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Waterproof hammock seat cover

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As I go through the process of writing “Living With Them”, I am doing a lot of self-learning and educating myself about the relationship between companion pets and humans. The relationship can be complex, ranging from bonding with a single person to pets picking up behavior patterns from their humans.

Throughout my reading and learning, I am creating a reading library for you, the visitor to the site that you can also read. The list changes pretty often so you may want to bookmark the page.

The reading library….

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There have been well thought of studies that investigate connections between our attachment to pets and the relationship we have with them.
One of the hardest decisions that we make in our lives is the euthanasia of our companions. The end of life decisions we make are not only emotionally difficult but also physically demanding.

Evidence suggests that there are psychological, physical and social benefits in human-pet relationships. We humans also have a tendency to see our pets as children which creates even more mental and emotional trauma as we plan euthanasia.

There are two varieties of euthanasia – in the veterinarian’s office an at home. I would like to address in home euthanasia which I have experience with. When we take our pet to the veterinarian to perform the euthanasia, from the pet’s point of view, this induces a lot of trauma at the end of their life. Imagine yourself as your pet, probably stressed and having bad memories of visits to their doctor. Now your master is taking you to the doctor and the last experience that you have is a trauma that you won’t return from.

The other choice, again from the pet’s point of view, is surrounded by your family, in your most trusted space, what you consider your den. As you slip away from this life, you are relaxed, feel loved and are calm.

Which version would you prefer? I would pick in home euthanasia.

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement has a list of veterinarians that perform this service. In fact, most vets will do this.

Read more….

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Authorities in central Florida say a German shepherd helped firefighters locate the two young children of his owners in heavy smoke as a blaze destroyed their home.

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My best dog friend ever, Sweetie Pie, also known as Batdog.

One of the least happy parts about living with a great pet is that eventually they will age, their illnesses will increase and they will pass away, probably before you do.

This is a very difficult topic to write about and hard to live through. However, part of the responsibilities of pet ownership is also the grief associated with their passing.

There’s a lot of websites out there that are for support of pet owners that are in the grief phase of their relationship with their pets. Check our links page to see some of them.

Each of us has to accept that this is a part of living and a part of the relationship we have with our pets, be they dogs, cats, lizards, snakes or bunnies or whatever other creature you share your life with.

One critical aspect of this entire living with them life that we share with them is remembering them as they were when they were young and full of energy. As they age, they get slower, have physical problems just like older humans do but at the same time, pets seem to be graceful when they are old.

It always amazes me how well our pets face death – they seem to have an acceptance of the process that we humans lack.

So this morning, don’t forget to give your special companions a big hug when you leave.

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So this guy is hosting a television show in the UK when he happens upon an injured Swan which he nurses back to health. Well you guessed it, a few years go by and the Swan remembers him with a giant hug.

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There is an interesting discussion going on today at a discussion forum, godlikeproductions about animals and whether or not they have a soul. If you’ve read the first chapters of Living With Them, you can see where I stand on the subject. Here are some snippits and quotes from that thread in case you can’t get onto the site – they have an aggresive permission set regarding visitors.

This question is no joke for the scientific community. They allege now that a group of chimps “may be engaging in spiritual practices—and could even believe in God.” This “discovery” may help explain “how human religious rituals started.” What we are being bombarded with is another aspect of the God-defying atheistic evolution theory, which is a foolish abomination in God’s eyes. The Bible proves—and some honest scientists admit—that the entire evolution concept is wrong and a scientific impossibility. We are offering two free booklets, discussing this fact.

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New footage of ritual behaviour by chimpanzees, taken and analysed by researchers, shows they may be engaging in spiritual practices – and could even believe in God…

“The ritualized behavioural display and collection of artefacts at particular locations observed in chimpanzee accumulative stone throwing may have implications for the inferences that can be drawn from archaeological stone assemblages and the origins of ritual sites.”

This discovery is made even more interesting by the fact that Indigenous West African people also collect stones at sacred trees in a way that the resarchers said looks “eerily similar to what we have discovered here”… Link

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I’m a Protestant Christian. I’m not a scholar and I really should be reading my Bible more often but I’d like to try and give my take on the matter.

A good question is: Do animals believe in God, or sense God?

This really is a hard question to answer but it seems to be yes to a certain limit. The Bible has allot of really cool stories about animals. Belem’s donkey, Danial and the Lion, Noah’s raven and dove, and Adam and Eve might have been able to communicate with animals. Everything was designed by God.

The problem lies in the idea if animals have souls. Also, how diverse are animals with thought? A deer is afraid of death, but doesn’t ponder why. Or do they? Also, why are some animals perfectly healthy go on a killing spree (a Val Killmore movie I can’t remember the title was about lion’s senselessly killing people for sport).

So it is a mystery. I’m no expert on the subject but I hope I was able to contribute a little bit from my point of view. This is a very interesting topic to discuss and thanks for sharing the video.

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Here is what I’ve written in that discussion:
I’m writing a book about grieving for pets. Part of my research is regarding animals and whether or not they have a spirit or soul. The Bible is fairly clear that God gives them at the least spirit but is unclear on the soul aspect. I would put forward that sin would come into play if they had a soul. How would animals seek forgivness of sin, do they sin in the eyes of God, etc..

Emotions and spirit may or may not go hand in hand simply because of whether or not animals are able to have a concept right and wrong. It seems to me that also calls into play the concept of original sin and whether or not animals are affected by it. Another aspect is that we have bred animals as pets to achieve a certain set of behaviors.

As far as wild animals go, cases of grief in the wild world are well known from Elephants to Dolphins and even other Homininae (the subset of Hominids that includes gorillas, chimpanzees, apes and humans).

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How to Save Money on Pet Care

|(NewsUSA) – Owning a pet has a lot of perks, but caring for one can take its toll on your wallet. According to the ASPCA, owning a dog or cat can cost up to $1,000 in the first year, and many people end up spending much more. The good news is you can cut your pet care expenses without compromising your pet’s health and well-being. Here are a few ways you can save money and keep your pet healthy.

1. Don’t skip the vet.

If you’re trying to save money, it can be tempting to cut back on veterinary visits. But according to Julie Ciarmella of the American Veterinary Medicine Association, “an investment in preventive healthcare can reduce your long-term pet healthcare costs.” Why? Because regular check-ups can prevent expensive complications down the road.

2. Get by with a little help from your friends.

Dog-walking, pet-sitting and kennel services can be some of the most expensive aspects of owning a pet. You can save money by taking the “you scratch my dog’s back, I’ll scratch your cat’s chin” approach and tapping into a network of other pet owners in your area. Neighborhood dog parks are great places to meet like-minded pet lovers; or, you could try good old-fashioned advertising.

3. Choose high-quality pet products that give you more value for your money.

Reaching for the cheapest product can feel like a thrifty move, but you may be surprised by the impact “cheap” products can have on your budget. For example, cheaper clay cat litter needs to be changed more often, so cat owners go through bag after bag. World’s Best Cat Litter is an alternative that harnesses the concentrated power of corn for long-lasting performance. You’ll use less litter, replace it less often and save money in the long run.

In the end, remember that what your pet needs most is love. Keep things simple and invest in high-value products where it matters, and you’ll be on your way to a pet care budget that works for you.

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