Kids and Therapy Cats

    Our youngest daughter has a special therapy cat as a companion he is a gray striped tabby with white mitten socks.
    I talk a lot about therapy dogs but cats are just as important in keeping many children and adults with autism and anxiety comforted with their presence.

   We saved Tigger from our porch during a rain storm last April. He was so tiny he barely fit into our palms, today he is a big tom cat.
   We had no idea where he came from only that he was a tiny miracle and we were meant to be his family. In return, Tigger has been a life saver for our daughter with Aspergers and anxiety.

   When we brought him to the vet they said he was very close to death and suffering from hypothermia and it was a good thing we found him in time. Our daughter took care of him and nurtured him back to health.

  I believe that was their bonding time and the two of them have been inseparable ever since. Tigger is her best friend and curls up in her lap when she is frightened or having a really bad day. He cries and calls for her each morning to see if she is up yet. I know they will be best friends forever.

A day in the life

     I strongly believe it's my calling to love and have a voice for children.Even through my young adult life I have cared and nurtured children whether it was my cousins, neighborhood friends or as a babysitter.

     As a child, I always felt like I never had a voice. I often felt scared or alone when I  was told to get over the fact someone was calling me names or making mean gestures at me. Now, in my own family, my seven-year-old was experiencing the same things at school


    She was so afraid of going to school she was having accidents before and during school. At first, she didn't tell us and tried to hide it.She has Aspergers and so has a hard time with her communication skills.At that time being only seven was emotionally more like being five.

    I felt like a terrible mother and very helpless to do much to help my child. I saw every day her weight decreasing and her beautiful brown eyes became raccoon-like from not sleeping.

  I sat in her class to see if I noticed what was bothering her. I sat at lunch and witnessed girls laughing and whispering pointing at my beautiful young daughter.I know that children may not be talking about my child but it was pretty obvious they were.

The look on my daughter,s face was the very last straw and I scheduled a talk with her teacher later that day. Also, it came out a child had been hitting her during recess and the teachers were oblivious.


   I had planned on talking to the counselor about how to help Maddy with friends.Now the vice principal would also be present since she heard what my concerns were and seemed genuinely caring. I thought I was going to be on the path to truly help my daughter at last.

  After our meeting where basically I was told that these things are a normal part of growing up and that my child was too sensitive. I told my husband and we started taking more action to get professionals involved.

    We saw a psychologist and our pediatrician who wrote letters on our behalf to have Maddy removed from her classroom into more of a slower paced classroom. We thought this would be a help but the school told us we were being ridiculous and refused to have her switched even thought two people who knew our child well agreed.

     Finally, we sought advice from the school board president who called the school and directed them to take action.This took two whole months and it was too late.
Apparently, it would mess the numbers up in the classroom and that was more important than our child who was suffering.

 This is just our story, we homeschool our daughter now who is 12 and thriving. I know so many parents have been through what we have and something must be done to help educate the children and give them a voice. To learn kindness and values really matter. I am currently writing a children's book which features a child who brings her therapy dog into the classroom to help educate the children on understanding our differences as human beings.

   I hope to have my book "Bosco, The Therapy Dog Goes To School" out by the end of 2017 and to read it in the classroom to dozens of children.






    

The reason for my company is.....

  In 2005 my family went through a tragedy,our home and our lives as we knew it were destroyed. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the surrounding parishes hard and life was devastating for many families. According to Wikipedia over 1,800 people lost their lives but many more were lost, the total is unknown. My family lived on the North shore of Lake Pontchartrain in the town of Slidell. We had lived there since 2000 and absolutely loved it. No one can truly prepare your family for a hurricane. Sure,you can buy supplies,prepare a tote for all your belongings and money, but no one can truly tell you that you will have feelings of despair or hopelessness afterwards. My family left the day of Katrina because we had a compact car,no savings and a new baby. We hadn't worked out how all six of us were going to get out of the storms way or how we were once again going to evacuate after several near misses earlier that year. We ended up in Florida at a hotel and stayed there for a week,unsure of how and what we were going to do. After much discussion we decided to go to Atlanta to my brother-in-laws. With our daughter only six months old we needed to go somewhere safe and plan our next move. 
 Many things came into play, my husband lost his job of twenty years due to the building being blown down and flooded and our home had massive tornado damage. We decided after much discussion and heartache to stay in Atlanta in Lawrenceville to create a new life especially for our children. It took my husband three months to find a job and life was in an uproar until then. I decided I needed to help my husband make some money for our new life, after much research I decided to start my own company and become a professional pet care provider. I needed a job where I could take my young daughter if necessary and work on my own time.
 My company at first was a necessity and very demanding but now I have learned how to manage work  and family life. I love animals and people so helping them brings me much joy. There are not many companies  now a days who put people first, but I hope to change that concept. I thank God for my clients everyday for without them I would still be struggling and feeling helpless. They have made me strong and given my family a true gift. I am now in the stages of starting a new venture to help end childhood bullying,I will be writing and publishing a book about a dog and it's owner who brings an anti bullying campaign to the classroom. Look for it in the fall 2017.

To buy or not to buy poinsettias

   I recently read an article about the beautiful and colorful poinsettia. In the past they were thought to be very toxic for four legged companions,but now it is known they are mildly toxic. The sap found in the plant contains (diterpenoid euphorbol esters) and  may cause diarrhea, drooling, lip licking and vomiting so while uncomfortable it does not mean death for your pets.  If kept out of reach they can be a beautiful addition to your holiday festivity,our family loves them but we have a very curious young kitten and we know he would have a taste. Next time you visit family or shop don't avoid the Christmas plants relax and know that if carefully placed they can add joy and delight to the festivities.

Assistance dogs vs. therapy dogs

  

      The thought of using a dog for therapy became extremely popular  in 1976 when Elaine Smith who worked as a registered nurse noticed 

how patients reacted to the chaplain and his friendly golden retriever. 

The patient's whole demeanor became relaxed and in some cases sped the rate of recovery. Elaine decided to start a small therapy dog institution and it blossomed into popularity. In recent years therapy dogs have begun helping children overcome emotional and speech issues.

 Although an excellent idea, therapy dogs are not classified as service animals and are not afforded the same privileges.

 They may not go into restaurants or hotels, there is much controversy about this issue.

  

   An assistant or service dog may go anywhere because they assist and do things for their disabled companion. They are essential to the well-being of their owner.

 In the U.S. the service dog is protected at the federal level under the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990. They undergo rigorous training and evaluation.

 Therapy Dogs International does not accept service dogs for this reason. Unlike assistance dogs,therapy dogs do not actually do things for their person, They are there to provide an atmosphere of calmness and a sense of security.

  

The therapy dogs are asked to pass a test called the "Good Citizen test" provided by the American Kennel club.  It is a ten step gold standard behavioral test. 

After completing the classes and tests dog owners may put GCG in the suffix of their dog's name.

 In many situations such as the fear of reading aloud,anxiety or shyness therapy dogs can be a comfort. Their presence can mean the difference between fear and self-confidence.

 They can be utilized in many ways and I believe a way to communicate to others about compassion and kindness.

 Last year therapy dogs provided relief to school children after they witnessed violence in their schools. It can be a means to ending bullying and self-hatred. 

Do your animals feel your emotions?

      I recently had a client visit where I was asked to observe a dog who to his owners seemed ill, they were worried about lethargy and his lack of appetite and energy. Some days he was very playful and at least ate some kibble and treats.I asked if he was walked regularly as most if not all dogs need some form of exercise. They assured me he had full run of their yard and lots of stimulation from their children.

    His name was Roofus a sweet boxer mix who to me seemed fine except for some mild discomfort in his hind legs due to arthritis so when he stood up he wobbled just slightly. Other than this I felt his extremities and checked his eyes.He wagged his tail with excitement as I had a treat hidden in my pocket to see how alert he was,he kept nudging my hand and picking at my pocket.I laughed and enjoyed lots of kisses when I gave in.

    I couldn't see any illness and began to questioned his owner; had anything changed in their routine or way of living?also about why she was so worried and  had it been going on long? She told me that recently some new pressures had come on their family and she was feeling stressed and tired. She also felt some overwhelming sadness and depression. Some days she had a hard time to get going,and it was on those days I found out Roofus would lie on top of her and not leave her side.

    Many times our animals are more in tune with us and since they had gotten him as a puppy he was in tune with their emotions.The more I spoke to her about their situation the more I understood why Roofus was acting this way.He was tuning into her emotions and it was affecting him. He was sleeping more as she was sleeping more,she was eating less so he starting losing his appetite.The mood became sad instead of stimulating and comfortable.

    To me this is a sign our dogs are so much more a part of our families than we think.I recently was ill and stayed in bed for a few days running a high fever. My dog never left my side and was very protective over me my husband had tried to come in the door with some medication and my dog  would barely let him through without biting his ankles. She and him have a close relationship so this was out of the ordinary,She was protecting the weaker pack leader at that time.
 

    Dogs can exhibit many emotions we need to pay attention to the emotions of depression and how debilitating it can be.They could lose their appetite or have difficulty sleeping,they may have no desire to go outside and fetch their ball.I have noticed a dogs eyes may actually show sadness and so you can read it in their facial expressions.It can cause illness so special attention to these in a ongoing case may need to be told to your vet. Just like us humans it can be treated with love and nurturing and possibly medication or herbal remedy.

    Roofus and his family are on their road to recovery and life seems to be getting better all around. He is playing again and eating normally, he occasionally sits on his owners lap but because he thinks he is now a lap dog not because of illness.
     

So now how about that therapy dog?

Well, it's happening I am truly going to take the steps to get a therapy dog for my daughter this year. I am hoping to find a special connection to help her with the small quirks she has. We had a for instance this week, we send Maddy to a wonderful school one day a week which has helped her tremendously come out of her shell.This time last year she was barely making eye contact with other students or teachers,now it has made a huge difference. This week however their schedule was going to change and they were offering new classes in place of the ones she was accustomed to.She became highly anxious to go to school because she didn't know if the same girls she was close to were going to be in her classes. Well, we had a snow day much to her relief and so another week will now go by. I believe when we get her therapy dog she will have a dependable constant who will be on her side and give her that extra boost of confidence. I have met with a mom who has a daughter much like mine and their therapy dog has made a huge difference with school and social situations. I still am going to push and start my program to bring therapy dogs into school to qualm the bullying issue, I still believe in my heart that dogs are here to make our lives better no matter what the challenges are.

Sharing my story about bullying

When I was a child my father worked for AT&T, we moved every one to two years. for his job and it was very hard to make and keep friends,once we became comfortable we would have to say "goodbye.'
 My family is multicultural, and my brother and I are both adopted.
 My adopted father was Filipino(he passed away in 1978) and so is my adopted brother. I remember times we would go to the grocery store in Sepulveda  California with my mother,my brother and I were about 2 and 7.Ladies would come up to my mother and say things like"Oh are you babysitting today?"  my mother would reply "No this is my son" the ladies would have some rude comment ,this made my mother very unhappy, we would end our shopping trips then and there.In the same city the phone would ring at night  grown adults calling making crude ethnic sounds on the phone..This was my first memory of bullying.
I couldn't understand why people would do such cruel things,we were taught that everyone was created equal and that you were loved and accepted for who you were.
Later as a child we lived in Massachusetts, my brother and I were older,we would play together sometimes on the playground,kids would tell me" that's not your brother,stop lying" He and I had a pact that we would defend and be there for each other no matter what anyone would say. Also in third grade I had a girl slap my face for not sharing my lunch with her,to make matters worse she said if  I told my mom I would get it for sure. The bad thing was my mother and her mother were friends and I would be dropped off at their house after school once in a while.. Kids would pick on me a lot because I had short hair,they would call me a boy and I remember crying quite often.I am forty eight and that still has an impact on me. That's why I want to help children get through the meanness and calm everyone else s fears. I am learning that talking about our experiences and sharing them with others brings us healing. 

Why therapy dogs in the classroom?

   I am about to push the issue of therapy dogs  being allowed in the classroom. I understand fully about fears of allergies and distractions but I feel the good weighs out the bad.
  Studies have been shown that by bringing dogs into the classroom it may help children to enhance the capacity to form close relationships with each other. That certain emotions bring with them a racing heart or neurological impulse that signals the brain.
 Think about a child who is fearful of speaking out loud, by simply petting a dog it may give him or her a sense of security and his or her classmates a feeling of joy.We may have excellent teachers,the perfect classroom settings but no one interviews each child to see if they are compatible.
 I know from personal experience when my daughter(who has mild aspergers) was in school in second grade if someone whispered while looking at her she got upset. "Were they talking about her? or just telling each other a funny joke?" Dogs can give us a sense of self worth and calmness.They alone know how the rules go in interacting with each other, there are no exceptions only order.
 They don't look at each other and say"oh look how dirty marshals face  is lets not play with him today." They go and lick Marshal's face, jump to his side and encourage him to play.
Why dogs in the classroom? why not? Anything to break the ice to encourage unity, the classroom can be like a big party fun but full of strangers Unless you are  an extrovert this is like a pit of sand and you will sink at any moment.
 I am about to start researching and writing a book about bullying and the use of therapy dogs to break the cycle. If you have a story about you or a family member that was bullied I would like to hear from you.
My email is jssrl123@msn.com  NO SPAM MAIL  please!  This is a serious venture and a chance for you to help  make a difference. Thank You 

Anxiety and why therapy dogs would be good in schools

    We share a common theme with dogs us humans, we are born into families and have a natural instinct to nurture and care  for each other.There are leaders in our families whether it be a male or female,one or both is the hunter and gatherer,the protector and the helper.Dogs are wired with these natural instincts and so they are natural companions.Am I saying all dogs could be companions? maybe if they have strong loving masters who treat them with love and respect,for this is the code of the dog world.
    We have discovered that dogs were domesticated in Belgium over 33,000 years ago long before any other animal.They are loyal,and accepting.They don't see race or difference,they don't set out to hurt someones feelings or make fun of their shortcomings.
    A child at school with anxiety is a target to be bullied,as in my child's case. The bully can sense the child's fears and make the situation worse. A dog can also sense fears and if trained in that particular area can help ease the situation by a nudge or affection. I have seen a young teenager with hair pulling tendencies helped by a therapy dog,each time she reached up to pull the dog would jump up and nudge her to pet him.Eventually she was able to grow her hair back.
   Dogs can also teach the bullies to respect others by just showing compassion, I wish to bring this into our schools ,to show that in the dog world there is no wish to harm or to pick on;but to love and nurture.
 I also wish to bring to light children who are exposed to goodness and love are then in return shown goodness and love. I wish for children to have therapy dogs they can bring to school to help fight their anxieties and overcome their fears
 .Do you remember your first day of school? remember how nervous you may have felt? making new friends? or meeting new teachers and classmates? for children with anxiety disorders this is their world everyday. Think about how you feel when you see a new puppy how it brings everyone together in conversation as well as smiles on each face. This is the gift I wish to bring each day to schools around the globe.

Healing the bullies hurts and hearts

      I want to touch on the ugly topic of bullying.
Why do children feel the need for power  when they reach a certain age? Is it because they have none at home? Granted in high school where my oldest son attended  puberty and popularity ruled. Not much different from when I attended high school and you were labeled by everyone as being either popular, the punks or the jocks.
 My son who was a sophomore and in a band didn't dress much different than his peers he chose to have long hair and  was verbally abused with sexual innuendos thrown across the lunchroom and within teachers ears.
 When this was brought to the attention of the principal and the counselor the boys were not confronted but instead, my son had to write all the humiliating words and actions down on a piece of paper for documentation. It was disgraceful that the boys who had done this had more power even in this situation then my son. They were brought to the office only after my son had written his complaint and as most if not every child accused of doing or saying something wrong,fully denied anything to do with the situation. This went one for three months,fighting with the school,trying to get someone to do something and my son getting more and more depressed.Mornings were difficult as he stayed in bed and told me he wasn't going to school,even though I pleaded with him for hours at a time.
 Finally,  on his 17th birthday, he told us he was not returning to school. How could we blame him after all went on,the school frowned on us,I could not believe how insensitive they were at school and how easy it was to turn a blind eye.
Today our son is a well-mannered and talented young man who  goes out of his way to help people. He is very successful in his music career and we are proud. He  got through some serious depression  with lots of love from his family and friends he has started healing.
 Our youngest  daughter who is now 12  started getting bullied in 2nd grade, same situation. The vice  principal was a tyrant and barely even acknowledged there was anything wrong. My child started losing weight, stopped eating and barely slept. Without going into details we pulled her out at the end of the year with some medical problems due to being bullied and having an  anxiety disorder, she is now in her fourth  year of being home schooled.
    Both my children have extremely large hearts and were taught to love others,they were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our daughter was picked on verbally for being petite. Such nonsense.This must stop!
I work with animals and have owned a dog walking company in my area for over 12 years now. My goal is to try to bring dogs into the school to heal the riff between bullies and children. Whether they have special needs,ADHD,ADD,  are shy ,suffer from anxiety. Also to bring compassion into the schools to show bullies that in a dogs world everyone is treated with respect and love. Compassion needs to be taught and brought back into our schools. Many children who bully are lonely,feel unloved and helpless.Maybe there is no one to talk to about their problems or their day. Many parents have to work today to make ends meet and so family life is on the back burner. I desperately want to start a program and be involved in making a change to end the vicious cycle of bullying. 

Believing in uniqueness and difference

           I spent a lot of time as a child with my parents being comfortable and happy growing up in the picturesque parts of new England. I had tons of friends and loved school activities such as drama and chorus,school was hard for me as concentration levels and noise did not mix and my grades showed it..
.I felt secure as a child until my father passed away coming home to us after his father's funeral in 1978.
   My mom and I had never been close and being adopted at a young age we never really bonded. She never embraced my differences and sadly we spent a lot of times at odds.
  We always had my dad as the go between which I know now was not fair to him and may have caused many disagreements. I still miss his love and compassion and many times I find myself talking to him about things only he would understand.  

I now am a mother to four children two sons and an older daughter,three whom are grown and a nine year old precious daughter who has asbergers and ADHD.
When my other children were small they had some issues such as concentrating and forgetfulness, but I just thought it was over stimulation or tiredness.. Today many kids are diagnosed with disorders that may explain why and how they see things or respond differently then we do.
  I always stood by my kids and encouraged them to be their own persons and not to let society dictate who they would become.One is an artist, another is a musician and our oldest is working on a bachelors degree in sports marketing.
  I am not sure if the labels doctors are putting on children are fair or correct or if all the over stimulation of cell phones,computers and video games.are contributing to some issues.
 As for asbergers in my own situation, I believe taking a medication while I was pregnant to keep my pregnancy may have contributed to some issues or God just made my daughter uniquely different.I guide Maddy along in our daily lives so she is happy and enjoys her childhood. I don't put the pressures of society on her by home schooling for now,exposing her to christian friends and family who don't see the differences but embrace them. We have found a wonderful family of students and faculty at our local Artios Academy.Their motto is Art,Heart,and Smart.as well as outside activities that bring our daughter joy.

We are coming to the end of our first week of fourth grade

What a blessing to be able to freely home school this year, last year compared to doing virtual  education and boy was it like being in prep school. 
Third grade to me was fun and memorable but not to our daughter who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and asbergers. We have had quite a two year struggle with understanding her many wonderful qualities as well as quirks(being over stimulated and sensory sensitive) that can make a day quite interesting.
  Our first decision to home school was due to Maddy being made fun of in second grade and afraid to go to school because the adults as she put it were not helping at all.I don't remember children being so cruel and rough in judgement.
   I am thankful for the choice to home school,my husband was not a big fan when my older children were small,but because we are older and times have changed he has been very receptive.
  Getting back to our week,so far we are doing some multiplication reviews from last year as well as simple spelling and story writing. Our favorite thing so far is reading and reviewing the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder,clearly she was home schooled and look how wonderful and adventurous her life was. My daughter can relate to Laura as a young girl and we have tried some of the cooking recipes such as butter making and biscuit cutting which resulted in some yummy eating.

I hope to inspire other mothers and fathers to not be afraid of home school to know most of all your children could benefit from finding out who they are and who they will become through love,guidance and perseverance using the life skills you will be teaching them. 

Finding your child's passion through activities

    This year has totally opened my eyes to the great things that come with home schooling.Our daughter is in fourth grade and wow are we busy! but we remain focused on what is important,supporting her love for swimming and wanting to go to the Olympics one day.
    After spending many hours at our pool this summer Maddy has asked when she can swim with her coach and teammates  back at the local YMCA..
 Over the past few summers we noticed how much our daughter enjoyed swimming and how it seems to come easy to her. It also is one thing that helps her relax and cope with her ADHD.The water is also a good sensory calmer as the pressure helps her feel secure.. Being nine she has already found her passion and it's a skill she can treasure forever..

Cataracts in dogs

           Every year millions of animals are affected by a common disease known as cataracts,a clouding of the eye lens starting small in the pupil and progressively increasing in size causing blindness in one or both eyes.
Most cataracts are hereditary inherited by a parent or ancestor, some come from injury to the eye or diabetes. I have three clients with aging dogs who suffer with this condition,they seem to have high functioning qualities and only a few set backs. Mostly walking down stairs and being out at night affect how they might react. Often cataracts occurs in aging dogs and the surgery can be quite expensive and cost from $1,500-$3,000.00 depending on extent of cataract if both eyes are affected or type of surgery. The lens is removed and replaced by a new one the same surgery as a human would have. Commonly dogs live to a ripe old age just fine without surgery and it doesn't even seem to bother them or change their personality. Three years ago I had this surgery as a result of inherited cataracts, it changed the way I looked at things. I didn't realize what colors I had been missing or how clear something really looked. Dogs are amazing,they can function with cataracts and adapt much better than us humans. So much of our lives are through our sight, we need it to drive or to fly a plane unlike dogs who rely on their sense of smell to get around. 
 Many dogs are put down or brought to a shelter due to small medical conditions from owners who don't educate themselves about the cataracts.Knowledge is power and power can save an animals life.

Why you should move when you feel stuck

 I have many days where I want to stay in the darkness and bury my dreams.  

 I  only get up for my God who calls my name He says "Get up and try!move and I will be there to lift you up you are not alone."
 I know when I was trying to start my business there were many days I felt stuck and no doors seem to be  opening I didn't know where to turn. Maybe you feel this too and you just want to throw your hands up and say "forget this I give up!" But listen closely to your heart  and a word will come to you, a gentle touch or a whisper and you will be able to move on. Don't be so ready to run or to give up. Sometimes the things we want in our lives can be like climbing a mountain with no end in sight.
The days after Katrina I began to climb the biggest mountain I had ever climbed. My husband was in deep despair his beloved home of New Orleans was going through a major disaster a place where he played and lived with his brothers. He lost the place where he had worked for over 20 years as it had flooded out. I know as the head of our family he felt defeated and was afraid for our futures. We had a baby who was always ill because of the stress of having to be in our car as we drove back and forth to Louisiana and Atlanta. Our oldest son was a senior in high school and the thought of quitting school was there in his mind. Our beautiful daughter who was 15 at the time took it very hard, I watched the joy and light fade from her eyes as she left all her friends and family back home. Our youngest son was 12 and had just made 3rd chair in band he also was trying to get a deal with a skateboard company to sponsor him and his friends skateboard designs.All of us were going through our personal struggles and most of our family was in a state of anger and depression.
 We had many days where the darkness was so overpowering it threatened our families very core. As days passed and we began to feel the love of others surround us complete strangers began to reach out and we no longer struggled alone,each step was still difficult but had more purpose The mountain top was becoming more clear and we began to try to walk together as a family once again.
This did not happen overnight this climb has taken a better part of 6 years and we still are waiting to reach the peak. Even when the darkness seems to be the most present look up and you will find light. Walk on and you will find faith, get up and you will find passion in your purpose. My most sincere gift I can give you today is not to throw your hands up but place your hands out and touch another s life; who might be climbing the same mountain as you.

Sucess came out of my darkest hours

         I didn't ever see myself starting a pet sitting business when we lived in Louisiana; before my last child was born I was setting up to be an professional organizer. We lived in the small town of Slidell and there were virtually no businesses that compared, I felt at that time I had it made. We welcomed our daughter Madelyn Grace on February 10th 2005 we were so ecstatic as I had four miscarriages before she was born.  I stayed up nights to nurse and work towards my business goals. In August I had started going to networking meetings and began cleaning homes just to see what types of organization people really needed.
    I had set up my business page and just received my new business cards when hurricane Katrina reared her ugly head and changed everything,we were uprooted to Atlanta Ga a city my husband and I had never been to or knew anything about. We virtually lost everything my husband lost his job of 20 years,our kids were uprooted from the only place they ever knew friends,schools and family. We had 6 mouths to feed and life was really tough. I thought this is it nothing was ever going to be the same.
 Thank God after 6 months my husband found steady work and we began to recover some financially, I also went to job interviews but couldn't find anything that would be worth putting my baby in daycare and bring in money. I began to look at what were some of the best jobs to start from home and found that pet sitting was a fairly new industry. How could I ignore the fact that 4.3 million households had some sort of pet and they were willing to spend money on their welfare.I felt growing up as a child in New England and spending hours living and playing  in friends barns and homes  that had cats,kittens,dogs,birds,why not take my love and extend it to others?
 I went and bought business cards, began going door to door and handing out my fliers.I literally pounded the pavement with baby in tow for over a year before I really started seeing my hard work pay off. Some days I felt like giving up but I am the type of woman that doesn't hear no or I can't, it isn't in my make up.
 I began to see growth in 2007 and haven't stopped. I love being a part of such a growing trend and meeting so may interesting and caring pet people.I am able to spend quality time with our daughter who now is 7 and am here for our other grown children as well. We have overcome so much and I have to admit it is still a hard road but we are in a much better place. I am proud to call Creatures and Companions my business and to serve the many who have helped my family recover.
  

Pampering your Pets inexpensively

    Do you desperately want to get rid of that doggie smell but don't have the extra funds to go to the groomers? Now you don't have to. Everyday millions of pooches are primped and polished clipped and brushed to the tune of  $50.00 per pet per month.;not counted in is your time and gas for dropping off and picking up. By using everyday items in your pantry you can create your own personal pet pampering products. Items such as yogurt,honey and oatmeal as well as a berry fruit can give you the same affect as an expensive groomer.You can mix and match to your own personal taste. You  may also want to add an essential oil such as tea tree which is very soothing.
   Make certain your pet isn't allergic to any of these items by rubbing a bit on a back leg in a small dotted spot to see if there is a reaction,try not to let your dog lick it off before you can see the reaction if there is one. 
 Remember not to get facial scrubs in the eye area and anything with eucalyptus is not recommended as it can burn. I have personally used a mixture of mouthwash and water to get rid of fleas and makes my dog Mocha smell fresh and clean,be aware not to get the wash in your dogs eyes  as it contains alcohol. 
 Oatmeal and lavender can be very soothing and adding some shea butter can soothe flea and  allergy redness as well. Unlike humans dogs receive allergens through their skin instead of their nose.if he or she sleeps with you and has skin irritations you may wash your pet once a month to once a week depending on your pets skin and coat type. Many people speculate that over washing can take the natural oils out of your dogs coat and skin but by washing the irritants out of the skin before they can start a reaction you may save your pet from being irritated. 
 Whatever you choose saving money is one of the most important things next to having a clean and healthy pet.

Healing Hearts with Pets: Loss

Healing Hearts with Pets: Loss:      The week started out well and we were preparing for the wonderful 4th of July. I had been running around grabbing necessities that my...

Loss

     The week started out well and we were preparing for the wonderful 4th of July. I had been running around grabbing necessities that my husband needed to make our family a wonderful Bbq,hot dogs,chicken and fixing for the sides. We cooked and listened for fireworks it was wonderful day. The day after I checked email as usual and received a letter from a long time client the title was" Home needed for two cats". At first  I thought they had found two stray cats but after reading more I discovered they needed a home for their own two cats and were moving due to job loss. I was horrified for them as these are people who had steady income and seemed to be unaffected by this horrendous economy.
I cried for them as my clients become good friends and they become a part of my family. I shared the news with my husband and we made plans to visit them before they have to leave. Later that evening I received a call from a wonderful client and friend telling me they had to put their beloved dog who was 15 1/2 years old to sleep. I felt like this was another blow to someone I care about deeply. Not to mention the fact that Toto was a dear sweet little dog her spirit was like no other I had known. I become so attached to many of my clients animals they imprint in my heart almost immediately their little and big paws touch me and become my pets too. My heart began to sink and I started wondering what all this was about. I wrote a note of sorrow to my sweet clients and proceeded to get on with work. I then found out another client lost her dog of three years that very same day he was rescued from the streets by her and she fell in love with him.
This week was a week of sorrows,today we found out an uncle of my husband's had passed away, I felt bad as my husband's father had passed away this past February and it has been a struggle on him. I know God has a hand in all of this He has reasons for calling us home and I believe he has reasons for calling our pets home as well.
 My comfort in all of this is knowing that my clients who lost their job has a home to go to in another state and are set up to retire early so they will be safe; as for the little souls who left this week,well, I know we will see them again someday.