Huzzah! I've done it! 100% on my Lesson 1 Exam after only two days (4-6 hours) of studying!!

I finished my first lesson, at my pace, on my schedule and was able to remember nearly everything through adhering to my specific way of learning - repition and humming~*

I was actually quite excited to find out that a lot of the information the first lesson taught was things I'd learned just from paying attention to my experiences in taking my own pets to an animal hospital and watching show's like Scrubs, CSI, and Bones (weird I know but those show's have a lot of things one can learn if they know what they're looking for).

When I first started this lesson, I'd started in the back with the multiple choice questions and marked what I thought the correct answers were before I even started reading the lesson, which put the questions in the forefront of my mind as I was learning. When I finished the reading assignment, I found I had a much easier time in actually learning the material and answered all the questions correctly with little to no hesitation and no searching. How joyful I feel! never have I had an experience without pressure as this! Never have I been able to learn at my own pace without the scholastic "big brother" breathing down my neck to finish on "his" time! It pains me to realize I'm horrible with deadlines, but only when those deadlines are set as boundaries to my learning. SCREW YOU HIGH SCHOOL!! BWAHAHAHAHA! sorry I'm just exceedingly happy about this. I've loved to learn for a long while yet this is the first opportunity to do it my way.

Now, more motivated than ever, I begin talking about all I've learned in my extreme excitement only to realize that in doing so, I'm cementing the information even more permanetly into my brain.

I can't wait until I get my white coat as a DVM!!

Thank you so much Ashworth for making the dreams of an odd individual, like myself, come true!!

Ways to help homeless animals:

First off its always good to check with your local animal shelter to see what kind of things they need:

Materials such as:

• Dog/Cat Beds
• Cat and Dog food
• Bedding
• Blankets
• Sheets
• Carpet Squares
• Cleaning Supplies
• Cat Litter
• Dog and Cat collars, and Leashes
• Scratch Post
• Food Dishes
• Dog Crates
• Grooming Supplies
• Dog Houses
• Maybe even old office supplies
• Coupons for animal food or cat litter
• Humane traps used for capturing feral cats
• Medical Supplies

You could donate your very own special skills like:

• Computer skills: help make flyers, or news paper articles
• Also if you have graphic design skills: you could help make and update websites for the shelter or design logos, brochures, or posters
• Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting skills: you could make blankets for animals check out the snuggles project for information on how to make pet securit blankets for shelter animals http://www.snugglesproject.org
• Building/construction skills: Help make repairs that the shelters may need, build dog houses, and feeding stations
• Organizational Skills: Help out in the office or event planning

Ways To Volunteer:

• Be a foster home: Open your home to an animal that needs a place to live and learn until they can be adoptable
• Set up a donation coin can or donation food program: Place donation cans at local busy businesses, and make food donation bins and set then up at local supermarkets.
• Clean cages
• Groom animals
• Walk animals
• Do tabeling, which is setting up tables at local organizations or events, county fairs,  with information about the local shelter and the animals be sure to have nice photos of the animals in need of help and homes.
• Help people in the community understand animal care
• Help the shelter get publicity, local news stations or newspapers let them know about any help thats needed, donations needed, and specials that may be going on at the shelter

Promote animal adoptions:

• List homless aniamls on an adoption web site be sure to take photos and list their pros and cons you never want to hide anything from a person that is looking to adopt a pet.
• Make adoption posters and hang then arounf the community

Provide Transportation:

• Pick up donated pet supplies and food from local businesses
• Drive animals to and from vet clinics or adoption events
• Provide transportation for people who need their animals taken to vets but can not drive

Provied Office Help:

• Write thank you notes
• Return phone calls
• Do paperwork
• Record Keeping
• Data Entry

Also remember to always spay and neuter your animals

Flipping houses means someone purchases a house, redecorates and upgrades it, and then sells it for more than what they paid. Sadly, the same thing is happening to animals.  Not the redecorating part, but people are buying animals from shelters and then selling them online.  Places like craigslist don't check to see where they got the animals they're offering to sell.  And the people doing this are sneaky.  They won't tell you their real plan, rather they'll say something like, "Here's a great animal. I really love it. I have to move, I can't take it with me. I want to find a great home. Oh, by the way, I need $100."

Animal shelters are getting wise to this.  One shelter found four animals that were being sold on the internet so the shelter came and took them back.  The original buyer did not get their money back as per the contract.  Veterinarians and shelter owners say if you truly are in the market for a pet, go to the shelter yourself. 

Have you heard of animal flipping?

Whether you have a dog, cat, or another pet, they're used to being your baby.  But if you bring home a human baby, they may not know how to react.  There are ways to get your pet used to the idea of you caring for something else and not being able to play or cuddle them whenever they want.  Parents.com has some great advice for people wondering just how to adjust their pet to their newborn.

Before the baby comes:

Schedule a checkup - A visit to the veterinarian will ensure that your dog or cat is in good health and up-to-date on all vaccinations. If necessary, you might want to spay or neuter your pet—this usually makes an animal calmer and less likely to bite.

Play pretend - Start getting your dog or cat used to the idea of an infant in the house. "Hold a lifelike doll so your pet adjusts to seeing you with a baby," said one vet.

Set up the gear - Put your baby's things in place—the swing, portable crib, bassinet—a few weeks in advance. Let your pet become accustomed to the new items and the different sounds they make.

After the baby comes:

Welcome your pet first - Say hello to your dog or cat—without the baby present. After the pet has calmed down, have your partner present your little one. "Sometimes it's a good idea to keep the pet and child separate for several hours while the pet gets used to the baby being in the house," said the vet.

Start small - For the initial intro, your dog should be on a leash in a sit/stay position and rewarded with petting or praise. Gradually, your dog and baby can be brought closer together. As long as the dog is quiet, you can let it remain nearby.  The same holds true for cats: Hold your baby near your pet, and caress and talk soothingly to the animal.

What other advice do you have for new parents and pet owners?