(first would like to apologize for not posting in the last month, I had a lot of stuff going on)
Me and my dog Amber
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The one thing that I feel is a must when getting a new pet is preparation. More often than not the pets at pet stores get bought on impulse.
photo from connect.in.com/california-pet-tax.com
Here is a story I wish to share with you regarding impulse pets, as I call them. One of my old coworkers from Petco recently found a pair of green anole lizards trapped in an empty pop bottle in the Petco bathroom. These lizards werespeculated to have been bought at Petco just a few weeks earlier and had been abandoned, rather crudely, in the bathroom as if they were nothing more than trash. My coworker guessed that the lizards were abandoned due to the cost of their housing, which includes an $80 light bulb as well as numerous other items. The lizards themselves sell for a mere $7 at Petco.
Most impulse pets are those cute, cuddly, often cheaper pets normally found in a local pet store such as a guinea pig, hamster, or lizard. These pets end up being emotional purchases that usually end in the abandonment of the animal. However, dogs and other pets can also fall into this impulse pet category as well and suffer the same fate associated with disinterest and lack of knowledge about the pet.
By purchasing a pet by impulse you may not know what exactly you are getting into with care expenses such vet bills (which are often more expensive for smaller exotic pets).
For instance an aquatic turtle usually sells for $20 in any given pet store but the setup and care expense can at times run higher than $400 when all is said and done and that’s not even including vet visits for annual checkups or sickness.
Another issue when buying a pet on impulse is that current pets are not compatible with the new one. For example ferret owners should deter from adding a hedgehog or small rodent to their family.
These pets that are bought on impulse usually end up in shelters, for sale ads, rescues, or abandoned because their owners did not do their research on the pet, become frustrated with its care, or become bored with it.
These are just some reasons to stay away from impulse pet purchases.
I always suggest that people try to talk to a friend with a similar animal, or visit their local pet stores or shelters to try to get more accustomed with the animal. It is also very good to do research via the internet or library on the specific type of pet you are considering before actually going and purchasing that pet.
When you decide on which pet is right for you and have covered all the bases and know the costs associated with the animal then I would say go ahead and pick one out but keep in mind that a pet purchase should be committed purchase to give that pet a stable and lifelong home so it’s always better to understand what you are getting into.
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Twenty-year-old Tasha Gorentz doesn’t think twice when she gets the call to pick up a 5-month-old pitbull puppy at the Petco parking lot at 7 p.m. on a Monday evening; it’s almost second nature to her. After parking her car at Petco and reading a few quick texts, Gorentz is greeted with an excited puppy led by a young man.
As the puppy’s leash exchanges hands, Gorentz proudly leads him into Petco to pick out a new toy and walk around for a bit. Then she heads over to the Pets-R-Inn petstore in the  West Acres mall to get the pup a treat and socialize him a bit more.
As the puppy chews contently on his new treat in the back seat, Gorentz listens carefully to her GPS and drives to a house in South Moorhead. When Gorentz parks she gets out some paperwork and lets the puppy out of the car. After a few signatures and a quick conversation between Gorentz and another young man, the puppy’s leash exchanges hands yet again.
“Taking them [the animals] to their new homes and watching them play and be happy is the best part about this job,†Gorentz said. “They know your helping them. I have always found ways to help animals and bring them home. I always ask myself that if I don’t help them then who will?â€
Gorentz hopes this rescue will be a success for the hyper black pitbull pup that wiggles with excitement from all the attention. She is in the process of finalizing yet another animal adoption.
Gorentz and her rescued Savanna Monitor, “Budâ€
Gorentz runs a volunteer animal rescue called Kritter Krazy Animal Assistance in Fargo and picking up new animals is a regular thing in her life. She has rescued everything from a tarantula, a walking stick, and alligators, to cats, dogs, and rabbits, as well as everything in between.
Gorentz said that the most unusual animal she has rescued were a Savanna Monitor named Bud (that she kept), a 3 ½ foot iguana, and a baby alligator.
Gorentz founded Kritter Krazy right out of high school when she was 18. Since then she estimates that Kritter Krazy has adopted out roughly 250 animals since 2009; over 100 animals in 2010 alone. “I have already had about 60 animals come through since January this year,†Gorentz said.
“The biggest rescue I have done so far were six pitbull dogs that I brought up from a pound in Louisiana after I got a call saying that they would be put down if they weren’t rescued,†Gorentz said. “A volunteer from Louisiana actually rented a car and drove the dogs up to North Dakota for me. Homes were lined up for all but two of the dogs when they got here.â€
But not every adoption goes as planned.
“About 75 percent of adopters back out of the adoption process,†Gorentz said. “And between 40 and 50 percent of the animals I adopt out get brought back to me due to life changes such as a new baby, major move, or simply disinterest in the pet. It’s sad, but I will always take back an animal and the adopters can’t re-home the animal without first contacting me.â€
All cats and dogs that are adopted out by Kritter Krazy must be spayed or neutered by the owners within two months of the adoption and stay in contact with Gorentz.
“I have had to take a dog back before because a guy wouldn’t get him fixed,†Gorentz said.
In her home Gorentz has some 37 pets of her own as well as some rescues. Kritter Krazy currently has 15 animals in need of homes.
Gorentz and a one of her pet lizards
Gorentz explained that lots of rescues are last minute and she can’t always prepare for the animals before hand, such as when she rescued her Savanna Monitor, Bud. “I was told it was a really big lizard so I just went there with a dog kennel and picked him up.†Gorentz said.
Gorentz works with the Fargo PD for reptile rescues and has scouts that scout Craig’s list and other resources in search of animals that need rescuing.
Gorentz plans to get a facility for Kritter Krazy up and running someday soon, but currently doesn’t have the funds or space.
“I never give anything [any animal] away without a re-homing fee,†Gorentz said. “It’s too dangerous.â€
All adaption and foster homes must fill out agreement forms and adoption statements with Kritter Krazy before they are allowed to take in any foster animals or adopt any animals.
Gorentz’s slogan for Kritter Krazy is “Help Me Help Themâ€, and relies completely on donations and the adoption fees to pay for the rescue expenses.
“Kritter Krazy is always in need of donations,†Gorentz said. “Cat and dog food, toys, cat litter, and money donations for vet expenses are some of the more needed donations.â€
Currently Gorentz has a baby male bearded dragon, a male adult bearded dragon (adoption pending), a baby female iguana, a baby male leopard gecko, an adult male leopard gecko, a female baby leopard gecko, a female cat, two male cats, and six Jack Rustle/Pomeranian/Chihuahua cross puppies in need of new homes; some of which are in foster homes waiting to be adopted.
If you are interested in becoming a foster home, or adopting an animal from Kritter Krazy contact Gorentz at kalinasmiles@hotmail.com or visit Kritter Krazy’s website at http://kritterkrazy.webs.com/.
You can also visit Gorentz’s Kritter Krazy facebook page for more information.
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