Plethora of Everything

Updated 01-04-18        If you're not involved in pet rescue you may not understand the title of this blog.     So read it, so you can understand.     Over the years I've heard about friends of rescue friends buying a dog from a breeder oppose to adopting . Over the years I've heard about this action breaking up friendships or driving a wedge between people.     I've also experienced this on a personal level and it has converted once-lovely-friendships into an abyss of separation a time or two.     A few years ago while working at Animal Services I had a girlfriend that wanted a dog, a puppy.     On various occasions I showed her pictures of adoptable pets, I spoke to her about how rewarding adoption was , how she had the power to save a life and asked her regularly, "When are you going to adopt?!" Adoptable dog, municipal shelter     The next thing I know she's posting pictures on facebo...

    So you're an animal lover, and feel you could do more to help homeless pets... and want to do more. Then fostering pets could be for you but I must warn you my friend, the sense of pride you'll get in  knowing you're saving a life and fulfilling a philanthropic calling, can become addictive!          Before you know it you may eagerly be taking on a litter of puppies or kittens, or a hard-to-place pet, or once your 1st foster is gone you'll feel the nagging urge to 'do it again,' despite the promise you made to yourself to take a break in between foster pets. Reason being, simple: doing something good feels good and good feelings are ones we want to experience over and over. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with this. It's far better than say, wanting another 1, 2 or 3 glasses of wine or wanting to fall in love over and over again since it feels good too.          So, off the bat, let's get that straig...

    Miami is a city where many residents oppose spaying and neutering their dogs.      Trust me, I know. I worked and volunteered at the municipal shelter there.      During my tenure at the shelter I conducted Volunteer Orientation weekly. I had to get across to new volunteers (and customers) what an unaltered pet goes through. The best analogy I came up with was- what a drug addict goes though.     The intact male dog... let's make it a well-trained, loving, family pet for example's sake: This is a dog that plays fetch with the kids, sits and shakes on command, is docile, kind with everyone, even strangers. This is a great dog , that still has his balls. This dog, Fido, we'll say, stays in the yard while his family is at work, around 8 hrs/day. That's a normal scenario for many American (at least many Miami dogs) dogs right? A very sweet dog, Raleigh, that belongs to a friend of mine.     Most days Fido sleeps, ...