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Prison Pups

Growth, unconditional love, patience, responsibility…these are just four of the countless benefits of the Prison Pups Program. In September of 2002, four pups entered the California Institution for Women in Chino, California, to begin a training program designed to rehabilitate inmates and train dogs to be used as service dogs for people with disabilities. The program was started by Canine Support Teams, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing people with disabilities with service dogs to gain their independence. 85% of the dogs placed into homes from Canine Support Teams were trained with the Prison Pups Program. The program has been so successful that currently 57 inmate handlers and 20 dogs are in training. Puppy training courses are held at the facility each week by Training Supervisor, Janette Thomas, to prepare the dogs and their handlers for their final testing to become a service dog. The dogs learn beginning commands, such as sit and stay, all the way to advanced commands like turning off a light switch or pulling off their owner’s socks.

The majority of the dogs in the Prison Pups Program come from a special breeding program or from private breeders, except for one special dog. Wagner is a Labrador retriever that came to OC Animal Care as a stray. Although he was underweight and in need of a bath, there was something special about him that caught the eye of Janette Thomas. Once Thomas worked with him for a few minutes she could see great potential in him to become a service dog some day. After six short weeks in the program, Wagner has gained a healthy amount of weight and most importantly, he is excelling in the program. He is on his way to becoming the perfect service dog for someone with disabilities.

Wagner was not the only dog from OC Animal Care to receive special training through Canine Support Teams. After the wonderful success of the program at the California Institution for Women, a similar program was extended to the Youth Correctional Facility (YCF) in Chino, California. Trixie, Boscoe, Sparky and Cocoa were all awaiting forever homes at OC Animal Care. With so many dogs available for adoption everyday at OCAC, these four dynamic dogs had been overlooked. Thanks to the help of Thomas and OCAC staff, the four dogs were selected for the Prison Pups Program. Before entering the program the dogs had little to no training, as well as various behavioral issues.

The dogs would be the pilot group for the program at the Youth Correctional Facility. The handlers for the program were selected from the 700 inmates at the facility ages 18 to 25 for good behavior. The handlers must continue their good behavior to remain in the program. Prior to meeting the dogs, the handlers went through three months of training with training dogs from Canine Support Teams. While in the program, the dogs have learned basic training commands to improve their adoptability when they return to OCAC to find their forever homes.

In just six short weeks, the dogs have already left their mark on the hearts of their handlers. Most of the handlers in the program had previously viewed dogs as a backyard animal. However, after joining the Prison Pups Program they have experienced a change of heart and now view their canine companion as a friend. One handler stated, “I was surprised by how much I learned from Trixie, I love her.” Another handler shared how he was apprehensive to work with the dogs after being attacked by a dog as a child. Shortly after meeting Sparky he began to gain confidence working with dogs and now hopes to adopt Sparky once he is eligible for parole. The dogs will return to OCAC in March to be put up for adoption in hopes of finding a forever home. In their short time in the program these pups have already left a mark on their inmate handlers and have received invaluable training.

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Meet the Pups

	Name: Wagner Age: 3 years Breed: Labrador retriever mix Wagner arrived at OCAC as a stray, but has proven himself as having great potential as he excels in the program to become a service dog for someone with disabilities. Wagner has made OCAC very proud!
	Name: Trixie Age: 4 years Breed: German shepherd and Doberman pinscher mix Trixie is an energetic girl who came to OCAC in need of an exercise plan. She has trimmed down and is well on her way to completing the training program.
	Name: Cocoa Age: 6 years Breed: Cocker spaniel mix Cocoa was a stray at OCAC with cataracts in her eye. Canine Support Teams is hoping to find a vet to donate the treatment for her eye so she will be good as new.
	Name: Sparky Age: 1 year Breed: Border terrier mix Sparky was adopted from OCAC but returned for behavioral issues. After a few weeks in the program he is a changed dog. He has calmed down and is eager to learn new tricks.
	Name: Boscoe Age: 10 months Breed: Austalian shepherd mix Boscoe came to OCAC as a stray from Fullerton. He was a big puppy with little training. Boscoe shows off for the camera how he learned to shake, as well as many other commands.

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Adopt-a-Pet

	Name: Boomer ID: A0861018 Age: 8 years Breed: Cocker spaniel Boomer is a gentle boy, would be a faithful friend.
	Name: TJ ID: A085459 Age: 3 years Breed: Domestic medium hair TJ is a mellow boy and he loves to lounge in the sun.
	Name: Sweetheart ID: A0856934 Age: 3 years Breed: Shorthair rabbit This sweet and loving girl is a voluneer favorite.
	Name: Oreo ID: A0557009 Age: 5 years Breed: Labrador retriever mix Oreo is friendly, he enjoys other dogs and children.
	Name: Twiggy ID: A0863555 Age: 3 years Breed: Domestic short hair Twiggy’s owner passed away so she is ready for a new home.
	Name: Bonnie ID: A0852922 Age: 3 years Breed: French-lop rabbit Bonnie is patiently waiting for a home and is a real sweetie.

Orange County OC Animal Care makes every effort to promote all of the wonderful animals we have available for adoption. At the time of publication, these animals were in need of lovling homes. All adopted animals are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped prior to leaving the shelter. If you are interested in adopting a pet, please visit us online at ocpetinfo.com, or simply come down to the shelter!

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Cathy's Corner

Is your cat shredding your furniture, making you consider getting him declawed?

Claws have many important functions in the life of a cat. Declawing is permanent, expensive, and may negatively affect your cat’s behavior. Here are some alternatives to getting your cat declawed:

• Invest in a sturdy scratching post sprinkled occasionally with catnip.

• When your cat begins to scratch on a piece of furniture, give him a firm warning such as “No, Kitty!” and then give him a quick squirt from a squirt bottle filled with water.

• If accustomed to the procedure, cats will tolerate having the curved part of their claws clipped regularly.

• Cover his favorite furniture scratching areas with either one or a combination of: aluminum foil and a loosely woven fabric.

• There are products which provide nail caps that are temporarily attached to the cat’s nails and replaced as needed.

It’s natural for a cat to scratch, but with a little human effort, you can direct that energy so that you, your cat, and your furniture can live comfortably together.

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Strike a Pose!

During the month of December, OC Animal Care (OCAC) brought holiday cheer to thecommunity by participating in pet photos with Santa through a partnership with PetSmart. Families lined up outside of PetSmart Aliso Viejo, Brea, and Fullerton with their pets dressed for the holiday season to visit with old St. Nick. From dogs to cats to reptiles, animals of all shapes and sizes were eager to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Some familes even used the photos as their family Christmas card to send to friends. Five dollars from each photo was donated to the animals of OCAC. More than 380 photos were taken, raising nearly 2,000 dollars. Thank you to the 25 OCAC volunteers who assisted with the photos, to PetSmart for hosting the photos with Santa, and to all of the families who contributed to the animals of OCAC by having their pets photo taken.

These pets smile for the camera!

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Operation Santa Paws

At OC Animal Care (OCAC), many of the animals had wishes for Christmas: jerky strips, a ball, a warm blanket. On Saturday, December 22nd, many of those Christmas wishes came true thanks to Operation Santa Paws and the efforts of many dedicated staff and volunteers. Operation Santa Paws is a non-profit organization established to organize collection drives for the animals at shelters during the holiday season. A group of 25 Santa Paws volunteers visited OCAC as well as four other animal shelters in the Orange County and Los Angeles area. OCAC staff and 13 eager OCAC volunteers greeted Operation Santa Paws to assist them with providing supplies to the animals.

 Some of the donated supplies included blankets, towels, treats, toys, cleaning supplies, pet shampoo, beds, gift cards to pet supply stores, and monetary donations. The volunteers spent time handing out treats and toys, and visiting with the adoptable animals. Many of the volunteers felt they had made a positive impact on the animals and were thankful to have had a great experience at OCAC. Thank you to all of the families who donated supplies to make the animals of OCAC’ Christmas wishes come true!

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Friends Reunited

Great things happened recently when two dedicated officers worked together to get a dog back to his owner. A few months ago, OCAC Animal Control Officer (ACO) Oliver, responded to a call received by the Orange County Sheriff’s department to assist one of their deputies in San Juan Capistrano. The Sheriffs Deputy had stopped a vehicle for a driving violation. In the course of investigating the driver, other outstanding violations were found which required the Deputy to arrest the driver.

The driver’s only passenger in the car was Digger, a Parson Terrier mix. OCAC responded to assist with giving Digger a temporary place to stay. When ACO Oliver arrived, she examined Digger and found him wearing a tag on his collar that had owner information, but the name and address did not match that of the driver. When the officers called the owners number found on the collar, Digger’s elated owner said the dog had been stolen earlier in the month and they had reported it to their local police department.

ACO Oliver brought Digger to Orange County OC Animal Care where Digger’s very happy owners arrived from Fallbrook later that day to be reunited with him. Digger’s owner is a schoolteacher and would often bring Digger to visit with her students. When the students found out that Digger was safe and had been returned, they all wrote wonderful thank you notes to ACO Oliver in appreciation. Thanks to two very alert Orange County officers, and a dog collar with current owner contact information, Digger is safe at home again.

 

 

 

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An Award for OCAC

The City of Lake Forest presented Orange County OC Animal Care (OCAC) with a certificate of appreciation during “First Responders Appreciation Day” on Saturday, December 15th. In recognition of the efforts of the first responders during the Santiago fires in October, the City honored OCAC, American Red Cross, California Highway Patrol, Orange County Fire Authority, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The event was held at Heroes Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., speeches by the first responders, food, music, games and more. A few hundred attended the event to show their appreciation to the heroes during the fires that raged in Orange County. California Assemblymember Spitzer and Lake Forest Mayor Dixon spoke about the hard work from the first responders and expressed their gratitude for their efforts.

Several of the honored agencies displayed their units and disaster equipment. OCAC Field Services Lieutenant Waterman spoke on behalf of the agency and accepted the certificate of appreciation on behalf of all OCAC staff. Lieutenant Waterman stated, “I am proud of the staff at Animal Care Services for their performance, professionalism, and ability to work with other agencies during the fire.” OC Animal Care was honored to participate in the event.

Assemblymember Spitzer, Lt. Waterman,
and ACO Mazouch

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Bunny Basics 101

The month of December was Adopt-a-Bunny Month at Orange County Animal Care Services (OCAC) . By offering special give-a-ways with each rabbit adoption, educational materials on rabbit ownership, and special visits from local rabbit rescue groups; 13 rabbits found their forever homes during this special promotion. Although rabbits are the third most common pet in the United States, they are still largely misunderstood. Their quiet nature, unique diet, and special mannerisms set them apart from other household pets. Here are a few bunny basics to offer some insight into these special pets:

Diet: Rabbits require a balanced diet to keep their digestive systems functioning properly. The largest portion of their diet should be hay, this will meet their constant need to chew and keep them healthy. A mixture between Timothy hay, orchard grass and other hays is best. Leafy green vegetables are also essential for a rabbit’s diet; take your time introducing new vegetables into your pet’s diet. Fruits and treats can be given in moderation as rabbits have a big sweet tooth. Pellets can be given in small quantities (1/4 cup to 1/2 cup per day) as a substitute for dark leafy green vegetables, but fresh foods are always best. Rabbits should always have a large supply of fresh water to drink.

Exercise: Rabbits require exercise on a daily basis to keep their weight under control. They need plenty of space to run and jump in a safe exercise area for several hours each day. Consider setting up a play area for your rabbit, such as an exercise pen or bunny proofed room inside the house.

Housing: Rabbits are sensitive animals and do best indoors. If your rabbit is housed in a hutch or cage, the size should be at least six times the length of your pet stretched out from nose to hind legs. Solid bottom cages are best to prevent irritation to their feet. They can be easily litter box trained and live happily cage free inside your home.

Bunny Proofing: Due to their constant need to chew to grind down their teeth, rabbits can become destructive. Electrical cords, wooden furniture legs, and carpet should be covered or removed from their housing area to prevent injury to your pet, as well as the demolition of your property. Provide your rabbit with plenty of safe items to chew, such as: hay, untreated wood, and pine cones.

Health: Rabbits are viewed by the veterinary community as exotic pets because their systems are much different than a cat or dog. Before taking your pet to the veterinarian, call around to find a vet that treats rabbits at least once a week. Find a veterinarian you trust before an emergency arises because a common health issue in a rabbit can quickly become a life-threatening emergency. Consider purchasing a rabbit guide to better understand your pet’s health.

Rabbits are highly social animals and make wonderful pets. The key to keeping your bunny happy and healthy is understanding what makes them unique. If you are interested in adding one of these furry friends to your family, visit your local animal shelter today!

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Upcoming Events

OC Animal Care is always looking for ways to promote adoptable animals and bring them into the public eye. One way that we do that is through our participation in local community events. Each week we prepare animals at our shelter to go out into the public and potentially find a new home. Mobile adoptions are a great way to promote animals, provide information to the public, and inform our local communities of the services we provide. Here is a list of the upcoming mobile events in which OCAC will be participating:

• Volunteer Orientation at OC Animal Care, Orange, Saturday, January 5, 2008: 10 a.m. - 12 noon

• Volunteer Orientation at OC Animal Care, Orange, Wednesday, January 9, 2008: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at PetSmart, Aliso Viejo, Saturday, January 12, 2008: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at PetSmart, Lake Forest, Saturday, January 19, 2008: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at PetSmart, Fullerton, Sunday, January 20, 2008: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at PetSmart, Brea, Saturday, January 26, 2008: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at PetSmart, Fullerton, Sunday, February 17, 2008: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at Dog Day Afternoon, Monte Vista Park, Rancho Santa Margarita, Saturday, February 23, 2008: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

• Mobile Adoptions at PetSmart, Fullerton, Sunday, March 16, 2008: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

OCAC is always looking to participate in new events. If you have an upcoming community event that you would like us to be a part of, please send your information to JJ Johnson, Public Education Officer, 561 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868, email him at jjjohnson@ochca.com or call him at (714) 935-7681.

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Celebrating Success

Orange County OC Animal Care takes great pride in promoting our success in adopting our animals to lifelong homes. We often receive updates from visitors that tell us heart warming stories of how they were either reunited with their lost pet, or had found the perfect companion to take home. Here is a story of a cat named Patch who has found his forever home.