VETBLOG

.... a little off.....

2008-10-13T21:33:00.004-04:00

I met a client whose dog had a mild to moderate intermittent lameness of a front limb. The dog was young and otherwise healthy. After a week of strict rest (those were my instructions), the lameness persisted. A few vets had seen this dog already, taken radiographs, used anti-inflammatory medication, and had not found the exact source of the dog's lameness. Nor could I. When I recommended she see an orthopedic specialist (a surgeon - not for surgery but at least to try to achieve a diagnosis), the owner said that she had visited with a "pet psychic", had spoken to her dog (you heard me), and that the dog asked to see an acupuncturist (note that I strongly believe in acupuncture, especially when used in conjunction with western medicine and diagnostics).
Millions of people on the planet believe in psychic phenomena - this doesn't irk me. But when your dog is lame you bring him/her to the vet, not to a psychic. In any case, shouldn't this psychic have predicted this dog's injury and prevented it?
I feel that imparting your own beliefs onto your dog is irresponsible, and potentially dangerous. A diagnosis can be missed if you're seeking help from people who have no business giving out medical/veterinary information. Trust your vet. This is exactly what we were trained for: not to be pill-pushers but to try to achieve diagnoses and institute appropriate treatments. And who knows? maybe the surgeon would have recommended acupuncture....

If your child were suddenly limping, would you take him/her to the ER or to a psychic?
Puh-lease people, enough.

At least she knows what he wants.

Chapter 1 - Are pet owners... a little off?

2008-10-11T19:01:00.007-04:00

This is an excerpt from a larger piece of work I am writing regarding veterinary medicine, and veterinary care in general in contemporary society. I don't mean to be presumptuous, but publishers feel free to contact me.

In 1994 Americans spent $17 billion (US) on their pets (1) . This climbed to just under $40 billion in 2006, equal to about 1/325th the United States’ GNP, half that of Romania, and nearly 20 times the GNP of Rwanda.
Today, there is at least one cat in 38 million homes, while a dog can be found in nearly 45 million homes. Six million American homes have a “small animal,” that is neither a fish nor a reptile. In the U.S. in 2008, an estimated $16.9 billion was spent on pet food while $10.9 billion was spent on veterinary care. The remaining $15 billion were spent on pet-related products and services, excluding food and vet care.
Pets are ever increasingly being considered a member of the family. This becomes more true when considering that the services and products that were hitherto catered solely to Homo sapiens are no longer: “Max” now has his gourmet raw food, his dog walkers who come in twice daily, a full wardrobe (lumberjacket, raincoat and matching boots, a backpack, and more) a canine sleep-away camp while his owners (2) are on vacation, acupuncture for his arthritis, chiropractic for his pinched nerve, a holistic veterinarian for his liver problem, a veterinary dentist to fix his canine that he broke chewing on the door of his massive crate (3), a veterinary oncologist to treat his skin cancer, and a pet cemetery where he can be interred and remembered by all, forever.
Today, in 2008, you might be amazed at the technology and level of care humans are providing to non-humans. One hundred years ago, a severely lame horse would be shot, ending its suffering. Today, we hear stories of teams of equine surgeons (yes, specialists in equine surgery) reassembling the leg bones of champion horses (4). The technology present is allowing veterinarians to ultrasound pregnant dolphins and camels, to replace a dog’s cataracts with artificial lenses in the exact same way yours were replaced, and to pin the broken wing of a barn owl, releasing it to the wild after its lengthy reha-bilitation. It does not stop there. A veterinarian can become specialized by completing a residency in a specialty field. Veterinary radiologists specialize in diagnostic imaging, while veterinary ophthalmologists have advanced training in diagnosing and treating diseases of the eye. Veterinary internists diagnose, manage and treat diseases such as diabetes, infectious diseases, and everything in between. Veterinarians often refer their patients to one or more of these specialists for confirmation of their diagnoses, if a diagnosis cannot be reached, or if advanced diagnostics are required. The list of veterinary specialists goes on...

Advanced veterinary care certainly has a place in today’s ever more technologically-advanced world, though one must concede that it caters almost exclusively to the upper-middle class, if not to the elite. How many on the planet can truly afford such services? Is it not ironic that our puppies and kitties are fed four-star gourmet cat food, have access to MRI within days (if that), and whose biopsy results require less than a week to be reported, while human beings are often denied these or must wait many months for diagnostic tests, results, and surgery? How would you feel if you heard that some pet owners have spent tens of thousands of dollars on advanced care for their pet? Should a dog with bone cancer be afforded this treatment, while his human counterpart without healthcare receives but palliative care for the same ailment? At this point in human civilization, does human health not trump that of pets? This is not to say that the fate of wild species and the world’s ecosystems are not of primordial importance (domestic pets have long been removed from their wild roots, yet are still strongly constrained by them through their genes).

So what makes a pet owner nuts? When does one become a crazy-cat-lady? How could dressing up your pug in a pumpkin suit be harmful for you and her? And why should you not take your Yorkshire Terriers out in a stroller? Many behaviors exhibited by pet owners that are seemingly cute and harmless can induce behavioral nightmares in our pets. Also, many of such behaviors alienate the pet owners from other human beings (pet owners and non-). Please don’t hesitate to take a step back, no matter how short a step, as you will undoubtedly be reading about situations that you could swear were written about you.
(more to come)
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Footnotes
1 According to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, Inc. (AAPPM)
2 This term may be offensive to some: the term “guardian” is being used more and more.
3 I know some people whose bachelor apartments are smaller.
4 What would be the outcome were it not a champion?

Know anyone like her? I'll bet there's a little bit of crazy-cat-lady in all pet owners.... all (and that includes guys).

KIttens in garbage can

2008-10-08T09:43:00.003-04:00

A client came in the other day with a plastic bag she found in a trash can. There were two screeching kittens in the bag, alive and kicking, and likely starving.
What does it take for a human being to drop a few newborn kittens in a plastic bag and throw it away in a garbage can, like a bag of used litter? Is this an act of desperation? Of sacrifice? Of stupidity? Of ignorance? All of the above? Did their mother belong to someone who did not have the savoir-faire to have her spayed, allowed her out, to discover one day that she had surprisingly given birth to a few kittens?
Or was this all a money issue? Could the person who found the kittens simply not afford to care for them?
Was the culprit simply devoid of neurons?

While it is true that there are millions of unwanted cats in the US, that they are considered vermin, like rats, in some parts of the world, they are indeed still living, breathing, animals. Surely a cat owner can tell you just how loving, caring, and affectionate they are... My cats are certainly not rats (and I don't mean to be speciest: I know that there are many who love rats like I love cats, and don't remind me how intelligent rats are...).

The good news is that our hospital will care for these newborns until they can be adopted out when they are older (their eyes have not yet opened!). For all the kitties found in baggies, can you imagine how few are saved? It would be far more responsible, and ethical, to have such kittens euthanized instead of their suffering a slow death from starvation or suffocation. I can't even imagine how horrible that would be.
Now let's be realistic: not all can be saved. Let's put our energy, financial and otherwise, into those that can be saved and most importantly, those we can place in a loving, caring, long-term home.

A little older than newborn, but I couldn't resist.

PickensPlan

2008-09-21T10:12:00.008-04:00

After hearing an interview on National Public Radio (NPR), I immediately became a supporter of T. Boone Pickens. Though this tycoon man made most of his money in oil, he is now a staunch supporter, or rather leader, in the promotion and use of alternative and renewable energy sources. The gist of his plan is simple: stop using oil, start using wind power, solar power, and natural gas. It is imperative that the planet be weaned from the teats of the oil pits. Read about his plan here. While his focus appears to be on the US, it is evident that his wishes transcend North American and global borders. Please read more about the PickensPlan and sign up today. Follow link above.

Beautiful and functional. How cool is this?

A tribute to a dog and her owner

2008-09-13T11:24:00.004-04:00

A warm and caring person whom I know quite well and whose dog I saw for several years, had her dog euthanized after a lengthy, chronic illness. She cared greatly for her beloved pet, and was diligent and compliant in having all the necessary tests performed, and provided all the necessary treatments that were recommended to her.
When it came down to the dog not eating, she immediately had the dog seen by a specialist and hospitalized in hopes that the dog's condition would improve. Alas, no, it did not. Having loved and cared for her for many, many years, it was time to let her go. The owner was able to take a step back and look at things objectively, despite her deep love and affection for the dog. In this case, she was selfless, knowing what was right, and what was best for her dog. The selfish thing would have been to keep the dog alive for the sake of having her dog "alive." That is not living now, is it? True love for your pet includes knowing when it is time to say goodbye.
Otherwise, no matter how noble your actions are, you are thinking only of yourself, when it is not about you. We are their caregivers and when it comes down to suffering, their needs trump ours. Always.

Goodbye to a great dog. The tribute is to her and her owner "G.N."

Back to medicine

2008-08-29T09:46:00.007-04:00

Pyelonephritis: a kidney infection. Literally, pus in the kidneys (see a very early post of mine). I treated two such cases in the last two weeks. These were very sick cats, clinically affected with laboratory values consistent with pyelo (that's what we call if for short). Often, these cats don't read the textbook, but both of these did. Both were painful on kidney palpation, their total white blood cell counts were significantly increased, with mostly the neutrophil component increased, most consistent with infection. Their kidney values, notably the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were significantly affected, indicative of decreased kidney function (and dehydration). And of course, pus in the urine indicating a severe infection. One cat had undergone a surgical procedure a decade ago that essentially turned him into a her. at least externally. He likely had become obstructed on many occasions, or was unable to be unblocked after one serious obstruction. This procedure, called a perineal urethrostomy, is still done from time to time, but not as often as it was in the past. The wider urethral orifice, like that of a female, predisposes the cat to ascending urinary tract infections. Interestingly, the cat was fine for a decade. Perhaps with the cat's advanced age, he is becoming somewhat immunocompromised. He may have had a chronic, mild, sub-clinical infection for quite a while, that ascended his urinary tract to his kidneys.
The other cat, an uncontrolled diabetic, had pyelonephritis and was in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). Not a great combination. At first she was diabetic, then uncontrolled, then was hit with pyelo, and the infection threw her into DKA. Ketosis ain't about sugar (glucose). That's how it works.
Over a few days, we got her out of ketosis, treated her pyelo, and turned her into a "regular" diabetic.
After two weeks at home on antibiotics, insulin, and a special diet for diabetic kitties, her insulin requirements are down to almost nil. She will be treated with antibiotics for at least a month. Most importantly, she is back to same ol' kitty she used to be.
We're all very happy with the outcome of these two cases.

Warning: gross photo below:

A kidney severely affected with pyelonephritis.

Enjoying NYC

2008-08-20T18:16:00.004-04:00

Having metamorphosed from a rather melancholic state, like a butterfly emerging from the cocoon, I sense a feeling of "newness" in the air. I am lighter, fresher, though my flying apparatus are internal, psychological, and likely ephemeral.

The previous routine is over, and have since received my scores. While incapable of undoing the fall, the step out of bounds, or the stumble, I am training that they should not recur.

Red Hook, in Brooklyn is an incredible neighborhood. I have the famous Fairway Market less than a five-minute walk away. With a short promenade just by the water, I frequently go out for a stroll, to gaze out at the harbour, and enjoy the vast, industrial landscape in front of me. It is tranquil, peaceful.

I practice in Rockaway Beach, about 15 miles (30 km) from Red Hook. The Rockaways is a beach-side community, a narrow peninsula barely tethered to Long Island by a rope-thin stretch of land. The staff at this practice are friendly and caring, and the clients are down-to-earth and warm. I am enjoying it immensely.
The feedback thus far has been beyond what I could imagine. I must be in a good "place" right now. I find myself living and enjoying the moment, being empathetic and sensitive to my clients' needs, and being a good listener.

Could the last few weeks have been of such great importance to my personal evolution? I am optimistic that the answer is "yes."

Roller coasters and lapdogs

2008-07-22T22:43:00.009-04:00

There comes a point when one realizes that talking or writing about oneself becomes tiresome. Nothing I say or do will shorten this wait, efface this idleness, undermine my uselessness. So I remain patient, and enjoy the ride, despite being in a roller coaster car that is stuck at the top...

While I've posted several times on our eccentric behaviour towards pets, I'd like to continue on this subject. I think the single most important issue in canine medicine right now is the mental health of our dogs. Why are some dogs so darn miserable? Why can't they be walked on leashes? Why are they lunging at the other dogs in the park? Why are they destroying the furniture when we leave them alone? Why?!
Now here's the bottom line, folks. Ready? Listening (or reading rather)?: We've forgotten that our dogs are dogs. Let me say it again: we are not treating our dogs like dogs. In the last hundred years or so, and particularly during the last twenty or so-odd years, we have taken an evolved species and thrown it a major curve ball. Though a Siberian Husky and a Yorkshire Terrier are physically quite distinct, you'd hardly know it by looking at their genes. Remember, they are different breeds, but of the same species: Canis familiaris.
So while it would likely take six hundred Yorkies to pull a sled (on the lolls of the English countryside of course), the desire for a Yorkie to have a "job" is almost certainly there. Its job is not to be carried around in a purse (even if it's a fabulous Louis Vuitton). Its job is not to be put in a stroller, but rather to be walked, exercised, to heel, to sit when asked, and to wait quietly and confidently while his/her owner runs into Starbucks for a grandé, extra-hot, lactose-free, light foam, latté.
I guess you're starting to see my point. What has prompted me to write about this once again was my recent witnessing of an eccentric prominent Toronto couple (no names here though its soooo tempting) whom I see quite frequently, who were sitting enjoying a coffee with their Miniature Schnauzer resting on their lap. I don't really mind seeing a dog sitting on their owner's lap... usually. The problem here is that I've never seen this dog's paws actually touch the ground. These people were there for a considerable period of time and the dog never walked on, or touched, the ground. When they departed, they picked him up and whisked him away in their arms. It was gross. Of course, I felt terrible for the dog... While the owners' intentions may be noble, it is indeed abnormal, eccentric, behaviour which causes irreparable damage to the dog. Granted, I have not met this dog personally and do not know the status of his mental health.... However, I'll bet lots of money that these people rarely (if ever) leave this dog alone. More importantly, I don't think this dog can be left alone without manifesting severe separation anxiety. He needs help!
Think of all the dogs out there that are treated this way (and I'm not purporting that I would be the perfect dog owner). Their genes are speaking to them in one way, while we are showing them hieroglyphics. They just don't get it. What results are messed-up dogs.
Canine behaviours, such as aggression, are strongly affected by genetics. It is true that many traits, including behavioural ones, have been selected for in certain breeds, which have resulted in breeds that are typically more docile than others.
Consider the Labrador Retriever vs the Chinese Shar-pei (though I've met a few nasty Labs and the most spectacular Shar-peis!).
Genetics and environment play a complex role in shaping dog behaviour. There's not much we can dog about genetics (at least not with a particular individual) but we can certainly dictate or manipulate the dog's environment. So let's get on it already!

This is why I am a fan of Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer. Though he is not ubiquitously loved by all canine behaviourists, his fundamentals are tenable and sensical.

This may shock you but it was Cesar Milan who said that the healthiest dogs (mentally) are those owned by homeless people. I recently took particular notice of this. These dogs know exactly what they are and it couldn't be more..... refreshing (yet heart-wrenching) to see.

This dog is saner than a lapdog or one in a stroller. Of course, the entire image elicits a feeling of heaviness on my heart.

Bureaucratic obstacles

2008-07-18T22:27:00.003-04:00

Bureaucracy and I don't really mix well. I'd like to take the entire roll of red tape and catapult it into the stratosphere. In my dreams perhaps....

A relevant stream of consciousness: anger, frustration, anxiety, confusion, resentment, delay, bureaucracy, incompetence, anticipation, excitement, idiocy, lunacy.

That is all for today's post.

The Average Bureaucrat, Salvador Dali, 1930.

Moving to New York City

2008-06-29T13:19:00.005-04:00

A move to NYC is something I've been considering for quite some time now. Staying here, or rather not moving to NYC, simply became untenable for me.
NYC was always a place of fascination and inspiration for me. I think proferring an explanation for a move to New York is tautological - I mean it's New York, right?!
I'll be living in Brooklyn, facing the harbour just south of Manhattan, with a view of the Statue of Liberty and her colossal, oxidized, copper torch raised to the skies, an indelible image from my childhood...

My move is slated for the 1st of August, 2008.

More to follow...

My view of her isn't this good.

Grieving pet owners

2008-06-13T13:50:00.005-04:00

A comment on a previous post prompted me to do some research on the services available for grieving pet owners. Losing a loving, devoted companion can be devastating. One must remember that grieving for a pet is normal, and likely necessary for most people.
It is imperative that pet owners who have lost a pet not lay blame on themselves, or others. Part of the grieving process is accepting the death process (whether natural, through illness, or accident), to know that the pet has brought immeasurable and irreplaceable joy to one's life. Once the grieving is over, one must pick up, move on, and thereafter always have but joyous memories of the pet that we loved so much. I'm getting teary-eyed already!
Please click here to read more about services available for grieving pet owners.
You are not alone: know that at some point in our lives, we will all likely become a grieving pet owner.

Isaac, one of my cats. I love this guy. Thanks to Ron Findlay for the fantastic photo.

Dogs aren't laptops... anywhere.

2008-06-09T02:22:00.000-04:00

A California lawmaker introduced a bill that would prevent citizens from driving with their dogs on their laps. He says pets distract motorists and puts them, and passengers, at risk. Absolutely true. Very importantly, this is also a risk for the dogs. With windows rolled all the way down, these dogs now have it much easier to jump out.... and many do. Imagine losing a dog on the highway because you had your dog on your lap with the window down too low. I've seen such cases so many times and once, right in front of me. The dog was unharmed because the car was moving so slowly, but still....

If you don't want your dog, or you, to look like this, don't drive with your dog on your lap and keep the windows at a level where the dogs cannot jump out.

Rehabilitation Therapy for Dogs

2008-05-29T21:25:00.005-04:00

Canine rehabilitation therapy is a practice that uses different treatment modalities to improve function in dogs with various orthopedic or neurological injuries or diseases. It is commonly used post-operatively in dogs having had a fracture repaired or even back surgery to fix a blown disk (yup, dogs get these, too). It is also commonly used in the ever-increasing problem of canine obesity.
I became especially interested in canine rehab after a conference in Toronto, where I met two certified rehab vets who do rehab work at a veterinary surgical practice north of Toronto (click here to see this practice and its impressive facilities). These vets were young, enthusiastic, and were truly making a difference, a significant difference, in the lives of these dogs.
This interest has brought me to Colorado, where I am right now typing this blog. I have just completed the first of at least three 6-day courses that eventually lead to a certificate in canine rehabilitation, through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, or CRI.
I cannot sufficiently laud the course, instructors, assistants, and facilities. They were spectacular. Though it has been about eight years since I had to absorb that much material, it was an amazing learning experience.
By no means was the course simple. On the contrary, I often had difficulty with some concepts. In the end, though, I believe I gleaned what was necessary.
I am looking forward to the other canine rehab courses and extremely excited to incorporate rehab into my work in the near future.

Got this photo on Flickr. This is Zeke on an underwater treadmill after knee surgery. This exercise will significantly hasten his return to normal function. Isn't this amazing?

Cloned dogs

2008-05-23T09:15:00.006-04:00

Reading about a recent offer by a California biotech company to clone five dogs has left me with a queasy feeling in my gut. An auction will be set up with bidding starting at $100,000. I cannot fathom the arrogance of somebody willing to spend that kind of money to clone their pet. 1) That money could be used for something far more noble, and 2) the cloned pet will simply be that animal's physical twin. Again, a replica. The same model, but with far different software. The cloned pet would likely NOT have the same personality as the original. It would require the same programming, or training. 3) There are millions of unwanted pets in North America. These people should lose their ego, go to a shelter, where they can find the most wonderful dogs. Save a life or two, instead of feeding the pockets of these multi-billion dollar corporations, likely eerily-similar to Cyberdyne Systems Corporation in "The Terminator."

Not a cloned puppy, but the work going into both is identical (though one is fiction).

Disclaimer: I am in favour of such genetic manipulation, if used to produce tissues and not living, conscious, feeling, entities. Such technology can (and will) advance the medical field immensely, to relieve suffering, improve or save lives.

Addendum: Please read the very relevant comments below from Gaya and Mel.

More painting

2008-04-25T15:03:00.005-04:00

Now that I'm idle, I've been spending much time painting - one of my true joys.
I've been working on this for a good friend in Montreal, for his housewarming.

I might just keep it for myself.
(No, no, just kidding.)
B-A-G-E-S (and not bagels) is an anagram of his last name.

A spot diagnosis

2008-04-19T16:55:00.002-04:00

Have you walked down the street, noticed a person or dog with a limp, skin condition, or other visually-obvious ailment and wondered: what is that disease? No? Well, I do it all the time. And so do many of my friends, especially those who are MDs.
Is that person afflicted with alopecia areata or universalis? Oh, that dog is limping.... is it the right or left front... hmm, let me see, oh, it's the left, no right front limb, definitely the right front (I wonder if the owners think it's the left front). Could it be an injury? Osteoarthritis? Post-op? OCD?
And the occasional dog wearing an Elizabethan collar (cone): was she just spayed? Maybe she swallowed a sock and just had exploratory surgery? Maybe much simpler: a small skin wound that she shouldn't lick?
Across the street I see an older miniature poodle with a large, pendulous abdomen, symmetrical hair loss along the back - it's gotta be Cushing's. Definitely. Do the owners know? Was the dog diagnosed? Treated?

I'm always tempted to talk to these pet owners, but decide against it. I'm sure they know what's going on...
Or maybe not?!

The person riding the motorized wheelchair, doing 30 km/hr down Queen street in Leslieville, morbidly obese, and smoking: What's your spot diagnosis?

Not a poodle, but definitely Cushing's.

Watteau: a drawing Master

2008-04-10T16:58:00.003-04:00

I found this drawing on the official website for the Louvre. It is by Antoine Watteau, a French painter born in the late 17th century. Nowhere in the Wikipedia entry for the artist, could I find any references to his drawings. He is a Master at drawing. The three-dimensionality of the subjects rendered in this two-dimensional drawing is astonishing. It appears that only three colours of charcoal or conté are used: black, sienna, and white. Perhaps an expert can tell us more.

I love this drawing (click on the image to enlarge it for more detail).

Getting antsy

2008-04-09T11:15:00.003-04:00

I've been off work for the past seven weeks and am beginning to feel antsy to get back to it. It's amazing, and quite sad actually, that we become defined by what we do and not what we are. Despite the absurdity of it, I certainly feel an element of uselessness and idleness, that I consciously think I should not feel.
I have never been off work for more than two weeks at a time in the last decade or so. I have held two jobs each for decent lengths of time. Why is it that I am feeling so antsy about getting back to work? I am trying hard, and with a moderate degree of difficulty, to take a BIG step back and just allow what is actually me to shine through. Part of that is doing, but I think mostly it involves just being.

Oh my goodness, I've gone all zen...

This dog is a biped

2008-03-27T17:45:00.005-04:00

The word biped doesn't typically elicit thoughts of canines, now does it? However, here's the story of a dog named Faith, born with a congenital deformity (the total absence of her thoracic [front] limbs). It's an endearing story that has just simply warmed my heart. Watch the story here.

Faith, as a puppy.

A Canine Café?

2008-03-18T11:53:00.005-04:00

Ok, you may have heard of a few places like this, and if not, you can take the idea and make a mint. Or not. This post is to get the opinion of the readers. Would a Canine Café work in Toronto? Here's the concept: a place, or restaurant, only for dogs. Well their owners would be welcome as well. Owners would be given a menu with many choices of meals for their dogs. Specific dietary needs, special requirements, food sensitivities, and allergies to specific foods would be noted. A meal would be brought to the dogs, possibly as 1) appetizers, 2) a main course, and 3) desert (this part is easy).
What do you think? Ok, I'll partly answer that. Am I crazy for even fathoming this idea?! Would the Canine Café not cater to eccentric pet owners, those pet owners who put their dogs in purses and strollers (see previous post on this matter)? What a hypocrite I would be. Slam the behaviour and then contribute to it for a buck (or more)! Sell my soul for money... that is so NOT me!
But imagine what a hoot it would be! (Ideally) A place teeming with happy dogs, happy people, and satisfying the basic needs of a pet in a healthy, original, and (hopefully) lucrative way. I need some feedback: would you take your dog to such a place?

Ok, is this normal?

Feeble laws protect the offenders

2008-03-10T21:07:00.012-04:00

One hundred and one Arabian horses were seized by the Alberta SCPA, most of which were severely malnourished, emaciated, and in dire distress. Twenty nine were already dead from starvation. Other animals in the barn, such as rabbits, goats, and sheep, were in no better shape.
The owner of the farm, Axel Hinz-Schleuter, was previously fined in August of 2005 for neglect. This is his (documented) second offence. Ostensibly, he was unable to pay for their care. He should never have had a horse farm. If times were better in the past (when he could afford their care), he should have had the wherewithal to seek help during these hard times. Apparently, he had prize-winning horses at one time and "loved his horses dearly," according to a trainer who owns a horse purchased in the past from the accused. Seeking help could have meant bankruptcy, but hey, we'd all prefer that over the suffering of these animals.
The owner of the farm faces a fine of up to $20,000 and a prohibition on ever owning horses again. Since a lack of money is what apparently got this guy in trouble in the first place, I'd be satisfied with the latter, however he should not be allowed to own ANY animals in the future. No newts, no rabbits, no horses.
He should have received the $20,000 fine the first time, instead of the meager $1,000. He would have better remembered that number...
Canada's legislation on animal cruelty has remained virtually untouched since the late 1800s. Most are aptly calling them "archaic." People who inflict pain and suffering on animals either deliberately or through neglect cannot be prosecuted. Ironic that the current laws "protect" those that are inflicting the suffering. Slaps on the wrist will not deter humans from inflicting pain and suffering on those who cannot speak for themselves. Let's speak loudly for them.

Canada's animal cruelty legislation: as current and effective as these.

More perilous road conditions

2008-03-09T20:50:00.007-04:00

Either I do know how to drive outside of Toronto, or I have been considerably more sensitive to terrible driving conditions elsewhere. Brooklyn, New York: diverse, cosmopolitan, and dangerous. I have never despised driving more than I have in Brooklyn, NY. Whether driving my Mini or my horse-drawn pumpkin (above), I constantly felt like a slalom Olympian. Potholes (more like crevasses), children, their parents, the homeless, were the majority of obstacles I succeeded in avoiding. Deep, smooth curves and dips in the actual asphalt reminded me of the roller coasters of Coney Island, not too great a distance from where I was staying. Mind-numbingly frustrating were the traffic lights, which were completely asynchronous. I would stop at red lights, seemingly never-changing, while the next light barely 100 meters ahead would be green. Having reached the next, it would turn red, the following green, the following red - you get the picture. It likely required 10 minutes to drive less than a mile. Not only does this contribute significantly to the flow of traffic, but invariably increases fuel consumption and therefore pollution. With nearly 250 million passenger vehicles in the US, I think it's high time that things like synchronizing traffic lights should be considered. Apparently, they are indeed synchronized in Manhattan.

After the Mini Cooper, the smallest vehicle in New York City. Gross.

Montreal: perilous road conditions

2008-03-03T11:07:00.009-05:00

I'm two weeks in to my sabbatical, time off, whatever. I'm now in New York for the week, after spending last week in Montreal, whose streets have more potholes than the moon. Like the Bermuda Triangle, accidentally driving into one would inevitably have lead me into another dimension. Luckily, that didn't happen.
Though my stay in Montreal was not accident-free. Around the corner from my parents' place, a lanky 14 year-old ran across the street and right in front of my car. I slammed on the brakes but alas, too late. -boom- He went up on the hood as I slammed on the brakes, and as the car skidded to a stop, he landed a few feet from the front of the car. I, sanely, stood him up, checked him out, and asked if was ok (he was evidently fine). I called an ambulance while a witness called the police. It must have been 10 seconds before the paramedics arrived. We called his mother who ran franctically to the scene, overwhelmed yet relieved to find her son unscathed. A little shaken, yet relieved, I went over the accident with the officer who was extraordinarily sympathetic to me. He went on to describe how careless the "piétons" (pedestrians) in Montreal can be. He reassured me the accident was not my fault (after hearing my side of the story).
In retrospect, the child was afraid, not hurt. This was particularly evident when we called the police. This poor kid thought he'd be in big trouble. His reaction was at par with ours. The freaked-out entourage caused him to be freaked out. Before walking home with his parents, I reassured him that it was neither his fault, nor mine.
I had asked his parents for their phone number so that I can call them the following day (and gave them mine to call me for whatever reason). Happily, they gave it to me.
The only damage: the child's CD player, which I replaced with, say, a nicer version.
I called the following day for an update: he was doing great and his parents were understanding and appreciated the follow-up. When I arrived at their apartment to give the boy his replacement CD player, they would not let me go without insisting I stay for a drink. I must have spent an hour and a half with them. I felt lucky and humbled that such good and understanding could have stemmed from a car accident. They were understanding, empathetic, and down-to-earth. They manifested not an iota of blame or vindiction.
These are truly good people whose exemplary behaviour has reminded me of humanity's ultimate capacity for compassion and forgiving. I needed to have that accident and am thankful for the outcome.

I believe I have the right of way.

Thank you

2008-02-16T12:12:00.010-05:00

To everyone at The Animal Clinic: thank you. Working with each and every one of you has taught me how to be an integral part of a very successful team, a caring team. You have allowed me to grow intellectually and most importantly, to accept my limitations, key to my personal evolution. In so doing, I was allowed to shine in ways I never thought possible. The close relationships that I have developed with staff and clients have underscored the need for me to strive for and maintain these relationships in my future ventures.
The feedback that I have received from both staff and clients has been tremendously positive and I thank all of you for your support in my personal endeavours.
The vets, and all staff, with whom I worked at The Animal Clinic are extremely talented, both professionally and personally. The heart and devotion poured into your work was always clearly manifest. I have always tried to emulate these qualities.
I hope that I have imparted knowledge to all of you, as you have to me.
Thank you, everyone at The Animal Clinic! I will miss you...

"Peaceful" protest on Bloor street in Toronto

2008-02-10T13:23:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, while briefly leaving the Manulife Building, I had the grave misfortune of witnessing a pro-Gaza, "free-Palestine" protest, making its way east on Bloor street. I could not help but notice one of the large signs in the rally, held up by two people. On it was written: The Myth of 9/11: a pretext to war with Iraq... and something about World War III...
In shock, I thought that the only mystery of 9/11 was why these crackpots consider it a mystery. With overwhelming and unequivocal physical, photographic, and eye-witness pieces of evidence (oh, and don't forgot all of those people whose loved ones didn't come home that night - that's quite important), people actually consider the attacks on the Twin Towers a myth. More alarmingly, I witnessed the same signs paraded in New York City at random and very-busy street corners.
It drew outrage there, as it drew outrage in me here.
The inclusion of this conspiracy theory during the rally only served to undermine their main point (of which I am not a proponent). For more on conspiracy theories of 9/11 and hard evidence to refute them, click here.