Shelter Carnival

So yesterday was the shelter carnival.  It was hot, high eighties to low nineties.  most of the activities were on the hot asphalt of the parking lot too, so there were quite a bit of trips inside to cool down for those manning the booths. 

One of the workers told me that it was really slow for the first hour and they were a little concerned.  By the time I got there things were hopping.  Could have been busier yes, but for their first time doing this type of event you couldn't be unhappy with the turn out!  (I remember the first kitten shower vividly)

They had staff in clown costumes.  Kind of impressive they stepped up to do that.  The "carnival" was mostly just 'games' improvised from a few purchased items and a lot of imagination... not to mention one particular game that was made with a re-purposed item from the agility class.

The way it worked was you purchased 'tickets' to play the games.  Then you won different tickets from playing then went inside to turn the tickets in for prizes or a chance at some raffle prizes.  Some of the raffle prizes were pretty impressive - but it seemed to me to be not really the right audience for them.  To counter that you could also purchase tickets to enter the raffle.. So they covered their bases

They also had puppies up for adoption and that always draws a big crowd.

Now for the picts.

The entrance

Staff member as a clown. He did a little jig for me

Puppies for adoption

just wore himself out meeting and greeting people

More staff

near a staffed table

dunk tank

bounce house

photo opportunity

Face Painting

ring toss

egg run

Duck Pond

Football throw and knock the cans down

another ring toss

Maybe this one is for the adults? :)

Beanbag toss

Making cotton candy

Food

Raffle and ticket prizes

some of the raffle prizes

Kittens in a basket

dog and cat finger puppets

animal silly band rings (highlighting kitty one)

Kittens up for adoption

Puppies already adopted

community cat room (small animal room beyond that and second cat room at end)

Kitty up for adoption

Emma up for adoption

This kitty was in the carnival spirit.

This one was a little overwhelmed. 
She came out to see me but then someone else came in the room and she ran and hid again

Puma Joe

Puma Joe close up

"Puma Joe" is just shy of 16 pounds of pure ManCat.  His tail was as thick as rope (not fluffy, he's a DSH) his body took up that at least 3 foot shelf and he didn't have room to completely stretch out.  What you can't see is he has the perfect view of the carnival where he sits and can see the puppies in the cage.  Puma Joe was much more interested in that then getting attention from me.    He liked attention but I was interfering with his "afternoon stories" or the really good TV show he was watching :)  I got to rub his chin, and it was longer then my four fingers (and I don't have small hands)  Lets just say I was gushing more then a little - kind of like I do over Dante. I did get him to stand up and come down to the next level, but after just a few quick pats he went back to 'his show' and gave the impression that while he really appreciated the love the 'show' was the most exciting thing that had happened to him in some time (I checked his cage card, he's only been at the shelter four days)

I went into the retail area of the shelter and bought a 'sun dress' for Kit.  Only someone else wanted to try it on first.  We laughed at the idea, but since there was such long velcro straps on it, there was a chance it would work.. and surprisingly it did.

I put it on her and she went right to the camera bag and sat down

Kit came over to tell her that dressing up was HER thing

Much better!

Daddy, Daddy, aren't I cute??