Looking Back At An Amazing Year!

Amazing!  It is hard to believe that another year at In-Sync Exotics has come and is almost gone!  So much has happen the year, that it was real hard not to highlight every blog posting in our final end-of-year recap!  

The common thread in all our postings was the amazing contributions you made in the lives of our animals, either as a supporter, donor, volunteer, staff member, or board director. We hope you enjoy this memorable collection of pictures, taken from our blog this year, that touched the lives of so many people with happiness, tears, laughter, and determination; helping us make a better world for our animals.  This video is best viewed in full screen mode!

We hope you will continue to support us as we cannot continue to provide a loving home and quality care for our exotic cats and their friends without your help!  This new year, 2013, will undoubtedly be filled with new challenges we must overcome.  Challenges like:

• Treating a sick lion named Aramis, whom has been having trouble holding down food; 
• Providing dental surgeries for five big cats needing major dental work;
• Managing little Gideon's seizures;
• Building a new small exotic cat enclosure;
• Feeding our exotic cats and their friends species specific quality meals;
• Enriching our animals lives with simulating "toys";
• Caring for our aging cat population by giving them the special attention they need;
• Raising enough funds to cover regular and unexpected expenditures; and so forth!

We know, with you in our corner, every step of the way, we'll not only overcome our challenges, but we continue to thrive and grow in 2013!

So if you like what you have seen on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, and of course, on our Blog), we hope you'll make a generous tax deductible end-of-year contribution to In-Sync Exotics today!  Help us continue to provide the loving care these animals so richly deserve--be their hero--their life line--for a brighter tomorrow by showing them how much you care--please donate before the sun sets today!

We'd like end our final 2012 blog posting with wonderful news from Corby Bryant, who held the Best Bake Sale Ever, where the proceeds went directly to our animals.

"We have the final total for this year’s sale as of a few minutes ago. We sent Debbie back with $6,605 [on the day of the bake sale] and have collected another $991 since [from kind donors who mailed in a donation to be matched], so our total was $7,596. With the matching check [from Venable Royalty, Ltd], the grand total is  now $15,192. We were aiming for $15,000 so we’re pretty happy!"

Thank you so much Corby for this wonderful news! While this fantastic donation helps us pay off many end of month bills (vet, medicine, and food bills), we still need help meeting next years expenditures. Please don't think that others will help us care for our majestic animals and that we don't need you -- we really need YOU too!

We hope you won't be too disappointed that the blog will only post important happenings on our animals starting January 1, 2013.  Please continue to check with our Facebook page for your daily news on the In-Sync Exotics' animals!

As a reminder, we are open for tours today from 11am - 5pm, so come on out and wish our beautiful animals a Happy New Year!  For tour information, please click HERE.

Oh, and don't forget to make your end-of-year donation in honor of a loved one, special two- or four-legged friend, or just because you want to help us to continue our mission of providing a loving home to animals that no one else can or will care for, by clicking HERE!

Thank you very much for supporting this blog  for the last 18 months.  It has been an honor and pleasure to bring you the latest news on our beautiful animals!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back next year for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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Meow-y Christmas To All!

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas as Told by Franklin

'Twas the night before Christmas at In-Sync Exotics,

not a feline was stirring, not even a coatimundi.

Our cats’ stockings were hung in the Commissary with care,

in hopes Santa Paws soon would be here.

The tigers were snuggled in their warm dens,

And the cougars and lions were dreaming of meat treats.

Our servals and ocelot resting their weary heads,

had just settled into their warm little beds.

When out in the grounds there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash,

climbed up the desk, and pressed my nose to the glass.

And what in the world did my feline eyes see,

but a small golden chariot, pulled by cats just like me!

With a fluffy old driver, so white and so furry,

I knew in a moment it must be Saint Purr-y.

More rapid than cheetahs, his kitties they came,

and he yowled and meowed, calling each cat by name.

"On, Socks, On, Reebox, On, Spirit, On, Shoes!

Christmas is coming, let’s go gentle me-mews."

So down to the door, his kitties they flew,

with a catnip filled chariot and Santa Paws too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the latch,

the paws and clawing of Santa paws scratch.

As I sniffed for his scent and looked all around,

through the commissary door Santa Paws came with a bound.

His eyes how they sparkled, his whiskers, how merry!

His cheeks were like cottonballs, his pink nose like a cherry!

His little cat mouth was drawn up like a bow,

and the fur on his paws was as white as the snow.

He meowed not a word, but went straight to his work,

and filled all cat stockings, and turned with a jerk.

Then washing his whiskers, his ears, coat and tail,

after having a  cat snack, out the commissary door he sailed.

He jumped in his chariot, to his team gave a yowl,

and away they all flew, like wild cats on the prowl.

But I heard him meow, as he sailed out of sight,

"Meow-y Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

The blog will be off during Christmas week and will return on December 31st with your year end's review. Until next week, check out our 2012 archives located on the right side column, underneath the video of Sabu, to catch up on all the amazing events that occurred just this year!

We are open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week (11am-5pm), in addition to our normal Saturday and Sunday hours (11am - 6pm), plus Monday 12/31 from 11am-5pm, so we hope you will come out with your friends and family to wish our animal friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  For tour information, click HERE!

Don't forget to make your end-of-year donation in honor of a loved one, special animal friend, or just because before December 31st!  Click HERE for ways to make a donation!  Thank you very much!

We hope everyone has a fantastic safe and joyful Christmas week and we'll be back very soon with great information, pictures, and videos of our exotic animals!

Merry Christmas to You and Yours,

 ❤ From the Animals of In-Sync Exotics! ❤

>^..^<

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Our Weekly Pre-Holiday Recap!

Well, folks, it's only three days left until Christmas Eve and tens days away until the end of 2012--not that we're counting or anything! So, let's get right to it and review this week's amazing events! 

Monday was all about the cookies, candies, brownies, cakes, and the like, at our 2nd annual bake sale! The sale was buzzing with lots of eager customers looking for special one-of-a-kind gifts for friends and family. But we'll get back to this event in a few moments.

We also provided a link to a special e-card featuring Jynxie and Sabu that you can send to your friends and family--but you better hurry because this e-card disappears on December 24th!  And we featured a cute video of Jazz enjoying some Christmas cheer!  Click HERE to read Monday's blog post!

Tuesday's blog posting was about remembering our special blessings--our beloved animals.  This posting was about celebrating the lives of the cats whom have crossed the Rainbow Bridge; a cat whom is celebrating his first year anniversary with us; and the birthday girl who is now 13 years old! Click HERE to read this special posting.  

On Wednesday, we welcomed a new intern, Kimi Frazier, to the In-Sync Exotics' family; watched a great training video featuring our former Fall intern, Julie Vria with Kazuri; we provided a medical update on Aramis; and we presented a very cute surprise video for our fans!  Click HERE to read this fun and informative blog posting!



Okay, now back to the BEST bake sale ever!  Most of us, when we think of bake sales, have a picture in our minds of a table or two filled with delicious treats.  But when Corby, Janet, Kristen, and Lauren hold a bake sale, they REALLY host a huge bake sale event! The ladies started baking several weeks ago and it culminated in this fantastic event where the proceeds of the bake sale benefited the animals of In-Sync Exotics!  

If you were unable to attend this event, here's a little video of all the goodies that were on sale!

This really was the BEST bake sale ever! Want to know how much the ladies raised for the animals?  Well, you'll have to click HERE to read yesterday's blog posting on this amazing bake sale event and the estimated amount of money the ladies raised in just one day!  

To everyone who helped make this event such a success we say "thank you from the bottom of our hearts!"

Did you know that this is the last weekend to come out and see our Christmas lights, watch the cats play (as they are very active at night!), and listen to the sounds of our amazing animals.  It's hard to describe the sensations you'll feel when you hear ten lions roaring all at once--but we can tell you that their roars are very powerful and it's an experience you will never forget!  Join us tonight or tomorrow evening for a "roaring" good time at In-Sync Exotics!  For details, click HERE!

End of Year Donation!

  

This time of year is especially important because your end of year donations help us get through the first quarter of the new year. As a 501(C) (3) sanctuary, all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. So, if you were waiting to make a special gift to the animals, now would be a terrific time! To see the various ways you can make a tax-deductive charitable donation, please click HERE.

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back next week for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics!

Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend! 

>^..^<

The BEST Bake Sale Ever!

By chance, did you happen to attend Monday's bake sale?  If you did, then you already know it was the BEST BAKE SALE EVER!!!  We received word from Corby Bryant last night that Monday's bake sale was the BEST ever held in six years -- as she put it "we had a pretty awesome day!"

Before we share with you the details of the event, we'd like to take the opportunity to say "thank you" to everyone who came out and purchased gift cards and baskets, sweet treats (some even sugar-free), Scripture Gems, and of course, our In-Sync Exotic 2013 calendars!

Corby shared with us why she thinks this year's bake sale was the best ever:

"I think we were so busy because of several things:  (#1) we have return customers so each year our prior shopper list grows and grows;(#2) you guys did an awesome job of promoting the sale frequently; (#3) we had In-Sync Exotic calendars, Scripture Gems, CityVet gift cards, and gift baskets to sell. All of that adds up;  (#4) we had several new baked items this year including sugar-free so we can accommodate special diets; (#5) and most importantly, I felt from the start that this year's sale had God's special blessing on it and would be one to remember! We encountered a lot of challenges and spiritual warfare during the planning and baking, and that usually means you're on the right track if you're getting that kind of resistance from the enemy.  Overall, it was our most successful event to date and we couldn't be happier!"

When asked what stood out most in her mind regarding the event, she replied:  "The most memorable part of the sale this year was just how busy we were. We usually get busy during morning coffee breaks, lunchtime and afternoon sugar cravings, with lulls in-between. This year though, from 9:30am until 3:30pm we were slammed with customers non-stop. There wasn't time for photo-taking, tweeting, facebooking, lunching or taking pit stops."

Corby was able to send us one tweet during the event, letting us know that several items had already sold out before lunch time!  Bless her heart, it was the one and only tweet we received from her!

By the end of the day, there were very few goodies left! Corby kindly sent back the leftover treats to the volunteers working at In-Sync Exotics to enjoy! No doubt our volunteers enjoyed the tasty treats!

We'd like to recognize Debbie Congdon,  In-Sync Exotics' volunteer who worked the event the entire day.  "We loved having her work the event with us; she was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the cats. People got really great insight into In-Sync Exotics, and I think she made everyone want to drive out for a visit with their families. Plus she's become a good friend to us!" Two high-five tiger paws to Debbie for providing outstanding representation at this great event--thank you, Debbie!

Okay, are you ready to know how much was raised thus far (as checks are still coming in)? Remember, last year Corby and her baking crew raised $4,175 in sales and $4,175 was matched bring the total donation to $8,350.

This year, thus far, Corby, Janet, Kristen, and Lauren raised $7,156!  When this total is matched, dollar for dollar by Venable Royalty LTD, the new donation balance, thus far is $14,312!  Corby believes this amount may grow to about $16,000 by the time all the incoming checks are received!  There was a special In-Sync Exotic volunteer who donated $2,500 at the event which was doubled to $5,000!!  Thank you very much special In-Sync Exotics' volunteer!!

We are very grateful that Corby, Janet, Kristen, and Lauren chose to help raise funds for the animals once again!  These talented ladies truly "out did" themselves this year, raising the bar, once more, for next year's event!  Corby is already looking forward to the next bake sale, hoping that we'll have second matching partner who will sponsor this event in 2013!

Send an In-Sync Exotics' e-Card Today!

Want to send a special e-card to your friends and family?  We have set up a special e-card featuring Jynxie and Sabu!  Click HERE to send an e-card today as this service is for a limited time only!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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Interns, Tiger, Lion, and .... Surprise!

We have lots of exciting news to share with you today!  First off, we have an introduction to make!

Please welcome to the In-Sync Exotic’s family, our new Intern as of December 12^th, Kimi Frazier!  Kimi is currently attending Southern Illinois University and expects to graduate in May 2014 with a Major in Zoology and a Minor in Animal Biology.  While this is her first internship, she is no stranger when it comes to working around animals, as she is also volunteers at the Dallas Zoo since January 2012.  While she is interning with us, the Dallas Zoo will hold her volunteer spot until she returns!

So if you should see Kimi, out and about at In-Sync Exotics, be sure to give her a warm welcome!

Remember our 2012 fall intern, Julie Vrla, who finished her internship with us earlier this month?  Well, she has a great video of her working with Kazuri!  It is very important that our staff, interns, and senior volunteers work with our cats, so they feel comfortable around us when we need to perform simple medical procedures such as taking the cat's temperature, giving shots, drawing blood, performing skin biopsies and perform visual examinations, all without having to anesthetize the cat.  Julie shows us how the cats are trained to perform simple tasks that may be life-saving some day!

So without further ado, here's Julie working with handsome Kazuri!

It takes a lot of time and patience to work with the cats, but the rewards are worth all the hard work.  Thank you, Julie for sharing this video with our fans! 

Time for a medical update on Aramis...

Today, Aramis will be making a clinic visit so our vet can perform a sonogram, endoscope, and take x-rays to find out why our boy is still having trouble holding down food.  He was eating fine for about 10 days, then for some unexplained reason, he starting throwing up his meals.  Last Thursday, our vet paid a "house-call" to see how Aramis was doing.  We agreed that Aramis should eat four times per day, feeding him about 1 - 1 1/2 pounds of meat per meal. Aramis seems to be able to handle small amounts of food, but is unable to hold down larger meals.  When he still had trouble holding down the small amounts of food on a regular basis, we decided it was time for Aramis to see the vet at the clinic so a more thorough exam could be performed.

We will keep you apprised of Aramis medical progress as news comes available.  Please say a little prayer for our boy's swift recovery!

In the meantime, we have a special surprise for you today! 

Meet Matthew, Mark, and Luke!  These three babies are from Frisco, Texas. Sad to report—local homeowners saw that the mother bobcat had been hit by a car, leaving her babies all alone.  Fortunately, they had an idea where the mother kept her kittens, so they were able to find, retrieve, and take them to Collin County Animal Control.  Thankfully, Collin County Animal Control knew to bring the little guys to us, so we could help find them a more permanent solution to their short-term care needs.

These little guys did not stay with us very long because they were young enough to be rehabilitated and hopefully released back to the wild.  After spending a quiet night with us, exercising their little claws on our legs, and listening to us provide “wise” bobcat guidance on how to survive in the wild, it was time to give them a kiss good-bye the next day.  The bobcats were picked-up by our friends at Plano ISD Holifield Science Learning Center where they will work with the little guys until it’s time to release them.

We hope you enjoy this video of the little ones eating their dinner...

and this video of the little ones resting for the evening...

...aren't they adorable?  Hopefully in about six or seven months they will be running and playing, wild and free again.  Until that time, we hope Matthew, Mark, and Luke will remember our words of wisdom and live long and happy lives!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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As We Count Our Blessings!

The year we've been so busy of late that we haven't announced our monthly cat's birthdays, arrival anniversaries, and sadly, the passing of our beloved animals.

Thankfully, December is a great month to take stock in all that we are grateful for--and that includes our exotic residents.  They are truly blessings to our sanctuary and as such, we'd like to recognize our December cats!

Let's start off with Diva, a beautiful black-spotted leopard who arrived at In-Sync Exotics on October 3, 2005.  Diva and Jett were rescued from a facility close to Houston.  We were told that Diva and Jett could be housed together although neither had been altered.

Keeping with our belief that rescue centers and sanctuaries should not breed, we arranged for Jett to arrive a month earlier than the other cats so he could be neutered and have enough time to recover before Diva arrived. 

Jett adapted quickly and was quite a clown.  Diva had a difficult time adjusting to her new home at In-Sync. She had to adjust to new people, new surroundings and a new roommate. At first she was intimidated by Jett and stayed hidden inside the den. We sat with her and talked to her to get her more comfortable with us and her new home. Although not as sociable as many of our cats, Diva eventually came up to the fence for a back rubs.  Most often we found her snoozing up on one of the high platforms.

Sadly, Diva passed away on December 4, 2009.  Our beautiful girl battled terminal cancer in her throat and abdomen.  Eventually, she let us know when she was ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge when she stopped eating.  We miss Diva very much -- she was an awesome cat!  Jett loved her and she loved to chase, catch and eat squirrels--that's how we'll always remember her--our silly girl!

Chance!

Can you believe it's been one year since Chance, our little bobcat, arrived at In-Sync Exotics?  Chance arrived on December 9, 2011 and he is no longer that shy bobcat that peeked from underneath his blanket when he first arrived!  Happy 1-Year Anniversary, Chance!

Malikai and Dinari!

Last week marked what would have been the 12th birthday for Malikai and Dinari.  Even though both boys passed away in October 28, 2010 and May 5, 2011, respectively, we still miss them very much!

For those of you who did not get to meet the two handsome brothers, here is a cute video of the two of them playing together!

 

We will never forget our two beautiful boys...

 Samu!

This coming Saturday, December 22, 2012, marks Samu's 13th birthday!  Happy Birthday, Samu!  If you haven't read Samu's arrival story, then please click HERE (and have a few tissues handy -- she is one of our "miracle" success stories!)

Dakota!

On October 3, 2005, Dakota came to us along with two other servals, Gypsy and Tramp, from a sanctuary that claimed the three lived together with no problems. Based on this information, we built one large enclosure to house the three servals so they could continue to live as they were accustomed.  Being such a friendly fellow, Dakota quickly became a favorite with the volunteers and staff.  He emitted a certain sweetness that could clearly be seen in his eyes. He apparently had been a pet prior to being placed with the previous sanctuary. 

Not long after we took the servals, Dakota and Tramp began fighting. It became obvious to us that the two had probably never been housed together and that we were told an unfortunate falsehood by the previous owners in hopes we would find it easier to accept and accommodate their three servals. At the first signs of aggression, we began to build another enclosure so that we could separate Dakota from Tramp. 

Sadly, Dakota did not live to enjoy his private new enclosure we were building for the . On December 27, 2005 we found Dakota curled up in his bed asleep forever. Dakota had suffered heart complications after a scuffle with Tramp during the night and died a senseless death because of false information.  Sweet, gentle Dakota touched our hearts and his memory lives on with all who knew him.

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One of the greatest joys is to celebrate our cats' birthdays and anniversaries.  One of the saddest moments is to say goodbye to loved ones.  We hope you've enjoyed our blog postings as we shared our journey with you--striving to provide our exotic wild ones a loving place they can call home.  If you like the work we are doing, would you please consider making a kind end-of-year donation towards our animals' care?  Your thoughtful gift is truly a blessing to In-Sync Exotics!

Tomorrow, we'll be introducing you to our new intern, show you what one of our interns has been up to lately,  plus share a letter we received from one of our volunteers.  No blog posting would be complete without an update on our cats, so be sure to check back tomorrow for more news and updates on the animals of In-Sync Exotics!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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And The Countdown to Christmas Begins!

It's hard to believe that in 7 days it will Christmas Eve and in 14 days it will be New Year's Eve!  Where has the year gone?  We'll be giving you a full recap of this year's events on December 31st--but in the meantime, here is a mini-look at what transpired this year.

We welcomed six new cats into our feline family: Tyjar, Jasper, Gideon, Kibo, Shira and Quisto.  As always when we bring new cats home, we were thrilled to be able to provide a permanent, loving home to these beautiful animals.

Along with the joy of helping our new arrivals, we also had several devastating losses.  We said goodbye to Missy (horse), Keenan (cougar), Jasi (serval) and Okemo (tiger).  Needless to say, it was a very difficult summer for all of us, and particularly for Vicky with the loss of her beloved Missy.  Last month we were devastated by the loss of Colleen Butler, our board director of Donor Relations.  Life at In-Sync Exotics is just not the same without Colleen and our beloved animals that passed away this year.

We faced quite a few medical issues throughout this year, but once again, our amazing team of volunteers came through whenever we needed their help! Thank you Team In-Sync!

Today is the Bake Sale!

Have you visited our CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE yet?  It's going on right NOW from 8am - 6pm!  Click HERE for a map to the Best Bake Sale EVER!

Place: Premier Place Building Lobby, 5910 North Central Expressway, Dallas, 75206 (same location as last year, Mockingbird and Central, just north of Mockingbird Station, across the highway from SMU).

Goodies: Lots of favorites from past years, and maybe a few new favorites. We’ll definitely have breads, pound cakes, cookies, brownies and candies. For special diets we’ll have at least a dozen vegan choices, some gluten-free options, and some nut-free items (don’t worry Vicky, we’ll have lots of soft peanut brittle for you)!

Prices: Most items will be $3 (cookies and brownies) and $5 (cakes, breads and candies). We’ll also have gift baskets, mugs with biscotti, and other specially packaged items that will make an even more impressive gift. We’ll even have beautiful hand-painted scripture gems available for sale again this year!

Don't forget, every dollar the 2012 Christmas Bake Sale raises this year, results in an automatic matching, dollar for dollar.  So if you cannot make it to the bake sale and would like to make a donation and see your donation automatically double, please mail a check or money order, made out to In-Sync Exotics, to: 

Corby Bryant

 c/o Venable Royalty, Ltd

5910 North Central Expressway

Suite 1470

Dallas, Texas, 75206

Thank you for supporting the animals of In-Sync Exotics!

Send an In-Sync Exotics' e-Card Today!

Want to send a special e-card to your friends and family?  We have set up a special e-card featuring Jynxie and Sabu!  Click HERE to send an e-card today as this service is for a limited time only!

We thought you might enjoy a video of Jazz enjoying some Christmas cheer!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

>^..^<

Our Festive Week In Review!

Well, this concludes another festive week at In-Sync Exotics as we celebrate Christmas with our friends and family!  As usual, here are our highlights of this week's events! 

We started off the week with a wonderful presentation from our #1 Canadian fan!  If you haven't seen Kim Puffer's video, then you definitely want to click HERE so you can see this touching video for yourself.  Thank you, Kim, for sharing your inspirational video with us!  And special thanks to Mike Cerveni for the beautiful song featured in her video!

Did you know that every year we hold a special Christmas Party for the volunteers, staff, and of course, our cats?  On Tuesday, we presented a video featuring our cats (and Katy) enjoying their Christmas presents!  If you haven't seen our "Santa's Coming to Town" video, then now's your chance by clicking HERE!

Sabu contemplating what to do with
his enrichment gift!

On Wedneday we showed several unedited videos of our exotic cats playing with their Christmas gifts, as part of our continued celebration of Christmas at In-Sync Exotics!  Watch as our lions, tigers, and cougar pounced, ripped and rolled around on their enrichment gifts by clicking HERE!

Yesterday, we provided oh-so-merry safety tips for pet parents who plan to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year with their furry kids.  It is wonderful to include your family pets in the celebration of the holidays, but you do not want to end up spending a significant amount of holiday time and money at the veterinarian’s office. So, click HERE for information you can use this holiday season!

Can You Guess Why Monday is the Best Day Ever?

Monday just happens to be the best day to purchase treats YOU can eat at the Best Bake Sale Ever!

We hope you will join Corby and crew, along with volunteers from In-Sync Exotics, at this year’s Christmas Bake Sale. Here’s the skinny on this fantastic event:

Date: Monday, December 17th

Time: 8 am til 6 pm

Place: Premier Place Building Lobby, 5910 North Central Expressway, Dallas, 75206 (same location as last year, Mockingbird and Central, just north of Mockingbird Station, across the highway from SMU).

Goodies: Lots of favorites from past years, and maybe a few new favorites. We’ll definitely have breads, pound cakes, cookies, brownies and candies. For special diets we’ll have at least a dozen vegan choices, some gluten-free options, and some nut-free items (don’t worry Vicky, we’ll have lots of soft peanut brittle for you)!

Prices: Most items will be $3 (cookies and brownies) and $5 (cakes, breads and candies). We’ll also have gift baskets, mugs with biscotti, and other specially packaged items that will make an even more impressive gift. We’ll even have beautiful hand-painted scripture gems available for sale again this year!

We hope you will help us spread the word about our 2nd Annual Christmas Bake Sale by distributing fliers into family, friends, and co-workers. For a printable flier, please click HERE!

We will also have our 2013 In-Sync Exotics' calendars available for purchase at this event. All proceeds from the calendars and Christmas bake sale benefits the animals of In-Sync Exotics, so we hope you'll purchase lots of gifts this year! 


For  a map and directions to the BEST BAKE SALE EVER, click HERE!

Christmas With the Cats

You're invited to spend "Christmas With the Cats" at In-Sync Exotics! Watch our exotic cats receive their bones under the twinkling Christmas lights that will illuminate your path as you tour our facility with hot cocoa and cider to help keep you toasty warm.

The crisp weather excites the cats so you will be sure to see lots of big (and small) wild cat antics!

Would your group like a private "Christmas With the Cats" night tour? Then you'll want to reserve your very own VIP Group Tour (10 people maximum) today! To reserve a VIP Group Tour, please click HERE to send a quick email to Leigh letting her know the date you'd like to reserve your VIP tour and number of individuals in your party. She will respond back to you with information about the tour.

For tour details, check out our Christmas With the Cats flier below:

For a printable copy of this flier, please click HERE.

Gift Wrapping Table

We will be back at Barnes & Noble in Frisco on December 17, and 18 from 10am - 4pm to gift wrap presents for donations. We hope to see you there with your presents! We will have our calendars available for sale at this event.

Our On-line Christmas Shop!

We have some adorable ornaments and stockings available for gifts this year. Plus mugs, Kshama Pajamas, BBQ aprons, warm stadium blankets, and much, much more, all great gifts for your family and friends! Proceeds from the gift sales benefits the animals of In-Sync Exotics. Click HERE to see our Christmas on-line gift shop!

End of Year Donation!

  

This time of year is especially important because your end of year donations help us get through the first quarter of the new year. As a 501(C) (3) sanctuary, all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. So, if you were waiting to make a special gift to the animals, now would be a terrific time! To see the various ways you can make a tax-deductive charitable donation, please click HERE.

As a reward for reading this posting all the way through, we are presenting you a bonus video of Apollo enjoying his enrichment gift at our Christmas Party, last Saturday!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back next week for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics!

Have a safe and wonderful weekend! 

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Celebrating Christmas With Your Pets!

Happy Holidays to you!  Are you ready for Christmas?  Have you decorated your home with merry cheer?  Pet parents, will you be including your pets in all the holiday fun?  If so, you might want to take notice of these oh-so-merry tips to keep the family out of the pet emergency clinic this year!

Christmas Tree Folly!

Veteran pet parents know that you should always securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t come crashing down in the middle of the night, possibly causing injury to your pets, and destroying your most prized In-Sync Exotics’ ornaments [gasp!]. 

Click HERE to order In-Sync Exotics' Ornaments!

If you have a fresh cut tree, you don’t want to spill the water or allow your pets to drink from the base of the tree because the water may contain fertilizers that can cause your pet(s) to feel very sick.  Plus, stagnant tree water can be a breeding ground for nasty bacteria and your pet can become violently ill (both ends) should he decide to drink from the tree’s water bowl.  Nothing like taking a trip to the emergency pet clinic on Christmas Day, right?

The Joys of Sparkling Tinsel and “Icicles”!

Picture from Christmas Cats!

No doubt while decorating your tree, your curious little kitty “assistant” discovered the tinsel or “icicle” trimmings.  This sparkly, crinkling material is light and easy to pull out of the bag or box, so you’ll have to keep a close eye on your little “helper.”  Most pet parents either avoid placing this type of material on the lower limbs of the tree where dogs and cats can easily reach these items, or they just skip this type of tree decoration all together.  For you see, if your pet eats this shiny material it can lead to an obstruction to our pet's digestive system, causing your fur baby to vomit, leading to dehydration, and then it’s off to the emergency pet clinic you go, oh joy!  All in all, it’s probably best you skip the sparkling tinsel and icicles this year!

All Wired Up!

Picture from Cats & Christmas Trees

Keep Christmas tree lights wires, glass and plastic ornaments out of curious paws’ reach!  If your pet chews on a wire, he may potentially receive a lethal electrical shock.  Breakable ornaments may become embedded in your pet’s paws or damage his mouth.  And if you have batteries lying around, make sure your pet does not chew on them because battery acid may burn the insides of his mouth and esophagus!

Christmas Mistletoe, Holly, and Poinsettia Plants

During the holiday season, these plants enviably find their way into our homes.  Just remember to keep Mistletoe and Holly away from your dogs and cats because Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems, while Holley can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea [and a trip to the vet, oh joy, oh joy!]. 

Though they have a bad rap, poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) plants are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs.  The milky white sap found in poinsettias contains chemicals called diterpenoid euphorbol esters and saponin-like detergents. While poinsettias are commonly “hyped” as poisonous plants, they rarely are, and the poisoning is greatly exaggerated. The far more worrisome plants given as gifts listed are bouquets containing lilies.   

Flower bouquets brought into the house by holiday guests should be thoroughly inspected, as lilies are the #1 flower often used by florists. Just one or two bites from a lily can result in severe acute kidney failure in cats – even the pollen is thought to be poisonous!

How can you tell if your cat or dog has nibbled on one of these green toxic plants?  If a small amount was digested then mild signs of gastrointestinal irritation will be apparent, although if ingested in large amounts, collapse, hypotension, ataxia (walking drunk), and seizures may occur and you must immediately take your dog or cat to the emergency vet clinic for poison treatment. 

Toy Joy

Picture from Christmas Dog & Cat Serenade!

Always use common sense when it comes to purchasing toys for your pets.  You know your pet better than anyone else—so always remember that little toys or toys that can be torn apart and then swallowed can become lodged in your pet’s esophagus, stomach, or intestines.   If you have a dog that loves to shred toys, may we suggest the indestructible Kongs?  Our cougars and small exotic cats love playing with them plus they have the added benefit of stuffing the toy with healthy foods or chew snacks.

Long, stringy cat toys are a cat’s dream, but a real nightmare for you [think trip to the vet clinic again].  Ribbon, yarn, tree trimmings, and tiny decorations can get stuck in the pet stomach and digestive system and may require surgery to remove.  Surprise kitty with a toy that cannot be swallowed, like a large catnip mouse toy instead! 

As a reminder, toys should be picked up and put away after play so no accidental injuries or toy swallowing may occur when you are not around.

Delectable Leftovers!

Picture from Cats That Pester for Food!

Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods such as chocolate, coffee, caffeine, grapes, raisins, avocados, Macadamia nuts, yeast dough,  raw/under cooked meat, eggs, bones, onions, garlic, chives, milk, salt, Xylitol (sweetener), and alcohol can make your pets very sick!  Keep an eye on your pets that like to steal food from the table, so that they don't accidentally ingest these no-no foods.  Pets can enjoy a “holiday” meal that is made for “pets” so you don’t have to worry about costly medical bills!

And Finally, Happy New Year!

As you count down the seconds to the New Year, keep in mind that stringy confetti can get lodged in a cat’s digestive tract, if digested, and may require surgery to remove.  Noisy noise poppers and horns can terrify dogs and cats, causing damage to their sensitive ears.  Best to start the new year by allowing your pet a quiet space of her own, with a soft bed, water and food, so she can also enjoy the New Year celebration too!

So here's to a safe and happy Christmas Season with your pets--may you and your pet avoid any visits to the emergency vet!

Our beautiful calendars will be available for pickup at our on-site Gift Store on Thursday, December 6th!  Each calendar costs $18 if you pick it up in person from our sanctuary's gift shop.  If you'd like to have a calendar shipped to you by standard mail, then the cost of the item is $18 + $3.00 (mail cost) for a total of $21.00 a piece.  So, for example, if you purchase a calendar for yourself and friend plus have them both mailed, then the total cost would be $21.00 x 2 = $42.00.

The In-Sync Exotics' 2013 calendar makes a terrific gift...so are you ready to order your special In-Sync Exotics calendar today?  Yes?  Great!  Here's how you can order:

Click HERE to pay by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express). Credit card payments can be made using our secure PayPal processor, so click on the "Donate" button to start the credit card transaction!

In the "purpose" box, please indicate the number of calendars purchased and where we should ship the calendar(s).  If shipping calendars to more than two destinations, you may have make separate purchases on-line so as to accommodate the text size of the addresses typed in the "purpose" box.

Remember, during the holiday season, mail takes a little longer in reaching its destination, so you'll want to order your calendars before December 16, 2012 so it will arrive before the start of 2013! 

If you want to pay by check, you can mail your calendar payment to:

In-Sync Exotics

PO Box 968

Wylie, Texas 75098

Remember to include the name and shipping address of the calendar(s)' recipient(s)!

We hope you enjoyed today's blog posting! Be sure to check back tomorrow for more fun and informative information about our exotic cats and their friends of In-Sync Exotics! Don't forget to let us know your reaction to this posting by clicking on one of the reaction buttons below--and share this blog posting with others please ~ Thank you!

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