Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Michigan Animal Shelter Launches Pet Behavior Help Line

Cat and Dog owners can use help line
 to get tips for helping family pets


Earlier this month, the Dearborn Animal Shelter launched a new pet behavior help line 313-355-7553, along with corresponding email addresses, HelpMyCat@DearbornAnimals.org and HelpMyDog@DearbornAnimals.org.

The  purpose of the new outreach service is to give pet owners in the community a place to get some guidance for minor behavioral issues with their furry family members.

According to Elaine Greene, Executive Director, Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, “Having behavioral issues is one of the leading manageable reasons we find people surrendering their pet to the Shelter. There are unavoidable reasons of course, like a relocation where pets are not allowed, sickness in the family or loss of employment, but behavior issues, if given proper guidance, can often be corrected. Greene continued, Sometimes people ask friends or family members, but are not sure where to turn for professional advice or are not able to afford training courses. Our goal is to give them some help, an option to connect with one of our team members who are skilled in offering cat and dog advice”.  

In preparation for the new help line, Dearborn Animal Shelter staff members were trained through a grant program made possible by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).  This program focuses on cat behavior issues; as many pet owners understand that there are dog training options available to them; but are not as familiar with finding cat behavior advice.  Once the Dearborn Animal Shelter staff members completed their training, they decided to extend the help line to dog owners as well, as they felt this service was important for dog family members too.

Linda Thomas, Certified Professional Dog Trainer for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, will oversee the new help line service.  Thomas has completed the HSUS training and many other certifications in her role for the organization.  The help line is free to callers and open to those who have pet family members.  Recent Shelter adopters with any pet behavior issues are encouraged to continue their correspondence directly with their adoption counselors and not use this help line service.

The information can be found on the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s website under the Contact Us section. The following is a direct link to the Help line information on the site: https://www.dearbornanimals.org/contact/pet-behavior-helpline/

Learn more about adoption, training, events, volunteering or donating online at www.DearbornAnimals.orgThe Dearborn Animal Shelter is located at 2661 Greenfield Road, Dearborn, and is operated by the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, a 501C3 nonprofit organization. 
Main phone (313) 943-2697 you can also follow the Shelter on Facebook or Twitter.

26 comments:

  1. Glad that this is for kitties as well as the dogs. We sure hope it solves a lot of issues so furs don't have to be taken back to shelters.

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  2. This is such a great idea! We love hearing all of the innovative ways that shelters are helping pets stay in their homes rather than end up surrendered.

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  3. I just love that they're doing this! I hope more and more shelters take note of this truly wonderful idea. No animal should have to be put through being surrendered at a shelter for a behavioral issue that could easily be managed with just a little help and knowledge. Thank you for sharing this wonderful news!

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  4. That is a wonderful idea and will hopefully save many pets from being surrendered.

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  5. This is great, thanks for sharing!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  6. People do need advice on animal behavior; how cool is this!

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  7. Your area is rocking where our four legged friends are concerned. I hope the rest of the world takes heed.

    Have a purrfect day Cody. My best to your wonderful mom. ♥♥♥

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  8. Dang, they got humans answering the phone!

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  9. This is really cool! I'm glad that our area is finally starting to reach out and help pet owners. This gives people a place to get some real advice that might work instead of just asking their neighbor.

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  10. This is really great - not everyone is able to handle behavior issues so this really will help keep adoptees in their homes and not back to the shelter!

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  11. This is such a great idea! If only more shelters could do this as well!

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  12. That is so wonderful!!! Help is only just a phone call away!

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  13. That's awesome! We bet this will help lots of forever homes to stay forever!

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  14. Fantastic idea. Pets are much more likely to stay in their home if owners know what normal behaviors are and how to properly deal with unwanted behaviors.

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  15. That is such a great idea! We are certain many people who may be feeling overwhelmed will profit from this service! :)

    the critters in the cottage xo

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  16. What a fantastic program!!! I hope that many people will take advantage of this wonderful resource and that it helps save countless cats and dogs from being returned to the shelters.

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  17. I really love what Indulged Furries said. I agree 100%!

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  18. What a great idea! We hope more shelters do this!

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  19. That is a real good idea.
    Bonne soirée
    Nat à Chat

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  20. Sounds like a great resource! Sorry to be late in getting back to you - Mom was sick with vertigo from a sinus issue for days.

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  21. This is a wonderful resource for those who need help with their pets!
    Thanks Caren and Cody!

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  22. What a great idea! We hope this helps a lot of kitties.

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