“The best pets belong to someone else - Buffalo News” plus 3 more |
- The best pets belong to someone else - Buffalo News
- Group teams with Meals on Wheels to help feed pets - HometownAnnapolis.com
- PHOTOS: Pets of the Week - Times Herald-Record
- Responsible cat owners keep pets indoors - Kennebec Journal
| The best pets belong to someone else - Buffalo News Posted: 10 May 2010 06:37 AM PDT Share this story: I have the best kind of pet—somebody else's. There's Lulu, Amber and Theo. Wonderful dogs that belong to my neighbors. And Sugar, Elmo and Roxy, dogs that belong to out-of-town relatives. My pets are wildly happy to see me when I arrive, but I leave without them. I live the carefree life of someone who enjoys the unconditional love of an animal, but without any of the vet bills or the dog hair. It is a kind of pet lend/lease program. I have permission to enter the locked homes of my neighbors for a collar and a leash so I can enjoy a springtime walk with their dogs. But I don't have to walk the dog in the rain, or at 6 a. m., or if I don't want to. I am welcome to stop by for a dose of canine affection. But if that same dog gets loose and enters a neighbor's kitchen and eats all the cat food, it isn't me who looks bad. We can't have pets in our family. Really, really bad allergies. But when I thought about finding a hypoallergenic dog like the one the Obama family owns, my friend Betsy said she wouldn't be my friend anymore if I got a dog. "Your life is chaos," she said. "I won't stand by and watch you add to it." That's true enough. So when I start feeling blue, I head out into the neighborhood and see which of my dogs will drag their rightful owners to the ground, excitedly trying to get to me. Then I undo hundreds of dollars in obedience lessons by allowing the dog to jump up on me and lick me in the face. I am kind of like the Auntie Mame of the animal kingdom in my neighborhood. Life was particularly grand for my pets and me during the winter snowstorms. Their owners couldn't think of anything less fun than playing in 4 feet of snow with a couple of dogs. So I did. After I had worn everyone out, I sent the dogs home, where their snow-covered coats melted all over someone else's living room rug. It was like having kids, but without the bother of snowsuits. Visiting Theo is particularly rewarding. Theo is a help dog, trained by Fidos for Freedom to assist his master, Geoff. But when he is not wearing his red vest, he is free to pay attention to me. Theo's training never really leaves him, so he will bring me an assortment of shoes and socks during a visit and place them at my feet. Lulu is a year-old Lab-golden mix the size of a pony, and a total love sponge. She actually shuts her eyes and gives up a low moan when you pet her. Tender as a mother with her corgi neighbor, Lulu doesn't know her own strength. If she decides to roll in the grass at your feet, she might hyperextend both of your knees or break the bones in your feet. My daughter shares in our community's community pets as well. She will take one for a run or play ball with another, all the while passing out an assortment of coos and kisses. "I can't have a pet," she declared in a moment of introspection. "I'm too self-involved." The other good thing about other people's pets? If they know that about you, they never bring it up.  Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Group teams with Meals on Wheels to help feed pets - HometownAnnapolis.com Posted: 10 May 2010 06:02 AM PDT Brunner gets meals delivered to her home from Meals on Wheels, and now the organization is partnering with another local organization to provide customers with pet food if it's needed. Brunner's pet pit bull Diablo is now guaranteed to get his meals, just like the rest of the family. "It helps out," Brunner said. The food is provided by Carroll's Pets in Need Campaign, a fund set up through the Community Foundation of Carroll County. The fund was started in January 2009 to help families in Carroll provide for their pets. Audrey Cimino, executive director for the Community Foundation of Carroll County, said the fund was started after a letter to the editor was published in the Carroll County Times. The letter lamented that people had to abandon their pets during the economic recession because of financial difficulties. So, Cimino called the letter's author and asked what could be done to fix the problem. Since the organization was founded, it has been able to provide pet food to those in need, and has also given pet food donations to other aid organizations such as The Shepherd's Staff in Westminster, NESAP in Hampstead and ESCAPE Ministries in Sykesville. The group has been doing well and has gained strong support from the community, Cimino said. Lynelle Osborn, program service supervisor for Meals on Wheels in Carroll County, said that the partnership between the two organizations has been great so far. Meals on Wheels knows a lot of the county's home-bound residents and already delivers to them, she said. "It's another way for us to provide for our clients," Osborn said. Pet food is delivered to Meals on Wheels clients once a month. So far, there are nine clients receiving the pet food, Osborn said, and each receives the same type of food that their animal usually eats. Cimino said they want to make sure they aren't changing the pet's food because a switch could cause digestive issues with the animals. Cimino goes out to the pet food store each month with money provided by Carroll's Pets in Need fund and picks up the specific food for each client. That food is then distributed to Osborn and she includes it in the delivery packages. Friday was the second time that Meals on Wheels was able to deliver pet food and get feedback. Osborn said she wants to make sure the food being delivered will last clients the whole month. Brunner said she will need double the amount of Purina dog food for Diablo, something Osborn will report to Cimino. Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| PHOTOS: Pets of the Week - Times Herald-Record Posted: 10 May 2010 05:19 AM PDT The following animals are available for adoption from area nonprofit animal shelters and rescues. Adoption fees are required and vary from shelter to shelter. These organizations rely on donations and adoption fees to continue operating. BG: Humane Society of Blooming Grove MTN: Humane Society of Middletown Inc. NEW: Town of Newburgh Animal Shelter PA: Pets Alive PJ: Humane Society of Port Jervis/Deerpark PK: Pike County Humane Society PU: Paws Unlimited SUL: Sullivan County SPCA WL: Humane Society of Walden Inc. WV: Warwick Valley Humane Society Inc. Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Responsible cat owners keep pets indoors - Kennebec Journal Posted: 10 May 2010 06:30 AM PDT Responsible cat owners keep pets indoorsI agree with Larry Davis (letter, April 28) in that cat owners need to be responsible for their pets, just as dog owners are required to. We own four indoor cats; they are part of our family and our responsibility. They do not belong roaming around the neighborhood, digging in people's gardens and creating a nuisance, to say nothing about the safety of the animal itself. Hitting a pet can be as upsetting to the driver of the vehicle as it may be to the pet owner. If you love your pet, please consider its well-being and be a good neighbor at the same time. Keep cats indoors and dogs on leashes. Kelly Karter Winslow Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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