Busy Week

Rescue groups respond to animals trapped in Midwest floods

The American Humane Association has issued $12,500 in emergency grants to several animal shelters hit hardest by the flooding in Iowa. The grants will help these agencies provide emergency sheltering and care for hundreds of animals displaced or rescued from the flood waters.

American Humane's Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ deploys during disasters to help rescue and shelter animals during times of crisis by bringing vital skills in animal rescuing and handling, as well as necessary supplies. American Humane also awards grants to animal sheltering organizations to help them cope with disasters. The most recent grants were given to the following: Paws and More Animal Shelter, Washington, Iowa

This shelter has been taking in animals for emergency sheltering since the disaster began. It is currently housing 120 cats and 20 dogs, with more arriving daily. The $3,000 emergency grant will be used to improve housing capacity and sanitation for the dogs being sheltered. www.pawsandmore.petfinder.com

Cedar Valley Humane Society, Cedar Rapids, Iowa has been taking in large numbers of animals since the flooding began. The facility’s normal capacity is 170 animals -- it is currently sheltering nearly 300. Additional arriving animals are being cared for at the “overflow” site, Kirkwood Community College, where hundreds more animals are being sheltered. The $3,000 emergency grant will allow the organization to continue the emergency sheltering of these animals, as well as providing food, leashes, bowls and other necessary items to residents who are now residing in motels or with family and friends, and who are quickly running low on resources.

The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center was flooded with four feet of water and is uninhabitable. The shelter has been forced to evacuate its facilities and relocate to the Johnson County Fairgrounds, where it is now sheltering hundreds of animals. The $6,500 emergency grant will be used to purchase temporary kennels, leashes, bowls, food and other emergency sheltering supplies. (Friends of the Animal Center Foundation raises funds to support and expand the animal care services of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.)

For more information on American Humane’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services, please visit www.americanhumane.org/redstar.

Wednesday, June 25 Joy's Guests are

from 12:00 to 12:30 PM PT - Patrick Kruse, founder of Ruff Wear. He will be discussing the latest line of Ruff Wear products as well as their most popular items? If you have any of their products, you can definitely attest to them being able to withstand the ruff interaction with your active family member. www.ruffwear.com

from 12:30 to 1:00 PM PT - Susan Blake Davis, a certified pet nutritionist. It¹s not only what you feed your pet but how you feed your dog or cat could impact your pet¹s health and well-being. As humans, we don¹t eat the exact same meal every day, neither should your pet. If you ate the same bowl of cereal at every meal, you¹d obviously be missing out on the beneficial nutrients that you get from other foods. Listen and learn about a brand new approach to feeding your pets which maximizes nutritional intake for dogs and cats. Please visit www.naturesvariety.com to learn more about the diet. To learn more about Susan Blake Davis, please visit www.askariel.com

Thank you to all who came to Dooley's Dog House's fundraiser for Old Dog Haven. This Saturday, June 28 from 1 - 3 PM - New Earth Books, Kent, WA - The Art of Becoming/Open Forum - Want to learn how to vibrationally match your heart's desires? Want to learn how you can have everything you want in your life? Would you like the perspective of your Soul and Spiritual Guides about anything in your life? Do you have loved ones, animals or humans, on the other side you would like to speak with? Would you like to know what your animals are thinking and feeling? Cost for this seminar is only $25. To register, call New Earth Books at 253-854-4311 or email Martha@talkwithyouranimals.com

Sunday, June 29 from 12 - 2 PM Pacific Time - If you have always wanted to come to one of Joy's seminars and didn't want to travel to their locations, this is the seminar for you. You can join in a seminar by calling a conference phone number entering a code, and stay home during the tele-seminar. This is a new seminar - titled The Art of Becoming - How To Be A Vibrational Match to your Heart's Desires. Do you want to learn how to have everything your heart desires? Want to learn the secret behind The Secret? Want things in your life that you can't seem to get no matter how hard you try? Are you wondering how some people can seem to think of something they want and before long they have it and you don't seem to be able to do that? Are you looking to make changes in your life so you are happier? Would you like to make a conscious shift to living more fully present in your life? This tele-seminar is for you. It will help you learn how to have everything you want in your life. The first 25 people to sign up, receive this seminar for $25 plus long distance telephone charges if applicable and a second tele-seminar free. To reserve your spot, contact Martha at 206-850-6485 or e-mail Martha@talkwithyouranimals.com. Upon confirmation of your reservation, you will receive telephone number and access code for the tele-seminar. At the appointed time, simply call the phone number and enter the code when the recording asks for it. You will be connected to the call and have the opportunity to participate.

Talk With Your Animals is brought to you by Optimum Choices - www.optimumchoices.com, Pet Essences - www.petessences.com, The Natural Pet Pantry - www.naturalpetpantry.com, Natural Horse Talk - www.naturalhorsetalk.com, Dooley's Dog House - www.dooleysdoghouse.com, Nurtural Horse - www.nurturalhorse.com and ScratchnAll - www.scratchnall.com and our mention - Holistic Horse Magazine - www.holistichorse.com. Also, supporting Talk With Your Animals - The "Attractive" Cat Litter Basket - www.sittinpretty.com. Please let these wonderful people know that Joy sent you.

If you are interested in having a phone session with Joy, please call 360-894-5000 to set up a time. Most of her clients live all over the world. You don't need to live in her area to have a session with your animals or your Soul/Spiritual Guides/Guardian Angels or those (both human or animal) who have passed over.

Is Your Pet Spoiled?

Is Your Pet Spoiled? an article written by Margaret Auld-Louie of Optimum Choices (BioPreparation) - Healthy choices for people & pets, one of our wonderful sponsors, www.optimumchocies.com.

There is no question that many people spoil and pamper their pets; however, it is also true that many things that constitute humane and appropriate care of our animals get labeled as “spoiling” our pets. Unfortunately, this shames pet owners and may discourage them from doing that particular activity, even though it benefits their pet.

With my background in biology, I tend to evaluate care of our pets based on whether it meets their needs as a species for humane and appropriate treatment. In other words, I look at what they need physically, emotionally and mentally. For instance, dogs are pack animals and if we have a single dog as a pet, it still needs to be part of a pack. Packs live, hunt and sleep together. Therefore, sticking a single dog outside in the backyard alone because it will “mess up the house” or “belongs outside” is very unnatural for the dog and frightening. If the dog barks while alone in the yard, it is not because the dog is “bad” but because it is lonely, bored, scared or reacting to nearby people and animals (which can be minimized with a privacy fence). Therefore, letting your dog live in the house with its human “pack” is the most natural and humane treatment of him, rather than “spoiling” him.

Are you spoiling your dog or cat, if they sleep with you on the bed? How about giving them table scraps, supplements, bottled or filtered water or provide massages or adequate stimulation with toys and exercise? In my opinion, spoiling is giving our pets something they want that is not good for them, because they like it (just as with children).

When deciding how to care for your pets, we encourage you to learn about what they need as an animal—a dog, cat, rabbit or whatever species they are, rather than simply viewing them as “furry children”. Learn what they need to be healthy and happy and provide that, rather than just giving them what you would want if you were them. Then you will be truly loving your pets rather than just spoiling them.

To read this article in its entirety and check out other news such as their June Sale on BSF/BP, please visit www.optimumchoices.com/june_2008.htm. Margaret Auld-Louie and Russell Louie have over 75 years of combined holistic experience. You can reach them at info@OptimumChoices.com, 303-271-1649 or OptimumChoices.com.

Saturday, June 21 from 12 - 4 PM - Dooley's Dog House's June event is a fundraiser for Old Dog Haven. This wonderful organization helps homeless senior dogs by providing hospice care, assisted living and placement assistance. Joy will be facilitating mini-sessions from 12 - 4 PM. Each 5 minutes cost $20 which includes $10 donation to Old Dog Haven. Dooley's is located at 1421 Market Street, Kirkland, WA. To reserve your spot, please call Chuck at 425-889-2200. To learn more about Dooley's Dog House, one of our wonderful sponsors, please visit www.dooleysdoghouse.com. Also, Old Dog Haven will have dogs at the store for adoption. To learn more about Old Dog Haven, please visit www.olddoghaven.org

Talk With Your Animals is brought to you by Optimum Choices - www.optimumchoices.com, Pet Essences - www.petessences.com, The Natural Pet Pantry - www.naturalpetpantry.com, Natural Horse Talk - www.naturalhorsetalk.com, Dooley's Dog House - www.dooleysdoghouse.com, Nurtural Horse - www.nurturalhorse.com and ScratchnAll - www.scratchnall.com and our mention - Holistic Horse Magazine - www.holistichorse.com. Also, supporting Talk With Your Animals - The "Attractive" Cat Litter Basket - www.sittinpretty.com. Please let these wonderful people know that Joy sent you.

If you are interested in having a phone session with Joy, please call 360-894-5000 to set up a time. Most of her clients live all over the world. You don't need to live in her area to have a session with your animals or your Soul/Spiritual Guides/Guardian Angels or those (both human or animal) who have passed over.

Welcome ScratchnAll

Welcome ScratchnAll to Talk With Your Animals family!! A new, very unique and high-quality, animal-enrichment item has recently been introduced to the animal world. ScratchnAll ----- that’s “scratch”, the letter “N” as in Nancy, A-L-L

ALL animals love a good scratch - from alpacas to zebras and everything in between. What makes this product unique is the fact that it has 4 interlocking sides so you put it together like a puzzle. It will also bend over a 90o corner. When mounting it on a solid surface, you can create your own design and build a grid that will accommodate any animals’ needs. Build it high or wide simply by “adding a pad.” It's a stationary pad for your animal to use at will.

Made of silicon rubber it will withstand all weather. When mounted flat, the V-notch in the back allows water to flow through it. It protects animals eyes and skin when scratching or rubbing. Cover all heads or splintered wood – just “add a pad” to the area where they now scratch. The design of this pad allows animals to scratch under their chin because of being able to mount it on a 90 degree corner like a dutch door.

Do your cats rub on the corners in your home? Now you can attach a ScratchnAll low on the corner wall so that instead of just rubbing on a wall and making it dirty, there is something on the wall that will give back.

Each pad measures 5” x 6” and it comes in “Milk” (an opaque white), “Rustic Red” (barn red); Winners Blue (royal blue) or “Southwest Sunset” (green blue). Generally very easy to clean as most animal hair can be removed all at once with just a simple and gentle pulling action.

ScratchnAll is a wonderful animal enrichment product which allows your pet to experience that exhilarating “feel good” feeling. It can be considered to be therapeutic as well.

When you visit the website, be sure to watch the 3 videos – one of a donkey, lynx and horse. Listen too to the audio testimonial about a pot-bellied pig.

Offer more kindness to your animals by giving them something that “safely” gives back. Your animals will love you for it.

Great gift idea for all occasions for any person owning an animal. Hurry – order for Father’s Day because people love it too. Mount it in the bathroom, walk-in closet or workout room.

For more information and to watch the videos, please visit www.scratchnall.com. The phone number is 1-888-9-SCRATCH or 1-888-972-7282. Discounts are available for large quantity orders so this makes a perfect fund-raiser for any animal organization, rescue or shelter.

Wednesday, June 11 Joy's guest is Zoe Brooks, co-founder of Nurtural Horse and advocate of the bitless bridle and another wonderful member of Talk With Your Animal's family. The bitless bridle forms a cradle around the horse’s head so the rein pressure and release intuitively gives consistent signals to turn, slow or stop your horse. For the rider, it feels no different than riding with a bit ... except that most say they actually ride better because they develop lighter hands and focus on all their aids. The reins attach close to the horse's mouth, so the action is like a bit. For the horse, it is more comfortable and more natural than a bit. Imagine what you can do when your horse is working with you, not just for you! For more information regarding Products to Nurture both the horse and owner, visit www.nurturalhorse.com

Tune in to Talk With Your Animals on Wednesdays from 12 - 1 PM Pacific Time either on the radio if you live in the Seattle area or over the Internet by going to www.talkwithyouranimals.com then to the radio show links page and click on the listen live button for KKNW. The show can also be heard live on www.1150kknw.com. The radio show replays on www.animalradio.com. Check that website for the times in your area. If you are interested in calling in to ask a question of your pet, the telephone number is 425-373-5527. The toll free number if you are in Western Washington is 1-888-298-5569.

The show is brought to you by Optimum Choices - www.optimumchoices.com, Pet Essences - www.petessences.com, The Natural Pet Pantry - www.naturalpetpantry.com, Natural Horse Talk - www.naturalhorsetalk.com, Dooley's Dog House - www.dooleysdoghouse.com, Nurtural Horse - www.nurturalhorse.com and ScratchnAll - www.scratchnall.com and our mention - Holistic Horse Magazine - www.holistichorse.com. Also, supporting Talk With Your Animals - The "Attractive" Cat Litter Basket - www.sittinpretty.com. Please let our sponsors know that Joy sent you.

Reminder - Sunday, June 29 from 12 - 2 PM Pacific Time - Tele-seminar - titled The Art of Becoming -How To Be A Vibrational Match to your Heart's Desires. For more information please check Joy's schedule at www.talkwithyouranimals.com or email Martha@talkwithyouranimals.com.

June Schedule

Thank you to all who came to the Kitsap Humane Society's PetsWALK last Saturday. A fun time was had by everyone who attended. Here is Joy's June Schedule. Hopefully, one of these events fits into your schedule.

Saturday, June 21 from 12 - 4 PM - Dooley's Dog House's June event is a fundraiser for Old Dog Haven. This wonderful organization helps senior dogs in their golden years. Joy will be facilitating mini-sessions from 12 - 4 PM. Each 5 minutes cost $20 which includes $10 donation to Old Dog Haven. Dooley's is located at 1421 Market Street, Kirkland, WA. To reserve your spot, please call Chuck at 425-889-2200. To learn more about Dooley's Dog House, one of our wonderful sponsors, please visit www.dooleysdoghouse.com. Also, Old Dog Haven will have dogs at the store for adoption. To learn more about Old Dog Haven, please visit www.olddoghaven.org

Saturday, June 28 from 1 - 3 PM - New Earth Books, Kent, WA - The Art of Becoming/Open Forum - Want to learn how to vibrationally match your heart's desires? Want to learn how you can have everything you want in your life? Would you like the perspective of your Soul and Spiritual Guides about anything in your life? Do you have loved ones, animals or humans, on the other side you would like to speak with? Would you like to know what your animals are thinking and feeling? Cost for this seminar is only $25. To register, call New Earth Books at 253-854-4311 or email Martha@talkwithyouranimals.com

Sunday, June 29 from 12 - 2 PM Pacific Time - If you have always wanted to come to one of Joy's seminars and didn't want to travel to their locations, you can join in a seminar by calling a conference phone number entering a code, and stay home during the seminar. This is a new seminar - titled The Art of Becoming - How To Be A Vibrational Match to your Heart's Desires. Do you want to learn how to have everything your heart desires? Want to learn the secret behind The Secret? Want things in your life that you can't seem to get no matter how hard you try? Are you wondering how some people can seem to think of something they want and before long they have it and you don't seem to be able to do that? Are you looking to make changes in your life so you are happier? Would you like to make a conscious shift to living more fully present in your life? This seminar is for you. It will help you learn how to have everything you wa! nt in your life. The first 25 people to sign up, receive this seminar for $25 plus long distance telephone charges if applicable and a second seminar free. To reserve your spot, contact Martha at 206-850-6485 or e-mail Martha@talkwithyouranimals.com. Upon confirmation of your reservation, you will receive telephone number and access code for the tele-seminar. At the appointed time, simply call the phone number and enter the code when the recording asks for it. You will be connected to the call and have the opportunity to participate.

Cocoa Mulch: this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats

Snopes says this is true. Dog &cat owners beware! http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp (also can find a lot about it on google)

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso, decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't actin g lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company's web site, it was learned that this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that 'It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it.'

True information about the mulch can be found here - http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoa.htm This site gives the following informati on:

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called 'Theobromine'. It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution: check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.

The obromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of the obromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and the ophy lline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of the obromine.