Other Blogs Worth Checking Out

Today's the last day of May, which means that it's the last day of the Blogathon that I've been participating in (and successfully completed, by posting every day this month)!

I will still post on my blog, but it will probably be more like once or twice a week instead of everyday.

If you're worried about going into withdrawals you are welcome (and encouraged) to visit old blog posts. But some of you have already read them all (several times and commented) thank you!

So I wanted to end this month with links to some blogs that I follow that write about similar topics.

Extraordinary Dogs and Extraordinary Horses are two blogs written by the same person. They are full of resources: research to back it up, grants in case you're interested in working with those animals, and charities if you're looking to sponsor someone else. The author of the blogs is a fabulous person that helped me get set up on linkedin and offered me practical advice for my blog.

Animal Friends is a great blog for cat and dog owners looking for more information about their pets. They've posted about such topics as wet food vs dry food, animal allergies, and understanding cat behavior. They also often post about animals that are up for adoption if you are looking for a new pet.

I stumbled across Coop and Cottage when I was doing research for my Respect for Chicken Day post. And I am so glad that I did! The author is a wonderful writer that shares her stories about her chickens, her children, and most recently some horses. You should definitely check her blog out!

If you want to know what it's like owning a service dog, Life With a Hearing Dog is a good blog to read. This is another blog that I discovered while looking for information for one of my posts (Hearing Ear Dog). I appreciate that she writes as herself and not her dog so you really get to know what it's like.

Assistance Dog for Autism is a fun blog by the mother of a young boy with Autism. She writes about her son and his dog's adventures. I think I also enjoy this one so much because they live in Ireland so I get to learn about what it's like there.

Dog Nerd 101 is written by a woman that trains her dogs so it's a good resource to learn about training behaviors beyond the normal "sit. stay. roll over." She also is a psychologist so she goes into some of that as well.

Do you have any cool animal blogs that you follow?

Real Dog Therapists of Dallas

Baylor Health Care System has a team of 90 dogs that help the health care professionals get patients on the road to recovery. Here are some fun videos about the Animal Assisted Therapy program from the dogs' point of view.

Episode 1:

Episode 2:

Episode 3:

I wish that they created more videos but I guess they are busy helping people get better, which I'd much rather they do.

Do you know of another other programs like this that found a cool way to promote themselves?

Memorial Day

What do Rifleman Khan, G.I. Joe, Simon, and Upstart have in common?

You might think they are all cartoon characters from the popular 80's t.v. series but, they were all very real heroes. Heroes that happened to be animals.

These animals have all been awarded the Dickin Medal for "conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defense Units."

Photo from wikimedia

Rifleman Khan was a one of 27 dogs to receive the medal. He was a part of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and paired with Corporal James Muldoon. One night in 1944 the two of them were on a boat together on their way to an important battle when they were spotted and fired upon. Rifleman Khan was able to swim to shore, but he discovered that Muldoon was not a swimmer. The dog went back while still under fire and brought his handler to shore, dragging him far enough out of the water to be safe.

G.I. Joe was one of 32 birds to receive the medal. This pigeon saved an entire town in Italy from being bombed. Calvi Vecchia's bombing was scheduled for October 18, 1943 but G.I. Joe brought the message to the Allied Troops that the town had already been taken by some British Troops just in time. His speed saved over 1,000 lives including both the villagers and the British Troops.

Simon was the only cat to receive the medal. He started as a sickly stray cat that was stowed away on the HMS Amethyst. He quickly earned his keep on the ship by keeping the rat population in check. After an attack by the Chinese that killed Lieutenant Commander Skinner and seriously injured Simon you'd think that he'd retire. Instead Simon raised the men's morale by continuing his job of catching rats.

Upstart was one of 3 horses to receives the medal. He was a police horse on duty when a building was bombed near him. With the glass and other building parts flying around, not to mention the noise, you'd think that the horse would spook. Not Upstart. He was recognized for his ability to remain calm at that time, allowing his rider to direct traffic and maintain order.

If you're interested in reading about the other Dickin Medal recipients, wikipedia has a great list. Keep in mind that the award has been given out 63 times, so if you prefer a shorter list BuzzFeed has chosen 15 they think are the coolest. I previously wrote a post about Roselle, another dog that received the Dickin Medal, after helping her owner get out of the Twin Towers and to safety on September 11th.

Lastly, in my research for this post I found a beautiful poem called "The Soldier's Kiss". It's about a war horse dying and how the soldier responds. Here's a stanza from it:

"Only a dying horse! he swiftly kneels,

Lifts the limp head and hears the shivering sigh

Kisses his friend, while down his cheek there steals

Sweet pity’s tear, "Goodbye old man, Goodbye"."

Please go here to read the whole poem.

Today is a day to remember all of our fallen heroes both human and animal.

Exercise With Your Pet- Balance

This blogathon (and my friend and fellow blogger, Veronica) are pushing me to do things with my blog that I've been wanting to do. Today's post is the beginning of a once a month series "Exercises You Can Do With Your Pet". Please let me know what you think!


Balance is an important aspect of fitness. Deficits can be an indicator that someone has a high risk of falling and will likely experience hip fractures.

As with other fitness related aspects, balance can be improved through practice, but who wants to stand on one leg for several minutes?

There's an easy way to integrate your pet into your balance workout making it more fun for both of you.

Balance can be practiced many different ways; I've listed some from easy to hard. I'd suggest starting with the easier ones at first especially if you are doing them with your pet. Once you both get used to it, you can move to the harder positions.

1. Stand with feet together.

2. Stand with feet in half tandem

3. Stand with feet in tandem.

4. Stand on one leg.

You can also make it more challenging by changing the surface that you are standing on. Find a foam cushion or rounded surface and go through the positions again. NOTE: when you're on uneven surfaces, make sure that you are barefoot, and start out with your feet shoulder width apart. Work up to the harder positions.

Now it's time to add your pet!

If it's a pet dog, play fetch while in the different positions. Throwing a ball is going to add to the workout and make it more challenging to balance.

If it's a pet cat, wave a stick with a ribbon on the end for your cat to chase while you're in the different positions. Again, moving the stick will challenge your balance.

If it's a pet horse, brush the horse while in the different positions.

Get creative if you have other animals as pets!

As you work on balance you are activating your core muscles to keep you upright. If you get to the point where you are standing on one leg, you are strengthening that leg. So you get increased muscle strength and balance and the best part is that you get to spend time playing with your pet!


Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Use your best judgement when you are participating in these activities. Do not try if you are already at risk for falls unless cleared by a health care professional.

Hearing Ear Dog

I've heard that good things come in small packages. I think that Judy Springborn would probably agree, at least in the case of her hearing ear dog.

Apple Pie, a chihuahua mix, was living in an animal shelter, slated to be euthanized when someone noticed she had the great qualities like good social skills and confidence.

The little dog was teamed up with a "hearing ear dog" trainer and a few months later Ms. Springborn was matched up with her.

Photo from L.A. Times

The purpose of a hearing ear dog is to alert their owner when the doorbell or the phone rings, when an alarm is going off, when a timer rings; really the list is endless. The dogs are beneficial because as the owner tunes into their dog, they are becoming aware of their surroundings. They see when something draws the dog's attention and they can follow the dog's gaze to locate the source.

Dogs for the Deaf is one group that trains hearing dogs. There's a application form available on their webpage as well as a list of things to consider before getting a hearing dog. I appreciate how "real" they are with their points to consider. They remind you that the dogs will leave hair everywhere, poop in your yard and can be destructive if you don't give them attention. You will also have to continue to train the dog for at least a year.

If you want to know what it's like to have a hearing ear dog, here's a blog post written by an owner of one.

or

If you'd rather watch a movie about it, check out Sunny's Ears.

The bottom line is that a hearing ear dog provides the owner with greater independence and self confidence to go out and live a "normal" life.

Abilities Through Agility

Earlier this year, TheBark wrote an article about a group of therapists, (physical, occupational, and speech-language) that partner their patients with dogs.

The patients' goals are met as they train the dogs to run an agility course.

Photo found at Paws & Effect's blog

What an awesome idea!

The kids use gross motor skills to set up the agility course, and the kids follow the dogs as they go through the course. The physical therapists can integrate things that they need to focus on during this time. Maybe having the kids make sure that as they  walk, their heels touch the ground, stretching out the calf muscles of "toe-walkers" in a fun way.

Occupational therapists focus on the fine motor skills, like taking off the leash and collar and brushing the dog. These movements require great finger dexterity, and can normally seem frustrating, but when you are doing it for your furry friend it becomes less of a chore.

As the dogs are learning to go through the course, the children need to direct the dogs. Speech language pathologists can have the cues involve certain word sounds that the child is working on.

Photo found at Paws & Effect's blog

I think this whole thing is brilliant and would love to get in contact with the physical therapists involved. Maybe I could do a clinical rotation with them.

You should definitely read the article to learn more about the Abilities Through Agility program. It's a pdf so it takes a little while to load, but it's worth the few extra second wait.

Diabetic Alert Dog Coming to Louisiana

Good news for a family in Louisiana!


They mentioned the possibility of Jeremiah going into a coma, but there are other unfortunate side effects of diabetes as well. Long term effects can damage eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels.

Teaming Jeremiah up with this dog will prevent some of this damage because he'll be able to keep from taxing his system. The other benefit is teaching Jeremiah how to work with a service dog. If his eyes fail him as a result of diabetes, he will know how to behave with a seeing eye dog, maybe he'll even be able to train the dog himself.

Thanks Veronica at The Eco Niche for sharing this story with me.

Good luck to Jeremiah and his family and Welcome to Louisiana, Warren Retriever!

Animals Give "Paws" to Grief

Today I have another guest blogger as a result of the 2012 WordCount Blogathon.


Kirsten writes a fabulously fun to read blog called Running for Autism about her life in Toronto, Canada raising two boys (6 and 8 years old). Her older son has autism which is why she runs to raise funds for the Geneva Centre for Autism. You can also catch her on twitter (@running4autism) and facebook (Running for Autism).


She shared the story of her father's death and how her mother coped with the help of their pets.


Enjoy!

My first dog was a mutt named Judge. He was what we called a “pavement special” – in other words, we had no idea what his lineage was or what breeds were represented in his genes. He became my dog not by virtue of someone giving him to me, but because he decided, when he came into our family, that he belonged with my two-year-old self.

It was a beautiful friendship between girl and dog. Apart from the times I was at school, Judge and I were rarely apart until he died at the age of twelve.

From the very early days of my life, my parents were “animal people”. There was no abandoned animal that went untended by them. The vast majority of our animals were rescue pets, from Sebastian the cat who was found in a parking lot with a list of injuries that went on for two pages, to Jessie and Bessie, the mother-and-daughter pair of dogs who didn’t have a home. On one occasion, my mom pulled over on the highway and darted into the traffic to rescue a budgie that was in the middle of the road.

My mom and dad treated the animals in much the same way they treated people. When cookies were distributed, the dogs got some too. Breakfast was not complete until all of the dogs and cats had received some milk and a sliver of toast topped with anchovy spread. The four-legged members of the family were not banned from any part of the house as long as they left the mud outside and didn’t scratch the furniture – much like us kids.

My brother and I grew up, we left home and eventually, the country. My dad retired, life events happened. Through everything, the animals remained a constant factor in my parents’ lives.

Seven years ago, the landscape of our lives – including the lives of the animals – was completely altered by the death of my dad. After the funeral and the cremation, after the ashes had been scattered, and after everyone who had gathered to say goodbye had gone back to their own lives, my mom found herself in her long-time home with only the animals for company.

The loss of my dad was devastating for my mom, who had been born in the generation of girls who left home to get married. In her youth, she had not gotten to experience any of the independent woman stuff that we have today. She had gone from the parental home straight into the married home. And therefore, when my dad died, my mom was living by herself for the first time in her life. She and my dad were two months shy of their fortieth wedding anniversary, and it had been a harmonious marriage.

My mom credits the animals for getting her through her initial stages of grief. They just seemed to know what my mom needed, possibly because they were grieving themselves.

They started following my mom wherever she went in the house. Dogs and cats alike were always with her, keeping her company. And yet, when she needed a good cry, they stayed a respectful distance away and gave her grief the space it needed. If the crying went on for an extended period of time, the big Belgian Sheppard would approach her and rest his head in her lap, as if to say, “That’s enough now. You have to get back to living for while.”

At night, the loneliest times of all, one of the cats would curl up with my mom, his body right up against hers. He would start to purr, and my mom just knew that he did it to soothe her, that he understood the calming effect that the purring had on her. She would fall asleep to the sound of the purring, and once satisfied that his human companion was all right, the cat would then fall asleep himself.

Having the animals to care for gave my mom purpose. It gave her a reason to get up in the morning. Some days, the idea of having to feed and care for four dogs and three cats seemed too overwhelming, but she did it anyway. If she hadn’t had the four dogs and three cats, she simply would have stayed in bed.

The fact that she was able to move on with her life in spite of her grief is a testament not only to my mom’s own strength of character, but to the role the animals played in her grieving process. Today, my mom is an independent woman with a rich, fulfilling life. She misses my dad every day, and occasionally, she still needs to have a good crying bout.

But the two dogs who are left over from my dad’s days (Jessie and Bessie, the mother and daughter pair who are miraculously still alive and ridiculously old) are there to help her through.

Jessie, Bessie, and Chelsea

Animal Mothers

Being a mother doesn't mean you physically gave birth to a living creature. In fact, you don't even need to be the same species. These stories are about some unlikely mothers:

Photo by Tom Harvey and Keith Philpott

A golden retriever takes care of three Bengal tiger cubs that were rejected by their mother. They stayed together until the cubs were a year old. You can read about their last time together here.

Photo by Johanna Kerby

This little piglet has become one of the litter, in fact, he's "mom's" favorite. His story is actually a children's book called The Pink Puppy

Photo by Peter Greste

This young hippo was orphaned after a tsunami and when he was brought to a reserve the first animal he saw was the tortoise. The tortoise took the young hippo's attention and affection and stride and their relationship was explored by NPR.

Koko's relationships with kittens made the news. She named her first kitten All Ball because to her that's what the kitten looked like.

The real "criteria" for the term mother is the endless love, and giving of self to another. These animals display this in a beautiful way. Happy Mother's Day!

Love Heals Everything

While searching for inspiration I came across this picture in Microsoft Word Clip Art. (Who knew?!)

I added the lovely quote that I think sums up their relationship quite nicely. 

The love from an animal is unconditional and very healing. Enjoy!

I'd Catch a Grenade For You...Jump in Front of a Train For You

Lilly has that kind of dedication, a point that she proved literally by saving her owner from an oncoming train.

Christine Spain, had a history of depression, anxiety, and alcoholism. That's why her son (David Lanteigne) adopted Lilly, a pit bull, 3 years ago, so that she would have a companion. Lilly has proven much to be more than that.

Since acquiring Lilly, Ms. Spain has cut down on her drinking. She doted over Lilly and seemed to be in a much better state, until a few days ago, when she got some bad news and her old habit kicked in. As she was walking Lilly that evening she passed out.
On railroad tracks.
And a train was coming.

The train driver saw them and tried to slow down, but heard a thump and knew he hit them. When he went to check, he saw that the woman was miraculously untouched by the train.
Lilly had pulled her to safety!

In doing so, Lilly bore the brunt of the impact and was taken immediately to Angell Animal Medical Center where the doctors had to amputate a front leg and put steel plates in her shattered pelvis. She is doing well, despite all of that and even wagged her tail and tried to stand when David came to visit.

If you are interested in helping this amazing dog on her road to recovery, you can go here to offer your financial support.

I'm so glad that Lilly is a pit bull. They've been getting a lot of bad press in recent years and have become the breed to hate. Lilly proves that breed has nothing to do with it! Her love and devotion speaks volumes. When that train was coming at them, it went against every natural instinct she had to stay there. Lilly is definitely a guardian angel!

Bella, a shar-pei/pit bull mix, displays the angelic quality of dogs
(regardless of breed).
Thanks Kat Godfrey for letting me use a picture of your adorable dog!

If you're interested in reading about some other dog heroes check out these stories.

The Healing Species

Bullying, violence and crime are very real problems.

The Healing Species is dedicated to addressing these issues through their Compassion Education program.

They rescue dogs, that are themselves victims of neglect and abuse, and after the dogs become healthy some are chosen to go into classrooms. This 11 week program empowers students when dealing with bullies and it teaches a whole lot about empathy.

This program has been validated by research, for people that like numbers instead of anecdotal stories. In fact, they've been so successful that they have satellite programs in Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and even New Zealand!

I would love to see one here in New Orleans, "Murder Capital of the United States". There's a lot of bullying, violence and crime here. Also, it would give the kids a chance to see the positive side of dogs as opposed to the dog fighting and the use of dogs for intimidation that goes on.

The story behind Healing Species is another inspiring one for me because the woman that started this was actually a lawyer before she decided to quit her job and start this program. She saw a need, and took it upon herself to change things. Thanks Cheri Brown Thompson, for making the world a better place!

Who's going to be that someone in your neighborhood to "be the change"? It could be you!

***UPDATE*** I just got a lovely e-mail from Marie Milhouse at Healing Species:

Sarah,

Thank you so much for your wonderful blog about Healing Species!!!!  You are making New Orleans and this world a better place, inspiring others to be changers and aware of issues that affect people and animals. 

We would love to have Healing Species in New Orleans!  Please let us know if you or someone you know is interested. 

May God bless you.

Sincerely,

Marie Milhouse

So now the challenge/invitation is out there! Any takers?!

Stress Relief During Finals Week

This is finals week for me and countless other students. This is the week that our stress level is through the roof, and for some schools suicide rates increase. This is the week that we are low on sleep and high on caffeine.

None of this is good for our health or our grades, so schools have been coming up with ways to decrease the tension. My undergrad had a designated scream time where you could get out your frustration and despair vocally. But a recent trend spares the vocal chords.

If you feel overwhelmed, or just need a study break some colleges, universities, and even a couple of law schools are offering to give you a hand. Or a paw, really.

Starting today (May 7th), students at U.C. Berkeley can visit with animals outside Moffitt Library all week as a way to relieve stress. They aren't the only school to offer this escape, Yale Law School, Tufts University, Emory Law School, University of California-Irvine, University of Akron, George Mason University School of Law, University of Tennessee, Georgetown University and Sam Houston State University have all enlisted the help of animals.

The cool thing about these programs is that the animals benefit as well. Several of the schools use animals from shelters. This allows the animals to be seen by potential future owners (or people that know someone looking for a dog or cat). And it's a great way to socialize the animals (a key component in being seen as adoptable).

So it's win-win for everyone. I hope next semester more schools will be on the list. Maybe my school!

 For now, I've recruited my cat to act as my stress relief.

Good luck on finals everyone!

Dog Participates in Marathon

Spring is definitely marathon season, with big local races like the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and the Crescent City Classic here in New Orleans, and then national races like the Boston Marathon. For one man, this marathon season is extra special.

Mr. Kelly has run in 19 marathons, which is already impressive to me, so why will his 20th be any different or more spectacular? Because a lot has happened to him between then and now. This will be his first full marathon since an industrial accident, stroke, and bicycle accident shattered an arm and limited the use of one foot, among other things. Oh, and did I mention that he was born blind in one eye?

As you might suspect, he has not let any of his medical issues stop him, but he is also smart about it. Four years ago he got Murphy, a Rhodesian ridgeback dog, to walk with him. Murphy was made for walking he found out after doing some research. It turns out that this breed of dog was used to hunt lions in Africa and they need long walks to be at their best.

Normally, dogs aren't allowed in the marathons, but Dan Kelly was able to get special permission for Murphy to accompany him. They will both be wearing t-shirts with "assisted walker" and their race number to identify that they are together. Their pace might be a little slower than the other runners, but they should still be able to finish the race. (They've been walking a mile in 12-13 minutes and the sweeper truck does a mile in 13 minutes and 42 seconds.)

So if you get a second today, think about Dan and Murphy as they race in the Pittsburgh Marathon.

***This is another big race going on today as well, the Maryland Half-Marathon. Last year, it passed by Dozer (the goldendoodle's) house and he got through his invisible fence to join the race. There's video of him crossing the finish line after running 8 miles. This year, he's fundraising on behalf of the half-marathon and the donations are going to the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center.***

***UPDATE*** They've posted the results of the Pittsburgh Marathon and Dan Kelly finished the race! Congrats to him and Murphy!

The Gentle Barn

If you haven't heard of The Gentle Barn before, you will know all about it after watching this TV special.

I find the story incredibly inspiring. Ellie Laks found a way to accomplish her dream of working with animals as healers while they are receiving healing themselves. And she was able to do it with no business background or even a well thought out plan (at least initially). Not only has she been able to accomplish this, but she's been extremely successful. The Gentle Barn will be celebrating it's 12th birthday this summer.

I want to do something similar and I've felt that my dream is out of reach because I don't have any business or entrepreneurial experience. Ellie Laks gives me the motivation to keep on believing in my dream, and more importantly, to actually jump in and get it started.

Seizure Service Dogs

Dogs are known for both their sense of smell and their loyalty. Both of these qualities are come in handy when the dog's job is to care for their owner before, during and/or after a seizure.

There are different types of seizure service dogs; seizure alert, seizure response, and seizure assistance. The role of the seizure alert dog is to detect the impending seizure and signal the owner. Hopefully, this will give the person enough time to either take anti-seizure medication, or at least get to a place that minimizes potential dangers. This of course requires a strong relationship between the human and dog. They need to be able to read each others' body language. The dog has to detect the subtle changes their owner might display before a seizure, meanwhile the human needs to understand when their dog is trying to warn them. This partnership could take time to develop and it is thought that over time, some dogs have been able to detect seizures using their sense of smell.

 Here's one young girl's story about her relationship with her seizure alert dog.

A seizure response or seizure assistance dog is taught to react when the owner is experiencing a seizure. The dogs are usually trained to stand by, or over their owner throughout the seizure. This ensures that the person will be kept safe during the seizure and it allows them to see a familiar face once the seizure is over. The dogs can be taught to retrieve and/or use a pre-programmed phone to call for help if their owner needs it. Many of the stories I was reading about involved children with seizure assistance dogs, so the phone wouldn't necessarily be as important since most of the children would have an adult within earshot of warning barks. Also, seizure service dogs wear a harness with pockets where medication, a phone, and medical information can be stored so if an adult does have a seizure out in public, a passerby could convey that information to emergency medical services as needed.

An older girl shows how her alert dog is "on-duty" even as she's getting ready for bed.

Last January, a school barred a boy's seizure alert dog, but then the officials overturned their decision after his story got media attention. I don't know if the boy ended up going back to school or not, but it is a shame that he was put in the position to choose between his education and his safety. His seizure assistance dog actually had a magnet on her collar that she was trained to swipe over a nerve simulator in the boy's chest when he was having (or about to have) a seizure. This would lessen the effects of his seizure.

If you'd like to know more about seizure service dogs, the Delta Society has a great pdf document  that talks about different breeds, how the dogs help, and where to get one, among other things.

National Pet Day!

April 11th is National Pet Day which was created by Colleen Paige, Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate.

I am lucky enough that I own both a dog and a cat, but when I was little that wasn't the case. I'm one of 6 children and when we would ask for a pet, our parents' clever response was "we have enough animals in the house".

If I had done some research, I might have had some reasons for why having a pet is a good idea. (Beyond wanting one more friend to play with)

Here's a slideshow called 27 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health. Maybe you will have better luck convincing those in your life that getting a pet is actually good for you!

P.S. What do you think about the above collection of animals as pets? Are there any that you wouldn't consider a good pet?

Miracle Dogs

I know a lot of people are going to see The Hunger Games this weekend. (Which is a great movie by the way.) One of the actors, Josh Hutcherson, who plays Peeta Mellark actually starred in a movie that explored the healing power of dogs when he was much younger.

Josh  now, fighting for his life

Josh then, fighting for a dog's life

In Miracle Dogs, he teams up with a dog named Annie who he finds while moving to a new town. Annie (a cancer survivor with only 3 legs) is sent to the pound in the hopes that she gets adopted. When her time there starts running out Charlie (Josh Hutcherson) breaks her and a male dog out.

Puppies are born and now there are several dogs that need a place to stay. Charlie decides to keep the dogs in the basement of the hospital where his parents work, just until he can find them permanent homes. But then something happens.

Annie and her pups sneak out at night and visit the patients after hours. And oddly enough, the patients start recovering at incredible rates. 

Not everyone is excited about the "miracle dogs" though and Charlie ends up causing problems for his family and friend by protecting these dogs.

Miracle Dogs might not have gotten the rave reviews of The Hunger Games, but it is a good family friendly movie that also lets your cheer for the underdogs!

Peace Begins with a Smile- Mother Teresa

I found another article featuring a slideshow of animals smiling. They must be on to something.

If you've caught your animal smiling, send me a picture and we can create our own slideshow to be featured on my blog.

Why We Love the Animals in Our Lives

Today's a day that we set aside to express our feelings to those we love. When I was thinking about writing a blog post for today, I was going to find a story about an animal sharing the healing power of love. But then I realized, our animals show us that healing love 365 days of the year (or 366 days in the case of leap years).

So instead I asked my friends and family to share why they love their animals and these are the responses I got:

Christopher:  Perfect song

Amanda V's adorable dog

Amanda V.: They always know how to make you smile!

Jim: Unconditional love!

Gabe: They don't over analyze things like humans do. They live life simply.

Amanda G.: My dogs were both adopted and they know they got a second chance. They cuddle and take care of each other. I just love them so much. Russel is really old and Ringo is younger, but sometimes he'll go up to check on Russel. And Russel can't hear anymore so when it's time to eat or go out Ringo will go and get him. So sweet!

Michelle M.'s Bunny and Cat, who are sometimes friends

Michelle M.: They are so simple-minded. Makes them great companions to de-stress with!

Sharon: The way they look at you after you've had a long day. The smiling face and wagging tail, like everything is going to be okay! Also, they always think you're the coolest most amazing person in the entire world, no matter what!

Juanita: I love them cuz they love you with out questions and/or conditions. Love you Joy (my shi-tzu poodle friend)

Michelle H.'s cat aptly named Trouble

Andrew's dog , Thor, looking dapper

Alexa: Whatever you do, they're excited about it. If it's sitting on the sofa all day, fantastic. If it's a hike through the Denali wilderness, fantastic. If it's a long car ride, fantastic. If it's a day on the computer reading reddit, fantastic. Also, they, like small children, don't care who you are outside of the house, what other people think of you, what your job is or how much money you have. It's beyond unconditional love, to uncomplicated love. Love that just is. But, I really like that a nice day in a dog's mind involves playing fetch, a car ride, a walk and time curled up on the sofa.

Michelle H.: My kitten trains me :)

Andrew: I love him because he's way more loyal than any human.

Erin: There's nothing better than waking up in the morning to find the warm, soft little body of cat next to you.

Patricia: They're much more interesting to talk to than people and they don't watch Fox News.

Amy: They show me what it really means to love unconditionally.

Kim: No matter how bad your day has been, when you come home they are there waiting for you and instantly make you smile =)

Carol's two sweethearts

Debra: Because the love that they give to us every day is so unconditional. They expect absolutely nothing from us but give us all that they have.

Carol: Just look at these two... how can you not love them?

Juice Baby, who loves the sink
almost as much as he loves Matthew

Matthew: The way he thinks he can protect me from dogs, humans, or even coyotes, but when the going gets tough he hides under the bed. The way he knows if you're sick or sad and the best medicine is for him to curl up next to you and he gives you plenty of kisses. The way he makes sure to clean your face so you never walk out the door with a dirty face. The way he jumps right in the engine compartment or interior of my car to see if he can help with anything. The way he rushes to the door to see you off to work or when you come home. How he shows he's grateful for water with a kiss on the cheek. How he makes sure you are never alone. Because he comes home after a long day of being free out in the "wild". That's why I love him and I know he loves me...