Saturday, May 28, 2011

Person has a wee rant

It's not that she doesn't like dogs. Rilly! But she's a Cat Lady at heart. And so when she watches a video that's a "tribute to Animal Rescuers" ... and out of the entire 5 minutes, she sees one (count'em ONE!) "token" kitty... she feels like the video should have been named "Tribute to Dog Rescuers."

Not that Dog Rescue isn't terribly important! And a video that tributes them is a very nice gift.

BUT. As a cat-specific volunteer at her local no-kill shelter, she knows she's in the minority. If her shelter is typical of all U.S. shelters then the number of people who choose to care for the feline overpopulation and the needs of stray and displaced cats is shockingly low when compared to the number of dog volunteers.

It's just heartbreaking to see. Especially when considering statistics from the ASPCA which state that:
"it is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million."

70 million!

According to the ASPCA, "approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats)."

Yes, it's epidemic for both species. But the number of people willing to chip in their time, dollars and resources to help care for and rehome dogs far exceeds the number of volunteers willing to do the same for cats.

How can this be, when the number of pets in the U.S. is just about 50/50, according to the National Pet Owner Survey? Yet the number of cat volunteers versus dog volunteers in the average shelter (again if hers is any indication) is more like 20/80!

Recently, when our shelter rescued animals from another shelter where conditions had rapidly deteriorated and the animals needed out if they were to survive, the only reason many dog volunteers were willing to take a cat was from fear they would expose their own dogs to disease.

Cat rescue is in need of strong advocates, people willing to promote this desperate need for volunteers to help. Please pass this along! And if you haven't ever considered volunteering to help your local cat population...you're missing out on a rewarding experience.
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Saturday, May 7, 2011

The Animals have Arrived At Furball!

Here's your Exclusive Sneak Peak of all the Super Double Top Secret Special Guests at tonight's Furball event for Wayside Waifs:

Oh My Cat...PUPPIES! Person's salivating. LOOK at these guys!


And now for the Patio Dogs - top bidder on these special animals tonight wins the opportunity to become their potential adopter!
Take a look at these special dogs...

A Landseer? Sounds like something you'd order from a catalog, but Person was impressed:

This boy is a 3 month old purebred bulldog named Sam:



A gorgeous purebred German Shepherd named Toby:


And last but certainly not least (well, okay, maybe she's the least in SIZE...) a Pomeranian named Angel:




Friday, May 6, 2011

What’s all the Excitement About?

There’s a whole lot of hubbub circling round the Overland Park Convention Center today (for those of you non-Kansas Citians, that’s South KC’s main distribution for all large events).

Why’s all the fur flying? (And you think I’m speaking figuratively, dontcha *nudge, nudge, wink, wink*) Why it’s none other than the mad preparation for the big Fur Ball, Wayside Waif’s annual fund-raising event!

It’s all happening this Saturday evening, May 7th – which also happens to be my AlphaPerson’s birthday, BTW. That’s so purrfectly wonderful of them to honor him by holding his fave charity’s fund-raiser on his special day, wouldn’t you agree? I’m pawsitive that’s the reason they did it! >^..^<

You should see it! TONS of people working like dogs to make this a night to remember. (Of course, I’m speaking literally here, as we all know that a cat wouldn’t be caught dead lifting a paw to do something as menial as work *delicate shudder*. But thankfully that’s why God created dogs, and I can guarantee you, these folks are slaving away just like one!)

I instructed my Purrsonal Typist to give you, my fellow bloggers, an Exclusive Sneak Preview of what’s in store for my fellow partygoers (ahem, you *did* get my tux pressed, didn’t you? It’s important for a cat to look his Very Best at all times, yanno). And without further ado…your Preview awaits:

The Sa-FURRy Grand Entrance being built (can't wait to show you what lies beyond!)

And the requisite barktending area, being set up (I hope they stock plenty of meowmosas, niptinis and Mousy Mai-Tais - I plan to cat around a bit at this event, if yanno what I mean!).


A squillion volunteers helping set up the acres-wide Silent Auction (hmmm, wonder if they got my Pawtographed Photo in there - I know that'd be a hot item!).


Finally (for now at least), some great shots of former waifs to decorate the halls (anyone spotting a pic of The Great Grey Menace - aka Allie_Kitti - has my purrmission to do the moustache-painting thing to it, 'k?).

Oh no! I hear the theme's going to be Photo SaFurry! Person - quick! Scrap the tux, I need my best Indiana Jones ensemble, stat!