GOOD NEWS! - Hinsdale Humane Society

H I N S D A L E H U M A N E SOCIETY / FALL 2012
Director’s Desk
“Children and dogs are as necessary to
the welfare of the country as Wall Street
and the railroads.”
Harry S. Truman, US President 1945-
1953
Whether you are Republican or Democrat,
it’s hard to ignore politics at this time
of year. The country is deeply divided
over whose economic policies or leadership
style will chart the best course for
our nation. I’m not here to debate the
strengths of either candidate, but the subject
of presidential pets is quite fascinating.
Presidential pets have been around
since our very first president. George
Washington had four black and tan coonhounds
named Drunkard, Taster, Tipple
and Tipsy. (Not exactly politically correct
names!) The occupants of the White
House have almost always had a dog or
two… and a few other species. Calvin
Coolidge had a cat named Tiger, and even
a pygmy hippopotamus named Billy!
President Franklin Roosevelt’s dog Fala
But the most famous Presidential pet ever
was Fala, Franklin Roosevelt’s beloved
Scottie. He was named an honorary private
in the Army and is the only presidential
dog with his own statue in Washington,
DC.
Humanely Speaking
continued on page 5
Why People Give Up their Pets...
and how we can help!
It is estimated that five to seven million
animals enter animal shelters nationwide
each year. A common misconception
regarding animals in shelters
is that most are surrendered due to
behavior problems. While it is true
that some pet owners relinquish their
animals due to seemingly irresolvable
behavior issues, approximately 86% of
all animals surrendered to animal
welfare organizations are relinquished
for reasons that directly relate to the
life situation of their owners.
Many pets, especially cats, are given up for adoption due to someone in the
home being allergic - the new baby, husband or wife, roommate, or other family
member. As a result of today’s poor economic state, tragically, many pets lose
their homes because their owners can no longer afford to care for them, or have
lost their own homes due to foreclosure, while some pet owners make the decision
to downsize a multi-pet household to a more manageable number.
The additional hours away from home required when a second job is warranted
often results in the need to find a new home for a canine family member now
left alone far too long. Many apartments, condo and townhouse associations
have policies prohibiting residents from owning pets. Of those that do allow
animals, most have size and/or breed restrictions on what pets are allowed.
Others require extra security deposits or additional monthly rent making it cost
prohibitive for some pet owners to keep their animal.
When new babies are born, the time once spent doting on the four legged family
member is now depleted attending to baby’s every need with little time left in
the day to give the pet the attention it deserves; re-homing the animal seems like
the best solution for all. continued on page 3
New baby? Family Paws to the Rescue!
Family life with pets is a joy, but can be challenging too. This might be why
getting a dog or cat may seem like the perfect way to “practice” parenting responsibilities
before deciding to have children. Adding a new baby to the home
at a later time changes everything—including your pet’s whole world. The emotions
that surface during pregnancy and postpartum can be overwhelming, not to
mention the increased “workload” on new parents. Sadly, it is during those few
months that many families consider giving up their 4-legged children. Hinsdale
Humane Society now offers Family Paws; a program that can offer positive,
practical, and fun solutions to challenges that often arise when a family with a
dog or cat adds a new baby to the household. For more information about the
Family Paws program, please contact humane.ed@hinsdalehumanesociety.org
or call the behavior hotline at 630-323-5637
1

2
GOOD NEWS!
HHS 4th Annual Bake Sale
Thank you to all those who donated
baked goods to our 4th annual event
held on Saturday, Sept. 8th.
We have discovered A LOT of our
volunteers, staff, and friends love to
bake! We were amazed at the volume
of treats that rolled in! Cookies,
cakes, brownies, breads and more.
This year, the goodies arrived in creative
and clever packaging. The bake
goods sold like hot cakes!
We raised a record amount of $1,125
with all proceeds benefitting our
homeless animals.
Savannah, HHS therapy dog, helps
collect donations at the bake sale.
HHS Volunteer “BBQ Bash”
HHS volunteers enjoyed an afternoon
of friendship and fun at our annual
volunteer appreciation party.
HHS Volunteers and former Board Members,
Claudia Moffat and Sally Porter enjoy
visiting at the BBQ party.
HHS Volunteers, Eileen Zaba, Kathie Irving
and Sandra Ryan pose for a photo at the
annual volunteer appreciation party.
PAWS FOR APPLAUSE
A special thanks to those who
held lemonade stands and donated
the proceeds to HHS: Kate
Demeny, Sophie Biancalana; Grace
Dolci, Franny Schiavitti, Avalon
and Faedra Charlton-Perrin; Jack
and Colin O’Brien;Tristan and
Nolan Haeger; Abby, Hannah and
David Turek; The O’Hare Family;
Grant, Mike, Anna and Abby Howell
and Grace Kalis; Maggie, Nora
and Mary Kate Casey, and Evelyn
Harmon, Ella Kisluk, Abby Ryan,
Bella Facchini and Shannon Stifflear;
Emily Shea, Samantha Christenson,
Caeley San Juan; and Abby
Trent.
Special thanks to those children
who celebrated birthdays and
made donations to our shelter
animals: Ali Budach; Rion Stufflebeam;
Lily Kocourek; Levi Westin;
and Isabella Pisani.
Congrat’s to HHS Volunteers
who have completed 100+ hours:
Carol Johnston, Betty and Dennis
Tetens, Lynne Bray, Diane Smutny
Sandy Buie, Kelly Corry, Dr.
Bishop, Dr. LoPiccolo, Kathy
Dieskow, Patti Lamantia, Carrie
DeBoer, Dawn Fertig, Georgann
Grecco, Mario Hernandez
Vicki Jacobsen, Elaine Jans, Ryan
Kenney, Frankett Kral, Anne
Millard, Connie Nelson, Joyce Olson,
Barb Parsons, Kathy Rainey
Erin Vahl, Judy Kapicak, Betty
VanDolah, Georgianna Wyszynski
and Katrina Swiston.
Congrat’s to HHS Volunteers
who have completed 200+ hours:
Judy Porta, Bev DePhillips, Cindy
Dionne, Don Finlay, Mary
Schueren, Eileen Zaba, Paul Hollis,
Carole Cech, Joan Hoffman, Audrey
Stolfa, Sandra Ryan, Pat Kerber,
Diane Novak, Sandy Hayes, Kym
Iffert, Kathy Irving, Mike Marino,
Michelle Mason, Ray Redding, Bill
Tietz and Lauren Tvrdik.
A special thanks to Uncle Bub’s
BBQ Restaurant in Westmont for
choosing Hinsdale Humane Society
as their charity of choice for the
month of August. Each month employees
and staff collect donations
and give back to community organizations.
We are thankful for their
generous donation of $246.00 to help
our homeless animals.
Thank you to Chad Lopez of The
Urban Mutt, LaGrange, and to Joe
and Sheila Spitza of Wet Nose, Oakbrook,
who chose HHS as the recipient
of 6% of the sales of all Fromm
food sold at their stores during the
month of August.
Thanks to our
friends at Egg
Harbor Café,
Gateway Square
in Hinsdale, for
supporting HHS.
On select days
throughout the
summer and fall, Egg Harbor invites
us to bring animals, promote HHS,
collect donations, and to showcase
our adoptable animals. And, thanks
to the generous donations of Egg
Harbor patrons, we have collected
over $1200.00 this year!
Many thanks to those giving from
the heart: Mac Anderson sold water
bottles at a garage sale and gave the
proceeds to the shelter; Kate Grainge
made an adoption poster and gave a
donation; Timmy and Ethan Vlahos
gave their allowance money to help
the animals; Julie Schumann gave the
proceeds of a garage sale to help the
animals; Katie and Abby Blackwell
brought in treats and toys for the
kittens; Claire Williams collected
donations from friends and family for
the shelter; Anna Trynoha and her
sewing club made dog and cat beds
for our shelter animals and Shelly
Zabielski made cat toys and pillows
for the shelter cats.

Giving up Pets...cont. page 1
Couples get divorced, relationships end,
people pass away. Some animals are not
tolerant of small children. Some have
higher exercise requirements than an
owner is able to provide. And sometimes
an animal is just not the right fit
for the household
As a result of these and a number of
other reasons, animal welfare organizations
such as HHS are filled with wonderful
animals of all breeds, ages, and
personalities all vying for a second
chance to find forever homes.
Hinsdale Humane Society provides an
array of beneficial services to the communities
we serve, one of which is finding
loving homes for the animals in our
care. While serving as an adoption
agency for homeless animals is one of
our primary functions, an equally important
service is helping pet owners find
solutions to pet problems enabling them
to keep their pets. We offer Obedience
classes to promote a strong bond between
pets and their owners. The resource
section of our website
www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org covers
topics such as pet friendly housing, pet
health and behavior, and pets and foreclosure.
The Hinsdale Humane Society’s Behavior
Help Line is a free service that can
provide you with answers to your questions
about dog or cat behavior, suggestions
on resolving basic behavior issues,
and recommendations on where to go
for help with more complex issues. You
can expect to receive a return phone call
or email from one of our skilled staff
members within 48 hours of the receipt
of your message: 630-323-5637 or
www.info@hinsdalehumanesociety.org
Should, however, you find that rehoming
your pet is your only option or
what you feel is in the best interest of
you and your animal, the Hinsdale Humane
Society invites you to call the
shelter at 630-323-5630 to discuss surrendering
your pet for adoption.
Adoptable dogs and cats are wonderful,
loving pets who deserve a second
chance.
...Eagle Scout Aaron Brown of
Western Springs completed his
Eagle Scout project in service to the
Hinsdale Humane Society. Aaron
demolished a crumbling brick wall
and replaced it with a beautiful seating
wall, complete with new plants
and materials donated by Hinsdale
Nursery and Prairie Path Pavers.
We are very grateful to Aaron for
all his hard work and his dedication
to helping animals. Aaron especially
appreciates the help of the local
community on his way to achieving
Eagle Scout status.
Two Paws Up!
...To Classic Kids, Hinsdale for hosting
a Smooches for Pooches Promotion to
benefit the Hinsdale Humane Society.
Classic Kid’s generously donated $50
per photo shoot to HHS - for a grand
total of $1825.00! The promotion, now
in it’s 2nd year was a huge success, doubling
the number of photo sessions and
donations! Thank YOU!
...To ERA Team Feinstein LLC, for
hosting a fundraiser at Zak’s Place in
Hinsdale. ERA’s office and local
area realtors gathered together for a
night of comaraderie and to support
our local charity. Zak’s generously
donated 10% of proceeds to Hinsdale
Humane and together with the realtors,
a total of $815 was collected for
our homeless animals. We are truly
thankful for the generosity of the real
estate community.
...A great big thanks to Whole
Foods, Hinsdale employees who
volunteered their time to Hinsdale
Humane Society as part of Whole
Foods giving back to the community
program.
The Whole Foods team members are
encouraged to be active and involved
in their local community and
by supporting the local causes that
are important to their shoppers and
neighbors.
Classic Kids, Studio Photographer, Jamie
Polowy and Maggie Gryglak in the
studio photographing Beatrice
Casselyn Feinstein and Gail Jensen, ERA;
Oscar Sanchez, Zak’s Place; Pam
Salomone & Lori Halligan, Hinsdale
Humane; and Linda Feinstein, ERA
Laura, Deanna, Miguel, David, and
Marina from Whole Foods Market enjoy
a day of volunteering at HHS.
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4
Bequests, Memorial Gifts and Honoring Those We Love
Gaylen Klein
As an animal lover and a passionate supporter of the Hinsdale Humane Society, Gaylen Klein will be dearly missed by those
who knew her. Mrs. Klein passed away on August 27 from lymphoma at the age of 57. She is survived by her husband of 33
years, Matt Klein, and her adult children Micaela, Geoffrey and Jeremy. She had strong ties to the community as the vice
president of Harris Bank in Hinsdale and was a member of the Union Church, AAUW and Rotary Club. Gaylen was very
devoted to her family and friends, as well as the Indiana University Hoosiers. She dearly loved her pets and had adopted from
the Hinsdale Humane Society many times. We extend our most sincere sympathy to the Klein family for your tremendous
loss. Please join us in thanking these donors who have supported the Hinsdale Humane Society in Gaylen Klein’s memory:
Kate Martine, The Metke Family, Mr. & Mrs. Chris Mulka, Mr. & Mrs. Nick Arvis, Jr., Jill
Berry, Mr. & Mrs. Eric Cohen, John Conway, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Ellefson, Casey Elliott, Dave
Elsner, Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Hoganson, Cindy Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Klein, Mr. & Mrs.
James Mayer, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Newman, Mr. & Mrs. Donald O’Toole, William Paul, Mr. &
Mrs. Jim Porter, Mr. & Mrs. Steve Reitman, Mr. & Mrs. Roy Skoog, Mr. & Mrs. David Spaetzel,
Robin Tharp, The McGuigan children, Mrs. Henry Tymick, Mr. & Mrs. Ed Wroble, Mr.
& Mrs. Thomas Berns, Mike & Nita Blessing, Rick & Vickie Isley, Skip & Nancy Burke,
Mike & Denise Coffey, Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Cron, The Thomas Enright Family, Mr. &
Mrs. Jeffrey Feinstein, Stephanie Freels, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gavin, Mr. & Mrs. Edward
Gershman, Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Golob, Kristyn McReaken, Chrysse Pirok, Mr. & Mrs. James
Rouse, Mr. & Mrs. John Schaefer, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Antonios Sideris, Mr. & Mrs. Ronald
Sonenthal, Mr. & Mrs. John Zaremba, Jeffrey Bobb & Debra Tailor, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Crist,
Hinsdale Hospital Executive Board, Hinsdale Hospital Civic Advisory Board, Hinsdale Hospital,
Maryann Patterson, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Anselm, Mr. & Mrs. Brian Cooper, Mr. & Mrs.
Jeffrey Curran, Mr. & Mrs. George Miller, Patricia Quast, Dr. & Mrs. Reuben Ramkissoon &
Gaylen Klein with Daisy
family, Mr. & Mrs. Marc Cella, Stephanie Johnson-Mayer, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Johnston, Mr.
& Mrs. Casey Moauro, Mr. & Mrs. James Pratt, The John Roth family, The Gerow family,
Hinsdale Bank and Trust, Paul Swenson & Donna Cooper at Citadel Information Management, Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Reider, Mr.
& Mrs. Richard Ciccarone, Colleen Creighton, Mr. & Mrs. Gary Dispensa, BMO Harris Bank, Jeffrey Hucek, Mr. & Mrs.
John Jacob, Margo Ogle, Carole, Harv & Scott Randecker, Mr. & Mrs. R. Francis Schlemmer, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Shukis, Mr.
& Mrs. John Zick.
Ladd and Jarmilla Vosahlik
The Hinsdale Humane Society gratefully acknowledges
a generous donation from the Ladd J. and
Jarmilla R. Vosahlik Charitable Trust. Mr. and
Mrs. Vosahlik were life-long residents of the
Cicero-Berwyn area. Ladd Vosahlik graduated
from the University of Illinois with a Law Degree.
He retired from the Social Security Administration
Center as a Supervisor/Attorney and was a member
of the Bohemian Layers Association.
Jarmilla Vosahlik was a graduate of the Chicago
Art Institute and was an accomplished artist. In her
early career she was employed by a famous Hollywood
film studio where she did fashion costume
designing for several films, including the 1952
Academy Award winning movie “The Great
Caruso.”
Mr. and Mrs. Vosahlik both loved traveling. They
were active in many local civic organizations such
as the Masonic Lodge, The Order of the Eastern
Star, and Bohemian cultural activities. They
shared a vital concern for animal welfare. We are
pleased the Ladd and Jarmilla Vosahlik Charitable
Trust has chosen to support homeless pets of the
Hinsdale Humane Society.
Jayne Brophy
On August 18, Jayne Brophy, age 56, passed away of pancreatic cancer.
She is survived by her husband Napoleon, her children Abby and
Michael. She was the vice president of Banner Personnel in Chicago.
Jayne was known as a kind and compassionate friend and a woman of
deep personal integrity. Her daughter, Abby, holds fond memories of
volunteering together with her mom at the Hinsdale Humane Society
for several years, socializing cats and bonding over their shared love of
animals.
The Hinsdale Humane Society is grateful to these individuals who
made donations in memory of Jayne to
further our mission: Janet Valdez-
Dapena, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Brophy,
Deborah Haude & Bob McNees,
Nancy Loeb, Mr. & Mrs. John Mc
Mahon, Linda Petrie, Mr. & Mrs. Michael
Pincus, Mr. & Mrs. James Gage,
Mr. & Mrs. John Brophy, Shannon
Gallo, Liz Stickler Heun, Mr. & Mrs.
James Stoynoff, Mr. & Mrs. John Adams,
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Beckley, Mr.
Michael & Abby Pozulp, Jayne
Brophy and husband Nap Pozulp
with pets Arlowe and Ben
& Mrs. Brendan Head, Mr. & Mrs.
John Ostojic, Mr. & Mrs. John Smith,
Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Bennett.

Quotable Quotes & Happy Tales...
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of our most beloved family
dog, Hampton. Hampton passed into the light, at the ripe old age of 13 years.
We adopted Hampton from the Hinsdale Humane Society
in January of 2000, while both kids were still in grammar
school. During his long and healthy life, Hampton enjoyed
his status as one of the most pampered pets in La
Grange.
Over the years, he was a frequent visitor to the local dog
parks, the dog beach and various forest preserves. His
early years were filled with two active kids, neighborhood
friends, soccer practices, little league games, crosscountry
meets, Boy Scout activities, La Grange Pet Parades
and kid sleep-overs, as well as numerous family
Hampton trips to visit his out-of-state doggie cousins and relatives.
We miss him greatly, but realize that we were truly blessed to have such a wonderful
dog as a member of our family for so long a time.
The Peterson Family
It was truly by divine intervention that we received our darling Matilda. Her picture
was posted on the bulletin board at Indian Prairie Library as the "featured pet"
up for adoption at the Hinsdale Humane Society.
I was constantly drawn to her picture
and the written biography that went
along with it. My kind-hearted husband
said he would go "to just look at
her." Needless to say, she was home
with us that same day. Matilda is just a
We Thank You for Your Support!
“It was truly by divine intervention
that we received our
darling Matilda.”
wonderful, fun-loving girl. Daily she provides entertainment to the whole family,
including her sister Libby, who was also adopted from the HHS. We just absolutely
love her so so much. Thank you for taking care of Matilda until she found
her forever home. Elizabeth S.
You are the heartbeat of the Hinsdale Humane Society. Each year you provide for
homeless dogs and cats…often the forgotten ones in our society. Without your
loyal support, countless animals would wander aimlessly never finding a loving
home. Yes, you have been there to extend a helping hand to an animal in need.
The year’s end is approaching and with it our annual appeal to friends. As you
may know, approximately 75% of our budget comes from donations from supporters
like you. You enable HHS to provide superior services to animals as they
await their forever homes. Whatever the need, from health issues to special diets,
you are there to assist the staff in comforting our animal friends. Thank you.
Please consider making a generous gift to the Hinsdale Humane Society this year.
The year has been a busy one for the shelter. For example, we have seen new
needs arise with the arrival of puppy mill puppies.
Thank you again for all your generous help. Your meaningful gifts have made a
major difference in the lives of thousands of animals and people.
Director’s Desk...cont. page 1
Is it any wonder the Commander in
Chief would want a faithful companion
providing unconditional acceptance?
When you are the President of the US,
on any given day almost half of the
country might disagree with you. And
talk about job-related stress! When
was the last time one of us ordered the
Navy SEALS to attempt to take out
Bin Laden or to enter a war in a foreign
country? Pets add a certain normalcy
to the Presidency. Lucky, President
Reagan’s Bouvier des Flandres,
accompanied him to the Oval Office
for strategy sessions and Gerald Ford’s
dog, Liberty, was a frequent guest at
Camp David.
President Gerald Ford with Liberty
The pets have been involved in certain
shenanigans, too. Barney, President
George W. Bush’s dog, bit a reporter.
A run away goat named Old Whiskers
was chased down Pennsylvania Avenue
by Benjamin Harrison. And Theodore
Roosevelt’s children snuck their
pony, Algonquin, into the White
House for a ride on the elevator.
Presidential pets have been a part of
testy political debate, too. President
Kennedy received a mutt named
Pushinka from Nikita Khrushchev.
The most contentious “pet as gift” incident
involved Checkers, Richard
Nixon’s Cocker Spaniel. The choice of
the breed of a presidential dog has influenced
the pet loving public. Perhaps
you like beagles (Lyndon Johnson) or
Weimaraners (Dwight Eisenhower) or
German Shepherds (Herbert Hoover)
or Newfoundlands (Ulysses Grant).
Which Presidential pet do you think
will inhabit the White House in 2013,
continuing a long standing tradition?
5

News from the Board of Directors
All of our board members attended an all day training session “Creating a Dynamic Non Profit Board,” conducted by Dave
Sternberg of BoardSource. Mr. Sternberg is a founding partner of Loring, Sternberg and Associates and has consulted with
nonprofit boards throughout the US. Our board members learned best practices for governance, roles and responsibilities and
the philanthropic management. Carol Koepke, a board member for the past 4 years, was instrumental in arranging this training.
Carol remarked, “Our board is composed of talented individuals who speak passionately for the mission of the Hinsdale
Humane Society. Professional training, such as that provided by BoardSource, motivates all of us to work together strategically
to build for the future of the organization.”
Hinsdale Humane attends National Fundraising School - San Francisco, CA
HHS Executive Director Lori Halligan and Pam Salomone, PR Special
Events, recently attended a three day comprehensive fundraising
workshop through The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
The Fundraising School® classes were held in San Francisco, California
September 24th - 25th, 2012. HHS was excited to receive
one full tuition scholarship.
The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University is the largest, most
comprehensive center focused solely on philanthropy and nonprofit
management in the world. The Fundraising School workshop,
taught by industry professionals, teaches proven fundraising concepts
and principles, incorporating the latest research. In addition,
they offer tools and techniques that enable and empower fundraisers
to effectively plan and manage developmental efforts.
“It was enlightening to learn from the highest level of industry professionals,”
shared Lori Halligan. “Our classmates represented a
diverse range of non-profit executives from around the world and
they were very willing to share their insights and experiences.”
Hinsdale Humane Society 2012 Holiday Cards
Our annual holiday cards will once again feature shelter animals photographed by
Hinsdale Humane Society volunteer and professional photographer, Diane Smutny of
DMS Photography. The lucky shelter animals selected for the photo shoot really
seemed to enjoy the special afternoon away from the shelter, which included lots of
pampering, treats and extra attention!
Have you ever photographed your pet? We all know how challenging it can be to get
our four-legged friends to sit still and to look at the camera. You won’t want to miss
this year’s cards as Diane magically captures seven wiggly puppies, six kittens sitting
snuggly, and Santa himself with a shelter dog.
The beautiful animal themed holiday cards are $12.00 a dozen with all of the proceeds
to benefit our homeless animals. Cards are available at the shelter, at participating area
vet offices and animal hospitals. View all four holiday designs on our website:
www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org
6
The Hinsdale Humane Society says goodbye to retiring board member Tom McFadden. We thank him
for his volunteer service and dedication to HHS. Tom McFadden of LaGrange served for six years on
the HHS Board. He served as Vice President. “It has been extremely rewarding to have been a part of the
leadership of the Society which serves the needs of one of the more vulnerable segments in our community,
our pets,” shared McFadden. Tom was instrumental in the revisions of the bylaws for the Board of
Directors, a rather thankless but important task.
“I chose to volunteer at HHS because I have always loved animals, particularly dogs.” shared Tom. “Pets
enrich our lives and help teach our children from a young age to be caring.”
Retiring Board Member
Tom McFadden
Ernest Vargo II, CRFE and M. Gasby Brown, MPA from the
Fundraising School with Lori Halligan, HHS Executive
Director and Pam Salomone, HHS PR Special Events.
Diane Smutny, DMS Photography
captures a shot with the help of HHS staff
member Robyn Garrison and Santa

Ask Jenny…HHS Operations Manager &
Obedience Instructor, Jennifer Vlazny, answers pet
related questions and offers practical advice.
Q: Help! My cat has stopped using the litter box consistently. What can I do?
Cassie, Chicago
A: Sadly, many felines lose their homes due to inappropriate elimination. But
don’t start packing Fluffy’s bags just yet! When a once fastidious feline suddenly
stops using its litter box consistently, it is usually the first sign something is troubling
your feline family member. The key is to finding out the probable cause so
that steps can be taken to correct the problem before it develops into a permanent
behavior. The sooner the corrective action, the greater likelihood the behavior
will be reversed.
If your cat is choosing to urinate out in the open such as on your bed, sofa, or in
the middle of your living room rug, there is a strong possibility a health issue,
such as a urinary infection or bladder stones, may be the cause. Cats with urinary
tract infections frequently experience pain upon urination and mistakenly associate
the pain with the litter box. In their effort to end the discomfort, they seek out
other random spots to urinate.
No matter when and where the accidents are occurring, the first course of action
should be to take your cat to the veterinarian for a full physical exam. Your veterinarian
will more than likely draw blood for analysis and collect some of your
cat’s urine for a urinalysis. If an infection is diagnosed, most times one or two
courses of antibiotics will cure the problem and your cat will no longer have a
negative association to the litter box.
If a health problem is ruled out, than the detective work needs to begin to try to
determine what is disrupting your cat’s normal elimination routine. Cats do not
usually adapt readily to change, so the first thing to ask yourself is “What in the
cat’s environment is different?” Did you purchase a new brand or type of cat
litter? Have you changed the location of the litter box, and/or is the box in a location
that is not easily accessible to your cat? Is the litter box in your laundry
room where the spin cycle of your washing machine sends Fluffy scurrying to a
quiet spot behind your sofa? Is the cat fearful of being ambushed in the box by
the resident canine or another cat in the home? I invite you to call Hinsdale Humane
Society’s Helpline at 630-323-5637 for assistance in unraveling the mysteries
of your cat’s mind and finding solutions for your litter box blues.
If you have a question for “Ask Jenny” email jenny@hinsdalehumanesociety.org
Or call our behavior helpline 630-323-5637
Vern Goers “Deck The Halls” Shop-N-Share
Hinsdale Humane Society, Nov. 22nd through Dec. 23rd
* Poinsettias * Wreaths * Gifts * Ornaments
* Holiday Garland * Christmas Decorations
Name____________________________________________
Date ________________ Sales Total ________________
Vern Goers Greenhouse. 5620 S. Oak St. Hinsdale. 630-323-1085
Hours: M,T,W,TH,F 8am to 5pm; Sat 8am to 6pm. Closed Sun.
Vern Goers Greenhouse generously
donates 10% of purchase to help our HHS animals
Humanely Speaking
is published quarterly for the
members and friends of the
Hinsdale Humane Society,
22 N. Elm Street,
Hinsdale, Illinois 60521.
630-323-5630
FAX 630-323-6027
www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org
Shelter hours: Tuesday 2-8pm;
Wednesday through Friday
12 noon to 6pm;
Saturday and Sunday
10am to 4pm
Closed Monday
Board of Directors
President: Judy Porta
First VP: Tom McFadden
Secretary: Anne DeSimone
Treasurer: Diane Malzahn
Members: Thomas Prohaska, Carol
Koepke, Ann Marie LoPiccolo,
John Haarlow, Barb Parsons, Cindy
Rein
Staff
Executive Director:
Lori Halligan
Operations Manager:
Jennifer Vlazny
Assistant Manager:
Samantha Cheatham
Animal Care Staff:
Robyn Garrison, Patty Powell, Alan
Lis, Katie Wolfe, Brie Stevanovich
Receptionist: Kathy Daly
Contributing Services
Pam Salomone:
Public Relations/Special Events
Laura Donohue
Volunteer Coordination
Kym Iffert
Humane Education
Obedience Instruction
Mary Alex - Bookkeeping
Deborah Kraus
Pet Therapy Coordination
Mary Drew - Website Coordination
7

Hinsdale Humane Society
22 N. Elm Street
Hinsdale, IL. 60521
Cassie
I just want to let you know we adopted a
Golden Retriever in ‘99 from you. She
was the most joy in my life and we had to
put her down in June. The vet was surprised
at how soft and young she still
looked. Thank you from the bottom of
my heart for such a wonderful girl I was
allowed to adopt from your facility.
My husband and I are too sad right now
to adopt but I am sure we will heal and I
eventually want to save more canines.
Gregory and Vera C.
8
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FROM OUR MAILBAG
Just wanted to let you know, we
adopted Mia, the pit mix, back in late
April. In late June we moved to Salt
Lake City, UT. She LOVES it here.
She has a large fenced-in yard.
We live about 10 minutes from the
mountains so she runs on the trails
and has freedom to run. The air is
clean. The weather is perfect most
days. And as such an athletic dog, she
really seems to love it here. And we
love her. Hard to remember what life
was like without her. Just wanted to
let you know she is happy and well
(she is curled up on a pillow next to
me as I write this).
Sincerely, Lisa M.
We Want To Hear from You!
If you have a favorite photo or pet story,
we would love to include it in our
quarterly newsletter. Send to:
info@hinsdalehumanesociety.org
Hank & Ty
Non-profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #279
Hinsdale, IL
Hi there! I wanted to send you an update
on our wonderful kittens that we
adopted from HHS. They didn't have
"shelter" names, but the kids have
named them Hank (the striped guy) and
Ty (the gray guy). They are eating well,
using the litter box, playing tons and
being very lovable. Thank you for allowing
us the wonderful opportunity to
adopt such amazing additions to our
family.
Sincerely, Kellie, Todd, Colin,
Brooke, Hank & Ty J.