Animal Love

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
   
   
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
   
   
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
   
   
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
   
   
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
   
   
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
   
   
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
   
   
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
   
   
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
   
   
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~ Take a moment today to be thankful for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them.
Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters..

~ Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here onearth and has four leg!

You have to check out these great events in Chicago. I personally like Angels With Tails. That is where we were lucky to find our baby boy Popcorn! You can meet wonderful adoptable dogs and cats. It's a great way to support PAWS Chicago and find your new furry companion.

PAWS Chicago Bloomingdale's Adoption Event - Bloomingdale's Old Orchard
Sun, May 17, 12:30pm ? 3:00pm
Bloomingdales' will feature PAWS Chicago adorable homeless dogs available for adoption.

Angels with Tails - Adoptions on Michigan Avenue and Oak Street
Sun, May 31, 12pm ? 4pm
Please join us for Chicago's premier adoption event showcasing homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. Come press your nose against Oak Street and Michigan Avenue storefront windows and experience the blessings these little angels can bring to your life.

PAWS Chicago Bloomingdale's Alumni Event - Bloomingdale's Old Orchard
Sun, June 21, 12:30pm ? 3:00pm
Bloomingdale's will feature PAWS Chicago Alumni dogs as examples of the adorable dogs available for adoption at the PAWS Chicago Adoption Center. To meet the dogs available for adoption, please visit our Adoption Center at: 1997 North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL.

PAWS Chicago Bloomingdale's Alumni Event - Bloomingdale's Oakbrook
Sun, July 5, 12:30pm ? 3:00pm
Bloomingdale's will feature PAWS Chicago Alumni dogs as examples of the adorable dogs available for adoption at the PAWS Chicago Adoption Center. To meet the dogs available for adoption, please visit our Adoption Center at: 1997 North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, IL.

PAWS Chicago Bloomingdale's Adoption Event - Bloomingdale's Old Orchard
Sun, July 19, 12:30pm ? 3:00pm
Bloomingdale's will feature PAWS Chicago adorable homeless dogs available for adoption.

Chicago's 7th Annual Beach Party, All Paws On Deck! at Castaway's at North Avenue Beach
Thu, July 23, 6pm ? 11pm
The 7th Annual PAWS Chicago Beach Party, All Paws On Deck! is a fun, pet-friendly, summer celebration! More information at http://beachparty.pawschicago.org

Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon. Cheer for PAWS Chicago's team and visit our tent in Charity Village!
Sunday, Aug 2, 2009
Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon, cheer for PAWS Chicago's team and visit our tent in Charity Village! http://marathon.pawschicago.org

Every month at www.petsadored.com, they hold a pet photo contest to share the beauty of pets all over the world. It is open to everyone and entry is free. Last month, I had entered my little furbabies in the March contest for "Cat of the Month". These are the photos I entered:

And the winner is... *drumroll please*... Jasper!

I am proud to announce that Jasper lounging in the sink has been picked as the winner for the March contest! I am so happy and honored that Jasper was picked. Here is the sketch of the photo I received. It is so beautifully done, I can't wait to print it out and frame it:

Be sure to stop by the website, www.petsadored.com. They have a variety of contests and the prizes are different each month. Also be sure to check out their pet and animal lover gifts. You can get personalized items with your pet's photo.

Thank you www.petsadored.com for letting me share little cuties and for the beautiful sketch of Jasper!

Well I am said to announce that our beloved Snickers, the black and white short hair guinea pig, has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge earlier this month. I am very sad and miss him alot but I know he is in a better place, with all the hay and veggies he can eat, where he doesn't have to worry about PB (our other long hair guinea pig) hogging all the food. 

He has lived a wonderful life, surrounded by lots of love from his human companions and his 4 legged friends. He has traveled quite abit too for a little guy. He has seen the blue skies and Rocky Mountains of Boulder, Colorado, driven across a number of states to move to the Windy City, Chicago, has even been down to Ohio. When we first adopted him, he was our only furry baby at the time. He has made alot of furry friends since then. He was best friends with PB, been through all the births of our dwarf hamster bunch, watched as my turtle has grown bigger and bigger, hung out with all the kitties and doggies between our house and my bf's parents house. Who knew a little guinea pig would see so much.

I remember when he first joined our little family, he was this tiny little shy guy. My bf traveled alot for work so we decided I should adopt a little friend to keep me company. I had picked him up on my break at work, so the first few people he met were my co-workers. Everyone ooh-ed and aw-ed over him since he was such a cutie. At home we would let him wander around the apartment, and then I would hold him as he curled up to take a nap on my lap. And when it came time for feeding, he was very vocal! As soon as you would russle the food bag he would go nuts and squeak like crazy. He especially like carrot sticks!

Now I have been trying to shower PB with lots of affection. When he joined our little family, Snickers was already there, so he was never alone. He seems like he is hanging in there. But gotta make sure he knows he is loved and not alone even though he best buddy is no longer with us.

~ We love you Snick-Snicks and miss you dearly!

Popcorn has a curious kitty interest with my plants. Whenever I go to water any of them, he gets really excited and comes running out from where ever he has hiding so he can watch me water the plants. I really don't know what is so interesting about plants getting watered but he loves to watch. When it comes to my plants, he has fun swatting the leaves, watching them bounce around, and occassionally breaking off a leaf or two or three.

The battle of the plants versus Popcorn, and the winner is... Well this past weekend, one of my plants, a little clover plant that blooms cute little white flowers, went a round with Popcorn. I wasn't in town when it happened, but according to my boyfriend, he was woken up at 4am to the sound of something crashing to the floor. He went to investigate and found in the living room a broken flower pot, potting soil and clovers all over the floor. Amazingly, the clovers were okay, except for a few broken stems and leaves. Of course, the pot really didn't survive. For the most part, Popcorm usually doesn't mess with my plants. The only time he does is when we bring home a new plant. He has to investigate it, and in the process has knocked some off the counter. I think this time, my clovers may have fallen victim to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have some cute little froggie figurines around my plant stand, which Popcorn loves to play with. One figurine has dangley legs that hang down. So I think quite possibly Popcorn may have been trying to play with that when he knocked the plant off the stand. Of course, I guess we will never know what really happened...except for Popcorn and the Clovers.

Are you looking for a new furry companion? Well if you are in Illinois, PAWS Chicago always has wonderful events giving you the opportunity to meet your new friend. They often show adoptable dogs and cats at various stores like Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Petco. My favorite event is their Angels With Tails adoption event. That is where I found my little Popcorn. Here are a couple events to check out if you are looking to adopt or want to support PAWS. Hope you find your match!

Bloomingdale's in Oakbrook will feature adorable homeless dogs available for adoption
Sunday July 6 from 12 pm to 3 pm

PAWS Chicago presents Angels With Tails Winnetka Adoption Event
Saturday July 26 from 11 am to 3 pm

PAWS Chicago presents Angels With Tails Armitage Avenue Adoption Event
Sunday August 24 from 12 pm to 4 pm

8th Annual Run For Their Lives 8K Run/4K Walk, Montrose Beach
Sunday September 28 at 9 am
 

If you are looking for a fun way to play with your kitties or if you just want to distract them, I have a suggestion for you. Bubbles!...or to be more specific, Catnip Bubbles! I will admit, it can be hit-or-miss on the fun scale for your kitty. I have catnip spray that I use on their toys and furniture and all of the kitties love that, but when it comes to the catnip bubbles 2 out of 3 kitties love it. But it is something you should definately try.

My baby boy Popcorn absolutely loves them! When I ask him if he wants to play with the bubbles, he gets so excited, starts talking like crazy, and can't wait for you to start blowing bubbles. As I pull out the bubble wand, he anxiously sits at my feet, ready to pounce, crying because I can't seem to blow them fast enough for his liking. He watches wide-eyes as those curious round spheres come floating down, swats them out of the air, and if they land on the ground without popping, he will make sure they get popped. On occasion a rogue bubble will land on his nose, dangle there while he has a confused look on his face before it pops. It is really quite amusing to watch.

Ginger, on the other hand seems to just enjoy watching them float down. I don't think she knows what to make of the bubbles. When she gets really excited, she may try to pop a couple of bubbles, but mostly she just sits back and watches in wonder as they float down. Of course, that may also partly be because Popcorn goes after every single bubble, not really letting her get in on the fun. Either way she still likes it and will get just as excited when I pull the bubbles out.

Now as for Jasper, she really has no interest for the bubbles. If I happen to catch one with the wand and present it to her, she will reach her little paw out and pop it, but otherwise she pays not attention. Of course, once again Popcorn may be the cause, since he has to be greedy and get them all.

So I guess you could say in our house, 2 out of 3 kitties give it a paws up. You will have to try it out with your furry friends, it could be alot of fun for both of you!

So I haven't added any stories in quite a while. It has been a couple of crazy months. We spent the last half of April packing up and moving to a new apartment, an "upgrade" from our old place. Now I have spent this month unpacking, getting settled in, and trying to teach the kitties old "tricks". The new place is great for the kitties, it has a very long hallway from the living room to the bedroom that is ideal for the energized kitty to run wildly down. It is all hardwood floor so their toys roll and slide across, as do they when they try to run. The only problem I have with hardwood floors is that there is more visible hair and dust bunnies, I feel like I have to clean alot more often.

Now back to the teaching of old tricks. It seems that when you move into a new place, the rules that you have taught your pets are thrown out of the window and they believe they have a run of the place and free to do whatever they please. It always amazes me how much they understand what they are not allowed to do and try so hard to do it. At our old place, I didn't allow the kitties to walk on the kitchen counters, just seemed kind of gross since that is where my food goes. They were pretty good about that rule too. At our new apartment, we have a beautiful kitchen with a huge island and a black gas stove. I guess in my babies mind, that rule is null and void. They jump up there any chance they get. You can even see little kitty footprints on the stove top. I have my handy spray bottle to squirt them with. They are slowly "re-learning" not to do that. If I yell at them they will get down, but they still try to jump up when they think I can't see them. (They think they are so sneaky, but really they aren't!) I will admit that we still have boxes left by the counters making it easy for them to jump up, especially Popcorn since he has shorter legs than the girls. I will keep you posted on how well they learn!

If you are an animal lover like I am, take the pledge to fight animal cruelty today.
1,000,000 signatures will make a difference in the fight to end animal cruelty.

My kitties have now picked up some new quirky habits. My boyfriend and I are big fan of hockey, Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks, so we try to go to alot of games. If we can't go, (especially the Colorado games) we have the game on tv. It seems our little Popcorn has become a fan of hockey too! *must be a mother's influence * Whenever there is a game on tv, he jumps up on the entertainment stand, sits right in front of tv and watches the screen with big, wide eyes. As cute as it is, I do make him get down. He's blocking the screen for me to watch!

Ginger has always liked to find odd places to hide. She has found a new place to hang out it. See if you can find her.

As you can see, our entertainment stand has alot of things in it, the cable box, XBox, Wii, Playstation, numerous game controllers, and a mess of cables behind. Now Ginger has added herself to the collection. There is a glass door in front of her, so she has to have someone let her out. She's really not supposed to go in there, so I have blocked the back of it with a bunch of boxes. We'll have to see if she find a way around the boxes or if she goes some place else.