Dogs and Everything Else

A Tail of Two Heads

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Halloween is upon us once again. Scary movies are coming out in the theaters and, at the grocery stores, you can't help but notice the assortment of candies and chocolate in their very colorful wrappers, all signifying that Halloween is approaching. It is a time for fright and ghoulish activities, which I enjoy occasionally but never when I am alone. However, being alone is usually when spooky things happen.

In the spirit of Halloween, I would like to tell a story that happened to me when I was a massage therapist many years ago. Although there are dogs in my story, it is not about them for this blog. This is the "Everything Else" part of my blog. Please note that I will change the names of the people in my story to protect the not-so innocent.

My story is about a woman who was referred to me by one of my private massage clients. This woman had Siamese twins for daughters who were in their late teens. They were a rare type of Siamese twins because they had two heads sharing one body. The mother had informed me that her daughters were experiencing neck and back pain, which was easy enough to remedy with massage. Initially, I was hesitant to do the massage because I didn't know how they would fit on my massage table, and I only had one face cradle. But I accepted the job because I figured it would be an experience to massage Siamese twins.

The Siamese twins lived in the Melrose area of Los Angeles with their mother. It was a big two-story home in a nice, safe, but crowded neighborhood so parking was tough.

It was ten minutes to six in the evening when I finally got into the house and met the mother who had hired me. Walking into the house, I felt an eeriness that caused me to scan the room. Perhaps, it was due to the darkness of the room because the curtains were all drawn, and only one dimly lit lamp was turned on at a corner of the room. The room looked unused as if not many visitors came to the house and a mustiness that suggested that the furnishings were left unattended. I took a deep breath and tried to feel the vibe of the room but came up nothing.

"Hi, I'm Maureen. We spoke on the phone," said the mother. Maureen must have been in her late forties or early fifties. She was a thin, weary looking woman with dark, short hair. She told me that her daughters, Julia and Elizabeth, were upstairs waiting for me, and then led the way to the stairs walking ahead of me.

As I was ascending the stairs, I noticed on the top of the stairs was a pair of overweight Pugs. It was no surprise that they didn't greet me at the front door like most dogs did. Judging from their size, I was certain they had decided it would take too much effort to run down the stairs just to go back up on again. They were watching me with their bulging eyes and were panting in the process as if watching me were an exertion. I figured they belonged to the twins. Pugs already look abnormal to me but there was an unusual strangeness about them that was unsettling.

A little breathless after climbing the stairs and feeling the heaviness of my table, I continued to follow Maureen. I could hear chattering coming out of a bedroom and presumed that the twins were in there. Maureen was a couple feet ahead of me as she entered the bedroom first.

“Girls, Arlene is here, the massage therapist,” I heard Maureen say.

Upon entering the room, I immediately felt an odd sensation come over me. I knew that there was something off in the room. It may have been the way the room was decorated, but I think that just contributed to the creepiness that I felt. The room was distinctly divided in half by way of its décor. One side of the room, the half towards the windows, was decorated quite plainly with the eggshell paint and a few framed pictures of flowers. The other half of the room, which was towards the bedroom door leading to the hallway, was painted with dark red and black stripes. It was such a stark contrast that it startled me when I walked in.

The twins were sitting on their bed in their bathrobe. They must have seen the look of surprise on my face because one of them said, “Pretty cool, huh?” It was the twin with the dark eyeliner and hair that was colored jet black with one thick streak of red. It was pretty easy to deduce which side of the bedroom she had.

“Wow, it’s different,” was all I could say. But in my mind, the word “bizarre” was more appropriate.

“Arlene, this is Julia,” said Maureen, placing her hand on the right shoulder of the twin with the dark eyeliner. “And, this is Elizabeth,” placing her hand on the side of the twin without make-up.

I was amazed that two people who shared the same body could be so different. Julia, who had the "goth" look, was the gregarious one, and very animated with her black manicure. Elizabeth was like vanilla, ordinary and unmemorable. However, there was an emptiness in her eyes that caught my attention. Also, I noticed that the hand that she controlled wasn't manicured. Was she intentionally being plain to offset her sister's appearance? Maybe.

"Have you ever massaged Siamese twins before?" asked Julia. Without waiting for my response, she continued, "Our necks are really sore mainly because when we talk to each other, we look at each other and we do that hundred times a day, you know what I mean? Also, it’s hard to find a comfortable position to sleep in which is probably why our back hurts," she said with a sigh.

"Interesting...well, since I only have one face cradle, I won't be using it," I said. "So, you can either lay face down with your arm on your forehead or lay your heads to the side on a pillow. And, to answer your question, you guys are the first Siamese twins I've ever worked on."

I looked at Elizabeth who hadn't said a word. "Elizabeth, do you have any questions?" She turned her head slowly towards me, shook her head and just continued to stare at me with a blank expression. She may be shy, I thought.

"Elizabeth doesn't talk much with people she doesn't know," explained Julia. "She'll only talk to me." As if on cue, Elizabeth leaned over to her and whispered something. "She says she's fine with laying on the table with her head to the side but without a pillow."

"Okay. Are you fine with that too?" I asked, to which Julia nodded her head. "Great. Let me set up so we can get started."

As I proceeded to set up my massage table, Maureen said, "I'll leave you guys alone," and then shut the door behind her leaving the two Pugs in the room with us. They were breathing heavily even though they were just lying on their dog beds.

It was a huge bedroom with it's own bathroom allowing me to set the massage table at the foot of the bed, and still had plenty of room to move around. While I was putting the sheets on the table, I let the twins know that if they needed the bathroom to go before the massage got started. Again, Elizabeth whispered to Julia, who said, "I guess we need to go."

By the time they got out of the bathroom, I was ready for them. "So, make sure you guys go under the first sheet, on your stomach. I'm going to wash my hands while you guys do that, okay?" I said. I got a nod from Julia. No response from Elizabeth. Weird, I thought, as I entered the bathroom.

When I got out of the bathroom, the twins were under the sheet. I noticed that the lights were turned down low and two candles were lit, one on each nightstand. "Are you guys warm enough?" I asked. Julia had said yes, and nothing from Elizabeth, of course.

I looked at the red clock that was on Julia's nightstand and saw that it was already quarter after six. I wanted to make sure I was done in an hour, which was the allotted time Maureen had hired me to do.

I undraped the top sheet to expose the twins’ back to the level of the coccyx or tailbone and was surprised to see that the twins had an elongated coccyx. They had a human tail just like a dog, but it was only about two inches long. It made me wonder if they had the ability to wag their coccyx. In the years I had been a massage therapist, there had only been one other person with a tail similar to theirs. A human tail was a rare sight.

After I gave the twins my regular spiel about the massage, I found out that the dogs were named Cleo and Tony. “After Cleopatra and Marc Anthony from that story, you know the one, right?” said Julia.

"Yes, I do," I said, then remained quiet. Normally, I didn't talk while giving a massage because it was the client's time not mine, but I was curious to know the dogs’ names. Cleo and Tony had moved from their dog beds, settled near the massage table, and were already snoring noisily away.

Fifteen minutes into the massage, I sensed something strange that made me look up. Because the lighting was low in the room, it was easy to notice that to my left the flame of each candle was flickering rapidly and had grown to about six inches tall. Both Cleo and Tony had woken up, their heads lifted and their ears erect. They sensed something as well. I didn't see anything but I felt that there was a presence in the room and it was moving towards the massage table.

Suddenly, I noticed that Elizabeth had raised her head and was looking directly at me. The emptiness in her eyes was gone and was replaced by something that resembled hatred.

Jeepers, what's going on, I wondered. "Is everything okay Elizabeth?" I asked calmly. She nodded and then slowly smiled. I knew immediately that she was aware that something sinister was approaching us because I felt it too, and so did the dogs. Julia was the only one oblivious to it.

Elizabeth put her head down and continued to smile. My skin tingled from the coolness that seemed to crawl pass me. Then, it was as if something touched my arm and squeezed it, which made me take a sharp inhalation. Julia must have heard me because she looked up at me and asked, "What happened?" When I told her that it was nothing, she simply said, "Can you grab that blanket on the bed and put it on me? I suddenly got the chill."

"Sure," I said, reaching over to the bed to grab the blanket. Moving back towards the massage table, at the corner of my eye, I thought I saw something. I turned my head to get a better look but there was nothing. I told myself to stop and just focus on massaging Julia's neck, with which I was almost done.

I covered the twins’ lower body with the blanket and proceeded to massage Julia's neck. I closed my eyes to discern where this presence might be. It's odd but closing my eyes helps me see things that I can't with my eyes open. Sure enough, as soon as I closed my eyes, I could see that behind me, at the corner of the room on Elizabeth's side, was a being. I could only see a shadow that seemed a little shorter than I, who was standing perfectly still just observing me. The feeling I sensed from it was anger. Perhaps, it was the same anger that I saw in Elizabeth's eyes. Was this entity feeding off of Elizabeth or vice versa? Who knows. At that point, I knew I just wanted to finish the massage and get out of there.

After working on Julia's neck I moved over to Elizabeth. I felt Elizabeth instantly stiffen as I touched both sides of her neck. "Can you take a deep breath in and let it out slowly?" I asked her gently. I waited for a response and got nothing.

I asked again in the same manner, when Elizabeth finally spoke. "No! I don't want to take a deep breath. Take your hands off me,” she sharply demanded. “I didn't even agree to this massage.”

“Elizabeth, stop it,” said Julia immediately.

Startled by Elizabeth’s reaction, my hands jerked away from her like a reflex response. I needed to take several deep breaths before calmly saying, “Well, I don’t want to do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable. I can certainly just work on Julia if that’s what you want.”

“I want you to NOT touch me again. And, I want you out of MY room,” Elizabeth harshly said.

“You promised to be good Elizabeth,” said Julia timidly. “This is my room too and I want her to stay and finish my massage.” Her statement seemed to intensify Elizabeth’s anger.

“Shut up Julia,” hissed Elizabeth.

Yikes! I was so tempted to walk out of the room and go home, but I knew I couldn’t. I felt my body starting to tremble and my breathing slightly quickening. For all I knew, Elizabeth could have been preparing to do a 360 with her head. And, how the heck was I supposed to finish massaging Julia when she shared her body with Elizabeth? There was so much anger in the air that I could feel it enveloping the room. As I stepped away from the massage table to create some distance between Elizabeth and me, I was terrified to see with my peripheral vision that something was standing near Elizabeth’s nightstand. I dared NOT to get a better look at it for fear of becoming immobilized by the sight of it. I just knew that it looked transparent from what I saw and it felt hostile. Suddenly, Cleo and Tony started to bark, which startled me and caused my heart to race.

“Elizabeth, make them stop,” pleaded Julia. I didn’t know whether she was referring to the dogs or whatever it was near the nightstand.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and ignored Julia, while the dogs continued to bark. Before I knew it, I felt something coming close to my back that gave me goose bumps down my arms and legs. Crap! I could hear my heart pounding as I tried to calm myself with my breathing.

“Elizabeth, please stop it!” cried Julia.

Hearing Julia’s plea for the second time made me realize that Julia knew all along what was happening. It made me feel sorry for her, which, thank goodness, distracted me from the fear that was starting to escalate within me. I focused my thoughts on Julia and ignored everything else. In doing so, I felt calmer, which then enabled me to control my fear. I envisioned white light around me and took several deep breaths. After praying for god to help me a few times, I felt more collected and knew that nothing would happen to me.

“Elizabeth, clearly, I’m not welcomed here and it’s not worth it for me to stay. I’m done,” I said in an even, composed voice. I waited for her reaction. When none came, I continued, “I’m going to the bathroom to wash my hands. While I’m in there, you guys can get off the table. I’m sorry Julia.”

Even though I still felt that presence behind me, it wasn’t as prominent. I just prayed that it wouldn’t follow me to the bathroom.

After I gathered my things from the bedroom, Julia apologized to me, which made me feel sorry for her again. She was literally stuck with her disturbed twin. Elizabeth averted her eyes from me, which I preferred. Maureen was neither surprised to see me done early nor upset when I explained that Elizabeth wasn’t interested in a massage. I sensed that she knew what had happened, which made me feel that I wasn’t the first massage therapist to attempt at massaging her daughters. Regardless, I was paid in full for my time.

As I drove away from the house, I thought of Cleo and Tony. I felt bad for them. Not only were they deprived of their walks, which explained their overweight condition, they also had to put up with Elizabeth’s craziness. It was no wonder they had that strange look in their eyes when I initially saw them. I would have that same stress and anxiety reflecting in my eyes if I had to deal with entities born from Elizabeth’s hostility. I concluded that whatever entity was in the bedroom was either an extension of Elizabeth or something she had attracted because of her anger. But what could she be so angry about, and why didn’t Julia have the same issue? I was clueless. Julia must be terrified of her sister. I would be. How was it possible for one to be so different from the other when you shared the same body? Perhaps, it was because they had two separate brains.

So many questions that ran through my mind as I drove home that evening, and no answers to satisfy them. I was just happy I didn’t live in that house and relieved to be out of it.

I had read years ago after that incident that angry teenagers could actually create a poltergeist energy at home. Loud noises or objects being thrown are considered to be poltergeist behavior. While none of those things happened when I was in the twins’ room, who knows what would have happened if I had ignored Elizabeth’s wishes and continued to massage Julia. Besides, what else could explain what I felt and saw in the twins’ bedroom? The fact that I saw a shapeless form near Elizabeth’s nightstand, which I never can do with my eyes open, indicated to me the degree of hostility she had within her that enabled her to project a visible image. At first glance, Elizabeth seemed innocuous judging from her plain appearance alone, while Julia’s dark proclivities in appearance and décor offered the opposite impression. I was certainly fooled, but I was sure that I wasn’t the only one who made the same mistake. Of course, I never heard from Maureen again. But I would hope that she eventually sought help for Elizabeth for the sake of everybody’s sanity in that household.

Thank goodness dogs can never project anything so ominous. They are of pure spirit, and therefore, it is impossible, in my opinion. Dogs who are mean or angry became that way because a human being was responsible for getting them to that state.

Love, love your dogs. If you don’t have one, adopt or save one. Then, on Halloween night, make sure your dogs, especially the black colored ones, of which I have three, are safely in the house. Even though it’s a night of sweets, costumes and merriment, there is always someone demented enough lurking around with evil intentions ready to prey on the unexpected. I hope you enjoyed my tale…my trick and treat to you. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. Any comment is welcomed.

Puppies and Babies

2011-08-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

For this blog, I thought about Margaret, our physical therapist, who works at the same vet hospital I do and who has returned to work part-time. Margaret brings her baby, Justin, to work most of the time. While Margaret is working, Justin gets to sleep or play in the reception area with Terry, our receptionist, and her dogs Chilly and Trekker. Justin has become part of the pack, which he's used to because he's got three dogs at home. I write about Margaret because she's a perfect example of someone who had dogs before deciding to have a baby.

I'm sure you've heard people say that if you want to see what it's like to have kids, get a dog first. I have told the same things to people who were thinking about having kids. The reason is having dogs is the closest experience to having kids. Dogs need almost as much care as kids. They are totally dependent on you. I do recognize that there are differences between human and doggie kids. Okay, I've never had human kids just the furry kind so everything that I will write about is based on observation.

As I thought about puppies and babies, there seemed to be a number of similar issues that people have to consider when having them. Some issues are of lesser concern when it comes to puppies. But when you compare and contrast having puppies and/or babies there seems to be more similarities than not.

One obvious issue not to worry about with a pup is breastfeeding. When Ripley and Morpheus were puppies, I never had to breastfeed them...thank god. They were four months old and were able to eat out of a bowl at that age compared to infants of the same age who are dependent on a breast or bottle. Gosh, breastfeeding looks painful! I'm not sure exactly what it feels like but I can't imagine any pleasure in it as some men may fantasize.

I would think that breastfeeding can be a struggle. I've been told by some mothers that breastfeeding can be so painful that some of them just could not do it. Thank goodness for the invention of bottle feeding. What in the world did nursing mothers do before 1845 when they couldn't breastfeed? That was the year the rubber nipple of bottle feeding was invented and patent. Of course, breastfeeding is better than the bottle because it's a way for the mom and baby to bond as well as help build up the baby's immunity due to the fact that the mom passes on her immunity via her breast milk.

The other thing I never had to do was buy diapers, which can get very expensive when you think about how many years you would have to buy them as the kid gets older. Fortunately, during Margaret's baby shower, she received tons of diapers which I am sure has been helpful. Now that I think about it, even though it wasn't necessary for me to buy diapers for Ripley and Morpheus, I did have to buy pee pads which I suppose is comparable to diapers. However, after they were potty trained, they rarely used them since they were being walked and were able to go to the back or front yard to do their business. Boy, I wished I had put diapers on Ripley when she was a pup. It would have saved me a lot of stress and aggravation. Morpheus was so easy. He seemed to know what to do at four months already. I'm sure Ripley told him what to do. Elektra was around four years old when we got her so she was no problem.

I must admit that having to change a diaper is probably easier than cleaning up a soiled carpet or floor. It was frustrating and annoying having to clean up after Ripley when she was a pup as well as when we were taking care of Bailey, my sister's Boston Terrier. Whenever Bailey would stay over, every morning I'd wake up I would see a puddle of pee either in my kitchen or living room floor even though there had been a pee pad for her. What an aggravation that was! I was so relieved when she was finally potty trained since she spent a lot of time at my house.

A major concern most mothers have after the baby is born or get a puppy is the question of vaccination. I stopped vaccinating my dogs after a certain age because of its long term affects. But with babies, many mothers are conflicted. They want their child protected and yet, they don't want their child to be exposed to toxins from the many vaccinations that are required. Margaret was no different. She was torn. She had said, "I don't even vaccinate my dogs. Why should I vaccinate my kid?" But due to pressures of her parents and people around her and the possible guilt she would have if something were to happen to Justin because he wasn't vaccinated, she decided to do it. It's too bad you can't do a titer on a child after the first round of vaccination as you could with a dog.

Consequent to her decision, Margaret asked me about acupuncture to help Justin with the side effects of vaccination. Justin was barely a month old at that time. Basically, I told Margaret that the acupuncture could help build Justin's immune system by stengthening his digestive system, which in Chinese Medicine is still forming. Fortunately, it was a coincidence that I was about to attend a pediatric seminar the weekend after Margaret had asked me about acupuncture. So, I passed along whatever information I got from the seminar to Margaret that I felt would be helpful to her. Then she scheduled to have Justin come in for acupuncture.

Justin had recently turned a month old when he came in for his first acupuncture treatment. Even though Margaret was on the table holding Justin, he was still so squiggly. His arms and legs were moving so much while I was trying to put his needles in that Margaret had said, "He's harder than needling a dog, huh?" I just laughed and agreed. There was one Golden Retriever puppy to which I could compare Justin. I think the dog's name was Prince. He was a crazy, ball of energy that I needed a vet technician to hold him down so that I could needle him. The vet tech could barely contain Prince. I was so relieved when his treatment was over since it was stressful having to re-insert his needles a few times.

With Justin, because he was like a little octopus, I also had to re-insert a few of his needles. Even though he had cried so much initially, he was a trooper in the end. But I think the crying was because he was hungry. Once he was breastfeeding while I did moxa (a process by which I wave a stick of the herb mugwort over the needles), he was quiet and content. Margaret has been good about bringing him once a month for treatment to strengthen his digestive system and build his immunity. He seems to be a very healthy baby.

Another choice to make is child or pet care for when you have to go to work. First of all, you have to find someone you trust who will take great care of your tot or a daycare center that will do the same. Secondly, you have to be able to afford to pay for that sitter or daycare. I've heard many people tell me that going back to work basically pays for daycare or that it's less expensive to stay at home than to pay for child care. That's when I say to myself, "Thank god for dogs!" You can leave a puppy at home alone in a crate or a gated area. You can't do that with a baby otherwise child services will be pounding at your door. And, you don't really have to worry about getting a sitter for your puppy unless you're gone all day for work or your puppy needs medication, and even then you can hire someone for an hour or so to do those things for you. It's much more affordable.

Obviously, Margaret brings Justin to work for the two reasons I've mentioned about child care. It's wonderful to be in a work environment where the other employees and our clients are happy to see Justin. It's also funny to see the curiosity of some of our doggie clients when they see Justin, who show no trepidations when they come near him. Terry does an awesome job with him while she works, and it's so cute to see that her dogs Chilly and Trekker watch over him as well. As I said before, he is just one of the pack now. It wouldn't surprise me if his first word were to be "woof". He's always around dogs which I think is fantastic. Dogs are so calming and loving that they make the best companions for a baby. However, they are some dogs that may not do well with babies and vice versa. It's too bad when that happens because I think they miss out on the bonding experience.

Teething or chewing is the last thing I want to mention. Even though Justin is now five months old and putting his hand in his mouth, Margaret doesn't think he's teething yet. The great thing about teething in babies is that they don't destroy your belongings. They just want to bite on their toys, and because they don't have teeth yet, things remain intact. Yes, they may also cry and be in discomfort but at least you don't need to replace pairs of shoes, wires, cables or a kitchen table because all of its legs had been chewed away. That's the damage that Morpheus did along with chomping on our ankles each time we'd pass by him. You don't know how happy I was when he was over that phase.

When Margaret was still pregnant I remember asking her if she was going to forget her dogs when her baby comes. I asked her because I've heard a number of incidences where a dog was given away or ignored once the baby came. Margaret simply said, "Of course not. They're my kids." I knew her answer before I heard it but I was glad to hear it. I get so perturb when I would hear stories of dogs developing a skin disease due to stress because he was left in the basement or stuck in the back yard getting depressed from neglect...aarh! I am happy that there are people like Margaret who integrate their child with their furry ones. I believe that kids who are exposed to animals at an early age and interact with them in a comfortable, loving environment become more compassionate towards other animals. After all, we are social animals who flourish because of one another. We might as well be good to each other.

In my opinion, puppies and babies are one and the same because of how we care for them. My dogs always eat before I do (I know that's not an "alpha" thing to do, but I don't care). In the mornings, I let them go potty first even though I may need to go myself. I leave the air conditioning on for them when I think the temperature will get to 85 degrees. I know I'm not the only one who does this. Also, we will always see them as our babies no matter how old they grow to be. Unfortunately, dogs don't live as long as kids. I wish they did. I would love for my dogs to live up to their thirties or forties. I would be happy to take care of them until then. Hey, there are some parents who are continuing to support their kids at that age, and they aren't happy to do so. Can you blame them? A child is supposed to become independent especially when they reach adulthood. On the other hand, a dog will always be dependent on you no matter what age, but he will also consistently show his love for you. A child may not always demonstrate his love for you especially when he becomes an adult. And, that is the biggest difference I find! I'm just saying...dogs are pretty awesome! Honestly, I've never seen an ugly puppy, but I have seen a few unattractive babies (bad as that may have sounded, I'm sure some of you are nodding your head in agreement with me). It's a good thing that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Love, love your dogs. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, if you do decide to have kids, you may want to consider getting a dog first if you don't already have one. A dog will certainly train you to become a better parent especially if you get a puppy. Your responsibilities will basically be the same since a baby and puppy are completely dependent on you. You may just get less sleep with a baby. Before Ripley, I never knew I had maternal feelings. People who truly see their dogs as their kids, like myself, want the same things for their dogs. We want them to be happy, comfortable, healthy and safe which I think is what all parents want for their kids.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Any comment is welcomed.

Love is...Dog

2011-02-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

Ahh, February, the shortest month of the year. You blink and the month is over, that's how I feel about it. The color red comes to my mind when this month arrives because of Valentine's Day. I love the color red because it screams vibrancy and love. Valentine's Day, a day we're supposed to express our love for our romantic partner, is sort of a silly day in my opinion. I find that it makes some people feel obligated to prove their love by having to give flowers, chocolate, or whatever to their beloved. Aren't we supposed to do that every day, or at least every other day?

Speaking of obligation. Years ago, before I was married, I had a boyfriend who got me a Valentine's card with a bouquet of flowers. He got them at the last minute. How did I know? Read on. When I opened the envelope, the front of the card read, "Happy Valentine's Day." (So far, so good) However, the inside of the card said, "...to my loving husband." Being pissed off was an understatement. Remember Herman Munster, the way he looked when he was furious? He had smoke blowing out of his ears. That was me. In addition, my eyes threw daggers as I looked at my boyfriend and snarled, "My HUSBAND? You didn't even read the inside of the card before you bought it?"

Of course, my boyfriend gave me some excuse that I didn't hear because I was too enraged. Maybe he didn't even buy the darn card, I thought. Maybe, it was a recycled card that he took from his dad who said to him earlier that evening, "Your mother just gave me this. It's a perfectly good card. I'd hate for it go to waste. Maybe you can make use of it." Thus, it was passed down to me. Oh well, it was a sad day for me because I realized that my boyfriend just got me the card and flowers out of obligation. He didn't put much time into it. Otherwise, he would have read the inside message of the card, don't you think?

Recently, my sister Rowena asked me what I was planning on giving Augustine for Valentine's Day. "Probably nothing," I said, and then added that I didn't expect Augustine to give me anything either. She seemed a little surprised and called us "unconventional". I'll take that as a compliment, I thought. I told Rowena that I had already gotten my Valentine's gift. Out of the blue, Augustine had bought me a box of rum nougats from See's Candies. Rum nougats are my all time favorite chocolate. I was extremely delighted to see the pound of rum nougats waiting for me when I got home from work a while ago. Unfortunately, I polished them off sooner than I wanted but savored each one of them.

Just for the fun of it, I asked my dogs, "Who wants to talk to me about LOVE?" I was sitting in bed with my laptop surrounded by Ripley near my feet, Morpheus against my right leg and Elektra snuggled to my left. Seconds after my question, Ripley got up, ran off the ramp that's wedged against the end of our bed and exited the bedroom. "You've got nothing to say, eh Rip?" I yelled. Maybe she didn't want to talk about love, I thought. She's a dog of little words. Well, there are some people who avoid the subject of love because it makes them uncomfortable to talk about it.

Morpheus, who was lounging, rose from his position and gave me a kiss right on my lips. "Ohh, my boy, you LOVE love? Is that what you're trying to say?" I asked. His tail wagged quicker in response to my question. "Yes, I do," was what he was telling me. I can always count on Morpheus to express his feelings. He's not afraid to talk about love. He's like that cartoon character Pepe Le Pew who is all about l'amour.

"What about you Elektra? You want to tell me something?" I asked. Elektra turned her head towards me, smiled with her tongue slightly hanging out, and gave me a chortle. "You think love is funny? Does it crack you up?" I asked. I could almost hear her saying as her smile widened, "Makes me laugh, mom, and it's fun!" She may have been thinking about her love for squeaky balls especially when she takes one away from Morpheus. It probably makes her laugh when she tricks Morpheus and she ends up with his squeaky ball. What a smart dog, I thought, because love can be funny in a "ha-ha" way, and it's certainly fun when you are in love.

It made me wonder whether dogs can be in love with other dogs as people can be with each other. Hmm...the only dog that I can think of who comes closest to being in love is my sister's dog Bailey, a boston terrier. She's in love with Morpheus. Who can blame her? He's perfect despite his propensity to drool. When Bailey's over my house, I notice that she swoons over him as she watches his every move. She follows him around and tries to get close to him especially when he's napping. When he barks at something, Bailey's immediately at his side barking too...even though she's barking at Elektra. It's bizarre but whenever Morpheus and Elektra are barking at someone or something, Bailey joins them but her bark is directed at Elektra. She and Elektra just clash in personality. Finally, Bailey is always trying to kiss Morpheus, and being a good boy, he puts up with it. If he could roll his eyes each time she kisses him, he would, and you could tell from his expression he's thinking, "Oh, here we go again. But it'll be over soon." It's hilarious to see.

I know that dogs can love, but what does it feel like for them? For me, love feels like sunshine in my heart, warm and expansive. It's a joyous feeling that catches my breath. Is it like that for them too? I wonder.

It's strange to me that love changes over time with people. I've heard from many people who have been with their partner for years that their love has changed. I may be wrong, but when I hear people say that, I assume that there is no longer that breathless, exhilarating sensation that they felt during their first years together. Why does the love between two people change? The answer that I could come up with is we humans allow our daily stresses to become more important than our loved one. Money or lack of it, work or no work, the undesirable behavior that your partner may exhibit, etc. get the attention and priority more than the good attributes that attracted you to your partner in the beginning. Because of where our focus is, the love gradually wanes and transforms into a different love...or no love at all, unfortunately.

However, I notice that the love we have for our dogs just gets stronger. I've never heard a dog owner say, "I don't love Fido the same way I used to when I first got him." What I hear is, "I love Archie so much I don't know what I'll do without him." Boy, I know that feeling. Certainly, it's true for me that my love for my dogs just deepens and intensifies with time. Even if they misbehave or not listen, I tend to let it go and love them regardless. It's odd to me because if Augustine were to do something that didn't please me, I wouldn't let it go immediately, although I'm much better at it now. Now I can let go of my irritation towards him much quicker than before. I can do it in less than five minutes compared to a day. Are we more forgiving with our dogs because they love us so unconditionally that we cannot help but love them in the same way? They do model the unconditional love that we're supposed to have with other human beings.

And, isn't it funny that we never question the love that our dogs have for us? We are secured in the knowing that they love us no matter what. However, with some people we love in our life, we have a tendency to question how they feel about us because we feel their disapproval or judgment. Wouldn't it be wonderful and a relief if we just knew without a doubt that they reciprocated the love we have for them? And, without judgment placed upon us and vice versa? If this were to happen, relationships would be easy and a delight...But, really, we shouldn't care whether people disapprove or judge us anyway. It's your life, live it the way it pleases you.

Since it is Valentine's Day, the most important love that I want to mention is the love for yourself. It doesn't matter whether someone else loves you or not because if you don't love yourself, you will always feel less than you are. Then, the person who does love you can never give or do enough for you because he cannot complete you. It's your responsibility to complete yourself, and you do that by loving yourself. Truly, to love yourself is to love others. Let me clarify. When you love yourself, you take care of your body, emotions and mental well being. When caring about those aspects of yourself, you cannot help but be happy. And, when you are happy, you feel complete. This feeling of completion enables you to love others more readily. Furthermore, your happiness will radiate from you and infect those people around you. Consequently, they will benefit from the happiness and love you emit because they end up getting some too. If you don't believe me, test it out.

Therefore, on this day and the days that are to follow, make it a point to show your love to your partner and more importantly, to yourself. If you can do it for your dog every day, you can do it for yourself and your beloved partner. It just takes practice, and in time, it gets easier. Trust me, I'm doing it myself. Yeah, I know it's easier to love your dog because he is a positive being. But if you give yourself and your partner the love you both deserve on a daily basis, you will witness the enormity of the benefit of your effort.

Love, love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. It would be a marvelous way to celebrate Valentine's Day because you will find love in having a dog. Finally, I would like to share my definition of love. Love is all healing of any ailments whether it be physical, mental or emotional because it gives relief and allows for the good energy to flow within us. When good energy is streaming without hindrance throughout the body, it can find balance, health and well being. Love is powerful and infectious because not only does it affect us but also the people around us. Love is what we are meant to be just as our dogs are. We have just forgotten but our dogs are our reminder. I am in love with my dogs. They make it easy for me to feel that way. They are the reason I started doing acupuncture on animals. They are the reason I love other dogs and, of course, the reason I started this blog a year ago. Dogs give us relief as we feel their love for us. Dogs give us the love that sometimes we cannot muster for ourselves. Dogs elicit within us happiness just being in their presences. So, for these reasons, I believe that LOVE IS dog. Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Any comment is welcomed.

A Fresh Start

2011-01-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

The holidays have come and gone in a flash. Thank goodness! Even though I enjoy the holidays, I also like my routines, and it was difficult to stick to them with the craziness of the holidays. Fortunately, instead of experiencing post holiday blues like some people, I am excited about what's ahead of me. I feel that it's going to be a fantastic year. The reason is silly but I'll share it with you regardless. Okay, every time we have an odd number year like we have now, 2011, the year ends up being great for me in every way. So, when the new year came, and my dogs and I were all in bed (I was reading the night away), I suddenly exclaimed, "It's an odd year! It's going to be awesome!"

My dogs, being my constant companions, didn't react much to my zealous announcement. Ripley offered to open one eye and then quickly closed it to resume sleeping. After all, it was past midnight and she is somewhat elderly. Elektra popped her head up to look at me. When she assessed that there was nothing seriously happening to me, she plopped her head back down and continued her slumber. Morpheus, however, awoken, got himself up from his down position and gave me an expression that said, "Do I get a treat?" I gave him an apologetic smile and said, "No sweetie. Go back to sleep."

So, here we are with a new year and already in the middle of January. The beginning of the year is all about resolutions and expectations for what's ahead. Because of that, I found myself asking people these two questions: "Do you have any resolutions?" and "How do you think this year will be for you?" I was curious to find out who still made resolutions since I no longer did. For the second question, I was interested to see how optimistic people were with their expectations. Also, I had wondered if there was anyone else who shared my "odd" number year belief.

A common resolution for the new year seems to be the desire to lose weight or begin an exercise program. I'm sure gyms get a lot of new members this time of year for those reasons. I think the time between Halloween and New Year's Eve many people indulge themselves with cookies, candies, etc. By the time the new year comes they have expanded past the comfort of their clothes, and have experienced the sluggishness that comes with weight gain. Unless you dislike sugar or are allergic to it or are extremely disciplined to stay away from it, it's understandable to succumb to the temptation of sweets that seem to be everywhere during that period.

I know I had my share of sugar, and therefore, I am ready to get rid of all the chocolate and other goodies that are still residing in my refrigerator. They had been calling my name during the holidays but I've reached that point where I've stopped listening because the thought of having another piece of chocolate down my throat makes me nauseous. Reluctantly I admit that every time I snacked on sweets, I also gave my dogs a treat. I didn't want them to feel left out.

Unfortunately, Morpheus, more than Ripley or Elektra, started to expect a treat for no reason at all. He would just walk to the pantry where I stored their treats and bark. During the holidays, I would automatically say, "Oh, you want a treat? Okay," and he, Ripley and Elektra would get one. I swear Ripley would put him up to it the majority of the time since she's become so food oriented in her later years. Now when Morpheus barks at the pantry door, I would say, "No more. The holidays are over." I'm sure it's very confusing for him because he doesn't know when the holidays ended. So, he would tilt his head and give me a look that said, "What, no treats? What happened? I got treats before when I'd bark at this door."

The last thing I want is for my dogs to get fat. I've seen too many dogs who are overweight from over feeding and/or lack of exercise. The extra weight creates too much stress on their joints as well as their heart. If my dogs were to get fat, it would be my fault since they don't have disposable thumbs to cook their meal or open the pantry door to help themselves with treats. Fortunately, even with all the treats they got during the holidays, they remain lean and healthy.

There was a time when Morpheus was fat, and neither Augustine nor I was to blame. Morpheus was a little over a year old when Augustine and I went on vacation for ten days. My mom was going to take care of Ripley and Morpheus so we dropped them off at her house. We didn't have Elektra yet. I instructed my mom on when and how much to feed the two of them. "Yes, anak," my mom had said. (Anak means child in Tagalog, one of the dialects in the Philippines) Great, I thought, she knew what to do. Pertinent to this story is knowing Morpheus' breed. He's a handsome Pit Bull mixed with Lab. So, when we dropped Morpheus off at my mom's, he was a svelte, muscular looking Pit Bull. You couldn't even see the Lab in him.

Eleven days later, we were back at my mom's house to pick up our dogs. We saw Ripley immediately since she was in the living room. She looked the same as the day we dropped her off. Morpheus wasn't present so I asked my mom, "Where's Morpheus?"

"Oh, he's in the back yard playing with the other dogs." My mom disappeared into the kitchen and we heard her calling Morpheus' name. Within seconds Morpheus ran from the kitchen to the living room sensing that Augustine and I were there.

Augustine and I were astonished and aghast. Running towards us with excitement was a Lab that looked like a stuffed sausage with four legs and a tail. Yikes, Morpheus had turned into a porker!!!

"Morphie!" I said happily, even though in my mind I was thinking, what the heck happened to my muscular boy?!!

After hugging and kissing Morpheus, I asked my mom, "How many times did you feed Morpheus?"

"Twice, just like you said," answered my mom in her thick Filipino accent.

Hmmm..."Well, how much food did you give him?" I asked.

"What you told me to give him," she replied.

"Are you sure?" I asked dubiously. There was no way Morpheus could have gained so much weight in ten days if my mom had followed my feeding instructions. "Then, why does he look so fat?" I finally asked.

"I don't know," she said. "I gave him some treats but that's it."

Okay, the truth comes out, I thought. "Well, how often did you give him treats?" I asked slowly.

"I don't know. He kept asking for a treat so I gave it to him," said my mom. She acted as if there was nothing wrong with Morpheus' size.

Oiy...I was mentally shaking my head. Judging from his now rotund size, Morpheus must have been asking for a treat every hour and my mom was gladly giving him one each time. I bit my tongue and held back what I wanted to say. I understood. Even though I was a little annoyed, I realized that my mom was just being a typical grandmother to her granddog. She couldn't deny Morpheus of what he wanted. How could she? You look at his face and you melt from the cuteness he exudes. Upon examining Morpheus, it made me think of that old commercial about the Ball Park Franks hot dog with their slogan, "They plump when you cook them!" which was exactly what happened to Morpheus. Thank god nothing like that happened to Ripley.

As we drove home from my mom's house, Augustine had said so solemnly, "I think your mom lost Morpheus and didn't know how she would tell us. So, she found this dog and tried to pass him off for Morpheus. We're going home with a different dog. Our dog is gone." I could only laugh in response. Poor Augustine. He was still in shock with Morpheus' transformation.

Truly, the physical change that occurred with Morpheus was dramatic. His body structure and face no longer resembled a Pit Bull. He was all Lab, and a fat one at that. To this day, I still cannot believe how different Morpheus looked before and after my mom's house. Needless to say, that was the last time my mom took care of Morpheus. I don't remember how long it took for us to help Morpheus slim down but I do know that a lot of hiking was involved.

How can you tell if your dog is overweight? Well, if you can't see a rib near his waistline, then most likely your dog needs to lose weight. A dog is totally dependent on their human parents for food and exercise. Unfortunately, some owners think that they don't need to walk their dogs just because they have a big back yard. Hello!!! A dog will NOT exercise on their own just because the back yard is big. Unless there are a lot of critters running around all the time teasing your dog to catch them, chances are the dog will just sit there and sun tan. My back yard is spacious with plenty of trees and I know of two squirrels that taunt Morpheus and Elektra into action. The squirrels run or jump from tree to tree which sends Morpheus and Elektra into motion. However, that activity is not enough to consider it exercise because most of the time they are sitting and waiting for the squirrels to make their move. Thus, Morpheus, Elektra and Ripley get their daily walk for exercise.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, if your new year's resolution is to lose weight, start an exercise regimen or want to eat better and you have a dog who's also overweight, make it a priority to do the same for your dog. Dogs truly need exercise and nutritious foods just like we do to keep them trim and healthy. Walking your dog allows you and your beloved dog the daily exercise you both need as well as strengthen the bond you have between you. Regular exercise is a factor for longevity. So, if you love yourself and your dog, include exercise in your routine. At least, do it for your dog, and the new year is a wonderful time to make a fresh start. Finally, may this "odd" year be as magnificent for you and your dog as I anticipate mine to be.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Any comment is welcomed.

Merry Holiday

2010-12-22T20:00:00.000-08:00

By god, it's beyond the middle of December already? And, Christmas is fast approaching! Where did the time go?...who knows? But, ahhh, the holiday season is amongst us, and I love it! I love the lights and decorations that people put up and many more people seem to be in a brighter mood (that is, when they're not at the mall shopping). Usually, the weather is crisp and cool, and the air seems electrified, or maybe it's just me emanating the joy I feel! Okay, the weather we've been having lately is starting to bog me down. I love the rain but this ongoing rain is insane! It has NOT let up. My plants are drowning along with the earthworms. I swear I have not seen a single earthworm come up for air in my front or back yard, probably because this excess water has killed them is what I'm thinking.

Furthermore, all this rain is disrupting my dogs' desire to pee and poop. My poor dogs don't want to do their business...well, except for Morpheus. He's the only one not bothered by the rain. Ripley, the little queen that she is, does everything she can to avoid having water touch her paws which is impossible with this weather. Elektra, who neither likes the idea of getting wet nor the unpredictable sounds that can occur from rain, loves sitting underneath the small walkway in front of the house to feel the cold air. She sits there for about an hour and then is ready to come into the warm house.

Although I enjoy Christmas like most people, it is not my favorite holiday because it's become too commercialized for me. Also, I dislike the pressure of having to shop for someone and trying to figure out what to get. Where and when did we get this idea of gift giving anyway? From the Three Wise Kings bearing gifts? I thought Christmas was about bringing good cheer and love towards men? Well, I suppose exchanging gifts is a wonderful way to that, until, of course, it becomes an obligation or you are expected to give a gift, then it becomes stressful. I do enjoy buying gifts for people, but it is unpleasant shopping when there are hundreds of people shopping at the same time. And, it's never fun to witness some people transform into aggressive lunatics when trying to vie for a parking space at the mall.

Recently, I had a conversation with Augustine regarding gift giving as we were driving to the movie theatre. I was curious to see what he wanted for Christmas. Basically, he said that there was nothing he needed or wanted. Sounded good to me, I thought. However, after a moment, he continued.

"All I ever get are sweaters and pajamas for Christmas," he said with a hint of complaint.

Oh-oh..."I thought you liked pajamas," I said, as I thought about the nice pajamas I had just gotten him recently that just happened to arrive in the mail two days ago and were safely hidden away.

"I didn't say I didn't like pajamas. It's just that I'm a musician and nobody has ever thought of giving me a gift card from Guitar Center," he replied.

So true, I thought. Fortunately, besides those pajamas I had bought him, I had already decided to get him a gift card from Guitar Center. Also, I did make it a point to tell my sisters this year to get Augustine a gift card from Guitar Center instead of getting him the usual sweater he gets from them every year. Geez, after all these years we've been together, I never even thought of Guitar Center even though I knew he often bought things there. It only hit me after Augustine's exasperated bewilderment last Christmas when he said, "Why doesn't anyone give me a gift card from Guitar Center? Chino always gets them." Chino is a long time friend of his who is also a guitarist but not as good as Augustine in my opinion. So, I made a mental note of his manly whining, and I remembered for this Christmas.

I am embarrassed to say that I was a perfect example of how clueless a person can be when it came to knowing what gift to give someone you know very well. Gosh, it would be easier if he were a dog. A dog wouldn't care what gift you give him. Take Morpheus as an example. He would be thrilled with one squeaky toy more than food itself. A squeaky toy would delight the dickens out of him. On the other hand, Ripley would always choose food (meat, that is, since she's not partial to fruits or vegetables) over a silly toy. Elektra would be excited with either. She doesn't discriminate. And, if they didn't get anything at all, they would still be content. My point is they don't expect any presents for Christmas nor do they care if they don't get any, which is refreshing and a relief. Because of their lack of expectations and carelessness, it makes me want to give them anything they want. Wouldn't it be nice if the majority of people felt the same way? Not expecting anything but always appreciative if they did get something.

I endeavor to be appreciative of whatever I get but it doesn't always work out that way, especially when I suspect I might be getting something I don't want. Augustine had asked me what I wanted for Christmas this past weekend as we were waiting for our breakfast to be served at Mimi's.

"I really don't want anything. Get me whatever, I don't care," I said. It was true. I've been buying myself presents throughout the year that there was nothing I could think of to want.

He looked over to my purse and asked, "Where did you get that purse?"

"Ooh, I love this purse. It's so functional. I got it when I was in Boston," I said. I paused for a moment, then asked, "Were you thinking of buying me a purse?"

"Well, you said I could give you whatever I wanted," he replied.

"But I don't want a purse," I quickly said. "I have so many."

"Then, what do you want?" he asked again.

"I don't know," I answered.

"Then, I'll just give you money," Augustine said with some resignation.

"Money??!!" I said indignantly. "Why would you just give me money? That seems so impersonal."

Augustine didn't say anything else. He just looked at me, put his lips together in a tight smile and shook his head at me. I knew what he was thinking but I decided to play dumb because I knew that plenty of people would love to get money for Christmas.

"What?" I asked, attempting to sound innocent. "Fine, get me whatever you want but don't get me a purse."

Poor Augustine. Sometimes, I don't make it easy for him. I'm sure he was tempted to bop me on the head the way Moe would do to Curly from The Three Stooges to remind me to be appreciative of whatever I got. Clearly, appreciation wasn't in my mind at the time. To my weak defense, our conversation occurred before our breakfast arrived, so I was pretty hungry which clouded my thinking.

Yes, in retrospect, it made me question myself. Did I forget the meaning of Christmas? It's not about getting presents, although some people may think so. I mean, how fortunate was I to even have someone want to buy me a purse or offer to give me money? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy receiving presents just like anybody else, but presents are truly just a result of Christmas and not the reason. I supposed if I were Ripley, I would have just said, "Thanks daddy, a purse would be lovely," and that would be it. But, hey, being human with particular preferences, it didn't happen that way, which is probably the reason Augustine usually ends up giving me gift cards from stores he knows I frequent.

When I think of the meaning of Christmas, I automatically think of my dogs. Christmas for me is to spread love, peace and joy, and my dogs certainly do that for me all year round. They don't wait for the Christmas season to come. Also, they don't expect any gifts. They are happy just to be with me because they love me. Isn't that a gift in itself? Being content just because you are with them...it's the best! And, I am blessed with three of them. In this respect, I strive to be like my dogs. To be satisfied just to be around people you love, sharing joy and laughter with them, and it costs absolutely nothing to do that. Christmas is not about stressing and rushing because you haven't gone shopping or you don't know what gift to give or worrying if your gift is enough, etc. It's not about those trivial things. We humans get so caught up with the material stuff that surrounds Christmas that we tend to forget the spiritual essence of it.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one, then you will know that having a dog will always bring love and good cheer in your house whether it be Christmas or not. They will brighten you up like a lit Christmas tree that lights and decorations would be unnecessary. This year I opted not to get a Christmas tree or put up any decorations just because I haven't had the time. However, because of the love and funny personalities that Ripley, Morpheus and Elektra display every day, I am always filled with happiness, love and laughter just being around them. If Santa truly existed and he had the power and ability to give me anything I wanted, I would ask him to add ten more healthy years to each of my dogs' lives. Now, that would be the most perfect Christmas gift for me. Regardless, my dogs are and have been the best gift ever to have come into my life. Merry Holiday!!!

Thank you for reading my blog. Any comment is welcomed.

A Halloween Story

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

October is one of my favorite months just because you can really feel the change in the air that tells you that fall has finally decided to arrive even though it officially came late September. In California, fall never really starts until the days have become shorter and it's safe to keep a blanket on the bed at nights. Although, having dogs in your bed is just as good if not better than a blanket. Now that the nights have been consistently chilly, I welcome Morpheus' body wedged between me and the open window of our bedroom. He's like a warm pillow I can just hug until I get too hot. It's absolutely lovely!

But Halloween is what most people think about when we're in the month of October. It's supposed to be the most terrifying time of the year, and who doesn't like a good fright every now and then. I enjoy a scary movie as long as nothing happens to the dog, if there is one. I'm not talking about blood and gore scary. That's just special effects and no story line. I'm talking about suspense and mystery like "The Sixth Sense" or "The Others." Those movies gave me the willies.

I do have my own creepy story that really happened when Ripley and I were living in Reseda years ago. It was at night, and I was on the phone with my best friend Sadhna in my bedroom. As we were talking, the other line beeped, since I had call waiting. My sister Jennifer was on the other line. She told me that she had just spoken to our dad. My dad had wanted her to open her bible to a certain page and keep it open. I don't recall which page it was supposed to be but having the bible open to this particular page would apparently ward off any evil spirits. After having spoken to Jennifer, my dad told her to "tell your sisters."

"Are you serious?" I asked skeptically after listening to my sister.

"Yes, that's what Dad said," Jennifer replied.

"Why would I want to do that? There's nothing going on here," I said.

Being the eldest sister, Jennifer gave an exasperated sigh and said, "Arlene, just do it, okay?"

"Fine," I said with resignation. I figured that there was no harm in opening up a bible and leaving it like that. I told Jennifer that I was on the other line with Sadhna so I had to go.

"Hey Sadhna. Sorry, that was Jennifer," I said.

I recounted what Jennifer had told me as I walked to grab the bible that my dad had bamboozled me into getting. I opened the bible to the page I was told and left it open on the foot of my bed. Ripley was curled up near the head of the bed undisturbed as Sadhna and I continued our conversation.

About ten minutes later, Ripley got up suddenly and started barking. I didn't pay much attention until she continued barking. When I looked at Ripley, I noticed that she was barking at something near the edge of the bed. Her head was tilted upwards and her attention was focused.

"What is she barking at?" Sadhna asked finally.

"I have no idea, but she's looking at something," I replied. I continued to watch Ripley who would not stop barking.

A couple more minutes lapsed before I said, "Ripley, that's enough. You're okay," in hope of trying to soothe her. But she was relentless, and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable because it wasn't Ripley's normal behavior. Something was there and it seemed to be taunting Ripley.

Feeling distracted and unable to listen fully to Sadhna, I asked, "Can I call you later? There's something going on. Ripley's never acted like this before."

"Sure, of course. Call me when you can," Sadhna said.

After I hung up the phone, I asked Ripley, "What's going on?"

Ripley never took her eyes away from whatever it was that captured her attention. She was at the edge of the bed very near the area where I had placed the open bible. When I gave my attention to the area of her focus, I felt that there was something present even though I couldn't see anything.

For those of you who don't know me personally, I am very sensitive to energy. Ever since I was very young, I was able to feel the presence of beings that other people in my family could not feel nor see. There were many times when I was younger that I could actually see them, but now that I am older, I can only see them if I have my eyes closed. Otherwise, I can only feel them. It's bizarre and I don't understand the reason for it.

Because I wanted to see Ripley's instigator, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes briefly. Immediately, I saw what Ripley was barking at. It was a formless figure that was familiar to me. It was familiar in the sense that I had seen its form before. If you can imagine a very tall shadow with no distinct arms or legs as if the figure were wearing a hooded robe, then that was the shape standing at the foot of my bed observing Ripley and seeming to be fascinated by her. Because I felt that this entity was just standing there, I firmly told it to go away. But it would not budge. So, I tried once more in the most forceful yet composed tone I could muster. Still no reaction. It remained stubbornly immovable.

"Get out of here," I finally shouted. "You're scaring my dog." Not to mention frightening me, I thought.

I felt my heart racing and my breathing slightly rapid. I waited for a few seconds to see what would happen as I slowed down the effects of the adrenaline that had rushed through me as I yelled, and allowed my bronchioles that were still reverberating to settle.

To my relief, Ripley stopped barking and finally gave her attention to me. I knew that the entity was gone because I could no longer feel it. I picked up Ripley and told her that everything was okay. I looked over to my alarm clock which told me it was after eleven. Time for bed. Even though my breathing had normalized, I still felt a little shaken. I took the open bible, closed it firmly and set it back on the bookcase near my bed. It was too much of a coincidence that something came to my bedroom soon after opening it.

After I changed into my pajamas, I turned the light off near my bed and curled up under the comforter with Ripley. In less than a minute, I felt Ripley's body tense up. Before I could say anything, she got out from the comforter, off the bed and ran towards the doorway. My bedroom door was open exposing the hallway that led to the living room. Ripley was angry as her barking began again.

Oh crap, I thought. It came back and was hovering at the doorway. I sensed its presence again. Ripley's incessant barking made me feel angry as well. My anger was directed towards the entity that wouldn't leave my apartment. I sat up and turned the lights on.

"I want you out!" I roared towards my bedroom door. "Get the hell out! And leave my dog alone!" I trembled as the words came out of my mouth. I was livid. It's amazing the courage you can summon for the sake of your dog.

Once again, after a few seconds, Ripley stopped barking. So, I called her to come back to bed which she did obediently. As soon as she reached the bed, she immediately went under the comforter and snuggled next to me. I just held her securely which helped me calm down. I closed my eyes to see if there was anything at the doorway. Whatever it was was dissipating but still lingering. There was just a thin shadow. So, I visualized white light enveloping Ripley and I as I was taught to do for protection. Whether it worked or not, who knows. The only thing that mattered was the comfort I felt from the visualization. After ignoring the urge to go to the bathroom (I did not want to collide with the wisp of a silhouette that was still at my doorway), Ripley and I finally fell asleep without further disturbance.

What happened that night in my Reseda apartment had never happened again. But then, I never opened my bible to that particular page to ensure that unwanted entities stayed away. When my dad found out about what had occurred, he wanted to have my apartment blessed, which didn't happen. Instead, my dad got a priest he knew to bless me over the phone a couple of days later. I think the blessing was more for my dad's assurance than my own because I knew nothing else would happen to me as long as I kept my bible shut.

After that incident, I did ask myself these questions: did I invite the entity to come into my bedroom because I opened up the bible? Perhaps, some words in that particular page of the bible were enticing to spirits? Or was the entity already there and was provoked to reveal itself by opening the bible? I believe it must have been summoned by opening the bible, otherwise, I would have felt it sooner. And, Ripley would have definitely sensed it as well. She's like a cat in that regards. Witches have cats because of their ability to detect spirits, and therefore can be alerted.

Even though Ripley and I had never had another visitor from the non-physical realm again in that Reseda apartment, it certainly wasn't the last time I saw those shapeless entities. Regardless, they are harmless, unless you surrender your power to them, meaning you allow your imagination or fear to get the better of you. Whether they are evil or not is questionable. I still have yet to understand and accept with satisfaction the reason spirits lurk amongst us physical beings. What is their purpose? The last sinister entity I encountered was many years ago when I was in school for Chinese Medicine. The entity actually laughed in my ear when I was in a vulnerable state (I had needles in me since I was getting an acupuncture treatment at the school's clinic). I was petrified because I knew as soon as I felt it enter the treatment room that it was not friendly. But that's another story and no dog was included in that one.

Love, love your dog. If you don't have one, then adopt or save one. Then, on the ghoulish night of Halloween, pay close attention to your dogs. You may have a dog like Ripley who is catlike and able to perceive spirits or ghosts roaming about. If your dog starts barking with focused attention at an empty space, you better believe that something is present. Dogs hear, smell and sense so much better than we do. We are NOT alone. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Any comment is welcomed.

To Blossom

2010-08-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

Through the years of working with my doggie patients and getting to know their owners, I find myself truly blessed in the relationships I have formed with many of them. I enjoy my time treating my doggie patients as well as conversing with their owners. The more I know about the owners the better I can assist their dogs in their recovery as the owners are a big component in that process. And, I believe it is also therapeutic for some clients as we talk about life in general. But there are some owners and their beloved dogs with whom I have formed close attachments making it so difficult for me when one passes on and departs our material world as we know it.

Almost a week ago, one of my doggie patients, Blossom, unexpectedly died. Blossom and her human mom, who I will call "T", are one of those clients with whom I have formed a close bond during the many times I have treated Blossom. Blossom, who was fourteen and a half years old, had her set of health issues. However, the last time I gave her an acupuncture treatment, a few days before her passing, Blossom was doing great. She was alert, affectionate and frisky. So, I was shocked to have "T" tell me that she had passed away. It left a heaviness in my heart the whole day. "T" suspected that Blossom had a stroke that took her life quickly. Fortunately for Blossom, it was sudden. Unfortunately for "T", the suddenness of her death was so devastating since she didn't anticipate it, and it didn't help that "T" was unable to say good-bye properly.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, dogs come to us for a reason. They could be teaching us aspects of ourselves via their displayed behavior or by helping us to learn patience or find strength within us. Years prior when "T" was at the pound hoping to find another dog to help her get over the loss of another, Blossom came along. Blossom had chosen "T" to be her human mom even though there was another family interested in Blossom. It was as if Blossom had the foresight to know that "T" needed her, and therefore behaved so adorably cute making it difficult for "T" to resist her.

Knowing "T"'s history, there was a lot of hardship that she endured since childhood through her adult life. Her experience toughened her up and probably caused her to guard not only her heart but her whole being. Blossom's history paralleled "T"'s in that she also came from struggle and tribulation. Both she and "T" wanted a better, happier life. So, they were well matched. I suspect that having Blossom in her life, helped "T" slowly tear down the wall she had built around herself and rediscover living fully once again. Only a dog, who has a pure heart and loves unconditionally, has the power to draw us humans out from our darkness.

Oddly, "T" informed me that minutes before Blossom's death, she had said to Blossom, "How could I manage without you?" Blossom had reminded her mom that it was time for dinner. After eating her meal with much vigor, she went to the another room whereby the sound of a thud was soon heard. "T" and her husband found Blossom collapsed on the floor with her legs contorted. They couldn't help her because the life within her was already gone.

I am certain that Blossom's mom did not expect her rhetorical question to be answered with Blossom's death. However, because it was, it led me to believe that perhaps Blossom wanted her human mom to know that indeed she was strong enough to manage without her. It was time for "T" to claim the person she had "blossomed" to be and Blossom knew it. She was, of course, a very smart girl. And, because she knew it, she was ready to depart from her physical body. Blossom had accomplished her task in teaching her human mom what she needed to learn. "T" had told me a number of times how much she depended on Blossom. Sometimes, when we depend on someone, we forget that we can depend on ourselves to do what the other person had taken on to do for us. I admit that I have a tendency to do the same sometimes. For example, in the past, Augustine would normally take out the trash bins onto the street for trash day. I relied on him to do that. But now that Augustine is never home during the morning of trash day, I have to be the one to do it. Poor analogy, I know. It was the only one I can think of at this moment. But I hope it got my point across.

Because of Blossom's death, I could not help but think about the idea of death. I had a conversation with a friend of mine a couple of months ago about this topic. My friend was afraid of death because he saw it as the end of life as he knew it. He was surprised to find out that I had no fear of dying. I did not have the same belief as he did. I believe that dying is only the end of our physical body. But our non-physical self which is our consciousness, spirit, soul, energy or whatever you want to call it, continues to exist.

"Will I recognize you in your non-physical self?" my friend asked me.

"Yes, you will," I replied.

"How will I know it's you?," he asked.

"You'll know just from my energy," I said.

"How do you know these things? I've never read that anywhere," he said. (Clearly, we read different books.)

"I just know," I simply said.

My friend is not alone in his thinking. How WILL my friend know it's me? Okay, obviously I've never been dead before or least do not have the memory of being non-physical energy. But I have felt the presence of people who have died without actually seeing them. I knew who they were because individuals emanate a unique vibration or energy about them, and if you allow yourself to be aware of your feelings and trust them, you will recognize the energy of the person. So, if I were to die and my spirit decided to visit my friend, I know he will feel my vibration and recognize it to be me. When "T" came to my human office for an acupuncture treatment for herself the day after Blossom had passed, I felt Blossom's presence in the treatment room. I knew Blossom was there to comfort her grieving mom.

In studying Chinese Medicine, I learned that everything was energy or vibration, and energy is synonymous to consciousness in my opinion. In death, our corporal self (our physical body) dies while our ethereal self (our non-physical self or soul) flits onto the non-physical world until it is ready to enter another physical body. Therefore, nothing really dies. It just gets transformed into another form whether we can see it or not. This concept is not exclusive to the study of Chinese Medicine because I've read it in other books. And, really, if you think about nature itself, it is always transforming into something else. We understand this with water as it evaporates and becomes part of the air, i.e. humidity (yuck!) or a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly. In physics, the concept that energy is never lost but transformed is accepted.

Dogs are not so different from humans. They too have their ethereal self which travels into the non-physical realm until they decide to enter another body or their previous owners strongly call for them emotionally that they come back to visit temporarily. Have you ever sensed the presence of a beloved dead dog? The reason you can feel that dog's presence is because she is really there with you but in a non-physical form. Just because you cannot see the energy of the dog doesn't mean it doesn't exist. But you can feel it. It may be difficult for some of you to grasp this idea or believe it, and it makes no difference to me because everyone has the right to their own belief. However, if you can wrap this idea around your head that everything is just energy so that nothing or nobody living can really die but is transformed into a different state of being, then doesn't that give you some ease and comfort when you do lose a loved one? Maybe then, it would be easier for us to let go.

I loved Blossom also and was therefore saddened with the news of her death and felt the weight of grief in my heart. However, I refuse to look at Blossom's death as something final or negative. I would rather celebrate the love and lessons she had given to her mom and those who loved her and be grateful of the fact that now she is pain free from all the physical ailments that she had. But focusing on the good memories and finding relief from their ailments is a difficult behavior for many people when it comes to the death of their beloved dog. People tend to focus on their loss and feelings of emptiness which is a normal reaction to death.

One reason some of us cannot focus on the relief that our dog has gotten from death is sometimes our attachment to our dogs is stronger than the one we have with people we love, making the loss more severe. Also, we humans are selfish creatures by nature which means our needs supersede that of others. And, there is nothing wrong with being selfish because we need to be that way with regards to our health, happiness and overall well-being. I know that it's easier said than done. I would hope that when it's time for one of my sweet dogs to pass on, I will have the discipline and strength to focus on the relief that she/he has gotten from the transition. I told Ripley recently, since I was writing this blog, that if she were ready to go, I will be happy to let her go but that I would prefer it that she wasn't ready. Yes, that was somewhat conditional of me to say but as I said, we humans are selfish beings.

I know in my heart that Blossom is still with us as well as those other doggie patients of mine who are now in their non-physical form romping around "doggie heaven". It's not a figment of our imagination when we feel their presence especially if there was no intention of conjuring a memory of them. I've heard of people who have lost their beloved dog and then later on find a dog who behaved exactly like their old dog. And, they would swear it was the same dog reincarnated. It happens. As I said previously, energy and consciousness are the same to me. So, these dogs, in their non-physical form, who return to the material world in another body, had the consciousness to find their former owner. Amazing, isn't it? I find it so. I was told by an animal communicator that Elektra had come back to find me. Perhaps, in a past life (if you believe in that), she was my dog. It made me happy to hear that because it confirmed my belief that our spirit or energy lives on after death.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, think about those documented accounts of people who have died temporarily and come back into their bodies to tell about their experiences from beyond. Most of them described after death as a peaceful and happy sensation. Sounds good to me. Since dogs are like us, I am sure they have similar experiences. I know that most of you who read my blog love, LOVE your dog as I do. I tell my dogs often, "I'm so in-love with you guys. Do you know that?" And, they do. I'm sure that's how "T" felt about Blossom. Blossom was appropriately named as she helped "T" to blossom just as all of our dogs have helped us to do. We become better human beings because of them. We peel the layers of ourselves to find patience, tolerance, strength, etc. because of the love we have for our dog. Consequently, we blossom much like a bud that unfolds its petals becoming a beautiful flower. Let us cherish and rejoice in their transition into non-physical when they are ready to do so. Let us replace our feelings of loss, sadness and loneliness to gratitude, happiness and fullness. Gratitude for the flower they helped us become. Happiness in knowing that they are relieved from their physical pain or discomfort and are completely healthy again. Fullness because they had enriched our lives with their presence. Let us not diminish what they have given us by focusing on the negative. It's the least we can do for our beloved dogs. Death is neither final nor dismal. We are part of nature, and like nature, we transform. Have comfort in that thought and know that our loving dog will always be with us.

Thank you so much for visiting my biweekly blog. I was in hiatus for the month of July. Any comment is welcomed.

Ripples

2010-06-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

If you've read my profile, you would know that my favorite movie was Avatar. I loved everything about it, so I was bummed when it didn't win for Best Picture at the Oscars. Many people I spoke with about the movie said that it was a simple story that was unoriginal. Yeah? Well, it was still awesome! Its simplicity just made it easier to relay its message, AND it was the message that I loved so much. So, I was happy that it made megabucks at the box office because it's indicative of people being open to its message which was about interconnectedness.

One is affected by the other and therefore an action taken by one will have an impact on the other whether good or bad. It's like the ripple effect when you throw a pebble on a body of water, and you see the ripples of the water pulsating outward from where the pebble landed. Many individuals don't believe that their actions and/or thoughts necessarily affect a large number of people which is one reason people do not vote in the U.S. They don't believe it would make a difference. But each vote counts just as one action or thought can make a difference because the energy behind that one action or thought reverberates.

I loved the line in the movie, "I see you." The main characters of Avatar said it to each other at the end of the movie. My understanding of these three little words is that the characters see the essence of each other, acknowledging and respecting their own individuality but also knowing that there is a connection between them. It is that connection, an energetic or vibrational link, that exist in everything living which unifies us.

It seems to me that a growing number of people are looking for that connection with others and the environment in which they live. Many more people seem to be aware and concern about our affects on the earth, i.e. global warming. I believe this is the reason Facebook is so popular. It connects you with people with whom you may have lost contact. Although, I notice also that there are some "friends" who connect with you and then never hear from again after you've accepted them as a "friend." It is almost as if some people are trying to get as many "friends" as possible for their own ego rather than sincerely connecting with each friend, which would take a lot of time if you truly had over one hundred close friends. Perhaps, these individuals, who we never hear from again after accepting them as a "friend", are not ready to connect on any level other than an electronic one which Facebook or Myspace is. However, whatever reason they may have had to connect, the desire to connect was still there nonetheless.

Taking a microcosm of this idea of interconnectedness, I thought about the human body. Every cell in the human body has a consciousness whether you believe it or not. A cluster of cells is a tissue, a group of tissue is an organ and so on and so forth, finally comprising of the entire human body. As a comparison, you may consider a cell as an individual, a tissue as a family, and an organ as a group of families forming a society and so forth. Therefore, looking at all the individual cells of the human body, you may compare it to the population of people living in our planet. Respectively, the human body is similar to earth which sustains the people.

In Chinese Medicine, there is a life force or energy called "qi" that is ubiquitous in the body. Without "qi", there can be no body because it gives life to every cell in our body as it propels the blood to move, and blood contains the nutrients and oxygen which feeds the cells just as there can be no earth without the energetic force that maintains and sustains it.

How does a dog come into this topic? Most people consider their dog as part of the family. I certainly do. I consider each of my dogs as an individual. So, if something were to happen to one of them, it would naturally affect our family unit. I remember a few years ago on a Sunday morning. I had let the dogs out in the back yard because Morpheus and Elektra were barking at something to which I didn't pay attention, mostly because I was still half asleep. A few minutes later, I heard the sound of a cat fighting. I immediately ran outside to find a fairly big cat attached to Morpheus' face and chest. Morpheus was trying to pry off the cat whose claws were securely fastened on the sides of his face and chest. I screamed, "Away," at Morpheus who quickly stopped struggling with the cat and looked at me, which caused the cat to let go of him and hurriedly ran away.

Needless to say, Morpheus was injured. He had open wounds that were bleeding on his face and chest where the cat's claws were anchored during their fight. As Morpheus walked towards me, I noticed a limp in one of his forelimbs. Looking at Morpheus, I instantly panicked. Should I take him to the emergency? Fortunately, my fear and indecision only lasted a few seconds because soon after that I knew what I needed to do.

After helping him on our bed, I asked Augustine to wipe down his open wounds with hydrogen peroxide as I retrieved my cold laser and a pack of needles. The cold laser not only helps bring down pain and inflammation but it helps repair and heal open wounds. So, I was grateful to have it. I gave Morpheus an acupuncture treatment to calm him down since I could tell he was still frazzled from the fight as well as treated his elbow of the forelimb that limped. After his acupuncture treatment, I gave him an herbal antibiotic to prevent any infection from the open wound. I always have a bottle of the herbal antibiotic in my pantry just because it had come in handy in the past. As Morpheus rested, I wrapped his injured elbow to immobilize it. In the evening, I iced his elbow just in case.

Since I didn't want Morpheus jumping on and off the bed, I had Augustine put the mattress from our guest bedroom on our living room floor. That night, we all slept in the living room. Even though Morpheus was almost back to normal the next day, we didn't walk the dogs. I supposed we could have walked Ripley and Elektra but we didn't want Morpheus to feel left out. Being a sensitive boy, he would get a little depressed. Ripley and Elektra didn't seem to mind not being walked. They seemed to understand especially after I explained to them the reason. We actually started walking the dogs four days after Morpheus' injury because he didn't exhibit a hint of discomfort or limping. Of course, it was a slower and shortened walk. However, we continued to sleep in the living room for over a week to make sure that Morpheus didn't do any jumping. It wasn't very comfortable because Augustine and I were cramped with the three dogs on a queen size mattress. But we tolerated it for Morpheus' sake. Also, during the week, Morpheus got acupuncture treatment almost everyday. He was a happy boy because of it.

Because of Morpheus' injury, we were all affected by it in some degree. We had to change our normal routine to accommodate Morpheus. As a family unit, we are interconnected and therefore affect each other, whether it's due to a physical condition that limits either one of us or an emotional state that causes stress. The affect on Augustine or I can consequently influence our behavior with people outside our family unit just because of our interaction with others. And, those others may affect many more and so forth. The affect may be slight and subtle or profound and apparent. Regardless, there is an affect. Thus, depending on our physical, emotional or mental state, we can cause an energetic wave rippling across whether we are conscious of it or not. Most people are not aware of it. But we are all linked vibrationally.

Going back to the words "I see you," it's so much easier to say these words to my dogs and feel the meaning behind them than to say them to people. I don't know if you feel the same way or can relate to this, but when I talk to my dogs, and not necessarily saying these three little words to them, but just having a conversation with them, they are not dogs to me. I feel as if I am conversing with a consciousness that is unconditional love and happiness to which is what I am connected. I respect and acknowledge who they are as individuals but I know that we are part of each other, and this is why I feel their limitations when they are experiencing one and vice versa. We all have this unconditional love and happiness within us. We are just distracted. We have allowed our daily routines to takeover our consciousness making it difficult for us to "see" each other as we truly are.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, think about all those people in your lives that you influence in one way or another. Yes, some of us are aware of how our actions and thoughts can affect our dog and vice versa. But we are less inclined to be conscious of them with the people around us. As I said, every living thing is interconnected. A diseased liver can affect other organs in the body and thereby weaken the entire body just as the contaminated Gulf of Mexico is affecting not only its sea life but also human lives whose livelihood has been lost. Certainly, other ramifications will emerge showing the affects of the oil spillage on other living things and elements of our earth. And, I am sure that the lack of foresight to have any safety back up plan that would have prevented the damage that continues to occur in the Gulf started with one person's thought who influenced others to think the same way. Let us be mindful of our thoughts and actions with ourselves, our family unit and outside of the unit because we do create energetic ripples that will affect everyone eventually.

Thank you for visiting my now biweekly blog. The managing of work, personal and home life with all of my wonderful activities made me realize that a biweekly blog is more realistic for now. Any comments is truly welcomed.

Reflection of Us

2010-06-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I listened to an audio by Deepak Chopra. It was the one about happiness. What caused my ears to perk up was when Deepak started to talk about Cesar Millan. Apparently, Cesar had told Deepak that American dogs were unhappy compared to Mexican dogs. And, what Cesar would do was put the unhappy American dogs amongst the Mexican dogs and that would normally do the trick. However, there was one American dog that couldn't get over his depression even after spending time with the Mexican dogs. Cesar thought it was odd until he discovered that the dog's owner was chronically depressed. Because of the owner's emotional state, the dog was unable to overcome his own depression. This made perfect sense to me since dogs are so connected with their owners, they become part of their owner's vibrational energy and in doing so help alleviate some of the emotional burden that the owner is carrying.

There was this doggie client a few years ago who had a beagle. The beagle had irritable bowel syndrome as well as a weak hind end. After the third treatment, the beagle wasn't improving much, so I started asking the client questions about herself. I found out that the client was a psychologist and that she too had a bad low back problem and was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome years prior. However, her finance was preventing her from seeking proper care which was causing stress in many aspects of her life. I wasn't surprised that both my doggie client and owner mirrored each other's physical ailments. It happens often. So, I suggested that she took care of her own problems to bring down her stress level which will consequently help her dog's own physical problems. Unfortunately, after that talk, the client and her dog never came back. Perhaps, she felt that I had no right interfering with her problems. My intention was to illuminate how her problems were spilling over to her dog who I was trying to help. Some people just don't like to be confronted with the truth.

Ordinarily, I would think about people like that client and I wonder if they were aware of their emotional impact on their dogs, and then feel sorry for the dogs. However, looking at a different perspective, perhaps our dogs come into our lives to put a mirror in front of us to help us see and scrutinize our emotional turmoil. With that in mind, I asked myself, which dog is a reflection of me? Or, are all of them showing parts of myself that I need to work on but am in denial? Hmmm, I would have to give myself some time to think about that.

About two months ago as I was speaking with one of my doggie clients, the topic of dogs coming into our lives for a reason came up. This particular doggie client has a cattle dog named Chopper. This client had never had a dog like Chopper. He was paranoid, always expecting the worse, and didn't show much affection, all of which were the opposite of the dogs my client was used to having. The other peculiar behavior Chopper had was a fear of men. My client couldn't understand this phobia because she had had Chopper since he was a very young pup and there was no incident that would cause Chopper to develop his phobia. Anyone who had to handle him had to be a woman.

Through the years of observing Chopper and trying to figure out the reason Chopper came into my client's life she finally had an epiphany just a few years ago. Please allow me to recount her story briefly. When she was a young girl, her stepfather attempted to molest her more than once. The last time he tried was when she was fifteen years old. He had chased her around the house and finally had gotten on top of her. Her mother wasn't home. Fortunately, my client was able to fight him off. As a result of her stepfather's last attempt, she tried to commit suicide. Luckily, what my client thought were her mother's sleeping pills were actually her diet pills of which she took a handful. Needless to say, my client lived but had lost fifteen pounds within a week due to the vomiting that occurred during the days that followed her suicidal attempt. She was completely dehydrated. Her parents never took her to the hospital for care and observation.

Because my client basically took amphetamines, she was revved up and talked continuously that she ended up calling her mother and telling her what had happened. Her mother didn't believe her but instead accused her of being in love with her own stepfather. How insane was that thinking? It's appalling that because some mothers are so insecure and afraid of being alone that they would rather be in denial about the truth. Instead of protecting her daughter, my client's mother sided with her husband which, of course, created a slew of emotional and psychological havoc for my client. Why would a mother not take her daughter's side? I don't understand that mentality. If you leave a husband, it would end the relationship. However, if you sever your relationship with your daughter, she remains part of your flesh and blood, and thus there will always be a connection.

My client thought she had worked through her past and had found peace within herself until Chopper came along. He became her mirror that reflected the issue she had not completely resolved. When my client finally realized the origin of Chopper's fear of men, her perception of Chopper completely changed and understood what a gift he was. He represented the wound that was still inside my client, and his behavior reflected the darkness in her life that needed some light.

I felt privileged that this client felt comfortable enough to disclose her personal history to me, and, of course, gave me permission to tell her story if it were to find its way in my blog. This client informed me that she was grateful for Chopper who helped her re-examine herself emotionally. She said that even though her fear of men did not prevent her from loving and enjoying men, the uneasiness towards men was still present. She knows now that she needs to continue working on her anxiety towards men as a result of her attempted molestation. Even though her perpetrator didn't succeed in sexually molesting her, she was traumatized regardless. She said to me, "Although I was never molested, I still had all those feelings of someone who was."

"Of course you would have those feelings," I replied. "You had to ward off an adult man when you were a teenager. That took a lot of courage, AND it was traumatic."

So, if dogs enter our lives to help us by becoming a reflection of us in order to give us awareness of what we are in denial about, then dogs are truly our "guiding" angels manifested. Their mere presence gently reminds us of what might be going on within us. They become a constant reminder until we are ready to confront and deal with our own issues that prevent us from living a healthy existence as well as continuing with our personal growth. Many times the answer we are looking for is right in front of us and we can only see it when we have the clear intention and readiness for it. It is as if your dog is a walking billboard parading your challenges in front of you. Yet, there are some people who do not see it and instead think there is something wrong with the dog.

"Why isn't my dog getting any better?" is what I would hear on rare occasions. When I hear that question, I'm thinking, "Well, what's going on with you that's hindering your dog's health?" Of course, out loud, I would ask in a more diplomatic way. It's funny to me that some owners do not see the influence their emotional state has on their dog. But perhaps it may be that they are unaware or refuse to look at their emotional state because if they did, they would have to do something about it like CHANGE! Not many people want to do that. They would rather continue their self-inflicted suffering since it's easier than changing because it's familiar and therefore comfortable.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, if your dog is exhibiting a behavior that you have no clue where it came from, then look within yourself. You may just find the answer. The dogs that come into our lives, whether accidentally or by choice, have a a reason to be there. I consider them to be a "guiding" angel if they are selected to be with us by divine order to help us look at ourselves in a non-judgmental, subtle way. Our dogs allow humans to be less resistant in making an emotional inventory if they knew it would help their dogs. What I've noticed with the majority of my doggie clients is they are willing to look at any and all possibilities that may be at the root of their dog's behavior and/or physical problem because they love them so much. The consequence of that action may lead to their own enlightenment when the source of the problem points back to them. Many people take offense when a person confronts them of their problem. However, people soften up and are more likely to take responsibility for their behavior when they realize that their dog has been affected by their issue. Dogs are certainly one of our best teachers with regards to learning about ourselves because they teach us by their reflection of us in the most unassuming way.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

Unbroken Family

2010-05-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

As I was washing the dishes this morning trying to think about what to write for this week's entry, I thought about my family. I think my family came to mind because next weekend, they are coming to my house to celebrate the birthdays of my niece and myself. We always get together to celebrate all our birthdays which I believe is not a common practice for many families. Fortunately, we all get along for the most part but it wasn't always that way in the past.

Let me give you some background on my family. My parents divorced when I was sixteen. Initially, both my parents were hesitant to divorce because of my sisters and I. They had four daughters to consider. But because my sisters and I knew how unhappy they were with each other, we encouraged them to divorce. Thank god they listened to us because they were making us so stressed and miserable. Hence, we became one of those broken families which seem to be more common nowadays. My sisters and I stayed with our dad because my mom felt that he was in a better financial position to take care of us. But we visited our mom often since she found an apartment near us.

My mom and dad were on yelling terms especially when my stepmother came along and lived with us. It was uncomfortable to hear criticisms from your mom about your dad and vice versa. My sisters and I just listened and didn't take sides. However, when my eldest sister was about to get married, the day of her wedding rehearsal, I believe my parents realized that they had to get along if they wanted to maintain some sort of family. Also, I'm sure they were thinking about future grandchildren. Once they decided that they were going to put their bad feelings aside and make the family a priority, our family became closely knit. It didn't happen immediately but gradually through the years and with much effort. Before we knew it, our family became unbroken. My mom remarried but never had more kids. My dad remarried and had two more daughters.

Because of what happened to my family, it made me realize early on that the definition of a family is not restricted to blood relations. A family is a unit of people who love and care about each other whether they are a couple and their close friends, a married couple with a few dogs, adoptive parents and their child as was the case with Augustine, etc. A family does not have to consist of only the traditional husband, wife and children.

When a married couple with kids decide to divorce, ordinarily the mother gets the kids, even though that didn't happen with my sisters and I. My mother's decision to have us live with my dad was for our best interest. It was a selfless act on her part. As we got older, my mother's decision proved to be the right choice for my sisters and I as we were able to finish our education and become independent, responsible individuals. When I was younger, I never even thought about why we didn't live with my mom. I think it was because my sisters and I never felt that our mother neither loved nor wanted us. She always made it a point to see us or call when she hadn't heard from us.

This made me think about married couples with dogs. Who gets the dog if both are attached to it? Does the couple get alternate weekends or does the dog go to the most responsible, financially stable one? I would assume that dogs are treated similar to children with regards to visitation rights without the child support...or do they give "doggie support" also? I wonder...

I really don't know of a married couple who had a dog and decided to divorce. But I do know of a few couples who lived together and shared a dog. Normally, the person who owned the dog before they became a couple kept the dog after the separation. There's a couple that I'm thinking of who lived together and had two dogs. The girlfriend of the couple had a female dog before her boyfriend decided to live with her. They were together for five years in which time they had gotten engaged but never set a date for the wedding. During the fourth year of their relationship, they went to the pound to get another dog to keep the older female dog company. They ended up getting a male dog who blended so well with their family. Unfortunately, the relationship fizzled which gradually happened over the last year. The boyfriend moved out and took the male dog since they had more of a bond. However, every once in awhile the ex-girlfriend would set play dates to see the male dog who she missed very much. Because the older female missed the male dog also, the ex-girlfriend ended up getting another male dog.

I had told Augustine what I was writing about for this week's blog and asked him who he thought should have the dogs if we were to separate. Before he answered me, I told him that I would have all the dogs. And, he agreed.

"Really? Why would you say that?" I asked. I was surprised that he would agree so readily. "Wouldn't you want any of the dogs?"

"Of course, I do," he said. "But you notice things about them that I don't see."

He was right. Augustine doesn't touch the dogs the way I do. I know every bump and abnormality that my dogs have on their body. I pay closer attention to their body language so that I know when they need to go potty, not feeling well, etc. Augustine doesn't notice any of that.

"Would you visit them?" I asked.

"Of course I would. They are my babies too," he said simply.

What I forgot to ask was if he would pay "doggie" support, not that I would ask for it. But I was curious to hear what he would say. He'd probably give me his look that said, "Are you kidding me?"

Even though dogs experience grief and can get stressed from adjusting to just having one human parent, I don't think it's to the same extent to what a child or teenager may feel. I think dogs are so much more adaptable than children of divorced parents. It helps that they are focused on the present that the past doesn't really do much damage to them emotionally. I think what helped my sisters and I was that we were in our late teens and we had each other. Before my parents divorced, my sisters and I weren't very close. But afterwards, we leaned on each other for support which brought us closer together. I know that dogs have the same behavior of supporting each other within the family whether or not they came from the same litter.

In a way, people don't truly see their dogs as children because you never hear people say, "Oh yeah, we're staying together because of George, our pug." They would just divorce and may use poor George as leverage for something which would be similar to using kids to get something from the other person. However, people do stay in unhappy marriages for the sake of their kids. They think it's a sacrifice they have to make for the good of the kids. But they don't realize that they are showing their kids that it's okay to stay in an unhealthy relationship where one or both parents are miserable, distant or cold with each other. What kind of role model is that for a relationship? Even if the parents pretended that things were great between them, kids can see right through the pretense. They know the truth even though they may not want to admit it. How healthy is that for the kids? No one benefits in that situation.

But is it really for the kids that parents don't want to divorce or because of their own fear of change and they just use their kids as an excuse? Change is scary. Based on my experience, the kids don't get any "good" from unhappy parents who stay together. What they do get is uncertainty and wariness. My sisters and I felt and saw what the unhappiness did to my mom more than my dad. We had to be so cautious of our behavior when our parents were around each other. It was dreadful. I am sure it affected my sisters and I in different ways since we all perceive and interpret situations in our own way. But hearing and witnessing your parents argue frequently right in front of you is just awful. Gosh, it's the reason I waited so long to marry because I wasn't sure if I wanted to be in a marriage.

People change. Circumstances change. The only thing that stays constant is change. When I was younger, I would hear about people I knew whose parents were divorcing, and I used to think it was terrible. But as I matured and heard my friends talk about divorce, my only question was "Will you be happier?" If so, then get a divorce. The world won't end. Okay, I am not advocating to get a divorce immediately because I do believe in working hard at a marriage. However, if one or both are unwilling to work things out and there's much unhappiness, it's better to separate before things in the marriage become nastier. I truly believe that if the parents are happier divorcing each other, it will automatically trickle down to the children. Yes, kids always want their parents to stay together even though they know that their parents are wretched together but I think that's part of their immaturity. With dogs, they are happy when their owner is happy. It's so much easier to deal with them during a separation.

Sadly, sometimes unhappiness breeds anger and/or resentment in a marriage. I've seen it with my mom, my sisters, and friends who were married. Why put yourself through that? Life is too short to be harboring so much negativity. "The kids! What about the kids?!!," you say. Well, kids really need to know that, no matter what, you love them, you will be there for them, you will continue to provide guidance, discipline and structure for them. You are still a parent regardless of a separation. That is what my parents figured out on the eve of my sister's wedding which allowed them to put aside their differences and were there for my sisters and I. I cannot recall a time when either of my parents were not there for me in childhood or adulthood.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. A dog is part of the family, and when a family breaks apart, a dog's life, like a child's, is disrupted from what it knows of its home life. Depending on who gets the dog, that person needs to give the same love, attention, guidance and discipline in order to maintain normalcy for a better transition to a new life. This is what you would do for children of divorced parents as well. Unfortunately, some parents become so engrossed in their own emotional issues they cannot see past them. Consequently, they fail to meet the needs of their child causing more harm in that respect than the divorce itself. Fortunately, children and dogs are resilient. They can adapt to changes with the help of their parents. A family can always be redefined and become "unbroken". It is a matter of making the family a priority.

Thank you for reading my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

Good Enough

2010-05-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Even though I've been back in Los Angeles for over a week, my internal clock thinks I'm still in New York. I've been waking up so early in the morning whether or not I want to that I've been exhausted. Today was actually the first day I got to do nothing but rest and reflect on what has happened to me in the last couple of weeks. I want to share what I experienced in New York at the Lincoln Center where I did my training because when I came back I truly felt an apparent shift in my energy and consciousness. I don't know if any of you have ever experienced that feeling of knowing that you have changed.

I really didn't know what to expect when I first got to the Lincoln Center except that being in the Bronx, I knew that I would be meeting and seeing some interesting characters. And, yes, there were plenty of different people that I would not normally find either in my human or animal practice. But being exposed to a certain population stretched me as an individual and practitioner for which I was very grateful.

Everyday for a week I was with addicts who were either in recovery, struggling to stay clean or in relapse. But despite their own situation, they were very supportive of each other, had an overall positive attitude and respectful of the staff and us, the trainees giving acupuncture to them. The Lincoln Center, which is an outpatient facility for addicts, gave a structured, organized setting with rules that the patients had to follow in order to continue treatment. I was surprised to see how well the patients adhered to the rules. Through observation, I realized these patients were just people. Unfortunately, there are many people who have a preconceived idea about addicts because of their behavior, appearance, associations, lifestyles, etc. They forget that addicts are people too who just happen to have an addiction and a different mindset.

There was this video that the trainees had to watch where Dr. Michael Smith, the director of the Lincoln Center, compared addicts to adolescents. I was fascinated by the comparison and didn't fully see the truth behind it until I started working on the patients. Dr. Smith had said that addicts like adolescents were insecure, wanted the approval from others, magnified reality amongst other things. Since addicts are similar to adolescents, it is important to have structure and rules for them because it provides a sense of safety and control from knowing what to expect. For the most part, safety and control are things they don't have in their own personal life.

A feeling of insecurity can be a monster in itself. Addicts become insecure because they do not like themselves. Their addictive behavior has negatively transformed them. With adolescents, they are insecure because they are still trying to figure out who they are. But both seek and want approval from others to make themselves feel better about who they are. They have yet to learn that they need to like themselves first and then find the security within themselves which will consequently dissolve their other issues.

With the feeling of insecurity, the issue of low self worth seems to go hand in hand. The question "Am I good enough?" is in the back of their minds. Many of the patients believe that they are not "good enough" which causes them to resort to their addictive behavior to feel numb or to escape from their own body since they are so uncomfortable with themselves. Sadly, a number of them have either been physically, verbally or sexually abused which further distorts their sense of self and image. Non-addicts with insecurity problems have better coping skills and choose a less harmful way to deal with their insecurities.

With regards to dogs concerning this topic, it made me think of Morpheus. Dogs also get insecure and there are causes for it but sometimes the insecurity is there for no apparent reason. I remember when the animal communicator talked to Morpheus. Morpheus' previous owner lived in a half-way house and couldn't keep him. I found out about Morpheus through my sister Dal, who also brought Ripley into my life. Morpheus was only four months old when I brought him home unbeknownst to Augustine. At the age of five, Morpheus had told the animal communicator that no matter what he did for his previous owner, he felt that he wasn't good enough and therefore felt insecure about himself because of it. He said he never felt loved with his previous owner. Isn't it amazing that a four month old pup would have that feeling?

But, the first time I touched Morpheus, he said that he knew what love was finally. I am always so astonished as to the intelligence of dogs. To be able to perceive what love is just from a touch is incredible to me. After what Morpheus had said to the animal communicator, I often made it a point to tell Morpheus about the first time I saw him. I would tell him that I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him walking behind his previous owner. "I knew you would be my little boy," I would say to him. "You're the best and I'm so grateful you came into my life." When I tell him the story of our first meeting and how I felt, I can see in his eyes that he too is recalling the time. Wouldn't it be wonderful for us humans to know that we are loved just from a single touch? I am certain that there are people so attuned with the energy within and around them that they are able to identify love from a mere touch. Unfortunately, if the average person were to recognize love, she would probably talk herself into believing that it wasn't love since we humans have a tendency to over analyze simplicity leading us to distrust what we feel.

Fortunately for Morpheus, he got over his insecurity. However, our receptionist at the vet hospital has a dog named Trekker who can't seem to get past his insecurity. Trekker is a great example of those dogs who have insecurities for no obvious reason. No matter how much love and positive rewards or reinforcements he gets, he remains insecure. I don't understand it because he is such a sweet, intelligent dog. The owner has had him since he was a pup and cannot think of any incident that would cause his insecurity. I supposed as there are people who are inherently insecure and have a difficult time feeling completely confident of themselves, there are dogs with the same issue.

When I was in my late twenties early thirties, I was insecure about myself. I got over it after I finished acupuncture school. I finally felt happy and complete with myself. And, I really liked who I had become. Not many people can say that about themselves. Being able to treat the patients with acupuncture made me feel especially good at the Lincoln Center since the patients truly wanted the treatment and attributed their ability to function better because of the acupuncture. It was extraordinary to witness what five needles per ear can do for a person. For the patients, it made them realize that they can feel good on their own, and feeling good is a start in the right direction. The direction that will lead to feeling comfortable with themselves to eventually liking the person they are.

Knowing how tough it is to deal with one's insecurities made me feel more compassion for these addicts. I know that they can be very manipulative and will tell you whatever you want to hear if they can get something out of it. Most addicts are smart and observant which help them maintain their habit. But beyond that, they are, as I said before, just people. I was able to see a part of myself in the patients that I treated as they struggled to deal with their insecurities and the consequences of them. Isn't that what allows us to have compassion? If we can see ourselves in someone else, then we are able to have compassion for that person because it gives us an understanding and a connection to that person. This is what I got from my experience at the Lincoln Center. How can a person not change with that awareness?

Despite the insecurities that dogs may have, they are overall happy without much effort. It seems quite the opposite for addicts. They have to work hard at attaining some sort of happiness in their lives. However, just like dogs, addicts learn to find happiness in the simplest things in life like having a meal or a nice bed to sleep on.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, remember the feeling of being not "good enough" can be the root of a dog's or a person's insecurity which can grow into something so unmanageable that it creates a skewed perception of self leading to unhappiness. All people are basically the same. What makes them different is the choices they make which can lead to great or terrible outcomes. However, it's the lessons we learn from our choices that are important. Of course, for dogs, it's the human parents who make the choices for them. Unfortunately, there are some dog owners who don't always make the right choices for their dogs mostly because they are thinking about what they want instead of what the dog wants or needs. Regardless, we are all "good enough" and deserve the best in life. Finally, open yourself to other people you may not ordinarily associate with and you may just see a part of yourself in them. When that happens, you too will have the energetic shift that I experienced from my training in New York.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

The Bright Side

2010-05-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

It is so true that when things go bad, they just get worst sometimes, and the only thing you can do is stay positive and look at the bright side. I am compelled to share the experience I have had in the last twenty-four hours. Yesterday morning started out wonderfully. I woke up early, ran four miles on the treadmill and got ready for work. It was my day working with the doggie patients. I was completely booked since I was scheduled to fly to New York the following day, today. The morning was great. I saw my favorite doggie couple client who kindly gave me a week's worth of snacks for my trip. It was a sweet surprise. Thank you guys!

During my lunch, I checked my phone messages and was horrified to find that my flight was cancelled. After being on hold for fifteen minutes, I finally got to speak with a customer representative who told me that my flight was cancelled due to bad weather. Apparently, this particular airline knew in advance that there would be fog in New York at three-thirty in the afternoon when I was scheduled to arrive. So, I had a choice. Fly out of Long Beach Airport Saturday night and arrive at six in the morning in New York or fly out of LAX late Sunday night and get to New York early Monday morning. The latter was not an option since I was scheduled to start work at seven-thirty Monday morning. The obvious choice was flying out last night.

Because I had to be in Long Beach before seven in the evening and was only half packed, I had to leave the vet hospital early which meant I had to cancel my last three doggie patients. I felt extremely bad doing that but it was an emergency. I had to be in New York today. It was the first time I have had to do that.

Needless to say, I raced out of the vet hospital after my last patient and managed to speed well below eighty miles per hour in getting home. When I got home, I was like the Tasmanian Devil, tearing through the house to get things done. Augustine, who was at rehearsal, came home early so that he could take me to the airport. On the way home, he picked up some Thai food for me since I hadn't eaten. Well, the people at the Thai restaurant gave Augustine the wrong dish, but I ate it anyway since I was starving.

The whole time I was rushing around, my three dogs were looking at me anxiously especially Morpheus. He got so worried his stomach started gurgling. My heart just sank as soon as I heard it because I knew what he was feeling. After I had ran that morning, I had told him and Elektra that I would "spend some special time" with them since I was going to be gone for a week. They seemed so happy to hear that that both just started licking my face which told me they understood. So, having to leave that night caused a lot of stress for everyone. It's interesting to see how your dogs react when they know you're leaving. Elektra was following me around with a frown on her face. She was more sad than anxious. Ripley, on the other hand, was just observing me. She was bothered but kept it cool until I had to go.

After Augustine had put my luggage and carry-on in the car, he said, "Okay, let's go," which immediately gave me a minor anxiety attack.

"My dogs!" I exclaimed. "I need to say good-bye to them." As soon as I said that, Ripley rushed to me and wanted me to pick her up. I knew she was bottling her emotions. She wanted to come with me. So, I picked her up and said, "Oh Dew, I can't bring you with me. I wish I could." I kissed her several times and slowly rocked her as she cooed. Gently, I put her down and went over to Morpheus. By this time, Morpheus' expression was one of reluctant acceptance. He knew that he could neither stop me from going nor come with me, so he held his head down which I put between my hands and kissed his entire head. "I'll be back soon, my boy," I said.

Elektra had hung back and was watching me. I walked over to her and said, "You know I'll see you soon. I'm coming back. Mom's not leaving you." I massaged her orbital ridge, contouring around her eyes and down to her muzzle. She loves it when I do that. Then, I proceeded to kiss the top and sides of her muzzle. That seemed to satisfy her because her eyes softened and I sensed relief on her part.

During my good-byes, Augustine had gone outside to wait. He knew I needed my time with my babies. I miss them already. Before I walked out the door, I shouted, "I love you guys sooo much!!!" Then shut the door.

The bright side of leaving my dogs? There is none unless you count the thought of coming back to them...I take that back. The bright side IS Augustine will be there for them to cling on until I return. But, I could kick myself for forgetting to bring the picture frame with their picture in it which I had intended to put on the night stand next to my bed at the hotel. I supposed I could look at the pictures of them in my cell phone but it wouldn't be the same. I wouldn't be able to see their faces conveniently before and after I went to bed.

Even the initial drive to Long Beach Airport was somewhat upsetting. In my hurriedness to pack, I completely forgot to get directions to Long Beach Airport. Neither Augustine nor I were familiar with how to get there. Thank god for cell phones and sisters. I started out calling my sister Rowena, who lives in Long Beach, hoping to get directions. My call went directly to voicemail. So, I called my younger sister Dal. No answer. Finally, I called my eldest sister Jennifer in San Diego and was so relieved when she picked up the phone. She quickly gave me directions and wished me luck.

Okay, things were good again, or so I thought. A few minutes later, the car started making a rattling sound. "What the heck is that?" I asked Augustine. Instantly, I visualized the car breaking down on the freeway and me missing my flight. As quickly as that image came to my mind, I dismissed it. I did not want it to come true. "Oh god, please help me," I whispered silently. I couldn't believe what was happening.

"I don't know what that is," said Augustine. "I've never heard it before. I think something got caught in there."

I couldn't help but picture a rat gradually being torn apart causing that odd noise in the car. The reason I thought of a rat immediately was one had gotten into the same car a year ago. The rat had chewed away something related to the brakes. However, as we approached the airport, the sound had diminished, and I told Augustine, "I think the rat is nearly shredded." I took that as I sign that my aggravation was coming to an end, which was almost true.

The flight to Salt Lake City, where I had an hour stop over, was bumpy but not as turbulent as the flight to New York City. At that point, I didn't care anymore. Just get me to New York, I thought. And because I could not sleep, I felt like a drugged bloodhound with an extra droopy face that was becoming numb due to fatigue and stress. But, on the bright side, the flights were on time and I didn't have to run to the gate for my connecting flight because the same plane was used to get to New York. Very cool.

My last assault of the last twenty-four hours was the insane taxi fare from JFK Airport to my hotel. The total amounted to ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!! I was caught breathless as if someone literally squeezed all the oxygen AND the carbon dioxide from my lungs. Do these people not know we're in a recession??? I had to calm myself down and tell myself, "Look at the bright side. It's a business write off!" That will be my mantra this coming week since I chose not to rent a car and will neither take the train nor subway down to the Bronx.

I got this idea of looking at "the bright side" when I was waiting to depart from Long Beach Airport since there were many distressing things that had happened. I thought, if it were one of my dogs like Morpheus, how would he react to all these annoyances that continued to happen? I realized that he would always look at the bright side of the situation since he is such a positive being. Yes, my dogs were bummed that I left, but I am guessing that as soon as I closed the door behind me, they were cheering, "Yay, she said she loved us!!!" They are amazing in how they can maintain such a happy state which implies that they focus on the positive. They live in the now. It is the only place to be. The past is gone and the future is but our imagination, which is what Eckart Tolle professes. Thank god for dogs. Thank god for MY dogs! They continue to teach me through their own behavior.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, look at the big picture when life is throwing wrenches and screws along your path and you find yourself stressing about it. Consider what your dog would do. Most likely, he will give a big bark, maneuver his way through his obstacles, and move on cheerfully. He lives in the now and knows how to appreciate it. In the panoramic view of life, what happened to me in the last twenty-four hours was just an irritation that happens to everyone, and the best way to respond to it is to let it pass through you instead of having it stuck on you. That's what a dog would do. As it turned out, everything was for the better. I was glad to arrive here in New York that early. It allowed me to walk around the neighborhood where my hotel is located. I was able to take a short nap. Best of all, it gave me the time to write this week's blog. Finally, watch and learn from your loving dog. A nuisance to him last but a moment. Thank dog!...I mean, god.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are appreciated and welcomed.

Second Chance

2010-04-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

When we found Elektra in our back yard seven years ago, one of my colleagues had said that it was good luck. I don't recall the reason it was good luck but placed that thought in the back of my mind until now. It would be more precise to say that WE WERE LUCKY to have found Elektra instead of her bringing us good luck. But isn't good luck just an opportunity to be happy? At least, I think so. If that were true, then every dog that comes in a person's life is a sign of happiness because it is your happiness that the dog will aspire to. So, what is the role that Elektra and all dogs who find their way to us play in our lives? Basically, their role is to help us become better human beings, and to find a dog gives us a chance to show our compassion by either opening our home to another dog or finding a good home for the dog. In our case, we did the latter.

Initially, we didn't want a third dog and therefore tried to find Elektra a home. Because I didn't want to bond with her while we were looking to place her in another home, she remained nameless and made her sleep on the bedroom floor near our bed. Of course, she slept on a nice, thick blanket. I felt a little guilty about that because Morpheus and Ripley were on the bed with us, and every once in awhile I would notice Elektra looking up at them. But overall Elektra didn't seem to mind. I'm sure it was better than sleeping out in the cold streets.

The other reason I felt guilty was I sensed that Elektra knew I didn't want to get close to her and yet she continued to be affectionate towards me. I figured her behavior was such because I was the person who fed her when we found her hiding behind our cactus tree. Actually, it was Morpheus who led us to her. Also, I was the one who bathed her that same day since she was filthy. I was a little hesitant before bathing her because I didn't know her temperament nor how she would react, but she was very submissive. She neither showed her teeth nor growled at me. She just stood there in the bathtub and allowed me to manipulate her limbs without any struggle but with complete trust.

After a couple of weeks of attempting to find an acceptable home for Elektra without much success, we decided to keep her. We didn't want to turn her over to the shelter because we knew what her fate would be there. By that time, Augustine had already formed an attachment to her. He even wanted to name her Foxy Cleopatra which I neither liked nor felt that it fit her personality. In the back of my mind, I thought, "I don't want her to be a hussy," which was the first thing that came to me when Augustine suggested the name. It sounds silly now but that's how I felt at the time. I think a name is important because it describes the character of the person or dog. I liked the name Elektra, taken from the movie of the same namesake, which seemed more suitable for her. The name made me think of one who is resourceful and a survivor which Elektra definitely was since she was living in the streets for about three weeks.

We learned through an animal communicator that Elektra had a previous home but was kicked out of a car near the wash which was a couple miles away from our house. The animal communicator didn't want to tell us about Elektra's life with her previous owners because it was too tragic to mention. She implied that there was abuse after Elektra outgrew being a puppy. She no longer received the same love and attention that she had. It's abhorrent how some people treat their dog differently just because they have grown older. It truly boggles my mind how some people think and behave. How can you stop loving a dog just because she is older? A dog blossoms after it outgrows the craziness of being a pup, and her personality emerges and becomes more apparent as she matures.

After observing Augustine and I with our dogs as well as Morpheus convincing her that she would be loved by us, Elektra decided to pick us for her new family. Apparently, Morpheus and Elektra had been communicating with each other without our knowledge. The animal communicator said that she was ready for another family as she was tired of roaming the streets and trying to survive defending herself from people and other dogs. She wanted a second chance at having a family and being part of a pack again. Every social creature wants a sense of belonging and Elektra was no different.

Everyone deserves a second chance at having a good life with people who love you especially when you've been abused and discarded because you are no longer considered cute and cuddly. Why does that happen to so many animals? It would be similar to parents relinquishing their child just because she was no longer adorable. Sadly, there are some psychotic people who have done that, however, I don't believe that occurs as frequently as the abandonment of dogs who have reached maturity. It's detestable behavior that shows the level of cruelty and lack of remorse in some people. These are the same people who see dogs as objects. I don't think they should have dogs at all just as some people should not have children since they are not equipped to be parents.

It's unthinkable that Elektra's first family gave her up. She is such a sweet, loving, loyal, and smart dog. I love her so much it hurts me to think of the abuse she received. I noticed all her little fears during her first few months with us. She was even afraid of the ironing board, and I shudder to think that something happened to her with one. Also, she didn't know what a ball was or how to fetch it. It took her almost a year of watching Morpheus play for her to learn. Thankfully, she blended very well with Ripley and Morpheus, even though Ripley had to let Elektra know her place in the pack since Ripley was top dog. I believe they have found harmony with each other and life without Elektra would disrupt the balance they have created.

Elektra makes me think of some of these foster kids who really don't have a home and are moved from one place to another. Unfortunately for them, because they are older, their chance for adoption is very slim to none just as older dogs are not so quick to be adopted. These foster kids are displaced beings looking to get a second chance in finding a home where they can belong and be loved. Their first family either was unable to take care of them, didn't want them at all or the kids weren't safe with them. Whatever reason it may be, it's sorrowful that these kids were removed from their original family, although for some it may have been the best thing for them.

Gosh, there are so many kids in need of adoption as there are a multitude of animals needing homes, yet people continue to pay an enormous amount of money in order to conceive as well as there are people wanting to pay for dogs from breeders. My intention is not to pass judgment towards these people. It is their choice to do whatever they wish. However, I just want to raise some awareness to the plight of these kids and dogs by stating the fact that there are numerous children in foster care and dogs in shelters, both of which are hoping to be adopted. What is it with wanting an infant or a puppy as opposed to an adolescent or a dog? If the adoptive parents are loving, centered, able to give guidance and discipline, then they will receive from the adolescent or dog what they have given. But then again, I do understand wanting to have a puppy. Since knowing Elektra, Augustine and I both wish we had her when she was much younger because it would have been terrific to watch her grow into her older years. Elektra must have been at least four years old when she appeared in our back yard.

There are a few of my doggie clients who choose to adopt only older dogs because they know most people will not. It comforts me to know people like them exist. So, I like to put my energy towards people like my clients with the hope that eventually more people will do the same and not care so much about the age of the dog but rather the dog itself and what it brings to them. Those of you familiar with the law of attraction know that where your attention goes, energy will flow towards it, and the universe will work hard to manifest your desired wishes, and one of my many wishes is to have no dogs in shelters but in loving homes.

I like to think that because "dog" is "god" spelled backwards that when one materializes in your life, it is a blessing from god or the universe (they are the same to me). It is a blessing because it allows us humans to help and care for one that needs it, and in doing that it helps us become better people. Isn't that what humanity is supposed to be about? To be of help and service to all beings in this world and not just to ourselves? It was our good luck that we were given such a wonderful gift with Elektra. She has given Augustine and I so much love that I cannot picture our family to be without her. I thank Elektra often for choosing us to be her new family. Every once in awhile I ask her if she's happy with us. Then, I let her know that we are so delighted to have her be part of the family, that she's my little girl and will never let anyone hurt her again. When I tell her these things, I know that she's listening and understanding because she would always respond by giving me a quick lick on my lips. It's bizarre how she knows exactly where to kiss me since she's never accidentally licked my nose, although that would be okay too.

Elektra works the hardest out of our three dogs. Yes, Ripley is essentially retired but she goes in and out of retirement. And, with Morpheus, when Elektra is barking at him to come and check things out with her, he looks at me sometimes as if to say, "Do I have to go out and investigate?" and I would just say, "You don't have to. Don't worry about it." But Elektra never hesitates. She is always the last one to go to sleep and the first to wake up. She's so vigilant of what's happening outside the perimeter of our house even though her area of protection is the back yard. I sense she is that way because she is grateful for her new home and she wants us to know that what she contributes is valuable. There are days when I know she's exhausted because I see her struggling to keep her eyes open yet continues to stay alert. When I notice that, I let her know that her job at that moment is to close her eyes, relax and be happy. That is the only way she will allow herself to decompress.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, then adopt or save one. Then, know that the dog you've adopted or saved will be so grateful to you that she will give you her undying love and loyalty. Also, know that it was your good luck that the dog picked you because she will do anything to ensure your happiness as well as take over your stress. Studies have shown that people with dogs live healthier, longer lives. It's an amazing gift they give us. What more can we humans ask for? Finally, not only is the dog getting a second chance at a new home with a loving family, but the family is also given a chance at experiencing the beauty of their new dog. Everyone benefits, and that's how it should be.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are very welcomed.

Find Me A Match

2010-04-18T22:00:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday at the vet hospital, my favorite client couple came with their two dogs, Ana and Dena. Even though I only treat Ana, a Rottweiler, her younger sister Dena comes along. You would think it would be for moral support but really it's to prevent her from creating damage to their house if she were to stay at home. I was told that she's quite a terror as she has a proclivity for chewing. But, if you were to look at her, you would think that she was just a curious but well-behaved little dog with a sweet face that says, "I'm innocent." Of course, looks are deceiving sometimes.

I bring up this couple because during our conversation, I happen to mention that I had no idea what to write about for this week's blog. So, they started bouncing off some ideas. Then the wife said, "What about relationships," which I had thought about earlier that morning as I was driving to work. The wife was referring to romantic relationships. This made me think of that website that matched single dog owners with each other. I don't remember the name of the website because I didn't pay much attention to it. I was already married at the time and had no need for it. But I thought it was a marvelous concept. If I were single, I would certainly want to find a partner who also loved dogs or at least had the capability of loving dogs, otherwise the relationship wouldn't work for me.

I think about my single friends who are all looking for a mate, and a number of them have tried those matchmaking websites and still have yet to find someone. With all the people in this world, you would think it would be an easy process to find a partner. But boy, it's tough and I do not envy their situation. I remember being single and having Ripley made it tolerable because she was my constant companion. Gosh, I certainly do not miss the downside of a relationship or dating which was the heartache after a break-up. It was agonizing, unless of course I was the one who initiated the break-up. It's true that time is a great healer. But, it also helped to be busy and to surround myself in nature, which I did with Ripley.

Perhaps single dog owners should have their dogs find them a match. They are a fine judge of characters and can weed out the good from the bad. I remember when I was dating this older guy who I'll just call the attorney. Ripley must have been less than two years old. When the attorney first came to my apartment, Ripley refused to greet him. I thought it was odd but figured it was because he was a stranger to her and was unsure about him. But after a number of times of having the attorney come over, Ripley continued to stay away from him. She even barked at him a couple of times when we were just lounging on the couch which really surprised me because she had never done that before. In retrospect, I should have paid close attention to Ripley's behavior because the attorney turned out to be a cad to put it mildly.

After the attorney, I would watch Ripley's reaction towards any guy I dated and brought home. I decided that she would find me a match. Of course, when Augustine came along, she loved him, probably because we went on a lot of hikes together. I recall when we had an animal communicator talk to all our dogs a few years later, Ripley had mentioned that she knew I would end up with Augustine. She felt relieved that I finally met him because she made it her responsibility to find me a partner. The animal communicator said that every time I took Ripley to the park, Ripley was trying to show me off to potential mates. I thought that was hilarious because I went to the park for Ripley, who apparently was moonlighting as my personal matchmaker. So, Ripley had said that after I met Augustine, she wanted to retire in luxury because she felt that her job was done. She didn't have to worry about me any longer.

Speaking of matchmaker, I have to confess that there is a reality show that I love to watch called The Millionaire Matchmaker. Yes, I am not immune to reality shows. But at least I only see a few of them and not on a regular basis. Every time I watch The Millionaire Matchmaker, which isn't often because I forget it's on sometimes, Augustine would say, "I can't take this," and would walk out of the living room. He cannot understand what the fascination is that draws me to this show. Honestly, I get a kick out of Patti, the owner of the Millionaire's Club and the one who finds these millionaires a match. She is so direct with them. She tells them if they have a commitment issue, needs to start dating people their own age, is unrealistic about what they want, etc., and she has no problem dropping them as a client since she has a waiting list of people who want her service. Also, I like the fact that she takes only clients who are seriously wanting to find their true love and are ready for marriage but just don't have the time to look for themselves.

The fact that The Millionaire Matchmaker is on television is indicative of the difficulty in finding that special someone. I think it would help if you get your dog to find you someone just as Ripley was doing. Your dog knows you best, even better than yourself. Your dog has witnessed and experienced your every mood and choices. Sometimes we are blind to our flaws, which we all have, and we kid ourselves that we are one way when we're really the opposite or we want a quality in a person that really isn't good for us. In any case, none of those things help when you're looking for someone who will fit the person you think you are. But your dog knows your true self. She sees right through you. There were times I would do something I know I shouldn't have and when I would look at Ripley, she would be giving me an expression that said, "Why are you doing that?" or "Are you sure you want to do that?" and all I could say to her in response was, "I don't know. I can't help myself."

In many cases, when we date, we tend to date the same type of person and I'm not just talking about appearances. When I think back of all the guys I dated, they were very similar in their looks, intellect and overall attitude. It was as if I were a broken record trying to make it work with the same kind of guy which of course was destined to fail. I was consistently choosing the wrong guy because it was so familiar to me and I didn't want to get out of my comfort zone of dating a different type of guy even though it was better for me. Then, Augustine materialized. He was so different from all the guys I dated. Maybe with the help of your dog you will be led to a different kind of person with whom you may be more compatible.

There are a couple of my female clients who wish that they could find someone like their male dog. I don't blame them for feeling that way. Their dogs are loving, loyal, honest, emotionally available, and not afraid to make a commitment. They sound like they would be a perfect man. Too bad there isn't a conversion machine that would turn these dogs into men. But then if there were a machine in existence, how would an Akita and a Golden Retriever look like as men? I cannot imagine. All I know is one would be Japanese and the other a Caucasian.

I'm sure you have heard the saying, "When you stop looking, the right person will come along," or something like that. I believe this to be true because it actually happened to me. I was very hurt after I had broken up with this younger guy I had been dating. So, I focused on myself, studies and work. I did a lot of meditating, exercising, journaling and taking lots of walks with Ripley. Before I could even think of going out with someone else, I met Augustine. I wasn't even looking. Maybe that's how it works. I needed to work on myself first, feel complete and content with who I was, and then suddenly I attracted the right person. I've heard so many stories of that happening. I believe that right person shouldn't complete you as an individual as many people seem to think. He should just be the icing on the cake who will every once in awhile challenge you to become a better person. And, Augustine has certainly stretched me to become a better person whether I liked it or not. But that seems to be a natural process in a relationship especially in a marriage if you want to make it work.

I wonder how dogs choose their mate. Do they go by what they smell or the energy that the other dog emanates? However they choose, I'm sure they are not as picky as people. Although there are some people who should have been more selective when they chose their partner. It's funny that Ripley was never really smitten by any male dog. At the park, when Ripley was younger she would occasionally run around with other dogs but briefly. It seemed as if she grew tired of them and wanted to move on and be on her own. She reminded me of myself sometimes in that respect.

I am not a relationship expert but I am very observant and listen well enough to understand the dance of dating. Besides, I dated enough guys and waited a long time before I decided to get married. These matchmaking websites have good intentions and are wonderful in connecting two people together which is the easy part. The hard part is once you do get together, how do you determine whether the person is your match for life? Let your dog help you out with that. As I said, dogs are superb judge of characters as well as exceptional listeners. I know I talked to Ripley many times when I was single, and sometimes just hearing your words out loud gives clarity to the situation.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, if you are single and are looking for a mate, allow your dog to lead you to a possible partner. Who knows your dog may already be working at finding you a match without your knowledge. If you're already dating or have begun to date someone, make sure you pay attention to your dog's behavior around that person. Your dog has an excellent radar for "evil" and will prevent you from wasting your time and probable heartache. If you are single, don't look to someone to complete you as a person or make you happy. The relationship will not last. Find yourself first, feel whole and happy on your own, then the right person will appear. I firmly believe this. In the meantime, you have your loving dog for support and companionship.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

Read My Mind

2010-04-11T23:00:00.001-07:00

About a year and a half ago, one of my doggie clients had lent me a book on animal communication written by Lydia Hibby. I enjoyed the book so much that when I found out that she was teaching a class in Pasadena I decided to attend. I was a little disappointed because the class was pretty much like the book except for a few gems Lydia passed on to the class. The best thing about the class was that I was able to bring Ripley with me which made her extremely happy. We were encouraged to bring a dog with us for the practical which happened at the second half of the class.

It was fun practicing what we learned as people got up in front of the class with their dog(s) and the we attempted to communicate with the dog(s). Afterwards, Lydia would ask each one of us what we experienced. Basically, if you want to communicate with animals, the most important thing to remember is to be open to any images and/or feelings that may come to you without analyzing or having doubts about what you have received. The more open you are the more likely the dog will send you images or feelings as he will sense that you are receptive.

For example, there was a couple who had gone up with their dog. I can't remember the dog's name but I'll call him Sam. I recall taking a deep breath before focusing on Sam with an open, clear mind. Almost immediately, I got an image of a doughnut. Initially, I thought that perhaps I wanted a doughnut. So, I started having an internal conversation with myself, "Do I want a doughnut? I don't think so. Why would I want a doughnut? I don't even like doughnuts. Then, why am I thinking of it? I'm not even hungry." I had to stop myself because I was over-analyzing the darn doughnut. More importantly, my focus wasn't on Sam anymore. Therefore, I redirected my energy back to Sam. But that image continued to pop up. When it was my turn to tell Lydia what I felt, I said, "For some reason, I kept seeing a glazed doughnut."

The husband of the couple smiled and said, "I'm not the doughnut eater of the family. She is," pointing to his wife.

The wife looked a little embarrassed and said, "I guess my secret's out." She gave a little laugh and then confessed, "Yes, I got a dozen doughnuts yesterday." Apparently, the wife was eating a glazed doughnut at the kitchen table where there was a box of a dozen doughnuts the day before, and Sam had sat patiently hoping to get a piece of doughnut which never happened.

After the seminar, I looked forward to practicing what I had learned on my animal patients, and of course, my own dogs. It was easier to communicate with my dogs since I know them so well. In fact, I would act as a translator for my husband. Just recently, Augustine was on the couch petting and talking to Elektra and I had notice Ripley looking bothered. So, I told Augustine, "Ripley is feeling left out. She says she wants you to give her some attention." Mind you, I'm not really sure whether Ripley was truly feeling that way but I felt that she was and Augustine believed me.

In response, Augustine said, "Ripley, I give you lots of attention. You know, you're number one. You're my best friend girl."

I looked at Ripley and then said to Augustine, "She says you're not treating her like she's number one. She wants you to prove it."

Consequently, Augustine ended up going over to Ripley and massaging her chest, which she loved, while singing her little tune, "You're my best friend girl. You're my best friend Dew." Ripley was in heaven. I could see it in her face, which of course warmed my heart. Dew is a nickname I came up with for Ripley. I got it from noticing the morning dew on the grass during our walks in the park and thought how precious and beautiful it was which totally described Ripley. On a side note, Augustine has made up little tunes for each of the dogs which are pretty catchy because sometimes I find myself singing the tunes to them without realizing it.

Translating what my dogs are saying to my husband happens all the time, even though I'm not one hundred percent sure about what I'm telling Augustine is truly what my dogs are thinking. However, I do notice a change in their eyes and expression after I've communicated it to Augustine. So, I believe that I am picking up what my dogs want to convey. It makes me laugh when Augustine tries to tell me what the dogs are saying because I could just feel that it's not true.

With regards to communicating with my animal patients, it really helps with new patients who are anxious about going to the vet's office, even though I consider getting acupuncture more like a spa treatment. It's so relaxing because of the endorphins released as a reaction to the needles. And, every once in awhile I would pick up images of what caused the pain that the dog is experiencing which is so helpful to me because the owner doesn't always know what happened.

There was one dog who was clear in telling me his wishes. This dog was a Rottweiler named Max who was no more than six years old. Max was born with a very small liver. He started acupuncture treatments once a week to help his liver function and to increase his appetite. I changed his diet and put him on supplements as well as an herbal formula. During every treatment I would tell him that his liver was functioning perfectly well. I did energy work along with the acupuncture. At the same time, I would send him images of joyfully running, playing and eating. Max's owner wasn't in the room during his treatments. He had a difficult time settling down around her, so I had to ask the owner to wait outside until his session was done.

Fortunately, like many of the owners whose dogs I treat, Max's owner was open to do anything for him. So, I told her to visualize a strong healthy liver and showed her exactly where it was located. I suggested that she also visualized Max as a healthy dog and to let him know that his liver was getting stronger. With the work that we both were doing, Max got better. He became a rambunctious, happy dog. Because he was doing so great, I reduced his treatments to every other week and then down to once a month to not seeing him at all. He was thriving. The owner and I were both relieved and pleased about his transformation.

About six months later, Max ended up getting giardia which seemed to further weaken his already delicate constitution. By the time I started treating him again, his body was just too weak. Max's appetite had decreased tremendously and therefore lost a lot of weight. After I treated him for the first time in a long time, his appetite was stimulated only slightly. The following week, I was horrified to see Max looking so emaciated. He had drastically changed in a week. The owner was hysterical. She didn't know what to do because he did not want to eat and whatever little food he did eat, he vomited minutes later. She begged me to do whatever I could to help him.

Alone with Max, I knew acupuncture could no longer help him judging from his appearance. In my mind I asked, "Can you tell me what you want?" and waited. Max had been standing near the door of the treatment room, almost facing a corner. He didn't respond. I didn't know what image to send him and felt frustrated because I didn't know how to help him. I had wished that he could just read my mind, which of course he couldn't. So, I took a deep breath and asked the question from my heart, "Max, can you please show me what you want?"

I believe Max felt what I was asking because he finally turned to look at me and I could see that his spirit was gone. He feebly walked towards me to the center of the room and slowly laid down on his side. I knew instantly what he wanted. All I could say to him at that point was, "Okay Max. I'll tell your mom."

I called Max's owner into the room and told her that Max was ready to pass. He didn't want to fight for his life anymore as she wanted him to do. He was exhausted. Of course, the owner was heartbroken because I think she knew all along that Max was ready to go but that she wasn't willing to let him go yet. I told her to take Max home because that's where he wanted to be. Before the owner left, she had arranged it so that she would bring Max back the following day and have him euthanized in my treatment room with people who loved and cared for him.

The next morning, I got a call from the owner. I could tell she had been crying and immediately knew what had happened. Between her sobs, she managed to say, "Max passed away this morning. He slept well last night and was fine this morning. He was up but wanted to stay in bed. So, I decided to go downstairs to make coffee." She paused for a few seconds, and I could tell that she was struggling to hold back her emotions. "When I went back upstairs to check on him, he was dead," she said. No longer able to contain herself, she started to cry.

I remained silent as the owner wept. As I waited, I felt the heaviness in my heart and the tears swelling in my eyes. But I couldn't allow myself to cry because I had to be strong for Max's mom. When the owner's convulsive gasps got quieter, I said gently, "Oh Patty, Max loved you so much that he waited for you to go downstairs to pass. He knew it would be too painful for you if you saw him dying. At least, he died so peacefully in his bed. It's the best way to go." Having said that triggered the owner to cry again.

I was on the phone for awhile trying to console the owner as best as I could. Having a dog die whether naturally or induced is the worst part of my work. I don't think I could ever get used to it. I remember the first time I ever witnessed a dog being euthanized in my treatment room. I had to quickly leave the room as soon as the owner burst into tears because I knew I couldn't suppress my own tears. So, I had gathered my belongings and rushed to my car where I ended up crying. It was painful. Not only did I empathize with what that owner felt, but it also made me think of the mortality of my own dogs.

Being able to communicate with dogs or any animal can be wonderful and heartbreaking at the same time depending on what's going on with the animal. It's awesome if you can help them and their owners even if that meant euthanizing the dog. The hard part is telling the owners who are sometimes in denial about their dog's condition mainly because they aren't prepared to let them go yet. But everyone has the ability to communicate with his dog. It's innately within us that only needs awakening. It's just a matter of practicing and being attuned to the dog. It's easier than you think because of the bond you have already established with your beloved dog.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, be open to any images or feelings you may be receiving from your dog because she is telling you something. It may be as silly as "Let me out. There's a squirrel in the back yard," which is what Elektra usually tells me to Ripley's "Mom, I need to potty." And, all Ripley has to do is sit very still next to me and give me a look that I cannot even describe, but I know what it means. I am not an animal communicator. I just try my best to be open. Yes, it would be less complicated if your dog could read your mind but that's not the way she communicates. Besides, I think dogs do enough to adjust to our way of living, so putting some effort in communicating their way is not so much to ask from us humans. Finally, don't doubt yourself. Trust your intuition. You'll always be right if you do.

Thanks you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

One Day At A Time

2010-04-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

Last week a friend of mine graciously allowed me to come with him to attend his AA meeting at a park. Attending a meeting is part of the requirement for a certification that I'm working towards to become an addiction specialist using acupuncture for people, since I do treat both people and animals. My assignment was to learn and understand the 12-step program and observe the different levels of where people are in the program. I felt a little apprehensive when I arrived since I didn't know what to expect. Fortunately, my friend made me feel comfortable by introducing me to people he knew who also attended the meeting. Everyone I met seemed very nice and friendly.

The focus for the meeting that day was on the 4th step of the program. Quietly, I had to ask my friend what the 4th step was since I didn't know. Without hesitation, he whispered, "made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." This really impressed me when I thought about it. Not many sober people make an "inventory" of themselves because it seems only logical that once you see the list of your past behavior, you may need to make some changes. So, making an "inventory" takes a lot of courage, and some people would rather be in denial because the thought of having to change themselves require tremendous work.

Because I wanted to write about my experience as a tribute to the people who attended the AA meeting including my friend, I thought about how I could weave it into this week's entry. I thought about the personal stories that were shared that day especially the one from a woman who achieved nineteen years of sobriety, and found that the common denominator for many of them was to take life one day at a time. When you're emotionally and psychologically hurting and broken, life is easier to manage and repair day by day. Then I thought about dogs who may be suffering in the same way and have behaved in a manner that society considered "bad" just as some of the behaviors of these AA people were regarded.

What came to mind were the pit bulls that were confiscated from the NFL player Michael Vick's estate when he was arrested for illegally allowing dog fights in his property. When the courts got involved, most of the pit bulls were euthanized because they were deemed incapable of rehabilitation. Twenty-two of them were awarded to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for special care. Best Friends is a non-profit, no-kill organization that rehabilitates dogs in hope of adopting them out. Dogs that go to Best Friends can stay there for the rest of their life if they cannot find a home, and are provided with the best of veterinary care and training.

There was a documentary on one of the cable shows about the rehabilitation of these twenty-two pit bulls that went to Best Friends. I clearly remember a dog named Georgia who was used mainly for breeding. They showed the contraption that was used to strap her down for the breeding process which was appalling to see. But the most horrific thing that was done to Georgia was the removal of all her teeth. It was speculated that the reason for removing them made her less able to ward off the male dogs that would mount her. It's inconceivable and repulsive to me to know that there was actually a vet who willingly extracted her teeth. Aren't vets supposed to care for animals? Didn't they have to take a vow before they became a vet to do so? Needless to say, Georgia was very fearful and distrustful of people.

Each of the Michael Vick dogs, who were later called the "Vicktory" dogs by Best Friends, was assigned to one person, and a guy named John was selected for Georgia. Because Georgia was so traumatized, she felt extremely distressed just having John in the same room and therefore, withdrew from him. The only time she had human contact while she was at Michael Vick's property was when people strapped her down for breeding. So, it's understandable the reactions she had towards John.

To socialize Georgia, John started sleeping in her kennel at nights to establish the trust and begin the process of being around people without the trauma. John took it one day at a time with Georgia because that was the only way to slowly build her sense of security and control. John never pushed Georgia to do anything she wasn't ready to do but gave gentle guidance and set boundaries of what was appropriate. I can only assume that the AA meetings and sponsors provide similar structures for the AA people who are doing the 12-step program.

You may be thinking that there's no comparison between the AA people and the "Vicktory" dogs, and you would be somewhat correct. Yes, the AA people had a CHOICE that led to their situation whereas the dogs did not. However, once the habit of drinking alcohol took over the AA people, they lost control over their life as the "Vicktory" dogs had no control over theirs. When that happened, fear automatically settled in along with a slew of emotions. With Georgia, there was anxiety, insecurity, depression and lethargy. With the AA people, they experienced the same emotions including low self-worth, self-loathing, anger, etc. There seemed to be a long list of negative emotions and an ugly perception of self. One of the guys in the meeting had said, "fear creates distortions," and can grow into a hideous monster if the person allowed it. In reality, the fear is usually only in the person's mind. I think we all know how powerful our fear can become if we obsess over it.

I noticed that it didn't matter where in the 12-step program these people were, because all were fighting to survive in their own way just as the "Vicktory" dogs had done before Best Friends. I suspect rehabilitation continues their effort to survive since it can be difficult and uncomfortable especially in the beginning. But changing a habit or lifestyle is tough which is the reason many people avoid change if they can. Fortunately, most beings gravitate towards life over death, and therefore, are willing to tolerate the uneasiness of change because of their desire to live.

To make a "moral inventory of ourselves" can be painful and unpleasant. No one enjoys looking at his "dark" side. But isn't it necessary for personal and spiritual growth? The 4th step makes me think of a person who's been stuck in a pitch black room for a long time trying to find the escape door. And, when he finally finds the door and steps outside into daylight, the bright light initially piercing his eyes can be unbearable. The discomfort of that sunlight in the eyes is equivalent to the pain of seeing the reality of our "dark" side that our "inventory" may present. However, with acceptance and being responsible for your "inventory", the internal pain can begin to subside as well as initiate the release of the addict's bondage from his disease, which I believe is the intention behind the 4th step.

As a side note, being an observer at the meeting, it made me think about the life I've built and was thankful for all the support and encouragement that I received from family and friends. The support and encouragement were the two things that the AA meetings gave these people as well as a sense of family and belonging which some of them didn't have or had lost along the way because of their disease. I recall looking at the people who "shared" and felt only compassion for their struggles. Life is already a challenge without a disease pulling you down like quicksand.

With regards to Georgia and the rest of the "Vicktory" dogs, it was the trainers who were responsible for bringing them into the light, encouraging that flicker of life to grow and ensuring them that not all people operate from their "dark" side. It's tragic and atrocious the way these dogs were exploited for the pleasure of some sick individuals. But it made me feel grateful and relieved that there were compassionate people like those at Best Friends who helped, cared and gave support to these tormented dogs.

At the end of the documentary, it showed the transformation of Georgia and the other dogs. When I saw the smile on Georgia's relaxed face, I concluded that her facial and bodily scars no longer reflected her suffering but instead her courage. The resiliency of the "Vicktory" dogs is commendable. They would make for great role models for anyone who is inclined to give up just because of an abusive past. It is my hope that one day the bad reputation associated with pit bulls will be removed. It's not the dogs who are bad but rather their puppet masters.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. And, if you happen to get a dog with a history of abuse, a lot of love, discipline and guidance will eventually release him from his past. He doesn't need your pity but your compassion. He needs you to show him that there are caring, loving people he can trust. Finally, working one day at a time to rehabilitate your broken dog, in small increments, is the best way to reprogram the brain making it possible for a healthy, happy dog.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

It's Good For You

2010-03-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

I remember getting back from my Club Med vacation many years ago. It was the first trip I took by myself since I didn't have a boyfriend at the time. Even though I had an awesome trip, I looked forward to going home. When I finally did get home, I noticed the emptiness of my apartment which I had never felt before. Prior to living in that apartment in Reseda, I always had roommates, so it was the first time living alone. Gosh, the feeling of being alone was so distinct it made me feel sad and rather lonely. AND, I clearly recall thinking how nice it would have been to have a dog at least greet me when I came home. But there was no one.

It's funny how your thought can manifest so quickly because later that night, I got a call from my sister Dal asking me how my trip went, and then she asked if I were interested in having a little dog. The timing of her question was somewhat eerie. She explained that there was this family who was looking for a home for their dog. Apparently, the dog was bought for their young son who ended up abusing the dog. The boy was picking up the dog and throwing her on the floor. So, the parents felt the dog needed a different home. Dal's mother-in-law at the time had wanted the dog but her apartment manager wouldn't allow her so my sister thought of me.

"The dog is so cute and tiny," my sister said. She paused and then asked, " You can have a dog in your place, right?"

"Ehh, I think so," I replied but I really didn't know. The thought never entered my mind. "What kind of dog is it?" I asked.

"She's a Chihuahua. The lady says she has papers for her but that she's willing to sell her for seventy-five dollars," said Dal.

"Umm, I guess I can look at her but that's all," I said firmly.

The next day I went with my sister to look at the dog. As soon as I walked into the house, a little black Chihuahua ran up to me, stood on her hind legs and put her front paws on me to be picked up. This is how I got Ripley. Ripley wasn't her original name. I changed it to give her courage and strength since she was abused. Ripley came from Sigourney Weaver's character in the movie "Alien" who showed those qualities. A new name for a new life.

To be honest, I didn't get Ripley because I immediately fell in love with her. That didn't happen until I got her home. It was more about rescuing her from that evil boy. When Ripley wanted to be picked up during our first meeting, I felt instinctively that I had to take her. I never even thought about the consequences of that decision. I knew nothing about having a dog except that it needed to be walked. We had dogs growing up but my parents were the main caretakers. So, Ripley was my first dog as an adult, and she was just four months when I got her. Having a puppy was tremendous work which I soon discovered. Along with the work came the vexation and stress with having a puppy and being an inexperienced owner.

It took more than a few walks before Ripley learned she needed to pee and poop during that time. I was so excited when she finally realized what to do. But even so, she peed and pooped everywhere in my carpeted living room because she had free range of the entire apartment except for my bedroom. I didn't know I had to put her in a crate to train her while I was at work. Again, I was totally clueless. At least, Ripley wasn't much of a chewer. She only destroyed two of my shoes in her whole puppyhood.

There was one night that infuriated me to the point of giving up Ripley. I had come home really late from work and found that Ripley had defecated in about five different places and nowhere near her designated area. Her stools weren't all solid either because I wasn't feeding her the best of foods but didn't know it then. I was oblivious to canine nutrition. Nonetheless, I was so angry and aggravated especially since I was exhausted from work. At the time, I was a massage therapist and taught massage therapy up in Palmdale twice a week, and my schedule during those two days was from nine in the morning to nine at night with a huge break in between. It was a split shift. I couldn't go home because Reseda was just too far. Those two days must have been dreadful for a little pup being left alone for that many hours. It certainly was awful for me.

After a month of having Ripley, I felt like a failure because her behavior was worsening, and my work schedule didn't help. So, I called my mom the following evening and told her my situation.

"Mom, I don't think I can take care of Ripley. It's just so difficult. I'm cleaning all the time. I'm tired of it. And, I have days when I'm not home all day. It's not good for her....Umm, can you just take her?" I begged. Even though I already loved Ripley, I was willing to give her up for my sanity.

My mother was quiet for a bit. Then, she finally said in her thick Filipino accent, "No, anak." Anak in the Filipino language of Tagalog meant child. My mother continued, "You need to keep her. It's good for you. She gives you company since you're alone. It'll get better, anak. She'll learn." (I love my mother but when she speaks English it's so much harder to understand her because of her accent. I prefer her speaking Tagalog to me.)

Of course, I was a little stunned by the answer my mother gave me. I thought for sure she would take Ripley and make my life easier. Normally, she would gladly take in any animal but not that time. I felt so frustrated and stuck. Now what, I thought.

Consequently, I walked Ripley more, went to the park often, took her to an obedience group class when she was old enough, and patiently dealt with whatever happened. After my conversation with my mom, I came to the conclusion that life isn't without difficulties and that there was a lesson I had to learn with Ripley. Also, I realized that the minute I took Ripley away from her abusive life, I was responsible for her. It was my obligation to do everything to help her become a balanced dog even if it caused me temporary insanity and fatigue.

Now, it's inconceivable to think about being without Ripley, which is why I say to her frequently, "You're only three years old. You're just a baby dog," when in fact she's fourteen. When I tell her that, she gives me a look that says, "Okay, if you say so." I figure, if I tell her enough, she WILL believe it, and will live another ten years. This is my hope. Besides, dogs will believe anything their owners say, since they are so trusting that way. It would tear my heart to lose Ripley. She was there with me through all my hardships and heartaches. I know Ripley made me be a better person. Also, I let her know that it was because of her that I love dogs so much. She opened my eyes and I thank her for it often.

Needless to say, nothing would make me give her up now. Even if there were a flood in the San Fernando Valley and I had to evacuate my house without her or any of my dogs as so many people did in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit, I wouldn't leave. I would stay with my dogs because I could never abandon them to fend for themselves. I know my husband feels the same way since we discussed the issue during the aftermath of Katrina and we had heard of all those dogs left behind by their owners. The guilt would kill us if we did that.

To say the least, my mother did me a gigantic favor. It was good for me to keep Ripley even though it was tough dealing with her in the beginning, but that was partly due to my own ignorance. She was truly a gift from god, the universe, or whatever you believe in because she came into my life when I needed her. I would do it all over again despite the distress I experienced. As I write this, I am reminded of a pearl. For an oyster to produce a pearl from sand, it takes a lot of irritation, patience and many years. But in the end, you have a beautiful pearl, and that is what Ripley represents to me. I'm just glad it didn't take years to have her trained and disciplined. By the way, I never got my security deposit from that apartment in Reseda, which didn't surprise me at all. The carpet was filthy even after cleaning it a few times, but at that point, I didn't care. I had Ripley.

I sympathize with those of you who have a puppy and are a new dog owner. Initially, it can be a struggle and extremely stressful. But think of your puppy as a pearl in the making and you're the oyster doing what needs to be done and persevering in spite of the irritation. The payoff is priceless. This was the lesson my mother wanted me to learn and Ripley helped me get to that place.

I have a puppy patient I am treating at the vet hospital who is a six month old Great Dane name Vendetta (don't you think with a name like that, you would expect trouble?). Vendetta is truly adorable but she's a wild child. Seeing Vendetta recently for treatment made me think of how Ripley used to be as a pup. But definitely, Vendetta has so much more energy that I can only imagine the havoc she creates at home. During her treatment, she was like a fish out of water because she could not sit still. Fortunately, Vendetta's human mom is experienced with pups unlike myself with Ripley, and has another dog name Lava who, I'm sure, helps diffuse some of that excess energy. The owner is great about walking Vendetta to release her craziness. She takes Vendetta on long hikes at nights at Vasquez Rock in Santa Clarita. Personally, I think she's nuts for hiking in the dark by herself and I've told her that. But she's been doing it for years and knows every inch of that area.

In the meantime, if you do have a new pup, you may want to consider meditation, exercise or acupuncture to help reduce your stress level. You don't need to create unnecessary inflammation in your body that stress produces, because, most likely, you are also tired from cleaning. With regards to acupuncture, it's wonderful for stress, even though many people associate it with pain relief only. Getting acupuncture is a passive way to have your body release endorphins that give us that natural high and overall "feel good" sensation.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, just know that sometimes what's good for you isn't necessarily what you want or the easiest to do. But remember, there may be a "pearl" just waiting at the end of it. Unfortunately, a "pearl" is never obvious to us in the beginning and middle. It may be to other people around us as it was to my mother. However, we only see it in retrospect. So, follow your instinct as I did with Ripley especially when choosing a dog. If I didn't listen to my intuition when I initially saw Ripley, I would have missed out on one of the best things in my life.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

Boys and Their Toys

2010-03-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

When Morpheus was about a year old, I bought him a squeaky, red paisley doll that I found from Linens 'N Things. It was his first toy and he loved it. He played with it and made sure it was next to him whenever he went to bed. As expected, he chewed on that doll so much that pretty soon it was raggedy, it no longer squeaked, and the inside fillers were exposed. I went back to the store to get another one but there was none left. So, Augustine used duck tape in attempt to keep this doll intact. Morpheus didn't seem to mind the thick, silver bandage that covered his treasure. He still slept with it under his chin and every once in awhile I'd notice he would gently gnaw at it as if he knew it was fragile. It was amusing and touching to see. I don't recall what happened to his doll but I'm sure at one point I had to throw it away.

Since that red doll, I haven't seen Morpheus behave the same way with the other toys I've bought him. He's never displayed the tenderness nor attachment he had with the red doll. Ripley and Elektra are not into toys. Occasionally, Elektra enjoyed chewing on a squeaky ball and tormenting Morpheus with it when he didn't have one. Even though I would give each one the same squeaky toy, Morpheus would somehow lose his and Elektra would become in possession of it. When that happens, Morpheus, like a little boy, would start barking and I know he's complaining about how Elektra took his toy. Because I've never seen either Ripley or Elektra form attachments to toys, it made me wonder if the desire to have toys is gender related. Of course, this made me think of the toys my husband has acquired.

Hmm...the toys my husband has. We have the Playstation, the Xbox, his massive collection of comic books, figurines of Chinese deities, swords and other martial arts stuff, guitars galore (I know he's a musician but does he need that many guitars?), walking sticks (What the heck? He's not an old man. He's never even used one stick during our hikes) and of course, his motorcycle. Oh boy, he takes care of his motorcycle as if it were a delicate baby especially when he polishes it down. I wish he would give the dishes the same attention. Thank god he's not into sports otherwise we would have sports memorabilia that I would have to give away without him knowing. This man has more things than I do. Certainly, he's got more hair products, and I'm the female in the relationship!

What is it with boys and their toys? I realize that not every man has to have toys but it seems as if many of them do. And, there are probably women out there who have their toys but I believe the majority is more interested in adorning themselves with nice clothes, shoes or jewelry. I know I am. Do men need something to preoccupy their hands? Perhaps they need external distractions to avoid evaluating what's going on internally? Or is it because they just refuse to grow up?

Maybe men do need something to keep their hands busy. It could have originated from when men were the hunters and women the gathers. I'm thinking that because men don't need to hunt for our food any longer, they neither get physically exhausted nor experience the adrenalin rush from chasing an animal. So, they look upon their toys to give them those sensations. What the spears did for those hunters, the controllers for these video games (or even the remote control) are doing for men of our time. Who knows. I'm just theorizing here.

Okay, are men wanting external distractions so they don't have to deal with internal issues? Let's just say "OH YEAH!" on that. To be fair, not all men, but many of them avoid expressing what's going on internally. I know, there are also women who create diversions for the same reason. Honestly, I don't know a lot of men who have voluntarily told me what was going on emotionally unless I dragged it out of them. Maybe it was just the men I happened to have chosen when I was single. You know, the emotionally unavailable ones, except for my husband of course. At least, Augustine gives me more than a one word answer most of the time. For sure, Morpheus would be more verbose than my husband if he could speak my language. I can see that he wants to tell me things, especially when he tilts his head to one side and starts making those talking sounds.

Do men cling to their toys because it makes them feel young or are they just mentally young? It's one thing to want to be "boyish" at the age of forty but who wants a forty year old boy? No thanks. I think I dated that guy a long time ago, and married the boyish one. How else would you describe a guy who asks your dogs, "Who wants to howl like a wolf?", and then howls at the top of his lungs causing all our dogs to howl in unison? This is my husband. Anyway, I don't think there's anything wrong with having "toys" because people need something pleasurable to take up their time when they're not working. Also, if having "toys" allow the inner child to come out, then that's even better. With the responsibilities of life, we all need to play. But I think, if women wanted to, we should be allowed to play with our partner's toys occasionally so we don't feel left out. Isn't that what we were taught in kindergarten, to share? It should also apply to the "big" boy toys.

Out of curiosity, I asked Augustine why he had all the toys I mentioned. He explained the reason for having each. The explanation that stuck most with me was his feeling of freedom from riding his motorcycle... Hmm, should I take that personally? Nah, I can relate. I've ridden on a motorcycle many times before and I can understand how the speed, the wind on your face and the openness of the road can feel so invigorating. I get similar sensations when I'm running and the endorphins have kicked in. I'm sure dogs feel likewise when they are racing around, just going absolutely nuts at a park or beach, and you see a huge smile on their face. It's as if time has stood still and there's no care in the world. It's a fantastic feeling!

I don't know about your household but in mine, toys do not last very long. A toy is usually shredded apart within minutes with Morpheus. But to see his smile and excitement when he knows there's a squeaky toy for him make the purchase so worth it for me. Although, I do sometimes think of the three venti iced green teas from Starbucks I could have bought with the money that one toy cost me after it's been destroyed so quickly. I'm just glad that Ripley and Elektra don't have the same reaction with toys. Ripley's toys last forever, unless Morpheus gets a hold of them. I have to hide her toys from him because once he has torn his to bits, he goes looking for Ripley's. Occasionally, he finds them, and when he does, Ripley would give me a look that says, "Oh well, no big deal." She's such a little Buddhist with her non-attachment attitude. With toys (and everything else), the bottom line is if my dogs are happy, then I'm happy. Isn't that the way every dog owner feels?

With regards to the kind of toys Morpheus likes, it has to squeak. If it doesn't make a sound, he's not interested. So, I have learned to buy only squeaky toys. This is similar to some guys who are fascinated with loud noise. The louder the better for them just like with their cars and motorcycles. When I play ball with Morpheus and Elektra, the balls I throw for Morpheus all squeak otherwise he won't bother retrieving them. One time I couldn't get to his ball fast enough, so I threw the one closest to me that didn't squeak. He stopped at his tracks, watched the ball roll and then gave me this look like "that one doesn't squeak!" Geez, he must have memorized all the balls that squeaked. How else could he have known? There are dozens of balls just laying around in the back yard. So, he waited until I got his special ball to throw. Go figure!

Sometimes, I wish Augustine would just be happy with a squeaky ball. We would have more room in the library and garage. Although if he were to collect squeaky balls, he would probably have bins full of different balls. But at least we would all be together playing outside and soaking in some sun, which would be healthy for all of us. Everybody needs Vitamin D that our body makes in response to sunlight, even dogs! Besides the health benefits of aiding in our bone growth, helping with calcium absorption, lowering the blood pressure, etc., it's been found that this natural Vitamin D attaches to cancer cells slowing down its growth and therefore reducing metastasis. It also prevents formation of capillaries that cancer cells need to supply them with food. Definitely, our body needs this vitamin!

On a side note, I wouldn't be surprised to find a Vitamin D deficiency in people. It seems as if most people don't get enough sunshine just because they are indoors when they are at work and then at home, they are probably either in front of a computer or television. Thank goodness for dogs. It's due to them that many owners venture outside and are able to get sunlight.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, go outside, throw a ball, frisbee, or whatever toy your dog loves, and play with them. Shed your "adult" self (which is easy to do when your with your dog), allow yourself to be childlike and have fun under the sun. It's healthy for everyone involved physically, mentally and emotionally.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

Chop-Chop!

2010-03-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that people are always rushing? This is really apparent driving on the freeways of Los Angeles. Even when it's bumper to bumper traffic, there's always someone constantly switching lanes trying to get ahead of everybody. Are we in such a hurry? Or are we just trying to catch up with time? I swear it seems as if time has accelerated ever since I turned thirty. I had heard people say that time just hurtles by after a certain age but I never believed them until it happened. I'm sure it's because of all the responsibilities you acquire as life progresses. Sometimes, there's not enough time to do everything, which is why some people say, "If only there were more time in the day." I certainly don't want more time, I'll just fill it up with things to do. I'd rather have less responsibilities which will automatically give me more time. But that's wishful thinking.

I don't know about your morning routine, but mine is very busy right before I go to work. Make the bed, put a load of laundry in the wash (it seems as if I do laundry everyday), put the dishes away, and get the dogs' food ready. And, because I'm such a clean freak, which I never realized I was until I had dogs, I would either sweep or vacuum the floors. In between all that, I try to eat my breakfast. Of course, I can never forget to play ball with Morpheus and Elektra in the mornings because Morpheus follows me around the house until I put on my tennis shoes and play outside. Ripley, who is above playing ball, usually sits in the sun and watches.

Naturally, I get stressed out in my attempt to get things done all at once. But I'm unaware of my stress until I get a glimpse of Morpheus walking behind me looking so distressed. He is the most sensitive dog out of the three I have. So, when I see the anxiety on his face, I know that he's picking up my stress, which immediately reminds me to take a deep breath and relax. I certainly don't want to worry Morpheus because it affects his digestive system. He starts to feel nauseous. In Chinese Medicine, this is what you would call Liver Overacting on the Stomach. This means that your frazzled energy or "qi", which is governed by the liver (not the organ itself), immediately attacks the stomach causing the nausea. It could cause other symptoms but for Morpheus it's nausea.

Just by the mere act of mindfully taking in oxygen into the body and releasing the carbon dioxide by blowing it out is so grounding. My mind thinks better when I'm in a state of serenity because it also puts things in perspective for me. With a clear frame of mind, I realize that the laundry, the bed, the dishes, etc. can all wait until I get home from work. They are not as important as my dogs. Making time for my dogs is a priority, which I admit I forget sometimes when I am caught up in my routine or work. My dogs shouldn't have to wait until there's enough time for them. It isn't fair. It is similar to a child waiting for two busy, hard working parents to make time for him in their schedule. Why have a dog or child if you don't spend time with him?

There have been a few dogs who have come to see me for treatments that I knew immediately were neglected judging from their appearance. They were either overweight or had muscle atrophy due to lack of exercise, and some were dirty and stinky. You could tell they slept outdoors and didn't get much care. Also, in their eyes, the sadness and lack of spirit were evident. The owners of these dogs were too busy to minister to their needs which infuriates me to hear and see. Again, why have a dog? Fortunately, not many of these owners bring their dogs to me.

It's so easy to forget your dog when you're focusing on what needs to get done at home or work. But dogs need your time and attention. They shouldn't end up being in the background of your life just because you are too busy. Isn't it bad enough that sometimes in our hurriedness, we end up rushing our dogs too? We rush them along to pee, poop, walk, or eat because we're either late for work, tired, cold, or whatever reason we may have, instead of giving them the time they need. Why create further tension for them when they already take in our stress when we are under it?

When it was raining regularly for awhile, and we had some serious down pour, I know I was scurrying my dogs along. "Come on guys! What's the deal? Start peeing or something!" is what I had heard myself saying. I'm not a saint. I know I have a tendency to rush my dogs occasionally. I'm sure my dogs tried their best to squeeze out whatever they could under that pressure, which makes me feel guilty when I think about it. So, I do try to be cognizant of my behavior.

Think how anxious and upset you would feel if there was someone knocking at the bathroom door telling you to hurry up and go. I know my husband wouldn't enjoy his comic books if I did that to him. Thank goodness we have our own bathrooms. The stress of knowing that someone was waiting for you to finish quickly would prevent you from having a satisfying bowel movement. And, even if you were just urinating, determining when to stop the flow of stream would be unpleasant and annoying especially if you've drank a few cups of coffee. Because sometimes you think you're done, and then there's more trickling out.

Have you noticed that dogs never rush? (Although there are some dogs who devour their food in seconds) They take their time sniffing and really identifying what they're smelling during their walks. They look around and become so aware of their surroundings that they seem to notice every squirrel or creature that passes in front of them. When I'm not power walking my dogs and I allow them to lollygag, I enjoy just watching them be so absorbed with everything around them. And, it makes me think that we as humans should learn to do that every once in awhile. We miss so many details when we don't slow down and pay attention to our surroundings.

There have been mornings when I'm at the park with my dogs and I force myself to really look at the trees around me instead of just looking straight ahead and mentally planning my day. It's surprising and exhilarating what you can discover when you give total attention to your environment. The nuance of colors, the way in which sunlight passes through the leaves, and the subtle exercise plants and trees get from the wind, are all something that go unnoticed if you're not looking. Just observing those things made me feel suddenly joyful. It's no wonder my dogs love going to the park. They probably experience what I felt briefly all the time, since they are more in tuned with nature. They know how to slow down and just be.

There are people who do take the time to slow down and decompress for the sake of their dog. I have a doggie patient name Buddy who sees me every week for acupuncture, and has a very devoted "dad" that takes great care of him. At the end of every treatment, I always hear the dad say, "Come on mister, chop-chop!" Every time I hear him say that I smile because of the irony of the situation. The dad doesn't really expect Buddy to hurry up. It's a way to motivate him to move all his legs. Buddy cannot move fast. He has had three strokes in his lifetime. Because his hind legs didn't completely recover from the last stroke (although he's making wonderful strides towards its), Buddy wears booties for them to help him walk as well as prevent his paws from scraping. He also wears a harness for the hind end so that his dad can assist him in walking. Clearly, Buddy requires tremendous time and attention for his care, which his dad gives lovingly and patiently. The commitment to ensure this dog's well-being really touches my heart.

I bring up the story of Buddy because his dad exemplifies an owner who truly makes his dog a priority. You should have seen the look he gave me when I had told him I had a seminar this whole weekend and wouldn't be working at the hospital. I knew he was thinking that Buddy wouldn't be getting his treatment because of my seminar. But, of course, he scheduled a treatment before the weekend came. Again, Buddy's needs were attended to no matter what. In fact, the dad has turned down work in the past just to spend more time with Buddy. Of course, when he does have to work, he makes sure that Buddy is completely taken care of, otherwise, Buddy's caretaker will feel his wrath! And, that's not pretty! It's hilarious to hear about it but not to receive it.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, give your dog the time and attention he needs and deserves. After all, it was your choice to have him. A dog isn't an inanimate object devoid of feelings to be dealt with later. He needs you now while he is still alive. Dogs are not with us for very long due to their short life span. So, take a deep breath, slow down and smell the roses with them.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

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Dog vs. "Dog"

2010-03-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

Through the years of treating animals with acupuncture, I've been asked a number of times, "What animal wouldn't you treat?" Without hesitation, my answer is always,"snakes!" I know it's a reptile but that makes no difference to me. Sorry snake lovers, I don't mean to offend you, but there's no way I would treat your pet of choice. Even if you pleaded with me to treat your suffering, dying snake, I would have to say, "pass." I just can't do it. You would have to find another acupuncturist, otherwise your snake would continue to suffer and then die.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've had an aversion to snakes. I don't know why. Maybe it's the texture of their skin or the way they slither around that makes my body cringe. I can remember clearly my first camp. There was a guy name Sandy who sat on a chair in the center of a circle of kids including myself. Intertwining his arms was a snake. Sandy was educating us on the amphibian, but I felt my brain shut down. It refused to absorb the information due to fear or repulsion, take your pick because it was probably both. Besides, my energy was focused on the snake, making sure that if it escaped Sandy's grip somehow, I would be ready to run.

When Sandy had finished giving his talk, he told all the boys and girls that they can come up one by one to pet the snake. Sandy noticed that I remained in my chair along with another little girl. So, he asked both of us if we wanted to touch the snake. The other girl was more courageous than I because she got up and hesitantly brushed the snake with her fingers. I, on the other hand, just looked straight at Sandy with my lips tightly together, and firmly shook my head "no" while thinking, "I'm not stupid! There's no way I'm going near that." Soon followed by my next thought, "Why does this man have a girl's name?" I was ten years old, okay?!! I wasn't savvy to the world yet.

So, this leads me to today's topic of the metaphors people use. Please know that I speak for all dogs, or at least my three dogs. When speaking of men who act like jerks and scoundrels, can we please refer to them as "snakes" instead of "dogs"? Why must people continue to say, "He's such a dog!"? This is an insult to dogs. Dogs are loyal and trustworthy. They would never cheat on you or treat you like dirt. More importantly, you can rest assured that when you go to sleep next to a dog, no harm will be done to you.

But a snake, specifically a python, is not so trustworthy. If it breaks out of its glass container near your bed (because a snake is known to be a great escape artist), you may not wake up the next day. Chances are the python may choke you to death in your sleep. There have been reports of that happening. Where's the loyalty or trust in that behavior? Isn't a snake a more likely representative for an untrustworthy louse of a man? Yes, I know that there are women with these characteristics. But the majority of people associate the metaphor to men.

Also, let's stop saying, "He's a lying dog!" Why a dog? Dogs are so honest. They cannot hide their true feelings. Just look into their eyes and you'll see the truth. I remember when I was taking care of my sister's dog Bailey at the end of last year. Bailey, a bug-eyed Boston Terrier, had a habit of peeing and pooping in the house, which she doesn't do anymore, thank god. One morning I found poop in the living room just as I was going to let the dogs out to do their business. I asked my dogs and Bailey, "Who did this?" pointing at the poop. First, I looked at my three dogs who stood there staring back at me. Seeing the expression in their wide eyes, I could tell each were saying, "I didn't do it. I swear, mom!" And, I believed them. I knew they were innocent.

However, when I looked at Bailey, she had jumped on the couch and went into the down position. "Did you do this?" I calmly asked her. Bailey immediately covered her face between her front paws (she was so cute, I had to stop myself from smiling). When she finally looked up at me a few seconds later, I repeated my question sternly just to see her reaction again. She averted her eyes from me and hid her face the second time. She couldn't look at me because she knew I would see the truth. Judging from her behavior, I knew she was the culprit.

In comparison, snakes have no expressions. How could they? They have no external ears, eyelashes or eyelids. They only have their beady, little eyes. Without facial features, and having black, globular eyes, it's more difficult seeing the truth in their face. Do we not look upon the eyes as the seat of the soul where we search for truth? In fact, I would be more suspicious of a guy with beady eyes than one with soft, big eyes. Quick survey: who would you trust with your dog, John Malkovich or George Clooney?......I would be surprised if anyone chose John Malkovich with those creepy, closely set, eyes of his (although I worked with someone who thought he was drop dead gorgeous).

And, who came up with, "You lazy dog!"? Dogs are far from lazy. They want to work. They just have to be given a job. For example, Ripley's job is to alert Morpheus and Elektra of any strange noise outside the house, and they investigate. Talk about teamwork. Morpheus and Elektra have an extra task of making sure that the yards are clear of any critters including human ones. Morpheus guards the front while Elektra watches over the back. They take their work very seriously. They are better than a security alarm system that people have in their homes. The loud sound of an alarm system may deter some intruders but I think most (if not all) will be dissuaded by the possibility of a dog's bite when the barking begins.

Pray tell, what kind of job could a snake possibly do around the house? Okay, maybe it could catch some rats for you, but I cannot imagine any snake actively hunting for rodents, catch one and drop it in front of its owner. If it were to capture a rat, it would be for the reason of feeding itself. I don't know why but I imagine a snake to be selfish (maybe because it's not a social creature), which is the complete opposite of a dog. So, "lazy" is a more appropriate description for a snake as a pet.

Finally, why must some people call an ugly, hideous person a "dog"? I haven't met a dog I didn't find adorable in some way. A dirty dog could look unappealing I suppose, but after it's been bathed, it's beautiful again. And, if there were an unpleasant looking dog out there, the minute it starts to smile, wag its tail and show affection to you, its inner beauty would come out....Can you tell my bias towards dogs?

In contrast, a snake is limbless (no hugs from a snake unless you count strangling), expressionless, shows no affection, and when it starts to wag its short tail, it's warning you to stay away. These are all attributes that point to "unattractive." A snake neither elicits any warmth nor fuzzy feelings that you would get from a dog. So, the word "snake" or even "worm", which is like a miniature snake to me, should replace "dog" in these familiar metaphors.

Would it be so much to ask to change, or even discard these metaphors implying that a dog is an unworthy animal? I think not. Whenever I hear someone use dogs negatively in a metaphor, I let that person know that it's very degrading to dogs. I believe that the person who originated these figure of speeches clearly had no understanding nor insights on dogs. Certainly, he was no dog lover otherwise he would have used a different animal to scorn, like a snake.

Talking about figure of speech, if curiosity killed the cat, then it's curiosity that will get a dog bitten by a snake. Please know that if this happens, the first two hours after the bite is crucial for the dog's life. You need to get your dog to the emergency vet and hope that they have the antidote "antivenin" for the snake bite in case the snake was poisonous. Being able to identify the type of snake that had bitten your dog would be advantageous for his treatment. Some signs that your dog may exhibit if bitten are panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, and shock. Also, on the site of the bite, there will be swelling and two puncture wounds.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. And, if you value your dog's life, please be alert and aware of his whereabouts and behavior, especially if he is off leash, when hiking in areas where there may be snakes that could strike at your beloved dog. Lastly, the dog I know and love isn't the same "dog" used in well known metaphors. So, please refrain from using metaphors with dogs unless of course they are personified in a positive light.

Thanks again for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are always welcomed.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2010-02-28T14:30:00.000-08:00

When my husband Augustine and I had been dating for awhile, he mentioned one evening that he and a couple of his friends had been talking about having to sleep with their girlfriend's pet. Apparently, one of them had given his girlfriend the ultimatum of having either him or the cat in bed. Sadly, the girlfriend chose the friend. I knew immediately where the conversation was heading but I allowed Augustine to continue as I remained silent.

"So," Augustine had said,"when I told them that Ripley slept with us, they mentioned that maybe I should give you the same ultimatum."

"Oh really?...Hmm," I said. I paused for a second, then with much deliberation continued, "I've had Ripley much longer than I've been with you, and Ripley and I have been through a lot together. There's no way she's sleeping anywhere else." That was all I had to say and Augustine had never mentioned it again. By the way, my husband doesn't remember that conversation.

Since then, Augustine has changed his tune. It is expected that Ripley sleeps with us, and when she isn't in bed with us for whatever reason, Augustine would get up, find her and bring her to bed. In fact, Ripley chooses to sleep next to Augustine more often than with me. I just don't understand how that happened, but it really gnaws at me sometimes. Can you blame me? She was my dog first!

Needless to say, with the addition of Morpheus and Elektra in our pack, we were cramped in our queen size bed. Lack of space became an issue. Augustine would end up at the edge of the bed, on the verge of falling off and I was usually on my back with one leg draped over Morpheus while the other one underneath Elektra. It was so uncomfortable we barely got sleep. But our dogs slept fabulously.

Sooner than later, sleep deprivation came, and it made me IRRITABLE. Poor Augustine bore the brunt of it. In order to maintain the harmony between us, we bought a traditional king size bed. We needed sleep. It was ridiculous that the dogs were the only ones getting precious sleep, especially since they were at home all day sleeping while Augustine and I worked.

Our new bed looked massive, and it was wonderfully spacious. Certainly, our dogs felt the difference too because they soon started to sprawl out, and Morpheus, our lab/pit mix, was the worst offender. He had a terrible habit of sleeping horizontally in the middle of the bed and was badly influencing Ripley. Yes, even Ripley began spreading her little body between our pillows at the head of the bed. In a short period of time, our bed seemed to have shrunk, and we found ourselves in the same predicament, but to a lesser degree, thank goodness.

Having enough space in bed was a hot commodity, and the dogs were in possession of it. They were usually the first ones in bed which meant they got the best spots. Fortunately, we realized that WE controlled the treats. It was easy to entice them away from their holding, and it worked every time. Hey, it's a fair exchange, what you would call a "win-win" situation. And, I learned to waste no time in claiming my spot in bed, because one time, Morpheus beat me to it. I didn't think he would finish devouring his treat before I reached the bed.

Ripley and Elektra are pretty good about getting up and moving elsewhere in bed. It's Morpheus who is a challenge. You cannot budge that boy when he's fast asleep. He becomes dead weight. You would think that he would wake up as we attempt to move him aside, but he doesn't. Maybe I should, but I don't have the heart to wake him when he's happily snoring away. So, we resort to sleeping around him.

Ahh, but once everyone is in bed and satisfied with his/her wiggle room, it's awesome having the dogs sleep around us. There is a feeling of coziness and warmth that is indescribable, which also has the ability to lull you to sleep. And, there's a sense of bonding and security that you feel with your dogs that I know you cannot feel when you share a bed with people. At least, I don't feel that bond when I have to share a bed with one or two of my sisters.

A problem arises when the urge to pee occurs in the middle of the night. It isn't a problem if Morpheus isn't sleeping next to me. But when he is, I have to think twice about going to the bathroom. There has to be a desperate need to pee.

Recently, I made a big mistake in drinking a ton of water before going to bed. I had run on the treadmill and was very thirsty. But I thought I would be fine since I made several trips to the bathroom before retiring for bed. That night Morpheus decided to sleep next to me. I was snoozing away peacefully until I was awoken by my bladder. Opening one eye, I noticed it was three in the morning. Even though I was half asleep, I was cognizant of Morpheus right against me. He hadn't shifted from his position. So, I asked myself, "should I stay or should I go?" (Just like that song from the 80's by The Clash)

Immediately my mind answered, "Stay, I can hold it for a few more hours. I don't need to go that badly."

Persuaded by my internal voice, I stayed and invited sleep to come back. In less than a minute, my bladder made it known that it seriously needed to release the water it was struggling to hold.

A little worried, because my thought went back to Morpheus, I asked again, "should I stay or go?"

This time my inner voice said pressingly, "You better go. Just go." It sensed that my bladder was rapidly loosing containment.

"Mind over body," I thought. So, I asserted, "I can hold it. YES, I CAN!!...I just won't think about it."

But that's all I could do was think about it. Shortly after, I felt a sharp poke in my bladder.....Oh man, I can't hold it! I really have to go!!! Drats!

There are times when the body will stop listening to the mind and act independently. Truly, the body has its own intelligence.

Not wanting to have an accident in bed, I reluctantly rolled out of it. But before I rushed to the bathroom, I firmly whispered to Morpheus, "You stay where you are. Don't move!"

FYI, in case you didn't know, dogs do not hear negatives, meaning the words "no" and "don't" are not included in their vocabulary. An animal communicator had told me this, and I have also read it in a book. Therefore, if you tell a dog, "don't eat that crap," that dog will go ahead and "eat that crap," because that's what he heard you say.

So, when I returned to bed finding Morpheus in my place, I could only shake my head. Clearly, it was my fault. What did I expect? Weren't my last words to him, "Don't move?" By saying that, he heard me give him the green light to go ahead and move. After all, he is an obedient dog. I could only be mad at myself.

It's a big decision allowing your dog to sleep in bed with you because it WILL affect your sleep. But I find that the positives of having my dogs sleep with me far outweigh the negatives. When I go out of town, and I have to sleep in bed alone, my first thought goes to my dogs. I miss their presence more than my husband's (sorry honey, but it's true). I cannot imagine being without them in bed (or anywhere else really), that's how attached I am to them.

Sleep is just as important to people as it is to dogs. It regenerates us, and it is during sleep when healing occurs in the body if there is an injury or any disharmony. Furthermore, as we sleep, the hormone melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland when there is complete darkness. The presence of light will stop its production. This includes light from the television, cell phone, night light and computer. This hormone helps boost the immune system in both dogs and humans. Studies have shown that insufficient amount of melatonin is associated with breast cancer in female dogs and women. It's a good thing to keep in mind if you fall asleep with the television on.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, for the sake of yours and your dog's health, make sure both of you get some deep, uninterrupted sleep in total darkness as much as possible.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are very welcomed!

Pinto is Dead!!!

2010-02-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Let me give you some background information. Pinto was an Australian Shepherd that belonged to my husband Augustine before we dated. I met Pinto only once when I went to Augustine's house for the first time. We were rarely at his house. Because Augustine was at my apartment most of the time, Pinto ran away and was never found. I didn't know that until after Ripley, my black chihuahua, and I moved in with Augustine a few months after we got engaged. I felt extremely bad for Pinto's disappearance.

Now, more than eight years later, we have three dogs who stay indoors when we're not home. Our dogs, Ripley, Morpheus and Elektra are our kids. They sleep with us and have a healthier diet than we do. They are spoiled but that was by choice (my choice, to be honest).

With that said, my story begins. It was a morning in December of last year when I happened to hear a knock on my front door. Of course, the dogs started barking simultaneously. I quickly glanced outside the window and noticed that the gardener was already there working in the front yard. Ordinarily, I would ignore people knocking on my door and allow my dogs to scare them off with their barks. However, I opened the front door assuming it was the gardener with a question for me.

To my dismay and annoyance, the gardener had knocked on my door to let me know that there was someone wanting to talk to me. Urrgh...that someone was a worker from the Animal Services from the City of Los Angeles. I don't remember the guy's name but for the sake of the story, I'll call him "Joe." Joe gave me his spiel about going around the neighborhood making sure that all the dogs were up to date with their licenses. As he talked, my mind became frantic. Knowing that my dogs weren't current with their licenses, I was trying to think of plausible explanations to offer this guy.

After confirming my name and address, Joe said, "So, we have here that you have three dogs, Pinto, Ripley and Morpheus."

"Yes," I replied slowly. But my mind, still churning, thought, "Oh good, maybe I'll just pass Elektra off as Pinto so that he'll leave her alone."

"It shows in our records that the dogs are registered but that you haven't been paying the license fees for them," said Joe, and then told me the number of years I had neglected to pay. He continued, "Mam, you can take care of this now or go in front of a judge."

In front of a judge?!! Really? For neglected renewal fees for my dogs?... And, when in the heck did I become a "Mam"? Okay, I honestly do not mind paying renewal fees for my dogs. They are only fifteen dollars per "altered" dog in the City of Los Angeles. But why wasn't I given a notice? I'd get one from the DMV, Triple A, the Acupuncture Board, etc., and when I do, I would always pay. Seriously, with all the bills that people pay every month, who thinks about the annual renewal fees for a dog license? Obviously, I don't.

Finally, I asked calmly, "So, can you tell me how much I owe?" I was ready and willing to pay.

"Well, since you hadn't been paying for the license fees, there's a penalty of $500 per dog on top of what you owe," Joe simply said.

In a second, my brain had multiplied three by five hundred dollars and deliriously arrived at FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS??!!

Shocked, I blurted out, "But Pinto is dead!!!" (foolishly thinking one less dog equals five hundred dollars less)

"But you said he was one of the three dogs you had," Joe said with confusion.

"Yes, we HAD Pinto," I emphasized, regaining my composure. "But he died a long time ago."

"But, you have three dogs," he said knowingly. He looked at me as if challenging me to deny this fact.

How in the world did he know I had three dogs? Did one of the neighbors tell him? Do these people have that much time looking into people's backyards and counting the number of dogs? I was baffled.

"Ehh...well, yeah. We found a dog in our backyard and we decided to keep her," I said.

Joe opened his pad and started to write. "So, how long have you had her?" he asked.

"Umm, I think we found her.. ehh.. last year," I said hesitantly because I was lying.

Joe asked me all sorts of questions. He wanted to know her name, age, breed, and was she spayed? When I said that she was, Joe wanted the name of the veterinary hospital where it was done. He needed to verify that indeed Elektra was spayed.

Dreadfully, but dutifully, I gave Joe the name and number of the hospital. I knew another lie would be discovered. The truth was we did find Elektra in our backyard and decided to keep her. But we found her at least four years prior. I phoned my husband as Joe called the vet hospital. I told Augustine what was happening and how mortified I felt because Joe would know that once again, I had lied.

"Why didn't you just tell the truth?" Augustine asked me.

"I don't know. I guess I just panicked," I replied. The whole situation was so unexpected.

By the time I got off the phone with Augustine, Joe had also finished with his call to the vet.

"Okay," Joe said, "the receptionist told me that Elektra was spayed in April 2003."

"Oh, wow, hmm," I said very meekly. What could I say? I wanted to minimize further embarrassment.

When Joe overlooked my lies, I realized that his only goal was to extract money from me. He kindly waived the fifteen hundred dollar penalty fee since I was "being so honest" with him. He didn't sound sarcastic when he said that, but then again I was too stressed to notice. In retrospect, Joe probably didn't expect anybody to pay the penalty fee especially in our present economy. But it was a good scare tactic. Hey, it worked with me. Consequently, I paid for the years I was behind for Ripley and Morpheus. However, Joe was very lenient when it came to Elektra. I only had to pay for one year instead of the six years I have had her.

On a side note, I would have had to pay more if my dogs weren't fixed. It's a violation if you have an "unaltered" dog, unless you have the "intact" dog license or a "breeder" permit. Thank god, it was easy to prove that Morpheus was neutered. I just had to parade him in front of Joe to show that he was scrota-less. Poor Morpheus, he was so afraid I was giving him away that his eyes were wide open with anxiety. I had to reassure him that Joe only wanted to make certain he had no balls, literally.

After I had given Joe my check which amounted to almost three hundred dollars, I asked him whether the City of Los Angeles accepted a titer certification in lieu of the vaccination. He had never heard of a titer. So I explained to him what it was.

A titer is taking a sample of blood to determine whether the dog's immunity is high enough so that it wouldn't need to be vaccinated. Dogs and cats are found to be over-vaccinated causing future health problems. Titers are available in veterinary hospitals but you have to ask for them. I usually recommend titers to be done especially for elderly animals. Why would you want to inject toxins in an already weak and possibly comprised body?

My normal habit is to tell the truth, so I tried to understand my dishonesty with Joe. I realized that my behavior stemmed from my desire to protect my dogs from getting the rabies vaccination. I'm not a fan of vaccinations. Yes, dogs should be vaccinated during the first year of their lives but that's it. This is my belief. If you think about children, they are only vaccinated the first few years of their lives. They don't get a yearly vaccination afterwards. Why should animals be different, especially when their life span is much shorter? As much as our dogs protect us, we have a responsibility to protect them in return.

This story came to mind because just a week ago, I FINALLY got a notice for Ripley's license renewal. Since she is fourteen years old, she no longer needs to be vaccinated...that's what Joe told me. You can bet that her renewal fee will be paid. I do NOT want another encounter with Joe.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then, protect them as best as you can because that's what they would do for you.

Thank you for visiting my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.

Unconditional Woof! (Love)

2010-02-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

I love, love dogs. They are magnificent beings wanting only to love and please. So, it's appropriate that my blog starts today, Valentine's Day, to celebrate dogs and the love they give to all of us. In case you are wondering what my blog is about let me briefly explain. Dogs have so much to teach us about how to relate to each other and live life. This led to my decision to write a blog that focuses on dogs, the many things we can learn from them, the insane things we are willing to do for them, as well as "everything else" that happens in life. If you are a dog lover and owner, you will easily relate. If you are neither, you'll certainly come away with some understanding that perhaps you didn't have before. My intention is to provide insight and humor that will perhaps raise your awareness of who we are as humans sharing this world with our true best friend, the dog.

I want to clarify that I am no dog expert. However, because I work with animals, mostly dogs, providing acupuncture and holistic medicine, the fact that I have three dogs of my own, the studies and observations I have done on them, give me enough credibility when I write about these beautiful creatures.

Because today is Valentine's Day, the topic of unconditional love is most suitable. Have you ever met a person who gave you unconditional love 24/7?...If you were honest, the answer would be "no". If someone said, "yes", you're damn lucky. You have a keeper, because the majority of people give conditional love. I confess that I am guilty of this. Think about it. A person may strive to give unconditional love but the ego, a preconceived notion or an unresolved emotion interferes with her/his thinking and behavior. Many people have a list of criteria they look for in a mate even before the dating process begins. That is very conditional.

Unconditional means no matter how butt ugly or unbelievably gorgeous you are, rich or poor, intelligent or dimwitted, kind or mean-spirited, fat or fit, etc. this person will love you. Know anyone like that? I don't. The only place you will find a person like that is in your fantasy. So, dream on.

With dogs, you will always get unconditional love. ALWAYS! If you stink, they won't care. They'll give you a kiss regardless. Hey, if they can lick their butt, they can kiss you when you smell. Just make sure they don't kiss you right after they have licked their butt. If you're completely broke, it doesn't matter. I've seen a number of homeless people with dogs who seem very content. If you get sick, feeling and looking awful, they will snuggle up to you until you feel better.

When my husband got food poisoning a couple months ago, he was vomiting, moaning and groaning, and the last thing I wanted to do was cuddle up next to him. The aroma of vomit acts as a natural repellent as well as triggers nausea for me. That's just me though. You may be different. But our dogs, god bless them, comforted him the way I couldn't. They slept next to him despite the noise and stench. The best I could do was make my husband ginger tea, put another blanket over him and offer some kind words as he slept on the sofa.

Angry? Dogs will give you the space to cool off when you get mad at them, and afterwards, they will always come to you without resentment, without a grudge, without malice in their hearts. No silent treatment nor a need to get an explanation or an apology for your behavior. Just acceptance and pure, unconditional love in their hearts.

Can you imagine coming home and finding your significant other jumping for joy every time you came home? My husband may greet me that way if he knew I had a winning lottery ticket in my purse. Besides that, I don't think so because even bringing pizza home doesn't do the trick, and he loves pizza. However, my dogs are consistently, and without fail, thrilled to see me each time I come home. That is devoted love for you.

Dogs offer something more precious than anything anyone can buy on Valentine's Day. If we gave our loved ones the unconditional love dogs naturally gave us, we would be less stressed and have more money in our checkbooks (because there would be no guilt to make up for). But seriously, we would have more peace and happiness in our relationships.

Man domesticated dogs to be our hunters, our guards, our companions. I'm quite certain man never expected the love in return. Dogs know how to love. They do it effortlessly and without discrimination. Surely, many of us humans can learn from that.

Love your dog. If you don't have one, adopt or save one. Then get ready to share a love so big (crazy big, really!) that it takes over you, and suddenly you will find yourself doing the "baby talk" to your dog!... Ah, but that's another topic.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for visiting the first of my weekly blog. Any comments are welcomed.