Who's Crabby?

Yesterday we went to the beach, this time the New Jersey Shore. In local parlance, this is not actually going to the beach, but rather, heading down the shore.

There were more good signs, but fewer hand-painted ones than at Coney Island. Still, I liked this happy clam and crab duo.

And there are always plenty of crabs to be found down the shore, both the kind you eat and the kind you take home as pets--hermit crabs.

I'm always drawn to them, and feel kind of sorry for them in their cages. I've never taken one home, but the idea of the hermit crab--who outgrows its shell, sheds it, and goes off to find a new one to move into--fascinates me.

I don't remember them always having such brightly painted shells. I wonder whose job it is to paint all those little shells?

This year the bat symbol was very popular.

They really are rather lovely creatures. Look at the beautiful claw on the one on the right.

According to Wikipedia, "Hermit crabs live in the wild in colonies of 100 or more, and do not thrive in smaller numbers," so perhaps they don't mind being in a cage like this as much as they'll mind being separated from each other to go to strange homes one at a time. I guess they're not 'hermits' at all then, are they?

I liked these Crabs, too.



Mr. O'Kitten was happy because the surf was up.

The water was beautiful--clear and not too cold--so Mr. O'Kitten and Uncle O'Kitten went swimming...

...or perhaps more wave-fighting than swimming, but they still looked very happy when they came out of the water.

Cat Belly

This is my favorite part of the cat: the belly.

Even though Morgan doesn't like to be picked up or held, she will let you rub her tummy.

Don't you just want to bottle the Essence of Furry Cat Belly? I would carry it around with me and apply it liberally. It would be especially useful in times of stress. Or when I was tired. Or cranky. Or you know, whenever. Purring Cat Belly would be even better.

Isis has a funny little white spot on her tummy. We call it her V-For-Victory, and occassionally V-For-Vendetta. I try to avoid referring to it as her bikini line.

Isis rarely lets you rub her belly, although she rolls around and shows it off a good bit.

Emma has a crazy tortie belly.

She likes getting belly rubs, and will sometimes throw herself in front of you to get one. We don't talk about this behavior though, as it might be considered by some to be a bit undignified.

Bobbi and the Strays (and Me)

Bobbi
Today I volunteered at an animal rescue place called Bobbi and the Strays (the website could be a little more aesthetically pleasing, but all the relevant info is there). I hope to be able to go back for a few hours every week. Each time I've visited since we've moved here the place is so clean, the animals all have clean cages, fresh beds and litter boxes, fresh food and water, and toys, volunteers are out walking the dogs, and I've noticed that there are always visitors in their storefront location and animals seem to be adopted regularly.

All the volunteers were lovely and I finally met Bobbi a few weeks ago. Aside from taking in my own much-beloved furlings, I know I can't save all the strays in the world -- but maybe I can help out in some small way at this one place, one animal at a time.

I was there for four hours today and, amazingly, in that short time four animals found homes! First, a pair of nearly identical two-month-old tabby kittens went to a lovely family. They'd come from Animal Control and the volunteer who'd been fostering them actually went with her husband to pick up two more on her way home!

I didn't take any pictures myself today, but the two kittens looked a lot like this one. I love tabbies. I was so happy they got to go to a home together.
Next was a lively five-month-old long-haired chihuahua named Nikki. Bobbi made a home visit first to make sure everything was in order; Nikki loved her new adoptive parents' other dog and seemed delighted with the arrangement.

Not Nikki, but this looks a lot like Nikki.
Finally, a little poodle mix named Sam who'd stolen my heart becase the first thing I'd been asked to do as a new volunteer was to take Sam for a walk; I guess we bonded because we were both the new kids. He'd just arrived from Harlem (don't ask me how he wound up in Queens) the day before and was thin as a rail with a hind leg that stuck out at an odd angle--probably the leg had been broken and never set. It didn't slow him down any and I could barely keep up with him as he greeted everyone on the sidewalk and darted from flowerbed to lamppost to flowerbed.

This could be Sam's twin. He was super-cute.
Sam looked spiffy all freshly-bathed and I was shocked to see the veritable fleece they'd sheared off of him the night before. He loved all the other dogs and all the people that came in during the day. He only showed fear when I tried to put him in his crate for dinner, which set him to shaking and such sad whining that it nearly broke my heart. I relented and let him out to eat.

Shortly after his dinner Sam was destined to leave to make his forever home with someone who had recently lost his dog of 18 years. It was so touching and I'm so happy for little Sam. He'll make such a lovely companion. We had a fond farewell and he eagerly left with Bobbi's friend, who was to deliver him to his new life.

It was a good day.