In 2011 I wrote a post asking why some people were rejected when trying to adopt dogs from shelters or rescues. Later, I wrote a post on how to get a dog adoption application approved. I read all the readers’ comments from those posts, and created two lists: 1. Reasons people said they were rejected from …
Dog adoption
My mutt Ace is not a rescue dog. That is not his story. Ace has a great life. I am his world. He is mine. I love him. I train him. He teaches me about patience, acceptance, peacefulness. I do not need to see him as a “rescued” animal in order to love him. I don’t …
I want to share the 2012 pound statistics I gathered from the three local pounds in my community of Fargo, N.D., West Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn. I also want to share some of my thoughts on the stats.
It is important, I think, for each of us to be open to the ideas of others. Shifting my own opinion is a good thing. I am certainly wrong sometimes. And my ideas are always changing. Like everything else, the “animal world” has become a place where it’s difficult to listen. A few people are …
‘Adopt me! I’m already trained!’ Some of my friends and family members have purebred dogs from breeders. Many of them were first-time dog owners, and they believed they would have a better chance of getting a “good” dog if they went to a breeder vs. a shelter. I know some of you are screaming at …
Tips for potty training a dog If you recently adopted an adult dog, you may be surprised he is having “accidents” in the house. It could be the dog was never properly housebroken. Maybe he lived outside. Maybe his previous owners did not train him. Maybe he lived at a shelter for months and learned …
How to foster a cat through a rescue group or shelter Your community probably has a need for more foster homes for cats. To foster a cat means to provide her with a loving home while she waits to be adopted. Some people choose to foster for a few weeks or months until the cat …
The outdoor cat. A free spirit. Beamer is an indoor cat now. So is Scout. There is a difference between our cat who used to roam outdoors and our cat who has never had that freedom. Two levels of awareness. Beamer would sometimes be out for hours, napping on the deck, slinking between bushes. Sometimes …
13 ways to help animals Earlier this month I decided to participate in The 13 Project. This project was created by a site called Pretty Fluffy to encourage individuals to help homeless animals. To participate, all you have to do is come up with your own list of 13 ways to help animals before 2012 ends. I …
People who fear pitbull dogs may have never spent time with a pitbull. They have heard all the negative media stories. Or maybe they have had a bad experience with a pitbull, something that can happen with any type of dog.