Inspiring People

Speaking of inspiring people.... another one is Dr. Karen Becker, DVM. I just love her! She inspires me and gives me hope for the future. 

Here is part one of an interview she does with who she calls "THE Authority on Optimal Nutrition for Dogs", Steve Brown. Even if you have cats and no dogs, I think you will find this conversation very interesting and informative. Watch part two here.

They bring up the reasons why I recommend keeping your pet food in the bag.

Inspiring People

Cozy Critters takes care of mostly domestic animals but we love ALL animals. As I've mentioned before, one of my favorites is elephants. I have been a supporter of The Elephant Sanctuary in TN for many years. This sanctuary was co-founded by Carol Buckley in 1995. Carol then set her sights on something larger, and founded the nonprofit Elephant Aid International which was established to create a paradigm shift that will foster change in beliefs and approaches to the care of elephants worldwide. Carol has and is making such a big difference in the lives of so many elephants. She, and the work she has done on behalf of elephants, is so inspiring.  Watch the short video below to get a glimpse of what I'm talking about.You can find out more about Carol and her work here.

Arsenic in Rice

Did you know there is arsenic in not only rice, but some other foods as well? Did you know that the FDA actually recommends that you only eat rice on a limited basis and suggests you eat a variety of grains to "minimize potential adverse health consequences from eating an excess of any one food"?

In 2012, Consumer Reports did an analysis and report on arsenic in foods. Here is another article posted earlier this year by the New York Times on their Well Blog. (There are many helpful links in this article for more information on the subject.) You can also Google arsenic in rice and get over two million hits.

I mention this because I think if people were more aware of this they would not be giving it to their dogs, especially on a regular basis. Animals are much smaller than we are. If we shouldn't be eating rice on regular basis, even according to the FDA -- then animals certainly shouldn't be either. Personally, I think it is absurd that we eat any food or drink that has any arsenic in it at all! We are not meant to consume poisons. Neither are animals. 

I recommend avoiding giving rice to your dog all together. Not only because of the arsenic but because dogs and particularly cats do not need grains in their diet. This is another reason why I suggest grain-free foods for pets. In a natural, species appropriate diet the grains they would receive would be at a minimum, and they would be predigested contents inside of their prey. 

This is a far cry from all the grains they put into commercial foods, which also include grains that are genetically engineered (GMO). Just look at all the foods they add rice to. Our pets are little beings -- much smaller than us --  who are being fed this on a regular basis -- typically every meal, day after day, month after month, year after year.

Instead of buying food with grains, go for the grain free. Instead of adding rice or grains to your pet's meals, try some veggies like green beans or pumpkin or better yet -- try adding cooked meats like chicken or turkey -- preferably organic. (I do not recommend processed lunch meats which contain ingredients that become carcinogens after consumed.) Dogs and cats are first and foremost carnivores. They were designed to eat meat. Not grains. Not GMOs. Not poisons.

Another way to help rid yourself and your pets of toxins: Drink structured water.

The Secrets of Living Structured Water

Here's a great YouTube video with an introduction to the nature of crystalline structured water as a living, vital, and enlivening force that is essential to the health of all living organisms. (Excerpts from Dr. Emoto, The Water Mystery Movie, and What the Bleep Do We Know?! )

I have written an in-depth article explaining structured water here.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to observe many animals on the structured water for over a year and a half now. Animals don't lie. They don't have beliefs, ideas or thoughts that get in the way. They are in tune with nature and they know healthy water when they smell & taste it. Once they have structured water, they don't want anything else but that. They know that this is how water is supposed to be.

I've had several clients tell me that their pet has become a little "funny" or obsessed with their water. It's because they are looking for the structured water if they ran out!

We water all of our plants and garden with it and it attracts all kinds of animals and birds. They all come for the structured water. Just in the last few months we've had parrots, parakeets, a blue herring and a wild duck -- among all the usual doves, crows, blue jays, etc. show up in our backyard. The animals know!

Tara the Hero Cat Saves the Life of a Little Boy

Have you seen this short YouTube video of a cat saving a little boy from a dog attack?

Tara the Hero Cat Saves the Life of a Little Boy

It's amazing this was caught on video. This doesn't surprise me though. I know first hand cats can be as protective as dogs. Many years ago when I had two dogs and three cats, which were all indoor pets, some friends came over and brought their Labrador Retriever with them. As soon as the dog entered the house and one of my cats saw it, she attacked it. She did not want a strange dog coming in her house. We had to get their dog out of the house. It took my cat a couple of hours to calm down after we removed the dog. Cats can be territorial and protective too.

Just recently I was pet sitting two indoor cats, a male and a female. I was supposed to give the female some medication and as soon as I attempted to do so, the male came after me aggressively, letting me know I was not to mess with his sister! I can't give a cat medication while trying to fend off an attack from another one. This is why you have to be very creative sometimes when it comes to dealing with cats.

Why I Don't Use Retractable Leashes

I have been wanting to write about this subject for some time. As a professional pet sitter, my first and foremost concern of course are the pets -- their safety and well-being. When I'm walking someone else's dog(s), as well as my own, safety for the dog, others and myself is a priority. Having an enjoyable experience is also important for all involved!

Over the last twelve years, I have either experienced or witnessed all kinds of situations and scenarios while walking dogs. I have had someone else's (otherwise friendly) unleashed dog attack and almost kill the dog I had on a leash. I've had dogs come charging out of an open door or gate while walking by with a dog so many times I can't begin to count them. I've had small children come running at me (with parent near by), wanting to pet the dog I'm walking, which is not friendly and doesn't like to be around children. There have been times I have turned around and run the other way with the dog to avoid situations. 

Just recently I passed someone walking their dog on the other side of the street and she wanted to bring her dog over to say "hi" to the dog I was walking, which was 1) not my dog, 2) not dog friendly and 3) was barking and displaying aggressive body language that was obvious to me, but was not understood by her. She got mad or offended when I said it wasn't my dog and declined! 

 I've had dogs pull out of their collar. I even had a dog back out of her harness once (which was obviously fitted too loose). I've had collars break, leashes break. I mean, when you do something long enough, you will experience just about everything that can happen while doing it. And as you go along, you learn by experience what kinds of things or situations to avoid. So for safety's sake, my rule of thumb is stay away from all others -- people and other dogs.

Another thing that I have learned along the way to avoid are retractable leashes. They are anything but safe. If you want to use one while walking your own dog, that is your choice. But as a pet sitter in a big city, I don't use them walking other people's dogs. I don't use them to walk my own dogs either. For many reasons:

• They are easily pulled out of your hand. A sturdy loop that is around your hand and wrist can't be beat for control and control of the dog is of the utmost importance.

• They allow dogs to get too far away to have reasonable control if something occurs to warrant quick action. Six feet away is long enough. I have seen people use retractable leashes with prong choke collars, which is an oxymoron.

• They can break or snap unlike a regular leash (that is the correct size and strength for your dog).

• They can cause burns, cuts and worse -- amputations.

• They are dangerous in that dogs can easily jerk their necks or cause spinal injuries while behaving like the animals they are, and charging after something full speed, or just running and not realizing when the end of the line is coming.

• They actually teach dogs to pull. Dogs learn that to get a longer extension, or to go where they want, all they have to do is pull hard enough and they get it.

• To have any dog, especially a large dog, essentially on a string/thin cord/thin ribbon is not a good means of control. When I see children walking their dogs on these, I just cringe.

• They are just harder to manage, especially if walking more than one dog and picking up the poop, which in most places is the law.

• They can malfunction and won't retract.

• They can frighten dogs (especially fearful ones) if they are dropped, and then are injured due to running to try and get away from the handle that is chasing them.

• I don't know of a good positive reinforcement dog trainer that recommends them.

While I was in the process of writing this I had to take one of my pets to the veterinarian. While we were waiting to be seen, a young mother with two small children, a boy and a girl, and two small dogs came in. The dogs were on retractable leashes. The mother originally had the leashes but as she was standing at the counter filling out paperwork, her children kept asking to have the leashes. She gave in and I watched as these two small children under the age of five got themselves and the dogs all tangled up to the point that the little girl was totally wrapped up in the leash and couldn't move. After the mother got them untangled and took control of the leashes again (still filling out paperwork), she was oblivious to the fact that one of the dogs still had the thin cord of his leash wrapped around his front leg and he kept hopping around trying to pull his leg out of the loop, which he finally managed to do after several tries. 

This is a perfect example of why I cringe when children use them. I have either experienced, witnessed, read or heard about so many different instances in which people and/or pets have gotten injured or worse while using a retractable leash. 

So if you are a client and you set out the retractable leashes, they will not be used. I (we) have my (our) own preferred equipment that provides the control and safety that I require. And if someone walking a dog sees you coming towards them and they go the other way, don't be offended. I'm just playing it safe and keeping it fun!

I want to thank Karen Becker, DVM, for recently writing an article on this subject, which inspired me to finally write about it too. Read her article here: 

Dr. Becker: 10 Reasons Not to Use a Retractable Leash

Structured Water

Not only are we a professional and passionate pet sitting service, we are also progressive. We like learning about the newest leading-edge technology, inventions, products, services, discoveries or otherwise -- especially if it benefits animals. When I'm not pet sitting, I spend a lot of my time reading, researching, attending classes, workshops, and seminars about pet related subjects as well as other subjects.

We live in an exciting time right now. There are new discoveries and inventions every day. Most of which you don't hear about in the main stream media. Things are constantly changing and evolving. One of these exciting new things that I discovered over a year ago is Structured Water (SW). 

It wasn't until recent years that an inventor by the name of Clayton Nolte, after researching and working with mathematics, physics and the properties of water for forty years, invented a device that mimics nature and creates structured water -- the way water was intended to be and is supposed to be; the way nature creates water. It's water that has a different molecular structure.

After learning about and using this water myself, structured water has become another passionate subject of mine! And so to explain it in detail I created a whole page on this blog dedicated to just that. Please click on the structured water tab at the top of this blog for much more detailed information.

I have not only been drinking and showering in it for over a year myself, but so have other family members, our pets and our plants. If you are a client and I have pet sit for you within the last year, your pets received structured water while I was pet sitting. This is where I really notice the change. Animals don't have any judgments, beliefs or thoughts that get in the way of experiencing. They just know that once they get a drink of this SW, they really like it! What I have observed so far is that in the beginning, the animals seem to drink more water, but only at first. Once they get properly hydrated -- probably the best they have ever been in their entire lives -- then it tapers off to drinking less water, or normal amounts. They tend to feel better and have more energy. They seem to become more communicative as well. These aren't dramatic changes, they are more subtle. (I am able to pick up the subtleties. I have seen the difference it makes in people and plants too!)

People that are more sensitive to energies that start drinking it notice the energetic difference in the structured water compared to other water.

Unfortunately, once the pet sitting assignment is over and the pet's water gets changed out, the structured water goes away. This makes me sad because I want all pets to be able to always have SW. This is why I have written about it in great detail so that more people become aware of it and can get it for themselves and their pets. Awareness is everything. I am doing what I can to get the word out (along with others). I want every person and every pet to have and to experience structured water! Order your water structuring device by clicking here. You'll be glad you did! (You'll also get four free bonuses with your order while supplies last!)