by Janet Warner LouisvillePetPals.com Staff

Event Column Shamrock Holiday Shoppe

LOUISVILLE, KY, November 4 & 5, 2006 -- Many folks go to the Shamrock Holiday Shoppe for the great deals on wonderful merchandise and check Click to view
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out the incredible adoptable pets. In the past, I’ve come home with lots of bargains and one awesome cat. This year I saw the whole event as a sort of homecoming for a very valuable community organization. Over two days at their new venue, the VFW Highland Post on Bardstown Road, Shamrock organizers, volunteers, and supporters all shopped, ate, and made merry to launch the 2006 holiday season.

People were greeted by the ever enthusiastic Animal Gambill, who cheered old friends, volunteers, and total strangers as they entered the large multipurpose hall filled with goods for almost every conceivable need or wish, for people and pets. Gambill was hawking "pawtographed” copies of our favorite children’s book, “Riley’s Bow-Wow Blast,” and introducing her new custom made dog clothing line to benefit the non profit Critter Crusade. Merchandise was forgotten as Gambill squealed, “It’s Hopadot’s Mom!” (In this crowd, nobody remembers your actual names until they’ve known you a long time. Until then you are your pet’s mom or dad.) Hopadot is a handsome dog that Gambill fostered through Shamrock. Like all of their fosters, Hopadot stayed at his foster home (with lots of Animal Gambill love and attention) until the perfect forever home was found. In many cases, foster parents become friends of the family because of the continued support they provide following a successful adoption.

Proudly on display along with the goods, were representatives of the whole reason Shamrock exists. Volunteers roamed among shoppers with beautiful felines and canines that need forever homes. Some critters were obviously purebreds, while others were delightfully mutty, displaying the best of their mixed up ancestry. Between tables laden with gadgets, gizmos, and gifts, a shopper tried on a sweet cat. “Too bad my husband already left! We’ve been thinking about getting a new cat," she said. A smiling volunteer hustled to grab a clipboard to help the shopper fill out paperwork for adoption. Impulse adoptions are not encouraged, but having that application filled out quickly means the process is in motion!

Amongst the crocheted baby outfits and purr pads, I caught up with Shannon Armstrong Luber of the Louisville Canine Company, a long time Shamrock supporter. Shannon had snapped up an adorable handmade Santa outfit for little “Miss Luber,” who is expected to arrive in the spring. “Do you think it will fit her?” asked the mom-to-be, as she counted on her fingers. “I don’t care, I gotta get it!”

Baby talk gave way to dogs with the arrival of Shamrock’s own Ginny Stottman, with a thin but well behaved pit bull girl. “She belongs to the Outlaws! They just rescued her, look how thin she is! The guys are just crazy about her, but I’m dog sitting this weekend. Everybody’s outta town except one guy and he’s in the hospital so she’s just mine for a couple days,” explained Ginny in a rush of words, motion, and long curly blond locks. They were a well suited pair -- beautiful, sweet and edgy!

Over by the table pile, high with beautifully decorated baked goods including a cake shaped like a dog, I ran into my neighbors, Julie Amlung and her daughters, Ellen and Claire. A plate of cookies joined their carefully chosen merchandise. I bragged to Gambill about the Amlung’s dog, Callie, another Shamrock adoptee. Julie had brought family pictures with their dog to the Holiday Shoppe to share with Callie’s foster family. The Amlung family caved to their 16 year old son Nick’s request two years ago for a dog. They may have gotten the gorgeous Austrailan cattle dog mix for Nick, but she picked his father, Dan as the alpha daddy! Callie will sit in the driveway, without restraint and watch Dan mow, fertilize, or trim his immaculate lawn. In contrast, across the street at the house with the shaggy lawn, if the front door is open for a second too long, my daughter, Tyler or I are running down the street with a pocket full of bribes after my beloved but crazy canine. She did not have the benefit of a Shamrock foster home!

I do have one Shamrock alumni, Jet Black Forest, a beautiful (yep, you guessed it) black boy cat. At this year’s Holiday Shoppe, I lingered over lunch with his foster family. Between yummy sandwiches and home made soup, we caught up on the past year. The first year, I brought a photo album of his time with us. We constantly took pictures of our newest “baby”, lovingly and proudly cared for by 'his boy,' my son Sean. Each year since, I have returned with an updated picture of Jet and all my other kids, two and four legged. Reading glasses were whipped out to eye the pictures as I filled them in on Jet’s health and ever entertaining antics. A communal feast unfolded as other Shamrock folks sat down to eat and chat, foisting a tasty cheese appetizer on each other because the portion was too generous for one person and too delicious to throw away. Some volunteers introduced themselves to each other, finally putting a face to a name on an email or a voice on a phone. They traded stories about events and fosters. They lamented the loss of cat condo space when the Hikes Point SuperPetz closed, and reminisced about the dearly departed Shamrock volunteer, Joyce Vincent. I was completely absorbed in the situation, so like my grandma’s table filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins with six different conversations going, when Shamrock Founder and President, Sharon Mayes breezed by. She stopped, broke into a mischievous grin, raised an exquisite eyebrow and said, “Have you tried the chocolate cake? It’s to die for!” That woman knows her chocolate.

Just up the aisle, a jovial woman sat surrounded by people and dogs. Michele Riley of Sunnyside Dog Sports and tireless Shamrock volunteer was explaining the newest training device from Gentle Leader. Several of the showcased adoptable dogs from Shamrock were wearing the new harness (available at Feeders Supply!) that eliminates pulling and strain on the dog’s neck. Michele patiently explained the new tool as each newcomer (myself) walked up and said, “Hey, what’s that?” The long time dog trainer took a deep breath, smiled, and started again, demonstrating the qualities that make her a favorite and successful mentor in the 4H Dog Club program.

Beyond the Greyhounds of Shamrock’s information table, complete with elegant lounging greyhounds, were table after table of cleverly designed silent auction baskets overflowing with generously donated merchandise. Savvy bidders meandered between the kitchen, shopping, and adoption areas, nervously eyeing the competition. Attentive volunteers checked the clipboards for valid bids, straightened and re-straightened goodies, and dutifully announced pending table closings. A high spirited Rebecca Eaves, a Shamrock queen of basket embellishment, bounced between auction tables and checkout, impishly darting into a photo of three Shamrock friends who brought their doggies to shop for the holidays!

The home team of adoptable pets seemed undisturbed by visitors shopping with their humans. Perhaps they had their own visions of holiday homes as they watched from cat condos or on the end of a leash. Applications were taken in the adoption area at the back of the hall with wave after wave of interested individuals asking foster parents about various kittens, cats, and dogs. There were a row of chairs assembled for folks to fill out applications, but when they weren’t filled with prospective forever families, it became another gathering place for tired Shamrock volunteers and rest their weary bones, still talking about their animals, fosters, or personal companions. After protesting that although the cats were irresistible, my house is full -- I can’t responsibly take in another mouth to feed or vet bill to pay -- I learned that they are always looking for foster homes. Hmm. . . maybe someday.

Jet’s foster family sure makes the prospect look fun and definitely rewarding. I watched his foster mom, Martha speak at length with a woman interested in one of Martha’s current foster dogs. I didn’t hear much, but I’m sure it was a detailed report on the dog’s health, needs, and personality. That’s an unheard of luxury in busy shelters or quick turn over pet shops. After the basics were covered, Martha put the dog through his paces and had some fun. I laughed really hard when she got down on the floor with the dog and put a blinking Rudolf nose on him. Are pit bulls dangerous? I’d say if they’ve been trained by Jet Black Forest’s foster momma, that’s an absolute NO!

Just before I left on Saturday, I was lucky enough to snap a picture of a man holding a sweet, but nervous little dog. After talking to so many volunteers all day, I assumed he was one of the Shamrock faithful and asked if the little dog “Gypsy Rose Lee” was available for adoption. “No," the man said quietly and gently, patting the shaking little dog. “We’re going home." And little Gypsy Rose went off with a new name, safe in strong arms, to her new forever home. I love happy endings!