But anymeow, enough about me! April has come and gone and I am excited to announce that 193 pets found homes this month- that’s a 16% increase over last April’s adoptions! We microchipped many pets too during our microchip special so now if they get lost and find their way here we can locate their owner in seconds!

As we enter into May, we prepare for many dogs and kitties to arrive. Our intake numbers usually double this time of year and keeps strong until late fall. I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you all to consider adopting a new pet to spring into summer with, or to make a donation of blankets, toys, treats, supplies or money to help us prepare for the many critters we will be expecting this spring and summer.

Our lives saved goal is 275 this month, a 20% increase from last May. To help reach this goal all long term resident dogs are 50% off! Even though they aren’t all feline friendly, let me introduce you to a couple of my favorite long term resident canines who would make the purrrfect addition to any human-only family!

Hey everyone! My name is Anna and I am a goofy girl looking for the perfect home. I am a playful dog who looooves my toys! I like to play with them both by myself and with my people. I could play tug of war with you all day! I am a happy-go-lucky girl with the prettiest smile you’ll ever see on a dog. I would love to go for long walks with you or run around in a fenced-in backyard. Playing fetch is also super fun for me. The staff here have even taught me to jump through hoops at our agility course out back! As you can probably tell, I am very smart and would love to work with my new owners to learn some more tricks. I need to be the only animal in the home — I am such a wonderful girl and would like to shine in the spotlight! What can I say, I like to be Queen Bee. I would make a great companion for adults or families with older children, but I do ask to meet all members of the family before going home! If you think that I could be your new best friend, then please stop by and ask about me today.

Meet ador-a-bull long term resident Anna!

Hi there, I’m Winnie, a beautiful two year old pit bull mix looking for her forever family. I’m an affectoinate dog, I love people – from going on car rides to playing fetch I need a family who is looking for a girl that they can include in their everyday activites! I’d also really like to live in a home that has an active lifestyle, I love to go for walks and run around in a fenced in yard. I’m such a special girl that I think it would be best if I were the only pet in the house; that way we can really focus on getting to know each other. Trust me, I have a personality and a love big enough to hold down the fort as the only animal in the home! If you’re looking for a dog to keep up with your active lifestyle, but who also knows how to go with the flow and adapt to her surroundings then stop in today and ask for more information about me! I’d love to meet you.

Meet love-a-bull Winnie!

Also, don’t forget to come visit and browse our wide selection of felines- I am sure there is the purrrfect match for every home. And, for those who find themselves more inclined for the smaller animal types, please help us find homes for some of our long term resident rats…I am not allowed to play with them because they think the feline hunter inside of me will decide to snack on them …but honest, I just want to engage in a fun game of chase Come visit, bring a friend, and adopt a loveable critter today!

Rats, rats, rats!

Tuna awaiting her perfect family, hoping they would love her and accept her for who she is!

Tuna, a one-year-old brown tiger, was brought to the shelter because she had a quirky walk and struggled with her balance. Her owner could not provide her with the veterinary care she required. Once Tuna arrived at BHS, she was seen by one of the local veterinarians that provide care to our shelter pets. They could not determine what exactly caused Tuna’s quirky walk, as she did not seem to be in physical pain or have any other symptoms. They deemed she mostly likely was “born this way.” Staff knew she may be difficult to adopt because of her potential neurological condition, but she was the sweetest and most affectionate cat. They decided to decorate her kennel with signage just as special she was in hopes of drawing the attention of potential adopters. Two days later, the Field Family fell in love with Tuna, easily embraced her eccentric ways, and adopted her!

Ever so often, we get wonderful adopters who visit us looking to add a new feline into their family and are willing to open their heart and home to one of our “special needs” cats. We are grateful for adopters like the Field Family, who gave Tuna the loving, second chance she deserves.

Please come visit, and tell your friends to do the same, and check out the many “special needs” cats receiving the love and care they need here at the Humane Society while they await their perfect match!

After two months of regular visits with a veternarian and time in foster care, her beautiful black locks began to grow back and she was becoming more confident in her canine skin. The staff at BHS learned that playing with other dogs helped her to come out of her shell. She would bounce and play wanting to be just like them. Staff took their time looking for a very special, quiet, patient home for the delicate 1 year old princess.

The shy, but sweet, Princess Fiona waiting at BHS for her fairytale ending,

At the same time, a very special lady named Linda who lived by herself in sweet, small cottage with her cat was looking for a new special canine companion. A year ago, her sweet canine girl passed away and Linda had lots of love to give to another furbaby. Linda is a very good friend of BHS, always supporting the mission with donations, so she talked in depth with staff about a new furmatch.

A few days ago, Princess Fiona’s fairy godmother arranged for Linda’s and Fiona’s paths to cross in a very special way. Staff agreed that Linda and Princess Fiona would be a perfect match! Linda spent the whole weekend getting a special room ready just for Princess Fiona and began planning their daily walk adventures together. The best part is that Linda is good friends with her neighbor and their bubbly, outgoing Boxer named Bella who loves to come over and play, so Princess Fiona is going to have her very own best friend living next door!

Last night, Linda came to complete all the adoption paperwork and take Princess Fiona home at last. Linda was kind enough to thank me for my paw of approval with a nice scratch behind the ears. I say this a match made in happily ever after!

Staff say goodbye to Princess Fiona, sending her off into her happy ending!

Now, a microchip is not to be confused with a GPS tracking device. If your pet gets lost, it cannot help you find your pet by tracking its location. But, it does ensure an easy and quick way for BHS staff to find a lost pet’s owner.

A lot of people aren’t convinced that microchipping is for them. Well, let me offer some reasons why microchipping your pet is a good idea:

1. If a pet is lost, he or she can easily be identified with a microchip: Pets can be reunited with their owners in a matter of minutes. It is especially important after natural disasters, when travelling on vacation away from home, or when weather starts to get nice and pets get anxious to roam, along with all those other circumstances where there is an increase risk that pets can become separated from their owners.

2. Holidays can be chaotic pets can get lost in the hustle and bustle: Whether it is holiday deliveries, guests constantly opening the door, or just general holiday excitement, pets can easily slip out unnoticed, before their owners realize they are gone.

3. The procedure is quick and painless: Bringing pets in for the microchip procedure is quick and easy; the chip can be inserted during any regular office visit, so no additional visit is needed.

How microchips work.

4. Convenience and clear communication: For those good samaritans who find lost pets and try to return them to their rightful owner, there is an ID tag on the pets collar that comes with a microchip, with instructions on the steps to take when a pet is found

5. A permanent assurance: Unlike normal pet ID tags, which are easily removed in the case of theft, microchips are unable to be removed from the pet; they are a permanent and safe alternative that gives pets a better chance at returning to their home.

So, in an effort to boost the number of lost pets that come to BHS and are reunited with their owners, BHS staff have nominated yours truly as the official microchip spokescat to educate our community and adopters on the importance of microchipping, IDing and registering yoru pet at your local town office, all which can help ensure a quick and safe return of your lost pet.

All month long BHS is running a special Microchip and ID tag promotion.  With an adoption during April, you can get a microchip for just $10, in addition to a free engraved tag of your choice. (Check mine out as sample when you vist, it says “Awesome Austin,” so you can easily distinguish me amongst all the other BHS felines in the building). You can also stop in any time during our business hours with your own pet, whether adopted from us or not, and get a microchip and ID tag for only $20!. The initial cost comes with one year registration. Make sure if you do microchip your pet, you go home and immediately register it with your contact information so it will be linked to your pet. After your first year, annual registration of the microchip is $18 or $50 for a lifetime registration.

April microchip special at BHS!

So stop by this month and microchip your pet. Help us help YOU ensure a safe return of your pet should he/she get lost. Feel free to ask staff more about microchipping and the benefits it offers, especially at time of adoption. And, while your here, be sure to give “Awesome Austin” a nice long belly rub!

But, it takes a very very special human to adopt what we at BHS call, one “of our special needs,” fur friends. If you are a frequent visitor at BHS then you know what I am talking about. It may be and elderly shepherd looking for a retirement home, a young lab recovering from hip surgery and needs a life of exercise, a lean diet, and physical therapy, or it could be a sweet arthritic feline that is on medicine for the rest of her life to ease the symptoms. You all remember Thunder, right? I blogged about him in last week’s edition of Match Monday. He was dubbed “special needs” because of his seizures and the ongoing medication he will require.

This adoption angel stole our hearts and won us over to become our “special” Lupin’s puuurfect match!

Well, just recently, one of our sweet min canines, Lupin, fit this special needs category purrrfectly. She’s a 6 year old sheltie that has very bad arthritis. She came in desperately needing a manicure and a professional grooming because her hair was all tangled and matted. She has very bad arthritis, making it difficult for her to even enjoy the shortest of walks. She was put on special medicine to help make her more comfortable that she will need to stay on for the rest of her doggy years.

So often you’ve heard staff and myself use the phrase, “Come meet your match.” And, we talk about finding the right pet for your lifestyle, experience and interests. Well, with these special needs cases, staff often have to flip it around to find the right match for my fur friend. Lots of people fell in love with Lupin because she was a sweet, small dog who looked like one of those supermodel dogs you would see on a Pedigree commercial. Even yours truly took a double take when she came back from her day at the spa, with her long locks combed and trimmed so beautifully. For a moment, she reminded me of a past girlfriend, a long haired Maine Coon I was smitten with for quite some time. But, then the catnip wore off and I remembered that Lupin was a canine. Just not my type.

But, anyhow, we had to have some difficult conversations with adopters who fell in love with Lupin and wanted her as their perfect match. But, we were looking for a an owner that had experience with the sheltie breed, understood her grooming and cosmetic maintenance needs, and had the ability to afford long term care of her arthritis management medication. Lots of humans walked out of BHS disappointed because we had to tell them they were not Lupin’s perfect match. And then….we met the Thomas family! They had raised shelties before and even was able to tell us a whole lot about the breed! They didnt even blink and eye when we mentioned long term medication needs. And, they had the nice quiet home she would thrive in.

So, that was it. Austin paw approved! The Thomas Family was the lucky adopter who won our hearts to take our Lupin home. And, Lupin found her very special human. A few days later, the Thomas’ sent us an update with a photo of Lupin in her new home- content and settling in slowly, being treated as the princess she deserves. That’s what I like to hear, since my BHS family treats me like a king. I wish for that kind of royal treatment for all my fur friends- especially those ones with “special needs.”

Lupin settling into her new furever home!

Thanks for reading my blog. Come visit us, and please remember, that we always strive to help you find you purrrfect match at BHS, but we also need to look for the purrrfect match for each of our furfriends, especially in “special” cases, like Lupin’s. So, if you fall in love with one of our “special” residents, and we decide you arent quite the right fit, please don’t leave disappointed, let us guide you to the puuurfect match for you and fur friend alike!

Final 2 Days of our March Madness Promo!

In an effort to help push our adoption goal over the top before time runs out on the March Madness scoreboard clock, I hit the streets again to spread the word in town. I made sure to stop at all of our adoption partners to check in and say thank you for being a fan: Petsmart, Petco and Petquarters who are helping represent Team Cat (I did a lot of rubbing and purring to schmooze them over to our side.) They showcase many of our gorgeous felines hoping to help them find their way to a furever home.

Austin hits the streets of Bangor to promote our offsite Adoption Partners during March Madness!

So, if you haven’t found your match at BHS, dont forget to visit one of our adoption partners, all located on Stillwater Ave in Bangor. Many of the cats there have been long term residents at BHS so I know them quite well. We hoped sending them to the other side of town would help them find their purrrfect match. So stop on by, I’d be happy to introduce you. I would also be happy yo show you around the store and help pick out all the new accessories for your new furry friend. I am quite the expert when it comes to cat trees, mouse toys, and jingly balls .Ill help you find just the right toy for your new feline friend. I am anxiously waiting to introduce you to your match (especially since Team cat is only 10 adoptions away from our goal!), so stop on by, there’s happiness in store….

Thunder, a 5 year old Rottweiler/Lab mix first came to BHS back in early November 2012. His owners brought him in because he preferred the four-legged kind of playmate to any two-legged human under 4 feet tall. He ALSO loved his toys and didnt want to share them with anyone under 14. Since mini humans frequented his house regularly it was too stressful and not a good match. So we embarked on a journey to find Thunder the right furever home.

However, from the moment he stepped into BHS nothing seemed to go easily for this dog. Staff often joked that he was a Murphy’s Law kind of of dog because anything that could go wrong for Thunder did. First, we learned that he suffered from regular seizures so we tried some new medicine to ease their frequency. Additionally, Thunder came in with a cherry eye condition in both eyes (where the inside of the eyelid flips out into a cherry-like bulge.) It is more of a cosmetic issue than a medical one, but it was uncomfortable for the poor guy, and that combined with his deep, raspy Rottie bark, intimidated onlookers who passed by his kennel. He had special surgery to remove the cherry eye and he looked great! A whole new dog! But, then stress and seizures caused the cherry eye to reappear.

Thunder poses for his adoption photo before he has his last cherry eye removal surgery.

Thunder grew very comfortable with BHS and because he wasn’t feeling well, he wasn’t himself in adoption visits, so we struggled to find him his match. I knew something was wrong- us fur-kind have a sixth sense for this kind of thing. Especially since Thunder was typically very happy to have me lounge around on the desk while we played with squeaky toy. Suddenly, he was a little grumpier and wasn’t interested in having me around. I tried to tell staff but no matter how loud I purred, they just wouldn’t listen.

Then, in an effort to give him a break from the shelter, staff sent him to a local daycare so he could play and get some time way from the kennel. They were so nice there that they let him stay overnight for several days!  But, when he first arrived at daycare, he was playing with another dog who played a little “too ruff” with Thunder and ended up biting his ear! The poor guy needed stitches!

While at daycare for a long canine vacation away from the shelter, we learned that Thunder’s seizures had increased a lot! So we called in our veterinarian friends to run some new tests and discovered Thunder’s seizure medication wasn’t working. We adjusted his meds and soon enough he was a changed dog! He was so much happier, wiggly and relaxed. He was back to himself playing with his toys and one on one with staff. He was feeling SO good, that he over did it just a bit, and sprained his paw! See, what did I tell you… Murphy’s Law?! The good thing was that it was a minor sprain and only lasted a few days.

Thunder’s new meds worked wonders and stopped his seizures for almost one month straight ! He will need to stay on them for the long-term, but they seemed to do the trick! Now, that his seizures were under control, we attempted one last cherry eye removal surgery so his look would match his new found canine-ality! And, success! Now, he looked as good as he felt!

Staff say goodbye to Thunder, who resided at BHS for 5 months!

Now, he was ready for a new adventure to a new home! And, lo’ and behold a nice gentleman had seen Thunder online and talked to staff about his history. He talked to his vet about managing his seizures ( I love adopters who do their homework first!). He made a trip to visit Thunder at BHS. At first, Thunder was a little unsure about this kind sir, but the gentleman just talked calmly and patiently with him for a long while. Then, Thunder’s ears perked up when heard that he would be living on a lake, and that just sealed the deal. Thunder jumped up, front paws on the nice man and started licking his face!!!

Dozens of sloppy kisses and hundreds of tail wags later, Thunder was on his way home!!! We posted his farewell on Facebook and got over 700 likes and almost one hundred comments wishing him good luck! So, he didn’t just get my paw of approval for this adoption…he got a whole lot more woofs, meows and high fives for his adoption tail than the usual. Way to go boy, now you’re ONE lucky dog!

Thunder is all smiles on his adoption day with his new doggy daddy!

Austin checking out the birds so he can help them find a new home!

Currently, we have lots of bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and even some birds available for those who prefer those smaller furbabies. Human visitors to BHS often walk right by our small animal area, continuing on to browse our cats and dogs. Therefore, you will often find me trying to draw attention to these curious creatures, hoping to help find them a new home.

Austin guards these dwarf hamsters to ensure they find the right family!

Until I became the official BHS house cat, I never really understand these small fur creatures myself, but as they come and go here at BHS, I’ve learned to appreciate them for their own individual attributes. And, there is something to that hay those rabbits and guinea pigs love so much. If I am not sprawled across the front desk, you will often find me romping in a hay bale for a late afternoon snack.

Now, I consider myself a pretty laid back kind of guy. And, I must say not too many things get under my fur to bother me. I mean I am a lover of all cats, dogs, small animals and a variety of humans alike. But, the one thing that really makes my ears twitch and my tail puff up is when people purchase animals as gifts. Now, while I appreciate the intent and support of adoption for my fur friends, many times these “gifted” animals get returned because the recipient did not want a pet to begin with or it was not a match for their family or home. We have already had many onlookers inquire about adopting a kitten or a rabbit for their relative or friend for the upcoming Easter holiday. When these conversations ensue, I consider it my duty to protect these little fur babies until they find the purrfect furever home, so I typically interrupt with a long drawn out purrr and encourage them to purchase a gift certifcate at BHS that is good towards an adoption and dissuade them from adopting the actual pet for someone else. This way, the recipient can come in on their own accord and find the pet that suits them the best. It also prevents my fur friends from being bounced to and from the shelter, which is very stressful you know.

Some of the several bunnies currently available for adoption at BHS!

Remember, it is all about the right match. So if you are looking to celebrate the arrival of spring with a new furry companion, think adoption first. And, if you want to encourage friends or relatives to think adoption first with a furry gift, please be respectful of fur creature and gift recipient and choose a gift certificate instead! Consider the joy you will have returning to BHS and choosing the right pet together and celebrating a match well made!

This is Jesse’s, certified BHS grumpy cat’s, story. She was brought to BHS back in October and because of her aloof, love-you-on-my-own-terms, moody behavior, she struggled to capture the hearts of human onlookers in search of their purrrfect companion. Now, Jesse is a unique case in that most cats tend to contract kitty colds when in the shelter for too long. The stress and lack of freedom in their kennel triggers a cold. Once a cat gets a cold, staff quarantine him/her so he/she doesn’t infect other cats, give it medicine, and then send the feline to one of our adoption partners offsite- like Petsmart, Petquarters, or Petco (once they are feeling better) to be adopted. This way if there are any kitty cold germs they are still shedding, staff won’t risk getting our other cats sick.

Typically, our cats get adopted within a few weeks of residence at BHS. But, not Jesse. She was too picky…and I wasn’t going to give my paw of approval on her adoption unless I for sure knew she would be content. So, here she waited- strong and healthy …and stubborn… in her grumpy cat ways!

Staff chose Jesse as BHS’ very own grumpy cat!

Staff grew to adore Jesse. So, in an effort to draw attention to her, they decided to embrace the “Internet Grumpy Cat” Phenonemon and made her, her very own ‘Grumpy Cat’ kennel sign! And lo’ and behold….just a couple of hours later,  the purrrfect couple saw her! They were drawn to her independent and stubborn nature because it reminded them of their most recent feline who sadly passed away. Great! An experienced ‘grumpy cat’ human companion! Austin Paw Approved! They spent time with Jesse and whenever she growled or hissed when they petted her in a way she disproved of, they just smiled and respectfully gave her space! I just love those kind of humans that embrace us four-legged creatures for who we are-quirks and all- and love us unconditionally like we do them!So, after five months in the shelter! Jesse finally went home and her new family finally got their own very special “grumpy cat”. Now, whether she finds her own internet fame or not, at least she is the star of her new home, where the humans love and embrace her beauty, wit, and colorful mood swings!

Jesse adopts her humans!

Austin advocates for BHS pitbulls in the St. Pittie’s Day Parade!

I had the perfect spotin the parade. Front and center among some animal-loving advocates. I got to walk alongside some handsome dogs and pitbulls…fotunate for me, they were all feline friendly! I strutted, I purred, and I promoted our pitbulls! I passed out our March Madness promotion to let everyone know about the insane adoption discounts going on all month long at BHS. I made sure to purr extra loud about our St. Pittie’s Day Special this Saturday, March 16th, where all our adoptable pitbulls are only $25! Staff really must have gone crazy because that is a steal! Only $25 for a vaccinated, spayed/neutered, behavior evaluated, super loving and loyal pitbull! They’re as crazy as I am for homegrown catnip! Meow! I had a great time in the St. Pittie’s Day parade and everyone was so nice, giving me gentle pats and letting me rub up against them while I told them about our wonderful pitbulls, like:

Abby, a one year old female pitbull who loves to talk as much as I do. She talks with everyone she meets! She would be best matched in a home with teens. And, because she likes all the attention, (I can totally relate) she would shine as the only pet.

Then, there’s Jack, a handsome one and a half year old male Pitbull. Jack is looking for an experienced owner who would be willing to bond with him over obedience classes. He is a fun-loving guy with lots of potential. He just needs a patient and committed home with teens!

Now, let me introduce you to Fern Gully. She is an adorable, two year old female Pitbull mix. She was found lost with no owner, so a kind animal control officer brought her to BHS to find a new home. She has lots of energy so she is looking for an active home. I found myself in a game of chase with her, (I am the own who likes to be in charge of the chasing- mice, balls, etc.) But, I wasn’t too fond of being the chasee. So, I am recommending a home without small pets!with lots of energy.  She is a fun, beautiful girl, definitely worth a visit.

Lastly, I want to give a shout out to a very special boy, Thunder. He is a 5 year old Rottweiler/Lab mix. Now, I know what you are thinking. He’s not a pitbull! And, it is true. But, I had a team meeting with staff and all of our pitbulls, and it was unanimous! Thunder has been made an honorary Pitbull for our St. Pittie’s Day promotion so he too can qualify for the $25 adoption special. You see, Thunder, has had it “ruff.” He has been at the shelter for several months and has undergone several cherry eye removal surgeries, has mad multiple visits to the vet to regulate his medication that controls his seizures, sprained his ankle when playing with staff, and had many people pass his kennel by because of his deep, Rottie bark. Outside of his kennel, he is a lover of toys, dogs, and feline companionship.  He prefers to be in a home with adults who are active and love to play. So, our boy has had a run of bad luck, and his fellow canine Pitbull friends are hoping to help change that with a little luck from the Irish this weekend and help him finally find his forever home. I told you those Pitties were the most loving and loyal of all the breeds!

Thunder, honorary Pitbull for St. Pittie’s Day at BHS!

Meoooow. What great, energetic, beautiful, loyal pitbulls we have! Come check them out tomorrow for our $25 St. Pittie’s Day Sale. Be sure to give me a rub, I’ll be on the counter still recovering from the parade and all cat grass I rewarded myself with for all my hard work and efforts! And, to all of you who have rescued a pitbull, who love celebrating the breed as much as we do, and to those who hopefully adopt one on Saturday (crossing paws),  Happy St. Pittie’s Day to you all!