Christine Kane – Four Legs Good Two Legs Bad

Four Legs Good Two Legs Bad

Today is my one year anniversary living with Alpha-guy and Beta-chic. It took me several months to get use to the weird noise and people of Salem. But now i am Queen of Squirrel-andia and the happiest dragon in Salem. I do hope the pet humans celebrate with some organic sausage and a few walks around Squirrel-andia today. Perhaps a bouquet of a dozen squirrels?
It’s my anniversary and i will chase if i want to … chase if i want to!
love
quani yin kali wu

So many people ask about what they can do for their pets who have emotional issues, aggression, fear and other issues. Acupuncture may be helpful for certain emotional problems however I have found that using the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy combined with specific Bach Flower essences can make the most difference. Using 2-3 drops of Rescue Remedy in your pet’s water is safe and effective. Add 2-3 drops of the flower essence along with the Rescue Remedy if needed.

From the Bach Flower Website http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm

Animals have emotions too. They feel fear, anger, jealousy, and depression just like us.

The Bach Flower Remedies® are able to help our Animals when they have negative emotions just as they help us when we are emotionally out of balance. Unfortunately, we are not able to ask our pet why it acts depressed, but we do know if it misses a friend or gets overly excited around new people.

Here are just a few of the single flower essences and their uses. For more info visit the web link listed above.

Rescue Remedy® Immediate calming effect
Use for stressful situations: visits to the vet, being left alone, adapting to new surrounding. Fear of loud noises, such as firework and thunder. Excessive barking or hissing

Mimulus: For fears; afraid of lightening, visits to the vet. May shake or shiver when confronted. Shy and timid animals
Animals become more confident and courageous, can enjoy life without fear

Rock Rose: Terror, panic-stricken: body trembling, cowers or runs away. Restores courage and calmness

Holly: Jealousy of other animals or a new baby in the home. Angry growling, hissing, barking, snapping or unprovoked attacks.
Will become an animal that is more compassionate and willing to share with other animals.

Today is my birthday. and i am two years old. It has been a very strange two years for me. I remember some of it, but unfortunately cannot tell my new pet humans what actually happened to me the first year and a half of my life in TN.

This day is also my six month anniversary of being adopted and living in Salem. I am almost immune to the noise and strange people of Salem. I still do not like the scary trash trucks on Mondays. I will always hate the fireworks.

On most days i am a very happy girl. And today i am very happy! I do hope the pet humans will throw me a big party at the park. You are all invited!

Here is my birthday wish list:

A herd of sheep

A pound of organic chicken sausage with apples

12 walks around Squirrel-andia today.

More squirrels to chase.

A nice juicy bone that makes Beta-chic gag.

And …a new collar, lose the leash. More walks. More belly rubs, kisses and more attention. Oh and could you please crate all the cats today.

It’s my birthday and i’ll howl if i want to…..
xoxoox
Quan Yin

to Kali the Destroyer

So it is a heavy burden for a rescue dog like me to have the same name as the Chinese deity of compassion, Quan Yin. I like the name. It’s cool- tho most of the people in Salem just don’t get it or can even remember it. The problem is- i have to behave all the time. Too much pressure for me. I am only 1 1/2 years old. Come on folks… you could have named me something fun…. like
Kali the Destroyer. She is a one of the cooler Hindu deities. She is black like me. And everyone is scared of her. Nobody except a few cats and squirrels are scared of me. The best part is, Kali gets away with destruction.. unlike me. So unfair.

Is it my fault that i chewed up a Frida Kahlo library book the other day when i should have been taken on a walk? Why is it that i was blamed and not any of those cats? And i did my pet human Beta-chic a favor. She wanted that book- so now she can keep it. (Of course she must replace it with a brand new one that cost $56 in the next week or she will be banned from the library.)

So i think i should add Kali to my litany of names. Today i declare i am Quan Yin Kali Wu.

Now where is that stack of library books they hid? That yoga book looked pretty tasty.
Until next post
Quan Yin Kali Wu

New! A package for Rescue Dogs and their owners.

Fears can be common in dogs and can make for a difficult first weeks or months as a dog adjusts to its new home. Inspired by our recently adopted rescue dog, Quan Yin, who initially suffered from anxieties and fears, Four Paws Acupuncture has created a new “house call” session to teach you effective therapies to help your new dog adjust to a new home.

Therapy Package for dogs and owners – $75
A one-hour house call includes:
o Herbal/nutritional consultation
o Laser acu-therapy session
o Acupressure lesson on how to massage your dog to reduce stress
o Informational package on recommended herbs, supplements and products and where to purchase them. (We do not sell products.)

For other services offered by Four Paws Acupuncture please visit our website at www.fourpawsacupuncture.com

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.”

Since i have arrived in noisy Salem from TN, i have been a little jumpy. Trucks, tour busses and things with diesel engines seem to terrify me. My pet humans think it is because i was on the transport truck for 3 days from the south to the northeast…. maybe. ….. maybe it is just the booming sound of that engine. The problem is that i now live in a tourist destination city. From April through November tourists pour in and tour busses are everywhere. Just walking to Pickering Wharf- which is now one of my favorite places to check pee-mail and meet other dogs is sometimes overwhelming. Tour busses linger at the House of Seven Gables… running their engines the entire time they are parked. Is that really necessary? It certainly not environmentally friendly!

One of the things that seems to help me is the Bach Flower remedy called Mimulus. My pet humans have been giving me that along with the Bach Flower Rescue remedy. Below is a great article on how to use Mimulus for fears and it is not just for dogs. People can use it too. Any of you humans have a few fears you need to face? Personally i will take the boom of an engine over what most people seem to be scared about. Humans do worry about the oddest things.

As many humans say, “Time heals all wounds”. Perhaps time and these magic flowers will do the trick!
Happy Tails until my next post.
namaste
Quan Yin
From the site www.herbs2000.com

Mimulus
Shyness, timidity, everyday fears of known things.

Fear of crowds, fear of people and of being in the public eye are all characteristics of the Mimulus type, who tends to be shy and timid. As a mood remedy, Mimulus is for anyone who suffers from a fear that can be identified clearly – fear of pain, poverty, spiders, of being killed in an accident, of being burgled etc.

Fear of failure is a Larch indication as it suggests a lack of confidence in one’s ability to succeed; but Mimulus fear of the consequences may be more specific such as fear of what people might say; or fear of having to make the winner’s speech. As this suggests, it is not always easy to draw a clear line between Larch and Mimulus, and they are often given together. The normal way to tell them apart is this: if there is a lack of confidence but no actual anxiety, give Larch alone; if there is a fear of something specific but away from this the person is confident of his or her abilities, then give Mimulus alone.

Animals that need Mimulus as a type remedy are fearful, nervous creatures. They may demonstrate their fear quite openly by shaking or shivering or using other body language when confronted with the thing that frightens them: animals that whimper or hide behind the settee when a stranger enters the house are very likely to be in need of Mimulus.

Animals that are afraid of thunder, fireworks, other animals, or the cracking of wood burning in the grate would all benefit from Mimulus. The remedy should also be considered (as should Centaury and Larch) for animals who find it difficult to assert themselves; but where there is sheer terror, or the fear is not of something specific, other remedies will apply (Rock Rose and Aspen).”

This ADORABLE boy needs a home also!!!!! This dog ROCKS!!!
Roscoe is a happy go lucky guy who is content to sit at your feet (or on your lap) and get some well deserved love and attention. At about 5 years old this handsome guy has a moderate energy level and has been great with all of the dogs that he has been introduced to. Though he does not live in a home with cats he has been tested with them and has shown no bad reactions. Roscoe is slowly learning basic obedience and leash walking and is looking for a home that will finish his leash training and take him on nice walks and let him enjoy the outside. Roscoe is crate trained and does just fine in the crate when his foster parents aren’t there and has not shown any destructive habits such as chewing things or eating furniture. Roscoe has done well with all of the Children he has been introduced and is happy to meet everyone who comes to visit him. If you are interested in giving this handsome guy a home please go to our website and fill out an application. Note: Please fill out an application and a volunteer will contact you within 1-2 business days. We do not have a central office facility, all of our pets are housed in foster homes until they are adopted. Your first step in adopting a furry friend is to go to our website www.rainbowrescues.org and fill out an application. At this time, adoption fees for dogs are $175.

www.adoptapet.com

Here’s Trouble!” In January, 2006, after some tough times of her own, then twelve year old Kendra Duncan of Marblehead, Massachusetts, decided that kids (and adults too) could use some help during difficult times … maybe they were ill, or had lost a loved one … or were simply feeling a little bit afraid. They needed a great big hug … and more!

She sat down and drew a very simple little pup, and named him “Trouble”! She then worked with her aunt, Sheila, to design a cuddly plush toy as well as a children’s book which tells Trouble’s story of rescue and hope…and how to “be tough” when times are hard.

Trouble has a mission … to make people feel better … and he does! It’s magical! ” To learn more visit http://www.troublesaysbetough.com.

Purchase this adorable stuffed Trouble dog or the children’s book and the proceeds are donated back to the SPCA of TN towards rescuing another poor dog that has no hope.

It feels like spring and i want a dog. I want one now. I should join a 12 step program for dog-aholics. It is overwhelming and it is all i can think about. It has been so long since i had my own dog. When i lived in San Diego i had three German Shepherds, Nina, her son Merlin and his wife Liberty. All passed away before i left the west coast. My heart tugs every time is see a shepherd. I can spot one from a distance. More than once i have almost wrecked my car gazing at a shepherd walking down the street.

I know that there is a dog in my near future- but my inner child is having a hard time being patient for that right rescue dog to appear. Yes, this next dog will come from a rescue group or shelter unless Rin Tin Tin knocks at our door or the Monks of New Skete call and say “Congratulations! You just won a New Skete Shepherd!”. There are too many dogs who need homes and i do not want a designer dog. And i promised my husband and 3 cats i would wait until April or May to begin searching for that dog.

This dog also must meet criteria set my family and myself. He or she must get along with all 3 cats and not try to eat them. He/she must be a big dog, not a small lap dog. And if possible this new dog will be trained as a therapy dog. The reality is when the time is right the dog appears. They pick us. But….oh the anticipation of who will choose us?

The sun was out this weekend with a heat wave of 55 degrees. The urge to roll in the grass was unbearable. It was wet, so i showed restraint. … And i really did not want to embarrass my husband anymore than usual. He is quite patient with my dog obsession. (well actually its an animal obsession but our small apartment will not allow us to have a horse, pig or elephant.) More than once Salem residents have approached me with “Oh.. you’re that Dog Lady.” ( I am sure they were all kind or scared enough not to say “Oh, You’re that crazy dog lady.)

My husband Norm, also an acupuncturist has recently diagnosed me with Gou Shen Shi Syndrome translated as Dog Mind Excess. (Gou is Chinese for dog. The rest is TCM speak.) The symptoms of Gou Shen Shi Syndrome usually appear around the same time as spring fever. It is estimated that 30% of most people suffer from chronic Dog Mind Excess.

TCM Signs and Symptoms of Gou Shen Shi Syndrom

Tongue: long and dry from panting like a dog
Pulse: Big and fast from over excitement

Symptoms include:
* Obsession with dogs.
* Identification of good sticks. (Size matters.)
* Running after other dogs to greet and play with.
* Sticking head out the window during car rides. (I don’t usually do this one.)
* Heightened sense of smell. (I can smell smoke coming from the next town.)
* Scratching fleas – real or imaginary
(Last week i had to throw away my “dog coat”, the coat i wore making house calls because it had fleas. It took me a few days to realize that it was the coat that had fleas, thus the reason i had flea bites on my arms. My family is grateful that they were not attacked by the coat fleas…. and they were not imaginary fleas.)
* Ogling the Planet Dog toys at WholeFoods. (guilty)
* Drooling on cool leashes and collars at the local pet shop. (Drooling is such an ugly word.)
* Thumping rear leg when happy.
* The urge to bite when annoyed. (no comment!)
* The urge to howl along with other dogs. (why not?)
* Exhibiting symptoms of dog ailments such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, knee problems and lower back pain. (all of the above)
* Subscribing to dog magazines, watching dog movies and surfing pet finder for dogs to adopt. (it beats shopping for designer clothes.)
* Stalking neighborhood dog owners when they walk their dogs. (Some no longer make eye contact with me.)
* Carrying dog treats in car, purse and pockets at all times when possible. (mandatory)
* Knowing all the dogs’ names in the neighborhood but not their owner’s. (guilty)
* Chasing loose dogs down the street in hopes of capturing them before they are hit by a car. (I now have a leash in my car for this purpose.)
* Reprimanding other irresponsible dog owners for leaving their dogs in cars on hot days with the windows rolled up, leaving their dogs outside during frigid temperatures while they are shopping and those who allow their dogs to be unleashed on a busy street. (Probably how i earned the Crazy Dog Lady title!)

So i ask… what Traditional Chinese herbal formula does one take for Gou Shen Shi Syndrome?

I think the cure is a dog.