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Volunteer orientation Saturday

Hello Sonoma!  

  Thanks to all who supported me as I rode for the animals last weekend in the Echelon Gran Fondo. OK, so I only rode the mini fondo, but what a blast I had. The event raised more than $2,200 for the shelter and my sweet little vintage 1962 Schwinn carried me effortlessly to the Fremont Diner and back. It was great to be in the company of Linda Kelly and family and Cristine Morris from the City of Sonoma and Toni Castrone from the Sonoma Community Center all peddling for our respective charities. I love this town. What a great feeling it was to be part of more than 1,000 riders cruising down Napa Street and back up Eighth Street East, right past the shelter.

  I was home by 11 a.m. to take care of my foster kitty, Barnaby. A sweet orange and white tabby found all by himself near the amphitheatre in the Plaza. I have had him for about three weeks now and there are many more who are in need of foster homes.  It is such a rewarding experience to help a little fragile thing on its path to a healthy happy life. As I am sure you read in the wonderful article Emily Charrier-Botts did on fostering in Tuesday’s paper, we have a volunteer orientation tomorrow, Saturday May 19, at 9:30 a.m. followed by a foster orientation at 10:15 a.m. If you are interested, please go to our website right now and fill out a volunteer application. I look forward to seeing you there.

  In addition to foster opportunities, we are also looking for folks to fill a new volunteer position of shelter guide. A shelter guide orientation will also follow the general orientation at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 19. We are introducing an Open Paw socialization philosophy here at Pets Lifeline to create a calmer environment and hopefully less stressful place for the animals, especially the dogs. In order to make this truly effective, we need shelter guides to escort an increase in visitors and groups through the kennel area to distribute treats to the dogs. The end result is the dogs form a positive association with a variety of passersby.

  It really works. Just in the short time we have been trying it, the barking levels have reduced and the kennel stress of some of our smaller and longer term dogs is subsiding slightly. This is huge as these wonderful pooches can become more adoptable for all kinds of people having been exposed to different situations right here at the shelter.

  More on that later.  Mark your calendars for July 28 where we will have a one-of-a-kind event in the City of Sonoma. Pets Lifeline will have a Pooch Promenade starting at Depot Park and parading around the historic Plaza with fun dog contest in front of City Hall with a panel of celebrity judges. Then it’s back to Depot Park for contest results and doggone day of fun at the Bark in the Park. It’s a can’t miss canine celebration.

With a wag and a woof, ciao for now.