Hey faithful blog readers (what, all like, 3 of you?). :)

So, I've been MIA, but I have a good reason. I'm willing to bet if you read this you already know, but....
Kyle and I are opening a business! After years of planning, failed plans, daydreaming, and more, we are finally embarking on our adventure of business ownership! We got our loan finalized in early August, signed our lease a week later. Lizzi & Rocco's Natural Pet Market is slated to open early-mid October, and absolutely can't wait. I'm terrified out of my mind, but really, really excited. If you're not already, be our fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and then come shop at our store. :)

Thank you to ALL of you who have been patient with me over the course of this, especially Angie, Elisabeth, and JB - you've all been amazing.


A quick rundown on what's been happening with us in foster news:

1. Kiwi was adopted by a really great home in Quincy, IL about a month ago. Her new mom is really great, and I know the 'Wi is going to be so happy there.


2. Ned was taken on a 3 week "sleepover," but that didn't work out. The guy was really great, but he had a lot of drama going on in his personal life, and now just wasn't the time to add a dog to his already full plate. I was a little annoyed the "sleepover" lasted so long (a week is normal), but he was really dragging his feet because he wanted to make it work with Ned.

So, we had Ned back for a week, and he went on another sleepover this past Saturday. This new family seems pretty good (for the most part), so I'm just hoping with a little education and an open mind they turn out to be a perfect fit for him. If not, he'll be back with us and I'll demand that a pestie adopt him.


3. During Ned's first sleepover, we fostered a momma and her 7 beautiful newborn puppies. They were SO freaking tiny and adorable and squeaky. I loved them. Mom was dropped off extra pregnant at the shelter, and she needed to get into a cleaner environment while she was waiting to be transported to her new foster home for a rescue in Iowa.

I always said I wanted to foster a pregnant momma and help her raise her babies until they were old/large enough to be adopted, but I was an absolute nervous wreck for the 5 days she was here. I'd check on the puppies a hundred times a day to make sure they were still alive because she'd lay on them all the time. I don't know if I'd be able to put up with that for 8 whole weeks.

4. Remember that huge cat trapping I did like, a month ago? Yeah, I'm now fostering two of those kittens. We've got a timid orange tabby female, Fiona, and a super affectionate black and white (and some gray growing in) male named Bart. Fiona took a while to warm up (she was feral, after all), but now she's pretty affectionate. Pictures of those two, coming soon. :)


So yeah, that's my past month in a nutshell. Life is crazy, but I'll update the blog more. In fact, I'll update with store pictures later tonight or tomorrow!

Love

Happy birthday Miss Emmeline!

Yesterday was Emma's first birthday, and quite a busy day in her world! I baked her a cake and some yummy birthday cookies. She and Ned romped around (as usual), but one of their sessions ended in a bruised or broken tail (not that that would slow her down)! It's a little tender right now, but I know she'll bounce back quickly.

Here are a few pictures of the crazy girl (and sneaky Kiwi) eating her cake.

Cat wranglin'

Wednesday I helped with the large-scale cat trapping event, and let me tell you - it was a sight to be seen! It was the third night of trapping the cats. They caught around 40 the two previous nights, and even though CSC/SNAP hadn't released those cats back onto the property (so we didn't just keep trapping the same ones), cats were everywhere when we arrived. I'd say at least another twenty. It was unreal.

The resident of the property was interesting, to say the least. He mentioned multiple times that the government was out to get him, and that the government controls the weather. Many of the cats had some visible illnesses (gunky eyes), and he said they were sick because of all the chemicals that "they" were using...except he said this right after he lit a burn pile in his yard and stacked all kinds of plastic bags and jugs on top of it to burn. :/

Anyway, after about two and a half hours of trapping, we only caught four cats - they apparently had caught on after seeing what happened to all of their other friends! One little bugger was so bratty. A little 3-4 month old tortie sat next to a trap the ENTIRE time we were there. Just staring. We'd go up to her, she'd scamper off, then come right back and sit next to the trap. As we were packing up, she had finally wondered into the trap and was eating the food, but wasn't springing the trap. So I had to sneak up very slowly behind her and slam the trap door shut.

Most of the cats have now been altered and released back onto the property. A few of the very, very tame ones will be listed as adoptable through CSC. A couple were so ill that they had to the euthanized. And the rest will live the rest of their life out on the property where they were caught. No it's not ideal, but it's the most humane and realistic way to deal with the feral cat population.

Here kitty, kitty, kitty

This afternoon I'm helping SNAP (Spay, Neuter And Protect) with a feral cat project they're working on, and they hope to trap over 40 (possibly as many as 60) cats, get them all spayed or neutered, and then re-release them back on the property (the process is known as TNR).

Ferals are truly wild cats, and can't often be domesticated into a normal house cat, so the best option for them is to be able to live out the rest of their lives in the environment that they will best function in, despite the fact that it's less than ideal. At least they can no longer reproduce and cause other kitties to live that kind of life!

We TNR'd a colony of 12 when we moved into our house a couple of years ago, and that was my first introduction to what SNAP really does. It's a great way to prevent unwanted litters and eventually get the feral population down and to help solve unwanted behaviors from ferals (like marking).

If you're interested in helping out with TNR in your community, check out Alley Cat Allies!

Like to entertain? Check this out.

For those who don't know, my sister is exceptionally awesome. She is fantastic in the kitchen, super cute and creative, and throws a mean party. She's also pretty darn good at being thrifty!

She's been hosting her own parties for years, and has collected her ideas, recipes, etc., for equally as long. She just launched a blog, Hundred Dollar Parties, where she'll detail how she hosts lots of parties that can fit into almost anyone's budget!

So check it out, add it to your Google reader, opt to "follow" the blog - you won't be disappointed!

How many times...

Kitten


Sweet Sugar Beefcake Betsy

Seriously, how many times to I have to neglect my blog before I become more regular with posting? Geez...

Anyway, we did a transport for 3 beautiful Cavaliers this weekend. As usual, I wanted to smuggle one home, but I resisted temptation. These kids, along with 3 others whose final stop was in KC, were used for breeding a whole, whole lot by someone in Texas. Many of them had very recently weaned puppies, and when their owner died, the family wanted to keep the puppies, but had no interest in any of the adults (how nice). The dogs eventually made their way to someone with Cavalier Rescue in Kansas, and we helped them on the rest of their journey to Illinois.

Ned!!

That handsome boy is Ned, a 10-month-old pittie boy, and our newest foster! He's been fostered by our friends Amanda and Matt for a few months, but they are moving (boo), so Ned must stay behind since he's a Columbia 2nd Chance foster dog.

He's had a rough little life so far. He and two littermates were shot at as young puppies. Ned was the only one who was lucky enough to avoid a bullet and survive. Then, he came down with parvo, mange, and kennel cough. Fortunately he beat parvo (yay!), got over the kennel cough, and is working on clearing up the mange.

He's an absolute love of a dog. He gives lots of kisses, is pretty darn smart, and loves playing with everything else in the house. He's pretty much perfect, and I think that someone should adopt him!

Goodbye, snaggle tooth

Miles had a much needed dental cleaning on Monday, and he unfortunately lost a few teeth in the process, including our beloved snaggle tooth. I prolonged the procedure for far, far too long because I was irrationally concerned with my senior kitty going under anesthesia, but my vet finally told me (nicely) to suck it up and get it over with.

So, of course, I feel like he lost some teeth due to my negligence in delaying the procedure. Our vet said that it had nothing to do with that, and that he just wasn't born with the best teeth, but I can't help but feel that if he had a dental cleaning earlier, his snaggle tooth could have been saved.

He's recovering well, but is absolutely pitiful. You can tell he's not fully himself, and that his mouth feels off to him. Hopefully he adjusts soon. :(

Garage Sales, I love you.

Check out these sweet finds from Saturday's garage sale adventures.

Super funky disco suitcase

Super awesome roller skates (that fit!) that were inside the suitcase

Halley's nut-shaped nut bowl, complete with nut-eating squirrel

That's what I call a successful garage sale day!

The greatest literary work of all time

Are you ready to have your life changed forever? I'd like to present to you a book that I wrote when I was 9. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll laugh so hard you'll cry.

Illustrations, commentary (in italics), and original spelling errors have been included.

Dogs.
Written and illustrated by Jessica

Copyright 1991. Jessica's Books.

Dedicated to Saudi, one of the best dogs ever. (My childhood BFF - Saudi the black lab).

When I was four, we got our dog Bud (Boston Terrier, if you couldn't tell by the wicked awesome drawing). He became our family pet. He was very playful and friendly.

One day I was in kindergarden and I was waiting for my bus and all of a sudden my dog Bud ran out of my backyard into the street. Then a big truck came and ran over Bud's leg. (Awful story of course, but a) Global Moving Co.? Where did that come from? and b) did I have to be so graphic with my drawing?)

My mom was so upset over Bud she ordered me to go inside and call my dad. (Screw you Mom. I'm 5. You call him.) That day while I was in school Bud died. That night I cried and cried. (As can be seen by my "Boo Hoo" talking bubble and my dream bubble of a tombstone reading BUD RIP.)

But a few months later my dad came home from work. He was wearing a suit and coat. He took something out of his coat.

It was a baby puppy!!! It was one of Bud's sisters. It was from a litter Bud's mom had had recently.

(Way to support the crappy backyard breeder twice Dad. And by the way, despite the porn star 'stach, my dad actually has a real job. As can be seen by the briefcase he's carrying that actually says briefcase on it.)

"She is so cute," I said. She was so small she had to eat out of very little ashtrays. (How white trash is that?!) I played with Maxi every day.

But one thing we could never do was house-train her. When she was two my dad said "She has to go to school." So she went. We got her back when she was three. (Huh? Where the hell did she go to school for a year? I think 9-year-old me was confuzzled. 9-year-old me also wore ugly clothes.)

But training school didn't do a thing. It was about then we moved to Greenbriar. That is the name of the neighborhood. (Clearly very relevant to the story.)

After we moved Maxi still made messes in the house. Our new house was so big we had to get cleaning girls Sondra and Kerri. (Wow. Pretentious for a 9 year old. WTH Jessica?)

Then on another day my dad said we had to get rid of Maxi. "NO!!!" I said. and ran to my room and locked the door. I didn't come out all night. But we gave her to Kerri, our cleaning girl. (Rehoming wasn't an option for me at age 9 either.)

But one day, my dad said his friend Limon Dame dog just had babies.

(Notice the "So you say your dog had babies?" and "YEA" conversation bubbles.)

Exactly three days later, my dad said we were going somewhere. Guess where we went? To see the puppies! They were so cute. They hadn't even opened their eyes.

Nine weeks and four days later I was getting out of the shower when "AAUUGGHH," that was me. I saw a big black dog in my hallway. (9 weeks and four days - damn...can't break it down into hours and minutes too?)

(Our outfits make us look like we belong in a cult)

Do you like him?" asked my dad? "Who'se is he"? "He might be ours". Guess what. WE did get him! (I should be a professional author).

He went to dog school just like Maxi. But he learned things. We still have him, too. The only difference is that he was trained before he was 3 months old! (I was such a liar. That means in 3 weeks he was trained. Incorrect, Jessica. Incorrect.)

And another difference was Saudi knew how to fetch before he was 3 months. Now since he is a water dog he's so silly he won't get in our pool without his raft. (True story).

All my friends think he's funny except Scott, who thinks he's scary.

(Saudi had a nose like a duck, apparently).

Now he's smart and still lovable.

Bud is dead. Maxi is still at Kerri's but I still have my big, black, baby Saudi.

(Well if that isn't an end to a story, I don't know what is).

Above is a pic of your beautiful author, and below is my boy Saudi, who we lost in March 2003.

Fluffy the Sea Kitten

Oh PETA. You crazy organization. I do at least appreciate the opportunity to make a sea kitten named Fluffy.

PETA Attempts to Make Fish More Adorable

"Sea kittens" is the new term being used by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, for the creatures they believe are in dire need of an image makeover: fish.

"PETA thought that by renaming fish sea kittens, compassionate people who would never dream of hurting a dog or a cat might extend that sympathy to fish, or sea kittens," PETA campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne says.

Byrne says that rebranding fish as sea kittens was obvious.

"Fish not only have the same ability to feel pain as a dog or a cat, but they also communicate with one another," she says. "They have complex social interactions; they form bonds; they express affection by gently rubbing against one another."

The PETA campaign boasts a colorful, interactive Web site aimed at children and their parents. It offers sea kitten bedtime stories and a design-your-own sea kitten in hopes it will build compassion in families.

"Most parents would never dream of spending a weekend torturing kittens for fun with their families, but hooking a sea kitten through the mouth and dragging her through the water is the same as hooking a kitten through the mouth and dragging her behind your car," Byrne says.

Alaskan Resistance

PETA has so far only promoted the campaign in North Carolina but plans to take it nationwide, even to Alaska — a state where fishing is both a source of recreation and many families' livelihoods.

In the small fishing town of Unalaska, population just under 4,000, some people see the campaign differently.

"I don't see fish as sea kittens; I see them as food," says 12-year-old Chastity Haskins.

Haskins is looking at the PETA site with her friend, Harmony Wayner, 11.

"It just doesn't look right," Harmony says. Harmony, the fourth generation of a commercial fishing family, looks at the cartoon fish and reads through the information on the site. "They say that they're intelligent, but they're not really," Harmony says. "They have tiny, tiny little brains. Very miniature."

The girls also take issue with the claims that sea kittens are unhealthy to eat.

"They only talk about farm fish — it's not wild Alaskan, which is very good for you," Harmony says.

Sea-Kitten-Friendly Environments

"I don't understand how it makes sense," says fisheries observer Mary Powers, who works on fishing boats to collect data on the catches. She thinks the campaign, which encourages people to petition the Fish and Wildlife Service to stop the hunting of sea kittens, is misguided. "It seems like it's discouraging Americans to buy our product, which I think is unpatriotic."

But Byrne says that even if people lose jobs in the fishing industry through the success of the campaign, they could find work in more sea-kitten-friendly environments.

"So as there is less of a demand for foods like fish, there is more of a demand for other foods, and jobs open up in those industries," Byrne says.

National Marine Fisheries Service management biologist Brian Dixon doesn't see the change coming anytime soon.

"Well, it may raise some money for PETA, but I don't think it'll change the way we manage the fisheries," Dixon says. "I think I may eat some sea kittens tonight."

His Royal Highness

Yesterday was a BIG day! Rocco was crowned Central Missouri Humane Society's Hound Dog Homecoming King! He's quite proud of himself, and promises to make his constituents proud.

Rocco is going to make a big announcement soon as to what his first act as King will be... :)

Kiwi-riffic!

As if we could avoid another foster for long, we brought home mangy little Kiwi from the shelter Friday. She's been declared by experts to be at least part Chinese Crested, so that's what we're going with.


She's approximately 1-2 years old, and came into the shelter as a stray. She's in yucky shape right now - snotty nose, kennel cough, recovering from mange - but in a couple of weeks, she'll be good as new!


She reminds me SO much of Keko. She looks and acts really similar, which is a little weird. I wonder if they were sisters...

If you try to make fun of her, she will eat you.

It started with a cheeseburger

...and ended at McDonalds*.

Today Maddie started her long trip to her new home. We drove her about an hour into her long journey to the Pacific Northwest, and handed her off to the next driver. Poetically enough, the meeting spot where we dropped her off was a McDonalds, which is where I bought her first cheeseburger from. :)

Her first cheeseburger

Our goodbye at McD's

She's overnighting in Kansas City, will be in Minneapolis tomorrow evening, and then will make her trip to Washington with her great new owner. Not too shabby for a dog that was hours away from euthanasia just a few weeks ago!

*Thank you Halley for my wonderful blog intro line. :)

Happy birthday my little angel!

Today is Rocco's "Gotcha Day" (adoption anniversary), and his unofficial 4th birthday! I'm so thankful he walked (or sulked, as it really worked out) into our lives two years ago.

Here's a little story, accompanied with pictures, on how we found Rocco Charles Velociraptor two years ago.

I was at the shelter to pick up my TNR cats from surgery. I walked through the runs to waste time as they were finishing up. There I saw Rocco's pitiful face and knew immediately that he needed to be ours. His head was practically glued to the ground like this...

...and you could just see the FML look in his eyes (he was sharing a run with a Jack Russell that was jumping off the walls (literally), and Rocco isn't exactly known for his love of high energy dogs or loud settings).

In the next few weeks, it was crystap clear by his behavior that he had been abused in the last. He was very fearful, had no clue how to play with toys, growled at almost anything, and flinched or cowered if you moved too quickly. His medical care had also been neglected, and he had this lovely tumor growing out of his ear:

The night before we brought him home, I was in absolute tears because, as much as I wanted to bring him into our family, I was terrified that there was no way that I could love him as much as I love Lizzi. Two years later, I'm cracking up at how I worried for nothing - he's our sweet angel boy, and I undoubtedly love him just as much as Liz. Plus, look at how perfect these two are for each other. How they survived without the other is beyond me.

The past two years have involved a lot of patience and love in rehabbing Rocco from his past life, but we wouldn't have it any other way. He's perfect just the way he is, and he makes our family whole.

Tonight Rocco enjoyed some delicious birthday cookies, and tomorrow he'll have his birthday cake (I was a bad momma and didn't have all the ingredients I needed today). And of course Sunday is Hound Dog Homecoming, so I'm hoping as a belated birthday gift he gets crowned Homecoming King (last minute donations are still welcome)!

And now, it's off to snuggle in bed with my birthday boy. And my human boy. And Lizzi. And probably Emma and a cat or two. I need a bigger bed...

Rocco's regal pose

A heart for every year of life

Special hearts for every year with us

Licking the candles!