Talking-To-Animals Newsletter March 2006

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TALKING TO ANIMALS Monthly Newsletter

"By loving and understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other."
Dr. Louis J. Camuti

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March 2006

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Published monthly for subscribers to Talking To Animals Newsletter
By Charlene Boyd

http://www.talk-to-animals.com

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO FRIENDS

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In this edition:

1. Welcome!
2. Inspirational quotations about animals
3. Featured Article: The Story Of Casey: Rags To Riches Story
4. Dogs As Movie Stars
5. A story from my files:
6. FAF's (fascinating animal facts)
7. From the Bookshelf
8. Spring Gardens
9. Questions Answered
10.The Tail End

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1. WELCOME

Welcome to the March issue of Talk To Animals. Most of us are eagerly waiting for spring to usher in the unfolding of Mother Nature's season of rebirth as the earth begins a colorful display of color and new life. I love to watch the buds on the trees swell and burst with new leaves, to hear the birds singing as they happily build nests for the upcoming babies and to watch the sunrise and sunset as the days gradually become longer and brighter. Winter is retreating; all is well with the world!

This month's edition is dedicated to animal rescue and the dedicated volunteers that make a difference in the lives of animals across America. We will have an update on some of the positive changes that have come from Hurricane Katrina and animal welfare in the face of national disasters. Are you curious about rally obedience? Find out how to have fun with your dog in this newest activity that is sweeping the country. All dogs may apply! Read about Jack, a dog who continues to guide and support his owner even though he has passed. More good things are also included this month, so grab a sunny spot, sit down and read about the animals we all love!

Charlene

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2. INSPIRATIONAL QUOTATIONS ABOUT ANIMALS

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Mahatma Ghandi

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role models for being alive."
Gilda Radner

I used to look at my dog Smokey and think, "if you were a little smarter you could tell me what you're thinking," and he'd look at me like he was saying, "if you were a little smarter I wouldn’t have to."
Fred Jungclaus

"Without free animal life I believe we will lose the spiritual equivalent of oxygen."
Alice Walker

"The fingerprint of God is often a paw print."
Anonymous

"If you can't decide between a Shepherd, a Setter, or a Poodle, get them all... adopt a mutt"
ASPCA

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3. FEATURED ARTICLE: The Story Of Casey: Rags To Riches Story

The ongoing rescue of America's unwanted dogs and cats and other species is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming experience. People involved in animal rescue work are my heroes. Whether it is rescuing animals from kill-shelters, fostering animals, doing home checks for suitable homes or finding homes for senior and special needs pets, they are truly the guardian angels of unwanted animals.

They were there when the devastation in New Orleans was made public and immediate help was needed. Animals from puppy mills and other wholesale auctions are often given a second chance through the selfless efforts of the rescue community. There are never enough homes or enough funds for transportation, housing and medical care. Often rescued animals are emotionally traumatized and social rehabilitation is the first order so they may be candidates for adoption. The spaying and neutering of all pets and proper identification will go along way to alleviate the problem of unwanted pets in America and elsewhere in the world.

The Story Of Casey: Rags To Riches Story

As many of you know, I have had Bearded Collies for 20 years and Bearded Collie rescue is one of the best breed rescue program in our country. When the need or request for help is spread throughout our breed, everyone will stop and do what needs to be done. Although not the perfect dog for everyone, they are becoming increasingly popular, turning up in pets stores nationwide. Sadly, most of these puppies come from puppy mills. This is the story of Casey, a young dog rescued from a puppy mill by the Bearded Collie Club of America's rescue program. His prospective owner was notified that a young male Beardie was available, but needed a calm, loving home due to his lack of socialization in the puppy mill.

This story is long, but I did very little editing because I wanted my readers to see how one man's love and determination turned around a dog that was neglected, both on an emotional and physical level as well. Through his owner's unconditional love, Casey was able to develop trust for the first time in his life and start down the long road of being a loved and wanted dog, enjoying the life every pet deserves.

"I got the e-mail from the BCCA about the 1st of August 2004, telling me that they had a Beardie that I could have if I wanted him. He was being fostered in a kennel just south of Kansas City MO. I was there to pick him up three days later. He had spent more than two years in a puppy mill, and he was an emotional mess. He was brought into the training room with his littermate, later to be named Bonnie. Bonnie would very cautiously take a treat from me, but Zeke, now Casey, wouldn't get within 15 feet of me. He had been so matted that he had to be shaved. He was just a nervous wreck. When I took him outside he managed to rip the leash out of my hand, but Laura R., who owns the kennel managed to get him back. She is a very nice and caring lady. We stopped at a filing station in Kansas City to get gas for the trip back to Alton IL. Casey was OK when I took him out of the car for a potty break, but then they turned on a pressure washer to clean around the pumps, and Casey went totally insane, and I was very fortunate to keep hold of him. He was shaking for 30 minutes after we left there. Later I asked someone if they used pressure washers on the cages when the animals were in them at the puppy mill, and I was told that they do that. It's no wonder he was bonkers.

After we got Casey home he got settled in pretty quickly, but he was always looking for some way to escape. I would take him to a bicycle trail on the Mississippi river for his walks, and that was by far his favorite thing to do, so he quickly learned that "Get in the car" was a good thing. He got loose three times in the next few months, but I could get him back by following him with the car with the back door open, and calling for him to get in. By this time his separation was getting pretty bad. Then on Jan. 19th after our walk, I stopped at a big discount store to pick something up. I made sure Casey was in his bed in the back of the motor home before I got out. He somehow got all the way through and slipped out while I was closing the door, without me seeing or hearing him. When I came back 20 minutes later I couldn't believe that he was gone. Then I was told that he ran out onto the highway, and was hit by a car. He was nowhere to be seen. A policeman reported to me that he was seen at 10:30 P.M. that night hopping on three legs. I contacted Charlene about a week later when she described to me what my surroundings were, and what stand of woods Casey was in, I thought you must have been behind me somewhere with binoculars instead of almost two thousand miles away. We looked in the small stand of woods where you said he was and saw no sign of him, but as you said, he was so frightened that we would NOT see him. The next morning, a grader operator called me and reported that he saw Casey come out of that stand of woods. When I talked to you that day while looking for him, you told me he was no longer in those woods, but in the woods up on the hill behind me looking down from in the brush, and wondering who all those people were down there. That is when I told you that I had never heard him bark in the 3 1/2 months he had been with me, and you said you were telling him he must bark so those people could find him so they could help him. Later that day I drug the live trap up the hill and put it in the woods up there. I did see him up there one time, but he was about quarter of a mile away and running away as fast as he could run. About three days later there was a light snow overnight, and when I got to where I parked my car, there were Casey tracks all around where I parked it. I followed all the tracks, but none of them went into the woods. I finally found some tracks across the road that went to another stand of woods, about a quarter of a mile farther away, and they were full of his tracks, but no Casey. It had now been 15 days since he got away, and he had no survival skills, so I was very concerned about him. Later that day I got a call from the manager of a used car lot, telling me that he saw Casey on the levee behind his car lot, and he was traveling around the lagoon. I got a call from someone else before I could drive down the hill, saying he was near the other end of the lagoon. I had over 500 flyers and posters out in the area. When I got there I saw Casey standing on a one-lane road, and he looked at my car, then started to walk away, so I called him, and he ran away like he had been shot. I moved the live trap for the fourth time, and I put it on the spillway behind the car lot, as advised by a very nice young lady who is with two rescue groups, and had been helping and advising me, named Misty Norton. I went home at midnight, and at 12:30 A.M. I got a call from a deputy sheriff, who saw Casey by the spillway, but unfortunately he called him, and you know the rest. I was back there in 15 minutes, but no sign of Casey. I went back home a little after three.

I got up at seven with very little sleep. After a shower and a bite to eat I was going out the door when the phone rang. It was the manager of the car lot, saying that when he got to work there was the loudest and most insistent barking he had ever heard coming from up on the spillway. He climbed up there and as soon as Casey saw him, he stopped barking and lay down in the trap. You telling him so many times to bark so people could come to help him sure worked out. I wasn't about to open the trap until it was in the car, so the nice people from the car lot insisted on carrying the trap down off of the levee, so this old man wouldn't get hurt. The number of people who helped in this effort was astounding, from State Troopers handing out flyers to dog catchers providing the live trap, and just so very many people asking what they could do, that it has renewed my faith in humanity. Now the strangest part of the story to me is when the car hit Casey, his sister Bonnie in California started whining and acting strange, and wouldn't leave her owner's side for fifteen days. She had never barked, either. Then her owner called me while I was driving Casey to the vet in St. Louis while still in the trap. She wanted to know what was going on. Bonnie had started barking her head off and running around the house, getting everyone up, and she didn't stop for three hours, at about 6 A.M. or 8 A.M. here. Three weeks later Casey had his right front leg amputated, and he is doing just fine. I was going to take him to the BCCA Specialty in Omaha to be in the rescue parade, but he got very sick, so we couldn't go. He has made AMAZING improvements in the last eight months. He was better that Friday evening, so I took him to take the Canine Good Citizen test, and he passed it. Then his trainer wanted him to take the Therapy Dog test, and he passed that too. He is the sweetest, most loving dog, and I am sure grateful for your help getting him back. He still has a way to go, but he is getting there. Thank you Charlene so very much, Pat M."

Casey has received a lot of attention when people learned of his plight and his miraculous turnaround, in spite of losing a leg during his escape. He now does animal assisted therapy and is very comfortable in his new role of helping others. He has found his niche in life. Pat, his owner, keeps me informed about the changes in Casey and I think this is the happiest ending of all: a friend of Pat's saw a picture of Casey with only three legs. She called her daughter who plays in a rock band and suggested that they have Casey as the group's mascot and use his picture in their promotional material. Pat's latest update to me reported that Casey is now OFFICIALLY the mascot and poster boy for the rock group "3 Legged Dog". They drove 140 miles round trip for Casey to meet the manager and two members of the group a couple of weeks ago, and they all fell in love with him, naturally. His first appearance with the band will be sometime in April and he is not nervous about it, but I am. This is a group of youngsters of high school and college age, but they have had some pretty good success so far. The group can be checked out at www.3leggeddogmusic.com. Casey is on the PHOTO and NEWS pages. People already are asking for his photo, but he hasn't figured out how to autograph them yet. Pat concludes by saying, "I am so proud of this boy!!!"
ROCK ON, CASEY!!!

March 23 update: Pat gave me the latest update on Casey and I wanted to share this with all of you. Casey made his first appearance with the band 3 Legged Dog and has two more scheduled for later this Spring. He went to a St. Patrick's Day parade last Friday and did great. On Monday he went to a convent and visited the retired nuns who were mostly in their 90's and captivated them too.

Casey is an amazing dog, but Pat gets a lot of credit too. The more they do together, the deeper the bond and the more love they share and experience together. Pat saw Casey's potential in that scared, untrusting young dog and through his sensitive training and commitment, they have forged a bond for life.

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4. DOGS AS MOVIE STARS

Dear readers, this is a topic and concern that is near and dear to my heart. As some of you know, I have Bearded Collies in my life three of them as a matter of fact. Our national and local clubs are concerned about the release of Disney's Shaggy Dog movie with Tim Allen. The release of "Beethoven" and "101 Dalmatians" resulted in an increase of breeding and rescues of St. Bernards and Dalmatians. In an effort to educate the public about the needs and true character of the Bearded Collie and to hopefully curtail impulse buying, the Bearded Collie Club Of America, local Bearded Collie clubs and the AKC are asking people to thoroughly research the breed and know their requirements and temperament. Yes, they do need regular, systematic brushing and grooming. No, they don't always look like a "movie star" dog. Water, mud and Beardies are not a pretty sight! Being herding dogs, they do bark! For further information on the Bearded Collie, please visit the national club's website: www.beardie.net/bcca

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5. A STORY FROM MY FILES –

I was contacted by Kathy W. when she lost her friend and companion of many years, Jack her Doberman. Kathie was devastated as she felt she had lost her confidant and soul mate. She was seeking closure and affirmation that her Jack was safe and that he would always be loved and remembered. I worked with Jack and he was eager to let her know that he would always be close to her and that his love for her would always be there. Kathie wrote this follow up about my work:

"Dear Charlene,

I'm writing to thank you for the consultation I had with you regarding my Jackie boy. You will never know the extent of comfort you brought to me in my time of grief. Jack and I had a special bond and I couldn't explain it. I had planned on getting Jack 2 years before when I had announced to my husband, 'I want a Doberman and his name will be Jack.' When I found the ad in the paper, I could not get there fast enough. Out of the 12 puppies, Jack sat alone, didn't run and play with the others, just waiting for me.

When Jack died unexpectedly, it broke my heart. My grief was unbearable. I confided in anyone who would listen. Through sunglasses with tears streaming down my face, I even told strangers in line at the grocery store. After talking to you, peacefulness came over me. I still grieved, I still cried, but I was more accepting. You told me Jack and I had been together many lifetimes and that he had always protected me. That helped explain the close bond I felt. He was majestic. He was always so proud and anyone could tell by just looking at him. You told me he had been a military dog in either World War I or II.

My husband was extremely jealous of him. You sensed that in your reading. Even after Jack died, I always felt his presence as if he was trying to watch over me. I felt his spirit was restless, pacing, worried. In Dec. '05, my husband and I separated and are now in the process of divorce. I finally feel relief. I feel Jack's spirit is relieved and he is now able to relax. I whisper to him— "It's ok now, I will be ok.'"

Our pets continue to have deep feelings about us, even when they are gone. Jack knows that Kathie will be ok now. He will make sure she safe with his quiet, deep and watchful presence as she starts the new chapter in her life with his blessings.

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6. FAF's (fascinating animal facts)

Animals are opening our eyes to the endless possibilities of their skills and abilities to better serve mankind. We know how sensitive their noses are and how they are trained to do search and rescue work, bomb and drug sniffing work with law enforcement agencies. This article is from the American Association Of Retired Persons (AARP) monthly newsletter dated March 2006.

SNIFFING OUT CANCER

"Our ancient alliance with dogs may one day yield a benefit our ancestors never dreamed of: a way to screen for cancer. In a study by California's Pine Street Foundation, dogs trained to identify lung and breast cancers by smelling patient's breath were found to be amazingly accurate, sniffing out 564 of 574 lung cancer cases, according to a report in the March issue of Integrative Cancer Therapies. In a 2004 British study, dogs could detect bladder cancer in dried urine samples. More studies are needed to see if dogs can distinguish between cancer and other diseases, says Ted Gansler, M.D. director of medical content for the American Cancer Society. If so, their sniffing ability would have to be replicated in a science-based test."

Dogs are also being used to detect epileptic seizures since they can detect the subtle changes in the brain waves and person's energy just before the actual seizure.

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7. FROM THE BOOKSHELF

From the bookshelf this month will be a review of some musical CD's that are very helpful for animals and some of their behavior problems and issues. Susan Howarth Russell is a music therapist in the public schools in Toronto, Canada. Although her work initially was with special needs children, Sharon saw the benefit of music therapy in working with animals. She developed a series of four CD's that would address problems such as anxiety, car sickness, fear, moving to a new home and other behaviors or conditions that trouble animals and their owners. If you are lucky enough to have a pet without any specific problems, the music is very calming and relaxing to listen to as background music. I enjoy the music when I am brushing my dogs or researching material for the newsletter. If I am out in traffic, the music helps to de-stress me and make the drive a little more enjoyable. Her website is: www.themusicalrainbow.com. Enjoy!

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8. Questions Answered:

A client wrote to me asking me about Rally Obedience. She had seen it on T.V. and thought it looked like a lot of fun and wanted more information. Rally obedience is sweeping the country as the newest dog sport. It is a great way to build a strong relationship with your dog that emphasizes fun and excitement. It incorporates basic obedience, but you are encouraged to talk to your dog and even use food treats to encourage your dog through the various exercises as opposed to regular obedience. It is the newest sport recognized by the AKC, and dogs of all breeds and mixes can compete. There are modifications to the course so that even people with disabilities can participate with their dogs. All that is needed is an enthusiastic attitude and a wagging tail! Learn more about rally obedience at www.rallyobedience.com

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9. SPRING GARDENS

This is not animal related, per se, but I wanted to pass this along because so many of us start thinking of gardening this time of the year. If you don't have these little critters, you probably don't want to introduce them into your environment. Below is a website link regarding Formosan Termites you might want to look at:

If you use mulch around your house be very careful about buying mulch this year. After the hurricane in New Orleans many trees were blown over. These trees were then turned into mulch and the state is trying to get rid of tons and tons of this mulch to any state or company who will come and haul it away. So it will be showing up in Home Depot and Lowes at dirt-cheap prices with one huge problem; Formosan Termites will be the bonus in many of those bags. New Orleans is one of the few areas in the country were the Formosan Termites has gotten a strong hold and most of the trees blown down were already badly infested with those termites. Now we may have the worst case of transporting a problem to all parts of the country that we have ever had. These termites can eat a house in no time at all and we have no good control against them, so tell your friends that own homes to avoid cheap mulch and know were it came from.

Click here: http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/en/environment/insects/Termites/formosan_termites/

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10. THE TAIL END

As we approach the spring and summer months, many people are anticipating the possible hurricanes in the Gulf area and the threat of fires in the dry areas of the South and the West and wondering if people and their animals will be better served than in 2005. Pet lovers around the country have rallied to insure that animals are taken care of in a more responsible manner and that necessary steps are taken BEFORE another national disaster strikes. This is from the March edition of the AKC Gazette.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM KATRINA? by Liz Palika.

After Hurricane Katrina we all saw the horrifying images in the media: dogs perched on rooftops of flooded homes, dogs leashed to bridges in the sun with no shade, cats precariously clinging to trees and car tops. Even worse were the pictures of people clutching their pets desperately, then being forced to relinquish them. Money and supplies were donated and help provided. But throughout all the efforts, people discussed ways of making sure a disaster such as this would be better handled in the future.

Ranny Green, of Tacoma, WA, the president of Dog Writers Association of America and a writer for the Seattle Times, took a week off of work and helped the rescue efforts in Slidell, LA. "It was the most satisfying things I have ever done in my life," Green says. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Every volunteer I worked with was only concerned about the welfare of the animals and reuniting them with their families." Green emphasized the need for pets to be identified with both microchips and collar identification. "With more identification, we might have been able to reconnect pets and their families quicker."

But the most important message Green has, and one that reverberated through out the rescue community, was that pets must be allowed to go with their owners during evacuations. "If it takes national legislation to do that, so be it. What our animals mean to us was broadcast for the world to see. People were willing to risk their lives in order to save their pets and those who were forced to leave their pets behind were devastated. People must be allowed to evacuate with their pets.

A letter writing campaign is going across the country to the Red Cross to ask them to allow pets to accompany their owners in shelters. At this time, it is up to the individual chapters to decide if pets will be allowed. People are not willing to be evacuated without their animals. Subsequently, valuable time is lost for rescuers arguing with people not willing to leave their areas and their animals. Time would be better spent rescuing people in a shorter time frame. Taking people and pets together also makes more sense for animal control people and rescue groups who will have to deal with far fewer terrified, hungry and possibly injured pets left behind.

Dr. Mary Burch of Tallahassee, FL. agrees. "We should all make sure our own cities have a disaster plan in place that makes provisions for animals," Burch says. "This plan should include methods for evacuating with animals when people have to leave, methods for housing those animals and a system for providing needed care in pet-friendly facilities"

You can make a difference by writing your local Red Cross chapter as well as the national office and asking them to allow pets in all Red Cross shelters. The Red Cross website is: www.redcross.org

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Mission Statement:

"I feel that my primary role as an animal communicator is to speak the truth for the animals. By speaking their truth I am able to share with their owners their unique perspectives and spiritual philosophies. The special bond that companion animals share with their owners is one that is built on love and trust. Through this special relationship both owners and their animals have an opportunity to experience love, trust and mutual understanding. It is the key to all relationships we develop with our pets. As we become more sensitive to our pets, we learn that we are all One, created by the same Divine spirit. Our ultimate goal is to live in harmony and joy with the animals we love and cherish."

Charlene Boyd

To all my readers, I make an attempt to answer all my e-mails as time permits. Remember if you have a medical problem, your veterinarian is your best resource. I can find out through a scheduled consultation if the treatment or procedure is helping your pet, how much intervention your pet would like and other concerns, AFTER a diagnosis or treatment, but your veterinarian is always your first contact. To schedule a consultation, please call me at 949 858-6717. I do check my messages often. Please leave your name, contact number and time zone you live in. My e-mail is Charlene@talk-to-animals.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

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To find out more about animal communication and to visit our newsletter archive, please go to our website at www.talk-to-animals.com To contact Charlene regarding your relationship with your pet, animal behavior problems or the death of your pet, email her at charlene@talk-to-animals or call 877 907-1741.

TALKING TO ANIMALS Monthly Newsletter, talk-to-animals.com and Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator are trademarks of Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator, Coto de Caza, California, USA Phone 877 907-1741.

Copyright 2005, Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator.
You are welcome to forward this entire newsletter to friends.
Please visit my website for articles you may publish and share freely!
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To find out more about animal communication and to visit our newsletter archive, please go to our website at www.talk-to-animals.com. To contact Charlene regarding a lost animal, animal behavior problems or the death of your pet, email her at charlene@talk-to-animals or call 877 907-1741.

Articles By Charlene
•The Magical Connection With Our Pets
•Pets and Unconditional Love
•Words Can Wound or Heal
•Giving Thanks to Our Pets
•Breathe Deep = Peace & Tranquility