You could try listing them as a large lot on eBay and see if they sell that way. I wouldn't bother trying to sell them individually.

I haven't heard back from the OP, so I'm assuming she hasn't changed her mind and can't accept the donations. I sincerely hope I haven't caused any offense. Thanks so much to all of you who wanted to help. OP, I'll be praying that you find a wonderful, loving home for your cat or can find a way to keep her. :grouphug:

Okay, I have to say, these funnels are awesome for travel and camping...if you can get past the cheesy website: Uri-Mate I've seen similar disposable and non-disposable ones on Amazon.

Amen, sister. :) This is absolutely true and such a good perspective to have. Hopefully just thinking through all this will bring you peace in the future. Everyone has shared such good thoughts here.

I do what you do, but most people don't and are fine.

I totally understand where you're coming from! :thumbup1: "Be anxious for nothing..." no doubt includes fears about public bathrooms. Just show them at home how to lay the paper down without touching the seat.

My First Sticky Mosiacs I've seen them at a teacher supply / art supply store.

I sympathize. Just remember that thousands of little girls your daughters' ages use the toilets at public schools every day. Most probably never cover the seat or take any kinds of precautions, and they are fine. However, because this makes you so uncomfortable, here are some things you might consider for the future: I don't know if you'd be able to find these in a store near you, but they cover the whole seat, even the sides and front: PottyCovers. Of course, they can't be flushed, so your girls would have to throw them in the trash themselves, which might be awkward for them. Target has mini (purse size) cans of Lysol-type spray, but then the seat would have to be wiped dry with a paper towel before using. Do you have a minivan? You could put a portable toilet in the back. Or, just tell your girls to check the seat before they cover it, to use plenty of toilet paper so their hands don't touch their bottoms, and to wash their hands when they're done. They'll be fine. Edited to add: I think the other posters' suggestions to just not worry about it will be more helpful in the long run than the things I suggested above. :)

Just :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: . Here's hoping the medication works for her.

The OP was appreciative, but told me she really couldn't accept our contributions. Also, she does not have a Paypal account. I suggested that perhaps we could all send our gifts to a moderator (or maybe another long-standing and trusted forum member?), who could then forward them on to her. I haven't heard back from her yet, but am so hoping that she will still consider this. I know many of us would take her cat if we could and want to do something to help. I am so encouraged by all of you.

Carter's does not treat their pajamas with flame retardants. They say, "We design our children’s sleepwear with a combination of fabrics and fits that do not require treatment with harsh chemicals to prevent flammability. Carter’s polyester sleepwear is naturally flame resistant, while our 100% cotton sleepwear is tight fitting, and therefore does not require additional fabric treatment." See link here. They might work for your youngest, and you can find them inexpensively on eBay or on sale at places like Kohl's. For your older kids, I would recommend either regular sweat suits or possibly some lounge pants from Etsy, as a previous poster has suggested.

I have PM-ed the OP about this. I love that you are all so willing to help!

I'd be willing to chip in to help pay for your security deposit. I'd love it if you could keep your beautiful cat. If twenty-five of us gave just $10 each, that would be $250. Is anyone else willing to help?

What a generous aunt you are! What about Only Hearts Club dolls? They are 9" tall and should fit in the house. Edited to add: The Loving Family dolls are very nice, but I think they might be too small for the furniture that comes with the Kidkraft house. It's sized for 11-12" dolls, and the tallest Loving Family doll is only about 6". Of course, you could change your mind and get a Loving Family house instead!

Awww, so sweet!! :)

My dog takes Tramadol three times a day for arthritis. We have the vet call in his prescription to a regular pharmacy, and I think I paid $6 last time for a 60 day supply! It is a narcotic pain killer and won't do anything for inflammation, but it's the best alternative we could find. For us, it has zero side effects, even with long-term use. We had previously tried the usual prescription anti-inflammatories, which worked very well but eventually caused too much stomach upset. When we did use an anti-inflammatory, we bought the generic version of Rimadyl (called Novox) at Drs. Foster and Smith. If you are able to take care of the pain, the aggression may very well disappear. You could try temporarily keeping her in another area of the house (baby gates are handy for this) until you see how she is with some new medication. Good luck. Just wanted to add: the Tramadol does work quite well for us. Without it, my dog has trouble going up stairs and even walking down the driveway. With it, he is able to run and play almost like a puppy. Please do see a vet.

A Tervis tumbler with a box of nice tea. Bed Bath and Beyond has lots of really cute ones.

Keeping a light on and playing spoken audio on a continual loop every night worked to keep raccoons out of our garage. However, they were just visitors and hadn't yet set up camp there. As a fellow animal lover, I sympathize. At least one company I contacted about removal said that they would live trap the raccoons and release them on wooded private land. However, it would have been very expensive to hire them.

I don't know of any toy safer than a Kong. They are awesome. They make special puppy Kongs now (marbled pink or blue). I think the black ones would be too hard for a puppy. My dog is a powerful chewer (but small at 15 lbs.), and the regular red Kongs have been fine for him as an adult. I do have to respectfully disagree about the safety of the hard Nylabones. My dog cracked his molar badly on one and actually had to have the tooth removed. He can't have the flexible soft ones, either, as he bites off chunks and has swallowed them. If your dog's skin is very flaky, you may want to make sure she doesn't have a bacterial or fungal skin infection. Have the vet take a look if you're going tomorrow anyway. If her skin is just dry, I agree with others that a high-quality food low in grains should help. I like Wellness brand. Congrats on your puppy!

Rats are definitely very intelligent and can be quite dog-like in their affection for their owners. A friend of mine had a pet rat who became ill. When she took him to the vet, she was told the rat's condition was terminal. Arriving back home, she started to cry. Upon seeing this, the rat went into his cage, dug out his favorite treasure (a half-eaten chocolate egg), brought it out and gave it to her. True story (and I know I've told it here before)! ;) Rats should be kept in pairs (if male, they generally need to have been raised together). Males tend to be more laid back, while females are more active. The males can smell a little more and may leave "scent trails" (tiny drops of urine) around the house. Syrian hamsters can be nice and prefer living alone (in fact, they may fight to the death if housed with another hamster!). They're not really affectionate towards humans, but they are cute, fun to watch, enjoyable to care for, and easy to handle. Their teeth occasionally need trimming. Mice are curious, gentle, and easy to care for. They also don't have much interest in humans, but can be held and are also fun to watch in their wheels and at play. They should be kept in pairs or groups. Guinea pigs are super sweet, easy to handle, and will beg for treats. They also should be kept in pairs and need a very large cage (see guineapigcages.com). They can be messy. Unlike other little furry pets, they don't seem to mind lying in and sleeping in their potty spots. You need to be willing trim their nails every month or so. They also can live 5-7 years, so are a major commitment. I hope you find a good solution. I desperately wanted a dog growing up, but had to content myself with fish, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, and mice. I enjoyed my little pets and appreciate my dog even more now. Your son will be fine.

I honestly don't believe you should get a dog. I understand that you had a very difficult experience with your last dogs. Anyone would have been frustrated. However--and I'm just trying to be frank, not unkind--anyone who speaks of "dancing a jig" when they "got rid of" two old dogs should not get another one. This is a major, life-changing decision for your family AND for the dog. If you are hesitant AT ALL, please don't do it.

It's been my experience that dogs only smell when they're not bathed regularly. We'd smell, too, if we never washed! :) Please do allow your dog in the house. He will be more protective of your family, better bonded to you, cleaner, easier to train, and, of course, happier! A dog that is always with the livestock may bond more with them than with you. If you were getting a dog like a Great Pyr purely for livestock protection, that might be a good thing, but a family dog really should be with the family. I second the recommendation for books by Patricia McConnell. If you're open to getting a dog from a shelter or rescue, I recommend petfinder.com. You can search for dogs near your location by size, breed, age, sex, etc. There are plenty of purebred dogs and nice mixes available, and "foster parents" who have had the dogs in their home can tell you a lot about their temperament and skills. Good luck!

In answer to your question, yes, of course! In a family of eight, I really do believe your children are getting plenty of social interaction at home. You just have to not care if people think you're crazy. :) I am sorry you're having such a rough time, but please try to enjoy life, your family, and your great property. In grand scheme of things it truly, truly does not matter what other people think of you. :grouphug:

double post

From peteducation.com: "Humans become infected with roundworms when they ingest infective eggs from the soil or from their hands or another object. Large numbers of the eggs can accumulate in the soil where dogs and cats are allowed to defecate. The eggs are sticky, and can collect on the hands and under the fingernails of people. Children, and others who may not have good hygiene, are most prone to becoming infected. People become infected with hookworms when the hookworm larvae in the ground penetrate through the skin. Persons who have contact with the ground,especially for long periods of time, such as plumbers or electricians, and sunbathers, especially those lying on wet sand or ground, are at increased risk. Roundworm eggs and hookworms eggs and larvae need to be in the environment approximately two weeks, before becoming infective, so direct contact with an infected animal generally does not result in transmission. However, young puppies may continually contaminate their entire litter area. Adults and children who handle the bitch or puppies or who clean the area may be especially at risk." I would also add that tapeworms can only be transmitted by ingesting the intermediate hosts, fleas! So, if your puppy has fleas, be sure to take care of those and have the children hold off on kissing the puppy until they are gone. Congratulations on your new family member!