Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Just that kind of day

This is one of my favorite photos from summer 2010 – Sophie and Argos “on duty” watching the kids play. They laid down by each other on their own, keeping watch of their charges. The kids were industriously building sand castles. The dogs didn’t seem to care.

They didn’t seem to care until we were gathering up to go – then Argos got a wild hair and began play bowing and acting silly. I was trying to get my camera out to take a photo of the sand creation. Argos sprang to life. He bowed down on the edge of the castle and that was it. He pawed repeatedly and furiously. Goodbye sand castle! I had tears from laughing so hard. We all did, which only fueled more pawing. Silly Greyhound.

Sophie, if it is possible, laughed too.

Sophie and Argos on Beach Duty

More of Sophie and Argos beach days: Don’t worry – he’s friendly

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Dog Days of Summer

Thank you everyone who has helped by sending good thoughts, spreading the word, and donating for this important cause.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

More Bones for the Cure Beads

Cindy at the finish in 2009!

Why I Run

No question that breast cancer is a horrible disease. Until recently, it was a disease that Other People got. But you know… cancer can strike anyone. And it did. My best friend Cindy (aka Peach) is a veterinarian, a specialist in internal medicine, and currently a surgical resident, too. Pretty impressive. She is also a cancer survivor.

I interviewed her on About.com and despite the gravity of the subject, she writes about her cancer with the same wit and humor she always has.

It’s hard being on the sidelines. I want to DO something. Fix something. Help my friend kick this $%&# thing called cancer. That is how I got involved in the Race for the Cure. We made a video, formed a race team, and created a team web site. Although not in that order. We did everything at once!

What Does a Donation Really Do?

Cindy recently sent this out to our team:

“Ever wonder where the money goes?  I sure do.  The majority of the money raised in Oregon stays to help patients in Oregon – 75% of it to be exact.  The other 25% goes to the national Komen organization.  This year four major research grants from that national fund came back to Oregon  – 3 of the 4 grants went to OHSU and 1 went to Providence.  So the majority of the money we raise here stays here to help the people we know.

I was diagnosed with “Triple Negative” breast cancer 3 years ago now.  This form of breast cancer carries one of the worst prognoses with the highest incidence of resistant, aggressive recurrence, usually within the first 5 years after diagnosis.  Luckily only 15% of breast cancers are of this type.  Part of the problem is that up to this point there have been no real effective treatments identified for triple negative disease.  However, in the last year PARP inhibitors have surfaced as a potential treatment to slow metastatic triple negative cancer.  Research funding, largely from Komen, allowed for this discovery. Let’s help the researchers find something to prevent metastatic spread next….:

Saying Thank You

There are so many causes now, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the many valid and necessary pleas to help animals and humans. But this is my annual “Blog The Change” for humans. In this case, a human that does a LOT to help animals.

Bones and Beads!

Each year, I do something new as a thank you for donations to our Race for the Cure team. This year, it is exclusive black and pink dog bones, pictured below. I am not using this color combo anywhere else. The color combo was requested inspired by my best friend Heather and her Tail Wagging Muse. These bones are available, wired up with sterling and Swarovski crystals, for donations of $50 or more on my behalf to our Race for the Cure team. I also have other Race for the Cure handmade beads available.

Note: The donations go directly to Komen. I do not handle the money at all, and I contribute the shipping costs. All bones will be wired up with sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, and made as a pendant for humans or with a larger clip for your favorite anipal’s collar.

It took me a few times to get the colors “just right” – pink can be a fickle color when working with glass. What it looks like pre-melting isn’t necessarily what comes out of the kiln. Pictured below are some of the other candidates. The first attempts are more purple-y blue than pink. Very nice, but not the pink pop! I was going for. If you would like those colors, though, just let me know. And… if you have a super special color request, maybe we can work something out. 

I also have other Race for the Cure handmade beads available.

August 25, 2010 update: new bone and bead photos

Learn more: Team Web site | Facebook | Flickr

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Bones and Breast Cancer

I am not alone. Witness Barnie.

Is it really all that bad, Barnie? He looks peaceful enough.

Now, through the magic of the Internet, let’s take a closer look at those sweet kitty dreams.

And so it goes…

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

When (Wild) Cats Dream

So what could it be? I called out my daughter’s name. My son’s name. No replies. Hmmm. Suspicious quietness.

So I go off to investigate, and find this.

Yes? You called?

'scuse me - I'm busy.

(This was toilet paper roll #2. Quincy had already done in toilet paper roll #1.)

Still got work to do on this one.

Kittens are a lot of work!

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Bathroom Break

Today he found a nice little nook to nap in. Convenient, but… standard warnings apply if Argos breaks wind.

Quincy finds the perfect spot. Maybe.

Mutual discovery

Quincy wins out.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Cuddle Bugs

Remember this?

Now we find this:

Argos was a little put out, but figured he could overtake the little guy.

So Quincy moves on and takes over Barnie’s Cat Mat.

Barnie rolls with it. He takes over the new dog mat.

But as usual… they all end up together anyway.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Sleeping Arrangements – Part 2

From the Blog the Change web site:

“Blog the Change takes place on the 15th of January, April, July and October annually.  Have a blog?  Write about a cause near and dear to your heart. Inspire your audience to get involved!”

My cause: help pets in hot cars
Pets die every day after being left in the car “for just a few minutes” or in some cases, accidentally forgotten in the car. It is a rare dog that can honk the horn to save himself. Even days that are not that hot out can heat up a car in minutes. Add to that your dog’s excitement, barking and activity, and heatstroke and death aren’t far away.

Heatstroke is not pretty. In this video, ABC News was at a Philadelphia veterinary hospital as the veterinary team worked hard to save a dog suffering from heatstroke. If you can get the pet through the initial crisis, that is step one. Next, it is important to monitor closely for organ failure over the next several days.

This is from my About.com site and illustrates how horrible it is to watch a pet die in a hot car.

(This took place in the Detroit, MI area…not a particularly hot day, maybe 70 degrees. The black Mercedes sedan was parked in full-sun, with one window cracked about an inch.) About 15 years ago, I saw a German Shepherd locked in a car…he was in obvious distress, he was vomiting, frothy drool from his mouth, visibly wet from sweating. I went into the store where the vehicle was parked, asked them to page whomever owned the vehicle; no response. The store owner called the police, who came…smashed the car window but, sadly, it was too late…the dog had passed away in the few moments it took for me to get help. To this day, I regret my decision to try and find the owner…wishing I’d smashed the window myself! When the owner returned from an adjacent shopping center, she was furious at the police for breaking her window…! I will never forget this…

—Reenthequeen | Read more entries

It’s not always easy
I have taken some flak for urging people to be an advocate for pets in hot cars. People say “mind your own business” and that it was only “for a few minutes” anyway. There have been many, many studies proving that it only takes a few minutes to heat up a car to 120F and higher. I would love to see these people in their car on a warm day (I would crack the windows open a little) while I left “for a few minutes.”

Help is here
One of my favorite sites of all time is My Dog Is Cool and they provide free flyers that you can print out and leave on cars. BUT if it is a hot day with animals inside the car, I would recommend calling your local animal authorities or police first. I was pleased to see that in my community this year, the animal control organizations posted notices in the paper saying that they are on patrol for animals left in cars, and to please call them. I have programmed their number in my cell phone. It is important to also note the type of car and license plate, too.

Please share: What do YOU do to help pets in cars?

Related:
Be The Change … it isn’t just one day
new post on about.com:
Danger Zone: Pets Left in Hot Cars

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Blog The Change: Help Pets in Cars

Turns out, they became fast friends. I am a little amazed at Barnie’s patience and gentleness with a kitten that won’t. give. up. Seeing this, I love Barnie even more (is this possible?) and I think Barnie is going to be a great role model.

I recently found them lounging together in Argos‘ favorite bed. Here Barnie teaches the new guy a very important lesson; another variation of the steadfast cat rule of what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine.

More about Quincy
Quincy is a Bengal cat. He was a gift from the family of a friend we love very  much who has been dealt a difficult hand lately. Quincy was a much-considered gift and given with lots of love and kindness. He is a great fit for our busy family, and Barnie loves having a buddy.

Post from: About Vet Med - Pet and vet facts, news and fun stuff

Lessons from the Master Cat