Remembering Our Michigan Friend Wally on National Love Your Pet Day

This is happening far too often. Another beloved pet has left us for the Bridge. This time it was Wally of The Island Cats.

This is beyond surreal to me. Wally was a special kitty.  He was incredibly handsome. He lived in Michigan, (maybe 40 or so minutes away from me), but while I had gotten together with his Mom,  I never had the pleasure of meeting him or his kitty siblings.

Hoping The Island Cat Family doesn't mind that I "borrowed" this photo

If I am doing the math correctly I think Wally would have been 16 this June, doesn't matter if he was 6 or 16, anytime a kitty leaves us it is too soon. 

My heart goes out to The Island Cat Family, Ernie, Zoey, Mom and Dad. I know that Wally was adopted at an extremely young age,    which makes this even harder. Losing a beloved pet is ALWAYS hard but living with them for so many years....as so many of you know and as I know all too well, the void is cavernous.  

I am also sad because Wally's family had recently moved to a new home and Wally barely got to enjoy it. 

The purpose of National Love Your Pet Day (WHICH TO YOU, ME AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES PETS IS EVERY DAY) is  "to encourage pet owners to spend some time with their pets and show them the love and affection they deserve. It doesn’t matter if you own a cat, dog, bird, fish or reptile, today is the day to pamper them and show them how much they mean to you."

I think if we are all candid, we would  admit that we have times that we are just "too busy" or "too stressed" to actively play with our pets. I am at the front of the line on that one. While I adore both of my boys, I know I don't actively play with them as often as I should. But...they are deeply, deeply loved, are kissed and cuddled daily, and they know how much they are loved.  

Wally was deeply loved too, not just by his family but by his blogging family, his facebook family and by all who read their blog. 

One of the most awful parts about blogging for many years as The Island Cats have been, and as we have been, ( we will hit 10 years blogging in October), is that when we all first began blogging our kitties were babies (Cody was 2 years old and now he is going on 12)...after spending multiple years reading someone's blog you become attached to the pets often more than to the humans (sorry but it is true!!)  Losing yet another long-time blogging kitty is painful for everyone, but especially Wally's family.

Cody and I want Wally's family to know how much we loved and enjoyed reading about Wally, and we want them to know how much he will be missed......I am sorry for this disorganized post, but as I write this, my heart is getting in the way.

Thank you Sue for sharing Wally with us, Wally thank you for being YOU.....

To all of you, you can stop by The Island Cats and leave them messages of sympathy and comfort, and hug your pets a little tighter, I know I will.

#Cat Blogging Pals and I will be at the MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY’S VALENTINE’S TELETHON THURSDAY, FEB. 13!! Phone lines open at 5am!

MHS asks community to Say “I Do” to saving animal lives

as a bitterly cold winter drives need

Love is in the air, and there’s nobody who loves you quite like a furry friend. Show them you care by supporting the Michigan Humane Society’s 2014 Valentine’s Telethon, presented by Purina. WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Action News Anchor Alicia Smith will host the Telethon, which will air in commercial breaks throughout the day on Thursday, Feb. 13, between 5 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Funds raised by the Telethon are critical to helping MHS save more animal lives.

“So many animals in our community rely on the Michigan Humane Society, and this extremely cold, snowy winter only increases the need for our care services,” said Debby MacDonald, MHS Chief Cruelty Investigator. “But we can’t do it alone. We rely on the support of pet lovers across Michigan to help us care for animals who are homeless, hungry, neglected and abused. On February 13, please say ‘I do’ to saving animal lives.”

The 18th annual MHS Telethon will feature adoptable pets and stories that show how your support can make a lifesaving difference for area animals.  As a private, nonprofit agency, MHS receives no government funding and is not affiliated with any national humane organizations, relying instead on the generosity of its supporters to save more animal lives.

ALSO: SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLOGGERS WILL BE THERE LIVE ANSWERING PHONES FROM 1PM TO 4PM ON THURSDAY!!

I will be there as well as "the yellow-haired lady" from The Island Cats and Robin from Playful Kitty! We will be sure to take photos for you!!!

Donations can be made on or before Feb. 13 either online at www.michiganhumane.org/telethon or by calling (855) MHS-GIVE (647-4483), 24 hours a day.

In addition to Purina, sponsors of this year’s Telethon include PetSafe, US-Mattress.com, Wendy’s-The O’Brien Foundation, Center for Computer Resources, Strategic Staffing Solutions, Jim Riehl’s Friendly Automotive Group, Merck, Frontline, Heartgard and Grid4 Communications.

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.

Somebody is going to be super THANKFUL today!

Hi everybody! Today we know of somebody who is going to be super happy when they see they are the winner of a customized plate from THREE SISTERS PLATES!

Thanks to everyone who entered! 

Th eligible winner was chosen by www.random.org and the winner(s) are:

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR BLOG!

Their winning comment was:

The Island CatsMarch 22, 2013 at 3:49 PM

That is quite the story! We visited her site and think all the plates are great. But of course, we love the cat plate the best!

FYI...we have sun now!! :)

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Cody and I know that you are going to LOVE your plate! Enjoy!

Winners of the Creme de la Cat Holiday Give-Away!

Happy Wednesday all!

 What a FUN day today is!!

 I am sooo happy to announce the winners of the:

Creme de la Cat and

Photo courtesy of Creme de la Cat
click here to visit
Creme de la Cat

Thanks to all who entered!

and a HUGE

THANK YOU

to Creme de la Cat

for such a pawsome give-away!!

The winner of the

GRAND PRIZE

SAMMY!!!

of the  BLOG:

 One Spoiled Cat

you can read the original post here

 to see what Sammy has won!

CONCATULATIONS SAMMY!!!

The Winner of 

PRIZE PACKAGE NUMBER TWO:

ERNIE!!!

of the BLOG:

The Island Cats

read the original post here

to read about Ernie's prizes!!

CONCATULATIONS ERNIE!!!

Last but not least

The Winner Of

PRIZE PACKAGE NUMBER 3

of the BLOG

of the same name

click HERE to visit her blog!

read the original post here

to read about CK's prizes!!

CONCATULATIONS CK!!!

(Sammy and CK I have your addresses)

Ernie, I need you to email YOUR

complete mailing address to:

cgittleman at mi dot rr dot com

CONCATULATIONS TO ALL!!!!