Guy's Blog

February 16, 2012

As I was skimming through the paper the other day I came across an article that talked about pets putting on pounds. I myself have some love handles that I am in the process of taking care of, so I thought it would be a good time to check in with all of my animal friends to see how their weight loss programs have been going.

According to the article, “about 53 percent of the nation’s cats and 55 percent of dogs are overweight. And more than 1 in 5 of those fat animals is clinically obese, meaning at least 30 percent above normal weight.”

If I do my math correctly, that means that more than half of cats and more than half of dogs are in trouble! They are at risk for acquiring health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. Just like our American human population, the obesity crisis is spreading throughout the pet population and it needs to be brought under control.

To all pet owners: Please refrain from overfeeding us. If there is food put down, I will most likely eat it because it is yummy…but that does not mean I need it! Make sure we are getting exercised daily. Take us on walks or set aside 30 minutes for playtime. Not only will this give us a chance to burn some fat, but it will help us release energy and not be so nosey or pushy when we are indoors with you.

To all of my animal pals: May will power be on your side. If you see some scraps on the floor, just leave ‘em alone. They probably have dirt or hair on them anyway. Gross.

To help pet owners put these statistics into perspective, think of it like this…”Every excess pound on a small dog equates to a 5-foot-4-inch woman gaining 20 pounds.,” according to Dr. Ernie Ward, a North Carolina veterinarian featured in the article. I’m not a human woman or anything, but if that happened to me, I know I would not be a happy camper.

Later,

Guy

February 8, 2012

This past Sunday I had a fun time watching the Super Bowl with my feline friends…that is until a certain Doritos commercial came on! You know which one I am talking about, right? The one where the guy is working in the yard and sees a big dog burying a collar and tags and then immediately spots a “Missing Cat” sign on the light post. Now, I am as big a fan of Super Bowl commercials as the next cat in line, but I have to say that my feelings were slightly hurt by this commercial.

It is no secret that the general population has preconceived notions regarding the battle between cats and dogs and who makes a better companion. I of course think that cats make a wonderful, loyal pet just as dogs do. I don’t want this commercial to reinforce the negative stereotypes that my friends and I battle on a daily basis. The last thing I want is people to think that cats are worth getting rid of! Also, why was that cat even outside to begin with? We like it inside, you know. It is a lot more comfortable, cozy and warm. It has even been proven that the life span of an indoor cat is much longer than an outdoor cat—living up to three times as long. Living indoors prevents us from being exposed to dangerous, life-threatening things such as traffic on highways and roads, pesticides, home garden products, car and motor products, spoiled foods, poisonous plants, etc. The pros of owning an indoor cat outnumber the cons, so please consider keeping your cat companion inside!

Excuse my rant…can you pass the Tostitos?

Later,
Guy

February 3, 2012

Happy Friday, everyone!
In honor of National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, I put together a video about our very own veterinary clinic. "Meet Us Again" and check out the video to learn more about one of the many things we do here at The Anti-Cruelty Society!

Later,
Guy

January 26, 2012

Hello everyone! I took some computer lessons and have become quite a tech-savvy cat! Check out my video that introduces our “Meet Us Again” campaign. I will be doing a series of videos to go along with our campaign and can't wait to share them with you.

Hope you like it!

Later,
Guy

January 18, 2012

It is always nice to learn about people that are interested in helping out The Anti-Cruelty Society through their own business. We are lucky enough to have such great supporters that are willing to give back to us…and some of them have really cool things to share!

Candace Morey, a former volunteer of ours moved away to Massachusetts and was looking for a way to stay in touch and fundraise for us from afar. Well she had a great idea to offer the jewelry that she sells through stella & dot and give 15% of her proceeds back to the Society. What a great idea! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, now is the perfect time to pick out those colorful things that hang on people’s ears and necks. It seems easy enough to do…all you have to do is:

Shop www.stelladot.com/candacemorey
through February 4 and select "check out."
Register for an account
(or sign into your existing account.)
At check out, select "Anti-Cruelty Society"
as hostess from drop down menu.
The Anti-Cruelty Society will receive
15% of all retail sales.

Candace also passed along some information about their new spring line (http://tinyurl.com/7gbg6ee) and shared a secret that half of the line is under $50! You didn’t hear it from me! ;) Pretty cool, huh?

If anyone else out there is looking to partner with The Anti-Cruelty Society for a fundraiser, please get in touch with Diane and Nadine. They can be reached at nwalmsley@anticruelty.org.

Later,
Guy

January 13, 2012

As I was strolling around the building today I came across some flyers that caught my eye. They are black and white with big block letters that read “Run for You. Run for Us. Run for Them” and “Running for Team Anti-Cruelty Helps Animals.” What is Team Anti-Cruelty and how would joining this team help save animals you ask? Don’t worry, I asked the same question! I made my way upstairs to the development department and had a little chat with Diane, our other resident cat who has all of the details about this “running” business. She informed me that Team Anti-Cruelty is the running team that runs races in support of our organization. There really are dedicated people out there who willingly run races that are up to 26.2 miles long…and they choose to run them at one time! I can barely do one lap around the building without getting winded. Whatever floats your boat I guess?

Anyway, Team Anti-Cruelty is a great group to join that has many benefits of becoming a member. Diane told me that if you run for Team Anti-Cruelty you will receive:

A Free training program with the CARA program or one-on-one training with Coach Mark Buciak
Fun runs and weekly group runs with your teammates
A Welcome party
A Free pre-race pasta dinner
A Victory party
A Free Team Anti-Cruelty technical training t-shirt and pet bandana
An Entry into a raffle for dining certificates and other great stuff

Sounds good to me! If you are interested in running to support all of my animal friends at The Anti-Cruelty Society, please visit www.teamanticruelty.org for all of the details. As a team member, you must commit to raising a minimum of $600 for The Anti-Cruelty Society. If you are a post-close entry you will be asked to raise a minimum of $1,000. Don’t worry! We will provide you with the tools to make it easy to fundraise. Registration for the marathon opens February 1, so act fast!

Now the flyers make sense…Run for You. Run for Them. Run for Us. Running for Team Anti-Cruelty Helps Animals.

I look forward to cheering you on from the sidelines…in my cozy carrier…with cat treats…making sure not to exert an extreme amount of energy…

Later,
Guy

December 30, 2011

New Years is the time to start fresh, make a resolution, and look ahead to the future. Have you thought about what you are going to do differently or improve on in 2012? I think I might cut down on my daily dose of cat treats, or even hit the gym to work on my figure. My cat mentor and officemate, Diane, delightfully shared with me her two cents on New Year’s resolutions. She told me that I should work on one thing and one thing only—respecting my elders. Oh Diane, she seems to be getting blunter as she ages.

So down in our Behavior and Training department I have been hearing a lot of buzz around our puppy classes that are offered through our School of Dog Training. Normally I would not be interested in such a dog-related program, but when I found out about all of the things that they will be learning my ears perked up! There is nothing better than hanging out with a dog that has nice manners…believe me, it is a blast! So I am going to spread the word about our classes to all of my canine friends. We are starting up all of our classes in the beginning of January, so you better secure your spot before they are all full. Our trainers teach all levels of classes, from wee ones (puppies that are 8-14 weeks old), all the way up to fully matured dogs. I always say you CAN indeed teach an old dog new tricks ;) So give it a shot! Check out www.anticruelty.org/train to sign up and get you and your dog off to the right start in 2012.

Later,
Guy

December 22, 2011

Let the countdown begin! Only three days left until Christmas, which means I only have three days left to drop hints of what I would like to find in my stocking. Oh, and I guess it also means that we should be aware of the holiday hazards that are out there and harmful to pets like me! Here is a complete list of what to keep an eye out for—especially if you are hosting a holiday dinner over the weekend.

Holiday plants. Mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias should be kept away from us. They are poisonous!
Holiday Trees. Make sure that you secure and anchor your holiday tree. I have knocked over a couple of Christmas trees in my life and it is not as fun of a ride as it looks. Also, it is a good thing that the smell of pine is not appetizing to me; if it was I just might ingest sharp pine needles that can cause intestinal as well as external injuries. Lastly, make sure you cover up that icky tree water. Trust me; your pets don’t want to be tempted to drink it. YUCK!
Tinsel, string, ribbon, etc. These holiday decorations are my favorite! They are so pretty and sparkly! Unfortunately, I am not allowed to play with them because they can cause choking or intestinal blockage if swallowed. Bits of broken ornaments, and ornament hooks can also cause intestinal as well as external injuries. Keep ornaments high enough on the tree so that we cannot swat at them, hit them with our tails, or eat them!
Wires. We all know that the holidays bring additional, exposed wires into the home for decorations. Make sure these wires are taped down and tied tightly so that we are not able to chew on them or get caught and choked. EEK!
Food. Onion, garlic, tomato, avocado, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, chicken, pork and other bones, caffeine and much more…all sound delish! However, they all can have serious side effects if ingested by your pet leading to anemia, kidney damage, choking, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Not a fun time!
Guests and Gatherings. If you have guests, it is a good idea to post a sign on both sides of your door so that everyone is careful to close it securely. An overwhelmed dog or cat can easily slip out and not be missed in the holiday confusion. (This is one more reason to make sure that your companion animal is wearing up-to-date identification.) You might even consider turning a room in your home into a nice, relaxing getaway for your pet so that they have a quiet space during the festivities. This way, you won't have to worry about them slipping out, and they won't be frightened or anxious by the noise and commotion.
Animals As Gifts. As cute as we are, and as good of an idea that it seems, please do not give a dog or a cat as a gift. Having a companion animal means a daily commitment to that animal for its entire life (10-20 years). Becoming a pet owner is a personal decision that should never be made by someone else. If you want to offer the companionship of a dog or cat to a friend, give a gift certificate from The Anti-Cruelty Society instead. This way, the recipient can choose an appropriate and compatible animal--or choose to not get an animal at all.
Emergencies. In the event of an emergency, be sure to know how to offer your pet first aid and where to obtain follow-up care from your veterinarian or an emergency clinic. I like to tell people to keep their vet’s emergency number on their fridge, just in case!

Hope you all have a happy and safe holiday!

Later,
Guy

December 14, 2011

I had a great time hanging out with a group of kids yesterday from St. Giles School—helping to educate them about human/animal interaction. About 40 4th graders came into my home at The Anti-Cruelty Society to participate in a special program that our Community Outreach & Humane Education department has created. The program, called “The Pact,” involves exploring the relationship between people and animals through storytelling. Each year the students from St. Giles come to the Society to learn about different topics, and this was my first year meeting them. I got to wander around our auditorium and mingle with all of the kids. What a treat that was! I lost count of all of the pets that I received. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself…minus the Santa hat that my co-workers convinced me to wear. I mean, we all know that Santa is not a cat! Was it really necessary?! Oh well, I think the kids enjoyed it, and that’s all that matters.

After my colleague Elliott, our Human Education Specialist, and I wrapped up the presentation and activities, St. Giles School made a generous donation to The Anti-Cruelty Society in the name of the school. I couldn’t thank them enough!

I am looking forward to the next time that I get to hang out with the kids.

Later,
Guy

December 8, 2011

So when I was making my daily rounds today I came across some pretty cool decorations throughout the Society. Nothing like some red and green to get you into the holiday spirit! In the mix of all of the tinsel and lights I ran into a few Christmas trees that were filled with special ornaments. As I was climbing up one of the trees to find a cozy spot to sit, I noticed that a lot of the ornaments around me had familiar faces on them. I was told by those at the front desk that we recently sent out a direct mail piece giving those in our community the chance to send back a donation to us along with a photo of their pet to be placed on an ornament for our trees. Boy do we have a lot of trees filled with a lot of pets! That means we have touched many people’s lives and are proud to display their happy pets in their forever homes. The best part about this whole pet-ornament deal is that it is not too late to get your pet up on the tree! You can come into our shelter with a photo and a donation of any amount, or even give a gift in honor of someone else, and we will hang your pet or their pet on our tree.

I can’t wait to see the next batch of pets that get put on display! Thank you all for providing homes for your pets this holiday. Remember, now is still the perfect time to take in a shelter animal in order to give them a warm home for the holidays!

Later,
Guy

December 2, 2011

So here’s the deal, everyone should know by now that it is not the best idea to give a pet for a holiday gift. I know it sounds like it would be an awesome idea, but truth be told, there are a lot of different factors that play into picking out a family pet and it is something that should be done by those who will directly be taking care of the cat or dog. Not to worry, though! If you have been dead set on getting someone a cat or dog for the holidays you can still do just that. We have gift certificates available that can be used for many things, including covering the fee of adopting a pet! Know someone who has a dog with bad manners? (I do). In addition to using the gift certificate for adoption, you can also use it for dog training classes that would serve as a refresher on manners. Or, how about giving someone a gift certificate to be used in our retail store? We have all of the things that a pet owner needs for its pet: toys, food, crates, poop bags, leashes, litter boxes, etc. I already made a wish list of things that I spotted in our store that I wouldn’t mind receiving (hint, hint, nudge, nudge, you can find the list in my carrier).

Give a gift certificate and make someone’s family complete this season, help train a dog, or provide a pet with a new toy.

Later,
Guy

November 23, 2011

Today I had a fun adventure traveling to FOX studios with Dr. Robyn! We were on a segment this morning on Good Day Chicago talking about holiday hazards for the season. Getting there was pretty fun. I got to take a cab ride in my cozy carrier down Michigan Avenue—what a cool city we live in! Once we arrived we were greeted by a very nice producer man named Jason who complimented me as I walked nicely on my leash and harness. Anyway, throughout the trip I got to hang out with my new friend Scotty, a 2 ½ -year-old terrier mix, who was also given lots of love from the FOX staff. There were a couple of staff members that were interested in taking him home, but they had to check with their families first. Scotty was telling me that he really, really wants to make it into a forever home for the holidays. It would be great if we were able to find a home for him today so that he has somewhere to go for Thanksgiving, but he said that he would be patient and wait for someone to bring him home for the December holidays. Boy oh boy, I want each animal here at the Society to know what it is like to be loved to pieces, so please consider taking home a cat or dog today! I know how much it would mean to them.

So anyway, Dr. Robyn did a great job talking to everyone about holiday hazards. It is important to be aware of all of these things so that you can prevent harm to your cat or dog. I know how tempting it can be to play with the sparkly tinsel, ribbon and ornaments, but trust me, it is not worth it! Click here to watch the segment to learn more about what to keep in mind this season and of course to see my dashing self.

Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!

Later,
Guy

November 15, 2011

Today I have been hanging out with a litter of little rascals that I found down in our Real Life room. I can’t help but notice the strong resemblance they have to me, so I have decided to take on the role of their favorite cool uncle!

Our Real Life room is actually really neat! It provides animals that are having a hard time adjusting to the shelter environment with a nice, relaxing place to stay until they become more comfortable. Some of my coworkers down in our Behavior Administrative office area are in charge of fostering these cats and dogs that have adjustment problems, need socialization, need help with behavior, or just might be too shy to be in the Adoption Center. This nice, homey room is filled with furniture that would be found in a house and is away from the sounds that come along with the shelter— dogs barking, cats meowing, doors opening and closing, etc.—so that the animals in the Real Life room do not become frightened. Additionally they have a surplus of attention from the behavior staff and anyone else on staff that goes to visit them!

Currently there are eight kittens that are nine weeks old (Sid, Sailor, Sugar Toast, Skittles, Sumo, Snoop, Sneaker, and Sully). A family brought in the mom and the 4-week-old little guys and girls after the mom was an unwanted gift. The mom, Shelley, is very sweet and affectionate with people, and the kids are very friendly and always want to play, trust me, they have worn me out! They do very well with their litter box, thank goodness, and are already scratching post trained. Boy are they a handful, but so much fun!

Since they are so darn cute I know they will get adopted incredibly fast and I admittedly will miss teaching them all of the great things that I, as the coolest uncle around, know how to do.

Can’t wait to see who will occupy our Real Life room next!

Later,
Guy

November 9, 2011

Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away—which means that it is delicious turkey time! However, staff members seem to believe that it is time to start thinking about greeting cards. There has been a lot of racket over here surrounding The Anti-Cruelty Society’s holiday cards that are hot off the press. Eight of my fellow alumni cats and dogs from the Society have been chosen to be the stars of these cards that will soon be circulating throughout the country to people’s family and friends…they are so lucky!

If you are interested in getting your paws on some of these very attractive cards, you can either get a pack of 12 cats, a pack of 12 dogs, or if you ask me nicely and give me a nice petting session, I can convince someone to put together a special multi- pack of 12 cards with whichever animals you like best. Each pack of cards is $15 and you even get extra envelopes in case you make a mistake addressing one! All proceeds from these cards come back to us to help the animals who are still looking for a forever home to spend the holidays with.

You can download the order form here, call Justine Reichardt at (312)644-8338 ext. 307, or stop by our store at our adoption center to purchase the cards.

Later,
Guy

November 3, 2011

Hi there, my name is Guy. I have been dubbed The Anti-Cruelty Society’s new mascot! I arrived at the Society in April of 2010 after my owners could no longer afford to keep me. After spending some time at the shelter getting to know my other cat friends, I was lucky enough to be adopted, but unfortunately was returned eight months later ( I am still trying to figure out why!). During my time away, the behaviorists on staff began looking for a special cat that displayed specific qualities. When I returned, I was filled in on the details—this cat would be the one to represent the Society and help educate the public about cats. “This is my time to shine!” I thought to myself. So I put on my A game and showed off all of my skills. Not only am I an incredibly social cat with humans and other animals, but I know how to walk on a leash, I love to be held and have little sensitivity issues. Not to brag or anything, but I am pretty much the purrrfect cat!

Long story short, I won the gig! I was chosen to be the mascot and the staff here realized that not only would I be a wonderful permanent addition to The Anti-Cruelty Society, but I am also able to 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.

I am so excited to be a part of The Anti-Cruelty Society family and can’t wait until my next assignment. You can keep up to speed on all that I do around here on this blog, so be sure to check back to see what kind of adventures I take part in!