Due to COVID-19 Tails and Trails has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 13. All current registrations will be automatically transferred. Registration remains open so bring even more friends with you in June! 

Bring your best human or non-human buddy (better yet, both) with you on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 10:00 AM, for a charity hike up Bearwallow Mountain (4854 Bearwallow Mountain Road, Hendersonville).  Climb the one mile hike up to the beautiful, bald summit of Bearwallow Mountain with fellow conservation loving pet owners to take in the breathtaking views with your furry buddy.

Proceeds benefit Conserving Carolina & Blue Ridge Humane Society. Registration for this event is $20 and includes a t-shirt when registered by March 8. There is no registration cut off.

The hike will start at 10 am at the trail head. All participants–humans and their furry friends–must check in prior to the start of the hike. Proceeds benefit Conserving Carolina & Blue Ridge Humane Society. The registration is $20. Once you register, please check your email for more details as we get closer to the event.

If you have questions, contact Laura at lrice@blueridgehumane.org or 828-692-2639.

This information is provided as a public service and reproduced from https://avltoday.6amcity.com/helping-dogs-adjust-home-alone-asheville/?

By Brook Bolen for AVL TODAY

As we get further along into Phase 2 of the Governor’s three-phase plan to reopen the state, more of us will be venturing outside the home more frequently, and many of us will be returning to the office. How can we best help our dogs avoid the “Back to Work” blues and prepare for added solo time?

I spoke with Pia Silvani, a pet behavioral specialist — also the Interim Director of the Asheville Humane Society’s Behavioral Department — to find out what pet parents can do to make the transition as painless as possible. Here’s what Pia suggests doing ASAP:

• Stop taking your pets with you everywhere (even if that’s just inside your house). “If they’re clingy, and they follow you around from room to room, close the door and leave them alone,” she says. “If they’ve been sleeping in the bed with you throughout quarantine, put them back in their dog bed.”
  
  
• Leave your furkids alone for a few hours each day. Now that we can leave home again, step outside and run some errands. “Little spurts of time away will help them get used to you leaving again,” Pia notes.
  
  
• Stick with a routine. If you’ve been going on lots of walks in quarantine, keep them up, but get up early in the morning so you can fit them in. “It’s very important to make sure your pet gets adequate exercise,” says Pia. Similarly, if you keep music or the TV on during the day, be sure to leave it on for your pooch while you’re gone.
  
  
• Start waking up earlier. If you’ve been sleeping in and lounging in bed, start getting up earlier so your dog gets used to it, too.
  
  
• If you work remotely, then implement some distance at home. Start by shutting the door to the room where you’re working. Even seemingly small changes like this can help your pet acclimate to spending less time with you. 
  
  
• Bring your dog along to the office if you can. Let your pooch join you for half a day and then take them home. 
  
  
• Extend your lunch hour to run errands or other things you might do after work. That way, you can go directly home to see the one(s) who’ve been waiting for you all day long.
  
  
• Talk to your neighbor and see if they can check in on your dog during the day (alternately, hire a pet sitter/walker). These folks can let your dog out to relieve themself and give a few belly rubs. 
  
  
• Keep in touch with your veterinarian. If your dog shows signs of anxiety, there are lots of natural products to help pets feel more calm + comfortable, Pia says. In the event they need something stronger, your vet can prescribe the appropriate medication.

Image: Pixabay.com

Carolina Mountain Dog is a bit biased, but we believe the most popular dog breed in America is the mixed breed! Any "mutt" is #1, as far as we're concerned, especially if he/she is adopted from an animal shelter or rescue organization.

Still, if you're interested in knowing the "official" results of the AKC's annual ranking of the most popular dog breeds, here are the top 10 for 2019:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Golden Retriever
4. French Bulldog
5. Bulldog
6. Poodle
7. Beagle
8. Rottweiler
9. German Shorthaired Pointer
10. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The list was released on May 1, 2020. To see the rest of the list, visit https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/2020-popular-breeds-2019/

Image: Pixabay.com

Founded in 2016, Fear Free provides online and in-person education to veterinary professionals, the pet professional community, and pet owners. Courses are developed and written by the most respected veterinary and pet experts in the world, including boarded veterinary behaviorists, boarded veterinary anesthesiologists, pain experts, boarded veterinary internists, veterinary technicians (behavior), experts in shelter medicine, animal training, grooming, boarding, and more.

"Fear Free Happy Homes" offers free membership to pet owners. Once you sign up, you can get free access to:

• Videos with fun, easy-to-implement tips
• Articles reviewed by board-certified veterinary behaviorists
• Discounts on pet products & services
• Downloadable handouts with games, tips & tricks
• The Fear Free Certified® Professionals Directory

Check it out here: https://fearfreehappyhomes.com/

Asheville Humane Society has implemented Phase 1 of reopening plans, loosening restrictions in alignment with the Stay Home, Stay Safe order issued by Buncombe County and the State of North Carolina. These phases are based on the best information available, but could be altered as new information emerges.

Current/Temporary Adoptions Procedure:  

Asheville Humane Society is conducting meet-and-greets with adoptable pets and potential adopters by appointment only. We will be scheduling appointments Tuesday - Saturday.

Please make an appointment to visit one of our available animals by calling (828) 761-2001 x312, or emailing adoptions@ashevillehumane.org. Please leave a message and a staff member will return your call. We try to return calls within one business day, but there may be delays depending on the volume of calls we receive. 

Please Note:

• Masks are required for the safety of our adopters and staff.
• We are unable to accept walk-ins at this time.
• Each appointment will be one hour, and allow visitation with one animal.
• Some of our animals are still in foster care. If you are interested in an animal currently in a foster home, please understand that it may take longer to coordinate an appointment. Foster families who have invested in their care also have first choice if they decide to adopt their foster pet.

Adoption appointments will still be made on a first come, first served basis. We will also continue to follow our practice of Open Adoptions, meaning each potential adopter will meet one-on-one with a trained Adoption Counselor to ensure the match is a good fit for both the animal and their new family. Visit https://www.ashevillehumane.org/adopt to see available animals.

Thank you for your patience and ongoing support during this unprecedented time, and we look forward to helping you find your new best friend!

AHS Thrift Store:

The Thrift Store is located at 1425 Patton Avenue, Asheville. Hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Thrift Store operations have resumed at 50% capacity within the store, while maintaining social distancing. Please wear a mask if visiting the Thrift Store.

Community Solutions - Pet Resources and Assistance:

Drive-through clinics are being held to serve our community. Other resources and services may be available for Buncombe County residents experiencing financial hardship or other crisis. For more information or to request resources or assistance for your pet, please call the Safety Net Helpline at (828)-761-2008.

For updated information, visit: https://www.ashevillehumane.org/covid-19-updates