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greatcanadianteddybear · 7 years ago

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More about the GreatCanadianTeddyBear

BabyTeddyBear Always Supports FetLife.com, other AB/DL & BABY FURS web sites & Kink Community!

Updated Jan 10th , 2018. Happy Padded New Year's to everyone! Welcome to BabyTeddyBear's aka Teddy's profile thanks for stopping by. I’ve meet a lot of amazing AB/DLs, Biggs, Middles, Little’s, Mom’s, Daddy’s, Baby Furs & Pups over the many years and formed amazing long term friendships from all over the world thank you for this! If you have any questions please message me any time! Hope you enjoy my pics, profile and the event’s I’ve been a part of! Hope everyone has a Happy Padded day Eh! Teddy

-----///\\\-----Please ----///--\\\----Put This ----|||----|||----On Your ----|||----|||----Account If ----|||----|||----You Know ----\\\--///----Someone -----\\\///-----Who Died ------///\------Or Is Suffering -----///\\\-----From ----///--\\\----Cancer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L218XwnsUzs Mary Tyler Moore was a roll mode for Baby Teddy Bear! See the video of the opening theme song to her show. Remember (you’re going to make it after all)

-----------«::::::::» «:::A:::» «:::B:::» «:::D:::» «:::L:::» «::::::::»----------

Wanted to share this with everyone and thank you to everyone I have amazing friendships!

Bubby-Boy:

Just wanted to stop by and tell you what a wonderful person you are and how valued you are in my life... Bubby is a much better person because of you! I hope and pray every day that you have a great day and week! Know that you are loved!

Daddy Cee and Bubby

Another local friend posted this on my profile wall thank you again:

I will be thinking about you and wishing you an awesome experience, cause that is what YOU give people...opportunities to be what they soooo want to be without fear. You have this admirable ability to help people in this community and your example is inspiring me to be Switzerland. ..the neutral party in Calgary...one without obligation or bias...maybe. ..if I try as hard as you have I can unite a community that should not be separated. I want that, because i am an outsider and i hate it. There is NO reason for people like us to hate. I have said it before...anyone that can accept diaper wearing adults can't be bad! There exists in this fetish the capacity to be better than societal norms. Physicality should never determine friendship _____________________________________________________________ **BULLYING/ BAD BEHAVIOR**:

Due to my past, I am extremely against bullying in all of its forms, and will not tolerate it. I don't care if I have been friends with a person for 10 years or 10 days, I do not put up with anyone I know bullying others within any community. Please feel free to join the movement to end Bullying in all communities (Kinklepants) a good friend of mine has a campaign: (BULLYING IS BOGUS) show your support guys & girls by passing the word on and letting people know that we will not put up with this behavior within all communities & please know this behavior is not welcome in the AB/DL community! We are here to help each other and do positive things within the AB/DL community let’s work together to make an awesome SAFE AB/DL community where people can trust one another and have a blast in making friends & par-taking in local AB/DL events!

Please also know that it takes a lot to get me upset and if by any chance I have done something to upset you, please feel free to contact me and we can sort out the indifference out over coffee. I am on FetLife to make long term friends in the community, not enemies!

Something a good friend posted: When A Toxic / Bully person can no longer control you, they will try to control how others see you. The misinformation will feel it’s unfair. But stay above it, trusting that other people / friends will eventually see the truth like you did!

This is so true guys!

I am who I am and those who don't like it are not worth my time or energy there is no one I’d rather be then myself because I am pretty awesome and I don't care who thinks otherwise because the only view that is important is how I view myself.

A quit from Oprah that inspires me within: What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have. --------------------------------------------------------------------- What dose AB & DL stand for: (Teddy version on those meanings)

AB stands for Adult Baby. A person over the age of 18 here in Alberta Canada may acting like a baby full time, part time or from time to time and under the age of 4 years old they my use a Diaper for just wet or pooping in, wear adult Baby like cloths, use a soother, use a adult baby bottle and may use other adult baby like stuff and have adult like baby future.

A DL stands for Diaper Lover. A Diaper Lover may just like to wear a Diaper they may like to Pee and Poop in it and it may be sexually for them as well.

I hope this helps for all my amazing friends into Bondage, Flogging, Rope play & Spanking. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Goal’s for Teddy in 2018:

Teddy has simple goals I try not to set the bar to high I set realistic goals I also challenge myself in many areas (how can I do better) I do not want to be perfect but I like to do software upgrades each year on my life + having my best friend do an appraisal on you letting you know your weakness & strengths and where you can improve as a person is amazing to have happen. I’ve worked hard to improve many areas of my life I’m very proud of myself from 10 years ago to today how I have changed in so many positive ways!

Few 2018 goals work on:

My weight I plan to join a gym and work on this, budgeting another area I see work is needed, going out to more events to help the community grow in a positive way, making new friends with in the local community + painting more rooms in the townhouse & organize the office area. Those are just a few goals for 2018! ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Local Canadian Distributor for ABU Diapers in (Edmonton):

https://ca.abuniverse.com/

My best friend is the Canadian distributor for ABU Canadian I'm so proud of him for taking on this role so far his second year he is doing an outstanding job and he has also done some amazing art work for ABU again I’m very proud of my best friend keep it up! So all my Diaper friends in Canada please feel free to order your Diapers thru him and support a local Canadian AB/DL!

--------------------------------------------------------------------- **Conventions that Teddy attends throughout the year** Please also have a read of Teddy’s writings on CAPcon & TeddyCon.

Fur Eh 2018 (Local Alberta Convention):

Teddy will be in Edmonton for Fur EH 2018 Thursday June 14 to Monday June 18th. I'm super excited about going to this Furry con a 3rd year in a row! Link to their web site: Http://www.fureh.ca/ Please have a look and hope to see you there! This con is close to a Hotel Takeover which is amazing to par take in nothing like it! ________________________________________________________________

CAPcon (Chicago Age Players) Convention (Located in Chicago):

My pic was used on http://chicagoageplayers.tumblr.com/ to promote last (30) tickets for 2015 CAPcon. It was so much fun taking those pics and I felt very much honored that they used my pic!

Each year I travel to Chicago to visit friends, Sightsee and go to CAPcon an Age Play Con / Diaper con. This Con has opened so many amazing doors for me awesome friendships! CAPcon is hosted in a private Hotel they keep the hotel location private so it's safe for everyone! At the con they have classes, Coloring area, Play area, Ball pit area, talent show and much much more! You can find the group / any info on here Fetlife: https://fetlife.com/groups/27245 & even more info on their web site: http://chicagoageplayers.com/. I would like to encourage all my friends in going to this con! I hope to see some of you at the 2018 CAPcon Hotel take over! This will be CAPcon first Hotel Takeover I’m excited to be a part of this!

Chicago traveling dates for 2018 my 5th year going is: Wednesday March 22nd to the Monday March 27th ticket are on sale register: http://chicagoageplayers.com/ I go 2 days early to take my time to unwind get the lay of the hotel and get lots of sleep before the con! You get very little sleep during the con due to all the room parties & hanging out with friends as you only see them short time every year! Then after the con I love to sightseeing and visit AB/DL friends so I’m staying 1 day after the con is over to see Chicago! --------------------------------------------------------------------- **Teddy Con another amazing Age Play Convention in Allentown Pa.**

This fall I’m off to Teddy Con again my 3rd year going Tuesday Oct 09th 2018 to Tuesday Oct 16th. I'm excited about going to TeddyCon Hotel takeover Again that’s right they are taking over the Hotel Again! Being a part of this amazing con is magical! I see that 75% of my friends from CAPcon are going to Teddy Con Yayaya so it will be a blast for sure and I'm look forward to opening new doors meeting new AB/DLs for sure and volunteering! If you’re going I look forward to giving hugs / hanging out!

Link to their Fetlife page: https://fetlife.com/groups/75248 Link to their Fetlife event: https://fetlife.com/events/388602

I will also be doing the Annual (Great Canadian Pre Con AB/DL Room Party) I looking forward to this party! It will be: Wednesday Oct 10th roughly around 9PM to 1AM suit Room? I'll post room number once checked into hotel. Room party will be from 9pm to 1pm with music, finger foods, drinks & annual Great Canadian Game with awesome prizes: Canada Souvenirs, Diapers, Candy & T-shirts so on! --------------------------------------------------------------------- **ALBERTA C.A.M.P. (Local Alberta Camp outing for AB/DL)**

The 13th year of the Alberta C.A.M.P. is coming in 2018 Friday July 20th to Sunday July 29th 2018 Group meal is on Saturday July 22st and July 29th. If you like more info on camp here's the link to the website: http://cadageplaymeetplay.ddns.net/ and fetlife group: https://fetlife.com/groups/141515. This camp is a great way to get out into the local Alberta Community and meet like minded AB/DLs, Biggs, Middles, Little’s, Moms, Daddy’s, Pups & Baby Furs. See yourself getting into little mode for 9 days in a private group camping site with little event’s planed each day + AB/DL prizes. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone! Registration will be opening soon please keep an eye on web site and I’ll be posting ads around Fetlife and other web site! --------------------------------------------------------------------- **Little Scouts** First and only international Little Scouts group outside USA here in Calgary.

Teddy was horned when he was approached by other local kinksters to be an Officer of Little Scouts Troop #403 they said that they couldn’t think of anyone else more deserving for the job! This again has opened so many amazing doors / friendships for me! Teddy has helped in running events, Hosting events & setting up events I love it I’m being a positive role model within the community that I live in which is amazing feeling.

Link to Fetlife group: https://fetlife.com/groups/153690 Check that link for month events! --------------------------------------------------------------------- **Local Munchies / events I go to and support:**

(Stitch & Bitch Sunday Bust Munch):

Guys I want to tell you about an amazing munch that I go to every Sunday. As my work week winds down to the weekend I so look forward to the Stitch & Bitch Sunday Bust Munch that goes from 2pm tell around 5pm to 6pm this happen each Sunday at Dickens Pub. The people that go there are super awesome and supportive this has opened so many amazing friendships / doors for me! Some people color, draw or work on Leather work most people eat and talking about whatever! It’s a great way to open new friendships I encourage everyone to go once I’m sure you’ll you come back! Thank you to all my friends from the (Stitch & Bitch Sunday Bust Munch) you guys rocked my world! Big hugs! --------------------------------------------------------------------- C.L.I.T.O.R.I.S North Munch:

Another munch that I go to is C.L.I.T.O.R.I.S North Munch this has been awesome munch! This munch is every 2nd Wednesday of the month at Tipperary’s Pub on 16 ave and 19st starts at 7pm I look forward to seeing you there! Link to the event is https://fetlife.com/events/357053 there is all the info there if you need more info! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kinky Karaoke: This event happens each month at a place called: CAPC (Calgary's Adult Playground Club) it's loads of fun! If you want more info about this event go to: Fetlife under events. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CCSPC another local place that holds event’s in the Calgary area https://fetlife.com/groups/145722 and web site http://ccspc.ca/ I encourage all my friends to check out their web site and Fetlife page it’s a great way to get out and partake in events ever weekend. --------------------------------------------------------------------- **About Me:**

I'm currently in an open but loving relationship with Tobytigercub for 5 years +. I've known I was gay for well over 30 years and I've not only come to accept it as part of which I am, but also learned to embrace it. Being gay in today's society has had its' hardships, but I feel that these hardships have helped me to become a better person.

Over the past year I’ve been going thru a software upgrade on my life! I’m working hard to lose weight, keeping myself on budget and few other goals and travelling! Last year we moved into a new town house this has been awesome thanks to my family, Vanilla and many AB/DL friends that have been there in helping us over the year! You guys rock and we don't know what we would have done without you guys!!! Town House has way more space and the renovations we did the whole upstairs looks awesome! With a biggie space I can host a lot more Diapered movie nights and slumber parties.

My goal is simple I know not everyone is going to like each here in the community but I can open my door create a safe space for AB/DLs to come over enjoy them self. I know it’s not easy some AB/DLs still live at home and can't wear at home with family around so they are welcome to come here diaper up hang out have a great time and knowing they are not going to be judge or teased about whatever they are into and knowing they can trust us as we always respect their space and with party's I host! I always hope friends meet other friends and always have a great time with what every event my friends are partaking in is always a win win for us!! I know as Mister positive in the community & always going the extra mile where we can help and do + friends know they can come over and set on the coach and we will listen give a hugs or just be there for them!! I’ve helped a lot of locals out over the many many years even at 3am I’ve had friends over crying sometimes all they just need is a hug Coffee & a diaper!

Doing positive things in the community for Strangers, friends and family is always A+! I.E. helping out with ab/dl / Furry events or just helping out a good friend. Doing positive things so feel awesome! We would like to challenge everyone to do the same it's a WIN WIN for you and in the end you'll feel awesome!

I have friends all over the world we again we are always doing positive things within the Kink community local or somewhere in the world that's very important to us and my friends & family 100%!!! Here my group of locals friends we help each there out whether it's oops I ran out of diapers and can I brow some diapers tell I get some in or trade so I can try that new diaper. It's positive feel knowing I’m always willing to help out a friend or stranger! We also have a lot of new friendships that have started over the last year and it's been just awesome getting to know you guys! Once again you guys make me feel like I've won the lotto each and every day thank you!

I value my friends in the highest degree, as they are what keep me strong when times get tough. I have an excellent group of friends that are always there for me, whether the times are good or bad. They mean the world to me and I will love them, defend them, and enjoy every bit of my time spent with them. I’m proud of each and everyone one of you and you know who you are!

Family is also very important to me. Without my parents, two half brothers, and aunt/uncle, I don't know where I would be today. Lots of hugs to them for always being there for me! I enjoy hosting family dinners and spending time with them! Over the past 3 years I've lost three very important people in my life: my grandmother, my grandfather, and my aunt. These people have helped me to become the person that I am proud to be today, and they will always be remembered in my heart. Also I’m dealing with my dad as he has Stage #4 Cancer and is a Care place within a few months we are told he my go. One never knows exact date someone will die and no matter how I be pair for this it’s hard for me. We sold his car other day I cried broke down crazy how selling a car can do that. When his day comes I need all the hugs I can get! I go and visit with him every 2 days I want to send as much time as I can before he goes!

Music is a big part of my life. It creates memories and fun times, and can remind you of people or events from your past or present. I actually have a song for each of my friends that make me think of them whenever I hear it. Music makes me happy! In the last 6 months I found this amazing online website called (Radio Tunes) it has over 81 Channels of free music to choose from! My favorite channel is 80s Dance, but I like to listen to anything.

There web site is: http://www.radiotunes.com

**WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR:**

I'm not looking for another serious relationship, as I am happily in love with Tobytigercub. What I "am" looking for is new friends, new experiences, and lots of fun. I am open to a friend’s-with-benefits sort of scenario, but I would like to emphasize that Tobytigercub is my one and only boyfriend. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MY KINKS: I love clean, wet, and messy diapers, as well as changing and being changed by other people. I also enjoy bondage, sports gear (mostly Football and Hockey), water sports, spanking.

Things I'm interested in trying are dressing up as a sissy, sensory deprivation and orgy. --------------------------------------------------------------------- WEB SITE I’M ON:

My Tumblr is: http://greatcanadianteddybear.tumblr.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading my profile look forward to hearing from you! Hugs Teddy

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centralparkpawsblog · 5 years ago

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The Coronavirus and Dogs: What You Need to Know

https://www.centralparkpaws.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Coronavirus-COVID-19-SARS-cov-2-a-threat-to-pet-dog-canines.jpg

Like many of you, my family and I are concerned about the coronavirus.

We want to do our part in reducing the speed and spread of the infection.

We have opted to practice social distancing and remain home as much as possible.

I have followed COVID-19 with all of you and have taken the proper precautionary steps in ensuring our family is set for the next couple of weeks.

Though we have not hoarded items, we have picked up food and medicine so we can avoid going out unnecessarily.

Amongst the many necessities for the humans in the house, I have also ensured our cat and dogs will be equally comfortable while we wait this out.

As I have watched the progression of COVID-19, I have paid particular attention to any news impacting our furry friends.

Following the Virus

Since I have multiple seniors in our fur family, I have had concerns for their safety in the event COVID-19 was transferable to them.

Because many dog lovers are likely to be in the same boat, I thought it would be best to share some of the information I have gathered, as well as some best practices to aid in dealing with the current situation as it pertains to our dogs.

Also, as we all may be feeling overwhelmed, it is quite possible to overlook our dog’s needs during this time.

Many of us are concerned about the lack of necessities, such as TP and hand sanitizer, that it is easy to forget to grab an extra bag of dog food or order their prescriptions early.

However, I am guessing that if you are reading this, you are looking after the needs of your pup.

A friendly reminder to friends and family will likely go a long way in ensuring their four-legged loved ones are being seen after as well.

Can Coronavirus Spread to Our Dogs?

It appears so, though it also seems to be rare.

The particular pup who got infected is a Pomeranian

In early March, a single case of COVID-19 was found in a dog in Hong Kong[1].

As the University of Hong Kong, City University, and the World Organisation for Animal Health continued to investigate the case, it is believed the Pomeranian contracted a “low level” infection from its human who was confirmed to have COVID-19.

During their testing, they have also established that the transmission of COVID-19 is only contagious from humans to animals but not the other way around.

The World Health Organization also declared the spread of the COVID-19 is strictly due to humans and has nothing to do with animals.

Additionally, they state a similar situation occurred during the SARS outbreak.

Pets were susceptible to a low-level infection from their humans but did not become ill or transmit the virus to humans.

What Should You Do If You Have Tested Positive for the Coronavirus and Have a Pet in the Home

Though COVID-19 is not contagious from dogs to humans, the CDC has released a statement on this subject[2].

Those who test positive and are receiving in-home care should contact their state public health veterinarian.

The attached link is a list of all of the different offices, broken down by state.

Because health professionals are still learning more about COVID-19, they are doing all they can to ensure proper precautionary steps be taken.

What to Stock up On

Don’t hoard dog food, but keep a couple extra bags around in case a delivery is delayed

There is not a need to go overboard on dog food since most of us have the luxury of receiving home deliveries from various online stores such as Amazon and Chewy.

So, maybe now you are wondering, why you would stock up?

The answer is: Because as COVID-19 continues to spread, it will impact delivery times.

Those working for the different companies that pack, ship, drive, and deliver your goods are all likely to be impaired by the coronavirus.

And maybe even worse than some of us since they don’t have the option to work from home.

So, you know the 2-3 day delivery we have all come to love?

It is more than likely those delivery times will become longer as things progress, if they haven’t already.

And that’s why we can no longer rely on last-minute shopping, and ensuring you have enough essentials on hand is vital.

This might be the perfect time to try out a mail order dog food service.

Raw Paws is giving a 10% discount off your entire order for a limited time (we’ve reviewed their bully sticks previously). Just use the code RAWTAKE10 at checkout.

Here’s a List to Consider

Prescription Medications

Preventative Medicine (Such as heartworm, tapeworm, and flea and tick treatments)

Food

Treats (Playing the training game will help relieve boredom for both you and your pup)

Poop Bags (For when you go walking)

Coconut Oil (For minor first aid)

If you are sick and need medications from your vet, let them know.

Many will deliver to your home.

My vet office offers delivery as a regular service and is especially promoting it now to lessen the foot traffic in their clinic.

Is it Safe to Go to Dog Parks?

Dog parks can be a great place to socialize and exercise your dog.

It’s hard to self-isolate at a dog park

However, when practicing social distancing, it can make going to dog parks challenging since a lot of dog parents enjoy chatting while watching their dogs play together.

A better alternative to dog parks would be to go walking with your pup.

We live in the suburbs, and when we walk our dogs, we usually only see one or two people.

Even during regular times, we are never within six feet of others, so it is relatively safe.

Is it Safe to Take my Dog for a Walk?

Yes. If you are healthy, it is safe to go walking with your dog outside[3].

It is much safer than bringing your pup to indoor facilities such as local breweries, stores, and malls.

Though, when taking your dog out walking, it is best to go alone.

Also, find areas to walk that is less congested, maybe around the neighborhood instead of a city park.

Additionally, there are many benefits to bringing your dog out for a walk:

Excellent stress reliever for both you and your dog – Dogs are sensitive to changes in routines and are quite in tune with our emotions, so if we are feeling stressed, our dogs know it

Exercise helps boost both your and your dog’s immune system

A tired dog is a happy and well-behaved dog – The last thing you need is a bored dog who has decided to use their excess energy to get into mischief

If you are sick, you and your dog will need to find alternative ways to burn off their excess energy.

Indoor Activities for Your Dog

If you are sick or not comfortable getting out walking with your dog, there are some fun indoor games to keep your dog active and entertained.

Hide and Seek

Younger dogs usually love this game.

You hide then call your dog’s name when they find you get excited and praise them.

Most dogs can keep this game going much longer than you!

Training

Even for those with the most obedient dogs, brushing up on some old tricks or learning some new ones is a great way to engage your dog’s mind.

Most dogs can do 5-10 minutes per session, and you will be surprised how content they are afterward.

We try and do two sessions a day.

Puzzle Games

There are several great dog puzzles on the market.

Some of my favorites are:

StarMark Treat Dispensing Bob-A-Lot

I like this toy since it comes in two sizes, plus you can adjust the difficulty.

Additionally, it is the right size for kibble, so you can always feed them part of their meal this way.

Note this toy can be loud if you have hard floors.

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Check Price

Kyjen Squirrel House

My dogs love these.

They come in a variety of options, not just squirrels.

I put treats inside then place the squeaky toys back in. The dogs love this game.

Kyjen Outward Hound HideASquirrel Check Price

Tarvos Food Dispensing Puzzle

This is for the very smart food-motivated dogs.

You put food in the barrel on top, and your dog needs to spin it to get the food to drop out into the puzzle bowl below.

It is essentially a two-step puzzle.

However, if your dog isn’t food motivated, like Ginger and Cal, this won’t work too well.

Tarvos Interactive Dog Treat Puzzle Toy Check Price

StarMark Everlasting Treat Balls

I love these treat balls for my dogs.

They come in several sizes, shapes, levels of difficulty, and you can purchase dental chew refills, or you can fill it with treats.

But what I really like about these is that they are durable!

StarMark Everlasting Treat Ball Check Price

StarMark Everlasting Bento Ball Check Price

StarMark Everlasting Fire Plug Check Price

Final Thoughts

We are experiencing a very challenging time, but if we take the proper precautions, hopefully, this will all blow over soon.

In the meantime enjoy some good quality time with your pup.

I hope you and your dogs all stay safe and healthy.

Resources:

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3065016/coronavirus-pet-dog-belonging-covid-19-patient

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/interim-guidance-managing-people-in-home-care-and-isolation-who-have-pets.html

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a31439358/running-during-coronavirus/

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laurenakramer · 7 years ago

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Pretentious Pet Parents

I felt my face begin to flush. My hands clenched into fits at my sides. I tried closing my eyes and quickly counting to ten. This proved to be ineffective. My mouth opened and nothing but pure anger poured forth.

What could spark such outrage? Had I stepped in a warm, brown present from one of my dogs? Was it a sports game going horribly awry? Did my husband forget to take the trash out yet again? No, I was watching “My Cat From Hell.”

This particular episode featured a woman who had adopted a beautiful Bengal cat. Her reasons? She had always wanted a “designer cat.” This breed attracted her because they “look cool.” I could tell that I was not going to like this woman.

The cat basically wanted nothing to do with her. If the woman approached, the cat threw out a quick paw and drew a scratch. This sent the owner into a fit for the rest of the show. She would ignore the cat, even refusing to look in its’ direction.

Jackson Galaxy did his best to be polite, but I could tell he was thinking exactly what I was: She does not deserve to have this cat (or any animal for that matter)! He asked if she ever interacted with the boisterous Bengal. The woman’s response? “I buy her toys.”

I watched in horror as she grabbed a feather stick and simply plopped the feather into the cat’s face. Within seconds, the cat became bored and walked away. Jackson told her that she was not engaging the cat at all. “Be the bird,” he said.

The woman then admitted that she was still mad about the cat scratching her. Jackson and I were blown away. She showed no love to the cat at all, yet expected her furry friend to adore her at all times.

My initial reaction is that this woman should not be a pet owner. She seemed more concerned about her looks than gaining the trust and love of her cat. I fear that too many pet owners act the same way.

A former co-worker of mine had adopted a dog named Ginger. At first, he/she gushed about how amazing and sweet the pup was. Ginger seemed to fit into the family perfectly.

One day, the co-worker asked me for some advice. He/she said that Ginger had begun to urinate, but only when he/she looked at her. This immediately threw up a red flag to me. There had to be something that this person was doing to make Ginger fearful enough to urinate just from eye contact.

I delicately probed and asked if there had been any recent changes in their daily routines. In a moment of honesty, he/she said, “Well, Ginger wouldn’t go outside the other day, so I kick—scooted her out the door with my foot.”

I knew exactly what this meant. He/she had kicked Ginger. I kept my suspicions to myself because I did not want to ruin an opportunity to perhaps find the dog a better home. Instead, I provided several suggestions and informed the co-worker to call or text me at any time.

Two weeks later, while shopping in Target, I received a text: “Would you be interested in keeping Ginger?” My heart dropped into my stomach. As my husband will attest, I would love to keep every animal that is on this planet. Sadly, our town has a strict limit on the number of dogs and cats that we are allowed to have.

I asked if there was any way that I could foster Ginger instead. This way, she would be out of the harmful situation she was in with my co-worker and I could begin the search for a perfect forever home for her. He/she wavered for a moment, but soon agreed.

As luck would have it, my mother and father-in-law came over for a visit and fell in love with Ginger. She even won the heart of their established Min Pin, Kallee. It was only after they officially adopted her did they find out that not only was Ginger heartworm positive, but she also had a cracked tooth and ear mites!

I cannot even begin to fathom allowing any of my fur babies to reach such a decline. I would (and have) gone without in order for them to have the necessary care that they need. They deserve nothing less.

Why do people adopt pets that they clearly have no intention of taking care of? Many of the animals in local shelters and rescue groups have already had a horrible start to their lives. They have been used for breeding over and over again for sheer profit. Some have been physically abused for “fun.” Still, others suffer from psychological traumas.

Adopting an animal is not something to be taken lightly. To me, it should be taken as seriously as planning to have a human child. There are numerous items that need to be considered before following through with an adoption. The most important items being:

1. Do you have enough time to devote to your new furry friend?

2. Can you afford to care for your new companion, even when he/she gets sick?

I never knew that doggy dermatologists actually existed. That is until our Chihuahua, Adriel, began losing her fur after having a skin infection. We spent over $500 on skin biopsies, medications and appointments. Similarly, when our 14 year old Chihuahua, Theo, developed glaucoma, we spent a pretty penny taking him to a veterinary ophthalmologist. He had several eye tests and has been placed on $60 eye drops for life. My husband and I are not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but we are willing to do whatever it takes to keep our furry family members happy and healthy.

But adopting animals is about more than just money. There is also the time factor. We, as humans, seem to be perpetually getting busier and busier. Our weekends are filled with events and making preparations for the upcoming week. Where does Fido fit into the hurricane that is life?

Simply buying food and toys for our pets is not enough. They need to be showed that they are loved and treasured every day. Dogs and cats need exercise, otherwise their boredom can come out in very destructive ways. Our cats (and three-legged dog) go crazy for the laser pointer. They will chase that little red dot all around the room.

Several of our dogs prefer to play with their toys solo. Still, others love to play tug-of-war with their plush squeakies. No matter how they choose to play, we always make time for individual tubby rubs and cuddles. I want to make sure that all of our pets know just how much they mean to us.

These wonderful animals enrich our lives in so many ways. They are a fantastic support system that can cheer me up on the most horrible of days. Their kisses bring an instant smile to my face and a warmth to my heart. Watching them interact with the world around them reminds me to take joy in the small things.

Potential pet parents also need to realize that every pet has an occasional bad day. There will be accidents on the freshly vacuumed carpet. Cats will have their moody days and adorn your leg with a fresh scratch. In truth, they are just like us. This does not make them any less deserving of unconditional love.

Thankfully, the woman on “My Cat From Hell” finally saw the light. She stopped treating her designer cat as a fashion statement and actually began to take a genuine interest in its well being. Play time became a flurry of interaction ending with snuggles on the couch.

Being a true pet parent means going beyond simply signing adoption papers. It means truly committing to your new family member every day. Pets are not meant to be status symbols, fashion statements or fighting machines. They are meant to be loved unconditionally, which is exactly the kind of love that they give in return.

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carasueachterberg · 8 years ago

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Our latest foster dog is one interesting canine. He is a hodge-podge of dog parts, scrambled together to create complete adorableness. Today I’m going to take you on a visual tour of Nelson.

Nelson is listed as a 2-year-old heeler mix. That description is a bit misleading, but it’s the official line, so we’ll go with it.

First off, Nelson is not a heeler. Sure, he’s got gorgeous heeler coloring, but in so far as heelers are energetic, semi-neurotic, herding dogs, Nelson is none of those things.

Energetic is not a word I’d use to describe Nelson. He’s very ‘chill’ as my daughter says. He has a happy little jaunt and is perfectly pleasant on a leash, but the most energy I’ve seen him call up is when we pass the fox den at the top of our pasture. He would very much like to climb right down the hole and visit with the fox family (and he’d probably fit). I have to drag him away from the hole each time we pass it.

Neurotic, also is not a word I would use to describe Nelson. He is super easy-going, gets along with the other dogs, and while curious about the cats, he can’t be bothered to make a big effort to chase them. He spends his days lounging nearby and doesn’t even bark at the UPS guy (despite Gracie’s theatrical performance of “kill-the-guy-in-the-brown-suit” which she stages every time the big truck lumbers up the driveway).

As far as herding, well, although Nelson likes to be with people, he certainly isn’t going to nip at your heels and collect all the people in one place. He doesn’t even cast a second glance at the horses when we walk by them and only feigns a passing interest in the chickens (mostly because Darlin’ gets so excited at the sight of them).

So, let’s assume the heeler label is in name only as a nod to his awesome markings.

Speaking of markings, let the visual tour begin.

We must first start with those ears. I love his giant ears. I was showing a picture of them to a woman I met at a writer’s event the day before Nelson arrived and she got very excited and said, “Those are corgi ears!” I have a vague recollection of a corgi that belonged to a friend of Nick’s, but it’s not a breed I’m very familiar with, so I looked it up.

Yup, Nelson has corgi ears. But more than that, Nelson has a corgi body. Corgi legs. Corgi tail. In fact, Nelson looks completely corgi except for his amazing markings. So, folks, what I believe we’re dealing with here is a Blue Heeler colored Corgi mix. My guess is the corgi people might go a little nuts for this guy. He would truly rock the corgi-sphere and add a little color variation to a breed that is blandly brown. (On a more intensive google search, I found pictures of corgis that had Nelson’s colorings – now I’m ready to guess he’s more Corgi than ever)

But back to our visual tour – Nelson has gorgeous black and white speckled markings on this body,

but his legs look like they were taken off a brown and white model. Or maybe his legs were neatly dipped in the brown/white spotted coloring pot.

Nelson’s tail on the other hand has a solid black patch with a perfect straight line that makes his tail look like it was attached as an after-thought.

Nelson is very short of stature (which prompted me to look up the Randy Newman song “Short People” and now I can’t help but hum it when I look at him). He doesn’t let the lack of height hold him back. He’s managed to do a bit of counter surfing and has no problem jumping up into the car or on my lap.

Nelson’s feature that most people gravitate to first is his blind eye. Why it is that we label not only dogs, but people, by our flaws instead of our fabulousness is a tendency I believe our society should someday address, but since I can’t change the world, I’ll explain Nelson’s ‘flaw.’ Nelson’s right eye looks red and hazy and at least one vet has assessed that while he lacks sight in that eye, it doesn’t bother him in any way. I would agree that it doesn’t bother him and if he was wearing shades, you’d never know it. He doesn’t startle easily on that side or cock his head to the side for a better look or in any way act as if he can only see from one side. That eye even tracks right along with his sighted eye. So, while Nelson is ‘blind in one eye’ that is truly the last thing we need to mention on our visual tour of this remarkable little dog.

I’ve not spent time with ‘stumpy’ dogs before. (I call them stumpy in a most endearing way.) Darlin’ and Nelson are a nice little set, although Nelson makes Darlin’ look runway model tall.

I will have to confess to living with the fear that one or the other of them is going to trip me. They are such solid little creatures and both want to be close by at all times. This means that when I try to make a sudden move, sometimes they block my path necessitating last minute hops or dodges to avoid one or both of us getting injured. Nick observed this one day and said, “They would make excellent defensive linemen.”

I like my little team, but I think I’m going to stick with longer-legged dogs in the future. That’s partly for my own safety, but also because nothing beats a good running dog. Speaking of running dogs (Hey Cheryl – how do you like that transition?!), The Fast & The Furriest 5K run/walk is THIS Sunday! Nick and I will be there (we might even bring Nelson, although that would necessitate one of us walking, not running) and hope to see a few previous foster dogs in Frederick. If you can, come out and join us! If you aren’t local, I’ll try to post a few pictures of foster dogs past and present on the Another Good Dog facebook group.

Here’s the link to sign up for the Fast & the Furriest (remember you can run or walk or even choose the ‘sleep in’ option)

Thanks so much for reading!

If you’d like to know more about my writing, I’d love for you to stop by CaraWrites.com.

p.s. The puppies had their six-week birthday and are growing fast (and furry!). Here are a few pictures—(Bogo is still looking for her forever family – she’s the gentlest, most mild-manner pup you could meet with fluffy black fur that is always disheveled – think sweet mop. I also think she has a bit of her mom’s stumpy stature and at only 5 pounds, she’ll probably top out around 20 pounds.)

hodgepodge of heeler & corgi & heaven knows what...Nelson, one cool dog. #fosterdog @rescueoph Our latest foster dog is one interesting canine. He is a hodge-podge of dog parts, scrambled together to create complete adorableness.

#blueheeler #corgi #fosterdogs #fostering #stumpydogs

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laurenakramer · 7 years ago

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Pretentious Pet Parents

A former co-worker of mine had adopted a dog named Ginger. At first, he/she gushed about how amazing and sweet the pup was. Ginger seemed to fit into the family perfectly.

1. Do you have enough time to devote to your new furry friend?

2. Can you afford to care for your new companion, even when he/she gets sick?

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