Emmaly's Efforts Help the Animals!

Emmaly not only held a successful lemonade and cupcake sale (5 dozen yummy treats were bought), raising $152.50,  to benefit the animals  temporarily housed at WARL, but she collected a treasure trove of  items for the cats and dogs including bags of towels, blankets, and toys, cat  and dog food grooming supplies, and leashes.   Lynn, Emmaly's friend, and WARL volunteer stopped by the neighborhood stand to purchase a treat and pose for a brief photo op.  Thanks Emmaly!

The One and Only Ivan -- A Must Read

Katherine Applegate's award winning novel, The One and Only Ivan captures the reader from the very first three word sentence, I am Ivan. The first page, titled hello, is no more than three sparse sentences, I am Ivan.  I am a gorilla.  it's not as easy as it looks.  The entire 300 page novel book is sparse, like Ivan's like -- a mighty Silverback gorilla, captured in Africa as an infant who endured nearly 30 years in a sparsely furnished roadside mall exhibit.  A money maker for the mall owner.  The empathetic work of fiction is based loosely on the real life  gorilla who was captured in the Democratic Republic of Congo and then spent 27 years alone in a cage at a circus-themed mall in Tacoma, Washington.  Eventually, a public outcry, including hundreds of letters from kids helped find that Ivan a home at Zoo Atlanta.  The gorilla  died at  in 2012 at the age of 50.  The novel, The One and Only Ivan ends with the introduction of the gorilla to other gorillas in the zoo.  I wouldn't call it a happy ending, but a better ending to a truly a heart-wrenching story.  I couldn't put the book down. 

Lab School Pentagon is a Cat Room Favorite!

When Ms. Eleni Krasnias students visited the Washington Animal Rescue League they were interested in the elaborate scratching posts that were in the cat room.  The replica of the Capitol building, along with a lounge chair and football helmet were commissioned by Animal Planet for the Too Cute kitten window in the League's lobby.  Ms. Krasnias said to her students, I think we could make something like that.  And, create something the did.  As soon as the large pentagon was placed on the cat room floor, Fellini went to town sharpening his nails on all five sides of the structure.  He was not happy about sharing the pentagon, but part of living in a communal cat room is learning to share. 

Dog Toys!!!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes  when I arrived at the League this morning -- the dog toy elves left  bags and boxes full of wonderful brightly colored fleece toys for the dogs  in the shelter.   All sizes of tug toys -- some for small dogs, some for medium dogs, and extra long and think toys  for big dogs. Tug toy games may be played by two dogs or a person and a dog.    The fleece braids are fun to play with and easy to wash -- a perfect toy for the shelter and for at home.  I have to do a little research to find out who were the very generous and industrious elves.  I want to thank them, very, very much!

June is Adopt-A-Month and boy, do we have great cats to adopt!  We have kittens, too, but it's Adopt-A-Cat Month, not adopt a kitten.  Some really terrific cats have been here awhile waiting patiently.  I think it's time that they move to their forever homes.  Meet Aida.  She has learned to sit and give a high-five during her stay at the League.  If someone is looking for the perfect cat with dog-like qualities, here she is.  And, Carmen Jones!   Wow, she's a sweetie.  And, she's also got some exotic lineage that accounts for  her extreme intelligence and read-to-play attitude.   I was told she looks like a Turkish Van Swimming Cat.  Truth be told, I'd never heard of such a breed, so I looked it up and sure enough the description fits Carmen Jones perfectly.  From her coloring, to the texture of her fur, to her "love me" exuberance, I'm  convinced that our cat room cutie is a Turkish Van cat.

June is the perfect month for Aida and Carmen Jones to move from the League's shelter to their new digs.  They are both spayed, up-to-date on all of their vaccinations and ready to go.

Coconut Clusters -- Yum Yum!

Nigel waits for the "Take It"
signal before scarfing down the
Coconut Cluster.  He gave the treat  
4 Paws Up.



 

Everyone needs a treat now and then.  The students in Ms. Chambers' 4th grade class at West Education Campus measured and mixed ingredients and then assembled and bagged Coconut Clusters for every dog awaiting adoption at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  The healthy treats were a big hit with the pooches, including Nigel.   You can make the no-bake goodies at home.  Check out the recipe the students used at http://www.dogtreatkitchen.com/easy-homemade-dog-treats.html.  Perfect summer activity -- NO BAKING needed!

Busy Students Make Time for the Animals

I was invited to visit Newport Mill Middle School's Green Club and Student Government yesterday.  I knew that the Montgomery County, Maryland students were collecting linens for the animals and I figured I'd carry out a bag or two.      After my visit a half dozen students packet my car with boxes and bags of the donated goods. 
We have lots and lots of puppies right now, which means we use lots and lots of linens.   
This is a busy time of year for students -- especially middle and high school students -- with exams and end-of-the-year activities.  Obviously, not too busy to think of the cats and dogs at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  Thanks Newport Mill Middle School Green Club and Student Government members!

Be Kind, Prevent Dog Bites

So, this is National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- there is a week or day to commemorate  everything.   Be Kind to Animals Month started out nearly 100 years ago as Be Kind to Animals Week.   I'm a little perplexed by both of these celebratory events  -- Be Kind to Animals and Dog Bite Prevention should be every day, all day, 365 days of the years.  
If we are kind to animals, train them well, make them integral parts of our family and if we don't tease , taunt,  or frighten dogs (and cats), we can be kind to animals while preventing dog bites! 

Kudos to the Lafayette Elementary School 7

When the League received a check on school letterhead,  I thought that there must have been a school organized event that netted $225 for the animals.  But, then I read further and learned that the money was raised by seven very compassionate and proactive Lafayette Elementary School fifth graders.  Torin, Anaily, Iona, Claire, Emma, Miranda and Daniela created  Animalicious (check out animalicious.webs.com) as a way to help animals.  And, according to Anaily, it all started when she decided to make a piggy bank for her sister!   Lots of cute piggy banks are pictured on the group's web site.  The girls were eager to acknowledge the help and support of their awesome art teacher, Ms. Laurie McLaughlin. The friends also sold cookies at school basketball games to raise money the animals, and they  are planning more events that will benefit the animals, including an outdoor movie night! 

Visiting the girls was a great way to celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week.  Thank you, Anaily, Torin, Iona, Daniela, Miranda, Emma & Claire, for caring and working to make the world a better place for animals!

E. L. Haynes Public Charter School 5th Graders Surprise Me With Their Gratitude!

The saying,  a picture is worth a thousand words, does not adequately describe this photo of Nigel admiring a framed thank you photo, colorful notes of appreciation, and a jug of money collected for the animals at the League.   Actually, when the fifth graders at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School presented me with the plaque highlighting their trip to the League, I was totally speechless.  Not only was the thoughtful  gesture totally unexpected, but the fifth graders in Mr. Goff's health class and Ms. Hutchins' math class have demonstrated kindness to animals (and to each other) all year long.   I've written about them several times highlighting their posters proclaiming kindness and their letters to the president asking that animal issues be taken seriously.  Caring about animals comes naturally to this group of soon-to-be middle schoolers.  I am really going to miss them next year.  But, as I tell them, they make my job so much easier -- I know that each and every one of them are life-long advocates for  animals.  Spreading the word is what will make a difference and these kids are all about making a difference!

Nigel, obviously, was doing his best to read every comment! 

Boy Panther Doing Quite Nicely!

Minke Macan lounging & posing.

There's only one thing better than watching an animal go home, it's getting an update from that forever home. 

It is well-documented that I am total mush in the company of big, hunky male cats.  The cat, formerly known as Mickey, and now and forever known as  Minke Macan, is one of those cats.   Immediately upon meeting the panther-looking cat, I was fantasizing about him moving into my house, sleeping on my bed and putting that troublesome little Charlotte in her place.  He paraded around Kitty City like he owned it, and gave head-nudges that could nearly knock you over.  And, just two weeks ago he moved to his forever home -- not mine -- and has settled in quite nicely.

His new family gave him a fitting name.  Minke Macan means "Boy Panther" in Indonesian, they reported.  Minke is the last in a long line of palace cats (miniature panthers) from the Islamic kingdoms of Java. Minke's family came to the US as part of a trade mission in the latter part of the 16th century. Minke has now settled into daily life consisting of taking over our lounge in full stretch, chasing our feet in bed and leaping to his high perch on top of the scratch tower. His adoptive parents look forward to many years of love and affection with our own royal panther.

Second Grade Teacher's Love of Poetry Made a Lasting Impression on Me!

Miss Payne recited--

 

I never saw a purple cow

I never hope to see one

but I can tell you anyhow

I'd rather see than be one.

 National Poetry Month 2013 ends next week. 

Share a poem today.

A Forever Home for Murphy!

 No one can deny that puppies and kittens are cute.   But the adult animals are the ones that really get to me.  The ones with a long history.  IF they could talk, what would they say?  Would they bemoan their cast-off situation or would they say they are grateful for their temporary digs?
In the wonderful picture book, "Let's Get a Pup," Said Kate, by Bob Graham,  the family decides on a cute pup but leaves the Rescue Center with a heavy heart after seeing Rosy, who was "old and gray and broad as a table" and "radiated Good Intention."   Needless to say they become a two dog family when they go back  the next day and adopt Rosy.  
While Murphy, who was known as Mayor at the League, is not old and gray he did radiate good intention.  His adopter saw that right away.   In a recent update she wrote,  "He's doing wonderfully. He had a little problem with the steps at first but now he's running up and down them all on his own. He gets taken to the dog park near my house to play fetch in the morning when we usually have the place to ourselves and then we go back once I'm home from work so he can socialize and run around with other dogs.
He's such a cuddly, sweet, gentle dog and I'm so happy I adopted him! I've included a few photos of Murphy loving life! Thank you so much for the help with adopting him. Murphy and I could not be happier!"
 And,  the email and pictures of Murphy enjoying life with a bone and toy and a crate of his own and a person who loves him unconditionally absolutely made my day!

Celebrate National Poetry Month with a Cat Poem! or Two.

It's National Poetry Month!   There are many, many wonderful animal poems.  I was rifling through a collection of cat poems in a small book aptly titled The Great Cat- poems about cats - and happened upon Naomi Shihab Nye's poem --

Every Cat Had a Story

The yellow one from the bakery

smelled like a cream puff-

she followed us home.

We buried our faces

in her sweet fur.

One cat hid her head

while I practiced violin.

But she came out for piano.

At night she played sonatas

on my quilt.

One cat built a secret nest

in my socks.

One sat in the window

staring up at the street all day

while we were at school.

One cat loved the radio dial.

One cat almost smiled.

The poem conjured up memories of every cat I've been lucky enough to live with.       Sidney, my college campus black kitten.   Artie, the tiny long haired guy who made Sid look like a lion.                 Alvie, the scarred bruiser who went from sewer-pipe cat to best bed buddy-- ever.                                                                                        SamMelvin, the big orange tabby...the cat of my dreams.              Dave, a boarder at the shelter until his elderly person died, my daughter's  first true love.         Bruce, the cat foster cat who picked me.                                                                                

And now, Charlotte -- the queen of the camera phone.  



Flyer distributed to collect
supplies for the League



Girl Scout Troop 379 spent weeks before spring break coordinating a supply drive and collecting  towels, blankets, jars of peanut butter and laundry detergent for the League.  They ended their spring break by delivering  a van full of goods and touring the shelter and medical center.   Almost all of the girls had a cat or dog at home, many adopted from shelters and rescue groups.  One of the scouts adopted a bunny from a local shelter. 

Members of Girl Scout Troop 379
(and one brother)
delivering donations to WARL

Girl scouts tour the medical center,
 including an up close and personal
visit with one of the many cats
 waiting for a new home at the League.

This is not the first time the troop has helped the animals. In the past, thy have visited animals in the shelter, baked and delivered homemade dog treats, donated blankets and towels, and designated WARL as a recipient of a portion of the profits they've earned selling girl scout cookies.   One of the scouts and her dad are current WARL volunteers, another scout has attended camp at the League.   We expect to see more from of troop 379 in the future.  Thank you girls, parents and supportive siblings!







Student volunteers reach out to their community to help WARL

Ryan and Lee,  Bethesda Chevy Chase High School sophomores, began volunteering at the League several months ago.  They saw how much laundry it takes to keep the cats and dogs clean and comfortable and decided that their MYP  (International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme) project should be centered around helping WARL care for the animals.   They placed a decorated drop-off box in their school's lobby.   Announcements were made in school and on various neighborhood listserves requesting blankets and towels for the animals.  The box was emptied several times.  Linens soon took over Ryan's basement.   On Sunday, a  linen-laden SUV pulled up to the shelter and the teens carted in bundle-after-bundle of towels and blankets.  While their MYP project is finished, the friends, along with Ryan's older brother, remain active volunteers at the League. 

We are all in this Together



Hanna, in the classroom,
 mapping out her journey from
Kuwait to Washington, D.C.

 Nearly two weeks ago Hanna Rhodin Al-Mansour, the shelter manager at K'Spath (Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat), accompanied five dogs on a Lufthansa flight from Kuwait to Frankfort to Washington, DC.  The dogs are now available for adoption at the Washington Animal Rescue League. 

Hanna spent the week with different WARL staff members.  Her goal was to learn as much about sheltering as possible in seven days.  And, while we were happy to share our knowledge with her, we were just as eager to learn about K'Spath -- an organization that deals not only with dogs and cats, but pocket pets, equine, and wildlife including baboons! K'Spath is a young organization that has accomplished a lot in a short time.   Videos about the organization can be viewed by clicking on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITov0J8y0cM and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITov0J8y0cM 

When Hanna accompanied me to a school visit, I took a seat and asked her to share information with the students about K'Spath.   It's not every day that you meet someone whose rescue work includes caring for the habitat of the caprimulgus aegyptius or the Egyptian Nightjar.

.

All grown up with lots to smile about

The very first time I saw Candy Apple, she was a tiny pup, part of a large litter born in a hoarding situation in Arkansas.  She and her mom and nine siblings were rescued by a national group and transported to WARL. Candy Apple, and her brother Funnel Cake, spent several hours in my office the day of a big adoption event.  Sachin (see Sparky posts) and his family fawned over both pups and had a hard time deciding on just one.    After a lot of going back and forth  the family of four adopted Funnel Cake who grew into the very large and much-loved Sparky.   Candy  Apple was adopted shortly thereafter, but was returned to WARL before she was fully grown.  Something was very different when she came back -- her timid personality did not resemble the outgoing pup that I remembered.   But, several months later, the confident, happy-go-lucky, tail-wagging  Juma (formerly Candy Apple)  came for a visit.   She adores her forever family and her forever family loves her.   We love photo and email updates.  It's even better to get in-person (in-dog?) visits. 

Harold update already

Well it just takes a cat to move into the office to make me post  two days in a row!  The truth is I want to share Harold's progress with anyone who will listen.  In less than 24 hours he has gone from an ornery ol' tom cat, extremely put out by his living arrangements  in Kitty City, to an inquisitive young guy who, like many before him, quickly decided that desks -- especially piles of papers -- are for lounging.   Trouble is the weekend.  I won't be here, so Harold will have to spend Saturday and Sunday in Kitty City.  I've been explaining that this Prince Charming routine of his, which he is turning on big-time, is his ticket to a real, honest-to-goodness forever home --  one where he will have a desk of his own and maybe share his bed with a human or two.  Visit Harold (also known as Frosting)  in Kitty City at the League this weekend.  If he keeps turning on the charm he may have moved on before the weekend ends.

Another Feline Visitor

As always, we have lots of nice cats -- long haired cats, tabby cats, Siamese-mix cats, solid color cats, calico cats. Our cat room constantly reminds me of the classic 1952 picture book, Millions of Cats, by Wanda Gag. While we may not have millions of cats, our Kitty City is fully occupied. This guy, Frosting (who I am calling Harold) is not very happy living in Kitty City.  I gave him a gentle pat and explained to him that his current situation sure beats pounding the pavement looking for his next meal.  He reacted to my reasoning with a swift right hook to my outstretched hand.   So, I said, "You don't like Kitty City, try my office!"  At this moment he is sitting by my feet plotting his next move.   I think he wants to be friendly and affectionate.  But he is still stuck in his macho tomcat, I don't need you,  routine.   Unfortunately, I'm leaving in a few minutes, so he'll have to go back to Kitty City for the night.  But, I've already warned him that when he comes back upstairs tomorrow  he is going to begin a crash course in basic manners.   A cat as handsome as he is should be a real affectionate guy.

Happy International Polar Bear Day!

The annual event, International Polar Bear Day, is designed to bring attention to the plight of these magnificent hunters.  Their numbers are dwindling.  According to Polar Bear International,
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/our-work/community-outreach/save-our-sea-ice, "as the Arctic continues to warm due to climate change, two-thirds of the world's polar bears could disappear by mid-century—although hope remains if action is taken to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions." The world's largest predators are no match for intensity of the melting sea ice. It's up to us to do our part.  The organization urges people to take the challenge -- do little things, put on a sweater rather than upping the thermostat; turn out the lights when you leave a room.  What other things can you do?   How about

• Planting a tree (or two or three)
• Walking or biking rather than hopping in the car; for longer trips, catch the bus 
• Unplug power cords

Those suggestions are just the beginning.  Don't let International Polar Bear Day pass by without making some kind of change.  Do it for the bears.

 

 

Ella (6) and Elias (13) chill with Fergus and Rue.

I asked Elias and Ella's mom if I could share the adorable photo that she sent of the siblings with their pair of recently adopted kittens, Fergus and Rue, formerly known as holiday-reindeer-kittens Vixen and Blitzen.   Not only did she agree, but she shared some of the background that led to the kittens' adoption.  
Our old cat, Moose (almost 20), passed away. I was ready for a period of mourning, even a state funeral, but Elias and Ella knew better. We came to WARL and Elias says Fergus and Rue are my third and fourth children. They've completely changed the energy in the house. As I write this, they're both on my lap.
Her email reminded me that our animals time with us is short, but so is the time that children live at home with their parents.  If Fergus and Rue are able to manage the longevity that Moose enjoyed, Ella and Elias will be college graduates by the time the pair of energetic kittens hit their senior stride.  One of the many benefits of sharing our homes with cats and dogs is that there is rarely ever an empty next.  I'm hoping for a picture of the foursome in 10 years and another one several years after that!

Yes, Charlotte, I do want to wash my face!

Here's the thing with Charlotte.  She kind of, sort of, likes to be around me.   She doesn't sit on my lap or snuggle in bed, but she likes to be in the same general vicinity where I am.  And, more times than not, she enjoys causing a disturbance.   Okay, you might think that I am projecting my annoyance onto Charlotte when I say she "enjoys" causing a disturbance.   I am really not projecting, I am stating a fact.  We have a night-time routine -- I sit down to read a book, Charlotte chirps a warning and jumps up on the mantle.  I take Charlotte down from the mantle, pick up the cat toy -- that Charlotte use to like --  and sit back down to read.  Charlotte chirps again and jumps up on the piano.  We repeat this game/annoyance -- depending on your perspective-- several times before I give up and put Charlotte in the basement, where she is perfectly content to watch TV with Max or entertain herself with cat toys.   Charlotte's latest I am in your space activity is jumping into the sink every morning just as I turn on the bathroom light.  I chalk a lot of Charlotte's irritating behavior up to the fact that she's a kitten.  But, she's not;  she is two, and we've been doing this reading, jumping up, plucking down activity now for well over a year. And, if the last few days are a predictor of what's to come, I fear that Charlotte's sink-sitting is not going to end any time soon.

Home at Last!

The little dog, in the Zebra striped harness, was named Shortstack when she lived at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  She spent three months at the shelter, after her rescue from a puppy mill, before finding her forever home.  When I saw her self-assured photo this morning in an email update that read, Her name is now MeMe because we want her to think that her new life is now about "me me", I thought of Sam's poster with the sweet animal drawings and hard-hitting message.   There are millions of dogs and cats in the world.  Many of them are victims of animal cruelty.  Don't let an animal you know become a victim.  Little Me Me, once a victim, is now a much-loved family member in her forever home. Her guardian writes, she is "comfy on the couch with her blanket and on our bed by my feet at night to sleep. She likes to watch TV with me and play chase with my daughter.  Adopting her has been one of the best decisions I've ever made."

 

Let's Celebrate

 I've decided to be Canadian for the day on February 25th.  According to Modern Dog, February 25th marks Canada’s first ever National Cupcake Day! Donate your baking and, better still, eating skills to this awesome event to help raise money for tens of thousands of animals in local shelters, SPCAs, and humane societies across the country.  The British Columbia SPCA  is promoting the event by asking young animal advocates to Help end animal cruelty one cupcake at a time.  The money you raise selling your cupcakes will help the BC SPCA rescue, re-home, and provide emergency services for injured and abandoned animal in B.C. 

I'm all in favor of copying this delicious celebration.   Who says National Cupcake Day can't be International Cupcake Day.    No chocolate icing for Nigel and other pooches, but I've never known Nigel to turn down a crumb or two.  To find out more about this delicious charitable event in Canada go to nationalcupcakeday.ca.

Don’t kill the deer in Rock Creek Park

That is the title of an article, by highly respected scientists Jay Kirkpatrick and Allen Rutberg, that caught my eye in the Washington Post last week.  The researchers explain how the deer population, if truly burgeoning (but it is not according to their very detailed research), can be humanely controlled with a pregnancy inhibitor vaccine.  Their research confirms that shooting deer is not only cruel, but it doesn't solve the problem -- it actually increases population by increasing more room for other deer to move in.  There is a local grassroots effort to prevent the killings in one of our most used area parks. To sign the petition, National Park Service: Don't Kill Deer in our Nation's Capital, go to https://www.change.org/petitions/national-park-service-don-t-kill-deer-in-our-nation-s-capital?share_id=raMPKGeTON&utm_campaign=mailto_link&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition.    To read the entire article click on http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-01/opinions/36679955_1_deer-population-urban-deer-deer-per-square-mile

Timely Poster Promotes Winning In More Ways than One!

Fifth  grade students in Mr. Goff's health class at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School continue to promote kindness through creativity.   Advertising executives take note. Simeon's poster depicting  Baltimore Ravens' tough guy linebacker Ray Lewis as a thoughtful animal lover gets your attention.     Simeon's hard-hitting words and carefully chosen pictures show a stark contrast between actions on and off the field.   The class'  critical look at Baltimore's award-winning, Show Your Soft Side Campaign lubowphotography.com/promotional/show-your-soft-side-campaign/ continues to spawn pro-animal messages weeks after our enthusiastic class discussion.   While the Baltimore Raven may very well be the next Super Bowl Champions, Mr. Goff's kind, caring and thoughtful students show their winning ways every day! 

This Picture Made Me Smile!

We send out a quick survey asking adopters to give us a brief update a month after their adoption is complete.  The replies with pictures are the best!   I often read the updates and then close the file, but I just had to share this one of Foxy and her new best friend.  Every cute little dog should have a cute little girl in a purple coat.  Don't let all the girliness in the photo fool you.  Foxy's grown-up person reports that the little dog has a big job -- by day she's a Corporate Watchdog with a real office.   Guess that's the next best thing to being with her BFF  24/7.  After all, kids do have to go to school.