New Hamphsire Humane Society

21
Dec

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Saturday December 17, though cold, and threatening snow, proved to be warm and cosy at the shelter.

Santa arrived early and parked his sleigh behind the shelter.

There was one elf on hand, who looked mysteriously like the Executive Director’s dog, Sampson…

…but it was difficult to tell, he was wearing a dashing disguise!

Many took the opportunity to bring items for the animals staying at New Hampshire Humane Society - so many items from the Wish List piled up it was difficult to see our Holiday and Memory Trees!

Children of all ages whispered in Santa’s ear, it seems everyone was nice this year!

Don’t forget, there is still time to give a little something for the creatures. Whether a monetary donation, which is entirely tax deductible, or something for the dogs and cats, puppies and kittens. Shelter is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10.00a.m to 5p.m Saturday’s 10 00am. to 4p.m CLOSED Sunday, Monday and Wednesday.

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21
Dec

HOLIDAY LUNCHEON THANKS HARD WORKING VOLUNTEERS

Mame’s Restaurant on Plymouth Street in Meredith has long been known for great food and service. The restuarant itself is somewhat of a local landmark having been built back in the 1825 by Dr. George Sanborn as both his private residence and office for his medical practice but loved by all as the cozy eatery it is, under the same ownership since 1979.

Naturally we picked Mame’s at the place to hold our Holiday Luncheon for staff and volunteers.

Volunteers & Staff at the Rowdy table led by Pat

Mame’s laid out a sumptuous spread for 40 plus volunteers and a contingent of our staff. Mindfull of dietary issues we enjoyed wonderful Chicken and vegetable soup, salad, veggie medley, lasagna and two types of quiche, followed by berries and ice cream. It was pretty rowdy on the second floor.

Each person brought an ornament for the Christmas Tree and via our own version of Yankee Swap, picked something to take home with them.

Development/PR/Volunteer Director, Marylee Gorham presented volunteers with certificates of

Volunteers Marie, Mary and Judy at the Luncheon

Apprecation noting the contributions of each and every person.

New Hampshire Humane Society is truly a family - without the hard work, dedication and literally thousands of hours of service given selflessly by over 120 volunteers, in many areas, the shelter simply could not run.

Volunteers Tina, Deb Sue and Ed and Brendan enjoying the party

Our sincere thanks to all the staff at Mame’s for making our event so much fun to attend.

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28
Nov

CHILDREN, OUR MINI PHILANTHROPISTS

Catherine is a friend to all homeless animals.

Even though her birthday is in September, her party, held in November still held special meaning to Catherine. You see, in lieu of gifts, she asked her friends to bring gifts for our animals. Her Mom, Michelle, brought the girls to the shelter right after the Adopt a Thon to bestowe our homeless animals with special kindness and love.

thank you so much Catherine!

: Daisy Troop of Gilford visit NH Humane Society

Gilford Daisy Troop, and quite a few of their friends visited our shelter recently with dog biscuits made specially for the animals.

These young ladies enjoyed a tour of the shelter and learned about the animals staying with us.

The treats were gobbled up in less time than it took to actually bake the dog cookies!

Catherine and her brother pose with ED Mary DiMaria

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28
Nov

A TERRIFIC WEEKEND FOR ANIMALS

A great day for dogs and cats was had at the BELKNAP MALL Friday November 25- so-called

BLACK FRIDAY.

While in other parts of the country humans behaved badly at shopping malls in the rush and scramble to grab deeply discounted items, the NEW HAMPSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY Annual Adopta Thon welcomed many would-be new pet owners without a push or a shove, as hundreds descend on the Belmont New Hampshire Mall.

NHHS staff and volunteers began the day at 7.00a.m cleaning, feeding, getting the creatures loaded up and transported over to the mall.

A Kid’s Corner allowed for children to participate in a colouring contest while their parents finalized same day adoption of the newest family member.

Big Cat Coffee’s provided gourmet coffee for ardent new pet shoppers, including some very special select flavours in keeping with the festivities.

At the end of the day, 30 cats and 14 dogs were enjoying their permanent homes. A phenomenal success for our shelter, and a truly wonderful day for homeless creatures.

There is of course, still time to find your perfect companion, the shelter still has cats and dogs awaiting forever homes, but as of Cyber Monday, not as many as we did prior to Thanksgiving.

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31
Oct

Good Morning America and others fluff over the horror - Daniel the dog who cheated death

I am not a morning person,

it’s true.

Everyone who knows me, voice of NHHS, bloggist, and animal activist, acknowledges I am not terribly coherent before 10.00a.m.. but Friday morning, garbed still in bathrobe and fuzzy slippers, swilling the mornings allotment of caffeine, I watched the co-hosts of

Good Morning America, ooh and aah over a little Beagle named Daniel.

The Beagle, now a superstar that everyone wants to adopt, somehow, miraculously, cheated death in a city animal holding facility in Florence, Alabama.

As the woman who represented him said on national TV ”as I opened the door” I found him.. Pray tell Robin, and Lara et al, what was that door that opened?

No one asked what that meant on morning television.. perhaps they didn’t want to know.. but the true story, the real teachable moment, the reality of shelter life in the south, that opportunity was glossed over in favour of superficial chat about how cute Daniel was.

In southern states animals are killed every day.

Euthanized.

Not with a painless injection of sedative, a super dose that calmly and quietly ends their lives. No, in some states, Alabama being one, dogs and cats are gassed in chambers built to hold many.

It’s horrific, brutal and inhumane. It’s ugly and disgusting.

It’s one of the main reasons New Hampshire Humane Society has ‘receiving agreements’ with certain shelters in Alabama, and other states, to accept dogs that might meet a fate such as the one Dainel, (released from the Lion’s Den) somehow managed to survive.

Now that Daniel is famous, perhaps his true purpose is apparent to those who are actually listening to the story.. he illuminates with his wagging tail, trusting face, and gentle demenour, the terror of life as a dog that no one wants in America.

Ask yourself, why no one grieves for the eighteen other dogs ’in the chamber” with him?

Ask yourself, why did eighteen dogs died that day, stuffed together in a box built to hasten their deaths. A box designed to feed in deadly carbon monoxide gas?

Every dog adopted from a shelter in the north, New Hampshire Humane Society, and many others, has many TRANSPORT DOGS from the south, just like Daniel. They too escaped death.

Adopting a shelter dog does indeed save a life.

If you feel strongly about this story, join with national lobbying entities such as ASPCA and HSUS to stop gassing of dogs - the root issue is the duet sung loudily in sheltering circles, spay/neuter & responsible pet ownership.

Eleventh Hour Rescue, whose motto is ‘until every cage is empty’ in shipping Daniel north to New Jersey where he plays happily and seemingly without injury in a foster home , may be the catalyistic event that finally prompts some changes to State’s laws regarding animal welfare issues.

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31
Oct

ADOPT A SHELTER DOG - OCTOBER WAS A BUSY MONTH

So stated our advertising, run so kindly by our local media connections.

While the stock market may fluctuate, and the European Union seems headed for calamity, and wages and earnings fall flat, the dedication of a dog never waivers.

Dogs just want to be our constant companions, waiting for their cue to cuddle on the sofa, and jump in the car for a trip; no matter if it’s a ten minute jaunt to the post office, or a long road trip, dogs just don’t care about such triffles. They just want to be with us, the humans they love!

I can report that October saw a number of our dogs, some of them long stayers, finally leave for a forever home..

Naturally our tiny bundles of fun went first… they sold themselves just by being little and adorable:-

Cutie Pie, Chanel, Constanct, Fluff, Roxie, Honey, Aubie, Chase and Pearl.

Then the well bred gorgeous pedigreed Hunter, Kiki, Mona, Reggie.

And a dog or two that we thought we would house for a long, long time.. everyone’s favourite, Bosco, Alice, who is deaf, Samba a mixed breed little brindle girl. And let us not forget Genevieve, Deniro, Bubba and Roscoe.

Twenty two dogs are now enjoying permanent loving forever homes.

It’s true, the rumours, Sarge and Tank have both been returned,, sometimes the HOME TRIAL proves the dog is not well matched with the family, which is why we do home trials first, rather than full on adoptions. The adoption revolving door is something we try to avoid at all cost.

Sarge would prefer a home where he can just ‘be’ without being worried and bothered too much.

Tank needs a foster home that can actively help him overcome his seperation anxiety and ‘please don’t leave me’ issues. He truly needs active folks who can stenuously exercise him, help him work off some of his nervous energies..

All in all, October was successful.

The rosta of available dogs changes constantly. They arrive, the stay a while, they are adopted.

Always look to New Hampshire Humane Society first when considering a new pet.

Remember, do not pity a shelter dog… adopt one! You will be glad you did.

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06
Oct

DO NOT MOURN ME WHEN I AM GONE…

…You may not see me, but I am still with you.

My Spirit stands beside you and holds your hand in mine.

I see your sadness and I allow it to turn to a smile.

We, as human beings, enjoy the company of our dogs, cats and other furry and feathered creatures.

We share our lives with them.

We give them the best view of the television from the sofa. We share our beds with them. They get to hang their heads out the car window to enjoy the simple bliss of the wind flapping their ears. Our cats just know where the sunniest spots in the house are. We cuddle and love these four legged companions, providing as much as we can to ensure their care and comfort.

We witness and participate in the slow decline into fraility that all mammals suffer.

Death is a welcome release from pain and suffering and the indignities of old age but their passing, whether quick or slow, as they travel over the Rainbow Bridge, is never easy for us humans left behind.

My dear friends Steve and Diane lost Miss Sparkle recently. She had a decidedly unfeminine name when she arrived at New Hampshire Humane Society - Meatball.

In truth she was a large, very large tabby cat, surrendered in late middle age to this shelter. Her hopes for a quick adoption almost nil, considering she would have to compete with cute, adorable tiny kittens. This big girl needed a home, and she found it as a “foster cat” with Steve and Diane.

Diane still hopes for a Cairn Terrier, but in the meantime she has opened her heart and home to four of this shelter’s neediest cats. Steve was easy to convince that they could take on another ‘cat with issues”, I won’t say he’s a pushover when it comes to the felines, but they love him, and he loves them.

Renamed Miss Sparkle, she blossomed with each day that she reaslized she was home. Didn’t loose that much weight, that is true, but she was more mobile and her stamina improved greatly.

A large, fast growing tumour took her life. Devasting in its stealth and ferocity, realizing the beast of cancer lived on Miss Sparkle was a terrible revelation to her wonderful owners.

” Miss Sparkle was such a wonderul friend with a loud motor to listen to, a fiesty personality and a courageous cat” says Diane. She crossed the bridge recently and now rest in the sunny meadow, chasing butterflies.

We miss you Miss Sparkle.

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12
Sep

RIESLING - SWEET AND DEMURE

Shot with BB’s which shattered the leg of this little kitten, Riseling was left to survive his injuries in New Hampton.

Q: Why do people hurt animals?

A: Because they have a lack of basic compassion for life and exhibit twisted sensibilities regarding what is right or wrong.

Perhaps they are themselves victims of abuse or grew up in an abusive home - lessons learned at home are repeated until eventually a law is broken or the crime warrants prosecution.

Riesling, so named by shelter staff did not deserve to be used as target practice. What kind of mind thinks it sport to load and pump the BB gun and aim it as a defenceless kitten?

Was the culprit trying to actually kill this animal or merely wound it?

If you know anything about the circumstances leading up to this kitten arriving at New Hampshire Humane Society, please stand up for the animals and speak for them by calling the shelter, we would be very interested to learn more about the chain of events leading up to this crime.

Shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday, but phone calls will be accepted in confidence 524-3252.

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12
Sep

Paws For A Cause Auction a resounding success

Paws for a Cause Comedy Night & Auction a resounding success!

Hardly a best kept secret, although many are waiting to find out the outcome of New Hampshire Humane Society’s recent auction held at the beautifully appointed Church Landing, Meredith New Hampshire. With much gratitude, this non-profit animal welfare agency is pleased to reveal with suitable drum roll, over $55,000 was raised for the animals awaiting loving homes.

Shelter spokesperson Marylee Gorham stated “work began in February with a committee of handpicked volunteers working with the Development office, and didn’t stop until about two days ago. Events such as this auction take a phenomenal amount of time and dedication and even some toughness, to ensure everything works out as planned. Again, our volunteer base showed just how committed these folks are to the mission”.

New Hampshire Humane Society thanks the event sponsors, Laconia Savings Bank and VCA Lakes Region Veterinary Hospital who underwrote the event, followed by event supporters Penny Pitou & Milo Pike Charitable Fund, KPinc Consulting and Paws Antiques. Special thanks are extended to Dockside Florists who provided beautiful flower centerpieces for the tables.

Board President and committee co-chair Julie Irwin said “$28,000 was raised on the night in response to our plea for help providing care for specific cases, totally separate from the high stakes bids present at both silent and live auction segments. In total, the proceeds will ultimately help over 1,300+ animals that arrive at our door annually”.

Everyone had a wonderful time enjoying the entertainment provided by comedians Steve Guilmette and Jim Colliton, a much anticipated part of the evening. “It isn’t just about raising funds, it’s also about acknowledging those that already care about the animals and showing how much we appreciate their support” said Mary Di Maria, Executive Director of NH Humane Society.

Planning is already underway for next year’s event, penciled in for August 9^th 2012. Since the auction was a sellout, better to purchase very early for next summer and not miss out on this event.

For a complete list of donors refer to the society website www.nhhumane.org

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17
May

BOW WOW FEST HUGE BARK-EY SUCCESS

Ready for the walk both dogs entered the owner-dog dress alike competition

BOW WOW FEST A HUGE SUCCESS

It looked like an event worthy of Crufts, or Westminster Dog Show, so many dogs arrived with their owners for the BOW WOW FEST on Saturday May 14, hosted at Lake Opechee Inn & Spa parking area, Lakeport Square, in downtown Lakeport.

When was the last time anyone sighted a Borzoi, or a Briard, or an Italian Greyhound walking side by side in Laconia? At BOW WOW FEST of course!

The BOW WOW FEST walk, the first of its kind to be held in Laconia to promote the multi-use recreational trail through the City, and a “get outdoors with your dog” lifestyle, and community support of the WOW Trail, was the brainchild of Claire Hebert an active and vigorous member of www.wowtrail.org. Ultimately the WOW Trail will connect Laconia communities Weirs Beach and Lakeport, with the downtown via a safe, convenient and scenic passageway. Once the fur had settled 144 entrants walked no less than 64 breeds of canine, and participated in some zany competitions, before the event wrapped up with prize drawings and the Best Kept Pet award.

Claire Hebert, BOW WOW FEST Chair, modeling the luminous lime green event tee shirt that all registrants received, along with various goodies provided by Steele Hill Resorts, Laconia Savings Bank, Gail Beane Graphics said “I am thrilled to see so many friends both personally and professionally come out this morning to support the WOW Trail, and thanks to the help of our community partner, New Hampshire Humane Society, it turned into a great morning for dogs!”.

Master of Ceremonies, Warren Bailey made sure everyone knew what was about to happen in his trademark smooth-as-dark-chocolate voice, starting with the Parade lead by non other that retiring Laconia Police Chief Mike Moyer, K9 officer Mike Finogle and his partner … followed by event community partners, staff from New Hampshire Humane Society and shelter dogs, Rosy and Brian, hopeful they would wow the crowd and find a permanent home.

After the parade, competitions that included Owner-Dog Dress Alike, Tiny Tots, and the Dog Talent Show, judged by staff from NH Humane Society – Justin Elliot, Megan Tower, Brian King and Mary Di Maria provided canine entertainment for all.

So many well known dog owners were spotted in the crowd: Penny Pitou and her famous Briard, veterinarian Dr. Mike Ware and his Bernese Mountain Dog Enzo, NHHS Pet Therapy dog Timber and his owner, Judy Reilly, NHHS Executive Director, Mary Di Maria and her dog, Sampson, Michelle Dupont and her staff from Lake Opechee Inn & Spa with their stunningly pink bandana clad tribe of Golden Retrievers, event sponsors, Melcher & Prescott staff with Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. NHHS supporter and senior editor of Unravel the Gavel, Kathy Greer with her Boxer, Rachel (who also won the coveted Best Kept Pet award) NHHS Development Director Marylee Gorham with her boxers, and so many more.

Ride em Cowboy one of our winnres in the Dress Alike competion

The event was strongly supported by top sponsor, Eptam Plastics. BOW WOW FEST also enjoyed community help from a plethora of local businesses including Laconia Athletic & Swim Club, Steven J Smith & Associates, Patrick’s Pub & Eatery, Lake Opechee Inn and Spa, Ameriprise Financial, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Cause for Paws New Hampshire, Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, Tilton Veterinary Hospital, Fratello’s Ristorante Italiano, Orthopedic Professional Association, BodyCovers Screenprinting, Tilton Sign Works, Dee Ganley, Melcher & Prescott, New England Canine Academy, and Franklin Savings Bank, Doggonitnh.com, and Happy Tails Dog Park.

By lunchtime there were many canines happily snoozing in the car on the ride home.

“The best part of the day was spent in the delightful company of like-minded dog owners, of all types, thrilled to enjoy the camaraderie evident by time outdoors with their pets” stated shelter spokesperson Marylee Gorham.

“Further, I wanted to extend a sincere message of gratitude for the kindness shown to our animal welfare organization, in terms of donations and items from our Wish List. Today proved dogs and their people can enjoy the outdoors, in a public, social setting. We certainly hope more of these events will happen in the Lakes Region since it truly promotes pet ownership and physical activity”.

New Hampshire Humane Society will be launching the annual Adopt a Shelter Cat promotion June 1^st – June 30^th. information about adoptable pets can be found elsewhere on this website. www.nhhumane.org