March 2010

Dear Customer,

Spay Day 2010 Benefit Concert Recap

On Friday, February 26th, The Humane Society hosted our first ever Spay Day Benefit Concert at The Elbow Room in Five Points, Columbia. It was a great success. Thanks go out to all our sponsors and everyone who came out in support of our cause! The event helped raise awareness about animal overpopulation and euthanasia rates in the Midlands. Mayor Coble made February 26th, 2010, the official Spay Day for the City of Columbia.

The Humane Society would like to thank the following artists, sponsors and media for making this event possible:

Kenley Young & The Open Fires

Todd Mathis

Mean Wiener

The Thirsties

Josh Roberts & Leslie Branham

Hosted by: Tyler Ryan, WXRY-FM

Free Times, WXRY-FM, Sid & Nancy, WIS-TV, The Elbow Room

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Annual Meeting

The Humane Society will hold our Annual Meeting on Monday, March 29th at the Columbia Museum of Art. We will recognize our key volunteers, community partners and generous donors! More details below:

Where: Columbia Museum of Art

1515 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Catering By: The Happy Cookers

RSVP: Reply by March 22nd to Katy Renfroe, Public Relations Director, at 803.783.1267 x17 or krenfroe@humanesc.org.

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

Please mark your calendars and plan to participate in The Humane Society's See Spot Run 5K & 1 K-9 Fun Walk, on Saturday, June 5th, 2010, at Riverfront Park in Downtown Columbia! The 5K race will start promptly at 8:00am, with the 1 K-9 Fun Walk shortly thereafter. We will have live entertainment, food and vendors until 12pm. Please visit www.humanesc.org for more information.

The Humane Society's Humane Education Program

The Humane Society offers Humane Education programs that can be delivered to your community or civic group. Programs are also available for classroom presentations to students in grades K-12. Humane Education Seminars discuss appropriate care for pets and other domestic animals. When appropriate, we can highlight some of the cruelty cases that The Humane Society has investigated.

If you have a group or school class that you would like us to visit, please contact Katy Renfroe, Public Relations Director, at 803.783.1267 x17 or via email at krenfroe@humanesc.org.

USC Informational Booth

Join The Humane Society on Tuesday, March 23rd from 11am-1pm on USC's Campus at The Russell House Student Union. We will be highlighting The Humane Society's programs and services, and students will also be able to make donations using their Carolina Card. Our Special Guest will be, Maggie, The Humane Society's rescued boxer mascot!

presents

Party Animals 2010!

Friday, March 19th at

The Clarion Townhouse Hotel

Live Concert featuring Edwin McCain with Special Guest Patrick Davis

Silent Auction
Blue Marlin Signature Catering
Open Bar

$100 per ticket OR $150 per two tickets.

Purchase them at animalmission.org, or call 803.776.PETS for more information!

The Humane Society's Humane Education Seminar

The Humane Society, along with Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center, will be hosting a humane education seminar! This seminar is FREE and open to the public.

Humane Society Investigator, Eddie O’Cain will speak on issues related to the humane treatment and care of animals. He will discuss proper pet care and highlight Humane Society programs and services offered to Midlands residents. Eddie will discuss some of his investigative efforts on behalf of abused or neglected animals.

Please join us on Monday, March 15th, from 3:30-5:00pm at the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center (located at 607 S. Broad Street in Camden) for this informational seminar!

Photo Contest--Ends March 4th!

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.

Please share your pet's photo and story, and help us make this the most successful Spay Day yet! The contest began 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!

Ten Most Common Pet Poisons of 2009

Supplied by the ASPCA

Is your pooch mad for people food? Does your kitty like to self-medicate? Sadly, not everything we love is good for us. In fact, many common household goods that we take for granted as harmless can poison our furry friends. In 2009, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic household substances, including insecticides, cleaning supplies and prescription medications.

To help you keep your pet safe and sound in 2010, our experts have created a list of the 10 common poisons that most affected our furry friends last year. Here’s a sneak peek at their advice:

Top dishonors—once again—go to human medications, which accounted for the most calls to the ASPCA’s 24-hour poison control hotline in 2009. Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up meds accidentally dropped on the floor. Remember to keep all medications, including pain remedies, antidepressants and decongestants, in a cabinet far away from pets’ prying paws.
Cats and dogs are often the unwitting victims of our efforts to battle flea infestations. The misapplication of spot-on flea and tick products can be especially problematic for our feline friends. Talk to your vet about choosing the right, species-specific flea treatment for your pet and never use products made for dogs on cats, and vice versa.
Some of the most delicious people food—including citrus, avocado and raisins—can be poisonous to pets. Chocolate ingestion accounted for nearly half of all people food-related cases in 2009, so be sure to keep cocoa hidden from your resourceful cat or dog.
Pet parents also need to remember to protect their cats and dogs from common household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants. These products, when inhaled by our furry friends, can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.
Household plants may keep your house green and your air clean, but some can cause serious gastrointestinal problems for companion animals who nibble on them. Check out our toxic plant list before your next visit to the nursery.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. To read our complete list of the 10 most common pet poisons of 2009, visit APCC online.