The Plight of the Big Black Dog - Panhandle Animal Shelter

Paw Prints
PANHANDLE
ANIMAL
SHELTER
NEWSLETTER
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Yappy Hour Schedule
inside
March 24 - Dog FUN
d’raiser at Laughing
Dog
March 31 - Panhandle
Tour de Thrift
April 24 - Annual
Membership Meeting
at PAS
July 4 - Fourth of July
Parade in Downtown
Sandpoint
July 14/15 - Dog Town
at Dover Bay Resort
August 28 - Hodge
Podge at the Lodge
Luncheon at the
Sandpoint Lodge
SHOP AT
YOKES?
Visit the
customer
service counter
and ask for an
e-script card.
Register the card
online to benefit
the Panhandle
Animal Shelter.
We’ll receive
cash from
your everyday
purchases.
March 2012 Shelter 208-265-7297 www.pasidaho.org Thrift Shop 208-263-0706
The Plight of the Big Black Dog
Sitting politely in a show room are Sage and Lulu. They are calm
and poised when people walk by the window. They sit and wait for
“their” person to notice them and make them part of a family. These
wonderful dogs have been with the shelter for over six months.
Unfortunately for Sage and Lulu, they are black dogs. Although they both
have a wonderful temperament and are loving pups, they are not given a
chance…they are simply overlooked. Recently a name was placed on this
common problem, BBD- Big Black Dog syndrome. The problem is not
exclusive to dogs. We experience Big Black Cat syndrome as well. Perfectly
wonderful cats like Moonpie, who is kid-friendly, dog-friendly and mellow,
are at the shelter just begging to be acknowledged for their perrr-fect personality.
No one knows why these
wonderful animals are overlooked,
but some of the theories are: black animals don’t
photograph well, the expression on a black animal’s face
is hard to read, and a more psychological theory is the
unconscious belief that black is bad, evil or sinister. For
example, society labels black cats as bad luck. This label
is not unique to cats. Several cultures have had folklore
tales of evil black dogs in one form or another. These
superstitious ideas are encouraged and exacerbated by the
entertainment industry. In actuality, the color of an animal does not
dictate their temperament. These loving, kind animals deserve a
warm home to call their own.
At PAS, we take steps to show our black animals. In
photographs we put colored bandanas on the dogs to provide
depth to their facial expressions. We try to take them out of the
shelter for people to see. We place them in our show rooms up
front. For our cats, it is more difficult. We have tried placing
our black cats in one room and putting them on sale. The sale
doesn’t lessen their value, but rather provides the potential
adopter a reason to take a closer look at these wonderful
animals.
The efforts made to help our black animals never seem to
be enough. It can be frustrating for our staff and volunteers to
watch a wonderful animal passed up time and time again. Education
is the key. As Nathaniel Branden said, “The first step
toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”
So, LET’S START TALKING ABOUT THIS!
Lulu, a Catahoula
Share it with your neighbors or at a dinner party. Help
bull dog (a volunteer
us make people more aware. The fact is BBD and BBC
paid for a DNA
syndrome are real and A LOT of dogs and
test) and Sage,
cats are discriminated against every year,
a retriever mix
consciously and unconsciously.
(pictured above)
Acceptance at PAS does not mean we
are available for
will be complacent. We aren’t satisfied
watching our black animals
adoption.”
passed by. We will continue to try
new ideas to encourage adoptions.
This summer Trinity at City Beach and
Black Dog Cycle Works will host a black dog
event to help raise funds and awareness of BBD. n

PRESIDENT’S
REPORT
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
BY SUELLEN CRETTOL
A night of fun, food,
and fellowship was
held January 25 to
take the opportunity to
recognize our staff and
volunteers. Laughing
Dog Brewing graciously
opened their doors
for a great location
and Jalapenos catered
a delicious meal. This
was a time for the
Board of Directors to
express their appreciation
for the dedicated staff of the Shelter and
the Thrift Store along with the many volunteers
who provide the loving care which the
animals receive on a daily basis. Our hats are
off to Mandy Evans, Executive Director, Ryan
Thrailkill, Shelter manager, and Christy Sythe,
Thrift Store manager, who so capably lead the
staff and volunteers each day. For those who
were not able to attend, you missed the great
debut of the Board singing “Dashing through
the halls!”. However, most of us were told to
be sure and “keep our day jobs”.
We are so blessed to have such a spacious
and modern building in which to house our
animals and thrift store, but we can’t lose sight
of the fact that it takes a lot to keep it going.
For those who cannot volunteer their time,
each and every dollar given by you, the dedicated
supporters, adds up to “big bucks” which
helps to keep us in the black.
Our Annual Meeting will be coming up on
April 24 at 5:30 p.m. Plan now to attend this
important aspect of our Shelter. Don’t forget to
renew your membership before the meeting. If
you are not a member, please join before March
24 in order to place a vote for our new board
members. It is the time to elect the Board of
Directors for the coming year and hear a review
of what has taken place in the past year.
Adopting out the animals is our primary goal,
as no one likes to be in a cage for any length
of time. Our staff works continually to match
the cats and dogs with the right owner. Help
them out by always being alert to those around
you who might be candidates for adopting a
dog. Let them know about our Shelter and the
wonderful pets just waiting for a good home.
Spring is just around the corner and many
of our activities begin from Yappy Hours to
Fourth of July parade; from dog Fun(d) raisers
to luncheons and the list goes on. Stay tuned
and watch for details on these exciting events.
Your support is ALWAYS appreciated. n
Challenges Met
Head On
By Mandy Evans
Last year revealed a marked increase over 2010 in the number of animals who
needed our assistance. A challenging economy contributed to an increase in owner
surrenders and strays. Our thrift store, which normally brings in approx 60% of our
revenue, saw a hit as well, a hit that was felt throughout the second hand community.
Because of you and your support, we met the challenge head on.
General contributions, whether through membership, events or donations,
increased in 2011 to help offset our thrift store deficit. More people began to give,
volunteer and talk about the work we are doing to improve the lives of the shelter
and community animals.
Our animal intake went up from 2010, but so did our adoptions. 1400 dogs and cats
entered the shelter and 1383 found new homes or their lost families. We spayed or
neutered 786 animals before adoption.
This past year, your generosity has directly impacted the lives of over 1600 animals
during their time of greatest need- with a ripple effect extending to the families
of those who love them. Don’t underestimate the impact your dollar, donation of
gently used goods or your time can make on our organization. Your stewardship,
contributions and guidance have helped us evolve year to year and will continue to
move us toward a brighter future.
With your support we will continue to assist animals with their basic needs; a roof
over their head, food and water in their bellies and loving companionship.
With sincere appreciation. Mandy n
Abe, Big Black
Dog at PAS- don’t
overlook him.
Annual Meeting Notice: You are hereby notified that the annual meeting of Friends
of the Shelter (DBA Panhandle Animal Shelter) will be held at 5:30 PM, Tuesday,
April 24, 2012 at PAS, 870 Kootenai Cut-off Road, Ponderay. To assist you in
evaluating the director candidates, the Nominating Committee will be accepting
questions from the membership. Questions must be submitted in writing, limited
to 3 per candidate. Questions may be emailed, mailed or dropped at the shelter. For
emails, please send to Mandy Evans mandy@pasidaho.org for referral to the Nominating
Committee. Questions must be received no later than April 10, 2012. The
candidates’ answers will be posted on our website at www.pasidaho.org and will be
posted on the wall at the shelter.
2

A Fresh
New Look
Behind the scenes a project has been underway and will
come alive this spring. Volunteers have been working
diligently on a new landscaping plan for our front yard.
Due to a tight budget and some accessibility issues, the shelter’s
landscaping needs to be updated using plants native to our area.
PAS has been working with Gail Bolin who has an
Environmental Landscaping and Consulting company in Sagle.
Gail’s experience and education in planting native has been a
tremendous help. She, with a group of volunteers, are designing
a landscaping plan using only indigenous plants. This will reduce
our water usage and the number of hours required to maintain the
yard.
To support this effort, the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society
awarded PAS with their yearly Lois Wythe grant. The grant will
provide primary funding for the Shelter to begin the native plant
landscaping project. The plan will be to highlight native plants
and provide an educational opportunity for our frequently visited
location. The shelter presently has very limited landscaping and
much of what was attempted did not survive. Using native plants
will decrease long-term maintenance and ensure higher survival
rates.
Continuing fundraising efforts will be made to work on many
building and grounds projects this year. PAS will need to raise
money to complete this project, work on the backyard dog run
ground cover and lattice treatments around the perimeter of the
building to reduce noise.
Mandy Evans, Executive Director of PAS notes: “PAS is
grateful to receive the support from individuals and community
organizations like the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society. Our
community’s involvement is truly why we are successful.” n
PAWS
Pre-Authorized Withdrawal System
Panhandle Animal Shelter began this monthly giving program
last year and donors seem to like it. “It’s a convenient and
manageable way for me to give. I love animals and the wonderful
work PAS does. It brings me great pleasure to support them.” Jan
explains.
Why should you join the program? Since your support is
regular and ongoing, you never have to worry about keeping your
donations up to date. Your monthly donations are payable through
your bank account, Visa, or MasterCard and you’ll get just one
tax receipt a year.
It’s flexible. You can increase or decrease your support, put it on
hold for a few months or cancel at any time. Breaking down your
support into small, regular donations is a budget-friendly way to
make a difference to animals. It’s completely up to you!
Your donations make a huge impact in assisting over
1600 animals a year! Last year we provided a caring and
compassionate haven for homeless animals and we strive to
continue to increase the number of animals we can support each
year. Your donations make that possible.
Monthly donations are one of the best ways to support the
Panhandle Animal Shelter. With little administrative effort on our
part, your donation goes directly to the care of the animals.
Please use the inserted PAWS form and the return donation
envelope in your newsletter to join this wonderful program. n
3
Set up a monthly
donation to
support the
animals at the
Panhandle Animal
Shelter

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Elk Mountain
by Barbie Flanders
Elk Mountain
Academy is
a therapeutic
boarding school
for boys. We
started a program
with the school
where the boys
foster a dog at
the school. The
boys get to come
to the shelter and
pick out a dog
that has been
at the shelter
for six months
or longer. They
take that dog to
their school and
socialize him/
her. Currently
George, a
Labrador/Boxer
mix, is at the
school. George
was brought to the shelter in June because his owner died. Once
George arrived at Elk Mountain Academy, the students started
working with him. The boys walk around with George on a leash
trying to get him used to the other boys and at the same time
working with him to learn how to heel. Every Saturday the boys
bring George to the shelter and they work to get George adopted.
When George finds a good home, the boys will get to pick a new
dog to foster.
I foster kittens for the shelter and specialize in bottle-fed
kittens. Bottle-fed kittens are kittens that have been taken away
from their mother too early or something has happened to their
mother. Bottle-fed kittens must be fed every four to six hours. I
bring the kittens with me to the academy and the boys take turns
feeding and playing with the kittens. It really helps the kittens as
they are very well socialized by the time that they are returned to
the shelter for adoption.
This is a great program because it is beneficial for the animals
and the boys at Elk Mountain Academy. It’s amazing to watch
how gentle and kind the boys are with the animals. It always
seems that when new students arrive at Elk Mountain Academy,
they are greeted by the shelter dog. It helps the students feel
more at home when they have just arrived at the campus. A
special bond is established between the boys and the dog. It is
therapeutic for the students and great for the dogs and it literally
can save kittens lives. A special bond is established between
the boys and the animals I bring from PAS. The boys recognize
these animals need them and the animals love and appreciate
them unconditionally. n
4
FOSTER LO
Our foster care program is essential to assisting the many kittens an
spring. Please consider opening your home to help PAS give these
Freya
The week before Christmas, we received a special gift. A
gorgeous strawberry blond Golden Retriever was abandoned at
the shelter in the staff entrance mud room. It isn’t uncommon
for animals to be deserted at PAS. We find them tied to our front
door and left in boxes at our entrance. They all share a common
theme…no information. This poor golden was found shaking,
terrified, and unable to respond to any humans.
Three days till Christmas, and it was decided by one of our
board members that a home environment might just win her over.
Freya was carried to their car and transported to a lakeside home
in Hope, Idaho. There she was introduced to their male English
Setter who assured her that the food was plentiful, on time and
rather succulent. He also mentioned that they had permission to
troll the property.
Oh, to be able to crawl into the minds of the wounded and see
what truly happened. Rehabilitation was not quickly achieved.
Freya’s trust issues were hard to overcome. Only the patient noninvasive
love and experimental diet planning would bring her to
the point of eating and creeping into the living room where she
(at long last) placed her head on a knee. Her health rallied and
soon she was able to cut down on the meds. She had decided to
live!
After about a month, Freya had reached a plateau where the
next step would be a forever home. The call went out, fliers were
printed, and each applicant unmercifully scrutinized. Yes, the
perfect home did arrive and Freya is gradually becoming a real
dog again.
Freya’s story, though extreme, is one of the never ending sagas
that percolate in the shelter. We marvel at the response when
an animal enters in need. “Out of the woodwork” the army of
volunteers, foster parents and donors enter the crisis, and the right
things get done. n

VE
d puppies arriving at PAS during the
wonderful animals a healthy start.
Miracle
BY TONI BRITTON
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
A beautiful tabby cat was brought to the shelter in February 2011.
She had been in labor for at least 24 hours. Against all odds, one
kitten and the mother survived the traumatic birth. I named the
tiny tortie kitten, Miracle. In a couple days I brought Momma
and Miracle to my home to foster them. Thus began a wonderful
adventure of watching a newborn kitten turn into a cat. Momma
cat was so loving and devoted and taught Miracle all sorts of
“cat” things. Momma cat had a unique way of talking, a kind
of chirping, whenever she was ready to teach baby something,
passing this endearing trait on to Miracle. She would come
tearing out of the kitten room, baby in tow, talking all the while.
You can’t imagine the joy they gave us!
Suddenly Miracle was six weeks old, climbing into my husband’s
lap, sitting on his shoulder, sleeping beside him. We decided
Miracle would stay a part of our family. Momma cat was
adopted by the wonderful vet that saved her life and the life of
Miracle. Momma was named Twitch and at last report is a great
mouser with a special personality. Miracle turns one-year-old on
February 25.
There is nothing like having a kitten and watching it grow. It
should be on everyone’s bucket list. Please consider fostering a
kitten this spring when the shelter is inundated with kittens. They
all deserve loving foster homes. n
UPDATE:
BARNEY:
BEFORE
You may remember Barney from our last issue. He came
to the shelter weighing 84.8 pounds! That’s 60 pounds
overweight. We are thrilled to report Barney has lost 50
pounds and sports a sleek, trim physique which allows him to
own the ranch. His foster parents tell us his job, as he sees it,
is to take guests on frequent nature walks through the property.
Unfortunately, when Barney lost weight his confidence
grew and he has decided to be the ranch guests “protector”.
Not too long ago, Barney took on a bear. Barney didn’t get
hurt, but learned not to do that again. He is still a scavenger
and always hungry. In fact, over the holidays a guest visited
the ranch with a tray of cupcakes and a cake. Barney is a sly
one and “tricked” the woman into leaving him alone with the
“goods”. Needless to say, he ate the WHOLE thing. Lucky for
Barney, he is in a wonderful home and continues to progress.
His foster parents still need to put signs up that say, “Please
don’t feed the beagle.” We are proud to share Barney is in his
forever home where he is loved. n
AFTER
5

Pretty Boy
BY KAT HOERTH
My name is Pretty Boy, and I’m a big, fluffy, beautiful
tuxie who loves to purr and cuddle. My people couldn’t
take care of me anymore, so they brought me to the
Panhandle Animal Shelter. I’m very grateful to them, because a
lot of the other kitties here didn’t have people who loved them
so much—some of them got thrown right out into the street!
My people made sure that, even though I couldn’t be their boy
anymore, I would be warm and safe. You probably want to know
about my eye. When I came to the shelter, I was pretty sick with
an upper respiratory infection, and it hurt my eye.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything the vet could do to save it.
But my eyelid is sewn shut and now it just looks like I’m giving
you a friendly wink all the time! And having only one eye
doesn’t slow me down a bit.
I like it here at the shelter, because everyone is so nice to me
and I meet so many people. But I really want to be in a home
again, and I’m worried that people will say, “We don’t want a
12-year-old cat with only one eye.” Will anybody see that a kitty
like me can be a loving, laid-back companion to watch movies
with on a chilly Idaho night? n
6
Girl Just Wants
To Have Fun
“Stunning, exotic, fun-loving girl looking for a home and a good
time.” Other pets or kids would be just fine. Qualified applicants
need only apply at the shelter. So my name is Ella. Some say
I am exotic, with eyeliner round my eyes and a black beauty
mark on the side of my face. I believe them! I have been a “long
timer” at the shelter, going on 3 years. However I have been one
of the favorites of the staff and volunteers- could be my fetching
personality ( I fetch anything that is thrown.) I get bored pretty
easily, but hey what girl wouldn’t when all I do is hang around
all day in a kennel.
I have recently proved that I can be a “Lady” in all situations.
An employee fostered me and I totally behaved myself. It was
heaven…he let me sleep on his bed! My perfect home would be
a place where playing a lot was encouraged. I’m not picky,” just
looking for love in all the right places. n
Accomplishments
This past year, your generosity has directly impacted the lives of over 1600 animals during their time of
greatest need- with a ripple effect extending to the families of those who love them. We are proud of our
accomplishments and would like to share some of them with you.
• 1400 animals came through our doors in 2011 and we helped 1383 find new homes or their “lost”
families.
• Spayed or neutered 786 animals entering our shelter.
• Assisted with three hoarding cases; finding homes for all these adoptable, but very frightened animals.
• Over 175 animals were spayed or neutered through our low-income program that we launched in May
2011. Thank you Center Valley Animal Hospital, Animal Medical Care and North Idaho Animal Hospital
for helping us make this happen!
• We completed two (multiple week) sessions for our PAWS to Read program at the Bonner County
Library in Sandpoint and are about to launch our third (it will run for 11 weeks).
• We provided over half a ton of dog and cat food to people who needed a little temporary assistance
feeding their pets in 2011. Thank you Super One, Wal-Mart, Big R and Carter Country for donating the
food to help so many.
• Four Firehouses were trained on animal CPR.
“When I tell people
I volunteer at PAS,
many have replied that
they would find it too
depressing to work
with homeless animals.
For me, helping people
find and take home the
perfect pet for their family
brings joy to my life.
Taking in a stray animal
or one from a family
that is no longer able to
care for it provides the
opportunity for a new
beginning. Kudos to
PAS and the services we
offer!”
— Becky Mills,
Front Desk

Dog Days at
Dover Bay
Can you hear the buzz? PAS has a new event planned for
this year -- Dog Days at Dover Bay. This is a two-day
event at Dover Bay featuring all things dog: fly ball, agility,
herding, dock diving, vendors, food, music, beverages, FUN,
FUN, FUN!
This will be the event of the
season! Mark your calendars and get ready to party like a dog!!
Dates: July 14 and 15, 2012 at Dover Bay Resort
There will be celebrities, dogs, food, dogs, beer and wine, dogs,
games, dogs, great vendors, dogs, music, and … dogs. Come join
the fun!
Build a dog house or cat tree to be entered into a contest at the
event. We will auction them off over the weekend. Sponsorships
start at $50 — Reach a large audience with a booth and support
PAS. Contact Mandy Evans for more information. n
Update:
THRIFT STORE
BY CHRISTY SYTHE
The staff and volunteers at the Panhandle Animal Shelter
Thrift Store would like to invite customers, new and old
alike, to experience thrift store shopping the way it was
intended to be: low and consistent pricing, faster product rotation
and a clean, easy-to-shop store layout. I hope to see smiling faces
from our customers and pets. I assumed the mantle of manager in
late 2011 and I’m diving head first into the New Year. Please join
us at our upcoming promotions and sales. n
March 24 - Bag Sale “Fill a bag for $3.00”
March 31 - Panhandle Tour de Thrift
April 21 - Summer Promotion
April 28 - Side-walk sale
May 5 - Lost in the 50’s Promo
May 26 - Back Yard Sale
June 30 - Sidewalk sale
July 21 - Summer Clothing Sale
August 4 - Back to School Promotion
August 25 - Sidewalk Sale
Yappy Hour - Season 4
PAS’s Yappy Hour is in its fourth season this year and things are getting serious!
The “TOP DOG” traveling trophy, currently in the possession of Trinity at City
Beach, is up for grabs and the hosts of this year’s events are planning and scheming
to win! The winner of the trophy is determined by the amount of money raised
for the shelter by each host.
Mark your calendars for these dates and places: 4pm-7pm
April 26 - Laughing Dog Brewing Tap Room • 1109 Fontaine Drive, Ponderay
May 31 - Taylor and Sons Chevrolet • 476751 Hwy 95 North, Ponderay
June 28 - Pend d’Oreille Winery • 220 Cedar Street, Sandpoint
July 26 - Trinity at City Beach • 58 Bridge Street, Sandpoint
August 30 - Evans Brothers Coffee Roastery •524 Church Street, Sandpoint
Sept. 27 - Eichardt’s Pub • 212 Cedar Street, Sandpoint
Grab your dog, your friends, your kids. Come to Yappy Hour. We guarantee you
will have a great time. We dare you NOT to smile! CHEERS!
“It makes me feel very good
when I see that Petfinder pictures
have led to people finding their
perfect best friend and that I
know in my heart that one more
fuzzy face will be happy again.”
— Barb Copley- Photographer
and Petfinder specialist
7

Memberships
Individual ..... $25
Family ........ $50
Business ..... $250
Sustaining ...$1,000
Kennel Sponsorships
$150
Mission Statement
To diminish the number of lost, abandoned, neglected
and abused dogs and cats through adoption, litter
prevention and identification of missing pets.
Thank You
Newsletter Coordinator ............. Mandy Evans
Layout and Design ................Randy Wilhelm
Writers: . ... Kat Hoerth, Mary Levy, Connie Taylor,
Toni Britton, Barbie Flanders, and Christy Syth
Photos . .. Toni Britton, Bill Borders, Nancy Masten,
Barbi Flanders, Robert and Debra Kellerman.
Printing . .......................... Selkirk Press
Cat & Dog
Room Sponsors
$2,500 - $15,000
Forever Tiles
$200 - $350
The Panhandle Animal Shelter is a 501 C 3 that funds itself solely through community contributions, grants,
and Thrift Shop revenues. We do not receive any city or county tax dollars. Please help us help the animals and
donate with the enclosed envelope. No donation is too small and you can give in many ways. If you have any
questions about choosing a contribution please contact Mandy Evans at 208-265-7297.
SEE OUR NEWSLETTER ON THE PAS WEBSITE www.pasidaho.org TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SANDPOINT, IDAHO
Permit No. 275
870 Kootenai Cut-Off Rd
Ponderay, ID 83852
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