Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Dogs often make the news for doing cool things, including saving lives, working as therapy dogs, competing in agility trials and participating in fund-raising walk-a-thons.

Cats don't seem to get equal time from the media, so I was delighted to get an e-mail with this intriguing subject line:

Corporate Fat Cats Wanted!

The OurPet's Company is looking for a few good cats to serve on its Feline Advisory Board.

"Instead of climbing trees, the winning cats can climb the corporate ladder, all the while working from the comfort of their own homes with their human companions," the e-mailed news release said.

And get this: These are paid posts.

Six cat consultants will earn $50 per quarter for their time and effort. The Chaircat of the Board will receive an additional $300 per year, for a grand total of $500.

"Since cats can't have bank accounts, the checks will be made out to their human friends," the news release said.

The company makes OurCat's Choice Natural Clumping Cat Litter and other products.

"There's no better way to evaluate products than to get feedback from ultimate users -- in this case, the cats themselves," said company president and CEO Steve Tsengas. "That's why we're looking for cats who are typical house pets to help us decide which ideas meet finicky feline standards and should be developed into new products.

"The cats' owners will serve as feline interpreters, communicating the views of their pets to the OurPet's Company."

Now I continue to quote verbatim from the press release from Fucini Productions, a public relations firm that specializes in animal products:

"Sound like the purr-fect job for your cat? Here's how you can help Fluffy claw her way to a spot on the OurPet's Feline Advisory Board.

"Simply send a nomination of your pet, telling in 50 words or less why he or she would make a good board member. . . . Applications will be judged on originality (no copy cats, please!), persuasiveness and humor. It's important to maintain a positive attitude in the application. The company does not want 'catty remarks' about other pets."

Send your nomination to The OurPet's Company Feline Advisory Board, 1300 East St., Fairport Harbor, Ohio 44077. Or download an application from http://www.ourpets.com. Include your daytime phone number with the application.

Nominations must be received no later than Dec. 10.

By Dec. 30, 20 proud cat owners will be notified that their cats are finalists. Each of them will receive a free gift of OurPet's products.

Feline finalists will be whittled down to six based on:

Answers given by pet owners on a written application.

A telephone interview which is, I presume, with the owner rather than the cat.

The cat's "Star Power."

Number three is the deal closer, I'm guessing. The press release hints that the company is looking for cats that have charisma and the ability to be noticed.

News release examples include "a photo of your cat with a famous person or having your cat become the mascot of a sports team, club or business."

Joe Fucini, president of the PR firm that came up with this idea, has other helpful hints.

"If your cat is a hero, that would be a big leg up. Or a cat that was thrown out of a moving car and then rescued. That would be good. Any cat that has prevailed over adversity" would catch the judge's eyes, Fucini suggests.

Less than a week after the news release went out, Fucini and OurPet's were getting calls from all over the world.

"We have been interviewed on the radio in Australia and Ireland," said Kate Dodd of Fucini Productions. "We even made it into a newspaper in Thailand, though we haven't received applications from any Siamese cats yet."

I'm rooting for a local cat to make the board. I'd love to see duplicates of your applications. You could send those by e-mail or snail mail.

Got a problem horse in your barn? Dennis Reis, a California cowboy who bills himself as a "horse whisperer," will be demonstrating his skills from 6 to 11 p.m. tomorrow at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Tickets purchased in advance are $65 or $100 at the door.

Reis' seminars have sold out in other venues, so by the time you see this, it may be too late to sign up. However, you can order online at http://www.reisranch.com or call 1-800-732-8220.

Reis will demonstrate his skills with eight of his own horses and work with local "problem horses." "You will also witness a young horse accepting saddle and rider for the very first time," says the news release from the Reis Ranch School of Universal Horsemanship in Penngrove, Calif.

Reis is also pushing legislators to proclaim a "National Day of the Horse." At his Washington County visit he'll be seeking signatures on a petition.

This year he persuaded California legislators to proclaim the second Saturday in December as California's official Day of the Horse.

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