Nietzsche is once again owning the spotlight.
The famous celebrity cat who "works" at The Book Man is gracing the pages of the fourth annual Chilliwack Cats for Charity calendar along with nine other felines.
This year, he's Mr. March and Mr. December. He's also featured on the front of the calendar, plus his furry ginger-coloured face will keep you smiling into January 2016 with the calendar's added bonus month.
The annual fundraiser put on by The Book Man brings in about $2,500 to $3,000 every year to help cats in need. This year, funds will go towards Ena's Community Cats, run by local cat lover Ena Vermerris.
Formerly with Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven, Vermerris now runs her own charity where people who cannot afford to take their cat to the vet can get help with spaying, neutering, deworming, flea and mite problems, and small injuries — all at cost.
"It's an incredible help, and it allows me to help people with a very low income, or those who are disabled," says Vermerris of the fundraiser. "I cut down the price of the spay and neuter so that it gets done."
Along with Nietzsche, the other working cats featured in the calendar include Martin from Video Tonite, Alex from Ann Davis Transition Society, Bailey and Ninja from Kim Mallory Studios, Daisy from Little Mountain Greenhouses, Jax from Sarah Sovereign Photography, Mr. Bibs from Minter County Garden, Frisky from Country West Supply, and Gatsby from the Abbotsford Book Man store.
Chilliwack photographers Ian Meissner, Sarah Sovereign, Leah Riley, Kim Mallory, and Nicole Kornelson, and Vancouver photographer Todd Holbrook took the images for the 2015 calendar.
The Book Man partnered with Marcom Signs and Graphics which printed the calendars at a discounted rate.
Amber Short, co-owner and manager at The Book Man, organizes the calendar every year. She's currently distributing them to some of the many local businesses where they'll be available for purchase. The calendars have even been sent overseas.
"They are going everywhere," says Short. "I just mailed three to Europe —one to England and two to the Netherlands."
The 2015 calendars cost $16.95 each, and all proceeds will go towards Ena's Community Cats.
"I can't thank Amber enough for what she's doing," says Vermerris. "I am very blessed to have this support."
"It makes me happy," says Short.
"Makes her happy? It makes me extremely happy," says Vermerris.
The 2015 Chilliwack Cats for Charity calendars are available at The Book Man (Chilliwack and Abbotsford), The Scruffy Tail Pet Food & Supplies, Raining Cats and Dogs, Animal House, Oly's Pet Connection, Minter Country Garden, Little Mountain Greenhouses, and Video Tonite.
Also available at The Book Man are cloth bags featuring two art illustrations of Nietzsche. Proceeds from the bags also go to Ena's Community Cats.
"Individually it's hard to see how you can make a difference, but collectively it happens and I can see it," says Vermerris. "It gives me an incredible amount of pleasure to do this."
If people want to suggest other working cats for the 2016 calendar, they can contact Amber Short at The Book Man at 604-792-4595.
People struggling financially and who need help with care or treatment for their cats can call Ena Vermerris at 604-858-9045, or 604-819-2727.