There is something very wrong here.....

Before I start on my rant.....something right happened. My FOLLOWERS are back! Just as mysteriously as they disappeared, (way back in January, I think) they are now back. So I'm happy about that!

Now back to the scheduled post ......
I took my ONE dog to the vet for her annual check-up and shots. I had already purchased her license in January. She is healthy....although not feeling very well today. I think its because of the shots yesterday. If she's not herself by tomorrow I'll have to give them a call.

Anyway, this visit set me back $325.....it was more than last year because she was due for booster shots on two different 3-year shots. The actual office call was $42 and the rest was for tests and preventive medicine.

How many times do we see ads on TV and in the mail BEGGING people to PLEASE adopt a pet. I want to know.....how in the world can the average person AFFORD to have a pet with prices like this. According to the news media, The Humane Society is being criticized right now for putting down so many cats and dogs here lately. I guess just too many people no longer can afford their beloved pets and have left them off in hopes that they will find good homes.....causing serious over-crowding. The Humane Society states that they find homes for 100% of the animals left with them who are healthy.....but only 40% of those left with them ARE healthy. The other 60% are animals with health issues......and medicine is expensive. This is accounting for the pets left off with them....it does not take into account the unbelievable amount of cats and dogs abandoned on the streets and left to fend for themselves. It's truly heartbreaking.

I know that I absolutely cannot afford to have more than one pet. Additionally, I feel bad because I can't really give her all of what she needs. Although they are not horrible, she needs to have her teeth cleaned before they DO get horrible..... and the vet charges $331 for this. Right now I'm brushing her teeth with (ugh) Chicken flavored toothpaste. She's really very good about me messing around with her mouth but it doesn't do the thorough job a professional cleaning would do.....however, its about $315 cheaper, so that's what I do. I know people who have 3 and 4 dogs......I just wonder how in the world they can afford them!

So right now I feel like I'm sitting on top of a mountain and just throwing money up in the air to watch it fly. It seems like every time I turn around here lately.....I'm having to pay out something big. The upgrading of my computer and a new battery backup was $250; fixing the back-room computer (older one for the grandkids) $150; the vet bill $325. Homeowner's insurance renewal payment $250. Retina doctor's payment; $150. My daughter's refrigerator quit on her and since she has NO money.....three guesses who will probably have to help her. And that also makes me think about my OWN refrigerator.....I can't really remember how old it is. (sending tiny prayers upward for its continued good working condition)

But I'm getting off track......back to the issue of homeless pets. I think we need to work on some sort of plan NATIONALLY to assure that people can have pets (a huge joy in my life, and I know a huge joy in the lives of so many others) without it costing them a small fortune. Adoptions are just not going to happen when people know that mandatory vet visits and shots are so expensive. I'm not looking for a hand-out.....I would volunteer some time to help out in exchange for getting a discount on the vet bill and required shots. What do you think? Does your state have organizations where pets can be taken for their shots at a much more reasonable price? The Humane Society here is supposed to be cheaper, but my daughter didn't think there was that much difference; it was still expensive.

I think a program should be set up where you can get a coupon for a discount at your regular vet's office. If you have to go to a different location, you know as well as I do that it will be crowded and long lines with pets in tow is not a good thing.....not to mention all the paperwork and medical histories on each pet. A nightmare! Make it available to anyone willing to give their own time, thus avoiding the cost of checking out financial history on each individual. I would be willing to volunteer my time doing something for so many hours to ensure that I could afford to get my pet all she needs. Now I just have to think of what jobs could be done on a volunteer basis with minimal supervision and no training required (which would be costly).....jobs that would save the state money, so they could justify paying toward your vet bill.

Hmmmm.....you know what? My ex-boss is now a Senator. I think I will write him and ask him to think about this. Please offer me some suggestions that I can put in my letter to him. Who knows....maybe Michigan can be the first state to start something that will become a National program, allowing many families the option of keeping their beloved pets instead of having to give them away because they can no longer afford them. The more hours you volunteer, the more coupons you get toward your vet bill. Please get your thinking caps on......and thank you.

Scooby Snacks for All.....

Girl, I'm serious, my owner is cheating on her man with a total LOSER.

Something that I saw on TV got my mind going in this direction and once it started, I couldn’t seem to put a stop to it. It just sort of evolved into more and more and then I thought to myself…this might make an interesting blog post.

Have you ever wondered if possibly our pets are able to do a LOT more than they appear that they can do? Have you ever thought of the events that may be taking place in our absence…or during the night while we blissfully sleep? I have long suspected my pets of being able to understand a lot more of our language than most people give them credit for. Case in point…if you mention “vet” or “nails clipped” or “bath”…… have you ever noticed how fast a dog can disappear from sight? Well, if they can understand those terms, along with ‘outside’ and ‘bed’, what makes you think it stops there. Experts have said that dogs can understand as many words as an average three year old. I suspect they are capable of a whole lot more, being able to comprehend whole sentences and furthermore I think they gossip about it in our absence. We say everything and do most anything in front of our pets because we figure they can’t squeal on us. Oh, they must have a real ball talking to each other about all the stupid things we say and do. They know more of our business than WE do. Next time you see your dog at the fence with the neighbor’s dog, you should wonder if you’re being talked about and also what the neighbor’s dog is saying about THEM. I also think that they may have some mind-reading abilities too. Don’t believe me? Just stare at your dog sometime when the dog is not looking at you and before you know it he or she has turned around, caught you looking and has come to sit by you. This works even if they are sound asleep. Cats are a little tougher because they are better adapted to hiding the truth from us. They feel we are inferior to them anyway and usually can’t be bothered with us unless they hear the can opener or the crinkling of the food bag.

Yep, I think they all get together and endlessly gossip about us. If they are left alone all day while we work, they may even have friends in for a poker game or possibly a video game or two. You know the guy who painted the dogs playing poker might have seen them in action. Can you picture them all kicked back telling their tales about their human owners. Can you even IMAGINE knowing everything about everyone in a household…knowing who doesn’t want who to know this or that and the repercussions if this or that were found out. So the next time your pet gives you one of those “knowing” looks….you might just stop and wonder what it is that he or she really knows and toss them an extra Scooby snack. I swear my pet winked at me the other night right after I sneaked a chocolate egg to munch on.