Loving Cat Daddy

I couldn’t resist sharing this slideshow that was in the Petfinder newsletter. It’s all about men and their cats. While the cliche thinks of dogs as man’s best friend, where does the cat fit in?

I’m allergic to cats. I never grew up with cats. None of my aunts and uncles had cats. I know very little about cats. I do know that whenever I visit someone who has a cat — the cat is smart enough to know which person in the room cannot pet them because of allergies. It happens every time that the cat will jump in my lap or try to nuzzle me.

Does one have to be a cat person or a dog person? Can the dog people reach across the aisle and claim cat person-hood too or vice versa?

Nowadays almost everyone who has a pet has their pet’s photos on their smartphone. Decades ago, I ran an online dating business and sometimes we partnered events with a group (whose name I forget) but these singles brought photos and photo albums of their pets and talked incessantly about them. At the time I thought it odd but that was before I had a pet. Now there’s even an online dating service called Pet People Meet.

As they say, like me… like my dog… or cat.

In Tucson, you can foster and/or adopt cats at:

• PAWSitively Cats
• Hermitage Cat Shelter
• Humane Society of Southern Arizona
• Pima Animal Care Center
• Foundation for Animals at Risk (FAIR)
• Hope Animal Shelter
• We Save Kitties at Risk (WSKR)
• The Animal League of Green Valley (TALGV)

(Photo is courtesy of Mary Lisa Hostetler of her husband and two foster kitties; one who was lucky enough to be adopted by them.)

Courtesy – HSSA

P.A.W.S. Integrative Veterinary Center invites the pet loving public to an open house on Saturday Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 300 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85704 (well behaved dogs on leash invited)

You can:
–Join in the free raffle drawings with many great prizes
–Meet the Radio Pet Vet – Dr. Randy Aronson
–Tour the state-of-the-art PAWS facility
–Meet PAWS’ veterinarians
–Shop at Woofs without Roofs pet supply sale where 100% of the proceeds goes to the non-profit organization Woofs without Roofs, which helps the pets belonging to Tucson’s homeless population.
–For kids — jumping castles

• Lots of raffle prizes:
• 2-night stay at Adventure Dog Ranch
• 1 year supply of Heartguard & heartworm test
• 1 year supply of Frontline
• $75 gift card from Aussie Pet Mobile Grooming
• $100 gift card from Camp Bow Wow
• 3-day stay at Pampered Pooch
• Gift basket from Pet Matrix
• Painted pet art stone from Footprints of the Heart
• Cat supplement basket from Standard Process
• Dog supplement basket from Standard Process
• Gift basket from Pawsitivity

…and more…

Sounds like fun!  For more info, the phone # is 520-888-7297.

Morgan: Adopt ME!

Best Little Cat House in Tucson – October 28 – Fundraiser for Hermitage Cat Shelter

Savoy Opera House- Trail Dust Town
6541 East Tanque Verde Road #22
Tucson, AZ 85715
4:30 to 8:30 pm

Fundraiser for Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter, Arizona’s first no-kill, no-cage cat shelter. Help continue the mission of rescuing, and finding FUR-ever homes for more cats & kittens in Southern Arizona.

Join the fun:

–Live band “Way Out West”
–Gaming tables and slot machines
–Silent & live auction
–Cocktails & gaming tables open at 4:30 pm
–Dinner served at 6 pm
–Costume contest for best period Western wear – prizes will be awarded

Ticket includes dinner, dessert and $50 in kitty cash for the gaming tables. The cost is $100/pp; additional kitty cash available for $20 donation

Best event name ever: Best Little Cat House!

(Photo: Morgan, the cat is a love bug of a girl but has tummy troubles and must eat a special diet. She came to Hermitage from another shelter that was overcrowded.)

Microchips rock!

What a wonderful story: A cat that went missing 5 months ago is found and two local animal rescues work together to make it happen.

from the press release

A happy reunion unfolded this week at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) after a cat named Honey turned up at the Tucson Wildlife Center (TWC) following a five month disappearance.

“We discovered Honey on our far-east property more than two months ago,” explained TWC’s Founder and President, Lisa Bates. “The cat was very elusive.” But that didn’t discourage Lou Rae, TWC rehabilitator, and Inge Koopman-Leyva, TWC volunteer and HSSA Community Outreach Manager, from befriending the cat with toys and treats.

Eager to capture the weak and frightened cat before predators made a meal of him, TWC set up Havaheart live traps and celebrated the day Honey was finally safe in their custody.

Once delivered to the Humane Society, shelter workers found a microchip and contacted Honey’s family. Owner Linda Keeney immediately rushed to the HSSA for a tearful reunion. “Not a day went by when I didn’t think about Honey,” Keeney said. “He is truly an exceptional cat.”

Now safe at home, Honey is on strict orders not to sneak outside. “He recognized everyone and everything the moment he returned,” explained Keenly. “It’s wonderful to have him home again.”

Feline fun

Tucson 50 dogs & cats vaccinated free

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s mobile clinic will vaccinate the first 50 dogs and cats for free at Food City located at 428 W. Valencia Road.

Dogs must be leashed and cats must be in plastic or cardboard carriers.

Dogs will be given distemper, parvo, upper respiratory combination and rabies vaccines.

Cats will be given distemper, upper respiratory combination and rabies vaccines. Bordetella and feline leukemia vaccinations can be purchased for $10 each.

Both will be dewormed.

The vaccinations are funded by a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Where: Food City at 428 W. Valencia Rd.

When: 4-5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 29

Why: The mobile clinic is designed to help communities traditionally under-served by the organization. Because of financial hardship, fewer people are having their pets vaccinated. This can lead to high medical costs and can often force many to surrender their pets. Vaccinations are a key part of preventive care, and critical to stopping the spread of disease to animals and humans.

Survived a fire

Tucson: Cats survive house fire – ready to be adopted

From HSSA press release

Dustin Tynes and his wife came home last Monday night to a smoke-filled home. Immediately they panicked, knowing their three cats, two dogs and rabbit were inside. Fortunately, they found all the animals and escaped unharmed.

The Tynes’ trailer was destroyed, forcing them to move into an apartment that doesn’t allow cats. The Tynes had to relinquish the cats and bunny to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. “It broke our hearts to give them up,” says Dustin Tynes. “I feel happy they have a chance at the Humane Society to find a good home.”

The electrical fire was started by the fan above the stove. Initially there was concern one of the cats may have suffered from smoke inhalation, but he is now doing fine. Justin said the fire department told him if just one window had been open the fire would have spread quickly and his pets wouldn’t have made it out.

If you are interested in Blossom, Pinball (pictured above), Jewel or the bunny, Pancake, contact the Humane Society at 327-6088 or visit the website. All three are part of the Home For the Holidays promotion with adoption fees of $50 plus licensing.

(Photo is courtesy of the HSSAZ)

Tucson pet fundraising events: all breed dog wash, cats and cats

Frost says: Come to the Bamboo Club

Saturday – Sept 17 – dog wash
Oh, you dirty dog. Arizona Greyhound Rescue invites dirty dogs of all breeds to enjoy the pampering for a good cause. $10/wash, $10/nail trim or $15 for both. Such a deal! Stop by the merchandise table too. All this good clean fun happens at PAWS Veterinary Center located at 300 E. River Road from 8 to 11 a.m. No appointments; first come, first served.

Sunday – Sept 18 – celebrate cats
Celebrate 46 years for the Hermitage no-cage Cat Shelter.
Join in the Save-a-Cat Sunday fun from 4 to 6 p.m.:
–Tour the shelter
–Enjoy live music (Maya Caballero- vocals, Naim Amor – guitar, Thoger Lund (of Giant Sand) – upright bass, Marco Rosano (of The Rosano Brothers) – clarinet
–Full pasta dinner provided by Rosati’s
–Dessert table
–Raffle & silent auction

Tickets: $15/person

The Hermitage Cat Shelter is located at 5278 E 21st Street. Call to RSVP – 571-7839.

Wednesday – Sept 21 – wine/dine
The Bamboo Club in Park Mall is hosting “Casa de los Gatos Night” from 5-9 p.m., featuring half-price bottles of wine and delicious food. Patrons who show their wait person a flyer will get 10% of their check donated to Casa de los Gatos. Beading Divas to the Rescue bracelets will be for sale for $20; all bracelet sales are donated to the cats. Great food, wine, and bling…what more can you want?