The Official Blog of Dakin Humane Society

 

Review our seasonal safety tips to keep your pets safe and cool this summer

“I’m so proud to work for an organization that is thought of so highly in our community,” she said.

Valley Gives Day, a day of online donations for regional non-profits, was set for May 1, and hopes were high here that many people would keep Dakin’s animals in mind while making their online gifts.

Spring and summer bring certainties every year, like pollen, kids daydreaming about the end of school, and litter after litter of tiny kittens – mostly orphaned - in need of care. Here at Dakin, we handle the latter…or litter, in our case.

Want to get more involved but not sure how? Fostering for Dakin is the toughest job you’ll ever love and we’re recruiting new homes now.

It takes a village...and a Valley.

Dakin would like to celebrate this event by providing some social media posts featuring you and your pets celebrating your life together during National Pet Week!   

Oh wow...80 thou!

Dakin's Community Spay/Neuter Clinic welcomed our 80,000th patient earlier this month, a seven month old miniature schnauzer named Sasha, who lives in Springfield.

On Thursday, April 19, Dakin celebrated National Volunteer Appreciation Week by hosting a party honoring its many incredibly dedicated volunteers.  Games, tours of the Spay/Neuter Clinic and special recognition awards were just part of this fun event.  Were you there?  Check out our photo gallery, you might see yourself!

 

As a Guardian Member, Rachel Scott knows that monthly gifts of all sizes make a difference.  "It's a small way for you to make a big impact," she says.

 

Kittens are the comedians of the universe, and the laughs (and sighs of adoration) were plentiful when Dakin held its first-ever Kitten Pop Up Event on Saturday, March 3. A litter of 6-week old kittens in foster care were recruited for the fundraiser, during which people sat on the floor in groups of 10 to enjoy their feline antics.  Are you in any of these photos?

 

Mary Dudley helps kittens in Nick's Nursery, trains adult cats through Jackson Galaxy's Cat Pawsitive Pro program, and opens her home as a foster caregiver.  Hard to believe she grew up pet-less because she was allergic to both dogs and cats!  

 

 

Anyone with a dog or cat is probably very familiar with the sight of their huge, pleading eyes watching as you enjoy a tasty dinner or snack. They certainly know how to look just pitiful enough to tempt us to share a bite or two with them, but that isn't a good idea. In fact, some “people food” is actually toxic to our beloved pets. Here's a rundown of food dangers for pets...

 

April 8-14 is Dog Bite Prevention Week. It’s important to keep in mind that, in certain circumstances, the most unlikely dog may exhibit aggressive behavior or bite. More than 4 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, most often by dogs they know. We’d like to offer some tips to help prevent dog bites, or prevent your dog from injuring someone.

 

 

When a beloved pet passes away, we each process the grief in ways that are as individual as we are.  There are no "acceptable time periods" of mourning that we mustn't exceed, nor are there exact steps to take.  Author Ken Dolan-Del Vecchio offers some helpful tips for those of us navigating this difficult time.

 

 

Away from the hustle and bustle of the adoption floor at our Springfield location, you’ll find many offices at Dakin inhabited by staff members who work in animal care, operations, marketing, development and other departments. And in many of those offices you’ll find an assistant who gets away with sleeping on the job. These are our Dakin office cats.

 

 

Mimi is a 3 year old cat who was recently brought to Dakin as a stray. The medical examination given to her upon intake revealed that she had a broken tooth that needed removal to prevent complications. Thanks to a recent grant from Banfield Foundation, Mimi was able to receive the help she needed.

 

 

The supportive role of dogs in our lives has never been more prominent than it is now. As a society we have designated some to be service dogs, some are therapy pets, and others are emotional support animals. But what part does each play?

 

Accountant, Volunteer, Teacher, Foster Caregiver, Wife, Mom and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dakin...does this woman ever sleep?

These 2 crazy kids are in love, and wedding fever is in the air...