Okay, this is really too much!

Yesterday, I took the little man to the vet.  Seems that he has a small tumor/growth on his right forearms that he has been chewing on and it is inflammed and has been bleeding.  So, like any concerned pet owner, I took him in to see the vet.  This was a problem, as I don't much care for my previous vet so I had to try out a new one.  Anyway, after finding another vet and getting an appointment, I took him in.

Granted, this is the first time I saw the vet, but really.  She looked at his leg and then looked at his teeth.  She said that his teeth were really in need of cleaning (no surprise there) and I should schedule that and while he was out she would remove the "growth".  She had her aid come back in with an "estimate" of over $600.00 just for the teeth cleaning.  My God!  Do you know people who spend that type of money on getting their dog's teeth cleaned?  I work for my money, so I told them I would get back to them.  I paid my $42.00 office fee for nothing and took my little man home again with no change in his condition and no prospect of change either.

Then I got to thinking about my old vet and I knew that I had a coupon for 50% off dental cleaning with him.  So I called his office for an estimate.  He also had the most recent labs on Satch that were done this summer, so I figured I would save that amount of money at least.  The vet called and we talked and he gave me an "estimate" of over $600.00.  I asked about the 50% off coupon and was told that this figure was with the discount!  Who do you know spends over $1200.00 to have their dog's teeth cleaned?

So, now I am really perplexed.  I need to get my dog's leg looked at and fixed before it turns into something more involved, but I don't have any vet I like that will even talk to me about treating my dog unless I want to pay large sums of money to have his teeth cleaned.  What a racket!  I am not really sure where to go from here.

Satchmo has insurance that I pay monthly for.  It is supposed to cover routine wellness, accident and illness.  However, after calling the company, I now find out that my policy only pays $100.00 for dental care and only pays $60.00/year for labs.  For this policy, I pay $50.00 a month.  Hmmmmm...............
Maybe I should just put the $50 a month in a savings for Satchmo to pay towards getting his teeth cleaned?

I am not a happy camper and my Satch is not either.  Today he started limping on that leg, so I know that he is in pain and I want to get that taken care of.  I'm not sure how, though.  Any suggestions?

Here's a post called "Adopt a Senior Pet Month"

 I just found this wonderful blog and wanted to share it with you.  Below is a delightful story about her experiences in adopting a senior pit bull.  I found this to be both sad and uplifting.  Such a character!
Anyway, I love when I find someone else who is crazy about dogs and I love when I find such great posts.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
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ASPCA’s Top 10 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog
Olive was my first senior adoption. She was already an older adult when she was rescued from a horrid situation with forty other neglected animals (check out my friend Michelle’s wonderful Ode to Maggie - a fellow quirky dog from the same cruelty case).
Olive was a strange dog. Sometimes she’d stare into space, or leap up from a deep sleep barking for no apparent reason. She had doggy OCD that manifested itself in the habit of curling into a tight ball to suck on her hip. She stamped her feet when she barked, which mostly happened at dinner time as if she was cheering me on as I prepared her food. She was flat-footed due to neglect, so she had a funny, uneven trot as she raced across the yard in the winter to come back inside the second she’d finished her business. She actually liked wearing sweaters in the winter - she’d prance around as soon as you dressed her up. In the summer, she could lay in the sun for hours.
She never quite got the hang of training. One obedience class instructor tried to use Olive to show tricks that would get a difficult dog to lie down. It never worked, no matter how many different types of cheese or hot dog or liver we tried to lure her with; no matter how long the class stared at me sitting on the floor with Olive standing over my legs licking my face instead of lying down to root out the treat I was holding beneath my knees. Right until the end, she would kill a stuffed animal with gusto, but she was never destructive around the house. On walks, Olive would march straight ahead with a sense of purpose, not bothering to sniff the ground like the other dogs. Any unexpected turns (especially a turn-around to go home) would cause her to freeze and the walk would degenerate into a negotiation of coaxing her a few steps at a time…until I gave up and carried her as far as I could.
Olive was one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. Everyone of every species was greeted with a wagging tail. She was always gentle, even with packs of children crowded around her to say hello. And, despite everything she’d been through, she was a happy dog. If she heard you talk about her when she was napping, her tail would thump against the couch. This little 40 pound pittie LOVED to be carried. As soon as she was picked up, she’d lay her head on your shoulder and fall asleep with the corners of her mouth turned up in a peaceful smile. If you put her down, she’d blink at you, like she wasn’t sure what she did to deserve it.
By the time I adopted her, she was already a senior dog. I didn’t know how she’d adjust to being in a home after the cruelty case and then two years with a rescue group. I didn’t know if she’d ever get housetrained or bond with the other animals and me. But she did. It was an immediately rewarding adoption, with none of the training frustration that can come from getting a younger dog, or the uncertainty about what sort of dog you really got. Olive already was who she was - in all her weird and wonderful ways.

I only got six years with her - she was estimated somewhere between sixteen and a hundred and sixteen by the time mammary cancer took her. It was a tough loss, definitely not enough time together. When is it ever enough time? That’s the hard part with a senior dog, but it’s worth it.

Please visit her blog and read all her wonderful posts!

Dog toy mountain to be built at Barrhaven business

Image by David.R.Carroll via Flickr

This is really a great idea!  There are many dogs and cats out there that need help from us and this is a very good way for you and I to give assistance.  If there were more of these types of people around, the dog rescues would not have to struggle quite as much economically.

Let's all put on our "thinking caps" and try to get something like this started in our own communities.

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New shop hopes to give canines a good Christmas

November 30, 2009

BY Margaret Sambol 

 

A new business in Barrhaven is hoping to draw some attention to canine charities this Christmas with its version of Toy Mountain for dogs.

Bark & Fitz, which recently opened at 4100 Strandherd Dr., is collecting gently used dog toys, leashes, water bowls, blankets, beds, and other assorted canine products to distribute to local dog rescues in the first week of January.
 
“People always do Santa drives for children’s toys, but there really isn’t a drive in Ottawa for pets,” says managing owner Gaetan Ladouceur. The main exception for donations is that they will not be collecting dog food.

The store is planning a grand opening on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will give a 15 per cent discount on purchases to people who donate to canine toy drive.

The items will be donated to local dog rescues such as BARK (Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines), Good Dog Rescue in Manotick and Hopeful Hearts.

The store sells high-end dog and a few cat products such as holistic foods and educational toys in a smaller setting with more personal services. Gaetan’s wife, Rosi, has also moved her 12-year-old grooming business from their home to the store.

Ladouceur describes the store as a family-run business, where his children Ashley, Cory, Andrew and his son-in-law AJ Mouchet all work together with him and his wife.

To read the original article>click here.  

Grieving family fetches son’s dogs from Iraq

I know that today is Thanksgiving and I should be posting something about the holiday, but I found this posting and felt it deserved to be featured.  This family made a significant sacrifice to give their son's dog a long trip home.  I'm sure they will always be grateful to have such a loving and playful reminder of the love of their son.

After reading this, I am truly thankful for the pleasure and love I share with my Satchmo.  He has given me great joy and comfort, as only a pet can.  I wish everyone could experience the unconditional love you get from having a four-legged friend.

God Bless!

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Sgt. Peter Neesley holding puppy Boris We learned about this story from author, Greg Mitchell, who has been pursuing stories about non-combat American deaths in Iraq. Greg is the esteemed editor of Editor & Publisher, the journal of the newspaper business which has won several major awards for its coverage of Iraq and the media. He has written eight books, his latest just published today: So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits — and the President — Failed on Iraq.
It is often said that a free press is the watchdog of democracy, insuring that the conduct of our leaders is examined with a critical eye. This makes Greg Mitchell the watchdog of watchdogs, his weekly column “Pressing Issues” over the past five years intensely scrutinizing the coverage of the Iraq war, the media’s views of the credibility of the Bush Administration, and such related topics as 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, and the CIA Leak Case.
Actually, back in 2003, Mitchell was one of the few mainstream journalists to question the grounds for war, this book providing a unique history of the conflict from the hyped WMD stories to the “surge.” It is a must-have book for anyone concerned with how we got into Iraq and why we can’t seem to get out.

This photo shows Neesley on a visit to his nephew’s 4th grade class in Grosse Pointe Farms, the school’s newsletter, describing it this way: “Sergeant Peter Neesley, uncle of Patrick D., visited Richard Elementary while home on leave from Iraq. Sgt. Neesley led the school in the Pledge of Allegiance and visited several classrooms answering questions from our inquisitive students. Thanks for spending valuable time with us Sgt. Neesley and don’t forget to write and keep in touch. Thanks to all the men and women in the armed forces. We are so proud of you!”

According to Greg, this is how the discovery began.

Peter Neesley died in his sleep on Christmas Day in Iraq last December — but the dogs he rescued there live on, miraculously, back at his home in the USA. I’m proud to say that I had at least a tiny something to do with it. I wrote about Sgt. Neesley’s passing right after Christmas, both at Editor & Publisher (which I edit) and on my blog, when few knew about it. I also printed a photo of him taken recently with a group of kids at his old elementary school. The outpouring of response I received from friends (near his Michigan home and scattered) and family was incredible. Through their postings, many were able to get in touch with each other. He was clearly quite a young man, someone who hailed from a very well-off area who had a lot of other choices in life — but joined the military.
But the story didn’t end there. It turned out that all of these people, and more, soon learned, from my writings or elsewhere, that Peter, 28, had saved and cared for a couple of dogs over in Iraq, and they were now in peril. So his family and friends, with the help of media and local groups, launched a campaign to rescue them, again, and bring them to the U.S.
An AP story revealed: “In e-mails and phone calls from Iraq, Neesley talked about how he came across Mama, a black Labrador mix, and Boris, her white and brown spotted puppy, while on patrol in their Baghdad neighborhood. One of Mama’s puppies was later killed by a car, so Neesley and his friends built a doghouse to shelter the animals. Photographs show Neesley feeding the dogs and kneeling next to the red-and-white doghouse and Boris walking along the cracked sidewalks of Baghdad.”

After he died, “Still grieving, the family decided that they would honor Neesley’s wishes and try to bring the dogs home to Michigan. ‘To have something that they can hold and touch and care for that Peter cared about, that’s the whole thing,” said Julie Dean, his aunt.”
After four weeks of work, and the help of the Iraqi Society for Animals, the dogs recently arrived in the U.S.
Carey Neesley said her brother decided to re-enlist in the Army in 2005 after learning that one of his friends was killed in Iraq, leaving behind a wife and two children. Protecting others was part of his life, she said. “He didn’t want another young man who had a wife and kids at home to die,” she said. “He’s always had such a strong sense of family and protecting those who can’t protect themselves. Caring for a mother and her stray puppy, why would you ever think to do anything else?”
My own small role concluded when the well-known Banfield Pet Hospital office in Portland, Ore., contacted me saying they wanted to offer free lifetime care to the two dogs, at one of their local hospitals in Michigan, and asking me to put them in touch with the family. I contacted Julie Dean — and last week the offer was accepted and announced. Peter, at least, would be happy about this.

You can also hear a 4 minute NPR “All Things Considered” Feb 19th report with Sgt. Peter Neesley’s sister, Carey. In this AP photo by Paul Sancya, Patrick Neesley is petting Boris as his mom, Carey, holds him after arriving in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, from Iraq. She has indicated that the dogs are slowly adjusting to their new environment.

Neesley says both Mama and Boris are “very sweet and very mild-mannered dogs,” but Mama is used to having to protect her pup, as well as her food and territory. “So we’re just kind of trying to ease her into the fact that she’s safe and sound here, and nobody’s going to hurt them,” Neesley says.
The dogs also have to adjust to the Michigan winter. “They’re not used to the cold and especially not the snow,” Neesley says. “I have to carry the puppy out in the snow; he will not go. He goes to the bathroom right away and wants right back in the house.
“I think they’ll adjust. You know, right now, their coats are very thin because of the weather in Baghdad. And I think, you know, [once] their coats get a little bit warmer and they get used to it, they’ll be OK, but I think right now it’s a shock.”
Neesley says the family is thankful for all the help they got with the dogs. “They’re tremendous dogs, and we are so fortunate to have them and so grateful to everyone who played a part, down to the soldiers who were caring for them on the base, you know, making sure they were safe and fed until we could get them,” she says.
The family still keeps in contact with those soldiers, Neesley says. “There are two in particular … who were very concerned about the dogs’ welfare, and were very close to Peter, and we exchange e-mails,” she says. “I think part of what we’ve learned from all of this is that there are so many good, kind people in this world. There really are.”

Posted on Land of PureGold Foundation

Puppy Love

Here's a cute little article about ratties and children at a Mother's Day Out.  I thought I'd add it because I chuckled when I looked at the photo.  I hope this brings a smile to your face also.


I am thankful for the love and devotion I get from my little man, Satchmo.  I hope to enjoy his company for many more years.  Won't you take a moment and be thankful for the animals in your life, too?


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Daily News Photo,
11-25-2009

First Baptist School’s “Mothers Day Out” class invited two special guests to campus Thursday. Rat terriers Alice and Rudy shared kisses in exchange for doggie treats, which the class donated to Animal Relief Foundation’s no-kill animal shelter. The class, instructed by Dale Robertson-Agosto, spent the entire day learning about animal friends. Participating students included Reese Monvoision, Avi Coleman, John Mason Futch, Kameron Kratzer, Jamell Davis, Jack Guidry, Olivia Benoit, Hudson Carter, Rossi Armstrong, Ian Albro, Waylon Wild, Abby Ortego, Ahnnie Albro and Mason Futch. (At left) Olivia Benoit makes a face after receiving a kiss from Alice.

For more local news, please subscribe to Jennings Daily News by clicking the “SUBSCRIBE” link at left or by calling 337-824-3011.

This article is from The Jennings Daily News online

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Our foster dog is healing nicely!

We took Austen to get all of his shots and then we took him to be neutered.  It seemed irresponsible to not do this for him, even though his real mom was not terribly excited about it.  She thinks he is SO cute and should be allowed to breed, but when you see how many homeless animals there are all over the world, it doesn't seem quite right.  Anyway, we did it and he is finally all healed.  I don't really think he cares one way or another because he has not acted any differently.

But now he is a legal and healthy pet.  My sister is really campaigning for us to keep this dog.  I don't think it will happen, but if it does then that would be fine.  My little man is slowly adapting to having Austen around and they have begun to have spurts of real play-time in the mornings.  I think this is really good for my Satchmo.  He was getting so old and crotchety.  Now he at least is being more active.

Anyway, here are some pictures of Austen in his lovely collar (that lasted about as long as it took to take the pictures).  He obviously hates it and the look on his face says, "Hurry up and take the picture so I can pull this thing off me!"

Now we are looking into some grooming for him because he is getting pretty shabby looking.  He has poodle hair and doesn't shed, so that means he will need to be clipped.  Great!

Do Dogs Laugh?

This is a good question, and one I have frequently asked myself as I watch my dog playing with his Baby.  I have always know that dogs can smile even though most people won't agree. 

Why is it so hard to believe that an animal can express some of the same emotions as a human?

Please read the article below and make your own decisions.  I, for one, will continue to believe that dogs can smile and, now, laugh!



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Animals make laugh-like sounds when they are tickled or playing

For many years psychologists and behavioral biologists agreed that laughter was a unique emotional expression found only in humans. However, as the study of animal emotions expanded this idea was called into question. The Nobel Prize winning ethnologist, Konrad Lorenz suggested that dogs are capable of laughing. He says that it is during play that dogs actually appear to laugh. In his book Man Meets Dog, Lorenz describes it this way:

"...an invitation to play always follows; here the slightly opened jaws which reveal the tongue, and the tilted angle of the mouth which stretches almost from ear to ear give a still stronger impression of laughing. This ‘laughing' is most often seen in dogs playing with an adored master and which become so excited that they soon start panting".

It is this panting which Lorenz identified with human laughter. Although he may have been one of the first to suggest that dogs laugh, the idea that other animals laugh had already been suggested by earlier scientists. Charles Darwin started laughing dog the ball rolling in his book The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals published in 1872. He noticed that chimpanzees and other great apes produce a laugh-like sounds when they are tickled or when they are playing. More recently Jane Goodall described this same ‘‘laughing'' and ‘‘chuckling'' reported by Darwin and others as a sort of breathy panting that can escalate to a more guttural ‘‘ah-grunting,'' if intense. The general consensus is that this ape laughter sounds somewhat like the heavy breathing that might simply result from vigorous play is meant to be a signal of their playful intentions. According to Robert Provine, a psychologist at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the sound of chimpanzee laughter is much breathier that that of humans which tends to chop the laugh sounds into short "ha-ha" sounds. Instead there are longer pant sounds with each inward and outward breath.

Research done by Patricia Simonet at Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe looked at laughter sounds in dogs. Simonet's team investigated the question by standing in parks with a parabolic microphone that allowed them to record the sounds that dogs made while playing from a distance. In describing the laughter sounds of dogs she says that, "To an untrained human ear, it sounds much like a pant, 'hhuh, hhuh." When the recordings were analyzed she found that that this exhalation bursts into a broader range of frequencies than does regular dog panting. She confirmed the positive effects of this laugh sound in an experiment on 15 puppies, which romped for joy simply upon hearing the recorded canine laugh. More recently she was able to show that these same sounds helped to calm dogs in an animal shelter.

Simonet noticed that when she tried to imitate the laugh panting sounds of dogs it seemed to have a positive effect on the animals hearing it.

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about the usefulness of humans making these dog laugh sounds. So I began to experiment, originally with my own dogs. My first attempts were not very successful, causing virtually no response or at best puzzled looks from my dogs. However I was eventually able to shape a set of sounds which reliably evoked interest on the part of my dogs. It required conscious monitoring to get the sound pattern right. For me, what seems to work the best is something like "hhuh-hhah-hhuh-hhah..." with the "hhuh" sound made with slightly rounded lips, while the "hhah" sound is made with a sort of open mouthed smiling expression. The sound has to be breathy with no actual voicing. Thus if you touch your throat while making this sound you should not feel any vibration. This caused my own dogs to sit up and wag their tails or to approach me from across the room.

Since these initial informal experiments I have extended my observations and tried using my human imitation of dog laughter sounds to calm worried, anxious and shy dogs in a dog obedience class and in other settings. It seems to help if you glance at the dog directly only for brief intervals alternating with glancing away. Also short quick side to side movements appear to help. It seems to work best in calming dogs that are moderately anxious or insecure. If the negative emotions experienced by the dog are too intense it does not seem to help. This is reminiscent of trying to calm humans. If they are moderately anxious introducing some humor into the situation can be helpful and relaxing, while if they are in a state of panic your attempts might be viewed as actually laughing at their emotional state and may actually make things worse.

Stanley Coren is the author of many books including: The Modern Dog, Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? The Pawprints of History, How Dogs Think, How To Speak Dog, Why We Love the Dogs We Do, What Do Dogs Know? The Intelligence of Dogs, Why Does My Dog Act That Way? Understanding Dogs for Dummies, Sleep Thieves, The Left-hander Syndrome

 Read the original article here

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