Ask Mr. Answer Person: Our readers respond

Mr. Answer Person's previous column about the spaying and neutering of cats brought this e-mail from Josie Noecker:

An idea that might be helpful to some--pet insurance. Seems frivolous, but most plans will possibly cover the cost of spay/neuter procedures.  It does depend on how high the deductible is, but if you meet it and then some, you should be reimbursed some of the cost. It's better than nothing.

http://www.petinsurancereview.com/ reviews many of the insurance companies.  I've gone with the PurinaCare policy, which I pay for my cat a little over 17 dollars a month (currently).

http://www.catster.com/forums/Cat_Health/thread/384051 You do not need to be a member to read the forums on Catster. This link provides possible financial help for cat owners for various things.
 
In this economy it is hard for people to set aside money, so one might not want to invest in pet insurance. Pets can have things go wrong with them just like humans.  So if one doesn't want to spend $17 a month on something they might find 'useless,' then I would suggest setting aside 17 dollars a month into a savings account.  I have both; pet insurance and I set aside money from a part-time job into my savings.  My insurance has a higher deductible, so having money set aside helps.
I realize if a person has more than 2-3 cats they might not want to do this; there are usually deals on rates for multiple pet households. Most magazines for animal wellness will say you should get your pet on insurance the moment it comes to your household. There is usually a waiting period, so sooner the better. Also, some might have age limits on how young the animal can be before you can put them on their insurance plan. Research options and find what will work, or set aside money each week you get paid. I'd much rather skip that cd or pizza and know that I can afford an ear exam or wellness check for my cat.
 
Hope some of this might help or give ideas!

Mr. Answer Person's column about recycling at NICC brings this e-mail from Winneshiek County Recycling Coordinator Terry Buenzow:

As the manager of the Winneshiek County Recycling Department, I have been involved in NICC's recycling efforts for over 10 years.  The waste reduction efforts of the school are very thorough, and little if any truly recyclable materials from there end up in our landfill.  The NICC staff has made  recycling a routine way of operation.  All of the paper, cardboard, plastic and metal that originates from there is processed through the Winneshiek County Recycling Center.  Hundreds of tons of recyclable materials have been kept out of our landfill over the years because of NICC's recycling efforts.