I wanted to share with everyone that my time has finally come to take advantage of my age. I wouldn’t dare reveal the number that identifies how long I have roamed the halls of The Anti-Cruelty Society, but I will share that I am old enough to share the reins as resident cat.

I always hear humans talk about how they can’t wait to retire so that they can have all the time in the world to do whatever they want—garden, cook, spend time with grandkids, travel, etc. Well, I think that traveling sounds a bit too stressful, and cooking, well I will just continue to be fed treats by my family at the Society. I think what I will do is continue to hang out with the development staff…and when I say hang out, I mean keep those staff members in check! My buddy Guy, our other resident cat who you have met before, will officially be taking over all of the responsibilities of traveling to presentations, TV segments and events while I hang out in the cozy offices being pet all day—now that’s THE LIFE!

The time has come for me to teach the next generation what it takes to be the face of The Anti-Cruelty Society and I believe that Guy will do a wonderful job, seeing as how he has been training under me for the past few months and learning the do’s and don’ts of what it takes to be the best. So for now, I will be staying behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly, but do keep an eye out for me in Guy’s blog from time to time. I am sure that he will have great things to say about his favorite mentor that he will want to share with everyone!

Last Friday was The Anti-Cruelty Society’s fun filled fall fundraiser, It’s Raining Cats and Dogs! This great event took place at The Palmer House and everyone in attendance—humans, canines, and felines—had a wonderful time. There were so many great elements to the evening including chef tastings, auctions, and live entertainment. However, if you ask me, there were two big highlights.

The first exciting thing to happen was that some of my buddies, like Zeus who is pictured here, found their forever homes! That’s right; some of the cats and dogs that attended the fundraiser were adopted and are now living with their new families. The other really exciting moment occurred towards the end of the evening. The Society was hoping to raise money towards a new vehicle for the Education Department, but did not count on how eager others would be to contribute to this cause. One of the sponsors, Chopper Trading Company, offered to give The Anti-Cruelty Society $30,000 if we could raise an additional $30,000. Before we knew what was happening, our wonderful host, Andy Avalos stepped up to the challenge, initiated it with a personal gift and got 29 others to give a $1,000 each! This far exceeded anyone’s expectations and now the fun really begins…shopping for a new vehicle!

Though Humane Educator, Elliott, suggested a monster truck, I think The Society will ultimately go with something a bit more fuel efficient.  Regardless of what they select, one thing is for sure, Raining Cats and Dogs was a huge success and we are already counting down the days until next year’s event!

As I’ve mentioned to my readers previously, from October-December and February-April of each year the teen After School Program entitled, Exploring the Link, takes place at The Society. With a focus on the connection between human-directed and animal-directed violence, and ways in which to prevent all forms of violence, this program incorporates a number of excellent speakers. Though all the guest presenters are compelling, it is the speakers from In My Shoes-a program created in 1997 through Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital-that typically leaves the biggest impact, not only on a senior kitty like me but also on the participating teens. The In My Shoes program is unique in that it is a violence prevention intervention led by former patients who have sustained violent injuries as victims or perpetrators of street violence. Due to their first-hand experiences and gripping accounts of the details that resulted in their injuries, these facilitators are able to influence the teens’ mindset in a way that others may not be able.

I’ve been lucky enough to see individuals from In My Shoes speak to teens numerous times at The Society, yet each time is a little different. The presenters are always sure to talk both about the physical and the emotional realities of living with their injury as well as give honest information about the decisions they made that contributed to being a victim of gun violence. Yet even if they have recounted their experience hundreds of times, the emotion is always raw and their message always present. Be it in their schools, in after school programs, or at home, teens are inundated with people telling them the evils of drugs, gangs, and guns. With all the information they are receiving it is difficult for adults to differentiate their message and be truly impactful, yet on a consistent basis In My Shoes manages to do just that.

For more information on In My Shoes: http://www.sinai.org/rehabilitation/outpatient/violence_prevention.asp

For more information on The Society’s After School Program: http://www.anticruelty.org/afterschool/

Though the staff here at The Anti-Cruelty Society don’t need awards to be heroes in my eyes, I’m told that being recognized for your efforts still makes a human feel pretty good! That’s why I’d like to congratulate Humane Education Specialist, Elliott Serrano, on being nominated for the Chicago Unsung Hero Award from the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). NAMIC was founded in 1980 and they are the premier organization that educates, advocate and empowers for multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry.  They recognize that there are many heroes that go unsung, and that these individuals are not motivated by praise and recognition but rather by a desire to do good for the sake of the community and humanity as a whole. As an Unsung Hero nominee, Elliott was nominated because someone feels that he is an individual who displays extraordinary character by giving selflessly for the sake of others within the community; I couldn’t agree more!

Elliott has worked at The Society for over twenty years and has touched countless lives. As a humane educator, Elliott has a very multi-faceted job; he speaks at schools, churches, board meetings, and many other venues as well as providing in-house programming to school and youth groups and conducting week-long programs at youth correction facilities. The only way you would know that Elliott has been doing this for so long is because of his level of skill and comfort while presenting; there is no indication from his level of enthusiasm, Elliot seems as excited about his job now as I bet he did on day one! I sure do hope that on October 12^th when they declare the award winner it is Elliott’s name they announce, but regardless Elliott will continue to be a hero in the eyes of both the staff and the animals here at The Society and to the numerous individuals he impacts in the community.

I know you’ve heard me say it before, but one cool thing about living at The Anti-Cruelty Society is that we get lots of important visitors and yesterday’s visit from Illinois Comptroller, Judy Baar Topinka, was no exception. In addition to being the state Comptroller, she is an animal lover that knows the importance of adoption. That’s why she started the Comptroller’s Critters program which helps promote adoptable animals at many Illinois animal shelters including, you guessed it, The Society! Through this program participating shelters post photos and descriptions of animals awaiting adoption on the Comptroller’s website; this gives them maximum exposure to potential adopters and helps these deserving animals find homes more quickly. Additionally, once a pet is adopted, their family is awarded a commemorative certificate signed by Comptroller Topinka recognizing the animal as program alumni.

Yesterday Anti-Cruelty Society President, Dr. Robyn Barbiers, and Vice President of Development, Nadine Walmsley, gave Judy Baar Topinka the grand tour of the shelter and allowed plenty of time along the way for the Comptroller to snuggle with some adoptable animals. This allowed her the opportunity to better familiarize herself with The Society staff and also to personally get to know some of the animals that her innovative program is directly impacting. I know my feline friends in Charlotte’s Cat Corner enjoyed their visit with her too as they are always eager for some extra attention. Since joining the program in August, thirty Anti-Cruelty Society animals have been adopted through Comptroller’s Critters and I know that many more of my buddies will find their forever families in the near future!

Though it may be over a month away, I’m already excited for The Anti-Cruelty Society’s big fall event, It’s Raining Cats & Dogs! Though life is never boring here, this gala brings out extra fun and excitement. The only downside is that, since I’m a cat, my human friends here usually don’t allow me to sample any of the amazing food from over 25 extraordinary Chicago chefs. That’s ok though, I know they are just trying to keep me healthy; plus, once in a while I do get to sneak a little taste. As if the great food wasn’t reason enough to attend, there will also be live music, both live and silent auctions, some possible Chicago celebrity sightings, and oh yeah…interaction with some of The Society’s furry residents!

This year, It’s Raining Cats & Dogs will take place on Friday, October 21^st from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. at the Palmer House Hilton. The Palmer House is providing discounted room rates so if you plan to stay be sure to mention this event when booking your room. Though I’ll be sure to blog about updated information in the weeks to come, for now you can check out this website to order tickets, read more about some of the auction prizes, and learn how to become a sponsor of this event: http://itsrainingcatsanddogs.org/.

As some of you may know, I first arrived at The Anti-Cruelty Society in 2002 and at that time I was around nine-years-old. Of course a lady never reveals her exact age, but that means that I am now over 18-years-old. Never fear, I’m as healthy as my kitten counterparts and intend to be around for a long time to come. However, now that I’m a bit more advanced in age, it’s true that my preferred activities include snuggling with my favorite humans or taking an afternoon snooze on a cozy cat bed. So that’s where my new buddy, Guy, comes in.

Guy arrived at The Society just over a month ago and immediately won the hearts of everyone he met. Quite the social butterfly, the staff here realized that Guy would not only be a wonderful permanent addition but could also help extend our community of caring by attending outreach presentations, visiting with teens that attend in-shelter programming, and helping some of The Society’s youngest visitors learn how to properly and gently pet a cat. Now don’t let this younger guy and his energy fool you; as evidenced in his photo, Guy enjoys a catnap in the sun as much as I do!

We’re all excited to have Guy as part of The Anti-Cruelty Society family and know that he isn’t just a fun friend to have around but an excellent asset for teaching the next generation too.

As any doting pet owner or shelter worker will tell you, sometimes just petting a cat or snuggling up with a pup can be a huge stress reliever. Studies have also shown that spending time with companion animals can reduce blood pressure, minimize anxiety, reduce depression, and help both terminally ill individuals and the elderly live longer and healthier lives. For all these reasons, and so many more, The Anti-Cruelty Society developed the pet visitation program which has three different options. Through the pet visitation programs, volunteers and their dogs visit a community organization such as a hospital, veteran's center, or hospice where they share their dog's love and affection with others.

Since all dogs that participate are required to be Canine Good Citizens, The Society also offers a CGC Prep Course which prepares dogs for their certification test. The course is open to dogs over 4 months of age (those over 6 months must be spayed/neutered). The cost is $50, which includes a 20-foot leash and the test fee. If you wish, you may take the CGC test without attending the CGC Prep Course. The CGC Test is open to all dogs that are vaccinated against Rabies. Prior training is not a requirement. The cost is $10.

• Class : Sunday   1:15 - 2:15 PM      August 21 - September 11, 2011
• Test   : Sunday   1:30 PM               September 18, 2011

Once your pooch is officially certified s/he can participate in any of the following programs! This pet visitation stuff sounded so cool that I had a little chat with some of my human friends here at The Society and you just might want to stay tuned to see if a feline-based visitation program comes along…

·         Pet Visitation Referral
Anyone that passes a Canine Good Citizen test can take a list of facilities that have requested occasional visits. Lists will be made available at the CGC tests. The volunteer and the facility work directly with one another to coordinate schedules and upcoming visits.

·         Humane Education Pet Visitation
Participants connect with our Humane Education Department to coordinate visits throughout the community. After attending a Volunteer Orientation, participants will be contacted by the Humane Education department when outreach presentations are requested which include a pet visit.  

·         Pet Visitation partnership with Canine Therapy Corps
Owners of dogs with CGC certification complete an additional test designed to ensure that the dogs will be comfortable during the visitation experience. If passed, volunteers and their dogs are assigned to work with a specific facility on a regular basis through our partnership.

Though it seems like just yesterday I was busy telling everyone about summer weather care tips, much of the summer has come and gone and soon I will once again be cuddled up on my favorite blanket and thankful that, unlike my canine buddies, I don’t have to venture outdoors for my bathroom breaks. However, we do still have a couple solid weeks of summer left and the staff at The Society has made sure to pack in as much fun as possible with three different events!

First up is the next Sit.Stay.Drink. but this one is extra exciting because it is at Schubas and includes lots of amazing live music. As always, social dogs are welcome and these mixers are a great opportunity to meet other pet loving people. Here is all the important information and you can purchase tickets here:

http://schubas.com/Shows/08-24-2011+Sit+Stay+Drink+and+Help+The+Animals

Date: Wednesday, August 24th
Time: 6p.m. to 11:30 p.m. - Music starts at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Schubas (3159 N. Southport Ave.
Cost: $20 per person
Includes: Live music, PBR hosted bar from 6:30-7:30pm, $1 PBR all night.

Just a few days later is a fun event for all our sports fans. On Sunday, August 28^th, the Chicago Sky WNBA team is having “Anti-Cruelty Night at the Sky.” Tickets are being offered for $25 to any Society supporter and will include a calendar featuring the Sky players with alumni pets. Additionally, staff and volunteers will be in attendance with adoptable pets so you may even meet your newest family member! Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.anticruelty.org/sky.

Last but not least, on Wednesday, August 31^st, the Celebrity Rehab Bark-B-Que, which benefits The Society’s rehabilitation centers, will be taking place at Oak Street Eat and Drink (formerly Oak Street Beachstro). The event runs from 5:30-8:30 PM and the cost of $65 per person (or $75 at the door) includes beer, wine, soft drinks, backyard barbeque food. Treats and fresh cold water will be available for the dogs. Dogs are always free! Please go here to purchase advanced tickets: http://www.anticruelty.org/events/www.anticruelty.org/barkbque.

Though the summer months are certainly a time to be cautious and keep your pets protected from the extreme heat, they are also a time to have some extra fun with pets that are able to safely enjoy time outdoors. This means that for my canine buddies there are a ton of fun options with what seems like new options added each year! And though the best thing for me and my cat friends to do is stay indoors, there are still some neat at-home activities to keep us happy and entertained. For example, did you know that by putting a water bottle in the freezer you can create a perfect “air conditioner” for your cats to rub up against or to be placed in a rabbit’s cage? Oh, and if you’re too hot to cook yourself and end up ordering a pizza, your cats would love it if you made a little house for them out of it like the one in the photo!

Like I said though, while there are many fun in-home things for cats (and other species) to do in the summer, it’s those dogs that have it really good! They have everything from ice cream trucks, like Arf Scarf-Lick Lick and Fido to Go, to pooch friendly patios; to see some of the newest dog friendly patios to open, check out this article from Metromix: http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/article/7-new-dog-friendly/2718988/contet Plus, tomorrow The Anti-Cruelty Society is having another Sit. Stay. Drink. Dog-friendly summer mixer! These are always a good time and both the humans and canines enjoy meeting lots of new friends at these fun and packed events.

• Date: Wednesday, July 27th
• Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Location: Ethyl's Beer and Wine Dive in the West Loop (324 S. Racine Ave.Chicago, IL 60607)
• Cost: $10 per person, includes hosted PBR bar and a food buffet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and $3 beers until 9 p.m.

Parking is available in the parking lot adjacent to Ethyl's.

Pre-registration is not required, but if you would like to find out more information or to register for the event, contact Justine at (312) 644-8338 ext. 307.