Tag Archives: horses

March 18, 2017 · 1:34 am

Best Friends Redux

in town, Kanab, Utah, there are some new chain hotels that are pet friendly such as Comfort suites, Holiday inn, and Hampton inn with pet fees of $10 or twenty per pet per night and also a few others that are not chains such as Parry lodge, which also has a coffee shop. if you are visiting Best friends, it is easier to get around by staying right in kanab. there are other properties that are twenty or thirty miles away. these are pet friendly but then you have to drive forty to sixty miles a day, if you are volunteering.

 

The prices from April until September, high season, are higher than at other times of the year. The weather in the summer can be very humid and hot. Cici and I visited during mid-March and it is already in the 80’s, the prices are not so high and there are not as many tourists, although as we drove through Zion, it was pretty filled up and crowded with hikers.

 

Please call the Best Friends Welcome Center at 435-644-2001, ext. 4537 or email them at welcomecenter@bestfriends.org  and ask to be scheduled on a tour.

Tour times are:
8:30 a.m., 10 a.m.,  1 p.m.  or  2:30 p.m.

 

I asked about the rest of the Vicktory Dogs who are still there. The Welcome Center does include info about them during the tour.

This is what I was told.
“One of them is court-ordered to stay here for life and the other three  have special circumstances that make it likely that they will live out their lives here which is just fine with their caregivers who love them. The Vicktory Dogs who are still here are not comfortable with strangers so actually meeting the dogs isn’t possible. Mya and Curly are extremely shy. Next January will be the 10th anniversary of their arrival here. So time is marching on. Out of the 22 who came to Best Friends, we are happy that 13 of them were able to be adopted.”

 

 

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http://bestfriends.org/donate/sponsor-an-animal/curly

 

http://bestfriends.org/stories-blog-videos/latest-news/vicktory-dogs-nine-years-later

 

I also visited the little store that BFAS has in town because they had a sign that said cat cuddling. i WAS game.  there were only two cats in there but one of them reminded me of my baby boy Abundance, a black cat with some white on his chest and paws. Had not expected that. Touched my heart.

 

Also got to spend some time chatting with Kevin Johnson, now retired, who used to work at BFAS, his wife still does. They adopted Ray one of the V-dogs, who passed a couple of years ago. Now they have three other pit bulls, Bosco, Bubba and Turtle and numerous parrots and a cat. Each have their own challenges. We shared pit bull stories and specific instances of dogs and love and opportunities of being a guardian of the furry creatures. Of course, Cici slobbered all over Kevin’s legs and showed off her belly.

 

 

 

 

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Filed under animals, Best Friends, best friends animal sanctuary, dog travel, dogs, Michael Vick dogs, pet travel, pit bull, Uncategorized

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September 26, 2016 · 1:39 am

No ifs ands or goat butts

I made a new friend today… a goat.  Well, a few friends but one in particular seemed to enjoy my company.

My new goat friend ate some bread out of my hand and proceeded to sit underneath my chair. Horns and all. The chickens joined in the party for the bread and pecked it off the ground.

Cici and I stayed on the property of “Manifest” aka Shaun in Joshua Tree. He has 37 goats (and two dozen chickens on his land plus a rabbit or two, a scorpion, squirrels and some bats (who eat mosquitoes).

Cici thinks that the goats are fun to chase, except when they let her know when she is out of bounds. She does not seem as interested in the chickens and roosters. Maybe she thinks she is a goat without any horns? She wants to play and is learning how to play nice.

There are also UFO sightings in the area at Great Rock and Integratron in Landers and other places near the Joshua Tree National Park. Looks like we may have caught something on camera. What do you think ?

 

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Manifest’s story with goats begins with his wanting to get an awesome Australian Shepherd as a pet dog, doesn’t everybody? Instead a goat named Dada Aye followed him around and has become his mascot. Dada is 5 years old, half-Nigerian dwarf, half-pigmy and four years later, she gave birth to a daughter named Shou Aye. He has trained these two to be his service pets. And they go with him practically everywhere he goes to swap meets and other places.

He also has a dozen males and three of each breed, Nigerian, Nubian and Pygmy, that he is hoping to breed with females to get a Griffin. The little baby goats are adorable.

 

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Born and raised in Los Angeles, Manifest spent much time rock climbing in Joshua Tree from the time he was 17 to twenty-five. He also was a captain of a sport fishing boat in the waters off San Diego.

He thinks goats are special animals and here’s why.

“What I love about goats is that they are the closest animals to nature and source. They are the elves of the forest. They cultivate plants, grass and trees. They bring vibrancy to the land. Goats are simple like a four wheel dog. Their bodies are durable, endure weather better than dogs, like micro-camelettes,” he explained.

He has about two dozen chickens and roosters, Golden Phoenix, American and Cochin.

 

photo-on-9-25-16-at-9-22-am          photo-on-9-25-16-at-9-21-am

Manifest has a dream of creating Eco pets, animals that clean your garden and neighborhood, provide superfood (milk), without hormones, no pesticides, and no preservatives), pets that give back and have a job to do.

He has been learning a lot from his goats. “Goats live a simple life. They enjoy their days. Watching the world go by. Chewing their food. They go to sleep and wake up the next day and do the same thing all over again. People, meanwhile, live to work and work hard and have no time in their lives to enjoy life. Everyone’s working too many hours to keep up the Joneses and just to get by and we cannot even afford to live anymore. We don’t respect and honor products that are made well to last. Instead, we buy items that last a month rather than years. Everything is temporary not permanent. Throw away junk.”

Goats have a different perspective on life than humans do.

“Goats interact with nature every day and enjoy trees. They preserve and protect and grow life. They use trees to mark their territory, sharpen their horns, to convene together, come back together as a community. They have their favorite trees and do well eating Mesquite, Palo Verde and non-fruited Mulberries. Will eat creosote and non-native grasses in a pinch. They limit growth and keep the grass short. They give something back.

“The way they communicate with one another is through their actions and activities. Food makes goats happy. They respond to whistles and commands. And interact with one another through rubbing the nape of the neck, stomping of hooves, mane and tails, and howling and other noises. During mating season, late August through early October, the males are especially loud with snorts and hollering, stomping their feet, pawing the ground, and showing off to the females their level of vibrancy. This is very equestrian in nature.

“I think the Tasmanian devil was based upon a goat, emulating a goat. They get wound up and it can require a good amount of patience and persistence to train them. It did not take me as long as I thought it would to make my goats great pets. Goats want to be friendly and sociable with humans. Most humans have not taken the time to get to know them as pets. They throw them in a pen but the goats don’t want to be left alone. They are smart and want to communicate with us,” he concluded.

“ a new paper published in Frontiers in Zoology, (says that) goats have fewer commonalities with their dull farm counterparts and belong instead on the ungulate honor roll. These furry, hoofed eating machines appear more sheep- or mini-cow-like in their demeanor, but their IQs likely put even the most astute steer to shame, the researchers—real men and women who stare at goats—found.

“The researchers, who hail from Queen Mary University of London and the Institute of Agricultural Science in Switzerland, long suspected that goats might be more intelligent than they seem. For example, goats live in complex social groups; they are experts at getting at hard-to-reach foods (goats in the Morocco, for example, are known for climbing trees in search of tasty sprigs); they live a long time, meaning they are better able to build up a repertoire of memories and skills than some short-lived animals; and despite the misconception that goats eat garbage, they are surprisingly picky eaters, able to adeptly pick leaves off of thorn bushes or seek out just the right sprig of grass.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/never-underestimate-goat-not-stupid-looks-180950265/#hmHtswFS1PjKEHOI.99

Did you know that the origins of the saying “getting your goat” references “an old English (Welsh?) belief that keeping a goat in the barn would have a calming effect on the cows, hence producing more milk. When one wanted to antagonize/terrorize one’s enemy, you would abscond with their goat rendering their milk cows less- to non-productive.”

So goats were known as the great calmers of nature and were kept in stables to calm down thoroughbred horses.

 

Goat Therapy = Goat Yoga

Were goats the original horse whisperers and/or cow whisperers?  And how about pairing humans with goats during Goat Yoga?

“You know, I’m in this horrible state but they’re making me laugh—that’s the therapy part, goats just being goats,” she says. “It was just so hard to be depressed and sad when—even when I was in pain I would forget about it because of them. They use horses a lot for therapy, and dogs, but nobody uses goats and I just wonder why. They’re hilarious animals!”

http://www.alternet.org/culture/heres-real-story-behind-internet-famous-goat-yoga

My new goat friend thinks goats are fun and  perfect for doing yoga with, for therapy purposes as well as calming people and other animals down.  He has his work cut out for him with Shaun, who has a rotten temper, is a bully, has a bad reputation with his neighbors and thinks he knows everything. Oh well…

 

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The goat is not sure about interacting with my computer and becoming famous on the Internet. No ifs ands or goat butts …

 

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July 23, 2014 · 12:35 pm

Fighting Over Dogs and Cats

Nowadays, many of us pet parents, consider our fur babies our children. There is nothing wrong with that, in my humble opinion. Except that the law considers them property not kids. Still, issues like divorce bring up similar considerations between spouses, what to do about the fur kids. Who gets to “keep” the fur kids? Will custody be shared? Can one party “keep” the fur baby and how often can the other party visit? Below an attorney, guest blogger, Charla Bradshaw, flushes out the issues more fully.

I don’t wanna get divorced…

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http://www.buzzfeed.com/paws/sad-puppies-that-will-ruin-your-day#

more info:

http://www.womansdivorce.com/pet-custody.html

Consider making up a pre-pup arrangement (like a pre-nup) that spells out what happens to your pets if your marriage splits up.

True Love American Style

  “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”

                                -Immanuel Kant

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers conducted a poll of 1,500 members and nearly a quarter said they had noticed an increase in custody issues over pets. Courts have had to determine not only who gets the pet but whether one party has the right to see the pet after the marriage breaks up.  Identifying the best interests of the pet in a divorce case can safeguard that the pet is properly cared for after divorce.

Pets can provide unbelievable companionship and unconditional love for adults and children.  Animals such as dogs, cats and horses are considered personal property for divorce purposes and unfortunately can also be the subject of domestic violence.

In a divorce, pets must be awarded as part of the property division and therefore will usually go to one spouse or the other.  However, spouses can choose to co-own the pet going forward and create a visitation schedule for the pet.  We have done these orders and they actually work very well.  We also see pet schedules associated with a child’s visitation schedule where the pet goes with the child.  When spouses co-own a pet, going forward, we must provide provisions for the expenses related to the animal. This can be important when dealing with livestock, such as horses, or an animal that has health issues.

Since pets are considered personal property, there can be disputes over whether the pet is the separate property of one of the spouses or community property.  Separate property can be acquired by a gift, inheritance, or if the property was owned on the date of marriage.  Separate property cannot be divided by a court.  Spouses may argue over whether the pet was a “gift”, or whether the spouses bought the pet together, making the pet community property subject to being awarded to one spouse or the other.

Unfortunately, pets are often targets in family violence but Texas has come to the rescue.  Texas courts can now include pets in protective orders in domestic violence cases. Because pets have suffered abuse when family violence has occurred, in 2011 the Texas legislature amended the law to prohibit the removal of animals from the possession of a person named in the protective order.  In a protective order, the court may prohibit a party from removing a pet, companion animal, or assistance animal, as defined by Section 121.002 of the Human Resources Code, from the possession or actual or constructive care of a person named in the protective order.  The “actual or constructive care” verbiage was added in 2013.  In turn, in 2013, the Texas Penal Code was amended to specify what the possession of a pet, companion animal, or assistance animal by a person actually means.

So what do these protective order laws actually mean for pets?  They mean that a person subject to a protective order that violates a pet provision in the protective order can go to jail, plain and simple.  An abuser will often turn on a pet to cause pain and suffering not only to the pet, but to the perpetrator’s victim(s).  An abuser may also threaten a pet’s life in order to keep their victim(s) close.  As a result, a victim may stay in an abusive situation to keep the companionship of the pet, not realizing the court can make orders with regard to the pet.

One of the problems is that most facilities and shelters for those running from family violence are not equipped to take animals and therefore the animals are left behind. There is a growing need in this regard not only for the safety of the pet but because the unconditional love a pet can give may be lost at the time it is needed the most.

Divorce or abuse can actually take a toll on a pet.  The Humane Society of the United States sets forth the following signs of pet stress:

•    They become depressed

•    They sleep a lot

•    Their appetite lessens

•    They’re not interested in their walks or other daily activities

•    They start to cry or whimper

•    They groom, lick and/or bite themselves excessively

•    They have accidents in the home

The bottom line is that pets are often the subject of divorce and family violence and the laws are improving to protect them.  It is important for everyone to be aware of these laws especially so that abuse victims may realize the court can include a pet in a protective order.  Abuse is bad enough for the lives of those who suffer it, but losing or leaving behind a pet can only make the suffering worse.

Victims asking a court for a protective order should ask the court to make orders regarding their pet(s).  Additionally, spouses in a divorce should be aware that pet(s) are property.  Sadly, a pet may become the subject of a very expensive fight when the real issue is to cause pain to the other spouse.

Charla Bradshaw is an accomplished family law attorney and Denton Managing Shareholder known for successfully summarizing some of the most difficult cases. She was listed among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas (2014) and rated one of the Best Women Lawyers in North Texas by D Magazine. While she employs an aggressive approach to litigating family law cases, Charla Bradshaw is also a certified mediator and handles collaborative law cases.

This is a blog hop post… click on link here

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May 21, 2013 · 1:44 pm

Survivors of OK tornado

Some truly amazing miracle stories have been told with pet guardians and their dogs after the tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas… here are a few:

Barbara Garcia, a resident of Moore, Oklahoma, who survived yesterday’s potentially historic tornado, was being interviewed by CBS News about riding out the storm in the bathroom of her former home.

Garcia was holding on to her dog when the winds came, but after the walls fell down the two separated, and she had been unable to locate him since.

Then, in the middle of the interview, little “Toto” suddenly emerged from the rubble, and the two were reunited in the most tearjerking of fashions.

“Well I got God to answer one prayer to let me be okay, but he answered both of them,” Garcia said.

CBS: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50147264n

 

The goal is to raise $50,000 to buy her a new home, and people have donated $30,000 in just four days!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/26/barbara-garcia-dog-bowser-oklahoma-tornado_n_3339950.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

 

This woman was going to work when sirens were going off about the tornado so she turned back and went home to her dog. The two of them spent their time in her bathtub with pillows as protection and they survived the storm.

http://kfor.com/2013/05/20/woman-saves-dog-rides-out-moore-tornado-in-tub/

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In Texas, this man was inside his mobile home with his dog, an adorable pit bull, holding the dog in his arms when the tornado came and literally ripped the dog from his arms. Amazingly, the man and his dog were reunited when the dog was found in a nearby shelter after the storm.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/weather/2013/05/18/ac-pkg-kaye-texas-storm-pet-reunion.cnn.html

more survival stories about pets

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/moving-stories-of-oklahoma-tornado-victims-finding-their-pet

Ways everyone can help the animals in Moore Oklahoma, Please share…
http://www.examiner.com/article/animals-need-help-moore-oklahoma?cid=db_articles

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the disaster in Oklahoma. We hope for peace and health to those searching for their loved ones and recovering from the devastation.

Some of the displaced dogs… please help them be reunited with their owners, share.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.574182702604564.1073741828.321167654572738&type=1

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May 15, 2013 · 2:16 pm

Sing with wolves

saw these places on Animal Rescue TV on Saturday morning…

the first is a beautiful sanctuary for horses near Los Angeles in Acton, CA… the horses are given lots of room/acreage to roam… and they also participate in the Horses for Healing program… when I lived in Arizona a few years ago, I met some gorgeous horses at a sanctuary… they all surrounded me including a few ponies and gave me so much love, it was precious.  I had been reading the Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov which is an incredible book about the spiritual and healing power of horses.

http://eponaquest.com/

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a therapeutic modality. The horses facilitate psychotherapeutic change by interacting with people.  Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed mental health therapist, a horse professional, and horses working together with the client(s) in order to address the treatment goals.

“Why horses? Why not other animals?”

Horses are large and powerful, which creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence. The size and power of the horse are naturally intimidating to many people. Accomplishing a task involving a horse and overcoming those fears creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life.

Horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. Many people will complain, “The horse is stubborn; the horse doesn’t like me; the horse is just like XXX;” etc. But the lesson to be learned may be that if they change what they are doing or how they are feeling within themselves, the horses will respond differently toward them. Horses are honest, which makes them especially powerful messengers. Horses respond immediately to behaviors, therefore appropriate consequences are received by the client(s). Horses are not judgmental—they respond consistently to what is shown to them.

http://www.horsescare.org/index.php

Move From Fear and Towards Love

with Anna Twinney & Melisa Pearce    

Wednesday, June 5th,
6:00pm MT 
(8:00 pm EST, 5:00 pm PST)

FREE webinar! 


REGISTER NOW!

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/408259298

Melisa and Anna met through their participation as contributing authors in the book Horse as Teacher, a Path to Authenticity. Discovering the commonality in their interpretation of horses and humans they have begun to work more closely together and today collaborate on several projects.

During this webinar Melisa and Anna will discuss and share how horses interpret our fear, their natural response and how they lead humans away from it when understood. Melisa will share about her experiences with horses claire-sentient abilities that she sees everyday as she partners with horses who emotionally heal humans through her Equine Gestalt process. Anna will be sharing as a Natural horse trainer who has traveled the world working with and studying horses behavior. She will share how they are effected in ways you may not even be aware of when you are working with them and what you can watch for with your horse.

www.touchedbyahorse.com

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Now this wolf sanctuary also was shown and looks like a wonderful place for the wolves and other animals who live there.  They are located in the high desert in southern California (Lucerne Valley).
When you look into the eyes of a wolf, you see your soul . . .
 

Visit Wolf Mountain Sanctuary and sing with the wolves…

http://www.wolfmountain.com/Visit%202011.htm

Similar to the pit bulls and parolees concept, this sanctuary works with military veterans and wolves.

http://www.warriorsandwolves.org

 

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October 21, 2012 · 1:57 pm

Pit Bulls and Addicts

been enjoying the new season of Pit Bulls and Parolees…now that they have moved to New Orleans…

https://www.facebook.com/PitBullsandParolees/app_378878488848240

last night, there was an inspiring new show on afterwards, Addicts & Animals...

Addicts & Animals’ hero, Phil Aguilar, aka “Chief,” has made it his mission to help drug addicts, but he does it his way. He and his family run an in-home sobriety program that uses the responsibility and joy of pet ownership as a means for recovery. Once a heroine addict himself, Chief swoops up addicts from the doorsteps of Hell and helps them get their lives back, with the help of a few tail-wagging companions.

He rescues death row dogs/shelter dogs… which is very cool…and each addict, when ready, gets to take care of a dog.

Healing Trauma

The relationship between humans and pets has always been a close, cherished bond. Animals have a magical way of easing stress and relieving strain for individuals in need – even drug addicts. Research suggests that the hormones activated by drug abuse are also elevated by animal contact. Dopamine and serotonin levels increase with drugs like cocaine and heroin; the same feel good hormones increase from healthy activities, like taking care of a dog.

Health benefits of having a pet include:
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces stress
• Fights depressions

Animal-assisted therapy is being used in a wide variety of settings to help people with acute and chronic illnesses. This is based on the many physiological and psychological benefits documented in patients during interactions with animals. These include lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased beta-endorphin levels, decreased stress levels, reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, improved social functioning, and increased feelings of empowerment, trust, patience and self-esteem. Animal therapy is looked upon as both a learning and healing experience.

How can animals help with addiction? There is more than one reason for utilizing animals to help in addiction recovery.

The first reason is that animals like dogs and horses exhibit total emotional honesty, something that addicts need to learn themselves. A horse, for example, will show signs of fear when afraid, aggression when angry, exploration when curious, rather than trying to conceal these emotions in any way.

In addition, animals like horses reflect our emotions. If we are anxious near them, they will be anxious also. If we are relaxed, they will relax as well. This kind of feedback is especially helpful for addicts who are working on getting more in tune with what they feel. An addict may not be aware that he is feeling particularly tense, for example, when working with a horse. But the horse’s unease may alert him to that fact. The addict can then respond by concentrating on relaxing.

Horses are large and somewhat intimidating animals. How an addict responds to and behaves around the horse can tell an addictions therapist a lot about how this person interacts in other relationships. For example, someone who is aggressive, in personal relationships, will generally demonstrate the same behavior when working with a horse.

Another addict who is shy, reserved, or afraid to speak her mind will usually have a very difficult time setting boundaries with a horse. The horse will learn to respect those who earn it, and weak requests will not get that respect from a horse.

The horse is therefore a great teacher of assertiveness, the midpoint between aggression and passivity. A horse will often respond in fear or refused cooperation to aggression. They will generally ignore passive requests. Somewhere in the middle is assertiveness, the ability of the addict to be clear and honest about what he needs, without being overbearing.

Outside of therapy, animals can help a person in recovery cope with stress. Animal studies regularly demonstrate that the mere presence in the home of a dog or cat can lower a person’s blood pressure. Just petting a dog or cat can decrease heart rate, respiratory rate, and other symptoms of stress.

With stress being so imperative for addicts in recovery to manage, having a pet can be a big help in the recovery process. Pets can also help addicts work on service and compassion, as they learn to care for and love an animal that is dependent upon them for support. All of these benefits make animals an important addition to recovery.

As an adjunct to more traditional types of addiction treatment, animal-assisting therapy works by helping those who have been battling the demons of substance abuse find a way to step outside of themselves and discover deeper meaning and purpose by providing vital assistance to other living creatures who desperately need love and companionship. For animals and recovering addicts alike, animal-assisting therapy is a win-win situation.
Acts of kindness and selflessness by their very nature put us in contact with the best of ourselves, and this can make them incredibly valuable for recovering addicts who spent so many years selfishly putting their own needs above those of everyone else. Addicts and alcoholics repeatedly use and manipulate people in order to satisfy their desire for relief from the symptoms of addiction, and besides their need to detoxify their bodies they also need to cleanse their wounded spirits to remove the contamination left behind by their self-centered and abusive past behaviors.
Animal-assisting therapy can help even the most broken and jaded person rediscover his or her deepest inner sources of compassion, which is an essential step for any addict who hopes to finally ascend from the pit of despair and shame that dominated his or her existence for so long. Before those with a history of substance abuse can hope to find lasting sobriety, they must first rebuild their self-esteem to the point where they actually feel strong enough to accomplish difficult things and worthy enough to deserve the happiness and peace that was denied them during their years of battling against alcoholism or drug addiction.
Animal-assisting therapy is all about fixing bodies, minds, and souls that have been damaged by abuse and neglect. Above all else, recovering addicts and alcoholics need something new and worthwhile to live for, and a commitment to caring for animals who have been cast aside can provide vital meaning and purpose where before there was only dependency and hopelessness.

Therapy dogs, like Peaches the pit bull pictured above, typically work with their owners in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation centers. They play with abused children, give affection to the elderly, help the critically ill to laugh and forget their pain for a while, and sometimes provide a warm lick to wipe the tears away.  The presence of dogs provides a sense of normalcy and reassurance to troubled individuals. Acceptance and non-judgment are perhaps the two most important gifts that these animals can offer. To dogs, humans are “perfect” just the way we are.

Shame, guilt, secrecy and hopelessness create a fertile ground for self-loathing, despair and an abnormal fear response. In an environment where people have proven to not be trustworthy – or, in the addict’s case if they cannot trust themselves – trained therapy dogs can potentially bridge the gap and make a difference in one’s recovery.

Benefits:

  • Stabilized and Improve social skills by learning gentle ways to communicate and handle the animal, such as feeding and grooming.
  • Brighten affect, mood, pleasure and affection while playing with the animal.
  • Reduce abusive behavior and learn appropriate touch.
  • Improve ability to express feelings by identifying how an animal might feel in a certain situation and/or recalling a client’s history with pets (sharing stories of grief or funny events).
  • Reduce anxiety and fear by forming a bond of love and comfort with the animal.
  • Learn how to better communicate with people by talking to the animal.
  • Develop a cooperative plan to accomplish something with the animal.

Cynthia Chandler, author of Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling, points out that the positive benefits to be gained from therapy can be more immediate when a therapy pet is involved, especially when working with a resistant client. The desire to be with the therapy pet can sometimes override the client’s initial defenses (Chandler, 2005). She further points to the natural relationship that occurs between dogs and humans which can result in quick bonding and trust between the client and dog in a therapeutic setting. According to Chandler, this bond between the pet and the client also helps to facilitate a bond with the therapist, as the feelings of affection and trust for the pet are eventually transferred to the pet’s therapist. Screening is required for clients in recovery who have a history of violence, animal abuse, animal phobias or allergies. However, most clients and pets will benefit from this type of therapy (Chandler, 2005).

According to Dr. Joseph Volpicelli and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “20 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse disorders, yet only about 2 million are in any kind of treatment program.”

Stories of getting sober and being aided in staying sober fill the halls of AA and other recovery centers, and now, with the expansion of the field of AAT, perhaps the use of animals at treatment centers will one day become commonplace.

Love is considered by many to be the universal healer. Is it any less comforting if the source is not human? According to a study done at the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in Leicestershire, England, a pet’s love can help reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels, moderate the effects of stress, and build a sense of empathy. Love creates a bond that undeniably aids in the health, happiness and a sense of belonging that makes life worth living (Meunier, 2003). These nurturing qualities can easily be translated into a treatment plan for a recovering addict.

Imagine all of the shelter animals that can be saved and given new life/loving homes when more animals are utilized to help people recover from addiction, illnesses, war, trauma and injuries, PTSD and more…

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40471379#40471379

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March 18, 2011 · 2:07 pm

social butterfly dogs

  1. Bernese Mountain Dog
  2. Briard
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Cockapoo (Cockapoodle)
  5. Coton de Tulear
  6. Goldador
  7. Golden Retriever
  8. Goldendoodle
  9. Harrier
  10. Havanese
  11. Irish Setter
  12. Labradoodle
  13. Labrador Retriever
  14. Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
  15. Puggle

According to Rachael Ray’s pet blog, the above are the dog friendliest dogs… is your dog the social butterfly of dogs, very friendly to other dogs?  is it one of the above or another breed?  Do dogs of a feather stick together?

Cici has played with more than 600 dogs of all kinds of breeds … her favs tend to be Golden retrievers, labs, German Shepherds, Boxers, Labradoodles, Australian Shepherd, Border Collies (BIG dogs) AND she has best lil pals too, mini poodles, tiny terriers, and other breeds.   She has issues with bull dogs of all types for some reason. She used to have issues with other pit bull terriers but has had a few pit bull puppy friends, too.  Depends upon the individual dogs.

http://blog.rachaelray.com/index.php/2011/03/10/dog-friendly-dogs/

plus, she has met/sniffed/chased or stalked bees, birds, bugs, bunny rabbits, cats, chickens, chipmunks, cows, deer, ducks, elk, fish, geese, goats, horses, lizards, llamas, peacocks, sheep, skunks, squirrels, wild turkeys, yaks, and zebras…

and she LOVES kids… the other day she played with a bunch of kids at the neighborhood park playground, licking them, showing off her belly, the kids were on the swings, she was a bit leery of the swings, but she ran and chased and raced with the girls and they enjoyed playing with her.  She wanted to stay and play all day.

what other farm animals or other pets does your dog play with?

Today is saturday, sheeeesh, where does the weeks go?  So fast. Maybe it’s the rain which is pouring again. And of course, Japan, do not pass by this blog without checking out what you can do for Japan (last blog post). Do not pass go, do not collect $200…

Anyway, since it is Saturday, Pet Blogger’s Hop, jump aboard another Blog Hop and thanks to Life with Dogs, here is the code…

enter at your own risk of having FUN…

 

As you hop around, don’t forget to stop by the first three entries on the list, our hosts: Confessions of the Plume, Two Little Cavaliers and Life with Dogs.

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May 26, 2009 · 10:58 pm

critters karma…

there is a lot of talk about whether animals have emotions and feelings as we humans do these day… and some people wonder if pets have souls. No matter what you believe or question, it is good to keep an open mind… this is a controversial topic but heck, so are many that I write about so here goes…

Remember, the TV show featuring Mr. Ed the talking horse? How about Dr. Dolittle who talked to animals? As a society, we seem to think, our consensus reality, is that it is farfetched and something to laugh about to think that animals can actually talk. Yet, our animals talk to us all of the time. And sometimes we pay attention and receive their love and blessings. And other times, we ignore the messages (whispers) until they become louder (shouts).

Perhaps you have met a dog or cat or horse or another animal and instantly felt a connection, or an animal adopted you, or showed up in your life at an interesting moment, or you just ‘knew’ that the pet was yours. At times, we have these meetings with people in our lives, why not with pets? Maybe pets are spiritual beings and are in our lives to help us grow.

As someone who has experienced several pet past life experiences (will explain more in a moment), and if you believe that humans reincarnate, is it much of a stretch to imagine that pets do also?

Years ago, a dog of a friend I hardly knew came to me in a dream. The next day I found out that he had died. Why he chose to come through to me with a message, I am not sure.

Years later, after my Abundance cat ran away, he came to me in a dream and slept on my belly as he used to do every day at 4pm. It was his way of telling me that he had passed on in this life. The significance of my connection with Abundance not only had to do with him, but also another past life with a beloved cat. I have been grieving the loss of that cat for decades and did not know about it until Abundance reminded me. It was through his loving countenance that I found out. I am still in the process of working through this experience, it was a biggie for me because it relates to my spirituality and relationships, and important for me to heal this lifetime. Sometimes it takes time to heal past lives and other issues in our lives.

Our Souls know us and all of our past lives (and future ones) and know what works best to help us heal, even if it might seem wrong or not fair or too painful. Animals often mirror or pick up our feelings and act them out for us. And sometimes, we don’t like what we see either in other humans or our animals and point the finger and blame them!

We want to believe that it’s the dog’s fault or the cat has ‘behavioral problems’ or issues. And they may, but what might you learn from your sweet furry friends? Sure, we can train our pets, pamper and worry about them. If your dog or cat or horse or bird could talk, wonder what they want to tell you? If you’d truly like to know, you can schedule a session with me and I’d be happy to chat with you, pass on messages with you and your pet(s) and/or passed over loved ones. It is a blessing to be able to communicate with animals and special people. A healing for all concerned.

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May 10, 2008 · 5:19 pm

I left my heart in Mendocino, Little River and Westport…

 

 

At Abigail’s B and B in Mendocino… 

 

http://www.whitegateinn.com/abigails.php

 

We had the whole house to ourselves thankfully the way cici was carrying on…  not sure if it’s Mendocino or cici is just whacking out, having a dog breakdown or what but she was pretty crazed yesterday with all of the dogs, cats and people around here. Abigail’s smells very fresh and not chemical like some places do. The feather bed is very comfy and also very fresh.

We stayed in the Drawing room downstairs. A large, very private sunny room with a view of the garden. It contains a queen sized four poster bed, a large closet, sitting area and full bath with shower/bath combination.

The wine and cheese spread at 5 pm was fabulous… there were different cheeses, two wines, olives, salami, rumaki, a hot dip with artichoke that was scrumptious, different kinds of crackers, and cookies. Slept well and so did cici. got her a new halter instead of her collar, which i like a lot.  she also needs a new stronger retractable leash… They have some nice toys and treats for the pups at the gift shop at the Whitegate Inn, bully sticks for $1 and squeaky toys. 

It was a little confusing to get to Abigail’s so here are the directions. Exit Highway One to Little Lake Road. Turn left on the second street which is Howard. Go two blocks to the Whitegate Inn on your left.  Go to the office, and they will check you in and direct you to Abigail’s which is just down the street . 

At breakfast, which was an egg souffle, some banana bread and fresh fruit, I met a family from the Netherlands and several couples from the Bay area.  after I had breakfast, I came back to the car and cici was shaking a lot, so i decided it would be good to walk her around a bit. 

We went to Evergreen Barn which is around the corner and has pet supplies. She threw up at Evergreen, there were two dogs there that she could not play with so we left… the woman there was kind and suggested I get her some rice. Did some errands and drove north up the coast, a bit twisty and windy but beautiful, a little like driving to Big Sur… we stopped at a beach along the way and got out… and cici had a great time running around getting all of her pent up energy run off, so much fun getting all sandy and wet… she finally sat down so then i took her back into the car and we drove the rest of the way up to Westport… it is a tiny little town, smaller than Little River which is saying a lot…

We looked for signs to the Howard Creek Inn and Farm and found it and drove in the driveway passed some sheep grazing along the grass. 

Howard Creek Ranch Inn is an historic, 60 acre, ocean front farm bordered by miles of beach and mountains on the beautiful Mendocino Coast.  Charles (Sunny) and Sally have been working on the Howard Creek Ranch for the last 20 years. They met, fell in love and bought the property from people who had a commune on the land. Howard Creek Ranch is a Mendocino County Registered Historic Site nominated to the Federal Register of Historic Places.

http://www.howardcreekranch.com/history.html

The Ranch has farm animals, nine cats, award-winning gardens, fireplaces/wood stoves, a 75 foot swinging foot bridge over Howard Creek, hot tubs, on-site hiking, sauna, 1000 year old redwoods, and horseback riding on the beach or in the mountains.

Accommodations include cabins, suites and rooms furnished with antiques, large comfortable beds, and handmade quilts with views of the ocean, mountains, creek or gardens. 

Sunny and his wife Sally came here in 1973 and renovated the old building and built new buildings with some modern amenities of Internet and TV videos of old PBS shows and Star Trek… wireless was intermittent in my room… There also is no phone in the room. Atrium B&B and Abigail’s also had no phone in the room. The Little River Inn, Pacific Mist Inn, Surf Motel and Pine Beach Inn all had phones in the room.  If you want to get away from TV and Internet, Howard Creek is a good place to disconnect.

There is a deli in town for food for lunch and dinner, or you can bring your own. The market/deli is not like the one in Little River, I asked for Chicken Teriyaki and got some hot spicy Indian food instead, I did not know until I got back here. I also brought some hot dogs and breakfast is at 9 a.m. in the dining room. 

Breakfast was the heartiest breakfast ever, delicious… eat until stuffed, lots of portions… strawberry banana pancakes, whipped cream, fresh juice, apple granola muffins, turkey bacon, fresh fruit and edible flowers, spinach and cheese quiche, and the best mint tea ever, fresh from the garden… the gardens are spectacular, gorgeous flowers… and it’s soooo peaceful…  the antiques are real, too… 

The ambiance is very peaceful and relaxing and rustic, and very down homey. You can walk to the beach from here and there is a community living room. We stayed in the Walden room.  It is quite large, with a fridge, sink, coffee pot, hanging plants…  deep rich brown wood walls and reddish brown tile floor. 

I had hoped that Cici would be mellow from her run on the beach, but she was up all night, nosing around sniffing everything. We took a few walks and met the other people staying at the farm. It is lovely to be out in the country a hop skip and a jump from the beach. There is a nice grassy area to relax, sunbathe, and barbecue. You must keep your dog on leash at all times so as not to disturb the animals.

If you stay in the Redwood Suite, there is a beautiful view of the ocean from the upstairs bedroom loft and downstairs… if you stay in the Walden room and people are upstairs in the community room, you can hear them walk around up there. There are 12 rooms, four of which are pet friendly. There is a Beach house, and a cabin, which have ocean views, too. 

Visitors come back to the farm on their birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. Some notables include billionaire entrepreneurs, celebrities, and regular folks from cities near and far. the inn is non-smoking as were most of the inns I stayed at this trip.

Takes about five hours to get to San Francisco, Tomorrow we will travel to Branscomb Road to go across to the 101 and go south to SF. 

Branscomb Road takes about an hour, you get onto 101 (and don’t necessarily know it) and you are above Willits… it was easier than the 128 and took less time and was nice and scenic… 

San Francisco was a whole other matter… the best thing that happened was I found a way OUT of SF easily and fast, by not knowing where I was going… I got off the 19th and had a stop at Geary and 5th. Afterwards, I got onto 19th Avenue, it dead ended and I proceeded towards the 1, the beach and took Hwy 1 south to the 280… easy… no getting lost and driving along the beach, no traffic either… 

We were supposed to stay by the airport but that did not work out so we went to Gilroy and Monterey beach… now we are at a secret location near Lancaster, CA… it is a very nice place is all I can say…  the Mystery and Adventures continue…

 

Walden room at Howard Creek Inn 

      

 

 

 

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May 6, 2008 · 4:03 pm

da view da gorgeous view at Little River Inn…

We slept well and Cici’s much better…she did throw up last night, but this morning seems her happy self, wanting to say hi to everyone that goes by and lick their feet… back to normal…

Today, we are going back to Little River, we just love that town, to the Little River Inn. 

Tomorrow, we will stay, for the first time, in the town of Mendocino. And Tuesday, we will be leaving this area a little bit and go north about 30 minutes up to a town called Westport. Wednesday, we are supposed to meet someone in the big city, San Francisco, and stay overnight near the airport, in a city I used to live in called Burlingame at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I was surprised to find out that they are pet friendly. 

 

 

To Market 

 

the market/deli in Little River is a wonderful place to eat… They gave me free dogs treats, and have a wonderful selection of foods from enchiladas to salads, spinach spanokapita, egg rolls, sandwiches, cheeseburgers and more… 

 

 Little River Inn

 

Everyone needs to be pampered every once in awhile. The Little River Inn is just the place to indulge your senses, unwind, and relax. I’ll tell you why. When you go up the driveway to the Little River Inn, you get a sweeping sense of history and tradition. Just as the trees have deep roots in the earth, the Little River Inn has been here for almost 70 years… six generations. And there are a lot of reasons why. The family. The food. The customer service. Da views, da gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean. The pet friendliness. Visitors come here year after year, generation after generation to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and other special occasions. 

Cici made friends with the dog next door, a poodle mixed with Jack Russell… those poodles are sure getting around… seems like every day you hear about another poodle mix, poodle lab, poodle cocker spaniel, poodle terrier, etc. 

 

Family

In 1850’s, Silas Coombs, a lumberman from Maine built a family home. In 1864, he married Margaret Boyd, they raised four children, including twin girls, Cora and Margaret. The twins grew up in Little River. Ole Hervilla grew up in a boardinghouse run by his Finnish/Swedish immigrant family in Utah. He came to Fort Bragg to join his brother and ran the Windsor Hotel. He married Cora Coombs in 1939 and they purchased the Little River home from her parents and on May 27, 1939, opened the Little River Inn.   The inn has become known for its old fashioned family hospitality…  Some of the staff members have worked at the Inn for 30+ years. Now, Cally Dym runs the Inn. She grew up in Petaluma, went to Columbia University, lived in New Orleans, Colorado and makes ongoing contribution to the community including the boys and girls club, animal organizations, and other charities. 

Cammie Conlon played Bonnie Blue Butler, the doomed only child of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara, in the 1939 classic movie Gone With the Wind when she was just 4 years old. She remembers that she loved the pony and said that Clark Gable was very kind to her. She only had two scenes with Vivien Leigh and one of them was cut.  Cammie and I had a delicious breakfast together and she regaled me with interesting tales of the Inn and the family. 

 

Eco Friendly

Solar panels, recycling, composting, and more innovations to come. 

 

Food

I had three of the Inn’s specialties… Crab Pot Pie and the Olallaberrie Pie for dessert for dinner. Makes me want to sing that pie song from the movie Michael. Pie pie I love pie my oh my.  Fresh picked berries…Fresh tasty ingredients. the Olallaberrie Pie is made from Calli’s grandmother’s original recipe. yum-o as Rachael Ray would say.  For breakfast, I had Ole’s favorite breakfast, his Swedish pancakes, two eggs and sausage. Quite delicious, and a nice hearty and light way to start the day.

 

Customer service

check-in was prompt, easy and friendly. When we arrived at our cabin, waiting for us were several very nice touches… a doggie bowl and treats for Cici. A bag filled with towels and sheets to put on the furniture. A  book about the history of the Inn along with a handwritten note and information package. Dinner and breakfast were superb.

 

Room at the Inn

Deliciously comfortable bed that I stretched out in, a jacuzzi tub, a large screen TV with cable, wireless internet, a fireplace, fridge, and da view da gorgeous view… through the glass doors and the deck, I could see the ocean waves gently lapping away. 

 

Pet friendliness

Susan (Calli’s mother) rescued three premarin horses that are kept in a beautiful green fenced area across from the Inn, behind the market/deli… Dogs and cats and other pets are welcome at the Inn.  Below are some of the pet friendly opportunities happening at the Inn currently

 

Yes, Dorothy, Toto Too

 

This package includes:

Two nights in a luxurious room with a fantastic ocean view

AND

A day at Doggie Day Camp for your pet

 

ENJOY A WINE TOUR, A STROLL ON THE BEACH OR A LLAMA TREK

 take a day to explore the redwoods, ride the Skunk Train or shop in the village.

 

This package is available Tuesday through Saturday nights only.

 

The rate for this package is based on a two night minimum, double occupancy, and

ranges from $472-$580 depending on your choice of accommodation.

 

Fourth of July Pups on Parade 

 

And the Little River Inn’s official dog Rosie welcomes other pups to join her in the upcoming July 4th Pup Parade with a two night, July 3 and 4 stay at the Inn.. dozens of dogs will walk along Main Street, receive a red white and blue kerchief and transportation to the parade from the Inn. Call 1888-INN-LOVE to make your reservation. Or go to http://www.littleriverinn.com 

 

 

 

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