2. Paw Prints Newsletter, Volume 6 Summer 2016
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HSAC Humane Program Up & Running
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Article by Jessica Huxmann
In late June 2016, the Humane
Society received a call from a
concerned citizen about a neighbor
who had locked a family of cats in
an outbuilding for two days
without food or water. When
Humane Agent Melissa Downs
arrived on the scene, she was
appalled by what she found. The
temperature outside was over
ninety degrees. The temperature
inside the wooden shed was
certainly well above that. All of the
week-old kittens were limp. Their
mother was lethargic, emaciated,
and dehydrated. For the past forty-
eight hours, locked in the
sweltering dark building, the
mother cat had exhausted every
last ounce of moisture from her
body to nurse her kittens, and now
there was not enough left for them
to survive.
Agent Downs immediately
removed the mama and five babies
from the shed and transported
them to the Animal Shelter in West
Union, where they were given
intensive treatment. Sadly, one tiny
kitten died as a result of heat stress
and dehydration. Agent Downs
remained at the Shelter well past
midnight to ensure that the mama
cat, nick-named “Joanne”, would
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survive. Agent Downs hand-fed
Joanne small morsels of wet cat
food every half-hour until she was
satisfied that the cat could eat on
her own.
Joanne and her surviving four
kittens have come a long way in
their recuperation, but some of the
kittens continue to struggle with
the effects of their extreme neglect.
Two of the kittens have
permanently lost vision in one eye
due to untreated infections. All of
the kittens are smaller than normal
for their age. The Humane Society
of Adams County is committed to
continuing to care for the felines
until each one is healthy and has
been adopted into its forever home.
Joanne and her family’s rescue and
recovery have been made possible
by the Adams County
Commissioner’s generous support
of HSAC’s Humane Program and by
the donations of supporters like
you.
Each time Agent Downs learns of a
possible new case of cruelty or
neglect, she must pull together all
of her available resources to
properly investigate the situation.
This might include using gasoline
to travel to and from the site of the
alleged abuse, using a digital
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camera to take photos of evidence,
spending hours in the field and on
the phone interviewing suspects
and witnesses, writing copious
notes to document each detail of
the case, and spending time in the
offices of law enforcement to
ensure that the case is properly
handled and the perpetrators are
brought to justice.
The future of the Humane Program
depends on the availability of funds
to pay for these expenses. Without
members like you, the rescue of
Joanne and her family would not
have been possible. Thank you for
your support of the abused,
neglected, unwanted and forgotten
animals of Adams County.
For more ways you can help the
Humane Program, please see the
Humane Program Wish List on
Page 7.
4. Paw Prints Newsletter, Volume 6 Summer 2016
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We Are Ready for New Homes
These are just a few of our many friendly and
fully-vetted animals ready to be adopted.
“Thumper is my name. I’m a VERY
desirable mutt: Schnauzer/Shih Tzu!
I’m pretty new at the Shelter, so the
nice folks here and I are still getting to
know each other, but I’m ready to meet
you and your family and maybe we’d
be a great match!”
“Jenna Here! I'm such a sweet loving girl. I am 6 years
old and I came to HSAC in April 2016, when the rescue
I was with found themselves unable to care for the
many cats in their possession. It happens to the best
sometimes. Funding isn't easy to find anymore, at least
that's what I keep hearing anyway. Luckily HSAC was
able to step up and take me in. Anyway, now that you
know some of my history, will you help me write my
“Greetings, I am Grace. Never in your
life will you find a feline as exquisitely
wonderful as me. I suppose that the
universe had larger plans for my future
when I was abandoned and ended up
here…. I believe YOU are a part of that
plan. Do come visit me today. I shall be
forever grateful.”
“Hey there! I'm Scooby, I'm a 1.5 year old, Red
Heeler/Hound Mix. I'm a pretty awesome boy, if I
do say so myself! Cool fact: part of one my eyes
is light blue! I think it makes me pretty unique, as
if my awesome personality didn't do that already!
I came into the Shelter in April 2016 from in a
not-very-good situation at my last home. I was
tied up all day and all night for most of my life. I
really would love to find a new forever home, a
pup can't stay at the shelter forever, ya know!”
Photo by Hazelbaker Photography
5. Paw Prints Newsletter, Volume 6 Summer 2016
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We Are Ready for New Homes
“Marney is my name. I’m a VERY
friendly cat that would love a family
of my own. Being in a Shelter is not
a very happy place for such a
people-loving cat like me! At my age
age (born in 2014), I’ve got lots
more years of love to give! I’m in
great health and I love squeaky toys
as much as any dog! I also like
being in the sunshine – I’ll seek out
the beams wherever they are. I am
already spayed and vaccinated.”
“Hello there, Wren here!
I'm a pretty awesome
girl. Most cats aren't
cool enough to have
one blue eye and one
green eye! Pretty cool
huh? I'm such a lover. I
love to snuggle right
next to you and be
petted. I get along well
with other animals and
kids. I’m spayed and
up-to-date on all shots.
What's not to like?”
“Flower here! I'm such a cuddle bug!!!
I don't know a stranger! Boy oh boy
do I love to play fetch!!! I would,
however, prefer to be the only dog in
the home, and I would love a home
without small children, they make me
pretty nervous. I get along great with
older kids and cats, though! I am
housebroken, crate trained, and I
love to go for car rides!”
“I’m Midas and I think life is a blast, except
for one thing: I’m sure that seeing shelter
visitors leave without me is no fun! I’m a very
affectionate young boy who is a people-lover
through and through. Born around May
2015, I came to HSAC with my two brothers,
Chewie and Jerzy. I had a small hole in my
chest cavity but I already had surgery to
correct it and I’m fully recovered! I am
neutered, up-to-date on all vaccinations, and
I am happy to live with other cats.”
Photo by Hazelbaker Photography
Photo by Hazelbaker Photography
ADOPTED
ADOPTED
6. Paw Prints Newsletter, Volume 6 Summer 2016
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We Are Ready for New Homes
Zoey is my name. I am a very sweet
Beagle/Labrador Retriever mix. I am in
the prime of my life at just three years old.
I’m out of my annoying puppy years, but
active enough to keep up with anything
you’d like to do. I am vaccinated, spayed,
and micro-chipped. I adore all people and
I love to play. I am looking to be your one
and only – I would do best in a home with
no other animals. Lots of people pass me
by… will you be the one who chooses
me?
“Hello there, Trip here!
I'm a pretty awesome
pooch. I'm such a loving
guy. I love to snuggle
right next to you and be
petted. What's not to
like?”
Looking for a pal you can truly talk
to? Hilda will hang on your every
word. She is a cheerful, healthy
senior. Hilda is crazy about playing
with balls and she's more than happy
to be petted along her back for as
long as you can manage it. Hilda is
spayed, and vaccinated.
“I’m Blade and I think you might
be the one I’ve been waiting for.
I’m a very sweet young boy with a
hear of gold. I am neutered, up-to-
date on all vaccinations, and I am
happy to live with other cats.”
Photo by Hazelbaker Photography
ADOPTED
After 10 months in the Shelter!
Senior
At Shelter since April 2016
8. Paw Prints Newsletter, Volume 5: Issue 1 Summer 2015
Use HSAC to promote your business!
The Humane Society of Adams County is always
interested in finding creative ways to partner with local
businesses. Whether you sell donuts or doorknobs, we
bet there’s a way we can promote your goods while
helping homeless animals. Consider inviting us to hold
an adoption event with cute puppies & kittens in your
store. How about a “Stuff-the-Truck” event in which
HSAC volunteers hand out lists of needed items to your
customers as they enter your store. Your customers add
one or two purchases to their shopping list and drop the
items off on their way out. You get full retail price and
HSAC get much-needed supplies to help the animals!
Show your customers you care about their community and
its homeless animals.
Thank you for your support!
Surprising Ways You Can Donate
• Donate Your Time – become a volunteer at the Shelter or at HSAC events.
• Donate Your Talent – Share your special hobby of gardening by helping spruce up the Shelter’s
landscaping, or use your sewing skills to make cozy beds for the cats and kittens.
• Donate a Place in Your Home – Fostering a pet gives a second chance to an animal in need, and HSAC pays
the bills. Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens often need foster homes, as well as horses, donkeys, goats, and
other livestock.
• Donate Part of Your Wedding or Event Registry – who needs another toaster? Add some of the Shelter’s
“Wish List” items to your registry and let your guests know that their support of the Shelter is also a way to
support you and your event, (and you don’t have to worry about re-gifting the toaster).
• Donate Household Items – The Shelter uses tons of Dawn dish soap, bleach, laundry detergent, paper
towels, toilet paper, and office supplies.
• Donate Scoopable Litter – You know how quickly your cat’s litter box gets soiled – now multiply that by
twenty-six cats 365 days per year and you’ll understand how critical litter is to the Shelter. Pet food is also
a quickly-used commodity, especially food for puppies and kittens.
• Sign up with Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards (org #83617) – A portion of each
purchase benefits the Shelter.
• Double Your Donation Through Your Employer - Check with your company about gift-matching
programs. GE is one generous local business that allows employees to select HSAC for contributions, which
can be matched by the company.
All donations may be tax-deductible. Consider hosting a Supply Drive for the Shelter with your child’s 4-H or scout
troop. When they come to drop off their collected items, we will take their photo, give them a personal tour, and
sent the photo to the local newspapers to celebrate their service to the community. Checks can be made to “HSAC”
and mailed to P.O. Box 245, West Union, OH 45693.
Bumble – adopted!
Scooby is available, see Page 4.
Photo by Hazelbaker Photography
