Animal Spirit

Long hot dry spell

Beth — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:18:12 +0000

This summer is one that will go down in this household’s history as one that was pretty much lost. I’d anticipated completing the changes to my front garden which has been pretty much a disaster zone, but the long, cold and wet spring (and my equaly miserable long lasting cold) prevented me from getting to it as soon as I’d hoped. I thought by July it would surely be done. But then the heat came.

If I couldn’t get to the garden or my much anticipated long afternoon walks with the dogs in the woods, at least I could paint – I thought. The problem was, my downstairs air conditioner went, and I had to move the third floor unit to the first. For several days it was too hot to even think about looking for a new one, and even if I had found one and put it in, it’s doubtful I would have had the energy to do much other than rest after a long day of working outside.

My progress on many fronts has been put on hold, but that’s okay. I relaxed. That’s what summer is really all about, after all.

The heat has relented and with August has come a change in the air – an ever so slight one, but you can smell that first hint of fall in the air. Here’s to a great rest of the summer – may we get to enjoy what’s left before the next season comes.

Friends of geese speak out about extermination in Prospect Park

Beth — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:52:31 +0000

After hundreds of geese were rounded up and gassed last week, people started speaking out. Many neighborhood residents who enjoyed seeing them daily in the park were aghast to find that the entire population had disappeared overnight. Part of the trauma came from having had no notification about the plan to exterminate geese in an effort to bolster air safety. (Surely had notice been given, a mass protest would have ensued.)

This article in the Brooklyn Paper highlights the numbers of people who have stepped up to stop inhumane killing of geese, including Borough President Markowitz, and Patrick Kwan, the New York Humane Society’s director.

As cited in other wildlife control campaigns, including the proposed effort to hunt feral cats in New Jersey, opponents note the ineffectiveness of this method as well as the fact that migratory birds, not resident ones, cause problems with airplanes.

A vigil for the geese was held today.

Bravo outsources production of lamb and beef to New Zealand pet food facility

Beth — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:47:01 +0000

Bravo, a manufacturer of raw food for dogs and cats has outsourced production of its beef and lamb products to a pet food facility in New Zealand. New Zealand boasts some of the finest quality beef and lamb, which is a good thing. However, food processed in facilities that do not produce human grade foods, like the facility Bravo uses here in the United States, are not required to adhere to the same level of standards. Since it’s not manufactured in the United States, it need not adhere to USDA standards (such that they may be) either. Isn’t it amazing how food production could be more cost efficient despite the fact that it comes from just about the farthest place in the world from us? (I imagine that’s the reason, but I’m not sure…)

What do you think?

Population Control for Geese in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park

Beth — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:09:45 +0000

Visitors to Brooklyn’s Prospect Park were stunned to find the goose population had disappeared – literally overnight. Residents were saddened and shocked to hear that the geese, seen by some city dewellers as one of their only connections with nature, had been rounded up during their annual molting period during which they canot fly, and gassed in an effort to improve air safety. One resident noted that the geese involved in the now famous Hudson River landing were tested by the Smithsonian and not the ones native to the park. Perhaps most heartbreaking was the disappearance of injured birds well known to park visitors who tried to help them.

You can read the entire article here.

Remedy for Over Achievers

Beth — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:35:56 +0000

Usually I’m talking about natural remedies for animals, but the same remedies I suggest for animals are also good for people….after all, most remedies were used for people, first. Self care is really important, especially for caregivers who often out of necessity work way more hours than is probably good for them. It’s also important, though, for those who are over achievers; those who find themselves driven to reach perfection. Passionate dog trainers (whether they are trainers by profession, competitors in dog sports, or just folks who are trying to train their own dogs) often find it difficult to maintain a healthy equilibrium. They encounter clients (human)who just can’t seem to grasp basic concepts, mysterious canine behaviors that crop up seemingly out of nowhere, or dogs for whom there seems to be no motivator that works well. At times like this, trainers can become tired, discouraged, disheartened and feel defeated.

Relief is on the way! Bach’s Oak flower essence is made for over achievers who in their efforts to reach perfection have probably failed to see how overworked they have become. A few drops under the tongue a few times a day (after succussing the bottle) should get you into balance soon.

Take a break, give yourself a break, refocus, and get ready for the next round, which you’ll approach with a more even keel! Bach flower essences are widely available in health food stores and at Whole Foods, as well as on the Internet.

Do Animals Go To Heaven? Book Review: The Divine Life of Animals

Beth — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:11:53 +0000

In his book latest book, The Divine Life of Animals, One Man’s Quest to Discover Whether the Souls of Animals Live on,
acclaimed author Ptolemy Tompkins (son of Peter Tompkins, author of The Secret Life of Plants) seeks to answer the question, do animals go to heaven? His search for the truth leads the reader down an intricate and fascinating path that explores not only whether animals have souls, but also the question of what a soul is, as it’s been perceived through time and across cultures.

In his pursuit of understanding how the soul pertains to animals, Tomkins examines beliefs about the human soul, highlighting eastern and western religion, ancient philosophies and practices of prehistoric people. The story of the human soul is inextricably intertwined with man’s relationship to the physical world and nature, and it is here where Tompkins reveals to the reader how the wisdom of the ages lives on in modern life. Woven through the narrative are the stories of Penny, a neglected dog, Angus, Tompkins’ own pet rabbit, Moose the Manatee, and a bear named Little Bit, all of whom through their own distintiveness in both ‘animality’ and personality touched human lives in a profound way and who illustrate the surprising reason why people and animals need each other now more than ever.

Beautifully written and thoroughly captivating, you’ll want to read this book – even if you think you already know the answer to this question.

Celebrate Independence Day with the Carnival of Healing

Beth — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:03:07 +0000

This month The Reiki Digest is hosting the Carnival of Healing. What’s the Carnival of Healing? It’s a round up of healing related personal blog posts from around the world that focus on aspects of holistic health, wellness, spirituality, and self empowerment. Step right up!

Breed Ban Suspended in Rockville Centre, NY

Beth — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:30:03 +0000

Newsday reports that the ban on Pit Bulls and Rottweilers in Rockville Cenre, Long Island is being repealed. According to the article, people who already owned dogs of these breeds would have, among other things, been required to keep them muzzled in public. 350 people showed up to get the ban repealed – good news, indeed for dogs!

Laws may change but public attitudes don’t always follow. The ban was instituted earlier this month by a vote of 4 to 1 – an indication that fear and mistrust of certain breeds is still pervasive. A good many people still cross the street when other people walking their dogs, usually Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans or German Shepherds, approach. It makes me wonder what the dogs think.

Malcolm Gladwell’s 2006 article, Troublemakers, for the New Yorker talks about what pitbulls can teach us about profiling. Worth reading whether you caught it the first time around or not!

Bo

Beth — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:41:52 +0000

The Canine Rabies Vaccine is Mandatory – How Can You Get Around it?

Beth — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:18:28 +0000

One way to get around having your dog vaccinated for Rabies as mandated by law is to ask your veterinarian to waive the vaccine. Veterinarians recognize that the vaccine poses danger to dogs with compromised immune systems, like those with cancer or autoimmune disorders. But what if your dog isn’t “sick”? Vaccines also pose dangers to healthy dogs. I should know. Mine is one of them.

While the debate about vaccination choice for children rages on, there is a growing body of evidence accumulated through scientific study that shows that the rabies vaccine poses serious health threats to dogs, including the possibility of rear end paralysis, (see June 6 post) behavioral issues, and even cancer.

No one’s arguing that the rabies vaccine can’t be helpful, but it’s the repeated schedule of vaccines every three years (and until recently required every year by some states) that overloads our pets’ systems. Often the same amount of vaccine is administered to a Mastiff (one of the largest breeds) as is given to a Chihuahua. The post on rear end paralysis that I borrowed from the Shaping Chaos blog (see above) tells the story of one dog whose owner requested a Rabies titre (a sampling of blood that shows the levels of disease fighting antibodies in the blood) who was found to have 2700 times the amount of antibodies needed to protect him from rabies.

I’d heard the horror stories about Rabies vaccinosis years ago, and feeling sorry for the people whose dogs suffered from its ill effects and wanting to warn others, I broadcasted the news far and wide on my now defunct dog blog. But what I didn’t know was how close to home the problem was. I counted myself lucky that my dogs were healthy and rarely suffered from much other than the very rare case of indigestion.

Through time though, my perception of health changed. I realized that while my dogs appeared to have good physical health, they continued to suffer from chronic behavioral problems. I had chalked these up to a lack of socialization and a previous home life that was not so great, but I had failed to see resolving them as a necessary part of health. It wasn’t as if I didn’t work hard to help my dogs feel secure and happy; over the years I’d employed many a trainer and consulted with a host of veterinarians and animal communicators along the way. But when friends suggested trying a homeopathic vet, I didn’t see the need – because my dogs were “healthy”.

Eventually, through my study of a variety of holistic methods including Reiki and flower essences, (that I came to with the sole purpose of helping my dogs) I understood that my dogs were not as healthy as I’d previously thought.

I consulted a homeopthic veterinarian in the hopes of getting to the bottom of the some of the issues that had plagued us for so long. Since Dasher’s issues were worse, I started treatment for her first. I completed a thorough intake form and based on my report, he prescribed a remedy. I kept the vet updated and periodically he changed the remedy. When we reached a critical point, he informed me that there was good news. My dog would not get worse. She had a syndrome. Rabies vaccinosis.

I was shocked not only to hear that this was what I’d been unknowingly battling for most of my dog’s life, but also that there were actually other dogs who suffered from the same bizarre symptoms ranging from shredding of bedding to a dislike of people in uniform. I also wondered how many dogs had been punished or given up for impossible behavior, when perhaps the culprit all along was a vaccine intended to protect them, or how many dogs with seemingly minor symptoms were continually vaccinated and fell victim to more severe and debilitating issues that might have been prevented.

Dr. Richard Pitcairn, DVM, PhD provides this more comprehensive list of rabies vaccinosis symptoms in an article written in 1993.

Restless nature; suspicious of others, unfriendly to other dogs, vicious to other animals, desire to kill.
Aggression and mistrust of strangers, esp. people in uniforms.
Change of behavior to aloofness; from affectionate to unaffectionate.
Clingy behavior, fear to be left alone.
Follows owner from room to room. Wants physical contact.
Tendency to escape confinement and to roam.
Attempt at restraint results in hysterical, violent behavior. Resistance can be so extreme as to cause self-injury.
Self-mutilation; tail-chewing, chewing off toes or a foot (seen in severe allergic or nervous diseases).
Changed voice; hoarseness. Excessive tendency to bark or be vocal.
Chronic poor appetite; very particular about food; finicky.
Paralysis (or partial paralysis) of mouth, tongue or throat; sloppy eaters or drinkers; tendency to drool or lose saliva.
Loss of sight, cataract formation, visual defects.
Keratitis sicca, “dry eye”.
Habit of eating wood, stones, sticks, earth.
Excessive desire to eat stool (their own or other animals).
Destructive behavior and shredding of blankets or bedding.
Seizures, epilepsy, chorea, twitches, etc.
Ataxia.
Psychomotor seizure syndrome.
Increased sexual desire, even in neutered males; humping; sexual aggression.
Irregular pulse; heart failure.
“Reverse” sneezing attacks.

When my dogs’ rabies shots were due, I panicked. I asked my vet if I could get a waiver. But my dogs are not “sick”. They don’t have cancer. Vaccinosis is not a recognized syndrome in the traditional veterinary community or by the law. Further, my vet asked, what would happen if my dogs were to become involved in a biting incident, even one not of their own making? If they weren’t vaccinated, my dogs would be taken from me and put down.

The short answer to how to get around the Rabies vaccine is you can’t, unless your dog has a compromised immune system due to a medically recognized condition and you get a waiver from your vet.

The long answer is to contribute to the Rabies Challenge, a fund that supports research being conducted to determine the immunity provided by the Rabies vaccine and extend the mandatory booster schedule to five, and eventually seven years. The website also includes breaking news from around the United States including legislative initiatives.

If you haven’t contributed to the Rabies Challenge fund, please consider doing so now. The health of future generations of dogs is at stake.