Pitbull update

The pup I posted about yesterday is safely **OUT** of the shelter!



He now has a name - Milo.

He does however still need a home.

Sayeth guest blogger ysobelle:
That's right, he's no longer "Boney," which was a throwaway name anyhow. He does, however, still need a long-term foster or permanent home in PA or NJ. Please email pinupsforpitbulls@gmail.com for information! And thank you EVERYONE for helping!

Yso and shelter workers report he's very good natured, not food aggressive, somewhat trained, very affectionate, and we're not sure how good he is with other dogs.

Can you help?

If not, can you boost signal?

Let's do magic, Intarwebz!

Exotic Pets: DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Damn good reading:

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adoption-tips/exotic-animals.html

Owning exotic pets is pretty awesome. I've done it. It's a neat experience.

Things to remember:

Domestication takes thousands of years.
Ferrets? Pets since ancient Egypt. Domesticated.
Iguanas/chinchillas/parrots/snakes/alligators/tigers/scorpions/tarantulas/lizards? Not domesticated.

Do your research.
For the love of all that's holy, DO YOUR RESEARCH.
Iguanas are relatively cheap. NOT GOOD PETS. Unless you live in a rainforest. Which I'm guessing you don't. And a healthy iguana? Can seriously mess up your day. (I've lost count of how many pics I've seen that prove mature male iguana + ovulating female human = a need for plastic surgery.)

Asking a pet store employee for information should not be your only form of research.
Pet stores want to sell you pets. Most of them are not going to care about the well being of you or your pet. (Example: We bought Hades largely because we were assured she was a he.)

Do not trust pet stores or animal dealers to do the right thing.

Being up for sale in a pet store does not make an animal a pet. I have personally seen a NURSE SHARK for sale in a pet store. Many of us have seen alligators for sale. NOT domesticated. NOT safe. NOT smart to sell or own.

You **CAN** buy animals that will flat-out kill you for less than $50. You do not need a license. You don't need to tell anyone you own this critter.

Scared yet?

Do not buy a pet just because you think it's pretty. DO YOUR RESEARCH. As an example:


Painted Glass Fish

Pretty!
Also? Evil. And I quote:
"A common method of creating "painted fish" is through injection via syringe. Generally, fish are injected multiple times.[1] Fish may also be dipped in a caustic solution to strip their outer slime coat, then dipped in dye. This method is reported to have a very high mortality rate."

So. Just because you can buy it? Doesn't mean it's safe or a good idea.


If you buy an exotic - or indeed, any pet? Do not think you can just release it into the wild (which is cruel and bad for native wildlife and there's a special hell reserved for those who do this to any pet), or that your local animal shelter or that 'crazy cat lady' down the road will be able to take in your unwanted critter. Especially not in this economical climate. Most shelters are full past capacity.

If you want to be around exotics - or indeed, critters in general? Consider volunteering at your local shelter/zoo/wildlife rehab/exotic rescue. Looking for an exotic pet? Consider adopting someone's unwanted pets. There are a terrifying number of senior citizen ferrets that need homes. Right now. I promise.

(At the zoo, we had WEEKLY offerings of unwanted iguanas and ferrets. Weekly. One of our really bad weeks? We had **SIX** different macaws offered. NO shelter/zoo/rescue can take in all the unwanted pets that are out there.)



DO YOUR RESEARCH.

Purchase carefully.

Because everyone - critters included - deserves a forever-home.