This is how your final lost pet poster should look. From Missing Pet Partnership.
We live in an ever-changing world which means people and pets travel everywhere. They move anywhere. Sometimes they get lost. Timing is everything!
Just because you live in Maple Grove, MN, in a housing development that spans the equivalent of 40 blocks, your lost pet may not stay in your immediate area. What if you send a notice to your friend in Miami, FL. You have no knowledge of his vast list of friends, but he has 3 friends in Minneapolis. He forwards the information to his internet world and email contacts, and they send it to their contacts. Someone lives within a 10 mile radius of your house, receives the info originally sent by the Miami guy, and forwards it on to his friends and neighbors. One of those people knows where your lost pet is!
The first thing to do after picking up your lost pet: Write to the guy in Miami and let him know. Something like “We Did It!” in the subject line of your email will make him feel great, and he can pass it on to all those friends you haven’t met yet. It’s a movement! Life is good.
Missing Pet Partnership offers thorough, easy to follow information for making posters. fliers, and PDF pages for internet use.
The good people of Brevard County Florida are a perfect example of what happens when people get together to help other animal lovers. I encourage you to find similar sites in your area.
Feel free to add me to your list of “get the word out” contacts (askfisher at gmail.com). I would love to get a “We Did It” email back!
Your friend,
Fisher
It’s a movement.
It’s a beautiful idea.
It’s happening!
Operation Happy Sock —
give a homeless cat a lift!
Operation Happy Sock is a fun, simple way for kids (or anyone) to help homeless cats at their local animal shelter.
Collect unwanted socks and turn them into simple — but very effective and highly desirable — catnip toys!
Happy Socks are super simple to make: just take a sock and stuff it with a fistful of poly fill and a big pinch of catnip. Tie a knot in the ankle and you’ve made a Happy Sock!
Happy Socks can be made from almost any kind of sock. And cats love Happy Sock catnip toys because they’re big, fluffy and durable.
Dipper with the very first Happy Sock!
For complete details and how to get started, go to: Happy Sock headquarters.
Send suggestions to add to the list of groups and organizations:
- Brownies, Cubs and Scouts
- Any festival or event that has a special kids area
- Meet-Up groups for animal welfare
Some days it is just plain exciting opening my email. I love getting letters from you pets out there and I do strive to answer your questions and help resolve your issues as quickly as I can. After all, I know if you took the time to write to me, you wanted action!
It is also fun for me to share some of the other miscellaneous email I receive. Today I rushed to open “Inner Peace” in hopes of learning a great secret. Well, I was not really disappointed and I certainly was amused.
Inner Peace
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
…Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!
Your friend,
Fisher
Dear Fisher,
Two months ago my human Mom got a job that lets her work at home. She was so thrilled about it because she would be home more to keep me company. Lately she gets pretty irritated with me because she says I make too much noise. Maybe I am more vocal than before, but I thought she could use the company while she works. I would like having her home much more if she didn’t yell at me a lot. What should I do about this?
Ruffy
Dear Ruffy,
There are several possible reasons why you became Chatty Catty since your human is home more. I wonder, though, if this is a new behavior to keep your human company or if you always were a talker but no one was around to hear you. In either case, your human should pay close attention to your conversations and at the same time, you should not always expect her to know what you are talking about.
Most cats will talk some, but Siamese are known to talk more than most. It is one of their most beloved traits. Depending on intensity and frequency, it can be one of their most irritating traits as well. Your human mom likely has to concentrate on the work she is doing in her new job which may tend to make your cat-speak a little more on the irritating side of the scale. However, she would do well to take a little time to consider why you are suddenly more vocal.
Your human should first analyze the situation carefully and make sure all your needs are met. Do you have food and water in the proper bowls? Is the littler box clean? Are you just lonely and want attention or are you reacting to the sudden change in routine around your home. After looking into the situation and finding you are well cared for, she might want to consider whether or not you are in some physical distress and are covering up with small talk. If that is the case, it would be wise take you for a visit with your veterinarian.
After all is carefully scrutinized, your needs are met and health is fine, the #1 rule for dealing with a mouthy cat is to ignore the chatter. Recommendations from the San Francisco SPCA Cat Behavior Department are:
- Ignore your behavior until you are quiet and then pour on the love.
- Be patient.
- Do not scold – that will just encourage you.
- Do not reward – that will just encourage you more.
- Set up a designated time out from work and schedule play time.
- Recognize this new habit may take a long time to reverse itself.
- Be patient.
Worst case scenario, dear Ruffy, is that your human mom might have to recognize your behavior is not likely to change. A good alternative in this situation is to move her “at home” office to a location away from the constant interruption you have to offer. Peace for all!
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt Tampa Bay
Out There weekend edition
