HSVC: Be Kind to Animals Day

The Humane Society of Ventura County, located in Ojai CA,  hosted an event this weekend; Be Kind to Animals Day. Yet another effort on their part to educate and bring awareness to the local population about different types of animals, their needs, their personality types, and how we can better interact with them. However, this concept really does not apply to just animals we domesticate for our companionship and pleasure. We should all be mindful of what animals all over this world experience, what they are killed for, how they are used for testing, how we directly and indirectly impact their lives, and various other things that maybe we wouldn't normally think about. In other words, a good day to be kind to your fellow earthlings. Animals share this world with us and are deserving of our respect.

The event had everything from tree frogs and rabbits to snakes and skinks  accompanied by artwork made by kids from one of the local elementary schools. There were educators on hand to teach about the animals and kids got to touch and hold the animals while they learned. It was a lot of fun and I mostly enjoyed watching the kids learn about the reptiles as they carefully and cautiously considered whether or not they should touch the corn snake :) .

Nala and Bowman

Gilbert

Once again, I baked for the event as volunteers were needed to bring finger foods...and as usual  I reached out to my Bestie for ideas. She had a response for me within minutes and one of the first suggestions included the words "Peanut Butter and Jelly" and I had my first item.  As she has also been on a quest to find the best Chocolate Chip cookies, her other suggestion contained a link for some and I thought it would be a great time to try it out...and glad I did.

Decisions...Decisions..

 I hadn't really given any considerable thought to the potential stickiness of the situation (jelly + handling animals = eww) but it actually turned out fine and the treats were so delicious, that even I frequented the snack table :( perhaps more than I should have. Oh Well!

 

These were super delicious and I highly recommend them. The challenges I had (with this being my first time making this recipe) came first with the dough, which was the bottom of the dessert, and mine shrunk during baking and no longer filled the complete bottom of the dish/pan. This was challenging when it came time to add the layer of peanut butter which clearly then extended over the edge of the dough foundation. The instructions called to cut off excess and have it be just edge to edge and not let it go up the sides. I say-leave the extra cause it will shrink as it bakes. 

Also, for the crumble, I added a full stick of butter rather than the suggested 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) as it needed more binding power (flour to butter ratio).

 

 I did one pan of strawberry and peanut butter and one pan of mixed berry and peanut butter. Both were amazing. For the recipe, go to The Brown Eyed Baker.

Now for the cookies! YEA! This truly is an awesome recipe and while some of the cookies look not so pretty, they taste AWESOME! Crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I personally like the appearance of these with the texture of the dough and lumpiness of the chips underneath. I use Ghiradelli chips which are much bigger than say Toll-House chips. I modified the recipe and went with milk chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.

 

 For the recipe, go to: Savory Sweet Life

The day was a success and the event which was scheduled from 11 - 3 was still busy with people up till the end. I was impressed that upon arrival there was such a long line for the spay/neuter clinic and more impressed how many people turned out to support the Be Kind to Animals event.  The kids were excited, they participated, and I think everyone learned something they didn't know before. Here are some additional pictures from the event. Be well, take care, and support your local animal shelters- especially the NO-Kill ones :)

Spay and Neuter clinic

About our visitors

Bowman

Artwork from local elementary school kids

Snakes and Skinks artwork

FOTM & HSVC collaboration

Artwork from local elementary school kids

Educator Aimee French with Noodle, the corn snake

Humane Society of Ventura County: Howling at the Moon

You might be wondering why a baking blog has a post up for the Humane Society. Well, as an animal advocate and a new volunteer member to the Humane Society of Ventura County, I am assisting with a benefit concert by making cookies!

The Humane Society of Ventura County is a no-kill shelter that was established in 1932 by a group of dedicated animal lovers whose mission it was to provide care, protection, and adoption service for needy animals who desperately needed a forever home. In 1986 they opened a Spay and Neuter Clinic dedicating themselves to the personal mission of Harry Valentine, a local resident and advocate who donated over 2.3 million dollars, that every animal in Ventura county should be spayed or neutered thus preventing ongoing breeding and overpopulation of homeless, suffering, and unwanted animals. Now in 2012 the Spay and Neuter clinic has expanded and is under construction and hopes to do up to 40 surgeries a day.

 

 

The Humane Society offers educational training to schools and youth organizations teaching children that they are never to young to care for and respect all life. They even offer 'Pet Therapy,' bringing animals into assisted living homes and hospitals so that people who are confined can feel the love and companionship of our wonderful furry friends.

This weekend on February 18 from 7 - 9PM, Soul Centered in Ojai, CA, will be hosting a special presentation by 'The Ojai Songwriters Anonymous' who are credited with having provided a safe haven for local songwriters to create, perform, and record original music for audiences for ten years. Who better to sing for our beloved animals ? All songs performed will honor animals and the proceeds will benefit the animals. Along with some door prizes, there will be desserts (yea- cookies).

The cookies I am preparing for this event are Martha Stewart cookies. Now whether you like her or not, her cookies are good and I for one make a lot of her cookie recipes. The recipes for the cookies I am providing are linked here:

• Mexican Hot Chocolate
• Pecan Sandies
• Hawaiian Snowballs

The Humane Society is always in need of donations and support of any kind. Please visit their site and learn more about the wide range of services they have to offer and if you can, swing by their donation page and drop a couple bucks if you are able to spare it.  If you are local, they can always use blankets, rugs, and various other items that you can drop off.

Thank you so much for your support! I thank you and the animals thank you. We have to stick together and help our fur babies and save animals in general from a life of suffering and loneliness. 

  

 A big shout out to the staff and volunteers of the HSVC! Thank YOU for all that you do. Working in a non-profit sector is a labor of love - for real! Most people realize that if you are working in a non-profit, chances are you are not motivated by money but by a compelling need to service from the heart and soul. The world is a better place because of you.

A very special Thanks to my best friend and roommate, Andy, for all his help this past week in prepping everything and in cleaning up my mess that I left behind today. I love you- you are a rock star.

If you live in California, check out the new license plates in support of animals. The California Pet Lover's License Plate will provide a large scale, permanent funding source for spay & neuter programs. These free and low-cost programs are desperately needed to help address the unnecessary killing of so many dogs and cats in California.

And because this blog is primarily about animals (a little about cookies), no way will I sign off without posting pictures of my rescued kids!

My first cat - Beast ( how I miss him)

Michael - Mommy's Handsome King

Hailey- Mommy's Princess

and my crush...

Morgan- cutest little dude in the world

Thank you again. Be well, be safe, be happy and most of all, love your pets!