‘Paws Along the River’ Sept. 20 | Horses Saved from Swollen Conewango | The Ones We Leave Behind

‘Paws Along the River’ Sept. 20
Times Observer  Source: http://timesobserver.com/page/content.detail/id/521505.html

Join the Warren County Humane Society for a fun afternoon with your dog, Sunday Sept. 20, from noon to 3 p.m. for the second annual Paws Along the River Pet Celebration and Open House event at the Humane Society, 212 Elm St. Last year was a big success, with nearly 200 people and their pets attending. Coordinators hope for more this year. This is a beautiful place along the river and the Humane Society organizers are excited to host another year of fun. Door prizes and games prizes will be awarded during the event. Our annual event will be filled with fun, food and games for everyone.

Richard and Janet Ashe and the Tamarack Kennel Club will be on hand to perform an Agility Show after the Blessing around 1:30 p.m., with their very talented dogs. We can't wait for them to wow the crowd showing off the agility skills these dogs have mastered. They have even agreed to show our guests how it is done and have you and your dog "try out" the agility course.

A Cat Photo Contest will show off the feline fancier's photography skills. Start snapping those cameras. The crowd will vote for the top winners in two categories; Silliest and Most Beautiful Pose. Please leave your felines at home. Enter your photo for just $2 per category. Photos 3x5 and 4x6 only accepted. Cinco C's Alpacas will be on hand again from Port Allegany, Pa. Carol Howard has many wonderful handmade items from her beautiful Alpacas to sell. A Blessing of the Animals will be conducted at 1 p.m. This special service is very popular for owners and their dogs.

We are planning a Chinese auction and will accept any donations of new items or a basket of goodies (food, pets, any themed ideas are welcomed). The society will sell embroidered T-shirts and sweats also. . We will have our famous V-8 chili and hot dogs and pie for concessions. Moments in Time Photographer Karen Heltzel will be on hand to display her talented and magnificent pet photography. Donna Anderson will be showing off her handmade jewelry. Vinnie Sheldon will bring the music to keep the day hopping.

The K-9 Costume contest (several categories), Take It or Leave It( will your dog eat it or leave it?), Musical Chairs, Fashion Frenzy (how fast can you dress your dog in clothes?). The doggie games this year will require a registration form and $2 fee to enter. Participant forms can be printed from the website at www.warrenhumanesociety.org Bobbing for Dogs and Scavenger Hunt are free to the willing participants. Doggie Games will begin at noon and continue throughout the day.

Any interested vendors should call Penny at 726-1961. Vendor registration forms can be printed off the website at www.warrenhumanesociety.org If you can donate a prize or bake a fruit pie for us to sell, contact Penny. If you would like to volunteer call 726-1961.

Parking will be along the end of Elm Street and in the City DPW parking lot. Handicapped and special needs guests will be accommodated with closer parking and transportation from the parking lot to the shelter event.

Please leave aggressive dogs at home and all dogs must be on a leash.

The Humane Society looks forward to seeing our many wonderful "Society" dogs and photos of kitties. Your attendance and support is greatly appreciated and needed.

Diamond Paw Sponsor: Kinzua Veterinary Clinic.
Pearl Paw Sponsors: Gaughn's Drug Store, Holiday Inn of Warren, Blair Corporation, Tidioute Oil Company, Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, CTI Physical Therapy, Whirley Industries Inc. Elwood National Forge Company.

Horses Saved from Swollen Conewango
By DIANA PADDOCK Features Editor, Times Observer

8 /11/09 Due to the quick thinking of children Monday morning, two horses were saved from drowning in the Conewango Creek.

The group of children - tquickly to naking advantage of the clear skies after Monday morning's deluge -acted otify Warren City Fire and Police personnel and Karen Kolos of the Warren County Humane Society, who, in turn, rescued the horses.

Dylan Baxter, Noah Wright and Justin Baxter - children who live on Lexington Avenue - were near the playground area when they noticed two horses tied to trees in the shade on the bank of the Conewango Creek near the confluence of the Allegheny River. They were alarmed at the rapidly rising water, worried the horses would be swept into the fast current. They ran back to the playground area and told Derek Reagle who was riding his bike nearby, and Derek quickly took control of the situation.

I told these two to go get the Humane Society," he said, indicating Michaela Rogers and Madison Mineweaser, two girls who also were in the area at the time. They brought Karen Kolos back to the scene. Then a "lady with a phone called the cops," Derek said, pointing to the woman's home near the creek.

Although the horses' owners could not be found during the rescue, they were located early Monday afternoon and planned to trailer the horses home to Sugar Grove. Kolos said the owners were shocked the water had risen so much and were "very grateful" to the fire, police and humane society personnel who rescued the horses.

Donning life jackets and carrying ropes, Kolos, Jeff Daugherty of the Warren City Police Department and Captain Chris Danielson of the Warren City Fire Department ventured into the knee-deep water to lead the horses to safety.

The area of trees and brush near the creek had been dry early Monday morning despite the heavy rain Sunday night, but the morning storm and the run-off from earlier storms in the north converged, and flood water was filling the low-lying area by late morning.

The horses' owners, Amish men who were working nearby, said they tied the horses in the shade and "walked out of there with dry feet" at around 6 a.m. Monday, relayed Karen Kolos of the humane society.

Source: http://timesobserver.com/page/content.detail/id/520325.html?nav=5006

The Ones We Leave Behind
Shadow and Cappy are special
By MEGHAN BOGARDUS mbogardus@timesobserver.com

8/10/09 It's very much like a dating service. People go online looking for companionship based on age, appearance and personality. Of course, the companions on this Web site are a little bit furrier.

For about four years, the Warren County Humane Society has been putting their animals on Petfinder.com and have been able to place pets across the country.

"Petfinder has changed our life here," Humane Society director Karen Kolos said.

Kolos said the Humane Society has been putting a picture and a profile of each cat and dog in their shelter on the site, with varying stipulations about special needs and if the animal can live in a home with young kids, cats or dogs. 

Kolos said the Web site has been attracted interested prospective owners nationwide.

In fact, since they have used the site, Kolos said people have come from many different places, from Buffalo, N.Y. to Michigan, to adopt pets.
"It opens us up to the wide world," she said. "People are willing to drive two, three, even six hours."

Kolos said the Web Site has been a great resource, especially as more people are technologically savvy and interested in looking for a pet online.

She said people have called them from out of town before and asked them what cats and dogs they have available, but when they can see a photo and learn a little bit about the animal, it makes a big difference.

Another thing Kolos has discovered from Petfinder is Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable Pet Day, which is "celebrated" on August 12.

Kolos said she had never heard of it before, but thought it was interesting, considering the Humane Society has a few pets that would be considered "less adoptable."

Among the animals labeled as such are older pets, pets with missing limbs or special needs, victims of breed prejudice (ie: pitt bulls and Rottweilers) and pets with other medical problems.

Two of the Humane Society's special needs pets are Shadow, a "senior" golden retriever/German shepherd mix and Cappy, a blue heeler puppy.

Both Cappy and Shadow are happy, lovable dogs with one small problem: each is missing a leg.
Shadow, who is nine, is what Kolos called a "double whammy" in the realm of less adoptable pets: he is older and his missing one of his hind legs.

Kolos said Shadow was hit by car, lost one of his legs and was abandoned. She said he has been with Humane Society since May.
"He's a really good boy," Kolos said.

In spite of his age and missing limb, Shadow still gets around like a much younger dog.

Cappy, who is under a year old, is missing one of his front legs, possibly from a farming accident. Kolos said he was found on Oil Creek Rd. this summer, living under a trailer with a newly severed leg.

She said they had to set a trap for him, because he couldn't be caught by anyone.

On July 16, Kolos said Cappy had surgery on his missing leg and has since been learning to walk on a leash.

Though Cappy and Shadow are energetic, playful and lovable, Kolos said sometimes it takes a "certain" kind of person to want to adopt them.

In addition to the two three-legged dogs, the Humane Society also has two older dogs, Jethro and Darryl and a cat with a leg injury that will need to be amputated.

In spite of the label of "less adoptable," Kolos said all of these animals are perfectly adoptable in every way.

"We're not asking them to take unhealthy pets," she said. "We're sending out pets that still have a life left to live and enjoy."

Source: Times Observer website.

Since this article appeared in the Times Observer, Cappy and Shadow have found homes.  Please see our Shelter Pet Photos more information about other great pets looking for their "forever" homes.

LINKS TO OTHER  TIMES OBSERVER articles. 

• Rescued horses taken to Maryland  POSTED: May 29, 2009 By BRIAN FERRY

• Settlement reached in animal cruelty case POSTED: April 16, 2009 By BRIAN FERRY

• Animals Removed POSTED: April 16, 2009 By BRIAN FERRY

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." Andy Rooney