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Community Announcements & ServicesCommunity Announcements & ServicesWAGGIN’ TAILSSpring is here! It’sthat time of year thatour kids and pets areoutside playing. Welove to see our kidshaving fun withtheir pets but wealso want to make sure they are all safe!Mom is a cute dog named Muffin (pictured withher newborns). She came to our shelter in earlyJanuary, thin and pregnant. A week later, sheand her four new pups are in good health.Another birth at the Waggin’ TailsShelter last month--and anotherfour (4) puppies saved becauseTown President Larry Dominickand our administration care aboutanimals.Please remember when children take their dogs outfor a walk that sometimes the dog is the one walkingthe child! This has become a big problem. Kidsare walking larger dogs that pull away from them,and then the dog either gets lost or ends up runningoff and biting someone or someone’s pet.Because of the rough delivery, however, Muffinwon’t be ready to nurse her pups for severalweeks so the shelter’s staff will bottle feedthem until mom is ready. We want to make surethey are healthy and strong so that they can beadopted into loving homes.+++I have seen little ones fall when their dog pullsthem, or when the dog gets loose the child gets soupset they run after the dog and they don’t payattention to anything else around them. They runafter their dog into the street, between cars and inalleys.Muffin’s story highlights why we encourage pet owners to have their petsspayed or neutered. We have a lot of animals running loose, without homes orowners looking after them. This leads to an increase in the homeless dog andcat populations.We need to supervise our kids when they are walkingour family pet! ALWAYS keep your dog on aleash and please make sure that you carry a bag topick up after your pet to avoid any violations andfines! We have also had a problem with residentsbringing their pets to our parks to walk them. Thereare signs posted. “No Dogs Allowed”DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE PARKS!We have had many situations of dogs attacking peopleand other dogs in the parks and also the problemof owners not picking up after their pets when in thepark.If you are considering getting a pet, that’s great. But please consider adoptionas a possible option. We have a number of adorable animals looking for lovinghomes.The shelter is open for viewing and adoption every week Monday-Friday from4:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am-2:00pm.+++REMINDERAs I previously reported, more than 100 residents took advantage of theshelter’s free microchip program sponsored by Town President Larry Dominickand State Representative Lisa Hernandez back in December. The microchipsare fitted into pets in order that they may be easily located if they were to everget lost.If you have the misfortune of losing your pet andyou have contacted us to assist you in finding yourBecause of the weather, many residents who wanted to stop by with their betswere not unable to do so.pet, PLEASE call us to let us know if your pet hasbeen found! We document each pet that is lost inour “Lost Pet” log book. We would like to be notifiedso we can mark the pet as being found!As for our Animal Welfare Shelter, we have alreadyrelocated to the new facility and we are in theprocess of setting the shelter up for adoptions.We are hoping to begin adopting out animals togood homes by the end of May!In closing. I would like to say “you are always inour hearts” to a wonderful, loving and loyal pet anda friend that I loved very much. Cricket Dominickpassed away on March 17, 2006. She will be loved,missed by her family and friends, and in our heartsforever.“Cricket” DominickJanuary 13, 1998- March 17th 2006Woof! Woof! Meow! Meow!Sharon StarzykDirector, Cicero Animal Welfare and ControlChairman, Cicero Animal Welfare Board(708) 878-063218 The Cicero Town News April 06So, President Dominick suggested we offer the free microchips again. So,on Saturday, February 16, Cicero residents can again avail themselves of theopportunity to get their pets microchip-ed.Free Microchip DayDATE: Saturday, February 16, 2008TIME:11:00am-3:00pmPLACE: Waggin’ Tails Shelter, 1634 S. Laramie (Back Building)*No appointment is necessary but please call the shelter to let us know that youwill be coming so we can keep an accurate count and ensure we have enoughmicrochips. Phone: (708) 652-0825.+++In closing, please use caution when letting your pets outside during these coldweather months. Please let your pet out or take them out to do their businessand bring them right back inside.Additionally, please be cognizant of stray animals. With nowhere warm to go,they will often seek shelter under vehicles (derive warmth from a car engine thathas recently been turned off, for example) and sleep there. Please knock on yourhood or check under your vehicle if it’s left outside before starting the engine toguard against this possibility.+++As always, we are very appreciative of the donations we receive for the shelter tocare for our animals—food, blankets, toys, laundry detergent, etc.If you would like to send a monetary donation, please make the check out to“Town of Cicero” and send it to: Town of Cicero Animal Shelter, Attn: SharonStarzyk, 4937 W. 25th Street, Cicero, IL 60804.Thank you in advance for your continued generosity.+++If you need an animal welfare officer, they are on duty:Monday-Friday from 7:00am-11:00pmSaturday-Sunday from 8:00am-4:00pmCALL (708) 652-2130, and an officer will be dispatched to assist you.Cicero Waggin’ Tails Shelter:Direct Line: (708) 652-0825Address: 1634 S. Laramie (Building B)Happy Valentines Day from the staff at Waggin’ Tails!Woof! Woof! Meow! Meow! For Now!Sharon StarzykDirector, Animal WelfareChairman, Animal Welfare Board(708) 878-063220