The first ad in the campaign is currently running on local buses and in neighborhood weeklies. The ad urges the public to report animal abuse and lists the number to call (206)386-PETS. Placement of the ads was paid for from the shelter’s Help the Animals Fund.

From concept to production, the campaign was generated pro bono by local pet enthusiasts and shelter volunteers. Under the direction of the shelter’s volunteer coordinator, Kara Main-Hester, the series of six ads promotes some of the shelter’s core services:

Reporting animal cruelty and abuse

Low cost spaying and neutering

Pet adoption

Helping connect lost pets with their owners

Pet licensing

Responding to reports of dangerous animals

An all-volunteer group of marketing, graphic design and public relations specialists generated the concepts, then enlisted volunteer photographer Emily Rieman to photograph her models – rescued pets and former shelter “residents.”

The animals’ stories are examples of how the shelter makes a difference to the human and animal lives in our community. The stories and ads are featured on the shelter’s Web site: www.seattleanimalshelter.org  

The Seattle Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing, and noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions. It is located at 2061 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206)386-PETS(7387).

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As winter comes to an end, unaltered cats will begin coming into heat and mating. Owners of unaltered cats can “beat the heat” if they act quickly. Telltale signs of your cat coming into heat are males who develop wanderlust and females who become very affectionate and very vocal.

“Beginning every spring, our shelter takes in hundreds and hundreds of unplanned and unwanted kittens who are abandoned or surrendered by their owners. So we’re asking cat owners to help fight this serious problem of pet overpopulation by taking advantage of this offer and have their unfixed cats fixed before they go into heat,” says Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas, staff veterinarian at the Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic.

The Clinic offers lower-cost, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries. Through the Clinic’s “Pet Population Control Fund,” surgeries can be subsidized for those needing assistance.

“If you don’t have a cat, you can still help. You can spread the word to friends and family who may have unfixed cats. Or you may want to help out a friend or neighbor who would like to do the right thing, but may need financial assistance, transportation, or just moral support. Or you can contribute to the “Pet Population Control Fund,” adds Dr. Zoulas.

The Clinic is located on the north end of the Seattle Animal Shelter at 2061 15th Ave. W., about one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. Surgeries are performed Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call (206)386-4260.

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“A license is like a life insurance policy for your pet. If your pet gets lost and doesn’t have a license tag or a microchip, the odds are you‘ll never see your pet again,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan.

“Only 17 percent of the nation’s 3.8 million stray dogs and 2 percent of the nation’s 2.3 million stray cats ever make it home again. It is our sincere hope that the dual protection of having both a pet license and a permanent microchip will increase the odds that you and your pet are reunited if your pet is ever lost or stolen. And with more pets licensed, fewer animals will have to be euthanized each year,” says Jordan.

Without exception, and as part of the shelter’s “zero tolerance policy” regarding unlicensed pets, animal control officers will continue patrolling city parks and neighborhoods and will issue citations to pet owners for each pet without a current license. The fine for having an unlicensed pet is $125 per animal.

Officers will follow up this winter with known delinquent pet owners who have expired licenses in the shelter’s database, and will also conduct emphasis patrols in specific parks and off-leash areas to ensure compliance with pet licensing laws.

The costs for pet licenses are:

Dog: one-year $47 ($27 if spayed or neutered); or two-years $69 ($37 if spayed or neutered).

Cat: one-year $25 ($15 if spayed or neutered); or two-years $40 ($22 if spayed or neutered).

If a pet wearing its license shows up at the shelter, the owner is notified. If officers find a licensed pet in the field, they will attempt to return it to its owner instead of taking it to the shelter. Experience shows that an unaccompanied injured animal wearing a license is more likely to receive veterinary care than a non-licensed animal.

Revenue from pet license fees helps support efforts such as protecting public safety, preventing animal cruelty, solving nuisance animal problems and providing low-cost spay and neuter services in Seattle.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15th Ave. W., approximately one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. Pet licensing hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (206) 386-PETS (7387) or visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org to learn more about pet licensing or purchase a pet license online.

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This free offer is made possible by donations to the city’s “Pet Population Control Fund.” The fund also helps pay for spaying and neutering pets owned by low-income, elderly, disabled, homeless or other persons who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of sterilizing their pets.

“The greater Seattle area faces a pet overpopulation problem. Thousands of orphaned animals must be euthanized each year in this region simply because there are not enough homes for them,” says Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “We can help by spaying and neutering companion animals and ending unwanted births. We can reduce the needless suffering orphaned animals endure, and ultimately improve the quality of life for people and animals in our community.”

Although the Seattle Animal Shelter will not turn away anyone with a litter, Jordan says kittens really should stay with their mothers and littermates for at least 10 weeks. People often separate litters from their mothers at five to seven weeks, which is too early and can create behavior problems throughout a cat’s life, according to Jordan.

“As long as donors continue to support the ‘Pet Population Control Fund,’ the offer will continue indefinitely,” Jordan says. He hopes this program will discourage people from leaving boxes of puppies and kittens on the side of the road or in front of grocery stores. “Instead, if people bring these litters to the shelter, we have the opportunity to evaluate their health, administer vaccinations, and have them adopted by qualified owners, thus improving the quality of life for these young animals,” adds Jordan.

For more information about this free spay and neuter program and other Seattle Animal Shelter services, call (206)386-PETS(7387)

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The Seattle Animal Shelter is asking all cat owners to help “beat the heat” this year and have your cats spayed or neutered before mating season begins and they go into heat. If you are the owner of an unspayed or unneutered cat, you may start noticing your male cat developing wanderlust and your female cat becoming very affectionate and very vocal.

As winter comes to an end and the warmer weather and longer days of spring approach, your unfixed cats will start coming into heat. As a result, each year thousands of unexpected and unwanted kittens are born.

“To help lower the number of kittens that are abandoned or surrendered to our shelter in the summer and fall, we are asking cat owners to take action now. Spay or neuter your cats before they contribute to this serious problem of pet overpopulation,” says Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas, staff veterinarian at the Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic.

The Clinic offers lower-cost, high quality spay and neuter surgeries. Through the Clinic’s “Pet Population Control Fund,” surgeries can be subsidized for those needing assistance.

“If you don’t have a cat, you can still help. You can spread the word to friends and family who may have unfixed cats. Or you may want to help out a friend or neighbor who would like to do the right thing, but may need financial assistance, transportation, or just moral support. Or you can contribute to the “Pet Population Control Fund,” adds Dr. Zoulas.

The Clinic is located on the north end of the Seattle Animal Shelter at 2061 15th Ave. W., about one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. Surgeries are performed Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call (206)386-4260.

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If you find a stray animal, you are encouraged to care for the animal until the shelter reopens the following day. If it is a life-threatening situation involving humans, call 911. All other calls should go to the Seattle Police Department nonemergency number, (206)625-5011.

The Seattle Animal Shelter’s regular hours are: Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing. For more information, please call (206)386-PETS(7387).

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“During the winter season, thousands of dogs are left out in the cold and rain with little or no refuge,” says Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Although we do not advocate leaving dogs to live outside, the reality is some dog owners do not allow their dogs inside their homes. We hope to gather as many doghouses and dog igloos as possible, prevent them from ending up in landfills as part of a homeowner’s fall clean-up, and provide more needy pet owners with protection for their dogs from Seattle’s rain and cold.”

New and used doghouses and dog igloos will be accepted through the winter months. The shelter will not accept any item that is either badly soiled or in a state of disrepair. Doghouses and igloos will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to anyone in need. The Shelter will also accept airline animal carriers/crates of various sizes, if they are in outstanding condition.

The shelter will also accept monetary donations that can be designated for buying doghouses. Make checks out to the shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” and be sure to write “doghouse fund” in the memo section. Last year, $1,000 was raised to buy doghouses for those in need.

The shelter is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W., one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing. For more information, call (206)386-PETS (7387) or visit the website at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

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During this week, the Seattle shelter will distribute free cat and dog food to pet owners in need. With a limit of two bags per household, the food will be distributed at the shelter on a first-come-first-served basis, while supplies last. The food was donated by Whole Foods as part of its community giving program.

“We are proud to provide Seattle with a variety of services and community programs,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “We invite anyone interested in animal welfare to visit the shelter during the week of Nov. 1. (Remember we’re closed on Mondays.) Take this opportunity to visit with the animals, meet the staff and volunteers, and learn how you can help the animals. Your involvement will go a long way in saving animals’ lives.”

Jordan noted there are good reasons for adopting from shelters. “First, you give a homeless animal a second chance in life and you can choose from an amazing variety, from mixed breeds to purebreds. Second, if you’re adopting an adult animal, you already know the animal’s size, looks and temperament. Finally, by adopting from a shelter, you help reduce the suffering caused by the country’s tremendous pet overpopulation problem.”

Seattle’s shelter also appreciates its volunteers. “Volunteers perform many important tasks, including fostering cats and dogs, dog walking and training, promoting off-site adoptions, fundraising and marketing the animal shelter,” Jordan says. “Without our tireless volunteers, we would not be able to provide the many services we offer the community. Our volunteers are indispensable.”

The Seattle Animal Shelter provides services for animals and people alike: controlling dogs running at large, rescuing injured animals, returning lost pets to their owners, and adopting animals into new, loving homes. Shelter staff also offers personal guidance with animal-related issues or concerns.

Here are ways Seattleites can help the Seattle Animal Shelter:

· Donate pet supplies, such as new toys, treats, and blankets for animals at the shelter or in foster care.

· Spread the word about the importance of responsible pet ownership, including spaying and neutering.

· Become a part of the shelter’s volunteer program.

· Report animal abuse.

· Choose your next pet from among the many animals being cared for at the Seattle Animal Shelter.

For more information about the Seattle Animal Shelter or to inquire about volunteer opportunities go to www.seattleanimalshelter.org or call (206) 386-PETS (7387). The Shelter is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing, and noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions. It is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W.

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Using its “Animobile,” the shelter will demonstrate the heating effect of enclosed vehicles.  The van will be at the shelter for the remainder of the week. The “Animobile” will be outfitted with a large visible thermometer to demonstrate exactly how hot a vehicle can get.

 “We may sound like a broken record, but after our officers rescued four dogs – one of whom died from heat exhaustion — and one cat from hot cars this weekend, we can’t say it often enough that pets should not be left in cars when temperatures are even in the 70s. And once again the forecast is calling for temperatures reaching 90 this week. We are sending out an urgent message to all pet owners to be especially careful to protect your pets,” says Don Jordan, director of the Seattle Animal Shelter.

In direct sunlight cars turn into lethal ovens, reaching fatal temperatures of 130 degrees or more within just a few minutes. Even dogs left locked in cars in the shade with the windows cracked on hot days are at risk of brain damage or death. Dogs must cool themselves through panting and their systems can’t handle high temperatures.  If you must travel with your pet, Jordan advises carrying water for your pet, and avoiding trips where you have to leave the pet in the car. “It’s not worth the risk,” he says.

Jordan offers the following tips for protecting pets during hot weather:

• Never leave dogs or cats unattended in a closed, locked car. Temperatures can exceed 130 degrees in a matter of minutes. Animals do not perspire like humans;  they cool themselves through their lungs by panting. Hot air can lead to brain damage or death.

·         Also, be aware that vinyl seats in vehicles get hot under animals’ feet and prevent them from perspiring through their paws. Remember, with the movement of the sun, a vehicle originally parked in the shade may soon be in direct sunlight.

·         Never leave your animal chained or penned up directly in sunlight. Provide a shady area where the animal can retreat, such as a dog house, porch or shady tree, and always provide cool water.

·         If you must leave an animal indoors, open the windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and if possible, leave them in a cool location.

·         Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but obesity, old age, underlying disease and previous bouts of heat stroke can predispose an animal to the condition.

Feathered friends:

·         Take caution and place the bird’s cage away from direct sunlight during the intense heat of the afternoon.

·         Provide water and fruits and vegetables with high moisture content.

Pet owners can be held criminally liable for committing cruelty to animals if a pet dies, or is found suffering from heat prostration. If you see an animal that may be in need of assistance or if you have questions, contact the Seattle Animal Shelter at (206) 386-PETS (7387).