Hi,I am a homesteader that runs a small Humane Society in SW Wisconsin There is no animal control in this area so I found myself in this situation. I have a 5 month old Heeler mix female that will be small enough to be a house dog. I have a 1 1/2 year old Treeing Walker/Mountain Cur female. She has been an outside dog all her life and I expect she can be used to hunt. There is also an 18 month male American Staffordshire Terrier. He is more a protection dog than a homestead dog as he would probably chase livestock. I know he chases cats. I have 2 older female lab mixes as well. I charge a $45 adoption fee that includes vaccinations and spay/neuter. I would be happy to travel a bit to meet someone interested in adopting. I take in all sorts of small animals (I am currently nursing an iguana with kidney failure) and pot bellied pigs and other small farm animals. My website is http://sites.netscape.net/ghhumanesociety to see a photo of the puppy. I willpost the Mountain Cur in the next few days. Thanks

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 22, 2000

Answers

Good for you ! We have tried to start a low cost spay/neuter program and haven't gotton to far , maybe you can give me some hints .$ 45.00 is cheap to include all of that .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), August 22, 2000.

Patty Well, I have negotiated a 50% discount with both local vets, Southwest/Prairie Vet and Tender Care Animal Hospital, one is VERY inexpensive to begin with. I am also a veterinary technician at The Emergency Clinic for Animals in Madison, and can get most of my supplies, treatments and vaccines at cost. They also supply a lot of treatment for free as well as doing a gratis wildlife rehabilitation program. The local Wal-Mart in Prairie du Chien gives me their broken dog and cat food bags, cat litter and birdseed (Thanks Kim Curtis!). I can use the cat food for abandoned ferrets (in addition to cats)and the birdseed for rats, gerbils, mice, etc. $45 is about my cost, occasionally someone will give more $ voluntarilly and sometimes animals are already spayed/neutered or vaccinated so I save some on those. Generally it costs me money, not to mention time, but I feel commited (or should be commited!). I just get ticked when folks accuse me of making money because I charge any fee (this applies especiially to cats, they have no value here and are considered disposable, folks would rather get a sickly farm cat than spend any money on a healthy vaccinated vet checked animal). I am in the process of trying to become a non-profit, but it is very expensive to file. Still looking for an attorney with a big heart to help. Maybe some day I can get some financing to build a kennel!

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 22, 2000.

Bless you Dianne. There will be a special place for you in heaven!!!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 22, 2000.