Dear Friends of Tux,

Summer has arrived in Central New Jersey! It’s hot and humid outside, but cool and comfortable inside Tabby’s Place. This is how Tux likes it. Not too hot and not too cold, with just the proper balance of sunshine and fluffy beds.

While the temperature remains stable in the Community Room of Tabby’s Place, Tux has noticed some changes to his daily environment and routine this month. Some changes are welcome and some are not to his liking. Always looking on the sunny side of the window, Tux will start with the positives.

Tabby’s Place now has a paved and expanded parking lot! Tux was quite excited to watch the paving supplies come and go as he had a front row seat to observe the work. Now that the orange cones are removed and the lines are painted, he is watching with great anticipation to see the parking spots fill with volunteers and visitors coming to see him!

And yes, Tux has had many more visitors this month in the form of new and returning Comfort Buddies. Comfort Buddies are volunteers that spend several hours at Tabby’s Place each week socializing and providing quality snuggle time to assigned residents. Tux is rather thrilled that he has a handful of new Comfort Buddies that come to visit him in the Community Room. His new friends pet him, brush him, and tell him how handsome he is. Some of them even set up elaborate enrichment activities like you can see here.

Tux has ventured outside the walls of the Tabby’s Place Community Room on several occasions this month. He loves stroller walks outside (when it isn’t too hot) and he especially loves his trips to local residential communities through our Aged to Purrfection program (ATP).

On a recent ATP visit, the volunteers that accompanied Tux noted that he was “not quite himself.” He wanted to hang out in a single lap and not move around. Upon his return to Tabby’s Place, he continued to seem “a bit off.” Tux hasn’t been feeling quite his spunky self this month as this was not the only observation of him appearing quiet and not quite Tux. The medical team has thoroughly checked him over and there is nothing going on to account for his fluctuations in spirit.

Several staff members have suggested that Tux may be missing his favorite staff member, Ginny. Summer brings vacation time for both staff and volunteers, and Tux prefers routine. One day when he was seeming out of sorts over the absence of his favorite desk human, I suggested that his favorite table and bed set up be moved from Ginny’s desk to the other desk in use. Sure enough, Tux hopped right up and settled down for a comforting snuggle. He surely is a creature of habit.

Tux is so grateful that you are a steadfast part of his life. With your continued support, Tux gets all the fluffy beds, laser play, and medical checkups that he needs to stay healthy and happy. As you embark on your summer vacations and activities, Tux and I want to remind you to stay safe, stay comfortable, and come home soon! If your travels take you through Ringoes, NJ, please consider making an appointment to come and visit with Tux and see for yourself what’s been going on.

Your correspondent,
Lisa