The thought of losing a dying pet is excruciating. We project unbearable grief and pity into those beautiful eyes staring back at us, with life still breathing through them. Yet our pets’ end of life transition can be as nature designed: a deeply enriching adventure of letting go for both us and our pets. We […]
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When not to Bark Back at Your Barking Dog
If your barking dog seems to be ‘barking at nothing’ or just talking to a neighbor’s dog in the distance, ask your dog in a nice way, to stop barking. It’s that simple. Feeling frustrated and yelling at your dog to shut up will only amp up your dog’s barking in response to your excitation. […]
Human Spirit?
A friend was telling me how great he thinks the human spirit is in reference to the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. It’s amazing how amazed people are when they see how people, after suffering horrific trauma, eventually feel reborn – empowered – with the help of millions of their own species supporting and […]
PBS’ flickering “Human Spark”
Narrator Alan Alda, makes a feeble attempt to make us feel good about defiling the world in the recent PSB video, “The Human Spark” that shows us we have two brain functions–insight and imagination–that separate us from (other)animals.Wrong. I know many non-human animals with insight and imagination capabilities equal to, if not superior to ours. […]
Natural versus normal connection
David Schwartz of WPKN in Connecticut interviewed me on the radio last night regarding my new book, LIKE an ANIMAL: When Being Human is not Enough. In the book I mention that at age four, I turned my attention from a “normal life” to relate more to animals. The radio host interpreted this as a […]
Sugar Junkies, Beware of Your Dogs…
Your dog may not be psychologically addicted to sugar the way some of us are, but that doesn’t mean that dog treats laced with sugar – including honey, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup – won’t compromise your dog’s health in the short, and long run. Unfortunately, most dog treats out there including the organic healthier […]
Among the Bird-Brained, Size does not Matter.
I look out my window. In the distance two birds on a wire. I assume they are mates. One presumably the female is smaller than the other who sits within an inch by her side to her right. Suddenly, a larger bird comes in for an abrupt landing about two feet from where the love […]
Thousands Might Die because of BO
Barack Obama, there are thousands of pure bred hypoallergenic dogs in shelters across this country that you rule. Thanks to you, thousands of Americans who never even heard of a Portuguese Water Dog will now be inspired to create a huge market for them to be born into thanks to your acceptance of Ted Kennedy’s […]
Mitigating Dachshund was Too Embarrassed to Shout
Had to set things straight with my dachshund friend this morning. She finally agreed that from now on when she needs to make a ‘lump sum deposit’ that, instead of hinting with a soft hardly audible growl from the other room for me to hurry and lift her off the bed in time, she will, […]
Ask Any Barking Dog
Like any animal, humans have an innate capacity for empathy: the ability to feel in our bodies what someone else is feeling in his/her own body, i.e., suppressed emotions. Sometimes, when I cho0se not to funnel my anger through non-violent communication, I dramatize it much to the chagrin of who(m)ever is within earshot. The good […]
