ANIMAL CHANNEL NEWSLETTER
ANITA CURTIS * P O BOX 182 * GILBERTSVILLE, PA 19525 *
PH: (610) 327-3820
FAX (610) 970-2696 * Anita@anitacurtis.com * www.anitacurtis.com
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Editorial and Edited by: Anita Written by: Mason
Hulis PO Box 30704
Palm Beach Gardens Fl. 33420
(561) 691-4633
Summer 2004
Hi Everyone,
We are more than half way through summer and trying to deal with an overabundance of rain in this area. Mason has written an article in this newsletter that gives tips about traveling with pets and dealing with the heat. He has provided some excellent information about pets on planes, driving tips, and hotel/motel visits.
I read an excellent book recently. Dawn Baumann Brunke’s first book, Animal Voices: Telepathic Communication in the Web of Life, (Bear & Company) was excellent, and I was eager to read her new one. Awakening to Animal Voices says it is a teen guide to telepathic communication with all life. I guess I’m just an old teenager, but I found the book quite refreshing and easy to read. There were stories, myths, and how-to information. The book had a deep spiritual side, and it also dealt with animal death. All of the subjects in Awakening to Animal Voices were handled skillfully, making this a book to be in your library no matter how old you are.
I had an interesting experience recently. I was walking into the barn to feed the horses and I saw a small snake. It was about as big around, and a bit longer than a pencil. I said, “Good morning,” he ignored me, and we both went on about our business.
The following week I decided to do some gardening. I had gotten rid of our above-ground pool, but I had some old pool covers that weren’t doing anything. I wanted to cut the old covers up and put them on some areas that were full of weeds and then put stones over them to make an attractive appearance. I pulled one cover up and folded it into place, and then asked my son to bring the other one outside of the kitchen door so I could cut it up. I asked him a few hours later if the cover was there and he answered that he had brought the cover and the snake. I had already seen the snake so I wasn’t impressed.
The next day I went out to cut the cover. It was tangled, so I flipped it over and out came a SNAKE! It was black with yellow markings and looked to be about 18 inches long. We have copperheads in this area, but I know what they look like and this was different. I was so surprised that I dropped the cover back to its original place. The snake dove back to his hideaway and then came part way out, raised up, and looked at me. He took such a long look that I figured he could point me out to his family and friends. I thought, “I communicate with animals. I’ll talk to him.” I asked him to leave. He looked me in the eye and told me that if I wanted to be away from him I could leave. Then he disappeared among the folds in the cover. I guess he was “hissed off.”
I went into the house quickly to think about the encounter. By the time I went the 15 feet to the door my mind had the snake to be about three or four feet long. I laughed at myself and thought about the situation. I don’t run screaming from snakes, but I am nervous around any animal that moves quickly and changes directions just as quickly. I didn’t want to worry when I mow the grass or park my car, so I felt it would be better if he left and I stayed. The problem was convincing him.
I called a veterinarian friend who lives near-by in a wooded state park and told her about my guest. She offered him a home and showed up the next day with a pillowcase big enough to transport the giant I had described. She and Jean moved the pool cover while I stood at a respectable distance and pointed to the spot where I had seen him last. After moving the cover around a few times, out came a very small snake. The veterinarian moved quickly and had him by the neck (or back, or tail, or something). We explained that he was safe in the pillowcase and was going to a new, wonderful home. He was not thrilled with the idea, but I have checked in with him since he left and he has shown me images of rocks and great hiding places.
I still think we got the wrong snake and his big brother is around here somewhere. I tell all the creatures when I am going to mow the grass and ask them to go to a safe place until I’m done. It’s the best I can do.
Update: My computer has been in the shop for a week, but it is repaired now so I can finish the newsletter. Yesterday the stones I wanted were to be delivered and the person working on the project moved the cover I had in place for the stones. Out came a snake that was much bigger than the one that moved to the state forest! I was delighted to know that my imagination was not playing tricks on me, but I still have to careful when I mow.
Traveling With Pets
By Mason Hulis
Many of us are planning vacations this summer and we are faced with the questions on what to do with our animal friends. One option is for our animals to stay at home and have a neighbor, friend, relative or pet sitting service go by your house several times a day to feed, water, and take care of our pet(s). There are also boarding kennels, but it has been my experience they may cause more stress for the animal than if the animal was staying at home.
Of course, we can also take Fido and Fluffy with us on our trips, but that will require additional planning and research. I have put together some useful information to help us when traveling with our pets.
- Pets are not permitted on buses and trains. The exceptions are for Seeing Eye dogs accompanying blind persons. Notify the airline, bus, or train company that a seeing eye dog is accompanying you.
- Some airlines allow small animals to fly with their people in the passenger area. Our pets must be in an airline-approved carrier and kept under the seat during the flight. I advise that you confirm with the airline the exact requirements for bringing your pet on the airplane. I have experienced an airline nearly refusing to allow an animal to travel with their person, because the pet carrier was too big to fit under the seat.
- When our pets travel, they should wear two identification tags. One tag should have your name address and telephone number and the second should have the person to contact at the destination, their phone number, and destination address. I handle many missing animal cases and the first thing I will ask you ”Was the animal wearing a collar with their identification on it?” I am sad to say that in many cases they were not wearing any id tags and were not micro-chipped or tattooed.
- We should keep our pet on a leash when outside our car or hotel. Our pets can become frightened and bolt away from you out of open doors and windows.
Here are some additional suggestions for our pets that are traveling by air.
- If our pets are too large to travel in the passenger area, they must travel as freight. We must schedule boarding and shipping arrangements for our pets to assure that they are well cared for until we are able to receive them at our destination.
- We should obtain an airline-approved carrier a week or two in advance and familiarize our pet with it by placing them in it for a few minutes each day. We can gradually lengthen the time until our animal seems to be at ease with it.
- We should make sure our pets have been properly fed and given water before and during the flight. We can check with our veterinarian and airline regarding when and what to feed our pets before traveling by air.
- We should check with the airlines to verify what time to get our pet to the air terminal.
- We should mark the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the persons responsible for our pet at origination and destination on the container and on the pet's identification tag. Add "Live Animal" and our pet’s Name in big letters and information about any special care requirements.
- Airlines will require an up to date health certificate from the Veterinarian
Here are some additional tips for our pets traveling with us by car.
- If our dog or cat is not used to traveling by car, make short trips with them a week or two in advance of the trip to accustom them to motion and to teach them how to behave.
- We should not let our dogs stick their head out the window while we are driving. It can irritate eyes and cause problems.
- If our animals are frightened by car travel it may be best to have them travel in their carrier.
- Accustom our pet to being on a leash and harness. Always use the leash when traveling. Even better is a pet harness (available at most pet stores) that connects to the car's seatbelt; it allows our pet some movement while keeping it safely restrained. Our pets can bolt into traffic or become lost in a strange place if not properly restrained.
- If we are stopping overnight, check in advance to find a motel that will permit our pet to spend the night.
- Be sure that our pet is properly tagged and its rabies tag firmly attached.
- Here is a suggested pet travel kit: pet food, food and water dishes, can opener (if needed), a few treats, a favorite toy, a blanket, comb or brush.
- In addition, we need to be considerate of other humans when we stay at hotels. So here is our human checklist: paper towels, spray room deodorant, a pooper-scooper, and plastic bag to clean up after your pet.
- Do not leave our pet alone in the car with the windows closed or even partially opened. In the summer the interior car, temperatures are extremely hot and our animal can die within minutes.
It is important to remember that when our animals arrive at its new destination, they have the same problems adjusting as we do. They must learn their way around the house, hotel, and neighborhood. Our pets must adjust to strangers, and new animals. They must also adjust to new water and climate, and must learn where they can and cannot go to relieve themselves.
Cats should be kept inside the house or hotel we are visiting. If we let them out, they may try to find their way back home and get lost.
We should make our animal feel at home by using familiar dishes, blanket, toys, and other items. Check with our neighbors to determine any special problems our pet might encounter, for example, the neighborhood grouch. If we carefully plan our vacation with our pets, we can make a smooth transition and have fun.
Here is some information regarding requirements for traveling with our pets to other states.
- If our destination is across state lines, nearly every state has laws on the entry of animals, with the exception of tropical fish. For information, call or write to the State Veterinarian, State Department of Animal Husbandry, or other appropriate authority.
- Interstate health certificates must accompany dogs and horses entering nearly all states. About half have the same requirements for other pets. In some cases, this certificate must be in the hands of the state regulatory agency in advance of the entry.
- All but four states require an up-to-date rabies inoculation for dogs and many require it for cats. The rabies tag must be securely attached to the pet's collar. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days.
- Some pets must have an entry permit issued by the destination state's regulatory agency. Receipt of the interstate health certificate may be required before the permit can be issued. Some states limit the time during which the entry permit is valid.
- A few states have border inspections of all animals being transported; others have random inspection by highway patrol officers. State agriculture representatives are usually present at airports to inspect pets arriving by air.
Local Laws
Local communities have pet control and licensing ordinances. In some cases,
the number of dogs and cats per residence is limited. Large animals, such as
ponies and horses, may be prohibited. Be sure to check with the city clerk or
town hall for specific information.
Here are some links to Internet sites that can help us when planning our vacation with our pets:
http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/livingwithpets/traveling.asp
http://seniors-site.com/travel/pets.html
Precious Memories of . . .
