Sweet Bettina Goes Home!

Bettina went home on Saturday. She is such a sweet cat and not a bit of trouble. I am sure her new mom will be very happy she made the decision to adopt her.

Webbie's application was approved and she is going home on Wednesday. She is going to a home with no other animals and the family is very excited to have her. She is so shy and timid and this home sounds like the perfect environment for her to find comfort and learn to trust.

Iago has two pending holds. I will keep you posted on how that is going. For now he is bunking with Socks.

Four new cats came from the Shelter on Sunday. They are brothers Cory and Moe, Miles and Tiger. Cory and Moe are young male tabbies. You can tell the difference by their noses. Cory has a pink nose and Moe has a dark nose. They are both easy going and settled right in. Needless to say they shared accommodations at the Shelter and will continue to do so at PetSmart. Hopefully they will find a home together. Miles is also a male tabby. He looks allot like the brothers. He, too, settled right in and has an easy going disposition. Tiger is a young female tabby and the poor little girl is very shy. She is very pretty and has long hair. Please be patient with her and help her become adjusted. She was very afraid on Sunday.

No need for me to even comment on the April schedule! It's complete!

Here's the new guys: Cory, Moe, Tiger & Miles

Yes, They Broke The Mold.....

As you can see from the featured kitty our old friend Cassie has gone home! Barb A, who has a heart of gold and an understanding husband, adopted Cassie after her upper respiratory infection cleared up. Barb said that after hiding under the bed for a little while Cassie is now eating and doing well. Of course Barb had to first find a food that our finicky friend would eat! A big round of applause for Barb and Cassie!!

So, some of us did not even get a chance to meet Mistoffelees or Grady. Both cats went home with families who completed all the paperwork at the Shelter the day after the cats arrived at PetSmart. They both went home last Wednesday night. As much as I would have liked for you guys to meet them I am glad they basically flew out the door!

Shelley Belly is going home tonight. She sure is sweet and received allot of attention during her stay with us.

Our girl Bettina finally got a home!! The application has been approved and Bettina hopefully will be picked up over the weekend. She is the definition of a lap cat! When her new mom came in to meet her Bettina settled right into her lap and purred away.

The hold on poor Webbie has been pulled. It just was not meant to be. Webbie is a shy one and the perfect home will come her way. For now she needs a little extra time and TLC.

We have a new volunteer among us! She trained with me last Saturday and is taking the last couple of open shifts we had in April to include the adoption table on Saturday, April 5. Welcome, Leona!! Brave woman taking on the adoption table! Thank you for your courage!

PetSmart is hosting a Spring adoption event the weekend of May 2-4 (F/S/S). I do not have any details yet but will need help between the hours of 12-5 on Sat, May 3 and 12-4 Sun, May 4. I am hoping to have dogs and additional cats come from the Shelter. Right now nothing is definite but the date. Let me know if you will be available at any time during the event - even if it is just a few hours.

The Boys Are Back In Town!!

Busy, busy weekend at PetSmart - four boys arrived and three holds were taken. The new arrivals are Crunchy, Grady, Iago and Mistoffelees. Yes, they are all boys! It seems we have had a run on females lately so this is a nice change.

Crunchy is a gray tabby, Grady is an orange Tabby, Iago is another gray tabby and Mistoffelees (feel free to call him Mister) is a big multi-colored beast! He has some brown, black, gray and alot of white and he is a big boy - say about 20 lbs!! You are gonna love him! Actually, you are gonna love all these guys. They arrived on Sunday and Tracey reported they settled right in. Shortly after being put in their cages they were all at the cage doors asking to look around the place. Tracey let them all out at once to look about and they did just fine and all got along quite well.

There are holds pending on Webbie, Shelly and Grady. The Shelter is waiting on paperwork for all three. In addition another hold looks promising for Grady that was taken at the Shelter. Let's hope Easter weekend brings alot of people into the store to meet our guys!

I need help for Saturday, April 5. I had signed up for the adoption table but now have a family committment and will not be able to be there. Let me know if you are available to do the table that day. Saturdays it is very important to have a representative from the Shelter actually open the table. If worse comes to worse I will settle for just having the cages cleaned but hopefully someone will do the table. Believe me, it is not difficult and you can always call the Shelter if you have any questions as they are open on Saturdays. Also, coverage is still needed for Thursday, April 17 in the morning.

Meet the boys....

Goodbye Clairy, Gossamer & Jellybean

Two long timers left us recently. Clairy went home last week and Jellybean went home Wednesday night. Good for them!! Gossamer went home last Saturday. It seems he has been on quite a journey. If you remember, he was with us in the fall and was adopted last October only to be brought to the Shelter a short time later because he allegedly did not get along with his feline roommates. That was probably because he knew he had a home and just wanted to get back to it!! Then he came back to us at PetSmart. Well, it seems his owner has been in Wildwood Crest all this time and missing him! He was spotted in PetSmart and his name is actually Carl. So, big Carl went home on Saturday.

I spoke with the Shelter today and got an update on our girls Cassie and Glory. Cassie is suffering from an upper respiratory infection and is resting comfortably. She could not smell her food because of a stuffed up nose so wasn't eating. She is doing well. Glory is no longer in quarantine and is doing fine. She just does better at the Shelter than she does at PetSmart so she is going to stay there. Hey, I suppose we are not every cat's cup of milk! She is fine, though!

Four cats will be arriving on Sunday. I will let you know more about them when the Shelter makes a decision as to exactly who will join us.

Remember Katherine who was our regular Monday morning cleaner/feeder? Well, after spending the last few months in Mexico she has decided to move there for good. She was a big help over the last 18 months and I will miss her. Adios y vaya con dios! Fortunately we have a new girl stepping right in on Mondays in the morning...welcome Cristina!! One door closes and another opens!

March AND April schedules look great! The only open date is Thursday, April 17 in the morning. You guys make my job easy! Thank you for your continued support and commitment!!

Merlot Joins Two Old Friends!

Merlot left Saturday afternoon and joins two of our old buddies, Otto and Traveller. Remember Otto?? He was adopted the first weekend we brought cats to PetSmart in June of 2006. He was joined by Traveller last year. His new parents had been looking for another black cat with golden eyes. Remember, both Otto and Traveller are black cats. They had met Merlot before but she was shy and would not come out. On Wednesday night they met her again and Merlot walked out of her cage and curled around her new mom's neck! Judy M said that Merlot talked the whole way out of the store on Saturday! Good luck to the Three Musketeers!

Clairy is going home tomorrow (Wednesday) night! Her new mom had two senior cats who recently passed away and when she saw Clairy she knew it was time for a new friend.

I am sad to say the Glory was brought back to the Shelter on Sunday. She has had allot of difficulty settling in. I have been assured that the staff and volunteers at the Shelter will continue to socialize Glory and see if she can come back to us. I know we all hate to see a cat go back to the Shelter but PetSmart is a unique environment and not every cat will do well there. There is so much activity and so many different people in and out and dogs brought up to the window and non-stop noise, etc. The cats we have there need to be able to be handled by different people every day. Glory does not like being handled and let many of us know that. Thanks for your patience with her and hopefully our resident cat whisperer at the Shelter can help her along.

I heard tell there is a new daily form that needs to be completed at PetSmart. I spoke with Concetta about this and she advised me that it is a corporate mandate and management tool that actually was manadatory at the start of this program. Please complete it as best as you can and ask the manager if you need help. Do not let it stress you out!!

Four new cats were brought to PetSmart on Sunday. They are Shelly, Webbie, Socks and Gossamer. Remember Gossamer? He was a tiger striped male that we adopted out last October. He was brought back to the Shelter in December and we were told he did not get along with the two resident cats that he had joined. He appeared to settle in fine on Sunday. Let's hope his next home is truly forever. Socks is a young gray and white female who is very friendly and asked to look around the place after being put in her cage. Shelly and Webbie are both shy and scared and will need some TLC. Shelly is calico and Webbie is a gray and white female. Shelly likes her own space so monitor her before opening up the doors between cages. Webbie is particularly shy and afraid but should come around with time.

The March schedule WAS complete but I have some cancellations that need to be filled. Please let me know if you are available. They are: Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 14 in the mornings and Monday, March 17 in the evening. The April schedule looks great! The only open days are Saturday, April 5 and Thursday, April 17 in the mornings and Sunday, April 13 for the Adoption Table. You know the deal....let me know!

Here's the new guy and girls:

Lavender and Letitia Go home!

Big old solid Lavender went home Wednesday night. She will be joining Sassafras and Scout. Remember them? Letitia went home on Saturday. She had three holds at once! She will have alot of company at her new house. Her new family had adopted another cat from us in the past and they also have two dogs.

As most of you know Jellybean has been having litterbox issues. Earlier today Joanne put a different litter in her box to see if that made a difference. It appears to have done the trick! There is a separate box of litter to use. Let me know if Jellybean continues to use the box or if she goes back to her old ways.

Concetta has asked that we be more conservative with the pine litter. Apparently we are over budget in this area. We both agree that using the sand will result in the cages looking messy so would like to see if we can save money by being more careful. Scoop the litter when you can. Also, it is not necessary to fill the litter pans very high since we are cleaning up after the cats twice a day. Fill the pans 3/4 to 1 inch high. I am sure that by being more careful we can lower this cost.

Remember little old Senora who I renamed Pumpkin? I spoke with her mom today and she told me Senora, now known as Malibu Kitty, is a happy spoiled cat. She also told me that she had to have EIGHT teeth pulled but is still as spry as ever. I could tell she is very devoted to her Malibu. We did very good with this match!!

There is only one opening on the calendar for March which is Thursday, the 20th, in the morning. Let me know if you are available. Don't be afraid to look ahead at the April schedule!

Goodbye Marigold!

Marigold left as scheduled on Wednesday evening. She was very cooperative and did not make a fuss when put into a carrier. I am very happy she finally gets to go home. She has been living in a cage since mid-July!

Two new girls arrived at PetSmart today. Cassie is orange and white and is eight years old. She was relinquished to the Shelter by her owner in November. She is sweet and gentle. I was told at the Shelter that she loves her bed so I brought it with her. She was nervous when she arrived but I think she will settle in just fine. Merlot is black and is a talkative youngster. She is approximately eight months old and first came to the Shelter in August when she was just a few months old. She is also a sweetheart. She was very scared when she first arrived and tried to hide beneath the litter bin. Please be patient introducing Merlot and Cassie to the others.

The March schedule is just about complete! Coverage is needed for the morning on Thursday, March 20 and for the adoption table on Sunday, March 23 (Easter Sunday).
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Here's Merlot & Cassie....

Good App For Marigold!!

Good bye, Lena! She went home last Wednesday night. Apparently she went wild her last day at PetSmart. When Larissa arrived to open the adoption table Lena was free and running around the room! Gotta watch some of these smarter cats. They are figuring out how to open those cage doors!!

I took the BEST hold on Marigold today! I am so excited! A woman came in and told me she had completed an application and put a hold on Marigold on Friday, February 1 and had been patiently waiting for the Shelter to contact her. Every day since she has returned to PetSmart to see Marigold. Finally she called the Shelter and learned that her application had never reached there. I still do not know who took the application and where it is. Apparently it was a PetSmart manager. I am trying to track it down. She also told me she had yet to actually meet the cat. So, I took her in to meet Princess Marigold. I explained that she could be tempermental and the applicant answered, "Of course she can! That's exactly what I would expect!" I opened the cage and coaxed Marigold out. I closed the door to the cage area and sat on the floor of the adoption room. Marigold walked about like she was a show cat and then proceeded to sit right in my lap! The applicant and her daughter were totally enthralled and kept remarking on how beautiful she is. I explained that Marigold will let you know when she has had enough attention and wants to be left alone. When it came time to put her back in the cage she carried on as usual and the woman said, "I wouldn't want to be put in that cage either!" She absolutely loves Marigold despite her Marigold ways! It was great! Should this adoption be approved Marigold will be the only pet in the household. It appears to be a match made in heaven! She even had her rental lease with her. I am taking all the paperwork to the Shelter tomorrow.

I introduced another woman to Lavender and Bettina. She decided she loved Lavender and completed all the paperwork. She left to go to a nearby ATM to get the hold money and never came back! In the meantime another family wanted to put a hold on Lavender but decided not to as they saw this woman had already completed an application for her. I tried to talk them into completing the application anyway but they thought it was useless. They decided to go to the Shelter. What a shame! Poor Lavender! Maybe the first applicant will return. She seemed sincere. Maybe something happened. Just in case she does return I left all the completed paperwork in a folder and put it on the bottom shelf of the adoption cart.

There are new coupons now to give when the cats go home. PetSmart replaced the booklet with a single sheet of paper that has three coupons on it. These papers are on the bottom shelf of the adoption cart.

Remember Napolean, the big tuxedo guy? He was adopted in early 2007. His mom is Melissa, one of the managers at PetSmart. It seems old Napolean weighs 22 pounds and is doing quite well!

Please look ahead to March and let me know if you can do any of the available shifts.

Gaia & Sheer Khan Go Home!!

Gaia and Sheer Khan went home on Saturday. Gaia has been living in a cage since April so this is absolutely wonderful news! Her new mom promised to be patient and slowly introduce Gaia to her new surroundings. Can you imagine what this must feel like for Gaia? Finally she will be able to stretch out and run around!

Sheer Khan's new parents were so excited to be taking him home! I lent them my big carrier to make him comfortable for the ride. Should they bring it back and you see it in the adoption room please let me know.

Clairy seemed to be having an ear issue yesterday so today she went to the vet. She was treated for ear mites. The vet cleaned her ears and applied medication. For the next four or five days please do not let her out with the other guys. She is free to roam on her own, though!

Tracey spoke with Sashimi's dad on Sunday. Sashimi is now known as Triscuit and is doing really well. Tracey was told that when she first was brought home she hid under the bed for only about fifteen minutes. Then she came out and has been a wonderful companion ever since! Isn't that great news?!!

Three new cats arrived on Sunday. Lena is a black and white female and is a sweetheart. Letitia is a torti and is also a sweetheart. Both settled right in and started to play right away. Letitia and Lena are under a year old. The third is a black and white female about two years old named Jellybean. She was a little nervous on her first day. She just needs a little time to settle in and will be fine. Jellybean is the one with the white stripe between her eyes.

The Short Man Goes Home

Yea!! Shortie left for his forever home on Wednesday night! He is such a great cat and will be a loving addition to his new family. We all knew it was inevitable that he would find a good home. He deserves it.

An application for Sheer Khan has been approved and he will be picked up on Saturday. I am hoping to have some new guys brought from the Shelter on Sunday.

Here is a helpful hint on removing hair from the fleece blankets. Get a paper towel damp - not wet, just damp - and brush along the fleece. The hair will all sort of move forward and you can pull it off. The fleece does not absorb the moisture. Thanks to Barb and Larissa for bringing blankets home to wash on Wednesdays!

The February calendar is complete! It is always nice to see every shift covered this far in advance!

Three Leave - Three Arrive

Eanie, Meanie and Miney all went home together Wednesday night. They will be living with three little girls and two dogs. Sounds like mom and dad are going to have their hands full!! The family originally came into PetSmart for one cat and after reading their story decided to take all three kittens. How great that the litter is staying together!

Marigold, Gaia and Lavender arrived on Friday. Marigold and Gaia are both in the Open Your Heart And Home Program. Marigold is a long haired pretty girl. She enjoys being petted and held and brushed but will let you know when she has had enough by gently biting your hand. Between her and Sheer Khan there is alot of brushing to be done!

Lavender is a gray tabby and is a real sweetheart. She is friendly and loves attention. She is also solid as a rock! Pick her up and see what I mean!

Gaia (pronounced "Guy - a") is a big sweet black cat. She appeared to be scared and nervous when she first arrived so please give her a chance to settle in. She enjoys being petted and groomed but will sit next to you rather than on your lap.

For now keep these three alone in their cages until they have settled in. All of them have been in the shelter for several months and have not been sharing cages with other cats. See how they react when exposed to the others and then we can determine which doors to open. I think Gaia and Lavender will be able to share eventually. In the shelter they had side-by-side wire cages. I am not certain how Marigold will do with the others.

So far I think the blankets are working out well and the cats sure seem to enjoy the comfort. To give them more room I replaced the larger litter box with the smaller thin plastic one if the cat is occupying only one cage. If you see the need for the bigger one replace it.

As of now the Shelter plans on sending dogs to PetSmart this Sunday during the hours the adoption table is open. Shelter staff will be staying with the dogs. Hopefully this will become a regular occurrence on weekends.

The February schedule is just about complete. Coverage is needed for the following mornings, Thursday 2/7, Monday 2/18, Thursday 2/21 and Saturday 2/23. Someone is needed for the adoption table on Saturday 2/16. Let me know if you can take any of these dates.

Here is Gaia (can't really see her) Marigold and Lavender.

Litter of Three & Big Boy

On Friday three siblings arrived at PetSmart and now occupy the big cage. They are Eanie, Meanie and Miney. The three are approximately sixteen weeks and have been in foster care since the first week of October. Eanie and Meanie are female gray striped tabbies. Miney is a male and is solid gray. They wrestle and play and groom each other and sleep in a big ball. They put on quite a show all weekend. A hold was put on all three by the same applicant on Saturday as well as a second hold on Meanie. Both applications are at the Shelter being processed.

On Saturday big Sheer Khan arrived. He is a big long haired guy and is VERY vocal! You will love him! A hold was put on him on Sunday and that application is at the Shelter also.

A vet tech from the Shelter checked Clairy's eye and she was given the okay to remain at the Adoption Center. In addition Shortie's eyes were cleaned and he, too, was given the okay to stay. I can not believe Shortie is still with us! He is a great cat!

Crystal from the Shelter stopped by and trimmed the nails of those cats who would cooperate. Glory wanted none of it so did not get a trim. Clairy ceased to cooperate after one paw. Sheer Khan had a big mat on his tail which Crsytal cut off so do not be alarmed by what appears to be a bald spot on his tail.

A new volunteer is being shown the ropes tomorrow night. Welcome, Sue!!

Meet the litter and the big guy:

Since I've Been Gone...

Wow! Everyone did great in my absence! As I said before...you guys don't need me! Hazel and Sugar went home on Saturday and Scout went home on Sunday. Hobo is doing well and will be joining Sugar in a few days. Arrangements are being made for new guys to come to PetSmart on Friday.

Shorty got a hold on Sunday and the application is at the Shelter being processed. I will keep you posted on how that goes.

I have gotten several reports that Clairy may have an issue with one of her eyes. The Shelter is aware of this and someone will be down to look at it and get her to a vet if necessary. Remember, if you see something that looks like it needs to be brought to the attention of a vet tech call the Shelter during normal business hours seven days a week. Note in the book what you observe and that the Shelter is notified. If you see it in the evening send me an e-mail and I will call the Shelter in the morning.

Larissa's mom has been kind enough to custom make fleece blankets for the cages. They will be put in for the first time this week. I think the cats will appreciate the comfort! As you know I am concerned about how a soiled blanket will look and smell. I am going to see if soiled ones awaiting cleaning can be kept in a container in the back storeroom. Several volunteers have said they will take the blankets home for washing as needed. How I will miss cutting that brown paper!!

The January schedule looks great! The only coverage needed is for the adoption table on Sunday, January 20.

Special thanks to Tracey who jumped in for me on the adoption table at the last minute when I got stuck in Atlanta!!

Lucy Goes Home and the Girls Arrive

Lucy went home on December 26 as scheduled and three new guys arrived the very next day. Joining us at PetSmart is three new girls named Clairy, Bettina and Glory. Clairy is a gray and brown striped tabby, Bettina is black and white and Glory is a gray striped tabby. Tracey said they were a little nervous with the new surroundings but otherwise seemed to settle in just fine.

Hobo was taken back to the Shelter and a vet looked at the sore on his mouth that had been progressively getting worse. It is an abcess and he will be staying at the Shelter for a week or so where he will be given antibiotics. Once it clears up he will be back.

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Okay, I will see you all in 2008! Don't forget to call Anne or Jenny if you need coverage. Happy

New Year!!

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Say hello to the girls:

Sashimi Gets Her Christmas Wish!!

Yes, it's true! Sashimi went home last night! Joan S gave her a kiss goodbye from all of us and sent her off with her new dad. She will wake up in a house Christmas morning! I know how thrilled all of you are that a forever home finally found Sashimi. I think Sashimi is right - there is a Santa Claus! Her new dad has already made a vet appointment for her so we can rest assured she is in good hands.

A hold was put on Hobo and Sugar together. The application is at the Shelter and is being processed. Remember, Lucy goes home this Wednesday. The wheels are in motion for a couple of new guys to come to PetSmart by the end of the week.

Just a reminder... When completing paperwork for holds and adoptions please consult the steps listed on the top of the adoption table. I know it is a tad tedious but the Shelter has rules to follow. Hold receipts are copies of the hold agreement itself. Staple the cash to one copy and leave it in the cabinet. Complete a SECOND hold agreement and give it to the person for a receipt. The shorter cash receipts (in triplicate) are ONLY completed when an adoption is finalized and the balance of the fee is being paid. Make sure the applicants are aware that on average the adoption process takes three-five days. Explain that rental agreements or home ownership is verified and vet references are checked. After that the Shelter Director does a review of the application and makes the final determination on the approval. Applicants with animals who are not current on vaccinations will not be automatically denied however they will not be approved until the animals are brought to a vet and the vaccinations administered. If you have any questions you can always call the Shelter seven days a week during the day. Do not hesitate to call me as well.

I am going away (yes, again!) from December 28 until January 5. I will be back to work the adoption table on Sunday, January 6. Should you need coverage for your shift in the morning please contact Anne. Should you need coverage for your shift in the evening please contact Jenny. I will send you their e-mail addresses and phone numbers in a separate e-mail. Should you get REALLY stuck and can not contact either one of them call the store and ask for the manager.

I owe Sugar an apology! I mistakenly told you that she is a he. Sugar is a female! Sorry, Sugar!

Can't ya just picture our sweet Sashimi sitting quietly on a window perch! Thank you, Santa!

Have a wonderful Christmas!!

Richard and Athena Go Home - Sugar, Scout and Hazel Arrive!

Another busy week at PetSmart! As you can tell I am having trouble keeping up with all the adoptions! Isn't it great! Athena went home on Saturday and Richard went home last night. Lucy is being picked up next week - on December 26. Remember, her application was approved a while back but the adopting family could not pick her up until then.

Now, keep your fingers crossed...Sashimi got a hold! The application is at the Shelter being processed. Barb A met the applicant last night and said the home seems perfect for her. The gentleman applying wants a mellow cat and already has a window perch in his house. He had an older cat that he recently lost to cancer. He lives alone in a quiet house and wants a quiet, low maintenance cat. He spent some time with Sashimi and she stayed with him and purred and happily accepted treats from him. She is so sweet and not a bit of trouble! I am hoping to get the process expedited so she can go home tomorrow night. If any cat deserves to be home by Christmas it is Sashimi. I will keep you posted!



Seventy-two people came to the Shelter staff & volunteer dinner at the Golden Inn on Monday night. Thank you to all who attended and helped to make it a success! While there a group photo was taken of those who participated in the West Cape May Christmas parade this year on a float with their dogs. The purpose of the float is to bring attention to the Shelter and to homeless animals. The group, organized by Barb A, marched their own dogs in the parade dressing in a "beachy" theme. This year again they won an award - 1st place in the comic division. In the picture from left to right ( rear) Larissa S and her husband Matt, Joanne R, Joan S, Barb A & husband Glen...from left to right (front) Jess F and Alex C. You can see the big trophy being held by Joanne. The trophy will be placed on display in the lobby at the Shelter. You, too, can be a part of this prestigous group next year! Mark your calendar now and bring your dog next year!!

Three new cats were brought to PetSmart on Sunday. Sugar is a sweet male tiger stripe, Scout is a friendly black male and Hazel is a big old calico. It is a nice group!

Just a reminder...30% of the cats adopted from the Shelter in 2007 were adopted through the program at PetSmart. Your compassion and commitment to this program truly makes a difference to the feline population at the Shelter! Thank you for another successful year! It is truly a pleasure and an honor to work with all of you! Enjoy the holidays!

Here is Sugar, Hazel and Scout...

Finn and the Boys Go Home!

Finn went home Monday night. He will be joining Buster, a dog from the Shelter, in a home with another dog and another cat. Sounds like he will have alot of company! His new family is so excited about this adoption. They saw Finn at PetSmart and when they went to the Shelter to complete the paperwork they fell in love with Buster.

Caramel and Taffy went home last night. They are going to a house that presently has no pets. Their new family had a dog and a cat for years and both passed way this past year. They have been waiting for the right time to adopt again and saw these two in the big cage at PetSmart. I am sure they will have a great life! How lucky they are to get to stay together!

I am in the process of arranging for new guys to come down to PetSmart to replace the recent adoptees. I will let you know when they arrive.

A District Manager came to the store last week and reviewed our operation at the adoption center. Although the DM approved of our use of the PetFinder bios they also would like us to utilize their cage cards. So, from now on we will be displaying a combination of the PetFinder pictures and bios and the PetSmart cage cards.

January schedule looks great!! Only the following two mornings are still open: Saturday, 1/12 and Saturday, 1/26. Only one afternoon/evening/adoption table shift is still open: Sunday, 1/26. You know the drill!

Last call for the dinner at the Golden Inn on Monday night, December 17!! If you have not responded please let me know immediately if you would like to attend. I will be giving the Golden Inn my final head count Friday, December 14 in the early afternoon.

Great Job While I was Gone!!

When I returned I was so happy to hear that four guys had gone home in my absence! Great job! You guys are awesome! You don't even need me!

Emma left on Wednesday, November 28. Leila, Mae and Bagheera all left on Saturday, December 1. Leila and Mae went home together. How great is that!! Bagheera was adopted by an older gentleman who had just lost his 25 year old cat. Bagheera will be splitting his time here and in Florida - yes, he will be a snowbird!

Lucy has a hold and the application has been approved. The adopting couple can not pick her up until December 26. Per the Shelter, should someone else show interest in adopting Lucy you can take the application, however explain that she has a pending application and if the couple do not come through she may be adopted.

It looks like the two holds on Finn and the one on Shortie are not going to go anywhere. The Shelter has continued to attempt to contact the applicant of Finn's first hold however no one answers the phone and there in no answering machine. As far as the second hold on Finn, the applicant does not want to complete the paperwork required by the Shelter. The applicant for Shortie has not contacted the Shelter since November 12 which is telling in itself. Don't worry - good homes will find them!

Five new cats came to PetSmart today. They are a great bunch and all their names are easy to say!! Caramel and Taffy are two orange and white young brothers who moved into the big cage. They are sweet, friendly and playful! It is going to be difficult for someone to separate them! Hobo is a young black male kitty who is vocal and friendly! I put him on the first row with Finn and Sashimi. I did not open his cage however should you see that he mixes well with the other two feel free to open the cage. Richard is a young orange male and is very playful and friendly. He is sharing cages with Athena, a young black female. Yes, all the guys this time around are youngsters!

I know I have addressed this before but just a reminder...please do not put beds, blankets or towels in the cages. I know that you are trying to provide comfort on the cats' journey to their forever homes and I certainly understand why you want to do so. However, under these circumstances keeping beds, blankets and towels clean presents too many challenges. The cloth gets dirty quickly and absorbs odors. The washer and dryer at the Shelter operates constantly as the towels and blankets are washed daily. The number one turn off to people entering an animal shelter is smell. Clean, uncluttered cages are more "customer friendly." Please keep in mind that at PetSmart we are essentially "marketing" our cats and the Cape May County Animal Shelter. I removed the beds and blanket that were in the cages. I will wash them and put them in the cabinet when I work the adoption table this weekend.

Please take a look ahead to the January schedule. You will see that Monday and Thursdays mornings need coverage. Also, if you did not get the e-mail about this Saturday (December 8), Judy M needs coverage. Please let me know if you are available.

Remember the Christmas Dinner/Meeting is Monday, December 17 at the Golden Inn in Avalon. If you have not RSVPed please do so! I really hope to see all of you there!

Meet Athena, Taffy, Caramel, Hobo and Richard

Smudge Left Last Week!

Smudge did not get a proper send off here on the blog due to the Thanksgiving holiday. She actually left the night before Thanksgiving. I was fortunate enough to meet her new family and they were very nice and very excited about adopting Smudge.

Emma is scheduled to be picked up tomorrow night.

Hopefully you have all received the invitation to the annual volunteer and staff dinner. Again it is being held at the Golden Inn. It was a very nice event last year so if you missed it please make sure to attend this year. It is a great opportunity to spend time with people of like minds.

The December calendar looks great!! The following morning shifts are still open: Saturday (12/15), Thursday (12/20), Saturday (12/29) and Monday (12/31). The following adoption table slot OR evening shift is still open: Saturday (12/29). Please let me know if you are available for any of these shifts.

Barb A is again entering a float in the West Cape May Christmas Parade this Saturday, December 1. Last year Barb's float was a prize winner! Everyone is welcome to bring their dog and walk in the parade along with Barb. I will send you her phone number and e-mail in a separate e-mail. If you are interested in joining the parade please call her. The float is entered to raise awareness for animals sheltered throughout Cape May County. If you need a dog to walk in the parade she has a few extras!!

I will be away for a few days this week (Wednesday, November 28 until early afternoon Sunday, December 2). Should you have reason to need coverage for your shift in the morning please contact my mom, Anne, and should you need coverage for your afternoon/evening shift please contact Jenny. I will send you their phone numbers and e-mail along with Barb's.

Little Boys Go Home & Big Boys Arrive!

Tinker and Tailor both went home according to schedule. Wait til you see the size of the boys who took up residence now in the big cage!

Bagheera (named after the panther from The Jungle Book) is a big brown and black male tabby who is as gentle as he is big. He has a gigantic head and big paws and looks like a mountain lion. You will love him! His roommate, Finn, is a big black and white male who is just a tad smaller than Bagheera but very big also. He has a black nose in the middle of his white face. He also has a sweet disposition. After arriving yesterday Bagheera ate and immediately settled in for a nap. Finn was a little nervous and hopefully has settled in already. Bagheera is an older guy - maybe eight years old or so - and is considered special needs. For this reason his fee is $8.

Along with the two big boys came Lucy. Lucy is under a year old and is an orange tabby. She is sweet and acts like a kitten! She is friendly and has no fear! Her antics immediately drew a crowd!

The November schedule is complete! Thanks to everyone for their help! Please look ahead to December......

Meet the big boys and their little sister. The pictures of Bagheera and Finn really are deceiving. You have to see them in person to appreciate them!

Tinker & Tailor Going Home Today & Tory Adopted

Tori went home quite quickly and unexpectantly. I received a call at home from the Shelter Director that someone wanted to adopt a cat that had been declawed. Tori immediately came to the minds of the Shelter staff. The application was processed and approved and Tori was picked up that night while Jenny G was doing the evening cleaning. Good for Tori!

Tailor is scheduled to leave the Shelter today. He did his time and is now a free feline! Tinker got a hold last Saturday and his application was approved today. He is scheduled to be picked up at PetSmart tonight. Poor Mae! We did get a hold on her during the Adoptathon however the applicant never followed through with the Shelter. Hopefully Mae's forever home is just around the corner.

I do have someone available to do the evening cleaning on Sunday, November 11, however not the adoption table. If someone is available to do the adoption table that day let me know.

Arrangements are being made to get additional cats down to PetSmart on Friday or Saturday.

Please tell your friends and family and mark your calendars...Santa Claus is coming to PetSmart on weekends in December for photos with pets! This year PetSmart has upgraded to digital photographs. Remember, PetSmart donates half of the proceeds made through the photos to the animal welfare organization that provides volunteers and staffs the event. This year the Animal Welfare Society will be represented on December 1 & 2, Cape May County Animal Shelter Alliance will be represented on December 8 & 9 and Animal Outreach will be represented on December 15 & 16. Last year this was a very successful fundraising event for all involved organizations. Please spread the word and let's help make it successful again this year.

Success At The Adoptathon!

Thanks to all of you that helped out Saturday at the Adoptathon! Barb was thrilled with how things went! There was alot of activity. Pertelot went home where she will be spoiled in her single cat home. Holds were taken on Tailor and Mae. (Oh please, please, please let Mae go home!) In addition holds were taken on Vanilla - a BIG fluffy white female cat who came for the day- and Chewey - a black & white GreatDane/Pointer mix. Fortunately a second hold was taken for Tailor on Sunday as the first one was pulled by the applicant.

The applications for both Chewey and Vanilla have been approved and arrangements are being made for them to be picked up from the Shelter. In addition to Chewey two other dogs came down from the Shelter for a visit - Troy and Sausage. Shelter staff were also on hand for the event - thank you, Jess and Heidi!

Everyone is working so hard to make little Shorty feel secure during his time with us and it is paying off. Thank you so much for your compassion!

There is some openings in the November schedule. Please let me know what you can do. Someone is needed for the following morning cleanings: Sunday 11/18, Monday 11/26, Thursday 11/29. Someone is needed for the following evening cleanings: Thursday 11/8, Monday 11/26. Someone is needed for the adoption table OR evening cleaning: Sunday 11/4 and Sunday 11/11.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

NO VACANCY!

Pinky and Binky left together on Wednesday night. I am sure their new mom is having alot of fun with those two.

After Pinky & Binky left we had quite an empty house. Not any more! We presently have no vacancy! We are at maximum capacity - ten cats. Five new guys arrived Friday afternoon. At this point the door is open between three cages on each floor. As long as everyone is getting along this is not a problem - it lets the cats have more room to move around as well gives them company.

The new guys are Pertelot, Smudge, Leila, Tailor and Tinker. Pertelot is very Samantha-like. She is a big husky female who is all black and fluffy. She got a hold on Saturday! She has a sweet, gentle nature. Smudge is another black female. She is sweet, too, and gets along great with everyone. Leila is a pretty torti who seems to have really hit it off with Mae. She is friendly and loves to sprawl out on the floor when you let her out. Tailor and Tinker are litter mates that are about three or four months old. They are both males and are in the big cage and are SOOOO cute! Both are really friendly and not the least bit skittish. I bet we have no problem getting them into a home together. Tinker is the little tiger striped guy and Tailor is the one with the white on his chest and underbelly. Wait til you meet this crew! Unfortunately I can not upload photos right now with Blogger so can't show you the new guys! If you go to http://www.petfinder.com/ you can look these guys up. I will try again later to add the pictures.


Shorty was very sad today and scared. He jumps when you touch him. He is so cute with his big white whiskers and stubby tail! I feel sorry for him. Take some time with him, please.

Remember...next Saturday is the Make A Difference Day Adoptathon. Shelters are participating in various locations throughout Atlantic and Cape May County. If you know anyone interested in adopting a dog or cat tell them to stop in and see us at PetSmart. We also will have a list of participating shelters available. Barb A is handling this event and could always use more help!

Madelyn took some photos of dogs at the Cape May County Shelter from PetFinder and had then blown up. They are now posted at PetSmart above the cat cages. These dogs are representative of typical dogs in Shelters everywhere and will remain on the wall. They are beautiful photographs. Using a computer program Madelyn was able to remove the chains that can be seen in the original photographs.

November is almost here...please consult the calendar and let me know if you can do any of the open shifts.

WOW! What a week!

It was a great week at PetSmart! Lots of activity!! I had a difficult time deciding who to showcase on the "good bye" picture to the right. Tag and Sara Lee went home on Wednesday. Big fluffy Samantha went home on Saturday and Gossamer went home on Sunday.

A hold was put on Pinky and Binky on Friday evening. Yes, the hold is for the two of them! The application is at the Shelter and I am pretty certain it will be approved. Can you imagine these two racing through the house?! They are going to be so happy to be free of that cage! One of our volunteers will be sad to see Pinky go but will be so happy to know that not only does she have a forever home but she gets to share it with her sister - right, Lauren!

Three new arrivals came today...Shorty, Emma and Tori. Shorty is a black and white male and so named because he has a short tail. Normally he is friendly and affectionate. However, he was really scared after his trip from the Shelter so barely moved when put into the cage. Please keep this in mind until you can see he has settled in. He should be fine and should only need a day or two.

Emma is a female who is black and white with alot of white on her chest. She settled right in and kept wanting to come right out and explore. Tori is a small calico who also settled right in and is very affectionate. Tracey tried to put Tori and Emma in two shared cages but after seeing some spatting decided to wait and let them settle in first. We'll see how that goes.

Reminders: Saturday, October 27, 11a-5p, Adoptathon PetSmart Let me know if you can help Barb A at any time during that day. (Christina and Paige, I have you on the list! Anyone else if I forgot you please e-mail me again.) Sunday, October 28, Adoption Table or Evening Cleaning still needs to be covered.

I added a link temporarily to the right directly under the volunteer calendar. It is a story that appeared in Sunday's NY times and is close to all our hearts. Take a minute and read it.

Meet the new guys: Emma, Shorty & Tori

Lots of Good Applications Pending!

Alice went home on Saturday. She will be joining a big old male cat named Figaro. Her new family is very excited about bringing Alice home. They felt bad leaving Mae behind but I assured them we would find a good forever home for her.

Applications are pending for Samantha, Tag, Gossamer and a new arrival, Sara Lee. The woman adopting Samantha met her last weekend and loved her. At that time Samantha had a pending hold but it appeared as if it might fall through. The hold was pulled on Saturday and this woman came back to see if Samantha was still at the store. An application was completed and all the necessary information was promptly faxed to the Shelter. It all looks good!

On Thursday night while cleaning Jen introduced Tag to a family who have small children. The family was particularly concerned with how Tag would handle their little girl. He was wonderful and they loved him! On Saturday they dropped off a completed application and visited with Tag. That little girl can not wait to get him home!

Gossamer was introduced to a family and both of their cats last weekend. He did well with everyone and an application was completed and brought to the Shelter. The application looks like it is going to be approved, also. He has a clean bill of health and was brought back to PetSmart today.

You guys have not even met Sara Lee and she has a hold! She is a sweety! She is mostly white with some orange and has a sweet and friendly disposition. A family came in to PetSmart today and brought their cat to meet Sara Lee. Tracey said Sara Lee proceeded to immediately groom and kiss her new sibling! Well, that was all it took! A completed application is now at the Shelter for Sara Lee. I am hoping she gets to go home on Wednesday so for some of you this may be your only chance to see her...

Binky came back and joined Pinky on Tuesday. Binky also was given a clean bill of health. Apparently she will always have that wheezy, congested sounding breathing. I put the two girls together in the big cage and they are loving it! They rip race around and put on quite a show! They so need to go home together!

I put shy little Mae in a double cage with Sashimi. This way it will be easier for us to actually reach in and handle Mae. She is still a bit scared and so is Sashimi. Sashimi did do a little better on Saturday and was jumping in and out of the cage. I think it is very important for us to work with these two and give them extra TLC. I know we can help these two and can get them adopted!

The Adoptathon is on for Saturday, October 27, from 11a-5p. I am working on having additional cats and kittens brought to the store for the day and hopefully Shelter staff will be on hand with some dogs! If you can help at all on that day let me know.

What is a blog update without a reference to the schedule??? October is just about complete. Coverage is still needed for Saturday morning, the 20th, and for Sunday evening, the 28th. Sunday afternoon is usually when the adoption table is open. If you can open the table that would be great! If you can only clean that is fine, also. Keep in mind that the store closes at 6p on Sundays.

Our regular Monday morning cleaner, Katherine, is once again headed for warmer climates for a few months. Coverage will now be needed for Monday mornings starting the first week in November through March when Katherine will return. Please let me know if there are any weeks you can cover.

If all goes as planned you will be meeting a whole new crew by the end of the week!!

Cayenne Had A Home All Along

We learned that Cayenee had a home all along and a family who sadly missed him! Apparently back in mid-April he got out of the house and could not find his way back. His family checked the Shelter at that time for him but he had yet to arrive. A few weeks later he was brought in by animal control. Just last week while shopping in PetSmart his mother saw him behind the glass. She knew he had that funny little bump on his tail and sure enough our Cayenne was her Bub! On Thursday she went to the Shelter armed with pictures and vet records for "Bub." Friday Bub went home! Bub's mom is also the one who adopted Iris. She said Iris is doing really well and rules the household!



I am so happy to report that Mollie went home on Saturday. Her new parents are both so nice and I know Mollie will have an absolutely wonderful, pampered life! She will be living with two other cats and of course will be kept strictly inside.


Right now we have two holds pending... The hold on Alice looks really good. All the paperwork is complete. Tracey took a hold on big old Samantha last Sunday. However, so far the necessary paperwork has not been brought or faxed to the Shelter. We are still standing by on that one.

I checked on Binky. She still is having a little upper respiratory problem. You can hear the congestion when she breathes.

Since Tag, Gossamer and Samantha are such big cats and since both Tag and Samantha are not exactly tolerant of others I am going to wait to bring new cats to the store. These big guys can not do with one cage AND a large litter box.

If you have not seen it already I rearranged our supplies. I cleaned out all the high shelves. The only items that should go there are litter pans, brown paper and paper towels. It is too difficult for many of the volunteers to access these high shelves. Tons of items had been pushed to the back and the shelves were very cluttered. The rest of the supplies (toys, brushes, medical stuff, liquid cleaners, etc) were all moved to the lower cabinets. The cabinets have all been labelled to make things easier. PLEASE return things to the proper cabinet!! Also, just a reminder...do not put any large litter pans or bowls away that have not been cleaned first. The sink in the store room does have hot water - it just takes a few minutes for it to get hot.

Please look at the October schedule. As you can see with the exception of Friday, October 5, there are several Friday evening cleanings yet to be filled. In addition there is a couple of Saturday mornings, one Monday morning and a Sunday. Please let me know if you can do any of these days.

Blinky Says Good Bye!!

Blinky went home last Wednesday night. Her new family is contemplating adopting a companion for her but will wait and see how she settles in first. Since Blinky is quite the queen this seems to be a good idea! If I was that snake I'd be a little nervous!

There was alot of activity over the weekend but unfortunately no holds were taken. A young girl was interested in Mollie and I was so happy to show her. Mollie behaved very well and I explained how she was one of our shy hard cases. The girl seemed really interested and seemed to understand poor Mollie. She left and said she would think about it. A very nice couple met Cayenne and absolutely loved him (who wouldn't!) and they also said they would be back. Maybe both will be back Wednesday night!

Samantha was showing signs of an ear issue. The Shelter vet tech went to PetSmart today and found she has ear mites. Her ears were cleaned and she was treated for the mites. She should be just fine and should get relief immediately. Let me know if she does not appear to feel better.

Poor Sashimi is such a shy scaredy cat! It is difficult to even drag her from the cage! She is breaking my heart! I hope someone sees fit to give her a chance.

Saturday, October 27 is National Make A Difference Day. That day we will be participating in an adoptathon along with many other Shelters throughout Cape May and Atlantic County. Preliminary plans are to have our animals along with animals from Animal Outreach and Animal Welfare Society at PetSmart that day. In addition the Cape May County Animal Shelter Alliance will be on hand to distribute information about low cost spay/neuter programs available to county residents. Barb A is going to be my "go-to-girl" for the event and will be needing help. Please let me know if you can help and I will pass your contact information on to Barb.

Two boys joined Cayenne and the girls at PetSmart on Sunday. Tag is a big friendly buff colored guy and Gossamer is a dark striped tabby cat. Both are very friendly and look forward to meeting you all!! Here they are:

What's Been Going On...

The end of the summer got a tad busy and I have not had an opportunity to do a posting. Sorry! Ginseng went home with her new family to New York on Wednesday, August 29. Larissa told me the family is very nice! Good for Ginseng! Sassafras didn't spend too much time at PetSmart. The big friendly Tom arrived on Sunday, August 26 and went home the following Saturday. He is such a sweetheart so it is not surprising!

Little Binky was wheezing and appeared to be suffering from an upper respiratory problem. She went back to the Shelter Thursday morning. I saw her yesterday and she is doing well. She will be back with Pinky in a week or so.

Good news!! Blinky is going home Wednesday night! A hold was put on her on Saturday and the application was approved today! Yippee!! She is going to an apartment with a young man and his snake - no cats or dogs or children, though! She really took to him when they met and he really likes her. He did not waste any time and got the necessary paperwork to the Shelter on Sunday.

Unfortunately Loki was brought back to the Shelter. Apparently he was urinating throughout the house. He was taken to a vet who diagnosed a urinary tract infection. Poor Loki! He seems to be doing just fine now after a round of medication. You will see him back at PetSmart in a few weeks.

Three new cats arrived at the store on Saturday. Alice is a friendly little torti and is very cute! Mae is nice but shy. She has a funny looking left eye but she is fine. She will need a little extra coddling for a while until she settles in. Cayenne is big friendly orange and white tomcat. You will love him!

There is only two days on this month's schedule that need to be filled. One is the morning cleaning on Thursday, September 20. The other is the manning of the adoption table or the evening cleaning on Saturday, September 22. Let me know if you are available.

I am trying to get permission from the Shelter director for us to participate in an Adoptathon on Saturday, October 27 for Make A Difference Day. It is a coordinated effort among all the shelters and animal welfare organizations in Atlantic and Cape May County. Stay tuned for details on that!!

Here is the new guys...