As always, whenever we visit a new city, we check out a local animal shelter. I have been blessed to find a forever family that loves me. And it is my mission to help as many other shelter animals find a home as possible.
Our trip to Omaha was no different. While there we visited the Nebraska Humane Society. The Nebraska Humane Society was founded in 1875 and is the fifth oldest Humane Society in the United States! They were originally established for the protection of both animals and children. In the mid 1940’s, state agencies began to embrace child welfare issues, leaving the Nebraska Humane Society as the sole organization within the Omaha area designated for the protection of animals. They provide education, give sanctuary to animals, encourage adoptions and promote responsible pet ownership.
The Nebraska Humane Society is unique among animal shelters. In addition to taking animals whose owners can no longer care for them, they provide animal control services for the Omaha Metro area. That means they are the facility that houses all animals with nowhere else to go. And they are so good at finding homes for these animals that they have not had to euthanize an adoptable dog for lack of space in several years!! How cool is that?!
The Nebraska Humane Society has a variety of animals available for adoption. For example, there is Cowboy, a neutered male, brown Pekingese mix. Shelter staff think he is about 3 years old.
There is also Taylor, the cat. Taylor is a neutered male, orange tabby Domestic Shorthair mix. He looks a lot like our cat Marmalade. Maybe they are related!
They even have guinea pigs, Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle. I just recently found out about guinea pigs and have added them to my list of furry friends. I still don't understand how such cute little critters wind up in shelters.
For Moms and Dads who want a bigger friend, the Nebraska Humane Society also has several horses that need forever families. They don't stay at the shelter though. You will have to make
special arrangements to meet them.
The Nebraska Humane Society says that they have a goal of one day putting themselves out of business. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Until then, please stop by and visit - either in person or online. Tell them Traveling Bob sent you!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I Have Discovered Guinea Pigs!
Did you know there are cute little furry friends called guinea pigs? I had no idea - until I saw a one this weekend. Mom knew what it was right away though. She said she and her sisters each had a guinea pig when they were growing up. She said they were easy to take care of and cute as could be. She called hers Clover because he loved it when Mom brought him clover from the yard.
Mom got online to show me more about guinea pigs and you know what we discovered? March is adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month! I never knew guinea pigs needed help. I have never seen one at our local shelters. But after seeing how cute they are and learning about guinea pig rescues, I had to share. All animals need happy, forever families, especially cute little fur babies like these!
Guinea pigs make great pets, according to Mom. She says they are very friendly and gentle. She has been bitten by her dogs and her hamsters, clawed by her cats, and kicked by her horse, but her guinea pigs were always tame and easy to handle. They are also easy to care for. Mom kept hers in a cage with some hay and fresh water, food pellets, some fresh veggies, and of course, clover for Clover. Mom says that all she had to do was keep them fed, supplied with fresh water, and a clean cage and that was it. No walking, no bathing, no house-breaking. How easy is that? And as long as you don't put a mixed-sex pair in the same cage, you don't need to spay or neuter them.
I don't understand why there would be a need for guinea pig rescues. They seem almost as perfect a pet as me! But an article by The Critter Connection, a guinea pig rescue in Connecticut, said guinea pig rescues are full of sweet little guinea pigs who have been abandoned outdoors, left behind in empty homes, seized by authorities in abuse/neglect/hoarding cases or, quite literally, thrown away. (Who could do such a thing?!) There are pigs who were surrendered because kids lost interest, adults lost jobs, families had to relocate or caretakers were overwhelmed by the costs and/or labor required for the proper care of this species.
Now that you are sold on owning a guinea pig, why not just buy one? According to The Critter Connection, there are several advantages to adopting. Here are just a few:
Adoptable guinea pigs are correctly sexed. A rescue group won't send you home with a mixed-sex pair thinking you are instead leaving with a same-sex pair.
Adoptable guinea pigs have had top-notch care. Expert handlers know the subtle symptoms of a long list of illnesses and won't send a pig out if they have the slightest doubt about its current health.
No surprise pregnancies. A rescue group will not send a pregnant guinea pig home with an adopter. If an unspayed female pig comes into a rescue and volunteers know there's a good chance she'd been around an unneutered male, she'll be put on pregnancy watch as a precaution.
Rescue groups typically have guinea pigs of all ages. This means you're sure to find the right match, whether you have soft spot for seniors or would prefer to have full-grown guinea pigs for your kids. As a senior citizen myself, I hope some of you will consider adopting an older guinea pig. We boomers make great pets!
Rescue groups have bonded pairs of guinea pigs. So if you want two, you can find two who already get along great.
Rescue groups often know the personalities and temperaments of the guinea pigs in their care. Whether you're looking for a roommate for your single pig, want a pig that's not going to freak out when your English Sheepdog barks, or want a pig that's the quintessential couch potato, a rescue can help you find the one who fits.
A good rescue is not going to let you get in over your head. Their primary concern is the welfare of their animals, and they are strong defenders of and advocates for them. If they think potential adopters need further information and education, or think guinea pig care is going to be too much for an already overloaded household, they are going to have a diplomatic but firm heart-to-heart talk with you.
So if you're looking to bring guinea pigs into your home, please give a rescued animal a second chance. When you adopt guinea pigs, you help more than just the animals you take in. Believe it or not, we found hundreds of adoption listings on Petfinder for guinea pigs across the U.S. And for every pig that's in a rescue, there's another one needing the same safe haven.
Mom got online to show me more about guinea pigs and you know what we discovered? March is adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month! I never knew guinea pigs needed help. I have never seen one at our local shelters. But after seeing how cute they are and learning about guinea pig rescues, I had to share. All animals need happy, forever families, especially cute little fur babies like these!
Guinea pigs make great pets, according to Mom. She says they are very friendly and gentle. She has been bitten by her dogs and her hamsters, clawed by her cats, and kicked by her horse, but her guinea pigs were always tame and easy to handle. They are also easy to care for. Mom kept hers in a cage with some hay and fresh water, food pellets, some fresh veggies, and of course, clover for Clover. Mom says that all she had to do was keep them fed, supplied with fresh water, and a clean cage and that was it. No walking, no bathing, no house-breaking. How easy is that? And as long as you don't put a mixed-sex pair in the same cage, you don't need to spay or neuter them.
I don't understand why there would be a need for guinea pig rescues. They seem almost as perfect a pet as me! But an article by The Critter Connection, a guinea pig rescue in Connecticut, said guinea pig rescues are full of sweet little guinea pigs who have been abandoned outdoors, left behind in empty homes, seized by authorities in abuse/neglect/hoarding cases or, quite literally, thrown away. (Who could do such a thing?!) There are pigs who were surrendered because kids lost interest, adults lost jobs, families had to relocate or caretakers were overwhelmed by the costs and/or labor required for the proper care of this species.
Now that you are sold on owning a guinea pig, why not just buy one? According to The Critter Connection, there are several advantages to adopting. Here are just a few:
Adoptable guinea pigs are correctly sexed. A rescue group won't send you home with a mixed-sex pair thinking you are instead leaving with a same-sex pair.
Adoptable guinea pigs have had top-notch care. Expert handlers know the subtle symptoms of a long list of illnesses and won't send a pig out if they have the slightest doubt about its current health.
No surprise pregnancies. A rescue group will not send a pregnant guinea pig home with an adopter. If an unspayed female pig comes into a rescue and volunteers know there's a good chance she'd been around an unneutered male, she'll be put on pregnancy watch as a precaution.
Rescue groups typically have guinea pigs of all ages. This means you're sure to find the right match, whether you have soft spot for seniors or would prefer to have full-grown guinea pigs for your kids. As a senior citizen myself, I hope some of you will consider adopting an older guinea pig. We boomers make great pets!
Rescue groups have bonded pairs of guinea pigs. So if you want two, you can find two who already get along great.
Rescue groups often know the personalities and temperaments of the guinea pigs in their care. Whether you're looking for a roommate for your single pig, want a pig that's not going to freak out when your English Sheepdog barks, or want a pig that's the quintessential couch potato, a rescue can help you find the one who fits.
A good rescue is not going to let you get in over your head. Their primary concern is the welfare of their animals, and they are strong defenders of and advocates for them. If they think potential adopters need further information and education, or think guinea pig care is going to be too much for an already overloaded household, they are going to have a diplomatic but firm heart-to-heart talk with you.
So if you're looking to bring guinea pigs into your home, please give a rescued animal a second chance. When you adopt guinea pigs, you help more than just the animals you take in. Believe it or not, we found hundreds of adoption listings on Petfinder for guinea pigs across the U.S. And for every pig that's in a rescue, there's another one needing the same safe haven.
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