Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Friends of Pawsitively Well
Meet some friends of Pawsitively Well.
If you have a furry or feathered friend that would like to be in one of our videos, send us a photo with your friend's name and location and we will add you in the next video.
Meet 13 Year Old Tito
The Pawsitive Cause Project is excited to announce our newest sponsored dog Tito.
Meet handsome and sweet 13 year old Tito. Just like us, the years have started to catch up with this baby. For years he has lived a full and active life with his person especially enjoying trail runs and tagging along on mountain bike rides.
Recently Tito has found getting up more difficult and in the last 6 months, he can no longer jump up on the bed.
On April 16, 2020 Tito started his CBD oil. He is taking Kannaway's Pure Gold Broad Spectrum. Tito is 93 lbs. He is taking 12mg 2x a day. We started with a low serving size, which will likely need to be increased, once he has started the oil and become used to it.
Updates:
4/18/20 - Tito slipped and fell on the step walking into the house. His legs gave out and he couldn't get up. He needed to be picked up and was really sore after the incident.
NOTE: He is not a fan of the oil (taking it off the spoon) and ducks his head when he sees it coming but is taking it.
4/22/20 - "Tito is good! He had a good day today ... was a little sore at the beginning of the walk.
4/26/20 - "He seems to be ok ... his mobility is still wonky but I think the pain level has gone down ... seems to be more manageable.
5/3/20 - Tito starting having some tummy issues and after several conversations his mom decided to change his diet to raw and discontinue with the oil because it wasn't clear where his tummy issues were coming from, so we agreed it was best at this time.
Behind The Scenes At Pawsitively Well
I wanted to do something a little different and give you a glimpse of behind the scenes at Pawsitively Well.
I am Tammi, founder of Pawsitively Well. By day, I work full time in the transportation industry. My job is to ensure all our company trucks and drivers are in compliance with state and federal laws. By night, I am Pawsitively Well: web designer, writer, animal advocate, CBD educator and advocate AND mom of 4, grandmom of 7, and animal mom to 2 dogs, 2 cats and a "penny" pig (guinea pig).
I have ALWAYS loved animals and passed that love on to my kids and grandchildren.
As the "mom" of 2 rescues, Nova and Finn, I always try to do the best for them. Nova has a stomach of steel; Finn however would occasionally have stomach issues when we started a new bag (same brand) of dog food. My solution ... making my dogs' food! They have not had commercial dog food in a year now.
This has proven to be a slight challenge recently because of the grocery store's limited supplies of chicken and frozen vegetables (because of COVID-19), but I believe we are prepared. For back up we have Honest Kitchen. (See our review when we tested this several weeks ago.)
Pawsitively Well has been a long time in the making ... a dream. The dream developed into a plan when I started learning more and using essential oils. They are a great alternative to many of the chemical based toxic household products BUT essential oils can be equally toxic to animals if used improperly. I love essential oils and their diversity and amazing benefits. I am currently working on my certification as an animal aromatherapist. (If this is something of interest to you, check this out for more info.)
At the same time, I was learning more about CBD oil but very confused about all the information ... sometime conflicting information. So many people saying so many different things that I didn't know where to start. Sometimes you just have to jump in and learn out of necessity and experience, so that's what I did and haven't looked back.
Many people are selling CBD these days, from gas stations to liquor stores and web sites. It is everywhere. I wanted to do something a little different: combine my knowledge and experience with animals over the years along with my knowledge and experience with essential oils and CBD and provide a resource for animal health and wellness as well as for people).
Click here to learn more about my CBD and hemp lifestyle products.
Although I sell CBD oil, the purpose of Pawsitively Well is to provide resources to help people make informed decisions in providing the best for their furry friends. It's also about highlighting those that are making a difference in the care and welfare of animals.
Watching the results of CBD for my family and dogs, an idea started. Wanting to do something to make a difference and combining my love for animals and knowledge and experience with CBD oil, The Pawsitive Cause Project was born. It's a project to provide free CBD for rescue dogs in need. (Click here to learn more about The Pawsitive Cause Project.)
Often rescue dogs are faced with physical and psychological damage that takes medical care, time, patience, and lots of love to heal. CBD is a natural option to assist in the process.
If you would like to learn more about CBD and its benefits, contact me for info on how to join our weekly "Hemp For Humanity" informational presentations.
CBD is not a medicine or a miracle cure, however it helps the body maintain healthy and balanced systems (homeostasis) so that the body can naturally heal and stay healthy.
Just as you would not expect immediate results from taking a single vitamin, CBD oil works in a similar fashion. So although some may experience results quickly such as anxiety relief, others may take longer to "notice" the results.
Click here learn more about the dogs we are helping
Click here to learn more about how you can help.
Click here if you would like to submit an application for a dog in need.
I love to participate in events. In addition to CBD oil, I sell pet themed coffee mugs, hand crafted (by me) organic hemp dog toys, handcrafted (by me) lava stone bracelets and much more. I am perfecting my recipe for organic dog treats and they will soon be coming.
As I am writing this, my day time office job has transitioned to home because of shelter in place state orders. My job at this time has been deemed critical, so I luckily am still employed. Three of my four kids have lost their jobs (temporarily we hope) due to COVID-19. Every day things are changing. With an office in place already, the transition has been easy and my fur babies have made my days so much easier. They sleep under my desk (the dogs) or on my desk (the cats) and have done a lot to reduce my anxiety in this difficult time.
If you are looking for ways to supplement or replace your current income and would like to learn more about the business opportunity, click here, or if you would like to simply learn more about CBD, contact me for a link to our weekly informational Zoom call. (no sales, simply informational)
In my "spare time" I love working out doors, gardening, and photography. If you'd like to check out some photographs, visit my photography site.
Remember, we can make a difference one animal at a time ... and every animal matters.
Stay healthy! And thank you for your support!!
Visit our page CBD Benefits For Animals or Resource Links to learn more.
Creating An Emergency First Aid Kit For Your Dog
Creating An Emergency Kit for Your Dog
As caregivers for our beloved companion animals, we do our very best to keep them safe and well but sometimes things happen beyond our control. In some cases, your immediate actions are critical to the best outcome. The key is preparation. What better time then now to prepare an emergency kit to have on hand should you need it.
Below is a list of suggested items for your dog's first aid kit. There are many commercial kits available online, if you choose not to make one yourself.
Items to include in an emergency kit:
Information About Your Animal:
- Records of pertinent medical and surgical history
- Vaccination history
- Heartworm status (dogs), FeLV/FIV status (cats)
- Current medications, doses, and dosing frequency
Information About Your Vet:
- Veterinarian contact information
- Local emergency clinic numbers and locations
Medications:
- Several days supply of chronic medications (Remember to check expiration dates)
First Aid Supplies:
- Blanket
- Exam gloves
- Thermometer
- Water based lubricant - for use with rectal thermometer
- Saline - wound flushing
- Muzzle
- Tweezers
- Toenail trimmers, Quick Stop / silver nitrate sticks
- Scissors (blunt and sharp tipped)
- Syringes without needles
- Antiseptic solution/wipes
- Rubbing alcohol
- 3% Hydrogen peroxide - to induce vomiting when indicated (do not use on wounds)
- Bandage material
- Adhesive tape
- Cotton balls/swabs
- Antihistamine - for allergic reactions - see here for dosage recommendations
- Activated charcoal - for ingested poisons
- Cold pack
Other Supplies:
- Canine first aid book
- Slip lead
- Towels/blanket
- Old credit card - to remove bee stingers (Learn more about how to remove a stinger)
- Flash light or other light source
Make sure you check the kit every few months and keep an eye on any medication expiration dates and replace items as needed. And, of course, keep the kit out of reach of pets and children.
How You Can Help Your Local Rescues In This Time Of Need
With the pandemic, loss of jobs and social distancing fewer pets are being adopted, but they haven’t stopped coming into shelters. Adoption and rescue groups need your help getting these animals out and into homes! Here are a few ways that you can make a difference.
FOSTER (OR ADOPT!)
With everyone staying home, it’s a perfect opportunity to step up and foster or adopt a cat or dog or other small animal.
If you’ve been considering adoption, now is a great time. With many people at home, its the perfect time to welcome a furry friend into your family.
DONATE ITEMS
Rescue groups are in desperate need of pet food, cat litter and cleaning supplies. They need hand sanitizer, bleach, disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, etc. No one is unaffected by this shortage.
The good news is that you don’t need to go to the shelter to donate but can do it from the comfort of your own home. Many rescues and shelters have online wish lists with links to the most needed items. Most shelters that are closed to the public are still able to receive donation deliveries.
SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Adoptable animals are in need of extra exposure because of the cancellations of adoption events and many shelters.
Through the use of social media, you can help provide additional exposure by sharing your local rescue's list of needed items and available animals.
VOLUNTEER
Some shelters have reduced or limited volunteers, but others are desperate for help. Many shelters are short staffed because employees are staying home to care for their children and many shelter volunteers are over 60 and need to minimize and avoid social contact with others. Because of the staff and volunteer shortage, people are needed to clean, call vet references, take photos for social media, and socialize the animals.
Working with the animals also has many benefits. Animals can reduce anxiety and provide a distraction and dogs and cats aren’t part of the social distancing recommendations.
DONATE CASH
Many rescues rely on annual fundraising events and adoption fees to support their work. With the cancelled events, drastic drop in adoptions, and continuous number of animals still needing help, donations are as important as ever. Donating cash at this time is not an option for many, however if you have a few dollars to spare, the rescues need your help now more than ever.
I understand that we are facing an unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty and everyone is feeling its effects, including our animals. The good news there are things that you can do to help the homeless animals in your community.
What does your dog’s behavior say about you?
Although dogs learn through training, they also learn through their incredible powers of observation. Your daily routine and responses to situations, influences your dog's behavior.
Dogs learn by association. If an action has a positive outcome, they repeat it; if it has a negative outcome, they avoid it. It's great when you are training for a desired behavior but are you inadvertently training undesired behaviors simply by your responses?
We are creatures of habit, and our dogs know us better than we realize. They know our daily routines and habits, and how we interact with them will define much of their behaviors.
He knows whether it's time for work or play by the clothes you wear. The lid coming off the treat jar means a "cookie" is coming. Your posture and eye contact are worth a thousand words to him.
In short, much of a dog's behavior is a reflection of its handling. Many times we give in to something that seems like an little request, not realizing the long-term results. Begging is a big one. Once your dog learns that you will share your tasty treats while eating, you'll never eat alone again. If you're anxious when you take your dog to the vet, he will pick up on your anxiety and instinctively think he needs to worry as well.
Since dogs learn by association, there are just three possible results to any of your dog's behaviors:
- Things get better (reward);
- Things get worse (punishment);
- Nothing changes(neutral).
What are your responses teaching your dog?
Have a cat? Your actions and responses are training her as well ... or has she trained you, like mine has?
My cat has "trained" me very well. She sits at the door and cries to go out. I hear her cry and I let her out. Funny thing though, I don't let her out if it's dark. I'm not sure if she distinguishes "dark" or just knows my night-time routine, but she stopped crying to go out at night after a few days.
Dogs also learn from other dogs and can pick up wanted and unwanted behaviors from each other.
I adopted Nova in 2014 and she was the perfect apartment dog. She almost never barked and didn't think twice about people walking by, always happy to just sit quietly and observe. In September 2018, we welcomed little "big" brother Finn into the family and everything changed. Finn, true to his Catahoula breed is "protective" of his property and will bark if someone comes on the property or people walk by. Guess who now is more alert and protective to anyone coming near the property? You guessed it, Nova. She is actually much more in tune to anyone passing by then Finn and alerts him so they both can stand guard until the "intruders" have gone out of view.
Sometimes training from observation of other dogs is all a dog needs:
There are more complex tasks that dogs seem to learn by observation as well. Some are of sufficient complexity that it would be difficult to design a program to train dogs to do effectively. An example of this is the work of Saint Bernard rescue dogs. The breed was named for the Hospice founded by Saint Bernard. It was located in the Swiss Alps on one of the principal roads that connect Switzerland to Italy. The hospice provided winter travellers with a refuge from wind, cold, blizzards, and avalanches. The dogs assisted the monks in their searches for travellers who had strayed off of the main road. The monks seldom left the hospice without dogs, because the mountain fogs can come on suddenly and with no warning, making it impossible to see even one foot ahead. Without the dogs the monks would never find their way back to the hospice. Together the monks and dogs have saved thousands of travelers. These rescue dogs work in three dog teams. When a lost traveler is found, two of the dogs lie down beside him to keep him warm, while the third returns to sound the alarm and bring back help. These dogs are never given any special training, and no one is exactly sure how one would go about training a dog to do this task in any event. Young dogs are simply allowed to run with the older experienced dogs when they go on patrol. In this way the dogs learn what is expected of them. Ultimately, each dog learns his job, and also decides for himself whether his professional specialty will eventually be to lie with the victim or go for help. (Source)
So remember, the next time your dog acts in a certain way, your response will either reinforce the behavior to continue or stop. Don't give in to every dog behavior just because its quick and easy unless you're ready to deal with a lifetime of that behavior or putting in the extra time to correct what could have been prevented.
Sophie Gamand: Making a difference with Flower Power
Updated: 2022
What inspired you to start photographing shelter dogs?
I moved to the US after my fiancé got transferred here, and I had to leave everything behind: my family, friends, job… Moving here was a big unknown, and all I had - besides my fiancé - was my camera. It became my way in, a way to meet people and connect with my new life. Very soon, I realized photographing dogs was easier, because the language wasn’t getting the way, and it felt safer. I heard about how many shelter dogs were trapped in the shelter system in the US (the numbers here are MUCH bigger than in Europe), and it compelled me to use my camera to help. With hindsight, I guess I identified with those dogs a lot. They were transitioning into their new life, had to leave everything behind, and their plunge into the unknown was something I could related to.
Recognizing that every dog is unique and wonderful, is there a special dog that stands out in your memory that had a major impact on you?
After about 9 years photographing shelter dogs and stray dogs, I obviously have tons of stories and dogs who left their marks. I’d say my dog, MacLovin, whom I rescued from the intake floor of an animal control facility in Puerto Rico, is the most signifigant doggie for me. He was going to be euthanized because of his looks. And I could see he had a sensitive, pure soul. Another dog who is special to me is Frida, a paralyzed pit bull who was rescued in Mexico and whom I brought to NYC and fostered until she got adopted. She was a very special doggie. I usually go somewhere and take photos and tell the stories, but it’s rare that I actually take the steps to help rescue a dog. I see myself more as a witness and a voice. With Frida though, I just couldn’t leave her behind. I crowned her and she became my favorite Pit Bull Flower Power portrait, too.
How do you select which dogs to photograph?
I don’t! I show up at the shelter and set up a studio. Then I wait for the models to come in. I never pick and choose. It’s an aspect of my work that is particularly exciting. I never know who is waiting behind the door, and how well (or not) we are going to work together. Now, after all these years, I am interested in casting specific dogs for specific projects, for a change. I did a series called Xolotl, where I worked with Mexican hairless dogs. And it’s my favorite project ever. Working with a specific breed, or a specific dog, can be quite inspiring too.
What top tips would you suggest for someone photographing shelter dogs?
Less is more! I always recommend photographers to keep their voice low, keep the squeakers at a minimum, even the food. Keep in mind that the dogs are already in an environment that is overloading their senses, and quite overwhelming for them. The shoot should be an opportunity to calm their senses a bit, and try and capture that moment when they can let their guard down a bit.
Any special suggestions for photographing a black dog?
I use artificial light (flash), so black dogs pose no particular issue for me. But nowadays, even with smart phones, you can achieve great results. I recently created a tutorial for Adobe Lightroom phone app, about bringing more light in black dog fur. (link: https://lightroom.adobe.com/learn/tutorial/ef010e28-1342-47bd-abff-a937c3f9c34c).
Anything else you’d like to include: (current projects, anything …)
I launched a Patreon account (https://www.patreon.com/sophiegamand) a few months back, to help support all the work I do for rescues. I never charge a cent to shelters, and Patreon has been a great way to help absorb some of my traveling costs and others. For as little as $1.50/month, patrons get access to behind-the-scenes content, stories, exclusive merchandise, etc. For someone like me, who is used to raising money for others all the time, it was a bit strange to ask for this type of support, but it’s important to me to remain independent, and not have to rely on branding and ads to finance my rescue efforts.
Updated:
Previously living in NYC, now living in Los Angeles ....
The pandemic keeps delaying the release of my new project, but I have spent the past couple of years working on a commissioned series with Humane Society International. I have been creating portraits of survivors of South Korean dog meat trade. The idea is to encourage adoption in South Korea. The meat trade is slowly dying there, the young generation isn’t interested in eating dogs, and the president recently spoke about ending it once and for all. There are thousands of farms of all sizes left in SK, and these dogs will need a place to go. With this project, we are hoping to inspire people to adopt these doggies. I can’t wait for its release!
If people would like to support my work, or grab some of my merchandise, they can head to my website I will be releasing my 2022 calendar soon, and I always work on new fun products, from greeting cards to t-shirts and more. People can also support my Patreon.
Check out these tips for taking photos of your pet with an iPhone.
About Sophie Gamand:
I am a French award-winning photographer and animal advocate, living and working in Los Angeles. I am mostly known for Wet Dog and Pit Bull Flower Power (a series of shelter pit bulls wearing flower crowns, which was published in a coffee table book). I travel the US and the world, to photograph at-risk dogs (stray dogs, rescues, shelter dogs), tell their stories and help them find homes. I am also a fine-art artist and I use video, sculpture, painting, installations, VR/AR, and other media, to convey my messages about dogs and humans.
Even though my work is seemingly about dogs, it’s humans I am trying to understand better and reveal. The way we treat dogs, the way we use our power in the face of such vulnerability, speaks volume about us.
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What Does Candy Crush And Running A Business Have In Common
Believe it or not...there are things I’ve learned from Candy Crush that help me in business!
Ok…I imagine you are saying SERIOUSLY?? CANDY CRUSH?? The annoying- never ending- mindless game?? Yup- that game.
At first it was simply a guilty mind-less pleasure I did when I was stressed. It took my mind off of things and gave me a few minutes to regroup and refocus…but then something happened. I realized I was learning things from it! Things I can use as I am learning and growing a new business.
1) Keep your eye on the prize. It’s easy to tell yourself I want to be successful or I want to make money…but those are general things and not specific enough. You need to set your eye on the goal at hand when you start…and then figure out how you are going to get to that place. The Candy Crush part: each game has a task of sorts- some you need to break jellies- others you need to get a certain score- other games require you to get a cherry or something to a specific hole…if you do not know the end goal and just start randomly playing each game…you will not achieve the goal.
2) Learn from your mistakes. Every set back should be teaching us…this didn’t work…let me try this. Sometimes there are patterns we need to learn- or specific skills we must master to be able to accomplish our goals. If we see the times we do not succeed as “failures”– we will get frustrated and negative. If we see these things as “lessons”- we will realize each one is teaching us something and getting us one step closer to being able to accomplish what we are trying to do. Candy Crush part: each game has a strategy to be able to win. Sometimes you can “see” it right away- other times you don’t and you have to play that same game over and over until you a) see the strategy and b) figure out how to implement it to reach the required outcome.
3) Think a few moves ahead. I think it’s important to be able to see how things will affect your business…if I do X, then Y will happen…or I need to do THIS to grow my following. If you can see many moves ahead…you will be able to set up the plan for success. The Candy Crush part: You must be able to learn to CAUSE things to happen to get the required outcome. If you need to make a certain kind of candy for example- you need to be able to make the moves necessary to do that- so you must be able to SEE how each move will affect your outcome. Otherwise you will just be randomly making moves- no specific goal in sight- basically spinning your wheels and hoping to get lucky.
4) Lastly…a little fun never hurt anyone. If you are not enjoying what you are doing…you might want to consider another path. If you must do what you are doing now (and it’s something you do not enjoy or that does not fulfill you) that’s ok…life is a journey…we might not be winning at life in the way we want RIGHT NOW…but that should not stop us from dreaming and scheming…and finding ways to work towards doing what it is that makes our souls and hearts happy! The Candy Crush part: The game seems to be endless- I’m not sure if there is an end to it- at least not at the skill level I play at…but it’s fun and relaxing to me. Not everyone enjoys it- but I’m sure we all have something we enjoy…our own guilty little pleasure.
Sometimes We Need A Little Magic
Hi! My name is Magic. I got my name because I am kind of a magical cat!
I got here like many feral cats do…we all know how that happens. A little kitty romance happens and bam…there were kittens! Since I grew up feral…I did what I had to do to survive without a home. One of the things I learned was to be like a stealth cat…you don’t even know I’m there if I don’t want you to. That’s how I picked the home I have now.
A little about my territory and my backstory. There are quite a few properties here that are all connected. There is a BIG flower farm and then a lot of other smaller properties- and some have houses. There are quite a few of us that wander this area and find food where we can. It was on my travels that I came upon THIS farm where I now call home. There was a barn- so I had shelter if I wanted it. There was water for me to drink all the time and sometimes there was food out on the front porch. I figured I’d stay a bit and see if it was a good place. No one knew I was here though- that’s where my magic came in.
I was always around…watching…deciding. Was this a nice spot? You see…although I was young myself, I knew something was happening inside me. I was going to have kittens. I needed a place for them to be safe. I checked out the buildings…the fields and woods…the bamboo patch and of course the food they put out. I decided it was going well…so now was the real test. I had to let them see me!
The main person I always saw was a woman. She was outside a lot caring for the other animals here. They seemed to like her ok so I thought that was a good sign. When she first saw me- she talked to me and brought me food. I made sure she didn’t get very close to me…just close enough to see me and let me see her better. Every day I popped up to check her out and it soon became a fun game! I started to love surprising her …she never knew where I was until I magically appeared! She’d laugh and talk to me (and feed me) and that’s how I got the name Magic. I like that name! It fits me really well.
Fast forward a bit- I had kittens. I only had two and I tried keeping them hidden for as long as I could. I wasn’t very good at picking a safe spot for them…I kept them in the bushes and now I know that wasn’t a very good spot. The one the woman named “Georgie” got very sick. The person tried to catch her but I had taught my kittens too well to be wild. I taught them to not get close to anyone. Sadly…by the time they were able to catch Georgie, she was too sick and went to kitty heaven. My other kitten they named Duffy…and luckily they were able to catch her and she was not sick.
Now if I wasn’t a cat and knew to do otherwise…I might have gone on my life a single cat again and gone back to playing magical games of hide-and-seek…but…nature took over and I got pregnant again. I know the people didn’t want this for me (or the kittens to come) - they did try and trap me but I was too clever. I snuck away and had my kittens…this time I had FIVE! That was a lot of work and I was still not a very smart mom. I kept the kittens hidden for a couple of days and then brought them to “my” home- to the people that fed me. Here’s where I’m glad my people looked out for me. I was hiding the kittens in the bushes again and wouldn’t let the people close. Then one night we had a HUGE rainstorm! I didn’t know what to do so I ran away to find a better spot…leaving my kittens in the mud. Luckily the woman realized I might need help and she came out in the dark to check us and found them all in the mud. She scooped them all up- took them in the garage- dried them off and made us a nice bed. I was thankful for that but not ready to share them with anyone yet…so I hid them…but this time I was smart enough to hide them inside the garage!
I think the people knew where I was- but they left me alone to care for my kittens- I’d come out to eat and all…but them I’d go back into my hiding spot. This worked well until my kittens got a bit bigger and got wild! They were wandering all over the place and I couldn’t keep them hidden. The people made us an area so the kittens were safe and I could come and go as I wanted.
A few weeks went by and then all of a sudden I only had 3 kittens! I wasn’t sure what happened to the two at first (later I learned they got good homes). I had the other three to watch over still. What I didn’t know at the time is that my food each day was being put inside a cage of some sort. The door never shut on me- so I thought it was safe. I’d go in- eat and come out. All was good! Well one night and went in and the trap door slammed shut. I was SO SCARED! I had no idea what was happening to me. Next thing I know- I’m getting into something and we are moving. We stop and get out and I get taken into a new place and there were soooo many other cats! We were all crying and upset. I learned that we were all feral cats and were the lucky ones!
Why were we lucky? We were all getting “fixed”…apparently that means we won’t have more kittens…and then we got to go back to our homes/areas. This is called TNR…we get trapped- neutered and then released back out. Now some people say this is bad…we should get homes…but first of all I can tell you- there are a LOT of us “invisible” cats out there…way more than available homes…we come out at night- when no one is around- we take care of ourselves as best we can and some of us like being wild. I do.
After my procedure- I came back to my home. My kittens were not there but I knew the people cared about them- so I wasn’t worried. I got to stay in the garage and get better for a few days…and then I went back to my days as a wild and free (and now non-kitten producing) magical cat!
I probably should clarify here what I mean by free. I have a pretty good gig. I’m free to do what I want. I won’t let anyone close enough to pet me…but I have the luxury of being fed every day…I have a cat bed…on cold nights I sleep in the garage – I even learned to use a litter box! So I have the best of all worlds! I get to stay warm and safe…I even am allowed to bring my friend Legs inside with me when I want. I still make the woman laugh all the time when I magically appear in front of her! She never sees me unless I want her to! She talks to me all the time and when I’m in the mood- I talk back to her to let her know I appreciate my home (and sometimes I’m telling her I’m hungry and need more food!!) I see two of my kittens Duffy and Tippy in the window on occasion (they live in the house now). They tell me they are happy. They love being inside and being cared for. This makes me happy! I choose to live the way I do- but I don’t want them to have a hard life.
My hope in telling you my story is that you might think differently if you see a feral cat. We didn’t ask to be born out in the wild…but that’s what we know. We try and survive- we don’t mean to get in the trash when we do- but sometimes that’s all we have to eat. The best thing you can do for us is help us get fixed so there are not so many of us…if we are friendly- bringing us inside your house or barn is awesome…but if we are not- please let us back outside. We will help keep the cat population down in our area …keep the mice away…and we will most likely find ways to make you smile!
Oh No, Where’s My Social Skills: Tips For Socializing Your Rescue
People tend to think of socialization as exposure to many different people and other dogs, however the primary goal of socialization is to let your dog experience and become comfortable with the world around him.
The critical time for socialization and learning in a dog's life is between 3 weeks and 5 months old. This period allows puppies to be exposed to a wide variety of sights, sounds, smells, and sensations without becoming fearful. Puppies who miss out on these experiences may have difficulties learning to be comfortable around unfamiliar things, paving the way for anxiety and fear as adults.
When socializing a rescue dog to any new sights, sounds or experiences it is important to let your dog set the pace. New or previous bad experiences, may cause anxiety and fear. Pushing too much too quickly will just reinforce his fears and set his socialization back further.
Signs of discomfort, anxiety or fear in your dog’s body language may include:
- Tucked tail;
- Flattened ears;
- Lip or nose licking;
- Yawning;
- Shaking;
- Crouching;
- Attempting to dart or hide;
- Whining;
- Hair standing on end on the neck and/or spine.
Here are a few tips to socialize a rescue dog
- Keep encounters positive and reward with encouragement and praise;
- Ignore unwanted behavior;
- Keep encounters brief;
- Start with less challenging environments or encounters;
- Pick your battles.
The key to socialization is keeping your dog under his “stress threshold.” If he's relaxed, he’ll be able to learn and the experience will be positive.
Remember, we often do not know what kind of past our rescue dog is dealing with. He may have been abused or neglected. Some were wanted and loved at one point, then later abandoned.
It’s your role as your dog's guardian to show him a better life full of love, comfort, and security. If your dog is terrified of something, there’s probably a good reason. You can continue to work on your dog's fears over time, but your ultimate responsibility is to do what’s best for your dog.
Some interesting links:
