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!

Learning The Hard Way

Being in the veterinary world for over 20 years has shown me how so much has changed for the better.......for better patient care.
Research helps us improve patient care so we become better care givers to our furry, feathery and scaly friends.

Right now it's all about shaping the behavior of a companion. In the old days it was punish them when they did something wrong. Or force them to do something that terrified them (genius of us, huh?)
In turn we created fearful, aggressive and/or anxious animals.

I know a lot of you out there still train the same old way. Well, it's not working. To this day more animals are brought to shelters and euthanized for BEHAVIOR reasons than any other reason. I kid you not! It's not because there aren't enough homes or that they are "just bad". Most of them did not get what they needed at a very young age. The biggest thing was lack of proper socialization.

We are so lucky to have one of only 54 Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorists in our area,
Dr Lisa Radosta, DACVB. She is my hero. She teaches all of us how to look at these magnificent creatures in a new light. I ask that you do the same.


She has some awesome articles that everyone should read. Examples: Why You Shouldn't Use Physical Punishment, Why Dominance Doesn't Work and Top 10 Training Tips.

We now know what doesn't work. Change your way of thinking and do what does work!

Don't learn the hard way like many owners do. Be proactive and give these kids a chance.

Keep Wagging everyone because they will if you just give them the chance to.

You are all they have!

Monique

Keep Wagging success story Part deux

Okay, so I was trying to make a point that I wanted to spread a positive message, to be a part of the solution on some minimalist scale. Well guess what? I've got an awesome story that makes me tear up...and yes, it involves the message of "Keep Wagging".

Several years ago, my husband met a person who was enjoying a quiet morning at Panera with two baby bulldogs. Duke and Daisy. Ron struck up a conversation wanting to see if they knew what they were getting into. The person who had chosen to share his life with the two baby bulls was a Florida State Trooper and he turned out to be a most generous and kind person. Flash forward a bit and he ends up ordering two buddy belts from Noseprints.net. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter he was in a very bad motorcycle accident and was in a coma for days and in the hospital for a good stretch. After not even being sure that he would survive, he pulled through and went through the arduous task of healing. Obviously a very susceptable time frame and where it is easy to be in a not so good place. In one of the more depressing moments, he happened to glance at a card that I include with all my shipments and this is in a nutshell, what it says.
"Whenever an event occurs in your life you basically have two choices on how to react to it. You can look at it in a positive light or you can cst it in the shadows of negativity. There is absolutely nothing to be gained from negativity. So make a positive choice and KEEP WAGGING!"
When he read the card, he realized that was the key to getting through it all. Staying positive. Knowing that yes, you will eventually heal. I cannot tell you how absolutely thrilled I was to learn that the Keep Wagging message had touched someones life! How awesome is that?

Watch the video please.