Meet Mr. Smooshface
Humboldt Animal Rescue Team fundraiser features feline ‘office assistant' on T-shirts
Mr. Smooshface is the face of the Humboldt Animal Rescue Team’s Bonfire T-shirt holiday fundraiser.
“We were contacted by Bonfire. I believe they specialize in helping rescues … and nonprofits to fund raise through apparel,” said HART board member Gini Wozny. “… They were great. They took me through the steps, assured me that it wouldn’t cost us anything up front, and the best thing about it is that, because of the timing of when (Bonfire) called, we were able to get it done so people can order these shirts … and they’ll be shipped by Dec. 5.”
The shirts — available via www.humboldtanimalrescueteam.org — feature the Humboldt Animal Rescue Team name as well as a striking image of Mr. Smooshface, HART’s house cat who, in addition to being featured on HART’s Christ
mas cards, has his own Instagram profile.
“I sent (Bonfire) a couple of pictures of Smoosh and their graphic designer came up with some ideas and presented them to the board and they said which one they wanted,” Wozny said. “We chose the design and then that was it. … People order directly (from Bonfire) and we get a percentage of the profits.”
Baseball jerseys, T-shirts, tank tops, hoodies and more are available in different colors and in many sizes, each featuring Mr. Smooshface’s countenance. This special T-shirt fundraiser ends Monday.
HART also sells a variety of others items on its website on a regular basis, from Mr. Smooshface ornaments and puzzles to Humboldt Animal Rescue Team dog T-shirts and tote bags. All raise funds for the rescue.
The Humboldt Animal Rescue Team is a small, 100% volunteer-run animal rescue located at 8 W. Sixth St., in Eureka. The rescue — which specializes in cats and kittens, but occasionally has dogs or puppies available — is open Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. or by appointment by emailing humboldtanimalrescue@gmail.com. People are welcome to drop by during open hours to check out HART’s adoptable cats and kittens and to meet Mr. Smooshface, who was himself adopted out — then returned three times to HART — before becoming the rescue’s full-time feline “office assistant.”
“He does have besides the smooshed face — which actually is a bad thing that causes him all sorts of breathing problems and eye problems —irritable bowel syndrome and other things. He needs medication and he needs good care and we’re able to give that to him. … And he thrives here, so why send him somewhere again to get returned?
“This latest fundraiser,” she said, “is all about getting the love of Smoosh out there and helping fund the rescue at the same time.”
Right now, the rescue has many cats and kittens ready for adoption including — but not limited to — Lizzard, Saffron, Franks and Molly. All cats are spayed/ neutered before adoption, have been treated for fleas and worms, have had their first FVRCP vaccine and have tested negative for FeLV/FIV.
The Humboldt Animal Rescue Team is also part of the Bissell Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters” campaign, set for Dec. 14, Wozny said. Those who’d like to participate in this discounted adoption fee program are encouraged to get an adoption application form filled out prior to that day (available at www.humboldtanimalrescueteam.org or by stopping by HART during open hours) so there’s plenty of time to approve the application before Dec. 14. On Dec. 14, come in to HART to adopt a cat and pay just $25, plus $10 for micro-chipping.
“Bissell will pay the rest,” she said. “It’s a nationwide thing. They do it for shelters. … Their idea is to empty the shelters.”
To learn about the Humboldt Animal Rescue Team and to see animals currently available for adoption, go to www.humboldtanimalrescueteam.org. To watch Mr. Smooshface in action, check out the YouTube video on the Bonfire order page, also accessed via the HART website.