Hunter’s Glen Pet Food Drive

Moo Kitty

Watch a Video of Moo Kitty Here!

Moo Kitty has been at AniMeals for a long time. She is a bit shy and maybe this is why she has gone overlooked, because it certainly isn’t because of her beautiful face!

Below is an excerpt from the letter that came with Moo when she was given to AniMeals:

Hello My People!! My foster parents found me screaming my lungs out one late Saturday night next to some dumpsters. They chose to nickname me “Princess Meow Meow.” You may call me what you’d like though.

When they brought me home I was a little frightened for they had six cats and three dogs of varying sizes. I thought I might be eaten! Instead, they allowed me to eat and drink from their bowls. I was famished. The next day I was playing with a kitten and even let the dogs have a smell. They are so rude!

I enjoy a lap and love to lick. I think humans taste so good because I will lick their entire body if you let me. My short hair doesn’t shed and I am white so I go with any type of decor.  I am mature and prefer a home with adults only. I also have a very refined palate and prefer human food. I survived by snacking on leftovers from the dumpster you know. People through away the best scraps! I’m sure good kitty food will curve that.

I am lonely here at AniMeals, even though there are humans here I need someone of my own to lie on their chest and purr them to sleep. Perhaps, maybe, it’s you.

Signed,

Moo Kitty formerly Princess Meow Meow

Watch a Video of Moo Kitty Here!

New AniMeals PSA!

We have a new PSA that will be airing January 2010.

Please watch it on your local station or at http://www.animeals.com under “AniMeals in the News”.

Go to our Facebook or YouTube to watch it as well @ http://www.youtube.com/animeals
http://animeals.wordpress.com/

Help us feed hungry animals.

Kato and Kitty

Kato and Kitty are brother and sister and as of today the only family they have left is each other. Both remember a time when they shared a warm house together, curling up on sofas and sharing dishes of kibble. That is all gone now. Their owner developed a nearly life threatening allergy to the two cats that she loved. She had to surrender them to AniMeals. We know there is someone out there who would bring both of these cats home together, but at this point we are looking for a home for either one of them.

They have each adjusted to shelter life differently, Kitty reaches out, she comes to you and wants to replace the love she once had. Kato has become shy, still sweet, he takes some coaxing to get out of his safe zone. Kato and Kitty have been here for over half a year, quietly keeping each other’s hopes up. This brother and sister need some help and new families. Call 406.721.4710 if you are the person that can fulfill Kato and Kitty’s dream of a new home.

Coco!

Coco is a beautiful Seal Point Ragdoll that was brought into AniMeals just a few days ago. She has soft fur and loves to be handled with care. When you pet her she ducks her head down into your hand, just loving every minute of it.

Coco is a true Ragdoll in her quiet temperament and love of cuddling.

The first Ragdoll cats were bred by an American, Ann Baker, whose white long-haired cat Josephine was involved in a road accident that left her with permanet injuries. When Josephine eventually had kittens they were found to have particularly placid temperaments and would completely relax when picked up, reminiscent of a rag doll.

The breed allegedly has an inability to feel pain or fear . . . . though we are sure Coco has been more than a  little scared during her time without a home.

Come today to look into Coco’s clear blue eyes and and just try to tell her you can’t take her home!

See you in the New Year everyone!

The latest from Cocoa’s Corner-To Whoever Gets My Dog

Besides our AniMeals’ blog we also have Cocoa’s Corner on http://www.animeals.com. This time we are bringing Cocoa’s Corner to the blogosphere! To check out more stories, advice and previous columns go to http://www.animeals.com and click on Cocoa’s Corner at the top!

To Whoever Gets My Dog

They told me the big black Lab’s name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, and the people really friendly. I’d only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street. But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn’t hurt. Give me someone to talk to.

And I had just seen Reggie’s advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn’t look like “Lab people,” whatever that meant. They must’ve thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn’t really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.
For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls – he wouldn’t go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn’t really think he’d need all his old stuff, that I’d get him new things once he settled in. But it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn’t going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like “sit” and “stay” and “come” and “heel,” and he’d follow them – when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name – sure, he’d look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he’d just go back to doing whatever. When I’d ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn’t going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.

The friction got so bad that I couldn’t wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the “damn dog probably hid it on me”

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter’s number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter. I tossed the pad in Reggie’s direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I’d seen since bringing him home. But then I called, “Hey, Reggie, you like that Come here and I’ll give you a treat.” Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction – maybe “glared” is more accurate – and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that’s not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number. But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. “Okay, Reggie, “I said out loud, “let’s see if your previous owner has any advice…”

“To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can’t say that I’m happy you’re reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie’s new owner. I’m not even happy writing it. If you’re reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time…it’s like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong… Which is why I have to go to try to make it right. So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls… The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he’s part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn’t done it yet. Doesn’t matter where you throw them, he’ll bound after it, so be careful – really, don’t do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I’ll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones – “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “heel.” He knows hand signals: “back” to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and “over” if you put your hand out right or left. “Shake” for shaking water off, and “paw” for a high-five. He does “down” when he feels like lying down – I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows “ball” and “food” and “bone” and “treat” like nobody’s business. I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He’s up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they’ll make sure to send you reminders for when he’s due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car – I don’t know how he knows when it’s time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. I’ve never been married, so it’s only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He’s gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn’t bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially. Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new. And that’s why I need to share one more bit of info with you…. His name’s not Reggie.
I don’t know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He’s a smart dog, he’ll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn’t bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I’d never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything’s fine. But if someone else is reading it, well… well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It’ll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you’ll even notice a change in his demeanor if he’s been giving you problems.

His real name is Tank. Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you’re reading this and you’re from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn’t make “Reggie” available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could’ve left Tank with… and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter… in the “event”… to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he’d do it personally. And if you’re reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting  downright depressing, even though, frankly, I’m just writing it for my dog. I couldn’t imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. But still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things… and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that’s enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don’t think I’ll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I’ll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth. Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight – every night – from me.”

Thank you, Paul Mallory.

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog. “Hey, Tank,” I said quietly. The dog’s head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright. “C’mere boy.”

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn’t heard in months. “Tank,” I whispered. His tail swished. I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood over him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

“It’s me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me. “Tank reached up and licked my cheek. “So whatdaya say we play some ball? His ears perked again. “Yeah ball, you like that ball.”

Tank tore away from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back……he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly

The Kick-Off

The AniMeals’ Weight Loss Challenge has officially begun! We had a nice, intimate crowd December 1st for our kick-off at the AniMeals’ Warehouse. KPAX showed up to cover the event and do some interviews. One of the organizers, Lindsey Hastings, was there with her crew in tow. Jeff from MaxMuscle talked to everyone about nutrition and got us pumped up for the challenge!

Go to http://www.animeals.com to get signed up! This is going to be a very supportive program that will help you lose weight, plus you’ll be helping homeless and hungry animals at the same time.

Follow Neville and Ms. Arbunkle on their journey to shed some pounds too!

http://animeals.com/AniMeals_Weight_Loss_Challenge.html

AniMeals’ Weight Loss Challenge

AniMeals is proud to announce our new program to help people lose weight and feed hungry animals all at the same time!

Lindsey H. from Missoula came up with a great idea to get fit and benefit AniMeals. She collected pledges from friends and family who are donating certain amount of money per pound that she loses to AniMeals. We love the idea! We decided it would be fun to open the idea to everyone. Visit our website at http://www.animeals.com to find out how to participate. It’s fast, easy, and the hungry animals will thank you. Don’t forget, you can join at anytime so spread the word!

Catch Karyn on KECI and KPAX tonight! All Night!

KECI and KPAX were here at AniMeals today interviewing Karyn about animal abuse in Missoula. Watch it! It will be airing on both channel’s late and early editions.

Thank you ML, KC and Cat Blogosphere!

On Saturday KC and ML from Cat Blogosphere posted about AniMeals and sent in a generous donation that everyone  appreciates very much! The kittens thank you!

On Friday we had 13 new kittens brought in, all were small and some were sick. The good news is that they had a restful weekend of recovery and are well on their way to growing up to be great cats!