Oscar's Great Adventure....Or (Subtitle) A NEAR CATastrophe!

Did you know that July is PET SAFETY MONTH?  Now that is a Jack-Fact....and I have a story to share with you that barks out loud about pet safety.  So read on...and find out how a little tiny microchip could SAVE your pet's life!

You all should remember that I adopted Oscar, my Kitty Brother, from the Albuquerque City Shelter a couple years ago. 

 It was not planned.  I mean after all how many dogs do you know that adopt a CAT (of all things).  Well, I can tell you...it wasn't in the plan that day when we went to the Albuquerque City Shelter.  We were just going to drop off a donation for the annual (and I must say...DOG-FABULOUS) Mayor and 1st Lady's Dog Ball. 

But things do take on a life of their own....and in this case........a cat's life...if not his 9th life! (HA-That was one of my Hilarious Bulldog Jokes---get it!   a CAT has 9 LIVES!...I'm so dog clever, if I do bark so myself!) 

                                           
Anyway, back to the story.... we were introduced to Oscar by none other than Director Barbara Bruin.  She LOVES cats...and it seems that Oscar was picked up off the streets of the South Valley by the good folks at Animal Welfare.  When he arrived at the Shelter and was tested......DOG FORBID...he was diagnosed with Feline Leukemia!   

Now that by itself is a BIG problem...but even more so at a shelter where he could transmit the disease to other kitties...BUT NOT TO DOGS! 

 And that's where Director Bruin and I got serious!  They needed to find a home for Oscar FAST! 
And was I-Travelin' Jack the best Adopter on the Spot? 
Well,  she interviewed me with some very dog-serious questions.....and WHEW...I passed with flying paws and colors.

So VOILA! I-Travelin' Jack adopted Oscar!


 
 We brought him home...he checked the house out...as cats are snoopy creatures and all!

 We got acquainted close up... 

 and Oscar settled in.  Things were GOOD!

 Why we became SO close we even became major Snuggle Buddies!  NOTE...I-Travelin' Jack even let him share MY favorite settee with me!  Now that's what I call just dog-generous, wouldn't you agree?  Yep, I love my little Kitty Brother. 

And time passed.  About a year ago, we were headed to the Elkhorn Lodge in Chama for the big 4th of July holiday...so since we were going to be up there for almost a week, we decided it was time for Oscar to become a Travelin' Cat!...only makes sense, don't you think? And the Elkhorn Lodge is after all PET-FRIENDLY!

Well...he LOVED the Elkhorn Lodge.....and he soon became the official greeter in the office to help welcoming the guests.  He decided that this was the life for this CAT...so he decided to STAY.  No more Albuquerque...he wanted to be the Lodge Kitty.  And, I might proudly add...he has been doing a fine job of this for the past year or so......UNTIL  this summer!

He somehow slipped out of the lodge office  (you all know how sneaky cats can be)....and he decided to check out the grounds.  He meandered through the lawn...was lured up to the Cafe by some kids eating on the cafe's patio....and from there began....OSCAR'S BIG ADVENTURE!

You see, Oscar is VERY friendly.....he thinks (like me) that EVERYONE is his personal friend.  And so that day he made friends with the diners.  One couple in particular took a liking to Oscar  (not hard to do I might add!) and when they inquired about him at the cafe, the waitress mistakenly GAVE HIM AWAY! 
                                                                        Dog-forbid! 

"WHAT?" you are saying?  Yup-Pup you read right!  Well...lucky for Oscar he at least picked the RIGHT people to be given away to...... 

 After some discussion, the nice couple packed him up in their Eurovan...and headed home to Santa Fe.  Why he was such a good traveler that they snapped these photos of him ridin' down the highway!

 He chatted with them in his own Oscar language all the way to Santa Fe, where they very thoughtfully took him directly to their Vet, the Smith Veterinary Hospital. 

                                        NOW HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON HERE! 

The good folks at the veterinary clinic did what a GOOD veterinary clinic should do.....they did a Microchip check on Oscar!  And LO and BEHOLD....Oscar was chipped...and identified to belonging to me and Jill. 

THIS IS IMPORTANT...because that is how and why I got Oscar BACK......You see he had his collar on, but no nametag....and if it hadn't been for that tiny but mighty microchip....he would never have gotten back to us!  NOW IF THAT ISN'T AN ENDORSEMENT FOR MICROCHIPPING......I don't know what doggone is! WHEW!  Thanks to that microchip. 

So, we hit the road to Santa Fe to pick Oscar back up!  Here I am gettting him returned to me by the FABULOUS and very responsible good folks who accidentally 'CAT-NAPPED" Oscar. 

2nd NOTE:  That last comment is a play on words by this word-worthy pup!  They never intended to steal him....they thought he had been abandoned and took on the duty of adopting an abandoned kitty...never knowing that they had just cat-nabbed the kitty brother of the most famous dog in New Mexico! (that would be me of dog-course!)......But they were VERY gracious and returned Oscar  in one piece.

Together we did come to one VERY IMPORTANT conclusion though.  We figured it out...being the smart people and pups that we are.........................

TRAVELERS go to a LODGE for a vacation.  BUT since Oscar LIVES at the lodge....he decided to go on VACATION to a house in Santa FE!  Makes sense to this dog....don't you agree?  Anyway, All's well that ends well.  Oscar is back at the Elkhorn Lodge and back to carrying out his cat duties of welcoming guests on their vacation.  

And THANKS to that microchip embedded in his little kitty body...and DOUBLE THANKS to the FABULOUS folks who 'rescued' Oscar!  They will FURRever be in our good graces for the wonderful people they are!  Our bark of thanks will NEVER be enough! 

Now in dog-clusion.....just one more thing:
OSCAR----Are you listening?  NO MORE ADVENTURES! 
I-Travelin' Jack am the ONE and ONLY travelin' animal in this family...ya hear?

OH---and one FINAL tip for all  my readers and followers and fans.

 MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE MICROCHIPPED! 
It's a matter of Life and Death, Lost and Found, Safe and Endangered.....we are SO glad that Oscar was microchipped.....it brought him back home to us safe and sound! 

Yes July is Pet Safety Month.....and that's my dog-personal story of how a microchip can SAVE your pet!  And that's my Lesson for the week!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!