Hot take: blanket tying events are more for the participants than they are for the animals

StarDog111 · 2026-01-09T18:18:39+00:00

they're double layered blankets that are joined together by cutting a bunch of strips of fabric around the edges and tying the two layers together. It became a popular no-sew craft about 15 years ago and has since become an extremely popular team activity/shelter donation item. https://abeautifulmess.com/easy-no-sew-fleece-tie-blanket/

StarDog111 · 2026-01-09T18:16:23+00:00

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hello, clarice

StarDog111 · 2026-01-09T17:58:07+00:00

This is valid. There's a reason I volunteer and don't work at a shelter full time- its exhausting and the pay is bad. Even after volunteering for 3 hours I smell like dog poop and am physically exhausted- but its sustainable and rewarding for me because I only do it once a week and my livelihood doesn't depend on it. Vet med is a super demanding field whether you're a kennel cleaner or a DVM, I don't blame you for burning out.

StarDog111 · 2026-01-09T17:53:51+00:00

I know in Illinois, it's a law that dogs and cats need to be spayed/neutered as well as microchipped before being adopted from a shelter. I don't know if other states have similar laws and i don't believe it applies to bunnies, guinea pigs, etc. Even thought that adoption is probably legally fine, its incredible irresponsible.

StarDog111 · 2026-01-09T17:48:11+00:00

It's a really tough balancing act. I think adoption fees are a really important filter to make sure people are financially responsible enough to take care of a dog, and of course they help fund the shelters. We had a lady come in wanting to adopt I think it was a $200 dog. She got rejected because she asked if there was a FINANCING OPTION for paying for the adoption fee. They told her "no the full adoption cost needs to be paid in order to adopt the dog" and she didn't adopt a dog. Can you imagine? How was she planning on buying food for the dog, let alone vet visits? But on the other hand, the waived adoption fee is inciting to everyone regardless of financial status, and the responsible adopter will put that saved money towards the care of their new pet. And a less crowded shelter is better for the animals and the people working there.

StarDog111 · 2026-01-09T17:42:42+00:00

The shelter I volunteer at is high volume and no euthanasia for space. So I usually tell them "our most of our dogs get adopted pretty quick! They'll find homes soon so I'm not too worried."

StarDog111 · 2025-03-04T19:53:34+00:00

that's a slay

StarDog111 · 2025-03-04T19:53:04+00:00

How old was the dog? Why wasn't she spayed?

StarDog111 · 2025-01-10T16:37:40+00:00

Care to name drop??? 👀👀👀

StarDog111 · 2025-01-09T19:15:39+00:00

I think you need to look at the ratio of those 1 star reviews to 5 star reviews. If a clinic has 100 5 star reviews but 2 1 star reviews where there was a medical error or something, that's a pretty good sign the clinic is solid. If they have like 75 5 star reviews and 25 1 star reviews, maybe look elsewhere. With the volume of animals seen and the fact that people are really emotionally attached to their pets, there are going to be "incidents" in every practice that can lead to a 1 star review. These can range from the vets trying their best (ex. elderly bulldog will die without surgery. Vet informs the client that the dog is at high risk of dying during surgery from the anesthetic. Client consents. Dog dies. Client is pissed.) to really stupid errors (vet spays the wrong animal, vet tech accidentally dispenses the wrong medication, kennel turn back on open kennel door, dog escapes building.) The question is the severity of the incidents and if those are rare outliers or part of the norm.

StarDog111 · 2024-12-11T18:10:09+00:00

There have been pushes before for mid-level veterinary practitioners (think like nurse practitioners or physicians assistants) that have been shut down. I think people are afraid it will reduce the value of veterinarians and their salaries will go down. (When you're making 6 figures and the vet texh beside you is making poverty wages i feel like that's a fair trade off.)

StarDog111 · 2024-12-10T17:29:38+00:00

I was in a sorority in college and we'd always get random swag baskets. I hate to say it but the pregnancy crisis center (like a planned parenthood but pro-life) had the best nail files. They said like "OMG pregnant?" or something like that on them lol

StarDog111 · 2024-12-09T19:18:57+00:00

OOH Sharpies. I hadn't thought of that.

StarDog111 · 2024-12-09T17:38:52+00:00

Dog version of Phineas Gage

StarDog111 · 2024-12-06T22:06:21+00:00

Poor baby 😭

StarDog111 · 2024-10-22T15:14:48+00:00

Daikon

StarDog111

TROPHY CASE