7 Comments

1. 
   Wednesday June 2nd, 2010 at 5:13 pm

   Wendy-

   I must admit that I am becoming an addict to your show, which I watch on repeat at night since I miss the showing during normal day. However, I was a bit frustrated at seeing Beth Otrosky Stern’s interview regarding her book and puppy mills and not “purchasing” animals from retail stores such as PetSmart/PetCo.

   Being an animal advocate, rescuer, volunteer and foster, I have worked with animals for over a decade. Our local animal shelter works with PetSmart (and PetCo while it was open) for adoption days, where the shelter can bring adoptable cats/dogs into the store. Sometimes PetSmart will take in local shelter or other rescue group animals if the organization is running out of room. The store gets no sort of reward or back-handed monetary benefit for this. Just helping in any way they can.

   For Beth to over generalize that animals “sold” in retail stores are all from puppy mills and are not a good option really hit a nerve. While I understand that this is a truth in may pet parlor stores, this isn’t always the case at PetSmart or PetCo. I would encourage possible pet parents to question the animal (is it from a shelter/rescue or from a pet “boutique”) but not to count them out as possible good pets.

   My family has rescued all but 1 dog from our local animal shelter and will continue to do so. I would encourage people to visit shelters or breed rescues, just like Beth had mentioned. And I hope Beth continues to raise awareness on puppy mills and the dangers it causes to breed standards, animal protection and health.

   Have a great rest of the week.
2. 
   Friday May 21st, 2010 at 11:05 am

   Brother James Pickens, Jr. truly a great actor and did well to keep us in suspense about the concluding Grey’s Anatomy season finale. After seeing that show, it makes us aware how vulnerable our hospitals are, how much the staff can be seen other than their scrubs ….their human emotions, patience, professionalism and relationships. Your interview with him was well done….so sez the qatzmeow-Afi
3. 
   Thursday May 20th, 2010 at 2:06 pm

   Wendy,

   I understand the unfortunate problem of the ‘puppy mills’ but not all pets sold in pet stores come from such ‘dirty dungeons’ as I’ve always called the mills.

   There are many rescuers who take it upon themselves to taking a domestic pet from the streets from either it being lost or abandoned, and absorbing the costs of medical care [ spay/neuter and other treatments ], simply because it’s the humane thing to do and those indviduals love of animals.

   I speak for myself as a rescuer, but of felines. One experience I had with North Shore was that the vet I saw in the waiting room, after driving 45min. to get there to leave an abandoned cat at its ‘no kill’ shelter, was for the vet to tell me North Shore doesn’t take cats from the street, that he was geriatric, bad teeth and no one would want him. After being bombarded with newspaper ads of North Shore’s ‘no kill’ policy I was quite disappointed being turned away, knowing that the Animal Care Center would only cage it for adoption for 72hrs.or if not-adopted, it meets its fate.

   Abandoned by his relocated owner, this house cat survived the elements a few seasons in my outdoor insulated shelter with his enormous appetite. Observing him for consideration was unsatisfactory to him because he took the liberty of moving in through my pet window and camped out on my sofa evidencing ’squatter’s rights’. With his aggressive behavior, only being defensive, I had to take in consideration my other very social cats in my multi-cat household….thus North Shore was my option.

   Ultimately, he wound up in the city shelter only for my and my guilty conscious racing there to pay to get him out because his time was up.He was treated medically and neutered and I brought him giving him his own room until he finally adapted better behavior.

   North Shore is still very particular about taking in domestic abandons.Perhaps its attitude is different for canines. So I beg to differ with Beth Ostrosky adoption when it can be done does benefit the pet regardless sometimes of ‘from whence it came’. If the helpless pets could talk, I’m sure they could quite often tell of us horror stories above and beyond the terrible ‘puppy mills’ and other squalor conditions felines exist in….so sez the qatzmeow Afi
4. 
   Thursday May 20th, 2010 at 12:59 am

   informative interview with Beth Ostrosky, wow, i wonder if she put hamburger grease or something on her leg to make that dog lick there so much. couldnt help but chuckle at the end of the interview when the audience burst into applause, BETH’S DOG STOOD UP, startled lol lol
5. 
   Thursday May 20th, 2010 at 12:40 am

   nice sofa talk with Pickens, Jr., also very nice ‘phone’ interview with Vanessa
6. 
   Wednesday May 19th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

   Just keep in mind that when you get a pet it is a life long committment…I just had to find a home for my 12 year old Pekingnese because i could no longer afford my apartment and had to move into a studio.
7. 
   Wednesday May 19th, 2010 at 10:55 am

   Wendy…you mentioned that you wanted a dog but have concerns about training and bathroom issues You must try a Sharpei!!!!!! I have 2 and they’ve never been housetrained because it wasn’t necessary. As soon as I got home, they know what 2 do…NO ACCIDENTS!!! really! You can read about them…apparently it’s a common phenomenon for this type of dog. The BEST dogs EVER!!!!!!