Chris
Fidler, Chris' Critter Care
Health & Medicine will
return next month.
Editorial Special ~ In
Loving Memory
This month's edition of the newsletter
is a little late. Not because, as before, ACPSN is a busy organization.
And not because I've been just a little busy with life. This
month I have something to express, and finding the words has
been difficult.
On July 18, I lost my best friend.
My soul mate, my best cuddle buddy and my first child. On July
18, our eldest dog Clipper was put to sleep at the Downtown
Animal Hospital in Toronto. It marked the end of a long sequence
of health issues for Clipper, and the beginning of an empty
feeling in my heart.
Clipper came into our lives on
July 4, 1995 - just a few short weeks after my husband and
I met and married. He was a rotti-lab mix, only 4 weeks old,
and the tiniest puppy I had ever seen. We nurtured him and
watched him grow. He was raised in the streets of downtown
Toronto - taking many midnight walks with my husband and I
through all the main streets, back alleys, and parks in this
city. Being young and perpetually broke, our main source of
entertainment were these late night walks, and Clipper was
always in tow. I watched the two of them race like children
through the parks, yipping and panting and wrestling around.
And the night was always capped off with a snack or two - usually
a discarded pizza slice, sausage or bagel that Clipper would
find laying around and try to subtly wolf down before we noticed.
We went for walks in the pouring rain, the puddles nearly swallowing
this tiny creature as he jumped into them and rolled around.
Over the years, Clipper accompanied
us as we trekked around the province. First to different areas
in Toronto, then later to Haliburton and Moose Factory, Ontario.
He stayed awake in the back seat of our small car for the entire
trip to Texas, where we took him to see his grandma over Christmas
of 1999. For a few long months he lived with a friend of ours.
My allergies were bad at that point, and the only option was
for him to find a new home. It broke our hearts, and when we
were reunited a short time later, he became our child once
again. He never complained. He never begged to go for walks
when I first came home from work. He was content to lay sleepily
on the floor beside me, watching me as I worked or slept. He
was at his happiest during visits with grandma, or when he
was curled up under the comforter with us at night. He lived
a spoiled life filled with Happy Meals, toys, and the freedom
to roam about our apartment, sleep in our bed and sit on our
good sofa. I came to believe that Clipper was not only a dog – he
truly thought he was human, just a little shorter and hairier
than us. Clipper taught me (a cat person by nature), that the
love of an animal is much more than the companionship they
give us. It is the love we feel for them that truly shapes
who we are as pet parents.
The past few years has seen growth
in our family. With 2 more dogs entering the home, Clipper’s
insecurities became apparent. But he was always our first,
and always our baby. He had his share of difficulties as well.
In the past 3 years, our moving has become more stressful – resulting
in some severe bouts of colitis. He’s been through surgery
for a large tumor growing on the top of his head, worn a diaper
for a week because of an oozing boil on his rear end, and had
several trips to the vet for medication or treatment. He became
a grumpy old man at times, but all that was forgotten when
he’d lay beside me on the chaise. We knew last year that
his liver enzymes were high, and his kidney function tests
were abnormal. We watched as he was slowly deteriorating, losing
muscle mass and having some trouble with laying down and getting
back up. But when there was fun to be had, a treat to consume,
or a person to nuzzle, all this was forgotten, and his puppy
persona returned. We knew he wouldn’t be with us forever,
but we decided that his quality of life was much more important
to us, and him, than subjecting him to endless tests and treatments
that would likely not make a difference. So we agreed to wait
until the time came.
When it did, I thought I was
prepared. His condition worsened rapidly over a couple of weeks,
with massive weight loss, incontinence, loss of appetite and
more discomfort. I waited, and hoped, that he would recover
again as he had before. There were many tears shed, and many
nights where I slept with him alone in the living room, savoring
every last moment. And, on July 17, we knew that keeping him
here was more for us, and that he was ready to leave.
I wish I could say I remembered
the night clearly. In all honesty, I medicated myself to dull
the agony. I cried the entire day on Tuesday, and we had made
an appointment at the vet. As the time grew near, the clock
ticked closer to his doom, I questioned every decision. I looked
into his big, brown eyes and wondered if he really was ready.
I was projecting my own doubts onto him, and I was sure that
he knew what was happening. He seemed to be at peace with it.
We went for one last walk to the vet that night, the longest
walk I ever hope to make. We let him sniff every tree, stroll
through every flower garden, and pee on every post. And the
entire time, my husband and I cried and felt guilty – guilty
for not giving him enough treats, guilty for not playing when
we had to work, or cuddling when we had to sleep. We felt guilty
for bringing more dogs into the house, when he so obviously
enjoyed being an only child. And we felt guilty for making
the decision to end his life. We’d been through this
before – with a cat who fell ill extremely fast. In that
instance, it was sudden and irreversible, and she was suffering.
This time was different – this time Clipper was able
to walk to the vet, and able to still enjoy life. But we didn’t
want him to suffer, and we didn’t want him to be in pain.
He wouldn’t have wanted us to wait any longer, and I
know that now. But that night, every doubt, every question
came into our minds. I don’t know if it is easier for
those who believe in Rainbow Bridge. Raised an atheist, I believe
that death is the end, and that makes it a little harder to
deal.
The past 2 weeks have been filled
with tears and loneliness, but those doubts are gone now. We
know his pain is over, and we know that ours will dull in time.
We know that never, in our lifetimes, will there be another
friend like Clipper.
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Morag
Wilcox - York Professional Pet Sitting
Manitoba Canine Association
10-13 August 2006
Location: St Norbert Community Center
3450 Pembina Hwy
Winnipeg, Manitoba
See the Manitoba Canine Association website: www.manitoba-canine.ca for further details, or e-mail: event@manitoba-canine.ca.
NIAGARA DOG FEST
12 August 2006 — 10 am to 5 pm
Location: 7 Park Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario
A show for dogs and their people. Dog seminars, demonstrations,
contests as well as over 50 vendors and exhibitors showcasing
dog products, wares, crafts and services.
$2.00 Admission
All breeds welcome!
For further information, see the Niagara
Dogfest website, or
contact Susan at dogfest@cogeco.ca
HUGS FOR HOUNDS
26-27 August 2006
Location: Bridgeport Rod & Gun, Breslau, Ontario
3rd Hugs for Hounds, supporting Greyhound Adoption everywhere!
This event gives adoption/rescue groups a venue to sell products
and hold raffles for their individual groups.
Vendors, demonstrations, BBQ, buffet and more!
For further details see www.hugs4hounds.com
or e-mail: hugsforhounds@yahoo.ca, Tel. (519) 650-1834
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Beverly Miller - The Kitty
Sitter
The Kitty Man
One day last fall, I visited the Kitchener-Waterloo
Humane Society to check out its current crop of kittens. My
husband and I had been thinking about adopting a companion
or two for our Cleo, whose buddy Winston passed away last year.
Although the timing wasn't yet right, I wanted to meet the
shelter manager so she'd know who I was when we finally made
the decision to adopt.
I spent almost an hour at the shelter, watching
kittens cavort and adults cats lounge on the comfy beds. Then
I made the rounds again.
One large enclosure has six adorable youngsters.
After a few moments delightedly observing them at play, I noticed
the enclosure's back door opening slowly. Behind it appeared
an elderly gentleman. The kittens clambered over each other
to greet him, and he quickly corralled them so they wouldn't
jump out.
He sat down among them and, with a radiant smile,
stroked each kitten ever so gently, as if they were made from
delicate porcelain. He acknowledged me only briefly with a
small nod. He was clearly mesmerized by his little charges.
I was so mesmerized by him... the look on his face
was so serene. It was pure rapture.
Later, I asked one of the shelter staff members
who he was. I learned he was a volunteer - "a pet pal" - who
regularly spends time with the cats (never the dogs). Not wanting
to pry further, I asked no other questions. I wondered, tough,
if this man was a widower who had found a way to ease his lonliness
by sharing his affection with these homeless kitties.
No matter that his story was, my heart was warmed
by this sweet senior who has such a special rapport with cats
and who obviously knows how they enhance his life, in return
for just a few cuddles and pets.
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Laura Page & Sonya Benson - The Doggie Walk Co.
Pets.ca
For all your pet needs or for anything from blogs to
dental care check out www.pets.ca . This website
contains forums,
information on referrals and any interesting topics you
might be seeking.
There is a pet first aid kit that can be purchased and
shipped to your for under $40 CDN through this website
that I would
recommend for any pet parent.
Humour and Comics
I know we all live quite busy lives, so I recommend a little
break for everyone. Enjoy humorous pet related comics at “Dog
Eat Doug” online comics. This is for anyone who has
a dog, or a dog and a baby. Dog eat Doug is very entertaining
for anyone.
http://dogeatdoug.com/comic/index.php
This month's comic from Off the Mark
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Maureen
Terrey, EarthAnimals Pet Services
Alternative Therapies
Many people are now more ready to explore the various approaches
based on the human energy system for themselves and their animals.
My animals and I have each enjoyed the benefits of these alternative
therapies listed below and hopefully one or more of these will
be of interest and introduce an awareness of a holistic approach
for you and your animals.
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture without using needles.
Pressure is applied by the hands to tonify (increase) or sedate
(decrease) Qi energy at specific acupoints. Just yesterday,
a small dog I was visiting started voraciously eating grass and
wouldn’t touch his food. On the knee is an acupressure
point for the stomach, so I massaged this point on each back
leg for a few minutes, and on my return visit a few hours later,
he ate his food, wanted no more grass, and had a bowel movement.
Suggested reading: Four Paws Five Directions, Cheryl Schwartz,
DVM.
Sound has the capacity to tune up and balance the body’s
energy system. Acutonics sound healing is the application, on
or above the body, of precision calibrated tuning forks to specific
acupuncture points to balance the flow of Qi energy and blood.
Suggested reading: The Mozart Effect, Don Campbell - Suggested
website: www.acutonics.com And I highly recommend cd’s
to calm your animal: www.themusicalrainbow.com
Animal communication is an exchange, between practitioner and
animal, of thoughts, concepts, pictures, feelings in the form
of a story. You and your animal can commune where you feel
you both became one or know without words or analysis, and you
can
communicate where you exchange energies and understanding – and
know each other on a deeper level. Acknowledging the possibility
is the first step, after that it is up to you! Suggested reading:
Animal Talk, Penelope Smith.
Jin Shin utilizes the life force that emanates from our fingertips
to support rather than push the natural flow of body energy.
The purpose of Jin Shin is to release the tensions that cause
various physical symptoms. The body contains energy pathways
that feed life into all cells. When one or more of these paths
become blocked, the damming effect can lead to discomfort or
pain. One of my animal clients, a large dog, went into shock
after a trauma, and holding a Jin Shin flow (while the vet
was on route) brought him back from shock – a truly amazing
thing to behold. Suggested website: www.jsjforyouranimal.com
Reiki and Healing Touch both involve the laying of hands, on
or above the body, using universal energy. Many times just laying
our hands over the affected area of animal can restore harmony
and allow natural healing to begin. Using the full body connection
in Healing Touch from feet to hips can help balance the front
or hind legs of an animal. Suggested reading: Healing Touch:
A Guidebook for Practitioners, Dorothea Hover-Kramer.
Bach Flower Remedies are 38 plant and flower based formulas
that can help manage the emotional demands of everyday life by
bringing negative attitudes and feelings back into balance and
perspective. They can be used on humans, animals, or plants and
help promote overall wellness. Suggested website: www.bachcentre.com
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Christine Meichssner: Premium Dog Walking Services
My favorite hobby
as a teenager was looking after all the neighbors pets. At home
we had cats and budgies.
When the time came to decide which direction to take in life
I decided to go ahead and go through a three year apprenticeship
as an Animal Care Taker in Switzerland.
During those years, I worked with a multitude of animals, however
the majority of pets were dogs and cats.
There was no shortage of work!
The day started with taking the dogs out for their daily doses
of exercise, followed by the feeding
and “den keeping” and on occasion, we had to medicate
sick pets. All the while keeping an eye out for any unusual behavior.
The vet would be immediately informed of any problems. We would
assist the vet in treating the animals.
As for the cats, the routine was much the same but we had to
be more vigilant because the cats were kept together. Keeping
track of who ate what and who went to the bathroom is more challenging.
Besides looking after the pets, we were also required to deal
with the customers, not only for the boarding kennel, but also
for the adjoining pet store and grooming salon.
That was the “hands on” part
of the apprenticeship.
For the academic portion, which run every other week, we would
learn the anatomy for various animals, biology, common pet diseases,
study some 300 dog breeds and business management, including
accounting.
At the end of the apprenticeship, my love for the animals became
a passion and I knew I found my calling.
But first, I wanted to take a little break by coming to Canada
for a year, mostly to improve my English.
Well, it was love at first sight and I decided to stay in Canada.
After a few years living on the East Coast I moved out West and
was looking at my options for work.
At that time the concept of doggy daycares and dog walkers seemed
a little strange to me, but the desire to work with dogs helped
me over that initial skepticism and I soon found work as a dog
walker.
I really enjoyed taking the dogs to the nearby beaches and parks
or just hanging out with them at the daycare.
As this was only a part time job, I did have to look at my future
and decide what would be best for me.
In early 2005 I decided to go ahead and start my own company.
After getting the business license,
insurance, dog walking permits… I
was ready to go!
This is truly a dream come true
for me.
premiumdogwalking@shaw.ca
www.Vancouver-Dog-Walkers.com
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Kelly Manis - Kelly's Dog Walking
Dog
Walker Questions
Why do dogs wrestle with each other at your feet when there
is an entire, large, perfectly good park all around? “Guys,
my knees don’t bend that way.”
Do
you think people would feel better about themselves if when
they entered a room everyone else ran up to meet
them? ( replace
intense butt sniffing with hearty hand shakes or pats on the
back)
Why is there always one dog that poops on a hill as you and
your charges are ascending it? “Stop making up your own
games guys.”
Why do people think it’s a good idea to let their “precious” children
wander into a group of unfamiliar dogs? I saw some kids
in the deer pen at Marine Land, they had handfuls of pellets
to feed
the deer, I thought I was watching a Steven King movie
So much for Bambi and Rudolf.
Why do
people with small timid dogs think the best way to cure their
shyness is to let them wander into a group
of unfamiliar
dogs? The big dogs just want to see if this new toy squeaks.
Why do
joggers get upset when they run up behind a dog and it reacts
to being startled? Geeze they just
scared
the crap
out of me, I wanted to lunge at their head.
Why do
people sunbathe right beside the off leash area at the beach
and freak out when 3 dogs run over
them? “Yea sorry
about that. You might wanna move to the other 17 acres that are
available.”
Why are
the park washrooms seasonal? Peeing is pretty much year round. “ Oh my Gawd…I can’t wait for the
May 24 weekend, my bladder is gonna burst!”
How do
you stop a car full of dogs from fogging up when it rains?
Seriously I need to know this.
Why do
some dogs eat their own pooh? How do you know they are house
trained?
If you
could ask your dog one question, what would it be?
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Sue Schmidt - New Moon Animal Care
The Barnyard will
return next month. |
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Lana Banham - Bow-Wow
Meow
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