The Amazing Tiny Dog Force Field

Fencing for your pet doesn't have to be expensive.

But Can She Learn To Shut the Refrigerator Door?

Obama's Dog

According to this, shelters with Portugese Water Dogs are as rare as Willy Wonka's Golden Tickets. If I were a Portugese Water Dog, I'd be tempted to slip out the back door and run for the nearest shelter.

Another Good Reason To Get Out of Bed On Occasion

The Importance of Fresh Water

Ollie and Atlas

Ollie, a Dumpster kitten who's still on the mend from antifreeze poisoning, inspired his rescuer to set out a Have-a-Heart trap, on the chance of rescuing his missing litter mates. But what she caught was Atlas, a scar-faced tomcat with just enough street smarts to know a second chance when he sees one.

He was brought to the shelter covered in wounds and filth. Staff couldn't touch him. He hissed and growled. Trust is likely the first thing to go when you live on the street.

His cage was placed in a small ward with the door open, an opportunity for cultivating exercise and people skills. Last week CAHS discovered that Atlas wasn't as prickly as he seemed. They found Ollie and Atlas curled up in his cage, fast asleep. Since then Atlas has discarded his fierce facade and now loves to be petted and fussed over. He watches Ollie with care.

Were they bunk mates in the Dumpster? Is Atlas Ollie's deadbeat dad, now making amends? (Ollie has markedly improved since befriending Atlas.) Either way they're both sweet and loving creatures. They deserve more than harsh nights and a trash bin for shelter.

Isis Has Left the Building

Being a diabetic, I feel a kinship with Isis the cat, a fellow diabetic. She's been at the shelter since November 2005. And though Isis settled her bill -- food and medicine and lodging, perhaps a touch of catnip for those wintry nights -- in the way of all cats by contributing to the shelter's ambiance, she also enjoyed a more bankable currency, thanks to CAHS contributions.

A few weeks ago Isis packed her bags and moved to Rhode Island, where she's living with a Registered Nurse; no doubt satisfying every cat's dream of having a personal nurse forever on call.

Ann, the cat adoption center staffer with Isis in her arms, will stay behind, looking out for the next Isis who comes along.