tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73275107500563748482024-03-13T23:30:47.542-07:00Paws and LearnJennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-89398330025422038782015-10-26T12:45:00.000-07:002015-10-26T12:45:00.710-07:00Halloween With Your Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gguxOWZA7vw/VeyXy3dah8I/AAAAAAAAB-o/PjygsjZkwHw/s1600/289686_2462059876450_239228290_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gguxOWZA7vw/VeyXy3dah8I/AAAAAAAAB-o/PjygsjZkwHw/s320/289686_2462059876450_239228290_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is Lily in her Bumble Bee costume. Lily has always been a big fan of Halloween because of all the people. She loves to greet. Our house is tucked back off the street so we get very few visitors. Instead, we do an early evening walk with her so she can get pet by lots of kids and adults alike.<br />
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Costumes don't bother Lily. She's curious, but never scared. People still smell like people, even little people that are dressed like Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers or Avengers. We've been doing the Halloween walk with her for the last 7 years. Still, we pay attention to her body language because we don't ever want to force her into a situation that makes her uncomfortable. As she ages, one thing is becoming evident: noise sensitivity. Loud noises bother her much more than they did as a puppy.<br />
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We have one street that really gets into the Halloween spirit. To get your treats, you must make it to the front door of each house - through mazes and hazes and flashing lights and loud pops and booming explosions. We stopped taking Lily up this street last year. She had always particularly enjoyed this street because it had her two favorite things: People and TREATS! The mazes didn't bother her (it probably helped that the dog saavy parents had schooled everyone involved in the mazes that we do not jump out at people with their pets; only unsuspecting kids and adults sans dogs) and there were always cookies waiting for her at the door (and usually the ones that mom never allowed because they weren't grain free, thus raising the value of those particular treats).<br />
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Last year, I noticed that she was no longer the happy-go-lucky girl that usually walked up the street, tail waging and face relaxed. Instead, I glanced down to see her tail tucked. She chose not to go up to the front doors for cookies. We listened to her and quickly curtailed the walk, taking her down a much quieter street - only to see the old Lil return.<br />
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When everyone thinks of Halloween and pets, they tend to focus on the chocolate aspect of the holiday. Obviously, we have to be extra careful about that - keeping the chocolate up and out of the way so that they cannot get into any of it. But we also have to pay attention to their body language. The 4th of July isn't the only holiday that can be scary for our pets. Each holiday carries it's own dangers beyond food (leftovers at Thanksgiving and Christmas are a concern, but so is a house packed full of people). We can reward our dogs for their loyalty by paying attention to their needs and comfort levels on holidays.<br />
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<i>What about you - does your dog like Halloween? Do you dress your pets up for the holiday?</i>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-39474662568309562052015-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:002015-10-15T00:14:18.642-07:00Interview Wednesday - Shirley Truong<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VV_9-oWheD8/Vh9SLL_ATLI/AAAAAAAACDI/jfcDXCMfJ1k/s1600/Shirley2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VV_9-oWheD8/Vh9SLL_ATLI/AAAAAAAACDI/jfcDXCMfJ1k/s320/Shirley2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Our interview today is with Shirley Truong, former teen volunteer turned pet sitter turned Vet! I've had the pleasure of knowing Shirley since she was in high school and she's grown into an amazing, inspiring woman. Perfect candidate for an interview, right?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgBOH3OMXao/Vh37urMNrZI/AAAAAAAACCQ/V3S2kalyv8U/s1600/ShirleyTeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgBOH3OMXao/Vh37urMNrZI/AAAAAAAACCQ/V3S2kalyv8U/s200/ShirleyTeen.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young Shirley multitasking phones and computer data</td></tr>
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<em><strong>What got you started volunteering?</strong></em><br />
I started volunteering at a local rescue organization called Pet Orphans Fund (now known as Pet Orphans of Southern California) back when I was a junior in high school, so I would say around 2001 or so. My high school required each student to fulfill a certain number of volunteer hours. I wanted to volunteer at a place that would help cultivate my interest in helping animals in need. I am so thankful that I found Pet Orphans!<br />
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I continued to volunteer there for a couple of years, even though I completed my required amount of hours for school after a few weeks!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWT9LAHxTDY/Vh39LegTEVI/AAAAAAAACCg/rdT8w4cWp3M/s1600/Vet%2BSchool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FWT9LAHxTDY/Vh39LegTEVI/AAAAAAAACCg/rdT8w4cWp3M/s320/Vet%2BSchool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><strong>We have it on good authority that you were an extraordinary pet sitter. Why vet school?</strong></em><br />
<span style="color: black;">Aw, thank you for the compliment. My family has told me that I've always wanted to become a veterinarian. There are plenty of stories about how I used to play with my sister and cousin and have them be my clients with their imaginary pets that needed help. While growing up, my family always had at least one pet. Throughout the years, we had dogs, birds, fish, chickens, turtles, a tortoise, an iguana, salamanders, and frogs. Most of them were owned at the same time! My parents were very gracious to allow us to have all of those pets. I think that my interest in veterinary medicine grew as I had more exposure to animals and how to care for them. I can't see myself being as happy doing anything else with my life than keeping animals healthy and being there for them and their owners when they need help!</span><br />
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<em><strong>Which animal has been the most difficult to work with? Which has been the easiest?</strong></em><br />
This one is a tough call. Each animal comes with their challenges for different reasons. Personally, I would say that wildlife is a challenge for me to work with because you should ideally minimize speaking to them or getting too close so that you avoid imprinting on them. I love interacting with my patients, so it was difficult to refrain from petting them or talking around them. <br />
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The easiest to work with is probably the tortoise because they can't really run away or wriggle their way out of your hands!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SnasX6DrgA0/Vh39LekG7CI/AAAAAAAACCk/XeWRYji0kWM/s1600/Harley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SnasX6DrgA0/Vh39LekG7CI/AAAAAAAACCk/XeWRYji0kWM/s320/Harley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<em><strong>You are a big advocate for the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and their mixes. What draws you to this breed?</strong></em><br />
Yes, definitely! I owned a pitbull mix for almost 10 years named Harley and he showed me what it means to have unconditional love. These breeds have qualities that every person in this world should have: loyalty, compassion, and intelligence. If you spend the time to bond with and train a dog of this breed, you will likely end up with a trusty companion by your side for many years.<br />
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<strong><em>You have rights as pets! Why?</em></strong><br />
I do! I have 2 pet rats, Oscar and Chuey. A little over a year ago, the research department at my school sent out a schoolwide email asking for someone to adopt Oscar because he had fulfilled his job as a breeder rat for a project and they didn't want to euthanize him. So, of course, I said I would take him!<br />
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I never owned a rat before, but heard from my brother and others that they are fun to have around...so, why not?? <br />
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Once I got Oscar, I read that rats do better in pairs, so I adopted Chuey from my brother who had his hands full with two other rats of his own.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGE6pQKWcdc/Vh39LR886qI/AAAAAAAACCo/FDztrwep-Co/s1600/Rat%2Bin%2Ba%2Bbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IGE6pQKWcdc/Vh39LR886qI/AAAAAAAACCo/FDztrwep-Co/s200/Rat%2Bin%2Ba%2Bbox.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She buys them toys but they prefer the boxes!</td></tr>
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<strong><em>How much care do they require?</em></strong><br />
Not much, actually! The usual things like food, water, and exercise that you would provide for any other pet. Most importantly, they require adequate space and hiding places (small cardboard boxes work great!). <br />
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I keep my 2 guys in a cage designated for ferrets, that way they can have their personal space and also be able to walk around. They like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables (especially broccoli and grapes!) in addition to their rat food (I feed Oxbow adult rat food). I also set up a play pen for them to have time away from their cage for a couple hours each evening, as they are more social at night. Their cage and bedding need to be cleaned and changed at least once a week, which usually takes about 30 minutes or so. Overall, they're not too demanding!<br />
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<strong><em>Let's bring this interview full circle. Why do you feel volunteering is important for young people?</em></strong><br />
Volunteering teaches young people to find and do something that they enjoy and not expect anything in return, like a paycheck. I ask people all the time, "What would you choose as a job or career if you knew you wouldn't get paid?" That's basically asking someone what they would do as a volunteer. It's such an important concept because I think a lot of people strive to find a career that they love, and a good way to figure that out is to do it for free!<br />
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<strong><em>Thank you so much for your time, Shirley! What about you - any aspiring vets out there? Any rat owners?</em></strong>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-63492094208031434072015-10-12T01:23:00.001-07:002015-10-12T01:23:25.197-07:00The Most Expensive Dog Ever<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZP-BMtP_rI/VhtsnvJNvhI/AAAAAAAACB8/s9F2VWQ34oI/s1600/Puppy%2BLily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZP-BMtP_rI/VhtsnvJNvhI/AAAAAAAACB8/s9F2VWQ34oI/s320/Puppy%2BLily.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily at 10 weeks.</td></tr>
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When we got Lily, we were well aware of the health issues that plague her breed. We had NO idea that weird things would happen to her. <br />
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When I say she is the most expensive dog ever, I'm not talking over her lifetime. I cannot bring myself to add up what we have spent on her over the course of her 8 years blessing our lives. We don't have to go that far back to get to the bulk of the money. My husband jokingly refers to her as The Money Pit. It's really not much of a joke. <br />
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$30,000 in the last two and a half years.<br />
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What could possibly cost that much? <br />
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Where do I even begin?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_HTyrK8WGU/Vhtsm1VSwBI/AAAAAAAACCE/VC3ADtoNE9k/s1600/Beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_HTyrK8WGU/Vhtsm1VSwBI/AAAAAAAACCE/VC3ADtoNE9k/s320/Beauty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing</td></tr>
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Pitties are known for their allergies. Her coloring is known to have them times a thousand. The allergies are so severe that she gets staph infections. Chronically. That are now antibiotic resistant. But that's not even where most of the money went, believe it or not.<br />
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It started one blustery Wednesday. The day before Thanksgiving. Being a Mom, I hear when she moves. If she's up, I'm up. (This comes from her IBD, which used to plague her seemingly out of nowhere in the middle of the night, most of the time when I needed to be somewhere early. And she would go all night long. Poor thing. Her, not me. Sleep deprivation is something you get used to with kids and ill dogs.) She got up and I heard the tap, tap, tap of her feet on our hardwood floors. I beat her to the front door. Where she proceeded to shake her head so hard that she flipped herself sideways. She's done this before and it can be quite comical. <br />
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On this morning, it was not.<br />
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The side of her head smacked so hard on the kitchen floor that I felt it in MY teeth. When she got up, she was walking wonky. I watched her in the yard and her balance seemed off. I called out to my husband, "Something's wrong with Lily." He scooped her up and off to the Emergency Vet we went. <br />
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They ran preliminary neurological assessment and tests with no results to indicate it was neuro. They sent us home to follow-up with our own vet when they opened in an hour. But not before trying to argue with me that she had a seizure. (She did NOT have a seizure. I've had dogs with epilepsy. She never lost consciousness. It was a matter of seconds. But don't listen to the dog owner.) They suggested it was her heart. Did I forget to mention she has a heart murmur? Of course she does! She's Lily!<br />
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Our vet gave us grave news. After again insisting she'd had a seizure, she wanted to do a chest x-ray. When it came back, she saw a mass in the chest cavity. And sent us home to sob. Okay, my husband didn't cry. I did enough of that for both of us. The next morning, two other vets saw nothing but a heart on the x-ray. So off to the neurologist we went!<br />
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Tests to make sure her heart could withstand sedation, then sedation for an MRI and a spinal tap. Rule out brain tumors, check for infection. Chronic ear infections can lead to loss of balance. They found nothing. The diagnosis: Bells Palsy. In a dog. Which is all kinds of rare. So, naturally Lily had it. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cuw8yO3D-EE/Vhtsn5fSBrI/AAAAAAAACCA/9FcBbNxgT_c/s1600/Tilty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cuw8yO3D-EE/Vhtsn5fSBrI/AAAAAAAACCA/9FcBbNxgT_c/s320/Tilty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tilty Dog. <br />
It took months for her head to stop looking like she was always questioning.</td></tr>
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It took months for her to regain her balance. You can still see a slight droop. Unless it's frigid out - then it all comes back and she has trouble with her coordination and part of her face paralyzes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ay6gGYPSYeQ/VhtsnDZCUAI/AAAAAAAACBo/cLWiVxwfMik/s1600/Bells%2BPalsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ay6gGYPSYeQ/VhtsnDZCUAI/AAAAAAAACBo/cLWiVxwfMik/s320/Bells%2BPalsy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor picture quality but you can see that one side is not like the other.</td></tr>
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Next, we had to do an echocardiogram to check on her heart. She has a mitrovalve issue, but is otherwise heart healthy. Two walks a day help that. Agility during those walks help as well. <br />
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Then came the Pancreatitis. If you have never experienced this with your dog, count your blessings. It is not fun in any way for your pet and it worries you almost to death (or maybe that's just me). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3568sEh96S0/Vhtsnu1wRWI/AAAAAAAACB0/nsoQ-biQsbA/s1600/Pancreatitis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3568sEh96S0/Vhtsnu1wRWI/AAAAAAAACB0/nsoQ-biQsbA/s320/Pancreatitis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks like she's had a night on the town.<br />
In reality, it's the combo of nausea meds and pain killers.</td></tr>
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She had recovered from that when I noticed an odd bump on her back. Remember the chronic skin infections? That's what it looked like at first. But it wasn't healing. And it was growing. It ended up about the size of a ping pong ball. So we biopsied it. The good news: it was not the mast cell cancer they suspected. The weird news: it was a rare cancer in a location it NEVER occurs. Because Lily.<br />
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They removed the cancer and felt very confident that it was all gone. Knock on wood, we're almost a year out from that and it hasn't come back yet. I stress yet because this is Lily. And weird things happen to her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSOkyLJBA2g/VhtsnfMXemI/AAAAAAAACB4/D7SgcL47wSk/s1600/Lily%2Band%2BAtlas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HSOkyLJBA2g/VhtsnfMXemI/AAAAAAAACB4/D7SgcL47wSk/s320/Lily%2Band%2BAtlas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily and her friend, fellow cancer survivor, Atlas. <br />
Atlas also had a rare form of cancer.</td></tr>
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This dog eats the best dog food (Stella & Chewy's raw patties, Honest Kitchen). Her treats are high quality. Her cookies are grain free. We spend around $600 feeding her every month. She's got RX Biotics and Enteric Support. She's got antihistamines and steroids. Only now, we can't do the steroids because her liver is enlarged so she just started on Atopica and we're hoping it doesn't bring the cancer back (because it's counter indicative). The only antibiotic that semi works is over $200 for each course. It all adds up.<br />
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Through it all, she never loses her gentle, loving nature. She races around the vets office, excited to see everyone even when they poke her with needles. It's hard not to get mad - not at Lily, but at the universe. Here is this good dog. This sweet natured, loving, goofball who lives for her pumpkin beef cookies and her walls and camping in Oregon and her Uncle Drew and her favorite cat Pip has been through SO MUCH. It never seems to end. And you get to the point where you just want HER to have a break. You're fine with having to get an extra job and work extra hours because that medical fund has to be built up since you never know what's coming next because Lily.<br />
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Because Lily.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ermbYkTnB8/VhtsnPHhTCI/AAAAAAAACBs/a7spJUZjxTI/s1600/Goofy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ermbYkTnB8/VhtsnPHhTCI/AAAAAAAACBs/a7spJUZjxTI/s320/Goofy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical Lily</td></tr>
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She's worth every penny of that $30,000. She's worth another $30,000. But for her sake, it would be nice for her to get a break. Even a small one. <br />
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<em><strong>What about you - does your dog suffer from any health issues?</strong></em>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-3090301093993663542015-10-07T00:30:00.000-07:002015-10-07T00:30:02.498-07:00Interview Wednesday - Kelcey Soderstrom and her Chickens!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjJee22M-rE/VhS8BOf6UII/AAAAAAAACAI/9JszzIuerM8/s1600/Chickens1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjJee22M-rE/VhS8BOf6UII/AAAAAAAACAI/9JszzIuerM8/s320/Chickens1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Admit it - at some point you have wanted to get in on this urban chicken craze! We've all become curious whether it's through friends who have them or reading about them online (or having to chase them down the street when they get out of a neighbor's yard). When Kelcey got her chickens, I may have been more excited than her (and I don't even eat eggs!). <br />
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<strong>What made you decide to get chickens?</strong>
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I had wanted to have chickens in the backyard ever since I was about 10 and I am now 26. It took quite a while to convince my mother to let them take over a corner of the backyard, but I believe the rising prices of eggs in the supermarket was the final push that made her give the okay. I have always had a fondness for birds (I also have a cockatiel) and was absolutely enamored with the idea of raising my own chickens and getting fresh eggs every day. I also love that I know exactly how fresh the eggs are. The eggs in the supermarket could have been laid 3-4 weeks before you get them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcIRqyXtgqM/VhS8ELrls0I/AAAAAAAACAQ/WW52vs9ipzw/s1600/Baby%2BChicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcIRqyXtgqM/VhS8ELrls0I/AAAAAAAACAQ/WW52vs9ipzw/s320/Baby%2BChicks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby chicks!</td></tr>
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<strong>Where did you get them?</strong>
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I bought my 2 day old chicks at East Valley Feed & Tack 11084 Sheldon St. Sun Valley CA 91352 in March 2015. They were about $2.50 each and they carried 3 breeds at the time: Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth (Barred) Rock, and Ameraucana. There are lots of different breeds of chickens but these are some of the most common. I have 2 Plymouth Rocks (black and white variegated) named Snowflake and Obsidian and 2 Rhode Island Reds (rusty red/brown color) named Garnet and Ruby.
Many feed/tack/livestock stores carry baby chicks in the spring. You can call them to find out when they will receive their chicks, what breeds they carry and whether they are sexed (usually done at the hatchery to make sure you are getting females - most cities have ordinances against roosters).<br />
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<strong>Was there a specific reason you went with the breeds of chickens that you did?</strong>
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We did actually do quite a bit of research into which breeds we were getting. We wanted chickens that were strong layers but also with good personalities. Both the Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are great layers! We are now getting 6-7 eggs a week from each of our four hens (7 months old now)! These breeds are also known to: have wonderful temperaments, love people and get along well in mixed flocks which mine definitely do. We are extremely pleased with our hens and I adore them. I like to think the feeling's mutual.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting bigger!</td></tr>
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<strong>How hard are they to take care of?</strong>
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Mature hens (once they are about 5 months old) are incredibly easy to care for and require less time than you think. In the morning and evening, I check their food and water containers, mostly just topping them off and usually a full clean of the water fount every 2-3 days or as necessary. Also I check for eggs. As you get to know your chickens, you will figure out when they lay and can collect eggs as convenient (to you and to them). Mine usually lay around lunchtime/early afternoon, but every chicken is different. Every week I add a fresh layer of pine shavings to their henhouse and every 4-6 weeks, I do a thorough clean of the henhouse and run, raking out all the old shavings and replacing them as well as raking out the dirt of the run.
As baby chicks, they require a little more watching but nothing about their care is difficult or even time-consuming. You may find it time-consuming for different reasons though. There is nothing like holding a baby chick cupped in your palms and having her fall asleep. As babies, they need four specific needs met: heat, food, water, and sanitation. Usually a brooder box inside the house is the way to go so you can easily and frequently check on them and their environment. As long as they have these things, they will mostly sleep, eat and grow. Endless hours of entertainment as they go about their chick antics is a free bonus!
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<strong>Are there special considerations given the number of predators that people wouldn't consider (Cooper's Hawks, raccoons)?
</strong><br />
Have you heard the expression "going home to roost"? That is what chickens do every night. When darkness falls, chickens' metabolisms drop off rapidly, meaning they instinctually want to find a dark protected place to spend the night. <br />
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Their henhouse/roost needs to be well fortified to protect them at night when they are essentially helpless. Knowing this, I opted to create a well fortified henhouse as a second line of defense. The first line is a chain link dog run/kennel that we built and placed the henhouse inside. During the day, the chickens usually have the freedom to roam the backyard with both the run and henhouse doors open. As night falls, they automatically retreat to the henhouse and we shut and lock the run door behind them to protect them from raccoons. We have a lot of them in our neighborhood and I have heard stories from other locals who have lost hens to crafty raccoons who can open henhouse doors or even simple latches with those little hands/fingers.
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<strong>How long was it before you got your first egg?</strong>
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The first egg showed up just after they turned 5 months old.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEQGlVqsnxQ/VhS8Vf25cdI/AAAAAAAACA0/dXmfWlXY0hs/s1600/Eating%2Ba%2Btomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FEQGlVqsnxQ/VhS8Vf25cdI/AAAAAAAACA0/dXmfWlXY0hs/s320/Eating%2Ba%2Btomato.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong>What has surprised you the most about them? </strong></div>
There have been lots of surprises along the way. When you are doing something so new, you are bound to run into a lot of surprising things. The flock mentality is very interesting. Often when they move around the yard, they move around altogether staying close. If they split up, they pair off by breed with the 2 Rocks and 2 Reds sticking together. They will all nestle together in the dirt when taking dust baths or stand together when preening.
Also chickens are known for being messy, but let me say this: this is only sort of true. Chickens can make a mess but it is mostly up to you where they make that mess. We let our chickens roam the yard so chicken poop is part of that but the chickens also eat weeds and bugs. Their poop also serves as great fertilizer but most people let it age/cool/begin to break down before using it for this purpose. They also aren't very fond of water baths but love dirt baths (which absorbs excess moisture and oil on their skin as well as repels parasites) so if you don't have an open patch of dirt they can use, they will likely find or make one in your yard. So for chickens dirty is clean! They are also surprising clean in regards to their nesting boxes, they will mess up their henhouse like a tornado has gone through but never poop in the same place they are laying eggs (nesting boxes).
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<strong>People who own chickens say they're actually very smart and that they each have distinct personalities - have you noticed this?</strong>
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Smart is all relative. They are super smart about most things like the way they know the sound of the back door (Pavlovian style) and all come rushing over to see if we have some little treat for them. They bed down in cool dirt during hot afternoons. They instinctively know which plants are safe to eat which gave me serious peace of mind because of the curiosity. However they will also all peck at something until it tips over (like a potted plant or garden tool) so sometimes you have to protect them from themselves. They most definitely have distinct personalities which really became noticeable as they matured. Ruby, one of the Rhode Island Reds, is our largest hen and seems to be top of the pecking order due to her size, but not due to her smarts. I love her but sometimes she is 30 seconds behind current events. She usually gets first shot at the food or the largest portion. However Snowflake often gives Ruby a run for her money. Snowflake is almost as big as Ruby, but also smarter and faster. Garnet may be the smallest, but she is faster than greased lightning. Often times, she will make off with a treat or a bug before the others even realized it was there. Obsidian is very sweet and calm and just goes about her business, waiting for everyone else to eat first or get the first bite of something before she gets in on the action.
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<strong>Do you have a favorite?</strong> (You can tell us. The chickens can't read. They'll NEVER know.)
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Haha! I truthfully love each one of them for their different quirks. Snowflake is usually the one you will catch me talking to because she is usually up to something. I promise that curiosity not only did in the cat, but the chicken too. They love to investigate everything and anything but Snowflake is usually the ringleader of any trouble starting in our yard. All our chickens are comfortable with people and love to hang out with us when we work in the yard. However Snowflake also sees as useful perches and likes to climb onto laps and on shoulders if she can get up that high.<br />
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<strong>Any last thoughts/tips for us?</strong><br />
I almost forgot to mention my go-to chicken handbook if people are looking for a great beginner's guide as well as an excellent reference. It is seriously the only book I have ever needed. I tried reading other books but they were more tailored to country folk or people with farms or large scale operations. I still refer to this book frequently. I just love it! A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store's Guide to Chicken Keeping by Robert & Hannah Litt They cover every step of the process: preparation, picking your breeds (with a great breakdown of each breed), building coops/runs, chick care, hen care, health issues, food, laying and egg instructions.<br />
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<strong><em>Does anyone else have chickens? What is your favorite thing about them (besides the obvious: eggs)?</em></strong><br />
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Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-41704395954858802202015-10-05T00:30:00.000-07:002015-10-05T00:30:02.425-07:00Wednesday the Fat Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQqFEtUwrk8/VeyeIHhoA-I/AAAAAAAAB-4/__-_uDFPVcs/s1600/227982_1032780625362_9188_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wQqFEtUwrk8/VeyeIHhoA-I/AAAAAAAAB-4/__-_uDFPVcs/s1600/227982_1032780625362_9188_n.jpg" /></a></div>
Wednesday had a rough start in life. She showed up with her Mom at my feral colony ten years ago. Her Mom was very ill. Though I tried to trap her, she disappeared after a week without ever going into the trap. She had two kittens who disappeared around the same time. I was sad, but used to this occurrence. When you're taking care of a feral colony, cats come and go and you don't always get them all before something else gets them.<br />
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About two weeks after they disappeared, I came home to find a kitten sprawled out in my parking space. She was glassy eyed and barely breathing. She had clearly tried to eat because the food dish was scattered. She was soaked from trying to drink water out of the bowl and it really was nothing short of a miracle that she hadn't drowned. She was top heavy - her head so much bigger than the rest of her tiny body.<br />
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I wrapped her in a towel, waiting for my boyfriend to get home from work. The plan was simple: take her to the vet and have her humanely euthanized to end her obvious suffering. She was on the brink of death anyway. Crawling with fleas, she was nothing more than a bag of bones. Staring at that tiny body, talking to her softly, I tried to give what little comfort I could before her end.<br />
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When Erik got home, he took her from me. I navigated the streets as fast as I could, racing toward the vet. Twice, he said, "Oh hon, forget it. She just took her last breath." She would then utter a small, weak cry to show him she was still there. Our vet was closed so we had to take her to an Emergency Vet. After evaluating her, they came in with an $800 vet bill. Um, what?<br />
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Blood transfusion: $500<br />
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"How much to put her down?" Erik asked.<br />
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That bill suddenly went down to under $200. She had flea anemia. They gave her a bath, kept her overnight on IV fluids, then sent her home with us. She was 12 weeks old and weighed a mere 10 ounces. She seemed so fragile. At night, she would crawl up between us on the bed and sleep so soundly we thought she was dead. I would shake her and shake her and shake her before she would finally open her eyes and give me the grumpiest look. Poor thing just finally felt safe enough to sleep deeply.<br />
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Her sisters were less than thrilled with her. Pip, our ever tolerant one-eyed cat, was a reluctant teacher. Having come off the same streets as Wednesday, she seemed to have a bit more sympathy for her. She showed her how to use the litter box, how to pounce on bugs or tricks of light. Sometimes, she even let Wednesday sleep next to her.<br />
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As Wednesday grew, she really GREW. Afraid of missing out on food, she can tend to overeat. Free feeding is hard with her because the minute you fill the bowl, she's at it even when she isn't hungry. It's been a struggle keeping her weight down. Our vet does not believe in low calorie food. She believes in feed proper amounts and exercising your cat. So, we feed Halo (and the girls get 1/4 small can of a high quality wet food twice a day). They get supervised yard time where they race around the yard chasing butterflies and bees and flies. It's their time to be cats. (Though I jokingly refer to them as prisoners who get yard time - someone will try to escape and usually a fight or two will break out.)<br />
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We've managed to keep her steady at 13 pounds. She would do better at around 10 pounds. The extra weight is hard for her to carry around. But she's otherwise healthy according to her yearly blood work. Having one overweight cat has been hard to balance with an underweight one. Keeping food away from one while encouraging the other to eat can be a struggle. How does one cat relax enough to eat when there is another clawing at the door knowing there is food she doesn't have access to? This is where the small spoonful of wet food comes in handy. Distract overweight cat with just a taste while underweight cat gets half a can of it.<br />
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If we had it to do over again, we would never have free fed the cats. It's been back and forth with the timed feedings, critical when you have a cat who cannot afford to lose any weight in addition to one who cannot gain anymore. When we go on trips, we don't ask our pet sitter to free feed. We leave the food down.<br />
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Apparently, it's common for cats who are taken from their litter too young, who have a rough start of being underfed, to end up being fat cats. Obese pets are a big problem for vets across the nation. Our animals are no different than we are: being overweight can cause the same health problems for them. We've lucked out so far with Wednesday, but we're very dedicated to keeping at it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wednesday sleeping with her sister, Lily</td></tr>
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<i><b>What about you - is your pet overweight? Do you free feed?</b></i>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-85266158941831004072014-08-06T00:30:00.000-07:002014-08-07T10:46:41.671-07:00Interview Wednesday - Clover of the Beagle Freedom Project<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyCxdosScVs/U-O5Q-d7V5I/AAAAAAAAB2c/Jx0TBaeGHRc/s1600/Start+here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyCxdosScVs/U-O5Q-d7V5I/AAAAAAAAB2c/Jx0TBaeGHRc/s1600/Start+here.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tani, Erik, and Clover at BFP Event</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today we bring you a special interview with Tani, mom to Clover. Clover was one of 40 Beagles rescued from a lab in Spain by Shannon Keith, founder of Beagle Freedom Project. Prior to his freedom, Clover was used for testing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri;">Tani was kind enough to share her time, Clover's story, and some pictures with us to help us educate others.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>How did you find out about
Beagle Freedom Project?<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Erik found out about Beagle Freedom Project while on
deployment. Our first dog we had adopted from Helen Woodward. Dexter was an
amazing beagle. He had been in a laboratory too, but it was dog food testing
and we didn't really know the extent of testing. Erik saw a video of beagles
from Spain being rescued. It moved him and he wrote a letter to them. Shannon
Keith, the founder of BFP wrote him back. And our friendship began. The amazing
story behind the Spain rescue goes sort of like this. Shannon got a call,
letting her know their were 78 beagles available, could she take any. She said
yes, they said how many. Without hesitation, she said, well ALL OF THEM. She
maxed her credit, mortgaged her home and risked her own financial security to
save these dogs. She got 40 of them. They all found homes. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><strong><em>How long did it take Clover
to adjust to being in your home?</em></strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clover was fostered for a couple of months before we got him by a lovely
lady, Shannon Warner. We went to LA to meet him. During our visit, he jumped up
on her banquet seats and came up to me, laid down and went to sleep with his
head on my leg. He chose me:). </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rpH7qkcBeNI/U-MgHxemTcI/AAAAAAAAB2E/3A3m15gHB24/s1600/Clover+Choosing+Tani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rpH7qkcBeNI/U-MgHxemTcI/AAAAAAAAB2E/3A3m15gHB24/s1600/Clover+Choosing+Tani.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first time Clover met his Mom</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It did not take long for him to adjust. He
really figured out the dog door, the other dogs pretty fast. He knew where
the beds were, knew what food dish was his, figured out he could sleep on our bed
quickly. Not all of them are that easy. One dog was kept somewhere completely
different than the other dogs. It took a while for him to feel safe. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekQCBLsrXDU/U-MgaNs89OI/AAAAAAAAB2M/XGKypCfntYk/s1600/All+three+dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ekQCBLsrXDU/U-MgaNs89OI/AAAAAAAAB2M/XGKypCfntYk/s1600/All+three+dogs.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clover, his brother Barney, and sister Annie</td></tr>
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</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><strong>Is there anything he seems particularly frightened of?</strong></em></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Loud noises still startle him. I'm not talking about fireworks, but
garage doors, a trash can rattle, a cupboard door slammed shut. He also will
put himself in a corner, an area where there are 2 walls, like the far corner
of a cage when he is feeling frightened. It breaks my heart because I know it is
familiar to him from all his years in a cage.</span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>How has having him changed your shopping?</em></strong></span></span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Being a part of BFP and actually knowing what these dogs go through has
totally changed my outlook. Most people think of animal testing as rats and
mice. They also think it works! I was one of those people. But having Clover,
I've educated myself. There are 70,000 dogs being tested on in the US alone.
96% are Beagles, because they are friendly, forgiving, people pleasers- the
things making them great pets make them great test subjects. It is horrible.
The majority of experiments are done for household products, beauty products, or
scientific curiosity. Of the experiments for medical breakthroughs- only 8%
make it to human clinical trials and out of that less than 50% make it to
market. Even then most are failures. More than 106,000 people were killed by
drugs that tested "animal safe" in 2013. So I look for cruelty free.
I love Mac. But their parent company decided to sell in china which
"requires" animal testing. So I look for different brands. I stopped
buying stuff that was tested on animals. It isn't worth it. </span></span></span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>Do you have any advice for people looking to shop cruelty free?</em></strong></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My advice to people that want to buy cruelty free? Do not solely look
for the leaping bunny. To get that stamp of approval, companies have to pay for
it. There are a lot of companies that do not test but haven't paid the bunny.
So look for companies that say "not tested on animals or cruelty free." When in
doubt, ask. Use your smart phone, google it. I've found great makeup
brands (Vincent Longo) that are awesome and don't test on animals. A lot of
companies that didn't test on animals get bought by those that do
unfortunately. St. Ives got bought by Unilever. So you have to keep track. If a
major company buys out a smaller company, write to the company and let them
know you like this product because it works and because it wasn't tested on
animals. </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><o:p></o:p></em></strong><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><em><strong>What about a recipe(s) for homemade cleaners that work just as well as
the store bought ones companies test on animals?</strong></em></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the absolute best cleaners is vinegar. I use it for almost
everything - windows, counters, tile floors. Get a spray bottle, vinegar and
water - half and half solution. For glass use 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol and
hot water in a 32 ounce spray bottle. Cover the window first with the
alcohol/water solution. The vinegar/ water solution and republic with an
absorbent cloth. For dirty grout? Peroxide and baking soda. Scrubs and wipe
clean. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjXzPaw5hb0/U-O6XOGczdI/AAAAAAAAB2k/N68K9ybKklg/s1600/Posed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JjXzPaw5hb0/U-O6XOGczdI/AAAAAAAAB2k/N68K9ybKklg/s1600/Posed.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clover and his brother Barney</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>Tell us about The Beagle Freedom Bill and why it is so important. </em></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Beagle Freedom Bill is simply a bill that says if taxpayer dollars paid for animal testing, at the end of the testing, the animals used must be given up for adoption rather than euthanized. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is so important because these animals make great pets. Yes, they might have some issues, but all of the animals that BFP has rescued and placed in forever homes, not one has been returned. The schools (UCLA, for one) will try to say these animals are not viable and were bred for testing. It doesn't matter. These animals are loving, good pets. If someone were to tell me that Clover should have been put to sleep, I (not a violent person by nature) would probably try to kick their ass. It isn't true. These dogs (and cats, pigs, etc.) are kind, forgiving, and just want to be loved and to live. They didn't voluntarily sign up to be tested on. A lot have problems. Rocket, a dog who was part of Clover's rescue, has Cushings, but he is the sweetest dog on earth. They all deserve love. And there are plenty of people who want to foster and care for them.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Someday, we would love to end animal testing. If everyone who cares would go to Beagle Freedom Project (<a href="http://beaglefreedomproject.org/">beaglefreedomproject.org</a>) and let their representatives know that they support the Beagle Freedom Bill, we will take a giant step toward ending testing. You see, Beagles are the lab's dirty little secret. If the public believes labs test on other animals, they don't tend to care. But if they know that the lab is testing on cute dogs and they see those dogs can thrive in a loving home, they'll get mad.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Baby steps. Free those in testing first. One day, stop animal testing completely.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>Thank you so much for your time and for sharing Clover's story with us.</em></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>If you'd like to follow Clover on Facebook, click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CloverOfTheBeagleFreedomProject">here</a>.</em></strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>To learn more about Beagle Freedom Project, click the link above.</em></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </span> </span><br />Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-3521046753552773582014-05-21T00:30:00.000-07:002014-05-21T00:30:03.232-07:00Interview Wednesday - The Truth About BATS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTPmXGW-FQM/U3wsV9P7upI/AAAAAAAAB08/RtQL-y89Lrk/s1600/Cami+and+Bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yTPmXGW-FQM/U3wsV9P7upI/AAAAAAAAB08/RtQL-y89Lrk/s1600/Cami+and+Bat.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
I'm excited about this interview for two reasons:<br />
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1) I LOVE bats! They're a vital part of our eco-system.<br />
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2) Cami was one of the teens in my very first Humane Teen Club. She just graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management. (Where did the time go?!)<br />
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On to expanding our knowledge about these very important critters!<br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">1) When you
hear the word BAT, most people think one of three things: Halloween, vampires,
or rabies. What do you think? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">When
I hear bat I think firstly, cute fuzzy small animal that is amazing
evolutionarily and morphologically as the only mammal that has developed true
flight. Next I think about them eating (hopefully all) mosquitos. And finally,
and probably most importantly, I think about the pillar they are in the
ecosystem as insect controllers, being of only a select few animals that are
nocturnal insectivores. They impact agricultural lands, forested lands, coastal
regions, and even urbanized areas in ways that most people don’t know due to
the stigma attached to them of being vampires or rabid. But in actuality the
majority of bats eat insects, nectar, or fruit. Only three species are actually
considered “vampire” bats, all of which occur in Central and South America.
They impact such diverse habitats because insects are everywhere and without
them a lot of the food we enjoy that are grown in crops would be difficult to
produce. These can include wheat fields (the Symbol of Bacardi rum is a bat
because bats helped increase the productivity of his crops which lead to a
higher production of alcohol for the landowner), fruits, and vegetable crops. This
can be both at a large scale ranch or agricultural development and at a small
scale community or home garden.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SxwEpknCIc/U3wvQMe0aaI/AAAAAAAAB1I/G8rWJrsKJ7g/s1600/Bat+Close-Up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SxwEpknCIc/U3wvQMe0aaI/AAAAAAAAB1I/G8rWJrsKJ7g/s1600/Bat+Close-Up.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">2) How long
have you been studying/working with bats? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">It
has been almost two years exactly since I held my first bat. The first year I
focused on what kind of roosts they were selecting in a country club in
Flagstaff. The second year I focused in on the genetics of that population.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">3) What are
some of the misconceptions you had that were smashed once you got to know bats?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">Honestly,
going in to this job I had no idea what to expect. I definitely did not think
that bats were as cute as I do now having worked closely with them. I also had
the misconception that they all looked somewhat similar, but that was smashed
on my first few times of handling them. Each species has their own little
quirks.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riJnKamHLGg/U3wviuvSypI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/aKTcDI4Ewgo/s1600/Bat+Full+on+Glove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riJnKamHLGg/U3wviuvSypI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/aKTcDI4Ewgo/s1600/Bat+Full+on+Glove.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">4) Tell us a
few FUN facts about these guys! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">So
the Bacardi fact up above is pretty neat! I promote Bacardi now because of that
story. Another neat thing is that each genera and sometimes species has a different
demeanor; once in a while you may come across individuals that have distinctly
different personalities. There are a few species we all love to handle since
they are calm and don’t fight and bite so much, these include the Arizona myotis
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Myotis occultus</i>; Arizona’s version
of the little brown bat; they are very closely related), Mexican free tailed
bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tadarida brasiliensis</i>), and the
big free tail bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nyctinomops macrotis</i>).
Others that can be difficult to handle are the hoary bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lasiurus cinereus),</i> the big brown bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eptesicus fuscus</i>), and the pallid bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Antrozous pallidus</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">Another
neat thing is that certain species like the big brown bat, have females who
roost in large maternity colonies (can be a few hundred) and communally raise
their young. Most bats are only able to have a single pup per breeding season,
so having other females who will, sometimes, altruistically help raise another
females pup. The fascinating thing about this is that based on biology and the
“furthering your own genes” idea, these females should be or were thought to be
selecting their roosts and females to help based on kinship (so the female you
are helping is your sister, aunt, niece, etc). But with the genetic study we
did of these roosts we found that there was no significant genetic structure or
relatedness, which suggests that they are not roosting with females that they
are related to. This makes what they are doing an altruistic behavior by just
helping to help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">5) Why are
bats such an important part of our environment? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">Many
species are insect controllers. They eat everything from beetles to moths to
mosquitos to scorpions (the pallid bat (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Antrozous
pallidus</i>) does this), so they control these populations and further crop
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other bats a nectivorous, so
like hummingbird they have exceptionally long tongues that they use to feed on
nectar from plant to plant. So like hummingbirds and bees they act as
pollinators. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuCHLYajMfo/U3wvvS6fe9I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/lf51BWRGRfs/s1600/Bat+Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UuCHLYajMfo/U3wvvS6fe9I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/lf51BWRGRfs/s1600/Bat+Two.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">6) What is
the biggest threat to bats right now?</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">The
main two are fairly obvious I feel. 1) White-nose syndrome and 2) Urbanization
which leads to habitat fragmentation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">With
white-nose syndrome it’s a difficult issue to find a “fix” or solution to. This
is mostly due to the fact that it’s a fungus that does best in wet cold
climates; thus why caves are so heavily impacted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">Urbanization
is the same battle with every species where fragmentation of habitat and
overall habitat loss or conversion creates an ecosystem that is impossible for
some animals. For bats, certain species are what we call generalists where they
will do fairly well in just about any environment from urbanized to forested.
Others, however, have a different story where they are specialists and utilize
a specific habitat or niche and without that they can have population declines.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">7) Do they
only come out at night? Or is it more a dusk to dawn in the waning lights life?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #3e454c; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">Most
bats are indeed nocturnal and forage at night time. They will usually use day
roosts during daytime to sleep and rest before they come out at dusk. They will
exit their roosts and then fly around a forage for a while and then use night
roosts as places to take a quick power nap before continuing to forage. Of
course this is not applicable to every species but in general that is their
pattern.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnV4gDfnRPM/U3wv5e2mhVI/AAAAAAAAB1g/dUhN29PdZRE/s1600/Bat+Three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnV4gDfnRPM/U3wv5e2mhVI/AAAAAAAAB1g/dUhN29PdZRE/s1600/Bat+Three.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;">8) Anything
else you think we should know or keep in mind about these amazing creatures? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;">Remember
that if you like wheat, fruit, and/or vegetables, then you like bats! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #3e454c;"></span> </div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><br />
Thank you for your time and for sharing the wonder of bats with us, Cami!<br />
<br />
<em><strong>What about you, readers? Did you learn something new about bats? Do you like them, love them, or are you scared of them?</strong></em></span>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-68707902358163599812014-04-16T00:30:00.000-07:002014-04-16T00:30:00.620-07:00Interview Wednesday - Working Long Hours and Having a Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4pykwf2PZQ/U0trxGZqM0I/AAAAAAAAB0A/KYFn12rT1eU/s1600/Sandy+and+Snoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B4pykwf2PZQ/U0trxGZqM0I/AAAAAAAAB0A/KYFn12rT1eU/s1600/Sandy+and+Snoop.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
We are very lucky to have landed an interview with The Goldbergs Co-Producer, Sandi Hochman! She took time out of her very busy schedule to answer some questions for us about life with her gorgeous rescue dog, Maddie.<br />
<br />
One of the top reasons pets are relinquished to the shelter is: Owner doesn't have enough time for the pet.<br />
<br />
Sandi is here to tell us that if a Hollywood producer can make it work, so can YOU! Let's find out how she juggles her schedule with the light of her life (and even manages to foster a senior dog - the woman is nothing short of AMAZING).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9j2zSLj-E1s/U0tr2sLQ0NI/AAAAAAAAB0k/AdBytI7iq9E/s1600/Maddy+Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9j2zSLj-E1s/U0tr2sLQ0NI/AAAAAAAAB0k/AdBytI7iq9E/s1600/Maddy+Baby.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong> How did you
and Maddie meet?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;">I was
looking to adopt a dog from a shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had gone a couple of times but the dog just wasn’t there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I’d know her when I found her. (I was
looking for a girl)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up one day
and realized I hadn’t visited the shelter in a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking for a dog who was a year or two
old… was not looking for a puppy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw
Maddie (who was 10 wks old) and decided I wanted to see her and another, older
dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They brought Maddie out first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other dog never had a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fell in love with her immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so that it was a Saturday and they
couldn’t let me adopt her until she was spayed which couldn’t happen until
Monday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, after filling out
the paper work, I ended up visiting her two more times at the shelter that day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What's her
personality type - is she laid back California or high energy California?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;">She’s definitely high energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At 15, she’s still going strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What do
you love most about her?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This is
impossible to answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love everything
about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has the most independent
personality and makes me laugh all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, she can be such a little sweetheart if she gets scared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Where is
her favorite spot to sleep?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>She’s always
loved going under my bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s her
domain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, she has beds all over the
house and, of course, my bed is her bed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9JUJSzrSZXE/U0tr0kj4V2I/AAAAAAAAB0U/ullLqbQBQTs/s1600/Maddy+under+the+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9JUJSzrSZXE/U0tr0kj4V2I/AAAAAAAAB0U/ullLqbQBQTs/s1600/Maddy+under+the+bed.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Does she
have a favorite toy?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Her favorite toy is
a die (single dice) that you fill with treats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s in the bedroom on the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor and she will go up there
on her own and start barking when it gets stuck under something or needs to be
filled with treats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Not
enough time/attention for the dog is one of the top reasons given when they are
relinquished at a shelter. You work in television production and have a very
demanding job that sometimes requires long hours. How do you make it work?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></strong></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>It truly takes a village to coordinate
Maddie’s schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been lucky
enough to have the same fantastic dog walker/sitter for the past 6 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t do it without her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also used doggie daycare and have
dropped her off to spend the day with friends.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Walk us
through a day in the life of Sandi and Maddie when you are working.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Unfortunately, when I’m working, there’s not
much life to our day together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
with me when I’m getting ready for work in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go for a walk and then I don’t see her for
most of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;">The
highlight of my day is walking in and seeing that cute little furry face.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QLCNj2bp3yY/U0ttCMEMMLI/AAAAAAAAB0o/mkcueFhzIFk/s1600/Maddy+Face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QLCNj2bp3yY/U0ttCMEMMLI/AAAAAAAAB0o/mkcueFhzIFk/s1600/Maddy+Face.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A day in
the life when you're on hiatus or a weekend when you're not working.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;">That’s another story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We take a little longer walk in the morning
and I spend as much time with her as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I take her on errands if I can and just try to give her as much
attention as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I work from
home, it’s sometimes very difficult to get things done. She stares at me and is
very distracting :-}</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gyQ4Ahv9T2E/U0tr00_Jx7I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/f8T7zCVT_Hw/s1600/Maddy+Walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gyQ4Ahv9T2E/U0tr00_Jx7I/AAAAAAAAB0Y/f8T7zCVT_Hw/s1600/Maddy+Walk.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Any final
thoughts you would like to share with us?</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong> </strong>
</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I’ve heard a lot of people say that they live in an apartment and don’t
have a yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to feel the same
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day I realized that I would
rather give a dog a great home without a yard than not give a dog a home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as you love them and take care of
them and are able to give them enough exercise, that’s all that matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I don’t think there is anything
better in this world than a dog.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhia0NHeYgM/U0tr0t4uqlI/AAAAAAAAB0c/x9OoRYbdNuo/s1600/Maddy+Posing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhia0NHeYgM/U0tr0t4uqlI/AAAAAAAAB0c/x9OoRYbdNuo/s1600/Maddy+Posing.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<em>Thank you so much for your time, Sandi!</em></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 7.5pt 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 10.75pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande"; font-size: 12pt;">As if being an amazing dog Mom, fostering seniors, and producing a hit tv show isn't enough for one plate, Sandi also has her own business - Lucky Puppy. Click <a href="https://luckypuppyonline.com/">here</a> to shop her adorable clothing line (she donates a percentage of her monthly sales to charity!).</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-13317186318545602162014-04-14T00:30:00.000-07:002014-04-13T22:26:31.983-07:00"Teacup" Puppies For Sale<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K0jyBT60hkU/TDTURrDAJAI/AAAAAAAAAPk/J5o7PbSm-rw/s1600/Yorkie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K0jyBT60hkU/TDTURrDAJAI/AAAAAAAAAPk/J5o7PbSm-rw/s200/Yorkie.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491247245749658626" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
You've seen the advertisements in the papers, online and sometimes in pet store windows: Teacup puppies for sale! The only problem is, there is no such thing as a "teacup". "Teacup" is a term made up by bad breeders and puppy mills to lure impulsive people into buying from them. Breeds like Yorkies, Maltese, Poodles, Chihuahuas are all "Toy" breeds meaning they are already on the tiny side. Words like "teacup", "micro", "mini" are used by bad breeders for dogs that end up being normal size most of the time. They sell the dog at 4 weeks of age (4 weeks younger than is legal in most states) because they look smaller. People are either shocked when their puppy grows to be 3-7 pounds or they don't realize that is standard size and think they have a "teacup" when they don't. You can't tell how big a puppy will be when they are that young. These bad breeders guarantee their puppy will be a certain size as an adult, but that's not a guarantee anyone can make. <br />
<br />
"Teacup" is not a size recognized by the AKC. All of the breed clubs now have warnings on their websites about "teacups". There are occassionally runts in the litter that will grow to be less than average size. A good breeder sells these puppies at a LOWER cost than the rest of the litter. I will say that again so that you know it is NOT a typo - a good breeder will sell a runt at a LOWER price than the rest of the litter. Why? It is not up to breed standard. Toy breeds have certain health risks and a runt from those litters stands an even greater chance of suffering major health problems. Toy breeds can live an average of 15 years or more. "Teacups" or runts don't tend to live half that long. In most cases they are so fragile, they don't live more than a few years. The list of genetic and congenital defects in these poor puppies is long: <br />
<br />
Open fontanels: soft spot from the cranial bone not forming<br />
Hydroencephaly<br />
Portosystemic shunts: abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver so the blood is not cleansed as it should be. <br />
Cardiac problems<br />
Collapsing trachea<br />
Luxating patellas<br />
Hypoglycemia<br />
Epilepsy<br />
Digestive problems<br />
<br />
"Teacup" puppies don't grow properly. Their bones and organs are stunted due to their size. This sets them up for health problems that lead to expensive vet bills or death. Any puppy that does not weigh 2 pounds by 8 weeks is a huge health risk. Most don't live to adulthood. There always rare exceptions to the rule when owners educate themselves about the health risks associated with a dog under 3 pounds. Those dogs are lucky to have owners who did their research and were willing to give up sleep, social lives and money (for vet care) to insure that they reached adulthood.<br />
<br />
If your dog weighs 3 pounds or more, you do not have a "teacup." You have a standard size (insert breed here). This is the most common misconception people have. They tell people that their "teacup" is healthy at 4 pounds when they don't actually have a "teacup." They simply paid for a label and got a standard size dog at a more expensive price. Don't be fooled. Good breeders will not label their dogs "teacup", "micro", "miniature", "pocket" or "toy." Toy is already implied in the breed itself. <br />
<br />
For more information, you can click on the following links:<br />
<a href="http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/breed-info/chihuahuau-breed-standard/teacup-statement">Chihuahua Club of America</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theyorkshireterrierclubofamerica.org/sharedobjects/docs/Teacup.pdf">Yorkshire Terrier Club of America</a><br />
<br />
<br />
(NOTE: The Yorkie pictured is purebred and up for adoption through a Fresno rescue group. You can find purebred puppies and dogs in ANY shelter. This one is 10 months old, but shelters and breed rescues across the country get them younger and older than that age. If you do your homework, you can find exactly what you are looking for. Meredith and I are always available to help you in your search.)Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-68680045858412726652014-03-31T00:30:00.000-07:002014-04-02T22:28:26.177-07:00Choosing People Over Pets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvzdfdY8jnE/UzJh5l776SI/AAAAAAAABzk/FGJJVKdQTMY/s1600/Lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvzdfdY8jnE/UzJh5l776SI/AAAAAAAABzk/FGJJVKdQTMY/s1600/Lily.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a difficult post to write. I don't want to sound judgmental so if I come off that way, I apologize. I just felt compelled to write something after getting yet another "urgent" email this week regarding another pet being given up because boyfriend/girlfriend doesn't like them.<br />
<br />
Pets give loyal, unconditional love. People? Not so much. Over the years, I have yet to see a situation where a pet has been given up for a new boyfriend/girlfriend (or even an old relationship) work out well for the person who is relinquishing the pet. I'm going to give three examples before getting to the one in question today.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oN5-eW3ixsE/UzJiCkj5ctI/AAAAAAAABzs/IdJIZPZxzB4/s1600/Eowyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oN5-eW3ixsE/UzJiCkj5ctI/AAAAAAAABzs/IdJIZPZxzB4/s1600/Eowyn.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a></div>
I had a friend who had been dating a woman for five years. They got ready to move in together. She decided that she didn't like his 13 year-old cat. At first, he decided to hang tough. After all, the cat had been with him for 13 years. This 5 year relationship had been a bit rough, though they had managed to work through things. She moved in. The cat ended up at the shelter. She was gone less than a year later, but not before bringing home a kitten of her own (and no, that kitten didn't end up leaving with her).<br />
<br />
I was volunteering at a local shelter. A young woman was moving in with her boyfriend who didn't like her four year old Shih Tzu. She sobbed while filling out the relinquishment papers. The dog tried his best to comfort her. The boyfriend sat a table away, ignoring her embarrassing display (he was bright red and shooting her disgusted glances while rolling his eyes - that's how we knew he viewed it as embarrassing). Though we all tried to ask her to reconsider, keeping the dog was not an option if she wanted to move forward in her relationship. I will never forget how hard this poor dog tried to calm his owner down. He crawled onto her lap, he licked her tears, he leaned into her as hard as he could. In the end, he came with us and she went on her way. He got a great home. She came back later (I can't remember now if it was a few weeks or a few months) to see if she could get him back. The boyfriend had kicked her out anyway. The dog was not the issue.<br />
<br />
I've had several rough emails this week. Too many of them have been: Need to rehome dog/cat because of boyfriend/girlfriend/daughter moving in/moving home. I've had an email trying to rehome an 8 year-old dog because the new girlfriend doesn't like him ("he's too big"). I've had an email trying to rehome the 10 year-old cat because the daughter is having to move back home and doesn't like cats. I can't imagine how confusing that is for a pet to go from a loving home one day to an animal shelter the next - and not have any clue why they are being left in that scary place full of strange sounds and smells. They must pine for their owners, hoping as each new person shuffles through to stare at them that one of them will eventually be their long, lost owner. <br />
<br />
In the end, it's rarely ever about the pet. I see it over and over again - like the show, an ultimatum is given: it's ME or the DOG/cat. Sometimes, it's a power struggle. Other times, I don't know what to make of it. I do know that pets are family. I know that they are far more loyal than people. When you adopt a pet, you're making that commitment to take care of them for their lifetime - not until someone you start dating decides that THEY don't want the pet. I just really want people to think before they move forward. Why is this person asking me to give up my dog or cat? Why is that so important to them? And, what am I giving up when I let go of my pet? Your pet doesn't care how you dress, what you weigh, if you want to stay in your pajamas all day and watch "The Walking Dead" marathon. They love you for you. They will never ask you to give up your person. They will always be there for you. Don't we owe it to them to always be there for them?Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-88425106887775325232014-03-19T00:30:00.000-07:002014-04-13T22:11:15.683-07:00Interview Wednesday - The Healing Power of Animals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDfEcmqiMQY/UxQOO0DCYNI/AAAAAAAABxI/ueZdJJ4YLUQ/s1600/Jennifer+and+Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDfEcmqiMQY/UxQOO0DCYNI/AAAAAAAABxI/ueZdJJ4YLUQ/s1600/Jennifer+and+Emma.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Six
years ago, after a lifetime spent dreaming about it, I adopted my first
dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been wanting a dog forever,
but apartment living made it difficult with size restrictions (I’ve never been
a purse-dog kind of gal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after
saving and planning, I bought a condo in California for the sole purpose of getting
my first dog!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I was settled in my
condo, I began my search.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
criteria I had for a dog was that he/she be mellow and good with cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breed was never on my list; I didn't care if
it was a Shepherd, a Basset Hound, or a Pit Bull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted a nice dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I contacted a few rescues inquiring about
dogs I saw on Petfinder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some had
already been spoken for, some I just never heard back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I reached out to Downtown Dog Rescue in Los Angeles, inquiring about
their available dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lori Weise
responded quickly and was happy to share with me a dog they just took in that
was excellent with cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember the
first thing Lori told me about Emma, that ‘she was a true rescue, in every
sense of the word’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a female pit
bull that a Good Samaritan found collapsed on a yard in her neighborhood,
skinny, tattered and having just given birth (no puppies were ever found). I
went down to meet her that week, and couldn't say no to her big brown
eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SER5oEg1n8Y/UxQOXM8rxpI/AAAAAAAABxQ/1f2vEuxoQAE/s1600/Emma+Before+and+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SER5oEg1n8Y/UxQOXM8rxpI/AAAAAAAABxQ/1f2vEuxoQAE/s1600/Emma+Before+and+After.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma Before and After!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QAcYQhVM9wI/UxQP3nKdAbI/AAAAAAAABxs/noXn7wu69I8/s1600/Emma+and+Tivi+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QAcYQhVM9wI/UxQP3nKdAbI/AAAAAAAABxs/noXn7wu69I8/s1600/Emma+and+Tivi+1.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tivi (foreground) and Emma (background)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’d never thought
twice about a dog’s breed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always
thought that every dog is different and has its own personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I was aware of the prejudice
against pit bulls, but I had no idea how extreme it was until I had this
adorable brown pit bull of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
I am, all 5 feet 4 inches of me, in my pink sweat pants and a pony tail,
walking along with my dog in her sparkly pink collar and matching leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How on earth could we be threatening?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet people actually did cross the street when
they saw us coming, I couldn’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I once had a man yell at me when I was out walking her; he screamed at
me to “put that thing away!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
like it, and I wanted it to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wanted people to see my dog, and every other dog of for that matter, for what
she was:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling frustrated, and quite honestly a bit
heart broken, I needed to vent with other dog owners in the same boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined an online forum dedicated to all
things pit bull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to
commiserating with other folks sharing my dog discrimination plight, I also
learned a ton about health issues, training, laws, and most important: dog
rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forum was full of members
heavily involved in animal rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was an excellent place for networking dogs in need of homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One such dog was a wrinkly and chubby senior Shar-Pei/Pit
Bull mix named Tivoli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d been living
at a no kill shelter in Central Oregon for two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thread with his story and efforts to find
him a home quickly became one of the most active, with members posting daily;
either inquiring about his status, or coordinating donations of supplies,
treats and toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like so many members, I
was totally smitten with this dog I’d never met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several months following his story, I
was beyond excited to learn that he was finally adopted in March of 2010!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His new owner, Jonathan, was aware of Tivi’s
‘fan base’ and started a blog about their new adventures together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I logged on every day to see what adorable
photo of Tivi would be posted next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
Jonathan posted about his upcoming vacation with Tivi to Sunriver Resort in
Bend, Oregon, I got an idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
summer I took a road trip with Emma; we drove from California to Washington State
to visit my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always made a pit
stop in Bend, so this time I thought, why not stay at Sunriver and meet
Tivi?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got in contact with Jonathan and
with our trips coinciding, he welcomed Emma and me to see him and Tivi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonathan and I stayed in contact up until the
trip, emailing and connecting over our shared love of dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When July finally came, I was excited to meet
not only Tivi, but now Jonathan too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonathan
and I hit it off, and we’ve been together ever since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S34tn-bYk2Q/UxQPIAUA97I/AAAAAAAABxk/yXliT_yru4Y/s1600/Emma+and+Cat+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S34tn-bYk2Q/UxQPIAUA97I/AAAAAAAABxk/yXliT_yru4Y/s1600/Emma+and+Cat+1.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma and TC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Three years ago I
moved from California to Spokane, Washington to care for my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sold my condo and packed up my car with
Emma and my cat, and my new life as a caregiver began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next year and a half I cared for my
parents 24/7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my mom suffering from
Alzheimer’s and my dad having suddenly lost his eyesight, it was often a
draining and emotional job. Arranging care for my parents in my absence was a
challenge, so visits to Jonathan and Tivi were infrequent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know anyone in Spokane, and aside
from volunteering at the Humane Society, I had zero life outside of my
caregiving role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I had my
animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I am certain I would have
gone insane without them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I savored
simple things like going for a walk with Emma, and having the cat sleep on my
pillow every night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I wasn’t the
only one to benefit from the amazing comfort these furry creatures provided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">My dad, deeply
depressed by his new affliction that prevented him from doing everything he
loved (reading, golfing, daily email banter with his old Navy buddies), now had
a reason to get dressed and out of the house:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>my dog, Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never seen a
crotchety old man switch from grumpy to giddy so quickly as when Emma would
jump onto my mom and dad’s bed every morning to wake them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the highlight of my dad’s day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A walk around the block with Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma’s a bit of a couch potato, so her leisurely
pace was quite compatible with an 80-year-old blind man; he was able to hold
her leash and his cane and lead our walks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My dad was now in control again, participating in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was walking this stocky pit bull, with
confidence and a smile I hadn’t seen since he’d lost his eyesight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZFgqiBRbg8/UxQOsAuTjNI/AAAAAAAABxc/KbJwJN7caOU/s1600/Jenns+Mom+and+Emma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZFgqiBRbg8/UxQOsAuTjNI/AAAAAAAABxc/KbJwJN7caOU/s1600/Jenns+Mom+and+Emma.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For my mom, whose
world was now filled with confusion, anxiety and fear, Emma was 65 pounds of
comfort and kinship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not many people
could understand my mom as she struggled to string a sentence together, and she
often did not understand where she was or what she was doing at any given
moment. Alzheimer’s can create a lonely and frustrating existence for those it
cruelly strikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with Emma, it
didn’t matter what my mom said or how little sense she made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was always a pair of big brown eyes
staring back at her with what seemed to be an honest understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma was a source of peace in my mom’s
chaotic mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often my mom would wander
into my room at night, confused and paranoid about someone out to get her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma was always my go-to girl for reigning
mom back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would interrupt my mom to
tell her the dog was begging for her attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Emma would roll on her back offering her belly, and my mom would
instantly be sucked in, now focused on giving the best belly rub she
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villains haunting my mom were
gone, and it was just her and Emma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
if only for a matter of minutes, it gave her some reprieve from this
disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As Alzheimer’s
continued to take more and more of my mom away, it became more than I could
handle by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my own sanity was
taking a hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to get more help
for my parents and a life for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
again I packed up my car with the animals and hit the road, only this time it was
a bit more crowded, with both my mom and dad crammed in as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together we made the trek down to Oregon,
close to my friends and Jonathan and Tivi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I now had a house for myself where I could start fresh, and a beautiful
retirement community for my parents, where I could still care for my mom but could
leave at the end of the day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SfPyCt0F-lQ/UxQUgEmUKqI/AAAAAAAAByg/E-6T7rAJl68/s1600/Tivi+Therapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SfPyCt0F-lQ/UxQUgEmUKqI/AAAAAAAAByg/E-6T7rAJl68/s1600/Tivi+Therapy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today I get to
bring Emma to “work” with me, visiting my parents and bringing her much
welcomed source of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she’s not
the only ‘therapy’ dog in my arsenal now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tivi has gotten in on the action too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Always donning a goofy t-shirt to cover his missing and patchy hair, Tivi
is an immediate hit when we walk into the retirement home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old folks who otherwise ignore me, suddenly
approach asking who the handsome dog is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can never make it to my parents’ apartment without a good hour visit
in the lobby with a crowd of walkers and canes all reaching in to give Tivi a
pat on the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all want to know
his story, and so many are thrilled to tell me about their own pets, or the
good ‘ol dog they had growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not just bringing a dog through the lobby, I’m bringing conversation, laughter,
and sometimes memories of dogs past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is so much fun to have this four-legged entertainer by my side, and to witness
and enjoy the happiness a dog creates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The last four years
have taken me from state to state, and through a drastic career change and
living situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emma has been by my
side the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now with Tivi,
I have two wiggly butts welcoming me home at the end of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when you have that, it doesn’t matter how
long or hard the day was.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opsOrBJZOwM/UxQRWAxw7OI/AAAAAAAAByA/iaZ5QFg26kM/s1600/Emma+on+the+Move.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opsOrBJZOwM/UxQRWAxw7OI/AAAAAAAAByA/iaZ5QFg26kM/s1600/Emma+on+the+Move.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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A HUGE thank you to Jennifer and Emma for sharing their story with us. How gorgeous is Emma? And what a lucky girl to have found Jennifer. </div>
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<em><strong>Have you experienced the healing power of an animal in your life?</strong></em></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-10481572280957405942014-03-14T10:45:00.000-07:002014-03-14T10:45:30.141-07:00FUN Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're headed into the weekend! There's nothing LIKE a Friday!<br />
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We were a little cat heavy today, but that's okay! Dogs are usually most of our focus so it's nice to switch it up every so often!<br />
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HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!<br />
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Don't forget to hike those dogs and exercise those cats!<br />
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<br />Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-32801086228201653462014-03-12T00:30:00.000-07:002014-03-12T00:30:01.362-07:00Interview Wednesday - Two International Moves WITH Dogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wg2fRzPSkKs/UxAwkzApNVI/AAAAAAAABwY/iHqJFbdGjoI/s1600/Katy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wg2fRzPSkKs/UxAwkzApNVI/AAAAAAAABwY/iHqJFbdGjoI/s1600/Katy.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
Today, we have an interview with Kirsten who has moved continents with her dogs. Kirsten has had quite the life - working for the United Nations! - and she is an international human rights lawyer (How COOL is that?!). She took time out of her very busy schedule juggling her job, her children, and her dogs, to answer some questions for us!<br />
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<span class="null"><em><strong>How many pets do you have?</strong></em><br />
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I have two dogs. They are a handful.<br />
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<em><strong>When did you get your first dog? </strong></em> <br />
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My first dog, Katy came to me when I lived in Washington DC. I was single and free and had just broken up with a boyfriend, so I thought a dog would be good. My mother thought that was a very bad idea. She thought I was not settled enough and that having a dog is a big responsibility. She was right. Luckily, I found the most amazing, perfect puppy in the world. She was 6 months old, and her sweet picture was on petfrinder.com on the internet. I saw her and drove the next day 2 hours down into Virginia to meet her in the snow. The staff was hesitant, they told me she probably needed a retired couple because she was scared and nervous. If I wanted a puppy that was good for a family they suggested some other pups they had. No, I said, could I please just meet her. It was love at first sight. She has been my very best friend since that moment. The staff quickly agreed that we were a great match and within 3 days I had a home visit done, background check done and a new puppy at my home. She is about the best, most gentle soul I have ever met.<br />
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<strong><em>And the second?</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
Twiga is my second puppy. She is a whole other ball of wax. I got her when living in Africa 5 years after I got Katy. Twiga was being abused by my neighbor and it took quite a bit of negotiating to allow the neighbor to hand me over the dog. She came with another pal, Zari. I got them both nursed back to health. They came to me nearly starved, flea ridden and sick with worms. I brought them back to the States where we got home training and more health care. Twiga had a very bad worm that nearly cost her her life. Finally, after surgery she began to gain weight. Zari had an infected eye from being beaten which would eventually need to be taken out, so he is blind in one eye. Once they were acclimated, house trained (they went EVERYWHERE when they first came home. The couch leg was toast!), and leash trained (boy did they HATE a leash), I separated them giving Zari to my parents (poor dear parents) and I kept Twiga. She hates all other dogs, except Katy. She doesn't like Katy but after trying desperately to fight with her, to no avail, Twiga now just ignores Katy. Katy does NOT fight....you get the feeling she is very disdainful of fighting, it is simply beneath her.</span><br />
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<strong><em>The number one reason pets are relinquished to the shelter is MOVING. How many times have you moved with the dogs? And where did you move to/from?</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
It would NEVER occur to me to give my pets away to move. I have left Katy for brief periods of time at my parents home. But, if I hadn't been able to do that, I would not have gone. I am an international human rights lawyer, so I move around a lot, internationally. Early on, I had a few short contracts with the UN where I would moved for 3 or 4 months to a country. during those two periods, I left Katy with my parents. Otherwise, I take my dogs where I go. I've moved A LOT. from DC to Ca (I only had Katy and I packed the moving truck and hired movers to drive it across the country, then Katy and I loaded up my jeep and trecked across the country together from DC to California for law school). After law school I started working for the UN. I've moved from the US, to Geneva, to The Hague, to Nairobi, to Tanzania....and at least one, sometimes two, or three dogs have always come.<br />
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<em><strong>How hard was it moving internationally with dogs?</strong></em><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
It hasn't been that hard to move. OK...that's not really true. The truth is that it does take some extra planning and extra work to make sure I'm moving safely and taking care of the dogs. But....that's my responsibility. When you take on a pet, you have a duty of responsibility. So...when I know I'm going to move, I have to be sure that the dogs have all the shot and chip requirements of country we are headed. I refuse to move to a quarantine country. I won't quarantine my dogs. PERIOD. Each country has different regulations, so I have to research and make sure my vet knows what is needed. Then, I have to research the airlines (there are only certain ones I will fly with the dogs) and then research to be sure that I can get them on a straight through flight if possible, and if not, then only one other stop. If coming from Africa to America we have to stop in Europe, but I will only fly through Amsterdam or Frankfurt, which have good options for dogs on layovers. I try to fly business or first class when I can (if moving the UN usually pays and if you are moving countries you usually have business class authorization) because the pilots and attendants are more apt to assist you in being sure your dog is taken care of in business class. I cause a fuss at the beginning of the flight and want the pilot to have confirmation from the ground crew that my dogs are on board before the doors close. Upon landing I make a huge fuss that the ground crew is radioed that there are dogs on board who need off the tarmac immediately. OH, and I always check the weather and won't fly or layover anywhere with extreme weather. I've delayed flights a few days to wait for the weather to cool. On a layover I make a fuss (and have resorted to crying) in order to see the dogs and make sure they have food, water and are taken care of. In essence, I am a PAIN in the neck....but I figure it's my job to keep those dogs safe, so I don't really care. Yes, it's more difficult to travel with them....yes, they are worth it.<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<em><strong>Was there ever a point you thought 'I'm just going to leave Katy/Twiga'?</strong></em> <br />
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No. Except when I was only going for a summer or very short time....only because I had a place to leave Katy that was easier on her than the move would have been. if I hadn't had my parents as an option to leave her, I wouldn't have gone. I am expecting another international moved this August and I just went to the vet for Katy's senior check up. I asked him if she was too old to make this kind of move (she's 13 1/2 now) and if so, I would not consider taking the job. He assured me that she can make the move, no problem, if she stays as health as she is now. If something happens though...I won't go. She is older and I need to be sure that these last years of her life are as easy and happy for her as possible.</span><br />
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<em><strong>How have you all settled in - kids, dogs, Kirsten?</strong></em><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
Now I have small kids. Two kids, two dogs and one grown up makes for a very busy mama and household. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. Katy and Clara Shei (my more quiet and thoughtful daughter) identify much more while Akira and Twiga, the two very rambunctious members of the family have quite a relationship. Twiga tells him when she's had enough. I never leave the dogs and kids alone together though....for everyone's sake. The kids wouldn't ever maliciously hurt the dogs, but they might accidentally and it's just better to have an adult there to protect everyone. I feel the worst for Katy to be honest. She's older and she is SO good and SO easy that she doesn't always get the attention she deserves. Then, I'll notice her get a bit droopy and it will remind me that she might not bark or destroy things but that doesn't mean she doesn't need my attention. Plus, I love that special time each day when I'm on a walk with just Katy....we've been together for 13 years now, and she really is dear to me. My daughter has asked me before why I love Katy more than she and her brother. I explain that I don't love Katy more, but I do love her as much! Plus, she behaves better than they do.<br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<em><strong>Anything else you want to share with us? Any final thoughts?</strong></em> <br />
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I'm not going to say that's its no big deal to move with pets. It should be a big deal...the same way you make sure your kids are safe when you move, you make sure your dogs are safe when you move. You should. Your kids need the vaccinations, and so do your dogs. Your kids needs an easy flight route, so do your dogs. Would you leave your kids behind because it was too hard to fly with them? No. And, I won't leave my dogs either. A family move has to work for everyone, me, the kids and the dogs. We are a family and no one in a family gets left behind.</span><br />
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<em>How amazing is Kirsten?! We have so much respect for her. Not only is she an amazing Mom to her kids (two and four legged), she has lived an incredible life. We can't thank her enough for her time. She has so little to spare, but she managed to find a few minutes to share with us!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
<em><strong>Has anyone else ever moved internationally with their pets?</strong></em>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-37305011669926984912014-03-10T00:30:00.000-07:002014-03-10T00:30:01.201-07:00The Importance of Routines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When we got Lily, we were determined to get her into a good routine for several reasons.<br />
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1) The routine would help her.<br />
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2) The routine would make her easy to pet sit, making it easy to get friends to take care of her.<br />
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What is the routine?<br />
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Please don't laugh at me for comparing puppies to babies, but I was essentially copying what my friends were doing (the ones who had been successful parenting). The kids that were easiest to take care of had routines. Routines made them comfortable. It gave them structure. I loved babysitting because it was a breeze to get them down for the night. You fed them dinner, you had play time for an hour, you gave them a bath, you put them to bed and read to them for a bit. Presto. Kids asleep. <br />
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It has worked with Lily too.<br />
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The routine is a morning walk followed by breakfast. Then, her music goes on. What is her music? If we're working, we turn on a channel with relaxing, yoga-type music (our friends jokingly refer to it as "Lily's Music"). If I'm home, it's Native American flute music (type it into youtube and you'll get various compilations to choose from). She will then sack out until late afternoon. <br />
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She'll wake up in time for us to eat dinner. We eat, she eats, and then we do an evening walk. The evening walks are usually 45 minutes at the least. But when we have to cut it short (it rained for the first time in a year last night so she got 20 minutes), the routine still works. Why? It's her signal to wind down. She knows - dinner, walk, find it (with leftover treats when we get home), and then bed.</div>
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She's been the easiest dog ever. I credit the routine. You can short the walks if you have to and it doesn't mater. It's not the length of them, it's the idea of them. We don't ever vary the routine so it means the same thing at 6 that it did when she was 6 months. It helps us if we have a particularly busy day. It helps our pet sitters because they have other jobs/clients. It makes her an easy dog. It also makes her a comfortable, happy dog. </div>
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<em>What about you? Do you have a routine for your dog(s)? Do you find that it helps?</em></div>
Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-13336182783979512982014-03-07T01:00:00.000-08:002014-03-07T01:00:06.340-08:00FUN FridayLet's head into the weekend with some laughs and some "awwwwww"s, shall we?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For our Lord of the Rings friends.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!</span></strong></td></tr>
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Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-27373872203399643972014-03-05T12:06:00.000-08:002014-03-05T12:06:00.165-08:00Interview Wednesday - Moving with SIX pets
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We're going to start addressing the top reasons that people give their pets to the shelters in our Wednesday interviews. There is a misconception that shelter pets are bad pets, damaged goods. In reality, the majority of them are there because they didn't luck out in the owner lotto. The reasons given weren't the pets fault. Let's start by addressing the number one excuse we hear at the shelter.<br />
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The number one reason is MOVING.<br />
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Karen Schei Donovan was kind enough to answer our interview questions today. She has recently moved. <br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><em>How many pets do you have?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have six pets. Four dogs,
one cat and a mini pot belly pig. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kiara (Shepard Collie Mix)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bolt (Border Collie)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Belle (Border Collie)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jasper (Border Collie)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spooky (cat)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Daisey (pig)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bolt and Belle are married
(yes, we even had a ceremony) and they are mom and dad to Jasper. Jasper and
Daisey are best buddies and have even been found cuddling. Kiara is a beautiful
“Aunt” and the matriarch of the pack. Spooky does not appreciate the rest of
them much and he lives in a separate part of the house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>We're not supposed to have
favorite pets, but we usually do. Does each family member seem to favor a
different pet? Is there one that each of you are closer to?<o:p></o:p></em></span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, it is true. Although
we love them all very much, we do each have a pet that is closest to our
hearts. Kiara is the family pet but the others each “belong” to someone. Bolt
is my 13 year-old daughters dog. Jasper is Hunter’s dog. Belle is the rescue
that adopted me. And I have to be honest, my heart melts for my piggy, Daisey.
Not to leave Spooky out. He lives in my room but he is my daughter’s cat and
she adores him too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><strong>How do you manage a
multi-pet household?<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have learned to live in
total chaos. The dogs are very high energy and all of my pets are indoor
animals. In fact, Daisey even has her own bedroom. We have to let them out
either 1-2 at a time or we have to go out with them all. It is especially
difficult in the rainy season as they love to play in the mud (the dogs, not
Daisey). Feeding time is also a time we need to be careful. Bolt will bark for
us to feed them but he then waits until his family has finished eating before
he begins. Daisey must be put away when the dogs are fed or else she would
bully them out of their food and probably end up weighing 300 pounds! Having a
multi-pet household is definitely a challenge but I wouldn’t have it any other
way. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><strong>The number one reason for
relinquishing pets to the shelter (dogs, cats, AND pigs!) is WE'RE MOVING AND
WE CAN'T TAKE THE PETS. Does this work for you?<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No! I recently found myself
in a position where I had to move out my home where I had lived for the past 21
years. I had to find a house to rent that would keep my kids in the same school
district and a house that would allow for my menagerie of animals. It was no
easy task but there was absolutely no way I was going to leave any of my
animals as they are our family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><strong>Your dogs are what would be
considered "large dogs" by most landlords and management companies.
Did you have a problem finding a place?</strong> <o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yes, it was difficult. We
were very fortunate to have found the home we are in now. It is all tile
downstairs and wood upstairs. The backyard has plenty of room for the animals
to run and play. It is like they have their own dog park! Our landlord was very
understanding and even lowered the pet deposit since it was originally $300 per
pet. So, although it isn’t easy, there are people out there willing to
accommodate pets. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><strong>That's a lot of pets to
move with! How did the move go? Was it hard settling in to the new place or did
they adjust quickly?<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kiara had the most trouble
with the move because she hates hard floors. She would often have to be carried
off the couch because she was afraid to get down and would whimper. It took her
about 3 weeks to get used to the floors. The other animals adapted very quickly.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em><strong>Any advice for people
moving with pets?<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is worth the extra
trouble to look for a place that will allow multiple pets. There are places out
there so don’t give up! Your pets are your family. I would highly recommend
looking for a pet friendly home so you do not have to worry so much about any
damage. We were very happy to not have carpet any longer. I would also move
them over after much of your belongings are in place so it looks a little more
familiar to them and they have your smells. </span></div>
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Thank you, Karen! <br />
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<em><strong>What about you - have you ever had to move with pets? Have you struggled to find a new place that was pet friendly?</strong></em><br />
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Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-87588397193361703212014-03-03T00:30:00.000-08:002014-03-03T00:30:01.630-08:00Outdoor Pets in the Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwkXQGNPbIQ/UxDqpPwPigI/AAAAAAAABw4/SKgjMEYFlmg/s1600/Lily+Sacked+Out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwkXQGNPbIQ/UxDqpPwPigI/AAAAAAAABw4/SKgjMEYFlmg/s1600/Lily+Sacked+Out.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
With the rain storm hitting southern California last night, it made me think of all the outdoor pets trying to get through the next few days.<br />
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I want to start by including a link to our personal position on "outdoor dogs/cats". You can find it <a href="https://pawsandlearn.org/Dog_Sleep_Inside.html">here</a>.<br />
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Ideally, the pet should be inside the house and a part of the family. But the reality that we encounter is some dogs will never be inside the house in their current situations. Rather than remove them from the home once we've tried to educate (because this puts another dog into the "system" and another dog into that yard), we work on improving the quality of life for the pet in that situation. Most of the time, these dogs are there to serve a purpose - to protect the house. In the majority of these situations, it's enough to see the dog for it to be a deterrent (which is good because most of these dogs are pit bull type dogs and are extremely friendly) to would be burglars. These dogs are well fed. They are loved. But they want them in the yard, end of story. How do you increase quality of life?<br />
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For starters, the dog house. Many of these dogs have homemade shelters. The father has made the dog house - and I can't begin to tell you how impressive they are. They are better than anything store bought (especially those igloos, which leak like crazy in the rain). The biggest problem is that they have no insulation. Anyone who has ever been out in the rain knows how miserable being wet is. At most, these dogs have blankets. Blankets get wet and they don't dry out. We encourage swapping out the blanket for STRAW. It doesn't mold and it provides warmth for the dog. It's inexpensive and can be easily swapped out.<br />
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There are many great How To's out there for feral cat shelters that I encourage owners of outdoor only cats to use. Here are a variety of shelter options for purchase and instructions for making your own:<br />
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<a href="http://www.alleycat.org/ShelterGallery">Outdoor Cat Winter Shelters</a><br />
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While our position remains that pets should be inside the house, we understand that this won't always be the case in some of the communities we teach in. We are educating the next generation so that they understand the WHY and they know not to get a pet if it doesn't live inside the house. Dogs in the yard only protect the yard, they don't protect the house. But there is no reason to talk a family into relinquishing their current dog when you then have that dog to place in a new home and they will just go out and get another dog for the yard. Understanding the situation and making life better for that current pet should be the focus when education fails. Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-88663876972193566012013-06-17T09:58:00.000-07:002013-06-17T09:58:01.476-07:00I Don't Know You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beBlb4rtr3Q/Ub8_M2peK6I/AAAAAAAABr8/_rq2yOTLgwY/s1600/Lily+and+Chopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-beBlb4rtr3Q/Ub8_M2peK6I/AAAAAAAABr8/_rq2yOTLgwY/s320/Lily+and+Chopper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was at the library last week when I witnessed an interesting exchange between two young children. A man was checking out books and set his toddler down. At the same moment, a mom came out of the children's section with her four-year-old daughter. The toddler's face lit up and she rushed over (as quickly as she could on her wobbly legs) with her arms out to give the girl a hug. When she was within arms length, the four-year-old thrust her arms out with her palms in a halting position and announced loudly, "I don't know you!" The mom stepped inbetween the two and ushered the toddler back to her confused father. He looked at the mom and said, "She just wanted to say hello."<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr-haNJT8F8/Ub8_aYfKHwI/AAAAAAAABsM/sG9pldDJK4g/s1600/Lily+and+Atlas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr-haNJT8F8/Ub8_aYfKHwI/AAAAAAAABsM/sG9pldDJK4g/s1600/Lily+and+Atlas.jpg" /></a></div>
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It hit me in that moment how my dog will sometimes do that on walks. If a dog races up to her face in a rude greeting, she will bark a rebuke. Her rebukes can sometimes be loud and over the top. It's her way of loudly announcing, "I don't know you!" The other dog owner is usually miffed. They look at my dog like she's in the wrong. Their response is the same as the toddler's father. "She/He just wanted to say hello." There is a difference between wanting to say hello and rushing straight up for a hug. Lily can be comfortable with a slow introduction. She likes to get to know the dog before they get up in her face. There's no need to jump straight into BFF lane. Not that she doesn't occasionally do just that - she bonded fast with Bubba and they've been best friends ever since. But with most dogs, she needs time to get to know them first. Once you're in, you're in. She'll tolerate all kinds of rude behavior from dogs that she knows without batting an eye.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b25TLXme9qQ/Ub8_UxQK0pI/AAAAAAAABsE/nbiUrZhjrkw/s1600/Lily+and+Bubba+Tug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b25TLXme9qQ/Ub8_UxQK0pI/AAAAAAAABsE/nbiUrZhjrkw/s320/Lily+and+Bubba+Tug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My husband used to worry that this made think she was a bad dog. The trainer told him it made her a normal dog and that it didn't matter what other people thought. Just like people, it's okay for dogs to set boundaries. We don't rush to greet every single person we pass on the street. In fact, on our daily walks, it's rare for people to say 'hello' to me as they pass. Why would our dogs need to say 'hi' to every dog that they pass? I think sometimes as dog owners, we expect too much of our dogs. They don't have to like every single dog that they meet and they don't have to greet every dog that they see on the street. It's okay for them to be as choosey with their friends as we are, if that is their personality. <br />
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<i>What about your dog - do they like to say hello to every single dog they see? Or do they like to take it slow and get to know the other dog first? Are they the toddler who rushes up for a hug or the four-year-old who announces "I don't know you!"?</i>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-58809120666303856632013-04-10T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-10T22:15:32.661-07:00Our Aging Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MstN939-zAY/UWZBeI57OII/AAAAAAAABqQ/s7Ty9eUMIP0/s1600/Pip+the+One+Eyed+Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MstN939-zAY/UWZBeI57OII/AAAAAAAABqQ/s7Ty9eUMIP0/s320/Pip+the+One+Eyed+Cat.jpg" width="320" /></a>This is my Pip. Short for Pipsqueak. She's the coolest cat ever. I rescued her off the streets of Studio City when she was 9 months old. Her mom was part of my feral colony. It took Pip forever to trust me. Her brothers had warmed up to me long before she ever did. But it was worth the wait.</div>
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She had a rough start. She had upper respiratory and ended up spending three weeks at the vet. It was touch and go. The vet said to me, "If she makes it, she's going to make someone a great little pet." She was everyone's favorite kitten. They said the second anyone walked into the room, she would start purring. And her motor is loud. The idea was to foster her, nurse her back to health, and find her a good home. In the end, I couldn't give her up. The upper respiratory went into her eye. The sore popped and severed her cornea so they had to take the eye. She's had one eye since she was about 10 months old. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-in-s8lD_REU/UWZFT2GF5-I/AAAAAAAABqc/1KyTACIPYUE/s1600/Pip+and+Wednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-in-s8lD_REU/UWZFT2GF5-I/AAAAAAAABqc/1KyTACIPYUE/s320/Pip+and+Wednesday.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pip and her bratty sister Wednesday</td></tr>
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She's 11 this month. She's moving slower. Sometimes she limps. She can be a little stiff in the morning. I know that cats can live to be 20 or more. Erik and I have never had one live more than 14. So we're nervous. We love all three cats, but Pip is our heart. She's fully accepting of any pet we bring in - whether they're here for a night, for weeks, or to stay. When we move, she's good with it. There's no adjustment period for her. Put her in a career, and she'll travel.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1HTIpDI9D-k/UWZFkSTihVI/AAAAAAAABqk/zPIiu47hwZA/s1600/Lily+and+Pip+sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1HTIpDI9D-k/UWZFkSTihVI/AAAAAAAABqk/zPIiu47hwZA/s320/Lily+and+Pip+sleep.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pip sleeping with the stinky dog</td></tr>
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Why am I writing this? Because I felt a lump on her side tonight. She'll be going to the vet next week to make sure it isn't anything serious. But as she sits here purring away between my husband and I tonight, I still worry. Will be saying goodbye early? Can cats this amazing live long lives? I sure hope so. Pip still has more kittens to teach. More sunlight to lay around in. Much more love to give and receive.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-7McdYaFls/UWZF-kPjyTI/AAAAAAAABqs/-CkhldPiytI/s1600/Pip+in+the+dirt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-7McdYaFls/UWZF-kPjyTI/AAAAAAAABqs/-CkhldPiytI/s320/Pip+in+the+dirt2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When you first get your pet, a decade can seem like a long time. It goes by so fast - and you're always left thinking it's never enough.</div>
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Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-2516843613202437042013-04-08T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-08T00:30:00.809-07:00When Dogs Attack<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rTnUtRo2ms/UWI01sRl2vI/AAAAAAAABp8/6p9hKEf-ac0/s1600/Lily+and+Bubba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rTnUtRo2ms/UWI01sRl2vI/AAAAAAAABp8/6p9hKEf-ac0/s320/Lily+and+Bubba.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily (on right) and her boyfriend Bubba</td></tr>
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Lily is very dog social off leash. On leash, though, she can be fearful. Her warnings are loud and over-the-top. She was attacked by a shepherd as a puppy and this had left her fearful of the breed. We've hard with training and she's a peach when it comes to off leash dogs or aggressive dogs. She looks first to us for how to react in any situation.<br />
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Still, it's frustrating to me that we have to deal with situations where dogs are off leash or out of their yard. We have leash laws for a reason. They're designed to keep all dogs safe. In our neighborhood, we have a big problem with small dogs being off leash. It's enough of a problem that I'm armed with spray.<br />
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Tonight, we were jumped by a four pound Yorkie. It's clear that the fence isn't adequate for keeping small dogs in. The family was in the yard, but no one was watching the dog. When we walked passed the yard, he came silent and stealthy out of the shadows. With no sound, he jumped on Lily's head and clamped down. In that situation, I can't use the spray because I'm not going to spray my own dog. Lily was yelping and shaking her head vigorously, but the Yorkie was clamped down and not letting go. I can't even tell you how we finally got the little biter off.<br />
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I was extremely frustrated when the owner's answer was to spank her dog. They have a fence that won't keep this dog in the yard and no one was supervising the dog. That's not on the dog. That's on the irresponsible owner. This dog will end up like so many others in this neighborhood - either hit and killed in the street or satisfying a coyote. It's hard to educate an owner when you're concerned about the well being of your own dog. I tried, but she wasn't interested in listening. She kept pointing to our dog and saying 'vicous' repeatedly. Our dog who hadn't done anything while her dog bit her. Our dog who didn't chase after the dog as it ran away. Our vicious dog who could have killed her dog with one shake but did not.<br />
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I don't even know that this post has a point. I'm just speaking out for all the frustrated owners. Whether our dogs like other dogs or not, there are dogs out there who won't tolerate what Lily does. For that reason, leashes are imperitive. Not flexi-leashes. Those can get a dog into trouble as well. When you walk the dog, walk the dog. Don't talk on the phone. Your dog can be in a dangerous situation in seconds if you aren't paying attention. When you are out in the yard with your dog, watch him like you would your child. Dogs are good escape artists and can be over the fence, under the fence, through the fence, in a small amount of time. <br />
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<em><strong>What about you - have you ever had trouble with off leash dogs on a walk? Or a dog that got out of the yard? How did you handle the situation?</strong></em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AI9bONpPcAY/UWI04rOUECI/AAAAAAAABqE/mijOjcbQlpg/s1600/Atlas+and+Lily+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AI9bONpPcAY/UWI04rOUECI/AAAAAAAABqE/mijOjcbQlpg/s320/Atlas+and+Lily+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily (on right) and her friend Atlas</td></tr>
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<br />Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-21337302625348457232013-04-05T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-05T00:30:01.589-07:00FUN FridayHappy Friday!<br />
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The weekend is here - and we hope you have fun plans.<br />
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Let's start it off with some laughs, shall we?<br />
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If you haven't seen TreT the Parkour Dog, you should google him (or go to YouTube). <br />
This is a tribute to him - other dogs doing Parkour TreT style!<br />
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We hope you have a fabulous weekend!Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-84754819527091139402013-04-03T00:30:00.000-07:002013-04-03T00:30:04.034-07:00Dealing with Pet Food Recalls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's one of our biggest fears at pet owners - finding out that our pet food has been recalled.<br />
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Even when you're purchasing high quality pet food, it can happen. We feed the cats Innova. It used to be a high quality cat food. When Proctor & Gamble bought it, they promised to continue the same formula. We noticed a difference within the first six months. We even had a few bags where we found a piece of plastic in it. But the cats loved it and the two times we tried to switch them last year, they flat out wouldn't touch the new food. They ate around it, always leaving it in the bowl. When nothing but the new kibble was left, they'd turn their noses up at the bowl.<br />
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If you're feeding any Natura Pet food (dog or cat), I urge you to click <a href="http://www.naturapet.com/recall">here</a> and check the list for recalls. <br />
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The first recall hit and we checked our first bag - it was a match. Out that bag went, off to the store we went, and bag number two was purchased. After a few days, the recall expanded. It included the latest bag of food as well.<br />
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Then one of the cats ended up with tummy trouble. Could it be the food? It could, though no cases had been reported. We tossed that second bag as well.<br />
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There were now no bags to be had. All the pet stores had pulled from their shelves. We had used up our emergency earthquake kit bag just before the recall so when I pulled that bag out, it was a match and had to be tossed too.<br />
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We had been meaning to switch foods after the lawsuit. When the judge rules that the company can no longer claim that their products are human grade, you know that things have gone downhill. We were ready to say good-bye. This recall simply forced our hand.<br />
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But what do you do when switching your pet's food during a recall? We all know that they have sensitive tummies and we have to mix when we're transitioning over. During a recall, there isn't any food to transition with.<br />
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Find the closest thing to what you're feeding.<br />
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My original choice had been Orijen. High quality food, no recalls in company history. Reading the ingredient list, however, it became clear that this would be far too rich for them. Our local pet store (not a big chain, but a small place called Pet Haven) was more than willing to help me through this fiasco. We ended up settling on Halo - it matched the ingredient list closely and the owner recommended it. She gave me a few sample bags to see if the cats liked it first.<br />
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They love it.<br />
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So we're off on a new food adventure. Fingers crossed that the transition will be smooth. Or as smooth as it can be when switching foods cold turkey!<br />
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<em><strong>What about you - has your food ever been recalled? Have you ever had to transition suddenly? </strong></em>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-787360809824037722013-03-29T00:30:00.000-07:002013-03-29T00:30:03.489-07:00FUN Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Friday!</div>
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Let's start the weekend off with a few giggles, shall we?</div>
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We hope you have a wonderful weekend!</div>
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<br />Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-40796150362456900762013-03-27T00:30:00.000-07:002013-03-27T00:30:01.776-07:00Easter Bunnies<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EsY8H03maog/T3AChs_HG-I/AAAAAAAABNQ/BggCO8RHoYw/s1600/bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EsY8H03maog/T3AChs_HG-I/AAAAAAAABNQ/BggCO8RHoYw/s1600/bunny.jpg" /></a>With Easter fast approaching, we want to remind people to think before they add a bunny to the household. Rabbits make wonderful pets for the right family. As pet owners, it is our responsiblity to do our research and be sure that they any pet is the right fit for our household before we get the pet. This includes purchases for children around the holidays.<br />
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Bunnies are intelligent, loving animals. They are very social so they need a lot of love and attention from their owner. They don't make good Easter gifts, especially for small children who crave something that they can hold and cuddle. Rabbits can feel insecure when held or restrained. They prefer to be on the ground. Children quickly lose interest and the bunny ends up neglected in an outdoor hutch or dropped off at the shelter. (For reasons on why your bunny should live inside the house with you, click <a href="https://pawsandlearn.org/Bunny_Sleep_Inside.html">here</a> for our article.) <br />
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Bunnies are not a low-maintenance pet. They grow quickly from that cute little bundle into a larger adolescent. If you don't spay or neuter them, they can urine mark just like a dog or cat. You have to bunny-proof your home so that they don't chew your cords, your books, and your furniture. Your bunny requires daily exercise and they can live for 10 years. They require as much work as a dog or cat. <br />
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If you are seriously considering adding a bunny to your family, we encourage you to read up on them. House Rabbit Society has a great starting point for you in your research <a href="http://www.rabbit.org/faq/index.html">here</a>. We have more links on our website, <a href="https://pawsandlearn.org/Rabbit_Links.html">here</a>. When you have decided that a bunny is the right match for your family, we encourage you to find a shelter or rescue in your area.<br />
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<strong><em>What about you - have you ever had a bunny? Ever thought about adding one to your family?</em></strong>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327510750056374848.post-44340720563800753202013-03-25T00:01:00.000-07:002013-03-25T00:01:01.317-07:00Training Lily NOT to Bark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lily has never been a good nor a consistent watchdog. She's far too people friendly. When the neighbor dogs get going sometimes, she might join in - but they have to keep going for awhile before Lily thinks there might be something she needs to voice an opinion on. She's hit or miss with the front door. 99% of the time, she's not barking, but racing to the door (because everyone comes to the house to see HER, right?). There will be a time or two that she is startled awake by the door and might bark, but those times are rare. We love it.<br />
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We had a lovely couple move in to the front house on our property with their amazing dog a few months ago. They have what we think is a border collie/husky mix? Who knows. She's full of sweet, but a fierce defender of the property. If she doesn't know you, she will let you know that you are not welcome. Her growl and bark are intimidating as hell. Unfortunately, they had Lily on edge. She felt if August were barking at something, she needed to be in on it. The first few times that she jumped to her feet in full bark scared the bejesus out of all of us (including the cats). After that, it just got annoying. Because when August is in 'bark' mode, she can go on for hours. She'll shoot barks out in bursts, then quiet. Just as you relax, she's shooting more barks out. I did not want to lose my non-reactive dog (or my sanity). What to do?<br />
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Train.<br />
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Lily got rewarded for NOT barking. The second August let out a bark, I would say, "Good girl, Lily!" before she could respond. It was quite comical the first few times as her expression clearly showed that she had no idea what the good girl was for. We would toss her a cookie or small treat. It took less than a week to correct this behavior entirely. At the sound of August's voice, she would immediately look to us. "Good girl!" *Toss cookie* After the first week, we pulled back on the treats, but kept up the verbal praise. Now, we no longer have to do either. August barks and Lily doesn't even flinch. We have our peace and quiet back (if you don't count the loud barrage of August noise).<br />
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<em><strong>What about you - is your dog a barker? Have you tried training your dog not to bark?</strong></em>Jennie Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.com1