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Upcoming Classes:
Wednesday, March 25th at 10:30 am
Fee: $15 per family. Prepayment and Preregistration required. Participants will receive a $15 voucher toward a car seat purchase at Mother's Haven.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register.
Car Seat Safety Basics:
Car seats can greatly reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash, but selecting the proper seat and installing it can feel a bit like rocket science. In Kootenai County, 80% of car seats are misused. This class will provide you with the information you need to make the best choices for your child to keep them safer on the road.
In this class, you will learn:
Classes are held on Saturdays from 10:30 - 11:30 am.
Next class will be in May...dates to be announced.
Fee: $35 per family. Prepayment and Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register
Minimum of 3 different participants or 2 families , Maximum of 10 different participants or 5 families
Using Sign Language with babies has many benefits for parents and babies alike! Signing with your baby helps you bond and enjoy this special time with your little one. Join us in learning signs that help you meet your baby's most basic and important needs, such as: signs for meal time, play time, toileting and diapering time, family signs, and more; and learn how Sign Language benefits you and your child for years to come.
Perfect for babies who can bring their hands together and older.
Ioana Ojog Siegler has a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught Sign Language classes to child care providers in the Coeur d'Alene area for several years. Sign Language became an interest during her Master's program studies when she discovered the many benefits of signing with typically hearing babies and children. She used signs with the toddlers and preschoolers at the child care center she worked at and also with her two children. Ioana is excited for this opportunity to share her passion and interest in using Sign Language with babies and young children.
Classes are a 4 Part Series held on Wednesdays starting at 10:45 am . Please plan to attend all 4 classes consecutively, unless you make prior arrangements with a Mother's Haven team member due to a planned absence. The class runs 35-45 minutes, depending on when the babies tire.
March 1st - 22nd
March 29th - April 19th
May 24th - June 14th
Fee: $35 per child. Prepayment and Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register
Come Sing with Me is led by music teacher Tamara who is an expert at facilitating fun and engaging music and movement experiences for groups of children and their parents or caregivers (nannies, babysitters, grandparents, or relatives.) Each weekly class offers dozens of songs and rhythmic rhymes, including fingerplays, small movement activities, and parachute time. Parents don't need to have music skills—they just need a desire to play and have fun with their children!
Tamara Orlandi has been teaching music and movement classes for 18 years. As a past Gymboree instructor and current Kindergarten music teacher at Kinder Magic, Tamara incorporates dancing, singing, movement, fun and energy into her classes. Integrating music from birth on can support better speech and language development, balance and coordination, social interaction and a lifetime love of music. Come enjoy mommy and me time and help bring the love of music into your children's hearts.
These classes are held Saurday's from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm.
April 22nd
Fee: $35 per family. Prepayment and Preregistration required. It is strongly encouraged that moms and their partners attend this class together if possible
Call (208) 676-1300 to register. This class also meets the requirements for DONA certification.
This is a 2-1/2 hour class designed to teach the art of breastfeeding to expectant parents. In this class you will learn:
These classes are held Saurday's from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm.
March 25th
June 24th
Fee: $35 per family. Prepayment and Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register.
A one-hour class during which we will work together to develop a plan to protect your milk supply, nourish your baby, and facilitate bonding while you are separated from your baby. We will identify any booby traps that may hinder your breastfeeding relationship once you return to work or school and prepare for them. A worksite plan will also be created.
Not only will we develop a plan for breastfeeding and returning to work or school, we will also discuss:
These classes are held Saurday's from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm.
May 27th
Fee: $35 per family. Prepayment and Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register.
In this class you will learn:
These classes are held on Saturdays at 10:30 am.
April 8th
$10 per person. Preregistration and prepayment are required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register
In this one hour class, you will learn skills to relieve choking and how to perform infant and child CPR. We will address safety, injury prevention and basic first aid. Feel free to bring your baby.
These classes are held on Saturday's at 1:00 pm.
March 11th
FREE. Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register
Intro to Cloth Diaperingis an infor mal class for anyone interested in cloth diapering. Whether you're expecting or looking to switch from disposables, this class will take you from skeptical to confident!
Taught by Amy Plass, mother of two and cloth diapering advocate, this class will help you make informed choices about which diapers are right for you, your baby, and your budget.
The class will cover the benefits of cloth diapering, common cloth diaper styles, and things to consider when choosing the best diapers for your family. We'll also cover washing basics, how to prep your diapers for use, and of course - what to do with the poop!
These groups are held on the First Friday of every month from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
FREE. No preregistration is required.
Class topics include: gentle discipline methods that work, night time parenting, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning, improving your family's diet, potty-mastery, adjusting to being a new mother, family/siblings adjusting to a new baby, siblings without rivalry, raising your spirited child, being an advocate for your child, handling unsolicited advice, green housecleaning, etc. Classes are helpful and appropriate for pregnant women, mothers with new babies, and mothers with toddlers and preschoolers. Learn a Loving way of life with your children.
These classes are held on Fridays at 3:00 pm
March 3rd
FREE. Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register.
Baby Wearing 101 will cover the basics of baby wearing, the primary types and styles of carriers, safety, and the benefits of baby wearing.
These classes are held quarterly on Mondays at 5:00 pm
February 6th
FREE. Preregistration required.
Call (208) 676-1300 to register
Nearly all mammals eat their placenta after birthing their young, and we are seeing a rapidly growing number of American women using placenta encapsulation to balance hormones, increase energy, and enhance milk supply.
Come learn more about this ancient practice with local Placenta Encapsulation Specialist K.C. Loveland. K.C. will begin with a brief informative talk about the history, science, and practice of Placenta Encapsulation, followed by Q&A


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Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
The sisters come back to Delores's show to get her back as Sister Mary Clarence to teach music to a group of students in their parochial school which is doomed for closure. One of the girls, who is the most talented of the bunch, is forbidden to sing by her mother, although the choir has made it to the state championship. A group of stereotypical incompetent monks tries to stop them.
Actor: Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Najimy, Barnard Hughes, Mary Wickes, James Coburn, Michael Jeter, Wendy Makkena, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Robert Pastorelli, Thomas Gottschalk, Maggie Smith, Lauryn Hill, Brad Sullivan, Alanna Ubach, Ryan Toby
Director: Bill Duke
Country: USA

subset: commoncrawl


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Fannie Mae Deepens Credit History CheckingLike most Americans, you've accrued some credit card debt. You're paying it off, but mostly sticking to just making the minimum payments so that you're able to meet your other financial obligations. No big deal, right? Sure, you'll pay more in the long haul because of interest, but credit card companies set minimum payments for a reason and you're still making your monthly payments on time. Noting all of this, and considering that your credit score and credit history is in pretty good shape, you figure now is the time to apply for that home loan.
Surely you'll be approved on your credit history and creditscore , right? Not so fast. Fannie Mae, the entity responsible for the issuing of government mortgage loans, is digging deeper into the credit history of applicants beyond just their credit history and credit score. That's right, Fannie Mae is now taking into consideration how applicants are managing their debt as it pertains to approving or denying mortgage loans.
Fannie Mae's trended credit history checkThe latest version of Fannie Mae's underwriter software is designed to more carefully analyze what it refers to as "trended credit data," or details about how consumers are specifically managing their debt. Instead of just analyzing whether or not consumers are making their payments on time, the new software version also takes into consideration the following:
- How much consumers are paying monthly toward balances.
- The frequency that they are making their payments.
- Their ability to properly manage debt overall.
Navigating Fannie MaeSo how can you work around Fannie Mae's more in-depth consumer considerations if you don't qualify for a conventional mortgage? It's all about enacting a viable credit repair plan. To show that even if you have a balance, you're doing your best to eliminate it from your credit history check and credit score. Here's a look at some tips for how to eliminate debt and improve your consumer status:
- Pay off high interest cards first.
- Contact lenders to see if they'll give you a lower interest rate.
- Consider debt consolidation so that you're only paying off one balance as opposed to several balances.
- Only spend what you know you can immediately pay off to avoid accruing more debt.
- Stay disciplined.
- Come up with a plan: In addition to a base budget, consider putting any additional income (i.e. performance bonuses, tax refunds, cash back rewards, etc.) toward debt repayment.


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1. By eating frequently, you won't feel hungry at odd times. When you don't feel the urge to eat, there is no reason behind eating foods that are unhealthy.
2. Your metabolic rate will be high at all times since you are eating frequently, so you are burning more calories as a result.
3. Since you are eating small meals, your blood sugar levels won't spike up to abnormal levels. Thus eating small meals is also good for diabetics!
So as you can see, eating small and frequent portions of foods has many great advantages!
By simply following these easy instructions, you will soon be on your way to permanent weight loss! There are more to weight loss such as eating right foods, and incorporating some physical activities in your life and remembering that this is a lifestyle change. But the above weight loss tips are hardly addressed by the so-called 'weight loss experts'!


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Use tousled in a sentence
- But Abraham Lincoln, the uncouth man in the linen duster with the tousled hair, knew it. [9]
- To meet the public eye, cross and tousled and disarranged, requires either indifference or courage. [4]
This page helps answer: how do I use the word tousled in a sentence? How do you use tousled in a sentence? Can you give me a sentence for the word tousled? It may also be related to private education, homework help, exercise, and literacy.
Example sentences with the word tousled, a sentence example for tousled, and tousled in sample sentence.


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Information seeking in attachment style romantic relationships
MetadataShow full item record
This study examined how a person's attachment style affects the type of information he or she is attuned to within a relationship. Specifically, this study assessed whether an individual is more likely to search for positive or negative information about a relationship when in a stressful situation and offered either a supportive or unsupportive note from a romantic partner. As hypothesized, a high degree of attachment ambivalence and an unsupportive note predicted more negative information seeking about relationship items. No hypotheses were formed for attachment avoidance, and the degree of avoidance alone did not significantly predict information seeking. However, not condition and relationship satisfaction contributed to several interactions with both attachment ambivalence and avoidance. These findings are discussed in terms of attachment theory.
DescriptionDue to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to firstname.lastname@example.com, referencing the URI of the item.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-46).
Subjectpsychology I.
Major psychology I.
Derrick, Jaye Lindsay (2002). Information seeking in attachment style romantic relationships. Texas A&M University. Available electronically from http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2002 -Fellows -Thesis -D46.


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Monday, December 3, 2012
Vote for Mila!
8 comments:
New follower, your blog is so sweet! Plus, I'm a cat lady too! It's always nice to meet another blogger with a cat fur child, it seems we're far and few between :) I'll definitely vote!ReplyDelete
I will vote!!ReplyDelete
Hi Callie!ReplyDelete
Saw you posted on Mariel's blog this morning so I wanted to pop over and say hello! Congratulations on your new marriage and being in such a fun time of love! Looking forward to connecting with ya
TOtally voted! She's the cutest!ReplyDelete
Hey It's Cat..We have both guest posted on Mariel's blog this week :) YAY! I am excited to follow you now and look forward to getting to know you as well. Hope you will check out my blog as well!ReplyDelete
Have a blessed day!!
Just wanted pop in and say I found your blog on the Southern Bloggers Rock link! I'm also a Mississippi Blogger and love finding other bloggers from Mississippi, we are few and far between! Newest follower!ReplyDelete
Heather @ From Here to There


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English Songs Vs. Hindi Songs
Whats your thought about it which one is better?
English one's Or Hindi one's
Well Myne is English One's
Cause it helps me in improving my English Speaking.
And English songs Beats are also to good to listen.
Well Hindi are also not that much bad but
Myne Fav is English.
Please give your Suggestions.


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John B. McCammon, EsquireThe McCammon Group, Ltd.
The Reynolds Building
6641 West Broad Street, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804/343-0922
Fax: 804/343-0923
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Other URL http://www.McCammonGroup.com
John McCammon is the founder and President of The McCammon Group, a private alternative dispute resolution provider serving Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland. Mr. McCammon has an extensive litigation background in commercial law, bodily injury, construction, product liability, and insurance disputes. The former principal in two national law firms, Mr. McCammon has been involved in ADR since the 1970's and is a frequent lecturer on professional and business issues in mediation and arbitration. The McCammon Group currently consists of over seventy Neutrals comprised of retired judges, prominent attorneys, and outstanding business people.
Types of Cases Mediated
- Business
- Civil (general)
- Commercial
- Construction
- Contracts
- Employment
- General Mediation
- Health Care
- Insurance
- Organizational
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Professional Fees
- Professional Malpractice
- Public Policy
- Real Estate
- Torts


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P.O. Box 527
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
1 Scott CT Poughkeepsie, AR
87 S Remsen Ave Wappingers Falls, NY
We had Magic Carpet Express clean our carpets and sofa today. Dominick and his staff did a wonderful job. I'm telling all my family and friends about them now.5
Magic Carpet Express got amazing results cleaning my white berber carpet. They are the best! I will always use their service.5


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Wake up call , wake up call. I have nothing to do the UniKL academic after finish up my final exam. All I need to do right now is submit my fyp hard cover, which takes time to complete the hot-stamping, and tadaa, melepet at home. I take out my camera back as part of my hobby back. Laziness has summon. However my photography skill getting weaker than after.
This case arrive from China, via China post using Pos Malaysia. How cool is that? How cool is what?
There's limited choice casing for my beloved m7 at Malaysia, so Ebay the only place to buy, beside they got variety of choice, from hard, to TPU and hybrid case.
My handphone timeline 2004-2014
htc xx
htc one x
nokia lumia 720
htc one v
htc incredible s
htc deside hd
samsung galaxy s
nokia c7
nokia c6-02
nokia e90
nokia e52
nokia 5800
nokia n81
nokia 6110 navigator
nokia n95
nokia 5700
nokia n93
nokia ngage qd
motorola v3
siemens c62
nokia 3530


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At the end of 2016, we launched the LIF Select Mentorship Program to help provide students with the knowledge and preparation to successfully transition into the finance industry and excel early on in their career.
Our 2016-2017 inaugural class of 45+ mentees was paired with experienced finance professionals to participate in a flexible, one year program. Mentors were tasked with providing career guidance on topics such as networking, interviewing and resume building. LIF's first year of facilitating this program was impactful so we highlighted some of the success stories below. As the 2016-2017 program comes to a close, we look forward to reopening applications to the next round of applicants in September 2017. Thank you to all mentors!
Prospective mentors and mentees can find more information on the program here.
- LIF Select Mentorship Program Team: Abraham Villarreal, Yacquelin Cervantes and Andrew Kaban
Gloria Lopez Obeso
Gloria grew up in Plymouth, CA and is a recent graduate of UC Davis. While at UC Davis, she studied International Relations and developed an interest in finance. Vanessa Hartigan, a Director of Relationship Management at Merrill Lynch, was her mentor during the mentorship program. Gloria recently secured a Financial Analyst position at Wells Fargo.
"Vanessa was a very useful resource to learn about the finance industry. She directly impacted my experience to prepare for interviews."
Anastacio Serrano
Anastacio grew up in San Francisco, CA and is a recent graduate of San Francisco State University and studied finance. Abraham Villarreal, Transaction Specialist at CBRE, was his mentor during the mentorship program. With the support of Abraham, Anastacio secured an internship that turned into a full-time analyst position at Credible.
"My experience with the mentorship program was very rewarding and allowed me to prepare for the real world after college. With the help of my mentor, Abraham, I was able to land an internship in the fintech Industry which turned into a permanent position."
Kevin Capiz
Kevin grew up in King City, CA and is a rising senior at Stanford University studying Mathematical & Computational Science. Charles Jung, Research Analyst at Cohen Capital Management, was his mentor during the mentorship program. Kevin recently held a Summer Internship position at BlackRock.
"My experience with the mentorship program has been great. It was through LIF's correspondence that I learned about the opportunity with BlackRock and about the BlackRock Founder's Scholarship. Without LIF's support and education, I believe becoming a Founder's Scholar would have been a missed opportunity."
Danelis Padron
Danelis grew up in Sacramento, CA and is a recent MBA graduate from Mills College. At Mills, Danelis emphasized her studies in finance and developed a passion for it. Claudia Rivas, Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors, was her mentor during the mentorship program. With the help of Claudia, she secured a Financial Advisor position at Merrill Lynch.
"My mentor, Claudia Rivas, not only guided me throughout the entire job application process, but she believed in me during the times I didn't believe in myself. Accompanied by her constant positivity and abundant knowledge, I persistently networked and interviewed for jobs that I considered were "out of my league", successfully landing my first full-time job at Merrill Lynch."
Elsa Mora
Elsa grew up in Sacramento, CA and graduated from Brown University in the Spring of 2015. At Brown, Elsa studied International Relations & Economics. Valerie Wong, Senior Associate at MSCI and President of LIF, was her mentor during the mentorship program. Elsa recently landed a Sales Digital Analyst position at Univision.
"The guidance and support I have received from my mentor, Valerie Wong, has been invaluable. From career advice to helping me prepare for interviews, Valerie has been someone whom I can count on."
Jason grew up in East Liverpool, OH and is a junior studying finance at San Francisco State University. Bryan Chung, Manager of Strategy & Business Development at GAP, was his mentor through the LIF Select Mentorship Program. With the help of Bryan, he secured a Summer Analyst investment banking position at True Blue Partners.
"This program wasn't merely a way for me to get a job – it was a channel that connected me with someone who has been in my shoes, ultimately empowering me to be proactive with my goals."


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"Equifax data guru on making real-time data analysis a reality" - Interview (registration required)
"Michael Koukounas, senior vice president of global scoring and analytics leader at Equifax Inc., will be presenting at GlobalDirections 2013 in Washington, D.C., this month. In this Q&A with SearchCIO, he previews his talk on leveraging real-time data analysis and the six steps he has formulated to build a powerful analytics strategy."
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November 2018


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One year ago today, I walked to the University of Washington on my regular work commute. But instead of going directly to my office, I first went to the UW Medical Center Radiology Department to get an MRI of my head. We were trying to figure out why I had had a series of seizures starting the previous August. After the MRI I walked to my office, picking up a cup of coffee at Bean and Bagel along the way. As I sipped the coffee at my desk, I could feel a seizure coming on. Because my working theory for so long had been that the first seizure was caused by stress and anxiety, I wondered if this one had been triggered by the coffee. I tried to warn my officemates, Doug and Bill, about what was happening to me, but by then I had already lost the ability to speak. They soon figured out that something was wrong and called our boss, who called 911. The EMTs who checked me out suggested I go to my clinic and see a doctor about the seizure. So my boss drove me to the UW Medicine clinic at Northgate. My regular doctor wasn't available, although he spotted me in the lobby and came over to ask how I was doing. I suspect he had seen the MRI results by then, but I don't know for sure. In any event, there was another doctor who could see me. It was a longish wait before I was let into an examination room, probably because she was reviewing the MRI and discussing it with more senior physicians and preparing herself for what she had to tell me. As soon Dr Sairenji came in, I could see by her face that it was bad news.
She informed me that the MRI showed that I had a tumor in my brain, and the radiologist who read the MRI was calling the tumor glioblastoma -- which later really pissed off my neurosurgeon, because he felt only pathologists can determine the type of cancer, looking at cells from the tumor itself. In retrospect my guess is that an experienced radiologist can probably recognize glioblastoma from the MRI, even if they can't tell the exact type and grade, which is in fact incredibly important information, because Grade I and II are generally not terminal, whereas III and IV (my grade) are. Dr. Sairenji answered my questions and to reassure me as best she could. I'll never forget the sorrow on her face. She had never met me before, but she was the one who had to tell me I had potentially lethal cancer. When I started crying she gave me a light hug with one arm around my shoulders. The news actually wasn't a complete shock, because as soon as I'd had my second and third seizures, three months after the first, I began to wonder whether I might have a tumor. Still, I had tried to set that thought aside and to hope for better news. So in fact -- to heck with the nuance -- the news shocked me to the marrow.
I had called or texted Denys asking if he could come pick me up and take me home, because I knew I wouldn't be going back to work. As soon as I saw his concerned face and started telling him the news, I started sobbing, as he cursed furiously while welcoming me into a big, comforting hug. It was even worse when I got home and called my mom. I doubt it's difficult to imagine how little she wanted to hear my news. All I could think to say was, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Undoubtedly the hardest, most heart-wrenching conversation I've ever had in my life.
A lot has happened in the year since that day: surgery to remove the tumor, diagnosis of the tumor (confirming that it was glioblastoma, and of the worst kind), a course of simultaneous radiation and chemo, and then a longer (and ongoing) course of chemo and a new electromagnetic treatment technology called the Optune. It's been a long, hard road, but my family and friends swiftly closed ranks around me and have carried me on their backs through all the turmoil and trouble. My mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law, and Denys have all been particular champions, and I cannot possibly thank them enough for all they've done for me, from feeding me, accompanying me to doctor appointments, advising me when I was confused about the options facing me, and helping to pay off our remaining mortgage, to taking on most of the household chores and changing my Optune transducer arrays twice a week. Many, many other friends have corresponded, created single-issue, single-copy fanzines for me, come to visit, cheered me in Facebook and LiveJournal comments, walked with me to keep my strength up, shared their cancer treatment stories, sent me care packages and gifts of food, books, and music. It's been a crappy year of debilitating treatments, but I've learned a lot about love and friendship in the process, such as the fact that it can be completely invisible to you (or at least to me, Captain Oblivious) until you need it in the worst way. I haven't worked a single day since that first MRI, and I'm in the process of taking a medical retirement. I've made new friends who stepped in without hesitation to give me support. I have added many more Facebook Friends, many of whom I don't know personally, who follow me now because they know my Mom or my sister and want to follow my story, because it's part of their story. Old friends who I'd lost contact with are coming out of the woodwork as the news slowly filters into the world. People have been amazing.
It isn't all friends and family either. I've met with, talked to, and been treated by a phalanx of doctors, neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuro-oncologists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, receptionists, radiation techs, MRI techs, phlebotomists, clinical psychiatrists, nutritionists, Optune reps, pharmacists, long term disability insurance reps, Social Security Disability Insurance bureaucrats, University of Washington HR bureaucrats, and social workers. It takes a village to treat a cancer patient. Not all of them have been equally competent or caring, but in general I've found the people at the Alvord Brain Tumor Center and at the UW Medical Center as a whole to be very kind and helpful. Good people who are committed to quality of life for the terminally ill. Considering all the bureaucracy involved, it's kind of amazing how good the treatment has been.
A lot has happened in the last year and I'm hopeful that there's more amazement to come, but I thought it was worth marking that a year ago I walked through a door into an examination room and exited a stranger in a strange land that had such people in it.
( 12 comments — Leave a comment )
( 12 comments — Leave a comment )


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Jackpot! Magazine South - April 14, 2016
The South's Largest Guide to Gaming and Fun
April 14 - April 27, 2016
It's Harrah's biggest tourney
Companywide event has $1 million in prizes
Treasure Bay celebrates anniversary ................11
Building a better view at DiamondJacks ........... 24
Winners.......... 12, 26-27 Dining ................. 16-17 Entertainment ...... 20-21 Horoscopes .............. 28 Poker ...................... 30 Casino Directory ...... 31
BILOXI — Players at Harrah's Gulf Coast could win a share of $1 million in the $1 Million Biggest Slot Tournament. The April 15-17 event, which brings together players at Caesars Entertainment casinos across the country for three days of tournament play, features a top prize of $500,000.
On Friday, April 15, players club members who earn 100 tier credits will receive a free entry into
the tournament, with a maximum of two entries available. The earning period begins at 3 a.m.,
and tournament registration takes place at the special events desk from 5 to 8 p.m. Tournament play starts at 5 p.m., and the awards presentation will take place approximately one hour after the final session.
Guests will have three minutes to accumulate
See Slot Tourney, Page 5
Pearl River Resort players are putting to win cash, prizes
CHOCTAW — Golf training is not necessary to win big in Pearl River Resort's Putting for Prizes giveaway. Now through the end of April, players at both Silver Star
Casino and Golden Moon Casino can earn entry tickets for a chance to win up to $5,000 in the Friday and Saturday giveaway.
Players club members can
receive one free entry each drawing day and one additional entry for every 500 points earned playing
See PRR Putting, Page 5


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Events for November 13, 2017 › Music
Events Search and Views Navigation
All Day
Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit at the Berkeley Rep
October 5–November 19, 2017 By Daniel Handler Directed by Tony Taccone Get Tickets The genius behind Lemony Snicket brings his relentlessly mischievous style to a new play for adults. Sarah's father is dead, her mother is in hysterics, and the new rabbi totally bungled the funeral. To further the absurdity, the ghost of a rabbit hops into her life, pushing her to confront her deepest issues. Fantastical and wise, hilarious and sobering, Imaginary Comforts celebrates ordinary people trying to make sense out of life in the midst of endless, comedic chaos. More Info Berkeley Rep Main Season · Peet's Theatre 2025 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704Find out more »
Soundtrack of the 60's: Berkeley Music Scene
Exhibit at The Berkeley Historical Society October 8, 2017 - April 1, 2018 While Berkeley did not have the large ballrooms of San Francisco, it had a variety of small clubs and medium sized venues that saw many legendary performances during the decade of the 1960s. The Fall 2017 exhibit of the Berkeley Historical Society will focus on these venues and the unique contribution of Berkeley musicians to 1960s music. The exhibit draws upon the extensive archives of Country Joe McDonald, as well as little known photographs from the Historical Society and several private collections. From small folk singer gatherings in private homes to public stages, Berkeley provided a rich milieu of opportunity for cross genre inspiration and creativity. Country Joe and the Fish, the Joy of Cooking and Creedence Clearwater Revival all had their start in Berkeley. A timeline of major national and international events will provide context for local musical developments. Other parts of the exhibit will focus on local recording studios, the Berkeley Folk Festival, the rock scene, rhythm and blues, the role of music in the protest movement and the career of Country Joe McDonald. Clothing and other artifacts of the period will also be on....Find out more »


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Did anyone else have a totally crazy week? I am glad that Saturday is here. Working a full week is going to be brutal next week. Possibly. Anyway, I'm back to being behind schedule, so I'm going to jump right in. Week 22 covers May 29 – June 4. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated.
I'll Eat When I'm Dead by Barbara Bourland – I borrowed this as an e-book from the Boston Public Library. This is one that I recommended to the library. Between the cover and the title, it's obvious why I was interested in this one. I really liked it. It's a mystery of sorts. A magazine editor is found dead in a locked room and the cause of death is listed as starvation. Her best friends work to find out what actually happened, while also living their own glamorous lives. The ending is a bit weird, but it's highly entertaining and I definitely recommend it. I'm giving it 4 stars.
Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva – I won this as an audiobook in a Kindles & Wine giveaway. I have an audiobook CD of this book and it took me forever to read. It doesn't help that I bought a new car that doesn't have a CD player. This is not one of my most favored genres, the spy novel, but it was well written. Simon Vance is an incredible narrator. If you like spy novels, I definitely recommend this. I'm giving it 3 stars.
Madame Zero by Sarah Hall – I received this as an actual book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I really liked this volume of short stories. Each one is a single serving of entertainment. I had actually already read one of these because it was included in Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane EyreReader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre. If you enjoy short stories, I would definitely recommend this to you. I'm giving it 4 stars.
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn – I borrowed this as an e-book from the BPL. This book is set in Jamaica and that is where the author is from. It shows what life is like for the people that actually live in Jamaica and work in the tourist industry. It also tells the tale of what it's like to have nothing and have a desire to fit in with the world around you. Two of the main characters are in a lesbian relationship. The youngest is in a private school and desperate to fit in with her rich and lighter skinned classmates. The mother sort of does what she can to get by even if that isn't necessarily the best way to go about things. I thought it was good. I like learning about different cultures and circumstances. Ultimately, I'm giving this 3 stars.
The Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow – I received this as an e-book from the publisher via NetGalley. I thought this book was excellent. The story is intriguing. It's well written. It takes place mostly in Prague, which I love. This is the story of a sonata that was divided into three parts during World War II, the people who had the three parts, and the musicologist that is tasked with bringing them back together. I love novels like this where there is historical fiction and some sort of mystery in the present that needs to be solved. I definitely recommend this. I'm giving it 4 stars.
The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America by Douglas Brinkley – I borrowed this as an e-book from the BPL. I actually had to borrow it more than once. This is quite a tome. If you're interested in Theodore Roosevelt (doesn't like to be called Teddy, it seems), then definitely read this. It concentrates mostly on the establishment of national parks. It also helped me to understand executive orders and the fact that we as Americans are entrusting one elected official to sometimes make decisions on our behalf without the consensus of any other part of the government involved. It seems like we put an awful lot of trust in one person. I understand why this is important but it is also a bit alarming at the same time. I'm giving this 3 stars.
And that is it. Finally. This is why some of the previous weeks were a bit thin. As always, let me know what you think or if you have any recommendations or books you would be interested in getting my opinion about. While I try not to give away endings, I try to be really honest about my opinions.


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To celebrate Burns Night tonight, we have 20% off all of our amazing Scottish brands for today only (25/01). �
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Vestrivissia the Mocking Canticle
The Lord of Arrogant Whimsy
Worshipers: Adventurers, gamblers, thieves
Alignment: CN
Domains: Chaos, Luck, Scalykind, Trickery
Subdomains: Curse, Deception, Heroism, Protean
Favored Weapon: Rapier
Favored Creature: Mockingbird
Favored Instrument: Tambourine
If ever there was a living avatar of deceit, its smile would resemble that of Vestrivissia the Mocking Canticle. During the early days of the Calling, the self-titled Lord of Arrogant Whimsy first manifested in the very presence of an avatar of the Elemental Lord Drothos. A great feathered serpent with the wings of a butterfly, glittering with tourmaline colors, it bowed and introduced itself as one-not-of-this-place-yet-never-distant-and-here-I-am-to-help. With the arrogance to personally address one of the greatest Elemental Lords and offer its aid, professing itself a kindred spirit to Drothos's chaotic flames, the protean lord preemptively distanced itself from its own kindred even as they undermined the Lava-Caller's fellows.
Initially aiding Drothos against Deist forces and gaining a measure of trust despite its own alien nature, Vestrivissia and his followers wormed their way into places and positions that would otherwise have been barred to any others not bound to the Elemental Lord itself. Of course, the Mocking Canticle betrayed them all. A whispered word of warning here, a rumor fed to a high priest, a subversive song penned in the name of another and distributed to the masses, all of these corrupted the Elemental Lord's base of power from within, sowing the seeds of distrust within his ranks even as the Mocking Canticle fed information to his enemies. Ultimately without a drop of spilt blood, Vestrivissia whispered into Drothos's ear and initiated the Elemental Lord's betrayal of Ice-Tyrant. Having irrevocably fractured one of the greatest alliances among the Elementals, the Mocking Canticle vanished, leaving behind a cult embedded in Elemental and Deist ranks alike like bits of cancer strewn through unknowing flesh, and all the while cackling with laughter at what it had done.
The Mocking Canticle's followers make the churches of other gods their own, entering by stealth and conducting their own illicit ceremonies, or penning their own prayers into the liturgies of other faiths. Like theological cuckoos, their only permanent churches are the abandoned chapels and shrines of other gods. They rarely gather in groups numbering more than a handful, and these small intimate gatherings often meet in back rooms of inns, brothels, and even caves – places already common for adventurers who make up the vast bulk of Vestrivissia's flock.
Spell Preparation Ritual
Whisper a prayer to the Mocking Canticle while holding a stolen object of veneration belonging to another faith. Recite prayers to Vestrivissia penned into the margins of a prayer book of another god, fully aware of the taunting, blessed blasphemy the act engenders.
Religion Traits
The following traits are available to followers of Vestrivissia:
Mocking Feint: Deception and daring are two faces of the same coin, and Vestrivissia smiles upon both. You gain a +2 trait bonus to Bluff skill checks made as part of a feint, and Bluff is always a class skill for you.
Who Dares, Wins: As arrogant and daring as your patron, hurling yourself into danger garners you a moment of the Mocking Canticle's whimsical grace. Once per day as an immediate action you gain a +1 trait bonus to a single Reflex, Fortitude, or Will save.
See Also


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Can you believe I actually coloured this imaged back in November/December 2014 when I was first guest designing for ABC Challenge. I've only just got round to making this into a card!
The image is no 438 from Sherri Baldy. I coloured her with ProMarkers and a bit of biro to highlight her hair. It's cut out with a Spellbinders die and I've added some DecoArt glitter to her wings to blong her up.
The flowes and leaves added underneath the image to make to come to life and look 3-D are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the Ribbon Girl. I've carried on the theme of the image as well by adding red self adhesive gems in groups of three.
Papers are all from Lïli of the Valley.
The last think I've added are some pearlised self adhesive gems and some silver dragonfly beads.
Andrea x
I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Addicted to Stamps - Flowers
Crafty Cats - Things with Wings
Passion for ProMarkers - Spring Blooms
Wags n whiskers - Flowers
Creative Momemts - Anything Goes Spring/Easter
Create and Inspire - Anything Goes/Flowers
I Love ProMarkers - Bugs


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For Council and Committee Members and others
Updated 26 March 2018
- Expenses may be charged by Council and Committee members and others as approved. The general guideline is that where costs are incurred in the course of NZAP business, NZAP will pay.
- Transport to your meeting is paid by NZAP. With airlines we ask you to book ahead as far as possible since it reduces costs greatly. However, we recognise that sometimes plans have to be made at short notice. Please don't pay for cancellation insurance – it is cheaper for us to miss out on the occasional trip than to pay for all insurances.
- You can claim your travel from home to the airport and back.
- The cost of getting from the airport to the meeting place will also be reimbursed. We ask you to use shuttles over taxis wherever possible and practical.
- Car travel is paid at 50c per kilometre.
- You can also claim the cost for car parking while you are away on NZAP business.
- If you choose to drive rather than fly, the amount you can claim is the equivalent to an average ticket to the destination.
- When the meeting is some distance from home we understand it may be reasonable to stay overnight and eat before and/or after a meeting. NZAP will pay such expenses, i.e. accommodation and a meal to the value of $30.
- Sometimes a person stays at a private home instead of a hotel. In this case a $50 cost can be claimed; similarly, a contribution to meal costs.
- All expenses must be receipted. Our accounts are audited each year and receipts may be checked, especially if the amount is over $50. If a receipt is lost or if it is not possible to provide a receipt (for instance when staying at a private home) then a statement of explanation is needed. A receipt should include the vendor name, the date, the amount, if GST is included and the GST number (GST invoices should be labeled "Tax Invoice"). For mileage claims there is naturally no receipt.
- NZAP does not pay for alcohol.
- If your meeting is for most of a day, for instance from 11.00am until 6.00pm and you can reasonably travel to and from home that day, please do that. However, if you want to stay a night we will reimburse.
- Council members can claim back the Early Bird Registration fee for the Conference.


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Good Essay Conclusions On Euthanasia For Dogs
How much is a life worth? Is there a price for medical treatment beyond which a life should be terminated because the person or his family cannot afford to pay any longer? Most people would agree that it is not ethical to put a price limit in this way on human life. On the other hand, this ethical dilemma happens every day in veterinary medicine. According to DVM Newsmagazine, a monthly veterinary popular magazine, the average price at which a pet owner decides to stop medical treatment for his pet and have it euthanized is $1,451 ("Of Life and Death"). Veterinary medicine has advanced considerably over the years, giving the veterinarian more ways to cure or extend the lives of pets. Even if the veterinarian has the means to treat the pet, however, he often must defer to the wishes of his client. Three-fourths of all suggestions for euthanasia are started by the client ("Ethics of Euthanasia"). The reasons for this can include anything from the behavior of the animal to monetary constraints on the owner to the health of the animal. As a life-or-death decision, pet euthanasia is an ethically challenging issue, an issue that veterinarians struggle with today even more than in the past. According to DVM Newsmagazine, "the newest generation [of veterinarians] would much rather serve the pet if it came to a question of convenience euthanasia – a change in attitude from the generation of veterinarians who were taught to serve the pet owner" ("Ethics of Euthanasia"). Moreover, veterinarians have a monetary interest in not killing off their patient base ("Euthanasia: Emotional and Costly" 24). Although the pet lacks a voice, whatever interest it may have in continuing to live hangs in the balance. Is there any way to balance the clash of interests that exists between the pet owner, the veterinarian, and the pet?
Who can we turn to in order to provide guidance to come up with a consistent rational justification for animal euthanasia that can also ultimately shape the laws constraining it? The answer is ethicists. A clash of philosophies, however, is taking place inside the society of ethicists which parallels the clash of interests between the pet, the veterinarian, and the owner. On one side of the philosophical debate are the proponents of animal rights. This group of ethicists, the most prominent of which is Tom Regan, a former professor at North Carolina State University, argues that animals are fully thinking and emotional entities that require a similar "right to life" as humans (qtd. in Sandøe and Christiansen 114). This would imply that premature euthanasia of any type is as immoral as ending a human life and that the veterinarian would be in some sense guilty of committing murder. On the other side are the proponents of animal welfare. These ethicists, including R.G. Frey, argue that even though animals should be treated well, there are fundamental differences in the way humans and animals think that deny them right to life whenever human interests are involved. The pet owner, therefore, is justified in having his pet euthanized for any reason so long as it is done painlessly. Depending on one's view in this matter, the veterinarian should either join his client in jail for the premature euthanasia of pets, or instead receive laud for performing his duty. Where a line can be drawn between ethical and non-ethical euthanasia depends upon how one weighs those experiences that are most important in life and death decisions. I will show that it is ethically necessary to allow pets to live, but only up to the point at which their quality of life is adequate.
Current Views on Animal Euthanasia
Let me begin by exploring the current views about the ethics of animal euthanasia. P. Sandøe and S.B. Christiansen of the University of Copenhagen summarize the three major modern perspectives. These are that (1) the animal has no interest in life, (2) the animal has an interest in life but is replaceable, and (3) the animal has an interest in life that is worth preserving. I will show that only the third view is reasonable and that the first two views either make unrealistic claims or are impractical.
Animals Lack an Inherent Interest in Life
The main idea behind the first view is that it is important to maximize quality of life, that is, to ensure that an animal has a good quality of life for as long as it is able to exist. In other words, it is ethically desirable to minimize the suffering of the animal. R. G. Frey, a professor at Bowling Green State University, is the leading proponent of this view, which is also the most commonly accepted view in society (Garner 17). Its justification rests on the differences in the way in which humans and animals think. Frey claims that the thought processes of animals are different enough that they should not have the same moral rights as humans; according to Frey, animals can only possess what he calls "interests" (Garner 17). For example, an animal has an interest in having its basic needs met, such as the need for food. Only humans, however, have the ability of "taking an interest in things," such as forming a desire for something, such as food. With desires come beliefs about whether or not the desires can be met (Frey 79). But beliefs only have meaning if there is language. "Without language, it is impossible for animals to believe that any particular statement (e.g., that the purpose of food is to satisfy hunger) is true or false" (qtd. in Garner 16). Since animals lack language, they therefore cannot be interested in things.
Why should this be important in euthanasia decisions? If wrong is done to animals, they cannot interpret the act as being wrong; their "interests" have not been violated. In other words, without language, animals cannot form desires about what they may want to do in the future; they, therefore, cannot take an interest in it. This leads Frey to conclude that the obligation of humans is only to be kind to the animals. For euthanasia, this means that the pet owner's interests always come before those of the pet; the pet owner has the right to end the pet's life so long as its death is painless. As a former owner of a dog that experienced a long and very expensive decline in its health, I can see some merit to Frey's argument. To have put my dog's interests above my own would have unfairly forced my family and I to suffer monetary stresses. If my dog had no real interest in the future, then no harm would have occurred in ending its life at any point.
However, there are several problems with this argument. As pointed out by Regan, language is not necessary to have beliefs (Case for Animal Rights 39). For example, children must have pre-verbal beliefs in order to be able to learn language in the first place. If a child is shown a ball while someone says the word "ball," the child must believe that the object is the particular thing that is being referred to. Without this belief, the association between the ball and the word "ball" cannot develop. This belief, however, must exist before language and is also a prerequisite for the learning of language. Since language is not essential for belief, one of the most important pieces of Frey's argument can no longer hold. But Frey's overall point would still stand if animals did not have beliefs, even nonverbal ones. Tom Regan, however, directly counters this argument by pointing out that the behavior of animals suggests that they indeed have beliefs: "We can assume that Fido the dog chooses to head for his bone since he desires it, on the grounds that past experience has taught him to believe that it will prove to be tasty" (qtd. in Garner 23). Similarly, a cat begins to purr as it approaches its owner's legs, clearly with the expectation and belief that such action will lead to a response by the owner (e.g., petting) that the cat will find pleasurable. Therefore, animals exhibit preferences for things and have the capacity to initiate actions to see that these preferences are met. This means that animals have an interest in living, not so that they can make plans for their lives, but so that they can continue to satisfy their preferences. Regan asserts that death, more than anything else, impinges upon these preferences: "Death forecloses all possibilities of finding satisfaction. Once dead, the individual who had preferences, who could find satisfaction in this or that, and who could exercise preference autonomy, can do this no more. Death is the ultimate harm because it is the ultimate loss" (Case for Animal Rights 100). This seems true since the motivation for living is the most basic purpose of evolution. Animals are constructed so that they do everything they can to stay alive until they can reproduce. Therefore, given that animals have an interest in living, how then is it best to address this interest? The two remaining viewpoints on euthanasia offer contrasting ways of approaching this problem.
A Utilitarian Perspective
The main idea that underlies the second viewpoint of animal euthanasia is that the quality of life should be looked at as the collective quality of life of all of the animals; in other words, the quality of life summed up over all animals should be maximized. This is based on one of the principles most often used by ethicists, namely, that of utilitarianism. This principle states that the most ethical course of action gives "equal consideration" to the interests of all sides (Leahy 15). This principle imagines that these interests can be weighed and summed up so that whichever side has the largest total interest should be favored. Therefore, larger numbers of individuals or greater interest per individual are advantageous. Peter Singer, a professor at Princeton University, applies this philosophy to the killing of animals by saying that the best action to take is the one which minimizes the suffering of all sentient beings, since all sentient beings have an interest in not suffering. Although this stance can be used to oppose the senseless killing of animals, it also can justify euthanasia. Singer says that it is alright to kill an animal that is not "self-conscious [if] it lives a pleasant life and, after being killed, will be replaced by another animal which will lead a similarly pleasant life and would not have existed if the first animal had not been killed" (152). Although Singer had in mind raising animals for food, the idea can be extended to companion animals as well (Sandøe and Christiansen 113). In the clash of interests between the pet and its owner over euthanasia, the owner has an interest in not suffering financially or from other stresses in caring for the pet while the pet has an interest in not suffering or dying. However, many animals in shelters also have an interest in not suffering or dying, but five million of them are euthanized ever year ("Euthanasia: Emotional and Costly" 24). If the pet is euthanized and the owner acquires a new pet from a shelter, the interests of all pets and the owner are served. This argument seems logical to me; however, it raises a question. Is euthanasia only justified if the pet owner acquires another pet? It seems that Singer has only shown a case where euthanasia may be permissible, but not where the line between ethical and non-ethical euthanasia actually is.
The application of utilitarianism itself, however, has several problems. In order to come to the declaration of an ethical position, this philosophy has to make a calculation of how much benefit comes to each entity involved (Garner 31). The actual benefit, however, is often not easy to measure and could be used to justify almost any position. For instance, if a pet was loved by each member of the family to such an extent that its loss would cause them to suffer as much as the loss of a human member, then utilitarianism could be used to justify keeping the pet alive even if it were completely disabled and in constant suffering. In the end, Singer's view does not really offer practical guidance except in cases in which the pet's death is in the interest of both the owner and the pet.
An Animal's Intrinsic Value
Whereas the previous two views do not clearly argue for extending the life of a suffering pet, the third one does. In this view, animals are not replaceable and have intrinsic value in themselves (Sandøe and Christiansen 114). I agree with this view and will spend the remainder of this paper discussing it. According to Donald Griffin, a professor at Rockefeller University, nonhuman animals are capable of the same type of cognition as humans based, in part, on similar neurophysiology. From his observation of the behavior of hundreds of species over several decades, he claims that the communications he has observed in many species (e.g., the dance of bees, the echolocation of dolphins, or even the hand gestures of an owner to his dog) suggest the capability of complex mental processes. Regan takes these views a step further saying that "perception, memory, desire, belief, self-consciousness, intention, a sense of the future – these are among the leading attributes of the mental life of normal mammalian animals aged one or more" (Case for Animal Rights 81). The arguments of Griffin and Regan lead to the view that animals have "inherent value" and that they should share the same rights to life as humans (Animal Minds 246).
To understand what these rights to life considerations are, we need to look at how euthanasia is viewed for humans. Regan lists the following three conditions for euthanasia:
1. The individual must be killed by the least painful means available.
2. The one who kills must believe that the death of the one who is killed is in the interests of the latter.
3. The one who kills must be motivated to end the life of the one who is killed out of concern for the latter's interests, good, or welfare. (Case for Animal Rights 110)
These conditions are very important. Their satisfaction turns the euthanasia into what the name actually means in Greek, that is, a "good death." The failure to satisfy these conditions turns the euthanasia into a murder. In the euthanasia of pets, the first condition is easily satisfied. The other two, however, are clearly not satisfied for the euthanasia of healthy animals. Any euthanasia which is driven by the wishes of the client alone (such as the result of monetary problems, behavioral issues of the pet, etc.) does not take into account the "interests, good, or welfare" of the animal (Case for Animal Rights 110). The client, in order to satisfy his desire for not spending money or not caring for a pet that, for example, barked too much, will have sacrificed Fido's future possibilities of experiencing life and pleasure. Even if Fido could be replaced by another pet from the animal shelter that might have been euthanized, that would not offer a justification. Either euthanasia would be equally unethical.
Is Animal Euthanasia Ever Justified?
Is animal euthanasia ever justified? As with humans, the only time animal euthanasia is justified is if the animal is suffering as the result of a debilitating disease with little hope of full recovery. Regan calls this "preference-respecting euthanasia" (Case for Animal Rights 113). This is similar to euthanasia in humans who are in the terminal phase of diseases. There are, however, two differences between this euthanasia and that of humans, which complicates the animal euthanasia issue. First, unlike humans, animals cannot express a desire to die, making "voluntary euthanasia" not meaningful for animals. Secondly, as Bernard Rollin, a professor at Colorado State University, points out, pets do not have the capacity to imagine how the suffering that they experience can give way at some point to relief. "… [A]n animal is its pain," he states, "for it is incapable of anticipating or even hoping for cessation of that pain" (1015). From Rollin's point of view, we cannot assume that pets would have the willingness to experience constant suffering, unlike humans, for the sake of some future event that they might find pleasurable. Likewise, since pets have no understanding of death, they neither fear it nor yearn for it. My personal experience agrees with what he is saying. My dog, even in his declining health, seemed to wear his pain just as if it was his natural state. Therefore, Rollin favors giving medical treatment to animals as long as their quality of life is adequate. The owner, along with the veterinarian, must assume the responsibility for making the decisions for the pet using the quality of life as the determinant. The discussion of the quality of life is really the important issue underlying animal euthanasia decisions.
How one might measure the quality of life, however, is not something that either Rollin or Regan tried to deal with and, until recently, has not been very precise or practical. Marian Stamp Dawkins, a professor at Oxford University, offers a method for determining an animal's quality of life. Just as humans continue to do things we find pleasure in, so do animals. The opposite is also true; animals and humans will not continue to do things that they don't like. Dawkins qualifies these tendencies as positive reinforcements and negative reinforcements, respectively. When an animal stops doing things that came from positive reinforcements, it could mean that the quality of life of the animal is declining (Dawkins 940). I tend to agree with this. For instance, I do certain things repetitively, such as drinking orange juice in the morning, while doing things to avoid pain, such as eating distasteful foods. I would cringe to imagine if I got to the point where I was unable to actively do those things which made me happy while not being able to avoid painful things; my quality of life would be quite low.
This then brings me to a possible approach to pet euthanasia that uses the quality of life metric. As suggested by Rollin, the veterinarian should try to establish a dialogue with the pet owner even when the pet is young, including conversations about euthanasia (1016). This discussion should include a discussion of the "inherent value" and how that relates to the well defined point at which euthanasia may become permissible. She should encourage the owner to make notes of things that the animal does repetitively through positive reinforcement. Once the pet can no longer pursue those activities, the conversation could then turn to the possibility of euthanasia. By tying the euthanasia to the behavior of the animal, the client will be prevented from trying to prematurely euthanasia his pet. Moreover, the veterinarian would also be constrained from trying to force medical treatment upon the pet to force to live longer either for the purpose of maximizing his income or for the purpose of satisfying the owner's desire to keep it alive at any cost.
In summary, veterinarians cannot ignore the fact that pets are living, thinking, and emotional entities. The conventional view of animal euthanasia regards human interests as always being superior to animal interests. This view holds that the lives of animals can ethically be sacrificed in favor of human interests and that the only obligation of human to animals is to give them a life with as little suffering as is reasonable that is ended painlessly. This view fails to give enough credit to the sentience of pets. Many mammals not only have the ability to feel pain and suffering like humans but also have an interest in living to see to it that their "preferences" are met. This leads to the conclusion that animals are not replaceable and have inherent value. It also implies that the justification for animal euthanasia is the same as that for humans. Therefore, animals should be allowed to continue to live and be given medical treatment so long as they have the ability to do any of the things that have given them pleasure. When they can no longer do those things, euthanasia would become ethical.
The Horrors of Animal Euthanasia Essay
1429 Words6 Pages
The Horrors of Animal Euthanasia
Due to the domestication of cats and dogs their populations have skyrocketed. This is due in part to the lack of pet owners acting in a responsible manner. These responsibilities include the spaying and neutering of pets. These numbers of homeless animals in communities have caused humane societies to euthanize too many animals. This, I feel is a violation to animal rights and is a cruel way for these animals to have to leave this world. I disagree with the activists who believe that the way to keep animal populations down is to euthanize these poor animals. Nothing good could come from the slaughtering of these animals. Fostering large numbers of animals in communities is an overwhelming…show more content…
As they take the dog on a leash down to the E-room, it wags its tail and trembles in fear. Its excited for the attention, but at the same time is in fear of what he's being led to. All the dogs stop barking as they lead him down the isle. They know what's going on. One of their fellow friends is going to die, and they may be next. They place the dog on an old blanket on the concrete floor and shave off a patch of fur on his leg. The dog starts to tremble more. A tourniquet is wrapped slowly around his leg and a syringe of cool blue liquid death enters his body making his eyelids grow heavy and eventually falling limp in the arms of the employee. His heartbeat slowly dissapates and then stops. This, unfortunately, is a regular occurence in animal shelters today.
Some proponents for euthinization in animal shelters believe that giving them a dignified painless death is a lot better than leaving them out to die on the streets. Also they feel that allowing a dog or cat to be subjected to abuse and neglect is inhumane and worse than death. ( Mountain, p.2 ). I totally agree with them, but resorting to euthinization is not the only solution. We should look to the pet owners and the people of our society for the solutions. Animal shelters should have campaigns to help promote the adoption of animals in their shelter. Reach out to the people of society and let them know what kind of influence a pet can bring into their life. We shouldn't give up on these
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Recap: Young Guns Shine In Devils Preseason Opener
Last night, the New Jersey Devils played NHL hockey for the first time in five months. They treated a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Prudential Center with a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals. While the game was relatively slow in some parts, the Devils had a commendable showing that was spearheaded by a


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|Year :
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|Model :
|R Type Continental
|Coachbuilder :
|Price :
|Body Type :
|Colour :
|Trim :
|Tan Leather
|Condition :
|Excellent in every respect
|Technical Data :
|Four speed manual gearbox, 6 cylinder in line configuration engine, 4.5 litres displacement, 4566cc capacity. Drum brakes servo-assisted.
The decision was taken in 1950 to develop a Bentley motor car capable of producing high maximum speeds ideal for Continental touring on the long straight roads of Europe. The higher speeds were to be coupled with correspondingly high rates of acceleration and excellent handling. In order to achieve these lofty ambitions a tremendous amount of research and testing were conducted using quarter scale models in the Hucknall wind tunnel. Extensive testing and alterations allowed Ivan Evernden and John Blatchley of the Motor Car Division to design a body not only of exceptional style, but also of an aerodynamic shape that reduced drag and achieved excellent levels of stability even at speeds in excess of 100mph. By late summer of 1951 the drawings and scale models became reality with the creation of the prototype R Type Continental which in time became known as OLGA. Every weight saving opportunity was taken in the production of OLGA, with the majority of the car being crafted from lightweight aluminium. This included the body, window frames, bumpers and even the seat frames. In September of 1951 testing began in France under the supervision of Walter Sleator who was the managing director of Garage Franco-Britannique, the Rolls-Royce agent in Paris. Sleator was well qualified for such a task being an ex-racing driver. Following extensive testing and refinements production began in early 1952. The R Type Continental was at the time the fastest production four seater car in the world, capable of speeds of well in excess of 100mph. The Continental chassis shared many similarities with the Mk VI and R Type chassis, sharing suspension, steering and brake components. However the combination of the fitment of a high ratio back axle, the lightweight construction and the smaller sleeker body style resulted in performance that was far and beyond superior to any car Bentley had previously produced in the post war era. The chassis were assembled in Crewe with the vast majority of the 208 built then transported to London by train where they were fitted with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner of Chiswick, with all but fifteen cars fitted with their fastback bodies. The A, B and C series cars were fitted with 4.5 litre engines that displaced 4,566cc and produced 158bhp. More details to follow.................
If you would like to make an enquiry about this vehicle, please contact us by phone on 020 8847 5447 or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Cat in your Bed – "Just let me Sleep"
Your Pet's Diet – "Get a Smaller Bowl"
Heartworms – "Indoor Only Cats Aren't Safe!"
Puppies and Kittens - "Get a Load of that Puppy Breath"
Try saying this five times fast "Somebody's cat ate their doll's, toy cat's, toy". And what was the result? The toy cat's toy caused a GI tract obstruction!
Here goes. Kiwi was presented for severe dehydration, not eating for the past few days and was reluctant to play. I completed a Comprehensive Physical Examination that, aside from the dehydration, revealed nothing significant. Next I ran a CBC and a Chemistry Profile. The only abnormal finding was an elevated liver enzyme. I gave her some fluids under her skin to re-hydrate her over the next few hours and hospitalized her for observation. We fed her with a high energy gruel.
Kiwi started vomiting almost immediately after we began feeding her. The next step in the diagnostic process was to take an abdominal X-ray. Voila, we had a diagnosis. Readily apparent on the x-ray was a foreign body obstructing the outflow from her stomach. It was about the size of a thimble. Our only option was to surgically remove the object. I know that many of you are wondering what on earth could this foreign body be? OK, here goes: It was their child's, toy doll's, toy cat's, toy. Say what? It is actually a ball shaped cloth covered magnet.
During surgery, in order to maintain Kiwi's hydration, we started her on a balanced electrolyte solution given via an IV pump. Geoff prepped her for the procedure. She was maintained on an inhalation anesthetic and kept warm with a heated water blanket. Minutes after the incision was made in her abdomen the offending object was located. I moved it from the first part of the small intestine back into the stomach. A small incision was made in the wall of the stomach so that the foreign body could be removed. Why incise the stomach rather than the intestine? Because the inflammation and scar tissue, that naturally form during the healing process, are far less likely to cause an obstruction in the stomach than they are in the narrow lumen of the intestine.
Post operatively we made certain Kiwi was comfortable with pain relief medications. She was maintained on IV fluids and the following day, started on Eukanuba Maximum Calorie canned food. I rechecked her liver enzyme a few days later. It remained slightly elevated, but was coming down. Some of you may be wondering about the significance of the elevation. In hindsight, I think that the location of the obstruction, within the GI tract, was also causing collateral damage to the liver.
What's the lesson to be learned? No matter whether it's a cat, dog or young child, if it can go in their mouth, it will.
"Glands" are a REAL Pain in the Butt! Why did a big, otherwise playful, year old Rottweiler lose all interest in his day-to-day physical activities? Whew! Could that horrific odor be originating from his tail region? Why won't he eat? The answer was obvious; an anal gland infection was at the root of the problem. The abscessed gland broke through the skin and was draining along side his anus.
What are anal glands? Where are they located? What do they do? These glands are lay between two muscle layers that surround the anus. Each time a dog or cat has a B.M. the foul smelling material they produce is forced out tiny ducts at the 5:00 and 7:00 positions on the rim of the anus. No one knows their exact purpose. Some think the material helps lubricate the anus. Others suspect the odoriferous pasty fluid marks territory. My take; they're nothing more than a pain in the butt. Should the duct become blocked, the pet tries to remove the obstruction by scooting on the carpet and licking their rectal area.
Although any infection can be life threatening anal gland issues pose a couple of problems of another sort. Left untreated, the infection may damage the nerves that go to the anus. Without proper nerve impulse conduction from the rectum (I'm ready to empty) to the brain (better find an appropriate place to lay this load) appropriate elimination may not take place. As a result stool may be dropped wherever. Another possible concern is the formation of scar tissue causing a stricture. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the stool to exit the rectum. Needles to say, either consequence is not desirable.
What did I do? The problem needed to be addressed through a variety of remedies. So as to get a significant dose of a broad-spectrum antibiotic in to the pet's system ASAP, I gave him an injection. This was followed with the owner being instructed to administer an oral form of the same antibiotic three times a day for ten days. Additionally, I wanted to reduce the pain and swelling. Another injection was given of a medication that would have an immediate effect lasting nearly two days. This was followed with an oral medication that specifically treated the symptoms seen with an infection of this type.
Last but not least, I instruct caregivers to place a warm, moist compress on the ruptured anal gland site for ten minutes four times a day. This takes a little time on the owner's part but significantly benefits the patient. Notice, I did not say at six-hour intervals. Even if there is but an hour separating applications, the area will heal faster and with less pain if all four compresses are applied. I admit, it will take a little time (forty minutes to be exact) but the increased blood flow to the area due to the heat and the removal of any drainage from the moisture decreases the pain and accelerates the healing process! The final step in the treatment process is to apply a small amount of an antibiotic ointment to the site after each warm compress.
I am happy to report that a call back the following day found the pooch doing quite well. There was considerably less swelling in the infected area and he was back to his old self.
Just Let Me Sleep! Bandit, our fit as a fiddle, eleven pound, eight year-old, social butterfly of a kitty, wants attention 24-7! What's wrong with that? Typically nothing but at 6:00 in the morning when I'm trying to sleep - everything. Many of you will immediately identify with the tenacity this feline exudes in an effort to simply get what he wants in the pre-dawn hours of the morning - BREAKFAST!
What is his first course of action? Promptly, at six a.m. he paws, nonstop, at his master's forehead and nose. My response? I simply roll over. I go from laying on my left side to the same position, this time on my right side. My thought process (in a sleep-deprived state) was to deny him access to my head. Without hesitation Bandit circles the pillow and again begins to invade my personal space. In response, I roll back over to my left side. Now the "pest" begins to paw at my lips. Finally, I move ever so close to the edge of the bed that I darn near fall off. So what does the little fur ball do? Places his paws, one at a time, on the back of my head and starts to slowly but surely pound on my scalp.
You may have experienced a similar scenario. Does your furry friend, cat or dog, occupy, on a nightly basis your space (bed). Under these circumstances isn't it a good idea to keep them free of fleas? The veterinary prescribed monthly flea control products make prevention and treatment simple.
Let's not forget to have your pet undergo an Annual Comprehensive Physical Examination. This is an excellent way to identify many medical problems before they become unmanageable.
Does "Barney" climb the walls when a firecracker explodes? With every explosion does "Dora" crawl deeper into the closet! Is your furry friend one of the many who totally freak out when they hear a "BANG"?
In an effort to save my patients from being terrified during the Fourth of July's celebratory events, thunderstorms, the opening day of hunting season, and for some who travel I dispense a vast number of sedatives. The following is a brief explanation of the pros and cons of using "Ace", Acepromazine, a tranquilizer to reduce a pet's anxiety.
The pro - it works for 6-12 hours! The cons - acepromazine potentiates seizures, must be given at least forty five minutes prior to an event, and it reduces the recipients ability to maintain their body temperature. Wow! These are some pretty serious side effects.
Let me briefly address the cons. First, we do not use this drug if the recipient has ever had a seizure. It does not cause seizures; rather it lowers the threshold of brain activity at which a seizure will occur. So for all of you with epileptic pets, ace is not a drug for your pet!
Second, It takes about forty-five minutes for the drug to have its full effect. During the "induction period" the pet MUST not in any way be stimulated i.e. leave them alone! Ideally you give them a dose then put them in a quiet place where they will not be disturbed. If you stimulate them, they will override the medication until the environment is quiet. At this point they will sleep for hours. We see this commonly when the inexperienced owner gives their pet ace to help with thunderstorms. It works well if it is given an hour in advance of the storm. However if medicated once the storm is in the area the pet freaks out until the storm passes then they sleep like a baby.
Finally, this medication causes the blood vessels in the legs and paws to slightly dilate. Consequently the patient loses their ability to maintain their body temperature. This is the same effect alcohol has on people. This is not a problem during the warmer months however it can be quite an issue when Ace is used to minimize the stress of traveling during the winter months.
Bottom line: Consult your veterinarian. Ask them what can be done to keep your pet from freaking out during "explosive" celebratory events, thunderstorms, the opening day of hunting season, or while traveling. They may have a solution that will put all at ease.
Get a Smaller Bowl! You know how I love my Beemer! This dainty, 100 plus pound all black, five year old, spayed Newfoundland just loves to walk with me. Why she'll go virtually any time of the day or night (so that you can see her, at night she wears a blinking "Pet Strobe"). You also know how I have complained that she is FAT. Miss Mary says it is because I don't walk her enough. There may be some truth to that point, however I know that she also gets too many calories.
I suggested to Mary that we remedy this problem by giving her less food to eat, "I don't think so." was Mary's response. We reached a compromise by doing two things. First, I started Beemer on R/D. This is a prescription food that is severely restricted in calories (low fat and very high fiber). The idea here is that she will be able to maintain a fairly large volume to eat yet have far fewer calories.
Maintaining the same volume, and reducing her calories wasn't going to be enough. We had to also decrease the total amount of food she was getting. Well putting 2 cups in the large food bowl clearly wasn't going to be enough to even cover the bottom of the bowl. In Mary's mind, as I'm certain it is with many other pet owners, this was just plain WRONG! But, you see I'm not as dumb as you think. I knew how to remedy this problem. I proceeded to get Beemer a smaller bowl. Now, it looked like Beemer was actually getting more to eat! I'll have you know that this was more for Mary's benefit than it was for Beemer's.
You see Mary, like many pet owners, feels that there MUST be enough food to at least cover the bottom of the bowl. If you subscribe to this line of thinking and your critter is overweight, try feeding R/D and by all means use a smaller bowl.
For a good many years I've had the opportunity to see patients, after hours, for owner inflicted lacerations. You ask, "Owner inflicted", what gives?
In an effort to save some scratch (pardon the pun) many pet owners are becoming part time groomers. A bath, brush and nails are fine but PLEASE, as you tell your children, stay away from sharp objects. Those tight to the skin mats can be a real problem. Couple this with a bouncy or reluctant to cooperate pet and you have a recipe for disaster.
This was the case about a month ago when a bouncy "Golden-doodle" ended up with a laceration just below his ear. The biggest problem for the owner was how to stop the bleeding. Any cut on the face tends to be very good at producing an overabundance of blood.
As is always the case, he came to the office after-hours having eaten just six hours earlier. What's the significance? A laceration of this size requires a surgical repair. I know some of you are thinking this poor dog must be looking a bit like Frankenstein - NOT. I simply had to cut off the flap of tissue and close the defect. For you cat owners that say that couldn't happen to my kitty, I see just as many lacerations caused by owners of felines as I do canines.
For those of you who want to have your pet groomed, know that the pet stylist is going to earn every penny you part with. Responsible groomers will want you to have your pet current on their immunizations. Why? To protect themselves and the other pets they see at their facility. For cats, diseases like Distemper and the other upper respiratory complex illnesses are quite contagious. Canines are prone to a number of infections some through direct contact others are airborne. They should be current on their Distemper - Parvo complex as well as Kennel Cough. Both species need to be current for Rabies vaccination.
Go ahead and ask my wife, she'll tell you that I'm frugal. I try hard to save wherever I can but, in this case, the frugality practiced by the golden's owner did not pay. If you insist on going beyond a simple bath and brush and actually groom your pet please do it Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. and noon. Oh by the way, do not feed them until you are done with the scissors!
Cat lovers, did you know heartworm disease is NOT restricted to dogs? Heartworms affect cats differently nonetheless the problems they cause are just as serious! In the dog, adult worms damage both the heart and lungs. Felines react to the migrating larva in the lung field. They show symptoms often mistaken for asthma and respiratory ailments. An acute onset of vomiting is the only symptom some cats have. Why just vomiting? No one really knows. Bottom line: Don't worry. Applying a topical heartworm preventive monthly will keep your feline safe!
If you think, your kitty is not at risk because it remains indoors, you're WRONG! Researchers have demonstrated cats that stay indoors are no less susceptible than those who remain outdoors. A study done in North Carolina showed that nearly one third of cats diagnosed with heartworm disease were indoor-only cats! Know this, it takes just one mosquito bite to infect your kitty. Therefore we recommend ALL cats receive heartworm preventive medication.
Exactly what happens when a mosquito, caring heartworm larva, bites a cat? Over the next five months the larvae migrate from the bite site to the victim's lungs. As larvae enter the lung field the cat's immune system has a severe response. The blood vessels and tissue in the lungs become congested and very inflamed. It is at this point that many cats die!
If a larva should mature into an adult heartworm it may live two years. Upon its death an intense inflammatory reaction occurs damaging the lungs. It is extremely rare for heartworms to mate as they do in the dog. If they do mate the cat's immune system immediately destroys any offspring.
In dogs we use a simple blood test to diagnose heartworm disease. It's not that easy in cats. A negative blood test does not exclude heartworm disease. However a positive test result is significant.
So what can be done to keep your kitty healthy? As I stated at the onset, the newer topical monthly heartworm preventive products make it easy. No more trying to get your cat to eat that delicious chunk of beef. Now all you need do is apply the contents of a tiny tube to the nap of your cat's neck and viola, they are protected! In Michigan this should be done through the first of December. It doesn't get any easier.
As there are a number of flea preventive products that can be applied topically, don't be fooled into thinking just because you are using a topical medication that your kitty is automatically protected from getting heartworm disease. Let me be clear, there are quite a few topical medications that treat fleas yet have NO affect on heartworms! Be certain to ask your veterinarian if the product you use protects your kitty from deadly heartworm disease!
If your pet's been on prescription flea preventive since spring, you can stop reading now. For the rest of you with itchy pets, or if YOU are being bitten by fleas read on, relief is on the way!
Here is some flea biology. Hatching requires temperatures above seventy degrees and humidity over seventy percent. The past few weeks have met those criteria. Carbon dioxide and vibration are also a must. Why? Once they hatch within forty-eight hours they must have a blood meal or they die! Vibration means its going by and carbon dioxide spells blood.
After fleas feed they mate and make eggs. How many? Twenty to fifty eggs per day with a maximum of two thousand! Under optimal conditions they go from egg to egg-laying adult in just fifteen days!
You ask: What can be done to stop these blood sucking parasites? As veterinarians, we have a number of safe and effective products to choose from. The days of flea collars that only treated the front half of larger pets are long gone. Monthly products now prevail!
For cats we use a product killing fleas (before they bite), heartworms, ear mites and some intestinal worms. You apply a tiny tube of liquid to the nape of the neck! As our homes rarely go below seventy degrees, flea control may require year round applications. For heartworms, use it into December. Detergent shampoos will wash it off. This is generally a mute point as rarely do I find cat owners giving their furry companions a bath. Above all, this product is incredibly safe!
Canines have more options. Hunters or those who are exposed to ticks should be protected with a topical medication killing; fleas, ticks, flies and mosquitoes. Note: The tick part of this product kills CATS! Don't get anxious. Toxicity in cats occurs only through contact while the product is wet (apply in the evening, it's dry by morning). These dogs will also require heartworm prevention and may need to be treated for intestinal worms. There is another topical that includes prevention for fleas, heartworms, intestinal worms, ear mites but no tick control.
Yet another option for dogs is a "birth control" pill for fleas. No, you don't have to get the flea to swallow a pill. It works like this. The dog is given a chewable tablet containing; heartworm preventive, worm medication and the flea B.C. stuff (Lufenuron). The Lufenuron goes into their body, is stored in fat and is slowly released over a month in to their blood stream. As a result, each time the flea gets a blood meal it gets a dose of Lufenuron that impairs eggshell formation yet it has no effect on the pet.
See your veterinarian to determine the best product for your pet and home. Flea control that made your house a "toxic war zone" is gone.
Go ahead ask my Health Care Team: What's better than a whiff of "Puppy Breath"? Enthusiastically they'll tell you point blank, nothing! As new puppies arrive daily, our nasal passages are regularly stimulated. We are completely fulfilled. Putting aside the fact that their breath smells wonderful, what's so neat about a new furry addition? Clearly, puppies and kittens bring all of us shear delight and their owners a ton of work!
Let's start with the potty training. Generally this is not a big deal for kittens. Simply keep the litter box clean and smelling good and voila they use it. Here's a good rule of thumb "scoop daily, thoroughly clean weekly". Might I suggest you provide your feline friend(s) one more litter box than there are kitties?
When it comes to potty training, puppies generally present more of a challenge! Initially, they go when you put them out and they go when you don't. Just when you think they finally have a clue, you find another "wet spot" or worse, you step in a "deposit". Unfortunately, some puppies take longer for it to "click" than others. Would you believe Miss Mary has brought home a couple of late clickers? When they do finally get the notion, "go to the door when you need to go out", they have YOU trained.
You may want to initiate a wonderful training program using a "Piddle Pad" or the much less expensive human equivalent, "Underpad". It's quite easy to train a pet to use the pad. And, if you want them to "Go" outdoors simply move the pad to the desired location. Either way, the pad should be replaced after each use.
For your new addition's health and welfare, and to complete the breeder's buy sell agreement, soon after the purchase they need a Comprehensive Physical Examination. This should be done BEFORE you take them home. Most kittens and puppies come with a money back guarantee so long as they are returned within 48 hours. Here's the kicker. Once they have graced your door you're stuck. Not because the breeder refuses to take them back. Rather you won't be able too bring yourself to return the little bundle of joy. You may be the exception, but I have found that most new pet owners find it nearly impossible, no matter what the physical problem may be, to return the little bundle of joy to the breeder.
Your first visit will provide you with an excellent base from which to work. You'll learn all kinds of things. For example, what immunizations your pet needs, why they should have a stool checked every six to twelve months, how to prevent heartworm disease, what constitutes a proper diet, how to control fleas and ticks, the proper time for the spay or neuter surgery, and basic behavior information. All of this will help you provide optimal care for your new pet.
With today's modern medicine, preventive care, and an annual comprehensive physical examination your buddy will be around for a good long time. Large breed dogs are living twelve to eighteen years. Smaller breeds and cats frequently see eighteen to twenty years of good quality life.
Let me leave you with this. What's better than "puppy breath", and the purrrrr of a new kitten? My TEAM will quickly tell you, nothing!
Best friends are great at sharing. What do I mean? The other day a client brought in one of her two furry feline friends. The kitty she presented was svelte, a fine representative of her species. She was known to her human friends as "Hunter". The other kitty, that shared her domicile, was plump to say the least, and had little interest in doing anything other than laying around looking "Cute". "What's the problem?", I asked. She proceeded to tell me that "Cute" had little tiny worms exiting her rectum. "Not to worry. She has tapeworms", I said. The next thing out of her mouth was "How on earth could she get tapeworms?"
Please pay attention; the following is the story of the tapeworm lifecycle. The segment that is passed in the stool or that crawls out of the rectum (Oh yes, segments are mobile when they break off from the main worm!) is actually a uterus full of tapeworm eggs. The intermediate host a flea, mouse or rabbit eats the eggs from the segment. The eggs hatch into larvae and go through a mandatory growth stage in the intermediate host. Note: If the pet eats the segment directly nothing happens. The only way for these worms to be transmitted is to go through the flea, mouse or rabbit!
So, tapeworms are transmitted from one critter to another (or back to the same pet) by the "end host" eating the "intermediate host" i.e. in this case Hunter brought Cute a mouse to eat that was infected with tapeworm larva. And Hunter, who did just that - hunted, was not infected because she never ate her prey.
Not to worry. Of the common intestinal parasites, tapeworms are the least injurious to their end host. They cause little damage to the gut but are hideous looking as they crawl out of the rectum. Tapeworms are at the top of the order when it comes to worms as they have a "Blood - Brain" barrier. What does this mean? The traditional over the counter de-wormers have no effect on tapeworms. It takes a special medication to clear this type of intestinal parasite.
This medication works very well to remove all adult tapeworms. Once cleared, if the pet eats another flea, mouse or rabbit harboring the infective stage of the tapeworms, the pet can begin to shed segments in as few as two weeks!
The take home message is: If your pet never eats a flea, mouse or rabbit they will never get tapeworms. On the other hand if they have a steady diet of any one of the intermediate hosts, sooner or later you will see tapeworm segments.
I am exceedingly proud of the fact that three Health Care Team Members at Zeeb Pet Health Center will start formal training, this fall, at Michigan State University 's College of Veterinary Medicine ! I can only wish them the best as they pursue their life's dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Rashelle, Keith, and Leslie have been working closely with and learning from the doctors, veterinary technicians, receptionists, veterinary assistants, animal caretakers, our pet stylist, and interns. They have gained valuable experience in how to prevent, diagnose, and treat various diseases, behavioral issues, and nutritional problems affecting companion animals. The pets in our community have truly benefited from their hard work and dedication.
Leslie will be leaving us soon after she completes her final exams. Keith and Rashelle will stay on until classes resume in the fall. At that time, due the rigors of their curriculum, they will be forced to keep their heads buried in their books. Likely they will spend some time with us during their breaks. It is at that point that I look forward to picking their brains for any of the new and exciting treatments and surgical techniques that will help me better care for the pets that frequent our office.
Once again, BRAVO! Rashelle, Keith, and Leslie, you have made this old vet proud to know you.
A client, accompanied by a physician friend, brought an ill kitty to my office. "Sophie" had been frequently urinating small amounts everywhere. She knew her feline friend had a urinary tract infection.
After I finished a comprehensive physical examination, to confirm the diagnosis, I recommended a complete urinalysis. I also addressed changes occurring in her cat's eyes. At this point the ophthalmologist became quite concerned. I told the owner that the eye changes were consistent with advancing age. I said, "She has Senile Nuclear Sclerosis or Old Cat Eyes". It was then that the physician, who specializes in eye diseases, gave me the politically correct term "Age Related Nuclear Sclerosis". He said when he told his patients they had "Senile" anything they flat out denied being "Senile"! You see "Senile" conjures up bad scenarios.
I have always been selective when choosing the words and terms I use while speaking with clients. On more than one occasion I have used the "B" word to describe a female dog. However fitting it may be, I let everyone know that I am not using this word to describe the owner. The same is true for the donkeys I saw so many years ago. I would ask my veterinary assistant to setup a de-wormer for Jack's "A", not Jack the "A".
There are many "special" words we use in medicine to specify gender, disease, condition, species, breed, etc. Please understand pets really don't care if you are "PC". They just want to get well.
For any of you who know me, you must admit from time to time it's been a challenge for Dr. "T" to retain his professional demeanor. Bottom line: Your companion's health is my first concern and "Political Correctness" is not necessarily a component in the formula for best medicine. "It's tough to please everyone", is truly an understatement! Let me be clear, I've never once heard a pet complain that I failed to use politically correct terms.