I took a bit of a break from blogging last week-- but this time I had a good reason, I swear! A new little ball of fur has recently entered my life!

Here's how it happened:

Some storms rolled in last Sunday and, like I usually do, I sat out on my front porch to enjoy the show. Just as it started to rain there was an awful sounding meow coming from the woods across the road. And then another. And another. My heart was breaking, assuming that I was listening to cries of pain or the last whines of a poor little kitty cat. But, before I knew it, here was this tiny little kitten racing up onto my porch to get out of the rain.

Now she has become Penelope Lane-- you know, Penny Lane, like The Beatles song-- and has been with us for a week. We introduced her to LuLu yesterday and, wow, that was interesting. Penny is like the annoying younger sister who just wants to follow big sis around and be just like her; LuLu definitely reacts like the annoyed big sister.

But, unfortunately, there are many strays out there who do not find homes-- as well as non-strays who are homeless for one reason or another and feral cats who would can often times not be homed. Here are a few things we can all do to help:

Adopt, Don't Shop: One of the most important things you can do to help the animal population is adopt. Luckily the number of pet shops has dwindled in the past decade thanks to the rise of animal adoption and that is a wonderful thing, but adoption also means not buying from breeders. There are millions of animals who want and deserve your love, no matter their breed. In fact, if you do have your heart set on a specific breed, take a trip to your local shelter anyway! There is a chance you may find the perfect dog for you.

Spay and Neuter Your Pets: Bob Barker didn't say this at the end of every Price is Right for nothing. It is possibly the most important thing you can do for your pet and for the pet population in general. If you can't afford it, many shelters and veterinarians will run specials where you can get the procedure done at a cheaper price and some organizations will even help with the cost. Go on Facebook and like some local animal rescue groups as well as your local shelter; often, you will find helpful information about spaying and neutering drives there.

Have an "In Case of Stray" Kit: This is something I never thought I would need until this month. Earlier we had a stray dog run into our yard, frightened by 4th of July fireworks. Then, of course, Penelope showed up. We were relatively unprepared to take care of an extra animal, even if it was only until morning. So we are working on a "Stray" kit that includes collars, leashes, flea spray, blankets, water and food. Of course, more may be needed for the kit-- definitely be creative when making up your own. But it is certainly helpful to have one!

Trap-Neuter-Return: This one is for those feral cats that run around your neighborhood but are unsuitable for adoption and will take a dedicated animal lover. This process, recommended by the ASPCA, includes trapping the feral cats in your neighborhood and, hopefully along with an organization that helps with the cost, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies, then returning them to their regular environment. People who choose to do this are called Colony Caretakers, and they also feed the cats in their area, look after them to monitor their health, finding them temporary foster homes for post-surgery care and also fostering kittens so they can hopefully be adopted. Find out more at ASPCA's website.

Do you have any other ways you help the animals in your area?