THE BUTLER DIDN'T DO IT! - A MURDER OF CROWS DID!

     Saturday morning. I woke up, put on my slippers, and opened the front door to let my dogs out for their morning ritual - you know, the 'piddle, sniff, bark, piddle...' one. Immediately my eyes sought out a crumpled piece of tinfoil cradling a bit of waxed paper with greasy bits of fat attached. It was lying in the middle of my sidewalk!

Dropped inside my fence!



     Now, I'm used to seeing people toss their garbage onto the ground, but this morning was different. This piece of garbage was sitting inside my gated yard!

(Please note: the phrase 'gated yard' does not mean that I live in some high fahlootin' gated community; it just means that I finally put up a small fence with a gate so my dogs wouldn't run out and attack any other dogs doing their morning walks with their owners. You see, one of my dogs, my 16 year old rescued Jill Russell Terrorist, named Trubble, feels obliged (from early childhood experiences) to hang from the lips of any foreign dogs that she sees within her 'territory'.)

     But I digress. Back to the real story. Why was this greasy, crumpled and spent object lying in my yard? A trespasser in the night? Who? And why did they leave their garbage on my sidewalk? Was it an attempt to 'poison' my dogs? Or what?

     Now, all of these questions stirring in my head were 'B.C.' (before coffee). So, needless to say, I came up with a big "zero" until I began to sip my first cuppa. Suddenly, I had illumination! I knew what had happened! And I could even hear the culprits who were still nearby.

     I heard a raucous sound coming from a tree outside my yard: 'CAW CAW CAW!'  I should have guessed. I hear their cacophany every morning from their perches in the trees. Those crafty-beaked birds had raided someone's uncapped garbage, and lifted the left over food morsels for their own breakfast. And whatever was not 'edible' was dropped and left on the ground.

Moral to the Story:

1. Crows are wanton litterbugs. They drop their leftovers where ever they will. Leftovers can include almost anything that is bright and shiny (like tinfoil) or remotely edible (like fat drippings inside the tinfoil).

2. Sometimes the leftover litter can be dangerous to our pets - like cooked, or broken chicken bones or bits of tinfoil with food still on it. I learned my lesson. Always check out your yard for unforseen hazards left by the local 'murder of crows'.

Note: I am not meaning to malign crows. A 'murder of crows' is the collective noun used to identify a group of crows. (And if it's blue jays, it's a 'scold of jays')

DON'T BE FOOLED BY 'PROPORTIONS' - THE 'NEWEST' JUNK PET FOOD

It's on Dogster, and here's what the advertisers boast: "Proportions™ dog food is made from the finest human-grade ingredients, comes in complete and balanced proportions specifically for YOUR dog’s needs, and delivered to your door EVERY month. It really doesn’t get any better than that, does it?!
And here's what Dr. Kim Bloomer, veterinary naturopath, host of the online radio show Animal Talk Naturally says....through her dog, a rescued Neopolitan Mastiff named Shadrach.

Whole Food in a Bag???      Posted Sep 10 2010 1:27pm
Shadrach speaks out: "Woof....   Okay I’m not sure that humans are truly understanding what “whole food” means bepaws well let’s face it, humans tend to allow themselves to be led by marketing, media and medicine. And now I’m going to have to hopefully help humans get a clue about this newest food being pushed as a “whole food” nutrition program for dogs by none other than Dogster.

They’re calling it “Proportions” bepaws they pack some kibble in one little bag, some COOKED meat they call stew in another little bag, and some dried veggies & fruits they call Harvest Mix in the final bag – this is their “whole food” nutrition program. OY VEY! What part of that is CARNIVORE based?? Remember we need a species appropriate RAW diet to thrive and this “food” is COOKED and processed. (Read this article to learn more about why that is just not healthy for us: http://www.thewholedog.org/artcookedfood.html)

Yeah I know I’m a Dogster recommended blog, but come on Dogster we are DOGS. You’re not appealing to OUR carnivore needs, oh no, and I can’t stand by calmly so you can make some $$ off of us on this one Dogster. This is marketing and economics 101, plain and simple.
You can NOT call ANY “food” (and I use that term lightly) that is processed and packed in a bag a “whole food“. Dogster is just playing off the latest marketing ploy to appeal to HUMAN food needs using “natural” sounding buzz words further diluting the TRUE message of health and wellness for humans and animals.
Here’s the thing I keep barking and blogging about all the time: ANY food, whether it is for human or animal consumption, that comes in a bag, can or box is PROCESSED food. There is nothing WHOLE about it humans and NOTHING healthy about it either – particularly NOT for us carnivores!

For some reason you humans can understand how bad processed food is for YOU but you think that just bepaws a veterinarian and/or the media tell you that it is good for US it’s okay. Where is the logic and common sense in that? I tell you it is greatly missing, WOOF! And if you wonder why I lumped veterinarians in there, well I can tell you the ones that have been truthful with us on Animal Talk Naturally have gone on record saying how little they learn about nutrition and what little they do learn is taught to them by none other than the pet food industry itself. I smell a BIG stinky rat there!

I have a quote for you by a veterinarian who goes even further when he says: 'I suppose we veterinarians who do a lot of work with skin and hair problems ought to thank the commercial pet food manufacturers for all the business they create for us.' ~J Keith Benedict, DVM

At any rate I am VERY glad my humans feed me a REAL diet that is designed specifically for us dogs – raw meat and bones, WOOF! If you want to join other raw fed dogs in barking your disapproval about this latest processed food use this link: http://www.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Health/thread/686077

Have a pawsitively tail waggin’, NATURALLY healthy day, WOOF!
Please check out her other sites if you want to learn more about feeding a species appropriate diet to your pet.

http://www.thewholedog.org/artcookedfood.html

http://www.wellsphere.com/pet-health-article/whole-food-in-a-bag/1219377

This little but important message is being brought to you by: http://www.truecarnivores.com/

Can You Say 'Diatomaceous Earth'? Your Pet Sure Hopes So!

What on earth is 'diatomaceous earth? DE, or diatomaceous earth (always use 'food grade') is composed of naturally occuring, fossilized, single-celled organisms called diatoms.

What does it do?

Well, for one, it kills fleas without harming to your pet! Under the microscope, you can see that these diatoms have very sharp edges. And it is these edges that easily scrape and cut through the outershells (exoskeletons) of pests like fleas, bedbugs, etc. The result: dehydration - but with no harm to you or your pet. Simple as that. Natural. No harmful chemicals; no toxic build up; no multi-national drug companys' advertising to drive up the cost. (...I could go on and on, but I won't. )

Other benefits of DE?

In Europe and Asia, food grade DE has been used for centuries as an internal cleanser and supplement. It seems to have a muriad of benefits according to anecdotal evidence (and some of it coming from my staff who decided to take it too.) Some of the reported benefits include: 1. an aid collagen formation 2. clears out internal parasites 3. lowers cholesterol 4. provides needed trace minerals 5. Strengthens nails....and more.

Why don't we hear about this 'natural remedy' more?

Well, probably for the same reason that the multi-national pet food companies spend thousands of dollars (millions?) on trying to sell you dead, dehydrated, grain/carbohydrate based, bagged 'food' for your pet, instead of suggesting a natural, species appropriate food that you can buy for much less cost, and with much improved health for your pet. They can't make any $$$ on truly natural items - they don't have a corner on that market.

Where can I get DE? We have 3 sizes available at True Carnivores. (And we only sell Food Grade DE by PermaGuard - don't buy the 'garden type DE' as it may have other chemicals or impurities in it.) People call us from all over Greater Vancouver to purchase it for anything from fleas to bedbug infestations. Try it, you'll like it....and so will your pet. We carry only the best: PermaGuard food grade diatomateous earth. (Common sense suggests: do not breath in the diatom/powder) Thanks and all the best to you and your four-legged furkids. Please check out my previous blogs, too. I have in interesting one on the 'benefits' of raw green tripe!

Don't Trifle With TRIPE!

Okay, here it is: Tripe. Yum or Yuck? It depends. Tripe is the stomach lining of ruminants (cud chewers). When eaten by humans it is first bleached, cleaned, and ultimately boiled for a few hours to soften its rubbery texture before it's consumed. But my dogs (and some cats) enjoy it 'green' - raw, uncooked, unbleached, and riddled with bits of partially digested grasses.

Stinky? Yes. Nutritious? YES!

Why Is Tripe Such A 'Perfect' Food?
Tripe is rich in enzymes, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, probiotics, and phytonutrients. And whole tripe acts as a dental floss to keep your dog or cat's teeth healthy and clean. Some dogs who are 'poop eaters', often quit when given raw tripe because they are receiving the enzymes they need in order to process their food.


Juliette de Bairacli Levy, in her book, The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat says: "I would suggest breeders make good use of such flesh foods as the following:...paunches of all animals (the raw, uncleaned paunches of healthy grass-fed animals can be fed with much benefit to all breeds of dogs).

I've been feeding both whole and ground green tripe for about 15 years now. Years ago, when I co-owned Fresh Start (a raw food company for dogs) I had the opportunity to receive the flats of tripe, layers of them, and then slice it up into various sizes for packaging and subsequent sale. Our dogs never wandered far away from us on those day - they knew they'd shortly be receiving a 'gift' of leftover tripe treasures.

Wanna Try Some? At True Carnivores, we carry both whole and ground green tripe, single packages and bulk. For more info, check out my website for details.  http://www.truecarnivores.com/

the kids

THE KIDS - And Why I Own A Raw Food Store for Cats and Dogs

First there was Scraps. I met Scraps, my partner's cat, when Scraps was about 12 years old. She was a cranky, tortoise-shell - the cat, that is. I spent many hours on the floor, trying to coax her out from under the bed. Ultimately, we both won, but it was always on her terms.

Second came Trubble. My sweet little Jill Russell Terrorist. I didn't fully realize it at the time, but I had 'rescued her' at 5 months, from a family who could not keep her due to the fact that their 1st dog, also a JRT, was beating and biting her up quite badly. I quickly learned what the word 'imprinting' meant, as Trubble, in fear and self defense would leap onto the lips of a rottweiler ( or the like) and hang there.

Then my partner decided to get Pekoe, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Trubble was not at all happy, and immediately tried to beat the little puppy to a pulp.

Unsuccessfully, I am glad to add. And they both live in a relatively secure alliance now. Pekoe is the 'lover not the fighter', and Trubby is...well...the fighter. Alas.

This is the short version of why I ultimately switched from teaching teenagers, to training and teaching dogs and their caregivers. And why True Carnivores, the Raw Food Store for Cats and Dogs was begun.

Fifteen years have gone by and I've learned a lot about dogs, cats, feeding, nutrition, and the like. I don't know everything, but what I do know I would like to share with others who are also fed up with the big box (pet food, etc.) companies extolling the virtues of dehydrated, cooked, grain-based, species-inappropriate foods and supplements.

Do you remember, in the 1950's, that doctors were featured in family magazine ads championing the goodness of 'light' cigarettes?

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog!