News and Events

Cedarburg Winter Festival Parade!

Do YOU have a dog adopted from the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus or Ozaukee Campus?  If so, great news!  Cedarburg will be holding their 38th annual Winter Festival parade on Saturday, February 4th with this year’s theme as “Blast from the Past!” We need your help to make this event a success! Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 262-988-5949 or rlejeune@ozaukeehumane.org if you would like to walk your alumni dog in our unit! Please keep in mind that your dog should be comfortable in a parade environment of loud noises, other dogs, and lots of people.

Cold Weather Safety Alert
It's the time of year Wisconsinites have come to know and love – bitter cold temperatures along with snowy and icy streets. WHS would like to remind people that cold weather poses serious threats to their furry friends, and suggest the following tips to avoid cold weather perils and help keep their animals safe. Senior animals, young kittens and puppies, and animals with illnesses are particularly susceptible to cold weather dangers.... (read more).

Mark your calendars for the Great Lakes Pet Expo!
Held annually at the State Fair Grounds, this family-friendly event promises a full day of fun, activities, education, and much more! The expo runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, February 4th, so be sure to mark your calendars. Tickets are $6 and kids under 12 get in free! Learn more here.

FREE Public Tours
Experience a behind-the-scenes tour of Ozaukee Campus’ state-of-the-art facility. Reserve your spot for the February 18 tour today! This event is free, although we ask you to bring an item from our wish list to support the animals. Step in the paw prints of the animals and see the journey they take from the minute they arrive in Animal Arrivals, to the moment they are adopted by their new, loving families. Can't make it? View our photo tour now!

Click here to watch the Badger Puppies take down the Oregon Ducks in WHS's very own Puppy Rose Bowl 2012!

Everyone at our Ozaukee Campus would like to send a big thank you to Pabst Brewing Company for holding a "Pabst...Doggone Good! Fundraiser." They sold wristbands at bars in Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington and Milwaukee Counties and raised $4,351 for WHS! Laurie dropped off the generous check and posed for a photo with our very grateful staff! Thank you so much Laurie and everyone at Pabst!

Club BARK’s “Horse N’ Around” event was a success!

Seventeen Club BARK members joined in the fun at the Ozaukee Campus on October 5. Staff members Rachelle and Cherisse LeJeune brought their horses Sierra and Skye to help educate kids about these magnificent animals. This exclusive Club BARK event showcased the beauty of horses, a grooming kit relay race, followed by grooming demonstrations. Both Sierra and Skye were spoiled with kids lining up to hand feed apples and carrots and practice brushing each of the horses for a clean and soft coat.

We are deeply saddened to announce that George Dalton, the Vice President of our Board of Directors and the namesake of our Milwaukee Campus, has passed away at the age of 83. It is impossible to express the gratitude and love that all of us at the Wisconsin Humane Society have for George. His tireless advocacy and inspiration saved the lives of literally tens of thousands of animals. They say all dogs go to heaven, so the welcoming committee for him must be quite a sight. We wish peace to George, and to Pauline, their children, and all who loved and supported him through his valiant fight. Learn more about George and see information on funeral services here. To make a memorial donation in honor of George Dalton, please include "For George" on the donation form found here.

Charlotte Lueck of Mequon meets Jake the police dog.

Grand Opening Party!
Several hundred people braved the cold rain and winds to help us celebrate the Grand Opening Party on Saturday, May 14. Thank you to everyone who participated in the dog activities and kids crafts!

Special thanks to the Fast Foodie (shown below) and Sgt. Emmrich and Jake from the Cedarburg Police Department!

Just Announced: Matchmaking for Cats! Click here to learn more.

Therapy Dog Class!

Join us for dog therapy class starting Saturday, May 21 at 11:15 a.m. This class includes the Delta Society Pet Partners manual and Team Evaluation by a Delta Society Licensed Team Evaluator on the final day of class. Learn more here!

The Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus is proud to host Columbia Center for two special educational events:

Sunday, May 22, Introducing Your Baby to the Family Pet
Kim Rinzel, training manager from the Wisconsin Humane Society, will share tips and techniques on preparing your animals for your baby's arrival and their first introduction. RSVP for this event no later than May 18.

Sunday, June 12, Children, Pets and Safety
Dezarae Jones-Hartwig, education manager from the Wisconsin Humane Society, will provide an interactive program on how to build healthy and safe relationships between children and yourcompanion animals. RSVP for this event no later than June 8.

For both free events: Time: 12:30 p.m. — 2:00 p.m., Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, 630 W. Dekora Street, Saukville. Register here.

Help us celebrate our Grand Opening!
Saturday, May 14, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

• Costume parade at 1:00 p.m. (all costumed dogs welcome to
  participate for a free prize)
• Hot dog bobbing
• Pupcasso paintings
• Tricks for treats
• Face painting
• K9 Unit Officer Brian Emmrich and Jake
• Fast Foodie truck
• Gift bags for all adopters
• All cat adopters will be entered to win a free sisal scratching post

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER (.pdf)

Dogs are welcome to attend and participate in these fun activities!

National Adoption Event at PetSmart in Grafton

Looking to adopt? Meet with representative from the Ozaukee Campus and visit some of our adoptable cats and puppies at PetSmart in Grafton on Friday, April 29 from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. We will be doing adoptions at PetSmart in hopes of meeting a national goal of helping 16,000 animals to find homes!

Adoption Discounts
Get 20% off your adoption fee now through April 30 at the Ozaukee Campus. If you haven't yet visited the new shelter, now is the time!

Library Event at USS Liberty Memorial Library in Grafton

Visit representatives from the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus on Saturday, April 30 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the USS Liberty Memorial Library in Grafton to learn more about our organization, services, classes, and meet some of our furry friends! The library is located at 1620 11th Avenue in Grafton.

59 Adoptions on Opening Day
On Saturday, March 26, 59 animals found new homes! The Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus opened to a crowd of adopters and supporters, eager to meet the wonderful animals available for adoption. Thanks to everyone who came to show their support. Keep your eye on the website as more animals become available every day!Our new address is 630 West Dekora Street in Saukville. For hours and directions, click here.

Print your own pdf flyer here!

Thank you to the Girl Scouts of the Lumen Christi School in Mequon! The girls held a "Bingo Night" and asked all participants to bring donations for OHS. They collected various items from our wish list, including dog food, doggie treats, toys, paper towels, and bleach. Thank you from all of the animals and staff here at OHS!

Computers Needed!
It's an unusual request, but we are currently looking for computer donations for the new facility. Our IT guru has these on his wishlist:

• ZOTAC - MAGHD-ND01-U - 2 GB RAM - 160 GB HDD
• Additional laptops: If people are willing to donate, any laptop, recertified or brand new would need to meet these specs: Intel Core i3 370M(2.40GHz), 15.6" 4GB Memory 500GB, HDD 5400RPM; Preferred model: Lenovo IdeaPad Z560 0914
  

You can catch the Outdoor Wisconsin episode about the new Ozaukee Campus shelter construction on Channel 10's website. Host Dan Small toured the building (and roof!) with Beth Maresh and Allen Washatko from The Kubala Washatko Architects. They also filmed at the current shelter.

A huge thank you goes out to the Ebenezer Child Care Center in Mequon for the many donations they collected. The donations included everything from dog treats, to blankets, to scratching posts, to paper towels, and many others items from our wish list. Thank you, Ebenezer Child Care Center!

Volunteers had fun walking OHS adoptable dogs, and eight alumni dogs and their families strutted down Washington Avenue in the Cedarburg Winter Festival this past weekend. The weather was pleasantly warm and ideal for the parade participants as well as spectators. A big thank you goes out to all the OHS alumni dogs, their families, and the volunteers who helped to make this another spectacular event for OHS!

Thanks a million to Dawgs in Motion LLC in Saukville, who collected a wide array of items from the OHS wish list for their Christmas giving tree. The items included everything from dog food, dog and cat toys, treats, office supplies, peanut butter, soap dispensers, a dog bed, and much more. They also raised over $120 for OHS from their bake sale at their "Safety Days" in fall. Thank you, Dawgs in Motion!

WE’RE OPENING MARCH 26!
Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus: Victoria Wellens Center to open for adoptions Saturday, March 26
Read more.

1.21.11 Update - We are thankful to the Saukville Fire and Police Departments for their swift and thorough response to Thursday night's fire. Other regional fire departments assisted, including Cedarburg, Grafton, Port Washington and Fredonia.

The fire was confined to one room and thankfully did not spread to the veterinary clinic, classroom, adoption areas, retail store or anywhere else in the entire building. We don’t anticipate the fire delaying our opening, which is scheduled for mid-March. Insurance reps are investigating to determine the extent and cost of the damage, and the Fire Department is continuing to conduct an investigation, but no foul play is suspected.

“There were no animals and no people in the building at the time of the fire,” confirmed Beth Maresh, director of the Ozaukee shelter.

The facility is located at the corner of Highway 33 and West Dekora St. in Saukville. The “green” building will include an adoption center, veterinary clinic and educational classroom space. The Wisconsin Humane Society hopes to obtain “Gold” Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the Ozaukee Campus, which would make it the only LEED-certified animal shelter in the Midwest. The total project cost for the Ozaukee Campus is $6 million.

The new shelter will provide extensive opportunities for the public to get involved. The classroom space will be used for dog training classes, school field trips, Scout nights and other educational programs, and the shelter is currently recruiting volunteers interested in dedicating time to help the animals at the new facility. To see updated photos of the shelter, click here.

Ozaukee Humane Society - Volunteer Application
or call 262-546-5702.

Do you have a dog adopted from the Ozaukee Humane Society?
If so, great news! Cedarburg will be holding their 37th annual Winter Festival parade on Saturday, February 5 with this year’s theme as “The Nifty Fifties.” We need your help to make this event a success! Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 262-546-5702 or rlejeune@ozaukeehumane.org if you would like to walk your OHS alumni dog in our unit! Please keep in mind that your dog should be comfortable in a parade environment of loud noises, other dogs, and lots of people.

Eric Barton, from Barton Landscape, stopped by OHS recently to make his annual donation, only this year he did things a little differently. He asked his clients to make donations to the Ozaukee Humane Society, and in exchange he would give them a discount off their landscaping services! All together, he collected over $500 for OHS! On behalf of the animals, thank you for your continued support and creative ideas!

In light of the giving spirit of the holidays, employees from the Grafton McDonalds got together and made double-sided fleece blankets for the shelter animals. Way to go McDonald's Crew for a great service project for your staff!

Ho-Ho-Home for the Holidays
Is your family looking to add a furry family member? It’s the perfect time of year with the Wisconsin Humane Society’s “Home for the Holidays” special promotion, starting Tuesday, December 21. Learn about special hours, adoption discounts and free stuff!

Help us provide toys, treats and supplies for the shelter animals. Each ornament on our Giving Tree features a much-needed item or monetary amount to support OHS' lifesaving programs and services. This holiday wish list includes everything from dog toys and cat treats to digital cameras and dollars for medical care.

Dawgs in Motion in Saukville is also hosting a giving tree for OHS, and PetSmart in Grafton will also be displaying a giving board, which will list items needed at the shelter.

Also, join the Ozaukee Humane Society for Pictures with Santa at the PetSmart in Grafton from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 19. Bring your companion to sit on Santa’s lap for a very special holiday photo.

Keep Companions Out of the Cold

Bitter cold temperatures and the accompanying snow and ice pose threats to our furry friends, and you should not leave your animals outside when it is so cold. Check out these tips to keep your animals safe this winter.

Crossroads Presbyterian Church organized a two-hour event for families at a variety of organizations, and among those chosen was OHS! Volunteers raked leaves, trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, put together dog enrichment toys, and made fleece blankets for the new shelter. On behalf of the animals, thank you for all the help!

Sneak Peak Success!

Thank you to everyone who came out to the new Ozaukee shelter site in Saukville on Saturday, October 2. We welcomed 210 attendees who enjoyed self-guided tours, live music, food and drinks, a live auction and even a rainbow.

"America the Beautiful" raised $1,600 for OHS

The ART BARK dog auction was a tremendous success, raising about $10,000! The winning bids for the beautiful fiberglass dogs ranged from $450 to $1,600. Special thanks to the Village of Grafton for this public art partnership, of which the proceeds will help save hundreds of needy animals in Ozaukee County.

We still have many naming opportunities available in the new building. If interested, please call Angela Speed at (414) 431-6162 or email aspeed@wihumane.org. Thank you!

Luck of the Irish

Every puppy, dog and kitten adopter will get a chance to win discounts ranging from 25-100% off their adoption fee. In honor of Irish Fest, this promotion runs Friday, August 20 through Sunday, August 22.

Giant Dogs Storm Grafton

Now on display in downtown Grafton, large fiberglass dogs in whimsical colors and designs! ART BARK: Dogs on Parade has kicked off and you can now see some of the dogs on display in Grafton.

Thanks to our sponsors of this public art project between OHS and the Village of Grafton: Slow Pokes, Harris Bank, Village Center, LaBudde Group Inc, Schmit Realty Inc, Little Animal Hospital, Milwaukee Ale House, Best Friends Veterinary Center, Heinz and Sons 57 Auto Body, Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center. The amazing artists chosen to paint the dogs are: Sally Duback, Kathy Ellenbecker & Gina Studelska, Joel & Erika Deutmeyer, Patrick & Patti Doughman, Paula D. Christensen, Katherine Gattoni Nowak, Marcia Gorra-Patek, Nina Koenig, Marji Bell, Joseph Knapp.

John and Elizabeth Feith of Saukville will donate $1 million to the Ozaukee Humane Society for the construction of the new Victoria Wellens Center. To learn more, click here.

Ensuring a Future for Animals

The Ozaukee Humane Society is constructing a new, state-of-the-art facility at the corner of Highway 33 and West Dekora Woods Boulevard in Saukville. The LEED-certified, green facility will include an adoption center, veterinary clinic and educational classroom space. Click here to learn more about the Ozaukee Humane Society Victoria Wellens Center.

Learn more about Henry Bowzr and Victoria Meowzr as they go on their grand tour of Ozaukee County, raising funds and awareness of the plans for the new shelter.