Pints for Pups to benefit Shelter

December 2, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

Dec. 19 – Pints for Pups

Devin Reynolds and his wife Kelly Knickerbocker have shared their holiday spirit with the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) for the past four years, hosting a donation event – Pints for Pups – generating treats, food, toys, blankets, and money for the dogs in SAS’ care.

The couple invites everyone to join them on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2-5 p.m., at Peddler Brewing Company in Ballard, 1514 NW Leary Way. Those who donate receive $1 off their first beer. Peddler Brewing’s annual Holiday Dog Party is happening at the same time. Dog owners are invited to have free photos taken with Santa and shop for doggy presents with vendors on site.

In 2019 Reynolds and Knickerbocker collected a carload of goods and nearly $350 in cash that they delivered to the Shelter. They hope to raise even more this year.

Helping Animals Live Their Best Lives

November 22, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

It’s the time of year when we reflect on gratitude and say thanks to those who deserve it all year round. The Seattle Animal Shelter’s volunteers are some of those.

Whether they spend time walking dogs, fostering animals, cleaning, fundraising, or helping with adoptions, volunteers are the ones who make the path shorter and easier for pets looking for their forever homes.

In just the past 10 months volunteers have worked about 7,500 total hours, or about 25 hours per day, every day of 2021. And that doesn’t include all the time that fosters spent caring for animals. So far this year 531 animals have each spent an average of 51 days in one of 254 foster homes.

Steph Renaud, the Shelter’s Volunteer and Foster Care Coordinator, said that volunteers are critical in the adoption process, especially for animals in foster care.

“Behind the scenes there are dozens of people working to help our animals, including our fosters. They are rock stars,” said Renaud. “They make it that much easier for the animals to be adopted because they are less stressed, more relaxed, and better socialized. They get extra love and enrichment by playing and engaging with people.”

Foster parents care for animals in their homes until they are adopted. They also help potential adopters meet and learn more about their foster animal so they can decide if it’s a good match. Some fosters have cared for dozens of animals over many years and others are brand new. Still others have special animal care skills.

“There are some special fosters who are well equipped to care for ‘bottle babies,’ very young puppies and kittens without their moms who must be fed every two to three hours for weeks,” said Renaud. “They have to be in foster care because staff are not available 24 hours a day. Other fosters specialize in animals with special medical or behavioral needs.”

Other than fostering animals, volunteers also provide two walks a day for every dog at the Shelter, as well as behavior training, extra love, and enrichment through playing and engaging with people.

“We really couldn’t do what we do without the many dedicated volunteers. Staff take care of the basics and make sure the animals are safe and fed, but the volunteers make sure their lives are as good as they can be,” said Renaud.

The Shelter welcomes those interested in providing foster care, especially those who want to learn and practice behavior training for dogs. And there are many others way to get involved.

Dog walkers get in-shelter dogs out through the neighborhood twice daily
The Get Fit with Fido Team takes high-energy dogs out for runs three times per week
The Sunday Morning Outings Team takes some dogs out for extended weekly field trips to the park
The Dog Behavior Team conducts behavior modification training with more challenging dogs
Shelter Helpers do laundry, wash dishes, keep our supplies organized, and prep enrichment treats for the animals
9 Lives, the Shy Cat Team, and the Critter Team provide cuddles, play, and enrichment for our in-shelter cats and critters
Team leads help with communication, scheduling, training, support, answering questions, and so much more. Our foster leads and support teams match available foster homes to our animals, coordinate pick-ups, answer questions, and provide support to foster parents, help write about and take photos of the animals for the website, coordinate and schedule potential adopters, and schedule and train new foster parents.
The Pet Loss Support Group has trained volunteer facilitators who help those grieving their beloved pets
Gardening volunteers plant, water, weed, and maintain our Interbay P-Patch plot, growing vegetables and herbs for our animals to eat and explore
Pet Food Bank volunteers make appointments for those who need help and distribute food
Support and administrative volunteers help orient new volunteers, keep our kitten and puppy kits stocked and ready, deliver donations, and complete many other behind-the-scenes projects
The Cat Follow-up Team contacts every cat adopter to see how things are going and if they have any questions or need help
Fosters provide comfortable homes away from the stress of the shelter, food, playtime, enrichment, medication, and love for our animals.

If you’d like to make a difference in the new year, consider volunteering at the Seattle Animal Shelter. Find out more.

Shelter Staff Show Up Every Day for the Most Vulnerable

November 5, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

You’ve heard about police officers, firefighters, medical professionals, and grocery workers who served diligently and responsibly on the front lines during the pandemic. But there is another group that never missed a beat over the past 20 months: the staff of the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS).

While many of us worked from home, the veterinary staff, animal protection officers, animal caretakers, and customer service representatives of SAS continued to work on site and in the field to ensure the health and safety of homeless pets, as well as our community.

The week of November 7 is Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, and we recognize the occasion by thanking the staff of SAS who show up every day to care for the dogs, cats, and critters who need help.

“The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation appreciates all of the hard work of the Animal Shelter staff as they help protect and care for homeless pets every day,” said Foundation Development Director Leah Traxel. “As we raise funds for equipment and programs, we hope to make their jobs easier and help all pets find their forever homes. Thanks to the staff for their commitment and caring.”

Here are five easy ways to show you care this week and throughout the year:

Adopt a Best Friend. Find out if you have what it takes to provide a safe and loving home and learn more about adopting.
Keep on Giving. Volunteers are needed for dog walking, cleaning equipment, and fostering animals. Donating is as simple as writing a check and dropping it in the mail or picking up an item on the shelter’s wish list. Find out more from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.
Report Injured or Abused Animals in Seattle by Calling (206) 386-7387. SAS not only takes in homeless animals, but the Shelter also rescues injured, abused or neglected critters. Assist them by helping injured animals in your neighborhood and letting them know if you suspect animal cruelty.
Do Your Part. Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the number of homeless pets in your community.
Two Simple Words. Since animals can’t speak, it’s up to us to let shelter workers know just how much their commitment to animals is appreciated. Send a letter, card or e-mail to the staff at SAS and say thank you:

seattleanimalshelter@seattle.gov

Seattle Animal Shelter
2061 15th Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119

How Patience and Trust Changed a Scaredy Cat Into a Confident Feline

November 1, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

We all have that shy friend – the one who is loyal and loving but avoids groups of people, especially if she doesn’t know them. Babbs, the cat, is that friend. And, like some of our friends, Babbs just needed to trust people before she felt secure.

Babbs’ foster parent, Flore Yuan, has fostered several cats now, mostly the shyer ones like Babbs because they need a little more help to be adopted and she likes the challenge.

“I thought she hated me at first and I wasn’t quite sure what to do,” said Yuan. “I had a room set up for her and I came in several times a day, bringing my computer or phone to just sit with her, but she would hiss and growl.”

Yuan tried things that had helped other shy cats. Some want you to sit with them. Some want you to talk to them. That didn’t work with Babbs. But she was very food motivated. So Yuan started hand feeding her, teaching Babbs to associate her with food, the path to her heart.

“The first time she started accepting food from my hand was very gratifying and it was the breakthrough that led to steady progress,” said Yuan. “She didn’t hide anymore.”

“I could see that she was not an aggressive cat. Even if she hissed or growled it was only when she was startled, but she never tried to scratch or bite. It was very helpful for the adopter to know that she was just scared, not dangerous. Even if she acted angry, she would not hurt someone.”

Yuan suggested that Babbs’ adopter create a “safe room” for Babbs and to begin to feed her there, then gradually move the food outside the room to challenge her to come out.

Babbs’ adopter, Brandon Roberts, did all that and more.

“I am a first-time pet owner, and my family has never had pets before, so my experience was very limited,” said Roberts. “Adopting a cat worried me, let alone a cat that needs extra care due to being under socialized. But it ended up being a really rewarding experience.”

Roberts conducted a lot of research and created a plan to help Babbs settle in. He created her safe room and she would run inside if there was a loud noise and hide if Roberts was in the room.

“I had to learn what her cues were to understand if she was just scared or if she was going to respond negatively,” he said. “She was usually just scared.”

“One thing I learned was that she did not like prolonged eye contact,” said Roberts. “She would allow me to pet her if I didn’t stare at her; it required a lot of trust for both of us.”

Through observation and advice from Yuan and the staff at the Seattle Animal Shelter, Roberts built that trust and saw quick progress.

“I would reward her for staying in more exposed places by giving her treats when she ventured out. After a few weeks, she is confidently roaming the entire apartment.”

“Sometimes I wonder if she’s the same cat I adopted,” said Roberts. “I never imagined that the shy cat I adopted would make so much progress in a month and become a lap cat who follows me around.”

He said that Babbs now seems to purr non-stop and confidently takes up as much space as possible, stretching out on the floor, tables, and bedding.

“She’s a lot more confident, allowing belly rubs and even letting me clip her nails and give her a bath,” said Roberts. “I am very glad I adopted her; it has been really rewarding to make a positive impact on Babbs’ life. I am excited to keep learning with her and continuing to give her a loving home.”

See all the cats available for adoption.

They Creep! They Crawl! They Make Great Pets!

October 26, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

For Halloween we celebrate Creeptacular on our Facebook page and Instagram, featuring some of the cutest small pets available for adoption. Adoption fees are half price through Oct. 31, 2021 for any pet, other than dogs or cats. Read more about a few of our critters.

Tasha and Bo are looking to hop over to their forever home. The pair love to roam around their foster’s house, much to the delight of his five-year-old son. They are very friendly and love gentle pets, according to their foster Jeremy Davison.

“Tasha and Bo are an inseparable, loving pair,” said Davison. “Tasha is a little shy at first, but Bo is adventurous and ready to explore high and low. This pair will do best in a home with lots to explore and lots of attention.”

They both seek out human interaction and like being petted and brushed, which is good because it keeps their shedding under control. They are curious and energetic but respectful of the cats and chinchillas with whom they’ve lived.

Find out more about Tasha and Bo.

See our Creeptacular video about rabbits.

In addition to rabbits, the Shelter cares for reptiles as well. Currently there are two snakes ready for adoption, both known as docile and beautiful. It’s difficult to gender snakes, so we refer to them as they.

Ember is a young red-tailed boa who will be 6-8 feet long full grown. They could live up to 40 years so they’re looking for a committed snake lover. Ember loves to curl up and read bedtime stories with their family. They also enjoy toothbrush massages and bath time.

Moose displays the most beautiful fall colors as a rust-colored corn snake. They do fairly well with handling and has been handled by both adults and supervised children. Corn snakes don’t get nearly as large as boas, so you can expect that Moose is fully grown. As pets, corn snakes can live 23 years or more.

Find out more about Moose and Ember.

See our Creeptacular video about reptiles.

See all of our Creeptacular videos.

The Last Little Piggy to Find a Home

October 19, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

Update: Miss Starla was adopted on Oct. 31, 2021 and is now living in a safe and loving home in West Seattle.

Fall in Love: Adopt a Dog this Autumn

October 11, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

October is Adopt-a-Dog-Month and we’re highlighting some of our favorite pups in the care of our fabulous pet foster parents. One of these dynamic dogs could be your new best friend.

For Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) staff and their foster parents it’s surprising that Dee, Puck, and BB haven’t found permanent homes yet. These three are favorites of the staff and volunteers, dogs who deserve “furever” homes and plenty of treats.

“All of these dogs are very nice and sweet with people, but they don’t like other dogs,” said SAS Animal Care Manager Tracy Bahrakis. “Their foster parents have been fantastic in managing their behavior and training them using positive techniques, like food rewards and vocal praise.”

But all three have lingered in foster care for more than a year, too long for such good dogs to be looking for permanent homes.

“As quickly as we can is the goal we have to find good homes for all of our animals, especially these dogs,” said Bahrakis.

She doesn’t think their breeds are turning adopters away, but the longer they stay in foster care the less attractive they are to prospective pet parents – for no good reason. Dee, for one, has a lot of pep in her step and loves to be challenged learning new skills.

“It’s unbelievable that she has been in foster care for two years, said Bahrakis. “She is ready to find her people.”

Laura Mundy, who often dog sits, says that for a 9-year-old dog Dee has a lot of energy and “can leap like a gazelle.” The years have not slowed her down in any way; she loves to be engaged physically and mentally.

Mundy envisions a “furever” home with a fenced yard or acreage for Dee to run and play, while avoiding other dogs. She’s got great house manners and learns easily using treats.

“She is incredibly interested in smelling outdoor things,” said Mundy. “I think she needs opportunities to smell – and that could be nose-work training.”

Dee likes food puzzles but won’t always finish them, and she is very adept at getting into boxes with treats inside. She’s an expert-level cleaner of items slated for the recycling bin, so a conservation-minded pooch to boot!

She’s silly, curious, and ready for a new adventure with you. And there’s no adoption fee for Dee thanks to donors.

It’s Adopt-a-Dog Month and when you do Miss Dee will be waiting for you to snuggle, chill, and watch Netflix – perfect for the fall weather.

Animal Volunteer Heroes (Volunteeroes) Needed at Seattle Animal Shelter

August 19, 2021 by Seattle Animal Shelter

The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) seeks “volunteeroes” to help with a variety of care for the more than 3,000 animals cared for at the Shelter each year. Volunteer positions as a shelter helper or dog walker require just two hours per week for six months. Animal foster care volunteers excited to work with and learn more about dog behavior are especially needed.

Shelter Helper

Shelter Helpers help animals at the shelter thrive by ensuring their kennels and cages are refilled with fresh bedding and toys every day. Duties include laundry and dishwashing (using industrial equipment) and preparing enrichment activities (fill Kongs, food puzzles, etc). While this role does not involve direct animal contact, Shelter Helpers play a critical role in ensuring SAS cats, dogs, and critters stay happy and healthy.

Dog Walker

Volunteers on this team walk shelter dogs on paths through the neighborhood around SAS. Each dog gets at least a half-hour walk twice daily, including holidays and in all weather conditions. Many dogs are big and some are learning to walk well on a leash and may pull, so you’ll definitely get your workout in as well as your steps. Some experience with dogs is required.

Apply here to volunteer as a Shelter Helper or Dog Walker: https://bit.ly/sasvolunteerapply

Foster

Foster homes are needed for dogs, cats, and critters – all kinds of animals from rabbits and guinea pigs to lizards, birds, rats, ferrets and more. Especially needed are dog foster parents willing to learn how to work with:

young energetic dogs who tug on the leash or are jumpy and mouthy
dogs who don’t do well with other animals
dogs who do poorly with strangers

Staff and experienced volunteers will provide training, behavior assistance, and any tools you may need.

Apply here to foster: https://bit.ly/SASfosterapply

More information about volunteering and fostering is available at www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/get-involved/volunteer.

Six Tips to Keep Pets Safe in the Heat

June 24, 2021 by Susan Stoltzfus

Ernie’s owner knows how to protect him from the heat.

The Seattle area is expected to reach temperatures up to 100 degrees or more this weekend and pets are especially vulnerable in high heat.

To help protect our furry friends, the Seattle Animal Shelter is providing the following tips to keep your pet safe during the heat.

1) Never leave your animal unattended in direct sunlight. Provide a shady area for retreat and remember shaded areas move with the sun. Provide access to cool water at all times.

2) Keep ventilation and water flowing. If you leave animals indoors, open secured screened windows, keep a fan running, provide plenty of water, and, if possible, leave them in a cool location.

3) Never leave animals unattended in a vehicle. Temperatures rise quickly leaving them trapped and unable to escape the heat. Under Washington state law an animal control officer or law enforcement officer has the authority to remove an animal from a vehicle by any means necessary if the animal is suffering or is likely to suffer from exposure to excessive heat and the owner may be charged with animal cruelty.

4) Avoid overexerting your animal in hot weather. Exercise is fine when taken in moderation, but extreme heat conditions, obesity, old age, breed and underlying disease can predispose an animal to the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Hot pavement can quickly burn sensitive paws.

5) Keep bird cages away from direct sunlight. For birds, 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.

6) Have water-heavy snacks are where it’s at. Smaller furred pets, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, can overheat easily. Snacks such as cucumber, melon or any watery vegetable can help keep them hydrated. Frozen water bottles can give them something cool to lie next to or near.

The Seattle Animal Shelter Welcomes New Director

May 22, 2021 by Seattle Animal Shelter

by Melissa Mixon

Animal protection and adoption professionals know that social equity plays a role in their work. For example, adoption requirements may eliminate people from marginalized groups if they require home ownership, a fenced yard, or a high fee.

Esteban Rodriguez, the new Director of the Seattle Animal Shelter, wants to tackle those challenges and more in his new role.

“I would like for us to work to provide services outside of the shelter and I would love to have a great community engagement program,” said Rodriguez. “For our organization to be successful and to really be inclusive we have to go out into the community and engage people in volunteering and adopting. When you see our truck do you run and hide your pet or do you come out and wave at us?”

Rodriguez brings 12-years’ experience in the field, most recently serving as the Operations Manager for the Santa Barbara County Animal Services Division. His service area was 32 times larger than the City of Seattle and he managed three separate shelters located an hour’s drive from each other.

His interest in animal services began as he was being a responsible pet owner. Rodriguez was looking into vaccinations and other services and found it difficult to find low-cost veterinary care. Because of that experience, he would like to host community spay, neuter, and vaccine clinics and partner with local veterinarians to bring those services to the community.

“I come with a lot of compassion for our community, for the pets and the pet owners who we serve here,” he said.

Rodriguez shares his new Seattle home with his wife and their 14-year-old son, as well as Goli, a four-year-old Giant Schnauzer mix, who they rescued from a shelter. They are all excited to be here.

“Seattle is just as beautiful as Santa Barbara, if not more so,” said Rodriguez. “When I read the job bulletin I saw a lot of things I’ve been advocating for – like providing services for marginalized communities – are happening here.”

“If there’s an opportunity we are going to look for it and make sure we’re doing the right thing. I’m committed to the Seattle Animal Shelter and the place I want to be for the rest of my career.”

The Scoop Blog Seattle Animal Shelter

The Scoop

Seattle Animal Shelter news and events