We want to say thanks to all the people who generously donated money in exchange for hot dogs on the Fourth of July at the Sedalia Fun Day. Thanks to you, we collected a grand total of $271.12, all of which has been donated to the Colorado Humane Society. It was a great day and your donations are helping a very worthy cause - and you got free hot dogs!

We'd also like to take this opportunity to stress how important the humane society, rescue groups, and animal shelters are to the thousands of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats.

Please do not buy puppies or kittens at pet stores - virtually all of them come from puppy and kitten mills, even though they all claim that they do not. I was personally told by a pet store in Castle Rock that they get all of their animals from local Colorado breeders.

When I asked about a specific puppy, it turns out that it came from a breeder in Kansas. I can only imagine where the others came from.

Thousands of animals are killed every year due to overpopulation and the fact that these animal mills continue to overproduce dogs and cats in deplorable conditions only for the breeder's monetary gain. The shelters and rescue groups are full and desperately need your help.

Before you take on the lifelong responsibility of adding a dog, cat, puppy, or kitten to your life, please consider adopting. Trust me; these animals will give you a lifetime of unconditional love and affection in return.