July/August 08

8.30.08

The ‘kitten chronicles’ continue

Keeping up with five kittens was a handful, so I’m happy to report that Blondie, the orange tabby, has been adopted by my veterinarian’s assistant, who fell in love with him during his visit to the vet. And Pierre, the brave little cream-colored guy who first went looking for help, has a family who’s definitely interested in adopting him. But, as of this writing, I am still kitten-sitting three (brother Dylan having moved to Safe Haven, a local no-kill shelter where folks come to adopt cats and kittens).

Dylan, the 'kitten king' of mischief.

And I can tell you that even without Blondie and Dylan, who was a bit of a ringleader when it came to mischief, these guys are a pawful – especially since they’ve become such skilled climbers and have started being permitted “recess periods” during the day when they are allowed to scamper about and explore the house to their hearts’ content.

I must say, I thought I knew all about cats and their capabilities, but watching these guys perform graceful leaps into the air, engage in wrestling matches and play “soccer” with a dry leaf is like trying to keep tabs on a troupe of circus acrobats. In fact, they make my more “mature” feline friends seem positively restful to be around.

But I don’t expect to be keeping tabs on their antics much longer, since Pierre will soon be going to his new home and the others will be moving to Safe Haven with Dylan. I’ll sure miss the little guys - but not having to worry about them disappearing or otherwise getting into trouble will be a big relief.

Just look at how my kittens have grown in two months! It's also become harder to nap around here, as someone is always coming over to see if I can play -- something Dylan specialized in before he moved to Safe Haven Cat Rescue.	When playful Pierre is out and about, he seems to take possession of most of my toys and balls. (Note my new headgear -- a yellow feather --which the kittens just love playing with.)
This is how Tiger looks now. Her ears and tail grew faster than anything else.	Bronson looks more grown-up than any of the others. For a "now-and then" comparison, check out her photo, taken right after I found her, at the bottom.

And while we’re on the subject of safe havens….

My experience as a kitten caregiver has gotten me to thinking about all the cats out there who aren’t as lucky as this particular litter. Far too many of them become feral, and the fate that all too often awaits homeless cats (as well as dogs) isn’t something I like to talk -- or even think --about.

That’s why it’s so exciting to hear about what a group called PAWS Chicago is doing. They’ve got over 3,000 volunteers who have devoted themselves to rescuing less fortunate felines and canines and finding them good, loving homes – and a spanking new facility where they can stay in the meantime, for however long it takes. They also offer the biggest free program in the country for people who can’t afford to spay or neuter their pets.

You can read all about it (and how Pet Promise is helping out with a “Pets for the Planet” fund-raising event) in the next edition of our Promises newsletter. So if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the Promise Circle by clicking here to make sure you receive all of the latest Pet Promise news.

I could tell you more, but I hear Pierre, Tiger and Bronson being let out of their room so I better keep my eye on them. Talk later.

Posted by Bumby at 3:25 p.m.

7.24.08

When summer vacation includes the family pet,
it’s important not to leave anything to chance

Being a home-loving sort of dog, I have a hard time understanding why our companion humans feel this need to get up and go somewhere the minute summer arrives. Why, I can’t help wondering, do they insist on going to all that trouble and expense when they’ve already got all their “creature comforts” assembled in one place? I suppose it could have something to do with the way the human race evolved. Still, it must have been a lot easier for primitive man to bring his faithful dog along on a hunting expedition than it is for today’s families to bring theirs along on a typical vacation.

Some dogs like to vacation on the water. While I haven't been on a boat yet, I practice on dry land by wearing my doggie life jacket and pretending I'm sailing (see photo below).

That’s not to say that many dogs don’t enjoy the experience of accompanying their families on a car trip. Most that I know of would certainly prefer that to being left in a kennel. But if you’re planning such a getaway, taking your best buddy along is something you should make careful preparations for in advance.

For one thing, just how good a traveler is your furry friend? Is he (or she) the type that eagerly awaits any chance to go along for the ride, or does he get carsick the minute you leave home? That’s something you can only determine by taking a few ‘test runs” with your dog (if you haven’t already done so).

Secondly, is your destination an animal-friendly one? A lot of accommodations aren’t so accommodating when it comes to dogs (and many even less so in the case of cats). That’s not something you can leave to chance – you need to check it out in advance. There’s no better way to ruin a vacation than to be told a member of your party isn’t welcome at the place you planned to stay and relax. And don’t think that you’ll get away with “sneaking” your pet in, because it’s quite likely that, in a bark or two, you’ll be found out.

Then there’s the locale you’re planning to visit. Seashore resorts usually have rules that prohibit dogs from going on the beach during the summer months - which to me, is a good reason to consider visiting them off-season, since most dogs love to run on the beach. You also have to remember to bring along everything your best friend ordinarily needs – like an ample supply of what he’s in the habit of eating. (For me that means Pet Promise, my favorite toys and doggie bed.)

Last year my person got me a life jacket to wear just in case we go on a water adventure. It took a while to get used to, but I'm ready to sail now.

There are other things you need to remember to bring along as well, including a rabies vaccination certificate and whatever medications he might be taking. And – very important – be sure your pet has a microchip, as well as “dog tags” on his collar - just in case he wanders off. And it’s a good idea to include your cell-phone number on both so you can be reached when you’re away from home.

But the most important thing to keep in mind is that no matter where you go, it’s still summer – and leaving your friend in a car for just a few minutes during the day could well mean an emergency trip to the vet. And one more thing – even though I know some dogs love to stick their heads out of car windows and catch the breeze, that can be dangerous.

As for cats, most all the ones I know would much prefer to stay home – which is why some vacationing humans make arrangements to have friends or neighbors come by to feed them and take care of their litter boxes.

I could tell you more, but it sounds like I’m about to be invited for a ride in the car. Gee, I sure hope it’s not a long-distance road trip, I’m pretty darn comfortable here at home. Talk later.

Posted by Bumby at 2 p.m.

7.8.08

When kittens happen, Bichons have to take a back seat

Here I was, all packed and ready for an afternoon of some canine companionship at the Delaware Valley Bichon Rescue annual picnic when I got involved with a rescue of my own. I had been planning on going to the Bichon picnic since early spring, but it seems that no matter how far in advance you plan to do something, sometimes unexpected little things pop up. In this case, there were five such little things – all different colors and all quite hungry. What started out as a picnic day ended up as my great kitten rescue.

Here are four of the kittens I rescued, just after I found them in the bushes.

It all began when one of the kittens, now called Pierre, went for help. He wobbled out of some dense bushes where his mother cat had placed him and his littermates, and a neighbor heard him crying on the lawn. When I inspected the bushes further (I’m almost a professional kitten finder), I sniffed out four more. These little guys had been waiting for mama cat to return for several days with no food, so we are lucky they all survived.

Pierre, Tiger, Dylan, Blondie and Bronson are almost two months old now. They seem to have doubled in size in the month I’ve been caring for them, and they all gobble up their Pet Promise Chicken and Rice Formula, mashed up with a good amount of kitten replacement milk.

Here I am supervising while Blondie plays with his ball.	This is Pierre, the brave kitten who went for help when momma cat didn't come back after several days.
This is Bronson, the first kitten to do the daring couch jump and become airborne in the living room.	Here are Tiger and Dylan coming over to see if I can play with them.

At first, they were given the downstairs bathroom, and got to spend the afternoon in a playpen, but now that they need more space to play, they’ve been moved to the room formerly known as “Bumby’s.” (Hey, everyone needs a quiet space to nap now and then.) They sleep in my doggie bed, play with my toys, bounce off the couch and make the biggest mess I’ve ever seen. I visit at feeding time, which is a great event in the kitten world, and let them play with my ears and tail. This usually results in my ears being snagged by a lot of little kitty claws -- although I really don’t mind a bit.

Still, it’s a relief when they go to sleep every so often -- practicing, no doubt, for the frequent naps they’ll take when they’re grown-up cats.

As for that planned afternoon get-together with my Bichon buddies, I guess that will just have to wait till next year.

I could tell you more, but I hear the kitties waking up from their nap. Talk later.

Posted by Bumby at 2:45 p.m.