Calling All Cat Cuddlers

    Yes, there is a thing as ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Day. Consider rescuing an animal from a shelter, and if you don't do that, volunteer at your local animal shelter as a dog walker, cat cuddles, or whatever else they need. Most of my friends who adopt a pet are at least 200% happier thanks to their new family member.

Wild in the Streets

     I live in a nice town adjacent to Berkeley, California, that is very urban, but I have a big o' backyard, which I love- it is the reason I live here. I have raccoons, a family of squirrels, and a pair of deer who seem to love the yard as much as I do. One of the older trees bears a huge amount of apples every fall, much more than my boyfriend and I can cook or eat, not to mention our friends, coworkers, and deer and squirrels. So we bag up the extra apples and take them to a place where deer congregate at the edge of the woods a few blocks away. Every time I deliver a new bag, I see lots of deer tracks, showing that my four-legged friends enjoy their apple a day. So before you just compost the extra bounty of your garden or fruit trees, take a look around and see what else might appreciate a neighborly gesture.