Going Home: Haylie

Happy Woof Wednesday, everyone! We hope you are having a great holiday season! Today we share the story of little Miss Haylie. We are happy to report that this darling little pup has found herself a perfect loving family - she was even blessed with a nap buddy to keep warm on chilly winter afternoons!

Haylie’s adopter, Liliana Rojas, wrote recently to let us know how Haylie is doing in her new home, and we believe the picture below says it all!  (Haylie is on the left):

“Haylie is great! I think she is adjusting pretty well and she gets along with my other dog, Lucky.

They do not interact that much since Lucky likes being in the backyard and Haylie is inside the house, but when they do, they get along."

A big thanks to Liliana for the lovely update! We’re sure Haylie and Lucky will continue to enjoy many cuddles in the future.

Are you thinking about adopting a dog or cat? Please help us find homes for wonderful animals like Haylie. You can check out our newest arrivals, all of which need loving homes, on our website, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Please come visit us if you’d like to meet them in person. Adoption hours are 11am-5pm on Wednesday through Sunday for dogs and 11am-5pm on Friday through Sunday for cats.

Going Home: Ace

Hurray - it's Feline Friday today! 

Of course we hope that you had a splendid and warm Christmas, but if you still feel like you could do with an extra heartwarming story, we've got a treat for you today. Through our Facebook page we got an update on Ace, who was adopted earlier in 2014, and has really earned himself a place in his new family's heart, not just by being adorable, but by his actions to defend their home.

Read below to see what Ace's adopters have to say.

"I just want to say THANKS again for helping us find the most awesome cat ever!!! I thought I'd post this because it shows how smart cats are and how dedicated and protective he is of his family. About a week ago raccoons were trying to get into the house in the middle of the night ...as you can see in the picture they were trying to rip thru our screens (3 different screens) since the windows were open ( it was a hot night). All of a sudden we we were woke by our normally pretty quiet cat running into the room meowing crazy jumping on and off the bed than running to the stairs meowing loudly. First thought was something was wrong with my son since Ace is obsessed with him and he kept running to his bed as well once we were up and looking around....long story short had he not woken us up we could have had a major problem with those raccoons coming into our home. THANKS again From the whole McCoy family and lil' Ace!"

Isn't that amazing? Summer, Thank you for sending us this lovely update. Ace, thank you for being an upstanding feline citizen and all around great pet.

Do you want to tell us how your pet has changed your life? Send us an email, and we'll get you and your pet featured on the blog. We look forward to hearing your stories!

Going Home: Lou

Happy Woof Wednesday from Berkeley Humane! We received a heart-warming update from the new family of Lou (formerly Wally) who, as it turns out, is quite the traveler! Lou’s mom reports that in addition to Lou becoming an indispensable part of the family, he enjoys road tripping with his new pack! 

Lou's mom writes:

“My husband and I have named our sweet pup "Lou", and have fallen completely in love with him. His big doggie brother, Ollie, and he get along so well, and he is the perfect mix of snuggly and playful.

He went on a BIG road trip across the country this summer--camping from California to Minnesota and back--and is a pro at being the perfect travel companion.

Thank you for helping us find the best addition to our family! We can't imagine life without our little Lou.”

It looks like little Lou has hit the jack-pot, and that his new family is just as lucky. Berkeley Humane is grateful for such a positive update.

The holidays are a great time to add a new animal to your family. If you're looking for a new dog or cat, come visit us! For dogs, adoption hours are 11 - 5, Wednesday through Sundays. For cats, adoption hours are 11 - 5, Friday through Sunday. 

Going Home: Mr. Brooms

Happy Feline Friday, everyone!

In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, we have another happy adoption story to share with you. Meet Mr. Brooms, a beautiful tuxedo cat with class. Mr. Brooms met his new family at Maddie’s Pet Adoption Days, America’s biggest free pet adoption event, and has been charming them ever since.

Rachel Weaver recently checked in to let us know how Mr. Brooms is settling in.

“We adopted Mr. Brooms on Maddie's Pet Adoption Days and a year later we couldn't be happier. Thank you Berkeley Humane for helping Mr. Brooms find our home!”

We are so happy to hear Mr. Brooms is living with such a loving family! And a big thanks to Rachel for sending us this update.

Please help us find homes for our wonderful animals this season of giving. If you’re looking for a new dog or cat for your family, come visit us. Adoption hours are 11am-5pm on Wednesday through Sunday for dogs and 11am-5pm on Friday through Sunday for cats. You can also check out our newest arrivals in need of loving homes on our website, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Going Home: Mallory

Happy Woof Wednesday, everyone!

Finding the right companion for yourself can be a real search. Finding the right companion for you AND your existing pet? Now, that can be tough. Adopter Eve was able to do just that, though, when she came to meet lovely Mallory at Berkeley Humane last year. She sent us her story of introducing Mallory into her home, and we’d like to share with you.

"Several months ago, we went to the Berkeley Humane Society to get a dog as a companion to the dog I already had, named Leo, since I travel a lot and the other (human) members of the household work long hours, meaning that when I'm out of town, there is no person here for much of each day. I first looked online, and liked the looks and the description of Mallory, a mix of pit bull and something else. She looked like she had a good character, and she was young (as was Leo.) 

A few days later we (one of my housemates and I) went to check her out. Leo loves all other dogs, so I didn't expect any problems there. Mallory seemed to be fine with Leo, so we brought her home.

The first few days, there were a couple of accidents (not surprising for a dog that has spent lots of time in shelters and didn't understand about doing her business outside), but we got over that pretty soon.

There was also a bit of testing, while Mallory checked to be sure that she was really going to live with us. There was never any problem between the dogs other than some debate as to which one should go through a door first, and which one would snuggle up closest to me. Since I have two hands, I pet them both at the same time. Since I have more than one side, each can snuggle equally.

I don't let them sleep with me, but I do let them lie on the bed next to me when I take a nap. I take them for two walks a day (Leo weighs 70 pounds and Mallory, who started out at 35, is now near 55... two young, healthy, vigorous dogs.) The walks give me plenty of time to think, which is something you actually need to do quite a bit of in my line of work (filmmaking.)

The two dogs love each other very much and are very companionable. Mallory, now a little over a year old, seems to be a perpetual puppy and does have to be reminded not to jump, but she doesn't have a mean bone in her body. She plays very nicely with much smaller dogs when she's off leash in a place like Point Isabel, she loves to run, she keeps Leo company, and is a pleasure.

Two dogs do have a tendency to egg each other on when it comes to mischief, but, well, they're young and they are not only very loving, but very funny a lot of the time. I’m glad we got Mallory, and everyone else in the family also loves her."

Mallory and Leo make a great-looking pair: we’re so glad they have become good pals, and that Mallory has blended into your family so beautifully. Congratulations to Mallory, Leo, and Eve on making such a great trio!

After this wonderful tale of almost seamlessly integrating a new dog into an existing family, it's maybe easy to forget that the first time after a new animal comes home, can sometimes be challenging. If you;re experiencing adjustment problems, or want to know how to help an animal overcome a bad habit, we've got just the thing for you: get in touch with our Behavior Advice Line. Let us help you help your pet!

Top 4 of 2014: Your Favourite Canine Science Posts

As December rolls into its second half, and the days warm up - or cool down - depending on where you are situated on the globe, we wanted to say thank you for joining us in 2014 - we are continually blown away with the popular and supportive community we have around us at Do You Believe in Dog? here on the blog, on Facebook and also on Twitter. 

Taking our lead from Companion Animal Psychology, we decided to jump into some statistics (because hey, we are scientists!) to see what you made our most popular posts of 2014.

You voted with your clicks all year long and so, without further ado, here are the Top 4 Do You Believe in Dog posts of 2014:

# 4

What the pug is going on?

After seeing popular opinion of pugs framed as 'cute', Mia put together this review of the health issues facing brachycephalic breeds such as pugs, why it's a welfare concern and what can be done to raise awareness and improve the quality of life in future generations of these dogs. 

Read: What the pug is going on?

This piece was cross-posted to The Dodo

# 3

Dogs Are Like Porn: All Over the Internet and Waiting For You

Outlining all the ways you can actively participate in canine research, even without leaving the comfort of your couch, Julie compile this fantastic list of scientific studies seeking participants. You can be a citizen scientist!   

Read: Dogs Are Like Porn: All Over the Internet and Waiting For You

# 2

Dog Loses Ear at Dog Park and There Was Nothing We Could Do About It

"Dogs are confusing. People are confusing. Put them together in a public space, and it’s like all the circuses came to town on the same day." Julie outlines the issues of dogs and people combining in public spaces and offers many easily accessed resources and opportunities to educate ourselves so we can be proactive in preventing bad experiences for all.

Read: Dog Loses Ear at Dog Park and There Was Nothing We Could Do About It

# 1

Why do dogs lick people?

It started with a question on twitter, and turned out to be our most popular post of 2014.

@DoUBelieveInDog why do dogs lick you lots when they like you?
— Chanukah Potatolatke (@cpezaro) March 28, 2014

With the photo by Chris Sembrot that can not be unseen, this post from Mia looked at what we have learned about why dog lick us - there's no one quick answer and some people were quite surprised at the depth of background, in evolutionary, social and environmental terms, behind what we consider an everyday behaviour. A big part of why we love canine science!

Read: Why do dogs lick people?

This piece was cross-posted to The Dodo

We're looking forward to sharing more great canine science with you in 2015. Have a safe and fun holiday season.

Further reading:
All the above!

Milkman K. & Berger J. (2014). The science of sharing and the sharing of science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1317511111

Scanlon E. (2013). Scholarship in the digital age: Open educational resources, publication and public engagement, British Journal of Educational Technology, 45 (1) 12-23. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12010

Stilgoe J. & J. Wilsdon (2014). Why should we promote public engagement with science?, Public Understanding of Science, 23 (1) 4-15. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0963662513518154

Wong-Parodi G. & Strauss B.H. (2014). Team science for science communication., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, PMID: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25225381

© Do You Believe in Dog? 2014

Going Home: Misha

Happy Feline Friday everyone! It might be raining cats and dogs outside, but there’s just one cat we want to talk about today. This week’s going home story features the beautiful Misha. His owners were kind enough to post on our Facebook page to let us know how happy Misha is in his new home and even leave a couple of pictures. Read what they had to say below.

“Hello, we adopted Misha about a week ago and here he is relaxing! He has already made himself at home and is amenable to having his head scratched while stretching out on our laps. And here is Misha enjoying his view of the world....thank you Berkeley Humane!”

Hopefully Misha likes watching rain at his window, there’s lots to see outside today! We’re glad to see him doing so well; he looks as beautiful as ever and very happy too. A big thanks to Martha for sending us this update, we always welcome Facebook posts and emails to let us know how our adopted pets are doing.

The holiday season is upon us and tis the season of giving! This time of year, we ask everyone to keep Berkeley Humane in mind, we can always use donations to help keep our animals safe, warm, and well-fed. Visit our website, berkeleyhumane.org, to see how you can help!

Going Home: Bella

Bella, formerly Della, has found so many new friends to love! She's a playful pup with lots of energy, but plenty of time for cuddle sessions. 

Bella's adoptive family was kind enough to share some pictures and updates on Bella in her new home. Keep reading to find out more about this lovely pup and her happy new life!

"Bella, as she is now called, is doing great! She has settled in quite well and bonded with her new buddy, Theo. They run and play constantly and when she's tired she loves to cuddle with her humans. 

We all love her very much and I think she is very happy in her forever home. Thank you for helping her and caring for animals."

We are so happy Bella has found the perfect humans to cuddle. Thank you for adopting this sweet girl and giving her both canine and human friends! 

Are you thinking of getting a dog or cat, this Christmas? Then we would love to have you visit us, so we can find an animal that matches what you need. Do you really want it to be a surprise? Maybe create a coupon to give as gift, and then make a festive outing of your search for an animal companion.

Don't miss out! Dogs + Science from November

Catch up! Participate! Plan your conferences for 2015! Check out all the latest in canine science from November here, thanks to the magic of Storify (if you don't see a beautiful array of handy snippets below, please click this link to view)

Further reading:

Cobb M., Paul McGreevy, Alan Lill & Pauleen Bennett (2014). The advent of canine performance science: Offering a sustainable future for working dogs, Behavioural Processes, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.012

Hecht J. (2014). Citizen science: A new direction in canine behavior research, Behavioural Processes, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2014.10.014

Bradshaw J.W.S. & Rachel A. Casey (2009). Dominance in domestic dogs—useful construct or bad habit?, Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 4 (3) 135-144. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2008.08.004

Gosling S.D. & Oliver P. John (2003). A Dog's Got Personality: A Cross-Species Comparative Approach to Personality Judgments in Dogs and Humans., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85 (6) 1161-1169. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1161

Adoption event at Whole Foods

Happy Feline Friday everybody!

We have an exciting announcement to make! Our Mobile Adoption Center will visit our Berkeley Whole Foods stores this weekend for adoption events!

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 6 from 3PM to 6PM, we will be at the brand new Whole Foods in the Gilman district. On Sunday, December 7 from 11AM to 2PM, we will be at the Whole Foods on Telegraph.

We're very excited for the opportunity to match more of our animals with adopters in the East Bay community! Not only that, but both Whole Foods locations will have a Santa on site for pet photos! Raffle drawings will also take place at both locations during the event.


Come see us and we'll be ready for you with lovable animals, photo opportunities with Santa, raffle prizes, and plenty of holiday cheer!

Can't make it? Still want a new friend to share the holidays with? Come to our adoption center during our adoption hours and meet some of our adoptable animals!

How about playful Phoenix? She'd love to be a part of your family and will provide hours of fun and entertainment with her kitten-like antics.

Or how about sweet Emma, who wants nothing more than a human friend?

The holiday season is a time where many people choose to add a pet to their family. If that's what you're thinking of as well, why not adopt? Our animals would give their all for a warm lap or a rug in someone's home before Christmas! Our adoption hours for cats are Friday through Sunday between 11 and 5. Our dogs are adoptable from Wednesday through Sunday from 11 to 5. 

Going Home: Bailey

Welcome back to another great Woof Wednesday here at Berkeley Humane! Everyone loves a feel good story around the holidays and this week’s Going Home post is just that. This week we’re checking in with Bailey (formerly Marley). Bailey’s new owners gave us a wonderful update telling us how she got her new name, a new canine friend, and a fantastic new home life. 

Bailey's owners were nice enough to send us a detailed emailed and some great pictures (before and after grooming). Read all about Bailey’s transition from Berkeley Humane below:

“Well, that would be Miss Bailey now. My daughter's friend was over while we were thinking about names and she heard me in the kitchen saying something about bay leaves, and she said, "Bailey!" It stuck. We knew Marley was a temporary name.

So, things have been going great with Bailey. They couldn't be better, really. She immediately fit right in with the family, and gets on well with our older dog -- who she'd like to play with more, but he's deaf and blind and pretty mellow. But we have lots of other dogs in our life and neighborhood. My daughter does some dog sitting, so we have a giant golden doodle over tonight. Bailey has spent time with her before and they love to play.

It's kind of crazy to think that she was on the street. She's house broken and responds to some commands. She seems very comfortable in her crate at night. She has a great temperament and is great with other dogs and kids. We keep thinking we're going to see a poster for a lost dog with her picture on it.

Bailey went to the vet and groomer on Friday. She has a clear bill of health, apart from an ear infection -- which we're treating.

She's really a gift, and we're grateful to have her in our family. She made for quite a Thanksgiving treat.

By the way, I'm also grateful to the fellow who helped us out on Wednesday. The shelter closed early because of the holiday and we got there 15 minutes before closing. I told him we were very interested in Marley and I wouldn't be able to come back on Friday because I had to work. He stuck around and did all the paperwork for us to bring her home then.”

Bailey hasn't been home long but it's clear she's already made a huge impression on her family. We're so happy to hear about all her new friends, both humans and fellow dogs! Nothing makes the holidays a little happier like having a new furry friend to play with, and it's clear that Bailey made this Thanksgiving extra special for her family. A huge thank you to Will for his positive email, it's always great to hear back from our animal adopters.

Everyone knows the holidays are a great time of year to add a lovable new pet to your family! Who didn't ask for a puppy for Christmas as a kid? (I still do.) Berkeley Humane has found homes for more animals than ever this year, but we've got a month left to find even more. If you're looking for a new dog or cat for your family, come visit us! Adoption hours are 11 - 5 on Wednesday through Sunday for dogs and 11 - 5, Friday through Sunday for cats.