Speaking of
4242 South 300 West • Murray, UT 84107
(801) 261-2919 • www.utahhumane.org
Animals
Winter 2015
The Humane Society of Utah is dedicated to the elimination of pain, fear, and suffering in all animals.
The Kitten Bowl is THIS Weekend!
Page 3
2014 Was a Banner Year!
Page 3
City Council
Says “Neigh”
Page 6
Long-time
HSU Board Officer
Dr. JoAnn Seghini
Page 7
Plus:
HSU Adoptee Becomes a Star!,
Heaven has a Beautiful New Angel,
and more!
The 7th Annual
Board of Directors
Craig S. Cook, President
Dr. Eric Belnap, Vice President
Dr. JoAnn B. Seghini, Secretary
Randy John, Treasurer
Directors:
Timothy R. Pack, Steve Starley,
Tim J. Williams, Susan Wood
Administrative Staff
Gene Baierschmidt, Executive Director
Paul Chapin, DVM, Veterinarian
Shama Chapin, DVM, Veterinarian
John Paul Fox, Chief Investigator
Pauline Edwards, Director of Clinic
Susan Carpenter, Director of Shelter
Jamie Usry, Director of Development
Heidi Myers, Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Deann Shepherd, Director of Communications
Carlene Wall, Director of Operations
Katharine Brant, Director of
Publications and Membership
Oliver Schmidt, IT Manager
Loraine Delgadillo, Business Manager /
Human Resources
Lisa Burningham, Volunteer Coordinator
Jessica Almeida, Animal Transfer Coordinator
Barbara Conrad, Foster Animal Coordinator
Rachel Kelly, Special Events Coordinator
Caitlin Lisle, Outreach Adoptions Manager
Guinnevere Shuster, Social Media Coordinator
Services Provided
Adoption of animals to qualified homes
v Low-cost sterilization surgeries
v Receiving of unwanted animals
v Preventive immunizations
v Investigation of animal abuse and neglect
v Animal rescues
v Humane education
v
For further information on services provided
by HSU, call (801)261-2919 during business hours.
Remember, HSU is your shelter. We are here to
help the animals of Utah. Please help maintain and
support our programs with your contributions.
Hope for the Holidays
Telethon
Thanks to Everyone Who Made it Happen!
We could not have asked for a better way to kick off the holiday season at the Humane
Society of Utah! On November 30th, the 7th Annual “Hope for the Holidays” telethon,
presented by the Wasatch Front Subaru Retailers, raised over $115,000 to support our
life-saving work and the nearly 12,000 homeless animals we care for each year. During the
three-hour broadcast, Fox 13 talent, including Bob Evans, Kelly Chapman, Dave Nemeth,
Dan Evans, and Tamara Vaifanua, presented
over 60 adoptable pets and led us on a journey
discovering the amazing programs and success
stories of the HSU.
Here are nine of the 20 great volunteers who manned
the phone banks during the Telethon. Thanks to
each and every individual, both in the spotlight
and behind the scenes, who contributed time,
effort, and dedication to the event.
Kelly Chapman and Bob Evans, Fox 13 TV’s
in-studio hosts of the Telethon, were superb emcees
for the festivities. Their own obvious love of animals,
and their enthusiasm for helping the Humane
Society’s programs on behalf of animals in need
throughout the state, were invaluable factors in
making the 2014 Telethon the best we’ve ever had.
The telethon also broke ground for a year-round partnership with the five local
Subaru retailers. In 2015, the Wasatch Front Subaru Retailers will be hosting quarterly
Subaru Loves Pets events with the Humane Society of Utah to benefit our community’s
furry forever friends. Charles Lamoureux, Zone Marketing Manager at Subaru of America,
can’t think of a more natural partnership. “Subaru and pets have always gone together. From
our employees to our customers, our pets are part of our family and help make us who we are.”
Keep an eye out on social media for event announcements starting in January!
While we’re already looking forward to the 2015 telethon, Jamie Usry, HSU
Development Director, mentioned that this year has been the best yet! She says, “We
are so appreciative of the community for tuning in and supporting the animals at the Humane
Society of Utah. We truly rely on fundraising events like our telethon to subsidize year-round
costs and help us save more lives.” In addition to community donors, the success of our
telethon was made possible because of partnerships with local businesses. We’d like to
express our deepest and most sincere thanks to everyone who made this magical,
spectacular event as wonderful as it was! v
The Humane Society of Utah is
an independent 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization
that is not affiliated with any other group, nationally
or locally. We receive no funding from taxes or any
source other than your contributions.
Incorporated 1960
4242 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84107-1415
Telephone: (801) 261-2919
Fax: (801) 261-9577
www.utahhumane.org
© 2015 Humane Society of Utah. All rights reserved.
Additional Support Provided By:
Advanced Veterinary Care, Avid Identification Systems, In the Event,
Pets in the City Magazine, Smith’s Food & Drug Stores, and Snugz USA
s Thanks to All of You,
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We Just Keep on Doing Better All the Time
— 2014 Was a Banner Year in Every Way!
— by Gene Baierschmidt
HSU Executive Director
In 2014, the Humane Society of Utah placed nearly 10,000 dogs and
cats — an all-time record! This figure comprised 4,180 cats and 5,730
dogs, for a total of 9,910 felines and canines. Also, we placed 571
miscellaneous small animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, and
rats; the overall grand total was therefore 10,481 animals! I believe that
we can attribute this stunning success to the following factors:
First, in June we opened our new “The Wait is Over, Rover” Dog
Adoptions Center, with its attractive separate sections for assorted sizes,
breeds, and temperaments to ensure the best possible environments for
different kinds of dogs — Tiny Town for the small ones, for example,
and others assigned to equally upscale “neighborhoods” known as
Uptown, Midtown, Downtown, and The Avenues. These new quarters
not only showcased our adoptable dogs to much better advantage, but
made it a great deal easier for the visiting public to interact personally
with them. Since the Center’s opening, we’ve seen a 50% increase in
canine placements, just as we’ve seen big gains in cat placements ever
since the super Kitty City opened its doors in 2012.
Second, our Animal Transfer and Rescue program was able to
bring in and place close to 3,000 cats and dogs from around the state,
which is something we’ve never been able to do before because we
didn’t have the space and staff that we now have.
Additionally, in 2014 we significantly expanded our many other
adoptions-related programs, including the foster, behavior-training,
outreach, and volunteer departments.
Finally, were it not for the generosity of our many contributors,
staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors, none of this would have
been possible, and we want to extend our sincere thanks to all these
dedicated people.
Impressive Results
These efforts made it possible for us to hit a record total live-release rate of 88.4% (93.3% for dogs, 82.3% for cats); moreover, our
clinic spayed and neutered 10,436 animals and administered tens of
thousands of preventive vaccinations, thus helping to reduce the pet
overpopulation problem and improve the health and well-being of
Utah’s animal community.
HSU is an open-admissions shelter, meaning that we accept any
animal that we can legally admit (wildlife and livestock being among
the obvious exceptions), and we place more dogs and cats than any
other animal welfare organization in the state. We partner with over
200 rescue organizations and shelters throughout the Intermountain
West to give as many animals as we possibly can the chance for
happy new lives. The Humane Society of Utah is well on its way to
becoming a model for animal shelters across the nation.
Everything just seemed to come together perfectly for us in 2014.
And this year, 2015, we intend to enhance and refine our multi-pronged
adoption programs even further to ensure that this steadily upward trend
continues at a strong pace. Here’s to a great new year for everybody! v
This weekend is the 2nd Annual Kitten Bowl!
The Humane Society of Utah is honored to partner with the
North Shore Animal League of America as one of only 20
animal shelters across the country participating in the 2nd
Annual Kitten Bowl. North Shore Animal League, the world’s
largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, will present
the three-hour special event on the Hallmark Channel at
10 AM on Sunday, February 1, 2015. Hosting its own Kitten
Bowl Party with feline adoption specials running throughout
the week (see right), the Humane Society of Utah hopes to
find many new homes with playful activities available for
humans, kittens, and adult cats alike.
The Kitten Bowl drew 3.2 million viewers in 2014, raising
money and awareness for shelter cats nationwide. Receiving
mention on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, The Katie Show,
Access Hollywood, Good Morning America, New York Times,
USAToday.com, and E! Online, the event resulted in a total
of 389 adoptions at the partner shelters. With a chance to
be awarded a $5,000 grant for the most adoptions during the
event, the Humane Society of Utah is excited to spread the
word and support these kitty athletes!
In celebration of the Kitten Bowl, on Saturday, January 31,
and Sunday, February 1, the HSU cat and kitten adoption
special includes:
• Adult cats (7 months and older) will
be adopted to a good home at no cost.
• Kittens (under 7 months) will
be adopted to a good home for only $20.15.
• All cats and kittens adopted will receive a FREE
AVID microchip certificate redeemable at the HSU Clinic.
• Continuing the feline fun, through Friday, February 7th,
adult cats (7 months and older) will continue to be available
at a discounted adoption fee of only $10.00 and
will include a FREE AVID microchip certificate.
Be sure to tune in to the Hallmark Channel for the Kitten
Bowl at 10 AM on Sunday, February 1st, and come down
to HSU from noon to 5 PM to join us for our own in-house
Astroturf Kitten Games. Celebrate with HSU by enjoying
football snacks and super star pets! We’ll see you then! v
3
Thanks to the R.O.A.R. Squad
HSU Adoptee Becomes a
In April of 2010, an amazing and very cosmopolitan lady named
Shauna Stewart Douglas founded a group called The R.O.A.R.
Squad, which stands for “Rescue Owners Are Rockin’!” Its
mission is to find at least one family in every state in America and
every province and territory in Canada to rescue a homeless animal and provide him or her with a wonderful new home, and the
results so far have been fabulous. As of this writing, the Squad
has been responsible for encouraging shelter adoptions from the
majority of the target areas. When we heard that one of the Utah
successes was a former foster dog from the Humane Society of
Utah, we immediately contacted the Squad’s website, FidoandWino.com, and asked for permission to re-tell the story for HSU’s
readers to enjoy — and, it is to be hoped, find inspiration!
Star!
went directly to the Humane Society of Utah to find
a shelter dog to adopt as a family pet. We looked at many
delightful prospects, but didn’t quite sense that we’d found
that “Special One” who could truly win our undying love.
Then, just as we were about to leave, we felt, as much as saw,
a sweet yellow Lab pleading with us through the chain-link
fencing to take her home.
Her kennel card told us that her name was Mattie, and
even though she actually didn’t look full-grown herself, the
information card said she had just weaned a litter of puppies
before being turned in by her former people. But it was her
beautiful smile (really!) and her obvious, begging desperation
that reached out and tugged at our hearts — until we read
“Not Housebroken” on the card, which we sadly agreed made
it impossible for us to adopt her. We worried that she could
be a habitual wetter, and thought that might have been the
reason she was given up to the shelter. So we moved on to a
few other kennels but, after having looked into Mattie’s unforgettable eyes, the other dogs we inspected just didn’t seem
to measure up, and we reluctantly left.
It Was Meant to Be
Even as we drove home, petless, Mattie’s sweet face
haunted me; I bitterly regretted that we hadn’t been able to
take her and I prayed, “Dear God, please let that little yellow
Lab mama get a great home with the right people!”
Cherie Groll shares a meaningful moment with her beloved HSU adoptee
Mattie. Cherie felt Mattie, a homeless yellow Lab who had been
turned in to us immediately after weaning a litter of puppies, tugging
at her heartstrings the moment their eyes met.
Today both of them are successful, professional part-time actresses!
About five years ago a young, bewildered doggie mother
was brought to the HSU shelter after having delivered and barely
finished weaning a litter of pups. She was beautiful, intelligent,
and sweet-tempered, but because she was also so traumatized by
the recent turmoils in her life, our Foster Coordinator, Barbara
Conrad, had some reservations about putting her up for immediate adoption after her spay surgery — nevertheless, the dog was
placed in the adoptions kennels to see how things worked out.
That’s where she was on the day that a lovely local actress and her
husband came through the shelter to find a good canine companion
— but let them tell the rest of the story in their own words:
An Uncertain Beginning
4
Our names are Cherie and Jeff Groll and we have two
children, but we finally decided that we wanted to add a fourlegged new member to the family as well. My husband and I
The moment Mattie was brought home from the HSU shelter,
the entire family knew that they were meant for each other. On her
first evening in her new home, Mattie snuggled down in the corner of
a soft sofa and promptly fell into one of the sweetest slumbers of her life.
We waited for about a week, during which time I thought
of Mattie every day and hoped that my prayers had been
answered by some nice person. Then we decided to try again
to find another dog. I called the Humane Society and
Here’s the un-retouched,
un-photoshopped picture
of Mattie’s irresistible,
million-dollar smile that her
delighted family snapped after
their happy, contented new
friend drifted off to sleep
after a long day of loving and
playing and chowing down
tasty meals. It’s no wonder
that everyone who sees that
gorgeous expression falls
hopelessly in love with Mattie.
asked if any new dogs had come in since we last visited. The
person I talked with — who I later learned was Barbara
Conrad herself — said, “I have a beautiful little yellow Lab in
foster care at my own house,” and she proceeded to describe
Mattie down to the last detail. I said, “But that one’s not
housetrained, right?” and Barbara laughed, “Well, she’s doing
fine so far! I took her in to foster because I really believed that all
she needed was a little reassurance and TLC to cure the ‘leakage’
problems, and I’m beginning to think I was right.” My husband
and I looked at each other for perhaps two seconds — then
we simultaneously agreed that we should go back and adopt
Mattie no matter what, give her all our love and patience, and
hope for the best. We grabbed the car keys and were out the
door before the cord on the wall phone stopped swinging.
That very first night at our home, after we and our kids
(who fell in love with Mattie at first sight) had spent the
day lavishing treats, toys, love, hugs, ear-scratches and
tummy-rubs on an enthusiastically responsive Mattie, I could
actually see, as she drifted off to sleep on our sofa, that she
was wearing the same beautiful smile that had captivated
us on our first visit to the HSU shelter — just look at that
absolutely un-retouched photo we took of her!
Life at the Top
Although Mattie was certainly thankful to have become
a close part of our loving family, and we adored her without
reservation, there were of course initial adjustments to make.
For the first few weeks she was still timid, especially around
men, and also very fearful of being left alone; and we did
have a few potty incidents. But with gentle, patient training
her confidence and security built up, she learned perfect
house manners, and now, after four and a half years, Mattie
is a wonderful, joyous, life-loving best friend. She shares our
adventures, our quiet times, our joys, and our trials. One
Christmas when I was down with a touch of flu, she loyally
stayed cuddled right by my side in bed, day and night, until
I was up and about again. Every day, she eagerly awaits the
times when the kids come home from school and my husband
enters the door after work. Our mealtimes are her mealtimes,
with her own bowls and place mat set right beside the dining
room table.
And, on top of everything else, she’s also a talented TV
and movie actress! This is how that happened:
Since Mattie and I spend so many hours together, I
decided early in our relationship that it would be fun to
provide her with some actual training — simple tricks and
the like. She’s extremely intelligent and eager to please, so
it was a delightful and easy exercise for both of us — and it
led to a part-time career as a professional performer.
“I’m Ready for my Close-Up Now,
Mr. De Mille”
Mattie got her start because, just for fun, I tried out as an
“extra” in the film High School Musical 3, which was filmed
here in Utah. I loved the experience, but during the long
hours on the set I missed my dog so much. Then I thought,
“Since Mattie is so well-trained, maybe she could come with
me, mostly just to keep me company. But who knows? A really
sensitive talent scout might be able to see the star potential in her!”
Mattie starred in the pilot
episode of the Fremantle
Corporation’s TV series
Canyon Rangers, and has
also been featured in films and
commercials. Most recently,
she completely charmed her
co-stars Diane Keaton and
Kevin Kline in the movie
My Darling Companion.
And that’s exactly what happened. Mattie got her first
“gig” in the pilot episode of a search-and-rescue TV series
sponsored by the Fremantle Corporation called Canyon
Rangers. She played the part of one of the main characters, a
heroic dog named Lucky, who is the best friend (and eventual
savior) of the boy in the story. Most recently, she played the
role of “a dog walking in the park” in My Darling Companion,
a movie starring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline. To date,
she’s been in several films, a television episode, and a
commercial. She loves going to work with me, because she
gets to spend the whole day right beside me, mooches lots
and lots of treats and attention from the cast and crew of her
projects, and instantaneously captures the hearts of big-name
actors just by flashing that million-dollar smile of hers at
them. And I make sure that she gets plenty of rest and
“just being my baby” time, too.
Most of all though, Mattie is a well-loved part of our
family and our sweet and devoted friend. We love her, and
she loves us, so much that there are no words to express the
depth of our feelings for each other.
So, as it turned out, our family needed Mattie at least as
much as she needed us. We weren’t really complete until she
came along. Our advice to all potential adopters who visit a
shelter is simply this: When you look at a particular animal
and feel that special clutch at your heart, go with your feelings!
If you were destined to be together, as we and Mattie were,
everything will work out. Love always finds a way. v
5
—
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It’s
City Council Says “Neigh”
to Horse-drawn Carriages in Salt Lake!
On November 25th, 2014, the issue of horse-drawn carriages in our
community was finally and formally discussed during a session of the
Salt Lake City Council; HSU Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt
attended the meeting and outlined the Humane Society’s reasons for
opposing this practice, and to our great pleasure, the Council voted
unanimously to ban horse-drawn carriages in downtown Salt Lake (allowing for some exceptions like parades and other special events)! Our
city now joins the ranks of such world-class places as London, Paris,
and Toronto in prohibiting this outdated and inhumane business.
At Last, the Payoff
of Much Time and Effort
The Humane Society of Utah has been actively involved in
calling for this action for at least a year, and a lot of credit goes as well
to numerous grassroots groups and other organizations that have also
diligently labored to put an official end to horse-drawn carriages in
Salt Lake. The single most important catalyst in getting this entire
movement rolling on a large scale was the death of Jerry, a horse
working for the “Carriages for Hire” company in the summer of 2013.
Following Jerry’s untimely passing, we wrote individual letters to
each Council member; and several times in Speaking of Animals we
publicized the many drawbacks of commercially exploiting these
intelligent, gregarious animals by forcing them to spend their lives
dragging heavy wagons through the noise, smoke, and whizzing
traffic of the 21st century, under all kinds of conditions ranging from
scorching summer heat to the cold, wet, icy pavements of winter.
The Price of this Victory
This is what happened: On Saturday, August 17, 2013,
Jerry was pulling a load of sight-seers around town in 100-plus degree
temperatures when he suddenly faltered, stumbled, and fell to his
knees; he then struggled for several moments to regain his footing,
but was unable to make it. As onlookers’ video cameras recorded
the heart-rending scene, the horse collapsed completely onto the
pavement and lay motionless on his side. Eventually ropes and heavy
equipment were called in and Jerry was hauled into a trailer and taken away. It was subsequently announced that, after suffering acutely
from equine colic for ten days, he
had died. He was just 13 years
old — about half the lifespan of
a normal horse, which in itself
raised some questions about the
treatment of these animals in the
carriage industry.
On the day that news of Jerry’s
demise was announced to the
public, nearly a hundred people
gathered in front of City Hall to hold a vigil in his memory and to
demand that the Council legally ban horse-drawn carriages. Later,
an article in the publication Pets in the City denounced what had
happened, and the Salt Lake Tribune noted that “Jerry’s collapse drew
public outcry and condemnation from the Utah Animal Rights Coalition... In addition, the Humane Society of Utah has called for an end to
horse-drawn carriages downtown.”
That end has finally come more than a year after Jerry’s galvanizing sacrifice, but it is now officially law. For both humane reasons and
for considerations of public safety, we feel that this is a wise decision
on the part of our local government. Simply put, times have changed
and horses don’t belong on modern city streets. The Humane Society,
and the rest of the community, applaud the long-overdue legal stoppage of at least this one form of the needless abuse of one of mankind’s nobler companion animals. v
Save When You Shop at Smith’s — Save Animals’ Lives
You have to buy groceries and other ordinary items all the time.
Did you know that you can help the animals of the Humane
Society of Utah simply by shopping at Smith’s stores and using
your Rewards card for each purchase? All you have to do is swipe
your Rewards card — selecting a charity does NOT affect your
coupons or fuel points! Just follow these three easy steps:
• Go to www.SmithsCommunityRewards.com
• Click on “Community Rewards”
• Enter NPO number 55380 or Humane Society of Utah
And you can still participate even if you don’t have a
computer! If you have no computer access, simply clip out the
form at the right, fill it in completely, and take it with you to the
customer service booth next time you go shopping at Smith’s.
They will enter your data, and every purchase you make at Smith’s
after that will benefit the animals of the Humane Society of Utah!
It’s so easy — so simple — so important. Please enroll in
the Smith’s Community Rewards program today! v
6
Dr. JoAnn Seghini: Long-time HSU Board Officer,
All -around Wonderful Person
If we were to think of the Humane Society of Utah as a
single living organism, we might say that our staff members
collectively represent the strong backs, willing hands, and
warm hearts that accomplish the day-to-day operations of
our mission — and our Board of Directors is the central nervous system that sustains and guides all of these hard-working elements toward achieving the maximum benefits for the
animals we serve.
One of the most dedicated and distinguished members
of that Board is Dr. JoAnn B. Seghini, who first joined us
in 1987, and has served as our Secretary ever since. Her
meticulous record-keeping of all Society activities and
transactions, her level head in making decisions and defining
policies, and her profound commitment to making conditions
better for animals throughout the state have all cemented
her status as one of the leading figures in HSU’s history.
A Lifetime of Giving,
Service, and Fulfillment
As impressive as her record of service to the Humane
Society is, Dr. Seghini’s résumé in other areas is nothing less
than astonishing. In addition to raising two fine children, she
spent 36 years as an educator in the Jordan School District,
has served on the boards, councils, and committees of
33 other public-minded organizations besides that of the
Humane Society, was the first female member of the
Midvale City Council, and has been elected mayor of
Midvale City four times since 1998, an office she continues
to occupy to date. And she still manages to be lovely,
witty, charming, energetic, and seemingly inexhaustible —
a true Wonder Woman of the real world.
Well-Deserved Recognition
Last October, Dr. Seghini was honored as the 2014
recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award from the Utah
Democratic Party during a luncheon at the elegant Salt Lake
Marriott Hotel at City Creek. As the previous year’s winner
of the award, Sen. Pat Jones, said in her introduction of the
new honoree, “Eleanor Roosevelt had the passion, the heart, the
sensitivity, and the guts to do the right thing and to inspire others
to do the same. That makes JoAnn Seghini a very fitting recipient
of the award given in Mrs. Roosevelt’s name.”
These views were shared by one of Dr. Seghini’s
colleagues, Midvale City Councilman Robert Hale, who
said, “She is respected at every level of government — cities,
counties, and state and federal agencies that she’s worked with.
Each position that Mayor Seghini has taken on has been to serve
her family — and the community is her family,” he added.
For 28 years Dr. JoAnn B. Seghini has
been one of the key members of the
Humane Society of Utah’s Board
of Directors, as well as having been an
educator, a politician, and serving on
the boards and councils of scores
of other worthwhile organizations —
and she is also the four-times-elected
Mayor of Midvale City. Last October,
this remarkable woman was honored
with the Eleanor Roosevelt Award from
the Utah Democratic Party, a most
fitting tribute to such a dedicated and
energetic citizen.
In her gracious acceptance speech, Dr. Seghini reflected
that feeling by saying, “I am especially grateful to have received
this award in my capacity as a mayor, because that is a nonpartisan elected office. That means that I’m responsible for
letting each person in my community know that every one of
them is part of a single party working for the common good.”
Dr. JoAnn B. Seghini is a shining example of all that
is good in the human spirit, and we feel both proud and
privileged to count this remarkable lady as one of the great
friends of not only our own community, but of the animals
of our state as well. v
Would you like to be a Miracle Worker?
Every day the Humane Society of Utah takes in cats and dogs with
special needs of all kinds, and our Foster Department can always use
help in providing the extra care and love that these “challenged”
animals require to make them ready to be adopted to good new homes of
their own. Temporary homes are in great demand in the following areas:
• Large-breed dogs like Great Danes, shepherds, etc.
• Mother dogs or cats with litters that are still too young
to be placed for adoption
• Adult animals with physical or emotional handicaps
who must be given conscientious, one-on-one care and
attention to help them learn to blend into a real family
Please make sure that, if you wish to foster, your own animals
are current on their vaccinations, including bordetella to ward off
kennel cough.
• Kittens and puppies who have no mothers and require
regular bottle feeding
Time spent by animals in foster homes usually ranges from
approximately ten days to two months; we ask that you be able
to make a commitment to keep an animal for as long as it takes to
ensure his or her good health and adoptability.
• Motherless puppies and kittens who are old enough to
have been weaned, but who are nevertheless still too
young to be put up for adoption
Fostering is fun, rewarding, and you’re helping to save
lives! If you’d like to be a genuine miracle worker, please call
801-261-2919, ext. 215, or e-mail bconrad@utahhumane.org v
7
Now Heaven Has Such a
Beautiful Little New Angel
Shayla Annis 2005-2014
We’ve all had people in our lives who were truly special and
dear, but only once in a great while does someone come
along who is so uncommonly loving and lovable that an
entire community is drawn together in a close, caring net
of affection around that individual. Such a rare person was
nine-year-old Shayla Annis, a bright little girl with big hopes,
a big smile, and an even bigger heart. Here’s the story of
how her brief life made a powerful impact not only on her
own circle of close friends and family, but on all of us at the
Humane Society of Utah as well.
Damaged Outside, Perfect Within
Shayla was born with a severely impaired heart — valves
and ventricles and veins that weren’t working properly, and
so on — and she had the first of four surgeries to repair those
problems when she was only fifteen days old. She was taken
directly from the hospital by her adoring grandparents, Ross
and Rachel Annis, who raised her as their own child, and
their family album is full of pictures of a happy, glowing
little girl at all stages of her progress — on her first birthday,
swathed in a big, soft blanket and clutching a large wooden
block with the number “1” prominently carved on it; the
following year, dressed in ruffled overalls and cheerfully
embracing an even bigger block with a “2” on its face; and
so on through her babyhood.
As Shayla grew up and her own personality began to
shine through, Ross and Rachel quickly became aware
of where her strongest interests lay by her unfailing
attraction to animals. Her favorite toys were teddy bears
and stuffed Disney creatures, and her favorite friends were
the real, live dogs and cats and puppies and kittens whom
the Annises adopted from rescue groups and shelters.
Getting Love and Giving it Back
Shayla seemed instinctively to interact and react
to her four-legged companions in a manner that showed
responsibility and tenderness beyond her years, and she
had made up her mind by the time she started elementary
school that she wanted to be a veterinarian some day. And
whenever Grandma and Grandpa asked her where she’d like
to go for a special treat, her invariable answer was, “The
Humane Society!” And that’s the way it was. Shayla spent
many happy hours in our get-acquainted lounges, simply
cuddling and stroking various bunnies and cats and pups
who seemed to need a little extra attention. Her idea of the
best fun in the world was exploring our kennels and meeting
their ever-changing cast of residents. And after each visit,
she’d return to her own little fur family and lavish the same
kind of unconditional love and attention on them, always
telling them how lucky they were to belong to a good, loving
family of their own.
8
Her Mission was Accomplished
Shortly before Thanksgiving Day last year, Shayla
underwent what was supposed to be the last of the heart
surgeries that would be necessary for at least another decade.
Everything went well. The entire Annis family was looking
forward to a holiday season that would be filled with extraspecial thanks and gratitude, the air was filled with promise
and joy. Then suddenly, and for no readily explainable
reason, Shayla faltered and fell into a deep, sweet slumber
from which she never awakened.
Even in the midst of their stunned grief and sorrowful
shock, Ross and Rachel — and everyone else who had ever
been touched by Shayla’s sunny spirit — felt a pervading
sense of the boundless love and caring that had characterized
her nine years among them. Through their tears, her family
decided to celebrate what Shayla had cherished most: her
concern and caring for animals. Rather than say their
final good-byes in an impersonal chapel, they chose to
hold Shayla’s memorial service where she had always been
happiest — at the Humane Society of Utah.
Throughout all of her nine years, Shayla Annis cherished
animals and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian some
day. Her favorite place in the world was the Humane
Society of Utah, and that’s where her loving family chose
to hold her memorial service when her bright life was cut
short by congenital heart problems.
This is “Ladybug,”
Shayla’s own beloved
animal companion.
Videos of the two of
them playing together,
which were made by
Shayla herself, were
shown in the HSU
auditorium during
the memorial service.
On the 29th of November, a mild Saturday canopied
by soft grey clouds, our staff welcomed a steady stream of
well-wishers to share comforting embraces and delightful
memories with each other. Her schoolteachers from every
grade she had attended were present. The flower-filled HSU
auditorium displayed pictures of Shayla from infancy onward,
and a screen played a video that Shayla herself had made,
showing her playing at home with her beloved pets. This was
beyond doubt one of the most sacred and meaningful events
that we had ever had the honor of participating in.
Shayla’s time in this world was cut short by an imperfect
heart. But her real heart — the one in her soul — was strong,
full, and flawless. It made an enormous difference in the
hearts of everyone she touched before it was called home to
its rightful place after having so well accomplished its earthly
mission. v