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This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
The Barking Lot
By Kevin Fischer
Saturday, Jul 5 2008, 11:16 AM
Paying Premiums for your Pooch?
By Jennifer Fischer
I have written several times about my two childhood dogs, Sugar and Skippy. (I was also blessed with a wonderful cat, Tommy. He was the most “non-cat” cat I’ve ever known. All he wanted to do was eat, sleep, and be petted while sitting on your lap. While I loved Tommy sitting on my lap, eventually my legs would fall asleep. You see, Tommy was pushing the scales at over 30 pounds).
Each of these three incredible pets in my life had many health challenges throughout their short time with us. Sugar underwent cancer surgery twice. Skippy was poisoned by a neighbor and while she survived, she was never the same. She had liver trouble and stomach issues. Tommy (being the 30+ pound lover-of-Twinkie Cakes that he was) had diabetes the last two years of his life.
In addition to the annual check ups and regularly scheduled shots, our pets cost our family a considerable amount of money. Surgeries and medications for animals are just as costly as they are for humans. Of course they got the best treatment and care we could provide them, even when it meant a financial sacrifice. I was raised with, and still have, the belief that if you adopt a pet you need to provide for its well-being. If you brought them into your family, you need to take care of them from beginning to end.
If pet health insurance had existed when we got Sugar, Skippy and Tommy, we would have been able to save quite a bit of money on their care and surgeries.
Dr. Jack Stephens is a former veterinarian who recognized the enormous need for pet health insurance in the United States. His company, Pets Best Insurance, has a heart-warming history of how it was founded. When we finally get a puppy I will definitely get an insurance policy.
Perhaps you currently have a dog with health issues. Or perhaps you are considering a certain breed that has a propensity towards a particular health problem. Pets Best Insurance, or a similar insurance company, could be a valuable resource for you. I know that I will consider Pets Best Insurance in the future for our dog.
Thanks, Jennifer.
My turn. It's time for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.
Unfortunately, the news isn't always good. This brave dog died in the line of duty. Closer to home, Rocco has cancer.
Pet owners are forced to make adjustments with the closing of a Greendale pet cemetery.
At Milwaukee's lakefront, border collies have been called in to combat disease-spreading birds.
Here's a touching story. Hundreds line up, not for free food, free gas, free anything. They wanted to adopt rescued dogs.
And it turns out Leona Helmsley's generosity wasn't reserved for just one dog.
We close the Barking Lot this week with an e-mail from one of our readers:
Dear Jennifer (and you, too, Kevin):
Thank you for your weekly dog blog. It is quite clear, Jennifer that you are passionate about dogs and I sure hope Kevin finally breaks down and gets you one someday.
And by the way, Kevin. I have a bone to pick with you. A few weeks ago, you closed out one of the dog blogs with a video of Rowlf from the Muppet Show, accompanying Johnny Cash in a barn singing, “Egg sucking dog.” I watched all the Muppet Shows, and being a dog-lover myself, Rowlf was one of my favorite characters. Rowlf is a talented piano virtuoso, and I’m afraid your blog singling out that video with Johnny Cash may have damaged poor Rowlf’s reputation. I certainly hope not.
A super huge Rowlf fan
Thanks for your e-mail and thanks for reading.
Please enjoy the following classical performance. (Note the candelabra).
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