Babysitters, Put this Brand New Carter Goodrich Book in Your Summer Kid Pack

A good book for veterinarians' offices, too.   Mister Bud's hot spot is treated with cream and a cone.  Zorro, the funny looking pug, thinks Mr. Bud  can be taken advantage of in his compromised state.   But, the caring guardian remarks "Poor guy.  It's hard to see with this thing on, isn't it?" after Mr. Bud's unfortunate encounter with a lamp.    Mister Bud gets a special treat and Zorro is called out for out for getting into the biscuits.  A charming picture book that stresses companionship, ( both canine and human) and responsible care.

Davy Jones is in the House!

Well,he is in my office.   He'd like a house.  Or an apartment.  A condo would be nice! I like having an office buddy; right now he's doing all of the work and I'm just enjoying his company.  But, this absolutely perfect cat has been living at the Washington Animal Rescue League way too long.   It's time for Davy Jones (DJ to his close friends) to be adopted.   And, since it is Friday afternoon, I'm going to tell him good-bye.   I can feel that this will be his adoption weekend.   I just know it!  He's the best cat here.  Well, definitely the very best gray and white cat hanging out in  my office!

Feline Friends -- Twice the Fun!

Everyone at the Washington Animal Rescue League loves updates!   Especially when they come with photos.   I usually don't get to know the kittens when they are here -- and I don't remember Ludwig (who was called VaVaVoom at WARL), the cute little tabby pictured here with her new forever friend.  But, the photo sent in by her adopter conjured up memories of my first cats, Sidney and Artie,  from more than 30 years ago!   When Sidney, an all black cat like Night Fury, was nearly a year old, we decided to adopt a friend for her.  Artie was just a little thing.  All of a sudden, Sid, who we still thought of as a tiny kitten, looked like a stalking panther.   She wasn't exactly welcoming of Artie during those first few days, but in no time at all the two became great friends.   They played crazy cat games and snuggled up close during nap time. Almost overnight,  Sidney morphed back into a sleek black cat and Artie quickly grew into his  fluffy adult self. No more wild cats, but forever friends.  Looks like Ludwig and Night Fury are becoming the same.   

What do you want for your birthday?

The money jar after it was emptied
and donations counted

The birthday girls visiting  Kitty City

When Freya and Mila were asked what they wanted for their birthday, their response was immediate -- to help the animals at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  Instead of birthday gifts, the 7-year-old twins asked their friends and family to fill the money jar that they created.  And, their friends and family went all out.  The girls' birthday celebration netted $300 for the animals!!!  Mila and Freya brought their donation to the League's 100 year birthday bash.
 Thank you Mila and Freya.  Wishing you many more happy birthdays.

Kids Giving Back

What a great week!  Yesterday Ms. Pang's class from Paul Public Charter School came by to visit.  But, they did not come empty handed!  They brought lots and lots of tug toys and bags of homemade biscuits for the dogs and paper towel and toilet paper roll toys for the cats.  The day before the Lab School of Washington's Roots and Shoots members visited bringing bags of linens and a check for $173, money raised at bake sales.   And that wasn't the end of students' generosity; A check $140.12 collected from Temple Micah's religious school students and  another check for $243.40 raised by the Holton Arms School's Animal Rights Club showed up in the same day's mail!  Students care.   And they show that they care by doing great things for animals!! Thank you all. 

Dogs Routinely Teach Kindness at WARL

It's not just people who promote kindness to animals at the Washington Animal Rescue League.   Several dogs come to the League daily with their guardians.    Dr. Jan Rosen, WARL's medical center director, lives with Ruby, one of our regular be kind to animals goodwill ambassadors.  Ruby accompanied Dr. Rosen to meet Aiton Elmenetary School's fourth graders when they visited the League last week.   She was happy to accept treats from every student, even if she had to work a little to get them. The students taught  Ruby  to "wait", an exercise that all dogs should learn as part of their ongoing safety training.   Of course, Ruby readily accepted pats and belly rubs from the 13 kind kids -- She didn't have to wait at all for those!

Tasty Treats!!

 The dogs at WARL scarfed up yummy, freshly baked treats last week.  Thanks to the  Girls on the Run chapter at Two Rivers Public Charter School, our pooches snacked on gourmet treats.    The girls gathered and mixed the ingredients, rolled out the dough and used variety of cookie cutters to get an assortment of shapes including bones and moons.  They baked the cookies, filled a BIG basket with the biscuits and delivered them to WARL where they were quickly gobbled up!  Thank you Girls on the Run at Two Rivers Public Charter School and Coach Jackie for baking special treats for the dogs at WARL.  They enjoyed every bite.

McKinley Tech Students Visit WARL bearing Gifts!

Students don sterile garb to handle pups

Dogs love tug toys and they love tennis balls.  Put the two together and you have a super-toy that guarantees hours of fun.  McKinley Tech students wanted the dogs at WARL to have plenty of toys to choose from.  They gave their colorful, student-made braids to shelter dogs, and to patients visiting the clinic, and still left a big bag full  of toys that staff  distributed to the dogs in quarantine.  The dogs had  a grand time tossing the toys and retrieving them; in the dens housing  two dogs, lively games of tug-of-war were played.   The project was led by Shaina, a Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area  intern, who graduates from the University of Maryland today.  Thanks McKinley Tech students!  Congratulations Shaina!

Troop 6560 Enlists the Support of their Neighborhood and School Communities

When  Capitol Hill Girl Scout Troop 6560 decided to earn their "Community Organizing" badge, they chose to organize an activity that would help the animals who need it most -- the cats and dogs at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  On Sunday, the first day of Be Kind to Animals Week 2014, they delivered their collection of linens to the League.  The girls solicited donations from their neighbors and classmates which resulted  in several heavy bags full of towels and blankets. 
The scouts, not only learned a lot during the course of organizing their project, but learned even more about homeless animals from Michael, a loyal WARL volunteer who led their Sunday shelter tour. 
Thanks Troop 6560!

Happy Be Kind to Animals Week!

CELEBRATE ALL 

YEAR LONG!!!

Animals brighten our world.
 It is our responsibility to make theirs
a safe and happy place.
Click on the link below

http://www.sharedots.com/dogs-a-cat-dance-to-happy-by-pharrell-williams-255.html

A Short Foster Stay, Bert at Home -- Forever

Bert, formerly known as Kid Rock, did not even spend a full week in his foster home. A couple saw his picture on the WARL web site and knew  that he was the kitty for them.  In no time at all, they consulted with our Behavior and Training staff at the shelter,  met the love of their life in his foster home, completed the adoption application, adopted Bert and took him home.  While Bert was enjoying in his foster home, he is obviously quite content in his forever home.  Have a good life, Bertsie!   

Neighbors Create Toys for Shelter Dogs

Ms. Gillig's Capital City Public Charter School  class spent the winter learning about WARL through classroom visits and trips the League. The students wanted to do something nice for the animals; so, the class talked over their options and decided  to make tug toys for the dogs.   Before the large box of tug  toys went to the shelter -- where the dogs are thoroughly enjoying the colorful ropes -- the students posed for a photo  with their creations.
Thanks, neighbors!

Happy Earth Day!!!

It's still  National Poetry Month and today is Earth Day.   Isn't April great ?  And, to top it off, one of my favorite kitties -- who was fortunate to end up at WARL from another shelter, but stayed here for a very long time without being adopted --  is now luxuriating in his foster home where he decided --  immediately --that the bed in the main bedroom, with  the people in the bed, and the dog in the bed, too, were where he would spend his nights.  ( Yes, I know, that is one, very long run-on sentence!!)  So much more comfy than the nice, but lonely, cat tree in the tower where he resided in Kitty City at WARL.   His foster person is watching him closely before choosing the most perfect name.   At the shelter, this handsome boy was dubbed Kid Rock, not a particularly fitting moniker.  So in honor of the boy's temporary placement and National Poetry Month and Earth Day I have written my own  Haiku that really doesn't reflect Earth Day at all, unless you consider that said foster kitty is not on the street killing birds.

Street wise, scrappy guy

Foster care, cat paradise

Adoption pending -- soon

A Favorite Cat Poem for National Poetry Month

Every Cat Has a Story  by Naomi Shihab Nye

The yellow one from the bakery

smelled like a cream puff-

she followed us home.

We buried our faces

in her sweet fun.

One cat hid her head

while I practiced the 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 the street all day

while we were at school.

One cat loved the radio dial.

One cat almost smiled.

Takoma Park 's 4-H Club's Collection for the Animals Bigger and Better!

2014

2011

When the Takoma Park 4-H Club visited the League on Sunday, April 6th,  they brought their annual WARL donation.  In fact, they had so much to donate, staff used wheelbarrows to help haul in car-loads of donations.  An article in the Takoma Voice newspaper announced that the group would be collecting for the animals at the Takoma Library on March 22-23.  People gave generously to the drive -- blankets, towels, toys, crates & cash.  In addition the collection, the 4-H members refurbished a number of kids' cast-off stuffed animals so the animals at WARL now have newly stuffed toys, complete with squeakers.  WARL volunteer, and head stuffie maker, Kathy D., gave a couple of the members a crash course on recycling the toys, which means taking off anything that a dog or cat could swallow, like plastic eyes. 
Every year the 4-H members choose community service projects  -- many kids  choose  WARL because of their love for helping animals.  And, a few  4-H families have adopted dogs or cats from the League and many others are regular visitors.  This is the fourth year that WARL has been the recipient of the group's charitable work.  Thank you Takoma Park 4-H!

Another Happy Update

A picture --or two-- really is worth a thousand words, or maybe one big long, "OOOOHHHHHH HOW CUTE!" sigh.   We got an email update today saying that the pup, now named Lucky, is almost a year old.  Ryan, her person, said it was love at first sight -- I bet it was mutual.©

First photo at home.

Lucky, all grown up!

Happy National Poetry Month!!!!

I love April.   Flowers bloom, temperatures rise, and we celebrate National Poetry Month!  and, that's no April Fool.   First thing I did this morning was grab Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest's Cat Talk book off the shelf.  Barry Moser's illustrations, coupled with the cat-capturing verbiage gave Nigel and me lots to discuss.  I've known many cats like Princess Sheba Darling, the cat featured in the poem that Nigel is reading.  But, the poem that really got me, was Sylvie, the Boss.  It made me miss my Bruce cat.  Nigel, however, the sweet guy that he is, didn't offer an opinion.

Sylvie, the Boss
I am the boss cat.
I twitch my tail to prove it.
I boss the dogs.
I boss the people.
I boss Romeo, the cat I live with.,
  whenever I can.
I like three thing: 
My food
My windowsill
My people.
And that's enough.

It's our birthday! 

The year of celebration begins today at 12 noon.  

A Four Tissue Heartbreaking Story

 Buddy, by M. H. Herlong, was my St. Patrick's Day snow read.  I had to encourage Merl to get off of my lap twice so I could get more tissues.  This is a powerful story about love, loss, friendship, family, disaster, pain, recovery and so much more.  In 2005 the mighty Hurricane Katrina nearly wiped out the city of "brotherly love."  It wasn't just the initial hit of the storm, but the decay of the infrastructure that lead to the evacuation of approximately 1.5 million people from their homes.  Nearly 2,000 people died in Louisiana as result of the storm, and scores more were killed  in  neighboring states.  Many others were still missing weeks after the waters receded..

Less than a decade later, M.H. Herlong writes a punch-in-your gut story about a boy, Lil'T and  a three-legged dog, Buddy.  Lil'T's ' Buddy.   Needless to say it is a story of lost and found.  Nothing in this book is easy.  Even Lil'T's chance meeting with the dog is painful.   The stray dog is struck by the car Lil'T's dad is driving to church.  The congregation rallies to pay for the dog's medical expenses, and in turn, it is because of Buddy that a congregant is helped by Lil'T.  

Lil'T and his family are poor before the hurricane and  totally wiped out after the disaster.  But they have each other, their faith, and their unwavering determination to persevere.  That resolve is what keeps Lil'T working to get Buddy back, long, long after the levees broke.  

Be forewarned.  It's not exactly a happy ending, but the right ending.  Buddy was the perfect snow read to devour with Merl on my lap, Nigel by my feet and Charlotte being Charlotte -- getting into trouble.

SNOW AGAIN!

Happy Snowy St. Patrick's Day to all.  Wear your green pjs in the house and pet your dog and cuddle your cat.  Three days until the first day of spring and there is a fresh, thick blanket of snow on the ground.  Again!  How many snow days this year?  Will students be in school in July?  Charlotte ran out onto the screened-in porch last night.  She loves watching the huge flakes take hold of the screen and cover  all of the brown.  She even likes to scurry in the dusting that makes it through the screen, onto the porch.  But, she doesn't do that for long. Just a  few minutes and she's back inside, on a chair, under the heat vent.  

A Snow Day Read -- Cover-to-Cover

The two best things about snow days are being home with Nigel, Merl, and Charlotte, and having a good book to read cover-to-cover.   That's what I did Monday, I read Joan Bauer's heartfelt and heartbreaking novel for middle readers, Almost Home.  The dog, Shush,  an important supporting character, is a constant reminder of the power of the human-animal bond.
Good Reads succinctly encapsulates the book, When twelve-year-old Sugar's grandfather dies and her gambling father takes off yet again, Sugar and her mother lose their home in Missouri. They head to Chicago for a fresh start, only to discover that fresh starts aren't so easy to come by for the homeless. Nevertheless, Sugar's mother has taught her to be grateful no matter what, so Sugar does her best. With the help of a rescue dog, Shush; a foster family; a supportive teacher; a love of poetry; and her own grace and good humor, Sugar comes to understand that while she can't control the hand life deals her, she can control how she responds.

It's a good summary, but it doesn't highlight the heart, truths, and emotional roller-coaster that makes Almost Home an ideal snow-day read.   Sugar Mae Cole, the narrator/protagonist acquaints readers with her dead grandfather, King Cole, through his writings -- he left behind an autobiography complete with all sorts of King Cole-isms, email exchanges with her beloved 6th grade teacher Mr. B, and her own poetry,including a poem about her father that was written in response to the prompt, write a stirring paragraph on one way you have seen persuasion misused.... Sugar's poem begins -
There are people in our lives we cannot trust
One of those people in my life is my father.
That poem sets the stage for a sequence of events that spins Sugar's life out of control.   There are many folks who are rooting for Sugar Mae Cole.  But, all of the support, including that from Shush, the little dog who was formerly kicked when he barked and spooked by just about everything, does not offer what is most important to a 12-year-old -- stability.  As the pieces start coming together, Reba, Sugar's mother, tells her, "You go out there, Miss sugar, and show'em what it means to be sweet."   In spite of all that life tosses her way, Sugar is filled with sweetness.  But, she is  also got a tenacious pre-teen who, in the words of Mr. B, is Exceedingly Courageous and Insightful.
I sat in my rocking chair Monday, looked over at Merl snoozing in the sunshine, wrapped my fleece blanket around me and  enjoyed Almost Home -- a nice snow day treat.

Neighboring Students Adopt WARL

Capital City Public Charter School (CCPCS) students care about animals.   And, they want their school community to know that their neighbor, the Washington Animal Rescue League, could  use their help.  Ms. Gillig, Ms. Korinek and Ms. Downer's 5th grade classes have spent the semester learning about why animals end up in shelters .  The students want to make the animals' stay as comfortable as possible, so they are  making toys for the animals and collecting items for the shelter.  Signs are posted throughout the school announcing the collection and Ms. Gillig's class is experimenting with various braids to create the best tug toys ever.  
There is just one problem  -- kids don't go to school much these days.   Another snow day!   And, by looking out the window, I'm guessing that this is going to be another very, very short week.  Ms. Korinek and Ms. Downer's students had a big day planned for today -- they were scheduled to tour the League at lunch time.  We will have to reschedule their visit.  And although the shelter, like schools, is closed today, the very dedicated WARL animal care staff is busy caring for the cats and dogs.
Thank you CCPCS kids and teachers for raising awareness.  And thank you amazing coworkers for being THERE for the animals!!  I bet there are a number of WARL volunteers helping out, too.   Our volunteers are the BEST!!!!

A Good Deed that Grows and Grows.....

"You have to see all of the donations, " a co-worker told me.  The bags of towels, blankets, and items from our wish list, including books for kids and hedge clippers for our garden  came from Bella's birthday celebration. Two  carloads full of donations were unloaded  in front of the shelter on Saturday.  
I asked Bella's mom how they were able to collect so much stuff!  She explained  that  Bella decided to continue a tradition this year that her mom started 4 birthdays ago requesting donations for homeless cats and dogs instead of traditional birthday gifts.  In addition, Bella's mom decided to involve the entire Francis Scott Key Elementary School community in the effort.  She asked the  Community Service Committee to announce a donation drive for the animals. She suggested items and even included a link to WARL's wishlist.    For three weeks families brought much-needed items to the school.   Helping animals is a long-held family value -- Bella's grandmother is a veterinarian.  If Bella doesn't follow in her footsteps, perhaps she will grow up to be a shelter director. Thank you Bella and family and friends, and the entire Key community for helping us to help the animals! 

WARL Animals Benefit from Generous Kids!

Audrey, Elise, & their friend Rebecca

 Presents are a big part of birthday celebrations.  When twins, Audrey and Elise, invited guests to their party they had a present request -- instead of bringing gifts for the girls, friends were asked to bring gifts for the animals at WARL.   On Sunday, they, along with their friend Rebecca, delivered two bulging bags of toys & treats for the cats and dogs.  Providing enrichment for shelter animals is key to keeping them comfortable while they are awaiting their forever homes. 
     This is not the first time that Elise and Audrey thought of the animals.  They, along with neighborhood friends, raised $171 at a summer lemonade stand a couple of years ago.  

Ari & Dori

     Brothers, Ari & Dori, also visited the League on Sunday.  Each boy had a contribution of his own.  The young philanthropists  participate in an on-going savings plan -- each boy saves a portion of  his  weekly allowance  to help others.  Not only did they choose to help the animals at the League, but they were able to double their donations with a matching grant from their parents!  
      Thank you Audrey, Elise, Ari & Dori!

Happy Valentine's Day

My Valentine wrapped up!

My lovable pooch is liking this weather less and less.  This morning he flew off the ice-encrusted steps, did what he needed to, and then did his best to hurry back up the steps and dash inside, where he will remain until I force him to take another potty break.   The salt trucks came through.  No walks for Nigel!  Maybe not until June!  More snow tonight.

SNOW!!!

Ten inches in my front yard this morning.   Nigel is lucky to be a big dog.  A smaller dog would have had a harder time relieving himself.  We tried walking down the street early this morning -- kids were already being pulled on sleds, neighbors constructed an igloo.  I was curious to see the snowmen that had sprouted up.  The roads were totally car-less.  It was a good time to walk.  Nigel, however, was interested in going home.   He lifted his leg once, pooped fast, and made a mad bee-line for home.  Walking in the salt sprinkled road of recent storms was tough, but Nigel used to like to gallop in the  heavily-packed snow from big storms several years ago.  Not this time.  Age is catching up with Nigel.  Snoozing on a purple rug, under a heat vent is his idea of a perfect snow day!
Meanwhile Charlotte, who loves to try to escape out the front door, did just that.   Three seconds into her mad-dash  she made a quick u-turn and bolted into the house.   Freezing wet stuff on her soft pink pads was not to be.  
And, in case you are wondering -- the shelter animals are safe and warm thanks to the incredible dedicated WARL staff and volunteers!!

An Animal Tale and a Young Girl's Journey

Snow days are enjoyed best with a good book  and a cat on your lap. Today, I enjoyed both .  Merl kept me warm as a read Angela Cervantes new novel, Gaby, Lost and Found (Scholastic 2013) from cover to cover.  Merl even moved up a little on my chest as I sniffed and dabbed my eyes at certain parts of the fast-moving novel.   This book, however, is not a tearjerker from cover to cover -- it's insightful, funny, hopeful, and at times, sad.  Gaby Ramirez Howard, the strong Latina protagonist, volunteers as  the adoption advertisement "scribe" for the Furry Friends Animal Shelter. Her involvement starts as just a 6th grade service project, but becomes much more.   The cast-off animals, through no fault of their own, are looking for their forever homes, and before long Gaby realizes that she is too.   At the shelter Gaby meets animals that are abused, neglected and abandoned.  The young cute ones are adopters'  favorites.  Cervantes must have real life animal shelter experience, because she paints an accurate  picture of the common throw-away society that shelter staff see every day.   Her depiction of life as an illegal immigrant is probably right-on-the-mark too.  When the story opens we learn that Gaby's mother was deported 3 months earlier; Gaby is eagerly awaiting her mother's return -- any day now she thinks.   Life is rarely that simple.  The  book's supporting cast, Alma, Marcos, Enrique, Dr. Vilalabos (super-cool, tattooed veterinarian), Mr . and Mrs. Gomez, and the assorted shelter animals, add spirit and life to the  220 page book that hooks the reader from  Gaby's very first encounter with an ornery Siamese cat on page one, to the last page that unites Gaby with an abandoned tabby cat.  Add this book to your library, give it as a gift, read it more than once.  

One Happy Kitty!

Meet Jubilee.   Not only is she adorable and very sweet, but she is SO HAPPY to be living in Kitty City at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  For months, we saw the petite female cat running in the alley behind the shelter.  Guys s in a neighboring garage said that they were feeding her.  They also said that they let her in the garage.  But, on the night that the arctic air gripped  the area, I'm certain that she hunkered down somewhere outside.  She was sitting on top of a car when I got to the League the next morning.  And, although she tended to allude human touch for some time, she let me pet her -- a lot.  And then, she walked right into a cat carrier that Lauren set in front of her.   A can of food was n the bac kof the carrier to lure her in, but she didn't care much about the food on  that very cold morning.   Closing the carrier quickly we brought her inside.  Our assumption was that she was feral.  She not only is not feral, but she as lovable as she can be. Jubilee has been spayed, vaccinated, thoroughly checked out, and is waiting patiently for a forever home.   In  the meantime she is relishing her regular meals and her cozy hiding post inside her very own heated condo! Welcome to WARL, Jubilee