ASHEVILLE-SEPT2021

CELEBRATING OVER 

FREE – TAKE ONE 

SEPTEMBER 2021 

VOL. 23 NO. 7 

animal adoption, rescue and education in asheville and surrounding communities 

TM 

!

How to Help Homeless Pets 

During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

While Coronavirus/COVID-19 has many of us 

practicing social distancing or settling in to shelter in 

place, there are still thousands of dogs and cats that 

need our help. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways you 

can support the them—and the groups that care for them. 

1. Give to Animal Shelters in Need 

One of the fastest and simplest ways to help a dog 

or cat amidst Coronavirus is by giving a donation. 

Fundraisers and events for many pet shelters have been 

cancelled. Traffic from potential adopters has slowed, but 

there are still pets coming in, costs for care, and needs to 

be met. 

Visit your local animal shelter’s website to see if you 

can make a donation online or find animal rescue 

groups and shelters near you. If your local organization 

cannot directly take a donation, The Petfinder Foundation 

can help. They’re currently working overtime during the 

Coronavirus pandemic to identify and distribute funds 

to adoption organizations that need it most, and you 

can donate to them directly. If you can’t donate funds 

directly, you can also donate product or supplies to animal 

rescues—and there’s no need to go directly into the 

shelter to do it. Just reach out to your local shelter and see 

if they have a wish list online. Pick a few items and send 

via mail. 

2. Adopt a Pet 

It’s as true today as it always has been. Adopting a 

new dog or cat is one of the best ways to help 

homeless pets. Search for an available dog, cat, rabbit, 

and more near you. If you find a pet that looks just perfect 

for you, fill out a pet adoption application, then reach out 

to the shelter directly to see what their current protocols 

are, given COVID-19. 

Since we’ll all be spending more time at home, it’s a 

good time to start healthy training habits, form a bond, and 

get a new pet acclimated to your home. 

3. Foster a Dog or Cat 

If you have the space and time to temporarily bring a 

pet into your home, now is a great time to do it. Fostering 

a dog or cat is a great way to know if you’re ready to 

adopt, or just help a pet in need for a little while. Plus, it 

can make the whole process of being socially distant feel 

a little less lonely—and a lot more cuddly. Here are a few 

ways to check into fostering: 

- Search Petfinder for available pets now. When you 

find a pet that you are interested in fostering or adopting, 

use the “ask about” button to reach out directly to the 

shelter. 

- GreaterGood.org is compiling a list of shelters 

and rescues looking for foster families, and matching 

those groups with fostering volunteers from the national 

community. Sign up to be an emergency foster and you 

may help save a pet’s life—not to mention bring a little 

extra joy into yours. 

If you have questions about fostering a dog or cat in 

need, feel free to check out the frequently asked 

questions about fostering a pet on Petfinder, read more 

at tinyurl.com/y7zveyz7. 

4. Other Ways to Help 

Make sure you have a disaster pet plan of your own, 

and run through this checklist of appropriate disaster-time 

supplies to make sure you’re covered 

If you’re struggling to care for a pet due to COVID-19 

try to avoid taking them to a shelter that may already be 

overwhelmed. Consider pet rehoming as a better option. 

Share posts from local shelters and Petfinder on social 

media, and help spread the word. 

5. If You Are a Shelter in Need of Help 

If your organization has been impacted by Coronavirus/ 

COVID-19, The Petfinder Foundation has grants up to 

$1,000 available. To apply, visit their online portal at 

tinyurl.com/yb2dcq6q and create an account. 

If you need fosters for animals in your care, 

GreaterGood.org is compiling a list of shelters and 

rescues looking for foster families, and matching 

those groups with fostering volunteers from the national 

community. Just fill out a quick survey at 

tinyurl.com/ybfhnrhz. 

THERE AREN’T ENOUGH 

HOMES FOR THEM ALL. 

PLEASE SPAY AND 

NEUTER YOUR PETS! 

PAGE 2 • CRITTER MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2021

IN THIS ISSUE 

SEPTEMBER 2021 

How to Help Homeless Pets During the Pandemic ..... 2 

Angus & Phil ................................................................... 3 

Point of View ..................................................................... 4 

Taxpayers Funding DOJ Training Programs That Kill Animals 

The Reason Snakes Have Forked Tongues ................. 7 

“The Bears Aren’t Mean, Just Hungry!” ........................ 9 

Help Stop Rabies: World Rabies Day ........................... 10 

FOMCA Announces New TNR Program ....................... 11 

Critter Notes ................................................................... 14 

Critter Kids’ Page .......................................................... 15 

Farm Animals: Fact or Fiction? 

HELP! I Found a Kitten! ................................................. 23 

Bear Wise Basics .......................................................... 24 

ON THE COVER 

Our cover girl is sweet LUCY. She’s a little cutie 

who’s about 8-years old and weighs 17 lbs. Lucy 

enjoys walks, car rides, snuggling on the couch, 

eating two square meals a day—and most of all— 

being your one and only dog to love! She’s in the 

care of Mountain Pet Rescue. To meet her, 

email pets@mpravl.org. 

National Humane Education Society 

Farm Animals 

Awareness Week 

September 19-25 

www.nhes.org 

Critter Magazine is an animal adoption publication dedicated to 

improving the quality of life for animals through education, support of spay/ 

neuter efforts and encouraging responsible pet ownership, as well as helping 

to find loving homes for animals in need. Although the majority of the animals 

profiled are dogs and cats, we will feature any animal that is in need 

of adoption. We publish each month and distribute throughout Asheville, 

Buncombe, Madison, Haywood, Henderson, Transylvania and Yancey 

counties. Advertising and editorial deadline is the 15 th of the month for the 

following month’s issue. We welcome letters to the editor, comments and 

suggestions, as well as informative articles and stories which are relevant to 

our goals. 

Subscriptions are available for $24 per year. 

Critter Magazine cannot screen either potential adopters or animals for health or 

temperament. We urge all parties to act responsibly in these matters. All animals 

adopted through Critter Magazine must be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. 

Critter Magazine is a publication of Critter Communications, LLC. 

All your pet needs 

in downtown 

Weaverville! 

WeavervillePetPantry.com 

1 Merrimon Avenue • Weaverville 

Publisher and Editor - Elaine Lite 

P.O. Box 8052 

Asheville, NC 28814 

E-mail: crittermagnc@charter.net 

(828) 255-0516 

If you are interested in publishing a Critter Magazine in your area, 

contact Elaine Lite at crittermagnc@charter.net or call 828-255-0516. 

www.crittermagazine.com 

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without prior written consent of publisher prohibited. 

CRITTER MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2021 • PAGE 3

Point of View 

Taxpayers Are Funding Cruel and 

Outdated DOJ Training Programs 

That Kill Animals 

By Stephen R. Kaufman, MD 

It makes no sense to continue wasting both 

tax dollars and animals’ lives. 

When I went to medical school in the 1980s, it was 

standard practice to have students cut apart live dogs and 

other animals as part of the curriculum to teach them 

medical skills and concepts. Since then, these crude and 

cruel animal labs have been abandoned in medical 

schools and advanced surgical courses in favor of realistic 

human simulators that are more humane, cost-efficient 

and effective. 

Apparently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) 

didn’t get the memo about this. 

According to federal contracts uncovered by taxpayer 

watchdog White Coat Waste Project (WCW), for which 

I serve as a volunteer medical adviser, the U.S. Marshals 

Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (both 

under the DOJ) have still been conducting “live tissue 

training” (LTT) courses. LTT is a euphemism for inflicting 

traumatic, life-threatening injuries on live animals to teach 

certain emergency medical procedures. 

As DOJ funding panel Chairman Rep. Matt Cartwright 

(D-PA) and House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Ted 

Lieu (D-CA) astutely wrote in a letter to the DOJ in 

2019, “LTT involves intentionally wounding live animals— 

usually stabbing, burning and shooting pigs and 

goats, and sometimes even dogs—and then having 

trainees crudely attempt to repair the damage… The use 

of animals for this training is expensive, obsolete, 

unnecessary and opposed by most Americans.” 

Many of the animals die from these traumatic injuries 

during the courses, and even those who survive are killed 

at the end. 

The federal government’s own studies show that 

human simulators like the Cut Suit, TraumaMan and TOM- 

Manikin that mimic human anatomy—even replicating 

bleeding and breathing—are more effective and 

economical than these outdated animal labs. Unlike the 

animals who are purchased, transported, dismembered, 

killed and thrown away after every LTT course, each 

simulator can train many students and can be reused time 

and again. 

Even the U.S. Defense Department states in a 2016 

report that LTT is “outdated and cost-prohibitive” and a 

2017 report from the Pentagon says that “live tissue 

training options are not anatomically accurate.” An 

Army-funded study at Yale concluded in 2015, “it is clear 

that simulated training costs less than live tissue training.” 

And a 2020 U.S. military-funded study concluded that 

human simulation is an effective replacement for LTT. 

Nearly every civilian trauma training program in the 

country now teaches lifesaving skills using simulation, too. 

Adding insult to injury, the DOJ has already spent taxpayers’ 

money to purchase high-tech trauma simulators, 

but has continued to waste $131,793 on recent, 

completely unnecessary LTT courses anyway. The DOJ 

can’t defend this waste and abuse, so instead it tried to 

keep the details a secret, and it took a federal lawsuit by 

White Coat Waste Project to pry away relevant documents 

from the agency. 

A majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle want 

change and support doing away with this outdated 

practice. A June 2020 national survey of 1,000 taxpayers 

by Lincoln Park Strategies found that 63 percent of them 

—which included 66 percent of Republicans surveyed and 

65 percent of Democrats surveyed—backed the effort to 

ask the DOJ to defund LTT. 

As a physician, medical educator and animal advocate, 

I oppose this senseless waste of tax dollars and animals’ 

lives. There needs to be political support from leaders like 

members of Congress and Attorney General Merrick 

Garland to take swift and decisive action to cut live tissue 

training from the curriculum. 

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and 

assistant professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of 

Medicine. He is also a volunteer medical adviser for the nonprofit 

White Coat Waste Project, which works to end taxpayer-funded animal 

experiments. 

ANIMAL 

MATTERS 


Animal Haven of Asheville 

P.O. Box 9697 Asheville, NC 28815 • 828-299-1635 • animalhavenofasheville.org 

CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND ‘LIKE’ US! 

BONNIE 

Animal Haven of Asheville Fall Fundraiser! 

Sunday, October 17 — 2 - 6 pm 

Join us at the sanctuary for live music by Southern Style Band, vegan food, beer, wine, soda, 

water, silent auction and more. Visit the animals, shop at our thrift store, sit back & relax. 

$25 cover charge - all proceeds benefit the animals in our care. Children under 12 free. 

Off-site parking · Follow the signs · Shuttle provided. 

65 Lower Grassy Branch Rd. in East Asheville. No advance tickets. 828-299-1635. 

LET YOUR OLD STUFF DO GOOD STUFF! 

Downsizing? De-cluttering? 

Donate your gently used items to our Thrift Shop. 

Donations may be dropped off during store hours: 

Tuesday through Saturday 11 am - 5 pm 

65 Lower Grassy Branch Rd. (off Tunnel Rd.) 

All donations are tax-deductible! 

NOW OPEN! 

989 Little Mountain Road 

Columbus, NC 

FoothillsHumaneSociety.org 

828-863-4444 

Seeking volunteer dog walkers & fosters. 

Mention this ad for free nail trim with a regular office visit! 

www.CatClinicofAsheville.com 

49 Haywood Rd. 

Asheville, NC 28806 

828-645-7711 

catclinicofasheville@gmail.com 

CHAMP is one great dog! When 

he was brought in as a stray, we 

were sure that he belonged to 

someone. He was obviously well 

cared for and in great shape! 

But Champ did not have a family 

come forward for him and he 

is now looking for a new one. 

Champ is a 7-year old Australian 

Shepherd mix weighing 64 lbs. He 

walks well on leash and is very 

friendly. He loves to run around 

outside and we love to watch his 

lion mane flap with him. He’s very 

dignified and looking to be the 

champion! If you are interested in 

Champ, please fill out an application online through our website. 

DONATIONS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ... 

UNTIL THEY ALL HAVE A HOME! 

Adoption Hours: Mon & Tue 11 am-5 pm 

Thu-Sat 11 am-5 pm / Sun 1-5 pm 


Please Support Our 

Advertisers! 

They help make 

this magazine 

possible! 

Friends2Ferals 

A TNR Program of the 

Humane Society of Buncombe County 

Offering help with your outside cats 

• Loaning traps • Trapping • Education/Assistance 

• Discounted spay/neuter/vaccinations 

PO Box 2532 Asheville, NC 28802 

828-505-6737 

A 501(c)3 non-profit • On Facebook at Friends2Ferals 

962 Cane River School Road 

Burnsville, NC • (828) 682-9510 

Hours: Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri 

noon-5 pm / Sat - noon-4 pm 

Closed Wed and Sun 

ANNIE 

is one sweet 

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This girl is happy, 

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has a playful side. 

Her favorite toys 

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loves rolling 

around in the 

grass with a 

squeaky toy 

in her mouth. Annie is sure to bring joy to 

the lucky person who chooses her. 

Follow us on facebook 

E-mail: ychs@ccvn.com 

www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC08.html 

ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY 

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(828) 252-2054 


Smelling in Stereo: The 

Real Reason Snakes Have 

Flicking, Forked Tongues 

By Kurt Schwenk, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary 

Biology, University of Connecticut 

As dinosaurs lumbered through the humid cycad 

forests of ancient South America 180 million years ago, 

primeval lizards scurried, unnoticed, beneath their feet. 

Perhaps to avoid being trampled by their giant kin, some 

of these early lizards sought refuge underground. 

Here they evolved long, slender bodies and reduced 

limbs to negotiate the narrow nooks and crevices beneath 

the surface. Without light, their vision faded, but to take its 

place, an especially acute sense of smell evolved. 

It was during this period that these proto-snakes 

evolved one of their most iconic traits – a long, flicking, 

forked tongue. These reptiles eventually returned to the 

surface, but it wasn’t until the extinction of dinosaurs many 

millions of years later that they diversified into myriad 

types of modern snakes. 

As an evolutionary biologist, I am fascinated by these 

bizarre tongues – and the role they have played in snakes’ 

success. 

A puzzle for the ages 

Snake tongues are so peculiar they have fascinated 

naturalists for centuries. Aristotle believed the forked tips 

provided snakes a “twofold pleasure” from taste – a view 

mirrored centuries later by French naturalist Bernard 

Germain de Lacépède, who suggested the twin tips could 

adhere more closely to “the tasty body” of the soon-to-be 

snack. 

A 17th-century astronomer and naturalist, Giovanni 

Battista Hodierna, thought snakes used their tongues for 

“picking the dirt out of their noses … since they are always 

grovelling on the ground.” Others contended the tongue 

captured flies “with wonderful nimbleness … betwixt the 

forks,” or gathered air for sustenance. 

One of the most persistent beliefs has been that 

the darting tongue is a venomous stinger, a misconception 

perpetuated by Shakespeare with his many references to 

“stinging” serpents and adders, “Whose double tongue 

may with mortal touch throw death upon thy … enemies.” 

According to the French naturalist and early 

evolutionist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, snakes’ limited vision 

obliged them to use their forked tongues “to feel several 

objects at once.” Lamarck’s belief that the tongue 

functioned as an organ of touch was the prevailing 

scientific view by the end of the 19th century. 

Credit: Kurt Schwenk 

Smelling with tongues 

Clues to the true significance of snake tongues began 

to emerge in the early 1900s when scientists turned their 

attention to two bulblike organs located just above the 

snake’s palate, below its nose. Known as Jacobson’s, or 

vomeronasal, organs, each opens to the mouth through a 

tiny hole in the palate. Vomeronasal organs are found in a 

variety of land animals, including mammals, but not in 

most primates, so humans don’t experience whatever 

sensation they provide. 

Scientists found that vomeronasal organs are, in fact, 

an offshoot of the nose, lined with similar sensory cells 

that send impulses to the same part of the brain as the 

nose, and discovered that tiny particles picked up by the 

tongue tips ended up inside the vomeronasal organ. 

These breakthroughs led to the realization that snakes 

use their tongues to collect and transport molecules to 

their vomeronasal organs – not to taste, but to smell them. 

In 1994, I used film and photo evidence to show that 

when snakes sample chemicals on the ground, they 

separate their tongues tips far apart just as they touch the 

ground. This action allows them to sample odor molecules 

from two widely separated points simultaneously. 

Each tip delivers to its own vomeronasal organ 

separately, allowing the snake’s brain to assess instantly 

which side has the stronger smell. Snakes have two 

tongue tips for the same reason you have two ears – it 

provides them with directional or “stereo” smell with every 

flick – a skill that turns out to be extremely useful when 

following scent trails left by potential prey or mates. 

Fork-tongued lizards, the legged cousins of snakes, 

do something very similar. But snakes take it one step 

farther. 

Swirls of odor 

Unlike lizards, when snakes collect odor molecules in 

the air to smell, they oscillate their forked tongues up and 

down in a blur of rapid motion. To visualize how this 

affects air movement, graduate student Bill Ryerson and I 

used a laser focused into a thin sheet of light to illuminate 

tiny particles suspended in the air. 

We discovered that the flickering snake tongue 

generates two pairs of small, swirling masses of air, or 

vortices, that act like tiny fans, pulling odors in from each 

side and jetting them directly into the path of each tongue 

tip. 

Since odor molecules in the air are few and far 

between, we believe snakes’ unique form of tongueflicking 

serves to concentrate the molecules and 

accelerate their collection onto the tongue tips. Preliminary 

data also suggests that the airflow on each side remains 

separate enough for snakes to benefit from the same 

“stereo” smell they get from odors on the ground. 

Owing to history, genetics and other factors, natural 

selection often falls short in creating optimally designed 

animal parts. But when it comes to the snake tongue, 

evolution seems to have hit one out of the park. I doubt 

any engineer could do better. 


14 Forever Friend Lane - Off Brevard Rd. (Rte. 191) & Pond Rd. 

828-761-2001 • www.ashevillehumane.org 

ADOPTIONS: Tues.—Sat. 10 am - 6 pm / Naptime for animals 1-2 pm 

Buncombe County Shelter • 16 Forever Friend Lane • 828-250-6430 

SHELTER HOURS: Mon-Sat 9 am-6 pm • Closed Sun 

MARLEY is a sweet senior 

seeking a new forever home. 

She has good manners, is crate 

& housetrained, sleeps quietly 

all night and is very smart! She 

knows sit, down & high-five and 

although Marley is getting older, 

she’s still loves walks and play. 

MILES is a sweet lover boy and lap 

cat extraordinaire! He loves petting, 

face rubs, and "tickles" along his 

spine. This handsome boy is on a 

special prescription diet because 

due to a urinary blockage not 

long ago, but he's doing great 

on his new food. 

VANILLA is a sweet, 4-month-old 

gal looking for a new family. This cutie 

is all about playtime, and loves her 

toys. She’s always happy when she 

receives her daily fresh vegetables, 

and boy, does she love her greens! 

She’s also been known to do binkies. 

The Adoption Center is OPEN ... no appointment needed. 

MOLLY is a gorgeous 12-year-old 

gal who came to us when her owners 

could no longer care for her. She was 

diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, but she 

doesn't let that get her down. She loves 

people and asks for petting whenever 

you're near. She has the cutest little 

meows and chirps we ever did hear. 

OUR THRIFT STORE HAS MOVED TO RIVER RIDGE MARKETPLACE (Exit 8 off I-240) 

Be Kind to Animals ... 

Today and Every Day! 

"Some people 

talk to 

animals. 

Not many 

listen though. 

That's the 

problem." 

― A.A. Milne 

Bring in Your Pet 

for a Free Treat! 

• Natural Pet Foods 

• Natural & Organic Fresh-Baked Treats 

• Large Selection of Products 

and Toys Made in the USA 

• Gifts for Pets & Pet Lovers 

. 

Monday-Saturday 11-6 • Sunday noon-5 

118-A Cherry St. Black Mountain 

828.669.0706 

www.boneafidepetboutique.com 

- Doris Day 


“The Bears Aren’t Mean, 

Just Hungry!” 

Although fall is almost here, it’s never too soon to plan a trip 

for next spring and summer. You might consider a road trip to 

enjoy the scenic beauty and wildlife in MN. The Vince Shute 

Wildlife Sanctuary (home of the non-profit American Bear 

Association) in Orr, MN might make for a very worthwhile 

experience—especially since we too, share our WNC 

mountains with these intelligent and amazing creatures. The 

information in this article was taken from their site at 

americanbear.org (as well as the title, which is credited to 

Vince Shute himself). Now closed for the season, they will 

re-open on Memorial Day 2022. 

Many years ago, a humble Minnesota logger made a 

decision that would greatly affect black bears and the 

attitudes people have towards this often-misunderstood 

animal. It was then that Vince Shute chose to stop 

shooting the bears that broke into his cabins. He tried a 

more peaceful approach and the strategy worked – no 

more break-ins. Vince claimed, “the bears aren’t mean, 

just hungry!” Thus, began Vince’s long and celebrated life 

with black bears in a tiny corner of the north woods near 

Orr, Minnesota. 

Generations of black bears still visit his former 

homestead, now designated as The Vince Shute Wildlife 

Sanctuary. The American Bear Association, a non-profit 

organization, was formed to manage the sanctuary in 

order to promote a better understanding of the black 

bear through education, observation and experience. 

Vince Shute’s final wish has become a reality – peaceful 

coexistence between humans and bears. All of the bears 

are free-roaming; they come and go at will through clover 

meadows, cool cedar swamps and pine forest. 

Far from solitary, simple-thinking, nuisances, black 

bears are highly intelligent creatures. Bears possess the 

largest and most convoluted brains relative to their size of 

any land mammal. Researchers theorize that they are 

actually more intelligent than chimpanzees. This is so, 

because chimps stay in the same territory their whole life, 

while black bears are constantly moving. Therefore, they 

constantly need to adapt and problem solve in their new 

environments. 

As highly social beings, black bears form complex 

social hierarchies and can remember familiar animals for 

years, recognizing and identifying them from a distance 

as far as 2,000 feet away. As omnivores, black bears 

are significantly more intelligent than more specialized 

feeders. This is so, because their varied diet means that 

bears have to remember a lot of information about a wide 

variety of food resources. Incredibly, black bears compile 

a detailed map of their environment and can remember 

where they encountered a certain food source from ten or 

more years earlier. 

Bears have something called a vomeronasal organ, 

more commonly known as the Jacobson’s organ. This 

organ is located on the roof of the mouth and connects 

directly to the nasal cavity. The Jacobson organ aids 

bears in smelling, and storing various scents. Male bears 

will use their Jacobson’s organ to capture the pheromone 

scent of a female in estrus during mating season. Mother 

bears will chew up food and hold open their mouths for 

their cubs to recognize a safe food source. The cubs will 

use their Jacobson’s organ in order to store that scent. In 

order to use this organ, bears will lift their head after 

finding the scent, and use a facial movement called the 

flehmen response, which helps direct the scent into the 

organ. The flehmen response includes the bear wrinkling 

its nose while curling its lips back. 

At the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary, we see 

extensive signs of critical thinking. Bears will often use 

half-rotten logs as floats to get across rivers and streams. 

As shown in the photo below, bears often use logs as 

bridges. 

Amazingly, black bears can make long term plans. For 

instance, bears will climb to the top of oak trees in midsummer 

to assess the budding crop of acorns, as if to try to 

determine how much food they will have come fall time. 

Bears will also start searching for a den to hibernate in as 

early as June-July. The incredible resourcefulness and 

problem-solving abilities of black bears is what often times 

gets them into trouble with humans. Bears have figured out 

a plethora of ways to benefit from living in close proximity 

with us. A bear could spend all day foraging for berries, or 

get ten times that amount of protein, fat, and calories from 

a Big Mac in your garbage. As such, living in bear country 

requires a willingness to minimize bear attractants, as well 

as a tolerance and appreciation of these incredible beings. 

For more information about black bears and the 

sanctuary, visit americanbear.org. Also on Facebook at 

Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary. For helpful tips about 

precautions for local bears, see Bear Wise Basics on p. 24. 

PLEASE BE SURE YOUR PET HAS A 

MICROCHIP AND ALWAYS WEARS AN 

ID TAG WITH CURRENT INFORMATION! 


Greyhound Friends 

of North Carolina 

Rescue • Advocate • Adopt 

LUCY is a fluffy calico 

with a lot of attitude! 

She is timid around 

strangers, but once she 

gets to know you, her 

personality shines. She 

came to us with a spinal 

injury as an older kitten, 

and because of this she 

absolutely hates using a 

cart, and prefers to drag 

her back legs. She’d do 

well in a home with no 

carpet where she can zoom around to her heart’s content. 

SEE MORE OF OUR WONDERFUL PETS! 

TAAGWAGS.ORG • 828-966-3166 

taagwags@gmail.com 

ADOPTION DAYS are held at PetSmart in Arden 

Saturdays - 11 am - 4 pm 

CHANGING THE WORLD … ONE GREYHOUND AT A TIME! 

www.greyhoundfriends.com 

RUBY is a beautiful 

2-year old fawn girl 

who is as happy as 

can be. She’s really 

good at keeping herself 

entertained but loves to 

have attention as well. 

ADOPT A RETIRED RACING GREYHOUND! 

Greyhounds are calm, easy-going, sweet, loving, intelligent, clean, good 

with kids and other dogs … and some even like cats! Most are between 

2-5 years old when they retire and have a life expectancy of 12-14 years. 

All Greyhounds are spayed/neutered, teeth cleaned, vaccinated, heartworm 

tested,de-wormed and groomed. A one-time adoption donation covers all 

these expenses. Meet our Greyhounds and learn more. For information, 

(828) 692-4986 or (828) 230-2917. E-mail: sherryc@morrisbb.net. 

Help Stop Rabies! 

World Rabies Day - September 28 

Protect Your Pets and Home! 

• Vaccinate your pets and keep vaccinations up-to-date. 

• Stay away from animals you don’t know. Report stray animals to animal control. 

• Don’t touch, keep, or feed wild animals. 

• Don’t attract wild animals. Keep trash can lids on tight. 

• Don’t leave pet food outside. 

• Cap chimneys and seal places animals can hide. 

• If you have bats inside your home, call animal control. 

If You Are Bitten: 

• Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. 

• Go to the doctor because treatment may be needed. 

• Report the bite to the proper authorities and your animal control office. 

If Your Pet is Bitten: 

• Put gloves on before touching your pet. Be careful, injured pets may bite. 

• Call your veterinarian or area animal control office. Your pet must have a 

booster rabies shot within 72 hours if it is exposed to an animal that is rabid or could be 

rabid. For more information about rabies, visit cdc.gov/rabies. 


FOMCA Announces T-N-R 

Feline $5 Program 

Friends of Madison County Animals (FOMCA) has 

created a new program to help the cats—and the 

community with the on-going feral cat population—a 

win-win for the cats and people! 

If you have a feral cat colony that you are caring for, 

FOMCA can lend you a humane trap and teach you how 

to properly use the trap, schedule the cats appointment 

for Spay/Neuter and bring the cats to them for TNR - Trap 

Neuter Return. All feral cats get a rabies vaccination, 

worming meds and are neutered or spayed. 

TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) is not only helpful in 

keeping adult community cat populations under control, 

but it also allows unsocialized kittens born to feral moms 

to be trapped, socialized and turned into affectionate, pet 

cats. 

The best part is it costs you $0! But wait - there’s more. 

As an incentive to bring a humanely trapped feral into this 

program they are giving you $5 for every feral successfully 

trapped, spayed or neutered and returned to their colony. 

One such example is Tori, who reached out for help 

with some kittens that were born around her rental home 

and a couple of feral adults. With help from FOMCA, she 

has been able to start trapping the kittens and hopefully 

adults as well. 

One kitten named “Terry” was trapped, kept indoors in 

a large wire crate until he became socialized enough 

to run free in the house, then came to one of FOMCA’s 

Spay/Neuter days to get neutered, vaccinated, and 

microchipped, and is now a loved member of Tori’s family! 

Sweet Terry enjoying his new loving home. 

To aid this effort, FOMCA is seeking used humane 

animal traps. Do you have a used live animal trap sitting 

in your barn or garage gathering dust? Would you like to 

donate it to their TNR program to be used to trap and 

release feral cats? If so, call them at 828-649-9798 and 

they can make arrangements for pickup. 

The Feline $5 Program is generously funded by 

PETCO Love Foundation, a non-profit designed to help 

rescues and shelters save animals lives. 

HENDERSON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES 

828 Stoney Mountain Rd. Hendersonville, NC 

hendersoncountync.animalshelternet.com 

(828) 697-4723 

Press the back of your hand 

firmly against the asphalt for 

7 seconds to verify it will be 

comfortable for your dog. 

At 125º F, skin destruction 

can occur in only 60 seconds! 

ALICE is a beautiful, 

sweet 2-month old 

Tuxedo gal looking for 

a loving family to call 

her own. Could it 

be yours? 

MICHAEL 

is a very handsome 

5-month old brown and 

orange tabby boy who 

would love to make your 

acquaintance! He’d make a 

wonderful companion! 

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 am-4:30 pm 

Sat. 10 am-2 pm 


SISTER KITTEN ANIMAL RESCUE 

PO Box 1872 Maggie Valley, NC 28751 · (828) 400-0223 

SisterKitten.org · email: adopt@sisterkitten.org 

AHMET BLUE ELLE DRIVER NIALL 

Sister Kitten Animal Rescue (SKAR) was founded in 2019. We work to improve animal lives and the public’s perceptions of animals, 

with a focus on supporting community cats and “outdoor” dogs in WNC. We rescue and re-home abandoned and neglected 

animals, provide trap-neuter-return (TNR) as well as support, education and assistance to community cat caregivers. We maintain 

animals in foster care for adoption, provide veterinary care for sick animals, and promote community animal welfare. We respond 

to weather-related emergencies in the Southeast by assisting with animal rescue and relief efforts. We’re committed to proactive, 

respectful neighbor relations and positive collaboration with other local animal rescue and animal control agencies. 

Like dogs and cats, birds are now facing epidemic overpopulation and homelessness. 

There aren’t enough homes - especially good homes - for every bird bred! Because of 

their demanding needs, parrots, like the Umbrella Cockatoo, above, are often victims. 

Thousands of birds are displaced each year simply because their caretakers can no 

longer provide the time and attention they require - either because they are not educated 

about bird care or because their lives and interests change. The least fortunate unwanted 

birds are passed from home to home before dying from neglect or abuse, or they are 

euthanized. The lucky ones end up in shelters and sanctuaries are filling up fast! 

If you are ready to make a lifetime care commitment, you can help solve this problem 

by not breeding birds and by adopting a displaced bird rather than buying one from a pet 

store. Bird rescue, adoption, and sanctuary organizations can also use volunteers and 

donations to help care for their birds. Please spread the word to your fellow bird lovers - 

thousands of parrots and other birds will thank you! 


BLUE RIDGE HUMANE SOCIETY 

ANIMAL ADOPTION RESCUE CENTER 

88 Centipede Lane Hendersonville, NC 28792 • 828-692-2639 • www.blueridgehumane.org 

HOURS: Tues - Sat 10 am - 5 pm / Sun noon - 5 pm / Closed Mon 

OTIS is a 5-year-old big, goofy boy that 

has wiggle butts for days. This hunky 

pup has got an incredibly endearing 

smile and is sure to put you in a great 

mood. He is a certified cuddle bug and 

loves playing independently with toys. 

He’ll make a fabulous BFF! 

CARROT is a precious 3-month 

old girl who is looking for a loving 

family and cozy home. Call to meet 

her soon ... she’ll make a great 

cuddle buddy for fall, winter 

and beyond! 

PHOEBE is a 1-year old gal who is 

just precious! We first thought she 

was a puppy based on how small she 

was but then checked her teeth and 

saw that she actually was an adult. 

She seems to be dog friendly but can 

be a little timid when you first meet. 

THEODORE is a 5-month-old 

Tabby who’s a sight for sore eyes— 

he is so gorgeous to look at! He 

seems shy at first, but really just 

wants to play and discover his 

world. He loves playing with 

cat toys and his humans. 

If you’re looking for a dog or cat but can’t find one you like, fill out a pet request at blueridgehumane.org/adopt/requests. 

Once we get a dog or cat that matches your needs, we’ll give you a call to go over the next steps. If you or someone 

you know is in need of assistance with their pet, call our Pet Helpline at 828-393-5832. 

NO MILKWEED, NO MONARCHS! 

Submit a comment on the Environmental Action website at tinyurl.com/xa63vmrk 


CRITTER NOTES 

Nature Center Otters Need Your Help! 

Obi and Olive, the resident otters at the WNC Nature 

Center love to dive and play in the water, but every 

morning, they have to wait for their keeper to refill their 

pool so they can go swimming. 

Due to age, Otter Falls has a slow leak and some 

cracks in the rockwork that need to be repaired. With your 

donation, the center can purchase the equipment and 

supplies to fix the leak and repair the rockwork. 

To make a donation to help the otters—and all the 

other animals who call the Nature Center home, visit 

wncnaturecentergifts.org/donate. 

Phoenix Landing Online Classes 

Phoenix Landing Parrot Rescue will host ‘Avian 

Behavior and Training’ on Saturday, September 11 from 

1-3 pm live via Zoom. The class is presented by Debbie 

Foster and co-hosted by Phoenix Landing and Companion 

Parrots Re-homed. 

Learn all about the science of behavior and how we 

can apply those concepts to the birds in our homes. This 

class is good for people who are new to parrots as well as 

for those who have had parrots for a long time. There is 

always something new to learn to give our parrots a better 

life. 

Debbie will discuss how and what to train, and help us 

understand the connection between what we do and our 

bird's behavior. She is certified as a trainer and behavior 

consultant and combines the two disciplines to help 

people with their parrots and to help give birds the skills 

they need to succeed in their homes. She is also an 

instructor at Companion Animal Sciences Institute, a 

teaching assistant for Living and Learning with Animals, 

and the owner of Parrot Ps and Qs. Not recorded for 

re-play. Register at tinyurl.com/23hzy57h. 

Save the date for ‘The Feral Quaker Parrots of 

Brooklyn, New York’ with Steve Baldwin on Saturday, 

October 2 from 1-3 pm live via Zoom. For many years, 

Steve Baldwin has been watching the entertaining 

antics and activities of the monk parakeets of Brooklyn, 

especially in Greenwood Cemetery. Steve is also quite 

entertaining and gives a fun, informative talk about these 

little green parrots. Visit tinyurl.com/3asckdy9 to register. 

Blue Ridge Audubon September Bird Walks 

Blue Ridge Audubon host their free birding walks on 

Saturday’s each month. Masks are optional if you are 

vaccinated; required for those who are not vaccinated. 

The following walks are scheduled for September: 

- Beaver Lake bird walk, Saturday, September 4, 

8-10 am. Meet at Bird Sanctuary, 1056 Merrimon Ave. 

Monthly on the first Saturday, until October 2, 2021. 

- Jackson Park bird walk, Saturday, September 11, 

8–10 am. Join EMAS and friends for a bird walk at 

Jackson Park in Hendersonville. Meet in the Admin 

Building parking lot on Glover Street. Monthly on the 

second Saturday, until October 9, 2021. 

- Swannanoa Valley bird walk, Saturday, September 18, 

Be kind to everything that lives ... 

- Native American Proverb 

PAGE 14 • CRITTER MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2021 

8–10 am. Meet at Owen Park, 875 Warren Wilson Rd. in 

the parking lot between the lagoons (behind the National 

Wiper Alliance building). Monthly on the third Saturday, 

until October 16, 2021. 

Email blueridgeaudubon@gmail.com for information or 

visit blueridgeaudubon.org. 

Blue Ridge Humane September Events 

The Annual Mills River Valley Race (5k, 10K and 1 mile 

fun run/Doggy Dash) will be held Sunday, September 12 

beginning at 8:30 am at Mills River Community Park, 

124 Town Center Drive. These unique races are flat 

courses through the valley with scenic views of the Blue 

Ridge Mountains. The course is fast and Certified USATF. 

So get registered and beat your personal record on this 

course ... and bring your running buddy or furry friend! 

Whether you’re running for pace or walking with your 

“pack” – you’re supporting the Mills River community 

and each registration also helps support the Blue 

Ridge Humane Society (BRHS). To register, visit 

millsrivervalleyrace.org. 

The next event, BRHS ’Barkyard Parties,” will be held 

the weekend of September 17-19. Barkyard Parties are 

individualized celebrations of animal rescue, adoption, and 

animal welfare programs, that raise awareness and funds 

for Blue Ridge Humane Society. The events and parties 

can take place anytime and anywhere over the weekend. 

Learn more and sign up at tinyurl.com/ftsndand. 

The final event for September is a free pet food 

giveaway on Saturday, September 25 from 10 am-1 pm 

at The Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, 

1304 Ashe St. in Hendersonville. Supplies will be given 

first come, first serve. Social distancing and protective 

measures will be taken by all staff and we ask the public 

to follow CDC recommendations. 

Food will be distributed car-side, so just pull up and 

they will direct you. Staff will get your info (zipcode, 

number and type of pet), and place the food in your trunk. 

Even if you don’t need free pet food please share this info 

with others who might be in need. 

Biltmore 2021 Endurance Ride 

Benefits Hope for Horses 

The Biltmore 2021 Fall Endurance Ride benefiting 

Hope for Horses (HFH) will be held on Friday and 

Saturday, September 24-25. This year's event will once 

again be hosted by the Biltmore Equestrian Center on 

the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. HFH is 

seeking volunteers for the event. Support opportunities 

are available from Thursday, September 23 through 

Sunday, September 26 and include set up, registration, 

vet scribing, timer assistance, course spotting, lunch and 

dinner preparation, merchandise sales, tear down, and 

more. 

Visit biltmoreendurance.com for more info on the event 

and to sign up for one or more volunteer shifts. Lunch and/ 

or dinner will be provided for volunteers assisting with the 

event on Friday (lunch and/or dinner) and Saturday 

(lunch) and all volunteers will receive free admittance 

to the estate grounds for the entire weekend. House 

admittance excluded. Please bring a chair & water bottle.

Farm Animals: Fact or Fiction? 

Farm Animals Awareness Week - September 19-25, 2021 

How much do you know about farm animals? Test your knowledge below. 

For each statement, circle true or false. 

To check your answers, count the words in each statement. A sentence with an 

odd number of words is false. A sentence with an even number of words is true. 

Reprinted with permission from Humane Society Youth, publishers of KIND News, 67 Norwich Essex Turnpike, 

East Haddam, CT 06423-1736, © 2021. 

Cappuccino Machines 

Coffee & Tea Brewers • Gourmet Coffee 

Gourmet Tea • Grinders 

753 Haywood Rd. Asheville 

(828) 254-7766 

Be kind to 

ALL animals. 

chooseveg.com 

People & Pets 

Acupuncture 

Dr. Andrea L. Fochios 

MA, DVM, L.Ac 

Veterinarian & Chinese Medical Practitioner 

By Appointment Only 

Visit us at our office in W. Asheville 

16 Harris Ave. Asheville, NC 

828-254-2773 • Email: ALFDVM@aol.com 

officeofpeopleandpetsacupuncture.com 


Email info@bwar.org for more 

information about our pets! 

SHADOW is a darling 9-year old senior boy who is 

ready to find his forever family. After living the majority 

of his life on a chain outside, Shadow wants to learn 

how to be the best house dog he can be. Shadow is 

extraordinarily friendly with everyone he meets— 

including kids! He is protective of his space, and 

would do best as the only pet in the home. 

FLOWER is sweet and shy—but a totally great 

companion. Snuggling and sunbathing are her 

areas of expertise. She may take a bit of time 

to warm up, but with tasty snacks and gentle 

coaxing, Flower makes new friends easily. 

To meet Flower or Shadow, 

email info@bwar.org. 

31 Glendale Ave. Asheville · www.bwar.org · 828- 505-3440 

PAGE 16 • CRITTER MAGAZINE • SEPTEMBER 2021 

MOUNTAIN PET RESCUE 

The Thrift Hound Store 

234 New Leicester HWY. Asheville 

Handsome ANDY is 

almost 1-year old 

and weighs about 

50 lbs. He needs to 

go to a home with at 

least one other dog 

that will play with him 

and he needs a 

fenced yard. He is 

not leash trained, so 

he cannot live in an 

apartment or be in an 

unsecured area. He 

is pretty nervous 

around kids, so he 

would like a home 

without them. If 

you have another 

dog and a fenced 

yard and are interested in Andy, you 

can apply at mpravl.org. 

MountainPetRescueAVL.org 

Email: pets@mpravl.org

Saving Haywood County’s Adoptable Pets 

PO Box 854 Waynesville, NC 28786 ph: 828-246-9050 

E-mail: info@sargeandfriends.org www.sargeanimals.org 

INDIE was returned to Sarge's 

when things weren't working out 

in his adoptive home. He's a 

great dog, is friendly to all, and 

seemed to adjust well to new 

surroundings very quickly. He's a 

nice medium size and appears to 

be an Australian Shepherd mix. 

COOKIE is a Tuxedo boy 

about 6-years old who was 

surrendered to us through no 

fault of his own. He's a little 

bewildered at his sudden 

change in environment, but 

he's already starting to relax 

and enjoy attention from staff. 

DIESEL appears to be a Dachshund 

mix about 1½-years old. He’s a friendly 

little guy who would be glad to make 

your acquaintance, and very willing to 

take a walk with you. The one thing he 

does not like is riding in the car because 

it makes him sick. He would much prefer 

to curl up beside you and watch TV. 

IMOGEN is a big striped 

bundle of love—affectionate 

and friendly to all. She is very 

beautiful but she's humble 

about it--not an arrogant bone 

in her body. She's at the Dog 

House in Haywood Plaza 

if you'd like to visit her. 

NOW OPEN! Please visit sargeanimals.org 

for applications and info about our adoption protocol. 

PHOENIX LANDING, HELPING PARROTS 

EDUCATION, ADOPTION, WELFARE, REFUGE 

www.PhoenixLanding.org 

A 501(c)3 non-profit finding furever 

AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION 

MOOKIE is a 25-year old, male 

African Grey whose owner died recently. 

He’s a little nervous about stepping onto a 

bare hand but steps up nicely onto a towel 

covered hand. He likes an occasional 

head scratch but is mostly a hands off 

bird. However, he loves the company of 

humans and likes to sing and dance. He’s 

boarding at Exotic Bird Hospital until he can 

find a foster, but he comes with a large play 

stand where he used to spend most of his 

time at home. He was recently diagnosed 

with a heart murmur so he requires daily 

medication, which he takes on a treat. Inquiry@phoenixlanding.org. 

As always, we have a long wait list for large birds - macaws, cockatoos and 

Amazons - and many in our system come back to us multiple times. 

If you have experience caring for big birds and can help foster, even for a 

month, please let us know. Start the process by completing an application 

on our website or email inquiry@phoenixlanding.org. 

Fostering is a great way to learn if a big bird is right for you. 

We also highly recommend one of our behavior classes to 

help set everyone up for success! 

ARIEL is a gorgeous tripod in need of a home! She’s been with us a 

while now and deserves her loving, forever home. She would be a 

perfect cat for a single person who wants a kitty to love them FurEver. 

Work from home? She’ll sit right there with you while you work. 

Contact us to arrange a meet & greet! 

Follow us on Facebook and let us know if you would like to 

meet one of our kitties! Offering ‘contactless adoptions!’ 

(828) 348-7198 • PO Box 1479 Enka, NC 28728 

Fureverfriends@bellsouth.net 

On Facebook at ‘Furever Friends Animal Rescue - Asheville’ 


General Family Dentistry 

Kevin Fox, DDS 

David Whitlow, DDS 

Providing gentle dental care for the entire family 

and proudly supporting all of our community 

animal shelters & rescue organizations … 

How we can help save lives ... 

Spay/Neuter 

Adopt a homeless pet 

Foster an animal waiting 

for adoption 

Donate 

Volunteer 

Be a Voice for Animals 

SWEET WILLOW is 

currently hanging out in 

a loving foster home 

while she waits for her 

Forever Family. Visit 

ashevillehumane.org 

to read her extensive “job 

requirement” list. If you 

think you are the right fit 

for this position, please 

send your info to: 

adoptions@ashevillehumane.org. 

Adopt a pet from any local shelter or rescue organization 

and receive a complimentary doctor exam and 

bitewing x-rays at your next dental appointment. 

*Offer valid thru December 31, 2021. 

Please present adoption contract at time of appointment. 

2 Iris St. (behind Biltmore Village) • 828-252-2791 

Please open your heart and home to 

one of our loving Clumber Spaniels 

Clumbers in Need have several dogs available 

for adoption. Call us for more information or 

to meet one of these very special canines. 

CLUMBERS IN NEED 

(828) 230-2499 

www.clumbersinneed.com 

clumbersinneed@yahoo.com 


A FOSTER HOME 

SAVED MY LIFE 

There was nothing wrong with me. 

I JUST RAN OUT OF TIME. 

Foster homes give great dogs time to find homes. 

If you have room in your heart and your home for a temporary 

pet, please consider fostering. It costs you only time and love. 

For a dog who runs out of time, it means the world. 

CONTACT ANY OF THE SHELTERS OR RESCUE 

ORGANIZATIONS IN CRITTER MAGAZINE. 

Even with the windows cracked, 

I’m dying in here ... 

A car’s inside temperature can rise by 40 degrees, even 

with the windows cracked. When it’s 72 degrees outside, 

it can rocket to 116 degrees inside a car within an hour; 

most of the temperature rise takes place in the first 15 to 

30 minutes. Dogs can’t handle this kind of heat and can 

suffer severe illness, damage to their organs and death. 

For more info, visit MyDogIsCool.com 


MaryPaws Adoptions 

P.O. Box 941 Leicester, NC 28748 • 828-622-3248 • marypaws.com • find us on Facebook at Marypaws! 

ADOPTIONS HELD AT OUR SHELTER BY APPOINTMENT. COME SEE ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL CATS! CALL FOR INFORMATION. 

FLORA is one of two very sweet, 

3½-month old sisters who are both 

very gentle and loving. They are 

playful but calm, have tiger striped 

coats, gorgeous faces and would 

be great for families with children. 

SIDNEY is 3-months old with a 

beautiful blue-gray coat and bold 

white stripe down his nose and 

white feet. He came with several 

siblings, loves attention and 

he is good with other cats. 

SUZY is a 3-month old gal who 

is a bright and beautiful girl with 

peach and gray stripes. She’s 

very active and loves to play but 

is sweet, cuddly and gentle. She 

would fit into any household. 

GOLDIE & GABE are two of the 

cutest and sweetest kittens here. 

They are a sister/brother pair who 

are 3½-months old, very affectionate, 

smart, curious and playful. They also 

get along well with other cats. 

MARYPAWS Animal Adoptions is a rescue organization dedicated to helping unwanted felines find loving and permanent homes. Through 

our adoption program, we have helped hundreds of abandoned cats and kittens avoid homelessness. Please help us by spaying/neutering your 

pets, making a donation if you can, or by offering one of our adoptable animals a place in your heart and your home. If you’re looking for a 

pair of felines, call us! We have many siblings who are available and ready to be adopted together. 


ADOPT A SHELTER PET 

2.7 million healthy or treatable shelter pets still need our help to find a home each year. 


I kill 5000 ticks a season, 

as well as infectious mice 

& venomous snakes ... 

What’s your 

super power? 

MADISON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 

389 Long Branch Road Marshall, NC • 828-649-3190 • www.petango.com/madisoncountync 

HOURS: Tues. - Fri. 10 am-5 pm • Saturday 10 am-3 pm • Closed Sunday and Monday 

ARE YOU READY TO BE A PART OF THE NEXT STEP? 

NOW'S YOUR CHANCE! 

We are working hard to FURTHER reduce euthanasia rates in Madison County. 

To that effort, we're developing a foster team to help us continue our mission of reducing 

the number of animals euthanized each year due to over-crowding. We need: 

• Short-term foster homes for animals that are awaiting transfer to a rescue group 

or animals too young to be adopted 

• Longer term foster care for harder to adopt animals or pregnant animals, neonatal foster parents 

for bottle feeding puppies and kittens, etc. 

We will provide food, necessary vaccinations, de-worming treatments, facilitate fundraising for 

emergency care, and anything else we can do to help support you while you're helping us. 

Applications for fostering can be picked up or emailed. You will be able to choose what type of foster 

will work best for you and your home. To pick up an application and for additional information, 

please call 828-649-3190 or email SGUICE@MADISONCOUNTYNC.GOV. 

ADOPT YOUR NEXT BEST FRIEND FROM THE SHELTER … PLEASE GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE! 

TO ADOPT, call 828-649-3190 / TO FOSTER, call 828-768-3050. 

TO RESCUE, email sguice@madisoncountync.gov. Our shelter is very small, so time is critical. 



The Six Bear Wise Basics 

Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes 

like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Bears will 

defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs! 

Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available 

food, liquids or garbage. 

Bird seed and grains have lots of calories, so they’re very attractive to bears. 

Removing feeders is the best way to avoid creating conflicts with bears. 

Feed pets indoors when possible. If you must feed pets outside, feed single 

portions and remove food and bowls after feeding. Store pet food where 

bears can’t see or smell it. 

Clean grills after each use and make sure that all grease, fat and food particles 

are removed. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out. 

See bears in the area or evidence of bear activity? 

Tell your neighbors and share information on how to 

avoid bear conflicts. Bears have adapted to living near 

people; now it’s up to us to adapt to living near bears. 

BEARWISE - A Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Program 

Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Georgia · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · Missouri 

North Carolina · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Virginia · West Virginia 

Helping People Live Responsibly 

With Black Bears

ASHEVILLE-SEPT2021

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