8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Pet- Especially at Christmas

 

As an author of Pets and the Afterlife 1 and 2 (and 3 coming in January),  a dog dad and a dog rescuer, I see a LOT of people "giving" dogs or cats as "presents" at the holidays. It makes me cringe, because as a rescuer, many of these animals wind up back in kill shelters days, weeks or months after Christmas, when the new "pet parent" fails at parenting and can't handle the responsibility. I always tell people:  Adopting a Pet is the SAME as adopting a human child- they just don't grow up, marry someone you hate, and leave you.  Pets always rely on you. So please DO NOT give a pet as a present. This should be the decision of the person adopting. You can pay the adoption fees, though, if they are okay with it. 

   Recently the H. Post published this great article about questions to ask before you adopt a pet. And it IS an adoption. BTW, We had Dolly and Franklin for 16 YEARS each. That's a LONG TIME, so remember that. I would give anything to still have them here but they' both passed this year leaving a hole in my heart. 

  Here's the article.

8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting a Pet

 Experts share the important factors to consider before welcoming a dog, cat or other animal into your home. 

By Caroline Bologna, Huff Post 

 The benefits of pet ownership are numerous, and clearly, people know it. In 2020, dog adoptions and sales soared amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and one market research firm has projected that the total number of pet-owning U.S. households will grow from 68 million in August to 71 million by the end of the year.

“Pets bring joy, help with learning responsibility and compassion for others, companionship, stress-relief, and can be a great addition to your family!” Camp Bow Wow animal health and behavior consultant Erin Askeland told HuffPost.  Below, Askeland and veterinarian Rolan Tripp outline eight questions to ask yourself before taking the leap into pet ownership.

1)  Can I afford a pet? Even if you aren’t shelling out large sums of money to buy a pet from a breeder or shop, there are still costs involved.

“Fees for adopting a pet can vary greatly, but that’s just an initial cost,” Askeland noted. “You’ll also need to budget for veterinary visits with booster shots, bloodwork, fecal testing (for parasites), etc. depending on the type of pet you choose. This veterinary care continues throughout the pet’s life.

There's also Food, Training, Supplies (crates, leashes, beds, Pet Sitters, Day care, boarding fees, etc.  

ROB'S IMPORTANT NOTE: Dogs NEED Heartworm and Flea preventative. Our TYLER was heartworm positive before we adopted him. They weakened his heart. The treatment is also 6 months to eliminate them. My friend Dan cared for a shelter dog named Kuzco this year, who died from Heartworm. 

 

2) Do I have the time it takes to care for a pet? Pets ownership involves a lot of money and time.  “Pets require flexibility and time at home to allow for care, training, exercise, and cleaning. Some pets require more attention than others, but all require some daily interaction,” Askeland explained.

3) Do I live in a pet-friendly home? “You can make most living situations with a pet work, but if you live in an apartment, some pets will be more challenging ― dogs need to go out to potty and exercise, in particular,” Askeland said. She emphasized that pets should always be monitored, whether inside or outside and even if in a fenced area.  

4) Am I prepared?  Before you get a pet, keep in mind that you will be sharing life for the next decade or so. “When you are not prepared to give pets the time and type of care they need, pets can become anxious and a source of stress instead of the healing and happiness we often seek from pets.”.

“Once the pet is home, like a marriage, it takes a ‘for better or worse’ attitude and plans for the better,” Tripp said. “Resist bringing home a pet without planning or because you feel ‘love at first sight.’”

5) Is this the right breed for me? Do research the kind of animal you want to bring into your home to see if it’s compatible with your lifestyle. Think about different breeds and the characteristics associated with them. This is especially important for dogs.

ROB NOTE:  If you want a dog to lounge around, Consider a Senior dog - Animal rescues and shelters are LOADED with them.  because cruel, heartless idiots raise them until they are old, and dump them because they need medical care - Like our Dash, who was dumped at a kill shelter at almost 11 years old. 

. Factors to consider include the breed’s activity level, tr

ainability, and its tendency to be vocal and be friendly to other dogs or cats. If you or someone in your household has allergies, think about allergen levels as well.

6) Do I have a good support system and backups if I need help? “It’s best to have everyone in your home involved with caring for the pet, even if you are the primary caregiver,”  Also- think about who would take care of the pet in case of emergencies.

7) Do I have realistic expectations about pet ownership? “ Read books about the pet you want, talking to friends or family who have owned that kind of pet, looking up the cost of care and supplies that the pet will need, researching pet insurance costs, and taking a realistic look at your life and schedule to see how a pet fits in. 

8) Am I willing to make sacrifices for my pet? Reflect on your lifestyle. How pet-friendly is it? And if the answer is “not very,” consider whether you’re willing to make changes for your pet, whether that’s canceling trips, missing social engagements or putting less time into other endeavors. While you may be home a lot in 2020, think about how your life may change as the COVID-19 vaccine gets a wider distribution.  “If you travel frequently for work, a pet may not be an ideal choice because of the time commitment involved,” 

READ MORE: https://pethelpful.com/dogs/Adopting-a-Dog

Massachusetts Hauntings: A dark side to local lighthouses

The Patriot Ledger newspaper in Quincy, Massachusetts has a great feature called "Spooky South Shore" (of Boston) and this is an article courtesy of the paper. 

Spooky South Shore: A dark side to local lighthouses 

By Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger Newspaper, Quincy, MA

 Posted Oct 24, 2020

Here’s the tragic and creepy tale behind Minot’s Ledge Light. Minot’s Ledge Light hasn’t had a keeper for decades, but some say that the victims of one of the most tragic lighthouse disasters in history continue to keep guard more than 150 years later. 

 Sitting about a mile off the coast of Scituate and Cohasset, Minot’s Ledge Light is often thought of as a beacon of romance, as it flashes in a 1-4-3 cycle, symbolic of the words “I love you.” And while lighthouses may represent light and safety, they also carry a sense of darkness that historian Jeremy D’Entremont says is undeniable, even at Minot’s Ledge Light.

(Photo: Credit: https://coastguard.dodlive.mil/    A rigid-hull inflatable small boat from the Coast Guard buoy tender Abbie Burgess speeds out to the site of the survey project. (Courtesy of Mr. Brian R. McMahon)

 “There’s a reason a lot of horror stories and movies are set in light houses,” D’Entremont, president and historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation, said. “Lighthouses are so isolated and dark, especially in stormy weather. It gets people’s imaginations going.” A self-described “open-minded skeptic,” D’Entremont said Minot’s Ledge 

Light has one of the more notable ghost tales on the South Shore that has been circulating for decades about the tragic demise of two of the earliest keepers. The original Minot’s Ledge Light was completed in 1850. Almost immediately, the first keeper, Isaac Dunham, started warning that the lighthouse wasn’t strong enough against the crashing waves, and swayed heavily even in normal conditions. But government officials ignored Dunham’s warnings, so he quit in October of 1851. 

 Less than a year later, on April 16, 1852, a fierce nor’easter rolled in while the new lighthouse keeper, John Bennett, was back on land. Two assistant keepers, Joseph Wilson and Joseph Antoine, remained there to keep the lantern lit and the bell ringing through the storm. Scituate residents reported that the light was last seen burning at about 10 p.m., and residents on shore heard the frantic ringing of the fog bell at about 1 a.m. 

The structure tumbled into the sea shortly after, but D’Entremont said there is evidence the two men left using the escape hawser before then. 

 A Gloucester fisherman reportedly found a message in a bottle two days later with the keepers’ final message: “The lighthouse won’t stand over to night. She shakes 2 feet each way now. — J.W. + J.A” Antoine’s body washed ashore at Nantasket, and Wilson was found on Gull Rock, a small island about a mile from the lighthouse. 

 The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1860, and automated (without lightkeepers) in 1947. D’Entremont said boaters have reportedly heard warnings to stay away and calls for help coming from the lighthouse in Antoine’s native language of Portuguese. “The legend is that when the seas are rough or a storm is coming, people have seen a figure on the ladder leading up to the doorway waving people off,” said. “I haven’t seen it and I haven’t met someone personally who has experienced it.” 

 In his own book, “Lovers’ Light: The History of Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse,” D’Entremont writes about Gustav Kobbé, a music critic and author who traveled to the lighthouse in the winter of 1893. He wrote of his stay at the lighthouse in an article that appeared in The Century magazine. 

 One of the passages from Kobbé that D’Entremont included in his book is about the tales he heard from the lighthouse keepers about the ghost of Antoine haunting the tower. “Strange noises have been heard in the oil-room — sudden rattling of cans and clinking of glass, as if someone were at work there. 

Stories are also current of the mysterious filling of the lamp and cleaning of the lens and lantern,” Kobbé wrote. “One night, as the midnight watch was drawing to a close, the keeper in the watch-room, who had been brooding over the destruction of the old tower, quite unconsciously leaned forward and rapped with his pipe. A few minutes later he was startled to hear an answering rap from below.” D’Entremont said keepers in the first lighthouse were said to have communicated between floors by rapping on a stovepipe. 

 Further down the coast, D’Entremont said Plymouth Light, also known as Gurnet Light, is rumored to be haunted by lightkeeper Hannah Thomas, who took over the post after her husband John was killed while fighting in the Revolutionary War. 

 And in Scituate, D’Entremont said people have claimed that the ghosts of Rebecca and Abigail Bates haunt Scituate Light. The girls, whose father was the keeper of the light, reportedly became known as Scituate’s “Lighthouse Army of Two” during the War of 1812 after they saw a British warship near the harbor and played the fife and drum to make the British think the town militia was approaching. Some have said fife and drum music can be heard among the waves.

Inspired Ghost Tracking Members talk about Christmastime Ghosts and Spirits ! (1 hour video)

If you just missed our 1 hour video talking about  how spirits of your loved ones visit during the holidays, you can see it here.  We also talk about the same GHOST that Troy and I met at the Ford's theatre, 1 year apart. 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/66UVwtG3XlU

Alex Matsuo's The Spooky Stuff Blog: 10 Reasons Why Christmas Is More Paranormal Than Halloween

I've known Alex Matsuo for a couple of years, and she's an AMAZING writer and paranormal investigator.  She also has a fantastic blog called "The Spooky Stuff!" - That said, Here's a recent blog entry from her- and I highly recommend that you subscribe to her blog and check out  her videos. You can find her at https://alexmatsuo.com/. Enjoy her great holiday blog below. - Rob

10 Reasons Why Christmas Is More Paranormal Than Halloween

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Alex Matsuo

If you think that spooky season is over just because Halloween has passed, think again! December and Christmas have more than enough paranormal elements to make it just as spooky, if not MORE spooky, than Halloween. We all know by now that there are a lot of pagan elements integrated into Christmas traditions already. Sure, that’s creepy when you think about it. But there are so many other elements about Christmas that make it supernatural. Should spooky season continue into the holidays? YES!

1. Santa Claus

What being is more supernatural than Santa Claus? I’ve always wondered about Santa. Is he a magical human being? Or is he an elemental? The fact that Santa has the ability to stop space and time so that he can deliver presents to every child around the world is nothing short of impressive. But it’s also mildly terrifying. A being with that much power can certainly dismantle society and the human race as we know it. And yet, he chooses to deliver presents instead. How lucky are we?

2. Spooky Stories Were Told in Winter

Even back before Christmas was a thing, this time of year signaled the end of summer. Mother Earth literally goes to sleep. It’s a time where nature dies, so to speak. And what doesn’t die, goes to sleep. The days are shorter and the nights are longer. Plus, it’s cold outside. There’s snow. No one is traveling, let alone going outside to see friends after dark. So, people were inside their homes much more. Think of a crackling fire and flickering candlelight. It is the perfect setting for telling ghost stories. This was a thing for several centuries even after Christmas was introduced. Even Charles Dickens called Christmas Eve, “the witching hour for storytelling.” Sure, the tradition has died off a little, but it’s making a comeback.

3. Christmas Monsters

I recently covered ten of my favorite Christmas monsters in a recent blog. Seriously, what is more paranormal than monsters, witches, goblins, and more? We have Frau Perchta, Krampus, Gryla, and more! These monsters were mainly used as incentives to behave not only during the holidays but throughout the year. Most of these monsters would come out during the 12 Days of Christmas, which I’ll be covering later in this blog. But seriously, while Halloween has its plethora of traditional monsters, Christmas monsters might be a bit scarier!

4. Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice has both scientific and spiritual significance. It happens the instant the North Pole is aimed furthest away from the sun on the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis. Also, this is the time that the sun shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. Usually, the Winter Solstice happens between December 20th and 23rd, but most celebrate it on December 21st. Spiritually, it’s a significant event for us because it signifies a shift around the world. It’s a time for rest and reflection as the Earth goes to sleep. It’s a time for personal growth and discovering yearnings within yourself.

5. Flying Reindeer

Flying. Reindeer. Let’s think about that! These reindeer pals of Santa Claus can not only fly, but they can move at super sonic speed around the world. Or, they aren’t affected by Santa freezing time and are able to trying. Either way, flying reindeer might be the most extraordinary cryptid out there. What gives them the ability to fly? Well, most people say it’s magic. But what if they were born with the ability to fly? And why reindeer? Couldn’t Santa’s sleigh be pulled by a legion of Mothman instead? Well, if you didn’t have nightmares before, that’s a doozy for you.

6. Frosty the Snowman

This is another element of Christmas that’s honestly quite terrifying when you think about it. Remember the movie, Jack Frost? Yes, a kids’ movie but also the producer of nightmares. Snowmen are inanimate objects. They aren’t supposed to come to life. That is unless you put a magic hat on it. I’ve always been fascinated by the Frosty lore because it does have significant paranormal ties. The first thing I think of is haunted objects. Could you give something a bit more life by manifesting it into reality?

7. Inhuman Entities

Inhuman doesn’t mean evil! Not to be redundant from the Christmas monsters topic, but can we talk about elves and fairies? Yes, these inhuman entities, or elementals, play a significant role during the holidays. Elves are working tirelessly in Santa’s workshop to make toys. Fairies are contributing their powers to make the season more magical. If you look up different Christmas lore, there are a ton of stories featuring inhuman entities. It’s pretty cool when you think about it. But what I find really funny is that during the rest of the year, these inhuman entities are evil and want to end us.

8. 12 Days of Christmas

We all know the famous song, but what are the 12 days of Christmas, really? Today, we know it as the time between the birth of Christ and the arrival of the Magi. But the 12 days of Christmas has several meanings to different cultures. You might notice in Christmas monster folklore that a lot of these creatures are rampant during the 12 days of Christmas. There’s a reason for this. During the olden days in some parts of the world, these dozen days were considered unholy. Therefore, these Christmas monsters had the ability to roam the Earth. In other folklore, like the Kallikantzaros, the sun stops moving. So, it seems like the 12 Days of Christmas are a holiday version of The Purge for monsters.

9. Magic

Magic is everywhere during the holidays. It’s in movies, songs, and cards. We hear “Christmas magic,” “holiday magic”, “magic of Santa Claus”, the list goes on. Why is Christmas magic more acceptable during the month of December but not for the rest of the year? I may or may not be looking at a certain religious group here. Perhaps it’s not really magic coming into play, but everyone falling for the commercialization of Christmas? I just find it ironic. It seems the holidays are a time where people are less afraid of the occult.

10. Ghosts & Spirits

Besides ghost stories being an old holiday tradition, did you know that more hauntings are reported during the holidays? Well, there hasn’t been an official study on this yet. But there should be! I can only speak for myself and my team about it. We usually get a spike in requests around the holidays. I have a theory. I urge you to take it with a grain of salt, as it is just a thought. With Winter Solstice around this time, plus, the holidays being a time for family, I think spirits want to come back and spend the holidays with their living relatives.

Sources:

https://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/history/elves.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/dec/22/how-ghost-stories-have-shaped-my-life

https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/articles/its-a-paranormal-christmas

https://exploredeeply.com/live-your-purpose/winter-solstice-spiritual-meaning

Watch! A Great Discussion on Beyond Reality Radio- JV and Rob talk Ghosts, Kindred Spirits, and Pets

 I love talking with JV Johnson, host of Beyond Reality Radio. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of coming back to the show (my 3rd appearance) and we covered many topics. In the first half hour we talked about Pets in spirit, and about my book "Kindred Spirits: How a Medium Befriended a Spirit."  The second half hour we talked about some of the weird cases from my latest book "Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking."   It was such a great conversation, and I know you'll enjoy listening to it. Here's the show: 

VIDEO  https://youtu.be/HMT6PPbg6T4

TO GET ROB'S BOOKS ON AMAZON: Click here to go to Rob's Amazon page

Live Interview TONIGHT at 11pm ET and On-Line Events: Dec 19, 20, 24th!

There are 4 more on-line events as we head toward Christmas, and the next one happens tonight, Thursday, Dec. 17. Here's a rundown on that event and the following three. Hope you can tune in.- Rob

**LIVE BROADCAST** Thurs. Dec. 17 at 11 pm EST Rob Returns as a Guest on Beyond Reality Radio  Hosted by JV Johnson about Paranormal Cases of the Inspired Ghost Tracking group (based on Rob's new book)  LISTEN: http://www.beyondrealitywithjv.com/ ; 

 www.youtube.com/c/jvjohnson // www.twitch.tv/jvjohnson 

**FACEBOOK LIVE-Sat. Dec. 19 at 7pm ET, Christmas Ghost and Spirit Stoires! - Join Rob, Troy and Margaret from Inspired Ghost TrackingListen / Watch Live: https://www.facebook.com/inspiredghost  

**LIVE ON-AIR INTERVIEW** Sun. Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET Rob talks Pets and the Afterlife w/Host Greg Bakun of Ghost Box Radio, live on AM950Radio in the Twin Cities!  LISTEN:  http://www.am950radio.com/

*CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY SHORT VIDEO (20 mins)*Thurs. Dec. 24 at 7pm ET -Meet the 3 Ghosts of Christmas Past from the Fords Theatre. Rob Gutro Talks about 3 ghosts he met. A Westminster Public Library program. https://www.facebook.com/WestminsterBranchLibrary

Video: Feeling of Dread in the Tower Of London from my book 'Ghosts of England"

In my book Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation by Rob Gutro, I toured the famous "Tower of London," and ran into quite a few GHOSTS, and a portal, or energy doorway used by ghosts., In this particular video, I had just come out of St. Peter's Church and it was quite unsettling with the residual emotional energy within. That's because of the horror people learned in that church. It's all in my book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation. "

ABOUT THE TOWER OF LONDON-  When William the Conqueror built a mighty stone tower at the centre of his London fortress in the 1070s, defeated Londoners must have looked on in awe. Now nearly 1000 years later, the Tower still has the capacity to fascinate and horrify.
  As protector of the Crown Jewels, home of the Yeomen Warders and its legendary guardians, the pampered ravens, the Tower now attracts over three million visitors a year. Here, the Ceremony of the Keys and other traditions live on, as do the ghost stories and terrible tales of torture and execution.
   But the Tower also has a richer and more complex history, having been home to a wide array of institutions including the Royal Mint, the Royal Armouries and even a zoo.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/XLbaUaj9Emk


ABOUT "GHOSTS OF ENGLAND ON A MEDIUM'S VACATION by Rob Gutro: What happens when a medium goes on vacation? Can a medium simply switch off their ability at will? Well…not exactly. Rob Gutro is a medium/author/paranormal investigator and a scientist who has written 7 books about his encounters with human and animal ghosts and spirits. In this book, you will read about his experiences on two separate trips to the United Kingdom. England’s rich history and many epic battles have caused an over-abundance of residual emotional energy. Everywhere he traveled, he had a paranormal experience.\
      He explored royal palaces and spent the night in haunted castles. He encountered the ghosts of historical figures including a queen, a prince, and a nobleman; and several ghosts even shared their pain of death experience with him. On one occasion, the doppelganger of a loved one provided directions when he became lost while driving in the countryside due to a malfunctioning GPS. But not all of his encounters were of the human variety: there was also a very special visit from a canine ghost.
    This book is intended to be more than just a collection of personal ghost stories. In addition to relating my ghostly encounters, he has also included a short narrative history of the places where the experiences occurred. After all, knowing the history of a place is key to understanding why a ghost has decided to stay behind. So, join Rob as he relates his encounters with the ghosts of England.
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Rob has written 7 other books about the paranormal, two about people (Ghosts and Spirits and Lessons Learned From Talking to the Dead) and 2 about pets (Pets and the Afterlife and Pets and the Afterlife 2), Kindred Spirits and Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking.  The books are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com.

Watch on YouTube! Rob talks Holiday and Animal Spirits on the Edge of the Rabbit Hole Show

Watch on You Tube! If you missed last night's 1 hour video chat about Pets and the Afterlife and Holiday spirits with Mike Ricksecker and Victoria Mundae, hosts of "Edge of the Rabbit Hole." **PLUS- I debut the cover of Pets and the Afterlife 3: Messages from Spirit Dogs!

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/qA2k4R-tPYA

Coming in January! Pets and the Afterlife 3: Signs from Spirit Dogs, by Rob Gutro

 Final edits are being done, the cover of Rob Gutro's new book is being completed and in January, 2021 watch for the publication of Pets and the Afterlife 3: Signs from Spirit Dogs!

  I'm so excited to get the third volume of Pets and the Afterlife books out- and this one focuses exclusively on signs from dogs, AND there's a special chapter from my good friend Dr. William Charmak about how to better cope with grief and loss. 

  It will be available on Amazon.com in paperback and e-book sometime in January (as long as I get the edits done!).  The stories are Amazing!! Between messages I received from dogs in spirit to signs that others shared with me - they will give you hope, smiles, chills and comfort that your pet is with you. -  Rob Gutro, Author

Tonight LIVE at 9:30pm ET- Rob Returns to "Edge of the Rabbit Hole" about Holiday and Pet Spirits

TUNE IN TONIGHT for a live interview on youTube  and  I'll debut the cover on Mike Ricksecker's Edge of the Rabbit Hole show, when I get interviewed at 9:30pm. SO, Tune in! **

Tuesday, Dec. 15th 9:30 p.m. EST- Mike Ricksecker and Victoria Mundae's You Tube Paranormal show "Edge of the Rabbit Hole" welcomes back Author and Paranormal Investigator Rob Gutro to Edge of the Rabbit Hole! - Christmas ghosts, Pets and the Afterlife, Negative Energy   

Watch or Listen: http://www.youtube.com/edgeoftherabbithole