Miss Pita’s Story

When my daughter Jessica and I lived in our other house, we had a cat who was an outside cat. We left food and water out for him sometimes. We learned our lesson with that because we started getting a lot of other cats coming and eating the cat's food. I managed to figure something out and get them all away, but this one cute little kitty just would not leave. Every time you went outside, she was either standing right at your front door waiting to try and come in, or she was laying in the kitty bed outside, or she was laying by the side of the house. She would sneak in through our doggie door, eat, and go hide on the window sill in our living room behind the blinds.

We would find her at times in our house and always threw her back outside. Even though we no longer had the food outside, she would not leave. She was only about 6 months old and, as much as I didn't want to admit it, she was so cute! Jessica would hold Pita up next to her face and say, "Mom isn't she cuuuuuute?" Inside I thought yes, but I said, "No." Anyway, long story short, we put up posters around the neighborhood, and no one called. I finally caved, we let her into our house, and decided to call her Pita because she is very prissy, pushy, and spoiled...hates to be held...and thinks she's a princess. And it just seemed to go well with her other characteristics such as prissy princess pita. We figured out as well that she was de-clawed. So we keep her inside. Since she "doesn't get out much," she's acquired a little bit of a tummy. And when she is hot, she likes to lay on her back and cool her furry belly. Pita brings us a lot of joy and we love her.

The St. Francis Festival

Blessing of the Animals and Pet Adoptathon

Dogs, Cats, Hamsters, Horses, Oh, My!!

The procession of animals will begin again this year at the Franciscan Renewal Center on October 27 and 28. Why are they all making their way here to these sacred grounds? The Blessing of the Animals, of course!

This custom is continued in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures. St. Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved to watch the larks fly about his hilltop town of Assisi. One time, Francis and his brothers of men were staying in a small hovel and they even made room for a donkey.

St. Francis truly loved ALL creatures great and small. He wrote a "Canticle of Creatures" which is an ode to all of God's living things.

If you haven't been to the St. Francis Festival, you have certainly missed a most special event-a celebration of God's special creatures.

Mark your calendar and join us for a day of fun, pet adoptions, laughter, food, pet blessings and a day to celebrate the special bond we have with our furry friends.

Event Date: October 27 and 28, 2007 10AM – 4PM

Event Location: Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E Lincoln Dr. Paradise Valley
Free Admission, free parking, family priced food and fun!
This is the largest pet adoption event in Arizona

This will be the 14th year for this annual event at “the Casa,” the Franciscan Renewal Center. Phoenix Animal Care Coalition (PACC911) will be coordinating the participation of over 65 rescue and adoption groups. Over 2000 animals of all kinds will be blessed in this annual tradition at “the Casa”. The blessings will be conducted at noon and 2pm by the Franciscan Friars. We expect to have over 3000 participants and visitors in attendance, 5000 if you count the animals! Over 400 pets will be adopted or fostered as a result of the event. This is the most productive event in the state for adoptions and by far and the largest in the southwest! Come join us!

There will be a benefit dog wash for the PACC911 emergency medical fund. Hundreds of dogs will be washed to help support this crucial need.

The Franciscan Renewal Center, “The Casa,” See: The Casa Organization 480-948-7460 #155
Phoenix Animal Care Coalition (PACC 911) , formally Pets 911, is an animal advocacy group that provides medical resources to pets in need.

Some super pet related stories can be found at HOPE Awards This page can also be found by going to www.pacc911.org, click on Events Tab, scroll down to and click on Hope for the Animals, scroll down to PACC Partner Award Nominations. There are 10 wonderful and heart warming stories in these nominations ready for follow up.

Katie’s Story

Katie was born on March 27, 1994 and went to the Rainbow Bridge on June 18, 2007. She gave us so much love and loyalty all of her life. When she was a pup, she came in 2nd in her dog obedience class. She was so smart it seemed she was always one step ahead of our thinking. She loved to run in the Biltmore Golf Course. She loved people and yet was a great protector of her moms. She had 2 sisters, Sarah and Gizmo, our cats.

She was a fun loving dog always ready to go bye-bye in the car and just be with us wherever that might be. She had some rough times though, as at age 4 she developed seizures for which they found no cause and she was on potassium bromide for most of her life. Then a few years ago, she was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy which is a progressive spinal disease which eventually impacted her ability to walk. She was never in any pain though with this disease. They say it is similar to multiple sclerosis in humans. She walked in a cart the last year and a half of her life and she was able to get around quite well. She then lost control of her bladder and we needed to assist her with urinating. She was always a happy dog though, as the front half of her body was functional and she adapted quite well with what she had. We could not believe what a trooper she was and what she underwent for us. She saw a chiropractor for spinal adjustments and saw a canine physical therapist for swimming to help her maintain her physical strength. Katie always tried even on hard days. Donna and I would pray at the St Francis statue at the Casa every Sunday after communion at the 7:30 am mass for a miracle and bless her with holy water every night before we would go to bed. We miss her so.

We have Katie's ashes, her collar with her St Francis medal that she faithfully wore, her walking cart, a clipping of her hair, and a variety of other remembrances. And come to think of it, we did get a miracle from St Francis cause Katie was chosen to be the mascot for the casa and now she "does live on."