Lansdale’s favorite feline is one pounce closer to becoming America’s Favorite Pet and winning $10,000 for his owners.
Charlie aka White’s Road Park Charlie, is, as of Thursday afternoon, in first place in the quarterfinalsof the national competition, sponsored by PAWS Foundation.
There is less than one week left to vote, as voting for semi-finalists ends March 21 at 10PM EST. You may vote once a day.
Voters can choose one vote for free, or $1 per vote. The website offers voters the option to donate $10 for 10 votes, $25 for 25 votes, and so on up to 250 votes, or make a custom amount.
The winning cat gets featured on the cover of "Modern Cat” magazine, along with the monetary prize.
White’s Road Park Charlie, as he is referred to by his owners, The Ortizes of Green Street, whose home backs up to the flora of the park, has his own marker on Google Maps at White’s Road Park in Lansdale/Upper Gwynedd, and his public Facebook grouphas more than 1,400 fans.
Read more on the history of Charlie here.
"He should be America’s favorite cat because he is already the suburb of Lansdale Pennsylvania’s favorite cat so why not take over the country,” wrote Kristin Ortiz in the entry form. "Due to his exploring the neighborhood and sometimes not coming home at night, neighbors suggested I make him a Facebook page to keep track of his whereabouts. The amount of followers became a huge surprise as apparently Charlie has more friends and acquaintances than I could have ever imagined! His chronicles are posted on Facebook daily by his many fans.”
The best thing about Charlie, to Ortiz and the community, is his free spirit.
"Charlie is an inside cat with a strong drive to be outdoors. We installed a cat door so he can come and go as he pleases which has created a whole exciting realm that Charlie explores,” Ortiz wrote. "Charlie stays around the neighborhood and is well loved and looked out for. Most of his time is in our local park, he also has certain homes he visits daily. He claims patio furniture as his own, has food bowls and toys at homes and even has sleepovers.”
According to Ortiz, Charlie does not have a favorite toy, but instead enjoys people – and food.
"He will join in on people’s picnic blankets at the park, get in on strangers’ family photos, sit on anyone’s lap that will have him for a nap, and hitch a ride in strollers of moms taking a walk,” Ortiz wrote. "He also enjoys stalking and pouncing on his brother Sonny.”
Let’s not forget Charlie’s appetite.
"He’s not picky about food, he tries any treat he is offered, will try to eat unattended ice cream, and has been known to steal turkey sandwiches from my 3-year-old son,” Ortiz wrote.
According to its website, PAWS Foundation, founded in 1967, is dedicated to helping cats and dogs and wild animals go "home” and thrive, be it a family room or a forest. The nonprofit uses donations to rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife and shelter homeless cats and dogs for adoption, according to its website. All in all, PAWS has helped and rehabilitated more than 270,000 animals.
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