I am new to this board, but I have been reading this post. I love my dogs and I treat them like family (and in some cases better than family) I am completely horrified at the treatment of Cricket. I just adopted a terrier mix from a shelter in my area, if slaveto9dogs walked into a shelter and saw all the little homeless faces maybe she would understand what everyone is trying to tell her. Her posting name should be Ihave9dogslaves!!!