Inside, Looking out Prison Programs Help Shelter Dogs
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Jan/Feb 2010 Tips for a Great Shelter Website New: Humane Law Forum Inside, Looking Out Prison Programs Help Shelter Dogs In this issue we introduce a new department, Humane Law Forum, which will alternate with our Shelter Medicine column and address legal issues that shelters face daily. The inaugural column examines the issue of discrimination, asking when an adopting agency might be held liable for a decision not to adopt. –Humanep. Law 49 Forum, 28 34 On the Inside, Making It Work Looking Out Amber van Leuken, grant writer (and former assistant manager) at the Ark-Valley Humane San Quentin State Prison, California’s Society in Buena Vista, Colo., recounts how oldest penitentiary, isn’t a nice place to be. the shelter revamped its volunteer program But in 2005, inmates at the prison got a to fit its needs, rather than simply making do little ray of sunshine: They began working with whoever walked in the door that day. with dogs from a local shelter, helping to socialize and prepare them for new homes. It’s not a unique program: Dozens of prisons around the country have teamed up with area shelters and rescue groups. COVER: JBRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS/CORBIS JBRIAN COVER: Animal Sheltering is a publication of The Humane Society of the United States. ANIMAL SHELTERING MAGAZINE STAFF Editor Carrie Allan Associate Editor James Hettinger Staff Writer/Copy Editor Jim Baker Production/Marketing Manager Amy Briggs n Advertising Manager ReNae Vorgert Design Bussolati Associates n Chairman, Board of Directors, Humane Society of the United States Anita W. Coupe, Esq. President and CEO, Humane Society of the United States Wayne Pacelle 5 Letterbox 45 Q & A n ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE Is there a customer service crisis in the ani- Animal Sheltering (ISSN 0734-3078) is published bimonthly by The Humane Society of the United States. Our magazine serves 7 Scoop mal welfare field? In a series of interviews the people on the frontlines of animal protection—by offering practical expertise, technical know-how, forums for debate, pro- Some organizations offer “bunnymoons” to excerpted here, Animal Sheltering editor gram profiles, news on the latest research and trends, and a sense of inspiration and community among those striving to make the help rabbit owners find a suitable match for Carrie Allan talks to staff of Maddie’s Fund world a better place for animals. their lonesome pets; music store owners turn and the Petfinder Foundation about the Subscription Prices Single-copy subscriptions are $20 each ($25 for subscrib- used CDs into cash to support local shelters; a results of a “secret shopper” program they ers outside the U.S.). Members of Shelter Partners receive a 10-percent discount. For information on multiple-copy dis- former ACO connects pet owners to low-cost conducted last summer at a series of rescues counts, visit animalsheltering.org. Circulation Offices spay/neuter options throughout Alabama; and shelters. To order, renew, change your address, or inquire about other subscription-related issues, visit our website at shelter staff charged with filing their annual animalsheltering.org or contact our circulation office: Animal Sheltering tax returns scramble to adapt to changes 49 Humane Law Forum P.O. Box 351; Congers, NY 10920-0351 866-512-3111 (toll free) 845-267-3004 (local) in the form used by nonprofits; a humane In a new department, an attorney who 845-267-3478 (fax) [email protected] officer goes to extraordinary lengths (well, specializes in animal law tackles the issue of Editorial Offices Please send letters to the editor, heights) to free a trapped bird, and more. discrimination, explaining how to make sure Coffee Break submissions, and article ideas to: Animal Sheltering magazine/HSUS your adoption decisions don’t leave your 2100 L St., NW Washington, DC 20037 26 Coffee Break organization vulnerable to legal threats. 202-452-1100 (phone) 301-258-3081 (fax) In your space, you told us about what [email protected] gadget—real or imagined—you would 53 Volunteer Management animalsheltering.org Advertising Information most like to have, and how it would help Our columnists—both of whom have recently Contact ReNae Vorgert, Animal Sheltering’s advertising manager, at 701-572-9100 or [email protected]. you help animals. made career transitions—discuss how the Job Listings volunteer programs they directed were able To post a free job announcement, visit animalsheltering.org. Reprint Information 39 The “101” Department to survive during periods of change. We encourage private humane organizations and public animal services agencies to reprint Animal Sheltering articles by HSUS Thanks to the Internet, people are authors in whole or in part, without prior permission, provided that the reprinting serves educational purposes in keeping with conducting more and more of their the magazine’s intent. Please credit the article’s author as well as 60 Off Leash Animal Sheltering magazine, and send us a copy of the reprinted material. If you are interested in reprinting articles by non-HSUS lives online: shopping, socializing, doing A rescue group based in Mill Valley, Calif. authors, special permission may be required; e-mail us at business—and that goes for seeking a new has released a limited run of a frisky new [email protected]. The Small Print pet, too. That’s why it’s become essential for wine that not only raises money to support The HSUS does not endorse or guarantee any products, services, or vendors mentioned in Animal Sheltering, nor can it be respon- shelters to have an online presence, and to the group’s mission, but spreads the spay/ sible for problems with vendors or their products or services. Also, The HSUS reserves the right to reject, at its discretion, any adver- ensure that presence contains some basic key neuter message. tising. Views expressed by non-HSUS authors are not necessarily those of The HSUS. elements. Learn about them here, and see if ©2010 The Humane Society of the United States. your site’s working for you! All rights reserved. ED W NT IT RI H P 1 0 Y 0 % G W ER Cert no. SW-COC-002281 IND EN www.NewWindEnergy.com 2 ANIMAL SHELTERING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 ANIMALSHELTERING.ORG letterbox Jan/Feb 2010 Tips for a Great Shelter Website p. 36 Inside, Looking Out Prison Programs Help Shelter Dogs Welcome to the new look of Animal Sheltering! It’s been three years since our last overhaul, and we’re trying to keep our magazine new and fresh for you. We still have the same great content, though—good news, inspiring stories, and information that helps you work better and ANDREW DEAN/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM ANDREW smarter to save animals. This issue, along with a feature about shelters and rescues that Squirrel Supporter A Fair Idea for Volunteers have worked with local prisons on programs I just read your article on squirrels (Wild Things, I wanted to share a great idea that our direc- to train and socialize dogs and a 101 on Sept-Oct ’09, p. 18) and I wanted to both com- tor, Donna Howard, came up with recently what makes for an effective shelter website, pliment and thank you for it! Well done! for the Flagler Humane Society. Due to pres- we’re also debuting a new column, Humane I happen to be a big fan of those “plucky ent economic conditions, our shelter could Law Forum. Written by an expert on animal rodents” and am always trying to teach peo- no longer afford even a part-time volunteer law, the column—which will alternate with ple to tolerate and appreciate them more. I coordinator. Our applications from potential Shelter Medicine in every other issue—will will be including this article in my wildlife volunteers were piling up. highlight legal issues that animal welfare or- binder for our dispatch staff so that they too Donna organized a volunteer fair. One ganizations may confront. Check out the first can better understand them and talk to the Saturday morning, all the potential volunteers column on p. 49! public about them. were invited to come to the shelter, where While our appearance has changed a —Scott Giacoppo small booths were set up highlighting each bit, we’re still operating with the same goal: Chief Programs Officer individual volunteer opportunity available. Helping you help the animals. If there’s infor- Washington Humane Society There was a “lead” person (active volun- mation you need, let us know! We really do Washington, D.C teer) in charge of their particular area. They respond: The website story in this issue was decorated their booth and gave out infor- slated after a caller asked for a copy of a 1996 The Little Guys mation and answered questions. These lead article on Web design. We realized it was Thank you for the great article in Animal volunteers did a wonderful job, and it was high time we updated it. Sheltering magazine helping to raise aware- then their responsibility to follow up with the We’re here for you, so write to us at asm@ ness of the value and needs of small companion names for future training. humanesociety.org to let us know what you animals (“Don’t Forget About Us,” Sept-Oct, p. Over 60 people showed up [and] walked think, what’s working for you, and what you 14). Their prospects for being adopted are just from booth to booth. Some signed up for need from us. as important as those of everyone else at a shel- more than one area. —Carrie, James, Jim, and Amy ter. I think that because of the difficult aspects It was a home run … and probably the Animal Sheltering magazine staff of working at many shelters, people are some- best volunteer orientation we’ve ever had.