Shorty's Shelter News
Shelter Life from Shorty the Cat's Point of View
It's Time to Celebrate!
T.L.C. is celebrating another milestone, its 27th birthday today. I have everything ready: balloons, streamers, banner, and here's Maxwell basset bringing the cake. I can hardly wait to see how it looks.
"Shorty, what cake?"
Heehee, funny Maxwell. I'm talking about the cake for the shelter's birthday party. Thought you could play a little joke on me, but I already knew it was April Fools day, after answering at least a half dozen phone calls requesting to speak to Mr. Barker!
"Shorty, I'm not kidding. When they bagged up your order, all that was in it was a loaf of bread and 4 dozen cookies... that is minus one, I got a little hungry on the way over, and couldn't help myself."
Heehee, I don't know how you can keep that straight face, but all kidding aside, you better bring the cake in now. I set aside the purrrrfect spot for the cake, right in the center of the table, so everyone can see it.
"Shorty, read my lips. I am not kidding. I've been trying to tell you that I never picked up any cake."
Oh, no, you really aren't kidding, now what am I going to do? How can I throw a birthday party for the shelter without a cake? Now everything is ruined!
"Shorty, don't fret. Why not give the bakery a call, and let them know that they forgot to give me the cake when I was there, and then while you finish putting up the decorations, I'll go over there and pick up the cake. I'm sure it was just an oversight on their part. I bet the cake is sitting there, wrapped and ready to go."
You're probably right, I'll call them right now.
"What's the good word, Shorty?"
(I thought the look on my face said it all.) They never baked the cake! They thought I was kidding when I ordered a "kitty litter cake" for April 1st.
"YUCK, kitty litter cake?! What made you want to order that?"
Maxwell basset, you have absolutely no sense of humor! Remember, he who has been known to drink from the toilet hasn't any room to talk! Anyway, it was one of the vet techs that told me about the cake and how everyone enjoyed it. She said even though it may have looked a little gross, it didn't stop anyone from coming back for seconds, and besides that they all got a good laugh out of it. That is when I decided the kitty litter cake would be a good idea. My people friends have been so stressed out over the discrimination case, and the many animal hardship cases they had to deal with this past winter, I thought we could all use a good laugh!
"Ugh, no matter what you say, I still think that is GROSS!"
That's neither here nor there, what it all boils down to is we are supposed to be throwing a party and the only refreshments we have is a loaf of bread and some cookies, some party!
"Shorty, I have an idea."
What are we going to do, write Happy Birthday T.L.C. on a loaf of bread??? Anyway, we've run out of time to decorate it, our people friends are coming right now...
"No problem, give me a minute and I can remedy that with the help of one birthday candle: VOILA! Remember, it's the thought that counts!"
You're a genius, Maxwell!
"I could have told you that! here they come! Right after I light the candle, you turn out the lights!"
"SURPRISE!"
Before blowing out the candle, I want everyone to close their eyes and make a wish on behalf of T.L.C., then on the count of three I want someone to turn on the lights and I will sing my special rendition of Happy Birthday! OK, ready?
WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!
1...2...3.......Lights please! ......It sure is dark in here. Oh good grief, do I have to do everything myself? Hey! Where did everyone go? I was just about to sing! Tell me, how could everyone disappear in just a few minutes? Where did everybody go??? Ok, guys, I know it is April Fools day, but this is NOT FUNNY! You're gonna miss me sing!
"Shorty, don't you know when we're playing an April Fools day joke on you? With all you went through to set this up, we wouldn't miss it for the world. THANKS, SHORTY!"
Well I've got to run, they want me to cut the bread. Boy, that just doesn't have the same ring to it as "I've got to cut the cake", does it? But this still rings the same:
Happy Birthday, T.L.C.!
Love,
Shorty
P.S.
If you want the recipe for kitty litter cake just drop me a line along with $5.00 and I'll send it to you.
"Shorty!"
Ok forget about the money, I'll just include the recipe in the next newsletter.
"YUCK!"
Things Dogs Must Remember
Ina Jacobs submitted this for you to enjoy:
1. The garbage collector is NOT stealing our stuff.
2. I do not need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm lying under the coffee table.
3. I will not roll my toys behind the fridge.
4. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house.
5. I will not eat the cats' food before or after they eat it.
6. I will not throw up in the car.
7. I will not roll on things that smell like rotting garbage, since my people friends are not connoisseurs of such fine scents.
8. I will not eat any more socks and them redeposit them in the backyard after processing.
9. The garbage can is not a cookie jar.
10. I will not wake Mommy up by sticking my cold, wet nose in her face.
11. I will not chew my human's toothbrush and not tell them.
12. When in the car, I will not insist on having the window rolled down when it is raining outside.
13. I will not bark every time I hear a doorbell on TV.
14. The sofa is not a face towel.
15. The cats' litter box is not full of doggy treats.
You are invited to attend T.L.C.'s Annual Baby Shower
Greet the new arrivals of puppies and kittens
When: Saturday May 12th, 2001
Time: 1 pm to 3:30 pm
Where: At the T.L.C Animal Shelter
Adoption opportunities will be available to you to add a "little love" to your life!
Can't adopt but want to help the shelter care for these little ones? Then check the Shelter's Baby Shower Gifts Registry:
Receiving blankets
New heating pads
Kitten food
Puppy food
Bath towels
Canned Ensure
Toys
Chew bones
Kitten milk replacer
Puppy milk replacer
Money to provide vaccinations, wormings and medical care as needed
For further information call 708.301.1594
Refreshments will be served
Flea Control Warning
Our pets trust in us to give them the best of care, but some of the products we buy for our pets might do just the opposite. We take for granted that everything we buy over the counter to care for our pets, including flea and tick control items, have been thoroughly tested and found to be 100% safe. Not so. Many preparations may not only be harmful to your pet, but also to you and your family.
The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) put out a report last November, siting many flea and tick preparations to be unsafe, because they contained "organophosphate insecticides" (OPs) which have been linked to brain damage, certain cancers, and harmful to the human endocrine system. Listed are some of the major brands of flea and tick preparations (sprays, powders, baths and flea collars) that contain these OPs: Alco, Americare, Beaphar, Double Duty, Ford's, Freedom Five, Happy Jack, Hartz, Hopkins, Sergeant, Unicorn, VetKem, Victory, and Zema. The Environmental Protection Agency has found that a child's exposure to these dangerous chemicals found in some of these preparations can exceed the safe level by 50,000 percent, which is alarming.
Before you purchase something for flea control check the label for any of the following OPs: chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, phosmet, maled, tetrachlovinphos, diazinon, and malathion. The NRDC also warns against products containing carbamates which can be found under the chemical name of carbaryl and propoxur.
Some of these preparations may do more than kill fleas and ticks, as you will find out: After taking a shower and getting dressed the telephone rang, and in her haste to get to the phone the woman dropped her wet bath towel on the floor. When she returned a short while later, she found her kitten curled up on the towel fast asleep, enjoying the warmth of the steamy room. The kitten seemed so content, she decided not to disturb it. Time had passed when she went back to check on her little pal, but the kitten did not wake up... it hadn't moved, and much to her sorrow the kitten had died. The woman needed to know what happened to her kitten, so she had an autopsy done. Her veterinarian said the combination of the new flea collar the kitten wore and the warm moist air allowed the kitten's system to rapidly absorb the toxic chemicals in the collar, ending it tragically.
To prevent tragedies like this, consult with your veterinarian about getting one of the newer safer preparations that are on the market that contain imidacloprid such as Advantage or the chemical fipronil which is in Frontline and Topspot. We use these products at the shelter and can attest to how well they work. Although they may be a bit costlier, from the standpoint of safety and effectiveness the additional cost is well worth it.
If you notice any changes in your pet after using a flea/tick preparation on your pet, contact your veterinarian immediately. If after you have applied a preparation like this on your pet, and you notice you or family members experiencing nausea, flu-like symptoms, headache, or weakness, consult your doctor immediately.
For further information regarding flea and tick control products log on to NRDC
T.L.C. Garage Sale
You won't want to miss this one!
Where: 414 Hillview in Lemont. Take State Street in Lemont to Freehauf, go east on Freehauf to Hillview, then turn left and watch for the T.L.C. garage sale signs.
Time: 8 am until 2 pm.
From clothes to furniture to things to decorate your home. Many new items, some lightly used, but all in excellent condition. Everything is priced to sell!
We are sorry we can't accept any more items, but Sharon Hager's poor garage is already bursting at the seams.
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