It’s that time again for our 8th Annual Car, Truck and Bike Show for the Humane Society of Genesee County sponsored by Team Corvette!  This year’s event will be held on:

Saturday, July 13th

9:00 am-2:00 pm

People’s Choice Show, with 40 trophies awarded.  Music, 50/50 raffle, food and bake sale.

Rain or Shine

Click on the link above for the registration form.  For more information, contact John at john.ranville@geneseehumane.org

Saturday, June 1st

10:00 am- 1:00 pm

Join us at the Humane Society of Genesee County to beautify our grounds and enjoy some good ol’ fashioned potluck food with friends old and new!  We are asking each group or volunteer to bring their own garden hand tools (the garden will be “prepped” and ready for planting), and a flat of any (or all!) of these flowers:

Also, we’ll be celebrating all of our volunteers that participate in this fun event with a hotdog picnic!  Please bring a dish to pass like pasta salad, cole slaw, relish tray or a dessert to complete our meal (dish to serve approximately 20 people).

Please contact Terry at terry.ashley@geneseehumane.org for more information.  We hope you can attend this great event!

Thursday, April 25th   Master Gardener Clean-up Day         9:30 am-12:00 noon

Saturday, May 4th      Garden & grounds Clean-up             10:00 am-1:00 pm

Saturday, June 1st     “Bring a Flat to Plant” Day                10:00 am-1:00 pm  (see flyer for more information)

Please bring your own rake and garden gloves!  You must be 16 years or older to be without a parent or guardian while volunteering at the Humane Society.

The event will be held on:

You’ll do all of these great things:

• Learn from a veterinarian
• Visit with farm animals
• See exotic birds
• Dog training demonstration and tricks
• Free lunch
• Free photos with a pet
• Cheerleading dance performance
• Scooby-Doo Bounce house
• AND become a Certified “Animal Ambassador” for your community!
• *Limited to the first 200 children
• For more information on “Kids Who Care” Humane Education Event, please contact Terry at terry.ashley@geneseehumane.org.

Sunday, April 14th, 2013   12:00 noon-3:00pm

The event is a much anticipated Fundraiser for the Humane Society of Genesee County.   With the ambience of Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club (home of the nationally known “Buick Open” Golf Tournaments) in Grand Blanc, Michigan, there is no finer place to show your love and support of animals.  With a fun and entertaining auctioneer, and the comedic personality of Leslie Toldo, you’ll be glad you were able to attend this event.  A decandent buffet serving brunch and champagne, fabulous auction items, and great people will make this the “go to” event for Spring!

Reserve your space today by contacting John at john.ranville@geneseehumane.org.  Seating is limited.

Paws on Parade flyer for 2013

Be one of the first to reserve your spot at this fabulous annual event!  (PDF printable form available)

Our Pet ‘O Gold Event will be held on March 16th from 10:00am-3:00pm here at the Humane Society of Genesee County, and will feature adoption specials, cookies and punch, free photos of you and your newly adopted pet, and crafts for the kids!  For more information on this event, please contact John at john.ranville@geneseehumane.org.

To see all of our animals up for adoption, please go to our home page and click on “Animals”.

The Humane Society of Genesee County’s story of the month

Mike knew the day he wanted to get a dog. His long-time companion, Lady, a lab-cocker mix, had passed away just the day before. It had been a rough year for Paul, Mike’s dad, and Mike Newbold. Paul’s wife had passed away in March of 2012, and the sadness in the family was palpable. The loss of Lady added to their grief.

“Mike said he wanted to get another dog,” said Paul, a gentle and caring father. He’d taken care of Mike throughout all of these difficult times, and knew he truly needed to get his son another companion.
Paul and Mike came to the Humane Society of Genesee County to search for their new companion. “All of the dogs backed away from their cage when I walked past them with the wheelchair,” said Paul.

“They were scared of it. Link walked right up to the front to greet us. We knew he was the one for us.”

Link was not yet up for adoption, however. Although he was in the adoption hall, he was being treated for heartworm, a potentially fatal disease. He would have to stay at the Humane Society for 1 1/2 more months to complete his treatment.

Paul didn’t want to get Mike’s hopes up. He knew it would be a long wait to adopt Link, with not a guarantee of how he would respond to the heartworm treatment. Link would have to remain at the Humane Society until he had completed all of the treatments, and was deemed healthy and heartworm-free before getting adopted.

During the next month, Paul regularly visited the Humane Society to check up on Link, and monitor his progress. Mike was not told of this “secret mission” to adopt the dog that he so wanted…Paul used his time to visit when Mike wasn’t with him. A bond further developed between this 3 1/2 year old golden lab mix, and Paul.

Finally the day came when Paul was able to safely tell Mike that he had been secretly visiting Link. The dog was healthy and heartworm- free, and now he could give Mike the dog that he had so fallen in love with on that special day.
The adoption was done, and they were now a family. Paul chuckles when he remembers the first few days.

“He had the run of the house” said Paul. “He destroyed a Kleenex box and shredded it everywhere!” Link, with his adorable golden lab look, makes the pair of men laugh when he gets his tooth caught up on his lip. “He has done that since we first got him,” says Paul with a laugh.

Home is a happy place once again with the addition of Link. He provides companionship, love, comfort and a feeling of security that is irreplaceable.

Undeniably, a true love match.Welcome to our new series of “Story of the Month”.  This February, we share the story of Mike and Paul Newbold, and how the addition of Link enhanced their lives.  Enjoy!

Click here for PDF

Cold weather tips for your pet

Outside cats have been known to sleep under a warm car hood. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine.

1. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
2. Keep pets away from iced over lakes.  They can fall through the ice just like their owner.
3. Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs, paws and underbelly when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
4. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk.
5. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather.  The inside of a car can get very cold.
6. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter.  Consider in door paper training in very cold weather.
7. If your dog spends a lot of time with outdoor activities, increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in good condition.
8. Be sure to thoroughly clean up antifreeze spills from your vehicle.  Antifreeze is lethal to pets.

9. Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

10. Take care with indoor space heaters, fire place fires, etc . . .   A pet warming itself too close to a major heat source can burn themselves.

11. In very cold weather, it is imperative that pets are brought indoors.  If this is not possible, be sure that they have heavy shelter, heavy warm blankets or ticking and the shelter’s door is blocked or does not face the direction of the wind.  Be sure that water is not frozen and is readily available.

12. Be gentle with elderly or arthritic pets.  Go outside with them.  A slip or fall could make matters worse.

Come join the fun at Humane Society of Genesee County for a “Pet Pals” Scout Workshop!  We’ll explore the importance of proper pet care, learn about safety around animals, have a “hands-on” with a shelter pet and tour our facility all while having fun.  We also will include a community service experience (unfolding newspapers, making adoption folders, etc.), and a craft project.  You will receive an HSGC Participation Badge for attending this workshop.  Pre-registration is required.  Space is limited.  Cost is $4.00 per scout.  Email Terry at terry.ashley@geneseehumane.org for availability, or call (810) 744-0511.

Print the “Pet Pals” form here

Check the dates 1-4 for your preference.  We will try to give you your 1st choice whenever possible!  There may be more than one troop attending the Pet Pals Scout Workshop. Please send with payment to secure your spot.  You will receive confirmation of your date when payment is received.

The dates available for Daisies and Brownie Troops are (All dates are on Thursdays, 4:00pm-5:15pm):

• February 21
• April 25
• October 17
• November 14