Turn up the Volume -- Enjoy Winnie's Serenade

I was cat-sitting on Christmas. Winnie (formerly Minky at HRA) was getting into the holiday spirit, entertaining me with  her favorite kitty carol. I think the translation was something like "All I want for Christmas is a little extra love and attention". 

I was happy to oblige.

Murch Elementary School's Student Council's Supply Drive for the Animals -- an Overwhelming Success!

Murch Elementary School's student council's posters papered the hallways for nearly a month encouraging the Murch community to support the animals during the holiday season. Not only did the poster designers list items needed for the cats, dogs, and small animals at HRA, but they directed contributors to our web site so families could donate directly through Amazon. In addition to posters and announcements, the student council promoted their HRA supply drive on the Murch Twitter feed:

• Our collection for the Humane Rescue Alliance is growing! Please consider donating items until December 7th! Thank you! #WeAreMurch ⁦@murchschool⁩ ⁦@MurchFamilies⁩ ⁦@MurchStuCouncil⁩

The collection in the school's lobby!

The Murch community came through in a big way.

The collection in my car! 

Center City PCS, Petworth, Girls on the Run Organizes a Linen Drive for the Animals at HRA

Girls on the Run not only train together, but they support their community together. The kind, compassionate, civic-minded members recently decided to support HRA by hosting a linen drive. They papered their school with informative posters and placed a collection box in a centrally located spot within the school. The day after the signs went up, donations started filling the box. No doubt, when the drive ends November 16th, the box will be full.  The shelter uses linens for bedding for the animals and for cleaning the shelter. We depend on the community to help us help the animals. Thank you Center City PCS Girls on the Run for organizing the linen drive and for letting the Center City PCS community know that HRA needs and appreciates their generous support.  

Brothers' Update

The boys go to the vet.

The bonded brothers not only have a new home, but they have new names. Jasper, the more domineering of the two, and Oliver, the one with the fluffy tail, recently had their first official vet visit. Of course staff loved them. Their guardian reports that all of that cuddling and togetherness in their condo at HRA has, however, gone by the wayside. They've each found their own favorite spots and are not prone to sharing spaces in their new surroundings. Lots of adjustments for all -- guardian and Jasper and Oliver. Expecting to hear that life is a bit more settled in a month or two.

Murphy likes to be where the action is.
The stove was off.
No cats were cooked for this photograph!

My Murphy is definitely not the same cat today as he was when I brought him home nearly two years ago. He's a lot more chill and people centered.  He was great from the get-go, but looking back, I think that those first six months were a much bigger adjustment for him than I realized. No doubt, Jasper and Oliver have some adjusting yet to do. Stay tuned.......

BFFs

This lovable pair were found abandoned outside of an apartment complex. The good Samaritan who reported their whereabouts noticed that the cats had been hanging around the building and had reason to believe that their former guardian put them out before moving away. The caller fed the cats for a couple of days, but knew that a life outside was not a good option for the boys. The cats are best buds; we suspect that they are brothers -- see the resemblance? It's estimated that they are young adults, maybe a year or two. 

I'm a pushover for orange tabbies -- not sure if there is any scientific research to back my claim, but I am certain that  orange tabbies are more lovable than most cats. Even if it's not proven, some lucky adopter will get double the cuddles with these guys! Just look at the pics!
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Thank you to the kind patron who noticed the cats and reported them to animal control. 

Tufts Graduate Student Sets the Bar High for Future HRA Humane Education Interns!

I recently enjoyed  the benefit of having an intern for the entire summer. Carly, a graduate student in the Tufts University Animals and Public Policy program, was the fun adult during four weeks of summer camp. She played board games with the campers, created "thinking" exercises that focused on shelter populations and reuniting lost animals with their guardians, and researched and experimented with a laundry list of ice breakers and movement activities. She was the person to sit next to and chat with during camp lunch, too. In addition, Carly quickly established herself as my personal tech guru and was quick to pitch-in no matter what the task. 
Carly will receive her well-earned degree next week. Then, she will be job hunting, hoping to land a position in humane and/or enviromental education. Congratulations, Carly! 

Campers Are Heading Back to School!

 Sixty campers attended one of four Caring Kids Camps at the Humane Rescue Alliance during the summer. Campers created masterpieces in art camp, were introduced to  animal welfare careers,including veterinary medicine, event planning, lobbying, international campaigns, social media, and shelter work in careers camp. And, they met shelter animals, foster animals, dogs from rescue groups, and dogs with jobs (DCFDEMS/FEMA dog and Guiding Eyes for the Blind trainees and graduates) in advocacy camp. Registration for spring break and summer camp 2019 will begin in early February. 

Most District of Columbia students start school next week. Our humane education program consists of classroom programs (4th - 6th grades), shelter tours, book groups, special projects, and more. If you are a teacher, a parent, or student interested in including humane education in your school's programming, please contact me at dduel@humanerescuealliance.org.

Road Trip -- Part 2

Murphy is no fan of car travel. Even worse, Murphy hates trips to the vet. And, since Murphy typically hits the bodily function trifecta (poop, pee, puke) during road trips, he did not get breakfast before his 9:00 a.m. appointment with Dr. Hamilton. Needless to say, Murphy was not a happy camper. From the minute he popped out of his carrier, he was all claws! And muscle. And, that was before Dr. Hamilton looked into Murphy's irritated eye. Once the exam was over, and medicines were dispensed, he did a casual stroll into his carrier and settled in for a peaceful ride home -- and BREAKFAST!

Ready to Hit the Road -- Part One

Meet Flippy. He's waiting to choose the right person or family. He's currently interviewing prospective forever candidates in the main cat room in our Oglethorpe Street shelter. Look closely at the Flippy photo. He's happily riding shot gun as he travelled from our New York Avenue Shelter to Oglethorpe. It is not our custom to transport unsecured cats --  but Flippy chose to go carrier-less. Once on the road, he leisurely let himself out of the carrier and made himself comfortable in the passenger seat of the van. This guy is MR. PERSONALITY. He loves to eat, is a real people-pleaser, and would make the perfect travel companion. So, drive on over and meet fabulous Flippy today.

CAMP!

Like the All-Star break signifying the 1/2 way mark of the baseball season, this week represents the 1/2 way mark in the Humane Rescue Alliance's summer camp schedule. Careers, Working with Animals begins next week and Animals and Art starts August 6th. Below are photos from our earlier sessions -- All About Animals and Animal Advocates camps.

Dr. Woosley gives campers
 a crash course in veterinary medicine.

Team Work! 
Campers make tug toys for
shelter dogs!

Kodiak, a Kyra's Rescue Goodwill Ambassador
visits  with campers.

Hammy and George, beagles rescued from a laboratory,
wait patiently for a treat! They visited camp representing the
 Rescue + Freedom Project

Rose Howard, a Protagonist to Root For

Ann M.Martin knows kids. Ann M. Martin knows dogs. And, Ann M. Martin can really tell a story. In her 2007, In A Dog's Life:Autobiography of a Stray, Squirrel, an abandoned pup, tells her tale of abuse, hunger, loneliness, and friendship. In her 2014 book, Rain Reign (Feiwel and Friends), Rose Howard, a fifth grader, straightforwardly informs the reader, "My official diagnosis is high-functioning autism, which some people call Asperger's syndrome (Do you have a diagnosis?)" 
Rose uses a whole dictionary of homophones (including her name, Rose, and her dog's Reign/rain) to tell  her story of  love,  loss. and perseverance. Rose is strong. Rose endures rabid teasing from classmates, frustration emanating from teachers, and rejection from her tormented father. Rose likes rules. Rose follows rules so much so that she is willing to give-up Rain, the one being who is always there for her. Rain helped to bridge the divide between Rose and her classmates, Rain waited every day when Rose got home from school, and Reign slept with Rose from that very first night. When Rain goes missing during the aftermath of a hurricane, Rose breaks from her routines and boldly goes beyond her comfort zone to find her dog. And that's when she discovers the truth, Rain belongs to the Henderson family. 
Grab a box of tissues, hug your dog, and cheer for Rose. Rain Reign is a winner. A great book to put on everyone’s summer reading list!

Young Animal Heroes Recognized for Their Good Deeds! Thank you Ge'Kyi and John 'Yae

"I was fortunate enough to have some assistance from a few youths in field this evening with a very skittish, adorable small terrier. These guys found a small dog running-at-large on the grounds of their apartment complex and were able to slowly earn its trust to keep it in the area until I arrived.  Their patient efforts in bringing this pup to justice were invaluable!" wrote Animal Control Officer Ryan Jesien way back in March. Recently, I accompanied Officer Jesien to Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School where awards were presented to two of the five young animal heroes. We intend to recognize the other three helpers at their school next week. While the students were not looking for recognition, their efforts to help the frightened, lonely dog definitely deserve to be praised.  Thank you Ge'Kyi and John 'Yae!

DC International Students Make a Plan, Execute it, and Help the Animals!

Awesome looking booth at local farmer's markets

HRA supporters hard at work

Gourmet treats!

Three D.C. International students, who I met in their classroom two years ago,  contacted me recently with a very well-thought out plan to help re-unite animals with their guardians. They wrote, Our idea is to raise money to get dogs or cats to get micro chipped so they don't get lost. The reason why we want to do this for our project and work with the humane society is because first, we all want to help animals as much as we can.  Second, we want to work with the humane society because you help animals for a living and we have already known each other from our past. After a fact-finding trip to HRA, they wrote to several local farmers' markets and asked for space to sell homemade dog biscuits to benefit their microchip initiative. Their first, very successful booth was held at Takoma on Sunday, April 22nd and, for those who missed the opportunity to purchase dog goodies at the market, catch Ana Isabel, Athziri and Anya at the Mount Pleasant Market, on Saturday, April 28th, https://www.facebook.com/MtPFarMar/.    

Caring Camper and Friend Raise Money for the Animals!

Spring break campers met dogs, cats, turtles, snakes, rabbits, and other animals. They made dog toys and cat shelters. They were introduced to survivors of animal cruelty, and helped to socialize a recent rescue who lacked confidence. They met a  volunteer from Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a Search and Rescue Team, and worked with a Humane Officer to solve an animal neglect case. And, they enjoyed a freestyle performance by several pairs from Greenbelt Dog Training.
One camper's family adopted a dog and another camper's family adopted a guinea pig! 

Lily and Ella visit the dogs who will benefit from their donation.

And, Lily returned to the Humane Rescue Alliance, a few days after camp, to bring a $78 donation. Lily, and her friend Ella, started a neighborhood dog-walking business more than a year ago.The young entrepreneurs and animal lovers decided to donate their profits to the Humane Rescue Alliance to help "dogs in need" . THANK YOU Lily and Ella!💗💗💗

Happy Valentine's Day! Love & Laughter with the Softies

Archie💗

Matt & Tara💗

When the Show Your Soft Side team came to Washington to take pics of one of their newest Softies, Washington Defensive End Matt Ioannidis, and his lovable pooch, Tara, Humane Law Enforcement Officer Stephon Daniels was there!

K-9 Captain, Christopher Holmes and his DC Fire/EMS and FEMA Urban Search and Rescue partner, Cazo, were photographed, too.

And, then there was Archie, the sweetest and smallest member of the Show Your Soft Side team.  So much fun!💗

For more information about the Show Your Soft Side campaign check out, https://showyoursoftside.org/.

Chris and Cazo💗

💗Stephon & Matt💗

Happy 2018 ! Keep Your Critters Safe and Warm During the Frosty Winter Temperatures

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