Once a week, my ASO, Catawba Care Coalition (http://www.catawbacare.org/), opens up a pantry to pass out paper, cleaning and personal hygiene products to it's clients. As a volunteer for my clinic, I work in the pantry a few hours every month, bagging up and passing out these products to the clients who stop in to request them.
So I stopped by my ASO to get the keys, on my way to open the pantry, and got shanghaied by several case workers. Not only did they want to hear all about my adventures down at the ADAP funding cut protest rally (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=31714.msg403772) in Columbia, SC on Tues; but it seems I was somewhat of a celebrity for appearing in Poz magazine.
(http://reigningpages.com/leatherman/2010/may/ccc/dogz01.jpg)
My tale of me and my boyz (Joxer, Zeus and Aries- who got cropped out of the picture) is included in an article entitled "Pawsitivity (http://www.poz.com/articles/Pawsitivity_HIV_JUNE2010_2466_18378.shtml)", filled with heartwarming stories of pozzies and their pets - and how our pets have helped keep us alive, happy, and healthier.
God knows it was only because I had a pack of 7 cocker spaniels to care for that I recovered after having PCP, and dealt with the grief of losing my first partner. If I had not had to get out of bed at least once a day to feed the dogs, I probably would have never ventured in the kitchen and gotten any food for myself and would have surely died. Though the first pack has gone now, I continued to keep spaniels from this line. Helping me get through the loss of my second partner and the move from OH back down to SC, are my three boys (the great-great grandsons of my first spaniel), the remaining ones from the second pack after my last little girl passed away just months before my partner died.
I want to says thanks to POZ for letting me have the chance to publically pawsitively praise my dogz once again for all their love and companionship that has been such a huge factor in getting me through the bad times and for keeping me alive.
(http://reigningpages.com/leatherman/2009/october/yard/mikie_and_boyzb.jpg)
(leatherman with Joxer, Zeus and Aries)
it's much better to adopt a dog from a rescue organization or a local shelter as opposed to buying a dog online or going through a breeder. Yes, there are some responsible breeders out there but there are many irresponsible ones who claim to be responsible and are just adding to the overpopulation and suffering of animals.
excellent advice. unless you just have to have a specific purebred - and why if you're not going to show or breed them - there are plenty of dogs already needing a home without having to determine how responsible a breeder is that you might potentially buy from.
two dogs or any older dog is also good advice for pets that might be left alone a long time. Personally I think too many people worry about being away during the day. By that I mean, look at how many employeed people own dogs. Think of all those dogs doing just fine alone for their owners full-time hours (plus travel hours too) away from home. A puppy just has to be trained (crate, confined to one room, a doggie door) to learn the pattern of your life and to fit in.
They even have cameras set up so people can log in and check up on their dogs in real time.
if you're having separation anxiety, you can use a webcam set up on your home computer to keep tabs on your pet.
(http://reigningpages.com/puppies/cam/cam116.jpg) | (http://reigningpages.com/puppies/cam/cam204.jpg) | (http://reigningpages.com/puppies/cam/cam205.jpg) |
(http://reigningpages.com/puppies/cam/cam502.jpg) | (http://reigningpages.com/puppies/cam/cam506.jpg) | (http://reigningpages.com/puppies/cam/cam501.jpg) |
these webcam pictures are from after I first got Aries and Zeus and brought them home to live with Joxer and Gabby. I put the puppies into the crate while I was off at work during the day and used to sit at my desk for hours watching them.
oh I should also mention that my dogz even have their own website!
"Tails of the Pack" at http://reigningpages.com/puppies
(http://reigningpages.com/puppies/pets/pack/pack27.jpg)
It's "Puppy Love"
(http://reigningpages.com/puppies/pets/pack/pack44.jpg)
The Second Pack - Joxer, Aries, Zeus, Gabrielle