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Percy, an Indoor-Outdoor Cat

If you have a cat, you will probably hear a lot of different ideas about whether he should be an indoor-only cat, an indoor-outdoor cat, or an outdoor-only cat. An “indoor cat” is one that is kept strictly inside the house at all times. An “indoor-outdoor cat” is a cat that lives inside, but that is let out depending on the whims of the cat and the owner. An “outdoor-only cat” is one that is left outside of the house all of the time. (A purely outdoor cat might be a “feral” or wild cat, but for purposes of this discussion, the cats are domesticated pets.) There are many differing opinions, so I thought I’d interview a few people who own cats. Here’s what I heard on the subject:

LLB: “If there’s distance from the street and no predators about (like raccoons or coyotes), I’d say outdoors is fine for cats–as long as they come in at night! However, there are a lot of cats that do their share of killing birds. Even if they live partly on store-bought food and partly on mole or mice entrails, once they get a taste of Tweetie, the party’s over. These days I’m much more partial to indoor-only cats. I wouldn’t turn my cat loose outside, despite the fact that there is wonderful flora and fauna; there are just too many predators lurking out there.”

EW: “My cat likes to go outside to roam the neighborhood, hunt, eat grass, and observe activity. I think he also likes to experience the weather, even when it’s wet, cold, or snowy. The downside is that he can get fleas and tapeworm, and get dirty from the streets. He has also had a few run-ins with other cats. He brings in birds, chipmunks, and mice, both dead and alive. The upside is that he gets more active play time outside, and I feel like he’s less bored than if he were totally confined to the indoors. I would like to keep him as an indoor cat, except that he’s expressed so much interest in going out that I finally gave in. Now he has me trained to let him in and out whenever he pleases. A kitty door would help, although it would allow the transport of hunted animals into the house. I think you have to consider the personality of your cat, your neighborhood, and your tolerance for dealing with the hazards of an outdoor life.”

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Original story by James Henerson

At this moment, Barney, my golden doodle, is lying by my desk, looking up at me with that ‘Why aren’t you taking me for a walk?’ look in his big, fur-fringed brown eyes. It’s a habitual glance, and it never fails to stir just enough guilt so that, more often than not, I stop what I’m doing and take him for a walk. Little does he know that on this occasion I’m writing about just that, a walk taken four-and-a-half years ago.

Barney, or Barnes, Barnaby, Barnacles, or occasionally Poodle Paws, (depending on how whimsical I’m feeling), was my six-month old, fifty-pound puppy when I succumbed to one of those looks and consequently hooked on his leash. With his behind wriggling and his tail waving, we set out for Whole Foods, our local supermarket, some six blocks away in Sherman Oaks, California. With frequent stops for sniffing, marking, and once for a pooh stop, we made our way down my steep, curving driveway onto Kingswood Lane. We then made a quick right turn onto Woodcliff, which is a hillside route to the west side of Los Angeles for those wanting to avoid the 405 freeway (frequently a parking lot). We made another quick right onto Saugus, which crosses Valley Vista, and on past Sutton and Greenleaf into the Whole Foods parking lot. 

I tied Barney to a shopping cart with his leash, told him to stay, and hurried into the market. In defense of Barney’s future actions, I must admit that at six-months old, the doggie equivalent of a toddler, the command ‘stay!’ was not yet in his repertoire.

Before I could head for the check-out stand, a voice came over the loudspeaker. “Will the owner of a tan shaggy dog please come to the entrance?” A stab of instant fear. Oh my God, he’s been run down in the parking lot! The checker pointed. “He went that way!” 

That way, lay Sepulveda Boulevard, a major north-south highway, always crowded with speed-limit testing traffic. Fear transformed instantly into panic. I ran to Sepulveda, dashed twenty paces in one direction, twenty in the opposite. No Barney, but a shopper who had just parked in the Whole Foods lot pointed toward Saugus, mercifully away from Sepulveda.  “I think he went that way.” 

With my heart pumping and the adrenaline flowing, I sped up Saugus until I could see the end. No Barney, but there were several streets leading off from Saugus to the left. He could have decided to take any one of them. I was immobilized. What to do? 

I made a command decision. Run home, pick up my car, and canvass the neighborhood. At warp speed, I sprinted the last four blocks, arriving at the foot of my driveway near to cardiac arrest. Exhausted, palms on my thighs, girding myself for the final ascent, I heard a galvanizing sound: woof. 

And there, sitting in front of the entrance to the house, still attached to the Whole Foods’ shopping cart, having dragged it six long blocks through four unfamiliar turns, and up a steep driveway, the expression in his eyes said something like ‘Where the heck you been? I’ve been waiting here for hours’. It was Barney, the intrepid golden doodle with the internal GPS.  Lassie, eat your heart out.

Lisa and Jack

 Not really about dogs, but for prosperity sake… 

As President of Ecommerce for Jones TV, Lisa Petersen brings her considerable talent and entrepreneurial spirit to enliven the new media website. The online store she’s developing for JonesTV features the “Juz Jonesin™” line of products, and it is just the start of shopping opportunities for users of the new media website. Lisa will also lead marketing campaigns to promote the JonesTV offerings on different channels, such as JonesPetsTV and JonesSportsTV.

Lisa is spearheading the development of Juz Jonezin, which will provide viewers of the website with t-shirts and other related items. These online products are ripe for being sold on the budding website’s ecommerce store.

JonesTV couldn’t be happier to have Lisa take the lead in launching its ecommerce ventures. Lisa has long been an accomplished businesswoman and marketer in her own right. She turned an in-home jewelry sales sideline into a million-dollar blockbuster business with over a thousand women taking part in the sales force. She’s definitely a woman who thrives on challenge and receives recognition for her efforts.

Lisa’s business style is down-to-earth and unique. She supports the people who work for her by allowing them to do the things they love and the things they do the best. Her philosophy is that this approach usually goes hand-in-hand and results in companies that run seamlessly. Lisa believes in selling wholesome, all-American products and giving buyers the most bang for their buck to keep them coming back for more. It’s been a proven formula for success in the past, and she’s sure to replicate that success in the Juz Jonezin line of products that capture the spirit of JonesTV broadcasts. Stay tuned to see what other pals “Juz” will be paired with, as the “Juz Jonesin” family of characters grows with the website.

Also in the mix is Lisa’s collaboration with PETCO, a new sponsor for JonesTV, who she is hoping to work with on an ecommerce strategy.  Lisa is eager to start a merchandising campaign with them to feature Juz Jonesin t-shirts.

Don’t be surprised if Women in Film and  Women Business Owners  take notice of Lisa Petersen’s new venture. With two successful companies under her belt, Lisa stacks up to the competition. JonesTV Ecommerce has a winner in marketing and promotion for the online shopping experience that will be part of the JonesTV family of entertainment.