HEA's HOWL-a-ween adoption event is Saturday!!

Many of you know about the 49 dogs that HEA took in this past spring after animal welfare organizations rescued over 300 animals for the Sage & Thyme Ranch in Southern Wisconsin. After spending the last 5 months at HEA, the State released custody of them a few weeks ago. And now these lucky critters are ready to be adopted!

To help them find forever homes more quickly, HEA is having a special adoption event this Saturday from 10-6 at the Animal House (3171 Voyager Drive in Green Bay). Yes, that's Halloween...so we're calling this the HOWL-a-ween Adoption Event! Dogs of all breeds, sizes and ages will be there, ready to meet you!

But there won't just be howling at this event - we'll have some meows, too. About 40 cats and kittens will also be up for adoption that day.

So before you head out for your Halloween festivities on Saturday, come out to the Animal House to meet our four-legged friends. As you'll surely see...they're so cute, it's scary!!

Hiss and Howl 2009 - A Rousing Success!

This past Saturday, Oct. 24, over 200 pet lovers converged at Great Expectations Canine Behavior Center on Velp Ave. in Green Bay to celebrate Halloween...HEA style! Our 2nd annual Hiss & Howl Halloween Hullabaloo featured a silent auction, several raffles, pet portraits, kids' activities, and tons of food. However, the main event was our pet costume contest. Forty-two awesome entrants paraded down our runway to compete for top prize, which was chosen by event attendees. Congrats to Neeka DeWindt and her kitty, Lexi, who were both dressed as princesses!

Thanks to everyone who came out to Hiss & Howl. You helped us raise over $6,000 for the animals in that one afternoon! A huge thanks to our food/beverage/silent auction sponsors, as well as our tremendous band of volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you. Of course, we're extremely grateful to Great Expectations for opening their doors to us and helping us host this important yet fun event.

We'll be posting an entire album of photos taken at the event soon, but until then, enjoy the Green Bay Press-Gazette's online album of the day.

Happy Tails...last week's adoptees!

LOTS of good news to share today! A whole bunch of critters found their way to forever homes last week. Teddy, one of the dogs from the Thyme and Sage Ranch who were recently released by the courts, went home to the family who adopted Kane last year. Congrats to Chrissie, Matt and Sophia on your newest HEA addition! Teddy is the little white, fluffy dog pictured above.

Roberta and her husband had been waiting to adopt Sarah, the another one of the Thyme & Sage Ranch cuties, since June. They told us, "Picking her up was an answer to our prayers." We're so happy for Sarah and her new parents!

Now onto the cats! Destiny is the gray cat with yellow eyes pictured above. We were thrilled that her original owner, Libby, was able to adopt her back a year after she originally had to surrender Destiny to us due to health problems.

Farley and Edward were adopted by a lucky woman in Green Bay. Edward is the black cat looking into the blue litterbox; Farley is the middle cat in the group picture.

Finally, Emmett was adopted by young lady in Green Bay who couldn't wait to have a kitty of her own. It was hard to get a good shot of Emmett, but he's the black cat on top of the shelf!

Congrats to all our critters and their new families!!

Calling all pet owners: show off your pet in our Hiss & Howl costume contest!

By now, we sure hope you've heard about the Hiss & Howl Halloween Hullabaloo - HEA's biggest party (and fundraising event) of the year - set to take place next Saturday, Oct. 24 from 1-5 p.m. at Great Expectations Canine Behavior Center in Green Bay. There will be LOTS of fun stuff to do and see there, but the absolute highlight of the afternoon is our pet costume contest/fashion show! We had originally set our registration deadline for Oct. 14...but since we still have spots remaining for entrants, we've extended that deadline!

For only $10, you and your cat or dog (both, if you want! We accept multiple registrations!) can strut down our runway and compete for Best Costume - a prize voted on by our event guests.

Sign up today by visiting www.happilyeverafterinfo.org and clicking on the Hiss & Howl icon on the left side of the page. This will bring you to the info page...scroll all the way down and click on "Register For This Event." It's as simple as that!

Of course, be SURE to bring an army of people with you to the event to support you and your pet(s) with votes - the more folks you bring, the better chance you have to win!

See you at the Hiss & Howl!!

Current Sanctuary needs...

Hi, folks! Just a brief note to let you know that the dogs at the Sanctuary could REALLY use some food! We're running a bit low on dog food, so if you've got some extra bags laying around or would like to purchase some for us, your four-legged friends would bark you a very loud "thank you"! Any kind/brand is appreciated. If you live near the Sanctuary, stop by anytime. If you live in Green Bay, just drop it off at the Animal Hospital of Ashwaubenon (1030 Willard Drive).

Also, this weekend is Spa Weekend at the Sanctuary! On Saturday, we'll be bathing and pampering the cats; Sunday, the dogs get their turn. If you're free for one or both days, please consider coming out to help. The animals will be so excited!

And just for fun, check out the picture above of former HEA resident Smokey, who now lives with his mom Deb in Appleton. Smokey clearly is living the life. :)

Thanks!

ADOPTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 28, 2009

Over the weekend of October 3 and 4, several kittens left Happily Ever After and made their way into their new homes with their forever families. Daisy, a kitten who recently made her way to HEA and had only been with us since September 12, was adopted by a family in Green Bay. (She's the one climbing the cage in the picture!) Her new big brother was very excited to take her home and make her his own kitty! He even promised to scoop the litter box more often!

Poplin (who was born at the sanctuary in April) and Quincy (who arrived on September 12) made their way into the hearts of a couple with a young child. No doubt they will keep the baby entertained! These are the two who are pictured above sharing the crate. Congratulations to the new families and be sure to send us photos and stories about your new furry family members!

UPDATE on former Sage & Thyme Ranch dogs

It's Never too Late to Live "Happily Ever After"










As of Thursday, October 8, 2009, 23 of the 24 dogs that have been under court custody since coming to the sanctuary in May will officially be signed over to HEA and will be available for adoption as soon as they are spayed/neutered. Several of the dogs have families waiting for them, but most are still in need of people to step forward and make them a part of their forever family. A couple of the dogs will make their way to the fashion runway in Happily Ever After's 2nd Annual Hiss and Howl Halloween Hullabaloo on October 24, 2009 from 1pm-5pm. (Visit http://www.happilyeverafterinfo.org/ for more info.) Come and see them strut their stuff in their Halloween costumes and spend time with them...maybe even bring them home that weekend! Then the following Saturday, October 31, the dogs who are still searching for their forever families (as well as other HEA residents) will make their way to The Animal House Groom and Board, located at 3171 Voyager Drive in Green Bay, for a one day adoption event from 10am-6pm. What better "treat" to give yourself on Halloween than a new friend?!

Why do only 23 of the 24 dogs get to live "happily ever after"?
With the pre-trial date of October 19th approaching, the judge in Richland County decided to once again postpone the trial of defendent Jennifer Petkus even with the lives of over 100 hanging in the balance. Petkus faces 29 charges of intentionally mistreating animals as well as other related charges in a jury trial set to start February 22, 2010. Facing a longer wait for 78 dogs, 20 horses, and an assortment of other small animals still in court custody, the DA sat down with Petkus to negotiate. Petkus agreed to release all but a couple horses, a mule, and 1 dog, claiming they belonged to her parents who also live on the property of the Thyme and Sage Ranch in Richland County. With some other stipulations placed on Petkus with the return on these animals, it was agreed on by both sides that the terms of the negotiation could be met. The one dog that is being returned to Petkus and her family was being housed at Happily Ever After: Lucy, the black and white border collie mix pictured above. Everyone who has visited HEA has fallen in love with Lucy. She had to be returned to Dane County Humane Society where she will be spayed and returned to the Petkus family. Lucy will be checked on weekly by the Dane County Humane Society and hopefully we will recieve occasional updates on how she is doing so we can share them with all of you.