sandiegopets

Lately I’ve been training the koi in our pond to eat out of my hand. It’s a slow process and I’m beginning to learn why koi ponds have some correlation with Zen understanding.

I start with a little food that I scatter around, then hold my hand in the water so the fish get used to my scent. At first they were skittish, but little by little they are coming around. The smaller ones are more nervous than the larger ones. Although they haven’t reached the point of eating out of my hand, they will come up to the surface and let me stroke them. Some people might not find petting a fish appealing, but I enjoy the communication I’ve developed with these sleek, graceful creatures.

Two of them are especially friendly–either that or they’re the ones who like to eat the most! One is pure gold. The other gold and black.

And as always, when communicating with a non-human creature, they teach me about myself. From the koi I’m learning patience and to be quiet. When you sit still with your hand in cool water, you feel at peace with yourself and the world. This is the way I would like to live my life. Quietly and observing everything.

I’ve not always been sure what I thought of animal whisperers having a innate distrust of psychics–even though I believe that there are people out there who are intuitive, and that there is more to the world than we can see with our eyes. I tend to be skeptical, even when I want to believe and even when I partially do believe.

But I’ve been watching this phenomenon develop over the past few years. I’ve seen the pet psychic on Animal Planet. I read The Horse Whisperer (although I didn’t see the movie), and I have friends who strongly believe in animal whisperers.

And, I’ve come to the conclusion that, in fact, there are people out there who simply understand animals better than many of us. I do believe that animals are highly sensitive to things we can’t see. They seem to know when an earthquake is coming. They know intuitively when someone isn’t to be trusted. They inhabit the world differently than humans.

Maybe animal whisperers are simply in touch with something primitive that most of us have lost or forgotten. Like animals, they see the world with more than their eyes. They use all their senses and so understand the language and needs of animals and can act as translators between the animal and human world.

Photo by Anairam Zeravla

Dog lovers might want to head down to Chula Vista this weekend for the annual Wags for Wishes event hosted by the Make a Wish Foundation. This event takes place at Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road. It began today, Friday at 9 a.m. but will be going on all weekend. There will be sprint races, canine good citizen, dog fashion shows and more. Plus, your support is going to a good cause. The Make a Wish Foundation has been around for a long time, making wishes come true for sick kids. For more information, call 858-707-9474. It should be a great thing to take your family and your dog to. We need more venues where family pets are part of the action.

Photo by David Gordon

Bird people are definitely a different breed than dog and cat people. Or maybe I should put that differently. Birds bring out a different side of a person. I love birds. And I also really like dogs, cats, fish and a lot of other things that fly, crawl, run or swim.

I don’t have a bird, but I’ve always thought macaws were magnificent creatures. It’s their attitude that I really like. They’re noisy creatures; they make their opinions known, unlike a cat whose world is stealth. A macaw is noticed. they easily draw attention with their bright, flamboyant feathers.

Yet, they’re not really social birds. Most of the macaws I know tend to bond with their owner, and while they may be personable with others, they don’t seem to seek out a lot of outside human companionship.

Macaws can live for a long time–up to a hundred years, so if you get a baby macaw, chances are that it will outlive you.

I recently read the book Kon Tiki about six men who crossed the Pacific Ocean on a raft in 1948. They had a macaw with them who became part of the crew. Unfortunately, during a storm, it was lost overboard much to the distress of the rest of the crew.

There is something about these birds that is almost human. Maybe it’s their vocal ability or their sharp intelligence. Maybe it’s just that they’re so loud.

Bedside manners in a vet may be more important than in a doctor. We all like to be cared for by someone who is compassionate, but as humans we can often rationalize that a doctor with poor people skills still knows what he or she is doing.

Our pets don’t have that option. If a vet is cold or uncaring toward them, they won’t care if it’s the best vet in the state. Your animal will panic.

Some of the things I look for in a vet are:

• Compassion. This is probably one of the most important. Animals are sensitive to emotions and it’s important to keep them calm however possible when they visit the vet.
• Knowledge. A given. A vet has to know his/her stuff or they won’t be good animal doctors.
• Treating me with respect. Pet owners are not idiots. We come for all walks of life and all kinds of backgrounds. A vet should treat the pet’s owner as an equal, not talk down to them.
• Give options. Just as there are with human illnesses, there are often alternative or natural treatments that are worth a try.
• Cleanliness. We all want our pet to be treated in a professional, clean atmosphere.

No one likes going to the doctor and our pets are no different. It’s also important that we remain calm. Our animals are even more sensitive to our emotions. If we’re tense or worried, they will be too.

If you do find a good vet, stick with him/her. Healers are special people and not everyone who gets the credentials is a true healer.

Photo courtesy of San Diego County Department of Animal Services

This is Spirit who was rescued today from San Diego’s border area when a security camera saw a man beating and strangling this ten-week old Terrier mix puppy. The puppy is now in a San Diego shelter and said to be doing well.

It’s hard for me to relate to this kind of rage. I’ve felt what I would think of as rage before but never to extent of taking it out on another living creature, especially something small and defenseless. When I hear it, I have to wonder where it comes from.

A lot is written about how our society is becoming desensitized, but I don’t think I agree with that. There’s was a time when this dog would have died. No one would have come to its rescue. Now there are entire organizations devoted to protecting animals. That would seem to indicate the opposite–that at least some of society is becoming more thoughtful and sensitive.

There will always be people in the world like the man who nearly killed Spirit. I don’t think we’ll ever eradicate evil or destruction. But I don’t want to focus on the violence. I want to appreciate the people who came to the rescue.

Photo Courtesy of Stock Experts

I don’t know if San Diego has a landscaping service like this yet, but Pawfriendly Landscapes located in Colorado is a great idea. Their landscaping service is focused on creating pet-friendly landscapes for your home. It’s a complete service that includes ways to make your pet more comfortable with plenty of shade as well as creating landscape that is non-toxic and safe for pets. And a pet friendly landscape, by its very nature, would also be a child-friendly landscape so you get double benefit by this.

This type of landscaping would be a great addition in southern California where the weather is nice all year and tropical plants thrive.

Elizabeth Bublitz, who authored a book and created Pawfriendly Landscapes is available for consultations in San Diego. Landscapers who are looking for a great selling angle for their business here, not to mention pet owners who would like to make their back or front yard more hospitable for their bed might want to contact Bublitz for more information.

July 4th is here and while it’s a festive time for adults and kids to watch the beautiful explosives in the sky, animals can sometimes freak out.

Here in California, they’re calling on us to limit fireworks because of fire danger anyway, but there will no doubt be some explosives going on.

Pets, especially cats, should be kept inside. Both dogs and cats, though, could bolt if the noise freaks them out too much. Animals are creatures of habit and they’re particularly sensitive to things like loud noises.  If you stay home, your dog or cat might want to hide. Or they may need more attention than usual. If you do take your dog with you to watch the fireworks, be sure to spend time comforting her.

Mainly, just try to be sensitive to animal nature at this time. Keep calm yourself and your animal friend will pick up the calming vibes.

I know that animals don’t have the same emotions that we do, but I have always felt that cats are very emotional and sensitive creatures. When I first brought home my dog, Radar, my cat complained loudly. First she hid for over a week. Then she followed me around meowing for an hour. I have no doubt this was an emotional response.

Cats, too, have been known to pee in shoes if they don’t like someone. Or bring home a bird or mouse and lay it on the bed as an offering for someone they do care for.

Happiness. Sadness. Anger. Remorse. I think that cats share all these emotions, only they don’t express it–and maybe they don’t feel it in the same ways we do.

When we’re sensitive to an animal’s emotions, we become more sensitive to the world.

S.N.A.P or Spay Neuter Action Project is in desperate need of foster homes for dogs and cats.

In part this is because of a recent raid in Ramona where a number of fighting dogs were confiscated and are now being held in the already over-full shelters. As a result, some dogs and cats who are not seriously ill are being red flagged for euthanasia.

I believe these animals are in North County but if you live anywhere in San Diego and can help, the following animals need immediate temporary care:

• A mother cat and 3 kittens need a home for at least four weeks, until the kittens are old enough to be fixed
• An elder Chihuahua needs a home for 2-3 weeks until her sutures have healed
• A one to three year old male cat needs a home for at least two weeks until he has completed his antibiotics
• A one to three-year-old cat needs a home for at least two weeks until she completes her antibiotics

If anyone can foster any of these animals on a temporary basis, please call or email:
Dorell Sackett

760-815-0945

E-mail: Dorellp@cox.net