Meow and Wow!

Bella is back for a repeat performance! Yukari and I and one of the wonderful Vet Techs at the shelter are on a mission to help Bella lose the weight she needs to lose and find her the best home ever.

We were thrilled when we walked into the shelter today and learned that Bella has her own room! Because she needs to lose weight and needs exercise she has been allowed out of her small kennel and is living in the big "Cat Room!" It is a wonderful place for her to be so she can get all the exercise she needs.

Today she had a good time with her little catnip pillow. She even chased after it when we threw it for her! It was adorable.

She's such a sweetheart. I think we wore her out. J She will sleep good this afternoon!

Bella could really benefit from a good foster home. She needs a special diet, plenty of exercise and needs a little help cleaning her bum (until she loses the weight). She loves to be pet, cuddle and purrs like a non-stop purring machine! If you're interested in fostering or adopting her ~ a reminder of her information:

Bella (A174018) can be found at the Aurora Animal Shelter, 303-326-8280, 15750 East 32nd Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80011. She is only 4 years old and has many, many good years ahead of her! She's a really special girl. Y

Our other special girl today was Nina. She, too, is 4 years old and available for adoption at the Aurora Animal Shelter. Ask for Nina - A174675.

She was shy at first but warmed up quickly. She was curious and loved climbing!

After exploring nothing is better than a snuggle, some lap time and purr time.

She's a sweetheart. I know I say that about these cats a lot, but they really are. And they are always so happy to spend quality time outside their kennels. It is an honor to give them that time.

Nina may be having a special day today! She is probably going to be one of the "chosen few" and be transported to a local PetCo as a featured adoptable pet! Yay! If you live in Aurora and she's not at the shelter ~ check around at the local PetCo's. She may be at the PetCo on Quincy & Buckley in Aurora. Good luck, little girl! Y You deserve a loving home!

Friday's Stars

The Stars of the Day ~ available at the Aurora Animal Shelter 303-326-8280, 15750 East 32nd Avenue, Aurora, Colorado  80011 ~ both 1 year 1 month old, totally bonded and would love to be adopted together!

Gorgeous blue-eyed Flame Point Siamese and Cream Stefon (ask for A173873). He is shy at first but in just a few minutes he relaxed and was so affectionate! He's gorgeous and so very sweet. I kept saying... "If I didn't have Kia..."  See what I mean? Gorgeous. And a little goofy. 

His bonded "sister" is Hoda (ask for A173876). She is Blue Cream & Orange ~ just beautiful markings. And this girl came to play! She was full of energy and anxious to explore and have fun. She is confident and curious and affectionate ~ the total package.

They are such fun.  Someone go get 'em!!  YY

P.S. And the best news always is ~ we saw the sweetest 3 month old grey tabby kitten go home with her new family today.  Love seeing littles go home to a forever family!!!  

Every Living Soul Deserves a Name

Of course I still love dogs but I'm having fun remembering what it is like to be around cats. My second day of volunteering at the Aurora Animal Shelter was awesome!  

First we (and when I say we from here on out I mean Yukari and me) discovered there is yet another newly decorated cat room at the shelter! Design students from Aurora Community College (I hope I'm right on that) and their instructor have done all the research, design and hard work making two awesome play rooms for the kitties!  They are adorable.

Tee - hee!  It's kinda' true.  *wink*  But I love my dogs to the moon and back!

When we walked into the "Cat Room" today I was at first surprised to see quite a few empty kennels where cats had been last week. Relief set in when we talked to a staff member and she assured us that a number of the cats had been relocated to other shelters, some to rescue groups and some were at PetSmart up for adoption ~ all of which gives the cats more exposure and a better chance at being adopted! Yay!

In talking with this friendly staff member we asked ~ this may sound funny, but the cats who don't have names... can we name them? She laughed and said, "Of course! They should have names! And it might even help them get adopted more quickly!" The only thing we had to check was that their five day hold was up and they were, indeed, available for adoption. (The Shelter holds animals for five days to give owners time to claim them if they already belong to a family. If no one claims them in five days, they can be adopted out.)

As we walked farther we saw a couple of familiar faces from last week and then omysweetgoodness ~ the kittens. There were kittens. Adorable, cute beyond words kittens. So what better place to start naming?  After they all got a little mani-pedi from us the naming began!

This is Annie.  She is 8 weeks old and available for adoption!

This is Cancun (you'll have to ask Yukari the reason for the name...). 

She didn't want to hold still so this is the best shot I got of her.  

She, too is 8 weeks old and ready for a new home!

Meet Diva. She lived up to her name. (ha)  Honestly she's a sweetheart.

8 weeks old and looking for a loving home!

The last kitty we named 

(but there are more soon to be ready for adoption) is Eden.

She, too, is 8 weeks old and would love to come home with you. 

Sunny is a year old sweet boy. 

We took him to the play room but he wanted to stay 

in the cat carrier so we let him. He's really a love ~ you need him, right?

You might remember Benny from last week. Personality Plus+++  

He loves to play. I just adore him.

He's only a year old and would love a fun, active family! 

Or he's happy to sit on your lap and purr, too.

There was a lot of activity at the shelter today ~ lots of staff members (all so friendly!), a few more volunteers and people coming in with lost animals hoping for microchips, people looking to adopt and the volunteer decorators were putting more fun touches on the shelter design and decor. It was a super happening and fun place on this last Friday in June!

My first day volunteering was overwhelming and tangled with emotions. I told myself on the drive to the shelter this morning that every visit will get easier and get better. I was right!!!! It was a great day.

But the best day will be when there is no need for a drive to the shelter because every sweet kitty soul and puppy soul has a family and a loving home.  YY 

Adopt A Cat Month

Hey kids!  There is still one week left to celebrate Adopt A Cat Month!  There are so many sweet snuggle bugs just waiting for you at The Aurora Animal Shelter!

These three are just a sample of the cats patiently waiting for you! I didn't get a photo of the kittens - but there are adorable kittens there, too! I can tell you from personal experience that there is no more loving pet than one that is rescued from a shelter! All they want is a safe, loving home...

More photos to come!  Until then go see for yourself!!  

Looking for a Home...

My first visit to the shelter was a learning experience for sure. Every step of the way I was so grateful to be with Yukari as my guide and teacher. If I do this right there's a lot more to it than just playing with cats. I have to admit, though, that was my favorite part. All these cuties - and more - are available for adoption at the Aurora Animal Shelter in Aurora, Colorado.  Go get 'em!  They deserve loving homes. Y

This beautiful boy was planning his play time.

First step - check out this person behind the lens. 

She's ok. So now, on with my plan.

Next step - jump in a crate

Wait. Maybe that one is better.

Or wait... maybe that one is better.

Maybe I'll just sit here and dream about someone special 

coming thru the door and taking me to my forever home. Y

This ol' gal let me know what she thought of me.

This guy was happy just to chill under our chairs.

This little one kinda' stole my heart.

She liked to jump around.

It was difficult to leave her after she kissed my nose... 

and wanted to follow me out the door. L

So what are my feelings? I don't know. I don't know what my feelings are. The experience was overwhelming and I'm still trying to take it all in. I have the ability to block sad feelings so in this case it will work in my favor.  I'm only sad because, as any animal lover would, I wish I could take them all with me. 

All I can do is give them love and fun when I am with them and do my best to promote their little lives and the shelter and find them homes!

Here We Go!

So tomorrow is the BIG day! The first day I walk into the shelter and not just to donate something. Donations have always been a big deal for me ~ I think every cat and dog should have their own blankie, their own toys and of course, food and treats. So I've donated a lot of those things over the years, as well as a few buckaroos here and there.

But that's easy - that's keeping the real thing at arm's length. Not any more. It's time for me to pay back.  Pay back to the caretakers at the Dumb Friends League for taking such good care of A-choo so we could bring home a healthy, playful, funny, beautiful cat.

Party Animal

Beautiful girl

Thank you to the same Dumb Friends League for reading our minds when Ben said, "I have the perfect dog for you two."  And "Sophia" now Kismet aka Kizzie was first on our list of dogs we wanted to see. And the last.

Kizzie's first night home.

Happy dog - she is joyful and gentle and oh so sweet.

We love her so... Y

Beautiful girl

Six months later I fell in love with this little guy's face on the Dumb Friends League website. We adopted him that afternoon. The poor little guy was shaved (save his adorable face) because he had been neglected and was terribly matted when he was surrendered.  :(

Koko's first night home - sleeping in his new Dad's arms.

It didn't take us long to unearth the goofball in our boy. Oh my goodness. 

Full of energy and naughtiness and clever little games ~ 

and he makes us laugh every single day. 

At 7 years old he is finally the puppy he never got to be.  

Oh how we love him. Y

Beautiful boy

I hope I can pay it forward by taking loving care of cats (and eventually dogs) at the shelter and hold them in good stead until they can find their forever homes.

Here we go!