We recently recieved request for information from concerned citizens.  Following is the most recent Tail News in regards to submitted questions.

What is the status of the cameras that were donated by the yacht club?
The London Bridge Yacht Club hosted a golf tournament to benefit WAHS in September, 2011 whereby all proceeds where to go to benefit WAHS.  There was no upfront specification and/or discussion to designate these funds to a specific use.  The board of directors received a letter in early January that stated the Yacht Club had $5,000 from the proceeds of the golf tournament and that the donation was to be used specifically for cameras and “it is also our (the Yacht Club’s) understanding that a local veterinarian will be reviewing the tapes from said cameras to better the quality of care for the facility”.  Although the potential of installing security cameras was a minor recommendation from Dr. Egar’s investigative report, the Board of Directors has elected not to install cameras at this time, as there are many higher priority items that directly relate to animal care needs and overall shelter operations at this time. We have met with representatives from the Yacht Club at our facility and will be presenting alternative needs for the use of those funds they so graciously raised for the animals
Are the flaps that were installed in the front building temporary?
No they are not.  The particular materials that were used to install the flaps were recommended from a shelter architect that had used these in other shelters with great success.  They are working exceptionally well and we are satisfied with their function, durability and ease of installation.
Are flaps going to be installed in the back building?
Flaps have been installed in the back building since early January, 2012. .
Is WAHS authorized to purchase euthanasia and pre-sedation drugs?
WAHS is authorized and has the necessary DEA permits and documentation to purchase euthanasia and pre-sedation drugs directly from suppliers.  The policy was changed in August to codify in the procedures manual what had been regular practice.  The modified policy required pre-sedation meds to be made available prior to all euthanasia procedures to ensure all available tools necessary for technicians in their work were at hand.
What are the plans to climate control the buildings and kennel areas as indicated by the Connecticut report?  
We will be discussing climate control issues and plan development at the Board of Directors meeting.  The report from Learned Design contained suggestions for heating and industrial air conditioning both buildings to a rate of approximately 1-ton per 125 s.f. of building space along with environmental return filtering adequate for the increased airflow and airflow speed, to catch both bacterial and viral contaminants.  To accomplish this, the WAHS will first need to upgrade its electrical service to handle the 250-350 additional amps.  The engineered drawings are in production and will be put out for bidding in March or April, in time for construction to be completed prior to the summer heat.  Contingent on the findings, the board will discuss the capital expenditures plan of action and determine how to raise funds for this important improvement.  The electrical upgrades are expected to cost $30-$50,000 and the additional AC equipment, structural building improvements and installation may be from $35-$60,000 additional.  Obviously, this is more involved than simply adding even more residential quality AC units which are clearly inadequate.   In fact, the electrical system is already so overtaxed it could not handle the additional of even a single small AC unit.  An expense as large as $75-$110,000 plus the enhanced electric bills are something the board will study extensively.
What are the term expirations for each WAHS Board Members?
We will be discussing the most efficient way to disseminate information concerning Board  business at the Board of Directors meeting. When terms expire or when it is determined that vacancies need to be filled, a committee is formed to determine the near-future needs of the WAHS.  The committee then reviews applications and narrows the findings for the board to discuss and recommend as new members.  For example, the WAHS has been and will be expanding its role in northern Mohave County – and therefore may be interested in advertising the vacancy(s) in the Kingman area for additional ‘local knowledge’ instead of relying only on the LHC residents. Each individual board member position is a three year term with a maximum consecutive term limit of two terms.  The vice president and president of the board positions are for two consecutive years, irrespective of the length of time already served in the board member’s term.  No board member is eligible for re-election to the board without a one year minimum absence from the board.   The WAHS bylaws state that the board will be comprised of 3-13 members.  Currently 11 are seated.

Fireworks and other fanfare are often frightful experiences for dogs. The loud noises can hurt their sensitive ears.

Frightened dogs have different reactions: some tremble at their owners’ feet, others retreat to a hiding place, some try to run off (traveling for miles), and others display bizarre behavior. According to behavior specialist Dr. Elizabeth Shull, low-frequency, percussive noises such as fireworks and summer thunderstorms trigger wild fear in about 20% of dogs. Under such circumstances, ordinarily well-behaved pets may become aggressive, destructive and/or unpredictable.

Here are some precautions you can take to help your pets:

* Make sure all pets always are wearing well-fitted collars and securely fastened ID tags. Microchips and tattoos are great ID techniques, too. Even a back-firing car or shot in the woods can be enough to incite a dog to run off, so avoid taking any chances.

* Don’t take pets to events with fireworks.

* If fireworks are being set off nearby, or if you’re having guests over for a holiday celebration, find a quiet, secure place to keep your pets. Darkening the room can help. Crating is also a good idea — place the crate in the quietest part of the home. Make sure you put safe chew toys in the crate to occupy and distract the pet during the event. You can close the curtains and turn up the radio, CD player or TV to drown out noise.

* Do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced yard, anytime when fireworks might be set off in the distance.

* Rather than cuddle a frightened dog, try to distract the dog from the disturbing noises with physical activity such as playing ball.

* Remember that scolding or coddling a scared dog will not help. Scolding will scare and confuse the animal, and coddling serves to reinforce fearful behaviors. Instead, assume your pack leader role and act confident and unbothered by the noise and activity outside. You can give your pet a gentle massage, or use Tellington Touch techniques (see the T-Touch Dog Tip on the PAW website) or even just place your hand calmly on the pet’s head.

* If the sounds and lights of fireworks frighten your dog, here’s an innovative technique from the most recent issue of “Unleashed! The Pet Care Forum’s Newsletter for Dog Lovers” (www.vin.com/PetCare/Dogs.htm). Make an “anxiety wrap” using an adult or children’s T-shirt. Put the dog’s front legs through the arm holes, then knot the hem over the dog’s back. This technique is related to the massage and Tellington Touch therapy approaches. Wrapping fabric around an animal can give the pet a feeling of greater security.

* Vets can prescribe tranquilizers for frightened dogs. Also, some people find that non-prescription remedies such as Rescue Remedy or Serene-um calm their dogs.

* If you’re going out of town for the holidays, entrust the care and feeding of pets to an adult friend or a boarding kennel you know very well.

* If you know someone whose pet escaped, advise that they call the Western Arizona Humane Society at (928) 855-5083 and file a lost pet report.  If it is after business hours, please contact police dispatch at 855-4111.

As you aware, there has been a multitude of conversations, allegations and opinions regarding the operating functions of the Western Arizona Humane Society (WAHS).  Unfortunately, along with these issues, there is misinformation that is being disseminated as facts.  WAHS Board of Directors and dedicated staff continue to provide compassionate exceptional care for the animals in our community. Following are the most frequent questions that we have been responding to through face to face meetings, phone calls, and our website. Thank you to the many supporters and donors that have met with us to clarify the issues and continue, through their spirit of generosity, provide necessary resources for our shelter guests.

Why don’t you just have a fundraiser and put in Air Conditioning in the kennels?
Our adoption kennels are over 30 years old, and the stray building over 20 years old.  Neither of these facilities were designed to accommodate an HVAC system.  How we provide air flow for health concerns is different for dogs, cats and humans.  All of our cat areas have specialized air systems that provide specific criteria and reduce the possibility of cross contamination.  Our dog kennels are indoor/outdoor kennels that provide air flow that minimizes potential group housing diseases. We also provide swamp cooling in the summer months, and the interior of kennels is approximately 30 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.   
We have completed an extensive engineering evaluation from Design Learned, who are the experts in remediation of shelter facilities.  The evaluation addresses many of the shortcomings of the existing facility compared to current design parameters for group housing.  Based on these recommendations and evaluations we are actively in the design specification stage to determine actual costs and benefits to providing HVAC to both buildings.
What do you mean by “actual costs and benefits”?
For example, we are currently “maxed” on electric availability at our current 200 amp service.  We would need to upgrade to a 600 amp/3 phase service to accommodate major renovations.  Insulated kennel doors with flaps are $425 per unit and we would need 45 units.  We also are working with Unisource to determine what the usage fees would be based on peak periods of demand.  At the same time, we are analyzing what the return would be if we made such a major investment.  How many degrees difference would we achieve by installing this system, and what extra  precautions do we need to implement for overall animal health. 
What do you do for the dogs in the winter when it is cold and windy?
Each kennel is designed with indoor/outdoor space.  The outdoor space is protected with a 5 foot brick wall and wind screens on the chain link above that.  Each dog gets fresh blankets daily (that’s why we appreciate all of the blanket donations), a raised platform bed, and sweaters and/or t-shirts for the short hair dogs more susceptible to winter temperatures.  We do temperature reading 3 times a day, and our animal care technicians are with the animals from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm for observation. Although some dogs “shake” that is not always an indication of their being cold.  Some small breeds, predominately Chi’s shake regardless of temperature. 
Why don’t you allow the public on the inside of the adoption kennels?
We view all of our adoptable dogs on the outside of the kennels for several reasons.  The interior corridor is only 3 foot wide from kennel door to the pony wall.  The pony wall provides a visual barrier that reduces stress in a kennel environment.   When the public views the adoptable dogs from the interior they are standing right on top of the animals.  This can be perceived as a “threat” and increase stress levels.  When the public views the animals from the outside of the kennels, we have a 7 foot walkway.  This provides more room and can accommodate the heavy public traffic that we get daily.  It also provides a safety issue for both humans and animals as we remove the dogs from the kennels for public interaction. 
What is the current status of the painting and installation of flaps at the shelter? 
Thanks to the cooperation and recommendations from Sherwin Williams, Ratcliff Painting and Authentic Painting and Coating all of the adoption kennels have been painted in record time.  Each individual kennel needed to be shut down for 6 days for prep, and apply 3 coats of water based epoxy paint.  We have been researching epoxy paint for quite some time for a product that was low VOC for the animal safety.  This type of paint in necessary to withstand the stringent cleaning protocols that we follow daily.
We have successfully installed clear plastic flaps on 30 of our 45 kennels, and expect to be completed by Saturday, January 14th.  The material we are using was recommended by an animal sheltering architect for animal usage.  They proved several functions for sheltering animals.  One of the most beneficial outcomes is that dogs are used to “doggy doors” when they go their forever home.
In addition, we have completed a major renovation in our laundry/storage area.  It has been referred to as a “closet” but in actually is a large room and storage area that was part of the original building.  Thanks to hard working volunteers, Sunstate Equipment Rental and Copper State Enterprises we gutted both rooms, installed shelving systems and addressed additional health and safety issues.  Sterlite donated over 30 containers, so all of our supplies and bedding are secure.  We are now able to utilize this area for our SAFER (behavior evaluations) for all dogs prior to being put up for adoption.
Why was WAHS non responsive when the accusations and allegations of animal cruelty came up?
When the accusations and allegations of animal cruelty came up, we were notified by the Lake Havasu Police Department that criminal charges had been filed, and they were doing an investigation.  As an organization we made a decision to fully cooperate with the Police Department in their investigation and made all records and employees available for information.  At the same time, the City of Lake Havasu requested a independent investigation of the organization, which we hired a Shelter Veterinarian from Phoenix to complete that investigation.  The findings and recommendations from the Shelter Vet were presented at a public meeting in October, and are posted on our website as well.  In addition, shelter staff and members of the Board of Directors have responded individually to those willing to come forward and indentify themselves, via letters, emails and face to face meetings.  We encourage you if you have specific questions or just want general information, to contact us or come visit us at the shelter.
We also had an extensive meeting in March 2011, stemming from anonymous letters that were delivered to our Board of Directors.  We felt that the accusations and allegations were serious in nature, and wanted the opportunity to get specific information so that we could investigate and correct the issues, if in fact there were any.  We had many Board/Management discussions regarding presedation on euthanasia, climate control, volunteer programs and a variety of other complaints.  We spent a considerable amount of time outreaching to other shelters and national organization like the Shelter Veterinarian Association, American Humane Association and the Humane Society of the United States looking at practices and recommendations. Specific information was not forthcoming in regards to the allegations, so we were unable to research their validity. Based on the recommendations from the Shelter Veterinarian, we did implement the majority of the recommendations and appreciate the knowledge shared with us. 

What do you do with the taxpayers money?
WAHS has a fee for contract services to provide Animal Care and Control to the citizens of Lake Havasu City for $437,205 with a $20,000 vehicle/fuel allowance.   We retain the fees generated from the processing, enforcement and handling of dog licenses, impound fees and boarding stray animal fees.  These fees are paid by pet owners, and vary from year to year.  Although costs have increased, we have not increased our contract over the last 2 budget cycles.  We also have a contract to provide Sheltering Services for Mohave County out of their shelter in Kingman.  In Lake Havasu City we have 3 full time Humane Officers that respond to over 4,000 service calls a year.  They are available 24/7-365 days a year for animal emergencies.  They respond to stray dogs, dog bites, running at large, barking, aggressive behavior, excessive waste issues, and public safety issues such as rattlesnakes. They are supported by customer service representatives that answer a variety of questions concerning behavior, health and ordinance questions.   We are required by law to hold stray animals for 3 days, tagged animals (those with some form of identification) for 5 days and a dog bite quarantine for 10 days.  We also respond to agency assist from the Fire Department and the Police Department and provide animal housing in these situations.  We are responsible for processing over 6,000 dog licenses per year and reuniting close to 500 animals with their owners.  In addition, the Humane Officers participate in community events, providing animal welfare education and awareness.
Why doesn’t WAHS utilize the 2.9 million dollars in assets to make major building improvements?
WAHS assts are just that – they are assets that assist WAHS in helping to fight pet overpopulation in our community and consist of our buildings, vehicles and equipmen that we have accumulated over time.   Although we are a non-profit, with close to a million dollar operating budget, the Board of Directors and management staff operates as business model with strict financial responsibility.  Every other year we are audited by an outside CPA firm, and our 990′s are posted on our website, Charity Navigator and Guidestar.
How come WAHS has “money in the bank” as a non-profit?
As part of sound financial stewardship that our donors and community expect, we have established reserve accounts, like a savings account.  Our operating budget depends on donations, fundraisers and wills and bequests.  At any given time, these amounts can be flexible and change with each year.  And just like all business, expenses for basic services (water, electric, insurance) seem to rise every year.  Any additional funds above the reserve accounts gets re-invested for the care of the animals and major improvements.  For example, we discount adoptions below our cost for senior animals and harder to place adoption, we offer 2 for 1 cats in peak cat season based how many cats we receive, and many other considerations for our animals. 
Why does your CEO make so much money and have so much vacation?
The Board of Directors is responsible for hiring, supervising and setting the CEO’s compensation.  In establishing the compensation, the BOD researched other shelters and other non-profits both in Mohave County and the State of Arizona.  We also consulted with the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) salary survey conducted every 2 years. According the report, the CEO is in the 50% and below for average salary within the Mountain States and budget.  The CEO is directly responsible for all of the operations of WAHS that includes 2 shelters, Wags to Riches Thrift Store, income property that was a bequest, 22 employees, legal and insurance issues, budgeting, contract negotiations, donor request, fundraising, volunteers and much more.
Although the salary has been reported at over $100,000 with benefits, that number is incorrect.  The actual salary is $89,620 and is posted on our 990.  The CEO has the same benefit package (health insurance, PTO and retirement) as every other staff associate at WAHS based on length of service.  The CEO salary is allocated to all of our cost centers, not just the contract with Lake Havasu City. Unlike non exempt employees, the CEO has an expectation to be readily available to shelter operations, staff and Board of Directors, whether they are on “vacation” or not.  As a Board of Directors we are diligent in recruiting leadership that not only has the technical management skills, but also the ability to continue education in animal welfare management and a highly compassionate nature.   

Is WAHS part of the Humane Society of the United States or ASPCA?
We are not affiliated with any other animal welfare organization.  Each humane society operates independently with their own Board of Directors, that establishes policies and procedures.  We do rely on national organizations (like HSUS and ASPCA) for information, continuing education, referrals and lobby efforts both on the State and National Level. 

Why isn’t WAHS a No Kill Shelter?
WAHS is an open admission shelter.  In so, we accept every animal, regardless of health, age or temperament.  We do not have time limits on the animals, and base our decisions on the health and temperament of each animal in our care.  Some animals we have been able to accommodate in our adoption kennels for months, others do not fair so well in kennel environments.  We have an exceptionally high Live Release Rate (LLR) for an open admission shelter.  For of 2011 our LLR for Lake Havasu City was 89% for dogs, 75% for cats and 85% combined. (Mohave County was not available as of this posting, but will be posted when completed).  We adhere to the Asilomar Accords in determining these numbers. 
Despite a high live release rate, the reality is that shelters and rescues are dealing with a huge volume of unwanted and homeless animals.  Although great strides have been made in reducing euthanasia, we, as animal welfare communities, have much more work to do.  We encourage pet guardians to provide vaccinations, spay/neuter and obedience training for your pet.  We encourage the public to adopt from shelters and rescues for your next companion animal (only approximately 26% of companion animals come from shelter/rescue).  There are simply not enough homes for the number of animals coming into shelters.  The harsh reality is that we make tough decisions based on available resources.  That is why every volunteer and shelter employee works diligently to provide excellent standard of care while they are here, and outreach opportunities to find them forever loving homes.
For more information on Open Admission Shelter we have Q&A posted on our website as well.
How can I help?
There are a number of ways you can help the homeless animals in our community.  We have an active volunteer program that enables us to provide animal training, enrichment, and adoption opportunities.  We also rely on the generosity of volunteers at our thrift store, Wags to Riches and in fundraising and friend raising activities.  In order to provide care for the animals in our shelter, we rely on generous donations from the community.  Donations to the general fund enable us to save lives.  We also accept food donations, blankets, sheets, towels, bleach, paper towels, aluminum cans, and copy paper.  We have a complete Wish List post on our website.  You can sponsor an adoption, adopt a kennel, become a contributing sponsor to our Art of Adoption Annual Dinner and Duck Derby.  We are also in need of Kong toys that we fill with treats for enrichment of the dogs.  Please feel free to call our CEO, Victoria Cowper or Community Outreach Bryan Goodwin for more information on specific programs and services.
In addition, we encourage the community to be good animal advocates.  Make sure your animals are current on vaccinations, have a dog license, wear ID tags (both dogs and cats) microchip your pet, and most importantly, spay & neuter and encourage others to do the same.

 One happy foster mom, Laura

Thanks to gernerous volunteers like Laura, and countless others, we are able to provide exceptional care for our shelter guests.  If you are interested in forstering or volunteering, please call Bryan at 928-855-5083.

The Western Arizona Humane Society is making progress in our battle to end animal homelessnes in our community.  Through great programs like our adoptions, socialization, volunteer, community outreach we continue to improve the success rate in finding forever homes for animals in need of a second chance.  In spite of a depressed economy, you have continued to show your support. 

As one of our loyal supporters, we are looking to you to help us continue our quest.  Our work for 2012 begins now.  Please send your year-end gift today!  Working together we can improve the lives of animals in our community today.

Thank you for your continued support.  We wish you a very happy, peaceful and humane New Year!

 Two high school classes are partnering to build custom dog houses for the local animal shelter to auction as a fundraiser.

 Lake Havasu High School’s drafting classes have started designing three to six different styles that the school’s construction class will then build.

“It benefits the right cause and it gives these guys training,” said Mitch Posey, the school’s construction teacher. “That’s what they need. They need more than that book work. They need that practical hands-on experience.”

Brian Aranguena, the school’s drafting teacher, said he overheard students at a national academic and job skills competition talking about a community service project. His drafting classes compete annually in the competitions.

This is the first time the classes have partnered on a project this extensive, Aranguena said.

LHHS Junior Chance Caviness said dogs “do need a nice place to stay.”

“It’s not hard at all,” he said about gearing up to work on the projects. “Anybody can pick up a hammer. It doesn’t matter what you are doing it for, as long as you are doing something.”

Western Arizona Humane Society Executive Director Victoria Cowper said the houses will be auctioned at the organization’s annual April 2012 dinner and fundraiser. She said they couldn’t be used to house dogs at the shelter due to sanitation challenges.

“I was very excited,” she said. “We love it when the kids get involved at this age. It sets a good pattern for them for pet responsibility and responsible pet ownership in the future. It gets them involved in the shelters, which is really important. This is the first time for that kind of collaborated effort.”

Araguena said tax credits donated to the school’s SkillsUSA construction program will be used to purchase supplies. He said the project will also satisfy the students’ community service project requirement for their competitions.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com

Overcoming disorders like separation anxiety takes time, patience and consistency, but it can be done! Just take the following steps, and you’re already on your way.

Make sure the problem is separation anxiety. The first step in tackling behavior issues is to rule out any underlying medical problems that might be causing your pet’s misbehavior. Next, rule out other behavior problems. For example, consider whether your dog’s inappropriate elimination is due to incomplete housetraining.

Take action. So you’re sure the problem is separation anxiety? Try these strategies to address the issue:

1. 1. Keep all greetings relaxed. When leaving, give your dog a pat on the head, say goodbye and leave. Similarly, when arriving home, say hello to your dog and then don’t pay any more attention to him until he’s calm and relaxed.
2. 2. Give your dog a workout. Giving your dog lots of mental and physical stimulation goes a long way toward quelling behavior problems—especially those involving anxiety. Exercise can enrich your dog’s life, decrease stress and provide appropriate outlets for normal behavior. And once she’s all tuckered out, your pal won’t have much energy left to get into trouble.
3. 3. Reward your pooch! Teach your dog to associate your departure with a reward, like a delicious stuffed Kong or other food-dispensing toy. This positive association can help resolve the problem, as well as distract your dog for the first few minutes you’re gone!