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Posts Tagged ‘gold’

There was a constant flurry of activity during the last few days of our life in Korea. Mom was feverishly sorting through every item we had accumulated as a family and the keepsakes she acquired from her life before a husband and four kids. Whatever she decided to take for our new life in the United States had to fit in one of the large, multicolor plastic bags or the five over-sized suitcases. Everything else we had to leave behind, including our dogs Super and her pup Gome.

Super, who was named after Superman, was a wonderful mutt with an air of confidence and regality. She was gentle, smart and obedient, which were important traits to have for a dog to survive in Korea those days. She was only seven weeks old when dad brought her home to four overly excited kids and one disapproving wife. Mom reluctantly allowed her stay on the condition that she didn’t bark incessantly and didn’t destroy anything, a tall order for a puppy. Super not only kept to these guidelines, she earned the love and respect of my mom.

Super didn’t whine or bark unless to alert us of someone at the door. She didn’t chase small animals, drag in dead things or roll around in poop. She didn’t chew on shoes or the rice paper doors, and most importantly, she knew when to stay out of the way. When mom was busy with chores, Super sat in a corner until the housework was finished. She was one of the smartest dogs I have known and the only dog mom
ever loved.

Gome, which is a Korean word for bear, was the opposite of Super. He was big and furry and always ready to give you a wet, sloppy kiss. His thick clumsy paws abounded with energy he couldn’t control, and he was always in mom’s way. I think if it wasn’t for Super, Gome would have been gone before his first birthday.

Mom pushed off giving our dogs away until just a few days before she completely shut down the only home I remember in Korea. The day they came to take Super and Gome away, mom was standing on the front porch, her head down, with her right hand to her face and her left arm folded across her stomach. Her shoulders were heaving. When she looked up briefly, I could see that her face was soaked with tears. I don’t remember anyone else being there. I was too focused on mom and the dogs.

Super was in her favorite corner and Gome was curled up in the middle of the courtyard. Two sprightly guys came in carrying two leashes. One of the guys put a leash on Gome and led him out. Gome happily followed. The second guy put the leash on Super and had to tug her out of the corner. As he was pulling her across the courtyard, Super plopped her butt on the ground and her legs went limp. The guy had to drag her out. As the guy towed her away, she kept looking back at us, especially mom.  Her sharp eyes were furrowed and you could see the hurt and confusion on
her face.

Mom continued to keep her face down and was now sobbing uncontrollably. Super and Gome were gone. After Super, my mom has not opened her heart to
another dog.

Shortly after that day we were on a jumbo jet headed for America, a place as I was told, where the streets were lined with gold.

Everyone likes to own a pet. From dog lovers to cat lovers to snake lovers, there is a pet for everyone. While everyone wants to own a pet, a lot of people don’t have the time or skill to take care of them. Dogs, cats, and birds require a lot of love and attention that some people just don’t have. For people who want a pet but don’t have time, a goldfish is the perfect choice for you.

Most people generally opt for a fish as a pet because they are cheap, don’t require a lot of “love” and don’t require constant attention or expensive products. Goldfish are available in abundance at most department stores and pet shops, offered in breathtakingly vivid colors, varied shapes, and sizes. The fish are only a few dollars though some of the large and specialty breeds of goldfish can cost a lot of money. However, those are the kinds few people have in their own. The common household goldfish is cheap and you can leave the store with it in a plastic bag!

Veterinarian bills for four legged pets can often be very high. They need a lot of shots, medicines, special food, and can get sick often. Fortunately, goldfish never need to see a veterinarian so you won’t have to spend all that money on a vet.

Goldfish care and maintenance is perhaps least time consuming and demanding of all pets. No grooming, no training, no walking- just clean a bowl and drop in some food. They make for useful pets for people who are looking for a simple lifestyle or are too busy to take care of a dog or cat. Feeding goldfish is not bothersome either and takes only a few minutes to put in some flakes and pellets in the bowl. Despite not being able to give much feedback or emotions, gold fish are still fun and relaxing to watch. Some gold fish can also learn to respond to sounds and signals and come swimming to you for feeding treats. Goldfish can be a pleasure to watch while they swim around the aquarium aimlessly strutting around in their brightly and fascinatingly colorful hide.

Moreover, when a goldfish does die, you can simply flush it down the toilet. Dead goldfish can be disposed off quite conveniently with a single flush. However, if your children get emotionally attached, then you can indulge in a burial process or a funeral ceremony is your back garden.

Very commonly considered an ideal pet for small children, goldfish come across as pets that are endearing and affectionate, easy to care and maintain for and a delight to watch, particularly for those who have never had the opportunity to care for a living creature before. They are easy pets and simply require their bowls to be cleaned every few weeks, which is much simpler than a dog or cat. These fish are perfect for those with little time on their hands and should be considered by all people. They make for a pretty and soothing addition to any home.

If you are looking out for a purebred dog, you will probably want to find a breeder from whom you should purchase the animal. You might think that it is as easy as looking into the classified section of your newspaper, but you will want to be certain that the breeder you choose is reputable. There are a number of ways of determining whether the breeder you have chosen knows enough, is professional, trustworthy and reliable.

Seek References
A good breeder should be able to give you references of the clients he has previously worked with. These people who had purchased a puppy and utilized a stud service should be more than willing to share their experience with you. It is always safe to choose a breeder who was used by a person you know. If your family member or friend was satisfied with the breeder and the service, chances are that you will be satisfied too.

Be prepared for questions
You know your breeder is good if he or she has as many questions to ask you, as you have to ask them. A good breeder is always dedicated to the dog’s welfare and will want to place the dog he or she breeds with the right people. Some of the questions you can expect are whether you have children, the size of your home and yard, and other related questions that can help them determine what kind of dog is suitable for you and also if you can provide the required environment and atmosphere for the dog. If your breeder does not ask you these kind of questions, he or she is probably just out for the money and you probably do not want to seek the services of such a breeder. A good breeder always thinks of the welfare of both the client and the dog.

Guarantees
The breeder you choose should check the puppy for potential health risks before selling you the animal. There are, however, some problems that go undetected till too late. For instance, if you are purchasing a golden retriever, and 6 months later discover that it suffers from hip dysplasia (a defect in the hip joints of the animal, virtually undetectable till several months after birth), your breeder should be willing to issue you a refund, no strings attached. These kinds of genetic disorders can be avoided by using selective breeding (there is a 25%-85% chance that hip dysplasia in a dog is genetic), but it is possible for the pup to suffer from such disorders even if it was absent in the parents.

Other sources
Besides searching for a dog breeder in the newspaper and the internet, they can also be found through references from veterinarian’s offices, dog shows and pet supply stores. Dog shows are one of the best places to find good breeders, as usually the breeders who attend them are showing one of their own dogs or have come to see one of their clients dogs.

Although Golden Retrievers are very sociable, lovable dogs many of them end up in rescue centers each year for a variety of reasons. These centers are typically run by volunteers who care for the dogs until a new owner is found. You may have wondered if golden retriever adoption is a good option for you. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of adoption and where you can find your dog if you do choose to adopt.

Should I Adopt a Golden Retriever?
The first question to ask yourself is whether adoption is a good path for you. If you have no dog ownership experience then you should not adopt a dog. Many of these Goldens have been mistreated and require good dog handling and training skills to make them well balanced retrievers again. Also you need to be certain that you are committed to long term ownership otherwise the dog will not be much better off in the long run. If you have owned dogs successfully in the past – ideally Golden Retrievers then you should definitely consider adoption. You will be putting your skills and experience towards improving one more dog’s life.

Why Do Goldens End Up in Rescue Centers?
Many abandoned dogs come from less responsible breeders who breed more puppies than they can sell. Some come from owners who neglect or mistreat their dogs. Sometimes it isn’t the owners fault for the dog’s position – the owner may be forced to move house or change locations where keeping a dog isn’t feasible.

Places Where You Can Adopt a Golden Retriever
There are two main places where abandoned Goldens end up: animal shelters and breed rescue centers. Animal shelters cater to a wider variety of pets (mostly cats and dogs) whereas breed rescue centers are places for just one particular breed of dog. If you don’t have one particular breed in mind animal rescue centers would be a good place to look. You would be able to select from a range of dogs and find the best one regardless of breed. If you are set on adopting a Golden Retriever then you should definitely contact breed rescue centers in your area and view some of the dogs. In most rescue centers the dogs still receive plenty of care from volunteer owners who often run foster homes for the dogs. If you do decide to adopt a dog, you will have to submit an application and you will receive a house visit to make sure you can provide a good home for your new dog.

For more information on golden retriever adoption check out my site at www.goldenretrieverinstruction.com where you can learn more about golden retriever adoption and how to be successful in your adoption application.

As a beginner first learning the ins and outs of keeping an aquarium healthy, things can get a bit overwhelming. There is so much terminology and equipment, it is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Learning it all a piece at a time is recommended. Patience is key in many things relating to keeping aquariums. A fish often recommended to beginners is the goldfish. Commonly available, and quite pretty when healthy, the goldfish is one of the easier fish to keep healthy and happy. Be prepared to do some reading, however. There are terms and procedures to become familiar with.

The aquarium is absolutely critical to being able to keep healthy fish, no matter what kind of fish it is. Proper care and maintenance of your aquarium is necessary, and there are daily and weekly procedures that must be followed. The first step in keeping a goldfish is choosing the aquarium. While you may see goldfish in bowls and other small containers on television and even in real life, this is really a bad idea. While a goldfish can live for a while in a small bowl like that, they will never really thrive, and will be more susceptible to disease and death. A 10 gallon minimum aquarium with filtration should be the minimum you consider for keeping a goldfish. The filter running into the aquarium agitates the surface of the water and provides more oxygen to the water, which in turn means the fish has plenty of oxygen and is healthier. More room to swim, and even some currents from the filtration, make sure that the goldfish stays happy and in shape. Don’t forget to take the number of goldfish into account! More than one goldfish will require more space.

Ask the guys at your local pet store or aquarium shop (recommended) what they recommend. Don’t buy too much tank at first though. Try to keep it small and simple. Tell them how many fish you intend to keep, and whether you would like to add fish later. Always do some research before buying a product you are not familiar with. There are a ton of accessories and products associated with aquariums and fish. Doing some research beforehand can keep you from buying products you don’t need.

Unless you have access to well water, your tap water probably contains chlorine or ammonia. These substances are very harmful to your goldfish, and can even kill them if you have particularly chlorinated water. There are products available that you simply mix thoroughly into your tap water after filling the aquarium. They usually remove chlorine as well as adding things to the water to help your fish form its slime coat and fight off ick (a small parasite that is extremely common on fish that are stressed). If you would rather use distilled or reverse osmosis purified water, there are other additives that restore needed minerals into these too-pure waters.

Make sure you check the filters once a week, and rinse them out with dechlorinated water of some type. It is okay to use distilled water for this. It is common to get snails living on your filters. Try not to crush them, and remove them during your weekly cleaning. It is not recommended that you put these types of snails back into your aquarium, because they tend to over-breed and eat every bit of plant matter in your aquarium.

It is also necessary to keep the aquarium at a fairly constant temperature. An aquarium heater can be used to control the water temperature with some precision. You should also have an aquarium thermometer to verify the water temperature.