Scottie originally came to a Humane Society from people who did not want him. With a shattered rib cage the Society assumed the couple beat the dog as well. Scottie was diagnosed as a Type One Diabetic, was virtually hairless, severely underweight but lovable. A veterinarian student, Olivia, who volunteered at the Humane Society, decided this tiny creature did not stand a chance in a society geared to housing bigger dogs. She took him home as a foster mother, but was graduating, and moving out of the country. Scottie needed a permanent home, and fast. He would not last long in the Humane Society, as he took stress very badly.

My husband and I decided to adopt our first pet. We knew the dog was diabetic, and with previous experience with diabetic dogs we were lucky to get Scottie. However, he was blind. How could I take care of a blind dog? Well, we quickly learned.

Scottie was instantly a lovable dog. He taught me how to take care of him. As he entered our condo he aligned himself with the wall and started tracing the perimeter of the room. It was astounding to see this tiny dog lightly bumped into furniture and learned where he was in the condo. He quickly found his food bowl, and would follow sounds of the dishwasher, washer and dryer, and running water to learn where each noise came from. Scottie was set. However, we were moving into our first house, which has a lot of stairs. How would he function?

As boxes filled the condo and items were being moved in and out, Scottie stayed in his little bed. When we took him to the new place, he did once as before, leaning his little body around the walls of the main floor. However, I wanted Scottie to know the whole house was his home, so I must teach him how to go up and down stairs, but how?

Thankfully Scottie loves food. I would place a treat on the second step. He would smell a delicious goody and his nose would start to move. The amazing thing about anyone missing a sense is that every other sense becomes extremely heightened. I would pat the stair very loudly and he would climb up. We did this for a few weeks and Scottie learned to bound up and down the stairs. Another obstacle accomplished by a determined little dog!

On walks, Scottie would walk behind me instead of in front of me. The sounds of my footsteps guided him where he knew to go. He had a quick pace, but was constantly smelling the ground and air for me and listening to my footsteps. I cannot begin to imagine how overwhelmed he was with the smells and sounds of a new area; he loved walking.

Little Scottie was the neighborhood’s favorite dog. Many children would make little black dog ears and close their eyes pretending they were Scottie. They would play Marco Polo and other games to heighten their other senses. The children realized that Scottie was different, and they embraced the difference, to learn more about blindness.  Scottie could smell and hear better, and once I saw that his nose was moving or his ears were up, I would start to listen to sounds I often ignored. Scottie taught me to use my other senses other then sight, which seeing human beings take for granted. I joke often I can hear and smell better because of this little dog. Everyone knew who Scottie was. He was a bit of a local celebrity with family, friends, neighbours, and even strangers!

Scottie had a strong aura; a huge presence for such a small dog. There is a saying “Seeing is believing” which is nice but does not apply to the real world in many cases. Particularly in Scottie’s case, I realized that “believing is seeing”. You see, Scottie believed he could function despite his blindness, believed he could be a regular dog, run in fields, chase squirrels, and enjoy human company. He believed this could happen, and therefore he “saw” results.

Unfortunately, Scottie died in my arms in 2008 from heart complications. As he was dying, he wagged his tail weakly to comfort me. Even in the shadow of death he was selfless. It was extremely difficult going out to the neighborhood children wearing little Scottie inspired dog ears to tell them that he passed. Hearing their tears, my family, friends, and even strangers cry because he had died hurt me deeply. However, he made an impact. The community, including myself, vowed to continue to adopt disadvantaged or abused pets. It’s been over two years and many of them have adopted sick or abused animals. I could flood this article with picture of pet’s endless success stories.

Rene Descartes, mathematician and philosopher’s most famous quote arguably is “I think, therefore I am.” Scottie did just that. He thought that he was a regular dog, and therefore he acted like a regular dog. He taught me to not rely on sight, to use every sense keenly He left us the message that believing is seeing, not the opposite. Well my dear friend, wherever you are, you were anything but regular, you truly were exceptional.

Technorati Tags: auras, blind, blind dog, blind pets, blindness, dogs, Grace Ste.Croix, Healthy Pets, Toto, Wizard of Oz

Have you ever heard the old saying “don’t let a black cat cross your path” or ever hear of people not buying certain guinea pigs or mice because they have red eyes? They must be demons! Many people take superstitions very seriously; they consider the encounter with a black cat an “omen of something bad that is yet to come”.  However, these superstitions of red eyed rodents, rabbits and black cats has caused another problem, the overpopulation of these animals in kennels and the rate that these poor pets are being put to sleep due to old wives tales.

To me, black cats are so beautiful. Their flawless ebony coat almost shines a mysterious blue in natural light. Many of my friends have black cats, and I assure you, their lives are quite normal, even with the everyday encounter of a black cat crossing their path. Many articles suggest that these animals are put down due to religious superstitious fear. I assure all of my many superstitious readers that I have read and studied the Bible for most of my life, and there is no mention of black cats or red eyed rodents being demonic. Actually, the Bible states that all animals have the answers for us, and to respect every living thing; as each living thing, indeed has a soul: Job 12:7-10

“But ask now the beasts and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of

the air and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall

teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who

knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all

mankind.”

If you have read my previous pet articles, you would know I love guinea pigs. I had gone to a shelter to find a guinea pig, and I saw that a pig that was rescued had given birth. After the babies were weaned, the mother was adopted, and her children were being adopted quickly. All but one, this beautiful light orange and white guinea pig. He had red eyes. When I asked the clerk what would happen to him, she told me they would probably put him down, as hardly anyone adopts red eyed rabbits and guinea pigs. I quickly snatched this red eyed beauty, and brought him home. His name was Jack, and immediately, as I put him on the floor, he climbed two flights of stairs, and when I offered him a piece of apple, he went on two legs balancing, waiting patiently for the food. He was a very bright guinea pig.

My concern is that breeders and pet shops are eliminating these animals due to lack of interest. Many people speculate it is superstitions that have placed these animals in getting euthanized. This silent epidemic is ridiculous. Imagine putting down humans for their looks! No matter what your religion or beliefs, our creator is perfect, and therefore what was created by our creator is also perfect. To put down animals for black fur or red eyes is denying the perfection of the world we live in.

My red eyed guinea pig Jack is doing fine. He is sweet to everyone, loves to be held, which is rare for a guinea pig, and squeaks happily when it’s feeding time. Each of my friend’s black cats are also doing wonderfully. They are still their sweet selves when I come to visit. Let us not deny the beauty that we have on this earth, and embrace the different animals, because if it was us waiting patiently in a kennel, do you think that you would be chosen, if a new life was solely based on your looks

Technorati Tags: Bible, black cats, Grace Ste.Croix, Healthy Pets, red eyes, superstition

The day was cool and somber as we drove to Uxbridge, Ontario.   Dark clouds hang in a pale blue sky; long stretches of grayish-black fields, littered with rounded golden bails of hay, scattered along each side of the road; trees stood colorless, motionless and naked, like some tired weary hitchhikers trying to catch a lift anywhere away from here.  Occasionally, the monotony would be broken up by a vision of a birch tree looking strikingly white against the blue sky, gray fields and lifeless trees.  Dark, naked and somber like my mood, Nature still had an ability to look beautiful.  As I stared out of the car window, recent events were replaying themselves over and over in my mind.

Today was Sunday, November 28, 2o1o, 11am, and we were on our way to say good buy to two of our beloved family members who were about to be cremated in a private ceremony.  We were about to send Snow, a 16.5 yrs old white male cat, and Kissa, a 17 yrs old female calico cat, on their final journey.  Both of them were rescued by us within weeks from each other and enriched and brightened our lives for over 15 years.  They were joined by a third rescue cat, Leo.  The three of them bonded and became known as The Three Musketeers.  They became important members of our family and a big part of our lives.

Leo, Snow and Kissa enjoyed a long, happy life and had uniquely different and interesting personalities.  They taught us the importance of “just chilling”, looking at things upside down to get a different perspective on life, never taking “no” for an answer, never letting the closed door stop you from going where ever you wanted to go, and so much more.  But the most important thing we learned from The Three Musketeers is how to love each other unconditionally.

We would love to keep our pets with us forever, but the old age eventually catches up with them and there comes a time when we need to let go.  Over the past months we started noticing changes in our friends.  After all 15+ for a cat is a Geriatric Age, equivalent to 85+ in human years.  Although Leo remained a tough old bird, Snow and Kissa started to quickly fade away.  Once a cat this old starts showing signs of aging, it seems to accelerate very quickly.  Within a week their condition deteriorated.  Snow was going quickly.  Kissa seemed to be determined to keep taking care of him regardless of how she felt herself.

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at 1:11pm, Snow has made a decision to cross over The Rainbow Bridge.  Kissa, missing her life-long friend too much, decided to follow him 3 days later, and went quietly in her sleep at 4:11am Saturday, November 20th.

In the past we have always chosen to provide a private cremation for all our pets and rescue animals that shared and enriched our lives so much.  We felt this was how we needed to honor them for bringing us so much joy.  However, up until about a year ago we were not aware of any other cremation option than those available through veterinary clinics, ranging around $200-250 per pet.  A little over a year ago we met an amazing couple, Nancy and Colin Graham of Thistledown Pet Memorial & Columbarium.  They run a private Pet Cremation Services for just a little more than what is charged through Vet Clinics.  The benefit of doing cremation through them is that you can actually see your pets being handled with respect and dignity, you can be there through the entire process and you can take as much or as little participation as you need in order to have closure.

The most significant difference is that when you leave, you feel at peace and the healing of grieving process begins almost immediately, in that moment.  We dealt with Nancy and Colin last year when our beloved Minuette passed away and we were very pleased with the service.  We have decided to once again come back to them with our precious Snow and Kissa.

Present financial situation presented some difficulties and having two pets pass away so close to each other was a little more than what our budget would allow.  Some friends recommended setting up a ChipIn and posting it on Facebook and Craigslist.  They said people sometimes liked to help out with costs by making donations.  I felt a little uncomfortable with an idea of asking people for money.  In 20+ years of running a private rescue, I have never once asked anyone for any financial help and funded it entirely from my own paychecks.  However, present times are tough for all and sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.  In my grief I decided to take my friend’s advice and set up a ChipIn account.  I posted it first on Facebook.  To my surprise I had 9 people make a donation within 3 days, $150 in total.  I was speechless with gratitude.

Still starry-eyed I decided to post it on Craigslist.  This was probably one of the worst mistake I have ever made.  Within hours of my post going up, some vicious, slanderous counter-posts started popping up, accusing me of being a scammer, ridiculing my decisions in how we chose to say good buy to our life-long companions, spewing all sort of horrid accusations, and even going as far as flagging my post and getting it removed from Craigslist.  In the moment of grief, devastation and vulnerability, when one would expect to see some compassion and understanding from his/her fellow humans beings, I instead encountered malice, discrimination and ill-will.  I could not believe how eager people were to condemn someone without even as much as taking two minutes of their time to look at our ChipIn info, or visit Thistledown website, or even just email me for details or clarification.  They acted strictly out of assumption and self-righteousness.  Needless to say I will never ask for help or post anything on Craigslist again.

Still feeling raw from my experience  I arrived today with my son to say our final good buy to Snow and Kissa.  It is here, during this touching final ceremony, when my faith in human kindness was renewed.  After hearing my story, the owners of Thistledown Pet Memorial not only decided to give us an almost $200 discount on their services, but they assured me that even though the cremation was performed today and I can take my lovely Snow and Kissa home with me, I should not worry about money.  I can make payment arrangements with them at a later date.  These peopled opened their doors for us on their day off.  Kissa and Snow were the only two souls being sent off today and I can’t imagine having this happen in a more appropriate place.  There is still some human kindness left in the world.

And so, with my hopes once again renewed, I now take this chance of opening myself up to my reader’s mercy.  I ask that you please visit our ChipIn site, and if you feel in any way at all compelled to help us with Cremation costs than we would be eternally grateful.  However, if all you choose to do is send us your love and good thoughts for Snow and Kissa, we will be grateful for that too.

http://pawzforthought.chipin.com/snow-and-kissas-cremation-and-memorial-service

With all our deepest love and respect,

Pawz For Thought Animal Rescue & Sanctuary

http://www.pawzforthought.com/

Please visit Thistledown Pet Memorial website for more info on their amazing services.

http://www.thistledown.info/index.htm

Technorati Tags: aging, aging pets, animal companions, animal health, Animals, cats, ChipIn, cremation, Death, dogs, donations, dying, geriatric pets, Healthy Pets, Kissa, memorial services, Milana Vinokur, Pawz For Thought Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, Rainbow Bridge, saying good buy, Snow, Thistledown Pet Memorial

There is a silent epidemic filling our humane societies, kennels, and pet adoption centers. There are an abundance of big dogs and the lack of adopters. The persona of big dogs are often associated with big problems, the cost of food, hip ailments, aggression problems and lack of training. Many of these mistaken gentle big guys and big girls are being put to sleep because of the lack of interest in plus sized pet.

In the 1990s, the staple dog for every home was the Golden Retriever. Sitting between 60-80 pounds, this loveable dog was the second mother to every home. With their beautiful golden coats, they could handle families with multiple children, and be a staple for every home. Many people growing up in the suburbs in the 1960s saw the faithful German Sheppard protecting their family. These dogs can weigh anywhere from 70-90 pounds.

However, these trends have changed. Popular family dogs include in 2010 the Yorkshire Terrier or the Pug, neither dog weighing anymore then 10 pounds. As many people move to the urban centers, their faithful plus sized dogs no longer fit into their compact apartment. Therefore these pets are being dropped off at the local humane society, often times never being readopted.

This is where the suburban and rural families must step in. Adopting a bigger dog with more opportunities for backyard running is essential to keeping these dogs in shape. I have been told many times when my Yorkie greets my friends at the door that they love when she jumps up to be scratched. Imagine if my dog was a Bull Mastiff or a Pit Bull, with the same level of affection, they would not be impressed. Needless to say, the same playful heart of a different breed of dog can be seen as aggressive and therefore must be dealt with.

SHORT MAN’S SYNDROME

Many small dogs are extremely aggressive. If a Yorkshire bites a bigger dog at the park, it is often overlooked because he or she is scared of the bigger dog trying to play with them, and a quick nip is to let the other dog know “you’re too rough”. However, if a bigger dog is scared and bites this is shown as aggression. No dog should ever bite anyone, but with bigger dogs we must be more careful because they pack a bigger punch.

TRAINING

There is no question that all dogs must be trained out of bad habits. Big dogs are no exception. A dog’s quirk may be cute to the owner, but not everyone is a dog lover and may see a playful nip as aggression. Luckily, the old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is so far from the truth. There are many affordable training schools for your dog and are often times run by your local pet store or humane society. These experts can teach you humane ways to train your dog without the use of shock collars. There are also many books and television programs for helpful hints for getting your big dog the training he or she needs. Unfortunately, there is a stigma about big dogs being aggressive, which is very naïve, however, as a big dog owner; we must constantly make sure our dog understands his size and obeys accordingly to commands.

BIG DOG, HUGE HEARTS

I have never known such devotion as when I met my friend’s Newfoundlander. What a huge dog! His webbed feet made him a champion swimmer, and his heart was as big as his body. My neighbour had loving but active children, and this lovely Newfoundlander acted as Nana the dog did in Peter Pan, mothering these children. I had a lovely Border Collie/German Sheppard of a friend who always herded me to play with her. Her memory was incredible and could learn just about any command you taught her in such a short period of time. Good owners help aggressive or scared big dogs turn into good dogs. Persistence, determination, and patience are the three key points into raising a good big dog.

I have a special request for suburban and rural families looking for a pet to also try to go to the urban humane societies for a big dog. Since many apartments are too small for these bigger creatures, these beautiful dogs are often overlooked and put to sleep due to the lack of space. There should be a communication between kennels to transfer animals that would do better in a rural or suburban area. This can be done with plenty of volunteerism.

If you love big dogs but cannot house one due to small living quarters, volunteer! These big pets needing homes need people to walk them and talk about them to their friends. They need to be walked in the community so random people will fall in love with their big heart and big personality. In turn, you get exercise, learn more about your community, and meet a lot of passionate people with a lot of interest in animals. It certainly does help if you have a vet friend or technician to learn from!

To all those who have never had a big dog or fear their huge presence, get to know them! They are the most loving creatures and wonderful companions. Big dogs have big hearts, and with the proper training, you can have a beautiful big pet.

Technorati Tags: behaviour, big dogs, fear, gentleness, German Sheppards, Golden Retrievers, Grace Ste.Croix, Healthy Pets, Humane Societies, Kennels, training

Our furry companions bring us great joy through out our lives. It is a beautiful moment to see our dog or cat grow with our children or the delighted eyes of little ones when they have their first puppy or kitten. These are memories that are engrained in us for a lifetime. At any age, a pet is a joy, but when we age to a point of moving into an senior’s home, does that mean we should be denied the company of pets? Many elderly homes do not think so!

Since the 1980s many elderly homes have seen their resident’s age and leave this world. Some of these residents receive little to no visitors. Any nurse can tell you that the lack of being loved and needed takes its toll on a patient physically. Their regular ailments get worse. We are all social creatures and the fact is, each of us, as human beings need to be needed. So many retirement homes have chosen a new approach for making their patient’s final years very happy ones.

What is their solution to bring up the morale of their patients? They introduce dogs, cats, hamsters, and even in some cases pigs! Though nurses and aides take the time to make a few extra meals, and clean up a couple more unsightly messes, the residences of elderly homes open up their hearts and lives to these pets, teaching, training and loving them so much. Some elderly residences take the time to adopt from animal shelters and humane societies, so that these animals get a second chance as well. Some of the most isolated residences come out of their rooms to play with the cute kitten or the excited puppy. They begin to socialize with other patients, and their overall health begins to get better. As long as no one has any allergies, many elderly homes agree that pets become a permanent fixture in their homes.

The benefits to this practice are two fold. An elderly person receives the companionship of a trusty animal. He or she can teach and love the pet unconditionally. On the other hand, an animal is rescued from a humane society or a shelter and is given one of the most loving homes a pet could want.

We all need to be loved, whether it is a young child or an ailing elder, we need to show and receive love. Pets in elderly homes give and enjoy to receive that love, and the wisdom and love a senior can give a furry companion is surely to change a lonely pets life as well.

Technorati Tags: cats, dogs, elderly homes, Grace Ste.Croix, hamsters, Healthy Pets, life, pigs, Seniors

The spiritual practice of Reiki has taken the world by storm! People everywhere are looking for other outlets to heal their physical and emotional pain, and are rejecting the lifestyle of overmedicating ourselves. People don’t only want to cure the pain physically, but heal emotionally, and prevent it from ever happening again. If this sounds like you, Reiki could be the answer you are looking for. Around the world, people are raving about the results of Reiki, but what about pets? Recently, Reiki masters have opened their doors to our beloved animals, to heal their pain, and work through behavioural issues.

Reiki is an alternative healing method for those suffering from physical and/or emotional pain. Reiki practioners believe that everyone has the ability to harvest and control energy. Vital and spiritual energies can be channeled, through western Reiki teachings, and through the use of a Reiki master’s hand positions, you can channel the energy to the patients seven chakras, or the source of their pain. Reiki takes into account the physical pain, the source of the physical pain, whether it is from injury or emotional pain causing a physical malady, and past behaviours. The healer then discusses all the sources with the patient. Many people are very confident in Reiki healing then with modern medicine. Modern medicine heals the physical pain, sometimes with side effects, where as Reiki is holistic, natural, and heals not only the pain, but attempts to stop the problem from happening again.

Reiki for pets follows suit as Reiki for humans. All living things have charkas, and as our pets age, get injured, are dying, or have had an abusive past, Reiki is an alternative medicine to aid in the healing of our pets. Pets with cancer can use Reiki as tool to ease the pain from the side effects of modern medicine treatments. Owners who have adopted abused pets can use Reiki to help their pets cope with their past and new lifestyle. Owners also swear by Reiki because it helps their pet deal with behavioural issues, such as aggression, house hold “accidents”, or relaxes them to be more susceptible to understanding and learning new commands.

For a dying pet, Reiki can help the dog or cat ease into transition into a more painless death. Reiki also gets rave reviews for helping arthritic patients, pets with a physical ailment, pets with behavioral problems and pets who need relaxation techniques.

In a world where there are more alternatives to our physical and emotional maladies, the healing hands of Reiki offers another option to help our pets cope with behavioural issues, physical pain, disease, and emotional stress. Both owner and pet learn more about each other through Reiki sessions, and therefore the owner can address their pet’s needs with more accuracy. Language may be a barrier between pet and owner, but Reiki can provide a bridge and open up the channels of communication, through the improvement of mind and body.

Technorati Tags: chakras, Grace Ste.Croix, healing pain, healing practices, Healthy Pets, Reiki

The first time I saw Kitty it my heart broke.  On one of particularly cold winter days, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a thin, black and white, short haired female cat hiding in the bushes.  She was curled up in a ball, her face, nose and ears were covered in scratches and bite marks and from the tip of her nose and her chin were hanging tiny icicles.

Acting on an impulse I moved forward, wanting to sweep her into my arms and carry her home to warmth and safety.  But Kitty was a Feral cat, petrified of humans.  At a first sign of my approach she took off faster than a wind.

I noticed her again several times around the building, always around the same time.  Few people mentioned seeing her in the area, doing rounds of buildings and houses where people would leave out some food.  I started doing so as well, in the hopes that may be one day Kitty will get used to me enough to let me touch her.  This continued for 8 years.  Kitty would show up all beat up, eat while I watch, but would not allow me to come close.  Sometimes she would disappear for a while, than reappear again.  Finally, after exhausting all other options, I asked an acquaintance who worked for a Wildlife Rescue to bring a live trap.  I couldn’t stand seeing her suffering like this any longer.  She was a very timid cat and it was obvious that she was a target for other cats, wildlife and may be even people in the neighbourhood.

After a long, patient wait we were successful at capturing Kitty and releasing her inside my house.  She lived with me for 7 years, but the memories of past abuse and the fear of people and other cats has never left her.  She never interacted with her cat cohabitants.  She would just hide somewhere under a bed or in a small corner, and would only come out to eat, drink and use the litter box.  She never meowed and I suspected that her vocal cords might have been damaged by living outside in the extreme cold.  She would never allow me to pick her up, or even pet her.  She would just run for the cover.

I told her I understood and respected her wishes.  To hold her was my need, not hers, and I was OK not having my need met as long as I knew that she is at least safe and taken care of.  She had roof over her head, food in her dish, warmth on cold winter days, and my love, even though I could never truly show her the extent of it.

I always said to her:  “Kitty.  I wish you would purr just once so that I may know that you understand that I mean you no harm!”  But there was never a purr, or even a meow.

On the seventh year of living with us, Kitty got sick.  She was too weak to run away from me and I was finally able to hold her in my arms and take her to a vet.  For the next two months Kitty was being handled daily as I was looking after her, giving her medicine, force feeding her.  She stopped trying to run away and was allowing me to care for her, but she was always on guard.  Her condition worsened and now I had her in my bed so that I can always keep an eye on her.  Finally, at the last vet visit a very difficult decision was made to assist her with her crossing over.  When it came to putting animals down, I have always struggled greatly making that decision on their behalf.  But it was obvious that Kitty was suffering and I had to be strong for her.  I asked the vet if I could bring her home to say good buy.  We made an appointment to come back the next afternoon for the procedure.

As I sat on my bed that evening crying and petting her little head, I told her that I understood that she needed to go and she had my permission to do so; that I would be OK and if she was tired she did not have to hang on for my sake.  I thanked her for sharing her life with me and trusting me and told her how difficult it was for me to make this decision to put her down, and how I wish I didn’t have to go through with it.  I told her that I hoped she understood that she was loved, and that I wished I could hear her purr just once, so that I would know that she understood what I tried to do for her and that she enjoyed her life with me.

Somewhere in the middle of all this I fell asleep.  At 4am I heard a faint meow.  I lifted my head to see Kitty looking straight into my eyes.  “It’s time!” the words echoed in my mind.  I took her in my arms and started stroking her fur.  Her big green eyes were looking straight at me when suddenly I felt a chill run down my spine.  Kitty was purring!  Kitty was thanking me for everything I have done for her and telling me she loved me!

As tears came streaming from my eyes, Kitty’s purr quietly faded away, her big green eyes slowly closed and she quietly drifted away into a peaceful forever sleep, dreaming of rainbows and green meadow fields, filled with flowers and butterflies.

I sat there holding her for several hours.  I thanked her for sparing me from having to go through with a difficult decision of putting her down.  I thanked her for coming into my life and teaching me so much.  I thanked her for finally letting me know that she understood what I tried to do for her and letting me know she loved me.  But most of all I thanked her for granting me a gift of seeing that dying does not have to be violent, painful and sad.  It could be peaceful and serene, and saying good buy to the one you love can leave you feeling content and at peace with yourself.

Technorati Tags: animal empath, animal health, animal human connection, Animals, cats, crossing over, dying, feral cats, healing, Healthy Pets, Milana Vinokur, old age, pet love, rescue, saying good buy, senior pets, Spirituality

Do Pets Mourn the loss of other Pets?

Well, I have to tell you yes, I feel they do. Two months ago, we lost our Tammy girl. She was a Lab, and although always busy, kept the calm or peace shall I say between my other two dogs. Two weeks before Tammy girl passes, she had an episode. My daughter’s American Bulldog Twitch, slept next to her side for a few days. It was unbelievable to see a dog be so empathetic and nurturing to my ailing Tammy. Two weeks later when Tammy girl had passed, my other lab Trixie which ironically we got for Tammy girl to get over her loss of Mickey my cocker spaniel, started to panic. We allowed her to be present while we handled the burial. It was almost like she never expected this to happen. Tammy was the Alfa girl. Now, Trixie who was the toughie of the two, did not handle this loss well at all. Especially since she was so used to following Tammy girls lead. It first started with her walking around crying, then not wanting to go out by herself. From there, she would just look out the window, or look at us with this worrisome look as if to say “now what do I do”. She even walked around everywhere with a squeaky toy for security. Usually she tears a toy to pieces in minutes. This toy has become her “binkie“. Twitch the bulldog on the other hand was sad but he has a job everyday going to the barn, so by the time he gets home he is tired and goes to sleep for a bit. Well, just this past week, I noticed more sadness and he was crying in his sleep. So much so I had to wake him a bit and assure him everything was ok. It has been tough on us as a family but it has been harder for our pets. A week almost to the day after Tammy girl passed, my daughter who is a puppy walker, got another client. Her name is Mia. She is a Golden Retriever all of 4 months old. The funny thing is that she resembles our Tammy girl in oh so many ways. From her gentleness, to her funny ways. The amazing thing is Twitch and Trixie both feel the likeness of Tammy girl as well. This makes them feel comfortable when Mia is around. She is actually helping us all especially Trixie and Twitch mourn the loss of Tammy girl. It was almost heaven sent by Tammy as if she new her loss upset us all so much. Well, today I do believe there has been some progress. Twitch actually greeted me with a toy in his mouth with his nub wiggling this morning. He was happy today, which spilled over to Trixie. I had two happy dogs today. Now, not sure what tomorrow will bring, except that Mia will be here and maybe she will help continue the healing process. Although only a temporary situation, it has been a blessing. But yes, pets do mourn the loss of other pets.

Tina Fries

Technorati Tags: death of pet, grieving pets, Healthy Pets, loss of pet, mourning pets

Many people who have pets swear by experiences that their pets have, at times, had a sixth sense. Whether it is the scared dog that senses the big storm coming on a sunny day or the cat that meows constantly when a diabetic patient has a reaction, we can all agree that these are not just experiences we should shrug off as constant coincidences.

We trust our pets so much; we rely on them to be seeing eye dogs, sense epileptic seizures, sniff out drugs in an airport, or detect bombs hidden within spaces. As animals are given such important roles to help society, it is certain that their “sixth sense” cannot be ignored.

Recently, many stories have come out where cats have cuddled with cancer patients before their unforeseen deaths, and rumors have been flying about cats that have placed their paw on a cancer patient, pointing out the tumor that doctors could not find. Other cats have been known to constantly sniff the freckle on arms of cancer patients, when the person did not know they were suffering. It is definite that we, as humans, have lost our connection with the earth, and now we rely on our companions to instruct us on what is going on.

Could this be an intuition, a psychic connection between pet and ill human being that currently is beyond our thinking? Could this just be that we release a chemical when we have cancer or are dying and cats have the heightened sense of smell and understand what is going on, and thus feel empathy for their sick human friends?

Dogs have been known for their keen sense of smell, but cats are often overshadowed. Considering that cat’s sense of smell is fourteen times stronger then a human beings, we must not overlook our feline friends! Cats have an incredible organ, the vomeronasal organ. Located behind the front teeth in the mouth of a cat, it is connected to the nasal passage. Have you ever seen your cat open his or her mouth and close it rapidly? The cat is sensing, either smelling for food, looking for a mate, or, it has been argued, sensing deeper things like irregular weather patterns, natural disasters, or the health problems of a family member.

I have personally had pets who are much more reliable then my meteorologist. So whether cats have a sixth sense or an organ that can give them senses beyond human perception is not the case at hand. The truth lies beyond what mainstream thinking offers. We must observe and listen to our pets. Their actions and moods must be seen as complex as ours. They have senses beyond ours, therefore they must be respected. In est, if cats truly can “sense” cancer, further research must be developed, especially if we can save lives.

Technorati Tags: cancer, cats, Grace Ste.Croix, Healthy Pets, sixth sense

Lady is a stunning female, Maine Coon.  Although she has been with us since birth and has never been exposed to any danger or abuse, she has been extremely timid and shy all her life.  She is very scared of people, gets easily spooked by loud noises, or sudden movement and is always looking for a small place to hide.  In addition, she hardly ever meows, so when she is hiding, she is very hard to find, unless you know all her hiding places.

Several years ago we moved to a new home.  Moves are usually traumatic to pets, so I decided that, instead of letting them run around the house and getting into all sorts of dangerous places, I would put them in one of the upstairs bedrooms while I pet-proofed my house.  This seemed like a good idea, and for most of our pets it was.  The room had four walls, laminated flooring, no places to crawl into and few pieces of furniture to sit on, or hide under, so all in all it seemed like a safe space for all.

This was a newer house, with the air/heating vents built into the floor and beautiful wooden covers on top of the vents to prevent anything from falling in.  The covers were quite heavy…  heavy enough for me to have to lift them with both hands… so I never for a second thought that they could be moved or opened by a cat.

I made several trips in and out of the room bringing things in, and everything seemed OK.  All cats were settling in nicely.  Lady found a spot under a chair and seemed content.  We settled in for the night.

In the morning I opened the door to the room and came in carrying a package that made some noise.  In a split second, right in front of my very eyes, Lady leaped into the air and ran across the room in a panic.  As she ran over the air vent guard, her little nail got into a tiny crack and the cover went flying out of the vent, exposing an opening in the floor.  I screamed as I dropped the package to the floor and leaped to catch Lady before she dove in, but I was not fast enough.  In a matter of seconds Lady disappeared into a hole.

In a panic I called the fire department, who advised me to call the police, who advised me to call animal control, who advised me to call the ventilation/heating repair man.  All said, there was nothing I could do except a) wait for her to make it down to a place I could open and reach in to get her or b) start breaking down walls…  The bedroom was on the second floor of the house…  She could be ANYWHERE in the house…  This was a long weekend!

For three days I walked around the house knocking on walls, calling out her name and listening to hear if Lady would make any sound.  Finally, when I was almost about to lose my mind, I heard some scratching sounds in the aluminum vent above the closet in the basement.  She made it all the way from the second floor bedroom to the basement, wandering the vent shafts.

I cut a piece out of the bottom of the aluminum shaft, big enough for me to peak in, shine a flash light and grab her if necessary.  When I looked in, I saw two glowing eyes staring back at me.  However, no matter how much I called her, no matter what I tempted her with, Lady refused to budge.  It seemed like she was actually happy being there.  She finally found a perfect hiding place!

I left some food and water on the floor of the closet and shut the door, hoping that during the night the hunger would overcome her fear and she would jump down to eat.  In the morning the food was gone and Lady was back in the vent shaft.  I have no idea how she managed that!  It took another two days and many different brainstorming ideas for my son, a friend and I, to lure her out of that space.  We finally managed to do so by cutting out another hole located behind her and placing a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner in there to make a scary noise, while my friend stood with his hands stuck in the original opening I made earlier to catch her as she ran away from the noise.  After several attempts we were able to coax her out.  She was so scared that she was in shock and desperately fought back.  Both my friend and I were covered in blood from her bites and scratches, but Lady seemed to be perfectly fine.

After falling down from the second floor of the house, all the way to the basement and wandering ventilation shafts for over five days, Lady seemed to be in perfect health and not any worse for the wear.  I, on the other hand, did not sleep or eat, lost weight, cried my eyes out and was a nervous wreck for the five days she was in there.  In addition I had bites and scratches all over my hands, arms and shoulders.

This was a very good lesson for me.  From now on, each new house we enter, all the covers of ventilation vents get immediately fastened to the floor with screws.  No more cat hunting in ventilation shafts for me!

Technorati Tags: animal behaviour, animal care, Animal Empathy, animal health, cats, Healthy Pets, Milana Vinokur, new house, pet advise, pet proofing your home, safety, ventilation shafts