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| | | who say "come plaaayy with us!"
You may have noticed the relative quiet as we took a break after the summer flurry of newsletters about our calendar contest... we are super happy with the energy generated from the contest and we thought you could use a break from all our extra newsletters!
Rest assured though, rescue hasn't stopped and we've been busy... from July to September we have found forever homes for 98! cats and kittens! And so... |
| | Now that the kitties kiddies are back in school... |
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And You're Back from the Beach... |
| it's time to get serious about homework... and that community service requirement. At FFGW, we're strong supporters of community service. However, with most of our cats housed in foster homes. we don't have as many hands-on opportunities for our young volunteers as we'd like. But there is a way that you can get that service requirement satisfied, and it involves fluffy kittens!
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If you foster a cat, or litter of kittens, and your student tracks the time spent socializing, feeding, and cleaning up after (scooping those litter boxes!), our Volunteer Coordinator at FFGW would be happy to sign off on those hours. It's a win-win: your student satisfies the requirement, you - ah, we mean, your student - gets to cuddle with some fun cats, and you make the world a better place by helping FFGW relieve overcrowded shelters.
Fostering can be for a week or two, to give a cat a break from our adoption center in the Leesburg PetSmart, for a night or two when cats come in from shelters after vet hours, or for as long as it takes to get the cat or kittens adopted. You can find all the information and an application HERE. |
| | But Wait! That's Not All!
Some FFGW foster cats spend time in the adoption center at the Leesburg PetSmart, where they can be seen and often quickly adopted.
We are always looking for adult volunteers to be caretakers for the cats in the center, feeding, cleaning cages, playing with and socializing the cats. It can also be a wonderful volunteer opportunity for responsible high schoolers who can commit to a regular weekly shift of an hour or more, and who are accompanied during their entire volunteer shift by a parent or guardian. (We won't tell if you want to play with the kitties yourself, as well!)
If you want to find out more about fostering or volunteering, just reply to this newsletter! |
| | If you can't volunteer at the center in theLeesburg PetSmart, you can still help by spreading the word! Click below for a flyer that you can post to your social media! |
| | | The Combined Federal Campaign is an effort through the United Way for Federal Employees to participate in charitable giving. Under the auspices of the program, employees can select from a wide array of charities for giving.
We ask that if you are a federal employee, you list FFGW as a recipient in your agency’s CFC/United Way campaign:
(CFC#26212; United Way #8911).
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| | Meowloween Approaches!
Oh, Hai! |
| | ©PHolly Hi PHolly.
Are you going to use my photo in the Newsletter?
You know I'm not fond of black cat images for Halloween.
WELL, then why don't you reprint that editorial you wrote...
and my picture!
I used that editorial twice already, as recently as last year.
But you have to talk about adopting black cats at Halloween!
And my photo is purrfect!
You just want your photo in the Newsletter.
You know this is an all-volunteer rescue, right?
We're not paying you for your photo.
Not even a few treats? Some of those yummy salmon flakes?
Well, I guess you could have some of those. What was it the vet said about you though - you look "well-fed"?
She was mean. So does that mean you're going to use my picture?
And run the editorial again? We black cats REALLY need the help, ok?
You're right - I've already seen people saying we shouldn't adopt any black cats out this month...
Here's some salmon flakes. A big handful.
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| | | This Editorial Originally Ran October 2019... but despite increasing awareness of the need to continue to adopt black cats even in the month of October, this week our Facebook and Instagram feed has been full of stories of rescues suspending black cat adoptions for an entire month. Sadly, both Pearl and the Boo Bowl are gone now, but it seems that these thoughts then still have relevance... especially if you're a black cat! And so... at the request of a certain rescued black cat...
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| | It’s early October as I write this, the leaves are starting to turn, acorns are falling with a force that would send Chicken Little scurrying for the hills, and the Halloween decorations and candy have been out now for at least two months. I’m working on FFGW’s October Newsletter, sitting here with a cup of coffee and a breakfast of cereal in the “BOO” bowl, while Pearl patiently (ok, not so patiently) waits for me to finish so she can have her mandatory couple of licks of milk before I remind her cats are lactose intolerant and rinse the bowl out in the sink. |
| The BOO bowl is a leftover from my kids’ younger days, and is adorned with cats on the inside, but surprisingly not black cats – Boo is filled with sleepy tabbies. I like the bowl as it is a rare item that doesn't portray a black cat of the season. Don't get me wrong - I love black cats, and have three of them. As a cat person, with a few too many cat-shaped things in the house, I’ve always liked the Halloween images – after all, what’s not to like about seeing black cats everywhere this time of year? Taking a step back, though, I realize that those images are anything but positive. Typically, the cat’s back is arched, the tail is fluffed, the cat is snarling or hissing and the eyes are a frightening shade of orange. In fact, when I asked my son to add a cat to his drawing, so I could feature it in this Newsletter, without my specifying the type of cat it first came out that way.
How did black cats become associated with fright, with witches, with evil? If any color of cat was associated with Halloween, shouldn’t it be an orange tabby? Black cats surely need to hire one of those image scrubbers who remove negative stuff about you from the internet…
For a long time, rescues believed that there was the need for special protection of black cats at Halloween, with some going as far as to halt all adoptions of black cats for the entire month of October. We’re now learning that is not necessary (see the article later in this newsletter), and that’s a good thing. Black cats are no more likely to meet an unfortunate fate than any cat is this time of year and, unfortunately, black cats fall into the category of “less adoptable” – a term that, as you’ll see elsewhere in this newsletter, is wrong as well.
I’m glad that FFGW does not give black cats only 11/12ths of the chance other cats have to be adopted.
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The weeks before Halloween are the quiet before the storm, the last bit of time before the hustle and bustle of the holidays starts in earnest. It’s also a tough time for rescues, as donations, which typically are the greatest around the holidays, are in a valley but costs continue unabated. Your support for our mini fundraisers this year has really helped us and we extend our sincere thanks!
We hope you'll consider our end of the year campaign beginning next month as we look forward to starting 2024 continuing to help at-risk cats and kittens - and if you want hands-on contact with some great cats, consider volunteering to be a caretaker at our adoption center inside the Leesburg PetSmart. Just reply to this newsletter!
I hope one day soon to see you at one of our adoption events. I’ll be the one showing off photos of his three black cats... and a white one with a serious milk problem. |
| | | Hellooo... By day, I am Bear, Billionaire Purrlanthropist... (and available for adoption)
At Night, Criminals, a Cowardly Lot of Mice and Bugs, call me... |
| | Our Furred Crusader CatMan is in the temporary Cat Cave at his foster home, along with his bonded sister Betty White, awaiting the Cat Coordinates for his forever home. But meanwhile, he's here to bust the myths about black cats! Then, as now, many of the cats currently in the care of FFGW - are black.
Black cats, right before Halloween? Yes, FFGW does not suspend black cat adoptions for the month before Halloween. On the one paw, our adoption counselors are attuned to any vibrations of someone adopting for less than honorable purposes - and we can check references, vet references, and more. On the other paw, if we had any question, we would chose to tell an adopter that they can adopt, and pick up the cat after Halloween. On the third paw, our adoption fee makes it less likely that someone dishonorable would spend the money to adopt. And, on the fourth paw - the real truth is that black cats are no more likely to be hurt at Halloween, than any other time of year.
Bear- ah, CatMan - says he has confidence in FFGW's ability to find him (and his sister!) a purrfect furever home together.
Various studies have shown that any cat that is outdoors is at risk at Halloween, and that's one of the many reasons that FFGW’s adoption contract requires that cats be kept indoors (the greatest risk is the adopter's neighbor's children - not the adopter).
Read what some esteemed organizations say:
Best Friends Animal Society agrees:
If you're still not convinced that the greatest risk to black cats around Halloween is perishing in shelters, the University of Florida Veterinary College has collected more support from researchers:
It is a commonly held belief - and this one, our experience says is true - that black cats have a harder time than other coat colors with respect to being adopted - all year long. Perhaps it’s because they’re more difficult to photograph, or because their facial features seem to be invisible, except for those eyes. Or, maybe it’s their association with scary things of the season. How did black cats get such a bad reputation, that association with witches and goblins and all things scary? It doesn’t have to be that way! In England and Japan, having a black cat cross your path is considered to be – GOOD luck! And in parts of France, black cats are referred to as "matagots" or "magician cats." According to local superstition, they bring good luck to owners who feed them well and treat them with the respect they deserve.
Now that’s a superstition we need to encourage! So please help spread the word – black cats actually bring good luck, and deserve the chance to look for homes 12 months a year! |
| | Gooood Eeeeevveennning...
Oh! Hi, Count Catula! Goodness, what big teeth you have. Are you telling us a spooky story tonight?
No... Tonight, I am telling you all about...
With Halloween just weeks away, it is important to remember that more pets are lost on Halloween night and July 4th than any other day of the year.
With everyone's attention recently focused on Covid safety, it's easy to also forget pet safety. Halloween can be noisy and very frightening to pets, even if you will not be opening your door this year. If you will be entertaining the little ones, a disoriented cat or dog may scurry out the front door while you are handing out candy to cute little ghosts, goblins, witches... and the occasional cat. Not only is the door a hazard, but off limits food such as candy abounds, not to mention all those fun discarded candy wrappers that crinkle just great and are a lot of fun for little paws.
Don't forget to take extra steps to ensure kitty stays in, and if your home will be open to trick-or-treaters, or you'll be having a socially distanced gathering, any knocking on the door and noise from revelers doesn't stress her out.
Consider keeping Fluffy in a room, far away from the noise, with some soothing music, and perhaps a spray of Feliway, Rescue Remedy or Spirit Essence “Safe Space.” Keeping your cats in a safe room will not only avoid one getting outside, but will also keep them away from tempting treats like chocolate which can make them seriously ill, or those fun, crinkly candy wrappers which can do the same. |
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Make sure everyone knows not to open the safe-room door! |
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Mom says we have to stay inside... I wanted to go Trick or Mouse! |
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I'll be robbing kibbles from the rich, and giving them to the poor ferals! |
| Mittens never lived down the year he skipped his usual tuxedo for a witch's costume and everyone told him he wasn't a "real" black cat... |
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What a miserable neighborhood. All they give out is candy - I didn't get a single crunchy chipmunk in my bag! |
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No unwilling cats were harmed in the production of these photographs. HOWEVER… Before you decide to put Fluffy in a Halloween costume, please read what Award-Winning Cat-Blogger Ingrid King says about that, and don’t add any stress to your felines this holiday!
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Check Us Meowt! On Social Media!
Facebook & Insta!
We try not to overflow your email inbox, and most months send just one Newsletter with a deep dive into all that's going on at FFGW, and some fun cat-centric stuff - but you can find out all the rescue happenings closer to real time on our social media! (And of course... see a lot more cute kitty pictures!)
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter below!
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I Feel Like Something Chewy!
Actually, not that chewy, but "Chewy"!
www.chewy.com is a pet product company specializing in home delivery of all things pet-related. FFGW has a "wish list" which you can find here:
Any products you select from our wish list will be delivered directly to us for use at our adoption center at PetSmart and by our fosters!
If you're new to Chewy, we'll even get a gift certificate for bringing in a new purchaser. It's a great way to help us in our mission to help the kitties!
Thanks to everyone who has donated food, treats, litter, beds, toys... Chewy's platform doesn't allow us to see the names of our generous donors, but please know that your support is very much appreciated! And if you drop us a line and let us know when you donate something, we'll be more than happy to send our thanks!
This post contains affilliate links. FFGW may be compensated if you buy something after clicking on these links. |
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| We've Stopped Smiling... Because Amazon has ended its "Smile" program
The Smile program enabled designated charities received a contribution for each purchase made by supporters. Each year FFGW received over $1000 through this program. Sadly, Amazon has discontinued Smile. However, if you shop on line at Walmart, there is still a way for you to help the kitties with
Go to the link above, designate FFGW as your charity, and each purchase will be "round up" to the nearest dollar - with that change going to FFGW. |
| | We've Gone Home!
Adopted June - September (98)
Pepe, Meowy Shelley, Jane Pawsten and lots more!
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Adoption Fairs
Leesburg Weekly Fair Leesburg PetSmart - Every Sunday 12 - 2 pm
Next Event: Sunday October 8
--Midweek Adoptions by Appointment for Cats in the Center--
We need volunteers to help care for the cats at Leesburg! Contact Brittany@ffgw.org
Looking for a new cat for your family? Get pre-approved for adoption by filling out an adoption form online today.)
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