My assignment was to imagine things that I would put in a kit to raise public awareness for my topic. My mind immediately flashed to Jackson Galaxy’s My Cat From Hell, and the guitar case full of cat supplies that he carries with him. I also figured it was far too obvious to put food, litter, toys, etc. into an advocacy kit.
Part of my class assignment is to do a video presentation. My professor requested that we do a rough draft video, so I did one in my living room, with my various cats trolling in the background.
The other day I read an article about an Oklahoma ASPCA using technology to adopt cats.
I went on a tour with my graduate program to various companies in NYC. One of the companies we stopped at was AdCouncil, who are responsible for the Shelter Pet Project.
(photo courtesy of their Facebook page)
Up until now, I’ve had some sort of personal association with the places I’ve been going. My professor suggested going somewhere I’m not affiliated with, to compare how another organization might do things differently. So I went to the Humane Society of Fairfax County, where a colleague volunteers.
Crumbs & Whiskers is the new cat cafe in Georgetown. Cat cafes are very common in Japan; I had the chance to visit Nekobukuro, but the cats are jaded and don’t want anything to do with you.
I met with another fellow foster colleague, and learned about her foster fail pets and current foster pet.
Yesterday I drove 2.5 hours to the MGHS shelter.
Firstly, it sucks to have a happy adoption, and then it not work out in the end. Nemo and Dory were returned yesterday due to unknown severe allergies in the house. This might’ve been particularly embarrassing too, if it’d been announced as a “Happy Tail” adoption online.
Anyway, my next stop for ethnography was the home of a colleague.
My first stop (my home didn’t really count) for smartphone ethnography was an adoption event at PetSmart.
occupation: cat lady 