I am SO excited to share today’s guest post from Kristine Lacoste at Pets Adviser! She wrote to tell me how she was inspired by our talk of shelter drive-bys to do one herself, and it was a huge hit. Thank you Kristine for sharing this with us- and make sure you see what Pets Adviser is offering for others who do the same!
An article I read recently had an idea that kept coming to mind, and I wouldn’t be satisfied until I implemented it.
Dr. Jessica Vogelsang (“Dr. V”) of Pawcurious listed ways people could help be kind to animals for the designated week (the first week of May every year), and her “shelter drive-by” idea really inspired me.
Here’s what she does: She pops into her local shelter on her way to run errands or appointments and asks what they are low on or need. While she’s out, she picks up a few things and drops them off on her way back. Now, this I could do.
My First Drive-By
I knew I was going to be out and about on Saturday near my local shelter, so I called them to confirm their hours and asked what they needed. I jotted down the items and told them I would be there on Saturday to do a shelter drive-by.
“A shelter what?” they asked in confusion. I explained the idea, and they were thrilled. I’m sure it’s not a new concept — but with any luck, giving it a catchy name and describing how easy it is will get more people doing the same.
I ended up at the store for something else one night this week. While digging around for my debit card, I found the list of items. I was already at the store, so I grabbed a basket and filled it up with most of the items on the list. They didn’t have the milk replacement formula, so I stopped at a pet store. And toys. Um, lots of toys. I know, it wasn’t on the list, but who can resist those Frisbees, jingle balls, furry plushies and squeaker toys? How I love the squeaker toys. Once you know the toy squeaks, you have to squeeze it. Repeatedly. I dare you to try and resist the squeak.
The orange, purple and yellow toys are the squeakers!
Saturday arrived, and I think I may have skipped or bounced to the car. I was excited and looking forward to going to the shelter.
After my errands, I headed over with my goodies and some staff treats (people need treats too!), which included a large fruit tray — a welcome sight in the already hot day, I was told. They were excited and helped me bring in all the items. One staffer saw the milk replacement formula and was pleased to have more in stock with a batch of kittens on the premises.
I had no explanation for the small sea of toys, so I just squeezed the squeaker toy again and laughed. I really wanted to take that toy home with me.
My camera was on hand to take pictures of my successful mission, and the staff was gracious enough to hand me the keys to wander around and take more photographs. I visited the dogs, puppies and the cat cottage — a climate-controlled building specifically for the cats. This was a bad idea. I wanted to take every cute and furry face home with me. After a few pictures, I peeled myself away and thanked them before heading back home.
We’ve talked before about the high people feel when volunteering, and I was soaking it all up. Seeing all those happy faces and animals can’t help but make you smile, and knowing you are helping each and every one of them is something to cherish.
Why This Idea Rocks
A shelter drive-by isn’t time-consuming, and you’re already headed out to go somewhere. This is a convenient alternative for people who don’t have time to volunteer, and you can save more time by calling ahead for a list of items, as I did.
Let’s say you are already out and will only pass the shelter on your way home. That’s okay — there are tons of items you can pick up in various stores that shelters still need:
Towels
Blankets
Paper towels
Bleach
Dishwashing detergent
Collars
Leashes
Toys
Brushes
Milk replacement for kittens and puppies
Food (puppy/dog and kitten/cat)
Pet beds
Litter boxes and cat litter
Shelters may have different needs, but this list or anything you would give to your own pet is a good item to bring. Some shelters have smaller animals or an aviary, so ask if they need supplies for those animals. If you no longer have these types of animals but still have the supplies, ask if the shelter is interested in them or knows of anyone who might need them.
You Don’t Have to Spend Money
The shelter drive-by is easy to implement into your routine.
Older household items could be given to the shelter instead of being thrown away. Towels, for example — everyone has to bathe, so eventually those towels must be replaced. If they’re in decent shape, give them a wash and drop them off at the shelter.
Your pet may no longer play with certain toys or outgrow a harnesses, bed or carrier. All these items will be welcomed at the shelter. Please clean them first and make sure nothing personal is on or inside them.
It’s not just about items. Anything might be of value to the shelter. Do you quilt, or make custom jewelry or some sort of craft that has nothing to do with pets? Ask the shelter if you can donate extras that they can sell in their lobby. Call first for anything not pet related just in case they can’t make it work. If you are unable to travel or leave your home, ask someone to drop it off for you.
Don’t Forget the Tax Deduction
Most shelters are nonprofit, which means that anything you donate you can write off on your taxes. It’s a win/win for the shelter and for you. Just don’t forget to grab a receipt before you leave. Shelters also hold drawings and fundraisers from time to time, and anything you spend can be deducted.
If you don’t do this already, make a folder or envelope labeled for 2012 receipts or donations, and keep your documents inside the folder for easy retrieval at tax time. With any luck, you’ll have so many you’ll need a box!
Make It a Family Affair
Get the kids involved in your shelter mission. Explain to them why you are dropping items off or collecting household things to bring to the shelter.
Taking them with you is an even better idea. You’ll feel good about helping the shelter and will set a good example for your children that shows how important it is to help others and animals in need. There are many ways to get kids involved, and it is something they can continue when they grow up.
Kitten season is upon us, and that will soon lead into June — a cat-adoption frenzy month to find the kittens and mothers happy homes. Kitten supplies and food (especially milk replacement formula, since not all kittens enter the shelter with mothers) will be greatly appreciated during this time. Any other item is sure to be used. And if none of these ideas appeal to you, a cash donation is always appreciated.
Good luck on your shelter drive-by, and let me and Dr. V know how it goes!
Photos: Kristine Lacoste/Pets Adviser
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Kristine Lacoste, managing editor of the Pets Adviser community, is happy to announce a special contest. Anyone who signs up for Pets Adviser’s email newsletterbetween now and June 30 will be automatically entered in a raffle to win $100 in their name to the animal shelter of their choice. You can even earn three bonus entries by emailing us a photo of yourself doing a “shelter drive-by.” Email the photo to photos@petsadviser.com. We will contact the winner by email.
May 20-26th marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week, to help educate the public about the nearly 5 million dog bites that happen every year. The event is hosted by the American Veterinary Medical Association in conjunction with other groups that commonly deal with the consequences: postal service workers, pediatricians, plastic surgeons, and insurance carriers.
A few facts from the AVMA that you may or may not know:
800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites every year
Of those, about half are children
The age most at risk are children age 5-9
Senior citizens are the second most commonly affected group
I encourage everyone to check out the AVMA bulletin about Dog Bite Prevention Week as it has great tips and resources for people. The script is nearly always the same: “He’s never shown aggression before!” the owner will say, but if you happened to be a fly on the wall before the incident I’m willing to bet that 99% of the time there were multiple warning signs and red flags that the owner just didn’t recognize, and that is where we are failing ourselves, our pets, and our children.
Here are my three top tips for preventing bites:
1. Learn to recognize canine body language.
(c) Graphic created by http://dfdk9.wordpress.com/
This is so simple to do, but it’s amazing to me how many people think a dog who is showing anxious or frightened body language ‘just needs a hug’ as they loom over them trying to croon with their face two inches away from the dog. Ask your vet how many times they have been seriously bitten by a dog, despite all that we have to do to sick and frightened dogs. The answer is probably pretty low, because we are trained to recognize the warning signs and avoid the risk.
2. Never, never, never, ever leave a small child unattended with a dog.
Did I say never enough times? Babies have been killed by Pomeranians. I don’t care if you have an ancient toothless pug, the world’s sweetest Golden, or a dachshund in a wheelcart. Just don’t do it. While it is entirely possible and probably quite likely that your dog will not kill a baby while you go to the bathroom, just keep in mind that every one of those children who died had parents who said the exact same thing.
3. Teach kids proper respect for dogs.
Obviously this starts with your own kids. It’s something I have to remind my own kids of constantly, because they are very comfortable interacting with and handling our two large dogs. Young kids have short memories. We review the rules every time we meet a new dog.
They must always ask owners, always always, before approaching a dog they don’t know.
They must let the dog come to them.
If the dog doesn’t seem interested, they must leave him alone. If he or she is ok with it, they pet the dog on the chest or back.
Half the time they forget these rules, but then they are reminded because I’m always there harping on them. It sticks eventually. They’re not scared of strange dogs, but they are respectful, and this is what we want.
And by the way, you have my permission as a veterinarian to correct children if they are not approaching your dog properly. I know people sometimes get sore about this stuff, but who cares. I stop kids who run up to Brody and grab him in a bear hug, and I get the occasional eye rolls and the “he seems fine with it”- which he is- but they don’t know that. Better that they learn from me and from Brody than from the next dog they come across who is not ok with the attention.
What are your most important tips to prevent dog bites?
When I was in college, I worked for a very prestigious urologist. I think most of you remember that. The Viagra researcher from Beverly Hills. Anyway, he had a beautiful office in Santa Monica, a home in Beverly Hills, and as a pre-eminent ED expert he was flown to male sexual dysfunction conferences all over the world, you know, Bora Bora, Fiji, Reykjacik, where he would stand flanked by, and I’m not joking, two enormous blue pillars and talk about how Viagra would change the world. (Well, he was right on that count.)
When I told him I wanted to go to vet school, he laughed at me. He asked why anyone would want to roll around in bales of hay when they could be human doctors and roll in dough. Then he said, and he was dead serious, that there were no female sexual dysfunction experts out there and if I hurried up, we could team up and be the Dysfunction Duo and conquer the world.
And then it was my turn to laugh. Can you imagine? I mean, I can’t imagine. I would rather spend the rest of my life palpating cow ovaries in a frigid barn than…well, do whatever you want with the rest of the sentence there. I think we all know my point. My point is, life could have taken a much different turn but things are fine and dandy here, thanks.
Besides, I get to travel. We all know the long standing rumor about pet food companies sending veterinarians to Hawaii, which I’m not against per se, but I pretty much know all the pet food companies now and NONE of them have plants there. I’ve suggested it, though. In the meantime, I’ve gotten to go to some very sexy pet food locations like Mason, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; and Topeka, Kansas. And next week- hold on to your shorts- I’m going to OMAHA.
Yes, next week I’m going to tour the Natura plant, which manufactures Innova, Evo, and California Natural- three brands, by the way, that I’ve deigned to include in my dog food rotation, so I am very excited to see the facility and see what they have to say.
It’s a good time to go, what with all the stories in the news about the Diamond recall (which this brand is not affiliated with.) I’ll ask any sorts of questions you want, about how they were affected by the merger with Procter and Gamble, about their manufacturing safety record, their thoughts on recalls, sourcing domestically versus internationally, you name it. I like getting into the details and learning how companies work, and I think those that have chosen to be transparent with independent media such as bloggers are doing the right thing.
I know that as long as I write about pet food I will end up going to places where pet food is made, which tends to not be those sorts of places with oceanfront property. But that’s OK, because- and I’m not even joking- I really would like to see Nebraska. I have my boots ready and everything.
So what do you all want me to ask? I leave Tuesday.
I don’t watch any of the Real Housewives shows. I’ve seen bits and pieces here and there, but my vapid-limit seems pretty easily reached these days so I don’t make it a regular occurrence.
I try not to be too snarky. I give them credit for having nice hair, for one. I wouldn’t want to do what they do, because if I’m being totally honest I like what I get to do about a bajillion times better than sitting around throwing evil side-eyes on camera for a living, so it’s good. So when I look at the bevy of blondes running around on Real Housewives of Orange County, I don’t feel envy as much as I do relief that I’m not married to the jerks most of them seem to be stuck with.
It takes a lot for me to get riled up enough about any of the ridiculous manufactured drama that goes on on those shows to actually be moved to make a post, but sure enough, one of them managed it. Alexis, she of dubious intellectual capacity, threw her daughters a fourth birthday party with a princesses and puppies theme.
And I won’t judge for having an over the top party. It’s her money.
And I won’t judge for giving a speech about her post-natal pulmonary embolism at said party. It’s her kids who will have to remember that.
But I WILL judge for bringing puppies as a party favor to the party. I mean REALLY. On what planet did anyone think this was OK?
She didn’t go out and pick up a dozen maltipoos from the pet store on her way to get her nails done, I’ll say that. What she did was bring in a bunch of puppies from a rescue and tell the kids they should adopt them and take them home from the party. Which is marginally better, but not by much. Because now you’ve put the parents in a terrible position with these wide-eyed kids wanting a dog, THAT DOG, RIGHT NOW, IT’S A PARTY FAVOR, MOM and then despite their better judgment five people took one home on a whim.
I know the satire may have eluded you here Alexis, but when they gave out puppies as favors in Bridesmaids, it was funny because you were supposed to know no one would actually do something that ridiculous.
Alexis, you had enough money to buy one of those walking computerized dog things for everyone. Party favors are supposed to be just that, a small disposable token of appreciation. A dog is none of those things.
I’m sure Bravo thought that by having a rescue be involved they would immunize themselves from complaint. And now I’m worried that people will watch the show and think this is somehow a brilliant idea, bringing rescues to kids’ parties. It’s not a great idea. It’s exactly what is wrong with people today.
A new pet should never be something you get on a whim, especially not under duress at a party while cameras are rolling and kids are looking at you with big eyes saying “BUT HE HAS NO HOME, MOMMY.” Talk about manipulation. This wasn’t about promoting rescue, this was about ratings, and it was a horrible idea to throw out there to the aspirational types who are adding “Rescue Puppy Party- kids love it” to their rolodex of ideas.
So let’s all keep our fingers crossed that this horrific idea dies a quick death and people don’t decide puppy themed parties should have actual puppies to take home. Because that makes me shudder more than Alexis’ diatribe about Demerol to the kids at the party.
As regular readers will know, I’ve been on a hiking kick lately. I can’t tell you how much fun Brody and I have had exploring the region together, despite my persistent and uneasy fears about mountain lions that my friend who has spent months researching said lions has done nothing to dissuade. Her only input was, “get an airhorn,” and, “you’re not running, are you? Because then you look like prey.”
No matter, it’s worth it. Better to go out in a flame of glory and be eaten by a cougar than be eaten by the couch.
Aside from the physical exercise and the mental stimulation of watching out for predatory cats, we are also enjoying the springtime blossoms and the less frightening forms of wildlife more prevalent in the area. Such as the oodles of lizards.
SO many lizards. Large ones, little ones, basking, scurrying. Despite this reptilian smorgasbord, I was somewhat surprised and not at all distressed that we haven’t come across any snakes. I am OK with this.
You’d think a desert mountain like this would be prime rattler territory- and it is- but they are generally avoidable if you stay to the cleared trails. In fact, the most assertive animal I’ve seen is this one:
Wile E. Coyote couldn’t give two hoots about all the humans around. Behind me, a group of schoolchildren ran amuk in the parking lot. He didn’t care. After spotting this guy I did mention to the woman with the off leash Maltese that she might want to reconsider her plans. (She did.)
My point is, it’s been a real pleasure to get out and commune with nature, especially since our own yards tend to be a little light on the wildlife-side. Except from that bobcat we had, I guess, and the skunk, and the coyotes. Seven years in this house and we’ve only seen a snake twice.
Oh, make that three times.
Today, my daughter opened the front door to go enjoy the afternoon sun, and let out a screech. “There’s a snake out there!” she yelled, slamming the door.
I walked over, thinking it would be another 12 inch gopher snake like the last one. And there, coiled on our welcome mat like the boss that he is, a King snake about 8000000 feet long. Somewhere between 3 feet and 8000000, at least.
He was a Burmese python as far as I’m concerned, a massive beast. It was kind of him to pose directly underneath the front window so we could safely press our faces to the door like a reverse zoo.
He soon realized he had an audience, craning his neck or whatever the heck snakes have to peer up at the five inquisitive primate and canine faces plastered to the glass in front of him. He stuck his tongue out as if to say, “I just came in from the sun for a moment, calm down,” and off he slithered into the front yard, passing right by the statue of St. Joseph huddled headfirst in the dirt like a sad ostrich.
I buried the St. Joseph statue as instructed by the more devout Catholics among you who informed me he is the patron saint of home selling, but maybe my behavior in college is still counting against me since I’m still waiting for him to pull through. So I guess I don’t really need to go far for wildlife, really- I have to find a way to work that to my advantage. I wonder if I should upgrade our MLS to read “Resplendent King Snake viewing from the front porch.” I’m sure that would bring ‘em in.
I opened Facebook on Mother’s Day morning, shortly after my chubby fingered kiddos brought me (and Brody) toast and eggs in bed, and saw this oft-repeated quote:
“A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”
And I sighed. I really don’t like that quote.
It’s like what we talked about on Friday all over again. Hey, unless you’re cutting off your limbs and giving away all your pie and raising free range human children in a yurt, YOU AREN’T A REAL MOTHER.
Sure, it seems like a nice sentiment on the surface, but underneath it reeks of that judgy, who’s the most sacrife-y woman out there kind of martyrdom. And what kind of pie are we talking about here? Because if it’s berry pie, I will gladly say, “I never did care for pie,” and it would be true. But if it’s a banana cream pie, and I’m sitting there with my kids and my husband and some other person, I would cut a sliver off each of those four pieces and make me a Franken-slice. Because I like banana cream pie, and I would want some too. And there is nothing wrong with my solution, which leaves no one in the corner without any pie.
My sister and I were raised without any sort of qualifications on our growth, without any assumptions that gender would figure into our career choices. I wanted to be at various times a palaeontologist, an astronaut, a Blue Angel, the next great American author, and a neurosurgeon. It never occurred to me that I might one day have to negotiate the minefield of family and career, and that my choices about one might influence the other. And yet it has.
I know that some women have managed to figure it out, how to have it all. I envy them that. For me, family and career has been like a downhill slalom, weaving back and forth across the slope, putting my weight on the left leg, then on the right, trying to slow my descent enough so that I don’t fall and break my neck, trying to make it through all the gates; now school plays, now continuing education conferences, making toxic matchboxes, keeping the dogs in good health. I have given up trying to do one thing perfectly in favor of doing lots of things pretty well, and that is how life seems to go for people (men and women alike) who spend a portion of their lives in a caretaker position.
There were a lot of cool things I thought about doing as a veterinarian. I wanted to be a radiologist, or a dermatologist. Instead, I decided to dial back on work to focus on the kids a little more, and once they grew old enough for me to seriously wonder if that was something I still wanted to pursue, knowing what that would mean for the family, the answer was no. Instead, I dusted off that old rarely-used corner of my brain that delighted in writing, and worked on that. I’d say that worked out pretty well.
I have no regrets about the decisions I’ve made, no resentments. But one of the most important things I’ve learned while figuring all of this out is that we are allowed to take care of ourselves every once in a while. It’s not selfish to want to do that. Sometimes it seems like you can’t win; if an exhausted new mom goes out in sweats and greasy hair, she’s mocked as a slob, but if she decides to take time to herself to work out or go get her hair done, then she’s self centered, because of course all real moms know you should never put yourself first, not once or ever. And apparently, you aren’t allowed to ask if one might share a treat, either.
My husband did not really want me to go to Africa (I leave one month from today!) The timing is terrible. I will miss my kids’ last day of school since they inexplicably added three days to the end of the school year just a month ago, we’re in the middle of selling the house, and I just realized I will also be gone for Father’s Day. Yup. Bad, bad, bad mom. I am taking off and missing all of those things because I’ve wanted to do a trip with World Vets for years, and the opportunity presented itself. And once my husband realized just how excited I was to get to do this, he was happy for me too.
Kids are half a world away and I manage to work up a small smile. We all survived.
I suppose I could have just not gone. That is what a real mom would do, right? Sacrifice. Or would a real mother teach her kids that you should take a leap of faith every now and then and go do something really extraordinary? Ten years from now, will my daughter be emulating a woman who consistently choked down everything important to her, or one who said, ‘I’m going to go climb a mountain and then go hang out with some Maasai and some donkeys, because I worked really hard for years and years and I want to do something meaningful, and you will hang out with Dad and be just dandy.’
I really don’t feel horrible about it. I just spent five hours making a birthday party invitation for my son in Photoshop in between shuttling my daughter back and forth to play practice for the last month. I spend the other 50 or so weeks of the year staring at the empty pie plate of my free time, so this one time I am taking a slice for myself, taking it into the corner, and savoring every mother-loving bite.
I have Annie on the brain. My daughter’s community theater debut is in four days, and between now and the end of the month, this will be all I have going on. Annieannieannieannie. They worked their little keisters off on it, though, and it’s spectacular, so I am very proud.
When the casting call went out for Sandy, they were looking for three things:
scruffy terrierlike mutt
takes direction well
mellow
And of course, Brody is none of those things, so he was out, but they did find just the most perfect dog for the role.
This last Saturday was a grueling 9-5 all day rehearsal, which when you’re seven, is a lot. I mean, it’s a lot no matter how old you are, but for seven year olds and dogs, it’s particularly demanding. I didn’t even stay the whole time. But the cast did, and let me tell you, they did really, really well.
It’s been said time and time again that having pets around is good for people’s stress levels. Since this is my first time with this theater, I don’t know what the ambiance is normally like, but part of me wonders if the presence of a mellow dog who was fine with regular attention had something to do with the emotional well-being of the young cast. They certainly took advantage of his presence.
Gimme pets!
More? OK.
I hear you all had pizza for lunch. If there’s any crust left……
And when he was ready for some alone time, he found a quiet area right under the director’s feet to escape the solicitous attention of the girls of the Municipal Girls’ Orphanage.
It’s always good to have a pup around, that’s what I say.
A few days ago, my friend Dorian at Catster pointed out a rather mean-spirited post over at Huffington Post entitled, “Pet Parents are NOT Moms.” I am trying to give the author the benefit of the doubt here; maybe she intended it to be sort of tongue in cheek. She starts by pointing out all the sometimes over the top things we do in the name of love- and I get that, been there, bought the membership card- but the overall tone of the post just skewed off left and went straight to mean. And that just rubs me the wrong way.
I don’t know if Susan Maushart requires one to provide their credentials before pontificating on motherhood, but just to be sure, yes, I have human kids as well as some furry ones. I still refer to myself as Brody’s mom. I like that better than owner, though that works too. I go back and forth. I guess that makes me a monkey (though I would prefer to be referred to as a great ape.)
I need to make one thing clear: We all know that pets are not small humans in fur. They are, in fact, dogs, or cats, or ferrets or whatever. We relate to them differently than we do humans. I have yet to meet one person, and I’ve met a lot of people, who seem unclear on that distinction. Even the ones who dress them up because it makes them happy- yes, even those people know that it is an animal in a dress and not a human. So what? It’s not hurting you. The day I see one of those people wheeling the said dress-wearing cat into the pediatrician’s office for an MMR, then we’ll talk. Who cares if someone relates to their pet in a maternal way and wants to call them their kid?
Maushart’s main reason, as far as I can tell, for objecting to calling pets kids is “you and I both know that pets are stupid.” Is that the only criterion? Because I have to tell you, and this is confidential, but I’ve met a lot of stupid kids too, the kind who show up with peanuts lodged in their nostrils or pencils shoved through their eardrums because they want to know what lead sounds like. If I were to fall unconscious on a railroad track, for instance, this is the only eight year old I want by my side.
The author with her eldest, who will never ask to borrow the car or wonder why the other kids get more posts on the blog.
So who anointed Maushart Grand Vizier of the Ministry of Motherhood anyway? And what are the membership requirements exactly? Is it as strict as, “you must have birthed a human child from your own loins, and the child must then be smart, and raised on organic produce after you’ve nursed him for four years“? Oh yes, those moms are a blast to be around.
Motherhood is not a black and white concept. It just isn’t. I’ve spoken with adoptive mothers, who have shed tears when their child was asked who their “real” mom was. I’ve hugged women who have wept after a miscarriage and been told, “Well, you don’t get to celebrate Mother’s Day, you’re not a mother.” That hurts. It hurts because they felt that bond, regardless of whether or not you were empathetic enough to acknowledge it.
Some people, like me, have pets and kids. Some have pets instead of kids, because they don’t want them, haven’t gotten around to it, or maybe they can’t. I had clients once who were unable to have children of their own. They shared this freely when they brought in their Akita Bonnie, and laughed as they told me, “Bonnie’s our only child.” And was she ever.
Bonnie was involved in an accident. I have never seen two people so devastated. For a month, she was in the hospital, and for a month, her mother came in. I watched as she rotated her to keep her lungs inflated, massaged her legs to keep the musculature from contracting, listened to her whisper in her ear as she stroked her fur in order to get a happy thump of the tail. Every day she came in, and nursed Bonnie.
And when she unfortunately died, I leaned over Bonnie’s mom as her head was buried in her motionless chest, put a hand on her shoulder, and whispered, “Calm down. It’s not like you’re a real mom.”
Oh wait. I didn’t. Because I’m not that cruel. Couch it however you want in smug rolly-eyed condescending cheekiness, that post was mean.
So wear your Mom badge proud, moms of the world, and if anyone tries to tell you otherwise, pity them. Because one day their kid will roll their eyes at them and tell them they hate them and do all sorts of other pleasant human-child behaviors, while yours will lick you on the face and pull your body off the railroad tracks. And have a happy Mother’s Day!
If I could go back and do it all again, I’d try to be a National Geographic correspondent. I just can’t get enough of their work- I’m quite certain this magazine is the reason I studied biology and primates. Today, I’m fortunate enough to have an excerpt and some amazing photographs about a koala story that I hope you find as fascinating as I do. (Look at the avatar on the Be the Change section of the site if you want to know how much I love them.)
I had always assumed koalas were in pretty good shape. Other than watching them shyly chomping on eucalyptus at the zoo, I’ve never seen one in its natural habitat, and I figured- hey, I have plenty of time to make it to Australia. But as an article in the May issue of National Geographic excerpted below asserts, the koala is in danger:
The koala, cuddly symbol of a nation and one of the most beloved animals on the planet, is in crisis. Before Europeans settled Australia more than two centuries ago, about ten million koalas lived in a 1,500-mile-long swath of the east coast eucalyptus forests. Hunted for their luxurious fur, koalas were brought to the edge of extinction in the southern half of their range. In the northern half, Queensland, a million were killed in 1919 alone. After the last open season in Queensland was held in 1927, only tens of thousands remained.
Through the next half century their numbers slowly rebounded, in part due to efforts to relocate and recolonize them. Then urbanization began to take its toll. Habitat was lost, and diseases spread. With urbanization came the threat of dogs and highways. Since 1990, when about 430,000 koalas inhabited Australia, their numbers have dropped sharply. Because surveys are difficult, current population estimates vary widely—from a low of 44,000 by advocacy groups to a high of 300,000 by government agencies. More than a decade ago a survey of the Koala Coast, a 93,000-acre region in southeastern Queensland, estimated a koala population of 6,200; today there are believed to be around 2,000.
“Koalas are getting caught in fences and dying, being killed by dogs, struck by vehicles, even dying simply because a homeowner cut down several eucalyptus trees in his backyard,” says Deidré de Villiers, one of the chief koala researchers at the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. For 15 years de Villiers, 38, has been tracking koalas, monitoring populations, studying the reasons for their decline, and creating guidelines to make development more koala-friendly.
De Villiers insists that koalas and humans can coexist in urban environments “if developers get on board with koala-sensitive designs,” such as lower speed limits for streets, green corridors for koala movement, and, most especially, preserving every precious eucalyptus tree. Unfortunately, koalas have another problem.
I MUST GET ON A QANTAS FLIGHT RIGHT NOW AND SMOOCH THIS CREATURE AND SAVE ALL THE KOALAS.
I had access to a third photo, a scene of a “koala morgue”, but it was so sad I decided not to post it here. You can see the full series here.
This excerpt and photo selection, used with permission, are from the May issue of National Geographic Magazine – on newsstands and ipad now. And for more from the fantastically talented photographer, check out his website, JoelSartore.com. OK, so who’s coming Down Under with me next week?
Have you ever tried Gu when you’re out exercising? It’s like trying to swallow phlegm: pasty, sticky stuff that seals your esophagus shut with something that is supposed to be good for you. I don’t care for it (obviously.)
I think Brody feels the same way about biscuits. They’re fine for home, but if you’re out working up a sweat/pant/whatever, a dried out dessicated crunchy thing may not be the most appetizing choice. He doesn’t care for them. So I decided it was my goal for Be Kind to Animals Week to find a power bar or trail mix recipe that we could share. Pre made mixes won’t work: they’re either too salty, too sugary, or too packed with raisins and chocolate chips. Then, I found this recipe, and voila! a new treat was born.
The ingredients: It looks like a lot, but you don’t use much of any one thing.
1/3 c olive oil
1/4 c light brown sugar (I used sucanat)
1/2 c peanut butter
1 mashed banana
1 egg white
1 c whole wheat flour
1/8 c milled flax seed
1 3/4 c rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 c assorted nuts, seeds, and fruits. I used pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, peanuts, coconut, mango, and banana chips. Remember to avoid chocolate, raisins, and macadamia nuts!
Directions:
1. Combine olive oil and brown sugar until well combined
2. Stir in peanut butter
3. Add in banana and egg white
4. Combine flour, flax, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add to mix.
5. Stir in oats
6. Stir in trail mix, blending well until dough sticks together.
7. Shape with your hands into flat, round 1-2 inch cookies. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven on greased cookie sheet or Silpat for 8 minutes.
Store in refrigerator for 2 weeks or freezer for up to 4 months! Bet they won’t last that long.
If you want to see the process in action- I filmed at the same time I was photographing it, and boy that gets complex!- here is the video. Added bonus, you get to see whether or not Brody and Koa liked them at the end.
As you’re all probably aware, Diamond Pet Foods is in the midst of a fairly large scale recall due to potential Salmonella contamination. As of this weekend, the recall had expanded from three brands to fourteen, encompassing 16 states.The Diamond Recall page lists all the Diamond brands, as well as the production codes being recalled:
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Country Value
Diamond
Diamond Naturals
Premium Edge
Professional
4Health
Taste of the Wild
Apex
Kirkland
Canidae
Three other brands manufactured at the same facility have issued voluntary recalls as a precaution:
I know it’s scary, and the temptation to draw parallels to the 2007 Menu recall is there. But there are a few vital differences:
The original recalls in April covered three brands. None of the additional products have tested positive for Salmonella, but because they share manufacturing equipment they are being voluntarily recalled. I am GLAD companies are being proactive. It did not used to be this way, when companies would wait until contamination was confirmed. I like it better now, don’t you?
This is not a case of deliberate adulteration of an ingredient. It was a contamination issue. Yes, it stinks, but Salmonella happens. It’s one of the most common causes of food borne illness and of pet food recalls.
All of the reported illnesses (fourteen) happened in people who had been in contact with dogs. While Salmonella can be a nasty disease to have, it is uncommon for it to be life-threatening.
Let me emphasize that last point: The animal at biggest risk from Salmonella contaminated pet food is you. The CDC has advice for people who are concerned, and a more general list of advice about preventing Salmonella infections from handling pet food. The number one piece of advice is this:
