tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84301195298752056982024-03-05T02:41:41.222-08:00Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidwww.walksnwags.comWalks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-36771049958469122872016-10-12T10:19:00.001-07:002016-10-12T10:19:53.242-07:00Instructor Profile: Jennifer Blackman of Wag Canine Recreation Centre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hAbXPFQJKg/V_5veYO9AoI/AAAAAAAAA0c/mZfO-1IHhDwQzJfpY0vkiG0EcB_if5EQACLcB/s1600/Jennifer%2BBlackman%2Bbio%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hAbXPFQJKg/V_5veYO9AoI/AAAAAAAAA0c/mZfO-1IHhDwQzJfpY0vkiG0EcB_if5EQACLcB/s400/Jennifer%2BBlackman%2Bbio%2Bpic.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a></div><br />
Jennifer Blackman first contacted us by phone a few years ago about our <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/dlearning.php">distance learning programs</a>. We had a great chat about the possibility of bringing Walks 'N' Wags to Nova Scotia and the rest is history!<br />
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Here is Jennifer's story:<br />
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From Amherst Nova Scotia, Jennifer Blackman has always been passionate about pets. Her house has been home to dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and rabbits. She graduated from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology where she developed an interest in ethology and learning theory. From there it was off to Japan for four years to teach English. <br />
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Then a few years after returning to Canada Jennifer moved with her husband and daughter to the Northwest Territories. This is where her interest in pet first aid started. Living in a remote community where the vet only came to town once every 6 weeks, and having three dogs, necessitated that she educate herself to be better prepared in an emergency. During her time in the North she also volunteered with the local SPCA and spent one year as president. That meant she also wanted to be prepared to assist the shelter animals if need be. <br />
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Upon returning to Nova Scotia, Jennifer noticed a lack of opportunities for dog owners in her town and opened <a href="http://wagcanine.ca/walks-n-wags-pet-first-aid/">Wag Canine Recreation Centre</a> in 2012. Part of her business plan involved offering educational opportunities to pet owners in the form of seminars and courses. She completed her own <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/index.php">Walks ‘N’ Wag Pet First Aid</a> certification to protect her clients and her <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/instructor.php">instructor certification</a> in 2014. Jennifer now teaches pet owners and pet professionals in Amherst and Halifax NS twice a year and is working on securing a regular venue on Prince Edward Island. <br />
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Jennifer says the best part about teaching Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid is having participants finish the course feeling like they can handle anything. They come away from the program with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle any emergency situation which could mean the difference between life and death for an injured pet.<br />
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We couldn't be happier to have Jennifer teaching both our <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaid.php">Pet First Aid </a>and our <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/otg.php">OFF THE GRID </a>programs. She is kind, thoughtful, detail-oriented and committed to quality. Nova Scotians are lucky to have her. And so are we!<br />
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For more information about Jennifer's course dates and other locations please visit our <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaiddates.php">web site</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCguwUQV-1I/V_5u3ogmeGI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/VRq0BV8keUoH4iOCni11zfSh6oYS1nvZQCLcB/s1600/Jennifer%2BBlackman%2Btradeshow%2Bbooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCguwUQV-1I/V_5u3ogmeGI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/VRq0BV8keUoH4iOCni11zfSh6oYS1nvZQCLcB/s320/Jennifer%2BBlackman%2Btradeshow%2Bbooth.jpg" width="180" height="320" /></a></div>Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-13587347688238720552016-09-12T13:26:00.003-07:002016-09-12T14:34:21.234-07:00Pet Health Insurance: Tux's Story.**Disclaimer: The writer (Lisa Wagner) and Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid do not currently have professional affiliation with any of the Pet Insurance companies listed in this Blog post. We were also not compensated in any way for this post.**<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1H-CutIsnvpi4ASpPMPxXncoSUbKZkqr3ptit60N6hxH_ebJEIBBxxB8kUAqFOUW-Bsd-3f-wRi-fl1spBvm0tdQ5lb8ptfX7EGZPjus6tpodljGmLSVSOzWvkJkHpynNxk2Xof9X3YII/s1600/Floyd%252BTux_2015-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1H-CutIsnvpi4ASpPMPxXncoSUbKZkqr3ptit60N6hxH_ebJEIBBxxB8kUAqFOUW-Bsd-3f-wRi-fl1spBvm0tdQ5lb8ptfX7EGZPjus6tpodljGmLSVSOzWvkJkHpynNxk2Xof9X3YII/s400/Floyd%252BTux_2015-35.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br />
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<b>THE STORY</b><br />
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<i><b>11 days ago, our healthy, active 13 year old Chihuahua/Boston Terrier X "Tux" seemed to have a sore back. Little did we know that by the next morning he'd be paralyzed.</b> </i><br />
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Tux had experienced back pain a couple of times before when jumping/landing wrong off of the bed or couch. He'd stand kind of hunched over and look generally upset. After a day or two of rest he'd be back to normal. To ensure Tux's comfort, we bought him some doggie stairs that seemed to do the trick...but we were wrong. <br />
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Tux was acting like his back was bugging him again. We were heading away for a long weekend getaway (with Tux) and decided to pop into the Vet first for a check up. The Vet completed a physical exam and it was decided that we'd give Tux pain meds and anti-inflammatories and watch him for the long weekend. We drove the 5 hours to the cabin that evening as planned. Tux was a little wobbly on arrival but we assumed it was the drugs (that was a possible side effect). He peed and went inside to bed. <br />
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The next morning, when we woke up Tux could not feel his hind end. At all. We tried pinching his feet and he felt nothing. Zero. He also wasn't peeing and we were worried. We piled back into the car and made the 5 hour trek back to Animal Emergency. After a visit with a Neurologist, a CT and an MRI, it was confirmed that Tux had a herniated (slipped) disc. It was pushing on his spinal cord and causing paralysis. <br />
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<b>THE OPTIONS</b><br />
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<b>A. Wait and see. </b> <br />
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This would mean keeping Tux confined to bed rest and on medication. Because he couldn't feel even the deepest of pain the chances of him walking again were slim to none. <br />
Future cost: minimal (after already paying for CT/MRI and exam fees).<br />
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<b>B. Immediate surgery. </b> <br />
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This would give him a 50/50 chance of walking again. <br />
Future cost: several thousand dollars (after already paying for CT/MRI and exam fees).<br />
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THE DECISION</b><br />
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Immediate surgery. No hesitation. <br />
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Why? <br />
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1. Our dog is our baby and we would do anything for him. <br />
2. Tux is a very "young" 13 years of age. He hikes regularly, is the perfect weight, and has very healthy vitals.<br />
3. 50/50 chance of walking again is far better than almost zero.<br />
4. We knew our butts were covered financially by Tux's pet insurance. While the insurance wouldn't cover all costs, it would certainly take a huge bit out of the total.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xebXBfqchgU/V9b70B_9WOI/AAAAAAAAAys/zNrjDl79iQsSSUd0QlQYkJLozu_wmvwqgCLcB/s1600/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xebXBfqchgU/V9b70B_9WOI/AAAAAAAAAys/zNrjDl79iQsSSUd0QlQYkJLozu_wmvwqgCLcB/s320/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B1.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
Tux's incision.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KsJFcvSnp0/V9b8IMqvIdI/AAAAAAAAAyw/aiqZ3pxqQ5Ilt3BSfGvGaFBi7uwWEoSPgCLcB/s1600/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6KsJFcvSnp0/V9b8IMqvIdI/AAAAAAAAAyw/aiqZ3pxqQ5Ilt3BSfGvGaFBi7uwWEoSPgCLcB/s320/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B2.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
The day Tux came home.<br />
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WHERE WE ARE NOW</b><br />
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Tux is 9 days post-operation and is doing great. He's back at home with us and starting to regain feeling in his tail and legs.<br />
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While Tux is certainly not walking, at his most recent Veterinary appointment, the Vet said "He's way past the 50/50 point now". He'll start physical therapy tomorrow and get his stitches out in 3 days. We feel very hopeful that with time, patience, and lots of rehabilitation, Tux will make an excellent recovery and walk again.<br />
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As for the cost, we're in for about $2000 of the $7000 that has been spent so far. Within the $2000 is our (self-chosen) $750 deductible, exam fees, tax, and the 10% that we are responsible for as per our Insurance agreement. Moving forward all future care related to this injury we will only pay 10% of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDybeB0YyrXxEaNqKDr0-pivu4gbIgyNF35C2a3yhyphenhyphenwezqepOicNjycO5oDI4NW0nQXGZAswvo5DNVI_X5Zo_3mZx6MFP7GKflT4WPjfGcwrwokp-pYnaxM8OdvZIvCxi_fI0JYX1ofEzW/s1600/Tux+surgery+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDybeB0YyrXxEaNqKDr0-pivu4gbIgyNF35C2a3yhyphenhyphenwezqepOicNjycO5oDI4NW0nQXGZAswvo5DNVI_X5Zo_3mZx6MFP7GKflT4WPjfGcwrwokp-pYnaxM8OdvZIvCxi_fI0JYX1ofEzW/s320/Tux+surgery+3.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
Sunshine therapy is good for a dog's soul.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSxp630UVu4/V9b9EVjSqFI/AAAAAAAAAy8/g0rT5hfdEfgY5nqvYzLxBHYSbasHZNOGQCLcB/s1600/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LSxp630UVu4/V9b9EVjSqFI/AAAAAAAAAy8/g0rT5hfdEfgY5nqvYzLxBHYSbasHZNOGQCLcB/s320/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B4.jpg" width="240" height="320" /></a><br />
Pee pads are over-rated!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i6eOrwPZIvI/V9b9J77OhgI/AAAAAAAAAzA/jxWeIIUe6ZgpFbXv9cw4CwtxdPGwNEv-ACLcB/s1600/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i6eOrwPZIvI/V9b9J77OhgI/AAAAAAAAAzA/jxWeIIUe6ZgpFbXv9cw4CwtxdPGwNEv-ACLcB/s320/Tux%2Bsurgery%2B6.jpg" width="320" height="240" /></a><br />
Learning how to use his back legs again.<br />
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<b>PROS OF PET INSURANCE</b><br />
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• Being Prepared Alleviates Anxiety and Mental Anguish<br />
Not having to consider finances when making medical decisions for one’s pet allows one to focus on the task at hand: getting your pet better.<br />
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• Peace of mind<br />
You won’t always be worried about that “what if something happens to our pet…” factor.<br />
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• You won’t go bankrupt<br />
If you’re like me, you might have multiple pets! Budgeting for one monthly premium is a lot easier than coming up with many thousands of $$$$ in an emergency. Even if you have a "pet bank account" you'd likely not keep many thousands in it would you?<br />
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• You won’t avoid Vet visits<br />
We hear stories all the time from people who avoid the Vet unless their pet is really sick. They tell us it's because they “never get out of there without spending $1000”. Insurance will alleviate this concern and allow you to go to your pet's regularly scheduled Veterinary checkups without fear of upcoming costs.<br />
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• Your pet might live longer!<br />
Your pet having regular access to needed Veterinary care may allow him/her to stick around with you longer! Who wouldn’t want that?<br />
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<b>CONS OF PET INSURANCE</b><br />
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• Pre-existing conditions are not usually covered.<br />
Get around this by signing your pet up for insurance IMMEDIATELY upon adoption. Case in point: we adopted our senior dog Dominic in 2015 and signed him up for insurance immediately. 4.5 months after his arrival he become gravely ill. $7500 of emergency care later he sadly passed away. And the insurer came through.<br />
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• No plan is created equal.<br />
Do your homework. Do you want to choose your own deductible? Do you want coverage only for emergencies or do you also want dental coverage etc.? You’ll need to shop around a little to find the right package for you.<br />
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• Only dogs and cats are covered.<br />
Sorry to those with pocket pets. Hopefully someone comes up with a plan for you soon!<br />
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<b>LISA'S TOP 3 PET INSURANCE TIPS</b><br />
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<b>1. Don't assume a young pet won't fall ill.</b><br />
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All you have to do is go to Google or Go Fund Me and you'll find 1000's of cases of young pets who have become injured or sick. While I was at critical care with Tux last week, I spoke to a man with a pup who was so sick he wasn't sure if he'd survive. He was in for some megabucks and didn't have insurance. He told me he wished that he'd signed up.<br />
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2. Don't assume an old pet can't be insured.</b><br />
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We adopted Tux when he was 10 years old. His insurance company gladly accepted him and has been wonderful. Again, not all companies are created equal. Do your homework and choose the best one for you.<br />
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3. Don't cancel your insurance!!! </b><br />
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You might sign up for pet insurance and as time passes, feel like you are pissing away your money. For example, you might pay in for 3 years and have no claims at all. You are starting to think “What a waste of money…” and consider cancelling the insurance. <br />
Do the math on the premiums you have paid in. Now imagine if next month, or next year your pet is attacked, gets cancer, has an unforeseen medical condition like Tux and needs $10,000+ worth of treatment. You'll be kicking yourself for giving up on the plan. Stick it out. If you've chosen your insurance wisely and are dealing with a good company you'll be thankful.<br />
<b><br />
PET INSURANCE COMPANIES IN NORTH AMERICA:</b><br />
<a href="http://trupanion.com/canada"><br />
Trupanion</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pcinsurance.ca/english/pet-insurance/pet">PC Financial</a><br />
<a href="http://www.24petwatch.com/us/">24PetWatch </a><br />
<a href="http://www.petsecure.com/">Petsecure</a><br />
<a href="http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/">Healthy Paws Pet Insurance</a><br />
<a href="http://www.petinsurance.com/">Nationwide Pet Insurance</a> (USA only)<br />
<a href="https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/">ASPCA Pet Insurance</a> (USA only)<br />
<a href="http://www.ospcainsurance.ca/">OSPCA</a> (Canada only)<br />
<a href="https://www.petsplusus.com/">Pets Plus Us</a> (Canada only)<br />
<a href="https://www.caapets.com/">CAA</a> (Canada only)<br />
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*The above Insurance listing information is to the best of our knowledge accurate as of today's date. If you notice any errors please notify us immediately so we can rectify.*<br />
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<b>FOLLOW TUX'S JOURNEY</b><br />
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It's still early days for our Tux in his recovery. We are hopeful and are providing him with a fighting chance. <br />
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If you are interested in following Tux's journey, please visit us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/walksnwagspetfirstaid/">Instagram</a> or on Lisa's public <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LisaWagnerWNW/">Facebook</a> Blog.<br />
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Thanks for reading and may your pets live long, happy, and healthy lives!<br />
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About the author:<br />
Lisa Wagner is Operations Director of <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a>. <br />
Reach Lisa directly via lisaw@walksnwags.com<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wHMrE4tz5Y/V9cHQ4ILG2I/AAAAAAAAAz4/bnU7n0BR-g4xnH83pcfs_dSwg-xl117UwCLcB/s1600/Floyd%252BTux_2015-90.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wHMrE4tz5Y/V9cHQ4ILG2I/AAAAAAAAAz4/bnU7n0BR-g4xnH83pcfs_dSwg-xl117UwCLcB/s400/Floyd%252BTux_2015-90.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a><br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-54450559577170111992016-08-29T10:19:00.003-07:002016-08-29T11:02:07.838-07:00CALENDAR CONTEST: Helping Pets in Need<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0xcHnK1qaM/V8Rt1k7kzJI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ouGLuZgHZB0cfor4OkMXlHrkNzqRE_lLwCLcB/s1600/Calendar%2Bcontest%2Bposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0xcHnK1qaM/V8Rt1k7kzJI/AAAAAAAAAw8/ouGLuZgHZB0cfor4OkMXlHrkNzqRE_lLwCLcB/s400/Calendar%2Bcontest%2Bposter.jpg" width="400" height="267" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Calendar Contest: Helping Pets in Need!</b><br />
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Walks 'N' Wags is looking to hear from our students! We'd like high resolution photos of your demo dogs (or cats) participating in a Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid for our 1st edition 2017 calendar. <br />
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<i><b>CONTEST RULES:</b></i><br />
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1. Tag a friend on our Facebook or Instagram pages (in the contest post) telling them why you took the Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid program<br />
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2. Email your favorite high resolution photo of your pet attending Walks 'N' Wags class to lisaw@walksnwags.com and be sure to mention his/her name, age, and location you attended class. <br />
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3. Submissions will be accepted until September 30, 2016. <br />
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4. Enter as many times as you like but remember you must tag a friend on Facebook or Instagram accompanying each entry.<br />
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5. 12 photo entries will be chosen by our team. Each winner will receive one full page feature in our 2017 calendar and will receive a free copy of the calendar in the mail. <br />
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6. Once we have sold all 150 calendars, we will draw 1 of the 12 winner's names randomly. You'll choose a registered Canadian pet charity and we'll make a $500 CAD donation to them!<br />
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7. Walks 'N' Wags Instructors and student instructors are exempt from this contest.<br />
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8. Winners will be announced on our social media pages and will be emailed week of October 3rd.<br />
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<i><b>PRE-ORDER YOUR CALENDAR NOW:</b></i><br />
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Support pets in need by ordering your 2017 calendar today! We're only ordering 150 calendars as this is our first try at this endeavor. <br />
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Cost in Canada is $20.00 + 2.95 shipping + applicable taxes for your area. Earlybird price: Save $2.00 for orders placed by September 30, 2016. Contact us for international quotes.<br />
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Pre-order now by sending payment via E-transfer or Paypal to lisaw@walksnwags.com<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-52762685839085443102016-05-17T13:25:00.003-07:002016-05-17T13:40:05.157-07:00Helping Fort McMurray: Our Instructors Are A Rare 'Breed' of HumanAs a pet safety-conscious company, we are always on alert when disaster strikes. However, when a wildfire caused evacuation of the entire Fort McMurray population, it struck a chord closer to home. One of Walks 'N' Wags' own, Instructor Jennifer Allen from <a href="http://www.pawprince.ca/">Paw Prince Pet Services</a>, was one of the evacuees.<br />
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We immediately reached out to Jennifer to confirm that she had been able to exit safely. We heard back from her that she was on the road and had a safe but temporary place to stay in Edmonton. We've since made a donation to the Canadian Red Cross and offered Jennifer any support that we can provide her.<br />
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We have many Instructors in Alberta and reached out to them to see what was happening there with the relief efforts. We were not-so-surprised to learn that every one of them was doing something to help! We are so proud of our Instructor community that we wanted to share some of their stories with you, in hopes that it may inspire someone else to lend a hand if they aren't sure how.<br />
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<b>Jessica Malenchak, Leduc AB</b><br />
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Jessica and her employer, Four Paws, in co-operation with a group called Courageous Companions, co-ordinated the intake of more than 40 animals. The groups offered pet food and other needed pet supplies. For Paws also offered free bathing services & discounted grooms to any of the Fort McMurray pets who needed it. Last, For Paws has been collecting grooming equipment to donate to any Fort McMurray groomers who might need replacement items.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qEq-rrUWggI/Vzt_Kn69BmI/AAAAAAAAAwk/rhIcDFrD5Vga_k5KiJIDmc3GbQeAVm1JACLcB/s1600/for%2Bpaws%2Bedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qEq-rrUWggI/Vzt_Kn69BmI/AAAAAAAAAwk/rhIcDFrD5Vga_k5KiJIDmc3GbQeAVm1JACLcB/s320/for%2Bpaws%2Bedit.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWvpntivQn1q0dO4h1gbXBcm26LkQptjK2b8bu5bjzQf7rgzudIpHYUo1IcVWoNDWAG8foWu5j_eQJpkG6hSOsyLt-xlA6mMdtIneoJQvldjsE5-g88KXko1aJMTJ2IPQXjcFG_hmbDZz/s1600/for+paws+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWvpntivQn1q0dO4h1gbXBcm26LkQptjK2b8bu5bjzQf7rgzudIpHYUo1IcVWoNDWAG8foWu5j_eQJpkG6hSOsyLt-xlA6mMdtIneoJQvldjsE5-g88KXko1aJMTJ2IPQXjcFG_hmbDZz/s320/for+paws+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1t2npChfwY/Vzonr4CwG8I/AAAAAAAAAuI/opB7kGGKO_QkDIv9BDLP5a4IKK58nYgowCLcB/s1600/for%2Bpaws%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1t2npChfwY/Vzonr4CwG8I/AAAAAAAAAuI/opB7kGGKO_QkDIv9BDLP5a4IKK58nYgowCLcB/s320/for%2Bpaws%2B3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIYkLww8CA4/VzonsJmQhlI/AAAAAAAAAuU/wfR-a4T10owVnlt1w4iB3yKKkspayzqgwCLcB/s1600/for%2Bpaws%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIYkLww8CA4/VzonsJmQhlI/AAAAAAAAAuU/wfR-a4T10owVnlt1w4iB3yKKkspayzqgwCLcB/s320/for%2Bpaws%2B4.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>Rakell Laventure, Airdrie AB</b><br />
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Rakell sent 50 cards to firefighters and first responders to thank them for a job well done. <br />
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She collected 4 truck loads of goodies, from hygiene products, clothing, no perishable food items, baby items, and of course pet items. She also donated 17 crates from clients and family and several of her own. Her own pets Milo and COCO helped. <br />
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She also has a young lady staying with her until she figures out where she is going. She is supposed to start school in Fort McMurray soon. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6cjFnKt2Sw/Vzt1Te9XOBI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/hKSZ8jUTyBsAwEm9GgKTaMYzkSsccn-MwCLcB/s1600/rakell%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C6cjFnKt2Sw/Vzt1Te9XOBI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/hKSZ8jUTyBsAwEm9GgKTaMYzkSsccn-MwCLcB/s320/rakell%2B1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4xXnv2SSXfotddrhIq9z4GJKiiuICgdODJU5Au8KxcNg2dJ0K2szi9EPQGC0I0jtL7jPwk57mOcQOdhVLpi_nnw4xnvdm3xyYMzJl7hdZudBsSK6YZ7tRWMAM_DSgT_vVY3_OD7Zfkgr/s1600/rakell+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4xXnv2SSXfotddrhIq9z4GJKiiuICgdODJU5Au8KxcNg2dJ0K2szi9EPQGC0I0jtL7jPwk57mOcQOdhVLpi_nnw4xnvdm3xyYMzJl7hdZudBsSK6YZ7tRWMAM_DSgT_vVY3_OD7Zfkgr/s320/rakell+2.jpg" /></a> <br />
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<b>Alecia Muirhead, Edmonton AB</b><br />
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Alecia and her employer, Sadie's K9 Stay & Play did a crate, food, and supply drive when the animals started arriving to Edmonton. They were blown away by the response! <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6dMlfTe6Zs/Vzt3EHyqLHI/AAAAAAAAAvk/dEjFW7mI4QQQmlrzpmzDWxfeE83R1I_kACLcB/s1600/Alecia%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V6dMlfTe6Zs/Vzt3EHyqLHI/AAAAAAAAAvk/dEjFW7mI4QQQmlrzpmzDWxfeE83R1I_kACLcB/s320/Alecia%2B1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJEq5t4Uuzc/Vzt3F33YbWI/AAAAAAAAAvo/rCbqCnH5FVIOYuW_iTCQpQ0VRVnI7WlZACLcB/s1600/alecia%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJEq5t4Uuzc/Vzt3F33YbWI/AAAAAAAAAvo/rCbqCnH5FVIOYuW_iTCQpQ0VRVnI7WlZACLcB/s320/alecia%2B2.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ELOjJ7lR3k/Vzt4HKwTwQI/AAAAAAAAAv8/zaazKwEgViUnAZLrNbQRUS8iBnKGi-sWQCLcB/s1600/alecia%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ELOjJ7lR3k/Vzt4HKwTwQI/AAAAAAAAAv8/zaazKwEgViUnAZLrNbQRUS8iBnKGi-sWQCLcB/s320/alecia%2B3.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>Leah Daoust, Tofield AB</b><br />
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Leah has helped extensively in many areas over the past couple of weeks. Here is a list of some of her endeavors:<br />
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Purchased and donated supplies to Hastings Lake Animal Hospital who then drove north to deliver them to a rescue group. <br />
Volunteered at one of the hangars at the Edmonton International Airport sorting and packing mountains of donations for evacuees.<br />
Organized free fun dog classes for evacuees. Visited and volunteered with some of the evacuated pets that are being cared for and housed at Hastings Lake Animal Hospital. Made monetary donations to the Canadian Red Cross, Alberta SPCA, and Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-19WyOuq0oKs/Vzt6_HuKmoI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/mfOl_K1j1u0UD9LsL3JeTRY3KJN-fMcgQCLcB/s1600/leah%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-19WyOuq0oKs/Vzt6_HuKmoI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/mfOl_K1j1u0UD9LsL3JeTRY3KJN-fMcgQCLcB/s320/leah%2B1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Not all of our Instructors took photos, but it's important to mention the other great things they did with their time.<br />
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<b>Katie Ayres, Calgary AB</b>: traveled to Edmonton with the Alberta spay neuter task force and volunteered at the animal evacuation centre<br />
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<b>Heather Rankin, Dublin Ireland</b>: sent the Canadian Red Cross a "healthy donation"<br />
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<b>Simone Krebser, Penticton BC </b>is donating 5% of her training proceeds of May 2016 to the Edmonton Humane Society<br />
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<b>Jess Eustace, Canmore AB</b>: Jess is on maternity leave; however, she still gave a cash donation, donated crates and other pet items. She also went through her baby items that were no longer needed and donated those. Jess's employer (Fish Creek 24 Hour Pet Hospital) sent staff to Edmonton to triage pets that were coming in<br />
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<b>Pam Pennington, Red Deer AB</b>: Her employer (Dog & Cat Hospital) is offering medical care and boarding free of charge to Fort McMurray residents.<br />
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<b>Kirbi Bishop, Lloydminster AB</b>: Donated items such as a kennel, dog food, cat food, and leashes.<br />
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<b>Shawna Magnan, Edmonton AB</b>: Shawna has been offering daycare and boarding for dogs at no charge at her dog daycare K9 Club.<br />
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Calgary Instructors <b>Ellis van Schuur</b> and <b>Krista DeCarle</b> are both donating partial proceeds from their course registration fees to charities supporting Fort McMurray. Krista's family also offered boarding for horses and prepared pre-cooked meals for evacuees. Krista owns a pet boarding business and provided free/discounted care to first responder clients who left to help fight the fires.<br />
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Last but not least, there is our currently displaced Fort McMurray Instructor <b>Jennifer Allen</b>. Despite being an evacuee and being able to use help herself, Jennifer has been donating her time to help others. <br />
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Jennifer donated her time "meeting people at the evacuation centre and Salvation Army to give out the rest of my pet first aid kits. I've been taking Fort Mac residents to northlands from the airport and showing them apartments that offer temporary residency for free." Talk about going WAY above and beyond Jennifer!!!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxUJQ1XMSvQ/Vzo-wgYP9YI/AAAAAAAAAu4/6P5c-qFz1782hs2aSQ_-kQOCi2lrIMvDgCLcB/s1600/jennifer%2Ballen%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxUJQ1XMSvQ/Vzo-wgYP9YI/AAAAAAAAAu4/6P5c-qFz1782hs2aSQ_-kQOCi2lrIMvDgCLcB/s320/jennifer%2Ballen%2B1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSiD50S7Rxo/Vzo-wHEHOMI/AAAAAAAAAu0/-32sfbI4s-oYOfPDbWVfd-9u2AMgdi7WwCLcB/s1600/jennifer%2Ballen%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSiD50S7Rxo/Vzo-wHEHOMI/AAAAAAAAAu0/-32sfbI4s-oYOfPDbWVfd-9u2AMgdi7WwCLcB/s320/jennifer%2Ballen%2B2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7o2NOgkahZI/Vzo-vz2y4hI/AAAAAAAAAuw/0kqLJW-goUQnMj9KQzz-aehv3FrTyX2zwCLcB/s1600/jennifer%2Ballen%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7o2NOgkahZI/Vzo-vz2y4hI/AAAAAAAAAuw/0kqLJW-goUQnMj9KQzz-aehv3FrTyX2zwCLcB/s320/jennifer%2Ballen%2B3.jpg" /></a><br />
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Sometimes people ask us what is unique about our company. I've always sincerely believed that our Instructors are a rare 'breed' of human. Now I firmly know that with 100% certainty.<br />
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~ Lisa Wagner, Operations Director<br />
<a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid </a><br />
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<b>A few places to donate in support of Fort McMurray include:</b><br />
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<a href="https://donate.redcross.ca/ea-action/action?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NO-DM&ea.client.id=1951&ea.campaign.id=50639">Canadian Red Cross</a><br />
<a href="https://www.edmontonhumanesociety.com/support-ehs/donations/fort-mcmurray-wildfire-donation-form">Edmonton Humane Society</a><br />
<a href="http://support.calgaryhumane.ca/site/TR?px=1090674&fr_id=1050&pg=personal#.Vzt5OW9OXDd">Calgary Humane Society</a><br />
<a href="http://aarcs.ca/donate/">Alberta Animal Rescue Crew</a><br />
<a href="http://scarscare.ca/how-you-can-help/donate/">Second Chance Animal Rescue Society</a><br />
<a href="https://support.albertaspca.org/pages/fort-mcmurray-wildfire-support">Alberta SPCA</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fortmcmurrayspca.ca/index.php?area_id=1024&page_id=1133">Fort McMurray SPCA</a><br />
<a href="https://secure.salvationarmy.ca/registrant/donate.aspx?eventid=197650&langpref=en-CA&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.salvationarmy.ca%2f">Salvation Army</a><br />
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*If we have missed a worthy organization, please email us at lisaw@walksnwags.com with details*<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-45970577560503532052016-04-05T11:29:00.001-07:002016-04-05T11:29:59.540-07:00Instructor Profile: Simone Krebser of K9 Possible<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN3OF5DQfNM/VwQB6rvtvdI/AAAAAAAAAtA/OT0nt6QbvCgjEhZEUVZRszLa9OD9IKWrg/s1600/simone%2Bwith%2Bher%2Bdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PN3OF5DQfNM/VwQB6rvtvdI/AAAAAAAAAtA/OT0nt6QbvCgjEhZEUVZRszLa9OD9IKWrg/s400/simone%2Bwith%2Bher%2Bdogs.jpg" /></a><br />
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Okanagan BC Instructor Simone Krebser of <a href="http://www.k9possible.com/">K9 Possible</a> has been an important part of the <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a> family for several years. Initially living on Canada's east coast, Simone originally came to us as a <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/dlearning.php">Distance Learning</a> student.<br />
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Here's Simone's story:<br />
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"My name is Simone Krebser and I currently live in Penticton in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia with my two dogs.<br />
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I grew up in Switzerland and eventually settled in Canada in 2011 where I finally could pursue my passion through a career with animals. I’m now a professional dog trainer, Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/instructor.php">Instructor</a> and as a well a proud part time office assistant of Walks ‘N’ Wags!<br />
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I grew up with all different kind of animals including: dogs, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, gerbils just to name a few. Since I was little I dreamed of working with animals to some degree but life took me to different career paths. This included an education in business and office administration, working in the hospitality industry and also a pet shop. Eventually I realized that there will be nothing else that will really make me happy other than having animals around me day in and out. All these different experiences built the important foundation for the skill set I require in my current career.<br />
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Arriving in Canada I knew it was time to follow my dreams and dig deeper into what I really wanted in life and this was to help animals live a better life in some kind of way.<br />
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I have always had that little knack for teaching people and as well dogs…both just seemed natural to me. I understood that if I want animals to live a better life I need to educate their people, there was no way around it.<br />
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In 2013 I started to professionally train dogs (first in Nova Scotia before I settled in BC in 2014). But before I felt confident to dive into this career, I wanted to prepare my self with some other foundation and I found Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid. I completed a Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid course in 2012 and quickly realized how this will not only enhance the quality of life of my own pets but also will give peace of mind to my future clients knowing they can trust me with their pets.<br />
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Once I started my career as a professional dog trainer I felt there was more that I could do than just help people enjoying their dogs more by having better behaved companions. While training is one step to keeping your dog safe, there is so much more. I was super impressed on how thorough the Walks ‘N’ Wags program was and how it boosted my confidence in being prepared for any pet emergency that I felt the need to wanting to share this with others.<br />
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In 2014 I completed my Instructor certification and started sharing this great experience with others. What I love about teaching the Walks ‘N’ Wags program is that I share my knowledge with people that are just as passionate about their pets and clients as I am. All the students are thrilled to attend the course and learn these skills.<br />
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Knowing the fact that I might have helped saving a pet’s life by sharing my knowledge, but also have given the person that has helped to safe or improve a pets life with what they have learned in the course a feeling of peace of mind is very gratifying to me."<br />
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Simone's sincere dedication to helping animals shines in her communications with people and with her teaching. We feel so fortunate to have Simone as part of Walks 'N' Wags!<br />
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If you would like to learn more about courses offered in BC's Okanagan and Kootenays, please visit the <b>K9 Possible</b> <a href="http://www.k9possible.com/#!pet-first-aid/cee5">WEB SITE</a>. You can also find other Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid course dates <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaiddates.php">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4H4ELnZ5TrU/VwQCEDDBRpI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Ft_TyEf_Q6UA35PG57cddTmPxOcis11PA/s1600/simone%2Band%2Bher%2Bdogs%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4H4ELnZ5TrU/VwQCEDDBRpI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Ft_TyEf_Q6UA35PG57cddTmPxOcis11PA/s400/simone%2Band%2Bher%2Bdogs%2B2.jpg" /></a><br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-50472952478733963732016-01-19T09:24:00.001-08:002016-01-19T09:37:03.470-08:00Introducing: OFF THE GRIDOver the years, we've had many students ask us if we offer further educational programs outside of Walks 'N' Wags' <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaid.php">Pet First Aid course</a>. We always take student feedback into consideration and entered discussions regarding what possible curriculum to offer.<br />
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At about the same time, our family personally invested in a remote cabin. While spending time there, we learned of dogs injured in fights, hit by cars, cats suffering from frostbite, and other injuries the community's animals faced. And all without access to Veterinary care. The community is several hours from the nearest Veterinary clinic and 5-6 hours from a Veterinary emergency clinic.<br />
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The reality is that many people not only live in rural communities, but also vacation in them. People take their dogs hiking, camping, swimming in remote lakes, join fishing expeditions, and more in the summer months. In the winter months, pets continue to hike, snowshoe, and may participate in skijoring or other outdoor activities. While these pet families may live in an urban area, a Veterinarian isn't readily accessed while on an outdoor adventure! This was the inspiration for <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/otg.php"><b>OFF THE GRID<i></i></b>.</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9qMNQ2S6vU/Vp5sMiLjigI/AAAAAAAAArI/wQ43cyaVYIc/s1600/OFF%2BTHE%2BGRID%2BFloyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9qMNQ2S6vU/Vp5sMiLjigI/AAAAAAAAArI/wQ43cyaVYIc/s320/OFF%2BTHE%2BGRID%2BFloyd.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Designed for successful, up-to-date graduates of Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid program, <b>OFF THE GRID<i></i></b> is designed to help adventurous humans prepare in advance for outdoor adventures with their pets. And then have a bit more "know how" if an emergency does arise. <br />
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<b>OFF THE GRID<i></i></b> is a 3 hour program and curriculum includes:<br />
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- Trip Planning<br />
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- Equipment Improvisation<br />
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- Prolonged Patient Care<br />
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- Advanced shock<br />
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- Pain management<br />
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- Poisoning<br />
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- Evacuation<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2wFCoGRGdok0_CNZ2CsdiU_9ffwflFwA-uvoBNeKn809nM1kyq1ahEE6Vk78j-VhrPC_Sk6AXeIQZPEH64CoY148PZ8jR5p2gv2YnkdkAyNZkWvB1r8iyw2i2KDTm4EPu45ZGJZgMEbB/s1600/OFF+THE+GRID+logo+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2wFCoGRGdok0_CNZ2CsdiU_9ffwflFwA-uvoBNeKn809nM1kyq1ahEE6Vk78j-VhrPC_Sk6AXeIQZPEH64CoY148PZ8jR5p2gv2YnkdkAyNZkWvB1r8iyw2i2KDTm4EPu45ZGJZgMEbB/s320/OFF+THE+GRID+logo+jpg.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Upon successful completion, participants will earn an <b>OFF THE GRID<i></i></b> Certificate and digital "Certified" logo.<br />
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We're very excited to roll out this exciting new program. Several of our Instructors have earned their <b>OFF THE GRID</b> Instructor designation, while others are currently working hard on it.<br />
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Are you interested in attending an <b>OFF THE GRID<i></i></b> class? Register <b><a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaiddates.php">HERE</a>.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVeAbXhw2lM/Vp5ua_8FngI/AAAAAAAAArc/XYrVjA4ph2Q/s1600/OTG%2BTux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVeAbXhw2lM/Vp5ua_8FngI/AAAAAAAAArc/XYrVjA4ph2Q/s320/OTG%2BTux.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-92193523133443420112015-12-23T11:01:00.000-08:002015-12-23T11:02:06.388-08:002015 Update To SAINTS Rescue From TuxToday is the 3rd anniversary of our Tux's adoption from <a href="http://www.saintsrescue.ca/"><b>SAINTS Rescue</b>.</a> Each year we create an update to send to SAINTS. We also share with the public in hopes people will be consider adoption - especially senior adoption. Here is Tux's letter:<br />
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Dear SAINTS:<br />
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2015 was overall a great year. But I had some losses this year too and it was tough. I'm looking forward to sharing my 3rd year with my forever family with you.<br />
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On January 2, 2015, my big brother Buddy passed away. In 2 years, we spent a lot of time together doing all sorts of fun things.<br />
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Buddy was almost 17 years old and it was a really tough for all of us. <br />
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After Buddy passed away I wasn't completely alone. I still had my cats Kitty and Kermit. I have to admit, cats aren't my favorite animal on earth but they did their best to keep me company.<br />
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Shortly after Buddy passed away, Lisa went away to Thailand to volunteer at Soi Dog Foundation. While she was there, she fell in love with another senior named Dominic. In the Spring, he joined our family.<br />
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We did all sorts of fun things in 2015. One of my favorites is walking and hiking. I think I've pounded the dirt and pavement more in the past 3 years then I did in my previous 10! I always make sure to have a good rest at the end. I am 13 years old now afterall.<br />
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In the summer, we went camping several times too. We visit our family in the mountains several times each year and I just love it. Fresh air, clean water, and lots of fun hiking paths. It's the best.<br />
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Of course, over the summer I came to visit SAINTS at the Open House. Wow, was it ever nice to see my second family there. Jenn took a few photos of me while I was there. I couldn't help but dance for her :).<br />
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Since I've met my weight loss goals, every now and then I get a special treat. Sometimes I just help myself...but that's another story that I will keep to myself.<br />
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Unfortunately at the end of the summer, my new brother Dominic fell unexpectedly ill and passed away. It was a shock to us all and I still really miss him. We made a good team.<br />
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On a happier note, of course throughout the year I taught Pet First Aid classes & workshops to both kids and adults. I have a pretty cool job and I am quite well paid. Here is a photo and if you want to see more details, I have a separate Blog post <b>HERE<a href="http://walksnwags.blogspot.ca/2015/09/dogs-with-jobs-bet-you-didnt-think-of.html"></a></b>.<br />
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In October I did a Halloween contest photo shoot for my work. I think I make a most excellent super hero :). In fact, an illustration was made of me as one too!<br />
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Also in October I got a new rescue brother. He kind of looks like me and we get along really well. He's a shy boy and I think it helps having me around to protect him.<br />
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Anyways, just wanted to let you know that life is good. Really good. And once again it's because of you at SAINTS. You gave me a chance when others might not have. And you found me the right family.<br />
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Forever a SAINT!<br />
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~ Love Tux (formerly Joey) <br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-76616457110386540872015-09-11T10:45:00.001-07:002015-09-11T11:44:28.235-07:00Dogs With Jobs: Bet You Didn't Think Of This One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RkHSe9hocKI/VfMCnEjm0LI/AAAAAAAAAik/Ya_QXD440xg/s1600/Tux%2Bin%2Boffice%2Bchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RkHSe9hocKI/VfMCnEjm0LI/AAAAAAAAAik/Ya_QXD440xg/s400/Tux%2Bin%2Boffice%2Bchair.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Dogs With Jobs. What pops into your mind? Police dog. Therapy dog. Drug-detection dog. Guide dog. But there's a job you may not have considered: "Chief Dog Officer" or CDO. Our CDO here at <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a> head office is Tux. Here's a little introduction into what his job as CDO is all about.<br />
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<b>Demonstration</b><br />
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As CDO, Tux regularly attends <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaiddates.php">Pet First Aid classes</a> and shows everyone the ropes. He's been doing this for awhile and as you can see, he's a pro.<br />
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<b>Lap surfer</b> <br />
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It's serious business keeping the course attendees happy and making them feel that they are receiving one-on-one attention. Tux does an excellent job of moving around the room and sharing the love.<br />
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Sometimes he even helps out with the exam!<br />
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<b>Kids Camps</b><br />
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Tux volunteers his time regularly with <a href="http://www.spca.bc.ca/">BC SPCA</a> teaching kids the introductory ropes of Pet First Aid. This might just be his favorite job since he loves children!<br />
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<b>Event Host<br />
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Tux attends all sorts of public events as a host of the Walks 'N' Wags tent. There, he befriends pretty much everyone he meets and educates them about our program.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_HdWitrtdQ/VfMBqUvwF-I/AAAAAAAAAiU/7xKQBL4SX_s/s1600/Tux%2Bwith%2Bkid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_HdWitrtdQ/VfMBqUvwF-I/AAAAAAAAAiU/7xKQBL4SX_s/s320/Tux%2Bwith%2Bkid.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<b>Model</b><br />
Tux participates as a model regularly for Walks 'N' Wags, for <a href="http://www.rcpets.com/Default.aspx">RC Pet Products</a>, and has also graced <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=ie7&q=www.moderndogmagazine.com&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSCA_enCA483CA483&gfe_rd=cr&ei=NQzzVb_ZIsuV8QedlpeYCA&gws_rd=ssl">Modern Dog Magazine</a>. This Fall he'll be featured in our ad in <a href="http://cdndogs.ca/">Canadian Dogs Annual</a> too! Here's a sampling of some of his work:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXA2hheSTnEwEFMHgTPhOdKVeYFQ1DosuBIm53ocHSF_WYaxEtqZLwglpqWPXBG2duNWTzzmURKdVztFLA4k0GjU-cyGt4mzX_QDk_ZpDyRunBCTVDvNPvKWjTHmIc7COoS4-jPZyLlv3/s1600/Tux+in+rufflective+cuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXA2hheSTnEwEFMHgTPhOdKVeYFQ1DosuBIm53ocHSF_WYaxEtqZLwglpqWPXBG2duNWTzzmURKdVztFLA4k0GjU-cyGt4mzX_QDk_ZpDyRunBCTVDvNPvKWjTHmIc7COoS4-jPZyLlv3/s320/Tux+in+rufflective+cuff.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhYH9djr_P0/VfMEhaRJtqI/AAAAAAAAAi4/DuT7jJoM_UQ/s1600/Tux%2BEaster%2Bphoto%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhYH9djr_P0/VfMEhaRJtqI/AAAAAAAAAi4/DuT7jJoM_UQ/s320/Tux%2BEaster%2Bphoto%2B2015.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhafTVngxL4/VfMMuqTZlmI/AAAAAAAAAkM/CD6FYGZbSgg/s1600/Tux%2Bin%2BModern%2BDog%2B2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vhafTVngxL4/VfMMuqTZlmI/AAAAAAAAAkM/CD6FYGZbSgg/s320/Tux%2Bin%2BModern%2BDog%2B2013.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<b><br />
Loyal Supervisor</b><br />
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Tux ensures that everything goes smoothly both in our classes and around the office. In his role as Supervisor, he is a "hands on" kind of guy and always willing to help.<br />
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Recruiting and Training</b><br />
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Tux has a hand in choosing which dogs enter the Walks 'N' Wags family. We carefully present our case to him and he ponders his options.<br />
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Earlier this year, Tux approved the addition of Dominic. He taught Dominic the ropes at home first, and then eventually welcomed him to class.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1zWOt4UFDg/VfMgaZ9_dUI/AAAAAAAAAko/kAYj80uUnnw/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1zWOt4UFDg/VfMgaZ9_dUI/AAAAAAAAAko/kAYj80uUnnw/s320/IMG_0446.JPG" /></a><br />
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Sadly, Dominic unexpectedly passed away. We all miss him but are ready to open our hearts to a new family member. Tux has approved our new friend Floyd, who will arrive from <a href="https://www.soidog.org/Default.aspx">Soi Dog Foundation</a> on October 26th. We'll keep you posted as to how his training goes!<br />
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As you have seen, Tux is an important fixture as Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid's Chief Dog Officer. We couldn't do what we do without him, and we will always appreciate his willingness to lend a hand wherever he's needed. Of course, being a dog, every now and then he falls asleep on the job. But we love him anyway!<br />
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Learn more about Tux and Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid via the following links:<br />
<a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Web site</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/walksnwagspetfirstaid/timeline/">Facebook</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/WNWPetFirstAid">Twitter</a><br />
<a href="https://instagram.com/walksnwagspetfirstaid/">Instagram</a><br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-3054160874248056232015-07-08T09:39:00.001-07:002015-07-08T09:39:39.273-07:00#ItsHotToBeCool. So Why Aren't People Getting The Message?Summer has definitely arrived. With it, we're seeing the usual unwelcome news stories of animals suffering (and sometimes perishing) from Heatstroke.<br />
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Already this year, an <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alabama-police-dog-dies-after-being-left-hot-car-n381231">Alabama police dog</a> perished in a hot vehicle. <br />
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We've also seen images like this one of pets left in shopping mall parking lots.<br />
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Furthermore, we've had concerned citizens taking action, including one US Veteran who was <a href="http://rt.com/usa/258205-us-veteran-arrested-dog/">arrested</a> after smashing a window to rescue this dog. Charges were later dropped.<br />
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People are angry, and they aren't holding back their comments! Videos like <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2015/06/30/29503619/">this one </a>from Pheonix, AZ show confrontations between angry pet lovers and irresponsible pet owners. <br />
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Year after year, we see the same tear jerking ads, desperately <i>discouraging</i> people from leaving their pets in hot vehicles. This summer, we decided to create a fresh, positive image <i>encouraging<b></b></i> people to keep their pets shaded and hydrated. <br />
Our message: <b>#ItsHotToBeCool</b>!<br />
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We're also distributing 1000's of stickers of last year's message: <b>#HotDogsAreForBBQs</b>. If you'd like to purchase them in bulk, pop us a message for pricing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDuy_-9haSG48zyotP8EpQw5UQ-1cN_RqF-kWvOJyIfrJTrEvsGl5fgp2jDlVaOvPQTZCExmtXqeyB7SJa3i85-L3aA9QwTUK2q7EXtuOXSG7nKlRy3RQcZwHfI0SCM6Iq_XX8-YQ0RD0/s1600/hot+dogs+sticker+pile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDuy_-9haSG48zyotP8EpQw5UQ-1cN_RqF-kWvOJyIfrJTrEvsGl5fgp2jDlVaOvPQTZCExmtXqeyB7SJa3i85-L3aA9QwTUK2q7EXtuOXSG7nKlRy3RQcZwHfI0SCM6Iq_XX8-YQ0RD0/s320/hot+dogs+sticker+pile.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Regardless of these successful campaigns, we still continue to hear the sad stories. <br />
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Why aren't people getting the message? What is it that they are missing year after year? Tell us what you think.<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-21562157389656187922015-04-13T11:49:00.000-07:002015-04-13T11:49:10.889-07:00Pet First Aid Awareness Month: The History of Pet First AidWe're pretty sure most of you have taken a Human First Aid Course at some point in time. Maybe it's current, maybe it's expired (time to renew!) but you <b>have<i></i></b> done it at some point yes? Your reasons for completing first aid will differ. Maybe you did it because your employer required it, maybe you took Infant CPR before the birth of your child, or maybe you just felt that the skills could be beneficial one day. Either way, you somehow learned how to assist people in need.<br />
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Now, how many of you have completed a Pet First Aid Certification Course? Maybe you've just heard of Pet First Aid recently? Maybe you've thought about it but haven't gotten around to it yet? We all want to keep our pets safe and help them in times of need, so why is it Pet First Aid is such a niche course?<br />
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The answer to this question isn't as complicated as you may think. While Human First Aid courses have been offered for decades, Pet First Aid's history is relatively fresh. In fact, the first Pet First Aid course held in Canada (and to our knowledge North America) wasn't until 1994. The idea behind Pet First Aid training was inspired by Ethne Dickinson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. <br />
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Both a Nurse and a Human First Aid training provider, Ethne had the unfortunate experience of running over a dog with her vehicle. Stepping out onto the road, Ethne was faced with a growling dog who looked quite different from her usual patients. Ethne did her best to assist the dog; however, it eventually died from its injuries. The experience stayed with Ethne and as an animal lover herself, she decided she should learn some animal first aid skills.<br />
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Ethne did some research and discovered that she was unable to find any courses offering first aid for animals. Every corner she turned she was faced with a dead end. Finally, she decided she would simply have to design her own program. She recruited a group of Veterinary professionals who together spent 18 months designing the Oakland Educational Services Ltd. "Pet First Aid" program. Ethne started teaching the program in Calgary, and soon found she was sought out across the country.<br />
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Ethne has since retired, and passed along her knowledge and program to Walks 'N' Wags back in 2007. Since that time we've updated the curriculum, expanded to offer our program in more than 100 Canadian locations, and we are actively expanding into the United States. <br />
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If you'd like to learn more about the history of <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/index.php">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid </a>and our founder, Lisa Wagner please visit our Blog Post <a href="http://walksnwags.blogspot.ca/2014/04/a-career-unchosen-how-i-came-to-work-in.html">"A Career Unchosen: How I came to work in Pet First Aid". </a> You can also keep in touch with us via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/walksnwagspetfirstaid">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/WNWPetFirstAid">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://instagram.com/walksnwagspetfirstaid/">Instagram</a>.<br />
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We welcome you to contact us anytime to learn more about Pet First Aid. After all, it is Pet First Aid Awareness Month! What better time to get yourself signed up for that course you were thinking about taking. Our in-class programs can be found <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/firstaiddates.php">HERE</a> and <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/dlearning.php">Distance Learning </a>is available worldwide.<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-88213093899064078132015-01-29T08:42:00.001-08:002015-01-29T09:01:09.110-08:00A few thoughts on Emma Paulsen and The Brookswood 6Yesterday dog walker Emma Paulsen <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/emma-paulsen-b-c-dog-walker-gets-jail-time-for-animal-cruelty-1.2935040">learned her fate</a> after 6 dogs died in her care back in May 2014. She was handed 6 months in prison, cannot own pets for 10 years, and she can never care for other people's pets. For more details regarding this tragedy, please visit the following <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/six-missing-dogs-died-of-heat-stroke-in-back-of-dog-walker-s-truck-1.1829054">LINK</a>.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/walksnwagspetfirstaid?ref=hl">Facebook page </a>blew up with many heated comments from concerned citizens. I read them all and felt your anger, exasperation and also your empathy for the dogs and the families affected. A few of you thought outside the box and also expressed concern on how this life-altering event would affect Ms. Paulsen herself.<br />
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In my 15 years working in the pet industry, one thing I have learned is that sometimes people do dumb things. I don't know if it's lack of intelligence, a simple trip up in judgement, having a bad day, mental health issues, or what causes us to make these awful errors in judgement at times. But I know I am left scratching my head a lot of the time. <br />
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When I was in pet care I had employees make decisions that I simply could never wrap my head around. I can't tell you how many times I said to myself "Really? Are you kidding me?". Oh, and don't get me wrong, I made mistakes too. One thing that I do know from experience is that taking accountability for your actions can make all the difference. The mistakes we made in my pet care business (yes, we made them as we are human) were ALWAYS taken responsibility for. We cared and we did everything in our power to make something right when we had done something wrong (whether by accident or poor judgement). We then worked very hard to ensure that we learned from that error and that it was never repeated.<br />
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It makes me sad that news reports indicate that Paulsen has not apologized, nor shown any form of remorse for her actions. If she had, I think more of the public would not only feel that stinging anger regarding what happened, but also a little bit of pity for someone having taken such an awful wrong turn in life. <br />
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Please, if we can take one positive thing from the tragedy that happened to these dogs, let it be for us to make better choices overall and to educate others to do the same. Here are some of my ideas:<br />
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1. Screen your potential pet care providers. Don't just ask them if they are licenced, insured, bonded, and pet first aid trained. Be sure to actually SEE the paperwork. Their insurance could have expired. They could have taken Pet First Aid 12 years ago. The possibilities are endless. Do your due diligence and check references. *Please note: the owners should take no blame for what happened. They did the best they could with the knowledge that they had at the time.<br />
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2. Think twice about the decisions you are making about your pet's care. If you have to question your judgement it's likely for a reason. Prevention is power! Always think about the possible outcome of your actions.<br />
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3. Educate yourself. Do you know how long a dog can be left in a vehicle? Do you know the signs of heat stroke? Does your breed of animal overheat quicker than most? Know the risks, take the precautions, and know how to act if you need to.<br />
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4. Talk about it. The more we talk about things, the more people know about them. The more we will remember. Don't let this tragedy fade into the past, keep it at the forefront of your mind so that we can ensure that moving ahead we continue to have higher expectations of ourselves and of others. <br />
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5. Follow the Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Thebrookswood6?fref=ts">"The Brookswood 6", </a>set up by the owners of the dogs who perished in this tragedy. Help them heal, support them, and learn from them.<br />
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We can and we will all do better for our animals. RIP sweet pups.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Lisa Wagner<br />
Operations Director<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid<br />
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Contact me anytime at lisaw@walksnwags.com <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZHBSwX6wcU/VMphP9-7oII/AAAAAAAAAck/dsjOEx9k5Ug/s1600/Brookswood%2B6%2Bdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZHBSwX6wcU/VMphP9-7oII/AAAAAAAAAck/dsjOEx9k5Ug/s400/Brookswood%2B6%2Bdogs.jpg" /></a></div>Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-70691129348636063232014-12-23T12:16:00.000-08:002014-12-23T12:16:00.982-08:00SAINTS Rescue: Tux's Annual Adoption Anniversary Update Today is the 2 year anniversary of our Chief Dog Officer Tux's adoption from <a href="http://www.saintsrescue.ca/">SAINTS Rescue</a>. It's becoming a bit of a tradition for him to share his yearly update.<br />
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Dear SAINTS:<br />
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It's been 2 years since I moved out of my home at SAINTS into my new forever family. I still miss everyone at SAINTS but wanted to let you know that I am very loved and happy here. Here's what happened this year:<br />
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The year started out with a BANG! Literally! We were away at our family cabin and got to watch some cool fireworks (which fortunately don't scare me). While there I also learned to ice fish and spent a lot of time exploring the frozen lakes and mountains. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ggQFpW8Bhrw/VJmZunnwTjI/AAAAAAAAAXM/xCsPZJgftFU/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ggQFpW8Bhrw/VJmZunnwTjI/AAAAAAAAAXM/xCsPZJgftFU/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYN-ewhle8ofobAJoG2_h3OXIQ9sOp_7yeoYp3HkmtdadAy01QsEdxExb2bUVQkW05s2FwWzvWatBDuzpHHx2OL8-9xlMfM_lBrS4TF9My7KX8DaYJF5geolTQhSL0z4WwkdlpMnuNgiD/s1600/IMG_2039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYN-ewhle8ofobAJoG2_h3OXIQ9sOp_7yeoYp3HkmtdadAy01QsEdxExb2bUVQkW05s2FwWzvWatBDuzpHHx2OL8-9xlMfM_lBrS4TF9My7KX8DaYJF5geolTQhSL0z4WwkdlpMnuNgiD/s320/IMG_2039.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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By February I am pleased to say I met my goal weight! I am now just shy of 18 lbs, after losing a whopping 14 lbs. Yep, that's right I am almost half the man I used to be and I'm feeling grrrrrrreat!<br />
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Also in February, I went back to the cabin. This time it was still super cold! My winter wardrobe continues to grow...and my people always ensure I have lots of cozy blankets. Anyway it was so much fun! <br />
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In Spring I was featured (along with several other black dogs) in the <a href="http://moderndogmagazine.com/">Modern Dog Magazine</a> article "Black Beauty". The article highlighted just how cool we black dogs are and I was honoured to be a part of it! Check out all the dogs featured <a href="http://moderndogmagazine.com/gallery/black-beauty?slide=4">HERE</a>. <br />
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The year continued to fly by...and boy did I ever keep busy!<br />
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I taught a ton of Pet First Aid classes, including kids camps at <a href="http://www.bcspca.ca/">BC SPCA</a>.<br />
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Summer flew by because of all the cool activities I was doing, including attending a wedding and a visit back to SAINTS with some goodies at their Open House. Here are some of the things I did and I will save the biggest to last! You really won't believe it.<br />
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Okay, here's the biggie...drum roll...I climbed up one of the trails at The Chief in Squamish! Yep this little senior is in fine form my friends. It was grueling and I can't say I didn't need a little help due to my *ahem* "small" stature, but I DID IT! <br />
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You know, now that I think of it I did a few more fun things over the summer...<br />
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In the Fall I spent a bit more time inside because I really loath the rain. But as you can see I was pretty comfy. And I definitely liked to party it up any time it was a sunny day.<br />
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For Halloween I decided to remind my friends that chocolate is dangerous. You see, last year just before Christmas I had a little "incident" with chocolate. No need to remind ourselves of the details but let's just say I learned a valuable lesson. <br />
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In November, I attended a Remembrance Day ceremony and honoured those who have given their lives to serve our country and those who continue to do so. It was very touching to be a part of the event and I am proud to be a Canadian dog! <br />
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Also in late Fall I released another public safety announcement "It's Too Chilly For Chili". This time I modelled for an illustration. I was very happy with how the artist drew me, what do you think?<br />
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And I did a little more modelling for <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags</a>. I honestly think I've found my calling with this gig. They pay me pretty well too!<br />
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December I wanted to ensure everyone knew about rescue, and about SAINTS. I worked with my company to collect donations and took them out to my SAINTS friends. I also did a little shopping because I know you guys need a lot of cleaning supplies and I didn't want the livestock to be forgotten.<br />
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Well, that's about it. I spent the year having fun, working hard, and being loved by my 4 people.<br />
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I also have 3 furry family members who love me very much. Sometimes we even snuggle.<br />
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So, now 2014 is coming to a close and I had to let my friends at SAINTS know how things were going. And how much you will always hold a place in my heart. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am now. You loved me, accepted me, and helped me to find my forever home. I am eternally grateful and so are my humans.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvyO62sctY0/VJnHov8X5rI/AAAAAAAAAcA/U-XyKnJdbGY/s1600/Tux%2Bwith%2Bsanta%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvyO62sctY0/VJnHov8X5rI/AAAAAAAAAcA/U-XyKnJdbGY/s320/Tux%2Bwith%2Bsanta%2B2014.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Love you forever and ever.<br />
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Tux (aka Joey)<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-34370446986435058782014-09-30T09:03:00.000-07:002014-09-30T12:37:45.657-07:00Veterinary Care vs Your Search Engine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQoLxCyZV7k/VCrUHqDHq1I/AAAAAAAAAW8/VVensjGOkHk/s1600/Veterinary%2Bcare%2Bversus%2BInternet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQoLxCyZV7k/VCrUHqDHq1I/AAAAAAAAAW8/VVensjGOkHk/s320/Veterinary%2Bcare%2Bversus%2BInternet.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>The Facebook Group</b><br />
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A few months ago I joined an online pet health group on Facebook. The group seemed to have a lot of members sharing many curious-looking photos and stories about their pets. It seemed like an interesting resource!<br />
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I've been in the group for awhile now and some of the questions are in my opinion legitimate: people wanting to know if it's the right time to euthanize, people sharing the grief of the loss of their pets, people asking why their dog eats rocks etc...<br />
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These questions are discussion based and don't really have a right or wrong answer. They also aren't laypeople offering Veterinary advice, they involve sharing of thoughts, ideas and support.<br />
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However, some have been very concerning! From memory here are some examples: "My dog is vomiting blood what should I do?", "My dog has been hiding for 12 hours, won't come out, and won't eat or drink. What should I do?", "At what age should I spay my dog?".<br />
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The above 3 questions are of <b>HUGE</b> concern to me. My first thought is "Why are you on Facebook in a layperson group right now?" and "You should be at the Vet!". My second thought (as I read through the replies) is "Who are these people readily dishing out Veterinary advice? Surely they aren't Vets and RVT's, should they really be dispensing this sort of information? Is this really responsible?"<br />
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The Internet: friend or foe?</b><br />
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The invention of the internet has opened up a can of worms that I'm not sure we know how to manage. On the one hand, it's nice to look up the odd piece of information, to get news in real-time, and to watch your favorite tv shows. It's also nice to reach out to friends for support, celebrate our successes, and share our grief. But where is the line drawn with providing Veterinary/Medical advice?<br />
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To the defence of the aforementioned Facebook group, the vomiting blood dog received many "Why aren't you at the Vet?" and "Get to the Vet NOW!" responses. Phew, no one providing a home remedy of some random mushroom that's known to cure dogs who are vomiting blood. But I've also seen some VERY ignorant replies "I heard that..." "My neighbour says that..." for questions that a Veterinarian and only a Veterinarian should be answering.<br />
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<b>Failure to provide Veterinary Care</b><br />
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Most places have laws regarding failure to provide Veterinary care. These laws are in place for a reason - to prevent unnecessary suffering to animals. I think we can all agree that most pet owners don't want to be responsible for our pet's pain and suffering, yes? So why are we turning to the internet instead of our Veterinarians? Answer: MONEY. Vets are expensive, period.<br />
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Well of course they are expensive! They spent $200-300k and many years to learn their craft and it's not cheap for them to offer a high quality of care. And frankly, for all of that effort, along with the high stress of their position, I think they should earn a decent living.<br />
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If you don't already have a good Veterinarian whom you trust, book a consult in with a new one and share with them what you are looking for in a new Vet. Give them the chance to say "I'm not that person" and move on if you need to. A good rapport with your Veterinarian is an absolute must and you should feel free to contact them at any time with "Do I need to bring my pet in for XYZ...?" types of questions. Please don't rely on the internet as your only source of Veterinary support! <br />
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<b>Financial Aid Available</b><br />
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If you are in a financial hardship, there are many resources available to you. Here are a few for you to look into:<br />
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<a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962">Assistance Providing Care for your Pet</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/dachshund-rescue-south-florida/resources-for-financial-help-for-veterinary-bills/10151165829365837">Veterinary Financial Aid </a><br />
<a href="http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/">Credit for Veterinary Care</a><br />
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<b>Planning Ahead</b><br />
Do you have Veterinary Insurance? There are so many options available now and it can be a lifesaver to both your pet and your bank account! I recently attended a <a href="http://vetgirlontherun.com/">VetGirl</a> & <a href="http://trupanion.com/canada">Trupanion</a> webinar and learned that only about 1% of North American's have pet insurance! That number is staggeringly low compared to the rest of the world. <br />
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What gives? Why are we not investing in our animal's health? This is a discussion that we could have for days...you would tell me: "It's too expensive" "There are too many exclusions" "I can't find a policy that meets my pet's needs". <br />
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If the above is true, this raises other questions: Why aren't we starting independent Veterinary bank accounts to protect our pets? Why do we have pets that we can't afford to care for? If the law says we must provide Veterinary care, should people have pets that they can't afford? These are all such difficult moral questions and as we all know they have no easy answer!<br />
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So, for now, I will stick with what I <b>DO</b> know the answer to. Get yourself a good Veterinarian. Tell your friends to do it too. And <b>DON'T</b> rely on the internet to be your source of Veterinary care.<br />
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Do it today and tell me all about it! <br />
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Lisa<br />
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<i>Lisa Wagner is the Operations Director of <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/index.php">Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid</a>. Walks ‘N’ Wags offers Pet First Aid certification courses in-person and via Distance Learning. Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-43855395489214535292014-07-10T12:56:00.000-07:002014-07-10T16:43:58.457-07:00#HotDogsAreForBBQs: Resources for Preventing Heat Stroke in DogsThis time of year there's a lot of discussion about the heat's effect on our pets, namely our dogs. One of the "hot" topics circulating is risk of Heat Stroke. So what is Heat Stroke anyway?<br />
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Heat Stroke occurs when a pet's body temperature is abnormally high for an extended period of time. When this happens, the pet is no longer able to naturally cool itself. It is a life-threatening situation if not treated immediately.<br />
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So, how does Heat Stroke happen? It can be a combination of several factors including but not always: confinement in an enclosed area, lack of ventilation, dehydration, excessive exercise or excitement, and high humidity. <br />
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Let's talk about some of the above factors contributing to Heat Stroke:<br />
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<b>Confinement in an enclosed area</b><br />
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When we think of a dog in an enclosed area, we often think of a vehicle right? The images, including our own Hot Dogs Are For BBQs campaign, show dogs locked in hot cars...windows up, windows down, windows partway down...the list goes on. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Xq_Brcq2k/U77m69kyAMI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/vB3Kncuvz-Q/s1600/Hot+Dogs+poster+low+resolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_7Xq_Brcq2k/U77m69kyAMI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/vB3Kncuvz-Q/s320/Hot+Dogs+poster+low+resolution.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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It's true hot vehicles pose a huge risk to our pets! Rolling the windows down just isn't good enough. And don't count on the shade! When the sun moves (and it will), your vehicle will heat up in mere minutes. Regardless of whether your pet succumbs to Heat Stroke, we can all agree that it's just plain uncomfortable can't we? It would be interesting the watch the temperature rise on the thermometer in this photo (my friend Mandy sent me from Virginia a couple of years ago). PS. I love this police officer!<br />
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<b>Lack of ventilation</b><br />
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It isn't just vehicles that require ventilation (air flow). It may surprise you to hear that an English Bulldog belonging to a previous dog walking client of ours died of Heat Stroke in their own condo! That's right, a high rise...without adequate ventilation. It was a true unexpected tragedy. <br />
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In order for heat to not accumulate within a space, there needs to be adequate ventilation. Again this is another reason that cracking the windows of your vehicle open doesn't work well. There's just not enough air actually <i>circulating through</i> your parked vehicle. Don't take a chance!<br />
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<b>Dehydration</b><br />
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The hotter we become, the more that we need to replenish our bodies with water. The same goes for our pets. Ensuring your pet is well hydrated provides additional protection against Heat Stroke. The more dehydrated a pet becomes, the less able s/he is able to cool the body.<br />
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So, what can you do to help prevent Heat Stroke in Dogs?<br />
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1. <b>Leave your pet at home! </b> As our friend <a href="http://www.preventivevet.com/">Preventive Vet</a> says, friends don't make friends wait in hot cars. Leave your pet at home with adequate water and ventilation.<br />
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2. <b>Take a pledge to keep your pets safe.</b> One example is this great "<a href="http://www.nohotpets.ca/">No Hot Pets</a>" campaign by <a href="http://www.ontariospca.ca/">Ontario SPCA</a>. You can actually click their <a href="http://support.ontariospca.ca/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=2940&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS">Pledge button</a> and commit to keeping your pets safe!<br />
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3. <b>Know the signs of Heat Stroke and the Pet First Aid to assist an animal in need.</b> Here is some helpful information provided by <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a>.<br />
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<b>Possible signs may include and aren't limited to:</b><br />
panting<br />
brick red gums<br />
increased body temperature<br />
increased heart rate<br />
difficulty breathing<br />
confusion<br />
initial excitement which turns to lethargy<br />
vomiting<br />
seizures<br />
coma<br />
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<b>Pet First Aid for Heat Stroke:</b><br />
Ensure your own safety.<br />
Place animal in a cool, shaded area.<br />
Submerge animal in cool water, keeping its head above water.<br />
If you only have a hose, set it to spray the animal.<br />
As the animal improves and is conscious, offer it small amounts of drinking water.<br />
Monitor body temperature until it is back to normal (temperature for dogs and cats is roughly 38.5 degrees (+/- 1) Celsius, or 101 degrees Fahrenheit). <br />
Stop the cooling process.<br />
Dry the animal.<br />
Seek Veterinary Care, and continue to monitor your animal's vital signs.<br />
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4. <b>Share resources.</b><br />
Be sure to tell your friends and family about the dangers heat can pose to our pets. Share the above resources and lead by example by providing excellent care for your own pets. If you would like a digital copy of our #HotDogsAreForBBQs campaign, please don't hesitate to email me to request one.<br />
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One additional resource we have to provide is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY2IeFm3C08">HOT DOGS</a> video we participated in last year. In it, I share a real-life experience of a terrible mistake that almost cost my own dog's life.<br />
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I hope you found this posting useful! Together, we can make a difference.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Lisa Wagner<br />
Operations Director<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid<br />
lisaw@walksnwags.com <br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-36722590129436173782014-05-21T10:02:00.000-07:002014-05-21T10:02:28.426-07:00Expert Advice: Important Questions to Ask Your Potential Dog WalkerYou may know that <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a> was initially a mobile dog walking and pet sitting company. That's right, for 10+ years we zoomed around to our client's Vancouver homes collecting and walking our furry dog friends. <br />
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Securing new dog walking clients always went the same:<br />
1. A phone call or email would come in requesting service for an animal.<br />
2. We would determine whether the inquiry lived in our geographical service area and was agreeable to our fees <br />
3. We'd arrange a complimentary meeting at their home to obtain care information and pickup house keys.<br />
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The troubling thing was, many of these clients didn't have a clue what they were looking for in a dog walker. We truly felt we were the "BEST" but they didn't really know what stood out between "us" and "them".<br />
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To delve into this deeper, I consulted colleague Vanessa Johne, owner of Vancouver's <a href="http://www.petcarevancouver.com/#home">Best Friends Pet Care</a>. Vanessa took over our pet care operations when we decided to focus solely on Pet First Aid. I figured that between the two of us we could help pet owners make an educated decision in who to trust with their furry family members.<br />
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Me: <i>"What 3 pieces of information do clients usually NOT ask you that you wish they would?"</i><br />
Vanessa: <br />
<i>1. "New client enquiries rarely seem to ask prior to meeting if we are licensed/insured/bonded. And if they do ask, they never ask me if we will provide them with proof of that at our initial meeting. <br />
2. NEVER do I get asked for references, I keep some on hand just in case someone asks for them, however in the past three years I've not handed them to anyone.<br />
3. I'm never asked about the training process for my employees nor how their dog specifically will be handled and transported."</i> <br />
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Hard to believe isn't it? You are giving the keys out to your home and you don't know the background of the people entering? You don't know how these people are trained nor how your pet will be cared for all day? Sounds scary! People need to be more educated about what's going on with their pets!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp6TjhLbBP0/U3zYzrcborI/AAAAAAAAAVw/1u4Jep2ChEU/s1600/vanessa's+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cp6TjhLbBP0/U3zYzrcborI/AAAAAAAAAVw/1u4Jep2ChEU/s320/vanessa's+feet.jpg" /></a></div>I asked Vanessa: <i>If you were hiring a dog walker, please share a list of other questions that a client should ask and why?</i><br />
Vanessa replied with a lengthy list, clarifying <i>"here are the essentials, though people should also have more specific questions relating to their personal situation".</i><br />
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- how long have you been in operation?<br />
- how many staff do you have?<br />
- how are they trained?<br />
- is every one certified in pet first aid? Is the certification maintained throughout employment?<br />
- are you insured and what are the particulars of your insurance, including liability and negligence coverage?<br />
- how do you transport my dog?<br />
- where do you walk the dogs?<br />
- do you comply with municipal commercial dog walking permitting laws & other regulations?<br />
- how long and what time will you be out of the home with my dog?<br />
- what is your procedure in case if animal (or other) emergency?<br />
- will my pet ever be left unattended?<br />
- how do you ensure proper handling of my dog from staff member to staff member?<br />
- where and how will my house keys be labelled/stored?<br />
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Great questions! The above should be information readily provided by your potential dog walker. And knowing this information will indicate whether you are dealing with a true professional. Speaking of professionals, I asked Vanessa:<i> "Why are some dog walkers so much lower cost than others?"</i><br />
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Her reply: <i>"As with most things in life, you usually get what you pay for. Most companies who cost a little more offer better trained (longer term) staff, insurance coverage, and more experience working with dogs professionally. Typically the lower cost walkers are new or start up companies who do not have the years of experience to draw from while out and about in the world with your dog." </i> <br />
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So the experience of dog walkers can vary significantly. This is a good thing to ask your dog walker! Imagine someone inexperienced with dogs being responsible for keeping 6-8 of them safe! So, I ask,<i> "What kinds of qualifications are required to be a commercial dog walker?"</i><br />
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You might be surprised by Vanessa's reply: <i>"None! Seriously. Anyone can start a commercial dog walking company without any prior certification or training. That's why it is so important to ask any and every question you can think if prior to handing over your house keys to a dog walker. If you are even somewhat dissatisfied with the answers you're receiving do not be afraid to move on to another company, there are so many great ones to choose from!"</i><br />
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Hmmmm...so if this is the case, <i>"What are some requirements that you think <b>should</b> be expected of all professional dog walkers?"</i><br />
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Vanessa's reply: <i>"At absolute minimum: Insurance, Pet First Aid, and making safety of our furry charges our top priority. After all, people are entrusting us with a member of their family." </i><br />
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To learn more about Best Friends Pet Care please visit their <a href="http://www.petcarevancouver.com/#home"><b>WEBSITE</b></a><br />
Learn more about Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid and safety program <b><a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">HERE</a></b><br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-7967335361517859552014-05-14T14:17:00.000-07:002014-05-14T14:17:34.360-07:00Instructor Profile: Ellis van Schuur of "Pet First Aid with Ellis" in Calgary, Alberta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqshKFToGwiRdv8Jd6Gg4XYPS-yg05igQUF0YLRqjlzHRi-fF05MlHdw4PpxWp7iMuDXXpESnCR3EFGmVBUfO4DyhOMqMS1Uub9PNS86YRj86V_aJFzcXXixtq-9BgiQwIAYpDtCEA7Cpo/s1600/Ellis+and+dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqshKFToGwiRdv8Jd6Gg4XYPS-yg05igQUF0YLRqjlzHRi-fF05MlHdw4PpxWp7iMuDXXpESnCR3EFGmVBUfO4DyhOMqMS1Uub9PNS86YRj86V_aJFzcXXixtq-9BgiQwIAYpDtCEA7Cpo/s320/Ellis+and+dogs.jpg" /></a></div>We first met Ellis several years ago when traveling to Hinton, AB offer a custom Pet First Aid course to the Alberta Enforcement Officers Association. Here's her story:<br />
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"My name is Ellis van Schuur. I currently live just outside Calgary with 4 large dogs and 3 horses. I grew up in the Netherlands and moved to Canada 12 years ago. After moving here, I became addicted to watching "Pound Patrol" and "Animal Cops" on Animal Planet and decided I was going to become and Animal Cruelty Investigator. <br />
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After my 2 years in College and with experience in the Animal Control field, I was hired as a seasonal Animal Control Officer and later as a Bylaw Enforcement Officer in Grande Prairie. Although it wasn't exactly the field I had planned on getting into, I dealt with several animals whom I may have been able to provide with pet first aid, if I had had the knowledge.<br />
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Throughout our years in Canada my family also owned and lost several dogs, all due to unnatural causes such as: Distemper, Parvo virus, a serious motor vehicle collision, choking to death and high fever combined with old age. One of my own dogs also nearly lost his life thanks to a foreign blockage in his stomach. With each of these experiences I wished so hard for a program that would allow me to save the next one, should there ever be another one, and to have the knowledge and skills to be able to do something that may actually make a difference. However, I had never heard of such a program and was never able to find one. <br />
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My employer sent me off for some courses and one of them was the Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid course. I was psyched to finally have a good program to give me what I wanted and what felt I needed. When a year later I had the opportunity to become a <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/index.php">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a> instructor I grabbed my chance. I wanted to teach others these amazing skills and knowledge and share my experiences so that people taking the course would never have to feel as helpless as I did watching out beloved pets die in front of our eyes knowing there was nothing we could do because we didn't have that knowledge nor those skills.<br />
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I love teaching the program because I know that every student of mine CHOOSES to be there and wants to learn everything I can teach them. It's the most wonderful experience knowing people care so much about their own animals, and those in their care that they seek out courses such as ours. Plus, having dogs to help me teach, learn and play with make the days lots of fun!<br />
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However, the utmost gratifying for me is to hear students' experiences after having taken the course where they had to utilize their new knowledge and skills. And to hear that thanks to that new knowledge and those skills they were able to help or treat the animal who got another chance at life, because without those students having taken the course, they wouldn't have known what to do."<br />
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Ellis has been teaching our program since 2011. There are so many amazing adjectives to describe her! To name a few: motivated, kind, dedicated, funny, loyal and enthusiastic. A class with Ellis will leave the participant passionate about pet first aid and pet safety.<br />
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Ellis currently teaches regularly in the Calgary, Alberta area and is open to accepting private courses in surrounding communities. You can reach her via her <a href="http://ellispetfirstaid.weebly.com/">web site</a> or her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PetFirstAidwithEllis?fref=ts">Facebook</a> page.<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-52135742668285367562014-04-11T12:18:00.003-07:002018-03-14T11:50:26.881-07:00A Career Unchosen: How I came to work in Pet First AidI'm often asked how I ended up owning a Pet First Aid training company. I'm also asked what kind of training I had to complete to do so. Am I a Veterinarian or Veterinary Technician? Did I write the curriculum? People have many questions, and understandably so.<br />
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Here's my story, from beginning until today:<br />
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After almost flunking out of Biology 11 & 12 in High School, it was evident that although I had a passion for animals, I didn't have a passion for science. My Veterinary dreams evaporated and no one suggested alternative careers to me (Veterinary Technician? SPCA? Guide Dogs? Groomer? Other careers with animals?). Unfortunately, at the young age of 18 I was not aware of the endless possibilities that were out there.<br />
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I signed up for college and took a smattering of courses: French, English, Psychology, Sociology... After several years of course work I decided to apply for the School of Social Work at UBC. It's a highly competitive program and I was waitlisted my first application and did not ultimately earn a space. I continued taking varied course work, now having transferred to University. After 4 years of courses, I decided to pursue a career as a Psychologist. I spent the next 2 years at UBC completing my BA with the intent of completing a Masters degree. <br />
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Towards the end of my degree I completed some additional training and started volunteering with our local 24/7 Crisis Line. I enjoyed being an ear to those in need and found it very rewarding. Soon I advanced to being a "Buddy", who was a mentor for new volunteers. Having said that, as time passed I discovered that I am too "soft". I would replay conversations in my head and worry about those I had spoken to. I was not able to separate my emotions from the task at hand. This left me at a stalemate regarding furthering my education.<br />
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Throughout those 6 years of schooling I had held various management positions: first at a bulk food store, then at an amusement park, and finally at a Lencrafters location. At Lenscrafters, I also trained as an "Associate Orientation Trainer" and provided all new recruits with their initial training. These positions gave me on the job training and experience outside of my formal schooling.<br />
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I knew I didn't want to stay at Lenscrafters but wasn't sure how to move ahead. The one thing I did know was that I'd promised myself that when I'd finished my BA I would seek out my first dog as a "grown up". I set out to several animal shelters and came home empty handed. On day 2, I found Buddy. See our story <b><a href="http://walksnwags.blogspot.ca/2012/05/letter-to-my-best-friend.html">HERE</a></b> if interested. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBiFmraCrhyphenhyphen2GGKe7WwxYHE-rfN__AA52VzSsWNXAAM1L_wsq3hgM1RqxiLykKF-4iBNQB6PUHrd3WL3cnNR4QcWrCckeKY2DTYAJmdgeuxINXasfhJWJ6tT4JGjmMIOkCBKLWGMkU_Bl/s1600/Buddy-3572-2023621656-O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBiFmraCrhyphenhyphen2GGKe7WwxYHE-rfN__AA52VzSsWNXAAM1L_wsq3hgM1RqxiLykKF-4iBNQB6PUHrd3WL3cnNR4QcWrCckeKY2DTYAJmdgeuxINXasfhJWJ6tT4JGjmMIOkCBKLWGMkU_Bl/s320/Buddy-3572-2023621656-O.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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So, I had Buddy, I had a job, and I had a degree. But I wasn't fulfilled. My work experience led me to apply for an HR-related job as a Recruiter for a private Temp Agency. I was hired and spent my days interviewing, recruiting and placing temps into their positions. I hired a dog walker to take Buddy out midday while I was at work. I stared at the pictures of him on the wall, wishing I could be with him. One day I had a huge "AH HA!" moment. I could be a dog walker! I had customer service and business experience and I loved dogs. The perfect combination!<br />
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I gave 3 months notice and started a couple of business courses at BCIT. For the next 3 months I slaved away at my business plan, pulled together my web site, brochures, client forms, and all other items needed to get started. I took a Pet First Aid course with Oakland Educational Services Ltd. (OESL) to ensure my furry clients would be safe. On March 20, 2000 "Walks 'N' Wags Pet Care" was born. I provided dog walking and in-home cat sitting in the Vancouver area. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTTYZxvtiN4/U0g2LcAc2PI/AAAAAAAAATU/GhcGWrSdTkI/s1600/wnw+pet+care+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WTTYZxvtiN4/U0g2LcAc2PI/AAAAAAAAATU/GhcGWrSdTkI/s320/wnw+pet+care+logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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My business grew and I soon hired staff. We had a few animals become sick while in our care, a stick impalement, a self-inflicted wound from a dog smashing glass at home, and a dog bitten by another dog while walking in the forest. In my 10+ upcoming years in pet care the animal health and injury-related experiences and training I had were immeasurable. Everyday we cared for many cats and even more dogs - the risks were there and I wanted to keep the animals safe. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vF0hV5bJuxo/U0g2e8ROXXI/AAAAAAAAATc/Nd6zpHYqw5I/s1600/P6050006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vF0hV5bJuxo/U0g2e8ROXXI/AAAAAAAAATc/Nd6zpHYqw5I/s320/P6050006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBjmf5coPTYqS0zG1OGRvlYuYi6WqH6tjao1h0lEZSUMw7mwz5OrS67rCWzOgr0weC7KY9BmHhItVk6W7OnaDHyZd0wl_sREQGCKeux3rGqoaWSNVI7Ko5aQ-4DqYNQMsVxxtuaLq_NIw/s1600/120064-38819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBjmf5coPTYqS0zG1OGRvlYuYi6WqH6tjao1h0lEZSUMw7mwz5OrS67rCWzOgr0weC7KY9BmHhItVk6W7OnaDHyZd0wl_sREQGCKeux3rGqoaWSNVI7Ko5aQ-4DqYNQMsVxxtuaLq_NIw/s320/120064-38819.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I decided to fly to Calgary, AB to become an OESL Pet First Aid Instructor and started teaching in 2003. I quickly discovered that a combination of a love of pets and pet health were my life's passion! Meeting pet owners and pet professionals in class - all of whom shared similar interests in keeping pets safe was incredibly rewarding. I eagerly looked forward to each Pet First Aid course that I taught.<br />
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In 2006 Ethne Dickinson, the owner of OESL contacted me. Ethne asked me to take over the administration of the Pet First Aid program as she was retiring. OESL soon became Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQj_4DDfkBc/U0g3bQeZNwI/AAAAAAAAATs/6W8C4wIsXOU/s1600/wnw_firstaid_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WQj_4DDfkBc/U0g3bQeZNwI/AAAAAAAAATs/6W8C4wIsXOU/s320/wnw_firstaid_logo.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Upon a short transition, I moved the dog walking and pet sitting business over to our long-time manager Vanessa and it is now <a href="http://www.petcarevancouver.com/">Best Friends Pet Care</a>. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dG_AVScnVcM/U0g0bbDyNHI/AAAAAAAAATI/_J9UCeL8JJU/s1600/Best+friends+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dG_AVScnVcM/U0g0bbDyNHI/AAAAAAAAATI/_J9UCeL8JJU/s320/Best+friends+logo.png" /></a></div><br />
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Since taking over the Pet First Aid training company, I have completed Animal Disaster Response training with <a href="http://www.rescue3international.com/">Rescue 3 International</a>, joined my local Animal Disaster Response Committee, and completed 5 international volunteer spay and neuter programs with <a href="http://worldvets.org/">World Vets International</a>. This Fall I will join another organization, <a href="http://www.amazoncares.org/">Amazon CARES</a> on a spay and neuter campaign in Peru's Amazon. I also donate my time with <a href="http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/">Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association </a>and <a href="http://www.bestfriendsforlife.ca">Best Friends For Life</a>. I am also an avid supporter of <a href="http://www.spca.bc.ca/">BC SPCA</a> and <a href="http://www.saintsrescue.ca/">SAINTS Rescue</a>. In fact, our staff dog Tuxie came to us from SAINTS back in 2012. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1MIVeDOwFE/U0g7uae4aHI/AAAAAAAAAUE/u-R32Zz-o_M/s1600/Tux+in+office+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_1MIVeDOwFE/U0g7uae4aHI/AAAAAAAAAUE/u-R32Zz-o_M/s320/Tux+in+office+chair.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvaoDrsHQz0/U0g-AeHVCwI/AAAAAAAAAUc/CNK7dmK4vT4/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvaoDrsHQz0/U0g-AeHVCwI/AAAAAAAAAUc/CNK7dmK4vT4/s320/IMG_0914.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Today I am hugely fulfilled in my role as Operations Director of Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid. Our Instructor family, our clients, and our colleagues are all wonderful people who I am honoured to work with. I also collaborate with fantastic manufacturers, Veterinary advisors (for our curriculum), and other professionals and organizations whom I never would have encountered otherwise. <br />
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It was a long, windy path to get here...but the skills, education, and people I met along the way all led me to my passion: pet first aid and animal safety. Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid is my home, my heart, and my love. Thank you for being a part of it.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Lisa Wagner<br />
Operations Director<br />
<a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a>Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-6030156771453192752014-01-02T14:41:00.001-08:002014-01-02T17:03:14.155-08:00Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid: 2013 In Review 2013 was one of the most exciting years in <a href="www.walksnwags.com">Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid</a> history.<br />
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In February, we announced our new partnership with <a href="www.rcpets.com">RC Pet Products</a>, and released the Canine Friendly Pet First Aid kit. The compact, durable kit was successful beyond our imagination and we are pleased to continue to work with RC Pet Products moving ahead.<br />
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In March we exhibited at the Vancouver Pet Expo. This was the first of many Pet Expos our Instructors attended, including Delta Community Pet Expo, Calgary Pet Expo, Ottawa Pet Expo, and many others. As you can see from these Vancouver Island Pet Expo pictures, we love chatting with new faces at these types of events!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-COKvz81hmDQ/UsXYhtSObCI/AAAAAAAAAO4/vIr-cIb41DA/s1600/IMG_7504.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-COKvz81hmDQ/UsXYhtSObCI/AAAAAAAAAO4/vIr-cIb41DA/s320/IMG_7504.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sq_DU-KoSQI/UsXYfsrxYLI/AAAAAAAAAOw/8jYV6FieQTk/s1600/IMG_7505.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sq_DU-KoSQI/UsXYfsrxYLI/AAAAAAAAAOw/8jYV6FieQTk/s320/IMG_7505.JPG" /></a><br />
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We also worked remotely when we packed up the WNW dogs and headed south - driving all the way to San Diego, CA. It was an amazing journey and we stopped to visit a number of our friends made from <a href="www.worldvets.org">World Vets International</a> along the way.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sx72XM5Ulho/UsXZ4ZkMVdI/AAAAAAAAAPM/R06IGqhDPjA/s1600/IMG_6356.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sx72XM5Ulho/UsXZ4ZkMVdI/AAAAAAAAAPM/R06IGqhDPjA/s320/IMG_6356.JPG" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEYD6VVaOpM/UsXZ34dt9PI/AAAAAAAAAPI/7e8Cb-SQ3_0/s1600/IMG_6405.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEYD6VVaOpM/UsXZ34dt9PI/AAAAAAAAAPI/7e8Cb-SQ3_0/s320/IMG_6405.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiuuJsMU_Mg/UsXZtQ9DqqI/AAAAAAAAAPA/WY4vbNDGDWE/s1600/IMG_6637.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiuuJsMU_Mg/UsXZtQ9DqqI/AAAAAAAAAPA/WY4vbNDGDWE/s320/IMG_6637.JPG" /></a><br />
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In April we hosted a Pet First Aid Instructor course in Calgary AB. This was an incredible group, and the candidates have now moved on to become successful Instructors in 4 Canadian provinces.<br />
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In May (and throughout the year) we accepted a number of candidates into our Distance Learning Instructor program. The Distance Instructor program has been incredibly successful and has helped us add Instructors into regions that we might otherwise not have been able to touch. One example is new Instructor Sherri Bushee of <a href="http://www.imprintdogtraining.com/">Imprint Dog Training</a> in Milton, Vermont USA.<br />
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In June we partnered with Modern Dog and Modern Cat magazines for a fun giveaway. In fact, we ran giveaways all year long! Some on our own but also with <a href="http://trupanion.com/canada">Trupanion Pet Insurance</a>, <a href="http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/">Animal Wellness Magazine</a>, Happy Pups Clothing, Sparky Snacks, and several others.<br />
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In July, Operations Director Lisa Wagner visited Granada Nicaragua to completed Animal Disaster Response Training with Rescue 3 International and World Vets. There Lisa learned the ropes (literally) of both land and water rescue. She also taught the course's CPR component. Lisa subsequently wrote an article about her experience in <a href="http://www.blackcatwhitedognews.com/">Black Cat White Dog News</a>, along with other articles published in Canadian Dogs Annual and other international magazines.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuDzpsuYCa8PzaOhDGYrgRc57DTWHZOZ6MdaFats6498AesLIbi3X_X7CwvyDwMrwqa4-GAvD1q5MZdgMnciftVwhl_MCdzujge-nT-7MOuRCCWOZpz1DaZ_iUffQCxitMQmt-l98ouep/s1600/IMG_8595.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuDzpsuYCa8PzaOhDGYrgRc57DTWHZOZ6MdaFats6498AesLIbi3X_X7CwvyDwMrwqa4-GAvD1q5MZdgMnciftVwhl_MCdzujge-nT-7MOuRCCWOZpz1DaZ_iUffQCxitMQmt-l98ouep/s320/IMG_8595.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uaffOniY4k/UsXcBNanxPI/AAAAAAAAAP0/RBmx2-6wBB8/s1600/IMG_8639.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4uaffOniY4k/UsXcBNanxPI/AAAAAAAAAP0/RBmx2-6wBB8/s320/IMG_8639.JPG" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkDUp-Z1Eig/UsXcWXIQfmI/AAAAAAAAAQI/UyX2f-UQqOw/s1600/IMG_8688.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xkDUp-Z1Eig/UsXcWXIQfmI/AAAAAAAAAQI/UyX2f-UQqOw/s320/IMG_8688.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0KQ7YaW6GWQ/UsXcWNmNGmI/AAAAAAAAAQE/_w2n4eQXRDw/s1600/IMG_8789.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0KQ7YaW6GWQ/UsXcWNmNGmI/AAAAAAAAAQE/_w2n4eQXRDw/s320/IMG_8789.JPG" /></a><br />
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In August, we received an email from a previous course participant named Anna. Anna told us simply "I wanted to let you know that your course saved my dog Dougal's life." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGW8QOvncTY/UsXWhVs3EYI/AAAAAAAAAOg/ALfBlIcrvFI/s1600/dougal+bloat+aug+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGW8QOvncTY/UsXWhVs3EYI/AAAAAAAAAOg/ALfBlIcrvFI/s320/dougal+bloat+aug+2013.jpg" /></a></div>Dougal survived a case of bloat thanks to Anna's quick recognition of the symptoms and taking timely action. This email wasn't the only one we received, you can see more testimonials <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/testimonials.php">HERE.</a><br />
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In September, our own Chief Dog Officer Tux graced the pages of <a href="http://moderndogmagazine.com/">Modern Dog Magazine</a> in an article focussing on why black dogs are often overlooked and shouldn't be. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lsDwyom_zRs/UsXdHgHtWxI/AAAAAAAAAQU/Mlh6TlAeF_Q/s1600/IMG_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lsDwyom_zRs/UsXdHgHtWxI/AAAAAAAAAQU/Mlh6TlAeF_Q/s320/IMG_3514.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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We also rolled out our new Walks 'N' Wags "Certified" stickers. We had lots of participants send us photos proudly displaying their stickers, like this one from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bwhbroadway?fref=ts">Bow Wow Haus Broadway</a> in Vancouver, BC. <br />
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And of course, Tux and team Walks 'N' Wags participated in <a href="http://www.spca.bc.ca/">BC SPCA's </a>Paws for a Cause event, and were 2nd highest fundraiser for our event. BC SPCA is one of the many charities that Walks 'N' Wags supported in 2014.<br />
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Later that month and in early October Instructor Louise Yates of <a href="http://happypetboarding.ca/">K-Lane Kennels</a> in Kronau, SK and Operations Director Lisa Wagner headed to Cusco, Peru with World Vets. There, they worked alongside a team of 14 to provide free spay/neuter and Veterinary care. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5iwIrNTBa0/UsXeq1lgYVI/AAAAAAAAAQc/hc1s3vLDAdE/s1600/IMG_3953.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j5iwIrNTBa0/UsXeq1lgYVI/AAAAAAAAAQc/hc1s3vLDAdE/s320/IMG_3953.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_7zoD_agimo0be0e3uvqSOWVS3FMaKYV9qgy3hb-T6V3357Bt2RU_kEjMOI1Cpl3EMQ84wJ4P6mDrHvKvMq2Nd31Z7ywEzoq3XgymbTBSZulmcVd82w2fpHZ_SQzf783KOejBUGN3QZD/s1600/IMG_4040.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_7zoD_agimo0be0e3uvqSOWVS3FMaKYV9qgy3hb-T6V3357Bt2RU_kEjMOI1Cpl3EMQ84wJ4P6mDrHvKvMq2Nd31Z7ywEzoq3XgymbTBSZulmcVd82w2fpHZ_SQzf783KOejBUGN3QZD/s320/IMG_4040.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sp1QuznIU_Q/UsXesSTvcFI/AAAAAAAAAQk/wHL9hsEzsUs/s1600/IMG_4144.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sp1QuznIU_Q/UsXesSTvcFI/AAAAAAAAAQk/wHL9hsEzsUs/s320/IMG_4144.JPG" /></a><br />
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In November, staff dog Buddy retired after 13 years of hard work. He is currently lying on a couch enjoying his newfound life of leisure. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw4Clsfqj0M/UsXm6OU94KI/AAAAAAAAARw/xVbCigbsAC0/s1600/Buddy+retirement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw4Clsfqj0M/UsXm6OU94KI/AAAAAAAAARw/xVbCigbsAC0/s320/Buddy+retirement.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Also in November, we hosted the Vancouver Instructor Course. The candidates travelled from several Canadian provinces and are well on their way to becoming Instructors. <br />
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December was a busy month with 12 Walks 'N' Wags Instructors collecting charitable donations for charities in their communities. Our 2nd annual Holiday Charity Drive was a great success, with an estimate of about 1800 items collected.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-XJEvF2ScU/UsXkSUihtGI/AAAAAAAAARU/Q_gKvg29NjU/s1600/Leah+with+2013+donations.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-XJEvF2ScU/UsXkSUihtGI/AAAAAAAAARU/Q_gKvg29NjU/s320/Leah+with+2013+donations.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hBdWHJMK6f0/UsXks5H1U0I/AAAAAAAAARc/swygD267LPw/s1600/ellis+charity+donations+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hBdWHJMK6f0/UsXks5H1U0I/AAAAAAAAARc/swygD267LPw/s320/ellis+charity+donations+2013.jpg" /></a> <br />
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December was also an exciting month for Walks 'N' Wags Instructors in particular. This month we provided our Instructors with a new "Instructor logo", and also negotiated a great new business insurance plan on their behalf. Then, at the tail end of the year, we launched an exciting new partnership with Trupanion Pet Insurance. Trupanion will now waive the full $35 enrollment fee to current graduates of Walks 'N' Wags program (contact us for details). Before heading off for the holidays, Tux and Buddy sent some holiday cheer to our friends at Walks 'N' Wags. <br />
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As we bring in the New Year, we are working on a number of new projects. We'll be hosting an Instructor course in Hamilton Ontario in May, rolling out another exciting new product with RC Pet Products next month, and have a new program in the works. As in previous years, in 2014 we will continue to donate to, and participate in programs that assist animals in need. We've always got something up our sleeve and can't wait to share it with you.<br />
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Thank you for being an important part of Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid! We couldn't do it without you.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Lisa Wagner and team<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-49862553308400399392013-12-20T14:21:00.001-08:002013-12-20T14:48:15.429-08:00A Letter to SAINTS Rescue From Our Chief Dog Officer "Tux"Dear SAINTS,<br />
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Monday December 23rd marks one year since I moved out of my home at SAINTS and into my forever family. For Christmas, I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been up to these last 12 months…<br />
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It all started when Lisa and her family came by SAINTS to visit with some donations they’d collected in December 2012. <br />
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Well to make a long story short, we fell in love that day (see how much she loves me!).<br />
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On December 23, 2012 I danced a “goodbye” for Carol and a little scared but optimistic I set off for my new life.<br />
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Wow! I had no idea what I was in for! First, the kids showed me around the house, it was almost Christmas so everything was decorated. <br />
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On Christmas I got my very own stocking! I was so honored!<br />
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Then we packed up and drove to the mountains for the most amazing holiday ever. It was there that I first learned that I liked to snowshoe! I even tried ice fishing!<br />
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Then we came back to the city and I started my new job. That’s right, I have a real full-fledged job! I am “Chief Dog Officer” at Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid. I get to teach pet owners the ropes of Pet First Aid! <br />
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And in my spare time, I volunteer at BC SPCA children’s camps teaching them the same thing.<br />
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I also did my first road trip in March! Me, my 2 adults, 2 kids, and dog pal Buddy drove all the way to San Diego, California. Boy was it fun! Check out some of the cool stuff I did.<br />
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In the summer I did some more trips to the mountains. We had lots of fun and as you can see, by then I’d shed a few pounds. Oh, and I became a model, check it out!<br />
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I also dropped by for a visit at Saints Open House!<br />
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I forgot to mention that I have 2 cats in my house. At first I was kind of scared of them, but over the last few months we have become friends.<br />
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Oh, and I still like to burrow in the bed like a frozen mole. Fortunately my family doesn’t mind.<br />
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So, as I prepare to spend another Christmas vacationing in the mountains I wanted to say “Thank you” again. For all the years you loved me and for knowing when the right family came to take me home. I couldn't be a happier dog and I wouldn't be here without you.<br />
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Love forever your SAINTly friend,<br />
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Tux Wagner (aka Joey)<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-90251824946904107852013-06-24T17:13:00.001-07:002013-06-24T17:46:54.298-07:00Grooming: What does it have to do with your pet's overall health?You may or may not know that Prevention and Early Detection makes up roughly 50% of the Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid curriculum. Why? Because we don’t ever want you to need your Emergency Pet First Aid skills! <br />
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One topic we discuss is the importance of regular grooming of your pet. Many people think of grooming as a bath and a possible haircut. However, the concept of grooming an animal doesn’t only include keeping its fur clean and cared for. It also includes assessing and potentially attending to its skin, nails, ears, anal glands, and more! Pets should never look like the image below, this is painful and has numerous negative consequences. Please ensure you are proactive with your pets' health, they are your best friends after all! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3ydNy-uHeo/Ucjfk30iVtI/AAAAAAAAAIg/nBU7yFgvD00/s1600/matted+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3ydNy-uHeo/Ucjfk30iVtI/AAAAAAAAAIg/nBU7yFgvD00/s320/matted+cat.jpg" /></a></div>(photo from reddit.com)<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Instructors and our friends at Aussie Pet Mobile Canada weigh in on the importance of grooming:<br />
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SKIN<br />
As Instructor Trish Seal from Little Wiggles Dog Grooming in Terrace, BC says, "An important function of a regular grooming program for your pet is concerning air circulation to the skin. Lack of air circulation can lead to a multitude of health problems including matting, and skin problems that in extreme cases lead to overheating, sores and infections. When a dog (or cat) is on a regular grooming schedule it serves to remove dead hair from the coat promoting air circulation which also helps in temperature regulation and over-all excellent health." <br />
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Aussie Pet Mobile Canada seconds Trish’s sentiments, saying “Regular brushing with the right type of brush for your pet’s coat, helps to remove dead skin cells, distribute natural oils and release any loose hair before it can fall to the floor or start to create a knot. Whether your pet sheds or not, regular brushing also stimulates circulation which is essential to skin health.” They also add another important benefit: “Your pet will love you even more for it!”<br />
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EARS<br />
A regular visit to your groomer may point to other unexpected health discoveries as well. And in this case, as Vanessa Johne, owner of Best Friends Pet Care in Vancouver, BC shares, your dog walker can also be a good source of information! Vanessa explains: "We walk an adorable little West Highland White Terrier several days a week. One day when we arrived for his regular walk, we noticed he had developed a very slight head tilt. It was so slight the owners did not notice it. Upon closer inspection, we found that he had an infection in both of his ears, it was so severe that the canals were swollen shut. His people were so appreciative that we had discovered his ear infection. With prompt veterinary intervention (oral and topical antibiotics) he made a fast recovery. And I'm sure he felt a whole lot better too!" <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CucGR1icpqM/Ucjd3rE3kXI/AAAAAAAAAII/J3IoDKo5GIo/s1600/cute+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CucGR1icpqM/Ucjd3rE3kXI/AAAAAAAAAII/J3IoDKo5GIo/s320/cute+face.jpg" /></a></div>(Photo courtesy Little Wiggles Dog Grooming)<br />
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OTHER AREAS<br />
We of course, can’t forget the other important body areas that a groomer reviews such as the nails, anal glands and fur. As Calgary Instructor Ellis van Schuur says: groomers can find “ lumps and bumps” that owners may not have detected. She has also seen “dewclaws so long they would have grown into the legs/paws if we hadn't cut them”. Ellis also stresses that groomers can find other undetected ailments such as ear infections, hair mattes, and impacted anal glands.<br />
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A groomer doesn’t just make your pet look and smell good! Your groomer can also be a great wealth of information regarding your pet’s overall health and wellbeing. A list of Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid Certified groomers is available at: http://www.walksnwags.com/participants.php <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3tdDZ4MzaY/UcjeNu578uI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/3KI4D-Opm_c/s1600/cat+groomed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m3tdDZ4MzaY/UcjeNu578uI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/3KI4D-Opm_c/s320/cat+groomed.jpg" /></a></div>(Photo courtesy Little Wiggles Dog Grooming)<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Lisa Wagner<br />
Operations Director<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid<br />
www.walksnwags.com Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-4717452581250266772013-01-29T15:32:00.002-08:002016-11-02T09:59:24.376-07:00Why I unexpectedly adopted a senior dog and whether I'd do it again.Never in a million years did I think I would adopt a 10 year old dog.<br />
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My home already housed myself, my husband, my 2 small kids, and 4 pets, all of whom have a unique story:<br />
1. Buddy, dog age 15 (a wary feral dog I adopted at the age of 9 months in 1999 after deciding no one would ever adopt him)<br />
2. Kitty, cat age 14 (adopted in 2000 at the age of one. Chosen not only for her sweet demeanour but because she had overgroomed all of the fur from her legs and tail from stress. I just couldn't leave her!)<br />
3. The Bun, rabbit age 12 (adopted in 2002 at the age of 7 months. She bit like a vampire and wasn't a cute "baby" anymore, someone had to give her a chance!)<br />
4. Kermit, cat age 7 (adopted in 2005 as a kitten. My friend Jen was fostering a litter and Kermit's back hips were not fusing so he couldn't walk properly. Everyone in the litter was adopted except for him. I went to visit him and keep him company one day...and ended up adopting him!)<br />
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I've always known that my pets had one thing in common: they all had special issues that drew me to them. But until recently I didn't realize they had one more commonality: they were all young when I adopted them.<br />
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So, why adopt a senior? Here's my story:<br />
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It all started in December 2012 when <a href="http://www.walksnwags.com/">Walks 'N' Wags</a> ran our first annual national Holiday Charity Drive. In Vancouver, I approached my colleagues at <a href="http://www.thepetshopboys.ca/">The Pet Shop Boys</a> to see if they wanted to work together to benefit <a href="http://www.saintsrescue.ca/">SAINTS Rescue</a>. SAINTS is a senior rescue based in Mission BC. The facility is beautiful and gives senior animals a chance to live out the final chapter of their lives surrounded by love. Some lucky pets are even adopted out by those wanting to bring a senior into their lives.<br />
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The Charity Drive was successful beyond what we could imagine! After picking up all of the donation items from The Pet Shop Boys, I drove with my husband and 2 children out to SAINTS with the goods. They were holding a tour that morning and we happily followed volunteer "Laura" around the facility "ohhhing" and "awing" at all of the sweet animals. In the bedroom was a gang of little dogs, all of whom looked to be about 100 years old. They were adorable! When I sat on the bed to say "Hello" to them, one chubby black and white Chihuahua X sat down beside me, leaning into me and giving me several big kisses. I had my husband take pictures of us together.<br />
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We got into the car and started talking about our visit and I brought up the little Chihuahua X. You see, my husband and I had been discussing adding a new dog to our family for awhile. Buddy, my "Pet First Aid demo dog extraordinnaire" was in his twilight years and although he still joined me in Pet First Aid classes, I could see he would soon be ready to retire. My husband had always only wanted one dog so I figured I needed some "legitimate" reason to hit up for a second dog! So I had been working on him for some time. Having said that, our lives had changed since we adopted Buddy. We now had 2 small kids added to the mix and 4 other pets. We couldn't add just any animal that I fell in love with to the family, it had to be just the right one.<br />
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So...I tread lightly on this one. "He was sure a cutie hey?". "I wonder how old he is?". "He looked so young and perky to be a senior!". "He seemed pretty friendly I bet Buddy would like him!" And finally: "Maybe we should see if he is up for adoption?" We looked online as soon as we got home. PetFinder said the little guy was named "Joey" and that he was 4 years old. Perfect! A friendly adult dog would be a great fit in our house. I read on to see that Joey also "came with" a second dog (age 10) who he'd lived all his life with. Yikes! Unfortunately I could not invite 2 dogs into our home. <br />
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I contacted SAINTS to ask why the dogs came together as a package. Was it important not to split them? That's when I got the REAL news, that the <a href="https://www.petfinder.com/">PetFinder</a> link was grossly out of date. Joey was actually now 10 years old, not 4. His companion Peluchi was now 16. SAINTS had taken them both in when Joey was 3 years old when their original family had moved away. They were adopted out together when Joey was 5 but returned a year later when Joey was deemed to have a peeing problem. For the last FOUR years they had both lived with the kind folks at SAINTS. I was told that although SAINTS had been trying to keep the dogs together, Joey was now much more active then his very senior counterpart. Apparently they didn't spend much time together anymore. We could adopt Joey but if he became depressed he had to be returned. And I had to understand he had a peeing problem that would not go away. Oh, and I was reminded of course that he was 10 not 4!<br />
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My thoughts, "A 10 year old dog? I already have a 15 year old dog and 14 year old cat, do I want another senior?". My husband worried it would be hard on the kids to potentially lose 2 dogs within a reasonably short time. And of course, can we afford the Vet bills for all these seniors? What about the peeing problem?<br />
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For two days, we discussed all of these issues amongst ourselves and with our 2 small children. At the end of the day, a decision was made. <b>Something about Joey had stood out above and beyond all the others</b>. I had seen many dogs while on international World Vets volunteer trips and in our local shelters and none of them had called to my heartstrings like this little Chihuahua had. Age was only a number. This dog was <b>THE</b> dog. Discounting him based on age would have haunted me forever.<br />
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We contacted SAINTS and planned for Joey's pickup. We brought him some treats and he danced a little "goodbye" for Carol, the head of SAINTS (see here)<br />
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When we got home, Joey was informed that he would now be called "Tux" (picked by the kids, short for Tuxedo as per his colouring).<br />
Tux had many little surprises for us:<br />
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1. He walks beautifully on a leash<br />
2. He doesn't shred our furniture! Or shoes!<br />
3. He can be left alone at home without being crated<br />
4. He brings us a toy and dances everytime we get home<br />
5. He burrows in our bed like a frozen mole<br />
6. He gives the best stinky-mouthed doggy kisses EVER<br />
7. He is just plain silly and makes us laugh everyday! <br />
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Oh, and did I mention he never got depressed? And that he has peed inside only twice in 36 days? And that despite being a chubby guy he was diagnosed with Hypothyroid and is actually quite athletic? He's already happy but is also well on his way to being slim and healthy too!<br />
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<b>Never once have I questioned our decision.</b> Nor has my husband. In fact, we've wondered what we did without Tux all these years! <br />
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Would I do it again? <b>In a heartbeat!</b><br />
<br />
Lisa Wagner<br />
Operations Director<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-49384712640940841512013-01-02T08:27:00.000-08:002013-01-02T08:58:47.447-08:00Reflections of 2012 at Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid2012 was an amazing year for Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid.<br />
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Instructors taught in hundreds of North American venues, including one new Province and Territory. Distance Learning candidates from more then a dozen countries completed their Certification at home. Candidates from 18 new locations completed our Instructor training program and are either actively teaching or well on their way to doing so.<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags representatives attended many tradeshows and community events just to meet you! They were at: Ottawa Pet Expo, Calgary Pet Expo, All About Pets, Vancouver Pet Expo, Delta Community Pet Expo, Doggy Fun Day, BC SPCA's Paws for a Cause, and more. <br />
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Our head office supported more then a dozen rescues and charitable organizations with time, funds, donated course spaces, giveaway items, and proceeds from our Holiday Charity Drive. Some of these organizations include: World Vets International, Second Chance Animal Rescue, Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue, Whistler Animals Galore, Cocker Spaniel Rescue of BC, Senior Animals in Need Today Society (SAINTS), BC SPCA, BC Guide Dogs, and more. This just from our head office since the rest of our Independent Instructors assisted dozens of other charities across the nation on their own.<br />
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I personally continued to donate my time to World Vets International, completing 2 spay/neuter missions in Colombia and Tanzania. This year I also joined Canadian Animal Assistance Team and Vancouver Emergency Social Services Pet Committee. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VfUyBVnwlu4/UORdcvM_NDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/7gxGmDrJu68/s1600/IMG_3483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VfUyBVnwlu4/UORdcvM_NDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/7gxGmDrJu68/s320/IMG_3483.JPG" /></a></div><br />
We brought in a new product, the Walks 'N' Wags Pridebite toy. This toy is durable, safe, washable, and has been enjoyed by many of our furry class participants.<br />
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We had a fun year getting to know our Facebook and Twitter friends with a couple dozen great giveaways including ones in collaboration with Animal Wellness magazine, Aussie Pet Mobile Canada, and Trupanion Pet Insurance.<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags was featured in numerous new media outlets, including: radio, tv, magazine, and social media. Special thanks to Animal Wellness Magazine, Black Dog White Cat News, Canadian Dogs Annual, and Integrative Veterinary Journal for publishing several of my articles.<br />
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All in all, we were are thrilled with the outcome of 2012 and are looking forward to what 2013 has to offer.<br />
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So what's coming in 2013?<br />
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We have been working most of the year on a new product, designed and produced in collaboration with a top notch North American supplier/manufacturer. The final prodcut is currently in production and will be rolling out in the next couple of months.<br />
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We have an Instructor course scheduled in Calgary in April 2013 with more new dates and locations to be announced.<br />
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We will be at the Vancouver Pet Expo, Vancouver Island Pet Expo, and Pet Lover shows in the early months of this year with more Canadian shows to follow.<br />
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We will continue to work hard to support the hard-working animal rescues and services who make the lives of the pets in our communities better. I will continue to devote my time to World Vets with news of my upcoming work with them coming soon.<br />
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And of course, last but not least we have new curriculum we are working on that we think you will find very exciting.<br />
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So, let's celebrate both 2012's successes and an amazing year to come. Without our devoted Instructors and caring animal owners like you, I could not write this blog so I would like to sincerely thank you for your support and for choosing Walks 'N' Wags.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Lisa Wagner, Operations Director<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-11259813151231607672012-10-03T07:13:00.001-07:002012-10-03T07:13:18.872-07:00Instructor Profile: Heather Rankin of First Aid "Fur" Pets Preventative Care Centre, BCHeather Rankin has been a Walks 'N' Wags Instructor since completing her training in summer 2011. Although most of her courses are in BC's Fraser Valley and Burnaby BC, since that time, Heather has travelled all over the province offering Pet First Aid courses wherever she has been needed. <br />
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We have found that Heather is not only committed to readily offering the program but she is also very energetic, fun, and inspiring. You also may have seen Heather at many local Pet events sharing information about Walks 'N' Wags with local animal lovers.<br />
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Here, Heather shares a little about herself:<br />
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"Growing up with an Irish ‘terror’ terrier from puppyhood, and having experienced the aftermath of seeing him jump out of, and back in through, a closed window – was an unexpected experience that could happen to any pet owner. The resulting injuries required a successful trip to the veterinarian. Hearing of Pet First Aid, years later, prompted me to become a Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid Instructor, so that others would learn how to cope with unexpected incidences with animals, especially cats and dogs. <br />
This knowledge would have been useful throughout all the years of having lived with a variety of animals: a stray cat, a Greek tortoise, an English hedgehog, twenty budgerigars, the dog, the school science lab’s stick insects, a Rex rabbit, and a couple of box turtles. <br />
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Even as a young child on holiday, when a donkey mistook my hand for food, chomped on it, and swallowed it and my arm with it; I fed him again at the field on subsequent days, without fear. I recall, also, going within an arm’s length of a Guillemot, until a brash approaching cameraman caused the bird to dive back into the sea at the Giant’s Causeway, Co. Antrim.<br />
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From childhood, animals of all kinds have fascinated me, though years later, I realized that becoming a Veterinarian would be best left up to others. Instead, a career in teaching and another in art, followed. Both have been useful in delivering the Walks ‘N’ Wags first aid course throughout BC, from the Lower Mainland to Clearwater, and Kelowna, BC, to name a few. <br />
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My time is divided between teaching and marketing the course, private tutoring in the Vancouver, BC area, writing ESL books, and occasional article writing in magazines and newspapers, and keeping up with the necessary bookkeeping. <br />
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I look forward to meeting many more people who are interested in taking the initiative not only to prepare themselves for emergency situations with animals, but in gleaning from the course some knowledge of early detection and prevention of illness and disease. I thoroughly enjoy meeting all the participants with their dogs and having the opportunity to share this important skill and information, as well as learning from you all. Thank you!"<br />
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We sincerely appreciate Heather's enthusiasm to share her knowledge and hope that she will be with the Walks 'N' Wags family of Instructors for many years to come.<br />
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If you are interested in taking a course with Heather, she can be reached at:<br />
www.firstaidfurpets.com and has upcoming courses in Surrey, Cloverdale, South Burnaby, and Whistler BC.<br />
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Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-75866424697025714092012-08-02T09:29:00.000-07:002017-08-14T12:04:42.400-07:00Creating a home-made Pet Disaster KitI am the first to admit I am not a Disaster Relief specialist of any kind. I have, however, witnessed disaster a few times. In December 1989 I visited San Francisco 2 months after a devastating earthquake took its toll. In October 2011 I saw the destructive flooding and mudslides that heavy rain storms caused while traveling with World Vets in Guatemala. Both of these tragedies resulted in loss of life and displacement of many people and animals from their homes.<br />
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Most recently, there was a call out to Emergency Social Services volunteers right here in Vancouver Canada. Rising river waters threatened to displace many and destroy homes. Fortunately the water levels receded and crisis was averted. Vancouver is also near a faultline that is due to cause an Earthquake at any time. Last month, when questioning my house insurance cost increase the Insurer blamed the looming earthquake. The reality finally settled in: I am not prepared and this could really happen!<br />
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My home consists of 4 people, 1 dog, 2 cats, and a rabbit. No small feat to prepare for us all. I decided to start with what I know best: my animals. Yes, I know it is all backwards but I figure we as humans are resourceful and will figure something out in the meantime, while my pets don’t have that option. Responsibly I must recommend that you do the reverse and prep for yourself first.<br />
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I went online and found several useful website including:<br />
<a href="http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/">ASPCA Disaster Preparedness </a><br />
<a href="http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/pet-emergency-safety.aspx">City of Vancouver Pet Emergency Resources</a><br />
<a href="http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/tips/pet_disaster_plan.html">The Humane Society of the United States Disaster Plan for Pets</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cdart.org/beprepared.htm">Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team</a><br />
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I won’t share with you every item these web sites suggest packing; I am sure you will want to review the sites yourselves. You can see in my photo many of the items I included anyway (note I did not include my labelled animal crates in the photo). <br />
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I will tell you that there were a few items that I would never have thought of. For example: <br />
• Cat litter and an empty litter tray – Of course, what was I thinking? I had only thought about food and water. <br />
• Flashlight and extra batteries – We have these in the house but if we couldn’t get inside and there was no power these would come in handy. <br />
• Papertowel, dish soap, hand soap – Cleaners are important. Especially when there may be no power nor running water. <br />
• Food: my pets eat raw food, tricky for a disaster kit. I chose foods that were similar proteins to what they are used to in order to try to prevent stomach upset. Don’t forget a can opener! <br />
• Blank ID tags – your pets may have to relocate to stay with someone else or in a City Disaster shelter. Blank ID tags will allow you to fill out their appropriate temporary contact information. <br />
• Include photos of each of your animals – a few copies of each pet so you don’t give away your only one if you lose your pet. <br />
• Label your animal crates with your pet’s names and their descriptions <br />
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A few things to consider when designing your own kit: <br />
• Rotate food, medication, and water frequently to prevent spoilage. This is easy to do! For example, when you run out of pet food go buy some but instead of using it, use what is in your Disaster kit and put the new items inside. <br />
• Plan for longer periods without food/water/electricity versus shorter…better to have too much food then too little. <br />
• Leave the kit in a safe place outside of your home (like your garage), or if that is not possible leave it somewhere you can easily grab it when exiting. <br />
• Tell people what you are doing, they may have creative ideas of how to secure supplies, or you may just be the inspiration they need to get their own kit going. <br />
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I have to admit, it took two pet supply stores, an outdoor store, and a grocery store to complete my kit, but overall it was relatively painless to find all of the items. When packed up, the kit also doesn’t take up as much space as I had anticipated and it now resides in my garage. My pet disaster kit will hopefully never need to be used, but I feel much better having a “better safe then sorry” attitude. <br />
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My future plans now that my pets are cared for? Preparing for the humans in my household… <br />
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Lisa <br />
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Lisa Wagner is the Operations Director of Walks ‘N’ Wags Pet First Aid, International provider of Pet First Aid training for cats and dogs. Learn more about Walks ‘N’ Wags at www.walksnwags.com or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walks-N-Wags-Pet-First-Aid/142710559130541?ref=ts<br />
Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430119529875205698.post-51567174380680339722012-05-29T08:06:00.001-07:002012-05-29T08:06:51.867-07:00Instructor Profile: Krista DeCarle of Royal Pooch Pet Services, Calgary Alberta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Krista DeCarle has been offering the Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aid program in Calgary, AB for the past 12 months.
Here is her story:
"I have a loving husband who has accepted my crazy love of animals and joined in by my side. Our 5 year old daughter and 19 month old son are in the mix of all these animals and learning how important animals are. I have always been passionate not only about animals but the welfare of them, including volunteering at a feline rescue for over 3 years. There I worked with domestics to ferals, giving the abused a second chance at trusting and being loved. I also worked at a veterinarian's for 3+ years which I found so interesting especially when I was able to watch the surgeries.
Over the years I was always the person friends/family would ask to care for their pets. When I was on maternity leave with my son I decided to turn my passion into a business that could not only benefit my family but also benefit those families out there looking for quality pet care! I opened Royal Pooch Pet Services and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. Seeing clients feeling at ease and returning time after time because their pets are happy is why I do it.
Then when I had the chance to be able to teach Pet First Aid I was thrilled. It was an honour to be able to teach others what to do in an emergency situation, how to care for their pet day to day and to even teach professional pet care workers how to make their work place a safe environment. I am excited to see what the future holds and excited to be able to touch even more pets and their owners."
Pictured here with rescue dog "Georgie", Krista recently volunteered at a spay/neuter clinic at a reserve near her home community. Between her job, teaching, and her family we are always amazed when she is able to add extra activities like this to her schedule. Krista is a dynamic and kind Instructor who is full of energy and passion for what she does.
Krista actively teaches public classes in Calgary, and is also open to offering private courses to rescue groups and other private businesses. Krista has 2 upcoming public courses for you to choose from in North Calgary: June 2, 2012 (full day) or June 16/17, 2012 (2 half days).
You can reach Krista and Royal Pooch Pet Services at: www.royalpooch.ca or 403-701-9609.Walks 'N' Wags Pet First Aidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09554969580648661137noreply@blogger.com0