adopt don't shop Archives - Author K. Williams

K9 Charities Something To Consider This Holiday Season

November 7, 2016 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

The holidays bring with them a desire to not only give presents to loved ones and friends, but to extend charity to those in need. Often, people want to put their money behind a charity that represents their values. That’s why I’m writing this blog. If you’ve been reading, then you know that I have a special place in my heart for dogs. I recommend adopting not shopping throughout the season, and you can give at your local shelter (avoid giving to large charities that spend most of their money on overhead), whether it cash or food and toys. They can use litter for kitties, too!

Have you thought about giving to dog related charities in other ways? Here are a couple of K9 charities that I think are fabulous ideas to consider this holiday season:

1. Donate to a charity that provides ballistics vest to K9 Police officers.

“We hope that you will learn more about our wonderful K9s and the work they do…and share that knowledge with those who support your fundraiser.

If you would like to fundraise for a police dog, please call 508-824-6978 to learn more about how your efforts can help provide a gift of protection.

There may be local police departments near you that is in need of a vest for their K-9 or State Police, Sheriff’s Department, Department of Correction vesting opportunity.” – Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

2. Donate to a charity that helps service members adopt their military K9s when they return home again from where they’ve been deployed.

“Mission K9 is a non-profit organization that provides monetary, transportation, adoption, and professional assistance for the retired dogs. They were responsible for reuniting Sgt. Wettstein with Belle.” – Breaking News at Newsmax.com (click the link to read more)

Further Information:

Military Working Dogs is a great group to join on Facebook. They’ll point you in the right direction and answer some of your questions. They also share great information on their page about working dogs.

MWD Adoptions (Military Working Dog Adoptions) – sometimes there are lot of dogs left over from the training program. Not every pooch makes the cut, not every pooch will have a home when they’re retired, either. Get in touch with MWD to make a difference in a military dog’s life.

PROTECTIVE K-9 BALLISTIC VESTS (BULLET/STAB) – “K-9 ballistic (protective) vests provided by Project Paws Alive are both bulletproof and stab-proof. These vests are cut from the same Kevlar® bulletproof cloth as their human partners, covering all the vital organs.

Each body armor vest donated by Project Paws Alive is custom manufactured to fit the specific body shape of each individual K-9. The vests are custom fit to the measurements of the K-9’s neck, torso, and length from the base of the neck to their tail which affords maximum coverage in a newly redesigned vest weighing approximately 4lbs. The new vests also employ redesigned connection points enabling quicker donning/doffing (on/off).The vests are designed so that the K-9s can wear the vests as long as needed without reducing their range of motion, tactical purpose, or speed . They offer outstanding ballistics with ease of movement, breathe-ability and cooling comfort in a rigorously field-tested vest. These vests allow the K-9s full range of motion and do not restrict or delay them in any way. The vests are military grade ballistic levels for maximum protection in the lightest weight vest available.”

Thanks for taking the time to consider these charities as the holidays roll around. Your generosity will go a long way to bettering the lives of an animal in need of these services. Every penny matters. Honoring our soldiers and police K9s is something almost all of us can agree on.

No Pets for Christmas

December 21, 2015 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

Bear with me. It’s probably already too late to remind those who are going to do this for Christmas, but I am going ahead with my dire warning about pet’s as presents for Christmas. This entry isn’t going to coddle anyone, either. I’m shooting straight here, because I am angry as hell about this continuing to be an issue year after year. I think being kind and gentle has had little to no effect on waking people up to this reality. Cue the suffering of the helpless in the wake of urges and poor planning.

First things, I want you to look long and hard at the image in this photo before you follow through on a knee jerk or even semi thought out adoption or buy of a pet this holiday season. Seeing this was like a punch in my gut. I wish I could take her, but I know my home is not the right home for her right now, because I have a dog and my roommate has two cats; there is a baby downstairs that has to be considered as well. Oh, yes, it’s a lot more than just your family unit that requires thinking about. Who’s going to watch your dog when you go away and can’t bring them? Are their children in your neighborhood who will want to interact with your new pet? How will they behave if a repairman comes into your home, or a landlord, a coworker, the boss….There is a lot to consider and Christmas gift pets are often given short shrift on that consideration, paying a very serious price, usually their lives.

First of all, animals are not disposable accouterments to augment your style. They’re living, breathing lives with needs and feelings. They grow up, and throughout their lives they will make messes that shame toddlers. Dogs and cats cannot be left alone for long periods of time. Not only do they get lonely, but they also require bathroom time and food. Gasp! They want companionship and isn’t that why you got them? Don’t ever buy/adopt a dog for protection. That endangers the life of the dog. And, please, do not get a pet because you think it’s just the cutest thing ever, and will look great carried about in a purse.

I don’t mean to be sarcastic (or maybe I do because of the persistence of the problem), but it always seems that people do not consider the full job that pets become when you accept them into your life. Getting a pet should never be a whim, and you can’t gift an animal to another person as a surprise because you need to be sure their personalities mesh. Yes, their personalities. As for protection, you had best be investing in a lot of expensive and time consuming training to control that dog, or you’re sentencing them to death. You could be anyway, planning to send them into the proverbial fire for you.

Repeat pet owners get what I’m saying. They have lived among animals for years and see their eccentricities and have put in a lot of hours caring for them. Imagine, if you will, that the cute puppy you have just got to have is really a toddler—for the next 15 years at least. The commitment is for real. Repeat pet owners know it and they enjoy the time, lamenting that it’s not longer. I’m one and I see my baby girl as my child. She is as dependent upon me as a real baby. My gut cinches at the thought of her being abandoned and neglected by her first family and I will never allow that to happen to her again. I’m her protector now, and I don’t expect her to protect me against home invasions. There are weapons for that, if you’re concerned.

Let’s frame this conversation with a few facts:

Did you know that shelters see more than a 5% increase in admissions around the holidays? Yeah, like the pet is a pair of jeans in the wrong size.

Did you know the #1 reason people give for returning an animal is that they didn’t realize the commitment necessary was so extensive? Because I guess they thought they’d walk themselves and feed themselves and bathe themselves….

Many pets that come into shelters are elderly, and the families no longer wan to give them time after the years the pets have given them, because it’s too hard or too expensive. Hey, why not? We do this with grandma too.

“Pets are not disposable. They become family members,” Price said. “This is not a one or two year commitment. It’s a lifetime commitment. The holidays are just not the time to get a puppy or a kitten.”

Please do the world and animals a favor: do your research before settling on a pet. This means researching the breed. Going to shelters and meeting with animals. Babysitting a dog or cat for a friend for an extended period to get a real feel. Brush up on pet health. Also, do not for any reason wrap a pet in a box. You’ll traumatize them. If you have small children, the energy of Christmas is too much for pets new to the home. You’ll want to introduce your baby to your new baby in a quiet way and supervise them (always).

If you want to surprise someone with the promise of getting them a cat or dog, wrap a cat or dog item/toy and then proceed through a rescue once you’ve gotten really clear with yourself about your expectations versus reality. Above all, if you’re a good person, continue to be a good person and adopt don’t shop when you find the right pet for you and know you will love them the rest of their life. Returning an animal to a shelter is cruel and almost always due to the negligence of the adopter not knowing what they’re doing yet or thinking there’s nothing to pet ownership and finding out it’s a lot of work.

For those readers out there considering a new pet. Read through my article on what comes next and this tip sheet on summer care.

Other facts:

Easter is a huge strain on shelter resources for an influx of Rabbits and ducks.
Shelters often take in small animals and no one goes there looking for them.
The majority of shelters in the US euthanize animals after a week or two weeks of being in the facility. This doesn’t take into consideration their age. Puppies/kittens are euthanized beside older pets.
Shelters are overwhelmed. Please spay and neuter your pet. You’ve no business being a backyard breeder as this only exacerbates the issues of pet overpopulation and abuse. Real breeders spend years learning about their breed and proper practices.
Films featuring specific animal breeds spur on the pet trade for that pet and result in a high rate of shelter animals. This happened after the relase of the 1996 101 Dalmatians film. Dalmatians are high energy dogs and families were not prepared to deal with them.

Please note the wear on the finish of the footboard. Get used to not having nice things…except that your dog is the best thing ever. At least she is to me. Screw the footboard.

Getting A New Dog? 10 Things You Need To Do First.

August 7, 2015 By Captain Maiel 1 Comment

Getting a new dog is probably the most exciting thing in the world. I really like dogs, so of course I think this. We go through the euphoria state of being in love and how our future is going to look now that we have this new buddy. Then, gradually, the reality starts to seep in. What have I DONE?

Don’t panic new pet parent! I hope you’ve come here before getting a new pet, because you can alleviate the woes of new pet parenthood by preparing, just as you would for a child. There are few things you will absolutely need before proceeding, because this is forever (a 24/7 investment for the next 15 years at least) and you want to give you and the new pet the best shot at making this transition good. Let me share my advice from 30+ years of dog ownership, in a family that bred Shelties, Collies and German Shepherds.

1. Save up those newspapers or spend a lot on piddle pads.

Whichever of these you choose to do, I am behind you all the way. You can clean up messes with Nature’s miracle. So don’t worry. You’re going to need papers to line the area you plan on keeping your puppy. Maybe you’ll choose a kennel or you’ll choose a hall where you can put up baby gates to give them a dedicated den space. Just save the papers and get your piddle pad supply going. You’re going to go through a lot. Change them frequently. Put down enough to be effective.

Papers worked best for me in all cases so far. My dog Max used to tear up the piddle pads and never use them anyway. Personally, I find them counter productive to potty training, as you’re confusing the dog by teaching them to wee in the house on that pad until you can convince them to go outside. It overly complicates the matter. But, if you swear by the technique, you are entitled to use it.

Tip: Those Money Saver papers you get free in your mail box and recycle immediately are a great resource to build up paper reserves.

2. Buy a big supply of Nature’s Miracle.

Those doggy messes are gonna happen throughout the lifetime of your pet. Potty training is 97% effective in most cases. Some breeds are stubborn and take longer (my Jack Russell took 2 years and then rage peed/pooed anyway). Others will train in a flash, and then have a teenage defiance run where they start rage peeing in the house again for a few weeks or months to make it clear they’re unhappy with your rules. This is all normal.

Nature’s miracle was my favorite cleaning brand within months of getting Max, about 13 years ago. I had a townhouse in which the hall could be closed off by baby gates when no one was home and provide him with a den space of his own. I left the bathroom door open in the half bath there, where I placed his crate and bed. He preferred lying on the bed out in the open. He hated crates. HATED them. If you were home, he’d press his wee noggin on the bars of the baby gate and cry. It was pathetic, but he was safe, and not able to mess up the rugs if he was going to have an accident. He was my potty training nightmare, so this was useful.

I mopped the area Max was kept in with the nature’s miracle once a week and used it to clean up any messes in the meantime. There will be soils you miss, so the once a week catches them and makes sure that the cleaner has a shot of killing the stinky enzymes. You can use it to clean their crate. Make sure you isolate your pet away from the space while it dries. You don’t want this stuff getting on them and them licking it off. No. Bad.

Tip: clean the ‘den’ area at least once a week with Nature’s Miracle to catch missed soils and give a boost to the enzymatic cleaning of old soils.

3. Get baby gates.

You’ll need these to either create a space for the puppy to den safely, or block stairs and rooms you don’t want the animal to go in (think about safety–protecting your stuff and your pup). This is true for adult dogs as well. Sadie Sue Shagbottom was crate trained when she came to me from a rescue. She was also virtually potty trained. We had a couple oopsies while we learned how to let each other know it was potty time. Sadie now requires a gate to keep her out of the cat food and liter box. The cats can pass through the small door in the bottom, which is fun to watch Sadie try to push her big old self through in desperation. She’s a very silly girl.

Tip: Your baby is likely to chew the gate. Go for metal, and screw in models. You can repair the holes later with Spackle and paint.

4. Get a crate

If you know the size of your new pet before bringing them home, you can estimate what you will need for a crate. Whether or not your dog likes the crate, my Max was a nutter, so don’t pay his example any mind, you can leave the door open and create a ‘room’ for them all their own. Set up the crate in an area where it is easy to clean. Make sure it has a nice hard plastic or metal slide away pan in the bottom. The pan/tray makes it easy to clean.

Tip: Crate training is tough for a dog who was never introduced to one. They want to be with you. It is up to you to provide them a safe environment and safe zone for when you are away, and that is the biggest reason to do crate training. Be patient with your puppy. They do just really want to be with you, so they express their disappointment of not getting that in creative ways.

5. Crate Pads and Dog Beds.

If you’re going to use a crate, you can get those faux shearling bumper pads to put inside. Remember, this is their den. Don’t put piddle pads there. You want to discourage den soiling as part of proper potty training. Keep the pads outside the crate in a designated piddle pad spot. Don’t move it from that spot until you’re ready to start guiding that dog to the door and outside.

If you’re not using the crate, get whatever dog bed you think is going to work for your new bud. If you have a Great Dane, crib mattresses are an excellent choice. Good luck with that. If I have my way, I’ll be in that boat someday soon.

Tip: Puppies chew everything. Save that expensive puppy bed for adulthood. Go economical. You can use old blankets and towels you won’t miss.

6. Accessories.

Leash. Check. Collar. Check. Doggy pick up bags. Check. Food Bowls. Check. Water bottle tote and bottle for outings. Check. Gentle Leader for leash training. Check. You really can’t ignore this list. While you’re at it, prep your car with a seat cover. Later, you’ll thank me for mentioning it.

What the heck is Gentle leader? It’s a dog harness or collar that prevents pulling and saves your limbs the strain while gently teaching your dog to walk better. They do a better explanation. A lot of pedestrians think Sadie is wearing a muzzle when she wears her head collar, but it is actually modeled on the horse bridle. It couldn’t stop a bite if it wanted to.

Tip: Speak to your vet or trainer about what would be right for your dog. Don’t survey people on Facebook. Nothing is more dangerous for your dog than armchair trainers.

7. Toys

You want to avoid chewing of shoes, table corners, legs of furniture, cushions and other things you have no idea what compelled them to wrap their teeth around. Try a couple different things if you’re bringing home a puppy or dog you don’t know much about. Nylabones come in different strengths. A gel nylon will be just fine for a puppy, and provide them some great relief for teething. You can throw it in the freezer for an added relief to their gums. For a big chewer, get the harder bones. Remember to keep and eye on them while they’re acclimating to their new toys and spaces, so you can be certain the bone is working out for them. Get size appropriate bones. You don’t want to buy a little Chihuahua bone for a Dane. The Dane could choke on it. Soft toys might be a hazard for rough chewers as well. They like to rip holes and de-stuff the fluffy critters. Sadie has disemboweled as well as trepanned her share. They could choke on the stuffing or squeakers inside, so know your dog and supervise. You can’t always be there and if it makes you nervous to leave a Golden alone with a woobie, get them a Nylabone for their size and all will be well.

Kongs are great for giving them treats, but should be supervised in most cases, especially rough chewers.

Tip: Scout the sales at pet stores. Your dog is going to destroy those toys. Make sure there is nothing about that toy which can be a choking hazard. Hard chewers have to be supervised. Hey, you’re a parent now!

8. Treats and food.

Do your homework. Supermarket bought is the worst thing you can buy your pet. You swear by it? I’m not going to argue. Lots of people have sworn by kibbles and bits. However, knowing what I know about it (the equivalent of eating Captain Crunch 24/7), I will stick to healthier foods. In many cases, it’s a necessity. For instance, Sadie has a gastric sensitivity to almost all foods. I’ve put her on a select and more expensive diet and she’s been able to stop yogurt and cottage cheese dosing to offset the loose stool. The food she’s eating now has pro and pre biotics, is grain free and made with salmon and other fish. She’s been doing great.

Treats are a little different. Some can upset your dog’s system. They’re meant to be rarely given and to be tasty and encouraging. When training, the Bil-jac liver treats are the best. They’re lean and super stinky and tasty. Dogs usually love them. Max did not. I told you he was a weirdo. A friend of mine used Vienna sausages. You want something that is going to be max rewarding with low calorie impact. You don’t want to make your dog fat trying to teach them potty training and basic commands.

Tip: All dogs have different tastes, so don’t expect Fido to love the treats you brought home. The great thing about some pet stores is that they allow you to bring your dog into the store. Bring the puppy and see what they get excited about. Their sense of smell will lead them.

9. A nice pair of comfortable walking shoes.

You’re dog is going to need exercise. They need to get out and run. If you don’t have a fenced yard with ample running space, then you’ll have to walk Fido around a couple blocks a couple times a day. Be careful walking puppies. Their bones and joints are still developing. Dogs prone to join disorders should be given ample time to mature before going on long walks. I was advised by large breed owners to carry large breed dogs up any flights of stairs (looking at you Great Danes). So, be prepared to invest time in your new friend regardless of having any. The walk has to be done.

Tip: You know your feet. Are you due for new trainers?

10. Mentally prepare as if you were bringing home a child.

You’ll go out more frequently than twice a day to relieve the dog’s bladder and let them poop, but they need to walk approximately 20-30 minutes a day for good health–depending on breed and health. They’ll get frightened of lightning storms. They hate being left alone. How would you feel: having to hold your bladder 12 hours? Waiting for someone to feed you all day? Needing attention but getting ignored?

Remember to empathize with your pet. You are all they have. You are their world. 24-7 It’s you and them. They are only here for a few short years before they take off to the rainbow bridge. Make those years the best. They will give you unconditional love and they deserve the same in return. Don’t hit. Punishments are confusing to them, especially hours after they did something you disapprove of. Move on. If you think you can mentally hack it…

Tip: Ask yourself those hard questions about investing time and money. A pet of this caliber is a life investment. It is irresponsible to bring home a dog without understanding what that means. They’re sentient beings and have personality. You might not gel—that was your job to figure out before you brought puppy home. Do your research—extensively. I don’t mind telling you how many people will think you’re a bad person for dumping your dog at a shelter, and in most cases this is simply the human’s fault. Don’t be that person.

Well. You should be all set to bring home that pup. Don’t forget to set your vet visit. You’ll want to get in as soon as possible to start a relationship between you, your dog and vet. Bring the records you were given from the breeder or adoption center. Register them with a license and register them with a tracking service like Home Again. If anything happens, you’ll be glad for the sub-dermal tracker that brings them home to you.

Enjoy your new pet! Fall in love. It’s good for you. Remember: This is forever. If my check list scares you, you might want to reconsider buying/adopting a dog. They’re serious work, not toys. Dogs are sentient beings with a boat load of issues.

Historically Intriguing By Author Sahar Abdulaziz

July 20, 2015 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

Op-Dec: Operation Deceit by K. Williams
2nd Edition, Booktrope Publishing

ISBN13: 9781620155820

Out now! Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | B&N Paperback | B&N Nook

Reblogged from Amazon.com

I am an avid reader. If a book doesn’t grab me in the first few pages, I will drop it in place of something that will. The author, K. Williams, not only grabbed my attention, but she had me hooked. I wanted to know more about the story, the characters, but also the time period where her historical details were illuminating.

I knew very little about Boston’s social season in 1933, no less the intrigue that surfaced with those in our country’s midst willing to commit terrible acts of treason during WWII. This author’s ability to make this historical fiction feel like a true historical account was uncanny, and I often had to remind myself, it was indeed fiction that I was reading.

This was not just a spy-thriller, but so much more. As more of a murder mystery fan, I found the intrigue and suspense, coupled with the action and descriptions of this book absorbing. The more I read, the more I wanted to read, and as I read, I could visualize the characters. I felt their fear, their tenacity, and their helplessness. I often wondered to myself, if placed in that same situation, playing the part of Claire, how would I have faired? Or perhaps the feisty Aunt, who mother-bear instincts never faltered, or even Carsten, who had to play his many parts, even if by doing so it meant his own demise. I never, however, placed myself in the part of the despicable Mr. Healey, who became easier and easier to despise and wish ill upon.

This story also brought to light how depressingly vulnerable women/females were and continue to be by war and the male population. The brutality to women during WWII, Claire’s mother being whisked away and confined by a controlling and deviant husband, women used during war as conquests, only to be disregarded or killed… this story had it all and it told these accounts with clarity and candor.

Author Sahar Abdulaziz graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology before going on to earn her master’s degree in health and wellness promotion and administration. She holds a Certification as a Domestic Violence Counselor/ Advocate as well as in community health. She uses her writing platform and voice to advocate for the underrepresented, the disenfranchised and/or maligned.

Author of The Broken Half and As One Door Closes, Abdulaziz again demonstrates that those who have suffered abuse are not victims, but survivors.

Abdulaziz has also authored the book: But You LOOK Just Fine: a user-friendly guide of innovative information and genuine compassion to men and women living with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, eating disorder, and many other mood disorders. The book provides an in-depth discussion of each and explores vital topics including mood disorders and: disclosure; dating; looking one way while feeling another; impact on family; intimacy; employment and career; treatment options; spirituality; children and seniors; the connection between chronic pain and depression; thriving; despite a mood disorder the “worry window”; how to help someone with a mood disorder; the military; and mind-body medicine.

Adopt Don’t Shop!

May 8, 2015 By Captain Maiel Leave a Comment

Adopt don’t shop is a mantra we can all get behind. When I was looking for a companion, I was considering a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, which I would have to forge a relationship with a breeder hours away, or looking for a rescue. I wound up with a rescue, not a Corgi, either, and that worked out just fine for me. She’s the love of my life and everything I wanted. She’s even got red fur. However, for most, a specific breed is in mind and they refuse to settle for anything less. I totally get that. You want what you want. I’d love to rescue a Great Dane, but MAGDRL has rules that kicks me to the curb as a potential home, despite my history of being a great dog mom, a special needs Jack Russell and now my rescue. The rules are there to safe guard the animals. There is no guarantee, and they see the contrary all too often, that you will be a good fit for one of their dogs. To save the pet from multiple re-homings, they have parameters you must fit. Renting is a big problem for potential adopters. The rescues just don’t want you. You’re risky, despite the devotion, I am sure, you would have for your new pet. I yupped MAGDRL right off the phone, listening to the shitty advice and bad behavior issues the foster was chatting me up about–she’s okay to foster, but I can’t adopt–my dogs ate face to face with no incident. It’s called training. Hers could not because of behavior issues she addressed by not addressing them.)

I recently came across this article on the plight of the NYC Homeless pets and the facilities that are failing them. With the uphill battle rescues face, you’d think they’d reassess their plans (allow pet owners who rent to adopt, because their applications read 13 years with a special needs pet, adopted a pet who is now 5–adopted when 6 mos. No fence, but a dog park nearby and doggy grandparents with lots of yard, but also an owner who uses leashes for the dog’s safety regardless…a fence won’t keep them in, that’s false security). Well, in this case, the NYC comptroller is making them. Finally! Rescues mean well, but a great many get in over their heads. There simply are too many animals and too little money to go around for support. It’s a sad testament to humanity’s lack of empathy and connection to the world in which we as a species live.

The best thing you can do is to educate yourself on dogs, especially if you have never had one, and then go to your local shelters (there will be many in your drivable area) to look for a pet that needs your shelter. Take your time, even though a shelter dog doesn’t have time, it’s best that you don’t make a false promise to one.