Iams' Home for the Holidays Adoption program is a REALLY bad idea.

It sounds so nice and since 1999, a bazillion animals have gotten adopted thru this cosponsored program. It even made the opening bell of the Stock Exchange this week, making folks feel all warm and fuzzy. I'm betting they haven't documented the number of returns of these pets in the days following the holidays. I worry much more about the animals that aren't returned, but thrown outside, given away or just abandoned.
Ironically here in Houston on the same day as the seven dogs were posed at the Stock Exchange, the TV news had a story from a shelter, showing all the empty cages and saying "Sadly, many of these pets will be returned"
The pet industry needs to work in tandem on this issue. Pets are NOT for holidays
or birthdays. The concept of promoting pets at Christmas to deflect puppy mills
makes no sense to me, as many of the puppy mill buyers want the tiny and small dogs which are in the minority at shelters.
If Iams wants to save a really large number of pets, they should organize a "Get Your
Christmas Pet in July" promotion. The number of puppies and kittens killed in Houston Texas in the summer months is staggering, yet in December shelters run out.
Let's balance this supply/demand cycle folks! It's so much better for the animal to enter a new environment free of holiday stresses, they have enough with which to contend already. Granted, it's not quite as exciting, but the pictures of crates
full of kittens should be an exciting concept when the tide can be turned for many more of those precious faces.

Since this was supposed to be my business blog-cont'd

Now I'm creeping down the edge of the road at about 12 miles an hour and kennel and kitty fly off again.....This time no one stops to help and did I mention it's getting much colder? This time the crate door pops open but I get it closed before the cat realizes it. By a miracle, he is not injured either time...
Then it's time for me to take a wrong turn and get miserably lost. Turning around was a challenge in itself! Then a long way home, right past the last liquor store on a Saturday night
when I could have used a small bourbon toddy!
The only warm place I had for kitty is on my dog room, so he is not amused! I can't even get near him, have a blankie over his crate and he will chill for a while. He has a blankie, food and litter box and I'm leaving him alone!
Incredibly, the kennel had only one small skid mark, no damage at all.
Whoever buys it is going to have to listen to this story!
This adventure took about 3 hours longer than planned...and was all part of being a small business owner.

Since this was supposed to be my business blog....

I'm going to write more about Pet Stuff Resale! I'll give a little history later, but
have to share the adventure I had yesterday.
I went to buy a small outdoor chain link kennel, supposedly less than 20 miles away.
I ended up running late, not quite sure where I was going and the clients didn't know the directions to their place from where I was. It was close to dark by the time I figured it out, no problem, got the kennel loaded, assembled, onto my small truck. I brought rope and bungies as it is bulky but lightweight and no wind problem
and it's chainlink.Ha! The wind picked up mightily as I was leaving, so I stayed at about 25 miles an hour....ugh...
This journey was complicated by the cat who joined me-the client casually mentioned
that she was having to leave several behind as she was moving in a hurry. There were quite a few already loose in the neighborhood;I'm assuming she hoped these would get fed. I immediately said I'd take the three, except only one could be caught and
all she had was a big crate, so he couldn't go inside the truck. In the cold, this
scared flame point cat had to ride, with no blankie,perched on the kennel, which was leaning sideways in the truckbed.
cont'd

Frankie a special guest at the CAP gala

Last Saturday, for the first time since his legs were broken on Sept 20th by a hit and run driver,
Frankie walked unaided, at the Citizens for Animal Protection gala. Escorted by the 2vets who "wired" him back together, he actually pranced down the runway!
He has made such great progress that Dr Chalkley has discontinued his hydrotherapy, which he hated, and we are now on to controlled walks.
Frankie will be available for adoption after the holidays to a family with a buddy dog, so please keep an eye out for the perfect home for him.
On this Thanksgiving Day I am particularly grateful for all the many people who donated money for his surgery, taken such an interest in his progress and to Westbury Animal Hospital which has done so much for me over the years.

Frankie pulls another cast off!

He's really feeling good and probably does it for all the attention he gets at Westbury Animal Hospital as well. Everyone there is so solicitious of him and anxious for him to recover well.
Back we went on Friday and got a dark green bandage with Dr Flores usual creative artwork on it. He's mulling what color to wear for the gala. Aaaacckk, I haven't found a dress yet!
Dr Chalkley told me that Frankie really needs to keep the bandage on and I replied
"Talk to the paw", so he gave Frankie a stern look and Frankie licked him....

Good news from Frankies vet!

Frankie pulled his turquoise cast off Sunday night so off we went Monday morning to get a new one,royal blue this time. (Thanks to my buds who have donated gas money
to the cause.)
For the first time Dr Chalkley has been openly optimistic about Frankie rather than guarded. He took more xrays and said he is healing nicely. I am so pleased.
Frankie is becoming a little rambunctious with the cooler weather and it's so good to see him feeling better, even though I have to be the bad guy and keep him curtailed.

Frankie prepares for the CAP gala!

Frankie will be an honored guest at the Citizens for Animal Protection gala on November 17th. He's mostly preparing by resting up and today went to CAP to have his picture made for the program. He is secure enough in his neutered masculinity to be able to wear turquoise Vet Wrap!

His primary care vet, Dr. Chalkley and his wife and Dr Jonathan Cooper have received special invitations to the gala also. Check out the CAP website, cap4pets.org for all the gala info.