So after an amazingly busy weekend at the Human Society, I’ve been busy packing/cleaning. Ugh. I won’t bore you with that.

One fun thing I found while packing is our Blueberry Wine that we started last summer that has been sitting in second rack for many many moons.  I thought it might be ruined, but it’s actually not!  Today I tried all three batches and found they weren’t vinegar, and they are actually quite strong.  They have been sitting under my bathroom sink all this time undistrubed.

There were quite a lot of lees in the bottom, so I sealed it with an airlock just in case my pouring into a new container stirred up a few yeasties that might try and do something.  Doubtful after all this time, but better to be safe than sorry.  All three batches were clear and dark, dark, red.  In the gallon jug you can’t even see through the wine, it’s so dark.  I definately tasted the honey in the wine, and the alcohol.  Now that they are all recombined I’ll git it some time to bottle condition further before consuming.  It will be an AWESOME Christmas wine!

Oh, I can’t wait until Cider season is here… only a few more weeks!!  The cider I made last year was so awesome I can’t wait to brew again!!

Well, back to moving… sigh…

Okay, I know you are all going to think I’m nuts, but I’ve always contemplated that if I ever got married, I’d change my name to something completely different than the one I’ve got now. Yeah, I know, crazy.

But consider this: I’ve already had two names. I was Barbara Marie Beyer for the first 4 months of my life, until my adoptive parents changed it to Dawn Bradley P____.

Second consideration: I’m not really a part of my (abusive and crazy) adoptive family any more, and don’t intend to go back. Ever. There is no reason for me to, unless I’m feeling masochistic and want to hurt myself again with them. I don’t think so.

Third consideration: I’ve always hated my first name. I don’t mind my middle name. A friend of mine suggested making my middle name my last name if I don’t go with Palazzolo.

Of course I know changing your name is a big hassle, but it also could be a good thing for me. But what would I change it to? Would I keep my first name and change my middle and last name?

I know it would be wierd for my friends to call me by a different name. It’s not like I’m changing genders or anything. For me it’s a completly psychological thing.

When I was little I always wanted to be a Katherine, but one of my good friends already has that name.

I also liked Miranda, Kassandra, and Muriel. Kassandra was taken by one of my cousin’s kids, so that’s out.

I love the name Muirne, but most people can’t pronounce it which would be difficult (it’s pronounced “muh-rin-yah” with the “r” half-rolled). Aine is also nice, pronounced AH-nya. Other Irish names I really like: Niamh (”NEE-av”) and Caoimhe (”KEE-vah”). The “MH” in irish makes a “v” sound (most often). Also, when there are two hard consonants next to each other (as in “film” and “Muirne”) the Gaelic-speaking countries add an extra syllable (pronounced as a schwa or short vowel) inbetween them. I tried to stay away from names that had funky accents

What do you think? Would you hate to have to remember to call me something new? Do you like any of the names above or think they fit me?

Just trying to see if I’m REALLY crazy or not…

The above picture demonstrates a cat about to have an endotracheal tube placed to for surgery in order to allow her airway to be protected (remain open) and to administer oxygen and inhalation anethesia.  I’ve been doing a lot of this this summer, probably over 100 cats by now.  (Thanks Roxanne, for your intubation lessons– they have come in handy!).

So I wasn’t too apprehensive about intubating cats since I’ve already done it many times.  But this past Tuesday I was informed that I’d be filling in for the regular technician and running (not just helping out at but actually calling the shots) a dog neuter day in Milwaukee: 24 dogs.  I’ve only intubated 2 dogs before, and that was over a year ago.  To add to that, I was also required to inject anethestics into the veins of the dogs in order to sedate them enough to allow intubation.  I’ve never done that on a dog before, but I have drawn blood on dogs.  So I’m scared about both of those things, and to add to that I’ve got to direct the surgeon (ha ha!) AND 6 to 8 volunteers who are helping with recovery, induction (holding the dogs for me while I inject and intubate them), monitoring anesthesia, and discharges.  The night before this was all supposed to happen I was kinda freaking out.

Well I shouldn’t have worried because everything went just fine (we even had 3 cryptorchids– where one of the testicles is still in th abdomen instead of descending into the scrotal sac– that went smoothly).  I intubated 23 of the 24 dogs sucessfully; one I didn’t place correctly and we didn’t figure that out until he was prepped and on the table so we just masked him until the surgery was finished.  Everyone got neutered, everyone recovered and went home with wagging tales.  Yay!

It was a 12-hour work day for me and I was EXHAUSTED the next day but I felt good that everything had gone fine.  Maybe I’ll make a good Vet Tech after all!

Pet Population Statistics

Since I’ve been talking about the pet population this week and my job at the humane society, I thought I share some information.  The following figures should be considered “ballpark” figures, as they contain data from studies done both within the animal welfare field and by independent study.  Many of these studies were national, and there is a lot of variety from region to region so these may not accurately represent your area.   I hope these figures will sway you into choosing your next pet from a shelter or rescue group rather than a breeder or pet store!

Animal Shelters 

• Approximately eight to 12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and approximately five to nine million are euthanized due to a lack of space or resources to adequately care for them (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.

• Less than two percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners.* Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.

• Twenty five percent of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.*

• Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Seventy five percent of owned pets are neutered.

Pet Overpopulation

• The average number of litters a fertile cat produces is one to two a year; the average number of kittens in litters is between four and six.

• The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; the average number of puppies in litters is between four and six.

• It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the US; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.

• Owned cats and dogs generally live longer, healthier lives than strays.

• Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.

Pet Ownership

• About 63 percent of all households in the United States have a pet.+

• About 60 million dogs and about 75 million cats are owned in the United States.++

• About 65 percent of pet owners acquire their pets free or at low cost. *

• The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. Fifteen to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, 10 to 20 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues, and two to 10 percent are purchased from pet shops.+++

• At least 20 percent of cats are acquired as strays.*

• More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter.*

• The cost of spaying or neutering a pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for one year.

• The average cost of basic food, supplies, and medical care and training for a dog or cat is $400 to $700 annually.

All data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.
+  Source:  2005/2006 APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association) National Pet Owners Survey.
++ Source:  The Pet Food Institute.
* Source:   The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP).
+++ Source:  Ralston Purina and NCPPSP.

[Copied from the MADACC website]