SECOND CHANCE: QUARTZ & KLAUS

10 Jan SECOND CHANCE: QUARTZ & KLAUS

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue.

Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles two of the many animals from the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving homes.

The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of  Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel,who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer and partners with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal. And there is no better place to park your pup than Cottonwood should you be heading our hills for a few turns in the pow pow.

Quartz

QUARTZ AND PRODUCTIVE PURRS

Hi my name is Quartz. To keep myself distracted while I am waiting for my new home, I have been doing lots of research on reasons why having a cat as a household member is a good thing. In my research, I stumbled across some great evidence in the Washington Post the other day. The article summrized a study that shows not only are pets – and the reference was specifically to kittens – good for your health,  it turns out we also increase productivity! Whoa: bonus points!

Typically when economists talk about boosting productivity, it is all about the new technologies and optimizing workflows. The article in question refers to a team of researchers, 48 students at Hiroshima University, who discovered a surprising and decidedly warmer and fuzzier variable: showing workers lots of pictures of adorable animals seems to do the trick too. Specifically students discovered the lift when flashing images of young animals to workers as they were completing various tasks: babies bumped output even more than images of adult animal or enticing food such as sushi or pasta.

The researchers have a few thoughts about those results. One idea has to do with the way we address puppies and kittens. The fact is caring for babies (nurturance) not only incorporates tenderness, but also careful attention to physical and mental states and vigilance against possible threats. If viewing cute things makes a person more attentive in general, it follows that the performance of a non-motor perceptual task could also improve.

There you have it. Adopt me and productivity in your home will soar:  your house will be clean and your projects will get completed –  which should leave you with more time to play with me.  I call that a win-win. (And yes, I won’t always be young, but I do have that “forever young” face, so we should be good.)

If my summary of the Washington Post article does not convince you, allow me to share more about wonderful me.

I came to Second Chance from a home with too many cats. I did not receive proper nutrition when I was young, so I was thin and sick upon arrival to Angel Ridge Ranch. However, the staff here worked hard to get me healthy and I am now feeling and looking much better. I still have some weight to gain, but that should come over time with proper nurturing. Knowing how much I can increase productivity, you may want to consider me as your new office cat, but if you are partial to dogs, read about Klaus, who now gets to do a bit of self-promotion…

Klaus

KLAUS

Hi, I am Klaus. I was found as a stray on the Kansas/Colorado border Christmas Eve. The people who found me had a hard time finding a shelter that had space to take me, but Second Chance gave me a warm place to sleep and yummy food. Since I was a stray not much is known about my history, but the staff here has found that I am a happy bouncy boy who loves to play ball. I am hoping the New Year will bring me luck finding my forever home.

Note: The Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shop are both located in Ridgway but service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties.  Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs.  View our shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org.