Tag: Educational

It’s Caturday at Our House Too

Published on by Service Cats U.S.44 Comments

Yes, mommy it’s Caturday here too. Sum of ya’ may read dat sentence and fink meez bein’ a smawrty pants, but dat just ain’t so. Let me splain. See me told ya’ Fursday dat mommy passes out everyday. And when she comes back wound she’s a little disoriented and dusn’t weally know fings like da day of da week or da time of day, or even sumtimes where she is. And then she has twubble sleepin’ which makes her weally tired and run down and offen confused. Mommy calls it “losin’ days”. She dusn’t weally lose any days, she just get confused ‘bout what day it is cuz they all run togevver. When yous not leave yous house very offen and yous only sleep a few hours a day, then those days stawrt to run into each udder. And here lately mommy hasn’t been getting’ to sleep till 5 – 6 a.m., and hers back up by 8 a.m..

 dw-Sketched Dezi

And last night/today be no diffewent. It was 6 a.m. this meownin’ when mommy finally cwashed and went to sleep. And then she was awakened at 7:30 a.m. by sis Lexi horkin’ and standin’ on hers steps chuckin’ up a hairball. So mommy got up today finkin’ it was Fursday. She kuldn’t figger out why certain purrogwams wasn’t on da teevee. (offen how she will reorient is the guide on the teevee dat lists da day, date and time). When she finally wealized it was Caturday she had a little panic attack and pawlogized to Lexi and me cuz she hadn’t helped us post any Caturday Awt. Weez boff meowed unanimously dat it was okay, there’s still purrlenty of time to post us sum awtsy fotos. So here we awe, joinin’ Athena and Marie’s Caturday Awrt Blog Hop. Go by and check out all da udder pawsum awt and stay cool. It’s purrawlly Caturday at yous house too.

 dw-Lexi decompose

 

Till da next time…………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Dezi and Lexi

cat-animated

What’s That Smell…

Published on by Service Cats U.S.36 Comments

A Service Cat is Born pt. 5

 

Me always enjoys hearin’ da stowries of da Service cats dat came afur me. They awe all an inspurration. Meez furst ever act as mommy’s latest Service kitty happened when me was ‘bout 3 1/2-4 weeks old. Mommy discovered just how smawrt and tuned in me was. Isn’t dat wight mommy?

 dw4322

That’s right Dezi, I sure did. You were so tiny and cute as a button and still so sick with worms, but there you were already trying to take care of me.

 

Oh mommy me luvved you so much and was so fankful dat you had saved me. Me knows dat’s what da nice peeps who took me away fwum dat dirty house was twyin’ to do, but they didn’t weally know what they was duin’ and just shoved me and me udder 10 littermates in a little box and put us in a bigger box wiff bars. They put down bowls wiff sumfin’ smelly in ’em but we didn’t know how to eat on our own, we still needed our cat mom. And meez tummy hurt so bad, and me was so tired fwum bein’ overdosed on dat over da counter wormer dat me fur sure fawt we was all dead. But then there you were, smellin’ so sweet and yous lap was so soft and yous voice so weassurin’ dat me just knew everyfin’ was gunna be alwight.

 dw-Dezi baby basket

So when yous sweet smell changed me just knew sumfin’ bad was gunna happen. And there you was actin’ like everyfin’ was normal. Me stawrted squeaking meowin’ at ya’ like cwazy. And you reached down and picked me up and hugged me tight and gave me a kiss and then set me back down. Me just kept on meowin’. Me weally liked da luvvin’ but dat’s not what me was twyin’ to tell ya’. Me was twyin’ to tell ya’ sumfin’ bad was ‘bout to happen. So when you stawrted to reach down fur me again, me ‘cided dat me needed to do sumfin’ diffewent cuz you just wasn’t unnewstandin’ me at all. And here me fawt you spoke squeak meow. So me stawrted pawin’ yous ankle. Me kuldn’t weach anywhere else. So me pawed at yous ankle and squeaked meowed even louder and stawrted turnin’ wound and wound. Finally you asked ifin me was twyin’ to tell ya sumfin’. It’s ’bout time me fawt, but by then it was too late and you went fallin’ to da floor. KaBoom!!!

 

Now what? You wasn’t movin’ and yous eyes was closed. But me knew you didn’t sleep on da floor like dat so me hurried to get sis Lexi, squeakin’ meowin’ all da way down da hall. Sis Lexi came wunnin’ up da hall towards me and went into da kitchen where you was and laid down ‘side you. Well me didn’t. Me crawled up on yous chest and began to kiss yous face. Me was so happy when yous eyes finally opened dat meez purr kulda rumbled da whole house. Yous eyes had been closed FUREVER (not more than a few minutes). You was so supurrized to see me there in yous face lookin’ at ya’ when you came back wound dat you smiled at me and petted me and told me how special me was. Me stawrted squeakin’ meowin’ dat you shulda lissened to me earlier.

 dw-Dezi baby

You sure did Dezi. And I was so proud of you. I still am, and always will be. And you’re right, I should have listened to you from the start. I learned my lesson tho’ didn’t I sweety?

 

Yeah mommy you did. Da next time me told you sumfin’ bad was gunna happen you went and sat down. No more cwashin’ to da floor fur you. Least not dat way anymore. Me better splain to everypawdy what was happenin’ zactly. See mommy passes out daily. It’s called Syncope. Dat means a short loss of consciousness and muscle stwength. It’s due to a lack of blood flow to da bwain. And there awe a few fings dat will make mommy pass out, includin’ da blood clot on hers bwain It can be scary, but so long as mommy dusn’t hit anyfin’ shawrp or conk hers head on anyfin’, it’s usually over in a few minutes time and there’s no need fur worry or external help (ie: ambulances, emergency purrsonnel, etc.) Well dat was meez furst ever task purrfurmed fur mommy, but it wuldn’t be da last. Stay tuned fur more stowries ‘bout da way we help mommy live a full and independent life.

 

Ifin yous missed any posty in this ongoing series, you can read them here.

The Chair Moves

Shad, The First Service Kitty

What’s The Big Deal pt. 2

What’s The Big Deal pt. 1

 

Till da next time………………Be Blest!!!

 

Dezi = Blue

Mommy = Black

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Dezi and Lexi

cat-animated

What’s The Big Deal…

Published on by Service Cats U.S.26 Comments

Why Can’t I call a Therapy Animal or Companion Animal a Service Animal?

Three words, three diffewent meanings. And yet so many peeps still use these terms interchangeably. But they’re not. Interchangeable me means. They mean 3 diffewent things and descwibe 3 diffewent types of animals wiff diffewent twainin’ levels and skills. It sumtimes hurts our feelings to be called therapy or companion kitties but we know peeps awe usually sayin’ it cuz they don’t know da diffewence. Mommy on da udder hand gets weally uptight ‘bout it. She sez there’s a big diffewence and it shows diswespect to those who have worked so hawd to twain to be Service animals. And dat peeps takin’ advantage of da old ADA rule by passin’ off therapy and companion animals and even pets as Service animals is what caused da ADA to change da definitions and exclude sum species, like us kitties. Altho’ we do still enjoy sum benefits, weez not as purrtected unnew da law as we once was. Isn’t dat wight mommmy?

 dw4424

Yes dear that’s right.

 

Mommy wuld you give everypawdy da definitions of a Service, Therapy and Companion Animal?

I would be happy to Dezi. Why don’t we start with Service Animals. According to the ADA website, on March 15, 2011 ONLY dogs are recognized as Service Animals under titles 2 and 3 of the ADA (Americans with Disablity Act). The rules used to read: A Service Animal is an animal(dog)that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with disabilities. After 2011 it replaces the word animal with dog. The ADA recognizes that Service animals are not PETS, but working animals. However they now only recognize dogs as such animals. The work the animal (dog) is trained to perform must be directly related to the persons disability. Animals (dogs) whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support DO NOT qualify as Service Animals under the ADA. It goes further to say: This definition does NOT affect or limit the broader definition of “Assistance Animal” under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of “Service Animal” under the Air Carrier Access Act. Some State and local laws have broader definitions regarding Service Animals. You should check with your local government and ordinances if you have questions with regards to accessibility or other protections and rights afforded you under the laws of your state.

 dw2102 (1256x1280)

Dat’s why we be called Service Animals isn’t it mommy? Cuz weez been TRAINED to purrfurm duties diwectly welated to yous disability?

 

Yes it is sweety. And before 2011 Lexi and those who came before her were certified. You were tested, certified and recognized as a highly trained Service Animal as well, but the ADA dusn’t recognize you as one. We are still protected under the law and benefit from certain rules and regulations, but there are some benefits we can no longer receive. You and sis Lexi can no longer apply to be sponsored as Service animals. There are companies that sponsor Service animals for one thing. And a Sponsorship means they provide the animal with food, supplies, toys and pay all medical expenses for them. Since people with disabilities are usually on a fixed income, sponsorship is a great benefit and help.

dw2031 (1280x1169)

It’s gweat to be a Service animal mommy. Meez purroud me can help you even ifin da ADA dusn’t wecognize me.

 

I know baby and I really do appreciate you and your sister. Y’all are a great help to me. And I love you both very much.

 dw1793 (1280x960)

Oh mommy we luv you too. Me finks we might shuld cover da udder workin’ animals in anudder posty mommy? Me finks this might be a lot to digest and me dusn’t want anypawdy to be confused ‘bout da diffewences. What do yous fink mommy?

 dw2040 (1232x1280)

I think you’re absolutely right Dezi. I think we shuld let everypawdy absorb this. It is a lot of information but we do hope to clear things up for people by the end of this series. Why don’t you list a few of the “jobs” you and Lexi perform for me so that our friends will know what kinds of things are considered “trained behaviors that qualify y’all as Service Animals”.

dw0044

Oh me wuld luv to mommy. Lexi and me have been trained to drive mommys wheelchair, dial 911 fur help, give her massages, and our biggy is dat we alert mommy afur she passes out so she can get sumwhere safe and not dwop all da way to da floor and get hurt. We do hope dat yous all enjoy our series on Working animals and will keep coming back to read da whole series. Weez will cover Therapy and Companion Animals and tell sum trainin’ stowries of our own as pawrt of this series.

 

 

And ifin yous haven’t alweady entered, we have 2 pawsum give aways goin’ on wight now.

You can enter to win yous choice of PetSafe’s Pagoda fountain here.

And you can enter to win yous choice of a case of Weruva TruLuxe canned food here.

 dw0902 (1280x960)

These pawsum give aways awe pawrt of our series on hydwation and weez very gwateful to da sponsors fur allowin’ us to offer you all a chance to twy their purroducts fur yous selff. And stay tuned, we have more pawsum give aways comin’ up this mumff. And just to clear up one thing, ifin yous alweady follow meez bloggy by email, then yous not have to do it again.

 

Till da next time……………….Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Dezi and Lexi

 

References: ADA

cat-animated

Indoors Or Out? The I’s Have It!

Published on by Service Cats U.S.29 Comments

Meowllo evewypawdy, it’s finally Furiday. We be weally happy it’s da weekend. It’s been a long and busy week so weez lookin’ furward to sum west time this weekend. As you wecall it wuz mommy’s doctow pointment week and then cleanin’ day to get weady fur inspections. Then there wuz moppin’ after inspections cuz da exterminator came too. And then yesfurday da lawn cwu wuz here fur their furst visit of da season. So mommy sez she’s just kinda wunnin’ on autopilot. Now most of ya’ know dat meez not to fond of da lawn cwu and me wuns and hides. Mommy’s twied just ‘bout evewyfin’ to help me not be so skeered. Cuz it’s not just da lawn cwu, it’s also stowms and fireworks. Mommy’s been wantin’ to twy thise flower essences, they just haven’t been in da budget. So she finally found a cheap knock off and bought it. We actually got it at da end of last mumff. So when she saw da lawn cwu twuck today she fawt it wuz da purrfect oppurrtunity to give it a twy.

dw Dezi3624
What’cha got there mommy?

Me wuz hangin’ out on da top of da cat twee when mommy bwought over this bottle and a dwopper full of sumfin’. She stuck it up there and sed, “Open wide Dezi.” Yeah wight. Have you ever seen a cat just “open wide” wiffout sniffin’ whatevew be in their face furst? Me will tell ya’, No you haven’t, and neevew did me. Of course me did what any self wespectin’ kitty wuld do and stawted sniffin’. Me wusn’t so sure ‘bout dat dwopper full of whatevew. So no, me didn’t stick meez tung out and say ahhhh. So mommy put a foo dwops on meez paw furs and a little on meez side. Yep, yous guessed it, me stawted lickin’. and then da lawn cwu guys wuz on ow porch and me stawted wunnin’. Me finally weappeared 5 hours later and 20 minutes after da lawn cwu left. So weez guessin’ eevew da cheap knock off dusn’t work, or me didn’t get enuff of it to weally test it out. So guess what mommy will be duin’ da next time da lawn cwu shows up? weez’ll let ya’ know how it turns out. MOL

dw Dezi3678
Me dusn’t know ’bout dat mommy. Why dusn’t sis Lexi twy it furst?

Now as you all know me joined up wiff da bloggn’ A to Z challenge this mumff and today’s letter is I. Me fawt dat wuz kinda a twicky one, but one word kep comin’ to meez mind and so me told mommy to look it up. So she typed in da search baw, Injuries in indoor only cats. As most of you know we be indoor only cats. Mommy has always believed it wuz faw safer fur us. Da only time we ever go outside is wiff mommy in ow stwoller, and usually wiff a hawness and leash just in case. Da only exception to this is when weez stwollin’ wound ow pawtment complex and fur occasional VET visits. We don’t always have to wear a hawness and leash duwin’ those times. Ow stwoller is quite secure, but mommy dusn’t like to take chances. And there’s a clip in da stwoller to attach da leash to, so it shuld be assumed dat even da manufacturers of stwollers feel dat there is a need fur additional safety measures.

 0dw Dezi in stroller

We know a lot of you let your kitties go outside unsupervised and/or off leash. We fink da only kitty what belongs outside wiffout supervision is a Feral. And we gotta tell ya’ weez not weal cwazy ‘bout dat, but we know there’s a weason they be called Feral. We weally wanna talk ‘bout da dangers to us kitties out in this big old world. There awe diseases yous kitty can get/develop if exposed to da gweat outdoors. And sum of these be fatal. Among those awe: FeLV, FIV, FIP and URI’s. We can also get fleas, ticks, ear mites, ringworm and intestinal worms. And while these may not be fatal, they awe certainly not pleasant fur us or you. And then there be fings like cars, dogs, wild animals, poisons, and old fashioned animal cwuelty. There awe a lot of not so nice peeps out there hoo abuse kitties fur amusement, and just plain meanness.

 dw Lexi stroller45

And da twuff is dat weez been so domesticated dat weez not weally need to go outside. We do need a cat furiendly home wiff sumfin to scwatch on and lay on and play wiff. A pawdee box, high quality meaty noms and furesh water. You can even gwo us sum cool gwass to eat when ow tummies be upset. And you know weez not have much munny but even wiff a limited income mommy wuz able to cweate a funtastic kitty abode. Gwanted weez have a lot of new pawsum cat furniture and toys fanks to ow furiends here and on Facebook. But all yous kitty weally needs is to be kep safe and luvved. So weez hope yous give these fings a fawt da next time yous open da door fur kitty to go outside. Weez lost so many furiends to fings dat kulda been purrvented ifin only they had stayed inside da house. And weez just don’t wanna lose any mowe. Weezz joinin’ up wiff Rascal and Roccos Pet Pawade Blog Hop and da Cweate wiff Joy Furiendship Furiday blog Hop. 

Till da next time……………………………Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses  

Dezi and Lexi

 

cat-animated

 

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/adoption-pet-care/caring-for-your-pet/indoor-cats-vs-outdoor-cats.html