Purrrrsss!!!! Hamlet is Back to Talk to Me about Read Humane!

Meow! Meow!!!!!!  And snuggly purrs Hamlet!  It is so good to chat with you again! Especially since we’re going to talk about something very near and dear to my little kitty heart—adopting kitties and other animals so they have wonderful forever homes.  In case my fans don’t remember, Hamlet is the star of Ali Brandon’s Black Cat Mystery series.  His person, Darla Pettistone helps him solve crimes and he has a new book coming out called WORDS WITH FIENDS that has a great story line on rescues!

I think you know my brother, Bogie, came from a feral colony and they have special needs.

 

Mom picked up some fresh catnip for our chat today so help yourself and check out the new scratch box she got me and my brothers. You know two of my brothers, Mel and Bogie, are feral rescues and my other brother Fred came to live with us a foster kitty and when his human died my mom adopted him.  I think more people need to think about adopting pets like us so I’m hoping this chat with you will help them see how great we can be.

I know from your author’s past books you are very brave but were you scared before you were rescued?

Hello Missy, and thanks for the catnip, and hello to your brothers. It’s very nice to chat with you again. I was born in an alley, so I never knew what it was like to live in a home. My mother was a beautiful Siamese who was tossed away by her human caretakers just before my siblings and I were born. They were not nice humans…hisssss! Mama tried to be brave for us, but she was always scared. All she ever wanted to do was sit in some human’s lap. Luckily, right about the time we were ready to be weaned, someone from what you call Rescue found us. I overheard them say they were going to take us to a place called “Foster” and then find nice inside homes for all of us.

Mama was happy, but I had already decided that I’d rather be on my own. So while the Rescue people went to get a cage to put us in, I gave Mama and my brothers a lick good-bye. Then I ran and hid so they wouldn’t take me, too. Someday, I’ll tell you the rest of the story of how I found my human caretaker on my own, but I am happy to say that Mama and the boys also found good homes with fine humans.

What did you think when you were asked to be part of this wonderful Read Humane project that Penguin books is doing?

            I was very happy to help. All felines (and canines, too) deserve a home—purrr!—and not to have humans be cruel to them…growl!

Can you tell our fans a little bit about it?

            Ali Brandon told me that Penguin Group (USA) Inc., who is our publisher, has reprinted six of their animal-themed novels with a special Read Humane® logo to bring awareness to The Humane Society of the United States® and their work. My book, DOUBLE BOOKED FOR DEATH, is one of those six. Participating authors besides Ali Brandon include our Read Humane spokesperson, Jill Shalvis, as well as Linda O. Johnston, Miranda James, Leann Sweeney, and Judi McCoy.

            The books will be released April 30 and be available for the month of May at participating booksellers. And, even better, Penguin is giving a $25,000 donation to benefit The HSUS’s® Animal Rescue Team® that helps save animals from hurricanes and floods and other bad things. Penguin will give that money no matter how many of the special books are sold. Me-OWWW! You can learn more about The HSUS® here:  http://www.humanesociety.org

Can you give us some advice on what do you think people should know most about rescue animals?

            Rescue animals are very fine felines and canines. Many of them came from homes—some are even purebred animals—and so they may already be trained and know how to act with humans. But most of them are scared, and so the humans must give them time to settle into their new surroundings.

What advice in general would you give to someone who is looking to adopt a rescue animal?  

            I know that most humans find puppies and kittens more appealing, but they should remember that mature canines and felines, like me, make excellent companions. It is very sad that some older canines and felines stay in foster homes for months, and even years!

Is it different for a feral?

            I, of course, am an exception, but it depends upon how the feral feline comes to you. Ali Brandon and her husband adopted Butch and Sundance, two orange tabby brothers, when they were kittens. They had been found by a Rescue human before their eyes weren’t even open, and they were bottle-fed since their mother did not survive. This made them very friendly felines who have always liked humans. Some feral felines will accept the food and drink you provide, but they do not wish to be companions. Of course, some of them do eventually change their minds and become house cats.

What do you think the greatest need for animals?

            It is very sad that some humans do not understand that if they agree to be a caretaker to an animal, that it is a lifetime commitment. You cannot leave us in the street if you get tired of caring for us, as most of us will soon die if no other human takes us in. Humans must learn that they should treat canines and felines as they would themselves. Oh, and they must learn that all pets should be neutered and spayed. If the humans cannot do these things, perhaps they should limit their pets to stuffed animals, instead.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

            Most humans already know that they should not obtain a companion animal, especially a canine, from a store. Those unfortunate animals are most likely the product of what humans call a puppy mill. That is another cause for The Humane Society of the United States®, which works to shut down these terrible places. But to end on a more pleasant note, I will remind humans that a rescue animal will love you no matter who you are. So please consider adopting a canine or feline that needs a home. Perhaps you will adopt two. Me-OWWW!

Thanks so much coming by and spreading the word about adopting rescue animals and Read Humane!

            Thank you, Missy. It is always a pleasure to be interviewed by you.

 

Zoey from Hounds Abound Talks About Read Humane!

Meow! Meow!!!!!! And snuggly purrs Zoey!

 

Friends, I have a special guest that I am so excited about this week to kick off Read Humane!  Everyone – meet Zoey!

 

Zoey is the star of her author, Linda O. Johnston’s book HOUNDS ABOUND. My mom told me that in HOUNDS ABOUND Zoey is the protagonist Lauren Vancouver's own rescue dog.

Zoey, I am so glad you came to talk with me today. 

 

Zoey, mom bought some dog biscuits for you and they are over there on the table so please help yourself! We kind of have something in common because I was adopted from my local humane society and I heard you are a rescue dog. I think more people need to think about adopting pets like us so I’m hoping this chat with you will help them see how great we can be. 

 

Hi, Missy. Thanks for inviting me to speak here--and I’m looking forward to those biscuits. Can you see my tail wagging?

 

Yes, I’m a rescue dog. In fact, I was brought to my best friend Lauren by her good friend Matt Kingston, who works for Los Angeles Animal Services. He made the right decision in introducing us.

 

And I can’t agree with you more. People do need to think about adopting pets like us. Surely anyone reading this can tell how wonderful we are, and there are others who need homes who are wonderful in their own ways, too.

 

So my mom said you are a border collie, Australian shepherd mix. I heard dogs especially border collies are really brave and good at keep other animals in line. Is that true?

 

I like to think so. I’m especially good at keeping Lauren in line, although she’s a human. She brings me to her special shelter, HotRescues, a lot, and I get to meet the other animals she has rescued and is trying to find homes for. I know they’re jealous of me, so I try to be nice to them... most of the time.

 

Being how brave you are, were you scared before you were rescued?

 

I’d never admit it to Lauren, but... well, yes, I was a bit scared.

 

Can you tell me a little bit about what happened?

 

I was running around the streets of Los Angeles when some guys in a van from Los Angeles Animal Services picked me up. I’d been pretty much living by myself on the streets before that. I’m not sure what happened to my mother or my two siblings, but we were what I’ve heard people call strays. I’m also not sure how old I am, but I wasn’t a puppy when I was caught. I’d been smart about finding food, but sometimes it was hard. There were some nasty people out there who tried to capture me, as well as other dogs who fought me for some of my food. There are even coyotes in Los Angeles, and I had to growl and snap at them now and then to keep them away from me. Fortunately, I’m big enough and fast enough that they didn’t hurt me.

 

I didn’t like being rounded up with other strays and taken to a shelter, but I was found nearly immediately by Matt, who must have seen how special I was. I know I was lucky. Lauren is a great human to be my friend and food provider.

 

Penguin Books is doing this really great event called Read Humane. What did you think when you were asked to be part of this wonderful endeavor?

 

I was really happy that our story HOUNDS ABOUND was chosen. In fact, though, this isn’t the first time Lauren and I have been involved with Read Humane™. We were fortunate enough to have her first Pet Rescue Mystery adventure, BEAGLEMANIA, also chosen for a Read Humane program. That’s the story where I became her friend... although I shouldn’t necessarily mention that since we didn’t know each other through most of the story. I’m proud for myself, and on Lauren’s behalf, to be part of Read Humane. The stories chosen are all great and about animals and their humans, which I, of course, identify with. Plus, Penguin Group (USA), the publisher who started Read Humane, is amazing. They’ve not only published those wonderful books, but they have also donated money to the Humane Society of the United States.

 

What do you think people should know most about rescue animals?

 

Rescue animals are proud, sometimes so proud that we don’t let our feelings show. But we’re in hard situations through no fault of our own, and we need to find the best homes possible. The best humans possible. We may each show it differently, but we’re all capable of giving huge amounts of love to our people, especially those who’ve saved us. 

 

What advice in general would you give to someone who is looking to adopt a rescue animal? 

 

There are shelters in nearly every area. Go visit some close to you and see about the type of animal who appeals to you. You can even check out their websites first to see if they have some of their residents posted for you to look at in advance. You may just fall in love in an instant, at your computer or in person. 

 

The person who chronicles our adventures, Linda O. Johnston, volunteers at a great shelter in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles--where Lauren’s shelter HotPets is also located. She is a dog adoption counselor at Pet Orphans of Southern California and is always thrilled to see people and dogs fall for each other fast. Of course, there are also online groups who help to match people and pets by showing pictures and telling people where to find the animals shown, places like Petfinder. You might fall for a pet who’s profiled there, too.

The main thing? Just do it! You’ll not only change your own life by adopting, but you’ll be changing, and maybe even saving, the life of the animal you fall in love with. 

 

Is there anything specific they should know about border collies and/or Australian Shepherds? 

 

Heck, we’re the smartest dogs ever, didn’t you know that? Both of my main breeds are the best, and my combination is unbeatable.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?

 

If you’re a human, you should Read Humane, of course. In particular, you should read the books featured in the Read Humane program. And read all the Pet Rescue Mysteries, since they feature me. Well, and Lauren, too, of course. And other animals she rescues.

Thanks so much coming by and spreading the word about adopting rescue animals and Read Humane!

Thank you, Missy.