Looking for something interesting to do this winter season? The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter has their next two orientations set for Sunday, February 19th and Sunday, March 11th, 2012. The orientation starts promptly at 10:30am at the shelter so please arrive around 10:20am.

Once you’ve completed the orientation, you can begin volunteering. All new volunteers are required to shadow a seasoned/experienced volunteer for a minimum of 10 hours to get real hands-on experience when working with the stray dogs. After that, you are allowed to come whenever you are able to come.

There are age requirements and if you are 18 years and older you are considered an adult. If you are 14-17 years old you need to have your parent/legal guardian accompany you during the orientation and every time after that, no exceptions. We cannot allow anyone 13 years of age or younger to volunteer due to liability. If you are looking for school community services hours, please let us know this before the orientation to discuss extra requirements in regards to the necessary paperwork.

There is no required set schedule of the volunteers. After the first ten hours, you are able go out on your own, pending approval. Volunteers are also allowed to volunteer on days that we are not open to the public, such as Sundays and Mondays, beginning at 8:30am until 4:30pm. If you are interested in attending either of the orientations listed above, please contact Kara Archer at karcher@cuyahogacounty.us so your name can be added to the sign-in sheet or just stop on in.

In observence of the holidays, our shelter will be closed to the public and to the voulnteers on December 25th & 26th and again on January 1st and 2nd. We hope you and your family have a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year!

Thanks to all who made another amazing event of Santa Photos 2011!  Over the course of five days of picture sessions, 198 families showed up in support, surpassing last year’s turnout.  ALL of the money raised from both the pictures and Raffle Baskets will go directly into our Shelter’s Best Friends’ Medical Relief Fund, which provides medical care for sick and injured dogs that are in our Shelter. 

We cannot express our gratitude enough to the many donators of this event and all of the wonderful volunteers and Girl Scout troops who helped behind the scenes.  A special thanks to both of our Santas, Tom and Jim, and our photographers, Kelly and Laura.  Also thank you to Donna, Hanna, and Jack, who also worked tirelessly behind the scenes.  And who can forget Barb, Anita, and Rebecca who kept everything in order.  Mr. Dick Goddard also enjoyed his time here, taking pictures with so many people.  And this was Nancy Alden’s first time and boy did the whole family have fun. 

A big congratulations to the following winners of our famous Raffle Baskets:

• Basket #1: Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Mary
• Basket #2: Bath & Body Works, Sandy
• Basket #3: Invisible Fence (2 winners), Noelle and Mark
• Basket #4: Tis’ The Season, Katherine
• Basket #5: Trip to the Zoo, Dan
• Basket #6: Picnic Baskets from Our Volunteers, Donna
• Basket #7: Tea for More Than Just Two, Laura
• Basket #8: Smell Good, Kathie
• Basket #9: Oh My Dog, Cindy
• Basket #10: Wine, Dine & Theater, Katherine
• Basket #11: Clean Your Car, Then Relax, Mr. T
• Basket #12: Spirits and Dinner,Nancy
• Basket #13: Home and Garden, Mary
• Basket #14: Prepare for School, Nora
• Basket #15 : Girl Power,Nancy
• Basket #16: Relax, Tiffannie
• Basket #17: Spice of Life, Donna
• Basket #18: Have a Cup of Tea, Gerry
• Basket #19: Puppy Pleasure, Mary
• Basket #20: Dog Bed and More, Cat
• Basket #21: Puppy Playtime, Cat
• Basket #22: Picnic in the City, Lynda
• Basket #23: Red Cedar Coffee and Picture Frame, C.
• Basket #24: The Grateful Dog Bakery Basket, Cat
• Basket #25: Christmas Tree of Food, Terri
• Basket #26: Natural Pet Basket, Cat

To all who helped, donated, participated, we all cannot send our thanks enough.  Santa Photos is a production, not just an event, and every year the turnout of support tells us about the caring community we live in.  THANKS again to all and Happy Holidays from us and the pooches!!!

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month, but at our Shelter, why not take it further and celebrate all year long? There are 72 kennels on our Main Floor filled with so many wonderful strays, all from within Cuyahoga County, and they are just waiting to be adopted into forever homes! At any given point, when you stop in, you will find a myriad of breeds, both mixes and purebreds, ranging form two months old to our famous seniors. Now, more than ever, we are asking you, the public, to look into adopting a stray, a dog with no home, but one who would make a great family pet.

Did you know that so many of these ‘kids’ already know their basic commands? Or how to walk so nicely on a leash? Just because they have no current homes does not mean that they are unable to give love, patience with you too, and loyalty that can only be found in a Shelter dog. We might never know where these pooches were before coming to us, but providing them with a future, permanent home takes a community of help. Please stop in during our open hours, walk through, and look, really look, into the eyes of these amazing souls. You never know what forever friend might just be staring back at you.

Starting Tuesday, September 20th, the Shelter is kicking off a week of celebrating ‘less-adoptable dogs.” What might you ask is a ‘less adoptable dog?” Well, consider adopting a dog that might not be a breed you were looking for, or maybe a senior pooch. There are many benefits in adopting a dog that might be, on the outside alone, not pretty. For example, have you ever thought of a senior dog? These ‘kids’ already know many of the rules to life and they fit nicely into a home. Many already come with knowing basic commands, are familiar in a home environment, and willing to lay with you on the couch watching television.

Or how about a dog with special needs? There are many dogs that come into the Shelter after being neglected. Look past the matted-ness of a Poodle, or the smelly-ness of a Shepard mix. With a little love and a good bath, most look like they never came from the streets. These dogs here are so grateful that you just paid a little bit attention to them, that they have a tendency of listening better, are more willing to please you, and are overall loyal to the best friend that saved them.

Maybe all Shelter dogs can fit into the “less-adoptable dog” category. Our main kennel is filled with dogs looking for a second chance to live a life that they deserve. Why not come on down, look around, and maybe, just maybe, you will find that dog that you weren’t looking for, a loyal friend, a true companion, a “less-adoptable dog.”