One of the recent rescues from Karen, Blake is a charming, older gentleman with no teeth and so many mouth issues, his tongue keeps hanging out. But until we get more weight on him, mouth issues are put on hold.
He is an elevator butt kitty in fine style. When I start to scratch “that” special spot, he raises his hind end, bends his head and grabs a piece of straw. As I continue scratching- he will fling his head from side-to-side and that straw stays firmly in his grasp. Then he leans his head way back and flings the straw across the room and grabs another one! LOL It is hysterical and he does it everytime. He is a YOuTube candidate if I ever saw one.My camera takes decent still shots, but not videos. I think Blake would go viral and what that would say about stray cats would be so wonderful, he could be an ambassador!
I had a wild idea yesterday and went and talked with a local shop owner. In our town we unfortunately have a large population of homeless. They sit on the streets and in parking lots with their cardboard signs begging for help. One group really upsets me because there are four people and five dogs. They always try to put the dogs into the road where cars have to either stop to avoid hitting the dogs, or swerve around them.
So I got to thinking and after Easter, I am going to take a piece of foamboard and place all the photos of my “homeless” kitties on it. The sign will say something like “Homeless- Please Help!” and when people do stop, they will see it is cats and kittens in need of a home, not someone wanting to scam them out of money. I will have my adoption forms ready, a pre-addressed stamped envelope and if the person is serious, they can take the form home, fill it out and mail it in and I will be in touch with them after. I have the shopkeeper’s permission to squat outside her store.
Don’t know if it will work or not- it just may amuse people, might tick off others and Mike said he will be parked nearby just in case with B-Dog. It would also be a good vehicle for me to educate people about TNR-
Certainly worth a try. If nothing else, you should get some free publicity for the kitties. Worst case, people will beep their horn and drive on.
We’re kind of surprised no one has hit any of those woofers those ‘homeless’ have. Sooner or later someone on the phone or putting on make-up is gonna drive by and not react in time. (which might be what they want, for that matter)
Not sure you want to open that can of worms, but there are likely laws about blocking or impeding traffic that might apply, as well.
The cops pretty much ignore them. Unfortunately, due to a large country western concert each year the town puts on- there is no open container law here. They can sit there on the sidewalk with their dogs in the road drinking whatever they want and not get arrested.
There’s a group somewhere near me in New Jersey that adopts out senior and barn cats. They write the most effective flyers –
Will mouse for food (for barn cats, and continuing in that vein)
and last winter
Feel chilly this winter? Cut your propane or oil bill. Lap warmers available in a range of colors. (for senior cats, and continues in the same tongue-in-cheek manner.)
Let me know if you want more details and I’ll copy the whole ad to send to you.
That’s not a bad idea, but time-consuming if you stay with the sign. You can always leave it in a shop window, too.
I’m impressed that you’re moving into Community Outreach part of rescue. It’s the hardest part for me. I’d rather scoop boxes all day long then talk to the public for 10 minutes. But putting the cats, or their pics, into the Public space is the only way to get them adopted. I think it a great idea!