Top Dog's Blog

It's spring, and that means kitten and puppy season for animal rescue groups. If you are an experienced bottle feeder, and could foster three very young kittens (perhaps 3 days old), please call 891-4953, and I'll put you in touch right away.

Mark your calendars for the Casa de Los Gatos Wine Tasting Event Fundraiser!

When: Sunday, February 22nd
Where: Cata Vinos, 3063 N. Alvernon Way (One block South of Ft. Lowell)
Time: 4pm – 6pm
Cost: $20.00

* Join Casa for wine tasting, cheese and crackers, and entertainment provided by guitarist Joe Troup .
* There will be a silent auction and gift items available.
* Bring a friend and enjoy fine wine and good times while helping the kitties of Casa de los Gatos.

Contact them at info@casadelosgatos.org or www.casadelosgatos.org or 881-0900

Dear Volunteers and Friends,

If your sweetheart usually buys you flowers or candy for Valentine's Day, why not suggest making a donation to HOPE Animal Shelter instead?

If you're the one buying the flowers or candy - make a donation to HOPE on behalf of someone and we will mail that person a card, saying a donation was made in their name. These donations need to be made to www.hopeanimalshelter.net by February 7th to assure timely delivery of the card.

Your friends at HOPE thank you.

Marsha
Volunteer Coordinator

The 12 Purrs of Christmas Adoption Event

It's raining cats and kittens at Casa de los Gatos — about 400, at last count. So we need to find them their "forever homes." To help with that, Casa de los Gatos is participating in the Homes for the Holidays Campaign for the second year and having a 12 Purrs of Christmas adoption event from Friday through Dec. 23. During the 12 days, people can take $25 off the adoption fee, and every cat goes home with a gift bag containing food, treats, toys, a picture frame and coupons. Every adopter also receives a raffle ticket for a chance to win a cat lover's gift basket that retails for $75. Regular adoption fees are $99, which include vaccines, a vet exam, spaying or neutering, a microchip, and FIV and feline leukemia tests.

Last year, we adopted out 49 kittens and cats during the 12-day event and 19 more by the end of the year.

Hours will be noon-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays at the main sanctuary, 3131 N. Chapel Ave., off East Fort Lowell Road between North Dodge Road and North Alvernon Way. Monday through Thursday hours will be by appointment at the sanctuary. Some Petco stores also will be adoption sites. Go to www.casadelosgatos.org to find locations, or call 881-0900 and leave a message.

Traveling Adoption and Gift Shop: TAGS Event

You can get some holiday shopping done this weekend, December 12th, 13th and 14th, while supporting our no-kill cat shelter. Casa de los Gatos' Traveling Adoptions and Gift Shop Event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Tucson Feeds and Pet Foods, 7878 E. Tanque Verde Road. There will be artwork, crafts, jewelry and other gifts for sale, and cats up for adoption. On Saturday, people can take their cats, dogs, birds or reptiles to have their pets' photos taken by photographer John Wellsman. They can buy a 4- by 6-inch print for $10. Half the proceeds will go to Casa de los Gatos.

We hope you'll be able to stop by either or both of these exciting events. We and the cats would love to see you!

Happy Holidays!

The Staff and Kitties at Casa de los Gatos

Take a break from that last minute holiday shopping to visit the wonderful animals for adoption at HOPE, have a tasty treat or two, and enjoy a variety of crafts for sale. HOPE is having an event this Saturday, Dec 13th, from 12 - 6 PM, called "Will I Be Home for Christmas?" It's at 2011 E. 12th Street (next to the Safeway, near Broadway and Campbell). Phone is 792-9200. They'll also have a raffle. Special adoption rates will be available and all proceeds from the craft sale benefit the animals who still await a place to call home.

When: Sunday, Dec 7.

Where: 10700 E Tanque Verde, on the south side of Tanque Verde, between
Houghton and Tanque Verde Loop Rd. Look for the "Yard Sale" signs.

Time and Events:
* Yard Sale - 8 a.m. till 3 p.m.
* Open House - 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.
* TAGS (Adoptions and Gift Shop) - 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.
* Campfire Time 4 p.m. till.......

Charity Yard Sale: Come browse the hundreds of items that they'll have for sale. This is a fund raising sale to raise money for Casa de los Gatos. (If you have any items you would like to donate to their yard sale, they can be dropped off on Friday the 5th or Sat the 6th from 9 a.m. till noon at the Tanque Verde location.)

Open House: Tour the property that will be the future home of Casa de los Gatos. There is much work to be done to get the houses ready for their kitties. They want you to get as excited as they are about their new future home!

TAGS: Traveling Adoption and Gift Shop will have many nice items to purchase for your holiday shopping PLUS several of their cats and kittens will be making an appearance in an effort to find their forever homes. There will also be a raffle and silent auction!!!

Campfire Time: Gather around a late afternoon fire to sip wine and have snacks, while they present their vision of the future for Casa de los Gatos.

Questions? Contact info@casadelosgatos.org or call 881-0900

It's now twice as big, and has a section for smaller dogs. This is a nice addition to an area of the city that does not have many parks.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/fromcomments_byauthor/258700.php

Proposition 401, The Tucson Dog Protection Act. the measure providing better living conditions for the dogs at Tucson Greyhound Park, passed. This measure was only on the ballot in South Tucson, where the racetrack is located. The proposition prevents the dogs from being fed low quality or raw meat, and prohibits giving the dogs anabolic steroids like testosterone, and requires that the animals beout of their cages and in sunlight at least 6 hours per day. It's not as good as banning the racetrack, but three steps towards giving the greyhounds a more healthful and humane life. Three cheers!

It's all about dogs this week at the Pima Country Fairgrounds. Thursday through Sunday, it's the All Breed Dog Show and Specialty Groups, presented by the Coyote Classic Dog Show. (Ken Lester, 790-0377). If you are thinking about a purebred dog, then this is a great way to educated yourself about the needs and behavior of different breeds. And Friday through Sunday, the Saguaro Scramblers Agility Club, Inc., will have their show (Cindy James, 495-5926). Dogs of any breed may be agility competitors, and if you have a high-energy breed that needs to "have a job" to be happy, like a Jack Russell or a border collie, then check out this activity. Needless to say, unless you are exhibiting, please leave Rover at home while checking out the events.

Going through those boxes of holiday items, and finding that some are still quite lovely, but you don't have the room for them anymore, or the children have outgrown them? Moving to a smaller place, and choosing a nonprofit where you can donate the nice things you no longer have room for? Give those items a second life with someone who will also appreciate them, and help the cats at Casa de los Gatos at the same time!

Casa de los Gatos will be having a benefit rummage sale as part of its Open House celebration at its new facility, on December 7th at 10700 E. Tanque Verde Road. But you can't have rummage sale without rummage, and it takes time to sort and tag donations, so they're getting organized now. If you have items to donate now, please contact them at Info@CasadelosGatos.org or leave a message at 881-0900. No clothes, please.