M A R C H  2 0 1 7
SPRING.The weather is warming, the earth is bursting with life, and our animal friends are venturing into the sun in search of LOVE. What better time of year than now to discuss the many benefits of 'fixing' our fertile four-legged friends? Humane societies, shelters, and other responsible animal agencies have been urging us to spay or neuter our pets for decades, yet in the U.S. alone, 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters every year. The message cannot be overstated: it is imperative that we spay and neuter our companion animals to keep the unwanted animal population down. Spaying and neutering your cat or dog has benefits beyond just limiting overpopulation. Animals that have had early surgery generally make better household pets. They are less likely to roam or fight to establish their territories. They have a significantly reduced risk of diseases of the reproductive system and enjoy longer, healthier lives. In Amador County, as in most shelters nationwide, all adoptable pets are spayed or neutered before going to their new homes. A-PAL Humane Society offers several free or low-cost spay/neuter programs for people with limited incomes, three of which are listed below. It is easier than ever to get this crucial surgery, so don't  leave it to luck. Make an appointment with your vet today.
CALENDAR of EVENTS
2017
JANUARY 
ADOPT a WORKOUT
PARTNER

FEBRUARY
ADOPT 'THE ONE'
 
MARCH
SPAY and NEUTER AWARENESS

TCWC WILDLIFE WORKSHOP
Friday the 24th
at the Feed Barn
 
APRIL
TRAP/NEUTER/RELEASE

BIRD REHABILITATION
Saturday the 1st
at the Paws Center

BIRD REHABILITATION
Saturday the 8th
at the Paws Center

MAY
Find your MISSING PET

WHISKERS & WINE 
Friday the 19th at  Jackson Rancheria

JUNE  
FELINE FRENZY
  
JULY 
ADOPT a SENIOR PET

AUGUST
$9 for 9 LIVES for 9 DAYS

SEPTEMBER 
ADOPT your MVP

PAWS & CLAWS (TCWC)
at American Legion Hall

BARK in the PARK 
Saturday the 30th at Detert Park, Jackson

OCTOBER  
ORANGE & BLACK
All Treats, no Tricks
NOVEMBER  
GIVING THANKS 
Animals and their people

DECEMBER  
Bring JOY to your WORLD

SANTA PAWS
Saturday the 2nd
at the Feed Barn
LINKS
Still not convinced? Visit these sites for more.
SNAP
PET MULTIPLICATION TABLE


APAL: Spay/Neuter programs
FREE DOG & CAT SPAY/NEUTER FOR Medi-Cal recipients
Call a participating veterinarian and inform them that you wish to participate in this program. You will need to show proof of eligibility and pay for any additional services you require.Contact your Eligibility Worker or Social Services at 209.223.6550 to obtain proof of eligibility. Limit: 2 per household.

SPAY/NEUTER CERTIFICATE for Amador County residents who need financial assistance to spay or neuter their cat or dog at a local veterinarian for a reduced price. A hard copy of the certificate may be obtained at ACAC & AC or the Feed Barn. Give the completed certificate to the veterinarian of your choice at the time of surgery.

FREE PITBULL SPAY OR NEUTER for Amador County residents. Limit: 2 per household. Call Corey and April at 209.283.9270 for details, or email [email protected].
ACAC & AC reduced adoption fees
Amador County Animal Control and Adoption Center offers a "Senior for Seniors" adoption program. If the adopter is 65 or older and the animal is 5 or older, a one-time half price adoption can be done. This means a dog adoption would cost $42 (down from $85) and a cat adoption $20 (down from $50). In addition to the Senior for Seniors program, all dogs and cats that have been available for adoption more than 15 days also qualify for the same half price adoption fee. This program is aimed at increasing adoptions for the shelter's long-term animal residents. Human residents of Amador County who adopt a dog are required to purchase a dog license at the time of adoption. 
MERLOT: A life well-lived


MERLOT, a harlequin Great Dane, landed in our shelter unwanted, underweight, and heartworm-positive. ACAC & AC's rescue coordinator arranged for her to go to the East Bay SPCA, where she could get the heartworm treatment she needed. Luckily for her, she was ultimately adopted by East Bay SPCA's President and CEO, Allison Lundquist. Allison stayed in touch with us, and always expressed gratitude for the opportunity to add Merlot to her family. Last year, "Merlie Mae" (she was too silly, said Allison, to be a Merlot) contributed her considerable talent to get out the SPAY/NEUTER message in a wildly successful video,  "OAKTOWN PUP", and we share it once again here. There's Merlie, loping the halls of the East Bay SPCA in her breakout role.

We are saddened to report that Merlie Mae, beloved Lundquist family member, died last month at the age of nine. Nine is a ripe old age for a Dane, but Allison and family would have loved to keep her around a little longer. There are some heavy hearts in the East Bay, and now, several more in Amador County. We offer our condolences to Merlie's loved ones. Now, somewhere, she is among the real stars.

IF YOU HAVE A GREAT ADOPTION STORY FROM OUR SHELTER,
we'd love to hear from you. Send your story, with photos if you have them, to Lisa Peterson.




Poor PUMPKIN. No...wait... : )




This is Pumpkin, a member of the first class of Canine Good Citizens to graduate from the Paws for Life program at Mule Creek State Prison. Looks like she is settling right in to her new forever home. The next class is already in training and set to graduate in April. Margaret Blair, of Twin Cedar K-9 and Second Chance Dog Rescue, is now adding her considerable talent to the program.Thanks, Karma Rescue, Paws for Life, and Marge. Go, prisoners and pups!
RED ALERT! Thinking of becoming a VOLUNTEER?
The need for volunteers  at Amador County Animal Control & Adoption Center has reached a critical level. I f you think you'd like to join our ranks, please, drop by to the shelter at 12340 Airport Road in Martell and request a volunteer application. We desperately need dog walkers, but anything you are able to do will help immensely. You can review  the  APPLICATION for VOLUNTEER WORKER   here, but you will need to fill out an original pink copy, available from the shelter.  
Help us build our BARN
PHASE 2 of the original building plan for ACAC & AC's new facility called for a barn. That project has stayed on the shelf since the shelter was completed (in 2005), until a recent endowment from the estate of a local and generous animal benefactor got things moving again. Look for an article in an upcoming Newsletter on the past, present, and future of this project, plus details on how you can help get our barn built.