How to Photograph and Groom Shelter Cats:The Rachael Ray™ Nutrish™ #ShelterCatsAreBeautiful Tour

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rachael Ray Nutrish.   As always, thank you for reading and supporting our sponsors.

On September 29th I shared Part One of my Two Part feature about the The Rachael Ray™ Nutrish™ #ShelterCatsAreBeautiful Tour  and  their stop at   Friends For The Dearborn Animal Shelter, in Dearborn, Michigan, which I was thrilled to be able to attend.

Rachael Ray Nutrish  took the “Shelter Cats areBeautiful” tour to 16 cities

across the country and offered professional grooming and photography services to

capture the full beauty and personality of cats in need of adoption. The

program  provided shelters with the necessary tips, tools and equipment

to groom and capture the best possible photographs of shelter pets in the future.

This program helped celebrate the launch of Rachael Ray Nutrish‘s new line of

natural food for cats, which is now available in stores nationwide. Rachael is

dedicated to helping animals in need and donates her proceeds from the sale

of Rachael Ray Nutrish to help animal support organizations, which has resulted

in more than $6.5 million in donations to date.

Rachael Ray™ Nutrish™ is proud to partner with GreaterGood.org® and One Picture Saves a Life™. Together, they traveled across the country taking photos worthy of these loving cats who are simply looking for a second chance.

The session was led by Miranda Hay (read all about her in Part One) .

Miranda and I (my tired and haggy looking self!)
at the #ShelterCatsAreBeautiful Tour
Dearborn, Michigan

There were approx 40 people in attendance. lWe istened with rapt attention to  the grooming and photography tips that Miranda shared with us, (they can also be found at www.onepicturesaves.com)

The cat that Miranda groomed was named "Linc" (I believe it was short for Abraham Lincoln, but I am not sure, my husband caught that part, I didn't!) I was impressed immediately with how Miranda handled and related to Linc with the utmost care, respect and gentleness.

The session began with an overview of the program,   then Miranda proceeded to discuss tips for

Shelter Cat Grooming
some of the tips were:

Before You Start

• Safety first! Make sure the cat is ready to be handled!
• DO NOT RUSH! Spend some time with the cat to make sure you are both comfortable to ensure a safe and relaxing experience for both of you!
• If the cat you are preparing to groom is not ready, move on to another cat and try again later!

Focus on Cleaning the Face

• The headshot is THE most important picture!
• Clean "goop" around the eyes and nose with saline solution and a paper towel or wash cloth

Trim Nails
Clean the Coat

• Use a waterless shampoo on a paper towel or washcloth, and you have a quick and easy wipe to safely remove dirt and dander and give the coat a nice scent.
• Finish up with a brush out to make sure the coat is fluffy and shiny for her glamour shot!!

HAVE FUN!!!

Miranda and Linc sharing a private joke

For more grooming tips visit:

Here is a photo of a happy and groomed "Linc" with Aaron Bertera, Downriver Center Animal Control, Chief Animal Control Officer, who graciously offered to pose with Linc for a photo op for me!

After the grooming tips, Miranda went on to share with us Shelter Cat Photography tips that she learned from Seth Casteel, who does Lifestyle and Pet Photography. The tips that we were given by Miranda are ALL in this fabulous video that is on the One Picture Saves A Life website. Enjoy!


Always Remember:

• Positive photos get animals adopted!
• Try to showcase unique features about each cat and show their personality
• Head shots where the eyes are light and in focus connect with adopters!

THEN IT WAS OUR TURN!!!
I was a coward and chose NOT to go into the area where the cats were in cages waiting to be adopted, instead, I opted to join Miranda and a few others in an area that was more "home-like", where the kitties were on beds, had scratchers etc, and were able to move about freely. It was there that we each got to take some photos of our own. Here are some of mine:

I didn't do too shabby did I? I am pretty proud of a few of these, especially since I only used my iphone!

There you have it!

It is a complete honor being a Brand Ambassador for Rachael Ray™ Nutrish™  and to be able to experience her #ShelterCatsAreBeautifulTour first paw! Kudos to GreaterGood.org® and One Picture Saves a Life™ for their partnership with her and dedication to this incredible cause as well. A special THANK YOU to Rachael Ray™ Nutrish™ for the pallets of food that were donated to the kitties of the shelter. You can see a video of them enjoying their food here. THE VIDEO IS SUPER SHORT, BE SURE TO TURN UP YOUR VOLUME TO HEAR THEM MEOWING WITH DELIGHT!!!




 My time spent at the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter was incredibly educational and rewarding. It was an honor to meet and become friends with Miranda, and to mingle with those who give their hearts and souls every day to help save millions of furry lives. 

I promised my friends at the Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter that I would share their next HUGE endeavors. 

Dearborn Animal Shelter to Host 14^th Annual Black Tie & Tails Gala

Organization hosts elegant Paris themed fundraiser evening to benefit homeless pets

The Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s popular Black Tie & Tails charity fundraising event returns on Friday, Oct. 24^th.  Festivities begin 7 p.m. at the historic Dearborn Inn, 20301 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn.  The 2014 theme is Passport to Paris: celebrating the countless adopted animal love stories that have been created in the organization’s twenty-year history.

Guests will be transported to Paris, the ultimate City of Love, starting with a French wine tasting hosted by Merchant’s Fine Wine. There will also be “passport stops” throughout the evening, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre “adoption gallery.” And, of course, there will be flowing champagne and French-inspired entrees.

 Tracy Balazy and Einstein; Adorable Adoptables are the star guests at Black Tie & Tails

Photo Credit: Besek Photography

Since its inception, Black Tie has been an engaging community event that has attracted local celebrities, athletes, auto industry and business leaders, politicians and concerned citizens, gathering to help fund the Friends’ ongoing efforts to care for and find permanent homes for unwanted animals. More than $1 million has been raised since the start of Black Tie in 2001; this year’s target is to top $150,000.

A wide array of metro Detroit area businesses, artists, and private individuals donate auction items such as great tickets to sporting events, tours, dinner excursions, weekend getaways and luxury merchandise. Black Tie is also known for unique offerings, such as a meet-and-greet during a morning skate with Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels, and a hot-lap, test-drive experience at the Ford Motor Dearborn Development Center. Leading up to the evening, a host of the many auction items can be previewed online, 

Tickets for Black Tie & Tails are $175 per person and are available online or by calling the Shelter. 

Learn more about events, volunteering, donating or adoptable animals online. The Dearborn Animal Shelter is located at 2661 Greenfield Road, Dearborn, and is operated by the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Phone (313) 943-2697, online DearbornAnimals.org, Facebook or Twitter.

ALSO

They want to build a new shelter!!!

.  They are in the process of a Capital Campaign to build a new Shelter facility that the animals and humans who care for them/come to adopt them, so richly deserve. Any donations or sharing about the campaign to help them realize that dream are welcome!  Details here: 

Cats! Grab your food bowls, it's DINNER TIME Somewhere! #nutrishforcats Enter to win!

Kitties!!!!! I am purring with excitement about the goodies that I have to share with you today! As many of you know, I am one of a clowder of Ambassacats for NEW NUTRISH FOR CATS! That makes me purr with pride!

Our family has been a Nutrish family since Nutrish for Dogs first appeared on the market in 2008. My Sheltie brother,  Dakota has been eating it ever since, he is also a proud Ambassadog for the Nutrish brand!! (Dakota was eating Nutrish long before he had a blog, his blog didn't begin until 2011 and mine started in 2009). I had felt left out for quite some time, until Rachael Ray announced that she  had created Nutrish for Cats!

For the last month or so I was lounging around staring out the window and  sunning myself, and I began wondering when I would hear from Mission Control at Nutrish to let me know when my next  mission would be. I began pacing with anticipation! I wanted to share all of the goodness that is Nutrish for Cats with my kitty furiends!!  Kitties, I didn't have to wait long! One day when I was purrticularly hungry I heard a knock at the door. Look what arrived!

I wondered out loud, WHAT COULD THIS BE? This was one of MANY times that I wished I had thumbs to open this!  I KNEW it had to be good! I ran to get Mom and she helped me open the box, it was like CHRISTMAS  Chanukah in JULY!!!!  (what do you expect, I'm a Jewish kitty!!!)

It was a Nutrish for Cats Sample Kit !!!!

How pawsome is that fish wrapping paper on the top left?
The jars on the right had brown rice for Mom so that she could make a delish dinner for she and Dad (Dinner for Two),  and a cat nip toy for me!!!
Oh how I knew I was going to LOVE my  SAMPLING KIT!!
I knew I had to start washing my paws so that I could jump right in!
Everything was packaged in that pawsome shopping bag that you see to the right above!  Mom was disappointed that I didn't play with the toy or the bag much:



 True to form, I was much more interested in the FOOD than I was in the bag OR the toy, but we all know I am all about the FOOD! Especially when it is Nutrish For Cats that we're talkin' about!!!   The heck with cat toys and empty paper bags, just GIVE ME MY NUTRISH FOR CATS!

DO NOT
allow your cat to eat directly from a bag
WITHOUT CLOSE SUPERVISION
The above shot lasted about 5 seconds
Cody was closely supervised!!!

I LOVE the Natural Dry Cat Food! 

I received the Real Salmon and Brown Rice recipe dry food. Real chicken or salmon is always the number one ingredient in every bag of Rachael Ray Nutrish® for Cats. There’s no ground corn, wheat or soy. And there’s never any by-products artificial flavors or artificial preservatives. Just wholesome whole grains and veggies plus the vitamins, minerals and taurine that we kitties need to be healthy and happy.

I LOVE the Natural Wet Cat Food

I received 3 different flavors (I think the Chicken  Purrcata is my fave!)  that were all inspired by recipes from Rachael's kitchen, these delicious recipes are made with simple, natural ingredients like real chicken or fish. There are no grains or anything artificial either — just essential vitamins and minerals for a tasty food your cat will love. Nutrish® for Cats is available where you shop for your family’s groceries. 

Before I was purrmitted to eat my Lip Smackin' Sardine & Mackerel that has

delicious chunks of sardines and mackerel in an irresistible sauce with added vitamins, minerals and taurine, Mom said that this was a special day and I had to wear my bow tie for the occasion.

Because I received the Real Salmon and Brown Rice bag of dry food, Mission Control provided my Mom with a recipe to make for she and Dad that also featured REAL SALMON AND BROWN RICE! It was called the SMOKY MAPLE GLAZED SALMON SUPPER and you can find the recipe HERE!!!  

Watching Mom prepare for, and then make the recipe was when the show REALLY started!! Mom considers herself to be a good cook, she really is, but she rarely follows recipes to the letter. Mom was nervous because 2 different stores didn't have watercress, she bought the wrong size carrots, she dumped (yes, I said DUMPED), too many peas into the frying pan, AND the brainiac forgot that Mission Control had sent her brown rice, so she used HER OWN!  Oh, the recipe also calls for the skin to be REMOVED from the salmon (before cooking!), what did Mom do? She left it on!!! Well guess what, Dad said that this was the BEST salmon that Mom has EVER MADE!! Mom said that even minus the watercress and the skin being on the salmon (the skin developed an amazing, delicious, crispy, maple yumminess!) that the dish was FANTASTIC!! This one is a keeper! Check out the photos!!!!

Ok, Mom said because this dish came out so perfectly and the flavor was to die for, she wants you to see a GOOD photo of the plated meal!

If all of the above isn't enough to make you hungry I don't know what is!!! I don't know about you but I am going to hop on over to the website to check out ALL OF THE FLAVORS of dry and wet food , you can too!!!  Also:

Mission Control at Nutrish

gave me a special link

 for you to get a special coupon

 to  SWITCH TO NUTRISH

and TRY  Nutrish for Cats!

BUT WAIT!!!

THERE'S MORE!!

THERE IS ALSO A GIVE-AWAY!!!!! ONE LUCKY READER WHO RESIDES IN THE U.S.A  will win a Nutrish prize pack!!!!! There are only TWO mandatory entries required on the rafflecopter below, GOOD LUCK!!!!:
a Rafflecopter giveaway





Keep your eyes open for our special post on July 29th  about Rachael's latest initiative: Shelter Cats Are Beautiful! Mom and I are so excited we can't stop purring!!!!  Proceeds for Nutrish for Dogs and Nutrish for Cats, as always, are given to Rachael's Rescue. Find out more at rachaelsrescue.org

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rachael Ray Nutrish. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  As always, thank you for reading and supporting our sponsors.