A bit of humor: How to photograph a puppy and How to give your cat a pill

Well, as I've had such a sad start to the week, I figured by now a little humor might brighten things up. They are both "How To's" which when I first read them years ago had me in tears I was laughing so hard. I hope you'll enjoy them now......



How to Photograph a Puppy (before digital cameras)

1.  Remove film from box and load camera.

2.  Remove film box from puppy's month and throw in trash.

3.  Remove puppy from trash and brush coffee grounds from muzzle.

4.  Choose a suitable background for photo.

5.  Mount camera on tripod, check flash and focus.

6.  Find puppy and take dirty sock from mouth.

7.  Place puppy in pre-focused spot and return to camera.

8.  Forget about spot and crawl after puppy on knees.

9.  Focus with one hand while fending off puppy with other hand.

10. Get tissue and clean nose print from lens.

11. Put cat outside and put peroxide on the scratch on puppy's nose.

12. Put magazines back on coffee table.

13. Try to get puppy's attention by squeaking toy over your head.

14. Replace your glasses and check camera for damage.

15. Jump up in time to grab puppy by scruff of neck and say- "No, no outside!"

16. Call spouse to help clean up the mess.

17. Fix a drink.

18. Sit back in chair, put your feet up, sip your drink and resolve to teach puppy "sit" and "stay" the first thing in the morning.





How to give your cat a pill

1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding front and rear paws lightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, holding front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold cat's head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foilwrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for glueing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with its head just visible from below spouse's armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Ring the fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologise to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap,

13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Force cat's mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour ½ pint of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Get spouse to drive to you to emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes remnants from right eye. Stop by furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for vet to make a house-call.

And..... Remember, kitties hold a grudge and will get back at you when you least expect it!

Animals Grieve Too!

First off, let me tell you that anyone, and I mean ANYONE who tells you that animals don't feel or don't grieve, has their heads in the sand! BS, animals grieve the loss of a companion and partner. They grieve like we do. And they CAN die of a broken heart from their grief.

There are numerous articles out there that actually document animals grieving over the loss of another. 

I have witnessed it from my own animals over the years, whether it be cats and dogs, to the horses and even cattle. Probably the most heart wrenching one my husband and I have witnessed from our pets was about 2 years ago. I had at that time 4 chihuahuas, one male whom I've written some about here in the blog, Lil'Shit, and 4 females. The matriarch female, ChiChi suddenly at age 12 started having seizures. She and Lil'Shit were always the absolute closest pair. While at the vet's we found a significant murmur in her heart and the xray showed a very enlarged heart. So we worked on the heart issue first before handling the seizures, within a week's time, she went into respiratory distress and upon ultrasound it was found that a valve in her heart had completely failed. There is no fix for this. We had to make the decision to let her go. It was simply awful and the hardest one especially as it had been two months to the day that I had lost a kitty with cushings, pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Not a good year. 

The point though, is when we walked through the door coming home, Lil'Shit knew immediately she wasn't coming home. His entire body language immediately reflected this knowledge. He went silently into her kennel, burrowed under her blanket and did not come out for the better part of 24 hours. He didn't come out to eat, drink or eliminate. The other two girls howled off and one for the night. Thumbelina seemed especially lost as it was her mamma. Even the cats were subdued and stayed together with the dogs. It broke our hearts all over again.

Tuesday night they knew when I put Mushy into the carrier that he wasn't coming home again, they all had to come say goodbye to him. When I got home, Lil'Shit and Djinn needed cuddling with me. It hasn't been easy for me either. There isn't much I do lately without remembering something Mushy would do to make me smile, make me feel loved, or teach me another lesson in patience. I really, really miss him.

The one think I have learned though to help our remaining pets through their grief is a LOT of extra TLC, patience and compassion. And I have been fortunate that there were other animals around to provide support to each other. That and keeping routine helps them adjust and feel safe that not everything has fallen apart. It also helps me to focus. And the Tellington Ttouch has helped me and them alot to heal the grief and bond. 

So anyone who tells you animals don't feel or grieve or have the capacity for emotion, tell them they are full of hooey and blind. Anyone who spends time with animals knows better. 

Saying Goodbye.....

How do you say goodbye gracefully to a very beloved pet companion of 18+ years? How do you make the hardest decision of all and do it with the utmost love and compassion?

Yesterday evening I had to do just that for my very loved boy, Mushy. He had become ill over the last week, and even with  vet visits and such, he stopped eating and drinking. And he told me it was time. He couldn't have said it any louder either. Knowing the decision I had to make and the fact he was asking me to let him go didn't make it any easier. I knew I couldn't be selfish, for he had taught me so much about unconditional love and compassion that selfishness wouldn't fit into the picture here. I certainly wasn't ready to let him go, but I needed to for him. 

I have written previously a bit about my bond with him. You see he found me when he needed care and resucing at 4 weeks of age. and for 18 years I have cared for him to the absolute best of my abilities. He returned the love and care by truly watching over me, keeping me alive, and healing me when I needed it most. Our bond grew ever so much stronger over the last couple of years when I learned to communicate with him at a so much deeper level with the Tellington Ttouch. Mushy was my soul companion on so many levels. By giving him the ultimate act of compassion when he asked it of me, gave him release with grace and dignity. 

It will take time to grieve, and adjust to being without his tangible presence around me. And I need to remember to let the other animals in to grieve with me, and love me, that they need my love too right now. We can help each other heal. Lil'Shit was the first to know when I got back home, and he couldn't get close enough to me. I realized I am so truly blessed to have shared such a bond with Mushy, and that I have all these other loving beautiful little souls with me. I am also so very blessed to have the family and friends in my life at this time. 

I know he's out of pain and waiting at the rainbow bridge for me one day with my other beloved pets who have gone ahead. 

I am posting a poem that says so very much from a beautiful lady whom I've had to privilege to know online, and hope one day I can meet her in person to tell her how healing her words have been for me in past and now. 

Thank you Mushy for being so much a part of my life!

 

 

A Kitty’s Conversation

© 2004 By Carol Notermann

 

“Where’s Mommy?”   The wee small cat, asked the One who lifted it.

“She’ll be along.” His voice replied.  “We’ll only wait a bit.”

 

“But she was holding me and crying.  I felt her shoulders shake.”

“I know. You see, she made a choice, the hardest she could make.”

 

“But I went to sleep inside her arms?” the little cat replied.

His voice was soft, “I know, and that was why she cried.”

 

“I stood beside your Mommy, when the vet was bending down.

I gave her strength to hold you, as her tears fell all around”

 

“Will you stay with me till Mommy comes?” the kitty asked the Man.

“I’ll be here each day to see you, until she comes to you again.”

 

“For right beside that Rainbow Bridge, is where dogs and kitties wait,

And when you’re human’s time has come, I’ll take you both on through the gate.”

 

Dear Mom,

 

I’m just about to take a nap, for I’ve been running free.

I was chasing butterflies, and one small bumble bee.

I’ve rolled around in catnip, I’ve climbed high in a tree

And now I’ll rest all cuddled up with others just like me.

 

I’m in a truly lovely place, it’s right by Heaven’s gate.

I’m not alone, and I am told this is the place to wait.

I’ve told everyone about you, they said you won’t be late.

That though on earth long years will pass, I’ll meet you by the gate.

 

There’s a bridge we’ll cross together, it has a rainbow hue

And really it’s so pretty here, that all I miss is you.

So please don’t think about the things you did or didn’t do

It was my time to find the bridge, so please do not feel blue.

 

I’m sorry that I left so fast, with just a kiss good-bye.

But I’ve enclosed a “head butt” and a slow blink of my eye.

Take care of all my family and tell them that I’ll try

To be the one that greets them first, when they come, by and by.

 

Love and thanks for being such a good mom,

 

Your “Sweet” Kitty

 

© by Carol Notermann

 

 

 

Abandoned Horses....

Currently I am a member on a social network for pet and animal people in my state and area. We have some very wonderful people in this network. People who genuinely care for and about animals. People who go out of their way to help animals.

Recently one of the members has posted, twice now within a 2 week span, about finding abandoned horses during her walks with her dogs.

<<<This is the picture she took.

We have all read about pets being abandoned with the loss of homes for people. And horses are no different. Many are also being left to starve, or turned loose on public lands with what I am sure is the owners thinking that the horses will fend for themselves. A little hint here... Sorry it doesn't quite work out that way folks!

However! Because the horse has been cared for it's entire life to date, it doesn't have the survival instincts that a wild horse has. There are predators out there from bears to mountain lions and dog packs. And the horse is not part of a herd of wild horses, so should it meet up with wild horses, it is likely to be attacked by the herd. Those who abandon their horses do them a great disservice, and it is far crueler to abandon it or turn it loose, than it would be by giving it to a shelter, or giving it away to someone who can care for it. But, most people are embarrassed to say they can no longer care for it.

The person who found this horse contacted the local livestock inspector, they told her they will go out and try to catch the horse, and if caught the inspector posts ads for him for a week, and if the horse is not claimed he goes to auction. The inspector told her that most horses bought at auction are taken to Mexico, and who knows what happens to them there.

As it is illegal to slaughter them in the US now, a lot of auction horses for horsemeat goes through Mexico to other countries. So my question is this, how is this more humane for the horse? All because of pride? Because they couldn't give him up to one of the shelters? Even our Animal Shelter for dogs, cats and other critters takes in horses. I understand that the person may not have been able to afford feed, but good heavens! There are alternatives!

We need to work on getting the news out better for people who may have trouble caring for their pets or livestock, there are resources available. I know we have programs here where I live to help people with food, livestock feed, and care for their animals when they simply cannot afford to. These programs are so people don't have to part with their beloved companion, and that it will help lower the amount of animals going through our shelters, being abandoned, or euthanized because of lack of finances for care.

Check with your local ASPCA or Humane Society, ask your local shelters, research what other sanctuaries or shelters are available, ask your local paper as they may know. Maybe start a non-profit for a pet food bank. There are so many ideas out there. Even most veterinarians will donate services or food for people in need. Just giving or helping a little goes such a long way! And it can alleviate A LOT of suffering.  Even a 50 pound bag of food can go to helping and it really costs so little. If you know someone who is having trouble, help them find the resources, or encourage them to give the animal away to the shelter, or to someone who can perhaps give the animal care until a new forever home is found for it.

Living with pets with special needs

Animals are the most precious companions we can choose to share our lives with. They bring so much to us, and sometimes it is hard for us to conceive that sometimes they might have or develop special needs too.

 

Any pet  or animal companion may develop a special need at any time in their life, some of those needs aren’t always visible. It can be a physical or emotional need. It can be from injury, illness, fear, or old age.

 

Aging is probably the most common special need as they age things don’t work as well, for example a loss of sight or hearing, and perhaps bladder control issues.

 

Just because your companion might develop or already have a special need doesn’t mean that you have to “let them go” or euthanize them because it might be uncomfortable for you to watch or it seems overwhelming to deal with. You need to know that your animal companion can still have a very happy and fulfilled life with a little help from us. Just because they perhaps can’t jump anymore, or see/hear as well, or they require daily medication needs like insulin, or joints don't work as well and they have a harder time getting up and around, they do adapt well and just require some assistance from us.

 

For example your pet may develop diabetes and require insulin injections daily. This is not insurmountable, taking the time to learn to manage it at home is well worth the investment and the pet does very well and can still give you many more years of companionship.

 

Should your companion develop physical limitations from injury, etc., there are some simple things we can do to help make things more comfortable or easier for them:

•             Situate their food and water close to their resting area or be consistent with it’s location.


•             Make steps or ramps for them to get onto the furniture more safely, if you allow them on the furniture.
  


•             Put down carpets on slippery floors.


•             For a cat, add more litter boxes, especially in a house that has more than one level so they can reach a box when needed.


•             For a dog, use people bed pads for "accidents".
  


•             If it is visual impairment, try not to move furniture or their habitual feeding and watering areas. Try to make as few changes as possible in their environment.

Remember they have feelings too. So be encouraging, loving, and patient. Help them live their lives to the fullest, pay back some of what they shared with you, joy, compassion, and love most of all.

A rant on Animal Cruelty and abuse.....

Everyday we see some article either online, in the paper, or on television about animal abuse, neglect, hoarding, or puppy mills. The list goes on.

I found myself wondering today (after watching the latest puppy mill video from the Humane Society on a raid on a Border Collie mill rescue operation), when it became socially acceptable to stop caring, stop being responsible for other lives, and when it became ok to be cruel to another soul. Another sentient soul includes not only humans, but all life forms. All animals feel pain, love, happiness, and compassion.



Most of society prefers to turn a blind eye to the uglier side of our working relationships with animals.

On the mill issues; several people I know would rather have the status symbol of a "purebred" pet, they wouldn't stoop so low as to rescue an animal in need, or a purebred pet that has been abused, or abandoned. It's sad actually. Animals have become another commodity and get mass produced without a thought for their care.  They are kept in squalid conditions, in filth, bred constantly, no interaction with people or sunlight most times, no toys, never hear a gentle or loving voice, and the list goes on again.

On raising animals for medical products; female hormone replacement therapy drugs are made mostly from pregnant mare's urine. Premarin, prempro, etc. The mares are bred constantly to keep them pregnant to harvest their urine for the production of these drugs. The colts are sold from birth most times for slaughter for leather products etc. They don't even stand a chance of life. The mares who can no longer produce, or put out the amount of urine expected, are slaughtered. If you want to learn more about it, go to: United Animal Nations and  check the page on the Premarin mares and their work to raise awareness on this issue and how to adopt a rescued horse from the program.

We read about animal hoarders, it is a mental condition in these people, but once again, most of society doesn't want to be involved or help stop this.

We read about dog fighting and the sensationalism with Michael Vick and the way he abused or killed the dogs that lost or weren't worthy to fight anymore. We read about a teenager who went around capturing people's cats in Florida and torturing them and dissecting them alive. Or about the teenagers who baked a puppy alive. Or how about groups taking shelter animals slated for euthanasia and using them alive on a hook for shark bait! I kid you not, it happens and when I found out about it I had nightmares and woke up crying for weeks over that one.

The list will always go on until the majority of us really stand up and say enough!  We need to step forward, educate people of the myths of gender and spaying and neutering, educate them about proper care, support the non-profit organizations in legislation against animal abuse and their capability to help those who might not have the means to supply care for their animals. We need to take the steps necessary to put breeding mills out of business, visit the ASPCA's site for 10 Ways You Can Help Fight Puppy Mills. Take a stand and promise to adopt your next pet, whether from the shelter or a breed specific rescue organization. Teach your children to truly respect all life and it's role in the world and your lives. Teach them that it is wrong to purposely hurt, injure, or kill another being. Be willing to learn and share what you learn about animal care and responsibility. Be a responsible pet owner/caretaker. Stop pretending it doesn't happen!

Returning home from Vacation.....

Well, yesterday we finally returned home from a week and a half's vacation. I am happy to be home with the fur kids. While it is nice to get away from the responsibilities, it's nice to come home to them too.

At one point early into our vacation, my friend who was pet sitting for us called me as we were heading into supper one evening. She was worried sick that she couldn't find Yummy and she felt he'd escaped. I told her where his usual hiding place is and even if he did get out, that he'd be fine, and come home to eat. She was worried and scared, but as luck would have it, he was only hiding from her in his usual spot behind the file cabinet in the office. 

Nothing else was heard until Sunday the 27th, the evening my brother and his wife were to arrive and stay at our house for the remaining week of our vacation. Then by Monday morning, my friend was texting me to make sure my brother made it ok and did she need to go by and feed the critters? All was well.  Then on Thursday the 1st I get a text from my brother that Yummy showed them that he could figure out how to open the unlocked screen door in the back and as Mushy had followed him outside they had a fight. Now, Yummy is a very different cat when he gets out. Cats he cohabitates with every day become strangers outside, and he will turn feral almost and fight with them. And he did to poor old Mushy. And my brother tells me that Mushy is now favoring his left front paw. No swelling yet. Ok, I tell him to watch him, as there is not much I can do right now from Florida. 

We finally arrive home yesterday evening, the 2nd. As my brother picks us up, he tells us that Mushy's paw has swollen up, and he isn't walking on it and wasn't interested in eating. I know very well what's going on then, he has developed an abscess. Having spent time working for veterinarians, and having lived far enough out in the country that I had to be my own triage vet till a vet could arrive to me (at least 3 hrs away), I keep a full kit of care and medical items on hand for the fur kids. So, first on my list is to use a very warm wet washcloth to wrap around the foot, and see if it will release on it's own first. I have small clipper/trimmers on hand to shave, plenty of gauze, antibiotic ointment, non-stick tape (vetrap), betadine and hydrogen peroxide. I get it all laid out for him.

Mushy is not the best patient, when he doesn't feel well, he is fussy. But he did like the warm washcloth around the swollen foot. I got very lucky, when I peeled it away to re-warm it,  the abscess has let go on it's own and is flowing and draining very very nicely with very little pressure from me. It's the big pad on his foot. So I work on cleaning and draining it with him complaining the whole while. Then soaked it for a minute or two in a bit of betadine mixed in to the hydrogen peroxide. The good thing about this mix is that the hydrogen peroxide will help pull the betadine into the wound and help kill the infection (I learned this trick from an ER doctor in Arizona when I got my hand torn up by a horse lead rope). Then I gently wipe off and dry the rest of the foot. Put a good dollop of Nitrofurazone ointment (this is one of the best I have personally found for wounds) over the area and bandage it with a small bit of pressure from the vetrap to help it drain some more and the swelling go down. And a shot of long acting penicillin. 

After all that, I cuddled him and gave him some Ttouch and talked to him and soothed him. However, he was pouting. Scowled at me, and then went and cuddled with everyone else but me.  

But by this morning, I am very very pleased to say the swelling is completely gone, the foot is just about back down to normal, he is using it some (due to bandage thought it's a bit awkward) and is ravenous. All very good signs. And the fact that he's drinking more again is good also. However, between the stress of all the changes and the abscess, he has some bladder sand, so with the sore foot he doesn't always make it to the litter box. The sand will clear up quickly with the dose of antibiotics he got last night and today. "Sigh" I have yet to come home from a vacation without a minor situation to care for. 

Poor old man, momma goes away, strangers come feed him at hours he isn't used to, no one around all day, then people he knows come to stay and it still isn't like he likes or is used to but now there's someone there all the time, then momma and dad come home and he doesn't feel good because he escaped outside to look for momma and dad and his brother beat him up. He's thinking by now that he's just too old for much more of this. 

Ah yes, life is so much less stressful with pets. LOL But I truly wouldn't have it any other way. 

It's good to be home and the plus was I got to sleep with my purr generators and had an excellent night's sleep. :)