RVHS on Animal Planet
On Monday May 30, 2011 the Rogue
Valley Humane Society (RVHS), the only no-kill animal shelter
in Josephine County, took part in a cat rescue in the Grants
Pass area. This rescue involved 58 cats, 4 dogs and two goats
that were taken from the property. Two of the dogs will be returned
after treatment. Three goats were medically treated and left
at the property.
The RVHS was the primary animal
shelter working with two other Oregon animal rescue groups in
cooperation with the national television program which filmed
the rescue. Since the owners of the cats have voluntarily agreed
to give up their animals this is not a criminal case. They have
realized that there was a problem and are being helped by RVHS.
On September 21, 2011 the story
first aired on Animal Planet's new hit series: Confessions: Animal
Hoarding. The series explores stories of people who own more
pets than they can care for. The problem of animal hoarding is
little understood, but far more common that most people realize.
There are over 3000 reported cases a year, and at least ten times
that number that go unreported. The series brings families together
to voluntarily find humane solutions that work for both pets
and people. If you know someone who might be an animal hoarder,
you can learn more at Animal Hoarding Project
RVHS accepted 25 of the rescued
cats and the remaining cats were taken to the 2 other Oregon
animal rescue facilities. After all of the cats were medically
evaluated and treated they have been or are available for adoption.
RVHS could still use donations
to help with the extremely large expense of this rescue. It took
about $200 per animal to be treated. This included an examination
by a veterinarian, testing for feline leukemia, feline aids,
heartworm, vaccinations, worming and applying a flea medication.
This also covered extra staff time to care for the cats. RVHS
has a "spay or neuter before adoption" policy in place
so the spay/neuter surgery is included in this cost. The total
expense were over $5,000 for the 25 cats that RVHS accepted from
this rescue.
If you would like to donate by
credit card, please call RVHS at 541-479-5154 or visit our website:
Rogue Valley Humane Society.
Checks can be mailed to: Rogue Valley Humane Society P.O. Box
951 Grants Pass, Oregon 97528. No donation is ever too small
to help care for these sweet cats.
Watch
the Video - Grants Pass Daily Courier
For the shows premier the staff,
board, volunteers and supporters of the RVHS gathered at Joe's
Sports Bar & Grill in Grants Pass to have some great food
and beverages while viewing the eastern satellite feed on 15
of Joe's 27 televisions. It was an evening filled with emotions
of a job well done and also the celebration of two birthdays.
We would like to share the evening
with you now with a few photos. Thanks to all those who came
out to support the event. Enjoy.
Although the show didn't start
until 7 PM, expecting a full house people arrived as early as
5 PM.
Before being seated for
dinner, there was a lot of visiting.
One of the TVs featured
an emotional video presentation done by our Angie called "To Be Loved Again".
Jeannie and Rich Steed
with RVHS Secretary, Marcia Moffatt.
Suzanne and Bill Fien
with Tanya Allen.
Cat Coordinator Nina
and Tom Smith.
Volunteers Michael Vincent
and Bob Petersen.
RVHS Vice President Don
Ewald with wife A.J. and Greg Bock.
Bob and Kelee Petersen
in birthday party mode.
From the Grants Pass Daily Courier
were photographer Kevin Launius and reporter, Stacy Stumnbo.
The Courier has consistency supportive of the RVHS and we can't
thank them enough.
D'Laina, Tanya and Nina.
Girls having fun.
The food an Joe's is
very good. This is their 1/4 lb bacon cheeseburger.
Volunteer Coordinator
Kelee Petersen is our resident friendly face!
The Birthday girls... Jeannie
Steed and Mary Jane Manzi. We wish them many more.
We will close this with the folks
who actually took part in the rescue. Unfortunately their full
day of very nasty work only got a minute on the show. From LtoR,
Board member Rich Steed, volunteer Jeannie Steed, Tanya Allen
and Margaret Varner from RVHS, Maria Becket from Valley Animal
Hospital and RVHS Cat Coordinator Nina Smith.
