Dot is an unfortunate victim of the bad economy. Her owner lost a job and can no longer afford to care for her. Dot is only 3 1/2 years old and likes other animals. If you would like to visit Dot or any of the other cats and kittens waiting for adoption, stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.
Princess is just hanging out in her cage, waiting for someone who can truly appreciate the charms of a friendly, two-year-old guinea pig. If you would like to visit Princess, stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.
We’re starting to see more and more litters of kittens now that the warm weather is here. These two females (tag numbers 1817 and 1818) are only seven weeks old. If you would like to visit them or any of the other cats and kittens waiting for adoption, stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.
The Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VPI) recently released its list of wackiest pet names from the company’s database of 470,000 insured pets. VPI employees voted for the 10 most unusual dog and cat names. The winning dog names are: Doogie Schnauzer MD, Sargent Sausage, I am Sparticus, Lunchbox, Angus Sir Loin, Bam-Bam Noodle Butt, Mouse Meat, Fluffernutter, Kanye East and Inspector Foo Foo. Winning cat names are: Snag L. Tooth, Clawed Monet, Velvet Elvis, Eartha Kitty, Blue Man Chew, Catzilla, Thurston Picklesworth III, Yardsale, Dishwasher and Polly Prissypants.
We’ve seen our share of unusual names at the Women’s Humane Society and have put together our own list of strange, clever or just plain head scratching names.
Dog names
The Bus
New York
Moosehunter
Polo
Crash
Stir Fry
Free Bird
Rose Petal
Lenny Crabowitz
Lady Bug
Banshee
Cat names
Mr. Pickle
Fat Belly
Dude
Karate
Bubby Wubbins
Knucklehead
Flamin’
Sense
Meef
Chaos
It was a typical rush-hour drive to work for Janice Mininberg, Women’s Humane Society’s Director of Education, until she came to the busy intersection of Bridgetown Pike and Rt. 413 in Middletown Township, PA. Stopping traffic was a mother Wood Duck and her seven ducklings. The ducklings were desperately trying to keep up with their mother. One duckling was far behind the others and in its haste to catch up, it jumped from the curb, scrambled across a storm drain and fell in.
Meanwhile, two ducklings were stuck in the middle of the intersection afraid to move or when they did, they just tumbled over. Janice parked her car, ran into the intersection, stopped traffic and scooped up the two chicks. She scrambled to catch up to the mother, who was already in the creek. After sliding down the grassy bank, she released the two ducklings into the water.
Sneakers soaked, she climbed back up the bank (praying there was no poison ivy) and ran to check on the duckling that fell into the storm drain. Her call to 911 brought Patrolman Matthew J. Kroiss. Patrolman Kroiss assessed the situation and realized that he would need assistance from the Middletown Highway Department in order to remove the heavy grill covering the storm drain. Soon two men from the Highway Department, Glenn Roach and Eric Gartenmayer, arrrived in their green truck with chains and a crane to lift the grill.
Patrolman Kroiss blocked the intersection with his car, which allowed Mr. Roach and Mr. Gartenmayer to lift the grill quickly so that the duck wouldn’t have time to become scared from the noise and run into the drain pipe. Janice jumped into the storm drain, gave the duckling to Mr. Gartenmayer, and then realized that she couldn’t climb out of the drain. Mr. Roach and Patrolman Kroiss offered their assistance and Janice thanked everyone for taking the time to help the poor little duckling.
Sadly, the mother and the rest of her clutch were nowhere to be found. The only solution was to take the duckling to a wildlife rehabilitation center to be cared for until it can be released into the wild.
The Society was founded on the premise of kindness toward animals and it was very gratifying for Janice to meet three men who truly embody “kindness in action.”
A recent survey by Apartments.com revealed that pet-friendly apartments are very important to today’s renters. Apartments.com surveyed 1,000 renters across the country and found that nearly 90 percent of the respondents had a pet. More than half of the respondents that did not already have a pet, planned to acquire a pet in the next year.
While most respondents were able to find pet-friendly apartments, some were forced to give up pets because they weren’t able to find an affordable pet-friendly apartment or couldn’t afford the special pet security deposit. More than half the renters surveyed paid more than $200 for a pet security deposit.
“No pets allowed in apartment” is a common reason that animals are given up to the Society. If you are thinking of getting a pet, it is always a good idea to double-check with your landlord and make sure that pets are permitted before you bring a pet into your home. Be sure to also check any restrictions on type, number and size of pets.
Freckles is an adult rabbit currently awaiting adoption at the Women’s Humane Society. If you would like to visit Freckles (tag number H27554), stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.
Visit the Women’s Humane Society on the first Saturday of the month during the school year and you might spot members of the Society’s Pet Pal Club busy in an animal-related activity. The club, open to children in grades four through nine, meets October through May on Saturday mornings.
“The purpose of the club is to help children understand more about animals in their communities and discover ways we can become better caretakers of animal friends in their home environments,” said Janice, our Director of Education and head Pet Pal. Each meeting includes a discussion about a certain pet topic or a presentation by a guest speaker, followed by a craft project.
Some highlights of the year included visits from Bensalem Animal Control Officer Sarah Jo Huetger; Eileen Saks, a greyhound rescuer; Kelly Van Valkenburgh, Society Volunteer Director and owner of several large dogs; and Susan M. Pileggi, from the Greater Philadelphia Chihuahua and Small Breed Meet-Group.
Pet Pal members were very crafty this year, creating totem poles, animal-themed coasters, cat teaser rods, shadow puppets, wooden door hangers, bird feeders, suncatchers and air fresheners.
Janice has even more fun things planned for next year and welcomes new members in grades four through nine. She asked us to mention that club members will not get to pet or play with animals at the Society, but will interact with animals brought by guest speakers.
Gizmo seems to be a little unsure what he’s doing in a cage at the Society, but his family moved and couldn’t take him with them. He’s only one year old and likes other animals and children, according to his previous family. If you would like to visit Gizmo (tag number 1617), stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. Visit our website for more details on adoptions.
