James and I have made the final stop on Route 66. Working with the South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights, IL, under cloudy skies and light rain, we completed the tour. But, the mist and grey skies failed to dampen anyone’s spirits and adopters made their way in spite of the overcast and rainy conditions.

We have been feeling mixed emotions the past few days, it has been a long month filled with a lot of driving and work but one that also yielded many wonderful moments as well. We have many terrific memories that we will always carry with us as well as experiences that will continue to assist us in our work each day as we go forward.

The Route 66 Tour has been a success beyond description with so many pets finding their forever families and those families discovering the unconditional love their new family members bring with them. I really enjoyed talking with people and sharing the information so vital to the future successes of all shelters and rescues in saving the lives of dogs and cats across this great country.

Now, we head home taking with us the experiences, the stories and memories and the understanding that we do make a difference in the lives of the many animals who find their way into the shelter and rescue system as well as those who remain in need outside of it as well. And all of us will continue by committing to the work of saving the lives of the abandoned, neglected and abused animals and sharing knowledge that will assist in making the goal ever more tangible – one cat and one dog at a time.

Thank you for sharing this experience with us. Please keep coming back and sharing in this work that is a legacy of love for all animals and so a reflection of our humanity and caring for each other as well.

Deborah and James

What a great time we had here in Grand Rapids, MI!!

The BISSELL Company, manufacturer of outstanding vacuum cleaner systems (that every pet owner could benefit from) has been one of our sponsors for the Get Your Licks on Route 66 Tour. Headquartered here in Grand Rapids, BISSELL helped host our event today and really assisted in making it a festive and successful event indeed.

With fresh popcorn and balloons, everyone made their way through the event with a happy face and love in their hearts. And what better way to expand that sense of fun and happiness then with the wagging tails of deliciously adorable puppies and dogs and the purrrrfectly beautiful and flirty eyes of cats and kitties!! Working with the Humane Society of Kent County, we presented our guests with some of the most wonderful animals we have had on our tour, and many of them did find their forever families today. We even had a group of adorable rabbits with us as well. The presence of these furry friends fed into the curiosity of many of the canines as they walked past the rabbit cages. “Hmmm, what is that? Doesn’t look like a cat. Is it a puppy? Doesn’t smell like a puppy…Maybe I can play with it…” Of course, none of the dogs were allowed to get too close to the rabbits, but their curiosity was none the less peaked.

All in all, it was a very successful time. Now, many emotions run through both James and I as we prepare to head off to Chicago for the last event of the tour. Please be sure to join us there and share our final stop on this – the Get Your Licks on Route 66 Tour.

Deborah and James

We rolled into Springfield, IL and made our way to meet up with the Illinois Humane Society and Sangamon County Animal Control for our next adoption event on our Get Your Licks on Route 66 Tour.

We had such a great group of animals – sometimes I fall in love 10-20 times in a single day doing this job! And the real joy is I get loved right back. Like so many I meet in this line of work I wish I could take them all home. But, the reality is, I can’t – none of us can. I nurture and love my two cats and my silly, best girl in the whole world dog and that is all I am ready, willing and able to do without becoming the crazy cat lady. Hoarding animals hardly qualifies as nurturing and loving them. So what can we do?

Yes, folks – I’ve said it before and let me say it one more time…spay and neuter your pets, adopt from your local shelters and rescues and encourage your friends and families to do the same.

So, back to our day at the adoption event…
Along with the rest of the menagerie, we had two young dogs – sisters, black lab Mutt-i-grees – referred to affectionately by the staff and volunteers as “the twins.” Wearing their stylish pink checkered and flowered scarves they were a big hit with the crowds. Not to be outdone, our own Greg Sims, co- publisher of Fido Friendly (along with his wife, Susan) donned one of the cat tail toys onto his hat and smiled happily for our camera. We were all really enjoying the day and many lucky animals made their way into their new homes. It was a wonderful day and although we were not able to find homes for every single dog and cat today, we saved enough lives to help others still waiting for their chance to survive and both receive and give the love they deserve.

As the Tour begins to wind down, I can not help but reflect on the many people, places and animals we have had the great pleasure of meeting. I took a look around me today and had to smile – so much caring and so much desire to change the world for the better, one animal at a time.

Onto Grand Rapids, MI to continue the quest – put a smile on your face and love in your heart – join us.

Deborah and James

The Arch in St Louis was designed and built to represent St. Louis being the gateway to the west. But, for James and me - it represents the Get Your Licks on Route 66 Tour leaving the west and travelling onto the last miles of Route 66 and onto the final events of the Tour.

St. Louis is home to Purina, who is so generous in the mission to assist in finding homes for the millions of abused, neglected and unwanted pets that can be found in the shelters throughout our country. We can not thank them enough for their unending support.

The sheer volume of animals in the system is staggering and it means that not all the available pets will find their families. Three million cats and dogs a year are euthanized in the United States. But, it does not have to be this way. North Shore Animal League America has been working for over 65 years to change the face of how dogs and cats are handled in the shelter care system in this country. They have been on the leading edge of reducing the numbers of animals having to be euthanized. I would like to take this time to remind people that the most significant way we can all assist in our mission is to be sure our animals are spayed and neutered. Secondly, please consider adoption of your next pet from your local shelter or rescue group. Every life you take home means one more life saved. Every pet spayed or neutered contributes to saving millions of lives every year.

Today we were honored with the presence of several lovely dogs and cats from the APA of Missouri and each of them did their best flirting with the crowds. Like all the shelters and rescues, APA works very hard to reduce the number of unwanted and abused pets, to find as many homes as possible for the animals left in their care. Please support their efforts and the work of all your local shelters and rescue groups – adopt today. If you can not adopt perhaps you can contribute something, if not money than things like, bleach, blankets, pens, envelopes, and toys, etc. are always needed and greatly appreciated. Contact your local facility and find out what you can do to help.

Well, the day is coming to a close and we are packing things up to travel to our next event at Springfield, IL. More from the road then folks and see you all there.

Deborah and James

Through the heat and winds we made our way to Springfield, MO. Working with Southwest Missouri Humane Society we had another very successful day of adoptions.

The staff and their volunteers were, as they have been at all our partner shelters and rescues - really fabulous in working with the animals and the public to help find just the right homes for each pet. Not an easy task in the heat and humidity, but they all worked very hard and did great work in spite of the obstacle of severe weather.

Purina has been supplying a wonderful array of free gifts to everyone who visits our event – trial size food samples, frisbees and other cat and dog toys. Many people often ask what toys are appropriate for their new pets.

Cats enjoy balls with bells in them and anything that you can trail along the ground and they can chase. Some cats also seem to enjoy a botanical called catnip or Nepeta, a genus from a family of plants called Lamiaceae. About two thirds of cats will respond to the dried leaves, available in most pet shops, by rolling, purring, pawing at the plant, growling, salivating and scratching at the air or nearby objects. But, each cat is its own boss- as any cat lover will attest to, and they can be a little picky as to what, when and with whom they play.

Dogs have their own tastes in toys as well, but most respond well to balls and anything they can chew on. Because puppies are teething, it is important to have good chew toys available for them to distract them from the less desirable objects of their attention such as shoes and chair legs. Here are just two suggestions:

The Kong: Virtually indestructible, this dishwasher safe toy can be used as a throw toy, a treat toy or tossed and pushed about all by themselves for hours of fun. Fill it with doggie treats or frozen peanut butter and the dog or puppy can be occupied for hours.

Squeaky Toys: Not all dogs enjoy the squeaky toys while others appear to have life long love affairs with them. There are a large variety of these noisy toys – soft plastic, hard rubber, stuffed and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If your pet is the type to rip into the toy and remove the squeaky – be sure to throw that little item away so that your pet does not choke on it. Other pets – as I say- treat the squeaky with total love and are not the least bit interested in removing the noise maker but rather are more inclined to make as much …um…shall we say, music with the item as they can. Such pets can often be found sleeping with their favorite squeaky and would never harm them in any way.

As you can see there are a large variety of available toys for your dogs, puppies, cats and kittens – it is always best to do some research- and watch your pets carefully when introducing them to any new toys or treats. Be sure they are not susceptible to choking on any parts or having any sort of negative reaction to new toys or treats you bring home for them. If so, it is best to eliminate those items from your home. You want to keep your pets happy and healthy.

Well, we are off to our next event in St. Louis, MO. Hope to see you there.

Deborah and James

Joplin, MO and the winds and heat continue as have adoptions of our fuzzy friends.

People gathered from the surrounding area to visit our mobile adoption unit and see if they could find that special pet to join their families. Many were successful and as always we were so happy to be a part of that process.

But, we were especially joyous today because our own James was adopted by an adorable puppy…Oops… I mean James adopted one beautiful and sweet 10-month-old puppy. (But, really, she adopted him.) This 8.5 pounds of spitfire and fur grabbed control of all our hearts but none so much as that of her new brother, James. Tallulah is a classic American Mutt-i-gree, probably a mix of Pomeranian and Chihuahua and possibly more. Her blonde silky hair makes her very chic and nothing can bring a smile to my face faster than a fluffily tail wagging in the wind at every person it meets. She loves other dogs and is friendly and curious with the felines as well, though most of them were not as ambitious to make her acquaintance as she was to make theirs. All in all it was a very exciting day and James’ mom, dad, sister and brothers are all waiting anxiously back home to meet their new family member. Rumor has it, Tallulah, has a new bed and a special car seat waiting for her already.

Until then, she is a traveling kind of pooch, assisting to help everyone get their licks on Route 66. So, it is on to Springfield, MO. and our continuing mission to bring the local shelter and rescue animals out to the public where they might just find those special people they have longed to be with, their forever families.

Deborah and James

It was another hot one here in the heartland. We set up shop with the Animal Rescue Foundation here in Tulsa and all the cats and dogs were wearing their best “adopt me” faces. There was a lot of flirting from the felines as they batted their cat eyes at the crowds and not to be outdone, the pups and dogs wagged their tails furiously.

Because of the high heat and humidity, we have been forced to give the dogs short, rather than long, walks outside the mobile unit. Hot weather can take a toll quickly on animals. It was a good opportunity for us to share important information with adopters about care of their pets in different weather conditions.

We suggest that cats remain as indoor pets where they have a higher chance of living long and healthy lives. But, even indoors can become quite uncomfortable – so it is important to be sure your felines have enough water available to remain well hydrated.

Dogs should also always have plenty of water available to them. But, dogs will be spending a lot of time outdoors; going for walks, traveling in cars or playing in the backyard. There are some important things to remember about how hot weather can affect your pet and things you can do to safeguard their well being.

Most important – be sure your canine is tested for heartworm as the warm weather approaches. Once it is determined they are free of the parasite be sure they get their year round preventative medicine.

Dogs that are outdoors in hot weather should always have a shady spot available for them to get out of the sun. Be careful not to over exercise them as well. NEVER leave a dog or cat alone in a parked vehicle!! On a very hot day, even with the windows cracked open, a car can become an oven and quickly cause fatal heat stroke in your pet. Some of the symptoms of overheating are; excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rates, drooling, mild weakness or even collapse. If a dog’s body temperature rises over 104 degrees, the symptoms of overheating could include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Some animals with flat faces, such as pugs and Persian cats, may have more difficulty breathing in hot weather and are more susceptible to heat stroke because they can not pant as effectively as animals with longer snouts. These animals as well as the elderly, those with lung and heart issues and overweight pets, should be kept in air conditioned environments as much as possible on very hot days.

A few other considerations are these: Dogs with little or no hair may be susceptible to sunburn – use sun care products labeled specifically for animals. Dogs with heavy, thick coats will not suffer from a haircut, but their fur does protect them from the sun – so be sure not to cut it to the skin. If you choose not to cut the fur back, brush out as much of the undercoat as possible and be sure to remove mats as they can trap heat and moisture. Asphalt can become blisteringly hot – and a dog’s body can heat up more quickly being closer to the ground. Try not to have them linger any longer than necessary in such conditions.

Adopters today were eager to take their pets home and begin helping them to become part of their families. Many were concerned about the heat and in fact – before some people went onto the mobile unit they voiced concerns the animals might be too hot in the cages. We assured them the unit is air conditioned and the animals were far more comfortable in there then we were outside.

Well, the heat wave continues and so do we. We’ve packed up and are heading out to Joplin, Missouri to continue our quest in spreading the word – adoption is the option! Just call us butter, because we are on a roll….

Deborah and James

We have had a two-day event with Best Friends of Pets here in Oklahoma City, OK. The Rescue group and their volunteers were really fabulous and so full of enthusiasm for helping the animals. There was a lot of laughter and cuddling going on here in the heartland these past couple of days.

And some of the animals really need that extra hug too. One pair of pups rescued by Best Friends of Pets – had been tossed out the window of a moving car. Best Friends didn’t think twice about rescuing these abused animals, giving them the love and nurturing they needed and deserved and working to find just the right homes for each of them. Today, they are happy, healthy and on their way to finding their forever families so they can share all the love and devotion they have to give. For in spite of having been abused by people, they have not lost their trust in us. Animals are such fantastic creatures!

The weather has been hot, hot, hot and humid. We have been working in temperatures of 95 – 100 degrees nearly everyday. Because our mobile adoption unit runs off of a generator built into the vehicle, we are able to keep the cabin, where the animals’ cages are housed, air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. Our awning further protects both the animals as they sit behind their window on the world and staff staged outside as we meet and greet the crowds. It is such a gift that we are able to have these fantastic vehicles with which to go out into the communities across the country and bring the shelter and rescue animals to the people.

We all work very hard to be able to continue to make this work possible. North Shore Animal League America is the world’s largest no-kill animal organization. It is our mission to assist in helping to reduce the overpopulation of unwanted, abused and neglected cats and dogs through education about spaying and neutering and through education about adoption of the many millions of pets waiting to be given the opportunity to be a part of our human family.

Anyone wishing to assist in this venture of love and education please feel free to jump on board and Get Your Licks on Route 66. Next stop…Tulsa, OK.

Deborah and James

We had two events back to back today here in Amarillo. The weather has been an adventure but – gladly – has not adversely affected the number of visitors to the events or the number of adoptions.

The Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society and the City of Amarillo Animal Control Officers joined us today with – of course- the cutest dogs and cats. Aside from participating in our adoption event – the Humane Society was giving free micro-chipping to all the dogs brought from the Bethesda Kennels. These canines have all been trained as service dogs for diabetics and exemplify the abilities of many canines. Dogs really love to work and be of help to people and service dogs are a perfect example of the desire and success that canines have working with and for human beings.

As we set up the second event, also with the Amarillo – Panhandle Humane Society, a young boy and his family stepped onto the unit. It was not long before they emerged – dog in hand – adoption papers signed, sealed and delivered. It seems this young boy, about 9-years-old, had been saving his allowance for quite awhile to adopt a dog. And as his proud parents watched, we filled out a One Hope Adoption Certificate and took a photo of him with his newest family member – his new best friend.

Within moments of that joy however, the skies became nearly black, the winds began gusting heavily. Someone said we were under a tornado warning and had to pack up the event immediately. All the staff and volunteers from the Human Society and Animal Control assisted us in loading the event back onto the unit. We were very grateful for their help as the darkening skies opened up and a mighty storm surrounded us – thunder, lightening and hail…but fortunately no twisters! It did make for a very ‘eventful’ day however, lots of adoptions, that wonderful young boy having worked hard to find just the right family dog and crazy weather! Raindrops never felt so good!

Well, our next stop for our licks on Rte 66 is Oklahoma City, OK. Now, how does that song go? “Oklahoma where the winds come rolling down the plains…”

Deborah and James

Santa Fe is a magnificent place with exquisite landscape. It made for a peaceful backdrop against which we set-up our Get Your Licks on Route 66 adoption event. The weather did not appear to want to be cooperative with us at first, when a thunderstorm dumped heavy rains while everyone was setting up. But, true to its reputation of unpredictable weather – the rain stopped and the sun shone upon us for most of the rest of the event. We were forced to close down early, however, when yet another big storm rolled in and drenched the area once again.

We had many participants with us today which made for a very festive feel to the event. Our shelter partner for the event was Santa Fe Animal shelter & Humane Society whose animals joined us on board the mobile adoption unit. Officer Bruce A. Pratz of the Santa Fe Police Department came with his partner, Officer Kasey, a beautiful Golden Retriever and they spent the day offering fingerprinting of the children and then having the children have their photo taken with Officer Kasey. Additionally, we were joined by Felines & Friends, Colfax Pet Rescue, Animal Services of Santa and Espanola Valley Humane Society.

There was a lot of socializing between pets and people and many dogs and cats found their families and headed home. Isn’t that fantastic? People sometimes ask me if, once we begin to bond with the animals we have available for adoption – if and when they are adopted, it is sad to see them leave. The answer is a big, happy, NO! While those of us who work in this field certainly do become attached to the animals in our care – it is our deepest desire for them to find a permanent home and people who will welcome them into their family as their newest members. So, when that time comes – as we say goodbye to those whom we nurtured and loved, it is with a full heart and the knowledge they are going HOME!!!

Tomorrow James and I will be saying farewell to New Mexico and be off to Amarillo, Texas. This opportunity to see so much of our wonderful country has been rewarding beyond measure. We hope you continue to join us in this journey of hope and love. They say everything is bigger in Texas, so let’s hope our adoptions are as well!!!

Deborah and James