Caturday Art: Spring!

You may have already seen my contribution for today's always fun Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the always awesome Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. That's because I'm sharing (or I guess re-sharing) the piece I've just today applied as our blog's new, springtime banner.

Although it may not yet quite feel like Spring for some of us, it's just around the corner nonetheless. Are you excited for warmer weather? How about those April showers?

Now, I can't think of a better post than Caturday Art to tell you a little more about an April art fair benefiting a wonderful animal rescue group in my local area. I mentioned this art fair in a post earlier this week, and have been waiting to give a little more info on it. As I mentioned in that earlier post, I will be participating in this local art fair, where vendors will be selling their goods, and many proceeds from the event go to a local group called Hospice Hearts.

(Click on the image to learn more about Hospice Hearts by visiting their website.)

Hospice Hearts is fairly new organization based in my happy home of Central Illinois. What's great is that it caters to a group of animals that I've often felt needs more attention. We've all heard the saddening stories of the sweet animals left behind after their owners are placed in nursing homes or hospice, or whose owners have passed away. Well, Hospice Hearts works to specifically provide foster and ultimately forever homes to these animals left behind by tragedy, animals who are often senior and/or special needs. Not just that, but it works to ensure that these animals are properly tended to following their tragic experiences, and that includes addressing the grief and confusion these animals experience. I have been so intrigued and impressed ever since I first learned about this organization not long ago, and not just because I have a special fondness for senior and special needs animals. Needless to say, when I learned that they were organizing a benefit in the form of an art fair, which is so charmingly being called the French Market, I was more than excited and eager to participate.

I hope that more and more people and organizations jump on this bandwagon, turning attention to those grief-stricken yet still perfectly lovable animals who have lost their owners and homes as a result of sickness or death. Is anyone else aware of a similar organization in their area? If so, I would love to hear about it!

Happy Caturday, everybuddy!

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Our Tip of the Day:

As Spring finally approaches and all sorts of wild flora starts to bloom, keep in mind that your furbabies can potentially have allergies just like humans can. Especially if you know that your furbaby tends to sneeze and sniffle more when things start to enliven in the Spring, try your best to keep the allergens down around them. Although nice, open windows may not always be the best, as anything and everything can blow inside. Also keep in mind that you can bring allergens, such as grass and all sorts of pollen, in on your shoes and other clothing items. If you've been outside doing yard work or in some way attracting your fair share of airborne allergens, don't forget to wipe off or remove your shoes, and perhaps even change into a different set of clothes before smothering your furbaby with cuddles. Taking such precautions can be good for both you and your furbabies during this season of allergens.