Thursday, August 30, 2012

Campaign For A Cause - Blind Cat Rescue

Hi, I'm Snicker. Probably because I'm super sweet. Read my story.

Hi everyone Katie here.

Are you sitting down? Put aside any sharp objects and leave the hot coffee in the kitchen. I'm checking my sarcasm at the door today.

One of the coolest parts of running for Cat Ruler of the World in the Campaign For A Cause Contest is the Cause. Glogirly and I have chosen to support Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary of St. Pauls, North Carolina in this first-of-it's-kind contest. Today I'm honored and humbled to share just a little bit about this amazing shelter, the cats, and the people who love and care for them.


I'm Emily, here on the left. I was born a stray and the people who were feeding me 
saw that I had problems with my eyes. They asked for help. Read my story.

And I'm LT here on the right. That's short for Little Thing because I'm small. They also call me 
a non-stop purr machine. A LOT of people worked together to rescue me. Read my story.


Their Mission - Their Compassion
Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary was established in 2005 to answer a desperate need for a safe place for blind cats that were deemed unadoptable by regular shelters and were going to be killed simply because they were blind.

To some, the term 'rescue' is cool.  As current and trendy as 'green.'  Drive a Prius, recycle regularly and adopt a rescue. But to those who know firsthand, rescue is anything but glamorous.  Alana Miller, the amazing woman behind BCRS explains, "It's about comforting a scared cat whose owners abandoned him at the shelter after living together for 10 years. It's about holding a young animal's head as they take their last breath when it has been determined that their previous owners abused them so badly they can't be saved."

"It's about restoring hope and dignity to creatures for whom no one else cares about."

"The responsibility is big but the returns on our emotional investment are greater. You cannot place a value on the look of contentment that comes when an animal is clean, exercised, warm, fed and safe for the first time in its life."

Hi I'm Rudy. I a sweet little guy that was born blind. They say it took a village to rescue me. Read my story.


The Inspiration Behind Blind Cat Rescue
When I asked Alana how the idea for Blind Cat Rescue came to be, she told me about her friend, Gwen Cooper and Homer the cat.  Many of you have probably heard of Homer's story. Gwen turned it into the bestselling book, Homer's Odyssey - A Fearless Feline Tale, Or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat.

Before Gwen wrote her book, she and Alana talked about who might read a story about a blind cat. They agreed, if Homer's story saved just one cat, it would make a difference. Homer's story has done much, much more. "Gwen has made a tremendous difference in the lives of blind cats. She's managed to change the mindset of if you're blind, you're dead." She's opened minds and opened hearts. All this has had a significant and positive impact on Alana and Blind Cat Rescue.

Just yesterday I connected with Gwen on Facebook. I'm hoping to do a very special post about her and Homer next week, so stay tuned!


Hi, I'm Miracle, a big fluffy orange miracle! I'm FIV+ and was moments away from being euthanized
when a shelter worker called Blind Cat Rescue hoping to save me. Read my story.

And I'm Fred. I'm blind and FIV+. I love to be touched and I'll follow you everywhere. Read my story.

A Lesson For The Human Race
Since 2005, the year I was born, Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary has provided safety, love and hope to more cats than I can count. This both warms and breaks my heart.

Glogirly tells me often how lucky we are, how much we have, how our lives are full.  When she was growing up her mom and dad tried to teach her about humility and generosity. They taught her to reach her hand out to the kid in school that was different or awkward.  They taught her to love those that didn't know love.

It's really not all that different, is it? I think that's why Blind Cat Rescue has touched her heart in such a profound way and why we have chosen to support them in this amazing contest.  The human race has much to learn about how they treat and care for each other, especially those that are hurting, lost or just different.  Imagine the world if everyone treated each other with the same respect, dignity and compassion that BCRS shows the cats in their care.


Hi, I'm Chester. I was found as a stray by some nice people that asked (ok begged) BCRS to help me. Read my story.

On The Web
Glogirly and I first discovered Blind Cat Rescue on Facebook.  We love seeing the daily updates and photos of the cats. They take the time to thank every single donor whenever they receive gifts from their WISH LIST, often with photos or videos of the cats enjoying those donations.

Frequently there are contests BCRS is entered in to win food, supplies, even grants for their shelter. They do a great job of reaching out to their Facebook friends and making it easy to help. 

Monthly visitor days are documented with smiling photos of visitors getting their fix of kitty love.
Please LIKE them on Facebook. (Sorry, there's no love button.)  

Through the power and reach of Facebook, BCRS has helped find homes for hundreds of blind kitties from coast to coast.

Blind Cat Rescue also has a powerful website that enables them to share their message and mission. Every single cat has a link with their name, photos and a brief history of how they came to be at the shelter.




How Can You Help?  
Currently Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary is caring for 92 cats whose age, medical condition, temperament or other special needs make them even more precious to them. They hope you feel the same. BCRS is a private, non-profit organization and receives no government funds. They raise every single penny themselves from caring people like you.

Here's how YOU can make a difference.
  • Go SHOPPING! Just pull out the plastic and shop the BCRS Wish List for everything from food and medicine to toys and litter. It couldn't be easier. 
  • It's election year. Please consider casting your vote for homeless animals by making a generous gift to Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary.
  • Sponsor a BCRS cat with a monthly donation commitment.
  • Honor a loved one with a Tribute Gift.
  • Matching Grants. Many large corporations will match your donation. 
  • Leave a legacy in your will.
  • Real Estate gifts.
  • Life Insurance planned gifts.
  •  (Visit BCRS Donation page for details.)
Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in the lives of these cats.


...and finally, The Cats!
I asked Alana if she could share with us just one message, what would it be? With a smile in her voice, she was very quick to respond. "Blind cats don't know their blind. They just know they're cats. They jump, they climb, they chase bugs. They're brave and fearless." That's something we can all learn from.  They eat, purr and love just like any other cat. Please, don't hesitate to give a blind cat a home. They'll enrich your lives, surprise and inspire you.

These are just a few of the Blind Cat Rescue kitties. You can meet ALL of them here.



"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
-Ghandi







VOTE!
The prizes in this contest are life changing and life sustaining for the shelters involved. I can't begin to describe the gratitude in Alana's voice when she explained to Glogirly and I how much this contest means to her and the cats of Blind Cat Rescue. They know how hard many families are struggling.  It's not easy finding the money to make donations to causes and organizations you really believe in when you're worrying about groceries and rent. Winning the Campaign For A Cause Contest will make a tremendous difference in the lives of these brave and loving cats.


YOU can make a difference! 


Vote Katie & Blind Cat Rescue
Voting begins on 9/11 at Zee & Zoey



Prizes for winning rescue organization:
*WINNING SHELTER – 5000 nutritious meals from Halo and FreeKibble.com to the winning shelter and 1000 meals to all runner up shelters, 2000 pounds of absorbent, natural whole-kernel corn litter fromWorld’s Best Cat Litter and 25 Trial Kits for each shelter to give away to new cat owners who have adopted a pet, a $250.00 financial donation and two cases of  any choice of odor product, stain & odor product, or litter spray to the winning shelter and a spray bottle odor assortment to runner up shelters from Zero Odor, a $250 financial donation from PetPlan Insurance, an exclusive offer from NVR Miss Litterbox – for each limited edition “Cat Ruler of the World” litter box purchased, $10.00 of the proceeds will be donated to the winning shelter, and, a special offer from Zee and Zoey themselves – for each copy of their book purchased, The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey, $5.00 of the proceeds will be donated to the winning shelter!!




44 comments:

  1. It really is amazing how well cats without site do. We had one at the shelter who was virtually blind, largely due to an accident at his former home, a hoarder type place. They really are something to watch and the Blind Cat Rescue does some wonderful work.

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  2. What a great post! Blind Cat Rescue sounds like such a wonderful and deserving organization!

    Having been "Mom" to a discarded blind senior, and 5 FIV+ cats, this is definitely a rescue deserving of my support.

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  3. This made the Mom leaky-eyed. We voted earlier today. Good luck!

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  4. I love Blind Cat Rescue - I am so glad you chose them as the rescue you are supporting. I think all us candidates have chosen exceptional rescues, in fact - I wish they ALL could win the grand prize!

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  5. Thanks for sharing this. We had never heard of Blind Cat Rescue, and it sounds like a really amazing organization.

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  6. Mommy will vote thru leaky leaky eyes. Thank you for supporting these babies.

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  7. Mom is a leaky mess now....our guardian angel Jonathan ::bows head in honor:: was FIV+ and went blind in his last year of his long life due to high blood pressure. His dignity and grace under the circimstances were amazing and once he adjusted he did amazingly well. The best advice we got was to keep furniture in the same place and never pick him up and move him to another location! We miss him every minute of every day.

    We wish every shelter could win this!

    purrs,

    Cory

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  8. Well, I can see I will be crying all day today… That was a beautiful tribute, Katie, and what a wonderful group of caring and compassionate people at Blind Cat Rescue.

    I am humbled more than words can express as to the significance of this contest and I am so proud of all of the Cat-idates who are participating. All the shelters are so worthy and it is such a privilege to be able to give them the spotlight they deserve.

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  9. What a lovely post about these cats. I wonder if that sanctuary also takes on cats with hearing problems or other disabilities. All in all, a worthy cause and one worth voting for.

    Blind cats ust have one big advantage over sighted ones in that, if allowed outdoors, they would not catch any birds or mice.

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  10. What a wonderful post! We had a cat who was blind in one eye, and now Benny with his glaucoma and cataracts--so we are sympathetic to this cause.

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  11. Kudos to you Katie. What a great rescue.
    Benny & Lily
    Pee S. all our stuffies are blind

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  12. What a wonderful organization!
    You have all chosen such wonderful ones!
    Thank you so much for sharing.
    Purrs

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  13. This is an amazingly well-written piece about this wonderful shelter. While I knew it existed cos it was a Nipclub charity a few months back, I never took the time to learn about it until now. ll the shelters seem worthwhile, but I'm proud to be working with Katie for Blink Cat Rescue.

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  14. What wonderful people to do this for these special kitties.

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  15. katie; R mom said ta pleez ta yur mom to give a "kneads a tizzue" heads up...this iz a trooly grate post N we iz trooly grate full we were ABLE two read it

    XOXO

    dude K, boomer, dai$y, tuna N sauce

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  16. How WONDERfUL special kitties like blind ones are being loved and waiting for their forever homes here. Despite some humans being so cruel to kitties, here is obviously a place where kitties are truly loved. I immediately "liked" them on FB and will keep reading up about them. Good luck for the contest!

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  17. Thanks for sharing about another special shelter. We are proud to be campaigning with you. It's not about winning but creating awareness for the advocacy of cats.

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  18. Katie and Glogirly, thanks for this excellent post on the BCRS. We first found out about them on FB too and LOVE them.

    We think everybuddy who does rescue work are saints...living saints.

    pee ess. Our mom got her iphone cover from Zazzle and the $$ went to the BCRS!

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  19. We love Homer. A good choice. It's sad the number of animals killed because they're not "perfect," but they could have had a good life if given a chance. Good luck!

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  20. We love Blind Cat and all they do to help rescue and rehome blind kitties!

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  21. yet another rescue that has a special place in our heart.

    When I started blogging in 2009, Gwen Cooper was one of the first people that I met. She had approached me, asking if I would review her book. I was honored and thrilled and also terrified because I had never done a book review before, hers was the first.

    It was one of the most special books that I have ever read, she is an incredible person (as you know) and after her review, my book reviews became my reader's favorite part of Cat Chat.

    The work that this rescue does is amazing....I am in awe. These kitties are all so brave.

    This was an incredible post and as someone said earlier this morning on another blog, I wish that I could vote for ALL OF YOU!

    Superb post!
    xoxoxo

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  22. I totally love BCR and all that they do for those that really need them. We have, like many others, donated to them in the past and will continue to in the future. They make my heart smile.

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  23. I just loved Homer's Odyssey and this is another very worthy cause. Well written Katie. You put your case very well xx

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  24. Thanks for bringing attention to such a wonderful rescue group. They are not too far from where I live, and should take a trip down to see them one day. I couldn't tell from their website whether they adopt their cats out or not...either way, it's good to know they are safe and well cared for.

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  25. What heartwarming stories these cats have. We loved meeting them.

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  26. GREAT and super duper post about the shelter for blind cat´s !

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  27. What a great post and a great cause! Quill looks like Snickers I think!

    Great job Katie and GG.

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  28. That is one of our very favorite shelters. They do such a good job. I would love to take a blind cat but I just don't have room. We too believe that it is so sad that only one shelter gets to win the goodies. Why can't it all be divided between all these wonderful shelters. I sure don't want to vote for just one. Too hard of a choice.

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  29. Yes Katie
    We feel too a society is judged by how it treats those who are less fortunate. The ill, the old, the very young and the disabled.
    What an amazing shelter. We love Homer and also follow the Blind Cat Rescue blog. Great write up.

    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.

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  30. You know, darling Katie, this was SUCH an inspirational post, and I'd love to say it was the reason for my impending endorsement....but I think you know my vote was bought, um, "earned" already, hahameow! I feel an endorsement announcement coming on.....very soon!

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  31. GREAT ARTICLE about a GREAT RESCUE!!! I also
    found Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary through
    Facebook. I now sponsor two cats that live there,
    Riley and Gallie. It is my goal to visit the facility one day and volunteer my time and meet my sponsored cats. Since I live 15 hours away, this will be quite a trip. But SOO WORTH IT!!!
    Thanks for the kind words and spreading the news about this wonderful rescue. They truly do great work and take beautiful care of the cats!!!

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  32. I am SO happy to hear about the Blind Cat Rescue, this warms my heart.
    Lots of love to all blind kitties out there XOXO

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  33. We're all teary-eyed here, too. We love Blind Cat Rescue, everything they stand for, and all they do. Thank you for campaigning for them, Katie.

    Hugs!

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  34. What a powerful post and message.
    Thank you, Glogirly and Katie

    xxoo

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  35. We are way behind with our visiting but so glad we didn't miss this post. It left us teary eyed too, but we are glad that BCR are doing such a wonderful job for those beautiful kitties.

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  36. What a wonderful place and such beautiful cats! Me and Charlie are so humbled and so honoured to read about the Blind Cat Rescue! Thank you beautiful Katie! Yay! Take care
    x

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  37. When I became entrenched in cat rescue, the very first book I read was Homer's Odyssey. Dr. Patty Khuly is a vet here in Miami who refused to put this tiny black kitten to sleep and was able to get her client Gwen Cooper to adopt this blind black kitty. This cat is amazing. Blind cats are supernatural!

    As a cat rescuer, I'm on an email list of many small nonprofit rescues where we receive DAILY emails of people giving up their cats...one was about a blind cat turned into animal services. Like always we were asked which rescue could "pull" the cat and provide foster care to save it from euthanization. I mentioned BCS. No one knew about Blind Cat Sanctuary. Soon arrangements were made and the cat was transported to BCS. We saved one cat! Sharing information is powerful.

    Christine
    www.riverfrontcats.com

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  38. What a good post with so much information. Blind Cat Rescue is fantastic!!! What cute little furries there are and making such a go of it in a world where vision is so important. I will vote when the time is here. Hope you will send our a reminder again.

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  39. I am a long time supporter of BCR, and I also donate 10% of all my eBay sales to them. With each package I ship out, I enclose an ABOUT US info page from their website, along with a story called "I GOT TO GROW OLD BECAUSE I WAS ADOPTED" I am so glad to see them getting the recognition they absolutely deserve!!!!

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  40. All around America today, little cats and grown-up felines in a large number of creature safe houses and accommodating social orders are holding up to locate a cherishing home. Tragically, just around 24% of
    the felines in safe houses are ever received.cat adoption

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