Friday Guest Wake Up Strategist – The Queen...

The gorgeous and talented Hermione (right) and her team member, Ping.

A little healthy competition is good! Today, our featured expert caught wind that her colleague, Bob, had been published here. She immediately contacted me to inform me who the real creative genius in their household is.

Here’s what she has to say:

“Dear Romeo (and staff),
One of the lesser felines in my home (Felinus Barncattus) named Bob informed me that his wake up tactic had been published on your prodigious blog.  I found it very difficult to believe that he had a wake up tactic as he mostly lies about until the help manages to roll out of bed.  On the other hand, I am the master of wake up tactics, many of which involve my feline super powers so I thought I’d share a recent one with you. 
 
What feline super powers might those be?  Well, I have several.  One that is relatively common is “Glue Belly.” Glue belly is the power that allows me to quadruple my weight at any moment when the help attempts to move me from a comfortable resting position.  Another, and the one that is relevant to this wake up tactic is “thunder hoof”.  This is the remarkable ability to make my paws really hard and noisy so that instead of being the svelte stealth feline of norm, I become, to use the help’s phrase a “stinking herd of elephants.”
 
On said morning, at preceisely 2:47 a.m. I decided to employ thunder hoof & yowl.  Beginning in the basement where my yowls

Bob.

My physical prowess was so impressive that the two barn cats who live with me attempted a feeble mimicry of my thunder hoof superpower.  Of course they were substantially less impressive but with three cats ripping up and down stairs and across beds while yowling the help was bound to notice.  With my usual impeccable timing, I noted their sudden awakening and stopped mid-hoof curling up lightly at the foot of the bed.  The barn cats, lacking my extraordinary insight, continued attempting to thunder hoof about the house while the help was awake – resulting in them getting kicked out of the bedroom for the rest of the night and me getting scritches, praise for my good behavior and a special treat at breakfast.  As I said, super powers.
 
Yours Truly,
Queen Hermione
 
PS.  I noted that Bob, while commenting on one of your posts called himself Bob and the Harem.  Harem my thunderous hoof!  I’m not his anything and I have only one thing to say about that harem thing:  Neutered!
 
PPS: Photo captions: Bob is the lazy gray one in the solo pic.  I am the regally beautiful one on the right side of the photo.  The lazy slattern is Ping, another barn cat.”

Queen Hermione, you made my day! Pugsley and I (and our staff) laughed and laughed as we are all too familiar with the “glue belly” and “thunder hoof” tactics. But I must say, dear girl, that you have such a wonderfully eloquent way of describing your craft. And such a strategic mind when it comes to coming out smelling like a rose. Bravo!

Fursday Wake up Tactic...

Got up, yawned and stretched. Then, bop bop bopped paw on female staff member’s cheek. Then, bopped her on her forehead. No response. Hopped over her head and, remembering what a good job male staff member did with BREAKFAST last week, meowed into his ear. And meowed. And meowed.

He did not disappoint! BREAKFAST was served quickly and efficiently. And heated.

Meow!

YAWN! Ready to face another day of.....naps.

Wednesday Wake up Tactic...

Poked female staff manager in the mouth. That was all it took today. NICE.

When you're this cute you can pretty much do whatever you want.

Tuna Tuesday Wake up Tenacity...

Have decided the more the staff ignores me in the morning, the more aggressive I shall be in my pursuit. When one Romeo is pushed away, the force of 10 more Romeos shall come back to claim BREAKFAST.

Today this worked. Staff was not happy. But BELLY was.

Meow Monday Wake up!...

This morning I used a multi-faceted approach that worked quite nicely.

First, meowed. Then, stood on female staff manager’s chest with front paws. Meowed. Then, got whole body on her chest, looked down on her and meowed. Meowed. Meowed. Meowed. I also dropped a little bit of drool on her face. When she turned her head to avoid getting slimed, I took full advantage of access to her ear and closed in. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. MEOW. MEOW. MEOW.

And….she was UP. BREAKFAST time, baby!

Am phantom in the morn.

Guest Post: Bailey’s Mom Bev...

The response to our March Online Bichon Bash in honor of Bailey the Bichon has been amazing! Thanks for all of your support! Throughout the month, every Sunday is “Small Paws Sunday” and I’ll be featuring a guest post from none other than Bailey’s mom, Bev. Take it away, Bev!

Our First Bichon Bash--Bailey and I are on the left, in the first row.

BICHON BASH?

A Bichon Bash is when you get a bunch of little white fluffy dogs together and have a party. Just imagine a sea of white pooches! OK, if you’re into Labrador Retrievers you might not appreciate the cuteness factor. But if you like little dogs, it’s an overdose of cute!

Bailey, attending her first Bichon bash, is annoyed when she discovers that she is not the only cute white dog at the party.

Over the years, Bailey and I attended several Bichon Bashes here in Dayton. And that’s where we first learned about Small Paws Rescue.

This month, I’m working with my friend Romeo and we’re having an online Bichon Bash to raise money for Small Paws Rescue.

WHAT’S SMALL PAWS RESCUE?

Small Paws Rescue was started by Susan Sebring and Robin Pressnall (Executive Director) eleven years ago when they were turned down by an already existing Bichon rescue group because they were ìnot been suitable for rescue work.î Robin and Susan decided they would form their own Bichon rescue and Small Paws was born.

Higgins begins his Small Paws journey!

SOME NUMBERS

• Over 800 volunteers, over 6,000 members in 20 countries: Small Paws is the largest Bichon Frise rescue in the U.S.
• Available to take in Bichons in need 24/7/365
• Since September 1998, has rescued, vetted and re-homed over 7,500 Bichons
• 18 experienced Team Leaders oversee rescued Bichons and volunteers regionally
• Typically, 150 to 200 Small Paws Bichons fostered all over the U.S., are available on Petfinder every day
• Typically, 50 to 100 Small Paws Bichons are in various stages of quarantine, heartworm treatment, surgeries, or permanent hospice care every day
• Over 5,000 Small Paws Bichons have been flown to their forever homes without incident
• 25 adoption processors to thoroughly screen each applicant
• Typically between $25,000.00 and $50,000.00 per month is paid out in vet bills (posted publicly on the site)

HOW DOES SMALL PAWS RESCUE BICHONS?

Small Paws is entirely supported by donations and fund raisers. Donations are generated mostly from the membership though a newsletter. Small Paws also raises money through an eStore and on eBay–both great places to shop if you’re looking for Bichon-oriented clothes and accessories.

Small Paws is totally volunteer-driven. It is virtually an army of foster parents, pooch transporters, shelter-watchers, prayer circle participants, blanket-makers, eBay suppliers, auction attenders, financiers, and emotional supporters. Every member is connected to the group through the newsletter, emails, phone calls, and a shared urgency to help Bichons.

A SIMPLIFIED VIEW OF THE SMALL PAWS PROCESS

Robin Pressnall, Executive Director, holds some rescued Bichon babies who will soon have furever homes.

• A Bichon–or ìFluffî–enters Small Paws through owner surrender, from commercial kennel auctions, from shelters, or any other avenue that results in a homeless Fluff.
• Each dogís health is evaluated by a veterinarian, and a medical plan is made.
• For major medical expenses (for instance, surgery), a call goes out to the membership for donations.
• Once the Bichonís health issues are taken care of (also spay/neuter if needed), the Fluff is placed in a foster home with a Small Paws member
• Often, the foster home is a learning and socialization environment for the orphan Fluff
• Photos are taken, and posted on Petfinder
• A prospective pet parent fills out the application form on the Small Paws site
• Each applicant goes through an extensive and proven screening process that includes an interview with the applicantís veterinarian.

Small Paws takes lifetime responsibility for the Bichons who enter the Rescue. If an adopted Fluff is ever orphaned, it is returned to Small Paws and a new home is found. The Small Paws Bichon is carefully matched to his or her new home–at a high rate of success. And there are followups done on every adoption.

Scarlett and Rhett, a bonded pair with a questionable heritage, just arrived from a shelter. They will be placed in the same furever home.

Sometimes a Bichon will enter Small Paws as half of a bonded pair–two dogs who have bonded emotionally (and often they’re not both Bichons). Bonded pairs are never separated, but are offered at the adoption fee of a single dog. Senior dogs’ adoption fees are always reduced. And puppies are reserved first for people who are grieving for a lost loved one. A home is found for all–no matter what the special needs.

The volunteers of Small Paws operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They are tireless and creative in their missionto help orphaned Bichons find furever homes. At first, they appear to be a loose gathering of do-gooders. But on further examination, they are a refined organization motivated and motivating people to work together to make this world a better place.

That’s why I love them!

Friday Guest Wake up Genius...

Noni lounges with some friends.

His staff writes:

“Noni’s latest is great (for him.)

Checking to be sure I am fast asleep, he rubs his whiskers on my face very lightly. He waits a few seconds. Then he does it again. I wiggle my nose.

And he ever so lightly rubs his whiskers on my face, again. Within seconds of his second pass, I wake up, mumbling ‘what the fu*k?!’

This, he knows, is ‘human’ for ‘ok, ok, you win, I’ll feed you.’

Bugger.”

Hee hee! Noni sure knows how to get BREAKFAST and fast! I hope you’re paying that staff of yours well, Noni! xo.

Fursday Wake up Tactic...

This morning I learned an important lesson: look to the lower ranks of your staff for promising talent.

Stood over female staff manager and Meow. Meow. Meow. No response. As usual. Then, male staff member stared to stir. Now, I don’t usually pester him for BREAKFAST but this morning he quickly became a person of interest.

So, hopped over female staff’s head and Meow. Meow. Meowed at male. And Booyah! BREAKFAST was served.

I must focus on the male staff member more often. He really has a lot of potential.

Always be on the lookout for opportunity.

Whisker Wednesday Wake up Tactic...

Today employed my most prized and effective weapons: da whiskers.

Put face REALCLOSE to staff’s face and tickle, tickle, tickle. Soft meow (reear). Tickle, tickle, tickle. Soft meow (reear).

Staff cannot take tickly wickly in her face and she was up! BREAKFAST came chugging along very soon!

If you had 'em, you'd use 'em too!

March FURPOWER organization – Small Paws!...

Sweet Bailey

Bailey the Bichon was a courageous girl who recently went to the Rainbow Bridge. She and her staff were some of the first friends I made when I started FURPOWER fundraising and have always supported my work. You can learn more about Bailey and her staff at My Fire Hydrant.

Ms. Bailey lived a long and happy life and even outsmarted the Big C and lived for several years afterwards. She was very loved and spoiled by her staff member, Bev. And she certainly deserved every bit of pampering she got!

Anyway, it’s Bailey’s birthday month and to honor and remember her, I’m holding the first-ever online Bichon Bash and supporting Small Paws Rescue, a nationwide Bichon rescue that has rescued over 7,500 Bichons in 11 years from shelters, puppy mills and surrenders. They do wonderful work and I am so happy to help them this month. And give a high paw to my friend Bailey up at the Bridge.

She’d be so pleased! If you would like to donate, please click here.

AND I am working on a very special project as part of the online Bichon Bash. I’m putting together a video montage of Bichons! Can you imagine? ALL BICHONS? How cute is that?

So, if you are staff to a Bichon please send me a photo of your Bichon for my project. You can email to romeo (at) romeothecat (dot) com. Tell me your Bichon’s name and where you live. If you have friends with Bichons, tell them to send along to me too. It’s going to be awesome!

Thanks for all of your ongoing support and look for posts throughout the month about our Online Bichon Bash for Bailey efforts.

Mwah!