Fundraiser Wednesday at First St. Café to aid nonprofit

The Humane Society of the North Bay has recently undergone multiple changes. To help pay for them and aid the animals in its care, the group’s board hopes Benicians will dine Wednesday at First Street Café, where a portion of their bill will be donated to the Humane Society’s coffers.

In addition, the nonprofit’s board wants to start a “Second Start” fund to help animals with special needs, such as Ochenta, a young Papillon who was hit by a car on Interstate 80 and needs surgery to repair her hip and leg.

The Humane Society, 1121 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo, formerly was known as the Benicia-Vallejo Humane Society but changed its name a few years ago.

Now it is undergoing a new set of changes, having chosen a public relations specialist as president of its board in its June election.

Serving with new board President Stephanie Gomes are two vice presidents, Frank Hartig and Kristen Robbins, Secretary Kristin Eddy and Treasurer Julie LaValle.

Bev Daniels, Diana Lang, Lisa Hart, Gretchen Filer, Sally Proctor, Nancy Petullo, Maria Chua and Peggie Hartig make up the rest of the board.

A new director of animal welfare, Sue Strek, operates the shelter and a new executive director, Judi Adams, arrives in two weeks from Healdsburg.

She and Strek will be a “dynamic duo,” Gomes said. In addition, “This is a great new board. They’re active.”

The board has big dreams for the Humane Society, including a community-welcoming open house in August, Gomes said.

Among its long-term projects is to move the 112 adoptable cats out of cages and into “kitty condos,” so they have more room to move and play. The board also wants indoor-outdoor enclosures for its dogs, of which 60 are currently seeking permanent homes.

The Humane Society also has a couple of rabbits and a duck it is hoping to place with families.

Two of its big dreams involve animals with special needs. Top on the list is Ochenta, who must remain confined after she was struck by a car on Interstate 80, Gomes said.

“She’s not supposed to walk,” she said. The Papillon’s back leg is braced and taped, the start of treatment for the injured animal.

Found after she was hit, Ochenta was taken to the Humane Society, which found a veterinarian willing to treat the dog for the worst of her injuries.

But the dog had been hurt for some time before she was rescued, and the injured hip couldn’t be repaired as easily as it would have been had she been seen by a veterinarian within 72 hours of the accident, Gomes explained.

“She has a dislocated right hip and a fracture to her left foot. Her ankle is splinted,” she said.

Ochenta, whose name means “80,” will need surgery if she is to walk normally again, and that means the Humane Society needs at least $6,000 if the repairs are to be done correctly. Of that, $2,000 to $2,500 is for the hip repair alone.

But Ochenta isn’t the only animal in need of additional care.

Gilbert and Margaret are two Russell terrier-Brussels Griffon mixes whose backs were scalded into open wounds, probably by someone who dosed them with anti-flea medications that are too strong for little puppies. These two are just six weeks old.

So the board wants to start a “Second Chance” fund, which it would use for animals like Gilbert and Margaret with medical needs that go beyond the routine costs that are included in adoption fees.

To help with daily expenses, the Humane Society operates the Happy Tails Thrift Store, 1825 Springs Road, Vallejo. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

It, too, has undergone changes.

“It’s been all redone, and it’s under new management,” Gomes said. Shoppers now will find Balinda Vasquez as the store’s new manager.

The thrift shop sells clothing, furniture, glassware, kitchenware and other items, and Vasquez monitors its inventory to keep the merchandise selection balanced. Those who want to donate need to call first to see what’s being accepted as well as what’s in stock, Gomes said.

Those interested may call Happy Tails at 707-980-6182.

There are plenty of cats, kittens, dogs and puppies ready for new homes, too, Strek said. And while some people consider free animals a bargain, the real bargain is all the pre-care that is included in the adoption costs, she said.

Cats, who cost $100 to adopt, come with identifying microchips, spaying or neutering, a battery of vaccinations, tests for such diseases as feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus and medical and health documents. Two cats can be adopted for $150.

Dogs younger than 18 months are $200 to adopt, and older dogs cost $175. The adoption fee covers a similar health package of vaccines, including proof of rabies vaccination needed for the dog’s license, microchipping, spaying or neutering, tests for heartworm and Lyme disease, a temperament evaluation and medical health records.

Each adoption includes a follow-up telephone call from the Humane Society.

The Humane Society also provides guidance to pet owners, as well as encouragement to spay and neuter pets so that the number of unwanted and homeless animals can decline.

In addition to adoptive families and money donations, the Humane Society needs volunteers, Gomes said. Those willing to help may greet visitors and answer telephones, help socialize cats and dogs so they’re ready for new families, or, like Chua and Proctor, become foster parents themselves, particularly of the younger kittens and puppies who need extra attention and feeding before they’re ready to be adopted.

“This is the place to look for animals,” Gomes said. “This is where you’ll find your new best friends.”

Benicia residents and others can dine at First Street Café, 440 First St., Wednesday and help the homeless animals at the Humane Society of the North Bay.

First Street Café will donate 20 percent of all pre-tax sales of meals bought Wednesday by patrons who bring in a flier that promotes the fundraiser. The flier can be printed from the Humane Society’s website, hsnb.rescuegroups.org.

Only guests who have a flier will have their purchases credited to the Humane Society of the North Bay. Both takeout and seated dining orders are eligible.

Meanwhile, the nonprofit is welcoming help from many avenues. Valero Benicia Refinery’s 450 employees collected more than a thousand pounds of pet food, as well as cleaning supplies and other items, and contributed $575 to the Humane Society Friday afternoon.

“Valero is a long-time supporter of the Humane Society,” Gomes said.

“They do this every year.”