Your Pets and There Healthcare

Tell me a little bit about your cat(s)?

What breed is it? Do you have more than 1? How old is it? Gender? Name? Appearance? Personality? What do you like to play with your cat? Its favorite games to play? Is it even playful? When did you get it? What did the first few days look like? How long did it take to get used to its new home? Any special story behind it? (e.g running anyway, operation etc etc.)

I’m getting 2 Persian kittens (Boy 15 weeks, girl 16 weeks) and literally, the girl’s brother comes from another mother XD They have the same dads, different mums, but the mums look exactly the same so our kittens look the same too, I think the girl’s face is lighter though around her nose.
Anyways we’re getting them in 23 days (In 39 minutes that will be 22 days) and the girl is very curious of everything, she meows all the time and she’s really the playful, curious type. The boy is totally different, he is lazy, calm and quiet, clumsy <3 They are greyish-white and have light blue eyes. They are doll faced.

I had a Persian and an exotic before. The Persian is 9 years old right now but doesnt live with me anymore, he had to stay in Poland when we moved to Ireland as he had to go through a quarantine and then we didn’t have enough money to bring him to Ireland. After a few years we could afford it but the cat was too old and wouldnt survive the journey, he cant be lonely. He is a beautiful cat and I miss him but what can I do? His name is Smoczek btw (pronounced: Smocheck) and it means dummy xD Smoczek was really sick, he had a few operations and he is still sick but it’s not as bad, he was just unfortunate with his health. But my grandmother takes great care of him and he is happy.

Then my exotic, his name was Felix and he was red. He was very young, hyper and active. We treated him well and he was happy with us but I think he liked to go outside as he always did it. Then one day he ran away. We found him in an animal shelter. And then he ran away again. That time we didnt find him

I am asking these questions because I love hearing/reading about other people’s pets, I don’t know why, it’s just me, I suppose I am an animal maniac, I love them and want to be a vet but hearing stories and lifestyles about other pets is really entertaining to me xD

And if you dont have a cat, what is your favorite breed, or are you planning on buying cats?
Oh yeah, we’re gonna call the male Lexus and the female Tibby Thanks for the stories, it was hard to choose the best one, they’re all so amazing and you all who have lost their cats, have my sympathies, I know it’s really painful

I had a black and tan tabby named Sassie for 8 1/2 years. She used to belong to my best friend who got her as a wedding present. I’d never been owned =) by a pet before but all of a sudden I got an urge to get a cat. I kept checking the Humane Society but couldn’t click with any of the ones there. One day I happened to casually mention it in conversation with my friend and she was like "OMG, can you take Sassie, because my husband has become deathly allergic!" Mind you, I hadn’t spoken to my friend in a while…

Anyway I said sure and she came into my house and stole my heart. When I met my fiance he fell head over heels for her too. She was so funny. She hated having her tummy scratched, didn’t like to be carried and was a complete b*tch at times but I adored her. If you mentioned the word "food" in conversation, she would appear out of nowhere expecting to be fed. We used to say it jokingly sometimes just to watch her skid into the kitchen!!! When I used to get home she would be waiting by the door and as soon as I unlocked it she would slip her paw in the door and open it the rest of the way. She would only do that for me, and I always said the day she wasn’t waiting for me by the door was the day something was terribly wrong. Last month, she stopped waiting by the door, stopped eating and drinking and started hiding for hours under the bed. After 3 days, we took her to the vet and he said she’d gone into acute renal failure. I was devastated…we brought her home and made her as comfortable as possible while some friends and family stopped by to say goodbye. Then we took her to the vet to be put to sleep. She died quickly with me telling I loved her the whole time.

But there’s a weird kind of happy ending to this story. The same day she left us, a strange white cat appeared out of nowhere on our front porch. He was super-friendly and kept trying to get inside. My neighbor jokingly said he was an angel sent to us. The white cat stayed the whole evening and then disappeared. A week ago, almost a month to the day that we lost Sassie, he reappeared. This time I let him come upstairs but then I couldn’t get him to leave. I kept trying to put him out and he would keep coming back. So I kept him overnight, I knew he had to belong to someone in the neigborhood so I tracked his mommy down and she told me that 8 yrs ago, he suddenly showed up on her doorstep during a traumatic time in her life!! Anyway, we agreed to share him for a bit until I’m ready to get my own again. He spent a week with us and just went back to his old home. But we will welcome him when he comes to visit because he truly is an angel….

Petstore dogs… any potential?

Okay. I know petstores are the harbor place for puppy mills, back yard breeders, etc. I know they’re over-priced dogs that have little value for that money besides their companionship.
… usually..

Now, I’m from New York. We don’t have many pet stores that actually sell dogs around where I’m from, but the ones that do are quite frankly rank and I would never even step foot in there if I weren’t educated on their issues.
I’ve never come across a pet store that actually had … morals.. of any sort.
But I’m currently in Virginia Beach on a vacation to visit my brother and sister-in-law.
Well yesterday we went to one of the malls, and ended up going into the pet store to see if we could find a toy for their current dog, a male Basset Hound.

We ended up looking at two of the dogs that they had: a Siberian Husky [purely for myself] and a Basset Hound [potential companionship for their Basset].
It ended up being this:
Both dogs were more expensive than the Sibe breeders I’ve been in contact with in the past in regards to their dogs. And these are Sibe breeders that I’ve heard nothing but good things about.
They both came with a pedigree – not a tough feet. Plenty of BYBs have pedigrees for their dogs.
They both came with a one year health guarantee – I’ve never come across a pet store with a health guarantee [then again, I'm from upstate new york]. But a one year health guarantee isn’t that good. Hip Dysplasia comes up after 2 years of age, usually.
They come with a contract – you’re supposed to get the dog neutered/spayed around 6 months of age. Okay. Getting a little worried here…
They do a *background* check on the new owners. They call your vet, they call your references, and they do a criminal check before considering you for sale. Of course, they also do a credit check if you’re asking for financing on the dogs [which, apparently, was the big cahuna there. they advertised that like water in a drought].
What really got me was that they would be willing to let us visit the places the dogs were bred at. The woman that had brought the pups out to let us visit ended up staying to talk with us after the Sibe. She gave us a run-down on what they hold for regulations on the breeders, and the health regulations on the dogs. They don’t sell dogs that come from homes that breed more than two breeds.

Now… I’m not considering getting a dog from them. It was nice to play with the pups and reminisce on when my Sibe was a pup, but I’ll be sticking to reputable breeders, rescues, or shelters. I don’t like taking that risk.

But I know my brother, and I know he doesn’t listen to what I have to say on dogs. I’ve tried to get it into his head that, although his male was a breeding male [which he was. he was also stuck in the kennel with the female 24/7. how's that for quality breeding?], and although he came with a pedigree – that doesn’t mean he should be trying to stud him out now. He’s too short, his tail isn’t held correctly ever, his legs/knees [whichever term] knuckle over, and his feet face out to the sides too much. He doesn’t have the temperament for a Basset Hound, either.
But. I’m a 17 year old, soon-to-be Freshman in College, who doesn’t hold a "degree" in dogs or any sort of "qualifying position", so I don’t know what I’m talking about. -_-

Back to the point:
They’re likely going to be looking at this pet store for another dog if they do choose to get one.
With the knowledge stated above [1 year health guarantee, background check, visitation ability, etc], would they be making a **decent** decision on where to get another dog?
They can’t go to the shelter to get a dog because they’d have to neuter their male, and my brother doesn’t want to do that.

Obviously, a reputable breeder is a better choice, as is a rescue and shelter, but they think reputable breeders are overrated [and ruin the breeds, apparently], and they can’t go to a rescue/shelter.
But is it the worst choice they could make? [With the exception of flat-out going to a puppy mill.]
Please read the entire thing if you’re going to answer.
I AM NOT BUYING THIS DOG. Jesus. I don’t even buy toys from stores that sell dogs.

Jayse – Like I said, they had regulations for the breeders. My brother told her that their current Basset was in the kennel with the female 24/7, and she quite literally freaked out and started bashing on them. She brought us a binder with the regulations they had for their breeders. None of their breeders are allowed to breed a female more than once every two years.
cjrossi – I’d mentioned they couldn’t go to the rescue or shelter because my brother flat out refuses to neuter his male because he’s "a breeder dog" and should "always be a breeder dog" [his words]. Shelters/Rescues don’t sell to homes with unfixed dogs. At least not around here.
Jen – They’re called "Pet-Go-Round", I believe. They don’t have any actual information on their site besides the pups, though. >_>

Thank you to those of you who gave info instead of just insults.
Chrissy – a health guarantee from a reputable breeder is generally for the entirety of the dog’s life. At least it is with the two Sibe breeders I’m in contact with. And a reputable breeder always has it so that a pet-quality dog has to be altered before a certain age.
Okay, before anyone else suggests I refer him to a reputable breeder, can I re-point out that he does not like breeders that do health tests [such as hip dysplasia], show their dogs, and overall have actual quality dogs. He believes that they are ruining the dogs, breeding *more* health problems into the blood, and are using them for money.
Go figure.
But instead of telling me to do something that’s not going to happen for years, it would be more beneficial to give links for information about neutering benefits. After all, it’s the only thing keeping them from being able to go to the shelter or a rescue.
cjrossi – maybe you should have read the question? I asked whether or not it was a potentially decent decision for them to make, not where they should get a dog.
Nowhere did I "berate" anybody for giving me information about reputable breeders I already knew.
Rotts – he has yet to get the opportunity to actually stud his dog, thank god. He’s posted everywhere he thought of: craigslist, kijiji, facebook [boy did we get into an argument over facebook!], but no one’s taken him up on the offer thankfully. I’m hoping that’s the way it stays, and he ends up giving up his tirade and getting him neutered. It’ll be a long wait, though.

You have done your best to educate your brother but he is evidently one of those closed minded people who know better than everyone else.

Unfortunately these are the type of people who choose to live in everlasting ignorance. They’re too arrogant to be educated.

He’s actually worse than most who buy pups from pet stores because you’ve already informed him of the facts. Most people don’t know the facts about pet stores and their close relationship with puppy mills.

There is no more you can do but kudos to you for trying.

Do you like what Obama has done so far for America and the people ?

Obama’s hope and change certainly left a lot of people wondering what is he really doing? I’m not a George W. Bush fan either, so please don’t give me…. it took bush years to screw things up and it will take Obama time to fix George W. mistakes C’mon, Obama hasn’t done anything!!!

Obama has spent more taxpayer money than any other president combined from George Washington to date!!! www.readthestimulus.org SEE all of the pet pork projects, the kick-backs to his buddies, the wasteful careless taxpayer money spending sprees. LOOK where OUR money is going all in the name of the Obama recovery plan…. it’s a scam people.
Everything Obama he has done and is proposing to do goes against all logic, common sense, and against the PEOPLE OF AMERICA. Such as, the stimulus bill, the bail-outs, the health care bill, illegal immigration, the oil spill in the gulf, etc. It really seems as though Obama is intentionally trying to unrepairable BANKRUPT America and destroy our country it from within.
ilovefridays:) Obama is doing the best that he can? At what? Handing out taxpayer money that will cripple the people of this country for generations and generations to come. Why don’t you try and call it like you see it instead of being partial or biased and actually see through the brainwashed poltical BS that our government has instilled in us…. he hasn’t done anything!!!

ever heard the phrase, "you must spend money to make money?"
i realize we don’t have ANY money to spend at this point, but i believe that he’s trying the best he can.
also, he probably shouldn’t have tried to act like he was some god who was goiung to change everything, that just makes more people feel pissed off that their hopes of happiness were dashed.
including me./:

Big fan of cows, would like to have on eventually. What do I need to know?

Any cow I got would be a pet, not just a pasture ornament. So what breeds are the hardiest? Friendliest? Health care? General care" I’m not planning on getting one until I know everything available so don’t answer saying "you’re not fit to own a cow, you’ll never get it right". Any information is welcome! Thanks
OMFG HELL NO! I would never keep an animal caged up EVER!!! It would live in a pasture with a couple other cows but I would take him out, groom him, play with him, and treat him like a part of the family. i love animals more than people, they are my life! I would die for my pets.

Sign up for and attend a class (or classes) on Beef Science and/or Dairy Science at the nearest college or university that has an Animal Husbandry / Animal Science Department in their school of Agriculture. Other good classes to take are: Basic Animal Science, Feeds and Feeding, Animal Health and Sanitation, Livestock Genetics, Animal Physiology, Animal Reproduction, and Livestock Evaluation.

Talk to your local Extension agent. That is the person who advices 4H organizations.

If you are still in High School, then join the Future Farmers of America (FFA). If you are younger than that, then join the 4H.

Is this too many dogs?

This is my plan. In seven years I will become a practicing veternarian (I’m in my second year of college). I will have an acre of land and am willing to exercise my dogs for an hour before work and an hour after work with hiking and swimming on my days off. I currently volunteer at an animal shelter and am well aware of the pet overpopulation problem. My idea is to have two dogs of my own and then start fostering dogs. I would to end up with four fosters at a time for a total of six dogs in my household. Is this too much? I understand dog psychology and I would never introduce a new dog into my pack unless I had control over the already established dogs. I would also end up adopting any foster who I have for more than six months because I believe it would be wrong to rehome a dog after that long in one place, but I would never have more than 6 dogs in my pack at a time. I realize the cost of dog food treats etc. and since I’ll be a vet, my health care costs would be minimal.
The house would probably be 2500 to 2750 sq. ft. in the country. I plan on having med. – large breeds (pit bulls, German Shepherds, Labs, Entlebucher Sennenhunds etc.).

I would think you would be the best judge of how many dogs you have. I personally don’t think six is too many. I think the whole concept of fostering is temporary re homing to prevent euthanizing a perfectly good animal, but for want of a forever home. Sometimes you have wait for just the right home. Match the perfect dog to the perfect owner. Ask yourself, would that dog have more love and attention in the new home than what you can provide given your busy schedule. With six dogs on one acre you may have problems with neighbors due to the dogs barking during the day or at night. If you keep all six dogs inside during the day consider hiring a full time housekeeper (lol). Too, you might consider moving more out to the country and have a larger piece of land with more animals. Hire a kennel aide and make it part of your practice. My old vet in Utah lived about 250 feet from his clinic and people knew to call and not just drop by. Personally, I drive about 45 miles to see my vet where I live now because I don’t care for the vets close by. If you are a good vet and really care about the animals and not just the "bottom line" people will drive for miles.