Recently the Talbot Humane Board of Directors and staff officially adopted the 8 tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering. We have been operating in this manner for some time, but had not put a name to our beliefs.  This model of sheltering originated Colorado and has been adopted by a number of shelters in that state and beyond. Socially Conscious Sheltering surpasses the ideals of kill verses no kill. We are proud to serve the community through our commitment to protect and provide humane care and treatment to all animals, whether healthy or not, friendly or not, with compassion, transparency and thoughtfulness. We truly believe, the best shelter is a Humane Community.

The Eight Tenets of Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering are as follows:

• Place every healthy and safe animal. Every single one. Healthy is defined as either having no signs of clinical disease or evidence of disease that a veterinarian determines has a good or excellent prognosis for a comfortable life. Safe means that the animal has not exhibited behavior that is likely to result in severe injury or death to another animal or person.
• Ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care. An animal’s opportunity to be nurtured, healed, and rehomed should not depend on their age or condition—every community must have a shelter that accepts all animals brought to it. It is unacceptable to turn animals away because they are too old, too sick, too broken.
• Assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed. Animals housed in shelters and rescues must be assessed for disease and injury and must have all medical conditions addressed so the animal does not suffer. These animals must also have their behavioral needs assessed and met, including enrichment sufficient to make them comfortable and to prevent self-destructive, obsessive-compulsive coping behaviors.
• Align shelter policy with the needs of the community. Does the community allow trap-neuter-return programs? If so, offer them. Will members of your community adopt animals with chronic disease, are they willing to assume the time and expense of managing that disease? If so, with full disclosure, place them in these homes. Socially Conscious Shelters listen to their communities.
• Alleviate suffering and make appropriate euthanasia decisions. Compassionate euthanasia is a gift. It is not acceptable to let a terminally ill, suffering animal languish in a cage until it dies naturally when compassionate euthanasia can ease that endless pain. It is not acceptable to house a known dangerous animal who cannot be safely placed in the community for years until it goes crazy in a cage. Each euthanasia decision is difficult, and every decision must consider the welfare of the individual animal.
• Enhance the human-animal bond through safe placements and post adoption support. Integrating a living being into a new home can be difficult. As adoption agencies, Socially Conscious Shelters have a responsibility to support the new family. This can mean post-adoption behavior advice, classes for new pet caregivers, addressing shelter related medical needs and being willing to accept the animal back if the pet and the family are not a good fit. It also means not placing animals into homes that disrupt the human-animal bond by injuring children, other pets and other people. There are many behavior issues that can be addressed through behavior modification and positive experiences. There are other behaviors that are dangerous and that cannot be mitigated.
• Consider the health, wellness and safety of animals for each community when transferring animals. Moving dogs and cats from communities that do not have homes available for them to communities where people are actively seeking pets saves lives. However, bringing pets into a community is a responsibility. It is a responsibility to the animals already living in that community to not bring in infectious diseases that would make them sick. It is a responsibility to those living within the community to bring in animals that will live in harmony. And there is a responsibility to the community from which animals are being moved to impact that community’s animal welfare struggles through humane education and spay and neuter programs.
• Foster a culture of transparency, ethical decision making, mutual respect, continual learning and collaboration. Socially Conscious Shelters are committed to full transparency. This can include reporting accurate statistics, sharing policies, and fully and quickly admitting when mistakes are made. Integrity must be the foundation of all decisions. Every shelter can learn something from every other shelter—it is important to be curious and to share innovative solutions to common problems. Only by working together can we ensure the best outcomes for all animals.

We are here to help. Our mission continues to be service to animals and their owners of the Midshore with compassion, transparency and thoughtfulness.  You are part of our Humane Community. 

Petparazzi!

Welcome to Talbot Humane’s very first calendar photo contest!  

You know you have the most beautiful or handsome pet, or one with a personality like no other who always makes you smile or laugh. Well, here’s your chance to show them off! And by sharing your beloved pet’s photo, you are raising funds to support not only the animals of Talbot Humane, but those throughout our community as well. Participation in the contest is not limited to Talbot Humane alum…all pets are welcome!

How does it Work?

It’s easy to participate! Register your pet any time between July 1 and August 16, 2019 (keep in mind that early entrants are likely to get the most votes). Submit your pet’s photo and brief text telling your pet’s story. Your $25 registration fee is considered a tax-deductible donation to Talbot Humane. Each entrant will receive a copy of the Talbot Humane Petparazzi 2020 Calendar, a $15.00 value!

Once your pet is entered and appears on our contest website, it’s time to start encouraging your family, friends, co-workers, etc., to vote early and often for your pet. $1 buys 1 vote ($5 minimum). Spread the word…share your pet’s campaign by email and via social media. People can vote as often as they like and votes will be displayed on the contest web page as they come in. Don’t forget to vote for your pet yourself! Our goal is to raise $10,000+ to help Talbot Humane continue to help the animals of our community.

Prizes

There are 12 full-page opportunities to win. Entries are divided into three categories eligible for prizes: dogs, cats, and other (any other domestic animal such as a bird, reptile, small companion animal, etc.). The top 5 dogs, top 5 cats, and top 2 “other” pets with the most votes in their respective categories will be featured as a Pet of the Month in the 2020 Talbot Humane Petparazzi Calendar. The pet with the most votes overall will be our Grand Prize winner, named Talbot Humane’s 2020 Coverpet of the Year, and will be featured on the cover of the calendar in addition to appearing as a Pet of the Month.

Visit: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/talbothumane to get started or to VOTE for your favorite photos!

Talbot Humane is 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 fr the 3rd year in a row!  Fees will be waived at all of these facilities and each one will have other special incentives.

New this year there is a website dedicated to the event www.maryland2000.com

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, Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital, Community Animal Hospital, Easton Veterinary Clinic, Midshore Veterinary Service, Pet Health Clinic, Veterinary Medical Center
  

• 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 across Maryland are participating!

• Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control
• Baltimore Humane
• BARCS
• Baltimore County Animal Services
• Caroline County Humane Society
• Cecil County Animal Services
• City of College Park, Maryland
• Fredrick County Animal Control
• Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Center
• Humane Society of Carroll County
• Humane Society of Washington County
• Humane Society of Wicomico County
• Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter
• MD SPCA
• Montgomery County Animal Services
• Prince George’s County Animal Services
• Talbot Humane
• The Animal Care Shelter of Kent County
• The Humane Society of Harford County
• Tri-County Animal Shelter

Last year Talbot Humane hit a fabulous milestone. Between our low cost spay/neuter services, online re-homing assistance and our intervention and retention program (this includes but is not limited to the pet pantry, assistance with urgent pet needs and supplies), we directly served more than 1,500 community pets in 2018. During this same calendar year, our open admission shelter saw the lowest intake of shelter animals in more than two decades. The connection is direct and positive. Our mission of reducing acts of cruelty and neglect, providing resources and education to the public, helping every treatable and adoptable pet find a forever home and keeping pets in the care of loving owners is one step closer every day. This is in large part because of you.

I don’t think when the photo of the bag of puppies left on the side of a Talbot County road ran in the Star Democrat on November 5, 1948, anyone ever imagined a day when puppies rarely entered our care at Talbot Humane and the number of kittens is lowered each year. But, thanks to aggressive spay/neuter programming over the past 20 years and a community that is educated on how to help our neighborhood animals we are there.  

After more than 16 months of work with the Talbot County Animal Control Board, local citizens and Talbot County business owners, in April 2019 the Talbot County Council approved updates to our local animal control ordinance. These updates will ensure animals have more humane treatment in Talbot County. Prohibiting dogs from living their lives on tethers and requiring special care for animals during times of extreme weather will help prevent suffering. The new licensing and inspection component will require those who profit from training, boarding, and breeding as well as rescue organizations to fulfill a minimum standard of care for the animals in their charge. These changes happened because of your voices speaking up for the animals who need us most.

We have come far in the 87 years Talbot Humane (formerly Talbot County Humane Society) has been a presence in our community. But we still have so much to do. We are thankful for our humane community, and with your help we look forward to seeing what the next 80 years holds for the animals and people we serve.

For the animals,

Patty Crankshaw-Quimby

What a deal- our microchip service fee has been cut IN HALF for a limited time! 

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. This is a sad statistic, but it’s true! Your dog and cat cannot tell us their name, address or phone number- that is without your help!

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.  In recognition of Pet Identification Week which is the 3rd week of April each year, Talbot Humane will be offering microchipping of your dog, cat or ferret for only $10 for the entire month of April. This includes the registration of your chip with HomeAgain and an identification tag.  Now when was the last time you even purchased a collar for $10?

Even if your cat doesn’t go outside, or your dog is always on a leash, accidents happen. Make sure all of your pets are properly identified so they can get home to you in the event of an unforeseen emergency! 

For more information or to schedule an appointment call (410)822-0107 today.  Appointments are available between 11A-4P Monday-Friday 1P-3P on Saturday.

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.

From now until the end of 2018 friends to the animals are matching up to $4,500 for the animals in need.  

People often ask “how does it cost THAT much to keep a shelter going? Don’t you just feed them?” Well, it is so much more than feeding animals! We serve the community in a number of ways, and unfortunately there is a cost associated with each. Pets are an important part of our lives, and our mission at Talbot Humane remains to protect the animals and serve the citizens.

Here are a few quick facts!

• Our estimated annual budget for this fiscal year is just over $1M. We receive funds for animal control related expenses ONLY from Talbot County. This leave the need to raise more than $600,000 EACH YEAR. 
• We receive NO FUNDING from the national organizations. We are not branches of these organizations or affiliates. 
• These funds are needed to:
  • Keep the animals fed and medically treated
    • this year our above and beyond medical care for the animals in 11 months reached more than $50,000 alone
  • Allows our programs and services to continue to serve residents not only of Talbot County but surrounding areas- such as spaying and neutering more than 1,000 animals each year, our intervention program which keeps pets out of our shelter and other local shelters in the area
  • Keeps our quickly aging building in working order
  • Pay for staff and related staff expenses- a very needed commodity to have trained professionals caring for the animals and serving the community
  • Things you may not even think about- such as cleanings supplies, paper, lawn care, phone service
  • And SO much more!

So, when you wonder where the budget for your local shelters goes to, this is what it takes to continue to serve our communities!

If you are so inclined, from now until December 31st your gifts have been matched up to $4,500.

Mail to PO Box 1143 Easton, MD 21601 or  https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/talbothumane…

Start 2019 making a difference for yourself and animals in need! 

We WILL take the most seasoned couch potato to the finish line with our run:walk training program. If you have the will, you can do it!

This year our team is running the Salisbury Running Festival half marathon. We were a part of the inaugural festival last year and everyone truly enjoyed the experience.

This year thanks to our corporate sponsor, Bay Imprint, the registration fee is lower than ever which means this program is accessible to more friends to the animals! 

This is a get or give fundraising program. You raise funds for the animals in return for a fully supported non-competitive training program which promises to get you to the start line on Saturday April 6, 2019!

Our charity runners are doing an amazing job for the animals with their fundraising efforts! Since the Summer of 2012, our team has collectively raised more than $250,000 for the animals of our community! AMAZING!

For more information on UNLEASHED contact coach Amy Eutsey, (410) 822-0107 or volunteer@talbothumane.org today! We hope to see you on January 2nd!

www.talbothumane.org/volunteer/unleashed