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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June 2007
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Published monthly for subscribers to the Talking-To-Animals Newsletter
By Charlene Boyd
http://www.talk-to-animals.com
To view past issues of Talking-To-Animals, please visit our newsletter archive.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO FRIENDS
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In this edition.
1. Welcome!
2. Pet Food Recall Survey Report and Recommendations
3. A story from my files - Jasper the cat
4. Dog gets medal for saving kids
5. DogFriendly's Top 10 Cities to Visit with a Dog in the US and Canada
6. From the Bookshelf
7. The Tail End
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1. WELCOME DEAR READERS,
much has happened in the world of pets and pet owners in the last month regarding pet food affecting
the health and safety of our pets. We are all aware that there have been many misconceptions and
misrepresentations in foreign countries, mainly China, but also in our own country. Many of us, including
myself, have held the FDA to be scrupulous in their rules and regulations that govern the handling and
manufacturing of all foods, including pet foods, only to discover this has not been the case.
does go on, but it is never quite the same. Your trust has been shaken. Who can you trust? What source
of information can you trust in the midst of the worry and concern which is certainly valid considering the
number of pets who have died? For many of us, our pets are an emotional barometer for how things are
in our world. When something of the magnitude of the pet food recall touches our lives, what can we do?
How should we feel? The answer to that question may be different for each of us. I do know that those
of us who deeply love our pets feel the pain and loss of the bereaved owners. We feel angry; how did this
ever happen and why did it happen? Was greed the reason that pets lives were compromised? Is profit
more important than lives? How far this investigation goes we don't really know. Only time will tell. I
sincerely feel that this is a real wake-up call for government agencies that oversee pet and human food as well.
a nest that held 4 perfect light blue eggs. She dutifully sat on the eggs, then fed the voracious babies which
in a very short period of time left the nest. We did not see the final lift-off of the fledglings into the real world,
so felt a little sad that this miracle went by so quickly and mainly unnoticed by us.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I peeked into the old nest and much to my surprise, there were four little
eggs in the old nest! Well, I learned something new that day; sparrows can have more than one set of babies
in a season, much like cats in that respect. Who would have known?
We feel safe in knowing that she never disappoints. There is a timelessness to every one of her plans,
no matter how obscure or painful it may seem to us at the time. I feel comforted in knowing that just like
there was a second set of sparrow babies in our entryway, the Divine Plan will allow us once again to feel
safe in the foods we seek. Hopefully we have also gotten our wake-up call and we will be more discerning
in what we feed, the quality and source of ingredients, even if it means paying a little more for peace of
mind and the health of our pets. Did you know that the rule of thumb for premium food is one dollar per
pound? If you keep this in mind when shopping for your pets, you can't go far wrong. There are still many
quality foods available . The days of buying whatever is on sale or the cheapest on the shelf are probably
over for most of us, and for our pets that is a good thing.
insure they get off to a good start. Just like the mother bird, we should wisely choose the very best foods
for our wonderful pets. I hope that before long, we can place our trust in the foods and companies that produce
what we put into our pet's food dishes. As Mother Nature keeps her promises to us, I hope that the pet food
industry will go to great lengths to restore our faith in their products. They owe it to us, the consumers, and to our
pets to provide safe, healthy foods to the pets in America and throughout the world. Let's hope that is a promise
that they will keep.
2. PET FOOD RECALL SURVEY REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
large, you as pet food buyers, are much more knowledgeable about what to feed than the average pet owner.
Very few of you had any adverse reactions to commercially prepared foods. A lot of you were already cooking
homemade diets for your pets. Hooray for you! Well done!
s you know, I am a big fan of Animal Wellness Magazine because of their emphasis on holistic foods, vitamins
and supplements, humane training techniques and just good, sound information. In this month's issue they had
an in-depth article on the current pet food recall. What I found to be the most valuable part of the article, was
the ranking of pet foods. In the article, "Pet Food Recall leaves a bitter taste", veterinarian Dr. Jean Hofve gave
a guide for choosing a high quality food:
Those are definite no-no's."
about 1/3 of the market. Del Monte also competes in this ballpark. They're not great quality, but they are OK for
occasional use. A wild carnivore would eat the whole prey animal, by-products and all. You just don't want to rely
on by-products to the exclusion of meat for your pet's diet."
ingredients-like wheat gluten-are used for all of them, some of the other ingredients are not. Hill's and Nutro both
order specific by-products, such as only organ meat. Many of the canned foods in these lines contain meat as
well as by-products; the dry foods may have a little meat as well, but typically contain mostly by-product meal,
meat and bone meal and/or corn gluten meal, all cheap substitutes for meat proteins. These foods are all about
the same in terms of cost."
instead of by-products, and with no grain substitutions for meat. These do tend to be a little pricier, but they are
in a completely different ballpark than the mass-marketed brands. I recommend making most of one's purchases
from this class."
by-product meal, corn (all) Wheat (all) and synthetic preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, propyl gallate, propylene
(glycol). I'm also adding menadione (synthetic vitamin k) to the avoid list, although as far as I know, only one company
is using it."
Charlene
3. A STORY FROM MY FILES: JASPER
Dear Readers,
in question such as the consultation I did for Jasper the cat.
I was contacted to work with Jasper because his owners were concerned about him. They
reported that he just seemed "off" lately. The owners had three other cats, all female and younger than
Jasper. He was meowing during the night which in turn, kept his owners awake. As I usually do when
beginning a new consultation, I suggested that they first take Jasper to their vet to rule out any physical
problem that he might be experiencing. The exam by the vet revealed that he had a bladder infection
and he was given medication for that. Next I had Jasper's owners send me a list of questions they
wanted answers for during our consultation. Here is the email I received back from them:
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"Dear Charlene,
Here are the questions we came up with and a photo we took today.
Please let us know if you need more input.
- Are you sick or injured?
- What are you telling us when you cry so mournfully at night?
- What are your feelings toward the other cats
- What are you looking for when you jump up on the counters and sinks at night?
- Do you want to mate with the other cats?
- Do you think that we're going to leave you?
- Do you know how much we love you?
- What do you want to tell us?"
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As many of you already know, my consultations with animals are done 'telepathically', and that was
how my consultation with Jasper was conducted (you can read about consultations on my website by clicking
here). Through questioning Jasper, who, by the way, was a VERY sensitive cat, he told me that at
times he felt left out of things. The female cats made him feel inferior and not worthy. He said that he
did feel depressed as they excluded him and he felt very lonely. The youngest female was the nicest
to him, but he still felt left out. Energetically his heart felt very heavy, not from a physical problem, but
more from an emotional emptiness. He was also missing their former residence and that was making
him meow at night. He told me he was also afraid that his owners would leave him. I assured him that the owners
were not going to leave him. He was in his "forever" home and there would always be enough love for him.
Along with my recording of our consultation, I recommended his owners get some Flower Essences to help
with his homesickness and feeling left out of things. I sent the tape and recommendations out, then waited a
bit before checking in. I e-mailed his owner to see how he was doing and got this reply back:
"Hi Charlene ~
Thanks so much for checking in. We really appreciated your time and energy to connect with our Jasper. I must
say he's doing better emotionally, but we did have to take him back to our regular vet today because he had
blood in his urine. (Apparently the emergency vet we took him to a couple of weeks ago did not detect this...)
anyway, he's on antibiotics for cystitis, and the lab reports will be back soon. Luckily, there are no obstructions
or crystals, but something is irritating his bladder.
We are going to get the flower essence remedies this weekend.
All in all, he's getting back to being himself. We are so grateful!
Thanks again. We got your tape, and Jasper was very curious to smell it and the envelope.
take care ~
Peggy & David & Jasper"
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One more follow-up email from me just to make sure all was well.............................
"Thanks, Charlene -- Jasper is getting back to himself. Turns out the infection has already
cleared! We are giving him the Rescue Remedy and lots of attention. I also have been speaking
to him directly, explaining everything that is going on.
We are sleeping much better through the night, and he is still getting his supervised time outside,
which he loves (and needs!)
Thank you again for your kind heart.
Peggy & David & Jasper"
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troubling him, and then take steps to remedy the problem once they knew the cause. The consultation and good
follow-up by Jasper's owners made all the difference.
I'm sure many of you have seen the research doctors have done on identifying stress as the cause behind many
human medical conditions. The same applies to animals, and I've often seen the health of the pets I consult improve
dramatically (not to mention the happiness of the household), once the correct source of the animal's stress is
identified and remedied. I like to look at what I do through communicating with your pet, and what you as the owner do
in carrying out the remedies, as being part of a team that allows your pet to be as happy and healthy physically, emotionally
and spiritually as possible.
I enjoy helping bring about understanding between pet and owner that allows a harmonious and loving relationship to
exist and grow.
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4. DOG GETS MEDAL FOR SAVING KIDS
smile and feel good for the day. When I read this story, I could feel my spirits lift and realize that amidst the
news on T.V., radio and in the newsparer, there are still wonderful stories that help us restore our faith in our
fellow man. And this was all because of a valiant little dog and his courageous act of bravery. This story came
from Yahoo! News:
children in Europe from an attack by two Pitbulls. The medal from the Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Animals comes after US Vietnam veteran Jerry Hudman said he was sending his Purple heart medal to George's
owner after hearing about the dog's bravery.
island town of Manaia a week and a half ago. The Pitbulls rushed at the five children on the street, prompting George
to charge the larger dogs as the children escaped. The Jack Russell Terrier was badly mauled by the two Pitbulls
and later had to be put down because of his extensive injuries. The Pitbulls were also put down. The SPCA medal
is usually awarded to people for their bravery in defending animals.
children," SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said.
a Marine for 30 years and said he decided to send his Purple Heart to George's owner after reading the news on
the Internet because the dog was "a little warrior." The Purple Heart is awarded to those killed or injured fighting
for the U.S. military.
I am writing the June newsletter today, May 26, and may we all remember and honor our military in Iraq who have the
same fighting spirit for our country that George exhibited in protecting those children.
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5. DOGFRIENDLY.COM'S TOP 10 CITIES TO VISIT WITH A DOG IN THE US AND CANADA
In determining the Top 10 Cities to Visit, Dogfriendly.com's researchers used criteria that includes the following:
- Is the city an appealing vacation spot and appealing for people traveling with dogs?
- Are there suitable pet-friendly hotels and lodging in the city? Are any of the resorts extra special?
- Are there dog-friendly side trips and weekend trips that can be enjoyed during a visit to this city?
- Can you get around the city easily? Does the public transportation system allow dogs?
- If you can't go on the public transportation, can you get around fairly easily by car?
- Are there attractions, such as boat and carriage rides, tours, tourist sites, and side trips that welcome your dog?
- Where can you eat with your pooch, other than in your hotel room? Are there outdoor cafes that welcome pets,
or local dog-friendly parks where you can bring a picnic lunch?
- Can your dog visit any of the local beaches or parks? Are there any off-leash dog parks in town?
- Is the city supportive of the more than half of the population who own pets and the over twenty million
people annually who travel with them? Does the city or state regulate or over-regulate what you can do
with your dog? Has the city helped create more dog-friendly areas or has the city limited and restricted access
to people with dogs, including travelers?
For Last Years 2006 list you can check out this page.
1. Boston, Massachusetts (see also Boston Area) - In Boston, you can see most of the best tourist sites
without leaving your dog at home. Getting around Boston and the suburbs is easy as the Boston T (subway)
allows leashed dogs of all sizes during non-rush hours. Follow the red arrows on the sidewalk along the 2 mile
Freedom Trail, take one of a number of boat tours or whale watching tours that welcome pups. Visit one of the
cities many parks including the Boston Common, Minute Man National Historical Park or the Arnold Arboretum.
You can ride a horse and carriage ride together at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. In Salem take a walking or trolley
tour or visit the Salem Willows Amusement Park. For a weekend getaway near Boston you can take a dog-friendly
ferry to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket or visit the dog-friendly beaches of Block Island.
2. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Visit Historic Gastown, Granville Island and the Capilano Bridge and Park
with your pooch. Many ferries allow leashed dogs of all sizes and the city's public transportation allows small dogs
in carriers. The city has many outdoor restaurants and cafes and quite a few of the stores allow you to shop inside
with your dog. When in Vancouver consider taking a dog-friendly trip to the Minter Gardens, Hell's Gate Airtram and
to Victoria on Vancouver Island. While on Vancouver Island be sure to see the beautiful Butchart Gardens. There
are numerous beaches and parks that welcome you and your dog. Vancouver boasts 7 off-leash dog beaches and
over 20 off-leash dog parks giving your dog ample opportunity to run.
3. New York City - Stay in luxury at some of New York's most fashionable hotel addresses with your dog. The Regency,
Soho Grand Hotel, Novotel and many W hotels all welcome dogs. If you want to stay outside of the city you can bring
your dog on the Metro-North trains from Connecticut or the northern suburbs or on the Seastreak Ferry from New Jersey.
There are also a number of Pet Taxi services in the city that you can call for transportation and some regular taxis will
pick up dogs. Many of the famous stores and department stores in Manhattan will allow leashed dogs to accompany
you. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan, a carriage ride in Central Park, walk the Brooklyn Bridge or visit one of the
30 off-leash parks in the city. Or visit the William Secord Art Gallery on 76th Street. For canine swimming, check out the
man-made swimming pond for dogs in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.
4. San Francisco, California - San Francisco is a great vacation site for a traveler with a dog. There are so many parks,
off-leash areas and beaches. Try Baker Beach, Ocean Beach or Fort Funston. There are many off-leash dog areas
sprinkled throughout the city. Visit Golden Gate Park, walk across the Golden Gate Bridge or shop in many dog-friendly
stores in the Union Square area or throughout the city. Stay at a number of pet-friendly hotels including the Palace Hotel,
the Four Seasons or the Hotel Palomar. San Francisco is a compact city and easy to walk around. Also, dogs are allowed
on most of the public transportation, including the famous Cable Cars, Muni buses and trains. Small dogs are allowed
on the regional BART trains that run to the East Bay. Every August the San Francisco Giants host their annual Dog Days
of Summer baseball game where your dog is welcome to attend with you.
5. Austin, Texas - When visiting Austin you will have your choice of many fine dog-friendly hotels and motels. You can stay
at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort or one of the many La Quinta Hotels, Red Roof Inns or other hotels throughout the
city. You and your dog can take a walking tour of downtown, ride a horse and carriage or visit the Zilker Botanical Garden
Austin has a large number of dog-friendly parks as well as ten off-leash dog areas. The most interesting tourist attraction
in town may be the Congress Street Bat Colony. Around sunset from around March to November the bats all fly out looking
for food. You may dine with your dog at many dog-friendly patio restaurants throughout the city.
6. Portland, Oregon - The Lucky Lab Brewing Company is a landmark establishment for dog owners. In addition to its two
locations, a newcomer to the local dog scene is the Iron Mutt Coffee Company with an off-leash outdoor area to play in while
coffee and food are enjoyed. Portland boosts over 20 off-leash dog parks, some of which are fenced; a city amusement park
where leashed dogs are allowed; the Hoyt Arboretum and of course the Rose Gardens that the city is famous for. Also visit
the Portland Saturday Market which is an open air market with artists, entertainment and all sorts of shops including pet items.
Nearby Portland is excellent hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and throughout the Portland region.
7. Northern Virginia (see also Washington, DC) - During the summer months you may cruise the Potomac with your dog on the
Potomac Riverboat Co. Canine Cruises. Visit the outdoor areas of historic Mount Vernon, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Theodore
Roosevelt Memorial on Roosevelt Island. Hike the Mount Vernon Trail from Washington DC to Mount Vernon or visit over twenty off-leash
dog parks with your dog. In historical Alexandria you can treat your dog to a carriage ride or attend the Doggie Happy Hour at the Old
Town Holiday Inn Select during the summer months on Tuesdays and Thursdays. While in Northern Virginia you can visit the National
Mall in Washington, where you and your dog can see all of the monuments from the outside and enjoy a visit to Georgetown and the C&O Canal.
8. Orlando, Florida - Orlando, long a popular people destination, has recently greatly improved it popularity with our four-legged friends.
There are some fabulous pet-friendly resorts such as the Sheraton World Hotel and the Portofino Bay Hotel among many others. While
there you can take a boat ride on the St. Johns River with your dog, shop in the dog-friendly Winter Park area and dine at Sam Snead's,
the center of Florida doggy dining. It was here that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed Florida's doggy dining law. Fleet People's
Park in Winter Park is an excellent off-leash dog park.
9. San Diego, California - San Diego is known for its beaches and, for dogs, it doesn't disappoint. There are two major off-leash beaches
in San Diego and Coronado plus many other beaches that allow dogs on leash. With its warm, yet not too hot year-round weather, San Diego
is perfect for those outdoor activities that shine during vacations with pups. There are many nice outdoor dog-friendly restaurants in San Diego,
La Jolla and throughout the region. While in San Diego visit the very pet-friendly Otay Ranch Town Shopping Center with an off-leash dog park
built into the shopping center.
10. Dallas / Fort-Worth - While in Dallas ride a carriage with your dog, take a walking tour or visit Pioneer Plaza. There are many fine hotels that
are dog-friendly to fit all budgets. Fort Worth offers your dog Fort Woof, one of the countries nicest dog parks and a visit to the Stockyard Stations
to watch the daily cattle drives. Dallas this year joined fellow Texas city Austin in officially allowing dogs in outdoor dining areas ending years of
ambiguity on where you can eat in the city with your dog.
Honorable Mentions - While these five cities did not make our top ten this year they did make our honorable mentions as the five next best cities
to vacation in with your pet.
- Chicago, IL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Philadelphia, PA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
of us close to her. I received a package in the mail and when I opened it, I knew immediately who it was
from! The title is: The Little Book Of Bathroom Crime Puzzles by M. Diane Vogt. They are two-minute
forensic mysteries to challenge even the best amateur detective. What is a crime puzzle you ask yourself?
A crime puzzle is a short, captivating crime story that lets YOU play the detective. How do I solve one?
First you read one of the stories. As you read, you are looking into the character (or lack thereof) of the
subjects, suspicious behavior or the physical evidence. Do you need a pencil and paper? No, the only
tools you need are your keen sense of logic, your wits and close attention to detail. Don't worry! The
answer for each of the crimes are in the back. This is not a pet-related book, but I was just dying to share
this with you as I know you will thorougly enjoy it.
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Are you looking for something unique for that "hard to please" pet lover? A gift certificate
for a consultation or a package of consultations for multiple pet households is a perfect gift and eliminates
a trip to the mall! One size truly fits all and there is no expiration date! A single consultation is $95 including
the tape and $165 for multiple pets. Please e-mail me if you are interested in this hassle-free gift!
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7. THE TAIL END
and their solutions. Most problems with our pets are not that difficult to resolve. Once you know the steps to take and
you make that commitment to your pet, you will see desirable or wanted changes in their behavior, and you know you are
on the right track. For those of you who did not send in a question on cat behavior or who would like to ask specific
questions to be answered in the upcoming book, it is not too late. Please send your questions to me
at charlene@talk-to-animals.com. We want the book to be helpful and a reference to help you make yours and your
cat's life easier.
I always enjoy receiving your input on things so send in any questions no matter how silly you feel they might be.
Just a reminder, with warmer weather here, please be ready with whatever method of flea control you normally use. Flea
season has arrived, so please get started on it now.
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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
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 2004 - 2007, Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator. You are welcome to forward this entire
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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
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