How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

So you’ve finally accepted the fact that one day zombies will overthrow humanity. Now you want to learn how to not become zombie food. Fear not! The expert at surviving zombie apocalypse simulations is here to share some useful tips for your survival.

1)      Go watch Zombieland.

2)      Create a plan.

Now that some of the common zombie myths have been dispelled and you’ve acquired a basic knowledge of what will happen after Z-Day, you need to figure out a plan of survival. Keep a stockpile of basic things like nonperishable food, water, first aid, and essentials at all times, and make a kit for quick evacuation. You should also communicate with friends and family and designate a meeting place. Don’t forget to include your pets in your escape plan too!

3)      Assess your environment.

Does your house have large windows? Or a fire escape? Do you live on a hill? Plan your defenses accordingly. Be prepared with some planks of wood and other fortifications, or prepare to relocate to a more appropriate fortress. Keep in mind your work place too, or other places you frequent.

4)      Equip yourself.

Buy a baseball bat or a shotgun and keep it in an easily accessible location. Get something easy to use for decapitation or push-back. You’ll also need appropriate clothing; no baggy or loose clothes with things to grab.

5)      Prepare for life among the undead.

Do some more research so you’ll be able to identify signs that the initial outbreak is imminent, symptoms of zombification, and the first signs of widespread panic. You should also consider life after Z-Day. No more traffic, no more fast food, no new tv shows… life is going to be very different, so you’ll have to adjust to being a minority in the new zombie culture. Luckily, you still have some time to prepare for your new life!

Looking for even more info on the zombie apocalypse? Check out this awesome link: http://zombieresearch.net/ Thanks for the contribution, JT!

Matilda’s Story

Dad's checking this foster kitty for fleas.

Animals were just a part of my everyday life growing up. We always had cats, dogs, and hamsters, in a mixture of family, individual, and foster pets. I never imagined some people grew up without having animals all over the house; I felt kind of sorry for them, because they missed out on so much.

When I was in second grade, I got to choose my first pet. I picked out a little dwarf hamster (Hamsteina—how creative). She made the drive with us when we moved from Michigan to South Carolina, and was the first in a series of hamsters and the beginning of a kid’s obsession with rodents.

What an ugly mutt!

In 2000, my sister and I got to choose our first big pets. We had proven our responsibility, so our parents took us to local shelters and pet stores to find the right cat for me and the right dog for her. There was one pet store we visited where an employee was walking a Heinz 57 terrier mix puppy outside. I didn’t end up finding a cat there, but my mom asked about the puppy she had seen.

The puppy was from a local pound that euthanizes animals after usually only 3 days. This dog was given a few more days at the pet store because they thought she was adoptable, but her time was up and she was going back to the shelter that day. My mom called my sister to come and see the energetic little puppy, and with just a little time spent petting the scruffy mutt, she fell in love and decided to bring her home.

My sister and her puppy Matilda at the beach!

So my sister didn’t exactly get the lap dog she originally was looking for (although she does call Matilda her “Poopsie” and insist on putting her on her lap sometimes), the unwanted Ridgeland puppy found a loving home at the last minute. She is completely overprotective of her mom (my sister) and enjoys car rides to the beach every week, beating up her younger brother Eugene, and chasing after any kind of ball (we call her the Brazilian Soccer Terrier).

It’s hard to imagine she might never have made it out of that shelter, and now she is living in the lap of luxury. What a lucky dog!