Mock Interview with Ebony

Gus:  Given the current cat unemployment situation here in Kansas City, we've offered to help prepare some of the unemployed cats at Great Plains SPCA by doing mock interviews.  Our first interviewee is Ebony.  You may remember Ebony as Pearl’s Valentine.

Pearl:  Hi, Ebony!  {winks at Ebony}

Ebony: {blushes} Uh, um.  Hi, Pearl. 

Gus:  {clears throat} Soooo….. let’s get started.  Tell us a little about yourself Ebony.

Ebony:  My name is Ebony as you know.  A Good Samaritan found me in Kansas City, KS.  They were unable to employ me so Great Plains SPCA took me in.  I was briefly employed for a few days last fall.  The office politics there was too much.  The other employees were really catty so I came back to Great Plains.  I am currently unemployed, but I would love to get back to work.  Sooner the better!

Gus:  Why do you think you haven’t been able to find a permanent position?

Ebony:  Well, I hate to play the fur color card, but I really think it because my fur is black.  So many people are superstitious.  They think black cats are bad luck.  I’m not bad luck!  I may not have had the best luck myself recently, but whoever hires me will be really, really lucky!

Gus:  Have you been doing any additional training since you've been unemployed?

Ebony:  Why, yes.  I've been taking leash training lessons.   I just lay there and they give me a few treats to move a couple feet.  It’s not my favorite thing to do but the extra treats I get makes it worth it.

Gus:  What sets you apart from other applicants?

Ebony:  I am highly motivated.  I am very eager to be a Feline Best Friend. again and I am doing whatever I can to be hired.  I am constantly showing my belly to people to get them to notice me.  I even created a profile on LinkedIn to help my job search.  Ebony's LinkedIn Profile  Feel free to check it out and write me a recommendation!

Gus:  Is there anything else that potential employers need to know?

Ebony:  Well, there is one small thing.  It is a little embarrassing.  I…uh…have a small digestive problem.  I just have to take a little laxative every day.  It’s no big deal.  It won’t affect my job performance at all!  I'm a very hard worker.  I have great people skills and I can't wait to get working as someone's Feline Best Friend! 

Gus:  Great job, Ebony!  I think you will be hired in no time! 

Pearl:  Yes, good luck, Ebony!  {blows Ebony a kiss}

Ebony may be interviewed at Great Plains SPCA in Merriam, Kansas.
Learn more about Ebony here: Ebony's Profile at GPSPCA, Ebony's LinkedIn Profile

Special thanks to FixYourImages Photography for taking these “headshots” of Ebony and some of the other "applicants"!

#SelflessSaturday - Buffington and Flannel

Jaq:  We are trying to be selfless today but it is really hard!  Mama cheated on us again.  She went to the shelter today.  That's nothing new but today she got emotionally involved.  She fell in love with these two  - Flannel and Buffington.  You should see all the pictures she took of them.  I get it.   They are adorable!  They had better get adopted soon before Mama gets any ideas!

Buffington and Flannel are brothers who are available for adoption at Great Plains SPCA in Merriam, KS.

Little Touches Make a Difference

Pearl:  Mama volunteered at the shelter today.  She met a really cool cat named Azul.

Handsome boy isn't he?  Unfortunately, he was easy to overlook.  He is in a bottom kennel and his bedding was gray.  He blended in.  There was an easy fix!

Mama gave him a yellow blanket.  Doesn't it make his eyes pop?  Now, surely he will be noticed and adopted!  Most people don't realize that the color of bedding matters, but it can be the difference of attracting an adopter's attention and fading in the background.

Mama didn't remove the gray blanket.  It actually wasn't a blanket at all.  It was a coat.  Azul brought with him from his previous home.  His family couldn't afford him so they had to surrender him to the shelter.  It is important for cat's to have things with their scent.  It can make the time at the shelter less stressful.

You can learn more about Azul here.  He is available for adoption at Great Plains SPCA Merriam Campus.

#Selfless Saturday - Happy Caturday from Rio!

Rio says Happy Caturday!

Rio is available for adoption at Great Plains SPCA in Merriam.  Rio is such an amazing boy it is surprising he is still at the shelter.  Click here to learn more about Rio.

National Change a Pet's Life Day

It's National Change a Pet's Life Day today!  Not sure how to get started?  Here are somethings you can do to help shelter pets in your area:

1.  Adopt a pet.  Did you know that adopting one pet actually saves two lives?  When you take home a pet it opens a space for the shelter to save another life.

2.  Donate.  A little bit of money can go a long way to help shelter pets.  Many shelters also have wish lists with things they could use.  Some items on wishlists are things you already have.  Many shelters need old towels or blankets.  What about that cat bed that your cat refuses to use?

3.  Volunteer.  Volunteers make a huge difference for shelter pets.  Volunteering can include basic animal care, walking dogs, and petting cats, but did you know that shelters can use other types a volunteers?  Do you have any special skills?  Perhaps you are a handyman or in IT.  Shelter's can often use the specialized skills you posses.

4.  Foster.  Fostering an animal can make a huge difference in making an animal adoptable.  Shelters can be very stressful.  Having a temporary home to recover or to grow big enough to be adopted can make a huge difference.

5.  Spread the word.  This can be as easy as sharing a Facebook post from your local shelter or even sharing with your friends how much your pet has made a difference in your life.

From big things to small things, everyone can make a difference in a pet's life!