DONATE TO KENOSHA COUNTY DOG PARKS!

All of my friends and neighbors in Kenosha, we are poised to raise $25,000 to establish our own dog parks-two of them! The county will match the 25K if we can raise it. I'll be sending out emails to everyone for their donations and I will gladly pick them up, too!

Two parks are planned; on at Petrifying Springs Park, near the park entrance at Highway JR and at the future KD Park 35714 89th Street near Basset Park in the town of Randall. There currently are temporary dog parks at Old Settlers Park, 24100 75th St. in Salem, and Petrifying Springs Park, Area 3, 761 Green Bay Road.

Checks can be mailed to:

Kenosha County Treasurer's Office
1010 56th Street
Kenosha, WI. 53140

and

Kenosha County Division of Parks
19600 75th Street PO Box 549
Bristol, WI. 53104

Give Early and Often!!!!

Thank you

Cats-Are you feeding them properly? PLEASE READ!

The Dry Cat Food Crisis
Provided by Feline Future (http://www.felinefuture.com)



The facts about scandalous and poor quality ingredient components of commercial dry cat foods are no new evidence. One thing seldom discussed, however, is the simple nature of these products of being dry and the severe cumulative side effects this leads to when fed in this manner.


Today, dry, commercial cat food is by far the most popular product to feed to companion cats. The attributes which all brands of this product have in common are: "convenient" and "inexpensive" when compared to other methods of feeding cats. In recent years commercial dry foods have been heavily promoted through advertising and by Veterinarians to be the choice of caring, health conscious care givers.


The truth is dry commercial cat foods are anything but healthy for cats.


First and foremost, the nutritional composition of commercial dry foods does not compare to or reflect the cat's natural diet from which cats have evolved as absolute and true carnivores.
The natural prey diet of the cat contains between 65%-75% water. The cat, having evolved on the plains of Africa, has adapted to quench her water requirements entirely on the moisture content in her prey.


Due to its nature, commercial dry cat food contains no more than 10% moisture.


Cereals create the base of dry commercial foods and make up over half of the foods weight. Cereals frequently used in commercial dry cat foods like corn, rice, and wheat, give the food bulk and structure and represent a cheap source of calories. Cereals are primarily made up of carbohydrates, a nutrient nearly absent in the cat's natural prey diet. The liver and other organs store small amounts of carbohydrates and the cat may receive additional minute amounts of this nutrient through the stomach and intestines of her prey; this however, would never total more than 1-2% carbohydrates compared to the total weight of the prey. However, commercial dry foods may contain as much as 45% carbohydrates. A diet high in carbohydrates will result in obesity, because excessive amounts of this nutrient are converted by the liver to body fat. Since a cat metabolizes primarily fat and protein for energy, most of the carbohydrates in the diet are then stored as body fat.


An analogy:
It is not an exaggeration to compare a commercial dry cat food based diet fed to a cat with a fortified macaroni and cheese dinner diet fed to a human. Both products are overprocessed and based on refined carbohydrates. Added vitamins attempt to compensate for nutrient loss, but the food still lacks many other essentials including enzymes, complete amino acids and fatty acids. Neither reflects the natural diet or nutritional needs of either species. However, in the opinion of the individual consuming it, both taste good . For a more accurate analogy, the macaroni and cheese dinner would need to be modified such that the cheese flavored sauce is a component of the noodles and most importantly these new noodles are served dry to the human!


Water is the most important nutrient. Of course, neither we nor our cats can live on water alone, but its importance is demonstrated by the fact that during the absence of food and water a creature will perish from thirst long before perishing from starvation.


That said, we don't claim that cats die of dehydration when fed on a commercial dry cat food diet, because most cats will have a supplementary source of water available of which they will take advantage. Or do they?


We mentioned previously how cats evolved as dwellers of the African plains and desserts, and their adaptation of stilling their needs for water with the moisture content of their prey. During the past 40 million years, the cat did not need to rely on supplementary water intake and, even if needed, the cat would not readily do so, because to her it is not natural.



1 cup (85 gm) of dry commercial cat food rehydrated with 225 ml water to contain a 75% moisture yields over 2 cups of food.
On average, natural foods contain 70% water. A cat fed a commercial dry food diet will consume approximately one cup of the product per day. For an adequate water intake, the cat would need to drink 225 ml (8oz) supplemental water per day! If she does not consume this adequate amount, dehydration will set in.

Jackson Browne-The Fielders Best Friend!

Funny how dogs choose their "people."

I could be standing in the kitchen with a raw porterhouse steak, begging Jackson to be my best friend, but his loyalty is completely to my husband, Wes. Why? Well, we have our theories, and mine is that its the testosterone talking, but Jackson, known in our family as Browne, Mr. Browne or Jackson is 100% Wes' dog.

Jackson came to our life as a Mother's Day 2007 gift to me. I found him on Craigslist Chicago and wrote his past pet parent a heart felt letter about what wonderful people we are and how perfect a home we could provide for him, hoping they would choose us. Add our proximity to the lake, a raw diet and we had that magical combination.....we were lucky enough to be chosen to be Jackson's new parents. He was on his second home already and wanted him to be a permanent fixture in ours.

On the drive home from Gary, Indiana, I sung into Jackson's ears the tune of "Jackson", by Johnny and June Carter Cash. You see, his original name was Teddy. I substituted the words "Yes, we're going to Jackson for "Yes, your new name is Jackson" all the way home. He sat in my lap the entire trip.

We went through all the trials and tribulations of new puppy parents and along the way realized that we had one of the sweetest, most loyal, most guarding pups a boy and girl could ever want. But not until we called him a pain in the ass at least 100 times.

Jackson is Wes' dog. So much so that when I get out of bed in the morning, Jackson takes my spot, and then some and loves all over Wes. Often times I ask Wes if he wants a cigarette. Sometimes I feel like I've walked in on them. Nothing frisky goes on, of course, but their inseparable bond is there, and its undeniable. They are in love with each other.

With Wes being a ball player and all, and my business being a sponsor, it was a perfect fit for Jackson to be associated with the new Zion team, THE LAKE COUNTY FIELDERS. Jackson is the official ball dog for the team. He'll be catching balls at the games this coming year, being the mascot for Wisconsin Pet Care during Dog Day this June, 2010 and will be hamming it up with the team in the dugout. We're hoping for a big turn out for everyone to meet our boy, as I'm sure he'll be quite the comedian and athlete when the team is at their home games.

Why is Jackson so special? Well, he's a big sweetie, a big love and a big chocolate love chunk. Nothing more to say. I feel protected around him, loved around him and entertained by him. He's a winning combination in my book. Plus, if looks can kill, we'd all be dead, because, without question, he's the most handsome boy in our Allendale neighborhood!

Jessie Mae Mendelsohn Thomas

Jessie Mae came to us as a fluke-but not a universal fluke. I always say that Jessie chose us. When we lived in Chicago, we weren't allowed to have pets. We did have a cat, which we needed to later re home but we yearned for a dog. So, what better way to have a dog than to volunteer our time as a rescue transport? Wes and I are always eager to help any animal, whenever possible, so this was a wonderful route for us.

What did we do? Well, we were, and still are a group of volunteers who are a tag team of drivers helping pups and kitties get from high kill shelters to a safe haven or a forever home. Jessie was our passenger, along with a cat and we were the last stop/drivers to the shelter.

During our drive, Jessie was an angel. In fact, so much an angel, that she decided to mark me as her own-she kept putting her paw on me whenever I turned back to look at her. I fell in love during our 2 hour drive time. By the time we got to our destination, Wes and I had decided that we needed to add her to our family-which was a challenge because we lived in an apartment which didn't allow dogs. Ileana Pullos, the head of Fortunate Pup and Lab Rescue of Palatine, IL. graciously held Jessie until we moved into our home in Kenosha, WI. What a gift in and of itself.

Since we've had Jessie, we've discovered the proper way to feed a dog, the most wonderful holistic vet in our area (Healing Oasis in Sturtevant, WI.) and made friends throughout the neighborhood. Jessie is known in our neighborhood as the "duck dog" as she is never without her accessorising-a stuffed animal in her mouth. Literally, we are unable to walk her unless she has a toy in her mouth. Because of this, she has also taught our two standard poodles that they must be accessorized, and each time one of us comes through the door, we are greeted with a plethora of stuffed animals. Its a joyous affair many times a day.

What do I love most about Jessie? Her ability to read my moods. Here's an example. When my mother passed away in September of 2007, she didn't leave my side for weeks. She knew the pain I was in, and wanted to lend a hand. I had hand surgery yesterday and she has glued herself to me. Because of her sensitivity, I adore her, and I love that she always positions herself on the couch to keep my feet warm. On the flip side, she is the most difficult dog to walk-including every one of my customers. How this happened is beyond me, and I've thrown in the towel with training because she's unfortunately proven that "You can't teach and old dog new tricks." Tricks, I could care less, but walking without pulling or swerving would be nice.....

Jessie Mae is a wonder dog. Diagnosed at age 8 with hip dysplasia, she gets around like her younger siblings due to her wonderful holistic supplemental regimine. Thank goodness for herbs and not having the suggested surgery from a western vet. She is a lovely age at 11 and sweet, mature, mellow and loving. She is a huge part of our family...and is truly our "marshmallow love girl."

Honestly-It's Great Food

Is your Dog a Candidate for Raw?

I've been feeding my pups THE HONEST KITCHEN food since the day I brought them home. And to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't feed them anything else unless its a combination with THE HONEST KITCHEN food. I never take my pups to the vet because of their outstanding health...and I truly believe that this food is a huge part of why they are so healthy!

Here is an article from THE HONEST KITCHEN website:

http://www.thehonestkitchen.com/

After reading this, if you haven't received samples from me, or need advice, please contact me.

AS FIDO’S GUARDIAN, YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN FEEDING HIM FRESH RAW FOOD.
The Skinny on raw food diets.
There are many factors to consider in choosing whether to move to a raw food diet for Fido. Different vets have different opinions, and online forums and other resources contain a mind-boggling amount of information and opinions on the merits and pitfalls of food choices. Here’s a simple set of considerations to help you make the choice.

The Pros and Cons of Raw:

Pet food can contain many of the same contaminants that may be present in raw meat and fish that people eat. Bacteria such as e-Coli and Salmonella are most effectively destroyed by cooking. For that reason, many experts believe the safest solution is to feed only cooked foods to pets.
However, from a physiological standpoint, Fido has a shorter gastrointestinal tract than his human counterparts. This means that a raw diet can pass through much more quickly, thus reducing the time in which any harmful bacteria could multiply. This allows Fido to excrete the bacteria before it reaches harmful levels. Choosing meat from reputable sources along with safe, proper handling and storage are also essential to risk reduction.
Some raw diets contain whole bones. Avid raw feeders often include whole animals such as chickens or rabbits in their feeding protocols. There is a chance that bone shards can cause medical complications with this type of feeding. As raw food diets have gained popularity, the incidence of veterinary procedures to remove bones from the GI tract has also increased. When swallowed, whole, raw bones or bone shards can obstruct the intestines, cause constipation, lodge in the roof of the mouth and break the teeth in extreme cases. For this reason, a commercially prepared raw diet or an investment in a high-powered food grinder are wiser choices.
Many pet owners who do feed a raw diet, however, report improved skin and coat condition, cleaner teeth, fresher breath, improved resistance to disease and parasites and fewer allergies.
The Pros and Cons of Cooked
Cooking, especially canning and extrusion, which involve very high pressure and extreme heat, can make foods less nutritious. High heat destroys many enzymes and antioxidants. Cooking at high temperatures can also alter the molecular structure and amino acid profiles of food ingredients. Some studies have suggested that cooking under high heat and pressure can also result in the formation of cancer-causing compounds in foods that would otherwise be healthy.
Kibbled diets (those produced by extrusion) are also linked with bloat—the debilitating and often life-threatening condition that affects thousands of dogs in the U.S. every year. There is some indication that raw-fed dogs do not seem to get bloat, at least not with the same frequency as those who eat kibble.
Many cooked diets contain an abundance of grains and these can increase the incidence of allergy-based health problems, such as itching, ear infections and GI upset.
At the end of the day, you—as Fido’s guardian—need to be comfortable and confident in feeding him fresh raw food (whether commercial or home prepared). But with a little research and a gradual transition, raw food can be a wonderful alternative for many dogs.

As an ambassador to THE HONEST KITCHEN, please contact me if you would like to discuss further.

Dixe Mendelsohn Thomas

Many of us have that "special" animal, and I'm no exception. For me, its this wonderful Standard Poodle, named Dixie. She is also known as "Little Bit" around the house and on the playground. She is a sister to Jackson Browne and Jessie Mae, and the girlfriend of Fritz the Black Lab, Paul the Basset Hound and Danny the Phantom Standard Poodle.

Dixie came to our family from Petfinder, in Dixon, IL. Her mother was a puppy mill dog and had a horrific life. She gave birth to six puppies, and only three survived. When we first saw Dixie we were smitten by her brother; a green eyed apricot Standard Poodle. It was a tough decision, but the gender had something to do with it, as we already had a dominant male and didn't seek any future issues. When I held her the first time, she snuggled right into my neck, so the decision was more or less made for me. I often wonder how her siblings are faring today and think about their situations and if they turned out as well as our Dixie.

Raising a puppy is quite an experience. It takes patience, persistence, love, devotion and a strong sense of humor. There are times when you want to kill them, find a new home for them or swallow them you love them so much. I always seem to fall into the later category, as she takes my heart away on a daily basis. She gives long, sweet, "Velcro Kisses" and we have named her our French Vanilla Kiss. (Jackson, our chocolate standard is our "chocolate love chunk" and Jessie Mae, our senior yellow lab is our "Marshmallow Love Girl")

My husband, Wes and I believe in the power of animal communicators. We use Terri O'Hara out of Oregon and she is an absolutely amazing woman. When she read the pet family, she said that Dixie had big plans and that she wasn't going to be just another pretty face. She has big dreams. I see it every day. Dixie, much like myself is a little stubborn, a lot independent, a big, big lover, sweet, kind, good, amiable, fun, zany, precocious and enjoys getting into mischief. My fondest memory thus far is this past week. She found a turkey carcass where I meet my friend Karen and her dog Fritz and was proudly prancing around with it as if she had caught a fox in her mouth.

When I look into Dixie's eyes I feel a love that I've never felt before. It's almost comparable to looking into Wes' eyes-the love I feel is inexplicable. She is so good, so kind, so wonderful and capable of showing how she feels about me that it makes me both proud and sad at the same time. I know her time with me on earth is short and I have to make the most of every precious minute with her. There is an energy and understanding between us that I've yet to experience. I'm just so lucky that she chose us and allowed us to somehow get into her path to rescue her.

Candadian Snafu

One of the most wonderful parts about being a pet sitter is the ability to look at nature while I'm walking my pups, especially when it's above 10 degrees and I'm dressed for the occasion. This morning was especially wonderful. It seemed toasty. And I'm talking 22 degrees. (Why I wasn't wearing a bikini was beyond me) While walking Paul the Basset Hound and Dixie, my standard poodle, I noticed a ruckus up above us. I generally love seeing nature at its best and seeing Canadian Geese form into their pointed alignment, but today was complete chaos. Three gaggles, if that's the correct term, were flying above us and unsure of their formation. Is Armageddon coming? Seriously. Imagine these wonderful flyer's unsure of themselves? Is this a reflection of the current economic condition-we are all so unsure of what to do with ourselves? I marveled at their indecision and lack of direction, literally, and quite flabbergasted, have yet to experience anything like this in my lifetime.

Another interesting thing happened. Out of the blue, a former boyfriend contacted me. How did he find me-I have no clue. My name was different when we were dating, but he managed to find me on Facebook. We chatted briefly and it seemed like no time had passed in between us. He is miserable in California-I can't say I blame him. But that's another story for another day. Thanks for calling and finding me, Raffy!

And Noah....I just saw you, too. Want to talk about it?

Welcome Friends, Followers, Customers and Those Yet to Meet!

Welcome to my blog. After watching Julie and Julia this past weekend, I thought to myself-"why not"? Two billion of us blogging could certainly welcome one more blogger to the mix.

My intent for this blog is to help educate my friends, followers, customers, and future customers. If you find something that I say interesting, please don't be shy about posting a comment or tell me to pound salt. I have a very thick skin from working in NYC for 10 years in the garment industry.

Before I head out to walk Paul, the Basset Hound with my sweet Dixie, keep warm everyone, and get ready for snow shoveling tomorrow. I'll have a great excuse; I'm having hand surgery which will render me useless for the day and possibly days ahead. Those of you who need an excuse, this one is completely acceptable, so use it and use it often!