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Shelter News from Shorty the Cat's Point of View
Hooray for the Red, White & Blue
Hi!
Hut, two, three, four! Hut, two, three, four!
"Shorty, can you tell me why you guys are marching all around the Shelter like that?"
We are trying to build up our stamina, and our precision so we will be ready to go help our troops.
"Shorty, what in the world are you talking about?"
Tiny, Sam, Stinky and I got to thinking, if our military can use porpoises to aid our Nation at a time like this, maybe he can use us too! Here's our strategy, I figured Tiny and I would be able to sniff out the "rats", then Sam could slime them with her dreaded dog drool, and Stinky could just run around and drive them crazy with all the Mischief she gets into! What a terrific team we would make!
"I'm sure the four of you would be a force to reckon with, but I hate to be the one to put a damper on your enthusiasm, though. So far the military isn't using cats in the line of duty, nor have they put to use 'dreaded dog drool', but that is a thought, we could call them slime bombs."
Slurrrrrrrp!Slurrrrrrp! Slurrrrrrrrrrp!
"UGH! Sam, I didn't say I wanted you to try it on me, YUCK!"
I'm sorry, I just thought you would like a first hand demonstration. Heehee... Like I've always said, 'Dogs drool, cats rule'.
"Okay guys all kidding aside, the best service we can perform for our country is to keep our morale up, proudly display the flag, and keep things going on the homefront. Speaking of keeping things going on the homefront, I have to work on the Shelter's bills."
Is there anything we can do to help?
"It would be great if you could make these bills disappear (sigh). Looking at this stack of bills have given me a headache. Shorty can you answer the phone if it rings, I have to get some aspirin, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Sure, no problem.
He worries far too much, no wonder he has a headache. I'll give him a nice surprise and get rid of all those bills like he asked me to. With a few quick flicks of my tail Swish... Swish.. Swish, I've got all those bills cleared off, and now he can put his head down for awhile and take a snooze, that will help him get rid of his headache.
"SHORTY! I leave the room for 5 minutes and it looks like a disaster."
But I thought you said that you wished I could make those bills disappear!
"I did but I didn't mean for you to take it literally!"
Then don't look now, because Stinky has just chewed them up!
"STINKY stop!"
I'm sorry, I was trying to help.
"Help? You call this help?"
I was just trying to do my part in making those bills disappear, so I shredded them up for you. I remembered how you always put them through the shredder when you are done with them. I thought I was saving you some work.
"I guess I really can't be mad, I only have myself to blame for this mess, for saying to Shorty that I wish he could make the bills disappear. After hearing the explanations you gave, I can't help but laugh, and you know what they say, Laughter is the best medicine! Okay guys, I'm going to try to piece together these bills, so About Face! Hut, two, three, four! Hut, two, three, four!"
I can take a hint, that's our cue to leave.
"You guessed it, and while you're at it don't get into any more trouble."
Don't worry we are just going to try and sell some raffle tickets.
"That's a good idea, the Shelter needs the money."
Okay Sam we're going to sell raffle tickets big time! Tiny you get the roadblocks, Sam your job is to stop every car, and don't let anyone through unless they buy some raffle tickets, and Tiny...
"SHORTY! You can't be stopping traffic like that!"
Uhoh I think I better run!
Love, Shorty
P.S.
If you would like us to send a copy of Paw Prints to someone in the Service, please let us know, and if you think they could use a sample of dreaded dog drool just...
"SHORTY!"
Before I go I have to say one last thing, Hooray for the Red, White & Blue!
Happy Endings
Here are two happy endings which YOU helped make possible. Enjoy!
Dear TLC,My name is Belle and I just wanted to say "thank you" for my new home. I was adopted last November when I was 6 weeks old. As you can see by the picture I fit right in. Some people think I have an attitude because of my big brother, whose name is Kane, he was adopted from TLC in 1999. If you had a 130 pound Rottweiler for a big brother, wouldn't you have a bit of an attitude? Love Belle
Hi!
Last year I had gotten two little tabby sisters Sushi and Tiki. It was love at first sight, and they made our home life complete. One year later Tiki died from a reaction to her vaccination, I was crushed and cried for weeks. As sad as I was I knew Sushi was brokenhearted too, which made me wonder if it would be in her best interest if we adopted another cat so she would once again have a buddy.
I had never been to an animal shelter before, and I didn't know what to expect. As soon as I walked in I started crying, I couldn't believe people would just "give up" their pets like that. That's when Dennis walked up, he was kind and informed me of the many different reasons these beautiful animals end up at TLC. It was then that I decided to adopt a cat this time. One by one I spent time with each cat in the "getting to know you" room, it was a very difficult choice. However one cat seemed to be trying to get my attention, he purred loudly and kept sticking his paw as if trying to get my attention, so I asked if I could see him again. I was told his name was HipHop because he was missing a back foot. I was amazed that HipHop didn't have a problem getting around and also enjoyed being held. I went home and told my husband about HipHop, and prayed nobody else had adopted him after I left. I insisted Bill get there 15 minutes before the shelter opened. As soon as Bill saw HipHop, he agreed he was so cool!Within a few short weeks Hip Hop and Sushi began to accept one another, and now they are the best of buddies. Your entire staff is to be applauded for the job they do there. I have told everyone who would listen, to get their pets from TLC. Thank you for taking such good care of HipHop until we got there to adopt him.
Alison Andrews and Bill Spoo
PS
We call him Sami (Samurai), he looks like a warrior!
Good food, Good friends, Good time!
Never in our wildest imagination, did we think the Shelter's first Cosmic Candlelight bowl would be such a success! But we had the winning combination: fabulous volunteers, good friends and good food that added up to a good time for everyone. Much to our surprise our TLC group filled up all 38 lanes at Strike & Spare II with over 220 people in attendance! WOW!
We have so many people to thank for helping to make this event a success, especially Jay Bolin who went all out selling tickets for the event, along with procuring some raffle prizes. We also appreciate all the help Jay along with Anita Gorman gave us as they walked us through the many steps to insure the event would run smoothly. It was Kelly Carpenter who came to our rescue rounding up some great raffle prizes at the last minute, and I definitely want to say thanks to Sandi O'Brien for all her help along the way and with last minute details she took care of.
With everything in place, we could finally breathe a sigh of relief as the final countdown came. Having never done this before, we were worried how everything would go, and utmost, that everyone would have a good time. We owe a big round of applause to our great volunteers who made the entire event go perfectly. Vicki Trzjefcka, Denny Carter, and Corey Carter were busy checking folks in, stamping hands and showing people their lane assignments, and then sending folks on to the raffle table and the banquet room. Of course nobody could proceed to the banquet room without being buttonholed by Annie Coleman and Sandi O'Brien who were selling chances. Between Annie's witticisms, and Sandi's effervescence, they were both cracking the crowd up! Seeing the large crowd waiting to buy chances, Jen Endebak and Kelly Carpenter decided their help was needed there to get more chances sold and also to sell the chocolate roses that Jennifer Ward had made, which added that perfect touch to the Valentines Day bowl.
In the banquet area Dan Zak, Corey Carter, Dennis Carter Sr., Donna and Wayne Holous and Ginger Stanek hustled tray after tray of food to the serving tables, as if it were an assembly line! The food catered from Big Jim's was delicious, and to top off dinner there were the delicious kolacky's that Barb Gunderson made, and three trays of scrumptious delectable cookies Elaine Tryjefaczka made.
After everyone had eaten, the fun began as Sandi and Annie called out the winning raffle numbers, and the winners stepped forward to claim their prizes, that had been donated by the following people and businesses: Mary Knoll Liquors for the Tequila Rose Gift Set, the Chivas gift set, and the Baja Luna gift set which made a terrific liquor basket; Strike & Spare II for their $25.00 gift certificate, DSC Pro Shop for a $25.00 gift Certificate, the Ladies Designer Sweater donated by Geri Pajkos, Sandi & Parnell O'Brien for the DVD Player, Georges Restaurant for a $10.00 gift certificate, Pagoda House for a $10.00 gift Certificate, Pizza 4 You for gift Certificate for two Pizzas, Pizza Hut for a Gift Certificate (all the restaurant certificates were combined to make a dining out gift basket) and Sal Maratto for donating a multi-purpose Fan, Electric Blanket and Bath Spa. A silent auction was also held with a gift certificate for a $440.00 portrait sitting and a certificate for a $200.00 portrait sitting which were donated by Fender and Donisch! Again thank you all very much for helping us raise even more money at the event due to your generosity!
Bowling began promptly, and the laughter as the unusual rules for the night's bowling were followed such as bowling on one foot, bowl holding hands, and even bowling backwards, were followed, it was a riot! To make things even more fun, about midway through bowling the lights dimmed with the cosmic lighting coming on, and the music got turned up, the place rocked! Everyone was having a great time! In between games Ginger Stanek and Kelly Carpenter sold split the pot chances to raise money for the shelter. We would also like to thank Ginger for setting up the date with Strike & Spare II and also to Park Graphics for donating the printing of the tickets for the event. We also want to thank Dan Zak for taping it.
We can emphatically say we had a GREAT TIME! On top of it we raised $2,900.00 for the animals, after all expenses were paid! Plans are in the motion for another Cosmic Candlelight Bowl for Valentine's Day next year. Remember to get your tickets early because we know it will be another sell out! It's even possible we might hold one this fall the way people have been raving about how much fun they had! Be sure to read our calendar events in future issues of Paw Prints so you won't miss out on all of the fun.
Dumb and Dumber Award
A woman and her 4 year old daughter came to TLC, looking for a dog to adopt. The mother asked if we could get one of the dogs out of the cage, so she could see how her daughter and the dog would get along. We said of course, noting how very well mannered and quiet the little girl was, and this was a dog that was very good with children.The mother and daughter played with the dog for about 15 minutes as they tried to get to know him better. The dog was excited, and began panting, which was nothing out of the ordinary. All seemed to be going well until the mother, instructed the little girl to put her hand in the dog's mouth, and touch it's tongue! Of course we put an immediate stop to that, and then tried to explain to the mother why she shouldn't have told her daughter to do that. Actions like that can provoke an animal into biting. With that the mother replied with much indignation, "I just wanted to see if the dog would bite my daughter, before I decide to take the dog home", as she huffed off. About then I felt like the cat in the picture, I contained my composure, but felt like quoting an infamous line from Dr. Phil, "What in the world were you thinking?"
With the number of animal bites we've all been hearing about, it is imperative that children be taught how to behave around animals, so they are not bitten, especially when it comes to animals they don't know. Many bites could be prevented, if people would follow some simple common sense procedures.
If you have a young child at home we have some sheets in a coloring book format pertaining to safety around animals. VIP members Valerie Dobrouwa and Claire Conrath used this material at the Lemont Safety Village, when they taught the children about bite prevention. If you would like a copy, just send us a stamped, self addressed business size envelope.
Looking for that special friend?
You have the resources at your fingertips thanks to Sandi O'Brien our webmistress extraordinaire. Sandi updates the website each Friday with pictures and information on the wonderful animals at TLC that are looking for someone to love. Her animal photos look so alive, you might even think you see a wagging tail or blinking eye! Sandi also keeps you updated on what's happening at TLC (complete with pictures) along with a terrific site that she designed especially for kids. All you have to do is go to tlcanimalshelter.org. One thing to keep in mind if you're checking the site with adoption in mind, if you're checking the Friday update and see an animal that seems right for you, don't delay, beat a path to TLC first thing Saturday morning, because other people are checking the site too!Sandi goes all out to help get the animals at the Shelter adopted, she even braved the cold last November when she set up an outside information table for TLC at the Chicagoland Pet Fair! I think Sandi deserves a big round of applause!