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Friday, May 31, 2013

Mama's Countdown to Halloween

Today is exactly 5 months until Halloween and Mama can't wait! She's got all kinds of ideas for decorating the house. Dad thinks she's a little weird, but I say whatever makes her happy makes me happy!


Harvey trying to catch a bat.



Me and my nip pumpkin.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Shelter Spotlight: Lee's Paws and Claws in Ft. Scott, Kansas

Over the weekend Mama and Dad took Grandma and Grandpa to Ft. Scott in southeast Kansas to visit cemeteries. On their way out to one in the country, they passed an animal shelter. Mama knew she would have to stop on the way back when she saw the name: Lee's Paws and Claws Animal Shelter. It has Dad's name!



After decorating the graves they went back to the shelter. The woman who runs it, Ann Gillmore, was just getting back with the animals from an adoption event in town. Once a month (the last Saturday of the month) a local car dealership, Shepherd Team Auto Plaza, hosts Paws and Claws for an adoption event. Even better, they pay the adoption fees for anyone who adopts at the event! What a great sponsor!

After getting the animals all put back, Ms. Gillmore gave Mama and Grandma a tour of the small facility. She explained that they opened up last July and that she had donated her time for the first year. She agreed to work for free the first year to get them up and running. Now they're in the process of looking for someone to take over for her since her year there is almost up.

Paws and Claws is a no-kill shelter which is licensed to house up to 25 cats and 25 dogs. They have kennels that allow the animals both indoor and outdoor access. There is even a big outdoor run with a swimming pool and a fire hydrant. Right now they have 1 foster home available to them, but they would like to have more.

While there, Mama got to meet a dog who was available for adoption. His name is Fluffie and he is a 10 year old Great Pyrenees. His owner had to go to a nursing home, so Fluffie went to Paws and Claws. Fluffie has hip dysplasia, is heartworm positive and is gun/thunder shy. They are hoping a Great Pyrenees rescue group will be able to take him because he will need a very special home.


Fluffie
Every other month Pawprints on the Heartland, a non-profit, mobile, low-cost spay and neuter organization comes to Ft. Scott and performs surgeries on all the animals at the shelter who need it. The staff veterinarian for Paws and Claws is R.L. Robbins from Mound City who works relief for various clinics in the area.

Mama loved the outdoor area for the kitties. They even had a gigantic scratching post!



All of the animals there seemed very happy. They have a great place to live until they find their forever homes.








I would love it if you would check out their website and like their Facebook page. It would be even better if you could spread the word about them; they could use all the exposure they can get! If you're in the area, stop by and see them. They are located at 721 240th St. in Ft. Scott, Kansas and they're open every day from 10am to 2 pm.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Introducing Odilia and a Chance to Support her Shelter

Mama met a very special kitty at BlogPaws. Her name is Odilia and she is one of a kind. Mama fell in love with her instantly.


Photo by Lisa Richman.
Odilia was born without eyes. She's just a tiny little thing, but is as lively as any other kitten. She was a huge hit at BlogPaws and worked the room like the little star she is.


The pawpawrazzi angling for the purrfect shot.
Her foster mom, Connie from Tails from the Foster Kittens, brought her all the way from Maine. You can read Odilia's story on her blog.

Flat me and Odilia.

Everybody fawned over Odilia, but Bernadette from The Creative Cat showed her appreciation of the precious kitty in a different way. She sketched her at the lunch table!


Bernadette at work.

Odilia coming to life on the paper.
When she was done, Bernadette said she wanted to auction the sketch and donate the proceeds to Odilia's shelter, The Animal Welfare Society. Isn't that pawsome of her?

If you want to bid on the sketch and have Odilia on your wall, check out Bernadette's blog where you can bid in the comments.

Big thanks and pawhugs to Connie for caring for this amazing kitten and to Bernadette for sharing her creativity to benefit the shelter in Odilia's name.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Featured Furry: Izzy

This week's featured furry is a beauty who needs an experienced owner. Izzy is currently in foster with a volunteer and has been living there for 4 months. It's time this girl got her forever home!

Izzy has some very specific needs. First, she needs to be in an adult-only home. She also needs to be the only pet because she isn't comfortable around other animals.

Izzy is front declawed, which has caused some sensitivity in her paws. She does not like her feet touched and does not hesitate to remind you of that fact. As is common with declawed kitties, she can be nippy if you don't know how to read her signals. That is why it is important for Izzy's new family to be very understanding and patient with her.

Izzy is a full-figured gal and has been on a diet in her foster home. She was once a stray and probably had to hunt for her food. Now, she will overeat as a result of being underfed at one time in her life. Her family will have to make sure they measure her food and not give her too many treats. She will also need exercise, which is easiest to provide in the form of play. She loves the Cat Dancer toy and likes to push around bottle caps! She will also follow her human around the house, so that would be good exercise for her as well.

She will need to have her ears cleaned regularly and is fastidious about her litter box-it must be kept clean for this gal!

Izzy is quite affectionate and will give kisses. She enjoys sitting on laps and being petted. She is a beauty and will bring someone a lifetime of love.

Check out the video her foster mom made. If you think you're right for Izzy, please consider adopting her from Wayside Waifs!


Monday, May 20, 2013

Thundershirt Season

Mama got home from BlogPaws yesterday just before the storms passed through.

Poor Yaz was already upset by the time she got home. He knew what was coming and he was panting and trying to chew through the fence to run away.

Mama brought him in and put his Thundershirt on him.


After spending some time inside with it on he calmed down. He even laid down next to Dad in bed and fell asleep. Mama felt better when he relaxed, but she knew her job wasn't done.

Mama's swag bag was filled with dog stuff (hey! where were all the cat goodies?) so she used it to make Yaz a pet emergency kit. Then she took all of our kits to the basement in case the storm got bad.

Luckily, we didn't have to take cover, but our friends and family in Oklahoma did. Things got bad down there and we're praying for everyone in the storms' path the last couple of days.

If you don't already have a pet emergency kit PLEASE make one. You never know when you'll need it. You can find tips in a previous post on what you should put in one.

Check back with me soon as I post about all of Mama's excitement at this year's BlogPaws!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Memories of Rosie

Recently, Grandma and Grandpa moved in with Mom and Dad. They sold their house in Wichita, and while it was a good thing, it was a little sad too.


Mama lived in that house for 20 years. That is where she met her kitty Rosie. She was sad when she had to leave him there while she moved to Kansas City, but always looked forward to visiting him.

Rosie went over the Rainbow Bridge about 3 years ago, but Mama still had memories of him at Gma and Gpa's house.

Once, when Dad poured concrete to widen the driveway, Rosie left his impression.


Click to biggify.

Dad didn't get mad, instead he added Rosie's name. Mama wanted Dad to cut it out so she could take it with her, but Dad said no. He did help her get some pictures of it though!

Mama slept in her old bedroom the night before the big move. She noticed something on the door while she was sitting on the floor.


There was a spot worn off. It's where Rosie would "knock" on the door when he wanted out in the middle of the night. It made Mama smile to remember that.

There were a lot of memories in that house, but there are many more to be made in the new one. It's nice to look back and remember the good times and good cats.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day

It's my first Mother's Day at the Rainbow Bridge. I know Harvey and Evelyn did a good job of making Mama's day special, so these memories of us are just the cherry on top!









I love you Mama! Happy Mother's Day!

Monday, May 6, 2013

I Make My Own Rules


Mom says this isn't a blanket. I say, you have to make your own rules.