By Velia Tarnoff Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Dec 23, 2007 at 9:07 AM

Shilo is a 1-year-old Labrador retriever mix with stunning brown eyes and the shiniest coat you've ever seen. She's an energetic, happy-go-lucky girl who lives to play. Tennis balls, squeaky toys, rope, plush toys, Kongs -- you name it, she loves it. The one thing she's serious about is treats, which means she'll likely be a pleasure to train when given a treat as an incentive. Lucky you.

The Wisconsin Humane Society encourages you to come down to the shelter to meet Shilo -- as well as all the animals available for adoption. In fact, WHS will be open on Christmas Eve. In a previous blog, I told you about "Home for the Holidays," the promotion going on at WHS throughout the month of December. In keeping with the spirit of compassion this season, the Wisconsin Humane Society hopes to place 800 homeless animals into loving homes during December.

With every adoption, WHS offers prizes ranging from adoption fee discounts to a totally waived adoption fee. Every adopter will have a chance to draw a prize from Santa's hat. Although fees for adult cats are already waived, people adopting these experienced cats can draw for a prize, too. Those prizes range from gift certificates for the Animal Antics store to generous cat kits with all sorts of goodies perfect for welcoming a new companion into your home.

Also, during this busy holiday season, WHS wants to remind animal guardians that the frigid winter can be downright dangerous for dogs. Check out cold weather tips on their Web site at wihumane.org/news/WHS-PressRelease-coldweathersafety.aspx. 

Velia Tarnoff Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Velia Tarnoff counts among the loves of her life her daughter, her husband, her friends, writing, developing theories, dancing, live music, Southern California, black coffee and red wine. She's happiest when she can put as many of those together as possible. WWith more than 20 years of experience as a radio reporter and public relations professional, Velia is a natural communicator who loves to hear stories, to share stories and to tell it like it is.

Velia earned her B.A. from the UW School of Journalism and is thankful for every moment she spent on that wonderfully wacky campus.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, Velia is the wife of OnMilwaukee.com Publisher Andy Tarnoff.