Husky News

Maggie Monson squatted down in front of the pen, reaching out to the Siberian Husky that came up to her, licking her fingers.

Admiring the dog she said was “so pretty,” the 14-year-old said she and her family hoped to get another dog after their new house was built after the new year.

“I just love animals,” said Monson, a Northwest Junior High eighth-grader. “I like being around them.”

Monson was among the crowd of people who attended the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center’s eighth annual Holiday with the Hounds on Monday night.

The event, which featured stockings on every dog’s and cat’s cage, treats for human and pets alike, and an open house of the shelter’s facilities, was a way to showcase what the animal center is all about, shelter director Misha Goodman said.

“It’s really an open house for the public to take a look at what we do here,” she said. “It’s a time of year when people can bring product donations. The happier (the animals) are here, the longer we can take care of them.”

In the dog area of the shelter, Rebecca Woods of Coralville wandered around with her son, Ashton, 6. Both jumped when a big dog in one of the cages barked loudly. Woods said they decided to come look at the dogs not knowing about the open house. The visit gave Ashton plenty of opportunities to pet the dogs.

“They feel good,” he said.

Stephanie Menietti of Iowa City and her daughter, Robin, hung out in the cat room, visiting with rescued felines. They adopted two cats from the shelter during the summer and decided to come to the event after seeing a poster at a local pet store.

“I made a donation there,” Menietti said. “My daughter loves coming out here. (She) loves animals so much.”

Robin, 8, also owns a rabbit and a dog. She wandered from end to end of the cat room, holding and petting the purring kittens.

“They make me feel good,” she said.

Goodman said the open house also allowed the center to promote giving to the Friends of the Animals Foundation. The foundation supports programs at the shelter, including medical expenses, dog training, facility enhancement and spaying and neutering of animals.

Seeing the animals also could give people the idea to adopt them, a prospect not discouraged by the center, Goodman said.

Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen