MSN - Chicago part 1

[Michael Romanos]

Going on from La Rogue says about it being ok for people not to have pets (or feeing compelled to have pets), o would definitely agree. Quite frankly if the Obamas make White House I cannot see where they and the kids will have the time to put in the effort needed to raise and train a pet dog. Cats , birds, turtles etc fine but a dog needs more attention than a First Family will be able to properly offer. But if they have "servants" like the Queen has, then maybe it's a goer.

[LaRogue]

Quite frankly if the Obamas make White House I cannot see where they and the kids will have the time to put in the effort needed to raise and train a pet dog

Not sure why you keep bring this back to Obama, but off the top of my head, it seems most Presidents/First Families have had pets. The current Bushes have Barney & Mrs. Beasley, Clintons had a cat, Father Bush a springer spaniel (if memory serves Millie even had a puppies while in the White House), etc.

I groan nearly every time I see/hear the commercial for the WWF on the polar bears. It definitely has the AR slant.

This makes me sad. I don't want to see any animals become extinct. Not polar bears, cheetahs, corgis, dobermans, Cleveland Bays, etc.

The best I can advise is stay local - your local shelter or a good rescue group.

This I already do, but I'm not sure I can stop supporting some of the wildlife groups. I don't want to see a world with only domestic anminals or one with only wild animals. I think they are both important.

I have 2 last questions, then I'm leaving this be, for a while. I need to rest my brain, re-read everything, and let it sink in more. It's a lot of information! When you write to your Congressmen about proposed legislation how should you send it? I think I saw somewhere it's most effective to fax it, but I haven't been able to find it, again. Secondly, should you write to each member of the committee or just the ones in your area?

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by LaRogue

rThis makes me sad. I don't want to see any animals become extinct. Not polar bears, cheetahs, corgis, dobermans, Cleveland Bays, etc.

The thing about the Polar Bears is there numbers are up, they are no longer endangered. Satellite images of the ice shows it to be thicker than it has been in decades. To some of the local human populations they are becoming a hazard because of the increased numbers. Prohibiting drilling in ANWAR is partially credited to saving the Polar Bears. Have you ever looked at a map of how big ANWAR is and just how little will be used? Local habitants are in favor of drilling. So sometimes one needs to look at the social political agenda behind some of these campaigns.

This I already do, but I'm not sure I can stop supporting some of the wildlife groups. I don't want to see a world with only domestic anminals or one with only wild animals. I think they are both important.

Oh both are definitely important and I don't want to see the extinction of species either. Just need to really research whether a species is truly endangered or not. Remember years back the species of owls that supposedly only lived in old growth forests? The environmentalists protesting about saving them and the forest? That kind of got blown when nests were found in an old K Mart sign.

I have 2 last questions, then I'm leaving this be, for a while. I need to rest my brain, re-read everything, and let it sink in more. It's a lot of information! When you write to your Congressmen about proposed legislation how should you send it? I think I saw somewhere it's most effective to fax it, but I haven't been able to find it, again. Secondly, should you write to each member of the committee or just the ones in your area?

Fax is good, phone calls, depending sometimes e-mails work, and old fashioned snail mail. Your local representative is the first to hit, but sometimes covering the whole committee is necessary too. Clear as mud huh?

Debbie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Going on from La Rogue says about it being ok for people not to have pets (or feeing compelled to have pets), o would definitely agree. Quite frankly if the Obamas make White House I cannot see where they and the kids will have the time to put in the effort needed to raise and train a pet dog. Cats , birds, turtles etc fine but a dog needs more attention than a First Family will be able to properly offer. But if they have "servants" like the Queen has, then maybe it's a goer.

We don't call them "servents" but yes, they do have help. Maids, aides, butlers, etc. So yes, there are people who will help take care of the animals that live in the White House other than the First Family.

And LaRogue, most First Families have had pets. Most have had dogs, some cats, even a few ponies have lived on White House grounds.

Peggy

[LaRogue]

Clear as mud huh?

It's clearer than it was! Thanks to you, Peggy, and everyone else for the help and all the links to the info!

[Peggy]

Pets in the White House:
White House Pets Menu 1953 to 2004
The White House Historical Association > WHITE HOUSE PETS
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/F...hitehouse.html
List of United States Presidential pets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Time & Again - White House Pets
Presidential Pets
Animalographies - Presidential Pets in the White House on Biography.com

[Michael Romanos]

Having pets is one thing. Proper care, time and attention from the owners/giuardians is quite another.

Some types of animals are better off being domesticated and house pets or outside pets for the benefit of people and the joint aspects of companionship from owners/guardians and their families. Other types of animals are better off in the wild, free and uninhibited. Some species of animals need to be in zoos but I cringe at zoos and the prison life, boredom and restriction that zoos present to a lot of species of animals.

[LaRogue]

Some species of animals need to be in zoos but I cringe at zoos and the prison life, boredom and restriction that zoos present to a lot of species of animals.

Ha! You haven't been to my zoo, which is very good. They put alot of effort into stimulating the animals to prevent the boredom you're talking about, providing a place for orphaned injured wildlife that would probably die if left on their own, continuation of endangered/threatened species and public education. Zoos (at least mine) have come along way from the "prisions" they were, when I was young. Maybe yours haven't.

Right now, at my zoo, there are 2 African elephant calves, in addition to the regular herd (including 2 teenagers born in previous years), and 2 teenage Amur tigers and a new cub born this Mother's Day, in addition to their parents. Where else are kids going to go to see these types of animals? Are they just suposed to learn about them from pictures in a book? My zoo has also bought a former hunting reserve and is turning it into an African preservation facility (primarily for African elephant breeding, but there will be other African animals there as well).

[Michael Romanos]

You can dress up a zoo anyway you like, but it is not the open wilds and therefore for some animals the ideal is not a zoo existence. It can be a deplorable place, it can also be a haven and a last resort to protect rare species.