VHS Blog

Pets in Media

May 01, 2019

Nearly everything we do is influenced in some way by media and pop culture. It's just the world we live in. Animal welfare is no exception. Have you ever paid attention to the nuances and messages being portrayed in media regarding animals? If not, listen a little closer next time. Good or bad, there are certainly some clear stereotypes out there!Issue: The Dog Catcher/Animal Shelter StereotypeYou're already picturing it, aren't you? Chance with his porcupine quill-covered face in Ho...

Dreaming of an Easter Bunny? Adopt, Don't Buy!

Apr 02, 2019

THE EASTER BUNNY PROBLEMEvery year around this time, the commercial world slaps pictures of beautiful tiny baby bunnies all over everything. Pictures with the Easter bunny, Easter egg hunts with live bunny meet & greets, and so on. And you can almost hear the children all together in a chorus: "Mommy, can I have a bunny?"Resist the temptation to buy them a baby bunny from a store* just to make them happy. This is the perfect teachable moment for your kids on responsible pet ownersh...

The No-Kill Myth

Jan 04, 2019

It's one of the first things people notice about an animal shelter or rescue organization these days. Some people even ask us outright. "Are you no-kill?" "Are you a kill shelter?"The answer to both of those questions is no. Here's why."No-kill" is nothing more than a marketing term designed to present an emotional appeal to the public. What it actually does is far more damaging. You've probably seen the Facebook posts with trendy terms like "k...

Hoarding: The Problem With: "If Only I Had a Big Farm..."

Jul 31, 2018

One of the phrases we hear most often in sheltering is "If only I had a big farm..." followed by something like, "I'd take them all home," "I'd start my own rescue," "I'd be a crazy dog lady," etc.As lighthearted as the intent is, what they actually mean is... "If only I could be a hoarder." That's the underlying message that can lie behind innocent statements about wanting to help as many animals as possible. Of course most ...

The "Emotional Support" Blog

Jun 29, 2018

Emotional support animals are all the rage right now. It seems as though everyone has one. But technically... there's really no such thing.First, let's distinguish the difference between an "emotional support animal" and a service animal.Service DogsAccording to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, actual service dogs must be trained to perform a task. And yes, they can only be dogs -- no other species are currently protected under the ADA as service animals (exce...

Advice Regarding Lost and Found Pets

Jun 20, 2017

The staff at the VHS receive many calls each day regarding people finding an animal or losing their beloved pet. We want to help as many owners and pets as possible get reunited. The following is some advice that we regularly issue to our callers to assist them in doing all they can do to help a lost or found pet get returned to their family safely.Accidents happen but PLEASE REMEMBER that prevention is the best way to avoid the heartache of losing a fuzzy family member.Keep up to date tags on y...