Archives at Zinester: Starfish: Money WILL By Happiness, Mark Crider. Starfish:. Writing

Money WILL Buy Happiness (C) By Mark Crider

I was helping to unload some food from the back of my pickup at P.A.L.S. , our animal rescue place, when I looked into the reception area. There were three couples talking to the director. Their four children were, I knew not who belonged to who, were running
around looking at all the cats and puppies, squealing with delight at all the offerings.

I could tell the kids would have taken everything there if they had things their way. I love to get in on these moments so I eased into where I could hear what was transpiring.

Chris was telling them the adoption costs which includes all shots and spay/neutering. $35.00 for a kitty, $60.00 for a puppy under three months and $70.00 for a dog over three months old because we
give them rabies shots.

I've done this before, keep in mind.

"Chris, have you told them about the money back special on the older dogs?" I said winking. She always takes the clue even though she doesn??™t have a clue about what I'll come up with from time to time. She goes along knowing I'll make good on whatever scheme I ply on the adopters.

"Ladies, gentlemen, children, today we have a money back offer on our older dogs of your choice. You pay today and one year from now you bring them back for their shots and checkup and get your money back. CAN you beat a deal like THAT!?" I said sounding like a used
car salesman.

The whooping started; the kids were really tugging at mom and dad now. There was no getting out of taking a pet home.
Chris cringed and went into the office.

"Come outside to the kennels and let??™s see just what we can come up with." I said while the kids started really whooping it up, beating us all to the door. With the kids out there the dogs were ecstatic, rearing up licking through the wire, tails wagging, some bouncing on their hind legs happy to see kids again.

"Here we have a thoroughbred cross between a golden retriever and a shepherd, this is a gentle dog, GOOD with children and BAD with intruders once she settles down into her new home. And here we have another special cross, a lab and sheltie, it loves to retrieve(I hopefully speculated) so you will need lots of sticks and balls. AND here we have a racer so if you have bicycles or scooters you will have constant companionship." I ranted on and on showing them what we had available.

The kids wanted them all as they listened to my carnival style selling points.

One couple with the two kids got two and the other couples took one each. They bought collars and leashes as well as ordered name tags since the kids had already named their new family members before the deals had been finished.

They paid and we told them that they will get a checkup notice in the mail a year from now so they will have to come in for their refunds and to enjoy their new friends.

I told Chris to call me next year when they are scheduled to come in and we'll settle up. Who said money can't buy happiness? Liar liar, pants on fire!