STATE OF THE ARKCelebrating 44 years of rescuing, housing and

adopting homeless animals

November, 2009

VOLUNTEER

NEWS

Volunteer of the Quarter - Donald Chadduck

Congratulations to Donald Chadduck, HSFC’s Volunteer of the Quarter for 3rd Quarter, 2009. Donald has been volunteer-ing with us for about three years, coming in for about four hours each week to socialize with the cats and rabbits and assist with chores as needed.

Donald’s love of animals began when he was a boy and he read an article in the paper about helping animals. Once he saw the movie Born Free, he further fell in love with animals. Donald wants to protect and save animals and do what he can for them.

Adoption Statistics - 3rd Quarter 2009

As you review these numbers, please know that your volunteer efforts played a major role in our suc-cess. Thank you for your efforts!

Adoptions through 11/16/2009: Dogs: 101 Guinea Pigs: 6 Cats: 64 Birds: 4 Rabbits: 14 Ferrets: 2

Community Members Helped through 10/29/2009: 59 as scholarships (not to be paid back) 32 loans to help community members meet their pets’ needs 70 families have used the AniMeals pantry services thus far in 2009

Trap/Neuter/Return Program Support through 10/29/2009: 137 cats/kittens trapped, neutered and returned

He currently has a seven-year-old cat named Black. Black had been a stray cat and now lives happily with Donald. Donald also volunteers at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter as a dog and cat socializer. In addition, he stops in daily at Potomac Valley Veterinary Hospital in Fairfax to visit with the 4Paws cats that reside there. Donald’s strengths are his caring for animals as individuals, his consistency as a volunteer, and his overall kindness. Thank you, Donald, for all you do for HSFC!

HSFC Volunteer News | November, 2009 | Page 2

Thank You, Volunteers!

Many wags, purrs, whinnies and snickers to our volunteers for their tremendous support over this past quarter!

Betsy Thompson and Shawn Bennett for their traveling road show where they visit local schools and offer presentations about proper care of and kindness toward animals, adoption vs. purchasing pets, etc. Thanks for raising awareness of these important issues!

Fairfax Festival Volunteers (October): Kendal Moore, Carmen Newett, Claire Davis, Dee Wyatt, Deb Siluk, Mike Siluk, Mary O’Baidy, Bonnie Markle, Marlene Hammer, Debra Otto; special thanks to Robert Otto for his logistics support hauling HSFC’s wares back and forth!

Bark Bowl Volunteers (August 2009): Becky and Matt Walton, Michelle Brendel, Cheryl Conner, Jennifer Conner, Isabel Alvarez, Bonnie Markle, Barbara Watson, Amy Toman, Kristine Von Brook, Betsy Thompson, Kim Hansen, Leslie Hansen and Julie Hansen and Jeanne Taylor for volunteering their time to work the tent on a blistering hot August day; to Jeanne Taylor for working closely with the event host (IFFL) and securing business sponsors which helped net several hundred dollars in additional donations to HSFC; and to Tom, Vincent, IFFL Commissioner for once again hosting this fundraiser to benefit HSFC!

Rachel Szyszka, Pat Priest and Michele Brendel for representing HSFC at the Caring Hands Animal Hospital on August 23.

Becky Walton for running a 5K for World Run Day and designating HSFC as her charity.

Stephen C., one of our underage volunteers, for donating hours of his time to create some fantastic home-baked dog treats for our farm dogs (they can’t get enough of the baked cheesy biscuits!). Stephen is expanding the enterprise and baking healthy treats that HSFC can sell as a fundraiser at the November craft show. Four paws up! Thank you Stephen!

Brock Taylor, another underage volunteer, for helping to make pine cone bird feeders to be sold at the November Craft Show.

Jeanne Taylor for organizing a reunion and photo opportunity among a mother dog and eight of her ten pups adopted from HSFC in 2008 (half of the net proceeds for which has been donated to HSFC).

Miller Heights Young Families Co-op of Oakton, VA who made dog treats and cat toys as one of their activities: Andrea Woodhouse and children; Kristine Boehm and children; Sara Holtz and children; Caren Suarez and children; Michelle Konson and children; Jacque-line Gerety and son; Carol Schenkel and children; Gayle Job and children; and Teri Schmidt and son.

Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Centreville, not only for their stellar veterinary care of Suri, our burn victim/cruelty case pup, but they also took the initiative to solicit donations to help defray the costs of her care.

Securities & Exchange Commission employees who also donated toward Suri’s medical expenses.

Dr. Cheema from Potomac Valley Vet, and Dr. Riley and Dr. Rhymes from Parkway Veterinary Clinic for their care of the State Kittens and their upper respiratory infections (see page 3 for the kittens’ story).

Glenn Dallaire who made sure we always had enough kitten food for the State Kittens (since there were 16) and other kittens as well as beds, etc.

Mike Siluk for his bird wrangling skills when it was time to give “Sonny” his medication. Fifteen minutes of bird-herding and LOTS of patience later, thank you Mike!

Girl Scout Troop # 2678, and their Troop Leader, Sheila Blaine, for their farm visit and donations of dog and horse treats and supplies. The Troop has also donated their cookie money to HSFC. (Pictured right!)

AND ... To our amazing veterinarians and regular donors on whom we rely so much; our regular volunteers at the farm, office and thrift stores without whose consistency and dedication, our success would not be possible; our dedicated ACAT and feral cat program volunteers; and our foster families, we THANK YOU!

HSFC Volunteer News | November, 2009 | Page 3

Email: hsfcnews@yahoo.com | www.hsfcvolunteers.org

Volunteer Hours: Remember to Sign In!

Please remember to sign in and out when you volunteer. We are tracking hours and want to be able to properly acknowledge your efforts. Each location - Administrative Office, Farm and both Thrift Stores - has a sign-in book for volunteer use. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

State Kittens

Sixteen kittens came to HSFC from a rural shelter in Clarksville VA. A woman called from a very poor Southern VA shelter (housed behind a feed store) and asked for help because they had over 100 kittens that they needed to place or they’d be euthanized. The woman brought the 16 kittens to us in mid-July. They are called the State Kittens because whenever we get any kittens (or puppies) in we try to name them after the mother in some way, usually first names with the same letter so they are in “batches”. But these were from different litters and they needed some sort of name to tie them together. So they are all named after different states!

These babies were so sick, with every illness imaginable! All were treated for upper respiratory infections, Coccidia, Giardia, conjunctivitis, fleas, ticks etc. Two came down with Calicivirus and one, sadly, died from feline bordatella and pneumonia.

Six of these wonder cats were in foster care while the remaining ten worked their way to health and strength at the building. They were given special food and medicated three times a day with caretakers donning hazmat suits because the kittens were contagious and we didn’t want to spread their illnesses throughout the building! A small team of staff and volunteers were allowed to medicate and socialize with them. Little by little they got stronger and healthier. To date, all but three have been adopted into loving homes.

We’d like to issue a special thank you to those who played a vital role in the care of this group – Debra Otto, Carol Relkin, Mar-lene Hammer, Mary Kendall, Tim Tuggle, Diane Hale, Darby Schlat and Shawn Bennett; and Sunday feeders Pat Trenner, Stacey Overman and Kate Bennett. Thank you all!

HSFC Volunteer News | November, 2009 | Page 4

Our Staff

Carol Relkin Office Manager

Debra Otto(Part-time)

Asst. Office Manager

Elisa BoteroThrift Store Manager

Marlene Hammer(Part-time)

Asst. Thrift Store Manager

Shawn BennettFarm Manager

Centreville

• • •

Our Board of Directors

Vicki KirbyPresident

Mary KendallVice President/Treasurer

Marlene HammerCorresponding Secretary

Jeanne TaylorRecording Secretary

Volunteer Coordinator

Dan LariveyDirector

Debra OttoDirector

• • •

www.hsfc.org

Tel. 703-385-7387

• • •

4057 Chain Bridge RoadFairfax VA 22030

www.hsfcvolunteers.org

FUTURE ISSUES OF STATE OF THE ARK

Anyone wishing to include an article in the next issue of State of the Ark should submit content in writing to the Administrative Office, Attention, Jeanne Taylor, or by email to hsfcnews@yahoo.com by January 15, 2010.

HUMANE SOCIETY MISSION

The Humane Society of Fairfax County, Inc. (HSFC) is a non-profit, private organiza-tion established in 1965. The mission of the Humane Society of Fairfax County, Inc. is to promote humane education; to prevent all forms of cruelty to animals, both domestic and wild, by every legitimate means; and to assist the community with all matters pertaining to the welfare of animals.

Upcoming Events or Meetings

December 12 & 13 Santa Paws at Reston PetSmart - Volunteers Needed Email pets@hsfc.org

December 13 VOLUNTEER HOLIDAY PARTY - 12pm - 3pm

December 19 & 20 Santa Paws at Reston PetSmart (Last Weekend!) Volunteers Needed - Email pets@hsfc.org

TBD Movers Needed! We’ll be needing volunteers to help move the inventory from the Thrift Store to the building just next door. Stay tuned!

Visit www.hsfcvolunteers.org for flyers and details about these and other upcoming events!

To volunteer to assist with any upcoming event, please let us know! We always need knowledgeable, personable representatives to give the public our best paws forward!

HSFC Volunteer News | November, 2009 | Page 5

Success Stories (otherwise known as “Why We Do What We Do” ...)

Hi, I am not sure if you remember us, but we adopted Sheba, now Asta, from the farm in 2005. I thought I would give you a little update on her since she is on the success stories of your website. She is now a certified therapy dog and we go to nursing homes and hospitals to help people heal and feel better. She has come a LONG way since she was adopted and has the perfect personality for a therapy dog. She is not very disciplined (or better we are not), but she has nothing but love and a tailwag for people around her. For a GSD that came out of a rescue situation that is very rare as you prob-ably know. We are lucky and happy to have her in our lives. Thank you (and your team) for all your rescue efforts and all you do for the animals. Alexandra D.

I’m sending pictures of Al Pacino, who now goes by Earl Gray (my husband’s middle name is Gray so it’s a family name:) ) He’s doing great, and we love him. He’s grow-ing so fast. Our older cat, Simba, has fully adjusted, and they have become best friends. And Simba has lost weight, thanks to playing with Earl Gray -- a lot of playing! All is great here. Thanks so much!Sarah B.

Suri has been formally adopted by a Caring Hands staff member and her family (who also happen to be HSFC volunteers!) She is doing so well. Her scar is completely closed and looks fantastic. She has a new dog “sis-ter” and is having a ball! She even comes to classes at the farm.

HSFC Volunteer News | November, 2009

HOURS AND INFORMATION

HSFC Administrative Office 4057 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax703-385-7387 (PETS)Hours of operation:Monday - Friday 10-5Saturday 10-4; Sunday - Closed Cat and Small Mammal Adoptions-Administrative Offices -4057 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax703-385-7387 (PETS)Adoption hours:Monday - Friday 10-3Saturday 10-3; Sunday - Closed

HSFC Farm Centreville VAAll visitors must call ahead - 703-385-7387 (PETS)Dog and Horse adoptions - by appointment only

HSFC Outreach Cat ProgramCat Adoptions held at area PetSmart and Wylie Wagg stores - schedules posted to www.hsfc.org / call 703-385-7387 (PETS)

Second Chance 1 - Thrift Store4057 Chain Bridge Rd. Fairfax703-385-7387 (PETS)Hours of operation:Monday - Friday 10-4Saturday 10-3; Sunday - Closed

Second Chance 2 - Thrift Store929 W. Broad St. Falls Church703-533-9268Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 10-4Saturday 10-4; Sunday – Closed

United Way Campaign # 8734

CFC # 93406CVC (Virginia) # 8030

EMERGENCY SERVICES

South Paws Emergency Clinic - Fairfax, VA703-752-9100

Hope Center for Advancement of Vet. Medicine /Emergency Vet Clinic of Northern Virginia - Vienna703-281-5121

Prince William Emergency Vet Clinic - Manassas703-361-8287

Leesburg Emergency Animal Hospital - Leesburg703-777-5755

Springfield Emergency Vet Clinic - Springfield703-451-8900

VA/MD Vet Emergency Services - Alexandria703-823-3601

Fairfax County Animal Shelter703-830-1100703-691-2131 (Warden)

Wildlife Assistance Hotline703-440-0800