My public service announcement

Christmas is just around the corner.  Are you considering purchasing that cute puppy at the local pet store?  Well DON'T.   By buying an animal, any animal not just that cute puppy in the window, from a pet store you are enabling those who breed due to greed.  I personally do not shop at stores that sell cats, dogs, rodents - they are selling those animals for profit without a care for that animal's well being. 

Puppy and kitten mills sell to pet stores - good breeders don't, simple as that.  A good breeder will breed to enhance the breed and do their best to ensure you are getting a healthy animal.  Purchase at a pet store and you are almost guaranteed to get behaviour and health problems.  For more information, or more convincing, have a look at www. nopuppymillscanada .ca.  (remove spaces)

If you are looking for an animal and don't want to go the breeder route, please consider your local animal control, SPCA and rescue organizations.  Do your homework when looking for your next fur friend - a little effort is worth it when you consider this next houseguest could be with you for the next ten to fifteen years.

Wait, I'm not finished yet with this public service announcement.  It is C O L D outside.  Please bring your pets indoors - where they belong.  And remember, antifreeze KILLS.  Ask you mechanic (or husband/spouse/significant other) to use non-toxic propylene glycol anifreeze in your vehicles.  A few drops of antifreeze in your driveway can end your fur kid's life. 

Let's do what we can to keep these guys safe:

PLEASE turn off the lights, I'm trying to sleep here.

And don't forget, cats and dogs like Christmas too:

I hope Santa brought me a mouse.

I hope Santa brought ME a t-bone.

I wasn't going to comment on giving pets as gifts but I will.  Many people think pets as gifts are wrong.  I do too - if it is an impulse purchase.  February and March see our local shelters filling up with animals that were given as gifts because the novelty has worn off and that cute little puppy/kitten actually requires effort.

On the other hand,  if you have done your homework and you and/or the person receiving the pet are committed to caring for this animal's health and well-being for the life of the animal then I'm all for it.