The lost and escaped dogs that wander St. Helena have a new destination: We Care Animal Rescue.
St. Helena Police Chief Chris Hartley and Lt. Justin Tharp visit We Care Animal Rescue, which is now offering animal services for the city.
The city recently entered into a contract with the no-kill nonprofit We Care to provide animal services for the city, including medical, shelter and adoption services.
Stray animals that used to be housed in a kennel behind the old police department will now head to We Care, which will care for them and try to reunite them with their owners or find them new ones. Most of the strays are dogs, with an occasional cat.
We Care offered to do the job on an as-needed basis for about $8,000 a year. That was cheaper than flat-rate offers from North Bay Animal Services ($24,600) and Napa County ($90,533), and it allows the animals to be kenneled in St. Helena instead of being transported to shelters in Petaluma or south Napa.
“We decided we’d best serve our citizens by keeping the animals right here in town,” Lt. Justin Tharp of the St. Helena Police Department said. “We Care’s been fantastic.”
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Ashley Armstrong, executive director of We Care, said police did the best they could, but they were police officers, not shelter workers.
“We’re going to be housing these animals either until their owners come … or we find them new homes,” Armstrong said.
People who find stray animals can take them straight to We Care at 1345 Charter Oak Ave. from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, without calling the police. After-hours cases can still be reported to St. Helena Police at 707-967-2850.
The police will still investigate animal bites and abuse, and respond to calls of loose animals and barking or vicious dogs.
“If someone calls saying a dog is running around in traffic, we’ll still go chase it around,” Tharp said. “But We Care will take in the animal.”
Police Chief Chris Hartley holds a cat at We Care Animal Rescue, which is now handling animal services for the city of St. Helena.
Until 2015 the city had a contract with Napa County to provide animal services. After that the police department took over the task. An agreement with Calistoga-based Wine Country Animal Lovers didn’t work out, leaving the police responsible for adopting out stray dogs.
Tharp called the old kennel situation “a huge burden” for the police. In hot weather dogs would typically end up inside the police station, which created other problems.
“We just weren’t equipped to handle adoptions and quarantines,” Tharp said. “We had one kennel, so even a 10-day quarantine would put us in a pinch.”
In the first few weeks of the agreement We Care took in a stray cat with a litter of kittens. Based on past history, Armstrong expects to take in about 15 dogs a year, with most of them being reunited with their owners within a day.
We Care has space for only five dogs at a time, so dogs who aren’t retrieved immediately will be placed in foster care.
Armstrong said We Care will offer pet licensing (certifying rabies vaccination, with discounts for animals that are spayed or neutered) and free vouchers for spaying and neutering.
Essential dog and cat safety tips for the hottest days of summer
1. Learn the signs of overheating in pets.
Pets can’t tell you when they’re too hot, but you can learn how to identify overheating behaviors. In dogs, signs of overheating include panting, labored breathing, drooling, shaking, disorientation, and bright red or blue gums, and lethargy. Overheating in dogs can progress to tachycardia, seizures, vomiting, or bloody diarrhea if they don’t get water.
Cats show similar signs of overheating: panting, confusion, drooling, staggering, and a bright red tongue and gums. They may also groom excessively or stagger when they walk. Like dogs, overheating can quickly progress into a serious problem for cats, leading to tachycardia, vomiting, and diarrhea.
2. Keeping your pets hydrated is essential.
Hydration is essential for preventing heating in cats and dogs. Keep fresh water bowls inside and outside your house so dogs and outdoor cats can grab a quick drink on hot days. You should also keep a portable water bottle on hand for hot summer walks.
Buy it here: Gorilla Grip No Spill Portable Dog Water Bottle with Built-in Bowl, $19
3. Grooming keeps your pets cool, but don’t overdo it.
Keep your dog or cat’s coat brushed and free from matting and tangles to help them maintain a healthy body temperature on sweltering days. According to the American Kennel Club’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jerry Klein, shaving a double-coated dog could make them hotter. The inner coat insulates the dog and traps heat in the winter, but it also keeps cool air close to the skin in hot weather.
If your dog or cat is showing signs of overheating, give them water and a quick, cool bath to bring their temperature down before going to the vet.
4. Avoid hot pavement.
Walking your dog early in the morning or after sunset is the best way to avoid overheating on hot summer days, but it’s not always possible. If you have to walk your dog during the hottest parts of the day, walk them on shady sides of the street, in the grass, or with special dog booties.
Buy it here: PawZ Rubber Dog Boots, $20
5. Provide shaded areas.
Most pets will retreat to the shade if they’re feeling too hot, so make sure you provide a place for your dog or cat to cool off. This tent is perfect for dogs who love to be part of the action at backyard barbecues and family gatherings.
Buy it here: BEIMO Dog Shade Shelter Outdoor Blue Tent, $90
6. Swim safely.
Some cats and dogs recoil at the sight of water, but others range from curious about it to big fans. If you want to cool off with your dog or cat in a pool, lake, or ocean, make sure you’re watching them at all times, and invest in life jackets for pets who love to swim.
Buy it here: Outward Hound Granby Splash Orange Dog Life Jacket, $16
7. Adjust your routine.
In addition to walking dogs early or late in the day when the weather is cooler, you should also adjust the amount of exercise you do. If your dog loves coming on your daily runs, make sure you’re not running at noon. If you go on long hikes together, save that activity for more moderate days. Likewise, indoor/outdoor cats should be kept inside when the temperature is too high. When the pavement is too hot for your hand, it’s probably too hot for your cat’s paws.
8. Don’t leave your pet unattended in the car.
Cars can quickly heat up in the summer sun, with indoor temperatures surpassing the temperature outside. Never leave your dog or cat alone in the car on hot summer days, and always provide extra water (even if it means extra potty breaks) on road trips.
You can reach Jesse Duarte at 707-967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com.
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