Please send prayers out for us today as we are mourning; the two year-anniversary of our loss of Theodore is today, February 8^th. I remember typing this post six months after he passed – my grief hasn’t improved TOO TOO much…. I remember that first post – it got 85 comments.

The Sad Sunday six-month tribute has a beautiful poem called Living Love. I suggest you read it here if you’ve lost a pet… it’s touching and full of truth.

I remember that Monday morning like it was yesterday; I’m so sad just typing this that my fingers are shaking, my hands are unsteady and tears are pouring over my prized Pavilion keypad.

I miss Theodore and STILL don’t understand how I haven’t EVER grieved for anyone or anything like I do and have for him.

It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

Is it because he was the first thing I considered REALLY mine? The first thing/being that I raised, owned, bought (adopted), loved and taught? (Not like a first car or anything like that – almost like a human connection…?)

Am I NUTS or what?

Some of you might call me crazy for saying this; I think the Kitty Gods sent Mad Maxwell down to me to take Theodore’s place.

Max – especially over the last few months – has become SO MUCH like Dora that it’s downright uncanny. He sleeps in the same exact spots, he races me up the stairway at night in the same manner and launches himself from the foyer with the same precision that only a Jaguar has…  

Max also eats and treasures his crunchies and special upstairs (bedroom) crunchy-drawer like Theodore did. (Maybe a rescue cat always will eat like he’s starved…) Max even has the same personality elements – the silliness, the goofball demeanor, the blinky eyes when he’s tired or wants pets, the “I’m going to pretend to ignore you when I want attention” ‘tude.

Yes, I realize many cats have these traits – but Theodore took them “to a T,” no pun intended.

So is this the way that I have raised Max?

Or is it a Higher Power working so that I won’t be so sad in missing Doree (his nickname, which he despised because he told me that’s a girl name…)?

Let me know what you think…

Have you ever lost an animal and then felt like God (or Whom or Whatever you Believe In) sent you something else or someone to replace him/her?  I’m not just talking cats here – I’m talking dogs, horses, beloved friends, treasured fiancées, etc.

 *** The reason I have the Live Strong graphics up is because Theodore died – like so many cats and dogs – of cancer. Theodore had some type of andeocarcinoma, a very rare type of cancer. The vet did not remove all of it when he took the tumor and gall bladder out during the first surgery – as they cannot remove a cat’s entire bile duct. ***

Theodore tried SO HARD to pull through but he just couldn’t make it. I found him that Monday morning lying on my bedroom’s bathroom floor like a TRUE TOUGH-ASS TABBY, a FIGHTER FIRST-CLASS… He was hiding behind the toilet… As many of you know, when cats are really ill or feeling really bad, they hide instead of trying to let you know. They purr to try to comfort themselves. Sometimes, as in Dora’s case, this is a small, unrewarded effort to turn it around, but at least their little motors keep them going. That’s what I tell myself.

I can’t type anymore because I am crying so hard.

I love you Theodore and you will never be forgotten; you will always be missed greatly.

(And to Gibson (Gibby) – who passed just four days later from cancer – we will talk to you Sunday.)

Love, Mom

Thank you so so much to all the kind folks at Eukanuba and Dogtime Media who were able to get Franklin and Henry into the 28-Day Challenge, first of all…

Second, we knew going in that Proctor and Gamble Pet Care Division has an awesome reputation – our kittehs eat only IAMS wet and dry food and eat health treats too.

However… we are eternally grateful because we have seen such an amazing change in the exterior and the temperament of both our precious pooches, Franklin and Henry, with the Eukanuba formulas they are on. Eukanuba asked me to, in 100 words or less, to sum up the best part. Here’s my word-for-word answer:

100 words or less is tough for me, but here goes… Franklin and Henry were never just “good” dogs; they have always been extraordinary. Their health, on the other hand, WAS NOT.

However, as of now:

-          Franklin and Henry are going “number two” three times a day — regularly

-          Their coats are super-shiny

-          Their breath is fresher

-          Their teeth are cleaner

-          They have adapted so well to the food that they eat slower and enjoy it!

Considering they are seriously picky eaters and that Bassets are inherent with problems when not bred right (and that Frank is a former puppy mill stud), this is all fantastic news.

Are you planning to feed your dog Eukanuba moving forward?

Franklin the Former Puppy Mill Stud Dog

Yes, they absolutely love it!!! We can’t imagine going back at this point…

What was the best part of the Challenge?

The best part of the Challenge has been over the last two weeks… oh yeah – also the change in their breath and their coats! These two things are just so obvious that even neighbors (when on walks) and people/friends at dog parks have asked us what’s changed!

We said “Eukanuba” and have been answered in shock with SO MANY “NO WAYS!!” that it’s remarkable!! People just can’t believe a food (what I now call a SUPER FOOD for dogs) like Eukanuba’s Custom Care Joint Formula or Eukanuba Senior Maintenance Formula, which Franklin and Henry are getting respectively, can have so much of an effect! It’s like humans eating kale and almonds and avocado and mangoes or something!!! A little of this helps that part and a bit of that helps this part!! LOL! Do you know what I mean? They are getting EVERYTHING they need in one food – vitamins, minerals, supplements, and special ingredients that help their little bodies prepare for life better.

We also really love the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge Facebook page the organization put up to document everyone else’s experiences! It’s fun to see pictures and read stories like ours!

 What did you learn about your dog from the Challenge?

We learned that they can actually eat slowly and enjoy their good; that they are smarter than they know; that they are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed no matter what time of day it is, and that they are the most extraordinary dogs and most well-loved animals in the ‘hood ♥ ♥

Would you recommend feeding Eukanuba to others?

♥ ♥ ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY!!!!!!!!!!Any day of any week, any breed of any age. It’s our super power poodle food. (We call all dogs poodles in this family…)

And as the Hounds would say, “Baarrrrugala….!”

So here are two BIG Super Bowl ads you simply cannot miss this Sunday as they have our four-legged friends as the main attraction…

Funny Super Bowl ads from years passed featuring dogs and cats (or other animals as the main performers) have always been big hits! The past performers have always big big passed performers!!

So you must check out the just-released video link to the highly anticipated follow-up to the Darth Vader VW commercial:

“The Dog Strikes Back” (had tears of laughter from this one – first part is WAY funnier than second part)

“]

VW Super Bowl Dog Ad [Image Courtesy DesignYouTrust.com

According to Todd Wasserman’s post on Mashable Business, where I got it: “A chubby dog gets in shape to chase a Beetle in Volkswagen’s long-awaited sequel to its “The Force” Super Bowl ad from last year.

“And don’t worry, there’s a shout out to Star Wars as well.”

Is He a Bit Chubby? YES. Adorable? YES. Wanna Take Him Home? YES. Hilarious? YES!

Keep in mind, the #1 Most Shared Super Bowl Ad this year is “The Barkside:” VW’s 2011 Tribute: “The sequel to the most-shared ad of last year’s Super Bowl, and of all of 2011 for that matter, is leading the pack this year. Volkswagen released this video last week showing dogs barking to the tune of Star Wars’ “The Imperial March.” So does that mean there will be dogs in this year’s ad? More Star Wars? We’ll know soon enough,” Wasserman said on Mashable.

——- ***** ——-

♦ ♦ ◊ ◊ Now there is also THIS hilarious (and SUPER-CUTE!) one to watch out for – from the animal-loving ‘wilderness’ car company, Suzuki ◊ ◊ ♦ ♦

For the second year, Suzuki is throwing its ad/marketing hat into the ring during the Super Bowl with “Sled.”

The stars of Suzuki’s commercial (in addition to its Kizashi sports sedan, of course) this year, however, are of the four-legged variety Our favorite kind ∞

The sled dog team featured in “Sled” are actual snow dogs that Suzuki found at a touring company in Alberta, Canada, near where the ad was shot. The actor dogs were coordinated/handled by Flo Krisko, one of the most respected animal coordinators and trainers in the Motion Picture Association of America. All dogs were securely harnessed in while in the vehicle and a representative from the American Humane Association’s Film and Television Unit attended the “Sled” shoot.

“Sled“

2012 Super Bowl Spot Suzuki Dogs

American Suzuki Motor Corp. today premiered the final version of its 2012 Super Bowl commercial – entitled “Sled” – on its Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SuzukiAuto) and YouTube pages. After previewing its big game ad last week, Suzuki upgraded the music in its television spot with a music track by well-known rapper 50 Cent. The artist’s song “Movin On Up” is fitting for Suzuki’s “Sled” advertisement, which illustrates the exhilaration one can receive from upgrading their ordinary daily driver with a more entertaining mode of transportation. In the ad, an Eskimo trades in his dog-powered snow sled for an all-wheel-drive 2012 Kizashi sport sedan. 

Developed by El Segundo, Calif.-based advertising agency Siltanen & Partners Advertising, Suzuki’s “Sled” television spot is set in an isolated mountain location. “Sled” opens with an early morning scene where an Eskimo and his dogsled team ride off into the horizon. As the landscape changes from morning to evening, the quiet still of the frozen tundra gives way to vibrations and a hint of something new in the distance. A Kizashi – accompanied by 50 Cent’s “Movin On Up” – comes driving into view with one of the Huskies’ heads sticking out of the front passenger window enjoying its owner’s new mode of transport. The spot then cuts to the interior of the vehicle, revealing the other sled dogs buckled into the back seat and the Eskimo behind the wheel of the Kizashi – all of whom are digging the lavish accommodations and warm interior of the car, while bumping their heads and tapping their paws to the song’s beat. The Eskimo pulls up to his igloo and his wife comes out to greet him. With a puzzled look on her face, and in her native Inuit tongue, she asks, “Where’s the sled?” The man replies, “I traded it in,” (the conversation is subtitled in English).

A Suzuki Super Bowl Pup Enjoying a Pooch Pastime!

Suzuki’s 2012 Super Bowl spot will air both in 60-second and 30-second formats in the company’s top retail locations across the U.S. “Sled” will continue to run following the Super Bowl in conjunction with a new Suzuki advertising campaign scheduled to debut in March.

In addition, starting on Super Bowl Sunday, Suzuki will give away BARKCODE® tags to the first 1,000 consumers to register on www.KizashiKicks.com/sled.

Each personalized pet identification tag has a scannable 2D code, making it easy for pet owners to be reunited with their four-legged friends when they are lost or even misplaced during a natural disaster.

COOLEST PART????

— With each tag that is ordered through the Kizashi Kicks website, BARKCODE®, on behalf of Suzuki, will donate $3 to the American Red Cross for disaster relief and preparation to help people and pets!!!!

* For additional information on BARKCODE®, please visit www.barkcode.com/.

** A PUPDATE with more previously unseen commercials with pets on the way tomorrow **

During their busy days at dog parks or while playing, in between meal times and while dozing off, bantering with neighborhood dogs or playing with siblings, a pets’ schedule can get messy! Whether Fido is exploring a new trail or rolling around in the new muck in the backyard from the last rain, there are all sorts of things our dogs AND cats get into every day that we don’t know about.

It’s for your sake just as much as theirs that hygiene be a #1 priority.

Groomed fur, healthy skin, shiny clean teeth and everything else comes only with dedication to care and decent management of pet hygiene – and this will ensure your pet is not only clean but also happy!

1. One of the major concerns for dog owners is to maintain their fur, so it looks clean, colorful, of the right depth and shape, as well as healthy overall. Obviously fleas can cause much irritation for your dog, spreading through their fur, living and breeding on their skin and biting them. However, the damage done can not only be cured but also prevented for the future. Clean fur can ensure that your pets remain free of fleas… Products for grooming and maintaining your dog’s fur include Furminator, which reduces shedding and the time spent on washing your dog.

2. The external threat of fleas is unfortunately matched by the internal threat of worms. These foul and powerful parasites, also a danger to cats, can make your beloved baby severely sickly seriously speedily. These maddening pests can be dealt with effectively with treatment: look to great websites like Milbemax, which can provide information on the symptoms you need to look for and the proper steps to take to de-worm your cat or dog.

3. It’s much much easier to spot external problems than it is internal, any pet owner knows that. Taking extra precautions could make a massive difference to your dog or cat’s (or any other pet’s) health. One such precaution to be taken is providing pet supplements, reassuring you that they are functioning healthy on the inside. Cosequin, for example, helps improve your pet’s joints, making them stronger, more effective and lasting. (See a post about Sasha’s new Cosequin for cats supplement diet here.)

4. Of course, taking pet hygiene maintenance down to the bare minimum involves a bathtub and trying to avoid your dog making a complete mess! But try to give regular baths as much as you can while keeping yourself sane. And trust me – it gets easier for both parties as time goes by and with each and every bathtime.

The fun of having a pet comes with great responsibility for you to make sure your dog, cat, horse or hamster is healthy, clean and above all happy.

So try to keep on top of at least these pet care hygienic needs, and you’re off to a great start!

For people who don’t own dogs, the amount of money spent on feeding man’s best friend may seem extravagant. Looking at the ingredients of a premium bag of food oftentimes can make the kibble sound tastier than most human meals, after all!

However, the reasons behind “super pet foods” may surprise those non-pet owners.

Food is NOT meant to be a special treat, nor is it supposed to be a way to spoil the family pooch…

The nutritional diet of a domesticated dog, however, is one of the most important aspects of pet care for any pet owner. Dogs need consistency in the food that they are given and they willtake time to adjust to new diets. So

Royal Canin Helathy Dogs (from website)

continuously altering a dog’s diet is not good for their health but this doesn’t mean that dog owners should not change the food that they are buying and stick with the same brand or products. There is a large selection of different brands, products and ingredients to feed your dog and choosing the right one is essential.

One way to choose the right food is to go by your dog’s breed. For example, Royal Canin Dog Food brand offers a specially developed breed-specific range of foods that take into account common health problems associated with each breed as well as the way your dog use his mouth to eat his kibble! How neat is that? As with most premium brands, they also provide food for pregnant or lactating female dogs of varying breeds and sizes so that both mother and puppy get the nutrients they need.

On another hand, you may be worried about your dog being susceptible to certain allergies like wheat or gluten. Eukanuba Dog Food uses potato and fish as opposed to grains and beef or pork to prevent inflammatory skin conditions from occurring.

James Wellbeloved also produces hypo-allergenic dog food, including James Wellbeloved Puppy Food to make sure your dog gets accustomed to these types of foods from an early age.

Ultimately, there are many benefits to purchasing premium pet food that can be used to combat a variety of health problems – from maintaining a robust digestive system to developing strong muscles and joint flexibility. A simple change in a dog’s diet means fewer trips to the vet and a longer, happier life for Fido.

Current law defines a “vicious dog” as one that, without provocation, has seriously injured a person, has killed another dog, or is of the general breed known as “pit bull.” Among numerous other changes, the bill drops the reference to “pit bull” from that definition.

BUT THE SENATE has PASSED SUB-HB 14 –THEY’VE LISTENED TO US!

They’ve honored constituent wishes and REMOVED PIT BULLS from the VICIOUS DOG LAW!

Watch for yourself near the 45-minute mark here (!):

Courtesy Best Friends Animal Society: a Happy Pittie, as it SHOULD BE

The measure notes that the label doesn’t include a police dog that has injured a person or has killed another dog while assisting law enforcement officials.

This is your weekly PUPDATE on the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge for Henry and Franklin, the famous Lakewood Basset Hounds!

Sorry the pupdate is late but Mom was out of town!

Peanu "Undercover Brother" after a LONG dog park night!

See our previous Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge posts here!

We cannot believe the FOURTH WEEK changes we are seeing on our Basset Hounds, which are known for being inherently ornery, bossy, lazy and driven by their noses…

They have lost or gained weight where necessary; they actually enjoy their mealtimes now, and they have benefited in other ways individually in totally unexplainable ways.

So due to serious time restraints, here is the Q/A we were sent:

What physical changes are you noticing the most?

Activity level for sure – they are up and ready in the morning and evening after dinner to go to Lakewood Dog Park (which is having a Super Bowl Fundraiser Dog Pawty) and cause a ruckus! Franklin just will not be quiet or calm down until we go to the park or for a long walk; it’s so obvious that he feels younger. It’s difficult to explain when you aren’t seeing it first-hand, which is why I am going to tell anyone reading this to try the Eukanuba 28-Day Challenge next time it’s offered!

We’re also noticing that they aren’t shedding as much, but when they do, we notice it’s silky fur and easy to brush right off… Their coats are so shiny now that our friend at Lakewood Dog Park asked what kind of shampoo we use! We I shocked him when we said it’s not the shampoo, it’s the food!

Is your dog still enthusiastic about the food?

Oh yeah: they enjoy every bit of kibble.

Henry has actually slowed down so he tastes and enjoys the kibble – he doesn’t just inhale it! This is what we WANTED!

Have you seen any changes in your dog’s weight (maintained weight, shed a few pounds)?

♥ Henry has lost three pounds total — perfect! Franklin has gained four – PERFECT ♥

What has surprised you the most about your dog on Eukanuba?

We had never expected THAT ONE FOOD CAN DO SO SO MUCH for our dogs. What really has surprised us the most is their personalities — they are seriously – HAPPIER DOGS overall — due to this food.

And we think it’s because Henry and Franklin’s senior and joint issues, respectively, have changed.

So thank you Eukanuba and we will be back in a few days with the wrap-up!

  Ark Naturals Suggests Pet Owners Consider Natural Botanical Alternative to Chemical Pesticides to Control Fleas & Ticks

My friend sent this to me to post – I thought I would give it a good old college-try argument on ThoughtsFurPaws as there are clearly two sides here… she would like to – as I would – undercover an oft-misunderstood myth… and also remind you guys that pets need winter protection from fleas and ticks.

But there’s a right and wrong way to do so — and to advertise your new product…

What do you think?

“Today I walked barefoot in 20 degree temperatures on a sidewalk with laden with residue from this weekend’s first official winter storm in the northeast. Returning home, I didn’t wipe my feet off but proceeded to jump on your bed and walk around the house. I watched as my roommate put a pair of rubber gloves on her hands. Gasp, I shuddered to myself, why the gloves? She put a funny smelling solution in between my shoulders and said it would help protect me against pests. She said the package of mystery liquid told her avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing and wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.”

Think about it: Our dogs spend their time walking where we take them, eating what we feed them, and hoping that fleas and ticks take the winter months off (they don’t). With paw to pen, Fido would indeed scrawl that across the family memo board…

Contrary to popular belief, fleas and ticks don’t take the winter months off. Fleas and ticks are a way of life for dogs and cats but controlling them is a matter of choice.

Anyhow, a new report suggests that pet owners might consider a natural botanical alternative to chemical pesticides to control fleas and ticks.

A December, 2011 press release issued by the law firm Green & Associates announced that class-action lawsuits against makers of pesticide-based “spot-on” (aka topical) flea and tick products has prompted Ark Naturals CEO Susan Weiss to recommend that pet owners use a natural botanical alternative to effectively control fleas and ticks. (Just Google “lawsuits against flea and tick products” and you’ll see at least five different brands facing lawsuits, some include Sanofi-Aventis, Bayer, Merial and Sergeant’s.)

“The Green Associates’ press release was alarming and frightening at the same time,” said Ms. Weiss, whose Ark Naturals company has been marketing natural pet products for 16 years, including Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker!, a formula developed recently as a natural, botanical alternative to chemical pesticides in controlling fleas and ticks.

Fleas and ticks are a way of life for dogs and cats but controlling them is a matter of choice, and the “pesticide solution” – their words, not mine, “seems to be wrought with serious problems,” Ms. Weiss noted in the release.

Reports of dangerous side effects associated with spot-on flea and tick products date back far; the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report in 2000 called “Poisons on Pets: Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products.”

The report revealed a link between chemicals commonly used in flea and tick products and serious health problems in both people and pets.

More recently, a 2008 study by The Center for Public Integrity reported at least 1,600 pet deaths (about one pet a day) related to spot-on treatments with pyrethroids to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a five-year period, according to an analysis of EPA pesticide incident exposure data by the center. The report continued, saying pyrethroid-based flea and tick treatments — from Hartz, Sergeant’s, Farnam, and Bayer — are approved for sale by the EPA, and they are readily available at grocery stores, specialty pet retailers, and hardware stores. But they “have stirred the ire of pet owners…”

Moreover, the Center reported that pyrethroid spot-ons also account “for more than half of ‘major’ pesticide pet reactions reported to EPA over the last five years—that is, those incidents involving serious medical reactions such as brain damage, heart attacks, and violent seizures. In contrast, non-pyrethroid spot on treatments accounted for only about six percent of all major incidents.”

Ms. Weiss said that New Jersey class-action suits claim the EPA has done nothing to change the advertising, marketing or labeling of pesticide-based flea and tick products to alert pet-owners of the possible serious side-effects, which could include shivering, salivating, dilated pupils, vomiting, tremors and skin irritation.

The release goes on to say:  “Nancy Scanlan, DVM, Executive Director of theAmerican Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and past president of theVeterinary Botanical Medical Association, said she has long been aware of theproblems associated with the chemical and pesticide-based flea and tickproducts. “I prefer natural botanicals over pesticidesfor treating fleas and ticks and there are a number of good natural productsthat work without harsh side effects,” said Dr. Scanlan. “Herbal flea and tickproducts tend to be safer than pharmaceutical or pesticide flea and tickproducts, but all products that are formulated to rid pets of fleas and tickspose some percentage of risk.”

As a way of doing business Ark Naturalsprovides a full disclosure of its Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker! product and is oneof the few, if not the only company, that includes a “cautionary statement” onits website www.arknaturals.com.

Is this just a nice way of this CEO saying that she believes the lawsuits have done nothing – a safe way of her putting her opinion out there…? What do you think?

Now, I am going to take a second to tell you why I believe the EPA has “done nothing…”

As far as my research would take me, this is what I found:

As an honest media representative/blogger/writer/product reviewer, I am noting that in a 2009 report, the EPA, according to a Channel 5 News Report in Cleveland, blamed the vast majority of these unlikely incidents on misuse of the product – i.e., people putting on too much in one spot, the product dripping into an animal’s eyes/ears/mouth – which is specifically mentioned as a hazard on labels, plus, not letting the product set in or not rubbing it in thoroughly as advised on label, etc.

This means human/operator error — not product error.

Ark Naturals’ “natural botanical Flea Flicker! Tick Kicker! is labeled as GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) by the EPA and FDA.

Generally?

Is that supposed to make us feel better about it???

It doesn’t make me feel better…

Anyhow, apparently, all you do to use Ark Naturals is spray on a light application, massage it into the animal’s coat, and it starts working immediately. As a way of doing business, Ark Naturals provides a disclosure of its product and includes a “cautionary statement” on its website.

Currently, nine class-action lawsuits are pending against makers of topical flea & tick products in the wake of an EPA investigation into safety of the pesticides used on dogs & cats.

Hartz, for example, is one of the most well-respected pet product companies in the world; mud-slinging campaigns aplenty have been waged against them online over the years because of the lawsuit against them.

I talked with a representative today from Hartz; this is what they say: 

1. The Hartz Mountain Corporation believes that all pets deserve the best care possible; safety is our #1 priority.

2. We are confident in the quality of our topical flea and tick products, including Hartz® UltraGuard® and Hartz® InControl® brands for dogs and cats, all of which are held to the same safety and efficacy testing standards and labeling direction as all EPA-registered flea and tick products.

3. Because safety is our number-one priority, we undertake rigorous clinical tests on all our products. All EPA-approved topical flea and tick products sold through retail channels are held to the same safety and efficacy testing standards as those brands purchased from veterinarians. Labeling direction mandated by the EPA is also consistent for all flea and tick prevention products sold through retail channels or veterinarian offices.

4. We are confident in the quality and safety of our products, and will continue to work with the EPA on labeling and other matters to make sure our consumers better understand the proper use of these products and use them with confidence. Hartz agrees with the EPA on the importance of carefully following label directions when applying topical flea and tick control products to pets.

5. Hartz flea and tick drops accounted for only 4.6 percent of all adverse effects reported to the EPA in 2010 for topical dog and cat flea and tick treatments. In addition, from 2008 to 2010, Hartz reduced the amount of adverse effects reported per total Hartz doses sold by over 38 percent.

6. Per the EPA, most reported incidents were classified as minor, meaning effects were minimally bothersome and rapidly resolved.

My position on this?          

 (If you care or know the ThoughtsFurPaws writers… here it is…!)

*** Kudos to a company for hopping on the “natural” bandwagon and making a product like this. ***

*** However; don’t EVER use the misfortune of those people who have lost animals or had pet injuries (due to the other products) to announce/promote/sell your own product – that’s just wrong… and it’s a fear-based PR tactic. ***

It’s bad public perception and (PR) manners to blast (however imperceptible) another company to get YOURS ahead…

I believe:

So to all you pet owners who HAVE had a pet injured or lost due to flea/tick topical applications: I am SO sorry for your loss or strife.

I cannot take a side as I am a professional and FAIR journalist… I’m simply reporting the pet world news!

Dog parks have quickly gained popularity over the past few years.

In the beginning, the standard dog park might have consisted of an open field, a walking path, and a pool/lake/pond.

Oh, how things have changed…

Don’t be surprised to see a full blown swimming pond, jungle gyms, and even doggy showers nowadays!

Dog parks should be places where dogs can run wild, get dirty, and make new friends. However, you might find some cause for concern—not with the elaborate play structures, but with the dogs themselves.

Bad things can happen in parks crowded with potentially dangerous dogs.

That being said — when you take appropriate safety measures, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

Take note of the following tips:

1. Supervise Their Playtime  

Watch your dog closely when they’re at play. You should always be able to spot your dog. Accidents often happen with your back turned. Feel free to socialize with other dog owners—just be mindful of your dog’s location in the park.

2. Interact With Your Dog

Play tends to be the best form of bonding time, so be part of the action. When you’re an active part of your dog’s life, both of you will benefit.

My sister Ash with a Foster Basset at a Dog Park/Event...

3. Stick to Weight Classes

Put simply, Great Danes shouldn’t play with Chihuahuas unless they have the same owner. Many dog parks have designated areas for different sized dogs. Use your best judgment if your dog could be in danger.

4. Leave Your Puppy at Home

This is one point that I may disagree with the author on…

According to him, puppies often have a difficult time acclimating to new situations – which is true. They’re also vulnerable to attack and to disease – also true. But when properly vaccinated and vetted, they are just fine and need stimulation, outside play, and to meet other dogs to become properly socialized. The author, however, recommends playing it safe and having your puppy “socialize in more controlled settings until they reach six months of age.”

5. Watch for Signs of Stress

If your dog appears stressed, you may want to throw a leash on them and call it a day. Excessive panting, barking, and shaking are all sure signs of stress.

Pet Dog Trainers also says to watch for these signs:

Signs of Anxiety/Stress to Monitor:

• Fast wagging low tail
• Whining or whimpering
• Ears may be back
• Hiding behind objects or people

Signs of Fear:

• Dog will try to look small
• Tail tucked
• Hunched over, head down
• Tense
• May urinate submissively

Red Flags that Require Intervention:

• Excessive mounting
• Pinning (holding another dog down and standing stiffly over them)
• Shadowing another dog (following) incessantly
• Bullying: repeatedly bothering another dog that does not want to interact
• Fast non-stop running with a group – high arousal situation
• Full-speed body slams
• Putting head repeatedly onto another dog’s neck or back
• Staring with a fixed gaze directly at another dog
• Snarling or raised lips
• Showing teeth
• Hackles up at the shoulders

* The (intro and first five) points of this blog post were provided by HowToPayMyVet.com, a website dedicated to vet bill assistance. Whether you need help with vet bills for a dog, cat, or other pet, howtopaymyvet.com can provide the assistance you need to pay your bills on time. *

Sasha is a special rescue cat.

I know that everyone who has a rescue animal says that – and they truly and whole-heartedly believe it; Sasha is different, however.

Sasha is an uncertified cancer therapy cat.

According to a study by Nestle/Purina Pet Care, “During times of stress or illness, the bond between a pet and … (patient) can be particularly strong.”

The study says that breast cancer patients relied equally upon siblings, parents and CATS for emotional support and love during chemo treatments.

We’ll get back to this in a bit. First let me give you some background.

Sasha knows what the “school of hard knocks” is like… she spent the first 6 months of her life being neglected, ignored, underfed and possibly abused (I never found out for sure but she definitely showed the signs when I stormed in and took her from the previous owner). When I went to “meet her” to see if I was indeed going to take her off the hands of this girl who had flyers around campus, I met a 19-year-old college girl in an apartment with hardly any furniture, an overflowing, disgusting litter box, no water bowl, beer bottles all over the place, a huge stereo… and … well that’s enough of that talk.

That was when I was 21. 21 and boisterous, raw, expressive, gutsy, a bit crazy and willing to do and/or say anything in the name of “animal rights.” (Now I have drawn a metaphorical and precise line between animal welfare and animal rights, with animal rescue advocacy being somewhere in the middle…)

Trust me; I left that apartment with Sasha underarm, police number in hand, ready to report animal cruelty and with that small sassy mademoiselle shaking in her skivvies.

Sasha first started being “therapeutic” back in those first few months I had her in the summer of 2001, my last semester of college at Colorado State University. We had a very nice neighbor, Mrs. B, whose husband denied her the love of charming, kind and cute kittehs; thus, Mrs. B would often put plates of food and other goodies out for Sasha (& Theodore) to eat so she could spend time with them, even though I politely asked her to stop. (Theodore was an outdoor cat with open in and out privileges – I feel no need to deny felines their natural instincts to play and hunt outdoors – I couldn’t very well make Sasha stay in when she was so socurious as to what Dora was doing out there all the time…)

Beautiful Sasha...

I later found out that Mrs. B, who Sasha took a special liking to, was suffering from breast cancer. Sasha – night and day, would sit with her on her front porch for hours, food or not, letting Mrs. B stroke her beautiful long black fur. Sasha would often opt to let Mrs. B cuddle and snuggle her outside during gorgeous stormy days in those unspeakably beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills of Fort Collins.

(Sasha’s older (and covetous, cantankerous) brother Theodore would surely come if food was out, but he was otherwise way too busy clearing the bustling college neighborhood of small birds, Colorado field mice, chipmunks, etc.)

Mrs. B told me – right when she found out that I was leaving Colorado to move back to California to find work after graduation – that she was sick and that Sasha had provided endless comfort to her. She had left me in the dark about her condition for about 8 months, as I left to go to Cali in February or March of 2002. (After 911, finding work in Denver was nearly impossible with so many college kids competing for the same jobs.)

Mrs. B was quite sad to say the least to see Sasha go; so sad in fact, that her husband, after seeing the amazing and positive effects that Sasha had on her over the months, finally caved and went on allergy medication. Mrs. B could now adopt her own cat. I kindly offered to take her to the Humane Society where I had found my Theodore  — she immediately found a cat like Sasha, one who “spoke to her” through the wire cage, one who she said she could feel feeling what she was feeling.

That’s how it happens for most of us cat rescuers I think…

Anyhow, I am not crazy. Mrs. B was not crazy. People who think animals are therapeutic are not crazy.

It is scientifically proven that petting a cat:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Lowers heart rate
• Calms emotions
• Has potential to stop or lower symptoms of a panic attack
• Makes the person feel at ease, i.e. more relaxed

The Purina study also “found that 84 percent of women battling breast cancer said their cat had a calming effect on them during their treatment. Cats also provided daily support to the patient, according to 76 percent of survivors surveyed.”

LifeWithCats.tv offers further proof of the science and history of these relationships for those questioning it, or those interested in the research.

Again – here is some precursor information to lead me into Sasha’s current cancer patient.

When we lived in California from 2002 to 2006, Sasha was a neighborhood roamer — again. Sasha would visit with folks up and down the street, picking the good ones to stop by, visit with and stay awhile.

When we moved to Ohio, she and Theodore couldn’t wait to go out every morning and explore. They absolutely loved the blowing leaves and super-strong lakeshore winds in the fall (similar to where they “grew up” in Colorado), the little critters in the summer and spring, the crisp clean rain to help them groom, and just having four seasons again in general.

We met sweet, sweet Laura right away as Sasha was frequently found in her beautiful backyard garden paradise. Then she started inviting herself into their garage (not the first time she had done this – I once awoke an angry CA neighbor “Umm, my cat is stuck in your closed garage sir…”)

Sashy immediately loved Laura, her son Jon, and her husband Dave. She LOVES men (we deduced it’s because a woman first neglected/abused her as a baby.)

We found out through speaking to Laura outside on a sunny day that she had been fighting breast cancer for a number of years. My ears immediately perked up; my eyes immediately welled up…

She mentioned how sometimes Sasha would be outside meowing to come in their house. Never to turn down a sweet face or this new love in her life, Laura let her in and it was, as I have said before, love at first cuddle.

At some point Sasha got chased by a rather large Great Dane who was visiting the house behind us and she stayed inside for the winter and then through the spring of 2007. When she finally started going outside again – late spring – it was straight back to Laura’s. It was like she went outside and immediately ran over there.

Something was wrong and Sasha could feel in inside. She was relentless at the door at 6 am before it was light out to get over to see Laura; she needed to confirm her suspicions. She would zoom over to Laura’s as soon as the door opened for her in the morning, and stay over there all day until we went to get her at 9 or 10 pm or Dave brought her home.

Mom and I started to joke around about it before we knew it was serious: we always jested that over at Laura’s, Sasha has a silk pillow with satin lining and an “S” engraved on it. This is surrounded by a personal fan, a porcelain dish consistently filled to the brim with crème, and an entire corner of the couch. (Now in reality, she does have her own small couch, and she does spend many days sitting on their absolutely stunning, black Baby Grand looking out the window… And of course she gets crème there, but the whole neighborhood gives her that at this point!)

In an earlier post about this, I noted that sweet “Auntie Laura” has kitty treats – the good kind — for Sasha. And she also gets – sometimes — whatever the family has for dinner because Laura has said that Sasha meows for food (she’s a bad beggar, comes from her early roots) and she can’t resist her sweet little ways.

Laura was in such bad shape at this point that her son, Jon came home to help Dave. The chemo was totally wrecking her body and for quite a while we didn’t see her outside in the yard gardening… or outside doing anything. She lost weight, or gained it. She got sicker from the chemo. So sick she couldn’t’ leave her bed some days.

(Those of you who have experience with this know what I am talking about; I have been blessed to never have a human family member get cancer so I do not know first-hand what treatment is like…)

When Laura finally did appear in the mid-summer she wandered over to our house. Practically in tears she was exasperated, and said that she didn’t know what she would do without Sasha; how Sasha comforted her and help her relax. Sasha would lie on her (or next to her) for hours or all day long to keep her company. Sasha was the only thing that made her happy and gave her hope. She always had the energy to snuggle Sasha no matter how tired she was. This is what Laura told us.

We offered to help Laura find a rescue cat to keep. She said she wouldn’t be able to do it because she would never want to leave the cat. We asked her where she was going and she trailed off, “I don’t know how long I’ll be…” She kept repeating how Sasha is her savior and how enamored with her she is.

My Mom and I were almost in tears after that. We realized just how much Sasha meant to this sweet lady. We allow Sasha to stay at Auntie Laura and Uncle Dave’s all day long, bringing her home only at night time to sleep with me. Every now and then she will actually eat dinner at her real house, too.

We don’t care. We just want her to help Laura.

UPDATE:

In late 2011, Laura’s cancer, after coming and going for years, progressed into many places: it came back with vengeance and pure evil and invaded her bones and spine, among other places. She has had too many relapses to count, and each time, she gets herself through with support from her family – and from Sasha.

All chemo options have failed. All medications, steroids, pills, radiation treatments, and other courses have done some, but little, to help her. Some of the best doctors in the world at the Cleveland Clinic offer ideas or courses of treatment that simply cannot compete with the comfort, relaxation, and general good vibes that Sasha offers Laura.

Sometimes the Sasha relationship is not all sunshine and roses. There have been a few days here in the last couple months where even Sasha can’t really help her. Shakespeare once said, “Though he be little, he is mighty;” and that’s the attitude Sasha has. She’s come home a few nights recently with a small fever or a bit of an attitude of her own because, as Laura says in her cute little voice, “she’s punky!” Punky! Ha! You can tell that Sasha is “off.”

I made some inquiries to behaviorists/therapists and found that Sasha is simply trying quite hard to take on the emotional and physical pain Laura is experiencing – she is trying SO hard to help and heal her.

She’s the “Laura Whisperer.”

I told Laura this, and she got a bit upset, but I added that it does not hurt Sasha. Most cats and dogs have a very large capacity for pain of any kind – they are so much stronger than we humans are. That is, after all, why they can be used in therapy in the first place.

They heal. They help. They quiet. They cool. They make people smile and laugh; they help patients forget – even if just for a bit – about their conditions. For example, a 2005 press release on PRWeb said that one study group reported, “… a cat’s purr has been analyzed to be at the same frequency of vibration that mends bones.”

How amazing is that?

Laura is the strongest woman, alongside my own Mother and my Grandmother, that I know. I have such great respect and admiration for her – I love her like I love my own Mother.

And Sasha is responsible for bringing us together in illness. I suffer from Multiple Sclerosis as well as a brain/mental disorder. Laura just happens to be a studied and specialized therapist in treatment; she holds a PhD and my doctor told me she is one of the most well-respected and reputable treatment specialists in Cleveland, and that 10 years ago you would have been hard-pressed to find someone in the field who didn’t know her name.  She has helped me multiple times and she says it’s in exchange for Sasha’s services.

Sasha has grown increasingly frustrated being in at our house since we got the two rescue babies – Maxwell and Tater. She does still love, of course, to sleep right next to my head, exactly as she has for the last 10 years of her life. But she prefers to spend her days relaxing with Laura and/or sleeping on Dave’s lap, offering him comfort too, as cancer is a family disease.

I will continue to allow Sasha to do what she can to help and heal Laura.

I will continue to do as much research as I can on the issue to find out what I can; I also plan to see if it’s worthwhile to get Sasha certified, although that idea sometimes leaves a bad taste in my mouth because I want Sash to continue to be Laura’s special treatment plan, and hers only.

Ironically, we found out this week that Sasha is suffering from her own condition – Osteoarthritis. She is on steroids – which Laura was on for months and months and months. So it seems that now Laura is familiar with what Sasha is feeling.

Amazing how the Powers That Be work sometimes, isn’t it?

Sasha and Laura will be forever connected, and I couldn’t be happier about the relationship. As for their diseases, I pray every morning and night that they will be comforted and that maybe, just maybe, a cure will be found one day soon…

Bless you Laura, and all you have done for us. Having you in our lives makes us grateful, more loving and caring, more forgiving and happier to be alive. We love you. And Sasha will always be here for you!

*** If you have thoughts on cats treating humans with cancer or animals offering cancer patients therapy, please leave them below. ***

**** Please, more importantly, leave your encouraging words for Laura – our dear Laura – who is such a fighter that on her last trip to the doctor, when her oncologist looked at her and told her they had been through all her options, she replied by looking up at him and saying, “Well then we’re going to have to figure something out aren’t we because I’m not just going to give up.” ****

It’s people like Laura and Dave (and Jon, the most caring son you could imagine having) that make this crazy world a better place.

* *All Live Strong© graphics are copyright the Lance Armstrong foundation, but were used in the graphic designs of my dear friend at Zoolatry for general use.