THE PLANNED ANIMAL LOVERS COMMUNITY - REAL HOME SOLUTIONS!

SPECIAL HOMES FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE: THE PLANNED ANIMAL-LOVERS COMMUNITY
A HOME DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR LOW-INCOME ELDERLY AND/OR DISABLED PEOPLE

A Brief Background and Synopsis of the PAL Community Plan:
The Issue: Currently, there are no viable housing programs for a large segment of the low-income, aging and/or disabled population: persons with animal families. Unable to afford normal rent or purchase of a home, and unwilling to "throw away" our non-human families, we are left with few or no options...
For example, local and state agencies told me “Get rid of the animals and we'll get you an apartment in town for $535 a month.” My critters are my only close family. My three dogs were rescued; two are now aged, one is chronically ill; the young one is learning to be my companion-aide. My horse, whom I raised from a foal - and who gave me reason to live after the death of my only child - is now 25 years old. One cat is nearly seven years old, and the other, much older, was abused. Like pet owners who refuse to evacuate from Hurricanes, "Getting rid" of my family is simply not an option for me, or for thousands of others like me. It would be emotionally devastating - horribly cruel.

Imagine ... ... Being deprived of the beloved ones who gave your life meaning, forced by circumstances to live in a strange neighborhood, not of your choice, among strangers grouped by no common ground except poverty. Imagine suddenly being relocated without your family; your best friends. As a vulnerable, now lonely person, in exchange for giving up - possibly having put to death - your dearest family, you would spend 80% of your income for rent for the dubious privilege of living in a subsidized apartment. Worse than the loneliness, for the elderly or disabled animal lover, would be the guilt and grief for their forsaken family. THAT IS NOT A HEALTHY OR KIND REMEDY FOR A HOUSING PROBLEM! THAT IS A PENALTY, NOT A SOLUTION!

I HAVE AN IDEA - AN ANIMAL LOVER'S DREAM - for a planned community. Very briefly, my plan addresses and incorporates these issues:
1. Housing
2. Elderly/Senior Citizens
3. Disabled Persons
4. Poverty
5. Health Care/benefits
6. Animal Welfare - Homes, Care and Spay/neuter 0-to-1000-legged families (pets of any species).
7. Ecology - Earth-safe,efficient, cost effective and affordable living 8. Alternative Housing
9. Alternative Energy, Off the Grid.
10. Employment: Provide Jobs in design, implementation, construction, maintenance...
11. Nutrition, Food Safety and Organic Foods a. provide healthier nutrition and exercise b. contribute to environmental healing
12. Promote good Mental Health by grouping people with a common cause (animal welfare) for the common good of the community
13. Reduce Taxes - reduce the burden on taxpayers for providing housing by availability of grant funding from a wide variety of sources. 14. Planning Model for the National community,

...there's much more! Please ask me for details!
Feedback is appreciated and encouraged! If you are interested in helping or joining this community effort, or just have questions, please email me at CritterLink@gmail.com

STARR is Organizing for America!

The White House now has a blog site for Communities - The PAL Community is there, too! Come take a look.

The Tail you Save may be your own!

The Planned Animal Lovers Community

WANTED: HOMESTEAD FOR DISABLED LADY AND FAMILY

If you have a 1/2 acre or more that you're not using, I'm looking for a place where I can build a simple, inexpensive, alternative home for us.
NEED 1/2 ACRE OR MORE.
WILL CONSIDER ALL POSSIBILITIES - BARTER, OWNER-FINANCE, CO-OP, CARETAKER, LONG-TERM LEASE, OR ANY OTHER OPTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ANYONE MIGHT HAVE.
SEARCHING FOR GREENER PASTURES...
I am willing to make almost any kind of deal, possibly including (if you donate or barter it to me) a contract giving you the land back, with all improvements, after I die. Since I probably have only a few years left, you or your heirs would reclaim a more valuable piece of property while, meanwhile, doing a great kindness for a person less fortunate than you.

Wiling to move out of state, but would need assistance to do it, as my old truck is in need of repairs before we could travel far.


If you can help, OR NEED HELP, please contact me. I welcome all options, suggestions and possibilities.
References available.

Like it is for so many others in today's economy, our situation has become desperate. As a disabled senior, I am on a small fixed income, too small to buy or even rent another place at the "going rate".

We need a decent, safe place. My health has deteriorated rapidly since I moved into this rotting mobile home; the dogs' health is being compromised by the toxicity of this place, too. We MUST get out of this environment before it kills us all!

But, given a healthy environment, I think I am still capable of building a simple structure, probably of papercrete (lightweight enough for me to handle, but very strong).

Thank you!
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August 24, 2008

W3.org

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Posted by The Critter Gitter Last updated: 8:09 PM 0 Comments

The Importance of West Nile Virus Vaccine

Excepts from he AAEP website [bold and color added here for emphasis]:
",,,The case fatality rate for horses exhibiting clinical signs of WNV infection is approximately 33%. Data have supported that 40% of horses that survive the acute illness caused by WNV still exhibit residual effects, such as gait and behavioral abnormalities... vaccination for West Nile virus is recommended as a core vaccine and is an essential standard of care for all horses in North America."

Vaccines:

Three licensed vaccines are currently available:

Inactivated whole virus vaccine
Recombinant vector vaccine
Modified live chimera vaccine

[Editor's note: Only the last one has been shown to actually prevent WNV. Click on the post title to go to the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners) website for more detail.]

The AAEP alsonotes that:
[For horses with] high risk or with limited immunity, more frequent vaccination or appropriately timed revaccination is recommended in order to induce protective immunity during periods of likely exposure. ... juvenile horses (<5>15 years of age) have been demonstrated to have enhanced susceptibility to WNV disease.
Which vaccine would you or have you used on your horse(s)? Was it effective? Were there any side effects? Have you had a horse who contracted West Nile? We'd love to hear the outcome and your comments.

Posted by Dust In The Wind Last updated: 7:55 PM Labels: 0 Comments

July 28, 2008

Musings: Accessibility In Packaging and Holistic Pet Care

Thanks for inviting me to post here! I'll put a link to your blog in my link section.


My comment for the day -

It's high time manufacturers get their heads out of the sand and make their packaging more accessible for us old folks with poor vision. For instance, every time I try to open my lotion bottle (flip-top), I have to feel all around the top to find the side that lifts. If they would just put a contrasting color arrow at that point, it would make life so much easier! That applies to pull tabs on pet food cans, tear seals on bags, and string pulls on 50# bags of horse feed and some dog foods.

We're all trying to read ingredients labels more closely, too - but we can't, as tiny as they are printed. I'm sure this is done intentionally, in hopes we won't bother. That way we won't find out what nasty crap they're putting in our pets' [and our own] food!

Hopefully you can get Azmira products soon - it's a great source for holistic pet products. I became acquainted with the company when I lived in Tucson; one of their tinctures saved my dog's life. He still takes it daily, to keep him healthy and alive.

I never could have afforded the prescription drug used for his disease - it was $150/month back in 2000. I shudder to think how many animals have died because their humans couldn't afford what the veterinarian prescribed, and they didn't know about holistic medicine!

Blessings to you and to 4 Legged Friends, Inc.!

Dust in the Wind,


Posted by Dust In The Wind Last updated: 4:11 PM Labels: , , 0 Comments

July 4, 2008

Last Chance For CatahoulaX Pup!



Three of the Catahoula puppies (more about them on a previous post) were dumped at the shelter by another (supposed) rescuer. All three were scheduled for euthanasia. I bailed out one at my own expense; now another one has been "jailed".

Please help! Due to failing health, I can no longer care for the puppies. These pups have been started on housebreaking, sit/stay, leash, etc. Both are sweet and deserving of a good home. Loki is a great herding/service/companion prospect. Lucy (Gone!) was a great companion prospect, but due to blindness in one eye, her other natural traits and abilities might (or

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might not) have been affected.

Please don't let another great dog be killed!




Lucky1
Contact us in San Angelo, TX at
critterlink@gmail.com
(Please put the name or breed of the dog in the subject line.)

Last Chance For CatahoulaX Pup!


Thank you for caring!

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Posted by The Critter Gitter Last updated: 8:23 PM Labels: 0 Comments

Last Chance For CatahoulaX Pup!



Three of the Catahoula puppies (more about them on a previous post) were dumped at the shelter by another (supposed) rescuer. All three were scheduled for euthanasia. I bailed out one at my own expense; now another one has been "jailed".

Please help! Due to failing health, I can no longer care for the puppies. These pups have been started on housebreaking, sit/stay, leash, etc. Both are sweet and deserving of a good home. Loki is a great herding/service/companion prospect. Lucy (Gone!) was a great companion prospect, but due to blindness in one eye, her other natural traits and abilities might (or might not) have been affected.

Please don't let another great dog be killed!




Lucky1
Contact us in San Angelo, TX at
critterlink@gmail.com
(Please put the name or breed of the dog in the subject line.)

Last Chance For CatahoulaX Pup!


Thank you for caring!

Technorati Tags:

Posted by The Critter Gitter Last updated: 8:00 PM Labels: 0 Comments

June 23, 2008

There Is No Better Time To Adopt A Homeless PetThan Right Now