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PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE
MAY 2013
1 PTP0513
By Steven Brown
Executive Editor
If you’re a pet lover, then “Pets and
Their People” is a must read.
This is a new special section for us, publish-
ing this week in The Outlook, Sandy Post and
Estacada News.
The best part of this section has been the
participation we got from the communities
where this section circulates.
We received 12 entries in the pet look-alike
contest, which attracted more than $900 in
prize donations from local businesses. The
Outlook, Post and Estacada News are grateful
to these businesses for supporting this contest.
Andwe are grateful to the businesses whose
advertising support made this section possi-
ble. As in all things, we couldn’t do this with-
out you.
We also received help from guest submis-
sions from Multnomah County Animal Ser-
vices, which operates a shelter in Troutdale,
and from the city of Sandy, which is attempting
to raise funds for two off-leash dog parks.
Through this publication, we are reminded
of the importance we humans play in the lives
of our owners (our pets).
For proof, read on!
We sure do love our pets
WHAT’S INSIDE?
Come for a visit,
stay as a volunteer
By ANN POTTER
Multnomah County Animal Services
If you haven’t recently visited Mult-
nomah County Animal Services in
Troutdale, please drop by and see us at
1700 W. Columbia River Highway.
You’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.
The building remains much the same on
the outside as it always has, but is bustling
more than ever inside with the excitement
of volunteers spending 2 to 10 hours a
week training dogs and cats (yes, cats).
And it’s hopping with staff giving health
exams to every dog and cat that enters our
care. We assess
each animal’s be-
havior, and help
people check for
lost pets.
As our com-
munity’s only
“open” shelter,
we accept every
st ray animal
that’s brought in,
whether adopt-
able or not, as
opposed to “se-
lective admis-
sion” shelters,
which can decide
to accept or re-
ject an animal.
Happily, our community shelter suc-
ceeds because we care for each animal as
an individual and seek ways to place each
successfully.
We have made great gains over the past
several years.
More than 90 percent of the dogs com-
ing into our “open” shelter find new
homes or are transferred to our welcom-
ing partner organizations.
Cats, which present greater challenges
because of the large numbers that arrive
during kitten season, have a live-release
rate of 61 percent. That’s a large increase
over past years, but a number we know
can be improved upon through new pro-
grams we’ve created.
Our volunteers
Volunteers save the lives of feral and
stray cats by helping in our Apartment
Cat Team program of trap-neuter-return.
Volunteers also transport shelter cats
to local business partners in the commu-
nity, where they will be cared for and ad-
opted out.
Through our “Pitties in Pink” parade
entries, volunteers have fun while chang-
ing the way the public perceives Pit Bulls.
And volunteers also bring dogs, pup-
pies, kittens and cats into their own homes
to offer them temporary sanctuary
through our foster programs.
You can help
If you want to help animals, we definite-
ly want to hear from you. Inside our
Troutdale home, it’s a new day for animal
services.
If you haven’t done so, please come by
and give us another look. You could be-
come part of something very special.
Ann Potter has been with Multnomah County
Animal Services for nine years, first as a volun-
teer and then as a staff member. She is responsi-
ble for helping start new projects to benefit shel-
ter dogs and cats.
“Our community
shelter succeeds
because we care
for each animal
as an individual
and seek ways
to place each
successfully.”
— Ann Potter,
staff member
Did you know that
our community shelter:
n
Was the rst shelter in the area to help our
animal community by spaying/neutering every
dog and cat before adoption?
n
Was the rst shelter in the area to become
accredited by the American Animal Hospital
Association, meeting the highest industry stan-
dard of veterinary care?
n
Was the rst shelter in the area to embrace
“Open Paw,” a ground-breaking enrichment
program for animals that provides stress relief
and positive training for every dog and cat
available for adoption?
PHOTO BY: STEVEN BROWN
Ann Potter and Sierra pal around inside the
Multnomah Animal Service shelter in
Troutdale.
PAGE 2:
Check out what’s happening at
Multnomah Animal Services in Troutdale.
PAGE 3:
The city of Sandy could use help
with fundraising for two off-leash dog parks.
PAGE 3:
Read the stories of how two spe-
cial pets changed their owners’ lives.
PAGE 4:
Claudia Stewart is on a mission to
humanely reduce the feral cat population.
PAGE 5-7:
The Outlook and Sandy Post
staff introduce their furry pals.
PAGES 8-11:
Pet Look-Alike Contest