My Kindle Book: I did it!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Animal-Advocate-ebook/dp/B0045OUK9S

Well, here is the link to my labor of love (probably more like childbirth as it was such a pain). But, other than a couple of minor formatting errors I found in the preview, I think it turned out damned well for someone who learned it all from the ground up.

Anyway, I have no clue if you own a Kindle or any other e-reader but I do know you can download Kindle to PC (free), then I assume order the book (not free; it's a whopping $3.49). But, whatever, PLEASE DO pass this link along to any and all you know who might be interested in reading my pet columns. Or paste in on Facebook. Or Tweet it. Or stand on the street corner and shout, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"

Seriously, I'm starting my "marketing" campaign with family, close friends, and those who have followed the column for years.....after that, it's going to be a crapshoot of linking, posting on forums, submitting to local papers, etc.

I appreciate anything you can do because if just one person along the way buys the book and learns something to help our precious animals - or is simply entertained by it - then it will indeed have been a labor of love.

Summertime Blues

Driving home during a terrible downpour, there he was zigzagging down the middle of the highway. Cars were veering sideways, horns blasting and brakes screeching like banshees. Scaring him more than he already was, the terrified dog made it to the side of the road, then ran like hell home. (Yes, we stopped to help; no, he wouldn’t come near us; yes, I’ve seen him since and he’s okay).

However, with the glut of information disseminated about the effect fireworks has on pets, you’d think most people would realize that - especially for dogs and cats - a Florida summer day can be just as stressful because crackling afternoon noisemakers occur more often than not.

So, why oh why, do some insist on leaving their pets alone outside when a major storm is approaching? Cats, at least, can usually find a semi-enclosed space to hide though I‘m sure they‘re still scared stiff. For fenced-in dogs with no cover, their fear overtakes all. As a result, they’ll dig/jump/climb…..anything to escape.

Admittedly, not all pets are afraid of thunder and lightning, yet who among us would want to be totally exposed to the treacherous elements of a bad storm? I mean - besides being worried - I was mad as a wet hen as we were running around with lightning popping every few seconds and getting drenched to boot trying to save this poor creature from getting smashed to smithereens.

I understand that Florida’s summer storms can come on quickly, with scant warning to us humans. However, with their superior sense of hearing and smell, animals know long before we do that a weather disturbance is approaching and try to seek shelter accordingly. Again, if that means busting out of the yard to find safe haven, they’ll do so in a heartbeat.

My bottom line is that I don’t believe pets should ever be left outside for extended periods without easy access to the inside of the house or screened porch at all times, whatever the weather.

I repeat: Dogs and cats are dependent on us for every little thing; they are meant to be members of the family. Ergo, would you leave your kids unattended in a sweltering car or out in the yard during a mini-tropical storm, even for a few minutes?

I hope to God no one answers "yes" to that question…

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Recently, three people in one day asked me about the criteria I use in choosing a vet. One was seeking a second opinion about their dog who’d been diagnosed with bone cancer; another was worried about a new vet taking over her long-time doctor’s practice; one was asking about a vet who would show the utmost compassion when performing euthanasia.

Over the years, I’ve seen my fair share of veterinarians. Some I’ve loved dearly; others, I wouldn’t step through their door again if they paid me. But, for the most part, my decision to see a certain vet depended on the animal that I had at the time. And that decision was admittedly made through trial and error.

For example: My dog is a handful. She is highly intelligent yet also extremely high-strung. Although 12-years-old, she’s still skittish as hell when it comes to going to the vet‘s office. Consequently, I had to visit three different vets before I found the one I consider to be the best animal doctor on God’s green earth.

However - be it time, finances, or not too many to choose from - I realize that not everyone has the option of being so "picky." Yet, if you do, here are some things I’ve learned:

Number One: When contacting a new vet for any reason, pay very close attention to that initial phone call. Are you put on hold for "ever"? Does the staff member respond to your questions with knowledge? With patience? Is their attitude one of sincere concern? Or one of "hurry up and hang up"?Understandably, vet’s offices can be very busy places. However, that should not preclude the fact that you are a pet owner who needs help. In other words, if you are shuffled off to Muzak-land or barked at like you’re the dog, let your fingers do the walking and call someone else.

Number Two: Okay. So you’ve made it past the front door and are waiting to see the doctor. Are you twiddling your thumbs in the examining room for another "forever" while your pet becomes increasingly agitated? Is the vet tech who comes in to do the preliminary vitals in a speed race to get to the next patient, leaving you to anxiously twiddle some more?

Number Three: The vet. Is he/she loving, patient, compassionate no matter if your stressed-out dog is a clawing maniac or your scared cat is a hissing witch? Or are they a "wham, bam, thank-you, ma’am" who keeps watching their watch?

Bottom line: The vet I see now is a wonder, most definitely to the profession born. So is her staff. If you can’t say the same, I hope you have the wherewithal to keep searching. For my Maggie’s sake - and my sanity - I’m so glad I did.

Don't Breed; Don't Buy.....ADOPT!!

Received the following email that is circulating the "animal" world.....Have no clue who wrote it but I'm posting it in its entirety as the message needs to be taken to heart by ALL breeders (yeah, right) in addition to those who are considering acquiring a pet through ANY breeder (pet store/puppy mills, show dog breeders, backyard breeders, etc.):

A Letter from a Shelter Manager -

I think our society needs a huge "wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will. First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter where it's been dumped? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are: "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving that doesn't allow pets? Or they say, "The dog got bigger than we thought it would." How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her." Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard." How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me, "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog." Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is?

Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose.

If your dog is big, black or any of the "bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc.), it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are. If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long. Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment.

If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little Euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down." First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk. Happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room" where every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there. It's strange, but it happens with every one of them.

Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff." Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep," as sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head, those I deal with every day on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter. Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in every day than there are homes.

My point to all of this is DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE! Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I may have changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, buying a dog, or taking their loving pet to a shelter because they never should've taken on a dog/cat in the first place.

I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt." That would make what I do worth it.....

Note from The Animal Advocate: This letter makes me really think a mandatory - and enforceable - spay/neuter ordinance in every county, in every state, should be enacted.....

"Til Death Do Us Part...

Although our wills need some serious updating, as in we no longer live in the same house, our assets have dwindled, and we’re down to one dog instead of three, the codicil that remains written in stone is the one about pets.

In our case, my sister has graciously and fully accepted to “inherit” any animal we have. Therefore - barring anything weird - we can rest easy knowing they will never be homeless. Can you say the same about yours?

During the course of writing this column, I’ve heard from many shelter and rescue personnel about the staggering number of pets that have been relinquished because the owners had died and left no provisions for taking care of their beloved animals.

Hey, no one likes to think about their mortality so it’s understandable that any action concerning this inevitable occurrence can usually be found on the back burner. Young or middle-aged people, especially, believe that life will go on like it has for quite awhile, so why worry?

Unfortunately, accidents do happen and some illnesses can turn catastrophic quickly, leaving behind a bewildered and grieving animal that will no doubt go to the local shelter if a permanent caretaker is not designated. And, as we age, the tip of this iceberg requires more pointed attention for many reasons.

For example, what if you had to go into an assisted living facility or a nursing home? Will the dog or cat that has been by your side for many loving years be naturally folded into your family’s life?

Or, if you have no family, will a dear and trusted friend be willing to take on the responsibility of giving your pet another forever home? These are hard facts that we really need to think about and plan for, however unpleasant they may be.

While we’re on this morbid subject, I need to go a step further and address the issue of your lifespan vs. your pets.

Just a few month’s ago and despite my suggestions that he get an older dog from the shelter, a 76-year-old acquaintance of mine (who is not in the greatest of health either) bought an eight-week-old puppy of a breed that usually lives an average of 16-18 years.

As I was basically told to mind my own business, one can only wonder if any thought at all was given to the statistics of this situation.

Don’t get me wrong for, believe me, I am totally on the side of pets being placed in loving, responsible homes, no matter how old anyone is. In addition, I think pets are crucial to the elderly as it has been proven that animals alleviate stress, sickness, loneliness, and that dogs can be far better protectors of property than an electrical security system.

Yet one must still take into account that adopting an animal should, under any and all circumstances, mean that it is for the entire life of that animal.

Of course, I realize I’m talking about an ideal world here but, nevertheless, for those of you who belong to the “good group” of committed pet owners, don’t delay in taking your commitment down to the wire.

None of us will let our pets suffer, humanely putting them to sleep when their time comes. On the flip side of that sad coin, please don’t let them flounder through the rest of their lives in what could be the chaotic aftermath of your incapacitation or death. Before it’s too late, take care of that crummy little detail…..like now.

No Pet Left Behind...

Although I live in Florida - where this time of year brings ominous forewarnings of "Be prepared for the next Katrina!" - there are many other natural disasters besides hurricanes that create evacuation conditions.

Therefore, this is a not-so-gentle reminder: Please don't even think about leaving your pets behind as you waltz out the door to seek safe haven. Because, odds are, they will not be okay when - or if - you return.

So take the time now to always have an "emergency evacuation" kit prepared for them: Crates (if needed), collars/leashes, food/medications, IDs/vet records, blankets/toys.

And if you can't find lodging that will accept your pets - be it a friend/relative, motel/hotel, public shelter - do what I would do in a heartbeat: Put 'em in the car with you and the rest of your family and drive out of harm's way. So what if you might have to sleep in your vehicle at a rest stop? So what if you're displaced for a few days? So what?

Bottom line: Come hell or high water, Maggie goes where we go. Please do the same for yours...