Need reassurance from animal lovers

• Need reassurance from animal lovers - Sim's mom
  • Good for you! NM - Absolutely!
  • Sorry to chime in late, but YES! :-) - missyMT
  • Hubby and I sold our townhouse and - Misha
  • for my animals -- YES absolutely! - sm
  • So Glad - exasperated
  • Absolutely! - working4mypets
  • cat expenses - txcatgirl
  • I would...sm - moo
  • I sure would - LinK
    • animals - starburst-MT
      • Thanks all!! - Sim's mom

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We have a Basset hound puppy, around 7-8 weeks old; we've had her a week now and she is going absolutely NOWHERE with her potty training.  We are trying to crate train her, but she just can't get the idea.  We take her out on a regular schedule, feed her on a regular schedule, and make sure she poopies and pees before she comes back in, but it never fails that she will, at least once a day, poopie in her crate...SO DISGUSTING! I'm at my wit's end and ready to give her up, but she's sooo adorable, I really don't want to.

Of note, I am not a huge animal person, can take them or leave them, but she stole my heart and I love her! I seriously am looking for some answers here. 

it is short but so sweet. 

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2008/cat-adopts-bunny-p1.php

watch this very touching video.

http://videos.komando.com/2008/06/26/christian-the-lion/

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yNy9jTeolUk

The lazy days of summer :)

Lisa Ling is reporting on puppy mills.  It looks like it will be a very powerful show.  I know that 'dog people' have been trying for *years* to get Oprah to do a show on this, and I'm so glad she finally is.  I desperately hope it will make a difference.  The dogs in the mills have been suffering far too long.  We need to put an end to puppy mills.  Please, pass the word. 

I have a dilemma.  I am an animal lover and have something I cannot come to a conclusion about.  At a restaurant where I eat lunch every Friday with a friend of mine, I have noticed a young male kitty hanging around outside looking for food.  This past week he ran up to my friend and rubbed her legs and quietly meowed.  I purposely did not try to pet him because I knew I would get attached and ignored him.  Well, ever since then I find myself thinking about him and wanting to rescue him.  Meanwhile, I already have 4 inside cats (2 rescues, 2 Maine Coons) and hubby really does not want another cat in the house because a few years ago I promised we would  never have more than 4 (had up to 5 at one point previously).  I actually have a huge screened deck he could stay on indefinitely because I do not believe in letting cats run loose for their own safety.  I could provide plenty of food, a warm place to sleep, and veterinary care.  At some point I would even probably work him into our household, but I just cannot do it at the moment.  Just not sure I would be doing right by that kitty because I am sure he would be upset and confused for a good while as to where he was and what was going on, but is that better than being hungry and cold?  I know there are lots of animal lovers out there.  What does everyone think?? 

My SO will be moving in with me in a few months.  My cat is male, 14-years-old, has never seen or been around another cat and rules the roost.  His cat is a female, 8-years-old and gets along well with other cats.  I have researched on introducing them but am very worried that my cat will not be able to handle the stress.  SO was here for a month and my cat seemed to like him very much.  I am at the point that I am having second thoughts of moving in together although my friends tell me I am being rediculous and I know I am - sacrificing my happiness for my cat.  Can anyone give me some pointers?  Thanks!

A friend of mine has 2 chihuahuas that need homes. They're brother and sister, about 3 years old, fixed.  The usual story, have kids, no longer want dogs. I tried to talk her into keeping them, but not working. I can't take them, cause my house is already full to the max of fur kids. They're located in PA. I would hate to see them end up at the humane league, but that's where they're heading. So if anyone is interested let me know.

Wanted to share a link for an email from my friend in Australia....

To make a long story short I need some expertise.  My male cat was a sprayer before we got him fixed way back when.  Then he decided to pee in our dining room and we took up the rug and put in a wood floor (this was quite a few years ago - cat is 11).  Then he proceeded to pee in all the corners of the family room.  We just had wood floor put on there and all has been well.  Until about a week ago, he decided to pee again on the dining room wood floor, no where else, but he still uses his litter box.  I had cleaned it with vinegar and it seemed like the smell went away and I thought all was well until I again caught him peeing on the wood floor in the same area more than once.  My husband has had it (he destroyed a lot of things already from when we first got him).  He is ready to take him away somewhere.  I don't know what to do next.  My husband doused the area with vinegar again.  Anyone have any ideas?  Anything that will keep him away, or any other tricks to get he smell out.  Any help would be appreciated.  Tonight will not be a very happy night.   

My dog cut it's pad probably this past Sunday.  He came limping home on Monday morning but by then it wasn't even bleeding.  He is used to being outdoors (we live in the country and he can run free) and is about to go crazy because I have kept him either tied up or in the garage to give this time to heal.  I have soaked his paw daily in warm salt water and have applied neosporin to it as well.  It is looking good and there does not seem to be any infection, swelling it totally gone, and I can manipulate it without it causing pain.

This is on the main part of his foot and it is quite a slice causing a large flap to just kind of hang.  A friend who had this similar incident said her vet had her apply ointment and then wrap the pay with masking tape to keep the flap against the paw so that it would heal shut.  I have been doing this for the last several days.  He will only keep it on there for 5-6 hours and then he'll pull the tape off.

Here's the question - is there some kind of product that I can safely use to "glue" this pad back to his paw?  I know in surgical reports I have heard about a surgical adhesive that they use but is there something over-the-counter that I can get for this or even home remedy stuff to try.  I hate for him to lose the substantial part of his pad and leave his paw prone to injury with more tender skin.  I have been told that I can cut it off but I don't want to do that unless it is a last resort.  I tried to "goggle" this subject and came up with a board where it was suggested to someone else for them to just use crazy glue and glue it back in place.  That didn't seem quite appropriate!  Hopefully someone can help me figure this out!

I'm so excited!  I signed up for that Gevalia coffee club and the UPS man just delivered my way-awesome coffee pot, coffee and accessories.  My old coffee pot was an old white plastic 4-cup model that had started to leak.  With this one I'll be able to auto-program it to brew my coffee in the morning so it's ready when I wake up.  How 21st century of me, lol!

Anybody else subscribe to this coffee service or had their coffee?  While I wait for my first pot to brew, I thought I'd see if anyone can weigh in on whether their coffee is comparable to the taste of Starbucks or other coffee brands.

TIA!!!

where would you suggest I put him????  He was an indoor cat but managed to escape.  Ate through 3 or 4 screens to get to the * wild *.  It was in his blood.  He was found in a field and I rescued him. 

That's what some cats do.  They kill birds.  Period.

But you don't need to worry about the birds anymore, because the cat left one day and never returned.  He was completely white.  He left around Halloween and was never seen again.  My daughter worried for months and wrote a story about him to the local newspaper hoping to get him back.  Did not happen.

Maybe a bird ate him.  Would that make you feel better?

There is no animal control in many rural areas. 

At least, not if they're like the ones around here. I have called them a couple of times for large dogs roaming loose in the neighborhood and they said they would drive by when they got a chance but if the dogs weren't there at the time there was nothing they could do. Even when I told them, they're here right now and will probably be here a while, I never saw the Animal Control vehicle come by either time.

This is a different situation, of course, but if the dog is receiving food and water I really don't think Animal Control would do much.

I understand that you do not want to bring an animal into your home that would make your cat uncomfortable. If you can keep the dog company in his yard or bring him into your yard (as suggested below) that might be a good alternative.

Maybe you could keep an eye out and try to find out who is feeding the dog and talk to them about some kind of alternative, or at least find out when the owners will be back.

I can't believe people treat their pets this way, just to save a few dollars. For a dog as small as a Sheltie, boarding isn't all that expensive. I did a quick on-line check since it's been a while since we boarded our Pom, and most places listed $12/night for small dogs.  A small price to pay, in my opinion. 

i agree that we needed to know about this.  there are some deceived and warped people that would sacrifice animals in evil ceremonies.  a relative of ours had a puppy turn up missing and later it was found with its heart cut out.  sick, sick, sick,

To those of you speaking about how pits are so evil, I have two things to say...

1.  Any dog is capable of that behavior.  We have two dogs and one is a search and rescue dog and both are very loving... but you should never ever underestimate a dog no matter what.  they are still animals and they still respond according to their instincts in certain situations.  ALL ANIMALS have this capability.

That being said...

2.  So if you outlaw pits, who's next?  What animal species will be evil incarnate after that?

Basically, it all boils down to the owners, the training and the language the animal gives off in certain situations.

For example, my friend recently told me that someone she knows put their golden to sleep because it bit their child.  When they euthanized the dog, a technician made the incidental finding that one of the kids had shoved a pen into the dogs ear.  They came to the realization that this is why the dog had bitten, but no one ever even tried to sit down and figure out what had happened... nope, the dog is just put down.. no questions.  You know, I would have torn that kid in two myself if that had happened to me, so its the kid and not the dog.

Go to a dog language class, take some training and learn some things before condemning an animal to death for "instincts" that supposedly only that breed has.  Its ridiculous and completely ignorant.

All right, I hope you all don't think I'm a sicko, but I have to admit something.  I am attracted to my daughter's boyfriend.  He is only 15.  He is 6 feet 2 inches and about 180 lbs.  No I am not in love with him or anything like that.  I just find him very physically appealing.  I dreamed about him last night.  Maybe it's pheromones.

I can only think of 2 other times in my life that I have had this intense physical attraction to someone, and both times it has hit me completely unexpectedly.  (I've not even felt it with my husband really.)  It never surrounds any suggestive conversation or even flirting, but I just feel an intense physical attraction.  It's not lust, though.  It's very different. 

Don't worry y'all, I would never do anything stupid or immoral and even if I was the type of person who would, there is no opportunity for that. 

Anybody else experience this type of attraction?  Am I describing a reaction to pheromones? 

Oie.  We adopted a very sweet what we think is a lab/retriever approximately 3 years old from Animal control on Thursday.  I think she's way older than 3 and not healthy.  I finally got a good look in her mouth today and her teeth are a mess.  She hasn't eaten more than a handful of food since we got here and I couldn't figure out what the problem was.  I don't think she can eat solid food comfortably.  Also, she was coughing Thursday night.  Friday morning I made an appointment for the vet because I think she either has Kennel cough or pneumonia.  She is coughing until she throws up now and has done so more times than I can count. It is just huge globs of mucous.  She also has a nice itch issue going on.  I called Animal control and they say she wasn't coughing/puking/itching when they had her.  Maybe she's allergic to us. Has anyone had a dog with kennel cough?  Any ideas on making her more comfortable until her vet visit on Monday?  We are going to keep her and make her as healthy and happy as we can but I'm really annoyed that Animal Control didn't notice anything going on with her, especially her poor teeth.

Thanks for letting me vent.  I'm off to clean up the floor, again.