MONEY MATTERS WITH SHEILA--PROTECTING YOUR PETS DURING A DISASTER

The real Leo

Today we welcome Janet MacPhail, fifty-something animal photographer and amateur sleuth protagonist of Sheila Webster Boneham’s Animals in Focus Mystery Series. With all the recent fires and weather-related disasters that have hit various parts of the country this past year, Janet is here to offer some tips on evacuating and protecting pets during a disaster. Learn more about Janet and Sheila at Sheila’s website. 

Are Your Pets Prepared for a Disaster?

(as told to Sheila Webster Boneham)

Hi! I’m Janet MacPhail, animal photographer and devoted pet owner. You might know me from the Animals in Focus Mystery series, which has been chronicling some of my misadventures of late (a little too many, if you ask me). Anyway, Anastasia asked me to drop by and talk about keeping pets safe when disaster strikes.

Disaster is something we’d all just as soon not deal with of course, but that’s no reason not to plan ahead. I know I wouldn’t evacuate without Jay, my Australian Shepherd, and Leo, my orange tabby. I live in northern Indiana, a mostly benign and lovely place that occasionally gets whacked by blizzards, tornados, and flooding. You may live with different possibilities. And of course we all hope never to deal with a house fire or other accidental or man-made hazard, but we also know they happen. So I thought I would tell you what I’ve done to increase the chances that my animals and I will all come through any of the above safe and sound. I mean, crafty killers are bad enough, right, Anastasia?

The real Jay

One thing that always worries me is what would happen to Jay and Leo if there were a disaster when I’m not home. Not that I leave them alone that much, but still…. So I have little signs posted by my front and back doors (and I made sure my boyfriend did the same). Stickers for that purpose are available from many vets, shelters, and other sources, or you can make one yourself. When Jay first joined my family, I crated him when I was out, so I included that information on my signs. I also note where Leo’s carrier is kept, where he likes to nap, and where their leashes hang. That way if someone had to get them quickly, they’d have everything they needed.

I also keep a list of names and phone numbers of a couple of people who would take them in a pinch. My neighbor, Goldie, for sure—if she’s home. My brother and his partner. I’ve even arranged with my vet to pay the bill if someone drops them off there. I signed a boarding and medical care authorization form, and I got a copy to keep in my evacuation kit (I’ll get to that in a minute).

My guys are used to being in the car and around strangers, but I still think a secure crate for each of them is essential. I mean, crates can keep them safely confined in a chaotic situation. They both wear tags for easy reference, and they have microchips implanted by my vet for more permanent identification. (I have those scanned whenever they go to the vet for something else, to be sure they’re still active.)

I have a waterproof box with Pet Evacuation Kit painted on the side, and I keep it on the storage shelf in my front closet. Here’s what’s in it:

∙ A list of phone numbers—mine, my two best friends’, my brother’s, my veterinarian’s.

∙ Copies of each animal’s rabies certificate and vaccination records.

∙ Proof of ownership so that if someone else rescues my boys, I can show that they are, in fact, mine–license registrations, microchip numbers, and photographs.

∙ If anything happened to me, I would want whoever took in my guys to know as much as possible, so I have a data sheet for each including his name, description, sex, age, feeding instructions, health-care needs, and a recent color photo.

∙ A week’s supply of dry food sealed in air-tight bags, and a couple of bottles of water. I rotate food and water once a month to keep everything fresh.

∙ Enough cash to pay for boarding the boys for at least three days. This wouldn’t be a problem with my vet, but who else will extend me credit if they don’t know me and I have no plastic on me? And cash can be hard to get at during a crisis.

So there you have it. I hope you never have to live through a disaster of any kind, but if you’re like me, you’ll feel better knowing you have a good chance of getting your pets to safety along with the rest of your family, come what may. Be safe!

The Money Bird

Animal photographer Janet MacPhail knows that trouble is in the air when Labrador Retriever Drake fetches a blood-soaked bag holding an exotic feather and a torn one-hundred-dollar bill during a photo shoot at Twisted Lake. One of Janet's photography students reports seeing a strange bird at the lake, but he turns up dead before Janet can talk to him. When she learns that the mysterious retreat center near the lake is housing large numbers of tropical birds, Janet is sure there's a connection and decides to investigate between dog-training classes, photo assignments, and visits to her mom at Shadetree Retirement. With help from her Australian Shepherd Jay and her quirky friend Goldie, Janet is determined to get to the bottom of things before another victim's wings are clipped for good.

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HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--GRAYCE WALTERS ON PET ACUPUNCTURE

Normally the Healthy Living segment of our blog is devoted to issues related to humans. Today we have something a bit different, a visit from Grayce Walters to discuss acupuncture for pets. Grayce is the brainchild of aspiring author Jacki Delecki who is neither an animal acupuncturist nor a veterinarian but has a vivid imagination. Learn more about Jacki at her website. 

Animal Acupuncture

By Grayce Walters

I’m very glad to have the opportunity to discuss animal acupuncture with you. And hopefully I can answer any questions you may have. I’m a veterinarian and practice animal acupuncture in Seattle. In the state of Washington only a licensed veterinarian can practice animal acupuncture. State requirements for animal acupuncture vary from state to state so it behooves you to research the training of the person you’re considering for your pet.

Because I live in an urban area, I treat mainly of dogs and cats. Animal acupuncture can be very helpful for large animals especially horses who by their level of activity often sustain injuries. I’ve experience in treating horses. I’ve also treated various large animals at Seattle’s zoo with good results.

What are indications for seeking acupuncture for your pet?

The most frequent reason for pet owners to seek acupuncture is relief of pain. There are many reasons for pain. Your pet should be evaluated by your veterinarian to determine the cause of the pain before you seek acupuncture treatment. If your pet is suffering from arthritis, arthritic joints, acute pain following a surgery, pain from disease such as cancer or leukemia, acupuncture can help relieve the pain and the subsequent stress associated with pain.

The treatment involves placement of filiform needles at sites along the meridians, the path or channel as it is called in Chinese medicine in which the qi/chi, the life energy flows. The needles may be placed in various parts of the animal’s body.

Acupuncture has been studied and practiced for over 2000 years in China. The Chinese are responsible for bringing acupuncture forward into the modern world. There is also Korean and Japanese acupuncture. The three variations use different meridian points and different techniques for needle placement.

As with most American practitioners, my practice is based on the Chinese method of acupuncture. I studied in China after finishing my veterinarian education.

Will your pet be upset or stressed by the placement of the needles thus negating the benefits of the treatment?

There is mild pain/discomfort with the insertion of the needle, like the bite of a mosquito. The amount of stress your animal will experience with acupuncture is related to many factors. First, there is the level of pain that your pet is having and how defensive their pain makes them. Next there can be additional stress by having to go into an office setting. The last factor to consider is how your pet reacts to new experiences and new people.

I’ve found it most beneficial to make home visits for treatment of very stressed pets. A safe environment is less upsetting to the pet and its owner. The skill and patience of the practitioner is the critical part of the equation for the treatment to be successful.

The practitioner needs to have an understanding of animal behavior and pain mechanisms to make an animal comfortable and trusting. The intangible part of the practitioner’s skill is the ability to empathize and communicate with animals. It’s a unique gift that can be enhanced but requires a certain intuitive ability mixed with a deep need to heal.

In my own practice, I believe that I must be in a quiet state to enable me to communicate and calm animals. I meditate and practice yoga to keep my qi/chi in balance. Animals pick up on the stress of their owners and the people around them. I find it very important to be centered before I treat my patients.

My patients usually become relaxed and often sleep through their acupuncture treatment as soon as I place the first needle. You must keep in mind that every pet and every practitioner is different.

I’d look for a change in attitude by your pet toward the practitioner over several visits to judge whether your pet’s acupuncturist is the right match for your pet and for you. 

In An Inner Fire, Grayce Walters, veterinarian and animal acupuncturist, possesses a powerful gift--the ability to communicate with animals. Sensing fear and agitation in a fire investigator’s poodle, Grayce discovers clues to arson, murder, and drug smuggling on Seattle’s Waterfront.