By Diana Foley

Yesterday evening the Washington Humane Society’s Behavior and Learning Center hosted its first themed Meow Mixer and our mos t successful one to date – the Meow Mixer Baby Shower, a special adoption event for mother cats and their kittens.

Twenty-five kittens were brought from their foster homes to meet-and-greet potential adopters. Some were snuggled up in laps and some raced around the room, while others danced around their crates waiting to be the next to be chosen. A small orange kitten even treated himself to a bite of turkey from one of the delicious sandwich platters donated by Tryst! By the end of the event, more than 10 kittens had received adoption applications from families eager to bring them into their homes.  My own two foster kittens, Professor Chaos and General Disarray, did not live up to their names and managed to behave themselves long enough to melt the heart of one lucky adopter, who will be taking the two of them together!

The Washington Humane Society began holding Meow Mixers a year ago in an effort to bring more attention to the large numbers of cats and kittens in our shelters and to increase cat adoptions. The kitty cocktail parties have become a fun way for foster parents to show off their cats and kittens and for potential adopters to meet them.  For more information on becoming a foster parent, contact Alyson Burgess at volunteer@washhumane.org.

Please watch our adoptions page for information about future Meow Mixers or visit one of our Adoption Centers to meet the dozens of kittens and cats urgently in need of permanent homes.

The WHS PACK program is pleased to offer area runners the opportunity to join in the challenge and excitement of the 34th Annual Marine Corps Marathon (MCM)!

This WHS is proud to be involved as a charity partner of the MCM and excited to offer you the opportunity to show your support by running for the animals in our care.  By running on the WHS Team, you will not only help raise awareness, but will also help to raise the much needed funding through sponsorship contributions on your personal fundraising page.  In addition, there is an opportunity to run in the 10k portion of the event in support of WHS.

Entries are still available, but they're going fast.  Non-registered participants can sign-up for an $88.00 entry fee and 10K participants $45.00.  If you have already registered to run the MCM, but would like to run for WHS, we would love to have you on our team!  Simply follow the registration guidelines (below), minus the entry fee.

For more information please visit us at http://www.washhumane.org/mcm.asp. For inquiries or to register ~ email us at registertorun@washhumane.org

Summer is now in full swing, and while things tend to slow down this time of year in our nation's capital, our animal shelters only  become busier, and are bursting at the seams with wonderful animals available for adoption right now!

In order to help you to meet the dogs and cats in our care, we take  them out of the shelters on our Mobile Adoption Center every Saturday and Sunday in to the community to adoption events held all over the city, to make it easier for them to meet you! Please take a look at our Upcoming Adoption Events Web Page to see all of the places you can find our

Mobile

On Wednesday, August 5, 2009, Park Hyatt Washington, the city’s most sophisticated pet-friendly hotel, will host a second “Canines and Corks” happy hour, benefiting the Washington Humane Society.  From 6:00pm to 8:00pm, area residents and guests are invited to bring their four-legged friends to meet and mingle on the hotel’s outdoor grounds, adjacent to the lobby.  

The WHS Mobile Adoption Center will be on site for guests to meet adoptable animals. The cost of the event is $10, which includes two drink tickets for beer and wine.  

Washington Nationals’ starting pitcher, John Lannan, will sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans and their pets this Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the PETCO store in Alexandria, Va., located at 6612 Richmond Highway.

PETCO is encouraging fans to bring their own camera and items for Lannan to sign, but there will also be a supply of autograph cards available on a first-come, first-served basis. WHS will be onsite with our mobile adoption center with animals available for adoption.

“I’ve loved dogs my entire life,” said Lannan. “Growing up in a household with rescued animals will do that to you. I’m excited to meet fans and their pets this weekend, but I also hope people will come down to adopt a new pet, too.”

Lannan has received many accolades since being drafting by the Washington Nationals upon his 2005 graduation from Siena College in New York.  Named 2007 Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Nationals, he made his Major League debut that same year.  In addition to a record of quality starts, Lannan was the first pitcher to face down Barry Bonds after he tied Hank Aaron’s longtime homerun record and held Bonds to no hits that game.

Meow Mixer Baby Shower - July 16th
Please join us on Thursday, July 16th from 7:00pm-9:00pm for a special Meow Mixer Baby Shower, a cat open-house adoption event featuring mother cats and kittens. Adopted mom cats will receive a brand new bed to take to their new home! This free event will take place at the WHS Behavior & Learning Center, 7315 Georgia Avenue NW, and will feature delicious appetizers from Adams Morgan's favorite coffeehouse, Tryst!!

For more information please contact 202-723-5730 (ext. 122) or dfoley@washhumane.org.

By Diana Foley

Mr. Pibb hasn’t had a lot of time to blog lately – he’s been hard at work helping shelter dogs and cats get into good homes.  Recently, Mr. Pibb has had a full schedule of meet-and-greets with dogs.  Many of our dog adopters have cats at home, so before they bring Fido into the mix, they want to make sure the two will get along. Brave little fellow that he is, Mr. Pibb steps up to the plate to make sure his fellow felines will be safe residing with the new dog.  Mr. Pibb holds his head up high, puffs out his chest, and strolls up to the dog in question.  Often the dogs are a little intimidated by the proud Mr. Pibb – a favorable sign that they’ll likely respect the cat in their new home. Some dogs get a little pushy and Pibb is quick to suggest they back off a bit. He doesn’t appreciate a wet nose ruffling his tux! Dogs who are respectful of Pibb are lucky enough to get his feline stamp of approval and be made available for adoption into homes that have cats. (Don’t worry – all of the dogs are pre-screened for safety before scheduling a date with Mr. Pibb.)

When he’s not busy tellin’-it-like-it-is to the dogs, Pibb makes plenty of time for helping out his feline friends. Today he had a lunch meeting with Wink, a handsome orange and white tabby who has been with WHS for more than 75 days.  Wink only lived with his previous family for one month before they decided he needed too much attention. This 10-month-old tabby isn’t the type to snooze on the sofa all day. As most young cats do, he likes to run, play, and explore.  Living in a small kennel for the past three months has been tough on him, so Mr. Pibb decided to extend a helping paw and offer Wink an afternoon of fun and excitement. The two spent the day romping around the Behavior & Learning Center pouncing, wrestling, and chasing each other through the cat tunnel. Wink got some much-needed exercise, which will help him be calmer in the kennel and more relaxed when meeting potential adopters. Mr. Pibb got some much-needed exercise too – he’d like to trim a couple inches off his waist.  Pibb will continue to have weekly dates with Wink until he’s adopted.

If you have room in your life for a new companion, please consider adopting Wink. Wink is a young, frisky kitty who’d love to entertain you with his playful antics. He’s best suited for a home where he’ll have another cat to run and wrestle with. You can meet Wink at our Georgia Avenue Adoption Center.

Watch Mr. Pibb and Wink playing together on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kABk4v2TBFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhwqfnJ_9Dw

The MacArthur Pet Shop, located on 4611-N Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD, is offering a special discount to supporters who would like to help WHS with its in-kind donation needs.

All dog and cat foods are 15% off, and everything else in the store is 35% off. Please call MacArthur Pet Shop at 301-320-3998 and help the animals in the care of WHS receive the items they need today!

Please take a look at the list below and see what items you might be willing to purchase at this discounted rate and call MacArthur Pet Shop today! 301-320-3998.

Animal Needs
DOGS
6 ft. nylon leashes and or 4 ft with double handle
Martingale collars
Hard rubber toys such as kongs
NylaBones (new)
Kongs
Grooming items; (brushes and scissors)
Dog Treats, pig ears
Esbilac for puppies
Canned dog food

CATS
Litter boxes (new only)
Cardboard scratching post
Cat grass/nip
Fleece donut cat beds
Grooming items; (brushes and combs)
Clay cat litter; Care Fresh Litter; Nonclumping
Plastic or rubber toys (nothing furry)
KMR for kitten

RABBITS, FERRETS, BIRDS
Wooden chew items (new only)
Bird toys and accessories (such as perches)
Cages for bird/ferrets
Aquariums and lids in good shape
Plastic exercise balls
Timber hide-away houses
Spray millet for birds
Carefresh Critter litter and bedding
Oxbow Timothy Hay
Paper towel roll

Shelter Needs
Towels, wash cloths, hand towels and blankets
Tool Kit (hammer, wrench, nails, etc)
Animal beds, small or medium
Unopened wet dog food
Mircoscope
Digital Camera
Hand sanitizer/lotion
Plastic bags without holes
Nail clippers, scissor-type
Heating pads
Exam gloves, small and powder-free
Baby Gates
Frontline for dogs and cats/ revolution and capstar
Rubbermaid 30 Gallon Containers with lids
Dish detergent, such as Dawn
Laundry detergent
Bleach
Dog hair dryers

Washington Humane Society Shelters

7319 Georgia Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20012
tel: 202-BE HUMANE (202-234-8626)

1201 New York Ave., NE (Operated by WHS under contract from the Department of Health)
Washington, DC 20002
tel: 202-576-6664 (24 hours)

Purrfectly Patriotic

Forget the fireworks and let a new cat light up your life this Independence Day!

The Washington Humane Society is OVERLOADED with adorable cats and kittens. 

Please open your heart and your home to a homeless feline.  We are normally closed for adoptions on Wednesdays, but in the spirit of the holiday we will be opening our doors for  this very special CAT ADOPTION EVENT. The event is ONE DAY ONLY so don't miss it!

WHEN: Wednesday, July 1st.

WHERE: 1201 New York Ave NE, Washington DC 20002

• All cat adoptions will be only ONE 4TH of the regular cost!
• Applicants will be approved for adoption on the same day.
• We will be FULL of cats and kittens ready for new homes.
• Reduced adoption fee still includes spaying or neutering, deworming, flea/tick treatment, and vaccinations.