Intake is a community process

Ever wonder how our pets find their way to adoption through Berkeley Humane?

In a sense, Berkeley Humane’s adoptable animals are a special, curated selection of animals that we believe would be a great fit in the right home. We focus our attention on relieving overcrowding at other shelters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Each week Berkeley Humane staff collaborates with these shelters in a process called “intake” to identify adoptable pets as well as injured animals who might thrive under our excellent medical care.

1. Intake step one is to visit a partner shelter. 

There, we discuss how Berkeley Humane can help them with potential overcrowding and whether any of their animals would be a good fit for us. Occasionally a Berkeley Humane veterinarian offers expert medical advice to help us determine which animals might benefit from our excellent on-site vet care — for instance, our new radiograph helps us diagnose injuries that other shelters might not be equipped to discover.

2. Step two is the all-important evaluation process. 

Every animal at Berkeley Humane has passed a behavioral assessment to gauge traits like friendliness to humans, tolerance for being handled, tendency toward overstimulation, general health, and, for dogs, their sociability with other dogs.

3. Step three is transferring the animals to Berkeley Humane.

A great deal of community service and partnership drives our intake process. One of our closest partners is Berkeley Animals Care Services (BACS), located just a mile away from our shelter. Adult animals, whether surrendered or stray, must be held for a while at a public shelter like BACS. After the mandated hold period, Berkeley Humane steps in to help. An exception is made for litters under six months old. Few shelters have the resources and the community support to provide round-the-clock care to underage kittens, for example, so it can benefit the kittens to come directly to Berkeley Humane.

“BACS and the animals it brings in are a huge priority,” says Berkeley Humane Pet Program Manager Carly Skonnord. “We both mutually benefit.”

On a sunny day in late March, Carly drove to BACS in a roomy van with plenty of space to transport multiple pet carriers. Her goal was to bring back two young cats, including a three-month old kitten with undiagnosed dental/cranial issues. Berkeley Humane’s veterinary staff guessed that an infection from a broken jaw might be the culprit. That might be the best case scenario, as kitten bones are still growing at three months and the jaw might heal itself.

“It could be anything at this point and we don’t yet know what our treatment options are,” said Carly. “There’s only so much you can safely do with a kitten’s mandible. But our new radiograph machine gives us the best shot at helping her.”

Carly Skonnord, Pet Program Manager, holding Tippi

This injured kitten (who would get the moniker Tippi later that afternoon) is a perfect example of the community service that Berkeley Humane provides.

“When it comes down to it, we have the technology and resources to give the kitten her best shot,” explained Carly. “It’s our moral responsibility. With an injury this uncertain, bringing her to Berkeley Humane is best for BACS, best for the kitten, and best for the community.”

As Carly carried the kittens through the halls of BACS, staff paused to talk to her. Most expressed joy that Tippi would receive diligent medical attention and get a great shot at a loving home. All of them said goodbye to the kittens. However briefly they may have worked with these animals, they knew and cared about them.

“Staff at BACS is so great to work with,” said Carly. “They are so compassionate and professional.”

Tippi expressing herself as she settles into Berkeley
Humane after transferring from BACS

 Back at Berkeley Humane, the newly-named Tippi and Chuck settled into new homes. They explored their fresh towels, new toys, and clean litter box. Later that day X-rays would confirm Tippi’s broken jaw (not that this stopped the extroverted kitten from meowing for attention from all the vets in the room). Surgery would remove a necrotized bone fragment.

“We wanted her to spend an additional week or two in foster care before putting her up for adoption to make sure she was healing well, and she did great!” said Carly. “She wasn’t in as much pain, which allowed her to eat more freely. She put on a lot of weight, which she needed desperately. Now she’s nice and plump, and is very playful and cuddly. Basically, she now gets to be a normal, healthy kitten!”

Tippi was deemed ready for adoption — and she went home almost immediately. Read more about Tippi’s successful journey to adoption in this East Bay Times story.

Tippi fully recovered and preparing to go home with her adopter

In the month Tippi spent in Berkeley Humane’s care, she was a perfect illustration of how Berkeley Humane collaborates with the community, provides expert medical care when necessary, and helps pets and adopters find each other.



Every week Berkeley Humane helps pets find homes. Some, like Tippi, first receive medical care. Help us help animals! Consider donating today so that we can help more adoptable animals like Tippi overcome injuries and go up for adoption.

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: Cliff

Happy Thanksgiving! Berkeley Humane is grateful for so much: the support of our wonderful community, the chance to help adoptable animals, dedicated staff who love what they do, and amazing volunteers who help us fulfill our mission. Today we'd like to give thanks to a special volunteer: Cliff.

Two years ago, Cliff and his wife dropped by Berkeley Humane for an event and ran into their friend and Berkeley Humane volunteer, Romy walking a dog as a “canine friend”. Cliff had a lifetime of experience with dogs, he and his wife having welcomed seven rescues into their family over the years. Cliff had trained dogs and knew his way around their behaviors. Talking to Romy about her experiences with Berkeley Humane, he thought he’d found the perfect new opportunity for himself after a thirty-plus year career as a building contractor—working as a Berkeley Humane volunteer.

Cliff signed up and attended a volunteer orientation session. What he remembers from that first meeting was the bathroom. He’d gotten a glimpse of it during the facility tour and could see that the room was in desperate need of help, so far gone that staff and volunteers barely used it. He shared his background as a building contractor with the volunteer coordinator and asked if Berkeley Humane could use any help in that area. Could we? You bet ... and the rest is history. Cliff has been a volunteer with us for the past two years.

After giving the bathroom the TLC it needed, he turned his attention to an under-used space jammed with ancient appliances, no longer in use. Cliff turned the space into a laundry room with shelving to store the tools and parts (nails, screws, nuts & bolts) that he uses in his facility maintenance work.

“Being organized is important,” he said. “If you can’t find something, you end up buying it twice. It's small stuff, but it can drain a budget pretty quick.”

Budget is important for a non-profit organization like Berkeley Humane, and Cliff’s keen eye for organizing and for salvaging items that can be reused, helps make sure that every penny counts towards the Berkeley Humane mission: serving the people and animals of our community by providing life-saving programs for cats and dogs, cultivating compassion, and strengthening the human-animal bond.

While most days you’ll catch Cliff with a hammer in his hand instead of a leash, it doesn’t mean that he has no interaction with the animals. He shared the story of “Meaty”, a love biscuit at Berkeley Humane a couple of years ago with a “head like a cinder block” who greeted everyone with big, loving thwacks from his beater of a tail. Cliff also talked about repairing slip strips on a ramp and having a dog on a walk take a detour to shower him with licky kisses.

Meaty the Greeter

Cliff is as popular with the humans as he is with the canines. His extensive knowledge has made a big difference tackling the problems of the eighty year old building that houses Berkeley Humane.

“It’s like this,” he said. “You go to hang a picture on a wall, only there’s no studs. And then you find out the wall is rotten. And then ...”

Well, and then—Cliff fixes it! It goes without saying that having someone with Cliff’s level of skill is a huge asset.

Cliff looks at it another way. He calls Berkeley Humane his “home away from home”. He talks about how his work at Berkeley Humane helps him keep his skills sharp, and how the organization has made him feel like he’s part of something valuable.

I asked Cliff if he had any advice for folks who were thinking of volunteering at Berkeley Humane. He encouraged people to “just join”—sign up for a volunteer orientation session and don’t be too concerned about defining a role beforehand.

“It’s like life,” he said. “It just happens. Show up and the right role for you will show up too.” 

He commented on how Berkeley Humane is an organization that understands that volunteers “make the place run” and that Berkeley Humane goes the distance to show how much they appreciate the people who donate their time.

What about the other side of the equation—the reward? Cliff said that for him, the reward is just being there.

“Doing something outside of yourself. I get a lot out of it,” he said.

And we are SO glad that you do Cliff. Thank you!

If you’ve got an interest in volunteering, we’ve got a lot of roles at Berkeley Humane—one of them might just be the perfect fit for you. Check us out—we’ll give your skills a good “home away from home.” Learn more about becoming a volunteer on our website. 

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. 

Volunteer Appreciation: Melissa

Volunteer Melissa and her husband Jake have made some interesting deals the past few years. Interesting, because when Melissa and Jake make a deal, animals in need seem to benefit.

Take for example, how Melissa came to be a volunteer at Berkeley Humane. When Jake received a San Francisco job offer, the couple made a deal: if Melissa went along with the plan to move across two state lines, she wouldn’t have to work. Done and done. But with her long history of volunteer work with animals, once she got here, Melissa jumped on an opportunity at Berkeley Humane to volunteer as a part-time thank-you caller. A perk of the new gig was meeting all the wonderful dogs the staff brought by to say “hello”.

One day someone brought a one-eyed Shih Tzu named “Leo” for a visit. Turns out that Melissa and Jake’s family included two cats and two dogs: and that one of the dogs (James) was also a one-eyed Shih Tzu. And so a second deal had to be struck: they would foster, but wouldn’t add any animals to their family.

And so Melissa’s volunteer duties as thank-you caller expanded to include being a foster. Berkeley Humane staff started calling her house “the zoo”. She became a greeter and started working events… Melissa has even been known to make unscheduled Costco runs to get needed supplies because, well—Melissa is just that kind of person.

"Zoo" resident James (left), guests Ellie (right)
and the amazing Maggie (center) go for a walk

I had the opportunity to chat with Melissa about volunteering at Berkeley Humane and her foster experience. She and Jake have been fostering for about a year: twenty dogs and one cat have been guests in their home. I asked Melissa about letting go. How do you say goodbye when an animal joins a new family?

While saying goodbye is difficult, Melissa said it feels great to know that you’ve helped an animal gain skills that will help them become part of their new family. With the foster volunteer, the animal learns or re-learns what it’s like to be in a home, and that it’s okay to be touched. Animals experience—maybe for the first time, what it’s like to be loved in the care of fosters like Melissa.

I asked if there were any fosters that made she and Jake reconsider their second deal (no more animals).

“There were three,” she tells me, and shares the story of one: Maggie the Chihuahua, her second dog foster. Maggie was smart as a whip and got along great with their other dogs and cats. Melissa and Jake made a side deal: if Maggie weren’t adopted by a certain date, they’d welcome her into their family. Maggie was adopted the day before, and the second deal stood.

But sometimes ‘goodbye’ is really ‘see you later’. Because Melissa is a volunteer, she has the opportunity to meet people who might eventually adopt the animals she has fostered. Some of the new adopters stay in touch, share pictures. This year, she and Jake are having a Halloween party and three former foster dogs and their adopters will be there.

“Fostering takes work but it’s rewarding,” she said. “You get to see an animal become well socialized, learn to live with people and other animals.” Melissa shared that many of the foster animals have gone through multiple shelters or been homeless before they arrive at Berkeley Humane. It takes a few days for them to relax. “It’s very rewarding when that happens,” she said. “You get to see the real personality of the animal emerge.”

Jake spoon feeds three-legged Tika as
she recovers from a respiratory infection

Her advise to new fosters is, “Give it two days: let yourself get used to the animal and the animal get used to you and the new environment.” She said it takes about forty-eight hours to win an animal’s trust. Not much time when you consider that fostering is often the first step an animal takes toward becoming a cherished family member.

Melissa and Jake coordinate their schedules so they can work together when an animal comes into their home for the first time, just to make sure everyone’s needs are met. Melissa shared the story of she and Jake bathing a new dog. After the bath the dog shook itself, like dogs do—but with each shake, loose stool the dog was unable to control splattered the couple and their bathroom. A calm Jake helped Melissa clean the dog off and handed her the leash. “Take her outside and don’t come back for a half hour. I’ll take care of this.” Now that’s some teamwork.

Two of the Oakland litter, Nephrite & Kunzite

The second deal about no more animals held until last spring. Delta (you can read her story here) was a community cat that needed a special home. Her two kittens, Epsilon and Zeta had been socialized and adopted. But Delta needed a place where she could be safe and cared for, but still live the community cat lifestyle she was used to. Melissa and Jake welcomed Delta to their back yard where she is now the newest member of their family. Jake renamed her “Loophole” because Delta was the loophole in that deal he and Melissa had made. Loophole (formerly Delta) knows her new name, comes for food every morning and has bonded with their two indoor-outdoor cats.

Melissa notes that Berkeley Humane goes out of their way to make it easy for volunteers who foster. She said that BH offers an incredible variety of supportive resources. Anything from a gallon of Nature’s Miracle for those oops moments to clothing for a dog with the shivers, diapers—even advice on how to get through situations that might be new to a foster volunteer.
"Like what?" I asked. Melissa laughed and told me about the first time she fostered puppies: two from the “Oakland” litter—each named with a letter from the city because there were six puppies and the mother. Kylie Reed, Berkeley Humane’s Foster Care Coordinator was on hand to give Melissa plenty of support as she learned the ins and outs of puppyhood and how to function on not a lot of sleep—a skill that is going to be very handy in the not too distant future. Melissa and Jake recently learned that they are to be first time parents. Will the new addition be a future Berkeley Humane volunteer? Time will tell.

Beware! Puppy teething!

Meanwhile, we extend our heartfelt thanks to volunteer Melissa (and Jake). May their love, commitment and compassion for the work come back to them many times over as this next chapter in their life unfolds. And we’ll look forward to hearing about any new deals!

There's a saying:"It's in giving that we receive." If you'd like to experience giving as one of our wonderful Berkeley Humane volunteers, we'd love to hear from you. Chances are you've got a talent that would make a difference. Visit our volunteer page to learn more.

Volunteer Appreciation: Aiko

Today we celebrate Aiko Hayashi, a long-time volunteer writer for this very blog!

Our bloggers commit to several stories a month, allowing them to fit volunteer work into their schedules. The blog is full of happy post-adoption stories because so many adopters are excited to share stories and pictures of the pets they adopt from Berkeley Humane, but we also cover topics like events, fundraising initiatives, volunteers, animal behavior, and community outreach.

"We have a team of amazing volunteer blog writers who continue to come up with original story ideas for the website. Since I started volunteering, I have seen more and more of those original stories that are both interesting and informative." -Aiko Hayashi

Aiko, Berkeley Humane blogger
and new mom!

Aiko joined the volunteer blogging team during its renaissance under previous Lead Storyteller Maria Stoop. Aiko’s willingness to volunteer for stories made her an indispensable team member for a solid nine months – an auspicious duration, as she recently went on hiatus to welcome her son, Oscar, into the world. Before she left us we grabbed the chance to pepper her with questions about her time blogging for Berkeley Humane.

All of our volunteer bloggers have some background in writing. The group includes published authors, sales and technical writers, and casual bloggers. When she’s not volunteering, Aiko is a journalist with a background in financial and business news, and her training shows in her ability to take a brief summary and turn it into a clear, entertaining story.

“I thought blogging would be a good way to put my experience to use,” she says. “Also, I thought it would be really cool to help put the word out about the work and animals at Berkeley Humane, while also getting a chance to write about something I care about.” 

Aiko's world traveling cat, Wednesday

Aiko wrote on a variety of topics (take a look at all of her stories here) but fundraising stories were among her particular favorites. 

"I really enjoyed writing about the Kitten Season and Donations for Berkeley Humane. I was thrilled to address our readers directly about the important mission at Berkeley Humane and its need for everyone’s support during the very busy kitten season. I also liked writing about Bonaparte, a Bichon Frise pup. Just because he is so adorable and loved so much by his family. And of course, he’s got a great name!”

Berkeley Humane bloggers revel in a parade of wonderful animals and happy adoption stories every week, but the work is not without its challenges.

“Writing something fresh and fun as well as informative on a consistent basis is always a challenge,” Aiko says. “That said, this is exactly why I love being a blog volunteer. It’s not always easy but it’s a worthwhile responsibility (and fun!) without a doubt.”

Wednesday meets baby Oscar for the first time

Aiko always delivered her assigned stories on time, and true to character she delivered her biggest story ahead of deadline: baby Oscar arrived two weeks early on August 21.

Oscar was met at home by Wednesday the cat, whom Aiko adopted when he was five weeks old. "He's quite a world traveler. I got him ten years ago when I was studying in New York, and since then he’s lived with me in Tokyo, Hong Kong and now in California."

Naturally, Aiko wondered how her pet would adapt to the new baby. Wednesday's initial response was wary but positive. 

“Wednesday is cautious but curious about the baby,” says Aiko. “I hope they’ll become best friends! We're making sure he's also getting enough cuddles even after the baby!”

Aiko is taking a well-deserved maternity break from blogging right now, but those of us who worked with her consider ourselves fortunate to have benefited from her skills.

Thank you, Aiko!

Bonus Wednesday!

Interested in expanding your writing repertoire? Berkeley Humane's blog team welcomes new writers! Sign up for volunteer orientation on our website or contact Volunteer Manager Jenn Suzuki.

Volunteer Appreciation: Tami and Tom

If you've visited the Berkeley Humane Society in the last two years, there's a strong chance you've met a cat or dog who's been cared for by Tami or Tom (respectively). The Berkeley couple's living situation prohibits them from having pets at home, but after passing by the shelter on the way to nearby Ironworks so many times, they turned to volunteering. For them, it's a natural way to help animals while, in Tami's words, "also getting our puppy/kitty 'fix'."

Tami and Tom have been donating their time and energy
to Berkeley Humane since 2013

With so much love and attention spread generously across all the animals they've come in contact with, there have been a few standout personalities over the years.

In Tami's case, one of them very nearly was a rock star: "Pat Benatar," as she was known at the shelter, "Was an amazing polydactyl kitty who loved to play by chasing my hand under the towel in her cage. She would pounce on it with both of her enormous front paws...so cute! Her personality was much larger than her small frame." Tami was lucky to be on site the day that Pat Benatar was adopted – by a runner for the studio where Metallica records! Talk about namesake pairing.

Recently, Tom got to work with Oktoberfest, "just a big lovable beast with a great spirit." Hopefully you can learn more about Oktoberfest's new family in a future Going Home post, because he was adopted out! His happy energy is forever captured through this video (and not just through his commitment to tennis balls):

But a good dog is a good dog, and size doesn't matter for which canines make volunteering so uplifting. "I also volunteer Monday nights at Puppy Kindergarten training," Tom says. "Puppies are of course another super fun part of our volunteer work." (Author's Note: I dare you to imagine "Puppy Kindergarten" without smiling.)

Unsurprisingly, the regular act of letting go can be tough. "If I am lucky, I only see each animal once," Tami said. Yet, envisioning the cats' and dogs' futures helps. "When I see a kitty week over week I do get attached, but once I find out from Staff who has adopted them, I can imagine what their new home may be like and it helps to let them go."

The other reality to preparing Berkeley Humane's animals is filling in their incomplete pasts enough to properly serve the animal. "The ones that are skittish or difficult to approach can be challenging," Tom admitted. "Especially since we never really know their history. Overcoming bad experiences is probably one of the biggest challenges we face."

Often, it's by the sheer wills of volunteers like Tami and Tom that these dogs and cats get a new starting point to launch from. It's why they do what they do. "I love seeing the adoption board full of familiar names," Tami says. "It's particularly gratifying when I see a name of an animal I know has been harder to adopt out."

"Volunteering has increased my joy and empathy and helps remind me every week to slow down," Tami says.

Tom holding the Puppy Kindergarten Valedictorian

"Completely agree," adds Tom. "So much of life gets away from us with stress being a constant drain. Spending time with the animals is a great way to reset the week and enjoy moments with some four-legged friends."


The two feel so rejuvenated by volunteering that it's truly integrated into their own well-being as humans, and they don't view it as time consuming. "Tami and I volunteer during the same shift, and it fits nicely in with our usual routine for that day. With the dogs, it honestly goes by so fast – sometimes I don't even have enough time to spend with each animal."

"It's been easy to commit to because it's baked into my schedule and I know I can rely on it. On the weeks I have to cancel, I really miss being there." Tami says.

In between all those weekly visits to Berkeley Humane, Tami and Tom also recommend working at least one event a year. "[It] really inspires us because we get to see how the organization has a positive effect on the community."

It's win-win-win with these two, the cats and dogs they care for, and Berkeley Humane! Many thanks to Tami and Tom for all of their hard work and dedication.

Tami and Tom are just part of the excellent volunteer team that keeps Berkeley Humane running. From animal volunteers to videographers to truck drivers – if you've got the time, there's probably a talent you can lend, too. For more information, visit our Volunteer page!

Losing a Pet Part 2: Resources and Recommendations for Coping

Part one of our story explored the pet loss support group held every third Tuesday of the month at Berkeley Humane’s shelter. Anyone who has lost a pet, or is preparing to lose a pet with failing health, is welcome to stop by and share (or simply listen).

Losing a pet can dramatically impact your life. If you’re struggling with the loss of a loved animal, here are some coping suggestions from pet loss support group founder and co-facilitator Jill Goodfriend, RN, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Grief Recovery Specialist for Pet Loss.


Jill’s advice for grieving pet owners:

• Be aware that grief is very stressful on the body, so you need to take good care of yourself. Attend to good nutrition and adequate water, rest, and daily exercise (consider a walk in nature); get a physical exam; and minimize the use of substances to numb the pain. Contact your doctor if you lose your appetite, lose or gain weight, have difficulty falling asleep or resting, or feel anxious much of the time.
  
• Honor your emotions and find ways to express them. Get into your parked car with the windows rolled up and weep, cry, scream, let the pain out. Breathe deeply and often.
• Set aside some time each day for the specific purpose of grieving and remembering. Honor your feelings: talk, share, journal, write letters to your pet (and have him write back to you using your non-dominant hand); go out in nature and be open to all your senses.
• Create an altar inside and/or outside your home to honor your pet. Include his collar, favorite toy, photo, a candle, and a flower.
• Find some reason every day to smile and laugh. Recall amusing or funny memories of your pet.
• Keep a journal, create a scrapbook or photo album, make a list of what you learned from your pet. Take up expressive arts: draw, paint, sculpt, dance, move. Sign up for yoga, tai chi, chi gong, dance class, or a martial arts course.
• Attend and participate in support groups and workshops. Reach out to others who understand and care. Visit chat rooms online. Write a biography or obituary of your pet on a web site. Actively plan how you would like to memorialize your pet, such as planting a flower or a tree in memory of your pet. Create your own rituals.
• Participate in the “Virtual Candle-Lighting Ceremony” on www.petloss.com at 7pm on Monday nights.
• Try to avoid making major life decisions for several months. Be patient with short-term memory problems and decision-making. Look around, focus, be aware, center yourself, feel your feet on the ground, and take a deep breath before driving or operating heavy machinery.
• Some people find prayer and meditation helpful. Talk with a pastor or priest or consider seeing a professional counselor. Don’t minimize the depth of your feelings.
• Get involved. Volunteer at an animal shelter: walk dogs or socialize kittens, consider fostering, answer phones. (Check out Berkeley Humane's volunteer opportunities.)
• Find one activity each day that brings you joy and pleasure. Avoid isolation: we are social beings who need to connect with each other.
• Accept all of your feelings and know that they will likely change. Work toward letting go of self-recrimination, guilt, and anger. Practice gratitude and forgiveness, especially self-forgiveness.
• Consider other losses, small or large, that you have experienced. Recall how you faced them and worked through them while discovering inner strengths, resources, and resilience. You can’t get over it, or around it, or over it, you’ve got to go through it — through the grief.
• Accept that you will likely never stop feeling your loss, but you will learn to integrate it into your life. Trust that the holes in your heart, in your soul and in your life will eventually heal. Scar tissue is tough. In time you will feel stronger and more resilient. Your capacity to love and be loved unconditionally will be greater than ever.

Image courtesy of the Berkeley Humane website

If you can’t wait for the next pet loss support group, many websites and hotlines are available to help. Here are just a few options:

• ASPCA Pet Loss Hotline: (877) 474-3310  
• Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement
• University of Illinois help line: (877) 394-2273 or email.
• ilovedmypet.com
• pet-loss.net
•  If your pet is ailing, Berkeley Humane offers end of life care to help you say goodbye with love. 

Jill has many additional resources and is glad to share them with anyone who attends the support group at Berkeley Humane. 

Losing a Pet Part 1: Berkeley Humane's Pet Loss Support Group

Once upon a time I had the best cat ever. His name was Beeper.

His death from kidney failure at age 17 was devastating. It doesn’t matter that he died four years ago; I can still cry as freely today as I did then.

Registered Nurse, Clinical Social Worker and Grief Recovery Specialist Jill Goodfriend had her own best cat ever.

In her June 2012 piece To Honor Aja Katrina:The Creation of Pet Loss Support Groups, Goodfriend describes the way her cat Aja’s death inspired the creation of her long-running pet loss support group:

“The apartment felt hollow, empty. Her toys were still scattered around, food and water bowls untouched, wisps of her hair everywhere. I needed to talk and cry. I needed a compassionate someone, who understood our unique bond, to listen. Gratefully I found Betty Carmack’s support group in San Francisco, and another in Marin, but surprisingly none in the East Bay. I vowed that when my grief healed sufficiently I would create a pet loss support group to honor Aja Katrina. And I did.”

Jill has offered groups at various Bay Area locations and finally found a home at Berkeley Humane ten years ago. Each month on the third Tuesday, the group welcomes anyone to drop in and share their loss, no matter how recent or distant. It's also an excellent resource for those preparing for a pet's imminent death. 

“Berkeley Humane has been so supportive,” says Jill. “Another location started at the same time put us in a windowless, hot room without a fan after the air conditioning had been turned off for the night, and failed to advertise the group, so no one came. But Berkeley Humane welcomed us from the beginning, rent-free, and has included our group on their website. They’ve been great to work with.”

Candles to honor the pets we miss

One evening in June I headed to Berkeley Humane. As a volunteer I’m familiar with the shelter’s front room, but Jill and her co-facilitator Sylvia Wenninger transformed it into a welcoming place to grieve. Jill organized a centerpiece of softly glowing electric candles. No matter which seat I chose in the circle, a box of tissues was close at hand to absorb tears. Stuffed animals offered comfort and a bittersweet reminder of the pets we’d lost.

Attendance varies: over the last year the group welcomed an average of seven mourners each month. The evening I attended was an intimate affair that gave us all a chance to share our stories, ask each other questions, and receive counseling on healing actions that might help us.

Stuffed animals and tissues.

Each month Jill or Sylvia select a new piece dealing with pets and loss. This reading, followed by a moment of silence, opens each meeting. Soon I was passing around my pictures of Beeper and sharing stories about my best cat ever. My audience listened intently (in fact, one of the rules is no interrupting while someone speaks) and passed me tissues when I dissolved into inarticulate tears.

Two things struck me that evening. The first is how comforting it is to speak of the loss of a pet openly and without judgment, which is precisely why Jill created the group.

“Although our society is uncomfortable with the whole topic of death, and certainly doesn’t know how to deal with people who are mourning their pets, at least there are some socially accepted cultural or religious rituals to acknowledge and honor a person’s passing and to offer support to the bereaved family,” she says. The pet loss support group lets us mourn our beloved companions in a supportive environment.

“The mourning pet owner finds that his grief may not be recognized or accepted by society, that it is disenfranchised grief. From well-meaning friends and co-workers he might hear ‘It was just a dog,’ ‘Aren’t you over him yet?’ or ‘Why don’t you just adopt another one from a shelter?’ as if pets are simply interchangeable. Many group attendees admit to experiencing more difficulty recovering from the loss of a pet than from the death of a parent.” - Jill Goodfriend

Monk, a very good cat. He is missed.

The second thing that struck me was how helpful perspective is in the healing process. Another attendee lost his cat Monk earlier this year. Learning about friendly, unflappable Monk reminded me that I’m not alone in missing my pet. Grief doesn’t have to be a solo journey.

Jill brings resources to suit all needs: handouts on self care after loss, help lines, regional pet loss groups, even copies of a book written for bereaved cat owners: Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers by Liz Eastwood. No one leaves without useful information on positive next steps. For instance, Jill felt I might benefit from writing letters to Beeper. (That the prospect unnerves me is probably a clue to its therapeutic, if tearful, value.)

The pet loss support group left me in tears, I admit. After the discussion I missed Beeper more than I’d allowed myself to in years.

Yet I felt unquestionably better: by revisiting my grief I’d reassessed it, an emotional check-in that made it easier to move forward.

Beeper, my very best cat.

If you’re mourning an animal, consider sharing your story at the pet loss support group each third Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30pm. Sharing is not required but the confidentiality rules make it a safe place to do so. The group is run by Jill Goodfriend and Sylvia Wenninger, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and RYT. The group meets at Berkeley Humane, 2700 9th Street. Find out more about the group here.

 
Part two of this series shares recommendations and resources for those who have lost a pet or are readying themselves for the loss.

Foster Feature: Aileen

When Aileen Alfandary’s beloved 14-year-old dog Sonia (who’d been adopted from Berkeley Humane) died a few months ago, the time felt right to open her home to other dogs. 

 “We'd had her nearly 12 years and I missed the doggie presence in the house," explains Aileen. “Fostering works well as we're not able to adopt a dog at this point.”  

Since then, the doggie presence in Aileen’s house hasn’t let up as adoptable pets like Miss Rose, Mushi, Sugar, Elsa, Manhattan, and others have come to stay a while before moving on to new homes with their adopters. 

Mushi

In addition to helping Berkeley Humane save more animals, fostering reduces stress, improves human-animal bonding, and helps shy animals learn how to be house pets. For example, Aileen helped guide one nervous pup toward confidence. “The first dog I fostered was little Mushi who had undergone surgery and was at first hesitant that anyone touching him was going to hurt him," she says. “After we got past that barrier he was super excited every morning when I came down to feed him and take him for a walk.”

Sugar

Foster care providers like Aileen provide physical assistance as well as emotional nourishment. One five-month-old puppy required medicine and love to address respiratory troubles. “She worried me when she didn't want to eat or drink much before Berkeley Humane got her started on antibiotics,” Aileen says. “She wanted to be picked up and held pretty constantly. It was like having a newborn baby or toddler all over again.” The puppy healed quickly and went on to a happy adoption.

"It's fun to suss out each dog's very distinct personality but what they've all had in common is how much they want to give and receive affection." - Aileen Alfandary, foster care provider

Miss Rose

When it’s time to send her charges to Berkeley Humane for adoption weekends, Aileen says goodbye with an upbeat attitude. “I've grown very fond of every dog I've fostered and am hopeful they'll be adopted by a loving human or humans," she says. “I hope I'm giving them a good experience along the road to a permanent home.”

Fostering dogs continues to be one way Aileen honors her departed pet Sonia. “There's a doggie sized hole in my heart following the death of our dog and fostering goes a long way towards filling it.”

Aileen, we thank you for the time and love you’ve given to fostering adoptable dogs for Berkeley Humane. Here’s to many more happy dog stories in your life!


If you’re interested in opening your home and heart to adoptable pets, Berkeley Humane would love to hear from you. We provide food, bedding, toys, any medications needed, personality notes and history on each animal, and endless support. Learn more on our Foster Care page.

Going Home: Bobby

Feline Friday kicks off with a heartwarming tale of rough starts, second chances, and years of love.

As you can probably imagine, Berkeley Humane staff and volunteers meet many adoptable pets. Quite a few in particular catch our attention. Some even capture our hearts. Even though we know that our adoption process helps to match up the right pets and adopters, on occasion we can't bring ourselves to say goodbye.

Years ago, Emily Ziebell answered the call to help a tiny kitten in need. Here's Emily to tell the rest of the story herself:

I can't believe my "baby" Bobby is 10 years old tomorrow. When I worked at Berkeley Humane a good Samaritan brought him in. He had been thrown out of a moving car at only 5 weeks old."
 

Bobby ten years ago

He was my first foster kitten and like many other people, I ended up being a "failed foster" because I fell in love and just had to keep him."

Bobby today

"Here's to another 10 years with The Bobcat!"

Thank you for sharing Bobby's rags-to-riches story, Emily, and congratulations on ten happy years together! We join you in wishing for many more.

 If you're looking for a companion this weekend, visit Berkeley Humane at 9th and Carlson from Friday through Sunday to meet your new best friend. 

We're also spreading the word about adoptable pets in Oakland this weekend. Berkeley Humane's Mobile Adoption Center or MAC (driven by some excellent volunteers) will be at the SPCA's Adopt-a-Thon at Jack London Square this Saturday from 10-3. Come meet some great animals!

Foster Feature: Phoebe (Part 2)

Happy Feline Friday! 

Today we appreciate our volunteers by featuring part two of an interview with one of Berkeley Humane's foster care providers.

Berkeley Humane relies heavily on a network of foster providers to socialize and care for its animals before they are adopted.  Our dogs and cats spend a significant portion of their time with devoted fosters who welcome them into their homes, where the animal can stretch its legs and learn what it's like to be in a home setting. This helps dogs and cats to avoid the stress of being in a shelter and allows their wonderful personalities to shine through.

This week, we are talking to Phoebe again, a volunteer who has been fostering cats for two years. Here is the second part of her interview (you can find the first part here).

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

Hardest: Saying goodbye is definitely challenging. But besides that, I think for me the logistics can be tough at times because I do have other cats and my house is not very big, so divvying up space can require some creativity and flexibility (fosters and resident cats have to be kept separate). I’d say it’s totally worth the challenge, though.

Most rewarding: Watching them develop. For young kittens, getting to see them learn and grow. It’s AMAZING. They start as helpless, blind, deaf little mice then day by day I see them develop senses, and learn how to interact with each other and their environment, and figure out how legs work, and try to run before they’ve really mastered walking, and learn from the squeals of their siblings when biting is too hard or play too rough. And seeing them develop little personalities! For adult cats, getting to know them and, in the case of shyer cats, seeing them come out of their shell. Anybody who has ever had cats knows that they have personalities just as strong and unique as humans, so getting to know them and developing a connection and a routine with them is very rewarding.

How has fostering changed your life?

It’s given me a way to do something I truly enjoy (i.e. playing with kittens!) while getting actively involved in an issue I truly care about. I’ve always cared about animal welfare, but thought I could never volunteer at a shelter because I don’t think I could emotionally handle being faced with the sadness and heartbreak (think: Humane Society of the U.S. commercials). For that reason I never even looked into it. I also always assumed I couldn’t foster because I already have cats and I don’t have a big house. Then one day a few years ago I mentioned all this to a woman I know who fosters and she enlightened me that (a) there are adoption-guaranteed organizations like Berkeley Humane that do not euthanize for space, ever, and that (b) I can foster even though I have my own cats! I decided to go to a training to learn more, but I was still skeptical about not having a big space. What really convinced me to give it a try was when the trainer told me that my bathroom, while not a big space for a cat on a permanent basis, is still a far better environment than a cage at a municipal shelter. Fostering has also introduced me to a whole community of people who really care about animal welfare.

Is fostering time consuming?

It can be. It depends on what type of animals you foster. For example bottle babies require a very different time commitment than adult cats or older kittens. I personally work full time so I’m gone during the day on weekdays, and therefore not able to foster young kittens without a Mama who would require feeding and care every few hours. I don’t personally foster dogs but I would imagine their needs are quite different as well.

For me, fostering does take up a lot of my morning and evening time before and after work. Playing with the foster cats is obviously enjoyable so it’s a fun way to spend my free time. But there is other work involved – for litters of kittens, especially as they get bigger, I find myself spending a lot of time cleaning litter boxes, doing dishes, and doing laundry (kittens can be messy!) Fostering can also involve trips to Berkeley Humane for check-ups or vaccinations. I’m always able to make that work, but it does require some planning on my part.

How does Berkeley Humane support you in your fostering?

Berkeley Humane provides all the supplies for the foster animals. Food, litter, bedding, toys, dishes, litter box. There is also a phone number that can be called for emergency advice after hours, or any time during normal business hours for non-urgent questions. The foster handout/manual contains useful information about a number of topics, including a list of which types of medical issues can and cannot wait 24 hours (I’ve referenced this on more than one occasion. It can be stressful when an animal has a medical concern because they can’t tell you how they feel or what’s wrong… or what they maybe ate that they shouldn’t have while you weren’t looking. So having a reference to help make the right decision if it’s late at night can be very valuable and reassuring.) The current foster care coordinator Kylie Reed is very responsive to calls and emails which really helps me feel supported as a fosterer.

What motivates you to continue fostering?

Knowing I can make a difference in the life of an animal who may not have otherwise had a chance. Their time in foster may be short, but it’s an opportunity to make a frightening time of transition for them as comfortable as possible.

Thank you to Phoebe for all of her valuable work and her willingness to answer our questions on top of it! Stay tuned for more foster care provider interviews!

At Berkeley Humane, we are always looking for foster providers. Berkeley Humane provides all of the necessary food and supplies and is available for support for all of its fosters-- you just add the care, love, and time! Read about becoming a foster carer on our website and fill out an application form!