Cat Nutrition 101

Adopting a new cat or kitten is a very exciting thing to do for many families. It involves a lot of decision making. Will the cat be allowed in the bed? On the kitchen counter? What type of interactive cat toys will we buy? Are we using cardboard scratchers on the floor, or will we get a big cat tree, or both? And: what will the cat eat?

That last question can take a lot of time to answer. Information on the Internet varies widely, and separating the science from the marketing can sometimes be a real struggle. With that in mind, we decided to consult an expert: Berkeley Humane’s Medical Director Jena Valdez, DVM. She is a highly experienced veterinarian who worked at the San Francisco SPCA before coming to Berkeley Humane. She also renders her services to the Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) that provides free vet care in Native American communities and serves on the Veterinary Medical Advisory Board for Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) in San Francisco. She is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and is very interested in the dietary needs of cats. She also has three wonderful pets: cats Simon and Mietze, and dog Oscar. 

The questions we asked of Dr. Valdez are intended to help cat owners figure out optimal nutrition for their feline family members. However, it is good to keep in mind that all cats are a little different. If your choice of food does not agree with your cat, please consult your veterinarian. In the mean time, settle in for some tasty morsels of high quality information:

Dr. Valdez with Mietze - Jen C Photography

There are three main types of cat food:

Dry food is convenient to give (i.e. can be left in an auto feeder), but it can be difficult to control portions and is typically higher in carbs than other types of food

Wet food is higher in protein and moisture content, but some people are turned off by the smell and some cats won’t eat food once it’s dried out. It can also be more expensive than dry food

Raw food is high in protein, but has potential for shedding Salmonella and other pathogens that can be passed to humans. This is why it is not recommended in households with immunocompromised people or children.  Because of these concerns both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the CDC recommend against feeding raw diets, and some pet insurance companies will not cover animals on raw food diets. 

Here’s a link to the AVMA’s statement. Some animals have benefitted from raw diets (specifically those with food allergies), but it is difficult to recommend these when other novel protein commercial diets exist and don’t pose the same health risks. 

Dr. Valdez with Simon - Jen C Photography

For a healthy juvenile or adult cat, I typically recommend canned food because it’s high in protein and high in water content. As obligate carnivores, meaning that cats have to eat meat, cats are metabolically built to process proteins better than carbs, and higher protein diets usually help with weight management. The increased water content in wet cat food can help maintain kidney and urinary tract health.

Cats form their preferences about food early in life, and those who weren’t exposed to wet food as kittens may not like wet food as an adult. For those cats, I would recommend a high protein dry food with strict portion control. 

Obesity is a major concern for cats, and in many cases, wet food can help with weight loss. Again, the high protein content fits well with their metabolism, and the increased water content can help keep them feeling full longer. There are also dry prescription diets that can help with weight management. Typically, portion control is the most important part of weight management, regardless of the type of food you use.

Cats can develop issues similar to human type 2 diabetics: their bodies produce a certain amount of insulin, and when their size/weight exceeds what their body can produce, they can become diabetic. There are other causes of diabetes as well (i.e. pancreatitis), but obesity is a major risk factor for cats. That is why weight management is important. Other conditions such as arthritis and respiratory disease all also exacerbated by obesity.

When buying cat food, it pays to take a good look at the label. Most labels include info about protein, carbs, fiber and calorie content. Analyzing these four factors can help a guardian evaluate the nutritional content of foods. Here is a link to the AAFCO website, which provides the requirements for all pet food labels. The ingredients on a cat food label are listed in order of their predominance by weight, so a food with chicken listed first would have more chicken than other products. 

Cat food labels will provide caloric content. For cats, most nutritionists recommend approximately 180-200 kcal for per day. These needs can change based upon activity and other health conditions, but this is generally a good starting point. Guardians should consult with their veterinarian about what is ideal for their cat.

If you want to determine if your cat is at a healthy weight, you can check their body score. There are two types of body condition scores, one is based on a scale of 1-9, and the other is 1-5. Either can be useful for assessing body condition. 

                                       

There are not necessarily ‘good’ or ‘bad’ ingredients in cat food. For guardians who are trying to use wet food for weight management, I typically recommend staying away from foods with lots of gravy or sauce – these are usually thickened with starches (carbs), and can change the nutritional profile of a food. Pates are usually a better fit for these cases

Most veterinary nutritionists agree that terms like 'grain-free', 'organic', 'human grade' and 'no by-products' are more likely related to public relations and marketing, rather than based upon true science. No definitive research has emerged yet about the efficacy of these types of diets

Meal feeding is recommended over free feeding, as portion control can be difficult with free feeding. Feeding your cat twice each day is ideal. If your cat remains hungry or gets hungry between meals, you can try the following: if you’re feeding wet food, you can add additional water to help them feel full longer. With dry food, you can consider using an auto feeder to provide a small portion of the daily food allowance in between the morning and evening feedings, or really early in the morning (for instance if they wake you up :) )

If your cat continues to chew on things, you could use puzzle feeders like the Tricky Treat (the kind that dispense food when rolled around). They can be a great enrichment option for cats. Cats typically aren't "chewers" like dogs, so continued chewing on inappropriate objects can sometimes indicate an underlying GI problem or boredom. Environmental enrichment is a better option than chew toys. I don't recommend bones for cats or dogs as they can splinter and get lodged in the esophagus or intestines. Cooked bones are more likely to splinter than raw bones. None of the veterinary dentists that I've consulted have been comfortable with rawhides for cats.

If you care about your cat’s dental health, wet food remains a good cat food option. Most veterinary dentists agree that cats' teeth are adapted for shearing meat off of bones, and aren't really designed for chewing - the theory that dry food helps keep teeth clean is mostly a myth. Most cats will swallow kibble in large chunks, rather than grind it down as dogs do. (If you have you ever seen cat puke, you'll notice that it often mostly formed kibble).  Genetics play more of a role in dental health than anything else. A lot of dentists do recommend canned food over dry because of the carbohydrate content - the sticky stuff that starts plaque is full of carbs, so high protein diets provide fewer building blocks for plaque. There are some dental products which have been shown to have some efficacy, and I usually direct clients to the VOHC website [link www.vohc.org] for a list of those products.

The other famous cat treat, milk, can actually cause diarrhea.

If your cat ever eats something that it shouldn’t, take him/her to a veterinarian immediately. There are no home remedies that are proven to effectively induce vomiting, and time can be of the essence when dealing with ingestion of toxins.

If you want to learn more, or get more in-depth information, this link has a ton of great info about nutrition. 

Dr. Valdez with Oscar the dog - Jen C Photography

Thank you so much, Dr. Valdez! You’ve given us all something to think about. Next time we find ourselves in the cat food aisle, we’ll know what to look for! We thank you on behalf of our cats and kittens.

Volunteer Appreciation: Linda J.

December is a very special month for many of us. It is the core of the western holiday season and it can inspire us to feel gratitude for the good things of the year. At the same time, we can look ahead and set up some resolutions for the new year that is to come.

This volunteer appreciation post has a bit of everything that makes December so special. Its core goal is to show our gratitude to one of Berkeley Humane’s most amazing volunteers. It also has wise words for those of us who rank ‘volunteering’ (with Berkeley Humane) under our New Year’s resolutions..

With that said, we would like to introduce you all to Linda J. who has provided the content for this post by being submitting to a Skype call at 8 AM.

Linda's 'foster failure', the charming Gracie.

Linda is an experienced and long-term volunteer who does… well... almost everything. It was graduate school that led her to the Bay Area, and she has been here ever since. Her loyalty to Berkeley Humane is as steadfast: for twenty years or more, she has adopted all her pets from us, including her current bunch: little Gracie the dog (a foster failure: our favorite kind of failure) and the feline brothers Lewis and Morse.

And then, four to five years ago, when Linda was still working in healthcare administration, she started volunteering for the old PAWS program, which worked with seniors and people with disabilities to help them keep their pets. Thereafter, she started coming in once a week for a shift as a canine volunteer. When the practice she worked with was taken over by a larger company, she decided the time had come to retire. Her employer’s loss proved our gain, because soon Linda started taking on other duties alongside her work with Berkeley Humane’s dogs.

The famous duo Morse (black) and Lewis (white).

Currently she leads orientation sessions for new volunteers in the adoption center twice a month. She helps our volunteer manager with administrative tasks and regularly represents Berkeley Humane at special events, such as multi-day adoption events and the famous Solano Stroll. More down-to-earth work like doing laundry, making runs to BACS with overflow supplies, she does with a smile.

Over the years, Linda has seen how Berkeley Humane continues to develop its policy for recruiting and retaining volunteers. She really enjoys the amount of trust she has won and how much freedom to do her chosen work she gets in return. She has also noticed a continuous effort to improve communication with volunteers and ongoing gratitude from Berkeley Humane’s staff. Across the organization, she feels supported – people really make volunteers feel like a vital part of the organization. These last two years Berkeley Humane even organized a Holiday Party for all volunteers, where Linda was surprised with an award for her years of service!

Linda (right) receiving an award from board member Tamara Stanley.

When asked what it takes to be a good volunteer at Berkeley Humane, Linda said: “If you want to do it, you have what it takes.” She mentioned the extreme flexibility offered, where you can volunteer in a two-hour shift once a week, or come in as much as you want. There are even people who make volunteering a family activity: a great way to teach your child the basics of animal care and compassion is to become a parent-child volunteer team. It helps, she says, to be a good team player, to be communicative and ask questions and to take initiative where needed, but the quality you most need, is to be reliable. In return, you will get a lot of gratitude and you can deepen your understanding of animal welfare in a wide variety of ways.

Linda herself says that she has definitely learned a lot: from training in animal handling to getting better at understanding animal behavior, but also the human side of things: how incredibly hard it is on the staff to make tough decisions about animals, and how much it hurts to surrender an adopted animal because of an incompatibility with existing pets. At the same time she says that volunteering at Berkeley Humane has cemented her belief that what pets really want is to be loved. She has also become convinced her that there really is a home for every pet: no matter how eccentric or special, once an animal finds his or her family, it is clear to see that they truly belong together.

With that resounding conclusion, we wrap up our interview with Linda, Berkeley Humane’s truly invaluable volunteer. 

Linda: we are so grateful for all the things you do for the animals in our care, for your fellow volunteers and the assistance you render to our staff. You are amazing! We hope that your wise words will inspire many new volunteers to join the cause of getting more and more animals into families. 

Do you, dear reader, want to know more about volunteering at Berkeley Humane? Look here for more information. We hope to see you at our volunteer orientation soon!

Volunteer Appreciation: Foster Phoebe

No foster, no rescue. That's it, really. Well, maybe not quite, but the work foster families do for Berkeley Humane is amazingly important on many levels. First off: they open their homes to animals in need and do what they can to give the animal the environment it needs. They do so knowing that they'll have to say goodbye to that animal again, even when they get attached. But foster families do so much more. By taking animals into their homes, they give very valuable insight into how animals behave in a home situation. This helps us with optimizing the personality evaluation of every animal. Sometimes it also allows us to see if an animal works well with children, dogs or cats, which is valuable information for any prospective adopters. 

For young animals living with a foster family has an extra benefit: it helps socialize them and exposes them to situations that they will also encounter once they find their new homes. For the very young ones, their foster family also plays an important role in providing necessary care. It is the foster family that gets up in the middle of the night to let a whining puppy out to pee. It is the foster family that carefully monitors how much each newborn kitten eats. They make a great difference to each animal that passes through their home.

With that in mind, we want to introduce you to one of our amazing foster people: Phoebe B. 

How long have you been fostering and who was your first foster?

My husband and I began fostering about three months ago. An email was sent out over the 4th of July weekend about fostering some puppies, but unfortunately my response was too slow. Kylie Reed, the foster care coordinator, told us that we could foster an adult dog that week if we liked, and as we were preparing to go to Berkeley Humane, Kylie contacted us and let us know that she unexpectedly had another group of puppies that needed a foster home for a week. I was over the moon, and that is how we got our first fosters, the Frozen Puppies. We started with four the first week, three the next, and only sensitive Sven was left by the third week. Sven was actually so much bigger than his littermates that upon first sight Berkeley Humane staff wondered if he was the mother! By the third week he could easily jump the puppy gates we used to enclose our foster area, but fortunately my husband was home from work that week. He and Sven spent every waking moment together, and Sven was even here for my family-only birthday celebration. Sven was adopted the following weekend, so all that intensive snuggling and socializing appeared to have helped Sven come out of his shell and charm his forever family.

The Frozen Litter

How did you learn to say goodbye to each foster animal?

I feel the puppies are comparatively easier to send off to adoption since they have each other. They may be a little unsettled by all the change, but ultimately puppy psychology is wired towards finding ways to make things fun. Puppies are also in a carrier, so I can't see their little faces when I leave. The older puppy I fostered--Sam Brock--was very hard to give back because it was clear that he was confused as to why he wasn't leaving with his foster family when we dropped him off for adoption. This could have been particularly hard for me since I was especially attached to Sam, and I am hopeful that future partings will be less emotional. We are relatively new fosters, so we'll have to see if we get better at letting go, but it is a personal goal of mine to maintain more equipoise when facing impermanence, so this is a prime opportunity.

Who was your favorite foster animal?

Sam Brock charmed everyone in my family, including my prickly chug-huahua Gilly. We brought Sam home a week or so after the Frozen Pups, and we learned that the only dog who could be contained by our gates was apparently Gilly. Like Sven, Sam too could go where he liked in the house, so he was never far from us since we had to keep an eye on him at all times. Gilly is such a tough old bird that she would cringe away from Sam whenever he touched her, but finally one day they both snuggled up in my lap, and that was a really touching moment. He and Gilly made a handsome pair, and we got a lot of compliments when we took them out for their walks. I will admit that one of the reasons I began fostering is that I feel I have a little more love to give than Gilly wants to absorb, and Sam was so thrilled with me, loving my songs and dances and clearly wanting to be close to me whenever possible. He came so far during his short week with us, getting house trained and learning to walk on leash. Giving Sam up to go to his forever home was one of the hardest things I've had to do in recent memory: he is a treasure, and I'm sure his new owners adore him.

Who was your most challenging foster animal?

Cindy Lou Who of the Seuss pug pups was by far my most challenging foster. Her personality blends a potent mixture of smart and mischievous, so she got into plenty of high jinks. The moment requiring the most patience was when I had come home after a particularly hot and hard day to discover that the puppies had done a creative origami project with their pee pads. It took a good deal of time to clean up that adventure, especially since I had pug puppies bouncing all over the place while I was doing it. I finally got the foster area spotless and was placing their clean water dish on the floor when Cindy Lou Who leaped up and knocked it from my hand. It was an important moment because after I refilled the bowl I stood calmly, holding out my hand in the direction of the puppies while making a shushing sound. I was shocked when they all sat down and looked up curiously into my face. I realized that I could ask even these young puppies for what I needed, just like I do with my own adult dog. It was incredible. Even Cindy Lou Who, who pushed the boundaries the most because she is so smart would really communicate with me.

Cindy Lou Who

What is the hardest part of fostering? What's the most rewarding?

My husband and I don't have a car, so our first foster experience was exciting since we were carrying 15+ lbs of puppy and crate home on our 20-minute walk. We were fully committed and wouldn't dream of setting the crate down, but it was hard, especially in this summer's heat. Now my good friend generously shuttles the fosters who are too young to walk to and from our house, and that has been a huge help. For me the worst part is the third day after the puppies get adopted. They are so much work that at first you are a little grateful for a break, but when you wake up on the third day your mind and body have forgotten all the hard parts, and it is a little tough to fully embrace that they are gone. The most rewarding aspect is the knowledge that you are shaping the desirability of someone's future companion. It is a heady business knowing that you are sharing time with this animal that will someday be a beloved part of another family. It's fun to try and think of simple little skills you can impart that will make the dogs even more adoptable, and my favorite trick is teaching the puppies to sit calmly and patiently during food preparation and presentation, which is a trait that is easily cultivated through reward. Of course it is always important to utilize the positive training methods endorsed and utilized by Berkeley Humane. I will also mention that the fosters are the only creatures that appear to be enchanted by my impromptu song and dance performances. My own dog seems rather resignedly humiliated by my melodious narration of daily events, so a receptive audience is more than welcome!

The Seuss Puppies

How has fostering changed your life?

I think we often don't realize how much we are capable of until we simply have to do it. Before I started fostering I wondered where I would find the time and energy, but when you are responsible for the well being of innocents, you just find a way. I really appreciated how the fosters took up a lot of my focus and energy throughout the week, leaving little time for dwelling on less important matters. It's strangely freeing to do something so consuming, particularly when it has such a happy ending. Having the fosters made me invite more people to my home to allow for socializing the puppies, and many of my friends and family have been inspired to find their own puppies, so honestly my choice to foster through Berkeley Humane has changed several lives, and all for the better.

Is fostering time consuming?

Each situation is likely unique, but I do find that the fosters take a lot of time and commitment. I think that could be my own personal choice for the older puppies and dogs, but I spend much of my free time with the fosters. Puppies are going to be a lot of work for anyone, and it really helped me appreciate the important role of mother dogs. As cute as the puppies are, to ensure a pleasant experience for both puppies and humans, you must have plenty of time in your day to foster little ones.

The dapper Sam Brock

How does Berkeley Humane support you in your fostering?

Berkeley Humane provides wonderful support, including advice via many communication methods and supplies during the fostering period. The monthly foster availability form makes it easy to communicate, and all staff and volunteers have been enthusiastic and responsive.

What motivates you to continue fostering?

It is exciting to get a new dog, and fostering allows you to have a new animal in your home on a relatively regular basis. If you have a pet who is a little stingy with affection, caring for foster animals can inspire your own pet to invest more vigorously in the pet-owner relationship. I feel proud to be a foster parent, and it gives me lots of great stories to share with my friends and colleagues. It is hard to explain exactly why it is so wonderful, but I think it has to do with the fact that you really are helping your community, growing and learning the entire time, but in the end it just feels like you're having fun with puppies and sweet dogs!

Phoebe, thank you and your husband for what you do for the animals that enter your home. We could not do it without you!

Do you want to help and, like Phoebe, liven up your life with furry houseguests? Go here to learn what you need to do to help us help animals. 

Going Home: Lil'Lady

Welcome to Woof Wednesday, dear reader! As you know from our long-standing feature of Going Home posts, we love nothing more than catching up with those families that adopt animals from us. Hearing how an animal settles in and becomes a real member of the family is so rewarding!

And sometimes you get a response that is so thorough and shows so much concern and effort that we just have to feature it. Not only to celebrate Lil’Lady (formerly known as Mocha) and her fantastic family but also for all you people who are considering bringing a new dog into your lives but wonder what that process might look like. 

Below you can read Anastasia’s report of adopting a big, high energy dog and integrating her into the daily goings-on of her family. Because Anastasia also asks our staff for advice, we consulted with our resident dog behavior expert, Nancy, and we have included her answer here. Settle in for a good read!

“[…]I'm happy to say Lil'Lady has continued to adjust well here and is becoming part of the pack =) 

Lady and Big Boy have become great pals, hanging out in the back yard together either lounging around,sniffing and exploring the yard, or chasing each other and wrestling. Lady's energy level is perfect for Big Boy (who has a lot himself!). She actually tires him out! They are eating their meals together, taking walks on a split leash and hangout indoors and outdoors together very nicely. We have also started using Lil'Lady's feeding times to train her. So, instead of feeding her out of her bowl we are hand feeding her while training (we are working on the following: sit, stand, down, watch, leave it, off, here). She is better at some than others, and still figuring out the more tricky ones (like stand and here), but overall has caught on quickly. Her watch and leave it are particularly nice. 

She is still taking some time meeting new people, usually barking at a friend who is visiting the house or a neighbor making noise in their yard. She has gotten used to Davi's mother visiting (as well has her elderly dog) which is wonderful since we see her often. Most of the time though, when there are visitors, Lady happily relaxes in her kennel. Oh, right, she has gotten used to her crate which has been awesome. She is happy to go in, and of course happy to come out =) 

As for the fish tank, she is still very interested and sometimes putting her paws on the counter top to get a closer look, but she no longer tries to jump on the counter or sit staring intensely as she did before. She is also responding to "off" more quickly when she is putting paws on the counter. This has turned into grabbing food off the table/counters too, so "off" is becoming very handy =) She actually pulled  a pizza box off the counter last weekend which was a surprise my younger daughter - but luckily we salvaged most of it without too much trouble =) 

I think overall, Lil'Lady has become much more comfortable here, showing more of her sweet personality, and the more mischievous one too =) And as for the kids, they feel very comfortable with Lady, and she with them. Lady does well listening to them as well as she does to us, which I'm very 
happy for. 

Thank you again for checking in! We are considering signing her up for lessons soon, although I'm not sure how she'd do in a class setting since she still seems to lose interest in treats when we are on walks. So I imagine being in a class with lots of other dogs and people might make her too anxious to care about treats or listening to us . . . any thoughts on this?  […]” 

How is that for a investing in your new dog, eh? Anastasia, you and your family are an amazing example for everyone. We are so grateful for your continuing effort to make Lil’Lady live up to her potential and we are sure she feels very lucky to be in your home. 

With regards to your question about bringing an energetic and easily distracted dog to a training class, we asked Nancy Frensley, Berkeley Humane's highly experienced dog behaviorist and trainer, and this is what she says: 

“Here is what I tell everyone who has doubts about their dogs being able to function in a class setting.

The purpose of Basic and Small Dog Basic Obedience is to help you get your dog started on a path that will build confidence and increase functionality.  Our trainers are experienced and helpful.  Any of them can help you learn to motivate your dog.  At first, your dog might feel a little overwhelmed in the class setting but we have techniques that manage that.  You go home with routines to practice and, through those, your dog becomes more confident and habituates to the class setting and many other situations that have proved overwhelming.

Training builds not only confidence but increases your dog’s trust in you as a protector and teacher.  It also increases the adopter’s confidence in handling and coaching their dogs.  You can’t go wrong trying a class.  Some of our late evening classes are small and well suited to the under-confident and less motivated dogs.” 

There you have it! A good training class will teach both you and your dog and coach you how to work together in situations that may be challenging for you. 

For more information on our Basic and Small Dog Basic Obedience classes, look here. If you have questions that you want to ask of Berkeley Humane’s behaviorists, you can do so here. We encourage everyone to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have.

Going Home: Berkeley

Welcome to another Woof Wednesday, everyone. 

Today we have an absolutely lovely Going Home post. One of an adorable pup named Berkeley who brought some warmth so an adopter's heart after she had to say goodbye to her previous beloved dog.

There is really nothing I can add to the love in her story, so let's go straight to the message Laura left on our Facebook page. This is what she said:


"I had lost the dog-love-of-my-life --a graceful loving Golden Retriever. I'm 64-years-old and decided I had had enough of grief, enough of dogs. I vowed never to fall in love with a dog again.
Every morning I woke with no desire to get out of bed. Why bother? My Golden Girl was gone, no one to walk with, no one to talk with. I'd lay in bed and just think about my perfect Golden Retriever, and grieve.
One day out of boredom and lassitude, I started checking out dog-sites. I came across the Berkeley Humane Society site.
There, I saw a sight, indeed! A scruffy little black and white fella with chestnut eyes of a wise man! I got my depressed self together enough to take a ride out to Berkeley (I live in Walnut Creek) to see this little fella. Could he be as intriguing as he looks online?
They brought him out. He sat down, raised his head toward mine, and looked directly into my eyes, with his. It looked like a tiny little human was staring at me from inside that scruffy wire-haired puppy. His eyes didn't break from mine. How could I leave him behind?
I couldn't.
Now, when I wake up every morning, "Berkeley" greets me enthusiastically, ready to play and romp. He adores me, and I need adoration. He follows me, jumps up on the couch, but knows not to jump on the bed. He's as different from my Golden as he could be. But one thing's the same: the lively love you can get only from a best-friend dog."

With such a sad beginning, but such a happy ending, this story shows a lot of why we at Berkeley Humane love what we do so much. It's for the animals, but just as much for the humans. We all need love, adoration, companionship and a real and trusted friend. We're just the matchmakers, really, but it is a grateful job. 

Do you want to help? We're in need of volunteers and fosters and would welcome you lending a hand in the work that comes with bringing cats and dogs in touch with their new families. Read more here.

Going Home: Houdini

Welcome to another Feline Friday. 

Today we have a very special post. It came to us through our Facebook and it gives us a glimpse into the life of Houdini the cat. As you know, we at Berkeley Humane love hearing from everyone who has adopted one of our animals, but we have a special place in our hearts for people who send us an update after a long time has passed. Today's post is one of those long term adoption stories: Houdini was adopted more than 15 years ago. 

As it is, with cats and dogs alike, they do not live forever. And when you adopt a cat and live with it for 15 years, there may come a time you have to say goodbye. That, too, we get in this post. This is what Houdini's adopter wrote us:

"We adopted our cat "Houdini" (she was called Penny at your shelter and she was about 3 years old at the time - she had been at the shelter for over 3 months being chosen over for the kitties I guess). But when we saw her we knew she was the one. She lived for another 15 years (and maybe a tad more - we lost track) with us and sadly last week her health declined rather rapidly and we had to put her down with the support of the Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital / Special Veterinary Services

The moon will rise, the sun will set 

And you my friend, I will never forget"

We will not forget Houdini either, Hilary. Thank you for choosing her that day in the adoption center and for giving her a life full of love and warmth and contentment. And thank you for letting us know how she fared for all those years. We're sure she must have loved living with you.

Losing a pet can be very hard. Pets are often some of the least judgemental and most loving presences in our life, and when those fall away, it can come as a big blow. This is why Berkeley Humane offers a support group for people who have lost a pet. You can read a bit more about it on our website.

Volunteer of the Month: Carol – a dog’s best friend

After a hiatus, we’re back with the Volunteer of the Month series. In this series we celebrate our volunteers, and show appreciation for how much their work means for Berkeley Humane and the animals we rescue. Many of the hours worked at Berkeley Humane, are worked by volunteers and it is no exaggeration that without them, we could not be the organization we want to be.

Monday morning, 7 AM. Carol arrives for her usual shift of volunteer work at Berkeley Humane’s adoption center. In the next two hours she will spend time cleaning the kennels of those dogs unable to stay with a foster family throughout the week, for instance when they need medical care or are under evaluation. Caring for them is the main job of Berkeley Humane’s Canine Volunteers. This means cleaning kennels, but also training and socializing the dogs, assisting with adoptions, or just giving a dog some loving company.

If Carol has time left after cleaning, she will also take the dogs for a walk through the neighborhood. She might just let them sniff their fill of trees and street lights, but sometimes she also walks them past her house. If so, her grandkids, who she often cares for when their parents are at work, are happy to lavish the pooch in question with pets and hugs. This allows Carol to socialize the dog to interactions with children, while also teaching the kids how to politely and calmly approach dogs. Canine Volunteers receive training on how to handle the animals, and Carol loves how she continues to learn and always find opportunities to learn more about dogs and their behavior.

Carol has been with Berkeley Humane for about 18 months. She picked up her first shift after Jack, her doggy friend and fellow East Coast transplant, passed away. Helping animals by giving them clean kennels and a much-needed walk, became a wonderful way to honor the companionship she got from him. Carol’s volunteer work also led her to adopt a new companion: Pearl, a sweet white terrier mix, who Carol encountered during her work.

Carol and Pearl at Pearl's birthday party - complete with dog friendly peanut butter cake

When asked about the nature of the work, Carol shares that it helps to not to be squeamish. Cleaning kennels does involve dog poop, after all. Still, the gratitude of the dogs more than makes up for the less-than-rosy-smelling parts of the job. She also says that while cleaning takes up the most time in her shift because she is the first one to come in, she considers the walking of the dogs to be at least as important. For dogs who make do without a foster family, a walk is often a very welcome break from the kennel and an opportunity to get some extra attention.

One of the hardest parts of Carol’s job is seeing loving, sweet dogs who take a while to get adopted. She shows up on Monday morning hoping that the weekend’s adoption hours have emptied out the kennels, but sometimes finding the right family is not a one-week deal. Doing what she can to make their kennels comfortable and cozy helps, but in the end, she feels, every dog deserves a loving family. Life in a kennel, no matter how clean and regardless of the amount of walks, is not as good as a comfortable basket in a living room and a place in the heart of a family.

Our Canine Volunteers are highly treasured. Their work makes a world of difference, for the workload of Berkeley Humane’s staff, but especially for the quality of life of the dogs awaiting their adoption. As long as we cannot offer foster families to all our dogs – something we do aim for – it is the Canine Volunteer on who these dogs rely for much of their stimulation and fun.  

Do you want to become a Canine Volunteer? You will be trained in dog handling techniques and we offer shifts between 7AM and 7 PM on every day of the week. For more information, and for an application, please visit our website. 

Going Home: Jelly

Welcome to another great Woof Wednesday! 

The #LookingFur Love social media action we ran a while back gave us many great adoption stories. Today we want to share one of these, namely the story of the lovely Jelly. She has been with her human for 11 years now. That makes the story below is precisely the kind of long term success we love hearing back from.

Jelly's story is also the story of a 'foster failure' - the term used when a person who fosters an animal chooses to permanently adopt the animal and keep it in their home. Fosters are vitally important for the work of Berkeley Humane, and it is so very understandable that they sometimes find an animal that really becomes a family member that a 'foster failure'  is really the best kind of failure anyone can ever experience. 

This is what Rachel has to say about her journey with Jelly:

"Eleven years ago I brought Jelly into my home as a foster dog from BEBHS. It is one of the best decisions of my life. She came to stay with me because she was quite insecure and needed lots of TLC. Within 2 weeks I knew she would be with me forever. She is the sweetest, smartest and silliest dog. Over the years we have had countless adventures together. She is my best companion. At 13 years of age now, she has slowed down just a bit. I love to hear her snoring lightly on the couch behind me as I work at the computer or watch her through the window as she soaks in the sunshine in the garden. She is my dear dog and I’m so glad she found her way to me. Thank you. ‪#‎LookingFurLove‬"

Do you want a friend like Jelly? Come visit us during our adoption hours: Friday through Sunday between 11 and 5. And if you have already adopted your furry friend, tell us your story on facebook or by emailing the adoption counselor. We love hearing from you!

Going Home: Jacques Cousteau

It's not every day that we get to report on one of the world's most famous explorers and naturalists. Today, however, we can. Jacques Cousteau is one happy red kitty who, after his many travels and an expedition with us at Berkeley Humane, has found a new safe harbor. 

His family is very happy to have him - who knows what stories he will tell of his adventures. Now that he has been safe in port for about a year, his human companions sent us a message to let us know how the furry explorer is doing. This is what they said: 

"Blissed out joy to be here! We brought Jacques Cousteau, a 5 year old cat, home a year ago... he's the best cat either of us have either had! Love this orange fur creature so much!"

Isn't that the face of a cat who loves life in a loving family after a time at sea? We think so!

If you also want a new friend, come visit us this weekend and see if we don't have an adventurer or a cuddle bug who fits with your family. We're open for adoptions from 11 to 5 on Friday, Sunday and Saturday.

Going Home: Wiley #LookingFurLove

Welcome to another Woof Wednesday! 

Are you ready for some wagging tails? If you are, continue reading abut Wiley, the dog formerly known as Rutherford. His lovely new owners did not just send us a sweet story, they also made an adorable picture collage showing them and their little gentleman at the beach. Look at him, because he isone of the cutest dogs in the history of dog kind. We're sure of it!
This is what Wiley's owners shared with us:

"We brought "Rutherford" home on September 19, 2013. Although we loved the name, it didn't roll off the tongue easily. Unfortunately, they didn't know his story. Meet Wiley. We had a difficult time choosing which pictures to include. We take him everywhere. People continually ask about him, no one can believe he was a rescue. He brings a lot of smiles to us and everyone who meets him. We tell him every second of every hour of every day how much we love him and how lucky we are!"

We love, love love hearing from families about their pets a long time after the adoption. And we love seeing pictures, especially ones as sweet as these: 

Thank you so much, Julie for sharing the story of you and Wiley, and for sending us these adorable pictures. We wish you many more happy years of love, and many fun adventures on the way. 

Do you want to help making dogs and cats happy? We are always looking for dedicated volunteers in a variety of capacities. Take a look on our website, and see if there is something you can do to bring pets and families together. 

Going Home: Sir Kenzie

Happy Feline Friday the thirteenth today! 

How is your luck holding up?

It's great for Sir Kenzie. He not only got adopted by two stellar humans, but he got himself a  feline friend - albeit one that he has to win over. Still, for two unrelated tomcats to get along peacefully, that's a great start.

Here is what Sir Kenzie's adopters have to say:


"Here's our new boy Sir Kenzie (attached picture below).  He's Precious.  We loved him from the very beginning.  Took about 4 - 5 days to finally be comfortable leaving him to roam our home with Tommy...his 6 year old Tabby brother.  Tommy is the resistant one.  Kenzie wants to play and love Tommy.  It will happen.  Both are good boys.

THANK YOU sooooooooooooo much for our new little guy.  You all were so great with me and my son, Rob.  We are very happy.

Love,
Sharon and Rob Murphy...."

Here we see Sir Kenzie surveying his kingdom.

Look at that noble cat. He really does deserve the name Sir, doesn't he? And it's no wonder that a cat that lovely and charming landed on his feet in a loving household. 

Do you want to bring good luck to a cat? Come to our adoption center and see if any of our fantastic felines can become a fit friend for you.  We're open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 to 5. Also don't forget to take a look at our website, to get a sneak peek at the cats. 

Going Home: Atticus and Clover

Happy Feline Friday, everyone!

On this bright and sunny day, we have another Going Home story for you. This time, it involves not one, but two kittens: Atticus and Clover. Today's post says a few things about introducing cats to new territory, as well as to other cats. Both of those situations can make cats a little tense, and combining them may add to that. Still, as we can read, cats are also able to adjust and get used to those things that cause them tension, and learn how to accept new places and other cats. 

Here is what Atticus and Clover's new family says: 


"We are all doing well.  Unfortunately, Atticus & Clover met a little too soon and they are not quite at ease with each other.  There's been some hissing and a little growling but no claws or teeth.  They each have there own room as a home base but Esther & I are letting them out at the same time for longer periods each day in the hopes they can at least come to a mutual disinterest.  Today they have both been out for quite a while and have just ignored each other.  So, progress!

Thanks for checking up and thanks to all the staff and volunteers for all their help.

We'll keep in touch"

Have you struggled with helping your newly adopted pet adjust to it's new environment, fellow pets or other things? We have a behavior help line you're always welcome to call. Our adoption counselors, too, will happily help you with questions or requests for advice. 

Part of what makes an adoption a real success story, is commitment of both adopter and the adoption center to make the animal a real part of it's new family. That means that we take our role in helping you and your pet very seriously. We're always here to help you when you need some reassurance, some quick tips or more in depth advice. It's why we offer post-adoption medical services as well as positive reinforcement training classes. 

In the mean time, we always want to hear from you how things are going. If you have adopted an animal from us, and want to give us an update, please email your adoption counselor with your happy tale (and maybe send them some pictures). If you let us, we'll then put you and your pet in the spotlight here on the blog. 

Going Home: Dexter

Happy Woof Wednesday, everybody! 

Are you ready for a new set of adorable (and adoptable!) dogs to make their debut on our website? Have you put on your running shoes yet to sprint to our adoption center on March 6th to snap up the pup of your dreams? No camping out in front of our doors, though - we're only open for adoptions from Friday to Sunday, from 11 to 5. 

Go take a look, though, because all of our dogs are (as always) amazing!

Sometimes adopters give us an update about their dogs, and sometimes we're able to do the same for them or, in this case, we gave them a blast from the past - a baby picture of their beloved pet Dexter. Here is what Dexter's family said about that. 

"We received your newsletter and were shocked how small our sweet Dexter (you may remember him as Buster) used to be! He has been such a blessing and we can't imagine our lives without him :) Thank you for helping us find our sweet boy, and giving us the opportunity to make him apart of our family"

Aaaawww! 

Here, by the way is Dexter all grown up. 

Isn't that the most adorable face in the history of dogs? We can't blame Macaela for feeling that way. Thank you, in any case, for giving Dexter the loving home and family he so deserves and needs. We hope you continue adding to each other's lives in great ways. 

Going Home: Mollie

Yay! It's Feline Friday again! 

Time for some entertaining cat stories. And do you know why it's Feline Friday? It's because on Friday we present all the new cats that we've rescued this week to the public. In the honor of those cats who start out on the search towards new homes, we spend the day here with tales of cats. 

Cats such as Mollie, who, just a while back had their own Feline Friday debute, and then managed to find themselves a new family. Now, she returns to the limelight to show you just how much of a difference it makes for a cat to find a loving home.

Sometimes you get those stories where the words really say it all. Sure, it's always nice to be able to look at cat pictures, but Mollie's adopter's words paint a picture all on their own. Let's take a look: 

"Mollie has moved herself in pretty handily. She and I get along famously. I wake up to find her perched on the corner of my bed, she comes and mews in my face when she sees I am awake. She is affectionate but independent. After I've been away during the day, she is very vocal and attaches herself to my ankle for a bit.

I've come to learn the differences between her 'feed me' mews and her 'scratch my ears' meows. We're still trying to figure out what food she likes best -- wet is definitely winning (woe is me for buying a huge bag of dry). She eats fancy feast most voraciously, but (this might be misplaced concern) I feel there is healthier food for her out there. Will probably be a bit before we find the right one.

She occasionally hits the nip, wherein she turns on to a bit of a spaz; but she only does so occasionally.

I had intended for her to be an indoor cat, due to her age. However, she has tried to get outside one out twice when I've opened the door, and given how healthy she is, I might get her a collar and access to outside -- but that'll be at least a month or more away, need to solidify here as 'home' first.

She's tough to get a picture of, as she is very active, but I'll try.

So far there have been no bumps, adopting her has been one of the better decisions of my life. She is a smart old bird."

Isn't it heartwarming? The story of an adult cat seamlessly fitting into a new family is always a lovely thing, as is learning of adopters who really want to do right by their animal and are willing to adjust their ideas to benefit their feline friends. 

Michael, thank you so much for being Mollie's new family. We hope your bond will continue to grow and deepen! In the mean time, we love your story, and we're so happy you've really found a new friend in her. 

As I said earlier, today is the day you can find the newly rescued cats on our website. Take a look and see if there isn't one that can steal your heart!

Going Home: Bud

Happy Woof Wednesday, everyone! 

Today we have a lovely brief story from our Facebook page for you. It involves the very smoochable pooch Bud and his new family. Read below to see what they have to say. 

At the very bottom of this post you'll also find some important information about our adoption hours. Please read if you plan to come visit us anytime soon!

Look at that face!

"Thank you for saving our beloved Bud Bud three years ago. Due to the efforts of your organization, Bud found his forever family and is a happy, healthy, and well-loved dog. There's still time to donate before the end of the year to the Berkeley Humane Society!" 


It's not often that a call for people to donate money to us comes from our adopters, but we appreciate it all the same! We're likely  ot nearly as appreciative as Bud, though, because he gets a loving new family out of the deal, and there are few things that can make any pet happier. 

Did you hear that our adoption hours are changing, by the way? Per March 1st, we will only be open for adoptions from Friday through Sunday from 11 -5. We still want to see you to meet nww friends, though!

Going Home : Dahlia

Happy Feline Friday, everyone! 

Are you ready for another Going Home story? We sure are. 

Especially when it concerns a cat as gorgeous and sweet as Dahlia. Just this week we received a note from her adopters, which, of course made us supremely happy, read along and you can be happy with us (and with her adopters, of course)!

"A gigantic hug and a purr to the amazingly good folks at Berkeley Humane.  You made my Valentine's Day super happy by introducing my husband and me to Dahlia. She is a lovebug and settling in nicely."

Aaaaaahhhh, now that's what we like to hear. And look at the sweet portrait they managed to catch of her. It shows her off in all the regality a cat with the name of Dahlia deserves. She's a classy kitty, for sure. Thank you for adopting her, Karen.  We hope you and your husband and Dahlia will continue to get along. 

Speaking of cool pictures - did you hear that we picked the winners for the #LookingFurLove action? You can see who won on our Facebook page.

If you did not enter your adoption story, but still want a furry love story, come to our adoption hours to see if we have the friend for you. Cats can be visited from Friday to Sunday from 11-5. Dogs keep open house from Wednesday though Sunday, from 11-5. 

Going Home: Velma

And here's another Feline Friday! On the day before Valentine's Day we've decided to share a post with you about a little wallflower of a kitty who is really coming into herself now that she has a home to call her own. 

When people come to the adoption center, they are often drawn towards the most social cats. Cats that don't do as well in loud spaces with many strangers can sometimes get overlooked. Too bad, of course, because sometimes the cats with the dainty personalities are the biggest love bugs once they get to know you. 

Velma says "Hiiii!"

The story of Velma is an excellent example, as we can see by what her adopter has to say in her first e-mail:

"Velma is doing great! Lots of hiding, but she is coming out slowly... Super friendly (eyes are relaxed) and she is snugly when I can get her in my lap. I'll try to send photos soon.  I have a few on my phone, but need to download to computer to email. 
Thanks so much for all your help!!"

And then she did the best thing: she sent us another email and included some photo's:

"Here a few pics of her getting comfortable in my son's bedroom.  She's really a sweet cat...:-)"

It's a cat's world, according to Velma

 Now isn't this a great story? We sure loved to hear it! It's quite common for animals to need some time to adjust after they have been adopted. Life as a shelter pet is simply different from being a family pet, and it can take even the most gregarious and outgoing critters a while to get their bearings again. 

If you've adopted an animals from us and you have questions about their adjustment, you can always call the behavior hotline. There, we have experienced dog and cat behavioralists who are ready to help you with tips and tricks to get you and your furry friend on their very best behavior. 

A comfortable bed for a comfortable cat!

Last but not least: Have you heard of the #LookingFurLove campaing? Post your adoption story on our Facebook page before Valentine's Day, and you can win a photoshoot with your pet! We look forward to reading all your stories of love! With a bit of luck, your happy tale will also feature on this blog. Wouldn't that be fun?

Going Home: Pandora

Hurray for another Woof Wednesday! 

In today's post we hear about the lovely blond Pandora (formerly known as Kaylee). Her adopters took her home and posted a Facebook update that very same day. Of course we're delighted to hear that she's loved already and that she started off with showing her sweet and happy temperament to her new owners.  

Also take a look at the fun photo they used to introduce their new pup to their Facebook feed. Isn't it cool?



"We adopted Kaylee this morning and she is now known as Pandora! She is just such a happy puppy!! And loving having her with our family already!"

Pandora, congratulations on finding owners who appear as sweet, as happy and as stylish as yourself! Tabby, Thank you for adopting one of our pooches - we know she appreciates you giving her a loving home. 

Do you want a love story of your own? A canine friend to cuddle with and go on walks with? Come visit Berkeley Humane to meet our dogs. We're sure we can find one who will fit you well and can become a friend for life. Our dogs are ready to meet you from Wednesday to Sunday, from 11 to 5. We hope to see you!

Going Home: Lucille

Happy Feline Friday, everyone! Are you ready to meet Grumpy Cat tomorrow? She'll do the ribbon cutting ceremony on our Mobile Adoption Center, and there will be a chance for you to take pictures with her as well.

In the mean time, let us treat you with great news on on of our former residents: the adorable Lucille. Her adopter wrote us a long email and sent us a picture of her. We always love it when people get back to us to confirm that the animal they chose really fits with their family. And now, without more ado, the words of Lucille's adopter: 

"I wanted to give you an update on Lucille -- she's a sweetheart!  She seems to be adjusting very well and very quickly.  We sequestered her in a kitchen/guest room area when we first brought her home, and she immediately and thoroughly explored the area.  Then she snuck out of that and explored the whole house.  She quickly took over the house on day one!  She hasn't seemed stressed, scared or anxious at all.  In fact, she is absolutely the kitty you described in your adoption post.  She's loving and follows me all over the house (and waits for me to get out of the shower).  She's been playing a lot and is quite the jumper -- so I imagine her weight should drop quickly with all the hunting she's been doing.  She's absolutely adorable, easy going -- part kitty, part Curious George -- and a real character.  I feel very lucky to have her!

Thanks again for all your help in answering my questions and connecting Lucy and I.  I know you understand the challenges of getting photos of her (at least if you want to see her), but here are a couple of new photos from her new home.

Thanks to you and your colleagues/foster parents for the work you do and for taking such good care of Lucille -- clearly she's been well cared for!" 

Thank you, Jay, for the compliment. We do our best to care for our animals as well as we can, but t's always best to have them in a loving home all of their own. We can see from the picture that Lucille has really made herself at home and feels safe and comfortable where she is. 
We wish you and Lucille many years of happiness and playtime together. We're glad you took so much care in choosing her and really taking the time to find a pet that works for you. 

Do you want a cat as awesome as Lucille? Come to Berkeley Humane and meet our fantastic felines. Our cats are ready to meet adopters from Friday through Sunday from 11 to 5.