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Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center News Release
Riverside Humane Society’s Pet Behavior Help Line Is Now Online Free Help Available with Barking Dogs, Scratching Cats, and Other Annoying or Destructive Pet Behaviors Via Telephone, Web Site and E-Mail RIVERSIDE, CA, June 11, 2007 -- The Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center (RHSPAC) has launched a Pet Behavior Help Line web site, www.petbehaviorhelpline.org, to complement its popular Pet Behavior Help Line phone-in service which has operated for four years. Now pet owners anywhere can obtain free advice for their pet’s behavior problems through the web site. The site, funded through a PetSmart Charities Grant, offers an online form which visitors can use to submit a question or explain the problem they’re having with a pet. If they prefer, they can e-mail the help line directly (info@petbehaviorhelp.org). They can expect to receive a response within two days. Pet owners still have the option of calling the Pet Behavior Help Line at 951-688-4340 ext. 3 to discuss a matter. RHSPAC Executive Assistant Leslie Holzrichter manages the program which is staffed by six volunteers, pet owners themselves, trained to provide advice and information on changing inappropriate behaviors that are causing problems in the household, with neighbors or with other animals. The common problems addressed are dogs barking, chewing household objects, digging or escaping, cats clawing furniture, dogs and cats marking, getting into mischief, or acting out when left alone, and many more. On the other hand, on any given day one inquiry to the Pet Behavior Help Line can be different than the next. Problems with aggression are out of the scope of the help line. However, the staff can recommend veterinarians and animal behaviorists who are knowledgeable in addressing these issues. “Many pet owners don’t know that their pet’s behavior can be changed and that they don’t need to give up their pet after all,” Holzrichter said. “When people realize this, they’re really appreciative of our free service. And that’s one of our goals: to help reduce the number of pets given up to animal shelters due to inappropriate behavior, which in turn may help reduce the number of pets euthanized each year.” The Pet Behavior Help Line averages 10 phone inquiries a week, mostly from the Riverside/San Bernardino county region. Owners having problems with their pets are encouraged to call Riverside Humane Society’s Pet Behavior Help Line and leave a detailed message. They will receive helpful information by mail as well as a phone call from one of the trained counselors to discuss their pet’s issues. With the launch of the help line web site and e-mail access, pet owners who find it inconvenient to call RHSPAC, as well as those who live in different time zones, now can take advantage of this valuable service any time they can access a computer. As one satisfied pet owner commented after receiving advice through the Pet Behavior Help Line, “My dog is a little gentleman now. He is very smart and I can see he wants to please. I’m so thankful to have him and happy I can give him a loving home. In return, he gives me love.” Riverside Humane Society Pet Adoption Center, a non-profit public benefit charitable organization, is located at 5791 Fremont St. in Riverside. RHSPAC accepts owner turn-ins of cats and dogs and transfers from area animal-control shelters. No healthy, adoptable animal is ever put to sleep. Prior to adoption, each animal is either spayed or neutered and microchipped, receives all necessary vaccinations and medical care, is monitored for physical, emotional and mental health, and is socialized. For more information, visit www.petsadoption.org or call 951-688-4340. |
