MUSINGS ON LIFE AND WRITING WITH SARAH BUCKLEITNER
(All photos are of real shelter pets from the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, taken during my year working there. These pets have long been adopted, but there are hundreds more adorable critters just like them looking for homes). What do you picture when you hear the word "kill shelter?" If you're like most people, you … Continue reading On Kill Shelters
We woke to slate grey skies and helterskelter leaves flapping violently on their twigs in the trees. Jenna and I had been having a celebratory post-MCAT sleep over (complete with sticky buns, Oreos, Tarzan, and the Office) and as she rolled over to check her phone, her eyes got wide. "There's a tornado warning!" she … Continue reading On the business of survival
Working at a humane society, I often come across the notion that a large dog can’t live in a small apartment. “Oh, we certainly don’t have room for a dog that size,” the person will say, eyes roving disapprovingly over a Labrador mix of medium stature. Having personally housed a 90 lb Great Dane/Labrador/husky mix … Continue reading On Large Dogs in Small Apartments
Last week we watched a friend's dog. And while I've met many dogs over the span of my twenty-four years, this old guy made me think twice about what it means to have a dog, and in return, what it means to be one. See, Sonny is all dog. He woke us up each morning with a thorough … Continue reading On What It Means to Be a Dog
A few weeks ago we took Chara to the Paw Pet Resort for some water therapy. The vet had recommended both the location and the activity to us to help strengthen her muscles and stabilize her joints, and so we wanted to make sure we followed through. (Now, a disclaimer before I get into this … Continue reading On Privilege and Pets
Since the time I was a little kid I've had very strong views about what is right and what is wrong. Most of these were instilled by my strong, wonderful, opinionated mother. Some I came to on my own. Others were pushed on me through media and my friends. In the strongest of that bracket … Continue reading On the ethics of hunting
There are many ways to categorize people. Book lovers, exercise lovers, teachers, helpers, mothers, children, females, males, adults. Sometimes these categories are binding. They push a complex individual into a little box, and stop us from getting to all the complexities that make them really them. But categories can also help us to look more … Continue reading On loving animals, and how it can make you a better person
Feathery Thoughts 