TaliC2007

The State of Missouri is finally doing something about all of the puppy mills here. Here is an article about it: http://www.joplinglobe.com/carthage_jasper...=secondarystory And here is a link if anyone knows of any. They want them reported so they can investigate. I just hope they make it bad enough for the puppy mill people that they will start to fade away, and that soon other states will follow. http://mda.mo.gov/animals/ACFA/barkalert/ Also, how do you all feel about unlicensed breeders being included in this? Tammy

Thanks again for the input. Your experience's and knowledge of the job is giving me a lot to think about. I appreciate it very much. The one common thing I am reading is that you all love it. That is the main thing I wanted to know. I did think about having to put an animal down. That would be extremely hard for me and the very worst part of the job. I am going to take your advice and try to set up some times to follow other vets on Saturdays. I guess that will really be the final decider. Rebecca, just wanted to mention that I am a computer programmer at a Medical University and I work on a huge project for the ANA. Nursing is a great career to get into right now and the pay has gone up greatly. The nurses where I work are saying you can pretty much write your own paycheck and I have a friend who is a nurse and when she gets called in on her day off, they give her 200.00 just to walk through the door. Liz, I did not realize you were a Vet. That's awesome! I have thought about doing that too, but I only have enough money saved to quit work and go to school for 2 years. Also, everything I have been reading says that the demand for Vet techs is going to start exceeding the supply. Hopefully, if it's true, that will bring an increase in the pay. Those of you who are doing it certainly deserve more than 13.00 an hour. Thanks again, and, you all have beautiful dogs! Tammy

Thank you all so much for the replies. Very encouraging! I will let you know if I change my mind after following the Vet. MaggieDog, it's nice to know there are other options. I don't really have to change career's, but I want to work with animals. I am in my youngish 40's and figure if I am ever going to do it I better start acting. I am very excited about it. thanks again, Tammy

Thanks for replying and for the advise. I appreciate it! I have never worked for a Vet, but I worked for a doctor in an out patient surgery center for a few years and I worked as a phlebotomist while I put myself through college the first time. So, I can draw blood from humans. I am sure it is much more difficult to draw from an animal. Part of the acceptance program is to spend a certain amount of hours shadowing a Vet and then writing one, of three, essay's about it. My Vet, that I have had for years, has agreed to let me do that at his practice. I would not be able to work for a Vet and go to school as the school is a 2 year day time program. I might be able to work for the emergency care hospital at night though. Thanks for telling me about the techs in training that work for you, I am going to check it out. In fact, that is what I was hoping to do. I don't mind scooping poop and cleaning kennels but it will definatly be a huge change. I am a software developer for a University right now. Going from my nice cushy office to scooping poop will be at the least, humbling. LOL. Thanks again for the advice! Tammy

I am applying to the only college in my state that has a degree for this. They only take 30 students a year. It is a rigorous road to make the top 40 applicants, which are the only ones invited to the oral interview from which they select the 30. I will also be taking about a 50% pay cut. However, I think I really want to do this. I love animals. I love the medical field. I love helping people and animals, and I have been doing what I do for over 20 years and I am pretty burnt on it. I already have a degree so I would only have to take the VETT classes and labs and my school is paid for. So, I was wondering if there are any of you out there that could give me some input. Is it worth my busting my buns to get in (we are talking lots of intense chemistry and biology classes in a short amount of time. lol). Is it worth the giant pay cut? That is really the least of my concerns. I am more interested in the job satisfaction and loving what I do. Do you love it? Hate it? Is it stimulating enough? Do you actually assist the Vet in procedures? Whatever you can tell me I would love to hear and appreciate the insight. thanks, Tammy

Oh my gosh, she is adorable! She is too cute to be vicious!. She actually looks pretty darn happy in the first photo. It sounds like Mattie is just a crazy person full of himself. Glad you didn't listen to him. Let us know how she is doing. She is lucky to have someone like you who is willing to work with her and be patient. I am sure it will all be worth it in the end. Tammy

Ridiculous. Someone asked you how your other dogs react. I didn't see a reply. Might have missed it. But I wanted to put my two cents in on this. When I first got my BC, he was almost 6 months old and he had some pretty bad habits. He would try to herd my two other dogs if they just moved, he would take cheap snipping shots at them when they would get too close, he would growl, etc... My other dogs put up with it for about a week, and then one of them let him know that she was tired of it. She went after him, pinned him to the ground and let him know that his rudeness was pissing her off. No blood, just fur. I watched to make sure she didn't get too vicious but did not "save" him. I did this on the advice of several on this board. He rarely acted like that towards them again. Today he is almost 2, I still have one of my other dogs, they get along fabulously, and I now have my sons almost 9 month old aussie mix puppy living with us and they are best buds. They rough house together all day long and it never, ever, gets mean. I am saying this just to say that just because your 4 month old puppy acts aggressive now doesn't mean she can't or won't change and sometimes the other dogs are the ones who need to let them know that that kind of behavior is not acceptable. If that is wrong then please someone correct me as I don't want to give bad advice. Just saying, it worked for us. Good luck, and your puppy deserves a chance to stop this. If you get rid of her who knows how her life is going to turn out. Tammy

LOL. Yeah, my dogs would like to jump out the window when they see the dog park approaching too. Did you take the picture yourself while holding onto his collar?

LOL, that is a great picture. I wonder what he is looking at. His eye looks pretty focused on something. It amazes me that dogs can have their eyes open with the wind pounding against them. Thanks for posting it. It gave my whole dept. a good smile Tammy

Thanks! Hammie will be very happy to know that.

Hi Boon, I compete in disc dog comp. as well and just wanted to add my two cents. I don't think jumping is something you have to teach them but more in your ability to throw the disc just right so that with speed of the dog running and the height of the disc, he has to jump. It takes lots of practice but eventually you will get to a point where you pretty much know what every throw is going to be and how your dog is going to catch it. Of course we all have bad throws and sometimes our dogs get a little creative in their catches. But if you work on it a lot you will have a pretty good handle on it. BTW, small brag. Hammie won his first overall dog at the Jackson County Dogtoberfest last month. He beat out 27 other dogs. We are so going to regionals next year. LOL. and another BTW, if anyone else already posted this, sorry. I just skimmed through the post and then posted my reply as I am at work. Tammy

I didn't know that about Ouzo. Congrats (way belated). I wasn't here 2 years ago so now you must post the winning picture of the handsome guy. Tammy

Wiping tears from my eyes. Telling co-workers it's allergies. lol. That was really great. Thanks. Tammy

Thank you. You know, I was just so excited when I saw Hammie was a finalist, I emailed all my friends, family, and co-workers and then posted this here. I never even looked at the other pictures. There are actually about 5 BC's who made the finals. Of course, I voted for Hammie, but regardless, it would be great if another BC wins. Especially if it is Dazzle (providing it's not Hammie)

Congrats! Tweed is awesome. Going to go watch the video now. Tammy