(708)301-1594 
Open 11 am-4 pm Tuesday through Saturday Closed Sunday and Monday webmistress                   |
Shelter News from Shorty the Cat's Point of View
Hi!
I don't know why winter always seems to be the longest season of the year for me. Everyone is so bored, because there isn't much to do, unless you like to ski, skate or go snowmobiling, but all of that is too darn cold for me. There aren't even that many events going on, with the exception of our Cosmic Candlelight Bowl February 13. But other than that, the extent of my winter activities is curling up in a nice soft blanket, taking a cat nap. It was during one of those naps that I came up with a good primer for kittens and how they can best entertain their human buddies.If you have an upset stomach get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage this in time, get to an Oriental or a shag rug is good. Or for a real attention getter pick a counter top. You want everyone to know your tummy is upset.
If your people friends are throwing a dinner party, determine quickly which guest hates cats. Sit on their lap during the evening. He or she won't dare push you off, and will even call you "nice kitty". If you can arrange to have cat food on your breath all the better. Then make sure to keep rubbing your chin in their face, and purrrrr with delight! By the end of the evening you will have either made a friend, or they will never return, which means you will have your favorite chair back.
For sitting on laps or rubbing against pants legs, select colors that contrast with your own. Hardly a person leaves the shelter without knowing they have been touched by non other than me!
Always accompany your people friends or their guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything, just sit there and stare.
Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get one open, stand on your hind legs and hammer with your forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not necessary to use it. You can change your mind.
If one person is busy and the other person is not, sit with the busy one. For book readers, get in close under their chin. You might even flick your tail a time or two, this always works very well for me, that is unless you lie across the book itself. Yes, this is by far the better of the two methods if you want to get your humans attention. It works for me every time!
If your human knits, curl up quietly on their lap and pretend to doze. The reach out and slap the needles sharply. This is what is called dropping a stitch. She will try to distract you. Ignore it! This is a fun game!
If your people friends are doing homework or paying bills, sit on the paper being worked on. After being removed several times, change the game plan and push anything movable off the desk, pens, pencils, paper clips one at a time. This is especially fun to do if the canine of the house is sleeping below!
Make sure you get enough sleep during the day so you can be fresh for playing between 2 and 4 a.m.! There is nothing quite as much fun as a game of pounce! You sit patiently on the edge of the bed, watching for the first movement... yes that's the ticket, go for the toes. A little gentle pawing at them at first to make them wiggle a little more, then when the time is just right, POUNCE! You will see your people friend get into the game too when you see them jump a foot into the air. This game has a dual purpose. Usually by that time your people friend is wide awake and has made their way into the kitchen. Then you quickly make your move, taking over the nice warm spot on the bed! But a word to the wise, be careful not to play this game on a nightly basis or your people friends will get wise. Take this from an experienced player. My people friend got wise and instead of just going to the kitchen for a late night snack he would rev up the can opener and call "oh Shorty!" Sensing a fine snack awaiting, I would rush to the kitchen only to have someone whoosh past so fast it made my head spin! In disbelief I watched as my people friend literally pounced into bed! Hey! Hey! You stole my spot! Well I have all the time in the world, I can wait... then it is an all out attack no holds barred!
Well gotta run, all this writing has made me very tired and I need to settle down for a long winters nap.
Love,
Shorty
PS. Don't forget to get your tickets now for TLC's Cosmic Candlelight Bowl on February 13th. Catch a good catnap before hand so you're ready for a fun filled evening with plenty of good things to eat.
Bertha Fund in Need of Help
With the weather as severe as it has been in our area, not only has the shelter had to provide care for more animals in need, we have also been inundated with animals
needing more extensive care, than the routine wormings and vaccinations. We had numerous animals brought in suffering from upper respiratory problems and pneumonia, and various viral infections. The majority of these cases involved stray animals, that had been trying to fend for themselves in the cold.
lfleft untreated many of these dogs and cats would have succumbed, like the little dog pictured above. Between veterinary care for more severe cases and problems we could not take care of in house, and the medications we needed on hand to treat these cats and dogs a big dent has been taken out of the Bertha Fund. The Bertha Fund has been able to help so many animals, but now the Bertha Fund is in need of help itself. Your donations keep the Bertha Fund going so that we can continue to provide more extensive medical care for these animals as needed.
On behalf of the animals you have helped Thank you
Get your tickets Now
For TLC's 6th Annual Cosmic Candlelight Bowl
When: Saturday February 13
Time: 8:30 to 11:30
Where: Strike & Spare II 911 Northern Drive in Lockport
This is one of the most fun events the shelter holds all year! Beat the winter doldrums, and make a date with your friends to have a fun filled evening while helping to raise money for the animals at TLC.
The food is great: fried chicken, pizza, mostaccoli, and sides. Following dinner are 3 fun filled rounds of bowling with silly instructions to follow, no need to be a pro at this game! great raffle prizes and split the pots too!
Cost: $25.00 per person for 3 games of bowling & dinner
tickets available at the shelter this event is always a sell out so get your tickets now! For further information call 708-301-1594
What's with all the one eyed kitties?
If you have been checking out TLC's website since the beginning of this past December, you may have noticed that TLC has had a run on one eyed kitties!
It's not like we haven't had one
eyed animals in the past (including Sully the shelter mascot and VIP member) but we have never had so many one eyed animals brought to TLC in a month!The reason the~ kitties were brought to us, was that they were from a shelter in a rural area, where it is hard enough to place cats and kittens without any issues let alone try to place any with only one eye. Many of these were little farm kitties that lived outside and had suffered such severe eye infections or other trauma to the eye that they lost the eye itself. Many of them were lucky to be alive, considering how serious the infection had been. To make a long story short, we were contacted about these kitties by a party who we have worked with in the past and have helped rescue animals from a very rural shelter. We knew these poor cats and kittens were without hope of finding homes where they were at, so we agreed to take them in. Thanks to Sandi O'Brien and her hard work on the TLC website (www.tlcanimalshelter.org) we were able to place these sweethearts, into loving caring homes. We also want to thank several folks who made contributions to sponsor several of them to aid in finding them homes. By the way the cat pictured above is Lark, she was brought in with that group. As you can see she is missing her left eye. At the moment Lark is residing at the shelter, and has become buddies with Sully. She walked in to the shelter as if she owned the place, and has made herself right at home.
Walkathon Sponsors needed!!
To make this year's walkathon a success, we are once again putting out a plea for sponsors. As the old adage goes, "It takes money to make money" and that is why we are seeking sponsors for the event.How does your sponsorship help TLC? Sponsorship helps defray the cost of the walkathon shirts given out to each registered participant and provides doggie bandannas for canines enrolled in the event. Your sponsorship also helps us purchase incentive prizes to entice people to raise over $100 in pledge money.
How does your sponsorship of the TLC Walkathon benefit you? It lets people in the community know that you care about the welfare of abused, unwanted and abandoned animals and want to do something to improve the lives of these poor cats and dogs, by supporting the efforts ofTLC. Your companies name will be on the back of the walkathon shirts along with the names of the other sponsoring companies. Your companies name will also appear in the walkathon information packet and in the newsletter which is mailed to numerous homes throughout the community. If you like, you may also have a table at the event with business cards and brochures about your business.
Does it cost much to be a sponsor? Actually it is the cheapest advertising you will come across, reaching the kind of people you want as customers. The cost is a minimum of $200.00 (of course if you are able to contribute more it would be greatly appreciated). Even though the walkathon will not be held until June, we must receive your sponsorship money by March 15th. If you have any questions please feel free to call the shelter 708-301-1594
A Special Thanks
Goes out to: The Joyce Hewes Dennehy Charitable Fund for the generous grant and Ms. Mahoney for her generosity.
Do you have what it takes to be a VIP MEMBER?
If you like people and commit a couple of hours once a month or bi weekly to visit seniors, or shut-ins we could use you. If you are interested in becoming a VIP member please call the shelter at 708-301-1594, and we can discuss the program with you. Remember it is a commitment, but it is also very rewarding.
Pictured left to right Kathy Przybyla holding Buddy, Connie Bylsma Holding Pal and Annie Coleman holding Squirt
Good Search
Good Search, will help you search the internet while raising money for the shelter without costing you a penny. Just go to GoodSearch and where it asks for the name of your charity type in Tender Loving Care Animal Shelter Homer Glen Illinois. Then every time you search the web using GoodSearch TLC receives a penny. A penny may not seem like much to you, but those pennies add up. We just received a check in the amount of $159.09!
