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They're our best friends, our confidants and our bedtime companions. Our pets have become so important to us that many people count them as family members. We call ourselves "pet parents," and even dress our pets up for Halloween and buy them expensive toys and shelters.
Americans are so crazy about animals, in fact, that according to statistics from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 63 percent of U.S. households contain at least one pet. That comes to a whopping 75 million dogs and 85 million cats with families to nuzzle and warm beds to sleep in.
Unfortunately, a shocking number of castoff animals end up in shelters each year: 5 to 7 million, according to the ASPCA. Some are adopted, but many — between 3 and 4 million per year — are euthanized. The Humane Society of the United States says that approximately one every eight seconds.
The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA both work to inform the
public about responsible pet ownership and overpopulation, but you can do your part, too. If you're considering adding a pet to your household, taking your search to a local shelter could be, literally, a lifesaving decision.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I'M READY?
The ASPCA's statistics may have you jumping into rescue mode, but experts will urge you to put some thought into your decision. Adopting an animal when you're not ready isn't just a bad choice for you, it's a bad choice for your pet, too, says Sue Novak, who writes an animal column called "Critter Care" for the Lawrence Journal World, and previously served as the president of the Lawrence Humane Society (LHS) Board.
Novak has seen numerous would-be pet owners bring their animals back to the shelter because they simply weren't ready for the commitment. "That's a selfish choice," she says, "because you don't care what the animal's ultimate outcome is."
Without proper preparation, the outcome can be grim, as Joanna Vosburg, Grinnell senior, learned the hard way. She adopted a dog in 2009 on an impulse. Her new pet was a wonderful companion, but he had health complications that started draining Vosburgh's bank account. "With all the vet visits, medicines and special foods, my $80 adoption turned into a $700 to $800 investment in under five weeks,"
"I think people need to put the same amount of commitment into their animals as they do their children." Novak says. She emphasizes the financial responsibility of pet ownership. Food, veterinarian appointments and space are all things to consider, she says, before deciding you're ready to adopt.
Students can make great pet parents, Novak says, but only if they are willing to make a lifetime commitment to their pets. Shelter animals are looking for what the Humane Society calls "forever homes," and a student must be ready to provide support and love for the duration of an animal's life.
Photo Illustration by Jerry Wang Pet connection: Before you start looking for a pet, you need to know what kind of pet you want. A pet needs to fit your lifestyle, or it might cause an overwhelming and negative experience, which is unfair for you and your pet.
she says. "I just couldn't keep paying that. I had a breakdown and told my roommate we had to take him back."
Vosburg admits she probably wasn't ready for the responsibility of pet ownership yet, and the experience left her heartbroken.
HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT PET?
If you've decided you're ready for the responsibility of pet ownership, you need to start thinking about what kind of animal is right for you. Are you looking for an animal that takes care of itself, or one that requires more hands-on care? Do you already have an animal at home that needs a cooperative buddy? Do you have enough space for a high-energy breed?
have enough space for writing.
These are all questions to consider before choosing your new pet, says Susan O'Neil, a
Kansas gets by North Dakota in sloppy game
Junior catcher Chris Manship celebrates after making a home run against North Dakota at Hoglund Ballpark. Manship was at bat 3 times on Wednesday, scoring 1 of 5 points for Kansas' 5-3 victory against North Dakota.
BY MIKE VERNON mvernon@kansan.com
The Kansas baseball team came into Wednesday's game against North Dakota hoping to get the bats on track over a winless North Dakota team. Instead, they ended up winning in a 5-3 dogfight victory to get back to .500 at 6-6 on the season.
The Jayhaws recorded a season-high 10 hits in Wednesday's victory over the Fighting Sioux. With the way the bats have been struggling, recording 10 hits sounds like it would make the Jayhawks and coach Ritch Price pleased with their performance at the plate.
Instead, Price and the Jayhawks seemed to think that they took a step backwards at the plate in the Jayhawks sixth victory of the season.
season.
"Today I didn't think the quality of our bats were very good at all," I price said.
The reason Coach Price was so upset after the game?
The Jayhawks only managed to scrap together three earned runs against a North Dakota team that has struggled mightily on the mound this season. The Fighting Sioux came into Wednesday's game with an abysmal team of ERA of 11.65. In North Dakota's three game series with Missouri State, they allowed 9, 12, and 13 runs in those games.
runs in these games.
For the jayhawks to only put a total of five runs on the board, is a major let-down for a team that was hoping to get into a rhythm in this week's games.
"I was really disappointed, to be honest with you," Price said. "We had some really bad at-bats."
Now that the Jayhawks are 12 games into their season and are
still in a team-wide slump, the problems become mental. Price said the队 appears to be trying to force the issue, and the result Wednesday was an unusual amount of pop-ups from the layhawks.
salt.
One of the few bright spots for Kansas at the plate Wednesday was sophomore catcher Alex DeLeon's performance. DeLeon hit a line drive solo homerun
"There were three consecutive innings where we had six consecutive pop-ups for outs." Price said. "It's guys trying too hard."
plate.
"I'm feeling pretty good," DeLeon said. "I've been swinging at better pitches, making sure I get a ball elevated in the zone, and just putting a good swing on it."
to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning, and he knocked two batters in off two separate sacrifice flies. DeLeon finished one for-two with three RBIs and a run. DeLeon credits his improving play to better patience at the plate.
Sophomore starting pitcher Thomas Taylor, who had a
strong performance going 5.2 innings and only giving up one run, seemed much less concerned about the team's batting struggles.
"They're already doing a lot better from the beginning of the year." Taylor said. "They'll be fine."
Another good sign for the Jayhawks today was senior outfielder, Jimmy Waters, getting back on track with two hits today, including a screaming line drive down the right field line that resulted in a double.
Edited by Corey Thibodeau
For the Jayhawks to get on track, Waters and the other seniors in the middle of the order have to heat up.
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"It's got to start with Waters getting it going, and [Casey] Lythe has got to get it going, and [Brandon] Macias has got to get it going." Price said. "For somebody to take the pressure off of the lineup, it's got to be those guys that have been successful in the past."
little option but to keep him there
option but to keep him alive. But there are two problems. First, there may come a game when the Jayhawks' offense isn't running smooth and Selby is the Jayhawks' best option in a broken floor. Watch him play, and you will see the incredible talent buried just beneath the surface. Self acknowled this.
surface. She still wants me.
"He could still be a guy for us this year that comes out and gets 15 or 18 points when we are really struggling." Self said. "He is potentially still that guy. He just needs to have a bit more confidence moving forward."
But Selby has likely never seen the bench for as long as he has this season. He's been the most talented player in almost every gym he walks into. He's never been a sidekick, like he will be to Marcus Morris, even in his finest moments this year.
The second problem, any coach recruiting against the jayhawks will happily spout, is that there is now a stigma that Self cannot coach a one-and-done player.
This is obviously and unquestionably ludicrous. Bill Self is a remarkable basketball coach, and his string of seven consecutive titles in one of the most difficult basketball leagues in the country is all the evidence you should need.
But still, the perception stands, and it can and will be used against him when the jayhaws get into a recruiting war with any team for any top recruit. Kids in the top 30, roughly, of every recruiting class generally think they are the world's greatest basketball talent. An opposing coach could have an easy go of convincing them that. In Self's system, they will face the same fate as Selby.
But here's the thing about Kansas. This year's team — its most balanced an overall-talented since the title-winning team of 2008 — is built out of three- and four-year players. Marcus Morris was ranked No. 29 in his class and Markieff was No. 49. Elijah Johnson is the only five-star recruit that starts, and it's a guarantee that he will be back in Lawrence next season.
So does Kansas even need the top recruits?
Edited by Jacque Weber
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