Adoption Diaries: Cuteness on Wheels

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:

How ‘bout I skip to the good stuff? Without further ado, I give you skateboarding puppies:



Trish McMillan, ASPCA Director of Animal Behavior, took this footage while conducting a training session with the pups. Yes, training. Knowing I’d want to write about this, I asked Trish what was up with the skateboard. She says she uses it with every new litter of pups they get in.

Me: Do you bring out the skateboard with the puppies just for fun, or is there actually a behavior/training reason to go along with it?
Trish: It gets them used to novelty, skateboard sounds and moving surfaces.

So there ya have it. Our way of justifying that which needs no justification. Come on—cute puppies on a skateboard!

But wait—there’s more. This is Peanut, who loves to stand up. Nickname: Teddy Bear Supreme, so lovingly dubbed by the staffer in this video, who claims Peanut is her boyfriend…but then again, as she added, she’s had a lot of boyfriends at the ASPCA.






We won’t beat around the bush. Mr. Daisy is fat. But boy, can he move! Look at that sweet, innocent face. The last thing I expected was for him to roll around like an ecstatic looney! Watch this video and tell me if you don’t swear Mr. Daisy is moving to the music. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I adore the music the cats get to hear all day! Usually it’s classical, but on this day it was jazzy standards. Cool.



Brooklyn’s in the house. This pit bull is a little nutty, but she’s only eight months old. She’s as sweet as they come, though, and is gearing up to make a great forever pet for someone soon.



** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: What a Way to Start the Year!

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:

Haaaaappy New Year! I hope your holidays were relaxing and filled with family, both human and furry. And scaly, and feathery, etc. My brother, mother and I all exchanged Christmas gifts for our respective cats, which was completely unplanned! My two orange kids made out pretty well—they got a Chia Cat Grass Planter. Grass they can eat! We can’t have any flowers in the house because they will be attacked by my little monsters, so the cats probably don’t deserve a plant of their own—but hey, I’m a sucker. They have me wrapped around their pretty paws, for sure. By the way, if anyone has any experience with this cat grass stuff, shoot me a comment and share your tips!

Speaking of family, my niece joined me at the adoption center last week. Gianna is 10 years old, and already an animal advocate! She knows all about the plight of pit bulls and watches our show, Animal Precinct, religiously. A horse lover and rider, she wants to be an equine surgeon one day! I sure didn’t know about any of this stuff at that age; I think it’s so cool. It was a blast giving a tour to such an enthusiastic guest! She got to watch Victoria Wells, ASPCA Manager of Shelter Behavior and Training, in a behavior session with two dogs. Victoria granted Gianna’s request to see “the arm” used on TV in Animal Precinct. (It’s a fake arm used to gauge a dog’s level of aggression, if any.) Gianna also got a tour of the hospital, and was really excited to see an actual animal cop! Big thanks from me to the ASPCA staff for helping me to give my niece such a positive experience! She’s a special kid.

After Gianna left, it was time to get to work playing with the pooches and kitties. I had the privilege of watching Doug work with Spud, last week’s Pet of the Week. Doug is a regular volunteer at the ASPCA, and one of our dog captains. See how Doug shows off Spud’s skillz!


























Here’s Doug working with Precious, our big ‘ole charming St. Bernard











This is Morris. He’s five years old and has a hyperactive thyroid gland—but what a mush!







Shy Peter likes to keep one eye open, always on the alert and ready to pounce. But the more human attention he gets, the more he warms up to the idea! We’re slowly breaking him down. Hopefully soon, he’ll be putty in our hands!






Thanks for reading. It’s good to be back and blogging in 2009. Here’s to a great year ahead. Cheers!

Love,
Elyse

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Breaking New Boundaries of Cute!

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:

Don’t get your hopes up. You can’t have them. They were put on hold for adoption faster than you can say cutewittlepuppywuppies!


The six mini pinscher/yorkies were so young that volunteers were required to wear a gown and booties just to go in and socialize. This was to avoid spreading germs to the little ones, as they were all headed for spay/neuter surgery the next day. Chris, a volunteer, and I could only laugh when our gowns were ripped to shreds within a few minutes! Needless to say, the puppies will be enrolled in obedience classes.



My favorite is Skeeter, the one you see dancing along the kennel window. (Skip to 0:15 to see what I mean.) What a silly butt!

If I had to pick a favorite breed, a cocker spaniel would probably win. Look at Lady (yes, of course, they had to name her after Lady and the Tramp). At seven years old, sistah’s still got it. Such a stuffed animal. She let me play with her fuzzy ears and paws and cuddle her. This sweetheart is homebound soon, for sure.


This video is short and sweet, featuring Lady with her roommate, JJ.


Here’s Menunu, our heavyweight champ. You’ll read more about him tomorrow, since he’s our Pet of the Week. What a handsome face on Mr. Pudge!













Cats are “notorious” for withholding affection until they get to know you. Well, Christopher has apparently never heard of this rule. All he has to do is smell a human and he immediately shows off his belly for a rub!

Well, this is your last weekend for Christmas shopping, so what are you doing sitting around and reading this? Get movin’!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Look No Further to Improve Your Social Life

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

Why didn’t I think of it before? Forget bars. Ladies, the best place to find husband material is at an animal shelter. What’s more attractive than a man in an orange volunteer shirt adoringly stroking a purring kitty? Yes, yes, I know. I have to be realistic. There are way more female volunteers than there are male. But that just makes the guys that much more of a catch. Think about it—instead of helping animals, they could be on the couch with a beer. They could be mooning the local convenience store clerk for fun. Worse, their friends probably make fun of them for volunteering. And in spite of all this, they do it anyway! So while a man like this is hard to find, he sure is one worth looking for. Meanwhile, as you wait for him to come along, you’ll be spending time yourself at the shelter playing with animals. So that’s good, right?

In case you’re wondering what inspired that revelation, I simply saw a cute guy in an orange volunteer shirt at the ASPCA Adoption Center. I’m taken, but always looking for opportunities to help out my girls! You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats animals.

Now, for our feature presentation, the cats and dogs of the ASPCA:

Johnny and Clarice were both sweet in their own way. Johnny, (or Johnny The Licker as I call him) just wanted to be nice to Clarice, and Clarice just wanted to sit on my lap and purr, undisturbed. And so this is what happened when Johnny, who wanted Clarice, tried to get the attention of Clarice, who wanted me. Can you say soap opera?! Watch:


Winner and reigning champion: Clarice. She scored the lap!


They sure make pretty scenery in their cat habitat.



On paper, Richie is as pathetic as they come. 10 years old, no teeth, can barely see…but out of the five special-needs poodles there (rescued from hoarders), he’s the most social and surprisingly active! He’s a staff favorite, and everyone who meets him falls for him. He’s a total lap dog. Being around him is an instant dose of happiness—he trots around like a wind-up toy. In my head I have a soundtrack playing when he walks. With each step: deep, doop, deep, doop. He walks around with his tongue out and it looks like he’s smiling! What a love. Richie, I heart you!


JJ was too embarrassed to show his face. He’s wondering why Richie got the cool preppie green sweater while he was stuck with the snowman. JJ, don’t worry, I think it’s darling! Did you just wince??
Sorry, I mean sexy.

While I was hanging with Richie and the poods, Ava—of my beloved Ava belly rub video—was in the next kennel and jumped up to say hello!



** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Catching Up with Old Friends

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:


It’s a puddle of poodles! Remember those 33 poodles we rescued from a hoarder? We still have a few left who are waiting to be adopted. The others “flew out of the kennels,” but the fluffy fellas remaining have some years on them and are considered special needs dogs. So they can really use your help—they deserve a great home, too! Calm and adorable, they’d make fine pets. Look how sweet they are in this video:





I went over to my man Jeb to see what he was up to. He’s a nice guy, but he was definitely turned off by the scent of my hand sanitizer. (We always use the stuff after handling each animal before moving on to the next, for their protection and ours.)

Here’s some footage of Jeb for your viewing pleasure:







The white cat with orange patches on the bottom, Roscoe, seemed to be deep in conversation with his buddy in the cage. What do you suppose they were talking about?

Remember Lois Lane? I had to pay her a visit after she rolled over for me so sweetly last time. This time, she brought me a bone! Classic doggie cliché—I love it. I wonder if she remembered me!

Here’s more on Hennessy, the dog I mentioned a couple of weeks ago who knows how to charm potential adopters. It’s always amusing to watch a dog get his stuffed Kong at suppertime. All dignity goes out the window! Here he is as he “works hard for the money.”



** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.


** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Thanksgiving Edition

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you are reading this with a full belly and a furry pet on your lap. I’m about to list stuff I’m thankful for, and it is going to be mushy. Verrrrry mushy. So consider yourself warned. But if you weren’t into mushy you wouldn’t be reading this in the first place, right? OK, here I go…

• I’m thankful for you wonderful readers who come back every week to read this diary and check up on the animals of the ASPCA.


• I’m thankful for the selfless adopters who take home senior or special needs animals.


• But I’m also thankful for children who yearn for a puppy or kitten.


• I’m thankful to the staff at the A; from my friends and colleagues, I’ve learned what it means to give your whole self to protecting animals who have no voice.


• I’m thankful to—and frankly, in awe of—volunteers. To willingly devote your spare time to walking dogs, playing with cats, and the more thankless tasks of poop patrol and cage cleaning… I have no other word for that than awe.


• I’m thankful to my mom for every cute cat tchotchke displayed in our house—and there were many. My mother is the reason I grew up loving animals.


• I’m thankful to the pets in my life and the life lessons they’ve taught me. When I was a kid, I picked the most beautiful kitten at the shelter, Cosette, but I was only allowed to adopt her if I took her ugly, raggedy sister, too. That ugly sister, Eponine, grew up to be a breathtaking beauty while Cosette was pretty but plain. But who cared… what mattered was waking up to both of them in my bed with me. And now I’m thankful to my current cats, a brother-and-sister duo who perfectly exemplify sibling love and rivalry.


• I saved the best for last. I’m most thankful to the animals at the ASPCA Adoption Center for letting me into their lives and teaching me so much. Thanks to Spud for teaching me not to take life too seriously. When in doubt, get up and jump around! Thanks to Tulip for teaching me you can reside on an office floor with “important” people and still be the one in charge. And thanks to all the furry ones who take the time to hang out with me and show me it’s OK to sit, relax and cuddle for hours and shirk all responsibility.
  Actually, I didn’t mean any of that stuff. I’m just trying to get in good with Santa this year. ;)

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.

P.S. Dear readers, what are you thankful for today? Shoot me a comment and let me know!

Adoption Diaries: Keeping Up With the Kits

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:
So all the mushy stuff I said about mama cats and their beautiful love for their kittens? Their protective nature that makes them hiss when anyone comes near their babies? I guess that applies to their fierce instincts when they have newborns. Once the kittens are a few weeks old and can fend for themselves a bit better, mama is ready for a break!!

“All kittens here and accounted for? Great.”


“See ya!”

Once I, the kittysitter, showed up, mama was out of there faster than you can say “girls’ night out.” I feel you, mama. It’s nice to get a break, and then oh-so-nice to reunite with the babes!



This pooch didn’t have his name and info outside his kennel, so he must have been new. I could have held him all day. (And might have, if security guards didn’t drag me out when the building was closed that night. Kidding, kidding.) He was adopted quickly, of course. Selfish moi can’t help but be a little melancholy…sniff…I never even knew his name!



Hennessy reminded me of the pound dogs in Lady and the Tramp. Whenever a person approached, he put his paws on the glass and gave his cutest—and neediest—“come hither” pout. In the movie, the old-timers coach the newbies to do just that if they want to find a home.


Keeping tabs on Ghost? He’s the poor guy who fell from a fourth-floor balcony. Ghost is improving steadily. Just recently I saw him put weight on his front legs and stretch!


It was suppertime at the A, and Linda had a tough time deciding between a cuddle and food! She compromised; she stopped over for a quick belly rub and then ventured over to her dish.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Social Hour at the A

Elyse’s Adoption Diary:

At the ASPCA Adoption Center, we have Habitats and we have Cat Rooms. The Habitats are for the social meowsters who make friends easily. The cats in the Cat Rooms all live together but in individual cages. When I visited one particular Cat Room, it was just before mealtime. They were having their own kitty happy hour (minus the booze) as they meowed across the room to one another. I let them take turns out of the cage, (one at a time, as our policy wisely dictates) and several of them chose to wander around and socialize with friends. Of course, some cats were more enthusiastic about this than others.

“Yo, did you see the new cat they just brought in? Talk about feline fine. Meoooow.”

“Hey guys, who’s up for poker tonight?”

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your fur!”

Speaking of roomies—some of our pooches share their kennels with a bud. I had to laugh when Bentley and JJ were more interested in their visitors than in playing together. Understandable—they do live together, after all. And as anyone who’s ever had a roommate knows—ya gotta respect each other’s space!

The odd couple: Bentley and JJ

I won’t leave you without reporting on the wittle kittens. There was yet another new litter to greet me! My two orange tabbies were a couple of months old when I adopted them—still tiny and adorable kittens, of course—so I loved meeting this little one depicted below, two weeks old. I got to see what my cats looked like as babes! There’s nothing like a kitten who can fit in the palm of your hand.

My, they grow fast. Look at the kittens you saw getting syringe-fed a few weeks ago. Sniff—they’ll be off to college soon! Er, I mean off to loving homes of adopters.



** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Love Shack, Baby, Love Shack

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

I think after reading my ode to mama cats last week, the animal gods rewarded me with a litter of one-day-old kittens at the ASPCA Adoption Center. I hadn’t seen kittens that young since I was a kid myself. The mommy, Rain, exhausted as she obviously was, stood in full protection mode. As her babies nursed, she hissed at strangers who passed by. An Animal Care Technician briefly removed the kittens from the cage so she could clean it and give the tired mama a much-needed meal. But poor Rain couldn’t take her eyes off her kittens and was unable to eat a bite until they were safely returned. (And then she chowed down!)






Happy birthday, babies!

















"I’m one day old!”















You can see the worry on Mama Rain’s face as we humans play with her kittens.









Here they are. A little pile of rats, they are. I say that lovingly.
I happen to think rats are cute.


Guess who got one of his casts off? Ghost! One down, one to go. Sweet and not-at-all scary Ghost is well loved by our volunteers, and it will be an emotional day when he finds a home. I attribute his quick recovery to his positive attitude!




Jeb is a golden Lab who took a liking to my library bag. A shy three-year-old, it takes him a little while to warm up to people. He must secretly be a bookworm. Looks and brains? You go, Jeb!








You may have read about the 33 surrendered poodles, who range in age from two months to six years, had never been walked outside and are not well-socialized to strangers and new environments. While they are all timid and fearful, the majority of the dogs are in relatively good health. After being evaluated, spayed/neutered, microchipped and groomed, most of the puppies and healthy adults were placed in loving new homes. That’s putting it mildly—you wonderful people flooded in to adopt the poodles (working our adoptions staff to the bone, but that’s OK, we like that around here)! Those still available for adoption are “special needs” dogs who must be placed in quiet homes with parents who are willing to work with their ongoing medical and behavioral requirements.


They’re so cute all hangin’ together in their cages and ignoring the ample kennel space around them! Still a bit shy around people, they are a band of brothers.









Here’s Macy, caught in the act of stalking…urm…stalking nothing at all. Stalking the air. Silly Macy. Look for her as Pet of the Week tomorrow.







** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Up Close and Personal

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

Long before I became a mother, I was always in awe of the notion of maternal love, largely due to the observation of mama cats. Their raw, instinctive desire to protect and provide for their kittens is the standard of this great love that I so admire and can only hope to live up to as a mom.

When I arrived at the adoption center, mama cat Mandy was out for a walk, stretching her paws, while her kittens stayed behind in their cage. As I approached, Mandy meowed for me to let her back in! I chuckled, for only a mama cat would demand to go into a cage. But Mandy knew what she was doing. Her baby was hungry; here’s what happened next!






I’m not sure who was happier—the nursing kitten or the proud mama, content to satisfy her baby.










My next visit was to our cat habitats, little rooms where our most social cats roam freely amongst one another. Before entering Habitat 5, I read this sign:





“Miles is a very active kitty who loves a good view.” Sure enough, as soon as I opened the door, a cat darted out so fast that he was just one dark blur! I took him back into his room and laughed as I pet his beautiful black fur, “You must be Miles.” A quick check of his collar confirmed that he was.








Now onto the Yorkie with the bow. Tatiana is ten years old, and the poor dear was so bony and seemed so fragile when I pet her that I was afraid to break her. She does have several medical issues for which she’s receiving treatment, and would love a comfy couch to curl up in after long days.


















Then there was Tiger. Nothing frail about him! I dubbed him “cuddle monster” after he pinned me down with hugs and face licks. Watch him lead me in a circle dance:



This begs the question: Do you think we can make a competitive ballroom dancing team? I dunno…I’m a tango kinda girl, but I think the quickstep is more Tiger’s speed.



Remember Spud, the feisty fellow who was interviewed for Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month? I’m proud to announce he won a ribbon in this year’s Halloween Howl at Carl Schurz Park, which is near our adoption center.









Speaking of Halloween, I wish you all a fun, safe day this Friday. We’ll be having a doggie parade in our office. Staff gets to bring their dogs—in costume, of course. You can count on me to show you pics. Check back next week!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.

P.S. What will your pet be this Halloween? Drop me a comment and let me know!

Adoption Diaries: Feelin’ The Love

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

My job is to love all the animals. So am I allowed to fall into a deeper love with a select few? The latest object of my affection is Lois Lane. I can tell you why, or I can show you. Hit “play,” por favor:

She seemed happy enough to be pet, but the roll over onto her belly was a complete surprise! I melted at this big dog’s unexpected display of trust and affection.

Action shot of Lois Lane turning around for a butt scratch.

I’ll spare you most of my Superman-related puns and jokes, since we used them all up on her Pet of the Week description. I do have to point out, however, that this is the view from Lois Lane’s corner kennel:

Wow, right? Thanks to this window, it looks like Superman can come flying in to steal a kiss at any moment! (Hey, back off Mr. Spandex, she’s my girl.)

We have a fantastic staff at our ASPCA Adoption Center. Our team of Animal Care Technicians (ACTs) is fully devoted to the care of our furry babies. In this video, Eric, a Medical ACT, feeds a baby orphan kitty.

Speaking of kittens, I went to visit the litter I’ve been keeping tabs on. One kitten was happily nursing, engrossed in her euphoric meal, until the big bad human came along. (Me.) As the mama cat heard me approach, she quickly darted to the cage door to see what was up and protect her babies. But in doing so, she left the nursing kitten laying on her back, her paws swiping at the air, desperately trying to find her mama and get her food back.

I was so engrossed in the beauty of dainty Atosa—who was fantastic with her two different eye colors, long tail and gorgeous heap of fur—that I didn’t even notice she’s an amputee; she’s only got three legs! She was rescued by our Humane Law Enforcement officers, who found her with severe fractures.

Aww, poor Ghost. He fell off a fourth-story balcony. The biggest pity is that he likes other dogs but can’t play with any right now. Happily, he’s healing nicely. We want to see him romp around with pals soon.

Bucky is a seven-month-old beagle who, in his playful puppyness, took a liking to my pen and ripped a page off my notepad. I think he wanted to take a crack at journalism?!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Film Clip Frenzy!

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

It’s no surprise that Arthur was adopted shortly after I met him. Take a look into the seven-year-old Yorkie’s soulful eyes. They say “Take me home, please.” Arthur is my favorite kind of dog—calm and cuddly. As entertaining as doggie energy is, I like a pooch who can curl up and be lazy with me.

This belly rub is how Arthur gets his exercise:

And now, dear readers, this is what we writer types call juxtaposition. Presenting…puppy energy! Ace is a three-month-old pit bull who has no red-light function.

In the kitten room, I found a young Phantom Of The Adoption Center. Or was he Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Or did he star in the movie Face/Off? Or maybe he’s auditioning to play Two-Face in Dick Tracy. OK, I’m done now, really.

If you’re at work, put your headphones on. If you’re home, call in the kids. Turn the volume up high, and listen to silly Peanut purr:

This is Remi. She may look like a toughie in this photo, but if you pass the sniff test, she’s all yours! She's our pet of the week.

“I iz not amuzed.”

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Tough Job, But Someone’s Gotta Do It

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

I loved opening up my email and finding this in my inbox:

“Adorable kittens in office cubicle need socializing! These kittens are in need of human attention and exercise outside their cage. The kittens are all very social, but are getting stir crazy, and we do need to ensure that they get consistent human contact to remain friendly to people. We need cat socializers who can spend time with them. I know this is a tough job cuddling with adorable kittens, but someone's got to do it!”
Barbara MacDonald
ASPCA Volunteer Coordinator, Feline Enrichment

And so I journeyed to the ASPCA Adoption Center to perform the tedious chore of playing with kittens. Amy Geduldig, ASPCA Manager, Media and Communications, joined me:

kitten collage:

Here are the players in the kitten collage above. The gray tabbies are Ludwig, Clara and Johannes (methinks someone named them while listening to classical music?); the orange tabby is Colin; The black kits are Colette and Craig, and finally, the proud Mama is Asbury. Mama Asbury was so relieved to have us babysitters show up and give her a break!

And here is another set of kittens in yet another office cubicle. (Amazing how anyone gets any work done!!!) Please forgive my corny narrative:

“I’m getting you out!”

At 12 days old, a kitten’s ears are not fully developed. Ack, too cute, too cute! I love seeing “0 months” listed as their age. It cracks me up.

I had to give a shout-out to Nutella here. She was our “Pet Of The Week” recently and made quite a splash! I received tons of messages about her, many from folks expressing interest in adopting her. She’s still available, however. Please, New Yorkers, this great dog would make an amazing pet. If you know someone who’s looking, have them meet Nutella. UPDATE 09/30 Hooray—Nutella was adopted!

“Hello, I’m Zeus. Don’t count me out just because I’m a 10-year old pit bull. Everyone here loves me and says I’d be the most wonderful pet you could imagine!”

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Don’t be shy! Leave me a comment and tell me the animal ya like best!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Adoption Diaries: The Cleanup Symphony

Elyse's Adoption Diary

I arrived after the cats ate dinner. I walked from cat room to cat room, watching all the kitties simultaneously bathe themselves. Cats are such clean animals—it never ceases to amaze me. As I watched their cleaning ballet, I hummed Strauss's Blue Danube Waltz in my head. Ba da da da dum, lick lick, lick lick.

Norma, the black-and-white cat up top, was desperate to lick every last morsel of food. She licked it off her collar, she licked it off her paws, her fur...too funny. As part of the ASPCA’s Meet Your Match^™ program, our adoption center assesses cats to predict how they’ll behave in a new environment. Cats are categorized as one of nine “feline-alities,” and Norma is labeled as a Personal Assistant.

Smokey the Schnauzer had this squeak toy that did not leave his mouth. Every time I passed by his kennel, there he sat, toy in mouth. When he felt the urge, he'd give the big flower toy a squeak. Talk about a conversation piece!

Spud. Ah, Spud. I lovingly labeled him a Silly Schitzo. One minute he'd sit calmly, staring at me (as depicted). The next, he would dart across the kennel at amazing speed and perform a giant leap! Methinks he was showing off. When I left the kennel and observed him from the other side of the plexiglass, he repeatedly sprinted from one wall to the other, back and forth, over and over again. I think he was having a relay race with himself.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Back on the Job!

Elyse’s Adoption Diary

Hmm, you don’t realize how much bending is involved when playing with animals until you can do it, then can’t do it— then can do it again! If you’ve been reading the ASPCA Blog for a long time, you know what I’m talking about. I can bend again because I’m no longer pregnant! Ergo—I had a baby! Now, I’m back from maternity leave, and just went for my first visit to the ASPCA Adoption Center in three months.

Whooeee, I missed the feeling of a big dog in my arms! Dogs are like kids. There are some you meet and wanna take home. And there are some you’re happy to play with for a while— and then give them back to their mom and dad at the end of the day.

This guy, Napoleon, falls under the first category. Don’t be fooled by his name. Hardly a dictator, this two-year-old Rottie likes to get down and mushy. When I entered his kennel, he wagged his tail, banging it rhythmically against the wall. I cracked up and knelt with him, receiving kisses on my face and hair. The longer we sat together, the calmer he grew. As we cuddled, all I could think about was what a great, great pet he’s going to make. I wonder what he was thinking about. Something was definitely going on in those soulful baby browns.

I usually associate the name “Phyllis” with redheads (please don’t make me explain why, because the answer is embarrassing. OK, I’ll tell you. It’s because of the soap opera I watch). The Phyllis in this video has some orange fur mixed in with the gray—close enough. Watch her head as it follows my hand wherever it goes. I know cats like head rubs, but Phyllis is hardcore.

I caught the kitties at feeding time! It’s a remarkably sweet, subdued time at the adoption center. Imagine dozens of cats eating at once. All you can hear are lapping sounds and faint classical music from the speakers (yes, that’s played for the animals). I found myself getting really relaxed! Watch out, yoga, I’ve found a better meditation technique. Go watch a large quantity of cats eat.

Old Hemingway can barely see and is eight years old. But he has a writer’s soul.

Darn. Harriet’s back : (

I can’t wait to tell you about life with two cats and a newborn, and how they’re learning to like each other. Check in soon!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: A Fond Farewell (For Now)

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Dear readers, thank you for following the weekly diary posts I've been writing since October. You've watched me fall in love with many a feline at our ASPCA Adoption Center, but I haven't yet bragged about my own. I have a two-year-old orange tabby girl at home, whom I adopted along with her brother when they were kittens. Her name is Maow, and I almost lost her awhile back thanks to some medical stuff. But she survived, and I call her my miracle cat! Until now, she has been the little girl in my life. However, very soon I'm going to be having a human baby girl join my family!

Maow, however, refuses to play a reduced role in my life. The following photos show that she has no intention of being replaced by a baby, and that she is in fact, my baby--and always will be.

"What do you mean this is the baby's hat?"

Maow took ownership of the crib from minute one.

"Soft cushion, dangling toys...this is obviously for me, right?!"

"Ahhh, just my size."

The nice thing about cats is they stay little, while babies grow. Maow will always be my first little girl, and I make sure to remind her of that. When she meows to be picked up, I scoop her up into my arms, cradle her, and assure her that I'll always love her.

Thank you for reading my posts. Alas, this is my last diary entry for a while. I'll be trading in my visits to the ASPCA animals for visits to the pediatrician and playground. I'll be trading in slobbery licks for spit-up. Poop-scooping for diaper changing. Obedience classes for Mommy-And-Me classes. (You get the idea.) But I'll be back writing in a few months. Until then, please continue to enjoy this blog! I wish you all a wonderful summer with your furry best friends.

Adoption Diaries: Kitten Season! (And the Dogs Are Cute, Too!)

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

There's nothing like a kitten. I've heard many a person say "If they stayed this size, I would want one" or "I like kittens, but not cats." Now, these are not sentiments I agree with, clearly. I wish these people would give cats a chance. But I can concede, once again, that there's nothing like a kitten.


I set my camera on video and did a loop around the kitten room so that you'd have a tour of sorts. I didn't expect the cute little surprises that ended up in the video. Just watch and you'll find out what I mean!


This is Gracious Lee. She's my favorite kind of dog--simultaneously silly-looking and gorgeous. Silly because of her long, skinny face, and gorgeous because of her lovely colors and size. She also happens to be a mush ball. Best of all? She's always smiling!


Aw, Biscuit. Biscuit looks like he's had one biscuit too many. But this guy is clever; he managed to figure out a way to still eat yummy food and not diet food. He used to be in the fat cat habitat and refused to eat his diet food, and sadly he got sick as a result and almost died. But now he's recovered and doing well, and all volunteers are encouraged to feed Biscuit Fancy Feast. Now, is that some intelligent scheming or what? He reminds me of another clever fat orange cat—Garfield!


Will someone please adopt Fabian already?? He's a senior at nine years old, but look at him! He's stunning! I love his big 'ol head. And he loves head rubs. So we complement each other nicely!


I call this the House of Pits. I remember when they were just babies, and now they're three months old. Sniff sniff, how time flies! They must have had a good meal. I wonder if they always nap together like this. Sooooo sweet!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Happy Endings

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

I bring good cheer! This weekend we held a huge adoption event, which was an enormous success. Thirty-four cats and 10 dogs were adopted--among them were long-term residents and special needs animals. I'd like to highlight a few special cases, animals you've read about before on this blog.

I was incredibly excited to hear about the adoption of Bianca, a white, three-year-old Siamese mix kitty who was here for a long time. She is an outgoing and feisty girl who loved a little lap time, and affection on her own terms. I couldn't understand why she wasn't getting adopted! She went home with another cat named Duncan.



Yankee is a smartie-pants eight-year-old pit bull who was rescued by our HLE (Humane Law Enforcement) officers. He didn't have so much patience for adult dogs, but he absolutely loved puppies. "Yankee did a lot of puppy-sitting during his stay with us, and became known in the shelter as our resident puppy-nursemaid," said Barbara MacDonald, ASPCA Volunteer Coordinator, Feline Enrichment. "He got to watch quite a few puppies come and go in the shelter, and had to wait a long time to finally get a home of his own--he was with us for 8 months, so it was a very happy day when he finally found a permanent home."

Cali is a wonderful four-year-old pit, and she, too, was rescued by our animal cops. During her five months here, she was a real lover, and you could always find her sitting on laps. "She didn't get such a great start in life, but you'd never know it from her personality, because she really does adore people," said Barbara. Her trust in people was rewarded this Sunday when she met her new adopter.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center

Adoption Diaries: Two Sets of Roomies

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

This week I am biased and can't help but devote my attention and space to Xavier and Papa, a pair of gorgeous three-year-old Siamese twins. (Yes, I know it's redundant to say a pair of twins. Leave me alone, this is a blog!) So back to the boys. When I first saw them, they were lying together side by side in perfect twin fashion. They took my breath away with their beauty. They each sported a rich, chocolate coat and bright blue eyes.


The atrocity you're hearing in this video is me singing the "We are Siamese" song from Lady and the Tramp. Note the twins' clever escape from my singing. One of them even yelps at the end. That's okay, I don't blame them.



I let them out to roam about the floor, and I was amazed at how sweet they were! They had already won me over with their beauty, so their personalites were a nice bonus. Yeah, shallow, I know. Papa especially was a mushball--he got on his back with his paws in the air and started purring! A cat is a cat is a cat, huh?

Junior wears cute little shoes on his paws to protect his weak hind legs. He's a real sweetheart--we often have him accompany us at events. He loves everyone--adults, children, other dogs--so he's a joy to have around. He was with us at the CBS Early Show on ASPCA Day, and made friends with CBS weatherman Dave Price.
Junior's roomie is another sweetheart, a Dobie called Madison. They are both wonderfully calm and low-energy. I was able to just relax and pet them. We had a grand old time.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Lap of Luxury

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

I like to get down and dirty with the animals. Or, to be more accurate, down and furry. My black skirt was definitely "decorated" during my last visit, but it was worth it to have Snickers and Lady on my lap.

Snickers has a "lap cat" sign posted on his door, so of course I had to test this theory and try him out. While I was playing with him, a few potential adopters entered the room. He wanted to check out the action, and investigated the novel one woman was carrying in her tote bag (she asked Snickers if he was a member of Oprah's Book Club, too!). But the second the people left and the door closed behind them, he walked over to where I was sitting and hopped on to my lap! There he stayed and there he purred. He was a hard one to put back.

This is three-year-old Lady. Believe it or not, Lady was returned for being too much of a lap dog! Apparently her adopters wanted a more active pet. This isn't a problem we often encounter--it's usually the opposite! Dogs are returned for being too hyper! I'm hoping that story will make Lady all the more appealing and get her a loving home fast. I know I couldn't resist her after hearing that! Bring on the affection, Lady!

One of my favorite things to do when visiting the ASPCA Adoption Center is check out the wall of success. This is where photos are posted of our former animals, now in happy homes. We're very grateful when adopters send us pictures and letters with updates. If you've rescued your pet from a shelter, do take a moment to contact the staff with an update. It will make their day!

In other news, I have two very exciting adoptions to report! Myles, the bowling trickster I just wrote about last week, and Fiona, another longtime feline resident. I give credit to our volunteers, who are so, so good at guiding adopters toward our needier animals.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Having a Ball

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

So last night I volunteered at the Bergh Ball (Bergh is the guy who founded the ASPCA 142 years ago). This is our annual black-tie charity event. One of my jobs was to make sure the six dogs from our adoption center were out on the ballroom floor on time. How funny, the concept of giving dogs their cues!

The highlight of my evening was when I talked to two tall, pretty, skinny women for a good five minutes before realizing they were Miss USA and Miss Universe. They posed with the dogs and made their exit, presumably moving on to the next hot event in town. For the record, because I know you're dying to know, Miss Universe has 2 dogs and a cat, and Miss USA has no pets (but was glad to not have to leave them behind as she travels all year).

One of the dogs we featured last night was Cali. The pretty pit has been with us for a while now, and I was excited to see that she was put on hold this morning. I wonder if she met her match last night?

That covers the glitz and glamour portion of my entry. Now onto the business of this week's visit to the adoption center.

Tobias just had his eye removed due to infection, but this 8-month-old is happy as a clam now. He was full of playful cheer and purrs.

Hooch is a gorgeous senior mastiff who knows his basic manners and is a reigning couch potato. He recently had surgery, so for now he's chillin.'

Can't...roll...over... Almost...there...

Gibbons is 9 years old and can get spoiled and cranky, but that's just because he's been here since October. Who can blame him for being restless? He's nice when he wants to be, and likes other cats.


The kool kat in this video is Myles, our pet of the week. He has been learning tricks diligently from Katie Watts, ASPCA Feline Behavior Counselor. Between you and me, I think most cats would "bowl" if bowling means crashing into neatly lined up objects. But trust me, Myles is smart anyhow--he can also sit, wave and spin!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** View available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: They're Not Fat, They're Big Boned

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Most of our animals get adopted pretty quickly, but an unfortunate few get stuck here sometimes. Pasmin is one of them. He's been at our adoption center since July, 2006. He holds the honor of being our largest cat. I can't figure out why he doesn't have a home yet, especially since I'm a sucker for long-hairs and white-hairs, and he's both! He's just beautiful. I don't know how many New Yorkers read this blog, but if you are in the area, please look into adopting our 7-year-old Pasmin.


Here's one cat who can carve a big Z in your heart: Zorro! Ain't he funny? That's all he wanted to do--roll and roll, and roll some more!



Then there's Monroe, who I think shares a striking resemblance to Harrison Ford. They both have the same adorable one-sided smirk. What do you think?
I really like this guy, Slice. He's just 7 months old, and that giant tongue is always out, wagging happily! I don't know if he liked me so much. He thought I was taking him for a walk and was bummed out when I didn't. Slice, I owe you a walk.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Move Over Dogs, It's the Kitties' Turn!

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

The ASPCA held a series of classes for volunteers in order to teach us how to clicker-train cats. Many of our behaviorists use clickers to train dogs and decided it was time kitties got their chance! Why should a cat be trained, you ask?

That was my main question when going to the class. I quickly learned that the purpose of getting the volunteers to train the cats is to boost adoptions. And the idea isn't to train them in anything fancy, like completing complicated obstacle courses; the idea is simply for them to learn a few basic things to make them, well, "cuter," and therefore more likely to get adopted. For instance, we want to teach the cats to come to the front of their cages and put up a paw instead of hiding in the back. Adopters find that very hard to resist!

The clicker can also be used to teach a cat to sit, wave, touch his nose to your hand and spin. What's the main element to training a cat? Entice them with treats, of course! The nice part is, it's win-win for the cat. Even if they don't pick up on the tricks, they're still getting nice socialization time and treats out of the training. I'm eager to give it a shot!

So, clicker training in a nutshell (if you don't have a clicker you can snap the top of a ballpoint pen):








-At the very second the cat starts to do the behavior you're aiming for, click, then give treat.
-Never click without giving treat.
-Never use clicker to get attention.

Here are a couple of videos to demonstrate:

Trish McMillan, ASPCA Director of Animal Behavior, asked us to choose a new trick to teach her dog, Kenya, who already knew lots of tricks, thanks to clicker training. We chose crawling; here's Trish teaching Kenya to crawl using the clicker.




Here's Katie Watts, Feline Behavior Counselor, showing off the tricks that Myles has learned. Myles is one smart cat! We hope he gets adopted soon!



So, now what? Well, Katie gave us a list of the cats who have been at our adoption center the longest and can use the most help. So we're going to start with them, and hope we can find them homes! Wish us luck!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Doggies, Doggies, Doggies!

Elyse's Adoption Diary:


If you were able to visit the ASPCA Adoption Center this week, then you were treated to the visual feast of 32 dogs running around together. The boys and girls were separated into two large kennels since they still all need to be spayed/neutered. I wanted to report to you that the girls were ladylike and dainty while the boys played down and dirty, but alas, the girls got down on the boys' level. You can see for yourself in this video! The chicas are on the right, and the fellas are on the left.

Please excuse the shortness of this tug-of-war video clip, I accidentally stopped it too soon. But it was still worth posting, right, right?

Now, is that a mug or what?

"Adopt me, pweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!"

These guys and gals will have no problem finding a home. The mama already did, and many more have been put on hold.



When I was finally able to pry myself away from all those poochy pooches, I continued down Bark Avenue and did a double take when I passed...Sakari. Every time I say his name I hear a choir of angels vocalizing in my head. He's just that gorgeous! He's an Alaskan Malamute, about to celebrate his first birthday. As if being the most stunning dog ever isn't enough, he's smart--already having nailed a few commands--and sweet. He loves belly rubs! I wish I had been able to capture his massive size in my photos, but I guess my photography skills are too amateur. Trust me, he's huuuuuuge. He happily licked me all over with his giant tongue and my clothes were literally wet! Ohh, I love that boy. Everyone loves him; he's currently the subject of gossip at the ASPCA water coolers.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

P.S. If you feel like I've slighted the poor kitties with this blog entry, fear not. I've got a whole post devoted to them coming soon!

Adoption Diaries: Young and Restless

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Sometimes when a cat talks--you listen! Kelly may only be a tiny kitten, just a couple of months old--but with those vocal cords, she's ready to take the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House. If you dare ignore her cries for attention, beware; she will not give up easily. So why not open her door and give her some cuddling time? She purrs to please. Leave it to a cat to use scare tactics when all she really wants is lovin'!



Whatever happened to kitten season, which occurs later in the year? Seems like this year we have no shortage of kittens at the ASPCA Adoption Center. These three tiny things are Pashmina, Marnier and Rowan. Marnier was the leader; he decided to be brave and jump down first. Not one to be left behind, Pashmina followed suit, piquing Rowan's interest. Rowan, reluctant at first, finally succumbed to peer pressure and joined the others after a few minutes.

This is Mint...he came to us with fractures on his front and hind legs. I've never actually seen a kitty cast before! As badly as I feel for Mint, you've gotta admit, he's pretty darn cute in this cast! Sorry for the shameless plug, but this makes me so proud to be part of the ASPCA; it amazes me that they would provide this surgery for an animal off the street.

Benji recently had a hernia repaired. This hysterical boy is a mush, and let me devour him, but he did ditch me every time someone walked by. He went on barking binges whenever a potential adopter approached! Boy, someone wants to go home!



Tammy instructs us on how to hunt, kill and consume a feather...

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Those Krazy Kids

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Honda! I get silly just seeing his picture! I met him a few days ago and I miss him already! The big lug.
Didn't have time to take a bath this morning? No problem! Honda will be glad to give you one with his big ol' happy tongue! You just have to be willing to forgo your usual peach-scented shower gel in favor of, well, dog scent. Honda even "shampoos" hair! No tip necessary, just lots of hugs. (He doesn't turn down treats, either.)

This is Tammy. She's just 8 months old, but man oh man, is she ever a spitfire! She may just be the most active cat I've ever seen. When I took her out she flew all over the room, jumping and tumbling and being an altogether silly kitten. I gave her this feather toy and naturally, she was all over it, rolling around with it and trying very hard to "kill" it. I must not have been the only one to notice her hysterical habits, since she had lots of toys in her cage! They all have toys, but she has more than most! She may be just a kitten, but her adopter will most likely need to be someone looking for entertainment from a pet and not cuddling.

Marcel, pictured above, cried bloody murder for me to let him out. Once I did, he was pretty non-plussed. He kind of wandered about for a bit, sniffed me, sniffed other cats, and obediently returned to his cage.

Awwww, Kingston. She's missing many toes, as you can see! But she was born like that, and it doesn't bother her at all. At just a year old, she's a sweet pea! She loved to roll over for me and have a good stretch now and then. She even came when called! Kingston is a keeper.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Movie Madness

Elyse's Adoption Diary:



I call this video "I'm getting you out!" It reminds me of a prince finding his lady in captivity and vowing to rescue her. Yes, yes, I'll forever be in that Disney frame of mind. But come on, watch it with a fairy tale in mind, and I promise you'll be charmed!



What is it with white cats and their awesome loud purring? Bianca reminded me of Whitney. You may recall Whitney is a white cat I fell in love with months ago. I kind of felt like I was betraying Whitney as I fell for Bianca. But Whitney would want Bianca to be loved.




I was about to lecture you folks for not adopting Humphrey yet after I posted about him last week, but sure enough, he was adopted a few days ago...yay! Here is one last clip of him.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: American Idols, All

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Riddle me this: Who has one eye and can love you morning, noon and night? HUMPHREY! Well, okay, that's not much of a riddle. Sorry. The point is, Humphrey is a cutie wutie putie. He's 8 years old, tiny, calm and sweet. He was recently hit by a car, but he's doing well now. He's looking for a quiet home. He'd make a great NYC apartment dog. Look at that nose...come on, now! That's a nose if I ever saw one!

This cat's name is...Sanjaya?! Now, I can see the ASPCA adoption staff having fun when naming these animals, but I don't see anything in this orange boy that's reminiscent of the infamous American Idol contestant, Sanjaya. This cat doesn't even have a mohawk! What gives?
While I was in one of the rooms playing with two orange siblings in a cage, Animal Care Technician Christina Sullivan walked in with Madison. The orange Chester and Fabio suddenly got a roommate! I was fascinated to watch the three cats get used to the new living situation. I like how Madison is sticking her tongue out in this pic. I figured I'd spare you the more explicit photos I took of the true kitty getting-to-know-you-process. By this, of course, I mean butt sniffing.
As much as I enjoy promoting our needy animals, I do love to throw in a great puppy shot when I have one. These shepherds just hit the 2 month mark. Freda, Alie, Georgie and Beth became not-so creepy crawlies as soon as I hit the floor.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Silly Is As Silly Does

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

I begin with a video. This is Coco, who was wearing a bow and whom I naturally assumed to be female.


But no, she is a he! Make sure to watch the last few seconds of this clip. Coco is a 1-year-old Yorkie who gets terribly excited when other dogs pass by.

This is me catching Camry at the end of a yawn. Boy, it's exhausting work sitting around all day doing nothing.

Princess is a beaut who's been here suspiciously long. She came to us in September, and was appropriately named--after all, the royal Missus has two cages all to herself. Something tells me she wouldn't have it any other way!

Here we have Marvin, 3 years. I saw him on my way out and couldn't resist opening his door. I love me a golden. Now, usually when I know I'm heading to the adoption center, I wear appropriate clothing. Which means...NOT black. But on this day I had someplace to go after, so I wore my black dress pants. Painful as it was, I was careful to avoid letting animals rub on me. That is, until I met Marvin. He spent a good five minutes trying his darnedest to get as close to me as he could, and I finally said screw it and gave in. I left covered in gold, but with no regrets.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Cast of Characters

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

The best part about Sneaker is she wasn't in this pose just for me. Oh, no. This is how I found her when I walked in the room. I always marvel at the positions cats find comfortable. Sneaker turned out to be as sweet as she looks. She'd never have left my lap if I didn't eventually have to move.
Yankee is a hoot. He was actually less interested in me and more interested in watching everyone pass by and say hello to him. Yankee comes alive when he's offered a treat. I watched Jimmy Aponte, an Adoptions ACT, reward the sweet pit for shaking paw and sitting. Yankee's definitely a smart one! But don't take my word for it, see for yourself:


Thelma is hysterical! And apparently, loved. She couldn't go two seconds without getting a greeting from an ASPCA staffer. They kept walking by and smiling at her. Well, just look, she's delightfully ridiculous! You'd never know she's 12 years old.

What more do I need to say about Courtney except that she's one month old and likes to climb on crotches? She broke many-a-heart as people walked in and wanted her, only to be told she was on hold.
I owe Dillon and all of his black-cat cousins a lifetime of humble service...when I was a little girl I didn't think black cats were beautiful. What was I thinking? Look at that face! Those penetrating eyes! Ack! What a love dumpling.

So, did ya find anyone you want to take home?

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Kids Will Be Kids

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Meet Freedom, the bonafide goofball pit pup, who at any given time can be found sitting on top of the crate in his kennel, and never in. Look at those ears! I still get silly looking at them!! By the way, forgive the reflection, this photo was obviously taken through the glass. Why? Because whenever I attempt to open their doors for my photo, the animals stop doing the cute thing they were doing to run for the door and greet me!

Ah, Billie. Sometimes I walk into the room and figure out which kitty I'm going to play with first, and sometimes the decision is made for me. Upon my entrance Billie started yelling at me--she wanted out! Sucker that I am, I obliged, and opened her door. She jumped to the floor, then on to my lap as soon as I sat down. She proceeded to purr and rub at will. I wanted to photograph her, but she kept getting too close and sticking her face in the camera, so I finally set her down with toy so I could show you guys her Reeses peanut butter fur. (I always think of peanut butter and chocolate when I see calicos).

Holly is a 2-month-old pup with toys strewn about, and here she is munching on the one non-toy in the kennel. Boy, animals and children really are the same, aren't they?

Here's a fun guessing game; who is real and who is stuffed?

Good news about Cous-Cous, the unfortunate sweetheart who came to us after being hit by a car--she is now recovering in a foster home!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Big is Beautiful

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Last night on Jeopardy! there was a category on dog breeds, and let's just say I didn't quite get all five questions...answers...you know what I mean... right. I still have a lot to learn about dogs. Like the difference between a fat one and a pregnant one.

This beautiful Basset is Lucille. When she stands up, her belly droops almost to the ground. Between that and her protruding doggie nipples, I thought for sure that she was pregnant. As I have a litter of one coming myself, I thought Lucille and I were sisters, kindred spirits, and sat myself down with her to bond. I pet her belly, she flopped her ears--we were pals. It wasn't until later I was told she's actually just really fat. Pretty, but fat. Oh well, I still love her!

And speaking of cat, Biscuit is the biggest cat I've ever seen. Naturally, he's in the "fat cat habitat." He's also a giant mushball. He's a complete sweetheart and everyone at the adoption center loves him.

Here are Pearl and Usher. I'll leave it to you to guess who's who in the photo. They would be awesome cats to adopt together. I just think it'd be so cool to have one cat who's pure white and the other pure gray. And they are both incredibly sweet and purry. The difference in personality is hysterical--when I opened the cage door Usher came to me and rubbed all over me, completely working his charm, while she just sat there like a princess, asleep, ignoring all the action. I figured she was prissy until I gave her the slightest head rub--she rolled over and gave me a belly show. I love this duo!

I don't have much to say about Brandy except awwwwwwwwwwww. Look at that scrunchy wunchy! She's the type of cat who totally makes you delve into baby talk.

Poor Cous Cous. She came to us with a broken pelvis after a car accident. Maxine and Steve, a married couple who volunteer every week, told me she's looking much stronger now. Apparently a few weeks ago she barely got up. Now, she's affectionate and would do great in a foster home. Any takers?

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: New Year , New Cuties

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Happy New Year! What better way to kick off a new year than to visit little furry ones? I made a resolution to go see them even more often and play with them longer...maybe you can, too!

To get this party started...puppies!

This is Holly and Patty. Just 2 months on this planet and they're already fighting for the camera's attention!

Awww, Rudy! He really is as cute in person as he is in this photo! I was taken aback by how calm and sedate this 7-year-old is. He likes to be pet and it says on his card that he gets really attached to people and wants a home where he won't be too lonely. Bestill my heart! He still needs to finish up his medical work (he had bladder stones removed) before he can be adopted.
I was stricken by Amber's pretty face. She is 2 years old, and yelled at me to open her cage. But when I obliged, she stood there, frozen. It took her a few minutes to warm up to me. She was more shy and nervous than she was mean. She was actually pretty sweet. Makes you wonder what they've been through before coming here...

Uh, yeah, I don't know their names. I just snapped the picture cuz they were so cute and forgot about everything else. Sorry, guys, I'll make it up to you and get you your P.R. next week!

Introducing...Feline Dancing Queen! My boss, ASPCA Web Editor Pune Dracker, dances when she's not editing. She swears this kitty is doing an arabesque! If only we were all that flexible...

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: 'Tis The Season For Overwhelming Cuteness

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Reason 893 to love this time of year--coat season for doggies! It was a visual feast to watch the parade of dogs entering and leaving our adoption center this week, sporting their handsome sweaters and coats.

I have a thing about spaniels, and Lady is an especially pretty one! She's nine years old and has stunning brown spots on her white fur. And her ears speak for themselves--amazing! Just look at her photo!

While Lady was all beauty, I especially fell for her less attractive (by society standards, harumph!) poodle roommate, Max. I read on the kennel card that he wasn't at all playful. But he must have come out of his shell since that was written, because if this isn't playful, what is?



Sure, he's not exactly an Olympic athlete, but who needs that when you have a dog who can cuddle? Max and I curled up together on his bed for the longest time. I was in furry heaven.

So remember Whitney, my first love? Well, I'm in love again. The Persian kittens above are comically named Romeo and Juliet. They're a bit scary looking, but I think they're the coolest cats on the planet. Despite the permanent scowls on their face and black noses (as opposed to pink), they curled up together on my lap and purred an purred as I stroked their soft, long, fur. Have I mentioned how much I love cats with long fur? I'd take these guys home in a heartbeat. They probably won't be there by the time I visit next. So this love affair is sadly short lived, I'm sure.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Beauty

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

I can't help but boast about our adoption center here at the ASPCA. The fact that we have habitats to enable cats to socialize with one another amazes me! I was hanging out in the habitat by the front window, taking notes on a little black teenaged kitten, when I was bombarded by a hunk of orange love. Riley came roaring over to me, lept on to my lap, and began purring, rubbing and licking--he made himself right at home! I'll never know what made him like me so much, but Riley was a wonderful start to my time at the shelter after a long day at work.


Hard as it was, I eventually managed to pry myself away from Riley and move on (covered in orange hair, naturally.)

This is Levi, a gorgeous collie. His beauty took my breath away! Just look at those ears, and that wonderful tongue! Levi is almost two years old and chock full of puppy energy. He was so excited when I walked into his kennel that he could hardly stand it! Some lucky adopter is going to have tons of fun throwing around a tennis ball with Levi. I can't wait to hear about it!

Ah, Art. Art may just have one eye, but I don't think it will take too long for him to be adopted. A. We have many beautiful souls who come in and are taken with animals who are handicapped or have special needs, and B. Art is the mushiest lover imaginable!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Reigning Cats and Dogs

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

My first order of business was to play with Jersey. I confess I had no good reason except that she looked soft and would feel good in my arms.

She preferred roaming around to cuddling with me, but she stopped by every so often for a pat.

T.J. was similar. I love orange tabbies (I have two at home!), so when he gave me the eye, taking him out to play was a no-brainer. He tricked me, though. It wasn't me he wanted--he was after an adventure. He left me to explore the "neighborhood." When he finally did come to say hello, I was amazed at what a gorgeous, thick tail he had! Will you please look at this thing?

He was adopted the next day. No surprise there.

And now for the canine section of this diary--this is Max. I fell for him immediately because of his ears, one erect and one floppy. He's a couch potato sort of gent, and is looking for a quiet home with older kids (if any).

Oh my gosh, lots of puppy cuteness going on at the ASPCA this week! Observe!




** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Sweet Success

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Strike up the band! My girl Whitney was adopted yesterday! I've mentioned her here a few times now. I probably shouldn't play favorites, but I couldn't help it with her. As soon as I heard her purr for the first time--it was the loudest purr I'd ever heard--I was hooked. I looked forward to visiting her every week, and now that she's gone, I'll miss the heck out of her. Ironically, I found out she now lives in an apartment just four blocks from mine! But I was specifically told, "No stalking the adopted animals, Elyse." Darn! I'll have to settle for the happy thought that she's powering her new home with that motor of hers. Thinking about it makes me smile.

If that news isn't enough for ya, I've got more. Jazzy Joyce, a 10-year-old Norwegian Forest, was here since March of 2006. It was difficult to find a home for her, because not only is she a senior, but she requires thyroid treatment and careful handling. Happily, an experienced cat owner met Jazzy and they were a perfect match! Our whole staff is misty eyed over this adoption.

Well, as much as I love success stories, let's get down to business. I want to see more adoptions, so here goes! These guys reside together in one of our cat habitats:

They are Ramon, Gustavo and Jonah. Give these playful kittens a toy and life is good! But watch out for Jonah, he's a smart one. If you try to hold a toy out of reach, he will find a way to get to it.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: A Day of Firsts

Elyse's Adoption Diary

It was kind of by accident that I ended up helping a cat find a home! The folks at the adoption center desk were super busy (those are the days we like and want, of course) and asked if I was a cat socializer. I said I was, and next thing I knew I was escorting a mom and her two kids to meet Baby Boy!

Baby Boy was an easy "sell" with his gorgeous coat and unlimited affection. When he sat on the 5-year-old's lap, that was that. The family was hooked and Baby Boy went home.

Feeling good, I took Fresca for a walk. This was my first solo walk, both at the ASPCA and in my life. So what sounds pretty simple and mundane for most dog people was intimidating for me! Of course, I chose an easy-going small senior who was sweet as could be and gave me no problems. She was a pro--she knew exactly what to do and which way to go when we hit the streets. She practically walked me!

This here is Mattie. I caught a great moment on film, in which he was jumping for joy as someone approached to walk him--unfortunately, I had my camera turned the wrong way. D'oh! But I'm including the clip anyway, just 'cause it's so gosh darn cute.

"Wheeeeee, someone's coming to walk me!"

I spent a long time with Magoo, a blind old boy. At first we were both hesitant with each other, but after his initial investigation, he decided I was a good egg and sat on my lap so we could exchange purrs.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.

** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: I Think I'll Go For a Walk Outside Now...

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

I can officially walk level one (easy) dogs at the ASPCA adoption center now! This weekend I completed my training. Dog Captain Neal Kushner, who generously donates his time on Saturdays to train new volunteers on dog walking, gave us a whopping 3-hour lesson. After giving his table talk, Neal took us out to walk Cookie.

Cookie is a darling 7-year-old pit mix with unusually large ears for her breed! She was a delight to walk with outside--cooperative and inquisitive. All three of us in training took turns walking her...and guess which one of us got the honor of demonstrating her first poop scooping?

I returned to the adoption center yesterday. There seem to be a whole lot of puppies there right now! Speaking of puppies, Bella's bunch are growing beautifully. Here, see for yourself!

Remember how small they were in my last photo?

My 'lil video clip du jour is of Zena. I didn't get to know her well, but I hung with her long enough to fall in love with that amazing tongue of hers! Observe her conversation with a dog mate:



Don't worry, I didn't neglect the cats! (As if!) Of course, I made my usual trip to the "fat cat habitat" and hung with Whitney (guys, why is she still there? Did you NOT see last week's purr video??). Whitney's buddy Missy turned out to be a real mush ball too. Give her a head rub and she's golden.

Over in Habitat 1 is Fresca. She likes to hang out in the window and observe NYC foot traffic, and she apparently also likes to pose for photographs.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Reunited!

Elyse's Adoption Diary

Whitney's back in her habitat! For those who don't recall, Whitney is the fabulous white cat I fell for weeks back. I had to endure a couple weeks without her as I waited for her to recover from her upper respiratory infection. Now, she's back and purrier than ever. I had to take a video so you could hear this loud motor for yourself. Observe:

My favorite part is toward the end, when you see her rest her head on my lap.

I implore you, give her a good home! As much as I'll miss her, I'll be thrilled to see her gone. This 4-year-old white love ball is waiting for the chance to make someone very happy and spoiled. I'd take her myself if my own cats would let me.


Aaaaand this is Tulip. Tulip has been here at the ASPCA for almost 2 years. She was rescued by our Humane Law Enforcement officers, who found her scarily emaciated. They took her back to the ASPCA, and within a week, she regained 48% of her weight! That's half a Tulip! Now, I must admit she has a pretty good life, living in a corner office and getting pampered all day by the corporate folks who work on her floor.

Everybody stopped me to tell me how much they loved Tulip and to please get her adopted (so come on, people, my reputation is at stake). Even though Tulip likes "her" office, Tulip needs a great home, a place she doesn't wonder where everyone went off to on weekends and national holidays. Besides, we want to give other cats a chance to be an office foster.

Hey, I have two more adoptions to report! Gomez, a wonderful and kind cat, and a little funny pooch, Hedley, found homes. Thanks for all the warm comments you've sent about these guys! Keep up the good work! Who knows, you may have helped guide their adopters to them.

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Litter Your Life with Love

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

There really ought to be a warning...I was walking down Bark Avenue (at our adoption center), and turned the corner, and boom! There they were--a litter of nursing puppies! Can you say cuteness overload? It was almost too much for my heart to take!

The only thing better than puppies are ones getting their breakfast from mama. This is Bella. Doesn't she look proud?

And this is Chewy (no, not from Star Wars). Chewy's another silly one. The little Yorkie made himself right at home on my lap. Fuzzy, sweet and curious, he's everything that's wonderful about small dogs. As I headed for the door after our cuddle session, he whimpered, "Don't leave me."
Jazzy Joyce has been here since June of 2006. She's a sensitive 10-year-old, and prefers to be petted on her head. Jazzy was treated for an overactive thyroid gland in September. She's still working on growing back her fur, but I don't know, I think she looks pretty cool without it.

I'm pleased two report that two animals I've mentioned here previously have been adopted! Pocahontas, the sweet old cat, and Cola, the sweet old dog! This was a good week for our seniors!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: They're the Pits!

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

This is Oreo, 3 months old. He wasn't too interested in the idea of leaving his cage. That is, of course, until I took him out and we played for a few minutes. When I dared return him to his kitty condo, he made quite a scene. He wanted out! As I played with other cats, he jumped all around and kept sticking his nose and paws out of the holes, like you see in the pic, and yelling at me. Poor thing looked so pathetic and desperate that he made me feel guilty...I eventually gave in and let him back out.

And here is Pocahontas (I'm desperately trying to refrain from making any silly puns or references to the legendary Native American princess). Pocahontas loved to pose for me like a statue. See? And when I put her in my lap, I knew she'd have stayed there forever if she had a choice. She definitely wouldn't be there if she were younger (she's 12).

Gomez was incredibly difficult to get a photo of, but for the sweetest reason. I couldn't get far away enough to take a picture because the little love bug shadowed my every step! He wanted some up close and personal rubbing. Finally, I broke out the cat dancer toy -- here he is above, ready to attack.

Now, on to the doggies. I got to witness something really neat -- Special Agent Ruiz (you may recognize him from "Animal Precinct") brought three pit puppies in. He had just rescued them from the Bronx. These guys were so anxious to eat they consumed their food in seconds! Just look at them playing! All together now: awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

I thought I'd leave you with a treat: this is 2-month-old Norma, who was intrigued by my camera. If you listen carefully, you can hear her loud purr. She was adopted by the time I left. They go so quickly when they're that little and cute. It's the older ones who really need help, the poor darlings!

** Be sure to check out my Flickr page to see all the photos from my visits to the adoption center.
** Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: All About Dogs

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

Come on, what's cuter than a litter of brand new kittens?

I met these little guys yesterday. They are being fostered in the office of Barbara MacDonald, who is Volunteer Coordinator, Feline Enrichment, at the ASPCA Adoption Center. I don't know how she gets any work done (but she does--she's fabulous!).

After I pried myself away from the kittens, I headed on over to Bark Avenue to play with some doggies. When I walked into Cola's room (which is bigger than my cubicle), Cola greeted me on her hind legs, her ears straight in the air. This funny girl cracked me up--she was more intrigued by my notepad than me, until she realized I give head rubs and my notepad doesn't. When I dared to stop rubbing, she thrust her head into my hands to tell me, "Don't even think about stopping."

Cola is such a sweet girl. The only reason she hasn't been adopted is she's 11, and of course people typically go for the young 'uns. But look at her! How can you resist those giant eyes and that silly underbite! It looks like she has fangs, which is almost scary 'til she starts licking you all over the place like the goofball she is.

Honorable mentions go to Hedley and Eva, two more small dogs who share a room.

Isn't Eva just the silliest little Shih Tzu? And Hedley's got that unbearable "please take me home" face. Ooh, I just want to squish them!

After I had my doggie fix, I went to the cat habitat to visit Whitney, whom I'd been thinking about all week. I was so looking forward to seeing her, but sadly, just as I got there, an animal technician was taking her to the doctor upstairs. I'm keeping my paws crossed for her, and hoping I can see her next week and hear that tremendous purr of hers.

At least I got to play with Harriet. You may recall, I started writing about her last week.

As you can see, she still needs to lose weight, but she's been working very hard on her diet and looks better already! Her coat is really stunning in person. Her colors are quite vibrant and lovely.

That's all for now. Check in next week to read about more animals at our adoption center and get updates on these guys!

Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.

Adoption Diaries: Getting To Know You

Elyse's Adoption Diary:

This week I began socializing cats at our adoption center after joining other volunteers in a cat class. My plan is to bring you weekly updates of the cats I get to know. Why? The most important reason is to give these cats some much needed PR, of course (maybe you readers will want to adopt someone!). The other reason is, frankly, I wanted an excuse to gush about kitties and doggies! I'm still in dog training (more on that next week).

So, the cats of the A: Some cats are in cages (really nice, modern ones that don't haver bars!) and others are in habitats. Habitats are spacious rooms that house cats who can freely roam about and interact with each other.

Yesterday, I walked into what I've dubbed the "fat cat habitat." The overweight cats are put together, of course, because they are on similar diets. I made my rounds, patting kitties one by one. Suddenly I heard a gigantic rumble. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I turned around and saw Whitney frantically trying to get me to come back and pay more attention to her. She stuck her head out as far as it could go, wanting some more ear rubs . Whitney is a 4-year-old stunning snow-white girl. I LOVE white cats! "Ok, Ok!" I told her. "Relax, I'm coming!"

I scooped Whitney up into my arms and carried her to the socialization area. I sat down and she plopped herself on my lap. I'm not kidding, this girl has the loudest purr I've ever heard. Oh man, I'm so in love.

As I played with Whitney, another cat, Harriet, investigated the stuffed meerkat I had on the floor by my purse. Harriet's a cutie--she mostly lounges, but does have little spurts of playful energy. Like when she sees a meerkat. Harriet has been with us since Sept. 06--needless to say, she can really use a home.

I wandered into the next habitat and found Pierre. Pierre is a beautiful boy, here since March 06. He has an old scar with fur missing between his shoulder blades. He'd love to go home with another cat from his habitat or join a household that already has other felines. Pierre is one chill dude.

Here's Pierre coming toward me with that swanky walk and "come hither" eyes.

This is Smokie. Smokie is being fostered in an office by two employees--Karen Lopez, Manager of Shelter Staff and Trish Suess, Intake Assistant. The second I walked in he started purring and licking me (maybe he could tell I had pizza just before?). Smokie is a cuddly mushball who loves to explore--especially boxes. His foster moms said he's getting pretty bored and is needing a home, like, yesterday. I don't blame him! Usually folks get to leave an office after working all day! And he works very, very hard. I hear he's about to be promoted.

Click here to view available animals at our adoption center.