The term “responsible pet ownership” has its roots in “racism, classism, and the White dominant culture.” That is according to researchers with the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection, who argued that some animal control policies perpetuate racial and income inequities in the United States. [...] Not only driven by “racism, classism, and the White … Continue reading Standards of Care
Category: responsible animal care
Discussion: When It’s Freezing Out, Bring Your Pets In
My news feed runneth over this week with stories of freezing temperatures and the effect on pets. There are lots of articles talking about state laws and giving recommendations on what to do with pets during extremely cold weather. While obvious exceptions must be made for some animals including feral cats (who can be provided … Continue reading Discussion: When It’s Freezing Out, Bring Your Pets In
Responsibility on the Back of a Milk Carton at CA Pound
Remember when Kern Co pound director Jen Woodard noted in a report that one of the problems in the community is ignorance of “basic pet responsibility” which she attributed to the notion that “much of the community is uninterested in hearing this message”? Now hear this: Last week at the Kern Co pound, one dog … Continue reading Responsibility on the Back of a Milk Carton at CA Pound
Are All Large Scale Neglect Cases the Same?
It seems that we hear about so many cases where every pet was taken from an owner due to "terrible conditions", "neglect" and similar descriptive terms. Instead of having a blanket response to alleged puppy mills or hoarding situations, I am in favor of evaluating each case individually. To my mind, this is the only … Continue reading Are All Large Scale Neglect Cases the Same?
Dog Death by Hot Car – 100% Preventable
How to avoid becoming one of this summer's "Dog dies in hot car" statistics: If the weather can be described as warm, hot, or not cold - do not leave your dog unattended in the car. When in doubt about whether it would be ok to leave your dog in the car, do not leave … Continue reading Dog Death by Hot Car – 100% Preventable
What Have You Done to Keep Your Pet?
We are often hit with finger-wagging reminders that pets are not disposable accessories, some people should not have pets, etc. And while I don't deny that argument, I think we need to hear more stories from the other side of the coin - that is, the lengths owners have gone to in order to keep … Continue reading What Have You Done to Keep Your Pet?
“He just totally went off the wall”
New Hampshire: If you want to buy a dog off Craigslist without even knowing the name of the seller or if the dog's had a Rabies vaccine or has bitten 157 schoolkids, knock yourself out. Hey, I'm not judging. But if you do buy a dog without knowing a thing about him, you are accepting … Continue reading “He just totally went off the wall”
Signed, Shocked in GA
Here's the problem: People want to take their dogs off leash in public parks because I guess it's too tedious to have to actually hold the leash. Especially when they haven't trained the dog to walk without pulling the owner's arm out of its socket. So that's two things - holding the leash and training … Continue reading Signed, Shocked in GA
Good News: More Large Mixed Breed Pups Now Available!
I come across postings regularly on various internet sites listing puppies in need of homes. On occasion, I pick one out to share. In this one, I have changed the breeds to breeds of similar size to protect the innocent (dogs): Hi!! I have three puppies that are ready for new homes. There is one … Continue reading Good News: More Large Mixed Breed Pups Now Available!
The Internets is Pissing Me Off Again
From MSN Money, an article titled "Why You Can't Afford a Dog":In short, if you can't find at least an extra $800 to $1,000 in your budget every year, don't get a pet.I have six pets which means apparently I have an "extra" $6000 a year in my budget for basic pet expenses. Newsflash: I … Continue reading The Internets is Pissing Me Off Again