EBHS Unleashed
Staff and volunteers of the Elmbrook Humane Society will be blogging about what's going on at the society, as well as other observations about life in Wisconsin.
The mission of the Elmbrook Humane Society is to promote the human-animal bond through adoption and education, to provide shelter to homeless animals, and to prevent animal cruelty and neglect. EBHS services the city of Brookfield, the villages of Butler, Chenequa, Elm Grove and Nashotah, and the towns of Brookfield and Delafield. EBHS shelters unwanted pets and strays, and rescues injured domestic animals and wildlife, provides resources for individuals with companion animals and provides Humane Education to schools and civic groups.
Visit our web site at www.EBHS.org.
The Busiest Day of the Year for Shelters...
There are lots of places that have the busiest night of the year, like the mall on the day after Thanksgiving, or the local Irish Pub on Saint Patrick's Day. For animal shelters, it is July 4th. This is the day that your average, well-adjusted, family companion goes crazy with fear because of the celebrations starring fireworks courtesy of your neighbors. We get lots of calls for stray animals that night.
Do We Ever Learn? PLEASE Don't Leave Any Living Thing in a Car on a Summer Day
How many years have people been warned not to smoke? I am sure since the 1970's at least, yet I see young kids at the shelter starting to smoke all the time. Humans are the only creatures on earth that can have the knowledge that something is a bad choice, that this action will cause an early death, and choose to do that thing anyway.How many years have we heard not to lock a dog in a hot car? I have been hearing that since childhood as well, yet I see dogs locked in hot cars all the time. We got a call for one today, in fact. This enterprising person thought that cracking the windows and leaving the dog a bowl of water while they were at work for 8 hours would be a good idea. The morning was cloudy, but this afternoon got sunny and hot fast.
Parakeets and Rats and Kittens...Oh My!
As a child I remember summer as being the lazy time of the year. We got to ride bikes, swim, chase fireflies and the days seemed so carefree. Flash-forward to adulthood. Summer is the craziest time of the year! I am busier in the summer than I am the whole rest of the year! I feel like I could work 24 hours a day and never catch up! At least that is the excuse I am using for not posting here for a week!
The shelter is also very busy, which is a good thing. We have lots of dogs, cats, and tons of kittens all looking for new homes! We have 6 parakeets, and 3 finches waiting for new homes as well. If you are looking for a small bird to keep company with, we are sure to have one that will be a great fit for you!
My Night in the City Hall Hot Seat
I love public speaking. I am, in real life, a very gregarious person who is always the life of a party, and never at a loss for words. However, my bravado was taken down several (hundred) notches at a recent meeting at Brookfield City Hall.
Since You Asked...
Many of you have been hearing about different shelter activities in the news, both at Elmbrook Humane Society and the Wisconsin Humane Society. Since we have been taking many calls about it, I wanted to let you know what the situation is in regard to the WHS puppy mill dogs.
Yes, Wisconsin Humane Society was able to purchase the puppy mill business of Wallace Havens, the self-proclaimed "inventor" of the Puggle. They purchased not only his facility, but his breeding stock and remaining "inventory" as well. This of course is an excellent development for the almost 1,200 animals that called Puppy Havens home.
Help Wanted!!! and a Big Thanks to Soerens Ford
First of all, I would like to send a really big thanks to Bob and Stephanie Soerens, the father-daughter team who own, and put all their passion into the family business, Soerens Ford right here in Brookfield. We spent the day with them on Sunday selling raffle tickets for our Waggin' Wheels Car raffle on Sunday. They helped us put up our tent, they kept our spirits up, they auctioned off a hat for us, and at the end of the day helped us raise about $1,700 for the shelter. Not only is Soerens a great dealership, but they are longtime supporters of EBHS and animal lovers as well!
Second, I wanted to ask for the help of everyone who reads this (Yes, you!).
Shark Week Celebrates 20 Years and I Officially Feel Old
The other day I had to accept that I am getting old. Surely the expanding waistline and the growing crow's feet were a sure sign of that, but I am usually able to hide those things with clever outfits or cosmetics. But this week is the 20th anniversary of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. I cannot seem to comprehend that I have lived long enough to have done something 20 years ago.
As with most animal lovers, I not only occupy myself with the trials and tribulations of the family companions. I have a thirst for knowledge about all kinds of animals. I often amaze friends with a plethora of facts such as the gestation period for an African Elephant (22 months), the top speeds of emus and ostrich (30mph), and which types of sharks lay eggs or have live births. This type of knowledge might be useful on Jeopardy but has otherwise not gotten me very far in life.
