Friday, October 16, 2015

Yavapai Humane Society Performs 47 Free Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Surgeries in Single Day

Yavapai Humane Society (YHS) performed 47 free spay and neuter surgeries to local feral cats at its Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic this Thursday, October 15. The free fixes—which prevent a countless number of homeless cats in the future—were performed in honor of National Feral Cat Day, annually recognized as October 16.

On average, YHS’ Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic performs 25-30 surgeries per day. The unusually high number of animals filled the facility to its maximum and took the Clinic’s team eight hours to complete—an endeavor YHS considers well worthwhile.

Yavapai Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic makes use of every space available in its facility to care for the 47 feral cats that received free spay/neuter surgeries as a public service for National Feral Cat Day.

Feral cats live and thrive outdoors and are typically wary of humans. Consequently, their needs cannot be met with an adoption approach. In an effort to manage the feral cat population and improve the lives of feral cats, YHS has implemented a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. With TNR, cats are spayed or neutered and eartipped (the universal symbol of neutered cats), and then returned to their outdoor home.

“History has shown that the antiquated approach of extermination as a means to controlling the feral cat population is ineffective. Feral cats try harder to reproduce when members of their colonies go missing. However, something must be done. One unspayed female and one unneutered male can produce a population of more than 11 million cats over the span of just nine years.*

TNR is clearly the best answer for managing the feral cat population, and we are honored to have held this free spay/neuter day for feral cats as a public service and educational opportunity,” explains Yavapai Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic Lead Veterinary Technician and Supervisor, Beth Benninghoff.

Yavapai Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic’s team works hard to provide the best of care for the 47 feral cats that were given spay/neuter surgeries in recognition of National Feral Cat Day. From left to right: Stephanie Ekdahl, Dr. Katrina Vanesian, Kitty Clark, and Katie Hawkins. 

TNR helps stabilize the feral cat population, improves the lives of feral cats, and improves their relations with the neighborhood because annoying behaviors associated with mating stop, such as howling and spraying. Trap-Neuter-Return is the humane, effective approach for feral cats. Feral cats are also responsible for reducing our community’s rodent population.

For more information on Trap-Neuter-Return or Yavapai Humane Society visit www.yavapaihumane.org.


*Figure based on two litters a year at a survival rate of 2.8 kittens per litter.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Help "MEOW-t" with Feral Cats!

What is a feral cat?

Feral cats live and thrive in the outdoors and are typically wary of humans. Feral cats' needs are not met by an adoption process. The antiquated animal control approach for feral cats--catching and killing--is endless and cruel. When feral cats are removed from a location, new cats move in or survivors breed to capacity because their insticts tell them they are going extinct (this is called the "vacuum effect"). So how can our community humanely approach feral cats?


TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) benefits the cats and the community. Cats are spayed or neutered, eartipped (the universal symbol of a fixed feral cat), and then returned to their outdoor home. The colony's population stabilizes--no more kittens! TNR improves their lives and the relations with your neighborhood.
  • The population will be controlled with no new litters
  • Annoying behaviors of mating like howling, fighting, and marking territory will stop or decrease dramatically
  • It's humane

Where can you go for help?

Contact Yavapai Humane Society's Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic at 928-771-0547 for information. Feral cat surgeries will be performed by appointment for FREE on October 15 as a public service to our community (by appointment only). Call 928-771-0547 today to book an appointment and get help with TNR!


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Find Your New Best Friend at PetSmart National Adoption Weekend!

Yavapai Humane Society and Prescott PetSmart want to invite you to meet your new best friend at the PetSmart National Adoption Weekend this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 


This adoption event will be going on at YHS’s Pet Adoption Center located at 1625 Sundog Ranch Road all three days from 11 am to 6 pm and it will also be held at Prescott Petsmart located at 277 Walker Road off of Hwy 69 from 10 am to 2 pm all three days. The event will feature cats and dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes. 

For every pet adopted during the PetSmart National Adoption Weekend PetSmart Charities will make a donation to the homeless pets at Yavapai Humane Society. See pets that are available for adoption at www.yavapaihumane.org/adopt. 

Standard adoption fees and processes apply. So if you rent, bring your lease agreement, and if you have kids (furry or of the human variety), bring them along for a meet and greet so we can make sure everyone is a perfect fit!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Labor Day Safety Tips for Pet Owners

Yavapai Humane Society (YHS) urges pet owners to bear safety in mind this holiday weekend. With Labor Day festivities, dogs and cats can get lost in the shuffle. Safety tips for outdoor activities, ingestible substances, and leash use can prevent harm to a beloved pet.

Many pet owners enjoy the outdoors during a long weekend. YHS encourages outdoor bonding time between people and their four-legged friends with a few precautions. Keeping hydrated is a must, and owners should allow their pet time to rest in a shaded spot. Also pay attention to the heat of the asphalt and take special care to not let a dog’s feet burn on the pavement.

Keep your pet hydrated during Labor Day outdoor activities.

While it may be tempting to sneak a treat to Fido or Fluffy from the dinner table, YHS’ Chief Veterinarian Nicholas Volkman warns, “Certain foods that we people enjoy are toxic for your pets and can be life-threatening—like grapes, onions, chocolate, and sugar-free treats (including peanut butter) which contain xylitol. Other foods can cause digestive upset because of the change in diet.”

Don't give into those big puppy eyes begging for a scrap from the table. Many foods we humans enjoy are toxic for your pets and can be life-threatening.

Food isn’t the only thing a pet may ingest. YHS reminds owners to store substances like sunscreen, bug spray, and lighter fluid out of a pet’s reach.

Lastly, the animal shelter reminds people to keep their dogs leashed when outdoors. Even if Fido always stays obediently by his owner’s side, pets can show unpredictable behavior when frightened by loud noises. Dogs attempting to flee may lose their sense of direction and run long distances, risking injury or death as they dart in and out of traffic. 

Keep your pet leashed during the holiday festivities when outdoors.


With these simple measures, pet owners can safely enjoy their holiday weekend alongside their pet. 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Back to School 101 for Pets

“Where’s my human?” This question runs across a dog’s mind a lot these days, now that everyone is back in school. The back-to-school time can pose some interesting challenges to pets, so let’s get you enrolled in Back-to-School 101.

After being used to having the kids home around the clock during the past few months, animals have fallen into a different routine than during the school year. Instead of being the living vacuum for falling cereal at 10 a.m., they are now alone, wondering “what is there to do around here?”

Dogs can get bored now that the kids have gone off to school.


Dogs, just like people, can become bored. A lot of dogs need to find something to do!  Sometimes where they decide to expend their excess energy can be on destructible habits, like chewing pillows or shoes. So what can be done?

Even if your pet is well established at home and you trust that they will be a good kid while you are gone, you can still take advantage of these fun lessons!

If you have crate trained your dog, you can kennel them for the first few days, assuming you will not be gone longer than a short work day. If you can come home during fourth period lunch, all the better! Through crate training, you can help re-train your dog for what are acceptable toys—and after a few days it will be recess all the time for your precious pup. 

If you have a lot of toys at home, pick some of them up. Dogs will think that when they get them back after a couple days, they are brand new and so much fun. Come home to a chewed up textbook? Don’t use the crate as their detention! A crate should always be a fun, positive, and safe place.

Use crate training to re-acquaint your dog with their acceptable toys.


If your dog is not crate trained, don’t fret. There are some easy things you can do to keep your pets busy, while knowing that they, and your possessions, are safe. It is recommended to confine them into a room where you can be sure your pet and your possessions are safe.

Other tactics are to keep your dogs busy with approved activities. You can freeze peanut butter inside of a Kong (a durable, rubber snowman-shape toy with a hollow center) to give to your pet. Because of the time it takes them to unfreeze the peanut butter and get it down the hatch, they will be ready for a mid-day nap when they’re (if only we humans got to take those!). You can also hide treats around the house and send your pooch on a tasty scavenger hunt. Don’t be too surprised with a rearranged living room when you get home, though!

If your pets get nervous when you are gone, you can take the simple step of leaving the TV or radio on for them. The noises and sounds they hear will help them feel that someone is home with them and can ease some of that anxiety. This can also help if you have dogs that will bark at outside noises. Having the ambient noise to help drown out the happenings of the outside world can make your pet earn award after award from your neighbors.

When it comes to test time, set your pets up for success. When you leave them out free roaming for the first time, be sure to pick up things that could be tempting to chew and move the delicious goodies to the back of the counter. Leave out the toys you want them to play with, give them a tasty treat, or set them loose on a tasty game with delicious rewards – your lesson plan is up to you, teacher!

If you keep these simple things in mind, your dog will be head of the class in no time!

Have a WOOF-tastic school year!


Friday, August 7, 2015

Kind Kid Spotlight!

Kids have an innate compassion for animals that we at Yavapai Humane Society are so inspired by! This week, Emma Daggett and four of her close friends visited our shelter to present us with an $86 donation from their very own bake sale!


The girls working hard at their bake sale for the cats and dogs of YHS.


The letters they wrote us about why these sweet girls decided a bake sale was something they should do are priceless:


Emma's Letter to Yavapai Humane Society (click to enlarge)
The girls did a lot of prep work for the bake sale!

Mariah's Letter to Yavapai Humane Society (click to enlarge)
It was hot and sunny, but the girls were happy and proud to raise money for the animals!

The girls did such a great job with the bake sale for the homeless cats and dogs at Yavapai Humane Society! Their hard work has helped the animal shelter: just $10 can cover vaccinations, deworming and microchipping for one adult cat or dog, so their $86 donation has gone a long way!


From left to right: Olivia, Mercedes, Madi, Emma, Mariah, and YHS pet resident "Choo Choo" the dog.


If you would like to follow Emma, Mariah, Olivie, Mercedes, and Madi's lead, give a gift to pets in need online at www.yavapaihumane.org/donate

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Comforting Your Pet During the Monsoons

Monsoon season is now in full swing. And as much as we love to hear the thunderstorms in typically-dry Arizona, unfortunately for pets, this is a time that can be very scary!

Monsoon season is full of loud crashes, lightening and heavy rains that can frighten and startle pets – but we can help our furry friends to be more secure during the storms.


 The first thing we can do to keep pets comfortable during the storms is to keep them safe and secure in a room. If your pets are outside, they can become frantic with running the yard trying to find places to get away. Because they cannot escape the storm, the fear can build up to a point they may attempt to escape by digging under or jumping over the fence.  

By using a room you can easily close off the windows and doors to create a more comfortable and dry environment. If your pets are particularly scared of the seasonal storms, you can put on a radio or TV to help drown out the chaotic noises outside. More often than not, this will be all that is required to help a pet feel much more secure during a storm. However, if it is not there are other ways to help.

There are products available that can help anxious pets cope as well. Things like the Thundershirt, a vests that provides constant, light pressure which can make a pet feel more secure. Similar to a mother swaddling a baby, this pressure will make them feel more enclosed and comfortable.


If you are available, sitting with your pet during the storm can help tremendously. More often than not, you are a great source of confidence for your pet. When you are around, they may feel much more secure than if they are left on their own. Simply sitting with them and reading a book can be all it takes. When you are calm, your pets will be too. Pets pick up on our subtle body language, so be sure to do low key activities and remain at ease while in the presence of your frightened pet.

It is very tempting while sitting with your pet to constantly touch them and assure them it’s okay. However, this can inadvertently make them more fearful. What we view as coddling our animal to feel safe, we may actually be telling them it’s okay to be afraid. So when you are sitting with your pet, be sure to do just that. Let them work through the situation as much as you can on their own. Pets are much smarter than you may think!


If your pet is very stressed, please talk to your veterinarian. They may be able to prescribe medication to reduce the stress they are feeling through the season’s storms.

With enough repetition and exposure, some pets will grow out of their fears of storms!  Some however, may need a helping hand to feel safe during this scary season.