Dogs have their day

POLSON — There were dogs as far as the eye could see Sunday at the Southshore Veterinary Service Sunday for Pet Fest, a community event for pets, their owners and hopeful animals looking for a good home.  

Cassie Vandeveegaete said the clinic wanted to do something educational and entertaining for the community to showcase the work that happens on the top of Polson Hill.  Vandeveegaete said she planned for 100 attendees, and while there were far fewer people in attendance, there was plenty of fun being had by humans and animals alike.

Jill Simpson, shelter director of the Mission Valley Animal Shelter, said her biggest tip to pet owners comes from her dog training background.

“Consistency, consistency, consistency,” Simpson said, adding that owners should not take a dog into their life expecting it to know how to behave.  

Dr. Uli Rodriques, veterinarian and owner of Southshore Veterinary Service, said from a medical point-of-view her suggestion to pet owners is to know what is necessary to maintain your pet’s health.  She said many diseases begin with the diet of the pet.

Nutrition is just one of the aspects of health Rodriques helps pet owners with in her practice.  Medical health, preventative medicine, surgery, and boarding round out the services provided by Rodriques and clinic staff.

The clinic takes in a significant number of pound animals, Rodriques said.  When an animal is caught by an animal control officer within the city limits of Polson it is brought to the clinic and boarded for up to three days.  If the animal is not claimed, it is put into an adoption program.

The clinic stays busy throughout the week, seeing between 20 and 25 animals a day.  Sunday was a time for staff and pets to cut loose and enjoy the summer sun.

“We want to have fun, but to also bring the community in,” Rodriques said.

Philip Vaughan had the most unique pet at the event, Sam, an Indian runner duck.  Sam, a show duck that Vaughan shows each year in the Lake County Fair through 4-H, was a favorite of youngsters who gathered around her pen.

Karen Duty is one of the minds behind the Pet Fest.  Now the owner of Hellroaring Kennels, Duty used to work as a veterinary technician at Southshore Veterinary Service and when the idea of Pet Fest came to fruition.  Two previous Pet Fests took place in 2010 and 2011, and Sunday’s event marked the third festival to celebrate animals and their families.  

Duty was working double-time, representing Hellroaring Kennels and finding homes for dogs she fosters through Life Savers Animal Rescue (LSAR). Duty serves as the vice president of the volunteer group based out of Polson, started by veterinary technicians of the Southshore clinic.

She said there were too many adoptable dogs being euthanized because homes couldn’t be found quickly enough. LSAR was started to save as many dogs and cats as possible through a foster program that gives the pets more time to find the perfect home.

Linda Crawford has been with LSAR since it began in 2003 and currently serves as the secretary and treasurer.  She said LSAR takes in up to 150 adoptable dogs and cats each year and they are able to adopt out most of them.  Crawford said LSAR used to take in more than 500 animals, but the amount of foster homes has dropped dramatically. It’s a tough situation, Crawford said, because the number of foster homes and adoptions has fallen with the economy.

“More fosters means more animals adopted,” she said.

Archie, a young beagle, was the pithiest pooch hoping to find a home, barking at each person who passed his kennel. Other hopefuls like Nemo, a pit bull mix, sat quietly hoping for the right person to take him home and make him their pet.

Many other dogs and cats are available for adoption through the Life Savers program and through Mission Valley Animal Shelter.  For more information on adopting a dog or cat, visit www.lsar.org and missionvalleyanimalshelter.org.