FOSTER UPDATES!

😍😍😍 MEET CLAY! This lucky dog has been in a foster home with our grrrreat volunteer, Angela. She told us lots about Clay, and here is just a sampling: “From what I observed, Clay has a lot of love to give. He grew very attached to me, followed me everywhere, and I’m sure he’ll do the same for his new family. His piercing amber eyes will make anyone fall in love with him. He played really well with my 5 year old female mini Aussie. He loved to play with the toys we got him; he knows sit; he’s treat motivated so I’m sure he’ll be easy to train. Clay seems very smart, as he waits at the doors to be let out to go to the bathroom, and I believe he now knows his name! Clay rides well in cars, his favorite was rides on our golf cart. His indoor manors are how every dog should be—just SUPERB!" AND THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS MORE on Clay's webpage: http://www.mendoanimalshelter.com/dogblog/clay ❤️❤️❤️

FIDO FIELD TRIPS!

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Looking for a way to help out a shelter dog, but can’t make a long term commitment? Our FIDO FIELD TRIPS program is a unique opportunity that will leave you howling with excitement! Not only is it a good time for you, but you are also enriching the life of a shelter dog, who will be furever grateful! Our shelter dogs are less stressed, happier, and have improved behavior after being out of the shelter, which leads them to getting adopted quicker.

FOR YOUR SAFETY: PARTICIPANTS MUST WEAR CLOSED-TOE SHOES. PANT LENGTH MUST BE BELOW THE KNEE!

Before you take a dog on a field trip, you will need to attend a VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION and, right after orientation, a DOG WALKING TRAINING. Volunteer Orientations are held the SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH AT 9 A.M.**

WHAT HAPPENS ON A FIDO FIELD TRIP?

• YOU WILL Check-out a shelter dog for 2+ hours.

• TAKE THE DOG for a walk, a hike, to your favorite dog friendly restaurant’s patio area, relax in a park or cuddle on your couch at home. We will provide you with a list of places you can go.

• DOGS ARE AVAILABLE for FIDO FIELD TRIPS 5 days a week (Tuesday through Saturday) from 10 am to 2:30pm and must be back by 4:30pm at the latest, so they can be tucked in for the night prior to the shelter closing.

• TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS and post them on your personal Facebook page and other social media sites you belong to. And send them to us, so we can post on our Facebook and website pages!

• PLAN TO have a few minutes when you return to fill out a Fido Field Trip “report card”.

REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE

• YOU MUST COMPLETE a sign-up form prior to taking a dog on Fido Filed Trip, and ATTEND A VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION AND A DOG WALKING TRAINING.

• YOU MUST BE at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license to participate.

• YOUR DOG MUST REMAIN on the leash and under your control at all times.

• VIST LOCATIONS MUST BE one of our approved Fido Field Trip spots. ABSOLUTELY NO dog parks, or any other public off leash dog areas will be approved.

• YOUR CANINE PAL will not be able to socialize with any other animals (nose to nose introductions are a no, no!) during your Fido Field Trip.

• YOU MUST BE AVAILABLE by phone if the shelter needs to contact you.

• ALL SUPPLIES must be returned with the dog at the end of your field trip.

• HAVE A BLAST! Always remember to keep the dog’s safety as your #1 priority, but enjoy your date to the fullest extent! Take lots of pictures!

HOW TO GET STARTED After you have attended a VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION AND DOG WALKING TRAINING, fill out a simple Foster Care form when you come to the shelter. When you arrive at the shelter enter thought the lobby with your driver’s license in hand. Let staff know you are here for a Fido Field Trip. After a conversation with a Fido Field Trip staff person who will match you with the perfect canine companion, we will get you out and about, exploring with your new furry friend in no time!

Many thanks go to the Maddie’s Fund for supporting this program.

PACK WALK!

JOIN US FOR THE MONTHLY EMPTY THE SHELTER PACK WALK!

We meet at the Ukiah Shelter at 9 a.m. Your Pack Leader will help you choose a dog who is compatable with your age, experience, etc. The PACK WALK is great exercise for you, and wonderful exercise and socialization for our great dogs! Please wear long pants and closed toed shoes.

PHOTOS BELOW ARE FROM THE APRIL 2024 PACK WALK. Many thanks to photographer Rob Dolmage!

BELOW PHOTOS ARE FROM THE MAY, 2023 PACK WALK

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM INFO

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS ARE HELD THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH!

Volunteering is fun and is also very rewarding. Volunteer to walk dogs, play with the cats, or attend local adoption events. Volunteers help the shelter animals get adopted. Human contact can help relieve the stress of being in a shelter and the more contact animals have the more likely they'll be adopted. To become a volunteer, you will need to attend the one-hour introductory orientation. After the orientation, we will hold a dog walking training. If you are younger than 18 years of age, please be sure to bring your parent or legal guardian with you. PLEASE WEAR LONG-ISH PANTS AND CLOSED-TOE SHOES! For more information call 707-467-6453.

KITTEN FOSTERING

Do you have a little extra space in your home, a bit of free time, and some love to share?

If so, consider becoming a foster parent for a litter of homeless kittens. With the arrival of "kitten season" in early spring, Animal Care Services will require foster families to assist us with kittens until they are eight weeks old. Please note that fostering kittens may require keeping our furry friends for up to a 8 week obligation.

FOSTERING OPTIONS

• A mom cat with kittens - This is actually one of the easiest fostering situations since mom does most of the work. You'll need a room or large cage along with a nesting area-part of the cage, a closet, large dog carrier, or a box on its side with a blanket draped over the front. Mom will need a litterbox.
The mother cat will feed, clean, and socialize the kittens. You will feed mom, clean her litterbox and bedding, handle the kittens, and monitor everyone's health.

• Bottle feeders (or bottle babies) - These are kittens less than four weeks old that need to be bottle fed every 2-6 hours depending on how old they are. Since these kittens don't have a mom, you will also have to help them go to the bathroom, keep them clean, wean them, and train them to use a litterbox.
You'll need a warm, safe area in which to confine bottle babies, preferably a cage or large carrier. Some foster parents even convert an extra bathtub into a kitten area. Because warmth is so important, kittens should have access to a towel-covered heating pad, set on low. They must have enough space to be able to crawl off the heating pad if it gets too warm. If you are fostering a single kitten, provide a stuffed animal or something fuzzy for the kitten to cuddle.

• Self-feeding kittens - Kittens 4-8 weeks old can already eat on their own and use the litterbox, but need TLC until they are old enough to be adopted. You'll feed them; clean them, play with them, monitor their health, and clean their litterbox. It is best to keep them in a confined area such as a small, kitten-proofed room, or a large cage.

SETTING UP

• Animal Care Services will provide you with a cat condo, litter, litterbox, food & play toys.

• To kitten-proof a room, remove anything that might fall on a kitten - even a book can cause serious injury. Remember that kittens can climb into tiny holes and crevices and get stuck. Bathrooms seem to be especially easy to kitten-proof, and they are easy to clean.

• Regular litterboxes are too big for young kittens. Start out with small Tupperware-type containers or shoebox lids. As the kittens grow, so can the litterbox.

• Some foster parents get permission to bring very young bottle babies to work with them. Kittens sleep much of the time and can stay in a small carrier under your desk.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Monitoring your kitten’s health is extremely important - sick kittens must be treated quickly. Keep tabs on the following:

• Kittens should be alert and warm to the touch. Chilling is a risk mainly during the first four weeks of life. If the kittens are cold and listless, they must be warmed up immediately. Do not attempt to feed chilled kittens. Place the kittens in a box or pet carrier with a heating pad (placed in a pillowcase then wrapped in a towel) set on low inside the box. Be sure the heating pad covers only half of the bottom of the box--the kittens must be able to move off the heating pad if it becomes too warm. (Contact Animal Shelter Foster Coordinator ASAP for Direction)

• If you notice fleas, you should flea comb the kitten as soon as possible. Do not use insecticides or any other flea products. Kittens can also be bathed with warm water and a very gentle soap. Do not wet the head. Dry the kitten immediately with a towel, then with a blow dryer set on low/warm (not hot, not cold).

• Diarrhea and upper respiratory infection (watery eyes, stuffy nose, sneezing - similar to a human cold) are serious and should be immediately treated by a veterinarian. (Contact Animal Shelter Foster Coordinator ASAP for Direction)

• Keeping the kittens clean helps to maintain their health. Wash bedding and food and water dishes daily. After they eat or use the litterbox, clean dirty kittens with warm, damp towels and dry them well. Wash your hands before and after feeding and handling kittens.

• Don't wear shoes around the kittens and be especially careful when walking around. They move quickly and it's all too easy to step on them.

• Never give cow's milk to kittens. Since they cannot digest it properly, it can make them sick.

• Don't let bottle babies nurse on their siblings - this can cause serious injury.

• Keep foster animals separate from your own pets.

KITTEN TIMELINE

• Newborn (or neonatal): Eyes are closed, ears are flat to the head, fur is thin and skin looks pink.

• Ten days old: Eyes begin to open.

• Three weeks old: Ears stand up, teeth are visible, and kittens begin to walk - wobbly at first!

• Four weeks old: Kittens begin eating regular cat food and using the litterbox. They also begin to pounce and leap.

• Eight weeks old: Healthy kittens will weigh approximately two pounds, and are ready for spay/neuter and adoption.

FOSTER APPLICATION

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR THE SHELTER FOSTER APPLICATION:

https://www.mendocinocounty.org/home/showdocument?id=30527

Completed foster applications for Ukiah Shelter animals can be sent back either via fax at 468-3338 or to the below email addresses.

• campbella@mendocinocounty.org
• penryl@mendocinocounty.org

*Completed foster applications for Fort Bragg animals can be sent back to the below email addresses.

• vega@mendocinocounty.org
• mullisj@mendocinocounty.org

Once the foster application is received, the applications will be reviewed and we will contact you.

INFORMATION ABOUT FOUND KITTENS

LEAVING FOUND KITTENS ALONE

During high kitten season in the spring and summer, it’s not unusual to discover a nest of unattended kittens or a single kitten seemingly abandoned by the mother. You want to help, right? Before jumping to the rescue, consider these recommendations.

FIRST WAIT AND WATCH

• You might have come across the kittens while their mother is off searching for food, or is in the process of moving them to a different location. Try to determine if the mother is coming back for them, or if they are truly orphaned.

• To do this, stand far away from the kittens — 35 feet or more. If you stand too close, the mom will not approach her kittens. You might need to go away completely before the mother cat will return to attend to the kittens. It might be several hours before the mother cat returns — until she no longer senses the presence of humans hovering near her litter.

• If you need to leave before the mother cat comes back, carefully evaluate whether the kittens are in immediate danger: Is it raining or snowing? Are dogs or wild animals that might harm the kittens running loose in the neighborhood? Does the neighborhood have kids or adults who are likely to harm the kittens? Are the kittens located in an area with heavy foot or car traffic? • To help with your decision, it is important to know that it might take several hours for the mother cat to return, and healthy kittens can survive this period without food as long as they are warm. Neonatal kittens are much more at risk of hypothermia than they are of starvation. During spring and summer months, waiting a longer time to see if mom will come back is much safer than during frigid winter months.

The best food for the kittens is their mother’s milk. Remove the kittens only if they are in immediate, grave danger. The mother cat offers her newborn kittens their best chance for survival, so wait and watch as long as you safely can for her to return before removing them.

IF THE MOTHER CAT RETURNS....

• If mom returns and the area is relatively safe, leave the kittens alone with mom until they are weaned. You can offer a shelter and regular food to mom, but keep the food and shelter at a distance from each other. Mom will find the food but will not accept your shelter if the food is nearby, because she will not want to attract other cats to food located near her nest.

• Six weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from the mother for socialization and adoption placement and any time after eight weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony). Female cats can become pregnant with a new litter even while they are still nursing, so don’t forget to get the mother cat spayed or you will have more kittens soon! Learn how to socialize kittens and how to successfully trap a mom and her kittens.

IF THE MOTHER CAT DOES NOT RETURN...

• If you discover that mom has been hit by a car, or if for any reason it appears that she is not coming back, then you should remove the kittens. This is crucial to the kittens’ survival. But you must be prepared to see this project through to weaning if you decide to intervene! • If you take the kittens in, it is unlikely that you will find an organization with available staff or volunteers to take on bottle-feeding on short notice. Some organizations do have experienced bottle-feeders, but prior logistical planning is necessary.

KITTEN CARE & BOTTLE FEEDING

First Steps

  1. Prepare for bottle-feeding and proper care before you take the kittens off the street.

  2. If you feel you must take the kittens in, wrap the carrier or container you will transport them in in a towel for warmth and make sure you leave air holes uncovered so the kittens won’t suffocate.

  3. Check to see if the kittens are warm. This is more important than feeding. Never feed a cold kitten! If the kittens are cold, you will need to warm them up slowly. You can tell a kitten is cold if the pads of his feet and/or ears feel cool or cold. Put your finger in the kitten’s mouth. If it feels cold, then the kitten’s temperature is too low. This is life-threatening and must be dealt with immediately. Warm up the kitten slowly over 20 minutes by wrapping him in a towel or baby blanket, holding him close to your body and continually rubbing him with your warm hands.

  4. Determine the age of the kittens by comparing them to the photos and descriptions on the How Old Is That Kitten? Kitten Progression: At-a-Glance page on the Alley Cat Allies website, or the Boutique Kittens website (Note: we do not advocate breeding or buying kittens; these kitten development photos just happen to be particularly descriptive.).

Newborn kittens need to be fed and stimulated for elimination every three hours around-the-clock.

FEEDING & ELIMINATION

• Neonatal kittens (under four weeks of age) cannot eat solid food (not canned, not dry) and cannot urinate or defecate on their own, so you must bottle-feed them around-the-clock and stimulate their genitals after every feeding so they can eliminate. For example, if you have kittens less than one week old, they will need to be fed and stimulated every three hours. That means you will be caring for them eight times a day — for example, at midnight, 3:00 a.m, 6:00 a.m, etc. If the kittens are unusually small or sickly, they might need to be fed every two hours. • Skipping feedings or overfeeding can cause diarrhea, which results in dehydration, a condition that can be fatal for small kittens (not to mention a hassle for you to clean up after). • Diarrhea requires a visit to the Veterinarian. • As the kittens age, the number of feedings they need per day goes down. You can start weaning at four weeks of age.

MILK REPLACEMENT FORMULAS

• Powdered kitten milk replacement formula is better for kittens than the canned liquid formula. We recommend that you use only powdered kitten milk replacement formula from the start — or as soon as possible — to prevent diarrhea. Two major brands of formula are available: PetAg KMR® Powder and Farnam Pet Products Just Born® Highly Digestible Milk Replacer for Kittens. Both brands are available in both canned and powdered formulas. We highly recommend the powdered type to prevent diarrhea. It can be purchased at pet food stores, veterinarians’ offices, or online. Revival Animal Health offers the lowest prices we know of.

• Make sure that the powdered formula you are using is fresh by opening the pop-top and smelling it. It should smell slightly sweet, like powdered milk. If it has a sharp smell like bad cooking oil, cheese, or chemicals, it is rancid, and dangerous to give to the kittens. Do not use any type of formula past the expiration date.

• Once opened, kitten milk replacement formula (canned or powdered) must be refrigerated promptly and stored in the refrigerator. You cannot keep opened kitten milk replacement formula out of the refrigerator for very long before it spoils. Think of it as fresh milk.

• Tip: Using unflavored Pedialyte electrolyte solution instead of water when mixing the powdered formula for the first 24 hours of feeding helps prevents diarrhea and eases the transition from mom’s milk to commercial kitten milk replacement formula.

KURANDA DOG BEDS

Animal Care Services is trying to provide Kuranda Shelter-Beds to the dogs in our care.

Kuranda Shelter-Beds are made specially for animal sheltering-- they have a chewproof design, strong frame and heavy duty fabric that resists digging and is easily cleaned.

In addition to providing a comfortable, safe, resting spot, the beds are useful in place training. This training helps socialize dogs, improving their chances for adoption and easing their transition into a new home.

Kuranda Shelter-Beds have been proven in shelters, rescues and fosters since 1998. The beds aren't cheap, but they typically last 5+ years in shelters, even longer in foster homes. If a particularly energetic dog happens to damage a bed, parts can be replaced inexpensively.

Kuranda is a small, family owned manufacturing company located in Maryland. Everything they sell is made at their facility in Baltimore. They machine all the frames and sew all the fabrics. The materials used in the bed are sourced from US fabric mills, extruders, and casting houses.

Kuranda stands behind their product with a Chewproof warranty.

Visit https://donate.shelterbeds.org/373564 to donate a bed today. When you donate a bed, it will ship directly to our group. You will receive tracking information to confirm the bed made it to the shelter. We thank our animal-loving community, and the dogs give you a special WOOF!

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SENIORS 4 SENIORS

Seniors for Seniors is a program focusing on senior cats in our shelter and seniors in our community. We match our loving senior cats with caring and loving senior homes to benefit both cat and person.

Cats are wonderful companions for people of all ages, but can be especially beneficial to seniors. Many studies have been done showing that cat companionship can help:

• Reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels and increasing serotonin levels

• Reduce resting heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol values

• Decrease risk for heart attack and stroke

• Reduce depression and diminish loneliness

• Increase social activity and mental health

• Boost nervous and immune systems, resulting in faster recovery from illness, injury, and grief

• Senior cats are often overlooked at shelters due to their advanced age and/or health issues, but are often the most appreciative to be in a loving home. A senior cat has already gone through their rambunctious kitten phase, and though many are still playful, others want nothing more than a warm lap and constant companion. This program benefits both person and animal in helping alleviate the above ailments for the cats as well. Older cats tend to suffer from depression when in a shelter environment which can cause health issues to arise.

• When a cat leaves the shelter to go to their new home, they have been sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed and had an overall health exam by one of our Veterinarians. This is all at no cost to their adopter.

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SURRENDERING A PET

Staff at the Ukiah Shelter know surrendering your beloved pet can be a difficult and heart wrenching decision. Our surrender process is aimed at making your decision as easy as possible for you, AND your pet. The following information can help you through the process:

Before you contact the shelter about surrendering a pet, visit getyourpet.com - a website where individuals can post profiles of pets for potential adopters. Getyourpet can help you rehome your pet without a shelter or rescue between you and an adopter.

•ALL OWNER SURRENDERS REQUIRE AN APPOINTMENT. Call 707-467-6453 to schedule an appointment and to discuss alternatives such as contacting rescue groups. We do not accept owner surrenders without an appointment.

•We can only accept owner surrenders from Mendocino County residents, and proof of residency is required at the time of the surrender.

•There is a fee of $40 to surrender a pet to the Ukiah Shelter.

•The link below will take you to Mendocino County's website. Click on the hi-lited SHELTER'S OWNER SURRENDER FORM to download the PDF file, then print, fill out, and bring the form with you at the time of your appointment. Please be as thourough and honest about your pet as possible, so we will be better able to find him or her the best new home.

•At the time of your appointment, please bring any veterinary records, including vaccine records.

Source: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government...

BOOK BUDDIES

KEEP YOUR KIDS READING THIS SUMMER, WITH THE HELP OF THE UKIAH SHELTER CATS!

BOOK BUDDIES is a program that will improve reading skills, help shelter animals and get children involved in their community! Children in grades 1-8 who are able to read at any level are welcome at the animal shelter to read to the cats in our adoption rooms!

Kids love it, and our cats love it, too! Each month we hold a raffle and a drawing for prizes. SPEND SOME TIME AT YOUR LOCAL SHELTER THIS SUMMER!

For information call Amy at 467-6453.

BRINGING HOME YOUR DOG

CONGRATULATIONS ON ADOPTING A DOG FROM MENDOCINO ANIMAL CARE SERVICES UKIAH SHELTER! Here are some helpful tips about your new friend and how to make his or her transition from shelter dog to best buddy go smoothly.

PETS 4 VETS

Please call the shelter to find out about our PETS FOR VETS PROGRAM: 707-467-6453.

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