Tuesday, October 31, 2017

How I Motivated my Cat to wear (and be photographed in) his Halloween Costume

Rachael Ray Nutrish has sponsored this post, but all opinions are my own.

 I love looking at other people's pets wearing Halloween costumes! Often these pets are seen cavorting or posing in darling and creative scenarios. Not my boys.  Neither of my "boys" are huge fans of :
1) having their photos taken
 2) wearing much of anything other than the fur that they were born with.
 That is their right and I do everything in my power to honor that...except for maybe a handful of times each year. One of those times is Halloween. There are so many darling Halloween items available and tons of photos around the web of pets wearing them, that I so wanted to participate!   This year  Dakota was sent some adorable bandanas and I wanted  Cody to get in on a little bit of the "fun" of  wearing one. 
HOW DID I TAKE THIS DARLING PHOTO? READ ON!

One of the occupational hazards of having blogged for over eight years is when your pets see you coming with anything that looks even remotely like it might take photos, they often will:
  1) look in any direction other than the direction they should be looking towards in order to take a decent photo.
 2) Or, they will leave the room completely.

The other day when Cody and I were celebrating "a-certain-day-that-honors-cats" I decided I wanted to take some photos of him in his darling Halloween bandana.  The problem? Cody was sound asleep.  While an annoyance for him, I figured it was my perfect chance to make my move.

Why of COURSE I have food Cody! It may have taken me much of your ten years of life to learn this, but finally I learned that being the food-obsessed cat that you are, you will pretty much do ANYTHING for food. YES ANYTHING. 


My main tips for motivating YOUR cat (if they are food motivated as Cody is), to participate in a photo session that involves a Halloween costume or an item they normally wouldn't wear, and  that he  or she might not be over-the-moon about wearing is:

1) Schedule your photo shoot at meal time
2) Pick a food that he LOVES. In Cody's case that is his Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor CompleteRachael Ray™ Nutrish® Indoor Complete Chicken with Lentils&Salmon Recipe is a natural food for cats with added vitamins, minerals & taurine. This recipe contains a real superfood blend to meet the complete needs of your adult indoor cat and is available right where you shop for your family’s groceries!!
3) Allow him to sniff the bag of food. (you can loosely tie the bandana on while he is focused on his food!)
4) Be sure to pick an item/costume that your cat will NOT mind wearing for a few minutes. Some cats hate having anything on their heads (Cody is one of those cats), try and respect that whenever possible. 
5) Don't have them wear anything that will hinder or restrain their movements, breathing, etc.
6) Keep the session as short as possible! If your pet absolutely HATES what they are wearing REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY. NO PET SHOULD BE MISERABLE TAKING A PHOTO. IF THEY ARE, STOP!


7) Don't tease your kitty make sure you are feeding some food each time you are snapping away!


A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation,
which helps animals in need through  Rachael’s Rescue® Through September 2017,
Rachael’s Rescue has donated more than $21 million dollars to pet charities and
other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food,
medical supplies, treatments, and more for animals in need. Many more animals
around the country need help, and through Rachael’s Rescue, together we can make
a difference in the lives of many four-legged friends


The photo above and the photo below were taken by holding Cody's bowl of Nutrish just high enough to pique his interest.  His expression in the photo below shows that he had just about enough of the photo session so we began wrapping it up.
Once we finished this part of the photo shoot, Cody decided he had a MUCH better idea for a Halloween costume! He decided he would trick or treat dressed as a bag of Nutrish!

See? I told you Cody would do ANYTHING to have his Indoor Complete! So, what do you think of Cody trick or treating as a bag of Nutrish? We LOVE IT! 

 Did you dress your pets up for Halloween? If so, Nutrish wants to see them! Get in on the fun by following @Nutrish on Instagram and sharing your photo with the hashtag #NutrishPets and #Sweepstakes and you could win $500 !!


Speaking of photos! Don’t forget to enter the Nutrish Furever Home Sweepstakes, which ends  on October 31, 2017 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET –you just might win $25,000 and a year of Nutrish food for your cat!

After all of that posing you humans will need a relaxing reprieve! Nutrish has MORE HALLOWEEN FUN JUST FOR THE HUMANS! DO YOU LOVE TO COLOR?
my hastily colored picture



Visit the Nutrish Pinterest Page  print out the special coloring page, create your masterpiece and share on Instagram using hashtag #NutrishPets


About Rachael Ray Nutrish: In 2007, with help from pet nutrition experts, Rachael Ray created Nutrish super-premium food and treats for dogs inspired by recipes from her own kitchen. In 2014, they were very excited to grow the brand into the world of cat food. Whether intended for dogs or cats, Nutrish recipes are made with simple, wholesome ingredients like real meat or fish, and do not contain poultry by-product meal or fillers.
HAVE A HAPPY, SAFE AND 
"DELISH" HALLOWEEN!!

 Love from,

A few years ago we received this
Pumpkin made by Marv's Mom Barb!

Monday, October 30, 2017

Winners of our "Cat-Inspired Apparel" World-Wide Give-Away from Triple T Studios!

Thanks to everyone who entered our give-away!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO THE LUCKY WINNERS

LISTED BELOW!!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway






BASED ON THE COMMENTS THEY LEFT
CRYSTAL S.WON THE T-SHIRT!!
CLAIRE B. WON THE FOOTIES!!

YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE YOUR PRIZES!

Friday, October 27, 2017

"The One Where We Turned Eight" and A Feedburner PSA


Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes and for your condolences about the loss of our cousin. with all that has been going on,  we almost forgot our blog anniversary. 

Our blog first published on October 25th, 2009 (but we didn't begin to blog regularly until 2010), regardless, we are now eight years old.

What a wild, wacky, strange, loving and interesting eight years it has been! Cody and I have learned A LOT about ourselves and we have enjoyed learning a lot about YOU!

 Many of you have been with us since the early days and we thank you, to those who are "newer" to our blog we welcome you with open arms and paws!

We thank each and every one of you who take the time to stop by and visit, (although now with Feedburner not delivering our blog and many, many others, we are missing many of your blog posts).  Those of you who rely on Feedburner to send out your blogs via email (EVEN IF YOU ARE SELF HOSTED AND OWN YOUR OWN LINK AS WE DO), there are many people not receiving your blog. If you check Feedburner and it says there is no problem, THERE IS IN FACT, A PROBLEM. A number of other bloggers have confirmed that is the case. We are certain many of you are no longer seeing us in your inbox. We wish we had a solution, but we don't, other than if you are on BlogLovin' we are too and you can follow us there as well. 

 Check your numbers, if your page views/comments are down, Feedburner is more than likely the culprit. If we USED to visit and you haven't been seeing us, that is why. We are now relying on Blog Lovin', Blog Hops and The Cat Blogosphere, as well as your blog comments on our blog to make sure that we read yours. We subscribe to well over 200 blogs and it is impossible to remember each and every blog that we are not receiving. We are doing our best to visit all of you.  Cody and I wish we had a solution, but for now, we are hoping the situation resolves itself. If you have any suggestions as to what we should do, please share them with us! 

Thank you all for your friendship  through the years, we don't say it often enough, but we love and deeply appreciate each and every one of you. 

Caren and Cody 

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Winner! Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz

We're late posting our winner..............don't ask..............anyway, HUGE Congratulations to the lucky winner of our give-away for:

From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,
published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com


THE LUCKY WINNER IS:

SUMMER!!!!

She was selected by www.random.org
First comment, first number selected!

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!

To the one or two people who do not know,
Summer has a blog that you can visit right here!!!








Sunday, October 22, 2017

A Most Beautiful "Lion" Girl:Honoring "Sister Sascha" with Love and Sadness

Hoping Brian's Home doesn't mind that we used their photo
I have been offline the past few days for a host of reasons. One of them was that we had a death in our family last Wednesday. Our cousin passed after battling kidney cancer for five years. He would have been 62 on October 23rd.  We were with the family Friday night, and yesterday was the funeral and wake. I have not been reading blogs or checking email at all since Friday.

I began reading email/blogs this morning and found out the heartbreaking news that beloved "Sister Sascha" from Brian's Home has gotten her Angel wings and has gone to the Bridge. Our hearts are broken for Brian and his entire family. I am deeply saddened that she had to go to the bridge at all, and it makes it hurt even more that she left on my birthday.  I will forever think of her that day.

Sister Sascha as Brian said is "High atop the Diva Tower." We always loved when she would get her "Lion Cut" about once or so a year..........and the first song that came into our minds to honor her memory was this one:



AND ALSO THIS ONE:



We extend our deepest sympathy to Sister Sascha's entire family and wish we could be there to help comfort them all. You have probably visited them already, since we found out so late, but if not, you can click here

Sister Sascha thank you for sharing your life with us, to your family, we love you and thank you for giving this exquisite cat the best home she could have ever hoped for. We love you all and we are hurting with you.

Caren and Cody



Friday, October 20, 2017

A "Cat-Inspired Apparel" World-Wide Give-Away from Triple T Studios!

This post is sponsored by Triple T Studios. 



Hi all it's Cody and did you know that today is my Mom's birthday? Yep, it is! In honor of her special day Mom and I are excited to host a special give-away from our furiends at Triple T Studios!


Mom has featured items from Triple T Studios a number of times on our blog, and each and every item she has she loves and uses frequently! Mom LOVES that Triple T Studios is passionate about supporting global conservation projects and that they love and support  the "BIG" Cats (Lions and Tigers!). This leads me to the first item that Mom received that I want to tell you about. It is the:




First, take a look at that picture of the Cat and Lion Shadow design on theT-shirt. (It is the exclusive property of Triple T Studios).  Deep down kitties see themselves as much more than just small kitties, they know that deep within there is a LION roaring inside of them! Every kitty aspires to be that Lion and truth be told we kitties think that many humans feel the same. (As well they should!). It doesn't matter what is seen on the outside, it is what we think of ourselves on the INSIDE that matters most!

From Triple T Studios:   "Our original design says it all!  Roar with the heart of a lion. Walk with cat confidence with your tail up and curled knowing you are unstoppable!!"

 Mom loves that shirt for the symbolism behind it and she loves that the T-Shirt:

 has a comfortable set-in V-neck
It is Super soft 4.5 oz. 100% ring spun cotton with a Ladies fashion fit.
It comes in a wide variety of sizes ranging from XS to 4XL!!

You can tell by the photo that Mom has a larger size.  Mom LOVES how it doesn't cling to her "fluffy" areas that she doesn't want it to cling to. Mom says it is sooo soft and she plans on wearing the Cat and Lion Shadow T-Shirt to PopCats Show next week in Miami!! (FYI:if you are in the area, Triple T Studios will be there too as one of the exhibitors!)

Because Mom's  photo of her shirt isn't as clear as she would like it to be, we are  posting one directly from the Triple T Studios website.


Cat Lion Shadow T-Shirt Photo Courtesy of Triple T Studios
The next items that Mom received are the adorable:

Mom is crazy about her Cute Cat Footies and she said part of what she loves about them is the soft "baby-like" colors! They remind Mom of little baby socks with their soft color and the soft material.  Mom also doesn't like to wear heavy socks and these are just PURRFECT. Mom is also going to be wearing these at PopCats next week, she is bringing every pair with her! The footies are available in 5 COLORS  (White, Beige, Coral, Yellow and Sky Blue). If you purchase them individually they are $6 each but if you buy the 5 Pair Pack you will receive one pair of footies in each color, (like Mom received) and  they are only $20!! Look at the cute cat face pattern!  They footies are:

80% Cotton
18% Poly
2% Spandex
One size fits most
Imported 



GIVE-AWAY!! In honor of my Mom's birthday our furiends at Triple T Studios are offering a World-Wide Give-Away! One winner will win the Cat Lion Shadow T-Shirt  ($24 value) and another winner will win a package of the adorable Cute Cat Footies ($20 value). Entering is super easy just enter on the Rafflecopter below and GOOD LUCK!!! ***THERE IS A MANDATORY ENTRY THAT MUST BE COMPLETED, IF NOT COMPLETED THE ENTRANT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
a Rafflecopter giveaway









Thursday, October 19, 2017

It's my Woofie Brother's 10th Gotcha Day!


Today is my woofie brother's 10th Gotcha Day and I wrote him a poem:

To Dakota:

You are big and fluffy, tan, brown and white,
I sometimes think you aren't too bright.

You must realize the humans are our servants
no need to obey their orders like a subservient.

You bark and you bark and you make so much noise,
I am grateful to have a room away from you to play with my toys.

I do commend you though, because since the day you moved in,
you immediately knew who was the boss around your "den."

It isn't you dear Sheltie brother, it isn't our Dad or our mother.

You guessed it my brother, my furever friend,
it is ME who rules YOU and our HOME until the end.

Happy, Happy 10th Gotcha Day
to my favorite (and only) Woofie Brother!
Love, Cody

Monday, October 16, 2017

What is Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and how does it work? (#GlobalCatDay)

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Happy Global Cat Day which has evolved from National Feral Cat Day®.  Alley Cat Allies created National Feral Cat Day® on its 10th anniversary in 2001 "to raise awareness about community cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), and recognize the millions of compassionate Americans who care for them. Because compassion knows no borders, international participation in National Feral Cat Day grew each year, reaching at least 20 countries with last year’s edition. That mark has already been eclipsed this year, with engagement for the inaugural Global Cat Day coming from more than 40 countries, from Australia to the United Kingdom, Belgium to Brazil, Saudi Arabia to South Africa and many more."
Courtesy of Alley Cat Allies on Facebook

TAKE/SIGN THE GLOBAL CAT DAY PLEDGE“I pledge to be an ally to cats, including those who call the outdoors their home. I will advocate for compassionate policies that protect every cat in my community.” 

Today on this special day we are happy to have guest blogger Cherri Megasko writing about the importance of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). Cherri has been an animal lover all her life. In addition to caring for her own pets, she has been trained to rehabilitate sick or injured wildlife. Cherri is currently traveling the world with her husband, Greg, and Yorkshire Terrier, Winston. Please check out her pet and wildlife blog –
Cats, Dogs and Polliwogs.
This colony of feral cats was photographed on a roadside
 while scavenging for food scraps
   
Sara Golemon (Wikimedia Commons)

There are an estimated 70 million feral cats in the U.S. In addition to the damage they do to wildlife and personal property, they generally lead sick and miserable lives. Feral cats typically live in colonies where they must constantly hunt and scrounge for food, breeding uncontrollably until they are hit by a car, die of starvation or come to some other painful and tragic end. Today, (October 16), is Global Cat Day. You can observe this important day by learning about Trap-Neuter-Return programs in your area and and volunteering to help where you can.

TNR is one method of controlling feral cat populations. As the name implies, feral cats are humanely trapped, transported to a veterinarian for a rabies vaccination and sterilization, and then returned to their colonies. In addition, colony caretakers regularly monitor feral cat colonies and provide food, water and shelter for the colony population.
As adorable as this feral kitten is, he is sentenced to grow up in a harsh and frightening world.
Image Credit:
Serkan Dulgeroglu (FreeImages.com)

Who provides this service?
There are many volunteer organizations across the U.S. that support TNR programs. Funding for food and supplies generally is acquired from private donations. Many local veterinarians will also provide discounted sterilization services for TNR programs and some cities have government-funded TNR programs as well.

Why is TNR a good option?
Although not without its challenges, TNR programs are more effective in controlling feral cat populations than simply removing cats from an area. The reason for this is that cats are territorial. When you simply attempt to remove all the feral cats from one geographic area, new feral individuals will move in and start new colonies. By sterilizing colony residents and providing them with the basics of food, water and shelter, you are controlling population growth and helping to maintain a disease-free environment. TNR programs also include rabies vaccinations, which help protect area wildlife and adjacent human populations.
Many feral cats live dangerous and lonely lives.
 You can help by donating your time or money
 in celebration of Global Cat Day on October 16.
Image Credit:
Sener Aydin (FreeImages.com)

How Can I Celebrate Global Cat Day?
TAKE/SIGN THE GLOBAL CAT DAY PLEDGE!! Participating in the Trap-Neuter-Return program is not something that is advisable for an individual to attempt on his own. For obvious reasons, there are many logistical, safety and legal issues that need to be carefully considered. The first step should be to contact your local animal shelter, veterinary clinic or animal control office to inquire about programs that already exist in your area. Once doing so, there will be many ways to become involved. Volunteers are often needed to transport captured cats to veterinary offices, provide foster care as the cats recover from surgery, or to be a colony caretaker. Donations of food and supplies are most always welcome as well.



Friday, October 13, 2017

Cat Book Review and Give-Away:Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz

Books and cats. The "purrfect" combo. Like peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter and chocolate, coffee and cream, (you get the idea!), books and cats just go together "purrfectly". "Cats are cultured, stately, curious, and like to seem as though they know everything. Cats and books go paw-in-paw." Today it is my pleasure to present Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz.
From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,
published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com
I have always loved when I have walked into a retail establishment and was surprised to find a cat who couldn't wait to greet me! I used to have a favorite store that sold bird seed that had a hefty, handsome tabby mancat who would greet me every time I visited. There is also a quaint boutique near my home that has a gorgeous kitty working long retail hours. It is a no-brainer that a shop that has resident cats is going to be one I will return to (and purchase from), again and again.

"Around the world, bookstores continue to prove that cats and books belong together...the bookstore is a place to enter quietly, search endlessly for inspiration, then dive into something unknown for no solid reason other than to satisfy an itch. In essence, it's where humans act like cats."

With e-readers taking over and forcing many bookstores large and small to close their doors, I have yet to find a bookstore near my home in Michigan that has a resident cat. But those stores DO exist!  You will read about many cats who reside in bookstores throughout the U.S. and Canada in Bookstore Cats by Brandon  Schultz. While reading I found myself daydreaming, wishing I could go and visit these cats in their establishments.  Roadtrip anyone?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:"Bookstore cats are an international phenomenon and this wonderful investigation has turned up the curious cats running bookshops worldwide. Now, for the first time, some of the world's most beloved bookstore cats are collected together in one adorable directory, making the perfect gift for cat lovers, book lovers, shoppers, and the generally curious worldwide. With personalities and histories as varied as the books they tend, each cat has a story worth telling."

Curl up, grab a kitty or two on your lap and a cozy beverage  and meet some of my favorites from the book!

"Gatsby" From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,
published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com
Former shelter cat. Loves stealing pens. Loves treats and petting. He can be found at The Book Man, in Chilliwach, British Columbia.

"Scout" From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,
published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com
Scout likes birds, warm computers and hot sauce. Scout does not like manicures, ceiling fans, or vacuums. Her favorite author is Maurice Sendak. She can be found at Books With A Past in Glenwood, Maryland.

"Hodge" From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com


.
Hodge is "Chicago's most famous cat." Hodge is the subject of his own book! He can be found at Selected Works in Chicago, Illinois.
"Amelia" From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com



I was first drawn to Amelia because my Grandmother whom I adored was named Amelia and my husband worked for many years at Amelia Earhart Middle School. The "Amelia" featured above has her own holiday!! It coincides with Independent Bookstore Day, and The Spiral Bookcase bookstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania celebrates Amelia Cat Day annually. Amelia suffers from feline hyperthyroidism and requires quite a bit of medical care and testing. Customers at the bookstore often donate to her medical fund. She thanks them by giving them cuddles and comfort.

"Shiva"  From Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz, copyright © 2017,
published by Glitterati Incorporated www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com
Shiva is 7 years old and is the head of "what may be the largest feline bookselling workforce in the world!" There are often 15 cats in the store! She is located at Cat Tales in Portland, Indiana which is operated by Midwest Pet Refuge to help fund the rescue.

The cats featured above are just a small sampling of the MANY cats featured in this charming book!

"This playful collection, featuring whimsical color photographs of each cat, delivers unforgettable, swoon-worthy moments of the feline employees in their respective shops. Combined with timeless poetry and literary cat trivia, these tales paint an emotional, endearing, and adorable portrait of the lives of cats in their happiest of homes."


About the author:


Brandon Schultz loves cats, bookstores, and especially bookstores run by cats. Among other things he is a book publisher, travel writer, and ice cream enthusiast. This is his fourth book, and he lives in Brooklyn, New York, with a cat named Lucy who has previously authored her own book.


ISBN 13: 978-1-943876-52-5
160 pages, 6 x 7½", hardcover with ribbon marker
50 4/c photographs

Bookstore Cats is a book that should definitely be on your coffee table or in your home library.  There is even a ribbon attached to the book that serves as a handy, stay-put bookmark! It is the "purrfect" gift for cat lovers and book lovers! And...you are in luck! We have a:

GIVE-AWAY!! 
One lucky winner who is 18 and over and who resides in either the U.S or Canada will receive a SIGNED, PERSONALIZED copy of Bookstore Cats by Brandon Schultz. (An approximate $20 value).  THERE IS NO RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY!! ENTERING IS SUPER EASY! JUST LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST THAT CLEARLY STATES THAT YOU WISH TO BE ENTERED!! THAT'S IT! The give-away is open NOW and will end on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, 2017 AT 5PM EST. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, 2017. GOOD LUCK!! 


In full disclosure: We were sent a copy of Bookstore Cats in exchange for our always honest review.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

A Cat Bed Design Contest From Tuft + Paw!

This post was sponsored by Tuft + Paw.

Hello from Tuft + Paw!

We at Tuft + Paw want our cats to have the best and this includes the best cat furniture for all our furry friends needs. However, we also recognize that you still want a home that feels modern and stylish.

That’s why we created Tuft + Paw. We reinvent the category of cat furniture and bring you pieces that not only look modern and stylish in your home but are durable too, ensuring both cat and owner satisfaction. As part of this we also ensure our pieces are easy to assemble and machine washable. Most importantly, we provide a 30 day happiness guarantee- so you can make sure your cat loves it as much as we do.
"Toshi" Photo Courtesy of Tuft + Paw


We recognise no-one knows our furry friends better than their owners themselves and this is why we have launched a competition for the next design to rethink cat furniture…



We want you to come up with a design for a piece of cat furniture! There are a few key elements we’d like the design to include:

1)    We want it to be sustainable- we want to help cat owners, their cats and the planet.
2)    It needs to be affordable- think designer cat furniture, without the designer price tag.
3)    We want it to look beautiful. Our ethos at Tuft + Paw is to have durable, practical pieces that are also stylish. Think of designing something that you would be proud to have in your home.
4)    It needs to be easy to ship, so we can get it to cat owners and shelters far and wide. Hint: flat pack works well!
5)    We need practical designs. While we want to see your creativity flourish, we also need the dimensions and instructions for how to assemble your piece.
Courtesy of Tuft + Paw



The prize!

You get to see your creation come to life, as the winning design will be produced and promoted at Tuft + Paw. Not only that, there will be a prize of $1,500! You’ll also be giving back to less fortunate cats, as we’re using this as an opportunity to donate the winning piece to cat shelters across the US.

Good luck! We can’t wait to see what you come up with…

Tuft + Paw

Monday, October 9, 2017

Friday, October 6, 2017

You could win $25,000 and a year’s supply of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® this October!

Rachael Ray Nutrish has sponsored this post, but all opinions are my own.


Hi my furiends! It's Cody! As many of you know I was adopted by my Mama back in 2007. I was adopted two weeks after Mom's Angel Bobo went to the Bridge at age 18. Mom had found Angel Bobo when he was 6 months old. She found him in a blizzard. Who knows how long he had been wandering the streets?

As for me, I was only 10 weeks old when I was adopted. I was living with a fabulous Foster Mom who had me, my littermates and various woofies at her house. She was affiliated with a local rescue group here in Michigan. I am one of the lucky ones. Because I had a Foster Mom and because I was adopted at such a young age, I never had to live in a shelter.

NOT ALL KITTIES AND WOOFIES ARE AS LUCKY
Rachael Ray knows that there are many, many animals who aren't as lucky as I was. There are thousands upon thousands of animals who are waiting in shelters. They are purring and barking with all of their might that they might soon find their furever home. We know this first hand because my "bonus" sister is a Manager of a local animal shelter here in Michigan. We wish we could find furever homes for all of the animals who need them, and so does Rachael Ray.  That is why she created:


The Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Furever Home™  Campaign
 is Helping Shelter Pets Find The Home They Deserve!

Rachael Ray Nutrish is donating $250,000 during the month of October
 to help shelter pets in need!!

Cash donations will be made in equal amounts to 3 organizations:

  1. Big Dog Ranch Rescue :Big Dog Ranch Rescue is the largest no-kill dog rescue in the Southeastern United States.
  2. ASPCA: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®(American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®: We have featured the ASPCA numerous times on Dakota's blog and are honored and happy to do so. The ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of rescue, adoption and welfare and has worked tirelessly for over 150 years to put an end to animal abuse and neglect.
  3. North Shore Animal League:  North Shore Animal League is the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization.
  4. For those who are regular readers of my blog you know that Rachael Ray created:Rachael’s Rescue® which was created for all of the forgotten pets – the ones who might not have someone who loves them as much as they deserve. A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation,
    which helps animals in need through Rachael’s Rescue. Through September 2017,
    Rachael’s Rescue has donated more than $21 million dollars to pet charities and
    other organizations that do good for animals.
    The funds are used for food,
    medical supplies, treatments, and more for animals in need. Rachael Ray has contributed even more money to animals that were affected by the recent hurricanes, but there are many more animals around the country need help, and through Rachael’s Rescue, together we can make
    a difference in the lives of many four-legged friends.

    SWEEPSTAKES!!!!

    The Sweepstakes begins on October 1, 2017 at 12:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on October 31, 2017 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET (the “Sweepstakes Period”).


    To Enter Online:
       Purchase any Nutrish®-only product during the Sweepstakes Period, then visit www.nutrishfureverhome.com and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration form with your contact information, including email address. Then upload a digital photo of your original purchase receipt with the Nutrish product circled, to receive one entry into the Sweepstakes.
                                                        
        To Enter without Purchase. 
Open to legal residents of 50 U.S/D.C.,18+ (19+ in AL&NE). Ends 10/31/17 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. To enter without purchase by mail and for Official Rules: www.nutrishfureverhome.com
Grand Prize: $25,000 and a one-year supply of Nutrish® dry dog food or one year worth of Nutrish® dry cat.
THREE (3) First Prizes: $5,000 and a one-year supply of Nutrish® dry dog food or one year worth of Nutrish® dry cat.








About Rachael Ray Nutrish: In 2007, with help from pet nutrition experts, Rachael Ray created Nutrish super-premium food and treats for dogs inspired by recipes from her own kitchen. In 2014, we were very excited to grow the brand into the world of cat food. Whether intended for dogs or cats, Nutrish recipes are made with simple, wholesome ingredients like real meat or fish, and do not contain poultry by-product meal or fillers.


ALL ANIMALS EVERYWHERE
 DESERVE A "FUREVER HOME"

I LOVE MY NUTRISH and you will too!

 So what are you waiting for?
 Hurry out and buy some Nutrish today
 and HELP SHELTER PETS
 and maybe you will win some Nutrish for YOU!!