An Interactive Book for Big Kids

Remember those fun books you had when you were a little kid? The ones where you pulled a cord or opened a door. Well, Scooter Strays by Howard Edelstein is an interactive book for elementary school readers.

Scooter gets out and is on his own. Thirsty, Scooter finds a puddle of antifreeze. What happens next? The reader decides. The reader controls the story by making a choice and turning to the corresponding page. You can read the book many times and essentially read a different story every time.

It's fun to read. Try writing your own interactive story!

All proceeds from the sale of Scooter Strays are donated to a local humane organization. The book can also be read on the Washington Humane Society's kids' page, www.whs-kids.org.

The Circus: Hardly Entertainment!

In a few weeks Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus will come to town. In addition to the circus, Ringling will begin their stay by parading animals down Pennsylvania Avenue. As in years past, people will line the parade route and gawk at the wild animals. Is that entertainment? Should we feel good about watching wild animals perform asinine stunts, that are totally unlike everything a wild animal would do in the wild?

What is the difference between watching the circus and watching a professional ball game? For starters, players want to play. They've spent their entire lives preparing to play. They love it. They eat, breathe, and sleep baseball, basketball or football. And, they get paid good money, no GREAT money, to play ball. They are entertainers. What about other entertainers -- musical groups, singers or actors? They, too, work hard to do what they want to do. They choose to entertain us. And they, too, are paid handsomely for performing for our enjoyment.

What about the circus elephant? Have you ever seen an elephant in Africa choose the life a circus performer? Would a wild animal choose to spend most of its life in a box car, traveling from one location to another? And, not traveling in first class either. Circus elephants are chained and shackled. They are forced to stand in their own waste. Extremely social animals, circus elephants are kept isolated. They are poked, prodded and beaten with bull hooks (a rod with a hook at the end) that circus personnel call "guides". Would an elephant in the wild wear jewels or clothing? Would it stand on two legs?

People make choices. Circus animals do not. If people choose NOT to buy tickets, circus owners will not make money. And, if circus owners do not make money, they will not be able to maintain their circuses. Currently, circus owners make gobs of money because people choose to buy tickets to see wild animals do "tricks". Circus owners make the money. What do circus animals get out of the circus?

Groundhog Day is NO Fun for the Groundhog

Today, newscasters throughout the U.S. will laugh and joke as they report on whether or not Punxsutaney Phil, a groundhog held in captivity in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, sees his shadow. Every year on February 2nd we go through this same ritual. Supposedly, if Phil (and other groundhogs) sees his shadow, then we will have six more weeks of winter. If the groundhogs do not see their shadows (really the groundhogs could care less whether there are shadows or not!) then spring will arrive early.

Did you know

• The groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots.
• These rodents gorge themselves all summer to build up reserves of fat.
• After the first frost, they burrow underground and sleep until spring, depending on their stored body fat for nourishment.
• While hibernating, the groundhog's heart rate slows, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow.
• Female groundhogs give birth to a litter of 2 to 9 babies in the spring.
• Baby groundhogs stay with their mother for several months.
• Groundhogs are the largest members of the squirrel family.
• That though they are usually seen on the ground, groundhogs can climb trees and swim.
• Groundhogs are typically found in areas where woodlands meet open spaces, like fields, roads, or streams.
• Groundhogs eat grasses and plants as well as fruits and tree bark.
• The average groundhog lives for only one year.
• GROUNDHOGS CANNOT PREDICT THE WEATHER -- and according to the calendar, we have 6 more weeks of winter!

Friends Forever

A headline caught my eye on the Fox 5 animal webpage where our puppy cam is hosted. It read, Family Allowed to Adopt Fallen Son's Dog. The December 2007 article told how Lex, Marine Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee's K-9 partner, sat whipering from his own injuries, and had to be pulled away from the slain Marine's side after the deadly mortar attack. The bond between the the dog and the Marine compelled Corporal Lee's family to adopt the 8-year-old German Shepherd. The military, however, expected Lex to perform two more years of service.

The family knew that their son would want Lex to live with them. They already had Corporal Lee's first canine partner, Doenja, living with them. The Lees lobbied the military for months, launched an Internet petition and sought the help of North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones, (R. N.C) before Lex was given special permission to retire from the Marines to live with the Lees.

This real life story reminded me of a book I read two years ago. Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam. This book is so much more than a heart-warming, gut wrenching story embedded in the horrors of war. Newberry award winning (Kira Kira) author Cynthia Kadohata focuses on the power of the human animal bond during a time in U.S. history that is rarely discussed. When Rick Hanski signs up for the army, leaving the security of his Wisconsin home and a waiting job in his Dad’s hardware store, he is ready to “whip the world.” Hanski, however, quickly begins to second guess his decision and ability when, as a dog handler, he is teamed with strong-willed German Shepherd named Cracker.

Initially, Cracker is leery of everyone. She does not understand why her former best friend, a boy named Willie, gave her to the army. Hanski and Cracker, however, soon develop an understanding and form a bond that goes beyond friendship; they become one of the most sought after and respected U. S. Army dog search teams in Vietnam.

The novel, recommended for ages 10 and up, is told alternatively through Hanski’s and Cracker’s points of view. It is graphic, but not gruesome. Kadohata does not sugar-coat the heroics of the dogs for reasons based on facts. An author’s note reads “...at the war’s end [dogs] were considered surplus military equipment. Although precise records were not kept, most historians agree that at least 4,000 dogs served during the war and are credited with saving some 10,000 human lives. About 1,000 dogs died from combat, jungle disease or other reasons. At the war’s end, only approximately 200 dogs were reassigned to other U.S. military bases. The remaining dogs were either euthanized or given to the South Vietnamese Army. The fate of those dogs remains unknown.” The book has a bitter-sweet ending. Cracker and Hanski survive the war. Unfortunately, true to the hazards of war, other characters, dogs and soldiers, do not.

According to the article about the heroic Marine team of Corporal Lee and Lex, the military currently has 1,700 dogs working alongside American troops. These relationships, real and fictionalized should be noted and celebrated. I cried when I read about Hanski's reunion with Cracker. I cried, too, for Corporal Lee, for his family and for Lex, one of the best dogs currently living in Mississippi.

SNOW Day!!!!!

This picture was taken earlier this morning

Max & Nigel are now warm and dry inside.

Enjoy the snow, but be sure to dry off your dog's feet after a romp outside.

AND, keep your cats indoors!

Danger Alert

The Washington Post publishes a feature called Animal Watch in its Sunday Metro section. Today's Animal Watch headline read, That Isn't Your Engine Purring. The cute play on words failed to highlight the tragedy that was fortunately avoided.

The blurb detailed how an unsuspecting driver heard a kitten (meowing) from under her car's hood. She drove to a veterinarian's office where an animal control officer came and safely retrieved a 4-month-old kitten. That was one LUCKY kitten.

Many times kittens and cats will seek warmth under the hood of a car. What happens is the kitty crawls up the front tire and beds down in the warm engine of a parked car. An unsuspicious driver comes out and starts the car. Sometimes the cat takes a warm ride, like the kitten in the article. Oftentimes, however a tragic scene is played out -- the driver starts the car and YEOW!!!!! the cat is mangled or killed by the fan belt. Best way to avoid the deadly CAT-in-ENGINE situation is to keep your cat safe and warm indoors!

**** Tell drivers to bang on the hood or honk the horn before starting the ignition. The loud noise should be a warning to napping kitties to find another spot.

Catastrophe!! Too Many Cats and Not Enough Homes

What do Aggie, Starbuck, London, Aberdeen, Aruba, Jamica, Wooshie, Wynken, Argle, Repeat, and Spanky all have in common? They are all cats who have lived at the Washington Animal Rescue League for 6 months or more! Valentine's Day marks Aggie's one-year anniversary at the League. We would love to celebrate that day with Aggie moving on to a real home. One where she will be loved and cared-for -- forever!

To help us introduce the absolutely purrrfect cats to prospective adopters, we are hosting a special event, CATAPALOOZA, on Saturday, February 14th.

The day will be jam-packed with activities ranging from workshops presented by veterinarians, adoption experts, and behavior specialists to a designated place to shop for cat unique art and books. Plus, there will be a story hour featuring cat tales and a make-your-own cat toy workshop especially for kids. Of course, we'll have refreshments. And cats. Lots of cats. More than 60 cats will be trying their very best to capture the attention, and heart, of that one special person, couple or family who will say, "That One! I want to live with that one. Forever and ever!"

Even if you cannot adopt a cat, stop by the League on Valentine's Day. Tell your friends to come to Catapalooza. We will be introducing visitors to Artimis, Gee Gee, Remy and all of the other spectacular cats who will be here, counting the days until they find their forever homes!

What's In a Title?

Okay, look at the cover of this book. My Big Dog, what's it about? If you said a dog, you would be only partially right. In fact, the dog is a very minor character in this book. We see the dog a lot, and the dog moves the story along -- well, sort of -- but the story could just as easily have been called, MERL, ONE ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC, FABULOUS, PERFECT CAT or I AM MERL THE GREAT, DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ME TO LIVE WITH THAT?.

My Big Dog is about Merl, a tabby cat who rules the roost, that is until a sloppy, dopey, gangly golden retriever puppy invades Merl's space. When Merl cannot take one more nasty dog kiss, he decides to take drastic action -- Merl moves out. Life outside of the house where Merl has My dish. My sofa. My chair. My mouse. My bed is not so good; and in the end, it is the dog (whose tag reads Violet") who rescues Merl and brings him home.

My Big Dog is about friendship, tolerance and compromise. The illustrations in My Big Dog are so much fun to look at, you will want to look at each one for a long time before reading any of the text. This is truly one of my very favorite books. When my son Max was little he would beg me NOT to read My Big Dog again because it was the only book that I wanted to read.

Puppies!

Check out the Washington Animal Rescue League's new Puppy Cam, http://media.myfoxdc.com/petcorner/homecam.html.
See puppies play, eat, nap and poop! Remember, if you view the puppy cam after hours it may be dark; puppies need their rest. AND, for an entertaining in-person show, stop by the League and see lots and lots of kittens in our three lobby display windows. The kittens are tumbling, pouncing, and leaping right now. Check out the League's web site, www.warl.org for current visiting hours.

Inauguration Week

It is inauguration week and Washington is the place to be! The historic inauguration concert yesterday brought together nearly 500,000 people. I was there. It was lots of fun. People were happy and enjoying the music and cheering crazily every time the jumbo-tron screens flashed to President-elect Barack Obama and his family. The soon-to-be first family was bopping away to the tunes. President-elect Obama encouraged the concert goers (and home viewers) to join forces and work together to make our nation a better place.

Security was tight. I was glad to see that people followed the directions of the concert organizers.; They left their dogs at home. One man, who wasn't going to the concert, was walking his dog on one of the streets that led to the Lincoln Memorial concert site. He was talking with the soldiers who were manning one of the many streets that were closed to vehicular traffic. Like everyone else, the soldiers were happy and enjoying the positive mood of the day. The man asked the soldiers to pose with his dog. They happily stood for a quick photo, including the one that I took. It could have been called a day of national friendship. I hope that the mood lasts.

The Obama family is looking for the right dog to join them in the white house. They move in tomorrow. In honor of their big move and big decision to choose the right dog, three polls were added to the blog. Read them, and let me know what you think. I think that the President and Mrs. Obama and their daughters could definitely find the perfect dog for them at the Washington Animal Rescue League. We are right down the street, in their new neighborhood.

Recycling Projects -- Think Animal Toys

What can you do with one old sock? Fill the foot with catnip, knot the ankle and give it to a cat who wants a toy!

Do you have a stuffed animal or two that you don't cuddle with any more? Donate them to the League or another local animal shelter. Not all stuffed animals are okay, they need to have the batting-type of stuffing -- not sawdust or beans.

You can make fun tuggy toys with old towels. Tear (or cut) them into strips and tie them together, pull the knots super tight and then use the tuggy toys to play with your dog. You can sneak some dog cookies into the knots and watch your dog untie the toy!

Can't get the last little bit of peanut butter out of the jar? Bet your dog can. Peanut butter is a yummy treat. A dog with a nearly empty jar of peanut butter can be occupied for a long time.

There are lots of reuse/recycle ideas that can be used to create fun cat and dog toys, do you have some that you have created? Please share them here. Let's reuse and recycle ideas so our animals will have lots of fun things to do.

A Little Savings Goes A Long Way

Way back in August I heard a radio report about a NYC family, the Humphreys, who collect spare change. They find pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters on streets, sidewalks, in stores and just about every place they go. In December the radio program did an update; the family reported that their loose change total for 2008 was more than $1,000.00!! That's a lot of cat food.

What does found change have to do with cat food, or dog food for that matter? Well, if I set up a "change pot" and pick up every penny, nickel, dime and quarter that I see discarded wherever I go, I could save enough money to donate lots and lots of cat food and/or dog food and toys, too, to the League. That would be a very generous donation. Every penny counts. Organizations like the Washington Animal Rescue League rely on donations.

Without donations the League could not take care of the hundreds of dogs and cats that depend on us every single day. We find cats and dogs permanent, loving homes. Our medical center helps people on restricted incomes get veterinary care for their animals. In a perfect world all animals would have wonderful, forever homes and everyone would be able to afford the very best of veterinary care for their animal companions. Although our world is not perfect and there are lots of homeless animals that need care, the Washington Animal Rescue League is there to help. My change pot and lots of other change pots, can help the League provide the very best care for London (pictured) and all of the other cats and dogs in our care.

Check out the Huphrey family's blog at changepot.blogspot.com

Five Things YOU Can Do to Help the Animals During These COLD WINTER DAYS!!!! BRRRRRRR!!!

It's winter, it's supposed to be cold -- but 26 degrees for a high seems way too cold for Washington, DC. That's what is predicted for Friday, January 16th -- just 26 degrees for a day time high and only 15 degrees for the low. Brrrrrrr! That means if someone leaves their dog outside with a bowl of water, the dog's liquid will be one giant ice cube in no time AND it will stay that way, with no thawing in sight. That's not right. Whether you live in the District of Columbia, Wisconsin, or even Alabama, dogs, and cats, should not be left outside in the cold.

The bone-chilling cold that is hugging the nation is responsible for highs like -2 degrees in Altoona, Wisconisn and 2 degrees above zero in Des Moines, Iowa (with a low of -6) and only 56 degrees in Auburn, Alabama with a low well below the freezing mark. This is a good time to think of all animals. What can we do to make sure that dogs, cats, and area wildlife are protected from the latest arctic blast?

• Keep dogs and cats inside


• If there is snow on the ground and/or salt in street, make sure to wipe your dog's pads with a warm water cloth after a walk


• Tell drivers to knock on the hoods of their cars to frighten away any unsuspecting cats who may have climbed up under the hood seeking warmth in the car's engine


• If you know someone who leaves their dog outside, make sure the dog has a proper dog house. That means that the house is elevated off of ground, has a flap over the entry way to keep out wind and has hay or shredded newspaper inside for bedding -- not a towel or blanket. Better yet, also alert the local animal welfare agency and let them check out the dog house


• Feed the birds and other wildlife. It's hard for birds, squirrels and other animal friends to find food in the winter. Put seed and/or suet in a convenient place. Once you commit to feeding the birds, don't stop until spring. The animals will be come dependent on your generosity and come to feed regularly at the designated spot.

Only 67 days until spring!

Good News for Life Living Under The Sea

Major News Flash!

Yesterday -- President Bush moved to create three new marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean. Renee Schoof of the McClatchy Newspapers reported that The monuments — in the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, the Rose Atoll off American Samoa and remote islands in the central Pacific — cover 195,280 square miles, the largest protected area of ocean. The Marianas Marine National Monument will protect the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth — deeper than Mount Everest is high and explored for the first time only in 1960. The monuments also protect corals and the ecosystems that include large migratory, resting and feeding sea birds, and endangered animals such as sea turtles.

Search the web. Learn more about this historic environmental protection designation.

A Quick, Funny Back-to-School Story to Start Off the New Year

This morning my son, Max, decided that before he chose a jacket to wear to school he should test the weather. He went out onto our screened-in porch . It must not have been too cold because he was able to stay out there long enough to do his best imitation of a cat wanting inside.

Max got on all fours and meowed loudly at the door. That's what Merl, our brown tabby, does when he wants inside. I laughed and Max meowed louder. Bruce and Merl came running from other parts of the house to see who the new cat was. Max meowed again and our tough guy cats crouched down into one of those, "I'm not so sure about you" positions.

When I opened the door to let Max-cat in, Bruce hissed, ran away and hid under a chair. I think he was embarrassed by being fooled by Max. It took several minutes of coaxing before Bruce came out, acted like nothing happened, and was content to bat around his favorite toy, a teeny, tiny blue crab.

Bruce in one of his favorite positions

Good Deeds -- Big and Small

Inside yesterday's Washington Post was an article detailing a heroic whale rescue. The young calf -- one of less than 400 remaining North Atlantic right whales -- became entangled in fishing lines off the coast of northern Florida during its annual migration along the Eastern seaboard. Folks from six Florida and Georgia institutions worked for three days to free the whale; Rescuers in three boats cut about 350 feet of fishing line that was trailing the whale. According to the article, they did not pull the fishing lines out of the whale's mouth because doing so could harm the animal. The rescue team determined later, from the air, that the whale was free of the line. The rescue was a success!

Shortly after reading the Washington Post article, I was involved in an animal rescue of my own. I am watching my friend's cat for a couple of days and expected it would be a simple task -- feed the cat, change her water, scoop the litter pan and play with her. I did not expect that I would have to catch a wild bird inside my friend's house, but that is exactly what I did.

I was getting ready to lock up when I heard a strange noise coming from a bedroomthe. There, pounding the window -- from the inside -- was a teeny, tiny frantic bird. "What is a bird doing here!" I made sure that the cat was not in the bedroom and closed the door. It was just me and the bird. I tried opening the window, but wasn't sure how it opened and I couldn't get it to budge. I tried throwing a blanket on the bird, but it was so little and so fast, it escaped. I did that several times. Then I got a box and tried to scoop the bird in the box, but it was too fast for the old scoop-bird-in-box trick.

Frustrated, I left the room, made sure the door was closed tight so the cat couldn't get in, and called Second Chance Wildlife Center (www.scwc.org). They know everything there is to know about urban wildlife. The person I spoke to advised me to leave crumbled cat food soaked in water and try again to trap the bird with a sheet or piece of cloth or call animal control and ask for help.

I decided to get a partner -- teamwork is always best -- and came back with my son, Max. We said hello to the cat and went to the bedroom. The bird was back on the window, trying desperately to flap its way through the glass. After several attempts of tossing a blanket and failing to catch the bird, we waited patiently while it settled back on the window. Finally, we were able to corner the bird and get him into the box.

We took the closed box into the backyard, set it on the ground and opened the lid. At first the bird didn't do anything. He seemed to be thinking "what should I do now" -- he'd spent so much time trying to get outside and now there he was. I tilted the box and the bird hopped out and burrowed in the ivy. I thought maybe after all that pounding he was hurt and we'd have to find him in the ground cover, scoop him up and take him to the Second Chance Wildlife Center. And then, he flew away. The rescue was a success!

Wild Animals are Wild

An article in yesterday's Washington Post, On the Wings of Love, At Temple's Aviary, Problem Birds Find Feathered Friends, was another reminder that wild animals should be left in the wild. According to Mira Tweti, author of the book, Of Parrots and People, "they (birds) are never domesticated. They are wild animals". And, yet, people continue to buy birds -- wild animals, sometimes caught in their native lands, sometimes bred in captivity -- and expect them to be happy living in cages. The article told how the 35 resident birds living in a small building next to the Kunzang Palyul Choling Buddhist temple in Poolesville, Maryland cared for Jetrunma Ahkon Lhamo and others could not be kept by the people who purchased them. The birds -- African grey parrots, macaws, and cockatoos from Australia and the Pacific Islands -- developed destructive behaviors. Many were brought to the sanctuary because they developed self destructive behaviors -- pulling off their plumage, sometimes to the point of piercing their skin underneath. Others become aggressive biting people and other birds.

Kids can help the birds. Trading in Slingshots: HSI Teaches Youth to Protect Wild Birds in Nicaragua an article on the Humane Society of the United States' website, http://www.hsus.org/about_us/humane_society_international_hsi/international_trade_policy_and_capacity_building/trading_slingshots_for_backpacks.html tells how children load rocks into a slingshot and take aim at a wild bird's nest. After the rock hits the nest, the mother bird is usually killed or injured, and the nest falls from the tree with the baby birds inside. The young birds who survive the fall will have their wings clipped and become someone's pets, forced to live in cages or remain confined to a house for the rest of their lives. A Humane Society International education program is partnering with the Foundation Friends of the Nicaraguan Zoo (FAZOONIC) to show students the impact of their actions and expose them to wildlife conservation efforts. At the end of a program, that lasted several month, a ceremony was held where each student lined up to throw a slingshot in the garbage in exchange for a backpack labeled, "I protect animals in my community."

We should be lining up daily to protect the animals in our community. What are you doing?

A Heroic Rescue

Shark Attack!! Have you ever seen the movie Jaws? It was released when I was in middle school; I remember the music, where I was sitting in the theater (I saw it in Key West, Florida) and how I wouldn't go into the water for quite some after seeing the movie. Every little detail came back to me tonight when I read the blurb in Parade Magazine about how a man dove into the water off a pier in Islamorada, Florida to attack the shark that had snatched his dog!!!!

That's right the man attacked the shark.

The man punched the shark until it loosened it's bite. Jake, the rat terrier (little dog), suffered many puncture wounds, but nothing life threatening. Had Jake's guardian not acted instinctively and immediately, there would have been a much different ending -- Jake would have been lunch.

Jake's person, Greg LeNoir, is a real life hero. Some times heroes accomplish death-defying rescues like pulling little dogs from the steel jaws of five foot long sharks. Other times, they do things that are not quite so dramatic -- like cleaning kennels, feeding dogs and cats and telling them how special they are. I spent Christmas at home. but, many Washington Animal Rescue League staff members were at the shelter, cleaning dog dens and cat condos, telling Ziggy and Chrissie that they are definitely going to get another chance at forever homes and waving the string with the feather in front of Spanky's paw -- giving him just enough time to get it (He loves that game). The kennel staff made sure that each of the dogs and cats got a bowl of food, with a little extra, clean water and a comfy bed.

Thank you animal heroes near and far.

Holiday Reading

Here's what I'm reading during the winter break -- Listen! by Stephanie Tolan and The Leanin' Dog by K.A Nuzum. The story line in both novels focuses on girls who find stray dogs. So far, that's all I know. It is a universal story. Animals are abandoned, people want to take care of them. Several years ago Because of Winn Dixie was that girl finds dog book. It was, and rightly so, a huge success. Because of Winn Dixie is still one of my all-time favorite dog stories.


I can't, however, seem to find many books featuring abandoned cats. I wrote one nearly 20 years ago --William's Story. I have seen many abused, neglected and abandoned cats -- and their endings are typically not happy. I had trouble writing an ending for the book. I felt that I would not be telling the truth if I wrote a happy ending, where William finds a wonderful forever home. I also did not want to leave the reader sad and without hope by having something horrible happen to William. So, I left the ending up to the reader.


I am hoping that Listen! and The Leanin' Dog have happy endings. I'm also hoping that someone will recommend a good cat book or two so I can even out my holiday reading. Any suggestions?

A fur Coat is Not Enough!

When I went outside at 8:00 a.m. this morning to get into my car it was 18 degrees. I was dressed in my warmest clothes, my heaviest coat, a long thick scarf and fleece mittens -- AND I WAS STILL FREEZING! It took forever for the car to warm up. It didn't really feel comfortable until I was just a couple of minutes away from the Washington Animal Rescue League. I mention what I was wearing and how cold I was because I often hear people say, "The cat has a fur coat, he's fine" or "the dog's wearing his winter coat, he doesn't feel the cold". Not true. They aren't fine and they absolutely do feel the cold.

My dog, Nigel, and I walk every morning. We walked very quickly this morning. He didn't seem to mind the freezing temperature -- but, he was only out for 15 minutes, not an hour and 15 minutes and surely not 8 hours and 15 minutes!!

This weather is brutal. Keep your animals inside and report any animal that left is outside to the Washington Humane Society, 202 723-5730. If you see a homeless person on the streets during this arctic blast, call 1-800-535-7252. Both numbers are answered 24 hours a day. If you are traveling and see an animal or person who needs help call information -411- and ask for the numbers of animal control or the local animal welfare agency and the hypothermia hotline. Help make the holidays warm and bright for all.

Where are the Cats in Hollywood?

The movies have gone to the dogs this holiday season -- It started last month with the release of Bolt; Marley and Me, a movie based on a book, opens Christmas; and in mid-January Hotel for Dogs premiers nationwide. Hollywood hounds have always been wildly popular -- there's Benji, Beethoven, Turner and Hooch, Air Bud, 101 Dalmatians, Lady and the Tramp, Old Yeller and lots more, including my favorite, Because of Winn Dixie (another movie created from a good book). And, if you go way back there's Lassie and Rin Tin Tin -- both dogs starred in many movies, books, comic books, and were immortalized on metal lunch boxes way back when.

Where are the cat flicks? Okay, Garfield had a couple of decent hits, but most cats have been relegated to supporting roles -- the cat in Stuart Little, what was his name? Are cats not featured in films because they refuse to take orders from demanding directors? Surely, their stories are every bit as good as dog stories.

Cat lovers, Tinseltown is calling. It is time for those of us who live with cats, love cats, and understand cats start writing. Then, maybe next holiday season, films will include --

• Lightening (a super hero cat who saves the planet)
• Merl and Me (based on my cat Merl, who is always in trouble)
• Resort for Cats (an upscale vacation hot spot where cats go to escape their boring, everyday lives.) See Bruce, Merl and Micky below rehearsing for starring roles

Giving to All Creatures -- Great & Small

Gift giving figures prominently this time of year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and/or Winter Solstice, you are probably planning on buying or making a gift for someone and probably hoping that someone does the same for you.

Did you know that from Thanksgiving until December 23rd , many, many generous people bring lots of fun toys, yummy treats and healthy food to the Washington Animal Rescue League for the animals? Pet stores throughout the D.C. area have big boxes labeled Paws for Presents where shoppers can drop off something they purchased for someone else's dog or cat. The Paws for Presents gifts are sorted and distributed to folks who take good care of their animals, but may not always have the resources to buy a squeaky toy or box of biscuits. Some folks love their animals very much,; however, at times, buying pet food is tough. The League keeps lists of people who have requested help with providing comfy beds for their aging cats and food for their best 4-pawed buddies.

We are grateful to everyone who helps us help our many friends and neighbors. For people like Angela, Presents for Paws is a holiday dream come true. Angela has arthritis so badly that she can barely move her fingers. She also has a little dog, Beau, whom she adores. What she doesn’t have, especially toward the end of the month, is money. Sometimes, she tells us, she has had to go to bed hungry so that Beau can eat. It may be surprising to many of us, but people like Angela are not rare. Nearly every day, someone like her comes to our Medical Center for low-cost care for their animals. This time of year, we like to do a little extra for them.

You can do a little extra for your dogs and cats, too. There are many gifts that you can provide that are easy to give and do not cost a dime.

Dogs

• Walk your dog every day (it might be best to take your dog and mom or dad).
• Brush or pet your dog when you are watching TV.
• Make sure that your dog has plenty of clean water at all times.
• When you are reading a book, read to your dog -- your dog likes the sound of your voice.
• Give your dog something special -- a little peanut butter on a piece of banana or carrot is one of my dog's favorite treats. NO CHOCOLATE though, chocolate is deadly to dogs.

Cats

• Keep your cat's litter box clean. Cats are fastidious animals -- they don't like to use an already soiled box.
• Brush your cat every day with a brush made just for cats.
• Make a toy for your cat. Put a ping pong ball or busy ball (plastic ball with a bell inside) inside an empty tissue box. Tilt the box so the ball makes a noise. You will have an instant cat game!
• Make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water. Some cats even like to drink water from the bathroom or kitchen faucets. Milk is NOT good for cats.

There are hundreds of ways to show your dog or cat that they are special every single day. The holidays are a nice time to do something a little extra for all animals. The League is happy to provide Paws for Presents and I am looking forward to taking my dog, Nigel, for long walks in the woods during this busy holiday time.

What Would You Do?

I am sitting in my warm, comfortable office dreading going outside. It is raining. It is that cold winter rain that would be a blizzard if it was snow. But it is not snow, it i's rain. And, when you run, even to the car from the shelter, you get really, really wet and cold. It's miserable.

Lots of animals don't have warm, comfortable offices or houses to stay in. They are outside -- no matter the weather, rain, snow, heat. And, these are not wild animals. I am talking about cats and dogs. Some of them have been abandoned and don't have homes; others are left outside in yards while the people who are responsible for the animals are warm and cozy inside.

Cats and dogs are really, really smart. There are many ways that they communicate. Unfortunately for them, however, they do not speak with words that humans can understand. They cannot punch numbers into a cell phone and call for help. They cannot scream out to passersby, "I am cold and wet. I do not want to be left alone in this yard!". They have no control over their situations; on a dismal, rainy day -- like today -- they are left outside wet and cold.

Can you help? You may not be able to offer the animal a home, or even move him to some place dry and warm. But, you can get help. Know which animal welfare agency in your community is responsible for investigating animal abuse and neglect. Keep that agency's phone number handy. When you see an animal who needs help, call that number or ask an adult to call and report the situation for you.

Be prepared. Have as much information as possible. Is the animal you are reporting a dog? What color is the dog? How big is the dog? Where is the dog, in the front of the house, the backyard, or side-yard? Is the dog tied up or can he move freely around the yard? Is there a dog house in the yard? If so, is it raised off the ground to prevent drafts, is there a flap covering the doorway that will let the dog in and keep the wind out? Do you have the exact address where the dog is located? Can you identify a cross street or landmark that will help the officer find the location qickly? Do you know the name of the person who should be caring for the dog? The more information you have, the faster the dog can get help. Be a private eye for animals.

Each and everyone of us can make a difference. Use this space to let others know what you have done to help animals.

Puppies and Kittens are Cute, But.........

Puppies and kittens are impossible to resist. Few people can look at a litter of squirmy, pudgy puppies and not squeak, "aaah". Try walking by the adoption windows in the League's main lobby and not be drawn to the kittens playing, bathing, sleeping or doing anything kitten-like. It is impossible.


Kittens and puppies are cute. They are adorable. The are sooooooooooooooooo precious. And, they grow up. FAST. A cute, adorable, precious 8 week old kitten will morph into a gangly teenager in 4 months, and mature into a full-fledged adult by her first birthday! Those cuddly puppies can be little terrors. Until they are totally housebroken, expect regular accidents. And, don't leave a backpack on the floor unattended -- that is just a BIG chew toy to a curious pup.


I am not saying that puppies and kittens are bad. I'm just saying that they grow up fast and before they do, they are really, really needy and can be more destructive than an annoying little brother!

And, did you know that lots of those cute kittens and puppies are cast-off and left at animal shelters when they are no longer cute and cuddly? We have rooms full of really great adult dogs and cats just waiting for their forever homes. People leave them at shelters saying things like, "I didn't know he would grow to be so big," or "I really only wanted a kitten, not a cat". Can you imagine?

The great thing about adopting a full-grown cat or dog is that you know just exactly who you are getting -- no surprises. The big shepherd is done growing, no second guessing how big he'll be. And that pretty calico cat is not running up your leg; she is calm and friendly and really loves sitting on you lap.

Sometimes shelters get litters of kittens or puppies and get the mom cat or dog, too. Do you see a reoccurring theme here? DISPOSABLE SOCIETY! The Play Station is old, get Play Station 2! The dog and her puppies are a lot of work, get rid of them all. The kitten grew into a cat -- trade her in for a smaller model. One by one the kittens or puppies go home, and the mother cats and dogs stay, waiting patiently for someone to finally say "I really want to adopt an adult".

Cats are Happiest Indoors

Cats love the heat. On a hot summer day my cats can be found sleeping on the window sill. On these chilly days, particularly the damp dreary ones, the cats find spots close to heat vents. If it were up to the them, they would crank the heat up to 85 degrees or more. My cats -- Gladys, Micky, Merl and Bruce are inside-only cats. None of them started out that way. Each had a hard life before coming to live with me. Three of them, I know, lived outside. Bruce was found in an abandoned apartment, but his former life is a whole other story -- I will write about him later.

Gladys had been chased up a telephone pole by a dog. It was reported that kids turned their dog loose on Gladys and she ran for safety. Days later, claws still clenching the pole, she was rescued by a D.C. Animal Control Office -- that was almost 17 years ago!

Micky, a plump orange tabby, was on his own for awhile. When he was rescued on a very cold January day in 2002, the pads on his paws were chapped and cracked. He was so happy to be in the shelter, he marched and purred nonstop. When we brought him home he went from bed to sofa to bed.

Merl and his brother were found outside. Both cats were very sick. They went to a foster home until they were well enough to be adopted into new homes. Merl is the pretty brown tabby who makes himself very comfortable on the window sill and on the bed!

Although we know the cats spent time outside in their former lives, none of them has any desire to go outside now. Cats do not like the cold. And, cats left out in the cold will go to great lengths to find warmth. They will crawl up in the engines of cars that have been recently turned off. Unfortunately, sometimes they are still there when the driver starts the engine back up -- being mutilated by a fan belt is a horrible death. Cats crawl into storm drains, and burrow down wherever they can find a warm spot.

An inside cat is a safe, happy cat. If you have a cat, where are your cat's favorite places to hang out? For Merl, the best place in the house is where there is a person, a heating vent and a stream of sunshine!

It Takes a Village to Run the League

I am often amazed at how smoothly the Washington Animal Rescue League's shelter and medical center operate. Nearly 200 dogs and cats are housed at the League at any given time. Some of the animals have special needs, all require the very best of care.

Our 57 person staff works around the clock to make sure that the animals are fed, watered, groomed and exercised. In addition to staff, nearly 400 VOLUNTEERS spend their time walking, training, and playing with the dogs and interacting with the cats. Volunteers show up on rainy, nasty days and on holidays, when most people are home with family and friends. They know each of the animals by name. They share information about particular animals with potential adopters and celebrate each and every new home.

In addition to giving their time, volunteers often donate things to the League. Volunteers bring bags of treats for the dogs and toys and beds for the cats. They show up with new collars and sweaters for the dogs and brushes and combs for the cats. Recently, Frank, a loyal League volunteer brought me a book, May I Pet Your Dog by Stephanie Calmenson and Jan Ormerod. It is a fun, instructional book narrated by Harry, a very knowledgeable and lovable dog. I highly recommend this book and added it to the list of picture books that I enjoy sharing.

The ever-growing picture book reading list is on this page. Please share with me your favorite dog and cat books. My list is just a beginning. And, if you have a chance to visit the League, you will recognize our wonderful volunteers by the shirts they wear -- don't hesitate to thank them for all they do!

The Washington Animal Rescue League operates an adoption center with many, many wonderful cats and dogs waiting for new forever homes. We work hard to match animals with people, so that all concerned -- people and animals -- are happy. Sometimes that does not happen.

A co-worker told me that one of our cats was "returned" today. I went to see the cat -- an adorable young brown tabby with a cottony white belly. The cat looked good to me -- he did not shrink in the wash, his size looked to be right and he chased a toy the way a cat should. Was it that the people didn't like him? I returned a pair of boots to Macy's and pair of pants to Target because neither was quite right -- but returning a cat? Adopting an animal should be a careful, well-planned decision. A cat or dog becomes a family member the moment the adopter signs the contract.

I'm glad the people brought the cat back to the League where he will be loved and cared for until a real forever home can be found. That was the right thing to do once they decided that they did not want to keep him forever. But, what makes someone think they want to live with a cat, go through the process of choosing an animal only to change their mind after everything is already said and done and the cat has already moved in and is at home? I return mistaken clothing purchases to clothing stores but my animals are mine -- -- forever.