Dog Adoption – How to Find out If Adopting a Dog is Right for You

Favorite borrowing is how peoples try to care for animate beings that have been forsaken, failed, clapper clawed, lost or differently are dispossessed. If new domiciles are n’t found oneself for them there are government agencies that will take them into a shelter. But once the animate being is unclaimed for a sure amount of time or is of a sure age or with medical problems, they will be euthanized.

This solution does not ride substantially with many animal-lovers and the people who work with animals. There are instantly fresh coevals of “shelters” dedicated to caring for these marginalized faunas. There are many positron emission tomography borrowing organizations that make it their occupations to find dwelling houses for lost and desolated favorites without mercy killing being an pick at all. A lot of them work together with big ducky supplying shops in order to pass a wider audience and find homes for all the animate beings that need them.

Shops like PetCo and Pet Smart sell favorite provisions and dog iron provisions, but they too apply Petfinder to bring faunas and masses in concert. Petfinder claims to have brokered 12 million borrowings since 1995. They have a subroutine where you can determine about the brute you want to take over before you take it. You can likewise use it to find other borrowing groupings in your area, and search for positron emission topographies that are uncommitted for borrowing.

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At Petfinder, you can search for duckies in the following brute classes: barn grounds, bird, big cat, domestic dog, Equus caballus, sloven, lapin, reptilian, and diminished & furry. The service will tell you what is uncommitted in your accurate expanse.

Best Friends is an organization given to deliverance and “no-kill,” as it is called. They are a non profit grouping doing work with other non profit groupings to proffer medical assistance, foster homes and borrowing services. It was started in 1998 by two adult females who had premature Tennessean experience with fauna attention and delivery. They regarded there was a indigence for beast lovers to band together to provide attention and rest homes for any creatures that need it.

Brutes who wind up at Best Friends have normally been abused, forsaken or failed and are in serious penury of medical attention. Best Friends creates that come about and then feels the animate being a domicile where they can be safe and experience slept with.

Whichever service from which you choose to follow, it is important to be sure you are ready for the love and dedication it takes to have a positron emission tomography. They should not be viewed as only play things that need to be disposed of when they carried us. They are (arguably) sentient organisms and merit a safe dwelling free from misuse. You do not have to have any moral reservations when purchasing a favorite, but it’s a good conception to consider before spending money on an animal and favorite supplying or firedog provisions – if you’re not able to dedicate to catering for the beast (health care, solid food, man oeuvre time) then mayhap owning a positron emission tomography is not the best idea.

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7 Ways to Improve the Life of Rescue Dogs

You can find homeless dogs virtually everywhere. There are so many dogs out there that are left without a home and end up being displaced at a shelter for several reasons that shelters are a good first place to volunteer your time. If you are seriously thinking about helping any of these homeless dogs but aren’t sure what to do, the best way to improve the lives of any shelter dogs is to adopt one.

Giving any of these dogs a good home is the single most important thing that you can do. But if adopting a dog is just not an option for you right now, then there are several other things that you can do to help better the lives of many shelter dogs. Below are seven suggestions to keep in mind if you are interested in doing this.

1. First, visit your local animal shelter and spend as much time as you can with the dogs. Donating some of your time to simply hang out and play with these canine residents can make a huge difference in their lives. A lot of the time, the shelter staff are very busy with their regular work and simply don’t have the extra time to play with any of the dogs. Shelter employees can always use the help of others to come and play and socialize with these animals. Shelter workers will be more than happy to show you around the shelter and help you figure out what you can do to help.

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As a volunteer, you can give them a little extra pampering by brushing their coats, taking the dogs for a walk around the block or just being there to hang out with them. Usually shelter dogs get very little attention and socialization, and a short visit with them does a lot to improve their overall well-being.

2. You can also volunteer to be a doggie foster parent and keep a rescued dog at your home until he or she finds a permanent, full-time home. This also goes a great way in helping the dog to adjust to family life. The overall socialization just can’t be beat!

3. You can also volunteer to take any of these dogs to an obedience class that will better their chances for possible adoption later. Behavior problems are the #1 reason many dogs are given up in the first place – a trained dog will be much easier to adopt out.

4. Sponsor fund raising parties for the shelter and donate all the cash to your local rescue organization. You may also ask for donations of items that you can bring to the shelter such as: blankets, food and treats, collars, leashes, toys, kennels, etc.

5. Help wash and groom the dogs and then bring them to adoption fairs.

6. Inform people about all upcoming dog adoptions and fairs and by being a shelter volunteer try placing an ad in your local paper or putting up flyers on bulletin boards and at dog parks.

7. Last but not the least, keep in mind that the best way to prevent dog shelter overcrowding in the first place is to spay or neuter your pets and to spread the word about the benefits of getting these house pets fixed.

Just following any of these methods can go a long way in helping the overcrowded situations in shelters all over the world. A little bit of your time can go a long way in any shelter dogs life.

Pets: They are Family

I’ll never forget that day.

“Dad, we’ll feed her. We’ll let her out. We’ll take care of her.”

That was a long time ago, when I was a little girl. We’d had cats for the first few years of my life, but an uncaring neighbor killed them because he didn’t like cats. For the next few years, we didn’t have pets. Then a teammate of my sister’s from Bobby-Sox Softball offered us one of the litter – a beagle.
Life was never the same. The joy of having a four-legged critter would forever enhance my life. Of course, Dad fed her, and Mom let her out. In fact, years later I gifted my mother with a T-shirt that said:

Agenda for the day
Let Dog in.
Let Dog out.
Let Dog in.
Let Dog out.

She wore it proudly in her golden years, but I digress. Back to our puppy. What was never disputed was that our love for our new family member was huge from the start.

Lady Tamara – Tammy. She was an only child, so to speak, for many years, and we spoiled her rotten. My poor mother, who couldn’t help but love the dogs as they entered our lives, really wasn’t a dog person. Unfortunately, the canines loved her, and they had her number from the start. She was their slave, much to her chagrin.

I remember vividly, night after night, Tammy cuddling up on our sofa, next to my mom and demanding to be patted. It went on all night long.

Years later, my sister decided it was time to get another dog. Of course, she failed to tell my parents. I knew, but they didn’t. So, one early Saturday morning, she went to the pound and adopted the ‘pet of the week’, a beautiful shepherd-collie she named Solomon. I remember my parents and I were in the living room, watching TV, when there was a knock on the window. There was my sister, dressed in softball attire for a women’s softball team she played on, and at her feet, this beautiful fluffball who Sis named Solomon.

What could my parents say? The love was right there, smiling and wagging his tail.

Now, Tammy wasn’t terribly thrilled. She didn’t feel threatened; she was just apathetic. It was kinda funny. It wasn’t long, though, before Sol won over our finicky beagle. I have the most incredible photo of them out by our pool. They are on a towel. Sol, all of two months old, is sitting, looking up at Tammy, who was staring down at him.

I swear, Tammy was saying, ‘Okay, you can stay, but listen up. *I* am the queen of this house. You do what I say, when I say it, and I get the bones!”

The newcomer was gazing up at his mentor with a responsive, “I love you, Tammy.”

That was pretty much their relationship. It wasn’t long before Sol was quadruple the size of Tammy, but she always ruled the roost. She was the queen. When they both were given meat bones from the butcher, she’d eat hers and, if she felt like it, she’d go take his, and this big dog would just watch her do it.

Other dogs have joined our family over the years, each bringing their own joy and love to our family. When Tammy, Sol, and others left us to go to Rainbow Bridge, it was heartbreaking. I have very vivid, clear memories of how each one left us. There was so much pain. The mourning was horrendous. Even now, just thinking about them, I’m on the verge of tears.

You see, these ‘pets’ were never ‘pets’ to us. They were family. Now, they are my children. When my babies pass on, it is as hurtful and painful as any family member, and, yes, I’ve taken time off of work to mourn and recover. It’s that, or cry through shift after shift.

My babies are my joy and a big part of my survival. Today, I have two girls, a black lab and a lab-shepherd-heeler mix. They are bonded, sisters of the heart. Life, for me, in recent times hasn’t been the best, but I’ve been fortunate to have support from some very kind folks. I’m grateful for them. My babies, though, are what really make me smile. As I sit here, I can look out my window and see them being taunted by a squirrel, or watch them chasing each other all over the backyard, or just sitting down, looking up at me through the window.

I smile. I smile because of them each and every day. It’s truly the little things. Tessa, my little one, bringing over her toy, wanting to play. Cassie, her big sister, rolling over on parade, wanting to be rubbed on her tummy.

They are joy.

They are family.

When I was young, Tammy used to get out of the backyard a lot. She was a digger. Oh, the tears I cried. Somehow, though, she always found her way back. Once, she followed me to school. Now, that was a funny feeling, to walk out of class and see my beagle wagging her tail at me. Once, I opened the front door, and she was just sitting there, waiting patiently for us. We had no clue how long she’d been gone. Several times, kind, animal loving people returned her, always with a smile and happy to reunite our baby with us.

None of the other doggies were ever that interested in exploring beyond our home. In fact, Tina, our water-loving golden retriever, wanted to have nothing to do with anywhere but home. I used to try and take her for walks, but I’d get halfway around the block, and this big dog would want me to pick her up. She just didn’t like it at all. With Tina, we could open all the doors and gates, and she’d just run to the bedroom and go to sleep on the bed. It was the same with Stanley, our lab-chow mix.

Actually, Stanley adopted me at the place where I was working. Seriously, he was spotted by our receptionist. A bunch of us gathered round and finally coaxed him inside the building (good thing the boss wasn’t around). He wouldn’t take food from anyone but me. Shrug – I guess he knew he’d be safe and loved forever with me. Of course, I already had two other dogs – Tina and my second beagle, Katie. Luckily, they took to Stanley right away, and he bonded with them within a week or two. The point is, he realized he had a good thing, and he had no desire to go anywhere.

Even Katie, adopted from the SPCA, wasn’t like Tammy. Instead of digging, she loved to jump. She was very athletic. She did get out the front door a few times, but she always looked back, as if to ask, “You are following me, right?”

I believe Katie had been abused. She was so timid at first, and I discovered by accident that she would cower when my hand was raised in a certain way. That tore through my heart. It didn’t take her long to realize, though, that she was safe here. After awhile the cowering stopped completely. She knew this was home, and that we loved her and would never hurt her.

Katie was very special. She could open doors with her paws, not by nudging and using her nose, but by turning the doorknob. She had an incredible will and desire to overcome obstacles. When she had back surgery, the vets didn’t think she’d live, and if she did, they were positive she wouldn’t walk. I remember when we brought her home, still under anesthetic, the vet said, “She won’t move for 24 hours.”

I said, “You don’t know my dog.”

“She might move a paw in a day.”

“Uh-huh. No.”

Twelve hours later, the paw moved.

The vet says, “Do not let her move around. She won’t be able to anyway, but keep her on her blanket.”

“Keep Katie on a blanket? Are you kidding? You don’t know my dog.”

I swear – that is what the conversation was.

Twenty-four hours later, all four paws were moving, and she was trying to get up – and the next day, she did!

Katie was unsinkable. Nothing got to her, and she didn’t know or fear pain.

The only really void in the history of my children is Piccolo, an adorable puppy who died of distemper. I swore I’d never go back to the pound for a dog again. They had his age wrong, and he didn’t get his shots in time. He was so smart and full of life. Maybe it was the name. He was named after Brian Piccolo, the Chicago Bear football player who died tragically of cancer at age 26. My Piccolo died too young, too. I remember him running around the yard, doing tricks at his tender age. He wasn’t here long, but I miss him just as much as I do my other doggies, all of whom have lived long, happy lives.

My point?

Pets may be pets to some, but to me, they are family; they are my children. They have personalities that are distinctive and unique. Like kids, they misbehave. Like cunning adults, sometimes they know how to get each other in trouble (Katie had that mastered).

I feel sorry for folks who think a dog is just a dog, or a cat is just a cat. I also have no tolerance for people who give their ‘pets’ away so easily at various times. Would they give away their child? Yes, because that is exactly what they are doing. They give no thought to how the dog will feel when they just suddenly disappear from their lives. Cliche, but true: dogs are people, too.

My babies having always been my deepest and best joy.

They are my loves, and I would do anything in this world for them.

And now, it’s time to let my Cassie and Tessa in the house; they’ve been outside, playing, and now it’s time for Mom to get some love from her babies. We are a family, and that is something I would never change.

Dolly is a pit bull terrier mix who came to CCR from Chicago’s Animal Care and Control. The first thing that comes to mind when you meet our Dolly is happy. Dolly loves to play fetch, walks well on a leash, and is crate trained.

Movie Review: Wes Craven Presents The Breed

“Wes Craven presents.” Putting a famous director’s name in a movie’s title doesn’t really guarantee anything. Especially not Craven’s, since he’s actually made more rotten movies than good ones. On THE BREED, filmed in South Africa, he’s the executive producer, that’s all.

Already during the opening titles, I felt that, no, I don’t think I want to watch this. Glossy images of a blue ocean and islands, with mainstream rock on the soundtrack. Five young kids in their thirties arrive to a nowadays deserted island to party. One of them is an annoying black guy who’s single – guess who’s first to die!

It turns out that the island isn’t at all deserted, there used to live evil scientists who performed gene experiments on dogs, and these murderous beasts are still there. But they look rather cuddly. The five uninteresting main characters party (too long) before the killer dogs attack. Thrilling? No. Boring? Yes. And the body count is low as well.

This movie is a dog.

…But if you really want to check out a movie about killer dogs, there are plenty to choose from. The most obvious is of course CUJO (1983), based on the Stephen King bestseller. Then there’s DEVIL DOG: HOUND OF HELL (1978) about a family adopting a dog that turns out to be, well, the title says it all. DOGS OF HELL (1983) is about a band of killer dogs terrorizing an idyllic resort community, and several years earlier, in 1977, there was THE PACK, in which a group of dogs become wild when left on a resort island. A marine biologist leads the humans who fight to keep the dogs from using vacationers as chew toys.

The dog who’s MAN’S BEST FRIEND (1993) turns evil after genetic experiments. In 1978′s ZOLTAN…HOUND OF DRACULA, the vampire and his bloodthirsty dog go to Los Angeles to find the last of Count Dracula’s living descendants. PLAY DEAD (1981) stars Yvonne De Carlo as a psychotic woman who trains a dog to rip people to shreds.

But you have to leave it to the Italians to get it right. 1982 saw the arrival of the immortal trash classic KILLER DOG. A rock band is mauled, threatened, and drooled upon by an untrainable mutant canine. Rock star Cooper plays the leader of the band. Most critics and viewers thought the title of the movie was very appropriate. ‘Cause this movie sure is a killer dog!

Check out these photos from a wonderful weekend of animal adoption at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Over 50 shelters and rescue groups brought animals available for adoption, and in the end, hundreds of deserving pets found new homes.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Getting to Know Your Dog

Getting to Know Your Dog

No matter how much time you put into learning about the breed you have chosen, there is an additional point which you should consider:  while there are many factors common to a particular breed, each dog is still an individual.  You can gain a fair amount of understanding of what the breed is like, but getting to know your own dog means going a little further.

The best way to get to know your dog is with in-person visits before you make your final decision to adopt him.  If the breeder you have chosen lives fairly close to you, or if you are able to travel, the time you put into this will be invaluable.  When you can meet, visit, and spend time with a dog, you will be able to determine if he is the right “fit” for you. 

Spending just a small amount of time in your dog’s company will help you to see what his personality and behavior are like.  You may find that you and he are a good match immediately, that you grow to adore each other, or that there are clashes which prod you to decide that this is not the right dog for you.  If you have the opportunity to do so, meeting and spending time with the dog before you adopt will be very beneficial to you both.

You may be considering a breeder who lives too far away to visit in person.  In this situation, spending time with your dog before you adopt him may not be possible.  You will have to rely on the breeder to supply the information you need.  Although dog breeders are busy, a good breeder will be more than willing to communicate with you, and answer all of your questions.  His goal is not only to find a good home for his dog, but to have a satisfied customer as well.

Asking questions about the dog’s habits and lifestyle helps you to see whether he is a good match for you.  One example is to ask whether the dog has been raised in his breeder’s home, outdoors, or in a kennel.  This will let you know what kind of everyday environment the dog is familiar with, and whether the environment you plan for him is similar or different.

Another question to ask the breeder is how the dog interacts with people and other pets.  A dog who has been taken care of in his breeder’s home may be used to being around children, adults, and other animals, while the dog who has been outdoors or in a kennel may not.  The purpose of knowing these facts in advance is to help you in deciding whether the dog you are thinking about can easily adjust to your home situation, or whether it may produce undue difficulties.

The breeder should also be willing to discuss the dog’s habits with you.  You may be planning to adopt a puppy, or an adult dog.  Each of these age groups, or stages, come with assets and special concerns.  For example, while a puppy can be expected to have “accidents” on the floor, the adult-aged dog should be completely trained.  On the other hand, an adult-aged dog is already impacted by years of experiences which can affect his attitude and behavior, while a small puppy is waiting for experiences to shape his attitudes, behavior, and personality. 

You want to know what your dog is really like before you bring him home.  If there are negative aspects to your dog’s behavior and habits, knowing about them in advance helps you to prepare to cope with them.  You may decide that this is the dog you have been looking for, or you could change your mind and continue your search elsewhere.  Either way, the best time to learn about your dog is before you actually adopt him. 

If you are able to make a choice, it is better to choose a breeder and dog whom you can meet prior to adopting.  While it is possible to gain a great deal of information over the phone, through letters, or by communicating over the internet with the breeder, it is no match for spending time with your prospective new pet in person.  This will give you the opportunity to see him in the environment he is familiar with, watch how he interacts with people, and observe him at play. 

Whichever method is appropriate for your situation, the most essential point to keep in mind is to learn as much as you can about the dog you want to adopt before you agree to purchase him.  It can help you to avoid making the mistake of getting a dog that is all wrong for you, and make the chances very good that you will find the dog who is the perfect match for you.

The Wonderful Experience of Cultural Shocks

I was born and raised in a Kunming, Yunnan province in southwest China. It’s nicknamed “City of Spring” for its spring like weather all year round.  “Not too cold or too hot”, as everyone likes to say it.

Memories of my hometown are snapshots of flush green mountains dotted with wild berry bushes, flowers blooming all year round, clear blue skies draped with clouds of white cotton candy. My afternoons were spent in lazy pleasant breezes chasing butterflies and collecting caterpillars of different colors, textures and shapes.  Life was full of surprises and fun. Sure, there were times things got very harsh and I had my share of pains in life. Poetry writing and horseback riding were passions of my youthful days and writing seemed to be my ultimate destiny.  At the age of 24, with a sudden turn of fate, I ventured out into the United States as a foreign student and started my life’s new journey. Armed with a BA in English Language and Literature, I was ready to conquer the world.

Arriving at Dallas/Ft.Worth Intl. Airport, I was picked up by a member of the foreign student council from Baylor University. He was an elderly southern gentleman, very nice and kind. We stared at each other and laughed for half an hour before heading out to the car. It was funny for him to listen to a black eyed, flat faced Chinese girl speaking like a Brit. I thought he had been adopted by an alien and plainly didn’t learn how to speak English.

Dr. Vardman and his lovely wife Betsy showed their hospitality by inviting me to the one and only Chinese restaurant in Waco, TX. I flipped the menu five times and determined that they had taken me to the wrong place by mistake. There was nothing Chinese about the place other than the soy sauce on the table, and the face of the waiter who didn’t speak much of English nor Chinese. I hardly finished my Broccoli Beef. They asked the waiter for a doggy bag to put all the leftover in and asked me if I would like to take it home. I politely thanked them for the offer and informed them that I didn’t have a dog.

My friend and I went out to dinner one night. I ordered Scotch. “You all like it on the rock, ma’am?” ??? “No, Sir. In a glass is just splendid. Thank you very much. By the way, my friend doesn’t want scotch; a cup of hot tea will be fine with her.” “In what Ma’am, excuse me?” “In a glarss, Sir.” “Oh, in a glairss. Of course, Ma’am. You all like it on the rock, in a glairss, Ma’am?” “ I’d like my scotch poured into a glarss, not on the rock. I don’t care much for rocks, I am afraid.”  “Freightov what? gitten drunk? No Ma’am, You all get drunk drinking it straight you being young and all. Badher on the rocks.” I was getting more confused and frustrated by then, “Alright, sir. Bring it on the rock, then. Thank you.”  We got one scotch in a glass with ice cubes, just the way I wanted it. The waiter made a comment about my sense of humor. I couldn’t quite comprehend what was so funny about all that till I talked with Besty the next day.  We were both in tears by the time I finished my story. Two young men were seated at the next table. Halfway through dinner, they came over and we got into a conversation. The younger of the two said to me, “I want to tellya, my friend is very fresh.” “That’s all right. I am fresh, too. I just got here a few days ago. You will manage. People here are very friendly.” There was a burst of laughter followed by a brief lesson on the vou-cabulary.

Eight months later, I finally got some money saved and was ready to purchase my first automobile. After researching through all the paper ads, I decided on a whopping deal. Of a brand new white Hyundai with burgundy interior for only 99! I would wipe out my savings in my Bank of America account and have Ramen for couple of months if I had to. By the time I drove off, the price tag was 99, and I had my first debt in my life.  I still wonder to this day if that was a deal or no deal. I just got licensed four days before, and had never driven a car prior to that. I was extremely excited about my new car, and nervous driving back to my apartment on the freeway. A truck pulled up side by side and the driver waved the finger at me. Texans were known to be very friendly. This one seemed extraordinary. In return for the courtesy, I smiled and waved the finger back. In China, we greeted people by waving the whole hand, not just one finger. Alright, “Do in Rome as the Romans do”. The driver suddenly made an angry face and pointed a hand gun at me. Scared out of my wits, I slowed down. Before I could make sense of what had just happened, another truck zoomed by and the driver pointed a gun at the “friendly” driver. And shoulder by shoulder, they raced into the distance. Solute to the chivalrous cowboy who came to my rescue!

I got a dinner and movie invitation from a guy in one of my classes. We had a nice dinner at a steak house and went to see Tender Mercy. I enjoyed both. He dropped me off and asked if he could come in and chat a little. I thanked him and told him it’s too late. Maybe we could chat tomorrow during lunch time. I offered to pay for lunch. He never called again and avoided me in class. I thought seriously he had bipolar or mental illness of some kind for a while.  I consulted with Betsy , she told me to clearly tell guys that I needed to go home right away after dinner for homework if I ever received dinner invitations again. I did exactly that and strangely, most of them would have to cancel dinner appointments because something just came up.

Chopper is a young male Lowchen or Shih Tzu for adoption. He was found as a stray — very mated and scared but now he has been professionally groomed, now he is a very happy boy and — waaaaay too cute ! He loves other dogs and would make a super agility dog . He is for adoption in MA — call 781-585-0529.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

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Bed Bugs

Zero Bed Bugs

Bed Bugshave been the cause of panic and paranoia in the most beautiful and developed cities in the world. A mere thought of New York City arouses towering images of upper-class architecture, state of art modern transportation, people living in the illustration of their own fantasies-turned-realities. Over the last few decades, New York has played an enormous role in being the front-runner of global development; attributing it to become the costliest and the most developed cities in today’s world. The collective influence of various people from various walks of life; combined with the never-ending spirit the city inhibits. The understanding of the city is such that every day is fresh and inspiringly new. The city reflects the collective conscious of the residents plainly and surely. ANY problem faced within the perimeters of the city get global exposure and mostly creates general inquisitiveness amongst people, all over the world.

The significance of Bed Bug Dogs over other traditional procedures of detection is as follows:

They are able to scan and detect a whole portion of your home, office, and hotel; within a very short span of time.

They can detect the whole portion of your space with utmost detailing.

They have been successful in detecting and identifying every infected area in your house, hotel or office completely.

They are very easy to manipulate; especially for human beings, as they are a man’s best friend.

As they make use of their sniffing senses to detect the Bugs, they are never wrong!

Bed Bug Dogs detection has been 100% efficient in every case of Infestation.

Our Bed Bug Dogs NYC package serve as the initial line of defense one may employ towards the identification of infested areas in your home, hotels and offices. Our trained and professional team of handlers is ready to detect any intensity of Bed Bug infestation. Once the infested areas have been identified, it becomes easy for our squad members to implement strategies and methods to eradicate these nasty little creatures from your vicinity at the earnest. Moreover, we believe in the concept of Zero-Bed-Bugs.

Be Patient, But! In a good way!!

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Eddie Vedder:a Short Biography

AKA Edward Louis Severson III

Born: 23-Dec-1964
Birthplace: Evanston, IL

Gender: Male
Religion: Atheist
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Singer

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Lead singer, Pearl Jam

Edward Louis Severson III entered the world in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, where he was greeted right away with a convoluted family life. Raised to believe that his mother’s second husband was his biological father, his actual father (known to him only as a family friend) died of multiple sclerosis before the fact of his parentage was revealed. His adoptive father separated from the family when Eddie was in his early teens, adding more to his emotional troubles and compelling him to find refuge in drugs and, more constructively, an extensive record collection. While in high school he became active in local garage bands, eventually dividing his time between Chicago and San Diego in order to paricipate in both music scenes. He formed his first band, Bad Radio, during this period, but, due to an inability to expand beyond a regional audience, the project was later dissolved.

Through his friend and sometime Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons, Vedder (who been using his mother’s maiden name since learning about his real father) was exposed to a demo tape put together by guitarists Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, both formerly of the band Mother Love Bone. Vedder dubbed his vocals over the instrumental tracks and sent it to the duo in Seattle; they were impressed enough with the results that they immediately invited the singer to fly out for a visit. The three individuals meshed well on a personal level, and within days Vedder had made a permanent move to Seattle to begin work on the new band in earnest. Initially, they performed as Mookie Blaylock, the name of a favorite basketball player; before any records had been released, however, this was altered to Pearl Jam, in honor of an aunt’s peyote-laced preserves. Blaylock was still given a nod in the title chosen for their debut album: Ten (1991) being the ball player’s jersey number. Several months before work on this album started, a short-lived project was undertaken with members of Soundgarden under the name Temple of the Dog, resulting in a single eponymous record at the end of 1990.

Following the release of Ten, Pearl Jam immediately achieved enormous popularity, being one of several bands (Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains amongst them) to benefit from the hype surrounding the initial Seattle “grunge” explosion. In particular, the song Jeremy — whose subject matter centered around a boy who commits suicide in front of his classmates — gained Vedder and the band both notoriety and a devout fan base amongst alienated teens. The next two albums, Vs. (1993) and Vitalogy (1994) were met with equal success, but by this time a backlash against the “grunge hype” was becoming evident. Around the release of Vitalogy, the band’s press coverage was distracted away from its music to concentrate instead on a conflict with (and subsequent law suit against) the ubiquitous ticket vendor/extortion racket Ticketmaster; sadly, the resolution to this conflict failed to bring about much improvement in the situation. With the next release, No Code, a deliberate move away from a commercial sound was made, resulting in a corresponding drop in sales. 1998′s Yield made a return to a more accessible style more in keeping with the band’s earlier records.

Outside of his work in Pearl Jam, Vedder has become active in political circles, campaigning for Ralph Nader and the Green Party in the 2000 presidential election, as well as participating in benefit events for Tibetan independence and the West Memphis 3 (within the context of the band, he had made earlier appearances at benefits for the Bridge School project and the Surfrider Foundation). Several collaboratons with some of his musical influences have also taken place over the years, with vocal contributions being made to Neil Young’s Mirrorball in 1995, Pete Townshend’s 1999 Maryville Academy benefit and 2004 Magic Bus concert, and The Who’s 2003 performance at the Royal Albert Hall. A less predictable pairing was made with Pakistani legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for the soundtrack of Tim Robbins’ 1996 film Dead Man Walking. Pearl Jam has continued to remain both active and popular, although its recorded output during the 00s has been limited to Binaural (2000), Riot Act (2002) and the rarities collection Lost Dogs (2003). A separation from their label Epic Records was made in 2003, and the band has yet to decide whether to play host to yet another corporate parasite.

Father: Peter Mueller (adoptive father)
Mother: Karen Lee Vedder
Father: Ed Severson, Jr. (biological father, d. multiple sclerosis)
Brother: Chris Mueller (half-brother)
Wife: Beth Liebling (bass player, m. 3-Jun-1994, div. Sep-2000)
Wife: Jill McCormick (b. circa 1978, m. 18-Sep-2010, two daughters)
Daughter: Olivia Vedder (b. 11-Jun-2004)
Daughter: Harper Moon Margaret Vedder (b. 23-Sep-2008)

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10 Weird Facts About Ted Bundy’s Childhood

Theodore Robert Bundy was born November 24, 1946 and was executed on January 24, 1989.  He fits the typical “American serial killer” role to a tea — white, male, in his 20′s or 30′s with an atypical childhood.  He went on a three year killing spree killing numerous young women.  He eventually confessed to 30 murders although many suspect that the number was higher and some suspect the number was much much higher.  He used his good looks to lure victims and often pretended he was injured or was an authority figure such as a police officer.  He was found guilty of 30 murders of young women and was sentenced to death.  His last words were:  “I’d like you to give my love to my family and friends.”  Then, he was executed in the electric chair.

What kind of an upbringing would allow a child to turn into a man such as Ted Bundy?  While I am neither condoning nor belittling the agonizing pain of his victim’s and their families, such behaviour does give one pause for thought.  Are some people born evil?  Are they raised to become evil?  I believe it’s a little of both.  Bundy definitely lead a different childhood.  Here are ten weird facts about young Ted Bundy’s life.

Ted Bundy was not his birth name.
He was born Theodore Robert Cowell and remained so for a few years.  After he moved to Tacoma with his mother, she changed his last name to Nelson.  Within a year after that, his mother Louise Cowell met Johnnie Culpepper Bundy.  They later married and Johnnie Bundy legally adopted Theodore and changed his last name to Bundy.

Ted Bundy thought his mother was his sister for many years.
He was born at a home for unwed mothers.  To avoid the social stigma of having an illegitimate grandchild born to a young mother, his grandparents claimed him as their own.  They told young Ted that Louise was his sister and not his mother.  He did not discover the truth of his maternal parentage until at least the end of high school or perhaps in the first couple years of college.

No one is really sure who his biological father was.
His mother gives two different stories for this.  The name on his birth certificate was Lloyd Marshall.  However, she later spoke of being seduced by a war veteran named Jack Worthington.  There is one other option, however.  Some members of Bundy’s family think that his grandfather may also be his biological father.  He was  mentally unstable, violent and abusive.  He would also fly into a rage if anyone spoke of Ted’s biological father.

He showed violent tendencies as young as three years old.
His Aunt Julia, Louise’s younger sister, recalls incidents of laying down for a nap in her home and waking up to find knives surrounding her and a smiling three year old Bundy at her side.  This paints an eerie, strange picture of a toddler arranging knives around his sleeping aunt.

Bundy’s grandfather (who he thought was his father and indeed may have been) tortured animals.
Bundy describes incidents of his grandfather Samuel abusing the family dog.  He also claimed that Samuel would swing neighbourhood cats around by their tails.  Ted himself has been said to torment animals with knives.  He would mutilate animals with the knives which seemed to fascinate him so much.

Young Ted was active in the Methodist Church and even served as Vice President of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
He was also involved in the Boy Scouts of America club.  Although later he stated:  “I didn’t know what made people want to be friends.  I didn’t know what made people attractive to one another. I didn’t know what underlay social interactions.”  He was often described as shy and introverted at this age.

His criminal activities began before he finished high school.
He was a habitual liar.  He compulsively stole and shoplifted.  He later claimed that he was also involved in voyeurism at a young age specifically by peeping into windows.  He was arrested twice as a juvenile but the records were later expunged.

He majored in Psychology in University and graduated with a degree in 1972.
He started taking classes upon his graduation from high school in 1965 in Psychology and Oriental Studies.  After a serious girlfriend broke up with him for his lack of ambition, he rededicated himself to Psychology and earned his degree in 1972.  He was well liked by his professors and graduated with honors.  He started dating a woman with a child (relationship lasted six years) while concurrently and covertly re-establishing his relationship with his girlfriend who dumped him.  After a year of their born again relationship, he proposed and she accepted.  Two weeks later, he dumped her and began his killing spree.  He would not break up his six year relationship to another woman until he was arrested for kidnapping in 1976.  There are many who say that most of his victims looked like the girlfriend who original dumped him (long dark hair parted in the middle).

He volunteered at a suicide crisis center alongside a now famous crime author, Ann Rule.
As a part of his psychology classes, he volunteered at a suicide crisis center.  Imagine, a serial killer talking people out of killing themselves.  Completely bizarre.  One of his co-workers and friends was Ann Rule who is now a well known crime writer.  She was researching the crimes Ted committed all the while not knowing it was her friend who committed them.  She later published a book called : “The Stranger Beside Me” detailing her relationship with Ted and the numerous crimes he was convicted of.

Ted was heavily involved with the Republican.
In 1968, Ted managed the Seattle office of Nelson Rockefeller’s presidential campaign and attended the Republican Convention in Miami.  After his graduation in 1972, he went to work for the state Republican Party.  He was later involved in a minor scandal when the democrats found out that Ted had been following one of them around posing as a college student and taping their speeches and reporting the information back to his Republican office.

Ted Bundy’s journey to adulthood had many odd facets.  Perhaps a closer examination of serial killer’s pasts can lead to their earlier detection and possibly even prevent serial killers from killing.

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Free Yorkies for Adoption

There are lots of free yorkies for adoption on the internet if you just know where to look. You’re probably here because you are a yorkie lover and want one of these sweet little loving dogs to call your own. Either that, or your kids have fallen in love with yorkies and are begging you for one. Because yorkies are so expensive when you buy them from a breeder, and because you believe in helping out our four-legged friends in need, you agreed to a dog only if you could find free yorkies for adoption.

The Yorkie Rescue Site features lots of free yorkies for adoption. Just go to their website and enter in your zipcode. You may have to wait while the site shows you an ad (they’ve got to make money somehow), and then the site will take you to a page showing free yorkies for adoption in your area. Not all of the dogs on the Yorkie Rescue Site are free, but you can search through the results for your area to figure out which listings offer free yorkies for adoption.

Another great place to find free yorkies for adoption is your local Craigslist. Go to your city’s page and look under their pet listings. You might just be surprised at the furry companions you see listed there.

Two other places you can check that might have free yorkies for adoption are your local humane society and your local pound. Sometimes animals get into difficult situations and have nowhere to go. Often times the humane society and the pound will have foster opportunities looking after these animals. If things go well, you may even get to keep your new little companion and adopt them. Usually, you have to go through training and an approval process before you are approved to foster an animal, but it may be well worth it if you meet your new best friend through fostering.

Finally, search the internet and your local pet forums for free  yorkies for adoption. You might be surprised and run into a listing for an animal just down the street for an animal in need of a loving home.

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