Christmas Trees, Cats & Giving Back

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss, this Christmas tree looks a little funny. Where's all the bushy needles and dangly toys and stuff?

KATIE:  Apparently Glogirly still doesn't trust you with the real thing, so she's going with a sparse wintry theme this year. Way to go, Waffles. Your Chrisstmas tree and ornament indiscretions have resulted in BOTH of our losses. 

WAFFLES:  Yeah, well it's not like you've never played with one of those dangly ornament things.

KATIE: I've also never knocked down the whole tree. There's that. 

 WAFFLES:  It was crooked. It just needed a little push to the right. Or was that the left?




Giving Tuesday and the Best Friends $2 Million Holiday Match

Now that our holiday lights are twinkling here at the Townhouse, we're ready to kickoff the holiday season with our shelter cat friends at Best Friends Animal Society. In the spirit of giving, we're very excited to share a special event with you.

Tomorrow is the official digital kickoff day for the annual Best Friends Animal Shelter's $2 Million Holiday Match Event. It's inspired by Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. Giving Tuesday was created by the 92nd Street Y and United Nations Fund in 2012 with the goal of starting a movement about charitable giving at the beginning of the holiday season.

Thanks to an incredibly generous group of donors, all holiday Best Friends gift donations will be matched up to a total of $2 million dollars.

Starting at 10:30 am EST on Tuesday, December 1, Best Friends will be posting hourly videos on their social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter (@bestfriends) and Instagram (@bestfriendsanimalsociety). The live videos will include co-founder and CEO, Gregory Castle, as well as shots from as well as shots from the Best Friends kitten nursery in Los Angeles.

Learn more about the event and how to donate at Best Friends Animal Society Giving Page.

"Together We Can Save Them All"

- Best Friends Animal Society

GLOGIRLY.com is honored to be a Best Friends Ambassador. Best Friends is a national rescue organization we have a tremendous amount of respect and love for.

Best Friends Animal Society’s No More Homeless Pets Network focuses on building relationships and working with rescue organizations and municipal shelters across the country to end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters.  

A Cat's Take on Black Friday

WAFFLES:  So Boss? Why do they call it Black Friday? And if today's Black Friday, what color does that make tomorrow? Blue? Purple? Green?

KATIE:  Tomorrow is just Saturday, Waffles. It's not a color.

WAFFLES:  Well that's a rip off. 

KATIE:  Yeah, well that's what a lot of people say about Black Friday.

WAFFLES:  At least we have Orange Wednesday. 

KATIE:  Yeah, about that.

WAFFLES:  Wait. What??? 

KATIE:  Sheesh, Waffles. Get ahold of yourself.

Have You Entered our Thanksgiving Giveaway!

Enter to win some fabulous prizes from Peach Pet Provisions for you AND for shelter cats.

One Grand Prize - 

$150 Peach Pet Provisions Gift Certificate

Three Runners Up Prizes - 

Set/3 Catnip Kicks

Shelter Prize -
2 Peach Loungers & a Set of Catnip Kicks

ENTER HERE

The Luckiest Cats in the World - Wishing for a Miracle

WAFFLES:  So when do we get our turkey, Boss?

KATIE:  Tomorrow, Waffles. Thanksgiving is tomorrow.

WAFFLES:  TOMORROW???? But what if I'm thankful today? Can I have my turkey today?

KATIE:  There's no turkey today, Waffles.  But you can still be thankful. 

WAFFLES:  Thankful without turkey? What about chicken?

KATIE:  Waffles, Thanksgiving isn't about turkey or even chicken. It's about celebrating all we have to be grateful for. 

WAFFLES:  Like wand toys and stuff?

KATIE:  Well, want toys are nice. But wand toys don't really mean anything unless you have someone to play with. 

WAFFLES:  Aww, Boss. I like playing with you too. 

KATIE:  Not exactly what I was going for, Waffles. But your heart is in the right place.

WAFFLES:  Thanks, Boss. As long as my heart is here with you and Glogirly and Gloman, I know it's in the right place.

Can You Help Us Turn a Tragedy into a Miracle?

Dear Friends,
We want to thank you from the bottom of our kitty hearts for sharing our lives with us. We are so touched that you enjoy coming here and catching up on our often silly, but heartfelt antics. We're honored to call you family. 

Because you are like family to us, we have a big favor to ask of you. 

On Saturday, 39 cats and 17 dogs perished in a tragic fire hitting a no-kill animal shelter very near and dear to our hearts. Sweetpea F.O.R. Animals and the community of Paxton, Massachusetts are in a state of shock and trying desperately to clean up and recover. Our hearts are breaking for them.

They are in desperate need of donations and supplies. They're caring for injured animals that survived, and doing everything they can to get themselves up and running again. 

We first learned of Sweetpea two years ago when a dear reader won the biggest giveaway prize in our blog's history. 10,000 meals from Halo for Pets and Freekibble. She knew something like that would make a big difference for a small shelter like Sweetpea. We've been in touch with our contact at Halo and are so pleased to tell you that they are closely monitoring the needs of this shelter and will be making another food donation to help them get back on their feet. 

For those that are able to help, there is a GoFundMe link on their website as well as a list of needed supplies. All donations are fully tax deductible. But please don't feel bad it you can't help them financially. Prayers and shares can make all the difference. This is one of those times that the power of social media can be used to turn tragedies into miracles. 

You can share this blog post or go straight to their GoFundMe Page and share directly from there.

May the precious cats and dogs that lost their lives rest in peace. 

Thank you so very much.

For more information - 

Direct link to GoFundMe

Sweetpea Website

Sweetpea on Facebook

WAFFLES:  Boss?

KATIE:  Waffles?

WAFFLES:  I'm glad you're here.

KATIE:  I'm glad I'm here too. 

WAFFLES:  BOSS!

KATIE:  –I'm glad you're here too, Waffles. 

WAFFLES:  *smile*

P.S. Don't Miss our Thanksgiving Giveaway

BIG prizes for you and shelter kitties from Peach Pet Provisions! ENTER HERE 

Peach Pet Provision's New Lounger & Catnip Kicks: Giveaway for You & Your Favorite Cat Shelter

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss! We sure cashed in with the man in brown shorts today! Check out my cool new kitty lounger! 

KATIE:  Lounge away, Waffles. I've got dibs on the toys. 

WAFFLES:  Toys???

KATIE:  Nothing to see here, Waffles. You may as well go back to lounging.

WAFFLES:  But what about that one? It's, it's orange.

KATIE:  Dibs, Waffles. These Catnip Kicks are mine. I'm testing the toys and you're testing the lounger. Remember?

The All-New Lounger from Peach!

Our friends at Peach Pet Provisions are launching a brand new lounger design TODAY! It's called the Peach Pet Lounger. We've been huge fans of their products for years now. They've always been our go-to kitty loungers and have shown up in countless photos here on our blog. We didn't think they could improve on perfection, but indeed they have!

Their newest lounger is even more sleek and modern than their previous designs. Slightly larger, low profile enough for senior or disabled pets and sturdy enough to accommodate cats and small dogs up to 25 pounds. 

WAFFLES:  Soft, heavy duty. Sweet! Maybe me and the Boss can lounge TOGETHER!

Everything we love about their previous loungers –

• Frames made with USA sustainably grown plywood that contains only pet-safe, formaldahyde-free, VOC-free soy based glue
• Machine washable covers made with 100% USA grown and woven cotton
• Easy assembly with no tools required
• Lots of great cover colors and patterns to choose from

Now even more to love –

• New low price of $99
• Sturdier frame and sturdier cover assembly
• Large lounging area @ 21" x 21" (21" x 29" including base)
• Sleeker and more modern design

No Tools = No HBO Words

Peach's new lounger has one of the most simple and ingenious assemblies of any feline furniture we've seen. 

1. Place all pieces flat on the floor.
2. Assemble base by sliding notched pieces together.
3. Lay cover flat on floor and lay assembled base upside down over cover. Pull cover edges and straps through slats and secure clasps.
4. Smooth out cover and LOUNGE.

New Catnip Kicks!

Earlier this year, Peach sent us a kicker toy to try out. Covered with one of their fun fabrics and filled with USDA organic catnip grown in the USA, it was a huge hit with Katie. After a little design tweaking, the Catnip Kick was born. 

Perfect for bunny-kicking, twirling and carrying around the townhouse, each Catnip Kick measures 9" long by 2" around and sells for $7. Colorful and modern fabrics mean fashionista cats can coordinate their toys with their loungers.

WIN-WIN Thanksgiving Giveaway

One of the things we love most about the people behind Peach Pet Provisions is the compassion and generosity they show shelter cats. Every single giveaway we've hosted for them here on GLOGIRLY has benefitted a shelter. In fact every month, Peach sends donations to help shelters and rescue organizations across the country raise money.

This year our Thanksgiving Giveaway will shine a light on some very deserving cat shelters. Each reader that enters will have an opportunity to choose one out of five shelters we're profiling below to receive a beautiful Peach Prize Package. Each of these organizations are very special in their own way and do so much great work for homeless cats and cats in crisis in their communities. The volunteers that give of themselves, making a difference for these beautiful animals, are heroes. 

Shelter Prize

♥︎ One randomly selected shelter will receive a Peach Pet Lounger, Kitty Lounger Mini and a set of Catnip Kicks.
♥︎ Enter giveaway and nominate 1 of 5 shelters profiled below via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the blog post.

Four Reader Prizes

♥︎ One grand prize winner will receive a $150 Peach Pet Provisions gift certificate.

♥︎ Three runners up will receive a set of three Catnip Kicks each. 

Though prizes only ship to US and Canada addresses, readers worldwide are invited to enter. Should any winner reside outside the US/Canada, they may gift their prize to a US friend or shelter.

Save & Donate with Promo Code Donate15
Receive free shipping on any Peach Pet Provisions purchase plus 15% of the total value of your order will be donated to the winning shelter. This offer is good through the end of 2015.

Meet the Shelters

Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats

Los Angeles, California

The devoted team at Kitty Bungalow takes special care in socializing feral kittens and graduating Ivy League lap cats into life long loving homes. They are also committed to providing spay/neuter services in the form of Trap Neuter Release (TNR) within the Los Angeles city limits.

Their mission is to provide all cats able to adjust to indoor life with a warm and loving lifelong home, while providing those cats who need to continue living outdoors with a caring colony manager, assuring all cats, lap or otherwise, a humane and happy existence.

Kitty Bungalow Website

Kitty Bungalow on Facebook

Purrfect Pals

Arlington, Washington

Purrfect Pals was founded in 1988 by cat lover Kathy Centala. She was determined to open the Puget Sound region’s first no-kill cat shelter. Kathy scraped though together the down payment for a modest house on five acres in Arlington in 1993. Room by room, the house was renovated over the years, along with its two unattached garages, to create their existing shelter, veterinary clinic and sanctuaries. 

Their adoption and rehabilitation programs help place homeless cats, including those with special needs, in loving homes. They believe that every cat is adoptable; some just need more time than others to find the right match. Their ultimate goal is to place them, but these cats have a loving home in their Arlington sanctuary for as long as they need them. Their sanctuary is currently home to cats positive for FIV and Feline Leukemia, feral cats, geriatric cats and cats with chronic illnesses. 

One of the most common reasons we see people surrendering their beloved cats is the inability to pay for emergency veterinary care. During times of crisis, these cat lovers are faced with either surrendering their pet or having them humanely euthanized. Neither seems like a good option so, in 2013, Purrfect Pals created the Angel Fund in response to these requests for help. This fund is used to pay the veterinary bills of low-income cat owners so they will not be forced to give up their feline friends.

Purrfect Pals Website

Purrfect Pals on Facebook

PAWS Pet Animal Welfare Society

Norwalk, Connecticut 

PAWS rescues & re-homes approximately 115 dogs and 435 cats each year. Many of the dogs faced euthanasia at local pounds and most of the cats that we help are strays and abandoned cats that roam their community streets. A portion of the pets that come to PAWS have been relinquished by their owners who are no longer able to care for them. 

They constantly seek to increase the number of lives they can save by finding adoptive homes for the animals in their care, working closely with other animal groups, and raising funds to secure the supplies and facilities necessary for our operation. PAWS also seeks to decrease the number of unwanted pets by informing and educating the public about the importance of spaying and neutering.

So many of our friends and readers are very familiar with the wonderful work PAWS and their devoted volunteers are committed to. The wonderful blogs, Sundays at the Shelter and Animal Shelter Volunteer Life are both devoted to the beautiful cats in-waiting at Paws. 

PAWS Website

PAWS on Facebook

PadPaws Animal Rescue

Jersey City, New Jersey

PAD PAWS rescue is a non-profit organization specializing in abandoned and injured animals who have taken refuge along the Hudson River between Battery Park/NYC and Jersey City, NJ. The majority of their rescues include Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) along with rehoming if animals are in a dangerous situation (due to construction sites, urban development and busy city streets). PAD PAWS handles all medical costs, adoption, education, rehabilitation, as well as assisting with other local community organizations in rescuing animals and wildlife.

This small rescue was founded in 2006 in the Powerhouse Arts District, located on the waterfront area of Jersey City, NJ. But their journey of rescuing began years prior in NYC after volunteering and doing TNR work for Ollie’s Place, ASPCA and Mighty Mutts. Some of the most difficult cases of rescuing and rehabilitation took place after disastrous events such as 911, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy when animals of all types were injured, abandoned, sick and left helpless. These rescues were their voice, and their only hope of being saved. 

PAD PAWS has made it their mission to rescue, rehabilitate and place these four legged friends into loving and caring homes, and now specialize in abandonment, TNR and helping any animal who is injured or in danger. 

PadPaws Website 

PadPaws on Facebook

Feline Rescue

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Feline Rescue is is a volunteer based organization funded exclusively through donations and grants. Though they receive no municipal, state or federal funding, they have won the hearts and support of animal lovers and advocates not only in their community, but across the country. 

Feline Rescue believes that all cats are entitled to a safe, caring, and happy home. They are firmly opposed to the practice of declawing, considering it cruelty to animals, and an unethical practice. They believe that all tamed cats should be kept indoors. No cat in their care will be destroyed except when suffering and beyond medical treatment, and the cost of the medical care shall not be a factor in this decision.

They provide rescue and relief to the homeless and endangered cats in the community through programs that offer shelter, foster, social and medical rehabilitation, feral and stray management, spay/neuter subsidy, and community education. Their mission is to provide safe shelter, veterinary care, and socialization for stray, abandoned, or abused cats until loving permanent homes can be found for them. 

Feline Rescue Website

Feline Rescue on Facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This blog post is sponsored by Peach Pet Provisions.  We are being compensated for creating and featuring this content. Regardless of the payment received, we only feature products and services on GLOGIRLY that we use or feel our readers would benefit from using. All sponsored posts on GLOGIRLY will always reflect our honest and unbiased opinions.

Champagne & Cats

WAFFLES: Are you ready for the party, Boss?

KATIE:  Party?

WAFFLES:  You know, the cat sitter. She's coming over for champagne and cats.

KATIE:  Wait. The cat sitter???

WAFFLES:  It's a party, Boss. I told you. Champagne and cats.

KATIE:  When you say cats, who exactly do you mean?

*15 minutes and one doorbell ring later*

WAFFLES:  Look Boss! I've got her eating out of my hand!

KATIE:  That's one way of putting it.  I swear, he'll eat out of anyone's hand. 

WAFFLES:  That's not true, Boss. I'll eat off anyone's plate too.

KATIE:  You know Waffles,  you ought to take a breath between bites.

WAFFLES:  Slurp-slurp-slurp. I'm just cleaning the plates, Boss.

Champagne, Cats & the Cat Sitter

According to Katie, Glogirly broke one of the cardinal cat sins last night. She invited the cat sitter over for champagne and snacks. Socializing with the cat sitter??? Apparently this get-together was not cleared through Katie in advance. She was aghast– upstairs and under the bed. Though when it came time for dinner, even the cat sitter didn't keep her from circling the kitchen for food.

For Waffles though, the cat sitter means fun, treats and lots of kissy-face time. 

Like we said, Katie was aghast.