Valley Humane Society

Pet of the Week

2011-09-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

"My name is Coral Belle, I am a beautiful Calico that is about 1 year old. I was never able to be a real kitten, so I still like to play; I am sweet, loving and quiet… well until meal time, then I really talk. I will need to warm up to you bit, but once I trust you, I will purr for you and sit in your lap! I was a young mother, now spayed and ready for my forever home with you! Go online to www.valleyhumane.org or www.facebook.com/ValleyHumaneSociety to see our other adoptable dogs and cats waiting for you! Valley Humane Society is located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton and is open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call us at 925-426-8656 for more information”

Photo courtesy of David Smith

Write-up courtesy of Guin Van Dyke

Blog Redesign

2011-09-09T23:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the brand new VHS Blog!
We know it has been out of "service" for a while, but it is getting booted back up bigger and better than ever.
Expect to see more photos, more stories, more Pet of the Weeks, and more updates, more often!

I hope you look forward to it.

Top 15 Update

2011-08-22T11:03:00.001-07:00

Here is an update for the Top 15 (currently) in the Calendar Contest!

1. Photo 15 Sydney (590 votes)

2. Photo 14 Dublin & Zoe (431 votes)

3. Photo 18 Buddy C (420 votes)

4. Photo 67 Mocha (336 votes)

5. Photo 16 Buddy W. (305 votes)

6. Photo 58 Buddy A. (215 votes)

7. Photo 29 Martini (181 votes)

8. Photo 36 Alfie (146 votes)

9. Photo 60 Lucy (130 votes)

10. Photo 31 Bichette (121 votes)

12. Photo 12 Three Brothers (110 votes)

12. Photo 13 Moses (110 votes)

13. Photo 19 Betty & Wilma (105 votes)

14. Photo 27 Licorice (85 votes)

15. Photo 15 Cookie (78 votes)

Total votes: 4169

Keep voting folks! The contest doesn't end for another 10 days!

http://www.valleyhumane.org/index.php?s=contest

Save Our Shelter, Events and Fundraisers

2011-08-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!
As you may have heard, VHS is in a tough spot right now financially, and we risk closing!
First off, thank you to those who have already donated to help "Save our Shelter". Your dedication and support is extremely appreciated.

Second, I wanted to let you all know of some upcoming fundraisers and events that you can participate in to help save Valley Humane Society.

Here is a list and please feel free to "Like" our VHS Facebook page by clicking here, for more current updates and events.

Electronic Waste Fundraiser
Saturday, August 6 9AM to 4PM
Concord High School
4200 Concord Blvd, Concord, 94521
Donate your e-waste and part of the proceeds go back to VHS!

TGI Fridays Fundraiser
Tuesday, August 9 & Thursday, August 11 11 AM to 12 AM
Pleasanton TGI Fridays
3999 Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton 94566
Hand the waiter the TGI Fridays/VHS flyer when you pay and 20% of your bill will be donated back to VHS.

*Flyer is posted on www.valleyhumane.org*

Roundtable Pizza Fundraiser
Sunday, August 14 11AM-9PM & Thursday, August 18 4PM-9PM
Downtown Pleasanton Roundtable
530 Main Street, Pleasanton, 94566
Hand the waiter the Roundtable/VHS flyer when you pay and 25% of your bill will be donated back to VHS.

Animal Blessing
Sunday, August 28 3 PM
Methodist Church
4444 Black Ave, Pleasanton 94566
Have your animal blessed this special day and help support VHS and a local church.

Ongoing Fundraisers

Calendar Contest Voting August 4– August 31
Www.valleyhumane.org
Place your bets for the pets and vote online for the top 13 photos to be placed in a 2012 Valley Humane Society calendar. Votes are just $1 and ALL proceeds go directly to the orphaned animals of VHS.

Precision AutoRepair Donation Matching August 1-August 31
164-A Wyoming St, Pleasanton
Precision Auto Repair is matching all donations made to VHS during the month of August (up to a predetermined amount) by visiting their business.

Lia Sophia Fundraiser August 1– August 21
http://liasophia.com/sites/vivianbrandt/how-to-purchase and type in “Gwyn Bailey”
Shop online at Lia Sophia and 10% of sales is donated back to VHS!

Valley Humane Society: Pet of the Week Robin

2011-07-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

“Robin is a cat who has been waiting for her forever home for almost a year now. She is a beautiful muted calico who recently celebrated her first birthday. Although she is a bit shy at first, once she bonds to her special someone, she is lovable and trusting. Please help this kitty find her forever home. To learn more information about adopting her and possibly becoming a foster family for some of our other animals in need, call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org. Valley Humane Society is located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton and is open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM.”

2012 Calendar Contest!

2011-07-01T09:32:00.001-07:00

Wanna Make Your Pet a Star?

Submit photos of your favorite companion from

July 1, 2011 through July 22, 2011 and enter your cute pet into our 2011 Calendar Contest!

Photos may be submitted to Melissa at VHS via email to mbonnel@valleyhumane.org

or mail them to

VHS Calendar Contest, 3670 Nevada Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566

Each submission is $15. (please note: not all photos submitted make it into the top 50 for voting)

Guidelines

- No cell phone photos are accepted.

- No people in photos.

All companion animal photos are welcome: dogs, cats, birds, pigs, reptiles, etc.

Online public voting for the Top 50 photos will begin at midnight on August 4, 2011 and end at midnight on August 31, 2011.

Calendars will be available for purchase in November.

All proceeds from the calendar contest benefit the homeless pets of Valley Humane Society. Give us a call for more information at 925.426.8656.

www.valleyhumane.org

Maddie's Matchmaker Adoptathon

2011-06-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

By: Cheryl Palange

How much is that doggie in the window? This weekend, the answer was “nothing.” Thanks to the generosity of Dave and Cheryl Duffield of http://www.maddiesfund.org/ and http://www.maddiesadoptathon.org who pledged $2 million to save 2,000 pets across more than 40 shelters in a single weekend, we were able to place 88 lucky kittens, cats and dogs in their new forever homes. Last year we placed 56 in two days, which we surpassed by four o’clock on day one this year.

Adoptions were free to families adopting animals during the event. Maddie’s Fund will pay each shelter or rescue group $500 for every dog/cat adopted. And to make sure no pet is left behind; $1000 will be given for every adoption of a senior or treatable pet and $1500 for every adoption of a senior pet with a medical condition. VHS anticipates receiving $45,000 from this year’s event.

The unseasonable June storm didn’t damper our spirits or enthusiasm on what turned out to be an incredible weekend to debut our beautiful, new facility to the public. VHS held adoptions at our new facility as well as at Stoneridge Mall with several other rescue groups. Rescue organizations with kittens, cats and dogs were located in the mall’s center court and proved to be at least as popular as Santa and his elves at the holiday.

The kittens were very popular and were scooped up quickly. Other notable rescues for the weekend include:

Phoebe – a senior kitty who was adopted from VHS about 5 years ago, but returned recently after losing her owner to cancer. Roberta lives on her own and had been looking for a kitty to keep her company for quite some time. Congratulations to Phoebe and Roberta… we wish them a lifetime of happiness together! You can read more of Phoebe’s story here.

Sarabi and Pumba – Rescued from the county shelter, our “Lion King” 1-year old Calico mom and 7 week old son were adopted together Sunday afternoon. We are always thrilled to see moms adopted, and more so when they get to go home with one of their babies.

Rosco – a striking 6-year old purebred Coon Hound who came to us from East County after escaping from his original home one time too many. This handsome guy was a center favorite because of his mellow personality and unmistakable howls. He went home Sunday with the Ricafuente family who pledged to give him plenty of room to roam and use that incredible nose.

Apollo- a 4 year old orange tabby who was long overdue for a home. When he was surrendered to us late October, we thought he would get adopted quickly due to his kind demeanor. As time kept moving forward, we were not sure why he was still here. During the Adoptathon, he waited patiently in a cardboard carry away box until his family came Sunday looking for a cat that fit his personality perfectly.

Pluto – a shy and sweet 6-month old poodle mix rescued from East County Animal Shelter a few months ago. This little guy was flea infested when we got him, but cleaned up beautifully in the care of our wonderful volunteers. Pluto was adopted by his foster mom, Kathy.

We couldn’t have done it without the nearly 150 volunteers who generously gave of their time to help the weekend run smoothly. Visit our Facebook page by clicking here. From the many greeters, runners, front office helpers, kitty city, doggie drive, adoption processors and everyone else who helped… thank you so much! This weekend would not have been the success it was without all of you.

No Place to Call Home

2011-06-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

Phoebe was not ready to come back to the shelter when she did. She had such a perfect life where she was and she had no clue what was happening to her. About four years ago, we rescued a five year old cat named Jellybean from impending euthanasia at a local county shelter. She was all black and was a bit shy. When we rescued her, we did not know what a special cat she would be. As she sat in our adoptable cat room, nobody ever paid any attention to her; instead, visitors went straight to the kittens and the younger, “better” looking cats. The stress of not being in a home caused Jellybean to sit in her kennel and pull out chunks of her hair. Although we gave her some medicine to help her be a bit less stressed, it did not seem to help. One volunteer saw the hurt in Jellybean’s eyes and could not stand it anymore. That day was probably the best day of Jellybean’s life. Volunteer Susan took Jellybean home to a warm, caring, and comforting environment. Her first day at home, Susan renamed her Phoebe as it fit her personality better. Susan was a regular volunteer, which meant that we got updates at the center daily on how she was doing. We loved the stories she told us and listened attentively. Phoebe lived happily and quietly in Susan’s home for almost five years. Her peaceful life changed suddenly one day when Susan was diagnosed with cancer.

All of Susan’s family lived out of state and Phoebe had nowhere to go while her mom was in the hospital. While we waited patiently for Susan’s recovery, Phoebe spent time in an extra office at Valley Humane Society. But, when we needed the office, she would go back and forth between foster homes. Not only was this stressful for her, but it was hard for Susan to know that her kitty was being transferred from home to home. The hair pulling problem quickly started again, and we all just wanted Phoebe to feel better. Every once in a while when Susan was feeling okay, she would go and visit Phoebe wherever she was at. One day, we got the phone call that we had been dreading for so long. After a long battle, Susan had passed away from cancer. This left Phoebe homeless and she never got to say her final goodbyes to her mom. Poor Phoebe was a ten year old kitty with no place to go. We took her back into our adoption program here at the center where she has been for over four months. Just like before, everybody passes her by and goes to look at the young and the playful.

Phoebe is a delightful cat with so much love to give. She greets visitors when they walk into our adoptable cat room and enjoys laying out in the sunshine with a person there talking to her gently or petting her. Although she is ten, that does not mean that she has a short life left. Most cats can live up to twenty years, which means she is only half way done living her life. She would make the perfect addition to your home and would provide you many years of love and comfort. Although we do everything we can here to comfort her, nothing is better than a “fur-ever” home.

Blog Birthday

2011-05-20T13:43:00.001-07:00

Hello everybody,

This Sunday, the blog will be celebrating it's second birthday. Can you believe that? I know I sure can't.

It's been a swell two years. Hopefully these stories have intrigued your interest in Valley Humane and I hope to continue writing great things for everybody to read.

If there is something related to VHS you would like me to write about, please let me know in the comments or by emailing me at mbonnel@valleyhumane.org

Thanks everybody!

Pleasanton Patch

2011-05-14T22:10:00.001-07:00

Hello all! I was asked to start blogging with the Pleasanton Patch and I wanted to share my first post with you too!

Here it is:

My name is Melissa and I work for Valley Humane Society, Pleasanton's very own no-kill animal center. I started at Valley Humane Society when I first attended a new volunteer orientation in October of 2007. From the first time I stepped in the door, I felt the warm energy and knew I belonged! Animals were always my passion, and now I had a place to share my love for our feline and canine companions. When I began, I volunteered with the Care & Comfort Team where I cleaned up after and fed kitties once a week. Every Thursday I came in and worked with two loyal volunteers, Sharon and Susan. Quickly, we all became friends and I knew that I never wanted to leave! Soon after starting, I was offered an opportunity to take our "Pet of the Week" onto local TV30 every Thursday. I jumped at the chance! Every Thursday from November 2007 until July 2008, when the news program's budget was cut, I took a new kitty on local TV. From this, my passion for the organization only grew. After a short time helping out at our summer camp, Critter Camp, I was offered a job as an 'Animal Care Assistant'.

I still remember my first day "on the job". When I was handed a key to our modular and began training, I felt so proud and so happy to be helping hundreds of orphaned animals. As the months grew on, I became more and more involved with VHS and consistently wanted the best for us. At school, I would pass out flyers or pass on the word about what we do in hopes other people would understand. In February of 2010, VHS got its first big chance, when the Board of Directors and senior staff decided that we were able to start building a real facility. This real facility would be able to house plenty more cats and we would finally be able to accommodate and house dogs! As the days passed on, I caught myself dreaming about the new facility, and envisioning myself sitting in it, and saving more and more lives!

In August of 2010, construction began. I began a photo documentary of the move and now have posted those photos on the Valley Humane Society Facebook page. The photos can be found here. The construction process was long, but it was so worth it. About one month ago, the construction crew finished up. Although we are still not moved in, we have began slowly moving in boxes and some miscellaneous items. Just today, we moved cabinets out of the modular we are in now into the storage room in the new facility. We also have our current work room all packed up and ready to move next door! Currently, we are gearing up for the Maddie’s Fund Adoptathon, and we could not be more excited!

In this blog, I will be able to update you on current VHS happenings and events. I cannot be more excited to share my stories and reflections with an organization that I am so fond of and proud of. Thank you everybody!

Update on VHS Cat Melody

2011-04-30T20:00:00.001-07:00

I recieved this email today, and I wanted to share:

"Wanted to send you a note about Melody who we have renamed "Bitsey". She is one year old today and absolutely adorable!

We think she is about full grown now and is on the smaller size. She is 7 lbs 2 oz.

She is very playful -- loves her toys and carries them around. She sits by the computer and watches the screen while we work. She especially loves to eat and knows the words, "dinner", "treat", "eat", "kitchen" and probably a few more...

Bitsey sleeps with us in bed and is learning to not start playing until we get up (5:00 is too early!). She and Bee Gee (who was originally Cha-Cha, and is your cat's sister) have really developed a nice relationship. They play together until Bee Gee (now 3) gets tired and cuts it off. If it's real cold, they'll sleep next to each other.

Well, this is getting too long and is probably pretty normal cat info. We just wanted to thank you, the wonderful foster homes and all the volunteers for working hard to give these cats and kittens a good temporary living place.

We absolutely love Bitsey and wanted to let you know that she is doing great!

Tom and Eunice"

2011-04-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

The sound of barking dogs echoes through the hallways of Valley Humane Society’s brand new animal adoption and education center. Although the Pleasanton animal welfare organization is still a few weeks away from moving into their new facility, they have taken on the task of assisting with a dog rescue, in cooperation with the Animal Planet Confessions: Animal Hoarding.

Ten mixed-breed dogs ranging in age from three months to four years were removed from a home in the Sacramento area on Monday, April 18 by a team from Valley Humane, with the cooperation of the dogs’ owner. “The owner voluntarily surrendered his dogs,” said Steve Glavan, Valley Humane Society’s Executive Director. “This was not a criminal case, and this individual and his family have taken steps to address this issue with our help.” According to Jereme Watt, producer for the Animal Planet program, “We wanted to work with a no-kill shelter with a strong reputation for animal care and placement and Valley Humane came highly recommended. They were sensitive to the situation, professional, and from watching them work we had the utmost confidence that all the animals would be cared for and find good homes.”

Valley Humane Society will be working with local experts and their own staff to assess the physical and behavioral condition of each of the dogs in the coming days, with the goal of making them available for adoption as they are ready. According to Glavan, “We know that a lot of people have a passion for animals that come out of situations like this. These are special dogs, and some may require patience and love to adjust, but we believe we can find a loving home for every one of them.” Valley Humane Society plans to update the progress of these dogs regularly on their Facebook site, as well as a blog, both of which are accessible from their website,www.valleyhumane.org.

Glavan recognizes that taking on this project will stretch Valley Humane’s resources, but says the opportunity is too important to pass up. “We still need to raise a significant amount of money as we move into our new facility, but this is our mission. We are confident that the community will respond to support this effort, and the work that Valley Humane Society does on a regular basis.” Glavan says that he is not afraid to ask for support. He is asking people to give, and give generously to Valley Humane. “We need financial support, not only to move into our new facility, but to sustain the programs that are so vital to our community.” Local companies, including Murphy’s Paw and Pet Food Express, have already stepped up to provide supplies and volunteers to assist with the care of the rescued dogs.

The story will air on Animal Planet's new hit series “Confessions: Animal Hoarding.” The series explores stories of people who own more pets then they can care for. The problem of animal hoarding is little understood, but far more common than most people realize. There are over 3000 reported cases a year, and at least ten times that number that go unreported. The series brings families together to voluntarily find humane solutions that work for both pets and people.If you know someone who might be an animal hoarder, you can learn more atwww.animalhoardingproject.com.

To learn how you can contribute directly to the ongoing care of the Valley Humane rescue dogs, or support Valley Humane Society’s ongoing programs, visit their website atwww.valleyhumane.org or call Valley Humane’s office at (925) 426-8656.

New Families

2011-04-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here are Bruschetta and Andy in their new homes. :D

Bruschetta

Andy

The Week in Review

2011-04-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened this week!

Here were all of the adoptions that occurred in the week of April 8 through April 9: Roman, Spice, Sebastian, Panda & Vancouver

Roman

Roman was adopted to a family of VHS volunteers on the 8th. He now lives with both dogs and cats and is as happy as a clam. He is never without a warm lap to lay in. We hear from the family often, and they rave about how amazing is. We are so happy for this incredible cat and his purrrrfect new home!

Spice

Spice was next to find her forever home. A nice gentleman came in looking for a black kitten and fell in love with Spice. She was her spicy and sassy self as usual, and he was thrilled to be able to take home such an awesome kitty. This cute kitten had been part of a pair, Sugar and Spice. Her sister was adopted within days of becoming available, and we were ecstatic when Spice finally found her forever home.

Sebastian

Sebastian of "The Litter Mermaid" litter found his forever home on Saturday the 9th. A nice family came in and fell completely in love. Sebastian melted their hearts and they swooped him up.

Panda & Vancouver

Panda and Vancouver our two longest standing residents found their forever homes Saturday the 9th! They went home together too which was even better!

The family who adopted them came in looking for two cats who had been here a long time. They fell in love with both!

Update

2011-04-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hello faithful followers!

I just wanted to inform you that I am in the process of upgrading the blog- and making it more user friendly.

With that, I will also be writing 1-2 posts a week, that are longer, instead of several short ones. All of the information will still get out to you, and I'll make sure to includes lots of photos!

If you want current information as it is happening, "Like" us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pleasanton-CA/Valley-Humane-Society/159428990747935

Thanks everybody.

Recent Adoptions

2011-04-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

We have had a lot of great adoptions lately!

First, Sunset went home on the 26th. Sunset was a gorgeous kitty who was only in Kitty City a few days before she was swept up. Her new family was here at the center for quite some time before they knew Sunset was a perfect fit.

Then, Reggie was adopted! Reggie was rescued from Kings County Animal Services and brought to us by a rescue we work with. Like Sunset, he was only in Kitty City for about a day. His new family absolutely adores him. It is great to see.

Reggie was a favorite here and will be missed. He loved sleeping on his back and lounging in the sun.

Then, Bart was finally adopted! Bart was one of the "Simpsons" litter we rescued early in January. His mom was adopted right away and so was his sister Maggie. His foster family adopted Homer. Lisa and Bart stuck around at the shelter for a while though. It was very sad. We put them as Pet of the Week in the local papers and on our home page. Lisa was adopted after being seen in the newspaper, but Bart still stuck around. Finally, one of our staff member's friends came in to meet him and fell absolutely in love. She swooped him up! His new name is Jib, and he lives with a cat. Congratulations Bart!

Lastly, Angus found his forever home. He now lives with two Black Labrador Retrievers who adore him. The three of them are best friends and it seems like they always will be. Congratulations to this awesome dog!

* For those that don't know, Angus was a Labrador/Dachshund blend :)

Feta

2011-03-26T18:24:00.001-07:00

Feta, the second to last "Cheese" was adopted today! Congratulations Feta!

Dalmatian and Boxer

2011-03-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

Our cat litter, "The Dogs" went into a home today! Boxer and Dalmatian were adopted together, and their brother, Husky went with them just to get him out of the shelter for a while because he was not adjusting well. Hopefully they will fall in love with him and want to keep him :)

Meunster and Havarti

2011-03-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

Two more of our Cheese "Cats" were adopted today! If anybody knows the story about these Cheese kittens, you'll know they had a crazy start to life, and lost their mom at a young age. Slowly but surely, we have seen these kittens get adopted, and seeing two more go together is great.

We still have Feta and Gouda waiting in Kitty City for their forever home!

Lisa

2011-03-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Lisa, the fourth of the "Simpsons" dog litter, was finally adopted today! Her mom Marge, and siblings Maggie and Homer were immediately adopted. Her brother, Bart, is still here at the shelter.

These dogs came from East County Animal Shelter when they were very young and stayed in foster until they could be put up for adoption.

Latte

2011-03-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

After a long ten month stay at the shelter, Latte was adopted today. Latte grew up not knowing anything other than shelter life. She was doing very well until her brother, Decaf was adopted. She then became very depressed and it was hard to see her struggle. We did everything we could to keep her happy, and our socializers constantly worked with her. She finally started cheering up when she was elected as Vice Mayor of Kitty City. During her reign, she was also "Pet of the Week" in the local paper which caught a family's eye and they came in to meet her.

The family that came in to see her had adopted her brother, Cappacchino in July, and Amici in June. This was so exciting!

We were so happy to finally see her find her forever home, and it's great that she is a fabulous home now.

Chase

2011-03-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

Chase, the toy Australian Shepard, was adopted today. Chase was surrendered to us from a home where the family could no longer keep him. They were devastated to say goodbye but knew he would be in a good place here at VHS.

Chase was not at VHS long before he was adopted to a family who lives in Capitola. What a lucky dog!

Hawaii

2011-03-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Hawaii was FINALLY adopted today after long stay at VHS and a short reign as mayor of Kitty City. Hawaii came to us in May of 2010 from a hoarder. She was rescued with her four tiny babies who were all adopted in June of 2010. She was such a sweet kitty and we are so glad to finally see her find her forever home with a kind gentleman who couldn't resist her cute face.

Casey

2011-03-04T13:17:00.001-08:00

Casey was adopted yesterday to an amazing lady who couldn't wait to bring him home! She walked into Kitty City and fell immediately in love! Congratulations Casey, you were truly a sweet heart.

Peach, Sinatra & Clancy

2011-03-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

Peach was adopted today! Peach is now in the same home as Carla. The family came in about a month ago and fell in love with both of them. But, both kittens had something called Coccidia, which is a parasite they shed in their stool. It is very common in animal shelters. Carla healed up from it first, and was the first to go home. Finally, Peach healed up and was ready to go home. Congratulations Peach!

Then, Sinatra and Clancy were adopted! Many of you probably had never even met these two great cats as they were adopted out of our purple isolation room! We had no spare kennels available in Kitty City, so they were available in Purple! A great family drove out from Castro Valley to meet them and fell immediately in love! Congratulations to these two amazing cats!

Buddah , Zebra, and Meatball

2011-02-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

Three of our homeless friends went home today! Buddah, Zebra, and Meatball.

Buddah was adopted by the same couple who adopted Cuppie a couple weeks prior. Cuppie seemed to be lonely so the couple wanted to adopt another! They immediately fell in love with Buddah and couldn't wait to bring him home! Buddah was the last of the 13 kittens dumped on the back door step of VHS mid August of 2010.

Zebra was the next to go home! A great woman who had been coming in looking for a friend could not resist Zebra. She absolutely adored him!

And, lastly, Meatball the cute dog found his forever home! We rescued Meatball from Tri City Animal Shelter in Fremont. He was very shy with new people but warmed up to you quickly.

Congratulations Meatball!

Fiona, Esmeralda, Buzz & Honey

2011-02-19T20:00:00.000-08:00

Four pets found their forever homes today, yahoo!

First, Fiona found her home with a kind family who could not resist her once they saw her! Fiona was only in Kitty City a little over a day.

Then, Esmeralda found her forever home with a nice young man who lives in San Jose. Esmeralda was very popular, receiving over 500 views on petfinder.com before she was adopted. Let's just say, this young man was very lucky!

Lastly, Buzz & Honey were adopted together! These kittens had a rough start to their life. When they first came to VHS, some of their litter had distemper, so we had to treat them very carefully. Once they healed, they had ringworm! So, they went into foster care to get out the shelter. Once they cleared their ringworm cultures and were okay to come back in, they caught a cold and eye infections! We think that they knew they would be coming back and didn't want to leave their foster home. Finally, they were healthy and good to come back in! Thank goodness.

We are all so pleased that they were adopted together!

Adoption Follow Up: Swiss

2011-02-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

"Pounce de Leon (AKA Swiss) is absolutely wonderful! These pictures were taken shortly after Christmas. I’m still trying to get some action shots of Pounce leaping, jumping and charging around the house like a freight train but he is so fast that I get mostly a blur. Pounce is content to be held and cuddled, preferably soon after he wakes up. He has stopped consenting to being held upside down though.

John and I have acknowledged that “Cat Ownership” means that we are Pounce’s people, and we do notown Pounce. It is true that cats have staff, and only dogs are owned.

Pounce sleeps on my bed if he is ready to go to sleep when I am. Otherwise he sleeps on his tower – at least until I get up in the middle of the night and go get the sleepy cat to bring to my bed. One of his most active periods is from about 10:30pm to 1:30am and fortunately he is good at playing by himself with his toys either in the living room or upstairs in the computer room ( third bedroom). John gets up at 5:00am to go to work and Pounce will leave my bed to greet John for a belly rub and then come back to bed with me after John leaves. When Pounce decides it is time for us to get up he will literally pounce on the bed right beside my head. If that does not work, he pounces on me or on and off the bed. Most mornings he will mercifully let me sleep until 7:00am.

Pounce’s favorite toy is a green snake with a bulbous head, stretchy red “antlers” and a crimped tail. If you pull the tail out straight it vibrates as it contracts. Pounce’s favorite game is to have us nudge snake off the top step so it bounces all the way down the stairs. He runs to try to get it before it gets to the bottom. When he catches up with it he pushes it through the stairs to the underside of the staircase, usually at the bottom though sometimes a few steps higher. Then he dives under the stairs to get it and carries snake back up to us in his mouth.

Other times Pounce bats Snake around and them picks him up in his mouth. Then he throws his head back and tosses Snake high in the air. Pounce plays with a few other toys, the crunchy shiny foil-like balls are another favorite. He’ll play with the jingle ball and curly springs.

Pounce has been generally well behaved, clawing only his scratching devices. A squirt of water has discouraged him from pawing the window screen or pulling the computer mouse off the keyboard try by pulling the cord from the back. No question – he is a smart little devil.

I’m feeding him Premium Edge – Kitten. He eats well. Occasionally he gets flatulence – phew! It doesn’t seem to bother him at all – only us. He drinks water and his eliminations seem normal.

We have not taken him to the vet as he seems to be doing fine. Pounce does sometimes have a little coordination problem, usually when he is bursting with energy and racing around. Then he may jump up on a chair and not get his hind legs up and under him. Or he takes a corner too fast and runs into something. In these instances he just shakes it off and keeps going. The one thing that did cause us some concern: a few evenings ago he fell off the top of his tower. We did not see it happen but were in the room, heard the thud and he was lying on his side. We think he was stretching, maybe sleepy, and rolled off sideways over the lip of the platform. He showed no sign of discomfort as we ran hands over his ribs and hips afterward. He seemed a little dazed and that night he went straight to bed with me and did not do his nightly running around. He has seems to be very normal since. Had shown any signs of hurting or if I had felt anything wrong I would have gotten him to the vet immediately.

We have put a cushion on the floor beneath is tower in case he falls again. He has no trouble getting down from the tower when that is what he intends to do and the route he takes down is predictable. The mid-height platform would catch him if he rolls off the other side. (See the photo of him complaining about the noisy birds.)

I almost forgot – Pounce really enjoys the laser pointer. He keeps trying to find out where it is hiding when we turn it off. We are very careful to keep it away from his eyes."

- Stephanie and John

Franklin

2011-02-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

Franklin went home to a great family today!

Franklin was rescued from East County Animal Shelter during the holiday season. He had been surrendered to the county shelter because the owners could no longer keep him. When our Animal Care Manager Brittany saw him sitting lonely in his cage lined with newspaper and an empty water bowl, she felt an instant connection and knew he would be a perfect cat for Valley Humane Society. She brought him back and he lit up. While we were waiting for a kennel to open up in Kitty City for him, he stayed in our Purple Isolation Room where he purred and gave hugs and kisses to all of those that visited him.

He looked like a teddy bear and stole the hearts of many. When he was moved into Kitty City, we all thought he would get swooped up immediately, but he wasn't. After a month of waiting, his family finally found him.

The couple that adopted him had came in Friday just to browse and fell in love. They went home to decide, and even visited the East Bay SPCA and ARF just to make sure. After exploring their options, they couldn't stop thinking about little Franklin and they came back for him.

Congratulations Franklin!

Patch Article: Spay and Neuter Your Pets!

2011-02-11T20:00:00.000-08:00

This week's Patch Article was on spaying and neutering your pets.

Check it out by clicking HERE.

Cupid

2011-02-11T13:59:00.001-08:00

Cupid was just adopted!

Maggie

2011-02-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

Maggie, another one of the Simpsons puppies, was adopted!

Chatty Cathy and Noel

2011-02-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

Chatty Cathy and Noel were adopted today to an amazing couple who lives in Santa Cruz!

I absolutely adored Chatty, I called her my 'Baby Chats' and I will miss her so much!

Bart & Teddy

2011-02-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

Today was a Dog Adoption Day at Valley Humane!

We adopted out puppy, Bart and dog, Teddy.

Bart was one of the Simpson's puppies and Teddy was the adorable 5 year old Corgi mix!

Marge

2011-02-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Marge, the mom of The Simpsons, was adopted this morning to a great couple! Her new name is Lilly.

Jayden

2011-02-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

Jayden was adopted to a very nice family this afternoon. He will be greatly loved and we are so excited for him!

Carla

2011-02-01T21:32:00.001-08:00

Carla was adopted this morning!

Check back this weekend for a great story!

Sugar

2011-02-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

Sugar, of Sugar & Spice, were adopted this morning to a family of VHS Volunteers. They fell in love with her at a volunteer orientation and couldn't wait until she was spayed to take her home!

We still have Spice, a petite black coat with a gorgeous coat!

What a big day!

2011-01-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

We have had a ton of adoptions today.

Masquerade was the first to find a home with ISO volunteer and Dog Foster, Tyla.

Then, Nutella found a home with a single lady who is very active in Hayward. And, Penguin found a home with a family in Brentwood. Then, Ellie went home to a great family in Rio Vista!

What a great day it has been. More pictures and information to come soon!

Congratulations!

2011-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hawaii is the new mayor of Kitty City!

New Mayor

2011-01-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

Oceania was just adopted! That means we need a new mayor.

Pizza is our current Vice Mayor- should she be promoted or should we elect a new mayor all together?

Vote in the poll to the right. If Pizza gets the most votes, she will become mayor. And whoever comes in 2nd will become Vice Mayor.

If somebody else gets the most votes, they will be the new mayor!

Congratulations Oceania!

Martin & Velma

2011-01-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

Martin was the first to get adopted today. Many never met Martin- he came to us from Tri City Animal Shelter at the beginning of the month, and immediately went into foster before his neuter appointment. A couple weeks after rescuing him, he was neutered and brought into the shelter. Just thirty minutes after Martin coming in and being put up for adoption, he was adopted! A great couple came in, and fell immediately in love.

They decided to name his D'Jango. I think it's a perfect name for a cute little dog such as Martin.

Just as this was happening, a young man came in looking for a cat for his young daughter. As he walked in, Velma greeted him and he too, fell in love. You could tell it was meant to be. He went home to get everything set up and came back that afternoon to make it official.

Congratulations Velma and Martin!

Motorola & Carlos.....and Decaf!

2011-01-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday's are usually the busiest day at the shelter. We have about 25 volunteers during Saturday's to clean/feed/socialize/answer phones, and have about the same number of visitors too. They are especially busy when we have dog adoption days or volunteer orientations.

Well, today was a day that started with an orientation. We had fifteen great attendees that we are looking forward to getting up and running with us. After the orientation ended, the adoptions began!

Right at 11, a lady had came in with her adult children to help her pick out two cats. Originally, they were thinking about adopting siblings, but as they sat in Kitty City and watched every one play. They fell madly in love with two very different kittens, Motorola and Carlos.

Motorola came to us back in May as a 4 week old kitten with no mom. She had three siblings who were all adopted very quickly. We presume Motorola was the last to find a home due to her being all black, which is a shame. Anyways, we sent the litter into foster with our staff vet tech, Pam who has an extensive knowledge on how to take care of young kittens without mom. She had them for almost two months until we got them all spayed. From there, they were brought into Kitty City and made available. Motorola watched as her sisters were adopted, and waited patiently. She was one of the prettiest DLH black cats we had at the time, and we were sad to see her still at the shelter.

Whereas, Carlos had a very short stay with us. He was rescued from Tri City Animal Shelter in Fremont a few days before Christmas. He was small, but his loud voice overcompensated for his petite figure. We waited for a neuter appointment to open up and eventually sent him into For Paws to get fixed. After a couple days of recovery, we moved him into Kitty City on Thursday afternoon, the same time we moved Chase in (see previous entry). With his bubbly personality, we assumed he wouldn't last long- and we were right. Just a day and a half after moving in, he was swooped up and is now in his forever home, along with his new step- sister Motorola.

Congratulations to both Motorola and Carlos!

Then, just a short time after, a nice couple came in interested in Decaf. They had seen him online and wanted to meet him. Only about two weeks ago they had moved here from the UK and wanted a cat to join their dog. After an hour of visiting, we tried to convince them to take his sister, and best friend, Latte, but they only had the room for one at this time. Regardless, one is better than none and we were ecstatic to see him go home.

Decaf was rescued from euthanasia at Contra Costa Animal Shelter back in April. He was saved along with his mom Coffee and his three siblings. Again, these kittens were so small that we sent them into foster to protect them from catching anything in the shelter. After a couple months in foster, they were independent and weaned off of mom. We brought them in and waited for them to get adopted. The first to go was Espresso, a DMH black kitten who was adopted with a loving cat named Minerva. Then Cappachino went. Cappachino went home with the family that adopted Amici from the Pizza litter.... *we still have momma Pizza (if you're interested!). Both of these adoptions happened almost immediately. We watched as Coffee (mom), and Decaf and Latte lingered behind. Finally- Coffee was adopted right before the new year. We couldn't believe we still had Decaf and Latte though. Well, soon enough, Decaf found his home and we are so elated for him.

Now, Latte waits patiently for someone to fall in love with her. Hopefully, she will find a forever home soon.

Congratulations Decaf!

Chase

2011-01-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

This morning, Chase found his forever home! Chase came to us with his brother Jayden from another rescue organization. He had previously been at Kings County Animal Shelter where he was rescued from and then brought to us.

When he arrived, we thought he might have been semi-feral because he was so skiddish and nervous around people. As we were doing his vet check after he arrived, we determined he had a mild case of pneumonia! Wow! We put him in a large kennel in our adoptions office where he was put on "strict bed rest". After antibiotics and a week of TLC, he was happy and healthy again, like he should be! He made the hugest muffins when he would knead his paws, and had turned out to be one of the nicest cats we've had thus far!

Thursday night around 4PM we moved him into Kitty City where we placed him up for adoption. Friday after lunchtime, the family who adopted Gabby back in August of 2009 came in looking for a friend for her. They originally had their eyes on Feta (of the Cheese's) but fell in love with Chase.

They were ecstatic to bring him home, and I am so happy for him!

Snow....now Yoshi!

2011-01-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

Snow, a small brown tabby, found his forever home today. Snow was a private surrender who came to us about 3 weeks ago. The lady who surrendered him found him on a deserted road near a bank in Alamo. He was in a box, all alone. She took him home to get him warm, and called immediately to put him on our long waitlist. After a couple weeks of waiting, we were able to get him in. Since he was so young, we immediately sent him into foster.

The funny thing about Snow is that we thought he was a girl for the longest time. He had so much fur that it was hard to tell. We sent him to get spayed one day, and For Paws (the vet clinic we use for Spay and Neuters in Fremont) called and asked if we had sent the wrong cat. We were confused because we knew Snow was a girl. Poor Snow....he really was a boy. He got neutered and recovered for a few days then was made available in Kitty City.

We thought he was going to get adopted in fourty-five seconds, but he wasn't! He sat in Kitty City for a couple weeks. Finally, a great family who found him on petfinder, drove down from San Jose to meet him. They did fall in love and took him home shortly after meeting him.

Before they even left the shelter, they decided his new name would be Yoshi. It was a choice between Bowser and Yoshi, and they felt Yoshi fit his silly personality better.

Congratulations Yoshi!

Pictures

2011-01-12T13:05:00.000-08:00

Here are some recent pictures taken here at the shelter.

Penguin

Honey and Buzz

Honey

Snow

Laverne

Shirley

Latte

Decaf

Virgo

Pizza

Chatty Cathy

Cameron and Prada

2011-01-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

Our fabulous pet of the week, Prada found her home today! She will be living with a dog, so that should be a lot of fun!

Also, Cameron was adopted.

Check back soon for stories and pictures :)

Swiss

2011-01-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

Swiss was adopted today to a great home! Swiss was one of the Cheese's who need homes!

We still have Havarti, Feta, Gouda, and Meunster.

Nutella & Martin

2011-01-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

Nutella and Martin came to us from Tri City Animal Shelter on January 4th. They are both very sweet loving dogs.

Martin is a two and half year old Dachsund/Cocker Spaniel mix.

Nutella is a year to a year and a half year old mix.

Coffee, Ricotta and Romano

2010-12-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

Coffee found her home today after a long stay at Valley Humane.

And, Ricotta and Romano found their forever homes after a long six month stay.

Check back soon for their stories! :]

Ant, Doc, and Smokey

2010-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Ant and Doc were adopted together today!

Ant and Doc came to us with about 12 other cats from a home that just had too many animals. They were very young. We had named them after "The Insects", "The Winnie the Poohs" and "The Seven Dwarves". Ant was from the "Insects", while Doc was from the "Dwarves". We watched as most of these cats were adopted early May and June, and we had a few linger behind, such as Pooh and Happy. These two were adopted by one of our volunteers, Sharon. See posts further down for information on this. But, nobody ever seemed anxious to take Ant and Doc home, which was sad, because they were two of the sweetest from those two dozen cats. We even think they were part Siamese because of their long skinny faces and lanky tails. Well, long story short, they are in a great home now, and we could not be more happy for them! Congratulations to these two great cats.

And, Smokey found his forever home. Smokey was not with us long, as he was a Siamese. But, boy, did he have a lot of character...quite the mischievous one he was. Many people saw his beauty but wasn't ready for his active personality. We are so glad he found a good home, and many will miss him.

Christmas Day at Valley Humane Society

2010-12-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day is truly magical at Valley Humane Society- that may sound silly, but I will explain why I say this. First, we are closed on Christmas and their is a sense of serenity between the cats and their feline counterparts when things are quiet around the shelter. They all play together peacefully and nobody ever seems to be in a bad mood. I think that when we are closed, they relax in preparation to "show themselves off" to the public when we are open.

Asides from that, Christmas Day is when all of the "Parcels for Pets" presents are opened and distributed to our homeless animals. In case you are wondering what parcels for pets is.....Parcels for Pets is modeled after Toys for Tots. Community members, volunteers, and staff could come pick up an ornament off our tree that had a homeless animals Christmas wish on it. They could then go out purchase the gift the animal wanted, wrap it up, and bring it back. We had the tree out for over a month, and collected a plethora of gifts! Today, I opened all of them and distributed them to cats. What a blast! I made a video with more information that I am hoping to post on our new VHS Youtube channel later. Keep your eye out!

In another sense, it has been pouring rain all day! I'm hoping our old modular doesn't float away into the arroyo anytime soon, ha ha!

Happy holidays to everybody out there!

Six adoptions! Yes, really!

2010-12-23T22:00:00.000-08:00

The day before Christmas Eve, always a busy day filled with cooking, cleaning, and present wrapping, right? Wrong! Today six families picked out a forever friend here at the Valley Humane Society. Licorice, Catalina, Leo, Rockie, Cupid, and Jack were all officially adopted and here are their stories.

Leo was the first one to find a home today. Leo was one of the 13 kittens dropped on our back door step on Friday, August 13. We typically cannot take this many kittens in at once, let alone any animal dropped off on our back step, but there was something special about these 13 kittens. We had to take them in. We split them into 3 different litters according to their weight- one litter being "The Signs". Leo was one of them, of course. We quickly got them spayed and neutered and made them available for adoption. Slowly, they all found their forever homes. Soon enough, we got down to two- Leo and Virgo. A family came in yesterday looking for a new addition. Unsure of what they wanted, a staff member handed them Leo. It was truly love at first sight. They left for the night to pick up the supplies they needed, and came back at 10:55AM this morning to pick up their new feline friend. It was a great match, and we are all so happy for Leo. Congratulations! Here is a picture of Leo back from August.

Immediately after, Rockie was officially adopted by his foster family. This family had adopted Blue Jay (his sister) two weeks before, and could tell she was lonely. They came in one day just to visit, and could not leave little Rockie behind. They swooped him up and fostered him for a couple weeks. While Rockie was at the shelter he had sprained his ankle after jumping over a cage- that is why the family fostered him for a couple weeks- to make sure it healed properly, and it most certainly did! They were thrilled to take him home, and love him very much.

As we finished the paperwork for Rockie's adoption, a man came in looking for our most recent "Pet of the Week" Licorice. Gleefully, we brought both him and Licorice into our work room, where they both fell in love with each other. It did not take long for this man to decide this was the cat for him. He had another cat at home which he was slightly concerned about, but with patience, anything is possible and Licorice never seemed to mind one other cat. Licorice came to us from Fairmont Animal Shelter back in May before they closed. He was saved by one of their staff members who had noticed he had been there too long and not having any luck finding a home. We went and picked him up and he stayed here for 7 months. Licorice never did adjust to shelter life, having thirty plus roommates was very stressful for him, and all he wanted was a sunny window to lay in. Everybody here is so happy to see him adopted and finally in his forever home. He even served a short time as Kitty City Mayor where he tried to lead his fellow feline companions- he wasn't the best mayor we have had- but I definitely think it helped him get adopted. :) Here is a picture of Licorice days before finding his forever home.

After a short lunch break we enjoyed, our last three homeless animals of the day found homes. Catalina was the first to go of the three. A nice woman who had been emailing me about her for a few days came to meet her. Catalina curled up in the woman's lap and began to snuggle. Both the lady and our beautiful Catalina seemed to be in heaven. It was no longer than 20 minutes after meeting, that the papers were being signed and Catalina was on her way home.

Cupid was our last cat adoption of the day. A nice family who had been previously interested in Catalina came in for another visit. After discovering that she had been adopted, they spent a long time in Kitty City searching for a better fit. The woman was looking for an older cat that would spend the days relaxing in her lap and keeping her company. Cupid seemed to be a great fit for this situation- and the family noticed this. Poor Cupid had a rough life before being adopted. He was left behind when his family moved away, so the neighbor next door took care of him while waiting for a kennel to open up here at VHS. Cupid was fully declawed and over ten years old, so he needed a home fast, as he could not defend himself outside. The neighbor truly wanted to keep him, but his son was highly allergic to cats, and it would have threatened his family's health and safety. He fed Cupid and watched after him for almost three months until a kennel opened up. Once a kennel opened here, it did not take long for Cupid to find a home. He was a very handsome, vocal kitty who adored people.

Lastly, the dog we had all grown to love and adore was finally adopted. Jack was rescued back in October from a shelter in Fremont. We knew he would be a very active dog and would need help with some training with kitties and to settle down. He was about a year and a half old and we believe he was part Chihuahua and part Italian Greyhound (what a mix, right?!). The greyhound is what made him so active. His favorite things to do were run, go on hikes, and curl up in laps. After many failed adoption tries, we did not think anybody would ever have the patience this puppy like dog needed. We could tell he was getting sad, so we would let him sit with our office volunteers and answer phones and greet people- he loved it. Finally, a great lady came in last night, and found the dog she was looking for. I talked to her about his active needs and slight training he would need, and she did not mind! It was absolutely delightful. She went home to talk to her family and they all gave her the "thumbs up!". Jack was officially adopted just before 5 and you could tell he knew that he finally found his home.

Happy Holidays to all of these amazing pets and their new families.

We wish you the best, and a happy new year!

New cats!

2010-12-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

We rescued 8 new cats today from local rescue organizations. Here are some pictures and background information on these cats.

Carla- 4 Month Old Grey and White DSH

Carla was rescued from Tri City Animal Shelter in Fremont. She is a talkative girl who loves any sort of human interaction.

Casey- 3 Year Old Black And White Tuxedo DLH

Casey was rescued from Tri City Animal Shelter. He is shy still, but definitely purrrrrs and enjoys a good belly rub.

Cameron- 7 Month Old Orange Tabby DSH

Cameron was rescued from Tri City Animal Shelter. He's a bit of a "flirt" and loves giving head butts and kisses.

Carlos- 3 Month Old Brown Tabby DSH

Carlos was rescued from Tri City Animal Shelter. Though he is a small kitten his big voice makes up for it. He's a snuggler and cuddler.

Celina- 8 Month Old Calico with Tortie Markings

Celina was rescued from Tri City Animal Shelter. She is another chatty cat who loves attention and laying upside down showing off her white tummy.

Chatty Cathy- 4 Month Old Hemingway Polydactyl

Cathy was rescued from Tri-City Animal Shelter. She has 6 toes on both her front feet and 5 toes on both her back. Chatty Cathy is a ball fur of energy and loves to be held.

Jayden and Chase- 6 Month Old Brown Tabby DSH's

Both of these sweet kittens were transfered from a local rescue organization. They are still not so sure of a shelter situation but are learning to warm up to people slowly.

Gucci, Pooh and Happy

2010-12-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day as well!

Gucci was adopted first today. She went home with the same family who adopted Bert & Ernie three months ago. They were looking for an addition that would fit in perfectly. Gucci was that perfect fit! She could handle playing with the other cat and loved the kids. Nothing phased her. Gucci was one of the "Designer" kittens. We rescued her with her siblings and mom from Contra Costa Animal Shelter back in July. They were just days old. She had a rough life to start out, and it's only gone uphill since then. Why she had a rough life? Her mom was not always the best mom, she occasionally tried to down her babies in their water bowl. Good thing the foster home they were in did a great job of stepping in as mom when needed and helped monitor them to make sure they were safe!

Now, we only have one kitten left of the "Designers", and that is Prada. She looks exactly like Gucci and has a cute paint tipped tail.

Then, Pooh and Happy were officially adopted by our fabulous volunteer Sharon C. Pooh had a rough life to start as well. In his first few months, he consistently was giving false positive reads on his FIV tests. It was a mystery that we could not figure out. We monitored him and tried to make sure this was not true. Thank goodness it was not. Eventually we got negative reads, and it stayed that way. Then, he started acting very strange, and we thought he had contracted a fatal illness, so Sharon took him in to spend his possible last days with her in a home. Fortunately, he overcame whatever he was sick with, and now is a happy, healthy, energetic kitten. Sharon wanted him to have a friend, because kittens love company, and she adopted littermate Happy as well. Now they are a happy family, and it is great news!

Congratulations to Happy, Pooh, and Gucci!

Scooby and Freddie

2010-12-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Scooby and Freddie just found a home!

Scooby and Freddie were two kittens of the "Scooby Doo" litter. Their other two family members are mom, Velma and brother, Shaggy. Shaggy was adopted two weeks ago and mom is still at the shelter.

We rescued these cats when they were babies at ECAS. They went into foster with a great volunteer for about a month while they grew larger. After their spay and neuter surgeries, they were put into Kitty City!

Congratulations to these great kittens!

Saturday, December 18 was a success!

2010-12-18T20:42:00.001-08:00

This morning, we started out with a new volunteer orientation, where around 25 people came to learn about the VHS programs and about our history. It was great to see so many people come, especially just a few days before Christmas. I am so thankful for all of these new volunteers we will have!

Shortly after, we had visitors lining up outside before 11 to see three small Siamese kittens we rescued from East County Animal Shelter. Siamese cats are always a big hit here at VHS, understandably. All at once, crowds of people came to see them, as well as other cats and kittens we had. It was great!

By 11:30, Glam and Glitter were getting adopted and....Sphynx and Thumbelina were getting adopted together! The folks that adopted Glam and Glitter were absolutely ecstatic to be taking such great kittens home. Both cats got along together very well and will be living with a 13 year old cat. As for Sphynx and Thumbelina, they are going to a great home! I already heard from their new family that their new names are Buster and Lily. Sphynx came to us back in May as a 5 day old kitten with his siblings and mom. We sent them into foster for a while so that they could grow and nurse off of mom. Once they were all big enough, they were spayed and neutered and brought into the shelter to be adopted. Since Day 1, we knew Sphynx's mom was feral, so we released her out back of VHS where she is now happy. We all see her daily and love her; her name is Egypt, and she is a DLH Tuxedo cat.

Things did not slow down any after these four were adopted. Shortly after, adoption paperwork was in the works for Glitz, one of the three Siamese from ECAS. The lady who adopted her was thrilled to have met her and could not wait to finish the paperwork to take her home. Glitz and her new owner were a perfect match, and I am so happy for both of them.

After a short break in chaos, a family came in looking to adopt a pair of kittens. We helped them by naming off all of the pairs we have currently...which is a lot (Scooby & Freddie; Prada & Gucci; Leo & Virgo; Decaf & Latte; Boq & Elphaba; Ant & Doc; Bruschetta & Tiramisu; Laverne & Shirley). They spent a couple hours with us choosing the best fit, and after much thought, they knew Boq and Elphaba were chosen! These were our sixth and seventh adoptions of the day!

And lastly, we finished the busy day with Tiramisu's adoption. A nice mom and daughter came in looking to adopt, but not sure what they were interested in. They were also the family who came to us and adopted Sweetie this time last year! Tiramisu's purrs and playfulness stuck out right away. This adoption again was a perfect match, and I am so happy for them.

Throughout all of the adoptions today, we also held a small "Volunteer Appreciation Get-Together" for our volunteers. We brought in some holiday goodies, and had treat bags as a thank you to our volunteers. Thank you to all of the volunteers who made it out today. And, of course, thank you to ALL of our volunteers who work so hard every day for us.

Below are some photos of our adopted animals from today:

Tiramisu

Thumbelina- now Lily

Sphynx- now Buster

Elphaba

Boq

Glam

Glitter

Glitz

Patch Article: The Divine Nine

2010-12-17T18:49:00.001-08:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about Valley Humane Society's 9 longest residents.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/meet-the-many-felines-ruling-kitty-city

Muffin

2010-12-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

Muffin went home tonight!

Two roommates came in last Thursday looking for an older cat who had been here a while longer than most. This is always great news when people are interested in an older cat. Muffin instantly caught their eye as she is a beautiful brown tabby. After thinking about it for a few minutes, they knew it was a perfect match. Over the weekend, they set their home up for a new cat and bought what they needed. After they got off work on Tuesday afternoon, the man came in and filled out the necessary paperwork and took her home!

Muffin was rescued from Contra Costa Animal Shelter in late April, along with several of her kittens (Bran, Oat, Flax, Cranberry, and Blueberry). We put her into foster right away as her babies were very young. After over a month in foster, they were all fixed and put up for adoption. The first weekend they were here was our huge "Adoptathon" weekend back in June. We had put mom and babies in a dog-sized kennel on the ground in Kitty City. These babies were of the first to be swooped up. Of course, kittens never take long.

All of the volunteers waited patiently for mom to find a home after that weekend. And, now that she has been adopted, everyone is thrilled!

Congratulations Muffin!

Gift Certificates!

2010-12-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

Do you know somebody close to you who is looking to adopt a pet? And, are you looking for a gift to buy them for the holidays?

If so, consider purchasing a Valley Humane Society gift certificate! They are on sale now!

Shaggy, Monet, and Count Dracula

2010-12-11T22:31:00.000-08:00

Shaggy was the first homeless shelter pet to find a home today. A lady who had visited previously brought her daughter in to find a family pet. Her daughter was immediately drawn to the "Scooby Doos"and after visiting for a short time, she knew Shaggy was the perfect fit. They also expressed a lot of interest in Scooby, so maybe they will be back! It's always great to see siblings go home together.

Next, Monet found her forever home. The great family who adopted "Angel" the dog a few weeks ago, met Monet their first visit here. Since then, Monet was lingering in their minds; when they saw Monet in the Independent they knew it was a sign sent to them. The family understood Monet's "crazy" self and could not wait to bring her home. Monet will be living with many other animals and will hopefully be much happier! As Monet was Mayor, we are looking to elect a new Mayor, as well as Co-Mayor! So far, it's looking like Licorice and Oceania have the most votes. What do you think? Leave any suggestions in the comments. And, vote in the poll! On the right hand side of the page. The poll will close on 12/15.

Lastly, Count Dracula found a home! A family who had traveled all over today looking for a dog thought they were out of luck. Our afternoon office volunteer handed them Dracula, and they fell in love. After family deliberation and a long walk with the lucky pup, they made their decision to complete the adoption.

I am thrilled for these three animals...especially Monet and Count Dracula, as they had been with us too long- in cat and dog terms, respectively.

Patch Article: Taking Care of Sick Cats...Information on Feline URI

2010-12-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about feline upper respiratory infections.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/taking-care-of-sick-cats

Chanel

2010-12-09T20:07:00.001-08:00

Chanel was adopted today! Chanel was a mom who we took in from Contra Costa Animal Shelter near the end of July. At that time, she had tons of itty-bitty kittens, just days old. They needed to be rescued from a county shelter situation immediately.

Luckily, we were able to take them in as we had an open foster home. Mom was so elegant, and her babies were a variety of colors, including torties, grey tabbies, buff tabbies, and brown tabbies. Seeing as they were so special and unique, we named them "The Designers". Mom was Chanel, while her babies included: Vera, Versace, Gucci, Prada, Armani and Gabbana.

After their spay and neuter surgeries, they all moved into Kitty City. These cats all were so much fun to play with and watch. Each one had their own personality that really shined, including Mom. I enjoyed watching them grow and slowly, some of them were adopted.

To this day, we still have Gucci and Prada, two brown tabbies. They are the best of friends, and I would love to see them go together...the funny thing is, they look so alike, they could be twins! The only difference is that one of them has a tan splotch on her tail that looks like she dipped it in a paint can!

Seeing our "momma" cats get adopted is one of my favorites. Seeing all that they have been through, and how hard they worked is very special.

Congratulations Chanel, I hope you are happy in your new home!

Pet of the Week: Monet

2010-12-06T23:51:00.000-08:00

Monet is as pretty as a picture and is looking for her forever home. She arrived here last February as a shy kitty and has grown into an outgoing cat. She’s not a big fan of the shelter atmosphere and really needs a space to call her own. If you adopted Monet, you would be very lucky to own such a spirited and extraordinary kitty. Monet also holds the coveted honor of ‘Mayor of Kitty City’. To learn more about our adoptable animals, call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org. Valley Humane Society is located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton and is open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM.”

Iris, Gabbana, Vera, Blue Jay and Ranger

2010-12-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

We had three kittens and two puppies find homes today!

Iris, Gabbana, and Vera were the kittens. Blue Jay and Ranger were the puppies!

We still have a plethora of kittens, and the last puppy, Rockie, available for adoption!

Patch Article: Introducing a Baby into the Family

2010-12-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about introducing a baby into a home with a pet.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/introducing-a-baby-into-the-family-with-a-pet

Tootsie and Huey

2010-11-30T15:49:00.000-08:00

Tootsie found her home early this morning! A nice lady who lives on her own saw Tootsie in the paper and just fell in love. Tootsie even sat in the lady's lap. What a perfect match.

Huey was also adopted! Huey had been with us for over a year, so t

his was a huge adoption. The family he went home with had been coming to visit him for about a month before they made the big decision.

Congratulations to both of these amazing cats.

**UPDATE 12/11/2010

I received a phone call from the woman who adopted Tootsie on Friday. She exclaimed to me how great Tootsie was doing. I was ecstatic. Tootsie was a cat who I had seriously contemplating rescuing if she had stayed with us much longer. Tootsie had a rough life. Back when she was around 2, she was brought to VHS, and immediately adopted.

Her name those eight long years ago was Socks. After being in a home about seven years, it stopped working out between her owners and her. They just were not getting along anymore. So, they brought her back to us. Tootsie was such a shy cat and did not trust anybody. To the day she was adopted, she was still untrusting, not letting anybody hold her. As a senior cat, shelter situations are never easy either. The older the cat, the harder it is to adjust, no matter how hard we try to make everything perfect.

Regardless, after a long 11 month stay with us, she finally found her forever home. The nice woman saw her picture in the Independent newspaper and knew she had to be an angel to this sweet cat. Congratulations Tootsie. I miss you everyday.

As for Huey, his new family could not be any happier with him. They let us know how happy he seems to be, and how he is inquisitive and curious in his new home. They absolutely adore him, and are so happy at how great of a cat he turned out to be. Huey came to us in November of 2009. He was a young kitten at the time, that our vet tech had been feeding in her neighborhood. After she realized how shy and scared he was, she took him in to VHS's adoption program. Long story short, he never did adjust to a shelter life. He preferred to spend the day laying in his litter box, napping. All of our staff and volunteers hoped and wished for him everyday that he would find a home. Thank goodness he finally found one, and with the best family anybody could have ever wished for him!

Pet of the Week: Velma, Scooby, Shaggy, and Freddie

2010-11-29T23:52:00.000-08:00

"Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you? That’s an easy question! Scooby Doo, along with his feline family, Freddie, Velma, and Shaggy are here at Valley Humane Society. Velma is a stunning young Calico that enjoys chatting and lounging in the sun. Shaggy and Freddie are orange and white kittens, while Scooby is grey and white. Along with these feline friends, we have an abundance of other cats and dogs available for adoptions. To learn more about our adoptable animals, call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information. Valley Humane Society is located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton and is open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM.”

Patch Article: Finding a Good Boarding Kennel

2010-11-26T23:34:00.000-08:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about finding a good boarding kennel for the holiday traveling season.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/finding-a-good-boarding-kennel-for-the-holidays

Lilly and Phillie

2010-11-26T12:15:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was a success for puppy Phillie. Phillie found a home with a great couple who had recently lost their Shiitzu. Phillie filled that hole in their hearts immediately!

And this past Tuesday, Lilly, the french bulldog, found her forever home!

I am so happy for Lilly. Lilly came into our adoption program 4 years ago as a young dog. She was adopted out to a loving mom who was ecstatic to take in a rescue dog with so much heart. Unfortunately for both the mom and Lilly, her owner was diagnosed with a medical condition that made her unable to care for Lilly anymore. We took Lilly back in, promising to her we would find her the best home possible. And, we did. Her new family is amazing, and absolutely adores her. Congratulations Lilly.

Pet of the Week: Tootsie

2010-11-22T23:51:00.000-08:00

“November is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month. Do you have a place in your home and heart for one of our homeless, senior pets? Nobody wants to spend the holidays alone, especially the senior citizens of Kitty City. Pictured, Tootsie was surrendered to us in January of 2010 and is still searching for her forever home. Tootsie is around ten years old and is very lonely here in her kennel. We also have Cupid, a ten year old declawed Siamese. To learn more about how heart-warming it is to adopt an older animal, call 925-426-8656 or visit the websitewww.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets. Valley Humane Society is located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton and is open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM.”

Patch Article: Handling Grief

2010-11-19T23:43:00.000-08:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about helping a pet handle grief.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-dealing-with-grief

Puppies!

2010-11-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

This Saturday from 11AM to 1PM we will have four terrier mix puppies here at the shelter. The puppies are "The Baseball Litter".

We also have Lilly- a 5 year old french bulldog, Jac

k- a 1 year old chihuahua/whippet mix, and Count Dracula- a 2 year old Dachsund mix.

To adopt a dog from Valley Humane Society, it is $200. This includes vaccinations (up to date), the micro chip, the spay or neuter, flea control, and parasite control.

Since we are so small, we do take in applications for our dogs and puppies before choosing a home. Our Dog Adoption Committee reviews all applicants very carefully before choosing. The Committee takes into account what will best for not only the family, but also the pet.

We will be taking applications from 11AM to 1PM on Saturday, November 20. Then, that afternoon we will be informing applicants of our decision.

Please contact us with any questions.

Pet of the Week: Ranger, Rockie, Blue Jay, and Phillie

2010-11-15T23:50:00.000-08:00

“Are you a baseball fan that is sad the season has ended? If so, we have four adoptable puppies named after famous Baseball teams, so that the sport can live on in your home! Blue Jay, Ranger, Phillie, and Rockie are four terrier mixes about ten weeks of age. Each puppy has their own unique personality and would love to meet you! We also have 2 adult dogs-Lilly and Count Dracula- up for adoption! To learn more about these seven special dogs, call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets. Valley Humane Society is located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton and is o pen Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM.

Patch Article:Keeping Warm

2010-11-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about keeping your pet warm in the winter weather.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-keeping-warm

Movin' and Shakin'

2010-11-10T19:22:00.001-08:00

Hi everybody,

The building was moving and shaking again today! All day long, it seemed like we were having mini earthquakes! The construction crew is working very hard next door to help our building along.

It is such an exciting time! We are gearing up for all of the change, and cannot wait.

This morning, Phillip was adopted, too! This is great news. Phillip was adorable, and every volunteer loved him. We still have Jack, Lilly, and Count Dracula that are looking for homes.

And, of course, around 40 cats that need homes....especially for the Holidays.

Nobody wants to be alone during this time of year. Come adopt a pet!

Pet of the Week: Oceania

2010-11-08T23:49:00.000-08:00

“Oceania is an affectionate cat who would love to join your family for the holiday season. She loves greeting new people and has an adorable cow lick on the back of her neck that sets her apart from the crowd. Oceania does not even realize how adorable she is the way she cocks her head and licks your hand as you pet her. You would be very lucky to have such a great cat in your home. If you are interested in head butts and purrs, come on down to Valley Humane Society located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets.”

Aries

2010-11-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

It has been a very quiet week here at VHS. I think everybody is starting to gear up for the holiday season already!

We still have Jack and Phillip, who are waiting to find their forever home. And, we took in a French Bulldog, Lilly, who is available as well.

And, Aries was adopted this morning! Aries was a sweet tuxedo kitten who was dumped on our back step back on August 13. She was dumped with 12 others, and almost all of them have found homes thus far. But, we still have Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, and Buddah.

The building is coming along faster than we had imagined! There were even workers out there at 9 this morning pouring cement along the outside of the building! How cool!

Patch Article: Cat Scratch Fever

2010-11-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about cats having the need to scratch everything in sight, and how to help!

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/cat-scratch-fever

Pet of the Week: Phillip and Jack

2010-11-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

“Meet Phillip and Jack, two of the friendliest dogs you will ever meet! Both are aged around a year old and love to be walked and snuggled with. Phillip is a Pomeranian and Pekingese mix, while Jack is likely an assortment of small dog breeds! These two are the best of friends and would fit into any family. To learn more about these two handsome dogs, come on down to Valley Humane Society located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets.”

Jack and Phillip

2010-10-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

We do have two dogs available at the shelter!

Jack and Phillip are truly anxious to meet you and hope you come on down to see them!

Patch Article: Halloween is Scary for Pets Too!

2010-10-29T23:38:00.000-07:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about how to make your pet feel more comfortable during a time of "Trick or Treat".

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-halloween-is-scary-for-pets-too

Tips for your pets fearful of noises on Halloween

2010-10-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Do you have pets that are afraid all of the noises and strange sights of Halloween?

If so, take a look at this week's Pleasanton Patch article!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-halloween-is-scary-for-pets-too

Building Update

2010-10-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

The building is up and coming!

The construction crew is there almost every day working.

We have all of the exterior walls, interior beams, and windows! They have the framing up for all of the dog kennels, and seperate rooms.

They have been working on the heating and electricity for the past week which is incredible!

We are all so excited over here and cannot wait for the finished product.

2010-10-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

“Are you looking for a perfect kitten that will light up your world? If so, come on down to meet Aries. Aries is an extroverted, playful kitten who was left behind in the cold and the rain with twelve other small kittens in August. If you are a horoscope addict, we also have Scorpio, Leo, and Virgo. To meet these kittens and plenty others, come on down to Valley Humane Society's Kitty City, located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets.”

Posh

2010-10-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

Posh Spice was adopted today!

She was featured as the pet of the week, and so many people seemed to fall in love!

After a long day of visitors, she went home to her new family.

Congratulations Posh!

Patch Article: Rabies Vaccines

2010-10-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about the importance of the rabies vaccine.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-the-importance-of-rabies-vaccines

Gelato

2010-10-19T17:45:00.001-07:00

Gelato, of the Italians, was adopted tonight to a great home!

Congratulations Gelato.

Her new owner is more than ecstatic to take such a beautiful kitty home.

Pet of the Week: Posh

2010-10-18T23:46:00.000-07:00

Don’t be suspicious of this black cat! She is a sweet girl looking for a home before Halloween comes. Posh Spice has been a resident here since last November and is really anxious for her forever family. Shelter life gets a little bland when you’ve been here so long! If you are interested in adding zest to your family, come on down to Valley Humane Society's Kitty City, located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets.

Juliet

2010-10-16T16:27:00.001-07:00

Juliet was just adopted too!

Aquarius, Tully, Peet, Starbuck, and Dunkin'

2010-10-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Aquarius was the first to get adopted today. She was adopted to a family with no other pets, and they were thrilled to have this new energy in their home. The parents hadn't had a pet in a while, so they were really looking forward to it.

Then all of the Coffee Shop Pups found great homes! We got tons of applications, and sending them home was very exciting!

Patch Article: Hiking with Your Pet

2010-10-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about hiking with your pet.

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-hiking-with-your-pets

Dog Adoption Day

2010-10-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is a Dog Adoption Day. We will have four puppies at the shelter from 11AM to 1PM.

At this time, the public will be able to meet the puppies and fill out applications.

After 1PM, our Dog Adoption Committee will meet to decide who is the best home for the puppy and the family.

It is a very exciting.

And, as always, we have tons of cats and kittens waiting for their forever homes!

Pleasanton Patch

2010-10-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

The second Pleasanton Patch article was published today.

Here is the link:

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/pet-corner-hiking-with-your-pets

Romeo

2010-10-14T14:15:00.001-07:00

Romeo was adopted this morning!

His sister Juliet, a beautiful Calico, is still available for adoption.

Pet of the Week: Tully

2010-10-11T23:45:00.000-07:00

Meet Tully of the Coffee Shop Puppy Litter. Tully is a female mixed breed with three brothers, Starbuck, Dunkin’, and Peet. These puppies are cuddlesome, delectable, and tempting. They would love a home of their own, so come on down to meet them at our next Dog Adoption Day, October 16, at Valley Humane Society located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets.

Optic

2010-10-09T12:38:00.001-07:00

Optic, of the Eyeballs litter, was just adopted to a very loving and energetic family!

The only Eyeball left is Iris!

Patch Article: Microchips

2010-10-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

Below is the link for the Pet Corner article of the week. This week it is about microchips!

Happy reading!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/the-facts-about-micro-chipping

Pleasanton Patch

2010-10-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Are you interested in learning more about responsible pet ownership?

If so, check out the brand new column, Pet Corner, on the Pleasanton Patch website (www.pleasanton.patch.com).

All the articles are written by me, Melissa!

I am very excited and look forward to providing everyone some more information.

Here is the link to this week's article!

http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/the-facts-about-micro-chipping

Pet of the Week: Sunshine

2010-10-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

“You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine; you make me happy, when skies are grey! Meet Sunshine, a shy kitty with a joyous spirit. Her favorite activities include being pet, and lying in the sun! She is an infallible addition to these scorching hot autumn days we have had. To add some radiance to your home, come on down to Valley Humane Society's Kitty City, located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Open Tues- Sat from 11AM to 5PM. Call 925-426-8656 or visit the website www.valleyhumane.org for more information on our adoptable pets.