Parting Words

During the last three years, you have listened to our opinions about a few things.  We firmly believe that the best pets are “rescue” pets.  All across the country, millions of animals of all breeds, sizes, and ages are waiting for homes.  Many of them will be euthanized because no one wanted them.  If you are considering a pet, we encourage you to look at your local animal shelter or rescue group. 

We know that some people are adamant about getting certain breeds and really do not like the whole shelter experience.  We can understand that.  Rescue pets might not be for everyone.  PLEASE adopt from a responsible breeder if you do this.  Do not support a pet store, where most of the animals come from puppy mills. 

Visit www.akc.org for a list of breeders for the particular breed you want.  Be sure to thoroughly research the breeder.  Just because they have the AKC designation, it does not necessarily mean they are responsible.  Do your homework.  You are starting a lifelong relationship.

And, for those of you who have pets, please be kind to them.  You are their world.  Your actions define how they see other people and how they will react to similar situations in the future.  Please use positive training methods.  Please provide them with the best food and vet care you can afford; it is an investment that will help them later in life.

If times get tough, we encourage you to seek help from your local rescue group.   Lots of people have turned to them for support.  There is no shame in doing it.  In fact, they would prefer you keep your pet and want to do whatever they can to help you. 

We appreciated the opportunity to talk to you these last three years.  Who knows?  We might pick up again in the future.  For now, we are going to sign off by asking you to hug your pet for us.

Best wishes and furry kisses,

Rescue Mommy, Rescue Daddy, Kiki, and Gracie

The Joys of Pet Ownership

It is 2:30 a.m. A fierce thunderstorm is raging outside. Flashes of lightning illuminate the bedroom. Thunder shakes the windows. Gracie is terrified.

She paces back and forth on the bed, panting and shaking. No matter what we do, nothing consoles her. Finally, she dives under the covers and claws her way to the foot of the bed. Occasionally, she pops out from under the covers and resumes her pacing routine on the bed. This little dance continues for the next hour.

It is 6:30 a.m. Kiki barfs a monstrous hairball near the bed. Gracie clamors to get off the bed, wanting to investigate. After many frantic shouts of “NOOOOO!!!” she desists and settles onto the bed.

It is 7:10 a.m. After an unsettled night’s sleep, I stumble into the living room. Gracie shows me that one of the cats has left a revenge poo-poo near her dog bed. Nice.

I wrestle with Gracie for a few minutes as I try to wiggle her into her harness. We go for our morning walk, which lasts almost an hour today. The storm has apparently washed away the pollen and exposed lots of fascinating smells. Also, Gracie must scold the evil dogs across the way for several minutes. She puffs her chest, snorts, and growls in her best Rottie imitation.

So, I ask you: are you truly ready to become a pet owner? The above is just a small glimpse of what you will experience. Yes, pets enrich our lives and bring so much joy. You also have to deal with the dirty, messy stuff, just as you do in your own life.

If you have a cat, kitty litter will be sprinkled throughout your house like magical fairy dust. Thanks to hairballs, cats barf far more than dogs. Projectile vomiting seems to be their favorite way of doing it too. Last weekend, someone decided the living room curtains needed a “stripe.”

If you have a dog, you must provide her with plenty of exercise and potty breaks. A consistent schedule reduces accidents. Are you prepared to stick to that schedule, even after a night I described above?

Pet ownership is a serious commitment. You are responsible for another life. We hardcore pet owners liken it to having children. So many pets are being surrendered because their owners can no longer afford them. I wanted to address the costs and present some ideas that might help you keep your pet.

If you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, please review the blog this week. Thank you for listening!

Rescue Mommy & Daddy