Help SC Fire Department help SC Pet Owners
We are in need of
volunteers to help the Sun City
Firefighters and Paramedics place frightened pets in a safe home
while their Sun City owners are in the hospital. Please
help our neighbors without families nearby.
"Isn't it wonderful how dogs can
win friends and
influence people without ever reading a book"
-- E. C. McKenzie
A Dog's
Purpose (from a 6-year-old)
Being
a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old
Irish wolfhound named Belker. The dog's
owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were
all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of
cancer. I told the family we couldn't do
anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia
procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we
made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be
good for six-year-old Shane to observe the
procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from
the experience.
The
next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's
family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog
for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was
going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's
transition without any difficulty or confusion.
We sat
together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about
the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human
lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know
why." Startled, we all turned to him.
What came out of his mouth next
stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.
He
said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good
life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice,
right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how
to do that, so they don't have to stay as
long."
Live
simply.
Love
generously.
Care
deeply.
Speak
kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
-
When
loved ones come home, always run to greet
them.
-
Never
pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
-
Allow
the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure
ecstasy.
-
Take
naps.
-
Stretch before rising.
-
Run,
romp, and play daily.
-
Thrive
on attention and let people touch you.
-
Avoid
biting when a simple growl will do.
-
On
warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
-
On hot
days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
-
When
you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
-
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
-
Be
loyal.
-
Never
pretend to be something you're not.
-
If
what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
-
When
someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by
and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!
Pet Vial of Life
Make sure your own pet will be secure should you have
a fire or emergency. Fill out a form for each pet and put the form
inside a prescription bottle, inside your fridge butter dish
area with updated information about each of your pets.
Click here
to print out a form for each pet. Carry one in
your car as well! Always have an emergency plan for your
pets should you become incapacitated or
need to be hospitalized. The club cannot handle emergency
fostering at this time; a list of pet sitters who will take in
your pets for a fee is provided.
Click here for that list.
Pet Health & Welfare
Poison Plants, Pet Poop, Valley Fever ...
Easy Tick
Removal
Thanks to Marion
von Hanstein for this great
tip on how to easily remove ticks.
"If you can't take
your pets,
it just isn't worth going!"
