My Elusive Neighbor Makes an Appearance

Devi has been telling me for many months that there are otters out there! I have had a couple of clients who have seen otters on the dock on their way in for a session but I've never been quick enough to get any pictures.
That has changed. This one is pretty average sized. I saw an enormous one once that I hope will come back sometime and let me get a photo.

NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE

Please check out my new website at www.workswithdogs.com

Dogs Greeting Their Soldier Dads Returning from War

If you are in the mood for some heartwarming videos, check these out!
might want to have some tissue handy...
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324

New Pet First Aid/CPR Venue

I am excited to have another venue for Pet First Aid/CPR training classes. Besides the classes I've been teaching at different locations around the area, I am now working with CPR Seattle, http://www.cprseattle.com/old/ on Stone Way in the Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle. The classes taught at CPR Seattle are based on the American Safety & Health Institute guidelines.
The classroom is wonderful and in a great location.

At this time we have monthly classes scheduled, Dec. 13 and Jan. 24. We expect to continue at least once per month.
The classes are listed on and registration is taken through the CPR Seattle website. Be sure to look at the website for class discount coupons.

J Linn's Radio Interview

Listen to my radio interview from October of 2009. The Washington Talking Book and Braille Library has a radio station, the Evergreen Radio Reading Service. On that station there is a program called "The Talk Show" that is a call-in, interview show hosted by Darrell Thixton.

The services provided by the WTBBL and ERRS are invaluable to many people in our area. I was happy that they were interested in hearing about animal massage therapy and wanted to get the information out to their listeners.

Please enjoy the show....

http://www.wtbbl.org/audio/ts-091014.mp3

and please support this very important organization.

Miss Tully

Over the years I have met and gotten to know many dogs. Most of those have had very loving people caring for them, loving and protecting them. When I became an animal massage therapist I began connecting with the dogs and their people in a deeper way. When someone has a family member that they love very much, that they are responsible for, who may be experiencing discomfort or pain and I am asked to help alleviate that pain and discomfort, the emotional well-being is as important as the physical relief.

I have had the privilege of knowing many of these relationships. One of the longest has been with Tully and her Mom, Elizabeth. Tully had a tough start in life. Like many of the beloved dogs I work with, she was rescued from a bad situation and welcomed into a forever, secure, loving family. Elizabeth nurtured Tully through her numerous emotional scars. She allowed Tully to be Tully soon realizing that under the scared, nervous exterior there was a royal personality waiting to blossom.

Tully soon realized her potential as a Diva and became the one of a kind lady we loved. She made an impression on all who met her. Her life was blessed with many years of the kind of love and attention that an only child craves until her Mom brought home a little brother. By then Tully was older, a senior in every sense of the word, and Oliver was taught to respect that. It became a somewhat peaceful, utilitarian situation for Tully who allowed Oliver to be the boy that he needed to be as long as he didn't infringe on her all encompassing rights.

Unfortunately for all of us, we have lost Tully as she had to cross the Rainbow Bridge. She was a trooper, true to her royal nature, right up to the end of her beautiful life here with us. We love you Tully, we grieve with you Elizabeth and we will always hold a warm place in our hearts and a smile for sweet, spunky, Tully. She is sorely missed.

Using My Canine First Aid Training Saved a Trip to the ER

Last night around 10:30pm I was preparing to leave my boyfriend's house when he said Devi, my dog who had fallen asleep on the sofa, was "twitchy". He had sat down beside her to say goodnight and she seemed startled and wouldn't get close to him. This behavior is quite unlike my little kissy monster.

I assumed she was just groggy from having started antihistamine medication the night before which was prescribed by our Vet. She had been scratching her tummy, underarms and forelegs for a week pretty frequently, probably from seasonal allergies, and he felt we needed to stop it before she gave herself any more cuts and abrasions.

I carried her to the car, sat her on the seat and Joe reached in to say goodbye again as by this time we were both worried about her. Again she pulled away. She LOVES Joe so this just wasn't normal.

On the drive home I noticed she was a bit wobbly and didn't have any expression in her eyes the way she usually does, having the expressive little face that she has. Once I parked I reached over to her and she jumped, like she was startled again. I began having feelings of dread that she was about to have a seizure or something. I've been through that several times with other dogs and was trying not to panic.

I put her on leash, got her out of the car and she walked down the steps to the door. Also unlike her usual routine of checking the perimeter of the yard before coming to the door. Once inside she plopped on the floor. Sure I was going to have to take her to the emergency clinic, I grabbed the med's she was on and my keys, when finally my training kicked in. I realized I have tools to help me decide if she truly needed to go to emergency.

I checked her vital signs, pulse, breathing rate and capillary refill time in her gums. All were within normal limits. Her pupils looked fine also. Just that small amount, yet important information calmed me and allowed me to make the decision to not take her to the 24 hour Vet clinic.

I put her on the bed on her fluffy cover, curled up around her and continued to monitor her breathing while giving her Reiki until we both fell asleep. A few hours later she woke up, wanted to go outside and seemed much more alert and like herself.

This morning upon waking she was her usual happy, kissy, wiggly self. Although she tired easily and slept most of the day on and off. I discontinued the med's (the morning prior was the last she had any). I spoke with her Vet and he agreed that it was most likely that she couldn't handle the antihistamines and to discontinue them.

Tonight she was excited to go for a walk, wanted to play and plowed her way onto my lap out of jealousy of my computer.

It sounds like such a small thing that checking her vitals and finding them normal was all it took to keep me from panicking and possibly running up a big bill and stressing my little girl out much more than she deserved, but that is exactly what happened.

I am grateful to have the tools of pet 1st aid/CPR training and am excited to pass it on to others. I hope that I never have a more serious situation that I have to use it for, but it is possible and I know I will be prepared to do what I need to do to respond to an emergency.