By Janice Murasko

Last week in “Days of Our Nine Lives,” ARF cats and kittens discussed dealing with dog and cat undesirable behaviors.

Harley: Did you guys know that October is Adopt a Shelter Dog month?

Pepper: I knew that, and I hope humans do, too.

Phil: It makes so much sense, in many ways.

Don: By adopting a pet, humans may be saving a life. How many dogs might be left to fend for themselves? Or how many dogs are left to be euthanized when not adopted in a shelter?

Rosy: Yikes! And it is less expensive to adopt. Even with the adoption fee, it is cheaper because that fee includes spay/neutering, vaccinations and microchipping.

Phil: ARF’s adoption fees are way less than the costs of all of those things.

Delight: No kidding! Just to walk into a veterinary office is about 80 bucks.

Harley: And if a person wants a particular breed, they are often found in shelters.

Don: Or at breed-specific rescues!

Pepper: Because ARF dogs stay with foster families, they become comfortable with house training, other pets, and all kinds of people.

Delight: And I bet their temperaments are observed when staying in a home.

Harley: They are! A foster can share very good observations with the adoptive family.

Pepper: Once the dog is adopted, the pet may be brought into Sadie’s Clinic for low-cost vaccinations and heart worm testing when the time is right.

Don: And its nails may be trimmed monthly at ARF’s nail trim clinic.

Harley: So it makes sense to adopt.

Rosy: Simply put, yes.

Carrie: And because we cats are worked with and observed every single day in the cattery, quite a bit is known about us.

Delight: And we are also completely up-to-date on vaccinations, and we are spayed/neutered.

Be sure to keep up with the animal antics of Days of our Nine Lives each week. And please stop in to say hello to the entire adoptable cast at the ARF House, 26890 Hwy 243. ARF is open Saturdays 10-3, Sundays 10-2, and during the week by appointment. Please call 951- 659-1122.

Creature Corner is seeking monthly sponsors. For those interested in sponsoring future months of Creature Corner, contact ARF at 951-659-1122 or info@idyllwildarf.org.