Reminder--these foods are dangerous for your dog

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOUR PUPS

WOOF, WOOF, TILL LATER, 

ZOEY

End Breed Discrimination in PetSmart’s Doggie Daycare

Bella P AL

If you support all breeds, why support Breed Specific Legislation/Breed discrimination otherwise known as BSL? Every day innocent dogs such as Pit Bulls, Bull terriers, and other bully breeds are being put to sleep only because of one thing~ their stereotype. When you think “Pit Bull” what words come to mind? “Vicious”, “Dangerous”? What if I  told you those words aren’t true? That those words are simply a burden all pit Bulls have to carry with them?  This is the problem we’re facing, and now PetSmart is contributing to the hate.

According to PetSmart’s daycare guidelines, dogs of the bully breed, or mixed breeds that appear to look like them are strictly not allowed. Why are we mad? Because our dogs, no, our family members are being discriminated against just because of their looks. And we the people who own these wonderful dogs, are outraged and are determined to get justice for those who can’t speak, and we will not back down. If we win, will we be able to bring justice to these dogs. It is estimated half a million pit-bull type dogs are killed each year in shelters across the US. We need to put a stop from this, now. 

Here are some common Pit Bull Myths~

• MYTH- Pit Bull's have Locking Jaws
• REALITY- Pit Bull's jaws actually have the same characteristics as any other breed. They don't have locking jaws, however one natural trait is determination, so when they do something they'll make sure they are determined to get it.
• MYTH- You should never adopt a Pit Bull, because you don't know it's passed Parentage & History.
• REALITY- It all comes down to the dog's previous environment and past. It should be based on any dogs current personality. 
• MYTH- Pit Bull's are genetically aggressive.
• REALITY- This is a stereotype. Pit Bull's natural traits are actually loyalty, Friendliness, obedient, and affectioness! Nowhere in those traits are aggressiveness. 

 So why do we care? These dogs can’t speak up for themselves, they have no voice. These dogs are being killed solely for their looks, and stigma. Let’s put an end to BSL and let’s make PetSmart an all dog friendly place. 

Photo courtesy of @gotti_roxy from Instagram 

Perpetuating the Myth of “Pit Bull” Dog High Pain Tolerance Doesn’t Help Dogs, It Hurts Them

Article appeared on Animal Farm Foundation, Inc.

https://animalfarmfoundation.blog/2017/11/02/perpetuating-the-myth-of-pit-bull-dog-high-pain-tolerance-doesnt-help-dogs-it-hurts-them/
At Animal Farm Foundation, we like science. We do love a good fairy tale (because who doesn’t?), but simply because a story tugs at your heart, doesn’t make it true or helpful in moving society forward. In advocacy, you must always lead with the truth.

Unfortunately, many myths about “pit bull” dogs are so pervasive that many advocates believe them to be true and they use these stories as part of their outreach efforts.

A prime example of this is the myth that “pit bull” dogs have a higher tolerance for pain than other dogs.

One advocacy website writes:

“Sometimes presented as a negative trait, the fact that pitbulls [sic] have a high pain tolerance makes them exceptional family dogs. They easily (and happily) put up with the rough play of children without reacting.”

Not only is this statement factually incorrect, it feeds into the pro-BSL hysteria that “pit bull” dogs are uniquely different, dangerous, and therefore need to be regulated. It’s even shown up in court as justification for breed bans.

If this was a fact, we wouldn’t argue it. But, it’s not a fact. It’s a myth.

There Is Nothing Unique about the Neurological System of a “Pit Bull” Dog

All dogs, regardless of how they look or their genetic heritage, experience pain. How each individual dog responds to that pain will vary, but you cannot predict that response based on the dog’s physical appearance or heritage.

Tufts Veterinary Medicine Magazine addressed the “pit bull” dog high pain tolerance myth in their Winter 2013 issue:

“Pain medicine as a veterinary specialty is relatively new. As recently as a decade ago, most veterinarians assumed that animals didn’t feel pain, or at least experienced it differently than humans. Now all evidence points to the contrary. Research has shown that animals and humans have similar neural pathways for the development, conduction and modulation of pain, making it pretty likely that our pets experience pain in much same the way we do.”

The Myth Might Put a Dog’s Comfort and Care At Risk

The article goes on to say that even in people, pain is often undertreated. Michael Petty, president of the International Veterinary Academy, says:

“If we’re looking at practically half of the human population that’s in pain getting undertreated, I have to believe that over 95 percent of animals in [chronic] pain are not getting proper treatment.”

This means that a lot of pets are not getting the pain relief they desperately need. Part of this might be because of the “pit bull” dog high pain tolerance myth. While dogs can’t speak up for themselves in a way we can clearly understand, they do let us know inform us of things in a variety of ways, but we might completely miss these important signals if we’ve already written off pain as a problem our dogs might experience.

(For more on how pain may present in a dog’s body, please read the full article).)

The High Pain Tolerance Myth Can Result in Negative Consequences for People and Pets

The myth implies:

1. That parents can allow their children to inappropriately handle “pit bull” dogs in a rough manner. The experts on family dog safety tell us that this type of rough play leads to dog bites – no matter what the dog’s genetic heritage dog may be. To reduce dog bites and increase pet retention, children should always be taught to treat all dogs gently and respectfully.
2. That dog owners should be alarmed if their “pit bull” dog does not “happily” accept rough play from children. If the dogs react, something must be wrong with them, right? Wrong. All dogs deserve to be handled respectfully and will have varying tolerance levels for physical play. There’s nothing wrong with dogs who prefers gentle play (or no play at all) with children.
3. It suggests that “pit bull” dogs are biologically different than other dogs. For people that are afraid of “pit bull” dogs, the high pain tolerance myth suggests the dogs are uniquely capable of causing damage because they cannot be stopped by regular management techniques.
4. It makes a convenient excuse for humans that wish to exploit them and/or abuse them. It should go without saying that we should never justify cruelty by suggesting the victims have a high tolerance for being abused.

There Is No Benefit to Focusing on Fiction Over Fact

There are many ways to promote the wonderful pet qualities and proper care of “pit bull” dogs without having to resort to perpetuating myths.

Now that we know better, we have an obligation to consider the way we communicate on behalf of the dogs and the information we’re sharing. Dogs are depending on us to stop adding to their problems by recycling old content that has no basis in science.

However, if you’d like to discuss the science of how dogs experience pain, here are some talking points:

• The perception of pain is unique to each individual, human or dog. Factors that affect each dog’s individual response to pain include age, gender, and health status. Individual situations also affect a dog’s reaction. If a dog is engaged in work or a sport, it can affect how they perceive pain in that moment (just like humans).
• Recognizing and determining the source of pain in dogs can be a challenge, especially since the early signs of pain can be subtle. One of the best ways to assess pain in any dog is to know what’s normal for them. Pay attention to your dog’s every day, regular behavior and habits, so that you’ll readily notice anything abnormal.
• There is nothing unique about the neurological system of a “pit bull” dog. All dogs, regardless of heritage, experience pain. How each dog responds to that pain will vary, but the response cannot be predicted by physical appearance or breed.

How to Make a Disaster Plan for Your Pets

You and your furry friends should 

all have a go-bag at the ready

Consumer Reports / Mary H.J. Farrell / September 06, 2017

Hurricane Irma has made landfall in the Caribbean and could barrel into South Florida by the weekend. Depending how close to the projected path they live, residents are weighing whether to evacuate. Some may not have a choice.

As we’ve just seen with the devastation from Hurricane Harvey, such emergencies can require anything from a brief absence to a permanent evacuation. It’s disorienting enough for people, but pets also lose their bearings when their home life is disrupted. Here’s how to prepare.

Even if you believe you’re evacuating for only one day, plan for the worst-case scenario. In unpredictable circumstances, pets could be trapped, escape and risk exposure to life-threatening hazards, or even starve. If it’s not safe for humans, it’s not safe for animals.

Before it’s too late, find a place where you can stay with your dog or cat. Check with hotels to see which allow animals, and ask family and friends whether they’re willing to take in you and your pets. Contact your local emergency-response agencies and find out which shelters allow animals and what requirements they have, such as medical records. Boarding and kennel facilities, veterinary offices, and animal shelters may also provide emergency housing.

Because a storm may strike when you’re away from home, make a plan with a trusted neighbor or friend who can evacuate your pets if necessary. Make sure they know where to find your pet and have on hand any supplies it may need.

How to Pack a Pet Go-Bag

Like their owners, pets should have a go-bag at the ready. The Humane Society, FEMA’s Ready.gov, and the ASPCA all have helpful pet preparedness information on their websites. Below is a list of what the ASPCA recommends to stock in a pet’s evac-pack. Remember, food and medications need to be rotated out of your emergency kit every two months—otherwise they may spoil or become ineffective.

• Collar with ID tag, contact number, and rabies tag
• A traveling bag, crate, or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
• 3 to 7 days’ worth of canned (pop-top) or dry food
• Bottled water, at least seven days’ worth for each person and pet
• Pet feeding dishes
• Extra harness and leash (Note: Harnesses are recommended for safety and security.)
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of any medicine your pet requires
• Disposable litter trays (aluminum roasting pans are perfect)
• Litter and paper towels
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags for cleanup
• Flashlight
• Blanket (for scooping up a fearful pet)
• Recent photos of your pets (in case you’re separated and need to make "Lost" posters). Also include a photo of you and your pet together to document ownership.
• If your pet has been microchipped, make sure your contact info is up to date
• Your pet’s favorite toy, treats, and bedding

To track the storm, keep a NOAA Weather Radio tuned to your local emergency station and monitor TV and radio broadcasts, and follow mobile alerts and mobile warnings about severe weather in your area.

Looking forward to Fall but Mama isn't...

Check out Mama's blog to see some adorable painted rocks 

we found this summer along the trails. 

www.ccitarella.blogspot.com

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey

Thinking of my fellow canines surviving the disasters

Our hearts and minds are with those impacted by the recent, destructive storms in Texas, Florida, and surrounding areas. We wish them a quick recovery and rebuild.

As recovery efforts continue in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey—and as people begin to assess the impact of Hurricane Irma—it has been heartening to hear the outpouring of support and desire to help those in need.  Please don't forget to the animals who are impacted by the devastation. 

Please remember all the animals that need assistance when you think about sending a donation. 

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/ars/home

Consumer Reports recently shared the best ways to help storm victims on www.consumerreports.org. The BBB Wise Giving Alliance and two other watchdogs, Charity Navigator and CharityWatch, have released lists of more than a dozen highly rated groups in a position to help. Below are six national and local groups that are listed by the charity watchdogs. Where possible, we tried to include examples of charities that are listed by at least two of the three watchdogs. Each of the groups say they are helping victims of Harvey, Irma, or both hurricanes.

Americares American Red Cross Direct Relief Operation USA PetSmart Charities ShelterBox USA

Local groups (Hurricane Harvey) Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Houston FoodBank Houston Children's Charity Houston Humane Society Houston SPCA United Way of Greater Houston

These are just some examples of national and local groups the charity watchdogs have listed. In addition, the charity information website, GuideStar, has provided a list of its own. If you want to know specifically what any of these groups is doing to help, visit their websites directly. 

Woof, woof till later, 
Zoey

Here I go...bragging again....

This is the most I have ever walked on the trails with Mama. It is about 3.5 miles in little over an hour and a half! (The more I walk the more I have to stop to sniff.)

Here is the reason why Mama made me walk so much.

Last night she and Dad had a delicious dinner at Aunt Joan's house.  The menu was loaded with calories--fried chicken, potato skins, cannoli cake, which sounds like a feast to me. Oh yeah, broccoli was included too; can't forget the healthy stuff. Mama usually never eats like this anymore but she enjoyed herself and then complained that she ate it all.  Dad has this reminder that he gives Mama once in a while--it is called his 80/20 rule--once in a while it is okay to indulge.  I agree with Dad--I would love to indulge 80% of the time! Oh no, I think he means 20% of the time is acceptable to go off track.

Anyway, the important question is: Do you think I was offered any of the yummy fried chicken or potato filling with cheese and bacon--nope, not one morsel went in my mouth! Yet, I had to walk extra this morning to burn off some of Mama's extra 20% of calories.  Doesn't sound fair to me.

I don't plan on breaking anymore of my records so Mama better not have any plans on over indulging again.

Exhausted...I think I will rest my sweet head for a few hours. 

Woof, woof till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth

Bragging time again...

I may have been pooped but I still had my wits to find my red ball. 

I can collapse just thinking about my new record walking the trail with Mama last Sunday. 

Ready to hear how many steps? We walked 7,425 human steps in a little over an hour. Thank goodness Mama has to work tomorrow--hopefully she will not be dragging me to beat the new record. 

Wake me up in a few hours!

PS: We are always exploring new paths along the trail. There are so many that I bet people aren't even aware of them.  Last Sunday, while working on breaking my record, we took a detour from one of the side paths and came across an area that Mama doesn't think we saw before but I disagree. (Mama's memory sometimes is not up to speed.) I think we found this area last year...but I wasn't in the mood to bark at her so I just let her think it was a new spot. Anyway, here is a picture of the homestead. We walked around for a while and we never came across a canine.

Woof, woof till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth

Ten things you didn’t know about... pit bulls

Reprinted from Cesar's Way, August 23, 2017

Junior — and Daddy before him — has served as Cesar’s right paw dog and ambassador for this very misunderstood and maligned breed. Here are ten things you may not have known about pit bulls.

1. Pit bulls are the only breed of dog to have appeared on the cover of LIFE magazine three times, and of course pit bulls — especially Daddy and Junior — were regularly featured on the cover of Cesar’s Way magazine over its five-year run. Other magazine depictions have not been as favorable, however...
    
2. The negative change in attitude toward pit bulls began thirty years ago, with a Time magazine story called “The Pit Bull Friend and Killer,” which began with the premise that the breed is inherently dangerous and did its damage from there. Prior to pit bulls being considered the vicious breed du jour, Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, and Rottweilers had held that designation and were also subject to breed bans and breed specific legislation.
    
3. Ironically, 1987 was the same year that Bud Light introduced its hugely popular mascot, Spuds MacKenzie, during Super Bowl XXI. The campaign was not killed because of the dog breed, however. Instead, it was because of pressure from special interest groups that perceived the dog as encouraging underage drinking. Spuds was retired in 1989, although she (yes, the dog playing him was female) made a return appearance as a ghost during Super Bowl LI in 2017.
    
4. You may not recognize the name Armando Christian Pérez — or, as he says Lady Gaga calls him, “Armando, formando escándalo” (“Armando, creating a scandal”) — but you’ll probably recognize him by his stage name, Pitbull, which he adopted because of the breed’s tenacity, as well as its outlaw status in his native Dade County, Florida.
    
5. Years before their reputation was tarnished beginning in the 1980s, pit bulls were not only considered safe with children, but they were often used as nanny dogs — and some of the most famous images of pit bulls from the 1920s and 1930s involve them with children, including as Petey in the “Our Gang” comedies and as Buster Brown’s sidekick Tige.
    
6. Photographer Sophie Gamand created a series of portraits of pit bulls with flowers in order to help soften the breed’s reputation.
    
7. Meanwhile, pit bulls Budgie and Basil front the grindcore band Caninus as vocalists, with a little human help from members of the group Most Precious Blood — which is not a reference to bloodhounds.
    
8. There are many persistent myths about pit bulls. Some of the false ones are that they can lock their jaws, and that they bite much harder than other breeds. But the truth is that there’s nothing special about their jaws, and in a test against a German shepherd and a Rottweiler, the pit bull’s bite strength actually came in last place. (The winner in the animal kingdom is the Kodiak Bear, by the way, with a bite force nearly four times as strong as a pit bull’s.)
    
9. One of the reasons that pit bulls get so much of the blame in the media for attacking people is that dogs are often misidentified as belonging to the breed when they don’t. In one study using animal shelter employees in Florida, the number of dogs misidentified by people as pit bulls when DNA said otherwise was inflated by 55%. Out of 120 dogs, only 25 actually were pits or part pit, but shelter staff identified 55 dogs that way. Remember, too, these are people who work with dogs all the time making the error. In the case of police or reporters making the call, it’s reasonable to expect them to be at least as inaccurate, if not more so.
    
10. Cesar has always said that a dog sees itself as animal, species, breed, and then name, with the latter two fairly unimportant as far as the dog is concerned — and with breed having nothing to do with a pit bull’s temperament. While people still spread the rumor that pit bulls are inherently vicious, studies have shown that breed is actually not a factor in dog-bite related fatalities at all. Human error and their failings at training or socializing dogs, though, were the biggest factors.

Yikes, I broke my record again!

We walked this morning 6,781 human steps in a little over an hour! My stamina and patience are really increasing...there were times when I dug my paws into the gravel and said, " woof, woof, NO Mama, let's turn around." I couldn't convince her, she said, "let's go Zo, we can do this;" me being the wonderful, loving dog that I am looked at her and realized she was not stopping...so off I trotted with my special Mama to do some more walking and sniffing. In my head, I kept listening to my mantra...I want to go home, I want to go home...

Home I am!  Just look at me, of course, my ball is right next to me but I am not getting up off this floor until tomorrow (or at least until I hear the ruffle of the treat bag).

PS: We didn't locate any painted rocks this morning:( Maybe tomorrow, one could only hope.

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth (one tired pup)

Barnegat trail painted rocks

Mama and I have been taking long walks along the trail this week. I broke my own personal step challenge today. I walked 6,407 human steps this morning! I wonder if I should double that since I have two set of legs?

The other day Mama noticed a few painted rocks scattered along the trail. The rocks weren't there the next day so she assumed people took them (they are very hard to resist). Monday morning on our walk, we came across this adorable rock and Mama couldn't resist taking it. Under the rock it says "Manahawkin rocks."

Mama knows there was a campaign in Lacey that someone was painting rocks and leaving them around the area. She has no idea if it is the same artist; Mama wants to thank the artist and she hopes we find more treasures on our hikes.

Here is another one we found...

Woof, woof, till later, 

Zoey Elizabeth

Remember Xylitol is dangerous

An artificial sweetener found in sugarless gum, candy, and baked goods, Xylitol may be approved for people but can cause liver damage and a life-threatening drop in blood sugar in dogs. According to the Pet Poison Helpline (PPH), a 10-pound dog would only need to eat a single piece of sugar-free gum to reach a potentially toxic dose. Low blood sugar can develop within 10 to 15 minutes of ingestion, in addition to vomiting and loss of coordination, says Pet Poison Helpline.

Doing a disservice: The harm in service dog fraud

Photo by:  Piyoros C/Shutterstock.com

Reprinted from Cesar's Way /  www.cesarsway.com

You may have noticed the signs outside of businesses becoming more prominent lately. They all carry a similar message: Only legitimate service dogs allowed. And, in some jurisdictions, they are now adding a reminder that service dog fraud is a crime.

But what, exactly, is “service dog fraud?”

First, what it isn’t. You may see statements that service dog fraud is a federal crime, but it isn’t — at least not when it comes to a person with a fake service dog. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does cover the definition of service animals, which is currently limited strictly to dogs and miniature horses, but it does not provide any penalties at the moment for falsely claiming that a companion animal is a service animal. Regulation and registration of those animals — other than what kind of animal they can be — are left up to the states.

However, the ADA does require almost all businesses to allow entry to legitimate service animals and only allows those businesses to ask two questions:

1.     Is this a service dog required because of disability?

2.     What is it trained to do to mitigate the disability?

Service vs. support

Obviously, this means that businesses can reject all other animals outright because they would never fall under the definition, but maneuvering around the law in order to determine whether an animal is legitimate can open that business to federal penalties if they wrongfully reject a real service animal from their premises. The only exception is if the animal becomes disruptive or is not housetrained.

Also note that a dog must be trained to actively do something to help with a disability, which creates another gray area. A legitimate PTSD service dog, for example, is trained to sense when its handler might be in danger of having a panic attack and taking action in order to prevent or mitigate that attack. However, if someone, even if they’re suffering from PTSD, wants to bring along their untrained dog because it makes them feel calmer or more secure that is, unfortunately, an example of service dog fraud.

There is an exception when it comes to air travel. The Air Carrier Access Act does allow both service dogs and emotional support animals (ESA) to travel on airplanes. However, there are strict requirements for ESAs, including a letter dated within the past year from a mental health professional stating that the traveler has been diagnosed with a mental-health related disability as defined in the DSM-IV, that the animal is necessary to the passenger’s health or treatment, and that the passenger is under the care of the professional who wrote the letter.

Abusing the system

Recently, far too many people have been taking advantage of the law fraudulently, leading to non-service dogs being brought into places where they don’t belong, like restaurants, grocery stores, and movie theaters. An entire industry of fake service animal “registration” businesses has also cropped up, largely online and generally unregulated.

As a dog owner, it’s never a good idea to use one of these services. As a business owner, it’s a good idea to know how to be able to spot fake certification. And, as a direct result of this abuse, many states have now made such fraud a criminal act, hence the new warnings appearing.

States respond

California, for example, has the harshest penalties for fraud, which the law describes as when someone “knowingly and fraudulently represents himself or herself, through verbal or written notice, to be the owner or trainer of any canine licensed/qualified/identified as a guide, signal, or service dog...” (CA Penal Code § 365.7). The penalty is up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Currently, California and eighteen other states have laws concerning service animal fraud: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, and other states, like Massachusetts, are working on their own laws.

Not a victimless crime

We all love our dogs, and it’s understandable to want to take them everywhere with us — the upswing in dog-friendly workplaces and restaurants demonstrates that. However, as attractive as the idea may be, there are just places where dogs don’t belong.

And this isn’t just about bothering people who might be allergic or who don’t like dogs. It can be a very stressful experience for a dog that isn’t trained to handle crowds or busy public places. It can also harm people with a legitimate need by forcing businesses to question everyone with a service animal.

So unless you do have a legitimate disability and a trained service dog, or a mental health professional has diagnosed and recommended an emotional support animal, leave your dog (or cat or ferret or other furry friend) at home the next time you’re going somewhere that only allows service dogs. It’ll be better for your pet, for you, and for the community in general.

Our Magic Mirror

Reprinted from FaceBook / June 5, 2017 /  By Cesar Millan

Mirrors have long been associated with the truth, whether it’s Harry Potter’s Mirror of Erised showing people who look into it their sincerest wishes, or the magic mirror on the Evil Queen’s wall that tells her Snow White is the fairest of them all, leading to all kinds of trouble.

This connection is made clear in the lyrics to a very popular song written by Marco Antonio Solis: “El espejo no miente,” which is Spanish for “the mirror doesn’t lie.” Another way to put it is that a mirror only reflects the truth.

Lucky for us, when we have dogs, we have our own living mirrors that are there for us all the time.

If you want to know what kind of energy you’re projecting to the world, just look at your dog. If you’re calm and assertive, they’ll reflect that by being calm and submissive. If you’re not, then they’ll react accordingly. If you’re uncertain and anxious, they’ll either try to take over or become fearful and insecure. If you’re overly excited or angry, they may react aggressively or they may hide from you.

The image you want to see in your furry mirror is calm, but you can only get that if that’s the look you’re giving in the first place. And remember what I said about mirrors being associated with truth? The same is the case with dogs. They cannot lie. Their energy is always going to give away their state of mind.

What we don’t realize is that while it can be very easy for us to lie to other humans, we can’t lie to our dogs, at least not with our energy. Sure, you can “lie” by doing that “pretend to throw the ball” thing to make your dog run after nothing, but all that’s going to do is quickly teach her to not trust you, and who wants that? You cannot lie to a dog otherwise. You can give her the biggest smile in the world while you’re feeling sad about something, and she’ll see right through it.

However, none of this is a negative about dogs. Exactly the opposite: This ability to be our mirrors is one of the greatest gifts that they can give us. It’s instant and honest feedback, and the kind you may not get from other humans.

If your dog is acting a bit off and it’s not due to illness, then there’s something off about you, and your dog’s behavior is your signal to start looking to see what the issue is. Maybe you’re tense and haven’t realized it. Maybe you’ve been in a bad mood. Or, the opposite, maybe you’ve been too happy and excited. Whatever the cause, you’ve got a four-footed therapist right there to help you spot it.

Once you look at your dog as a mirror, you can begin to use him as another tool: a level. And what’s the whole point of a level? To find that place in the center, where nothing is leaning too far to one side or the other. That’s called balance, which comes from finding the symmetry between both sides; in this case, you and your reflection — your dog.

When your dog reflects well on you, you’re the one who’s found balance — and that’s the truth.

Stay calm, and keep reflecting!

How to Remove a Tick

Reprinted from FB

With tick season here, prevent Lyme and other diseases with these vitally important tips

By Jeneen Interlandi
May 12, 2017

The chances of getting a tick bite—and being infected with a disease like Lyme or Powassan—are higher this spring and summer than they've been in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Mosquitoes and ticks are being found in new areas where we haven’t seen them occurring before,” says CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes. And the list of diseases they carry is growing longer.

There are many simple steps you can take to protect yourself from getting bitten by a tick in the first place. But when those precautions fail, you'll want to know the best way to find these blood suckers, and the right way to remove them from your body.

Know Where and How to Look

The CDC recommends that you bathe or shower as soon as possible after returning from a tick-prone area: You are more likely to find ticks crawling on you that way, and you may even catch them before they bite.

You should also conduct a full-body tick check if you can: Use a full-length mirror to to examine all parts of your body for insects. And if you can't access a shower or a mirror right away, you should at least check the most likely hiding places: Ticks love dark, moist places, like the armpits, the groin, behind the ears, and at the base of the skull, near the hairline.

It's important to perform these checks as soon as possible. While some pathogens (like the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease) take up to 72 hours to pass from tick to human, others (like the Powassan virus) can be transmitted in a matter of hours. The faster you find the tick, the less likely you are to become infected.

The Right Moves

If you find a tick, don't panic! The CDC's protocol for removing them is quite simple:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.

2. Once you have a firm grasp, pull upward with steady, even force. Don't twist or jerk the tick as you may cause the mouth to break off and remain in the skin.

3. If you do accidentally break the tick in half, try removing the mouth with the tweezers. If you can't, leave it alone and let the skin heal.

4. You can dispose of the tick in one of several ways: submerse it in alcohol; place it in a sealed bag or container; wrap it tightly in tape; or flush it down the toilet. (Never handle a tick with your bare fingers; pathogens called spirochetes can pass from the tick to you through even tiny breaks in your skin).

5. Once the tick is disposed of, thoroughly clean the bite area, and your hands, with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

6. Check the bite area for several weeks after removal; if you develop a rash there (or have a fever at any point in that time-frame), see a doctor about getting tested for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

What Not to Do

There is no shortage of alternative tick removal strategies to be found online. Most of those folk remedies have long since been debunked. A 1985 study in the journal Pediatrics compared several popular strategies (vaseline, nail polish, and a hot kitchen match) to the tweezers technique described above and found that none worked nearly as well.

Fancy tools: There are several tick removal devices on the market, but the CDC says that a plain set of fine-tipped (pointy) tweezers, or a thin curved forceps (available at a regular pharmacy) is really all you need. These simple instruments are actually perfect for gripping the tick close to the skin and avoiding its bloated abdomen, which can burst open if you squeeze it.

Suffocation: One popular folk remedy for removing ticks involves trying to "suffocate" them with butter, petroleum jelly, or some other thick waxy substance. Not only will this not kill the tick, but by delaying tick removal to try it, you increase the likelihood that disease-causing pathogens will pass from the tick's body to yours.

Heat: Another popular tick-removal strategy involves using heat, usually in the form of a glowing match, to persuade the tick to detach from your skin on its own. This approach doesn't work because heat will only encourage the tick to burrow further into your skin. It also wastes precious time. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible, the CDC writes. You don't want to wait for it to detach.