Friday, November 7, 2025
We wonder how many of our readers have thought lately that all we do is promote local businesses that concern animals. But it does seem to be the case.
However, it is the holiday season and we are trying to promote awareness to our readers about topics and businesses that you may not know of.
One we just learned of is Spada Creation in Lacey. It is owned and run by Taylor Spada-Ball and her mother Kimberly Spada.
It has to do with pets, of course, but they turn your pet into a beautiful work of art! For a holiday special, they are doing a 10 inch by 10 inch canvas photo for $25. They display your pets in a meaningful and thoughtful way with a one-of-a-kind pet portrait on canvas.
They use high quality canvas and heat transfer vinyl to create a custom illustration that both you and your pets will approve of. Send them a photo of your pet or pets and they will do the rest. They do give you tips on the best photos to send on their website.
They make other wonderful gifts, and they can commemorate a beloved lost pet also. They do photos on all kinds of gifts. They can also put photos on slate coasters, tote bags, doormats, mugs, signs, ornaments and more.
It usually takes about one to three days to have it ready for delivery to your house, any local location or it can be shipped.
You can contact Spada Creation at: https://spada-creation.square.site, Facebook page – Spadacreation, email: Spadacreation@gmail.com or call 360-867-8427 .
Don’t miss the Spada Creation booth at the 4th annual Holiday Market at Jester Auto Museum in Chehalis on Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Another shout-out is for Mud Bay’s campaign for donations to Pacific Northwest (PNW) animal shelters this holiday season. They need your help to maximize their fundraising impact. Mud Bay’s headquarters are located in Olympia.
Mud Bay dedicates over $1 million in donations annually to 65 PNW animal welfare organizations. But we all know the holidays are when our local rescues need the most support, as fundraising and donations are limited and shelters are already overrun with capacity challenges.
It’s no secret that the last few years have been especially challenging for animal welfare organizations and shelters across the country. Record numbers of pets have been entering shelters.
"This year they are really focusing on taking care of all the pets looking for their forever homes," said Shelter Programs Manager Justin Anderson.
When shoppers purchase food for their own pet either online or at one of their stores, those brand partners will make a corresponding donation to Tons of Love. Mud Bay uses its delivery system to get the items to shelters.
Mud Bay is looking to propel record-breaking donations, including 15 tons of pet food, to local animal shelters this holiday season through their Tons of Love campaign. This is a collaborative effort between Mud Bay’s longtime pet food manufacturing partners, Mud Bay customers and Mud Bay’s donation match of $30,000.
Also, each of Mud Bay’s 65 locations in the PNW have Giving Trees available from now until Dec. 31. Each Giving Tree contains an organization’s donation tags that shoppers can select and donate a specific item from the wish list of one of the animals in their care.
These donations go directly to the partnered organization in the community. Mud Bay’s Giving Tree campaign is literally a lifesaver. The donations they receive fill shelves, allowing shelters to provide quality meals to homeless animals in the shelters and support pets in need in our community.
Also, Mud Bay will match Giving Tree donations —up to $30,000 — to help shelters get food and supplies for the holidays.
They believe this is an important effort for our community to hear about, as it greatly impacts thousands of animals in need in our community.
This information was given us by Justin.Anderson@mudbay.com.
To get more information on Tons of Love and Giving Tree donations: https://blog.mudbay.com/blog/2024-tons-of-love-holiday-giving/.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Sometimes it’s just nice to relax, and what better way to do that than watching some of the Christmas specials from our youth, which always seemed to include one or more of our furry friends.
Unfortunately, one of the streaming services bought the rights to “A Charlie Brown Christmas," so it will not be on network TV this year. No Snoopy, Woodstock and the Peanuts gang along with the incredible soundtrack of Vince Guaraldi. Oh, good grief!
It just wasn’t Christmas without Burl Ives’s snowman telling us the story of the most famous reindeer of all, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."
What a great story of a little reindeer who just felt like he didn’t fit in. A wonderful story with such a happy ending. If you missed it on Dec 6 NBC will have an encore on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.
And it’s just not Christmas without watching “How the Grinch stole Christmas." Of course, we are referring to the 1966 animated version narrated by Boris Karloff.
The scene stealer is Max, the grinch’s faithful and loyal canine companion. It is shown numerous times during the month on a variety of stations with a Christmas Day showing on NBC at 8 p.m.
Honorable mention (No pets, just fun to watch)
"Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol" (1962)
"A Christmas Carol" (1951) with Alastair Sim
Well, we at the Thurston Pets Project will be taking the rest of the year off so we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! See you in The Jolt next year on Jan. 8.
Paws for Thoughts: “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, 'God bless us, every one!'"
- “A Christmas Carol” - Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870)
Thom Donitz and Trish Lynn are neighbors and close friends who share their love of animals and wildlife. Trish and Thom are residents of Tumwater. Contact them at pets@theJOLTnews.com.
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JHermes
Thanks for the shoutout to Max, the Grinch's dog. I found a children's book (not by the late Dr. Seuss, but in his style) called "I Am Max" re-telling the Grinch story from Max's point of view.
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