TIPS FOR PET ADOPTION

Pet adoption is getting more complex. Most changes are trying to protect the pet, but be sure to protect yourself too.

Adoptions that go wrong can be costly, emotional, and stressful for the family.

This is personally written by me to help others make the best adoption choices. Learning is sometimes done by living… or you find someone who helps you along.

Remember — pets take commitment and responsibility. Decide carefully.

Review the web for pet adoption tidbits.
I have found some great articles on pet adoption fit, pet type choice for your family, introduction of pet to a household, and adding a pet to your existing household pet(s).

Some pet types have more needs than others such as getting home from work in time to let a dog out to expel it’s bodily fluids outside – not in your home. Different animal breeds can have different (pre-disposition) characteristics such as temperament, possible health problems, and attention needs. Smaller pets such as hamsters, gerbils, or snakes need special care too.

Take time to understand the commitment and responsibility of the pet you want to adopt. This will reduce the need to return an unwanted pet.

Take your time with the pet adoption.
If you find a pet you like and you are not completely sure of the adoption – wait a day or so for that adoption.

If you are unsure, your instincts may be telling you there is something wrong with the adoption fit, the adoption group, or the pet health status. (Health issues may not be clearly visible at the shelter). Some adoption groups will allow you to FOSTER the pet before paying the fee. Kindly and gratefully accept the option to foster that pet!

Review the pet adoption contract.
Sometimes it’s best to review the contract before you pick a pet at that particular shelter. Why get your hopes up if the contract is non-workable for you.

Compare the written contract to what you understand to read on the adoption group website. Should you encounter problems, I would guess the written contract takes priority over the website.

Many contracts are now telling the future pet owners where they have to go for medical care of the animal, or notes like you can’t give away the pet to a family member or friend.

Review any BBB (Better Business Bureau) statements or cases on the pet adoption shelter/group you are considering doing a transaction with.
I found a shelter that is in association with another shelter that had reported problems, but at that point I was writing the check and taking the pet home. The name showed up at the top of the adoption papers. I was wrong to think it was not important. It’s better to be an informed ‘consumer’ than be surprised later.

Read and understand every line of that pet adoption contract.
Expecting you to care for your pet at their preferred vet can be an insult to your pick of your own vet. If you accept their terms — consider vet location in relation to your home. Auto travel can be stressful for a pet especially if a long distance ride, and especially if turns out to be a SICK pet. Many contracts don’t account for emergency medical treatment waivers. This can be detrimental in the time the pet needs or appears to need immediate medical attention. I found this situation arises when the rescue shelter is in association with a veterinary clinic.

Don’t accept verbal statements that contradict the written contract!!!
If there are problems that arise from the adoption, the adoption group expects YOU to abide by their written contract. They may NEVER reimburse your adoption fee should something go wrong.
Write in or cross off parts of that contract that don’t work for you. You will soon find out about the flexibility of that adoption group.

ALWAYS write on the adoption contract any issues the prior owner had on the pet.
Again verbals don’t stand much of a chance if you want your adoption fee back – that statement, however brief or seemingly non-issue can turn out to be a sign of an unidentified health issue in the pet.

After having encountering problems with adoption from a no-kill animal rescue shelter I felt the need to place this tidbit of adoption information out for others.

(This post was started in draft and may always be in draft. I may add relevant information over time.)

“Mottos” to pass along

Here are some mottos that are aimed at saving you some dollars. If all else, they will guarantee to annoy the family. (proudly passed down from my father!).

* “Close the door! You’re letting all the a/c (heat) out!” be sure to tell the person just as they are opening the door to head out of the house!

* “Turn off the light (radio/tv) when you leave your room! You’re wasting electricity!”

* “Where are you going now?” As your children try to escape the house. “You don’t need to go out and pay for a movie (dinner/coffee). Why do you need to go out to the movies when we pay for cable (have food in the frig/coffee in the pantry)?”

* “Stay home! You’re just wasting your money!”

* “Stay away from the mall! You’re wasting your money! People like you for who you are, not your appearance or what you own!” Gheesh, remember the taunts you got for wearing outdated clothing as a teenager?

* “Don’t run your car out just for one item. You can do without til your mother gets to the store!” Oh, the ode to mom for doing all those things for us kids. THANKS MOM!

* “You can wear that shirt/pant again, you didn’t spill anything on it. Don’t waste water and soap if it isn’t stained and doesn’t smell! Hang it in the closet for the next time you go out!” (Gosh dad, I did wear it before.)

Well that should give someone some laughs for the day. Repeat them often to ensure your children remember!

If I “remember” more of these classics, I will post them. And, they actually can save you money! LOL

Oh and, remember the days when we tape recorded our favorite tunes from the radio to listen to them in our cars?

I’m Disappointed!: MO rescinds funding for PBS/NPR

More job cuts and possible loss of quality education programming unmaimed by the ratings driven ad world.

I am disappointed that MO is rescinding the funding for PBS/NPR. Not only do I think PBS is good for children – it’s great for the rest of the family!

I would like to see cafeteria ‘vouchers’ for our tax dollars. For instance, those who do not have children in the school system could choose to apply their school vouchers towards another category of spending; community college, roads, library, or public TV/radio!!

Rising gas prices

Members of the current administration (republican) continue to accept the rise in gasoline prices – currently over 1.00 more per gallon than last year (2007). That is approximately a 50 percent increase over last year.

Americans are hurting, while the oil industry reports record profits.

The 2008 cost of living adjustment (COLA) given to retired individuals on social security was only 2.3 percent.

Many cannot keep up with the increase in utility and food costs. It is not a wonder why so many individuals feel forced into bankruptcy and foreclosure.

We need a vote for change – promoting well-being for society as a WHOLE.

KETC

I really enjoy watching PBS (Public Broadcast Service). It’s KETC.org, Channel 9, in St. Louis, MO.

Noted outstanding shows that air are Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley, Bill Moyers, Donnybrook, NOW, FRONTLINE… ok so my ‘favorites’ list can go and on.

It’s a great channel to find intellectual conversations without ‘fluff’.

I especially enjoy it because I don’t “have” to subscribe to cable to view it.

Let’s not forget the educational shows for children!! (PBSkids.org)

Please support KETC and encourage the educational funding of Public Broadcast Service – it is an outstanding service for the education of the entire public. Thanx

Revlon Professional Wonder Nail: a product I miss +++++

Does anyone know a replacement product for Revlon Professional Wonder Nail – penetrating care for fragile nails?

If I could even find the ingredient list somewhere maybe I could find a comparable product.

For many years I have misplaced this product in my home. I’ve found it again and want to know where I can purchase more.

I don’t like nail polish type products that discolor my nails and keep them from ‘breathing’. I want this same type of brush on conditioner. (My body is back in the phase of having weak nails.)

I also give this product a perfect rating.

An “All American” election or “All Minority” election?

Ralph Nader announces run for president.

There are different ways to differentiate the current candidates running for 2008 Presidential election, but I’m proud to be American and have the voting options we have!

America truly has Blessings. Appreciate them all!

Thank you to all the families and lives who have fought for this opportunity!

Not what I thought I was getting

Ok so I thought I signed up to wordpress to get an easy to use template and easy to use site. Well I’ve misunderstood it.

WordPress must be a software that is for programming gurus. Of which, at one time in my life, I would have revelled over.

I’ve given up most of my programming to enjoy other things in life. Like for example, I just spent 5 or so hours trying to go thru the support forums and documentation to find out why my categories changed in appearance. Gee, what could I have completed in that amount time, off of this computer??? A lot.

I found out that there must be something wrong with the parent/child relationship under categories OR my margins are messed up.

I tried to reselect the template with the hopes of getting the defaults settings back but that didn’t work. erghhh!

Ok, so then I googled for the original author of the template and found http://www.pikemurdy.com/quentin/.

I proceded to drag and drop the widgets exactly in the same order to see if my parent/child indents would return (all this for readability) but that idea didn’t work.

Ok, so I just went back to a layout that I seemed to like.

It will probably change in x amount of time… so you can check back for more absurd changes. blah, blah, blah, blah… blah.

Sad to say

I feel it’s sad to say that I don’t think our current leader understands the power of the brotherhood of some religions.  Seems there are other leaders trying to tell him but he must not be listening. 

If he understands the power of the elite and rich “good ole boy” network, then I would hope he sees that this is something much much greater than that.  Something that knows no boundaries – just as we are seeing in the news.

I don’t even keep up with all the political goings on but can see this power from observing people in public. 

My view is that there is a power of religion going on and we are being pulled into someone’s or some peoples’ religious battle.

It appears to me like some sort of ‘Hatfield and McCoy’ like feud.  Motivated not only by land battles, but religious viewpoints.  Appears that we are being pulled in to fight someone elses battle or at least contribute to the support of their feud.  As if they could be saying… ‘Hey Mikey, let’s get the Jones to do it for us!’  …coming from both sides.