Farmers’ Market

We went to our first Farmers’ Market for this year on June 3, and really enjoyed it and plan on going each week until the close of the markets on August 19th.  Lots of people! Everyone was commenting on the wonderful weather, especially those that had come up from Bakersfield that stopped at our table to chat and look at our adoptable dogs. My foster, Cody, was adopted by a lady that fell for him immediately and seemed to hardly be able to contain herself in wanting to get him home to shower him with the love and attention that was denied him earlier in his life. I wish the best for them and I’m sure she will love him and care for him properly. He was a sad case like so many of the animals we rescue. I was also very pleased to see the nice couple who adopted my Ginger about a year ago. They renamed her “Gizmo” and tell me she is a truly wonderful addition to their family. It makes our day when we hear such terrific outcomes about our alumni. Remember, if you are looking for a companion animal, look at rescue animals as they are truly the ones in need.

Cindy Scharp the winner of our last year’s Hitching Post Theater ticket raffle came by our table to get her tickets for this year’s raffle. She tells me that she has been to the movies 78 times so far and took a friend with her 56 of those times! Wouldn’t you just love to be able to do that? We’ll have the raffle tickets available at each of the Farmers’ Markets up until the drawing which will be on Friday, June 25 and at any other events we’ll be at. We also have them available at our office, Animal Town Dog Grooming, Canine Creek and The Dressing Room so be sure you get yours before it’s too late! They are one ticket for $1 and six tickets for $5.

We really enjoy our Thursdays at Farmers’ Market. It gives us the opportunity to let people know about us and all we try to accomplish for our community. Lots of nice people stopping by picking up spay/neuter vouchers and other information we have available and telling us stories about their companion animals. .

Teens

We have a special person in our group that has truly been a boon to us. Her name is Tessa Camp and she’s a teenager with a big heart and a truly giving nature. Tessa gives her time to us by helping handle the chaos during our Shot Clinic each month by helping with the animals. Most of our clients have more than one dog or cat and they have difficulty holding onto 2-3 dogs at a time so she steps in and helps them. She also takes their names and puts them on the list in order of being seen. Tessa has helped at Farmers’ Market, Adoption Day and the different “special events” that go on. She outdid herself recently. As a school project, she held a raffle on her own and then presented us with over $200 to go towards our spay/neuter program. Wonderful! She’s graduated and will be starting college in the fall so her time will be limited to spend with us but we hope she will continue in her efforts for the animals. We wish you well Tessa!

Allysia Lara and Haleigh Sellers came out to Tehachapi Humane Society’s Adoption Day Saturday, June 5 to show their love and support for our adoptable dogs. Allysia has been a real help to us at Farmers’ Market too. She walks our adoptable dogs around the park to let everyone see them and it helps socialize the dogs to crowds and other dogs. We truly appreciate her and our other teens.

In General

Hot weather is upon us a word to the wise as the weather gets warm be sure to think of your companion animals and the heat stress they may suffer. Be sure they have a place to be in the shade and that there is plenty of water available for them. A real “no, no” is leaving them in your vehicle while you run into the store real quick…real quick can turn into a half hour or more and it doesn’t take long for the inside temperature of your car to heat up. Not only is this an act of thoughtlessness, it is against the law and you are subject to be ticketed and fined…if they don’t have to go with you on hot days leave them home where they are more comfortable.

Hot weather also brings out the snakes! Just going down to my mailbox recently there were three gopher snakes sunning themselves in the road. Gopher snakes aren’t harmful, but they can strike and draw blood. Most important though, if they are out, rattlesnakes are too. Take precautions, make sure you are watchful, wear boots or at least long pants when walking in tall grass or on boulders, make sure your children are aware of this and if at all possible, get rattlesnake shots for your outdoor dogs.

We are still getting kittens! Please have your cats spayed or neutered to prevent this tragedy. I know other rescues are full too. Remember, there is no animal shelter in Tehachapi so placement is dependent on foster homes and they can only take a few at a time and then permanent, loving homes have to be found for them. By not having your cats altered, you are part of the problem instead why not become a part of the solution by having your cats altered. We have vouchers available to help defray the cost, Canine Creek has worked hard to have Angel Dog Foundation come to Tehachapi to perform lower cost spay/neuter surgeries and they honor our vouchers. The next planned visit from them is Saturday, July 17 so please make appointments and get the vouchers. Included in their cost for altering are shots and micro-chipping. Appointments are required and are limited so be sure to call Brandie at Angel Dogs at (818) 915-4382. . Clinic payments are cash only and specify for the July 17 date and location. Once you have the appointment scheduled, call us at 823-0699 menu #1 to request a voucher application.

We are still getting calls on abandoned dogs too. We have even fewer fosters for them, so we are really struggling to keep up with the rescues. Just to let you know, before our animals are adopted out we have them spayed/neutered and current on shots and we now micro-chip them. Before you take possession of an adopted animal from the shelter or any rescue group, the animal should be altered…it’s the law.

We helped Pet Lodge and Outfitters celebrate their anniversary on Saturday, June 12 by selling hot dogs, cookies and sodas. We also had our adoptable dogs there. We try to have them at as many functions as we can so the public and potential new owners can see them. It’s also good for their socializing so if you are out and about and see us come on by and take a look you just might find the love of your life. Don’t forget we have cats and kittens too!

We just had our Fathers’ Day Bake Sale at Kmart and did quite well thanks to all who bought goodies or raffle tickets and of course those who donated. Takes a lot of cookies to keep up with up with our costs and we want you to know how much we appreciate the support. Remember we are a 501 (c) (3) corporation so all donations are tax deductible and we are all volunteers; no one is paid a salary so our bucks go for the programs we provide.

There will be a few events coming up…In August for Mountain Festival weekend we will be sharing the West Park Pavilion with the Tehachapi Train Club by having and Craft and Bake Sale. This will be on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. on August 21 & 22. Then on Saturday, September 25 we’ll be having our 2^nd Annual Move Your Tails event out at Brite Lake. Make plans to bring the family to both events and share in the fun.

Till next time Adoption is an option…spaying & neutering is the “fix”.