It's getting to be that time of the year when a lot of us travel. Sometimes our dogs go with us, other times, not. I thought it was a good time to repeat a post I wrote in 2010 about doing all I can to keep my dogs safe and happy when with a house sitter. ...Leaving one’s dog(s) is hard, and the only way I can do it myself without being a wreck is to have a system in which I feel like I’ve covered as many bases as I can. Here are some of my tips, I’d love to hear yours: 1. Put a big-lettered note by the phone that says YOU ARE HERE and give the address and phone number of your home. House sitters rarely can spit out your address in a crisis, and that’s when they need it the most. 2. Also by the phone, leave EMERGENCY phone numbers for your usual vet (who you’ve called to approve Read More
Archives for April 2018
Lambs. Flowers. Working Dog Conference. Oh My.
Ever wanted to be two places at once? I left Thursday for the Penn Vet Working Dog Conference in Philly and wanted to stay home. (Lambs. Flowers...) I spoke Friday to introduce the conference (speaking about resilience, blog on that to come in a few weeks), and wanted to stay all weekend. The line up of speakers was that inspiring. If I were you, I would seriously consider going next year, even if you don't have a dog who is officially a "working dog." Honestly, I promise, you'll learn bunches. It's an amazing conference. I was terrible about getting photographs at the conference. But I did take a photo of the Dogwise table, who generously sponsored the dinner and offered discounts to all participants. (Dogwise made the offer, not the table. I really should edit the sentence, but an Read More
Meditate Petitate? Why Not?
I began meditating because of pain. I'd injured my shoulder and somehow managed to strain the connection between my collar bone and sternum. For over a year I was in the kind of pain that sucks the energy out of you, and makes it a victory to get through the day without collapsing into a limp pile of defeat. Extensive physical therapy and medications did not help. In desperation I joined a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program and discovered that acknowledging and describing the pain really did make it less aversive. My shoulder healed and I stopped meditating until I began the therapy I describe in The Education of Will. Since then, I've meditated off and on for years. I describe myself as a "lazy meditator"--my sessions often lasting no more 10-15 minutes, with plenty of days of Read More
Thank Your Veterinarian Day
I am officially hereby declaring today as "Thank Your Veterinarian Day". Here's why: It's not because a bevy of dedicated veterinarians saved Willie and will continue to partner with me to keep him healthy, although that's a great reason. It's not because my animal's primary veterinarians (more on them soon) are not just committed professionals but have all become good friends. Another good reason. And it's not because all of them never hesitate to move heaven and earth to be there for us if there is a crisis. Good reason number three. What actually motivated this post was a talk I had with one of our dog's primary vets, Dr. John Dally, about what it is like to be a veterinarian in 2018. It's not easy. For one thing the expectations of many animal owners are over the moon. Read More
Are We Doing Enough for Our Dogs?
Spoiler alert: I don't know the answer. But it is a timely question for so many of us. Including me personally, because right now I am cooking all the dog's food (more on that in posts to come, no doubt), giving Willie five supplements, scheduling acupuncture bi-weekly and ultra sounds every 3-6 months and carefully monitoring his physical rehab after his oh-so-very expensive surgery. And yet, I still find myself wondering, am I doing enough for the dogs? Is Tootsie bored? Shouldn't I be taking the BC's on another walk rather than watching golf on TV? Am I doing enough to prevent cancer recurring in any of my dogs? And then, I think about all the other things in life that need time and attention. And all the other animals, people and even issues desperately in need of Read More