For the love of animals...

If you know me, you know I am passionate about animals. I am a firm believer in rescuing animals from shelters as opposed to buying from breeders. If you do a little research, you will see there are pure bred animals available at most, if not all shelters (Humane Society estimates 25% of animals taken in are pure breeds). Shelters, Animal Care and Control, Rescues - they are all maxed out. Resources are scarce and budget cuts continue. If you can - do something today to help homeless animals. Shelters always need volunteers and various supplies and food, there will probably have a wish list on their website.

I'm also a firm believer in spaying and neutering pets as well as TNR (Trap Neuter Return) for feral and stray cats.

I think you would be too if you understood how many animals are put to death in this country and the manner in which it is done. It is estimated that 3 to 12 million pets per year are killed (depending on the source of the information). In THIS country, the United States - shameful, pitiful, and in my opinion - embarrassing. The animals are "humanely euthanized" which is rarely humane. They are often dragged to the death room to be injected and in many states are even gassed in groups - still - in this day and age.

I do what I can to help. Besides all my pets being rescues from shelters, I try to support rescue organizations and those that support rescues. One of those if Pennies-4-Paws, a non-profit fund raising for many organizations in need. If you use Facebook, they have a page there as well.

Please... please if you have pets, make sure they are spayed/neutered - for anyone that cannot afford it, there are many organizations in the U.S. that are low cost. Many areas even have programs in place that assist low income families. There is no reason or excuse to have pets that are not spayed/neutered.

The ornaments and pins you see here have all be donated to Pennies-4-Paws for their fund raising efforts to help our furry friends in need. Here are a couple of other favorites of mine: Shadow Cats Rescue; Best Friends Animal Society; No Kill Advocacy Center; The Grace Foundation of Northern California. All have Facebook pages if you are so inclined.



First up is a bone ornament. The "bone" is ceramic and was created by Fire and Fused. I glued it to yellow colored bead backing by Nicole and added glass beads in yellow/gold and purples.



I added a Czech glass heart bead at the top of the ornament and backed it with mustard colored Ultrasuede



It measures just over 3 inches wide.



Next is this brown bone is embellished with a combination of blue and brown beads as well as vintage sequins.



It is backed with chocolate brown Ultrasuede



A heart... for cats - this ceramic heart was also created by Fired and Fused



The heart measures a little big larger, 3 1/2 inches across and a bit weighty with all those glass beads



Czech and Japanese glass beads have been added as well as these glass cat face beads and a metal bead of a cat with one paw up.



Larger metal round beads were added to the fringe with carved garnet heart beads



Then backed with red Ultrasuede.



It was hard to part with the raku cat by Lisa Peters, but I have had it for a couple of years and I think it will server a better purpose in raising funds for cats that need help rather than sitting in a box here just because I like it.



It is embellished with sequins, a Swarovski crystal and glass seed beads.



It has a beautiful ceramic heart charm (also created by Lisa Peters) hanging from it.



I made this one into a brooch/pin. I thought it would look great worn by a cat rescuer.



Last in the group is this cute poodle pin.



It is embellished with vintage sequins and various glass seed beads.



This heart charm is one of my favorites by Lisa. The colors are amazing!



This one is backed with dark gray Ultrasuede