Posts by Wendy Welch

It’s Friday the 13th and Do You Know Where The Black Cat Is?

Yes, I’m talking about Uffda (formerly Puma). Later this month it will be 13 years since this one from HSHV moved in with me and in some ways it still feels as if it all happened just 13 days ago. He and I both knew we were meant for each other when we met, something that gets reaffirmed every single day. He was incredibly quick to make himself at home, sleeping on my bed the first night and every night since then. So here he is, at least 14 years old and possibly as old as 16 years old, still
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Izaak: More human than Dog

Our special needs dog Grace enjoyed visiting a puppy in the neighborhood so our family decided that Grace would love to have a sibling puppy in our home. We went to HSHV when they had a lot of puppies from the Love Train but decided that an older “puppy” would probably be a better fit so we visited the other dogs and discovered “Otto” (now Izaak meaning “laughter” because he always made us laugh), an 11 month old dog found underweight and in need of a loving home. Izaak was about the same size as Grace (around 50 pounds) when
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The adventures Of Dwight & Jim

In April ’22 I sadly lost my almost 21 year old cat, Shaney. I had him since I was a teenager and was at a loss. I drove out to HSHV the next day, just to see if I would connect with anyone. I immediately found a perfect pair of little black kittens that I named Dwight K Snoot and Jim Halpurrt (formerly Maui and Mewtoo). They had been brought all the way from Oklahoma because of overcrowding in shelters over there. I knew these little kittens were just what I needed to cheer me up. They have brought me
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Ducky’s story

When I first saw Ducky (Bibimbap), I was taking one of the adults I caregive for with disabilities. We instantly fell in love with her when we saw her. I knew then she needed to heal in a home with a family. When we saw her she had a plethora of issues – healing from a very recent leg amputation and being spayed, an ear infection and a nasty skin infection. I brought her home a week after her procedures and she began to heal and get stronger. Flash forward to today, she runs miles with me, plays for hours
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Healing a Broken Heart

In March, I lost my best furiend, Heisman unexpectedly to cancer. He was only 7 years old, he was my “first” dog as an adult, and I couldn’t have asked for a better pupper. Heisman’s loss really shook me, and I struggled moving forward. I knew that we would adopt our next pup from the Love Train, and after a particularly difficult week coming home from vacation (to an empty house), a group arrived to HSHV from the Love Train. Without hesitation, we made our way to HSHV to find our new furbaby. I had an idea of who I
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How to introduce guests to your avoidant or reactive dog

Does your dog avoid or react to strangers? Bark, growl, run away, or hide? Here’s what we suggest. (Note: Please consult with a professional trainer for biting.) Prepare Yourself Make sure you are familiar with the dog’s behavioral history, what has and has not worked in previous introductions. Use correct equipment (collar/harness and non-retractable leash) and have high-value treats with you. Have a helper with you when introducing a dog that may struggle with new people. The helper can assist with handling the dog if there are problems, coach the guest and narrate what they are observing, provide a second
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Local Youth Win Humane Youth Awards

Ann Arbor, MI (October 13, 2023) — The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) proudly announces local winners of the highly anticipated Humane Youth Award, now in its sixth year. The Humane Youth Award honors young champions who have made outstanding efforts to protect and advocate for animals, people, and/or the environment—making a significant impact in our community. This year’s winners are: Zachary Koolage-Hall, 12, of Ann Arbor, is the winner of HSHV’s 2023 Humane Youth Award.  Zachary was chosen as this year’s winner because of his unwavering dedication to the community’s cats.  Part of an HSHV foster family, Zachary has
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Humane Society of Huron Valley ranked among top 1% of charities

Ann Arbor, MI (October 11, 2023) –Charity Navigator announced its awarding Ann Arbor’s Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) with its topmost Four-Star Rating, for the 13th year in a row, placing HSHV among the top 1% of charities ranked nationwide. In addition to signifying financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency, the rating designates HSHV as an official “Give with Confidence” charity. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually. “We are delighted to provide the Humane
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Treating is Tricky: Making a plan for training

The legendary animal trainer Bob Bailey once said, “Training is a mechanical skill.” While it seems like it shouldn’t be complicated, it can be surprisingly tricky to juggle a leash, treats, clicker, and anything else you might need in a training session. Because learning happens fastest when consequences are clear and occur quickly after the behavior, we can end up confusing our dogs if we are fumbling, dropping treats, and delivering rewards late. Before a training session, it is a good idea to make a plan. Think about how you are going to hold the various equipment, decide how you
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Unmasking Cat Litterbox Problems

Cats get surrendered each year because of litterbox problems. We sympathize with both the cats and the people; no one wants a cat thinking (of their bathroom) outside the box! Litterbox issues can often leave cat guardians feeling helpless and upset with their cat. The first thought might be that the cat is lashing out or “getting back” at their owner for something, but it’s almost always something that we can identify and treat.  The first place to check is with your veterinarian. They can take blood and urine samples and look your cat over for any pain or mobility
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