| My personal policies when taking animals to shows. |
| When litters are bred they are done so After a reserve list has been started and has grown enough to warrent a litter for that animal. Those on the reserve list are given the option of meeting At the shows Or at a different chosen meeting spot. IF they choose to pick up their reserved animals at shows they are taken in Different carriers and kept where they are not handled by the general public at all as an Extra percaution. Allowing folks to pick up animals at the show is often easier than arranging a seperate meeting. I live way out in the woods so seeing one at a show or even a mutual meeting spot is certainly much simpler than trying to help someone find my home when those in the area such as UPS, Triple A and even Lime Rock dilvery folks have gotten lost while trying to locate my house. IF any animals ever seem ill or to possibly be coming down with something they are Not taken to the shows PERIOD. All animals that are to attend a show (whether for pick up or to place) are given an herbal suppliment to help boost their immune system the week before the show. This helps them to fight off anything that they might come into contact with regardless of my precautions. ANY returning home again are put on the herbs for another week and isolated to be watched for any signs of illness. Animals at my table are not open for anyone walking by to touch. I place out signs and serveral modes of hand sanitizer on my table and explain freely and often during the day why I require them to clean their hands before they can Touch any animal present at my table. I too will clean my hands each time before and after picking up my own animals. I even now pass out the disposable hand sanitizer packets to those stopping at the table for them to use later on. Yes I said Touch... not Hold. I hold them and people are then, after cleaning hands, allowed to touch them. By my holding them, I am assured they are not mishandled and Not placed on a strangers person where they may well have just had some other animal. There are exception to this in those I KNOW personally that often stop at the shows or have their own tables.... but even they are required to clean hands before handling anything. I take a cooler with drinks for us and snacks and ice for the critters. In the summer months, it can be hot and they love the ice. We also bring a box fan and now also small waterbottles for spraying/misting that are equiped with battery operated fans.( they were a hit with the animals AND hot passerbyers at the show June 05) I make up care sheets for any animals that will be available for placement at the shows. I also talk with them at length before permitting them to adopt any animal from us. I make sure they know about the proper housing, bedding. food and care for the animal they are interested in. I also make up birth certificates for animals. In addition to the photos of the parents, birth date and litter size, there is also a listing of All means to reach me on the paper. I also give them a business card to insure they now have 2 different forms with my contact info on it. They are encouraged to contact me anytime they have a question, concern or something should happen and they can no longer keep that pet. Lots of love and care goes into all the animals we own, raise, breed and place. We do take time to try and place those going to other homes as best we can. I am aware that one can not control what a person does with an animal once it is in their care. I do not make unreasonable demands of them prior to allowing them to adopt, other than ask that they love them and spoil them as I have. I have to trust my instincts and judgement of people when it comes to placing with them. Whether talking to someone for 30-40 mins at a show prior to placing or talking for weeks or even months to a person looking to adopt an animal does not always assure me they will have the perfect spoiled life but it is the best that can be done. Many have asked Why I attend the shows. It is simple, because I love it. I do not attend to make $$. Very Rarely do I turn even a Hint of a profit. The fees I charge for adopting animals goes Right back into their care and supplies. Any money made from the accessories I make is the Closest to making any profit I get. Most months I do not even break even. When I do and have extra, it too, in most cases is put right back into the animals. I breed and raise the animals because I love them. I make accessories for pets because I love doing it. AND I attend the shows because I truly love them. I get the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I get to hear stories from older folks stopping at the tables talking about what it was like in their day or experiences they had with different animals, I get to see kids eyes light up when they see different animals and when they get the opportunity to take a new one home for a pet, I get the chance to educate people stopping at the table on the animals I love so much and Much, much more. |
| IF you still have questions or concerns please feel free to contact me. EMAIL |