300 Days and Counting

300 Days and Counting

Kaye is celebrating her 300th day with Berkeley Humane this week, and although we’re big fans of anniversaries, this isn’t a cause for celebration – unless a party will bring Kaye an adopter!

Kaye is the last of 150 animals to find a home here in the Bay Area that were all evacuated in advance of Hurricane Irma from a shelter in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Why has it taken so long to find a new home for this sweet, 30-pound girl? Because her story did not start in Florida. Kaye began her life on the streets of Puerto Rico, was rescued, and sent to the Humane Society of Broward County (HSBC) in Ft. Lauderdale.

Then in September 2017, Hurricane Irma threatened Ft. Lauderdale. With less than 24 hours to plan, HSBC's entire shelter population was put onto a plane and flown to California. Once safely landed, the dogs and cats were greeted by a collation of animal welfare agencies, including Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation, East Bay SPCA, and Berkeley Humane. The animals were quickly divided between the three partners. Once back at Berkeley Humane, we discovered that our new arrivals included three very shy dogs originally from the streets of Puerto Rico. We named them Holly, Kendra, and Kaye.

At Berkeley Humane, all of our animals come to us from larger public facilities that are often overcrowded or under-resourced. It is not uncommon for these animals to need individualized behavior plans to help them acclimate to their new environments. However, Holly, Kendra, and Kaye were different in that they had never actually bonded with people and didn't have a clue how to be a typical family pet. 

Berkeley Humane's patient and loving team of volunteers and staff worked hard over the months to come to slowly bring out their individual personalities. Holly and Kendra were eventually adopted, but as of today, Kaye has not found her perfect match. The right family for Kaye will recognize her sweet personality, but will also give her the time she needs to build her confidence in a loving and patient environment. 

“Kaye should not be forced or rushed into new situations – she will decide when she’s ready. She’ll need time to adjust to a home at her own pace,” explains Jesse Schumaker, Berkeley Humane's Animal Care Specialist. “She’d love a home where she can have dog friends. Her personality really blossoms when she is around other dogs who are confident and can show her the way.”

The good news is that Kaye does like people. She can just take a little while to warm up to someone, but she is playful and food motivated. Very food motivated! 

“Kaye does bond very strongly with people, especially people who feed her. She loves deli meat,” laughs Michelle Jewell, Berkeley Humane's Veterinary/Adoption Specialist. “With food and lots of patience, her adopter will soon have a 30-pound shadow following them all around their home.” 

Kaye's one-year anniversary is coming up quickly and if ever there was a dog that deserves to be out of a shelter and into a loving home, it's our girl Kaye.  The volunteers and staff at Berkeley Humane are appealing to our community to help find Kaye, who has traveled over 4,000 miles, find a happy ending to her story.

Please share

You can help by sharing this blog post or sharing Kaye’s video to help find her perfect match.

Think Kaye might be the one for you? 

Our staff can provide guidance and adoption advice for her love and care. “The things that the Berkeley Humane staff emphasized about adopting a traumatized animal were really helpful, even despite our previous experiences with other shelter animals,” says Erik, adopter of Holly (another dog from Puerto Rico who was rescued with Kaye). “They will prepared you for the extra time and effort that is necessary to Kaye’s adjustment.”

Contact us

Berkeley Humane

dogs@berkeleyhumane.org

510-845-7735

2700 Ninth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

www.berkeleyhumane.org

“Dominance” in Dog Training and Behavior, Explained

Guest post by Nancy Frensley, CPDT-KA, CAP2, CNWI, CGC Evaluator, Senior Behavior and Training Manager, Berkeley Humane


Dog trainers sometimes still talk about a dog being dominant or dominating. This terminology has affected how people behave toward their dogs and is thankfully, falling out of use. The term is common among biologists who primarily study species in wild settings. It has a use and a precise definition in that context. It describes how a specific species or sub species controls resources in a domain and it can describe population dynamics.

People sometimes excuse their dogs' rude behavior toward other dogs by saying, “He’s alpha.” And some famous trainers have recommended ways to get dogs to change their behavior by “dominating them in physical ways. These are moves that all too often get used for every behavior an owner doesn’t like such as not coming quickly enough or barking at another dog.

Dog trainers, many of whom had been military dog handlers during World War II, were quick to pick up early theories about the dog/human relationship, which were loosely based on observations of captive wild wolves and how they behaved toward each other. This led observers to the believe that “dominance” was a personality trait.

It was thought, at the time, that if we just mirrored a wolf pack with our own dogs, We could solve all behavior and training problems. Dog owners were instructed to go to the mat with their dogs and always win, no matter how exhausting it might be, and people dutifully did so, pinning mystified and frightened dogs to the ground until they gave up (or bit the owners)

Using these theories put both trainers and pet owners into conflict with the dogs they loved. The whole misguided movement resulted in the widespread use of abusive training techniques which have rapidly been replaced with dog friendly training through positive reinforcement and games. These are much more palatable to both the dogs and the people involved and gets better results in the long run.

There is a very easy way to view dominance when referring to companion dogs and their people. Dominance, in biology, is the control of and access to resources. We humans control most of our dogs’ resources and control access to just about everything our dogs want. We determine when and where the dog eliminates, what resting surfaces he can use, when and what he eats and how he greets strangers. That makes us, by default, the dominant species.

We can decide how we use this status and don’t have to do anything extra to prove that we are, indeed, the dominant species in this relationship. We can choose to be kind, to train in a dog friendly way and be gentle & compassionate while setting the boundaries needed for our dogs to live with us in a human society.

And have you noticed, nobody talks about dominating cats?


Berkeley Humane's training philosophy and testimonials are on our website, as is a list of upcoming dog training classes.

Share Your Happy Stories!

Calling all happy adopters!

"Happy adoption stories? They are definitely talking about us."

This very blog's raison d'être is to showcase the joyful adoptions that happen weekly at Berkeley Humane. Our Going Home series lets adopters share, in their own voices, their perspectives on how pet adoption changed their life. We hear from adopters days, months, sometimes years after adding a cat or dog to their household, which gives us a broad look at the lifelong importance of sharing life with a loved pet. 

Lily and Frankie: snuggle partners for life.

We just can't get enough of these post-adoption stories. So we're asking you for yours — and offering a free photoshoot in the bargain!

Head to our Happy Stories page and share your Berkeley Humane adoption story. Your story could inspire others to adopt pets in need of homes. And you might win a professional #LookingFurLove photoshoot!

Photoshoot winners!

We can't wait to share your joy!

Dogs Playing Together: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Guest post by Nancy Frensley, CPDT,CAP2, CNWI, CGC Evaluator, Senior Behavior and Training Manager, Berkeley Humane

One of first things adopters from Berkeley Humane want to do is take their dogs to a dog park. It’s easy to assume that all dogs both want to play with other dogs and have the right temperament and social skills to do so. However, everyone will benefit by considering a few things before beginning this particular adventure.

Pixie and Cinnamon chase a friend. Photo by Pär Winzell.

Until puppies reach maturity, between the ages of eighteen months and two years, most of them enjoy playing with other dogs. Good dog play can teach young dogs valuable lessons. Play enhances bite inhibition, develops communication skills, and maintains friendly responses to other dogs. As they mature, most dogs become less universal in their desire to play.

Even though some parts of each puppy’s play style are inherited, each of them goes through distinct developmental periods during the first two years of life in which social and play styles are formed. Puppies (under four months) can be very rude but are generally tolerated by adult dogs as well as their human parents. Between the ages of about five and eighteen months, almost all puppies start to push their boundaries with both people and their own kind. In addition, puppies experience distinct “fear periods” during this time of their lives. Unsupervised play as well as harsh corrections can cause pups to develop fear as well as the inappropriate play styles of chasing, body slamming and persistent wrestling; styles that can lead to aggression problems.

Photo by Pär Winzell

Most dogs reach full maturity at about two years. After that, they are less likely to engage in play with dogs they don’t already know and may become more reserved with people as well. Most are content, at this point, to play with previously established dog friends. Sometimes, they lose their desire to play with dogs entirely. Dogs adopted as adults have often had limited social exposure and may never enjoy playing with other dogs.

From the very first day, you should carefully monitor all your dog’s playtimes. By supervising, you can shape your dog’s play style for the rest of his life. The most important part of supervision is being able to recognize when play is appropriate and when it is not. The second most important part is being able to interrupt questionable or inappropriate play and call your dog away before it goes bad.

There are three kinds of dog play—good, questionable, and totally inappropriate. Here’s how to tell them apart:

Good dog play.

You don’t need to interrupt this play. The dogs are monitoring themselves.

• Healthy play is balanced. There is a lot of give-and- take. Both dogs are clearly having fun. 
• Dogs have loose, relaxed bodies, and their movements are silly and inefficient-looking.
• Chase games exhibit a sense of sharing. But, if one dog is being chased into hiding or is becoming defensive, interrupt the play.
• Both dogs are making friendly play gestures. These include play bows, turning and hitting with the hips and both dogs stopping when things get too rough.

Questionable dog play.

You should always interrupt this play before it goes too far. Any of the following behaviors can lead to a fight.

• Wrestling can be appropriate but is questionable and should be interrupted if more than two dogs are involved, or if one dog is always on the bottom.
• Tug-of- war if one or both dogs become possessive.
• Stalking postures. These postures are not play behavior. A stalking posture is significantly different from play bow and is often the first stage of a body slam.

Rude and totally inappropriate dog play.

This “play” is not play at all; it is aggressive behavior and must always be stopped. After you intervene you have a good opportunity to play one-on- one with your dog while he settles down. Rude behaviors are:

• Neck biting and collar grabbing.
• Excessive barking and harassing another dog. Rude puppies often do this relentlessly at adult dogs that do not want to play.
• Body slamming. This is only fun for the slammer.
• Pinning. Bull breeds do this routinely, but others do it, too.
• Mounting other dogs. Both males and females do this and it is almost guaranteed to start a fight.
• Snapping. A dog that is scared or aggravated may snap; so may a dog that is guarding a toy or a bone.
• Standing in a “T” position (head over another dog’s shoulders). This is never play; it is always a challenge. Don’t let it happen at all.
• Ganging up. Two or more dogs ganging up on one.
• General over-arousal, resulting in a case of the crazies, growlies, or snappies.

If you cannot call your dog away quickly and effectively as soon as play becomes questionable use a long line (20’-30’) and practice calling your dog with rewards every day. Once you call your dog away from play, give him time to calm down before releasing him to play again. If your dog has gotten into a scuffle, stop all interactions with other dogs for the remainder of the outing.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to supervise their dogs to keep play friendly.

Photo by Pär Winzell

If you have questions about your dog's behavior, please feel free to email training@berkeleyhumane.org. Learn more about Berkeley Humane's training approach, led by post author Nancy Frensley, and peruse our list of upcoming classes under Nancy's expert guidance.

Going Home: Riley and Cameron

While treats, toys, and fuzzy blankets might not be at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of canine needs, there's no denying that it can be fun and rewarding to spoil our pets. 

When adopter Yue Lin got in touch with us on our Facebook page, she showed us an adorable new way to honor her Berkeley Humane-adopted dogs:  

Riley and Cameron are both from Berkeley Humane and recently got their own pillows:) 

We had some questions about these awesome crafts, and Yue obliged us:

Dear Berkeley Humane, I got the pillows at Crafty Wonderland on a recent trip to Portland. They are made locally by an artist. Well, I just couldn't resist:). Thanks again for all you guys do! Riley and Cameron are the stars of our home. Here they are on a typical day:)

That's a special pair of dogs that deserves a special set of pillows, Yue! Thank you for this glimpse of the happy life you share with Riley and Cameron.


Looking for your own dog to spoil? From puppies to adults, we have a variety of personalities available for adoption right now. Come visit us Friday through Sunday, 11-5.

Woof Wednesday: Let's Just Walk!

Trying to walk a dog with poor leash manners can be quite a stressful experience. If you’re having trouble walking your dog, never fear! Berkeley Humane is holding a “Lets Just Walk” class starting on March 19 that offers a series of exercises which (with practice) will increase your dog’s ability to focus during walks. The ultimate goal is to reach relaxed leash walking with your dog, build team work and ensure that walking your dog in public is an enjoyable, stress free experience for everyone involved!

Walking on leash can ultimately be a very frustrating experience for dogs - they can feel uncomfortable, limited, or vulnerable if not guided and trained. When properly taught leash manners, dogs can get a lot of great mental and physical stimulation from a nice leashed walk!

Nancy Frensley, behavior and training manager at Berkeley Humane, explains that a good measure of walking manners is being able to recall your dog to your side when passing another person or dog, and have your dog stay walking right alongside you until passing is clear. As a rule of thumb, this is a good courtesy to extend to others - even though your dog may be very friendly, most dogs are not comfortable with other dogs rushing right up to their face, and some people may be afraid of dogs!

According to Nancy, a common mistake most people make is to not ask anything of their dog while on leash. She explains, “Without cues or a ‘job,’ dogs tend be free to do…well, what dogs do! They bark, chase squirrels, react to other dogs and sounds.”

Rather than teach dogs to robotically watch you and not enjoy the walking experience, Nancy emphasizes allowing dogs to sniff and explore in a relaxed manner on the other end of the leash, but guiding them to understand your requirements (such as heeling and walking beside you when called). A key to this is to be alert and aware your environment and recall your pup with positive cues before they get a chance to be aroused and riled up. 

In “Lets Just Walk,” dogs (and their humans) will learn positioning and heeling in all directions, which are both some key tools in working towards off leash etiquette.

“Good walking takes lots of energy and effort. An ideal walk is one where your dogs body is balanced over all four feet,” said Nancy, “This walking class will give people a very solid start and foundation to continue building on.”

You can register for the class as well as browse others at the Berkeley Humane dog training schedule page.

Going Home: Lola

Welcome to Woof Wednesday! This week we bring you an update on Lola (formerly Cordy), who was scooped up by Lauren and Nick towards the end of 2015.  

Although she quickly bonded with new squeaky toys, Lola was a bit too nervous to venture outside during her first weekend. Thanks to some patience and gentle coaxing, she has now adjusted nicely!

“We've been able to take her for an hour long walk in the morning and evening, usually with a stop at the dog park so she can run off some of her lingering puppy energy. We've been keeping a close eye on her interactions, but so far she seems to get along well with any dog willing to run REALLY REALLY FAST and tussle. We've ecstatic with her progress-we even got her to jump in the water for a bit on a long walk on the Bay Trail.”

"We think Lola is happy with her new life as well "

Thanks to Lauren and Nick for your awesome update! We hope you and Lola continue to have more great adventures together!

If you’re interested in adopting a dog, check out our available dogs here. Adoption hours are Friday through Sunday, 11am to 5pm. 

Thinking ahead to Valentine's Day? #SkipTheRoses and give your loved ones the gift of helping adoptable cats and dogs! Check it out here and donate to see your name on our Honor Wall!

Going Home: Dahlia

Happy Woof Wednesday, everyone! Today we are back with a special story about Dahlia, who was formerly named Diamond. Not only did she become a precious part of her family, but she also helps her foster brother get used to life with a loving family.


Dahlia is the perfect role model for her foster brother. She is a quick learner, obedient, and makes sure to take care of her foster brother. Let us see what her family, Catherine, says:

"Hello, I adopted Diamond about six months ago from you and wanted to update you! She's huge now! And her ears popped up lol. We are fostering through OAS and PALS and she adores her foster brother. His name is Dancer and we changed Diamond's name to Dahlia. She is definitely a mellow dog and very very smart. She can get hyper but once I break out the treats she falls right into her obedience training. She loves walks and hikes, but has yet to understand the Heel command. She even loves taking baths lol! She was a devil child in the beginning when it came to biting, but since we got her foster brother she rarely bites anymore, except him. They wrestle and play constantly!”


What a cute and understanding dog! In the picture above, we can see Dahlia and Dancer proudly facing the camera.

In the right picture, we see these two happily playing with each other.

We thank YOU Catherine, not only for adopting, but also for taking part in a foster program. The dogs have received tons of love from your family. By participating in the program, we know that Dancer will have a higher chance of getting adopted in the future.

Even if one is unable to adopt, fostering is always another choice. Fostering helps the dogs learn how to live with a family, and helps them get comfortable in that environment.

If you are interested in our foster program in any way, please check out our link here!

Going Home: Henry

Ready to put a little woof in your Wednesday?

Today we'd like to share the adoption story of Henry, formerly named Giles. The pictures his adopters shared with us show a smiling, happy dog who was excited to be with them from the first car ride home!

Henry on his way to his new home

Henry's adopters, Jose and Berenice, had this to say about welcoming Henry into their home:

Giles new name is Henry after Henry Ford. My boyfriend is a huge fan of Mustangs that he decided to change Giles name to Henry. He responds to Henry very well. Henry has adapted to his new home since the first day. He has hes section of our pack yard where he goes potty. He enjoys his walks in the mornings and at night. Henry has learned to do a hand shake and he behaves very well with my 2yr old niece and 8yr old nephew and is very gentle with her.

Thanks for checking on Henry!

Jazlyn and Henry

Our 1st selfie with Henry

Henry!

We're so pleased to learn how happily Henry has fit into your lives, Jose and Berenice. Thank you for the update! 

If you're looking to add some woof to your home, take a look at our adoptable animals.  To make sure your dog is as gentle with children as Henry, keep an eye on our dog training classes, where we occasionally run a "dogs and children" class. 

Going Home: Carmenere

Happy Woof Wednesday! Before we put on our party hats to celebrate the new year, we want to check in on a charming little pup who found a home for the holidays.

Adopter and Berkeley Humane volunteer Moi shared an adorable picture and update with us:


thanks for the docs and check in. it was really hard to stop playing with her long enough to write this email. no new name yet, but we should have it narrowed down soon. she had the last of her meds yesterday and i think i heard the last of the kennel cough this morning. but will call up if i'm wrong. she's already learned to sit! we're getting her outside every couple hours and only a few accidents in the house so far. not bad for a wee one. she's been cozying up to the many beds she has around the house and even the crate we've decked out for her, but her favorite's the queen sized one that doubles as play area. she's a great pup and i hope we'll make her as happy as she does us.

here's a photo of her tuckered out from play-

Carmenere looks like one happy dog, Moi. Since she shares a name with a grape, we hope she ages like fine wine! Thank you for the update.


If searching for the perfect pet is on your list of resolutions, check out our adoptable dogs and cats!

Going Home: Emma

Welcome to a Christmas edition of Woof Wednesday! This week features Emma (formerly Kendra) who was a volunteer favorite here at Berkeley Humane! 

Emma charmed everyone with her sweetness and now has found a lovely home of her own with Jennifer R., who happens to be a hospital intern with Berkeley Humane. 

It looks like Emma has settled in quite nicely to her new home and is ready to celebrate the holidays! 

“Kendra is embracing the lazy Saturday of cuddles and Netflix.”

Thank you for the update, Jennifer!

You can check out our adoptable dogs here. Our shelter is closed on Friday, Dec. 25, but re-opens for adoptions Saturday and Sunday.

Introducing a dog into your cat-only household

"...dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!" - Dr. Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters

Did you know that that cats and dogs don’t have to know each other from kittenhood and puppyhood to be able to live together? It is definitely possible to successfully introduce an adult dog into a cat household, and even for the two to eventually become pals. So if you’re an animal lover with a cat already in your home, it is still possible for you to adopt or foster a dog! Here are some tips and tricks to help facilitate successful introductions. 

First, set up your cat for success! Before your bring a dog into your home, you can work on the following with your cat: 

• Place the litter box, cat food and water in a safe space, where the dog cannot access it.
• Create high, safe spaces in your home that your dog cannot reach. You can use tall cat trees or install fun shelving on the walls for your cat to climb. Ideally, your cat would be able to get from one end of a room to the other without having to touch the ground. This allows your cat to observe and get used to the presence of a dog without feeling like they are in danger. This also provides your kitty with much more space as well as an easy escape route if they become overwhelmed.
• Even dogs that can be great with cats will chase anything that runs away, so work on building confidence in your cat! This can be done by spending lots of time playing with your cat, in addition to providing lots of vertical space and escape routes. 

Second, take your time finding the right dog that is the right fit for your family!

• Ideally, you should select a dog that has had prior experience with cats. If this is not possible, it would be wise to choose one that has tested well with cats at the shelter. Although testing well with cats at the shelter doesn’t always translate to doing well with cats in the home, it can be a helpful indicator. 
• If you have a senior cat at home, it may be a good idea to look for a more mellow, lower energy dog that won’t play too rough. 
• Curiosity and chasing can be worked on, but if a dog is lunging aggressively towards cats and shows strong prey drive, it probably isn’t a good dog to bring into a home with your cat. 
• Rotate the animals in the house for a few days to get them used to each other's scent - keep them from seeing each other by keeping the cat in a room during the day, and allowing the dog the rest of the space. At night, keep the dog in a room, and give the cat free run of the house to explore the exciting new scents.
• It’s critical to work on very strong basic cues with your dog, such as “leave it” or “wait” and to develop a very solid recall, so that you can recall the dog if it gets too interested in the cat. Berkeley Humane offers all sorts of training classes that would be helpful, you can see a full list of classes here. 

Third, make sure the first introductions takes place in a calm, controlled environment. 

• During the first introduction, the dog should be leashed and under control. Its best that the introduction take place when both animals are calm, and in an area where the cat has vertical space to perch up high. 
• Give your dog plenty of treats and if it gets too focused on the cat, recall its attention. Do your best to ensure that both animals get used to being relaxed in the same space together. These leashed interactions should happen for several days without incident before you allow unleashed interactions. If you are away, make sure to keep the dog in an exercise pen, crate, or separate room where it cannot be alone with the cat. 

Fourth, move on to supervised unleashed interactions

• Once a week or more of leashed interactions go by with out any alarming occurrences, you are ready for supervised, unleashed interactions. 
• Keep a vigilant eye out for any signs of rising tension, and continue to treat the dog and keep the interactions calm and mellow. Do not hesitate separating the two again if you feel that they are not ready for this step. 

Finally, unsupervised interactions!

• After a month or more of supervised, off leash interactions go without incident, you may be able to start leaving the two alone together. Start with shorter periods of time, and work your way up. Of course, you are the best judge of your dog and cat. Keep an eye out on body language and warning signs, and don’t hesitate to start separating the two if you have any doubts. 

Signs to look out for: 

• Dog getting overly focused in on the cat. Break the focus by recalling and rewarding with treats. If recall doesn’t work, physically body block the cat from the dog to break focus. 
• Keep an eye out on your cat’s eating, drinking, and litter box habits. If these habits are not normal or don’t go back to normal after an adjustment period, your cat may be stressed.
• Be observant of body language and watch for aggression. This can go both ways - if your cat is continually acting out against a completely calm dog, and it is being properly exercised and has plenty of safe spaces to retreat, you may not have a dog-friendly cat. 

Though it may seem daunting at first, once you get started the process will feel somewhat intuitive. Introducing a dog into your feline family can be a wonderful, rewarding experience for everyone involved. 

If you’re interested in adopting a dog, check out our adoptable dogs here! For more information on volunteering as a foster, please visit our volunteer page. 

Going Home: Rocky

Happy Woof Wednesday, animal lovers! Or perhaps we should say, Happy "Worf" Wednesday, because this week we're celebrating the adoption of a winsome little pup called Worf, who is now rocking his new moniker "Rocky."

The dog formerly known as Worf.

Adopter Maria shared a cheerful update with us: sounds like Rocky is getting nice and comfortable in his new home! Says Maria: 

"[Worf] ended up being the perfect fur baby for me and I'm so happy I adopted him! His new name is Rocky and he's settling in really well! He is already potty trained and he doesn't do anything he's not supposed to. He's really sweet and friendly to all humans and dogs!" 

Rocky, cuddling champion.

She finished with this question:

I was wondering if you have any idea on his background? I know most of the dogs are usually strays, but I thought it didn't hurt to ask.

Thanks for the update, Maria! We thought many people might be curious about where Berkeley Humane's adoptable animals come from, so we decided to ask Sherry Liu, the Marketing and Individual Giving Manager, to shed some light on the subject. 

Q&A with Sherry:

Where do the animals at Berkeley Humane come from? 

We partner with municipal shelters across the entire East Bay, as far north as Martinez, as far south as Fremont, and we go to Stockton as well. Since municipal shelters generally provide animal control, and must accept any kind of surrenders, for any reason, at any time, our ability to intake our animals from them help alleviate their overcrowding.

How much do you know about the animals' histories before they make it to Berkeley Humane?

Some animals are surrendered to municipal shelters by their guardians, whereas other animals are strays found on public streets. The length of time an animal spends at a municipal shelter before coming into our care also varies. This means the amount of information passed on to the municipal shelter, as well as the information passed on by them to us, can vary widely. Often we learn more about the animals we intake through behavior assessments and medical examinations than we receive from the source shelter.

Does Berkeley Humane accept animals directly? 

We do not. Independent humane societies like us generally do not accept direct public surrenders.

What's the farthest away an animal has ever come?

Since the amount of information provided to us can be spotty, it’s difficult to say. However, it’s with regularity that we take in animals from Fremont and Stockton.

Any particularly memorable animal intake stories?

Plenty. However, it is often most gratifying when we’re able to take in an animal who has a medical need. They are often overlooked and the last ones to find loving homes, if it happens at all. Being able to provide medical care that shortens an animal’s stay in the shelter system from many months—sometimes years—to just a few weeks, and being able to help the animals who need it most means a lot to us.

Thank you, Sherry! Every year, Berkeley Humane helps hundreds of dogs to find loving new homes, and each has their own unique story. To read more heart-warming and tail-wagging happy endings, check back each Wednesday for a  new Going Home post. 

Adopted a pet from Berkeley Humane and have your own update to share? Whether it was last week or 5 years ago, we'd love to hear from you! Share your story and pet pictures on our Facebook page!

Going Home: Mischa

Welcome back to Woof Wednesday, everyone! Today we are introducing a loving adopter/adoptee pair who cannot stand to leave each others' side for more than a moment.

Mischa used to be named Marianne Favro after a NBC newscaster as part of a Berkeley Humane and NBC collaboration (a partnership we are happy to say will return for 2016's Bark and Meow Around the Block celebration). Let's see how this special dog is doing with her new family!

 

"She is doing great! We are attached by the hip - today I had to leave her in her crate for 3 hours and it was the longest 3 hours of my life... She did great though. I left a Kong, a bone, and one of her favorite new stuffed animals, Possum, in the crate with her.

Now we are in the backyard and she is still working on her bone! I took her on a long run this morning and we were both exhausted after.

I left a message for a check up visit at the Montclair Veterinary Hospital today. I will also call tomorrow.

I am unable to take her to the basic obedience class on Thursday unfortunately because I work late those nights. Would you suggest I find a basic obedience class elsewhere that works better with my schedule? I would love to get her into training as soon as possible!"

 

Thank you, Maya, for sharing with us and providing so many toys for Mischa! This bundle of energy is definitely having the time of her life.

A check up is always a good idea to keep your dog healthy. As for basic obedience class, there are indeed other training classes outside of Berkeley Humane though we offer a tremendous range of classes. See our impressive list of training class options here or get in touch with our certified trainer to talk about other options!