PTertacks
with Jan Jaeger

PUT YOUR BEST PAW FORWARD Everybody knows Mason, the large, handsome fawn-colored dog with a soulful face accented by floppy black ears and black muzzle. Made famous by his housing predicament and lengthy stay at the Nantucket Shelter, Mason made the rounds thanks to the efforts of primo MSPCA volunteer Lori Smith. Lori took Mason downtown, he visited the schools and made many trips to Geronimos. He also spent a lot of time behind the front desk at the MSPCA, meeting and greeting all who came in.

After many months of waiting for the right forever home, Mason has been happily settled for a couple of months now. There is no doubt that his adoption was thwarted by his medical history. Afflicted with allergies that caused him to be itchy and have skin rash, he was surrendered by his original owner because of an inability to bear the financial responsibility of his medical needs.

When Mason came to the Nantucket MSPCA, the staff committed to finding a course of treatment to relieve his discomfort, and to that end expended over $2,000 in medicines and professional care to determine a proper maintenance program for him. Those expenses were offset by the Lucky Whiskers and Wags Fund, a fund specifically established to benefit shelter animals with special medical needs. Now that Mason is living independently, some financial support is still continuing by virtue of that fund. A relatively new program, the Lucky Whiskers and Wags Fund is just one of the four programs that are an ongoing responsibility of the Animal Care and Adoption Center.

What most of us think of when we hear about the Shelter is the Adoption Center, because it performs the most obvious and visible tasks, taking in stray and unwanted animals, arranging placements and reuniting lost animals with their owners.

According to Adoption Center Manager Jessica Sosebee, this year the Shelter has seen about a 20% increase in activity over last year. "I estimate we have processed 500 animals during the past year," Sosebee comments. Their animal residents run the gamut: dogs, cats, small animals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, gerbils and bunnies, birds and even a reptile or two.

In addition to the increase in the number of animals the Shelter, the duration of their stay is also lengthening. "We place almost 100% of our animals," Sosebee explains, "so that means we feed, house and care for them as long as necessary. We spay, neuter, medicate if needed, and microchip. Typically, our adoption fees do not cover our costs. In the end, getting a shelter animal and paying our fee is still cheaper than starting with a new pet and paying for those services yourself."

In addition to these two important programs, most people probably don't realize that Nantucket Cat Rescue, an organization started several years ago by four women determined to rehabilitate the island feral cat population, is now under the aegis of the Adoption Center. They consult with concerned residents, provide traps for safe capture, test, and if healthy, spay or neuter cats that are then returned to their colony. If of an adoptable age and temperament, kittens are socialized and placed for adoption.

Finally, animal welfare services are provided in school classrooms and through facility visits, to acquaint students with responsible pet care, and to the senior community through visitations at the Saltmarsh Center.

For a much needed financial boost to support these programs, the Animal Care and Adoption Center is hosting a first annual canine fashion show, Put Your Best Paw Forward, kicking off with a cocktail reception and finishing with a live auction. In between will be the piece de resistance. Twentyfive dogs have been selected to participate in the fashion show, which will be judged by three wellknown arbiters of island fashion. It is on Wednesday evening, August 9th, starting at 6:30pm at the MSPCA grounds.

"We have been looking for an event we can host during the busy season that is different from all the other fundraising auctions and galas that are out there," Jessica comments. "We wanted a theme that will appeal to our year-round population as well as to our summer visitors. This is not intended to be a long night out; we deliberately picked mid-week to avoid conflict with other social activities."

Jessica also stresses that the money raised from this function stays with the Shelter here on Nantucket. After expenses, the Adoption Center operating budget and its programs will benefit directly from the money raised.

Tickets are $125.00 each and are available at the MSPCA or can be reserved by calling their Adoption Center number, 508-825-2287. Other locations include Geronimo's, in the mid-Island area or downtown at Vis--vis, Cold Noses, Sandy Paws, Bookworks and the Mielko Gallery.

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo's, Ltd., Nantucket's pet supply and gift shop, and is a member of DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer's Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and three cats. At the shop are cats Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Millie guinea pig and two budgies. Send email to jan@geronimos.com.

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