Doggie Boutique A Success!

CCHS had many boxes of brand-new dog clothing, accessories, costumes, toys, ornaments, cleaning supplies, etc. donated so we decided to open a one-day only Doggie Boutique. We even made a commercial to entice as many people as possible to come visit us: Click here to view video.

It was a rainy day when we opened up the garage behind American Family Insurance in Winfield on Saturday, January 31st, but that proved to be an advantage--we were able to supply many dogs of all sizes of with warm sweaters and jackets. Or just some fashionable threads for the canine divas. Everything was available for just a donation and we raised $1290 for the shelter! A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out, shopped and donated! 
Check out some photos of the location and happy customers:

Maxi and Morsel know their fashion!

Tandy is cuddly warm in her new sweater

Luna is styling it!

Melvin was decked out

Lana, adopted from CCHS many years ago, found her new outfit

Gizmo sports his new raincoat

Miss Olive was our first furry customer

Ali-Bama Goes Home

For our readers who missed the story on Facebook, here it is:

Rocky Shrum couldn’t believe his ears when he received a call from Ark City’s police service officer, Matt Soule, telling him that his dog had been found.

The bloodhound had gone missing two years ago, when she was only 9 months old, and Shrum thought he never would see her again.

Yet the story took another twist when Shrum heard where Soule was calling from — 700 miles away.

Shrum’s dog had disappeared from Scottsville, Ky.

There was no doubt the friendly bloodhound girl was Shrum’s.

The microchip she carried underneath her skin revealed his contact information when Soule scanned her, a standard procedure for the PSO when encountering stray animals.

It also revealed her name — Ali-Bama.

Ali-Bama first had been spotted Dec. 11, 2014, outside of Ark City, and her picture was posted on CCHS’s Facebook page.

She then wandered onto the porch of a house within city limits, and the caring residents called the PSO, who picked her up, made that initial phone call and transported Ali-Bama to the shelter.

Once there, shelter employee Amber Wilson called Shrum to discuss what would happen next.

Shrum was overcome with joy and immediately agreed to drive to Kansas to pick up his long-lost bloodhound girl.

True to his word, Shrum, together with Frannie Law, left Kentucky on the following Friday night after work.

They took turns driving, stopping only for a few hours during the night to take a nap.

They arrived at the shelter after a 12-hour trip on a Saturday.

Shrum didn’t have to introduce himself when he walked through the shelter door — he was beaming from ear to ear, and shelter staff immediately knew who he was.

While filling out the necessary paperwork, Shrum told the staff how Ali-Bama had disappeared.

On that fateful day two years ago, he had been out of town on a job and entrusted the pup into the care of a friend. Upon his return, the friend tearfully broke the news to him that Ali-Bama was gone, possibly stolen.

Shrum had left no stone unturned to find his dog, but it was in vain — until now.

He couldn’t wait to see his dog again, and Ali-Bama pulled toward him as soon as she heard his voice on her way from the kennel.

After a joyful reunion, Ali-Bama walked out of the shelter door with Shrum and Law, and never looked back.

She finally was going home.

The reunion was caught on video, and can be viewed by going to YouTube and typing in “Cowley County Humane Society.”

Rescue Waggin' 12/09/2014

Eleven dogs got to go on a ride: six adults and five cute puppies. They went to Paducah, KY to spend the night at a shelter. They are going on to Michigan, where they are usually adopted within a week of arrival. It is so rewarding to help with walking an loading the dogs, even if it's at 4:30 a.m.!

The crew: Alice Shaffer, Albert Martinez, Kathy Wohlgemuth, Jessi Leeper, Lori Land, Teresa Harden, driver Rodney

Kathy and Suzie

Albert and Joco

Kathy and Jacob

Lori and Simone

Alice and Newt

Jessi and Docker

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Any animal lovers in your lives who already have everything? Don't know what to get them? We have a few suggestions!

- CCHS Shirts
We have hoodies, long-sleeved t-shirts, short-sleeved t-shirts and tank tops for a great price! Hoodies are $20, long ts $15, short ts and tank tops $10. Message us on Facebook or email us with the color you want and we'll order it. Many colors available--not just the ones pictured!

- Memorial Brick

If you would like something that lasts, consider a memorial brick for our memorial walk in front of the shelter. You can honor that special person or animal in your life. 

Red bricks with engraved name or message are $60 each, gold bricks $500.

- The Gift of Life

This gift is invaluable to the shelter animals, but only costs you $20. Buy an annual membership and help us save many lives and provide service for the 3,000 animals who come through our door every year. Receive a member magnet as a small token of our appreciation! Please click here to buy a membership  http://cowleycountyhumanesociety.org/Membership.html or ask us at the shelter. 

It's All About Hope!

Hope is wearing a t-shirt to protect her skin

Something bad had happened to the jet-black dog with the soft brown eyes. She was brought to the shelter by the Ark City Police Service Officer in October; her hair matted and full of stickers. The condition of her fur wasn't the worst of her problems though; the Labrador retriever mix also suffered from road rash and a broken hind leg. The dog had been hit by a car and needed help!

Shelter staff immediately took the dog in and named her Hope--hope is what they had for her. Hope was examined by Dr. Grimes, who was filling in at the shelter clinic while shelter vet Dr. Gatton was on vacation. Dr. Grimes determined that the broken leg had to be amputated. The surgery was successful, and Hope went home with staff member Amy Kopfer to recuperate and be fostered. 

The leg healed well, but after a few days at Amy's house, large patches of skin started coming off of Hope's side and leg. Alarmed, Amy took Hope to Dr. Grimes, who consulted with Dr. Swaim, a retired veterinary wound specialist living in Cowley County. Dr. Swaim thought the skin was dying, because Hope might have been burned by a muffler or dragged during the accident. The only solution was removing the dead skin, so new skin could grow, and both doctors went to work.   Dr. Swaim, Judy, Hope, and Dr. Grimes at Dr. Grimes' clinic Judy and Melvin Thomas had just lost their dog and were still mourning. When Dr. Grimes told Judy about Hope and that she needed a home, Judy replied that they weren't ready yet for a new companion. She did agree to visit Hope, just to prove her point. One look into Hope's soulful eyes was all it took for Judy to change her mind. This dog wasn't going anywhere but home with her! Judy's husband Melvin, an amputee himself, was only too thrilled to welcome the three-legged dog into their family. The Thomas' signed up for the Foster to Adopt Program, and Hope is now being loved and cared for at their home, until she is fully rehabilitated and ready for adoption.  Judy and Melvin Thomas with Hope Hope's skin is growing back, she's getting around well on three legs, and best of all, she has a new furever family who loves her dearly just the way she is. This family will look forward with Hope! New skin is growing back; Hope is healing well!

Hope's life was saved due to the collaboration between the PSO, shelter staff, Drs. Grimes and Swaim, the Thomas', and you--our donors. A huge thank you to all of you!