I've got until the first of the year to get a job or....

I'm so sorry, I hope you find a job soon

Oh No...Here is hoping something turns up!

i sure hope you will find one!!!!! good luck Fred

I hope that you find something soon! I wish you lived near me so I could dogsit for you until you find something. Good luck!

thanks

the really sad part is, I don't spend money, even when I do have it.

I buy dog food and groceries.

I don't drink, I don't do drugs.

i wish you luck fred

Your in my Prayers

i hope things get better for you too bad you have to get rid of your dog

I hate that you have to get rid of your dog, I understand why but it is sad. So is your situation and for that I am very sorry.

It's true that drug dealers and crack whores have more money that we do, but they are either going to get shot, or end up in prison, in either case, all that money isn't going to do them a bit of good. Tell me something, have you tried going to school on Financial Aid? They will pay you to go to school, learn a trade, and maybe then you can get something where you can earn more, like teaching or some profession. I have done that, and it's paid off.

I hope you find something soon.

Don't get rid of your dog. They help keep your spirits up and the pound is putting them down because there are so many. Ask a friend to hold it for a month or two. I have done that for friends.
To find a job, I have found that I need to get a sheet of paper and keep track of what I have done. Every day I have to put out at least 10 and 25 feelers are better. I mark the ones that are a maybe and mark the date I contacted them. In 2 days or once a week I call back any maybe ones. I end up putting out hundreds of applications in order to get that one job. What usually happens is that all at once in about 3 weeks the interviews start happening and then I filter things out from there. My Dad always used to say to just get a job and then while you hold that one down, look for the better job you want and just keep doing that until you get a good one.
Take time to clear you mind and think positive and hopeful a couple times a day and it will help the cosmos send the good stuff your way. Always darkest before the dawn and all that. Another thing I make myself feel better with is "I was looking for a job before I got this one." Helps put things in focus. Getting rid of your dog may make you depressed and seem more despirate. Seeming too despirate is a turn off for employeers. Also if you are overqualified, do not put some of your experience on that resume. Adapt each resume/application directly to the job you are applying for. Do that 10 to 25 times a day. Go to a temp agency to get a fill in job. I get lots of offers when I temp too. I had to temp for lots of years when my daughter was being hospitalized so often. St John's Wart pills or in tea will help lift spirits too. It is in Yogi Bedtime tea in the organic section of
Vons and at health food stores and in drug stores. May the Force be with you.

If there is a Community Church near you................contact them! Don't give up. Fred!

I am so sorry, I will keep you in my prayers!

I'm so sorry....what type of dog? If he's predominantly one breed, you may be able to get help through the breed rescue. Also, some humane societies will help you on a short term basis--some of ours allow people to "work off" (aka volunteer) at their centers and then you may be able to get your pet back.
Don't know what I can tell you about the job situation because I don't know what field you are in or how that could lend itself to other areas--specially in this day and age.

I hope that things will get better for you try to keep ur head up

i know how you feel me and my husband have been looking for work for at lease 6months with no luck and were living in my parents living room i wish you the best of luck and prayers are with you

Fred, You are in my thoughts and hopefully something will come up, even if its temporary. I've been there myself. As stated above, try to get someone to hold your dog for a while. Wishing you the best!

I am wishing you so much luck.

I wish that you were closer to me, I would offer to babysit your dog until you get a job:)

dont get rid of your dog
ill send some money for dog food
they will just kill her

I'm praying for you.

I agree, don't get rid of your dog. Pets are especially good for times like this. Also, whores and drug dealers don't really have it all that good unless they are running the racket. Only the ones who are at the top running all the other whores and druggies ever get any of the money.

If you need help with food, there might be avenues for you. Most churches will have knowledge of food programs and free food giveaways and many are glad to give out help.

The only thing I can think of is try a temp agency.. Many times if you temp at a place for a while they'll hire you permanently. Good luck.

like jane said......go to a temp agency....have to be lots of temp jobs this time of year..... my daughter often did this until she found just the right job.....

My heart hurts for you, to have to give your dog up. That would kill me. Maybe as others have suggested you can get a temporary home for it? It would be worth the try at least.
You seem like a very bright and articualte man, there has to be something out there for you. Have you tried a temp agency? I did that some years ago and it helped a great deal. Keep your chin up Fred. I know thats easier said then done, but if you try to look at it in a positive light, it will better your chances. The best of luck to you Fred. And please see if theres another route to go with your dog if you can, I really wouldn't want someone to lose their best friend.

Aw...keep your doggie. They are special and give you loads of love that some people won't. Hope something comes up for you, Fred.

Im sorry to hear about this.I hope you find help soon they have many of links that will help you out.I.
www.modestneeds.com thats the only one I can think about right now.

Fred, is there anything I can do to help you keep your dog? THey are such wonderful companions, I would hate to see you have to get rid of yours, especially when you need someone to love you unconditionally.
Please send em an email if there is some thing I can do to help.

please dont get rid of your dog that would be the worst thing you could do

Here is a comment to help you gain some points and maybe a bit of cash. It's really sad that hardworking people are struggling so.

Fred I am sorry that you are going through this. Please please please don't get rid of you dog. He is your best friend... find another way but keep your dog.

Fred, don't give up. Please keep your dog, you will be so sad without her and it will make your situation worse. See if your church or local animal shelter can help you keep her till you find a job.
Your gather friends will help with points to help you also. Don't, don't give up.

I don't know the rules where you live but did you try substitute teaching? My daughter did this, and she had work daily from four different schools calling for her services.

Wow that is rough. Do you have unemployment? Or can you get some kind of rental assistance from dhs? I hope you are able to find some work soon!

good luck tomarrow fred.i hope the dog gets a good home

good luck with the job hunt

I'm pulling for you !

i hope this help more

Is your landlord kicking you out by the first of the year??? I think many local churches will help out with food, and utility bills. I'm not sure of money for rent or mortgages.

Do you have stuff you can sell???

Oh Fred, I am so sorry. Don't get rid of your dog yet. I would die without my dog. Right now, I'm barely making it myself. I haven't any dog food for my dog this week, we're sharing meals right now. I understand how you feel though. Times are tough right now, that's no lie. Makes you wonder what the heck is going on in this world.

Yes get ahold of afew chruches, check out the welfare board, everything you can find that helps people includeing the red cross.

It's scary world right now Fred.

hoping a few more points & good wishes help. sorry you're having such a hard time.

Fred I understand about the job, I'm in the same boat. I could never give up my dog he gives me unconditional love! You need each other. Can I help you find a job?

Fred, Hit up the temporary agencies and take ANYTHING that is legal. Remember the word "temporary". You're tough enough to get past this. And keep your furry best friend. He/She loves you whether you have a job or not.

Kris P. has made a wonderful suggestion! Let us help you find work! What do you do? What do you LIKE to do? Your gather friends are a pretty creative bunch. Maybe we can help!

Tomorrow, get up, get the phone book and call all the churches and ask them about any help you can get.

Don't give up, Fred, please! Fight on behalf of the new decision your governor wants to set still this month: a 45 days delay in expectation of Obama's help to homeowners.
And please take your time and write your story to www.change.gov

I just read your profile, Fred. With "What People Say About You".......I can't imagine that you are anything but a true survivor. Now, shake it off and get out there! We are all behind you!

so sorry Fred

Keep your dog, dude. Dogs don't give up on us. They'll eat whatever we eat. C'mon, give it through the holidays. My friend, Lyn, is homeless- living in a garage last I heard from her, but she still has her dogs with her. They're keeping her warm and going through it all with her. They keep her spirits up.

Keep the dog. The dog will always be your friend.
Hang in there.

I hope the best for you.

Keep the dog if at all possible....and I pray things get better.

Awwws, you make me want to cry. Your puppy looks so sweet. I wish you didn't have to give her/him up. That puppers helps to keep your spirit up!!

Just wanted to let you know I stopped by. Here's a 10, come visit us at Up All Nite Café.

Good luck man...

Good luck, but keep your dog. He needs you like you need him.

Fred I am so sorry to read this, I don't know how long you have been out of work, but I will pray you get a job really soon, I think temp agencies are a good bet, or in a store or anything to get you a few bucks, and if nothing else, although you are a proud man, turn to social services for help or your church, or family and friends, my son who is 57 and worked for the same place for 38 years, and not well, is almost (well waiting to be told he is in the same boat as you) I hope not, because right now I can't help him, and it is a nightmare of mine to see anyone hurt like that. I am trying myself to find something less expensive, senior citizen housing, but a lot say not pets, and I have a kitty that is my companion, and I don't know what I will do. I only wish you luck Fred, and say God Bless you, and that you find something quickly and keep your dog,

I hope things turn around for you fast.

Fred here in central Florida ( and I think all over Florida) you can dial 211 and it will list gov. agency that will give you input into where you can go for help.

Keep that pooch. He is your best friend. Check with your local humane society for help with dog food and free vet care. Don't give him to the pound they will just put him down. Good luck man.

Pulling for you, Fred!!!!

I'm sorry :(

Sorry life is so hard for you right now. Try to keep the dog. It will help your spirits.

I'm so sorry, Fred. I wish someone could help you and fast!

Thank you all

10

Sending some prayers your way for help with your situation. Take care.

good luck on the job situation. i totally agree about not giving the pup to a shelter. there are no kill shelters in my area that will temporarily take a pet while the owner is having bad times, check and see if there are any of that type in your area

Gm Fred,
I pray you find work soon. I was wondering if they have ManPower down there? here they provide many jobs for people who can't find work. It is doing all odd jobs. Just a idea.
Good Luck and keep us posted please.

My thoughts are with you. Here's to both of us having some fast luck in the job hunt.

Kim J. has a good idea. If it comes down to it, ask an animal shelter if they will care for the dog until you can afford to keep him. Ask if you can help out there--many shelters are short-staffed. If you can't find a job, try some volunteer work. It not only gives an outlet for your energy but often means a good meal and also exposes you to people who might take an interest and be in a position to offer you a job.

Hi Fred, I know how you feel because I had to give up my dog too.
I couldn't afford to feed her.
My situation is a bit different in that I am being denied employment due to having been disabled from 1996 until now.
Nobody wants to hire me !

Have you tried looking @ http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ ?

I wish you luck my friend !

So sorry to hear this, try the schools, try applying for a substitute aid. There are no tests and you get called on a needed basis and go where they need you. Also maybe check into working with MRDD people. They are always looking for people to work with them. Even if it is not something you want to do long term. Just a few ideas.

I see teresa mentioned EDUCATION. Is that where your talents are ?

Try this http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/edu/

Fred, I haven't yet contributed the "My Christmas Wish List" here on Gather but this morning I awoke and decided that I'm going to post one. My list will include people to send you dog food and any other help for you.

I've had a year of blessings, a new healthy grandson and my daughter survived a dangerous blood infection. I have 2 dogs that keep me company so maybe people will be able to help you.

Fred - I understand what you are saying.

I have to bite my tongue to keep myself tell people to keep their prayers. If they really want to help, they can hook me up with someone who is hiring instead.
Actions speak louder than platitudes.

I am so sorry for what you are going through...I wish I could help but am just barely making ends meet here too.

Our boat is nearly as rocky as yours and it doesn't look like the economy is going to be raining down money from the sky anytime soon! I will hit your content and try to help as much as I can. I may not leave a comment but will rate anything a 10 that you allow ratings on. I won't mouth any of those empty platitudes but let's hope things will get better for all of us!

Fred, I hope today is a better day than yesterday was!

You could always take up drinking and move to PA. They will give you unemployment in no time. Just don't have a REAL disability or you won't get anything. You will be able to afford a nice place with cable, high speed internet access and a cell phone in addition to your landline (With text messaging and internet access) and you could probably even get food stamps (but if you have a family and work hard the right way you won't be eligible).

Sorry, feeling a little bitter right now!

My mom is in your situation. Only she refuses to get rid of her dog- she adopted her and saved her from the spca, where she would have been put to sleep. She uses the dog to keep her warm so she can keep the heat lower at night. That dog is her life and it would kill her to have to give her up so she just won't do it. But she went from a $25/hr job to making half of her unemployment wage because when her unemployment ran out she got the extension but they used the unemployment income as a guideline for her new income. It will run out around the new year. She can't live with us because we are barely making it on Jason's unemployment wage and we don't have room for her dog (plus our dog hates her dog). But in the end it is a real fear for her that she will lose everything that she only gained in recent years. This is the first time in her life that she is buying her own home and she might lose it. She pays less than $600/mo for her mortgage but she might not have that much unemployment income this month.
It is so sad- I fear for so many people.

Some work suggestions- charge disgustingly low prices (think illegal immigrant wages) for things like shoveling sidewalks for elderly, walking dogs, picking up groceries for someone who can't or doesn't want to, rummaging through recycling bins for cans and stuff to cash in. Right now I am making $50 a week and I work around 30 hours/week. Less than $2 an hour.

"I'm going to go the the pound and get rid of my dog tomorrow."

What an insensitive way to put that! Is this a pound that has a no kill policy? Have you tried to find your dog a home? I'm so disgusted with that statement, I can't even feel sorry for you.

Big surprise, a judgmental conservative has no sympathy for anyone. That's how we got where we are. Fred, keep your chin up, better times are coming, though it may take a while. I'm experiencing some challenges, myself, but nothing like yours. I've got you in my prayers. And my thoughts. Others have already given any advice I could give you, so that's pretty much all I can say. Someone has put up an article linking to this one, asking for folks to send you dog food. I wouldn't hit the pound, if you can hang on a while. If you trust me, send your address by email, and I'll try to help, what I can, anyway.

I hope things turn around for you soon.

"Big surprise, a judgmental conservative has no sympathy for anyone."

No surprise that someone like you would overlook someone's cavalier attitude that he is going to discard of his dog as if the dog were some inanimate object, but different strokes, I suppose. I don't think my contempt for such an attitude has anything at all to do with whether someone is conservative, liberal or anything in between or beyond either end. It's a matter of compassion that goes beyond sympathy, not that I expect the likes of you to understand, Ron.

I'm close behind you. I've been out of work since August. My unemployment runs out in Feb. I'm close behind you.

i hope things look up soon! keep putting out those resumes/applications everywhere! even a crap job now will help in the long run!

I've been out of work since January

I've survived with $10, $15 here and there for doing this and that

So sorry Fred, I hope you find something soon and are able to keep you best buddy.

My husband has had no work since September and there are no jobs out there; we even have friends who can't get a minimum wage Mcjob there's so much competition for them!

We’ll be ok until February; if nothing pops by then....??

Hopefully after January 20, 2009 things will start looking up for all of us.

Take care Fred.

I hope things will turn around for you soon, you and your dog will be in my thoughts/prayers. Maybe there is a food pantry near you or local church that could at least help you out a little while you look for a job. Also try to contact some temp agencies, they may be able to help you. Good luck.

Fred,

Where you are, I have been! And it's not pleasant. Do you have a family for which you are responsible? That heightens the stress level about 500%.

I sure hope you find that job!

Seems everyone is having it hard these days.

I'm so glad that you've decided to keep your beloved Phoebe. If anyone has coupons for dog food please pass it on to Fred. If you find out about samples of dog food please send the details to Fred.

You've received some great suggestions here. Hubby and I have both been looking on our local Craig's list for jobs too. But be careful some of these are nothing but scams. Try looking under the security heading. At least in our area there are a lot of security jobs posted. They don't pay much but they should help out until something better comes along.

For free samples try shop4freebies.com. On the left side there are several categories. One of them is Pet freebies.

http://www.slickdeals.net under the Freebie forum generally has a lot of free stuff (sometimes pet food). Also I think it's under the drugstore forum for some reason but there is a thread called something like "great deals on pet food" where people have been posting where to get good deals on pet food.

I am sorry. I hope you find work soon

Best of luck. I've been struggling with getting a job also. I do recommend temp-to-hire agencies. Not the best, but they do in a pinch.

I feel for you Fred,,,I will pray for you too.. Something has got to happen positive for you.... I wish you the best... Good Luck...

**HUGS**

Fred, I know you have many talents because it shows in your writing -- is there something you could do with that? Start some kind of service business? Go to a retraining program? Sell things on eBay? Make a list of all the things you're good at. There must be something.

Not that it will make you feel any better, but you are not alone. Two days after my fourth grandchild was born, my daughter's husband found out his job is going to be eliminated at the end of January. They have four children, four dogs, and three cats (rescued) and have put so much time and hard work into fixing up their home and now they are probably going to have to sell it. He is sending out job applications and trying to stay positive ...

Thank you all

We are all here for you Fred and hopefully helping you out some with our views on your stuff.

I'm so sorry, I will help as best I can.