Move over Lassie, there’s a more heroic dog in town!  A five year old paralyzed dachshund recently made headlines because of the role that he plays as a pet therapy dog.  Once a week, Super Lance, a nickname given to him by adoring fans, visits Miami Children’s Hospital and serves as inspiration to the youngsters who spend their days recovering from serious illnesses and lifesaving surgeries.  The pint sized pooch had his spinal cord damaged by two herniated discs which made it possible to get around without assistance.  Caio Stinchi, Lance’s owner ordered a custom-made wheelchair for the dog and he rediscovered the pleasure of gaining his mobility back.  That gave Stinchi an idea.  She and her husband registered Lance as a therapy dog and make weekly visits on Tuesdays.  The children and nurses look forward to his visits where each patient receives a sticker with a picture of Super Lance and a booklet containing the dog’s courageous story.  A mural in the hospital’s main lobby is testimony to the success of the program.  Lance is included in the scene.

Therapy Dogs Inc., based in Wyoming, helped the couple train, test, and register Lance.  As part of the therapeutic process, the dog is not allowed to bark because it can startle and scare the children.  He also is not allowed to lick the patients or their families because of strict hospital guidelines.

Children love to take Lance for a walk.  His unique condition makes it easier for young people to sympathize with him.  The patients and staff at the hospital are all smiles the minute the dog walks through the door.

To find out how you can register your pet as a therapy animal, visit Therapy Dogs Inc.  There you will find the forms that you need to fill out to have your dog tested for the program. 

Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire, authors of the Dog Lover’s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog offer this recipe for a basic doggie deodorant:

MATERIALS

2 bowls

1 cup (110 g) arrowroot flour, sifted

1 cup (110 g) cornstarch, sifted

¼ cup (18.4 g) baking soda

10 drops of tea tree oil

10 drops of sage, bergamot, grapefruit, lemongrass, or eucalyptus essential oil (from a natural foods store)

Empty shaker bottle

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Add the oils and stir gently.
3. Sift the mixture into another bowl.  Resift, if necessary, to distribute the oils well.
4. Put the mixture into a jar with a shaker top.
5. To use, shake over dog’s fur and brush.

Pampering your pooch has never been easier.  Websites like Frugal Living and Rover’s Recipes offer homemade recipes for Flea Repellent and Spray.  Here at Opie & Dixie, we offer herbal shampoos and soothing balms for your pet’s paws.  Peruse our store and choose the right type of product to spoil your canine or feline with.

When whipping up a batch of treats, don’t forget to sew up a catnip toy or two for your kitty.  Also check out some natural litter box deodorizers recipes.   You’ll be thanking yourself later for thinking ahead.  Cats can be very finicky.  You don’t want Tabby to turn her back on you completely because you forgot to freshen up her litter box!   A clean kitty is a happy kitty.

Caring for your pet takes time and energy.  After treating your dog or cat to a day of luxury, spend a moment pampering you.  Draw a hot bath, light a few candles, and soak up some much needed rest and relaxation.  Play soft music in the background and reflect upon the moments that make you the happiest.  More often than not, these memories will include your four legged, feathered, and finned friends.

Pet lovers are special people.  To open up your heart and home to an animal in need is remarkable.  Nurturing, caring for, and building a relationship with a pet takes time but is certainly worth the effort.  A little TLC goes a long way.

Grab that empty shaker bottle and get busy deodorizing your doggie and freshening up after kitty.  Your pet will appreciate the gesture and show their gratitude to you by nuzzling your hand or giving you some well-deserved kisses.

Women around the world inherit items from loved ones that they do not want or need.  Many of these items include fur coats and stoles.  Rather than toss these articles out, opt instead to make a tax-deductible donation to PETA. 

In addition to using them in their educational programs and displays, PETA also gives them to impoverished people in bitterly cold climates like Afghanistan.  The coats are then cut into blanket sized pieces and given to refugees who put the fur to good use.

Clean out your closet and send the contents along with your name, address, and an appraisal if you have one to:

PETA Development Department

501 Front Street

Norfolk, Virginia 23510

To learn more about the program and the people of Afghanistan visit PETA’s campaign, Fur is Dead.

In addition to helping people, fur coats are actually used in shelters and zoos to keep their animals warm.  The Humane Society of the United States runs a Coats for Cubs Program.  Wildlife rehabilitators use the coats and stoles with their animal patients.  Raccoons, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, and bobcats respond better to treatment when snuggled up to a fur blanket.  It reminds them of the comfort they received when being nurtured by their mothers.

There is no need to waste a thing in today’s society.  Do a web search and find the type of organization that accepts the types of items that you want to give away.  In addition to receiving a tax deduction, you also get to help people and animals in need.  In my opinion, there is no better gift to give than a gift from the heart. 

You don’t have to be financially privileged to make a charitable donation.  In fact, Nicole Bochard Boles’ book, How to Be an Everyday Philanthropist: 330 Ways to Make a Difference In Your Home, Community, and World—At No Cost provides numerous pages on ways that you can help the animals in your community with your time and unwanted belongings.  In fact, page 67 of the book mentions the Cage Comforter Program which accepts donations of handmade comforters that are in return used to replace the newspaper that lines cages in animal shelters.  A small way to help traumatized animals adjust better to their conditions, the program’s website has instructions on how to start your own group in the city that you live in.

Clean out your closet and take pride in knowing that something that is no longer useful to you is extremely valuable to someone else.  In the spirit of the new year, make 2010 one that you are proud of.  Make giving a part of every facet of your life and see how different your life becomes.  “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Sit.  Heel. Stay.  These are commands that most well-trained dogs learn.  If Fido passed obedience classes with flying colors and responds well to direction, then you might consider letting him go off-leash.  If he is prone to chasing cars and can’t be tempted by treats, he might not be the ideal candidate when it comes to roaming free.

Here’s how you can be absolutely sure that your pooch is ready to lose the leash.  Ask yourself:

• Does my dog know how to heel when asked?
• Does he or she stay put until given the signal to get up?
• Do treats work as an incentive in getting him or her to comply with orders?

Training doesn’t always come easy.  It requires patience on your behalf.  You must be willing to shower your pooch with praise when he or she follows your command.  Having a tasty snack or two on hand as a source of encouragement is ideal.  A pat on the head or scratch of the ear will not always be enough to get your dog to repeat his or her past good behavior.

Positive reinforcement is necessary, especially when training younger dogs.  Their playful nature may cause them to be rambunctious and rebellious at times.  If this behavior isn’t nipped in the bud, you may have no choice but to keep your pup on a leash.

Leash free dog parks are popping up around the nation, and California just may lead the pack, with Carmel being possibly one of the most dog friendly cities in the entire country. Opal, Dixie and I love living in San Francisco, where we have many leash-free areas. Their favorite is their "beach by the bay," Crissy Field, where on any given day you can find an array of happy pups romping around. No matter where you live, DogPark.com offers a complete listing of leash free parks in the United States and Canada. There is no price to join the site, and if you register your dog’s birthdate, they'll receive a special greeting on their big day. A dog can never get too many birthday greetings!

Allowing your pet to go leash free is a big decision.  It is not only a matter of preference, but of safety. Running free should never, EVER lead to running away. Any questions or concerns that you might have can be best addressed by conducting a simple web search or consulting a good obedience trainer.

Every dog is The Best Dog Ever, and Flyer was no exception. A dear friend of mine sent me a link to her friend, Lon Lawrence’s tribute to his little girl, Flyer. As expected, the story and photographs of Flyer moved me to tears, but they also warmed my heart, as Flyer the Basenji is now over the Rainbow Bridge keeping good company with Beau, Bijou, Poindexter, Nini, Lula, Sammy, Shana, Tigger, Cyrus, Lincoln, Charlie, Jackson, Fred and all of my long and not-so-long gone family and friends. I keep going back to the site to visit Flyer. The home movies crack me up, and the photographs remind me of the unique, special and irreplaceable part of our lives that our animals are.

What a wonderful life this sweetheart of a dog had. No regrets for little Miss Flyer.  I'd like to invite you to visit her. You’ll be glad you had a chance to meet her.

One medical emergency can really put you in the “doghouse,” so to speak.  Aging pets require extra care, and that can lead you to shell out extra bucks if you’re not prepared.  Rather than sit around and wait for the proverbial shoe to drop, smart pet owners are taking matters into their own hands by electing to insure their dogs or cats.

Premiums are based on your pet’s age, breed, and location.  Pre-existing, congenital, and hereditary conditions may deem your pet ineligible for coverage with certain providers.  A few of the more reputable insurance companies that deal with our four legged friends include:

• Pets Best Insurance.  Policies as low as $19 per month.  80% reimbursement after deductible.  Choose the vet you want anywhere in the world.  No annual limits or age restrictions.  A simpler way to file claims.

•  Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).  Choose according to the type of pet that you have—canine, feline, avian, or amphibian.  Free quotes via their website.  Affordable rates and plans that allow you to visit the veterinarian of your choice.  Reimbursement occurs after a claim is filed.

• PurinaCare.  A name you can trust.  Hereditary conditions not excluded.  80% of eligible expenses are reimbursed after meeting deductible.  Preventive care policy covers annual exams, heartworm and flea prevention, and vaccinations.

• PetPlan USA.  Lifelong coverage.  Reimbursement of veterinary and boarding fees.   Covers the price of advertising and offering a reward for a lost or stolen pet.  Covers the price of the pet in the case that he or she dies during the time that the policy is active.  Reimbursement of vacation costs if your pet becomes ill and you had to cancel you plans to be with the sick animal.

• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.  Choose from four levels of protection.  Get a free quote and enroll online within minutes.  Get professional advice concerning animal welfare.  Go with any licensed vet in the nation.  Pays up to 80% of allowable covered charges after deductible is paid.

Paying out of pocket for medication or surgeries will put a strain on your bank account and may force you to sacrifice the level of care that you pet receives for the sake of saving a buck or two.  By researching insurance companies and their variety of plans and services, you can avoid the inevitable and give your dog or cat the type of care he or she deserves.

The right type of insurance can be a lifesaver in troubling times.  Rest assured that as long as you carry coverage on your pet, he or she will stand a fighting chance despite tough economic times.  Despite the added expense, pet insurance offers much more than a break in expenses.  It also offers you peace of mind.

How to Give a Gift of Charity In Your Pet’s Honor This Holiday Season

Want to do your part this holiday season and donate to a charity that you believe in?  What if I told you that you could do so in the name of your beloved pet?  Wouldn’t that make the gift so much sweeter?  Well, what are you waiting for?  Organizations like the Humane Society, the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement (RUBEA), Best Friends Animal Society, and the Lollypop Farm offer you the option of making a donation in the name of your four legged friends, both living and deceased.  “In Honor Of” and “In Memory Of” gifts are a great way to celebrate the season, give back to the community, and include your pets in your holiday preparations.

Spending money on thoughtless presents is a thing of the past.  Making a charitable donation is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Choose an organization to support.c
2. Request to send money in honor of your pet.
3. Write a check or authorize a credit or debit card withdrawal.

Some organizations offer memorial bricks with a personalized message inscribed on each.  If you choose to donate a certain amount of money, you are entitled to this service.  Do not feel obligated to give more than you can afford just to take advantage of this offer.  Additional opportunities to donate will present themselves.  Give the amount you can afford now.  Shelter animals do not have a second to lose.  Your financial gift can be the difference between life and death for some of them.

Extend this courtesy to other members of your family and your two-legged friends too.  Instead of buying gifts this year, why not honor the ones you love in other ways.  Charitable donations are always in style, never the wrong size, will not expire, and spread joy to both giver and receiver.                                                                                                               

Tis’ the season to spread goodwill.  That being said, there are a number of ways to be charitable during the holidays that don’t require you to spend a lot of money.  In fact, non-profit organizations around the globe prefer handcrafted items over store-bought ones.  Here is a list of pet-friendly groups seeking your sewn, quilted, knitted, crocheted, and hand-built items for use in their facilities:

Hugs for Homeless Animals Snuggles Project.  Create security blankets from a variety of materials and donate them to shelter animals that need comforting.  President and Founder, Rae French, poured her heart into this project that has been running strong since 1996.  Contributors can find everything that they need on the site including project sheets, a list of shelters, and an online donation form.

Creative Animal Relief.  Artists donate handmade items that are later sold online, in the storefront, and at arts and crafts festivals.  The proceeds are used to aid “qualified animal charities”.  Members vote on their favorite charities, the names are put in a randomizer, and three are chosen as quarterly charities.  CAR puts a lot of effort into researching the background of these organizations before releasing any funds to them.

ASPCA.  Donations in the form of “thick towels, blankets and beds for dogs and cats” are encouraged.  The site does not specify that these items should be bought brand new and only suggests that they should be “laundered and clean”.

Patterns for projects are posted heavily on the web.  In fact, here are a few places to get you started:

Craftbits.  The site has great ideas that cost very little to make.  Two of the more impressive pet-related crafts included a Recycled T-Shirt-Dogs Tugga Toy and Cat Nip Pouches.  Made in bulk, these items can really benefit shelters that are in need of supplies.

Tipnut.  Twenty projects round out the pet craft section of this informative website.  From toys to clothing to blankets and bedding, there is something for everyone to make.

ReadThreadDIY.  Containing a great tutorial on how to make a pet bed, the site offers read step-by-step instructions as well as color photograph illustrations.

Break out all your unused supplies and get to work crafting for the animals.  No holiday would be complete without including a charitable action geared towards our furry, feathered, and finned friends.  Even the smallest gesture can yield big rewards.  In fact, Julia Alvarez said it best when she declared, “The point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on.”