Okay, How Do I Begin?

I know it’s tough to carve out time in your already hectic day to brush Fido’s teeth, every day after day no less. You already dread it, don’t you. Let’s make it easy then. First step–whenever you find little moments and you’re sitting around snuggling with Fluffy, massage her gums at the same time. See–no extra time needed. Massage very lightly, ok, don’t get all invasive on her like the bathroom scene with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street. At this point, you’re just getting her used to your fingers in her mouth, like it’s no big deal. I introduce my kitties and pups to gum massage by hand-feeding them cat kibble one piece at a time. They love being hand-fed so, when i start checking out their gums, they’re pretty much okay with it. Massage her gums lightly and very briefly, then stop, before she has a chance to object. Go on your merry way like it was no big deal. [TIP: Knowing when to ignore your pet is a tremendously effective training and handling tool ~ more on that later.] By making gum massage part of snuggle time and creating a positive experience instead of a dreaded chore, she’ll come to associate it with pleasure. Keep this tip in your memory bank.

Baby Steps … You’re Getting There

Once you’ve got your pet feeling okay about having her teeth and gums handled, you can introduce a toothbrush or rubber thumb. I prefer the rubber thumb because it’s similar to your finger and seems less foreign to the pet. Before you go shoving them in her mouth, tho, let her sniff them and get familiar, even batting them around like toys. Remember, baby steps. Use the brush to massage her teeth without paste for the first few times. Once she’s comfortable with the toothbrush or rubber thumb, then try adding a tiny dab of flavored pet toothpaste. She may not be sold right away–don’t force it. Never force it. But definitely keep the massaging in your routine and eventually try adding toothpaste again. You’ll get there eventually.

Here is a really good pet toothpaste I like to recommend for you. It’s popular because it’s made in the USA, it’s safe, pets like it, and it works!

In the meantime, stimulating her gums is a good thing. If, however, you have a pet who just refuses to warm up to a toothbrush, no worries. There are options. There are some great dental washes for pets that you put in their drinking water. Can’t get any easier than that!  Here’s a good one. Completely odorless/tasteless so your pet won’t detect it and get all fussy. It’s made in the USA and completely safe for your pet.

I also found this product below that you spray right onto their teeth and gums and, as the pet licks his lips and sloshes it around, it begins to reduce plaque and heal his mouth. It’s all organic, no chemicals to create allergies or inflammation, and makes your pet’s breath very fresh and sweet so you just want to get all up in his face and snuggle with him!  🙂  Give it a try!

It’s NEVER Too Late.

Ideally, you want to start your pet’s dental care when she’s a puppy or kitten. If she’s older, tho, no worries. Always better late than never at all. Just remind yourself how important dental care is to her overall health.

Bottom line is you may have to try a few approaches to your pet’s dental care before you find the one your pet responds to, and that’s ok, because there are many products of all kinds out there to choose from. One of them will work for you. As long as you’re patient and consistent, you’ll get there. Just keep your eye on the prize–longterm good health and protection for your beloved furbaby.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Ignore Your Pet’s Teeth … They’ll Go Away. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Why Is Chipping So Important?

Pets become lost for many reasons, some of them preventable, others unavoidable mishaps. Compare losing a pet to losing a child–you need turn your eyes away for only seconds and they can be gone. You can be the world’s best pet parent, and it can still happen. We’re all human. The lawn care guy leaves your gate open, the cat darts out the door when you answer to sign for a Fedex, the dog jumps out the window of your car when he sees a cat on the sidewalk, etc.

And, of course, there’s always the unfortunate possibility of your pet being stolen. Thieves can easily figure out your routine, when you’re not home, and they can climb your fence, grab little Fluffy and be gone in a New York minute. Without Fluffy having a chip, most likely you’ll never get her back. Chipping tells the finders you are the rightful owner and eliminates any claims someone else may be trying to make for your pet.

Posting on social media is a huge help, for sure, but that depends on people actually reading the posts, and then those specific people being in the right place at the right time to find the lost pet. With chipping, the owner’s contact information is secured right on the pet at all times. Chipping is hands-down the best way to recover a lost or stolen pet.

What Does A Chip Do And How Do I Get My Pet Chipped?

A chip is a nearly microscopic little disk, if you will, that is inserted with a needle, as if giving the pet a shot. Typically, chips are implanted between the shoulder blades, where it will remain permanently. The injection is nearly painless for most pets. The chip is programmed with a serial number that is registered to you and contains your name, address, and phone. Some chip manufacturers also provide a website where you can opt to set up a profile for your pet with photos and certain identifying information to make identification even more exact. You can get your pet chipped at your vet or most pet stores. The cost is generally $35 to $45. Most rescue organizations include micro-chipping in the adoption process if you adopt the pet from them.

If your pet shows up at a shelter, the folks there have a scanner gun that they will scan over your pet. If the pet is chipped, the scanner gun will capture the information, and they can call you immediately. If someone finds your pet and wants to help get her back home safely rather than drop her off at a shelter, the finder can go to any PetSmart, Petco, veterinarian, etc., and ask them to scan the pet for a chip. There is no charge for simply scanning. Once the rescuer has your contact information, they can let you know that Fluffy is safe and sound and can get her back home to you. Chipping is critical to your pet’s wellbeing and keeping your family whole. There is no better substitute.

Being Chipped Can Mean Life Or Death To Your Pet.

Chipping also protects your pet from being killed should she end up in a shelter. Shelters screen incoming strays for chips. If your pet is chipped, then all is well, because first thing they will do is call you and you can go get her safely back home. But be aware–shelters typically deal with overcrowding, so they don’t invest lots of time trying to identify lost or stray pets. Sadly, kill rates for shelters across the nation are still very very high. If your pet is not chipped and ends up in a shelter, she is in extreme danger. They may put her to death in a matter of hours and you’ll never even know. You may still be driving your neighborhood, posting flyers, searching hopefully and calling for her, not knowing she’s no longer alive. Avoid such a terrible heartbreak–chip your beloved pet. Cats and dogs both. If you love her, chip her.

While We’re On The Subject Of Shelter Kill Rates …

Awareness is growing nationwide about the epidemic of high shelter kill rates, especially for cats. Barely 1 in every 10 cats gets out of a shelter alive–there is no excuse for this. While many shelters are finally abandoning old set ways of using euthanasia to “control” what they identify as “pet over-population,” we still have a very long way to go to stop the terrible killings. If you have an interest in learning more or volunteering to help in this overdue animal welfare revolution, get this book–Redemption by Nathan Winograd. It’s truly eye-opening. When you finish the book, pass it on, keep it going. It’s on our generation to get the word out and get the wheels in motion.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post If You Love Her, Chip Her. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Remember — chocolate can be FATAL to a pet!  Keep a close watch on the candy that comes into your house around Halloween.  No candy or even candy wrappers on the floor.  Containers and candy up high and totally out of reach from your pets.  It’s easy to keep a close eye out, and may save your sweet pet’s life!

Any time is a dangerous time for pets to be left outside.  But Halloween is even more dangerous for pets to be outside, more than other holidays, and especially for black cats.  Sadly, there are nasty people lurking about, waiting and watching for animals to abuse, and even kill.  Don’t let your pet become a statistic!  Keep them safely indoors the whole week before Halloween, and don’t let them outside again till after Halloween has passed.  No matter how much they fuss!  You are their protector — be strong and don’t give in till after the day passes.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Trick or Treat! appeared first on BareFootPets.

Life got you stressed out?  Too busy?  Need a nap?  Take a cue from your pets.  It’s not that hard.  All you have to do is watch them.  Here are some sweet samples from my house.

. . . And Finally . . . These Right Here Below – This Is What You Call A Lonnnng Nap.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Lazy Is An Art Form appeared first on BareFootPets.

Eyes Wide Open.

I try to be certain that the charities I support are credible and forthright about their mission to advocate for and protect vulnerable animals.  So I pay close attention when evidence like that below is revealed.  The information below is dreadfully troubling and hurts my heart.  At the same time, however, I’m grateful to be aware now so that I can do something about it.  I have donated for years and years to PETA, but find myself now at a crossroads.  Having read Nathan’s post (and others) a number of times to be sure I’m capturing the big picture, it’s obvious the evidence is condemning — a serious indictment against PETA for all the goodness that it professes but fails to show for the innocent animals in its care.

Feet To The Flame.

My point for this post is not only to enlighten, but also to remind you all that there are sadly still wolves in sheep’s clothing in the animal rescue world; and, even more sadly, it appears PETA and ASPCA (read Nathan’s book Friendly Fire)  are two of those wolves.  For this reason, doubtful I can in good conscience support PETA  or ASPCA any longer, or at least until honest accountability and corrective action are taken by PETA and ASPCA.  There are many other animal welfare organizations truly worthy of my support, and I will re-direct my humble donations to them.  As I said above, this is a personal decision I make for myself — my intent is not to coerce the reader, but rather to simply share facts and inform so that you can analyze it for yourself.

I leave this here for you to read, process, and make your own earnest decision.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post PETA Did What To Maya !?! appeared first on BareFootPets.

Some very unfortunate writings have come to my attention, writings by authors who appear to be politically motivated students of socialism, attempting, unbelievably, to insert a slanted racial bias into the realm of shelter pet rescue, of all things.  Having read enough excerpts from each of these books to soundly reject their precepts, I feel compelled to comment on my own behalf in defense of animal welfare and shelter pet rescue.  I make a deliberate point of not naming the books and their authors’ names here so as to avoid giving them “free advertising” on my blog in light of their discriminatory opinions.  [More detailed discussion, if desired, can be found on Nathan Winograd’s >blog<.  Mr. Winograd is the founder of No Kill Advocacy, which exists to dispel outdated and barbaric shelter programs that still choose euthanasia as a primary tool for pet population control.  He is infinitely more qualified than me to speak directly to this important issue.]

Following is my very personal and cautionary response.

Educated Guess.

As I begin this response, I acknowledge that I cannot know what is in the authors’ hearts on this subject.  I can only respond based upon my interpretation of their writings.  I perceive they write with distinct social and political bias, so I will tailor my response accordingly.

You’re Kidding Me With This, Right?

In a nutshell, the authors suggest that low-income minorities are incapable of caring properly for pets because of apparent oppression, white supremacy, and racism; and thus should be given a pass when they abuse, neglect, and even kill their animals.  This mindset is horribly skewed.  It is this kind of divisive thought, purposely perpetuated generationally on low-income minorities, that blocks any chance for positive opportunity and change.

Let’s Break It Down.

The beautiful and simple basis for my response is this:  animal welfare and pet rescue are driven by the goodness in people’s hearts, the fundamental compassion naturally born within.  Pure as the God-given gift of love.  But these authors conspire to undermine the primary thrust of animal welfare movement for their own vanity, much like abortionists.  They promote a hateful ideology, and not only forgive the actors who embrace it, but cheer them, in order to beat down inherent, organic good.  The authors themselves even admit to socialist bias and a complete inability to be impartial.  Their words, not mine.

Indoor, well cared for pets are not the product of only privileged, white homes as claimed by the authors.  Well-cared-for pets are a reflection of love and care, in whatever race or community the pets’ family exists.  And abused, neglected, or surrendered animals are not victims of only impoverished races/people.  They are a result of ill programming such as found in these authors’ books.

Anyone can be taught to care lovingly for their pets.  That’s one of the reasons the No Kill Advocacy, among many benevolent organizations, exists – to educate and encourage.  Compassion and kindness and mercy are not unique to only white-privilege neighborhoods.  Everyone, of all races, has the capacity to love and be kind – and to be taught how to show such love and kindness to their pets.  These qualities are inherent in every human heart – until folks like these authors make it their mission to denigrate.

People who rescue do it with compassion, mercy, and kindness – qualities that the human species is inherently born with.  To be able to embrace these authors’ perspectives, the natural God-given qualities of compassion, mercy, and kindness would first need to be deliberately stripped from one’s psyche, from their very fiber.

Educated For Show.

These authors’ perspectives admittedly serve only to perpetuate a hate-filled narrative of racism which, in even the broadest analysis, has no bearing whatsoever on animal welfare and shelter pet rescue.  One of these authors, specifically, by her own admission in her book, acknowledges point-blank her personal prejudice and socialist agenda.  She is in essence, then, simply spewing venom upon a mission of mercy that has nothing to do with social academics and political persuasion.

People are not born racist and cruel – they must be programmed — by environmental and/or generational influence, but also certainly by people who continually perpetuate division and contention between races.  In the absence of such propagandists putting forth divisive hatred, no one would see another’s skin color.  No one would push for euthanizing shelter pets when life-affirming measures are in place and readily available — because the natural and inherent first impulse of the heart is to love.  Kindness is in our DNA.  Love does no harm.

Love Is More Than A Four-Letter Word.

Love is a universal action word.  People dedicated to animal welfare and pet rescue act out of genuine love to save animals – no more, no less.  No ulterior agendas, nothing political.  Authors with politically-begotten degrees attempt to impress people with their education, when in fact all they do is degrade goodness.  All it takes to save an animal’s life is a kind heart — simple as that.  It does not take a college degree or political persuasion.  And a kind heart is not unique to white-only citizens in affluent communities.  All human races are born to love.  No book and no critical analyses are needed.  It’s just love.  To try to cast animal welfare and shelter pet rescue in a politically or socially complex light, or any other misleading light, is fraudulent, even abhorrent from truth.

I understand the authors’ likely desire to gain notoriety and profits from their college degrees, but I respectfully caution readers to be very, very discerning about following such self-described experts who maliciously undermine the basic goodness of animal welfare and shelter pet rescue in order to exalt personal egos.  At the end of the day, saving lives is simply about compassion, kindness, and love, in its purest form.  I would encourage these authors to examine your hearts and, if you truly believe the system does not work effectively for minorities and low-income pet owners, then please find a way to put your college degrees to better use by setting aside your prejudices and racial bias, and instead support us in shelter pet rescue to make a better way for the animals.  We can always use the help.

I also respectfully recommend the Bible in contrast to those books discussed above.  It is intended for Everyone equally.

• A righteous man regards the life of his beast.  Proverbs 12:10.
• Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings and not one of them is forgotten before God? Luke 12:6.
• Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love boasts not itself, is not puffed up; love does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; rejoices not in injustice, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, endures all things; love never fails. And now abides faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.   I Corinthians 13:4-8, 13.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

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The post Pet Rescue Is Neither Racist Nor Political. appeared first on BareFootPets.

Let’s talk about unexpected emergencies that come up in our lives, like hospital stays from an illness or accident, death in the family that requires last-minute travel to attend services, etc.  No one is immune.  This subject hit my radar this weekend when I ended up in the emergency room myself.  It was a horrible experience … and unexpected.  But, thanks to my having planned ahead, my pets were safe and sound at home the whole time I was away.

Have I Prepared? 

When you have to leave home suddenly for a totally unexpected emergency situation, do you have preparations already in place for your pets back at home?  Often we barely have time to grab our car keys before we have to rush off.  So it becomes prudent, even critical, to have preparations for your pets’ needs ready and already in place.

Make it a non-negotiable part of your daily routine to be certain your pets’ water bowls are clean and filled to the brim with fresh water.  Be sure their food dishes also are filled with fresh, ample, dry food.  It’s even best to add a whole additional feeding station (water and food both) to support them for several days should an unexpected emergency take you away from home and not returning right away.

Don’t make the fatal mistake of thinking emergencies will never happen to you.  Always be prepared.

The Thoughtful Extra Details.

As I lurched toward the door to head off to the emergency room, my last thought was of Bandit, my little dog.  Bandit suffers mild separation anxiety, and I knew he would be upset by this frantic disruption of our schedule and my being gone through the night and next day.

So I quickly tossed my pajama top onto Bandit’s bed.  The top already had my scent on it, so he curled right up on it and slept at ease.  I was able to watch him on my video surveillance app through the night from the hospital, and was relieved and grateful to watch him being comforted by that little last-minute detail as I ran out the door.

So Grateful It Was Already All In Place.

While I was languishing in the emergency room for hours and hours through the night and the following day, the last thing I had to agonize over was whether my pets were suffering without food and water, and frightened by my sudden disappearance.  It also helped tremendously knowing that I had a petsitter on standby to come give my pets medications should they have needed any.

Never underestimate the importance of having all these things set in place ahead of time.  You’ll be better able to focus on the emergency at hand because you know your pets are safe and sound till you return back home.  It’s all just part of how we love them.

Remember — love is more than just warm fuzzies — it’s how well we care for them.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

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The post When Surprises Come! appeared first on BareFootPets.

When we talk about animal rescue, most of us think automatically of cats and dogs – kind of the way it’s always been. But animal rescue also includes birds, lizards, bunnies, ferrets, tortoises, trout, and so on. And still it’s even bigger than that!

Old McDonald Had A Farm.

We give our domestic pets a safe, comfy place in our homes with us, a soft clean bed, grooming, fresh food and water, exotic treats, and we lavish comfort and love on them as our own family members. But have you ever wondered this – who watches out for Farm Animals? Farm Animals – cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, etc. – the poor souls who lose their lives so we can eat them – are the most horribly treated animals on the planet. Why do we treat them so differently?  There was a time when Farm Animals enjoyed at least some quality of life before being shipped off to slaughter. But now we have big farm agriculture that inflicts unspeakable horrors on poor animals, carefully hidden away from public view because what goes on behind their doors is so profoundly ugly and unforgivable.

Every day, millions of Farm Animals are tortured, mutilated, murdered by the most evil, unspeakable means, to end up on our plates as food. Even though Farm Animals give their lives (unwillingly) for our benefit, we give them no compassion or regard in return.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Have you thought about where certain lush human comforts come from and what the cost?  For instance, leather, fur, wool?  Animals are actually “farmed” to give their lives so that we can enjoy such comforts. Mink and Fox are raised in disgusting conditions and horribly slaughtered so we can arrogantly and selfishly wear their furs.

Consider for a moment where the leathers come from that make up the designer purses and luggage we carry, or our shoes and boots?

Tigers, Rhinos, Giraffes, and more are hunted and killed for certain body parts that are thought to have medicinal and aphrodisiac qualities. Murder for old wives’ tales.

Trophy hunting is another shameful act against live animals. Trophy hunters simply enjoy the sport. Kill a magnificent exotic animal so I can hang it on my wall and brag. A life is extinguished to stroke a fool’s ego.

Hiding Behind Science.

Also consider animals imprisoned in testing labs: Golden Retrievers, mice, monkeys, cats, kittens, the list goes on. After decades of torturing innocent animals in labs across the country, it is now confirmed that no benefit to human science or health has been achieved that would remotely justify the horrors inflicted on those poor souls.

Illegal Dog Fighting, Cock Fighting,…

It goes without saying that this form of animal abuse needs to be done away with completely once and for all. Strides have been made in animal welfare laws and seeking out offenders, but prosecution and appropriate sentencing still has a good way to go. We need to keep pushing for enforcement.

Animal Hoarding, Neglect, And Abuse.

We still hear stories of animal hoarders, abusers, and extreme animal neglect. None of this is okay. If you have more animals than you can afford to feed, please get help, or please, for their sake, find them other homes. Don’t hide behind closed doors, forcing the animals to suffer against their will. If you have anger issues to the point you hurt your innocent pet, then you should not own a pet. Pets aren’t punching bags to hit. Pets aren’t lawn ornaments to ignore. Pets aren’t collectibles to pile up.

Beasts Of Burden.

Roadside circuses, trail rides, carrying loads of bricks, plowing hard ground–these are the daily travails of working animals, especially in third world countries. Poor animals are pushed beyond their strength, given little care or regard. Suffering under unimaginable demands every day from sun-up to sundown, nothing at all to look forward to in life.

Scourge Wet Markets.

With the COVID epidemic of late, a critical spotlight has finally been shone on the vile wet markets in Asian countries, not to mention some even here in our own United States. If you’ve seen even a video of what goes on in those environments, you’ll probably have a hard time just keeping your lunch down. It shocks the heart and sensibilities of compassionate people around the world.

We know from our familiarity with traditional pet ownership that all animals, including even fish, feel joy, love, comfort, loneliness, suffering, fear, trauma, and pain, just as humans do. Why, then, would we treat Farm Animals, Wild Animals, Lab Animals with any less care than our beloved pets?

It Is Time.

Charitable organizations are rising up to advocate for the wellbeing and humane treatment of Farm Animals. It’s time. We cannot call ourselves civilized when we treat vulnerable living beings with such ugly indifference. There are many ways to support Animal welfare. Becoming vegetarian or vegan is a scary thought to lots of folks, especially those of us who were raised on bacon, beef stew, chicken wings. It took me years to fully commit, but my heart was committed, and I couldn’t give up. The clincher for me was, I thought for a moment about the last moments of a poor farm animal’s life – absolute terror coursing through its veins as it screams and fights uselessly for its precious life. Do I really want to take that into my own body and call it nutrition?  Couldn’t do it.  Never again.  Maybe you’re not ready to make that shift yet; but you can still make a difference by supporting the organizations who fight for animals.

Who/Where Can I Support?

Here are a few organizations on the front lines of animal welfare that you can support. Please look into at least one and offer your support in whatever way you are able. It’s a start to making this a more compassionate world for vulnerable, innocent animal lives.

• Mercy For Animals (https://mercyforanimals.org/) (saving Farm Animals)
• Live Shackle Slaughter.com (https://liveshackleslaughter.com/) (advocating to end inhumane slaughter methods)
• Slaughter House Survivors (https://www.harbinshs.com/) (Americans in China) (rescuing dogs destined for the dog meat trade and wet markets)
• Soi Dog (https://www.soidog.org/) (Thailand) (rescues street dogs of Tailand)
• Animal Rahat (https://www.animalrahat.com/) (India) (advocates for beasts of burden – donkeys, bullocks, etc.)
• Farm Sanctuary (www.farmsanctuary.org) (rescues and advocates for Farm Animals)
• White Coat Waste Project (https://www.whitecoatwaste.org/) (advocates for animals used in unspeakable lab experimentation)
• Toronto Pig Save (https://torontopigsave.org/) (battling for welfare of Farm Animals)
• American Humane Organization (http://americanhumane.org/) (fighting for the wellbeing and welfare of animals)

There are many more organizations, just a Google search away – these will help get you started.

What Can I Do?

Most importantly – start somewhere. If you’re not ready to go vegetarian or vegan, you can still donate to any of these organizations to make your mark on turning the world into a more loving place for animals. If you can’t afford large donations, then give your pennies. Every dollar counts, so don’t feel embarrassed if your gift seems insignificant.  It’s anything but.  If you can’t give money, maybe you can volunteer, as an advocate, a rescuer, a foster, a networker, an activist, a teacher, a blogger like me, etc. Use your imagination. But Start.

The animal world is suffering unimaginable horrors, and needs all the help it can get. So look around, find your niche, and jump in with both feet. Precious animal lives are counting on you. If everyone saves even only one animal, that’s a huge blessing. God will see your efforts and your heart. Remember – when God gave the human race dominion over all the animals, He didn’t mean for us to harm them … He meant for us to watch over them.

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God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post Animal Rescue ~ So Much More Than Just Cats And Dogs. appeared first on BareFootPets.

I’m having a challenge with one of my newer rescue dogs that I’ve not encountered before. He does not consistently come when I call him. My usual training methods have made some headway, but I’m putting it out there and asking for your suggestions to see if we can move this along a bit more quickly. Please respond with your thoughts by using my Contact page?

Not Sure Why.

The issue is with Bandit, the little Dachsund/Terrier-mix pup that I pulled from the shelter just days before the home invasion (see previous post). So I can’t say for certain if this problem comes as a result of lingering trauma from the robbery, or if this is a problem he’s always had and maybe even that’s why he ended up at the shelter in the first place? At first I thought it might be the aftermath of the robbery, but now several months later, having observed more of his personality, I tend to think it’s something in his past. In any event, having a dog run away from you instead of coming to you when called is a really big no-no, so would love your input to help me get him straightened around, ok.

So Bandit is a total lovebug. He gloms onto me like a hemorrhoid and doesn’t let go. He’s happy, carefree, and relaxed all snuggled up to me … until I ask him to come with me. To go pottie, to get a treat, to answer the door, doesn’t matter. He’s stuck to me like glue till I ask him to come. Then he runs and jumps on my bed–his safe place–and no manner of begging or bribing will bring him to me. And, to make it worse, if I follow him to the bed, he pees. If I pick him up, he pees. Even if I’m bringing treats. He’ll take the treat, but he still pees.

Because of the peeing, he now has to wear a diaper, which as you may recall from my last post, I have agreed to call a “toolbelt” because he feels that’s more manly. He will go out the doggie door all on his own to pottie — sometimes. Other times he opts to just pee on the kitchen floor instead. No idea why he gets it right only sometimes.  And if going out the doggie door is my idea, oh God forbid no.  He runs to my bed and hides.

Why Do I Do What I Do?

These are some real contradictions in personality, so it can be tough to figure out how to approach it. It seems obvious to me that trust has been broken for Bandit somewhere along the way in his life. The very first couple of weeks after I rescued him, he was afraid to eat his meals unless I stood away from him. He always looked guilty and on edge whenever he ate, like he knew he was about to get in trouble for something. If I approached or walked past him, he ran away. If I reached down to pet him, he flinched and ran. And once he runs away, he will not come back at any urging. He only returns when I leave the area and he feels the coast is clear. Then he sneaks out again to eat.

So I get the distinct impression he’s been scolded and perhaps even roughed-up in the past for something to do with food. Now, though, several months later, he doesn’t react that way much anymore. Still, it gives me a little insight as to what his history might have been before he came to my house. The unfortunate result of his former life, however, is that now I have a great little dog with some bad habits–running away and sneaking around.  And neither is acceptable behavior.

Are We There Yet?

Fortunately, Bandit is very food-driven, and he has started to respond to treats. When it’s time to saddle him up in his toolbelt so I can go to work, he still runs to my bed and hides his head under his blankie. I now follow him to my bed with a treat and the toolbelt and a relaxed, non-disciplinary energy.  I love him all up and put the toolbelt on him while he’s still up on my bed. Then he gets a treat and more praise and loving, all while still on my bed. He enjoys that and is beginning to respond with a measure of trust and confidence. So that’s a bit of progress .. although he still dribbles a little. But we’re getting there, I have faith.

I believe this little fellow may benefit greatly with some focused agility training. He’s amazingly smart and quick and agile, he runs like the wind, and is very eager to please–most of the time. But I hesitate to begin classes until we master the basic goal of consistently and reliably coming when called. I mean, how embarrassing would it be to be that owner chasing her runaway dog all around the arena while the other dogs are all sitting quietly, perfectly behaved, and rolling their eyes at Bandit and me. Yeh, I’d rather not.

So, even tho I feel like I’m on a good track with my training, I look forward to your added suggestions. Whatever moves Bandit along toward better behavior and trust, I will happily implement. Please submit your comments via my Contact page. Many thanks!

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

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Sorry I’ve been gone awhile. I got behind on my BareFootPets blog recently because, on May 14, 2019, our home was robbed–in broad daylight–while we were at work. And I got to see it play out on video. It has been the most horrible horrible experience. Needless to say, over the past several weeks, we’ve been in clean-up mode, working with the insurance companies, police, repair people, and trying just to figure out our new normal.

On that day, while I was at work, I got a pop-up notification on my cell phone from the Canary video surveillance app that there was movement in our home. I figured the cameras were just picking up one of my pets moving about the house as usual, so I casually launched the Canary app on my cell phone. And instead I saw video footage of thieves ransacking our house–and I watched helplessly as my little blind senior pets struggled frantically to find safety in the midst of the chaos, but not knowing how to get away from the danger. My heart stopped! It was hands down one of the scariest moments of my life.  And the longest drive home I’ve ever made.

Dual Benefits Of Video Surveillance.

So I originally got the Canary security app and four video cameras just to keep a better watch on our senior pets while we were at work. You know, to see who was using the litterbox and who wasn’t, is everyone finding the food dishes okay, is anyone in distress while we’re away, were they all navigating the house okay in our absence since some of them are blind, etc. It was a huge help–I felt immensely better equipped to care for them and still be at work, able to supervise them by video.

For instance, we discovered that Chelsea the big black cat was picking on little Mikimoto, my blind and fragile senior cat. So, with that new information from the video cameras, we now knew to secure Chelsea in a separate room while we were away at work. Boom–problem solved. Mikimoto no longer lives in fear, and we have harmony in the house again. We are now able to protect Mikimoto by video and give him comfort and freedom from fear even when we’re gone. And Chelsea enjoys her private new “studio apartment” (a/k/a guest bathroom). We will never be without video surveillance again!

Little did we know that the day would come when we’d be watching video of thieves going room by room through our home, stealing everything of value, and trashing everything else. I was also able to watch my poor pets running for their lives, hiding wherever they could, or just going in circles because they’re blind and not knowing what was happening, just that it was something really really bad. Broken glass was flying everywhere, and they were stumbling over things being thrown randomly about. It was a nightmare for them!

New Kids On The Block …

So, here’s a little side story to lead us up to the robbery. I was at the county animal shelter a few days before the robbery, picking up a little 4lb senior Chihuahua. He was elisted and scheduled to be put to death the next morning for being old and feeble. Someone in my rescue network had given me a heads-up email about him, so I went to the shelter to get him. They hadn’t even given him a name, only a number. The folks at the shelter talked me out of pulling him initially. They said he had too many health issues and was just too old to mess with. So I reluctantly left without ever meeting him. But he stayed on my heart as I drove away.

At home that night, instinct made me look again at his profile and something just told me he wasn’t ready to go yet. I needed to step up. Knots formed in my tummy for fear he was going to die before I could get back to him. I quickly emailed the shelter and said I was picking him up the next day after all, and I wanted no argument about it. They agreed to remove him from the elist and keep him safe for me.

The next morning, I hustled back to the shelter and happily claimed him. When I walked into the elist room and saw him for the first time, curled up in a tiny donut bed with his back to me, and he turned his tiny wobbly head with giant rabbit ears and looked up at me soulfully, that was it. You could hear the chorus singing and see the hearts floating all around the room. He completely captured my heart with that one look. I named him Bug. And I scooped Bug gently up into my arms, and told him he was safe, we’re going home.

On our way out, a scruffy little black and white Terrier pup caught my eye, maybe some Doxie mixed in. He didn’t have a name, either, just a number. Listed as a two-year-old stray that no one had come back for. Now, as founder and president of Milagro Senior Pet Refuge, I’ve stayed true to Milagro’s mission statement since the 1980s–I haven’t had a young dog in decades. But this little boy grabbed my attention and didn’t let go. I fought it off and passed on by. But just down the hallway, I turned and headed back for another look. Yep, he was definitely calling my name loud. Still I resisted and decided to walk other aisles for awhile to see if it would pass … it didn’t.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in a lifetime of pet rescue, it’s that oftentimes, most times actually, rescue pets choose us, we don’t choose them. And I’ve learned to listen to that voice inside. I finally recognized that’s what was happening here. And so I turned around and went back and collected the little two-year-old fellow as well. We tried out quite a few names on him over the next couple of months, and finally decided on Kevin (you’ll find out why in the paragraphs below). And Kevin and Bug took their freedom ride home together. It was a most excellent day.

Click on these photos to see Bug’s and Kevin’s Freedom Rides. 🙂

Fast Forward Back To The Robbery.

So, Bug’s and Kevin’s freedom ride happened only a few days before the robbery. The boys were still brand new to my home when all the crazy went down. I don’t know if they even recognized us as their new home and family yet. That is, until I saw the Canary video of the robbery. I have watched it over and over to memorize every unbelievable detail. And what I saw touched my heart and blew my mind.

Kevin, in all his little 9lbs of fuzzy scruffy glory, recognized immediately that these guys did NOT belong in our house.  And he stood up to them. He met them at the back door as they popped the lock and tiptoed in, and he nipped at their heels and barked loud and hard at them. Then he very smartly moved to the safety of the upper back of the living room sofa and barked louder and harder. He gave them royal hell and didn’t let up till they were gone. His body shook with fear and adrenaline, and he barked so hard he couldn’t breathe.

And right behind Kevin was little Bug, bringing up the rear, toodling along behind the robbers in his oversized diaper, backing up Kevin with the barking. I could not be more proud of these little guys. And they were immensely proud of themselves, too, which is even more awesome. They saw there was a job to be done, and they stepped up and saved the day.

The Aftermath.

Ever since the robbery, Kevin is still a bit freaked out. He barks at every little thing, hides up on my bed (it has become his safe place), and dribbles a little pee when he feels really unsure of things (probably he’d prefer I didn’t tell you that). Still, he’s proud to be the man of the house. He is now acutely tuned in to the security app notifications on my cell phone. As soon as they announce, he’s off to the doors and windows like a shot. He is front and center whenever someone comes to the house and lets them know they have to get past him. So far he has chased away the housekeeper, the pest control guy, the police detective, the neighbor’s lawnkeeper, my best friend Donna, and the Amazon prime driver. He has taken on the role of protector and takes the role very seriously, God Bless His Sweet Little Soul. By the way, Kevin is named for Kevin Costner, who was Whitney Houston’s bodyguard in the movie “The Bodyguard.”  Perfect, isn’t it.

And Bug is Kevin’s wing man (pun intended). Bug is a pretty chill little fellow, so he seems to have weathered the robbery like no big thing. Bug is always right behind Kevin, barking and bringing up the rear–way back in the rear. After all, Bug is only 4lbs, 15yrs old, very delicate, has no teeth, falls easily, and wears a diaper (which I have agreed to call a “toolbelt” because he feels that’s more manly), but he’s as fearless as Kevin. And together they are the force that keeps the other senior pets, and our home, safe and sound. They are our Avengers!!

A Very Unexpected Gift of the Video Monitoring.

Being able to watch the details of the robbery, and see with my own eyes that the robbers did not hurt my animals is the one comfort I have gotten out of this awful ordeal. They could have kicked them to the side–they didn’t. They could have picked them up and tossed them–they didn’t. They could have kidnapped them–they didn’t. Had they hurt my animals, even a little, I would have broken out a level of crazy that would have made those robbers’ nightmares seem like happy dreams (that’s actually a post I saw on Instagram awhile back and saved, thinking I might be able to use it someday. oh look–it’s someday).

Yes, the boys are impacted by what happened, and Gabriel, my youngest cat, too. They all still show signs of some stress. We’re working on that, and they’re improving every day. But at least I still have them with me, and they’re going to be okay soon. When we made it home from work that day, our home was surrounded by police SUVs, news vans, forensics team, and helicopters. My home was turned upside down–every room. Everything of value was taken, and everything else was destroyed. But when the dust settled and the chaos subsided, there were Kevin and Bug standing proudly right in the middle of it all, like the legendary Boxer in the clearing (Simon & Garfunkel), letting me know everything was okay–we got this. That was all I needed to know. Thank you, Jesus.

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008. Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.

The post The Immeasurable Benefit Of Home Video Surveillance: Must Read! appeared first on BareFootPets.