Humane Society Promotes Pet Adoptions, Responsible Ownership By Mike Shands Microchipping isn’t the only way that the Watauga Humane Society is helping animals these days. The society is also teaming up with various individuals, businesses and organizations to give animals a better chance of finding a home and remaining there once they do. One of those partnerships is with John Quy, a dog trainer with Little Horse Creek Farm in Ashe County. “He’s starting a one-time class at the shelter for people who adopt dogs or puppies from us,” said Lynn Northup, the humane society shelter’s manager. “It’s going to be called a Start Right Class. “He’s going to go over things like good nutrition, house training and proper socialization, which is one of the most important responsibilities of a pet owner – to properly socialize their puppy.” The class is free to those who adopted their dog or puppy from the shelter. Contact the humane society for the next scheduled class. “He’s volunteering this – doing it free of charge for those who adopt animals from the shelter,” Northup said. “He’s doing this in the hopes he gets people started off on the right foot so that they know what they’re doing. Then the animals don’t end up back at the shelter because they don’t know how to handle the animal.” Dog owners are advised to bring their pet with them to the class. “He can answer a lot of questions or concerns people may be having, like how to get their puppy to stop chewing,” Northup said. She said Quy also gives a price reduction for his private training classes to those who adopt dogs or puppies from the humane society and animal control. Pet of the Week The humane society also teams up with various media outlets in the High Country to publicize the need for animal adoptions. One of those outlets is Mountain Television Network, which airs a pet of the week segment several times each week. “It just features a pet, and we give some information and talk about different things with the shelter,” Northup said. “We’ve adopted a couple of animals already from that show so that’s great exposure for the shelter animals.” Northup also appreciates “The Mountain Times” and the “Watauga Democrat,” which publicize humane society and animal control pets of the week in print or on their Internet sites. Another humane society partnership is with the Humane Alliance in Asheville to provide a low-cost spay/neuter clinic weekly. “They pick up animals, take them to Asheville, spay or neuter them and then return them the next day,” Northup said. Contact the humane society for information about the spay/neuter clinic. Through the humane society 1,511 animals were spayed or neutered in 2004. “I think that is something to be very proud of, but I’d love to see that number double by next year because that’s the only thing that’s going to stop all of the unwanted animals,” Northup said. Unfortunately there never seems to be a lack of unwanted animals in the county. Last year alone more than 1,000 animals were admitted to the humane society shelter. More than 81 percent of those animals were adopted, but because the shelter maintains a no-kill policy the waiting list for animals to be admitted often grows into the dozens and even hundreds. One way the humane society promotes spaying and neutering is with funds donated by the Watauga Animal Guardian Society (WAGS), a group of local college students. “They raise funds for spay-neuter, and this is where we get the money to assist those that can’t afford the low-cost surgery already,” Northup said. Last year WAGS donated more than $4,300, which the humane society used to help pay for the spaying or neutering of 209 animals owned by people who couldn’t afford the procedure. Adoption Fee Northup said the fee to adopt an animal from the humane society is now $75, but that fee includes a wide range of benefits. All adoptions include spay/neuter, identification microchip, age appropriate vaccines, de-worming, heartworm test in dogs older than 6 months, feline leukemia test in cats and free initial examination from participating local veterinarians. They also include a 4-pound food sample; a coupon for $30 off a six-week, private dog training course with Quy; 10 percent off an initial purchase at the Pet Place; and one month of PetCare health insurance. For more information about the humane society or any of its activities or programs call (828) 264-7865 or look online at www.wataugahumanesociety.org.