Merlin
Magic
Musings

April 28, 2008

First off, sorry for posting these comments so late after the event but things have been a little bit hectic around here…I know…what’s new? <grin>

The event was April 5^th. The weather the entire week before that Saturday had been absolutely glorious! Of course, that Saturday morning, it decided to turn cold and windy!!!

Sue, my partner in crime and sister, came down from Kentucky to join me at this event. It was so windy that we were unable to display jewelry on neck forms because they kept getting blown over! I also think that the weather played a major role in the low turnout but we still had a great time, meet wonderful people, learned information about raw food diets and new animal legislature, enjoyed a great barbecue lunch, and did manage a couple of sales…

I learned so much about Dobermans that day and my sister commented that she had never thought of Dobermans as being affectionate animals but after seeing them today, seeing the love between them and their owners and/or fosters, she had a whole new appreciation for the breed. If everyone could see the interaction between the dogs and their humans...and if everyone saw, as we did, young children walking the Dobermans on a leash, perhaps more people would recognize them for the magnificent animals they are and soon come to realize that there's no such thing as a bad animal - only bad "owners."

3/5/2008

I know – it’s been a long while since I last mused but a lot has been going on…don’t worry…I won’t bore you with all the details…

The most imperative issue my household is currently dealing with is Spencer’s sudden blindness. There were no signs, no warnings – one day he could see – the next day he couldn’t. Our Vet told us that based on the way his pupils react to light, he should be able to see and, accordingly, he suspected several underlying causes for the blindness.

We have received several possible diagnoses including hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, and diabetes insipidus. He’s on two different medications, which hopefully will keep him going in relative comfort…

Basically, the bottom line is – he is 11 ½ years old…the average life span for Australian Shepherds is 12 to 15.

During this difficult time, I was asked by Peggy Hoffman, a sandtray therapist in Louisville, KY, to assist her with designing a web site for her new business venture called “being and becoming sandtray therapy.”

Initially, I did not completely understand what sandtray therapy involved but after working on her web site, I have a whole new appreciation for what Ms. Hoffman actually does!

You may not know that sandtray therapy is experiential and expressive...a form of play therapy for anyone from four to 84. The person starts out by choosing a sandtray filled with sands of different colors. Different elements representing water, fire, or light can then be added. Finally, sandtray characters/figures from the therapist’s sandtray shelves are then selected.

The sandtray is the container for the story telling or world building, with the sides of the tray acting as defined boundaries to “contain” past or present life crises explored and associated emotions which arise.

In sandtray therapy, a person of any age old enough to understand can work individually, with a sibling, or as a couple or family who are struggling with any of the following:

Loss and grief, coming to terms with one’s own or a loved one’s terminal illness; a death or end of a relationship
Trauma including sexual or physical abuse and the effects of past abuse on present functioning
Relational challenges such as absence, separation, divorce as well as partner conflict
Letting go of the past, scripts that don’t work, self-imposed hurdles to living life to its fullest, maximizing capabilities and embracing what is, in the present

As I was putting Peggy’s web site together, I couldn’t help but reflect on the gamut of emotions I have experienced this past year – losing both Maggie and Stripe – finding Jake and getting him a great new home - meeting folks at pet rescue events and donating to their causes – and now dealing with Spencer’s blindness and other health issues. So many lows offset by so many highs.

I then started to realize that this type of therapy as opposed to the more traditional “talk therapy” could be a wonderful, meaningful way to come to terms with dealing with our own emotions when our animal companions become ill or when they cross the Rainbow Bridge.

If you find yourself in one of the aforementioned situations, I strongly encourage you to look at Peggy Hoffman’s sandtray therapy web site: www.bandbsandtray.com.

She may not be conveniently located to assist you personally but I’m sure she’d be more than glad to assist you in finding a therapist in your area.

Warm Fuzzies to All….

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October 17, 2007

We all know that losing a pet is never easy...much like when someone we know loses a human loved one, it's so difficult to know what to say or do. Words never seem to be enough and although greeting card companies now include pet sympathy cards, they only brighten the day for what seems to be a fleeting moment.

I think that's why I love the poem "The Rainbow Bridge" so much. I first learned about “The Rainbow Bridge” in 1998 when our beloved Bailey passed away and a dear friend sent me a copy of the poem. Although I cried when I first read it, the poem gave me hope that, one day, Bailey and I would be together again. Over the years, I have shared this poem with others who have lost animal companions and recently turned to it myself when our both of our two cats crossed the bridge just months apart from each other.

I have now had the pleasure of reading “Notes From Rainbow Bridge” by Beth Szillagyi. This book brings The Rainbow Bridge even more to life as Chloe, the Samoyed, tells her own story and the stories of others who have crossed the bridge. I felt the love shared by the animals and their human companions…I felt uplifted to read that others like me believe that our animals sometimes come back to us. Although not all the animals’ "tails" are happy, just as in real life, the book gives one hope that those abused are rewarded when they reach the bridge and all their cares are whisked away.

Chloe's wit, charm, and excellent command of the our human language made me chuckle. While reading this book, I could feel Maggie and Stripe looking down on me with love - reaffirming that they are still with me!

Whether the Rainbow Bridge is a real place or just a place that exists in our minds and hearts, “Notes from Rainbow Bridge” is a must read for all animal lovers!

Four paws up to Chloe and Beth!

To order your copy go to:
http://www.notesfromrainbowbridge.homestead.com

BTW, you might be interested in knowing how I found out about "Notes from Rainbow Bridge."

When my husband and I returned from our Mexican cruise, I had email from an unknown person with the subject line of "hello from a fellow pet lover." Well, that's all I needed to read to prompt me to open the email.   This person had found my email address on the black pearl dog website and decided to write me. That person turned out to be Beth!

She told me about her book, which I checked out on her web site. I then emailed her back, which led to further exchanges of emails, mailed copies of our books to each other, and I think it's safe to say - finding another true animal loving friend!

Isn't it interesting how some things just fall into place???

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August 22, 2007
A Little of This and A Little of That…

If you look on the Merlin Magic contribution page, you’ll see that recent donations include cat furniture and a monetary donation to specific Foster People.

After losing Maggie cat in June, only a couple of months after losing Stripe kitty, I knew it would be a while before I would be ready to adopt other cats. I also knew that when I was ready, I would want to start with new kitty stuff.

That’s when I decided to donate the furniture and sent email to a CAP foster friend to see if she had any suggestions.

She posted the information on the Citizens for Animal Protection (“CAP”) Foster webpage and it wasn’t long before I had email from a new foster mother. As she had just started fostering and was usually assigned young, very active kittens, she was in need of cat things to keep the little furballs busy and occupied – things besides her own “people” furniture.

While corresponding with this new foster mother and others, I found out that fostering means more than just giving strays a place to stay. Fostering not only requires a roof overhead, lots of love, and dedication of time, but it also involves dipping into the pocketbook! Silly me – I always thought fosters were supplied with food, kitty litter, etc. by whichever organization they were fostering for!

Yes, I could have donated the items to CAP which then could have sold them at the CAP store but for some reason it made me feel better to know where Maggie’s and Stripe’s things were going and that they were being used specifically to help other strays.

The monetary donation was to another Foster. If you’ve read “Rusty's Tail” submitted by Toni on the “Other Fateful Adoption Success Stories” page, you know that Rusty was saved by a Foster referred to as “Angel.” Well, this woman’s name has now been changed to “RAngel” for a very good reason. She is now OUR angel!

You see, when we first rescued Doggie Jake, I sent email to RAngel to see if she could assist in finding him a foster home. She sent out emails to others and actually found a spot for him but by then, we had already “found” Jake’s new home so we decided to keep Jake until he went to his new home and another dog took Jake’s spot in the foster home.

Then, a few of weeks ago I received email from Jake’s new HuMom. She had been to a barbecue restaurant and noticed a stray mother dog with a pup.

I forwarded that email to RAngel, basically just to see if she had any suggestions but RAngel just could not bear to stand idly by. RAngel contacted a boxer rescue foster and the two of them went to the restaurant THAT NIGHT and not only rescued the mother but TWO of her pups.

The mother dog is now in the safe haven of the Boxer Rescue group. She has been spayed and is being treated for heartworms. Once she has recovered, she will be adopted to a great home.

The two pups stayed with RAngel for a couple of weeks and now both pups have their own forever, loving homes!!!

Happy endings provide one of the many joys associated with helping our animal friends. Another side benefit is finding new friends through the process. My husband and I recently spent a very pleasant evening with Jake’s new HuParents. We went to their house first so we could see the handsome boy. If anyone ever tries to tell you that dogs do NOT remember people or events, tell them they really don’t know dogs at all because there was no doubt that Jake knew and remembered us! We then went to a great Mexican restaurant where we enjoyed delicious margaritas, great food, and the company of our two new friends!

Just goes to show that there is no end to all the good that we humans receive from our loving animal companions! I only hope that we help them as much as they help us!

Jake with his new HuParents at his new home...

My happy reunion with Jake! Not sure who was more excited...Jake or ME!!!

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July 19, 2007

Not long after posting the first Merlin Magic Musing about lost and found dogs, I was told another rescue story that brought to light another task that responsible pet owners should always make a note to do!

Seems like whenever there’s an “unknown” dog or cat in the neighborhood, or an animal needing a home, friends and neighbors contact me. Not that I’m complaining - I’m always willing to help an animal in need.

Anyway, at around 2:00 one afternoon, the doorbell rang. I looked outside and saw the City Code Enforcement Officer, holding a black lab. She wanted to know if I knew where the animal lived.

After she and I got the dog back into her own back yard. I invited her over to meet Jake (the found dog in the first Merlin Magic Musing). She knew about Jake because I had contacted her to make sure it was OK to put up “Found Dog” signs around the city.

Of course, she agreed that Jake was an extremely handsome dog and then started telling me a recent rescue story of her own.

She was driving around in her city truck, when she saw two dogs wandering the streets. She stopped and picked up the pups, saw that they did have Vet ID tags, and called the vet’s office for home contact information.

At first, the vet’s office wouldn’t give her any information but after driving around with the dogs in the hot truck for a couple of hours, and making several more phone calls, she was finally given telephone and address information. She called the telephone number – the number had been disconnected. So, she drove to the home address.

After locating the home, she knocked on the door – no one was home so she “broke” into the backyard to put the dogs back into their safe haven. As she was leaving, her cell phone rang – it was the dogs’ owner – who had contacted the vet’s office herself. What a stroke of luck! The City Code Enforcement Officer told the owner that she was at their house…the owner said she was on her way.

Several minutes passed when the cell phone rang again…the owner wanted to know exactly where the City Code Enforcement Officer was so the officer gave the woman the address. Well, come to find out, the family had MOVED!

The officer “broke” back into the backyard to get the dogs out…and then waited in front of the house for the owner to come retrieve the dogs.

My first thought, after hearing the tale, was “Oh my goodness! What if the owner hadn’t called her and she had left the dogs there? What a surprise for the real home owners!” <grin>

Then it dawned on me – how sad that when we move to another home, apartment, or whatever, we remember to change our utility service addresses…we fill out paper work to redirect our mail to the new address…but we don’t do the same thing for our beloved animal companions!

So, make note - if you’ve recently moved or are planning to move, please don’t forget to contact your veterinarian’s office to give them new contact and home address information! If you’ve registered your pet with a microchip service, make sure you update that information as well.

Lost or misdirected mail can always be marked “Return to Sender.” We need to make sure that our animals are returned to owner!

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June 28, 2007

My husband and I recently rescued a lost dog. He is a handsome dog, very friendly, well-groomed, knows how to sit, stay, shake, and wearing what looked to be a brand new collar with NO TAGS!!!

I then realized that an identification tag does its job but only as long as it stays with the collar on the animal!

Our dog Katie Girl is notorious for not only losing her own S-hooked tags but helping the other animals lose their tags as well. After finding tags and collars in the yard several times, we changed to the kind of tags that slip onto the collar - which work GREAT! However, I now have to wonder - what would happen if the collar is lost along with the tags somewhere outside our own yard?

Yes, we all intend on keeping our furbabies in our own backyards but accidents happen. Occurrences such as broken fences, repair and utility folks entering backyards without latching the gates properly when leaving, and horrific tragedies like hurricanes and house fires can separate the animals from their humans!

What if your dog gets away and loses the collar?

Cats who are allowed outside usually wear “breakaway” collars. If the cat gets tangled in something, the collars serve their purpose by saving the cat’s life but what if the cat can’t find his/her way back home?

What if someone steals your pet and takes the collar off?

If any of these things happen, the only lead to return your pet to your loving arms is lost!

This all came to mind when we found the lost dog and contacted a foster with one of the local animal shelters as to how to best find his person. The foster asked if I had him scanned for a microchip! That had never even entered my mind so I took him to a local vet – had him scanned – but unfortunately, no chip! If he had one or was wearing proper tags, just think how much easier it would have been to reunite the found animal with his original owner!!!

If you’re the human reading this, I strongly encourage you to use both identification tags AND microchips!

If you’re a furbaby surfing the Internet, go fetch your human NOW and have them learn more about microchips and quality ID tags on the “Links We Like” page!

For more tips in case you lose or find an animal, please go to the “Lost/Found Suggestions” page…

Read more about the rescued dog on the “Other Fateful Adoption Success Stories” page…

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