Humane Society shared an educational presentation with the Camp Verde chapter of Girls on the Run, an organization that empowers young girls, on Tuesday, May 2.
The girls brought donations for the shelter and learned how the humane society operates.
Christine Heinze, a medical behavioral specialist at VVHS, explained that some animals aren’t friendly because they are frightened and showed off two feisty chihuahuas as an example. The two dogs have been in the habit of biting because they were scared of people, but have begun to bite less after working with Heinze.
Heinze’s job also involves figuring out which animals a family should adopt and ruling out those incompatible with children. She encouraged the girls to take good care of their animals so they don’t end up at the shelter.
Executive Director Brenda Redel asked the girls what they thought a shelter was, prompting many to share their experiences with their own pets. Some of the more interesting animals that have arrived at the shelter have included a blind duck and a desert tortoise, the latter of which was lost and was eventually reunited with its owner.
As animals are property, Redel reminded her audience that an owner is responsible for their pet if it is lost and that they should behave responsibly regardless of their legal responsibilities. If an animal does become lost, the first place to check is the local shelter.
Redel also explained how adoption fees fund spaying and neutering, vaccinations and other medical care prior to adoption.
VVHS’s dog kennels have been at capacity for many months now. One dog, Sheba, was being held in the break room with the girls for lack of space. Large dogs are a harder sell for most potential adopters; more than a dozen dogs have been at the shelter for over six months and some even longer. However, they did recently adopt out a three legged dog that had been at the shelter for over a year.
During a tour of the facility, Redel explained that the barking was triggered by the dogs’ expectations of receiving food or a walk. She suggested that the girls try to imagine being in a kennel most of the time.
VVHS is always looking for volunteers ages 12 and up (with parent/guardian) as well as fosters to bottle-feed kittens, which need to be fed every two hours.
“I feel blessed to be here with the animals,” Redel said.
