Lynchburg Humane Society Blog

Abby was found by an animal control officer tangled up and choking from the heavy chain around her neck.   She arrived at the Lynchburg Humane Society very afraid of everyone.    There are few things worse than seeing a dog who has not had any positive contact from the humans in her life.   She obviously lived outside on a chain for the first year of her life.   We vaccinated and treated her for minor medical issues and the staff began working with her to help her realize just how wonderful people can be.   Tiny kisses to faces and wiggling all over is now how she greets people rather than shrinking in fear.   She was adopted by a wonderful couple and is living her life as a family member rather than just a chained up, back yard dog.   If we don’t help them who will?   Tanya like so many other cats in our shelter, got a virus due to stress, lack of immunities as a young kitten and the improper air handling systems that exist in ...

I want to first give warning that this is a tough love blog post brought on by some recent events but it is an effort to hopefully open some eyes and make people think.   I also want to make it clear that this blog is directed to SOME, NOT ALL groups and not to the good people of our community trying hard every day to help the animals.   This is the first in a series of blogs I am going to do around this topic on “start trusting people”, in hopes of making people think.  When you know better you do better…. This is one of my favorite quotes because it embodies my career in this field.   I have learned so much over the 12 years in animal welfare.  I learn something new all the time because this field is ever changing or there is a new fresh idea to use, you name it things change.    So it struck me recently, at which point did animal welfare organizations decide it was better to kill pets rather than trust people?   I know it seems li...

We are always looking for good foster care homes, recruiting new homes is something we have to do each year.  Fostering an animal in need is one of the most rewarding things you can do and it is the most helpful program we have.  What is the foster program?  People often don’t understand what it means to foster and they are afraid of the commitment.  In the foster program the foster volunteer gets to decide the kind of animal they want to foster and how long they can handle the foster.  So you can choose what you want your fostering experience to be. On top of being in control of your experience we can provide you with food and supplies if you need them.  If you are fostering kittens, all they need is a small room or bathroom to live in until they are old enough to be fixed and have received all their shots. If you are fostering puppies, we can provide you with a crate for them to live in.  This is a way for us to try to keep them safe from the terri...

We are bracing in anticipation of a long hot summer and the summer in Virginia is brutal.   It is important for us all not to forget about how the heat affects our pets.   If you have a dog that is kept outside all the time please make sure they have shade or a place to get away from the hot sun, and that their pen or area has good ventilation and access to plenty of clean fresh water to drink.    If they are long-hair ask your vet if they should have a summer cut or shave.   Another concern is exercising your dog outside in the heat.   Last year we had a dog walker take one of our larger/older dogs for a long walk/run when it was 90 degrees and after 15 minutes the dog was in distress from the over exertion and the heat of the day.    According to Vetinfo website, signs of heat exhaustion and when you should immediately intervene include: heavy panting, hyperventilation (deep breathing), increased salivation early then dry gums as the heat ...

There has been a lot of attention swirling around the City of Lynchburg’s partnership with the Lynchburg Humane Society and the state mandated pound services we provide the city under contract.   We went in front of City Council in February to ask if they would like to join us as we move forward in the next phase of our new Humane Education and Adoption Center.  As we reach our final design stage we need to know if the city would like to continue our long standing relationship that has resulted in 90% of the animals leaving us to go to homes.   Unfortunately, for many reasons, City Council was not completely in agreement and this has resulted in the controversy that surrounds our partnership.    A major concern is that City Council does not believe tax payers should be paying for no kill programs.  We agree, and we are not asking the city to pay for those programs. So what are the components and costs of a No Kill program?  First off it i...

Recently you may have heard reports about discussions between the Lynchburg Humane Society and the City of Lynchburg.  As someone who cares about the well being of the pets in our community, you are important to us and our efforts.  We are writing to share information and to ask for your help. Some fifty years ago the Lynchburg Humane Society was founded on the idea that the pets of this community mattered.   Since that early beginning the City of Lynchburg has partnered with the Humane Society to provide pound services for the community.  We feel that this has been a worthwhile partnership for the citizens of Lynchburg. The Lynchburg Humane Society, under the leadership of its Board of Directors, is poised to take the next step in its journey to prevent the unnecessary euthanasia of animals in our City and to solve the problem of pet overpopulation.  This journey began in earnest three years ago when Makena Yarbrough was employed as our first full time E...

I know I am not alone when I say that holiday time always feels very busy and stressful to me.   The normal day-to-day stress of balancing work and home is already difficult, and when you pile on the expectations and duties of the holidays it becomes even worse.   But this year I am making the choice to do things differently and I challenge everyone to do the same.   I have decided to slow down and not get wrapped up in the chaos of the holidays but instead get wrapped up in the true message of this time of year, which is family, love and life. The Lynchburg Humane Society and most of the shelters in the area are seeing more animals in need of our services this year and less money coming in due to the economy.   Our Home 4 the Holiday promotion serves to encourage the community to help pets find homes before the end of the year.   This is the perfect time of year to bring home a new pet through adoption or foster care.   Even though the idea of putting ...