It doesn't matter what type of dog training help your looking for, For instance it might be,petsmart dog training, boyton dog train, train dog to stop barking, training older dogs, train loud barking dogs, dog unrinary problems, training a loud barking dog, or how to train a pitbull. If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don't have the time or the inclination, then you may wish to consider the use of a professional dog trainer. Professional dog trainers are also a great benefit if you have a particularly difficult or unruly dog with bad behavior problems. But, how do you go about choosing a good dog trainer?Going online and finding a successful dog training system or book has been the answer to many, finding somthing that teaches you how to train your companion rite at home is probably want you want.
Possibly one of the best ways to find a good dog trainer would be to look online for recommendations from dog training review websites. And find a petsmart dog training system or ebook that have had experience with the product and have sevral satisfied customers, and or recomendations. Other good sources are veterinarians, dog breeders, and pet storeowners who will have been asked similar questions before. By asking around, you can find out which trainers are most highly regarded in your area.
If you do decide to shop online and purchase a dog training package, for whatever your reason might be, train dog to stop barking, training older dogs, dog urinary problems, to training a loud barking dog, and how to train a pitbull. Make sure you find the right dog training package thats right for you and your dog. It would be much easyer to shop from a review site as they would give you the most options to choose from. Thats right for you.
The longer the dog trainer has been in service, or online review websites that supply you with the best thats around is a good indication of their successes. After all, it's unlikely their business would have survived without clients who were happy to pay for the service they received.
Dogs are creatures of habit. Every part of their daily life revolves around an internal schedule and routine. They anticipate the return of their owners at a certain time of day and know that meal times occur regularly. Once trained, they will even exhibit certain behaviors to mark these times of day, such as bringing their empty food dish to their master or waiting near the door for their owners return. And finding the right way to teach your dog should not be difficult.
Dog Training Can be Fun
As a new dog owner and trainer, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at first. Do not be discouraged by this. It is quite common and shows a healthy concern for your pets well being. This being said there are a few very simple rules to remember when training your pet.
Rewarding your dog is the best motivator when training. It is well known that using rewards and other positive reinforcement when obedience training a dog is the most effective method and achieves the best results. You can make obedience training fun for the dog - and yourself too - by making a game of it. This makes both your dog and you, as the trainer, more willing and motivated to give it your all. Incorporate a period of play at the start and the end of each training session to ensure that the session ends positively. Teaching your dog to heel is the most basic of all the obedience commands. This refers to having the dog walk along with you on a loose lead. Heeling is generally the first obedience behavior taught to a dog, and it is easy to teach this using reward training.
Always give your dog lots of praise, treats, toys, and other rewards when he or she does what is expected. Dogs learn best when desired behavior is rewarded in a positive manner. Positive reinforcement means that when a dog does what the trainer wants, the dog receives a reward. This can be a pat on the head or a treat or toy of some kind. If the dog shows even the slightest attempt to please you, especially at the beginning of training, you should lavish positive reinforcement on him or her.
Dogs must learn to associate rewards with good behaviors and reprimands with undesirable behaviors. It is difficult to change any negative associations once they have taken hold. It's easier to train the dog properly in the first place than to try and retrain him later. You should teach your dog to associate behaviors like coming when called, heeling, and sitting on command, with the happy and fun times you shared during training.
Obedience training will ensure a happy and healthy relationship between the dog owner and the dog. This is just another example of how important dog care is.
Dog training Shouldnt be a hassel It can be fun
Keywords, petsmart dog taining, boyton dog train, train dog to stop barking, training older dogs, train loud barking dog, how to train a pitbull, dog
About the Author
I am a full time student of the Profitlance course and enjoy learning as much as possible. To view the current press release please visit the site.
http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200702/1171754895.html
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Tips on feeding Betta Fish by Sylvia Jayakaran
Betta Fish care- Tips on Feeding Betta fish
Knowing how to feed your betta is very crucial, since doing it wrong can pose big consequences for your betta's health. Here are some simple rules for feeding your betta fish:
Always select the proper foods. Bettas are selective eaters. A betta specific pellet is OK, but live or freezing foods are preferable. The recommended diet includes frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms.
The succeeding rule is to not overfeed your bettas. Carefully dose the meals; because even if the fish eats all you give him, he will produce much more waste when overfed, and the pollution level of the jar he is in will go beyond safe range This problem is smaller if you keep your betta in a larger aquarium. Remember not to leave uneaten food in the aquarium! Once your betta and the rest of the fish are finished eating, you must remove all uneaten left over food. If you do not remove it, it will soon rot and cause havoc in the tank.
Bettas prefer to eat from the upper parts of the water column. They don't really enjoy eating from the bottom of the tank. So before dropping the food in your betta's tank, make sure you have his attention. Let him see the food, get it close to his face from the outside of the aquarium, let him check out what it is, and then there you go! Drop food in front of his nose. The best way is to drop a tiny bit of food - about 6 frozen brine shrimp, watch the betta eat it all and then look at his belly, if it looks the same as it did before you fed, it's ok to give him more, but always watch and make sure to make the second portion smaller than the first.
Your betta should go for the food right away, but if not, watch where the food sinks, and what the betta does. If after 15 minutes he has not eaten the food, remove the food. Never let the water go cloudy. If it is already cloudy then change it, as cloudy water will threaten your betta's health. Normally, small bowls or containers should have water changes at least twice a week. Larger tanks can be changed once a week. And notice if the ammonia and nitrite levels are at high levels, because both are very bad for your betta. Also be wary of harmful bacteria - they can ruin your fish's life, but don't kill off all bacteria in the aquarium since bacteria is essential for a well functioning aquarium.
During the pre-spawning period you can feed a wide variety of foods, including blackworms, grindal worms, fruit flies, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and frozen bloodworms (all are live except the frozen bloodworms). During this period the adult fish may be fed 4 times per day or more depending on how close the fish are to being placed into the spawning tank.
You can start feeding your betta fry 5 days after the hatching. Feed the fry several times per day, using a variety of foods (boiled egg yolk, baby brine shrimp) made up of small particles.
About the Author
Sylvia owns http://www.bettafishcares.com which helps people learn about betta fish care
Knowing how to feed your betta is very crucial, since doing it wrong can pose big consequences for your betta's health. Here are some simple rules for feeding your betta fish:
Always select the proper foods. Bettas are selective eaters. A betta specific pellet is OK, but live or freezing foods are preferable. The recommended diet includes frozen brine shrimp and frozen bloodworms.
The succeeding rule is to not overfeed your bettas. Carefully dose the meals; because even if the fish eats all you give him, he will produce much more waste when overfed, and the pollution level of the jar he is in will go beyond safe range This problem is smaller if you keep your betta in a larger aquarium. Remember not to leave uneaten food in the aquarium! Once your betta and the rest of the fish are finished eating, you must remove all uneaten left over food. If you do not remove it, it will soon rot and cause havoc in the tank.
Bettas prefer to eat from the upper parts of the water column. They don't really enjoy eating from the bottom of the tank. So before dropping the food in your betta's tank, make sure you have his attention. Let him see the food, get it close to his face from the outside of the aquarium, let him check out what it is, and then there you go! Drop food in front of his nose. The best way is to drop a tiny bit of food - about 6 frozen brine shrimp, watch the betta eat it all and then look at his belly, if it looks the same as it did before you fed, it's ok to give him more, but always watch and make sure to make the second portion smaller than the first.
Your betta should go for the food right away, but if not, watch where the food sinks, and what the betta does. If after 15 minutes he has not eaten the food, remove the food. Never let the water go cloudy. If it is already cloudy then change it, as cloudy water will threaten your betta's health. Normally, small bowls or containers should have water changes at least twice a week. Larger tanks can be changed once a week. And notice if the ammonia and nitrite levels are at high levels, because both are very bad for your betta. Also be wary of harmful bacteria - they can ruin your fish's life, but don't kill off all bacteria in the aquarium since bacteria is essential for a well functioning aquarium.
During the pre-spawning period you can feed a wide variety of foods, including blackworms, grindal worms, fruit flies, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and frozen bloodworms (all are live except the frozen bloodworms). During this period the adult fish may be fed 4 times per day or more depending on how close the fish are to being placed into the spawning tank.
You can start feeding your betta fry 5 days after the hatching. Feed the fry several times per day, using a variety of foods (boiled egg yolk, baby brine shrimp) made up of small particles.
About the Author
Sylvia owns http://www.bettafishcares.com which helps people learn about betta fish care
Betta Fish in an Acquarium by Sylvia J.
Betta Fish - In the acquarium
Because of its beautiful colours and wonderful fin shapes, the Betta is popular with aquarists. The Beta fish originated in the hot, dampish rice paddies of Asia. The Beta Fish developed a way to breathe oxygen directly from the music, using a lung - like " warren " organ to survive as the rice paddies experienced drought. This way the bettas could still obtain music, while living in muddy, shrinking moisten holes and could survive until the rains reciprocal.
Members of the genus Betta, to which the Siamese fighting fish belongs, are a type of "labyrinth fish" (a name also given to anabantids) because they have a labyrinth organ in their heads that allows them to take oxygen directly from the atmosphere in addition to the oxygen taken from water via their gills. The floor of the tank should have, as a minimum, a thin (5 mm or 0.25 in) layer of gravel to increase the surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize. Decorations can provide hiding places, especially important when two males are housed in a divided tank, or when the betta is living in a community tank. (Note that some bettas enjoy leaping out of tanks, so a breathable lid is highly recommended.) If the betta has no access to air, it will suffocate.
Bear in mind that fish with 'fancier' tail forms such as half-moons can be more difficult for the novice aquarist to keep in optimum health. There is a stereotype that in the wild, bettas live in tiny muddy pools, and therefore that it is acceptable to keep them in small tanks, but bowls are usually too small. In reality, bettas live in vast paddies, the puddle myth originating from the fact that during the dry season, the paddies can dry out into small patches of water. It is not a natural state of affairs by any means, and in the wild, fish trapped in such puddles are likely to die in a short period of time when they dry out.
To maximize the lifespan of the fish and ensure their wellbeing, they should always be kept in appropriate sized tanks. As a rule of thumb, for each inch of fish there must be at least one gallon of water in its tank. Bettas idealy should be kept in a filtered tank 10 gallons or more and treated like any other freshwater tank fish. Although these conditions are ideal, with proper care and filtration a betta can be happily kept in a smaller tank.
Tankmates Because of the aggressive nature of this species, tankmates must be chosen carefully, and two male B. splendens should not be housed in the same tank unless they are separated by a dividing wall. As a general rule, male Bettas cannot be housed together. It is possible to house two male bettas in a single very large tank, provided that there is plenty of cover (such as floating plants) and enough space for both males to establish their own territories. However, this is an extremely risky procedure because of the male's natural territoriality. These experiments in housing males together often end in the death of one or both inhabitants of the tank. (Male bettas do not 'fight to the death' in the wild; once one fish has clearly won the encounter, the loser will retreat to a safe location. In an aquarium, however, there is no place to run, and the winning fish will continue to attack the loser, often ending in death.)
While they might eventually mate, keeping a male and female together may prove too volatile since the male will often be much more aggressive and mating conditions must be precisely conducive. Often, breeders have a special container so the female may display without being harmed by the male prior to induced breeding.Females may or may not be able to coexist peacefully in the same tank depending on their temperaments. They are not schooling fish, and are still rather aggressive, but with enough room and many hiding spaces, they can learn to get along. There should never be exactly two female bettas in a tank together--a pecking order, a hierarchy, is necessary for them to live peacefully. With only two fish, one will be the bully and the other will be picked on. However, with three or more, a hierarchy is established.
Before co-housing Siamese fighting fish with other species, their compatibility should be carefully researched, and the owner should have a back-up plan if the shared tank does not work. Common tankmates include mollies, catfish, or loaches. Although bettas are most aggressive towards each other, they have been known to kill very small fish or nip at the fins of fish such as fancy guppies, perhaps mistaking their finnage for that of another male betta. Certain fish should not be housed with bettas. Schooling fish often become fin-nippers, making the betta a prime target because of their flowing fins. Also, aggressive fish like barbs should not be around bettas. Keepers have also reported problems when attempting to keep Betta in the company of piranha, for obvious reasons. It is strongly recommended that bettas given tankmates should be housed in a tank that is at least 2 gallons per fish in the community (depending on bio load) with plenty of hiding places. Anything smaller will stress the Betta. Only females can be kept in communities, and you still must watch out for aggressive females who will cause trouble in your tank.
Carnivorous, the betta feeds on zooplankton and mosquito and other insect larvae. Domesticated bettas will feed on bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Betta pellets are typically a combination of mashed shrimp meal, bloodworms, and various vitamins to enhance color and longevity. For variety and fiber, bettas may also be fed finely chopped vegetables high in protein such as soybeans, green beans, broccoli, corn, or carrots.Bettas are primarily surface feeders, that is their mouths are upturned, so any food items added should be able to float on the surface of the water.
Betta fish are beautiful and interesting fish to own. Beta fish are intelligent and will quickly learn who their caregiver is. You will notice that your Beta fish will soon learn when you approach and become very excited! If you give your Beta fish the attention and care that he deserves, you will be rewarded with a stunning and interesting pet that is a pleasure to own.
About the Author
Sylvia owns http://www.bettafishcares.com which helps people learn about betta fish care
Because of its beautiful colours and wonderful fin shapes, the Betta is popular with aquarists. The Beta fish originated in the hot, dampish rice paddies of Asia. The Beta Fish developed a way to breathe oxygen directly from the music, using a lung - like " warren " organ to survive as the rice paddies experienced drought. This way the bettas could still obtain music, while living in muddy, shrinking moisten holes and could survive until the rains reciprocal.
Members of the genus Betta, to which the Siamese fighting fish belongs, are a type of "labyrinth fish" (a name also given to anabantids) because they have a labyrinth organ in their heads that allows them to take oxygen directly from the atmosphere in addition to the oxygen taken from water via their gills. The floor of the tank should have, as a minimum, a thin (5 mm or 0.25 in) layer of gravel to increase the surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize. Decorations can provide hiding places, especially important when two males are housed in a divided tank, or when the betta is living in a community tank. (Note that some bettas enjoy leaping out of tanks, so a breathable lid is highly recommended.) If the betta has no access to air, it will suffocate.
Bear in mind that fish with 'fancier' tail forms such as half-moons can be more difficult for the novice aquarist to keep in optimum health. There is a stereotype that in the wild, bettas live in tiny muddy pools, and therefore that it is acceptable to keep them in small tanks, but bowls are usually too small. In reality, bettas live in vast paddies, the puddle myth originating from the fact that during the dry season, the paddies can dry out into small patches of water. It is not a natural state of affairs by any means, and in the wild, fish trapped in such puddles are likely to die in a short period of time when they dry out.
To maximize the lifespan of the fish and ensure their wellbeing, they should always be kept in appropriate sized tanks. As a rule of thumb, for each inch of fish there must be at least one gallon of water in its tank. Bettas idealy should be kept in a filtered tank 10 gallons or more and treated like any other freshwater tank fish. Although these conditions are ideal, with proper care and filtration a betta can be happily kept in a smaller tank.
Tankmates Because of the aggressive nature of this species, tankmates must be chosen carefully, and two male B. splendens should not be housed in the same tank unless they are separated by a dividing wall. As a general rule, male Bettas cannot be housed together. It is possible to house two male bettas in a single very large tank, provided that there is plenty of cover (such as floating plants) and enough space for both males to establish their own territories. However, this is an extremely risky procedure because of the male's natural territoriality. These experiments in housing males together often end in the death of one or both inhabitants of the tank. (Male bettas do not 'fight to the death' in the wild; once one fish has clearly won the encounter, the loser will retreat to a safe location. In an aquarium, however, there is no place to run, and the winning fish will continue to attack the loser, often ending in death.)
While they might eventually mate, keeping a male and female together may prove too volatile since the male will often be much more aggressive and mating conditions must be precisely conducive. Often, breeders have a special container so the female may display without being harmed by the male prior to induced breeding.Females may or may not be able to coexist peacefully in the same tank depending on their temperaments. They are not schooling fish, and are still rather aggressive, but with enough room and many hiding spaces, they can learn to get along. There should never be exactly two female bettas in a tank together--a pecking order, a hierarchy, is necessary for them to live peacefully. With only two fish, one will be the bully and the other will be picked on. However, with three or more, a hierarchy is established.
Before co-housing Siamese fighting fish with other species, their compatibility should be carefully researched, and the owner should have a back-up plan if the shared tank does not work. Common tankmates include mollies, catfish, or loaches. Although bettas are most aggressive towards each other, they have been known to kill very small fish or nip at the fins of fish such as fancy guppies, perhaps mistaking their finnage for that of another male betta. Certain fish should not be housed with bettas. Schooling fish often become fin-nippers, making the betta a prime target because of their flowing fins. Also, aggressive fish like barbs should not be around bettas. Keepers have also reported problems when attempting to keep Betta in the company of piranha, for obvious reasons. It is strongly recommended that bettas given tankmates should be housed in a tank that is at least 2 gallons per fish in the community (depending on bio load) with plenty of hiding places. Anything smaller will stress the Betta. Only females can be kept in communities, and you still must watch out for aggressive females who will cause trouble in your tank.
Carnivorous, the betta feeds on zooplankton and mosquito and other insect larvae. Domesticated bettas will feed on bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. Betta pellets are typically a combination of mashed shrimp meal, bloodworms, and various vitamins to enhance color and longevity. For variety and fiber, bettas may also be fed finely chopped vegetables high in protein such as soybeans, green beans, broccoli, corn, or carrots.Bettas are primarily surface feeders, that is their mouths are upturned, so any food items added should be able to float on the surface of the water.
Betta fish are beautiful and interesting fish to own. Beta fish are intelligent and will quickly learn who their caregiver is. You will notice that your Beta fish will soon learn when you approach and become very excited! If you give your Beta fish the attention and care that he deserves, you will be rewarded with a stunning and interesting pet that is a pleasure to own.
About the Author
Sylvia owns http://www.bettafishcares.com which helps people learn about betta fish care
Dog Day Care - What To Look For In A Dog Day Care Service by Angela Booth
Feeling guilty because you work and your dog gets left alone in the house or yard all day? As we all work longer hours, it's hard to find time to exercise and play with the family dog when you get home from work. Dog daycare is the answer for many dog owners.
Dog daycare is good for your dog, and for you. You'll both be less stressed at the end of the day. A good dog daycare center will ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise, so he won't have the energy to dig or chew, or indulge in any other bad behavior when he gets home.
What To Look For In A Dog Day Care Service
The best dog daycare services have toys, various play areas, games, and daily walks for the dogs which stay at the center all day. The dogs are not crated or locked up, they're free to play with other dogs of similar temperament.
When you visit the dog daycare center, look for:
* Play equipment to keep dogs entertained and active;
* Separate areas for dogs of different temperaments and needs;
* Supervision - there should always be someone keeping an eye on the dogs to ensure that there's no aggression or bullying. Ideally the staff should have qualifications in dog training, management and grooming;
* Dog walks - the dogs should be walked, at least once a day;
* Diet service - older dogs and young dogs have differing dietary needs, and these should be catered for;
* An on-call vet.
The dog daycare center should be clean, and should smell sweet - any messes should be promptly cleaned up.
Although dog daycare can be expensive, you may find, as many dog owners do, that the daycare is the best investment you can make for the well-being of both your dog, and you. Knowing your dog is having fun while you're working means that you can truly enjoy dog ownership.
About the Author
Did you know that some dog foods can be dangerous? Find out what dog food is good for your dog, and what isn't. Find out more at FabMutt at http://www.fabmutt.com/
Dog daycare is good for your dog, and for you. You'll both be less stressed at the end of the day. A good dog daycare center will ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise, so he won't have the energy to dig or chew, or indulge in any other bad behavior when he gets home.
What To Look For In A Dog Day Care Service
The best dog daycare services have toys, various play areas, games, and daily walks for the dogs which stay at the center all day. The dogs are not crated or locked up, they're free to play with other dogs of similar temperament.
When you visit the dog daycare center, look for:
* Play equipment to keep dogs entertained and active;
* Separate areas for dogs of different temperaments and needs;
* Supervision - there should always be someone keeping an eye on the dogs to ensure that there's no aggression or bullying. Ideally the staff should have qualifications in dog training, management and grooming;
* Dog walks - the dogs should be walked, at least once a day;
* Diet service - older dogs and young dogs have differing dietary needs, and these should be catered for;
* An on-call vet.
The dog daycare center should be clean, and should smell sweet - any messes should be promptly cleaned up.
Although dog daycare can be expensive, you may find, as many dog owners do, that the daycare is the best investment you can make for the well-being of both your dog, and you. Knowing your dog is having fun while you're working means that you can truly enjoy dog ownership.
About the Author
Did you know that some dog foods can be dangerous? Find out what dog food is good for your dog, and what isn't. Find out more at FabMutt at http://www.fabmutt.com/
Sunshine's Tale: A Golden Retriever in Chiang Mai, Thailand by Nola L. Kelsey
No day is ordinary when you work with animals. Routines contort around emergencies and nature's whims decide the schedules. The story is no different at Care for Dogs in Chiangmai, Thailand. Even the most casual project can change lives. Still when staff member Karin Hawelka sat down at her email one morning she had no idea what she'd find in her inbox.
Among the usual business letters, reports and million dollar stock tips, cleverly disguised as spam, a ray of sunshine was hidden. Karin received an email from a man who said he'd seen an underweight Golden Retriever on Doi Suthep. Martin, the alert animal lover who reported the dog, also noted the retriever appeared to have a leg injury. The computer could wait. Karin and Care for Dog's team member Ally Taylor set off at once.
Atop Doi Suthep Mountain lies Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The temple is a major pilgrimage destination for the Buddhist holidays of Makha Buja and Visak. Setting high above the bustling city of Chiang Mai this 600 year old sanctuary can be seen glowing in the sunshine across the region. The breathtaking views from the drive up the mountain would have been reason enough to escape the city. Still, Karin and Ally had a mission. Among the shining golden Buddhas, sidewalk shops and camera-heavy tourists, saffron draped monks strolled the temple grounds. Zigzagging among the monks was the Care for Dogs team. It didn't take long for the gals to find their hidden temple treasure.
As reported a beautiful Golden Retriever was indeed on the grounds. Sadly, the rest of the report was also true. The once magnificent animal was flea-infested, vastly underweight and limping along the walkway. At rest, his back left leg swung loose as if it were shorter than the rest.
As the duo made inquiries about the friendly canine, his story began to unfold. The retriever's irresponsible owner had just dumped him at the temple several weeks earlier, leaving the injured animal to fend for himself. The story was seemingly more tragic in that no one cared if the team took the dog away. Even a monk, often the last hope for dumped temple dogs, seemed surprised to notice the wounded animal. In the end, this was the best thing that could have happened.
As Ally grabbed up their golden-fleeced find, Karin commandeered the temple's cable-car. This spared their new charge the 309 stairs steps that is the temples more notorious claim to fame. Within minutes, the trio was off to the vetrinarians. Instantly the canine found his new name - sunshine.
X-rays reveled that Sunshine's left leg was indeed shorter than his other legs and contained a medal pin from a previous surgery. The pin had somehow migrated, causing a painful point to stick out beyond the bone. It had been this way for some time as calcium now enveloped the steel. All the vets could do was cut off the extended end. Still, what a miracle this was for Sunshine after what must have been many months of suffering.
When the Care for Dogs team transferred Sunshine from the veterinary hospital to their sanctuary his true personality began to shine through. There is nothing like the confident dominance projected by a mentally well-balanced golden retriever. Despite his long hard spell, Sunshine proved worthy of his breed.
Dominant, yet not overly aggressive, he quickly established himself as top-dog in his area of the facility. Even against the resident Rottweiler mix Noy, Sunshine drew a firm line. In no time he stole the hearts of the Care for Dogs crew. It was not surprising that in a matter of days new volunteers Teresa and Nok informed Karin of their decision to give Sunshine a forever-home.
Karin smiled as she went off to check her email, yet again.
About the Author
Learn more about Care for Dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand at http://carefordogs.org/index2.php. Nola L. Kelsey is the author of Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin' Country and coauthor of the scathing political satire Keeping the Masses Down. She is currently wandering the globe while volunteering with animals along the way. Read more of Kelsey's work, visit her rarely up-to-date website at: http://www.nolakelsey.com.
Among the usual business letters, reports and million dollar stock tips, cleverly disguised as spam, a ray of sunshine was hidden. Karin received an email from a man who said he'd seen an underweight Golden Retriever on Doi Suthep. Martin, the alert animal lover who reported the dog, also noted the retriever appeared to have a leg injury. The computer could wait. Karin and Care for Dog's team member Ally Taylor set off at once.
Atop Doi Suthep Mountain lies Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. The temple is a major pilgrimage destination for the Buddhist holidays of Makha Buja and Visak. Setting high above the bustling city of Chiang Mai this 600 year old sanctuary can be seen glowing in the sunshine across the region. The breathtaking views from the drive up the mountain would have been reason enough to escape the city. Still, Karin and Ally had a mission. Among the shining golden Buddhas, sidewalk shops and camera-heavy tourists, saffron draped monks strolled the temple grounds. Zigzagging among the monks was the Care for Dogs team. It didn't take long for the gals to find their hidden temple treasure.
As reported a beautiful Golden Retriever was indeed on the grounds. Sadly, the rest of the report was also true. The once magnificent animal was flea-infested, vastly underweight and limping along the walkway. At rest, his back left leg swung loose as if it were shorter than the rest.
As the duo made inquiries about the friendly canine, his story began to unfold. The retriever's irresponsible owner had just dumped him at the temple several weeks earlier, leaving the injured animal to fend for himself. The story was seemingly more tragic in that no one cared if the team took the dog away. Even a monk, often the last hope for dumped temple dogs, seemed surprised to notice the wounded animal. In the end, this was the best thing that could have happened.
As Ally grabbed up their golden-fleeced find, Karin commandeered the temple's cable-car. This spared their new charge the 309 stairs steps that is the temples more notorious claim to fame. Within minutes, the trio was off to the vetrinarians. Instantly the canine found his new name - sunshine.
X-rays reveled that Sunshine's left leg was indeed shorter than his other legs and contained a medal pin from a previous surgery. The pin had somehow migrated, causing a painful point to stick out beyond the bone. It had been this way for some time as calcium now enveloped the steel. All the vets could do was cut off the extended end. Still, what a miracle this was for Sunshine after what must have been many months of suffering.
When the Care for Dogs team transferred Sunshine from the veterinary hospital to their sanctuary his true personality began to shine through. There is nothing like the confident dominance projected by a mentally well-balanced golden retriever. Despite his long hard spell, Sunshine proved worthy of his breed.
Dominant, yet not overly aggressive, he quickly established himself as top-dog in his area of the facility. Even against the resident Rottweiler mix Noy, Sunshine drew a firm line. In no time he stole the hearts of the Care for Dogs crew. It was not surprising that in a matter of days new volunteers Teresa and Nok informed Karin of their decision to give Sunshine a forever-home.
Karin smiled as she went off to check her email, yet again.
About the Author
Learn more about Care for Dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand at http://carefordogs.org/index2.php. Nola L. Kelsey is the author of Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin' Country and coauthor of the scathing political satire Keeping the Masses Down. She is currently wandering the globe while volunteering with animals along the way. Read more of Kelsey's work, visit her rarely up-to-date website at: http://www.nolakelsey.com.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)