It's Petfinder's Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week!

Hi everyone it's Cody! I am hoping that today you will help spread the word that September 17-23 is Petfinder's Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week!



Did you know that 99% of Petfinder's shelters and rescue groups have adoptable pets that have been at the shelters for a super long time? That makes me sad.

The "less adoptable pets" as shown above, often wait at shelters nearly 4 times longer than the average adoptable pet does. Sometimes as long as two years!

Look and see which pets have a harder time finding homes:

Photo courtesy of Petfinder.com

 Won't you help spread the word?
Have you adopted a less-adoptable pet?

Share your story here in a comment or blog about it yourself...let the world know how proud you are of your "less-adoptable-pet"

 Visit the gallery of nearly 1000 shelter nominated "less-adoptable-pets" by clicking here and share them with your network.

 The more we share, the better the chance that some of these "less-adoptables" will find a furever home.

This video was recorded last year but it explains quite well the meaning of this week and how important that it is.




Thank you for reading,
thank you for caring,
Love, Cody

Petfinder.com, Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week- PLEASE Consider "Tahlullah"

A week ago I had featured this beautiful girl named Tahlullah who I had met when I went on a shopping visit to PetSmart in West Bloomfield, Michigan. (If you missed it you  can read that post here)

As I write this today I am nervous and terrified.

I called PetSmart before working on this post to see if Tahlullah had indeed been adopted. The employee at PetSmart told me she had been off of work the past two days but that Tahlullah was not there.

My initial reaction was euphoria!

I asked the employee if she had indeed been adopted,  she said she isn't permitted to tell me, but I could go into Michigan Humane's website and if she was still available she would appear.

She did.

I am overcome with fear and sadness.




There are many factors that make a pet "less adoptable". One of a host of factors is age. A cat age 7 and up is considered to be a "Senior". Most people want tiny kittens or young cats and are hesitant to bring an older cat home.

Older cats are just as loving  and if possible probably need more love than a kitten.

Older cats tend to be calmer and less inclined to get into the same kind of mischief a kitten would get into.


OLDER CATS DESERVE LOVE IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS.


Would  YOU want to be abandoned when  YOU are a SENIOR?

I know that Tahlullah is just one of virtually hundreds of thousands of cats that are in need of a home,  but this girl flirted her way into my heart and I have made it my mission to help her find a home.

She is listed on Petfinder.


I am literally begging, pleading with whomever reads this to PLEASE SHARE HER! Post her on Facebook, tweet her.


I am going to call Michigan Humane today and see what I can find out.


With All Of My Heart


I THANK YOU!

Meet

Tahlullah

is , an eight year old brown and black female Tortoiseshell. She weighs about seven pounds and is a full sized adult. Tahlullah is a sweet girl who likes attention. She is an explorer and is recommended for a home with children five years and older. Tahlullah is litterbox trained and current on all vaccinations.

More about Tahlullah

Pet ID: 13685947 • Spayed/Neutered • House trained

Tahlullah's Contact Info

Michigan Humane Society West Bloomfield, West Bloomfield, MI

• (734) 721-7300 x 450
• Email Michigan Humane Society West Bloomfield
• See more pets from Michigan Humane Society West Bloomfield
• For more information, visit Michigan Humane Society West Bloomfield's Web site.

Catty Stacks, A Guest Blog By Haute Or Not Pets Plus Our Featured "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable Pet" Found On Petfinder!

Cat Chat is proud to present a guest blog by Haute Or Not Pets, their "human" and their resident cat "Marvin"! Today they are bringing to us a review and demonstration of one of Marvin's favorite hide-outs, his Catty Stacks! Soon they will be your kitty's favorite hide-out too! Now....on to the review!

4 Paws Up For Catty Stacks!!

When the Catty Stacks arrived, I have to say I too was a little dubious. I mean, I can give my cat cardboard any old time. Any box that sits on the floor for more than 5 seconds and he's climbing into it - or trying to.

But I set them up, and waited.


Marvin investigated. He sniffed, he prowled. He finally went in. Now, Marvin is a manly cat. He is black and has a physique that's best described as 'heavy-weight boxer'. His middle section did scrape the sides.


So I was dubious - would this suit the huskier of the cat world? Sure they're sturdy, but...cat's have egos... Turns out, the Catty Stacks are sturdy and clip together very well. They hold. And Marvin loves to lurk in one corner of them, with an eye glinting, watching for prey, sticking a paw at the ready to strike any stray string, limbs or feathers on a stick that may waft by out one round hole, and stick his elegant but manly tail out of a corner.

They do indeed fit the huskier cats. In Marvin's case, just - his middle scrapes the sides. However, as the ad says, one size does not fit all! I chose not to make the openings bigger because Marvin loves to be in a space where he can spy, but can also hide.


What I like about them is they are strong, they clip together, and a cat can stalk from within. Marvin actually climbs in and loves to play, lurk and even sleep in them. This is a great, inexpensive play house for cats, and you can build forts and cities and change them up, to keep even the most demanding cat happy.


Catty Stacks are also eco-friendly...all materials are selected for their recyclable, renewable, or sustainable properties. They use highly recycled, post-consumer cardboard, 100% soy-based ink, and felt made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Can't image any kitty that wouldn't love a stack as a holiday gift... just sayin'!!!

Catty Stacks? We say, HAUTE!


Speaking of "haute", Cody and I say it is "haute" to "adopt a less adoptable pet!" One that may be a senior or who has a disability/condition that would make he/she less likely to be adopted.



One such cat is Benjamin Parker,  We found Benjamin on Petfinder, "BP is an older boy but still very healthy and playful. He is waiting for his soul-mate to read, cuddle and dream of warm places... if thats you, dont keep him waiting."

To get more information about Benjamin or to give him his "furever home" Contact "Caring For Cats" located in West Bloomfield, Michigan  at 248-360-4763

"Be The Change!"

Be The Change! Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable Pet Week, Sponsored By Petfinder, Is Sept. 19th-25th

As an early kickoff  of "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable Pet Week", sponsored by Petfinder,  September 19th thru September 25th I am featuring a very special guest blog by a wonderful woman I met online, Sherry LeVeque. Sherry wrote a touching piece about her having adopted a "less adoptable pet" (in this case  a cat) named "Lucky."

I first learned about "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable Pet Week" by reading the most popular website for pet bloggers EVER, ( BlogPaws,) this is part of their "Be The Change" campaign where all of us who love pets and blog about them because we love them, attempt to "give back."

 What is a pet that is less adoptable? That would include pets who are considered to be "seniors" (ages 7 and above), pets with medical concerns/conditions, feral cats and even pets that happen to be a less popular color. There are many such pets who are worthy of a "furever' home and would make a wonderful and heartwarming addition to someone's family.

Some information about Sherry LeVeque in her own words:

"I came across Caren's Cat Chat via Facebook when I found her heartwarming review of Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper. As for me, my husband and I reside in Genesee County, Michigan with our four "fur kids". I am employed at OnStar as an Instructional Designer for the Emergency Services team. (OnStar can even unlock your vehicle if your pet is inside!) Additionally, I volunteer during adoption events for ARC, a non-profit pet rescue out of Laingsburg, Michigan http://www.askarc.petfinder.com/. "

" I really want to send a message about adopting older and/or special needs cats.  So many are in shelters and deserve good homes."

Now...I present to you in honor of so many kitties who deserve a loving kitty mama like Sherry, Sherry's story about Lucky:

Lucky

In 2006, I went on a search for a companion for my eight year old cat, Snickers. Sure, she had lived with other cats before and was currently tolerating Aly, my husband’s dog, but I felt she needed a feline companion. (Thinking back, maybe it was I that needed another feline companion.) I rescued Snickers when she was about six months old after she was found wandering around my apartment complex. She became my loyal companion and helped me through the drama of my single years before I met my husband.

My journey for another cat began with an Internet search on http://www.petfinder.com/ where I stumbled upon a picture of a kitten at the Animal Resource Center (ARC) in Laingsburg, MI. I thought a kitten was perfect for our situation. During my visit to ARC, several cats ran by my legs, but one comical black and white cat instantly caught my eye. At a glance he appeared to be older and had a limp, but nevertheless thoroughly enjoying a game of tag with his fellow feline roomies. Megan, the ARC president, informed me he had been there for over a year because most felt he was too fragile to adopt because he was missing a rear leg. As a kitten, he lost his rear leg and mom when another animal attacked them outside. She said he may end up a ‘sanctuary’ cat due to his special needs. (Cats labeled as ‘sanctuary’ pets at ARC are taken care of for life due to their special needs and limited chance of adoption.) At the time, he also had a couple recurring medical issues yet to be resolved. I immediately felt this rambunctious cat would be the perfect fit for our family.

About a month later, this handsome fellow started his new life in our home with my husband, Snickers, Aly and I. We ironically named him Lucky (aka: Lucky Luciano or Looch). He and Snickers were slowly introduced to ensure a positive relationship, but Lucky was determined to speed up the process. We placed a fenced baby gate in the doorway of the room he was in and he immediately climbed over it to make friends with Snickers. Of course, Snickers wasn’t too thrilled, especially when he wanted to wrestle, but she later came to participate in his games of tag.


Lucky is minimally limited because of his missing leg, but don’t tell him. He can play and runs just as fast as any other cat. He also has a spunky personality and races up and down our hallway as if he were leading the Indy 500. Since he only has one rear leg, he cannot jump. It was agonizing to watch Lucky persistently attempt every possible way to get on our bed. The next day, my husband was kind enough add a small step attachment to the side of our bed so Lucky could enjoy lazy day naps on our bed.


It wasn’t long before Lucky began developing lumps on his chest and front legs. He went through two surgeries to remove the lumps before the receiving the cancer diagnosis. Lucky definitely wasn’t lucky (at that time). Fortunately, steroids have helped prevent the lumps from returning and also treat the arthritis developing in his only rear leg from excessive use. Throughout the vet visits and procedures, Lucky has remained an angel and is ever so appreciative of the care he receives. His determined will and life loving personality has taught me the importance and reward of determination. Where there’s a will, there is a way!