Since we had this endless winter in Minnesota there was a nice article in our Star Tribune about ways to play with your dog in the snow by participating in the highly recommended
skijoring. “You don skis and strap yourself to a dog. The dog pulls you along, proving once again that the creature is, as the saying goes, man’s (or woman’s) best friend.” What a happy looking dog! There are designated trails around the city, but those groomed for cross country skiing are not to be used by the canines. An enterprising couple in suburban Minneapolis have opened up a shop reselling lightly used pet supplies, running it like a Half-Price Books or Once Upon a Child store. The couple, owners and originators of the idea, have fostered
various animals for the county humane society and wondered why the idea of reselling lightly used dog items had not done before. They started the resale operation in their garage selling used supplies for dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters etc. Items rarely cost more than $10 and everything is cleaned and sanitized before being put on sale. The majority of the items are ones that the pets outgrew or never used. Clever idea and one they hope to franchise. People and Pets Together is an organization that assists families who feel they are no longer able to care for their pet. This is a nonprofit food bank and veterinary assistance program, found in several communities, which works to keep a pet and his caregiver together during times of economic hardship. The organization’s motto is, “You have to feed the whole family, not just the human family.” In 2018 our local organization served up 80,000 pounds of food for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and fish. The organization relies primarily on donations, and have collection boxes in pet stores and veterinary clinics. They also partner with various veterinary clinics to offer some financial assistance when needed. Their budget is about $50,000 per year with two part-time employees and many volunteers. Their goal? To keep people and their pets together in times of stress and need. Sounds like a worthy cause.
Enjoy the spring and summer and keep yourselves and your terriers well. Send us your ideas for articles and interviews and especially send us your adsvertising! Muriel Lee • Editor
Summer 2019
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