ANIMAL CONNECTION

Archive for the ‘Heart Warming Stories’ Category

These days we hear about more and more people leaving their pets behind as they leave their homes.  It’s even harder to think about during the holiday season.  Some people will find reasons to leave an animal behind; relocation, financial issues, divorce, more responsibility for an older animal….and the list goes on.  For some, that is not an option.  They will lose everything but they will never leave their beloved pet behind.  The animal is the only thing that keeps them going in this crazy, unpredictable world.  It is called unconditional love and it’s an emotional bond of loyalty.  We all search for it when most of the time it is right in front of us, our pet.  The tragic part is that these pets don’t choose their owners.

It is estimated, by the National Coalition for the Homeless, that 3.5 million people are homeless.  Between 5% to 10% of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. In some areas of the country the rate is as high as 24%.  Most people who experience homelessness are homeless for a short period of time, and usually need help finding housing or a rent subsidy.   Unfortunately for those with pets it becomes more difficult.  Many are forced to choose between their pet or a roof over their head.

Picture this, a well dressed woman walks up to a homeless man and gives him a bag of fast food on her way to work.  The man has been sitting on the sidewalk in the same spot for weeks, he looks up and says “God bless you.”  The woman nods and walks away but not before she turns to see him open the bag and remove a burger, take a bite and give the rest to his dog.   This scene is probably something that goes on more often than we would like to think.

There is an organization I found out about called “Feeding Pets of the Homeless”.   They provide medical care and food for pets that belong to the homeless and the disadvantaged.  They do this by teaming up with Veterinarians and pet related businesses in different areas of the country.  They’ll do talks in communities about this issue and work with food distributing organizations about the importance of including pet food.  They also have collection sites across the U.S. and Canada.  These sites are clinics, hospitals, businesses, storefronts and nonprofits that understand the human/animal bond. They work hand in hand with the food pantries and food kitchens, so the animals can be fed as well as the homeless.  They also provide grants to licensed Veterinarians and other nonprofit organizations.  You can email them at: info@petsofhomeless.org for more information and an application.

Please, go to their website and see if there is a collection site in your area.  If not, please think about starting one for the animals and people in need.  Feeding Pets of the Homeless is available to help.  This is a hard time for everyone, animal and human.  It takes a lot of courage, and love, for these people in need to stand by their pet, literally.

The Asian elephant is an endangered species.  I have always heard that they are very sensitive, loving and emotional animals.  When babies are separated from their moms they become extremely depressed.  I have always been told they have feelings that match the feelings that humans have.  My friend, Hanna,  is in Asia doing a documentary about them called “Elephant Nature Park“.

One elephant she told me about is Menaka.  She was rescued by the Forest Department.  Menaka was emaciated and had a bad case of gangrene when she was picked up.  She could no longer dance or even stand on her feet.  She had been housed in appalling conditions in a garage in a Gayatri Temple in Yeshwantpur.  The only water was she had access to was from a small spicket.  The 17 year old elephant had been exploited. She is in such bad shape it is assumed she will not make it.  She receives medical services at Bannerghatta, Biological Park, and animal shelter.  Unfortunately, there are 9 other elephants that are being treated as well.  They were all rescued from Temples in the area.  It is so costly to care for these animals (RS 15 K a month for food alone) that they can only stabilize the animals before sending them on.

Menaka had been born with 22 other elephants in an elephant camp.  At 3 years old she got separated from the herd and was sold to Gayatri Temple, where she has been earning revenue for the temple.  She was made to walk on tarred roads in the scorching sun damaging her health and psyche.  The captive elephants suffer from untrained and unaffectionate mahouts and lack of water resources, which is essential for bathing.  The animal can turn violent if it is subjected to unlivable living conditions.

Lek, which means “little” in Thai, is a very special lady.  The name might mean little but she has a lot of courage!  She is now touring and filming a documentary, Elephant Nature Park”.  The Indian elephant is the symbol of the Asiatic elephant.  There is an urgent need to protect the wild elephant, as well as the ones suffering in human captivity.  Lek was successful in creating an artificial forest close to a village for rescued elephants.  Today 33 elephants live a hassle-free life on the 50 acres.  The Maytag River cuts across so the elephants have a lot of water.  Currently elephants have no support from the Government in Bangkok.   Lek says there are ways to help end the conflict between humans and animals.

Currently, elephants that are captured are brought to submission so the can do hard physical work, paint for the public, give rides, etc.  Many don’t survive the process of “breaking” them.  If they do it can be a very hard life.  Elephants bring in a lot of revenue for the Asian people.

I will be posting more information once I get updates from Hanna.  Here is a link to a photo gallery.

Here is a statement Hanna sent to me:

“When you meet one in life and look into their eyes, it is so painful to think of how they are treated. They are such intelligent animals with compassion (they do weep!) and incredible memories. At Lek’s sanctuary- all of them come from a morbid past, and  though they have suffered for years at the hands of humans, they can forgive and are extremely gentle with all people who surround them. Probably because they can feel the love and a safe environment. It’s the closest to paradise they’ll get!”

Here are some facts about Asian elephants:

1. Giant herbivores, Asian elephants can tear down huge tree limbs or pick up small objects with their muscular trunks.

2. Physical Description: Asian elephants are huge gray animals inhabiting Asian tropical forests. Their gray coloration conceals them in their shady habitat. Elephants’ trunks, unique among living mammals, are versatile, enabling them to reach the ground, manipulate tiny objects or tear down huge tree limbs, squirt water over their backs or into their mouths, or blow dirt onto their backs during dust baths. Female Asian elephants usually lack visible tusks as do males in some populations, such as those in northeast India. Wide, padded feet enable them to walk quietly. Large, flappable ears help these huge animals cool off, although elephants often must retreat to the shade or water during the hottest part of the day.

3. Size: Asian elephants grow up to 21 feet long, stand up to 10 feet tall, and weigh up to 11,000 pounds. Females reach around eight and a half feet tall and weigh less than males. Despite their size, elephants are able to walk silently.

4. Geographic Distribution: Asian elephants live in large blocks of forest near water sources and grasslands, habitat that has been greatly reduced in the last half century. They inhabit India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and southern China.

5. Status: The Asian elephant is listed as endangered on the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN’s) Red List of Threatened Animals.

6. Habitat: Asian elephants inhabit a variety of tropical forest habitats from moist, evergreen lowland forest to dry semi-deciduous teak forests to cooler mountain forests up to 10,000 feet. They also frequent adjacent grasslands and farm areas. Their varied diet enables them to live in disturbed forests as long as they have plenty of space to move around and exploit different foods without coming into conflict with people.

7. Natural Diet: A dexterous trunk and large, rasping molars allow Asian elephants to gather and process a wide variety of vegetation, including grasses and herbs, leaves, fruit, farm crops, and bark.

8. Reproduction: Older and larger males—especially those in musth (condition of heightened testosterone levels) dominate the breeding, winning the acceptance of females in heat. Gestation takes 20 to 22 months, and usually only one calf is born. Female Asian elephants can usually breed by age 14 and usually give birth to one young every four years.

9. Life Span: In the wild, Asian elephants may live up to about 60 years but most do not live that long.

10. Behavior: Female and young male Asian elephants live in cohesive herds of related adults and their offspring. The matriarch, usually the oldest and largest female, sets the pace of the group’s activities. Herds often join with others to form large groups called clans. Males leave herds at puberty, around their 13th year, and travel alone or in bachelor groups. Elephants wander widely in search of food. Movements vary widely depending upon food availability. Asian elephants communicate via rumbles, growls, bellows, and moans. Some of these varied, low-frequency sounds may travel a mile or more.

Past/Present/Future: Asian elephants once ranged from Iraq east through Asia south of the Himalayas, into southern China and possibly south to Java. However, centuries of hunting and habitat destruction caused dramatic declines. Males are still killed for their tusks, although this happens less often today thanks to a global ivory ban, in place since 1989. Today, Asian elephants thrive mostly in large remote reserves as well as in and among human habitation. Where elephants and people inhabit the same area, conflicts often occur.

Elephants can cause great damage to crops, and they occasionally kill people. Males in musth are responsible for the majority of attacks. Elephants play important roles in the cultures and religions of countries in most of their range, which inspires support for habitat protection measures, continued studies about elephants and their conservation needs, and efforts to mitigate conflicts between elephants and people.

Information found here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I have a friend who sent me a video of a new born kitten she found.  It was barely alive and was covered with fleas, ticks and hungry.  She brought it home and nursed it back to health.  She will be taking it to the veterinarian this week.  My friend owns a Pit Bull.  When the kitten and the Pit Bull met they clicked.  She took some footage of the interaction.  Keep in mind that her dog is NOT nursing but was willing to allow this kitten to enjoy what she had to offer anyway.  My friend also has a young daughter.  The child and dog get along very well together

Please Enjoy This Video

This is an example of how loving the Pit Bull really is.  I decided to do a piece on this breed.  I have found that a lot of people have no idea about this dog.  If you say, “Pit Bull” most people become fearful and think of fighting and danger.  Until the Mike Vick incident, a lot of people never realized how common fighting rings are in communities across the U.S.  I assume it is the same in other countries.

Here are the names of people you might know, who have all owned Pit Bulls:

Jessica Alba,  Fred Astaire,  Jessica Biel,  Mel Brooks,  Adam Brody,  Linda Blair,  Humphrey Bogart,  Jack Dempsy,  Thomas Edison,  Kevin Federline,  Jamie Foxx,  Michael J. Fox,  Ken Howard,  Jesse James (West Coast Choppers),  Helen Keller,  Ann Bancroft,  Pink,  Madonna,  Bernadette Peters,  George Patton,  Brad Pitt,  Joey Porter,  Rachael Ray,  Theodore Roosevelt,  Jon Stewart,  Alicia Silverstone,  Sinbad,  Usher, Jan Michael Vincent.

What Is A Pit Bull?

The purebred American Pit Bull is America’s greatest working dog.  They have their roots in “Olde England”, where butchers specifically bred “gripping dogs” for use in controlling bulls and cattle. No other breed had (or has) the courage and determination to stick to the dangerous task of controlling a mad bull. The dog’s desire to complete the task of holding the bull often saved his master and other humans. In the middle ages, there were no guns or easy means to control a bull.  These dogs were highly prized and carefully bred heroes.

These bull dogs (not to be confused with the modern AKC show version “bulldog”) were used in exhibition contests against bulls called bull baiting. When bull baiting was outlawed in the 1800′s, bulldogs were contested against each other, seeing which dog had the determination and drive to keep at the task in the face of pain, fatigue and even death. Because two handlers and a referee were in the pit with the dogs, the breed was selected for amazing stability; a calm, friendly manner with people….even under extreme pressure. Dogs which lashed out at humans, even strangers, while fighting or in pain were not tolerated.

The pit bull’s athletic build and legendary determination to get the job done makes him a perfect candidate for detection work. Nothing deters him, heat, cold, fatigue, etc.  If drugs or explosives are there, the Pit Bull will find them. It’s in his nature.

Today’s American Pit Bull

The American Pit Bull has a strong pleasure to please. They have more human emotional response than any other breed that exists today.  By no means are these dogs people-haters or people-eaters. Their natural aggressive tendencies are toward other dogs and animals, not people.  If they are trained properly they are not aggressive with other dogs or animals either.

The pit bull enjoyed wide popularity during the period of 1840 – 1950 as a family pet and farm dog. At the turn of the last century, the pit bull was one of the most popular of dogs.  Pete the Pup on the Little Rascals Our Gang comedies was a purebred, registered American pit bull.

The Pit Bull is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet, which is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master. It is an extremely courageous and intelligent guard dog that is very full of vitality. Highly protective of his owners and the owner’s property, it will fight an enemy to the death. It is usually very friendly, but has an uncanny ability to know when it needs to protect and when everything is okay. They are generally okay with other pets if they are raised with them from puppy hood.  They are not good match with every owner.  They need to know who is boss in the house.  If someone is meek and lets the dog take over, and doesn’t know how to discipline properly, the dog will think it’s the owner.

The Pit Bull has been exploited by back yard breeders, criminals, dog fighters and others who abuse the breed’s amazing strengths for their own selfish gain. The press encourages fear and hysteria because fear sells.  In addition to the Mick Vick incident, whenever someone is hurt by a strong, broad, short haired dog it is reported that the breed was a Pit Bull.  In reality, the dogs might be another breed that looks very similar to a Pit Bull because of their build.

Professional dog trainers, and those who know the breed, understand that the properly bred and raised Pit Bull is one of the sweetest dogs with people.  Although, most Pit Bulls will not back down from a challenge from another dog.

Pit Bulls don’t see strangers as a threat or “the enemy”. Each person is a “new best friend”! This makes them ideal for those situations where a non-threatening dog is required.

Why We Use Pit Bulls

With Homeland Security concerns elevated, the need for explosives and narcotics detection dogs for law enforcement is increasing. There are programs that connect cops with outstanding working dogs – many of whom might otherwise be euthanized for lack of a home.

Because they are a “fad breed” right now, there are literally thousands of pit bulls being euthanized in American shelters every week. There simply aren’t enough homes, and breeders keep breeding to make money. Many of the Pt Bulls are being used adopted from shelters and used as working dogs with police and military.

Taxpayers should know about these issues. Find out if police departments in your area utilize free, or low cost, animals before they spend several thousand on an untrained “green” dog from Europe or a dog vendor.  There is a myth that there is a shortage of good detection dogs in America. This is simply not true. It is time people became aware of this breed and others in this country.  We should learn more about our own, American, working breed and use them accordingly.

Judy Landers, who is on my board of advisers, her two daughters (Lindsey and Kristy), as well as Judy’s husband, Tom Niedenfuer (retired, American Major League Baseball Pitcher) are all animal lovers.  Judy’s sister, Audrey Landers, and her mom, Ruth Landers, also love animals.  All of them have saved many animals over the years.  This is what they had to say when I asked them about their animals…..

They have one dog named Champ.  He is an 8 year old Collie who has been a loving Landers-Niederfuer family member for 71/2 years.  The most amazing thing about Champ is his sweet, gentle personality and sense of humor (along with his amazing looks).

Teddy is a 3 year old mixed breed who was adopted from the Sarasota Humane Society.  When they first saw him, he was so shy and stressed, he wouldn’t even come out to socialize.  If you raised your hand to pet him lovingly, he would cower to the ground in tear.  It was very clear that he had been as abused dog, but they knew that with all the love they could give him, they would turn his life around.  Now, Teddy has become the most loving, loyal dog they could ever imagine, and lives to snuggle and get hugs.

Sage is a baby Cockatoo (one of five birds that they have) who travels with them wherever they go.  At only 6 months, Sage is a seasoned traveler, having been to Hollywood over 10 times and New York City as well.

All the animals in the Lander-Niederfuer family are fed holistic pet food along with an organic, healthful, vegetarian concoction (that Judy prepares herself) of brown rice, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas, garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Incidentally, other pets they have are: Princess Iggy, a 16 year old, 5 foot long Iguana.  Birds: Zorro, Mary-Kate and Ashley and Baby Spice.

They like the message of this show, helping animals all over the world, and are very supportive, in many ways.

How many people have gotten a puppy, kitten or rabbit as a gift?  Animals, especially babies, are cute and cuddly.  Most people love the feeling they get when they give an animal as a present.  They feel really good inside.  That feeling only lasts a short time, and then reality sets in.

The person realizes the new owner now has a responsibility, lasting long after the holiday, or special occasion, is over.  There are issues that have be dealt with as well.  Does the person know how to care for the animal properly?   Many pet owners are not aware of the kind of food their animal should eat.  I see countless ferret owners feeding their ferret cat food.  That is very unhealthy for ferrets.  Ferrets are carnivores.  Their food should have at least 3 out of the first 5 ingredients be meat products.  Not soy, grain or oats.  Same goes for other animals.  You should do research to be sure your animal is eating the proper diet.

There are also illnesses and disease that different animals have.  Do you know what to look for?  Do you have a veterinarian who has had extensive training for your type of pet?   Many veterinarians say they treat your type of animal, until a major illness arises.  Then you find out they don’t have the proper experience or training.  By then your animal could be seriously ill.

If you do decide to give an animal as a gift, where do you get it?  There are millions of animals that are in need of a home.  You can find these animals at rescues and shelters.  25% of these animals are pure bred.  If the organization near you doesn’t have the kind of animal you are looking for ask them to refer you to an organization that does have that kind of animal.  There are small, home based rescues all over the country.  I’m sure there is one near you.

Another thing that should be taken into consideration is personality, size and color.  You find an animal you think is sweet, beautiful color and small (at least right now).  You give it as a present and find that the animal cowers with its new owner.  Maybe the new pet was abused by someone that resembles that person.  Animals have personalities just like we do.  They don’t forget the bad times.  BUT, with time, patience and love they can learn to trust again.  Is the new owner willing to do what it takes to transition the pet into the new surroundings?  The puppy you got is a large breed dog.  It was really small at 8 weeks old, so you were not thinking how big it would get.  At 4 months it’s getting to be very large.  What if the new owner is not allowed to have an animal over 35 pounds in their home?  Will the animal be given up again?

If the animal develops an illness, does the new owner have the financial ability to pay for the bills and make sure the animal has a good, long life?

Are there other animals in the home already?  Many animals don’t get along.  The best thing to do, before bringing an animal home, is introduce them to each other.  You don’t want to get them home then there is the danger of one getting hurt because they don’t like each other.  If you have a hunting breed of dog, don’t get the family a new ferret or rabbit.   Do you have a small child?  Consider the size, strength and personality of the animal.

Another important issue is spay and neuter.   Is the animal fixed so there aren’t any other “surprises” that might come along?  Even if you have a fenced yard your animal could get out.  Look what happened during Hurricane Katrina.  A lot of animals that were in secure homes, and yards, got out.  They multiplied in a very short period of time.

There are a lot of considerations when giving a pet as a present.  If you have your heart set on giving one, think about a gift card.  In the card say “your present is the pet of their choice”.  Let them pick it out to be sure it’s one they really want.  I also recommend you get your pet from a rescue or shelter.

I look forward to any feedback, comments or recommendations you have.

Florence Thuot, the 81-year-old director of Journeys End Animal Sanctuary. made a silent promise to the 300 handicapped and unwanted animals that found their way to her sanctuary: they would have a home for life.

They’ve been through enough, she says: the dog left in the Ocala National Forest with glaucoma so far advanced his eyes had to be removed; the tabby cat with feline AIDS who plays like a dog; the horse rescued from slaughter. Those who aren’t blind or disabled bear emotional scars from being handed off from home to home or left on the side of a highway.

“When they have experiences like that, they need to be secure for the rest of their lives,” said Thuot.

But with rising costs and donations way down from last year, Thuot often lies awake at night wondering how she can keep her word to her animals. The organization depends solely on donations, which have dropped off about 25 percent year over year, while expenses have risen about 35 percent, according to Karen Galles, a volunteer who handles the books.

Thuot has mortgaged her property twice and frequently transfers part of her Social Security check to the nonprofit’s account. But the monthly contributions regularly fall short of the bills.

To read more about this organization click on this link.

She would love advise on how to raise money or get supplies.  If you can help, please, contact her.  Donations may also be sent to Journey’s End at P.O. Box 220163, Glenwood, FL 32722.  This is her website.

This story touched me because I hope to be alive at this age.  I can’t imagine doing what she is doing!!  This is a hard time for everyone but I know we will all get through it, if we help each other!

I have always wanted to know what animals are thinking and how they feel.   Do you ever wonder about that as well?  I see shows about people talking to animals but I always thought it was a hoax to boost ratings.  Amy Phillips Penn contacted me and it got me thinking about this topic.

I will tell you a couple of personal stories then you can read about Amy Phillips Penn.  She’s a society/fashion columnist in Palm Beach, polo player and writes about polo.  Read more about her book, and communicating with her horse, below.

About 4 years ago I moved to Florida.  I had two ferrets at the time.  One of them became very ill and the veterinarian was not sure what was wrong.  He did say her fever was so high, that alone might kill her.  I called someone I knew who is an animal communicator.  I was desperate!  She told me that she would see what she could do and call me back.  Shortly after we hung up she called me back.  She told me that my ferrets stomach was hurting her really bad.  My ferret commented, she consumed something really bad.  I contacted the veterinarian to tell him what I was told.  (I did not tell him how I knew this).  He did another test and it seemed my ferret had consumed some pesticide.  He was not 100% positive, but he treated her for that.  Within a day she was back to normal.  It occurred to me she may have got pesticide on her nose when she walked on the grass.  The day before she got sick, the grass had been treated but there were not “pesticide” signs.

Another thing that caught my attention…..when the communicator was talking to my ferret she asked my ferret, “is there a funny story you can tell me to take your mind off of your pain”?  My ferret told her a real life story about her and her brother, then they laughed together.  The communicator told me the story and asked if it were true?  I told her the story actually happened the day before.  The only people, or animals, that would know that story were my two ferrets and me.  I WAS SOLD!

One other story that I know of….A friend was going to put her dog down.  I told her to call the animal communicator to see if the dog had any last wishes.  The dog wanted mashed potatoes.  My friend said the dog never liked mashed potatoes so she was not impressed with the communicator.  A few weeks after the dog was put down my friend had a dinner party.  At that party was a man who had owned that dog the first 4 years of its life.  My friend adopted the dog from him.  I asked him if the dog had a favorite “people” food?   He said she loved mashed potatoes.  My friend was so shocked!!  She could not believe her dog had to die without getting her final request, mashed potatoes.

I’m sure there are a lot of wonderful communicators.   I contacted Lori Michel at www.animalchit-chat.com

Diosa

One Mare’s Odyssey on the Planet Earth

INDIO, Calif. – “We live in an age of communication and information, so why on earth is it so difficult for a person to understand what her horse is trying to tell her?” These are the words of polo pony Diosa in the new book, Diosa: One Mare’s Odyssey on the Planet Earth (published by AuthorHouse), the whimsical new full-color book by Amy Phillips Penn.

Ideal for young readers, listeners and horse lovers everywhere, Amy’s polo mare, Diosa – whose name means “goddess” in Spanish – shares her story of family, friends and overcoming obstacles. She begins in Wellington, Fla., where she lives with Amy, her “b.p.f.” or “best person forever”; her friend Max, a former polo pony turned show horse; and Holly, a golden retriever. After weathering two hurricanes in Florida, Diosa, Amy, Max and Holly pack up and set off for California in search of better weather and more polo playing opportunities.

The group arrives safely and Diosa explores the lemon groves of Santa Barbara, reveling in the ocean and mountains around her. She also grows closer to Amy with the help of a pet psychic, who teaches them how to better communicate with one another. After a time in Santa Barbara, Diosa and her friends endure more natural disasters as wildfires engulf the land around them:

As if struck by a lightning bolt, the horse next to me became unhinged. He leapt into midair, and twisted and turned, like he was trying to get a fly off of him. Only this was no normal fly attack. These were hot embers! We all knew that where there was smoke, there was usually … well, you know the rest. We couldn’t see the fires but we could sense them and smell them, so we were okay, for right now. Right now didn’t last long, as our barns and polo fields changed into a haven for other horses who were in much worse situations than we were. California is so hospitable to its pets, especially in emergencies.

After escaping the wildfires, Diosa is grateful to move to the safety of the desert. She stresses the importance of taking care of our planet. “Life is a love story if only you let it be one. Please take care of our planet and all of us so that we can take the best possible care of you,” she says.

Illustrated with photographs by renowned polo photographer David Lominska, Diosa: One Mare’s Odyssey on the Planet Earth is a true story about real animals, real events and real people with an important message: live life to its fullest, keep hope alive to overcome obstacles, and always remember to protect the environment.

About the Author: An enthusiastic polo player, Amy Phillips Penn has written for the New York Post, the Palm Beach Daily News, numerous polo publications, Town and Country magazine and Interview magazine. She is currently working on a novel/screenplay, Seduced by Polo, which chronicles the wild adventures of a New York society writer turned polo player.

Locked in a shed an abandoned.  Boy did this dog give back!

Read more about a great horse rescue.

THIS IS A GREAT STORY!