In an earlier post, I talked about the “It” factor — that moment that can sometimes happen in pet owners’ lives when they stop calling their beloved pet by its name and start calling the pet “It.” That moment when they begin to shift away from their bonds with the pet and instead start planning a future with the pet no longer in it. Here I’ll talk about several scenarios that way too often threaten pet owners’ commitment to their pets, and suggest ways to overcome those feelings and how to push through to keep your commitment to your pet–that promise of a lifetime together. Remember back to the beginning–you made a promise to your pet–you and me forever? Don’t lose sight of that promise when the bonds are tried.

If or when that commitment is tested, here are some tips to help you stay on track and stay committed to your promise to that pet who loves and trusts you and has total faith that your love is in fact everlasting and will never betray him. He knows in his heart you would never ever ever leave him behind. Let’s honor that absolute faith he has in you.

Betrayal Is Not An Option.

A promise is a promise–it stands the test of time. Forever–not just when it’s convenient. Are you true to your word? Is your love unwaivering? Let’s say your pet could understand your words–do you think he’d nod in agreement when you explained to him why you’re leaving him behind? Truth is, he wouldn’t be able to take it, not for a minute. Animals are capable of unbreakable bonds that I don’t think humans can even grasp. We give up when things get uncomfortable–animals are in it for the long haul. We could learn a lot from them about unconditional love.

“My New Fiance Doesn’t Like Animals.”

This is an issue that requires you to look ahead and plan accordingly. If your pet is your family, your sidekick, and you can’t imagine life without him, then don’t lose sight of that when you start dating. It’s on you to make sure a new person knows that you and your pet are a package deal. She needs to be in agreement with that all the way, no hesitation. If you sense that she’s just tolerating your pet even a little, then you’ll be smart to reevaluate a long-term commitment with that person.

Because there’s a good chance once the vows have been spoken, you may then find out she has other plans for the pet’s future with you. Now you’ve invited a contentious standoff between you and the new spouse, and guess where that leaves your beloved pet?  Probably at the shelter. Wrong and unfair. But sadly, too common. Don’t be the one who breaks his word and his pet’s heart because you let someone come between you and talk you out of your commitment to your devoted and loyal pet, who’s been by your side all along, the last one in your life who deserves to be let down.

Be sure to have the hard conversation before any commitments are made. Be sure you both are very clear about your intentions for the pet. Don’t leave any questions unasked or unanswered. Your pet’s future with you depends on it. And also think of this–it takes a very selfish person to split up a pet from its owner. If someone expects you to walk away from your pet for them, what else might they take from you?

“We’re Moving.”

There was a time when that excuse might have been acceptable, since few landlords allowed pets “back in the day.” But those days are gone, and it’s easy now to find rentals that accept pets. As with other situations, plan ahead. Give yourself time to start the search to make sure you’re prepared when the move comes. If you do find yourself running out of time, make arrangements for your pet to stay temporarily with a friend or relative. You can go on ahead and squat in temporary digs to get started in your new job, in the meantime continuing your search for a pet-friendly home. Once you secure your new rental, go back and get your beloved pet to come join you and continue on with you in your new life chapter. Happy Happy Joy Joy!

If your issue is with the size of the pet deposit and/or a higher monthly rent payment, then same approach. plan ahead by saving extra so you can cover that cost when the time comes to move. Don’t let it sneak up and surprise you, and then use that as your excuse to unload the pet. You’ll be called foul on that move for sure. Planning ahead is usually all that’s needed to keep your whole family intact.

“I Don’t Have Time For It Anymore.”

I can start this discussion off by saying simply “you’re as busy as you want to be.” If you work long hours now and Fido finds himself sitting at the door waiting for you with a tennis ball in his mouth more and more often, then you’ve chosen a lifestyle without considering his needs. Good time to take stock of how well or how poorly you’re managing your time. If the extra hours at work are temporary, for a few weeks or months, then have a relative or friend come to your house each day to walk him, run him, play with him, love on him, all those things he’s missing with you.

If no family or friends are available, then hire a dog walker, or drop him off at doggy daycare. If you can’t afford doggy daycare every day, start off with every other day. You’re his ultimate guardian and caregiver. If you cannot fulfill that role for any period of time, it’s still on you to see that his needs are being met. He’s not a ceramic knick knack you can put on a shelf and ignore, without consequences for both you and him. Think outside the box. Whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t become the forgotten member of your family. Remember — if you choose to start ignoring his need for daily interaction and exercise, he’ll start misbehaving out of boredom and pent-up energy. And it won’t be his fault — that’s just how nature works. And if he does start misbehaving, you’ll become frustrated and start justifying the thought of “getting rid” of him. See — you ended up sabotaging your own best outcome and his future. Think ahead, be diligent, keep his future with you in mind with a loving and protective heart.

“We’re Having A Baby.”

This is a really lame argument. A little understandable, but still lame. It’s normal for new parents to freak out with their first child. They feel the need to clear the plate so they can focus just on the new baby when it comes. I get it. But don’t flip out and make changes you can’t take back, like dumping your pet at the shelter, or banishing him to the backyard, or locking him away in a crate, no longer an intimate member of the family he loves. You do a great disservice to the baby and dog both by giving them no chance to know and love each other and to grow together. Dogs love babies. Babies love dogs. Keep your new-parent fears in check, and you’ll see. Pets and babies is a beautiful thing.

“It Won’t Listen To Me.”

You can prevent this excuse popping up down the road if you properly train your pet from the beginning. When you first adopt or rescue your pet, use your skills to teach the pet proper behavior so that down the road he doesn’t end up in the shelter because he barked too much or jumped up on you one too many times, or didn’t use the litterbox, etc. If he’s your first pet and you’re not familiar with training, then get both of you into classes from the get-go. You can find trainers everywhere for reasonable prices, or classes at Petsmart; and, if cost is an issue, there are even tons of training videos on youtube for free. Abandoning your pet because it wasn’t trained is NOT an acceptable excuse. It’s too easy to get him properly trained, unless you just don’t give it enough importance.  And, of course, we know that would never be the case.   🙂

Bottom Line ~ It’s On You.

The theme throughout this brief post is that, whatever the challenge, it’s on you, as your pet’s loving caregiver, to ensure that he is included in big family decisions and changes. Don’t lose sight of his place in the family. I know that big events are life-altering and frightening sometimes, but keep your wits about you and you’ll be fine. The pet should not be seen as a liability when life changes–that’s still the same pet you have loved and cherished all along. Don’t leave him behind anymore than you would leave one of your kids behind. Protect those bonds, protect his place in your home and family and life and heart. Think of this–if the tables were turned, your pet would never leave you. A promise is not negotiable to a pet.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post A Promise Is Not Negotiable To A Pet. appeared first on BareFootPets.

I can’t count how many veterinarian appointments I’ve been late to over the years and even had to cancel last-minute because my cat would run and hide as soon as I brought out the carrier. Murphy’s Law very reliably dictated that, if I had scheduled an appointment, kitty would hide herself away until we missed it. And, even when I was fortunate enough to retrieve her from under the couch, I couldn’t begin to stuff her into the carrier without being shredded. She was not having it, end of discussion.

Frustration, as it turns out, became the mother of invention for me. I was forced to come up with a way to successfully transport my kitty without her freaking out and me getting shredded, and maybe even be on time.

Let Her Think The Crate Is Her Idea.

I stumbled stupidly onto this theory and, sure enough, that’s all it took. It eventually dawned on me that I had to let her think getting into the carrier was her very own smart little idea. And turns out it was pretty darned easy to convince her. I started leaving her carrier out in the house 24/7 for her to start feeling comfortable with. I put catnip in it, her favorite toy, a really plush blanket for her to cuddle up on. The fact that the crate was available to her day in and day out to play in and nap in made it less threatening, and allowed her to become overall at ease with it. She could get in and out of it at her own choosing, which was important to her. She was no longer afraid of it.

Safe Space.

Eventually the carrier became her safe space. Once she started napping in it every day, that was it – all fear was gone. So now, when it comes time to take her to the vet, all I have to do is close the carrier door and go. The beauty of it feeling like a safe haven is it helps to calm her when we ultimately end up in the car. She doesn’t cry anymore; she just sits quietly. Still nervous, of course, but not panicked. It is such a relief for me to know my cat isn’t going to have a coronary, and she gets through the whole event with minimal trauma.

When we return home after the vet, I always set the carrier back in its usual spot familiar to her, then open the door for her to come out, and I leave it in that same spot so she can continue her naps and playtime in it just as she’s come to enjoy. She knows now that the carrier is still her safe space, and it always brings her back home again too.

What a simple fix! Give it a try – put your carrier out for kitty to start “bonding with” so that your next transport is no longer a nightmare. You’ll both be grateful for the new calm.

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post For The Cat Who Won’t Be Crated. appeared first on BareFootPets.

The Unchosen.

It’s a statistical fact that pets with black fur get left behind. Doesn’t matter if it’s a good dog or the perfect kitty — they don’t get chosen. People tend to pass right over them when walking the shelter aisles. Maybe folks are shopping for a pet to go with their furniture or their wardrobe, and black just isn’t the right match. We need to straighten out our thinking. A pet isn’t a knick-knack that has to blend in visually with your decor or your lifestyle. It’s a life — precious and valuable no matter what the color of its fur.

“See” Your Choice Through The Eyes Of Love.

Next time you go to the shelter to find your next great furry love, close your eyes.  Let your heart take you up and down the aisles and lead you to the perfect little life who’s waiting for you. Make your choice based on chemistry, personality, love, and compassion — those intangibles that are beyond measure. Quite possibly, your right choice might very well be a shimmering jet black pet. And, if your heart is in the right place, you rightly won’t be in the least bit disappointed. You’ll see him for the beautiful life he is, inside and out, and not as if the color of his fur were some kind of unfortunate thing.

To All The Black-Fur Pets I Have Loved.

In my decades of pet rescue, I’ve been given the gift and privilege of loving many black-fur pets. I can tell you tender stories about each one of them that are seered into my memory, and not one of those sweet memories is diminished by the color of their fur. Following is a tribute to some of those treasured little faces that I miss so much and still hold fast in my heart forever.

Awesome Name Ideas For Black-Fur Pets.

I came across a couple of websites that offer great name suggestions for black-fur pets, and here are a few that stood out. Feel welcome to draw from this list or use it to come up with even more ideas for your next pet:

Phantom | Gypsy | Onyx | Midnight | Jet | Noir | Hendrix | Marley | Java | Beetle | Pepper | Oreo | Ash | Puma | Ebony | Panther | Panda | Agate | Ace | Blackjack | Bullet | Stormy | Spade | Cinder | Demon | Domino | Dusty | Ebony | Eightball | Elvira | Espresso | Galaxy | Jackyl | Jaguar | Knight | Licorice | Lava | Storm | Zorro | Velvet | Thunder | Orchid | Twilight | Dice | Voodoo | Vader | Hershey | Magic | Merlin | Tattoo | Batman | Fudge | Pearl | Scorch | Ninja | Numbus |

(https://www.smalldogplace.com/black-dog-names.html)
(https://pethelpful.com/cats/cool-unique-and-creative-black-cat-names-for-your-beloved-pet)

Make The Best Of Your Black-Fur Pet’s Look.

When Marley came to live with me, this black-as-night from head-to-toe, all boy, muscular kitty, I wanted to get him a manly collar to go with his manly personality. But everything I tried looked bland on him, and nothing seemed to showcase him the way I had hoped … until I bought him a hot-pink collar. Omigosh, it POPPED!  Marley looked like a million dollars, and the hot-pink didn’t take away one ounce from his masculinity. Be creative; it will help you “look past” the black-fur issue.

Roman was the most beautiful jet-black Flat Coat Retriever I’ve seen in my life. I bought her a coal-black collar slathered all over in sparkling Swarovski crystals that lit up her face. People would stop us out in public all the time to comment on how stunning she was. Thing is, Roman was always stunning even without crystals. People just are programmed not to notice black-fur pets. But add some bling, and now the black-fur pets show up on everyone’s WOW! radar. So think outside the box — make sure your black-fur pet stands out and gets the attention it deserves.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post To All The Black-Fur Pets I Have Loved. appeared first on BareFootPets.

You just found a stray puppy or kitten, or maybe you’ve just adopted a newly weened puppy or kitten from a shelter or breeder. Now what do you do?! Either way, if Mama’s not in the picture now, you need to help this little one feel safe and secure. Puppies and kittens are cute, adorable, huggable, snuggable, and fun, but they still are young and delicate and desperately missing their mama. You’re wondering if you’ll be able to comfort her as she begins to let go of the memory of her natural mama and starts seeing you as her family now.

Of course you can!  🙂

The baby has just arrived at her new home with you, and you’re happy and excited. But her mama’s not there with her, and she’s feeling vulnerable and afraid. She doesn’t really know you yet, and trust takes time to grow. You need to fill that gap for her in the meantime, reassure her, comfort her, to help her grow up happy and well adjusted. Her wellbeing needs to be priority one-more important right now than how cute and entertaining she is.

If your little one doesn’t get this basic comfort at the start, she could grow up to be neurotic or ill-behaved. And neurotic and ill-behaved pets eventually end up abandoned at the shelter, or God forbid, even out on the streets. But let me encourage you-that won’t happen to you, because your heart is so filled and overflowing with love for this little furball, and you will put all that love to work protecting and taking the best care of her. So, put on your Mama hat and here are several tips you can start using right away.  🙂

First, Be Present.

Just like having a human baby, raising a furry youngster is not a part-time gig. You are on-call 24/7 just the same and need to take that commitment seriously, for the long-term.

Okay, so the last thing you want to do is put Baby off by herself. She needs your physical company, your touch. Whenever you’re at home, be next to her, touching her, letting her know you’re paying attention, and she’s safe and loved. Not the kind of hovering love that feels overly needy and worrysome. But the kind of love that says, hey little bambino, I see you, let’s hang together.

If you get busy and feel tempted to put her in a crate so you can vacuum or pay bills, etc., here’s a better option: put her in a sling or backpack and “wear” her while you work. Your body warmth, your scent, your heartbeat, your pulse, and your movement will comfort her and she’ll feel safe, connected, and loved. So, even though you’re focused on something else, you’re still present and comforting and being a good Mama, and getting your chores done at the same time.

NOTE: This practice also works beautifully to comfort smaller senior pets that may be blind or otherwise disabled and unsure of their surroundings.

What About When I Have To Be Gone?

Probably you work outside the home, so Baby will have to be without you for a good chunk of time every day, unless you plan to bring in a petsitter for her. A winning idea is to put an old-fashioned tick-tock clock next to her crate. The ticking will imitate Mama’s heartbeat. If you don’t have a tick tock clock, then set your stereo or tv on a station that plays only nature sounds. Set the volume down low so that it feels soothing to her, and doesn’t agitate.

VERY IMPORTANT: also put a blanket with your scent on it in her crate for her to snuggle up in. She’ll feel like you’re there with her. Your pajamas, a tee shirt, whatever. Something you slept in all night, or wore all day, so your scent is heavy on it. Change the item up every day to keep your scent strong, and don’t let it fade away. The benefit of this tip cannot be over-stated.

Bath Time.

If you’ve ever watched a Mama cat or dog groom her babies, you can see how it comforts the little one. You can easily imitate Mama’s grooming by using a damp cloth to massage Baby. Focus on Baby’s eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and bottom, just like her biological Mama does. Massage gently in a repetitious motion and Baby won’t know the difference between her real Mama and her new human Mama.

Sing To Baby.

While you’re imitating Baby’s biological Mama, you can “sing” to Baby, too. I’ve found that babies are super comforted and peaceful when I put my face against them and hum softly into their skin. It mimics purring just like their first Mama. It works with kittens and puppies both. I rub my face against their skin, back and forth, while I hum real soft and low. And in a minute Baby’s eyes become droopy and Baby nods off to sleep because she feels safe and sound with you. Avoid using a shrill, high-pitched voice when you talk to her.

Bed Time.

Don’t leave Baby in a laundry room or outside or wherever. She’s your family now. Bring Baby into your room with you. Put her crate as close to your bed as possible. Talk to her. Reach down and pet her to let her know you’re with her and watching over her. Whatever she needs to feel comforted–give her.

If Baby is super tiny, be cautious about having her sleep in bed with you initially, unless you’re a really light sleeper and can “sleep with one eye open” so you don’t accidentally roll over on her, or so she doesn’t fall of the bed. If her crate or carrier is small enough to put up on the bed next to you, that would be ideal.

These are just a handful of tips to get you started as a devoted new Mama. Hopefully they get your creative juices flowing and you can think of more ideas that will help you comfort and reassure your new little one.

I wish the very best for you and your new family.  Enjoy her in happiness and good health!   🙂

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post A Mother’s Love. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Okay, on now to our match-making discussion.

How Do I Find The Ideal Match In A New Pet?

You’re thinking about getting a new pet and want to make sure you choose the right one. What are the most important things to look for? You’re tempted to buy from a breeder, but then you think about how many rescue pets at the shelter are just begging you to give them a chance and tugging at your heart. How do you decide?  There’s a lot more to consider than just how cute it is or how young it is, its pedigree, or even how desperate a shelter pet may be.  Before you can match yourself with the right pet, you need to answer some important questions – about yourself.

First, Check Your Budget.

Can I afford it?  There are financial costs that come with being a good pet parent. Food, dog tags, grooming, bedding, toys, training, veterinary exams, sometimes medications or surgeries if it has a health issue, cleaning supplies, petsitting if you need to be away and can’t include him, …  Go over your budget and be very sure you have discretionary funds enough to care for a new pet without cutting corners or neglecting its care.

Also, don’t forget this – some pets cost more to care for than others. For example, your food bill for a large dog is going to be a whole lot more than for a small dog. And grooming costs for a high-maintenance pet are much higher than for a lower maintenance pet. And if you want to provide them a good diet instead of bottom-shelf brands, be sure you figure that into your budget as well. You can be an excellent pet parent on a modest budget, but you still need to factor in those costs.

Be very honest with yourself — if you want a pet but can’t afford vet bills when they get sick, or annual vaccinations, or good food, do you believe that you’ll be giving that pet a good life?  If you have crunched the numbers and are confident that you have room in your life and bank account to give a pet a good life, whether modest or lavish, then let’s go find your ideal match!   🙂

So Many Breeds ~ How Do I Choose?

Most people don’t consider how certain breeds of cats and dogs will fit into their family and home. They see a darling little Maltese or Shih Tzu in the window and just can’t resist taking her home and dressing her up and cuddling with her and showing her off.  Or a gorgeous German Shepherd that might make a great watch dog for your home. Resist the “impulse adoption” until you know more about the pet. It’s important first to study up on different breeds and find out what it takes to care for them – and care for them well.

If you take that little Shih Tzu home on a whim, are you prepared to groom her appropriately every single day for the rest of her life? Because once a week or once a month and certainly once a year is NOT enough.  And give her lubricating eye drops every single day to protect the health of her eyes, even if she hates it and fights you?

Different Breeds Need Different Parenting.

Are you willing to spend time every day with your new Border Collie teaching him and training him in agility courses, etc.?  And to spend time exercising him every day to burn off pent-up energy? Because Border Collies are incredibly smart and active, and become bored quickly. If you’re not on top of his daily training and exercise, he can become neurotic and develop bad habits because of it. You don’t ignore a pet anymore than you would ignore a child, no matter how tired or “not in the mood” you may be. If you’re not up for making their every-day care a priority, then a high-maintenance breed is not a good match for you.

Same thing with Persian and Himalayan cats.  They are crazy gorgeous animals, and most people are captured by their beauty.  But they come with a lot of responsibility. Grooming and health care is a conscientious, EVERY-DAY commitment. If you’re the kind of person who may tolerate that in the very beginning but then start to resent the time it takes, then you absolutely should NOT get a high-maintenance dog or cat. Because think what will happen to that pet if you decide you don’t want to be bothered anymore?  You’ll take it to the shelter.  And there’s a really really good chance your pet may die there if it doesn’t find a new family willing to take on the commitment that you gave up on.

Don’t misunderstand me. The commitment of time and energy and money into your pet IS WORTH EVERY PENNY AND EVERY MOMENT, and pet parents love their pets deeply and don’t begrudge them their care.  But sometimes people don’t look far enough down the road to know if they’re making the right decision and to make sure their personality is suited for the long-term commitment.

How Active Is Your Family?

Is your family a bunch of go-getters, hiking every weekend, bike riding, swimming, road trips here and there, playing at the beach? Then a Border Collie or Jack Russell would be ideal for you, or a Boxer, or Beagle, or Golden Retriever. But definitely not an English bulldog, for example, who isn’t built to keep up with such high-energy activities, and whose inherent breathing challenges would put him at risk if pushed too hard. Your English Bulldog, or a Yellow Lab, would be perfect for a couch potato-type person; someone who watches a lot of TV, or works at home on the computer all day, or likes to read out on the patio on a sunny, breezy day, and prefers more leisurely daily walks around the neighborhood, or some light playtime tossing a chew toy.

You want to match your dog’s personality to your personality as best you can for the ideal relationship. Do you like to get down on the floor and wrestle with your dog, or just snuggle up with him on the couch? If you’re a low-key person, then a high-energy dog is going to get really bored really quick at your house, and now you’ve got a problem. And where will Fido end up if things don’t work out?  Yep, the shelter. Make sense? Plan for success.  Get familiar with the many different breeds by learning online – one great resource is the American Kennel Club website: www.akc.com. Its profiles include confirmation information – how the dog should be perfectly built – but you can skip over that and go right to the section about personalities, behavior, health issues, etc. Do your homework BEFORE going shopping for the pet so that you won’t be “talked into” adopting one that may not work out.

Will A New Pet Get Along With The Pets We Already Have?

If you already have other pets in your home, be sure that adding a new pet won’t ruin their quality of life and peace of mind.  Your first commitment to the pets already in your home should take priority and not be compromised. Making adjustments to accommodate a new pet is one thing, and that’s acceptable. But putting their welfare at risk is not. See my post at https://www.barefootpets.com/howmany/.

We Want To Rescue A Shelter Pet.

First thing I would say is God Bless You!  And also — how flexible can you be? Pets are usually turned into shelters because of bad habits. Their previous owner didn’t house train them, or litterbox train them, or train them not to jump up on people. Or maybe the dog is a barker, or maybe the cat won’t come out of hiding. If you’re flexible and willing to work with such issues, then probably you will have great success rescuing a shelter pet and giving him a better life. Or, if you have a picture in your head of the perfect pet and don’t feel that you can settle for anything less, or don’t feel equipped to re-train a pet with bad habits, then consider putting the new pet in professional training.

Certainly not all shelter pets have bad habits. Some are there because their owners left town and didn’t take them along. You could be getting a great dog or cat in that case. Go for it!  But let me tell you this — it can be a crap shoot whether you rescue from the shelter or buy from a breeder, so be prepared for that possibility regardless where you get your new pet.  And also know this – even if you get a pet that doesn’t totally behave or whose personality isn’t the best match with yours, you can still co-exist wonderfully, if you determine to make it happen.

The Most Important Ingredient.

Whatever you decide, resolve to give that new pet all the love you have in your heart.  With every bowl of food and treat you give her, and every stroke of the brush, care for her tenderly and diligently, and spend quality time with her every day. Remember – pets aren’t knick knacks that you just stick out in the yard or in a crate in the laundry room and forget about. They’re members of your family – always treat them as such.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post MatchMaking – Choosing The Right Pet. appeared first on BareFootPets.