I met with a friend this past Friday night for dinner. During our conversation she mentioned that our local shelter, Marblehead Animal Shelter is over run with kitties. Her daughter volunteers there cleaning the cages and petting the kitties. This seems to be an issue with most if not all animal shelters across the country.  Having said that there might be a technological solution that assists kittens, cats, dogs, and puppies in finding forever homes.

Photo: Idaho Humane Society

iPet Companion, a new technology created by Apriori Control in Boise, ID enables people to interact via the internet with kittens at Humane Shelters via robotic control. The first site was launched live at the Idaho Humane Society and most recently at the Oregon Humane Society.  People from as far away as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, England, New Zealand and Switzerland have interacted with kittens at these shelters.

The primary goal of iPet Companion is to entice people living near a local shelter to visit and adopt a kitten after having played with the kittens online. The Idaho and Oregon Humane Societies have realized increased traffic to their websites, as well as increased sponsorships, donations and adoptions. Real time interaction from users in the immediate community and worldwide have developed an emotional connection; including those who are allergic to animals. Apriori has received requests from Humane Societies in PA, WA, AZ, IL, OR, Canada and the City of Long Beach to name a few.

To play with kitties, click your way over to the Idaho Humane Society iPet Companion page or the Oregon Humane Society iPet Companion page and click the “Let’s Play” paw button. The page will prompt you for a download, and then you will be placed in a queue. Each person gets two minutes of kitty playtime. You can control various toys by clicking the “control” buttons or by hitting the corresponding number keys. You can also move the camera around.

My friend’s daughter wanted her to adopt another kitten, but they already have three. And my friend would not fancy being known as the “cat lady” of Marblehead. I am hoping the shelter might be able to install the iPet Companion. Perhaps your local shelter could benefit from it as well.

Contact: Scott Harris sharris@aprioricontrol.com

]]> http://moxiepaws.com/2010/10/pet-adoptions-assisted-by-technology/feed/ 2 http://moxiepaws.com/2010/08/payback-by-sylvester-the-cat/ http://moxiepaws.com/2010/08/payback-by-sylvester-the-cat/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:13:11 +0000 MoxiePaws http://moxiepaws.com/?p=1167

By now most if not all animal lovers know about the infamous Mary Bale, dubbed the “Cat Woman”.  She tossed a sweet tabby cat named Lola into a trash bin. Apparently she has now lost her job at a bank where she has worked for many years. The video below has gone viral on the internet over the incident. Leave it up to the Brits to inject some humor. There even is a fake Twitter account, @CatBinLady which has been created. And yes there is a Facebook page as well, Cat Lady should do time in a bin.

The most important message in all of this is that animal cruelty of any form is wrong and inappropriate behavior. So please be vigilant in observing such acts and immediately report it to your local rescue or shelter. PLEASE NOTE that the @CatBinLady Twitter account’s web address is the RSPCA. They along with the SPCA do incredible work to support and protect animals…..MANY THANKS!

There is a new iPhone app in town and Snoopy the well known character from Peanuts is the leader of the pack. Snoopy has teamed up with HomeAgain® Pet Recovery Service to help bring pet parents back together with their missing pets. The new free app on the Apple® iPhone and other devices like the iPad is a nationwide “HomeAgain PetRescuer” network.

According to Gary MacPhee, director and general manager of HomeAgain “if anyone sees a dog or cat on the loose in the streets and is concerned the HomeAgain PetRescuers app will make it easy for pet lovers to play an active role in helping lost pets get home quickly.”

The HomeAgain PetRescuers app is available at Apple’s App Store for use on the iPod touch, the iPad and the iPhone.

• 1 in 3 pets go missing in their lifetime and 90% never find their original homes.

Identifying Lost Pets With Microchips

My life is in such disarray now as I am preparing to move. “Purging and packing” is my motto. And it is a great feeling to great rid of “stuff” that has been collecting in places I had forgotten. I feel like Simon in this video with his cat. Fortunately my “Princess”, Miss Mia is staying at a friend’s house so she won’t wreak havoc on any boxes I need for packing.



No this is not a budding romance. It is quite the opposite for my Princess, Miss Mia and her trips to the vet. Every year during her annual visit I have to trudge out her crate a few days in advance. She will circle around it through the course of that time, peaking in for a moment then scurrying away. She is very much aware when it is time for that visit….sigh. Out comes the towel for my protection while some very exorcist like sounds start emitting from that adorable mouth.

When we do arrive at the vet the examining room is in lock down mode, while the vet and her assistant prepare to remove Mia from her crate.  I sometimes think she would much prefer a bath rather than a vet visit.

Being that this is “Take your cat to the vet week” there are some important tips that Romeo the Cat shared with me to help spread the word.

Tips for Cat Carrier Battle:

• Bring out cat carrier several days before the before the appointment.
• Place treats or catnip in the carrier to make it more enticing.
• Don’t force or push your cat into the carrier if you can help it.
• Stand carrier on its end and gently ease the cat in, hind legs first.
• For very stressed cats, a house call practitioner may be the best option.

Benefits of regular cat visits:

• preventative
• cats age faster
• cats 10 years and older should visit vet every 6 months
• regular dental care is critical to overall well being of your cat
• cost effective

So please remember to take your cat to the vet for the overall health and well being of your cat. And for your peace of mind as well.

Win a 6 Month Supply of Feline Pine

Well not really…… Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance is distributing dime sized condoms as a lark. Marketing genius I think. And a great way to promote the continual need for spaying and neutering of cats nationwide.  Their “Beat the Heat” campaign is intended to promote The Feline Fix.

The Alliance celebrated it’s first anniversary on July 15th. Happy Birthday! With the assistance of generous donors they are the largest high quality, high volume spay/neuter cat clinic in Denver. And can offer low cost spay/neuter cat surgeries.

It will knock $5 off its surgery fees ($35 for tame cats, $20 for feral cats) for “cat guardians” who mention “Beat The Heat” when making a reservation at 303-202-3516 or www.rmaca.org.

With economic downturn adding to crisis of shelter overcrowding the euthanasia rate has more than doubled across the country.

Free and Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Database

http://twitter.com/thefelinefix

http://www.facebook.com/thefelinefix

The World Cup soccer final is scheduled for tomorrow, July 11th with Spain facing the Netherlands. The now world renowned “psychic” octopus predicts that Spain will win. He seems to have a pretty good track record. So if Spain does win the match, it might be anticlimactic.

These kitties are certainly very agile and athletic while corralling the bouncing ball. And seem to be getting in a good workout. Just wondering which kitty represents Spain and which represents the Netherlands? What do you think? GOOOOOOAAALLLLLLLLLLL!

The heat has subsided for now but it was not pleasant sleeping last night. Needless to say I am ready to do a face plant. But first will have that gin & tonic.

Speaking of sleepless, check out this video of Fro the cat trying to catch some zzzzz’s. He was being “Rickrolled”. What is “Rickrolled” you ask? I didn’t know myself until now.  Apparently it is an Internet meme trick that you play on someone where the victim unsuspectingly is forced to listen to or watch Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Don’t think Fro has a high tolerance for Rick Astley interrupting his snooze. You go Fro…..!

]]> http://moxiepaws.com/2010/07/cat-interrupted-sleep/feed/ 3 http://moxiepaws.com/2010/07/bird-cat-pals-take-a-nap/ http://moxiepaws.com/2010/07/bird-cat-pals-take-a-nap/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:31:40 +0000 MoxiePaws http://moxiepaws.com/?p=1052

There is a heat wave bearing down on the Northeast right now. And it was a fun weekend after all the 4th of July festivities.  But I am exhausted from not only a busy weekend but also this oppressive heat. Having said that I really would like to take a nap especially after watching this unlikely pair of a bird and cat taking a snooze.  Makes your heart melt just seeing them snuggle together. Hope everyone had a fun and enjoyable Holiday weekend!

Think the cat is the winner in this duel in spite of him being surrounded by dog while in a vase. I can only think of one word….FEARLESS! Oh, and he has a lot of MOXIE too; energy, nerve, courage and spirit!