SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T
IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT AN ANIMAL IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
PLEASE CALL ANIMAL CONTROL,
202-576-6664
OUR OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP 24/7



Thursday, June 16, 2011

What's in a Name?

An office is an intersting place!
Meet a tabby cat without a name.  Well, that's not completely true.   It's hard naming every cat and dog who comes into the shelter; many of our animals end up with awesome names like Daisy Ann or Bradley while others are a bit of a stretch, like when we name animals after stuff.  Recently a whole slew of cats were named after wines --  not all wines lend themselves to good names.  Like Chambourcin -- what a mouth full.  He's the cat who is visiting my office.  He's a spectacular cat -- gorgeous, curious, affectionate.  Why has he not been adopted?  I think it's the name.   How do your pronounce Chambourcin?  I'm not even sure if I spelled it correctly.   It definitely does not lend itself well to high-pitched baby talk.   Since he's been investigating my office for the past hour, I've come up with several more fitting choices.  What about Stanley, Louis, Nat, Rutherford,  or Irving? 

Monday, June 13, 2011

Back Home from Missouri

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning I was surprised to see Lisa, one of the League's loyal volunteers, playing with a young beagle in the dog park.  It's not unusual to see a volunteer in the dog park with one of the dogs, but what surprised me was that the volunteer was Lisa.  She, along with three League staff members, had just spent more than a week in Joplin, Missouri.  The ASPCA was called in by the Joplin Humane Society to lead the emergency animal sheltering operation after the May 22 tornado decimated the community;  in turn, the ASPCA asked  the League and other organizations to come help with the care of the animals.  Lisa told me that the destruction in Joplin was beyond any possible description.  I really can't imagine what she saw and the nightmare that people continue living weeks after the twister hit.   She, however, was quick to point out  that there were  many emotional highs, especially when she was able to reunite an animal with a searching guardian.   Imagine losing everything you own and wondering if you would ever see your beloved animal companion again?   And, then, after days of searching, there he is at the makeshift shelter in the arms of a caring volunteer like Lisa!


Friday, June 10, 2011

Ice Cubes

I dropped a couple of ice cubes in Nigel's big water bowl this morning and next thing I knew Charlotte was trying her hardest to dig them out!!    They won't last.  It's so hot, even in the house -- with the air-conditioner set to 76 degrees -- it's like the Amazon.  Officially there are still s a couple of weeks until the beginning of summer.  The rising thermometer says AUGUST!   Keep animals in indoors.  Provide lots of cool fresh water -- with or without ice cubes! 

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

June is ADOPT a cat Month


 
 
 
True, June is National Adopt a Cat month.  BUT, every month, every week and every day are great times to adopt cats from the League.  Wish I could say that if every reader adopted one, or two cats, today, we'd be empty tomorrow.  If I said that, I'd be lying.   We would fill up again  immediately.   There are way too many WONDERFUL cats, and not nearly enough homes.   Lefty, one of my favorite cats, has been here for a very long time.  So has his nearly mirror image Chambourcin.   I'm partial to tabbies, but for some reason gray cats have really been vying for my attention lately.   Check out the pictures of Gumbo and Badgley.  And, the cat, who is a real heart-stealer, but a little shy is beaugtiful black and white, fluffy Yuri -- he's been here for a very, very long time.  It would be great if he was adopted today.  Trouble with lots of these guys is that they are not kittens.   Many folks want kittens.  And, we have lots of those, too.  And, those same cute little kittens will be full grown cats like Lefty, Chanbourcin, Gumbo, Badgley and Yuri in just a few months.   Check out all of the great cats on our website, warl.org.  Or better still, come visit.  Our airconditioning is working!