EHS bazaar is this Sunday!

Our bazaar is shaping up to be quite the event! We have about 50 vendors coming out to sell their wares, and some Paws in the Park teams will have booths to raise money for their efforts. Stop by from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see what we have to offer.

Here's the skinny:

What: Escondido Humane Society bazaar

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1

Where: Escondido Humane Society, 3450 E. Valley Parkway

Who: Various vendors will be selling at the event, and a variety of items will be available, including books, clothes, jewelry and, of course, items for pets. Everyone is welcome to stop by and see what the bazaar has to offer!

Why: Some Paws in the Park teams will have booths to raise money for their efforts. All money raised for and at Paws in the Park will help brighten the lives of animals awaiting a home at the Escondido Humane Society.

We hope to see you Sunday!

Spay Day USA

Today is Spay Day USA, a national day of action to promote the spaying or neutering of pets. Spay Day USA takes place each year on the last Tuesday of February.

Why spaying and neutering is so important

According to the Spay Neuter Action Project (www.snap-sandiego.org), one cat or dog who has puppies and kittens, and whose puppies or kittens in turn have puppies or kittens of their own, can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in one year! The numbers are even greater with rabbits, who can produce up to 12 litters each year (that's one litter every 30 days!).

Why spay and neuter

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, spaying and neutering:

Helps to reduce companion animal overpopulation.

Will increase your dog’s or cat’s chances of a longer and healthier life.

Will make your cat/dog a better pet, reducing his/her urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt as they roam. Surveys indicate that as many as 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered. Intact male cats living outside have been shown to live on average less than two years. Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome is spread by bites and intact cats fight a great deal more than altered cats.

Foster families needed!

The Escondido Humane Society is currently recruiting foster families to join our lifesaving program. Our foster families provide life-changing support for our special needs animals, such as Annie (pictured here), one of our current foster dogs. Our program places especially young, frightened, undersocialized, or special medical needs animals into short-term homes to receive individualized extra care until they are ready for adoption. We provide the veterinary care, behavioral support, foster training, and anything else our animal may need – you provide the safe, caring home environment. Foster care is a great opportunity for people who want to help, but don't have the time to spend at the shelter.

Foster care is more than just a responsibility. It’s a promise that the animal will never be hungry or cold again, and that it will always be taken care of. It’s seeing an animal heal emotionally and physically and watching them become the animal they should be. Although it can be hard when they find their forever homes, there is no better feeling than knowing you made the happy ending possible.

If you are interested in joining our foster care program, e-mail foster@escondidohumanesociety.org.

Escondido Humane Society featured pets

This week's featured pets are Clarke, Sara and Natasha. Last week's pets are still looking for good homes, so be sure to scroll down to meet them as well.

Clarke

Hi, I'm Clarke, and I am one big bundle of love and fun wrapped into one! I am just oozing with personality, and I never cease to make the volunteers and staff here laugh at my goofy antics. I love everyone I meet, human and dogs alike, and will smother you with kisses if given the chance. I do well on the leash and am very attentive to what my people want from me. I know sit (you have to ask me only once) and am very smart, so I bet I could learn some new tricks. I also love to play, especially with a ball or rope! All in all, I think I am the perfect companion. Stop by soon so I can show you why!

Sara

Sara is a domestic short hair cross who has been waiting for her forever home for almost a year. Sara is an energetic, youthful 6-year-old who loves to play. She would do best in a cat-savvy, quiet home, and she would prefer not to share her home with dogs or other cats. Sara is an individual and is definitely in touch with her inner lioness.

Natasha

Natasha is a very pretty white and brown girl, about 1 year old. Look at those markings - as if she stuck her nose in the gingerbread dough! Natasha likes being petted, and playing in the exercise pen in a paper bag tunnel. She has been spayed and is ready to bring joy to your home. Hop on in and meet Natasha and her fellow roomies.

Valentine's Day at the Escondido Humane Society

Stop by the Escondido Humane Society on Valentine's Day and experience the unconditional love that comes with adopting a homeless animal waiting to find its forever home! They say love comes in all shapes and sizes, so you are sure to find your perfect match.

This special holiday will be busy for us because we are having two adoption outreaches, an adoption special, and some of our adoptable dogs will be featured at the Cupids and Canines adoption event. Here's the skinny on the day's happenings:

Adoption special:

Love and chocolate go hand in hand with Valentine's Day, so we are combining the two for this special. On Saturday only, all animals older than 6 months with any chocolate brown coloring will be available for half off their regular adoption fee!

Kahoots and PetSmart adoption outreaches:

Our adoption outreaches are the perfect opportunity to meet our adoptable dogs away from the shelter. Stop by Kahoots, 334 W. El Norte Parkway, and PetSmart, 415 N. Escondido Blvd., this Saturday to meet your perfect match. We also will be at PetSmart on Feb. 13 and 15.

Cupids and Canines:

Some of our adoptable dogs will be part of the San Diego Animal Support Foundation's annual dog adoption event. Every dog adopted will receive a large goodie bag full of free gifts, services and treats to make the transition into a new home as pleasant as possible.

Escondido Humane Society featured pets

This week's featured pets are Wesley, Sage and Rain. Last week's pets are still looking for good homes, so be sure to scroll down to meet them as well.

Wesley

I'm Wesley, and as you can see from my picture, I am just a goofy pooch who likes to smile and have fun. I absolutely love to play and act silly. I really enjoy playing rope and being outside. I'm not super cuddly all the time, but I have been known to snuggle after a long walk and play time. I am eager to please and listen well, so all you need to do is show me what you want and I will get it quickly. I would love to learn some new tricks and maybe take a training class so I can hone my skills.

Sage

Sage is a 2-year-old shorthair cross who has been patiently waiting for her new home since July 2007. Sage is really affectionate and is the ultimate lap cat once she gets to know you. She also is playful and very sweet. She might be OK with other cats as long as they arent too rambunctious. Sage would do best with people who are cat-savvy, and she would prefer to be in a family with older children because she appreciates a quieter home.

Rain

Rain is white with very pretty brown spots and beautiful blue eyes. She is about a year old and spayed. She is fairly small and should do well in a quiet home with gentle children and other gentle pets.

Bazaar rescheduled

In a previous post, I said we would be having our bazaar on Feb. 22. Well, that date just wasn't meant to be because that is the same day Lance Armstrong and his fellow bicyclists will be going by EHS in the AMGEN Tour of California. Long story short, the bike race will require some of the roads around us to be closed for part of the day, so it just made more sense to reschedule. Here is what you need to know about the bazaar:

What: Escondido Humane Society bazaar. If you love treasure hunting, this is your opportunity to check out fabulous finds galore! There will be a lot of things to choose from, including books, clothes, home decor and, of course, items for you pets!
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1
Where: Escondido Humane Society, 3450 E. Valley Parkway
Who: Everyone is welcome! All Paws in the Park participants and teams are invited to host a booth (at no cost to them!) to help raise money for their efforts.
Contact: Call Dorothea at (760) 751-4129 or e-mail Boughdadly@aol.com for an application if you would like to sell at the event.