The Cat's Out of the Bag!
Hi!
Y o w p u r r r r o w w
Yowpurrrrowww
YOW meowwww.....
"Shorty what is all that noise about?" "What's the matter?"
Backup!
"Oh you poor thing!" "Boy, when I feel like that I usually take an antacid-- "Yep, that usually works for me"! "But, I don't know if there is anything you can take that will work, with the way you sound, I think we had better rush you in to see the vet !"
Oh good grief, that's not what I meant by backup! I was just exercising my vocal chords... after all I am going to sing backup for Johnny Thompson, the Elvis impersonator! HUMPH! You just don't recognlze good talent, even when it is standing there right in front of you! Jealousy that's all it is, just plain jealousy!
"Ah, Shorty, does Johnny know anything about this?
Well not yet, I wanted to surprise him!
"Oh I'm SURE that Johnny will most definitely be surprised!" "But Shorty, I don't think you should have let the cat out of the bag this soon, nothing has been confirmed yet about the fundraiser Johnny wanted to do for the shelter." "We haven't found a place to hold it that will be big enough to hold everyone and have a dance floor for those that would like to dance." "All of this is still in the planning stage."
Yes I know, but in my last column I promised to tell everyone who our secret celebrity guest was, and a promise is a promise.
"Okay Shorty, you're right, we couldn't leave everyone just hanging." "But with the hints you gave, I'm sure everyone has a pretty good idea of who it is!" "I mean how many other people are famous for singing "You aint nothin' but a Hound Dog?"
So, I'm just not that good at keeping secrets... Well guys, as much as I liked this little chat, I have to get back to practicing, you never know when Johnny might need me! Hey! Hey! Where's everybody going???
"Sorry Shorty, we gotta run!"
Hey that's my line! If you're going to get something to eat, please bring me back a happy meal!
"But Shorty, we aren't going to McDonalds."
Please please please! I really would like a happy meal!
"Shorty quit pulling my leg." "What you really really want is the beanie baby that goes with it!"
So, I'm just a kitten at heart!
love, Shorty
P.S.
"Shorty would you make sure to add several sets of earplugs to the shelter's wish list?"
Earplugs? Hmmm, that's funny, they never seemed to be bothered by the dogs barking before. After all these years, it must finally be getting to them!
YOwmeooowww
Ynwpurrowww...
Oh Where Oh Where has My Little Dog Gone?
Many people look forward to the 4th of July. It's a great day for us, but an awful day for our pets. As much as we like the holiday, we also dread it, because we know we will receive calls on a bevy of lost pets. Some animals will be lucky enough to get back to their owners, but others may never be seen again. Once out the door, the firecrackers and other noise makers are too much for your pet. For all they know they think the world is coming to an end, and then there are a small percentage of idiots that think it is "funny" to throw a firecracker at an already terrified animal! Try to find a quiet spot in the house for your pet to relax, with his food, his bed, and maybe even leave the radio playing softly to drown out some of that noise. Our best advice: KEEP THEM IN, KEEP THEM SAFE, and KEEP THEM QUIET! Also make sure your pet has an I.D. tag just in case.
Skeeters
The mosquito season has started up earlier than usual and is bound to get much worse within the next few weeks! Do your pet a favor and have him checked for heartworm, and get him on a good heartworm preventative that your vet can prescribe.
Proofs Pay
Thanks for saving and sending in those Cycle Proofs. At times it may seem rather tedious to cut out those little "Homeless Homer Proofs", and at times trying to find the proof is a little like searching for a needle in a haystack, but don't throw your hands up in despair, because your efforts pay off. The shelter just received a check from the "Cycle/Shelter Cash-in Plan" for $312.04! So you can see why our animal friends are overjoyed when they see the mailman delivering the proofs you have saved.
Please Pardon Our Dust
We are hoping that if everything falls into place the way we hope, that construction can begin sometime this summer. As you may recall phase I, which was completed last fall, included a new security door, removing the step in front of the door making access inside easier, and an overhang to keep the walk way safe and dry. Now we are ready to proceed with phase II. This phase will consist of enlargement of the present kennel area, along with adding a new furnace. Our present heating system is 25 years old, and will not be able to handle the additional area very well. We will also add sorely needed storage space, enabling us to store more food and supplies. At present storage space is at such a premium we feel we are bursting apart at the seams, and we can never find anything without tearing the entire stock room apart! UGH! And last but certainly not least, we are going to have the size of the isolation room increased. We would also like to add an air filtration system which would be a boon to cutting down on any problems that can arise from airborne viruses, but on this we wil! have to see how the money goes.
Any donations made to this project will be greatly appreciated, or if you know someone in the trades that has access to the materials needed piease let us know. If we can get some of these materials donated, or a substantial discount, it would help us out tremendously. When Phase II is completed we hope funds will be available to go on to phase III which will include enlarging the cat room and waiting area, adding a getting to know you room (a quiet area where people can get to know the animal they are thinking of adopting without a lot of distractions and noise), and last but not least a lunch room where volunteers and employees can get away from ringing phones, barking dogs, and Shorty trying to steal their sandwich off the desk!
Tag Day Great
There is a first for everything, and Sarah Ahlberg took it upon herself to hold the first Tag Day for T.L.C.! After getting the nod from the village of Lemont and a date, Sarah's work had just begun. Sarah orchestrated the hours, shifts and who would work what corners. We also want to note that Dan Young, Ismael Rivera, Greg Flood, Joe Flood, Joe Wodynski, Jessie Semenlc, Amy Martig, Jenny Ahlberg, Gia Turcsani, Nick Stricker, Nicole Neybert, Judy Saunders and Jennifer Saunders made up the tag day Team. We
appreciate them giving up their time on such a beautiful day to help the critters. The night before, tornado and storm warnings were given and we assumed tag day would have to be called. But when we awoke in the morning we were greeted by a beautiful sun shiny day! After having had a week straight of rain I think people were happy to be out and about, and it may have put folks in a more giving frame of mind. $1051.25 was raised by Sarah and her friends. We also want to mention that Mr. and Mrs. Ashe donated the candy for the handouts to those who "fed the kitty" and we really appreciate it!
Newspaper Savvy
Yes we can use newspapers within reason because we do not have a lot of storage space. To save you from toting things we cannot use, please do not bring in the colored sections or funnies - the ink on these sections when they become wet the color comes off on the animals and cages. We cannot paper the cages with catalogs, old phone books, discarded mail, or papers that you have used to train your puppy! Our favorites: the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal! They are nice and big and super absorbant and make papering cages go all the faster!
Baby Shower
Thanks to one and all who attended the shelter's baby shower, and for all the supplies that were brought to the shelter! The Critters had a fun time with all the visitors, and a few more got new homes! YEAH! Although the puppies and kittens are adorable, the sad fact is that no matter how cute they are, that does not guarantee them getting a home. This is why we stressed how important it is to have pets spayed and neutered. This was the perfect opening for raffling off 2 spay/neuter certificates that had been donated by Dr. Obrien of the Animal Care Clinic in Lockport, and Dr. Navin of All Pets Hospital in Lockport. The ]ucky winners were Mr. and Mrs. Barnett of Lemont and Jamie McGovern of Lockport.
The Life of a Cream Puff is Not Always Easy
Looks can be deceiving. From the looks of this gorgeous fellow you would think that he has always lived the life of pleasure, pampered and fussed over. Maybe he had lived the good life as a kitten, but then his life took a horrible turn! His mistress had been diagnosed as being allergic to her cat. Of course her doctor said the cat must go! Not wanting to give her cat up, she locked him up in a shed, but if that was not bad enough, as time passed the feedings became less and less frequent until there were none at all! The shed lacked any sort of heat, and the dampness and cold took its toll. He came down with a severe upper respiratory infection. Finding out about the situation a woman came to his rescue. She immediately took the emaciated bag of bones to her veterinarian. The woman was told, had the cat been out there a day or two more, he would have died. Ifthe respiratory infection didn`t kill him, starvation certainly would. He was nursed back to health and even gained a couple of pounds. Looking at this gorgeous kitty, one would never know how much he had suffered. Now he is at the shelter, and is looking for someone to love. Qualifications to adopt him? Someone who would give him plenty of love, and never never Iet him go outside, a cupboard full of good cat food, someone to pamper him and keep him well groomed....and a velvet pillow to sit on wouldn`t be bad either!
Fleas... No Laughing Matter!
Howard Huge may be funny, but the problem of fleas and how to treat them is of major concern for many pet owners, and misery to many pets. Sprays frighten some animals making them go totally bonkers. Trying to get the head area, where fleas love to hide, especially around the eyes is difficult and often futile because you are so afraid of getting it in your pet's eyes. Sprays and foams often leave the pet smelly, and the coat seems to have an oily residue that rubs off on hands, furniture and clothing. After all that, take a close look and you will see many fleas are still walking around! Flea collars aren't all they are cracked up to be either, and sometimes they are downright dangerous, making a pet very ill or in a few cases causing death. There are pills to protect your pet against fleas but trying to pill some animals is a major pain. Did he get the entire thing or did he spit it out again? Or are you one of those lucky ones where it takes 3 people to hold your pet down to administer oral medication? We have been using a product named Advantage at the shelter, and have been very pleased with it so we are passing along the good word. You can get this from your veterinarian. It may cost a little more but it is well worth it. A little dab on your pet's neck and at the base of the tail and you've got your pet covered. No muss, no fuss and it works for a month. Try it, your pet will thank you for it!
Remember T.L.C. Garage Sale June 25th and 26th 414 Hillview Lemont
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