Another Thanksgiving day has come and gone and as I watch my two English Bulldogs sunning themselves (it's actually cool today down here in Florida), I can't help but think how thankful I am for my family, my home, my husband, my parents...everything. I try to be conscious of what I have in my life and not take it for granted. So best of health to everyone and enjoy your families!

Monique & the Nose Prints family!

Meghan Vogel and an inspiring gesture

I know - I usually write upbeat stories about dogs or cats and how they improve our life and perhaps make us think about our actions. Today I'm taking a break from inspiring animal stories or tips for your dog and I bring you an inspirational human story. I do so partly because they happen so infrequently.

You may have seen this on Huffington Post or another site - Meghan Vogel, a track star from Ohio carried a fallen competitor across the finish line. Meghan is obviously a special woman and obviously a true sportsman, someone who gets the concept of competition. My husband has mentioned a number of times that he thinks women are better people, in general, than men. Part of it is he realizes that he is a knuckle dragging primate with limitations. And that's okay. But he brings up a good point. Imagine a man making this gesture. I can't. And neither can my husband. We can see a dog making a gesture like this but no, no man. In fact, I also recalled a few years back a story about a womans softball team that made such a gesture as Meghan Vogel did. A girl hit a home run but injured her knee. She was unable to run to first base so the home run would not count. A couple girls from the opposing team asked if it was against the rules to carry her across and touch her foot to the bases. It wasn't and they did. I'll have to find the details and it's irrelevant if they won or lost - the point is it is an wonderful gesture, one that stands out even more in todays world. So if any readers know of any similar gestures made by males, please send me info. You can read the story about Meghan Vogels gesture here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/05/meghan-vogel-ohio-track-star-carries-runner-video_n_1570857.html?ref=mostpopular
Keep wagging everyone!

Dogs serving our Country

I want to thank all of the men and women who have put their lives on the line serving our country. There aren't a lot of people who willingly volunteer their time, energy and yes, sometimes their life to protect our country. Thank you from all of us. Here's an article on CNN that provides more insight into Memorial Day, certainly much more eloquently than I can. And I would highly recommend this CNN article profiling Karl Malantes and his struggles (which most soldiers will face) after returning home. Most people never think that once you participate in a war, it never ends.

I'd also like to take a moment and say thanks to all of the dogs and their handlers out there that also serve their country. Dogs, by and large, go unnoticed in the war against terrorism but rest assured they do their part and many have given their lives doing so. Take a moment and visit http://www.uswardogs.org/id2.html
And the dog training secret.com site is really awesome as well detailing the contributions that dogs make and have made.
There are so many special dogs and trainers out there that deserve our thanks and recognition for the difficult work they perform on our behalf.

Thank you again for serving our country. Stay healthy and happy and keep wagging everyone!

Monique
noseprints.net

A friend sent me a link to a video and I was reminded how a little gesture can have far reaching implications and underscore what is really important in life. I bring this up not to pat myself on the back but because I think it is important to realize that no matter how small the gesture, you can touch someones life and not even be aware of it. We created the "Keep Wagging" slogan to remind people to take a lesson from dogs and keep a positive attitude in spite of anything and everything life throws at them. This stems from watching too many seriously injured dogs that wagged when I approached them on an exam table. Here's a dog with a broken leg and in spite of his pain, he's wagging because he's happy to see me. That is a valuable lesson and I would learn that it can get you through really tough times.

Flash forward to a gentleman (Florida Highway Patrolman) who bought a couple of Buddy Belts from Noseprints.net and shortly thereafter was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that resulted in him being in a coma. His recovery was slow and painful and undoubtedly a very low point - I can only imagine struggling though the pain, rehab and depression, wondering if he would ever get better. I am very proud that a Keep Wagging greeting card that we sent with his order profoundly impacted his life, lifted his spirits and helped him turn a corner.

I watched this and cried because when you touch someones life, really reach them on a level that you never even though of reaching someone, you realize that this is what we seek in life. I found myself in a place where I was giving instead of taking and I would think we should all aspire to that. To give someone hope and help them through a tough time - well, it doesn't get any better than that.
Keep Wagging everyone! Monique

CNN story on Horse "big lick" training

Seriously? I watch stuff like this in horror - and the first thoughts are always about the welfare of the animal. But the larger question is always "What the hell are these people thinking?" I'm so sick of animals being abused for entertainment or something that is considered a "tradition"... I'm wondering what positive contribution comes out of this sort of thing. If you genuinely care about your horse, you would be mad as hell and prosecute. Watch at your own risk.

Newscaster bitten

By now you've all heard or watched Kyle Dyer being bitten by Maximus, a dog that made news when he was rescued after following through the ice. You know the details but let me tell you, based on my experience, my observations. And yes, she was not educated (as most people are not) on how to not only approach a dog but how to tell that a dog is nervous and potentially dangerous because something is making them uncomfortable. As I watched a clip on the Today show, the first think I noticed was how uncomfortable the dog was. He was licking his lips (a sure sign that they are nervous) and panting and his ears were back (instead of forward pointing). When you see one of these signs let alone all three, you never approach a dog - you let them come to you. And you should never, ever bend down to a dog that doesn't know you and is showing signs of distress. Most people have never been taught this. My husband got over sixty stitches in his leg from being an idiot with a dog and he readily admits he deserved it. She wasn't being an idiot but she was clearly not educated on what to look for and how to approach a dog. The dog was clearly not in his comfort zone. He's in an environment that he doesn't recognize with people he doesn't know. Of course he's going to be skittish. Imagine having a twenty foot person bending down in your face (which is probably how the dog perceives a much larger human bending down over them). I'm sorry to hear that she was bitten - what is ever sadder are the people who are condemning the dog. Ignorance will get you injured. Just ask my husband who had to get sixty stitches in his leg because he was being an idiot (his words, not mine). 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099063/Worried-viewers-News-anchor-Kyle-Dyer-savagely-bitten-dog-air-released-hospital-speak.html#ixzz1lwBjypVP

http://3lostdogs.com/do-you-recognize-these-6-signs-of-a-stressed-out-dog/

Hi, I'm Ron and I'll be your guest blogger today. For those of you who know Monique, you know that she cannot suppress a smile when she see's animals of different species bonding, seemingly enjoying each others company and just getting along. No judgments, just acceptance. And I know there are millions of others out there who also enjoy seeing animals being buddies. Today I saw a video on CNN about a dog and a goat that are best friends. Now Bishop, (AKA goatboy) our oldest rescue English Bulldog believes he is a goat or perhaps is simply channeling his inner goatness when he climbs on tables (notice the proud somewhat smug look on his face) or kitchen islands. But to my knowledge, he does not consort with Goats. On a side note, I can also state that Bishop only climbs the island when I am home.If Monique is home, neither of us dare climb the island. You may also note that, although Bishop may be happily snoozing on the island in the picture below, the white meatloaf known as Big Tuna, standing on the floor, is not.

I too am fascinated by these relationships and wonder what needs are being met, if any. Sure, I'm mindful that the dog would probably eat the goat in other circumstances. Or as Woody Allen stated in one of his proverbs: The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won't get much sleep." Ah, the Woodman. Understood. But it still charges my batteries when I see these unlikely goombahs spending time together.

If you are interested in these uplifting stories, I'd recommend picking up a copy of "Unlikely friendships - 47 remarkable stories from the animal kingdom" by Jennifer S. Holland. The book profiles strange couplings such as "the monkeys and the capybaras", the Orangutan babies and the Tiger cubs and of course, my personal favorite, Owen and Mzee, the Tortoise and the Hippo. How strange are these couples? More so than Felix and Oscar but with just as much love I suspect.  I find myself wondering if humans will ever get to this point, to simply leave all the noise behind and simply accept.
Perhaps one day.
Who knows why these animals form these bonds or even why people form the strong bonds that they do with their dogs and cats. People look at my bulldogs and see two fat, flatulent dogs that resemble large meat loaves. I proudly look at my two bulldogs and see two fat flatulent bullies that resemble large meat loaves. But I love them dearly! So if you find yourself in a special relationship, be it two legged or four, don't take it for granted, don't question why there is a bond. Just acceptance and bask in it and consider yourself lucky.

Keep your pets healthy and safe and Keep Wagging everybody!
At least I think that is how Monique signs off.
Ron

Dogs are remarkable creatures who can teach us a great deal about living an honorable life. That is if we actually take the time to observe them. Not sure if everyone caught this video that was on ABC News but it is worth watching the synergy between these two dogs waiting for a forever home. I'm feeling the love.

Watch and enjoy! Keep Wagging everyone!

Monique

I happened to overhear a client who expressed her concern over her dogs diet. Specifically that the dog in question was eating too many "green" things. She was under the impression that too much food outside of their regular (i.e. manufactured) The good news is, just like humans, their is no harm in your dog eating green foods. The exceptions are Onions, Garlic and grapes. In fact, the more they gnosh on from your garden (I repeat: No Onions!) the better. Beans, peppers (not hot), tomatoes, these are all okay. In fact, this is part of their natural diet unless I missed the class in which they discussed the wild dogs of Borneo roaming the grassy savannahs, rummaging for wild growing cans of Science diet chicken and rice formula. In fact, if you watch the video below, you will see the white meat loaf known as Big Tuna, my English Bulldog, sampling items from our garden. She's a good eater.

There is still debate if dogs are canivores or omnivores but I'm not going to discuss that here. You can read an interesting article on diets for dogs on dogfoodadvisor.com.  Take a moment to check out their site. They have a wonderful breadth of information on various diets (such as raw dog food diests, wet dog food, dry dog food) and updates on dog food recalls. they also have a very cool dog food calculator so you can gauge how much dog food your four legged family member should be receiving!

Stay healthy everyone and Keep Wagging!

Monique
NosePrints.ent

Plant toxicity -

I was recently at a T shirt shop reviewin the artwork for our newest Keep Wagging T-shirt design when the owner of the company told me a story about his dogs. One that I hate hearing because I hear it fairly frequently. He had two dogs, both of which ingested seeds from a small Cycad (related to Palm trees). I was somewhat familiar with the plant because it is used often in landscaping because of its unique look.

The plant is commonly referred to as a "Cardboard plant" or "cardboard palm" and looks fairly benign. However, when the plant has seeds, many animals will gnaw on the corn cob like structure that houses the bright red (first warning sign) seeds. The owner told me that his two dogs had gotten one of the corn cobs and chewed on it. One dog swallowed the seeds while the other dog (the "chewer" as he said) actually chewed on them before swallowing. Unfortunately the dog that chewed them died later that evening while the other dog managed to pass the seeds and survived.

I had never heard of this toxic plant so I did a little research. You can take a look at the wonderful ASPCA website to not only learn about this plant but all others. I'd encourage you to familiarize yourself with the local plants to possibly avoid this scenario. You can also find out more at the Florida Palm Tree site.

The cardboard palm is toxic to horses, dogs and cats and the seeds really do some terrible damage to the GI tract and liver before ultimately leading to the animals death.

And remember that if your dog is vomiting, drooling or showing other signs that it may have ingested something toxic, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 88-426-4435 for guidance. And the quicker you can get your pet to a 24 hour emergency pet clinic, the better.

Keep your pets safe, healthy and Keep Wagging!

Monique

One of the questions we get asked quite often is our clients want to know how to clean a dogs ears. Typically they're uncomfortable with sticking something in their dogs ears and I don't blame them. If you aren't careful, you can perforate a dog (or cats) eardrum and cause some damage. So I put together a video which is helpful (I think) because it demystifies the process and shows you how easy it really is to clean your dogs ears. And you really don't need much. I recommend using Zymox as your ear cleaning solution and you'll need gauze and Q-Tips. If you're as uncomfortable as my husband is about sticking a Q-Tip in your dog or cats ear, don't do it. Use the gauze to wipe out as much gunk, then flush again with the Zymox.

Oh, and when you see a dog scratching their ears or face? Check their ears because many times that is want they're reacting to. Allergies, infections, there is no shortage what can cause this problem. And certain breeds are more susceptible to ear problems.

Enjoy and if you have any questions, please contact me!

Monique
NosePrints.net

Great Blue Heron and Tilapia

I know this has absolutely nothing to do with dogs or cats but I have to share with you because it simply isn't something one see's everyday. My husband and I were on the west coast of Florida hiking and we came across a Great Blue Heron struggling with his catch - a sizable Tilapia ( or at least we believe it was a Tilapia. We watched for over 15 minutes as he struggled to position the fish but it was the size that proved to be insurmountable - or not. Watch and find out if this majestic bird actually was able to swallow what looks like a week's worth of food!

We've also got a couple of very cool video's coming up that are going to show you how to properly and safely clean your dogs ears and we're going to address a specific diet issue for dogs!

Have a great day and Keep Wagging!

Monique
NosePrints.net

Kenyan Beaded Dog Collars

From time to time, noseprints.net sells pretty unique stuff - and in this case, I wanted to share with you these very unique dog collars. Handcrafted in Kenya, these dog collars are beaded by Massai and the solid buckles are hand cast from solid brass. I happen to be quite partial to unique dog collars, something that you would never find at a Petco or big box retailer. Check them out at my website Noseprints.net and poke around a bit. We have some seriously cool dog leashes and dog collars that you probably aren't going to find anywhere.

Morality in animals

Very interesting talk on TED.com - and for those of you who aren't familiar with TED.COM, I would recommend, very highly, watching their videos at least once a week. Fascinating topics from fascinating people.
In this case, Frans De Waal delivers an engaging talk on morality in other species - what he describes as caring about the well-being of others isn't just restricted to humans as you'll see. This might be a little long (16 minutes) for those who are a bit attention challenged, but it is worth watching. There are some really fascinating tests that show some traits that we share with our primate relatives. What is really fascinating is the sense of fairness that some species demonstrate (see the Capuchin test toward the end of the video). So we really aren't much different from other animals - now if we can only figure out how to stop breeding animals and get homes for all the abandoned dogs and cats!

As always, keep your dogs and cats safe and keep wagging!

How to select a veterinarian

Most people do not have any idea on how to select a veterinarian nor do they know what criteria they should consider. Why is this important? I give to you the following illustration. Just today word comes out that an undercover PETA operation exposes the abuses of a veterinarian, one Gene F. Giggleman. Giggleman is accused of unprofessional and/or dishonorable conduct following PETA's investigation of Global Exotics (USGE) a large exotic animal dealer were Giggleman was the attending veterinarian. Among other allegations, he is accused of crushing the heads of squirrels. Is this someone that you would want caring for your animals? Or even managing people who care for your animals? You can read the article about the PETA investigation here.

So how does one avoid veterinarians like this? This is where one of my most trusted barometers comes into play. My gut feeling. When you meet a veterinarian, you can tell who is truly passionate about animals and one who is simply going through the motions and doing it for the money. If you are a good judge of character, you can weed out the shaky vets (who tend to get weeded out as well).
What should you look for? Personal recommendations are always a good starting point. Then turn to Google and search for the vets name and look for complaints or issues with them or their practice. I would also recommend looking for an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) hospital. Around 15% of all animal hospitals are AAHA members and its for a good reason. They have very high standards (customer service, patient care, medicine has to be advanced) and it's voluntary. Which translates into a lot of work. And of course, there are many good hospitals out there that are not AAHA accredited.

Bottom line, as with everything. Do your homework.Get references. Find an AAHA hospital.

Keep your pets happy and healthy and Keep Wagging everyone!
Monique

Perfect product for canine massage therapists or active pet owners

Check this out. I was doing a show for Keep Wagging/Nose Prints down in Islamorada and I found a very interesting product that can be very helpful to canine massage therapists. A couple booths down from me was Barbara and Artie - founders of Waglet Works. In the interest of transparency, no, we are not being paid in any way, shape or form by Waglet Works. I'm writing about their product because I happen to think it is an interesting product that solves a few problems. The product is called a Waglet and is a belt based system that you attach the appropriate accessories to.

When I first saw the Waglet belt a light went off in my head! Duh! What a brilliant idea! Professionally, I've watched dog trainers over the years stuffing treats in their pockets and fumbling to get them out to give to their dog. Then they run out and have to go get more treats to put in their pockets. Then they want to give their dog water so they run back....well, you get the point. And personally, I've experienced the same when taking the bullies for a hike. But the beauty of the Waglet is it keeps your hands free. Critical if you're hiking with your dogs or simply training them. You attach their treats, foot, water and anything else you want to bring with you. That's about as simple and convenient as you can make it. And the product is of course stylish, well made and solves a problem.


Check them out their website http://wagletworks.com/ to get more information and see the product. They're good people who do the right thing by their four leggeds. Be sure to read how Barbara and Artie's professional lives provided the inspiration for the Waglet belt. Awesome idea, great people!

Keep Wagging everyone and keep your furkids safe!

Monique

Dogs and heat stoke: Jeremy Renner loses French bulldog to heat

Okay, I know I sound like a broken record but until I no longer have to run across a headline like this, I won't keep my mouth shut.

I read this morning that Jeremy Renner, a talented actor, lost his 8 month old French bulldog puppy to what sounds like heat stroke. My condolences to Mr. Renner on his loss. Apparently Jeremy Renner had a friend watching his bulldog puppy and there is no easy way to say this but it sounds like better decisions could have been made. First, a very young dog (8 months) is brought out to a field at what is arguably the hottest point in the day. Second, he was a French Bulldog. Smoosh faced dogs are notorious for overheating - it's simply way too difficult for them to cool down because physically, they are simply not built to withstand the heat.

I totally understand that people want to share their lives and activities with their four leggeg family members. I absolutely, totally get it. We want to take Bishop and Big Tuna with us everyone but their health trumps what we want. They are Bulldogs. They would suffer heat stroke in approximately 15 to 20 minutes of being in the heat in south florida and die shortly thereafter. Some of you make think that is an exaggeration. I can tell you that it is not. So their exposure to the elements is very limited.

What pains me most about Jeremy Renners situation (and hell, almost all others) is that it is totally avoidable.
I know how painful it is to lose a member of the family. I've lost four legged friends to renal disease and cancer. I is devastating. But these are things that can't be controlled. Exposure to the heat can be. And that makes it worse. You can read the article here:http://www.eonline.com/news/jeremy_renner_mourns_death_of_his/301619

I also found something in the coverage that bothered me. It sounded like the person responsible for watching the puppy actually left the puppy (presumably with someone else) to get a snack. This strikes me as a bit disturbing. The equivalent would be a baby sitter for a human leaving the baby with someone else while they went off to do something. If I'm having someone watch my dog, the damn well better watch the dog. I'm trusting them with a life that is dear to me.

To reiterate, puppies do not belong out in the heat. If you must have your dog outside and it's hot, you must have water and shelter. And access to a pool or pond. You simply must. One bit of advice. If you choose someone to watch your dogs, make sure they know what they're doing. Either they should be a trained dog sitter, vet tech or someone well grounded in basic safety knowledge.

This is utterly heartbreaking and a very, very painful lesson.

Keep your dogs safe,

Monique

Heat stroke in dogs

Okay, I know I may sound like a broken record but until I stop reading headlines like the one below, I'm not going to shut up. 

I caught a headline that Jeremy Renner, a talented actor, lost his 8 month old puppy who died of heatstroke (or at least sounds like he did). My condolences to Mr. Renner on the loss of his bully.  Jeremy Renner had a friend watching his 8 month old Franklin and there's no easy way to say this. There were some bad decisions made. First, a very young dog, regardless of breed, was brought out to a field at what is arguably the hottest point in the day. Second, he was a French Bulldog. Smoosh faced dogs are notorious for overheating - it's way too difficult for them to cool down because physically, they are simply not built to withstand heat. 


You can read the heartbreaking article here:
http://www.eonline.com/news/jeremy_renner_mourns_death_of_his/301619

I totally understand that people want to share their lives and activities with their four legged family members. I absolutely, totally get it. We want to take Bishop and Big Tuna every where but unfortunately, they are bulldogs. They would die in about ten minutes out here in the heat in South Florida so their exposure to the elements are limited. 


What pains me most is that this scenario is totally avoidable. 


I know what it's like to lose a four legged kid. I've already lost too many to old age and disease. I can't image what it is like to lose a family member in a situation that can be controlled. I feel badly for Jeremy Renner and anyone else who loses a pet in a scenario that could have easily been avoided.

On a side note, I'm not sure if anyone else picked up on this but it sounds like the dog sitter actually left the dog (hopefully with someone trusted) to get a snack. Sort of like a human baby sitting leaving the baby to grab something while a friend covers for him. If I'm having someone watch my dog, they damn well better watch the dog. I've trusted them with a life that is important to me.  

To reiterate, puppies do not belong out in the heat. If you must have your dog outside and it's hot, you must have water and shelter. And access to a pool or pond. You simply must.  One bit of advice. If you choose someone to watch your dogs, make sure they know what they're doing. Either they are a trained technician, dog walker/baby sitter or someone who understands basic safety issues. This is utterly heartbreaking to me and a very very painful lesson.

Keep your dogs safe,

Monique

To Purchase Pet Insurance Or Not. That Is The Question

Our Beloved Bishop

I read an article the other day about the growing popularity of pet insurance and naturally, I like to read the comments that some people make. Generally the comments that get my ire are those that are misinformed or in general have no experience with what they are discussing. To wit, those who think pet insurance is unnecessary or worst case, that it is a rip off. I can tell you it is neither. My first rescue dog had to have not one, but two knee surgeries within a short period of time. And I thank my collective gods that I had insurance (and they covered the surgeries) because I would still be paying off those two rebuilt knees. 

What do you need to know about pet insurance? First, ask a lot of questions. As with insuring humans, there are generally levels of coverage that can be added which can drive up the cost of coverage. And the percentages that are covered vary as well. Keep in mind that some pure breeds and hence, genetic pre-dispositions, may not be covered with some insurance companies but others will cover for an extra fee. Why do pure breeds have more issues you ask? There'll be more on this in a future blog. Trust me.

In short, do your homework and compare policies. And now you have more choices. When we had our first dog, if I recall correctly, there were only two companies offering coverage. Today there are eleven providing varying levels of coverage for your pet. If you can afford it, I would urge you to strongly consider getting insurance for your pet. 

Take a moment to watch the video below:

http://bcove.me/nnke72vk

Keep Wagging everyone!

Pet Insurance

I read an article the other day about the growing popularity of pet insurance and naturally, I like to read the comments that some people make. Generally the comments that get my ire are those that are misinformed or in general have no experience with what they are discussing. To wit, those who think pet insurance is unnecessary or worst case, that it is a rip off. I can tell you it is neither. My first rescue dog had to have not one, but two knee surgeries within a short period of time. And I thank my collective gods that I had insurance (and they covered the surgeries) because I would still be paying off those two rebuilt knees.

What do you need to know about pet insurance? First, ask a lot of questions. As with insuring humans, there are generally levels of coverage that can be added which can drive up the cost of coverage. And the percentages that are covered vary as well. Keep in mind that some pure breeds and hence, genetic pre-dispositions, may not be covered. Why do pure breeds have more issues you ask? There'll be more on this in a future blog. Trust me.

In short, do your homework and compare policies. And now you have more choices. When we had our first dog, if I recall correctly, there were only two companies offering coverage. Today there are eleven providing varying levels of coverage for your pet. If you can afford it, I would urge you to strongly consider getting insurance for your pet.

Take a moment to watch the video below:
http://bcove.me/nnke72vk

Keep Wagging everyone!

Canine physical therapy can work miracles!

If this doesn't make you cry, you may not be human. I'll let the videos do the talking but for those who don't think physical rehab can pay much dividends, check this out.

 Pretty incredible stuff. A paraplegic dog learning to walk.

Newscaster bitten

veteran news anchor who was rushed to the hospital after a dog that appeared on her morning show bit her in the face on live TV was released this afternoon.
Though Kyle Dyer still cannot talk, she has told friends and colleagues that she is concerned about the viewers who saw her get savagely bitten by the 85-pound Argentine Mastiff who was being highlighted in morning news segment.
Ms Dyer, who had been working at the Denver, Colorado station for over 15 years, had reconstructive surgery Wednesday afternoon following the attack, and was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon.
In order to communicate, she is using tools on her iPad to type out messages to loved ones.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099063/Worried-viewers-News-anchor-Kyle-Dyer-savagely-bitten-dog-air-released-hospital-speak.html#ixzz1lwBjypVP

A friend just sent me this last night and this ties in with the last post. Humans and animals. You can't help but be moved by this video. This group of gorillas treat this human with respect and curiosity - sure, the male gorilla could break this man in half but his intentions seem more to keep the kids in line while they check out the human curiosity. And I can't help but think of how humans repeatedly fail when it comes to respecting other life forms. From horrific factory farming conditions to abusing a family pet, we seem to not lack for new and innovative ways to abuse our fellow life forms. And then you have this flip side, a species that could literally rip us apart but they choose to simply groom the mans hair and remove a twig from it. Truly a magnificent mammal and watching them I couldn't help but feel shame - shame that we aren't a better species. Perhaps with time that will come - I always wonder how many generations out it will take before the population is horrified at how we USED to treat animals. "They used to fight what?" Watch, enjoy and keep wagging!

Animals and humans

I was thinking about some of the wonderful experiences that I've had working with animals around the world. Helping nurse sea turtles back to health in St. Croix, helping several hundred green turtles recover from a severe cold snap in South Florida, and helping with all the malnourished, abandoned dogs and cats in Slydell Louisiana after hurricane Katrina forcefully introduced herself to the U.S.A., I've been fortunate to experience these things and more. And through these experiences, there are consistencies that leap to mind. One is the positive outlook that animals seem to possess no matter what they are going through. Forget about humans projecting their feelings on to the animal in front of them. If you've ever looked in the eyes of an injured dog that suddenly wags when you look at him/her, you'll know what I am talking about. I've know this about animals for a long time because I've experienced it on a daily basis for over twenty years. But from time to time something rears its head and gives me hope...and just like that my faith in humanity is restored. Just when I get so mad at people for failing to protect/care/nurture animals, a human will show...well, some depth of humanity that is refreshing. In situations where animals need help, that's when you see the good side of people. It doesn't get the headlines that the negative treatment of animals does but it happens and its exhilarating when I see it! Yes, there are millions of us that love and care for animals and I'm proud to be one of them! Keep doing the right thing and Keep Wagging!