Pets Resource

Pet Insurance

2008-03-05T10:36:00.002+08:00

In return for unconditional love, many pet owners do everything they can to ensure our pets have long, productive, and healthy lives. Veterinary science has kept up with our willingness to provide life long quality healthcare for our special friends. Treatments and diagnostic procedures once unheard of in the veterinary world are now commonplace: MRIs, radiation therapy, and specialized screenings, to name but a few.

Veterinary Care Inflation and the Effect on Your Wallet

Much like the human health care sector, medical care breakthroughs result in higher costs for vets and pet owners alike. While veterinary medical advances extend our pet’s quality of life, the financial impact for pet owners cannot be overlooked.

Recently, our neighbor’s German Shephard “Duke” suffered from hip dysplacia. Our friend was amazed at Missy’s vets proficiency, but the $1400+ in costs left our friend juggling her finances to pay the vet bills.

What is Pet Insurance, and Does it Make Sense For You?

Much like health insurance for us, pet insurance drastically reduces the risk of caring for your pet. Perhaps most importantly, it can eliminate the heart wrenching decision of euthanizing your pet vs. incurring a large financial hardship. There are several different pet insurance companies. Some policies pay for all types of veterinary care. Some will cover your pet regardless of age, while certain plans have numerous deductibles and restrictions.

Anyone considering pet insurances should ask themselves this question: “Will I devote a reasonable amount of time and money to treat and heal my pet?”. If your answer is “yes”, you’re a good candidate for pet insurances. Sadly, many pet owners are forced to choose between finances and their pet’s health. Worse, other pet owners view their pets as disposable, and simply won’t treat the animal if it becomes too ill.

Typical Plans and Costs

Most pet insurances plans offer coverage for as low as $10 per month. Pet insurances plans for senior pets (normally 8 years and older) will run a bit more, normally $29.95 per month. Costs for cats and dogs generally run the same.

Remember, pet insurances are designed to help you and your pet through significant illnesses and injuries. It’s easy to budget for routine expenses like annual check-ups, shots, flea preventative, etc. Some pet insurances plans offer discounts on routine care, but be prepared to use a contracted (network) veterinarian, similar to a PPO/HMO set up for humans.

Two Real Life Financial Examples

A business associate told us of his two beloved pets, 6 year old cat “Whiskers” and his 12 year old border collie mix “Diamond”. Luckily, he had taken out pet insurances on both pets just weeks before Whiskers’ visit to the vet. With coverage through Instant Pet Insurance, he was paying $9.95/mo. for Whiskers and $29.95/mo. for Diamond, less a small multi-pet discount. All told, Whiskers veterinary bills totaled $1330, and Diamond racked up an $1100 tab.

Fortunately, he was reimbursed $1280 for Whiskers, and $900 for Diamond, accounting for a normal $50 deductible for an adult cat and a $200 senior dog deductible. If you feel comfortable budgeting for routine annual costs like check-ups, immunizations, flea preventative, etc. there’s no need to pay for routine coverage.

Our experience as pet owners and animal lovers has shown us that most pets will require some form of unexpected medical treatment in their lifetimes. If it’s important to you as a pet owner to be prepared, consider taking out a pet insurance policy. Here are some special factors to look for when taking out the pet insurances policy:

1. Guaranteed Acceptance, no matter the age of your pet.
2. The ability to use the veterinarian of your choosing
3. Fixed Premiums and Deductibles.
4. Unlimited Accident Coverage
5. Comprehensive Coverage of Veterinary Services – some pet insurers exclude common hereditary conditions for certain breeds.
6. State Licensing – Make sure your pet insurer is licensed.

Tag : pet insurances|veterinary care

Pet Insurance

2008-02-27T18:37:00.002+08:00

Pet Insurance
Why Pet Insurance Is A Must

Why Pet Insurance Is A Must

2008-02-27T18:24:00.002+08:00

Pets today need insurance as the cost of medical treatments are very high and in breeding and other problems have made pets more susceptible to diseases and other problems. Pet insurance can cost anywhere between USD 2000-6000 over the life of a pet and the amount of premium to be paid would depend on many variables like breed, age, and more.

Pet insurance can be bought online or offline from leaders like: Pet care Insurance Companies; Veterinary Pet Insurance Company; Pets Best Insurance; and Vet Insurance. Pet insurance at affordable rates can be purchased online from websites devoted to pet insurance and pet care. The premium to be paid depends on age of pet, general health of pet, breed of pet, potential risks for susceptible diseases and so on. The internet is a knowledge highway and has great information on pets, insurance options, and more.

Medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars. Here are a few reasons why pet insurance is to be considered:

1. A pet is a family member and death due to accident or illness can upset children. Insurance coverage could save the life of the pet.

2. Pet insurance gives peace of mind and owners can stop worrying about unpaid bills or pets crossing roads.

3. Pet insurance ensures longer life spans of pets.

4. Insurance offers preventive health care, which means diseases can be detected in pets at early stages when treatments can offer cures.

5. Pet insurance covers expensive diagnostics and hospitalization expenses for pets.

6. Pet insurance can save the life of the pet as it covers treatments like radiation therapy and kidney replacements.

7. Pet insurance releases the burden of having to pay when the family is going through lean times such as being “laid off” or having a personal illness to deal with.

8. Pet insurance can help you get a deductible which is cost saving and the insurance will protect the pet.

9. Pet insurance offers regular health checks, shots, elective and non elective surgeries, and sometimes extended stays at a pet boarding house.

10. In general pet insurance can cost as little as USD 20-40 a month and this brings good health and cheer to the pet, very much a family member.

Pet insurance could save the life of a dear one without straining your wallet.

Tag : pet insurance|pet

Pet Sitting

2008-02-27T13:17:00.001+08:00

Become A Pet-Sitter
Pet Sitting Service Business

Pet Meds

2008-02-27T12:56:00.001+08:00

Pet Medications And Pet Health
The Right Pet Meds

Pet Care

2008-02-27T12:34:00.003+08:00

Animal Aid
Dog Grooming
How To Turn A Love Of Animals Into A Career
Pet Care Services
Pet Care Tips
Pet Grooming Career
Pet Quarantine

Pet Articles

2008-02-27T12:20:00.010+08:00

Basic Pet Supplies
Buy Pets From A Pet Shop?
Cat Tips
Choose Your Dog's Name
Electronic Music
Exotic Pet Adoption Tips
Exotic Pets
Guide To Buying Toys For Your Dogs
Pet Adoption
Pet Names
Pets Or Companion
Petfinder.com
Pet Horoscopes
Pet Horoscopes Make Sense
Pet ID
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys Tracks
Pet Shop Must Visit Your Place
PetSmart
Pet Smart Inc.
PetSmart Investigation
Pet Supply
Pet Supply Stores
Pet Store Puppy
Shop At A Pet Store
The Great Exotic Pets
The Souls Of Animals
The Virtual Pets Craze
Virtual Fish Make Good Pets
World Of Virtual Pets

1800 Pet Meds

2008-02-27T10:21:00.000+08:00

1800 Pet Meds

2008-02-27T10:10:00.002+08:00

The 1800 Pet Meds web site, is the best source for pet medications, pet vitamins, pet supplements and pet supplies. Just like your veterinarian, 1800 Pet Meds provides only U.S. FDA/EPA approved pet medications. And, they offer Free Shipping on all orders above $39 except for refrigerated items. They pride ourselves in providing you with great savings on your favorite petmed and know that you'll love receiving your pet medicine in the convenience of your own home. You'll also enjoy their extraordinary customer care center and pet pharmacy that will help you with any questions you may have on filling the prescriptions on your pet medicines. It's easy, just place your order for all your pet medications and they'll take care of the rest! While you are visiting their site, don't miss their "Today's Specials" which features discounts on treats, toys, pet meds and other needed pet supplies.
http://www.1800petmeds.com/

Tag : 1800 Pet Meds|petmed

Pet Medications and Pet Health

2008-02-01T09:16:00.000+08:00

The keyword pet meds is abbreviation of pet medications. The pet medications or meds include the pet drug or pet medicine especially compounded for the pets. These are those med pet supplies that are essential to keep good pet health.

Pet keeping is very much in vogue all over the world. The pets are domesticated for companionship or amusement, so, it becomes the duty of the masters to take proper care of their pets and keep them in good health.

Pets are pets after all, they easily fall prey to numerous pet diseases and ailments. The major cause of pet illness is careless pet grooming and lousy pet cleanliness or hygiene.

The pet meds play cardinal role in pet grooming and keeping good pet health. A master needs to have a professional savvy about pet medication or pet medicine or pet drug. There is a great plethora of pet medicines available on the counter. One can have access to the online pet medication. The pets are the important members of society.

About Author: The author presents you a website on Pet Supplies which offers you a valuable guide on pet meds, providing worthful tips on pet health and pet grooming. Get Pet Meds will always be at your service to facilitate you buy best pet meds besides offering tons of info on pet pharmacy and pet medication. You can get more information about Pet Meds.

Choose Your Dog’s Name

2008-01-30T08:47:00.000+08:00

Congratulations on becoming a new dog owner! It’s time to select the perfect name for your new pet, so where do you start? Well, many people tend to pick pet names similar to the name of their childhood pets. Here are some of the ways that pet owners will select their pet’s name. You will notice that really, there are no rules for naming dogs – although there are definitely common techniques that many owners have used, and will continue to use.

Some people prefer to give their pets names that have classically been known as dog names, like Max, Sam, Buddy, Spike and Jake. Most people tend to stay with names that are positive and that portray the dog in a positive light to all who meet him/her. For example, if you name your dog Killer, some people will be afraid based solely on the name of your pet. Therefore, try to avoid names that have a negative connotation.

Food is often the inspiration for naming dogs. Some of the foods that dogs are often named after include cookies, Oreos, Peanut, Pepper and Cinnamon. You’ll notice that these foods tend to be sweet or spicy, and that you won’t see too many dogs named after vegetables or cuts of beef.

Before you consider giving your dog a humorous name that pokes fun at them, either by naming a Great Dane “Baby”, or by naming a Toy Poodle “Monster”… ask yourself how your dog would like it if they knew what you were doing and ask yourself what your friends will think when you tell them the name of your new pet.
If you must select a name that is multi-syllabic, try to come up with a nickname for the dog that will be commonly used particularly while the dog is undergoing training.
You might also want to give your dog a first, middle and last name as well. Consider a name that is of the same nationality as your dog’s breed. For example, an English Spaniel might be called Charles, Elizabeth or Philip and a French Poodle might be called Fi-Fi.

Overall, you need to select a name for your dog that fits both his personality and his breed. And, remember also that while humans attach a great deal of pride and significance to their names, animals do not. They do not use names to get each other’s attention and they do not have issues with people who mispronounce or misspell their names. If you intend to show your dog, keep this in mind when naming the pet. Show dogs really need to have names that set them apart from competitors. The names selected by owners who intend to raise show dogs are often quite official sounding and would actually make good names for political figures!

Pet Smart Inc.

2008-01-28T13:03:00.000+08:00

PETsMART Inc., today announced Executive Vice President C. Donald Dorsey has completed his term as interim chief executive officer for the company's United Kingdom operations. Dorsey will remain in a limited advisory capacity with the company until his retirement in April 2000.

"We have achieved our goal of stabilizing our situation in the U.K., and long-term staff is in the final stages of selecting a permanent CEO," Dorsey said. Dorsey joined PETsMART in 1989 as senior vice president and chief financial officer. He was named executive vice president in 1994. Prior to that, Dorsey held senior financial positions with Frame-N-Lens Optical, Inc., Northern Automotive Corporation, Lucky Stores, Inc., and A.J. Bayless Markets, Inc.

"Don has been instrumental in shaping PETsMART and its success. We look forward to continuing to work with Don in an advisory capacity, and wish him the best as he tackles new challenges and interests," said Phil Francis, PETsMART's president and CEO.

Guide to Buying Toys for Your Dogs

2008-01-26T11:41:00.000+08:00

You hit the pet shop on a mission - to find the perfect tough dog toy for your new pooch. So, you hit the dog chew toy aisle, only to find thousands of different choices. Big ones, little ones, brightly colored ones, black and white ones ' you name it, they've got it. So, in the midst of all these wonderful dog toys, how do you pick the right dog chew toy for your favorite pooch? We have a few tips and ideas to help you in our short guide to buying safe and fun toys for your dogs:

1. Know your dog. Do a little research on the breed before you head out to the local pet shop for a dog chew toy. Is the breed bred to fight? Knowing what traits your dog possesses is a key ingredient to picking the right dog chew toy that your pet will love. A tiny bit of research on the net about the breed of your dog can help you to know if you should get a lovable plush dog toy or an indestructible dog toy for your pooch to pull on.

2. If you have a toy breed, you don't want a huge dog chew toy. So, when you are looking through all the indestructible or plush dog toy choices at the pet shop, make sure that you choose one that will fit in your dog's mouth so they will be able to play with the plush dog toy or indestructible dog toy, not just stare at it.

3. Inspect the dog chew toy before you buy it. Knowing what traits your dog's breed possesses and a little about your dog will be the major determining factor in what type of dog chew toy that you should choose. You can also find some great ideas for homemade dog toys online when you are doing research on your dog's breed. You will know when you have picked the perfect dog chew toy when your pet won't leave it alone

Exotic Pet Adoption Tips

2008-01-25T07:52:00.000+08:00

If you are considering exotic pet adoption, you are not alone. Every year, more and more people decide that a normal cat or dog isn't the right pet for them. There are many different types of exotic pets available that there really is a pet that goes well with almost every type of personality.

However, adopting an exotic pet can be kind of frustrating, too. Read these tips to help you decide which kind of pet you want.
Exotic pet adoption is such a big ordeal, make sure to take time during the process to think everything through. We have all seen beautiful pets and wanted to take them home right away.

Find out what kind of supplies you will need, what kind of food, home, and health items you will need for your exotic pet. Also, find out the cost not only for the pet but how much the supplies will cost you as well. Try and discover what the natural personality is of the exotic pet you want to adopt. Does your pet need a lot of attention or does it want a lot of quiet time? Does the pet need any sort of special diet to stay healthy? Do your research.

This way, you will know exactly what to expect from your exotic pet adoption.

Pet Grooming Career

2008-01-24T11:39:00.001+08:00

If you enjoy grooming your pets and the sight of your neighbour’s unkempt dog sets your imagination racing, perhaps you need to try your hand at a pet grooming career.

Pet grooming careers are meant for those who are willing to handle both compliant and stubborn pets. You may be lucky to get some pets that are amenable to the grooming process. However, you must also be prepared to face the occasional biting and scratching pet. You will have to be careful and at the same time willing to take risks with certain difficult pets. Remaining alert and following safety procedures during grooming will ensure that you do not end up with cuts and bites.

So, patience and the right attitude are prerequisite traits for those interested in pet grooming careers. As is the case with all careers, you should have a proper understanding of the subject. This you can achieve by getting a good education through a pet grooming course. You should try to select a quality pet grooming school with the longest course duration because it will mean that you will acquire a greater amount of knowledge as well as practical training, which will be immensely beneficial in a pet grooming career.

Pet Horoscopes Make Sense

2008-01-23T07:47:00.000+08:00

If you believe in horoscopes then it makes sense for you to check out pet horoscopes. If the time and place your were born influences your character then the time and place your pet was born could influence his character. Pet horoscopes make sense if the planets can affect and influence the events in your life, why can't the planets affect and influence the events in your pets life? If you believe in astrology as a science and you can make the leap from the heavenly bodies affecting man to the heavenly bodies affecting animals, then pet horoscopes make sense.

Pet horoscopes should be able to help you in the selection of a compatible pet. In humans, certain astrological signs get along better together than certain other combinations of astrological signs so a pet horoscope could tell you whether the pet you are considering buying or adopting will be compatible with you based on your individual astrological signs.

It would be best to consult a pet horoscope before making a commitment to a pet as you both might prove incompatible and a pet horoscope could have warned yo of that possibility. So before going out to look for a pet, consult the pet horoscope to determine the general astrological signs of pets that will be most compatible with you and then when you have found a specific pet that you are interested in, you should consult that pet's individual pet horoscope to determine if that particular pet is right for you. both yours and your pet's happiness depend on your consulting the pet horoscope before a mistake is made.

Once you have your pet, you probably won't want to make any major moves in his life without consulting the pet horoscope. Pet horoscopes can tell you whether it is a good time to travle with your pet and pet horoscopes can help you manage all aspects of your pets life.

Pet Shop Boys Tracks

2008-01-22T11:40:00.000+08:00

Surely the most mysterious track in the entire PSB catalog. The b-sides for the early "Bobby O era" single versions of "West End Girls" and "One More Chance" were various permutations of a track titled "Pet Shop Boys"—a mainly instrumental, hip-hoppish number that features barking dogs, howling coyotes, and other zoological sounds as well as repetitive "vocoderized" vocals that are largely unintelligible aside from the words "Pet Shop Boys." The composers are listed as "Orlando/Tennant/Lowe," Orlando of course being Bobby O himself.

To muddy the waters further, there's another, completely different Bobby O-produced track titled "Theme for the Pet Shop Boys," highly derivative of "West End Girls" and characterized by repeated shouts of "Pet Shop Boys" by male voices that obviously aren't Neil's and/or Chris's. Tellingly, the composers of this "Theme" are cited as "Elvine/Tess," both of which (Elvine and Tess) are known pseudonyms of the German producer Manfred Alois Segieth, who is also associated with the Pet Shop Boys via his "Hurricane Mix" of "One More Chance."

There Chris only says of it, rather cryptically, "The musical possibilities of animal noises." Neil has also referred to it on occasion, such as when he described how, after he and Chris had returned to Britain from recording with Bobby O in New York City, he played for his colleagues at Smash Hits some of their fruits of their labors: "The track everyone liked best was 'Pet Shop Boys' because it was weird." Neil has also pointed out that it doesn't appear on Alternative because he and Chris don't own the rights to it. So it's safe to say that "Pet Shop Boys" is indeed part of the true PSB canon, whereas "Theme for the Pet Shop Boys" isn't.

Chris and Neil asked their friend Richard Niles to arrange and conduct a fully orchestrated pastiche of various songs of theirs for use as the opening music to their remarkable 1991 stage show, "Performance." The songs whose melodies make up this overture are "It's a Sin," "Being Boring," "Opportunities," "So Hard," "Jealousy," "Suburbia," "How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?," "What Have I Done to Deserve This?," and, of course, "West End Girls."

(special fan-club bonus)
Every year the Pet Shop Boys send a Christmas card to the members of their official fan club. For the 1997 holiday season, instead of a card they sent a gift: a CD featuring a brand-new, otherwise unavailable song. In "It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas," Neil expresses his tremendous disillusionment over the commercialized spending spree that Christmas has become, symbolized by the fact that—at least in most of Britain—Christmas usually isn't marked by snow. An instrumental version of the song also appears on this "audio Christmas card."

This song remained a much sought-after PSB rarity—largely unavailable outside of unauthorized duplications and online auctions where it could fetch princely sums—until November 2005, when it made an appearance on the limited-edition charity CD Elton John's Christmas Party, a collection of seasonal favorites chosen by Sir Elton himself. But considering the "limited" nature of that release (distributed only through Starbucks and a very few other select outlets) it may nevertheless remain a comparatively obscure item in the Boys' catalog.

(from the Twentieth-Century Blues benefit album; also a bonus track on the "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" CD single.)

Neil is very much a fan of Noël Coward (the Boys having previously covered his "If Love Were All"), so it's not surprising that he should become the guiding force and producer of a charity album project consisting of various artists' interpretations of Coward songs. The resulting album, Twentieth-Century Blues, benefited AIDS research and relief. The Pet Shop Boys provided a recording of "Sail Away," a mellow rumination on middle age in which the narrator ponders the notion of "sailing away." This can be read both literally and metaphorically: a literal desire to retire to a pleasanter place as well as a metaphorical anticipation of decline and death as part of the natural process. (bonus track on the "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" CD single)

Except for the multi-tracked "Postscript," this is the only occasion in the PSB corpus in which Chris actually sings (rather than speaks) a lyric in a voice that hasn't been electronically distorted somehow. Once again Chris demonstrates his mastery of upbeat, techno-oriented Europop; he creates vast sonic landscapes made for dancing. As for the lyrics, he (or his narrator) is majorly pissed at somebody for being deceitful. Though Neil certainly has no worries about being replaced as a lead vocalist, "Lies" proves a tremendous all-around triumph for the quieter half of the Pet Shop Boys.

(bonus track on the "I Get Along" CD single)

Boasting one of the most intriguing titles in the PSB corpus, this midtempo outtake from the Release sessions began life, according to Neil, "as an acoustic-y thing," but it later grew more elaborate. With regard to its subject matter, Neil has confirmed that this song concerns Elvis Presley—hence the references to "downtown Memphis, Tennessee" (Elvis was that city's most famous resident). It's a documented fact that Presley was reading Frank O. Adams's 1972 book about the Shroud of Turin, A Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus, when he unceremoniously dropped dead while sitting on his toilet at Graceland. This song might be alluding to the contemporary quasi-religion of "Presleyism" (aka "Elvisianty").

Working at additional levels, it seems in many ways a companion piece to "Birthday Boy." As in that Release track, the lyrics suggest that Jesus, a martyred exemplar of faith and love, continues to suffer in the modern world in the form of those who are hurt, abused, and abandoned. Amidst all the suffering, people are searching for meaning and guidance on how they should live their lives: "Looking for the light we need." Could it be that at least certain aspects of Neil's Catholic upbringing are resurfacing after years of apparent neglect? As he sings in one of the most chilling lines he has ever written, Jesus's face is "painted in the blood we bleed." The song's arrangement is also quite remarkable, especially the instrumental bridge with its slightly (and delightfully) cheesy accordion and/or harmonium (or, more likely, synth/sampler replication).

(bonus track on the "I Get Along" CD single)

Recorded during the Release sessions and very nearly part of that album, this vaguely "tropical" number was deleted during the final determination of the tracklist. The lyrics revolve around an extended metaphor for a failed love affair, described in nautical terms. The narrator and his erstwhile lover—at one point referred to as the "crew" and the "captain," respectively—charted a course between the two islands of the title: the "Island of Lovers" and the "Island of Whores." According to Neil (as reported in the April 2003 issue of the Boys' fan-club magazine Literally), these aren't merely a metamorphical fantasy; they're the names, when translated, of two actual islands off the coast of Estonia. The fact that there's "a very treacherous passage between them" inspired this song. At any rate, torn asunder by conflicting gravities—the comfort of monogamy versus the excitement of promiscuity—the relationship of the narrator and his partner eventually disintegrated. (After all, isn't that what relationships generally do in Pet Shop Boys songs? In expressing this sentiment, Chris and Neil interpolate a snippet of the Marvin Gaye classic "I Want You" (hence the additional credit for the writers of that song, Leon Ware and Arthur Ross), as Neil sings, "I want you, and I want you to want me, too." While the song's elaborate metaphorical conceit may strike many as a bit strained and perhaps even too "cute," Neil's lyrical persona never descends into bathos. Meanwhile, a delightfully upbeat melody and a charming, largely acoustic arrangement are standouts, making this track a welcome addition to the Boys' latter-day repertoire.

(bonus track on the "Miracles" single)

This song was originally written and recorded by the New York-based one-man band Howard Rigberg, aka Howard Robot, aka My Robot Friend—a professed fan who has noted that it was inspired by hearing a certain pre-set sound on one of his keyboards that reminded him of early Pet Shop Boys records. With a stylistic nod to those first PSB tracks, My Robot Friend wove a sad, wistful tale of lost love in which the narrator thinks back to a time in the mid-eighties when he would apparently imagine himself and his former lover as the Pet Shop Boys:

I know what you will say before you start
In my heart we're the Pet Shop Boys

A couple of familiar song titles—"Suburbia," "It's a Sin"—pop up in the main body of the lyrics. This song dives headlong into that melancholia, the narrator tormenting himself with nostalgic musings on happier times that somehow seem perhaps not as happy as he remembers them.

But as fascinating as all this is, even more fascinating is the fact that Chris and Neil chose to cover and release this homage themselves, recording the basic track in Berlin with Chris Zippel. The press release for the "Miracles" single (for which "We're the Pet Shop Boys" serves as a bonus track) includes Neil's explanation for this surprising decision: "It sums us up."

An especially nice touch comes late in the song. Although in the original version My Robot Friend did a passable imitation of Neil in a faux "Brit rap" composed exclusively of even more PSB song titles—which together actually manage to comprise something of a shorthand narrative sequence—Chris takes over most of this portion of the vocal in the Boys' rendition. Not surprisingly, his voice is heavily distorted using a vocoder or some similar device. Interestingly, Robbie Williams covers this song on his 2006 album Rudebox with Neil and Chris serving as producers and performing along with him—both of them providing support vocals! Equally interesting is the fact that when the Boys performed it on various dates of their Fundamental tour, Neil would sometimes sing the chorus in the language of the "host country." So it became, for instance, "Wir sind Pet Shop Boys" in Germany and "Nous sommes les Pet Shop Boys" in France.

(bonus track on the "Miracles" single)

A "very electro" song (also described by the Boys as "Kraftwerkesque") recorded during the Release sessions. In light of these facts, it's not surprising that it bears the hallmarks of a classic "Chris track": heavily dance-oriented, somewhat minimalist (though displaying a few unusual musical flourishes), with relatively sparse, simple lyrics.

Despite the "techno" arrangement and the sparseness of the lyrics, the Boys manage to convey (as previously in "Liberation") a remarkable mood of "willing vulnerability," of opening oneself up to both the joys and dangers of love.

(bonus track on the "Flamboyant" single)

Rock and roll! Originally recorded during the Release sessions (and, like so many of the songs on that album, with Johnny Marr on guitar), this has been described by Neil as a "Sixties-ish sounding song" inspired by watching the Strokes perform at the famous nightclub Heaven. The Boys had originally planned to include it on Release, but changed their minds because they felt it didn't fit with the rest of the album. The track features a sample from an obscure 1967 pop record titled "Father's Name Was Dad" by the band Fire. This explains the authoring co-credit for Dave Lambert, the writer of that song. The lyrics, which take the form of a morose reverie arising from hearing some unidentifed music, sound intensely autobiographical, including such lines as—

—that "resumé" presumably being his body of work. In marked contrast to the happy sound of the music, the overall mood of the lyrics is one of profound regret ("deep inside you’re sinking without a trace"), largely the result of missing chances for personal happiness while pursuing and gaining worldly success. Of course, it's quite possible that the narrator isn't really Neil himself—that, as is often the case, he has adopted a fictional persona with whom he shares only certain traits. Whatever the case, it's a fascinating study in contrasts—downbeat words juxtaposed against such upbeat music—that practically begs for an ironic interpretation.

(bonus track on the "I'm with Stupid" single)

The official PSB website reported that during the week of February 13, 2006, the Boys were working on this track, released as one of the bonus tracks with the single "I'm with Stupid." It was inspired by the 1999 film Boys Don't Cry, which told the true story of the Nebraska teenager Brandon Teena, who was born a girl but lived as a boy, which led to her being brutally raped and murdered in 1992.

As Neil says in the July 2006 issue of Literally,

"The song is a story about a girl who I think is maybe a lesbian, but actually we don't know what's happened really. The relatively brief midtempo track describes a suburban teenager whose "instincts lead a different way." She dresses and acts like a boy, which results in her having to endure harsh taunts ("words that could almost murder"). Nevertheless, she bears them as best she can: "Whatever boys say, girls don't cry." Neil twice refers to this being "the final day," therefore suggesting that the song's central character—possibly Brandon Teena herself, but possibly a parallel imaginary figure—may very soon be killed.

In the pocket by her heart is a dog-eared polaroid
A picture of a girl with her arm 'round a boy
Who went missing the final day

If this is indeed the case, then the "boy who went missing" may be the character directly inspired by Brandon Teena.

It's little more than a snapshot of a song, yet the Pet Shop Boys manage to imbue their protagonist with a distinct aura of heroism.

(bonus track on the "I'm with Stupid" single)

At one time mentioned for possible inclusion on Fundamental, Neil and Chris later decided to make this truly outstanding synth-rocking track a bonus on the first single from that album, "I'm with Stupid." As with "Girls Don't Cry," they were still working on it as late as mid-February 2006. It was inspired, according to Neil, by Sarah Wise's 2004 book The Italian Boy: Murder and Graverobbing in 1830s London, itself based on an actual historical criminal case. The song takes its title from a darkly humorous nickname given to nineteenth-century graverobbers who supplied medical schools with cadavers: "resurrectionists."

Neil's lyrics assume that same darkly humorous tone, reveling in perverse wordplay, including some rather macabre puns. For example, when two gentlemen in the same trade talk shop, the narrator notes, "We talked the same body language." The chorus concludes with the recurring flawed but nonetheless apt couplet:

We all gotta earn ourselves a living
All it takes is a little bit of digging

Now, how many other contemporary musical acts would have dared to write and release a song on such a perversely fascinating subject? By the way, with the help of a couple of my site visitors, I'm able to provide a very simple map showing the relative locations of the places referred to in the song, some of which make for rather confusing lyrics until you understand the references. Another potential source of confusion are bits of obscure nineteenth-century slang, such as "fogle hunter": a thief specializing in silk handkerchiefs.

(bonus track on the "Minimal" DVD single)

A short, fast track with a rocking, repetitive synth line that recalls an earlier PSB sound—so much so that some fans have likened it to songs from their first album, Please. According to the official website, it was written and recorded by Chris and Neil in 2003 around the same time as "Luna Park" and "Casanova in Hell."
The narrator applies this concept to a budding love relationship in which, by implication, he and his lover are also very different people, virtual opposites, who are nevertheless well matched:

Get yourself where the sky meets the sea
Blue on blue

As the Pet Shop Boys had suggested more than a decade earlier in "Liberation," true freedom is to be found not in absolute independence but rather in coming together in loving union. The concluding image of the song has the narrator and his partner sailing off together toward the horizon where blue meets blue—an emblem, as it were, of their new lives together.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this song is the fact that its minor-key melody and rather harsh arrangement don't seem to "fit" the subject matter. Could the fact that "blue on blue" is British military slang for "friendly fire" have some special significance? Could the song be about a lover who has passed away—perhaps of AIDS, which itself could be viewed metaphorically as a form of "friendly fire"? Although Neil concedes (in the May 2007 issue of their fan club publication Literally) that the title is inspired by the Iraq war—

"…the song itself has nothing to do with that—I just thought it was rather a pretty phrase. It's about being with your lover by the sea—the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea. One of my site visitors has pointed out the noticeable similarity of the basic synth lines of "Blue on Blue" and "Native Love," an old Divine song produced and co-written by Bobby Orlando. To be sure, the two synth lines aren't identical, and the melodies and chord structures of the songs are markedly different, so there's certainly no suggestion of plagiarism. But given the Boys' early association with Bobby O and their well-documented fondness for his music, his influence is clearly at work.

(bonus track on the "Numb" single)

British actor, comedian, writer, and (now) director Stephen Fry asked the Pet Shop Boys to record two songs for his 2003 film Bright Young Things. This track was to have been the title song, but the film's producers decided against using it, opting instead to use period music exclusively. (Incidentally, the other song that Neil and Chris are reported to have recorded for the project is a cover of the Noël Coward classic "The Party's Over Now," which does indeed coincide with the period in which the story is set.) Although an unauthorized audio demo circulated briefly on the Internet soon after it was recorded, it had to wait several years for official release. Neil had stated on the official PSB website that "Bright Young Things" might yet be released as one of the bonus tracks on a single from Fundamental. The "Numb" single provided that opportunity, with the released track boasting a somewhat more elaborate arrangement than the aforementioned demo.

The film—a dark, satiric comedy loosely based on Evelyn Waugh's 1930 novel Vile Bodies—concerns a "smart set" of fashionable young Brits living a wild life of parties, booze, and free sex in the period between the two world wars. (Thanks, by the way, to Jeff Durst for providing information about Waugh and Vile Bodies. I must confess that I've never read the book myself.)

The PSB song bears in many ways a marked similarity to one of their other soundtrack numbers, "Nothing Has Been Proved" (from the film Scandal), most noticeably in the way that its lyrics refer cryptically (from the perspective of anyone who hasn't seen the movie) to various characters in the story, providing

tantalizing "snapshots" of their attitudes and actions. It's obvious that these are people who lead lives of scarcely concealed desperation, partying ceaselessly to escape their troubles. Neil's omniscient narrator seems to pity them—"flying," as it were, "on chemical wings"—but it's only an impression; he's too subtle and skillful a lyricist to come right out and say so unambiguously.

Again like "Nothing Has Been Proved," the music could be described as a "slow burn," starting out softly but ominously, building in intensity, employing shifting rhythms (at times noticeably faster in tempo than in the original demo) to evoke different moods while working its way toward several cathartic climaxes. Neil uses his "low voice," à la "Birthday Boy," to add to the overall air of foreboding.

By the way, it's interesting to note the reference in the lyrics to "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square," a 1915 romantic standard that would surely be quite familiar to the characters Neil is singing about. Another of Neil's lines from the song, "Nancy's got a monkey on a silver chain," has its origins not with the novel but rather with a letter written by Waugh at around the same time, describing someone he observed "with a pet monkey on a silver harness." What's more, the name Nancy itself may have been inspired by Nancy Mitford, Waugh's lifelong friend and confidante.

(bonus track on the "Numb" single)

In light of the fact that it shares the status of "Numb" bonus track with "Bright Young Things," and that the Pet Shop Boys recorded the Noël Coward standard "The Party's Over Now" around the same time for a similar prospective purpose, there was early speculation that this might be that same song under a different title. That, however, proved not to be the case. It's a fast, raucous, synth-heavy, and rather discordant original that sounds every bit as much the "Party Song" that its title suggests.

As revealed in the May 2007 issue of the offical Pet Shop Boys Fan Club magazine Literally, the music originated with Chris and Neil working on a possible cover version of Nirvana's grunge-rock classic "Semlls Like Teen Spirit," which had been suggested to them by Elton John. But they quickly turned it into a different song altogether, retaining only their bass line.

If it's Neil himself (or someone very much like him), then this song can probably be taken at face value simply as a celebration of "goodtime" music appropriate for a party. There is, after all, an important place in the world for such songs. But what if it's someone quite different from either of the Pet Shop Boys? Could it be a somewhat misguided fan complaining about the plethora of recent "non-party" PSB songs—such as "Numb" itself or, for that matter, the entire albums Release and/or Fundamental? Or perhaps it's a record company executive lodging a similar complaint, urging Chris and Neil to write and release more "party-oriented" material, presumably as a means toward greater popular appeal. (I can easily imagine such executives ignorantly believing that, in their earlier, more commercially successful days, the Pet Shop Boys cranked out mindless party songs by the score.)
Actually, as Neil states in the aforementioned issue of Literally, he wrote the lyrics from the perspective of "a guy at a club harassing the DJ to play a record he likes.… The song sympathizes with the DJ."

Part of the charm of this song lies in the very fact that it would seem to meet the criterion of being a "party song" while teasing us with its sarcasm. Neil and Chris did this to show how the narrator gets his way in the end, with the DJ playing a party song after all.

This extremely brief song, only about a minute in length, was released exclusively as part of issue #53 of Visionaire, a New York-based limited-edition arts periodical that assumes a different format every issue. This particular issue, titled "Sound," consists of five 12-inch vinyl picture-disc recordings of "audio experiments," spoken-word pieces, and previously unreleased songs, among them this PSB track. (Other contributors include U2, Michael Stipe, Yoko Ono, Thurston Moore & Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, Malcolm McLaren, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and David Sylvian, among others. The lyrics, which indeed seem somewhat fragmentary—understandable enough in such a short, mid-tempo track, regardless of whether a longer version actually exists—are as curious as they are brief. Neil's lyrical persona (whom I don't believe is Neil himself, for reasons that I'll explain in a moment) says that he deserves "a better life" with just "a little country house, a dog, and a car." As I said, I don't believe the lyrical persona is meant to be taken as Neil himself. It's quite possible that Neil (or Chris, if he wrote or inspired the lyric) may have encountered a situation like this at some point, having been unfairly accused of lacking in generosity by an erstwhile lover. Incidentally, the Visionaire team had worked with the Pet Shop Boys before, having designed the artwork and packaging for their 2002 album Release.

Demo versions with Neil's vocals of this pretty, somber ballad from the Pet Shop Boys' stage musical Closer to Heaven have been circulating unofficially for years, and on occasion one or more of those demos have been made officially available for listening purposes on the official PSB website. The demos feature him singing in his highest non-falsetto register, pushing his natural vocal range to the edge, lending the track a distinct air of emotional frailty.

Neil has stated that the lyrics went through three different versions. Earlier lyrics reflected in the Boys' demos seem much more personal, with Neil emphasizing the fact that, just because someone is rich and famous doesn't mean that they must lead a "charmed life with … no pain or strife." Those earlier pre-Closer lyrics are in some ways so emotionally raw that you can't help but feel the great sense of pain that Neil (or at least his lyrical persona, since it's always questionable to read what a writer writes as being necessarily autobiographical) expresses in describing his great sorrow and regret regarding the fragility of love. But all known versions of the lyrics share that common thread of bemoaning the accompanying sense of loss, most likely—and, in the case of the musical, certainly—in the wake of death. By extension, they express grief for the decline of love in society overall. The narrator seems resigned and more than a little bitter. But in expressing his feelings, he implicitly conveys his hopes not only for himself but for the world in general, thereby transcending mere solipsism in the face of terrible disappointment.
For more information about this song in the context of the musical, please see the separate entry for it in my Closer to Heaven section.

Although Neil has written and/or recorded several songs with Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner as part of their Electronic project (most notably the superb single "Disappointed," on which Neil sings lead), this cut from the 1991 Electronic album is the only one (so far) on which both Neil and Chris are co-writers and performers. Thus it merits inclusion here as a "Pet Shop Boys track." The narrator (or, as we shall see, narrators) of this song is something of a bastard, set in his carefree ways, who admits that he's difficult to live with. I live without restraint." Interestingly, this song is a duet between Neil and Bernard Sumner. A duet between two men singing a song about a close personal relationship is eye-opening, to say the least.

Pet Quarantine

2008-01-20T10:01:00.000+08:00

Hawaii, one of the USA's 50 states, requires a quarantine before any dog or cat is permitted to visit the islands. If the owner can make sense of the rules and scheduling, it's possible to obtain a 30-day quarantine, but one single slip in any of the steps means a quarantine of four months. This is incredibly antiquated, as there are perfectly reliable scientific methods of proving that a dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies, methods which take less than a week via accredited laboratory results.

I challenge anyone to read the intricate rules and then understand them well enough to gamble a four month prison sentence for your pet!

If you were going to Hawaii, could you schedule the sale of your house, the purchase of another house, shipping your household goods and cars, the timing of leaving one job and starting another, and make them fit in with these laws? How about if you need your guide or service dog by your side?

Will you or a family member ever visit the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Hong Kong, Norway, Iceland, or Japan? Until the various governments catch up with current scientific knowledge, pets and owners will continue suffering these useless, expensive, and traumatic quarantines.

1. Science Proves Rabies is Controllable

The National Center for Infectious Diseases states on their web site that "rabies is uncommon in dogs, cats, and ferrets in the United States. Very few bites by these animals carry a risk of rabies." Their report 'Rabies surveillance in the United States during 1996' states:

"The number of cases of rabies in dogs decreased by 24.0% from 146 cases in 1995 to 111 in 1996. Texas reported the largest number of cases of rabies in dogs (15), 6 of which were associated with the epizootic rabies in coyotes and dogs in southern Texas (Fig 12). Other than Texas, only Georgia (8 cases), Iowa (12 cases), North Carolina (10 cases), South Dakota (8 cases), Tennessee (6 cases), and Puerto Rico (12cases) reported > 5 cases of rabies in dogs. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia did not report any rabid dogs."

This marked decline of rabies in domestic animals is attributed to the ongoing education of owners about vaccination. In 1988, 33 million dogs and cats were vaccinated in the United States, and there were only four cases of vaccination failures (MacDiarmid and Corrin, Ministry of Agriculture, England). Immunization of dogs with modern rabies vaccines is clearly very effective in preventing the disease. Additionally, the vaccination status of an imported dog can be readily checked by measuring the antibody titre of its blood serum.

Since responsible owners can, by vaccinating their pets, virtually eliminate the possibility of rabies in their animal, and can easily prove that this vaccination has been administered via a blood test, eliminating the quarantine would not endanger other animals, while obviating much of the current financial barrier pet owners encounter when bringing their pets from the mainland.

Short version: 33 million pets were vaccinated, and the vaccination failed in 4 of those animals. Vaccination is therefore perfectly reliable 99.99999% of the time. Additionally, a simple blood test shows whether or not a pet has been vaccinated. Shouldn't this blood test be proof enough that the pet presents no rabies danger?

2. Quarantine is Too Hard on Pets and Owners

In all cases of quarantine, the pet undergoes a lot of stress. Much worse things have happened, with the quarantine being directly responsible. Have you heard about Chocolate the dog?

From the newsletter at QuarantineHawaii.com:

"I received a call from Naval Commander Bill Schnurr, Ret., asking for help last Tuesday, and we have been working on a plan since then. His two dogs had been painstakingly prepared for the 30 day pet quarantine in advance of their move to the Big Island, with vaccinations, microchip identification, blood serology checked in Kansas and results given directly to Hawaii DOA, and a health certificate.

His pets arrived without incident in Oahu and were taken to the Halawa quarantine station for processing as is usual. The older dog, Chocolate, was quite ill, and the owners appalled at their deplorable condition. Their other dog, Mitzie, is deaf.

During the 30 days quarantine, the second blood test was taken and results received from Texas that Chocolate did not pass the second test, which Bill says he and his vets never knew about (a frequent complaint). A lowered reading does not mean the pet is unprotected.

In the meantime, his loyal pet, friend and family member of 13 years was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the lymph system. Dr. Maeda was notified and a request was made to take his poor dying dog home to die in the loving care of his family. Commander Schnurr, a combat trained soldier, was reduced to tears while he described his loving dog dying alone and deserted behind bars, and the fury and anguish he feels. Even hardened criminals with life sentences are released in similar circumstances.

Dr. Maeda stated that he knew the dog presents no health risk to Hawaii. Why would we allow innocent pets to be treated in this manner?

They are determined to bring as much attention to their plight as it takes, including hunger strikes, sit ins, etc., which will bring national media attention to this atrocious treatment of helpless animals which is Hawaii's current practice."

In fact, it took a well reported hunger strike to get Chocolate out of quarantine. http://www.quarantinehawaii.com/comments_list.cfm
http://www.pettravel.com/0001209.cfm
http://www.nine-lives.org.uk/quarantine.htm
http://starbulletin.com/2001/07/08/news/story2.html
http://www.geocities.com/chocolateandmitzie/Princess.html

3. Quarantine Costs Everyone Money

With an average of 4,100 pets entering each year, and fees approximating $1,000 each, the direct cost is $4.1 million.

Preparation costs of required treatments average about $400 each pet, for a total of $1.64 million.

Lost Productivity cost : Assuming there are 4,000 pets per year and 75% of those stay 30 days while 25% stay 120 days: If each pet has only one owner and a pet owner spends 1 hour in transit plus 2 hours of visitation three times per week during business hours for 4 weeks = 36 hours @ an average of $15 per hour = $540 times 3,000people per year = $1,620,000.

For 16 weeks the total would be $2,160 times 1,000 people = $2,160,000.

Total productivity loss = $3,780,000 in lost productivity to Hawaii’s employers

Grand total direct cost = $7,720,000 per year.

Pet owners firstly, and the general public secondly, as companies raise prices to cover these costs.

To the State, to pay for this unnecessary quarantine! From http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/1999/08/02/story4.html:

"Revenues plummeted in 1998, when the state decided to lop 90 days off the quarantine for qualifying pets (emphasis mine). With so many pet owners taking exhaustive pre-emptive steps, the quarantine station was losing fee income, [State Veterinarian] Foppoli says. Suddenly, the station found itself awash in extra expenses, including union-mandated employee benefits, which had been footed by the state. Not only that, but the quarantine station will have to pay back a special start-up allocation, which was essentially a loan from the state to the station when it left the general fund. Quarantine station expenses now average about $2.7 million per year -- down slightly since the caretaking staff dropped from 48 employees in 1997 to 28 now, Foppoli said. The 30-day quarantine has resulted in fewer pets at the station on any given day, so litter and food costs have also declined. But costs may not drop much further. With the extra paperwork and tests required by the 30-day quarantine rules, the station's clerks and veterinarians are actually busier than ever."

4. What About the 5-Day Quarantine I'm Hearing About?

An additional blood test would be taken by the Department of Agriculture upon arrival and if not passed, a 120 day quarantine would be required no matter what preparations were made.

The 120 days will cost $1,225.

This "plan" is an outrageous slap in the face to anyone working towards reform. If approved, this would be the most stringent quarantine in any civilized country on the planet. It ignores modern science completely. Because changes cost money, let me tell you! One thing goes wrong, and you've lost your kennel reservation. Say it's only one month: how will you pay that extra month's mortgage while you wait with your pet? Or should you just leave your pet in a kennel at your old home and fly out yourself, hoping the kennel personnel can get your pet on the plane correctly?

Conclusion: Hawaii's Pet Quarantine is CRUEL, COSTLY, and TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.
Call to Action for all Practical Pet Care Members:

Can you help? Third, sign this petition!

Your commitment and dedication to pet welfare is always appreciated by the folks at Practical Pet Care. Please help if you can! This is one way we can directly improve the lives of pets and owners worldwide!

How to Turn a Love of Animals into a Career

2008-01-20T09:36:00.000+08:00

Alice Calabrese was desperate for a change. Eleven years into a successful career in retail banking, the animal lover realized that she wasn't happy in her job.

A year after Alice's job search began, that change came in the form of a new position in animal welfare as the Development Director for the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm in Fairport, New York. Now President/CEO, Calabrese is just one of millions of people around the globe who work in the animal protection field.

Perhaps you, like Alice, are interested in an animal-friendly career as well. The first step is to identify your job interests. The possibilities are endless. From animal control officer to special events planner to animal protection lobbyist, there are hundreds of different career paths to choose from.

"There is a common misconception that if you want to help animals, your only option is to become a veterinarian. And that's just not the case," says Betsy McFarland, director of communications for The HSUS's Companion Animals section. "Just about any skill can be geared toward helping animals. For example, there are lawyers who specialize in animal law. We have a full-time accountant, librarian, and many other positions that utilize a variety of skills. To learn more about the wide variety of positions available in the animal welfare field, check out the fields of specialization on Humane Society University's web site, search the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook, or look for books focusing on animal careers at your local library or bookstore. Reading advertised job openings is another great way to learn what types of jobs are available and get a more detailed description of specific opportunities.

Animal Protection 101

Depending on your goals, your length of study could vary greatly. Even if your dream job doesn't require a degree, coursework in your intended area of employment can boost your chances of landing a job. Check out our list of universities that offer coursework in animal ethics, animal rights, or animal welfare, and explore possible college majors at www.princetonreview.com and www.collegeview.com.

Humane Society University is an excellent educational tool for those who are interested in learning more about animal protection as well as those who already work in the field. In partnership with Duquesne University, HSU offers a Bachelor's degree in Humane Leadership and a Master of Science degree in Community Leadership, in addition to non-credit certificate programs and non-credit courses and workshops. For more information on additional HSUS programs check out HSU's list of educational opportunities.

Whatever your educational background, landing a great job can be a challenge. You'll need more than just a love of animals to beat out the competition—you'll need experience. Volunteering a few hours a week at a humane organization could be your ticket to a new career in animal welfare.

"While having a passion for animals is important, in most cases, animal welfare organizations want to see that you also have some good experience, not just passion," says McFarland, who got her start as a volunteer at a shelter in Texas. "Volunteering can be a great way to gain that experience while helping animals. Most wildlife rehabilitation organizations, local animal shelters, and spay/neuter clinics rely on volunteer assistance."

Dee Fugit, public relations and education director for the Idaho Humane Society, agrees. Volunteering helps you get your foot in the door and allows you to see the inner workings of an organization so you can decide if working on behalf of animals is something that you would like to do."

To find an organization in your community that needs your help, check out www.pets911.com. Searchable databases like www.volunteermatch.com, www.idealist.org, and www.volunteerabroad.com can connect you with thousands of volunteer opportunities around the nation and around the globe. Check out HSU's list of employment, volunteer, and internship opportunities for opportunities specific to the animal-welfare community.

Sniffing out Employment

For pointers on developing an impressive resume and improving interviewing skills, check out Idealist's Resume Writing Tips and Monster.com's Career Advice.

When you're ready to start applying for positions, you can search for openings at HSUS's www.AnimalSheltering.org, www.AmericanHumane.org, and www.AmimalConcerns.org. Check The HSUS web site regularly for job openings at regional offices around the country or in our national offices in Washington, D.C., and suburban Maryland. For more information about animal-welfare organizations and job listings, browse the HSU's list of professional organizations and and associations.

Landing your dream job isn't going to happen overnight—but it's worth the wait," says McFarland. While working on behalf of animals is not typically glamorous or high-paying, people who have pursued a humane career argue that they gain something more valuable than fame and fortune.

Become a Pet-Sitter

2008-01-18T14:54:00.000+08:00

As you know, millions of American families go on vacation every year. It's the great American Summer tradition. More and more families are opting to hire pet sitters instead of getting family or friends to care for animals while they're gone.People are finding that pet sitting is easier and more affordable than they thought, and pet sitting businesses are reaping the benefits.

Advertising this kind of business is also easy. These kinds of local businesses can benefit from small ads in the paper, posters hung around town, and even Internet advertising. There are also services that specialize in providing a secure environment where pet owners can quickly match, screen, and select pet sitters, dog walkers, and pet care centers. Pet owners can often easily find these kinds of services in their area, and pet sitters are notified of the needs owners have.

Starting your own pet sitting, dog walking, or pet daycare service is a great way to fill this need and start a productive business. If pet sitting is up your alley, you're definitely barking up the right business tree.

Petfinder.com

2008-01-17T07:48:00.000+08:00

to four million animals die in American shelters each year, most for lack of adoptive homes. Of the dogs taken into shelters annually, at least 25 percent are purebred. Petfinder.com, the largest pet Web site on the Internet, is working to change the problem by connecting homeless animals with the people who want them. Petfinder works almost like an Internet dating service. It allows prospective adopters to search their database of available pets based on search criteria such as breed, age, size and gender.

Petfinder.com opens animal shelters and rescue organizations to adopters across the country via the Internet. Both large and small animal groups can display their inventory of animals in a user-friendly format, and prospective adopters can easily find what they want. From mice to horses, Affenpinschers to Yorkshire Terriers, Petfinder has all kinds of animals for adoption.

In this article, we'll see how Petfinder has managed to get free advertising and become one of the fastest-growing sites on the Internet. We'll also look how the site organized and regulated a notoriously opinionated group of people, commanded fierce loyalty and accomplished a social good.

Betsy's previous volunteer work with a local rescue made her aware of the plight of unwanted animals, so that's where the Sauls devoted their energy. They decided to create a Web site where shelters could list their animals for prospective adopters and increase the number of people that were able to see them. The Sauls approached shelters in their home state of New Jersey, but most were initially skeptical, concerned about exposing their animals to danger, and unsure if it would work.

Jared built the Web site while he was in medical school. Since most shelters still didn't have computers, they faxed their lists to the Sauls' neighbor, who slid the lists under the door. After coming home from her job as a ground water hydrologist, Betsy uploaded the animal's descriptions to the site.

From the beginning, the Sauls paid close attention to their constituents. When the idea spread and a few sponsors signed on, Betsy Saul quit her day job to devote herself to Petfinder full-time. The business model of Petfinder has been similar to that of a nonprofit agency, but Petfinder is not a nonprofit group. In 2003, Petfinder established the Petfinder Foundation, a public charity designed initially to assist with natural disasters.

In late 2006, Discovery Communications acquired Petfinder and added the site to its Animal Planet. Discovery plans to add new features and Animal Planet content to Petfinder.

The Virtual Pets Craze

2008-01-14T06:57:00.000+08:00

Historically, your choice of pets pretty much came down to dogs, cats, hamsters or something similar. In the digital age, virtual pets are all the rage.

Kids love pets. There are many situations where a pet could be a wonderful addition to your family. The good news is that there are many free online virtual pets for your children to play. Kids can have fun naming and taking caring of their pet. You will not have to deal with dog hair on your business suit and cat scratches on your leather sofa. Virtual pets can be a win-win situation for you and children.

There are two main types of virtual pets. In order to take care of the pet, your child must be online. They will register a user name and password. Each time they log back into the site, they will find their pet where they left him. Virtual pets can be fed, played with, taught tricks, and sent to bed. There are all sorts of virtual pets. You can raise a dog or cat as well as an alien or monster. Pet owners can earn points which can be spent at a virtual store.

First, some sites are free, but only for a trial period. Sometimes items for your virtual pet can cost actual money. Don’t allow your child to input any personal information. Some sites will ask for first and last name, address, birth date, or telephone number. Instruct your children to never give out this information without your permission. There are also some virtual pet sites that are not appropriate for children. Before turning your kids loose, spend a few minutes checking out the site. If there is a chat or email function, discuss your rules with your children before logging in.

The other type of online virtual pet is one that you download from the internet onto your computer. There are no chat features. Once downloaded, the virtual pet becomes like any other computer game. Either type of online virtual pet can bring a lot of enjoyment to your child while keeping your home free of pet hair and chewed slippers.

Shop At A Pet Store.

2008-01-12T06:43:00.000+08:00

Pet care can not be completed without buying pet supplies and that is why many individuals choose to shop at a pet store.

A pet store is classified as a store that specifically sells pet products. There are a number of department stores or other retail stores that carry pet products; however, they are not classified as a pet store. These locations are known as only having a pet department. Depending on the type of retail store in question many retail stores with a pet department only carry the most needed items including pet food or bedding. While traditional retail stores with a pet department are a great way to get pet supplies when already shopping in the store, many pet owners find it more convenient to shop directly at a pet store.

Most pet stores are a fairly decent size and they tend to carry everyday pet items and other special items. In addition to pet supplies, it is also likely that a pet store may be selling a selection of pets. While both traditional department stores and pet stores carry name brand products a pet store is more likely to do so. It is not uncommon to find top of the line products at a pet store that may not be available in a traditional retail store. Most pet stores are more worried about the quality of product versus the price.

Another reason why pet owners enjoy shopping at a pet store is because of the customer service at the store. Most pet stores require that their employees become trained and educated in the pet department that they are working in. In many traditional department stores it is hard to find a store employee in the department area let alone one is who able to efficiently answer your pet question.

There are technically two types of pet stores. There are the traditional storefront pet store locations and those that are located online. Shopping at each type of pet store has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many pet store shoppers would prefer to shop at online pet stores and others do not.

The preference is up the pet owner; however, there is no doubt that most still prefer to shop at a pet store over a traditional retail store.

Pet Supply

2008-01-11T07:35:00.000+08:00

More than 50 million people in the United States have pets, and pet supply stores are competing to get their fair share of this lucrative market. If you are a pet owner, this is great news. Free delivery. You love your pet, but sometimes, you just don't have time to drop by a pet store to buy food and supplies. Most pet supply stores now offer free delivery of the freshest pet food and newest supplies. Steer clear of the inconvenience of pet supply shopping, or running out of pet food. All-natural pet food products. People are becoming more health-conscious, even with their pets. That is why some pet supply stores now claim to only carry naturally-preserved pet food that do not contain artificial coloring, ingredients or byproducts. Some pet supply stores limit their selection only to pet foods that have passed complete feeding tests ongoing quality assurance checks.

Carefully-chosen pet supplies. There are now many pet supply stores that only sell 100 percent safe and non-toxic pet supplies, especially for dogs. These stores have only clinically-proven safe pet shampoos, creams and medicine in stock. You can also buy harmless pet toys and accessories from such stores. Veterinarians on call. Most pet supply stores now have in-house veterinarians who can help you choose the right products for your pets. Just pop in the pet supply store and chat with them - you just might get free opinion on common pet problems.

The Souls of Animals

2008-01-10T07:22:00.000+08:00

Unfortunately, when we seek validation for these hopes from those we look to in spiritual matters, we frequently find that they hold to the view that animals are for this world only and that they do not possess eternal souls. This only deepens our sorrow and pain. Further, the Bible gives indisputable record that God, motivated by his pleasure and love for his creation, personally and purposely protects and provides for his creatures from Eden past through Millennium future. We are told that he clothes the animals and provides sustenance for them. He directs their migrations to ensure their safety from the environment. He even gives instructions on how domestic animals should be treated. In short, he expresses and employs unending care for his creatures.

This should come as no surprise to anyone as it is in keeping with his original plan in Eden, which was that animals (like humans) would live forever. His immutability precludes variance from that plan; irrespective of the temporary setback caused by the fall of mankind. It would be presumptuous to think that God would change his mind on this matter, for his thoughts and plans are perfect and never in need of correction, change or update. Continuing, the evidence found in scripture overwhelmingly supports that animals do indeed have souls, much like people. Animals are innocent creatures that are not in need of reconciliation and regeneration.

In perhaps the oldest book of the Bible, the Book of Job, verse 10 of chapter 12 tells us "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing". This is a very profound passage. The initial, face-value perception is that God is speaking of all creatures, human and animal. The considered, in-depth study of the statement supports the initial perception. He is speaking of all creatures, human and animal.
The word "soul" is used in over twenty different ways in the Bible. Invariably, when people come across this word in scripture, they automatically associate it with redemption, so much so that in no matter what context it appears, the connection to reconciliation and salvation is always present in their minds and unconsciously applied to the interpretation. Clearly, the gospel message is not for animals. It is exclusively for people. It is a reconciliatory outreach from God to people. However, to allow this truth to cause one to draw the conclusion that an animal therefore cannot have a soul, is to visit a gross injustice on scripture.

The Hebrew word "nephesh" (soul), appears many times in scripture and is used interchangeably to describe both the essence of man and animals. Rather, it addresses the consciousness of the soul. The word soul is not used in relation to redemption, but rather addresses providential care. A clearer meaning of this verse would be "in whose hand is the life or essence of every living thing…". God is speaking of that part of humans and animals that contains or houses the "life" he has given to them, that part that departs the body when the body expires.

When we mesh this thought in Job with Romans chapter 8 and Revelation 5:9-13, to name a few corresponding passages, the meaning is clear. The life or essence of every living thing is in the eternal care of the one who created that life. However, this word in Job indicates an even deeper thought for us to consider. We often refer to man (or woman) as a flesh and blood body with a soul. In keeping with the absolute intent of this word, man is a soul that has been placed in a flesh and blood body. The distinction is subtle, but it is immense in effect. The body is temporal, but the soul eternal. This truth applies to animals as well. They are not creatures with souls, but are eternal souls given temporary bodies. The same word is used to describe their essence as it is ours. So when we refer to their soul, we are merely acknowledging that animals have essence and that this essence is eternal in nature. They are innocent creatures whose souls are safe in the hand of their creator.