Hey guys, it seems like there are a lot of animal lovers here so I thought I would share this site with you. At link you can search for homeless animals (cats, dogs, and more) at homeless shelters across the country. Please consider adopting your pets instead of buying from breeders or pet shops: it's cheaper and the animals up for adoption are just as cute and lovable.
Lol, I have been going on that website (and my local animal shelter's) for a long time now...as if my parents would ever let me get a dog. A few months ago my friend showed it to me after her mum showed it to her and then I showed it to my cousin who wants to get a dog since she is moving out soon.
Anyhow, that is a great site.
I actually just emailed a local shelter about a precious little boy kitty cat...and he sure does look suave! Thanks for the link! Now I'm trying to find out about the cost, etc...
The cost is pretty affordable. For cats/kittens it's probably around 70-90 bucks, which may seem high compared to pet shop prices, but you get things like up to date shots, microchips, and spay/neutering in that. The shelters don't make any profit off of the sell.
But even if you can't afford an animal, you could always donate either your time as a volunteer or money to help out.
"The advertisement in the New Jersey newspaper caught Rosa D'Ascoli's attention: dogs for sale from "professional breeders," $99 and up, all shots included, training provided.
D'Ascoli was anxious to adopt a German Shepherd; she had one as a young girl, and she thought the typically loyal, intelligent and friendly breed would be a good fit for her and her father, with whom she lives in a suburban house in Maplewood, New Jersey. On Saturday, September 8, 2000, D'Ascoli and two friends piled into a car and made the 30-minute trip to the advertised pet store in north central Jersey. An employee ushered them into a little cubicle filled with toys and dog chews.
That's where D'Ascoli first met Gizmo, an eight-week-old male purebred German Shepherd. D'Ascoli already had the name in mind because a German Shepherd's oversized ears always reminded her of the exotic critter, Gizmo, in the 1984 film, Gremlins. This canine Gizmo even had a similar temperament: In the cubicle, the puppy was alert and energetic. "He was playing with everyone," D'Ascoli recalls.
Buying the dog was almost too easy. Pet store employees asked her only one question—had she previously owned a German Shepherd?—before they ran a credit check and had her sign a contract. The paper guaranteed that the store would replace the dog if it died from parvo virus, hepatitis, leptospirosis or corona virus, diseases that are covered by annual shots. The contract also stipulated, "All vet bills will be the responsibility of the purchaser."
Nineteen hundred dollars later, the price tag for Gizmo, Rose D'Ascoli had herself a new companion. As a final send-off, an employee said, "Remember that 95% of puppies may develop the sniffles."
Six days later, Gizmo had the sniffles. But he had more than that: He had a fever, mucus running from his nose, and had lost his appetite. The next day, D'Ascoli took Gizmo to the veterinarian who diagnosed the dog with "kennel cough," which had probably developed into pneumonia. Gizmo's temperature was 102.4. Kennel cough is a common malady among dogs, who usually overcome it quickly, but the veterinarian noted Gizmo's dry coat and his underweight condition, signs that the dog may have come from a mass-breeding facility known as a puppy mill. The veterinarian gave Gizmo a shot and some drops, and told D'Ascoli that her dog should feel better in a few days.
He didn't. In fact, Gizmo didn't start feeling better until nearly two weeks later, after two more vet visits and $300 in expenses. But the troubles were just beginning for D'Ascoli and Gizmo.
The dog demonstrated signs of poor socialization. He became very aggressive toward strangers. Unless Gizmo knew the person, D'Ascoli remembers, the dog "wanted to eat them alive." He also lunged for cars on busy streets when he and D'Ascoli went on walks. So Gizmo went into training, which can help to increase an animal's confidence if he's fearful or unsure around people. D'Ascoli worked patiently with her pooch, but Gizmo inexplicably became timid. Now on his walks, he would crouch down and try to flee traffic.
D'Ascoli worked with Gizmo every day for nearly three months, and by May 2001, he had shown some signs of improvement. Then on May 24, D'Ascoli noticed that Gizmo was making noises while eating, as if he were choking. She felt the dog's throat and spotted a small lump, about the size of a pea. She took him to the veterinarian who couldn't pinpoint the problem. Gizmo went home with antibiotics for an apparent infection.
A few days later, the lump had increased in size, to the point where it was now visible on Gizmo's neck. But since it was the Memorial Day holiday, D'Ascoli had to wait until Tuesday, May 29, to take Gizmo back to the veterinarian, who suggested the dog immediately visit a specialist.
That same day, the specialist told D'Ascoli that Gizmo would need to be sedated and x-rayed to det
We got one of my cats and my dog from a shelter that fixes, and trains the animal befor you get them. We also fostered a dog for them for a few months. If you live in MI they are called AC Paws. Has anyone else heard of them?