Pet Adoption Rocks! #NationalAdoptAShelterPetDay

 

The above photo is Roary!!!!! That tiny face is the face that I fell in love with when he came to me via email from Petfinder alerts I had sent to me to see if I was ready to adopt again. There were TONS of cats/kittens who were emailed to me, none particularly interested me (other than two we met a week before Roary that were closely bonded. We didn't want to separate them because we couldn't adopt them both). Then...along came "Felix", now known as Roary. Who could resist that face????

We hit the kitten lottery big time! There were TONS of applications for "Felix", now known as Roary, and thankfully we were first on the list to go and visit him. (I had previously sent Lenny over to PetSmart the Saturday before we adopted him,  I wanted  Lenny to visit him first to see if he was friendly.) Obviously, he worked his charm with Lenny, because that Monday both of us went to PetSmart to interact with him in person and were instantly smitten. We were beyond grateful that we were approved to adopt him!!

Both Cody and Roary were adoptions, our Bobo was found as a stray. Cody was adopted from Petco and Roary from Petsmart. We couldn't be more blessed!!

NATIONAL ADOPT A SHELTER PET DAY

FROM HOLIDAYS CALENDAR:"Every single year, over 6.5 million companion animals end up in animal shelters in the U.S. Of those 6.5 million pets, 1.5 million are euthanized and only 3.2 million are adopted. To raise attention to these stark numbers, National Adopt A Shelter Pet was created. This is a day that’s observed on April 30th every year and helps to bring attention to the needless suffering of animals in shelters and encourages people to make their next pet a shelter pet because so many need a forever home." 

• Over 6.5 million animals enter U.S shelters each year.
• Of animals entering shelters, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. 
• Every year, over 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized.
• Of the animals euthanized, 670,000 are dogs and 860,000 are cats.
• Approximately 3+ million shelter animals are adopted every year.
• Over 700,000+ animals who enter the shelter system as strays are returned to their owners.
• Of returned strays, approximately 620,000 are dogs and 90,000 are cats.
  
  
  
  
  

I am so happy that when I thought I wasn't ready to adopt another cat, that I listened to my gut. I KNEW the second I saw Roary on Petfinder that he was the one for us!!

Roary is now 10 months old. He has matured into a MAJOR lap cat and puts up with so much from his annoying Sheltie brother. He is a toughie and doesn't take any you-know-what from him! Roary Rocks!!! 

Can't or not ready to adopt right now? No worries! You can always donate items, time, money and/or food to your local animal shelter. It will be most appreciated!!

From Roary and I, to all of YOU, Happy National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day!!!!

Prepare NOW for Remember Me Thursday®

Causes to help promote the importance of adopting animals who are in shelters and for those with NOWHERE to go are in the limelight today, (we feel they should be EVERY DAY, but that's another matter altogether). Today is International Homeless Animals Day and Clear the Shelters Day.  While Cody WAS adopted, he was luckier than many other cats. He had an incredible foster Mother who loved and nurtured him, and helped influence the loving cuddle bug that he is today. Millions of other animals aren't as lucky as Cody was. Many are waiting in shelters for days, months, years and even their entire lives, to find their forever homes, and MANY NEVER DO.  While focusing on homeless animals today, it is also a good time to remind everyone that Remember Me Thursday® is right around  the corner! It's time to start preparing!! 

Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign that was created by the Helen Woodward Animal Center,  that unites individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world !!! The combined influence creates  an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes and to  not die waiting for them.

On September 28, 2017, the entire world will share the importance of pet adoption and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. In 2016, people using #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday reached nearly 340 million people on social media.

It has been important to me for the past few years to participate in this special event, and I was honored when myself and a number of other bloggers were contacted asking if we would help spread the word again this year! (Whether I had been asked to or not, I ALWAYS participate in this important cause, so it is a no-brainer!!) 

In order to help us spread the word

 we were sent a box full of goodies which you can see below!!

We received the  items pictured above in exchange for agreeing to help spread the word about Remember Me Thursday. We  were not compensated monetarily for this post It is our pleasure to  only share information that we feel will be of interest to our readers.

This year there are some NEW PRIZES in the #RememberTheRescue photo contest which will run from September 1 through September 30th, (More about the prizes later!!!) For now:

There are 3 ways to enter:

• Post a photo of your rescue pet to Instagram with #RememberTheRescue AND #RememberMeThursday.
• Post a photo of your rescue pet to Twitter with #RememberTheRescue AND #RememberMeThursday.
• Upload a photo of your rescue pet directly to the contest website.

Join us on September 28th 2017!!!

Help get the entire world talking about pet adoption!

 Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. Let’s honor the lost pets who ran out of time and bring awareness to the pets we can still help by working together and using our voices.

"Let’s take social media by storm for orphan pets!"

sign up here for reminders!

#NutrishPets "Making A Difference In The Lives of Shelter Pets" #sponsored

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

Hi every kitty, humans, woofies and whoever you are that stopped by today! It's Cody, and today, because of some important things I have to say in honor of the month of April being National Volunteer Month, I shoved, asked Mom to leave the keyboard so that I may take over. Please move closer kitties so I can meow without yowling! 

As many of you know, National Pet Day was the other day. In my house and in yours, that event takes place 365 days a year, but not all animals are as lucky as you and I.

I was sad when I was thinking about all of the "forgotten pets." You know the ones I am talking about, "the ones who might not have someone who loves them as much as you love your pet."  These pets are often left to fend for themselves on the street, or they spend much of their time in Shelters waiting for a special human to come and take them to their furever home.

When I go to bed at night I often pray that they will find a good home like I did!

I was one of the lucky ones. I was rescued at a young age, (if memory serves me correctly, I think I barely had my eyes open!) My Foster Mom rescued me and my litter mates and moved us in with her. She called me "Prince", (Yep! I am the cat "formerly known as Prince!!")

For a few weeks my Foster Mom schlepped me to various adoption drives hoping to find me a home.  I bet you didn't know that the first time my Mom saw me she didn't adopt me? Nope. My Grandpa Bobo had just gone to the Bridge and she wasn't ready. Then, two weeks later, I was back at the same store that had the adoption drive the first time she saw me. Do you believe that Mom actually was interested in my litter mates and NOT ME!? Thankfully neither of them wanted anything to do with her, so she said "let me see that gray one who is jumping around in the back." The rest is history!!!

An "oldie" but "goodie" for #tbt 

 When Mom adopted me, my Foster Mom told Mom that I had been her favorite. Mom often says all of these years later, that my Foster Mom was more than likely the key component as to why I am the cuddly and loving kitty that I am today, and that I have always been. My Mom and I thank my Foster Mom EVERY year by sending her birthday cards on Facebook!

My Foster Mom was a volunteer, just as many of you humans who are reading this today are, and without YOU, to take care of the kitties and woofies,  and show them love and how to love, kitties like myself  might never have been adopted! You can't see me but my tail is raised in salute!!!

Being a Foster Mom (or Dad), is just one of many, many ways that humans volunteer to help Shelters.  If you are a long time reader of my blog, you will remember that once Mom went to an adoption drive and fell in love with a kitty (perish the thought!), that she couldn't bring home, so she paid the adoption fee for another family so that they could adopt him! He is with them to this day! That made her feel real good!!  It also made the family AND the kitty feel good! It made me proud that my Mom did that.

I am also proud to represent Rachael Ray Nutrish, not just because I love her food, but  because rescue is something that Rachael Ray holds close to her heart. She doesn't just "talk the talk", she "walks the walk!!"

What is Rachael's Rescue®?

Rachael's Rescue was created for all of the forgotten pets — the ones that might not have someone who loves them as much as you love your pet.

Rachael’s personal proceeds go to Rachael’s Rescue®, which was created to help animals in need. To date, she has donated over $10MM. This money has gone toward food, medical supplies and treatments for these unfortunate animals. All of the Rachael Ray Nutrish products are available where you shop for your family’s groceries, making specialty recipes accessible and convenient for every pet parent.

I would say THAT is pretty darned special!!

How Can You Help The Shelters

During National Volunteer Month and EVERY DAY?

• you could volunteer to play with cats and dogs
• you could walk dogs
• clean cages
• make a monetary donation
• offer to help answer their busy phones
• share adoptable pets on social media
• donate items such as newspapers, towels, cleaning supplies
• Buy Rachael Ray Nutrish !!
• do something to thank the Volunteers!! (Everyone LOVES FOOD!!)

Speaking of food, A CERTAIN SOMEONE

 NEEDS TO FILL MY BOWL WITH NUTRISH, AND FAST!!!!

So, tell me, what have you done,

 or what do you currently do to help the lives of Shelter pets? 

Are you a Volunteer?

I'm a nosy kitty!

Leave a comment below and tell me!

 I would LOVE to know!!!

If you can adopt a shelter pet please do,

 your lives will BOTH be changed, for the better!!!

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. 

Follow Nutrish ! 

Twitter  

Facebook Nutrish 

Facebook Nutrish for Cats 

Instagram 

Pinterest 

ASPCA presents MEET YOUR MATCH Dating Show!

Calling all pet lovers! Nominate an animal shelter to receive a $10,000 grant from Purina ONE® beyOnd®.

Copy http://budurl.com/purinashinesalight, paste, submit. That’s it to help a shelter win $10,000 - that’s a lot of food and leashes for five minutes!

Submissions are accepted June 28 through July 30, 2012.

Purina, Cody and I strongly believe animal shelters play a very important role in our world. Not only do they provide essential services to animals in need, they also improve the overall health and well-being of our communities. Purina ONE beyOnd recognizes this and is shining a light on innovative shelters that are doing more than just providing care - they are changing people's perception of shelter pets from pity to praise as they find these loving animals forever families.

Please consider helping to spread the word today. There are thousands of deserving groups out there making a difference and they all deserve a shot. They can only be nominated if you let them know it’s available and it’s as easy as posting on your Facebook page or Twitter.

Animal Shelter Volunteering, A Guest Blog By Kevin Sloan and Marissa Rode

This post was written by our friends Kevin Sloan and Marissa Rode.  Kevin works for FindTheBest, a free online comparison website that specializes in sharing information with people so they can make informed decisions.  FindTheBest is a startup company based in Santa Barbara, CA and is rapidly growing.  They now offer over 640 comparisons on different topics ranging from cell phones to investment banks and ski resorts to obesity rates.  Kevin and Marissa both attend UCSB and both love animals.  Kevin shared his story about his two dogs on Dakota’s Den, and now Marissa is sharing her story about her two cats and working at a cat rescue organization.  Kevin worked with Marissa to help incorporate the information FindTheBest offers in her article to share the wonderful resources the website offers with all of you!  I hope you enjoy Marissa’s story.

"Spotty"

            My name is Marissa and I have two adorable cats, Skitzo and Normie, which were both strays when we found them. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the cute cats that were pawing at my door so I decided to take care of them -They haven’t left the backyard since and are now important parts of our family.

"Skitzo"

            When I moved away for college, I missed my cats back home. To help me feel better, I immediately started volunteering at the local animal shelter. The shelter is called ASAP, which stands for Animal Shelter Assistant Program.  You can like them on Facebook to follow updates with the program.  I have been volunteering at ASAP since October of 2009. My responsibilities include cleaning the facilities, playing with the cats, and helping potential adopters find the perfect cat.  I always tell people looking for a cat to research cat breeds because choosing a cat should be about more than looks.

Cats and kittens come to the shelter for all different reasons, like being abandoned at a doorstep or lost in the city. Once a cat wandered away from its home and someone brought it to the shelter. A week later, a worried woman called saying her son’s cat was lost. We had a cat in the shelter that matched the description so I told her to come in. Later that day, the son and cat were joyfully reunited.

Kitten waiting for a home

At the shelter, we treat every cat with the best care. We make sure they receive nutritious food and proper medical treatment. For example, the shelter buys specified cat food for individual cats to help keep them happy and healthy.  We are also proud to be a no-kill shelter. In fact, when the shelter was filled to capacity we had a free adoption fair and adopted out over 75 cats! Adopters often send in pictures of their newly adopted cats and they couldn’t be happier with their decision.

Knowing these cats will be off the streets is my motivation for volunteering. The greatest part of my day is seeing the smiles on families’ faces as they walk out of the shelter with a new addition to their family, and knowing the cat has a nice home and a caring family to spoil it.

On a side note, if you decide to adopt a cat from your local animal shelter (which I strongly encourage), it is important to purchase pet insurance. Even though the shelter pays for initial procedures, vet bills are really expensive over the course of a cat’s life.

            If you have the opportunity to volunteer at an animal shelter or non-profit organization near you, I highly recommend it! It is an amazing feeling to know you are helping make a difference in the lives of people or animals. My volunteer experience has been incredible and I hope to continue to make a difference in the shelter community because every cat deserves to be happy!  If you don’t have the time to volunteer, please make a donation to your local shelter or rescue organization.  If you want to donate to ASAP, you can donate on their website.