Adopt, Don't Shop!

Welcome back, readers! I hope you and your furbabies have had an awesome couple of weeks!

First, I’d like to start out by sharing some GREAT NEWS out of Arizona!! http://bit.ly/byebyeBSL

Next, Diesel wanted to make sure he got a mention in tonight’s post by promptly throwing up as soon as I sat down to write… in. my. bed. I guess pet parenting can’t be ALL fun and games! (He is fine now.) 

So, with the washing machine as my background music, I'd like to share some information on one of my favorite topics: animal rescue! 

If you're in the market for a new pet, Petfinder.com is my favorite site for rescue.  Petfinder lists pets from all different organizations, so you don't have to wonder if you're missing out on someone special. You can search by type, breed, age, gender, location, and more. You can specify whether you need a pet that gets along with dogs, cats, and kids. Another great feature is that you can search by pet name, which is helpful if 1) you have lost a pet or 2) you saw a pet you liked but can't remember where! <--- Yup, I've done it!

If you're considering buying a pet, consider this: I did a search of adoptable dogs within 100 miles of my zip code (with no other search filters) and there were 3,251 results. 

Let's take a minute to let that sink in. 

Over three thousand dogs in just this one small area... I try to multiply that by the area of the U.S., and I get so overwhelmed I cry. Cats are even higher - over 3,600. I did another search for all of their animal listings (yes, you can rescue a horse or a snake!) and there were over SEVEN THOUSAND. 

Seven thousand living, breathing, creatures who need a home.

I understand why people use breeders; I really do. They want to know where their pets came from, want the bloodline, want to be more confident that their pet won't have health issues (which is a ridiculous claim, by the way... and are you really going to RETURN your puppy!?? But I digress.). 

But seven thousand is such a HUGE number... and have you SEEN their faces?

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I know, I know, you didn't come here for me to make you cry. Many people simply don't realize the sheer number of pets that are in shelters. Even if you aren't in a position to adopt a pet, you can still foster, volunteer or donate! And you don't even have to part with your hard-earned cash - shelters are in constant need of things you might throw away without a second thought: newspapers, blankets, towels, and old t-shirts! Speaking of t-shirts, you can also shop at websites that donate to shelters and rescues, like The Animal Rescue Site.

If you're interested in learning more, here's a link to some staggering statistics provided by the ASPCA.

If you would like some help finding a rescue or shelter near you or have any adoption/rescue or fostering questions, please feel free to contact me on Facebook or Twitter! I follow a ton of rescues and would be happy to help. 

Thanks for reading!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

In spirit of mother's day, I'd like to share something i wrote about the role and responsibilities of being a pet owner!

TO THOSE WHO SAY I'M NOT A MOM BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE HUMAN KIDS...

• I take them to the doctor for vaccinations (and Blue Cross doesn't cover it!)... and yes, their doctor went to a really good school (Go Green!) for a long time.
• I'd give up everything else to pay for their care (and have, unsuccessfully, and know that feeling of failure).
• I watch how much they eat and make sure it's healthy.
• I give them treats, but don't let them expect them for everything.
• I give them treats, but not too many lest they get overweight and/or spoiled.
• I expect good behavior, but let them know how much I appreciate it.
• I make sure they get enough exercise, even when I don't feel like it.
• I take them to the doctor when they just don't act right.
• I feel guilty when I am away from them for too long.
• I know when they don't feel well, even though they can't tell me.
• I can tell just by touching them that they have a fever.
• I notice when they have a new mark/spot/zit/growth.
• I hold them when they're having a bad dream or getting a shot.
• I say "You need to play outside while it's nice out!"
• I teach them how to behave and am proud when they do. 
• I forgive them when they don't.
• When they learn something new, it's the cutest thing ever.
• They do things I don't like, but I love them anyway.
• I tell them to sleep in their own bed, but let them in mine anyway.
• I clean up snot, spit, poop, pee, throw ups, and blood.
• I will sometimes want a smooch that they don't want to give me, and sometimes they give me a smooch that grosses me out, but we loves anyway.
• I teach them to be polite to strangers and play well with others.
• Knowing if I don't teach them right, others may be hurt.
• Knowing even if I do teach them right, they can make their own decisions that I may not like.
• If others are mean to them, I protect them.
• I like them to learn from others, but want them to listen to me first.
• I hope I taught them well enough to behave when I'm not around.
• Our respect is mutual and never assumed, but earned.
• I can show them I love them even though they can't understand me if I tell them.
• I worry about them when we aren't together.
• I worry about them when we are together.
• I want everyone else to love them as much as I do.
• Everything they do is adorable. Don't argue.
• I turn down and cancel events and responsibilities so I can be with them.
• I go to a job I don't love every day so I can afford to care for them.
• I won't date anyone who doesn't love them.
• I turn down vacations because I only trust one person to watch them.
• If I do go on vacation (or even out for the night!), I miss them and just want to come home so we can cuddle.
• I won't get that new place/move to that city/take that new job because it won't work for US.
• I'll lose my job, my car, my home, and anything else before I would give them up. We will be homeless wanderers, but at least we will be together.
• Losing them is by far the worst thing imaginable, and I will never be whole without them.

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If you would like to share some of your favorite parts of being a pet owner, Email Me Here!!

Doggie Discrimination

Today I would like to share some information that makes my puppies and I very sad! 

Three little ol’ letters… BSL. Such small letters, but they mean BIG problems!

BSL (technically) means Breed-Specific Legislation.

But what does it really mean, exactly?

Basically, BSL is bigotry... for dogs.

BSL means you can’t buy a house in certain cities if your dog looks a certain way… unless you’re willing to get rid of her.

BSL means if you get caught with a dog that looks a certain way in a certain city, animal control can take him from you…and kill him. THIS IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION. <----- (click me)

BSL means you could be held to higher standards, have to spend more money on higher fences, and pay higher insurance deductibles if your dog looks a certain way.

When I bought my first house, I had not fallen in love with pit bulls yet. I looked at many, many houses in Waterford, MI, as I was drawn to the lakes. I ended up choosing a home in a neighboring city, not knowing it would be one of the best choices I ever made! You see, a few months later I started looking to adopt my first dog, and I fell in love with pitties. During the adoption process, I had to promise I would take my dog to the vet, keep up with his license, and preferably fence my yard. No problem! Keeping my dog safe and healthy was a no-brainer.

But then they asked me… “What city do you live in?”

“Auburn Hills,” I said… “why?”

“Well, because you can’t have a pit bull in certain cities, like Waterford.”

“Why not?”

“Well…”

WHY NOT? Honestly, I don’t even know where to start with this. It’s infuriating. BSL exists because some people believe everything that is shared on the internet. It exists because people hear of one bad experience and assume every dog will behave the same way. Do you know what we call people who make those types of assumptions about humans?

Bigots.

Check out the puppy’s photo in the beginning of the article below. Looks evil, doesn’t she?

ASPCA and BSL

Unfortunately, some people believe that this dog will grow up to be a vicious killer regardless of how she is raised. (If you're interested in reading the ASPCA's entire position statement on BSL, you can find it here.)

Now, I will admit that this is an emotional topic because it's very personal. I have two pit bull mixes (by the way, "pit bull" is not even a recognized breed of dog, but a general term used to include multiple breeds) who are the sweetest, most loving and fun dogs on the planet. It makes me terribly sad that people who have never met them are afraid of them, and that I am prohibited from living in certain areas unless I am willing to give them up.

Well, this is what my dogs and I have to say about that:

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I focus mainly on pit bulls because they are the most common target of bad publicity and BSL, and because I have two. However, if you're considering a move and have ANY of the following breeds, you might want to do a quick internet search before you put your deposit down (from this site):

"American Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Dalmatians, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers … even Chihuahuas and Shar Peis (or dogs that just look like any of the above)." <----- which, in many cities, can be determined by an animal control officer!!

This is just a small sample list from one site and is by no means all-inclusive.

I could go on about this for days, but I'm a student and I need to sleep sometimes! I know this is a highly controversial topic, so I will just close by saying if you are unfamiliar with BSL, please take a few minutes to read about how it affects families around you. And if you are afraid of pitties or have any questions, drop me a note and I will be happy to arrange a meet and greet with my adorable puppies :) or answer anything I can!

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