HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Guest Blog By:  Rick L.

It is a proven fact that those who are healthy have lower levels of stress. You can do a lot for yourself to ensure that you are healthier than ever before so that you don’t have to deal with stress as much on a day to day basis.

Take Care of Yourself:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Alone time
• Hanging out with Friends

Diet and exercise are often taken for granted. When you are following a diet and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, 4 times a week, you will stay healthier.

Having time set aside for alone time can do wonders, as will time with your friends to socialize. It’s important to spend equal parts of your week with others and by yourself so that you can help to de-stress and enjoy yourself.

Visit the doctor when you’re sick. Over the counter medicine works for the common cold, but if the coughing and sneezing persists, sometimes an antibiotic is going to be the only thing that will knock the cold out of you for good. The longer you’re sick, the more stressed you become simply because you don’t feel well.

If you don’t have medical insurance, visiting the doctor can be a financial burden. You can visit Kaiser Quotes online and find out how much health insurance will cost you so that you can always see the doctor when you need to.

Megan, The HomeZoopkeeper, and mom to some beautiful Malamute and a Malamute cross, is pleading for help for Max.  Max isn’t in a shelter, but still needs help. You can read more HERE.

Max’s mommy has been affected by this lousy economy and instead of being miserable she is taking action. She’ll be going to a school that is away from home and doesn’t allow her precious boy to tag along.

It’s going to be at least 6 months and her boy needs a temporary loving home to watch after him until mommy is ready with her new found skills.

Are you in the St Paul, MN area or know someone there who is? Could you take in a sweet boy who gets along with people and other dogs (no cats please)?

I would urge anyone else in this situation to do the following:

1) Find a roommate situation off of campus.  I was surprised when I was in college to find reasonable accommodations not far from campus, that even provided a little more room.  Sometimes people even offer rooms for rent, too.  With a tiny dog, it wouldn’t be cruel to keep them crated in your bedroom while at class. It may not be ideal, but it can work for six months.  If you cannot keep the dog alone during the day, there is always doggie daycare.

2)  Relatives.  Is there a friend or relative who has a dog who would be willing to take him on?  I would provide food for the dog so it wouldn’t be an extra trouble for them.  Is there anyone else in your life that dotes on the dog?

If you make an arrangement with a total stranger, be prepared that the individual may fall in love and ask to keep the dog.  Write up an agreement that is signed and notarized by both stating the rights and responsibilities.  Outline what the person caring for the dog will provide, and what the owner will provide.  What permissions are giving for emergency care?  What if the owner should decide they need more time?  This is necessary to know.

I am sad to see that Max can’t go with his owner to school, but I feel when you make a commitment to an animal, they are your responsibility.  There are opportunities I have not taken and places I have not moved because I have dogs.  It doesn’t mean that you give up on your dreams, but there is usually another way to go about them if you sit a minute and think.  There has to be an alternative somehow.  Can you think of any ideas for the owner, or can you pupsit for a few months?