Just wanted to let you know Louie is so sweet and loving (which you all already know). He is fitting in with his new siblings and loves to snuggle next to me in bed or on the couch.

I have three wonderful babies I adopted from your facility, and I wanted to thank everyone there for all you do. I can’t imagine my life without the wonderful cats I found there.

Many thanks!
Michelle B.

The Cedar Valley Humane Society took the top prize in the Shopping: Best Pet Services and Shopping: Best Pet Supplies categories. The Second Chance Thrift Store won second place in the Shopping: Best Housewares category.

“We’re very pleased to have been named to the A-List in three different categories,” says Chuck Tourtillott, executive director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society. “Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to continuous improvement, and winning this popular contest is a sign of how we are serving our communities better and better each day.”

Thank you for being such great interim parents. I was VERY impressed with how dedicated the Cedar Valley Humane Society people are to make sure the pets go to responsible homes, and the follow-up call to me.

Thank you so much for making my life brighter and happier.

Lindsay D.

Chase is very cuddly. He has to be touching me at all times, and if I push him out of my lap he’ll compromise and just stick his head in my lap and look at me sadly. This has created many interesting situations. He is also much, much calmer than he was at the shelter. I’m currently looking for a roommate and he has investigated all the applicants for me without jumping on their laps. It’s nothing short of a miracle. Of course he also makes sure to get as much skin contact as possible without jumping so that they get the message that he needs to be petted very badly. Unfortunately this has also made his separation anxiety difficult to deal with but we’re working through it with training and the help of his vet.

Heeling is very difficult for him because there are just too many smells to explore! Oh well, if I can’t get a run in we go to the dog park instead, and he does a lot of running there! Other parents at the dog park love him because his favorite game is to steal other dog’s balls so that they’ll chase him around. (Did you know this when you named him?) Whenever he’s at the dog park, every dog leaves worn out, including him.

His two favorite things to do are smell and eat. He never just lets me eat in peace, but he’s a Lab so I knew that was a stretch going into this.

His teacher says he is very smart. While most of the other dogs were still learning how to do “down” by leading with a treat he could already do it with just the command. Same with sit, stay, off, and various other things (today he did out which means “get out of the kitchen” without a treat lead, but I still had to do the hand signal). He knows to stay by the door while I’m getting us ready for a walk/errands, and to not walk out the door until I say “okay.”

But enough of my not-so-subtle bragging. Chase’s premier flaw that has been revealed to me since his adoption is he is highly vocal. He barks, yes, but only for a little while. What is infinitely more annoying is his sighs. If he thinks I haven’t been paying enough attention to him he gives out a loud vocal sigh. If I take out my computer he gives out a loud vocal sigh. If I get up too early in the morning there is a super loud sigh! If I poke him while sleeping just to bother him – you guessed it – sigh. He is a bit judgmental for a Lab, but I digress.

He also groans loudly if you rub his ears, or sometimes when he poops (which is incredibly odd and entertaining). Or if he’s scratching, and you take over scratching the spot. And sometimes he groans or whines in his sleep (while thrashing around violently) which makes me think he must have very interesting dreams. He does not sleep on my side of the bed….

Anyway, thus far Chase and I are having lots of fun! He sends his love, and wants you to know how mean I was that I didn’t warn him the doughnut he ate out of my hand today as I was bringing it to my mouth would make his belly upset. Hope all the animals there find wonderful homes.

Best wishes,
Janielle R.

I adopted Gary, the Lynx Point Siamese, and he is the sweetest cat. He has such a huge personality! I’m so happy we both have helped him live a better life. He is doing great in his new home and getting along great with the other cats.

Abbey W.

Emmy enjoys taking walks when the sidewalks are dry, and is so good on a leash. She loves new smells and just being outside. Hanging out in the backyard is another favorite pastime, although cold weather is NOT her friend! She loves rawhides after supper, cuddling with a person on the couch, and sleeping with us at night right by my side. Thank you so much for the service you provide to so many communities!

The Petersens and the Pack
Emmy, Simba, and Naya

Janay C.

When we first found her drowning, afraid and alone, we had no idea that we needed her just as much as she needed us. Thank you for making our family whole.

The M. Family

When the weather gets better, Macy is going to visit the Hallmark Care Center in Mount Vernon. I’m sure everyone living there will be happy to see Macy. Macy does such cute things, and everyone there will be smiling when they see her.

The C. Family

Noah

We are all back to our “dog” routine. Rosie slept all night. She loves her Serta memory foam bed and chewing on dental bones. We quickly learned to keep the doors shut on all the cabinets that have food in them, and we had to move the trash can out to the “freezing” porch… or Rosie would have been in it for sure! She has a lot of spring in her jump. This morning she has already been out four times.

I know Rosie will be my comfort from pain. All of you are special and wonderful for taking such excellent care of animals in need.

Love,
The P. Family

On October 3, my mom came to the Cedar Valley Humane Society to see a cat she saw online. While she looked at other cats, I kept talking and talking to her from my cage. WOW… she finally heard me and came to my cage. I don’t like to brag, but she said she couldn’t have left there without me. (I really adopted her, but she doesn’t know that. Shhh!!)

I have a lot of toys, many places where I can sleep, fresh food and water, and many, many hugs. Mom and Grandpa lost their cat Louie in August 2012 and said the house was very lonely and too quiet. I am happy here, and now the house is full of laughter and love.

Mom said she never had a cat who talked and had facial expressions like me. Thank you for your care and your love until I found my forever home! Happy 2013!

Love,
Opey

Thanks so much for our new addition.

Rosie V.

My husband and I pamper these guys to death. They’re our babies, and we can’t believe what great cats Beans and Pepper have turned out to be. Even our veterinarian thinks they’re wonderful, healthy boys that look and act much younger than they really are! They have such big personalities, and it’s hilarious just watching them play around with each other.

I’d like to mention a few of the laughs my husband and I get out of Beans and Pepper.

Pepper likes to drink out of faucets and play in the water. He helps me get ready in the morning by biting sticks of mascara or eyeliner out of my makeup bag, and dropping them in front of me. He also enjoys munching on my hair ties when he finds them on the counter and loves to bite and play with my pencil while I’m trying to use it to do homework. He gives lots of kisses and loves to be held.

Beans likes to “California roll” on the ground until someone pets him. He loves to chase flies, and he goes berserk over toys that make noise. He is very majestic. We think he thinks he is our guard dog–he always investigates sounds, like he is looking for intruders. He loves snuggling with his brother, and he even snuggles with Mom and Dad. He especially loves his daddy and follows him around whenever he is home.

When we adopted them, we were told Siamese cats get protective and jealous of their things–its true! They totally get jealous of each other over the silliest things, so we have to make sure we get each of them the same exact toy whenever we bring one home and give them the same number of treats so no one feels left out. They’re hilarious!

They may be “seniors,” but they’re the most amazing cats I’ve ever known! We’re so glad we adopted both of them; they are the perfect addition to our little family! We love them so much, and are so thankful the Cedar Valley Humane Society took them in so we had the opportunity to give them a forever home!

Love,
Paul and Andrea W.

Her friendly, curious demeanor was impossible to ignore. She’s a very laidback girl who loves to talk and spend time in your lap. If she’s not napping on the cat tree, she’s hanging out in the bathroom sink waiting for someone to turn the water on for her.

When I first brought her home she was 16 lbs. Now just over a year later, she’s a healthier 12 lbs.

Thank you to the Cedar Valley Humane Society and all the volunteers for taking care of Rainbow so she could find her forever home!

Jessica W.

After being spayed and having some other minor surgery, Kenzi was as good as new!

Kenzi spends her days in a very low-stress environment. She loves her sister Sophie, also a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and her adopted family. Kenzi is an excellent walker, a good listener, and she guards the front door with a passion when people come to visit. (We’re still working on that!) All in all, she has been a real joy to have around!

Thank you, Cedar Valley Humane Society, for enriching our home with this wonderful little fuzzball!

Rick M.

Rascal had become a special-needs dog due to his fearfulness and disease. The Cedar Valley Humane Society staff worked with him for several months as he recovered from his fears and received critical heartworm treatment.

I monitored Rascal’s progress during this time, and in March I had the opportunity to meet him again and potentially adopt him. What a change! He looked so happy running around the courtyard and visiting with the staff that cared for him. After a few moments, he let me pet him. During this visit, Rascal met my elderly Lab, Walter (also a CVHS alumnus), and interacted quite well, demonstrating respect for the older dog. I decided then and there that this wonderful, goofy dog deserved a forever home, and Rascal became part of my family.

Ever since that night, Rascal has flourished! I took advantage of the Pawsitively Paws free consultation that was provided with his adoption paperwork. Their advice was invaluable, and I highly recommend that everyone take advantage of this training and dog behavior assistance. Each week, Rascal makes additional strides forward. He has been on a road trip to downtown Chicago, playing well with others on the Chicago dog beach. He conquered the elevated dog walk at dog agility class, and he now meets most people without fear. He loves to play ball with kids and does somersaults in the grass when especially happy.

I cannot thank the folks at the Cedar Valley Humane Society enough for saving Rascal’s life, especially the staff that worked with him for months and those who provided the resources for his heartworm treatment. This organization truly cares about doing right for the animals and people of Linn County.

I understand that he was the first of many dogs who became part of the Cedar Valley Humane Society “office dog” program, and I am sure the staff has many more Rascal stories. I cannot imagine my life without Rascal, who now has a loving home, care, and protection for the rest of his life while providing joy for mine.

Annette H.

Although we still see him often, our family missed having a dog of our own. In December 2011, I saw a Tail Waggin’ Wednesday story on TV, featuring one of six puppies. They were three months old and dubbed the Brady Bunch group, as each of them had a name from the famed TV show.

That weekend, my husband and I drove to the shelter to check them out. By the time we got there, all but one puppy had “Pending Adoption” posted on the kennel. We quickly filled out the application for the remaining pup, only to turn it in and be told someone had just turned theirs in right before us. We were told we’d be a backup, in case something fell through on any application turned in before us. We went home not expecting a call. They were all adorable, and puppies get adopted quickly when they are available.

The following Monday, we received a call that Greg was available if we were still interested. What a blessing…of course we said “YES!”

On December 16, 2011, we picked Greg up from the shelter. He was SO fuzzy, and very shy. The children immediately loved him and fought over who would get to hold him on the way home. After some debate we all agreed to name him Max. He’s now a year old. He’s smart, loving, playful, and protective, and we couldn’t be happier to have him in our family.

Thank you Cedar Valley Humane Society for blessing our home with a wonderful family member!

Much love,
The West Family

Midnite is a great dog, and we have no complaints. I think it is because she was at the Cedar Valley Humane Society and was well taken care of. I would like to thank the Cedar Valley Humane Society for giving us the pleasure to have a great dog and an awesome new member of the family. Thanks again for this amazing dog!

Adam R.

Raz went from a kennel-crazy boy who jumped on all fours when people walked by…to a dog who now snuggles up with perfect strangers. In addition to his three adopted dog siblings, he lives with three cats. His best friends are my pit bull, Freedom, and my cat, Capone.

Raz and I run about 2.5 miles around the lake, and then we finish the run with a dip in the lake (for him, not me). He still isn’t really sure how to play with toys, but he loves to chew on bones and eat Frosty Paws dog ice cream.

Thanks for a great dog!
Stephanie F.

Right away, I fell in love with Kahn, a cat who had been at the shelter for quite some time. He is such a good cat. His name was Kahn, but I renamed him Boots. He just answers to Kitty, Kitty.

Virginia A.

Tourtillott relocated from Vancouver, Washington, where he served as executive director of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington for over five years. During that time, Tourtillott and the HSSW board of directors completed a multimillion-dollar capital campaign and undertook the design, construction, and completion of a long-awaited, 30,750 square-foot animal sheltering facility.

“I’m very proud of what the board members and I were able to accomplish by engaging the southwest Washington community in our mission,” says Tourtillott. “I look forward to establishing the same kind of effective relationships with the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s board, staff, and volunteers, as well as the wonderful people of Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities.”

Originally from Colorado, Tourtillott began his career as a volunteer kennel worker at the Denver Dumb Friends League, a large non-profit animal welfare and sheltering organization. Soon afterwards, the DDFL hired him to clean kennels and assist with adoptions, their spay/neuter clinic, and triage.

From there, Tourtillott joined the Denver Zoo as a zookeeper, working primarily with birds and primates; became involved in a Loggerhead Shrike recovery project for the San Diego Zoo; and was retained as a project manager at a GIS company.

After five years as project manager, he combined his management and business skills with his interest in animals and became the executive director of the Humane Society of Cascade County in Great Falls, Montana. Two years later, he joined the Humane Society for Southwest Washington as their executive director.

“I find great satisfaction in producing positive results for both animals and people,” Tourtillott says.

Kirsten Eddins, president of the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s board of directors, says that Tourtillott has exactly the right blend of experience to continue the organization’s forward momentum.

“We are extremely pleased to have Chuck Tourtillott as our executive director,” says Eddins. “His leadership experience will be invaluable to our organization’s growth over the next several years.”

Tourtillott holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in zoology from the University of Northern Colorado. He also studied geographic information systems at the University of Denver. He is a member of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators and the American Humane Association.

Moses has always been such a happy dog, but it took him a while to get really comfortable and relax with us. Some of that may have been because we heard he was adopted out and returned twice. It’s hard to trust when you get your hopes up for a forever home, and then get taken back again.

You could visibly see the change when he became comfortable and relaxed. He has a couple other dogs to play with at my house, and he keeps up with them very well. Moses and I take a walk every night when the weather is good, and the walk is one of his favorite pastimes. He loves to get out and see the neighborhood.

We did have a few challenges when Moses first came to live with us, but I can’t imagine ever taking him back or not having him as part of our family. We love him very much, and I appreciate all your shelter did for him until we had the opportunity to adopt him. You especially did a good job with his leg amputation. He was left with a stub that allows him equal balance when he lies on the floor, and I know he is more comfortable having that balance.

Sherri C.

I hadn’t intended to adopt any dog the day I saw him at the Cedar Valley Humane Society. My beagle Benjie had just gone to dog heaven the week before, and a friend and I were doing “dog therapy” at your facility. (After you lose your dog, just visiting and being around those little pieces of sunshine works wonders!)

But then I saw this little black, bright-eyed ball of fur who had been a stray and knew I couldn’t leave him in that kennel indefinitely. Everyone was so helpful and encouraging at CVHS–the food, blanket, chew toys, and written info made it especially easy to bring him home with me.

Tucker has adapted well, loves meeting other dogs, and jumps up and down as he “watches” the Olympics on TV. His favorite places to rest are on the lower part of my coffee table and the top of the sofa. Tucker has quickly become part of our family!

There are so many great animals at the Cedar Valley Humane Society, and the screening and adoption process is so thorough, I’d highly recommend going there.

Thank you, CVHS!

Sincerely,

Melia T.

Fast forward to now: Daxie is now a very lively and energetic girl. I don’t think she ever sleeps! She is a very curious puppy and gets into absolutely everything. She and my youngest daughter have teamed up against me! She has only had two accidents in the house and insists on going potty in our flower bed outside. Silly puppy!

Every morning I take her out, and she insists on playing fetch before coming inside and, being the polite girl she is, she waits for me to go up the stairs before she will go up. She runs and pounces, like a cat, around the living room, playing with our daughters and stealing their toys. (Oh yes! She is a chewer!) She hasn’t quite got the hang of “drop/drop it” but she learned “sit” and “lay down” in minutes. She is extremely smart!

She is so gentle! She has captured the hearts of all of us. With her gentle nature and lively attitude she is the perfect addition to our family, and I am not sure how we went this long without her.

I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to adopt her. She is perfect in every way!

Kendra T.

Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to adopt our beautiful, happy puppy.

Daniel N.

My owners love me very much. They take me for lots of walks, and I get treats for being such a good girl. I haven’t had a single accident since I moved in! I want to thank the Cedar Valley Humane Society volunteers for taking me to Old Navy where I met my new owners. We are such a perfect match for each other!

Stella, along with Joel, Krista, Cailin and Rachel D.

He can be off the leash when I am outside and paying attention to him. He enjoys playing fetch and loves to chase the ball across our vast lawn. He comes to me when I call him. The other day he came when called when I wasn’t sure where he had wandered off to. He is responding to “down,” and this week I have even added some “stay” commands, and he is doing very well. He is very smart and responsive when it is just he and I outside. When others are outside, his attention is not focused, and I have a much harder time getting him to respond.

Coming in the house at night was not his favorite thing–and for the first several weeks I had to carry him inside. The past four nights, with some gentle coaxing, he came in on his own. He has chosen his corner in the house and does not stray far from it.

We are still learning and being patient with Beu, but he is improving each week. I have one picture that I will share–it took a while to get as he does not like anything new, and the camera usually makes him slink off.

Thanks,
Beth C.

I love my lady and guy, and they love me! We play ball and rope tug and go for walks around the neighborhood and parks…there are SQUIRRELS at the parks! They love to snuggle so they let me on the furniture (bonus!). I think it’s so I can snuggle more with them to keep them safe and warm. My lady takes me with her on her drives around town. I love riding in her truck, barking at any dog I see to let them know ‘I’m riding in a truck…hahaha!’ And, this is one of the best parts…our house has a fenced yard and trees and SQUIRRELS! It’s great just basking in the sun, playing catch and chasing SQUIRRELS!

We also go to a place called Pawsitive Paws for all sorts of things my lady calls classes. One of the classes is called agility. I have to admit, Connie (the boss lady of the class) has turned my lady into a nicely agile human. My lady, however, is still a bit slow, and I often have to wait for her to catch up with me. But, that’s okay…she’s still learning. We have also gone to an obedience class. Gary (the boss guy of the class) has done a wonderful job with my lady’s obedience as well. I sit, she gives me a treat; I lay down, she gives me a treat; I walk at her side (like where else would I walk?), she gives me a treat…this ROCKS! She also takes me there so I can play with other dogs. She calls it socialization, I call it FUN, FUN, FUN!

Well, that’s about all the time I have today as we have an appointment with my doctor for a check-up.

Thank you for your hospitality during my stay with you. Rest assured I am happy, healthy, safe and loved.

Bensen

Back in early December, my neighbors and I noticed that there was a stray dog in our rural neighborhood. The poor little thing looked injured, and so bedraggled, and she was dragging a leash. We speculated that someone might have dumped her out of a car. Since she was so scraped up, much to our horror, the car could even have been moving when she was pushed out.

She took refuge on my front step. I put food and water out for her, and a rug for her to curl up on. Whenever I would try to approach her, she would shy away. After a few days, my neighbor saw her in my yard, so he followed her a ways and got close enough that he could grab her leash. He agreed to take her home and make a nice warm, safe place for her in his barn. Whew, what a relief that she could at least be warm and dry and fed in the meantime.

Lo and behold, she was back on my front step in the morning! I don’t know what the big attraction of my step was, but it made me feel good that she felt close to me. Out of the goodness of this same neighbor’s heart, he brought his extra doghouse, all lined with straw, over for her. We had to go out of town the following weekend. I put the doghouse in my garage so she would have a safe haven while we were gone, and another neighbor agreed to make sure her food and water were replenished.

The day of reckoning was approaching when I had to decide what to do with our little boarder. Shortly after she arrived, I started calling her Tuffy since she had been through so much and was enduring her hardship like a trooper. I knew that I couldn’t possibly keep her even though I had become so attached to her. Yet another neighbor came forth and volunteered to help me out by driving us to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, where we knew she would have continued care and, hopefully, a new home.

Obviously, by this time, I had gained her trust and was able to pet her and restore her trust in the human race. I sat with her in the backseat on the way to the Humane Society, and she licked my hand as we rode along. That brought tears to my eyes.

As soon as we got in the door at the Humane Society, there were several staff members right there to assist us and usher me through the surrender process. By that time I was really crying, knowing that I soon had to say goodbye to Tuffy and to wish her the very best in whatever life had in store for her. The woman at the counter was so understanding and helpful and reassuring that I was doing the right thing.

I wanted you to know that there was such a story to tell about Tuffy before we even brought her in. She touched the hearts of my neighbors and me. It took a “village” of compassionate people in our neighborhood to get her to this point where even more compassionate people took over to give her all the intense treatment and tender care that she needed to survive.

A big thank you to everyone who took mercy on her to get her to the happy ending of being the “poster girl” for the Paw Print Quarterly, and, most of all, to you for adopting Tuffy. When I saw her smiling face on the cover, I just could hardly believe my eyes! All of us who knew her out here were so thrilled. Thank you for welcoming her into your home and for giving her the opportunity to be loved and cared for always.

Sincerely,
Tuffy’s temporary caregiver, and my neighbors who helped with her rescue

I am a university professor, and Johnny has come to school to give “doggie time” to stressed-out students. It is a blast to take him into the computer lab late at night and let the students pet him. Some of my regular students jog with him and also request “dog time” when they are feeling overwhelmed. Johnny is so calm and just loves to be petted–in fact, he insists on being petted! (That’s how we met–he came up to me and stuck his nose in my armpit.) I’m thinking about taking him to training to be a therapy dog. He really is wonderful.

Johnny is such an amazing dog, and he has brightened my life immeasurably. I am very sorry for the family that lost him, but so grateful that he is my pal now. Thank you for the work you do in taking care of animals like Johnny when circumstances beyond their control put them in difficult situations.

Mitra S.

The front desk staff said she was picked up as a stray. They knew her owner and contacted them, but said they didn’t want her anymore. I will never understand that.

Mandy moved right in and became part of the family. Our other cat Bud loves her, and Mandy even helped us raise our black Lab puppy! They still play together. Mandy mostly lives indoors, but in the summer, she loves to head outside to the garden with me where she naps all day behind the flowers. During the long winters we both watch out the windows waiting for the days to get longer and warmer to get back outside to the garden.

I enjoy sharing the story of how Mandy chose me to take her home that day in February.

Alice L.

She is such a treasure in our lives, and we are overjoyed to have her in our life. She has brought us such joy and laughter–just what we needed after losing both our dogs to old age in ’07.

We take her everywhere, and she even comes to work with me on Fridays. I work as office manager at our church and work a half day. I only wear jeans on Fridays, and as soon as I pull out my jeans, she knows it’s her day to work, and she gets excited! It’s so adorable.

Everyone loves her–most especially us! We now live in Alexandria, MN, but still love Cedar Rapids!

Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Mark and Tracey A.

We asked if we could borrow the family computer to give you a look into our wonderful new lives! They said we could, as long as we didn’t clog the keyboard with our beautiful long hair… so here we go!

We’ve only been here just over a week, and we are already making ourselves at home! We always use one of the two litter boxes, are eating so well, and even have a dish of kitty grass just for us! They have a little white furball that they call a ‘pup’, but we think she’s just an active, louder version of us. We’ve played with her a few times already, and she barks loud!

There’s also this little red light that comes out of a thing they turn on for us, we like to chase it all around. Interesting how it just disappears sometimes, and only comes out for us when they are holding a little cylinder! We have many beds just for us, a catnip holder with a ball, and strings dangling with toys to bat at.

Well, it’s dinner time… so we’ll just be off to enjoy food with our new family. Thank you for picking this family for us! There’s so much love on both sides!

Spaz and Gage

Who would’ve guessed this shy guy would turn out to be quite the character! All throughout our neighborhood, children and senior citizens alike ask to pet him or give him cookies on our long daily strolls. Our garbage man always makes a stop on his route to play! Perhaps our boy entices them with his good manners and lovely prance.

Onyx (formerly named “AJ”) is very affectionate, showering us with hugs and kisses and has yet to find a person or even a fang-bearing stray cat he doesn’t like. He is the epitome of the great potential in a pit bull: loving, sociable, and majestic. Despite his extreme (at times) energy and aspirations to become a canine garbage disposal (his only fault… blame puppyhood), I am overjoyed that we found each other. I have learned about many obstacles this breed faces in our society, whether prejudice, homelessness, exploitation, etc., and it is more the reason to adore them, educate ourselves about them, and fight for them!

My once shoe-sized companion is now comparable to a baby elephant in stature, but he is still a goofy, ever-curious sweetheart who still attempts to scramble his big furry bum into my lap. He was originally named for the gemstone for his beautiful black mask, and he has turned out to be strong as a rock!

Whenever appropriate, I voice my opinion on considering adoption first, as well as pit bull advocacy. Whether due to poor circumstances, ignorance, or just sheer unawareness of the requirements to be a pit parent, it seems that this type of dog is quite populous in some shelters. Regardless, every animal there is a uniquely precious gem, just like Onyx.

Palka P.

I was expecting my children (Abigail and Olliver) to hide when we took them home for at least a couple days. My husband and I prepared for that and made a pact to make sure we gave them their space to warm up to our place. NOT THE CASE AT ALL!! They hid for maybe ten minutes tops! In 11 minutes, they were already coming up to us and rubbing their wet noses on us, begging for attention! To our relief, they instantly warmed up to us and felt right at home!

Ollie (Olliver) has, has, HAS to be in physical contact with us AT ALL TIMES if he is in the same room as us. He absolutely has to be sitting next to us, lying on our lap, or being petted if we are around. He loves to lie on his back and have his belly rubbed. When I walk to the bedroom, he darts past me and jumps on my bed; he instantly lies down on his back, belly exposed, ready to be petted. When I head back to the living room, again he darts to the couch and assumes the same position. You know how cats clean their faces off with their paws? Well, if you pet Olliver and give him your undivided attention, he starts getting so excited with being petted, he literally starts petting himself with his paw on his face like that! He really is the sweetest boy, and I bet their owner was absolutely heartbroken to have to put these guys up for adoption.

Abigail is perfect. Just perfect. She does this thing where she starts howling loud with a sock or toy in her mouth and when she finds us she will drop her “gift” at our feet! Sometimes they get so friendly that we have to unfortunately lock them out of our bedroom at night (not all the time though) and when we get up and open the door there will be a line of “presents” at the door! It’s the cutest thing ever! I googled what this means, and it says that cats do that to their owners to show gratitude. So we know these guys are SO grateful to have us, as we are to have them! Abigail also does this thing where when she gets super-excited to see you, she literally does a somersault! She’ll just stop in her tracks and tumble on to your feet. It’s the cutest ever!

I now feel like these guys have completed our life. They are absolutely PERFECT, and everything we’ve ever wanted! They are our children for sure and we love them so much. Thank you Cedar Valley Humane Society for giving me the last puzzle piece to make our family complete! I can’t imagine my life without them! Thank you so much for taking care of our children until we were able to find them and pick them up! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!

Jes & Adam D.

The cocker spaniel has been at Kirkwood since January 30, when the Cedar Valley Humane Society’s animal care staff transported her to the animal health technology department for an ultrasound.

“After the ultrasound confirmed that the dog was pregnant, we turned over her medical care to Kirkwood,” says Bob Citrullo, Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society. “Kirkwood is a calmer environment for her to have puppies in, and it provides a great learning opportunity for the students.”

According to Anne M. Duffy, RVT, professor and veterinary technician program coordinator at Kirkwood Community College, the puppies were born Sunday evening beginning around 8:00 p.m. One puppy is buff; the others are black. The mother dog and all the puppies are doing well. The puppies will remain at Kirkwood until they are at least eight weeks old and ready for adoption.

The Cedar Valley Humane Society is seeking monetary donations to help cover ongoing veterinary expenses of the rescued cocker spaniels. Donations can be made at www.cvhumane.org or mailed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, 7411 Mount Vernon Road SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403.

I became the lucky one. FiFi is loving and a total joy to have around. I’m sure that FiFi and I will have many wonderful years together. Please consider “mature” cats when thinking about adoption. They can make a great addition to your family!

Jill H.

Mackenzie Paulson, DVM, prepares to examine the teeth of Reno, aka Cocker Spaniel #9.

Bob Citrullo, executive director of the Cedar Valley Humane Society, and Lyndee Fuessley, animal care supervisor, transported the 15 Cocker Spaniels from Des Moines to the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

“We’re happy to provide assistance to the ARL,” says Citrullo. “Taking in 88 animals at one time can cause a strain on resources for any organization, so when the ARL asked us if we could provide additional shelter, we were more than happy to help.” Citrullo adds that the call came at a good time for the Cedar Valley Humane Society, because the shelter currently has several open kennels.

“The welfare of the animals is obviously our top priority,” says Citrullo. “Our immediate goal is to make them clean and comfortable and take care of whatever their medical needs are.” All of the dogs will be examined for medical issues and treated as necessary. More information will be available after the animals’ health has been assessed.

To help these dogs, the Cedar Valley Humane Society is seeking monetary to help cover their ongoing veterinary expenses. Donations can be made at www.cvhumane.org or mailed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, 7411 Mount Vernon Road SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403.

The goal is to make the Cocker Spaniels healthy and ready for adoption when the time comes, says Citrullo. Currently there are 15 dogs already available for adoption at the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

Jeff Hamilton, president and CEO of ESP International, presents Executive Director Bob Citrullo with a check to support the homeless animals at the shelter.

At January’s staff luncheon, Jeff Hamilton, president and CEO of ESP International, presented Executive Director Bob Citrullo with a check to support the homeless animals at the shelter.

Throughout the year, the staff at ESP International held friendly competitions between departments to collect donations for the fund. They also attended several of our fundraising events. The ESP team was the top team fundraiser for Woof Walk.

ESP International has been serving the OEM market for over 40 years. ESP is a global and domestic supply chain specialist for seals, rubber products, plastics, cast and forged metal product.