Reigning cats and dogs

HAYDEN - The first time Tris Fisher laid eyes on Baylea, she knew.

This dog was for her.

"She stopped and came right over to me," Fisher said. "I said, 'Oh, what a good girl. Can you sit down?' And she sat down. I said, 'She's mine.'"

Friday, the Hayden woman officially adopted the 7-month-old shepherd-akita mix at the Kootenai Humane Society.

The playful pup happily wagged its tail as it waited to walk outside, hop in the car and head for its new home.

"She's just an absolute little sweetheart," a smiling Fisher said.

The adoption was one of 539 cats and dogs that have been taken home from the shelter so far this year. Executive director Rondi Renaldo said adoptions are up dramatically.

Last year, from Jan. 1 to June 30, 501 pets were adopted. From July 1 to Dec. 31, that number rose to 833, a 60 percent increase.

Renaldo, who came on board in April to lead the shelter after a 16-year banking career, said there are a few reasons for the rise in people taking more pets home from the nonprofit.

She quickly credited her 20 employees.

"I always attribute to my fabulous team, because they're the ones that know the animals," she said.

They match potential owners with the right pet for their lifestyle. An older person who prefers to relax indoors might not want a young, high-energy Labrador, and a child might not do well with an older retriever that needs rest.

Renaldo also said the shelter has increased advertising in The Press. They're fun, "corny" ads that work. The have included pictures of the animals, promote "Furry Feline" specials and offered discounts.

"People have been responding to those," she said.

Overall, it's a matter of more public awareness that the shelter can be a fun place filled with "fabulous cats and dogs."

Renaldo noted that when she started at KHS, the waiting list for people who wanted to give up cats was more than 400. Today, it's less than 40.

She credited that to asking people to first try advertising in The Press under the "giveaway" classified section. And again, KHS offered lower prices and came up with creative deals at times.

"It is a battle. There's so many cats out there that they could get cats from neighbors, cats from anybody," she said.

"It gets the cats in to a home. You have to be flexible."

Despite the increase in adoptions, the shelter saw only a slight increase in the return rate, up to 13.8 percent for the second six months of 2010 from 13 percent over the first six months.

All told last year, the shelter took in 1,879 animals, which included 993 cats, 5 chickens, 855 dogs, 2 doves, 3 ferrets, 4 guinea pigs, 5 hamsters, 3 parakeets, 8 rabbits and one raccoon, which was quickly transferred out.

The shelter did euthanize 76 animals, most for medical reasons or at the request of animal control.

The shelter can hold up to 120 cats and 80 dogs. It currently has 62 cats and 61 dogs.

Renaldo said her banking experience has been beneficial for boosting the adoption rate.

She's not a veterinarian or animal behaviorist, but has a feel for finance.

"A nonprofit has to run like a business. That's where my forte came in," she said.

She did say not everyone is happy with every decision she makes as KHS executive director, but that tends to go with the territory of leading a very public nonprofit.

"My heart is in it for the animals, and I'll do what's best for them," Renaldo said.

Meantime, Fisher said she's thrilled to have Baylea become part of her life.

Her previous dog, Moeka, a chow/red healer, lived with her for 11 years before it died in February.

"She was the best dog I've ever had," Fisher said.

Life wasn't the same, either, without a caring canine.

"I kept having that hole in my heart," Fisher said.

So on her birthday, April 23, Fisher went to the shelter to check for another loving companion. The joyful Baylea fit the bill.

"We just made a connection," she said.