Using the kit Angels Among Us by Dancing Princess Designs sold at GoDigitalScrapbooking!

scrapbook pop

Created for the creative team challenge at GoDigitalScrapbooking. It was so much fun to document the little guy's day! Used a kit called A New Day be designer Christy Skaggs.

Big Day for Little Pop!

It was a big, big day for little Pop (of Snap, Crackle and Pop). He was the one who got to come outside and help me with my chores today! It was his first time outside and his first time without mom or brothers within hearing distance, but after he got over the initial surprise, he took the yard by storm! He got to meet the shepherd puppy through the fence. He got to frolic in high grass and run with the chickens! He also did very well finding me no matter where I walked in the yard. No small feat when you legs are that short.

Here's our cutie in action!

Huge Sale at GoDigitalScrapbooking.com!

For anyone interested in getting started in digital scrapbooking, this is a great weekend to jump in with both feet! GDS is celebrating their third birthday with a huge 50% off store-wide sale! They've just added new designers, too, so there is even more to choose from!

And if that weren't enough, they have lots of games and prizes. There is a scavenger hunt, a crossword puzzle, and other games, each with fabulous and FREE prizes!

Come and join the fun!

Pups feeding 8-28-09

DPD Info

I just LOVE to scrapbook my babies. All of them! So here is a page I did using the recent pics of the boys. The layout is made with a kit by Dancing Princess Designs called Bliss. Bliss is actually a 3-part series, two parts being sold (on sale now!) at GoDigitalScrapbooking and the 3rd as a give-away during September at Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine. Also, Jenn, the designer, has some contests and giveaways going, so be sure to check her BLOG for more information!

I am so thankful for the ever-increasing number of veterinarians (vs. human doctors) who are making the connection, seeing the light and doing what is right for our animals. Some by not over-vaccinating and others by not vaccinating at all. They are more in tune with their patients and more willing to make the connection between the health of the animal before and after the vaccines to see the extent of the damage they are, indeed, doing to our animals. And they are doing no less damage to humans, but human doctors seem much more blind to facts, preferring instead to believe what they are told by the medical cartel. That term is in this interview and I like it. That's pretty much what they are. With no checks and balances. The FDA is a joke these days, merely pushing paper in a guise to test and approve when really all they do is try to squash the competition (supplements and natural health).

Please take the time to research vaccines and vaccinosis in regards to your pets before irreparable damage is caused. People want to blame many health issues on genetics, when most health problems have their basis in environment and are affected more by vaccinations and diet than they are genetics. Not to mention it has been proven that vaccines can alter the DNA of the host and it can take generations to bring that line back to an acceptable level of health. Long term breeders say it takes 1-2 generations to damage the animal and 5-6 to undo that damage that was caused. I know that with each generation of minimally vaccinated dogs we have, we are seeing MUCH improved health and resistance to fleas and pests. I support the Rabies Challenge Fund because I have to keep my dogs legal with their rabies vaccinations, but I don't like it. So we run a detox program after each one, and hope that we get some legislators in there who operate with their brains and not their fear, and get the laws changed to something more reasonable.

SNAP

CRACKLE

POP


Meet the boys!

Snap is the oldest by at least 5 minutes. He has a tiny stripe on his chest which will likely disappear as he nears 8-10 weeks old. He has monster sized paws and is a big ole cuddler. Fromt he beginning, he has gravitated toward me. Toward my breath, my touch, and now toward my voice. He loves his cuddles and snuggles from wherever he can get them, and now that he's more mobile, he was the first to try to climb out of their whelping box. So Monday night they got moved to the larger whelping pen! He reminds me of his Papa. Cooter was the largest puppy in his litter, but he turned out to be a very nicely-sized small adult.

Crackle is the middle boy. He loves lazy days, Momma Rizzo's tender care, and plenty to eat. He lolls around, rolls over slowly, yawning, giving ample opportunity to tickle him and kiss his belly. Life is good for ole Crackle.

Pop is the smallest came out full of vim and vinegar. Within hours he had discovered that his tiniest sounds would gather the attention of everyone around, waiting to meet his every need. For the first week he really used this to his advantage and I thought he might turn out to be quite demanding. But already he has mellowed out and is kicked back like his brothers. He doens't roll on his back as much as the other two, preferring instead to tuck all his paws underneath him into the cutest little fluff ball. But when there's loving to be had, he'll expose that belly in a heartbeat.

All 3 boys are moving around pretty good now, getting up on their feet to eliminate on their own. They are starting to interact with each other as more than just mutual aid heating pads. They are more snuggly than playful, but the play will develop over the next week or so as they become even more mobile. They are starting to make things out with their eyes and soon we'll start testing to see how well they're tracking.

Rizzo has turned out to be one of the best moms ever! She was VERY good about not smothering them the first two weeks (a frequent hazard with pug moms, unintentional, but usually requiring constant supervision). She tells me when she needs something, or something extra. She gets saved the best treats and gets the best meals and loves the extra pampering!

Rizzo's Pups

The dog formerly known as Rizzo (she has been known to change her name on numerous occassions, the most recent two selections being Delilah and Madonna), is announcing the birth of her wonderfully cute and cuddly little boys. It was a tough delivery. Her due date was on a Thursday, but early Monday morning, I got a call from an intuitive friend at 3:30 in the morning and all he said was "your dog needs you." I pried my eyes open, and found that Rizzo had been in labor. A few minutes later, the legs from a breech birth came out of the canal, but nothing else. We've had plenty of breech births go fine, but this guy was very large in size, and he was good and stuck. It's very tricky with puppies because you can't grab ahold of the body or the legs that are presenting without causing harm, so you have to help up along the sides of the birth canal, but he didn't make it. We lost him, but then 3 more males were born in rapid succession. A couple of hours later, the only female was stillborn, with her umbilical cord and afterbirth wrapped around her as it had been en utero, preventing her from surviving.

But the remaining three boys are full of life, love and energy. Their temporary names are Snap, Crackle and Pop, and they are keeping my life busy and full of joy. Delilah is an awesome mother, attending to their every whimper and every need. They were born around 4am on August 3rd, and now have their eyes open and are just shy of having their ears open. They are very mobile, and their fur is plush and soft.

Will try to keep everyone updated on this litter better than I did the last one! Where does the time go??

Rabies Challenge Fund

The rabies vaccine, mandated by legislators from the fear factor who don't understand immunity, is one of the most damaging vaccines given to our companions. It is linked to unexplained aggression, crippling arthritis, and encephalitis (swelling around the brain). Vaccinations that are made without harmful substances and which are used wisely can provide much-needed protection. However, the current industry standard contains damaging preservatives and adjuvants that do more harm than good, and repeated vaccinations lead to a condition coined as vaccinosis. To help put rabies vaccinations into a proper balance, the industry is demanding that scientific studies be done to prove their efficacy rate and length of coverage, but the industry won't pay for such studies because they make far too much money off of the vaccinations as well as the treatments for the conditions that are created as side effects. So the study has to be done via a grass roots method and funded by people who care about their animals. Rescue groups should ESPECIALLY be interested in this because many of the aggression problems that they deal with in the turned in pets who become unwanted could have been avoided with proper vaccination, avoiding over-vaccination.

Here is the latest from the Rabies Challenge Fund.
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Greetings:

The goal of The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust is to extend the legally required interval for rabies boosters to 5 and then 7 years, based on the findings of the rabies challenge studies currently underway at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. If the studies' results demonstrate that the rabies vaccine confers 5, and possibly 7, years of immunity, there would be a significant impact on controlling rabies and reducing adverse reactions associated with the vaccine.

Today I am writing to ask for your help. The Rabies Challenge Fund relies on donations to finance the multi-year challenge studies that began in November 2007. Due to the economic downturn, the Fund has a $125,000 shortfall for the third year of the studies, scheduled for this fall. This deficit threatens the future of the research.

Costs for the studies' third year are $175,000. Since January, we have raised nearly $50,000 of that amount. We need to have eighty percent of the total funding for the year's budget in hand to begin the third year of the studies. Please contribute what you can, as soon as you can. All donations received will be used to finance the direct research costs of the rabies challenge studies.

With your help, we can raise the $125,000 necessary to complete the third year of the 5 and 7-year rabies challenge studies. Tax-exempt donations can be mailed to The Rabies Challenge Fund, c/o Hemopet, 11330 Markon Drive, Garden Grove, CA 92841. Credit card donations can be phoned in to Hemopet (specify they are for The Rabies Challenge Fund) by calling (714) 891-2022, ext. 13.

Thank you for your support of this important work.

Sincerely,

Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
The Rabies Challenge Fund
www.RabiesChallengeFund.org

ledgespring@ lincoln.midcoast .com

Successful efforts by The Rabies Challenge Fund over the past year leading to changes in state rabies laws/municipal ordinances to the 3 year national standard:

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Wichita, Kansas

State of Alabama

State of Arkansas

State of Rhode Island

The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization [Fed. EIN # 84-6390682].

How Love Deepens Us; How the Animals Teach Us

This is an article written by Catherine O'Driscoll, the author of several books. Although Ms. Driscoll has written with logic and is able to easily convey the intelligence behind her decisions, the poignancy of this writing reaches beyond logic and touches a very deep place in the hearts of those who read it. Here, as portrayed so beautifully and lovingly, is the heart of the matter. Catherine, thank you for this incredible writing that holds so much truth and beauty. I cried all the way through!

By Catherine O'Driscoll

I begged my parents for about two years before I got my first dog. Kelly was a Shetland Sheepdog. I was only twelve, and I didn’t have much of a clue about how to look after a puppy, so we walked for hours together over the surrounding countryside. One day, when she was seven months old, a larger dog lent down to sniff her, and within a split second, she lifted Kelly up between her jaws and shook her, breaking her spine. The life in Kelly had gone before we reached the vet.

Years later, when I was 28, my house was burgled while I slept upstairs in bed. This, combined with the fact that I was now working from home, gave me the excuse to realise the dream I had cherished since a child. Chappie, a Golden Retriever, came home with me. He was eighteen months old, the product of a broken home. That first day, he explored the house and garden, and then he came and sat beside me on the sofa. He looked at me, and I looked at him, and without words we bonded. In that moment, we came home to each other and settled into each other’s hearts. Had it been a Disney cartoon, birds would have fluttered and beams of light would have danced upon us, and angels would have sung – even though, to the uninitiated, Chappie was just a dog.

I have spent many years in the company of dogs, and the love we have shared has shaped and enriched my life. When I think of Chappie, long since gone to the Great Mystery, I feel complete, and loved. I feel tenderness and joy. I see the sparkle in his eyes as he digs for mice or chases a rabbit scent. I can run my hands over his body in my mind, and feel every muscle, every curve. I remember how he would lie next to me by the bed, and jump up and dance and smile because I was awake. I remember how he would play with Oliver, so gently, and then Samson, so gently – allowing the pups to bite his neck, never once reacting in anger. Never once.

Every so often, Chappie would look at me, and I would look at him and I’d feel as though I was looking at myself. Our energies had merged, and we were one. There was no separation. He was me, and I was him.

I shall always speak his name.

Sophie was another beautiful soul. She was wise. She knew about wisdom, acceptance and contentment. She knew how to play. Sophie would go into the garden and do her Tai Chi exercises, which no-one had taught her, and she’d sit and look at the light dancing through the trees and smell the air, and sigh contentedly, and wag her tail. She’d take you to another realm, just watching her.

Sophie taught me about leadership. She never once raised her voice in anger, or snapped. She never once pushed herself forward or exerted her authority with the younger dogs. Instead, she’d just look and raise her lip slightly, gently, and the other dogs would do as they were told. She had presence, and focus. She was a natural leader, more in control than any blusterer or bully. The other dogs listened to her because she was wise, and safe to follow.

I used sit alone late at night while the dogs slept around me, thinking about the day. Sometimes Sophie would wake up and look at me and bark quietly, and wave her paw gently at me. For a long while I thought that she just wanted a cuddle. Then one night I realised that she only barked at me when I was thinking negative thoughts. She was teaching me to be aware of them, drop them, and be at peace.

Sophie was always a calming presence, but she knew about elation, too. She is still with me, in my heart. If I close my eyes, I can see her beautiful silver hair and her pretty pink nose. I can smell her: she smells of flowers, and she shimmers with light. I can look into her eyes, and she sends me messages. She works with me now from the other side, bringing me peace, teaching me acceptance, helping me not to worry. She taught me that once there is a bond of love, it is never broken.

I can’t prove to any scientist that Sophie speaks to me from the other side, but I know that she is a resource for inner peace, even now. While on this earth, that little dog embodied the qualities of wisdom and motherly love, and I believe that once you make contact with those qualities, and have someone to anchor those qualities upon, then they are at your constant disposal.

I shall always speak her name.

And then Oliver and Prudence bowled into our home like whirling dervishes: two little puppies full of life, determined to remodel the garden and house. I think they came from a special place where larger than life people are made.

Nothing Oliver did could be described as dull or unexciting. He was funny. The way he walked made you laugh. The way he talked made you laugh. The way he played, the things he did, the set of his tail . . . everything about Oliver just made you well up with mirth. His own inherent joy leaked out of him, like a virus. People would come towards him on walks, and burst out laughing. I used to lie down next to him and put my arms around him, and feel deep joy. It’s amazing how something so seemingly simple – like hugging a friend - can account for the happiest memories of your life.

Oliver was a collector of people. Everywhere he went, people would gather round him and feel good, just to be in his presence. No-one could ignore him. If workmen came to the house, his nose would be in their toolbags, tail wagging, stealing their tools. If we went away for the weekend and stayed in hotels, Oliver would work his magic around the sitting room, making friends and getting everyone talking together.

Oliver came to me with a mission. All animals, including humans, come with a mission – of this I am certain. Oliver knew he didn’t have long on this earth – four short years – so he packed every second full with his unique brand of joy and excitement. He made sure, good and sure, that when he died, I would be forced to ask why, and forced to follow through. He made sure that I would love him beyond measure, beyond reason – beyond all fear and caution. He turned me into a lioness, fighting for the survival of a species. He came with a mission and broke my heart in its accomplishment. He made me courageous on behalf of the dogs. He taught me to banish fear.

I shall always speak his name.

We all need our hearts cracked open at some stage or another. It can set our feet upon the path. And when you buy a dog, you are setting yourself up for a broken heart.

In life, Prudence was my protector. She was a punk, and a love bucket. Prudence only ever wanted to be with me. She protected us from hedgehogs in the lane and horses in the fields, and she protected the exuberant boys from each other. Once, I believe she saved my life when we met an unsavoury character in a lonely lane.

The last month of Pru’s life was distressing, and tender. I was devastated yet honoured to hold her hand as she made the transition. We went for walks together, just the two of us, and she was so grateful. She took me, with determination, to all the houses inhabited by the children who were her friends. They had always come to us, but somehow Prudence knew where they lived.

It was quite something to walk into the village with my darling girl, and allow her to lead me where she wanted to go. She took me through the various streets and straight up the garden paths of the houses inhabited by her friends, never once wavering. She knew precisely where she was going, even though she’d never been there before. She knew it was time to say goodbye to her dear young friends.

I washed Prudence and kept her clean, and she was so grateful. I gave her my permission to go, which she was waiting for, and she thanked me and told me that she loved me. And then she was gone. I can still feel her head resting on my lap. I can still see her dancing and pumping out beams of light. I can still hear her cheeky fun-filled bark. I can run my hands over her body in my imagination and feel every inch of her. And I can nestle my face into her neck, and she isn’t gone at all.

And I can know, because of Pru, that the only thing that matters when we die is how much we have loved.

I shall always speak her name.

And then came Samson – the little Buddha. Animals, like humans, are evolving along their own spiritual paths. Samson was highly evolved. When you talk about a person like Samson, words do not exist to describe his energy. You’d have to sit with him, in the silence, to understand fully. Awesome, limitless, sublime, pure love – these words only come close to describing the experience of being with Samson.

Samson was devoted to me. He didn’t want to be anywhere where I was not. He took care of me. If I was working too hard, and was tired, he’d come to me and take my arm in his mouth and walk me through the house and up the stairs and into the bedroom, and he’d guide me onto the bed and tell me to get some sleep.

Sometimes, when we were out walking, he’d be so overcome with joy and love for me, that he’d fly at me and wrestle me to the ground, and – helpless with laughter – I’d lie there while he kissed me.

Samson was very mindful of time, and very keen on order. He liked to ensure that routines were kept in the home, and that enough time was allocated to rest and relaxation. “Stop work now”, he’d say. He was always on my side, wanting the best for me – and when I failed to attend to my own self care, he told me that I mattered, and insisted I listen.

Samson was a dog with a very big heart, and a very big brain. A very big soul. He embodied unconditional love. I have access to that love, still. I just have to close my eyes and he is with me, shimmering with light, wrapping his love around me.

I shall always speak his name.

Our little Gwinnie died last week. She was fifteen years and eight months old. She was gentle, and joyful. She was a peacemaker.

Fifteen years and three months ago, Gwinnie came home with me and fell in love with Samson. I can still see the wide smile on his face when we brought her through the door. “Thank you, thank you,” he said. He showed little Gwinnie the house and the garden, and she wrapped her teeth around his neck, and he let her. Their eyes shone. They had found their soul mates.

Gwinnie had a mind of her own, and she used it well. She was a rabbit hunter, a wall jumper, a nimble footed speed chaser. Gwinnie was also a cuddle magnet. “Stroke me here,” she’d say. “No, not there, here. Stroke me again. Tickle me there.” And I did.

Gwinnie was an enigma, a dichotomy. She was strong and wilful and self-determined. She lived life on her own terms. But she was also tender and loving, gentle and kind.

Time never robbed Gwinnie of her spirit. Old and frail, we helped her up the steps, we helped her stand when she couldn’t get up. We changed her diet. We gave her supplements and remedies. We willed her to keep going. We watched carefully, observing. Is she OK? Is she happy? Is there anything more we can do?

And she rallied round. She began to stand on her own, to walk up steps on her own. Her footing got steadier. “We’ll have another two years with her,” I said. I believed myself.

Only the day before, she had come walkies with us, down to the bottom field. She refused to stay home. Spirited, wilful. “How dare you go on walkies without me!” She would not let us. She made us laugh with love. Only the day before, she had danced across the garden, sparks of joy flying from her eyes. Only the week before, she had walked into my office and stood next to me, and told me she loved me. Only a few days before, she had paddled in the puddle. Only the night before, she had followed me for left-overs.

They say there is no time on the other side. No body to wear out. No time to run out. Time will never take her love away.

I shall always speak her name.

When a dog comes to live in your home, he settles himself into your heart – if you let him. He will teach you many things. He will take the conditional love you were raised with, and show you how it feels to be loved without limit, without demands.

In caring for your dog, you will learn how to care for yourself. You’ll discover the healing power of exercise, of being out in the fresh air, whatever the weather. You’ll learn the importance of good nutrition, and he’ll show you how, once broken, bodies are difficult to fix.

A dog will teach you how precious life is, and how precious is time.

He’ll teach you the value of little things – like balls, sticks, stones, and rabbit smells. He’ll make you play and forget your worries. And he’ll do everything in his power to remind you how beautiful you are. When you share your life with a dog, you will never feel alone.

When you lose the people you love, as you must with a dog, it changes you. You realise that you are not God, that you cannot control the world. There will be no-one to argue with, no-one to complain to. There will be no-one, and no-thing, that will bring your beloved back.

Feeling the pain of loss, you may come to a deep decision to refrain from bringing pain to any other person. When a beloved friend dies, you may place your feet upon the path of harmlessness. Healing – becoming a healer – is part of that path.

Your dogs will teach you, if you listen, that you can bring health, and healing, to yourself and your loved-ones by listening to the laws of nature. You can become knowledgeable about foods that bring health, and foods that bring disease. When you take medicines, or give medicines to your loved-ones, you can seek to understand what it is you are giving, and the effects that are likely to ensue. You can begin to understand about preventative healthcare, and start to make informed choices.

Ultimately, when you connect with another living being with love, you place your feet upon the path of self-determination and self-empowerment. You step out of group thought, and into individual thought. As Kahlil Gibran wrote in ‘The Prophet’:

When love beckons to you, follow him,
though his ways are hard and steep . . .
For even as love crowns you so shall
he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth
so is he for your pruning . . .
And think not you can direct the course
of love; for love, if it finds you worthy,
directs your course . . .

So you take a dog – your dreams – into your arms, and he sets your feet upon the path of love. There is no going back, for love is the Creative energy. You have no choice, when you buy a dog, but to go forward, create and expand. All the while, your dog wants you to see that you are more beautiful than you can possibly know. And you, if you follow the path of love, will ever seek to be worthy of your dog’s love.

Natural Flea Treatment

Diatomaceous Earth is one of the most effective tools against fleas and many other parasites and problems in the life of your animals (and you!).

One of the best sites for finding out information on how to use Diatomaceous earth is www.wolfcreekranch.net.

I also found an article in my inbox today from Only Natural Pet products that explains how to use DE specifically for fleas in your home and it has some good, practical advise.

There are more specific instructions for use at the bottom of the page and the link is in the paragraph above.

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There’s nothing quite like a flea infestation to strain the harmony of your household. We hate to see our cats and dogs suffering with fleas, but we know that the harsh, and often toxic chemical products offering a quick fix can come at a high price for everyone in the family – pets, people, and the environment as well. (For more information on the dangers of chemical flea and tick products, see our Information Resource links at the end of product description).

Fortunately, Only Natural Pet Store has a comprehensive line of natural products that work in tandem (see Complementary Approaches below) to help keep your pets and your household safely free from these stubborn parasites. Using the best of nature’s ingredients for remedies against fleas and ticks, you can take control of your household and bring back the peace – all using a natural approach that keeps everybody healthy and protects the planet.

Only Natural Pet All-In-One Flea Remedy – The Foundation of Natural Flea Control

Our All-In-One Flea Remedy is the ultimate natural weapon against fleas. Named "All-In-One" because it kills fleas in all three zones of flea control (on pets, in the home, and in your yard), this non-toxic, natural compound has been used to kill insects for centuries. It is widely used for pest control in agriculture and gardening, and it’s even used in livestock feed and in storage of grain used for human consumption, since it’s harmless when ingested.

Comprised of diatomaceous (dye-atom-ay’-shus) earth, or "DE," a mineral substance formed by the fossil remains of prehistoric algae, this powder is fine and smooth to the touch. While non-toxic to people and pets, at the microscopic level, it is razor-sharp and is lethal to insect pests like fleas and ticks, whose shells are cut as the powder covers their bodies. Fleas, along with their eggs and larvae, become dehydrated and die within hours when exposed to this powerful substance.

This mechanical, rather than chemical killing action protects your pets and the environment because it doesn’t create chemically resistant "super fleas," which become increasingly harder to eradicate. It also protects your human and animal family members, as it won’t pollute your home or our water supply with chemical residues that can linger in our bodies and the environment for years, causing damage to our health, and the health of our planet.

The versatile, odorless powder can be safely applied everywhere fleas hide – directly in pets’ fur, in their bedding, carpets, furniture, and even in your yard. This is extra bad news for fleas, since most of their growth and reproduction time is spent around rather than on your pet. All-In-One Flea Remedy can penetrate the smallest spaces and the closest of carpet weaves to get at the fleas where they are most vulnerable and break their reproductive cycle.

With noticeable results seen in 2-3 days, our All-In-One Flea Remedy will make your pets and your home flea-free within weeks – with no chemicals, toxins, fumes, oily residues, or unnatural substances of any kind. All-In-One is an elegant solution from Nature offering effective and safe flea control that's economical, too. There's no need to pay a lot for chemical treatments that have too high a cost, in more ways than one. Thousands of pet owners have used this natural approach to flea control with complete success. Choose All-In-One Flea Remedy and join the ranks of the many eco-smart and health-conscious pet lovers who are committed to safe, effective, non-chemical approaches to winning the war on fleas.

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

We are pleased to offer a 100% money-back guarantee on Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy. We are so convinced that your flea problems will be eliminated that we will gladly refund your cost for the product if you are not completely satisfied with the results. We ask only that you follow the instructions for use for the initial three-week treatment period. If your flea problem has not been resolved to your satisfaction, just call us or send us an email, and we will issue you a refund for the full purchase price.

8 oz. bottle


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Ingredients:
Diatomaceous Earth, Sage, Eucalyptus, Yellowdock Root, Fennel Seed, Rosemary Leaf

Natural Rearing Vs. Survival Of The Fittest

An excellent summary on the topic of how natural rearing affects the health systems and thereby affects the population of a species.

Here is the article.

http://www.thewholedog.org/NRBA.html

The Wood Pile

Dad loves to chop wood and stack it up in perfect rows, all the same size. I have to admit that it's a good-looking pile of wood that he has! As with all manual labor, it's more fun to do with a little help, so when he comes home with load of wood, I usually go over for an hour or two and give him a hand with some of the lifting and carrying to the pile.

Today we worked in unseasonal weather with pockets of rain for about an hour. I took Cooter and Isabelle with me so they could run around and sniff and get out of the house for a bit. With the rain, it was cool, but it was also wet. We got through it pretty quickly, though, so overall it was still a good day!

Cooter's version:
I got to pee in new places and was recognized for my studliness and ability to strut. Yep *sniff/snort*, I'm da man!

Isabelle's version:
Oh my God, was this day EVER going to END? They just kept walking and working and bending and tossing, and there were NO laps to sit in. I couldn't even go lay in the grass because it was WET. I finally had to ask mom to open the car door so that I could sit and watch from someplace comfortable. And it interrupted my beauty sleep.

Demodectic Mange (demodex)

This is an excerpt of an article written by Dr Jeannie Thomason (Veterinary Naturopath, Small Animal Nutritionist, & Natural Animal Health Care Consultant/ Educator) who is a wonderful person making huge differences in the lives of dogs all over the world. She has intimate knowledge of brachycephalics, which is how we found each other, and she has written great articles on many health issues which can be found on her website.

The full article concerning mange can be found here.

This is just such an excellent summary that I asked her if I could share it here for everyone.

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A dog's immune system does not fully mature until 12-18 months of age, a puppy or dog with demodectic mange that has not had it's immune system kept in good, strong condition, may have relapses until the immune system is fully mature. Demodectic mange in dogs over 2 years of age is usually classified as adult-onset, and occurs secondary to an underlying cause.

Dogs with immune suppression due to over-vaccination, poor nutrition, illnesses or disease, are also candidates for demodectic mange. Demodectic mange can also occur in very old dogs because the function of the immune system often declines with age due to poor nutrition and chemical bombardment through out its life time.

Demodex mites feed on cellular protiens, systemic yeast, dietary yeast and/or sugar in the system. If you break the cycle, you weaken or starve the systemic yeast and the mites are not able to colonize in the pores. This is why it is so important to NOT feed any grains, vegetables, fruits or brewers/ nutritional yeast. And preferable fresh raw meat and bones.

As for supplements, look to boost the immune system... Colostrum, Transfer Factor, etc. and Anti-oxidents... Vitamin C (with bioflavonoids), Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Selenium, Zinc (chelated type) Fish Oil, etc.

Probiotics and Enzymes are very important!

Topically, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Ionic Silver, Colosturm, Raw Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera, Essential Oil of Lavender and or Purification (I only use, trust and recommend Young Living Oil as I know they are theraputic grade and pure) .

REMEMBER: NO DRUGS. NO CHEMICALS. NO DIPS. NO VACCINATIONS. NO GRAINS, POTATOES OR YEASTS.. Each of these will only further damage the immune system.
----------

Excerpt from the Spiritual Evolution of Animals

"We tend to think animals are lower than us, but all the scientists in the world couldn’t design and operate a bumblebee’s wing. We can’t jump or run very fast, and we can’t carry vast weights like an ant can. We can’t see in the dark and we can’t fly except crammed in a noisy tube like sardines, which doesn’t count. Humans compared to animals are almost totally deaf, and we can’t smell a fart in an elevator by their standards.

We are finite and separate, and neurotic, while the consciousness of an animal is at peace and eternal. We strive and go crazy to become more important. Animals rest and sleep and enjoy the company of each other. We think we have evolved upwards from animals but we have lost almost all of their qualities and abilities.

The idea that animals don’t have consciousness or that they don’t have a soul is rather crass. It shows a lack of consciousness. They talk, they have families, they feel things, they act individually or together to solve problems, they often care of their young as a tribal unit. They play, they travel, and medicate themselves when they get sick. They cry when others in the herd die, they know about us humans. Of course they have a soul, a very pristine one. We humans are only now attempting with the recent rise in consciousness to achieve the soul that animals have naturally."

Stuart Wilde, in an article entitled "The Spiritual Evolution of Animals"

For more information regarding Stuart Wilde and his work, visit his blog.

EPA issues warnings for chemical flea preventatives

After receiving over 44,000 complaints from side-effects from chemical flea preventatives ranging from mild to death, the EPA has issued a warning. Evidently there is also a class-action lawsuit in the works.

I can say that personally, I had a pug puppy who was old enough to safely use Frontline per the instructions, and at half the recommended dose, the puppy exhibited a negative neurological response, losing control of normal motor skills. I immediately washed off the chemicals and he immediately improved with no apparent permanent ill effects. This was not reported to the EPA - how many others are there out there that have never been reported?

After a friend lost her cat to a flea treatment last night, I felt compelled to research things a bit more and to share the information. Here is a page that addresses the EPA's warning along with some alternative solutions to chemical flea preventatives.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/pestcontrol.htm

We primarily use garlic internally to repel, along with diatomaceous earth and essential oils externally. Based on a high quality diet, with these preventative, there are few situations in which a chemical alternative is necessary.

P.S. - A common natural solution for grubs and fleas is the use of nematodes in the lawn. Although this is definitely a viable alternative for fleas, it also negatively affects beetles. And in areas with fireflies, that means them, too. So if you would like to preserve the beetles and fireflies, please be judiscious regarding the areas on which you choose to use nematodes!

We hope you feel better soon, Miss JoAnn!

Miss JoAnn,

The folks from the AC board would like to send you a card, but we weren't sure how to get all those cyber signatures on there to wish you well. So here's your card - be sure to read all the comments which are sure to make your day a bit brighter :)

Parvaid Enema

Here is an excellent video on administering parvaid via an enema. Hydration is very important when the body is battling this illness. A parvo self-help guide can be found on any of the following sites:

www.wolfcreekranch.net
www.ambertech.com
www.parvopuppy.com

And here is a link to the video!
http://www.cidclub.com/parvoenema.html

Video of Tiki's Boys

Isabelle is panting in the background. She had just finished a good, hard run on a hot and humid day! The pups had so much fun playing in that tall jungle grass till it got cut down. Kind of like playing hide and seek :)

We had hoped that Tiki would be in her retirement home by the beginning of 2009, but she had an accidental pregnancy that kept her here longer than we anticipated. But with being in the busy season at work and living in a house with 6 people at the time, 2 of them toddlers, sometimes these things happen. At least it was with Cooter, the preferred male. She had a litter of one puppy when she was 5 and she rejected it, which is the main reason (combined with health issues) we decided not to breed her again, thinking she was no longer interested in breeding. But just as she turned 6, she mated and this litter with two boys has been a true joy. It's almost as if she knew we were retiring her and she wanted one more litter. I've never seen her play so much with her puppies before. Not that she didn't play with previous litters, just that she seems to take special pride and joy in this final litter, and she never, ever gets tired of them or wants to be away from them. The boys are 3 months old now, and the three of them are playing at my feet as I type this. Tiki walks through the house proudly and I'm sure she's bragging about her boys and flipping mental photo albums to all the other dogs she meets along the way. We have been so busy with work and with projects for the Village that we haven't spread word about the boys, but here they are!

Wakonda

Wakonda is a Native American word meaning mystical powers. Isn't she beautiful! We just had two dogs evaluated for schutzhund yesterday and they both have tremendous potential. Personally, I'd rather bring out their herding instinct so they just keep the pugs out of trouble - that would make me happy :)

Tiki in the Sunshine

These pics were taken just the other day when Tiki was helping me with the mulch pile. Actually, I got to work and she got to close her eyes and put her face to the sun and soak up all the good rays. We had moments of sheer bliss. It was definitely a good day.

Just a reminder - I'm having all this fun on godigitalscrapbooking.com. I just finished up a BUNCH of layouts this month using kits from Dancing Princess designs. And since I hurt my foot in the parade yesterday, will probably get many more done today!!

Petunia & Her Greenie

No worries - this picture was taken several years ago before the dangers of greenies were known. Even though they have been reformulated, we haven't been brave enough to try the new ones. But this is still one of my favorite pictures of a carefree Petunia, running through the yard on a summer day, as happy as it gets!

Takeover

The full story is somewhere in this blog (try key words for storytime, Isabelle, or Ellie Mae), but this page's journaling talks about when Isabelle was having a false pregnancy and tried to take over Ellie's litter! Int he end, Ellie, won, but welcomed Isabelle's help feeding and caring for the little ones.

Kangee's Story

A distant relative of Tony's called one day to say that his elderly german shepherd probably wasn't going to make it through another winter, to keep an eye out for something that might come his way. He would prefer a male puppy, if at all possible.

Enter Kangee. Two weeks later, in early January 2009, he was born and his mother immediately rejected him. The breeder, who found himself in unfavorable circumstances, contacted his friends to see if someone would be able to bottle feed him. He was born in the wee hours of the morning and by the time the breeder woke and was handling the litter, and called around, almost 12 hours had gone by. When I got to him, he was cold and practically lifeless.

I immediately stuck him in my shirt so that my body temperature would help raise his temperature on the way home. While stopped at a traffic light, I had a flash of insight, a vision of him as an adult. I was stunned at the beauty of him, at the powerful presence he possessed. Once we hit the house, he was so lifeless he could not even suckle a bottle, which he desperately needed for energy.

We pulled out all the stops and between the two of us, we alternated caring for him. Puppies require feeding every 2 hours, and he had to be tube fed until he was able to adequately bottle feed.

In the first week, I noticed scabs all over his body - where did those come from? Did the mother dislike him enough that she tried to kill him? It didn't make sense, but I couldn't figure out what else it could be. As it turns out, he was actually born with a systemic staph infection. Between tendons that didn't stretch properly, the staph infection, and corresponding signs of being premature (very tender skin), he certainly had the odds stacked against him. Due to complications with the infection, he lost the tip of his paw before he was even a week old and smelled of gangrene. I was worried we would have to amputate, but the vet encouraged me to see how it might heal up before we made that decision. Besides, we had to get his internal infection under control before considering a major surgical option (HUGE props to colloidal silver for clearing things up right away once we figured out what the problem was).

There were so many times I wondered if he would make it, or even that we were doing the right thing. What quality of life would he have? Were we playing God and fighting against nature? But then I'd remember that vision of him as an adult. He certainly seemed to have a higher purpose on this earth. Together with the encouragement of lots of other people who also sensed something very special in him, we worked our way through one scenario after another until he was truly on his feet. During that time, his prospective family did a lot of soul-searching as well. They lived in the woods, where sometimes strays are dropped off or he might meet a coyote or two. Would it be fair to put him at a disadvantage? Maybe they should wait for the next shepherd that became available? But in their hearts, they simply could not say no. So they made other arrangements to protect him in case he might prove to be at a disadvantage as an adult and they welcomed him with open arms.

At 8 weeks old, Kangee went to his new home where he is growing into a gangly, loveable adolescent, full of vim and vinegar. He has charmed the elderly shepherd to the point where they have caught the two of them together outside in the dogbox, with both heads sticking out the same hole. He never messed in the house, and has Mom so wrapped around his paw that someone would have to fight her to get him away from her. He simply could not be in a better home!

And although he lost his paw, the pad that traditionally grows behind the dew claw wrapped itself around the base of his stump so that he has a pad to walk on. When I look at him, I'm in awe of the miracle after miracle that I've witnessed. I have been so blessed to be a part of his journey; the gifts he gave me in the 8 weeks he was with us are priceless. He is an old soul, with a special purpose, and a proud heritage.

God be with you and protect you, my little friend.

More scrapbook pages

Scrapbooking was my late night, I-can't-sleep, stress relief for tax season. I hope you enjoy the pages of the kids as much as I do!

AUGGYDIGGITY DOG EXCLUSIVES

http://augdiggitydog.googlepages.com/

These polymer clay sculptures are absolutely adorable!! Check them out! I'm thinking the commissioned pieces will make great Christmas presents, but be sure to order yours early!

Healing Modalities

A teaser presentation on some different alternative therapies. Worth watching!

http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/healingmodalities/

Pet First Aid: Choking

An explanatory video on choking in pets, along with how to perform the heimlich maneuver:

http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com/choking/

Natural Heartworm Prevention and Treatment

More and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of holistic care with their companion animals. One of the questions that often arises is how to prevent and/or treat heartworm outside of the commonly accepted heartworm prevention tablets. Here is one of the more comprehensive articles I've seen, written by Dr. Kim Bloomer, holistic vet.

http://www.thewholedog.org/heartworm.html

Hey, folks! I'll be catching up the blog next weekend, if not before, but to tide you over, here's a picture of Daisy in front of a bed of hyacinth at the local bulb festival this past weekend. It was a beautiful stroll through all the gorgeous flowers! Spring has definitely arrived.

Can NCD help with Ehrlichia?

Q. Is there a way that NCD can help a dog infected with Ehrlichia? I am wondering how it would help (if it can) clear the infection? As you may already know, studies are showing that there is a high link between ehrlichia infections and hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma, so it would be nice to know if the NCD can help clear the infection.

A. Good question! Here's some background. Erlichia is caused by transmition through a tick bite of a micro-organism called a rickettsia. This is between a bacterium and a virus in nature. So the disease is not unlike Lyme disease in some ways... transmitted by a tick bite. The organism causing Lyme disease is bacteria.

The NCD works to remove toxins... and does that very well. It also removes particles like viral pieces, seeming to inhibit the production of more viruses. In the case of Lyme disease, people are reporting good results using NCD.

Just based on that, I am wondering if there is indeed a connection between certain canine cancers and these micro-organisms. In my opinion (and this is only my opinion) if the conditions in the body are such that the person or animal is compromised in some way, its harder for the body to heal. That said, using NCD to remove toxins and then adding the Agarigold product makes sense to support the immune system. (Agarigold shows a support in enhancing the formation of natural killer cells, a big part of a strong immune system.)

So my question back to you (and researchers) is this... is there a connection between a body that is compromised by toxins and an increased rate of not only cancer but also infectious diseases. My answer would be yes. Then what can we do to promote a healthy body? Remove toxins and support the immune system.

Although Louis Pasteur discovered a connection between germs and disease (germ theory) we know that a healthy body is confronted daily by micro-organisms which could potentially cause disease. But they don't, do they? More often than not, we don't get sick. Something is working right and we need to support that.

Thanks for the thought provoking question and news. I hope my answer helped.

Rosemary
www.rosemaryssolutions.com

Rooster in da house!

Thanks to an FHA project, I now have chickens in my back yard. At least temporarily. But for a couple of weeks, they were in the basement crowing as I worked on the computer. So this generated some comments in one of my groups. This one was cute, so I asked if I could share!

Paraphrased from a forum on the internet and cross-posted with permission.

OK, so when I was a kid, my teacher had an incubator and we hatched some eggs into chicks and I volunteered to take them home. I ended up with two of them and they were my pets. I used to go on walks with them and turn over rotted logs and such so they could find juicy grubs.

Then I taught them some tricks so I could enter the hen into the science fair. I would have entered the rooster as well, but he had some sizable spurs on his legs and wasn't shy about using them.

Well, unfortunately, a dog killed my hen and the rooster used to crow for me outside my bedroom window. So I started sneaking him inside to sleep in my bedroom at night. My bedroom had sloped ceiling so I had really short closet door and I opened it and put newspaper under it and he used the top edge for a roost.

I used to sneak him back down first thing in the morning, and everything was going well till his inner alarm set him off crowing one morning at 3:00! I jumped up and grabbed him and held his beak shut and that's how I found out that a rooster can crow almost as loudly with his beak held shut!

And that's how I found out that my mother could yell louder than that bird could crow, LOL which was pretty darn loud in the house in the wee hours of the morning.
So that's one of my chicken stories...
Brenda

Ohio Bill Strips Away Dog Ownership Rights

Monday, December 17th 2007
7:28 PM Ohio Bill Strips Away Dog Ownership Rights


A bill before the Ohio legislature takes aim at the concept of dogs as private property, stripping away the right of private ownership of dogs. The legislation redefines owners of kennels as having “custody of or control” over dogs, but does not grant them the right of actual ownership. The bill is designed to regulate kennels having nine or more breeding dogs. It requires additional regulation of kennels that sell more than 25 dogs and puppies a year, which are called “intermediary” kennels.



House Bill 223 gives dogs the same legal status and rights as human children or wards of the state, and incorporates many of the basic principles advocated by extreme animal rights groups such as the Humane Society of the United States and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. HSUS and PETA believe that all animals should be granted rights equal to those guaranteed to humans, and the Ohio legislation reflects this position.



The American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) has identified the Ohio legislation as one of its highest priorities for 2008, and is assembling a strong leadership team and legal representation to fight back against this blatant attempt to take away our right of dog ownership and infringe on the vital concept of private property.



“It’s not going to be an easy fight,” ASDA Director John Yates said. “The Ohio legislation (H.B. 223) already has the endorsement of 38 members of the 99-member Ohio General Assembly. That is close to 40-percent support, and the bill still is in committee.” The 38 Ohio legislators who endorse the bill will be listed at the bottom of this article.



“I ‘smell a rat’ with this legislation,” Yates said. “First of all, it was not introduced into the House Agriculture Committee, even though it would be administered and controlled by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Instead, the bill was introduced in the State Government and Elections Committee. This is a tactic use to minimize the influence of pro-farm legislators, who would recognize the fundamental danger to farmers when animals are granted equal rights with humans, and when the concept of private ownership of animals is destroyed.”



Yates said it also seems fishy that numerous sensationalistic and inflammatory news articles, television news stories and National Public Radio broadcasts have appeared in Ohio over the past month. National Public Radio is funded with tax dollars, and ASDA plans to demand equal airtime to counter these biased news stories.



Yates urges all Ohioans who have sporting dogs, own dogs of other breeds, who farm or who simply care about basic human rights to take an active role in this fight by joining ASDA and volunteering their time and talent to strike down this legislation and put real heat on the 38 legislators who support it. ASDA also has assembled a list of Ohio organizations that support this legislation, and businesses that support these groups, and will urge sporting dog owners to boycott them.



ASDA’s website can be accessed at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org. Frequent updates about the Ohio situation will appear on the organization’s journal blog, which can be accessed through this site.



A full political and legal analysis of this legislation will be published on the ASDA website this week, but here are some of the most significant aspects of H.B. 223:



· All litters of puppies born by regulated kennels must be registered with the state agency.



· Each kennel operator will be required to post surety bonds and carry insurance to pay for the cost of any enforcement action against him or her.



· The state will be given the power to confiscate dogs, both for alleged mistreatment and for technical violations of the kennel law.



· Although violation of any part of this law would be considered a First Class Misdemeanor, subject to the criminal code and possible prison sentences and stiff fines, accused kennel owners are granted only the right to an administrative appeal through the Department of Agriculture.



· It allows the Department of Agriculture to pass judgment on an applicant’s competence to operate a kennel, without defining what standards will be used to make this determination, and gives the power to deny licensure to anyone deemed lacking “the expertise or capacity” to meet the requirements of the law. Photos of an applicant’s kennel and various affidavits must be filed with each application.



· The bill requires initial and annual criminal and personal background checks of kennel operators, and of all of their employees and family members who have contact with dogs, and also requires fingerprinting of each person involved. Kennel owners thus will have to meet the same background requirements as people who work with children or adults in schools, institutions, group homes and social service agencies. A kennel license would be denied if the operator, a kennel employee or a family member have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to animal abuse or domestic violence allegations at any time in their lives.



· Grants complete power to the Department of Agriculture to create and enforce specific regulations about the care of dogs, kennel management, paperwork and facility design. The bill does not require either legislative oversight or public participation, and the specifics of the regulations are not contained in the text of the legislation. Specific information is being withheld from the legislature and citizens.



· Annual kennel license fees ranging from $150 to $750 are imposed by the bill. Intermediaries (anyone who sells more than 25 dogs or puppies a year) are required to pay an additional $500 license fee. In addition, any citizen can request an inspection of any intermediary facility at any time and for any reason, and the request will be mandatory.



· The bill also sets up contracts with animal shelters and rescue groups to house and care for any animals that are confiscated by the state.



· Creates a 10-member oversight commission consisting of two members of the general assembly and eight members “representing various entities with an interest in dog kennels.” There is no requirement for any of these representatives to be stakeholders in the issue, and the door is open for representation by animal rights groups. These eight seats will be held by political appointees who are not accountable to the Legislature or the voters.

Here is a list of the 38 co-sponsors of the bill: Ohio Reps. Hughes (the prime sponsor), R. Hagan, D. Stewart, Flowers, Skindell, Combs, B. Williams, Seitz, Okey, Fende, Setzer, Bacon, Beatty, Brady, Otterman, Peterson, Brown, Yuko, J. Stewart, Luckie, Wolpert, J. McGregor, Webster, Evans, Ujvagi, Blessing, J. Hagan, Distel, Heard, Dyer, Celeste, Foley, Chandler, Hottinger, Strahorn, Schneider, Bolon, and Miller.

Yates urges Ohioans and others to contact these legislators both in person and with strongly worded letters of protest aimed both at defeating this legislation, and having the co-sponsors formally withdraw their support from it.

ASDA also is working to save Ohio field trial grounds at the Kildeer Plains and Indian Creek Wildlife Management Areas, which are being closed to trialing this coming April by state and federal wildlife agencies.

Oprah’s Puppy Dies Of Parvovirus

Oprah’s Puppy Dies Of Parvovirus

Came From Extremist Chicago Animal Rights Shelter

by JOHN YATES
American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
asda@conline. net

This article is archived at: http://eaglerock814 .proboards107. com/index. cgi?action= display&board= general&thread= 29

CHICAGO (March 13, 2009) – Paula Fasseas might have some explaining to do.

Yesterday, Fasseas testified before Chicago City Council and claimed that veterinarians who oppose a spay/neuter mandate are greedy. She said the veterinarians care only about protecting their business interests. Both the city and state veterinary medical associations have opposed the mandate because it enables government to make medical decisions for a pet that should be made only by medical professionals.

Her testimony came only hours before tragedy struck the home of talk show superstar Oprah Winfrey, who adopted two puppies from the Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) animal shelter that is operated by Fasseas. An outspoken disciple of the radical Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Fasseas founded the PAWS program and remains chairman of its board.

Winfrey lost one of those puppies to dreaded parvovirus, which apparently was contacted while it was living at the PAWS shelter, the American Sporting Dog Alliance (ASDA) has learned. In addition, PAWS shelter staff took some of the puppy’s littermates to the Oprah Show, and a beloved puppy previously obtained by Winfrey was exposed to the deadly disease and now shows symptoms of it.

Winfrey reportedly is fighting now to save the second puppy’s life. Emergency clinic veterinarians, whom Fasseas accused of being greedy, have fought round the clock to help Winfrey to try to save the two puppies.

PAWS recently completed a luxurious $9 million shelter to house only 20-plus animals in separate rooms, tour guides report. Crystal chandeliers adorn the lobby, and fund-raisers are diamond-studded black-tie affairs. It’s a pretty cushy set-up, and the PAWS board has been very successful in attracting large donations from wealthy people and companies. PAWS is known for taking the most desirable and easily adoptable dogs from local animal shelters, and then putting them up for adoption. So-called donations to purchase a puppy from PAWS reportedly range upward from $200.

Unfortunately, the PAWS staff and Fasseas apparently haven’t learned the basics of disease management and prevention in an animal shelter with a constant turnover of dogs from many different sources, and the puppies and Winfrey have paid the price.

It also is ironic that Fasseas has been critical of private breeders, commercial kennels and pet stores for allegedly selling many puppies that are seriously ill. Fasseas echoes animal rights movement propaganda that people who raise dogs sacrifice their dogs’ health for money and profit.

It is tragically ironic that Winfrey also has adopted this HSUS stance, and a special report she aired last year on “puppy mills” pointed to the disease allegations and touted rescue programs as a preferred alternative.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance has documented the trail of the sick puppies to Winfrey’s doorstep. This is the way the story unfolded.

Angela M. Brown, a Chicago woman who is active in the rescue movement, obtained an American cocker spaniel bitch from a relative in South Carolina. The dog was in poor shape, and Brown soon realized that the dog was pregnant.

Weeks later, eleven puppies were born. Brown took great care of the bitch and her puppies, and appears to have done everything right. One of the puppies died at a vey young age, three were adopted to private parties, and seven were relinquished to the PAWS shelter “in mid February when they were 9 weeks old,” according to the rescuer’s website.

Winfrey obtained one of those puppies from the PAWS shelter. She named the precious female puppy “Sadie,” and introduced her on the Oprah Show. Sadie apparently did not have parvovirus, but Winfrey reported that she was up all night with the puppy the day after she obtained it from the PAWS shelter. She said the puppy had “a little virus.”

Winfrey fell in love with Sadie and asked to adopt a second puppy, which was a male named Ivan. Ivan and some of his littermates appeared on the Oprah Show on March 6.

But Ivan came down with a serious illness at some point after Winfrey took him home, and she rushed him to an emergency veterinary clinic. Ivan was diagnosed with parvovirus and died last night. The disease is most often fatal to young puppies, which are very susceptible if they are exposed to it. Parvovirus is highly contagious and is spread very easily.

Based on the dates when the puppies were relinquished to PAWS and the appearance of the remaining littermates on the Oprah Show, it would appear that the puppies were exposed to parvovirus at the PAWS shelter. They would have clearly been at the PAWS shelter during the incubation period for the deadly disease.

During this period, PAWS personnel brought some remaining littermates to the Oprah Show for exposure to a national audience. As it turned out, at least some of the remaining littermates were infected with parvovirus. The infected puppies also came into contact with other guests on the show, and possibly with show staff members and people in the audience.

Winfrey’s beloved Sadie also was exposed to the litter on the TV show, and reportedly came down with the disease. Sadie’s fate remains uncertain.

It is not known if any of the puppies were vaccinated against parvovirus at the PAWS shelter, or if they were isolated from the general population of dogs. These are standard disease prevention and management practices for young puppies with undeveloped immune systems.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance offers our prayers for the speedy and full recovery of Sadie, and also for the continuation of the fine work done by many Chicago rescue and sheltering programs, which are among the finest in the nation. Our hearts go out to Winfrey.

Here is an example of the animal rights movement propaganda that is published on the PAWS website: “Inhumane ‘backyard breeders’ have found a profit-center in exploiting pets that are often used in dogfighting, other illegal activities or simply given up when no longer wanted…Many backyard breeders keep pets in inhumane conditions and are not registered or inspected. This ordinance will require registration of breeders and a mechanism to monitor that breeders engage in safe and humane practices.”

We have found that people who live in glass houses should be careful about throwing stones.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, breeders and professionals who work with breeds of dogs that are used for hunting. We also welcome people who work with other breeds, as legislative issues affect all of us. We are a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog owners, and to assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and humans maintains its rightful place in American society and life.

The American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can continue to work to protect the rights of dog owners. Your membership, participation and support are truly essential to the success of our mission. We are funded solely by your donations in order to maintain strict independence.

Please visit us on the web at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org Our email is asda@csonline.net .

PLEASE CROSS-POST AND FORWARD THIS REPORT TO YOUR FRIENDS

The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org

Kangee @ 8 weeks old

WARNING - these pictures contain optimum cuteness. Beware!!

GSPs and other hunting dogs looking for homes

http://web.me.com/msalyers/GSP_Rescue/Home.html

Out of Missouri. A very sad story for the owner. Hopefully they'll be able to find good homes for all the animals!!

Samoyeds Looking for a Home

I haven't verified this information, but it came from a reliable source. Please crosspost as you see fit:

There are 7 pure-bred female Samoyeds who need a "forever home" because their owner/breeder, Cathy Pendleton, is losing her battle with breast cancer. She can no longer care for her dogs and has been moved to Hospice after being in the hospital for a week.

I'm giving this a wider distribution than usual, so some of you may receive it more than once. Even though you may not be on a "rescue" group email, I'm including you in the hopes that you can forward on to the widest distribution so that these girls all have a chance to find the perfect new home. The dogs are in the Atlanta , GA , area, but they will allow them to be adopted out of state.

All the owner/breeder wants is for all of these girls to get good homes. Currently, they are not wanting to place any of the dogs in foster care because they are trying to move the dogs only once. My understanding is that the older animals have been spayed. Because she is a breeder, the younger dogs are not spayed; however the new family would need to have the dog spayed if she is less than seven years (The dogs range in age from 1.5 years to more senior dogs.)

One look at their picture (below) shows how extraordinarily beautiful these dogs are. (I count 8 in the picture, but perhaps one has been placed already.) All are healthy and well cared for, up to date on shots, heartworm, flea treatment, etc. The new "forever" home will need to have a fenced yard with sufficient space for an active dog. The folks who are placing the Samoyeds for the owner may do a home visit either before, after, or both to ensure that the dog and their new family are a good fit.

If you think you might be interested after reading Velvet's email (below), her contact info is v.a.simmons@ att.net.

Thanks for giving this the widest distribution possible. Following is the email from the lady who is managing the adoption of these 7 lovely ladies.

MJ

Charity Scrapbook Package for Australian Brushfire

The wonderful talents of 34 creative designers have combined to create a mega kit of scrapbooking designs, the proceeds of which will be contributed to the victims of the Australian Brush Fires. Check it out:

http://digilovers-addiction.blogspot.com/2009/02/are-you-ready-for-big-surprise.html

Top Ten Reasons Why Your Pet May Be Itching

Top Ten Reasons Why Your Pet May Be Itching
by Cynthia Holley-Connolly - Staff Writer, Only Natural Pet Store

Itching is one of the most unpleasant sensations imaginable - and a cat's or dog's never-ending scratching, biting, and licking can seem nearly as aggravating. Watching your pet suffer with a chronic itch is an all-too-common experience facing pet parents these days. If your pet is constantly shaking their head, or scratching, rubbing, chewing or licking some area of skin, you can bet that there's likely some agonizing itching going on. Left untreated, areas of itchy skin become vulnerable to damage from your pet's scratching or licking, to hot spots (areas of oozing, dry or inflamed skin), and even to secondary infections from bacteria. What may be causing the itch, and what can you do about it?

We've compiled a list of the top ten itch-causing factors and some suggestions on what you can do to help your pet escape from that irritating itch. Before your pet is tearing up their skin, pulling out their fur, or forced to wear a cone-shaped (Elizabethan) collar, consider these common causes of itchiness in pets and work with your vet to get your pet some relief:

1. Poor Quality Diet - We're not talking about food allergies here (more on that shortly). A surprising factor underlying a vast number of allergic itch reactions is simply a poor quality diet that inadequately nourishes a cat or dog. As we always say, a good diet is the foundation of good health. Even the best medication won't eliminate allergic skin reactions when your pet's immune system is unable to function properly due to lack of nutrients. If you're still feeding a grocery store, veterinarian prescribed or commercial chain pet store food, we urge you to read our article, "What You Need to Know About Your Pet's Food," check the label on your companion's food package, and find a natural food for your cat or dog. A good daily multivitamin is a great way to enhance the nutrient levels your pet gets each day as well.

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For the rest of the story, see their web site!

Rescue Remedy Pastilles now SAFE!!!

Happy to report that when I checked the ingredients for the pastilles today, that they no longer have xylitol as one of the ingredients. Bach responded to feedback and they have reformulated their products, once again preserving the integrity that makes them safe for ALL of their customers :)

Kangee @ 7 weeks old

This was created for another challege at www.godigitalscrapbooking.com. The challenge was journaling and I also did a scraplift (where you find a layout you like and use it as the basis of how you place your elements.

Kangee is now 6 weeks old and full of vinegar. He is biting everything in his path to try out his puppy teeth. I gave him a limb from a bush yesterday and he was in heaven! He almost discovered shoelaces yesterday, but the unsuspecting victim moved their foot in the nick of time while I distracted him to something else.

Here is a picture of his mom. Check out the distinguished pedigree!!

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/401089.html

Vet Bills

When it rains, it pours. It all started about 6 weeks ago with Rizzo the pug getting attacked in the back yard. She had some serious wounds on the underside of her chest and was found close to dead in the back yard one winter day when the temperatures were low. She was rushed to the vet and made an amazing recovery, but required sedation on two different days and multiple stitches. The at-home care was rigorous for a few weeks as necrotic tissue disappeared and her body began the rebuilding process. Her wounds required flushing several times per day, but she was a good sport.

And to top it all off, the security cameras weren't at the correct angle to pick up what happened and it was a mystery what happened to her, but unfortunately all indicators pointed to Yoshi, the older german shepherd female we opened our home to when she was retired from breeding at her former residence. Yoshi is an incredible dog, worth her weight in gold, and very non-confrontational, so why the attack? After 3 years of peaceful living?

A week later, we noticed two masses on Yoshi's abdomen that were very tender to the touch. They weren't there two weeks prior, so that would explain the attack if she had been under the weather while these were developing. A preliminary visit to the vet with x-rays to see if it was cancer and perhaps if it were widespread indicated that the removal of the masses might be sufficient. So she underwent a mass removal and spay. Her body looks horrible with all the stitches and a big drain tube coming out of her abdomen, but her eyes are bright. She seems happy and very thankful to be on the other side of that procedure.

In between this, we took in a german shepherd puppy who was rejected by his mother at birth. He had some huge obstacles to overcome, including battling a systemic staph infection, being bottle fed, and the loss of one of his feet. He was the runt and is still far too tiny for his age of 4 weeks, but he is strong and vibrant, with a great appetite and is developing on course other than size. He's been into the vet at least 6 times in all this, getting his paw re-wrapped with bandages and being on anti-biotics.

Back to Yoshi, on day 3 of her post-spay care, we went through the two-man procedure to administer her medications. When she doesn't want to open up her mouth, there aren't many who can make her and successfully get medicine down her. And she was too nauseous to fall for the ole "wrap it in hamburger" trick. So on that morning, two of us got the anti-biotics and the rimadyl in her, but then were distracted and walked away from the scene of the crime, for which we paid dearly later.

That same day, coming home for lunch, it was discovered that 5 pugs had opened up the rimadyl (left on the coffee table) and scarfed it down. The culprit gave himself up when he started puking all over the sofa. He was rushed to the vet for 2 days of IV's because rimadyl can cause liver damage.

So roughly $2000 later, I hope we're done going to the vet several times a week. I almost refused the rimadyl because I have some great natural pain relievers that don't have harmful side effects. Wish I would have followed my gut!!

I'm just glad that everyone is ok and on the mend. But man, I need a vacation...

Fabio's scrapbook page

The scrapbooking challenges at godigitalscrapbooking.com have been keeping me busy. It's so much fun to relax at the computer, putting pieces of beautiful artwork together in new and creative ways. The best part is that I can walk away from the project and there's not a whole table that has to be dedicated to scrapbooking stuff!!

Here's the latest with Fabio made up primarily with pieces from the Plumbago Kit and the February Collaboration Kit.

More Scrapbook pages

Can you tell I'm having fun with the new digital scrapbooking pages?

The elements, papers, etc. for these pages came from the designers at godigitalscrapbooking.com

New page for Gator

This was made for a challenge to learn how to blend a photo into the background. All paper and elements are from various artists online, none are original creations.

There is a lot of meaning to the word where this little guy is concerned. Maybe one day his whole story will be posted. He's a brave little soul, with lots of (hutzpah?).

More pictures of Buzka & Fabio's puppies

Buzka's mom sent me more pictures of the cutie patooties today. She said both the boys are chunks. Big balls of pure luvin. Check 'em out.