Hello all :o)

"April is a promise that May is bound to keep." - Hal Borland.  

Meee is super pumped about the month of April :o)
Lots of pawsome projects, lots of exciting outings.

Together with my little Sis Aida we are selling booklets for Carson's Community Days and will be physically present in one of their stores on April 14th. (Meee will have to keep a close eye on Aida because being in the mall, she will easily get distracted by all the shiny things they sell there). 
Our secretary helped us put together a pawsome flyer that will help us sell lots and lots of booklets. 
Cannot waaaaait!

All over our Mother Earth, climate is changing. Ice is melting. Oceans are rising. Droughts and floods and violent storms threaten our water, disrupt our food production, alter our seasons, speed extinction for many species.

Still, some species thrive! For example, forecasters promise vast increases in the insect population! Pretty exciting, right?

Conditions vary around the country, but here where I live in middle Tennessee, we are preparing to welcome more fleas, more familiar ticks, some new-to-the-area ticks, a variety of flies, disease-carrying mosquitoes, and who even knows what else.

I'm a native of Colorado, a devoted daughter of the breathtaking, arid west. We lived 8300 feet up in the Rockies for years before moving here. Ticks I knew. As leader of the community 4H horse club, I achieved minor legend status for my fearlessness in removing ticks from horses, dogs and occasional children. Fleas, not so much. I'm not saying there are no fleas in Colorado. I am saying I never encountered one.

Then my husband's career brought us south and east, along with four horses, four cats and three dogs, to which we soon added a fourth. Almost immediately, my dogs and cats were hosting what I soon learned were fleas. Lots of fleas. Plus, the long haired dogs were covered with ticks in what seemed an instant. The first time I removed ticks from my dog Buffy, I got 74. I was in shock. Likely she was, too.   I know now that we were lucky. That many ticks at one time can cause big problems, in the extreme, even death.

My animals and I were overwhelmed. I began fighting the agony-inflicting predators every way I could find. They were dosed and doused with all manner of toxic substances. A local feed store offered flea dips every few weeks, large troughs of milky, murky liquid into which we stood each dog, then scooped the toxic brew over them and over them till they were drenched, saturated to the point that no flea could live. We participated in flea dips frequently, grateful for a way to bring our dogs some temporary relief. Everybody did it. Why not? But none of them were ever flea free.

When two of those dogs developed rare, untreatable cancers, among lesser health problems I began to read more widely about dog and cat health. I discovered food beyond kibble. I embraced a study of animal health and well being that continues today. What I've learned so far is serving me and my animals well. I have no cats in my family just now, but I do have dogs. Thanks to the time, effort and study I've put into their diet, It's been over a decade since any of my dogs have had fleas.

We still have ticks., lots of them. The woods we live in are home to ticks. Neither my frequent physical check nor a toxic monthly treatment are enough. Our wonderful Britt, whose black coat provided safe haven for ticks, had a severe, aggressively treated tick disease, which lowered her quality of life for a long time, and may have set her up for the Cushings Disease that finally took her life. My husband has tick disease. My younger dog Sammy has tick disease. I use present tense, because several sources say that, once acquired, tick disease can be dormant, but even when treated, is never really gone. Check yourself and your dogs thoroughly any time either of you are exposed to ticks!

BUG OFF!

The single most powerful flea and bug repellant is a really healthy dog. The single most powerful tool we have with which to build that healthy dog is diet. Vaccines, antibiotics, drugs, chemicals and toxins in pet food, air and water pollution, lawn chemicals, cleaning products and more all weaken our animals' immune systems, which undermines every aspect of their health. Most pet food available in stores and in Western-medicine-only veterinary offices are made with poor quality ingredients and chemicals that add to serious health problems, regardless of the label's lofty claims.

If your beloved companions are still getting grocery store kibble, it's time for a change! Reaching a high level of good health is a process we can start now.   There's a large and rapidly growing selection of wholesome, nutritious pet food available to us now, made with whole foods and real vitamins and minerals, not the petroleum derived supplements found in so many pet foods, even a few pricy brands. Healing whole foods replacements are also available for prescription diets including those for kidney issues and weight loss.

As advocates for our animals' health, it's one of our responsibilities to know what foods and supplements nourish them and support them in staying healthy in our toxic world. We also need to know, and avoid, kibbles and canned foods that make our animals vulnerable to fleas and mosquitoes and ticks. Foods that do that also contribute to debilitating physical conditions (arthritis, for example), disease, and early death.  

Buying, or making, really good food for your dog is not cheap. For me personally, that investment yields a significant return. Lower vet bills help offset food expense. Life with healthier, happier dogs is the bigger payoff.

Treating seasonal allergies and bites

Steroids and benadryl are the go-to treatments for itching and other symptoms of allergic reactions. I cannot speak to benadryl, other than to say it will make your pet sleepy. But steroids do not heal. Steroids suppress symptoms. For example, steroids can stop itching, which makes them very popular. But steroids also have negative impact on brain, body and emotions. Google will be happy to tell you more.

Visit www.Herbsmithinc.com   for a line of high quality Chinese herbs, formulated for dogs, cats and horses by a veterinarian. They are a small, caring company, there to educate and help. You can even Like them on Facebook. They offer Clear AllerQi, a blend to help the body heal from allergies, and Milk Thistle, to further support a healthy liver. Ancient Chinese Herbs do not treat symptoms. Instead, they strengthen and balance the body and emotions.

Frontline, Advantage and similar topical products do not repel fleas and ticks. They work by putting harsh chemicals into an animal's body, chemicals which then kill ticks and fleas that bite the animal. There are a number of 'natural' insect repellants for animals on the market. If you've had results from any of these, positive OR negative, let me know and I'll share the information in the next newsletter.

Wishing you and your animal companions a healthy, happy Spring!

Heart Hugs to all,

Penny Case

Guild Certified Tellington TTouch Practitioner

star9fish@aol.com 

TTouch.com for information, inspiration, and to find a TTouch Practitioner near you.

Dear Diary -

First thing this morning, I got all cleaned up and ready for work. Then I raced downstairs and out my personal door to say "Hello!" to my new neighbors, the Gopher family.

 

"Hallooooooooooooooo??? Anybody home???"

I think I heard someone say "Come in, Mary-Margaret!" Their door is a bit small, dontcha think? Maybe I can help out a bit here. Just a little wider......??

Uh oh! I'm in trouble here. The doorway isn't getting any wider and my friends aren't coming out.   And worse ever......Mom's calling me inside so we can leave for the office.

I get picked up and held way far from Mom, who is wrinkling up her nose and saying "EEEEYEEEEW!!!!   And "Yuck!". This is SOOOO not fair. OK...my bow is soggy, my face is covered in dirt crumbles and my feet are wet and muddy.   I am SORRY!   I tried to stay clean. Really, I did. But a pup's gotta do what a pup's gotta do!! I have a life, you know.

Compromise - I get a shower with the spray faucet, dried with a dish towel and my bow gets trashed.

Some people take all the fun out of my morning!!

Phooey!!

Love, Mary-Margaret

Ashley and Kung Fu Kori out for an afternoon stroll...

Most, if not all, of you have adopted your yorkie(s) through YTNR. You know first-hand how rewarding this experience has been and how grateful these new family members are to be part of your lives.

There are many opportunities for you to do more for YTNR and the yorkies we help. Following is a list of ideas for your consideration:

            Use your creative skills to make items that can be donated to the Angel Boutique for fundraising.

            Make a financial contribution, via check or PayPal, to help with medical costs. These contributions can be for a specific fur baby or for best use.

            Become a foster family until a forever home is found. If interested, your state director can assist you with the process.

            Think of a fund raising project that you can hold in your area. Before implementing, share your idea with any board member to make sure all legalities are accounted for.

            Volunteer to assist in YTNR administrative tasks such as e-correspondence of various types. If you have the time and interest, contact MaryElizabeth (YTNR@bellsouth.net) for details.

If you have questions or ideas of other ways to support YTNR, please contact one of the board members.

        Contribute your stories, articles of interest and photo's of your pets to our newsletter.   

Love to all,
Neeko :o)