know! 253.627.7729, whiskerswinedine@yahoo.com

New for 2011 – Whiskers Wine & Dine Table Captains!

We need your help as a table captain. Table captains are supporters of Coalition: HUMAnE who would like to be a bit more involved and help to fill our guest tables, and promote the event. We will provide you with training and guidance. If you would be willing to learn more about this way to help support our work please contact the auction committee: whiskerswinedine@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Talented Coalition: HUMAnE Volunteer wins awards!

The national Cat Writers Association 2010 conference is now over and the final awards were given for photos published during the award year. New contestants like Coalition: HUMAnE volunteer Stephanie Galindo competed with seasoned contest veterans who gear their work to win, as well as other nationally published authors and photographers.

Several of Stephanie's photos that were published in the Coalition Humane's Wise Alter-native newsletter for the 2009-2010 year received over 90 points in the judging, earning three Certificates of Excellence, in addition to the Certificate of Excellence that Coalition Humane received for the newsletter itself. Photos that earn 90 points or more are then separately judged so that a category winner can be identified.

Sunny's photo (Vol 9, Issue 3) has been awarded the top photo in its category: single, black and white photo, receiving the coveted Muse Medallion. A judge said, "This is the epitome of cats: the insouciant air that goes with the full body and the dangling paw says it all."

Roscoe and Pink (Vol 10, Issue 2) also won the Muse Medallion for best in the category: black-and-white photography series. One judge commented, "Two of the images, Roscoe and Pink, are very striking and even hauntingly lovely. You can see the contentment in the companion animals. Great black and white series – well done!"

The winning photos can be seen on the home page of Stephanie's website.

Don't forget to sign up for our email updates at the Coalition: HUMAnE website!

Thank you!

Thank you to Tacoma Small Dog Blog for hosting a donation drive to benefit Coalition: HUMAnE! A generous supply of Scooter's wish list items were delivered to the clinic recently.

For more information on Scooter's wish list visit this link.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Support Coalition: HUMAnE and our Firefighters too!

Looking for that perfect gift?

Who: Gig Harbor Firefighters

What: Above and Beyond 2011 Calendar signing!!

When: This Saturday November 20 from 1-3pm!

Where: Borders Bookstore, Gig Harbor Uptown Shopping Center

Why: All proceeds benefit both Coalition: HUMAnE and our first responders (Gig Harbor Firefighters). Cost is only $15 per calendar!

Coalition: HUMAnE on Facebook

Hello!

If you are a Facebook user, please help friend-raise for Coalition: HUMAnE. It's easy. Just invite your friends and family to "Like" Coalition: HUMAnE.

All you have to do is go to the Coalition: HUMAnE page and click on "Suggest to Friends". Then invite away!

We know there are lots of people out there who support ending pet overpopulation. It's time to make more friends on Facebook!

Thanks for your support and don't forget:
It's Hip to Snip!

Free Pet Vaccine Clinic

Coalition HUMAnE, The Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County and BullsEye Dog Rescue are offering free pet vaccines for low income Pierce County residents on Sunday, October 3rd from noon to 3:00 pm at Harry Todd Park in Lakewood. In an effort to help pets of low-income residents, and prevent them from being turned in to the shelter during difficult economic times, the groups are joining together to make low-income pet owners aware of the resources available to them. The clinic will offer free DHLPP vaccines for dogs and FVRCP vaccines for cats; free microchips for Pit Bulls, and $5 microchips for cats and other dogs. There will also be information on low-cost spay/neuter, dog training, and advice on behavior issues. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier.

Riders take to the streets to fight pet overpopulation

Riders take to the streets to fight pet overpopulation

SUSAN SCHELL

Last updated: August 24th, 2010 04:25 PM (PDT)

Motorcycle enthusiasts will do what they do best on Saturday — jump on their hogs and hit the road.

The second annual Hogs for Dogs event will provide a way for riders to enjoy the outdoors for a cause. The money raised from the event will benefit Coalition HUMAnE, a low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Tacoma for dogs and cats to prevent euthanizing unwanted animals.

Coalition HUMAnE president Holly Bukes said the event is open to anyone in the state.

“We have people come from far away because they can’t afford their veterinarian’s fees,” Bukes said.

Last year’s event raised $5,000, and this year is expected to be more successful.

“There was a bit of (bad) weather in the morning, but we had a good turnout, and it was a lot of fun,” Bukes said. “We’re a non-profit, and the money we raise most often goes to provide even further discounts to people who can’t afford our already low fees.”

Bukes said the Coalition HUMAnE Spay and Neuter Clinic performed about 5,000 sterilization surgeries last year. The clinic recently expanded and added a second veterinarian part-time. It expects the number of operations to jump from 7,500 to 9,000 next year.

The ride begins and ends at the Floatation Device Pub and Grill in Purdy. The blues band Loose Gravel and Quarry will provide entertainment for returning riders from 3 to 6 p.m.

The ride’s route is the main draw for the event, because most of the course is along the water, event organizer Dave McCormick said. “They’ll ride along the Hood Canal to Belfair, through Gorst and out through Port Orchard to Manchester.

Harley-Davidson owner Tari Davis made the run last year and said she’s looking forward to this weekend.

“It was the most fun I have ever had,” she said. “The ride is beautiful. It goes all over Puget Sound, and the scenery was breathtaking. We met a lot a friends that we still hang out with.”

Davis said she recommends the ride not just for the fun, but because it’s for a good cause.

“Last year there was not a hitch and everything went smoothly,” she said. “It was put together very professionally.”

Hogs for Dogs

Hogs for Dogs will have motorcycle riders taking to the streets for the second annual charity event to raise funds for the Coalition HUMAnE, a low-cost spay and neuter clinic.

The ride will start at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 28. Riders will gather at the Floatation Device Pub & Grill, 14511 Sherman Drive NW in Purdy.

For more information or to pre-register, visit www.coalitionhumane.org.

Coalition: HUMAnE Expands!

Coalition: HUMAnE, the first high-quality, high-volume, low-cost spay and neuter clinic of its kind in the Puget Sound Region, has expanded. In just 24 months of operation over 10,000 dogs and cats were surgically sterilized at the Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic in Tacoma, demonstrating the enormous need for these services. 165 animals lose their lives in Washington shelters every day with 1.86 million companion animals estimated as unaltered. The addition of a second veterinarian and surgical team has resulted in additional clinic capacity of 2400 surgeries a year to serve even more clients and their pets.

Coalition: HUMAnE’s services are available to the general public, with no residency limitations. Low cost surgical sterilization is available for pet cats and dogs, as well as for feral cats. The clinic expansion will allow members of the public to obtain surgery appointments quickly and efficiently. Appointments can be made online at www.coalitionhumane.org or by calling the clinic at 253.627.7729(SPAY).

The clinic is located at 2106 Tacoma Avenue South in Tacoma. Spaying and neutering is the most effective solution to pet overpopulation. It is also non-lethal. “Our goal with this clinic is to offer the lowest cost possible in order to serve the largest number of animals, therefore making immediate and positive impacts on area shelter intake and the killing of companion animals. We are thrilled to expand our offerings to the communities of Washington State,” said Lorrie Kalmbach-Ehlers, Coalition: HUMAnE Executive Director.

Check out your candidates!

Check out your candidates!

Washington Legislative Candidates Explain Their Positions on Animal Welfare Issues

The Washington State primary election is August 17.
Before you vote, please take a few minutes to see where your candidates stand on important animal welfare legislative issues.

The League of Humane Voters, Washington Chapter and the Washington State Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies conducted a survey of all primary candidates for the Washington State Senate and Washington State House of Representatives. Candidates were asked to state their opinions and positions on animal welfare legislative issues involving:Companion Animal Spay/Neuter AssistanceFeeding of WildlifeWildlife TrappingContinuous Chaining or Tethering of Dogs, andHumane Treatment of LivestockThe results of the survey are published on the League of Humane Voters website. Please take a few minutes to review the results.Over 100 candidates responded.
Helpful guides:
How to find your legislative district: Legislative District Finder.How to find a list of all candidates running for the State Senate and House of Representatives with their contact information: Primary Candidates List. (Scroll down the list until you see the state legislative districts).
Candidates were given the survey in early July and were reminded by email to respond before the July 18 deadline. If certain candidates in your district did not respond to the survey, you may wish to contact them and ask about their views on animal welfare legislation important to you--before you vote!

Hogs For Dogs - Coming Soon!

Hogs for Dogs
Get your bikes ready for this year’s Hogs for Dogs Dice Run on Saturday, August 28th! This second annual ride begins and ends at the Floatation Device in Purdy, WA. MORE DETAILS
Contact Dave at HFDMotorcycleRun@comcast.net for more information.

Come support Hogs for Dogs volunteers on Sunday, August 22nd at 2:00pm as they guest bartend at The Swiss, located at 1904 Jefferson Avenue, Tacoma, WA. All their tips will go to support the ride! There will also be a silent auction.

Calendar Proceeds to Benefit Coalition: HUMAnE!

Gig Harbor Firefighters Pose with Pets for Charity Calendar

Tongue wagging and heavy salivation is often synonymous with flipping through firefighter calendars. But for the Gig Harbor Fire Department’s calendar, it’s pets doing the drooling.

Calendars that feature firefighters and their four-legged friends are now available for purchase. The calendar showcases both career and volunteer firefighters posing with both dogs and cats.

Kim Owen, owner of local pet boutique FC Pawprints, came up with the idea for a firefighter pet calendar as a fundraising tool.

“Most of them have pets, and they are very pet-friendly,” Owen said. “Hopefully the community buys them (the calendars) and helps support the local fire department.”

All proceeds will go to the Gig Harbor Firefighters Association and Coalition: Humane, a group that provides low-cost spaying and neutering for Pierce County animals. The calendars cost $15 each and can be purchased at FC Pawprints and at department headquarters on Bujacich Road NW and prevention headquarters at 6711 Kimball Drive.

Firefighters were more than willing to show off their four-legged friends, Owen said. There were more volunteers signed up than there was space in the calendar.

The photo shoots took place in March, and most of the shots were taken near fire trucks and within the department’s training center.

Working around firefighters’ busy schedules is tough enough, but throw in a dog or cat, and it added another element. Dogs perched on a fire truck may be cute, but keeping them still was just one of the challenges that presented themselves.

“We have to kind of do the photography on the fly,” Owen said.

Owen quickly realized great ideas don’t always pan out when animals are part of the equation.

One such idea was to show firefighter Andy Cochrane rescuing his cat, Parker, from a tree. The problem? Owen said Parker weighs 27 pounds and, as a result, she couldn’t find a branch big enough to hold the cat.

“We tried, but the cat had nothing to do with it,” Owen said.

Firefighters plan to sign calendars at the Borders in Uptown Gig Harbor. Dates have yet to be finalized.

Happy Spay Day!

Happy Spay Day 2010! Thanks to our awesome staff, working hard to spay and neuter 30 dogs and cats today at the Coalition: HUMAnE Spay & Neuter Clinic.

A great way to celebrate and support spay/neuter is to attend Whiskers Wine & Dine on March 12. It's easy to make your reservation online this year (if you haven't already)!

The auction committee has been hard at work and we have some really great items to offer up including many fabulous wine-related items, a Holland America cruise and several overnight stays at exciting destinations like Palm Springs, Maui, California Wine Country and the Oregon Coast.

Hope to see you on March 12!

Job Openings at Coalition: HUMAnE

Coalition: HUMAnE is seeking several individuals who love animals, enjoy working with the public and want to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem. We currently have an opening for a Clinic Coordinator and Administrative Assistant. Full job descriptions can be found for Clinic Coordinator and Administrative Assistant. To apply, please send your cover letter, resume and completed application to mail@coalitionhumane.org. No phone calls please. Resumes will be accepted until February 16, 2010.

Take Five Minutes to Help Save Washington's Homeless Pets

Contact Your Legislators Now

Senate Bill 5329/House Bill 1406

This bill will succeed ONLY if you let your state legislators know that you want the bill passed this session and you gain their support. Please make sure your legislators hear from you by January 15, 2010.

This is a critical time for the bill. SB 5329 and HB 1406 are in the Senate and House Agriculture Committees, respectively. The spay/neuter assistance bill must pass through committee to survive in the 2010 legislative session.

Whether you're an individual that just cares about animals, or you represent an animal welfare organization, shelter, municipal or county animal care and control agency, take a few minutes to contact your legislators to urge their support for passage of the companion animal spay/neuter assistance bill, SB 5329/HB 1406.

Please go to this page for help contacting your legislators.