2010: The Power of 10

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Learn about ten ways to help the animals

We have already started a new year, full of new possibilities. To celebrate, Washington County Animal Services & Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter in Hillsboro announces a new community campaign, 2010: The Power of 10.

"This initiative reminds all of us of the power of 10 and suggests ways that people can help us help the animals," says Deborah Wood, Animal Services Manager. "The Power of 10 is all about community. If each of us helps the animals the best way we can, it will all add up to an even better place for the people and the pets in our county. We all have 10 minutes of time to visit a shelter animal, or $10 to help them out, or 10 friends who will organize a pet food drive with us."

As you look forward to the new opportunities of this year and decade, think about the power of 10. Here are our 10 ideas for helping the animals in Washington County:

• Donate money to the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter

- The power of $10 buys two vaccines

- The power of ten 10-dollar bills ($100) buys two spay/neuter surgeries

- The power of twenty-five 10-dollar bills ($250) buys leukemia and FIV tests for 10 cats.

• Donate supplies

- Frontline or Revolution topical flea control saves pets' lives

- Gallon bottles of chlorine bleach keeps the shelter disinfected and clean

- Or, sponsor an event or video project.

• Donate food

- Organize a pet-food drive at your work or school

- Dry and canned good-quality dog and cat food, such as IAMS, Castor & Pollux, Natural Balance, Eukanuba, and Science Diet are preferred.

• Visit the shelter

- Got 10 minutes? Stop by the shelter and have fun feeding treats to the dogs and cats.

• Volunteer

- Got 10 hours a month? Offer to volunteer to care for the dogs and cats.

• Become a foster parent

- Care for a cat and her litter by fostering them temporarily in your home until our shelter finds them a permanent home.

• Spay/Neuter your pets

- If your pets are already sterilized, then offer to pay for someone else's pets, such as a family member or neighbor on a fixed income.

• Keep your pets safe at home

- Be sure to keep collars, dog licenses and ID tags on your dogs and cats (even if they are indoors).

• Teach respect for animals

- The Golden Rule rules! "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you." In other words, be kind to others and to pets as you would like them to be kind to you.

• Adopt a shelter pet!

- One of the best ways you can help is to adopt a shelter pet if you are truly willing and able to give the pet a forever home.

For more information on helping the animals, the staff and volunteers encourage the community to stop by and see how donations help the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter provide for the animals. Or, you may view the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter's Get Involved Web pages at http://www.co.washington.or.us/HHS/AnimalServices/Help/index.cfm.

The shelter is open to the public Mondays through Saturdays at 1901 SE 24th Avenue, Hillsboro.

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