Animal Rescue

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.

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 our calico friend, Charlotte.

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

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.

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.

STEEL MILL CAT RESCUE UPDATE & BP SWAG WINNER

On July 5, Kitties Blue told you about cats living at a steel mill. You can read their post here. These kitties needed to be rescued, and I had a comment-a-thon and pledged $1 for each comment to raise funds to help with the process. A donation of $60 was made thanks to all those who commented.

Here’s an update from Barn Cat Buddies with the good news of what has occurred during the last three weeks.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

Our BlogPaws Conference Swag Winner

I am happy to announce that the winners of our BlogPaws Conference swag surprise package are good friends, Angel, Isabella and Mom Sharla from the delightful blog, Beaded Tail. We’ll leave it to them to show off what’s in their package after they receive it!

See you tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

July 25, 2016 by Janet Blue Barn Cat Buddies Giveaway Rescue 26

TO CATCH A CAT REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Though I love cats and kittens, I never thought I could fall in love with a mother cat (Oona) and her three kittens sight unseen. But that is exactly what happened when I read Heather Green’s book, To Catch a Cat. The book interweaves the story of Heather’s and boyfriend Matt’s first foray into kitten rescue and socialization and Heather’s memoir. You learn the intimate details of Heather’s fears, foibles and perceived shortcomings all while meeting and falling head over paws for kittens, Zero, Two Spot and Number Three.

The story begins when Matt and Heather discover three tiny kittens living in Matt’s neighbor’s backyard in Union City, New Jersey. Manhattanite and workaholic Heather and laid-back architect Matt take on the task of rescuing these kittens. First Matt builds an outdoor shelter for mom and babies. Then the waiting for the right time to capture the kittens begins. Once the kittens become indoor residents, the socialization process starts and continues until just the right homes are found for the three. During this process, Matt and Heather learn about feral cats and trapping and Heather learns about herself.

This is a book you don’t want to miss. It is definitely for anyone who has ever loved or rescued a cat, but it is also for every animal (regardless of species) fan or caregiver. This uplifting story of discovery, love, devotion and emotional growth will touch your heart.

My only complaint was the lack of photos in the book. But do not let that keep you from reading To Catch a Cat. Head over to @ToCatchaCat on Facebook to see photos and videos of these darlings as well as photos of other kitties saved by Heather and Matt.

Heather Green and mom cat Oona

Heather Green is an award-winning journalist and free lance writer. For 12 years she covered the Internet and digital media for BusinessWeek and has appeared on CNN, CNBC and BBC. This is her first book.

The best part of this post comes in the way of a giveaway for this gem of a book. I have three copies to give to our readers. As I am doing the mailing, I will ship worldwide. That means, everyone can enter. To do so, please leave a comment on this post no later than 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 16. Winners will be selected using Random.org.

10:30 AM Update

I just received these adorable photos of the kittens and wanted to share with everyone.

Screen Shot 2016-07-11 at 10.11.13 AM To Catch a Cat

Clockwise from upper left: Zero, Two Spot, Number Three, Number Three, Two Spot.

July 11, 2016 by Janet Blue Animal Rescue Book Review Giveaway 35

CHRISTMAS SHELTER PROJECT 2015

We purrticipaed in Lola and Lexy‘s Christmas Shelter Project. Mom and Dad delivered goodies to our local no-kill shelter, Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Virginia.

Mom and Dad dropped off food, litter, treats, lots of toys and the cat tree/scratcher we recently reviewed for Chewy.com. Astrid had decided that tree belonged to her, and we are pretty sure she’s upset that it’s gone. Mom will probably be ordering another one for her.

Mom asked Dad to take some photos of some of the kitties, but for whatever reason, he did not. Maybe he didn’t hear her ask. (He doesn’t always wear his hearing aids!)

Mom says there are about 15 kitties waiting for their forever homes. Six of them are black, and Mom fell in love with every one of them. This little girl, Nod, a two-and-a-half-year-old Bombay mix is one of them. She is on Petfinder (Pet ID: 9517080) if you’d like to offer her a forever home.

Allie (Friends Furever) and Mau (from the Cat Scouts New Year’s Eve party), the remainder of Kitties Blue and our Mom and Dad wish you a happy new year with thanks for being our friends and supporters. Each of you mean the world to us.

Purrs and paw-pats. Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty may, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

January 1, 2016 by Janet Blue Adoption Animal Rescue Christmas Christmas Shelter Project Kitty Written Blog 33

SAL EVERYBODY’S PAL BOOK REVIEW

Sal Everybody's Pal- Sal finds a Forever Home This is the sweetest and most beautiful little book, and I am delighted to recommend it.

Sal Everybody’s Pal is an adoption story as told by the author’s (Diana Alvear) cat, Sal (Salvatore Valentino). It is perfect for all ages, even the youngest child who requests a story at bedtime.

Art Prints!-Sal, Stormy, or Lucky ! Sal watches as his friends at the animal shelter, Stormy and Lucky, get adopted and leave for their forever homes. And though he cheers them on, he too yearns for the same thing. At the conclusion of the story, Sal gets his wish.

We all know that not every cat is fortunate enough to leave the shelter so Diana’s motivation to write this story is an important one. Her hope is to teach children to adopt pets (especially older ones) from shelters and rescue groups…and more importantly to teach them that “all animals deserve love, respect and forever homes.” These, of course, are lessons for all age groups.

Sal Everybody's Pal- Sal finds a Forever Home

Stormy

The story is heart-warming in itself but is made even better by the exquisite hand-painted, watercolor illustrations created by Chandler Strange.

Diana hopes to create a legacy for Sal, a special needs kitty, (who was her “soul kitty” and by her side for eight years before passing away as an elderly cat) by helping other homeless animals. Ten percent of the book’s profits will go to animal rescue groups and volunteers.

This beautiful book, as well as additional products, are available at www.salpals.com for $12.99 (hardcover) or $3.99 (Kindle version). One lucky reader of The Cat on My Head will win their very own pawtographed copy by leaving a Comment on our 2nd Blogoversary post one week from today (July 21). It will come with an adorable bookmark and decal as well.

Diana plans to follow-up in the future with additional books and other products.

I was so pleased to receive two pawtographed copies of Sal Everybody’s Pal—one for myself to review and one to give away to one of our readers. I was in no way, however, told what to say. My recommendation of this book represents my true belief that it is worthy of being read and gifted.

July 14, 2014 by Janet Blue Animal Rescue Book Review 34

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.