#pet vaccination benefits

[verysaladobservation]

The Benefits of Pet Vaccination: Safeguarding Your Furry Companion's Health

We cherish our pets and have a special bond and place for them in our hearts, providing love, companionship, and unwavering loyalty. As responsible pet owners, we must prioritize their well-being and protect them from preventable diseases. Pet vaccination plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and longevity of our beloved animal companions. In this article, We will examine the several advantages of pet vaccination, highlighting the importance of veterinary clinics such as the Huntington Village Animal Hospital in providing comprehensive veterinary services.

Preventing Diseases and Their Spread

Pet vaccination is the cornerstone of preventive healthcare for dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. Vaccines contain antigens that stimulate the immune system, preparing it to fight off specific diseases. By vaccinating pets, owners can prevent diseases threatening their furry friends, such as canine distemper, feline leukemia, rabies, and parvovirus.

Vaccination benefits the health of the entire animal population in addition to protecting specific pets. Vaccinated pets act as a barrier, reducing the prevalence and spread of diseases within communities. Vaccination is particularly important in areas with high population density or where pets frequently interact, such as dog parks or boarding facilities. Vaccines help create a safer and healthier environment for both pets and humans.

Cost-Effective Healthcare

While the initial cost of pet vaccination may seem like an expense, it is a worthwhile investment in the long run. Vaccinating pets helps prevent the development of severe and costly diseases. Treatment for illnesses like parvovirus or feline leukemia can be expensive, often requiring hospitalization and extensive medical interventions. By contrast, the cost of routine vaccinations is considerably lower, making it a cost-effective approach to maintaining your pet's health.

Regular vaccinations can help detect and prevent potential health issues early on, reducing the need for more expensive treatments in the future. Pet owners can save money on veterinary bills by staying up-to-date with vaccinations and ensuring their pets lead healthier lives.

Extending Lifespan and Quality of Life

Pet vaccination significantly contributes to extending the lifespan of our furry companions. Vaccines protect against life-threatening diseases that can debilitate or even prove fatal for animals. Owners provide a solid foundation for a longer and healthier life by ensuring their pets are up-to-date on vaccinations.

Additionally, vaccinated pets are less likely to suffer from preventable diseases' painful and distressing symptoms. Vaccines help prevent conditions that can cause discomfort, such as respiratory distress, paralysis, and organ failure. Owners promote a higher quality of life for their beloved pets by prioritizing pet vaccination.

Protecting Community Health

Regular pet vaccination benefits individual animals and protects the wider community. Pets that have received vaccinations serve as a barrier, halting the spread of diseases to people and other animals with whom they come into contact. Vaccination is especially crucial in densely populated regions like urban cores and neighborhoods that welcome pets.

By vaccinating pets, owners contribute to herd immunity, the resistance to spreading diseases within a population. When a significant portion of the pet population is vaccinated, the risk of disease outbreaks decreases, protecting vulnerable animals and humans who may not be able to receive vaccinations themselves.

Veterinary clinics, like the renowned Huntington Village Animal Hospital, provide vital services in promoting community health through comprehensive pet vaccination programs. By adhering to vaccination schedules recommended by experienced veterinarians, owners contribute to the overall well-being of their pets and the surrounding community.

Compliance with Legal Requirements

Many regions have legal requirements mandating pet vaccination against specific diseases, primarily rabies. Adherence to these rules is required to prevent legal repercussions and ensure the safety of pets and the community. Regular vaccination helps maintain a healthy and responsible pet ownership culture, preventing outbreaks of dangerous diseases.

Owners demonstrate their commitment to responsible pet ownership by keeping their pets up-to-date on vaccinations. Vaccination helps protect their pets and shows respect for the well-being of other animals and humans in the community.

Conclusion

Pet vaccination is an indispensable component of responsible pet ownership. By vaccinating our furry companions, we protect them from preventable diseases, extend their lifespan, and enhance their overall quality of life. Additionally, pet vaccination contributes to the well-being of the broader community by reducing the spread of diseases. Veterinary clinics like the Huntington Village Animal Hospital are pivotal in providing comprehensive veterinary services, including pet vaccination programs.

As caring pet owners, let us prioritize the health and safety of our beloved animals by staying informed about recommended vaccination schedules and consulting with experienced veterinarians. We can create a healthier and happier environment for our furry friends and ourselves.

[pomeraniandancer]

The only thing I'd add to this is that I don't think cats are the largest invasive species in the world...that dubious prize goes to the humans.

I've been seeing a lot of Discourse around outdoor cats that talks past one of the biggest problems addressing community cats/outdoor working cats so I thought I'd chime in with my two cents.

Many arguments I see just... don't think about the cats at all? Or don't consider the logistics of actually addressing the feral cat problem in a humane way. It's always about how outdoor cats shouldn't be outdoors, which is neither realistic nor helpful.

I used to volunteer at an municipal animal shelter in the USA that had a TNR program (Trap, Neuter, Return) and also adopted out community cats to local farms and businesses. Here's my side of the story.

"Your cat doesn't need to be outside" -- Yes, correct. Your domesticated (non-feral) house cat does not need to go outside at all. They can have a fully actualized life safely indoors. When I see this argument, proponents of indoor only cats are correct in most or all their arguments regarding this.

"Outdoor cats are the largest invasive species in the world, and decimate bird populations." -- This is also correct, and part of the reason why you can help by bringing your house cat indoors. Cats are the largest invasive species. Spay and Neuter your cats, bring them inside, and socialize them so they don't become feral.

"TNR doesn't work." -- False. Whether we like it or not, feral cats exist. We have two methods by which we can address the feral cat population -- decimating them (humanely euthanizing the whole colony) or TNR. For a long time, euthanasia was the preferred way to address the feral cat problem. Afterall, if the cats aren't there, doesn't that save the local wildlife population?

Except that we found, studying these colonies, that when a colony is wiped out, the cats of another colony will spread into their territory and continue to have kittens and the population of feral cats is neither controlled nor diminished.

Hence, TNR. What we found performing TNR on cat colonies was that this controlled the population of the colonies, allowing them to stay in their territory, which kept other colonies from spreading (especially colonies we hadn't performed TNR on yet). We at the shelter felt this was the most humane way to control the feral cat population and safely deflate their existence without dealing with the population blooms that euthanasia caused.

"What about kittens?" -- Kittens from these colonies were brought into the shelter, socialized, and fostered out until they could be adopted. Some of these semi-feral kittens needed special homes to be adopted into, but this was the best quality of life for these cats.

"What about cats that get missed during TNR?" -- We would return to the colony several times over a period of several years to perform TNR on the same colony. We mark cats that have been neutered by clipping their ear (this is done humanely, but is the most reliable way to tell if a cat has been neutered so the poor thing doesn't have to have surgery 3-4 times in their life). Also, during the TNR process the cats would be vaccinated to ensure disease did not spread from the colony (i.e. rabies). Still, even getting 60% of the colony TNR'd would dramatically reduce the number of kittens being added to the colony each year. This controlled the population by allowing the territory to naturally deflate in size over time, buying us time to address the larger feral cat problem.

"What if the colony was in an unsafe location?" -- There were two ways we addressed unsafe colony locations -- remember, we know that when the colony is removed, a new colony will move into its place, so we tried not to move the colony unless we really felt the cats or the public was unsafe -- one was to move the whole colony to a new location. Preferably someplace like a warehouse where we have an agreement with the owners of the warehouse. Some of the cats were even relocated to shelter grounds as our community cats. If the colony was small enough we would bring them into our Feral Cats room and adopt them out as community cats.

"What is a community cat?" -- The way the program worked, was that anyone who needed a working cat could apply to the program. These were often rural farmers or businesses with warehouses that needed rodent protection. We trained the farmers and businesses on how to acclimatize the cats to their new home, and as part of the agreement, they had to care for the cats (veterinary care, vaccinations, food and water). This gave businesses and farms an alternative to expensive and environmentally unfriendly rodent control, and also gave these feral cats good places to live out their natural lives.

"Can't you just adopt out feral cats?" -- No. Cats that have not been socialized around humans as kittens, or who have several generations of feral cat in them could not interact with humans in a way that did not cause them undue stress. This was not a humane way to handle feral cats. However, when a cat was brought into the feral cat room, they would be monitored for up to a week. If the cat displayed signs of being semi-social or fully social (hanging out outside of their den, allowing staff to pet them, showing interest in staff in the room), then we would either move the cat into the adoption room or place them in foster to be socialized before adoption. Feral cats who displayed signs of being able to live full and healthy lives with human companions were NOT adopted out as community cats. We also observed this behavior during TNRs and would do the same for those cats too.

"But aren't cats bad hunters?" -- Compared to other species, cats are not the most effective form of rodent control. This is true. However, you have to understand that feral cats exist. There is no "undo" button we can push to stop them from existing. We have to deal with the problem we have right now, which is to safely and humanely decrease the number of feral cats in our communities. And yes, we do that by using cats as rodent control in the community.

"What can I do?" -- Stop saying community cats shouldn't exist. That's not helpful and doesn't solve the problem we have. Bring your cat indoors. Spay and neuter your cats. Adopt from shelters. Volunteer with a TNR team. Support TNR efforts in your community. Recognize that those of us actively dealing with the community/feral problem are trying to do what is in the best interest of our communities and the animals we love. We aren't sitting over here saying these cats should exist -- a feral cat will not have the same quality of life as one that is indoors with a family -- but we have to address the problem in practical terms. We don't have the moral high ground to just do nothing while pontificating solutions that have no basis in actuality.

And yes, it's okay to celebrate community cats. If your local farm has a couple of working cats, that means that farm is helping participate in the safe deflation of the feral cat population. Don't shame a farm or business for using community cats. We're all doing the best we can to solve the problem that we have.

[vetlandpetclinic]

Benefits of Dog Vaccinations Vet Land Pet Clinic

Here Are the Benefits of Dog Vaccinations Provided by Vet Land Pet Clinic, Laid Out in Simple Bullet Points: Prevention of Diseases: Vaccines Protect Against Serious Diseases Like Rabies, Distemper, and Parvovirus. Reduced Veterinary Costs: Preventing Diseases Through Vaccination Is Much More Cost-Effective Than Treating Them. Longer Lifespan: Vaccinations Contribute to a Longer, Healthier Life for Your Dog. Public Safety: Some Vaccines, Like the Rabies Vaccine, Protect Both Pets and the Community. Peace of Mind: Knowing Your Dog Is Vaccinated Provides Peace of Mind That They Are Protected from Specific Contagious Diseases.

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Call Now:-9795964930

[alleycatallies]

Article: Are Vaccines Worth It?

Are Vaccines Worth It?

(Opinion piece by Christine Wilford, DVM reprinted with permission from Compassionate Solutions: Journal of the Feral Cat Spay and Neuter Project’s Spring 2009 edition; originally from November 2004 Feral Cat Times)

A well-respected, national rescue organization recently stated a great falsehood that vaccinating feral cats with FVRCP, the “distemper” (panleukopenia) and respiratory virus vaccine, was useless and not recommended. That is simply not true. Here are the facts:

There are two basic types of FVRCP vaccines: killed virus (KV) and modified live virus (MLV). To get immunity from killed virus vaccines, at least two doses are required. KV vaccines prime the immune system for creating protective immunity after a subsequent booster. The first dose shows the body the enemy and a second dose is given to generate protective immunity. Paired doses are required 3-5 weeks apart. Using killed virus vaccines for free-roaming cats is clearly undesirable, because giving boosters is impractical.

On the other hand, MLV vaccines begin stimulating immunity the first day they are given. The vaccine contains viruses that replicate in the cat’s body but do not cause disease. A booster 3-4 weeks later is never required nor recommended in cats over 14 weeks of age. Another benefit is that vaccinated cats can shed attenuated vaccine virus particles in the feces. These viruses do no harm, and actually stimulate immunity in other cats/kittens coming in contact with the feces. This is potentially valuable in colonies of free-roaming cats.

The only caution with MLV vaccines is hygiene. If the vaccine accidentally gets ON the cat instead of IN the cat, then it may cause some mildly runny eyes or mild sneezing. Vaccine virus cannot cause symptoms of distemper. MLV vaccine that gets topical should be cleaned off with a swab of alcohol.

Kittens under 14 weeks of age have varying levels of immunity from antibodies passed from their mother. Early in kittenhood, antibody levels are highest. As the weeks pass, antibodies gradually decline. For several weeks, antibody levels drop too low to protect from disease but remain too high to allow a vaccine to work. The antibodies “fight off” the vaccine. Known as the “critical period” or “vulnerable period” between 6-12 weeks, this stage of uncertainty is why tame kittens are vaccinated every 3-4 weeks until after 14 weeks of age. Vaccines given at the earliest point where the body can respond shortens the period that the kittens are vulnerable to diseases. By 14 weeks of age, the mother’s antibodies wear off enough to allow the vaccine to work. Therefore, any normal kitten over 14 weeks can receive one MLV vaccine and not need a booster.

So when considering vaccines, MLV vaccines can be effective with one injection. Do we recommend them for feral cats? That depends. NOT if it means less money available for surgeries. If your money is plentiful, then consider vaccinating. If money is limited, invest it in surgery. Dollar for dollar, spay/neuter is a better investment for the cat’s health and for the futures of many, many cats.

Content source: https://www.alleycat.org/resources/are-vaccines-worth-it/

[pocksprincess]

Chapter 3 - On The Job

Series masterlist

Obito Uchiha x f!reader

Modern AU, obi still has scars, reader (25) is a vet nurse, I don't like neji but I tried really hard to be fair to him in this lmao, this is a filler chapter soz

Word count - 950

Beta baddie - thank you @dabilove27 <33

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Monday morning comes all too quickly and subsequently your introduction to the elusive Neji Hyuuga. You sigh heavily as you pull into an employee designated space in the practice's carpark, turning off the ignition and slumping in your seat. Your eyes are sore and you're exhausted from a weekend of cleaning and unpacking the rest of your belongings. Your list of house chores seems to be never-ending, but the place is starting to finally look and feel like your own.  

You haul yourself out of the car and step into the mild air. The last vestiges of Summer cling desperately to the landscape–the trees resisting the yellow hue that is beginning to tint the ends of their leaves and the stubborn heat persisting even in the early hours. It's bearable now, only the promising nip of Fall on the breeze making it so, but you know that in a few hours it will already be too hot within the practice in your stuffy uniform. 

You swing your bag over your shoulder as you make your way across the lot to the front doors, a bell chiming your arrival as you step inside the reception area. Pretty much everything throughout the building is a clinical white and smells of disinfectant but there is the underlying smell of pet fur and kibble permeating the air. You smile happily at TenTen as she sits behind the front desk, sipping on a mug of tea in one hand while she taps away on the keyboard with the other. 

"Morning, TenTen,” you yawn, eyeing up her mug enviously. 

"Morning!” she chirps, giving you a wide smile, her signature space buns wrapped neatly with little bows. How on earth is she so chipper in the morning? 

"Water's still hot in the kitchen!” She gestures to the employee common room behind her and you slouch toward the door to grab your own mug of something hot. 

"Thanks,” you mutter sleepily as you pass her. She laughs at your bleary eyes and barely awakened state, giving you sympathetic eyes. 

As soon as you step into the kitchen area with its small coffee table and saggy armchairs tucked away in the corner, you come across a tall and slender figure with long, dark hair standing with his back to you. You stop in your tracks and get zero seconds to prepare yourself before he whips around, hair flowing around him like a goddamn L'Oréal ad, and addresses you.

"Ah, good, you're here.” His voice is clipped and curt, all business. “And right on time.” He gives you a look down his nose as if he doesn't think you capable of being punctual despite having never met you and you just now proving him otherwise. His eyes are the most delicate lavender grey, a stark contrast to his hard personality. Before you can even think to respond he's moved on.

"Come, we need to prepare consultation rooms one to three for the morning appointments.” And with that he simply walks out of the room–no introduction, no small talk…no caffeine! TenTen purposely didn't warn you, the wretch! Bet she's laughing her ass off in reception.You groan inwardly and dump your bag on the table before hurriedly trotting after him–you get the impression he doesn't tolerate those who can't keep up. 

Despite the early (and rather full-on) start, your day has been fairly routine and mundane–you performed a health check on an elderly cat with arthritis, struggled to wrestle a great dane onto the extra large scales for his weight check and gave an adorable little chihuahua puppy its first vaccinations and baby microchip.

All the while, Neji allowed you to step forward and show what you know, occasionally adding things for the owners benefit and prescribing medication. And after each appointment he gave you a full performance review on each of your actions. You honestly don't mind, you get the feeling he'll keep you humble and in top form. 

By the time lunch rolls around, however, you are about ready to drop. Your own fault for going to bed so late, but you really wanted to finish putting up the shelving unit in the living room so you didn't lose all the screws and fiddly little pieces. You sink into one of the squishy armchairs with a hot mug of coffee in your hands. Finally, caffeine. But now that you've stopped, your mind wanders (as it so often has since first meeting him) to your insanely cute neighbour.

He's pretty much all you've thought about since Saturday afternoon–those captivating eyes, the way the muscles in his arms flexed and bulged as he crossed them over his broad chest, the touch of your fingers…you couldn't even hide your obvious attraction, you must have looked so desperate, practically halfway to climbing him like a fucking tree. But the moment that stuck out most in your memory was how he pulled his hand away from yours as if you had burned him. How he'd tucked his scarred arm into his side and out of sight. He'd even angled his face so that his left side was most prominent. It makes your heart ache just thinking about it again. 

He doesn't hide his scars but he clearly does his best to not draw attention to them. You recall the way the whorled pattern pulled at the corner of his mouth in shock when he opened the door or when he graced you with a small, shy smile. You wish you knew what he'd been thinking during that whole interaction.

But more pressing than that thought, you have a question that you desperately hope is answered sooner rather than later–when will you see him again?

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for refusing to file for disability in order to pay bills?

I quit my job right when COVID started surging in 2020 because my boss refused to mask and I'm immunocompromised; I also didn't wanna bring that home to my partners (I'll call them Fox and Rabbit), one of whom is also immunocompromised, or our then-toddler kid either. (Plus, my boss wasn't paying me consistently on-time or the full amounts I was owed, but that's another can of worms)

However, I wasn't able to find anything work-from-home (I have auditory processing issues that make phone jobs impossible, plus we didn't have internet so I was just hotspotting off my phone to get online), and because of lockdown, safety concerns, and lack of a vehicle, I couldn't really get an in-person job either, so I did as much as I could taking care of household budgeting, conflict resolution, and looking after our 3-4yo kid along with Fox (who did most of the actual housework, as I wasn't able to be outside my room much because I was severely allergic to the pets there at the time).

Rabbit (kid's bio-parent) became work-from-home after a brief stint on unemployment due to their employer fucking around, staying over with their coworker/other partner (I'll call Rose) for the internet, and our other roommate contributed to rent until he moved out, so we were able to stay afloat and safely isolated for a while at least, and I started teaching our kid to read and write as my main share of the household contribution, which everyone at least claimed to be fine with.

Fast forward a bit, and both me and Rabbit got extra people in the household mix; a partner who I'd been involved with online for some time (Chomps) moved in with us, and Rabbit married Rose and moved in with her officially, with the kid staying on non-workdays with them and otherwise being looked after mostly by Fox and I. Eventually, with leases on both our places running out but with all of us outspokenly committed to working together, we all moved into Rose's parents' house (while they were overseas on vacation; they wanted caretakers there to look after Rose's younger sibling, who is disabled). Rose's parents--who are also polyam and very well-off--offered to bankroll a new home for all of us so we didn't have rent to pay for a while and could just catch up on things. Chomps even secured a decent-paying job. Things were going very well!

Then, a significant wrinkle came when Chomps needed to quit due to COVID concerns (anti-vaxxers in a high-risk environment, no vaccines available for small kids yet so we were mostly worried about the kid as we'd all been vaxxed at that point otherwise). At the time, everyone agreed that was a good idea! So, everyone braced for financial belt-tightening, and Chomps quit.

At this point, I was barely eating one meal a day out of guilt for my inability to contribute much, but I was also homeschooling our then-pre-k-into-kindergarten-age kid, and helping cook food and handle chores. Due to both Rabbit and Rose working from home and complaining of connection issues whenever anyone else used internet, me and Chomps could barely job-hunt (our phones didn't really get signal out there either), and without the ability to drive or a consistently-available vehicle, we worried constantly about providing for the household. Still, Rose and Rabbit reassured us that it was fine and getting handled.

Until one day it apparently wasn't, and Rose started getting onto me specifically (having been jobless for a couple years at this point, only getting two interviews despite putting in literally hundreds of applications) about filing for disability. Her opinion was that I could "just be on it until [I] got a job". That is not how disability works, and I told her as much, and refused to even start that process instead of continuing to look for work that I could feasibly do (which, frankly, was already taking as much time and effort as a full-time job, just with no financial benefit).

Granted, I could probably qualify for disability benefits, since I have physical and mental issues that make my range of possible employment pretty limited (though, as I'd been able to put in hundreds of applications to things I was sure I could do, it's far from impossible for me to work). However, the type of disabilities I would most easily and likely qualify with are the kind that would also very probably have my autonomy removed (this has been confirmed by two doctors and a therapist independently of one another). Plus, I'd be unable to marry Fox (as we'd agreed to do years and years ago) or get a job again without risking the loss of any benefits I could manage to secure, and also making it incredibly hard to recover those benefits if/when I further deteriorated down the line due to age, injury, or other factors and actually couldn't physically work.

So, while continuing my (unexpectedly unsuccessful) hunt for employment beyond a once-monthly gig that paid ~$75 (which is how I bought my own essential toiletries and groceries), I homeschooled the kid (which was a success, to the point that they later rolled into 1st grade with reading, writing, and math proficiency well above their peers!!), did most of the house troubleshooting and repair, and used as few resources as possible to minimize my impact on household finances, to the point that I averaged eating only one meal each day for years. Still, AITA for not just biting the bullet and giving up on the job hunt to prioritize securing disability payments?

(It's been about two years since that point and our current situation is stable despite partial dissolution of the polycule, with Fox and Chomps both working and paying the entirety of my portion of "rent" on the place Rose's parents bought her, while I continue to job-hunt with help from the state's vocational rehab dept. Fox and Chomps reassure me every time that they can see I'm doing my best and they're happy to take care of me as needed; I still feel fucked up about not being able to contribute financially and take care of them and everyone else in the same way, and wonder all the time if I made/am making the right call by refusing to pursue disability benefits unless I absolutely physically cannot work.)

What are these acronyms?

[mod2amaryllis]

I'm waiting for this migraine to die so I'm gonna tell you guys about Marshall, the dog who made me quit. read on if you wanna learn about extended quarantine and why this job sucks sometimes and other times is the most rewarding thing on the planet, often for the same reasons lmao.

in 2021, the weight of covid was kinda crashing down. i heard this was the case for a lot of health workers. we switched into emergency mode throughout 2020 and powered through, then the rest of the world decided to try and "get back to normal" a year later, giving no regard to the people who'd been working like a speeding train with the brakes off all that time. i was losing it!!! add a few more hay bales to my back when we hired a new doc who was the most demanding dude I'd ever met (still is, but we've come to some understanding lol) and who decided to run me as ragged as possible the first day he was left to his own devices.

that was the day Marshall came in.

i didn't talk about this back then because the outcome of the case was uncertain and the details so specific, but here's the run down knowing that 2 years later, Marshall is living his best life. when he was a baby, too young to have received a rabies vaccine, his owners found a rabies positive bat in the house. the state vet will always recommend euthanasia in these situations, OR, if you can somehow find and afford the option, a 6 month quarantine. this was such a tragic situation the owners were willing to try to save him. my clinic happens to have a decent isolation ward that's rarely in use; we use it for infectious patients like parvo puppies, uri's that have to be hospitalized, etc. so my boss agreed to take him for those 6 months. but the owners' caveat was that if he wasn't mentally adjusting to isolation after a couple weeks, they would euthanize so as not to put him through it and leave him with lifelong behavior issues.

that day, when animal control brought Marshall in the middle of an insane rush, we were short staffed and already at the end of our ropes with this new doc. i was the only qualified person who could talk to the officer. i was the only person who could take him back to isolation. the act of putting a 12 week old puppy in a 4 x 4 run where i knew he would either spend 6 months untouched, or never see the outside again, broke me. last straw.

i was a mess, for the rest of that day and the rest of that weekend having to go in and take care of him, when it was too early for him to adjust so i was sure he wouldn't make it. I'd come home sobbing. eventually jose was just like, "this isn't worth it any more," and i sent in a two weeks notice. i'd come close to doing so many times in the previous 6 years but never pulled the trigger. it took a total meltdown. my managers responded with regret, but understanding.

i wish i could've just felt free and done with it but for those two weeks i was just uncertain. this job is so complicated. the benefits for my pets are enormous; it's my main social network; it's income; I'm good at it and it gives me purpose. it's just also hell on earth! with no pressure from anyone else one way or the other, by the end of two weeks I'd decided to instead try going part time. that's where I'm at 2 years later so guess it worked lol.

but! there was still Marshall. shortly after we took him, we also happened to get a call for the same situation on 2 cats, and decided to take them as well. 3 animals on a 6 month quarantine. very new and daunting for all of us.

that first weekend was hard, but slowly, Marshall figured things out. it was the least ideal situation imaginable and i was at rock bottom and so was he, but i had this moment of like.....ok. if he wants to make this work, I'm gonna do as right by him as possible. and of course all us techs were helping him (one of my road dog coworkers always opened so i referred to her as his "morning mom") but i in particular took a special interest in training and enrichment. it became a passion. i was working less, but i volunteered extra weekends so i could see him more.

he was so young he hadn't even done much basic command training, and the fact that i couldn't touch him at all was a challenge. i started with a clicker to signal I'd rolled a treat into his run, since i couldn't give it to him directly. over those months we went through the basics: sit, down, paw, touch, using a back scratcher for a hand. part of the worry was him getting enough exercise; we noticed that when he'd get agitated, he'd jump on the bars non stop. i was like hmm that might be our only option, so i made "up" a command. i'd basically run burpies for exercise, up-sit-down-sit-up. he was a fast learner, very attentive. seeing him keep his wits about him like that was straight up thrilling. he even "potty trained" himself, barking like crazy whenever he'd go to the bathroom so we'd know right away he needed the run cleaned.

in the ward, there are 2 runs and 3 kennels. i trained Marshall to go back and forth between runs so we could clean. we'd have his food waiting for him in the next run over so he could eat while we'd clean; at the midday switch, he'd have a doggie popsicle. he was such a smart dog i knew toys and treats alone weren't cutting it for enrichment, and i couldn't constantly train him when i still had to be doing the rest of my job.

i started having everyone save every single box and paper-packaging that came in. i'd unfold some boxes for "bedding," so he'd at least have something between him and the concrete (he'd chew and eat any blanket we tried giving him). the rest, i turned into puzzles. i put treats inside and closed them up. put big boxes on their side in his run so he could go in and out. crumpled up paper-packaging with treats mixed in for him to dig through. every day i'd turn one run into a box-toy paradise, let him in, clean the other, and by the time i was checking back in on him he was snoozing in a pile of destruction. success. when other techs wouldn't go to the same lengths, i'd stay late pre-making his boxes and telling people to just throw them in dammit. i also queued several ambient sound playlists, birdsong cityscapes etc, to play on the weekend days when he was alone for long periods.

the months went by like this. i learned more about training, enrichment, and most specifically quarantine than i ever had outside of my experiences with my own puppies. we fell into a routine. we straight up loved each other, he was part of my life. he'd been this horrible trigger and pretty much doubled my workload, but he got to live.

then there were the cats! they were a little easier than Marsh just because they were already adults so didn't have all this energy to wrangle. for them, daily cleaning of course, taking turns going into the 1 empty kennel where i'd have treats, catnip, and other "new" smells waiting for them. for enrichment i focused on reconfiguration. every 2-3 days i'd rearrange things in their kennels, with the big pieces being a litter box, a bed, and an upright sturdy box (so they could either be in it or on top of it, giving them one upper level). it was habitat tetris. we'd play with strings and use the back scratcher for pets. then about every week, i'd switch their kennels to slightly change their view AND traded beds to mingle scents. they were from the same household and we were worried there'd be difficulty re-bonding after not being in direct contact for so long. they also did very well by the end of 6 months aside from gaining a lot of weight (oops). i learned just as much from them, and would love to help anyone else who might struggle with needing to quarantine pets.

i've seen people posting for help about similar situations and just wanna scream from the rooftops: the beginning is very daunting and hopeless, but animals aren't like us!!!!!! they do the best with what they got!!!!! if you work hard and keep them clean and develop a routine it'll all work out!!!!! Marshall walked out of there at 6 months a normal happy puppy in desperate need of a haircut.

it's interesting because i've never interacted much with his owners. i don't think they know i'm the one who kept him from losing his mind in there, even though everyone else at the clinic does, and i'm weirdly ok with that. the other day he came in cuz the dummy ate a bunch of meds he wasn't supposed to; the doc brought him to the back and instantly, Marshall rushed right for me. he still remembers me in a good way. there's still love. it's like...one of the few patient relationships i've had that feels truly deeply personal. in retrospect i think he had a bigger hand in healing my relationship with this career and animals in general than i realized at the time.

so thanks for making me quit Marshall. i feel a lot better now.

(i don't have any pics of him from that time (tragic ssd card accident) but he was an overgrown doodle puppy so he looked like this.)

[deluxewhump]

Do you have any advice for first time cat parent? (Human parent of cat, not cat parent)

Congrats on getting a kitty!!!!!

If you are getting an adult cat I would say just be really, really patient with letting them acclimate! I know it can take weeks and weeks for them to feel comfortable. If you are getting a kitten (we got all 3 of ours as kittens) they usually take way less time to acclimate and feel comfortable in the new space, maybe just a couple days depending on how big your house is and if you have other animals that need to be introduced safely to a new kitten.

Just some things that come to mind:

-let them come out of the cat carrier on their own time

-make sure their litter is accessible, not too high for a kitten to get in, if you are getting a kitten, and that they know where and what it is by setting them in it a few times. Kittens amaze me with how smart they are and how quickly they are house trained compared to puppies. I’m going to brag about my three and say they’ve never had an accident more than a few days after coming home with us.

-notice where they like to nap and put a soft blanket there or a cat bed nearby and they might be more prone to use it

-don’t let them eat strings, they try to eat entire lengths of string

- glass or stainless steel water bowls are better than plastic because they don’t trap as much bacteria between washes which can affect their health. cats love fresh water instinctively so change it often even if it’s not empty. They usually prefer their water to be a ways away from their food.

-wash their food bowls often for this same reason.

- you will probably buy toys your cat won’t play with. Mine love these little plastic springs that bounce really easily. And hair ties.

- if your cat chews/ claws things it shouldn’t like my youngest does you can get an all natural citrus oil spray called cat repellant and spray the piece of furniture/Christmas tree/ Venetian blinds and they won’t chew it for a while because it smells of citrus.

- they love to get up high. I have a floor to ceiling post with little hammocks that stick out at intervals and they love it. A normal cat tree achieves this too if you are able to get one!

-my eldest cat was determined to destroy our television so I put a really big piece of packing tape sticky-side up on the entertainment center so that every time he got up there the tape stuck to his paws and he finally.stopped.jumping.up.there. This one felt a little mean but it was really becoming an issue and I was afraid the tv was going to topple onto him one day so it was for his own good.

- make sure you keep track of your cats immunizations, and remember kittens need 3 rounds of shots fairly early on. If you adopt a kitten from someone and not an organization, make sure you ask if they’ve been dewormed and had their first distemper shots so you can tell your vet. Many rental agencies require proof of rabies vaccination for you to bring your pets. Spaying and neutering has benefits even if you only have one cat and they stay inside. That will become available around 6 months of age. If it’s too expensive, shop around for clinics and places that will do it less expensively because they usually exist.

-flea and heartworm medicine. Keep track of when you treated them last because it’s super easy to forget. Some are monthly, some are every other month.

- I was advised to keep my cats on kitten food until they were one year old. It is higher calorie and often has more nutrients as they’re still growing. I was also advised to keep my boy cat on wet food as well as dry, because males can dehydrate easier due to their urethras being more prone to it or something and it can make them sick. The wet food helps hydration. I have one cat that will not eat wet food 🤷‍♀️

- for 6-9 dollars you can get a water additive that helps prevent gingivitis and other mouth issues. Their vet put me on to this so I don’t worry that it’s unsafe.

-if your cat has the zoomies all night and you can’t let them sleep in your room with you because you get no sleep don’t feel bad. You’ve got to sleep. I’d love mine to sleep with us but the minute ten pm hits they become evil.

-two of my cats are SO mouthy. I love it, they talk at me all day, sometimes for a reason, sometimes just to chat. This isn’t advice just a comment lol.

- I have two cats (out of three) that love belly rubs/scratches, and this might be a coincidence or it might be that we successfully conditioned them to like it when they were kittens. Most of them famously hate it or only tolerate it for three seconds. So if you get a kitten pet their belly often and see how it goes lol. It’s worth a shot.

-while still immensely easier than puppies, kittens are wild!

-personality wise they are all different, for the most part they’re just going to be who they are, and you will love them for it.

-no matter what you name them you’re probably going to end up calling them by three weird nicknames that have little to do with the original name

Enjoy your new kitty!!!! They are perfect little creatures that domesticated themselves for their own convenience which sounds about right. 💕 shameless plug of my cats

[g0thiepi3]

Prayers for Family, Friends, Neighbors, and Enemies. 28, Oct 2024

I pray for my family - may they have great health, overcome obstacles, and may their furbabies, friend, and their friends' furbabies have health and abundance.

Specific prayers: My mom for her career, financies, and health. My Aunt for her health, finances, and getting a new home. My older family members, may their health be above average for their ages.

I pray for my friends - All old, current, and on their way into my life. May they have success and may their friends and families do well. May their furbabies have great health.

specific prayers: May A win custody, may her new home be in perfect shape and up to code and in a safe area. May she always make wise children and be a great mother to her children the way God intended. May J and An and their children, partners, parents, and furbabies all live well and according to God.

I pray for my neighbors - May all of them advance into better opportunities and into better circumstances.

Specific prayers: Al who is in the ER, may she have a speedy fix and recovery. Va. with her legal circumstances and mental health. T. and her son D., may they overcome their PTSD and get their homes. K., may he also get a speedy recovering from the ER.

Prayers for my enemies - I forgive them all. May they heal and may the Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit break them and mold them into better versions of themselves that align with our God's will. While I may not want them in my life, or eating at my table, may their lives get on track and soon see the fruits of their change by the fullness of their own tables.

Prayers for all I may have harmed - I hope the damage I may have caused, intentionally and unintentionally, pass. I pray I did not cause long term grief, suffering, or trauma. I pray they have a beautiful life filled with Your grace and love and healing through the Holy Spirit. I pray that if what I have done unto them, that that is the worst they will ever have to experience and that nothing else worse from anyone troubles their lives unless it is for God's greater purpose. And, if they do experience worse, I pray that they find peace, love, grace, and forgiveness faster than the trouble came to their doorsteps.

Prayers for the workers at my complex - They are doing the Lord's work. May they experience nothing but the best that God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit can give them and their families and furbabies. They are human angels and blessings to all of us who benefit from their presence and service.

Prayers for the Hungry, unhoused, etc - May they get blessed with kindness, empathy, food, shelter, and all sources needed to help them survive. May these people, their families, children, pets, etc not expereince these tribulations very long before they achieve better. May our world leaders solve the housing and food crises. Allow them to work with love and empathy when making and approving policies. Please instill a sudden selflessness from the world's most rich to mass donate to people and animals in need. Most of all, allow me to also become a blessing to those in need whenever and how ever I can within my means available.

Prayers for the ill, disabled, etc - Allow them to be taken seriesouly by medical professionals. Sewnd the Holy Spirit to guide those who find and create solutions, cures, vaccines, and assist the doctors and aids for which some people are in their care. Bless and aid the homes and centers for the elderly. Help mental and emotional health professionals and teams progress in treatments that work. And that Jesus and the Holy Spirit comfort and reside besides all of those who are ill, terminal, and fighting visible and invisible disabilities. Comfort the dying and their loved ones.

For the animals - Please God, increase kindness, love, patience, understanding, and empathy to all the other living things you put under our care. Let us not trod on the insects just because they're insects. Let us not pollute or litter environments to wildlife. Stop the over fishing, hunting, and trophy killings. Keep all domesticated pets loved, fed, housed, and cared for. Help those in shelters find homes. Put an end to backyard breeding, and stop the unnecessary euthanasia for over crowding. Teach us humans to be humane again. Let us care for wildlife and domesticated animals, especially those raised for food. May we come back to empathy and respect of all life on Earth.

Please end wars and violence. Save the families, pets, elderly, special needs, children, and all those who suffer as casualties as a result of war. Protect the soldiers, first responders, etc. Send the Holy Spirit to correct prejudices and racism. Correct hate and replace it with love so that we may immitate Your Son and learn to act and live as Jesus did.

Dear Heavenly Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, to you I pray these things. Please include everyone I may have long forgotten. Pray and save the forgotten in purgatory and lead them back to You. I ask this in Lord Jesus's name.

In the name of the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[somecunttookmyurl]

Hi, do you have a sec to talk having a cat for a pet? I've been wanting to hit up the shelter and see if I can't take one (or maybe a pair) home for a good while now and while I have a smidge more money than even a few months ago, I'm still arguably Poor Enough that I've also been checking and rechecking to make sure I've thought about all/most the costs that are connected to cats.

Is there anything that you think people often forget about when they try to do the budget maths that's a bit more past the regular upkeep and standard stuff like surprise vet bills, insurance, 'fuck you I'm not eating this brand of food anymore', and periodically replacing stuff that either breaks or wears down?

I would hate to commit only to realise I don't have the funds after all, y'know?

ummm not really? remember to budget for regular yearly vaccinations. even if cats are 100% indoor you can still bring stuff in from outside so they could still get those illnesses and a lot of insurance doesn't cover routine care

honestly i don't have pet insurance at all because most of them cover fuck all for the first like... year (and 2 years in the case of dental which like. what) and the list of things they don't cover is ridiculous. if you're in the UK and financially struggling (you do not have to be unemployed or on benefits) you can register with the PDSA for reduced cost vet treatments. otherwise just hit up the least extortionate one and keep a separate savings account for potential vet bills.

(insurance won't even insure 2 of my cats because bean is FIV positive and siouxsie has a slightly dodgy kidney. i mean slightly. she doesn't even have to take meds for it that's how slightly. but these are "pre existing conditions" that invalidate them like again. what. is the point. of you)

but no you've not forgotten anything. outside the initial "buying everything" expense cats really aren't that spendy as far as pets go. if you can afford it i'd recommend buying food in bulk and larger bags of litter. it normally works out quite a bit cheaper to get like... 120 pouches of food once every 4 months than getting a small box every 12 days yanno (by the time the next shipment rolls around you'll definitely have enough if you just keep x aside a week for it it's just that first one that gets you) oh. boyfriend pointed out having a little treats budget too. sweeties.

good luck also please show me the baby i need to see the baby

[verysaladobservation]

The Huntington Village Animal Hospital is a trusted and reliable veterinary clinic in Huntington, offering a range of veterinary services to cater to the needs of pets. One of the key services provided is pet vaccination. By choosing their veterinary services, you can ensure your beloved furry friend receives the essential vaccinations for disease prevention. The clinic is staffed with experienced and compassionate veterinarians who prioritize the health and well-being of pets. With its expertise and commitment to excellent care, the Veterinary Clinic is ideal for pet owners seeking reliable vaccination services in the Huntington area.

[darkmaga-returns]

Now that we are finally unburdened by what has been, here are my favorite “to do” list recommendations, in no particular order:

End the liability protection for all vaccine manufacturers. This was a huge mistake. Note: this may not be feasible in the short term until almost nobody wants them anymore.

Begin a massive advertising campaign educating the American public about the dangers of childhood vaccines and citing the studies that have been done and noting that there’s a reason the NIH refused to ever fund such a study.

Require on-going active safety monitoring of all drugs by an independent company. Make the active monitoring data public. Start with vaccines.

End all local, state, and federal government mandated health directives including masks, vaccination, etc. for people and pets. Public agencies should be free to advise medical interventions but they should be prohibited from enforcing compliance with any directive that may negatively impact a person’s health. People should be consulting with their doctors about all medical interventions.

Compensate those injured by the FDA-approved vaccines for their injuries. Not just the COVID vaccine but for all vaccines including kids whose autism was caused by vaccines.

How by reinstating all medical personnel that lost their jobs, pensions and other benefits for non compliance?

Replace the heads of the CDC, NIH, HHS, and FDA with honest leaders who cannot be bought who have been speaking out publicly about the corruption of these agencies.

[petssonline]

Visit wonderful World of Pets

Pets bring joy and companionship into our lives, creating bonds that can last a lifetime. From playful dogs to curious cats, each type of pet has its own personality and needs. Understanding these can help ensure that both pets and owners thrive together.

Types of Pets

Dogs: Known for their loyalty, dogs come in various breeds, each with different energy levels and temperaments. They require daily exercise, social interaction, and training. Regular walks not only keep them fit but also strengthen the bond between pet and owner.

Cats: Cats are more independent but still crave attention and play. They benefit from interactive toys and scratching posts to keep them engaged. While they may not need as much exercise as dogs, they do enjoy playtime and exploration.

Birds: Birds can be delightful companions. They require social interaction, mental stimulation, and a spacious cage. Some species can even mimic sounds, adding a fun element to their personality.

Small Mammals: Pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits are great for those with limited space. They need specific habitats and social interaction. These small creatures can be entertaining and affectionate.

Reptiles and Fish: Reptiles, such as lizards and snakes, require specialized care but can be fascinating pets. Fish, while less interactive, can bring tranquility and beauty to your home with the right aquarium setup.

Benefits of Having Pets

Owning a pet comes with numerous benefits. They can reduce stress, encourage physical activity, and provide a sense of purpose. The unconditional love and companionship they offer can significantly improve mental well-being, helping to combat feelings of loneliness and anxiety.

Caring for Your Pet

Proper care is essential for a happy pet. This includes:

Nutrition: Each pet has unique dietary needs. High-quality food is crucial for their health.

Veterinary Care: Regular check-ups ensure your pet stays healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations.

Exercise: Pets need physical activity and mental stimulation to thrive. Daily playtime is important for their well-being.

Grooming: Depending on the type of pet, grooming may involve brushing, bathing, or nail trimming.

Conclusion

Pets enrich our lives in countless ways, teaching us responsibility, empathy, and the joy of companionship. By understanding their needs and providing the proper care, we can create fulfilling relationships with our furry, feathered, or scaled friends. Embrace the love and happiness that pets bring, and cherish the special moments shared with them.

[navyismycolor]

Quest(ions) for Self Improvement

The responsibility of Masculinity is the relentless pursuit of self-improvement, with the ultimate goal of having it benefit others. As men, I believe we need to ask ourselves the following questions on a regular cadence, perhaps every month, and think about how we are growing as a person.

What could I have done better?

Lets start with the difficult question - where did we fall short of our own standards. Each one of us makes mistakes, perhaps on a regular basis, both in how we conduct ourselves and how we treat others. But the true crime, if I may say so, is to not pause to reflect and course correct. It is important to face ourselves and ask what we did not do well. It is important to draw the lessons from that experience while maintaining compassion about circumstances that may not have allowed us to do better. But do not let those become an excuse, rather chart a path for "how shall I do better next time". A bitter pill at first, this will become your weapon to exponential self-growth over time.

Am I on top of my to-do list?

One of life's inevitable side products is a list of things that need to be done - not because we planned them, but because they come our way. As tasks come, tasks need to go; nothing eats into your mental peace like ignoring your responsibilities and let it grow to a point where the very mention of it overwhelms you. So, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to it. Bills needs to be paid, pets need to be vaccinated, kids need to be picked up and dropped off, letters need to be written, holidays have to be planned, cars need to be washed and lawns need to be mowed. The more we make a habit of these things, the less daunting they will seem, and more we will feel in control of the mild annoyances in life. And in effect, it will free up our headspace for things that are are truly meaninful, which need our deepest attention.

How did I look after myself physically?

No, this is not about slaving for hours each day in the gym, although if you are into that, go for it. This is asking yourself if you are maintaining a healthy body and body image. It can range from activities such as exercise, to having a leisurely but relaxing bath, to taking a little care in dressing well, to remembering to visit the dentist or the optometrist on time for regular checkups. Perhaps most important, when and what we eat on a day to day basis determines a huge portion of our health, and a little consciousness goes a long way to a healthy and productive life.

How did I care for my mental health?

Physical health is important, but being plagued by a miserable soul doesnt go far, and there is plenty that happens every day around us to bring our spirits down. Which makes it all the more important to take time to recover, recharge, and care for ourselves emotionally. I would say this is especially important for men, since this has historically and socially been a downplayed area of attention. Emotional well being may involve spending time with friends or family, with your pets if you have any, watching a movie or listening to music to cheer yourself up, going out and socializing if that gives you energy. It may also take more serious forms, like taking time for therapy, journalling, meditating, or spending time resolving past pains and memories by working through them. This is not easy, but it is vital for our well being.

What have I learned recently?

It is important for a man to feed his mind and keep himself sharp, not just emotionally but also intellectually. Learning comes in so many forms, and today there are more opportunities to broaden your horizons than ever before. You can sign up for a course, play chess, learn a new language, watch tutorials or lectures on Youtube, or documentaries to gain a greater knolwedge of the world. It also does not have to be academic or professional. Learning a new instrument, learning to dance, practicing a new recipe, or even traveling to a part of the world you have never seen before to open yourself to a new culture are all great examples of opening up your mind a little bit every day.

What did I do to help others?

What man is a man who does not give back to others, to society? Helping others can come in so many forms, but ultimately, I believe all that self development is meant not for selfish ends, but to build a better and greater society together with others. Your personal gains are only the by-product of this win-win arrangement. So go ahead and mentor someone, be there for someone in their hard time, show generosity with your time and if possible your money. Gathering clothes together for a donation, volunteering, teaching kids may look like big gestures, but even small ones count. Holding an umbrella over a lady, helping an elderly man cross the road, or carrying an extra bag of groceries for someone will inherently make you feel like you made a difference, because you thought about something greater, something beyond just yourself.

Join me, brothers, on this journey, and may we all flourish together and never in competition with each other.

[milescabantac]

PAWS AID!🐾

Caring for pets is a priority, and as pet ownership grows, so does the demand for quality, accessible care. Owners seek not only easier access to emergency services but also prioritize routine care like better nutrition, preventive measures, and regular vet visits to improve their pets' health.

During the interview, the pet owner expressed a desire for more affordable and accessible services. She emphasized that while she wants the best for her pets, the high costs of veterinary care often force her to delay seeking help until her pets are clearly unwell. This delay reflects a broader issue where rising costs hinder routine check-ups, vaccinations, and early preventive care, all of which are crucial for maintaining long-term health.

This conversation made me realize that many pet owners, despite their best intentions, struggle to access timely care due to financial problems. As a result, they may miss opportunities to address health issues early on, leading to more serious and costly problems later.

After this interview, I realized the growing need for solutions that make pet care more affordable and accessible. Addressing this problem could help pet owners to provide regular care, improving their pets' overall health without the burden of financial stress. Offering cost-effective options such as wellness plans, consultations services for routine care could greatly benefit both pets and their owners.

Interviewee: Ms. Kyla Ragmac

Questions:

Customer Jobs:

What types of pet related emergencies or services would you like easier access to?

Pains

Are there any services you feel are too expensive or hard to access for your pets need?

Gains

What benefits or improvements would you like to see in your pets health and well-being?

[bethanythebogwitch]

Intro to Digimon

In my previous posts about Digimon, particularly my overview of all aquatic Digimon species, I god some comments from people who liked the designs and were curious about the franchise, but didn't know much about it. I decided to write this introduction to let people know more about the basics of the franchise and give suggestions for where to start if they're interested.

What is Digimon?

Digimon is a Japanese multimedia franchise owned by Bandai that focuses on the titular creatures. It is a monster collection franchise that started as a series of virtual pets. Think Tomagatchis aimed for young boys who like their virtual pets to be badass monsters. Digimon media includes virtual pets, toys, a variety of video games, a trading card game, multiple animes, mangas, and more. Unlike some other franchises, Digimon exists in a multiverse with most games, mangas, and animes existing independently from each other. Each setting can follow its own rules and variations of the lore and universe, though most follow some common rules. The Digimon Reference Book lists official Digimon species and gives setting-neutral lore for them. Many entries in the franchise involve the bonds between humans (known as tamers) who bond with one or more Digimon and go on adventures together.

Ok, but what is a Digimon?

Digimon, short for Digital Monsters, are creatures born from data and exist within Earth's internet and computer systems. While born from computer data, most settings say that Digimon are more than just AIs and possess souls and free will. A few newer entries in the franchise say that Digimon have existed since long before the internet and computers and data are just the most recent method humans use to interact with and influence them. Digimon come from the Digital World, a world that exists within the network but is also often depicted as being another dimension parallel to Earth. It can be thought of as a universe influenced by data, but that exists on its own. Again, each setting will have its own take on the Digital World. The Digital World is often depicted as being maintained and ruled over by a supercomputer named Yggdrasil or King Drasil. Other entries (usually early in the franchise) say that their Digital World is ruled by an enigmatic God heavily based on the one of Christianity who may be a human programmer.

There are many species of Digimon that can evolve through a series of levels. When evolving to a new level, a Digimon will change species. How similar Digimon are to humans varies depending on setting. In many, Digimon do not reproduce on their own, instead new Digimon are born from new data. While individual Digimon can appear masculine or feminine, different settings will differ on whether Digimon have sexes or genders. In most settings, Digimon who die will have their data reconfigured into a Digitama (Digi-egg), allowing for a form of reincarnation. Whether or how much Digimon can remember from past lives depends on the setting.

Each species has an attribute. The attributes are Vaccine, Virus, Data, and Free. These attribute comes form how the species behaves and affects the Digital world. Vaccines benefit the Digital World, Viruses harm it, and Datas have no real effect either way. Free attribute Digimon are rare and don't fit any other category. Generally speaking, Vaccine Digimon are good, Viruses are evil, and Datas are neutral. This isn't set in stone and it's perfectly possible to have a villainous Vaccine, heroic Virus, or Data that leans either way. Attributes in some of the games also have a rock-paper-scissors lineup where Vaccine beats Virus beats Data beats Vaccine. Free is neutral to everything.

Evolution

Evolution, dubbed in English as Digivolution, is the process by which Digimon grow stronger and reach new levels. The levels, listed in Japanese/English are Baby I/Fresh, Baby II/In-Training, Child/Rookie, Adult/Champion, Perfect/Ultimate, and Ultimate/Mega. Some entries have an addition level called Super Ultimate/Ultra. Yes, the fact that Ultimate is used for two different levels in different languages has caused quite a bit of confusion. Another from of evolution is Jogress(join+progress)/DNA Digivolution. This occurs when two or more Digimon will merge to become a new Digimon of a higher level. Related to evolution is mode changes. A Digimon that mode changes will change to a new form, but does not actually change level (with a few exceptions). Mode changes are denoted by adding the name of the mode to the Digimon's name. An example of a mode change is Jupitemon mode changing to Jupitermon Wrath Mode.

Evolution in Digimon is much more varied and open-ended than in other franchises like Pokemon. In many of the the video games and especially the virtual pets, Digimon will have multiple possible evolutions that are not necessarily thematically related to each other. Evolutions are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Multiple different species of one level could evolve to the same Digimon of the next level. Digimon can also evolve back to a lower level and not necessarily to the same species they started as. An example is Agumon (a little orange dinosaur) evolving to Centalmon/Centarumon (cyborg centaur), then evolving backwards to Patamon (flying hamster). Many species have a "default" through line that is considered the standard for that species. These default lines are usually either designed to be thematically consistent with each other through every level or were depicted in one of the animes or mangas. Non-virtual pet and game media, such as the animes and mangas, usually give Digimon much more linear evolution lines with few if any branches.

Evolution often work differently between wild Digimon and those with tamers. Wild Digimon cannot evolve freely. As they live and battle, they will gain experience and power until they evolve to the next level. Once at a new level, they stay there until gaining enough power to evolve again or being wounded badly enough to be forcibly reverted to a prior level but not enough to be killed. Digimon partnered with a tamer will instead stay at a default level, usually Child/Rookie, but can evolve to a higher one with help from their partner. These evolutions are temporary and the Digimon will eventually revert to its default form.

Where do I start?

If you're looking for a way into the franchise, there are a few options. If you want to start with an anime I suggest Digimon Adventure (original, not reboot), Digimon Tamers, or Digimon Ghost Game. Adventure is the original anime and one of the few that goes for more than one season. Adventure is followed up by Digimon Adventure 02, a few movies, Digimon Adventure Tri, Digimon Adventure Last Evolution Kizuna and the upcoming Digimon Adventure 02 the Beginning. Adventure set the standard for how most Digimon stories work. It features a cast of human children, each with a Digimon partner, being lost in the Digital World and going through adventures as they encounter villains and try to figure out how to get home. It is heavy on plot and character development and is a lot of fun. Digimon Tamers was the first anime not set in the Adventure universe and goes into darker and more adult themes while still being fun. It's a lot of people's favorite season for a good reason. Be aware that the english dubs for Digimon Adventure through Digimon Tamers added a lot of jokes and other silliness that weren't in the original. The dubs are very hit or miss and pretty contentious in the fandom. I like them personally, but watch the one you prefer. Digimon Ghost Game is the most recent season and thus you will find a lot of people still talking about it. It is more focused on monster of the week episodes than running plotlines and has a strong horror vibe. Ghost Game, like many recent entries in the franchise, is aimed toward adults who were fans of the series as kids.

If you want to start with a game, I suggest one of the ones on Steam as they're easily available in English. Steam has Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth, Digimon Survive, and Digimon World Next Order. Cyber Sleuth is an RPG that is probably the best entry point for people familiar with the Pokemon games as they function similarly. You catch and assemble your dream team of Digimon as you evolve them through higher levels and move through the story. Digimon Survive is a hybrid visual novel and tactical RPG which tells a more horror-based version of the classic "kids trapped in the Digital World" story. Your choices in the game affect the outcome and there are 4 different endings. The true route and ending is only unlocked on a new game + so play it twice. Next Order is a real-time RPG where you raise a pair of Digimon from egg to final form repeatedly as you move through the story and unlock new forms.

If you want to start with a virtual pet, the current one available is the Vital Bracelet BE. It is a fitbit-style health-tracking bracelet that pairs with an app and allows you to raise Digimon, with more exercise giving you better results. The VB has multiple DIM cards with more coming out regularly. Each DIM card unlocks new Digimon and evolution lines.

If you just want to see the different species and read their lore, there are two wikis: wikimon.net and the Digimon Wiki on fandom.com. I prefer wikimon. Wikimon uses Japanese terminology while the Digimon Wiki uses English terminology.