Please enjoy another story by HAWS volunteer Sandy!

MOUSE - that is exactly what the adorable 3 week old kitten looked like when I first saw her under a drain pipe, in a pile of leaves. I bent down to pick her up and she was hissing and spitting to beat all and trying to look so mean! She was adorable.

While we lived our of the area, a friend and I often went on ‘kitten patrols’ looking for abandoned litters. Her husband was the police chief, and more often than not when he'd get a call pertaining to kittens he would say "I'll get my wife and her friend right on it."

Once we were sent to an abandoned house in the neighborhood, where sounds of kittens crying could be heard as far as the sidewalk. We were armed with carriers, nets and first aid equipment - for the kittens and for us! As we walked through tall weeds and an overgrown garden carrying as much as we could I mused aloud, "I don't think we should be in here." My friend laughed and said, "Are you forgetting who sent us here?!" (True, how can you get in trouble if the police chief sends you?)

We picked up two litters about 3 weeks apart. We took them over to my friends garage (the police chief's house) to clean them up and get them ready for adoption.

It was then that the horror of horrors happened: one of the kittens got out and crawled into the police chief's cruiser (under the hood) which was parked in the garage! Sheer panic set in and we did the reasonable thing - we called my husband for help. He called our veterinarian friend, and for over an hour all of us tried everything we could to get the kitten out of the chief's cruiser.

Finally we resorted to a live trap with the disgusting smell of canned mackerel in it. It worked like a charm, and before we knew it we had the runaway back in her cage. My husband and the vet left as quick as they could before the chief came home. We're still laughing about that episode!

Both of the litters were adopted, with the exception of little Mouse. She was very small and people were afraid to adopt her for fear that something was wrong with her. Finally we took her home ourselves, and we were always glad we did!  Her whole life she rarely left our large utility room, but she would venture out to be petted briefly and then run back to her comfort zone. We could tell that she was happy - her purring confirmed that.

It always gave us great comfort to see her cuddle in her favorite places in the sun. Most of them were at the windows where she could look out. She was not a pet in the normal sense of the word but she was special to us and we loved her.

By the way - KITTEN SEASON IS COMING!  In this part of the country we have a distinct time of year when mother cats are having their litters...and it is swiftly approaching.  How can you help?  Support spay/neuter initiatives like ours at HAWS, keep your owned/housecats indoors, and...adopt a new best cat friend from HAWS!

At HAWS we're taking “March” literally, with many great activities and especially several exciting Mobile Adoption Center events!

HAWS’ Mobile Adoption Center brings adoptable animals out into the community - can't make it to our shelter?  We'll come to you!  This month’s special events include:

• Take your dog with you (really!) to the Milwaukee Admirals Dog Day Afternoon, THIS Sunday, March 7^th – HAWS benefits from each ticket purchased when you use the special code “HAWS” when ordering online, or buy your tickets through Brian at the Admirals office (414-227-0567) and tell him you want your donation to go to HAWS!
• Make a Spring Break Splash on March 19-20^th at K-9 Splash Center in Oconomowoc.  Bring your pup to play in the pool and support the HAWS cause, too!  Registration required, call 262-569-9540.
• Good Harvest Market in Waukesha is holding a special sales day for HAWS on March 27^th– 5% of purchases made that day will be donated to the shelter, and HAWS’ Executive Director Lynn Olenik will lead a discussion on choosing the right pet and pet care tips.  Adoptable pets will be available for viewing at the Market.
   

And don’t miss a minute of the action happening at our Shelter!

Get Lucky…or Spot or Fido or Fluffy, our annual adoptathon/St. Pat’s Day party will be on Saturday, March 13^th from noon to 3:00 pm. People and pets are welcome to join us at HAWS for fun, games and treats!

• TTouch for Little Critters is Sunday, March 6^th – pre-registration is required.
• The Friends of HAWS hold their monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 10^th.
• HAWS volunteers will do small animal pedicures at Pet Supplies Plus on Wednesday the 10^th and at the shelter on Saturday the 20^th.
• Learn First Aid for Pets on Saturday, March 27^th.  Pre-registration is required.
   

During the month of March we also have several FREE behavior seminars focusing on dogs, puppies AND cats, and we’re enrolling for all three levels of our dog training classes. Information on all of these events is available at www.hawspets.org or by calling the shelter at 262-542-8851.

By the way - our 27^th Annual Pet Walkathon is coming on Saturday, May 1^st– it's not too soon to start raising funds on foot or online!

Do you have the world’s most adorable pet?  You can help HAWS, and commemorate Spay Day USA while showing off YOUR superstar!

Here's How:
Enter your pet's picture in the Humane Society of the US online photo contest, which they're running especially for Spay Day, and specify HAWS as your charity of choice.  Then, ask everyone you know to vote for your pet:  each vote translates into a $1 donation to help HAWS spay and neuter even more pets.  (Even if you don’t have pet or don’t want to enter, you can still make a difference by voting for one the pets benefiting HAWS.)

Today, February 23rd, is Spay Day 2010 - the annual event sponsored by the Humane Society of the US (HSUS) to focus on the continuing importance of spay/neuter for our companion animals.

For the rest of this week our Spay-Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP) clinic is running a "Spay Day special" - providing free spays or neuters for the pets of Waukesha County residents that qualify for the program.  Program information can be obtained by calling the SNIP clinic at 262-542-8851, x109 or by stopping by HAWS - you can check out our newly remodeled shelter while your here!

To balance the cost of SNIP services, we're also “sniffing out” donations from the community. Notes Lynn Olenik, our E.D.:  “With the support we receive from our community for our SNIP clinic, we are able to save countless lives.”

Anyone can “Sponsor-A-Spay” - just choose the type of surgery and the amount you'd like to contribute.  Donations can be mailed to the shelter or done online quickly and easily through Paypal, using the DONATE button on our SNIP webpage.

By the way - Our Mobile Adoption Center has big plans for the month of March...as does our entire shelter!  Save the date:  our annual Get Lucky Adoptathon is coming up on March 13th at HAWS.

HAWS and the Waukesha County Museum are holding a Student Art Showcase open to anyone, Kindergarten through Post High School.

Original artwork must show one of the following values we learn from our pets: Joy and Laughter, Friendship, Love and Kindness, Loyalty or Nurturing.  Notes our Executive Director, Lynn Olenik: “We often stress the importance of core values for our youth, and our pets demonstrate these values on a daily basis.  We can learn so much from our pets!”

Student artists are encouraged to choose one of the values, and be creative!  Artwork should be either 8"X10" or 11"X14" and use media such as watercolors, photography, and the like.  Further details can be found on the entry form on the HAWS website.  Entries must be received at HAWS on or before Monday, March 15, 2010.  The winners of the Student Art Showcase will be announced at www.hawspets.org by Monday, March 29, 2010.

The “top dog” from each age (K-4^th, 5^th-8^th, high school and post high school) and each value category will be chosen.  The winners will receive a ribbon, as well as having their artwork framed and displayed at the Waukesha Museum during The Nature of Dogs exhibit, which is being showcased April 10 - June 12.  After the museum exhibit, the artwork will return to HAWS where it will be permanently displayed throughout the newly remodeled shelter!

For further details, an entry form or more information, visit www.hawspets.org or email jessica@hawspets.org.  The entry form must be included with the artwork when it is delivered to HAWS.

By the way - HAWS and the Museum will be offering many fun activities throughout the run of The Nature of Dogs - stay tuned for all the details!

Please enjoy another of Sandy's Stories!

In my many years of working in animal welfare, I've seen the horrors of animal abuse. It is a constant struggle not to let your heart be broken. One never gets used to seeing abused animals, but one does learn how to deal with the feeling that arises. If you don't, you will never be able to help others!

That very feeling was the one I had when I saw Wonderful Walter, a gray and white 4-year-old cat. There he was, sitting in the back of his cage at HAWS, curled up on a nice fuzzy blanket.  He had been treated for an eye infection, but when it did not heal he was sent out for an x-ray. The x-ray revealed that he had been shot in the right eye with a b.b. gun. Anyone that has ever had anything wrong with their eye knows how painful that can be and can only imagine the severe pain and fear that this cat went through.

The x-ray revealed that the b.b. had traveled inside his body, and was now lodged inside of his cheek. The vet was able to remove it, and the surgery site was stitched shut with dissolvable sutures. We all hoped that Walter would have a rapid recovery.

Walter’s foster home had taken in another foster animal during his surgery leave, and I was only too happy to take Walter to my home as a foster. I already knew in my heart that we would probably be keeping him. 

(When I am around animals there is a feeling that I get about certain ones that I just know were meant for us…I had that feeling with Walter, or as we say at home, "The sucker sign on our foreheads was blinking again!")

When I brought him home I put him in our guest/foster bedroom. He stayed curled up in his basket and would not eat. I finally put canned cat food on a small plate and heated it in the microwave to let the savory juice entice him. It worked - and it wasn't long before he was eating like a champ! However, now we have created a monster: he now regularly sits at our snack bar counter with that cute little face, waiting for me to heat his food in the microwave. There are times during the day that I find him sitting there and, of course, I always give him a taste of his warmed food. Yes, I am spoiling him but isn't that why they are here?  Besides, the time they have with us is always too short.

Walter is the dearest, sweetest little cat with a perfectly marked white and gray face and the cutest tail I have ever seen. It curls over his back like a Husky dog and when he runs it bounces back and forth. He has fit right into our household of other cats and dogs and parakeets. He loves sitting in his basket watching the outside birds and sitting on my husband's lap. 

I cannot ever imagine not having Walter in our family, and I hope that our love and caring will erase the pain that he has endured. We can see he is happy here and that alone makes us feel that in some way we are making a difference - at least to him. 

Oh yes, we ended up adopting Walter so he is a permanent member of our household. Follow-up examinations of his eye confirmed that he is blind in that eye, but it doesn’t stop him!  Thanks again HAWS for giving a little animal a second chance.

By the way - this weekend we have 2 neat fundraising events going on for HAWS!  The Friends of HAWS are holding our annual Have a Heart Bake Sale on Friday and Saturday, the 12th and 13th, hosted by Waukesha State Bank, 100 Bank Street in Waukesha.  Then, join us for the Dog Wash for HAWS at the "spa" part of Petlicious Dog Bakery & Spa, 2217 Silvernail Road (just off I94 and Hwy. T).  Rub-a-dub, all pups in the tub!

At HAWS we're having a heartwarming February with great activities and events – and our annual observance of Spay Day USA!

As part of the Humane Society of the United State (HSUS) national Spay Day USA on February 23, HAWS presents our Cat-“nip” Campaign and Pit “Snip.”  Our Spay-Neuter Initiative Program (SNIP) clinic will offer free spay-neuter services to qualifying Waukesha County residents, focusing on cats/kittens, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes - the species and breeds found to be most in need of sterilization services in Waukesha County.  Applications for the free surgeries can be obtained at www.hawspets.org or at our facility.  HAWS also seeks participation and donations from the community:  “Sponsor-A-Spay,” enter the HSUS online photo contest and specify HAWS as your charity of choice, or purchase a special limited edition Spay Day t-shirt from HAWS for $10!

The annual Friends of HAWS Have a Heart Bake Sale will take place on Friday, Feb. 12 from 9am to 5pm and Saturday, 2/13 from 9am to noon. Come to Waukesha State Bank at 100 Bank Street in downtown Waukesha to purchase sweet treats for your valentine – person or pet! Want to become a Friend? Join us at our next monthly meeting on 2/10 at 7pm at HAWS.

The HAWS Mobile Adoption Center has several special stops planned this month.  We will again attend the Great Lakes Pet Expo at State Fair Park THIS Saturday, Feb. 6 from 10am – 6pm.  And, come Wash Your Dog for HAWS at Petlicious Dog Bakery and Pet Spa on Sunday, Feb. 14 from 11am – 3pm. Join us at 2217 Silvernail Road, just off the I94 and Hwy. T interchange.

HAWS Event Calendar: Our free puppy seminar will be held on 2/7, small animal pedicures are offered on 2/10 (at Pet Supplies Plus) and 2/20 (at HAWS), First Aid for Pets is 2/20, and our general HAWS volunteer orientations are scheduled for February 21 and 23.

By the way - looking for the perfect Valentine?  Find your match at HAWS!  Unconditional love can be yours when you adopt a pet...

The Packers are done - so are the Vikings and Brett for that matter - the Pro Bowl isn't until Sunday night...what is a person to do to fight Afternoon Football Withdrawal?

Come to the HAWS for Paws Bowl V!! 

(note the use of Roman numerals...just like a certain big game...)

Sponsored by the Friends of HAWS - one of our volunteer groups, this fifth-annual event is taking place this Sunday, January 31st from 11:00am to 2:00pm at Fracaro's Lanes, 1430 Whiterock Ave., Waukesha.

For your donation of $15 you'll get 3 games and shoe rental.  Better yet - teams are encouraged!  Groups of 4 are $50, teams of 5 are $62 and teams of 6 are $75.  And, of course, food and beverages are available for purchase at Fracaro's.

All proceeds benefit the paws and claws at HAWS - so call Maria at 262-490-2102 to reserve your lane!

By the way, this is only the first of many great events this year for the Friends group - learn more by coming to their next meeting, Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00pm at HAWS, or read more at their webpage.

Please enjoy one of "Sandy's Stories" - a Rescue Tail written by one of our long-time volunteers.

In the midst of a full lobby, with children excited to see the pets up for adoption at HAWS, and a stormy day brewing outside, someone left a cat carrier in the lobby.  They did not tell anyone they were doing this; they just set it down and walked out.

An employee noticed the carrier and asked whose carrier it was - but when no one answered, she looked inside...and found a beautiful calico cat!  When she looked closer, she discovered that there were also six tiny kittens.  There were two orange tabbies, one tortoise shell, one black, and two calico kittens.

At that time, all of the usual HAWS volunteer foster homes were full, so we took mother and brood home until they would be old enough to be adopted.  I put them in our spare bedroom which I use for fostering animals, and from the first we couldn't believe what a wonderful, caring mother she was.  She was no more than a kitten herself, with her age estimated at 8 months.  Her sweet face had a little brown mustache on each side of her pink nose.

As the weeks went by she became special to us with her loving ways and tender heart.  The time came for us to return all of them to HAWS for adoption and with a heavy heart we did what we should.  (We had four other cats in our home at the time, so we felt it was the right thing to do - return her to HAWS so she could be adopted by another family.)

While at HAWS, for some reason not known to those of us that loved her, "Missy the Mom Cat" was not getting adopted.  One night my husband was at HAWS for a meeting and went back to see her.  She ran to the front of the cage, called out and stuck her paw through the cage at my husband.  Right then and there we failed the definition of "foster" and she became cat # 5 in our home.  She has become a constant companion to my husband, sitting on his lap with paws outstretched as much as she can, and cuddling to him in bed while fighting with our black Lab for the closest position next to him.

MIssy is the "mother" to all our other animals, and when she is on your lap, purring and rubbing, we know she is showering us with her love.   We feel she is a blessing with a fur coat.  I’ve heard said that God sends you the animals he wants you to have and we are so grateful that he sent Missy to us and HAWS.

By the way - there are many ways you can help the HAWS cause, and becoming a Foster Home is one of the most rewarding!  Contact us for more information on being a foster caregiver at 262-542-8851.

A book titled Fitness Unleased - A Dog and Owner's Guide to Losing Weight and Gaining Health Together found it's way to HAWS.  I was immediately interested, being the advocate I am for the Four-Footed-and-Furry exercise partner.  Hey, having a dog to walk helps you keep that same-old, same-old New Year's Resolution!  This book agrees, and is a great tool to get you both started on a new fitness routine.

For the record, I do walk the walk on this topic - literally.  My husband, myself and our 2 dogs are daily evening walkers, and on weekends I also join their twice-daily walking schedule.  (Monday thru Thursday the a.m. walk is done at 5:30 - not for me!  But I'm happy to go at the more SANE hour of 8am Friday - Sunday....)

At times, we get the strangest looks - especially when all 4 of us are bundled up beyond recognition and still out there moving.  During snow storms, rain and frigid spells we especially like to look around and ask "Where IS everybody?!?!"  (The putting on of the dog booties is a worthwhile hassle, trust us!)

Don't get me wrong, I don't always enjoy this routine.  Many days our 9-year-old greyhound and I are of the same mind:  seriously, the couch looks a lot better right now!  But we definitely notice we are all more stiff if we don't go, and that extra cookie isn't so guilt-inducing once we've done a lap or 2.  (This is the part where I tell you to ADOPT 4 PAWS FROM HAWS or, if that's not an option, BECOME A VOLUNTEER DOG WALKER!)

"Having" to walk the dog can be very motivating.  Our primary source of that these days is our 12-year-old fuzzy mutt - a HAWS alumni.  We've always suspected she's part Border Collie; she's always ready to go (dog owners, you all know what it's like having to spell certain words - we can't even say anything that RHYMES with "walk" without her running to get her leash).  Lately, tho, her after-walk routine has us shaking our heads in amazement.  She'll give us about 5 minutes to settle in after returning from our nightly exercise before...grabbing her favorite squeaky toy and running up and down the hall with it.  Even better if one of us stands at either end of the hall way so it becomes a game of keepaway!

(I think in the dog-to-human-years comparison, a 12-year-old dog is equivalent to a 65-year-old human.  We're not there yet, and she is NOT going to show us up.)  But, really, we just got home....

To summarize, there is yet another role a pet can play in your life - personal trainer.  Just don't teach them how to use a whistle.

By the way - in January & February we have several dog-centered seminars and classes.  Check out our Events Calendar for puppy and dog events (play and exercise are a big part!), along with lots of other fun things to do at HAWS!

To set the mood for today's blog entry, think of Louis Armstrong's song "What a Wonderful World."  Are you ready?  Continue reading!

One day this past summer, when I wasn't at HAWS, I looked out the front window and spied the neighbor’s Golden Retriever playing in their sprinkler.  She jumped back and forth in the spray, took a drink, got water up her nose, sneezed, and went back for more.  All the while her human kids stood giggling at her antics from the front porch.

Now, really, what is better than that picture?  Down economy, tough times or whatever, our pets are still living in the moment and finding the simple joys in life.  THAT’S why we need to press on – and what we tell folks when we speak with them about adopting, volunteering, donating or sponsoring our organization.  Our pets still think we’re rock stars, still believe we are the best, still find the fun in each day.  They are there for us and their role as companion, listener, clown and exercise program has never been more relevant to our emotional well-being than it is right now.

Now, more than ever, we at HAWS and throughout our community need to be there for all of them!  So let’s make this year a TRUE celebration of pets and their people – and what we give to each other.

Our sincerest thanks for your help, dedication and compassion, and belief in the HAWS cause!  We are more than just a shelter because of you.  C'mon by sometime and see what YOUR support continues to do for us.

By the way - we're having a White Out at HAWS:  adopt any solid white or light colored animal at HAWS throughout the month of January, and the adoption fee is 50% off!  We're here 7 days a week, adoption applications are available both online and at our facility.

When you celebrate the holidays with your pets,
please remember…

Don’t let them eat the tinsel,
Don’t let them eat the turkey,
Don’t let them eat the chocolates
Because they won’t be very perky!

While the holiday lights are beautiful,
The electric cords are not:
Don’t let your pet chew on these --
Things could get a little hot!

From all the paws, claws, staff, volunteers and Board of Directors at HAWS:

Wishing you and yours the Happiest of Holidays and a Great 2010!

By the way - HAWS holiday hours are 9am-3pm Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (receiving only, no viewing), Closed Christmas Day and News Year's Day.

On Saturday, December 5^th we at HAWS became a new safe haven for greyhounds being displaced due to the impending Kenosha racetrack closing.

Already in partnership with Greyhound Pets of America (GPA) – Wisconsin since February 2009, we're increasing the number of greyhounds housed at our shelter while GPA is inundated with dogs needing housing - with Dairyland ending live racing on December 31.

Our Executive Director, Lynn Olenik says its just the right thing to do.  “We want to do anything we can to help them out in this time of need.  GPA has many dogs to move in a short amount of time and we're happy to help out. The greyhounds add a wonderful spirit to our facility; our staff and volunteers love having them here.”

Female greyhounds Toy, Chic and Devi, along with male greyhound Bill, joined Lexi – a greyhound already in residence at HAWS due to the ongoing HAWS-GPA agreement – on the 5^th. By Saturday, December 12^th, Lexi and Chic had been adopted out to their new homes. Bill and Devi were placed on hold that day, and will be heading out to foster care this week prior to going to their adoptive families.

Five (5!) more greyhounds are scheduled to arrive at HAWS this coming Saturday, December 19^th.

We work with Ellen Paulus, GPA-Wisconsin President.  She notes, “It is great exposure for our greyhounds to be at HAWS, so people who see them realize that greyhounds can - and do - make great pets after their racing careers are over.” 

The greyhounds participating in the program live at HAWS and receive spay/neuter surgeries from our SNIP clinic. They are available for viewing 7 days a week along with the other adoptable animals at HAWS. Those interested in pursuing adoption are directed to contact local GPA representatives to continue the process. HAWS viewing hours begin daily at 1:00 p.m.

By the way - HAWS will have modified hours during the holidays.  We will be open from 9am -3pm on 12/24 and 12/31, but our kennel will not be open for viewing.  We will be closed on 12/25 and 1/1/2010.  Have a wonderful holiday season with all your Best Friends!

Have you ever moved into a new home and not had all the furnishings for it yet?  Maybe you went from a small apartment to a full-size house, or upgraded to a bigger place - but the living room stayed empty while you decided on the new couch and chairs and tables that would best fill it...

As our shelter expansion project nears completion, we are taking stock of what we need to fill some of our new rooms!  We have plenty of residents coming and going, now we need the little, final touches to make our shelter the best it can be.

Below is our "sponsorships" WISH LIST - we buy the item, but put YOUR name on it if you donate towards the purchase price.  For example, is there a cat lover in your house?  Donate in their name towards our cat townhouses and we'll put their name on a plaque by that item.

Most of the things on our list are directly for the animals, and some are to help us help the people that come to our shelter facility.  Our goal is to have a place that is warm and welcoming for everyone that visits!

HAWS WISH LIST:
Climbing areas for the cat exercise room  -  up to $1000 each

Comfortable (and comforting) love seats for Friends Meeting Room, Home-like Interview Room & Rainbow Room  -  $850 each
 

Rabbit cages/small animal habitats  -  $500 each

Sound absorption panels for small dog kennel  -  $85 each

Cat town houses/cages  -  $1000 each

Small dog quiet condos/cages  -  $1000 each

Spay/Neuter clinic recovery cubbies  -  $1000 each

Cage banks for the SNIP administrative office  -  $1200 (we'll need 2)

Outdoor equipment for Dog Confidence Course (spring installation)  -  $300 per item

Information cabinets/enclosed display boards/brochure racks  -  $200 each

General bulletin boards  -  $25-200

Credenza/storage unit for Rainbow Room  -  $500

THANK YOU for adding the paws and claws at HAWS to your holiday gift list!  Questions?  Call us at 262-542-8851 or email expansion@hawspets.org.


By the way - as I mentioned earlier, we have plenty of animals to fill the spaces we've created - maybe now is the time for you to ADOPT 4 PAWS FROM HAWS?!

By the way, part B - all donations to HAWS are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. 
HAWS is a 501c3 organization, entirely donor funded.

This week's blog is more a personal entry than on behalf of HAWS.  I am sure, tho, that my sentiments are shared by many others within the HAWS family - adopters, donors, members, friends, volunteers, board, staff...

I wanted to take the opportunity to give thanks for the wonderful year we have had at HAWS.  We knew 2009 would be a year unlike any other!  Knocking walls off the side of the building and tearing out a few more from within will make for a unique experience.  We will always remember HAWS "Year of the Build."

Along the way we have learned just how blessed we are to be in this community!  Almost all who have come thru our doors this year have been beyond accommodating with the chaos they've encountered.  Our volunteers have just kept plugging away, no matter what changes are made to their routines.  My co-workers have managed to continue with the day-to-day, even when their workstations have disappeared completely or our operations have been relocated to unfamiliar territory or offsite. 

Most importantly, adopters have still come in, despite the dust, to find their new best friends.

The animals we are here to help have also soldiered on, still wagging tails, purring and chirping.  Their ability to take every day in stride has reminded us to do the same.  And it makes us even more dedicated to getting them out to their forever homes.

In the next few weeks our facility expansion will be completed!  It has both gone quickly and taken too long, depending on the day of the week!  But 2010 will begin soon and with it our "new" HAWS will open.  Oh, the anticipation!

We feel like kids on Christmas night!  And we can't wait to open our "gift" - and share it with all of you.

There are many awesome things that HAWS does.  However, something I’ve come to find particularly cool is our Mobile Adoption Center.

A few Saturdays ago I had the chance to be part of the Mobile team with event coordinator Lisa.  We went on two stops that day - the first one was to Star of Bethlehem Church in New Berlin, and the second was to Eclectica, a bead store in Brookfield.  To each different stop we took animals from the shelter that were up for adoption.

The two locations were pretty busy, and many people stopped to play with the animals and to learn about how to adopt them.  Since we went almost all of the animals we had brought with us have been adopted!

It was fun to go on the Mobile Adoption "run" because it was a really good way to tell people who may not know a lot about the shelter what goes on here day-to-day.  Also, by bringing the live animals it showed people how cute the pets are that we have available to be adopted... not just dogs and cats but often times puppies and kittens too!

The next time I will be doing a Mobile visit will be in the beginning of December at a car dealership in Waukesha (Wilde Subaru).  Hopefully people who are interested in getting a new car will also be interested in adopting a new pet!

By the way - you can also "dine out" for the HAWS cause - visit Chili's in Brookfield or Oconomowoc during the month of November, Sunday thru Thursday, and a portion of your bill total is donated to HAWS.  Take the coupon along with you that is available at our Mobile page on our website (and at our shelter - just stop by the front counter).  And mark December 15th on your calendar - HAWS benefit nite at Claim Jumper Restaurant at Brookfield Square!

By the way 2 - HAWS has so much to be thankful for this year - our "new" shelter is probably the most obvious!  We give thanks to all of you for supporting us and the work we do!

The Friends of HAWS volunteer group at HAWS announces their annual Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale!  Join us at the shelter this Saturday, November 14^th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  All proceeds from the event support the animals, programs and services at our shelter.

Start your holiday shopping early, or pick up some sweet treats for you or your best pet friend!  Craft items with both holiday and pet themes will be available for purchase, along with delicious cookies and treats.  Handcrafted and homemade are the words of the day, with most items created and donated by members of the Friends group.  There are always some hidden gems such as the latest and greatest pet toys, stuffed animals and one-of-a-kind decorations - making this Bazaar well worth the trip!

Also available at the shelter that day will be the new Friends of HAWS cool-weather clothing line, featuring embroidered-logo fleece vests, pullover sweatshirts and hoodies.  Show your HAWS pride - get your paws on this great new HAWS gear!

Best Friends Cookbooks ($15), Entertainment ($35) and Gold C coupon books ($10) round out the fundraising efforts.

Interested in donating items for the sale?  Drop off your craft items or fresh baked goods at the shelter Thursday and Friday, November 12^th and 13^th.  Items should be labeled with suggested value and/or price.

By the way - our lobby looks VERY different now!  We've started to occupy our new areas, so nows a really good time to stop by and see the building progress!

Not many people like to think about what will happen after they're gone - but when it comes to those who depend on us, planning ahead is a great gift!

Our pets are at the top of the list of those most dependent on us.

This coming Monday, November 9th, HAWS will host a seminar titled Providing for Pets in Your Will, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  Presented by Brenda Schlais, a local Estate Planning Attorney, those in attendance will learn how to set up a trust in your will or revocable living trust to ensure your pet receives proper care.  Discussion will include various planning options in accordance with Wisconsin laws.  

Brenda cited the importance of Pet Trusts in the February '09 cover story of our HAWS print newsletter, Tattle Tails.

"An important issue faces every pet owner:  planning for your pets.  Planning involves thinking through various situations and possible circumstances, and creating a strategy to ensure that your pets will be safe and well cared for, even ifyou are not there to protect them."  Brenda includes gifts and/or trust funds, setting up a pet guardian and putting together an emergency kit all as valuable tools to allow a smooth transition for your survivor pet.

Space for this important seminar is limited and pre-registration is required:  call 262-542-8851 or visit www.hawspets.org.

By the way - we've got our intern, Zoe, working on an adoption promotions plan, but she'll be back in a few weeks with more Intern insights!!

Last weekend HAWS had its biggest event of the year- the annual fall fundraiser!  This year, we celebrated the expanion work being done on our shelter by having the theme of the party be called “Men at Work.”

The past few weeks I’ve spent my time at HAWS helping to prepare for this event.  I had no idea how much time and organization an event such as this one really takes.  Other people around the shelter had started preparing for this party months and months in advance!

I spent my time preparing for the event by contacting local businesses, picking up auction items, organizing donations, making signs and posters, and other activities that needed to be done for the party. The day of the event was a marathon day - some of our workers and volunteers were at the hotel - Olympia Resort - from 9am until after midnight!  (Luckily, they let me arrive at noon.)

The party ended up being really fun and was a great success.  There was a silent auction, a live auction, a balloon contest, adoptable pet meet'n'greet, and HAWS had hired the band The Boogie Men to play live on stage.  Some of the items that were available in the auctions were really cool - sporting equipment and memorabilia, fine jewelry, home decor, Brewers tickets and even front row courtside Bucks tickets!

There were also a lot of delicious foods available including one of my favorite things - a mashed potato bar.

The event was held at Olympia Resort out in Oconomowoc and a lot of people came in order to support our cause.

By the way - this weekend is Pet Photos with Santa weekend here at HAWS - call today to set your appointment (262-542-8851).  Your fee of $30 includes your 15-minute photo session, one 8x10 and 2 5x7s, and for $5 more you'll get a CD of all the photos taken during your session.  Don't miss out!

By the way, part 2 - our annual Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale is on Saturday, November 14th here at HAWS.  Get an early start on your holiday shopping with craft items and baked goodies for people AND pets.  Mark your calendar!

Hi everyone! I’m Zoe, a senior from Concordia University that is interning at HAWS this fall semester. I’m majoring in Business Communications and Public Relations with a minor in Marketing and I’ve been working here at the shelter since the end of August.

I decided to do an internship at HAWS because I have always loved animals. Growing up I had numerous hamsters, bunnies, cats and dogs. Currently I have three Shih Tzu’s- Buster, Baci and Binky- who are my absolute favorite things ever!

However, I also decided to do an internship at HAWS because I think it’s really important to have a voice for something that doesn’t have the ability to have a voice on their own. Cats, dogs, and other animals don’t get to choose their destinies... and they need our help in order to stay healthy and happy! HAWS is that voice. The people here are all so kind and caring, and they love animals very much.

So far I’ve done a lot of different things around the shelter. My first few days here I observed all of the different departments- everything from the front adoptions desk to the humane educator and I even spent one day in the SNIP clinic. The different departments were all very interesting and a lot more happens around the shelter than you would ever guess!

I also got to spend one day at TMJ4 with Jen and Cassie while they appeared on “The Morning Blend”. It was really cool to see behind the scenes what goes on during a live TV show.

By the way - we'll have more insights from Zoe in future weeks - stay tuned!  And don't forget to participate in all of our great programs and events - the Boo 'N Doogle Pet Costume Contest, Pet Photos with Santa, and more!  Visit the Upcoming Events calendar on our website for all the details.

The deadline looms!

HAWS annual fall fundraiser - this year titled the Men at Work party - is coming up on the 17th.  Hard to believe it is already October.

Please join us:  Tickets are on sale ONLY through this Saturday, October 10th - both at the shelter, via phone (262-542-8851) or through our website and the Men at Work event page.  All proceeds for this event benefit the animals in our care, and the programs and services that assist our community.  Truly a good cause!

There are 2 tickets levels this year.  For $55 you get the full-party experience:  arrive at 6:30pm for fabulous buffets (including the ever-popular sushi bar), to bid on silent and live auction items (LOTS of neat packages, gifts, memorabilia, jewelry, artwork - great things for both people and pets), meet'n'greet some of our adoptable pets, shoot some craps or try the roulette wheel...and then get down with The Boogie Men!

For the special price of $20, c'mon in at 9pm - dance with The Boogie Men and win big prizes in our casino.  Get to know a little bit of HAWS for a smaller donation!

Can't come?  You're still eligible for our "Build" Raffle - tickets are $10 each or 3 for $25.  Purchase those tickets at our shelter up until the event.

By the way - this fundraiser is one of the ways we are able to keep HAWS going strong.  Help support the HAWS cause, a cause even more important these days when more pets and their people look to us for help!  Thanks for your support!