Thursday, August 25, 2011

Pelicans Saved By 2 Good Samaritans



When you go to the beach or harbor on a sunny summer day, it is easy to get mesmerized by the tranquil waters and beautiful surf. The last thing you might expect is to see an animal fighting for its life. My husband Stuart went kayaking for a few hours just outside the Dana Point Harbor. He was enjoying the peaceful breeze and crystal blue water when he saw some commotion out in the water. There were two pelicans flapping about. He couldn't figure out what they were doing and thought they must be playing. He thought it was strange they were so close to one another so he paddled closer to see what might be going on. He soon saw that they were desperately trying to separate themselves and were locked together by a fishing line. Each Pelican had a fish hook (double hook line) stuck in its beak and they were attached by the small amount of line in between. The poor birds were exhausted and would drown if they couldn't get free.




Stuart stayed with the birds until another kayaker came upon them. Thankfully the other kayaker was a fisherman and happened to have a pair of plyers. Unbelievably, each pelican (these are huge birds with 4 foot wing spans) allowed them to hold them and pull the hooks out. Stuart thought he was going to get bit to pieces and would have to let go but the pelicans allowed the men to hold them and remove the hooks. The reason they were so compliant is that the birds were simply exhausted and probably sensed this was their last hope. What the two men theorized is that the pelicans must have swooped in to grab a fishermans's catch and since there was a double line of bait, rather than pull the birds in, the fisherman cut the line. The birds would have died. What they needed to do was actually pull the birds in and remove the hooks from their beaks.




In any case, I am happy to report that both pelicans flew off to safety and were saved because two good men cared enough to help them!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

In Memory of Maverick

In Memory Of Maverick

Expressing my heartfelt sympathy for Karen, Ask Ariel Office Manager who lost her beloved Maverick today. Maverick fought a very long multi-year fight with cancer and diabetes and died as a very senior pet (over 15 years old) with his Mom today. Karen took amazing care of Maverick and dedicated her entire life's schedule to care for him and ensure he received his insulin shots on time.

Karen rescued Maverick after his original owner died and due to her loving care, he was able to live a high quality and long life in such a loving home. At the time she rescued him, Maverick was in a state of ketoacidosis and liver dysfunction. Karen nursed him back to health, gave him a proper diet and helped Maverick regain his health.

Karen is also the head volunteer of Ariel Rescue and tirelessly gives of her time to help save so many desperate dogs at the shelters. My favorite story about Karen is when she drove several hours to help out another rural rescue whose dogs were all going to be euthanized. On the way back, there was a deep fog and it took Karen much longer to drive home than anticipated. The vet hospital where she had planned to bring all the dogs was now closed so she had no choice but to find places for all of them in her house for the night. She had to bring 11 dogs to her home that evening and when her little boy (now a college graduate) woke up to go to the bathroom, he found puppies in there and threatened to call Daddy who was on a business trip! Karen will do anything to help an animal in need and our hearts and prayers go out to her during this difficult time.
Sunday, August 7, 2011

Symptoms of Heart Murmurs and Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs and Cats



Symptoms of heart murmurs and congestive heart disease in dogs and cats can include:
  • Easily tiring after exercise
  • Bluish discoloration of the tongue
  • Sudden collapse
  • Difficulty breathing
  • A persistent dry cough
  • Accumulation of fluid in the lungs, leg or abdomen
Pets with heart disease need a diet rich in Omega 3s, low in fat and sodium. A high fat diet can create a lot of extra work for your pet's heart. Fish oil and lean protein sources are very beneficial.

Natural heart supplements for dogs and cats can help your pet with heart murmurs and congestive heart failure:
Amazing Omegas - highly purified fish oil delivering therapeutically high levels of Omegas without the toxins

Purrfect Pet CoQ10 - these softgels use an advanced technology that provides an efficient and natural method of nutrient delivery, offering enhanced absorption and assimilation versus ordinary capsules and tablets containing Coenzyme Q10.




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photo: carlos porto