Coretta Scott King once said “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

This could not be more true than when we speak of our amazing supporters, volunteers and team members. This year, like so many recent ones, has been a year of the unknown. Increased number of animals entering our care- actually an 18.5% increase from 2021. Inflation making the cost of everything from toilet paper to kitty litter increase exponentially. We are seeing a larger need from the community for help from our intervention program with medical and behavioral needs.

Along with the struggles have been some pretty stellar moments too! We have witnessed almost 700 pets enter new homes between adoption and working with fellow 501.c.3 rescue groups. Our programs for intervention, spay/neuter and community outreach have grown- seeing more than 1,500 animals served! Our volunteers have remained a steadfast part of our success. Ensuring animals receive love and attention, giving time in the shelter and in the community, your dedication makes us a better organization.

Our ability to ride these waves and provide for pets and their people is only possible because of you. We know we could not do it all without the support of our humane community. Every single time we said “We need you!” you said “Here we are!” That is a priceless gift.

This holiday season we simply wish to say thank you. You have made our year better simply by being you.

From our team to yours, may your holiday season be filled with joy and laughter, dog kisses and cat hair, and hopefully some rest and rejuvenation for 2023.

For the animals,

Patty Crankshaw-Quimby, CAWA

Executive Director

2020 Calendars are HERE!

$15 Each featuring the top 12 winners of our 2020 contest, “Gotcha Day” photos and shots of pets still looking for forever homes, this calendar is a great gift for the pet and rescue lover in your life. Available at Talbot Humane, Head to Tail Thrift and Vintage and our events all month long!

In times of crisis, people are often told to leave their homes for a “short time,” only to find that they cannot return for days or even weeks.  As a result, community animal shelters are overwhelmed with lost and separated pets following a disaster.

“Helping our residents and pets during an emergency is extremely important to our organization.” Said Patty Quimby, Executive Director of Talbot Humane.  “The Talbot Animal Disaster Services  Team has been in place and ready to assist our residents during weather or other catastrophic emergencies where an emergency shelter would need to be opened since 2010.  Providing the tools to our residents to be prepared in the event of an emergency is a priority.”  Quimby adds, “Preparedness saves lives.”

Talbot Humane suggests families build a Pet Emergency Go-Kit and store it with the rest of the family’s emergency preparations:

• Basic first aid supplies
• A 3-day supply of bottled water and the pet’s preferred food, held in a waterproof container
• Safety harness and leash
• Waste clean-up supplies
• Medications and a copy of the pet’s medical records
• List of veterinarians and local pet care organizations
• List of the pet’s feeding routine and any behavioral issues
• Comfort items, such as a blanket or favorite toy, to help keep the pet calm and comfortable

They also recommend the following Tips to Help Ensure Your Pet’s Safety in an Emergency:

• Ensure your pet’s identification by using a microchip or collar ID tag, and make sure that your contact information is up-to-date.
• Display a pet rescue decal on your front door or window to let first responders know there is a pet in the house. Include your veterinarian’s contact information.
• Learn where your pet likes to hide in your house when frightened. Finding your pet quickly will help you evacuate faster.
• Identify a location to take your pet if you need to leave your immediate area. Keep in mind that disaster shelters for people may not be open to pets. Scout hotels and motels with pet-friendly policies and ask relatives or friends if they could house you and your pet.
• Carry a picture of your pet in the event of separation.
• If you need to evacuate, consider taking a pet carrier or crate for transport and safe-keeping.

For more information on emergency preparedness for your family and your pets you may visit ready.gov , HillsPet.com/PetPrepared, or contact Talbot Humane at 410-822-0107. 

Last year Katie Rohe and her family found their new puppy was going to need surgery to correct severe hip dysplasia which would cost several thousand dollars. This was a period of stress and worry about their sweet pup, not to mention concerns about finding the funds to pay for such and expensive surgery. This is when Katie realized there are so many people and animals in the same position. Because of her experience and learning that many owners end up having to surrender these pets to their local shelters, Katie decided she was going to do something to help those animals not as fortunate as Whiskey.   That’s when Whiskey’s Warriors was born! 

The purpose of the Whiskey’s Warriors 5k is to help pet owners who cannot afford or fall short of the funds necessary to help pay for their pets’ medical needs, or to pay for the surgery of rescue pets who would have otherwise not been adopted, due to health issues. The funds will help Talbot Humane further our Intervention and Retention program to assist pet owners in our community with medical needs in order that they do not have to surrender their pets to the Talbot Humane.

Interested in being a sponsor for this fun and important event?  Download the sponsorship information Whiskey’s Warriors Sponsorship Package

The Race is set for the morning of September 21, 2019 in Easton, Maryland. Sponsorship opportunities, donations and of course runners and walkers are needed for year 1 of the race! For more information on the event, or to register, go to Another Level Fitness- Whiskey’s Warriors

Did you know at any given time 2/3 of the population in our shelter is comprised of felines? These cats come to us for many different reasons; a friendly stray arrives on your porch, someone is moving, a found litter of kittens, aged animals. The most difficult cats to manage in a shelter environment are the free roaming and feral population that people choose to trap and bring to Talbot Humane. When the public brings us these cats they have trapped and say, “ Oh, I know you can find a farm for him.” Well, sadly that is not always the case.

A few things people do not realize. Talbot County code allows for the immediate euthanizing of feral cats.  Talbot Humane’s policy is an emphatic NO on this point. We keep every cat, even those arriving in traps and behaving in an aggressive manner for a period of time for observation. We do our best to mitigate the stress of the shelter for these cats and give them time to decompress. There are many times we find upon allowing these kitties to settle for a few days they are not wild, or feral. They were probably someone’s pet at some point who just let them go.  Other times it is clear these cats are free roaming animals that have no interest in human contact.  A truly feral cat experiences a great deal of stress when confined and are dangerous to those caring for them when living in a cage indefinitely. For a cat to enter the barn cat program they must be somewhat manageable by humans as there is an entire process to acclimating them to a new environment so that they actually remain in the area. Shelter life for the most well-adjusted cat is stressful.  Imagine being a wild cat, not used to human contact in close quarters with humans and other cats. TERRIFYING and frankly inhumane.

For these reasons we are asking for the community’s help! Before you simply set a trap for a cat coming to your property and bring to Talbot Humane please give us a call!  Are you OK with a couple cats but you are afraid 2 will turn into 10? We can help with spay/neuter and vaccinations.   If you really do not want them on your property, they may be coming from another area. Assess to see what is attracting them. Are you feeding other wildlife outside? Are you leaving trash uncovered which attracts wildlife and cats?  Our staff can provide you with humane methods of excluding unwanted animals from your yard, flower beds, and sheds.

Last year our open admission shelter took in 605 felines (each year this number declines a bit!) 68 of those cats were euthanized (this number too continues to decline.) The majority of these felines were euthanized for medical reasons, but a portion were feral or semi feral cats which could not be placed in a new location, often because a property owner refused return of the cats even though we offered spay/neuter services. Our goal is to reduce the number of otherwise healthy, free roaming cats entering the shelter in 2019.  We ask you to consider being a part of the solution and work with Talbot Humane to reduce the number of unwanted animals entering our care and protect the animals of our community.

For the better part of 2018 Talbot Humane, the Talbot County Animal Control Board, business owners and private citizens of Talbot County have been working together to update the Talbot County Code as it applies to animals.  This portion of the Talbot County Code has not been updated since 2006. 

Over the past 12 years we have seen massive progress in the way we look at our pets, knowledge on what causes some behavior issues, and laws and ordinances protecting animals in many areas of the country including many counties right here in Maryland.  We have also witnessed some egregious acts of cruelty and neglect in our own backyard.  How can we forget the 300 cats hoarded in Caroline County a decade ago, the 300 Pomeranians in deplorable conditions in Wicomico county in 2016 or earlier this year not only the 100+ horses left to die in Quantico MD, but the kennel in Anne Arundel County where people trusted a facility to care for their pets, and many did not make it out alive? 

Our office hears from our community in Talbot County and knows they want to see change. They want to see laws protecting animals mirror our values as a community.  They cannot wrap their minds around a dog being out in frigid temperatures, or, an owner being allowed to have a dog live on a chain 24/7.  In recent months multiple Maryland counties have adopted anti-tethering and/or extreme weather ordinances to protect their animals. It is time for Talbot County to do the same. 

Specific areas being updated/added are as follows:

• Extreme weather requirements for animals outdoors
• Anti-tethering ordinance
• Licensing of boarding, breeding, training, rescues facilities

Please review the proposed updates to the county code below.  If you have questions, want to voice your support, or have concerns we ask that you contact our office at patty@talbothumane.org or the Talbot County Office of Law care of Mary O’Donnell at MODonnell@talbotcountymd.gov

Tentatively these changes are to be presented to the Talbot County Council in February 2019. Please show your support for a more humane Talbot County in 2019.

Animal Control Board Proposed Changes to Chapter 15 Jan 31 19

Talbot Humane Memo to Council Jan 31

Our Summer Guest Barktenders are the dynamic duo of Matt Spence and Mark Potter! You may know know these guys probably more from their voices- they host the morning shows on WCEI and WINX each day! They will be slinging drinks and trying to raise more than the $1,700 our director raised in March! 

BIG NEWS! Tito’s Handmade Vodka– Vodka for dog people will be MATCHING up to $10,000 in donations for this year’s events! HOW AMAZING IS THAT???? EVERY dollar you give will be doubled this year! 

Dinner and drink specials will be offered and 10% of dinner sales will be donated by our amazing host Chooch! 

If you cannot make the event our virtual tipper is up and running too-https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/guestbarktendertalbothumane 
Join us in raising a glass and $ for the animals in need at Doc’s Downtown Grille!

Talbot Humane is so proud to announce we have joined forces with fellow Maryland  humane and animal control facilities to place 2,000 cats and kittens in new homes during the month of July!  Fees will be waived at all of these facilities and each one will have other special incentives. 

For the month of July, Talbot Humane FELINE adopters will receive:

• No adoption fee

• Free post adoption wellness exams from participating veterinarians:  All Pets Veterinary Hospital, Easton Veterinary Clinic, Community Animal Hospital, Mid-Atlantic Cat Hospital, Midshore Veterinary Service, Spay Now, Inc., Pet Health Clinic.

• Starter bag of food

• Cat goodie bag
  

Our open admission shelter could not do all we do without the support of adopters, donors, volunteers and well wishers.  If you are considering adoption of a new cat or kitten, July is the right time to fall in love! We can’t wait to break this number and place these needy pets in loving homes, with your help!

The Following Shelters are Participating: 

It’s true! we are giving services away at Talbot Humane!  Now until December 31, 2017 Talbot Humane’s Spay/Neuter Midshore Program supported by grants from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Snyder Foundation for Animals and private donors will be paying you back to spay or neuter your pet!

Here is the deal. Qualifying residents of Talbot or Dorchester Counties in MD will receive

• FEE FREE or LOW COST surgery
• FEE FREE vaccines
• FREE microchipping AND registration of your microchip upon having your pet altered
• FREE ID Tag upon having your pet altered
• PLEASE NOTE- THIS IS A PACKAGE OFFER, FREE CHIPPING COMES WITH HAVING PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED 

Why you ask? Because your pet’s health and safety are extremely important to all of us at Talbot Humane.  Talbot Humane wants to increase the chances of reunited lost pets and owners.  One safe and effective way to provide identification is through having your pet microchipped. 

For more information about being a part of the community of caring pet owners who have had their pets spayed or neutered, contact us today at 410-822-0107 or today!