Fundraiser Night
The Humane Society has started a new fundraiser this year!  Each month, we will be going to a different area restaurant, and 10% of your meal cost will go back to us as a donation, so bring all of your friends and neighbors!  Here's the details for January:

When:  Monday, January 11, 2010
Time:  6-9pm
Where:  Mellow Mushroom
1009 Gervais St., Downtown Columbia in the Vista
Benefit:  Tell your server you’re eating there on our behalf, and 10% of your meal cost will come back to us  as a donation!

Thank You!
Thanks to all of the animal rescue groups and volunteers that helped out with our Dog Caroling in December!  It was a HUGE success!
Animal Protection League
City of Columbia Animal Shelter
Wescott Acres Pet Rescue

See Spot Run 5K & 1 K-9 Fun Walk/Run

Please mark your calendars to participate in The Humane Society's brand new annual fundraiser, See Spot Run 5K & 1K-9 Fun Walk, on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 at Riverfront Park in Downtown Columbia! This is a USA Track & Field Certified event by Strictly Running. More details to come!

Humane Society Swag
Check out our BRAND NEW t-shirts designed by Image Ink!  We're also selling our "Get Humane" branded items for a discounted price!
T-shirts...................................$15
Reusable Bags.........................$1
Cups......................................$0.50
Window Clings..................$0.50

Happy New Year 2010!

Swine Flu Infects House Cat—Are Your Pets Safe?

Ever since the news broke earlier this month that an American cat caught the swine flu, rumors about how pets can catch this disease have been spreading—but we're here to set the record straight!
"On November 2, test results confirmed that a pet cat in Iowa was infected by the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, which was most likely transmitted by human family members," reports Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA. "All family members, including the cat, have now recovered. In unrelated incidents in other states, a few pet ferrets also recently tested positive for H1N1, and one of them has died.” Although we already knew that infected humans could transmit H1N1 to both pigs and turkeys, these are the first reported cases of the virus affecting cats and ferrets.
According to Dr. Murray, there are no known instances of a dog catching H1N1 (but remember, it is flu season, and your dogs are still susceptible to catching other flu bugs). In addition, there is currently no evidence that H1N1 can be passed from pet to human—it seems to be going only the other way, with people transmitting the illness to their pets.
A little common sense will go a long way in decreasing the likelihood of passing the illness on to your pets. If members of your household are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, the ASPCA recommends protecting your pets by:

• washing hands thoroughly,
• covering coughs and sneezes and
• avoiding close contact with pets during the course of the illness.

In fact, if you’re sick, it’s a good idea to give your pets a place other than your bedroom to sleep at night until you get better.
If any pet displays symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing—especially if a human family member has recently suffered from influenza—please contact your veterinarian.

Photo Contest!

The Humane Society of the United States is hosting their annual photo contest again this year! The contest provides you with an opportunity to celebrate your pet(s), win great prizes and raise critical funds for spay/neuter. Each year, funds raised from the contest allow thousands more spays and neuters to be performed across the globe!
Please share your pet's photo and story, and help us make this the most successful Spay Day yet! The contest starts January 20th and ends March 4th. Visit www.humanesociety.org/photocontest to enter. Your entry will help The Humane Society here in Columbia get donations for our Spay/Neuter Clinic!