Charleston Animal Society chosen for Jackson Galaxy Foundations Cat Pawsitive program
January 30, 2017
Charleston Animal Society (CAS) today announced that it has been selected by The Jackson Galaxy Foundation (JGF) to participate in Cat Pawsitive, an initiative that introduces positive-reinforcement training to shelter cats.
Jackson Galaxy (star of the television show My Cat from Hell on Animal Planet, and Founder of his namesake organization) developed Cat Pawsitive with a team of animal behavior experts. Highlights of the program include:
- improving cat “adoptability”
- enriching day-to-day life for cats in shelters
- building feline social skills, especially for shy or fearful cats
- promoting the human-cat bond
- teaching and empowering animal shelter staff and volunteers
Lisa Stemcosky, a feline behavior expert hand-picked by JGF, will lead the program for CAS beginning February 2. Throughout the four-month program, CAS staff and volunteers will participate in weekly trainings with Stemcosky and will have direct access to the entire training team for consultations about the cats in their care.
“Cats are intelligent beings who rely on sight, smell and touch to guide them through their day,” says Joe Elmore, CEO of Charleston Animal Society. “When housed in a shelter environment they need extra enrichment to bring out their curious fun loving personalities. The Cat Pawsitive program will help our staff and volunteers to assist the cats in our care to feel great and interact with potential new families. This program will help to increase adoptions and save feline lives across South Carolina upon the rollout of this lifesaving strategy!”
“We are thrilled to be working with Charleston Animal Society to show the world what can be done to step up the game and improve outcomes for cats in shelters,” says Jackson Galaxy. “Cat Pawsitive is about awareness, enrichment, innovation, and increased adoption placement on a grassroots level. I know that the work done during this program will have a ripple effect, helping so many cats in need and the humans who care for them.”
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Cats who are exposed to reward-based training methods gain confidence and experience reduced stress through training sessions; soon they are building connections with staff, volunteers and potential adopters. Cat Pawsitive can help a shy cat learn to feel comfortable coming up to the front of the cage to meet an adopter, a feisty cat learn to play nice, and an outgoing kitty learn to give an endearing “high five” to visitors to seal an adoption deal.
Galaxy will be sharing highlights of the program on the Jackson Galaxy Foundation Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Cat Pawsitive will run through the end of May.
ABOUT CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY
At 143 years old, Charleston Animal Society is South Carolina’s first animal organization and one of the oldest in the nation. The organization built the first No Kill Community in the Southeast – Charleston County – in 2013. Recognized as a national model in lifesaving strategies, the Animal Society is also the only combined animal shelter and clinic in the Southeast accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. For the 4th year in a row, Charleston Animal Society is South Carolina’s most honored charity.
ABOUT THE JACKSON GALAXY FOUNDATION
The Jackson Galaxy Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that improves the lives of animals at risk by transforming the places they live and helping the people who care for them. JGF is led by the vision of Jackson Galaxy, who has developed an unwavering commitment to help animals at risk and the people who work tirelessly to get them homes through his years in animal welfare, as an animal advocate, his work as a behaviorist and host of his globally popular TV show, My Cat from Hell. The Jackson Galaxy Foundation focuses on programs that drive innovation; promotes improved shelter design and construction; and provides “Elevation through Education”—increased knowledge that inspires and empowers staff, volunteers, rescuers and adopters to continually raise the bar for animals at risk. More info about the Foundation’s programs and services is available at www.jacksongalaxyfoundation.org
