I'm sure by now almost everyone has seen pictures of the devastation of the town of Greensburg, Kansas. What once used to be a bustling, small Kansas town is now destroyed. They say it was 95% destroyed but in a small town, that means totally gone. They say that they will rebuild but it is going to be a huge undertaking and will take a long time to complete.
The tornado was classified as an F-5 and was over a mile wide. It took 10 lives and injured countless others. There have been sad stories and stories of heroism. But the story that caught my attention was a story about the animals that lived in the town of Greensburg.
Just think of all the animals we are talking about. That would include dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, snakes (yuk), gerbels, mice, fish, reptiles and any others that I haven't included. A lot of them are either dead, injured and homeless now. I had not stopped to think of the pets that make up such a large part of family life. The report on television talked about the animals dire situation. Veterinary clinics with animals that had been brought to them for care. Some needing surgery or simply hospital care. The ones needing surgery can't have the surgery until the family is located to give permission for the surgery. I saw pets with severe cuts and bruises, broken bones, internal injuries and more. It almost made me cry when I watched it. Somehow those pets will have to be reunited with their owners and be allowed to heal and recover.
A lot of community shelters do not allow a person to bring their pet. My sister came here on Saturday during a tornado warning and brought her two beloved Yorkies with her. She lives in McPherson, Kansas and the shelter does not allow pets. So during a torrential downpour that included hail and fierce lightening she drove 20 miles so she could have them in my basement with her. That is so sad. Not that she came here, but that she was forced to put herself at risk like that so that her precious pets would be safe too. Rules need to be changed in every town, in every state, so that people can keep their pets safe too. I realize that there would be a lot of problems and there would have to be rules and some restrictions but it should be addressed.
There has been a lot of bad publicity about dog breeders and pet shops by the people lobbying for animal rights. But why haven't they started working on this problem? Just look at the horrible time the pets of New Orleans had. Stop and think of how many tornados, floods, fires, hurricanes and other natural disasters there are around the country every year. Amost every home in the US has a pet of some kind. Some homes have more than one pet. So all of you Animal Rights People out there, let's do something about this cruelty and help keep our pets safe.
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Author: Carol Goering
Dog Lover Boutique
Carlar's Cuties Dog Boutique
Carlar's Cuties
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Dogs And Storms - More Rain In The Forecast
Well we are in the weather forecast for more rain this week. Last year we couldn't get enough rain and this year it seems to be raining almost every day. My dogs are getting as tired of it as I am.
They love to be outside, running around and sniffing all the exciting smells but they also hate to be out in the rain. They don't like to walk in wet grass and they really hate lightening and thunder. So we cuddle together on the couch and try to ignore the bad weather as much as we can while the spring storms rage around us.
They are so sweet and have beautiful long coats that don't look too good after getting wet. But it is just one of the things about owning Yorkies that you just have to live with for a short time every year. It won't be long until the hot, long summer is upon us bringing mosquetos and flies. Don't you just love Kansas!
They love to be outside, running around and sniffing all the exciting smells but they also hate to be out in the rain. They don't like to walk in wet grass and they really hate lightening and thunder. So we cuddle together on the couch and try to ignore the bad weather as much as we can while the spring storms rage around us.
They are so sweet and have beautiful long coats that don't look too good after getting wet. But it is just one of the things about owning Yorkies that you just have to live with for a short time every year. It won't be long until the hot, long summer is upon us bringing mosquetos and flies. Don't you just love Kansas!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Tornado Season and Your Pet
I breed Yorkshire Terriers and Miniature Dachshunds and own 2 online pet boutiques. Dogs are my life in both of my businesses. But I also live in what is called "Tornado Alley". That is a difficult and possibly dangerous combination.
We are now in the Tornado Season around here and I dread this time every year. We are one of the lucky people who own a basement so at least we have a place to go to for shelter. A lot of people have to use community shelters that don't allow you to take your pet with you. I think that is very sad. I can imagine some of the problems that might occur with a large group of people and their pets but it would be so hard to have to leave to take shelter and know you have to leave your beloved pet at home.
My husband put a pet door in one of our basement windows. He then built a ramp that runs the length of the wall down into our basement. Our plan was that during a tornado warning all we would have to do is put the dogs in the pet door and they would run down into the basement and be safe. Sounds like a wonderful plan doesn't it.
Well we forgot to take a few things into consideration. First of all, we were putting together dogs that were not used to being with each other (not good). Not all the dogs would run down the ramp and have to be trained to get over their fear of it or be carried down the stairs. The excitement causes some dogs to have accidents (they are not trained to be in the house).
Now take into consideration that I am usually home alone when there is a tornado warning. You usually don't have a lot of time to take shelter after the warning. During the last two tornado warnings we had I spent quite a bit of time and effort getting all of our dogs down in our basement and settled. By the time I got the last dog into the basement I was exhaused, stressed and the warning was over and it was time to take them all back upstairs.
My husband worries that I will be so busy getting the dogs into the basement that I won't make sure that I am in the shelter when the tornado hits. He wants me to just leave the dogs and go to the basement with our house dogs. But how can I do that. I am not sure I could leave them to be hurt or die. Such a difficult decision. So far I have been lucky and we have all stayed safe without my having to make that difficult decision. Keep your fingers crossed that we continue to stay lucky.
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Author: Carol Goering
Dog Lover Boutique
Carlar's Cuties Dog Boutique
Carlar's Cuties Kennel
We are now in the Tornado Season around here and I dread this time every year. We are one of the lucky people who own a basement so at least we have a place to go to for shelter. A lot of people have to use community shelters that don't allow you to take your pet with you. I think that is very sad. I can imagine some of the problems that might occur with a large group of people and their pets but it would be so hard to have to leave to take shelter and know you have to leave your beloved pet at home.
My husband put a pet door in one of our basement windows. He then built a ramp that runs the length of the wall down into our basement. Our plan was that during a tornado warning all we would have to do is put the dogs in the pet door and they would run down into the basement and be safe. Sounds like a wonderful plan doesn't it.
Well we forgot to take a few things into consideration. First of all, we were putting together dogs that were not used to being with each other (not good). Not all the dogs would run down the ramp and have to be trained to get over their fear of it or be carried down the stairs. The excitement causes some dogs to have accidents (they are not trained to be in the house).
Now take into consideration that I am usually home alone when there is a tornado warning. You usually don't have a lot of time to take shelter after the warning. During the last two tornado warnings we had I spent quite a bit of time and effort getting all of our dogs down in our basement and settled. By the time I got the last dog into the basement I was exhaused, stressed and the warning was over and it was time to take them all back upstairs.
My husband worries that I will be so busy getting the dogs into the basement that I won't make sure that I am in the shelter when the tornado hits. He wants me to just leave the dogs and go to the basement with our house dogs. But how can I do that. I am not sure I could leave them to be hurt or die. Such a difficult decision. So far I have been lucky and we have all stayed safe without my having to make that difficult decision. Keep your fingers crossed that we continue to stay lucky.
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Author: Carol Goering
Dog Lover Boutique
Carlar's Cuties Dog Boutique
Carlar's Cuties Kennel
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Limitless Love
If you thought you were going to read about a romance...sorry. This blog is about real love without recriminations, love that has no limits. When a dog loves you there are no limits and only joy.
A dog doesn't care if you are black or white, cute or ugly. Dogs don't check your bank account to see if you are rich or if you are poor. You can be a college graduate or mentally deficient and they will still love you as if you were the smartest person in the world. You will be the center of their universe and the reason they exist. Even if you treat them unfairly they will still love you.
At 3:30 in the afternoon my dogs start watching the door, waiting for my husband to arrive home from work. They know that it is the time when he usually arrives. One of them actually screams with joy when he opens the door and speaks to them. It is so cute to watch. He has his arms full of his lunch box and thermos but he still stops to pet and talk to each one of them (we have 5 dogs in our home). He treats them all equally and they each eagerly await their turn. I am the last one in line. When they all have been greeted then I get my kiss. I don't mind waiting for my turn either.
They are used to his schedule and don't seem to mind his being gone during working hours. I on the other hand work at home and they are used to me being here most of the time. So when I do leave the house it is a big deal. It turns their world topsy turvy. But what a welcome when I come back.
They sense when I am upset and cuddle close to offer me comfort. When I cry they lick my tears away and try to comfort me. They are attuned to my every emotion. If I go into a room and shut the door I know they will be sitting patiently outside the door waiting for me to open it. They don't hold a grudge if I get cross or reprimand them. They eagerly accept my apology if I give it and love me even if I don't.
They love me enough to allow me the fun of dressing them in dog clothes. They don't care if I make them look silly or even care what other people think. As long as I am happy, they are happy. They don't complain about the food I feed them. They each the same food all the time but if I feed it to them out of my hand it becomes a wonderful treat.
If you treat a dog right, care for it and love it you will have limitless love in return. A companion that will never remind you of something you did in the past or hold grudges. They won't care if you gain weight or get older. They simply love you. This carries a weight of responsibility with it. You need to care for your dog, treat it fairly, love it, train it and you will have a best friend for life.
A dog doesn't care if you are black or white, cute or ugly. Dogs don't check your bank account to see if you are rich or if you are poor. You can be a college graduate or mentally deficient and they will still love you as if you were the smartest person in the world. You will be the center of their universe and the reason they exist. Even if you treat them unfairly they will still love you.
At 3:30 in the afternoon my dogs start watching the door, waiting for my husband to arrive home from work. They know that it is the time when he usually arrives. One of them actually screams with joy when he opens the door and speaks to them. It is so cute to watch. He has his arms full of his lunch box and thermos but he still stops to pet and talk to each one of them (we have 5 dogs in our home). He treats them all equally and they each eagerly await their turn. I am the last one in line. When they all have been greeted then I get my kiss. I don't mind waiting for my turn either.
They are used to his schedule and don't seem to mind his being gone during working hours. I on the other hand work at home and they are used to me being here most of the time. So when I do leave the house it is a big deal. It turns their world topsy turvy. But what a welcome when I come back.
They sense when I am upset and cuddle close to offer me comfort. When I cry they lick my tears away and try to comfort me. They are attuned to my every emotion. If I go into a room and shut the door I know they will be sitting patiently outside the door waiting for me to open it. They don't hold a grudge if I get cross or reprimand them. They eagerly accept my apology if I give it and love me even if I don't.
They love me enough to allow me the fun of dressing them in dog clothes. They don't care if I make them look silly or even care what other people think. As long as I am happy, they are happy. They don't complain about the food I feed them. They each the same food all the time but if I feed it to them out of my hand it becomes a wonderful treat.
If you treat a dog right, care for it and love it you will have limitless love in return. A companion that will never remind you of something you did in the past or hold grudges. They won't care if you gain weight or get older. They simply love you. This carries a weight of responsibility with it. You need to care for your dog, treat it fairly, love it, train it and you will have a best friend for life.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
My Dog Is Frightened Of Storms
My dog is a happy, healthy playful pet. We love her like our own child. We play with her, sleep with her and dress her in designer dog clothes and parade her everywhere we go. But she does have one big problem. She is extremely frightened of lightening and thunder. We are not talking about a slight problem here, this is a major problem. She is frantic and sometimes I worry that as she gets older she will have a heart attack during a storm.
As soon as she hears the first little growl of thunder she begins to shake and pace. She won't accept any comfort or cuddling. She has to sit where she can watch and see what is happening. Normally she sleeps under the covers on my bed with me but during a storm she stays on top of the blankets and suffers. Needless to say, we suffer right along with her. She only weighs 5 pounds but she can make the whole bed shake with her trembling and panting. She barks every time the thunder is really loud and close. It is a difficult time for all of us. Nothing we do calms her or eases her fear.
I talked to our vet about the problem several years ago. He gave me some pills he said would help her relax during a storm. I tried the pills a few times but didn't like the results. The medicine made her act as if she was drugged. She couldn't walk and stumbled. I was afraid she would fall and hurt herself. Once I let her eat something and she almost choked to death. The vet had me reduce the dosage and that helped some. But you had to give the pill and it took about 15 to 20 minutes for it to work. I discovered that most of the time the pills were just starting to work and the storm was over. Then you had to wait for it to wear off, watching her closely so she didn't hurt herself. So we stopped using it. Now we just tough it out hoping that her body can stand the strain.
It has gotten a tiny bit better since she is older. She is 12 years old now and maybe she is just too tired to get that excited all the time. She still gets really upset and shakes, pants and barks but the level of fear seems to have lessened a little. The one good thing is that the storm season doesn't last all year long so we just have a few months a year to suffer with her.
As soon as she hears the first little growl of thunder she begins to shake and pace. She won't accept any comfort or cuddling. She has to sit where she can watch and see what is happening. Normally she sleeps under the covers on my bed with me but during a storm she stays on top of the blankets and suffers. Needless to say, we suffer right along with her. She only weighs 5 pounds but she can make the whole bed shake with her trembling and panting. She barks every time the thunder is really loud and close. It is a difficult time for all of us. Nothing we do calms her or eases her fear.
I talked to our vet about the problem several years ago. He gave me some pills he said would help her relax during a storm. I tried the pills a few times but didn't like the results. The medicine made her act as if she was drugged. She couldn't walk and stumbled. I was afraid she would fall and hurt herself. Once I let her eat something and she almost choked to death. The vet had me reduce the dosage and that helped some. But you had to give the pill and it took about 15 to 20 minutes for it to work. I discovered that most of the time the pills were just starting to work and the storm was over. Then you had to wait for it to wear off, watching her closely so she didn't hurt herself. So we stopped using it. Now we just tough it out hoping that her body can stand the strain.
It has gotten a tiny bit better since she is older. She is 12 years old now and maybe she is just too tired to get that excited all the time. She still gets really upset and shakes, pants and barks but the level of fear seems to have lessened a little. The one good thing is that the storm season doesn't last all year long so we just have a few months a year to suffer with her.
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