My Thoughts About Vaccinations

I do not discriminate. If your pet is not current on their vaccinations for whatever reason...
If you have made a conscientous choice to NOT vaccinate your pet...
If you haven't had time to go to the vet...
If you haven't had money to go to the vet...
It makes no difference to me.

What does make a difference is that your pet is in obvious good care. I am not a vet! I do not diagnose or treat illness! But I have worked with animals long enough that I can usually recognize when a pet is too ill, or is contagious, and should receive other care before I advise you.

Corporate salons such as Petco and Petsmart require at least a rabies vaccine before they will make an appointment, as well as some private salons. I'm sure most trainers have the same policy.

Honestly, I have done my own research and don't really like vaccinations period. But YOU must do your own due diligence, your own research, and follow your own heart about such matters. Just because I'm convinced doesn't mean I'm right by anyone's standard but my own.

I feel very strongly that the entire veterinary industry is about fear, misinformation, manipulation, and control in order to harvest money.
Even the bleeding-heart, animal-loving, raised-on-the-farm kids who made it thru vet school in order to "make a difference" have come out of the system completely brainwashed. They sincerely believe all the shit they tell you.

But I don't buy into the system.... Not any of it. I don't understand going blindly thru life accepting everything you're told. The fact that students never question or stand up to information that doesn't feel right causes me to lose faith in them right out of the gate.
If one is "gifted" then they have instincts, intuition, an inner knowing that is beyond any book learning.
This describes me more than it does any vet I've ever met.

Look at dogs today compared to when some of us were kids. They all suffer from human diseases now! That NEVER happened until they started mandatory, mass vaccinations and neutering!

These solutions were meant to get humanity to higher understanding, but instead it became a for-profit industry that has a guaranteed success rate due to stacking the deck.
Industry owns all the scientist who write the text books and peer reviewed journals, and do all the research that is published, and make the meds and, "funds" the schools.... They own the pet industry. They guarantee you'll always need them!

Don't you find this suspicious???????

​I think for myself, do my own research, and I don't play into antiquated fears based on a herd mentality! I encourage you to do the same. Again, this is why I do what I do, the way that I do it.

But you must be responsible for your own choices, in all things, including your animals!

#Pets and #Hurricanes - Be #Prepared !!! #2016

This is an urge to become informed.

Yes it is officially Hurricane Season 2016 here along the Gulf Coast of Florida. 

And YES we already have a candidate coming up for an audition this coming week!

Now while the Tampa Bay area is - in my opinion - the safest place on the entire Gulf Coast, for various reasons, 

And usually these things pass us by and all we get is lots of rain....

DON'T BE STUPID!!!

Especially if you are not from the area and have never experienced a real hurricane! 

Do NOT panic.... But do not be stupid.

What I'm referring to is

YOUR PETS!  ALL OF THEM.

From lizards to gold fish, birds, cows, chickens, and OF COURSE your cats and dogs.

Have a plan.

Have a plan.

Have a plan.

Do NOT assume!

Do not assume.

               Do not assume.........

Educate yourself. 

Learn about services available in your area.

Figure out what to do if you:  "have no money"  "have no car"  "have children"  "have an illness, condition, disability"  "have a pet with special needs"

Figure that shit out NOW!!!!!!!!

Do not wait!!!

Have a plan.

Write it down.

Be prepared. 

NO ONE is responsible for you and your pets BUT YOU!!!

All day, every day. YOU.

No excuses. No whining.

Do it.

Take responsibility. 

Make a plan.

Here's a "Get Started" List:

• Pet Friendly Shelters (NOT ALL ARE!!!)
• Organizations that offer Pet Assistance
• Addresses and Directions
• Phone Numbers (all of them!!! printed out or written down)
• Phone Numbers (actual written/printed numbers - not contacts list, text, or speed dial)
• Phone Numbers (family, friends, neighbors, businesses, shelters, organizations, doctors, banks..........)
• Food
• Bottled Water
• Collar & Leash (REGARDLESS!!!! YOU NEED THESE!!!)
• Medicines
• Refrigeration Options
• Crates
• Wee Wee Pads
• Bedding
• Toys

• Evacuation Routes (more than one)
• Full Tank of Gas
• Bug Out Bag for Pet Supplies
• Batteries
• Old Fashion Radio!!! Do not rely too heavily on your modern electronics! Have a backup.

• Remember, in most cases you won't need to head for the hills.... But what if you do?? Just be prepared. Look at a map - You are in Florida. You are SURROUNDED by water with only one way out. And you are not alone!!! 
• Remember, whether its a big one or a small one, we may lose power. Sometimes power can be out for days! That means no refrigeration, no cooking, no charging electronics, no air conditioning.
• Remember, it is also possible to lose water and sewer!!! That's right! If lines get broken they shut the whole system down. No running water, no washing dishes or clothes, no bathing, and no flushing!
• Remember, whether you have power or not - as in a generator or solar panel - the area may still lose cell phone service if towers go down. 

http://petgroomer911.blogspot.com/2012/08/dont-leave-pets-behind.html

http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/petpreparedness.htm

PFS means Pet Friendly Shelter
http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/pet_shelters
http://www.floridapetfriendly.com/pet-friendly-hurricane-shelters.htm
http://www.spcaflorida.org/community-resources/disaster//

Pets and Steps or Stairs

An RVer asked a question in a "traveling with pets" group about her Grey Hounds being very reluctant to go up the steps into an RV... What are some recommendations? There are many ways to approach this but here was my response:

Get a patterned rug on the steps with colors... (disregard anyone saying they are color blind.... not the point). Try tossing a tasty treat in the door and see if they'll go get it. If not, just sit on the steps and do nothing but chat with the dogs or better yet people, with the dogs on leash right there with you. Treats are good to have while doing this. Tasty treats like chicken! See if they'll start to just stand on one step at a time. Never force, and no baby talk. As a matter of fact, try not to talk to them about the steps at all. Makes them nervous. Talk to them about what you're cooking for dinner or something completely unrelated to them and the steps. Or better yet, to another person or people. This breaks the anxious energy. Gradually work your way up just sitting on each step. The point in this exercise is distraction and to completely change the energy that they are used to associating with the steps. They feel it, even coming from you. And it is not "fear", it is anxiety which is slightly different. No baby talk, no encouragement, no good boy - good girl. Totally ignore them during this process except to give niblets of a tasty treat. When they eventually make it inside on their own, again, say nothing to them. Just give treats and walk away. Anxiety disappears. Move along... nothing to see here. Slow slow slow... patience. This may take several days if you're willing. Yes I work with dogs... Hope you can use at least some of this info.

Don't Leave Pets Behind!!!

Ok, here we go.... Hurricanes are linin' up.
There's only ONE RULE for people with animals:
Be safe and never leave animals behind.
Yes, that is ONE RULE.
Prepare to stay.
Prepare to leave.
Whatever you do, do with your animals included.
Human children are a pain in the ass and you don't leave them behind sayin', "I'll be right back sweetie... soon as this weather passes..."
Be responsible.  They are yours.  They depend on you.
Not the sheriff, not the fire department, not the humane society, not the local high school shelter... YOU!
Don't whine, don't cry, don't blame anybody for not rolling out some magical red carpet for you!
They are your responsibility and if you can't take care of them.......
You know you live in Florida.
California has earthquakes.
The desert has scorpions.
New Orleans floods.
Minnesota has snow.
And Florida has gators, sharks and hurricanes....
If you're not prepared to live in the natural environment that surrounds you, then it may be wise to change environments.
I currently have a recovering large dog in my family.  Getting him around ain't easy!  But there is no option.  Where I go, he goes.  No matter what.  I know this ahead of time, and I will be prepared with whatever means I have. Period. The End.
Don't leave animals behind.
You have plenty of warning and plenty of time to find solutions that are good and right.

If you need assistance, here are some resources:
http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/petpreparedness.htm

PFS means Pet Friendly Shelter
http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/pet_shelters
http://www.floridapetfriendly.com/pet-friendly-hurricane-shelters.htm
http://www.spcaflorida.org/community-resources/disaster//

Be Safe and Never Leave Animals Behind!!!

Housing Crisis

The domestic animal "Rescue Movement" of this past decade is unprecedented!  It is the childhood dream of many, come true.  Never before have so many had such a common, powerful manifestation of compassion and action toward domestic animals.
There's almost no such thing as "buying" a pet these days.  They're either rescued or adopted.  There's such power in those terms.  They reflect the compassionate intentions of the heart as opposed to the selfish desire to possess things.
We are encouraged as a society to "adopt" rather than purchase from breeders, because there are so many "homeless", abandoned, throw-away pets that would otherwise be destroyed or become stray nuisances. 
The term "dog pound" is obsolete.  We now have "shelters".  More and more city and county shelters, formerly known as dog pounds, are committing to "no-kill" policies.  These shelters keep animals and care for them until a home is found for them rather than euthanizing them to decrease population, make space or cut expenses.  Many people in local communities now form "rescue groups" where they either house homeless animals themselves or sponsor them on a web site or at local adoption events to find homes for them.  If they don't have a facility to house multiple animals, volunteers "foster" care for them in their own homes until suitable permanent homes are found.  
In case you've not yet noticed, many have assigned human concepts to companion animals, equating their importance with ours.  
A childhood dream come true.........
But there are issues....
The one I'd like to call attention to in this article is that of the housing crisis within the pet parent community.  Along with the rescue movement, a couple of other phenomena have arisen - animal hoarding, and designer breeding.  Without exhausting detail about these phenomena, one problem they create is a horribly irresponsible reputation for domestic animals in general. This creates a housing crisis for pet parents.
Many, many rented and leased homes do not allow pets.  Why?  Because of the reputation pushed to the front of the headlines of the filth, abuse and general irresponsibility of many animal owners - the most visible of which are hoarders and breeders.  Now these are not the only offenders!  Many average "pet owners" just do not know how to take care of animals inside a house or an apartment.  Because there are no real legal requirements to pet ownership, there are no standards or guidelines, nor is there a stable, consistent education system for pet owners.
As a groomer I've seen some horrendous things!  I've wanted to report so many people to animal services! (And I have!)  But its not always that easy for animal services to take any action because technically... when the pet owner brings the animal in for grooming, they ARE being responsible at that moment, and so there's no offense occurring..... 
These are the people that make it almost impossible for good, educated, responsible people to have pets in their family.  
More and more apartment complexes are leasing to pet owners simply because they have to!  Everyone has a pet now!  But they limit the number of pets you can have, they limit the size of pet you can have - making it exceptionally difficult to place larger breeds into good homes, and now  they've incorporated (an amazingly standardized) "breed list" excluding certain breeds from complexes, homes or even entire communities.
Its amazing how something restricting can become so easily standardize yet no one can offer standardized basic pet parent responsibility education!
Here's the thing.... If society is going to continue to "push" for pet adoption, then adopters have to have a place to live too! We're never going to change every idiot or prevent them from being stupid OR irresponsible.  So why not just open up the lease, allow pets without so many restrictions, but require the pet parents to have successfully completed a class?  Add a page to the lease making the pet parent responsible for regular professional cleaning?  Require inspections every six months?  Incorporate pet deposits into monthly payments?  I mean, I get it!  Pets can destroy things!  Pets can smell really bad!  But what we're looking for here is responsibility, not perfection.  Yes!  My dog, in a moment of puppy-hood ignorance, ripped the carpet to shreds!  I'll pay for it! Yes! The kitten I found by the dumpster "sprayed" skunk-funk on the wall before I could get it spayed!  I'll pay for someone to come get rid of the odor!  Yes!  My dog is massively huge, but LOOK!  He has a "Good Citizenship Certificate" from a professional trainer!  
And why is there not "pet insurance"???!
There's insurance for everything else.  My complex requires me to have 'renters insurance'...  Why not generalized personal pet insurance that covers destruction, where ever you live?  The insurance companies could ensure that clients have had classes for the pet as well as the pet parent.  But if there should be an "oops" along the way, notta problem - insurance covers the repairs!
We've come so far, and done what was once considered impossible....  We can change this too!  
As non-homeowners we are a majority these days!  Where there is need, there are solutions.  When the system will not make room for responsible citizens, responsible citizens sneak........  just sayin.......
But there is a better way........  LET'S FIND IT.