(Community Matters 188) Wiggly Tail: Meet Asha! The Giant Puppy in Waiting

This time on Wiggly Tail, meet Asha, a fluffy Great Pyrenees mix puppy at the Humane Society of South Central Michigan. HSSCM Executive Director Jessica Gilbert, talks about the what kind of home Asha would thrive in and explains why their schedule-based meet-and-greets help animals show their true personality. 

Gilbert also discusses the benefits of the Canine Training Institute in helping train pets and their owners. 

Episode Resources

Humane Society of South Central Michigan Website

Asha on Petfinder

More Wiggly Tail episodes

ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8:00 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.

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Transcript

Welcome And Where To Listen

Richard Piet 0:01

Welcome to Community Matters. We get together with voices from Calhoun County or about Calhoun County or relevant to Calhoun County. That's the point on Community Matter Saturdays, 8 a.m. at 95.3 FM. You can find us whenever you want at BattleCreekPodcast.com and on your device. It's pretty simple now. Just go where you get podcasts and type Community Matters Calhoun County, and you'll find us and you can follow us and get a little alert when these episodes come available.

Meet Asha The Fluffy Pyrenees Mix

Richard Piet 0:35

Time to check in with the Humane Society of South Central Michigan. We do that with our wiggly tail updates. Just want to put in front of you the idea of adopting a pet ready for a family, and maybe do so through the Humane Society. Jessica Gilbert is the executive director. She's back with us today. We're talking about Asha. Is that right?

Jessica Gilbert 0:57

Yes, that's right. Uh, she is a puppy, and she is, oh my goodness, she is just the most adorable fluffy thing that you have ever seen. Um, she is she was born in February, so she's she's definitely still a puppy, but honestly, I've never seen such a cute puppy.

Richard Piet 1:16

And listen, Jessica sees puppies, folks. So this is a big endorsement. Uh, what's her story? What's her uh background? What's the breed? We want to know.

Jessica Gilbert 1:27

So she is a female Pyrenees mix, and if you know anything about dogs, that means she's going to be absolutely ginormous. Um so she came here with her sister, whose name is Aspen, and they're just uh very active puppies, as you can imagine, but they are not a fit for an apartment. They are very large and very active. So they would do best in a place with a fenced-in yard because they are going to need to exercise. Pyrenees are um, they're working dogs and they need something to do, or they can maybe get into a little bit of trouble. So fenced in yard to work off some of that energy would be great. Um, she plays with toys. She is a little bit possessive of her food and her toys, especially with her sister. So we are recommending that she is the only dog in the home, or that she would be matched with a male dog, no females. She does not seem to like sharing with females. So if you have a female in your home, uh not a good fit, because she is gonna be so big, slightly older kids would be better. If you were looking for a puppy that's going to be fun and active and keep you busy and you've got a lot of space, that's gonna be a good fit.

Richard Piet 2:49

They

Space Needs And Best Home Fit

Richard Piet 2:50

uh probably need their own wing or something, so an apartment would not work. I'm I'm kidding, of course, but uh yeah, they're gonna need some space to stretch out.

Jessica Gilbert 2:59

Yeah, otherwise I I expect it would be like a bowl in a china shop because it it is just gonna be um they are everywhere all at once. But uh again, if you just look at their little faces, you're you're gonna fall in love, but make sure that you've got the right fit for them, or you may not be happy with the situation.

Richard Piet 3:17

And you mentioned the the yard, particularly fence, then they can just run and uh get that energy out, like Asha should want to do.

Jessica Gilbert 3:25

Yes, absolutely. Um, they have been going outside and the staff members um exercise them. They've also been working with our certified trainer to learn some basic manners. Uh, we're trying to teach them to walk on a leash and that sort of thing, but they they aren't quite there yet.

Richard Piet 3:42

So yeah, let's talk about that a little bit. Is that standard protocol? When you get a puppy in, particularly one that's going to be a large dog, do you try to do a little training on them?

Jessica Gilbert 3:53

Absolutely. So the longer the dogs are with us, the the more opportunities they have to learn. But all of our puppies spend some time with our amazing trainer and volunteer Mary Ann. And uh, she works them through what you would consider a basic puppy kindergarten course of really basic things like recall and leash walking and leave it and that sort of thing. By training the dogs, we're not training the owner. So that is something different that needs to happen. So certainly we have Arcanine Training Institute. So when people take a puppy or a dog home, um, that is a great option because it is not just about training the dog or the puppy. You have to train the owner how to work with that.

Richard Piet 4:44

I see. Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. We need training just as much as they do, maybe.

Jessica Gilbert 4:50

Yes, or uh you'll wind up having the dog train you on some things that maybe you don't enjoy quite as well. Yeah. Uh we we always joke that most cat owners are trained by their cat as far as what time to get up in the morning so they can be fed, and you know, most people have a hard time keeping their cats off the counter because the cats have trained the owners that this is where I belong.

Richard Piet 5:13

So I've had uh two cats in my life. One did that counter thing, and if you were not up at 6 a.m., let's say, and he was ready to eat, he'd be out there on the counter finding something to knock off the counter because he knew that you would get up at that point and uh take care of what needed to be done. The other cat never got on the counter. Never. I don't know, y you know, they're just like people in the sense that everybody's different, some just don't. Well, as far as Asha goes, a little training will have been initiated with her, so you'll have some confidence there. Who's a good candidate for the CTI that you talked about, the continuing training that you might elect to do as um a pet owner?

Jessica Gilbert 6:05

Any dog that could use a little bit of work to become a better family member. So if you're looking for um some help with basic recall to where you know you're out with a dog and you call it and it comes back to you, leash walking, any kind of general manners. Really, what the canine training institute does is they train you how to work with your dog. Um, we do all positive training, so we don't like pinch collars or anything like that. So it's that positive training, and it's not just helpful for the dog to learn some manners and for the owner to understand what the dog is looking to do, but it's also just a really good bonding activity together. It's a lot of fun. The classes are fun, um, and they're really reasonably priced. So it is a great program. I would encourage anyone who adopts a dog or a puppy to sign up for some basic classes.

Richard Piet 7:04

Now, is the old dog new tricks thing true when it comes to training like this? I mean, somebody could be listening to this and in a their dog's five years old and and they're finally getting to the end of their rope on some behavior they do. Is it too late?

Jessica Gilbert 7:19

No, absolutely not. Most dogs are very motivated to please you or they're motivated for food. I think that maybe it's actually a little bit harder to train people when they're older than to train the dogs.

Richard Piet 7:32

I see. Okay. Well, don't let that stop you. If you fall into that category, ask about the Canine Training Institute through the Humane Society of South Central Michigan if you uh would like to see to it to some training for your dog. Meanwhile, Asha is uh ready to be seen. We'll have a photo for you

Adoption Steps And Scheduled Meetups

Richard Piet 7:55

right now at Battle Creek Podcast.com. Have a look. And the link is there to click through to the Humane Society and start the ball rolling. And by that, what do we really mean, uh, Jessica?

Jessica Gilbert 8:07

So the first step is going to our website, uh, which is hssscm.org and filling out an application. It takes us about two to three business days to process that. Uh, we'll do things like call your uh references and call a veterinarian, um, your veterinarian reference. We will uh just double check and make sure that you have met the requirements for the animal. So we always encourage you to take a good look at the Facebook or Petfinder description to make sure that you meet all of that criteria. We are closed on Sundays and Mondays, so we don't process applications then. Um, but after we process everything and it looks good, we schedule a time for you and your family to come in and meet. And we have a lot of people who say, you know, you used to a long time ago be able to just go in and, you know, poke at the dogs in their kennel and look at them. Why don't you do that anymore? And it's actually really stressful for the animals to have strangers come in. Um, you can imagine in your own home, if you have a dog or cat and the doorbell rings, you're not always going to get the best reaction from that animal. So it's really a much better situation for you to be able to have a schedule when we can have the dog be a little bit more calm for you. You get to spend more time in the room, it is not that barrier presence through the kennel. So that's why we do that. It's better for the animals and it's better for the adopters. So we have you and your family come in. If you have a dog currently in your home and you're looking to adopt a dog, we do a dog-to-dog matchup. And if everything goes with all of that, then you take the dog home or the cat. Um, we don't do uh cat-to-cat matchups, but um, you spend time in the cat room. So if you're interested in spending time with the animals outside of just adopting, we would encourage you to consider becoming a volunteer.

Richard Piet 10:04

Lots of thoughts there as you uh uh went over that. But the uh point is that uh there is a process, understand that. I would also say that if uh you're not coming in and poking in the in the kennel area, you're actually meeting them uh in a scheduled appointment and they're away from that environment, you're probably getting a better understanding of the personality of the animal.

Jessica Gilbert 10:31

Yes, absolutely. So um anytime, for example, I walk back into the dog kennels and they know me, they see me all the time. But if I walk back through there, they all go absolutely nuts. And it's very loud, and they hear each other barking, and that makes them bark, and they get worked up because they think maybe they're going outside, and their anxiety level just goes to an all-time high, and it can take half an hour or longer for them to calm down into their own personalities again. So, really being able to schedule that time where they just get one-on-one time is not that wild situation every 10 minutes where someone is coming through. That's really you're seeing the dog's more true personality.

Richard Piet 11:19

All right. So uh there you are. You can click through from uh battlecreekpodcast.com if you want, or type it right in HSSCM.org, Humane Society, South Central Michigan, and look for the application and go from there. And of course, maybe it's Asha you want to have a look at. We'll put that uh photo at battlecreekpodcast.com

Why Kennel Browsing Stresses Dogs

Richard Piet 11:40

so you can see and then click through. You know, the uh warm weather months bring a few of events that help support the Humane Society. Another way that you can be helpful besides volunteering is of course uh of a monetary nature if you're so motivated. One of those was the Whisker Mixer in May, and that was uh an event that has taken place, and we'll talk too about the one that's coming up next. But Whisker Mixer is pretty nice, and it was a nice event this year.

Jessica Gilbert 12:11

It was. This was our first time having it at Squirrel Hollow. Uh, they were the host for the event, and we could not be more thankful for their support. Um, if you have not been Squirrel Hollow golf course, you should. Even if you are not a golfer because they have trivia nights and they do all kinds of things, it is gorgeous out there, but they're just so nice, and it is it's a place where as soon as you walk in, you kind of feel like I'm at home with friends. So um, they did an amazing job. The event was a lot of fun. We had a great turnout, and yeah, it was just a really nice evening.

Richard Piet 12:48

And this is one of the opportunities to support the Humane Society in a way that is event related and silent auction related and things of that nature. So that makes it kind of fun. There were a number of items on which to bid, so this is the approach that gets taken, and you get to have some fun with that. And if you have an event that you're trying to situate somewhere, as Jessica mentioned, Squirrel Hollow does a nice job, and they have a lovely uh uh sort of banquet bar area where you can stage these things, and it worked out very nicely.

Jessica Gilbert 13:23

It did. Uh, we are absolutely hoping to have our event there next May, um, just because we're thinking

Fundraisers From Whisker Mixer To Mutt Market

Jessica Gilbert 13:30

that maybe that will be our forever home for our event.

Richard Piet 13:33

Yeah. So there is another one in August that's coming up that you should know about, and uh that's kind of a fun one as well.

Jessica Gilbert 13:42

Yes, we have the Mutt Market on Saturday, August 22nd from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is a craft fair with boy, we've got some amazing craft vendors and artisans this year. Um, but we also have a lot of other events like dog paw print painting, free dog crafts and games for dogs, including the the famous um hot dog bobbing for hot dog contest. We also have free crafts and activities for kids, including face painting. So um, it is a family fun festival. We've got a food truck coming out, all kinds of vendors. Is bring your dogs, bring your kids, bring your whole family. It is so much fun.

Richard Piet 14:26

Yeah. So August 22nd, that'll be at the Humane Society on Watkins Road, right?

Jessica Gilbert 14:31

Yes, absolutely. It's right down in our dog park. So you get to see what the dog park looks like and spend some time. We're crossing our fingers for great weather, and uh it's just really it's my favorite event. I have such a good time seeing all of the dogs. We've got our search and rescue group coming back to do demonstrations again this year. They do an amazing job where they'll hide a couple people out on the dog park trails and their dogs will go find them. Again, it's all free and it's so much fun.

Richard Piet 15:04

All right. So mark your calendar for that. August 22nd at the Humane Society of the Mutt Market. You mentioned the craft fair. Folks can actually have a booth there if uh they're so inclined, right?

Jessica Gilbert 15:16

Absolutely. I think we've got a great deal on our booth. Uh, they are $35 for the space, and uh, you bring your own tent and tables and all of that. Um, we do all of the marketing and publicity, and you it's really easy to fill out the form on our website if you go to events and then uh mutt market. The form is right there. And if this is your first time and you're interested in doing a craft fair and you've not done one before, and maybe maybe you're a little bit nervous about it, hey, I am glad to sit down and talk to you. We'll go over what are some of the things that you would want to do personally to prepare. We will hold your hand through the whole thing and give you the opportunity to start your own small business for only $35 to do this first event. It's a really good deal.

Richard Piet 16:11

Yeah, and you talk about it being uh a craft fair, but if someone has, I don't know, uh some kind of other wares they sell, or uh maybe they offer a service of some kind that folks might want to know about, maybe that's worth thinking about.

Jessica Gilbert 16:26

Absolutely. So um, we've had a number of different services in the past, you know, garage doors or uh selling insurance. So having an information booth there is absolutely something that you could do. But if you're starting out small crafts, if you're an artist, even if it's something that you don't actually do there, um, like you're an artist that sells custom portraiture or something along those lines, you know, bring your samples and get people to sign up, make uh a contact list. So um, there's a lot of different opportunities for you to have a booth there.

Richard Piet 17:06

All right. So hsscm.org. More details

Vendor Booths And Final Reminders

Richard Piet 17:10

there on the Humane Society website, August 22nd. Mutt market. Meanwhile, Asha awaits meeting her family. So have a look, and maybe that's you. Wigglytail updates on Community Matters. Jessica, thank you. Thank you. Humane Society South Central Michigan with our Wigglytail updates here on Community Matters. Back soon.