Did you know laughter is good for your health?

• Laughter relaxes the whole body
  A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system
  Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins
  The body’s natural feel-good chemicals, endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart
  Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

It’s time to have a little fun. One of the things I find funny is the perspectives held on different pets. I am really a dog person. My allergies to cats have probably biased my opinion of them, although I did grow up with a cat, Brutus, whom I loved dearly. I just couldn’t stay too close for too long or my face would swell like a casaba melon! The following are two of my favorite observations of the differences between dogs and cats. Please, if you are a cat person, don’t take offense and view them as they are intended to be, a little humorous interlude into your otherwise busy and stressful life. Maybe you have seen these; they still get me to chuckle every time. Maybe you haven’t; I wish you good health with a dose of laughter!

What is the difference between a dog and a cat?

A dog lives in your house and sees that you give it food and water and says to itself, “Wow, these beings give me food and water without my having to do anything. They must be gods!”

A cat lives in your house and sees that you give it food and water and says to itself, “Wow, these beings give me food and water without my having to do anything. I must be a god!”

The Dog’s Diary

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Cat’s Diary

Day 983 of My Captivity

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. Bastards!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now…

This being a blog about pets (not grandparents) I’d better make the connection.  Based on our dog, I truly believe they get it.  Don’t ask me how, I don’t have the answer.  Here is what I do know.  The first time that baby came into our house, the very first time, our Boxer (who always greets us enthusiastically) ran right past us to the new born.  A couple of gentle sniffs and she would not leave the little ones side.  I sat down and held the child, she came up to the couch, took a look, one more quick sniff and then sat at my feet for as long as I held the child.  When my spouse took the baby, she moved with the baby.  When laid in the crib, our dog posted up by the crib.  She became the boys’ guardian angel, vigilantly keeping watch no matter where he went.  And it took just a matter of moments to have created that bond!

I ran across the story of Thor, a pit bull who saved his young family in Indiana. It’s a really remarkable story that speaks not only to the heroism of one dog, but the bond that forms between pet and owner (and owner’s child!) I’d like to think we have a potential hero in our house, and no, I’m not talking about me (though it is not really that much of a stretch… oh, heck, who am I kidding)!

Do pets love?  Do they have emotional attachments?  I find those questions ridiculous!  I believe they are far more complex than we even know.  They are family members by any definition you choose.  Their relationship with us is far more than just a free and easy food source.  It is more than just loyalty because of the roof over their head.  It is deeper than simply being trained to be obedient, it is a tie so deep, it can only be love.  “Experts” can try and tell me differently, but I can only believe what I have experienced and observed.  Pets love and deserve to be loved like family members.  Given the opportunity, they might even become heroes.

There was our albino pet rat.  We named him Ralph, though we never called him just Ralph, he was always Ralph the Rat; we just liked the way that sounded.  Of course, all of us tried out our best Jimmy Cagney with the “Ralph, you dirty rat.”  (This loses its effectiveness on paper, but trust me, it was a lot of fun to hear our household doing Cagney; it actually came out as more like a cross between Elmer Fudd and Jimmy Stewart, but the effort was there!)

My daughter had an anole.  She named him Stud.  Have you ever seen an anole?  I don’t think there is a muscle on that creature’s body!  He was fast (we had to chase him on many occasions and found him to be very elusive), but Stud?  I didn’t see it!

We had a bright yellow parakeet with a green marking on his chest.  We named him Mistletoe.  He was great fun at dinner time.  He would have free reign of the table and take turns nibbling at everyone’s bread.  For awhile, he was used by me to get a kiss from my spouse by simply holding him over my head, until he “relieved himself” in our hair once!

Our family dog was given to me as a birthday present.  (Funny, the kids used my birthday to get their dog!  Well played.  Not even my cold heart could complain about a dog now!  Go ahead kids; feel free to use this one.)  I used to sing my girls a song; Chantilly Lace by the Big Bopper (and no I am not that old!) so they decided to call our pup Tilly.

There was Slimeny the snail, Mr. Hobbs (a rabbit), Joshua and Caleb (father and son long haired doxies), Brutus (the smallest living tiger in captivity!), Koby (a bird purchased at Koby’s Swap Meet in San Diego), and many others.

So what do these names say about us? Well, I guess they say that we have a sense of humor! Beyond that, I think they speak to our togetherness. Each name had special meaning to us as a family.  We bonded with the new family members, but even more importantly, we bonded as a family; our pets brought us closer together as a unit.  Those moments, on the living room floor, all together, deciding on a name were priceless.

What about you? How do you name your pets? What’s your favorite pet naming story?

However you do it, have fun naming your pets!

As I began to look at this assignment, I took an inventory of my real qualifications and realized a couple of things quickly.  First, I am getting old!  In my life, I have had 8 dogs (2 long haired doxies, a short hair doxie, a Pomeranian, and 4 boxers), 2 cats, 4 hermit crabs, a rat, an anole, 2 parakeets, a rabbit, a gold fish, and, yes, a snail named Slimeny (in the name of complete disclosure my emotional connection to Slimeny was somewhat limited, after all he was a taker and not a giver).  To be honest, some of these were when I was a kid, some as an adult, and I am currently a proud pet grandparent (yep, I’d probably display a bumper sticker stating “Proud Grandparent of an Honor Pet”, okay maybe not quite that far!)  Now for some of you, that may not seem like a lot, however in my case, there were seldom more than 2 of these animals at any one time in my life.

Secondly, I have strong memories attached to each of these pets.  They were all a significant presence in my life and represented a wide variety of emotional experiences.  We have dealt with rescue situations, births, injuries and illnesses, escapes, property destructions, and unfailing loyalty to our family.  We have watched our ‘old lady’ boxer (who was never a mother) take my daughters boxer pup and raise her as her own.  I realized that I have a rich history of stories and experiences that have created a unique tapestry (I promise to never use that word in a blog again!) from which to draw.

Finally, as each of these animals passed through my life, I experienced loss and heart break when they were no longer a part of our family.  I have had pets which have been lost, never to be seen again.  I have lost a pet due to accident.  And I have held a very dear animal while she was ‘put to sleep’; a gut wrenching decision which, even to this day, brings a tear to my eye.  I have missed them and cried over them; I loved them all.  What I discovered is:  I AM AN ANIMAL LOVER!

In this blog, my goal is to be informative and discuss pet issues, share stories and entertain, as well help you discover how Pet Extreme can be a part of your ‘pet lifestyle’ (have to make sure to get that in for the bosses sake!)  I hope you enjoy and choose to be a part of it!

Here are just a couple of tips on how to make the trip a little more enjoyable, safer, and easier.

In preparation for the trip, make sure Fido or Felix, Sylvester or Sammy have current health records (up to date shot records, conditions, etc…) and pack them up with you.  If something were to go terribly wrong a vet would need to know this info prior to treating your animal.  You will also need good identification tags and maybe even a spare set, just in case.  When traveling with your pets it is common courtesy to call ahead and let your hosts know there will be one extra at the table.  Check for allergies or other conditions (fear of animals!) of your hosts that may affect your visit.  And get your pet washed and maybe even groomed.  There is nothing worse than a smelly family member arriving at your house (Remember your great uncle Pokeweed and how he smelled in between his bi-monthly baths!).

As you hit the road, it is important to note a family member roaming about the car freely during travel is a recipe for disaster.  Imagine giving your kids that much freedom and the trouble they could get into!  You will need to make sure you have a proper carrier.  And though some of you may think it is cruel, the reality is, especially with a dog, a carrier will actually give your animal a higher sense of security and reduce their stress during travel.  If your drive takes a couple of days, there are a number of pet friendly hotel chains.  Motel 6, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Red Roof Inns, Best Westerns, and Candlewood Suites all have pet friendly properties.  It is important to call ahead for reservations and make sure they know you have a pet.  Also, don’t be surprised by a pet fee of up to $75.

Once you have arrived, make sure you have brought plenty of toys and treats as well as clean up bags for the furrier of your family members.  There is nothing worse than a bored guest.  That’s when we start looking in medicine cabinets, drawers, and generally getting into things we have no business getting into; our pets are the same way so keep them occupied so that you don’t end up buying new drapes or carpet for your hosts!  Also, who asks someone to come back when they just leave their business on the front lawn!  Pick up after your pet!  If you do these two simple things your hosts may just fall in love with your whole family as much as you have.

Travel safe and have fun!

What is happening here?  Well, I have a few theories.  It is my belief that everything in our body is connected; deep, I know, but I’m not kidding.  And at the center of it all is your mind and heart.  I think that in most cases, it starts with our focus.  Take a hang nail for example.  If you just look at it; it hurts.  But then you answer the phone and go on about your life it probably won’t hamper you from accomplishing anything that you need to.  Same hang nail is still there, but the mind has put the pain on the back burner.  Having a pet takes one out of the generally self-centered culture we have created and forces us to care for something other than ourselves.  You play with the cat, you don’t think about all the ‘garbage’ you may be dealing with in real life.  Every minute you can escape the negative, you add time to your life in the end.  A pet gives you an escape to happiness, am I right?  It’s a little bit more difficult to stay uptight, or angry, or worried when you are interacting with your animal.  After all, I think Cindy Lauper got it wrong, it’s not girls, but pets that “just wanna have fun!”  Secondly, we can be ‘us’ with our pet.  No masks.  No pretending.  No secrets.  I mean, really, who are they going to tell?  We can trust them with any tidbit of info without fear that it will come back and ‘bite’ us in the backside.  Finally, you are truly important to your pet.  You are needed by them and they acknowledge it, they respond, and they love unconditionally; they give us a sense of self value.  I mean, even our kids (who we know need us, at say, 13) think they can do it without us.  They are embarrassed of us in front of their friends, generally discount everything out of our mouths because we “don’t understand!”, and truly believe they know it all.  The family pet doesn’t give you that attitude at all.  All you have to do is walk in the house and you have their attention.

And your world becomes a little bit better place to be and you become a bit healthier.