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Shelter News from Shorty the Cat's Point of View (the cat about town)
Shorty for President
Hi!
I think I should have told my people friends that I was going to use the office for my campaign headquarters. As the saying goes, the cats out of the bag now! Time to face the music!
"Shorty what's going on here? Why is the office filled with all these banners and posters saying Shorty for President? Please say it's all a bad dream, and when I awake all this stuff will be gone, just a figment of my imagination."
I can explain everything....
"I think an explanation is definitely in order! I go out of town for a couple of days, leaving you in charge, and what do you do, turn my office into your campaign center! On top of it, just a few minutes ago the phone rings, and someone is asking me to confirm the number of campaign buttons we're ordering! What made you decide on the spur of the moment you should run for the presidency?"
I'm sorry, I meant to tell you but..... Well as long as things are out in the open, I can feel free to ask you if you could help help me put up campaign posters all over, and I'll also need help passing out my campaign buttons. I'll be so busy greeting people, signing photographs, and kissing babies, that I won't be able to do it all by myself.
"Shorty, Whoa! Buttons, banners, flyers, kissing babies, hold on there you can't run for president!"
Humph! Give me one good reason why not. You can't use the flimsy excuse that cats can't run for office, because if you remember, Morris went on the campaign trail in 1988.
"That's true but Morris had TV ads and newspaper ads that a well renowned cat food company paid for. As it stands right now, your name isn't even on the ballot."
Not a problem, I am counting on the write in vote.
"Ok, so you have that part figured out but what major issues do you hope to address, if you were elected?"
I think I have a very good agenda. I believe what the animals in this country need, is a leader that cares also about animals' needs and problems. If I'm elected, I would like to amend the Constitution, and add to it the "Animals Bill of Rights" which would include freedom from cruel and inhumane treatment, freedom from being used in laboratory experiments, freedom from being overworked ie livery horses, (and although the following issues aren't as weighty, they are important to my fellow cat and dog constituents). Freedom to go to the refrigerator to get whatever you would like to eat whenever you feel like it, freedom to sit on the comfiest chair of the house.....
"Okay Shorty, you don't have to go any further. I'll be the first to admit that you have a carefully thought out platform, and for the most part your ideas are very good."
Then, can I count on your vote? And while you're at it why not practice addressing me as Mr. President, I like the way it sounds.
"Okay Mr. President, if you go to Washington, what are we going to do without you at TLC?"
I hadn't thought about that. I know the country will continue to run even if I am not Commander in Chief, but I'm not sure the shelter could run without me being there.
"Shorty you have a point, without you the shelter just would not be the same, but if you were to become President, the country would never be the same."
Hmmm, I don't know if that was a compliment or a put down.
"Definitely a compliment Shorty. Oh before I forget, Sam's been looking for you, something about a photo shoot, where she gives you a big kiss, to help get the dog and the dog lovers vote."
Uhoh! I forgot to tell her the photo shoot was cancelled. I better get going before she sees me!
Slurrrrrrp!
Too late, I've been slimed! Kissing babies isn't bad, but ugh dog lips! On second thought, politics isn't everything I thought it would be, and honestly I have enough to do running the shelter. I think for the time being I'll leave politics alone. Thank goodness, no more dog lips!
Love,
Shorty
PS
If you're going to bake for the craft show please don't forget to bring me a sample, as I am the official taste tester. Somebody has to do it, and I am willing to make that sacrifice for the shelter and my country.
"SHORTY!"
Uhoh gotta run!
Note: some of you may remember this article from 4 years ago, but being it's an election year, a couple people thought it was quite funny and suggested we run it again. For our new friends enjoy, and for our old friends we hope you still get a chuckle out of it. If you're wondering what Shorty was doing this issue, he was watching paint dry, but that's another whole story.
Happy Endings
Your concern for these homeless animals and your donations have helped make these happy endings possible. Happy endings that might have never been possible if it weren't for you!
Ali's Story
My husband and I adopted Ali. (By the way my Husband was one of the plumbers that worked on the addition at TLC) Anyway my husband knew what a huge dog lover I was, especially for Dalmations. He brought me to the shelter one Saturday to see the Dalamation that was waiting for someone to adopt her. When we took her outside for a walk, she gave us a couple of BIG kisses, and we knew then, that we could not leave without her. The entire way home she sat on my lap in the front seat.
Now she is a very happy and spoiled girl that loves attention and having her photo taken. (Spoiled? Ali even appears to have her own pumpkin!) Not only are we happy that we were able to adopt her, we have many thanks and praise to offer the people that run the shelter. Words cannot express how much Ali means to us.
Thank you very much
Shawn, Shar and Ali Hill
Riley and Sam's Happy Ending
It had been hard on all of us having to say goodbye to our 17 year old cat Macy, but we knew it was her time. Our 12 year old twins Mallory and Jake missed Macy terribly and asked if we would ever get another cat. It was then I decided to do some searching online and found the TLC Animal Shelter. Their website showed all of the adorable cats and kittens that were up for adoption, so I decided that we would go to TLC and adopt a kitten. Since our cat Macy was already 5 years old when the twins were born, they never had the joyful experience of having a kitten. Both children knew what they had in mind when picking out their new pet. Mallory kept saying she wanted a cat or kitten that was affectionate but very playful, and Jake insisted he wanted a sweet affectionate one that would curl up on the end of his bed like Macy used to do every night. (note photo of Jake and Sam).
So off we went to TLC to find the perfect kitten for our family. There were many cats and kittens there but two cats in one cage were especially captivating to us. We asked if we could see both of them out in order to decided which one we would take (at that time, we didn't know they were siblings). I didn't want to split the pair, after all we came in to adopt only one, and I was the adult there that had to put my foot down. I tried to disconnect from them saying I wanted to look at another kitten. When the TLC staff member came back to bring us a different kitten, I said we would take them both!
We love them both very much. Riley follows Mallory pretty much every where she goes. He even sits on the ledge of the bathtub when she takes a shower. He is mischievous and playful everything Mallory had hoped for, while Sammy is everything Jake had wanted. She is very affectionate and likes to get as close to your face as possible. She always likes to jump up on our bed to say "good night" and "good morning" but at night she goes to sleep with Jake.
We will take good care of them, and never ever give them away. Once we commit to an animal in our family, they are in our home for life. Thank you for sharing these beautiful, wonderful, sweet kitties with us!
The Furey Family
Distemper Outbreak
It came as quite a surprise to hear that Chicago's Animal Control Facility had decided not to adopt out any dogs due to an outbreak of canine distemper. There had been 60 confirmed cases of the deadly disease. Although distemper has always been around, we have not seen an outbreak like this in over 30 years due to more dog owners making sure their dog was vaccinated against the disease. The virus has not been isolated to the Chicagoland area alone, two facilities in the suburbs that voluntarily put a moratorium on taking in any more dogs due to the virus.
The origin of this outbreak has not yet been determined. Raccoons can also carry the canine distemper virus, and a few in a local village were found to have had the disease, and subsequently died from it, there may be a connection. Our advise to dog owners, is to keep their pet up on his vaccinations. Don't let your dog come in contact with any stray dogs in your area. When walking your dog, don't let him sniff other animals excrement, and keep your yard picked up of animal waste, (raccoon waste looks similar to dogs waste), which is another way the disease can be spread. Fortunately, canine distemper cannot be spread to cats. If you see a sick animal in your area, contact your local animal control for assistance.
CANS for CRITTERS
We are still collecting aluminum cans. A load is taken in about once a month by trailer, on the average netting $200.00! We appreciate people taking the time to save the cans and drop them off. But please no garbage, plastic or glass bottles, or tin cans. The recycling center does not accept these things which means we have to sort through them, taking precious time away from caring for the animals.
Halloween's Ghosts and Goblins may be too much for our pets.
Halloween, a night of fun for tricks and treaters, may be anything but for our pets. Your pet hears the sound of "strange little feet" running up the front steps, only to be followed by the shouts of "trick or treat" by even "stranger looking creatures" as your pet perceives them to be. No wonder so many pets high tail it out the front door looking for a place to hide. We always have an increase of calls from people who have lost their pet on Halloween. For your pets best interest and those of the children who come knocking at your door, it is best to keep your pet confined. Children in costume might frighten your pet. Case in point, one little boy would visit the neighbors house quite often, to play with their Golden Retriever, Beau. The dog loved children and was extremely gentle, but when the boy went to the house in his Halloween costume that night something bad happened. He bent over to pet Beau like he usually did and Beau bit him in the face, resulting with the boy needing several stitchs.
Leave Halloween night to the ghosts and goblins and keep your pet safely confined to a quiet area of the house, until the last "little goblin" has gone home.
Someone you Should Know: Brandy Gergescz
Brandy Gergescz had wanted to volunteer at the Shelter, but realized that coming to the shelter to help with the animals was going to be very difficult. In order for Brandy to volunteer at TLC, she was going to have to get a baby-sitter to watch her adorable 18 month old son, Jaden. Still wanting to get involved helping the animals, Brandy came up with an ingenious way she could do that, while still staying at home with her son. Knowing that it takes a goodly amount of money to care for the animals, Brandy found a unique way she could raise money for TLC through Ebay's Mission Fish Auctions.
Brandy has been setting up the auctions for TLC, since mid August, and she has raised over $450.00 for the shelter! Fantastic! Brandy's husband Dave, also an animal lover, gets into the act too, by helping Brandy bring them to the post office.
We can use more items for the auction, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, etc. if you would like to donate item please give us a call. The Ebay auction site offers a wide variety of items, that attracts buyers from all over the world, as a matter of fact the first item sold on the TLC auction went all the way to Japan!
To find the TLC auction site, got to the TLC website (type in www.tlcanimalshelter.org) then click on the Ebay logo and it will take you right to the TLC auction site! It's that easy!
Thanks again Brandy!
CAR WASH
It had rained for nearly a week straight and the forecast called for a 70% chance of rain the day the TLC benefit car wash was to be held. It looked as if the car wash was going to be rained out, but luck was with us, it turned into a bright sunny day, very conducive for enticing people to have their cars washed. The volunteers worked up a sweat, washing a total of 52 vehicles! We want to thank James, Diane, Sharon, and Cindy Endebak, Kathryn Kittler, Kathryn Gloodt, Vicki Tryjefaczka, Mindy Donahue, Brian Otto, Amanda Heinimann, Kim Barton, Kylie Gullett, Shawn Gallagher, Dr. Kathryn Ball, Claire Conrath, Paul Fusek, Jennifer and Ed Frayne. A special thanks goes to Dr. Edward O'Brien for his generous contribution and for allowing the car wash to be held again at the Animal Care Clinic. The carwash along with a generous contribution made by Dr. O'Brien raised $1,500.00.
Special thanks to.....
Jennifer Ward and her canine buddy Diamond and Claire Conrath and her canine buddies Bernie and Missy for teaching the children at the Lemont Safety Village how to act safely around animals. They did a great job and deserve a big round of applause!