Newbies!

[lyoness]

Originally Posted by stiffnecked

Leave the animals at the shelter. It'll make the move much easier. Then if you really feel the need for more you can buy them when you get here. Plus, from the animals standpoint they may not want to move. If you were a dog, cat, or possum would you want to spend your life couped up in an apartment? If you don't have a giant yard where these animals can run free then your just being cruel to them.

In my humble opinion apartment dwellers have no business keeping dogs and cat stuck in them all day. What kind of life is that where the only time you get to go outside is when it's time to crap?

Oooooo, I'm afraid you will hit a lot of nerves with that response. Only someone who is not emotionally attached to their pet would ever consider leaving it at a shelter in hopes that it would get a good home, not be abused or put to sleep.Those kinds of people never had any business owning a pet to begin with, IMO. My "boys" are my babies, most pet owners consider their animals part of the family. My "boys" are cooped up in the house all day when I work, as with everyone I know who works and has dogs. But they are happy, healthy animals. And if I ever had to move to an apartment (as I would have if I had been able to move this year), one would have come with me as we both would have been heartbroken to be seperated forever (besides, he is a holy terror, so no one else would ever want him LOL), the other would have stayed with someone he is very attached to. My point being, a dog will adapt to the lifestyle the owner lives, and will thrive as long as it is given the attention dogs crave.

[tigre79]

Let me make sure I've got this straight...dogs are so emotionally sensitive that they're going to be traumatized by living in an apartment (or heaven forbid, moving to a different place), so it's better to abandon them in a place where they are stuck in a cold, concrete cage 24-hours a day and will probably be put to death by strangers. Right, that makes sense.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by bortstc37

a texan i know started teaching in a village near bethel this year. she's already back in texas.
good luck!

I've heard the turnover rate in bush Alaska for teachers is quite high. Someone suggested to me I try and get a teaching job up there and I did a fair amount of research on it, the transition to teaching program for licensure, etc...I think that'd be my last resort for a job up there, I've read some real horror stories from a few of the villages...

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by lyoness

Oooooo, I'm afraid you will hit a lot of nerves with that response. Only someone who is not emotionally attached to their pet would ever consider leaving it at a shelter in hopes that it would get a good home, not be abused or put to sleep.Those kinds of people never had any business owning a pet to begin with, IMO. My "boys" are my babies, most pet owners consider their animals part of the family. My "boys" are cooped up in the house all day when I work, as with everyone I know who works and has dogs. But they are happy, healthy animals. And if I ever had to move to an apartment (as I would have if I had been able to move this year), one would have come with me as we both would have been heartbroken to be seperated forever (besides, he is a holy terror, so no one else would ever want him LOL), the other would have stayed with someone he is very attached to. My point being, a dog will adapt to the lifestyle the owner lives, and will thrive as long as it is given the attention dogs crave.

So true Lyoness. I remember back when I lived in Cleveland, there was a homeless guy who would go past our house and he always had his dog with him. I don't know what his story was but he was always smiling and very pleasant. He would turn cans in for money so I always saved cans to give to him and off and on would give him bags of dog food. That dog was very happy with his owner; the dog was friendly and obviously didn't care as long as that owner was there. They adapt. Like you, I could never even think of taking our "girls" to a shelter; matter of fact we won't even board them out. If we have to go on a trip, they go.

[Nephler]

stiffnecked, would leave your child in an orphanage because they may not like living in an apartment? I think not. In my view it's the same. You really have disgust me with that statement of yours. Any true animal lover would never do that, never.

[nwcountrygal]

Stiffnecked I understand where you where coming from. An animal should have amble room to roam. Many of us (for the first time in my life) don't have that. My dog would be under soo much stress not traveling with me. No he doesn't always get out when he wants or do what he wants but he is much happier with me. This I know because I did leave him at a horse ranch with miles to run and he was sooo happy when I picked him up. He rather be in back of the truck with me his pack than be free to run. He is a border collie. However in some cases I believe people should find a home for their animals also vrs locking up in a apartment if the circumstance isn't the same. Not a shelter though.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by tigre79

probably be put to death by strangers.

Hmm...How did the govt healthcare plan get brought up in this?

[bongo]

Originally Posted by dbulick

Hey all, I have been lurking over the past few weeks reading all the threads I can. My fiance and I are in the hiring process within the Anchorage School District, and are really excited about getting jobs and moving up north. I am a secondary math teacher, and she is pre-k through 4th grade generalist. I have my pre-screening interview next Friday!

We are from Texas, and will be visiting Anchorage in December to see if she can actually handle the cold. I lived there when I was elementary school age and am really looking forward to coming back.

I guess my question is, how is the house renting market up there? We ideally would love to rent a place, nothing too big, that allows us to keep our cat and dog(maybe 2 by then). Would we be better off just trying to find an apartment? Or is a house maybe a decent possibility?

Thank you so much ahead of time,
Dan

Check out the University Lake area where there is an off-leash dog park and miles of walking trails. A rental in that area is ideal for a dog owner. Drive into places like College Alps condos in College Gate to see if there is a rental sign hanging. Those units, although most are privately owned, are dog friendly.

Another nice area for dog owners is up against Campbell Creek Trail or Chester Creek Trail.

It's easiest to start with a rental apartment the first school year, and meanwhile check out areas.

Cats should not roam free in Anchorage, too many hazards. If it were I, I would wait until I found a pet-friendly apartment (not next door to stiffnecked LOL) before I added another dog to the herd. Some places may allow one dog but frown on two. Weidner Apartments, which you can google, is a pet-friendly rental company, albeit with other issues. But they could be a starting point the first school year. I think they even do monthly and 6 month rentals.

Math should be a marketable field in ASD. Also ASD is adding some pre-school classrooms which might be a match for your spouse with her pre-school credential. Substitute teachers are daily in high demand here so one spouse could sub for a while if need be. Sometimes it takes some time subbing to slip into an elementary teaching position.

[teamcoltra]

Honestly the local villages around here... can be scary. However, I love Bethel... I am enjoying it very much... I think I might even get my licence and PO box tomorrow

[chs]

stiffnecked that is crazy talk.
My 75 lb dog was stuck in the back of a tiny roadster with a crapload of other junk for the 30 hours it took to evacuate from a hurricane when I was in TX a few years ago. We (he) went thru 9 gal of water (got out to walk around when stopped for hours on the highway) but he kept me cheerful/safe (nice to have a big dog around when you are a small gal on the road with a bunch of other frustrated folk) and I kept him calm/happy.
You sound like one of those people who would have left the dog behind to drown or fend for itself. I guess some people believe that a commitment to living being has less to do with the material goods and physical environment you can provide them than the emotional component of being there and spending time with them.
That sounds downright Republican and suburban or something. Gives me the heebiejeebies!