Smarm Moment: Please visit your local animal shelters this holiday season. Rec & Save A Life.

[Shardik]

And catch the bug.

And don't pick the cutest of the bunch.

Pick the skinny 10 month old who's been lost for months.

Pick the young cat who will be killed if you don't pick him.

Pick the ugliest animal in the room.

And take them home and love them and they will love you more. I promise.

But before you do, recognize the responsibilities you are accepting. Also know the rewards are great.

I just picked up a lab mix (3 days ago) as a buddy for my yellow lab and even with the fun problems (he ate half a dog bed) and it has been a geat experience for both my original only dog and myself.

So, think of our four legged friends along with those of us less fortunate. We all share this world together and we all can benefit from helping out where we can.

[tblue]

1. And remember it's COLD outside. If you can't adopt, then give time or blankets

or $$$, of course.

[Shardik]

48. Great suggestion.

They can use every dime they are given. To few people realize their dollar could mean life or death for a pup or kitten.

[EFerrari]

2. Two of the homeliest, most behavioral cats on this green earth live here.

And I couldn't do without them any more. lol

A :toast: for Bella and Friday, my homies.

[Shardik]

49. I understand completely.

and a toast back at you! :toast:

[ColbertWatcher]

3. Kick and rec. Thank you for your post. n/t

[ThomCat]

4. Kick this! Please remember the animals that need us.

I'm likely to soon have 2 cats and 3 dogs in my apartment, when my next roommate moves in with her 3 awesome, loveable dogs, so I'm tapped out in my 2 bedroom apartment. Lots of love here. :loveya:

I can't imagine now hating at least one or two animals at this point. They really do make every day more loving and joyful. There is work involved, but the love makes it worthwhile.

Do you have this kind of love in your home? Could you? :)

[Mari333]

5. 2 more kittens on the way to my home as you type

friend found them with 4 other ones in the cold. now i will have 4 cats. oy. but they arent going to end up euthanized. they are coming here. got the front porch all ready, cozy and warm beds, litter box, food. i will give them a little time to transition.
i am poor but if i can do it anyone can. its the best investment you can make. they become your friends, all the little ones.now i am the



merry holidays

[tblue37]

22. My brother and his wife took in a pregnant young stray,

so now they have six cats. They are going to try to find good homes for the kittens, but I suspect they will keep any they can't place.

I have three cats myself--all rescues.

[Quantess]

6. I adopted a skinny, sickly looking Rottweiler because he knew a lot of commands

and he seemed better trained than the other dogs in County Animal Control. He had been abandoned and was homeless, which is why he looked so scrawny and rough, with missing fur. He had probably been roaming the streets for a long time before he got picked up. He regained his health quickly, and he eventually got a lot of compliments on his looks, but at the time, I had my doubts that he would ever be a good looking dog. I adopted him despite his sad appearance, but it turned out to be temporary condition. He was an extremely loyal dog.

I knew someone must have paid a lot for him as a puppy, since he was obviously a purebred dog. Someone socialized him and trained him, yet his owners most likely abandoned him.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. We have three parrots, we are tapped

and they take ALL my attention

Two sleeping as I type, the third is playing around

[Shardik]

9. I used to train Macaws...

And have the scars to prove it. They are every bit as viable a companion and friend as a dog or cat. Filled with personality and love if you are willing to take the time to prove it to them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I put my limit on size with the Nanday.

He's big enough with a large enough beak

He KNOWS he's a bird, the other, two, were hand raised and believe they are kids...

Tomorrow we all are going to play with the top and some chips, it's Hanukah after all, and yes they are family

[Shardik]

14. I'd rather be bitten by a Macaw than a Conure.

A macaw's beak is more like an anvil. It's great for fruits or large nuts with thick heavy husks. A conure's beak is much sharper and will cut right in.

When a Macaw is telling you he's not happy, he'll clamp down and use his lower mandible as a grinding machine moving left and right in the pinch. A conure doesn't have to do that to us mere hoomans. They'll cut right in.

And the way I was trained was to never use gloves past the very first and just take it to show the bite will not deter you from the training you are trying to accomplish. The only acceptable rebuke is to blow on them.

Good luck with your new buddy!

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. They are not new, tuky, the cockatiel, is our 20 something senior citizen

cooky, the nanday, is sixteen and the "kid" is connie, the sun conure, only eight years old

Over the years we have been seldomly been bitten and the vet told us when they clamp down, pull up... the muscles cannot hold the pressure, plus they hate it

He's an avian vet, and a great doc

[Shardik]

25. n the SE, Avian docs are down here but hard to find.

I recently rescued a raptor and got to meet a great one 30 miles away.

[Oak2004]

43. I'm accounted for too

In a small apartment I can afford only one owner (and there's little doubt who owns who when it's a Quaker):



He's the descendant of two electrical pole rescues in Florida.

http://stopkillingtheparrots.com/

[jgraz]

51. Thanks for mentioning companion birds

Sometimes I feel they get the shortest end of a very short stick. We have six foster birds now, and we'd take in more if we had the room.

Here's a couple of our newest visitors, Clipper and Anza from the wild San Francisco flock.

[Shardik]

58. Awwww.

They look like two happy pals.

[earth mom]

8. I recently found a home for a plain gray manx kitten & I was thrilled that someone wanted him!

We have a small family of manx cats (2 are pets) with a couple of feral ones that give us kittens. (cannot catch them to get them fixed-yet!) These cats are the BEST cats I've ever had, but a few of the kittens have been black or gray which aren't the easiest to find homes for. I was just about to take that kitten to the Humane Society in another city that has an excellent success rate, but met a lady in line at the local Target who'd lost her 14 year old cat 6 months ago who wanted the kitten sight unseen. It was a great feel good moment to give that kitten to a loving family. Although I also know that the Humane Society would have found a good home for him too-so thanks for the thread! :thumbsup:

[Quantess]

15. black and gray kittens are harder to find homes for?

I had not heard that.

But a tail-less cat would get snapped up quickly, I would think. :)

[Hekate]

65. I recently read that black dogs in shelters don't "show" well: they blend into the shadows...

When photographed, their expressions don't show up. In the kennel, they fade into the shadows. They end up staying a long time.

The rescue outfit the story was about took extra care with the black dogs by moving them to the better-lit kennels and putting bandannas around their necks.

I have a gorgeous all-black kitty, but I long ago gave up trying to photograph him because with my minimal skills none of his beauty ends up in the pic. Same with my son's late Lab-mix.

Hekate

[Quantess]

69. Do not find a new home for an all-black cat in the weeks before Halloween!

Solid-black cats disappear around Halloween, never to be seen again.

My brother's black cat vanished at Halloween, and I have heard of this happening to other black cats as well.

[Hekate]

73. In our cat's long life the only night he MUST stay indoors is Halloween. No need to take chances. nt

[Quantess]

79. Locking him indoors around Halloween may have been what's kept him alive over the years.

You might even consider keeping him inside for a few days before Oct 31st. There just may be a determined sicko who plans ahead, before kidnapping and "sacrificing" a black cat.

It's horrifying to think about, but I just don't want anyone else to lose their black cat to an animal torturer.

[roody]

42. Maybe the shelter will loan you a trap for the wild kitties to get them fixed.

[mahina]

11. We just picked up a dog for my Mom, and he turned out to be

the phantom crapper. Holy Moses, that dog takes like 15 dumps a day, all over the house. He's a year old. Someone really traumatized this little guy. We're calling him Poopsie, though he started out as Buddy.

Oh, and he throws up too. Gad.

Edited to say that our sainted Vet is even impressed. And he's not sick it turns out, just really...productive.

[Shardik]

12. Sounds like a food problem/and/or nerves to being in a new environment.

If you are using a dry food that looks like big chunks with lots of holes, the dog is going to get more volume than nutrition. IE, what he lacks in quality (both in and out) he will make up in quantity.

Even Pedigree, or Science Diet will help this problem. PM me if you'd like other hints.

[mahina]

32. Sure, thanks!

We gave our Goldens Wellness Formula for 12 and 13 happy years. This dog came home with Iams, I never thought much of it, but the lady said this is what he eats so we figured we'd make a change to Wellness slowly. Maybe we'll should make the change sooner! Mahalo for any suggestions~

[DeschutesRiver]

59. Ditch the Iams, and don't ever feed Nutro either - voice of sad experience here.

As to Wellness, my rescue dog was eating that at the rescue, and if I were feeding a commercial food, I'd probably try it for her - her poop was good looking and normal sized, though in retrospect she did poop a bit more frequently than she does now with my dog loaves. I feed her and our older dog homemade now, since Iams caused some problems, and then my next brilliant choice of Nutro during the pet food recall was a contributing factor in my best dog of all time's sudden ill health and subsequent death a year later. Learn from my sad mistakes on those two choices. But anyway, that is why I can't make myself do any commercial food now.

Make the change sooner! Good luck and happy times with the dog!

[mahina]

70. So sorry to hear about losing your furry friend.

He's feeling better, no surprises for a couple of days now. Mahalo!

[MiniMe]

62. Canned pumpkin does wonders

It is a staple of those that foster in the rescue I foster for. A few spoonfuls with their food can do wonders. Just make sure it is 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.

[mahina]

71. Wow, that's amazing...what does it do for them?

Cool that you foster dogs...good karma.

[MiniMe]

72. It tends to settle their systems and their intestines down

A natural and effective thing and relatively cheap. It goes on sale at this time of the year around hear for about a dollar a can. You can find it in a grocery store. I have only seen Libby's, but I'm sure there are other brands out there.

[mahina]

76. Cool, thank you.

His family's Dad was just deployed, the Mom is giving birth any day now and has another little one, no family here. I think they meant well but don't think he got any excercise, and its clear he was disciplined severely and way after the fact. He's coming around. Mahalo for the tip!

[MiniMe]

78. It takes several weeks for a new dog to settle in

Probably has to get over a bit of the last environment too.

[Muttocracy]

17. I second the high-quality food recommendation.

I have two 70lb dogs. They eat a cup of food each twice a day and have one or two neat little poops a day.

Feeding high quality food can actually be cheaper because you're not paying for stuff that just goes right through, or the vet bills.

[mahina]

33. I completely agree- the nasty stuff put in the food sold even at the vet is revolting.

We'll transition him to Wellness, our fave. Do you have a preferred brand?

I love big dogs. I want a Redbone Coonhound one day. Still missing my Mollydog, though, too soon for me, plus there aren't any of them here.

[Muttocracy]

35. Wellness will be far better than Iams

I hear great things about Wellness and Solid Gold especially, also Eagle Pack, Innova, and Evo.

I had fed my dogs Canidae loyally for 6 years and it was fantastic and not too expensive even. Then this summer Canidae switched from 40lb to 35lb bags for the same price and changed their formula somehow. It looked like the added Barley and left most of the rest the same, but my dogs had a terrible time on it. Their website makes it look like they're switching into premium and basic lines instead of their one great line. The ladies at the local pet supply store said they got all kinds of complaints about it.

My dogs did mostly OK on Innova but one of my dogs has soft stools with it (not 15/day though!). After a few weeks I switched them to Taste of the Wild which is grain-free and they're doing great so far.

I think Iams, Eukanuba, and Science Diet try to market themselves as high quality (and get away with it with vets and breeders), but they're still heavy on the grains. Years ago Science Diet's basic formula was pretty much corn flakes with potentially toxic preservatives.

[mahina]

40. Agreed! They use recycled fats too,

or so I've been told. Apparently fats that are heated over and over again, say for making french fries, are cancer causing, and go into those dog foods. I don't know this for a fact but I've heard it more than once from dog smart people.

Wellness is all human grade food. Some of the garbage they put in Science Diet etc isn't fit for goats, much less our furry kids.

[ConsAreLiars]

66. A second-hand second for the Solid Gold recommendation.

My SO's street rescued pit bull has been fed that and organic (frozen) raw veggie and meat patties for 8 years or so (first in the AM and second in the PM), plus some organic anti-inflammatory stuff to deal with with an early diagnosis of osteoarthritis (a not uncommon result of early malnutrition). All were recommended by a naturopathic vet when the dog, at age 2-3, yelped in pain when getting up one morning and the regular vet, seeing the X-rays, recommended regular shots of cortisone(?). But the main point the naturopathic vet made was that dogs, like all of us, evolved to thrive on the naturally occurring diet in their environment. Other stuff, well, better than starvation. Solid Gold, as well as the frozen stuff, seem to provide that natural diet, and just might improve and regularize digestion and such. (Dog is now 10-11, in great shape, walks miles every day, swims, and stuns humans with her fitness as well as charisma.)

Some links that might help: http://www.barfproducts.com/ and http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/natural-organic-dog-food.html

As for house training, the key seems to be to see they early warning signs and interrupt and take outside, and that regular feedings, rather than making food available at all times, makes excretion more regular and predictable. But I think a better diet would be a first step in cutting the poops-per-day down to a manageable number.

(edit tiny typo)

[OnyxCollie]

74. I feed my dogs Innova for dinner.

They get a little over a cup, with either some canned chicken breast or liver drippings mixed in for flavor. For breakfast, they either get frozen raw chickenbacks or turkey necks. The boys just turned five and the girls are two and they have all been healthy, with no sloppy stools.

We used to feed Canidae for a bit, but the color of the stools made them hard to spot in the grass.

[Donnachaidh]

13. We did this last year

And I picked the one cat that absolutely REFUSED to show anything other than her eyes above the litter pan. Very obviously distraught and distrusting, so woven into a small ball they had listed her sex as male, because they couldn't get her to move her tail.

All I saw was pain and fear in those eyes, and I could NOT leave without that cat. No sir. And the other signs when she was handed to me from the cage - the signs of possibly nursing kittens recently, the pads of her feet showing signs of being outside for quite awhile. A tense frightened little ball of fur.

Today, she is splayed out on her back, having fallen asleep watching the lights on the tree blink. Spayed and microchipped, she's been adopted by our neutered male and she spends her day demanding attention and love and food from EVERYONE in the house.

She's found her bliss in our home, and in our hearts.

If you have room in your home, and are willing to take on the long-term responsibility of a critter in need, please go and adopt. Give a critter a christmas present of a home. You'll get so much back, in terms of unconditional love.

[Muttocracy]

18. aw, great story :)

[Donnachaidh]

37. Here's our girl ;-)

Happy and contented.

[mahina]

41. So pretty!

So happy :)

[Donnachaidh]

54. yup -- and she has a unique purr

It's like stereo -- it's got TWO distinct sounds -- double-barreled purr. She's a happy kitty now.

[illuminaughty]

67. Oh, hello beauty. What a sweety.

I'm working on getting our third cat. My two boys have been traumatized this week by our very loud family visiting from Texas. The family leaves in the morning and Mom, the cats and I will all be doing the happy dance!

[Shardik]

19. Thank you, Donna.

So well said and so typical of the joy that can be found.

[Donnachaidh]

36. here's the proof ;-)

It doesn't get much better than that. She's Jade, the stripey doll.

[Lorien]

20. I'll be looking for another kitten for my cat Pippin after the holidays, PLUS

I'm currently fostering two that I've already found a home for. Pippin gets freaked out by older kittens, which is a shame because it would be easier on me to bring home an older kitten or adult cat! My last adopted kitten died of FIP two weeks ago and I'm still having a hard time with that. I'm planning on adopting another black one, because they're euthanized more than any other color. The two fosters I have are also black, but they're very beautiful-probably part ragdoll. Their new owner will be an elderly single retired man who will be able to give them loads of attention every day-which they need!

[Retrograde]

21. We got the cute kitten, but

we also got the 4-year old male, who's sweet but dumb. They've been in the house for a week now.

[Vickers]

23. We got a 12 year old overweight beagle with surgery scars on her abdomen

in 2002, and she was about the best dog you could imagine.

The people there were pretty blown away that we selected her ("You know, she's *been* here longer than most dogs..."). I honestly think that the people there couldn't put her down because she was so goddam sweet and cool.

She only lived another 3.5 years, and I loved every minute of it. I was completely heartbroken when she died (and so was everybody that knew her).

I will never buy another dog (the one we have now walked up to us in a parking lot!). Getting an animal from a shelter is one of the best things you can do: you feel good, and you saved a life (literally).

[Shardik]

24. Exactly.

I'm very happy for the 3.5 years you two had to get to know each other and the comfort you provided as well as the extra three years of life you gave this dog.

I have bought from breeders in the past, and I this is my third "adoption." An adopted dog is every bit as good at being a companion as any papered dog and many times much more so.

[Political Tiger]

26. K & R!

:applause:

[tbyg52]

27. I love you. nt

[Shardik]

31. Thank you.

:hug:

[WillieW]

28. Bless you for this post.

I have a yearly ritual where I get old blankets, dog food and toys together and take to our local shelter. I adopted a dog from a shelter and she has been such a blessing to me. Thanks

[Shardik]

45. That's really good of you, WW.

I wish more would/could help.

[Irishonly]

29. Old blankets still go to the shelter

We give what we can.

[flvegan]

30. Shelters AND rescues. Check out Petfinder.com

and find your new best friend.

Don't be afraid of adopting a mature dog, or a blind dog. They do just fine.

Big REC for this thread, thanks!

[smokey nj]

34. I have a soft spot for senior animals. Our dear old cat Willie came to live with us when

he was 15. He left us in 2006 when he was 20. I still miss him. :(

Here he is at about age 16.

[Muttocracy]

38. Have you seen the Sr. Dogs site?

http://srdogs.com/

I think in the future I'll be adopting only senior dogs. Of course, now my current dogs are considered seniors and would be automatically euthanized at some places for their age (big dogs, 7 and 10).

[roody]

44. Senior dogs are a shorter committment. I like that.

I lost 3 dogs in the last four years, and am taking a hiatus. But I feed four cats, only two are really my pets.

[smokey nj]

47. I haven't. Thank you for the link.

I loved the testimonial to the joys of adopting an older dog. Someday maybe Mr. smokey and I will be able to add a pooch to our family. We don't have the room now, the place is really crowded with us and the cats.

[WillieW]

60. Senior Love

Senior Love
by Leslie Whalen

One by one, they pass by my cage
they say "too worn, too broken, too old of age.
Way past his time, he can't run and play"
Then they shake their heads and go on their way.

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
it seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
a place that was warm and where I was fed.

Now my muzzle is grey and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.

Whatever excuse they made in their head,
can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
the younger dogs get adopted away.

When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
you saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw through the grey and the legs bend with age,and
felt I still had life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed and
shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play and you talk to be low.
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived my life with another,
but you outshine them with a love so much stronger.

And I promise to return all the love I can give,
to you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week or for years,
we will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed some
tears.

And when the time comes that I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.

And when I arrive at the Bridge all brand new,
my thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And when I will brag to all who will hear,
of the person who made my last days so dear.

[lolly]

39. Wish I could adopt another animal or 2

But the one I adopted last year about this time--an absolutely wonderful, loving, cuddly little guy--turns into Dr. Jeckyll when he gets around any other animals.

Maybe when he gets a little older he'll mellow out.

[truedelphi]

46. We just got adopted by our second "I'll move in w/ you cuz you

Are so good with cats" feral adoptee.

Vanna White, mostly white and some calico touches. A demonic creature who is about ten months old. She probably visits a local meth lab during her trips outside during the day - because she can go warp speed over chairs tables, the sides of walls and once all the down the side of my face.

The two "boys" are scared of her, although Red is twice her size and Chelbs is three times bigger. Even when she is tucked beneath the Rubbermaid laundry basket while being given a time out, they skirt that laundry basket like she might reach out and castrate them (Well that's been done already, but ya know what I mean.)

[ravencalling]

50. All of my animals are rescues

My birds, all except one, and my three cats, one who was saved from being euthanized.

I can't have any more, but my dear pets are now aged, and have been a part of the family for many years.

Each one is worth more money then you could pay me! All are bundles of love who have been there in good times and bad, and have done more then their part as far as being healers in their own right.

One cat has a personality disorder, but over years has slowly gotten better, more socialized. One bird has never overcome biting. That is part of what you bargain for at times when you pick up a rescue. But it is a commitment, just like adopting a child, so you have to except an animal that may have been traumatized to have a few issues.

[Condem]

52. We can't have a Christmas Tree, Just a Yeller

With 17 cats, an impossibility. 5 years ago Stella Luna rode it to the ground. But we'd much rather have the love of our cats than that pagan symbol, anyway. We have about five of them who really get caught up in the season. A lot of them are special need kits so every Christmas is a blessing to have them. Merry Christmas. Great post!

[G_j]

53. right on, K&R

:applause:

[Lisa0825]

55. I can't take in any more than the 8 rescues I already have! LOL

But I can keep giving financially and volunteering there! :loveya:

Click here and check out the Christmas message on our updates page. Be ready for silly Christmas cuteness!
www.whiskerville.org/updates.php

[astonamous]

56. We have four dogs and I am fostering a little pitbul girl...

She has no teeth, is scared to pieces of every movement of anyone and I feel so bad for her. She is the sweetest thing and hasn't had an accident in the house.

We captured her from a junk yard in L.A. It took about 20 people to finally get her cornered and now she is living in a home for the first time in her life. She loves her soft bed and spends the whole day there...except when we take out for potty and walks. She doesn't know what a leash is for but will follow me anywhere.

If anyone is looking to adopt this precious girl, please let me know or call 818-503-5759. We think she is about 6 - 7 years old.

[HillWilliam]

57. It was just a year ago we took on a real basket-case

a collie-somethingorother that was posited as being three years old. She was skinny, well, more like starved, her eyes were sunken from malnutrition, had almost no coat left, her teeth were in horrible shape and she STANK. She had been abused, had some behavioral problems, and was a real wild-child. She gave us and our other two furkids some real fits. But, oh, when she bloomed, she blossomed bright. We don't believe in aversive training methods; we use all-positives, encouragement, redirection, and lots (I mean LOTS) of patience. As it turned out, our babiest was only 6 months old at the time and the somethingorother turned out to be Maremma, a venerable and fairly rare old breed. I'm a big fan of the Big White Dog family (Kuvasz, Komondor, Puli, Akbash, Maremma, and others), so as she grew and bloomed, we learned to communicate on our own special level. I'm so glad we rescued one who was truly in need. I don't know what would have happened to her if she had gone anywhere else -- not everyone is prepared to handle BWD personalities or their particular kind of adolescence. Compound that with behavioral problems from suffering abuse, and it's possible her story might not have been successful.

There are stories like Callie's all over the place. If you see a breed you're intimately familiar with, know their personality and breed habits, do think of rescuing if you can. Many are under "last chance, don't pass" threat of euthanasia if they don't find a friend. ("Don't pass" means if you adopt, you have them for life and cannot give them up to another family or pass them to another owner. That's a big leap and a big responsibility. Think hard.)

Here's our babiest:

[Fire1]

61. I'd love to, but I already have three.

[dysfunctional press]

63. we've got 2 kittens, a cat, and a black lab...all rescued.

we tried adding a rescued chocolate lab as a buddy for our lab- but it wasn't a good match, so we found the chocolate a good home- with a family with a 15-year old autistic boy. they get along GREAT.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

64. I already have a full house, or I would love to!

I already have four rescue kitties though. The loves of my life :loveya:

[yardwork]

68. My little ear-tipped black cat agrees!

He was supposed to be a catch-neuter-release, but he has a habit of purring when he's scared, so after he came out of surgery they decided to put him up for adoption. I adopted him two years later, looking for a companion for my elderly alpha grey tabby-coon cat, himself a neighborhood rescue.

Right now they are asleep on my bed. They love to chase one another up and down the stairs and then nap...and nap and nap and nap.

So many animals are being abandoned by owners too poor to care for them. Please open your home and heart to a rescued animal if you can, and if you can't, please consider donating to your local animal rescue.

[proud patriot]

75. k and r

I'm a regular rescuer of animals .

[InvisibleTouch]

77. Too late to Rec, but I can Kick! n/t