Staff Stories	Humane Education is Growing	“R” Friendly Face
	Happy with Humane Education…	Sheri Shines!
	She came with the building

Humane Education is Growing – Welcome Lisa!

Lisa is the newest addition to the Humane Education Department!  Not only is she the newest – she also has the longest hair in the whole Centre!  Lisa’s hair is 2 feet 8 inches long – it falls past her waist!

As the Humane Education Coordinator she is responsible for organizing all of our children and youth education programs: Animaniacs Summer Day Camp, March Break Day Camp, Jr. Vet Club, and Animal Associates.  Another part of Lisa’s position is to assist with the Humane Education School Program.  If that isn’t enough to keep Lisa busy, she is more than happy to lend a helping hand to other staff members, whether it is helping at the front desk, bringing animals to Rogers Daytime Television, or cleaning out adoption pods!

Born and raised in Kitchener, Lisa has always had pets around her.  From cats to hamsters she loves them all!  Going to high school at Eastwood Collegiate she was part of the Integrated Arts Program; she was very interested in the performing arts.  The education and training she received has only enhanced her ability to excel here at the Centre.

Although Lisa went to the University of Guelph for Bio-Medical Sciences, one of her loves is working with children.  During the summers, Lisa has worked for the last eight years with the Summer Day Camps with the City of Kitchener.  This experience made her the best candidate for the position here!

Lisa considers volunteer work very important to her.  Before getting this new position, Lisa was a volunteer for the last five years where she says she did a little bit of everything!  From walking dogs, cleaning pods, and helping with special events – you could always count on her.  Lisa was also a student organizer for the University of Guelph Blood Donor Clinic.  Her newest volunteer project is with “Pride Stables” where she assists in the Therapeutic Riding Program.  What she really enjoys about this new experience is working one on one with program members.  Lisa says “you are working with children and adults with limited skills, and watching that one person progressing and knowing that you had a part in it, it’s incredibly rewarding”.

When Lisa isn’t volunteering her time, she can be found at the gym where she participates in group fitness classes.  All round good health is something Lisa strives to achieve.  It is easy to say that Lisa is an all round wonderful person, but there must be some guilty pleasure in there somewhere??? And there is – Lisa loves America’s Next Top Model! (Who doesn’t though?)\

“R” Friendly Face

When you enter the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS) you are guaranteed to be greeted by ‘R’ friendly face.  Depending on the time of year, it is a friendly face with a very festive headband on!  Arleen is well known for her eclectic “head gear”, as she calls it.  For five years Arleen Lannan has been the Licensing Coordinator, but before becoming a full-time team member she worked part-time for two years. Somewhere in the middle of those seven years she has taken on the nick name “R”.  “When someone calls me Arleen now it feels odd, like I’m in trouble” she says with a laugh.   

The role of the Licensing Coordinator is more than selling a dog license to people when they come in.  Arleen ensures that she is educated on all the dog licensing by-laws for Kitchener-Waterloo and Ontario.  This role can be both frustrating and fulfilling.  Arleen encourages people to purchase their license annually, but often people are resistant and don’t feel it is necessary.  When an animal comes into the Centre as a stray and has a tag, Arleen is able to contact the owner and reunite them.  The gratification from reunion always overrules the earlier frustrations, she says.

Arleen is also responsible for the Pet Cemetery and Memorial Vault.  She informs people about cremation services, availability of unique urns, and maintains educational materials.  It takes Arleen’s special personality to deal with those grieving a pet or those facing a pet’s euthanasia.  “Arleen exemplifies strength, kindness, consideration and empathy when assisting people in making final choices for their pet,” says her boss Jamie LaFlamme, Assistant Manager, KWHS.

When Arleen was growing up she loved animals, and wished that she could have a pet of her own, but was severely allergic to cats and dogs.  Even walking too close to an animal would cause hives to form.  She outgrew her allergies and loves that she is able to work at KWHS.  She never thought she would be able to work with animals and considers working at the Humane Society a real pleasure.

When Arleen isn’t behind the front desk at the Humane Society, she can be found spending time with her family.  She has been happily married for 24 years and has four wonderful children and two dogs.  Mia, her five year old Shih tzu was abused when it came to the Centre and Arleen took the dog home to foster her.  After a weekend with Mia, she had fallen in love and adopted her.  Rocky, her one-year old, tough, solid muscle Pug, loves to give lots of kisses.

One of the KWHS Board of Directors calls her “Sparky” because she has such a big sparkling smile.  This smile is well known  -- as is her loyalty to the Centre and her willingness to help out.

R’s love for the K-W Humane Society and animals is evident with or without her bunny ears.  Be sure to say “hello” to her when you next come into the Centre.

Happy with Humane Education…

Everyday somewhere in Kitchener-Waterloo, children cluster in the school yard, peer from classroom doors and wave from windows. “The Humane Society will be visiting us today” is announced over the PA system.  By ‘Humane Society’ they are referring to Nancy Cressman, Humane Educator for the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society. Along with Nancy, children will meet her four legged companion ‘Zak’. This laid-back black lab is the “Education Dog.” Zak plays an important role in teaching children how to safely approach a dog that they don’t know.   

Bright and early every week-day Nancy and Zak climb into the Centre’s “pet van” to  teach children the about animals, their needs and the role of the Humane Society. Each grade has a unique and age appropriate curriculum. For example, grade two students learn about “responsible pet ownership,” while those in grade four are asked to consider what making a “humane choice” means. The grade six lesson addresses the problem of pet over- population and combating this epidemic by spaying and neutering pets.

Nancy’s passion for the welfare of animals and the value she places on education brings the humane education material to life.  She has a talent for conveying her message in a way that children can understand by using verbal and visual aids in order to assist kids in absorbing information.

Nancy graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from Western University. After teaching for several years, Nancy took a sabbatical from teaching in order to raise her four boys and to assist with administration and animal care around the family’s farm. When her sons were all at school age, she then resumed her teaching career for 11 years teaching in both public and private schools.  Nancy calls herself a “farmer’s wife” and takes pride in Crystal Brook Farms, the Cressman family farm, located just west of New Dundee. Nancy’s family works hard to raise cattle, pigs and over 800 acres of crops. 

When asked why she was motivated to work at the Humane Society, Nancy responds “because of my love of animals.” Nancy says that before she worked at the Centre she would often be found there looking in on the animals. “I have always had pets” says Nancy,  “I have always had at least one cat and a dog and  I’ve even had a lizard, a turtle and mice!” Today Nancy shares her life with ‘Duke’, a Collie cross, ‘Cody’ a German Shepherd, and ‘Merry’ a grey tabby cat who is often found curled up on Nancy’s lap.

“I get the most satisfaction when I know that the children have really taken in the information and learned something new.” Nancy tells the story of a boy in grade four who discovered that when your pet goes missing the first place you should call is the Humane Society. This boy’s cat had been missing for eleven weeks and his family had not called the Centre. “It was sad because the likelihood of the boy being reunited with his cat after such a long time was slim, but the young man learned to call the Centre.” 

Nancy recalls a time in her childhood when she was attacked by a friend’s dog. Today she teaches children what to do when faced with an aggressive dog. Nancy emphasizes the importance of giving children the tools to protect themselves and learning to treat all animals humanely.  

Humane Education is an important part of the K-W Humane Society. Nancy and Zak work to keep children and animals safe.

Sheri Shines!

Before becoming a By-Law Officer and Cruelty Agent at the K-W Humane Society, Sheri spent 10 years as a Security Officer. She brought with her a vast knowledge of the law and a love for animals that dates back to her childhood. Growing up she was “always surrounded by animals.” Nothing has changed in adulthood.

Sheri and her husband completed their family with a few furry and feathered friends - a Great Dane named Kane, a Jack Russell Terrier named Jack, and two parrots adopted from the Centre, Kiwi and Mackie. Her love of animals is often one of the drawbacks of her job. Getting calls from concerned citizens regarding neglected, injured or abused animals is the hardest part for Sheri. “It is hard for me to go on a call knowing that I will potentially be dealing with an injured animal.” However, it is not always neglect or abuse calls she tends to. 

In a recent encounter, she helped our on-site veterinarian deliver four puppies by cesarean. “It was a wonderful experience,” recalls Sheri. Because the mother was sedated, she was not able to immediately care for the newborn puppies. One of the four pups was removed from its mother and handed to Sheri. She cradled the tiny body in her hands and gently rubbed to simulate the mother’s licking. She also had to tip it upside down to release the liquid from its lungs and stomach. The pup was brought to life by Sheri’s hands. “It was amazing, it was unreal.” 

Sheri loves being outdoors, camping or canoeing with her husband, Kane and Jack. “Ever try putting a Great Dane in a canoe? It is actually quite funny!” She also enjoys spending time with her friends, family and pets. 

Her co-workers describe her as “dedicated”, “knowledgeable” and “caring.” She brings her positive attitude and willingness to learn with her to the office everyday. She is always going out of her way to help others, making her a valuable part of the K-W Humane Society team.

She came with the building.

Charlene Fitzpatrick has been with the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society for 25 years and counting!  The saying around the Centre is “she came with the building”.  Actually, that is not far off the mark.  Char started on August 5th, 1980 at the Humane Society’s former location on Guelph Street.  She is one of the few Staff who remember the old location, and moved with the Humane Society to Riverbend.  “The Centre has come a long way in 25 years.  I can’t tell you how many improvements I have seen.”

Char originally started as part of the Kennel Crew, and after 10 years of working with the animals she was asked to come up to the front office and help out there.  15 years is a long time to be working in customer service.  “I do it for the animals.  I like the people, but I stay here for the animals,” says Char.  When asked if there were any special stories that stick out in her mind she replied, “I wish I would have kept a journal! There are just too many to talk about.”

Her love of animals goes home with her too.  Currently she has 3 cats (Jewel, Charlie, and Kenny) and a Sheltie-Jack Russell cross named Popeye.  All of her pets came from the Humane Society.  The fact that her desk faced the cat pods for many years didn’t help…  “My cat Kenny used to sit on his hind legs in the window begging for attention.  I just had to take him home.”

Char also fondly remembers Kirby, a Centre mascot, “I picked Kirby, a grey and white tabby, to be the Centre Mascot when he was 4 months old.  He lived at the Centre for 18 years, and then when he ‘retired as mascot’ he came to live with me for the last three years of his life.  That cat had his paws in everything – he had the run of the place.  He really lived the life!”

Char is a sensitive soul who feels the hardest part of her job is comforting people who have come to say their final good-bye to a family pet.  “People come to us because they know we won’t second guess this tough decision.”  Because of her kind nature, she is easily brought to tears.  “Char is a very caring and sensitive person,” stated Jamie LaFlamme, Assistant Manager.  She is often found welling-up with a grieving owner.

In her spare time Char is the Queen of Yard Sales.  She is known for finding the best deals.  She would consider herself ‘frugal’ but her co-workers jokingly chime up “cheap”.  But saving money pays off for Char, as she enjoys a yearly trip “down south”, either the Dominican Republic or Mexico.

In December Char was presented with a plaque of appreciation from the K-W Humane Society’s Board of Directors.  “It was overwhelming,” Char recalls, “I couldn’t even get through my speech, I was just crying too hard.”  We all hope that Charlene is around for another 25 years.  I am sure the animals and the many owners she meets feel the same!