Whiskers has some special needs, but a loving home is most important

Whiskers is a special cat with some special needs, but paramount among them is the need for a loving home.

This adorable young lady is feline leukemia positive, but it's believed she is a latent carrier. She's perfectly healthy and shows no sign of any illness. The one requirement for Whiskers at this time is an only cat home, or a home with another feline leukemia-positive cat.

Whiskers gets a long well with other cats. She enjoys being held on a lap, but it can't be overdone. She loves being brushed -- and just enjoys being loved. Whiskers is gentle and kind. Her favorite toys are feathers. She is an unassuming cat, that likes watching household activity.

Whiskers is approximately 4 years old. She is a perfectly round-featured Calico with pure white markings. If you can give her the right home, contact Sue Picard at mg.picard@gmail.com.

Adopt your own bundle of joy during 'Kitten Mania' at Randolph Animal Pound

Animal shelters around the Morris County area seem to have a surplus of kittens and cats in need of homes. The Randolph Animal Pound is no exception. To that end, the shelter, located at 1345 Sussex Turnpike is sponsoring a "Kitten Mania" event to find homes for some of its feline residents. Shown above are Moe and Maureen, just two of the many sweet and friendly kittens available for adoption.

Visit the shelter on Saturday, July 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you adopt two kittens during this special event, the adoption fee is waived for the second animal. The shelter also is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To learn more about other special events and adoptions, visit www.allorphans.petfinder.org or call the Randolph Animal Pound at 973-989-7090.

Another adoption event is planned for Saturday, July 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about this event, call 973-886-1485 or e-mail Doggie54@optonline.net.

Birthday celebration: It's their party and they'll bark if the want to

It's party time at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center. Located at 575 Woodland Ave., Madison, shelter is joining with Petfinder.com to celebrate its 15th birthday. Hours for the celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 16 and 17.


In addition to the many animals awaiting adoption at St. Hubert's, other organizations including Animal Alliance, Noah's Ark Animal Welfare Association, Monmouth County SPCA, Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, People for Animals, Second Chance for Animals and Somerset Regional Animal Shelter will be on hand to showcase dogs and cats in need of new homes.

Animal welfare organizations throughout North America and beyond will be participating in this birthday celebration, with a nationwide goal of 15,000 adoptions on the weekend.  St. Hubert's is one of 15 shelters in the country chosen by Petfinder to present a large multi-organization adoption event.  Petfinder, the largest and most successful online venue for adoptable pets, was launched in early 1996 and has facilitated an estimated 17 million adoptions.  The site is free to both visitors and the more than 13,000 animal welfare groups that post their pets there. 

"Petfinder was actually born right here in New Jersey and St. Hubert's was one of the first organizations to sign up with them," said its president Heather Cammisa, "so we're thrilled to be hosting this event that is bringing several Jersey groups together to help Petfinder reach its birthday adoption goal."

In addition to meeting the many deserving cats and dogs that will be available during the Petfinder birthday celebration, the party will include birthday cake and ice cream, music from local band RetroRockit, games for the kids and more.  Those who adopt a pet at the event will be entered in an exclusive drawing for a Bissell ProHeat2XPet carpet cleaner valued at $249.   There is no fee to attend.  The public is invited to sign a Petfinder birthday card at www.petfinder.com/birthday. 

'Furry Friday' means it's time to find your four-legged best friend

Above: Creamsickle and Gummy Bear are two orange kittens in foster care. They will be among the many pets for adoption during two events sponsored by the Friends of the Randolph Animal Pound on July 9 and 16. See locations and time below.

Ah, TGIF. The weekend always presents a myriad of possibilities for a little fun and relaxation. It also provides the opportunity to check out local pet adoptions and visit area animal shelters to find a new companion. I've posted some of those adorable pets in need of a home below. But first, some good news. BooBoo, a dog that went missing recently in the Randolph area, was captured by volunteers with Eleventh Hour Rescue and reunited with with her brother Blaze and sister Sassy.

Two upcoming adoption events planned by Friends of the Randolph Animal Pound are as follows: Saturday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Acme Supermarket, 690 Millbrook Ave., Randolph. Another is set for Saturday, July 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Petco, 275 Route 10 East, Succasunna. For more information on either event, call 973-886-1485 or visit Doggie54@optonline.net.

Meet Cricket, a cat from Eleventh Hour Rescue.  This beautiful 2-year-old girl was left abandoned in an empty house when her family suddenly moved out of town.  Fortunately, she was found and rescued.  She is fully vetted and ready to find a new loving home now.  She is extremely people friendly and prefers to sit on your lap and she also likes the company of other cats too.  Cricket is best seen in person to show off her lovely Calico/Tortoiseshell markings and coat.  To read more about Cricket, to see all of EHR's adoptable pets, to see upcoming events, or to make a donation, visit www.ehrdogs.org  or call  973-664-0865.

Be prepared to fall in love when you meet this puppy! Allie is a friendly, sweet little girl, she loves giving puppy kisses and getting belly rubs! She is very smart & a quick learner too. She has already learned to paw at the door when she wants to go out, and she is 95 percent  house trained. Allie enjoys sunbathing, spending time outdoors & playing with other dogs. Allie is about 12 to 14 weeks old and is a Labrador/Shepherd mix. She has a beautiful tan and cream coat. Allie is living with a nice foster family and is having lots of fun playing with the family's children, but she really wants to find her furever home. We are sure when you meet Allie you will fall in love!
If interested in adopting this pet, e-mail FureverHomeRescue@att.net and request an adoption application.

Meet Dottie from Eleventh Hour Rescue.  She is a very sweet, 5-year-old Boxer.  Despite the fact that she has spent most of her life to this point chained outside, she still retains all of those wonderful Boxer traits that make that breed so special.  She loves people, adults and children alike.  She loves to give those Boxer-type hugs.  She’s very playful and will easily fit into any home environment.   Upon arrival to us, her skin and coat were in terrible shape.  However, after several baths with special medicated shampoo, her coat is again clean, soft, and lovely to touch.  To read more about Dottie, to see all of EHR's adoptable pets, to see  upcoming events, or to make a donation, visit  www.ehrdogs.org  or call 973-664-0865.

Blind kitten enjoying life with her foster family, but she needs a loving home

Josie is blind but she's still a bundle of joy. Can you give her a home?

Now that things have settled down after the fuss and fanfare of a long holiday weekend, it's a good time to consider adopting a shelter animal. Summer is a good time to introduce a new pet into the home. If housebreaking is required, the nice weather is a plus when you have to make those trips outside. Also, it's a good time to take your new best friend on walks in the park and get to know one another better, while squeezing in some exercise.

All types of canines and felines are available at local animal shelters and from area rescue groups. Here is one animal in immediate need of a loving home. Consider this story and photo submitted by Claudine Cheung with Friends of the Randolph Animal Pound and maybe you can open your heart and home to this kitten.

This kitten shown above is Josie. She was found by a volunteer who took her to a vet. Unfortunately, the doctor said there was nothing that could be done to restore Josie's sight. Josie then was placed in a foster home, where she now is thriving. Although Josie has never known sight (kittens don't have vision for the first two weeks of their lives), she has adjusted well and is leading a happy, normal life.

Josie constantly plays with her toys and can navigate through her foster parent's living room, dining room and kitchen with ease. She has learned to climb up on a computer chair and loves to be near people. When she's tired, she curls up on her blanket and goes to sleep. When she is picked up, Josie will purr and lick your face.

If you'd like to learn more about Josie, call Cheung at 973-886-1485 or e-mail her at Doggie54@optonline.net.

If your pet ought to be in pictures, submit their photo to calendar contest

Is your cat purr-fectly beautiful? Is your pooch a bow-WOW in the good-looks department? Then you'll want to enter them into Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter's 2012 Pet Calendar Photo Contest. The final day to submit an entry is July 15, so find those photos now and submit them online at http://360photocontest.com/88. Just click on the "enter contest" tab.


The top 13 winners will be featured in the shelter's annual calendar. The pet with the highest number of votes makes the cover. Another six photos will be chosen by a panel of judges as honorable mentions in the calendar -- of those six, two will be crowned "King & Queen of Mutts Mania 2011." The remaining four will make up the "royal court."

The 2012 calendar will be available for sale beginning Sept. 18 during Mutts Mania, the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter's annual fundraiser at Lurker Park in East Hanover. All money raised from calendar sales will go directly toward the care of the homeless animals at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, 194 Route 10 West, East Hanover.