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‘Crazy Cat Lady’ or Animal Actionista?

November 03, 2009, 3:35PM MT

By Denise LeBeau

The world is flat: fun, networking and innovation lead the way in animal rescue

Winning inage from No More Homeless Pets of Utah's photo contest The following are some of the definitions that pertain to the term ‘crazy’ as supplied by Merriam Webster online dictionary, when talking about your typical ‘Crazy Cat Lady’:

2 c : being out of the ordinary : unusual
3 a : distracted with desire or excitement b : absurdly fond : infatuated c : passionately preoccupied : obsessed

Pat De Wald is all these things and more. She is not freakishly erratic or any of the more negative connotations of ‘crazy’ and thus these definitions have been left out.

The longtime Best Friends’ Floridian member and animal advocate took the prize for Crazy Cat Lady! It’s official, as Flattypatty - her alter ego - has actually won the 2009 Crazy Cat Lady Club photo contest held by No More Homeless Pets of Utah. Which is quite an honor as NMHPU has some of the most dedicated ‘crazy cat ladies’ on the planet. Why their own executive director, Holly Sizemore, has been known to don a giant cat costume and spend a day in an oversized cage in public, to help spread awareness. (For photographic evidence, please click here.)

left to right: Frankie Prouty, Jean Shea, Pat DeWald, Carrie Fagerstrom & the Network Fairy, Joy Moffat, 2nd row

Pat has been visiting and volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Society for the last six years and has been making the trek twice a year since 2004! She used to visit sans entourage, but in the last few years, she’s been packing up with other crazy cohorts from around the country. Her clowder of crazy cat people include: Marti Lombardi, Frankie Prouty, Carrie Fagerstrom and Jean Shea (some of this gang met while rescuing a dog named Erica, click here for that story from Ladies Home Journal).

Seriously Crazy Fun

This gang, aka ‘Joy’s Crazy Network Ladies’ (comprised of nine members when including Best Friends’ bandleader – Joy Moffat), show up twice a year in Utah to muck, clean, socialize and feed at the animal care areas around the sanctuary. This year they took a quick break from the volunteer circuit to participate in the Howl-o-ween costume party and competition at Best Friends, and they won Best In Show! (Click here for images and story.)

But during one of the visits in 2007, Pat had a scheduling conflict. What’s a gal to do? Not miss out on any of the fun! So Flattypatty was created to be part of those festivities. She’s been an animal advocate as well as a bit of a party animal ever since!

“I’m surprised that anyone would label me as ‘crazy’. I really feel that felines should be considered community cats and not feral cats. I don’t consider myself ‘crazy’ or ‘obsessed’,” Flattypatty shared. Pat DeWald, Flattypatty and Best Friends' Founder Faith Maloney

Pat DeWald, Flattypatty and Best Friends' Founder Faith Maloney

“Getting to No More Homeless Pets is a serious subject but if you lose sight, if you take the fun out of animal welfare, you’re missing the mark. Fun is the punctuation for a serious thought!” Flattypatty profoundly exclaimed.

When Flattypatty is not helping out around the sanctuary or helping to care for Pat’s rescued cats, she can be found helping animals through social networking on Facebook and the Best Friends Network, as well as being a junior Best Friends Ambassador. She helps run the Lodge Dogs of Best Friends group on the Network, and rumor has it she wants to adopt Theresa.

Let’s Get Crazy

The term ‘crazy cat lady’ was also the sub-theme for this year’s No More Homeless Pets conference. Julie Castle, executive director for Community Programs and Services at Best Friends, highlighted the great work of all the ‘crazy cat ladies & men’ that have made it possible to save 20 million more homeless pets per year, compared to 25 years ago. She presented by name, many of the leaders in the movement – and every single one, was and is, a crazy animal person. She then called on the crazy cat people, crazy dog lovers to lead the way to No More Homeless Pets. With healthy animals still dying in the shelter, there’s no time for resting on our laurels. (Click here for finale story and video.)

Crazy Cat Lady Starter Set (cat snuggy not included)

Get the inside scoop! Check out the No More Homeless Pets conference group to get some new ideas on how to get crazy serious and proactive for the animals! Click here.

‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed crazy cat ladies can get to No More Homeless Pets; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does’ - the lesser known Margaret, 'Manx' Mead

Images by Pat DeWald and Best Friends staff

Comments

Posted November 06, 2009, 12:20PM by dianaj

Pat is awesome!!! She is an inspiration and a wonderful lady! Go Pat!

Posted November 06, 2009, 12:39PM by bear1

Yay Pat! Great story and I am glad you won! Bissa (the cat) is too! he even suggests that you adopt Theresa. He'll tell your kitties how to manage a dog. Congrats Pat (FlattyPatty) Hugs from your Texas fans, Lisa, Bissa, Jiminy, Zinnia and Zephyr

Posted November 06, 2009, 1:17PM by Deb_Florida

Judy & I were just talking about you Pat; it's an honor to know you! Congrats on the win! Hope to see you real soon, you just make everything so much more FUN!

Posted November 08, 2009, 6:9AM by coralbay

Way to go Pat-you are an inspiration to us all!! Thanks- Kate Hungerford "I'm for Dogs" Georgetown DE SPCA Volunteer Volunteer & Fundraising Coordinator Best Friends Animal Society Member "Saving one dog won't change the world, but it will change the world for that one dog" "Within the heart of every stray, lies the singular desire to be loved"

Posted November 08, 2009, 10:23AM by marys

Pat, you are truly famous! Not only the Ladies H J story, but now all this!! What a wonderful example of someone doing amazing work for the animals while having so much fun!! Theresa is awaiting the next sleepover with you and the gals! I hope to get your autographs' soon....seriously! YOU ROCK!

Posted November 08, 2009, 1:38PM by JLM

Yay Pat, way to go!!! I love tabling with Pat and I always learn more ways to engage people and get them interested in Best Friends by watching Pat in action. Plus, she is so much fun to be around (some stories just have to stay in FL). Best Friends has a gem of a volunteer. I'm so glad that she's in FL and can't wait for the next event that Pat will be working.

Posted November 08, 2009, 7:33PM by dian01

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