blog
one click save a life!
My friend Bernie who runs A Place to Bark is in the running for the Chase Giving contest. The winning prize is for 100 charities and they will spilt $3M. Wow! That could go a long way to saving so many animals from death row and that's why we want her to win this amazing opportunity! But we only have FOUR DAYS to get the word out. We need votes!
Please CLICK THIS LINK and then go and vote! Then tell all your friends! Post on Facebook, Twitter and email your friends too!
Because of the recession this year has been very difficult for a lot of charities and A Place to Bark is not excluded. Time and time again Bernie has come so near to having to close and stop taking in dogs. But she forges on, with her own money and funds and the kindness of vets allowing her to carry a VERY LARGE medical bill balance.
With this money A Place to Bark would be able to pay off all the debt, and save SO MANY MORE lives!! This needs to happen. So please help us spread the word!! ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT!
Without A Place to Bark we wouldn't have our Maggie. Here's a photo of Maggie with me just minutes after we picked her up and were bringing her home! Saved from death row by Bernie - now spoiled rotten by us!!
Don't forget to CLICK THIS LINK and vote right now before you forget! Tell every single person you know to do it too, we only have until Nov 22nd!!!
UPDATED NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Thanks to everyone for voting!! Bernie was able to place and win $25k for the rescue! Your support is appreciated!
Please CLICK THIS LINK and then go and vote! Then tell all your friends! Post on Facebook, Twitter and email your friends too!
Because of the recession this year has been very difficult for a lot of charities and A Place to Bark is not excluded. Time and time again Bernie has come so near to having to close and stop taking in dogs. But she forges on, with her own money and funds and the kindness of vets allowing her to carry a VERY LARGE medical bill balance.
With this money A Place to Bark would be able to pay off all the debt, and save SO MANY MORE lives!! This needs to happen. So please help us spread the word!! ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT!
Without A Place to Bark we wouldn't have our Maggie. Here's a photo of Maggie with me just minutes after we picked her up and were bringing her home! Saved from death row by Bernie - now spoiled rotten by us!!
Don't forget to CLICK THIS LINK and vote right now before you forget! Tell every single person you know to do it too, we only have until Nov 22nd!!!
UPDATED NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Thanks to everyone for voting!! Bernie was able to place and win $25k for the rescue! Your support is appreciated!
Labels: pets
New baby in our house!
Last week a new bundle of joy came into our lives quite by surprise! A friend of ours had found a little kitten a few days earlier. He was starving and very thin and dodging cars on a busy city street. Not a good combo for a tiny kitten! She posted signs to find out if he was anyone's, all the neighbors told her he was a stray living next to a restaurant just two doors down.
I had seen her tweets about her efforts to catch him and offered to help. We both tried. He'd come closer and then dart away. Then on Thursday night she caught him, called me and brought him over! All while Paul was at tennis, he had no idea what was happening while he was out!
The little guy was so tiny! Once safe in our guest bathroom he seemed really excited about eating and getting lots of snuggles. At 8 am the next morning I had him at the vet, we got a health report: dehydration, ear mites, deworming, he needed a bath (he was so dirty!), the usual stuff for a little stray kitten thankfully no FIV etc. The vet surprised me by saying he was only 8 weeks old. I think he's going to be huge! He's big for only 8 weeks old!
Paul got to name him (since he had no say in our new kitten's arrival) and decided his name would be Brian! We made little Brian a room in the guest bathroom and he stayed under this cabinet for two days.
Pretty soon his confidence was up and he was feeling better after having lots of food. He ate so much the first few days! With slow introductions to Mabel and Maggie he was soon running around the house and having lots of fun.
stalking Mabel cat while she sleeps...
Napping in the doorway of my doll house (he is in and out of this dollhouse all day long!)
Looking cute in my office chair....
I got a little video of Mabel cat mothering Brian....
We have fallen in love with him and we are so excited that he is a part of our family! I can't believe it's only been a week, he fits in so seamlessly, it's as if he's always been here!
Last week a new bundle of joy came into our lives quite by surprise! A friend of ours had found a little kitten a few days earlier. He was starving and very thin and dodging cars on a busy city street. Not a good combo for a tiny kitten! She posted signs to find out if he was anyone's, all the neighbors told her he was a stray living next to a restaurant just two doors down.
I had seen her tweets about her efforts to catch him and offered to help. We both tried. He'd come closer and then dart away. Then on Thursday night she caught him, called me and brought him over! All while Paul was at tennis, he had no idea what was happening while he was out!
The little guy was so tiny! Once safe in our guest bathroom he seemed really excited about eating and getting lots of snuggles. At 8 am the next morning I had him at the vet, we got a health report: dehydration, ear mites, deworming, he needed a bath (he was so dirty!), the usual stuff for a little stray kitten thankfully no FIV etc. The vet surprised me by saying he was only 8 weeks old. I think he's going to be huge! He's big for only 8 weeks old!
Paul got to name him (since he had no say in our new kitten's arrival) and decided his name would be Brian! We made little Brian a room in the guest bathroom and he stayed under this cabinet for two days.
Pretty soon his confidence was up and he was feeling better after having lots of food. He ate so much the first few days! With slow introductions to Mabel and Maggie he was soon running around the house and having lots of fun.
stalking Mabel cat while she sleeps...
Napping in the doorway of my doll house (he is in and out of this dollhouse all day long!)
Looking cute in my office chair....
I got a little video of Mabel cat mothering Brian....
We have fallen in love with him and we are so excited that he is a part of our family! I can't believe it's only been a week, he fits in so seamlessly, it's as if he's always been here!
Labels: pets
happy mother's day!
It was one year ago this weekend that we adopted our doggie Maggie and she quickly took over our hearts. She came all the way from TN to DC from aplacetobark.com on Mother's Day weekend
Just minutes after Maggie came off the transport, we're in the back seat of the car ready to head to her new home with us! Read Maggie's adoption story here!
Happy Mother's Day everyone!! Even mommies of 4-legged furry children count! :)
Happy Mother's Day everyone!! Even mommies of 4-legged furry children count! :)
Labels: pets
maggie's new shoes!
Maggie dog has had sore paws from all the salt on the sidewalks here in DC. We like to go for long walks but the salt was wreaking havoc on her paws and with each new walk she'd come home limping. I tried washing her feet every time we'd come back and Tender Foot moisturizer but nothing was helping.
Now Maggie has some stylish new doggie snow boots to protect her paws!
I got these from alldogboots.com and they were amazing with their customer service.
Here I am measuring Maggie's paw, but after a quick consult with @alldogboots, it was recommended that I get the M+ and not the Large as I thought! We had a really long twitter conversation picking out the right size for Maggie and the right type of boot for our 2 mile daily walks. I really appreciated this as it meant that then we got the right fit the first time!
We went out on first walk today with the new boots and at first Maggie didn't like them in the apartment. I was worried at first, but as soon as we were outside she forgot that she had them on and we had a wonderful long walk with lots of smiles from strangers. The boots stayed on for the whole walk... and the best part was no limping when we got back home!
Now Maggie has some stylish new doggie snow boots to protect her paws!
I got these from alldogboots.com and they were amazing with their customer service.
Here I am measuring Maggie's paw, but after a quick consult with @alldogboots, it was recommended that I get the M+ and not the Large as I thought! We had a really long twitter conversation picking out the right size for Maggie and the right type of boot for our 2 mile daily walks. I really appreciated this as it meant that then we got the right fit the first time!
We went out on first walk today with the new boots and at first Maggie didn't like them in the apartment. I was worried at first, but as soon as we were outside she forgot that she had them on and we had a wonderful long walk with lots of smiles from strangers. The boots stayed on for the whole walk... and the best part was no limping when we got back home!
Labels: pets
hello Santa!
We took Maggie dog to see Santa on Sunday. The hotel Monaco did a fundraiser with the Washington Humane Society. In the lobby they had a cozy fire. Cookies for the doggies and cookies and hot chocolate for the humans too!
We weren't expecting to get in the photo but decided to at the last minute, love how it turned out! Everyone made a huge fuss over Maggie in her Santa Suit and she had so much fun smiling for the camera.
It's so great to have Maggie with us for her first Christmas as a family. Without Bernie at A Place to Bark Maggie wouldn't be alive. Seriously. Bernie pulled Maggie from animal control just before she was scheduled to be put down. Without her we wouldn't have our wonderful Maggie.
A Place to Bark has has lots more sweet furry babies that need your help!
Even just $5 or $10 would go a long way to helping to support all the animals that she takes in and finds new homes. And the best part your donation is tax deductible !!
She was telling me yesterday that she spends $15,000 a year just on pet food not to even mention the vet bills! Wow! By networking with humane societies, she has rescued (and found homes for) over 700 animals this year! yay! go Bernie!!
Also a bonus! If A Place to Bark needs to raise $1500 more by the end of the year to receive a $5k matching grant. We can help her do this!
HOW TO DONATE:
To donate just scroll down to the 6 Degrees Badge in my right side bar. Your donation is tax deductible too!
To learn more about A Place to Bark visit the web site
Friend A Place to Bark on Twitter or Facebook to follow along with her animal rescue adventures!
We weren't expecting to get in the photo but decided to at the last minute, love how it turned out! Everyone made a huge fuss over Maggie in her Santa Suit and she had so much fun smiling for the camera.
It's so great to have Maggie with us for her first Christmas as a family. Without Bernie at A Place to Bark Maggie wouldn't be alive. Seriously. Bernie pulled Maggie from animal control just before she was scheduled to be put down. Without her we wouldn't have our wonderful Maggie.
A Place to Bark has has lots more sweet furry babies that need your help!
Even just $5 or $10 would go a long way to helping to support all the animals that she takes in and finds new homes. And the best part your donation is tax deductible !!
She was telling me yesterday that she spends $15,000 a year just on pet food not to even mention the vet bills! Wow! By networking with humane societies, she has rescued (and found homes for) over 700 animals this year! yay! go Bernie!!
Also a bonus! If A Place to Bark needs to raise $1500 more by the end of the year to receive a $5k matching grant. We can help her do this!
HOW TO DONATE:
To donate just scroll down to the 6 Degrees Badge in my right side bar. Your donation is tax deductible too!
To learn more about A Place to Bark visit the web site
Friend A Place to Bark on Twitter or Facebook to follow along with her animal rescue adventures!
Labels: pets
good bye little stanley
I can not believe I am even writing this blog post. I feel like I am in some kind of nightmare, I'll wake up and our Stanley cat will be here snuggling with me under the covers.
Our little Stanley has crossed over the rainbow bridge.
Late last night he suddenly collapsed and was howling out in pain, he couldn't move at all. I knew right away what it was, because I was warned at every 3 month visit to Stan's cardiologist that this could happen.
We rushed him to the Emergency Vet immediately and it was determined that he had multiple blood clots in 3 of his limbs. They had difficulty finding a working vein to administer IV pain meds. After discussing it with the vet we decided it was time to say good bye. Such a huge and difficult decision to make but even if were able to get the clots under control the likelihood of them coming back were at about 100%. He was in tremendous pain so it was our time to be brave for him and help him cross over.
We are comforted to know that he had amazing quality of life right up until his last hour. He showed zero symptoms yesterday and zooming around just like his usual frisky self.
Stanley was such a joy in our lives. Rescued and bottle fed by Bernie at A Place to Bark at only 2 weeks old. We drove up to Atlanta to get him on our 5 year wedding anniversary and he was just 5 weeks old and our little baby.
sweet dreams little Stan..... 4 years was not long enough with you. Our hearts are aching. We miss you already little guy!
Our little Stanley has crossed over the rainbow bridge.
Late last night he suddenly collapsed and was howling out in pain, he couldn't move at all. I knew right away what it was, because I was warned at every 3 month visit to Stan's cardiologist that this could happen.
We rushed him to the Emergency Vet immediately and it was determined that he had multiple blood clots in 3 of his limbs. They had difficulty finding a working vein to administer IV pain meds. After discussing it with the vet we decided it was time to say good bye. Such a huge and difficult decision to make but even if were able to get the clots under control the likelihood of them coming back were at about 100%. He was in tremendous pain so it was our time to be brave for him and help him cross over.
We are comforted to know that he had amazing quality of life right up until his last hour. He showed zero symptoms yesterday and zooming around just like his usual frisky self.
Stanley was such a joy in our lives. Rescued and bottle fed by Bernie at A Place to Bark at only 2 weeks old. We drove up to Atlanta to get him on our 5 year wedding anniversary and he was just 5 weeks old and our little baby.
here he is testing the patience of Mabel!
he was such a teeny little thing giving Paul kisses ....
Stan and Mabel always hanging out together....
Always ready when we woke up ..
he loved watching us get ready in the morning. For a long time I couldn't even use our sink!
he was so brave at his visit to the Cardiologist every 3 months for his checkup and echocardiogram.
I couldn't open a shopping bag without him jumping in..
he was an artist ...
a cheerleader when there was work to get done....
and a yoga instructor ...
and lollipop lover...
Labels: pets
one click ... save a life!
My friend Bernie who runs A Place to Bark is in the running for the GoDaddy commercial contest. The winning prize is $250,000! Wow! That could go a long way to saving so many animals from death row and that's why we want her to win this amazing opportunity!
Please CLICK THIS LINK and then go and vote a rating of 5 on Bernie's commercial. 5 is the highest rating and you can vote ONCE A DAY! Then tell all your friends! Post on Facebook, Twitter and email your friends too!
Because of the recession this year has been very difficult for a lot of charities and A Place to Bark is not excluded. Time and time again Bernie has come so near to having to close and stop taking in dogs. But she forges on, with her own money and funds and the kindess of vets allowing her to carry a VERY LARGE medical bill balance.
With this money A Place to Bark would be able to pay off all the debt, finish the shelter and save SO MANY MORE lives!! This needs to happen. So please help us spread the word!!
Without A Place to Bark we wouldn't have our Maggie or our Stanley cat. Here's a photo of Maggie with me just minutes after we picked her up and were bringing her home! Saved from death row by Bernie - now spoiled rotten by us!!
Don't forget to CLICK THIS LINK and vote ONCE A DAY from now until October 18th. Don't forget to tell every single person you know to do it too!!!
Please CLICK THIS LINK and then go and vote a rating of 5 on Bernie's commercial. 5 is the highest rating and you can vote ONCE A DAY! Then tell all your friends! Post on Facebook, Twitter and email your friends too!
Because of the recession this year has been very difficult for a lot of charities and A Place to Bark is not excluded. Time and time again Bernie has come so near to having to close and stop taking in dogs. But she forges on, with her own money and funds and the kindess of vets allowing her to carry a VERY LARGE medical bill balance.
With this money A Place to Bark would be able to pay off all the debt, finish the shelter and save SO MANY MORE lives!! This needs to happen. So please help us spread the word!!
Without A Place to Bark we wouldn't have our Maggie or our Stanley cat. Here's a photo of Maggie with me just minutes after we picked her up and were bringing her home! Saved from death row by Bernie - now spoiled rotten by us!!
Don't forget to CLICK THIS LINK and vote ONCE A DAY from now until October 18th. Don't forget to tell every single person you know to do it too!!!
Labels: pets
graduation day!
Tonight Maggie graduated from doggie school! For the last 5 weeks we've been taking her to classes with the amazing Toni from Anytime Canine. Toni is a super instructor and really amazing with the people and the doggies! I can't say enough good things, if you're in the DC/VA area I highly recommend!
Here are some pics from grad night:
Maggie so proud!
Maggie again!
Seffi, one of Maggie's classmates
Nico another classmate. Nico really liked Maggie!
Harley - the star of the class!
We had so much fun we're going to enroll into the next level!
Here are some pics from grad night:
Maggie so proud!
Maggie again!
Seffi, one of Maggie's classmates
Nico another classmate. Nico really liked Maggie!
Harley - the star of the class!
We had so much fun we're going to enroll into the next level!
Labels: pets
stanley loves lollipops
We discovered Stanley cat has a taste for Trader Joes lollipops!
Stan came from an animal rescue called A Place to Bark which is run solely by Bernie Berlin (she's also one of my closest friends). Bernie's rescue is in Tennessee so she had him transported to Atlanta where he waited a day or two for us to arrive at my friend Andra's house!
He was such a little baby (he had to be bottle fed for a few weeks before we could adopt him) and has brought so much joy to our lives! He would not be alive if it weren't for Bernie. She truly amazes me -- every day she is saving wonderful pets like Stanley from certain death at animal control. She saves so many lives and all these wonderful creatures have found new homes because of her. She is so amazing!
A Place to Bark is running out of money and desperately needs our help! Here's a FREE way to help! Please click this link and vote for A Place to Bark in the Chase Giving sweepstakes. All it takes is a moment of your time and can help to provide the much needed money to keep the rescue open. If A Place to Bark can win Bernie can continue to save many more lives like our little Stanley. Please pass it on to your friends and family and get them to vote too, tweet, facebook and spread the word! We can do this!!!
Stan came from an animal rescue called A Place to Bark which is run solely by Bernie Berlin (she's also one of my closest friends). Bernie's rescue is in Tennessee so she had him transported to Atlanta where he waited a day or two for us to arrive at my friend Andra's house!
He was such a little baby (he had to be bottle fed for a few weeks before we could adopt him) and has brought so much joy to our lives! He would not be alive if it weren't for Bernie. She truly amazes me -- every day she is saving wonderful pets like Stanley from certain death at animal control. She saves so many lives and all these wonderful creatures have found new homes because of her. She is so amazing!
A Place to Bark is running out of money and desperately needs our help! Here's a FREE way to help! Please click this link and vote for A Place to Bark in the Chase Giving sweepstakes. All it takes is a moment of your time and can help to provide the much needed money to keep the rescue open. If A Place to Bark can win Bernie can continue to save many more lives like our little Stanley. Please pass it on to your friends and family and get them to vote too, tweet, facebook and spread the word! We can do this!!!
Labels: pets
Maggie's journey to us!
Maggie packing up her rocks and a bittersweet good bye message from Bernie
On Thursday night Maggie was dropped off with the PETS LLC rescue transport service! These guys are amazing! And they will be on a show on Animal Planet starting June 19th called Last Chance Highway.
Here comes the truck!
Mabel cat liked Maggie immediately and wanted to wash her ears. Not sure what Maggie thought of that! Stanley cat is still being cautious but each day grows more confident. It's only a matter of time until he feels comfortable with Maggie too!
After PetCo we stopped by our friend Kim's place. Here's Maggie and Paul hanging out on the couch. Maggie is wearing her new harness which looks kinda like a sports bra. We just call it her bra now. I do love this harness, nice and soft and sturdy. Wish they made it in more patterns for the big dogs too. The small doggie harness's have so many cute patterns.
Maggie laughing with me in the back seat. We're on our way with Kim to Old Town Alexandria to get some ice cream! She says that sounds yummy!
And on Sunday we took Maggie to a park in Adam's Morgan so she could play with one of her rocks that came with her from TN
Maggie arrived all the way from A Place to Bark in TN on Friday night. Here's a little post about her adventure and first days with us. She is such a joy!
Maggie packing up her rocks and a bittersweet good bye message from Bernie
On Thursday night Maggie was dropped off with the PETS LLC rescue transport service! These guys are amazing! And they will be on a show on Animal Planet starting June 19th called Last Chance Highway.
On Friday night at 10:30pm we were at the designated pickup spot about 2 hours from DC, in Edinburg VA. We were so excited!
Here comes the truck!
Lots of doggies inside all on their way to new homes and a second chance at life!
Just minutes after Maggie came off the transport, we're in the back seat of the car ready to head home! So happy to have Maggie here!!
Mabel cat liked Maggie immediately and wanted to wash her ears. Not sure what Maggie thought of that! Stanley cat is still being cautious but each day grows more confident. It's only a matter of time until he feels comfortable with Maggie too!
On Saturday we took Maggie to Meridian Hill Park. Then we went to PetCo and bought a crazy amount of stuff for her. Never having had a girl doggie before, I wanted everything in pink and Paul being the sweet husband that he is doesn't mind walking a dog wearing pink everything.
After PetCo we stopped by our friend Kim's place. Here's Maggie and Paul hanging out on the couch. Maggie is wearing her new harness which looks kinda like a sports bra. We just call it her bra now. I do love this harness, nice and soft and sturdy. Wish they made it in more patterns for the big dogs too. The small doggie harness's have so many cute patterns.
Maggie laughing with me in the back seat. We're on our way with Kim to Old Town Alexandria to get some ice cream! She says that sounds yummy!
Maggie enjoying the view from our porch
And on Sunday we took Maggie to a park in Adam's Morgan so she could play with one of her rocks that came with her from TN
Maggie has already stolen our hearts, we're in love with her and she fits in so well with our little family. Thank you to my best friend Bernie who runs A Place to Bark by herself. Last year she saved 600 lives and without her Maggie wouldn't be here with us! We thank Bernie for all the precious lives that she saves!!
Labels: pets
our family is growing!
We are really excited over here at the Hellmuth/Lester household, our family is growing by +1!
On Friday our new doggie Maggie will be arriving all the way from Tennesse from A Place to Bark and into our waiting arms!
It's been over a year since we helped our Toby cross over the rainbow bridge and even though our hearts will never be totally healed, there is enough room in them to fall in love with another doggie.
Bernie has taken some fun videos of Maggie and after watching them Paul and I had to have her!
What a personality!
What lessons will Maggie teach us? I am sure at least one will involve a rock!
Our kitty Stanley also came from A Place to Bark as well which is run solely by Bernie Berlin (she's also one of my closest friends). Bernie's rescue is in Tennessee so she had him transported to Atlanta where he waited a day or two for us to arrive at my friend Andra's house!
This time Maggie will be coming on a transport service (a doggie underground railroad of sorts) called PETS LLC. Follow them on Twitter @doghauler. They will pick Maggie up tomorrow night and then we'll meet them along with other new adopters in VA to collect her.
We can hardly wait! Although I think Stanley and Mabel cats will be in for a surprise!!
Thank you Bernie for the wonderful gift of life you give to these animals, without you they wouldn't be here to bring us so much joy. We thank you for our Stanley and now we thank you for Maggie too!
Get ready to be spoiled rotten Maggie!!
PS Please follow A Place to Bark on Twitter too!
We are really excited over here at the Hellmuth/Lester household, our family is growing by +1!On Friday our new doggie Maggie will be arriving all the way from Tennesse from A Place to Bark and into our waiting arms!
It's been over a year since we helped our Toby cross over the rainbow bridge and even though our hearts will never be totally healed, there is enough room in them to fall in love with another doggie.
Bernie has taken some fun videos of Maggie and after watching them Paul and I had to have her!
What a personality!
What lessons will Maggie teach us? I am sure at least one will involve a rock!
Our kitty Stanley also came from A Place to Bark as well which is run solely by Bernie Berlin (she's also one of my closest friends). Bernie's rescue is in Tennessee so she had him transported to Atlanta where he waited a day or two for us to arrive at my friend Andra's house!
This time Maggie will be coming on a transport service (a doggie underground railroad of sorts) called PETS LLC. Follow them on Twitter @doghauler. They will pick Maggie up tomorrow night and then we'll meet them along with other new adopters in VA to collect her.
We can hardly wait! Although I think Stanley and Mabel cats will be in for a surprise!!
Thank you Bernie for the wonderful gift of life you give to these animals, without you they wouldn't be here to bring us so much joy. We thank you for our Stanley and now we thank you for Maggie too!
Get ready to be spoiled rotten Maggie!!
PS Please follow A Place to Bark on Twitter too!
Labels: pets
still missing you
It's hard to believe that it's been a year since we said good-bye to our Toby and helped him cross over the rainbow bridge.
Our hearts still ache for you Little T. It's not the same without you!
Our hearts still ache for you Little T. It's not the same without you!
Labels: pets
illustration friday: rescue
Here's my submission for this week's illustration friday theme of "rescue"
Mabel is our huge fatty beast of a cat who I found in 2005 wandering the street outside our home in Florida. She was so skinny you could see every rib - hard to imagine now! Mabel's actual photo of her face was used for the cat in the illustration above :)
When we first took her in, we had never had a cat that you couldn't just"free feed" so we put the bowl down and let her eat as much as she wanted. The vet told us she would regulate her eating. After a little while she was getting bigger and bigger and the vet said "you can stop feeding her so much" so we went to a feeding time only regimen and no more free feeding. Our other cat had to eat on top of the fridge so Mabel couldn't get to it.
But Mabel is smart! She would trick us. She's an academy award winning actress, telling Paul in the morning that I hadn't fed her yet and vice versa. So we were both feeding her and before we knew it she was huge! That was in 2005 and we never have gotten the the weight off despite numerous attempts with the vet and various diets. She's our pudgy girl!
And just because I can't resist, here are a few photos of Mabel showing how the rescued life is treating her!
Mabel cat loves all her toys and doesn't mind when we pile them on her big belly!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Mabel is our huge fatty beast of a cat who I found in 2005 wandering the street outside our home in Florida. She was so skinny you could see every rib - hard to imagine now! Mabel's actual photo of her face was used for the cat in the illustration above :)
When we first took her in, we had never had a cat that you couldn't just"free feed" so we put the bowl down and let her eat as much as she wanted. The vet told us she would regulate her eating. After a little while she was getting bigger and bigger and the vet said "you can stop feeding her so much" so we went to a feeding time only regimen and no more free feeding. Our other cat had to eat on top of the fridge so Mabel couldn't get to it.
But Mabel is smart! She would trick us. She's an academy award winning actress, telling Paul in the morning that I hadn't fed her yet and vice versa. So we were both feeding her and before we knew it she was huge! That was in 2005 and we never have gotten the the weight off despite numerous attempts with the vet and various diets. She's our pudgy girl!
And just because I can't resist, here are a few photos of Mabel showing how the rescued life is treating her!
Mabel cat loves naps. She does what I call "back surfing" where she sleeps on her back with all her feet in the air.
Mabel cat loves watching TV and sits like Al Bundy
Mabel cat loves all her toys and doesn't mind when we pile them on her big belly!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Labels: illustration friday, pets
back home!
I'm back home from teaching in Nebraska and I am now home for a whole month! Yay! Lots of time to catch up on work and snuggle with the kitties.
My next class is in Fredricksburg VA on April 10th but I can drive there in a day and back. Class details and sign up information are on the The Scrapboodles blog.
Then after that I'm onto the The Mary Engelbreit Home Companion Workshop event! You don't want to miss this one! Click here for all the details and to register!!
I've been hard at work on my online summer class for Big Picture Scrapbooking. More details on this one when registration opens! This is going to be an amazing 12 week class loaded with ideas and techniques!!
And just for fun, here's a photo of Mabel cat that I snapped yesterday!
I can never get enough photos of her. She is too funny. We love you Mabel!!
My next class is in Fredricksburg VA on April 10th but I can drive there in a day and back. Class details and sign up information are on the The Scrapboodles blog.
Then after that I'm onto the The Mary Engelbreit Home Companion Workshop event! You don't want to miss this one! Click here for all the details and to register!!
I've been hard at work on my online summer class for Big Picture Scrapbooking. More details on this one when registration opens! This is going to be an amazing 12 week class loaded with ideas and techniques!!
And just for fun, here's a photo of Mabel cat that I snapped yesterday!
I can never get enough photos of her. She is too funny. We love you Mabel!!
Labels: pets, this and that, workshops
don't forget the pets this holiday season!
I can't resist re-posting this photo that I took of Mabel a couple years ago. She got all dressed up in a Santa outfit to remind you not to forget the critters this holiday season!
My good friend Bernie at A Place to Bark has lots of sweet furry babies that need your help!
Even just $5 or $10 would go a long way to helping to support all the animals that she takes in and finds new homes. She was telling me yesterday that she spends $15,000 a year just on pet food not to even mention the vet bills! Wow! By networking with humane societies, she has rescued (and found homes for) over 600 animals this year! yay! go Bernie!!
And you can double your donation! From now until Dec 31st. The Zoline foundation is offering a matching grant for every donation made up to $23k! With this money Bernie would be able to finish her shelter and save many more animals in need.
HOW TO DONATE:
To donate just scroll down to the 6 Degrees Badge in my right side bar. Your donation is tax deductible too!
Here's a touching video that our friend Lynne Gillis made to promote the fundraiser.
To learn more about A Place to Bark visit the web site
Friend A Place to Bark on Twitter or Facebook to follow along with her adventures!
Spread the word about the great work Bernie does! Post to your blogs, Facebook and Twitter! We need to help A Place to Bark finish the shelter!
My good friend Bernie at A Place to Bark has lots of sweet furry babies that need your help!
Even just $5 or $10 would go a long way to helping to support all the animals that she takes in and finds new homes. She was telling me yesterday that she spends $15,000 a year just on pet food not to even mention the vet bills! Wow! By networking with humane societies, she has rescued (and found homes for) over 600 animals this year! yay! go Bernie!!
And you can double your donation! From now until Dec 31st. The Zoline foundation is offering a matching grant for every donation made up to $23k! With this money Bernie would be able to finish her shelter and save many more animals in need.
HOW TO DONATE:
To donate just scroll down to the 6 Degrees Badge in my right side bar. Your donation is tax deductible too!
Here's a touching video that our friend Lynne Gillis made to promote the fundraiser.
To learn more about A Place to Bark visit the web site
Friend A Place to Bark on Twitter or Facebook to follow along with her adventures!
Spread the word about the great work Bernie does! Post to your blogs, Facebook and Twitter! We need to help A Place to Bark finish the shelter!
Labels: pets
illustration friday: skinny
I have two submissions for this week's illustration friday theme of "skinny"
The first thought that came to mind was the typical scale/weight theme when I thought of the theme so here's what I made first:
Then as I was working on the piece above I had a new idea! I thought about our cat Mabel and I decided to do a piece with her in it. Mabel is the opposite of "skinny"! Mabel's actual photo was used for the cat :)
Mabel is our huge fatty beast of a cat who I found in 2005 wandering the street outside our home in Florida. She was so skinny you could see every rib - hard to imagine now!
When we first took her in she would trick us. She's an academy award winning actress, telling Paul I hadn't fed her and vice versa. So we were both feeding her and before we knew it she was not skinny anymore! We do try to keep her weight down to a reasonable level, but it's difficult with a very demanding cat!
here's a photo of Mabel in her favorite TV watching position.
Have a great weekend everyone!!
The first thought that came to mind was the typical scale/weight theme when I thought of the theme so here's what I made first:
Then as I was working on the piece above I had a new idea! I thought about our cat Mabel and I decided to do a piece with her in it. Mabel is the opposite of "skinny"! Mabel's actual photo was used for the cat :)
Mabel is our huge fatty beast of a cat who I found in 2005 wandering the street outside our home in Florida. She was so skinny you could see every rib - hard to imagine now!
When we first took her in she would trick us. She's an academy award winning actress, telling Paul I hadn't fed her and vice versa. So we were both feeding her and before we knew it she was not skinny anymore! We do try to keep her weight down to a reasonable level, but it's difficult with a very demanding cat!
here's a photo of Mabel in her favorite TV watching position.
Have a great weekend everyone!!
Labels: illustration friday, pets
pet post
Time for another post about the kitties! Here are some recent pics!
Stan loves these giant Ikea bags. when I get them out to use them for laundry or groceries he hops right in. Makes a great crinkle sound.
Stan says this legal pad makes a great pillow!
Mabel in her stroller on her way to the vet. We put her carrier in the stroller and then zip the stroller shut so she can't get out. This way if she wants she can stay in her carrier or she can peek out to have a look around. This is a special pet stroller not a baby stroller even though it looks like one! I use it to take to her to vet which is only about 4 blocks away. She loves looking out, but when I take Stan he will have none of it and stays in the carrier.
Mabel cat also loves lounging on my desk!
Stan loves these giant Ikea bags. when I get them out to use them for laundry or groceries he hops right in. Makes a great crinkle sound.
Stan says this legal pad makes a great pillow!
Mabel in her stroller on her way to the vet. We put her carrier in the stroller and then zip the stroller shut so she can't get out. This way if she wants she can stay in her carrier or she can peek out to have a look around. This is a special pet stroller not a baby stroller even though it looks like one! I use it to take to her to vet which is only about 4 blocks away. She loves looking out, but when I take Stan he will have none of it and stays in the carrier.
Mabel cat also loves lounging on my desk!
Labels: pets
Name:claudine hellmuth
