Amber D's Advice Column

Amber D is an outspoken donkey who lives on an animal sanctuary co-founded by an animal communicator. So Amber D fortunately has many avenues available to her for expressing herself. She barged in on the newsletter making process and answered a couple of cute questions in her sassy manner, but then started a question and answer column with very thought-provoking and heart opening responses. Here is an excerpt with permission from the folks at Spring Farm Cares and more can be found on the Spring Farm Cares website :

http://www.springfarmcares.org/amberd.htm

Here is one of her fun and spirited answers.

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Dear Amber D: Do humans really hear us? --Crazed Cat.

Dear Crazed:

This has been a question that has perplexed all animals for a very long time. We know from long-time research by dogs, that if you stare at them long enough, they do seem to get it. At least something seems to register that you are trying to tell them something. Some of them start guessing and will try feeding you, taking you outside, petting you, and even singing to you, when all you were trying to say to them is “hello.”

My personal opinion is that the human brain is so large that it blocks out their hearts so they don’t listen well. My advice to you is to try the staring technique and, by process of elimination, you may actually get them to do what you want.

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But grab your kleenex for this profound understanding of unconditional love.

Question: There is one thing I always have trouble with and that's the notion of unconditional love. I think humans (myself not excluded) are mostly so narcissistic, that the thought of being loved by animals no matter what a huge egomaniac one is, might not necessarily be a healthy concept. (If I use an extreme example - Hitler was very fond of his dog, but I find it difficult to imagine that the dog found Hitler to be a wonderful person? if the dog had any idea what was going on because of his/her human, which I assume he/she had.) I think it often is absolutely OK and necessary to judge - when values and ethics are involved. What do you think? Do animals judge? Do they judge AND love - and could you explain what animals think about this.

Amber Donkey: This is probably the most popular question I, and other animals at Spring Farm, are asked by people coming to the farm to learn from us. We don't always understand why this is such a difficult thing for humans to grasp or understand. But I think it is because you have become separated from the notion, the ideal, the principle, and the understanding of unconditional love and forgiveness. To think that unconditional love could be "unhealthy" speaks volumes for why so many of our human friends are sick all of the time. Unconditional love is pure health and vitality and oneness and it is nothing short of being universal truth. I have asked Dawn to share a story that she experienced first hand with an animal and a human who did less than right by them. This story is a prime example of how animals operate within the understanding of forgiveness and unconditional love. I will tell you that this same principle applies to the example you used above regarding Hitler. But that example is so heavily charged by the magnitude of the atrocities that this entails, that the human heart and mind cannot wrap itself around the understanding of it. This is why I asked Dawn to share her experience as it will be easier to understand where we are coming from.

From Dawn: I often have the privilege of working with my colleague Lillie Goodrich, Animal Communicator and Co-Founder of Glen Highland Farm, a Border Collie rescue, quite a bit on more challenging cases. We have learned a ton of information from animals who we have worked with together. One of the most outstanding and memorable topics is about unconditional love and being nonjudgmental. This is an exact real life example of what Amber Donkey refers to above.

Lillie contacted me to help work with a dog she had just brought into her rescue. The history on this dog provided all the answers as to why she was very skittish. She was relinquished to a humane society by a person who arrived drunk and told the shelter personnel that he routinely punched her in the face when she annoyed him. A couple of days later, after sobering up, he tried to adopt her back from the shelter. Instead, she was already on her way to a new life at Glen Highland Farm and to find a person who would adopt her and love her forever. Lillie excels at helping Border Collies who have come through some of the most extreme and sad situations you can imagine. The farm is very healing for them and they get to experience life as a Border Collie. But this dog needed a little extra help. I had worked with Lillie on several occasions with this dog and she was gradually improving in her self-confidence. Dogs give so much to humans and it is beyond sad to see that life force dimmed by things humans do to them. This dog was one such case. Within a few months, Lillie was contacted by the humane society who sent her this dog with some interesting news. It seems that the man who had abused and then dumped her had found himself another dog from someplace else. He had just been found dead in his home and his dog had been eating on his corpse. Our reaction, of course, was probably the same as some of yours. He got his just desserts. But then, as quickly as the thought came in, the dog came through for a message for Lillie and for me. Both Lillie and the dog have given permission to use this story and for you to hear what the dog had to say about the fate of this person who tormented and abused her.

From the dog: If you find yourselves feeling that justice was served, then you are not looking from your heart. This is a story of a life....lost. A mission.... incomplete. A heart.... still closed. A soul....still playing out this troubling aspect of itself. It is also the story of two healers whose missions were not effective. It is of a hope lost. Of a rescue never fulfilled. You know the feeling.... when you just have to console yourself with the realization that you can't save them all.

This was a man whose heart was so closed that he lost his own sense of direction and purpose. Instead of love and joy.... he could only feel pain. Instead of knowing success... he could only realize failure. Only one thing could change that for him and that was for him to open his heart. But he forgot that in his pain and his entire focus became one of hiding from the light at all costs. Yet his soul knew its journey. His soul yearned for the love from his heart. And his soul asked for help and help was granted.... as it always is for all who ask. Again, the quickest way to his heart was chosen. A being who could love him in spite of all the darkness he could muster. A being who would still welcome him home although he brought nothing but pain. Because that being was guided by the one truth that all living beings are born with into the physical realm - that all hearts can open, no one is truly lost, and nothing is ever hopeless. I arrived.

I tried to open his heart the easy way -with love. But he couldn't accept it. I never gave up. Until out of a last attempt to save him from himself, I tried to take some of his darkness away. This dimmed my own light by giving up my own trust in my own life. I knew he needed strength.... so I gave him mine.... the ultimate sacrifice. Now I am left to find my own strength once again - for which I will because I am willing to receive.

Sadly, the man did not find that strength I left him, yet he knew something was there and he tried to find it again. A second friend entered the fray. This friend too, could not reach the depths of the emptiness in this man's heart. We ask you now to give light to his soul. The task he came here to complete, went unfulfilled and uncompleted. He will need to try it again. With help, we can all send him light, love, and strength.... exactly what I and the second dog tried to do, so that our missions to help him were not in vain. Our thoughts for his journey to find the light of an open heart - like you so richly have in your own lives - will ease his journey the next time. No one is ever left behind without help.

Also understand that the second dog meant no revenge, had no anger, no false motives other than to help this lost person find his way. Send your thoughts to this dog who is feeling the remorse of a lost mission, and whose only thoughts in chewing on this human's body was first to wake him up, and then as a last attempt at survival for its own body. Revenge was never part of the plot. Send that dog the comfort of knowing it did all it could do and did not fail. Send that dog the light it will need for itself, as it also chose to give up some of its own light as a last attempt to bring the man to his own heart. And last..... remember that your own soul evolved through darkness just like this man. Your journey to your own open heart was not always filled with the light you now have. You too once took baby steps in darkness..... and made mistakes. Someone was there for you .... to show you the way. Because of your willingness to live in your heart, and truly feel your feelings... you have been chosen to teach with the teachers. We can't save them all ..... but we can send them love and light to ease them through their journeys the next time around. You are blessed.

From Dawn: This is not an isolated communication. I have received many just like this from animals who have suffered untold pain and abuse at the hands of humans. Yet I have seen them move on with forgiveness, non-judgement, and unconditional love. Unhealthy? I think that judgment is one of the biggest man made illnesses to plague us.

From Amber Donkey: Thanks Dawn. To further add to the last part of the question: Do animals judge and love? I will say that you can not do both at the same time. To love unconditionally is to do so without judgment. It is to understand that we are all one. To understand that the "dark" side you see and judge in others is also a part of yourself. That no one is beyond loving. No one is beyond forgiveness. And no one has the right to take away someone else's hope. That is what we are trying to say.

The only pig in the world scared of mud

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1025428/Pig-Boots-The-worlds-porker-afraid-mud.html

Holistic Vet Advocates Alternative Pet Care

Holistic vet advocates alternative pet care
Category: Pets and Animals


http://postgazette.com/pg/08162/888634-51.stm

Thunderstorms & Gator

Last night Ohio was hit hard by one of the biggest storms we've had in years. Hour after hour of rolling thunder, lightning lit up the sky, and huge thunderclaps woke us up several times. Many areas were under tornado watches and warnings.

Most of the dogs handled it pretty well, but around the time the electricity went off at 3am, I woke up to Gator starting to panic. He tried to put on a calm front, but the storm brought back memories of his time in Louisiana and Texas during hurricane Katrina. He abandoned his post at the foot of the bed and backed his hiney up into my armpit so he had the security of me behind him and could still keep an eye on the windows to see all that was going on. He obsessively licked any part of my arms or feet that popped out from under the blanket. He watched the storm with his radar ears following its every nuance, and although he was stiffly awaiting the thunderclaps, they still managed to take him by surprise as he jumped up off the bed.

So we were up together from 3am to 7am when the worst of the storms finally passed. After all my sweet boy has done to protect me and the other females in the house, it was the least I could do for him.

McD’s at midnight = BACON

5-30-08

So we had this tractor show at the Village. This means lots of work and preparation. And even though everyone's been working on it for a week, the day before still ends up with lots still left to be done.

With things looking like they might drag out till 1 or 2 in the morning, I finally go on a burger run at 11:30 pm, even though no one has eaten supper around here till then. McDonald's is about the only thing open, but the girl at the counter LOVED dogs and Petunia and Rizzo made a huge hit.

You know, I like Tim Horton's and they're sweet when they hand out a timbit for the kids when we go through for coffee, but the dogs know what real food is. And they usually take it out of kindness and dump it somewhere on the floor or in the car seat for me to find weeks later. But not the lady at McDonald's. Maybe it's because there weren't any managers there that late at night, or maybe they had some extra food already made that they probably weren't going to be able to sell, but whatever the reason, that girl comes back to the window with BACON!!!

Oh yeh... it was a good errand run for the girls!

Alvin socializin

Alvin has to be one of the most socialized puppies we've ever had. Thanks to some relatives with babies, he's been exposed to toddler luvin and temper tantrums. He's been on I can't count how many car rides. He went to a small family reunion. He has gone into Lowe's and other stores to get landscaping supplies. He has helped take down trees and chainsaws didn't phase him one bit! He has helped mow lawns. And recently he decided that he could go up and down concrete stairs, but the wooden ones... well, we'll wait on those a little longer.

When he's still and quiet, he looks like the picture above. But when he's in full motion, he is starting into his gangly teenage stage like the picture below. As fat as they were as puppies being fed by two moms, we weren't sure if they were going to be large as adults. Logic says no, the genetics determine that, but then looking at them... they were SOOOO BIG - lol. It's nice to see that he'll turn out to be a very nice sized adult pug after all!

Here he was out front helping remove the dandelions before the Memorial Day Parade :)





After the parade, Miss Tanner taught Alvin how to fetch. Over on a hill in the grass with a creek running behind. There were oh so many smells and it was fun to be one of the chosen ones who got to go and run around in the field while the ground was being prepped for a tractor pull coming up next weekend. Chasing twigs was just part of the fun for that afternoon! Wish I had my camera with me then!!

Mugsey needs a ride to Iowa or Quincy, IL

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10790612

Mugsy is a pug mix in Kentucky who needs a ride to her rescue in either Iowa or Quincy, IL. If you know of anyone going these directions, maybe contact the posting organization!

If there is anyone in the local area who travels frequently, please contact the local humane society and ask if they need volunteer transports. Our humane society works very hard at placing as many animals into rescue groups as they can, knowing that this is one of the best ways to minimize the number of animals they are forced to put down. So drop by or call and let them know the trips you'll be taking and see if there is any need for a transport to a rescue group. An easy way to save a life and provide much needed help and support in this day of high gas prices!

Avoid soy in kibble

This entry will be added to over time, but until the whole article is put together, know that soy in our animals' kibble is having a negative effect on their bodies, and specifically on the thyroid. Here is just one article:

http://www.tippypaws.com/2005/10/23/thyroid-disease-in-cats-dogs/#more-101

Alvin & his football bed

And just to make sure you can see all his cuteness!


Free digital graphics downloaded from:
http://petitmoineaux.blogspot.com/

Winter the Cat Ready for New Home

Winter the cat, who was found as a stray 2 days before Christmas (her family was obviously full of the Christmas spirit when they dumped her) has been spayed and is almost ready to go to her new home. If you know of anyone interested, we'd like to personally place Winter. She's loving, affectionate, intelligent, litter-box trained, and a joy to have around. We just cannot keep her at this time. We've done what we could to help secure a better future for her. Please help us in finding her a new and loving home.

One of Ellie's puppies enjoying sheer bliss

Made with the girly girl kit from freedigitalscrapbooking.com plus a few elements from other kits from other sources (the tag, the pearls at the bottom and the brad holding the tag).

Storytime - Alvin

I had Alvin up on the bed Saturday night playing with the pack. We have hardwood floors, so the gang values their play/wrestle time on a nice, comfy bed. After the pups were weaned, Ellie took great care in teaching them the pro wrestling moves, but they still haven't been able to pin mom down unless she fakes it.

At any rate, I fell asleep long before they did. (If I lay just right, when they run over me, it's like a massage!) And here's how I woke up at 4am Sunday. I was laying on my side, head on my pillow. Alvin was laying on his side, upper body on my pillow, facing me. His little head was right by my head. Ok, honestly, his little mouth was right by my lips. I was wakened by his dreaming. He was making all sorts of noises and when the air would come out, his lips would billow with the wind, all up against my lips. If that won't shock you out of a deep sleep, don't know what will! I picked him up (totally dead weight, head lolling back, lips smacking in protest of being woken) and put him back in the ex-pen, thinking he would need to go potty soon.

But then I found out he already had! He was very polite, didn't wake me, and went to the far bottom corner of the bed and quietly had gone potty at some time during the night. I love waterproof mattress pads so I can enjoy my puppy time :)

Gator scrapbooked digitally

Digital package from the Shabby Princess dot com.

Waiora Animal Conference Call

Tonight was the first time I've tuned into a conference call with Waiora, the distributors of Natural Cell Defense (liquid zeolites) in addition to other products.

Those of you I've talked to recently either in person or on messag boards are aware that NCD is my new favorite thing. It is an incredible detoxifier and has such a magnificent impact on health and critical situations.

In the interview, they spoke with a veterinarian who practices in Sacramento and uses a combination of traditional and alternative applications. The practice has, I believe, 4 veterinarians, and they have used the NCD product specifically for 2 years. Information about the doctor and a recording of the call will be posted in the next several days at www.zeoliteforums.com.

They began using the product on elderly cats, specifically those who were experiencing renal failure. Not only did they experience great results and clinical results indicating lowering (good) indicators, the cats often increased their appetite and their fur became more shiny. Having success and measurable results with this issue, they also began using it effectively for the following issues: chronic ear infections, cancers (prostate, mammary, carcinomas, and other cancers to remove free-floating cancer cells to prevent metastisis), chronic skin disorders and allergies, bacterial issues alongside traditional anti-biotics, and liver disease. They are impressed with the way it removes toxins from the system.

In this house, we have used it to clear an abscess, to help recover from illnesses and surgeries. One of our dog has a moderate level of aggression due to vaccinosis. When treating her for an upper respiratory infection, the NCD wasn't working on her cough, but amazingly enough, it reduced her aggression level significantly. This further validated my belief she was suffering from vaccinosis, one common side effect being aggression believed to be caused by the mercury in the brain. We have also used it for another dog who had a mysterious, unexplained itch above her tail.

All together, I'm very pleased to have this product at my disposal and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to man or beast, well or ill, young or old.

http://my.waiora.com/home.php?897589

Pug in Violets

Millie is digitally scrapbooked using tutorial and elements from freedigitalscrapbooking.com
http://freedigitalscrapbooking.com/digital_scrapbooking_papers_assorted.html

Pug pups at the Nursing Home

I had an appointment in Columbus with a holistic vet who also does chiropractic adjustments. Ellie's boys and Millie went with me to get their puppy checkups and chiropractic adjustments as yet another step in helping them get the best possible start in life.

The boys didn't make it easy on me, though. They pooped in the crate on the way there, pooped on the floor of the car, and one of them vomitted on my freshly cleaned pants 3 times. By the time we arrived at the vet, we were dirty, stinky, and very unimpressive. And by the time we cleaned up the prior messes and a couple of new ones on the office floor, the room had be fumigated behind us. So embarassing! But the boys were very cute, despite all that. And Millie tried to pierce the vet's fingers with her extra-sharp teeth while he innocently tried to listen to her heart and lungs.

I was very impressed by the vet tech. She actually got all the boys' names straight and knew the difference between Alvin and Theodore right away! The whole staff was very pleasant to deal with, even though they might not want us back right away - lol!

On the way home, we took a detour and stopped by a nursing home where one of my relatives is living. She's going to be 98 this year! I was going to take in one or two of the boys, but they stank themselves right out of that job and Millie got to be the star. She entertained a lounge full of women and nurses aids with her antics. She loves to bring a smile to their faces!

Maybe next time, boys!

Sudden Onset Aggression - Rare Side Effect of Lyme Disease

Permission to Cross-Post - Please share...
============ = PASTED ============ ========= =

A RARE SIDE EFFECT OF LYME DISEASE


We recently had a very strange event which I think we should share around the rescue-community:

Young (~2 years) M Lab-mix, came into our program with a 'questionable' background; may have been aggressive toward some children; then again, maybe not.


We kept him for a long while - months of fostering in our premier foster-home, no problems; placed him carefully, with a single middle-aged man who adored him. We also, as we do all our dogs, tested him for Lyme. He had it; we treated it; case closed -- we thought.

Everything went very well after adoption - the star of his obedience-class, frequent alum-visits to clinics - for over a year. And truly adored by his adopter.

Then, over 12-mos post-adopt, Mojo became suddenly, erratically, and seriously aggressive: literally attacked visitors to his home, people in the vet's waiting room, etc. Terrifying. Very-sudden. Totally inexplicable.

He was returned to us with genuine heartbreak from a very loving adopter.

Mojo then went to our regular vet and was a totally different dog: bared-teeth and growls at anyone who approached his kennel, lunged at other dogs when being walked, etc. We figured that whatever was happening with him, he had become un-placeable and started a TDC (Tough Decisions Committee - something we 'convene' that is open to anyone with an interest in the dog when we think that euthanasia might be an option).

However, someone at the vet's office said that perhaps we should test him for Lyme. Huh????????

They had had a regular client of theirs come in recently with similar, out-of-the blue-aggro, and it turned out that Lyme was the problem - puzzled them, but seemed to be the case. Okay -- hey, we'll try anything -- so we had him tested. He was high positive!

Fine, we started treatment while we continued to figure out what to do with him via the TDC. Almost immediately, however, once the antibiotics began, the Mojo we knew came back!!

He was himself again - bouncy, happy, a bit neurotic, but not at *all* aggressive!

The staff at the vets was amazed, but all confirmed this change. We didn't believe it; vets didn't believe it... BUT a thorough search of the Internet turned up a number of studies (plus) anecdotal-observati ons indicating that in some dogs (and some humans!!) the primary-symptom of their Lyme Disease can be sudden, irrational and serious aggression.

We've known for a while to check thyroid-levels of dogs that show aggro that just 'doesn't fit'. Now we've added testing for Lyme as well. And we have - results not-yet in - another dog, placed 12-mos-plus, returned because of out-of-the-blue aggro... he also tested high-positive for Lyme!

We've started treatment; we'll be monitoring his response. So - plug this in to your protocols; worth checking-out.

I spent the day today with Mojo... he truly is just the same dog we placed over a year ago. (We've let his original adopter know - because he vowed that it had to be *something* causing this behavior. But he cannot take Mojo back because his roommate, one of the people attacked, won't even consider it.

For the record, there were no skin-breaking contacts in any of these attacks, but plenty of fear and we consider them as serious as if they were full-fledged bites.)

We actually have additional insight into this because one of our volunteers (human) has had Lyme Disease. Took many months for her to be diagnosed; once she was, she learned it's a VERY-nasty bug that remains permanently, waiting for a chance to 'crop-up' again.

When we place Mojo again (TDC unanimously agrees we should), we're going to explain the background, these amazing events, and require the adopters test every 6-mos, whether or not he's symptomatic. We have no idea whether that will work or be sufficient - we're rather flying blind in this - but it seems rational.

But based on what we know now, its a real possibility: Lyme *can*, in a few rare-cases, cause aggression, aggression that can be reversed.

Permission was granted to cross post this.

- Mary Hinchman; Leader, Troop #146

http://wmdstroop.tripod.com
http://mnojo.tripod.com/amberglowkennel

Dog announces $35000 matching donation to studies rabies vaccine

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 1, 2008 -- Chiclet T. Dog, canine co-author of the award-winning book 'Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care', announces a $35,000 matching gift to the Rabies Challenge Fund. The Fund is conducting studies to prove that vaccine immunity persists for at least five years, and maybe as long as seven. Phase Two of the study will investigate vaccine additives called adjuvants and set up a reporting system for adverse reactions.


A feisty four-pound Maltese dog named Chiclet, her guardian Jan Rasmusen and two anonymous donors announce a joint $35,000 matching gift to the Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust. Rasmusen and Chiclet, co-authors of the national award-winning book Scared Poopless: The Straight Scoop on Dog Care (http://www.Dogs4Dogs.com/), hope to raise public awareness about problems with present rabies vaccination protocols and encourage other dog lovers to help fund this important study.




The Fund's study does NOT challenge the need for this important vaccine. Rather, it employs USDA vaccine-licensing standards to determine if immunity provided by a rabies shot persists for at least 5 years, and hopefully seven. Phase 2 will investigate the safety of veterinary vaccine adjuvants and set up a badly-needed reporting system for adverse reactions to this and other vaccines.


Rasmusen began studying vaccination dangers when her dog Jiggy developed autoimmune liver disease after a rabies shot. She says, "We have the chance to better the lives of, not just hundreds of dogs, or even thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dogs. We can potentially help improve the health of every dog in America. How exciting is that!"


Throughout the summer, the donors will add $1 for every $2 donated (for donations of $100 or more). Thus, public donations totaling $70,000 will bring the Fund $105,000. Chiclet will throw in a paw-tographed copy of Scared Poopless for donations topping $500.


Although the rabies vaccine is well-documented to give immunity for three years, blood studies (serum antibody titers) have shown protective immunity to persist seven years after vaccination. Regrettably, some states and localities in the U.S. still mandate vaccination annually or biannually. Because the vaccine is linked to numerous behavior and health problems, over-vaccination can be dangerous. Documented immediate, and delayed-onset, reactions include:

• Injection site cancer

• Seizures and epilepsy

• Autoimmune diseases

• Blood diseases

• Allergies

• Skin diseases

• Chronic digestive disorders

• Muscle weakness

• Behavior Problems: aggression, OCD, separation anxiety

• Loss of consciousness

• Death

Unfortunately, official reporting of adverse reactions s is voluntary and rare. Rasmusen says, "Few of us are warned about the rabies vaccine's possible adverse effects. Worse yet, delayed or unexpected reactions often go unlinked to the shot."


Nationally-renowned pet vaccination experts Dr's. Jean Dodds and Ronald Schultz, and their staffs, are donating their services for this study. The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, site of the study, has waived its normal 48% overhead charge. For all involved, this is a labor of love.


Rasmusen has prepared an entertaining and informative video slideshow starring Chiclet called Dog Rabid About Rabies Vaccine Dangers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pQHQw-5XCw). Rasmusen hopes the humorous video, packed with cute photos and easy-to-digest information, will alert dog "parents" to vaccine dangers and prompt them to take action.


Chiclet's friend, the canine superstar Benji, has a cameo role in the video and also lends support: 'This important study is long overdue. I give the Rabies Challenge study four BIG paws up!'


Surprising Facts:

• In 2007, the Center for Disease Control declared CANINE rabies nonexistent in the U.S. Dogs will not contract rabies from other dogs, but only from wild animals such as bats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and foxes.

• A Chihuahua and a Great Dane get the same size dose of vaccine.

• The USDA will not accept blood antibody tests showing seven-year immunity, or a 1992 French challenge study proving five-year immunity. As a result, dog lovers wanting to stop needless over-vaccination must fund research themselves.


Dog lovers, many of whose dogs have experienced severe vaccine reactions, have funded approximately eighteen months of the study. Donations to complete the study may be made at The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust (http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/about%20the%20RCF.html), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Extensive information and vaccination safety tips are available at Truth4Dogs.org (http://www.truth4dogs.org). Rasmusen urges dog lovers to post their experiences with the rabies vaccine in this Guestbook (http://www.Squidoo.com/rabiesvaccine).


About Rasmusen and Chiclet:

Scared Poopless won the Ben Franklin Award for Best Health Book and the USABookNews Award for Best Pet Health Book. A frequent guest on numerous television and radio broadcasts, Rasmusen publishes a popular free e-newsletter on natural health care for dogs (http://www.Dogs4Dogs.com/).


Contact Jan for interviews and hi res photography at 858-449-8898 (PDT). Short-notice interviews are welcomed.


Charitable Inquiries:

Rasmusen currently makes donations only to the rabies vaccine study. Low-cost copies of Scared Poopless, and her natural nutrition recordings, are offered to nonprofits for fundraising.


Jan Rasmusen

858-449-8898 PDT

San Diego, CA

Recipe for natural flea and tick repellant

I've seen many recipes touted for fleas, but the woman who shared this with me actually had a tick infestation that year and found this to be very effective against them!

Use 2 to 3 drops of each oil in 16 0z. water, OR 1/2 teaspoon of each oil in
a gallon of water.

tea tree oil, rosemary, sage (there are a few different types - it doesn't
matter which you choose), cedarwood, peppermint, sweet orange, eucalyptus,
citronella and pine needle.

It can be pricey to get the oils, but once you have them, they last a good
long time.

Blessings!
Ev

Recipe modified by Madalyn (two oils intentionally left out because they don't mix well with what is already there, although they are effective repellants in their own right:

peppermint - 3 drops
sweet orange - 1 drop
sage - 1 drop
citronella - 4 drops
lavender - 1 drop
eucalyptus - 1 drop

-----------------------------
According the the "Dirt Doctor" in Dallas (organic gardening guru) here is a natural mosquito repellent that works pretty well. I have used it and had few bites - but you have to PUT IT ON for it to work ;-). And it SMELLS GREAT!

Vanilla home remedy for personal use:
8 oz water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp. orange oil
Spray on liberally.

Betty


----------------------------



More info:
With so many people (and dogs) getting lyme disease, I got curious if there are any safe ways of repelling ticks. I don't know how well these work, but here are some ideas I found after a few minutes of quality time with Google.

I can't personally vouch for any of these approaches, but I had previously never heard of any methods of coping with ticks whatsoever, other than "cut down all the vegetation for miles around," "spray the hell out of everything" and "stay indoors or in wide open expanses of pavement at all times, and if you venture off the pavement for five seconds cover yourself from head to toe in thick clothing taped shut at every seam." So, at least this is a start of some other ways of thinking.

Some of these come from people trying to sell a product, and again I don't endorse any of these ideas as necessarily effective or environmentally sound. But I wanted to see what if anything was out there and this is a sample of what I discovered, as a jumping off point for anyone else who might be interested in doing some further experimenting or research.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
From : http://www.care2.com/greenliving/tick-repellant.html

a.. A... good repellent that also worked on our dogs, is to eat garlic pills (but don't give garlic to cats). A number of people have written me to say that they have had good luck with their dogs and themselves, by keeping to the garlic pill eating regimen every day.
a.. The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) reported in their winter of 1996 Journal of Pesticide Reform that nymphal ticks are reduced from 72.7 to 100 percent when dead leaves are removed from the forest areas surrounding residential areas.
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From: http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=462&bhcd2=1194649877

....ticks could be in the house-especially if the previous owners had dogs. Most cats "catch" ticks before they can latch on while they're grooming themselves (the cats, not the ticks). But dogs don't give themselves a tongue bath every hour. And when an engorged female tick drops off undetected, she can give birth to a huge number of 'babies' who can live a long time-sometimes years-in between meals.

Easiest way to check would be to set carbon dioxide traps. Get a big load of dry ice (handle it carefully, with big thick gloves) and put some in the center of each room, surrounded by big circles of sticky tape. Nearby ticks will head towards the CO2 and get caught on the tape. If the tapes are free of ticks the next day, the house is likely clean.

That leaves the great outdoors. Most ticks climb to the top of tall blades of grass or brush-generally a foot or more off the ground-wait for a red-blooded creature to pass by and then hop on. (So keep your brush cut; it keeps the suckers further away.)

Garlic based sprays, like Victor's "Mosquito Barrier" DO keep skeeters away from the sprayed area for two weeks, and might work on ticks. The only way to find out would be to spray a known tick-infested spot, wait a few days and then set some dry ice traps or use a tick drag to see if they've left the area. ('Tick drags' aren't parties where arachnids dress up like Barbara Streisand; they're big sheets of flannel that are dragged through the brush by researchers, who then count the number of ticks on the cloth.) Oh, and the sprays do have a strong garlic scent when you first use them, but the smell dissipates-at least to our noses-within a few hours.

...having a flock of fowl like guinea hens-the most excellent consumers of ticks-running loose on your property....

journal The IPM Practitioner, our old buddy Dr. Bill Quarles reported on the hot new trend of using naturally-occurring fungi to control insects AND those nasty members of the arachnid family, ticks. Bill explained that a strain (designated 'F52') of a green-colored fungus named Metarhizium anisopliae ("Meta-rise- e-um Ana-sof-a-Lee" )-discovered way back in 1879 in a cereal beetle that the fungus had sent to its eternal reward-has been shown to be toxic to ticks as well as many other pests. Both it and a closely related species are already being used to control locusts in Africa, termites in the US (under the brand name "Bioblast"), and greenhouse pests worldwide. And it's already EPA registered for use on ticks.

Earth Bio Sciences, a company based in New Haven, is developing both a spray and granular form for commercial use. I spoke with company president Tom Corell last week, and he confirmed that some field tests on the product, called "Tick-Ex", have already been completed, more are underway, and he hopes that the fungus might be available on a limited basis in some areas as early as next Spring!

The EPA's official "environmental risk assessment" found the fungus safe for humans to touch, ingest and inhale; and to have no detrimental effect on birds, mammals, fish, plants, or earthworms-not even bees and beneficial insects! And like I said, its already in use against other pests; we're pretty much just waiting for a few more studies to be finished and a distribution system to be put in place.

------------ -------
http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Products/mosquitobarrier.htm

Garlic treatment for yards, alleged to kill mosquito and tick larvae
------------ --------- -

A few posters at various forum type places said that oil (of any kind, including soy or olive) smothers ticks. The speculation was that it could be tried as a spray to kill larvae, applied a few times a season to yards or other frequently traveled areas. Also suggested as an idea for people and pets who may have been exposed and want to kill any on their body, though one person wondered if a tick that had already bitten you would just stay latched on forever, further infecting you, if it got smothered while already on your skin. I also worry that a broadbased oil smothering campaign could kill beneficials in the yard, but I haven't looked into the details.

------------ --------- ----
Diotomaceous Earth was suggested in numerous places, as effective against both fleas and ticks. You can get food grade and sprinkle it around the house or the yard. Some people even feed it to their pets (or eat it themselves) to kill internal parasites.
------------ --------- --------- -
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_InsectPrevention.php

Beneficial nematodes spread in the yard to control flea larvae? No one says it would work for ticks but many of the articles I found in my tick search also talked about fleas.
----------
Steve Tvedten has numerous free publications on line in which he describes less toxic pest control methods (including for termites and lice) but I got tired by the tie I got this far, and so I don't know if he has a response to ticks. It would be very interesting to find out if he does.

www.getipm.com
www.thebestcontrol.com

String of Illnesses Affects Nutro-fed Pets

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/04/pet_food_recalls93.html

String of Illnesses Afflicts NUTRO-Fed Pets
Company insists its food is '100% safe'

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com


April 18, 2008
• RECALL LIST
• Consumer Complaints
---
A worrisome health trend among dogs and cats across the country has surfaced in the past few months. Scores of pets from California to South Carolina have experienced sudden and recurring bouts of diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive problems.

Through an examination of reports submitted by readers, ConsumerAffairs.com has uncovered a common link among these pets: They all ate the same brand of food: NUTRO pet food.

In all of the cases we've examined, the animals' conditions improved once their owners switched them to another brand of food.

"I've been feeding my chocolate Lab, Indy, NUTRO for almost four years," said Laura F. of Las Vegas, Nevada. "He's always been happy, healthy, and big. Recently I switched him to NUTRO (Natural Choice) Lite at my vet's request. Three weeks ago, he started vomiting uncontrollably."

Laura said her veterinarian initially thought Indy had pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. The vet prescribed some medication and Indy's condition gradually improved.

"Now, three weeks later, he started vomiting again," she said, adding she continued to feed her dog NUTRO. "He's now lost about 8 pounds in three weeks and is weak and lethargic.

"The vet believes -- as do I -- that it is the food," she said.

Laura switched brands of dog food and Indy's health improved. After a while, Laura tried mixing in the NUTRO with the new food. But that turned out to be a bad idea.

"The vomiting started again," Laura said. "I also noticed that he only ate about half his food and was actually dropping the NUTRO out and trying to only eat the Science Diet. I think even my dog knows there is something wrong with the NUTRO food.

"I will never feed any of my pets NUTRO again."

Similar stories
We've heard similar stories and sentiment from scores of pet owners nationwide -- many of whom are loyal NUTRO customers. We've also heard from a pet store employee, who noticed these same digestive problems with her clients' pets that ate NUTRO products.

A pet owner in South Carolina told us that she found foreign objects in her last few bags of NUTRO foods.

And a disabled woman in California said all these pets' health problems have given her a horrible sense of déjà vu. Her service dog, she said, experienced these same digestive problems a few years ago – after eating NUTRO food.

"I would not venture to give any pet one nugget of NUTRO food after what my dog went through," said Maggie D. of San Francisco.

NUTRO responds
NUTRO, however, defended its products.

A spokeswoman told us she is unaware of any substantiated medical problems like these linked to her company's pet food.

Many NUTRO customers also tout the food, saying it's an excellent product. Veterinarians told ConsumerAffairs.com that many factors can cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs and cats, including changes in diet, newly-developed sensitivities to pet food, or viral infections.

But scores of pet owners who've contacted us are convinced that something is now wrong with NUTRO's food.

They're pet owners like Lynn C. of Cabot, Arkansas.

"I've used NUTRO for years and never had any problems," she told us. "But my 10-year-old border collie, Boo, became sick six weeks ago. He was lethargic, lost weight, and when evaluated by a veterinarian, his liver enzymes were critical. They were elevated…off the chart. My vet said we've got to do something.

"She put him on antibiotics and a strong amino acid, but he continued to deteriorate."

A week into Boo's treatment, a co-worker told Lynn about problems she'd read about regarding NUTRO's pet food.

"I had never dreamed it could be the food," she said. "I'm feeding all four of my dogs the food, so why all of the sudden would it affect Boo? The other three are still thriving. But they're younger—and he's the smallest dog."

Lynn did some digging and found the complaints filed by pet owners on ConsumerAffairs.com.

"I was shocked at the information that I found on NUTRO," she said. "I faxed pages and pages of this information to my veterinarian, who became alarmed and told me to stop feeding him the NUTRO."

Within days, Boo's condition improved.

"He started acting like he felt better," Lynn said. "It's amazing. He wasn't responding until I took him off the NUTRO food. Within a week, he had regained two pounds, and after two weeks, his liver enzymes were still high, but improving.

"I cannot explain why this happened all of the sudden since Boo has been eating this food for years. But I know my dog and I know it was the food."

Another pet owner in the small town of Cabot, Arkansas, who shows Westies, said her dogs experienced the same problems with NUTRO's food.

"I started using NUTRO Natural Choice for my show dogs last fall," said Judy Y., who has fed dogs NUTRO on and off for years. "With the last two bags my dogs started to lose weight and their stools were extremely soft. One litter had constant diarrhea. They were losing weight, their coats were not in the condition they should be. And after they ate, they would suck up water like they hadn't had any all day.

"The only dog I wasn't having problems with was the old dog that can only eat raw meat, no dog food at all."

Judy also noticed that one of her puppies wasn't growing.

"She was growing fine until I put her on NUTRO," Judy said. "And then it was like she just stopped growing. She looked like she had been starved and her coat looked real bad."

Judy's vet examined the dogs -- and their stools -- and didn't find any problems.

"So I said the heck with the commercial dog food and I started feeding all my dogs raw food," Judy said. "They've all bounced back. They have all gained weight and their hair is growing again."

The only exception is the puppy that had growth problems.

"My puppy is 10 months old now and her growth seems to be stunted," Judy said. "I have never had this happen in the 40 years I have been showing and breeding dogs. I'm not sure this show quality puppy will now get big enough to show or breed. It is so heart breaking to see such a good quality dog not live up to her potential because of a dog food."

----------------------------------
There is more to the article at the above link.

4 Types of Dog Vomit

The Four Types of Dog Vomit
Author Unknown

YELLOW URKA-GURKAS

Dog runs around the house and hides under furniture while making a prolonged "uurka-guurka, uurka-guurka" noise (the only noise guaranteed to wake up a dog lover who is hungover from a 3:30am post-dog-show celebration) . After a mad scramble to capture the dog and drag him outside, the episode ends with an indelible line of slimy yellow froth from the living room rug to the back door.

BLAP DISEASE

Dog exercises hard and

a) eats large mouthfuls of snow (winter blap disease) or

b) drinks a bucket of water (summer blap disease).

Within two minutes of returning inside the dog spews out large amounts of clear, slimy liquid, making a distinctive "blap" sound and sharp percussive noise as it hits the linoleum.


GARKS

Dog suddenly clears his throat with loud and dramatic "gggark, gggark" noises, followed by a prolonged "iiksss" and then loud, satisfied smacking noises. There is nothing on the rug. Don't investigate, you don't want to know.

RALFS

Apropos of nothing, the dog strolls into the dining room and waits 'til the innocent dinner guests are all watching him. Then, with a single deep gut-wrenching "raaaallff", disgorges the entire week's contents of his stomach on the rug. Variation: he eats it.

In all of the above events, the dog is entirely healthy and indeed, deeply pleased with himself.

The boys playing with papa Cooter up in the storage area

They were helping me clean, can't you tell?



I called the nearby kitty, but she looked at me and said, "No thanks. Those boys have too much energy."

Pug In Violets

Does this make her a pocket pug?

I was feeding Little Bit (Millie) out on the front porch this morning in the beautiful morning air when something came up. As I was talking with some folks, she started to get cold and shake, so I put her in my sweatshirt to keep warm. She climbed up on my shoulder, down my sleeve and popped her head out the end so she could keep tabs on everything going on :)

Video of the boys at the reservoir

First real day out for Ellie's boys

We've been dabbling with the good weather. Some time on the porch, in the yard and in the gravel (introducing to different textures/surfaces), but today was our first all out big day out. It was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and it probably hit pretty near 70 degrees. Our first stop was an oil change where the boys got proper admiration. The next stop was the reservoir. We weren't near the water, but we had fun in the grass. The adults got a full out run in GREAT BIG circles and got to stretch their legs good. We took pictures until the batteries in my camera died, which unfortunately wasn't very long. Here's a shot of Isabelle followed by Ellie and Jolene in one of their big circles.



Hey - where did my brothers go??



I was starting to edit this next picture, went into the other room to check on supper, and the dogs jumped up on the desk to see what they were missing out on and found the shortcut key for changing the picture to black and white on the keyboard. I kind of liked the effect, so I kept it :)



Geesh... there she is with that camera AGAIN...



The boys romped, played, bit my toes, ate some grass, sniffed some smells, ran in and out of the crate, and had a blast. These boys might be total angels, but even I was pleasantly surprised when they voluntarily all climbed back into the crate at the same time I was ready to pack up and go home. Talk about SMART DOGS!!




Then we went to Mom's house and took a nap. Both me and the dogs! After our nap, we visited the neighbors where the dogs met a pug outside their pack, got lots and lots of hugs and kisses, and were introduced to another toddler. They had an absolute blast, tails wagging full on the whole time. They even managed to steal a bone or two away from the adults. Yes, they were quite proud of themselves and strutted to show it.

It was a great first outing for the boys and I'm so proud of them. They were a little timid at times, but by and large they handled the big old world like pros. It helped having the moms there. Their next outing will have a little time with mom and a little time with just me. We try to give them new exposures and experiences a little at a time so that they know they are safe even if the whole pack isn't there. We eventually wean them down to some one-on-one time and some alone time to help them adjust in a familiar setting before going to a new home.

Updates on Winter, Ellie's Boys and Millie

Wow, that's a big world!!




Winter the Cat

Winter was dropped off here just before Christmas and although Luna, the resident cat, thought two cats were too many for one house, she has since relented and now they seem to be friends. Winter has an appt for her spay in early May and then we will be actively looking to place her in a home. If you know of anyone interested, please let us know! She is snow white and very flirty. She is litterbox trained (although she will kick a bit of litter out the front every now and again), she is friendly and affectionate and hasn't attempted nipping me once for anything I might have done wrong.

Ellie's Boys

If it's possible, they're even more cute today than they were yesterday. Every day is an adventure for these little guys, bringing something new to explore, something new to learn. They're curious, loving, and ever so sweet. Mom came over this past weekend and it was their first day outside. A great, warm spring day. They discovered the shoelaces and the little tab on the back of mom's shoes and they are the new favorite toys. Made for puppies, don't you know?

Ellie and Isabelle have been keeping them fat and happy, so they have been turning up their noses at every weaning food I've offered them. And I offer a 5-star restaurant quality, I'll have you know. But Ellie is thinking about having them try some adult food. She saved part of her chicken quarter the other day and let the boys gnaw on the leg for a while. Same with another piece of meat. I can't say that I've seen them get any meat off the offerings so far, but it gives them a good mental challenge as well as works out some of their nibbling urges. Gives mom's tail a break - lol. Toys only keep their interest half the time!

The boys also found a bowl of kibble while on one of their evening excursions around the house. They jumped in and ate a few bites. So they have a little bowl of Blue Buffalo kibble in their pen if they get hungry between feedings, as well as fresh water. And this morning they had some ground pork with a bit of water, some pro-biotics and some zeo-clear with diatomaceous earth. They gobbled it right up! Now they're working on attacking a stuffed duckie that's the size of two of them put together :)

Ellie has also taught me a few new tricks about mothering. She took the opportunity with the bone to teach them manners. Now I bring the bone to you, now I growl and you back off. Now I bring it to you again, now I growl and you move away. Basically, they are given food at her will and command and they are to respect her space and her wishes, but she will ensure that they are fed and cared for. Both she and Isabelle take their development very seriously. I'm so proud of the little mommas!

Millie

Millie has already earned her scouting badge for therapy work. Many a client this tax season has come through the door stressed and worried and left relaxed and calm due to the presence of little Miss Millie. They talk to her, hold her, love her and bottle feed her. She loves the attention. She's the official greeter an therapy dog.

She has her eyes open and is very mobile, but is just now starting to track and see things farther than just in front of her nose. She sleeps through the night and lets me know when she needs to either potty or eat. A very good communicator for her age!

Stay tuned for more updates!

An elephant with talent!

History of Pet Food

An awesome trained dog!

What a great example of what a trained dog can do - this one ought to be a service dog!

Click Here

Boys peeking out of the crate

And the Award Goes To:

The adult dog who best drinks out of a puppy feeding bottle is...

..... drum roll please

Jolene!

Jolene is the clearcut winner in getting puppy formula out of a puppy feeding bottle followed closely by Ellie Mae and somewhat loosely by Isabelle. Among those who could care less are Petunia, Daisy, Tiki, and Cooter.

However, they all seem to be interested in stealing the plastic bottle and chewing it down to a mangled mess somewhere between 2:30 am and 6:30 am.

What a difference two and a half weeks make!

Ellie and Isabelle have found their happy medium. Ellie has regained control of her babies and Isabelle is the faithful and much needed assistant. The girls are working together and even giving each other kisses while the puppies are feeding. It's nice to all be on the same page again!

Tiki's puppy is thriving, but she's so much more tiny than the boys! You can see her as the speck in the picture. But the boys are so fat and happy that the little girl can crawl circles around them right now! I had to get the boys out on the bed and make them do laps for their milk - lol. They'd head for the teat and I'd put them back on the other side of the bed. It was most unfair, to be sure, but they are walking much better and are more lively and rambunctious. In fact, I heard the first bark yesterday. Two of the boys were playing and one of them told the other what was what! Very bossy!

Daisy made me feel better tonight. She was sitting on the floor barking at an unknown threat. Then I figured it out - she barked at the featherduster!!! Hahahaha... she was just trying to make me not feel so stupid ;)

The featherduster and the coup

Ellie's boys are 3 weeks old now and they are so incredibly cute!!! But man are they fat. And I do mean FAT!! I knew that they'd be getting extra milk since there were only 3, but we've had to take the boys out and literally exercise them and make them work for their food to keep them moving around.

Well, the mystery of why they are so big has been solved. Isabelle was going through a false pregnancy and she would watch over the boys when Ellie went out to go potty or went to get a bite to eat. She faithfully sat by the whelping pen, staring adoringly at her charges and chasing away any other dogs who tried to sneak a sniff of the little fuzzies. But then watching turned to active participation. Before we knew it, Isabelle was jumping into the pen with the pups and feeding them EVEN MORE!! Holy cow, it's no wonder we can barely see their legs.

However, feeding the pups has kicked in Izzy's maternal drive. So after working with the three milk-bearing females yesterday to get one of them to permanently adopt Tiki's (with no success), I finally gave in and we're back to the bottle. I was tired and needed a good night's sleep. But at midnight, Izzy decided to stage a coup to take charge of Ellie's pups. I was wakened by growls and posturing. Amazingly, Izzy won and she stayed in the crate with the pups as Ellie slept by my head and stared longingly at the whelping pen with a big sigh. I told her to enjoy the break and I'd take care of it in the morning. After a few more skirmishes that night, Ellie managed to gain control of the whelping pen, but Izzy jumped in after her. There they were, two mommas and 3 babies, all squished into the pen. So I brought Izzy to work with me to give poor Ellie a break. Those crazy girls!

Between their skirmishes and the little one's feedings, I don't think I got much sleep last night. So this morning as I walked through the house with closed eyes, I walked by a chair with a big black feather duster in it and I patted its head, thinking it was a pug. The next step is the loony bin!

If...

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can do all these things, ............ ...

Then you are probably the family dog.

Tiki Surpise!

We thought Tiki was experiencing a false pregnancy, but as it turns out she gave us a tiny little baby girl on Wednesday, March 12th. The puppy came out breech and as a result, took in some fluids in her passageway. It took a concentrated effort to remove the fluid and get her breathing properly and by the time we got her up on her feet and knew she was out of danger, her scent was different than Tiki expected. Tiki is still trying to figure out exactly where her puppy is. She will nurse this one if we sit with her, but she is not identifying with it. We have to bottle feed it to ensure she gets enough to eat. I wish I would have taken pictures when she first came out to show how small she was, but she is 4 days old here and has stamped her little pawprint on this world with great fervor. The first 24 hours, she would not open her mouth to nurse, so we had to force it open each time. Then she started accepting a bottle better. Now on day 4, she has learned that Momma's milk comes in 3 different scents and flavors (Isabelle has pitched in a couple of times with her false pregnancy milk), and rubber nipples come with several different human scents. And the source doesn't matter as long as there's a nipple within reach when she demands it!! You would think with three available nursing females we'd be in the clear, but that just isn't the case. None of them will feed her unless they're curled up on our lap getting pets and kisses while they nurse. Other than that, they ignore the little girl other than to chase away the other non-nursing females in the house. But we're making do and the little girl is thriving! She's a doll.

Sleepy little boys

Ellie's pups at 10 days old. They were passed out cold from just having eaten a nice, warm dinner courtesy of Miss Ellie. I barely got any reaction out of them!



The adults were playing and snorting in the background. Those noises aren't coming from the babies!! :)

Two have opened their eyes and the third one is halfway there. They seem very aware of their surroundings, where they want to be and what they want to do. But their little bodies aren't quite there yet. They're getting their legs up underneath them better. In another week they'll be walking, then look out world!

Jolene the ninja

Jolene doesn't like people to know, but she is a gifted and talented dog of many faces. Here, with a hidden camera, Jolene was caught in the act of being a ninja. Please don't let her know that it's on the web. She likes to use her super powers anonymously except when she's in the house. In this never-seen-before picture, you can see that she easily handled 4 trained attack dogs and came out without a scratch.

Can't we all just get along? The dog, cat and rat

Three Little Boys

On Saturday, February 23, Ellie Mae surprised us with an early delivery of 3 beautiful baby boys. She was so large and producing so much milk, we were guessing that she had 6 in there, but we were wrong. They were a very nice size coming out and full of life and vigor. Getting the first one out was hard for her and we nearly called the vet, but then it came at 7:30, then another at 8:30, then the final one at 9:30 and then I stayed awake till 12:30 watching her... just in case.

The boys went to the vet at 3 days old and got their dew claws removed. That was almost a huge mistake because when I made the appointment for dew claw removal, they wrote down to also dock the tails!! ACK!! I double-checked when we got there and made them change it to dew claws only. It was a new girl at the counter, but it was too close a call to be comfortable! Momma and the boys received checkups from head to toe with positive feedback. They are snorty, snarfly and already think they're more mobile than they are, trying to crawl around and investigate before their eyes are even open!

Ellie's first litter didn't think much of being on their backs, no matter how much we worked with them. But this litter is different. From day 1, they have settled into my hands quite comfortably and don't mind being on their backs. Same father, same mother, makes you wonder why so different. The only thing I can figure is that Ellie is a more relaxed mother this time and knows that no harm will come to her babies in my care. I don't handle them much, just enough to check them from head to toe once a day to make sure all is well.

The little black boy is already showing some spunk and attitude. When I have him on his back, he will lift first one lip, then the other. In other words, he does a great Elvis impersonation. Cracks me up. Then he'll yawn and snuggle down and relax.

We do puppy development exercises with all of our litters and today I put them through the paces. Days 3-15 involve very light stimulation, not much time spent away from Mom, but enough to react to the stimuli to help stimulate brain and reflex action. Studies of these exercises have shown to increase critical thinking, increase ease of adjusting to situations, and other side benefits and was first put into play on an organized basis by the military when raising and training their dogs. Part of the process is to put the pup down on a wet washcloth for 3-5 seconds. Just enough time for the body to register an unpleasant sensation and move away from it. They are never left there long! I usually sit them at the edge of the washcloth so that when the cold registers, with one swoop they can be off of it themselves. So today, all 3 recognized the cold sensation very quickly and were off of that washcloth in a heartbeat. But the black pup, he scooted off and then wondered what that was and came back and put his head on the washcloth. I've never seen a pup do that before!! To be this curious this quickly?? Very interesting.

I also caught the darker fawn boy dreaming on day 2. He was trying to suckle, making sucking noises with his mouth and moving his paws back and forth. Too cute.

We're having a poll to give the boys temporary names that you can see on the right. please vote!

We're very busy these days and are spending all our spare time with the dogs and the puppies, but we'll try to keep you posted with news as it arrives!

The Laundry Detergent Bucket

I went to Sam's Club and stocked up on some of the necessities. Because we go through a lot of laundry, I got two of those big pastic buckets of laundry detergent, but only have room for one of them beside the washing machine. So the other one ended up in the middle of the kitchen and seems to get kicked around from place to place since we're both burning the candle on both ends and haven't taken time to find it a home till it gets used.

The dogs love it, though. It has made a really cool pedestal that one pug at a time can sit on and beg while someone is fixing food. And if they catch your eye as you pass by them and tilt their head *just right* then they might even get a tidbit of your yummies.

Well, that bucket made its way over near the stove. I was home at lunch and busily preparing a sandwich. I opened my bread on the stove, put some mustard on and went over to the sink to grab a knife. That little stinker Rizzo climbed up on the detergent box, stretched her little body as faaaaaar as she possibly could and with the edge of one of her toenails, she barely snagged the crusty edge of the bread. But it was enough! Down came the bread and she was the temporary hero of the day according to the other pugs who helped her scarf it down. I would have given her some MEAT if she would have been a good dog. They don't need bread, but try telling them that with their mouths full of contraband!

So I shook my head and kicked the bucket away from the stove, not realizing it landed near the 33 gallon trash can. Until the next night. When I heard... noises. And I heard a yell from the kitchen, "Get out of there!" Fabio had taken the opportunity to jump up onto the bucket and somehow managed to jump up from there into that trashcan. How, exactly, I have no idea. I'm not sure even he knew because he was good and stuck. All for a bit of macaroni he could smell from the floor. I hope it was worth it!!

USDA Forces Dog Lovers to Foot the Bill of Rabies Study

http://www.newstarget.com/022525.html

A revealing article by News Target

NewsTarget.com printable article
Originally published January 22 2008
USDA Forces Dog Lovers to Foot the Bill of Rabies Study
by Christine Agro

(NewsTarget) When you go to the Rabies Challenge Fund website and click on the “Challenge Fund Team” page you don’t see pictures of people, you see pictures of their dogs. You see Meadow who developed a malignant mass cell tumor, directly on the site of his rabies vaccination and Izzy who, after receiving a rabies vaccination, began experiencing a variety of life-long autoimmune issues. You’ll also find Woofit, Chi, Willie, Argyle and Velvet.

The Rabies Challenge Fund is a testament to the power of the people and to the love and concern people show for their dogs. For years, the issue and implications of over vaccination have been at the forefront of concerned animal guardians’ minds. A handful of Veterinarians such as Dr. W. Jean Dodds who is Co-trustee of the Rabies Challenge Fund and Dr. Ronald Schultz, who has both donated and dedicated 7 years of his life to conduct the challenge study have been speaking out about the adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine since the 1970s.

At the heart of the issue is this question, “how long does a rabies vaccine provide immunity?" Why this is at the heart of the issue is how the Rabies Challenge Fund Trust came into existence. When drug manufacturers create a vaccine, they are only required to meet criteria set out by the USDA in order to receive licensing. That criteria does not mandate testing for maximum duration of immunity. If the drug company can complete its testing in a year, the vaccine is labeled as ‘vaccinate every year’. That does not mean that immunity only lasts for one year. There is nothing scientific about the current vaccination schedule for American domestic animals. The schedule is directed by the research, or lack of research done by the drug companies.

In turn 70 million domestic dogs and 90 million domestic cats throughout the United States are subjected to unscientific vaccination protocols; rabies laws are dictated by drug manufacturers' labels and dedicated animal guardians are paying for something that not only is unnecessary, but carries many harmful side effects (1). The rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and has been linked to adverse reactions such as autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy and fibrosarcomas at injection sites.

In 1992 Michel Aubert and his research team conducted a French Rabies Challenge Study, demonstrating that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, while Dr. Schultz has demonstrated through serological studies that immunity is conferred up to 7 years post-vaccination.

The USDA will not accept foreign studies and does not consider serological studies to provide definitive proof of immunity, and they do not require vaccine manufacturers to provide long-term duration of immunity studies documenting effectiveness when licensing products. According to Kris Christine, founder and co-trustee of The Rabies Challenge Fund Trust, “Concerned dog owners have contributed the money to fund this research themselves. We want to ensure that rabies immunization laws are based upon independent, long-term scientific data.”

The Rabies Challenge Fund recently met its goal of $177,000 to fund the study's first year budget. Contributions have come from dog owners, canine groups, trainers, veterinarians and small businesses. The Rabies Challenge is a seven-year study that requires an additional $150,000 be raised annually.

Dr. Dodds states, “This is the first time in my 43 years of involvement in veterinary issues that what started as a grass-roots effort to change an outmoded regulation affecting animals will be addressed scientifically by an acknowledged expert to benefit all canine in the future.”

The total cost of this study is over $1 million and that doesn’t factor in the fact that the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison, where the study will be conducted, has waived its 48% overhead expense or that Dr. Schultz, who will over see the Challenge Study, has donated 7 years of his service.

Instead of the drug companies footing this bill, it is concerned dog lovers who are digging deep to ensure that this study is completed and that the health and wellness of their companions are protected.

Laurynn Simpson, concerned guardian of Velvet and Rabies Challenge Fund member, hits the nail on the head when she writes “To say nothing...to do nothing...stops nothing."

Sources:
1) American Pet Products Manufacturers Association 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey
Press Release: Canine Rabies Challenge Study Beings
(http://www.rabieschallengefund.org)



About the author
Christine Agro is a Clairvoyant Natural Healer with a unique approach to animal health, wellness and Spiritual understanding. Trained to work with people at the School of Natural Medicine in Boulder Co, Christine's clients began bringing her their animals when conventional methods were not helping. Christine soon realized that conventional veterinary medicine dis-empowers animals and disconnects their natural healing ability. After working with thousands of animals Christine has become an advocate for the healing rights of animals; supporting their natural healing abilities, speaking on their behalf, conveying their needs, wishes and desires.
Christine has written for Animal Wellness Magazine, Nature's Corner Magazine, has been seen on Animal Planet and is the host of Conscious Animal Radio (www.consciousanimalradio.com), a live internet call-in show. She is also the founder of Healingdog.com. Christine lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, son and their senior adopted cat Christopher.
Listen to Conscious Animal Radio live every Monday at 12 Noon EST. Access the "listen live" link at http://www.consciousanimalradio.com Shows are archived and available as a podcast.
Listen to the November 26, 2007 Conscious Animal Radio show interview with Dr. James Busby, DVM and author of "How To Afford Veterinary Care Without Mortgaging The Kids."

http://cdagro.audioacrobat.com/download/consciousanimal_nov26_jbusby_ahurst.mp3
Listen to the September 17th Conscious Animal Radio interview with Kris Christine from the Rabies Challenge Fund Trust - http://cdagro.audioacrobat.com/download/consciousanimalradio_Kris_Christine.mp3

My Dogs Live Here

My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
You don't like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space.
This is their home, this is their place.

You will find dog hair on the floor,
they will alert you're at the door.
They may request a little pat,
a simple 'no' will settle that.

It gripes me when I hear you say
'Just how is it you live this way?
They smell, they shed, they're in the way.'
WHO ASKED YOU? is all I can say.

They love me more than anyone,
my voice is like the rising sun.
They merely have to hear me say
'C'mon, time to go and play.'

Then tails wag and faces grin,
they bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say 'no time for you,'
they're always there, to GO and DO.

And if I'm sad? They're by my side,
and if I'm mad, they circle wide,
and if I laugh, they laugh with me,
they understand, they always see.

So once again, I say to you
come visit me, but know this too...

My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
You don't like pets, be on your way.
They share my home, my food, my space.
This is their home, this is their place.

------------
by ~ Katy ~

Winter has arrived

Winter, the cat, that is. A couple of days before Christmas, someone creating very bad karma for themselves dropped off a young (approx 8 mo) pure white cat in town and dumped her because she was pregnant. She found her way to my porch and meowed at me, pleading. When she tried to come into the house despite the presence of the dogs, I knew she needed some help. Because she arrived near Christmas and she is snow white, her temporary name is Winter.

She is now comfortably established upstairs with the black cat and they are finding their way around each other. We will be looking for good homes for the kittens and the mom once they are all ready to leave the nest. I'm guessing that she's about 4 weeks away from delivery, but it's hard to tell for sure. She seems to be a very sweet girl.

Anyone willing to help socialize little kittens in preparation for their new home, let me know!!

Walking in a Doggie Wonderland

WALKING IN A DOGGIE WONDERLAND
Sing along!
- author unknown

Dog tags ring, are you listenin?
In the lane, snow is glistenin,
It's yellow, NOT white,-I've been here tonight,
Marking up my winter wonderland.

Smell that tree? That's my fragrance,
It's a sign for wand'ring vagrants,
Avoid where I pee, It's MY pro-per-ty,
Marked up as my winter wonderland.

In the meadow dad will build a snowman,
Following the classical design,
Then I'll lift my leg and let it go man,
So all the world will see It's mine -mine-mine.

Straight from me to the fencepost,
Flows my natural incense boast,
Stay off my TURF, this small piece of earth,
I mark it as my winter wonderland.

Here we go round in circles

Rizzo takes her food very seriously. As it turns out, she has exposed my disfunctional habit of eating at the computer desk. Because when I have food in my hand, she will run past my feet and launch her body into the office chair full speed ahead, causing it to spin in circles. But she is very adept. Her little body counter-circles at the same rate of speed and she manages to continue to keep an eye on both me and my food!!

The other night when I got home from work, everyone was trying to greet me, but I was trying to change out of my work clothes into something more comfortable. With the snow outside preventing any desires of leaving the house the rest of the night, flannel jammies seemed like the perfect solution. Once I got changed, I reclined on the bed to wrestle with the dogs a bit. Petunia jumped up on my chest and started licking my face like I was a 2 year old who just ate ice cream. The paw in my throat cutting off my breath made me gently push her rear end over so that she would step off my body. In her excitement, her body continued to walk, all the way around my head and back up onto my chest while she was still licking my face in the same spot. Talented! There's no lack of love in this house!

Pug Movie Preview

Forgotten Dog's Christmas

Forgotten Dog’s Christmas
Although there are an untold number of great reasons to wish for a companion, everyone in the family should agree as to the proper treatment before one is brought home. This poem is a good reminder of an unfortunate circumstance that happens all to often.

~~Forgotten Dog's Christmas~~

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap
Knew he was cold, but didn't care about that

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter

Away to the window I flew like a flash
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Claus - with eyes full of tears

He un-chained the dog, once so lively and quick
Last year's Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick

More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain

"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he'll be loved by all."

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear

The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed

A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight
"You weren't given a gift! You were given a LIFE!"

Author Unknown

General Updates

Our little miss perky pants Jolene the show pug got evaluated by her breeder/handler recently and we're very sorry to say that right now, it looks like she won't make the cut for the show ring. What a shame, because she's a beauty! She has a sweet, positive disposition. She is bright and happy. She has a gorgeous diamond on her forehead and she's sooooo tiny you could tuck her into a jacket and take her everywhere! This little girl is destined for diamond studded collars, gourmet dinner on silver platters and the comfiest of pillows. So if you know of a perfect home for her, please have them contact us.

Also, our friends have a bassett hound that they are fostering and hoping to find a good home for, and we have a springer spaniel field-trained bird dog possibly available to the right home.

We heard from Gypsy's mom today, one of the pups from Ellie Mae x Cooter. She told us several times about Gypsy loving the water, but I figured that was just because it was summer. No, here we are in the winter and miss Gypsy jumped back into the bathtub after her bath 3 times before her mom could get her dry and out the bathroom door safely. What a goof! She also sent me a pic of her in her halloween costume and is she ever so cute!

We hear from others occasionally and always welcome stories and pictures!

As to this household, many of you might know from my other posts that little Fa Zhou has taken the german shepherd as his best friend. Together they monitor the activities in the neighborhood, patrol the yard, and keep the house safe. With the girls starting to come into season, we got Fa Zhou neutered, but the studs in the house are unsure whether he is a threat or not for their female attention. Well, the german shepherd is making sure that everyone is minding their own business. I went to find out why the dogs hadn't come back in from going potty and she was keeping the boys segregated - each had their own spot in the yard. lol... she's a great dog and a shepherd with a job that she loves. She's such a gentle soul with the pugs and a great guardian.