PICK UP YOUR POOP

Jet, my foster mom, has found it hard to live in a neighborhood where owners have to pick up their dogs’ poop.  She grew up in the sticks where dogs did their deed anywhere and there was no neighbor, law enforcement officer or Home Owner’s Association who cared about it.

Having said that, it is the rule in our neighborhood and she carries colorful, eco-friendly bags to pick up my poop when we go on walks.  Since I spend more time with humans than dogs, I notice that there should be a rule where humans need to pick up their poop too.  Now before you get bent out of shape about what this implies, let me clarify.

Humans are constantly making ‘messes’ in other peoples’ yards (litter), other peoples’ lives (divorces, child custody fights) and businesses (theft, fraud).  It may look one way but in truth, it’s just another type of poop one human drops on another human’s life.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… Stop ‘dropping’ all these problems on other humans.  When you do drop poop on other people’s lives, pick it up instead of leaving your mess for someone else to clean up. 

Okay, the question of the day is from Miso who asked:  Dear Parker, you should see my new figure.  I had gained a lot of weight but I only ate what was given me so I couldn’t understand why I kept getting fatter and my joints were failing under the extra weight.  My mom got “pre-measured food” and it’s working.

Dear Miso:

Love your name… like Miso Soup.  Cute. I’m thrilled to hear your weight is where it should be.  Even though most dogs should have measured food portions, most humans fail to actually serve the correct amount.  One of the veterinarian approved products on the market today that is ideal for solving this problem is called Prescription Diet. The box contains pre-packaged food and treats in individual packets.  (See photo below.) This ensures you are only served what you should be eating at each meal.

ATTRACTING WHAT?

Nature is a great teacher if you’re paying attention.  For example, watch what a grown

Killdeer will do if you get too close to its babies.  This bird is renowned for it’s ‘broken wing’ impression (see photo below).  When predators get too close to their young, one of the parents will zoom in front of the predator and pretend it has a broken wing.  The weak attract the strong.  The attention of the hunter moves to the parent while the baby bird moves to safety.  About the time the hunter gets to the parent bird, they fly away.

In the case of the Killdeer, the parent bird is purposely attracting danger to save their babies but its orchestrated and timed to save them all.  Attracting danger to a nest is different.  Notice that you will never (or seldom) see birds build their nests near bird feeders.  Why?  Bird feeders attract a lot of birds and when you have many birds, you attract hawks in the air and cats on the ground.  – Predators you don’t want near baby birds and nests.  Again, the birds only attract what they know is best for all.

Humans are funny.  They seem to attract what they feed versus what they need.  What I mean is, they feed their ego with fancy cars and clothes when what they need is more money in their savings account; they feed their drug addictions when what they need is a clear head to sort out what is fueling the pain that the drugs seem to temporarily neutralize.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… I realize that humans think that animals, pets, critters are not near as smart as they are but it seems to me that we are better than humans at attracting what we need than what we feed. The lesson?  Humans should take a hard look at what they attract in their life because too many of you do things that attract predatory problems you feed versus the safety and support you need.

Okay, the question of the day is from Fooie who asked:  Dear Parker, my parents (human) had a home fire drill with the kids and I.  I’m not sure what to make of it?  Can you explain the purpose for me?

Dear Fooie:

All families should sit down together and practice what to do if there is a fire in your home.  What if a kid is trapped in a bedroom, do they know how to get out through a window?  Did your humans post a sign on and/or near all the doors in your house to indicate there are pets inside so rescuers know to look for you?  You can get these door and window ‘pet inside’ notices from the ASPCA or make your own but be sure, before there is an emergency, that it is done.

SIGNIFICANCE

Okay, call me corny but I like just about every show on Animal Planet and another TV program called Extreme Makeover.  If you haven’t seen Extreme Makeover, it’s a show where a special family that has either endured really tough times and/or has spent their life helping others to the point of living in a raggedy house.  Extreme Makeover people send these families on vacation and while they are gone construct an extreme, new home for them.  The happy ending (when the family gets a new home) is better than any fairy tale.

A guy on one of the Extreme Makeover shows was explaining why he and his family sacrificed so much for others.  He said, “You can be successful and not be significant.”  I had to think about that one.  I’m a dog and we tend to see things in a simple manner (which might not be a bad idea for most humans). It seemed the logical place to work this out in my head was by understanding the meaning of each word.

Success: Attainment of fame, wealth, or power; something that turns out well; achievement of intention

Significant: meaningful, momentous and influential, substantial

I thought about how hard humans work to be 'successful'.  Usually their ‘success’ is tied to something they call a job or career in exchange for green paper they use to purchase stuff like art, boats, clothes, jewelry, golf clubs and such.  - All things a dog can’t use or appreciate.  When you feed a starving dog, that’s meaningful, when you volunteer for a shelter fundraiser, that’s momentous, when you foster an unloved animal, that’s substantial.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… It seems to me that the Home Makeover guy was on to something.  Just by definition, doing things that are significant seem to be a lot more worthwhile than doing things that humans call successful.  I’d challenge all humans to consider how they spend their time in 2011 to passionately pursue (like a dog does a bone) significance, not success.

Okay, the question of the day is from Spot who asked:  Dear Parker, my teeth are in bad shape.  I keep trying to tell my human how important it is to keep them clean through special gum chews from the vet and brushing but they don’t listen. My teeth hurt. Isn’t this bad?

Dear Spot:

Taking care of a dog’s teeth is very important.  One, you need them to chew. After you lose your 28 baby teeth, you’ll end up with 42 permanent teeth.  -The point being the word ‘permanent’.  To keep them, you must take care of them.

Two, gum disease from tartar creates all sorts of bacteria that can end up in other parts of your body which can damage your kidneys, heart, intestines and joints.  Talk to your vet and they will get your humans to take better care of your teeth.  If they don't, use the teeth you have left and bite them until they get the point.

HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME?

It’s Valentine season and not just for humans.  This seems to be a big deal month for humans.  They give each other candy (that's a treat for humans) and heart-shaped stuff.  I also noticed the American Heart Association uses the month of February to promote healthy heart habits for humans. 

Why you ask?  Because despite what humans think, dogs know that the number one killer of humans is heart attacks/heart disease.  How is it that dogs know more about the human heart than humans do?  Hmmmm.

Which brings me around to my favorite topic: pets.  Pets are so good for the human heart.  We keep the heart loved and comforted.  I’d like to think that a pet’s love (especially a dog’s) is all a heart needs but it’s just not enough.  Hearts need proper food and exercise and it’s important that heart health goes both ways: humans need to take care of their pets’ hearts too.

Can you imagine a better time to show your dog and cat how much you really love them (and their heart) than a Valentine gift?  Would you like a suggestion?  A heartworm-free pet!  Better yet, get your dog and/or cat examined for heartworms and keep them on monthly heartworm treatment. After that, add an ASPIRINPOD heart to their collar as a constant reminder of their love for you and the need for heart care for them. 

What’s an Aspirinpod you ask?  It’s a tiny pod that holds an aspirin for humans and serves as a heartworm medicine reminder for pets.  My pal Piper is modeling one of these lovely gifts below.  Want to order one for your human and pet Valentines?  Click on the link below to place an order for you and your pals. 

http://www.aspirinpod.com/cart.html.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… Valentines is great for humans: they give extra attention to one another, lots of chocolate treats and bubbly stuff called champagne.  My advice, make this holiday about loving your humans and pets EVERY day with a check-up and an ASPIRINPOD.  … Because love isn’t just for holidays.

Okay, the question of the day is from Tippy who asked:  Dear Parker, I’m happy.  When I’m happy, I vigorously wag my tail.  When humans are happy, they show their teeth in a weird way. I believe they call it smiling.  When a dog shows its teeth, we’re usually pissed off at something or someone so how does a human know we’re happy by our wagging tail?

Dear Tippy:

Great question Tippy and I relish (word of the day) answering it.  Some humans show happiness by laughing and others by crying.  You may have heard your humans say, “My friend was crying tears of joy.”  My point?  Humans understand there are all sorts of ways to show happiness – even if you’re a dog.  ...So wag away.