Here is a look at some amazing pets we have looking for wonderful adoptive homes. Stop by our Adoption Center at 9800 W. 67th Street to take a peek at these pets.

Anne	Feliz
Tammy	Satin

These clinics were a huge success!  This Saturday alone, 505 pets were vaccinated. Our staff and volunteers saw all ages, size and breeds. We were able to schedule many pets for spay / neuter surgeries and even detected a heart murmur in a dog, who will be returning for treatment.  After these last two weekends it has become truly clear that this service is a necessity for so many.

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Pets of all shapes and sizes found their way to HSPCA’s Animal Medical Center today.  The first of two FREE vaccination clinics was held this Saturday March 17th 2012. A tremendous team of staff and volunteers was ready to give the gift of health to as many pets as possible.

Although the line was  long and started early the pets, and their human companions, waited patiently for their turn to receive lifesaving vaccinations. Thanks to generous funding from the ASPCA, HSPCA was able to vaccinate almost 400 pets.

The second, and last, FREE vaccination clinic will be held next Saturday March 24th from 10am – 2pm. No appointment is needed.

Hi there, my name is Tilly and I’m a 4 year old Coonhound mix who is ready and eager to find my forever family.  I bet since you are reading this, you want to know all about me, right?  The good, the bad, and the unmentionable.  Well, since I’ve been living in a foster home for the past couple of months, believe you me, somebody sure does have the straight skinny on me, and thankfully, she thinks I’m a great dog, and she even goes so far as to say that she can’t believe that someone is missing out on this golden opportunity to include me in their family.

I’m sweet, gentle, calm, fun, playful, and super friendly.  I’ve never met a person I didn’t like.  Truly, I like everybody!  I’m housebroken, and I’m have great doggie manners in my foster mom’s (FM) house.  She says that I am a lover of a great many things, but my favorite things are walks, car rides, and sleeping – in that order! I’m a good girl on leash, and I never want anybody in my family to go anywhere in the car without me.  On special occasions, I go along, and I’ve learned how to lean into the curves.  Give me a fast car and a nice hilly road in the mountains, and believe me, I’d take those curves better than the average human.  I’m willing to stick my nose out the window and let my ears flop around in the breeze.  And you’ve never met a dog that can sleep better than I can.  Oh how I love my couch at FM’s house.  I sleep through the night there, but, I do love my before bedtime books with you.  I like to rest my head on a pillow or your lap while you read.  You can read out loud if you want.  I particularly like Jane Austen novels.

I also love rawhide bones, and I believe I like throwing them up in the air as much as I like chewing on them.  I’m not really into toys, but I do love to romp around in the back yard, and if you are out there playing with me, even better!  I love to be with my human pals, and I make FM’s day brighter just by being in her home.  FM says that I’m not like a typical hound dog.  Lots of hounds like to make lots of noise – as in that awe inspiring howl we can make.  FM says that by all standards, I’m not your typical hound.  Nope, I don’t make much noise.  Oh yes, I’ll bark if someone comes to the door just so everyone is aware that someone has come for a visit.  Sometimes I might bark if someone is walking by the house, but, it really takes too much energy to make a lot of noise, and I don’t like to expend vast amounts of my energy.  I like to save mine for my walks and my romps in the back yard.

FM wants you to know that the things I don’t like include rain and loud noises.  Rain gets me wet, and loud noises are just downright scary, don’t you agree?  There’s one other thing that scares the dickens out of me!  That’s shelter life.  Yes, if FM hadn’t agreed to foster me, I think I would have lost my mind at the shelter.  I could not handle all the noises and smells and other dogs.  Thank goodness she came for me to help me until my forever family finds me.

That time is now.  I really need my own home.  Staying in a foster home is a wonderful blessing for dogs like me, but, I can’t overstay my welcome here.  This is my temporary life, and I really don’t want to keep living in the temporary – I’m up for the permanent now.  Hey, I’m just a sweet girl who somehow lost her family and her way in life.  I’ve got someone like FM who believes in me and loves me with her whole heart and soul.  I’ve just got to make an impression on someone who can adopt me and give me a home.  I promise that in return for a new home, I will be the best darn girl in the whole world for you, I promise!  I just need a chance at forever.  Could you give me that chance?  Please contact HSPCA to set up a time to meet me.  You won’t be disappointed, I just know it!

Love from Tilly

P.S Check out my video

HSPCA foster families allow us to care for the additional 25% of pets that arrive during this season. Foster families open their hearts and homes up to pets who are too young to be placed up for adoption, need a place to heal, a break from shelter life or that bit of extra care. The average stay for pets in foster care is three weeks; although some stay longer and others have a shorter visit. HSPCA will provide all the supplies and coaching needed to care for the pet.

Alongside the need for extra space, springtime brings the need of extra supplies. KMR kitten formula, bottles, and puppy pads are needed in addition to the canned pet food, clay kitty litter, treats and Kong toys that always grace our wish list. HSPCA relies on our generous donors to help supplement these extra supplies.

To be a foster family for a pet in need please email fostering@heartlandspca.org. If you are unable to foster but would like to donate items to help HSPCA to prepare for “puppy and kitten season” please visit our wish list.

Words by: Kim Antisdel
Photo: 435 South Magazine

Dogs give us kisses, laughter, unconditional love and a guaranteed snuggle if a bad dream make its way into our slumber. But what if that delicious doggy from the pet shelter proves to be a behavioral handful once you get him or her home? Thanks to professional dog trainer extraordinaire Skip Daiger, you won’t ever have to worry about a rambunctious pooch.

A certified pet dog trainer, Daiger has been strengthening the bond of dogs and their owners for six years through his gentle obedience training—and the results speak for themselves. Daiger coaches both dogs and owners in tandem, which he says helps to eliminate common behavioral problems such as chewing, barking, jumping, nipping and running away when the garage door is left open.

“Many people believe if they dominate their dogs, then everything will be fine,” says Daiger. “That’s not even remotely true.”Skip Daiger, manager of behavior and training for the HSPCA.
In fact, Daiger says dominating a dog can cause it to become even more aggressive, since it can come to fear its owner. Combining positive reinforcement for the dog along with a load of education for the owner is integral to Daiger’s process. “Utilizing and learning theory and counter conditioning is extremely effective and yields much more pleasant results in the long run,” says Daiger.

Counter conditioning simply means to re-teach a pet to have a happy or pleasing reaction toward something that they generally fear. For example, rather than yelling at a dog to hush when he barks, providing him a treat or a soothing belly rub when he is quiet is a positive reinforcement for good behavior. The action reinforces that good things indeed will happen when the dog is silent.

Daiger’s recent work with the HSPCA in Merriam is a testament to his enthusiasm for dog training. In January of 2012, Daiger was named the manager of behavior and training for the organization and dedicates his time to evaluating and guiding behaviorally-challenged dogs that arrive at the shelter. The goal is to train the animals to become more appealing and safer to the prospective owners who are considering adoption.

“We see dogs on both ends of the emotional spectrum,” explains Daiger. “There are reactive dogs who are aggressive, and dogs who are extremely shy or fearful. We want the dogs to first feel safe, and once that happens, we can often uncover the core behavioral issues.”It may seem that the training and evaluating of dogs in the shelter would be most beneficial to the owners who take them home, but in reality, the true benefit is to the animals themselves.

“In working with these dogs, we are uncovering past issues that can be very difficult to deal with,” Daiger explains. “Some dogs are perfectly fine and go straight to an adopted home. But the ones that need training are really evaluated and taught to control their emotions.” And though a trained dog is more likely to find a forever home, it becomes the owner’s responsibility to continue the process. Thankfully, HSPCA and Daiger maintain detailed records of each dog’s history, including what behavior training has been completed.

“Education is key. We want owners to know that they’re not just a treat Pez dispenser to get their dog to behave,” says Daiger. “We want to educate them on what we’ve done with the animal so they can maintain that behavior.”

It’s natural that anyone would feel proud for taming a behaviorally-challenged dog, but for Daiger, it’s something much simpler than vanity that inspires him.“Pairing a dog with a forever home is a gift,” he explains. “When you can make that happen, it’s a life-changing event. For the dog, for the human and for the family members. It is so very rewarding, and I’m glad to be able to be a part of it.”

For more information about Skip Daiger, dog training classes and the HSPCA, visit heartlandspca.org or daigerdogtraining.com.