Petsavers and C. J.

Happy Weekend!  I hope you are surviving the blast of cold winter weather that has decided to freeze so much of the U.S.  Our temperatures have gone from the upper 70’s on Wednesday to the upper 20’s today.  That’s normal weather for this time of year in the south.  We are a group that keeps our shorts next to our sweatpants in the closet because you never know which one the weather will call for from one day to the next.  If you are experiencing the extreme cold, try to stay warm and safe inside.
I wanted to talk with you about a group I discovered the other day through Twitter.  As many of my readers are aware, I am crazy about dogs.  I have recently begun following many pet enthusiasts and I saw a tweet from an account called “The PetBlog Lady.”  I went to her profile and followed her link to her blog, http://www.petbloglady.com/ .  She is wonderful and is part of a network of pet bloggers.  It is the Blogpaws Community.  They work together to enrich the lives of animals, promoting their health and welfare, and doing community service projects.  I was so excited and put in a request to join them.  I am proud to say that I am now a member of the group.  I can’t wait to learn, network, and make new friends that share a passion for making life better for animals.  I think so many people want to help but have no idea what they can do or where to start.  I have no visions of grandeur but hope I can make a difference in my own way.
The first thing I did was contact my local Petsavers office.  I thought if I could feature a dog or cat in need of a good home, it would be a great place to start.   Linda Shemwell, the founder and president of the Petsavers in Shreveport was very nice.  She gave me the name of a sweet fellow that has been looking for a loving family a long time.  He is my first feature so please read his story below.  Ms. Shemwell works tirelessly 365 days a year caring for animals that would otherwise be wandering the streets or put to death.  I am looking forward to visiting and having the honor of meeting this incredible woman.
Here are some upcoming events you can participate in if you are in the Ark-La-Tex area.  If not, please check with the Petsavers in your area.    
Pet Savers Holiday cards on sale now at Just for Fido, Southern Hills Animal Hospital, Broadmoor Animal Hospital, and Brothers Hair Design.  Cards are available in packs of 10 or 20 or $1 per card, featuring two of our long termers, C. J. and Smiley.  **You can look online for contact information if you’d like to order these and are out of town.

Sat. Dec 14 : Petsmart on Youree Dr., 11-4 p.m. SantaClaus is making an early stop to benefit Pet Savers!  He will be available to take pose for pictures with your favorite pet for only $5 per photo.  Just bring your IPhone to capture the cuteness!  You get a great picture to post on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter while Petsavers will receive some much-needed funds!

Don’t forget the monthly adoptions are held on the fourth Saturday of each month at Petsmart’s   Youree Drive location in Shreveport.
Please contact Petsavers if you are interested in helping this worthwhile organization.  They are always in need of warm beds, cat litter, your time, and of course, loving homes.  http://www.petsaversshreveport.org/index.php  
 
Let me introduce you to C. J.  This sweet guy has been at Petsavers for way too long.  He was brought to the facility along with his brother when he was just a pup.  Much to his delight, a family came and adopted both of them.  He thought eve rything was going to be great.  Being curious by nature, he had a tendency to escape and go out to explore his new world.  Running around the neighborhood, he came home with a case of mange.  His new owners decided to keep his brother but returned poor C. J. to Petsavers.  Sigh... that certainly didn’t turn out as he had hoped.  The kind people at the center cleared up his mange and he was back to his handsome self in no time.  Still, nobody took him home with them.  He wondered if it was because he looked different from the other dogs.  After all, he does have one blue eye while the other is brown.  In his opinion, it makes him unique…even special!  A lot of families and single folks come in to pick out new best friends every day.  He has patiently waited for his forever person to show up but so many choose the cute little puppies.  C. J. understands that since he's six years old, but he knows that he could be the absolute perfect dog for the right person.  He is a bit of a celebrity now that he is featured on this year’s Christmas card.  Even being one of the dogs with the most seniority at the center, a greeting card “cover dog,” his distinguished looks, and great personality, he remains remarkably humble.
If C. J. tugs at your heartstrings and looks like a dog who could be your new best friend, please give him what every good boy deserves…a happy home with humans who will love him.  All he wants this Christmas is you. 
   
  
**Recipe of the Day**
Recipes are on my Pinterest “Yummy” board via http://diethood.com/
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Yields: 9 bars      
Ingredients
·         4 large Eggs
·         1 cup Nutella
·         Powdered Sugar, optional 
Instructions
·         Preheat oven to 350.
·         Line an 8x8  brownie pan with parchment paper; set aside.
·         Place the eggs in your mixer's bowl and beat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the eggs have tripled in size.  This may take up to 10 minutes with a handheld mixer on high.
·         Heat the Nutella in the microwave for 60 seconds.
·         Remove and stir.
·         Slowly pour a stream of the warm Nutella over the eggs, beating until mixture is thoroughly combined.
·         Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out with very few crumbs.
·         Remove and let completely cool before cutting.
·         Dust with powdered sugar.
·         Cut into bars and serve.