Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Instructor Profile: Krista DeCarle of Royal Pooch Pet Services, Calgary Alberta
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A Letter to My Best Friend
Dear Buddy,
There you were at the shelter. You were curled up in the back of the dog kennel, peering up at me suspiciously behind those long “bangs” of yours. I asked the shelter attendant what had happened to you to make you so afraid. She said she didn’t know but you’d been there for five weeks since they found you and didn’t like anyone.
That was enough for me. I asked her to take you out and when she did you firmly dug all four of your feet into the ground. We had to carry all 40 lbs of you away from the building and when I put you down you pulled with all your might to get back inside.
We went back in and I said “I’ll take him!”. The woman looked at me in surprise and went to get the paperwork. When she returned she cautioned me that you would be a “difficult” dog. I didn’t care, I couldn’t leave you there. Soon, we were on our way home and en route your threw up all over yourself and my car. When we got home you promptly moved into my bathroom, where you lived for about a week before you were brave enough to come out and explore our 2 bedroom apartment.
You didn’t like me. You sized me up every time I came close to you. Every walk I continued to carry you away from the house and then put you down so you could pull me all the way home. One night, about a week after we came home you slipped out of your collar. It was before cell phones and I was yelling at 10:30 pm “Buddy!!! Buddy!!!”. Crying, I went home. I knew there was no way I’d ever see you again. I got there, and there you were sitting by the front door. That was when I knew you trusted me.
It’s been a long road since then. I graduated from university, got married, and spending time with you inspired me to start my business. Then my brother became very ill and passed away. You were there for it all. Later, we bought a condo and then a house, adding 2 cats, a bunny, and 2 children to your life. You took it all in stride and never complained. In fact, over time you grew to love it all…and us. Your stubborn and regal personality are still there, but combined with it is the immense amount of love and loyalty that you only offer to us – the people that you trust.
Today, you are 14 and going strong. You are my best friend and you have been there for me for every important moment of my life. You have taught me about patience, strength, loyalty, and most of all unconditional love. I’m telling you this now before you are gone so that you will always know how much you have changed my life and remember it forever.
I love you forever my friend.
Lisa
Monday, April 23, 2012
My experience with World Vets in San Andres, Colombia
My second trip with World Vets International Aid for Animals ended on Saturday April 21, 2012 after 8 amazing days on San Andres Island, Colombia.
It all started April 14, 2012 when I arrived in San Andres after 25 hours of travel. I was introduced to our team, made up of myself, 6 Veterinarians, 1 Registered Veterinary Technician RVT), and 4 others of varying qualifications. We were made up of 11 Americans and myself (a Canadian) and after 2 days of exploring the island we quickly gelled into a cohesive group.
By the time it was our first day at the clinic the Island was well aware of our arrival. A roomful of strays along with local residents and their pets were waiting outside when we arrived an hour early the first day. The clinic space was made up of several rooms in a government building – it was bright and would suffice as a makeshift Veterinary hospital. Our goal was to spay, neuter, and medically assist as many cats and dogs as possible in the next 3 days.
World Vets operations are well-planned and take every volunteer’s commitment and skill set to run smoothly. Several locals (including army, government, and rescue workers) were on-hand to assist us. Their dedication and love of animals made the 3 days even better. The World Vets volunteers I worked with also made the experience enjoyable and educational for me. The Vets were skilled and efficient, the RVT was highly trained, and everyone else was committed and competent at their assigned tasks.
My job for the three days would be a duty called “Recovery”. Recovery involved the monitoring of every animal’s vital signs and surgical site post-surgery, administration of needed medications and parasite prevention, catheter removal, and discharge with care instructions to the owners. I also distributed the leashes and collars that myself and one other member of my team had brought – many thanks to Sweet Paws Dog Walking, Big Heart Rescue, Yaletown Veterinary Hospital, and Laughing Willow Pet Care for your generous donations. Recovery suited me perfectly – it was fast paced, ever-changing, and involved getting up close and personal with every dog and cat that had received surgery. While I didn’t know how to do absolutely everything, the Vets educated me on what I needed to know and were always there when I had any concerns. The support was truly spectacular. My biggest challenges were avoiding dehydration from the heat and humidity, and keeping up with the surgeon’s quick work!
By Day 2 we were all in our groove and I decided that Recovery and me were a good match. One of my Recovery volunteers adopted a little female puppy that had been spayed day. I asked “Does she have a name yet?” The answer was “No”. I jokingly said, “Well, Lisa’s a great name for you little one!”. Her new owner quickly replied, “Perfect, I will call her Lisa then!”. The tears welled up in my eyes; a little piece of me would remain in San Andres when I left and I was honored (see posted picture of us together).
By Day 3 I could barely walk when I woke up – my legs were incredibly stiff from the hours of squatting and my knees were in pain from all of the kneeling on the hard floor. I didn’t care; I couldn’t wait to get to the clinic. That day, the line was even longer then the previous 2 days and I wasn’t sure if we would be able to accommodate everyone. To add to the challenge, the power went out midway through the day. Since the power supplies the fresh water it was uncertain of how many more surgeries could be performed. We continued in Recovery (wearing headlamps) and the power was fortunately restored.
The day wrapped up and exhaustion set in. We picked up some food, went back to our house, and slept like babies. The next day was reserved for one last chance to connect and see the island. We spent it at the beach relaxing, snorkeling, and jet skiing. I was sad to go to sleep that night knowing that I would be leaving my new little “family”.
The next day at the airport we were sent off by the local Veterinarian and Staffperson of the Sanitation department. My mind was spinning with thoughts: “Would I ever return here?”, “How many of our stray “patients” would be adopted”, and “How would the animals recover from their surgeries?” And most of all, “Did we make a difference?”. I was told that 12 of the animals had already been adopted. I was then later told that 307 animals had been treated by World Vets – a record for a 3 day pilot trip. My questions were answered!
Now that I am back at home in Canada, I realize that even if I hadn’t gotten those answers, I know we made a difference. And in addition, another difference was made within myself. I have 11 new amazing friends, contacts in Colombia that I would never have made, and an experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. That and I got to work with the sweetest dogs and cats in need for 32 wonderful hours. I got much more back then I ever could have given and can’t wait to do it all over again.
To learn more about World Vets International or to pledge your support, please visit www.worldvets.org
Lisa Wagner is the Operations Director of Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid, an International provider of Pet First Aid training for cats and dogs. Learn more about Walks ‘N’ Wags at www.walksnwags.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Avoiding a Lost Yard Dog
Apologies in advance to my neighbour if this post offends them. Last week, while walking with my dog Buddy and 3 year old son, we heard a loud "screeeeach" and saw a large Golden retriever quickly jump out of the way of a moving car.
We walked over to the poor golden and I thanked my lucky stars that my 10 years as a dog walker quickly earned his trust. I gathered up the dog's martingale collar in my hand and thought to myself "how am I going to get these 2 dogs and a 3 year old to the school and go inside to get my Kindergartener?". I decided to practice what I teach in Pet First Aid class and
looked around me for help.
A male cyclist was coming by and I shouted “Hello!” and he stopped. I told the cyclist (named Steve) our predicament and he agreed to help. We looked for tags on the dog but only found his City of Vancouver dog licence. Phew, that was a start.
Steve kindly walked his bike and the Golden up to the school with us and en route I called the City of Vancouver to report that I’d found the dog. We sent another parent in to collect my daughter and said “bye” to Steve and set out for home. The City Pound staff would be there shortly to collect the pooch.
On the way home, a lady was outside her home unloading her car and happened to know which house the dog lived in. “Woohoo” we exclaimed and off we went to return the pooch home – a mere ½ block from where we had originally found him.
When we knocked on the door the owner of the dog was shocked to see his dog with us – he had no idea that his beloved Golden had escaped from the back yard! Fortunately, it was a happy ending but we hope this story and the following tips will give you some ideas to avoid an event like this from happening again.
* Tag your pets. The City would not give me the pooch’s owner’s information, nor would they contact the owner until the dog was in their possession. A simple tag would have reunited pooch with his family much quicker
* Secure your yard. This pooch simply walked out the back gate that was unlatched. Ensure your fence is high enough, there is no way to dig under it, and that all gates are secured tightly. Add a sign saying “keep gate closed” if needed
* Hang out with your pets. Pets like to be with their people and it’s easiest to keep tabs on them when they are with you.
* If you are faced with any animal emergency, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Steve was a great help to me in this situation, as was the parent who went in the school to collect my daughter. Even if someone doesn’t like animals, they can still help you in some way.
* Train in Pet First Aid. Our dear Golden friend was nearly creamed by a car on his neighbourhood stroll. It’s better to be safe then sorry!
Pictured: Levi learns how to walk the dog to pickup his big sister.
To learn more about Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid, please visit our web site at www.walksnwags.com
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Instructor Profile: Lynda Kitson of K9 Compass, Ontario
Introducing Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid Instructor Lynda Kitson, based in Ontario, Canada.
During the day, Lynda works in the corporate world. Over the years, she has spent a great deal of her time training people as a Dale Carnegie Instructor and a True Colors Facilitator. Lynda also has a Certificate in Adult Education.
In the evenings and on weekends, Lynda loves spending time in the canine world. She decided to put her training skills to use helping people train their dogs at Who’s Walking Who Dog Training Centre http://www.whoswalkingwho.ca/.
Lynda soon discovered the majority of dog owners had no idea what to do if their beloved pet became injured. This led Lynda to attain certification as a Pet First Aid Instructor through Walks ‘N’ Wags. Pet First Aid is something she is very passionate about and believes it is an integral part of being a responsible pet owner.
Lynda has 2 Golden Retrievers and a Great Pyrenees/Lab mix. Lynda loves doing obedience, rally, agility and freestyle with her dogs. She is also an associate member and volunteer with Golden Rescue http://www.golden-rescue.net/main/. Lynda and her dogs are part of the Who’s Walking Who Woofjocks team and you’ll often see them performing at various events throughout the year.
Student feedback tells us that as an Instructor Lynda is dynamic, kind, and patient. One student even wrote a blog about her http://woofhausen.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/pet-first-aid-certified-yes-we-are/
Lynda's passion for Pet First Aid is crystal clear. She checks in with us to share her real-life Pet First Aid experiences and they usually involve her going out of her way to help a stray animal in need. In one instance, Lynda spotted a sweet dog (later named Dixie) on the edge of some train tracks. Lynda pulled over her car, earned Dixie's trust, fashioned a makeshift muzzle, and transported Dixie to receive Veterinary care. The result of this event? Lynda now has a new dog! That's right, Dixie is now part of Lynda's family.
Lynda has a number of upcoming courses planned for 2012. The most recent include:
Ajax, ON: January 28/29, 2012
Blackstock, ON: February 4 and 11, 2012
Toronto (High Park): February 25/26, 2012
*Visit http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaiddates.php for registration information.
For more information about Lynda, you can also visit her web site at www.k9compass.com
Monday, December 19, 2011
Instructor Profile: Denise Hitt of Furry Feet Pet First Aid Training in Kamloops, BC
I'd like to introduce you to Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid Instructor Denise Hitt, owner of Furry Feet Pet First Aid Training in Kamloops, BC.
In addition to her work in a busy Veterinary clinic and as a dog obedience trainer, we are thrilled that Denise makes time to teach Pet First Aid every few months. Denise's participants regularly comment on her wealth of knowledge and her ability to deliver the material in a memorable, engaging fashion.
With her passion for animals, her hands-on Veterinary clinic experience as an AHT (Animal Health Technician) and her experience as a Dog Trainer, Denise knows first-hand the importance of first responder skills. Denise says the following: "I just want to help people know when it's an emergency and give them the tools to help them seek the appropriate help. I love educating people on how to best care for their pets - from first aid to behaviour and obedience - it increases the human-pet bond and that keeps pets around much longer".
Walks 'N' Wags is very fortunate to have Denise represent our program and we invite you to join her for her next Pet First Aid course on January 7/8, 2012.
You can reach Denise for registration information at:
Furry Feet Pet First Aid Training
www.furryfeet.org
fur-aid@live.ca
250-318-5983
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The Hidden Responsibility of a Pet Care Business
Some of you may not know that Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid originated as a Vancouver-based dog walking and pet sitting company in 2000. In 2003 we added Pet First Aid courses to our services and have focused solely on our International Pet First Aid program as of early 2011.
When I owned the pet care business, the most common statement people would make upon being told of my profession was "Oh, that must be so much fun!". Thinking back, I have to laugh now at these conversations with people truly unaware of the real nature of the business. In fact, I distinctly started avoiding discussion with people about my career to avoid hearing the comment.
You see, pet care is a very misunderstood profession. Yes, there were glorious days where I was out on the trails with 6 wonderfully behaved dogs in my tank top and shorts thinking "I have the best job in the world". However, there were situations I didn't count on that came into play:
Weather: Clients expect service regardless of the weather. This was particularly dire to our cat sitting clients who would not survive if we did not arrive to feed them everyday while their owners travelled. I remember a snow day that I lent my own boots to a staffmember and sent her out with money and instructions to take the bus or a cab (whichever came first) to get from house to house. It took her more then 6 hours to visit 4 animals. I also turned into a professional snow shoveller, helping our staff dig the work vehicles out every morning.
Runaways: Although rare, every now and then a dog would get spooked and run off, or just simply follow a scent into the bushes and disappear. This was the most helpless feeling on the job and the sense of responsibility that would sink in that we may have lost a client's best pal was overwhelming. I am pleased to say that in the more then 10 years I was in business every dog was recovered.
Attacks: I can't count on all my fingers the number of times a pedestrian's dog attacked one of my dogs, and a few times I had one of my client's dogs attack. Wow, what a stressful situation and fortunately most cases ended with only a small loss of fur but some did require Veterinary care.
Unexpected injuries: The first injury I experienced was in my first month of business when out in the woods with a group of dogs. I was about 30 minutes from my car and my own dog sliced his abdomen the entire way across on a stick. Over the years other injuries ranged from minor cuts and dog bites to a spontaneous burst spleen, a dog hit by a car, and another impaled in the chest with a tree. Now these were not fun situations! Training and quick thinking on your toes are important to pull through these kinds of situations. Clients expect nothing less then the best care for their animals by their pet care provider.
So, why did I do it for more then 10 years you ask? The answer is simple. We visited hundreds of animals every week and the above situations, while stressful, were far and few between. There were many days filled with huge slurps, wagging tails, and kitty "headbutts". And thankfully, due to experience and training, we were able to get to our visits and handle any emergencies that arose.
If you are considering a career in the pet care industry, Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid offers Pet First Aid training and mentoring on business startup. We would love to hear from you and share our experiences! Visit us at www.walksnwags.com
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