CASA PAWS

10/14/2026

Part 2 of Meet the Illustrator! Robin met Sophia when she was a high school senior volunteering at a local animal shelter. A self described "cat person" and art major, she was a natural to illustrate Kitty Do's and Don'ts as Told by Tiger the Tabby. Here are a few questions we asked of Sophia:

PAWS: What was the most challenging part of illustrating this book?

The most challenging part for me was painting Tiger, the main character, consistently each time he appeared. He is a brown tabby with the most beautiful undercoat and subtle markings, which can be hard to recreate multiple times. Each time he reappeared, I would try to stay true to the photo while also comparing his appearance to previous paintings. It was definitely a challenge, especially since the first and last time I painted him were almost a year apart.

PAWS: What messages did you strive to convey in this project?

I hope to create a balance between the excitement and knowledge that comes with pet ownership. Cats are wonderful companions and I love to get people excited about them, but I think it is even more important to know that adoption is not always a simple change in your life. These animals rely on us for food, water, and shelter to live, alongside a comfortable environment that they can feel happy and safe in. I hope this book can help prepare kids for the responsibilities behind pet ownership so they can meet their new best furry friend.

Many thanks to Sophia for working on Kitty Do's and Don'ts while balancing a full college course load. We hope families and educators everywhere can use this book as a foundation for teaching responsible cat ownership! Also this book is currently discounted on Amazon! Link to purchase is in the comments!

10/13/2026

I was caught off guard by this second grader's answer to a question that I ask routinely of students. Why is it important to fix our cats?

"So we don't get in trouble if we're only allowed one pet where we live."

Never underestimate what kids have observed and learned despite their young age! When we talk to young people, it's important to have discussions that reflect their life's experience and respect their great capacity to process new ideas. As this second grader's response shows, we must also meet people where they are at. We need to find multiple reasons to spay/neuter because you never know what will be "the thing" that motivates a family to fix their pets.

This student at Mt Pleasant Elementary School gave a great answer today that I will remember to share whenever I give this talk in the future.

10/12/2026

Rise and shine and Happy Monday! The heat index was off the hook this summer in Tennessee, which reminded us that we needed to do an episode on dogs and hot weather. Have a look, share with your community, and subscribe to We're Talking Pets with Robin! Link is in the comments!

10/08/2026

This was our second visit to Pegram Elementary School, and how fun that the students remembered learning Doggie Do's and Don'ts back in 2025. Now that they've also had Kitty Do's and Don'ts, they have a great foundation to understanding pet care and responsible pet ownership. One thing about cats is that even if you don't own a cat, there are almost certainly community cats in your neighborhood. It helps to understand the importance of getting cats fixed and vaccinated, the significance of an "ear tip" and what actually happens during Trap-Neuter-Return. These kids are really quite knowledgeable and can share this information with others. Creating an informed community one conversation at a time.

10/07/2026

We have no idea why Amazon decided to lower the price of our latest book, Kitty Do's and Don'ts as Told by Tiger the Tabby, but we're told it's a good sign and to let our followers know! If you've been wanting a cat book that explains responsible pet care to kids with all proceeds going to support our nonprofit, tonight's your night! Link in the comments!

10/07/2026

We can't say this enough. If there are stray cats in your neighborhood, it's a kind thing to care for them, but part of that care includes fixing them. There's just no way around this: Unaltered cats will make kittens quickly, and it gets out of control.

Here in Maury County, Tennessee, we have two great low cost options!

Maury County Animal Control offers s/n services for Maury Co residents: https://www.maurycountyanimalservices.com/173/SpayNeuter-Services
and
Our own CASA Clinic in Columbia also offers s/n services for the general public (any county): 931-981-9655 (leave a message).

10/05/2026

Today was our third visit to Hunters Bend Elementary School! When we first went to HBES in January of 2025, Robin showed up with a copy of Doggie Do's and Don'ts in her hand, having never done a school presentation. We have come a long way!

Today we read the book Dogs Need Shelter, Yes They Do! Not only did kids learn proper seasonal shelter for dogs, but they learned about signs of overheating, and which dogs fare worse in the cold. We talked about alternatives to chains, and gave ideas for feral cat shelters, too.

Kids can learn so much when presented with practical information that is colorful and fun. Digital technology makes it easy to talk to large groups. One big take home is don't sell kids short - they can learn the same information we need parents to know, and kids can share this at home!

10/02/2026

September stats are in! Education is just one part of Charlie’s Angels Saving Animals’ effort to improve the lives of cats, dogs, sugar gliders and more!

September brought new passengers, healthier pets, and a major milestone for PAWS!

This month, we welcomed six sugar gliders aboard the transport van, continued providing essential clinic care to our community, and celebrated PAWS officially surpassing 20,000 students reached through pet care education!

From tiny sugar gliders to thousands of young animal advocates, September was full of reasons to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who keeps CASA moving forward!

10/01/2026

Uh oh! That alarmed look on Robin's face means there could be dangers lurking! Check out our newest episode of We're Talking Pets - it's all about cat hazards and keeping cats safe! Special guest, friend Trisha from Rural Animal Rescue Effort - RARE! Link in the comments.

09/29/2026

Last week we had a great visit with Reeves Rogers Elementary School on 9-25 aka Dolly Parton Day. As we all know, Dolly was a huge supporter of children's literacy and animals, so this all felt very fitting! 🩷💜🎵📖🐾