Image of the Day/Week- Pitbull Puppy

Since we are a cat-leaning blog (forgive the political humor), we thought we'd be nice and feature an image of a puppy dog today. Due in part to the dog-fighting scandal involving NFL quarterback and former Virginia Tech star Michael Vick, the breed has a reputation for being a rough dog. But I've been told from folks who have pitbulls and people who work in animal shelters, that the dogs can actually make for very loving pets.

We're not sure if McKamey Animal Center, an animal shelter in Chattanooga, Tenn., has any pitbull puppies up for adoption, but they are a seemingly large animal shelter in a major metro area. For those of you living in that part of the Volunteer State, the shelter's phone number is 423-305-6500.

SIDEBAR: We just got back from Washington, DC, and we are hoping to post a story about the trip up here either next week or within the coming weeks depending on our schedule here at our offices Toledo, Ohio (now where we are really located). The working title for the series, on this particular blog, is "Ronald Reagan Was on the Blue Line."

NOTE: We just noticed that our tag for 'animal shelters' was not spelled correctly, so we are including both the proper spelling and the incorrectly spelled versions here...in case, anyone wants to see past entries on this blog regarding animal shleters (animal shelters).mckameyanimalcenter.org

Double Bonus Picture to Fill Space-Scotish Fold Cat

Since Maru the Cat, the Scottish fold cat who resides in Japan, has become a Youtube sensation, we thought we'd thought an image of a cat from the same breed; this particular one presumably resides in Latvia.

On Sat. April 20th, the Safe Haven for Cats, a no-kill shelter in Raleigh, NC, will host its annual Tuxedo Cat Ball at the Marbles Kid Museum in downtown Raleigh. the contact number for the shelter is (919) 872-SAFE.

Silly Photo to Fill Space- Darth Vader Dogs

Since we're on the verge of celebrating Halloween here in les estats unis, I thought I would find a goofy costume and we across this one with a dog dressed like Darth Vader that I'm sure my blogger friend Chris Knight of Reidsville, NC, will really enjoy.

Knight reported in July that a man dressed Darth Vader robbed a Chase Bank in Setauket, NY, (Long Island) on July 22. The suspect has yet to be arrested. A customer that the robbery was a prank even though Vader was carrying a firearm.

On the lighter side of life, the Lynchburg Humane Society in Lynchburg, Va., is hosting Meow-O-Ween, aimed at giving special discounts on cats and kittens at their shelter for the weekend of Oct. 29-31. Adult cats will be on sale for $20, while kittens can be adopted for $40.

The shelter also offers dogs (rates for dogs vary, call 434-846-1438 for more info), including Midnight, a 11-month-old black lab terrier/pit bull, Diesel, a male hound dog and Diva, a female Australian cattle dog who is one year and two months old.

Things We Learned on Twitter Last Night- Dog Rescue in Northern Canada

We learned on Twitter last night through a tweet from "The Vancouver Sun" that an animal protection group rescued some 36 dogs from being executed in nothern Quebec this week.

The dogs include Buddy, a black lab breed, and Rosco, a Duck Tolling Retriever mix. The animals were going to be shot by local native Inuits (Eskimos), but they were saved by the Canadian project manager for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

The dogs were later sent to shelters in Ontario and New York state.

The defenders of the planned dog shoot said the animals were a danger to local residents, especially school children, in the secluded area of Canada where there is no SPCA.

PSA- Please Rescue a Cat from the Henry County, Va., Animal Shelter

A calico named Madame, like the one pictured here, is available for adoption from the Henry County Animal Shelter in Martinsville, Va.

The adoption fee for adult cats is $25, and it is $50 for kittens.

Other cats available at the shelter include Wyatt, a domestic short-hair male cat who has been neutered. Wyatt is one year and two months old (he is so cute!).

There is also Lilly, a female white cat (has been spayed) and Petty, a male orange cat (has been neutered).

The web site for the shelter is www.spcamhc.org

The shelter's phone number is 276-638-PAWS

And, if you live in the Martinsville area and would like to volunteer at the shelter you can email office@spcamhc.org

MEOW!

Happy Birthday, Lale!!!

I want to wish a happy 36th birthday to my sister Lale. To show her my love and affection towards her, I am going to surprise Lale by sending her an Abyssinian cat (pictured here) from a breeder in Philadelphia. It's going to cost me $800* plus shipping, but I know it's well worth it!

I also know my sister, my brother-in-law, and their two adult cats will be pleased to have a new kitten jumping on the couch in their living room. In fact, he may cost even more than the priceless vase he might knock over on their mantle piece.

*-Actual cost for an Abyssinian cat. Perhaps, some Abyssinians retail lower than this at pet stores in your areas, but they are show cats!

PS-In all actuality, though I am not destitute, I can not affford an $800 cat but perhaps one day if I win the North Carolina Lottery I will surprise Lale with this gift. But, there are also lots of cats that cost significantly less than a used car which need a home.

Since this is St. Patrick's Day, we thought we'd mention The Pulaski County Animal Shelter in Dublin, Va., which is currently offering the following three cats: Beans, a female calico kitten, Jewel, an adult orange tabby cat and Shenanigans, a male tuxedo kitten.

The shelter's web site is nrvanimalshelters.com/Pulaski

Silly Photo to Fill Space- Maine Coon Cat

This past weekend, I had an opportunity to go to a cat show in Roanoke, Va. Part of the attraction was admittedly the cat people themselves. One person from Richmond, Va., who regularly participates in such affairs told me that she had 14 cats?! Among them was a gorgeous seven-month old Maine Coon kitten who looked huge. Her cat didn't quite win Best in Show, but the kitten made the top ten.

As it turns out, the Maine Coon cat (pictured here) can weigh up to 25 pounds, and they have a HUGE tail.

It would be hard for me to gage what it takes to win a cat show since my tuxedo cat Gizmo is a regular house cat who would never go for such things even if his breed was among those featured (Other cat show breeds include Siamese, angora, and Burmese) in such shows. But, one cat show contestant from Christiansburg, Va., told "The Roanoke Times" that it doesn't help 'if the cat bites the judge!'

Participants came from as far away as Huntington, WVa., and Charlotte, NC, for the show.

The Pulaski County Animal Shelter in Dublin, Va., had a special section for cats who are available for adoption. On the organization's web site, I saw a listing for a Siamese cat named Chunky Munky, a a tabby cat named Junebug and a tuxedo cat named Hazel. The Pulaski County Animal Shelter can be reached at 540-674-8359.

Other animal shelters in the Roanoke area include The Franklin County Animal Shelter in Rocky Mount, Va. Phone: 540-483-7440, and the Salem Animal Shelter in Salem, Va. Phone: 540-375-3038.

Calico Cat Needs a Home

A female calico cat named Galaxy, similar to the one pictured here, is among the homeless animals available at the makeshift Rockingham County (NC) Animal Shelter in Reidsville, NC.

This has been a major focus in my area as the number of animals that come in is far more than the number of adoptions going on, and I suspect that is true in a lot of low-income areas like rural North Carolina.

Similar problems have been reported in the nearby community of Danville, Va.

If anyone is interested in Calico or other animals at the shelter, they can contact the Animal Protesction Society of Rockingham County PO Box 13 Wentworth, NC 27375

Phone: 336-791-4606

Web site: apsrc.org