by Mary Powell
Natalie McIntyre wanted a friend to keep her cat Zeus company. She had rescued Zeus, her grey cat with yellow eyes, when he was a kitten and bottle-fed him every two hours until he could eat on his own. He had grown into a healthy, indoor cat, and Natalie thought it was time for him to have a playmate.
"I checked out some of the pet stores that had shelter cats for adoption, but I thought I would go to the shelter too-- there were even more cats there that needed homes," she said. "When I went into the cat playroom, this black cat followed me all around. That cat was China," who is now living with Zeus and Natalie.
"China had been at the Shelter since September," said Natalie. "Sometimes I think both of my cats know I saved their lives."
Now Zeus has his playmate, and China is no longer on the "short list" at the Shelter. "You should see the two of them playing together," said Natalie, who is pictured here showing off one of their cat toys. "They're so funny-- they love to chase each other around the house. And sometimes China has this cute look like she's sticking her tongue out at you," she said. "She's a great cat and I feel good that I adopted her from the Shelter."
Maybe you could find a great companion for yourself and your pet at the Shelter too. Call 294-4857 or come on out to visit: M-Fri, 10-6 and Sat., 10-2.
And when you adopt, please make a lifetime commitment. Your pet will make one to you.
Instead of too much sticky, sugary Easter candy that causes cavaties and increased activity levels for your kids, (especially around nap or bedtime), how about surprising them with a manatee they can call their own?
Adopting a manatee is a great way to introduce children to the environment, and a real "hands-off" way to get to know animals. Proceeds from Save the Manatee Club's (SMC) Adopt-A-Manatee Program go toward conservation programs to protect the 2,400 endangered manatees that make the warm waters of Florida their home.
For only $20 annually, "parents" of adopted manatees receive an adoption certificate, a photo of "their" manatee, the manatee's biography, and a 28-page membership handbook with educational information about these "gentle giants" for young children can also be included in the adoption packet upon request.
Members receive updates on their adopted manatee four times a year in the Club newsletter. As children follow the activities of "their" manatee, they learn a great deal about the life cycle of a manatee and about manatee conservation efforts.
Funds from the Adopt- A-Manatee Program go toward education and public awareness programs, manatee research and rescue and rehabilitation efforts, and lobbying and legal activities to help protect manatees and their habitat. Singer Jimmy Buffett and Senator Bob Graham established the organization in 1981 so the public could participate in conservation efforts to save manatees from extinction.
To adopt an endangered, gentle manatee, call the Save The Manatee Club at 1-800-432-5646.
You can also visit their website: http://www.savethemantee.org
American Eskimo breed who really needs a home. Shelter volunteer Georgia Favelli says he's "gorgeous, and a real gentleman. He's easy to walk, is housetrained and a great companion." What more could you ask? And Conrad, the year-old Staffordshire Terrier (pictured in KWTN, March 31) is still a "dead dog walking" (he's on the "short list"at the shelter). He really needs a good home, too.
Please call the Shelter at 294-4857 if you have a home for Sammy or Conrad. Or go on out to visit with them. You might find a new best friend.