Published May 5, 2013
Today, I posted an article about "crazy cat people" prior to which I interviewed lots of folks passionate about cats. Talking to these cat cradlers reminded me of the cuddly value of animals and their completely unconditional-love personas.
Published May 5, 2013
It's important to note that the people in this article are not hoarders or abusers of cats in any way. Their houses are not little boxes. They are simply people who really, really care about cats. And sometimes dress them in hand-made clothing.
Published April 24, 2013
"I'd like to have an animal, but I don't want to be sad when it dies." I hear this more often than you might imagine. When they talk to me, people often start sentences with, "I'd love to have an animal, but ..." I listen closely to what comes next. To save a lot of homeless animals' lives, we need to inspire a lot of people to have animals. Every time I hear, "I travel," "I'm allergic," "My cat wouldn't like it," and so on, it helps us plan better ways to find families who can make a place for a homeless animal.
Published April 4, 2013
The Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County (HAWS) invites performers of all ages to take part in their "Sing Our Jingle to Save Lives" video contest. Jennifer Smieja, HAWS' Development Coordinator, encourages everyone to "have fun and be silly," in producing videos to submit.
Published March 29, 2013
Puppies. They sure are cute. But one major reason people get a puppy is completely mistaken. I said it once. You might have said it. You have friends who have said it. "I want a puppy so I can raise it to be exactly the dog I want."
Published March 20, 2013
Some dogs are fine when people and other dogs walk, or run, up to them. Some dogs are fine ... as long as they're left alone. The "Yellow Dog Project" is an effort to help those dogs.
Published March 4, 2013
Sometimes new ideas spread quickly. Sometimes they take forever. Here's one I'd like to speed up. For decades, the accepted approach to training dogs was "dominance theory." But negative training doesn't work for most people; it always makes dogs sad and often makes behavior worse; and it ruins the friendship that was the reason you got a dog in the first place.
Published Feb. 25, 2013
"Boy, I hate people." I hear that all the time from people who work in animal welfare. I disagree. I understand why they feel that way. When you do this work, you hear stories all the time that make you angry. Abuse and neglect. Domestic violence. Well-meaning stupidity. Even the simple failure to stick with commitments: "I'm moving out of town, so I need to surrender my 12-year-old dog." These stories would make anyone mad, let alone someone who cares enough about animals to have chosen shelter work over other, almost certainly better-paying, options.
Published Feb. 18, 2013
In animal sheltering work, it's easy to think of each adoption as a "happy ending" to that animal's story. That's one way to think about it - but it's just as true to think of it as a "happy beginning." The love that begins between a person and an animal when they leave our shelter often lasts for many years. It doesn't just save the animal's life; it shapes the person's life, forever.
Published Feb. 11, 2013
Hello and welcome to a new blog! I've been the executive director of the Wisconsin Humane Society for just over three years, and I'm excited to share stories and reports of our work here.Â
Published Jan. 13, 2013
Apparently, Monday, Jan. 14 is Dress Up Your Pet Day and so this week OnMilwaukee.com asked the Social Circle its thoughts on fancying up four-legged friends
Published Sept. 18, 2012
Normally, the copy in this space is devoted to you, readers. But this week, it's all about me. That's because I am not capable at this moment of thinking about anything other than our family dog, Rosie. A few hours ago, we had to put Rosie down.
Published Aug. 21, 2012
What do you do after the bird you captured in your garage escapes? Why, buy another bird, of course.
Published April 16, 2012
My dog, Playa, is up to no good lately. But it's hard to be mad at her, really. Apparently, I have a smart, tenacious pup that, at almost 9-years-old, is confronting her fears and literally taking them head on. We all should be so bold.
Published Feb. 17, 2012
Professional pet sitting and walking exists in Milwaukee, and not just from just one vendor. Lori Mendelsohn Thomas operates Wisconsin Pet Care, LLC. A 30-minute visit, which can consist of everything from belly rubs to fresh water to a long walk, costs $18 (the prices go down with multiple animals; two dogs, for instance, are $21).
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