By popular request: Soft Paws now available in pastel blue

For those of you who are unfamiliar with them, Soft Paws are vinyl nail caps that are glued on to your cat's existing nails as an alternative to de-clawing. Think about acrylic nails you can get at the nail salon: they make your nails a little thicker and therefore less "scratchy" - Soft Paws are the same concept, only for cats and dogs. It's a brilliant option for indoor cats - inexpensive, safe, humane and you can have a bit of fun expressing your pet's personality with the different colors!

Routine de-clawing is unique to America; in many countries, de-clawing is considered inhumane and has been outlawed, calling it "unnecessary mutilation" as it is extreme surgery requiring the amputation of a cat's first joint on each toe. Unfortunately too many people in the US consider appropriately managing a cat's natural tendency to scratch an inconvenience, and often make the decision to de-claw their cat without fully understanding the procedure or considering more humane alternatives.

There are many great resources on the web to get educated about cat scratching, de-clawing and alternatives to this drastic approach. Explore your options and you'll find a number of ways you can manage Fluffy's scratching needs without resorting to expensive and unnecessary surgery - a fun cat manicure is just one of them!

Dognapping on the rise

An article on MSNBC today highlights an alarming trend - an increase in the number of dogs being kidnapped by professional pet thieves.

There is a high demand for certain breeds that can be re-sold, particularly the toy breeds such as Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers and Maltese. Dognappers also know that they may be able to demand a ransom for a beloved family member or they may "find" an animal for which a reward has been offered for the pet's safe return. One other reason pets are stolen wasn't mentioned in the article, but is even more sinister - pets and strays are often taken for use as bait animals in illegal dogfighting operations.

Here are some ways you can reduce the risk of your dog being stolen:

• Register your dog so that the local animal control has a record of who owns it.


• Don't leave your dog unattended in a yard if at all possible, but if you don't have a choice, keep gates and doors to your home locked.


• Never leave your dog unattended in the car, even if it is locked.


• Never leave your dog tied up outside a store or restaurant.


• Protect your dog by making sure he is wearing ID tags and has a microchip. This is one of the best ways to identify your pet and make it more likely to be recovered. For more information on microchips, go to http://www.akccar.org/ (the AKC Companion Animal Recovery program) and http://www.homeagain.com/.


• When you take your dog for a walk, be sure to keep it on leash so it can't wander off.


• Be vigilant and aware of people watching you or your dog; stay in well-lit areas and keep a cell phone handy at all times.


• If someone approaches you to ask about your dog, don't divulge details, especially not the purchase price of your dog or where you live.


• If purchasing a dog via an advertisement, be careful you are not buying stolen goods. Ask for some proof of ownership, e.g., American Kennel Club registration papers, veterinary records or microchip registration.

If your pet does go missing, there are a number of things you can do, or services you can engage, to increase the chances of finding them - we covered some of this in an earlier post on lost pets.

Families take natural precautions to make sure their children are not targets for kidnappers, similar care will protect your furry companions too.

Foreclosures driving pets into shelters; HSUS offers helping hand

The Humane Society of the United States Launches Grant Program to Help Families Care for Pets during Tough Economic Times.

WASHINGTON (March 26, 2008) — The Humane Society of the United States has established a fund to address the hardships that the current economic downturn has visited on its voiceless victims. With accounts of people leaving their pets behind as they are forced out of their homes due to foreclosure, and shelters reporting increases in the number of families who can’t afford to keep or feed their pets, the nation’s largest animal protection organization heeded the call from shelters and rescue groups for assistance.

The HSUS will administer grants from this fund to animal shelters, rescue groups, and animal control agencies to help establish and expand existing programs that assist families in caring for their pets during these economically tough times. Grants range in size from $500 to $2,000.

“With more and more individuals and families facing an uncertain financial future, shelters and rescue groups have their own struggle to respond to the rise in animals being brought to their doors and people seeking help from them in other ways,” said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for companion animals at The HSUS. “This grant program will help those organizations help more people and pets in their communities.”

Upon hearing about the fund, Pilot Travel Centers, a generous supporter of The HSUS, immediately donated $5000. Dave Ross, zone human resource manager for Pilot, said, “We’re proud to be able to help people and animals in need, and we hope other companies and individuals will do the same.” Pilot Travel Centers is the largest operator of travel centers in the United States.

Donations to this important grant fund to keep people and their pets together can be made at humanesociety.org/foreclosurepets. Those wishing to mail in a donation can send it to The HSUS at 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037. Donors should note "Foreclosure Fund" in the memo portion of their check.

Organizations interested in applying for a grant can do so by filling out an online form at animalsheltering.org/foreclosurepets.

Some individuals who have faced foreclosure or a sudden move abandon pets in the home they are leaving. Too often, animals are found on the brink of starvation or have already died. The HSUS reminds people never to abandon an animal. Abandoning an animal is not only an inhumane act, but also an illegal one. If you are unable to keep a pet, take him or her to a local shelter or animal control agency.

Shain adds, “No one likes the thought of leaving their pet at a shelter, but if you can’t take them with you, it is so much more humane than leaving them in an apartment or a house to fend for themselves. Too many animals die alone this way every year even in good economic times. If people are absolutely unable to care for a pet any longer, they should take him or her to their
local animal shelter or animal control agency. The shelter can provide food and housing while they try to locate a new home.”

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization – backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.

Spay Day USA photo competition winners announced

Earlier this month, we encouraged people to spay or neuter their pets because of the many benefits to both pets and people. In that article, we mentioned the Humane Society Spay Day USA pet photo competition.

The winners of that competition have been announced - click here to see the Grand Finalist and enjoy the other top ranked photos in the competition, there are some great action shots and more than one scored off the chart for cuteness - this one finalist's goofy grin made us smile!

Spay Day USA is a HSUS initiative targeted at reducing pet overpopulation (and, less directly, the shelter overcrowding that results from too many strays). Since its inception in 1995, more than one million animals have been spayed or neutered because of Spay Day USA.

The best Easter bunnies are chocolate

Animal shelters around the country wish everybody a wonderful Easter holiday... only with chocolate bunnies instead of live rabbits and marshmallow peeps instead of chicks.

Holidays are when many well-meaning parents give in to their children's wide-eyed pleas and, often on impulse, purchase baby animals such as puppies, kittens, chicks and rabbits as gifts. As a result, shelters see an influx of unwanted pets after holiday season has passed and the reality of owning a pet starts to bite. Unfortunately young kids and baby animals can sometimes be a disastrous equation - fragile baby animals and toddlers' poor fine motor coordination don't mix - and for older kids the novelty of a new animal soon wears thin once the responsibility of pet ownership starts to bear down.

Contrary to popular belief, rabbits in particular make poor pet choices for young children, as they are very sensitive, quite fragile and can be high maintenance over a decade or more. According to the Humane Society of the US, domestic rabbits are the third most frequent animal, after dogs and cats, to be turned in to shelters and, thanks to their ability to breed like - well, rabbits - many shelters are at critical mass with bunnies looking for adoptions even before the Easter weekend hits.

The House Rabbit Society actually runs an annual Easter campaign called "Make Mine Chocolate" to break this cycle of adoption and relinquishment by educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home. They even have a fun interactive site where families can learn more before deciding to adopt a rabbit.

We at Companions for Life encourage you to take adopting a pet seriously at any time of the year, especially holidays - you're acquiring a new family member, after all! Involve everyone who would be involved in caring for the animal, consider what's involved in caring for a pet and whether you're prepared to make a lifetime commitment. There should be no such thing as a disposable pet.

A fluffy fix:

An alternative to giving pets at holiday times is to give a stuffed animal and an adoption certificate instead - many zoos, farms, and shelters allow you to sponsor the care of an animal. These efforts help creatures of all types and teach children about responsible pet ownership or about being animal caretakers, so that they're prepared for a new furry family member at some point in the future.

If you have thought it through and still want a new pet, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group in your area - if you wait until after the holiday you can find your pick of perfect pets and provide a responsible, loving home for an animal who will reward your patience with a lifetime of unconditional love!

Do your pets enjoy Easter as much as you do?

Spring is such a wonderfully optimistic time of the year, with the weather getting warmer and the flowers starting to bloom. The Easter holiday is also a time for bonnets and bouquets and - well, let's face it - chocolate, bunnies and baby chicks (more on the bunnies and chicks issue here).

Chocolate has become a staple of the Easter celebration and it's not just the kiddies that you need to keep an eye on - pets love to eat people food and kids love to feed pets whatever they're eating. But chocolate is actually poisonous to dogs, cats and ferrets and even small amounts can prove fatal. So do Fluffy, Fido and Ferro a favor - keep the chocolate and candy away from them this Easter and save yourself a possible trip to the vet!

Treat Tip: Dogs can eat Carob, which contains none of the dangerous ingredients found in the cocoa bean.

Speaking of bouquets, many spring plants are also toxic to pets. In fact, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has named Easter Lillies one of the top five deadliest plants for pets, and the Humane Society has identified over 700 plants that can be deadly if eaten by your pet. So pop those posies up on a shelf or somewhere your animals are unlikely to access them!

For more information on toxic substances and what to do if your pet is poisoned:

• Check out this list of plants and foods that are poisonous to pets and


• Bookmark the details for the ASPCA Poison Control Center which can help you with animal poison-related emergencies, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Other ways to keep your pet safe and happy over the holidays include being careful with candy wrappers, Easter decorations like plastic grass and plastic eggs - all problematic if eaten - also be careful with costumes for your pet as they (and some decorations) pose a potential choking or suffocation risk.

Also remember loads of people tramping around the place on a holiday - especially hoards of excited, sugar-rushing children - is a source of stress for pets, and the chaos of social gatherings can be an opportunity for them to get out and possibly go missing. Have a quiet place your animals can hang out while you're celebrating, and check on them from time to time.

Have a lovely weekend and keep Easter fun and happy - for everyone in the family!

Cats are good for your heart!

Much has been written about the substantial mental and physical health benefits of pet ownership - pets are great for your health, providing stress relief ; opportunities for exercise and socialization; even lowering your blood pressure; cheering you up when you feel lonely or depressed; and possibly heading off epilepsy seizures.

But does it matter what kind of pet you have? A recent University of Minnesota study has found that cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than non-cat owners. There didn't appear to be any difference between people who owned a dog (but no cat) and those who didn't own a pet at all.

Here are some additional cat vs dog facts (Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Assoc.):

• 90 million cats are owned in the United States vs 74.8 million dogs
• 36% of US households (about 38.4 million) have at least one cat but 39% of US households have a dog
• 56% of those 38.4 million cat-owning households have more than one cat

Whether your pet is feline, canine or any other kind of -ine, we know for a fact that, for the majority of people, Pet is better than No Pet - so while the right cereal can help lower your cholesterol, consider how much more you'll benefit from having a cat as well - we're sure your local animal shelter will have one that can win your heart!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Some pet owners might be tempted to dye their doggy green today to celebrate the Irish holiday of St Patrick's day.

This is not a practice we recommend for a number of reasons (messy, potential to harm your pet with non pet-safe dye products, did we mention messy?) - instead, how about buying a festive green dog jacket (like one of these)? You don't need to wash it out afterwards, and you can use it for more than just St Paddy's day!

If you do decide to dye, however, please never use human hair dye as it's toxic to pets - instead try diluted food coloring or some people suggest Kool Aid. We have seen mention of a pet-safe dye made by a company called Pet Silk but it appears most of the colors have been discontinued.

Better yet, leave the dog alone and go to town on your own hair! Green hair is in the spirit of the day, it's bound to turn heads and it'll go very well with your St Paddy's green colored beverages and food!

How many pets are too many?

After Paris Hilton was investigated recently by Animal Services for having too many pets, she managed to reduce the number of dogs she has from 17 to 10, which some would argue is still too many.

It would appear that not all of Paris' animals live with her - some of her dogs apparently live with animal handlers in LA (possibly to ensure compliance with the LA law restricting non breeders to a maximum of three dogs per address) and she also also has at least two monkeys, two rabbits, and some ferrets who live on a ranch in Nevada, with a zookeeper in attendance.

It's clear that Ms Hilton has the financial resources to maintain a menagerie of that size, and it could be argued that having animal handlers look after your pets is no different from having a nanny take care of your children. We won't therefore go into a discussion on the relative merits of such an arrangement beyond pointing out that this - like pretty much everything in the celebrity world - is not a typical example of pet ownership.

On the other extreme, we have the recent story of an elderly couple in Arizona who were clearly unable to provide for their 800 (that is not a typo!!) dogs and 82 parrots - unfortunately as in a case like this, over 800 animals are clearly too many for anyone to effectively take care of. While the couple claim they were breeders, authorities suspect animal hoarding - a dysfunctional behavioral disorder that involves people having significantly higher than usual numbers of pets, and not recognizing when they are unable to care for them properly. Not only does this pose obvious animal welfare risks, but is also public health issue.

So how many pets are too many? Where's the happy medium? What is an optimal number of pets? In many instances, this is similar to asking a family how many children is too many - clearly each situation is unique and you should consider your specific situation when looking to adopt animals - part of making sure that you can enjoy the companionship of your pets for life is knowing whether you have the capacity to adequately care for them. Pet population control (spaying or neutering your pet) can help limit the number of furry friends you end up with, as can a bit of forethought.

When looking to introduce a new animal to your family, consider things like:

• Facilities - do you have enough space for your pets' social and physical needs?
• Budget - can you afford to support your pet(s) - vet bills and food are only part of the equation, depending on what animal you have and whether they live inside or outside.
• Needs of existing pets - will a new addition cause stress or provide valuable companionship? Do you have time to give all your pets the level of attention they need, or will a new pet lead to an older/less exciting pet being neglected?
• Your existing commitments - what is your work schedule, do you have the time to spend with and physically care for a new pet? Is your partner or spouse as committed to this adoption as you are? Do you travel a lot, or are you planning to relocate at some point, and where do your pets play into this schedule?

Other considerations include the size of your family; any pet limit and/or nuisance laws in your state or county; and home owner association or renter regulations limiting the number of pets in a home. A good pet adoption service or shelter will likely want to be reassured that you've thought about these things before allowing you to adopt one of their pets - their goal above all is to find loving, lifetime homes for the animals in their care.

Considering these things will hopefully mean that a pet adoption will result in a well cared-for companion for life!

In this episode of LA LAW: Spay or Neuter Your Pet!

Upwards of 70,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the Los Angeles City Shelters alone (that figure does not include all other surrounding LA County shelters) - at an annual cost to the city of approximately $2million. Late last month, LA took a step towards reducing those numbers when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed into law a requirement for all cats and dogs* in LA to be sterilized by the time they're four months old. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to $500 or 40 hours of community service.

LA isn't the first city to take this step. In fact, a statewide bill called California Healthy Pets Act (AB1634) was proposed and approved in the State Assembly in June last year. These measures are intended to reduce the $250 million spent by California taxpayers each year to put down half a million unwanted animals. Los Angeles follows in the steps of Santa Cruz County, who became one of the first counties in California to mandate spaying and neutering of pets a dozen years ago. According to officials, this has increased adoption rates because there fewer strays and unwanted litters has eased overcrowding in shelters, meaning animals can be sheltered longer thereby increasing their chances of finding a home.

Other cities and counties around the country have adopted similar measures - San Francisco has significantly reduced the number of pit bull terriers and pit bull mixes abandoned and euthanized in their city after the city implemented a law that requires pit bulls to be sterilized. Palm Beach County in Florida also recently enacted a "spay or pay" mandatory sterilization law to reduce the number of animals being euthanized due to overcrowding in the tri-county area shelters.

Across the nation in the last year, over 32 counties or cities have considered compulsory spay/neuter ordinances, while 4 states considered state-wide mandatory sterilization laws. None passed at the State level, but similar legislation is expected to go before those 4 states again soon.

Mandatory sterilization is a controversial topic, with breeders baulking at increased regulation and some pet owners bristling at being forced to be responsible. But as we pointed out in a recent post encouraging pet sterilization - the numbers stack up: three to four million animals are being euthanized across this country every year, unnecessarily and at great cost to the tax payer. Compulsory pet sterilization laws may just reduce those numbers and make it easier for pets in shelters to find homes.

* Obviously there are some exemptions to these laws: for example, animals that have competed in shows or competitions, guide dogs, animals used by police agencies and those belonging to professional breeders would be exempt from these requirements.

Happy Friday!

One of our resident bloggers here has long been a fan of the LOLCATS phenomenon, and can frequently be found sniggering quietly to herself - if not dissolving into outright giggles - at the latest posts on the I Can Has Cheezburger site (you have to read this article if you're new to this whole deal - particularly if you have any investment in grammatical correctness). In fact you may have seen her sneaking one of their pictures into a recent post on this site....

Now imagine her delight to find a companion site featuring "LOLDOGS and cute puppy pictures" - I Has a Hot Dog!!!

Productivity has gone the way of the dinosaurs for today... Happy browsing!

Lost pet?

Few things can be more heart rending for a pet owner than when their beloved furry companion goes missing. We've all been that person wandering disconsolately around the neighborhood, posting flyers and calling their name at all hours, in the forlorn hope that they're stuck in a tree or hiding under a bush - never wanting to give up in case they run out of hiding a minute after you've closed the door; not wanting to entertain the possibility for a minute that this time they may never come home.

Unfortunately, of the approximately 6-8 million animals a year that enter shelters in the US, the HSUS estimates that only between 30% of dogs and just 2-5% of cats are reclaimed from shelters by their owners each year. The huge discrepancy between the percentage of dogs and cats being reclaimed may have to do with the fact that more dogs wear collars and license tags.

It goes without saying that it's important to train your pet to stay in the house or yard, but things happen - doors or gates are left open, something spooks a pet outside and causes them to bolt... Even inside pets sometimes get out and these pets are even less likely to find their way home because they are less likely to be tagged, or to know their neighborhood well.

There are things every pet's family can do to reduce the chances of losing your pet, but if they do wander off or get out here are some things you can do to increase the chances of them being found.

• License them - this ensures that if the local animal control picks them up, you are registered as their family and your pet can easily be returned to you instead of being put in the pound or - worse still, euthanized. There is a fee, but you can rest assured that the small cost of licensing your pet not only helps fund the county shelters but will pay dividends if your pet ever is lost.
• Collars with ID tags and/or contact details. Your pet's name and a contact phone number might be all that's needed for someone who has found your little truant to be able to reunite you both. According to Pets911, you can even get cute collars embroidered with your phone number so if the tag comes off, you can still be contacted!
• Microchip them - This is a painless procedure where a small microchip is inserted under your pet's skin - usually between the shoulder blades, where they can't scratch it out - most vets and shelters can then simply scan found animals (a bit like at the grocery store) to retrieve important ownership and contact information. The great thing about the microchips is that your pet can never lose theirs or slip out of it, like a collar. Microchipping is actually the law in some countries, like Australia.

There are a number of great services that have been established to help distraught people find their missing pets, which greatly improve the chances of a reunion by increasing coverage. These services will post flyers, contact shelters, even cold call all your neighbors (make sure the service is exempt from no-call lists if they offer this as a service - you want to make sure that call gets through). Here are a few that we found:

• Pet Club of America - offers Petfinders, the largest non-profit lost and found service in the United States and Canada. They have a lost/found database and a 24 hour 1800 number (800) 666-5678) and their services include contacting any facility that takes in lost animals in a 60 mile radius as well as guaranteeing payment to vets if your pet is found injured and in need of care.
• Missing Pet Partnership - these guys are a national non profit and it looks like they have a national database of pet detectives to whom they will refer you to find your pet.
• Find Toto - essentially looks like a calldown service. They have various package options (with associated costs) depending on how broadly you want (or can afford) to spread the search, and they maintain a lost pets database in case someone finds your pet and contacts them.
• Finding Paws - this is a San Francisco Bay area service, but they do cover from Fresno to the Oregon border with their intensive area search service. In addition to helping you search, they offer microchipping, creation of flyers/posters and direct mailings.

Hopefully you'll never have need of one of these services though - take sensible precautions to minimise the risk of losing your pet, and make sure you've licensed, tagged and chipped them so they can be more easily identified! A few minutes now could save you time and heartache in the future.

Pet Accessories - NOT Pets As Accessories!

Recently MSN Shopping highlighted an editor's pick of pet accessories, from colorful collars and leashes, to pet beds and dog houses, to clothing and toys. There really is no limit these days to what you can buy for your pet to make them more comfortable, fashionable or to keep them entertained - you can stick to the functional and unadorned, or you can go haute couture and completely impractical!

Some people love to coordinate their pet's look with their own, with a happy tartan leash that matches their new belt for example, while others stick doggedly to a more utilitarian look such as reinforced nylon or plain leather.

Many people dress their pets to protect them from the elements (like with this great 'horse blanket' just for dogs).

Even people who wouldn't normally think of putting a coat on their pet or buying them jewelry tend to get a bit carried away over the holidays, enthusiastically dressing their hapless animal companions up as fairies, reindeer, pumpkins and the like. Dressing your pets up can be a bit of harmless fun at holidays, as long as the animal will tolerate it and is ultimately comfortable and safe - the Humane Society of the US recommends making sure any clothes you put on your pet don't constrain movement, vision, hearing or ability to breathe. They also recommend checking pet costumes for parts that can be chewed off and choked on.

Thanks to many Hollywood celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, these days pet fashion is a growth industry, particularly for small dog garments. Unfortunately these celebrities also appear to consider their pets more fashion accessories than companion animals, toting them around in designer carry bags to industry events and posing with them for the paparazzi .

Not all celebrities treat their pets this way, but the high degree of visibility afforded Paris' and Britney's dolled-up doggies creates a real danger - that of impressionable people wanting a pet not because they want a lifetime animal companion, but because it's "hot" right now.

What happens when Chihuahuas are no longer de rigueur because Paris or Britney decide they don't want the hassle of their furry friends any more? Or when the teen who begged for a Paris-type Pooch can't be bothered to look after it when the responsibility of pet ownership gets in the way of their lifestyle? When celebrities or other influential people use their pets as accessories it trivializes the pet ownership experience and contributes to the idea that pets are merely conveniences, to be discarded when they're no longer fun or fashionable. This sort of mindset leads to unwanted pets finding themselves in shelters looking for homes or even being euthanized unnecessarily.

Companions for Life encourages people to reject this kind of "disposable pet" mentality - any decision to buy or adopt a pet needs to be taken more seriously than whether or not they'll match your outfit. Pet ownership is a responsibility and a lifetime commitment, to some degree like deciding to have a child - there are costs and inconveniences that you need to be aware of, but the reward of unconditional love and companionship that a lifetime pet offers is worth more than any designer outfit.

So before you rush out to get your very own Tinkerbell think about what you really want and why you want it, and if you just want to be like Britney or have Paris' latest look then invest in some bling of the inanimate kind - it's much easier to switch out when the next fad comes along.

(image courtesy of http://entertainment.msn.com)

How Spaying or Neutering helps reduce "disposable pets"

Wouldn't you love to live in a world where there was a loving, lifetime home for every animal in a shelter? We certainly would! But right now, according to the Humane Society of the US, pet overpopulation is a bigger issue than most people think.

Between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats enter a shelter every year, and only about half of those actually find a home. The rest are euthanized. These aren't just street strays, a full quarter of dogs in shelters are pure bred!

By spaying or neutering your pet, you can have an impact on pet over population and also on your pet's health! And let's be honest - it's not that much fun to have to endure the nightly caterwauling of a Siamese cat in heat, or to handle all those amorous neighborhood dogs when walking your pooch when she's "in the mood".

Remember too, that pet overpopulation isn't limited to dogs and cats - we know from personal experience how fast two rabbits can become twenty (true story!) - and how hard it can be to find homes for your pet's litter.

If you are concerned about cost, the HSUS notes that "Humane societies work with veterinarians to offer subsidized and affordable spay and neuter services" - so your pet can have the best possible care for the lowest possible cost.

You can download a fact sheet by the ASPCA on spaying and neutering from the Companions for Life website in English or Spanish.

And last but not least, why not enter your pet into the HSUS Spay Day USA Photo Contest? It's a great way to win prizes as well as spreading the message about the benefits of spaying or neutering pets!

If I Didn’t Have Animals

I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn’t sound like a kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several fur bodies would need to get comfortable.

I would have money…and no guilt to go on a real vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with the veterinarian, as I put his yet unborn grandkids through college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.

I would no longer have to spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E-E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T,
B-I-K-E, G-O, & R-I-D-E.

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE animal ties them down too much.

I’d look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading “mud” season.

I would not have to answer the question, “Why do you have so many animals?” from people who will never have the joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.

How empty my life would be...

Author Unknown

(picture courtesy of www.icanhascheezburger.com)