Therapy Cat Tales: NW Pet and Companion Fair 2014

Tabby writes:

I'm tired!!!  I was on an adventure yesterday and part of today!  Mommy and I did a talk/demonstration at the NW Pet and Companion Fair.  Well, Mommy did the talking and I sat on a chair and in my stroller and looked cute.  Does that count?  Everyone said it did.

We took a taxi over yesterday, but today Grandma drove us.  Nice!  I got to spend time with Grandma!  The taxi was fun, too, but I took a nap most of that ride because I was in my carrier.  When I ride with Grandma, I get to be on Mommy's lap, although still on harness and leash.

Yesterday, after we checked in, we went over to the stage to see where to check in there.  We finally found the people and got everything situated, but there were doggies on stage before us so I didn't check the stage out beforehand.  The doggies were demonstrating how to do clicker-training.  They already knew how to do it, though.  They were just showing off for the people.  I didn't think they were very interesting, but some of the dogs in the audience were paying attention.

Just as we were getting ready to go on stage, a lady asked someone else if she was named Mommy's name.  Mommy overheard her, and went to meet the lady.  She turned out to be our friend from Catster, Michelle!

Michelle and her brother are Bitu's purrents, and our family has known Bitu's family on Catster for years now!  It's always so nice to meet the people who belong to our online cat friends!  Mommy Erin's sister, Anna, took this picture on Michelle's iPad.  It was nice that Anna could come, too.  We ate lunch with Anna after our presentation and walked around the expo with her for a while.  She got her face painted like a cat, even!  Mommy was going to get her face painted, too, but there was too long a line.

We also did the fashion show/costume contest.  No, I didn't win anything, but that's fine.  There were a lot of dogs participating, but I wasn't the only non-canine entrant!  For once!!!  There was a bird named Athena, who blogs on tumblr, and a pig named Periwinkle, who has a Facebook page.  Athena and I didn't mind being right near each other!  Here's a slideshow of some of the costumes from the contest.

Personalize a photo slideshow

After the fashion show, we went around to more booths.  We got a huge bag of goodies from Pet Pros.  Thank you so much for all the yummy-looking food and treats!!!  Mommy had business cards made up for me, so she handed those out to the people we met and people who came to our presentations on both days.  I met a lot of new friends!  There were even people who want to know more about training their cats to be therapy cats like I am.  Plus, a few places that want us to visit people!

If you are one of the people we met at this event, feel free to contact us using the "PDX pride" profile link near the top of the right column on this blog or the message feature on my Facebook page.

This morning, we did our presentation again.  I was better about not sitting in my stroller the whole time.  I sat on a chair at the back of the stage, so Mommy picked the chair up and put it front-and-center.  Not what I had in mind, but that was ok for a while.  Then, I decided I wanted my stroller, which was off-stage.  I headed toward it, so Mommy picked that up and put me in it, then wheeled it to the middle of the stage and talked from behind it and the chair.  Everyone thought that was funny, but I was comfortable and was showing off that I had a safe space that I was trained to be in.  That was just fine with everyone!

The black cat that we saw last year was there again this year with her person.  Guess what?  Both of them want to be a feline-assisted therapy team, too!  They are going to meet us on Wednesday for our regular visit to H. to see what we do, and hopefully will get registered to visit different places, too!  Wouldn't that be cool?  Maybe we can even open up a Portland, OR, chapter of Love on a Leash!

More Photos from the Fashion Show

Mommy got an e-mail today from DoveLewis that said some of the professional photographer pictures were up! They are at Beth Caldwell's Shutterfly page. We are in some of them. She got a couple shots of me on the runway, being petted by an audience member! Mommy's definitely going to order a couple photos for my scrapbook. :)

Tabby's Fashion Show Debut!

Tabby says:

I'm so excited that I couldn't wait to tell everyone about my fashion show debut! Mommy brought her digital camera, so we were able to get pictures of the setting-up and some video of my part of the show!

We got there about 4:30 pm, even though we didn't need to be there until 5:30. Mommy wanted me to get accustomed to the environment before a lot of the dogs got there. It took me about 45 minutes to go from my scared spot on the couch to the floor and exploring a little. At first, I was stress-purring really hard and shaking. Mommy just let me be for a while, to let me get used to the situation on my own. Once I calmed down a bit, with her petting me, she put me down on the floor to see what I would do. I sniffed, watched one of the dogs who was there already, then jumped back up on the couch to watch as everyone started filing in.

This is the first dog to arrive, beside Lexi. Lexi is the co-owner of LexiDog, along with her human. They were helping everyone. The dog in the picture is Tucker. He really didn't seem interested in me, other than to sniff the air. In the picture, you can see all of our outfits lined up on hangers on the fence. Each one had the model's name on it, so we could easily tell whose was whose.
This is Gracie the goat. She's a therapy animal with the DoveLewis Animal-Assisted Therapy & Education program. She was the surprise guest model this year.

Eowyn came in wearing a tutu! It wasn't her costume, but she loves dressing up so much that she came in an outfit.






Here is a closeup of my shirt from bentley B. It was really comfortable, and perfect for the "rocker chick" style they were going for!

I just chilled in the middle of the "mini dog park" in my shirt, and let everyone love on me. All the handlers came to see me and pet me, and the dogs came over to sniff me and lick me. I got lots and lots of doggie kisses!

Koda really liked me. I was the first cat he's ever seen! He sniffed me, sniffed some more, drooled a bit on me, then licked me, then sniffed some more, and then pawed me gently to see if I would play with him! Then he rolled over on his back, showing me he definitely wanted to play! I was his favorite friend there!

Oliver also thought I was a good friend. He's a year and a half, and all puppy! He followed me around, and constantly wanted to sniff in my face and see what I was doing!





Next, we met the other cat team: Karen and George. So it was Karen & Tabby meeting Karen & George! We all thought that was hilarious! George spent most of his time there in a carrier, but he walked on his leash when it was his turn on the runway. First we looked at each other, sizing each other up.
Then we touched noses! Immediately after touching noses, we both hissed, causing our mommies to laugh. We were fine around the dogs, but didn't want to share the spotlight with another of our own species!







We don't remember the name of this little pup, but I hung out with her for a while. She wore two outfits in the show. Mommy liked this one, so she took a couple pictures of it.


















Showtime! There I am, being held by veterinarian Dr. Curtis Brandt. He and I are both in our rockstar outfits. Check out his pink-striped hair! We're just going up onto the stage here. We were the third pair to go onstage.







Mommy went upstairs to watch my part of the show. Here's a shot of the stage, right before they turned on the spotlights.







She got some video of my part, so we put that at the end of this post. When she came back downstairs, the goat was getting dressed!









There's the other cat, George, on the tv screen. They had a live feed set up, so we could watch the rest of the show from downstairs.



There were more models than that, but we couldn't get pictures of them all. There was also an intermission with an auction. It was all so fun, but I was glad when Mommy came back downstairs. Dr. Curtis had handed me to one of the volunteers, and I hugged her around the neck then lay in her arms until Mommy came for me. I hugged Mommy for a while, then sat behind her in the chair while she watched the rest of the show.

Here's the video of my part in the fashion show. The announcers are from Fox 12 Oregon.

Tabby's Fitting for the Fashion Show

My meeting and fitting went so well! When we first got to DoveLewis, we rode the elevator, which I don't really like but I put up with. Then, we stepped out of the elevator and saw Heather and Andy. Heather was watering plants, and said hi to us. Andy, a big black lab, came over to Mommy for pets, then went to sniff me in my stroller.

A few more people walked by when we were waiting, and I greeted them by looking at them and walking over to be petted. I also sat in the chair with Mommy, then got down and rolled over on the carpet for tummy rubs. I wanted to follow one lady into a conference room, but she wouldn't let me.

When the lady came to get us, I hopped down and walked with Mommy on my leash while she pushed the stroller. I walked partway, then wanted to go down the other hallway, so Mommy picked me up and carried me while the lady pushed the stroller.

I was fitted with a size large t-shirt. They used the ones from last summer's "Pets in the Pearl" fundraiser to do the sizes, but that's not what I'll really be wearing. When Mommy put the shirt on me, she could tell I loved the fit and fabric! I walked around the table a bit, then rolled over for tummy rubs. Everyone agreed I was being a little ham, loving all the attention (and the two cameras) focused on ME!

Then, I met the man who's going to walk with me down the runway. He learned how I like being held, and we practiced walking and showing off my outfit. He also spent some time petting me and talking with me, so that we could get comfortable working with each other.

My shirt for the fashion show will be something related to being a "rockstar chick". Dr. Brandt will be dressed in something "urban edgy New York rocker" style. Dr. Brandt's outfit will be from a shop called "Urban Edge".

Urban Edge
404 N.W, 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

My outfit will be from "bentley B".

The next thing...rehearsal and then the main event! The rehearsal will take place the day of, at 5:30 pm. The actual show is at 7:00 pm but doors open at 6:30.

I'm soooooo excited! Mommy gets a backstage pass, so she'll be there with me for everything except the actual runway walk. She's super-excited as well!

Press release and going Friday for my fitting/meeting my co-star

From the DoveLewis e-mail newsletter:

Buy your Tickets NOW for:

Boutiques Unleashed: Fashion for Both Ends of the Leash

Friday, March 13

Wonder Ballroom – 128 NE Russell, Portland

Doors open at 6:30PM. Fashion show starts at 8:00PM.

Local band Another Cynthia will begin playing at 9:30PM.


Join our presenting sponsor, Jeanette Heinz for DoveLewis’ 4th annual pet and person fashion show benefitting the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support program. Enjoy catering provided by Savor Catering and music from Area54 as local celebs walk adorable pets down the runway in the latest fashions from your favorite boutiques! Enjoy hosted hors d'oeuvres and select cocktails, bid on auction items, and don’t forget to wear something saucy!


Make sure to watch live on Fox12 KPTV next Wednesday morning to find out who our mystery model will be this year. Last year it was a llama...be sure to tune in for the big reveal!


Special thanks to Portland Picks and LexiDog for all of their enthusiastic assistance! Additional invaluable backstage support provided by Kalista Salon and Spa and The Blush Beauty Bar.

Tabby writes:

I'm going Friday to DoveLewis to meet my veterinarian co-star and get fitted for my outfit. Exciting!