Aden & Pierce Staying Together

Tracey R took a hold from a great couple on Sunday for Aden & Pierce. The adoption application was approved today and arrangements are being made for the pair to go home together on Wednesday. Isn't that great news!

Just so you know...when someone adopts two pets from the County Shelter (and this includes PetSmart) the adoption fee for the second pet is reduced by 50%. Right now the Cape May County Animal Shelter Alliance is paying that 50% so the second guy has no adoption fee. To learn more about the CMC Animal Shelter Alliance and the work they do for the Shelter and Cape May County's animals just click on the eighth link to the right "CMCASA."

I know everyone is very busy around the Christmas holidays. Please take a minute and look at the December calendar. Someone is needed to clean the morning of December 14 (Thurs) and the evening of December 8 (Fri) & 29 (Fri). In addition the adoption table needs coverage on December 16 (Sat) and December 30 (Sat). Please keep January in mind as well and let me know what you can do.

West Cape May Christmas Parade Is For The Dogs!

Barbara A is going to have a float in the West Cape May Cristmas parade on Saturday, December 2 that will represent the County Shelter along with Animal Outreach. The float is going to be a North Pole scene with an igloo and a mock dog sled travelling in front of the float. Barb needs volunteers to help her walk her dogs. Also, if you would like to bring your dog and join the group you are more than welcome. Decorate your pooch, dress warm and join Barb! The parade starts at 5pm and line up is at 4pm. If you would like to participate please let me know.

Ginger Went Home, New Arrivals

Ginger went home today. Hopefully this home is a better fit. Tracey R took some time explaining how to introduce a new cat to the household. The new home does have one other cat. Ginger had better behave!

Scooter is back with us at PetSmart along with new arrivals, Joey and CB. Apparently Joey and CB are buddies. The Shelter vet tech asked that they be permitted to stay together so the door between their cages is open.

The reporter from the Press will let me know when the article will appear in the paper and I will let you all know. The photographer got some really nice shots of Hobbes! He looks right at the camera and poses!

You should have all received an invitation to the Shelter dinner at the Golden Inn in Avalon. I hope you can all make it. There is strength in numbers and coming together as a unit is how we can make a difference in addressing issues effecting animals in Cape May County. Please come out and meet the Shelter staff and Shelter Advisory Board and mingle with others who share your passion!

Greaser Went Home, Scooter Is Fine

Greaser went home last night. Larissa S said his new mom is absolutely thrilled and Greaser will have a wonderful little life as a spoiled kitty! I am sure you will all miss his funny antics!!

Good news...Ginger got a hold last night! Let's hope this works out for her as she has been through so much.

I checked on Scooter yesterday and he is fine. He saw a vet and the sore on his leg is a "hot spot." In a few days he will return to Pet Smart.

On Saturday a reporter from the AC Press is going to interview me at the adoption table. This should generate interest in our program and get some publicity for the Shelter cats. Hopefully it will increase adoptions and also recruit some more volunteers.

Good Luck, Gunther !

Gunther went home on Sunday! Good for him! Unfortunately the family who was going to adopt Greaser decided against it due to an illness in the family. The Shelter will be contacting the second hold to let them know they may adopt Greaser.

Scooter has a sore spot on his right front paw so I took him to the Shelter to be looked at by the vet tech. As she cleaned the spot which appeared to be raw he did not even flinch. He is such a good boy! The tech theorizes the joint may be bothering him so he licks and chews at the area. He will see a vet this week and hopefully can return to Pet Smart soon.

The December calendar is really looking good however there is still some open spots. Friday nights need to be covered as well as a few Saturday mornings. Please take a look at it. Also, Katherine S has been doing every Monday morning for a long time and is headed to a warmer climate right after the holidays until mid-March. I will miss her dedication! So, Monday mornings will need to be filled starting January 1 until she returns.

To answer your questions about Thanksgiving and Christmas... The store is closed both days however a manager comes into the store mid-morning to take care of the animals and at that time we will have access to our guys. Both holidays are covered. Also, Tracey R has generously volunteered to clean and feed in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Sylvia Went Home

Sylvia went home last night! Another happy ending!

Based on the observations of several of you guys I moved Lydia to a lower level cage. She is afraid to jump down from the top level. Let me know how she does in her new place.

The application for Gunther has been approved and arrangements are being made to have him picked up over the weekend. Here he is looking very handsome and ready to go home!

Gunther Got A Hold!

Gunther and his crooked bumpy tail got a hold on Saturday. He is such a nice cat and will make a great pet!

Unfortunately the holds on Pierce and Scooter were pulled as of today. Both applicants have not returned repeated phone calls from the Shelter. Their hold money is in a folder in the adoption table and can be given back should they come in. Refer them to the Shelter should they have any questions.

I taped samples of completed hold paperwork and completed final adoption paperwork to the wall next to the adoption instructions. Hopefully this will alleviate any confusion you may have when filling the forms out.

Latest Adoption Information

Greaser is scheduled to go home over the weekend. Sylvia is scheduled to go home on Wednesday. The hold on Pierce has been removed as the adoption applicant did not show up on Wednesday as scheduled to bring him home and has not returned phone calls from the Shelter. The hold on Scooter may be pulled this weekend as well.

Hobbs was brought back to the Shelter as he was experiencing some problems with diarrhea (ugh!!). However, he appears to be fine and should be returning to Pet Smart on Saturday or Sunday. Which leads me to this...please refrain from giving the cats treats and wet food as the change in diet may cause an upset in their digestive systems. I know we all love to give the guys treats but this week alot had "elimination issues." It is best to keep their diet consistent.

Wednesday night Barb A took a second hold on Greaser. Knowing that Greaser had a pending application the applicant also expressed interest in Oreo or Gunther should Greaser no longer be available. Hopefully one of the two will get to go home soon!

Welcome back, Ginger!

Ginger was returned to the Shelter as she was not playing well with other cats in her new household. She is back at Pet Smart. Let's get her a good home!!

Chocolate Chip apparently reeked havoc Thursday night into Friday morning. He managed to free himself from the confines of the cage (after trashing it) and was found wandering about the cat room by Kitty G. She no sooner put him back in the cage and he trashed it again!! Apparently he needs more time to learn how to behave! The staff and volunteers at the Shelter will continue to work with him.

Coverage is needed for the adoption table on Wednesday night, November 15, 6-8pm. As always, if you can not do the table but can do the PM feeding/cleaning please let me know.

Latest Arrivals

Chocolate Chip, Lydia and Oreo joined us at Pet Smart today. Lydia is a little shy so please take some time with her. She is very pretty!!

Becky and Sarah went home last night!

A Volunteer/Staff appreciation party is in the works for Wednesday, December 13 so please mark your calendars. Details will soon follow.

Great Weekend!! Becky is Going Home!!!

An absolutely wonderful family came in to Pet Smart on Saturday and put a hold on Becky! They had come into the store several times and seen her and had already met her once before. They went into the adoption room a second time and decided to apply to be her forever home. I think Becky is going to be one spoiled kitty in that house! They came in again on Sunday just to visit with her! Good things do come to those who wait!

Three other holds are pending as well for Scooter, Greaser and Sarah. All the applications are at the Shelter for the director to review this week. I put a note on the inside of the cages of the cats with holds so you guys are aware what is going on.

Shelter staff also brought two dogs to the store on Saturday. The jacket made by Katherine S looked fabulous on Poncho! I am working on having dogs at the store on a routine basis.

Please keep an eye on the food bowls and do not fill them to overflowing. Filling the bowls halfway is enough. I know we all love to give the guys food but it turns into a lot of waste.

I still need someone for the adoption table on Sunday, October 29. Again, if you can not do the table but could do the evening feeding please let me know. It is important that the adoption table be manned as our presence really increases the adoption rate. At the same time we can spread the word about TNR and the importance of spaying and neutering feral cats.

The November schedule is really shaping up! Please take a look at it and let me know what you can do.

Again, thank you very much for everything you do! I know that you have jobs, families and other committments that take up time. It is great that you make time for our homeless cats and the Shelter is better for it!!

New Arrivals, Becky, and More

Six new cats arrived at Pet Smart today and they are a great bunch! We have a FULL HOUSE - ten cats!! Becky was scheduled to be returned to the Shelter but one of the Pet Smart employees told me that her brother-in-law will be driving down on Saturday to meet her. I decided to keep her there in the hope that this becomes her forever home. Another thing which may work in her favor is a reduction in her adoption fee. She is over a year old and therefore her fee should be $35. A change was made to her card. Let's keep our fingers crossed!!!

You will meet Scooter and wonder why his adoption fee is only $8. When he came into the Shelter he had an injured leg that appeared to be an old fracture. For this reason he was classified as "special needs." The leg is doing fine and he does not appear to be any worse for wear. However, please be cognizant of this when handling him.

Major is scheduled to go home tonight(Wednesday). Pierce does have a hold however there is a glitch in the application. Do not hesitate to take another hold on him.

Please make sure to send me an e-mail when you sign up for a shift. The paper copies posted at Pet Smart are for two volunteers who do not have a computer. It is not a sign up sheet. I like to keep schedule changes current to make things easier for everyone and update the calendar as soon as I hear from you.

Katherine S made a BEAUTIFUL embroidered jacket/shirt for dogs to wear at Pet Smart that says "Adopt Me." Using velcro strips she made it adjustable so it can fit many different size dogs. It is in a bag in one of the lower cabinets. Take a second and look at it. It is adorable!! I am working on getting dogs down to Pet Smart on a more regular basis.

I will be at the adoption table this Saturday (10/21). If you are interested in learning the paperwork please stop by and I will be happy to go over it with you.

Ginger, Tangare & Pepper

The family who were to pick up Ginger Wednesday decided they did not want a cat after all. Luckily we had someone waiting in the wings who had already adopted Merangue last week. The adoption was quickly approved and Ginger got to go home on Saturday. Pepper and Tangare went home on Sunday. Tracey R said Pepper's new owner could not have been more excited and that Tangare did not hesitate to walk into the carrier of her new owner. How great is that! Also, there are holds on both Pierce and Major. If the adoptions are approved they should leave Wednesday night or Saturday afternoon. I am planning to bring some new kitties to PetSmart on Tuesday.

The Shelter does have three of the Himalayan and Persian cats you may have read about in the paper last week. The phones have been ringing off the hook concerning these guys so soon they will be home too.

October's schedule is complete with the exception of Sunday, October 29. Please let me know if you can do the adoption table or even just the evening cleaning that day. Also, look at November and let me know what you can do.

Rolls of the brown paper used to line the cages is kept in the managers' office. If you see you are running low just ask and they will bring you a new roll.

One Adoption & Two Holds!

Wow!! Great job while I was away!! Thank you everyone!! Arrangements have been made for Ginger to be picked up Wednesday evening. Also, holds and adoption applications were taken to the Shelter by Tracey R for Tangare (yippee!) and Pepper. Unfortunately the couple interested in Becky never returned with the completed paperwork. Poor Becky! I hope she gets a home soon.

Just a gentle reminder...please do not post holds on the outside of the cages. Remember, we will take a second hold on a cat as sometimes the first applicant is not approved or the second applicant appears to be a better fit. Also, should someone inquire about a cat you may be able to persuade them to meet another one once they learn of the hold. We want people to hang around and approach us!!

Diane Mc needs coverage for the evening of Monday, October 16. Please let me know if you can cover for her. Also, take a look at the November schedule and let me know what you can do.

Possible Home For Becky!!

Thanks to Jen and Lauren Becky may be going home! While cleaning cages Thursday night they introduced a wonderful couple to Becky and they fell in love with her! The couple took the application and hold agreement home with them so they could get their vet's number. Jen L told them to return it and slip it under the door at the adoption center. Should you arrive to clean and find the paperwork make sure you notify the Shelter so they can tell the Director. If all goes well they could be approved in time to pick up Becky Wednesday night from Barb A.

New Director, New Arrivals & While I Am Away

Wait til you see our new arrivals!! Janet K will be bringing the following six kitties to Pet Smart on Wednesday: Hobbs, Pepper, Silvia, Major, Pierce, and Ginger (yeah! Ginger is coming back all nice and healthy and ready to go home!). We sure will have a full house!

I spoke with the new Shelter Director and nothing will be changing at Pet Smart. I will continue to contact him when a cat gets a hold. He will stop in and pick up the paperwork and arrange through me to have the cat picked up at the store. Thank God!! We are all getting good at this and a change could slow us down!

Seven people attended the volunteer orientation I held at the Shelter on Thursday, September 14. Help is on the way!

Just a reminder...I will be away from Friday, September 22 - Sunday, October 8. I will be home for one day (Tuesday, October 3) and will check in with the Shelter. Should you have any issues at Pet Smart during my absence contact the Shelter and ask for Linda (vet tech). If you think a cat needs medical attention contact her - do not leave a note as she will not be going there. Should you take a hold on a cat contact her as well. She will contact the Director. She will be handling any emergency scheduling that takes place as well. The Shelter number is on the wall at Pet Smart (465-8923). I hope that is everything!! I just may send out one last update before I go!!

Thanks for everything! I know I am leaving the program in good, compassionate, feline-loving hands!!

Two More Homes Found

Lollipop went home today! I must admit I will miss him! What a personality! Mackenzie goes home tomorrow. She is so sweet and will make her new owners very happy. Sara was having some medical issues and went back to the Shelter. Hopefully we will see her back soon.

Thursday night I held another volunteer orientation at the Shelter and it was well attended. We will soon have some new help at PetSmart as well as at the Shelter. I may call upon some of you to show the new volunteers the ropes at PetSmart.

Tomorrow there will be dogs joining the cats for a few hours at PetSmart thanks to Lisa T, Sue C and Barb A. Tracey R will be manning the adoption table from 12-5p.

If you are wondering who cut all that paper it was Katherine S! Thank you!!

WOW!! Good Job on the Schedule!!

Special thanks to Kitty G, Mary M and Barb A for filling in so many slots through October!! As you can see, it is those Saturday/Sunday adoption table slots that are hard to fill. Is it because the paperwork seems complicated? Is it intimidating? Is it the hours? I would love to get some feedback on this area. Tracey R was VERY excited this past Sunday when she got her first hold ever!

Barb A normally does the adoption table on Wednesdays nights but needs a replacement for October 4. Can anyone do it? If you only want to do the PM cleaning/feeding that is fine.

Again, thank you SOOO much for the quick responses today!

The Latest & The Schedule

Holds were put on Howie and Mackenzie over the weekend! That's good news! Ginger was continuing to have problems with her eyes and went back to the Shelter for some TLC. Hopefully she will be back soon.

This weekend (Sept 15-17) is the PetSmart National Adoption Day. We will have volunteers mannning the table on Friday 12-5p, Saturday 1-3p and Sunday 12-5p. Barb A is hoping to bring a dog on Friday and Staff from the Shelter will be bringing dogs on Sunday. As you can see we have limited help on Saturday so if you can spare a few hours (3-5p) it would be great.

Please take a look at the schedule. I need someone for Saturday, Sept 23 and Sunday, Sept 24 to clean in the evening. If you are interested in doing the adoption table - GREAT - however at this point I am just trying to get a PM cleaner/feeder for both days. In October I again need help on weekends (Fri, Sat, and Sun) and Tuesday mornings. Please let me know what you can do. Again, if you are not interested in doing the adoption table on the weekend but can clean in the evening let me know. Remember - the store closes at 6p on Sundays.

Please e-mail me rather than leave me notes at PetSmart. It is often days or even a week before I get the note. Should you have any concerns about a cat needing medical attention you can e-mail me or call the Shelter and ask to speak to someone in the medical department.

I am going away from Sept 22-Oct 9 so hope to have the schedule filled through my return. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! I will let you know who to contact in my abscence for emergencies, cancellations, etc.

New Arrivals

Five new kitties arrived at Pet Smart today. They are Lollipop, MacKenzie, Ginger, Howie (don't be fooled by the name - Howie is a girl!) and Sara. They seemed to settle right in! Trixie went home on Sunday. Becky and Tangare are still waiting for homes.

Just a word of caution... I noticed today that some of the cardboard covering the holes along the bottom of the cabinets under the cages has a tendency to move. Before you let one of the guys out to run around double check all the cardboard and make sure the openings are completely covered. Some of the new guys are definitely small enough to fit into a hole. I am working on a permanent solution to those spaces!

Katherine S, thank you for taking the time to cut all that paper! I am sure it will be appreciated by others!