VHS Blog

Are Black Cats Really Less Adoptable?

Oct 01, 2018

There used to be a stigma that black cats were bad luck. Then, for many years the animal welfare community has spread the message that black cats are "less adoptable" than other cats and more at risk of euthanasia than other colors. But is that really true? Recent research suggests, no!Are they less desirable, or simply more common?Part of this belief may come from the fact that there simply more black cats than any other color. The gene for black fur color is one of two dominant ...

How To Afford Your Vet Bills

Aug 30, 2018

Part of pet ownership is providing veterinary care, just as part of parenthood is providing medical care for your kids. Vet care used to be exclusively paid for out of pocket, and often at a hefty price, with little to no options for those larger vet bills. But this is 2018! There are lots of options to help pay for vet care! All of us who have loved a pet have probably experienced a big vet bill at some point or another, whether for a broken leg, UTI, getting into something poisonous, or even j...

The No-Kill Myth

Aug 19, 2018

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...

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...