Lollypop Farm Young Professionals Meeting - Adoptions & The Farm

Ashley Coon & pot belly pig

This month's Lollypop Farm Young Professionals meeting featured Kerry from adoptions and admissions and Joanna the Farm Manager. It was really interesting to get an inside perspective of the day to day operations at Lollypop Farm. Even as a volunteer I still learn new things each time the young professionals group has a speaker.

Kerry described to us the adoption process and how adoption counselors try to connect families with the right pet. Dogs can be a little more obvious when choosing which one is a good fit for you. Do you have time for a very hyper puppy, or would an older dog fit into your life better? Cats also have different personalities and to help increase adoptions and matching cats with the right home, Lollypop Farm has started the Meet Your Match Feline-ality program. Volunteers evaluate the cats in a calm setting outside of their cages to get a feel for the cats personality. Some cats do require more attention than others. The ASPCA has a list of descriptions on their website here.

Joanna giving Lida Rose a snack

We are very fortunate to have such a great shelter in our backyard. Lollypop is one of the few animal shelters that also accepts farm animals. Lida Rose the farm pig shown above was found as a stray wandering around in Canandaguia. They think she may have escaped from a truck on its way to the slaughter. Lida Rose turned out to be a very friendly pig! Joanna has even taught her a few tricks.

There are several pot belly pigs on the farm up for adoption. Joanna says that people get them as pets expecting them to stay small and when they don't they bring them to Lollypop Farm. Pot belly pigs are very strong, and their natural instinct is to root around in the ground. If their owners are away at work all day and the piggy is inside they may start rooting through your cupboards, wood floors, or even flip your refrigerator over!

Joanna also told us that the emus at Lollypop Farm were found as strays. One of which was caught on 390! Police restrained the emu with caution tape until Lollypop Farm staff could come pick it up. 

There will be no meeting for November. Join us at our Holiday Party in December at Dog E Woggy! More info to come. To sign up for our email list send a message to youngprofessionals@lollypop.org.

Follow us on Twitter! @LollypopFarmYP

Barktober Fest Pictures

We had professional pictures taken at Barktober Fest! They just came in the mail. We had such a hard time because Peanut and Bailey were so excited they didn't want to sit still. We were still able to get some good shots tho.

The same photographer that took these does the Christmas with Santa pictures at Lollypop Farm. I can't wait for those! We have them done every year and they look fantastic. I send them out as my Christmas cards. The money for the Christmas pictures also helps the animals at the shelter so its a win win! 

Adopt a Dog Month at Lollypop Farm

October is adopt a dog month at Lollypop Farm. The goal is to find homes for 175 dogs! Each week different dogs will be selected as "Top Dogs". The Top Dogs will have a reduced adoption fee of $75. Anyone that adopts a dog in October will be entered in giveaways for dog beds, treats from a barkers dozen, and a photo session from images unveiled.

As always, each dog or puppy adoption includes:
• Spaying and neutering
• Vaccinations and deworming
• Heartworm test
• A certificate for a free health exam
• A 30-day gift of pet health insurance
• Microchipping
• Flea-control treatment
• Free behavior advice
• Discounted behavior and training classes

Why Adopt?

• Give an animal a second chance
• Saving an animal from being put to sleep and making room for another animal in the shelter
• You are not supporting puppymills or backyard breeders
• Save money $- Adopting is less expensive than purchasing an animal and providing the necessary vetting

More reasons why people have adopted from Lollypop Farm here.

Small White Dog Shaking Syndrome?!

Peanut my flyball all star has been incredibly sick lately. She started off a few weeks ago shaking just a tiny bit. Barely noticeable, I didn't think anything of it. Then she started walking strange. I took her to the vet right away thinking she pulled a muscle. They gave her medicine but she got worse. She could barely walk, she was falling over, wouldn't eat, vomited when she drank, and had two seizures. Being a panicked mom I called the vet constantly to update them on her situation, and brought her in a second time. They recommended I go see a neurologist at Cornell University in Ithaca. The neurologist there told me that Peanut has Small White Dog Shaking Syndrome or idiopathic steroid responsive shaker syndrome. What the heck does that mean? Peanut is only two, shes just a baby! Shes so healthy, shes a flyball super star! Well luckily for us it is a very treatable condition. It is most common in West Highland White Terriers, Poodles, and Malteses. With steroid treatment the condition will go away. I get her back from the vet tonight and I can't wait.

#1 Fundraising Team Again!

My fundraising team Kribbit's Kritters was the #1 fundraising team for the second year in a row. We raised a total of $14,649.43!! We didn't reach our goal of $20,000 but we did surpass our number from last year by $487. Besides winning overall fundraising team, our team captain Susie was the top individual fundraiser with $4,025.90, team member Jean was the #2 fundraiser this year with $3,405.63 and our team member Laurie Dobson was the #3 fundraiser with $1,774! Our team is already thinking about how we can do better next year.

#1 Fundraiser!! Susie & Rudy

Since we were the top fundraisers from last year our team kicked off the walk. There were 200 runners and 450 people signed up for the walk. There was an estimated 2,500 people that attended the event. Unfortunately Lollypop did not reach their fundrasing goal of $136,500 but they did raise $122,600.

Hot Dog Bobbing Contest

Peanut did not win the hotdog bobbing contest but she had so much fun eating hotdogs! She did participate in the flyball demonstration with her team 2 Fast Fur U.

Molley in the flyball demo

The costume contest was one of the highlights of the event! Susie's dog Rudy came as a Jedi. The competition was stiff and Rudy was not the winner but was a great sport about wearing the costume.





Costume Contest Winner!