This year alone, national humane organizations estimate that nearly 6 to 8 million unwanted dogs and cats will be surrendered to, or abandoned at, animal shelters in the United States. Although these numbers are shocking, studies show that during the last 30 years the number of shelter intakes and euthanasias have decreased nationwide by at least 70 percent. This is the result of the tireless efforts of humane societies such as ours, rescue organizations, responsible pet owners, veterinarians and other animal welfare philanthropists promot-ing spay and neuter programs and public education. Thanks to the perseverance and generosity of a national animal welfare foundation, the Lakes Area Humane Society has been granted funding which has made it possible to offer reduced-cost spays and neuters, to eligible individuals who own medium and large breed puppies or dogs. If an individual is financially unable to shoulder the cost of altering their dog, they can contact the LAHS shelter to obtain an authorization form. The amount subsi-dized by the shelter will be determined on an individual basis. The Lakes Area Humane Society served an amazing 720 animals in 2002! Of these ani-mals, 322 required spaying or neutering prior to placement in new adoptive homes. Ensur-ing that 100% of the animals have be altered, is a policy that we have adapted to facilitate a reduction in the animal overpopulation problem of Alexandria and the surrounding com-munities. In doing so, the vision of a future without homeless and abandoned animals be-comes more attainable. To obtain more information on the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program sponsored by the Lakes Area Humane Society, please call us at the Shelter 320-759-2260 or visit the Shelter at 3811 Nevada Street SW in Alexandria. Christin Klimek, LAHS Director

Greetings from the Shelter! FALL 2003

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE UPCOMING LAHS FUNDRAISING EVENTS! ☺ Ladies & Gentlemen! Start Your Ovens!

The LAHS Holiday Bake/Craft Sale will take place Saturday, December 13th at the Viking Plaza Mall in Alexandria, 9 AM to Noon. We need donations of baked goods and crafts and also volunteers to help with this major fundraising event! Please call the Shelter at 759-2260 if you can help in any way!

☺ It’s a Totally Re-”Vamped” Halloween Spooktacular Party! Thursday, October 30th at the Barn at the Holiday Inn All ages are welcome for a spooky good time! We’ll have dancing, karaoke, costume contests, a “haunted attic”, buffet style dinner and silent auction. See the ad on the back page for more info. Please call the Shelter at 759-2260 for tickets, table sponsorship info, or if you can help in any way!

A Publication of the Lakes Area Humane Society of Alexandria, Minnesota

1 + 1 is 4,372 How’s that?

One female dog And one male dog

and their offspring can produce 4,372 puppies in 7 years!

1 + 1 is 420,000 How’s that?

One female cat and one male cat

and their offspring results in 420,000 kittens in 7 years!

Page 2 The Barker

We would LOVE to spotlight you and your pets in one of our upcoming newsletters. Send us your cute photos with names and any fun info you wish to share! pcm@rea-alp.com to e-mail or mail to: LAHS, 3811 Nevada Street, Alexandria, MN 56308

More Heartwarming Adoption Stories...

“We are certainly enjoying Abigail! (left and far left) She really likes living here, there’s so much to see and explore in Seattle. We bought a harness and lead so she can get acquainted with her new surroundings. She loves the beach and likes laying in the sun. Abi-gail receives lots of love and attention everyday. She already has an assortment of new toys, catnip, and a

large pot of cat grass to chew on. I’ve never seen a cat enjoy her greens so much!!! She seems to think the water in the fish bowls is so much tastier than in either of her own water bowls. We thank you and all of the staff again, I wish I could give you a big hug for the kindness you’ve shown me, your generosity of spirit and the time you’ve taken to help bring Abigail to me and my family. We all love her already!” Ursula Haigh and Family

“Hi, there! I adopted one of the little golden retriever/lab puppies back at the beginning of April. We picked one little boy puppy from his 13 litter-mates, and we named him “Sammy” (left). Sammy is growing up quite quickly and getting very comfortable (as the photo of him in the chair shows) in his new home with his new family. He loves being outdoors, now that it has gotten nice. We have a huge backyard for him to run and stretch his legs. While Sammy is getting into all kinds of “puppy-trouble”, he is also learning new things daily, and seems to be a very smart and sweet puppy. We are very happy with our new addition and just wanted to drop a quick note to say he is doing great. We will always continue to support the animal humane societies. Keep up the good work!! Roxanne Radeck

The two beautiful parrots on the left are “Bart” and “Kiwi”, who were adopted by the Williams family. They are shown here en-joying time with Renae Williams and two of their fellow house-mates, “Daedalus” and “Dante”.

Robert Linow (right) and “Dante”, a handsome 115+ lb. Black Lab Cross that he and his wife, Stephanie adopted as a puppy.

“Max”, (left) a Husky/St. Ber-nard Cross who was adopted from the shelter as a puppy by the Dave and Jill Boucher Family. They describe him as a “Huge Teddy Bear!”

“My very first photograph”

Mmmmmmm…Cat Grass!

Monetary Donations Received in Memory of: John Geerdes & Sara Clasemann in memory of Tyke Judith Jaskowiak in memory of Joan Rutgerson Manly & Helen Johnson in memory of Clarence Boesen Dona Wagner in memory of Yogi Elva Cowdery in memory of Yogi Billie Jo Jones in memory of Dr. Chromey’s sister and children Monetary Donations Received: Gene & Jane Reese Patricia Peterson & Luis Rodriquez Deb Connelly Ray & Eunice Seppanen Douglas Area Trials Association St. Mary’s 7th grade religion class John Geerdes & Sara Clasemann Steven & Sally Christenson Doege Precision Machining Rural Cellular Corporation (Donation for Bark In The Park T-shirts) Karmen Nelson Wyck & Lori Linder Michelle Dick Edward & Charlotte Howard Amie Dickey Cal Pooler Joey & Steve Loken Keith & Lynn Williamson Duane & Connie Shelden John & Joanne Rambeck Chris Bitzan & Theresa Olson Cathy Elverum Helen Zieska Marc & Colleen Ouimet Amanda Garrett Douglas Machine, “Pennies for pets” fundraiser: Rick Paulson Jim Poppe Douglas Machine Vintage Car Club Krieg Devault Individual & Family Membership renewals: Robert & Molly Davis Donald & Beth Lieffort Dan & Karen Williams Doris King Supplies Donated: Target: Dog, cat, & puppy food, Kleenex, Ziploc bags, trash bags, laundry detergent, cat litter, rawhides, Oxiclean, bug spray, bathroom cleaner, liquid hand soap, dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, bottled water, fabric softener, window cleaner Shannon Swenson: HP 45 ink cartridge, legal pads Steve & Stacy Pasch: bag of dog food Rory Hubler: bag of cat litter Sara Clasemann & John Geerdes: 3 packages of blue pens, calculator with tapes, eraser pens, cordless phone Off Broadway Antiques: bowls, dishes, book 3-M: sponges, bandages, post it’s The Klimek’s: lawnmower blades, oil, spark plug, & gas, HP Printer Chuck & Marilyn Torrens: towels Mary Weston: washer and dryer Dan & Tammie Quiggle: bleach, Lysol, Playtex gloves Sister Sharon: dog food, dishes, toys blanket and treats Dick & Cathy Elverum: tons of laundry detergent, bleach, & cat litter The Franson’s: dog crate

Fall 2003 Page 3

Thank You & God Bless!!!

Renewals/Donations received May 2003 through August 2003

LAHS Board Members and Staff

President: Jennifer Schmidt Vice-President: Doug Hegg Past President: Dan Quiggle Secretary: Shannon Swenson Treasurer: Suzanne Allen Sherri Faehnrich Todd Emmons Chris Boraas Coni McKay Shelter Staff Christin Klimek, Shelter Director Sara Clasemann Cindy Houser Joan Becker John Geerdes Newsletter Publisher: Jennifer Schmidt Newsletter printing donated by Insty Prints of Alexandria.

You’ll receive a 10% Discount on most Supplies and Procedures at Alexandria’s Animal Doctor when you mention you are a member of the Lakes Area Hu-mane Society!

Another Benefit of LAHS

Membership!

SHELTER WISH LIST • 37 Cent Postage Stamps • Kitten and Puppy Food • Bleach • Laundry Detergent • Dish Detergent • Paper Towels • Hewlett-Packard #45 Black

Ink Cartridges • Office Supplies (Markers,

Copy Paper) • Lysol-Lemon or Fresh Scent • Scented Candles

Page 4 The Barker

2003 Bark in the Park is a Huge Success! On Saturday, May 24th, the Lakes Area Humane Society held it’s 3rd Annual Bark-in-the-Park 5K Walk/Run at the Alexandria City Park in conjunction with the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce’s Awake the Lakes Festival. It was a beautiful day and approximately 55 persons and dogs came out to en-joy the 5K walk/run and support the LAHS! All participants received vibrant Bark-in-the-Park Logo T-shirts generously sponsored by Rural Cellular Corp. Volunteers timed those who choose to run the 5K competitively. The first two runners to cross the finish line with the best times also received LAHS T-shirts. The event brought in a total of $1700.00 for the shelter! We sincerely thank all of those who came to enjoy the day, participate in run/walk, and also those who volunteered their time in support of the LAHS. See you next year!!!

The Lakes Area Humane Society wishes to extend our thanks and appreciation to the employees of Douglas Machine, located on Iowa Street in Alexandria. They held a “Pennies for Pets” fundraiser which raised nearly $900 for the animals served by the shelter! The Humane Society supplied the doghouse to collect the monies donated from the employees, who were encouraged to round up their loose change and fill the house during the week of July 14th thru the 18th. The donations received were directly applied to the care of the shelter animals. If your business is interested in hosting a “Pennies for Pets” fundraiser, please contact the shelter at 320-759-2260.

Fall 2003 Page 5

LAHS Board Meetings are held the

third Tuesday of every month at

the Shelter at 5:30 PM

“My Hubby’s New Harley” by Joey Loken Motorcycle enthusiast that my husband is, I wanted to do something really special for his upcoming birthday in June. He obligingly gave me lots of “subtle” hints. So with thoughts of “saddle bags”, “leathers”, and “motorcycle stuff” echoing in my mind, I lovingly made the decision….I would go one step further….I would get him a Harley. I smiled at the thought. How proud he would be to tell his friends that he got a Harley Davidson for his birthday! Yep, that would be the birthday present to top all others. I probably wouldn’t have to get him another birthday present ever again! As a matter of fact, I would spend so much money on this gift that….Hmmmmm….I would spend so…much…money… Hmmmmm….I wonder how much a Harley Davidson motorcycle costs???….used???….. I’m really starting to think about this now. I’m thinking about our sad little savings account and our sad little checkbook. And that’s when I had “the idea!” Now, I’m not saying that it was a brilliant idea, or anything, but it certainly was a LOT less expensive idea. So, I decided to put my plan into action. I tossed my kitty carrier into my pickup and drove to the Lakes Area Humane Society. Yes, I know, the LAHS does not now, nor has it ever, engaged in the selling of Harley Davidson motorcycles. But remember….I had a plan. They didn’t have a motorcycle, but what they DID have was a particular small, gray, tiger kitten. A little boy who had stolen my heart with his four white paws and cute little white face. And, in my defense, he really did have several qualities in common with a Harley Davidson motorcycle. He had a very loud purring motor whenever you picked him up. He had amazing traction and could take off in an instant. And he was very, very cool! So, the little, gray, tiger kitten, appropriately named Harley, came home to be my husbands birthday present. And my husband, who is a cat lover at heart, really did love his birthday present after all. And, he still gets to tell his friend that he got a “Harley” for his birthday. I think this may have been the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten him. Hmmmm…..maybe next year I’ll get him a Mercedes Benz…….

Douglas Machine’s holds “Pennies for Pets” Fundraiser

SHELTER HOURS: M-W-F 12-6 PM Saturday 11 AM to 5 PM T-Th-Sun Closed Special Appointments can be made outside of regular business hours. Call 759-2260 to schedule.

Vrrooom, Vrrooom!

Our annual “Happily Ever After” garage sale was held on Saturday, June 14th at the Runestone Community Center at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Due to the generosity of our members and community, nearly $2900 was raised for the animals at the shelter! We wish to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered their time and donated items to sell! A special thanks to the following volunteers who served on the sale committee: Sara Clasemann and Tammy Williams-Quiggle, Sale Chair and Co-Chairpersons Carrie Bennett Diane and Joe Spieker Jessi Rosenow Martha Spieker Debbie and Amanda Clasemann Geri Zabrosky Karen Vollrath Wendy Peterson Susan and Kelly Wiste Paul and Mercedes Klimek Steve and Joey Loken Adell Baukol, Yesterday’s Antique Store Rod Lorenz and the RCC staff

Page 6 The Barker

LAHS Membership Form Name:_______________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ City:________________________ State:________ Zip:_______ Phone:______________________ New Renewal

Bronze $ 25.00 Silver $ 50.00 Gold $ 100.00 Platinum $ 500.00 Diamond $ 1,000.00

***Memberships are renewable yearly. As a member, you will receive our quarterly newsletter, special invitations & mailings, are entitled to discounts at participating veterinary clinics in Alexandria.

We wish to Thank You for your continued support!!

Please Send To: Lakes Area Humane Society 3811 Nevada Street SW Alexandria, MN 56308 320-759-2260

“Happily Ever After” Garage Sale held June 14th at RCC

Fall 2003 Page 7

“The Explanation”—A Message for all who have lost a pet... Some of the most poignant moments I spend as a veterinarian, are those spent with my clients assisting the transition of my animal patients from this world to the next. When living becomes a burden, whether from pain or loss of normal func-tions, I can help a family by ensuring that their beloved pet has an easy passing. Making this final decision is painful, and I have often felt powerless to comfort the grieving owners. That was before I met Shane. I had been called to examine a ten-year-old blue heeler named Belker, who had developed a serious health problem. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made the arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to ob-serve the procedure. They felt Shane could learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time that I won-dered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or con-fusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter that human lives. Shane who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.” Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, “Everybody is born so they can learn how to live a good life, like loving everybody, and being nice, right?” The four-year-old continued, “Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Author unknown

Eagle Scout Project produces 40 new Donation Boxes Approximately 35 area businesses help raise money for the Lakes Area Humane Society by allowing LAHS donation boxes to be placed in their places of business on counters in high traffic areas. These donation boxes brought in over $6400 since January of 2000! From time to time, the boxes require replacement due to damage or theft. Because of this, the LAHS has had to find volunteers to build, paint and decorate new boxes. Fortunately, Joe Fleming, an Alexandria Boy Scout wishing to help out, contacted us. Joe was in need of an Eagle Scout project and felt that this would be the perfect opportunity to lend a hand to a local non-profit. Joe organized the project, obtaining the supplies and manpower. On a Saturday, Joe, with help from Scout Troop #412, utilizing his parents’ (Tom and Naomi Fleming) home and work-shop, was able to build, paint and letter 40 awesome “dog house” donation boxes! The LAHS and the animals it serves would like to thank Joe and Troop #412 for their hard work!

Dust Busters donates cleaning The Lakes Area Humane Society wishes to sincerely thank Craig and Peggy McMillan and the staff of Dust Busters Furnace and Duct Cleaning, Inc. for their generous donation of over $1000 worth of supplies, time and expertise! The Dust Buster’s crew has spent many hours cleaning the duct work, heating and air conditioning systems at the shelter to allow it to run more efficiently and prevent future system failures. In addition to the initial cleaning, they are monitoring the system on a weekly basis. The LAHS staff and animals extend their appreciation to the outstanding Dust Buster’s crew, as they have made the shelter a much more comfortable place to work and live!

Page 8 The Barker

“If you would know a man, observe how he treats a cat.” - Robert A. Heinlein

Another Petfinder.com Success Story! I stumbled on the Petfinder website awhile back and my heart went out to each and every one of those pets! Petfinder is the greatest thing that ever happened to the world of abandoned/stray pets! I would never have thought to look beyond Grand Forks or Fargo if not for this site! I just did a search on “dogs” in my region. When I came across Alex, it really was love at first site! (They had named her Megan). The picture they had was a full front shot and she just looked so healthy and happy, almost like she was smiling! I just thought she was beautiful! I wasn't looking for labs in particular, in fact, I had never owned a lab and considered myself to be a German Shepherd kind of gal. I e-mailed Christin at the shelter with just a couple of questions such as “how did Alex come to live at the shelter?” and “how does she react to cats?” I already knew she was kind, sweet and well-behaved due to their great descrip-tion of her. That is how I could tell their shelter was special. They took the time to put in good pictures and great descrip-tions. Some shelters don't provide a good picture (many times NO picture) and very, very little information........almost like they don't care if a home is found. Christin e-mailed me back and answered all my questions perfectly. They even did some tests with her to see how she reacted to cats. I didn't want to get my hopes u if a possible new family member planned on having an old family member for lunch, ya know? Everything sounded great, so I slipped out of work early one Friday afternoon and my son and I made a little road trip to Alexandria. I was so impressed by the cleanliness and overall atmosphere of the Lakes Area Humane Society! I had no doubt about the decision I had made at this point and I hadn't even met Alex yet! We were taken to her private suite (seems she got a little too anxious when in the main boarding area) and she greeted us with the biggest smile and immediately laid down to have her belly rubbed. SOLD! We made our journey back to Mayville, ND with our new family addition resting comfortably with the backseat all to herself. Norm (our little cat-King of the castle) was a little curious of the BIG surprise we brought home, but he soon took a liking to his new friend (see photo above). I still don't know how a dog this kind, gentle, sweet and obedient could ever have landed in a shelter. I'm thankful she was and that I found her! We were in Alexandria again recently and just had to stop in to say hi. That's the kind of place you have there in Alex! Their prices are more than fair! I paid $90 for the best dog and she came all up to date on her shots and spayed. Can't beat that! I recommend to all who ask that they visit a shelter and if possible, adopt an older dog. They're the best! I'm including a couple of recent pics of Alex. Isn't she just a sweetie?

Darla Peterson

Volunteer Spotlight Max Bogenrief (left) has been a dedicated volunteer at the LAHS shelter since September of 2000. He has assisted kennel staff, unloaded supplies, cleaned kennels, walked dogs and spent numerous hours socializing with the cats waiting for adoption. Always cheerful, the shelter staff has enjoyed his compassion and great sense of humor! This fall brings new challenges for Max as he has graduated from high school and will be moving away from the Alexandria area to attend college. His goals include obtaining a degree in nurs-ing and becoming a registered nurse. As Max has become a part of the shelter family, the shelter animals and staff will miss his visits. We wish to thank him for his generosity and wish him the very best!

Fall 2003 Page 9

YOUR PETS ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO LEARN ABOUT LASER SURGERY!

By Mark A. Christenson, DVM Alexandria Veterinary Clinic, P. A. The Alexandria Veterinary Clinic is proud and excited to be one of the first veterinary clinics in Minnesota to provide Laser Surgery. This incredible surgical tool is revolu-tionizing the way surgery is performed on our companion animals. Laser technology reduces the trauma to your pet, improves recovery, and often shortens hospital stays. A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a specific wavelength. The way a particular laser works is determined by the specific wavelength of light that is produced. For example, the most commonly used surgical laser is the carbon diox-ide laser. This laser produces an invisible beam of light that vaporizes the water nor-mally found in the skin and other soft tissue. The laser can be precisely controlled al-lowing only a thin layer of tissue to be removed, leaving the surrounding area unaf-fected. There are several advantages to carbon dioxide laser surgery: Pain Reduction The laser seals nerve endings as it “cuts.” This results in decreased pain for our special friends. Swelling Reduction Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise tissue because the only thing that touches your pet is an invisible beam of light. Control of Infection The laser beam operates at a temperature of over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Essentially bacteria are vaporized by con-tact with the laser beam. This makes it highly effective at killing bacteria that have potential to cause an infection. This is particularly important in areas where it is difficult to prevent bacteria from contaminating the surgical site. Precision The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse affects to healthy surrounding tissue. Less Bleeding The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery, which allows your doctor to perform surgeries with extraordinary precision. This also speeds some procedures reducing the amount of anesthesia required. A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs, cats, horses and exotics. Laser surgery can correct many common conditions such as cysts, tumors, warts, and special procedures around the eyes, ears and mouth. Declawing cats with a laser drastically decreases post-operative discomfort allowing normal function much sooner. Specialized internal procedures are also possible with a laser. The laser also allow us to due procedures that were not done routinely because of excessive bleeding or other complications. One of these procedures of correcting an elongated soft palate and the correction of stenotic nares (closed nostrils). Typically these are dogs like Pugs, Boston Terriers, Bull Dogs and Persian cats. These animals will snore excessively and may have extreme difficulty breathing. The Laser procedure can be an incredible improvement of life for these special friends!

INTERESTING ANIMAL FACTS Cats, not dogs, are the most common pets in America. There are approximately 66 million cats to 58 million dogs, with Parakeets a distant third at 14 million. Each day in the US, animal shelters are forced to destroy 30,000 dogs and cats. Neutering a cat extends its life span by two or three years.

ATTENTION!!! LAHS Annual Meeting

will be held Tuesday, December 9th

at the Shelter. All LAHS Members are

welcome and encouraged to attend!

Phone: 320-759-2260 Email: pcm@rea-alp.com

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT #29 ALEXANDRIA, MN

Return Service Requested

Fall 2003 3811 Nevada Street SW Alexandria, MN 56308

When: Thursday, October 30th, 2003 Time: 5:30 PM Doors Open, Buffet Dinner at 7 PM Where: The Haunted Barn at the Holiday Inn of Alexandria Cost: $25 per person (For tickets, call the Shelter @ 759-2260)

Save the Date and Get your Tickets Now for the Lakes Area Humane Society’s 4th Annual

“Halloween Spooktacular”

Put on your best Halloween finery and come on out to the “Haunted Barn” (aka the Barn at the Alexandria Holiday Inn) on Thursday, October 30th for the Lakes Area Humane Society’s “Spooktacular!” - an evening of fun, food and festivities! We are “re-vamping” (yes, the pun is intended!) the Spooktacular fundraiser this year. The planning committee is busy putting together a spooky fun night of entertainment for all ages: Radio Personality Michael Wright from KXRA Radio will MC, dancing music will be provided by TJ the DJ, there will be karaoke contests for the singers (and non-singers in the crowd), we’ll have tours of “The Haunted Attic”, ghoulish games and goodies, prizes for best costumes, a fabulous silent auction (do your Christmas shopping early!) and a mystery treasure chest. All in addition to our social hour and a scrumptious buffet style dinner!

The proceeds of this event go directly to benefit the animals served by the shelter. Please give generously when approached for Silent Auction Items.

For those who would like to donate good quality silent auction items to the “Halloween Spooktacular”, please call the shelter at (320) 759-2260.