Autumn 2010 Speaking of

Animals4242 South 300 WestMurray, UT 84107

Phone: (801) 261-2919

www.utahhumane.org

The Humane Society of Utah is dedicated to the elimination of fear, pain, and suffering in all animals.

Plus:HSU’s Small Mammals

Get Fresh Veggies

Update on Mama Dog Lolaand more!

The Miracle Workers: HSU’s Foster Parents

Page 3

Animal Rescue/Transfer

ProgramPage 4

HSU Believes in “Babying Your Baby”

Page 5

Governor Signs Antifreeze Bill

into LawPage 8

Board of directors

Craig S. Cook, PresidentDr. Eric Belnap, Vice PresidentDr. JoAnn B. Seghini, Secretary

Randy John, Treasurer

Directors:Michelle Christensen, Janet E. Haskell

Steve Starley, Tim J. Williams

administrative staff

Gene Baierschmidt, Executive DirectorPaul Chapin, DVM, Veterinarian

Shama Chapin, DVM, VeterinarianJohn Paul Fox, Chief Investigator

Pauline Edwards, Director of ClinicCarlene Wall, Director of

Operations and EducationCarl Arky, Director of Communications

Katharine Brant, Director of Publications and Membership

Oliver Schmidt, Director of Electronic MediaLoraine Delgadillo, Business Manager

Human ResourcesCarrie Glavin, Volunteer Coordinator

Kris Smith, Community Outreach Director Jessica Almeida, Animal Transfer CoordinatorBarbara Conrad, Foster Animal Coordinator

services Providedv Adoption of animals to qualified homesv Low-cost sterilization surgeriesv Receiving of unwanted animalsv Preventive immunizationsv Investigation of animal abuse and neglectv Animal rescuesv Humane education and pet-facilitated therapy

For further information on services provided by HSU, call (801)261-2919 during business hours.

Remember, HSU is your shelter.We are here to help the animals of Utah.

Please help maintain and support our programswith your contributions.

The Humane Society of Utah is an independent 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization

that is not affiliated with any other group, nationally or locally. We receive no funding from taxes or any

source other than your contributions.

Incorporated 1960

4242 South 300 WestSalt Lake City, UT 84107-1415

Telephone: (801) 261-2919 Fax: (801) 261-9577

www.utahhumane.org © 2010 Humane Society of Utah. All rights reserved.

Since our stunning victory in 2008 with the passage of Henry’s Law, and the great deal of increased public awareness and education about animal cruelty that accompanied that historic event, Utahns are more and more seeing hard evidence that deliberate, sadistic mistreatment of companion animals won’t be tolerated here.

Already the law has been invoked in cases involving the severe beating of two dogs in separate incidents whose stories have been featured in Speaking of Animals, and most recently we were gratified to learn last July that a third case — in which, horrifyingly, the animal victim was actually killed — was also prosecuted and resulted in the imposition of a meaningful sentence on the perpetrator.

Mabel’s StoryIn October 2009 Joseph Ned Paschal of Bountiful reported to police that

two armed men disguised in Halloween masks had intruded on his property and forced him to stab one of his dogs, Mabel, to death with a kitchen knife in his own back yard. The men then allegedly kidnapped Paschal, drove him to a canyon trailhead, and threatened to kill him; then, he said, at some point in the episode he blacked out. Later, a passerby saw him lying on the roadside at the mouth of the canyon with a lump on his head and other minor injuries, and he was taken to University Hospital.

Later, as authorities investigated the incident, numerous inconsistencies in Paschal’s story cropped up. After further questioning, he eventually admitted that he had voluntarily killed Mabel, inflicted a few bruises on himself, and concocted the entire kidnapping tale out of whole cloth. His reason for stabbing Mabel and inventing the fictitious thugs, he said, was that he was trying to conceal “personal and financial problems” from his wife. (Exactly how killing the dog was supposed to help him achieve this end was never made clear to anyone.)

HSU ReactsUpon learning the truth of the story, the Humane Society of Utah

immediately issued a press release calling for Paschal’s prosecution on charges of animal cruelty. “We are outraged by the agonizing and senseless death suffered by this dog,” said HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt. “It’s all the more revolting because it was done by her own caregiver, someone whom she presumably trusted and loved. We call on Davis County legal representatives to prosecute this crime to the full extent of Utah’s animal cruelty and torture laws, and also see that this individual is required to undergo psychological counseling.”

Paschal was booked directly into jail on suspicion of animal cruelty and filing a false police report. Finally, on July 6th, he was sentenced as follows: He must complete a mental health evaluation and serve 365 days in the Davis County jail on the attempted torture of a companion animal charge. In addition, he was given a suspended 180-day sentence for giving false information to a peace officer, during which time work release will be allowed. A review of the case will take place at 10:00 AM on September 2nd in Judge Morris’s chambers.

Everyone who cares about humane issues is thankful to see that Henry’s Law is being used as a realistic tool to deal with a dangerous situation that has far too long been regarded as being only something very minor. The bottom line is that people who are capable of torturing, maiming, and killing animals without any feelings of compunction or remorse can also constitute a serious threat to our entire social structure, and the Humane Society is pleased to see that action has been taken which provides both justice for Mabel as well as counseling and retribution for the man who committed the crime. v

Another Animal Abuser

SENTENCED!

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On many occasions we’ve featured the heartwarming story of some special shelter animal who, at first glance, might give the impression of having absolutely no hope of being adopted to a loving, caring home of his or her own: There was Pepper, the beautiful mottled dog who had been born blind as a result of careless inbreeding; Nicholas, suffering numerous open wounds from a dogfight and also afflicted with eczema, a lame hind leg, and a racking cough; the three tiny, nameless kittens, only a day old, brought in after their mother was killed by a car; or Sebastian, the Persian cat whose entire coat had to be shaved off because of innumerable clumps of impossibly matted fur, and who also displayed an intense fearfulness of nearly everything and everybody he encountered. Animals with the odds so heavily stacked against them right from the start probably wouldn’t be expected to have a very bright future ahead of them. Yet each and every one of these cats and dogs, and hundreds more like them, were successfully rehabilitated — “redeemed,” one is tempted to say — and eventually welcomed into families of their own where their sad lives went from “hopeless” to “heaven.” The bridge spanning those two extremes was the Humane Society of Utah’s animal foster parent program.

“The Neediest Animals”The beating heart of the foster program is one

incredibly caring, giving woman named Barbara Conrad, and its two main arteries are her assistants, Lisa VanZandt

and Amber Hansen. Barbara has been actively involved with the Humane Society for more than thirty years, serving as a member of the Board of Directors, a tireless volunteer, and, since 2003, an employee and the official founder of the animal fostering system at the shelter. Supervising approximately 300 volunteer foster families (the number is in a constant state of flux, but always needs

replenishing), Barbara maintains meticulous records of the origins, problems, present whereabouts, and ultimate destinations of all the many, many animals who require the extra attention that can make a life-saving difference.

“Our department deals with the neediest of all the animals who come to the Humane Society,” says Barbara. “They’re the ones who are ill, injured, handicapped, too young, too timid, too aggressive, or too frightened — sometimes a combination of those things — to be immediately adoptable. Unless somebody intervenes on their behalf to give them one-on-one personal attention for as long as it takes to solve their difficulties, the chances that they can ever be placed in good homes of their own are practically nil. Our fosters do that, and the results are nothing short of miraculous.”

Loving — and Strong — HeartsBeing a foster parent requires a lot of time, hard

work, commitment, and strength. Often the hardest part of the assignment is relinquishing an animal to a permanent home of his or her own after the rehab work is completed. There are other heartbreaking aspects of the job, too, such as accepting the fact that a 100% success rate is realistically impossible. Barbara cites as an example a long-time, seasoned foster mother who often takes extremely young kittens and puppies who must be bottle-fed, cleaned, and medicated on a regular schedule. “Often she can return a full litter of healthy, socialized babies

who are ready to go up for adoption — and get adopted — at once,” she says. “But there are times when some of them just don’t make it, and there’s nothing anybody could have done to prevent it. Right now, she’s looking after six newborn kittens. There were originally seven, but one died on the very first night. When they were brought to the shelter they were all weak, malnourished, generally traumatized, and just too young; we knew that the odds weren’t good. In this particular case, we have to face the realization that if even as many as three of the remaining six kittens survive, that will be a very favorable outcome.”

Healing Bodies and SoulsFostering involves more than looking after the

physical needs of shelter animals; a large proportion of the cats and dogs who go into foster homes are there because of psychological problems. “They’re frightened and depressed,” explains Barbara. “Most of the animals at HSU are former pets who had to be relinquished for one reason or another. No one is to blame, but somehow these animals who once lived in familiar, individualized surroundings suddenly

Three genuine miracle workers pose with some of the irrefutable proof of their powers. From left to

right they are Lisa VanZandt, holding a motherless kitten whose round-the-clock bottle feeding and other good foster care turned him into a husky, healthy, adoptable young cat; Barbara Conrad

and Nicholas (here licking his chops after having just polished off a particularly tasty snack); and

Amber Hansen cuddling a relaxed, serene poodle who, when she first came to us, was so tense and terrified that she wouldn’t allow anyone to touch

her. These, and many other transformations accomplished by the HSU Foster Program, are

nothing short of amazing.

continued on page 6 (Miracle Workers)

The Miracle Workers: HSU’s Foster Parents

In the spring of 2008, one of HSU’s most innovative programs for increasing animal adoptions and saving animals’ lives began, and in its mere two years of operation it has become a resounding success. Jessica Almeida, who came to us after having worked for more than a decade in animal shelters in southern California, conceived a basic, but brilliant, idea for giving the animal-adopting public what it wants: simply find an appropriate balance of the supply-and demand ratio of different kinds of animals to different areas. In other words, during her years in the Los Angeles shelter facilities, Jessica saw scores of small-breed dogs — Chihuahuas, Yorkies, toy poodles, and the like — being euthanized every day because they happen to exist in highly concentrated numbers there. Here in Utah, those are the kinds of dogs that everybody wants, but until recently about the only way to get them was to pay a high price to a breeder (whether backyard or professional, a very bad idea under any circumstances). At the same time, our own kennels were always overflowing with Labradors, shepherds, and other big dogs that seemed to become magically invisible whenever locals came here looking for a new friend. However, Jessica also knew that in other parts of the country those are exactly the sorts of dogs that are highly coveted, but not easily obtained. The solution to both problems? If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, then take the mountain to Mohammed. And thus was born the Animal Transfer program.

A Wide-Sweeping RangeThe entire department consists of Jessica

and her assistant, Stephanie “Swiss” Beller, and all by themselves they work tirelessly with approximately 150 rescue groups in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and even British Columbia in Canada. They also pull dogs from about 30 other Utah shelters and bring them here to the capital where they have much better chances of being placed in homes. Using spacious, comfortable vans from HSU’s fleet of vehicles, Swiss and Jessica travel hundreds of miles each month to pick up and drop off animals at designated rendezvous points like St. George, and also transport the “outsiders” to our shelter. From there, all of the large-breed HSU dogs go to accredited, closely-screened shelters who guarantee that none of the transfer dogs they accept from us will be euthanized; here, the animals we’ve taken are vaccinated, sterilized, and given intensive training and evaluation to ensure that they’ll be successful candidates for adoption.

And it’s been well worth all the time and effort. Just from the program’s inception in April 2008 through the end of 2009, 2,758 animals, who would otherwise have been at very high risk, instead found wonderful, loving homes with people who say their new friends are “just what we’ve always been looking for!” — and the numbers continue to grow. In fact, since Animal Transfers began, nearly 20% of the Humane Society of Utah’s total adoptions were accomplished through that department’s activities alone.

Lifesavers AllThe Transfer Program is is just one more of the

many, many important ways in which HSU makes a vast difference for those whose voices too often go unheard. For fifty years we’ve been the premier agency in Utah helping animals who are in desperate need of human intervention on all levels, whether this takes the form of simply

providing their basic needs of food, shelter, and medical attention, or in the more abstract ways of prosecuting cruelty and neglect and fighting for more widespread justice and protection for them all. And caring people like you are what’s made it possible.

Once again, thanks so very, very much to all of you whose support keeps our clinic performing spay/neuter surgeries and administering vaccinations, who give us the backing we need to work relentlessly for the passage and enforcement of better animal-protection laws, who allow us to give homeless and unwanted animals clean, comfortable, shelter,

good food, exercise, attention, and love while they wait here to be adopted into homes of their own, and who enormously increase the odds that they will be adopted through efforts like those of the Transfer Program.

YOU have saved thousands and thousands of lives because you care. We appreciate you. v

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Animal Rescue/Transfer Program on a Roll (Literally)!

HSU Animal Transfer Coordinator Jessica Almeida steps into one of the Society’s fleet of official vans, which she and her

assistant, “Swiss” Beller, drive throughout a large network of other shelters to drop off and pick up dogs for transportation to different areas where particular types are in demand. The

Transfer program has been responsible for saving thousands of lives in the short time it’s been in place.

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On a hot, windy afternoon in late June a young couple came to the HSU shelter with a small bundle of gray fur, only about big enough to fit into the palm of an adult’s hand, and asked us for help. At first glance it was almost impossible even to tell what it was — a rat, perhaps? A chinchilla? Then we saw the long ears folded snugly against the head, the tiny nose busily quivering in the middle of the face, and the minuscule powder-puff tail on the animal’s bottom. It was a rabbit! — a pint-sized juvenile not more than two or three weeks old who had somehow become separated from its mother and siblings.

“We searched everywhere for a place where it might have come from, for some trace of a rabbits’ nest or hutch any other possible location where the rest of its family might be,” explained the young woman, “but it was just sitting there all by itself on the side of the highway. We even went inside the house for a few moments and kept watching to see if the bunny would go somewhere else on its own, or if other rabbits would appear on the scene. Nothing happened, though, and we decided that this was clearly a case for the Humane Society.”

A Real Little TrouperThe first thing we did was have our veterinarian, Dr. Paul

Chapin, give the baby a thorough physical exam (which included determining that he was a boy) and seeing what kind of immediate attention he would need. The most obvious problem was an injury to the left eye; after cleansing and medicating that, we set about figuring out what sort of nutrition he required and would be able to handle. We initially assumed that he would have to be hand-fed on infant animal formula, but when we opened his mouth we saw that

he already had at least his front teeth. That made bottle feeding a bit of a problem, since he might chew off the end of the rubber nipple and swallow it. So we put some soft alfalfa and shredded carrots in front of him, and he began to chow down on his lunch with real gusto. In no time at all our office clerk, Melissa, had been swept off her feet by this adorable little visitor and asked if she could take him home with her to

continue his medication and other care – and also introduce him to her two little girls.

Four days later, she brought him back to show everyone how much progress he had made: His eye was healing nicely, his coat was thicker and shinier, and he had developed a genuine craving for cuddles and attention from anyone who came near him. He had even gained a few ounces in weight. And he also now had a name, bestowed by Melissa’s daughters — “Ralph.”

The Good LifeMelissa and her family were so

obviously right for Ralph that his adoption papers were processed

without delay. A few weeks later, he was neutered and given a second thorough physical checkup, pronounced strong and healthy, and sent home to live a wonderful life surrounded by safety, comfort, and unlimited love — not a bad ending at all for a little guy who didn’t seem to have much going for him when he was first picked up as a hungry, hurt, abandoned baby on the side of the road by two strangers who cared enough to put him into the hands of people who could make a difference — the staff of the Humane Society of Utah. v

HSU Believes in “Babying Your Baby” — Abandoned Infant Now Thriving, Thanks to Lots of Love and TLC

Ralph, a baby dwarf bunny, was brought to the shelter by a kind couple who found him beside the road and

were unable to locate either human owners or the rest of a rabbit family to whom he might have belonged.

When he first came to us, he fit easily into the palm of an adult’s hand.

We’re having a 50th Anniversary Party,

And You’re Invited!As we discussed in the Spring issue of Speaking of Animals, this year is the golden anniversary of the founding of the Humane Society of Utah, and we’re celebrating by having a special party here at the HSU facility in honor of our 50th birthday. It all happens on Saturday, August 28th, during our regular hours (10 AM – 7 PM). This is just part of the line-up of events you can look forward to:

• The “Course a’Lure” dog run will be here once again — every dog’s idea of heaven on earth!

• Refreshments, entertainment, and fun for everybody!

• Every single adoptable animal at the Humane Society can be adopted for only 50% of the regular fee — and remember, this includes the animal’s spay or neuter surgery, the first set of shots, and a leash or carrier, among other goodies!

Please circle August 28th on your calendars and plan to be here for Our Happiest Birthday party. v

Saturday, August 28th, 2010 10:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.

4242 South 300 West in Murray

On one glorious weekend last April, the JC Penney store located at The District shopping center in South Jordan had a really superior event going on: Employees who chose to “dress down” for those two days were earning money to help the animals at the Humane Society of Utah, and the following week three of these very special people presented us with not only a check for almost $300, but a large bundle of donated items

from the store! Manager Dana Robinson authorized the distribution of blankets, cushions, stuffed toys, towels, and other

things that our animals always need, and staff members who had organized the event made a special trip to the shelter to bring a lot of help and happiness to everyone.

All of our animals say,”Thanks, Penney’s! You’re purr-fectly gr-r-reat!” v

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find themselves in a completely alien environment, one with cages, strange people, and the noises of a lot of other animals. They feel that they’ve been abandoned, and their overwhelming grief and bewilderment are obvious. These feelings can manifest themselves in ways that greatly diminish an animal’s chances of attracting a potential new family — aggression, withdrawal, anxiety, refusal to eat, and a host of other symptoms that tend to ‘turn off’ people who are looking for a new friend. These are some of the most challenging, and most rewarding, cases that our fosters deal with.”

One example of these animals in desperate need of socialization was Cassie, a skinny little Maltese mix who had been turned in by a man whose elderly mother, Cassie’s owner, had developed Alzheimer’s disease and was no longer capable of looking after the dog. Cassie had evidently been a well-loved pet at one time, but had clearly not had any attention of any kind for at least a week or more. A faded, bedraggled satin bow dangled from one ear, her eyes had disappeared under a curtain of tangled hair, and her ribs and hipbones protruded alarmingly. Worse than any of these issues, though, was the emotional toll that days of neglect and uncertainty had exacted on this sensitive animal: She shivered uncontrollably when anyone approached her and only walked in a bent, crouching position with her tail tucked between her very dirty back legs. Dishes of the most appealing foods imaginable went untasted. She retreated into a corner of her kennel with her face to the wall, and when anyone tried to touch her she would cower and tremble so violently that the cage rattled.

Then the miracle workers came into her life. An experienced husband-and-wife foster couple, both retired and with plenty of time to lavish on a needy animal, took Cassie into their home and devoted the next fifteen weeks to repairing her shattered spirit. When they brought her back to the shelter, the only way we could believe that this clean, fluffy dog with the bright eyes and eager confidence was really Cassie was to compare the distinctive markings

on her face and coat with her “before” photos. This time, when she was put up for permanent adoption her adorable appearance and personality attracted a great deal of positive interest, and that very afternoon she was taken by a carefully-screened family to begin a brand-new life. At the end of the year we received a Christmas card featuring Cassie in the midst of her loving people, along with a letter confirming that the progress she had made while being fostered had continued uninterrupted after her adoption, and she was now healthy, happy, and secure in a world where she would be forever cared for.

Would You Like to be a Miracle Worker?Every day the Humane Society takes in animals with

special needs of all kinds, and we can always use help in the foster department. Temporary homes are needed in areas like the following:

• Mother cats/dogs with offspring too young to be placed for adoption

• Motherless kittens/puppies who require bottle feeding

• Motherless kittens/puppies who are beyond the need for bottle feeding, but still must have several weeks in a private home environment before being old enough to put up for adoption

• Adult animals who need socializing

Please make sure that, if you wish to foster, your own animals are current on their vaccinations, including bordetella to protect against kennel cough.

Foster time in homes usually ranges from approximately ten days to two months; we ask that you keep an animal as long as it takes to ensure his or her good health and adoptability.

Fostering is fun, rewarding, and you’re saving lives! If you’d like to be part of the miracle, please call 801-261-2919, ex. 215, or e-mail bconrad@utahhumane.org. v

Miracle Workres... continued from page 3

Charlotte Barlow, Lori Mascaro, and Nancy Roblez (left to right), JCPenney employees from The District shopping mall, stopped by the Humane Society of Utah shelter to drop off a large amount of donated goods from the store, along with a check for nearly $300, money that was raised by Penney’s staff members who participated

in a “dress-down” weekend on behalf of the animals.

JCPenney — Just Cares for Pets!

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In the Summer 2010 issue of Speaking of Animals, we presented the story of Lola, the pregnant bloodhound, and the seven puppies to whom she gave birth immediately after being turned in to the HSU shelter. All were successfully fostered and adopted, and we were delighted to receive the following update from Lola’s new family (who have given her a new name to go with her new life):

“Thank you so much for our special dog Lulu (formerly Lola). She now has a great home with plenty of toys, her own big soft doggie bed, and the undying love of our little girl.

“Little-girl love is a wonderful thing, as all parents know. She brushes Lulu’s coat every day, keeps her clean with regular sponge baths, and holds Lulu’s leash on our long family walks in the evening and on her energetic morning runs. Lulu has a fenced yard to play in, and the freedom to go in and out of our house at will. In between, she pretty much lounges around in luxury and gets her tummy rubbed and her ears massaged by her admiring people. She spends most of the time asleep on the middle of the living room floor, but has regular bouts of energy which she expends playing with my hubby and older child, a teenager, in the yard and in our small pool.

“At first Lulu got very anxious whenever we left her alone, even for short periods of time like trips to the grocery store, so we worked extra hard to boost her self-confidence. The more we bonded together, the more relaxed she became. She has never showed the slightest bit of aggression toward our baby, even when he accidentally bumps her or steps on her tail. We’re starting to call her ‘Laid-Back Lulu!’

“She has truly become a happy, loving, and well-loved member of our family — a very successful match! She was exactly what we were looking for — we could tell just by looking at her on-line photo. We drove all the way up to Salt Lake City with a load

of toys and supplies we had already purchased for her; we were that sure she was the one for us. She really is the perfect dog for this family. She has no memory of her life before and loves us as though she had been born here. Thank you again for the privilege of having her.

“Sincerely, Sheila and family.” v

Definitely a Happy Ending!Update on Mama Dog Lola:

In each issue of Speaking of Animals, you will see the logo of Community Shares Utah. This is a workplace giving federation that allows employees to donate any specified amount through payroll options to a range of non-profit agencies, including the Humane Society of

Utah, that work to benefit the environment, deliver critical services, improve the community, protect human rights and promote animal welfare.

The Humane Society of Utah has been a member of Community Shares for several years. Look over the list of other member organizations at www.communitysharesutah.org to see what good company we keep. HSU would love to benefit from your workplace giving program — if you don’t have the opportunity to contribute at work and would like to, please contact: Carlene Wall of the Humane Society of Utah at (801)261-2919, ext. 209 or Lynne Bradley of Community Shares at (801) 486-9224.

A Workplace Giving Opportunity

Is there really such a place as Paradise? For Lulu (formerly Lola, the pregnant dog profiled in the Summer issue of our newsletter), the answer is a resounding “Yes!” In this case, it consists of a cozy, comfortable home with a spacious, grassy, flower-filled fenced yard for playtime, a responsible, adoring family to care for her, and — best of all — a little girl of her very own. This charming photograph perfectly captures the essence of absolute, unconditional, runs-both-ways love between two pure, sweet spirits.

Lulu and her new best friend share storytime together on a sunny summer afternoon.

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At 3 PM on Thursday, April 15th, Utah Governor Gary Herbert formally signed into law SB 218, also known as “Freddy’s Law,” which means that as of January 1, 2011, all antifreeze sold in this state will be required to have a bittering agent added to the formula. Engine coolant currently contains a chemical which is extremely good-tasting to animals and children; the additive makes the substance much less attractive.

The cause of getting SB 218 passed was sponsored by Senate President Michael G. Waddoups and was also championed by Salt Lake Community College automotive instructor Bill Breedlove, whose own dog, “Freddy,” died four months prior to introduction of the bill because of accidental antifreeze poisoning. The Humane Society of Utah was actively involved in the passage of this bill by the legislature.

The historic signing was attended by HSU officials and other supporters, many of whom brought their own dogs to witness the ceremony. To watch a video of the signing of the bill, go to our website at www.utahhumane.org and click on the 4/14/2010 link of “The Daily Wag” feature. v

Governor Signs Antifreeze Bill into Law

Freddy, the beloved friend of SLCC instructor Bill Breedlove, is memorialized by the new bill

that requires the addition of a bittering agent to common antifreeze. Tragically, Freddy died last

year after ingesting this good-tasting but toxic substance; however, as a result of that terrible

incident Mr. Breedlove’s testimony and support helped get “Freddy’s Law” passed in the last

session of the state legislature.

Everybody knows about the wonderful cats and dogs who comprise a large portion of the Humane Society’s adoptable animal population, but it often comes as a surprise to many people to learn that we also have a regular contingent of gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, mice, ferrets, rats, and other small mammals who can become loving, delightful companions for anyone. These animals like to play and socialize as much as any other pet, even though they may have different requirements — an exercise wheel instead of a go-for-a-walk leash, for example, or a bed of soft shavings to burrow into instead of a wicker basket for nap times.

They also have special dietary needs, which HSU meets by regularly supplying them with made-to-order, nutritionally complete and balanced commercial feed. Just like any other animal, though, the “small fuzzies” adore a special treat whenever they can get it, and in their case it’s very simple to provide them with goodies that are not only delicious but also very healthful: ordinary garden vegetables.

Scouts’ Good DeedsIt’s easy enough to obtain veggies from the local market,

of course, but last year a group of Eagle Scouts came up with a brilliant, innovative idea: Why not make a small garden patch right here at the facility so that in season we’d have access to the small-mammal munchies just by stepping outside our door? Accordingly, they dug and prepared two six-by-eight-foot beds among the ornamental shrubs and flowers in the sunny front yard

and surrounded the plots with sturdy planking. That first year our Volunteer Coordinator, Carrie Glavin, took it upon herself to personally plant, tend, and harvest the crops; however, this year a group of 8–11-year-old girls from the Federal Heights area in Salt

Lake City eagerly offered to undertake the gardening chores, and in April they cleared the old growth, furrowed and fertilized the earth, and planted row upon row of the animals’ favorite greens. By mid-summer we were daily selecting peas, parsley, carrots, beets, radishes, alfalfa and other gourmet delights to distribute among the little ones. (We even found that more than a few of the dogs love the carrots, too.)

So here is an enormous THANK YOU! to all the

splendid young people who came up with a great concept and put in a lot of hard work and time to make it a reality. And we especially invite potential adopters to come out and visit our many charming non-cat-and-dog residents. Their glossy coats, bright eyes, and very contented personalities are the visible results of our gardening efforts. If you adopt a Guinea pig of your own and keep up the regimen, it might even inspire you to eat more veggies yourself, just as Mom always urged you to do. Everybody wins! v

Eagle Scouts dug and prepared this lovely garden plot in the Humane Society’s front yard, and a group

of young girls planted it with catnip, peas, lettuce, and lots of other good greens that provide luscious,

nourishing treats for many of our animals.

HSU’S Small Mammals Get Fresh Veggies — right from their own garden!