Having a deaf/blind dog is not for everyone

Recently, I came across an article online where a family in the UK put out an alert that their deaf/blind dog had gone missing. Apparently, the owner slept until noon and when she awakened, she discovered the dog was gone. She also discovered that someone had left a gate open, which is how her dog got out. Her dog is 16 years old and she went on about how much they all love this dog. I felt bad for their situation, but at the same time, I was gritting my teeth.

If her dog is deaf and blind – as in, CAN’T HEAR and CAN’T SEE – why didn’t she take better measures to ensure her dog would be safe? I know, we’re all human and we all make mistakes sometimes. But making sure a gate was closed should have been a priority. She should have made sure it would not be easy for the dog to wander off by reminding EVERYONE in the household to keep the gate closed because the dog might get out. The dog can’t even see where he is going!

Not too long after that, I was dismayed by another article I read. This time, the owner KNEW his deaf/blind dog was roaming off, but he didn’t do anything about it! Animal control constantly returned the dog to the owner telling him he needed to stop allowing the dog to wander off. But he never did. Then one day, the dog, a German Shepherd, got stuck in a swamp. His howling after 11 p.m. woke somebody who lived nearby, and this person called animal control. They all took action to get the dog out of the swamp and help him to get warm. Their guess was that the dog had been in the swamp for at least a half hour and he was frozen to the bone. (The dog also had arthritis.) When they pulled him from the swamp, the dog turned rigid and passed out. They were able to warm him up and revive him, but unfortunately, the vet could not save him.

The dog had to be put down. And the owner was arrested for neglect.

The fact that I read two articles of these sad situations for deaf/blind dogs in the span of one week just really affected me. Of course I was angry that these owners did not do what they were supposed to do to protect their dogs, but it also reminded me of an interview I did for SIGNews.

This interview was with Christina Lee, founder of Deaf Dogs Rock. We had quite a lengthy interview and reading those articles reminded me of something she said in the interview. In my interview, when I asked, "Does it take a special someone to be a companion to a deaf dog?" part of her answer included this: "I don’t think you have to be a special person to adopt a deaf dog but I do think a deaf dog is not for a lazy person." The same could be said of anyone who is responsible for a dog that is deaf and blind.

My own dog has vision problems, so I know I can’t be one of those dog owners who lets her dog outside then forgets about him. I have a large backyard and my dog has gotten lost in it a couple of times. He likes to wander and explore, and I’ve had to go out there and gently lead him back to the door. Or sometimes, I would pick him up and carry him back inside if he was having a hard time navigating his way back to the door. I know I have to keep an eye on him just as I have to keep an eye on my preschooler. This is especially true since I am deaf; I can’t hear my dog howling for help if he gets stuck somewhere. (Also, I think my dog is grateful we have wooden floors, because he can feel the footsteps when someone is nearby, just as I can.)

The point is that anyone, ANYONE, who has a dog that is deaf and blind MUST take steps to ensure their dog’s safety. Keep a gate closed, watch your dog, don’t allow your dog to roam the countryside and never, ever hit or scream at your deaf/blind dog for doing something “naughty” that you could have prevented. The dog is only being a dog.

I asked Christina for a comment about this topic. This is what she had to say: “The main thing I would say is for folks who have deaf and blind dogs to put them in the same category (as far as safety measures go to be put in place) as they would if they had a 12 to 14 month old baby. When a dog can't see or hear it should be an inside dog with the exception of going potty outside and supervised play in a fenced area and never ever take them to a dog park.”

She has invited readers to check out her tips for working with a deaf dog – but some of these tips (such as taking a class and watching for signs of fear or aggression with other dogs) can work for a deaf/blind dog. You can read her tips here.

Finally, please don’t neglect your deaf/blind dog. I still remember another article I read of a deaf/blind dog that was left chained up outside for seven years, with no human interaction or a chance to be in a warm home during the harsh winters. Thankfully, this dog was finally rescued, but my heart aches thinking of what that dog went through for seven years on a chain outside. So please do not neglect your deaf/blind dog! Having a deaf/blind dog is a huge responsibility. If you cannot be responsible or do what is required to take care of your deaf/blind dog, then please find a good home for it where the dog will receive the care, training, guidance and love he/she so desperately needs.

Have a heart

Today is Valentine’s Day and, for many, today was about that special someone they love. While I enjoyed a special Valentine treat with my husband, I also kept in mind something that we see everywhere on Valentine’s Day: A heart.

Specifically, the human heart.

Even more specifically, heart health. February is Heart Health Month, so it's a good time to think about just how good your heart health is.

There are some people in my family who have survived heart attacks. However, their surviving the heart attacks has not made me take heart health for granted. On the contrary, it has made me be more aware of how important it is to take care of our heart and practice good habits that keep our hearts strong.

Last week, I finished the first draft of a new ebook. This week, I am fixing up the manuscript – editing, formatting, citing sources, etc. And I thought it was interesting that, on today in particular, I was working on the chapter about exercises you can do to boost your heart health. In fact, one article I cited was talking about how the less we pump up and exercise our hearts, the weaker it will get, and it just won't be able to keep working as well as it used to as we age. Here, on a day where the heart is a big thing, I was reading about how we can take care of our heart health!

The coincidence was not lost on me. In fact, it was a good reminder that I need to revisit my habits that boost heart health.

Sure, exercise is one thing. But diet is important, too. We need to monitor what we eat and be careful not to overdo things that can be detrimental to our heart health. Also, cholesterol is a big thing to watch in monitoring our heart health. (This is actually covered in the next chapter of the ebook.) Another thing is to avoid doing activities that are too strenuous.

For some time, however, I have made it a point to be conscious of my diet and how it affects my heart health. And, today, I have decided that I am definitely going to try to find SOME WAY to squeeze in a 30-minute walk every day. The weather has been lousy and definitely not something to walk in if I can avoid it. Maybe I can find somewhere indoors to do a good walk. I do miss going for walks and need to make it a point to go for a walk every day.

Diet and exercise affect our heart health, but so does our environment. So do the choices we make in our lives. So the next time you choose something to eat or something to do, choose something that is good for your heart. Even if it is eating a piece of dark chocolate.

Beam me up, Scotty! (Just leave behind the mouse.)

“Houston, we have a problem.”

Ah, technology. Love it or hate it. Sometimes I love it, like when it allows me to stay connected with people or to read about stuff I couldn’t otherwise be privy to. And sometimes I hate it, like when “that darn Shift key” gets stuck and I have to go back to add a capital letter somewhere – or the mouse button stops working!

Recently, I have noticed that the right mouse button has not been working very well. I usually right-click on links to open them in another tab (like for the MANY science articles I like to read!) or right-click on a PDF link to save an ebook onto the hard drive. But lately, that has not been going so well. The right mouse button has been stuck and I have had to really PRESS on that darn thing to get it to work!

After I noticed this was happening a lot, I realized this was a mouse-button problem and not so much a temporary thing. It wasn’t me being a real weakling in pressing the mouse button, either.

In fact, I think that hubby has noticed this problem, too. I never mentioned it to him but it seems that he, too, has caught on that the mouse button was being so darn stubborn because he recently went out and bought a new mouse.

So the problem has been resolved without either of us having to say anything about it. I kept reminding myself to mention this problem to him but never got around to doing that. Now I don’t need to worry about saying anything because he noticed that problem too and took action.

As to the tech woes? If I have problems with the Shift key, I usually cry out “That darn Shift key!” and go back to correct mistakes, all the while muttering expletives under my breath. (Or sometimes I don’t catch the mistakes before an email gets away from me. Yikes!) And, usually, about the only other thing I have done with the mouse is imitate Scotty by holding it up and saying into the back of it, “Helloooo, computerrrr.” The kids have had a good laugh over this and even did the same thing a time or two. Good thing they never saw me scream my head off at the mouse, yank it out of the computer and angrily bang it against the desk a hundred thousand times after that darn button once again didn’t work. Because I was sure tempted to do that after having to deal with that problem for so long!

The mouse has been spared, though – and replaced. Peace is once again restored in our home.

Now if only something could be done about that darn Shift key.......

48 Questions

48 Questions


I got this from Joleene Naylor at Ramblings from the Darkness. Decided to give it a run since this blog SERIOUSLY needs an update!


1. What time did you get up this morning?

6. Darn alarm clock didn’t go off at 5!

2. How do you like your steak?

Well done. <—ditto

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

I don’t remember. But the last movie I saw was The Sandlot which I watched with Jennifer.

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Who. How Clean is Your House? Supernanny.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

I like where I live now (except for the snow and ice – boo!) but I would love to live near the water. Even if it’s a lake!

6. What did you have for breakfast?

Toast and OJ.

7. What is your favorite food?

Anything BBQ.

8. Foods you dislike?

Raw meat.

9. Favorite place to eat?

McGrath’s Fish House.

10. Favorite dressing?

Ranch

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive?

A green Ford Contour.


12. What are your favorite clothes?

Jeans and T-shirt.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?

Ireland, Australia, Greece, Italy . . . oh, I can only pick one?

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

½ full

15. Where would you want to retire?

I don’t think I’ll EVER retire. I’ll write books until I’m dead!

16. Favorite time of day?

Night time

17. Where were you born?

Glendale, CA

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?

More than one. Football, baseball and basketball. But I like PRO sports. Not into the college sports.

19. What is your favorite fragrance?

Jovan White Musk

20. What is your favorite face cream?

I . . . don’t use face cream.

21. Favorite baby/kids products?

Pokemon

22. People watcher?

Most def!

23. Are you a morning or night person?

Night owl at heart. Morning person out of duty. :/

24. Do you have any pets?

One dog

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share?

I’m starting an ebook project today. Yay! And I got the green light to do ANOTHER article for SIGNews, in addition to the one they assigned to me. Yay! (Now I wait and wait to get a response to my interview request. Sigh!)

26. What did you want to be when you were little?

A cowgirl.

27. What is your favorite memory?

Spending time with both grandmothers. How I miss them.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?

Dog person.

29. Are you married?

Why else would I wear a wedding ring?

30. Always wear your seat belt?

Yes!

31. Been in a car accident?

Yes, that accident that caused the burns plus a fender-bender. Plus getting hit by some drunk while at college. *grumbles at the memory*


32. Any pet peeves?

Ah, let me count the ways. People who abuse kids. People who abuse animals. People who discriminate. People who use drugs. (I have NO LOVE for drug addicts.) Drunk drivers. Computers that seem to have a mind of their own.

33. Favorite pizza toppings?

Pineapple and Canadian bacon.

34. Favorite flower?

The yellow rose, of course!

35. Favorite ice cream?

Mint chocolate chip.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?

Subway

37. How many times did you fail your driver’s test?

Once.

38. From whom did you get your last email?

Someone who wants to review the charity ebook when it comes out. (Yay!)


39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

I would not normally max out my card but for the sake of this question, I would say Target.


40. Do anything spontaneous lately?

It’s been known to happen.

41. Like your job?

I LOVE my job!

42. Broccoli?

Preferably fresh.

43. What was your favorite vacation?

St. Louis!

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?

Hubby.

45. What are you listening to right now?

The silence.

46. What is your favorite color?

Blue.

47. How many tattoos do you have?

None.

48. Coffee drinker?

Yes, please!