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BANG FOR THE BITE
Nearly 2/3 of animals sent to shelters are euthanized. Save a life and lengthen your own by adopting a pet.
COCKTAIL FACT
In 1975, entrepreneur Gary Dahl sold more than 5 million Pet Rocks. There is no research to suggest that pet rocks make you live longer.
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home › tip library › Pet Adoptions
What's the one surefire way to find true love?
The Bite
Adopt a pet. Research shows that pet owners live longer, happier lives than non-pet owners. Up to 8 million pets enter shelters each year, so find puppy love pronto.The Benefits
- Live longer. A study by the US Dept of Health found that 28% of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to 6% of patients without pets.
- Reduce the uncared-for pet population. For every person born in the US, 15 puppies and 45 kittens are born.
- Unconditional love. When the world lets you down, a cuddle from an animal is a great pick-me-up.
Personally Speaking
This whole "pet owners are happier" thing doesn't bode well for Toshio, who can't take care of a houseplant, much less a companion animal. Meanwhile, learning from Jen by example, Cricket adopted Froggy last year, and they're now one big, sickeningly happy family.Wanna Try?
- Petfinder - search hundreds of thousands of pets that need homes for the perfect companion.
- Pets911 - even if you can't commit to taking on a pet, you can still help out at your local shelter.
- Helping Animals Photo Contest - who's the cutest rescue animal of them all? Vote now.
- Ideal Bite's Spay/Neuter Tip - statistically speaking, "fixing" your pet will give them a longer life.
Sep 08,2006
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Not sure what to do here
Biter Comments...
I wish I could do the same as all of you, but I am very allergic to furry pets. If I were to adopt a cat or dog I would wake up every morning with my eyes sealed shut and feeling poofy over my whole face. Whenever either one licked me I would break out in hives. I have 2 snakes. Do they count? Nobody I've yet met has done any research on this sort of pet. For some reason, whenever there is a survey question about pets, it includes cats, dogs, sometimes fish, sometimes birds, but nothing else. I feel completely left out and I think Clive and Chloe do too!
Hey, what can you do, Thee Cricket is a SERIOUSLY cute dog! I look at those pictures and want to snorgle those little ears. The ears!!!
I too am stupidly in love with my dog - he's a rescue, and it baffles me as to why anyone would abandon a dog as magnificent as my own Egon Sharif. And *cheers* to the getting off your butt w/ a dog - 15 pounds flew right off my butt soon after I got this dog from the WALKIES!
www.erikagreen.com/egon
Just to put in a plug for rescuing a dog. My sister was considering a dog after her old labrador died. She had been to the shelter in her town several times but was undecided and when she went back the dog she had been interested in was gone. I already have two German Shepherds but when I saw a labrador listed as available in our paper's column on dogs at the shelter I just had to go look ( for my sister). When the attendant brought the dog out she raced to my side and glued herself to the side of my leg. The person working that day was someone I knew and suggested I take her home as a foster dog for a week or so. I agreed. While I was walking her around outside my daughter opened the door to our van and she jumped about five feet to get inside. She chose us to be her family! Once she was home my kids fell in love with her and she was ours- she never went back to the shelter and my sister got another dog instead. I went out to sign her papers the next day. I got a healthy adult dog with all her shots and already spayed for a $7 adoption fee and $7 licesce- it was the bargin of the century! She is beautiful, loyal, well mannered, quick to learn, and a complete joy. If it had not been for Jen's comments about Cricket last year I probably would have not even gone to the shelter. I always thought a dog from the shelter was a big risk as you do not always know their background. Certainly no one should adopt an animal on a whim as it is a big commitment but if you are leaning that way- take the plunge! Next week we will celebrate Tia's "gotcha" day (anniversary of her adoption). She is the perfect kid dog and a friend to the whole family. There may be the perfect friend for you waiting at the shelter!
Three christmases ago I was walking past a department store window when I saw the cat that would change my life! The Humane Society was doing a Xmas Showcase and I adopted Dizz. I('ve always had pets from shelters by the way and have never had any issues-- in fact, I really believe that mixing up the genes aka "mutts" works better than purebred who so often have genetic problems).
Anyway, the point is, this little cat makes my face light up. He is absolute sunshine (even when he wakes me up at 6 am...)in my life. I cannot fathom not having animals in my life. Like Jen, I would work in a shelter but may adopt all the animals! Thinking it over though, really, I think I will do it anyway. Time to give back to the place that gave me my little Jazzcat and so much happiness! :)
Major purrr-outs to you guys for this one! I work with a cat rescue group and see wonderful furrballs who need loving homes every day. I fostered two huge boys who wormed their way into my heart and are now permanent members of the Crazy Cat Lady household. Support your local resuce or shelter with time, monetary donations, or donations of blankets, toys, litter boxes, etc., etc. www.1-800-save-a-pet.com is another great source for finding cats and dogs who need loving, permanent homes. And check www.petvideo.com for educational videos on living with cats and dogs.
I'm so proud to share my mobile home with 4 dogs, 3 cats, and my adult daughter. Three of the dogs and all the cats are rescued. Considering the living conditions we found them in, they all should be considered rescued. The oldest is a 16 (now) year-old Cocker Spaniel we got as a puppy. Then there are two 9 year-old Peek-a-Poos, and a 2-1/2 year-old Shih-Tzu, all 3 acquired as puppies.
For a number of years, I was a foster parent for the local Humane Society. During those years we fostered quite a number of kittens. Our Penny and Sierra were 2 that we just couldn't part with. Penny was 2 days old, Sierra 3 weeks old when we took over their care; Penny is now 12 years, & Sierra is about 7 years-old now! Our most recent addition to our family is a Hurricane Katrina rescue, about 1-1/2 years-old now, and aptly named Katrina.
These wonderful creatures are our babies, confidants, bed-warmers, and tear wipers. I can't imagine living without at least one, preferably many more!
And don't forget Bob Barker's
famous statement, "Don't forget to SPAY & NEUTER!!" We always do!
Great review of your site on this blog:
http://www.redinked.com/2006/08/21/smitten-and-bitten/
Seriously, Ideal Bite is amazing. I no longer feel angst and ennui about living in this modern world... okay, I still feel them, but there's that little bit of hope from the actions I'm starting to take because of your daily tips. Thanks so much.
While you might think it's entirely acceptable to flick the poop, keep in mind that certain animal feces, and that includes dogs, are not good for the grass. Whether you like it or not, you need to use a plastic bag to collect it. Flicking it off is such a disgusting thing to do. And you are not helping the environment as much as you think you might be. You are in error.
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Evelyn | September 08, 2006 at 06:23 AM