2016-08-15

Like many of you, I am a HUGE fan of Jackson Galaxy and the work of the Jackson Galaxy Foundation (JGF) to improve the lives of animals at risk by transforming the places they live and supporting those who care for them.  So when I heard about fellow Chicagoan and animal advocate Ollie Davidson's creative efforts to raise funds for JGF, I knew I had to help spread the word.



Photo courtesy of Almond & Olive

Ollie and co-creator Natalie Alms, AKA Almond & Olive, are a folk music duo in the midst of recording their debut CD. They met while working at an animal welfare organization and soon realized in addition to their love of animals, they also shared a love of creating music. A few weeks later, they had written a handful of songs and decided to form a duo. Once recording is completed, a portion of the sales will be donated to the Jackson Galaxy Foundation to help animal shelters across the country meet their goals and dreams. "Not only are we creating something amazing, but with our creation we will be also giving back," Ollie told me.



Chiquita chillin' after her Cat Pawsitive Training

Specifically, this creative partnership will support JGF programs like Cat Pawsitive, positive-reinforcement clicker training program that enriches the lives of cats in shelters, empowers shelter staff, volunteers and cats with new skills, and ultimately, improves adoptability.

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Pepper gives her trainer a feline high five!

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Shelters can be crazy stressful for cats. The sights, sounds and smells can make even the friendliest of felines withdraw and shut down. Stress can also increase anxiety and fear-based aggression, leave them more vulnerable to upper respiratory infection and other health issues, and contribute to many perfectly wonderful cats being labeled less "adoptable".  Cat Pawsitive helps shy cats find the courage to greet adopters, teaches feisty felines some manners, and helps all participating cats become more adoptable - with many learning to increase their odds by giving high fives to potential adopters.

Mau Mau, a Cat Pawsitive success story!

The Jackson Galaxy Foundation selected nine shelters from across the country to participate in the inaugural class of the Cat Pawsitive initiative. Cat Pawsitive shelters participated in training webinars with JGF feline behavior experts, received JGF training tools, handouts, and videos as well as national exposure through the social media outlets of Jackson Galaxy and the foundation.

JGF is just over a year old and Executive Director Sandy Monterose reports that the foundation is just getting started and has some amazing initiatives waiting in the wings. Most recently, Jackson and his wife, Minoo, celebrated their wedding anniversary by transporting dozens of cats and kittens 1,000 miles from Best Friends Los Angeles, currently full to capacity with kitties, to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Boulder, Colorado where there is a kitten shortage due to high adoptions!

Photo courtesy of Almond & Olive

Please join me in supporting Almond & Olive and help make their dream a reality while also supporting the life-saving work of the Jackson Galaxy Foundation. You can learn more about their mission to help shelter animals, listen to some of their music, and support their Kickstarter campaign here.  If you aren't in a position to donate, please share! You can also follow Almond & Olive on Facebook  and Instagram and JGF on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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