All right, I admit it. I am opinionated, and I am especially so with regard to pets and pet ownership. I've made mistakes with my own animals. Their welfare has always been of paramount concern, but there were things I didn't know and there are still things I don't know. I have spent many years now trying to educate myself. This is a process that will continue as long as a pet is part of my family.

That phrase, "a pet is part of my family," is the key. A pet isn't just a thing. Pets are living, breathing, feeling individuals. They reason and communicate. They have good qualities as well as faults. They have needs. They have souls. They have every characteristic a human has and they deserve the same respect.

Have you ever looked into an animal's eyes? If you think a pet can't communicate, hold its face in your hands and look. When I do this with my own, I see clearly that she is loving and filled with joy in living. I can also see if she hurts. I can see when she wants to play ball (actually, she always wants to play ball) or when there's something in the yard that she feels shouldn't be there. Her eyes speak volumes.

These pages are committed to spreading the concepts I believe to be of importance with respect to the animals that share our lives. We as pet owners need to educate ourselves and others. This is my humble attempt to share the information I have acquired and also to continue to learn.

Getting a Pet
Indoors/outdoors; Fenced/unfenced
The Importance of Spaying and Neutering
When There Are Problems
Feral Cats
Pet Rescue
When You Can't Keep Your Pet