Remember Me Thursday

REMEMBER ME THURSDAY® 2018

In one way or another all present Kitties Blue as well as past Kitties Blue are rescues. We either wandered up to Mom and Dad’s door, were adopted from a rescue or from a friend or stranger who had taken in a stray, pregnant kitty. That is 19 cats who were given the opportunity for a life with a loving family. We are a very tiny percentage of the lucky ones.

According to The America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASCPA), approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.4 million are cats. Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.4 million cats). The Humane Society of the United States estimates that represents 70 percent of cats in shelters. The ASCPA adds that of cats entering shelters, approximately 37% are adopted, 41% are euthanized, and less than 5% of cats who came in as strays are returned to their owners.

The statistics are appalling.

Remember Me Thursday^® Awareness Movement

“Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign uniting individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world as an unstopable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes, not die waiting for them.”

On the last Thursday in September, the entire world shares the importance of pet adoption by shining a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. In 2017, people using #RememberMeThursday reached nearly 330 million people on social media.

Remember Me Thursday 2017

Please join us, other pet-lovers and advocates as well as animal welfare organizations around the world in lighting your own candle (as Sawyer just did) by clicking here. Or light your own candle at home. Just make certain it is either battery operated or in an area your pets cannot access.

Contests

While visiting the Remember Me Thursday® site you can check for special events that may be taking place in your area. Mark you calendar as well to enter the My Pet Rocks calendar contest running October 1–November 1. Enter a photo of your pet to win a full-page picture in the 2019 Helen Woodward Animal Center Pet Calendar! “Votes” are $1 each, with a minimum of 25 “votes” to enter. (All entries will appear in the calendar.)

#RememberTheRescue Challenge is a social media photo contest where rescue pet parents tweet and post photos of their beloved, adopted pets. All you need to do is share your rescue pet’s photo and story then nominate your favorite pet adoption organization or facility to win one of three awesome prizes! Here are the three ways to enter.

Post on Instagram using #RememberMeThursday and @HWAC.
Post on Twitter using #RememberMeThursday and @HWAC.
Enter directly on the contest website.

And here’s what your nominee could win.

I wrote this poem for Remember Me Thursday two years ago. Until no pet goes homeless or is euthanized, it remains relevant.

PLEASE OPT TO ADOPT ORPHAN CATS

Most of us were orphans at one time,
Whether roaming the streets or shelter confined.
But then one day our luck suddenly changed.
A human stopped in whose heart we would claim.
They took us home to keep us safe forever
With food, shelter and love as our caregiver.
So today, will you please a candle light
And pray for the orphans to not give up the fight,
As they wait and long for their special human
To find them and become their number one fan.

Blog Hop

Our friends at Three Chatty Cats and Lola the Rescued Cat are hosting a blog hop on behalf of this year’s Remember Me Thursday®. You can link your Remember Me Thursday® post at either of their blogs.

Thankful Thursday

It’s easy to tell you our thankful this week. All of Kitties Blue are grateful for a loving home, plenty of noms, a catio, oodles of toys and a terrific vet, Dr. Neel. We also are proud and thankful to be advocates for pet rescue and adoption.

We are entering the Thankful Thursday blog hop at Brian’s Home. To join the blog hop, click on Brian’s badge below.

COME LAUGH WITH US

Celebration for Madi

I know you haven’t heard from me in many months. I am joining you now as it is a special occasion. Today is the blog hop for Madi (Down Home in N.C.), organized by her boyfriend Raz (Friends Furever). I asked to create the post as Madi and I were Crotchety Cougars together. Nearly as many of us Cougars are now at the bridge together than remain with their humans. Though we miss our families greatly, we are having a darn good time.

Those participating in the blog hop were instructed to create a post including Madi’s favorite color, red, and try to make Madi’s family and friends smile. One of the suggestions was to take a photo doing a bit of boxing. That’s exactly what my fursibs and I did.

I also wrote a little poem for Madi, another of the suggestions for a post.

Welcome “Home,” Diva Madi

Madi I was happy to see you
When you arrived at the Bridge…
Another Cougar to play with
Was more than I could wish.

I know you’d rather be at home,
But you did have a nice long life
With family, friends, boyfriend Raz
But also your share of strife.

You are now healthy and happy,
No more daily subQ fluids.
You can run, jump and dance.
No need for any excuses.

If ever you feel sad or lonely,
You have friends and family here,
We will give our love and support
And work hard to assuage your fears.

Now you have a unique opportunity
To be a guardian angel for those you love.
They will always feel your presence,
As you watch over them from above.

Madi’s Blog Hop

If you have written a tribute post for Madi, it’s time to participate in the Come Laugh with Us Blog Hop! The blog hop is set up here. Please include the badge when you post.

Crotchety Cougars also will be honoring Madi today. You can visit their site by clicking here.

Purrs and paw-pats, Angel Lily Olivia

Remember Me Thursday

Tomorrow is another important day in the blogosphere. The Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign encourages individuals to light a candle (literally or virtually) and to opt to adopt, reducing the millions of orphan pets euthanized each year.

Candles lit on this day (the fourth Thursday of September annually), across the world, honor the pets who lose their lives without the opportunity to know the comforts of a loving home. These candles shine brightly on the millions of healthy pets who are still awaiting adoption.

As an “Official Partner,” I will be lighting a candle tomorrow, posting and joining the official blog hop. I’ll be praying that you decide to join me.

September 26, 2018 by Janet Blue Angel Cat Kitty Written Blog Poetry Remember Me Thursday Remembering Friends 18

SPARK OF LOVE & BRAVERY

Sparks

I was searching for a quote to use tomorrow in conjunction with 9/11 when I found this one, which really spoke to me. I know many friends have lost beloved pets recently, and with Remember Me Thursday coming up in a couple of weeks, I’d like to encourage all of those in this situation to open their hearts and rescue an orphan anipal to love and share their life.

The author of today’s Spark, Robin Sharma, is a Canadian writer and motivational speaker. After attending law school and working as a litigation attorney, Sharma self-published a book on stress management and spirituality, MegaLiving (1994). Sharma has published 11 other books and founded the training company, Sharma Leadership International.

Sparks began as a blog hop, created by our friend, Annie (McGuffy’s Reader). Annie is taking a “break” from blogging, so there is no hop. However, many of us continue to post a Spark on Monday, as we believe in Annie’s vision: “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!”

Awww Mondays

In order to participate in the blog hop at Comedy Plus, I have included a photo of Cooper Murphy from a recent hot day. Kitties Blue had no interest in being on the catio in the heat and humidity. Now we have eight days of rain forecasted, which won’t make the catio any more popular. Guess, I can expect more scenes like the one below.

To join the hop at Comedy Plus click on the badge below.

September 10, 2018 by Janet Blue Remember Me Thursday Sparks 12

MAU HELPS WITH FILL-INS

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week #119

Mau is helping today with the Friendly Fill-Ins by completing the first one. I have completed the other three. We both used teal italics for our completions.

1. Mau: My lovely wife Allie brings out the best in me.

2. Heat and humidity and animal cruelty make me grumpier than Grumpy Cat.

3. If money grew on trees, I would plant more and more trees so I could support all the homeless animals and people.

This is a good opportunity to remind you about #RememberMeThursday. To learn more about and/or become involved with #RememberMeThursday, click on the graphic.

4. I have a fear of FIRE. When I was a kid on vacation with my family, we ended up driving through a forest fire. It is the most frightened I have ever been. I won’t even light a match. My nephew is a Captain with CalFire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection). He wanted to be a firefighter from the time he was a little boy. I am proud of him for pursuing his dream.

Friendly Fill-Ins is a blog hop hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). The sentences to be completed can be found on their blogs each Thursday. This is a great way to learn a bit more about your fellow bloggers. To join in, click on the Fill-Ins badge.

We also are joining the Feline Friday blog hop at Comedy Plus. To join in click on the badge below.

August 23, 2018 by Janet Blue Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Remember Me Thursday 12

10TH ANNIVERSARY BLOGPAWS CONFERENCE

Day #2

Another busy and fun day at the BlogPaws Conference started with breakfast hosted by ComfortZone®. Kitty Cat Chronicles‘ Kylo Ren found something on the wall more interesting than breakfast or the speaker. We’ll be telling you more about ComfortZone® in a future post.

It was a full day of learning sessions both before and after lunch. I attended a great session on how to start a podcast and one on getting and building relationships with brands.

Lunch was provided by Seresto®, and I couldn’t resist having my photo taken with the giant Seresto® dog, especially as I was wearing my The Cat on My Head t-shirt and a velvet cat hat, complete with ears.

The evening included a trip to the park across the street from the hotel where Kylo Ren had a photo session with none other than our resident photographer, Dad Tom. Check out KittyCatChronicles on Instagram to see the model with his sleepypod® Air.

The humongous baseball shirt gifted to me, as an Official Partner of Remember Me Thursday ® (#RememberTheRescue), by the organization reps, made a cozy nightshirt as I snuggled in bed to write this post. Kitties Blue are great fans of Remember the Rescue. This year’s Remember Me Thursday® will be September 27. Watch for more information here later in the year. Or check out our 2017 post, Remember Me Thursday 2017.

Today will be our final day, with more learning sessions, another Keynote Address, the Nose-to-Nose Awards and the banquet. Lots of our friends are finalists for awards. You’ll be able to watch the awards ceremony live on the BlogPaws Facebook page beginning at 6 p.m. CDT.

Watch for my final report from BlogPaws next week. And don’t forget to check out all the tweets from BlogPaws on Twitter at #BlogPaws.

April 20, 2018 by Janet Blue BlogPaws Conference Remember Me Thursday 19

REMEMBER ME THURSDAY 2017

Remember Me Thursday

We are joining Remember Me Thursday® as an “Official Partner” and have lit a candle at RememberMeThursday.org for our Charlotte. The Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign encourages individuals to light a candle this day (literally or virtually) and to opt to adopt, reducing the millions of orphan pets euthanized each year.

Charlotte is the kitty we currently sponsor at PAWS of Connecticut. Charlotte is between three and four years old. She was a stray living on the streets with a litter of kittens. A kind lady started taking care of mom and kittens, but could not bring her into her home. Fearing Charlotte and the female kittens would become pregnant, she took them to PAWS.

Charlotte is said to be shy, but she’s also sweet and gentle. She loves to be petted and brushed and will make air biscuits when her tummy is rubbed. She is good with other cats but timid around small children.

Charlotte is spayed, current on her vaccinations, microchipped and negative for FIV and FeLV.

If you would be interested in adopting Charlotte, or know someone who might be, please click on the PAWS link above.

This being Angel Sammy and Teddy’s (Two Spoiled Cats) Thoroughly Poetic Thursday, I am resharing the poem I wrote last year for this occasion. This week’s prompt letter is “P.” This poem, however, was written originally for an “O” prompt. I made two subtle changes to meet today’s challenge. (To see Sammy’s poem and find links to other poems, click on the link above.)

PLEASE OPT TO ADOPT ORPHAN CATS

Remember Me Thursday

Please join me, other pet-lovers and advocates as well as animal welfare organizations around the world in lighting your own candle. Visit the link listed in the first paragraph to light a candle and learn more about Remember Me Thursday®. Or light your own candle at home. Just make certain it is either battery operated or in an area your pets cannot access.

While visiting the Remember Me Thursday ® site you can check for special events that may be taking place in your area as well as enter the #RememberTheRescue Challenge, a social media photo contest where rescue pet parents tweet and post pics of their beloved, adopted pets. Participants then nominate their favorite pet adoption organization or facility to win one of three awesome prizes!

This also is Thankful Thursday over at Brian’s Home blog. Kitties Blue and I are thankful everyday for the pet guardians, advocates, rescues, shelters and adopters worldwide. This is a blog hop. Click on Brian’s badge to participate.

September 28, 2017 by Janet Blue Adoption Animal Rescue Poetry Remember Me Thursday Thankful Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 15

WE DON’T NEED SPACESHIPS TO HAVE FUN

Wordless Wednesday

Notes from the Mom: Cooper Murphy and Astrid were supervised during play, as handles remained on bag. By the following afternoon, they had completely destroyed the bag.

If you don’t “get” our title today, click here to see last Wednesday’s post, Alien Invasion.

Please join us tomorrow for our special #RememberMeThursday post. To learn more about this very special day, click here.

September 27, 2017 by Janet Blue Remember Me Thursday Wordless Wednesday 19

REMEMBER ME THURSDAY® WITH POETRY

Remember Me Thursday® Awareness Movement

We are joining Remember Me Thursday® and have lit a candle at RememberMeThursday.org for our sweet Swizzle again this year. Swizzle is the kitty we continue to sponsor at PAWS of Connecticut. She’s been waiting for more than two years for her new forever home. We pray daily that this sweet and beautiful senior kitty will find the loving human and home she deserves.

The Remember Me Thursday® global awareness campaign encourages individuals to light a candle this day (literally or virtually) and to opt to adopt, reducing the millions of orphan pets euthanized each year.

Candles lit on this day (the fourth Thursday of September annually) across the world honor the pets who lose their lives without the opportunity to know the comforts of a loving home. These candles shine brightly on the millions of healthy pets who are still awaiting adoption—just like beautiful Swizzle.

This being Sammy’s (onespoiledcat) Thoroughly Poetic Thursday and the prompt letter for the week being “O”, I have written a poem for orphan kitties.

OPT TO ADOPT ORPHAN CATS

Please join me, other pet-lovers and advocates and animal welfare organizations around the world in lighting your own candle. Visit the link listed in the first paragraph to light your candle and learn more about Remember Me Thursday®. Or light your own candle at home. Just make certain it is either battery operated or in an area your pets cannot access.

September 22, 2016 by Janet Blue Adoption Animal Rescue Poetry Remember Me Thursday Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 26

REMEMBER ME THURSDAY

Uniting the World for Orphan Pets

We are joining Remember Me Thursday® and have lit a candle at RememberMeTursday.org for our sweet Swizzle. Swizzle is the kitty we continue to sponsors at PAWS of Connecticut. She’s been waiting for more than a year for her new forever home.

Our four rescued cats, Astrid, Lily Olivia, Lisbeth and Calista Jo invite you to join us, other pet-lovers and advocates and animal welfare organizations around the world in lighting your own candle. Visit the link listed in the first paragraph to light your candle and learn more about Remember Me Thursday®. Or light your own candle at home. Just make certain it is either battery operated or in an area your pets cannot access.

September 24, 2015 by Janet Blue Adoption Remember Me Thursday Rescue Thankful Thursday 26

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.