SUSAN LOESCH

Are there weeks when you are so busy you’d like to clone yourself? That was Shadow and Barney’s
predicament last week. Sometimes working two jobs makes you feel like you are meeting yourself
coming and going … even if you are a cat!

Barn and Shadow have their job as library cats, but they also are kept busy as Feline Rescue and Rehome PR Ambassadors.

What a week they had! A Jeans Day benefit, FuRR’s three-day fundraiser sale and, for Shadow, his first prom!
They squeezed in visits to school, one each. Then on Thursday, Shadow worked long hours. He headed to USAble Insurance Co. where he supervised a group of us 2-legged animals as we met USAble employees who had chosen to make FuRR the recipient of their ‘Jeans for a Means’ day for April.

The weather was wonderful for a change, although the wind was pretty brisk. That didn’t bother Shads! He was all decked out in a white bandana with a red heart, modeling the ones we have for sale.

When people saw him on his leash we heard over and over, “My cat .would NEVER do that.”

I know that was a smile I saw on Shadow’s face; he knows he is quite unique with his harness and leash technique. He even let our visitors hold him.

Later in the day came his big event, though. My senior, Trinity, wanted to have a picture of Shadow with her in her prom dress.

That of course required prom clothes for Shadow. For his bandana I found a filmy blue material that matched her prom dress exactly, even down to the silver flecks. Since she was going to have  black feathers in her corsage we picked up a black feather “man-boa” for Shadow to wear around his neck. Now, my friends have tried to tell me that there is no such thing as a “man boa,”
but Trinity and Shadow will tell you different. They made such a stunning couple!

After we took pictures, Trinity went to the prom with “just a friend” while her real date went home with me.

We stopped by the big FuRR sale where volunteers were setting up.

Shadow walked around a bit on his leash and then hopped into a drawer and settled down. Such a hard day he had had, and such a good job he had done!

This was a rest he had earned.

On Friday Barney took over. I dropped him by the sale on my way to work. Barn is a little more laid
back and loves to walk on his leash. I knew I didn’t have anything to worry about because he had a big carrier to rest in and the FuRR gang always takes good care of him.

But I have to admit to giving a small gasp when I got to the sale after work. There was Barn, chilling under a tree, leash held tightly, of course, by a volunteer. Upon taking a closer look I saw that he was just chowing down and having a bit to drink after a long hard day. Because of his stellar performance on Friday, he won the opportunity to be on duty Saturday also.

We both arrived early Saturday morning, and Barney got busy PR-ing. He walked around and worked the crowd.

As a couple of little girls walked up to him, one looked at me and said, “Now THAT is unusual, isn’t it!”

Barn made quite a sight in his “peace, love and rock ‘n roll” bandana and he let the girls admire
it – and him – as they petted him.
His friend Trinity came by and took over the leash duties. They covered the sale site again and then
Barn posed for a picture with a bunch of the FuRR volunteers. He spent most of the day on duty, patrolling the area and letting himself be admired. He was very ready to go home and take a nap by the end of the afternoon.

What a busy week for a couple of young feline professionals holding down not just one job, but two. They do it with such style!

SUSAN LOESCH

Faith and begorrah, St. Patrick’s Day has come again! Time for the wearin’ of the green, whether you have two legs or four.

After reading that there would be a parade at Happy Hour in the Heights, Mr. O’Shadow suggested we catify the celebration. His plans were big: He’d be met by Feline Rescue and Rehome PR Kitty Bob
and his mom, Ms. Moira, and handsome orange tabby, Pumpkin, and his parents, Mr. Bob and Ms. Lanita.

We’d all join the parade and declare St. Patrick’s Day to now be renamed St. Catrick’s Day. It sounded like a good plan to us humans. The first sign that things might not go exactly as expected came when Bob, usually ready for a walk whenever he gets the chance, decided upon arrival that he didn’t want to participate.

Not only that, he didn’t want to even leave his carrier. He told Ms. Moira, “No,” and not in the sweetest tone-of-meow.

So Shadow and I set out to our meeting place to wait for Pumpkin and his family. I put Shadow’s shamrock bandana on, a bandana steeped in as much tradition as the Blarney Stone. It had been proudly worn by Big Footsie and Alex before him. He sat in his carrier and looked around, taking it all in, before deciding to get out.

Still no Pumpkin, so we headed up to Kavanaugh for the parade, the parade that was now over.

Not to be deterred, Shadow created his own meet and greet. He posed with a group of kids who’d been in the parade. He met a number of dogs who were more interested in him than he was in them. He took a rest on top of festive green-and-white decorations.

Then he spotted Sarah and Sophia, two delightful 3-year-old twins who petted and petted him.

When we left them to head down the street, one of the girls called, “Shadow, are you coming back?”

I think he’d like to have just stayed there, soaking up all the attention.

We finally located Pumpkin and his family, or rather Pumpkin’s family. Poor Pumpkin; although he walks on his leash in his neighborhood, the carrier and car  reminded him so much of going to the vet that he decided to stay put.

Shadow and I got in his car and Shadow nosed the carrier door as if to say, “Come on out Pumpkin; it’s fun out here!”

Ms. Lanita had made an awesome green-and-white bandana for both Shadow and Pumpkin.

What a handsome pair they made as Pumpkin came out of his carrier to hang with Shadow. We all had a nice visit before heading home!

As of today, St. Patrick’s Day has become my favorite holiday. Because of our adventure? No, for an even better reason than that.

It was this St. Pat’s Day that my students and I learned that our library cats will be allowed back on campus for one day a week after a 7 month hiatus.

After I got the news in the morning, it spread like wildfire among my students. Talk about a celebration! There were hugs and high fives and cheers all day long!

My first-graders came for their regular visit that afternoon. They have asked me on a weekly basis when we would have cats again. Finally, I was able to give them an answer.

My little group began to dance around the library, wave their arms above their heads and sing, “We’re gonna have our cats; we’re gonna have our cats!”

They perfectly expressed what many of us feel, and my seniors are thrilled that, after growing up with Big Footsie and Alex, and being without a library cat this year, they will end their senior year in the company of Barney and Shadow.

I am pretty happy myself!

SUSAN LOESCH

We saw it first on Facebook and then on the news…Little Rock’s own icy version of the Love Bus, a VW bus crafted from snow and complete with cloth window curtains. The FuRR PR team of Barney, Shadow and Bob couldn’t pass this up, so we headed over to take a look.

This marked the first time the whole PR team had ventured out together since Bob came on board, so it was a special occasion.

Shadow wore his red and black sweater and a red bandana. Barney sported his puffy vest and his peace-and-love print bandana to set the mood.

We brought Bob the first item of his professional wardrobe, a black and white paw print bandana!

On the way over I tried to explain what we were going to see. “You know, guys, Woodstock, bell bottoms, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead.”

Silence.

“Well, how about flower power, peace symbols, Jefferson Airplane?”

Nothing.

“How about treats after we get home from our field trip?” That got a healthy “Rahrr” from Barney, and it wasn’t even in his usual grumpy tone. Guess the guys aren’t all that
much into the ‘60’s, but treats are always huge!

Bob was first to explore the Love Bus, and he sat happily in one of the windows. He looked like he was imagining sailing down the highway with the wind in his fur, radio blasting. He also took a look inside where he found a table and chair.

How cool is that!

Covering the entrance was a tie-dyed curtain which said “Living Life in Peace,” and we pushed it aside so Shadow could step in.

He must have felt the peace because he settled down with his paws on the threshold and just chilled for a while.

Barney was more interested in the roof of the bus and gave a huge s-t-r-e-t-c-h before looking around.

I think Barney would be the hippie snoozing in the back of the bus while Bob and Shadow sat up front belting out “Me and Bobby McGee” along with the radio.

We met Sarisa, who, along with friends Justin and Brandon, spent 18 hours building the bus and another 5 hours Friday repairing damage the warmer weather had done.

Sarisa brought out her cats Chloe and Marley, and they agreed to pose for some pictures. She told us that they already have plans for their next big project when it snows again.

Just like the ‘60’s, all good things must come to an end, so the boys went back to their carriers, and we headed home. As I talked to them on the way home I told them about Sarisa’s plans for the next snow.

“You know, guys, I’d been hoping there wouldn’t be any more snow for YEARS, and now I am thinking I can hardly wait ’til the next time to see what follows the Love Bus.”

“Rahrr,” said Barney. This time he was back to his usual grumpy voice.

Mr. “Snow? No!” Shadow didn’t even bother to comment. I already know his opinion of snow.

A little later, a handful of yummy Dentabite treats restored both boys’ good moods.

Then came naps, with dreams, no doubt, of flowers and peace symbols and cruises in their own Love Bus, well-stocked with Fancy Feast, treats and plenty of catnip.

SUSAN LOESCH

When the snow has melted and Saturday turns out to be a cool, sunny day, where does the young professional PR kitty go to hang out? Starbucks, of course!

But this wasn’t just any outing … Shadow asked his friend Bob to meet him for a “greet and treat” outing. Bob didn’t know it, but Shadow was auditioning him to possibly join the FuRR PR team.

Bob, a beautiful green-eyed Maine Coon with a bob tail, came with his mom, er, um, I mean staff, Ms. Moira.

After his less than successful snow outing, Shadow was surely relieved that it was too warm for the dreaded green coat. He was sporting, instead, a handsome new red and black sweater with just the slightest turtle-neck.

This was much more to his liking, and I think he knew he was stylin’. You could just see it in his walk!

No sooner were the boys out of their carriers than they were surrounded by admirers.

First up was Ms. Micki, who thought Bob was absolutely beautiful with his thick and luxurious fur. Ms. Micki wanted to hold Bob, and Bob willingly obliged. She and her husband told Shadow about a big black kitty who has adopted them and their neighbor.

Before we could sit down, along came Claire, Abby, Kate and Caroline, cousins who were out for a morning stroll with their grandmother and aunt.

Kate and Caroline came all the way from Oklahoma to help Claire celebrate her birthday; little did they know that meeting Shadow and Bob would be the highlight of their trip!

Both Bob and Shadow got lots and lots of pets and kisses from the girls.

Shadow was ready to go off exploring, safely on his leash, of course, and he headed under a parked car.

“No, you aren’t going there, Shadow,” I told him.

One of the girls laughed and said, “Shadow wants to go into the shadow!”

We were so busy greeting Bob and Shadow’s admirers that we had forgotten to get our drinks!

While I went inside, Bob met another Bob, a nice gentleman who petted him and told him that just a few pets had lowered his blood pressure at least 20 points! He later came over to meet Shadow.

“What beautiful fur and soft ears you have,” he told Shadow, and he admired Shadow’s sweater.

Human Bob was definitely a big fan of Shadow and Cat Bob!

How fair would it be for us to have a latte and the boys have nothing, especially since they were the ones doing all the hard work of meeting and greeting? I pulled out the treats I had brought along, Dentabites, a favorite of both Alex and Footsie, and now of Barney and Shadow.

As Shadow chowed down Bob was more interested in checking out his surroundings. He and Ms. Moira explored the parking lot, checked out the cars and walked down Kavanaugh a bit.

Bob knew he was attracting attention as he strolled down the sidewalk looking in all the shop windows!

As we drank our lattes, Shadow settled in my lap, as calm and relaxed as he is on the couch at home.

Looking around, taking it all in, never reacting to all the outdoor noises, he seemed to be really enjoying himself. As we sat in the warm sun, he dropped off to sleep. He was still a bit sleepy when he met Josie and her family. He cuddled in Josie’s arms, and I think he could have stayed there for a long time.

She held him just right, and Shadow was relaxed and comfortable. Maybe Josie reminded him of one of “his” kids at the School for the Blind Library. I know he misses them.

Just before we were ready to leave we met Peyton and her mom. Peyton held Bob and both her mom and I took pictures.

Before we left, she kissed both Bob and Shadow.

“I’m the cat whisperer,” she exclaimed. She probably has had lots of practice as she has four cats of her own.

Just before Shadow hopped back into his carrier, he looked up at me and spoke in a low “rahrr.” He seemed to be saying that he enjoyed the Starbucks meet and greet, and that Bob had passed his audition.

“I think you are right, Shadow,“ I told him. “Let me ask Bob and see what he thinks.”

“Bob,” I said, “What would you think about becoming the third member of our FuRR PR Team? Shadow thinks you, he and Barney would totally rock as a team.”

Bob is a cat of few words, but we are pretty sure he agreed with Shadow!

So stay tuned for more of the exciting adventures of FuRR’s crack PR team: Barney and Shadow…and Bob.

SUSAN LOESCH

“Let’s go, Barney! It’s Cheeburger time!”

FuRR’s latest fundraiser was being held at Cheeburger Cheeburger in the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center. We’d been promoting it for a while now, asking people to take a FuRR flyer so that we’d receive a percentage of each meal.

We missed one of my students, Trinity, and her grandmother, but met up with Barney’s friend Ms. Hannah, who went on field trips with him and Shadow last summer. She was accompanied by her family and some more “FuRR folks.”

They posed for a picture with Barney in his coat, and then Barn had to go back to the car. I hated to have to explain that kitties aren’t allowed in the restaurant.

“Rahrr,” came the Grumpy Barney voice. “I know, Barn, it doesn’t seem fair, does it?”
After our meal, the Barn posed with some more friends for a picture. By that time it was dark. Barney and I sat in the car a while enjoying the Christmas lights.

As he rested his paws on the dashboard and looked out, I had an idea.

“Hey, Barn, how about we take a walk.” So off we went, down the sidewalk, Barney, warm in his coat, leading the way.

We soon met Dan and Bobbie. They had come from Jacksonville and were looking for a place to eat, to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.

They spent some time talking to Barney and petting him.

Barn thought they had their priorities straight: admire cat, then celebrate anniversary! We wished them a wonderful evening.

As we walked further along a couple came out of a restaurant.

“Oh, no, you DIDN’T! You DIDN’T teach that cat to walk on that leash,” the lady said, as she scooped him up into her arms for a big hug.

You know, I really didn’t teach him! It just came naturally.

“Barney I wish I had known you were going to be out here,” she said.

“I bet you would have enjoyed that last piece of salmon I left on my plate.”

We talked a while about some feral cats they have noticed around their apartment, and I explained FuRR’s TNR (trap-neuter-return) program, which will help pay for their altering.

As we walked back to the car to get a FuRR newsletter, Barney rode happily in my arms, ready, I think, to call it a night!

We weren’t home long before Barney was curled up on the couch beside me, sound asleep. Bet he was dreaming about the piece of salmon that got away!

SUSAN LOESCH

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, come and eat for FuRR! Shadow may not know a lot about bells, but eating is something he considers himself an expert at.

Sunday he headed to Petsmart where FuRR was showing kittens to hand out flyers for our Cheeburger Cheeburger fundraiser on Dec. 20. Since you have to take the flyer with you for FuRR to have a percentage of your meal cost donated, this job was a top priority assignment.

Since SOMEONE can’t find our Christmas bandanas and collars we had to check out Christmas gear; you can’t be properly festive without it.

Shadow tried on some reindeer antlers, a couple of Santa hats and a cool Rudolph costume, none of which caught his fancy.

“Shadow, you are being SO picky,” I told him.

Before he finally settled on a Santa cap that FuRR foster Ms. Sandy had on hand, he tried on a sparkly red DRESS. It was sooo cute, but Shadow was disgusted with us for even suggesting it; he wouldn’t look up at the camera while he had it on.

“That’s ok, Shadow, it really doesn’t fit you,” someone told him.

Once decked out in holiday finery, Shadow worked hard handing out flyers. Since he was also there to check out the spot for our Photos With Santa fundraiser next Saturday and Sunday, Ms. Barbara hunted up a sample of the photos which people will take home so he could check it out.

Very handsome pictures in a holiday frame, they should be a big hit!

Business out of the way, Shadow took time to meet some of our FuRR kittens waiting for adoption. First was Curry, a charcoal gray older kitten with the softest long fur you have ever felt.

He met Kinky, an adorable orange tabby baby who has two cute kinks in his little tail! Kinky was wearing a green t-shirt that said, “Dear Santa, Define Naughty.” Looking at him you just know that he couldn’t be anything but good.

Tux and Xedo are black-and-white brothers who will be adopted together and tiny little D-Way, who was a bottle baby, is already adopted but was just .2 oz. under the weight he must be to be neutered at our recent clinic, so he will stay with his foster mom just a little longer. His adoptive mom had stopped by for a visit.

Shadow was taking a rest in my arms when a lady came toward us exclaiming, “Look at the BIG one!”

That would be Shadow, and he did look big next to the little ones waiting for adoption. We explained his job as PR kitty extraordinaire, and she did look impressed.

Time for a break, I guess, because Shadow settled down in a huge box of stuffed dogs and cats. At one point he buried his head behind one of them, and it looked like he was settling down for a cold afternoon’s nap.

While he rested, his leash held safely by Ms. Barbara, I hunted for a little treat for him for a job well done. And there it was. The perfect treat. Remembering how Shadow had liked the cat grass at our big sale last month, I picked out a pot of tall green grass for him, and then added one of the stuffed cats he had been lying on.

“Shadow, you are just the best,” I told him as we drove off. He looked out of the carrier at me as if to say, “Yes, I really am, aren’t I!”

We are hoping you will join us at Cheeburger Cheeburger in Pleasant Ridge Shopping Center on Dec. 20; just print out a flyer at http://www.teamfurr.org/documents/cheeburger.pdf.

Take it with you, and FuRR will get a percentage of your meal cost, whether you eat in or take out.

We will be there from 3 p.m.-9 p.m., and Shadow’s sidekick, Barney, will be working that gig.

So you aren’t a burger fan? Not to fear. You will also find chicken and grilled cheese, with lots of topping options; turkey wraps; “world famous” fries and onion rings; and the chance to invent your own salad. There is something for everyone, and every bite will help the cats and kittens of FuRR.

We and, of course, Santa, will be at Petsmart North Little Rock, just off McCain Boulevard, on both Saturday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 19, from 11 a.m. til 4 p.m. I know you can’t resist one last chance to have your pet’s picture taken with Santa.

Shadow sure can’t pass it up. He has told me we are going even though he has already seen Santa once this year. Knowing Shadow, he probably has a few last-minute requests to get in before it is too late.

We hope to see you all at Cheeburger and Petsmart, but in case you can’t make it, Shadow, Barney and I wish you a Meowy Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and a Happy Mew Year.

SUSAN LOESCH

Wooo. Pig. Kitty, Kitty??  Maybe not usually, but that’s the way it was today as Feline Rescue and Rehome PR Team Barney and Shadow headed to a tailgating fundraiser for FuRR.

Chris Tirman and Dan Eaton of the Alloplastic Facial Reconstruction Clinic at B St. and Van Buren graciously let us use their parking lot to benefit our cats and kittens!

The lot filled quickly, and we set up a table by the sidewalk offering brownies, cookies, drinks and hot dogs for a donation to FuRR. Our main attractions, though were Barney and Shadow. 

Mr. Shadow was handsomely dressed in his Razorback bandana. He settled down in volunteer Ms. Carma’s lap.

She and Shadow have become quite a team, and Shadow sat there watching all the people, as
comfortable and calm as if he were on the couch at home!

It didn’t take long for him to attract some admirers. FuRR supporters Joshua and Monica came by, and gave first Shadow and then Barney all the attention a kitty could possibly want.

We loved hearing all about their cats who were adopted from FuRR.

I am discovering that when food is involved at an event Shadow, wants to be first in line.

He feasted on a turkey hot dog and wasn’t thrilled that we told him no to a chocolate brownie.

Barney seems to be more of a money man. Every time he was on duty he seemed to end up at the donation box checking out the contents!

Barney had his coat on for a while but decided it was too warm. Besides, without the coat he could show off his purple harness and leash, quite striking against his tiger-orange fur.

We soon had both Razorback and LSU fans hanging out together! The FuRR boys don’t care which team folks are for as long as they are for cats!

We met a FuRR volunteer, Ms. Linda, who stopped by to see the boys.

“I have read about you on the Internet,” she said to Barney.

While the Barn was on duty there were even some dogs walking by.

Luckily, they moved past quickly, and he didn’t see them.

As game time approached, the stream of fans briskly walking toward the stadium increased.

The people were more interested now in getting to the game than stopping to visit.

One lady, though, walked past the table and then came back.

She has cats and was quite taken with Shadow and held him a while.

Then she put some money in the donation box and we offered her brownies and cookies.

“I don’t need any treats,” she said.  “This is just for Shadow!”

I definitely saw a satisfied smile on Shadow’s face!

On our way home from each of our events, Barney and Shadow and I talk about what happened. This event was such a success that it would be hard to think of something to change for next year to make it better. I did, though, have one idea to run by them.

I had seen a little Chihuahua on TV the night before, wearing, um, a Razorback cheerleader uniform. “Guys,” I said.  “I could probably find ones that would fit you…”

A grumpy “Rahrr” came from Barney. Shadow didn’t even justify it with an answer. Maybe I need to look for little kitty hog hats instead.

SUSAN LOESCH

Here concludes the ‘tail’ of  Feline Rescue and Rehome’s PR Team, Barney and Shadow at our big fundraiser sale last weekend.

Mr. Barney took the first day of the sale and was met with chilly weather and cold winds. Luckily, he had on his brand new  fleece coat that we won at Little Rock Animal Village’s recent third birthday celebration. The coat is a perfect fit, and Barney is pretty happy with it because it keeps him warm and doesn’t involve any kind of headgear!

Barney’s first act on the job was to snuggle up with Ms. Linda who put all our sale signs out. This is no small job, and Barney gave her a big thank-you purr.

That very important job completed, he began to patrol the parking lot where the sale is held. Barney covered the whole lot strolling on his leash. No sitting and watching the goings on for the Barn! He went up to each and every customer to say hello, and he made sure to rub up against everyone’s ankles, marking them as his own.

As he rubbed against one customer she said hello to him and told him that it was OK if he left orange hair on her pants because they all already had fur from her own cats doing the same thing.

“Barney, can I hold you?” she asked.

I think I heard him reply, “I thought you would never ask!” Up he went into her arms, and after a few scratches under the chin his head went back and his eyes closed. Ahhh. Kitty Nirvana!

Later, as he strolled the lot, he met FuRR volunteer Ms. Susan.

“Barney,” she said, “You look so much more comfortable today than you did last week at the Village.”

He definitely did! Chalk that up to the absence of doggie visitors at the yard sale. Barn is just not a dog guy.

Ms. Susan complimented him on his coat. “You are really stylin’ in that coat. You are just a stylin’ orange tabby.”

Back Barn went to the checkout table to make sure everything was going well. He checked in with Ms. Emily, our wonderful volunteer sale coordinator. Together they decided that she had everything under control and Barney was free to move on to other areas.

We had a visit from FuRR foster kitty Pattie, and Barney gave her a nose-rub greeting. Little Pattie was a feral kitten when she came to FuRR, and her foster mom has totally socialized her. She is now ready for her forever home.

As the sun set, the chill increased and the wind picked up, Barney retired to his carrier and we headed home. What a great job Barney did representing FuRR! “Hey, Barn,” I said to him as we drove home. “Are you ready for the next sale?  It is just six months away.”

That got a grumpy “Rahrrr” from Barney. I couldn’t tell if he was saying “No way” or “I can hardly wait.”

SUSAN LOESCH

This weekend was The Cat’s Meow, the huge fundraiser in Hillcrest for Feline Rescue and Rehome.

It is such a big job for FuRR PR team Barney and Shadow that they split the duties and each worked a day.

Shadow’s day was Saturday, which started off really cold, so he began the day keeping warm in his green coat with the faux-fur lined hood and gold skull and crossbones on the back. He actually handled the coat better than anyone who has worn it before him! He at least walked around in it, where Footsie and Alex had just sat.

Shadow spent much of the day being carried by admiring fans and the rest perched on our checkout table keeping an eye on everything.

“You have very cute clothes, did you know that? I didn’t know they made coats for cats,” said an admirer.

I whispered that it was a D-O-G coat but that we don’t mention that in front of Shadow.

She understood the need to keep it a secret.

“My cats could sure learn a lot
from you about good behavior,” the lady went on to say.

Everyone who met Shadow agreed that he was a most unusual fella to be so at home in the middle of such noisy confusion.

Shadow soon met 7-year-old Anne-Elise, and they hit it off immediately!

She told him how beautiful he is and gave him lots of pets. They then posed together for a photo, both ‘old hands’ at having their picture taken, as Anne-Elise models in her spare time.

I think they would make a great team!

As the day warmed up, Shadow exchanged his coat for a fall-print bandana.

When he wasn’t interacting with the crowd he was EATING!

During the course of the day, he consumed bits of a sausage biscuit, pizza, a doughnut and lots and lots of cat grass.

FuRR has a volunteer who grows little pots of cat grass for each of our sales, and they are always popular.

Wandering along the checkout table, Shadow found the grass. He sat down and began to eat.

After sampling two different pots of grass, I suggested that he stop, and I put those pots in the box of things I had set aside to buy.

I told Shadow, “Just like stores who say ‘You break it, you buy it,’ at our
sale it is ‘You eat it, you buy it!”

Shadow wasn’t impressed. He soon was back on the table sampling
other pots of grass.

“Hey, Shadow,” someone said, “That isn’t a buffet just for you!”

Shadow looked up for a second as if to say, “Of course it is all for me!” He did stop eating, but I am sure it was only because he had all he wanted.

When I finished shopping and wrote my check, among my purchases were six partially-eaten pots of yummy green cat grass!

That was a pretty reasonable price for the services of an amazing PR kitty, don’t you think?

SUSAN LOESCH

What a day for a “PAW-ty!” Little Rock Animal Village celebrated their third birthday with a huge event, complete with costume contests, agility training, the opening of their new dog park and demonstrations by the dogs of Arkansas Search and Rescue.

You have to know that where a party is happening, you are likely to find Feline Rescue and Rehome PR team Barney and Shadow.

Barney, our veteran of outdoor gigs, was decked out in his devil costume, and Shadow was sporting Big Footsie’s bat wings for his first outdoor experience. Both perched on the FuRR table and greeted all comers, human and canine alike!

Barney got pets from Tracy Roark, the director of Animal Village, and he got sympathy from a volunteer with the Search and Rescue team.

“Barney,”  she said, “You must hate your mom for making you wear that hat.”

Barney’s expression said to her, “YES! Finally, someone who gets it!”

Before long we figured out that it wasn’t just the devil hat making Barney grumpy; our go-to guy for outdoor events just doesn’t enjoy the company of dogs. So Barney retired to his carrier and watched the goings-on from there, still commenting often on the activities.

But, oh, that Shadow! Doggie visitors didn’t faze him one bit.

He sat, statuesque, on our table, batwings gently moving in the breeze, and soaked up the whole experience! We are sure we saw a smile on his face as he seemed to really enjoy himself.

People were amazed at his calm and laid-back demeanor, even as he came nose-to-nose with Buddy, a cute little dog currently living at Animal Village and looking
for his forever home.

It was only after several up-close-and-personal canine encounters that we began to hear a little Alex-like rumble!

Shadow and I wandered from table to table, meeting people from other rescue groups.

As we came to the Last Chance Arkansas table there was Ms. Christine, a friend from this event last year. She had let me take a picture of Alex with her in her dog costume.

“Oh, I am so sorry about Alex,” she said.

We were happy to hear that she is a regular Cats in the Stacks reader. Shadow accepted pets and admiration from her, of course.

As I am always behind the camera and have few pictures of the cats and me together I took Barney and Shadow to the pet photo booth, and we posed on bales of hay.

Shadow’s pose was regal; Barney was wearing his classic “grumpy Barney” expression, which is part of his charm.

We stopped to visit with some Animal Village volunteers who awarded Shadow and Barney the “best cat costume” prize even though we had arrived too late for the costume contest.

The guys were a shoo-in for the prize as they were the only cats in the crowd. They are pretty darn happy with their toys and treats!

All three of us were excited to win a door prize, which was a beautiful cat picture frame and a soft fleece kitty coat, blue with black cat faces on it.

Barney modeled the coat, and was so handsome in it that I believe he has claimed it for winter appearances, leaving Big Footsie’s green coat for Shadow.

That’s the green coat with the “fur-lined” hood and the gold skull and crossbones. I wonder if Shadow will be any happier with it than Footsie and then Alex were. …  I guess it won’t be long before we find out!  It is supposed to be pretty chilly next weekend when they will appear at FuRR’s huge yard sale.

C’mon on over to Kavanaugh and N. Cedar to say hello.