I should start off by introducing myself. My name is Snowey. I am the office cat for the Avery Humane Society. Or so they call me. In reality I am what holds my crew together. I am there when they come early in the morning, and there when they leave in the afternoon. Oh, don't feel sorry for me..I have the life. I am sure you have heard "it's a dogs life", well dogs don't have it as good as I do. I am fed some kind of good soft stuff in the morning and then again before they go. (where do they go anyway?) Then I get my crunchy food all day. I get to sit high on the desk and meet people when they walk in, and get all the loving and petting I want. People won't bother me because the ladies all tell them that I bite. It's true, I do, but usually when I just want to hear someone hollar. I always get a huge kick out of people in shorts. I can get a better grip on their ankles! Oh well, all's fair in love and war. Besides, someone had my fingernails taken and that is the only way I know how to defend myself.

I bet you are wondering how I came to live here. Well, I was brought in to find a "forever home" just like all my friends here. The crew fell in love with my animated personality. Not to mention good looks and charm. Anyway, they take very good care of me and I take care of them by keeping them on their toes. Every now and then when they are not looking I can get a great big sip of nice warm stuff they call cappuccino or I can pull over their cups and get a good lick of that burpy stuff! I am not  sure why but that seems to excite them a huge bunch because they all shout my name and start picking up their papers. I even help Charlene type sometimes. She must like it because she starts counting to three. I know when she gets all the way to three I get a little ride right to the cat room.

Anyway, they were having problems finding a person they call "manager" and I decided that I will take that job. This will be my little notebook so you can see just how much I help around here. Are dogs really a man's best friend? I THINK NOT!!

Day one: August 8, 2006
The people here are starting to get very busy. I heard them saying that we have too many cats and kittens and that the dog room is "busting at the seams". What does that mean? Charlene got a lot of phone calls from people who
have misplaced their pets. Alice has spent all day trying to get more money for our home. Where else would we go to get help? James is fixing the dog room and the kennel doors so those wimps don't hurt their wittle feet when they jump up. Big and strong my hiney! We have a new lady working here. The ladies call her Diane. She talks very soft and is always smiling. I think she will fit right in with all of the gang.
The one they call Dorothy stays in the "puppy room" doing stuff all day. It must be terrible cleaning up after all those messy critters. I think I will lay right here on the monitor and relax. My wittle paws are aching!

Day two: August 9, 2006
One question. What does neuter mean? A lot of people called today to get a neuter and a spay for their cats and dogs. What ever it is it can't be good because one lady can't even get her cat to go. A lot of my day was spent holding down a nice box that a guy in a UPS truck put in the office. This can only last a little while because one of the ladies always scoot my bottom off of it and take it away. Once again I was kicked out of my own castle to mingle with the peasant cats in the cat room while the ladies took pictures of those drooling dogs. Smile they say! Smile! This never works. Most of the time they spend wrestling with the dogs and making funny noises. Give me one minute with those guys and I will have their picture taken!

August 12, 2006
I have spent the last couple of days naked. Yes, NAKED!!! For some reason, which I have yet to understand, it is amusing to humans to shave feline hair in different designs. I happen to have a lion's cut or so they call it. Really funny guys! Four young guys were taken to a new home today. The one they
call Noah, and the one they call Fuzzy went to the same home in Hickory. Blake went to a lady who lives in Linville. Gilligan went off with some children. Poor guy! He did look happy riding in that fancy bag their mother
carried. Charlene and Alice are a little worried because adoptions are down from this time last year. They have found homes for nineteen of us this month, but that is half what it should be. The rest of the guys were busy with
all the cleaning and scrubbing they do. Those puppies sure know how to stink up the place...YUCK!

September 7, 2006
Well, I have not been able to get on here in a while to type. The lady, that thinks she runs this place, keeps unplugging this thing. For a couple days they took me to the doctor. I had something they called a virus. I am not sure what it is but they kept putting something called a thermometer stuck where it shouldn't go! Anyway, tell me if it is just me but females are a little on the grumpy side! Every time these ladies put me in the "cat room" a big bully girl tries to scratch my eyeballs out!!! Not kidding. I was nearly killed yesterday but Diane pulled me out just in time. Well, I could have really laid a hurtin' on her!

September 27, 2006
Yesterday I spent most of the day laying in the sunshine. Oh it is so warm. Almost as good as sitting on top of the "what they call a screen". Anyway, Mrs. Alice has been very busy with the dogs at the prison. I guess she is really
putting them in their place. HA! Diane is very busy to, she has fifty seven of us furry Gods! Dorothy is full with those loud obnoxious puppies. They hollar all day long! Charlene says we have 115 animals living here and she is
very happy because we have had 59 adoptions this month. Each month more and more of us find our homes. James and Melinda spend all day talking to the big dogs! They have some new toys to tare up! And they will. oh yes, they will.

October 7, 2006
   
Well, they did it again. We had some kind of torture thing. People lined up from way across the yard to get their animals "vaccinated". Now it looks like torture to me! Everything from big ole dumb dogs to wittle bitty kitties were poked and stuck by my Dr Lang. Anyway, where did I have to spend the day? Back in the room with all those beneath me!! I rule that room and they all know it. I know, it looks like I am hiding in my igloo but I'm not. I am just . . . taking it easy. Umm, that little fella had it coming anyway!!

November 17, 2006
Well, it is time for the holidays and the girls here are finding new ways to humiliate me. This stupid hat for one. It is a wonder I am even still living.

They call this lady Ruth. She has started hanging out more in the cat room again. I guess she will be here a lot more this winter. That is fine with me as long as she remembers whose chair she is sitting in.
Anywho, guess who has been visited by lady love? Yep, that's right. The ladies can't live without me. This is my newest love interest. Her name is Angelika and she enjoys holding paws, midnight wrestling matches, and long walks in the cat room.

Two words .. .. .. BAH HUMBUG!!

December 30, 2006
Well, the girls here are talk about the holidays and that another year has passed. Mrs. Alice says have found homes for 622 of Avery County's unwanted animals just this year. (including the love of my week, Angelika) This is more than last years 558! Some of these found homes in Oregon, Indiana, Texas, New York, tons went to Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and lots of others. This place has been purty busy. Lots of nice people came in with Christmas presents just for me. I had tons of stuff to look around at. But you know what.....someone came in and took all of it. Next thing I know, there are puppies and kitties playing with my new stuff! The ladies here took my piles of food and put them up in a closet for the other cats. I just got so mad I had to lay down in a bed of my new cat nip! Charlene calls it my nappy time tea! I call it heaven!

February 12, 2007

You would not believe the day I have had! I bet this phone rang all day long. I heard Charlene say the animals must be crawling out of the woodwork! I don't know what that means but I don't want to see it. All I know is, people were coming in left and right to drop off cats and dogs that do not have a  home. Just this weekend we had 11 of those creepy dogs and 2 good lookin' cats brought in. Today one of each were surrendered! I know the girls said we are completely full again in all of our rooms. Ruth and Dorothy are busy making room for new arrivals. James is putting dogs in the kennels together to give some space for more of the abandoned animals. Charlene and Alice were talking today about how each year we are getting in more animals and adopting out more. I guess this is good. All I know is I am pooped! OH and look what James brought back today. It's name is what they call "Candy Cane" and he had something called surgery. I hope I never have this problem because it is pretty ugly!

Alice uses money from something they call "the little red dog fund" to help get surgeries for those of us who need a little more beauty work. That I have no need for..

March 8, 2007

You would not believe all of the dogs that have came in this week. We have fifty to sixty of those smelly things in here. One dog was brought in because "his boy" wanted to get a new hunting dog. I think that is pretty sad. I almost felt sorry for the little dog. He looked very afraid. I bet he gave all the love he had to that little boy. Now they want something new. Well, maybe he will find a home that will like him forever.

March 21, 2007

Well, I know by looking at this one would think I am hiding from those four legged scoundrels they call "dog". but I am not! I was simply taking a few minutes of my own to contemplate whether I should leap out and show these creatures just whose office this is or simply feel pity on them and watch from my secret hiding place. hmmm...a few more minutes please.

Mrs. Ruth told me "the first step to recovery is admitting
I have a problem". Charlene said I am a real potty mouth!

August 9, 07

Well, this has been a very busy time at our home. I think last month they broke some kind of record. Charlene and Alice said that 76 of our counties animals were adopted out. I heard them talking and they said that people
 came from a place called Maryland, Charlotte, Oakridge NC, Meadows of Dan Virginia, Cincinnati Ohio, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock NC, Boone, Marion NC, Barrington Hills Illinois, Ferrum Virginia, Galax Virginia, Asheville NC, Arden NC, Kingsport TN, Lenoir NC, Bakersville NC, Granite Falls NC, Sugar Grove NC, Sparta NC, Roan Mountain TN, Hudson NC, Concord NC, Deep Gap NC, Burnsville NC, Gastonia NC, Shelby NC, Butler TN, Weaverville NC, and Mocksville NC! Of course all of the above wished they could have taken me. I am just to valuable
to this place.

Did you notice my eye? Yes, I am having a hard time with it. I was snooping around in these empty things one might call a box and the darn thing leaped up at me and poked me square in my seeing thing! Charlene puts medicine in it each day but it is not feeling much better. Now I have to go see that guy that pokes at me all the time. I wont tell you where they put what they call a thermometer. GROSS! Great, just thinking about it has made me depressed. Time for my after treat nap!

September 9, 07

I guess this weekend was a purty good one. Two of those little furry cat babies got adopted. They get to live together in a home in something called Virginia.  The best news is nine of those barking nuisances were adopted. The girls adopted out to places called South Carolina, West Jefferson, Asheville,  two different families  of humans came from Virginia. One from a Galax Virginia and I don't remember the other one. There were more places too. Like Banner Elk, Boone, one in Tennessee I think.

Of coarse they all wanted to take me home but the ladies here would be beside themselves if I wasn't here to keep them straight. I am a busy guy you know. I think people underestimate my job here. I am not only cute but I am crowd control. If the room gets too crowded beside my Charlene or Alice I have to get a little nip of visitors legs and they will move around a little. I keep them in position. Not
only that but I keep the dogs moving. They come in and I try to get them back into their room. If they are on a leash and coming out of their room I help the ladies get them moving on outdoors. They are pesky boogars ya know!  Anyway, the girls are making me go to my doctors again! Yeah, after all I do! I have to go Wednesday and have my eye flushed? What? They just don't know when to leave well enough alone. If there is anyone out there listening at all, tap two times on the door Tuesday evening. I'll be waiting with my little kitty bags!

October 3, 2007

I thought I had seen it all until the other day. One of the humans named Dorothy brought two little fat things with little short legs into my office. I thought I should hang out a minute and keep my eyes on em. 

Boy they are loud. Each time I went over to get a sniff of em they made some kind of racket!! Boy, I thought dogs were bad. Anyway, she came in with these things she got from a place called the "fair". Charlene called them Pork Chops but I am not sure why, they don't smell like it. Dorothy said she can dress them up in little bows and stuff. Run little piggies I feel your PAIN!

I feel very humble this month.
My Charlene told Alice that my eye is acting up again. I don't know what they think it is doing but I am pretty sure it isn't. After all I am kinda attached to it.
We have been a little busy. We are completely full again. Alice said it is getting colder so more people are giving up their outside pets. The girls are thankful for that but hope to place all of them.

Now, let's get down to the real problem here. Ever since I came to rule this roost I have been the center of this universe. All of a sudden this little boogar comes in and all the oooo's and aaaa's head straight to him. When he lets gas everyone thinks it is cute. I let one tiny one and the whole room clears! I just hope we find him a home soon. Charlene barely gives me the time of day when he is here. They call this little human Jaden. He even has my Alice wrapped around his little sticky fingers!!

They just better not think I am gonna keep him out
of trouble when he starts messing around in here! I have my paws full already!

This has been such a busy spring so far. I am plum pooped. Just last month they found home for 48 of my friends. I just have to find a place to nap for a bit. I am running myself rugged. There is only so much a fella can do on his own. I have help here but I have to run the whole show.

Mrs. Alice is in what they call a hospital. Charlene was telling that Ruth lady that she had a back surgery. I am missing her a bit because she always shares her grilled chicken with me. Well, I am lucky to get a nibble here and there between all the gossiping they do. Anyway she wont get to come back until her back is feeling better. Not to mention she is going to have another one of those grandbaby things in November. It had just better stay where it is! There is no room here for much more. I am a pretty demanding guy.

My eye is still giving me trouble from what the girls are saying. All I know is that they are always picking at me and fussing over "yucky stuff" around it. I say, if it aint broke, don't pick at it".

Well, I have never been more embarrassed! Somehow I have gotten a worm. They call it a "ringworm". I personally think I got it from one of the commoners. That is the last time I grace them with my presence during the day. The girls have been putting me right in a cage during the day. This is really going to make Alice mad! She has no idea because she is still gone. After all...who in the heck is in charge if they are holding me captive?!

Well, I guess you all know about my new promotion. Alice decided to what they call "retire". I believe it was that little human Jayden who talked her into it. I knew he was trouble. Anyway, I Snowey Franklin Calhoun is in charge of this place. I am not too sure what to do. Charlene said she can help out a bit from time to time but I just need my food in the morning and afternoon from her. I can do the rest myself.

Oh, Hi! I guess you caught me taking a little  break? Well that is  because we have been so busy around here. Last month we got in 110 new animals and the month before that we got in 112. Can you believe it? Mrs. Charlene said that lots of people are dumping out dogs and cats of all ages. She said it might be because they lost their homes. It would be a lot better if they would bring them to us. Brittany said it is free and Sabrina said she would always try to make room so no one has to be homeless. Well. It's back to work for me. . .

Well, maybe after I pester Mrs. Charlene a little longer.

10/19/08

Can't a working man get a good "cat nap" when it's needed?

ALRIGHT GUYS! ALL TRICKS AND NO TREATS!!

Well, it is "holiday time"! A bunch of very nice people brought me gifts. I got stuff for the girls to use to clean my room, I got plenty of stuff for my potty, some food and toys, even stockings with toys in them! I thought it only fair to share it all with the animals here. . well okay, so the ladies took it and gave it out to everyone. But it was my idea first. It was cramping up my space!

I am sure you also heard about someone coming into our home and taking some things. Mrs. Charlene said it was a blessing that none of her babies were hurt or taken. I think she forgets that I was put in with the commoners and locked in without even my food water or potty. I was very angry but didn't want to get a fight started so I played it cool. Mrs. Ruth said they stole our camera, money, and some of our toys from under the tree. I guess they thought they needed it more than we did. I sure hope they are caught before they do this to another home.

Well, things have been busy here at the shelter. I have been at it non-stop! I guess because of something the girls call the economy is "bad" we are filling up every day. I can't get a minute to myself! I end up just having to ignore all of them. "I'm not listening!".  A lot of these dogs are coming in and being loud. It is hard to get any sleep! Brittany has found a lot of homes for those baby dogs. Sabrina has some baby kittens coming in now which means I will have to keep my eyes on these girls and keep them busy! I am constantly having to tell them "GET BACK TO WORK!!". A couple of people have came in and tried to take me home with them. There is no way I could leave this place. Charlene would never be able to hold it all together! Speaking of Charlene she is glad it is Spring. I tend to agree. Finally my sun spot has came back. I couldn't find it all winter.
Now this is better.

Since Spring has sprung and summer is on its way I like to start off each morning with a little yoga. I have to keep the ole body limber ya know.

Just a few more stretches and I can take a nap!

August 11, 2009

Let me start off by saying this has been a summer like no other! Just last month we got in 72 cats and kittens! The girls are a little worried because adoptions have slowed down for the last couple of months. So, to help out I have taken on a few new roles. The girls are sure that my looks will help out some so Miss Joy has taken it upon herself to dress me up in this stuff. She thinks it might attract some ladies and bring in more business. Then, (and this one takes the cake) they have been making me babysit!! Here I was sitting in the office minding my own business and that Kathy Avery lady brought in this little snob she had been fostering. Her name is what they call "Angel". Which she is not!! I had to take a power nap when that diva left!
Once in a while I actually get time on the computer to get my typing done.
I am also in charge of rodent patrol! 
This one had wings -> As long as it doesn't make a move for the office I will let him live.
I don't mind helping out but my first job in this place is to keep these girls and Jose on their toes. I usually use the sneak attack for this one.. So far they are doing okay.

I guess this means it is Christmas time again. Time to put little outfits on me and make me look ridiculous! However, the crew here is doing so good I have decided to let it go for now. We have adopted out 525 of Avery County's less fortunate creatures so far this year. I would say that is pretty good. I would also like to mention that 44 humans who had lost their animals found them here. That's right. They were reunited with their humans. Mrs. Charlene found a movie for the cats and kittens to watch. They are so simple these creatures. It takes a tv and a bird movie and they are busy for hours. While I busy myself with the real thing.

The ladies are saying that we have not had as many donations for Christmas this year like we have the years before. We would like to have some new toys for those "cats and kittens" in the cat-room and some things for those noisy dogs to play with. Until then, I will be here supervising.

Now you can talk to me on Facebook. Just look up Avery Humane Society! That is me!