“Dog bites can cause serious injury to human victims, who are often children or elderly people,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “Dogs who bite often lose their homes and sometimes their lives. Every family who accepts the commitment that comes with bringing a dog into the home has a responsibility to neighbors, friends and children to prevent dog bites. And remember; don’t make assumptions about dogs based on their breed. Any size or kind of dog can bite.” 

This is a good opportunity to remind to all dog owners that dogs must be on a leash when not on their property or in a designated off-leash dog park. Leashing your dog is not only the law, it also adds a measure of safety for your pet, other pets, people and wildlife. Off-leash dog fines start at $54 and go up to $168 for the fourth violation.

Shelter staff urge parents to teach their children the following tips for avoiding dog bites:

• Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
• Stay away from dogs in cars, behind fences or on chains.
• Never pet a dog without the owner’s permission and don’t pet any dog without letting the dog see and smell you first.
• Don’t assume a dog you know is any less likely to bite than a stray or unknown dog. Most dog bites are inflicted by dogs known to the victim.
• If attacked by a dog, don’t run or scream. Stand still with your arms at your sides. Don’t make eye contact or speak to the dog. If you are knocked to the ground, curl into a ball and put your hands over your ears. 

For more information on dog bite prevention, go to the following Humane Society of the United States website: www.nodogbites.org. For more information about Seattle’s dog bite prevention efforts, or to inquire about animal adoptions and volunteer programs at the Seattle Animal Shelter, please call 206-386-7387 (PETS) or visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, May 18, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

The “Help the Animals Fund” was created in 1977 to pay for life-saving veterinary care for sick, injured and abused animals at the Shelter. As the Shelter’s veterinary needs grew, volunteers started the Furry 5K in 1999 to raise money for the Fund and to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership. Last year, the Fund covered nearly $150,000 in veterinary bills.

“The Furry 5K has been a wonderful event for the orphaned animals of the Seattle Animal Shelter. Because of the generous Furry 5K participants, we have been able to provide veterinary care to thousands of orphaned animals and have been able to guarantee that all adoptable animals will find loving new homes,” said Shelter Director Don Jordan.

Shelter staff anticipates that this year’s Furry 5K will draw more than 3,000 people and 1,500 furry canines. The race will begin at 10 a.m. and will be followed by Pet-a-Palooza, a partnership with CBS Radio to feature entertainment, festive music, awards and an interactive vendor area. The Furry 5K is one of the few races in the Puget Sound area that encourages participants to run or walk with their dogs.

The Seattle Animal Shelter cares for approximately 6,000 stray and owner-surrendered animals each year. Many of these animals arrive sick and injured from living on the streets; others are seized from abusive or neglectful owners.

The Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W., about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. It is open Wednesday – Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information call (206)386-7387, or visit the Web site at www.seattleanimalshelter.org

Please sign up for the orientation by emailing sasfostercatsorientation@gmail.com no later than 5 p.m., Saturday, May 4. Once you have signed up, you will receive an orientation packet to bring with you. Orientation will be cancelled if there are no sign-ups.

The Seattle Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to provide temporary foster care in their homes to rehabilitate and nurture sick, injured and immature cats and kittens or to just give adoptable cats a break from the shelter environment. 

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole family and provides an opportunity for children to learn about the joys and responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term commitment,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the pets who are nurtured by their foster families, and the families who adopt them.”

Jordan says the foster care program is quite simple. You provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter will provide any necessary veterinary care. The shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” subsidizes the costs associated with the foster care program including all pre-approved vet care.

If you attend an orientation session you are under no obligation to foster an animal. The orientations are just the first step in the process. Each prospective foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a “case manager” who provides advice and answers questions.

For more information or additional directions call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or go to www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, April 20, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

“With our monthly neighborhood adoptathons, we hope to continue to spread the word about the joys and value of adopting shelter pets and saving lives. If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” says Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director.

Adoption prices range from $45 to $135 (plus applicable license fees) and include:

• Initial vaccinations
• Deworming
• Feline Leukemia testing
• Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians
• Spay or neuter
• Microchip

The Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats. Donations from the city’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for veterinary care for these animals while they are being fostered.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. It is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206) 386-7387 (PETS). Animals available for adoption can be viewed online athttp://www.seattleanimalshelter.org

Please sign up for the orientation by emailing sasfostercatsorientation@gmail.com no later than 5 p.m., Saturday, April 6. Once you have signed up, you will receive an orientation packet to bring with you. Orientation will be cancelled if there are no sign-ups.

The Seattle Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to provide temporary foster care in their homes to rehabilitate and nurture sick, injured and immature cats and kittens or to just give adoptable cats a break from the shelter environment. 

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole family and provides an opportunity for children to learn about the joys and responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term commitment,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the pets who are nurtured by their foster families, and the families who adopt them.”

Jordan says the foster care program is quite simple. You provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter will provide any necessary veterinary care. The shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” subsidizes the costs associated with the foster care program including all pre-approved vet care.

If you attend an orientation session you are under no obligation to foster an animal. The orientations are just the first step in the process. Each prospective foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a “case manager” who provides advice and answers questions.

For more information or additional directions call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or go to www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

“About 25 percent of our pet owners fail to renew their licenses each year,” says Jordan. “While we know this is partially a result of pets either dying, disappearing, moving out of the Puget Sound region, or being given away, many pet owners simply forget to renew their pet licenses. The amnesty program gives people a chance to get caught up without having to pay extra fines that can add up to hundreds of dollars.”

“A pet license is the best insurance policy you can buy for your pet,” says Dr. Mueller. “For instance, if your pet is wearing its license and it shows up at our Pet Adoption Center, we will notify you that your pet is here. Or if we find your licensed pet in the field, we’ll return it to you instead of taking it to the center. What’s more, an injured animal wearing a license is more likely to receive veterinary care if you’re not around,” adds Mueller.

“While a license provides you with peace of mind, should your pet get lost, you’re also helping to provide a safety net for unwanted or neglected animals in our region,” says Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. “License fees provide essential financial support to help save thousands of animals each year through adoption, foster care, spay and neuter programs, law enforcement and community outreach.”

“Your pet is too precious to lose, and a license costs just a few pennies a day,” says King County Executive Dow Constantine. “By licensing your pet, you increase your chances of being reunited if your pet gets lost. Your license fee also helps us find forever homes for more pets, and helps animals that are victims of cruelty or neglect.”

For Pet Owners in the City of Seattle
Seattle pet owners can purchase or renew their pet licenses online from the convenience of their homes. Late renewal fees and citations are suspended for the month of April. To access this service, go to www.seattleanimalshelter.org. You can also purchase a Seattle pet license at most City of Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers, other community locations, or at the Seattle Animal Shelter, 2061 15^th Ave. W., Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Please check the “Purchase or Renew a License” section on our website for all payment locations.

Seattle Pet License Rates
One-year license                                              Two-year license
Dog: $47 ($27 if spayed or neutered)            Dog: $69 ($37 if spayed or neutered)
Cat: $30 ($20 if spayed or neutered)             Cat: $45 ($27 if spayed or neutered)
*Miniature Goat: $20                                      Miniature Goat: $30
*Potbellied pig: $120 for first year; $30 annual renewal
*Restrictions apply: Please call 206-386-4262 for details

For Pet Owners in the Regional Animal Services of King County Service Area
Pet owners residing in unincorporated King County or any of the following Regional Partner Cities are required to license with King County: Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Carnation, Clyde Hill, Covington, Duvall, Enumclaw, Issaquah, Kent, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, North Bend, Redmond, Sammamish, SeaTac, Shoreline, Snoqualmie, Tukwila, Woodinville, Yarrow Point.

King County pet owners can go to www.kingcounty.gov/pets, then click on “License Your Pet” to renew a pet license online. Licenses are also sold at the King County Pet Adoption Center, 21615 64^th Ave. S. in Kent, at 25 Regional Partner City Halls, many QFC stores, vehicle licensing agencies, or at any of the six King County Community Service Centers (CSCs) located throughout King County. For a full list of pet licensing locations, visit www.kingcounty.gov/pets.

King County Pet License Rates
All King County pet licenses, except those for kittens or puppies, expire one year after issuance.
Kitten or puppy (under six months old, license expires six months after issuance): $15
Spayed or neutered dog or cat (over six months old): $30
Unaltered dog or cat (over six months old): $60
Dog or cat license for senior citizen residents: $15
Dog or cat license for disabled residents: $15
License for registered service animals: Free 

For Pet Owners in the City of Bothell
All dogs and cats age eight weeks and older within the city limits of Bothell are required to be licensed. Bothell pet owners can purchase a license in person at Bothell City Hall, 18305 101st Ave. NE. For quick, convenient, 24-hour service, Bothell residents can also purchase pet licenses online at www.petdata.com/cs/bth.

City of Bothell Pet License Rates
All City of Bothell pet licenses, except those for kittens or puppies, expire one year after issuance.
Kitten or puppy (eight weeks to six months old, license expires six months after issuance): $15
Spayed or neutered dog or cat: $30
Unaltered dog or cat: $60
Dog or cat license for senior citizen residents: $15
License for service animals: Free 

For Pet Owners in the City of Federal Way
All cats and dogs over five months old must be licensed in the City of Federal Way. Licensing also requires a current rabies vaccination. To renew a pet license online, Federal Way residents can go to license.cityoffederalway.com/pets. To apply in person, visit the Federal Way Police Department, 33325 Eighth Ave. S., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City of Federal Way Pet License Rates
Spayed or neutered cat: $20/1 year, $35/2 years, $50/3 years
Spayed or neutered dog: $25/1 year, $45/2 years, $65/3 years
Unaltered cat: $60/1 year
Unaltered dog: $60/1 year

For more information about pet licensing, call the Seattle Animal Shelter at 206-386-PETS (7387), Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) at 206-296-PETS (7387), the City of Bothell at 1-877-816-7058, or the City of Federal Way at 253-835-PETS (7387).

“Lilies, including the Easter lily, tiger lily, rubrum lily, Japanese show lily and some species of the day lily can cause kidney failure in cats,” says Don Jordan, director of the Seattle Animal Shelter. “Be aware that all parts of the lily plant are considered toxic to cats and consuming even small amounts can be life threatening.”

Within only a few hours of ingesting toxic plant material, a cat may vomit, become lethargic or lose its appetite. These signs continue and worsen as kidney damage progresses. Without prompt and proper treatment by a veterinarian, a cat may develop kidney failure in approximately 36 to 72 hours. Cat owners should remove toxic plants from their cat’s access and are encouraged to consider safer alternatives to Easter lilies such as Easter orchids, Easter lily cactus, Easter daisy or violets.

To help educate cat owners and veterinarians about the dangers of lilies and other plants, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and Cat Fanciers’ Association have developed online materials including photos of common types of dangerous lilies and a list of non-toxic plants. To download the materials, visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ or http://www.cfa.org/CatCare/HouseholdHazards/ToxicPlants.aspx.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 – 15^th Ave. W., is open for adoptions Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.  Please call 206-386-7387 (PETS) for more information. To view animals available for adoption, visit http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.