Do Your Homework Before You Get A Pet!

I am so ticked off!  Someone that I know is now getting rid of a second dog in the short period of time that I have known them, a little over a year.  The first one was because it wouldn’t get along with their other dog.  The second one, which they got as a puppy, because they have always LOVED (blah, blah, blah)  that breed and has always wanted one!  Obviously you didn’t love them enough to find out what it would entail! 

So now they have realized that the dog is going to be big, to strong, eats to much, oh yah and can’t stay outside in the heat (HELLO… no dog should live in 110 degree heat) while your at work.  OH! AND HELLO did you not realize that a PUPPY REQUIRES TRAINING, a lot of hard work to get them where you want them to be!  These were the excuses given. 

Ok people here is what I want to express to you.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  Don’t get a dog (any pet)  because you saw it in a movie or at a pet store and they are so cute, or what ever!

Any animal that you bring into your home is a life time commitment!  It’s that simple!  Would you get rid of one of your kids just because they don’t fit in or got to big or whatever!

I do realize that sometimes there are circumstances that are beyond our control.  The economy has taken a toll on all of us, sometimes you can’t afford their medical care, or you are about to lose your home, or you have medical problems. 

Whatever the circumstance is that is beyond your control, surrender your dog (pet) to the appropriate organization.  It is an unselfish act for the love of your pet.  The organization will understand and will see that they get the proper medical attention and are placed in a loving home.  DO NOT TAKE THEM TO THE POUND… PLEASE, I AM BEGGING YOU!

As you know I feel very strongly about adoption.  I did not know about rescue when I got my girls almost 9 years ago, but I do now.  Whether you want a puppy or a mature dog, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  Go online study the breed, find out how they will fit into your family.  Do they need a lot of exercise, do they require a lot of medical attention, how much do they eat. 

Just because they are cute right now does not mean you are going to like them when all of a sudden they weigh 150 lbs and are eating you out of house and home.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK, PLEASE!

I am going to say that 95% of the dogs in the pound or in rescue are there because someone did not understand what it was going to take to have this dog in there life.

As I have said, there are the unselfish people that can no longer take care of their animals for circumstances beyond their control, this is understandable.  But when you get a pet and 6 months down the road you realize it is just not going to work out because you didn’t realize what it entaled, that is just not acceptable!  I’m sorry it is irresponsible and not only have you “NOT DONE YOUR HOMEWORK”, but you have not committed, what are teaching your children? 

I realize that we all make mistakes in our lives, but we learn from our mistakes.  As far as I am concerned this rule should apply to everything we do in life, whether it be buying a Car, TV, Pet… if you DO YOUR HOMEWORK, you will have the tools you need.

No Barking!

This really works!  Wrinkles and Sputters (my girls) have a really bad habit of barking like the world is coming to the end whenever someone rings the door bell.  And if someone enters the house, forget about it!  Wrinkles will continue to bark, while backing up until she makes herself hoarse.  Sputters on the other hand talks at you in a long howl because it’s very important that you should talk to her!  Anyway, it makes it really hard to carry on any type of conversation. 

Then one day I remembered hearing of a training tip for dogs or cats.  Fill a squirt bottle with water, set it to a straight stream of water.  Whenever your pet is doing something that you don’t want them to do just give them a squirt. 

I did this with Wrinkles and Sputters and in a matter of days the barking at the door had stopped!  All I have to say to them now is “I’m going to get the bottle” and they back off.  Oh yes I do talk to them just like they are humans, and yes they understand every word.

If you have a cat that scratches your furniture, give em a squirt.  It’s best to not let the cat know where the water is coming from, once they see that it’s you with that water bottle they are smart enough not to scratch when your around. 

Please don’t reuse any bottle that has had chemicals in it, I don’t care how many times you rinsed it out.  I got this empty bottle at Home Depot, it’s big and squirts far.