[nagdu] a couple questions

[The Pawpower Pack]

Jordan, but the phrase "taken care of" is a very subjective one.
The ASPCA may define caring for a dog as giving it food, clean water,  
and shelter.
So if I buy a dog house, stick it out in the yard, give the dog water  
and buy it ole roy or another no name kibble, it is considered to be  
"taken care of."
I feed my dogs a prey model raw diet; vaccinate my dogs on a lower  
vaccine schedule except for those required by law, and let her run off  
leash in un-fenced areas when appropriate.
Some people would classify this as "not taking care of my dog."
It's all subjective.
Like you, I live in Louisiana and my dog has gotten fleas about two  
years ago.  I use flea preventive monthly, but the Frontline stopped  
working.  Does this mean that I don't take care of my dog because  
she's gotten fleas before?

There are many assistance dog users who don't do things the way I  
would do them.  One of the reasons I do not attend a program for my  
dog is because I want a dog who is fed a different diet and given a  
different vaccine schedule and who is clicker trained from the ground  
up.
Just because people and programs do things differently than I do  
doesn't make them bad, or not worthy, or unfit.  People are different.
I would wager that if people were honest, many people on this list  
would admit that their dog has had fleas, or heart-worms, or some  
other disease.
The truth is that poop happens.  Accidents happens, life gets in the  
way and we may not give the flea/heart worm preventive on the exact day.
I'll admit that this has happened to me before.
I guess I'm trying to say that blanket statements are rarely  
constructive and are rarely accurate.

Rox and the Herbal HenchHounds:
Bristol (retired), Mill'E SD. and Laveau Guide Dog, CGC.
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm  
not sure about the universe."-Albert Einstein
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