Adopt A Shelter Dog Month

Happy Wednesday Everyone!! It's a cloudy day here in WNY and I am pretty sure we will be feeling the effects of fall here by the end of the week!! I hate to admit it, but I just might have to break down and turn on the furnace! I know the dog will definitely want to snuggle in and keep warm. Did you know that October is American Humane Association's Adopt a Dog month?! Are you looking for a new furry snuggle buddy?!

As I mentioned before, I am very pro for adopt, don't shop. Again, when I say don't shop, I am referring to pet store puppies. Puppies that more than likely come from puppy mills. Every time you purchase a pet store puppy, you're supporting puppy mills and the cruelty that a dog faces as part of that puppy mill. 

More than likely, your new pet store puppy comes from a momma that has been used as nothing more than a breeding machine, forced to live in overcrowded, cramped and filthy living conditions. That momma probably doesn't know what it's like to feel grass on her soft paws, but rather the hard wires that make up the bottom of her cage. Perhaps she is forced to sit in/with her own feces on a daily basis. She doesn't know a loving touch and she definitely has no proper medical care. She is simply a breeding machine, a profit maker. She has no name, just a number. Please take the time to read this story about Lily. She was a puppy mill dog. This is just one, ONE story out there among the thousands, maybe even millions of stories out there about puppy mills. For every puppy you buy from a pet store, you are keeping puppy mills in business.

I know, you are are probably reading this and thinking but if I buy from a pet store, I am still saving a dog. This is true, you are. But, it continues to be a never ending battle, a vicious cycle. Millions of dogs die every year. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are enduring cruelty and horrible living conditions in puppy mills. As cruel as this might sound, more dogs will have to either suffer and die, or, we can hope that they be rescued in an effort to shut down puppy mills by not purchasing from pet stores!!! Not to mention, that when you purchase from a pet store, you can't be guaranteed that you're getting a healthy puppy, even though it may seem perfectly fine. Unfortunately, the cold hard fact here is in order the put an end to puppy mills, dogs lives will have to be sacrificed. If we don't support the pet store, the pet store can't support the puppy mills and therefore, the puppy mills will go out of business.

Now, back to what this post was originally about! In October of 1981, this annual event was created by the American Humane Association. The purpose was to have people enhance their lives by encouraging them to save other lives by adopting dogs from shelters and rescue groups. October became known as Adopt a Shelter dog month! That message is still so powerful and true even 35 years later. Every year, millions of dogs await adoption in shelters.

Did you know that an adopted shelter dog can bring so much into your life? There are an estimated 3-4 million dogs waiting in shelters right now for safe, loving homes. Dogs are such wonderful companions. They make a huge difference in our lives, I think more than some even realize. They can be our best friends, an exercise buddy, and even a properly trained therapy dog to help you with challenges you might face daily, But the best reason of all to me, for adopting a shelter dog...that lovable face, that whole wagging body of unconditional love that greets you when you walk in the door after a long hard day.

At your local shelter, there are many dogs waiting for wonderful, safe and loving homes. They vary in breeds, sizes, ages and personalities. I am almost certain the right one is just waiting there for you, so that he/she can make their way right into your heart. If you're looking for a specific breed, then search up specific breed rescues in your area to help you find your special furry companion. You know what the best thing is? When you adopt a dog, you become a hero to this fuzzy faced creature, giving a dog the proper home and love it deserves. So many dogs are available for adoption across the country, yet so many of them never find homes and sadly, they are euthanized. Just think of the difference you can make for one dog by adopting one this month!!

Need a few ways to help you celebrate Adopt a shelter dog month?

Adopt from a shelter or rescue group

Adopt from your local animal shelter or rescue group when you’re ready to open your home and heart to your new best friend! Be sure to talk with staff at the shelter so that they may assist in finding the perfect dog for you and the lifestyle you lead. Don’t forget, older dogs make excellent pets also. They too have just as much love to offer.

Spay or neuter your dog

Have your dog spayed or neutered, thus preventing the possibility of unexpected, and potentially unwanted, puppies. Spaying and neutering your animals have been shown that they can lead longer, healthier lives and have fewer of certain behavioral problems than animals who have not been spayed or neutered.

ID your pet

There is nothing worse than losing a pet. It’s heartbreaking. Make sure you put identification on your dog. You can do a tag, a microchip or both. By doing this, you reduce the chances that your pet will become a presumed “homeless” dog that ends up at your local shelter. The chances of dogs who enter shelters that are reunited with their owners is 15-20%. Please make sure your dog is outfitted with proper id so that she/he can be returned to you.

Support your local shelter

Call your local shelter. Consider donating your time, some money or even supplies. Shelters are always in need of leashes, beds, toys and pet food. Show the pets at your local shelter or rescue group that you care. Every effort, even the smallest can make a world of difference. 

Pecan says "Thank you so much for reading! Please consider making a difference in a dogs life and adopt one this month. If not, then please, help out at your local shelter!!"

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It's the month of October and I am behind on my posts!! Shame on me!!I hope this finds everyone well! October is such an important month for awareness of a few different things, and I am going to talk about them over a series of posts in no specific order because each one is as important as the other. 

October is breast cancer awareness month!! I am happy and proud to say that my mom is a breast cancer survivor. In May of 2013, she was diagnosed with Ductal carcinoma in situ. According to cancer.org, it is expected that in 2015, an estimate of 60,290 new cases of female breast carcinoma in situ are expected to be diagnosed.  This accounts for about 20% of all breast tumors in women.

We were very lucky that she caught it early through a regular mammogram. It was at stage zero. This is proof that early detection is so important. This is also proof as to why mammography is so important in addition to self breast exams. Mom was told it was very small and more than likely, she wouldn't have been able to detect this with just a self exam. She had the lump removed and went through radiation treatment. So far so good, and any testing she has had to go through since then has been coming back negative.  She is doing great today!!

                

My mom is an amazing woman and I love her dearly! She is living proof that early detection is so important. So please make sure you are doing self exams regularly and schedule yourself for a mammogram. Breast cancer IS treatable if caught early, It is no longer the death sentence it used to be. Thanks for reading and if you haven't already done so, please schedule your mammogram soon!! 

Chili!

Good morning!! 

It's another fall like day here today. It is also the season opener for our beloved Buffalo Bills!! My son is beyond excited!! We are looking forward to an amazing season this year. 

So last night, with the cool, damp weather we were having, we decided it was a great night for some warm and comforting chili goodness. To me, chili is very versatile because you can make it specifically to your tastes. You can make it mild or as hot as you want it. You can make it with a touch of (or more) sweetness, or you can make it savory. We prefer a mild, sweet chili. 

I always thought chili was one of those super complicated things to make, so I never used to make it. Until about 7 years ago, I watched friends of mine make it. They enjoy a very simple, basic ground beef, kidney bean chili. It was delicious and I couldn't believe how easy it was to make. That's when I started to make my own. I am not a fancy chef by any means, but there are times when I really do enjoy being creative in the kitchen. My chili is a product of my "culinary creativity". So, with that being said, let's make some CHILI!!!!!

We will start with the ingredient list:

1 lb Ground beef

2 Sweet onions

3 (1of each) Red, Orange, yellow peppers (or a green one can be used in place of one of the other colors)

Several cloves of Fresh Garlic

I use 3 different kinds of beans:

1 can Black

1 can Pinto

1 can Kidney

2 large cans of plain tomato sauce

2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chili's 

1 can (or frozen bag) of corn

As for spices, I use:

A few bay leaves (optional)

Oregano

Cumin

Chili powder (of course)

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Sazón (See pic)

And last but not least,  Brown Sugar

For garnish:

Shredded cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend

Sour cream

On a medium heat, I start by browning my ground beef in the pan. I usually use a 70/30 or an 80/20 ratio. The 80/20 will have less fat. Drain the fat as it cooks. 

Next, I put a little olive oil in the pot I'm going to use for making the chili. As the ground beef is browning, I chop up my peppers, onions, and garlic! 

Also on a medium heat, I add the peppers to the pot first. They can get a little soft while you're chopping your onions. After you chop the onions, add them to the pot. Then do your garlic. I love the wonderful aroma that come together as the veggies cook!! I also drop my bay leaves in at this point, if you're using them. 

After everything is relatively soft, I drain my ground beef really well and then add that right in to the pot. 

While that's heating through, I drain my beans and corn into a colander. I usually don't rinse them, but that's just me. I don't know if there is a rule to rinsing them or not, or if its a personal preference. LOL 

I love the plethora of colors that come together!! Once that's all drained well, then I mix my beans and corn with the ground beef and pepper mixture in the big pot. 

After this, I add in my cans of diced tomatoes and my cans of sauce. If you find its a little too thick, add a little water to it, maybe about a cup or so. 

Once you add in the sauce, then it's time to add the spices!! 

This is when the magic happens. If you noticed, I had no specific measurements for my spices. It's simply to taste with me. I start out with just measuring with my hand.  I sprinkle into my hand and then toss them in like so in the pic below. 

Once I stir that in, I usually end up adding a little more cumin and chili powder. Again, this is all to taste. After I get the chili tasting the way I want, then I add a few packets of my sazón. 

My cousin came to visit me from Florida last year. She did all the cooking when she came and she introduced me to this stuff!! She uses it in everything...soups, scrambled eggs, chili and on vegetables etc. It enhances the color and flavor of everything you make. You can use as little or as much as you like. 

I cover the chili and let it simmer for about an hour or so, stirring occasionally. About 30 minutes before serving, that's when I add in my brown sugar. If you don't have brown sugar, you can use a little white sugar, but I prefer the flavor the brown sugar gives. I start out with about 2-3 tablespoons and stir well. Again, it's to taste, but I find 3-4 tablespoons, especially if you have a large pot, gives a nice touch of sweetness. If you're unsure about your taste buds, then only add a tablespoon at a time. Like my dad says "You can always add more in, but you can't take it out."

Once you're ready to serve, I love cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream on mine. My daughter's boyfriend loves to eat it with the Tostito's Scoops tortilla chips! That's a fun and tasty way to eat chili!! 

Mmmmm, so so good!!!! It's warm! It's comforting and it's easy!! So this is how I make my chili. But with chili, you really can make it however you want depending on your tastes. This is one of those meals that you can play around with the favors and have something different every time. Oh, and it's great for halftime if you're watching football on a Sunday afternoon! 

Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know how you do chili in your house. Have an amazing Sunday!

Fall In The Air

Good Morning!

Fall seems to be on the horizon this morning. It is a refreshing, cooler and rainy morning here in WNY today. Last week we were dealing with some much warmer temperatures. According to weather reports, we were about 15-20 degrees above normal. Of course, as the old saying goes, it wasn't so much the heat as it was the humidity. So we were dealing with a few muggy and sticky days as well as nights. I do have to say that it's nice just to have the windows open, giving the A/C a MUCH needed break!! It seems like my poor window unit was going all summer long. I keep it on a thermostat during the day so the fur babies can stay comfortable as well. Of course, we also make sure everyone has access to plenty of water during the day!!

Anyway, it doesn't seem like the temps are going to get much above 60 degrees here today. I just asked my daughter if she thought it was too early in the season for chili for dinner on this cool day. She assured me that it is "never too early in the season for chili!" We have decided that it just feels like a chili day!!

So with that being said, I will be off shortly to get my ingredients for chili for tonight's dinner. I will blog about that a little later tonight. I hope everyone has a fantastic day!! 

Welcome To My World

Welcome to Crazy Cat Mommy’s corner! I have decided to enter into the world of blogging and see where I can take this next little venture.  When I decided to start this, my focus and primary goal was to make this page about animal rescues. I wanted to share heartwarming stories and with this crazy world we get caught up in, I am hoping to help restore some of our faith in humanity.

 I have decided that since this is my little corner of the web, I can pretty much share everything and anything. What I am hoping to accomplish is a fun and lighthearted page, as well as perhaps being a little informative.  So as I sit out on my front porch on this beautiful, warm breezy evening that I have been blessed with, I have decided to give you a little introduction. Since the page will primarily focus on animal rescue, why not start off with mine? I have seven fur babies in my home; six of them…..are cats!! We also have a dog who is about 12 years of age.

Pecan, our dog who is pictured below, was rescued from the Adopt-A-Pet shelter in 2004. We haven’t always been sure about her breed, but we seem to think she has jack Russell terrier in her and maybe some beagle, or another hound of some sort. We had just lost our beloved greyhound to old age a few months prior and I was ready to adopt another dog.  Back then, the “adopt, don’t shop” movement wasn’t as prominent as it is now. But let me just say, I am an advocate for the “adopt, don’t shop” movement today.

What does “adopt, don’t shop” mean? It’s about not shopping at pet stores that carry and sell puppies. Every time you buy a puppy from a pet store, you are supporting a puppy mill. I will save the topic of puppy mills for another day, but the bottom line is, they are horrible living conditions and the adult dogs are unhealthy, uncared for and overbred. The puppies are generally not in good health either. Again, I will discuss the puppy mill issue another day.  I really don’t want to throw my very first blog post into such a serious topic right out of the gate.

While I don’t always approve of professional breeders, I know that people will continue to buy from them. Professional breeders continue to contribute to the over pet population as well and that is what I have an issue with. However, if you are going to acquire a family pet, I would much rather see someone get their pet from a respectable breeder as opposed to supporting a puppy mill by purchasing a puppy out of a pet store.

Obviously if you are looking for a dog with a specific temperament, or showmanship lines, you will go to a breeder. My first choice though, will always be an adoption from a rescue or an animal shelter, especially if you are just looking for a lovable companion or a new furry family member.  Even if you are looking for something purebred, but not something for show, then I encourage you to check with your local shelter first.  25% of dogs in animal shelters, according to www.humanesociety.org are purebred dogs.  I know that’s not a huge percentage compared to what else you may find in shelters, but you’ll never know unless you go look.  My current dog and my last dog were both rescues. I mentioned above, my last dog prior to Pecan was a greyhound and we got him from a local greyhound rescue group.  Two of the best dogs, I have ever had. Although, I have had several dogs in my lifetime, and we have always been blessed with really good dogs.  I may take a trip down memory lane at some point and share the dog history with all of you.

But for now, I am going to bring my first post to a close. I am hoping for a successful blog and have several topics in mind. I also plan on introducing my readers to the family cats who are the reason I named my blog what it is. I hope all of you have an amazing week and I will write some more soon!