Cats and Dogs Magazine Fall 2019
Cats and Dogs is a West Michigan based publication. It’s focus is companion animals and features local advertisers, rescue groups and articles. It promotes rescue and spay/neuter.
Cats and Dogs is a West Michigan based publication. It’s focus is companion animals and features local advertisers, rescue groups and articles. It promotes rescue and spay/neuter.
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B<br />
Y<br />
cats <strong>and</strong> DOGS<br />
A <strong>Magazine</strong> Devoted to Companion Animals<br />
Koby<br />
Koby’s Promise – Page 31<br />
Heather Clark <strong>and</strong> Rachel Jensen<br />
Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry – Page 13<br />
Allie Good–Gadziemski with Moana <strong>and</strong> Mowgli.<br />
Dominion Sanctuary – Page 11<br />
On the Wild Side – Page 12<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
FREE
Animals for Adoption<br />
CONTENTS<br />
Cannonsville Critters ...................................................<br />
7<br />
Noah Project ........................................................................<br />
9<br />
BestPals Animal Rescue ..................................................<br />
10<br />
Reuben’s Room Cat Rescue ............................................<br />
15<br />
Carol’s Ferals .......................................................................<br />
17<br />
Muskegon Humane Society .........................................<br />
23<br />
Crash’s l<strong>and</strong>ing .................................................................<br />
25<br />
Almost Every Month<br />
Business Card Directory ..............................................<br />
Willow’s World ..................................................................<br />
On the Wild Side ................................................................<br />
Ask the Trainer ...................................................................<br />
Cat Corner ............................................................................<br />
Furry Philosophy ..............................................................<br />
Community Resource Guide .......................................<br />
Features<br />
Kent County Animal Shelter needs you .............<br />
Dominion Sanctuary .....................................................<br />
Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry ...........................<br />
Shelter Statistics ..............................................................<br />
CBD oil for pets..................................................................<br />
Koby’s Promise ......................................................................<br />
5<br />
6<br />
12<br />
14<br />
19<br />
22<br />
28<br />
4<br />
11<br />
13<br />
20<br />
24<br />
31<br />
Furry Philosophy<br />
Page 22<br />
Namiko Ota-Noveskey<br />
<strong>and</strong> Dutchess<br />
Kent County Animal Shelter<br />
Page 4<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong><br />
PO Box 996, Jenison, MI 49429-0996<br />
616-777-0645<br />
cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine@comcast.net<br />
www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong>, founded in 2006, is a free publication<br />
supported by advertisers. <strong>Magazine</strong>s are distributed throughout<br />
Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon <strong>and</strong> surrounding counties. We<br />
are not responsible for services <strong>and</strong> products advertised. All<br />
rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced<br />
without permission from the publisher.<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
Publisher: Janet Vormittag<br />
Owner: JLV Enterprises LLC<br />
Deadlines<br />
Spring: Feb. 15 - Summer: May 15<br />
<strong>Fall</strong>: August 15 - Winter: Nov. 15<br />
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<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 3
Kent County Animal Shelter<br />
looking for volunteers<br />
By Janet Vormittag<br />
After 13 years of working at the Humane Society of<br />
West Michigan, Namiko Ota-Noveskey took over the<br />
reins at the Kent County Animal Shelter. She started May<br />
13 as the Animal Shelter Program Supervisor.<br />
“I think I’m so much more useful here. There’s so<br />
much potential to do good. It’s exciting to see things<br />
happen,” she said.<br />
Namiko said her biggest challenge is functioning with<br />
the absolute minimum number of staff. “We really need<br />
to involve the community.”<br />
While there are a few volunteers who help at the<br />
shelter, there isn’t an official volunteer program. Namiko<br />
wants to change that. Besides walking dogs, volunteers<br />
could foster kittens <strong>and</strong> other animals who would do<br />
better in a home setting, they could help with fundraising,<br />
provide enrichment activities for shelter animals <strong>and</strong> help<br />
with community events. She would love it if volunteers<br />
took a dog for an afternoon to give them a break from<br />
being in a kennel.<br />
“Animals are a community issue,” she added.<br />
Namiko replaced Carly Luttmann who resigned in<br />
September 2018 after complaints about high euthanasia<br />
rates.<br />
Namiko said shelters shouldn’t be judged by<br />
euthanasia numbers alone. She thinks they should be<br />
judged by the quality of care given to animals while they<br />
are at the shelter.<br />
“Every animal should be given a chance, but it’s not<br />
enough to just feed them <strong>and</strong> give them toys. They need<br />
mental stimulation,” she said. “This is a transitional<br />
place, but they still need a quality of life. We really need<br />
volunteers to make that happen.”<br />
She said before she was hired, shelter staff was<br />
already working to increase the live-release rate by<br />
transferring more animals to other shelters <strong>and</strong> rescues<br />
<strong>and</strong> by increasing adoptions.<br />
In the month of June 2018, homes were found for<br />
67 animals. In June <strong>2019</strong>, homes were found for 132<br />
animals.<br />
Namiko said the staff <strong>and</strong> animal control officers are<br />
hard-working <strong>and</strong> dedicated.<br />
“It’s important to us that the adopted animals stay in<br />
the home,” she said. Staff does adoption follow-up to help<br />
resolve any issues people may have with having a new<br />
animal as part of their household.<br />
The Kent County Animal shelter is an openadmissions<br />
shelter meaning they don’t turn away any<br />
animals brought to them. They also take in strays.<br />
By law, strays who have an indication of ownership<br />
such as a collar, tags or microchip have to be held<br />
for seven business days. Without any indication of<br />
ownership, they have to be held four business days.<br />
Namiko Ota-Noveskey, the new Program Supervisor at<br />
the Kent County Animal Shelter <strong>and</strong> Dutchess, an owner<br />
surrendered cat who has anxiety <strong>and</strong> shares Namiko’s<br />
office until a new home can be found for her.<br />
There are no laws regarding the hold time of cats, but<br />
generally the guidelines for dogs are followed.<br />
“There’s a significant difference in the reclaim of dogs<br />
<strong>and</strong> cats,” Namiko said. “People don’t know how to find<br />
their cats.”<br />
In 2018, 677 dogs <strong>and</strong> 28 cats were returned to their<br />
owners.<br />
<strong>Dogs</strong> running loose tend to get picked up by animal<br />
control. <strong>Cats</strong> are independent, good at hiding <strong>and</strong> can<br />
survive on their own. By the time they get brought to<br />
the shelter, their owner has usually already given up any<br />
hope of finding them.<br />
To help reunite stray pets with their owners, the<br />
shelter recently started using FindingRover.com, which<br />
uses facial recognition software. Pet owners posts photos<br />
of their missing pet, <strong>and</strong> the shelter posts photos of<br />
strays. It’s too early to say what impact the technology<br />
will have on reclaim statistics.<br />
Namiko has a master’s degree in applied psychology<br />
<strong>and</strong> keeps current on research regarding shelter animals.<br />
She has assessed thous<strong>and</strong>s of dogs <strong>and</strong> said behavior<br />
assessments should be an information-gathering tool, not<br />
a pass-fail test. While she believes every animal deserves<br />
a chance, she said some dogs are not safe to have in the<br />
community.<br />
“Sometimes it’s really sad, but if the last kind thing<br />
we can do is euthanasia, then that’s what we do. It is our<br />
commitment to give every animal a chance for a happy<br />
life. Even if appears to be a small chance, it is our job to<br />
try our best.”<br />
If you are interested in volunteering at the Kent<br />
County Animal Shelter, 740 Fuller Ave. NE, Gr<strong>and</strong><br />
Rapids, you can stop by <strong>and</strong> fill out an application or<br />
email Namiko at namiko.ota-noveskey@kentcountymi.<br />
gov. They’re open Monday-Thursday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.<br />
<strong>and</strong> Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 4 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY<br />
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Providing all the dignity your<br />
Forever Friend deserves<br />
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noahspc@comcast.net<br />
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A <strong>Magazine</strong> Devoted to Companion Animals<br />
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who care about pets.<br />
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<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 5
Willow’s World<br />
The Wet Dog<br />
By Tricia L. McDonald<br />
Whenever my daughter <strong>and</strong> her husb<strong>and</strong> come<br />
to visit, their dog Lyle jumps out of the car <strong>and</strong> heads<br />
straight for the pond. Through my garden <strong>and</strong> across<br />
the lawn, he runs. No amount of yelling stops him from<br />
that sparkling water…his destination. He takes a huge<br />
doggy leap <strong>and</strong> splash! he l<strong>and</strong>s in the water. I swear he<br />
is smiling the whole time. I find myself smiling too! Every<br />
time they come over, he does the exact same thing.<br />
I’ve always wanted a dog that liked to swim. I’ve seen<br />
videos of dogs swimming with their owners <strong>and</strong> it looks<br />
like so much fun. For the owner <strong>and</strong> the dog!<br />
Eli, our Jack Russell/Australian cattledog, came to<br />
us with his own attitude <strong>and</strong> that included no interest in<br />
swimming.<br />
When we got Sally I thought I might have a chance<br />
with her. It wasn’t to be. Sally would tease me by wading<br />
in the pond, but only until her tummy started to get wet.<br />
That didn’t work for her <strong>and</strong> she was out of there! Once<br />
she was chasing Jacob around the pond <strong>and</strong> she tried<br />
to catch him by taking a short cut. The short cut turned<br />
out to be deeper water <strong>and</strong> she disappeared underwater.<br />
When she popped back up, it was as if she could walk on<br />
water. She was out of that water pronto! I thought maybe<br />
the breed didn’t like to swim, but I’ve seen lots of photos<br />
of bull terriers swimming. So what the heck?<br />
It wasn’t that Sally didn’t like to get wet, because she<br />
always went a little crazy whenever we got the hose out.<br />
She would jump <strong>and</strong> bite at the stream of water for as<br />
long as we would hold the hose. So what’s the difference<br />
between a pond of water <strong>and</strong> a hose of water?<br />
When Willow joined our family, I thought I had<br />
another chance. If I introduced her to water when she<br />
was a puppy, maybe she would become a swimmer. First,<br />
I took her in the shower with me. Sadly, she seemed to<br />
enjoy rolling around on the towels afterwards more than<br />
the actual shower.<br />
I discovered she had an obsession with balls, so I<br />
would throw one into the pond to tempt her into jumping<br />
in the water to get it. She would pace at the edge of the<br />
pond <strong>and</strong> just like Sally, she would wade in until her<br />
tummy got wet. Then she was done. It seemed she was<br />
following in Sally’s dry paw prints.<br />
I had heard <strong>and</strong> believed that bulldogs couldn’t swim,<br />
so when Ernie (our French bulldog) joined our family,<br />
I never even considered he would be interested in the<br />
pond. I would soon learn I was mistaken.<br />
Willow taught Ernie the enjoyment of playing with<br />
balls. If they are outside together, there has to be at least<br />
three balls out with them. One for Willow, one for Ernie<br />
<strong>and</strong> the third is for when either of them loses their ball.<br />
Often Willow will take her ball to a small hill by the<br />
pond. She sits at the top of the incline <strong>and</strong> drops her ball.<br />
It starts rolling <strong>and</strong> sometimes Willow is able to catch it<br />
before it hits the water. Other times (<strong>and</strong> more often than<br />
not), she misses <strong>and</strong> it ends up in the pond. That is it<br />
because Willow is not going to go in <strong>and</strong> get it.<br />
Along comes Ernie! He spots the ball floating in the<br />
pond <strong>and</strong> whoosh! He takes a superman leap <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>s<br />
in the water. I expect to see him struggling, but instead<br />
he dog-paddles out to the middle of the pond <strong>and</strong> tries<br />
to grab the ball in his mouth. When he mouths it, the<br />
ball sinks <strong>and</strong> pops up a bit away from him. He chases it<br />
around in the pond until he gets it in his mouth. Then he<br />
swims to the side <strong>and</strong> climbs out—the victor!<br />
Now that I have my swimming dog, I realize it isn’t<br />
as wonderful as I thought it would be. Ernie spends a<br />
good deal of time smelling like a wet dog. Have you ever<br />
smelled a wet dog? Let’s just say I don’t think it is ever<br />
going to be made into a c<strong>and</strong>le scent.<br />
You can purchase Life With Sally: Little White Dog<br />
Tails, Still Spinnin’ Tails, Waggin’ More Tails <strong>and</strong><br />
Princess Tails in Gr<strong>and</strong> Haven at Must Love <strong>Dogs</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> The Bookman; in Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids at Schulers<br />
Books. You can order books at amazon.com. The cost<br />
is $13.95. The books are also available on Kindle <strong>and</strong><br />
Nook for $5.99.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 6 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 7
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 8 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 9
A special thanks to Noah’s Pet Cemetery & Crematory for sponsoring our page.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 10 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
Dominion Sanctuary<br />
By Janet Vormittag<br />
Allie Good–Gadziemski has always been attracted to<br />
pigs. “They seem so vulnerable <strong>and</strong> human-like in their<br />
personality,” she said.<br />
Three years ago Allie, her husb<strong>and</strong>, Jim, <strong>and</strong> their<br />
four sons took an RV trip to Farm Sanctuary in New York.<br />
After a tour of the farm, they spent the afternoon in the<br />
pig barn with the animals who fascinate Allie.<br />
“They were so magical <strong>and</strong> peaceful,” she recalled. “I<br />
felt like I was in a movie with majestic creatures.”<br />
The visit had a profound impact on Allie <strong>and</strong> her<br />
family. Two years after the road-trip, they moved from<br />
Ada to a 12-acre farm in Sparta with the intention of<br />
starting a sanctuary for pigs <strong>and</strong> other farm animals.<br />
Their mission is to provide a loving permanent<br />
home for rejected <strong>and</strong> ab<strong>and</strong>oned animals <strong>and</strong> to spread<br />
compassion throughout the community. In January <strong>2019</strong>,<br />
the sanctuary became a 501 c 3 non-profit organization.<br />
Last spring, they took in their first residents, three<br />
homeless potbelly pigs; Big Carlos, Moana <strong>and</strong> Mowgli.<br />
Soon three chickens joined the family, Bosco, Allie <strong>and</strong><br />
Ariella. In August, they took in an ab<strong>and</strong>oned pig named<br />
Margaret.<br />
While they can legally have up to 30 animals on their<br />
acreage, Allie said they are being cautious <strong>and</strong> mindful of<br />
growth. “We don’t want to get in over our heads or lose<br />
the enjoyment factor.”<br />
They recently held a fund-raiser for fencing materials<br />
so they could provide a home to three pigs from a 74-<br />
pig seizure. They needed $2,000 <strong>and</strong> more than $2,100<br />
was donated. “It was phenomenal,” Allie said of the<br />
community support. The pigs arrived mid-August.<br />
They chose the name Dominion Sanctuary hoping<br />
the name would encourage people to think about what<br />
dominion means. Allie is saddened by the religious use<br />
of the word dominion to condone unnecessary violent<br />
choices.<br />
“True dominion is caring <strong>and</strong> being responsible for<br />
who is in our care. Participating in the violent cycle of<br />
meat <strong>and</strong> dairy industries is not acting in compliance<br />
with dominion, but I know people don’t realize how<br />
easy it is to make changes. Our traditions run so deep.<br />
Habits are ingrained. It’s hard to even think about it.<br />
It was for me. You can eat healthy <strong>and</strong> live a peaceful<br />
compassionate life without meat <strong>and</strong> dairy. The animals<br />
here help people make that realization, just by being who<br />
they are.”<br />
Allie grew up eating meat, but as a child had a soft<br />
spot for animals. “My heart would break for animals I<br />
didn’t even know,” she said.<br />
When she was 20 years old she became a vegan, even<br />
throwing away her down-filled pillow <strong>and</strong> beeswax chap<br />
stick. Vegans don’t eat meat, dairy products, eggs, honey<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
Left: Allie Good–<br />
Gadziemski with Ariella<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bosco.<br />
Below: Allie with Moana<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mowgli.<br />
or use any products derived from animals such as leather.<br />
Allie changed when she became pregnant with her<br />
first child. She felt a need to fit into society, <strong>and</strong> to her<br />
that meant eating a traditional American diet including<br />
meat. She used to tell her kids someday she would be<br />
vegan again. “The social conditioning is so strong. I knew<br />
the facts but couldn’t change.”<br />
Four years ago, her then-12-year-old son visited a<br />
friend whose pet rabbit had been butchered for meat.<br />
He came home <strong>and</strong> asked her if that someday could be<br />
immediately, <strong>and</strong> he would join her. Mother <strong>and</strong> son<br />
became vegetarians <strong>and</strong> shortly after that vegans.<br />
“I’ve always known the dairy industry is part of the<br />
meat industry. It’s all connected,” she said. Dairy cows<br />
give birth to produce milk. The babies are taken from<br />
them <strong>and</strong> sold for veal or raised to be dairy cows or<br />
butchered for meat. “The suffering is terrible.”<br />
It didn’t take long for the younger sons to join their<br />
mom <strong>and</strong> brother in their lifestyle change. A year later,<br />
Jim did too. Allie said everyone’s path to eating a plantbased<br />
diet is different <strong>and</strong> she wants the sanctuary to<br />
support <strong>and</strong> encourage people on their journey. “If their<br />
heart is open, getting to know an animal, looking into<br />
their eyes, can make a big difference.”<br />
Allie’s non-profit holds Pigs & Kids Programs where<br />
children can have fun, meet the animals, learn about pigs<br />
<strong>and</strong> chickens <strong>and</strong> enjoy some plant-based snacks. “They<br />
can see the animals as individuals,” she said. “Meeting<br />
the chickens <strong>and</strong> pigs plant the seeds of compassion.”<br />
For more information visit www.dominionsanctuary.<br />
org. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram<br />
<strong>and</strong> YouTube.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> -11
On the Wild<br />
Side<br />
with Allyson Swanson<br />
Early this spring, when I first received the call about<br />
a baby otter found on the banks of the Gr<strong>and</strong> River I was<br />
astonished. Having been part of a couple beaver rescues<br />
just weeks before, I was willing to believe it possible. I<br />
imagined a sweet, quiet, fluffy baby otter arriving. What I<br />
received was a little different. Enter our first baby mink of<br />
the year. Mink are semi-aquatic carnivorous weasels. The<br />
poor baby fit in the palm of my h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> screamed its<br />
head off for 24 hours straight.<br />
We called her Banshee <strong>and</strong> she was a spunky baby.<br />
There was a short period of time when she got sick <strong>and</strong><br />
we thought we would lose her but with medical attention<br />
she rallied <strong>and</strong> continued to grow strong <strong>and</strong> healthy. A<br />
mink was a rare intake for us, so imagine our surprise<br />
when 3 more came in from different areas of Michigan.<br />
Hunter from Ludington, Pip from Holl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Oboe<br />
from Gr<strong>and</strong> Haven. If I had thought one mink was a<br />
h<strong>and</strong>ful, four was chaos. Constant energy <strong>and</strong> curiosity!<br />
However, seeing them turn <strong>and</strong> frolic in a pool of water<br />
chasing minnows was as graceful <strong>and</strong> entertaining as any<br />
ballet.<br />
Mink stay with their mothers for quite a period of<br />
time to learn how to hunt, swim <strong>and</strong> evade predators. So<br />
when it came time to release them, we knew we needed to<br />
be picky with the area <strong>and</strong> provide them with a safe space<br />
to return to as they figured out how to live in the wild.<br />
We chose a beautiful riverside area in Whitehall to set up<br />
an enclosure <strong>and</strong> shelter for them while they got used to<br />
their new surroundings! But, in “mink style” they dug out<br />
the first night <strong>and</strong> set themselves free.<br />
Despite the vast amount of time, money <strong>and</strong> work<br />
that went into raising these “hellions” as we called<br />
them, knowing that they have their freedom back is a<br />
wonderful victory. I will always remember their separate<br />
personalities, shiny chocolate fur <strong>and</strong> their shrieking<br />
screams.<br />
Allyson Swanson is a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator<br />
with Wildlife Rehab Center Ltd, 1504 Union Ave NE,<br />
Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids. She has been licensed since 2013 but<br />
started as a volunteer over fifteen years ago. Since<br />
then she has worked with countless species of birds<br />
<strong>and</strong> mammals <strong>and</strong> has become one of the main local<br />
resources for Virginia Opossums. She is also the Center’s<br />
Education Coordinator <strong>and</strong> does presentations with<br />
their Educational Ambassador animals. allyson@<br />
wildlife-rehab-center.org – 616-606-5805.<br />
Need more customers, clients or volunteers?<br />
Advertise in<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong><br />
A <strong>Magazine</strong> Devoted to Companion Animals<br />
Reach more than 12,000 people who care about pets.<br />
cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine@comcast.net<br />
616-777-0645<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 12 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry<br />
helping keep pets in their homes<br />
By Janet Vormittag<br />
Rachel Jensen was bothered when people dropped off<br />
their pets at the Kent County Animal Shelter because they<br />
financially couldn’t afford to keep them. “Just because<br />
you lost your job doesn’t mean you should have to give up<br />
your pet,” she said.<br />
Rachel was an animal control officer <strong>and</strong> volunteer at<br />
the shelter for more than eight years.<br />
In December 2016, she <strong>and</strong> a h<strong>and</strong>ful of friends<br />
started Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry. The pantry is a<br />
volunteer <strong>and</strong> donation based non-profit organization.<br />
Their goal is to ensure pets stay in their homes <strong>and</strong><br />
never have to experience shelter life.<br />
The pantry stocks food for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits<br />
<strong>and</strong> pocket pets. They also have other pet supplies such<br />
as carriers, crates, flea & tick products, toys, treats, beds,<br />
bowls <strong>and</strong> much more.<br />
They’re open every other Saturday from noon to 2<br />
p.m.<br />
While Rachel is excellent at community outreach,<br />
volunteer Heather Clark is using her management<br />
experience to keep the pantry running smoothly.<br />
The pantry does more than just offer pet supplies.<br />
They give tips on responsible pet ownership <strong>and</strong> direct<br />
people to low-income vaccination clinics.<br />
Within the year, they hope to have a grant so they can<br />
offer pet owners free or low-cost spay/neuter surgeries<br />
for their cats <strong>and</strong> dogs.<br />
“We feel very strongly that every animal should be<br />
spayed or neutered,” Heather said.<br />
Part of their five-year plan is to help pet owners with<br />
unexpected veterinarian medical bills. Rachel said while<br />
at the shelter she would also see people relinquish pets<br />
when the animals were injured or sick <strong>and</strong> the vet care<br />
was too expensive.<br />
The pet pantry relies on donations to keep their doors<br />
open. They have donation barrels in local businesses<br />
<strong>and</strong> an Ottawa County pet supply distributor gives them<br />
products when available.<br />
They are always in need of kitty litter, kibble <strong>and</strong><br />
canned food for both dogs <strong>and</strong> cats.<br />
Cash is always in need for such things as rent <strong>and</strong><br />
insurance. The women hold fundraising events. On<br />
Facebook, their birthday fundraisers benefit the pantry.<br />
In addition, they partner with local breweries <strong>and</strong><br />
restaurants that donate a portion of sales to non-profits.<br />
The Pantry was started in the basement of a dog<br />
training facility in Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids. In June, it was moved<br />
to 1539 Taylor Ave, #5, in Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids.<br />
Heather Clark, left, <strong>and</strong> Rachel Jensen in front of some<br />
of the supplies available from Pleasant Hearts Pet Food<br />
Pantry.<br />
Heather said the current location is perfect; it has air<br />
conditioning, the road isn’t busy, there’s a bathroom <strong>and</strong><br />
there’s room for everything onsite.<br />
They now have more than 300 clients.<br />
To receive help, pet owners must have photo<br />
identification, sign a waiver <strong>and</strong> provide information on<br />
their current pets.<br />
“We won’t service people who get new pets,” Rachel<br />
said.<br />
Both Rachel <strong>and</strong> Heather have full-time jobs. They<br />
also volunteer at the Wildlife Rehab Center in Gr<strong>and</strong><br />
Rapids. Rachel volunteers at Pound Buddies in Muskegon<br />
<strong>and</strong> fosters dogs.<br />
“Our hearts are full,” Heather said.<br />
Visit www.pleasantheartspetfoodpantry.org<br />
for more information or<br />
email info@pleasantheartspetfoodpantry.org. You can<br />
also follow the pantry on Facebook or Instagram.<br />
AMP X<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> -13
Call for an<br />
Appointment<br />
231-366-7067<br />
West Michigan<br />
Spay & Neuter Clinic<br />
(a 501c3 non-profit organization<br />
that accepts donations)<br />
A low-cost spay/neuter clinic.<br />
6130 Airline Road<br />
Fruitport, MI 49415<br />
www.wmspay<strong>and</strong>neuter.org<br />
info@wmspay<strong>and</strong>neuter.org<br />
In-Home Pet Care<br />
When You Can’t Be There<br />
THE CAT’S MEOW<br />
Pet Sitters<br />
Jeanine Buckner<br />
Veterinary Assistant<br />
616-791-9696<br />
Loving Home Care For Your Pet<br />
During my 18 years of working in veterinary<br />
medicine, I realized the need for an alternative to<br />
boarding. Thus, The Cat’s Meow Pet Sitters was created.<br />
By keeping your feline friend in her familiar home<br />
surroundings, you <strong>and</strong> your cat experience less stress<br />
while you are away. My first home visit with you <strong>and</strong><br />
your cat is at no charge. Information regarding medical<br />
care, instructions on feeding <strong>and</strong> watering, litter box<br />
patrol <strong>and</strong> playing with <strong>and</strong>/or grooming your cat will<br />
all be discussed. At no additional charge, bringing in<br />
mail <strong>and</strong>/or newspapers <strong>and</strong> watering plants can also<br />
be done. Pampering your cat in her/his own home is a<br />
wise alternative to boarding. Your cat will thank you!<br />
Jeanine Buckner, Owner<br />
Ask the Trainer<br />
Treat your leash like a service vest<br />
Often I see dogs being vilified for aggressive reactions<br />
while meeting other dogs on leash. In many cases, the<br />
behavior can be underst<strong>and</strong>able as dogs may not consider<br />
a face-to-face greet respectful.<br />
Though humans <strong>and</strong> dogs share similar social family<br />
structures, we have completely different social behaviors,<br />
<strong>and</strong> introduction rituals. When greeting, humans st<strong>and</strong><br />
face-to-face, plant feet, make hard eye contact, vocalize<br />
in excited happy loud tones, <strong>and</strong> lock h<strong>and</strong>s. <strong>Dogs</strong>, on<br />
the other h<strong>and</strong>, remain very calm <strong>and</strong> quiet, <strong>and</strong> do a<br />
ritualistic circular butt sniffing action. They do not stop<br />
moving, vocalize at each other, touch, or make hard eye<br />
contact. The greeting rituals of dogs <strong>and</strong> humans are 180°<br />
opposite of one another.<br />
When socializing in public with our dogs, as<br />
responsible owners, we should respect the greeting ritual<br />
differences. It’s easy to want to let our dog go face-toface<br />
on the street with another dog. This most often<br />
causes serious miscommunication between dogs. <strong>Dogs</strong><br />
do not have similar faces like humans do, <strong>and</strong> some dogs<br />
cannot make facial expressions others dogs can. Simply<br />
teaching our dogs that we are going to be respecting these<br />
differences will decrease bad experiences your dog will<br />
have on the walk.<br />
The leash should be considered a sort of “service<br />
vest”. When we see an actual service dog in public, we<br />
do not allow ourselves, our dogs, or even our children to<br />
run up to them. We know they should be respected as the<br />
dog is doing a job. When out in public on leash our dogs<br />
are also doing a job. They are under full control <strong>and</strong> must<br />
remain respectful to everyone <strong>and</strong> everything they see in<br />
public.<br />
To be responsible owners we should adopt the rule;<br />
the dog should NOT meet anyone on the leash (dog or<br />
human) for the first time, especially face-to-face with<br />
a strange dog. We should train in advance about how<br />
to properly greet a human so we can have exceptions<br />
to the rule for purposes of socializing during human<br />
interactions. Proper meeting of new dogs should be done<br />
with a very loose leash or off leash completely (i.e. doggy<br />
daycare, play dates, etc). Underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>and</strong> respecting<br />
these differences, while creating a simple rule, can greatly<br />
improve your dogs behavior <strong>and</strong> reputation on leash.<br />
Robert Crough, Professional Dog Trainer – Pack<br />
Rehab Specialist – Owner of Paradigm Dog School<br />
Paradigm Dog School: 616-886-4214<br />
paradigmds@gmail.com<br />
www.paradigmdogschool.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 14 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
This Reuben’s<br />
Room page is<br />
sponsored by<br />
Sleepy Hollow Pet<br />
Cemetery.<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 15
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 16 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 17
“Compassionate Care<br />
for all <strong>Cats</strong>.”<br />
Dedicated <strong>and</strong> compassionate care for your furry family<br />
member is our top priority. In a quiet <strong>and</strong> feline friendly<br />
environment we provide:<br />
* Internal medicine<br />
* Ultrasound <strong>and</strong> X-ray<br />
* Dentistry <strong>and</strong> oral surgery<br />
* Ophthalmologic surgery<br />
* Feline boarding<br />
* Routine vaccinations <strong>and</strong> examinations<br />
* Behavioral consultation<br />
* In-house <strong>and</strong> reference blood work <strong>and</strong> more<br />
Stop in <strong>and</strong> visit us at 3604 64th St., Saugatuck, Michigan or<br />
call us at 269-455-5056 to schedule an appointment.<br />
www.laketowncathospital.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 18 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 19
Humane Society of West Michigan<br />
(formerly Humane Society of Kent County)<br />
3077 Wilson Drive, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49534<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
2017 2018<br />
2,052<br />
20<br />
1,635<br />
25<br />
0<br />
19<br />
134<br />
217<br />
* Owner requested euthanized animals ARE included<br />
in intake totals.<br />
Harbor Humane Society (Ottawa County)<br />
14345 Bagley St., West Olive, MI 49460<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERED:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
2,611<br />
13<br />
2,166<br />
23<br />
0<br />
12<br />
159<br />
195<br />
2017 2018<br />
1,339<br />
226<br />
943<br />
0<br />
0<br />
28<br />
74<br />
49<br />
1,878<br />
48<br />
1,318<br />
213<br />
0<br />
3<br />
67<br />
204<br />
2,363<br />
13<br />
1,924<br />
76<br />
0<br />
3<br />
95<br />
191<br />
1,458<br />
229<br />
1,131<br />
0<br />
0<br />
40<br />
71<br />
0<br />
Kent County Animal Shelter<br />
740 Fuller NE, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49503<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
2017 2018<br />
* 2017 - Owner requested euthanized animals ARE<br />
NOT included in intake totals.<br />
* 2018 - Owner requested euthanized animals ARE<br />
included in intake totals.<br />
Allegan County Animal Shelter<br />
(Managed by Wishbone Pet Rescue since April 2011)<br />
2283 33rd St., Allegan, MI 49010<br />
2017 2018<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered)<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
2,070<br />
649<br />
554<br />
6<br />
0<br />
131<br />
758<br />
229<br />
1,569<br />
29<br />
361<br />
0<br />
0<br />
551<br />
679<br />
247<br />
527<br />
176<br />
254<br />
8<br />
0<br />
3<br />
31<br />
24<br />
2,246<br />
677<br />
550<br />
13<br />
0<br />
202<br />
436<br />
354<br />
2,049<br />
28<br />
326<br />
0<br />
0<br />
1,038<br />
340<br />
310<br />
508<br />
---<br />
211<br />
23<br />
0<br />
4<br />
58<br />
12<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
1,712<br />
31<br />
1,165<br />
0<br />
0<br />
228<br />
265<br />
28<br />
2,003<br />
70<br />
1,494<br />
0<br />
0<br />
72<br />
177<br />
0<br />
* Owner requested euthanized animals ARE included<br />
in intake totals.<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
* 2017 - Owner requested euthanized<br />
animals ARE NOT included in intake totals.<br />
* 2018 - Owner requested euthanized animals ARE<br />
included in intake totals.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 20 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
348<br />
6<br />
249<br />
20<br />
0<br />
0<br />
27<br />
10<br />
302<br />
---<br />
241<br />
36<br />
0<br />
0<br />
12<br />
13
Pound Buddies Animal Shelter<br />
Muskegon County<br />
1300 E. Keating, Muskegon, MI 49442<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
2017 2018<br />
1,160<br />
346<br />
253<br />
264<br />
0<br />
168<br />
110<br />
10<br />
363<br />
16<br />
195<br />
49<br />
0<br />
56<br />
22<br />
9<br />
* . Owner requested euthanized animals ARE NOT<br />
included in intake totals.<br />
1,076<br />
380<br />
247<br />
176<br />
0<br />
160<br />
125<br />
9<br />
271<br />
4<br />
88<br />
39<br />
0<br />
81<br />
77<br />
4<br />
Every year the live-release rate from animal shelters<br />
improves, so a huge thanks to all the shelter workers,<br />
volunteers <strong>and</strong> rescue groups who help find homes for the<br />
cats <strong>and</strong> dogs in our shelters.<br />
Consider Adoption<br />
While homeless cats <strong>and</strong> dogs are being euthanized is<br />
shelters <strong>and</strong> humane societies, please consider adoption.<br />
Many of the dogs sold in pet stores, through classified ads<br />
<strong>and</strong> over the Internet come from puppy mills. Sometime<br />
puppy mills sell directly to consumers through websites<br />
designed to give the impression of a reputable breeder.<br />
A puppy mill is a massive breeding operation where<br />
hundreds of dogs are kept in overcrowded <strong>and</strong> often<br />
unsanitary conditions without proper veterinary care,<br />
food, water or human interaction. Puppies born in puppy<br />
mills are often sick, poorly socialized <strong>and</strong> have hereditary<br />
<strong>and</strong> congenital defects from being bred carelessly. The<br />
parents of the puppies can live their entire lives in a cage.<br />
If you decide to a buy a puppy directly from a breeder,<br />
don’t do so without seeing where the puppies <strong>and</strong><br />
their parents are raised <strong>and</strong> housed. Ask questions, get<br />
references.<br />
Please spay <strong>and</strong> neuter<br />
your pets.<br />
Ionia County Animal Shelter<br />
275 Sprague Road, Ionia, MI 48846<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
2017 2018<br />
500<br />
238<br />
233<br />
0<br />
0<br />
9<br />
10<br />
10<br />
647<br />
214<br />
189<br />
137<br />
0<br />
34<br />
21<br />
0<br />
Montcalm County Animal Shelter<br />
154 Quarterline St., Stanton, MI 4888<br />
2016 2018<br />
DOGS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
340<br />
82<br />
161<br />
4<br />
0<br />
62<br />
14<br />
17<br />
200<br />
42<br />
55<br />
1<br />
0<br />
78<br />
5<br />
15<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
331<br />
10<br />
255<br />
0<br />
0<br />
17<br />
43<br />
6<br />
616<br />
13<br />
62<br />
297<br />
0<br />
30<br />
107<br />
0<br />
CATS<br />
RECEIVED/ADMITTED:<br />
RETURNED TO OWNER:<br />
ADOPTED (Altered):<br />
ADOPTED (Not Altered):<br />
SOLD:<br />
TRANSFERS:<br />
SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED:<br />
OWNER REQUESTED EUTHANIZED:<br />
636<br />
4<br />
340<br />
2<br />
0<br />
100<br />
171<br />
19<br />
312<br />
0<br />
68<br />
0<br />
0<br />
159<br />
56<br />
3<br />
* As of August 2017, this facility does not provide<br />
owner requested euthanasia.<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
* Owner requested euthanized animals ARE included<br />
in intake totals.<br />
* No numbers submitted for 2017.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 21
F u r r y<br />
P h i l o s o p h y<br />
By Jodi Jarvis -Therrian<br />
“If people were superior to animals, they’d take<br />
better care of the world,” said a wise ol’ bear named<br />
Winnie the Pooh.<br />
What makes people think they need to be superior to<br />
animals? If you’ve read my articles before, I may sound<br />
like a broken record, but I believe one of my purposes in<br />
life is to help animals be better understood.<br />
Can humans detect cancer with<br />
no medical equipment only using<br />
their nose, find a missing person<br />
miles away or detect a bomb?<br />
Animals have different gifts <strong>and</strong><br />
talents than us. Even though they<br />
may not be able to speak words<br />
like we do, it does not make them<br />
less of a being. If we truly listen,<br />
we can underst<strong>and</strong>. Don’t we owe<br />
it to them to take the time to learn<br />
their language? Do they shun us<br />
because we don’t have their ability<br />
to detect things like cancer <strong>and</strong><br />
bombs that we could never even<br />
fathom? No! In fact, I believe what<br />
they have is superior to us in many<br />
ways. They know the art of loving<br />
unconditionally. No human has<br />
truly mastered that. They love us<br />
without judgement, with every<br />
ounce of their being. It matters<br />
not to them if we have a big cold sore or a zit on the end<br />
of our nose, they will give us a big old doggy smooch<br />
regardless. It is said, “humans that don’t have patience<br />
are the ones that want instant results. They won’t take the<br />
time to underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> will resort to dominance. ”<br />
Don’t we owe our loving, furry friends who give us<br />
unconditional love, at the very least, time <strong>and</strong> patience?<br />
We need to respect that living being enough to give them<br />
the time to underst<strong>and</strong> German, if they speak French. If<br />
you can get the same results in the end from being stern<br />
<strong>and</strong> dominant with a dog, as you can by earning their<br />
trust with using healthy, yummy treats, why not choose<br />
to treat? I would be extremely willing to learn French if<br />
someone was not st<strong>and</strong>ing over me yelling, but instead<br />
giving me a piece of cake every time I got it right. Your<br />
dog would trust you more <strong>and</strong> be eager to respond with<br />
joy instead of fearing the next time you call to them.<br />
Odin is making sure his message is heard<br />
loud <strong>and</strong> clear.<br />
Personally, I would rather be in a loving, trusting<br />
relationship then be dominated by anyone. In fact, I<br />
would rebel against the dominance. Your dog feels the<br />
same way. If you love them, why not choose to give them<br />
treats <strong>and</strong> find ways to learn in a fun way that encourages<br />
them to engage instead of slinking up to you in fear?<br />
Sometimes we can misinterpret the signs but if we<br />
pay close attention, they will spell it out for us.<br />
My aunt Susie recently told a story about her cute little<br />
rescue dog. I asked her if I could quote:<br />
“Never underestimate your dog. Jake was staring<br />
at me so I assumed he wanted out, went to the door but<br />
he wouldn’t go out, walked back into the living room, he<br />
would not stop staring. He had his dinner <strong>and</strong> nighttime<br />
treat already, what could he want? Low <strong>and</strong> behold I<br />
looked down <strong>and</strong> he was out of water! Don’t ever stop<br />
trying to figure out what they want, they will always let<br />
you know, you just have to listen.”<br />
Recently on a very early<br />
morning, I got up while my dog<br />
Odin was still sleeping <strong>and</strong> made<br />
his food <strong>and</strong> set it on the counter,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I hopped in the shower. I saw<br />
Odin’s shadow outside the shower<br />
curtain <strong>and</strong> I thought to myself,<br />
“I better hurry up. I know Odin<br />
is older <strong>and</strong> when he wakes up<br />
he wants to go straight outside.”<br />
When I got out of the shower, I<br />
realized I didn’t need to hurry to<br />
let him out. Apparently, he knew<br />
his food was sitting there <strong>and</strong> I saw<br />
him staring up at the counter, with<br />
his ears perked in his hurry up <strong>and</strong><br />
feed me look. Nope, not potty. I<br />
was wrong, oops, I heard French<br />
instead of German.<br />
If we keep listening, eventually<br />
we will learn their language.<br />
Keep connected at dogblessedllc.com, Facebook,<br />
Furry Philosophy <strong>and</strong> Memoirs Set in Stone, Dog Blessed<br />
LLC <strong>and</strong> Memory Stones by Jodi.<br />
Memory Stones by Jodi<br />
Honoring the memories of your loved ones in a beautiful<br />
way. Fur or ashes can be permanently fused in a<br />
stone that can be made into a sun catcher, keychain<br />
or jewelry.<br />
www.memorystonesbyjodi.com<br />
231-893-1227<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 22 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
This page paid for by Clock Timeless Pets!<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 23
CBD Oil for Pets<br />
CBD, a non-psychoactive component derived<br />
from the hemp plant, is becoming very popular with<br />
pet parents to treat many ailments including anxiety,<br />
allergies, pain/inflammation, seizures <strong>and</strong> much more.<br />
Deb Lewis, Certified Trainer, owner of <strong>Dogs</strong> Bay Inc.<br />
<strong>and</strong> Hempworx Affiliate, cautions pet owners to do their<br />
research when choosing CBD for their fur friends.<br />
“I am seeing amazing results with CBD, but not all<br />
CBD products are created equal,” she said.<br />
Deb recommends you look for the following:<br />
* Ingredients: Look for pure hemp products. Many<br />
contain fillers like MCT oil, coconut oil, olive oil, krill oil,<br />
lavender, glycerin <strong>and</strong> “other ingredients.” For purity <strong>and</strong><br />
maximum effectiveness, the only ingredient that should<br />
be in CBD oil is hemp.<br />
* Made in the USA: Make sure your product is grown<br />
<strong>and</strong> processed in the USA at an FDA approved farm/<br />
facility. Organic <strong>and</strong> Non GMO is preferred.<br />
* Third Party Testing: This is where the product is<br />
tested by an outside lab to assure purity, quality <strong>and</strong> that<br />
the product is free from pesticides <strong>and</strong> mold.<br />
* Customer Support: “What I love most about<br />
Hempworx is the training provided for the affiliates,”<br />
Deb said. “Every dog is different <strong>and</strong> the proper dosage<br />
is critical, especially in the beginning. When you buy<br />
your product from a pet store, video, grocery store or<br />
gas station, many employees know very little or just the<br />
basics about CBD products <strong>and</strong> it’s very doubtful they are<br />
going to properly guide you through the process <strong>and</strong>/or<br />
follow up to see how your pet is doing.”<br />
Deb also said there are a lot of misconceptions about<br />
CBD products. “CBD does not get your pet high. It is<br />
not marijuana; it is from the hemp plant. Many people<br />
ask why their veterinarian doesn’t recommend CBD. It’s<br />
because they are not allowed to. Like many all-natural<br />
products, it’s not yet approved by the FDA.”<br />
CBD is now legal in all 50 states.<br />
If you are concerned about the side effects of<br />
pharmaceuticals for your fur friend <strong>and</strong> are looking for<br />
an all-natural, safe alternative, consider giving CBD a try.<br />
Hempworx products come with a 60-day, empty bottle,<br />
money-back guarantee <strong>and</strong> don’t forget, CBD works just<br />
as well for human friends.<br />
Hempworx products can be purchased online<br />
at mydailychoice.com/deblewis or or dogsbay.net/cbd or<br />
at both <strong>Dogs</strong> Bay locations in Holl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Saugatuck.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 24 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 25
10% Off - A full grooming service<br />
Saturday appointments offered!!!<br />
Pet Grooming<br />
410 E Division St Ste E<br />
Sparta MI 49345<br />
Call today (616) 887-7060<br />
Doggie-paws.com<br />
Quick Fix<br />
Veterinary<br />
Clinic<br />
Offering affordable<br />
routine wellness care<br />
<strong>and</strong> spay/neuter services.<br />
Targeting areas south<br />
of Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids<br />
www.quickfixvet.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 26 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
Saturday<br />
October 5, <strong>2019</strong><br />
barkinthedark.org<br />
616.791.8089<br />
Come Bark<br />
With Us.<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> -27
Community Resource Guide<br />
Cemeteries<br />
Clock Timeless Pets<br />
1469 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441<br />
231-722-3721 - www.clocktimelesspets.com<br />
Noah’s Pet Cemetery & Crematory<br />
2727 Orange Ave. SE, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49546<br />
616-949-1390 – noahspc@comcast.net<br />
www.noahspetcemetery.com<br />
Oak Haven Pet Crematorium & Cemetery<br />
10950 Northl<strong>and</strong> Dr., Rockford, MI 49341<br />
www.oakhavenpc.2295 – 616-866-2295<br />
Sleepy Hollow Pet Cemetery<br />
2755 64th St. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315<br />
616-538-6050 – www.sleepyhollowpc.com<br />
info@sleepyhollowpc.com<br />
Feral Cat Support Services<br />
A Feral Haven<br />
Supporting feral/community cats in Ottawa <strong>and</strong> Allegan Counties by<br />
loaning live traps, <strong>and</strong> providing spay/neuter vouchers <strong>and</strong> food.<br />
http://www.aferalhavenmi.org – 616-399-1774<br />
a.feral.haven.mi@gmail.com<br />
Humane Societies/Shelters<br />
Allegan County Animal Shelter<br />
2293 33rd Street, Allegan, MI 49010<br />
269-686-5112 - www.petfinder.com/shelters/MI299.html<br />
Harbor Humane Society<br />
14345 Bagley Street (at US 31), West Olive, MI 49460<br />
616-399-2119 - www.harborhumane.org<br />
Humane Society of West Michigan<br />
3077 Wilson Drive NW, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49534<br />
616-453-8900 - www.hswestmi.org<br />
Ionia County Animal Shelter<br />
3853 Sparrow Drive, Ionia, MI 48846<br />
616-527-9040 - www.petfinder.com/shelters/MI342.html<br />
Kent County Animal Shelter<br />
740 Fuller Ave. NE, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49503<br />
616-632-7300 - www.accesskent.com/kcas<br />
Pound Buddies Animal Shelter & Adoption Center<br />
1300 East Keating Ave., Muskegon, MI<br />
231-724-6500 - www.poundbuddies.org<br />
Grooming<br />
Doggie Paws<br />
Brenda Christensen<br />
410 E Division St, Sparta, MI 49345<br />
616-887-7060 – brendasilverleaf@yahoo.com<br />
www.doggie-paws.com<br />
Pet Boarding/Sitters<br />
Canine Country Club<br />
In-home pet sitting <strong>and</strong> dog walking<br />
231-755-3230<br />
<strong>Dogs</strong> Bay Inc<br />
Boarding, daycare, grooming, CBD products<br />
3675 64th St., Holl<strong>and</strong> 49423 or 3225 132nd Ave., Holl<strong>and</strong>, 49424<br />
616-218-4493 – dogsbayinc@gmail.com – www.dogsbay.net<br />
Pet Villa – Lodging, Daycare, Grooming<br />
3934 3 Mile Road NW, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49534<br />
616-735-3191 – pvpetvilla@gmail.com<br />
www.thepetvilla.com<br />
The Cat’s Meow<br />
Loving Home Care For Your Cat<br />
Jeanine Buckner, veterinary assistant - 616-481-6878<br />
Pet In-Home Hospice<br />
Heaven at Home Pet Hospice<br />
In-home pet hospice, palliative pet care <strong>and</strong> euthanasia for<br />
companion animals<br />
616-498-1316 – doc@pethospicevet.com<br />
www.pethospicevet.com<br />
Pet Services<br />
Pleasant Hearts Pet Food Pantry<br />
Helping keep pets <strong>and</strong> families together since 2016<br />
info@pleasantheartspetfoodpantry.org<br />
www.pleasantheartspetfoodpantry.org<br />
1539 Taylor Ave. NE, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49505<br />
Pet Training<br />
Paradigm Dog School<br />
Professional dog training<br />
616-886-4214 – paradigmds@gmail.com<br />
www.paradigmdogschool.com<br />
Wolf Song Enterprises, LLC<br />
Animal behavior consulting, Animal training, Animal talent<br />
Wolfsongenterprises@gmail.com – 231-744-7141<br />
Rescue Groups<br />
BestPals Animal Rescue Center<br />
13888 Blair St., Holl<strong>and</strong>, MI 49424<br />
Call for appointment, 616-212-3368<br />
www.bestpalsarc.wix.com – bestpalsarc@gmail.com<br />
Cannonsville Critters<br />
Helping cats in Montcalm County<br />
Michelle Hocking, 989-287-2553<br />
Carol’s Ferals<br />
Trap-Neuter-Return <strong>and</strong> Adoption<br />
616-560-0555 – www.carolsferals.org<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 28 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
Community Resource Guide<br />
Crash’s L<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
Cat Rescue & Placement Center<br />
No-kill, Non-profit 501(c) organization<br />
616-821-6065 - www.crashsl<strong>and</strong>ing.org<br />
Vicky’s Pet Connection<br />
www.vickyspetconnection.com<br />
Muskegon Humane Society - a no kill, non-profit shelter<br />
2640 Marquette Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442<br />
231-773-8689 - www.muskegonhumanesociety.org<br />
Noah Project<br />
A no-kill, non-profit animal shelter<br />
5205 Airline Road, Muskegon, MI 49444<br />
www.noahproject.petfinder.com - 231-865-1264<br />
Pet Tales Rescue<br />
A non-profit, volunteer, foster-based, all-breed dog/cat rescue.<br />
Kathy Brown, P.O. Box 88084, Kentwood, MI 49518<br />
616-446-1591 – pettalesrescueboard@gmail.com<br />
www.pettalesrescue.com – www.facebook.com/pettalesrescue<br />
Reuben’s Room Cat Rescue<br />
Jeanine Buckner<br />
A no-kill, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization<br />
616-481-6878 - www.reubensroom.petfinder.com<br />
Safe Haven Humane Society<br />
P.O. Box 55, Ionia, MI 48846<br />
Fax: 517-579-5948<br />
616-522-1611 – shhspets@hotmail.com – www.shhspets.com<br />
West Michigan Ferret Connection<br />
Education - Boarding - Adoptions - Rescue<br />
Dee Gage, 616-447-2978 - wmfc2001@sbcglobal.net<br />
Westie Rescue Michigan Inc<br />
A nonprofit volunteer organization providing assistance <strong>and</strong> foster<br />
care for homeless West Highl<strong>and</strong> White Terriers.<br />
Jackie Curtis – 810-632-5477<br />
westierescuemi2@yahoo.com – www.westierescue-mi.com<br />
Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance<br />
Managing the Allegan County Animal Shelter<br />
P.O. Box 124, Douglas, MI 49406<br />
(800) 475-0776 - www.wishbonepetrescue.org<br />
Spay/Neuter<br />
C-SNIP<br />
<strong>Dogs</strong>. <strong>Cats</strong>. Spay. Neuter.<br />
1675 Viewpond Dr. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508<br />
616-455-8220 – info@csnip.org<br />
www.csnip.org<br />
West Michigan Spay <strong>and</strong> Neuter Clinic<br />
6130 Airline Road, Fruitport, MI 49415<br />
www.wmspay<strong>and</strong>neuter.org – 231-366-7067<br />
Specialty Businesses<br />
Critter Cottage<br />
Adoption/outreach for Vicky’s Pet Connection<br />
7205 Thornapple River Drive SE, Ada, MI<br />
616-682-4855 - www.vickyspetconnection.com<br />
Happy Cat Cafe<br />
Cat Lounge & Adoption Center<br />
447 S Division, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49503<br />
616-202-4750 – happycatgr@gmail.com<br />
www.happycatgr.com.<br />
Kristina VanOss Studio<br />
Pet portraits made personal<br />
616-566-2113 – inastateofre@gmail.com<br />
Wishbone House<br />
Thrift shop <strong>and</strong> Pet Adoptions<br />
165 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, MI<br />
269-455-5247 – www.wishbonepetrescue.org<br />
Veterinarians<br />
Family Friends Veterinary Hospital<br />
6555 28th St. SE, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids, MI 49546<br />
616-575-6520 – chelsey.rosemeck@familyfriendsvet.com<br />
www.familyfriendsvet.com<br />
Laketown Cat Hospital<br />
3604 64th Street, Saugatuck, MI 49453<br />
(269)455-5056 mail@laketowncathospital.com<br />
www.laketowncathospital.com<br />
Quick Fix Veterinary Clinic<br />
Offering affordable routine wellness care <strong>and</strong> spay/neuter services<br />
south of Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids.<br />
www.quickfixvet.com<br />
Wildlife<br />
Lowell Farm <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Center<br />
12494 Vergennes St., Lowell, MI<br />
616-885-4223 – www.farmwildlife.org<br />
Wildlife Rehab Center<br />
1504 Union Ave. NE, Gr<strong>and</strong> Rapids<br />
616-361-6109 – www.wildlife-rehab-center.org<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 29
In Dog 281, you meet Alison Cavera, a city girl who<br />
moves to northern Michigan to live with her gr<strong>and</strong>mother.<br />
When Alison’s dogs are stolen, she turns detective<br />
<strong>and</strong> finds herself in the unscrupulous world of dog theft<br />
<strong>and</strong> animal dealers. Alison’s search for Cody <strong>and</strong> Blue<br />
takes surprising turns providing edge-of-your-seat moments<br />
that keep the pages turning.<br />
While a work of fiction, this powerful narrative tells<br />
the all-to-real practice of USDA Class B animal dealers<br />
selling animals to laboratories <strong>and</strong> universities for<br />
research.<br />
Dog 281 is the first book in the Save Five Series,<br />
which features Alison Cavera as she is introduced to a<br />
way of life that respects all animals. In the second book,<br />
More Than a Number, Alison is hired at the county<br />
animal shelter. Her stubbornness <strong>and</strong> courage take her<br />
to cold-blooded dog fights, a farm sanctuary <strong>and</strong> a cat<br />
hoarding situation where she is adopted by a black cat.<br />
More Than a Number – In the second book of<br />
the Save Five Series, Alison is hired at the county animal<br />
shelter. She loved dogs <strong>and</strong> cats so the chance to help<br />
homeless pets sounded perfect, but the work wasn’t<br />
what she expected. She never anticipated spending time<br />
chasing a wayward dairy cow or finding dozens of cats<br />
in a hoarder’s home. She didn’t expect the work to take<br />
her to the isolated backwoods of the Manistee National<br />
Forest where secrets were buried among the majestic<br />
maples, oaks <strong>and</strong> pines.<br />
When the county sheriff refused to investigate Alison’s<br />
suspicion of a dog-fighting ring operating locally,<br />
Alison doesn’t hesitate to follow the clues herself. Her<br />
independence, stubbornness <strong>and</strong> courage lead her into<br />
the cold-blooded world of the illegal entertainment.<br />
Dog 281<br />
More Than a Number<br />
You Might be a Crazy Cat Lady if ...<br />
You Might be a Crazy Cat<br />
Lady if ... – Everybody knows<br />
one––a woman who has an affinity<br />
for cats. She feeds the local<br />
ferals, takes in the friendly strays<br />
<strong>and</strong> is the go-to person when you<br />
have a cat question. She could be<br />
your neighbor, your sister, your<br />
aunt, your mother, your daughter<br />
or you. Does the phase “Crazy<br />
Cat Lady” come to mind when<br />
you think of this person? If so,<br />
you’ll enjoy reading this book.<br />
With this humorous memoir,<br />
Janet Vormittag comes out of<br />
the closet as a crazy cat lady. She<br />
gives readers an intimate peek<br />
into the mindset of a woman who has too many furry fourlegged<br />
friends.<br />
Are available on Amazon.com<br />
They can also be purchased by sending a check<br />
(made payable to Janet Vormittag) for $13.95<br />
plus tax (total $14.79) per book to:<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> magazine<br />
PO Box 996<br />
Jenison, MI 49429- 0996<br />
Shipping is free!<br />
Janet Vormittag is the author of two novels,<br />
Dog 281 <strong>and</strong> More Than a Number. Her<br />
latest book, You Might be a Crazy Cat Lady<br />
if ... is a collection of short stories that is a<br />
humorous memoir about living with cats.<br />
Janet is also the publisher of <strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Dogs</strong>, a <strong>Magazine</strong> Devoted to Companion<br />
Animals.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> - 30 www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong>
Koby’s Promise<br />
helping senior dogs<br />
By Janet Vormittag<br />
When Karin Buffum decided to start a rescue that<br />
focused on senior <strong>and</strong> special-needs dogs, she named it<br />
after one of her memorable foster dogs. Koby was 9 years<br />
old, overweight <strong>and</strong> arthritic when he was dumped at a<br />
shelter.<br />
Forever Fosters, a rescue in Niles, pulled Koby from<br />
the shelter <strong>and</strong> asked Karin to foster him. The placement<br />
would be permanent since Koby was considered<br />
unadoptedable.<br />
Ironically, both Karin <strong>and</strong> Koby were diagnosed<br />
with cancer. Karin survived. Koby didn’t. He passed in<br />
November 2016.<br />
“He helped me get through my cancer,” she said. “I<br />
promised him I would keep looking after older dogs <strong>and</strong><br />
help as many as I could get out of shelters.”<br />
Karin <strong>and</strong> her friend Marc Br<strong>and</strong>on, who also<br />
volunteered for Forever Fosters, founded Koby’s Promise<br />
in 2017.<br />
Marc, a fulltime firefighter, lives in Niles. Karin,<br />
a biotech <strong>and</strong> pharmaceutical consultant, lives in<br />
Saugatuck.<br />
In 2017, they found homes for 54 dogs <strong>and</strong> cats.<br />
In 2018, that number was more than doubled.<br />
Koby’s Promise has eight foster homes, including<br />
Karin’s. “We need more. The more we have, the more we<br />
can pull,” she said. They have close to 30 dogs in their<br />
care, but turn away about a half-dozen dogs <strong>and</strong> cats<br />
every day.<br />
“It’s hard. You want to save them all, but you have to<br />
say no sometimes,” Marc said.<br />
Marc said he can’t foster. “I adopt everything. I don’t<br />
know if I’m soft in the heart or soft in the head,” he joked.<br />
He currently has his quota of dogs <strong>and</strong> cats. “I have a<br />
couch that nobody sits on—just the animals.”<br />
Karin, who has three cats <strong>and</strong> one dog, laughed <strong>and</strong><br />
said her two couches have been taken over by foster dogs.<br />
Karin said their primary need is for volunteers.<br />
Besides foster homes, they need people to help with<br />
fundraising <strong>and</strong> to write grants. Veterinarian care is their<br />
biggest expense.<br />
To help find homes for senior dogs <strong>and</strong> cats, Koby’s<br />
Promise has a Companion Program. They partner with<br />
Meals on Wheels to help identify people who would<br />
benefit from having a pet.<br />
The program places senior pets with people who<br />
may not have the means to adopt. Participants can either<br />
adopt or provide long-term foster care. To qualify for the<br />
Companion Program, people must be 60 years or older,<br />
have a disability or be a veteran.<br />
Adopters have adoption fees reduced or waived.<br />
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2019</strong> • www.cats<strong>and</strong>dogsmagazine.com<br />
Above: Karin Buffum <strong>and</strong><br />
Marc Br<strong>and</strong>on, founders<br />
of Koby’ Promise, a<br />
rescue that specializes in<br />
helping older dogs.<br />
Left: Koby, the foster dog<br />
who inspired Karin <strong>and</strong><br />
Marc to start a rescue.<br />
For long-term fosters, the animal remains the property<br />
of Koby’s Promise. They help with supplies, do welfare<br />
checks <strong>and</strong> provide transport for veterinarian care. If the<br />
person is hospitalized, they provide care for the animal.<br />
So far they’ve placed close to a dozen animals under<br />
the Companion Program.<br />
“The seniors are so thankful,” Karin said, adding<br />
one widower was depressed <strong>and</strong> said having a cat made<br />
his life worth living again. “When I see it work out, it’s<br />
awesome.”<br />
Karin recently took in two older Jack Russell terriers<br />
<strong>and</strong> two 14-year-old min-pins from Harbor Humane<br />
Society. All four had been at the shelter more than two<br />
months <strong>and</strong> had been overlooked by adopters.<br />
“The worse place for a senior is a shelter,” she said.<br />
It breaks her heart to know an older dog is alone in a<br />
shelter.<br />
Karin sometimes accepts hospice dogs into Koby’s<br />
Promise <strong>and</strong> keeps them at her home. A year ago staff at<br />
Harbor Humane asked if she could take a terminally ill<br />
senior bulldog who they didn’t want to die in the shelter.<br />
Of course, she said yes. The bulldog lived two weeks<br />
<strong>and</strong> passed in his sleep.<br />
“It’s hard. You just love them as much as you can,”<br />
Karin said.<br />
For more information visit www.kobyspromise.org,<br />
email admin@kobyspromise.org or call 616-844-8347.<br />
<strong>Cats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Dogs</strong> -31