Posts by Wendy Welch

HSHV & Tiny Lions cat café reopening to the public with added safety measures

HSHV & Tiny Lions cat café reopening to the public with added safety measures

June 15, 2020 | Comments Off on HSHV & Tiny Lions cat café reopening to the public with added safety measures

Beginning Wednesday, June 17, the Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) and their Tiny Lions lounge and adoption Center will reopen for limited public visitation. “While we continually offered essential services including pet food assistance, intake of stray animals, and emergency veterinary care during the shut down, we’re delighted to see more of the animal-loving community again and safely allow people to enjoy the benefits of animal interaction and vice-versa,” says Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV’s CEO. “HSHV takes the health and safety of our human visitors, employees and volunteers very seriously,” says Hilgendorf. “We are following guidelines from the CDC, state
Read More

Identifying Responsible Breeders

Identifying Responsible Breeders

May 21, 2020 | Comments Off on Identifying Responsible Breeders

How to identify responsible, caring breeders: Meet breeder in person at the location the dogs are housed and bred – no off-site, roadside, or parking lot meetings Ability to see the conditions the puppies – and their mother – are housed in Conditions should be clean, spacious, and temperatures appropriate for the specific dog breed – not crowded or caged continuously Dogs should be provided with nutritious food, bedding, and toys as appropriate Research the breeder beforehand – a quick Google search of their name for news articles or negative reviews can help you identify bad actors Ask what happens
Read More

Humane Society Offers Virtual Class on Co-Existing With Coyotes

Humane Society Offers Virtual Class on Co-Existing With Coyotes

May 12, 2020 | Comments Off on Humane Society Offers Virtual Class on Co-Existing With Coyotes

May 11, 2020 (Ann Arbor, MI) –   Have you spotted a coyote in your neck of the woods lately? You’re not alone. Coyotes are highly adaptive and can thrive anywhere, including in wilderness, suburban, and urban areas. And they are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem, controlling rodent populations – and thus rodent-and tick-borne diseases like Lyme and Hantavirus – and protecting crops. As the Michigan DNR points out, homeowners can take basic steps to discourage coyotes from their properties, and there are many ways for us to coexist peacefully with them. “There is so much misinformation and hostility
Read More

Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

May 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Cat Enrichment Ideas During Times of Change or Stress

[print-me]   It’s been an uncertain time for all of us – including the kitties in our lives. We’re home more and our cats are likely wondering why their nap schedule has been suddenly thrown off by human intervention.  Cats thrive on schedule/routine, and even if they’re used to you being home, they’re likely not used to you being home ALL of the time, and their normalcy can be easily disrupted.  Cats may respond to this change in many ways, like being active at times they’re usually not (cat suddenly waking you up at night?), vocalizing more than normal, seeking
Read More

Dogs and Masks

Dogs and Masks

May 6, 2020 | Comments Off on Dogs and Masks

[print-me]   There is no doubt, the recent weeks have been strange and stressful for all of us.  Coming months will also likely bring more changes and adjustments in our lifestyles for both us and our pets.   One of the new sights that you might increasingly be encountering out on walks may be people wearing CDC-recommended face masks or other facial coverings.  You may be getting used to this new sight yourself, so imagine how strange it may look to your canine companion, who is suddenly wondering why humans look so different.   Help your dog out by getting
Read More

Animals and COVID-19

Animals and COVID-19

April 10, 2020 | Comments Off on Animals and COVID-19

As you may have recently heard in the news, a tiger in the Bronx zoo became mildly ill and tested positive for COVID-19. There have also been media reports about a small study just published suggesting that domestic cats are susceptible. Dogs may be vulnerable too, but the evidence points to this being less likely. In this study, a few cats and kittens were injected with mega doses of the virus, contracted the disease and infected other cats. Understandably, these stories are adding to the confusion and worry about how to keep ourselves and our animals safe.  But neither the zoo
Read More

Humane Society goes virtual during Covid-19 crisis

Humane Society goes virtual during Covid-19 crisis

April 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Humane Society goes virtual during Covid-19 crisis

April 6, 2020 (Ann Arbor, MI) – Like many other animal shelters in Michigan, HSHV is offering only essential services and following all official recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19. Adoptions and animal intakes are by appointment only. The outpatient veterinary clinic is no longer performing outpatient sterilizations or other non-essential exams. All onsite programs and events have been canceled and HSHV’s cat cafe, Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center, remains closed until further notice. But, during this time of social isolation, community members can still connect with animals and people from the comfort of their couch.  HSHV has gone
Read More

HSHV reminds community, “We’re still here for the animals and you”

HSHV reminds community, “We’re still here for the animals and you”

March 18, 2020 | Comments Off on HSHV reminds community, “We’re still here for the animals and you”

As many hunker down with their furry friends, others suffer quarantine loneliness or economic uncertainty, and Washtenaw County's 120+ year old Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) wants to remind you they're still here. "Our pets are so important to our families, health and wellness. While HSHV has cancelled or postponed all group activities, we remain open for the most critical needs of our beloved animals," says Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV's CEO.
Read More

What is a feral cat and what is a stray?

What is a feral cat and what is a stray?

March 12, 2020 | Comments Off on What is a feral cat and what is a stray?

  To determine if a cat is simply a visiting community cat from the neighborhood or a lost or abandoned stray cat, monitor the cat for a few days. If the cat is clean and healthy, it is likely a community cat just visiting. You may notice that the cat already has an ear tip on its left ear, indicating it has been sterilized through a TNR program. If the cat is friendly, you can place a collar on the cat’s neck with a note asking the owners to notify you if this is their cat. This way, an owned
Read More

It’s like he’s always belonged here.

It’s like he’s always belonged here.

March 9, 2020 | Comments Off on It’s like he’s always belonged here.

I’ve had animals as part of my life for as long as I can remember. After I lost my last cat two months ago, I thought I would wait until the fall to travel over the summer and then commit to another animal. Needless to say, I only made it three weeks. I came to the shelter and kept circling back to a cat that one of the volunteers was petting. When I asked if I could see him, of course she said yes! And when I bent down to pet him, he licked my hand. That was it! I
Read More