So I just succinctly 'came out' with the subtly of a sledgehammer in my last post. I'm not with the blue brigade anymore. I'm donning white or black.I'm supporting Japan Cat Network (who do dogs too ( as you saw in the last post))  They are who I'm heading North to volunteer for. They were the original co-founders of JEARS. I worked with Susan Roberts on each of my trips to Tohoku and have nothing but good things to say about those experiences. Soooooo when I found out that I had another five days of volunteer leave upon the clock striking midnight on January 1st, I knew there was no other group that could use my days like Susan and JCN.

One lovely order-er posted them on her blog:-)

I haven't been sitting on my laurels waiting until I can use those days, I have been keeping busy. I donated hand drawn cards to a JCN fundraiser, to a St. Valentine's Day fundraiser for a rescue group here on Okinawa and to Joey the Cat on World spay day. Those cards proved popular and all in all 180-something were individually drawn and put together in five weeks.I think I'll be drawing them in my sleep:-)

That Okinawan rescue group I mentioned above? Doggie Orphans Great and Small, the biggest hearted people you will ever come across. I spoke to them about my Northern trips and we swapped  stories about the world of animal rescue and ALL the kinds of bizarre behaviour we had come across. Just to clarify, that would be people's behaviour not the animal's.;-) It was at a time when JCN was running dangerously low on litter. For all you non cat people, let me just say no litter is not a pretty situation. In fact it is kind of on the messy side, the very messy side. So when she asked can DOGS do anything, I asked what would you have in mind? I had messy visuals and said would a litter drive be weird? Baddaboom..........Look what is going to JCN from Okinawa with love in haul-able increments:-)
D.O.G.S. Rock!!

The wonderful volunteers from D.O.G.S. and yours truly:-)

Seeing what one group of determined animal lovers could do and knowing JCN's dire need, I approached another group of animal advocates here, Okinawan American Animal Rescue Society (OAARS). They put on a stellar performance too and were able to raise the poundage of the donated litter.

Receiving donations from OAARS

On behalf of JCN I would like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your effort and while I know the kitties are going to be thrilled with their spectacular toilet options, I can guarantee that you have friends for life in the volunteers who were so close to that messy messy situation.You guys literally swept them away the edge of the abyss:-)