Search Results for: blog starting a no kill shelter

Homesteading Skills to Learn Now

There is currently a movement toward homesteading, in which families go back to learning and practicing the practical skills that our ancestors knew. Cultivating certain homesteading skills can be very valuable, because they can prepare you and your family for living in less modern times, should an emergency or disaster strike. Why not try your hand at learning one or two of the following homesteading skills in the coming year? Gardening Learning basic gardening is an important skill to have. Through it, you can grow some of your own food, an important resource if you find that food become too … Continue reading →

Shelters are Bad Enough, Deplorable in Tennessee

Not all Tennessee animal shelters are horrendous, but it seems there’s been way more bad than good lately. Case in point. (Three, actually.) Bad Shelter #1 The first time I heard a stir was last year. I forget which county the shelter was in, but wherever it was it had to be shut down for unsanitary conditions and poor treatment of the animals. I think lack of funding was a major contributor in that case. Bad Shelter #2 Then back in December the Sumner County Animal Shelter found itself in trouble. One of the local news stations, WSMV, conducted an … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jun 4-10

For the first full week of June, here’s what Aimee and myself covered in the Pets Blog. Monday, June 4 Moose has got a special new trick (slipping out of his collar) that’s giving Aimee fits –and potentially a heart attack. Apparently it’s not enough he just slips his collar, he also thinks Aimee chasing after him to get him hooked back up is a fun game. Tuesday, June 5 The Great Cat Rehabilitation Project made even further progress. I got my Mr. Meow shower buddy back. This is a big step! Aimee and crew have had to make a … Continue reading →

Starting A No-Kill Shelter

Posted on by

One major decision you’ll have to make if you are starting a shelter is this: do you want to be a no-kill shelter? What does it mean to be a no-kill shelter? It means that you are not putting a time limit on the animals’ stays. It means you will not euthanize animals to free up space. It means you may be housing animals for months or years before they find a home. You may even be responsible for some animals until they pass away. Here are some issues to consider: Finances. Caring for an animal for a year will … Continue reading →

Starting A Shelter: The Basics

Posted on by

If you’re an animal lover (like me), you may have pondered the possibility of opening your own shelter some day. In my imagination, I’ve got acres of land and herds of dogs, happily romping together while they wait for their forever homes. In reality, starting a shelter is a lot of work. The first thing to think about is all the different things a humane organization can do. Take in unwanted and stray animals. Rehome unwanted and stray animals. Educate the public about humane issues. Campaign for animal protection laws. Gather other animal lovers to the cause. Spay and neuter … Continue reading →

The Ugly Kitty

A crafty friend of mine asked if I’d heard of The Ugly Kitty. I hadn’t, but with a name like that I had to track this shop down. I sat down (virtually) with Renee and asked her about her business, her pets, and her favorite causes. Aimee: Let’s start with the pets in your family. Renee: Keiko (aka NormalKitty) is a sweet but whiny short-haired charcoal kitty my friends found as a stray. She’s been part of our family for about 3 years. Quasi (aka UglyKitty) is the star of the show. Due to a cleft pallet, she has a … Continue reading →

Six Reasons Why You’ll Never Regret Adopting a Dog

Photo by Bethan Hazell I happen to love my pound hound with my entire heart and soul. I know others, such as Aimee who rescued her Lally and Moose from shelters, also feel the same. Since October is Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, I thought I’d honor it by listing some reasons why adopting a dog will be the best decision you ever make. Reason #1: You’re Saving a Life Some shelters are no-kill, meaning the animals will stay there until the right home is found for them. But most shelters only have limited resources –space, food, and money. That forces them … Continue reading →

New Uses for Old Towels

Old towels are one of those things that I just never want to part with. I mean, what is more useful than a towel, right? However, if your towels are like some of mine, starting to fray at the ends, you might want to make them useful in a different way. Sure you could turn them into rags to wash the car, but there is so much more you can do with old towels. Here are some great ideas for reusing those old towels to stretch out the value of your older towels. Repair: Simply sew a running stitch above … Continue reading →