My girl Zoey, adopted from the Anderson County Animal Shelter.

I have my quiet little Etsy store where things have been, quite frankly, well, quiet. I have been feeling guilty for not being able to give it the attention it deserves this summer due to circumstances beyond my control. But today, my humble dog bandana made it into the Etsy Finds feature…so exciting!

Click here to see some fabulous items relating to Woodstock and the “Summer of ‘69″:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-summer-of-69-4752/#comment-145818

• “Y’all”–  means– “you all” , equivalent to “you guys”  
•  “Fixin to”" — means– “making preparations to”, “getting ready to”, etc      
• ” Bein’ ugly”– means – ” being mean”
• “Showin’ your butt”– means– “‘uncooperative , ornery”  I once had a patient apologize to me for “showin’ his butt” to me on a shift, and I was scratching my head trying to remember if  I had seen his  bare backside that evening.
• “Carry”– means “to transport someone in your vehicle”, as in “Can you carry us to the store?” ( well, maybe, but I think my arms will get really tired ) 
• “Buggy”– means– “shopping cart”– just give up on this one and ask for a buggy– it’s easier.
• “Bellyfull” — means –”fed up”, as in “I’ve had a bellyfull of you Yankees thinking you know it all.”
• “English Peas”– means – “plain old normal green peas”, not Black-eyed or Crowder
• “Suite”( pronounced “Suit”)- means — “a set of furniture”– when  you hear that someone got a new bedroom suit, do not think “pajamas”
•  “Pocketbook”– means–” purse or handbag”,– I personally think that a ladies wallet is called a pocketbook, maybe that is just me

                 I’m sure my list is not complete. If anyone thinks of  another, please leave a comment .  And to all the native Southerners who think I am bein’ ugly, this is all in fun– like when you tell me that I talk through my nose and have a funny accent

•    Please do not consider buying or adopting a guinea pig for a child younger than 8 years old, and even then they will need to be supervised. Cavies are delicate creatures despite their rotund appearance, and a drop or fall can cause severe injuries.
•  Cavies are more happy in groups, so adopting a same sex pair is ideal. If you have LOADS of free time to spend with a single cavy it would probably be all right , but they are very social animals and thrive in a group setting.
•  Cavies are a long term commitment in the rodent family– they can live up to 7 years with excellent care.
•  Your regular vet is unlikely to know much about cavies, you will need to find a vet who specializes in exotic  animals. I have made a frantic 40 mile trip to our cavy vet for a torn toenail on one of our piggies. We have no vet closer to us who I would trust with them.
• No matter what the pet store tells you, buy the biggest cage you can afford. Cavies also need “floor time” and a safe place to roam. We built a cage for our cavies, I will include the link  with instructions at the end of this article.
• Cavies  eat and poop– a lot.  They need hay in their cages constantly as well as fresh veggies or fruit daily,a good quality pellet food and Vitamin C. Plan on spot cleaning the cage at least every other day and doing a full cleaning weekly.
• DO NOT expect a child to be responsible for total care of your cavies. It is too much responsibility even for an older child, so plan that you will be doing at least part of the work.
• Please check for a cavy rescue near you to see if there is a suitable pet for you. Many cavies are given up because the owners simply get tired of caring for them.

On the upside– cavies are delightful, social, amusing little critters that can bring you years of enjoyment.  I have fallen in love with ours more than I could have imagined. Just do your homework and make sure that a cavy is really the right pet for you.

Here is a link to excellent cavy information as well as instructions on building your own cage:

http://www.cavyspirit.com/

Enjoying some floor time and a snack!

The upcoming release of Disney’s G-Force has me very concerned. I am afraid it may lead to many guinea pigs being adopted as a novelty and then abandoned later. I will post more on this subject tomorrow.

Heres the link: http://craftersforcanines.ning.com/

“Did you know that Black Dogs are generally the last to be adopted and are euthanised in shelters in much larger numbers? People may consider them too “plain”, think they are menacing, or simply don’t notice them because their dark color makes them disappear in their kennels. Those involved in animal welfare have dubbed these phenomena “Black Dog Syndrome.”

For more information and how you can help promote the adoption of black dogs, refer to the following links:

http://www.thebark.com/content/black-dogs-face-hard-choice-shelter

http://www.startseeingblackdogs.com/

               I wanted to make something a little quirky and fun that would appeal to cats and their owners.