Every year, countless numbers of animals are quietly euthanized at county animal control facilities.  Few citizens know that when they call about a stray animal theyve found, animal control has no choice but to send that animal to a central facility that is overwhelmed with dogs and cats.  That was the situation in San Clemente and Dana Point, until a few unassuming citizens worried about a stray dogs plight.  Looking for help for medical bills and hoping to find like-minded individuals…a simple ad in a local paper became the spearhead for animal advocates to band together and form a volunteer group to help the abandoned and lost animals in their community. A converted skating rink was a starting point in 1983.  Through hard work, fundraising and a strong pro humane philosophy, the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter was constructed and opened in 1996.  That group of volunteers, now know as Pet Project Foundation, Inc.  made the difference in their communities…you can too.

If you do not have an animal shelter in your city, find out why.  Check with neighboring cities that are operating a pro humane facility and ask questions. Almost all shelters have an active volunteer force that is organized and can offer a wealth of knowledge.  Funding is available in a variety of sources, a favorite sounce being Maddies Fund.  (www.maddiesfund.org). Visit local shelters and ask for a tour.  You will find plenty of volunteer organizations eager to help you and your group be an advocate in creating a proper home for your cities abandoned animals.   In San Clemente and Dana Point, the volunteer group works in partnership with  CASA (Coastal Animal Services Authority), the city arm of the shelter operations.  CASA handles the  Animal Control services, licensing and management, while the volunteer group supplies funding for medical, food, training, beds, toys, treats and hands on nurturing.

Be a animal champion in your community!  Develop a Mission Focus, build a Strong Relationship between your volunteer group and the city, have a Plan for growth and orientation, be Flexible in your pursuit of the Mission and Celebrate Success early on and on an ongoing basis! 

The Pet Project Foundation continues to explore new and exciting opportunities to educate the public on pet overpopulation and its consequences.  We are also proactively seeking new and exciting ways to expand our facility, allowing all pet loving citizens to learn about the care and training of healthy, happy animals.

Valerie Treaster, Chairman of the Board
Pet Project Foundation, Inc.
www.petprojectfoundation.org 

Why Can’t Everyone Settle Down and Behave?

1.  Trashing the place when you’re gone?

2.  Old pets don’t like the new one?

3.  Too hyper to listen? Too afraid? Too stubborn?

4.  All of the above?

Don’t worry - permanent solutions are available - maybe as close as your own yard. Red Clover, Dandelion, Rose blossoms, and Oak Tree leaves can readily be made into Flower Essences that help pets with problematic behaviors.

Flower Essence Therapy was discovered by Dr. Edward Bach, 1930’s British homeopathic physician, who believed that thoughts carried great weight in dictating instructions to the body. Bach discovered this gentle way to help the human body heal and prevent dis-ease using only flowers, water and sunshine. For 40 years, I have used Essences, helping animals overcome troublesome behaviors in terrible situations, consistently demonstrating that the mind and emotions do dictate instructions to the body – “telling” it how to behave. Passive. Aggressive. Fearful. Dominant. Lots of Etceteras.

Essences helped hundreds of victims after Hurricane Katrina, animals abandoned in weeklong California firestorms, and a New York City dog who witnessed the Twin Towers coming down from her living room window. All of these and thousands more have overcome fears created by trauma, as well as behavioral problems inherently part of their personalities.

When Love Isn’t Enough

One 4^th of July – a German Shepherd started the evening in the kitchen and ended up in the laundry room because she ate her way through the wall. Same Flowers that helped Katrina victims will take care of this stark raving fear. Or the likes of: “Yikes, the garbage truck! Run to the bedroom and pee.” I am not making light of either one but, you don’t have to be lost for a month or lose your forever family to suffer trauma.

EMOTIONAL NUTRITION is what they need. It is as simple as using Impatiens flowers for increasing patience, Star of Bethlehem for overcoming trauma, Star Tulip for grounding, Clematis for focus, Mimulus for fear, and/or Arnica for negative muscle memory. Behavior improvement is permanent because Essences address the root cause of the symptoms – not just masking them to return later.

Separation-anxiety is, at first glance, almost flattering. “Aw. Look. He misses us when we are gone.” Quickly jumping to: “Look what he did to the couch! The back door. The curtains. My new shoes.” Fear at the groomers, trouble traveling in the car, and separation-anxiety are all resolved with Flower Essences. Animals feel safe and send that message to the body: “No reason to run, get angry or shut down.” This new feeling of safety gives them the capacity to focus on the moment at hand, think and process. As a result, feelings of confidence, security, and self-assurance are produced. One cat person calls it “a pause button to allow for better choices.”  According to another owner on the 4^th of July: “He slept right through his worst nightmare!”

More Good News

 Does not matter how long ago the “transgression” occurred that changed the behavior in the first place. I know animals that have not gotten along for years and the people think it is normal to have designated sections of the house for different pets. Essences address the root cause like fear, stress, and insecurity eliminating the (un)necessary behaviors that the animals use as protection against further hurt.

Daisy, a New York City Australian Shepherd, witnessed the Twin Towers coming down from her living room window. Her owner was at work, it took her all day to walk home. By then, Daisy was traumatized. For the next 6 ½ years, every single time there was a loud noise, traffic sounds, or a thunderstorm, Daisy would run to the same window and start shaking uncontrollably. In 2007, Flower Essences were sprayed once on her rear-end. Immediately, Daisy quit shaking, turned away from the window, and looked her owner in the eye. Daisy never, ever returned to her phobic behavior.

Getting along with the newest pound puppy, feral cat, rescue, or fosters with “issues.” Everyone benefits from these remedies due to the fact Flower Essences address and re-solve one-time traumatic experiences, chronic confusion, and constant low-level stress suffered by many animals nowadays. Helps older animals get over confidence issues or jealousy when newcomers enter the house.

Stress and trauma have an emotional price tag. Some animals shut down, some act out, and sadly, often physical ailments develop as a result. Some appear crazy or aggressive but 98% will be helped with properly prepared Flower Essences. I do hear: “I tried Flower Essences once and they did not work.” Reasons for failure is those Essences were either not  prepared according to the tradition of Dr. Bach, not used often enough, or the owner wants to make a Golden Retriever out of a Jack Russell! (Jacks love these Remedies!)

Fears, Ferals and Phobias

One friend had a house cat for 9 years that no one else had seen but her sister. Now that’s hiding. This particular feline started to get the same Flower Essence Remedies that some of the abandoned animals of California’s weeklong firestorms and victims of Hurricane Katrina received to help them through their  terrible ordeals. This remedy is for fear, loss of hope, accepting help from strangers, and adjusting to new environments. After getting Remedies in her water and on treats, that ‘fraidy cat now appears every single time there is company, rolls on her back, and waits to have her belly rubbed. Took about a month for this complete turn-around.

Whether a 10 pound, 3^rd generation Feral Cat or a 10 month old Mountain Lion forced into captivity with life-threatening injuries; Flower Essence Therapy will have a positive impact on the mind and emotions of any animal even in the most astonishing situations. For the record, Fritz and Conrad, respectively mentioned here, received Flowers of Yarrow for adjusting to a new environment, Sweetgrass for change, Arnica for cleansing negative muscle memory, and Sweet Pea for increasing kindness.

Vacations, Evacuations - Equally Stressful to Some

Doreen and Michael retired, bought an RV, and were going to enjoy an adventure touring the US for the next few years. But one of their cats hated the RV. Hated the inside, the noise, the movement, hated everything about it. Used the same Essences successfully used by animal control officers, and kennel workers: Mimulus for fear, Clematis for focus, Rock Rose for steadfastness, and Star Tulip for grounding.

Focusing on the moment at hand, aware no harm or stress is present allows the animal to accept the situation while remaining calm and focused. Works wonders in shelters and kennels. Then the next time they are confronted by a similar experience; there will more acceptance and less negativity. The goal of using these Remedies is to experience permanent behavior improvement as a result of addressing the root cause of the fear, panic, confusion, trauma, anger, etc.

Doreen and Michael have been “on the road” for a year now with 2 very happy, well-adjusted cats. They needed a Remedy for only the first few weeks and then the acceptance of this new lifestyle was complete. According to Doreen, they did use Essences once for horrendous thunderstorms “just to take the edge off.”

Remove The Reason

           Because Essences, as in homeopathy, address the root cause of the problems – negative behaviors are eliminated. Most animals show change immediately. Look for their “try.” Sometimes it is as simple as eye contact, head lowering, fur relaxing, or a swallow. Emergency situations needing instantaneous results; use Essences every 10 minutes for the first hour or until composure returns. Rescuers spray a towel and leave it nearby the crate or carrier.

           Emotionally damaged animals, including feral cats and puppy mill dogs, could take 7-10 days before you see comfortable improvement. Guideline in homeopathy is: Use less more often. Highly reactive, chronic behaviors with ingrained patterns of thinking may 3-4 weeks before permanent change is acquired. But even these damaged animals will benefit.

           Flower Essence Therapy brings a solution to negative situations that is best described in its visible results rather than in its explanation. Nature’s simplicity and its astonishing intelligence are made obvious in the positive influence on animals’ emotions, attitudes, and behavioral health. Seeing is believing.               

END…

BIO:

Meg Harrison, creator of BlackWing Farms' Remedies, has 37 years experience studying and using Flower Essences. In the 1970’s, she successfully treated teenage alcoholics, blending specific Flower Essences for their recovery. She has 25 years experience as a trainer and Animal Behavior Specialist.

Uses of her Remedies were well proven in the wake of the Southern California wildfires of 2003 & 2007 where her blends helped to calm and stabilize traumatized pets, and farm animals who were lost, injured, or abandoned during the weeklong firestorms. In 2005, Meg went to Louisiana and volunteered to help care for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. Meg was hired by the Humane Society of the US (Washington D.C.) to remain and work at the Louisiana SPCA in New Orleans for 5 months post-Katrina.

Recently, she has been invited to lecture at The Equine Affaire, San Diego Humane Society, and the Symposium on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and At-Risk Youth. She writes regularly for Natural Horse Magazine, and is working on her first book about Flower Essences.

Although she originally created these blends for abused and problematic horses, 80% of her “audience” today is dogs, cats, and 12 other species including a Mountain Lion named Conrad.

    P.O. Box 2494   Fallbrook, CA 92088      Ph: 760.728.9900      www.BlackWingFarms.com