Cat Care is Foolproof  

( Denver, CO) November 2005 -- The newly-published third edition of "Cat Be Good" has been expanded and revised.

“There is no secret to getting cats to listen and behave,” according to Annie Bruce , author of Cat Be Good: A Foolproof Guide for the Complete Care and Training of Your Cat. Bruce says, “Cat behavior is very simple: Cats are like people. Diet and exercise affect our health and behavior. When properly handled and cared for, cats listen and learn with ease. You can train your cat!”

With this comprehensive book, you’ll learn a commonsense, humane approach to the care and training of America ’s favorite pet: cats. Cat Be Good provides all the information to train a healthy, happy cat without negative reinforcement.
With Cat Be Good, learn how to:
• Administer proper rewards and reprimands
• Solve hairball and litter box problems
• Teach cats to use the scratching post
• Train cats to come when called
• Prevent cats from leaving the yard
• Deal with shy or aggressive cats

Cat Be Good dispels cat-training myths including: why using a squirt bottle doesn’t stop bad behavior, saying “no” in the same sentence as a cat’s name is a “no-no”, and declawing a cat can end up costing more. With helpful hints, informative sidebars, and an easy-to-use format, Cat Be Good is the only reference you need to get the most out of your relationship with your beloved pet.

Annie Bruce is an Animal Radio Network personality and has owned and trained cats for almost 50 years. As a cat owner consultant, she has consulted with more than 500 cat owners. Animal Radio broadcasts world wide. Please visit www.animalradio.com. Bruce is owner of GoodCatsWearBlack.com and provides free helpful cat facts and tips on her website at www.goodcatswearblack.com.

In her book, Bruce stresses that, “Declawing hurts both cats and people. Pain and exercise affect cat health, welfare and behavior. Declawed cats urinate outside the litter box, bite people, and are un-wanted at higher rates than clawed cats.”

This newly-published third edition of Cat Be Good has been expanded and revised. The new size is easy to carry around. This book makes a great Christmas give for all the cat lovers in your life. Ask your favorite bookstore about Cat Be Good, or order by calling 1-800-258-0929, or online at www.adamsmedia.com.

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Immediate release — October 22, 2003

Author Shakes Booty for Scholarships at Motion Underground’s “Sketches of the Mind”

(BOULDER, COLORADO)— Annie Bruce, author of the award-winning book, “Cat Be Good : A Commonsense Approach to Training Your Cat”, will be one of dozens of performers appearing at Boulder High School at 6p.m. on Sunday, November 9th in Motion Underground’s production of “Sketches of the Mind”. Thousands have enjoyed performances produced by Motion Underground Dance Company at 2691 30th Street, Boulder.

At age 40, Bruce started dance lessons and has been dancing with Motion Underground since they opened in January of 1999. Dance instruction helped Bruce gain the ambition and confidence she needed to write and publish “Cat Be Good.” Overcoming stage fright through dance, Bruce now speaks in public to promote awareness of cats and how trainable they are. Bruce firmly asserts, “Cats are smarter than dogs and easier to train.”

Motion Underground’s Vital Signs Dance Troupe, June, 2003

Bruce is currently working with Sarah J. Salsich, Community Outreach Director for Motion Underground to raise dance scholarship funds for teens who need assistance. Salsich states, “Motion Underground has kept many kids off the streets. I believe that’s because we offer a highly supportive atmosphere to learn dance. Motion provides opportunities for all age groups to perform. But we need more support and contributions so that more kids can receive dance scholarships.”

Bruce and Salsich both perform in Motion’s mature dance troupe, “Vital Signs”. Bruce says, “Vital Signs is a special group of adults. We dance hip-hop. And we have a lot of fun practicing and getting ready for performances.” Bruce cheerfully adds, “Whether you dance at Motion or donate so that others can dance, we all win! I know that because of  dance, we build a brighter future for our children and community.”                                                                                  

Tickets are on sale at Motion Underground, 303-786-7660. For more information visit www.MotionUnderground.com or Bruce’s website www.goodcatswearblack.com.  Motion Underground is a non-profit company.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 14, 2003 

Declawed Cat Urine Runs Deeper Than Claws

(BOULDER, COLORADO)—“Declawing is the number one reason why cats urinate outside the litter box,” says Annie Bruce, cat owner consultant and author of the award-winning book, “Cat Be Good : A Commonsense Approach to Training Your Cat”. According to Bruce, “Cat Be Good” is the only book that lists specific help for the owner of the peeing declawed cat.”

“I get more than 25 times the number of calls about declawed cats urinating on sofas than I do about cats who scratch sofas. Contrary to popular belief, declawing does not save time, money, your home or your cat’s life. And it is NOT the ‘last’ resort. When a cat develops a litter box problem he will be locked in the basement, put outside, punished, abandoned, surrendered or destroyed.” Bruce recommends never owning a declawed cat, “Urine runs deeper than claws. With scratch damage, you can re-upholster the sofa. With extensive urine damage, you have to take the sofa to the dump. Also, declawed cats require exceptionally clean litter boxes, bite people, and often take drugs (pain killers, antidepressants, tranquilizers, steroids).”

Declawing is an amputation of the cat’s toes to the first knuckle of each joint, including bones, tendons and ligaments. Declawing is illegal in many countries including Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium and Spain. West Hollywood, California made declawing illegal on April 7th.  San Francisco is considering a similar ban.

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Immediate Release — July 17, 2003

Cat Expert Annie Bruce Speaks in Chicago—Warns Against Declawed Cats

(Chicago, Illinois)— Annie Bruce, cat owner consultant and author of the award-winning book, “Cat Be Good : A Commonsense Approach to Training Your Cat,” will be speaking about the litter box and biting problems of declawed cats in ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK’s Alfa-Dog Tour. Visit PETCO at 2000 North Clybourn on Saturday, August 9th between 11am and 3pm. All festivities are open to the public AND their four-legged companions. Look for the 40 foot long ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK broadcast vehicle at PETCO. ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK is offering free classes on “responsible animal guardianship” and “animal behavior modification” at each stop on their forty-city broadcast tour.

Annie Bruce, the owner of Good Cats Wear Black, a consulting firm in Boulder, Colorado,  says, “No one should bring home a declawed cat. Declawed cats pee outside the box, bite people, and are relinquished at higher rates than clawed cats.” But the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) claims there is no scientific evidence that declawing leads to behavior problems. Bruce disagrees, “The AVMA’s own research on declawed cats revealed that approximately a third of the cats suffered one or more post-operative behavioral changes. The major complaints were house soiling, biting and prolonged lameness. In addition, I get over 25 times the number of calls about declawed cats peeing on sofas than I get about cats who scratch sofas.”

Bruce says, “Urine runs deeper than claws. You can hide or repair scratch damage but urine damage can’t be concealed and can be very expensive to fix. Cat-urine soaked property usually ends up at the dump. Unfortunately, millions of declawed cats are dumped at shelters and abandoned in alleys due to worse behavior problems they develop after getting declawed. It’s safer and cheaper for people to adopt clawed cats only.”

Created in 2001, ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK is now the largest pet talk show in the country, airing in 70+ markets in the U.S. and Europe. ARN boasts 2 million weekly listeners. All advertising profits are disbursed to animal related non-profit organizations, including the ASPCA, Best Friends and Friends of Pets. For more information, visit http://animalradionetwork.com/.

Immediate Release — May 13, 2003

Animal Radio Show Coming to Denver—on Air, Road

(BOULDER, COLORADO)—  The not-for-profit ANIMAL RADIO NETWORK (ARN), starts broadcasting to Colorado radio listeners beginning May 18th. Pet lovers will learn more about animals on KDMN 1450 in Buena Vista; KWYD 1580 in Colorado Springs; KLMO 1060 in Denver/Longmont/Boulder; and KSKE 610 in Vail/Aspen/Breckenridge.   

ARN – On the road

Also, Animal Radio Network hits the road June 1 for their 2003 Alfa-Dog Cross-Country Tour. The classroom on wheels, affectionately called the  “Alfa-Dog,” will broadcast from forty (40) key cities during 2003. The nationwide tour will include photo sessions for adoptable animals.  Available pets will be posted on the Animal Radio Network website for the “Alfa-Dog Adoption Drive.”

 The year-long trek, created by ARN Founder, Hal Abrams, will feature day-long seminars for pet guardians, followed by question and answer sessions. Speakers include celebrities and animal experts such as Buddy Hackett, Spay/USA executive director Esther Mechler, Dr. Lowell Ackerman, Dr. Greg MacDonald, Annie Bruce and more.

On June 28th, ARN will broadcast live from Petco at 13750 E. Mississippi Ave, Aurora, CO.  Denver area pet experts will appear: Animal Planet’s Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald DVM; Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM of Little Big Cat; and award winning author of “Cat Be Good : A Commonsense Approach to Training Your Cat”, Annie Bruce will be speaking on the litter box problems of declawed cats. Bruce owns Good Cats Wear Black, a cat owner consulting firm in Boulder, Colorado.

Events in each city will be broadcast on Animal Radio Network. The primary mission of the tour is to reduce pet surrenders and unnecessary euthanasia of healthy animals through education.  “Knowledge is power. By educating humans about the importance of spaying, neutering, and responsible animal guardianship, we all have the power to reduce shelter surrenders and end the unnecessary killing of innocent cats and dogs,” says Abrams.

Visit http://AnimalRadioNetwork.com for a complete list of radio affiliates,