Thursday, September 22, 2016

Be a Voice for the Voiceless #RememberMeThursday


Meows from Mudpie!

I've been thinking about what a lucky little girl I am. I was rescued from the streets and brought to the shelter where I eventually found my forever home. I have yummy food and treats, warm beds and blankies, and a Mommy who loves me to pieces. I know that millions of kitties just like me aren't so lucky; they live without food, warmth, and love, and then either die on the streets or in a shelter because no one ever shows up to adopt them.

Did you know:

Each year in the United States 3.4 million orphan pets lose their lives without finding a home.

Yet only 30% of pets in US households come from rescue facilities.

That's why animal-lovers and animal welfare organizations across the globe will unite today with a Remember Me Thursday pet candle-lighting ceremony. The candles, which will be lit on the exact same day across the world, will honor the millions of pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and shine a light on the millions of healthy pets who are still awaiting adoption. The Remember Me Thursday global awareness campaign encourages individuals to light a candle this day (literally or virtually) and to opt to adopt, reducing the millions of orphan pets euthanized each year.


Orphaned pets can't speak for themselves. We are their only voice. Spread the word about Remember Me Thursday on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels. Don’t forget to use hashtags #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday to share your thoughts and feelings about the importance of pet adoption.

CONTEST: This year, you can win life-saving funds or food for a rescue or shelter of your choice! Take a photo of your rescue pet and tag the picture with #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday on Twitter and Instagram to be entered into the challenge!


Today we're shining a light on two kitties who have been waiting for their forever homes for far too long, both at Tara and Truffles' alma mater Franklin County Animal Rescue.

Ralphie is a sweet older gentleman. He would be happiest in a home where he is the only pet, spending time with gentle people. He’s a curious guy who likes to explore, yet napping is his all-time favorite hobby. Ralph is between 10 and 12 years old. He’s neutered and up-to-date on vaccines. Ralph is part of FCAR's Adoption Hope Project where the adoption fee is waived (with an approved adoption application) to help remove barriers for potential adopters and place long term residents and senior cats in forever homes. Information on how to adopt Ralph can be found at his Petfinder profile.

Mimm was brought to the shelter after her owner, who she'd lived with all her life, passed away. She doesn't like other animals and is very unhappy around all the other cats at the shelter. (Boy, can I ever identify with that!) Mimm is a 10 year old spayed female, up to date on her vaccines, and tested negative for feline aids and leukemia. She's also a Project Hope cat. Information on how to adopt Mimm can be found at her Petfinder profile.

Please remember: Animal shelters are full of kitties who are in need of a second chance. They are homeless due to no fault of their own. If you have room in your heart and your home for a new best friend, one is as close as your nearest shelter. If you're not in a position to adopt right now, share these precious babies' stories. They are counting on us...let's not let them down.

21 comments:

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

I'm very excited about the contest this year! I hope it helps bring attention to many shelters.

Unknown said...

We posted, too! Purrs and prayers for Ralph and Mimm!

Layla Morgan Wilde ( Cat Wisdom 101) said...

This is one of my favorite events and 4th year blogging about it. It's more timely and relevant than ever. Happy Autumn :-)

Unknown said...

We hope Ralph and Mimm find homes soon. They look like great cats!

The Menagerie Mom said...

I am so glad that the #RememberMeThursday movement exists. I only just learned about it earlier this week, but I am already in love with it and its mission. Thank you so much for spotlighting this movement and these precious kitties in need of homes, Mudpie and Melissa! Purrs!

Momma Kat and Her Bear Cat said...

That so many cats never have homes makes me so sad. Bear was homeless when we met. Over the last 10 years, he's saved my life every single day ... I can't imagine my life without him. And yet, when I found him, most people would've considered him a nuisance and unwanted. Every life matters ... EVERY SINGLE ONE. For each cat that is killed because there isn't a home, we lose out on that potential ... the potential to make the world and humanity better.

The Island Cats said...

We are remembering those in shelters today...and those that sadly never made it out. I was a shelter cat so I know what it's like. ~Ernie

Three Chatty Cats said...

Great post, Mudpie! I love that #RememberMeThursday was created to remember shelter pets and promote adoption!

Hannah and Lucy said...

We are remembering all the cats in shelters - we were rescued from a house that had over 100 cats and kittens there and we were so very lucky to find our new forever home from there.

Two French Bulldogs said...

Our friends are going to adopt a new kitty real soon
Lily & Edward

Cathy Keisha said...

I feel especially sorry for cats like Mimm who had a home and then lost the only mom they remember.

Random Felines said...

we got our paws crossed for those two kitties

da tabbies o trout towne said...

ralph N mimm....we send best bloo gill wishez that ya both findz... & yur in yur for everz..... bye de end oh thiz month ~~~~~~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Robin said...

Manna and Dexter feel very blessed to have found a forever home and I feel blessed to have them. Ralph and Mimm are adorable and they look very sweet! I hope they find their forever homes soon. They deserve it.
-Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

Dash Kitten Crew said...

Mimm's eyes remind me of Cathy Keisha that same 'don't mess with me' look. We love Ralph, we have two senior boys here, they are the best, adorable, gentle and total rock stars!

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

We're so happy to participate this year in this special day. It's so important to let people know what can happen to pets in shelters.

pilch92 said...

Excellent post. I wish they could all have forever homes.

The Daily Pip said...

We join you in a lighting a candle for all the precious ones still looking for homes and those who never had a chance. Hoping sweet Mimm and Ralphie find forever homes soon.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

It's always nice to see so many participating catchatwithcarenandcody

Kitties Blue said...

Ralphie and Mimm are amazing. Like our Swizzle, we never understand why these incredible kitties languish in shelters. It breaks our hearts. We did our post, and continue to purr and pray for all these kitties as we cannot adopt them. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

Priscilla King said...

I'm glad my Torties' & Calicos' ancestors were rescued directly off the street without the horror of being routed through shelters. (They were feral alley cats, but social and clever enough that Mackerel was starting to replicate the whole history of cats' domestication of humans when his human friends sent his family to me.)

Now that Thursday's over, I'd like to put in a word for feral alley cats. They may never want to live indoors, or forgive you if you have them sterilized (although many of them really aren't fit to breed)...but they do become friends and pets. And their kittens *will* become pets.

Thusly: Mac and Polly each spent some short time indoors, for medical reasons, but they didn't like it (and their mother and brother never went indoors). One of Polly's kittens, Bisquit, chose to spend whole days indoors, and one of her siblings considered it, but basically, if I called them to come indoors and eat, they'd eat and leave. One of Bisquit's kittens reared her kittens, and Bisquit's last kitten with them, indoors. That would be my current adult cats, Heather and Irene...and although they spend much of their time on the porch watching for me to cross to the older part of the house they access by a cat door, Heather and Irene basically believe the older part of the house belongs to them. They allow me and some other cats to visit!

(Sometimes I ask them about a temporary cat, and sometimes they're the ones who lead one in--social cats can be quite generous. Heather and Irene recognize one neighbor family's rescued-from-the-street pet as their uncle and have made real campaigns to move him from his loving home into mine, in the past, until he was confined indoors! They wanted to adopt last winter's kitten-off-the-street faster than I did, too--but so far they're refusing to let the latest calico-off-the-street get close to them or me.)