Welcome to the ASPCA Online Community!

[Elyse Orecchio]

Hi! Ready to Rock This Forum?
Thank you for visiting the ASPCA discussion forum. We are committed to allowing freedom of expression for our members, and that includes maintaining a safe space for people with opposing views to express themselves. We get posts from all over the country and even the globe, so needless to say, people come with different viewpoints on animal welfare. We see this diversity and variety as a real strength-- dialogue and debate are an integral part of the educational process, as well as an important tool in exploring different sides of complex issues.

ASPCA Code of Conduct
Okay, I know we said we want you to have the freedom to express yourselves. And we do. But a few rules never hurt, right?
• Be nice! No flaming. Many posters come here for information, not to be called names.
• Please respect the different backgrounds and education of posters—especially when it comes to diverse perspectives on animal treatment. The best thing you can do for animals is politely educate on how to protect them.
• No one needs to hear you correct them on proper grammar and spelling. Let’s talk animals, not the difference between affect and effect.
• Wanna talk about religion and race? Well, we don’t. We wanna talk about animals.
• Don’t gang up with other posters against one person. It’s not nice! Better to stick to animal talk.
• Did I mention you should…talk about animals? Cool! Now get to it and have fun!

Medical Questions:
Please, please, please do not submit questions about emergency medical problems here. If you think that your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian. Self-diagnosis or delay seeking proper veterinary care may worsen your pet's condition.

Questions for the ASPCA:
While the ASPCA staff does monitor the ASPCA Community, we can't always answer individual questions via the discussion boards. If you have a question for the ASPCA, please visit www.aspca.org or send me a message via my profile.

Reporting Discussion Board Abuse:
To report discussion board abuse, please visit: http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/main/index/report.

All right, now that you've gotten the boring rules part out of the way, start postin' some animal love! Can't wait to talk to you!

Best,
Elyse

[Sun]

Hello Everyone!

I just became a Member today and want to tell you all that this community is
really special and the work that you ALL are doing is amazing. What a great place!

The kind and generous spirits that are a part of this community really make the world a better place every day. It is a pleasure to be able to meet such interesting and committed animal lovers.

ASPCA Staff...I cant say enough about how wonderful you all are.

God bless you for the work that you do.

Sun

[M-A]

Thanks for your support, Sun! And welcome to the community!!

[Sheri]

Hi, I need some help here, I live in Maine, but while visiting Connecticut this summer, I noticed some horse living next to my Sister in laws farm that are neglected, severly underfed, and in horrible conditions. I wrote to the Humane society in Washington D.C. and nothing has been done. This man has around 60 horses, mule, donkeys and foals. The CT humane society will do nothing. Who can help these animals??

[Suzanne]

Hi!

I'm looking for advice. I have an 8 yr old HUGE golden retriever. We moved into a new house 9 months ago. "Rudy" adjusted very easily to his new surroundings until very recently. He has always been a perfect dog, with absolutely no issues at all from the moment we got him. My husband and I went for a walk and left the door unlocked. We came home an hour later and there was Rudy with our door wide open and him sitting on our porch waiting for us. He practically destroyed our new door and door knob. We usually keep our bedroom door closed during the day, otherwise he uses our bed as his bed. He does sleep in our room with us at night however. So now that he figured out our front door he has now figured out our bedroom door and gets in there now. The only problem with both of these "escapes" is the destruction of the door itself, the doorknob, and the surrounding woodwork. Keep in mind that this is a brand new house. We've scolded him for doing this and he seems to understand this, but continues to do it. He also has only done this when he's alone. I have two daughters that have now gone off to school. He used to be alone however at the beginning of the year when we moved, so I just don't understand this sudden bad behaviour. My husband's now gone out and bought him a large kennel to put him in during the day. This really bothers me, but I don't have a good alternative. I was wondering if there could be something wrong with him "health-wise" that would cause him to begin to suddenly act this way....any insights?

[Linda W]

Suzanne:

Sounds a lot like a Visalia my late husband gave me for a birthday present. She would dig up the carpeting at our exit doors, once removed a Ca. King HEAVY bedspread from our second story bedroom and drug it down 2 flights of stairs and made a bed of it at the front door.......We put her into a serious obedience class which (ironically) she failed off lead and had to repeat an additional 6 weeks....
Finally, to my very down to earth husband's huge amusement, I took her to a DOGGIE SHRINK!

We too, had moved into a new house and had family changes..off to school, marriage, etc.

Doggie Shrink said..this is a manifestation of both 'separation anxiety' (when you go out and leave her at home) and Loneliness (no more kids in and out... RX? "Get Her A Pet!

After my husband paid the somewhat extravagant bill, stopped grumbling AND laughing....We went to the pound and got her a kitten!

End of story! Our phycho Visalia returned to her previous well behaved state and she and her kitten lived happily ever after.

I, however had to live with the repeated telling of 'my wife took our dog to a doggie shrink! for years and years after LOL

[bams481]

Medical Questions:
Please, please, please do not submit questions about emergency medical problems here. If you think that your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian. Self-diagnosis or delay seeking proper veterinary care may worsen your pet's condition.

I felt this needed to be brought back up because there are an awful lot of medical questions being asked lately. We are not vets here and should never be a source of "free" medical advice. Pets are like people, they need doctors too, please take your fur babies there when there is a medical need. Thank you!

[Lani]

good point Bams...there is nothing wrong with asking if anyone has experianced the same kind of things your pet is going through and what to possibly expect to hear from the vet but under NO circumstances deny medical treatment to your pets!

[bams481]

I do agree that we can feed off each other's experiences, but come on. A thread asking for an alternative treatment for Parvo besides a vet. People, I cannot say this enough, please please please don't get a pet if you cannot make way, find a way to get that animal medical treatment if needed. I myself have set up an interest checking account just for my animals. Start a savings account, get an emergency only credit card. Make payment arrangements with your vet, ask friends, relatives to help. Work 2 jobs...or even 3. Work overtime. Something, but please don't come here asking if there is a way besides seeing a vet. There NEVER is an alternative to proper vet care, even regular check ups a few times a year is necessary.

[Linda W]

RE: Bams answer of 'start a savings act., etc.'

My bank provides a really excellent service for people who have 'direct deposit' and have had an account with them for at least 6 months.

They offer Internet banking for those who do not have offices in their location. They are primarily a western states bank going as far east as KY. I realize some people do not trust Internet Banking but statistically, more identity theft and credit card fraud is perpetrated in local stores, restaurants and service stations then in Internet Banking. Personally, I am comfortable with it altho I realize many aren't.

They offer an advance against your direct deposit for the next
month. You may initiate the action via phone, Internet or in branch. It costs $2.00 @ $20.00. That would equal $10.00 @ $100. You may take an advance of $500.00 or 1/2 of your total monthly deposit. You may do it 3 months in succession. It certainly beats ONE OVERDRAFT which most banks charge a minimum of $35.00 . It is a no muss/no fuss action. Takes less then 5 minutes.

I have a debit card on my account which gives me access to funds in an emergency which we all hope will never happen but unfortunately does from time to time. I think it is probably inappropriate to mention the bank name in this post but would be happy to share it with any one who chooses to message me.

Since I don't bank anywhere else, I don't know if any other banks have this kind of service. I do know that Bank of America does NOT since my adult children bank with them.

[bams481]

Yeah, I have 3 checking accts, a savings acct, a CD, and a credit card with my bank :) Trying to build my credit and save mad money all at the same time, looking fowarding to buying my first home in a few years...well before I am 30 :)

[bernadette]

THATS GOOD i dont say anything bad . just about anila and fact about them an dlike them but dont have any . fanmly HAS THEM WHAT DO KNOW ABOUT PETBILL TEERIRS.

[Bullies2Love]

Can you write proper english here? What you wrote is written so poorly it hardly makes sense.