Wally Settles In and the Gods Arrive!

Yay!! Wally is settled into his new home and doing just fine!! He is living with a new sister named Buttercup (a calico also adopted from us a couple of years ago) and is doing very well. Wally definitely took the long way home!

Two little cuties arrived at the end of last week...Zeus and Apollo. These two boys are litter mates and we hope they get adopted together. You can tell them apart by their feet - Apollo is a polydachtal and has big white feet with extra toes. (You can clearly see that in the picture below). Both are very sweet and playful and just LOVE each other!

Lady has a very sore chin so we brought her back to the shelter on Tuesday. It appears to be a case of feline acne that requires some medical attention so she will stay at the shelter until it clears up. Don't worry...she is just fine with us! Our cats in sick bay get the BEST care!!

There is still two mornings in April that need to be filled...both are Thursdays...April 22 and April 29. Let me know if you are available.

The Spring adoption event at PetSmart this year is Friday through Sunday, April 30 - May 2. I am hoping to extend the hours of the adoption table on Saturday and Sunday and also to be able to bring dogs to the store on both days. Please let me know if you are available to help.

The Shelter is also participating again in the annual Cape May County Earth Day Fair held at the County Park on Saturday, April 17. Volunteers are needed to man the table and to bring dogs to the event. Please let me know if you can do either.

On Friday, April 30 the shelter staff will be at the Cape May City Post Office from 11:30am to 1:30pm with several other animal advocacy groups from Cape May County to participate in the unveiling of a special stamp created by the Unites States Postal Service to bring awareness to the plight of shelter animals. For more information on this national campaign go to www.stampstotherescue.com. If you are available to help that day please let me know.

Have a wonderful holiday!! I hope the Easter bunny is good to all of you!!

It's Back & Forth For Spider and Wally

Three cats went home this weekend and two already came back. As I said in the title...this week has been back and forth for poor Spider and Wally. Wally was adopted on Saturday and went home. He was going to live with another de-clawed cat who had been adopted from us two years ago. Well, Wally's new roommate wanted nothing to do with him and made it clear! Poor Wally was back at PetSmart before the adoption table even closed on Saturday.

Spider went home on Sunday and came back to PetSmart today. He was going to live with another cat adopted from us a few years ago also. This time it was Spider who was not crazy about living with the other cat. Each day he appeared to get more and more upset when faced with his new roommate. Also, there was a Jack Russel who came over often to visit and Spider did not like him either. So...Spider came back today.

BUT...it looks like Wally will be going where Spider just came from. Initially the couple was interested in Wally but when they came to put a hold on him he was gone. They decided on Spider. They feel Wally was meant to be with them all along. Let's hope this true!!! They plan to pick up Big Wally tomorrow night.

During all this drama Shaina made a very quiet, uneventful exit - thank God! She left on Sunday and will be the only cat in the household. Her new dad seems to understand her personality and it looks like a good match. (Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the big girl so can not feature her to the right! I decided to just leave our girl Peaches for another week or so!)

You guys are gonna love our newest arrival - Booger! He is so cute and so friendly and fun! He is less than a year old and as the name implies - he's a little booger!! He was surrendered to the Shelter so came to us with that name. We decided to keep it (much to the dismay of some of the staff) because it seems to fit...you'll see!! Meet Booger:

Below is the dates still open in April. You know the drill...let me know if you can cover any of the openings:

April 1, Thursday, AM

April 4, Sunday, AM

April 11, Sunday, PM or Adoption Table

April 12, Monday, PM

April 22, Thursday, AM

April 25, Sunday, PM or Adoption Table

April 29, Thursday, AM

A new stock of the smaller clear litter pans was brought to the store today.

The next adoption event at PetSmart is Friday through Sunday, April 30-May 2 so please mark your calendars. As always I am hoping to be able to extend the hours on the adoption table and bring dogs to the store.

Three Adoptions This Week!

Wonderful week!!! Gemma was adopted along with a cat at the Shelter named Oscar. Their new family is going away so the two will not be picked up until April 3. Gemma went back to the Shelter until then. Rascal went home on Tuesday. He will be joining two other cats and a dog so will have plenty of company. (I still am amazed it took so long for him to find a home.) Peaches went home Wednesday night. She will be the only cat so it appears her reign of terror has ended! There is going to be a lot less swatting and hissing going on now when everyone comes out to play!

Big Wally never got a proper introduction as I was away when he arrived at PetSmart. He is a good boy! He and his brother Lance were brought to the Shelter a few days before Christmas. Wally is about five years old. He was no problem at all to his family. A new baby was born into his family and she was allergic to cats so Wally and Lance had to go. Lance was adopted about a month ago and the new family already had one cat and did not want three. At the Shelter we all love Big Wally!! Wally is de-clawed.

Three new cats arrived today - all are VERY nice, of course! Karen is a black female lap cat. She is approximately five years old. She came into the Shelter in August a beat up little thing - barely weighing five pounds. She is healthy as a horse now and weighs in at over thirteen pounds! We are proud of how well she has done.

Nicky is wonderful! He is a tiger cat with a lot of white on him and is about four years old. He is super friendly. He went to Crest Memorial Elementary School with Shelter employees for career day and did really well. The new surroundings and all the students did not bother him at all. He will settle in quickly.

Spider is a year old and is another nice, playful guy. He was brought to the Shelter because his owner was sick and could no longer keep him. He has always been an indoor cat. He may be a little shy at first but will be fine. Please give him a little time to settle in.

Here they are...Karen, Nicky and Spider:

Everything went well while I was away! Thank you for being such a great reliable group!

Please look to the right and read the new article under "Shelter In The News." At the end of the article Cape May County Sheriff Gary Schaffer talks about the shelter.

Stay tuned for some Spring events where the Shelter will be participating!

Look at the April calendar and let me know if you are available to cover any of the open dates.

Quiet Weekend

Very quiet weekend. We did have a new arrival that I had not yet told you about that is going to be going home with one of our volunteers. Unfortunately I do not have a picture. Opal, a white long-haired declawed female, will be going home with Ruth either tomorrow or Tuesday. She came into the shelter very matted and with a terrible wound on her neck. She was so pathetic! Her arrival at PetSmart has caused quite a stir among both the volunteers and the customers. Ruth fell for her!!! I can guarantee that this sweet cat will be pampered and happy from now on!

PetSmart Charities, Inc announced that effective today (February 28) all adoption centers must now feed Pro Plan food and use Tidy Cat litter. The managers at the store are aware of this. I filled both bins with the new products and taped exactly what we are to use on the wall above them. Pro Plan will also be providing litter pans and food and water bowls that we must use. When they arrive at the store the manager will place them in the adoption room. Whoever sees them first - please let me know! I am not sure what they look like and the manager does not know either. I hope (fingers crossed) that the bowls fit in the metal rings and the litter pans are suitable.

We are adding another schedued adoption table on Friday evenings 6:00-8:00pm that Ruth will handle. Thank you, Ruth!! This should be a big help!

As I mentioned a week or so ago I am going away from Wednesday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 9. If you have an issue or need to cancel please e-mail animalshelter@cmcsheriff.net and put "Attn: PetSmart Volunteer" in the subject. Remember, you can call the Shelter Monday through Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm and on Sundays 9:00am - 4:00pm at 465-8923 or call PetSmart at 886-7356 and ask for a manager. If you are doing the adoption table the weekend of March 6 fax applications as you normally would. The Shelter Assistant Manager, Leslie, will be reviewing and approving applications. We won't miss a beat!!

The Shelter is now on Facebook! Please encourage anyone you know to become a fan of the Cape May County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center.

Two openings are left in March:
Friday, March 12, AM

Sunday, March 14, Adoption Table

Don't be afraid to look ahead to April :-)

Good Week!!

Two of our buddies went home in the last few days...Nigella and Jordan. Nigella's new mom first met her last Monday and then came back to the store on Wednesday and completed an application. She was so anxious to take her home that I made arrangements for her to leave Thursday morning. Fortunately Leona was there cleaning and off Nigella went!

Jordan went home on Sunday. She will be living with a very nice couple in Rio Grande. Jordan was a little nervous when she first met her new parents in the adoption room but after a short time she warmed up. Between being afraid of the family dog and then being brought back to the Shelter can you blame her for being nervous?!!! Good luck, Jordan!

Gemma arrived on Friday. She is beautiful! She is a a couple of years old. She had a litter of kittens last Spring that we placed through a local veterinarian's office. A family with five kids that adopted one of her kittens decided to adopt her as well. The kitten did just fine but Gemma did not fit in. The house was too rambunctious and noisy and she was nervous so they brought her back to us. Please keep this in mind when interviewing potential adopters. She needs to be in a quieter home without small children. Here she is:

Thanks to everyone for your help at the Adoption Event on February 12-14. Two dogs were at the store on each day which always draws a crowd!

There is one opening still lingering for this month:
Friday, February 26, AM

The March calendar looks good - only four openings. They are listed below:
Friday, March 12, AM

Sunday, March 14, Adoption Table

Friday, March 19, AM

Sunday, March 28, Adoption Table

I will be going away from Wednesday, March 3 through Tuesday, March 9 and will be e-mailing everyone instructions on who to contact concerning PetSmart.

Is It REALLY Over????

I sure hope so!!! The forecast for the weekend is good so we shall be able to participate in the adoption event this weekend. Please double check the schedule so you know when to be there. I have the adoption table covered all weekend. Volunteers will be available for dogs on Sunday and I hope to have staff bring a dog - maybe two - on Saturday.

I have one opening left in February...Friday, the 26th, in the morning. Please look ahead to March. There are a few evenings open, some adoption days and a couple of mornings.

Thank you for your help throughout the storm. I have my cable back so my home phone works now! Yippee!! Let's hope we've seen the last of snow this winter - fingers crossed!!!

Three More Out the Door!

Yep!! That's right...THREE cats went home this week! Sandy didn't stay very long. His new parents had put an application on a cat at the Shelter but were the second hold. They were approved to adopt and when the one adoption fell through they decided on Sandy. He left on Wednesday.

Emma and Geisha left on Sunday and will be neighbors. Emma was adopted by a woman who felt she and the cat had a lot in common - they both needed a little company. Her new mom bought a really nice new soft carrier and Emma walked right into it. She left with her little white bed and a blankie, too. I called today to see how Emma's first night went and was told she did okay - she used the litter box and ate and drank - but is hiding. I reminded her new mom to get some wet food and entice Emma out with it. That will do the trick!

Geisha will be living next door to Emma with four other cats. When she first was introduced to her new family she was nervous but then sat down and seemed to accept them. They have adopted from us before and are old hands at introducing cats to their household. She is going to be just fine!

From now on we will purchase the brown paper and PetSmart will reimburse us. I bought four rolls yesterday. Please let me know when you open the last of the four rolls and I will replenish the supply. I also brought more litter pans down yesterday. Also...do NOT remove any litter or food from the shelves. Find a manager and have them do it for you.

Three new cats came today. Jordan is a young black female, about two and half years old. She is declawed. She was a happy cat until her owners brought a dog home. Even though Jordan was there first she was the one who had to go. Keep in mind she can not go to a home with dogs. Also, one of her eyes looks a tad peculiar so do not be concerned when you see it.

Lady is a pretty gray tiger cat. She is a calm girl but can get scared so probably should not go into a home with small children. She came to us when someone walked into the Shelter carrying her and said they found her and she was a stray cat. Hmmm, really??? She is so friendly....someone must be missing a nice cat!

Skippy is a black and white male. He is the shy one of the new bunch. He is good with other cats so should enjoy the company. He has a little white stripe right down the middle of his nose. He needs a little space initially so do not push him if he wants to hang back for a little while.

Here they are.....

The February schedule is just about complete. There is still two open Friday mornings (Feb 12 & 26) and one Sunday Adoption Table (Feb 28). Also, I still need help 12-2pm Saturday, Feb 13 for the adoption table. I have two dog walkers lined up for Sunday, Feb 14 but I do not have any for Saturday, Feb 13.

Quick Exit For Joey!

Joey went home Wednesday night. He is going to be living with a couple of old friends of ours - Penn and JellyBean. Many of you may remember them. His new family is so nice! They saw Joey over the weekend and came to the Shelter and completed an application on Monday.

Joey came into the Shelter with two other cats - Zoey and Sandy. Their owner was having health issues and could not keep them. Zoey was adopted from the Shelter. The last man standing is Sandy. He was brought to PetSmart yesterday. Sandy is a couple of years old. He is very friendly and is good with everything and everybody - other cats, dogs and kids are not a problem for Sandy. As you can see in the below picture he is VERY handsome!

I am getting word that there seems to be inconsistent information being given to volunteers pertaining to taking supplies (litter and food) from the shelves and replacing the brown paper to line the cages. I am doing the adoption table on Sunday. I promise that I will get all the correct answers by Monday and pass it on to everyone.

Our regular Tuesday morning volunteer, Kitty, will be taking a few months off beginning February 23. I am happy to say she will be returning as soon as she can but we are definitely going to miss her. Many of you know her from her days working at Abri Animal Hospital. She is a big asset to this program. So, if anyone wants to step in and take over her spot for a while please let me know. Kitty was scheduled Tuesdays with the exception of the second one of the month.

I have not heard from any of the dog handler volunteers about the Second Chance For Love Adoption Weekend. I also need more help with the adoption table that weekend. Here is what I need:
Fri, February 12, Adoption Table 2-4
Sat, February 13, Adoption Table 12-2, Dog handlers 12:30-3:30
Sun, February 14, Adoption Table 12-3, Dog handlers 12:30-2:30

In addition to the above weekend coverage is needed for the following dates in February:
Fri, February 19, AM
Tue, February 23, AM
Fri, February 26, AM
Sun, February 28, Adoption Table

If you can help with the adoption weekend or cover any of the openings please let me know.

Good Bye Izzy Man!!!!

Yay for Izzy!! He was picked up last night and is finally in a forever home! I can't believe I do not have a picture of him. For his bon voyage picture I used one my favorite old pics...this is how I imagine him tonight anyway!

Joey took Izzy's place. He is a cool guy...all white with a smudge of gray on the top of his head. He is very friendly and good with kids, other cats and dogs. He was brought in along with two house mates because their owner was having heath issues. I think he will settle in quickly. Meet Joey...

I will be planning the adoption event for Friday - Sunday, February 12-14 in the next couple of weeks. I am hoping to get at least two dog handlers for Saturday and Sunday in addition to a volunteer for the adoption table. I put the hours of the event on the calendar. As soon as you know you can commit please send me an e-mail. I know it is a holiday weekend so I fear many of you have plans but I hope not all of you do!

The following dates are still open in February - not including the adoption weekend:
Sunday, Feb 7, Adoption Table

Friday, Feb 12, AM cleaning

Friday, Feb 26, AM cleaning

Sunday, Feb 28, Adoption Table

As you are aware Spring brings kitten season. At the Shelter we are preparing early for the inevitable influx of many many kittens. If you are interested in fostering kittens for the Shelter please let me know.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE encourage people to spay and neuter their cats. While at PetSmart we encounter many people and we need to get this word out!! If anyone needs information on low cost spay/neuter please send them to the link on the right of this page: Animal Alliance of Cape May County. Commit the phone number to memory...it's easy...465-NEUT...short for neuter! Every Thursday they have a spay/neuter clinic right next to the Shelter at the end of Moore Road in the Crest Haven complex. They make it easy for people to do the responsible thing!!

Good Bye to Nora and Oriella

It was a good week! Nora went home on Wednesday night. Although she will not be the only cat at her new place she will be living with a mom who understands she needs her space! Don't worry...she will only have one feline roomate.

Hooray for Oriella! She went home today and happily jumped into the carrier with her new dad. She is going to be living right down the street from me with a wonderful couple and a host of feline companionship. She is gonna like her new family!

Sweet little Apple arrived today. She is very friendly - good with kids, dogs and other cats. She is playful and outgoing. She is a brown and black tiger. She came into the Shelter with her brother and a litter of kittens. Her brother - Jack - already was adopted. Here she is....

The February schedule is shaping up. Please look ahead and let me know what you can do. There will be the annual PetSmart adoption event held Valentine's weekend called Second Chance For Love. As usual I'd like to extend the adoption table hours to 12-4:00 on Saturday and 12-3:00 on Sunday, bring down additional cats for the weekend and have dogs at the store both days. Keep this in mind as you do your February schedule! More on that as it gets closer....

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year!!! Both Gray and FurBall can proclaim, "We're home again in 2010!" Both were surrendered to the Shelter for the same reason, though from different locations - their owners were losing their homes. Gray was adopted by a PetSmart manager's brother and is doing really well! She is loving and playful and having a ball. FurBall came and went so quickly that some of you did not even get a chance to meet him. He arrived on the 23rd and left on the 26th. When the time came to leave he did not even need to be put in a carrier - he jumped in on his own as if to say, "Come on!! I need to get home!"

The holidays were so hectic that I never properly introduced Roxanne and Peaches. Peaches is a blue cream torti and is very friendly and playful. Roxanne is one of the Shelter favorites - she is a female tiger and is very sweet. In case you have not met them yet here is their pictures.


Emma replaced Furball. She is a big old nice calico. She is approximately twelve years and is declawed. One day she wondered into Cabanas, a restaurant in Cape May, and no one there knew where she came from. She is very sweet. Someone must be missing her!!! Maybe being at PetSmart will help her be reunited with her owner.

Oliver was scheduled to go home Wednesday night but his new family had car trouble. He is being picked up on Saturday. A gentleman went to PetSmart and called the Shelter thinking Geisha belonged to him. After comparing notes we realized she was not his cat. I thought he was going to adopt her but I guess he decided not to.

Just in case someone asks...we have six declawed cats presently up for adoption at the Shelter. Two males just came in together right before Christmas. A new baby in the household is allergic so they had to go. If you know anyone who prefers to have a cat that is declawed please tell them to come down to the Shelter and meet these guys.

The January schedule looks great! Only two openings - both in the morning...and both on Fridays...January 8 and January 22. If you can cover either one let me know.

We have a new regular...starting today Ruthann will be doing Friday evenings. Thanks, Ruthann! It is a big help when someone takes a regular spot!

Thank you all so much for all your help throughout 2009!! As you know the adoptions at PetSmart account for 30% of all the feline adoptions from the Shelter. Each and every one of you made this a successful endeavor for yet another year. I am always amazed by your commitment to this program which is evident when I send out e-mails asking for help. You are a wonderful compassionate group and I am so grateful to have all of you!!

Have a Happy and Healthy 2010!

A Couple of Lucky Girls Get Christmas Gifts!

Silky has gone home for the holidays!! She was a surprise Christmas gift for a young girl from her mom and dad. The lucky girl met her furry little gift at PetSmart Wednesday night and the two clicked immediately! Silky then happily allowed herself to be packaged up and carried out. What a wonderful gift for both of them!

Josie is going to be a surprise Christmas gift for another lucky little girl. She was brought back to the Shelter as Dad wants to pick her up Christmas Eve. Lucy has an approved application and will also be brought back to the Shelter. She will be picked up in a week or so. Her new mom is having some work done on her home and will pick up Lucy as soon as she can. Lucy is going to be joining another cat named Jack that was adopted from the Shelter a couple of years ago. We love repeat customers!

Gray has an approved application and will be going home on Saturday. It sure did not take her long!

The hold on Nora fell through. Guess it just was not meant to be!

Sweet little calico Geisha was brought to PetSmart this week. She is under a year old. She is a little nervous and shy but nice. Please give her a little extra TLC and let her settle in at her own pace. Here she is:

Anybody have time Christmas Eve to to do the evening cleaning?? I know everyone has alot going on but if you can stop in and check on the guys that night please let me know ASAP. The store closes at 6pm. My mom is doing Christmas morning - that's one of my gifts!!

Here is the remaining openings in January:
January 8, Friday, AM

January 14, Thursday, AM

January 15, Friday, AM

January 22, Friday, AM

January 28, Thursday, AM

January 31, Sunday, Adoption Table

January 29, Friday, AM

Please remember that PetSmart has some schedule changes due to the holidays. Here they are:
Christmas Eve: 7a-6p
Christmas: closed
New Year's Eve: 9a-6p
New Year's Day: 9a-6p

It was nice to see so many of you on Sunday for our little holiday gathering. It was a nice time and a good turn out.

New cages arrived at the Shelter and were installed this week. They look so nice!!! The isolation/sick area was upgraded as well as the area for housing new arrivals. Please stop in and see us at the Shelter and check out the new stuff. We are all VERY excited about it!! Yep, feels like Christmas!!!

Look At All These New Arrivals!

Three leave and five arrive! Lonnie and Emily left on Saturday. Both were very well behaved when packed up to go. Heart left on Sunday. She will be the only pet in the house so should be spoiled and happy.

On Sunday three youngsters arrived. Bentley is a black male and was from a litter of ten! He is small for his age. As a kitten he was alot more friendly than his litter mates and domesticated easily. Silky is a really nice gray striped tabby. She loves other cats so will really enjoy the romping time at PetSmart. Oliver came into the Shelter marked as a "feral" cat by animal control. He is anything but feral! He is sweet and playful.

A warm welcome back goes out to Rascal!! Remember him??? He did some time in sick bay at the Shelter but is back and better than ever! Gray came with him. She is a big dilute calico. She came into the Shelter in July along with four other housemates. Their owner was being evicted. One was immediately adopted, two were over ten years old and the owner came back for them. Gray has been with her last housemate, Puddy, ever since. Puddy was adopted and Gray is the last one remaining of the group. Let's hope she gets to go home very soon! She is a nice old girl but may need some time to settle in. Be patient with her.

Lucy was in with the three new guys (Bentley, Silky and Oliver) and not having a very good time. She is now sharing space with Rascal and seems happy. Please leave her there.

Izzy appears to be doing well with Oriella in the big cage. Poor Izzy!! When will he get to go home! Nora is continuing to express dislike of her fellow felines. Keep her by herself!

I have received a great response for the holiday get together this Sunday. Ya got one more day to RSVP!

Here's Oliver, Silky and Bentley:

...and here's Gray and our old friend Rascal:



Please look ahead to January and let me know what dates you can do.

New Homes For the Holidays!

Good week!! Coconut and Harlequin went home Wednesday night. Harlequin will be the only pet in the house which is just the way she likes it! Her new dad was getting alot of attention from her when he arrived to pick her up. Coconut was packed up in a pretty blue carrier and carted away - he had an appointment with the groomer the very next day! Two wonderful homes!!

Emily is scheduled to be picked up tomorrow and so is Lonnie. Lonnie's new mom came to the Shelter and completed the application today. He will be the only pet in the house and she is very excited to get him. She has grandchildren that visit often so Lonnie is guaranteed to have some fun!

Lucy and Nora were dropped off yesterday at PetSmart. Lucy is orange and white and is a great cat. She likes it all - dogs, kids, other cats, people - everything. She is about two years old. She was adopted from us over a year ago and was returned. Her story is one that is all too familiar - her owners were moving and couldn't take her with them. She hates being in a cage. She is very sweet and very friendly.

A couple of months ago Nora and a male cat - her brother maybe - were left in a box in the foyer of the spay/neuter clinic which is next door to the Shelter. The male cat (we named him Nick) was adopted several weeks ago. Although she was left with Nick she appears to be stressed around the other cats. This could be because she is not familiar with them. Watch her carefully with the others and do not force her into an uncomfortable situation. Let her mingle at her own pace. She may be just fine once she settles in.

Here's Lucy and Nora:



Thanks to Joyce, Joan, Ruth, Fran and Lauren for helping to make the Princeton fundraiser this weekend a success. Because we had so much help four Shelter dogs got to spend a few hours out and about. Below is a picture of Joan with Anchor. He was very well behaved! He is a young Treeing Walker Coonhound and is a great dog! He is presently in a foster home and is proving he is crate trained and house trained. If you know anyone interested in a hound dog please let me know.

Lauren did a GREAT job working the crowd! After the dogs and owners posed with Santa Lauren gave them a bag of ribbon-tied dog treats and asked for a donation for the Shelter. Who could say no to that face?!!! She is pictured below in action....

There must have been close to one hundred dogs at the Sandy Paws 5K & 1 Mile Pooch Walk in Stone Harbor! It was alot of fun! Pictured below is one of the dogs entered in the Best Dressed Competition. Check out BatDog!

Don't forget - Barb and company will be in the West Cape May Christmas parade tomorrow night with a float representing the Shelter. Anchor will be representing the Shelter dogs. Contact Barb if you want to participate.

On Sunday, December 13, 1:00-3:00PM come to the Shelter for a little holiday get together. Light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Family members and friends are invited, too! Throughout the year the Shelter staff and volunteers work hard for the animals of Cape May County. It's nice to get together and spend some time with people who share a common bond. I hope to see all of you there.

House and Wilson - together forever!!

It was great week!! Grace went home on Saturday. An entire entourage came to pick her up! Grace's new dad bought out PetSmart to prepare for her homecoming! This is a wonderful way for Grace's story to end.

House and Wilson left TOGETHER on Sunday! I am sure everyone is as happy as I am about this! The two big boys were a tad difficult to load into the carriers but did great once they got home. It seems their first night home Wilson slept in bed with his new mom and House spent the night in his new cat bed. When I called today to check on them I was told that as we spoke Wilson was sitting on mom's lap and House was at her feet. It seems this is a perfect home for the guys!

Three cats arrived today - two females, Josee and Emily - and one male, Coconut. Coconut was brought into the Shelter by animal control. Someone found kittens and suspected Coconut, who had been hanging around, was the mother. Um, no, it seems Coconut was not anyone's mom OR dad - he was a neutered male! He is a beautiful, sweet, long haired all white cat. You will love him!

Emily is a brown and black tabby and is very friendly. She is a sweetheart. Josee is a little younger than Emily and is also friendly. The below pictures are a tad deceiving - the two are not difficult to tell apart. Both respond quickly to attention and should settle in easily. For now leave all three in separate cages so they can acclimate to the new surroundings with as little stress as possible.

Here they are: Coconut, Emily and Josee.

I had a special request from two devoted volunteers - put Heart and Oriella in the big cage together as sometimes this helps the shy cats come around and they show better. Please leave the two in there and lets' see how it goes. (Always have to do what my mother says! LOL!)

The dog pictured below is a chow mix that was adopted from the Shelter about two months ago. His family is soooo thankful they took him home. It seems that Buddy brought a medical emergency to the attention of the family! At the request of the family I am not going to reveal alot of details. Suffice it to say that as a result of Buddy's canine communication this story had a happy ending! See what a difference a Shelter dog can make!!! Meet Buddy the Hero....

I have a good list of volunteers helping in Avalon at the Princeton Bar with the Santa pictures and Veteran's Plaza. Looks like dogs will be at the Princeton and cats will be at the Plaza! I will e-mail all of you directly with the logistics.

There is three openings in December - all in the morning. They are Tuesday December 1, Sunday December 6 and Friday December 18. Please let me know if you are available. I will be working on the 2010 schedule right after Thanksgiving. Feel free to e-mail any requests for January.

Have a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!!
(Leona, thank you for covering so the rest of us can stay home!)

Ralphie and Confetti Go Home

Didn't take long at all for Confetti to go home!! She arrived on a Monday and went home the following Wednesday. Her new family brought all the necessary paperwork straight to the Shelter so she was an easy application to approve!

After Confetti left Lonnie arrived. He is so cute! He has longer hair, is that pretty gray color and is so soft. Lonnie has come a long way. Initially he was very shy. Now he is just a tad skittish but loves to be held and will purr away once he feels comfortable. Although many of you have already met Lonnie I am including his picture below.

Ralphie left last night. He will be the only pet in the house and although his new mom has had a dog in the past Ralphie is her first cat. (Um...let's see if she comes back for a second! You know what they say - cats are like Lay's potato chips - ya can't have just one!)

I hope this weather does not ruin our adoption weekend. Volunteers will be at the store on Friday 2-4pm, Saturday 12-4pm and Sunday 12-4pm. Dogs and Shelter staff will be on hand both Saturday and Sunday. Please spread the word. Five cats will be brought to the store on Friday that will spend the weekend. In addition Harlequin is coming to fill the cage vacated by Ralphie. Harlequin is a beauty! Like Lonnie she has longer hair. She has a very sweet little face. Please give her time to settle in.

Here's Lonnie and Harlequin.


Below is a picture of one of our resident dogs, Rocky, who went into foster care yesterday (Wednesday). Do you think he likes it??? It did not take him long to settle into the comforts of a real home. (Thank you, Traci, for giving him this break!) Rocky is about five years old and is a mixed breed. He has been in the Shelter for many months. In his foster home he is living with five other dogs, two cats and two parrots. He just may make an appearance with his foster mom this weekend at PetSmart. If anyone is wondering how Rocky will do once he gets home just take a look at this picture...it is indeed worth a thousand words! If you know someone looking for a dog tell them about Rocky and let's arrange a meeting!

One of our Shelter volunteers, Fran, made the Press of Atlantic City this week. She and her husband are making and selling stained glass cats and dogs at a coffee shop in West Cape May and the proceeds will benefit the Shelter. Please click on the link Shelter in the News to the right to read all about it. Thank you, Fran!!

Oh, yea, that's right, the calendar.... It looks great!! There is still some open slots - both AM & PM - in December.

Stay high and dry and outta Ida's way!!

Hope It's Over!!!

OMG!! I thought this latest dry spell would NEVER end! Thankfully it has! Randall left on Saturday following a little bit of drama. An application was taken on Jana over a week ago and had been approved. The applicant was telephoned four times by the Shelter to arrange for Jana to go home. A second application came in for Jana that was subsequently approved. Not wanting to stop an adoption one last message was left for the first applicant. That message again went unanswered. So, the second applicant made arrangements for pick up. Come Saturday applicant number one came to PetSmart thinking she was still in the running for Jana. After being advised that her application was approved BUT that Jana was no longer available she chose Randall. So, off he went!

Jana went home on Sunday. Her new mom had adopted another cat from the Shelter about nine months ago.

Two new girls were brought to PetSmart today - Grace and Confetti. Confetti is a young torti with really pretty markings. She is a friendly girl and is going to love running around and playing while she waits to get adopted.

Grace is an older female who is solid gray and is also de-clawed. She was so pathetic when she arrived at the Shelter a few months back. In a driving rain storm she was found simply sitting on the side of the road. A Good Samaritan saw her and stopped. It appeared that Grace had been hit by a car and she suffered from injuries that were a few days old. Oh, she was a mess! We rushed her to the vet and she remained in our "sick bay" for a long time. Each day her breathing got better, her infection began to clear and her "road rash" healed. She had an injury to the left side of her face that gave her a concave look. We wanted to give her a chance and we are so glad we did! I loved to walk into the sick bay and have her immediately get up and come to the front of the cage with such appreciation in her eyes! She is very sweet and will be forever grateful when she gets a home!

Here's Grace and Confetti....

PetSmart has added another adoption event weekend to their calendar. (See The Shelter in the News under "Links" to the right for a copy of the press release.) This event is called the National Holiday Adoption Weekend. It is Friday - Sunday, November 13-15. Volunteers are needed to work the adoption table Friday, 2-4pm. On Saturday and Sunday additional volunteers are needed to work the adoption table from 12-4 on each day. Dogs will be brought to the store based on the numbers of volunteers available to help. On Saturday the dogs will be there from 12:30-4:00. On Sunday they will be there 12:30-3:00. In addition to the dogs we will bring more cats to the store for the weekend. Please let me know if you can help.

Unfortunately Devil Dog Training had to cancel the dog training session scheduled for Wednesday, November 4. As soon as it is rescheduled I will let the dog walkers know.

Barb A and her gang will once again represent the Shelter in the annual West Cape May Christmas Parade. This year the theme is "All Dogs Go To Heaven." The parade is on Saturday, December 5. Parade line up is at 4:00pm. I will send out more details about this as it gets closer. Please bring your dog and join Barb!!

OK...the calendar...two openings remain this month...Tuesday, November 10 in the morning and Friday, November 20 in the evening. Please look ahead to December as well. I will fill in the calendar for 2010 with the regulars by the end of the month. If you need to make any changes and have a regular recurring time slot please let me know ASAP.

Penny Goes Back Home!

Gladys went home Wednesday night. Penny and Alice went home on Saturday. Alice's new mom was so excited to be approved!!

Penny has quite a story. It seems that eight years ago she was given away when her owner died. That person kept her for about two years and then gave her to someone else. That woman brought her to the Shelter after eight years and said she could no longer care for her. Penny went to PetSmart. A friend of the original owner recognized Penny immediately and even remembered her name. She contacted the daughter of the original owner who lives in Mount Laurel and told her that her mother's cat was at a PetSmart in Rio Grande. The daughter was amazed and called the Shelter. In the meantime I called the pending hold taken on Penny and they could not have been happier to be turned down given the reason why. They adopted a kitten from Animal Outreach. Penny truly went home!

The new guys, House, Wilson and Randal, arrived Sunday.... House and Wilson are male litter mates that were brought to the Shelter due to allergies. They are big and soft and nice. We have kept them together since they arrived and hopefully will get to stay together in their next home. They are in the big cage. Wilson is the white and black guy and House is the gray and white tabby. They are a few years old. They settled right in.

Randall is a gray and black tabby that came to the Shelter as a stray and is also a couple of years old. He is really nice and friendly and very vocal. At the Shelter he talked all day long! He is a little scared right now at PetSmart and is sharing cages with Ralph (who seems to sorely miss Alice). I think he will settle in quickly but please give him time.


Last Saturday volunteers Janet and Fran brought Marty, the shepherd mix below and Boots, a young male cat, to Saint Mary's Episcopal Church in Stone Harbor for the annual blessing of the animals. They represented all the Shelter dogs and cats who were blessed by proxy. It was a nice little service. Thanks to Janet and Fran!!

Attention dog walkers....please let me know if you can attend the training scheduled at the Shelter on Sunday, October 25, 1:00-3:00pm. Devil Dog Trainer, Donna Lawson, has alot of experience and has been coming to the Shelter and working with our dogs. She looks forward to working with volunteers and staff.

PetSmart Charities has added another three day adoption event - Friday through Sunday, November 13-15. Please keep it in mind as in a few weeks I will need to know who is available. I'd love to get at least two dogs per day there as well as additional cats.

OK, please forgive me but I need to say this....GO EASY ON THE LITTER. There is no need to fill the pans more than 1/2 - 3/4 inch from the bottom. Remember, we go in twice a day, every day. Also, the litter is a mess to begin with. Let's not give them mountains of it to throw about.

I am going to see about giving the cages a really good cleaning in the near future. We need to get a vacuum in there and get some of the smaller particles out of those hard to reach spots.

October schedule is done! (fingers crossed!!!)

Sorry For Falling Behind!

PetSmart adoptions are out of control!!!! I keep putting off doing the updates until cats definitely go and the new ones arrive. Then, next thing I know ANOTHER cat gets to go so I decide to wait and see who we are sending and then ANOTHER cat gets adopted and I wait again.......get the picture!!! I am going to try to catch up right now...

OK, so, Ivana had a hold when she first arrived but the applicant changed her mind. No worries though...she got another hold over the weekend and is going home as I type this. Her cage is clean and ready for a new arrival.

Millie came and went so fast! Here is a picture for those of you who did not get a chance to meet her.... She is a snuggly, sweet dilute calico. It is no wonder she got adopted so quickly.

Bart and Sprinkles went home during the adoption event. Freddy and Johnny went home together and are probably wreaking havoc at this very moment.

Gladys, Penny, Alice and Ralph arrived most recently. I can't even remember who came when! Ralph and Alice are very affectionate and love playing together. Of course we would love to have them go home together. An application was taken for just Alice over the weekend but it has not been approved yet.

Gladys is a nice old girl with tabby markings and a funny meow. She can be shy at first but she will settle in fine. Poor old Penny!! She is an older cat - twelve years old. A woman came into the Shelter with her and said she could no longer keep her. She had Penny since she was nine years old so actually was her second owner. Penny also has some issues with her hearing. Not deaf - but has difficulty hearing. She is long haired and very pretty and sweet. She is also declawed. I'm hoping she gets adopted quickly.

Check it out!!! The October schedule is complete with the exception of one day...Saturday, October 10, in the morning. Let me know if you can cover it. Don't be afraid to look ahead to November! :-)

Special thanks to the group who handled the Adoption Event the weekend of September 12. A couple of the dogs got to spend some time out of the Shelter thanks to the volunteers.

I'll try to keep up a little better - but let's hope the cats keep getting adopted so quickly that I can't!!!

One of the little locks is missing. Anybody have any idea where it may be?? Is this an intentional act ;-) (Just kidding!!)

Here's Penny and Gladys.....

Siam Is One Happy Cat!!!

What a weekend... Siam went to his forever home on Saturday as scheduled! OMG!! How exciting! Leona said he jumped into his carrier and was ready to go. I am sure he was! Penny left on Saturday also and was carried away by a very excited family. Bart already got a hold! The application is at the Shelter and I will be reviewing it tomorrow.

Two females arrived at the store on Sunday. Sprinkles is very pretty and loving with beautiful colors and markings. She likes people but ain't all that crazy about other cats! Please keep this in mind and give her some space. She is an amusing cat. At the Shelter she has been very vocal - having full fledged conversations with me!

Heart is a cute little black and white cat. She got her name from a marking on her paw that looks like a heart. She is very sweet.

A new volunteer trained today...welcome Frances!! Thank you, Joanne, for doing the training!

The adoption event scheduled for this weekend is falling into place. If you would like to help at any time during the three day event please check the calendar and let me know what hours you can do. I will send out an e-mail to all involved Wednesday evening.

The October schedule looks great!!!! You guys are awesome! There is only three openings at this point...please let me know if you can cover any of the dates.

It is my understanding that when we need to replenish litter and/or food we are to let the manager know and he/she will remove the item from the shelf for us and then be given the UPC code. I do not know that this has changed. Has anything else been happening?? If so, please let me know. There is several assistant managers which can result in confusion. I can place a call to the store manager and verify the procedure if necessary.

The two new girls.....