Dog Wants a Kitten - Super Cute Voice-Over Video!

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There's nothing in the world this cute dog wants than a kitten. More specifically, a female tabby baby.

He's been telling his daddy that he wants one really bad, and today his daddy had some pretty exciting news to tell him. I've never seen a more excited doggie!

We love a cute video. And we extra love a cute video that promotes adoption, like this one, which was made for Pets Add Life. Cute and for a good cause. Win!


Thanks to Cutehead Sue T. (and the one at HART who we sent all the transport kitties up to!) for sharing this cute Dog Wants a Kitten video with us!

P.S. Countdown to my birthday... 10 days!

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Today I Started Crying About I Cat I Didn't Even Know

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Adopt Miller! He's at Broward AC in Pompano, FL.

This happened yesterday:

I just finished driving home from work. It's been a long week, topped off by an unusually busy Friday. My phone had been buzzing with Facebook notifications for the last hour or so while I was at the office, but I hadn't had a chance to check the messages.

My friends can wait, right? I don't need to know that one liked my status or that someone is at the bar for happy hour near me. I just wanted to finish up work and get going.

On the way home, my phone was still buzzing like it always does, so I checked my Facebook at the first red light.

Turns out it wasn't friends' silly updates; it was people commenting on a picture I had been tagged on -- one of a litter of five kittens hoping for rescue at my local Broward County Animal Care and Control.

It's not these five kittens I cried about.

I had been tagged on that photo days ago and had kind of kept track of how they were doing. They were slowly getting sicker, stuck in a shelter with germs, and four of the five were no longer available. Sad, of course. I hope I don't sound heartless when I say I'm tagged in these pictures a lot, and while I'll never get used to it, I just know it happens.

Adopt Chalse! He's the only one of his litter left. Please.

What got me, though, was the last seven or eight comments on the picture. Someone chimed in, in all caps, with this:

MARLIN IS BEING KILLED TONIGHT! URGENT PLEASE SOMEONE TAKE HIM... I WAS JUST THERE AND HE WAS CRYING. I CAN TRANSPORT LOCALLY AND 50$ IN DONATION. THIS IS HIS LAST HR. I CAN CALL AND PUT A HOLD.

And then the next comment by her:

I CAN GET MEDS FOR HIM...

None of the kittens pictured were named Marlin. The next commenter simply said: "Marlin?" To which my friend who originally tagged me answered:

"Marlin is a beautiful and gorgeous long-haired black cat waiting at Pompano."

I was in my car reading this. I have no idea why that got me, but I swear I had more than a few thoughts going through my head, and 80% of them involved me wondering if I could somehow sneak a third cat into my apartment and get away with it. There wasn't even a picture of Marlin, but between the description of him crying, the woman's urgent pleas for help and willingness to do everything she could to help him if someone could take him in and the fact that he was a gorgeous black cat... it was all of the sudden too sad.

The light turned green and I kept driving. My phone buzzed again, and I checked it at the next light.

HE IS NO LONGER WAITING... THIS WAS HIS LAST DAY :( I'VE BEEN TRYING HARD THIS AFTERNOON TO FIND SOMEONE WITH NO SUCCESS...

And I lost it and broke down.

Someone could have taken him. Someone with one cat could have had two. Someone who has never had a cat could have opened their home. Someone...

The next comment: "so he's gone? :( they euth'd him?"

I found this picture after I wrote this post. Marlin.

We didn't reach that someone. At BlogPaws this weekend, I think it was Petfinder founder, Betsy Saul, who said that while animal rescue is growing, we are overwhelmingly failing cats. There are too many. Not enough homes. Not enough marketing to get them into homes.

I don't know Marlin. I never met him, never saw a picture of him, but his last couple hours unfolded on my phone and I feel like I failed him. He didn't have a home or a family, but man, someone loved him enough to try that hard to save him. We need to try harder. I don't know how.

I have to do more. HAVE to. I don't know if I could have helped, but I wish I'd seen her post earlier instead of wasting away at my desk putting stupid numbers in a stupid spreadsheet.

Your Majesty is at Broward AC in Pompano, FL waiting! 

It's Friday night and I should probably be out, but instead I'm going to sit here and make a list of things I can do. Things shelters can do. Things my fabulous networks of friends and bloggers can do.

I haven't even taken off my work shoes yet and I had to sit down and write this post. It had to come out. Whatever I come up with, I hope you guys will help support me. You always do. :)

And last but not least, I just want to mention how amazing it is to have more than one cat. If people who had one cat would consider adopting a friend for him, imagine how many more lives we could save! I never planned on two, but I would never not have at least two again.

There's a great non-profit campaign called Pets Add Life that advocates for how much better pets make our lives, and the joys of multiple-pet households. We have to convince the world of this!

King has been at Pompano since May 1. Someone save him?

I was going to write a post today promoting their campaign, but Marlin happened, so that's what I felt the need to share instead. I hope P.A.L. is OK with me putting that spin on their campaign.

In the meantime, if it's OK with you all, I'm probably going to do a little more sharing of pets that need homes on the Cute's Facebook page. I usually try not to do it too much because it's usually a sad ending, but maybe we can make it so more of them are happy instead. We have to at least try, right?

And, please, I hope this doesn't cheapen the post -- because the words and the tears and the sentiment would have been here whether this was happening or not -- but I have to add this disclaimer: This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership.

As always, thanks for the ears, Cuteheads. I'm a sappy cat lady sometimes.

P.S. All paws crossed, you guys, but I just checked, and as of Friday, 9:45 p.m., Marlin is still listed on Petharbor! I hope his link still works in the morning and maybe he somehow got held over and given another chance. If he is... We're going on an all-out Cute Mission to bust him out of there!

UPDATE Saturday, 9:55 am: Another comment on the post! More tears from me! This time, happy tears...

MARLIN IS STILL ALIVE AND I'M ON MY WAY TO PICK HIM UP NOW:) CATS EXCLUSIVE WILL BE TREATING HIM TODAY AND SUZANNE WILLIAMS HAS AGREED TO TAKE HIM AND TREAT HIM AFTERWARD.....PLEASE ANY DONATIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY CALLING CATS EXCLUSIVE AT 954-975-8349. THANK YOU

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Marlin is making it out OK! And not only that, but my fave shelter ever, Cats Exclusive, is going to treat him (he is apparently having trouble breathing and not eating well). Yay! If you want to help donate, let them know it's for Marlin and that Dorian from Your Daily Cute sent you. They know me there! Oh, HAPPY.

Some links to the people important in this post: 
-- My friend's tiny rescue, Good Karma Pet Rescue. She takes this pictures and helps spread the word about the animals that need homes.
-- Broward County Animal Care and Control. They have two locations, and the one in Pompano is not as well-known or supported so many cats don't make it out. All the cats pictured here (except poor Marlin) are available for adoption there. Please share!

UPDATE ON MARLIN, 7/23/12: He is no doing well. He got over his cold, but he is not eating on his own. Cat Crusade, the group caring for him, has set up this Chipin to raise funds for him to get x-rays and bloodwork done at the vet. If you can spare a few dollars, I know they would appreciate it. I really hope Marlin gets better. He really got to me, sweet thing.

UPDATE ON ONE OF THE KITTIES UP THERE, 7/23/12: Chalse was adopted by a friend of Cute! He traveled 1,455 miles to his new home with her in St. Louis and just arrived there last night. Read his story here (and about his new sister who was also saved by this wonderful woman!).

Please follow along with me and let's do this together! Subscribe to Your Daily Cute by email and get all the updates. Thank you!

Today is National Get a Pal for Your Pet Day!

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For the longest time, Pimp was an only child. Then Moo came around and turned our world upside down.

That little menace just bullied his way into my heart and Pimp's favorite spot on the bed -- and life is so much better now that it was before!

That's why we love today. It's National Get a Pal for Your Pet Day, sponsored by P.A.L., or Pets Add Life. Because they do add life to our lives. Lots of it.

I can't imagine only having one cat now. In fact, today Moo had to go on a little staycation for a couple hours. My landlord was going to come by to drop off the lease for next year and check the place out, and I'm only supposed to have one cat. So, I packed Moo and his food bowls up and he went to stay at a friend's for a couple hours.

And I was miserable! And secretly, Pimp was, too. He tries to act like he doesn't like Moo, but I know he really does. He enjoys the company and having another cat around. I'm gone all day for work all the time, and this way they at least have each other around!

Plus, Moo keeps Pimp in shape and young. They chase each other around the house like crazy! Sometimes I think I have buffaloes instead of cats. I wonder what the people below me think.

No matter! Pimp is burning calories, thanks to Moo, and that makes his life better!

Some reasons why you should get a pet a pal:
--They get more toys! Twice as many even, if they're lucky.
--They get more treats! Pimp always picks up Moo's scraps.
--They get more exercise! It takes two to chase.
--They get more love. Sneaky Moo loves to give Pimp a little lick every now and then.
--They get more company. There's always a best friend around.

Pimp would not like me sharing this... but I have proof that they love each other.


P.S. That is our old house... and our old couch! That was before I discovered the wonders of microfiber. ;)

So what are you waiting for? There is somecat or somedog in a shelter somewhere just waiting for you to bring them home so they can make both you and your pet's life better!

This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership, which is nice, of course, but I would have done it anyway! :)

Sniffin' Butts and Eatin' Birds: Pets Are Great, Aren't They?

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Fair warning: If you only have one cat or dog, today's post might make you start thinking about adding to your family! :)

Ever wonder what dogs and cats talk about with each other? I honestly have before, but I never really thought about it too much. We're getting an inside look today though!

Pimp was an only child for 10 years before Moo came along. I always said I didn't want to get another cat because it would disrupt his world, but I never thought about the fact that he had no one to talk to when I was home!

These videos below were made by the people at Pets Add Life, whose mission is to show how much better pets make our lives, and how much better multiple pets are. (See, go get more!) I think they're so silly!




Aren't they cute? What a great idea!

This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership, which is nice, of course, but I would have done it anyway! :)

Cats Happen: How One Kitty Undid 10 Years of Saying No

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How many of you swore forever that you'd only have one cat? You don't need more than that, you said. All that poop scooping, the vet bills, the cat hair...

And then somehow, for some reason, you caved.

That's exactly how it happened in our house. Pimp was an only child for 10 whole years, the king of the condo, the mayor of the apartment, the only child.

It never even occurred to me to get him a friend early on, and after years of him being used to peace and quiet and hogging the whole bed or couch, I figured he was just too old to throw another cat or kitten in the mix. I couldn't do it to him, I always said.

I turned away more than a few strays that showed up at my front door. I wrestled with my love of my parking lot kitties, The Meows, and not being able to bring them home, I ooohed and awwwed at kitten after kitten at adoption centers -- but I never caved. I just couldn't do it to Pimp.

And then, one day, a crazy little cow cat showed up on my back porch and my whole resolve melted away.

MOO!

Don't know what it was about that silly spotted kitty that made me change my decade-long resistance, but whatever it was, I'm so glad I did!

Seriously, when people say two cats are better than one, they're not just saying that. They are! More cuddles, more love, more meows, more purrs! And if one of them doesn't feel like snuggling, the other one probably does. I'm never, ever, ever lonely or alone (sometimes to the point of annoyance, but that doesn't last long).

And Pimp? He's just fine and I think that secretly (he'll never admit it or show it publicly), he loves him and is glad he's around.

Now, when I leave for work all day or for a weekend away, I know they have each other to keep themselves company.


Yeah, I scoop poop more and have a little bit more vet bills, but I think I still come out ahead. I have two furry sons now, and I can't imagine life without BOTH of them.

I'm not getting a third one though... Yet.

Do you have more than one pet? Thinking about it? Pets Add Life (PAL) is celebrating multiple pet households. They're all about how pets add life to our lives. And they do! Check out PAL on Facebook.

This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership, which is nice, of course, but I would have done it anyway! :)