The Search For the Perfect Guinea Pig

Well, lately I have been on a search for my perfect furry guinea pig companion.  I don't really need a guinea pig or any other pets for the matter.  I can barely manage my life as it is with the two dogs and one cat that I have.  I also think its fair to say that both of dogs are not of the "easy laid" back sort either.  This morning my dog Lucky left me a possum in the yard to find all bloody and yucky looking.  I was happy he killed the possum, but not so happy to pick up the little varmint and dispose of him.  Then Lucky pushed my front door open and he and my basset hound, FionaApple, darted as if they were little kids chasing an invisible ice cream truck.  They eventually wound up in my neighbors yard threatening his poor little cat to the point where I was within inches of having to scoop a dead kitty off the lawn.  Thank Heavens for me, I retrieved the dogs and saved the cat. 

So only animal addicts like myself somehow to still find the notion to go out not even 8 hours later to the local pet store in Lodi....to continue my search for the perfect guinea pig.  I must say this is the fourth store I have searched.  My boyfriend and I have searched every Petsmart in the Sacramento Region.  Today, while in Galt, we decided to stop by a local feed store in Lodi and instead of picking out a guinea pig; I fell in love with a bunny.  This bunny was some sort of dwarf fancy named designer bunny. I liked him because he was cute and calm. Somehow, my boyfriend managed to convince me for whatever reason to leave my bunny in the store.  I am very sad...and it makes me wonder why I searched the four other stores before this one trying to find the perfect guinea pig.  On my searching travels, we saw an endless variety of guinea pigs.  One Petsmart carried only male guinea pigs, while another carried only female guinea pigs.  And yes I held most of them, and along the way....I was bit by one of the guinea pigs. It wouldn't have been such a big deal if the sales lady hadn't commented, "Oh that's really rare". Then again today while in  Lodi after telling the sales lady about the biting incident said comments, "Oh that's really rare". So I have to wonder---------Is a guinea pig really for me??  Well after falling in love with my bunny....I don't care....I found a bunny and bunny diapers and that's good enough for me.

Great Sacramento Boarding/DayCare Option for Dogs

Recently, I came across the cutest place called Grateful Dog on 17th and E in Midtown Sac...It's a 4000 square foot doggie daycare facility located in the heart of Downtown Sacramento. I started looking for doggie daycare facilities after my last post about leaving the pooches at home alone.  Grateful Dog not only provides awesome care for your furry babies but they are also a Eco-Friendly Facility.  They offer reasonable rates, grooming services and even pick up/drop off service !!!!

My name is Lucky Kastanis and I am sad because my Mommie left me home all alone. She should have called

"Grateful Dog".

So do yourself a favor Sacramentans and check out Grateful Dog and avoid this sad face.

 

   

     

       
       
       
       
     

   

 

 

   
 

 

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Leaving Dogs At Home

Today's post is inspired by the fact that due to recent travel, I have been leaving my dogs at home by themselves for sometimes more than 24 hours at a time. My dogs, FionaApple and Lucky, are very depressed when I leave; and so am I.  It is really hard especially since I can't really afford to let them stay in the recent boom of Doggie Hotels in the area, or hire a "dog sitter"...Seemingly ridiculous to some I am sure, but never the less its traumatic for me.  I have decided to make it a priority upon arriving home to seek out anyone I can find to provide some comfort to my furry babies in my absence.

For all of you die hard Animal Rights Activists who might be reading this post....Please take note that my traveling this much is rare and ample food, water, toys, shelter etc. have been provided for there comfort.
I am hoping that soon I will be able to afford to leave them in one of these doggie spas that have popped up on the scene in the last decade....I have decided to even go visit one just to see what they are like and if perhaps my dogs would prefer a "LIVE-IN DOGGIE NANNY" OR A "DOGGIE HOTEL"........As I type this, I am laughing because my father who hopefully isn't reading this would surely not condone such a thing.
The only thing I can say is I am a Pet Mommy., and I take my job very seriously.....

Responding to the Sea World Tragic Killer Whale Incident

I just want to say I really concur with everything Jack Hanna had to say in regards to this unfortunate tragedy.  This is to again re-interate that trainers know the inherit risks of their jobs and really would want this whale to be put down. Let us take our focus off of this type of accident and let us remember someone has lost someone they love. 

My regards to the family.  So sorry, you must be hurting in a way words cannot express. 

Sincerest Regards,
Candace Kastanis
Animal Advocate

Dapheyland--Putting a Face on the Shelter Crisis

Daphneyland is the largest Basset Hound Animal Rescue in the nation.  They are located in Los Angeles, CA, and were among the hardest hit in the recent economic crisis.  The economic downward spiral has left this no kill kennel and shelter facing no power or water to its facility.  Bill collector's are currently hounding the Rescue's owner and founder on a daily basis. Today on the top of their website, they state a dire and urgent need for donations.  Please help if you can.  If nothing else, visit the daphneyland website and become apart of the solution.

Yes; just by reading and becoming a "knowledge bound source" of credible and verifiable information of an existing problem empowers an ordinary citizen the chance to create viable solutions for a very broken system.  This is not to say other systems are not in a current state of emergency, or that you yourself are not suffering economic hardship.  My mission is just to offer a chance to those of us who may the ability to help in some capacity.

I challenge my readers today to visit the website.  I challenge you further to act on what you have read, as I have this morning.
 http://www.daphneyland.com

Blog Post on the Responsibility Project Website That Is ShareWorthy

Man’s Best Friend

May 22, 2008 By Kathy McManus Comments (1121)

How much is that doggy in the window?
The one with the waggley tail may seem like a bargain these days compared to the dog with the $3,000 pacemaker. Or the cat with the $8,000 kidney transplant. Or the pet chicken undergoing radiation therapy after cancer surgery.
Medical care for pets now rivals medical care for humans, with veterinary oncologists, neurologists, cardiologists and other specialists providing high tech, big-bucks treatment for Fido and Fluffy.
But when cats have chemo and dogs have dialysis, their owners have something too: unexpected ethical issues triggered by enormous medical bills.
“Is the 15-year-old tabby worth $12,000 in dialysis?” asks a newspaper story with the nagging headline: Do some pet owners go a little too far?
“I admit sometimes questioning the reality of spending $11,000 on my cat when there are greater human needs,” said a California college professor, who readily paid for feline chemotherapy and pancreatitis treatment.
U.S. pet owners will spend more than $24 billion this year on pet medical care, an amount greater than the gross domestic product of more than half of the world’s countries.
But when man’s best friend is a integral member of the family, the question of whether it’s appropriate to spend top-dollar for animal medical care is often more emotional than financial. With the unconditional love, friendship, and support of a beloved companion at stake, many pet owners feel they don’t have the option of not providing—and paying for—expensive medical care.
It’s not a simple issue, said one veterinarian. When you hear of a medical bill of $14,000 for a dog, he explained, people ask, “Should you not just buy a new dog and give the money to charity? That, I have to say, is a non-starter of an argument. You then have to ask all sorts of questions about how people spend their money—should they spend it on big cars?”
Tell us what you think: When it comes to expensive veterinary medical care, is it more responsible to pay for a pet or perhaps give the money to charity instead?

Thanksgiving or Misgiving

Recently, I found out that most animal shelters around the country are functioning at near or maximum capacity due to the recession. I told myself and my dogs how lucky we are to have a roof over our heads and food to eat....In fact, they had left over Thanksgiving ham........

I hope anybody hoping to give or receive a pet this holiday season will consider adopting an animal from the local shelter in their area.  In addition, checking on-line resources is also a good idea, or checking the bulletin board postings at the local coffee shop.  Also, make an effort to pass the word if hear a friend needs to find a new or temporary home for their pet.  It also gives you good cause to connect with old friends and family.