For the love of pink noses and wagging tails

OK, so I am WAY behind in getting the Chicago and Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference installments to you. BUT I do have this snippet to tide you over for, like, a few more hours until I wrap up the other stories.

Mama B. and I went to the Denton Animal Shelter this afternoon to drop off some newspapers and towels for the four-legged residents, and while we were there we chatted up the animal control officers as to what items they need most. Here’s what they said, straight from the horse’s (or puppy’s or guinea pig’s) mouth:

Purina Kitten Chow (They also use this for the big kitties, too.)

Pâté-style cat food (not the shredded meat kind)

Dry puppy and dog food (without red dye)

Towels

Small fleece blankets (Fleece holds up better than 100% cotton blankets that dogs and cats can chew or shred.)

Cat litter

Dawn blue dish soap (Surprise! Blue Dawn kills fleas in addition to gently cutting the grime.)

Bleach

I won’t presume to get all preachy, we-are-the-world on you (or cue the Sarah McLachlan), but kindness to animals ranks right up there with returning a wallet you found on the street or not laughing when a toddler falls over.  It’s tantamount to karmic brownie points.

And even if the Denton Animal Shelter (300 Woodrow) isn’t close to you, I bet there’s another shelter that is. So share the love with the furry, the scaly, the feathered and even the amphibious among us. You can view the pets for adoption at www.denton.petfinder.com (or petfinder.com for other areas).

Obligatory kitten pictures.  Next time: puppies!