Our Main Shelter (including the Adoption Center and Front Office) will be closed Saturday, 9/30, for Bark & Wine! The Wildlife Center and Thrift Store will be open their regular hours.

Jul 31, 2023

New Beginnings for Senior Dogs

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Thanks to a generous grant award from The Grey Muzzle Organization, DCHS could provide necessary dental care to senior dog Barbie.

An Animal Services Officer brought Barbie to Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) in late June when the senior pup was found wandering alone. She was wearing a collar, but it had no tags, she had no microchip, and after days of cross-checking databases, DCHS’s Lost & Found team couldn’t find Barbie’s family.

Barbie was very nervous and stressed in the shelter, and while DCHS’s veterinary staff struggled to examine her thoroughly, it was clear she had tartar and staining on her teeth. During a sedated exam, DCHS’s dental expert took a closer look and found that Barbie had severe periodontal disease that caused issues with bone loss, root exposure, and mobility in all her remaining teeth. Barbie was already missing quite a few teeth, but she needed to have all the remaining ones extracted to make her healthier and more comfortable.

Thanks to the support of our incredible community, DCHS has an onsite dental suite, Jenna’s Suite Tooth, where our skilled veterinarians can perform various dental procedures for the animals in our care. This onsite dental suite reduces staff time and resources required for coordinating the transport of animals to offsite locations for dental procedures (not to mention, reduces stress on the animals), but operating the dental suite is still costly. Extensive dental procedures can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

Fortunately for the senior dogs in our care, DCHS was among the 90 animal welfare organizations to receive grant funding from The Grey Muzzle Organization. With this generous award, we can provide any necessary dental and veterinary care to senior dogs like Barbie, so they can be comfortable during their stay with us, and we can lower financial barriers to adopting them. When adopters don’t have to worry about the immediate costs of bringing home a senior dog, that senior dog can find their new home that much faster.

The morning after her dental procedure, Barbie was bright and alert, her mouth was healing well, and she was ready for adoption. She didn’t have to wait long. Her new family found her that very afternoon and took her home to begin a new golden chapter of her life.

Awarded By The Grey Muzzle Organization

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Clear The Shelters Helps Pets Find New Homes

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Enjoy an ode to crows, learn about theses interesting birds, and read a rehabilitation story from DCHS's Wildlife Program Manager.

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Aug 1st, 2023

DCHS Hosts Clear The Shelters 2023

DCHS holds month-long adoption promotion to help more pets find loving homes during Clear The Shelters 2023.

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Jul 31st, 2023

New Beginnings for Senior Dogs

Thanks to a generous grant award from The Grey Muzzle Organization, DCHS could provide necessary dental care to senior dog Barbie.

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Jul 17th, 2023

It's Raining Woodpeckers!

Over 1,000 animals have already been admitted to DCHS’s Wildlife Center for rehabilitation in the first half of 2023. What species of songbird are we seeing the most? Woodpeckers!

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