Monthly Archives February 2021

The DC Cat Count

The DC Cat Count

February 26, 2021 | Comments Off on The DC Cat Count

This month, we wanted to highlight a first-of-its-kind study on feral cat populations. In late 2020, the D.C. Cat Count project wrapped up its field work. Over two years, they collected over 6 million photos in the D.C. area in order to figure out how many cats live there. A final result of the 3-year project is set to come out later in 2021. This kind of work is, in our opinion, incredibly exciting and extremely important. So much about community cats – including even basic things like how many are out there – is not fully understood. The more
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The center of our world

The center of our world

February 26, 2021 | Comments Off on The center of our world

We adopted Pasha in December 16, 2017. After a couple of shy kitty days, he discovered a family welcoming him into every part of our lives. He had been declawed before we adopted and limps from the arthritis this has caused (Paw Project covered x-rays to rule out bone fragments causing his limp). So, he spends a lot of time cuddling with us. We get tv time, sleep time and even co-worker kitty time in the office! Such a sweet kitty. We absolutely adore him. Thank you so very much, HSHV! We love him dearly.  
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Dixie steals our hearts

Dixie steals our hearts

February 23, 2021 | Comments Off on Dixie steals our hearts

My boyfriend was moving into his dad’s house and leaving behind his dog, who was his best friend, at his mom’s house – only because she wouldn’t let the dog come with. We went on a whim to a different humane society but they didn’t have puppies, so we went to HSHV. Before we arrived we looked online and found no puppies, but when we got there we had many different options. We went down the puppy room and there she was, sitting in her cage alone. My boyfriend bent down to pet her and she basically wrapped her arms
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Smokey is the family member we needed!

Smokey is the family member we needed!

February 23, 2021 | Comments Off on Smokey is the family member we needed!

My fiance and I decided that our sweet little Samoa (a 1-year-old Calico) was starting to seem lonely, and I have always grown up with two pets. We took a weekend trip to the Humane Society “just to look” and came across Smokey. He was a little grey kitten who seemed very shy and scared, but the second I reached into his cage and he laid his head in my hand I knew we couldn’t go home without him. After some back and forth and a little bit of doubt from my fiance, I signed the papers and Smokey became
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My best friend Lucy

My best friend Lucy

February 22, 2021 | Comments Off on My best friend Lucy

I’ll never forget the day I went to HSHV to adopt a kitten. My childhood cat had recently passed away and my life didn’t feel whole without a cat in it. I remember walking in the direction of the kittens, and on my way a cat looked up at me with the most beautiful big green eyes. I stopped right there. She had a sign on her cage saying “medical hold”. My Mom saw that and said “you can’t adopt her” and kept walking. I immediately asked a staff member if I could see her, and what the medical hold
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All she needed was time

All she needed was time

February 22, 2021 | Comments Off on All she needed was time

We adopted Mayvis in 2016. She was almost 6 years old then and had been surrendered to the shelter with her kittens, adopted out and then returned a few months later because she didn’t get along with other cats. We only had a dog so we chose her. Mayvis was the typical cat, she kept to herself and only wanted to be pet on her terms. When she had enough, she batted our hand away. After a few years, I brought home a kitten that someone had abandonded in our local CVS parking lot, unsure of how Mayvis would do
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Humane Society of the United States awards HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue Supervisor

Humane Society of the United States awards HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue Supervisor

February 16, 2021 | Comments Off on Humane Society of the United States awards HSHV’s Cruelty and Rescue Supervisor

Melinda Szabelski, Cruelty and Rescue Supervisor at Washtenaw County’s Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV), was named a “local hero” in the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Stop Puppy Mills Campaign. The award is given annually to 14 people across the nation who’ve made a difference fighting puppy mills in their communities.
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It’s been over 5 years!

It’s been over 5 years!

February 16, 2021 | Comments Off on It’s been over 5 years!

We adopted Riley and Emma in 2015. I had first met Chance (now Riley) one day when I was just visiting. I noticed she was already wanting to cuddle up to me when I just passed by to say hi. My now husband and I were looking to adopt a cat. Since I’ve always been a dog person I was a bit hesitant, but I did agree to it. Because of this, my husband really wanted me to pick out the right cat. We had also adopted 2 cats shortly before who didn’t get along and it was slightly traumatic
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Senior dog and senior lady

Senior dog and senior lady

February 15, 2021 | Comments Off on Senior dog and senior lady

Three years ago I checked HSHV site and only one Pomeranian, a 10 year old female, was shown. I went to the shelter the next day and met Happy in the office. She was a barker and needed to be away from other dogs, liked leisurely walks and was a good traveler according to the previous caretaker. She also had a heart murmur and needed dental care. I asked to walk her and she sped around the area, glad I am a fast walker. She came home with me and she is a charmer. She has several volunteer caretakers who
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Uffda – making a house a home for 10 years

Uffda – making a house a home for 10 years

February 15, 2021 | Comments Off on Uffda – making a house a home for 10 years

Dateline: November, 2010 Five months was the longest I had been without a cat over the previous 50 years. What to do…head over to HSHV and see who might want to come home with me. That’s how I met Uffda. What a ride with him these past 10 years have been! Literally a ride, because he has logged at least 15000 miles as my passenger on several round trips between Michigan and Massachusetts in addition to a trip to Pennsylvania. He loved riding in the igloo bed secured in the passenger seat. Every time I reached a hand in there
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