 “Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.” –George Eliot
By Kristie Bulger This is not an opinion piece about hunting. It is an opinion piece about the importance of keeping a close eye on your pets, especially this time of year. Coyotes are always a threat to our pets. Small dogs and cats are most at risk but larger dogs are not immune from the threat. The risk increases during mating season, which is February and March. Male coyotes can become more aggressive during this time of year. Additionally, male dogs can be lured by the female coyote's scent and killed by male coyotes when he follows her into the woods. The coyotes are only doing what comes natural to them. When a coyote kills a small dog, they don’t see someone’s pet. They are only feeding themselves and their families. A poodle loose in it’s backyard is an easier meal for the coyote than trying to catch a rabbit, a mouse or a bird. Quite a few people feel that if they hire someone to remove the coyotes in their neighborhood, that they’ll no longer have to worry. On a certain level that sounds reasonable. But coyotes breed once per year with pup counts of from 2 to 6 per litter. The size of the litter is often determined by hunting pressure. More hunting equals more pups. Studies have shown that where coyotes have been extensively hunted, their litters have doubled in size. Also, coyotes have very strong territorial habits. If an adult is removed from its territory, which it has been protecting, there is a good chance from 1 to 3 adults will immediately move in to claim the unprotected area. So it appears that in the end, our best line of defense against coyote predation is to keep our pets safe. Some measures that can be taken are to keep your cats in the house, have your dogs on a 6’ leash when they’re in the yard and to limit your pets time outside at night. Dogs on a cable tie-out or inside a 4’ fence are not safe from coyotes. The little dog that has "never left the yard” is an easy target for a coyote. And people with invisible fencing really need to remember that while it may work to keep your dog inside your yard, it does not work to keep a coyote out of your yard. Most of us live in the woods here in Newaygo County. There are a number of predators out there (and in the air) that think cats and small dogs are a very tasty treat. It’s up to us, the smarter species, to figure out how to live well with our wild neighbors. Here’s a link to our FB page "Friends of Newaygo County Shelter” where you can see all our available animals: https://www.facebook.com/groups/979050632140887 The adoption fee for dogs is $90. This fee includes spay/neuter, deworming, heartworm test, rabies & DHLPP shots, flea & tick treatment and license. The adoption fee for cats is $65 This fee includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, feline distemper combo vaccine, FIV/FELV testing, deworming and flea/tick treatment. Newaygo County Animal Shelter 78 N. Webster White Cloud, MI 49349 231-689-1867 Monday - Friday 11-1 Appointments welcome and available upon request Ms. Bulger is a long time volunteer with the Newaygo County Animal Shelter and fierce advocate for our furry friends.  A random piece of footwear discovered and sent to me by Todd Jacobs circa 2018. By Ken DeLaat Those who know me are aware of a long term fascination I’ve held for orphaned footwear. You know, the solitary sole sitting aside the road daring anyone to deduce how they arrived there and more importantly (at least to me) what it might mean? Over the years I’ve had photos sent to me of shoe sightings, shoe trees up north, and a length of highway in Texas with boots on the fence posts. I’ve had a few forlorn footwear delivered to me and for a spell one appeared in my driveway once a week, but that turned out to be a friend with prior knowledge of this quirk of mine and a strange sense of humor. The puzzle their presence presents has come to me on those nights when one awakens at 3ish for no apparent reason and the mind begins to wander about. “What could it mean?” becomes the unanswerable question (as all 3 a.m. questions tend to be) pondered until either sleep or dawn interrupts. My ever patient Lifetime Spousal Companion Lil has endured decades of what some have called an obsession. From pointing out the frequency of these wayward waifs during the multitude of road trips we’ve taken to calling her to let her know of a spotting that occurred on my own, (“I was in a meeting. Don’t call me at work anymore about shoes ok?”) she has arrived at a place of resignation that my interest in this phenomena is unlikely to diminish. In turn I’ve tried to temper my enthusiasm when on road trips, and I don’t call her anymore after a spotting even though she’s now retired from work, important meetings and such. Being rather busy these days and with the snow making such roadside discoveries rare I have kind of compartmentalized my interest. Tucked it away so to speak. In truth I had almost stopped thinking about it. Then I spotted this missive from Barbara Condon while cruising about on social media: I volunteer for Community Closet. We were given a box of single shoes. Does anyone have any ideas for a single shoe? We would like to keep them out of the landfill.  What?
I was stunned. Shaken. The sheer proliferation pictured seemed to be an omen of sorts. Yes, by all means keep them out of the landfill. Send them to a research lab, maybe get the government involved (if they aren’t already), call in an angekok, or send for a wiccan but for pity’s sake don’t get rid of them. I am certain these solo soles know something. And I, for one, want some answers!  By Carol Mills, Executive Director, Newaygo County Mental Health Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you will have good luck! Ever wonder where all those pennies you see on the ground have been, and how they got there? Do people drop them purposely? And if it isn’t head-side up, do you flip it over and leave the luck for the next person? I have been a penny picker-upper (and flipper over-er if the wrong side is up) for many years. So how do they get there? The U.S. Treasury estimates that at least 62 million pennies are removed from circulation every year. There aren’t that many pennies on the ground! Still, the thought you can affect someone’s day, and hopefully make it better, for just a penny is intriguing. How else can we affect someone’s day and make it better? There are lots of ways that are not so random as being in the right place, at the right time, with the right penny, facing right-side up. It seems as though COVID has made us less empathetic towards others. Stress is at an all-time high, and many families are struggling in both financial ways as well as with their mental health. Lots of people are vocal about their unhappiness with the government, schools, public health, etc. There are strong feelings on all sides of the issues and problems facing us. People are leaving the workforce in droves. Teachers are retiring before they had planned. Recognizing that these are not normal times, and it is OK to struggle and seek help, is important. There is a lot of anger in this world right now, and we see that reflected directly in our community as well. At the same time, we see neighbors helping neighbors by plowing driveways, delivering wood to those in need, and helping people in a myriad of ways, both big and small. Kind of like leaving a penny on the ground, only more personal. It makes people’s days better. Maybe we can all learn from the penny on the ground. Throughout the day, what if we all looked for opportunities to make someone’s life a little easier? Let the Mom with crying kids go in front of you at the grocery checkout. Offer to help the elderly and disabled carry groceries to their car and help them to not slip and fall on the ice. Shovel sidewalks (and driveways) for those that it is difficult for. Sometimes I buy a $1.00 lottery ticket, and hand it to the person in line behind me. I will never know whether or not they hit the jackpot, and that is ok. You don’t always need to know the outcome. The Dalai Lama once said “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others, and if you can’t help them, at least do not harm them.” Maybe doing no harm is as important as helping them. We are almost two years into a pandemic that seems like it is never going to end. Everyone has been affected in some way or another. Perhaps looking for ways to help each other during this time of stress is a way to also help ourselves. If you need assistance with a mental health issue, please call Newaygo County Mental Health at 231-689-7330. We are here 24/7 to help. And if you can’t think of a specific way to help someone, you can always drop a penny or two….. -Newaygo County Mental Health has been providing exceptional services to residents of the Newaygo County community and their families for 50 years.  “And Then You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth…”
By Ken DeLaat Aw man, not Meat Loaf! Accustomed as I have become to the ever increasing passing of the notables from my youth, this one hurt a bit. I mean, of course we all heaved a collective sigh when Betty White passed on the very cusp of her 100th b’day. The venerable Ms. White was indeed a national treasure. Meat Loaf? Maybe not so much, but as a lover of the opera/rock approach he took toward performing as part of the (thankfully) post disco era, news of his demise delivered a bit of ennui to my day. The cleverly crafted songs of Jim Steinmann who penned the Bat Out of Hell album/8 track/cassette/CD were classic pieces of work. Both fun and seemingly fearless in their storytelling, all that was needed was the right person to deliver the goods. And Meat Loaf was that person. This morning I took in a video of him and his band performing the sensual and sardonic “Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth” . It was a kind of mini tribute to the rocker who was born Marvin Lee Aday before hitting packed auditoriums as Meat Loaf. A consummate performer who combined a unique voice with some serious acting chops on stage and inexplicably is not in the Rock & Roll HOF. Forget the Hall. When they can put in the Dave Clark Five and not Warren Zevon their credibility wanes with me anyway. Besides, his signature songs will long resonate in every Karaoke night bar scene as imbibing couples strive to offer up their version of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and overserved soloists try taking on” 2 Out Of 3 Ain’t Bad”. And believe me when you are cruising all alone down an open highway on a sunny day? There is no better accompaniment to be found than a hefty dose of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’. Thanks Meat Loaf. You provided a lot of fun. And still do. “Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night, I can see paradise by the dashboard light.”  “Until man learns to respect and speak to the animal world, he can never know his true role on Earth." ~ Vangelis.” By Kristie Bulger The staff at Newaygo County Shelter do a wonderful job taking care of the animals that end up there. They provide food, water, comfort and sometimes much needed medical attention. For some animals the shelter is the first time in their lives that they’ve been properly cared for and they don’t care where they are. They are happy about everything. But for some animals the shelter is a very scary place. It is loud, smells weird and is filled with strange people and animals. It is especially difficult for animals that have lived a secluded life, such as cats and little dogs that have lived with elderly owners. These littles ones don’t have experience with being handled by strangers or having big dogs barking in their faces. Fortunately, the little dogs usually get adopted quickly because they’re so stinking cute. But for some of the cats, getting adopted takes longer and they’re the ones I’d like to talk about. Cats are not very flexible creatures. They absolutely hate change. In the wild it is how they protect themselves but in the shelter environment, it is the reason some of them become so stressed. Most of the kittens and young cats adjust in a few days or weeks but the older cats have a much harder time settling into any kind of routine. Even with the staff and volunteers giving them extra love and attention, a lot of cats just do not relax. The ones that are especially heartbreaking are the cats who have lived in the same home for a long time. There are many reasons why they end up at the shelter. Maybe a new baby came along or someone developed an allergy or the owners moved or passed away. Whatever the reason, many of these cats have a very hard time adjusting to the shelter. When people come to the shelter to meet and potentially adopt a cat, they are naturally drawn to the social, friendly cats. And of course, everyone loves kittens. It’s the reserved cats that sit at the back of their cages that are repeatedly passed over. These are the cats that are stressed out by all that is going on. Their world has been turned upside down and they are suspicious about what is happening. But most of these cats are actually quite sweet once they get out of the shelter environment and into a loving patient home. They may need a little extra time to blossom but most all of our adopters agree that their shy cat was worth the “wait”.
If you look at Slinky in his cage (photo on the left), he doesn’t appear to be a friendly cat….and that is correct. Slinky was very shy and standoffish. Even though Slinky was a young cat, no matter how much time people at the shelter spent with him, he continued to be suspicious. When Lindsey came to the shelter to look for a cat, she decided to give Slinky a chance. I talked to her recently and this is what she had to say: "I picked him because he looked so scared and alone and I figured no one else would pick him because he was not running up to greet you when you came in! The first night we got him home he was in my lap purring! I was so surprised! He comes every time I call his name no matter where he is in the house. He snuggles with me every night and just melts in my arms when I pick him up! He is the BIGGEST mama's boy!”
The photo on the right is Lindsey and Slinky now. I’m not sure which one of them looks happier. So the next time you’re at the shelter looking to adopt a new feline friend, remember that your next cat may not come running to greet you at the front of their cage. Your Best Ever Cat might sit sulking at the back of their cage, feeling stressed and suspicious. Be like Lindsey. Take a chance on a cat. They need you more than you’ll ever know. Here’s a link to an excellent article about helping new cats adjust: https://www.paws.org/resources/helping-your-cat-adjust/ And here’s a link to our FB page "Friends of Newaygo County Shelter” where you can see all our available animals: https://www.facebook.com/groups/979050632140887 The adoption fee for dogs is $90. This fee includes spay/neuter, deworming, heartworm test, rabies & DHLLP shots, flea & tick treatment and license. The adoption fee for cats is $65 This fee includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, feline distemper combo vaccine, FIV/FELV testing, deworming and flea/tick treatment. Newaygo County Animal Shelter 78 N. Webster White Cloud, MI 49349 231-689-1867 Monday - Friday 11-1 Appointments welcome and available upon request  As a volunteer at the Brooks Township Recycling Site, opening and closing for their Saturday hours, most of the time I find it to be as it should be. Neat and clean with burgeoning dumpsters filled with appropriate material and little disregard for the operation. Oh, once there was a Barbie House sitting alongside a dumpster and occasionally there are those who still believe wood is recyclable and of course getting folks to crush boxes can be a challenge from the looks of things. But as I said for the most part it’s been good. Which is a relief since misuse of sites has led to closures (former Fremont site) and an increase in expense at a time when the program is looking to pare costs. This past weekend the photo above shows what greeted me. Obviously the person who dropped off the uncrushed boxes and items in plastic bags not accepted at the sites was either puzzled by the locked gates (there are specific hours for a reason) or just decided they were too busy to return at an appropriate time. While it is a reach to think they might recognize themselves and be shamed into better behavior this is for others who might not realize that when gates are locked, recycle is closed. As in not open. As in, come back when the hours indicate it's open. Brooks Township Site Is Open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday From 9am to 3pm and sometimes later than 3 on Saturdays if I get distracted by having too much fun and don’t get there until later that day. Thank you to all who recycle responsibly. And those who don’t? If you’re going to ruin it for the rest of us, do me a favor and stop, reevaluate, and decide if you’re capable of playing by the rules. If not? Then don’t play at all. _ A Recycling Volunteer and Advocate  By Kristie Bulger
“Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.”-Colette After N3 paid a visit or two to our local Animal Shelter for an article we came away impressed by the caring and competent culture to be found there. From that experience we thought it might be a good idea to share some ‘stories from the front’ with our readers. Kristie Bulger is a long time volunteer with the Newaygo County Animal Shelter and fierce advocate for our furry friends, and agreed to provide some historical reference. When Ken DeLaat asked if I’d be interested in doing a piece about the shelter, I jumped at the chance to get our shelter animals more exposure. More exposure equals more adoptions. But slowly a dim lightbulb went on and reality set in…..I’m no journalist. So bear with me. I thought it might be best to begin with a brief history of the shelter. I think it’s important to see where we started from and where we are now. Some people remember the shelter as the awful place it used to be rather than the wonderful place it has become. When I started to volunteer at the shelter 27 years ago, it was a hellhole. There’s no other way to say it. It was a hellhole because of the sheer number of animals coming in, the rampant widespread disease, the cramped decrepit cages, the selling of dogs to research, the method of euthanization. There was a group of local citizens who were trying to make changes but it was difficult and slow. Arguably the loudest, most obstinate one of this group was Cheryl McCloud. The first time she was in the shelter was in 1980 and she waged a 20 year fight to improve the lives of the animals at our shelter. In 2000, Cheryl helped persuade the county to hire Arlene Sterling. Arlene had been an ACO in South Africa and New Mexico and then a Cruelty Investigator for HSWM, for a total of 10 years. Newaygo County was very lucky to have someone with so much experience. It was the beginning of better days. The Sheriff’s Department hired Kevin Carr in 2006 as ACO and Jamie Wisley was hired in 2011 as kennel manager. The shelter began a transformation. The shelter went from a spay/neuter voucher adoption fee system to an adoption fee that includes spay/neuter. The new system means that before every animal leaves the shelter they are spayed/neutered and vaccinated for a low adoption fee. Because of this, the animal overpopulation in Newaygo County is a fraction of what it was just 10 years ago. All this happens through grants, donations and through working closely with our local veterinarians. Many changes have continued with new cages, painting, cleaning, a remodeled addition, an outdoor play area. The shelter staff, their spouses and volunteers worked their butts off. In 2016 Arlene retired from animal control and Kevin easily, smoothly stepped into her position and Jamie Wisely was promoted to ACO. In 2017 NCAC hired Danielle Maike as the Adoption Coordinator. This was when our current team came together and is where the shelter is today. Chief Animal Control Officer Carr is a fair, firm enforcer of our laws. He has a quick wit and never ending optimism. On any given day, no matter how horrific the days events have been, Officer Carr will tell you he’s “living the dream”! Officer Wisley is a quiet soul and a fierce defender of all animals. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone handle a scared, distrustful dog better than Officer Wisley. The animals trust her quietness. And then there’s Danielle, our kennel manager, computer expert, adoption coordinator, customer service gal extraordinaire. Danielle has an uncanny knack for remembering lost dog posts from months ago….and then connecting the dogs with their distraught owners. There is also an army of volunteers who are working behind the scenes. They do whatever is needed to help the shelter animals and staff. Transporting animals to the vet or to rescues, cleaning cages, exercising dogs, taming feral kittens, finding special grant funding….absolutely whatever is needed. In 2016 a couple of the volunteers started a Facebook page to help get more exposure for the animals. It is called Friends of Newaygo County Shelter and has grown to over 3,000 members/supporters who comment on, like and share posts. Here’s a link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/979050632140887. The people’s participation on this fb page helps our shelter animals get adopted more quickly. So if it’s been a long time since you’ve set foot in our local county shelter, I invite you to stop by. I believe you’ll be very pleasantly surprised. And who knows? You just might find your new best friend there too! The adoption fee for dogs is $90. This fee includes spay/neuter, deworming, heartworm test, rabies & DHLLP shots, flea & tick treatment and license. The adoption fee for cats is $65 This fee includes spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, feline distemper combo vaccine, FIV/FELV testing, deworming and flea/tick treatment. Newaygo County Animal Shelter 78 N. Webster White Cloud, MI 49349 231-689-1867 Monday - Friday 11-1 Appointments welcome and available upon request |
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May 2023
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