Podcast – Wild About Animals Radio Show with Dr Bruce and Emmi

Not a misspelling! My friend Bob Moore joins us today with his amazing story. Bob has logged over 23,000,000 (yes, over 23 million) steps since 2006. In his mid 70’s, Bob confesses he moved to East Texas to die, and instead, he found life. Two parts of his new lease on life are the Vemma nutrition products, especially the Verve energy drink (www.drbruce.vemma.com), and his dog Daisy. Bob and Daisy walk and walk and walk. Mix with water and a low carb diet and Bob reduced his weight by over 40 lbs and has a laboratory profile found in fit forty year olds! He has become the poster “child” for senior wellness in East Texas and is just a great guy who I am really glad I’ve had some time to get to know!

So as we approach Christmas time, consider TIME. You can give your dog all the treats and goofy costumes in the world, but man, doesn’t he like that time with you more than anything? So take the guy on a walk, Be like Bob! Your horse, mine all come to the fence for a pet on the nose or neck. They too appreciate a little time. Now, a case I saw in the month of December made me think one gift most horses would appreciate would be a good dental exam and care as indicated. The poor old mare I saw was in bad shape and had been for several months as the owner sought advice and help from feed store employees and kept switching feeds to find a magic formula. Fact was, her dentition was preventing adequate mastication and an infected molar was leading to her progressive demise. And then there’s the cat. Well, cats appreciate a little time with them also, when it’s their idea. Maybe a scratching post would be a good choice for the cat in your life, and a little time, when they decide it’s time.

I think one of the things that separates our animal friends from our human friends (and family) is time. While animals definitely appreciate a schedule and routine, they make no demands (well, accept that cat, they have their ways). They appreciate when we give them our time, and with few exceptions, they reward our time with performance. Have you ever seen the retriever give it up before the thrower? A good horse responds by going and going and going, and what beats the purr and kneading of the good kitty cat who finally decides, it’s time? So as we enjoy Christmas time, perhaps we can be IN JOY more by being appreciative of the time people choose to spend with us. But if that doesn’t work, pee on the carpet and see if that doesn’t get you a little more time and attention. Merry Christmas! And thank you for your time!

Follow my friend Bob Moore on Facebook and at http://www.ifbobcanyoucan.com!

A show titled “Wild About Animals” would seem to suggest it has an emphasis and appeal to those possibly interested in animal health and stories of animals and since I’m a veterinarian maybe some of the odd stories of what goes on in the life of a veterinarian day-to-day, yet the show is under “Self Help” in iTunes (I think, still don’t have it all figured out). I classified the show under “Self Help” for several reasons, including that I believe there are a lot of life lessons learned from non-human animals, and the people I am around who really embrace the joy of their animals and the pride and joy in taking care of their animals generally flows over into other aspects of their lives. The irony of this episode is that I was REALLY interested and extremely excited to interview the lady who was chronicling California Chrome about California Chrome and sharing with you the care the horse receives, the character of the horse, and some of the ways he has impacted the lives of the people surrounding him. What you will hear in this interview is some indication of the Chrome character, but what ended up unfolding was an amazing example of the power of intention and visualization in the story of my guest, Kathleen Waldvogel.

Kathleen Waldvogel is an artist. Her work and services can be found at her website, http://www.forestbirdphotos.com, though her blog on California Chrome has moved to America’s Best Racing (www.americasbestracing.net). I find her story fascinating in that she has personally employed so many suggestions in the self-help world to create a place in the stable of a race horse and his story which has captured America this past year. First, after leaving the corporate world, she decided to do something SHE enjoyed, spending time with her horse, and her camera. Second, she got a coach. Third, she used the arrogant action of an old flame to set an intention, and then allowed things to fall into place. When the opportunity she desired presented itself, her intention became a reality because her heart was in the right place. While the intention was hers, and she had self-interest, the motivation of the intention had at its foundation the larger motivation of service to others.

The horse world can be portrayed and can in actuality be a world of aloofness and exclusion. Other industries, be they other facets of the entertainment world such as sports or stage, banking, law, real estate, I can think on and on about those groups of people who have seemed to be more EXclusive rather than INclusive. However, in every industry there are those who choose to be inviting and inclusive, and while they may or may not have the biggest house or the biggest bank roll or other material suggestions of success, they often have the biggest lives, and while not completely void of challenges and disruptions, there is a peace and joy and sense of personal satisfaction and self-worth which evolves from the advancement of others. As Zig Ziegler said, “You can have everything you want by helping enough people get what they want.” I think the story of Kathleen and Art Sherman and California Chrome provides an enlightening example of what can happen when intention is followed with action. Let me know what you think in the comment section.

By the way, I do intend to do a follow-up with Kat and share the character of Chrome and the team behind him in the next few weeks. As always, thanks for stopping by!

We gathered at my parents’ home for Thanksgiving Day. As we are getting things ready and snacking around, my beautiful and talented baby sister rushes to the TV and. being that we are an historically football watching family, I assumed she was turning over to one of the games. Nope! Wrong! What’s this? The National Dog Show, and we ALL completely shut down, tuned-in and made our picks for Best in Show. I was fascinated that my ultra-busy, high achieving, mother of two teenage girls, MD 40 something sister NEW that the National Dog Show was being televised at prime turkey time Thanksgiving Day. How many other people new that? How many others tuned in? And then, after football, Fox has an animal adoption special Thanksgiving night!

The place and perception of animals in our society is transforming rapidly. As animals emerge from an economic asset to an emotional asset, unique opportunities appear to provide products and services previously unimaginable. How you spend your money on your animals is up to you, at least until the government mandates health care for hamsters, and it’s important YOU be happy with YOUR choices. Opinions are so strong on care and treatment, feeding, training, just every facet of the animal world seems to be one that elicits strong emotions one way or another. I am a scientist, pragmatic and somewhat skeptical. I believe in gathering data as objectively as possible and making decisions, and recommendations, based upon my interpretations of well done research. Drugs and devices get approval or rejection, for the most part, in much the same way, but research is being challenged and augmented by evidence. While reported research can certainly be tainted and far from flawless, it is generally systematically reviewed and critiqued and accepted or rejected by a group of unemotional and critical thinkers. Evidence can be held to the same or similar standards when analyzed with respect to known physical laws and processes which allow for pragmatic critique of the evidence presented. With the plethora of avenues for dissemination of information available today, it becomes even more incumbent upon each of us to take a critical look at reports on materials and methods and use our individual judgement and education in deciding what to employ in our practices and lives.

Much of the same can be said about charitable organizations. It appears to me that the website http://www.give.org does a credible job of presenting information on non-profits in numerous fields, including animal entities. While classified as non-profit, these businesses generate millions of dollars in revenues in many cases and many pay sizable salaries to employees. In my opinion, there is nothing at all wrong with this and many, many non-profit organizations fulfill vital missions of public service and job creation and efficient resource utilization. I was amazed to find several organizations which do NOT appear to be meeting the standards of give.org, but who have names very close to organizations which ARE meting the standards for give.org, and often have a wonderful reputation of service to animal and man. Be careful. Be pragmatic. Do YOUR research. Animals elicit powerful feelings from most of us, and our feelings and thoughts are what bring about our actions and results. As animals are elevated in the thoughts, and media, of our society, there will be those who attempt to prey on emotions for economic gain without production of a valuable product. Fortunately, transparency is becoming more and more demanded by our generous society, and the information is available more and more to help you make wise decisions when it comes to charitable giving.

Blessings and peace to all this holiday season. Thanks for stopping by!

I’m in the process of reading Ayn Rand’s classic Atlas Shrugged. As I progress through the pages penned in the 1940’s, I am astounded at the parallelisms I can draw with the fictional society created by Ms. Rand and the policy approaches and philosophies attempting to be instituted at many levels of government in the United States today. As a horse doctor, issues affecting horses and maybe more importantly, the horse industry, tend to catch my attention a little more than some other issues. One issue in particular has been New York City’s mayor Bill Deblasio’s insistent on banning carriage horses in the city, on the grounds that pulling a carriage is abusive to the horses involved, in spite of evidence and opinion to the contrary from multiple veterinarians and other equine professionals. It seems one of two explanations for the mayor’s plan exist. First is the explanation that this is simply political maneuvering to evacuate some very valuable NYC real estate which could be gobbled up and cashed in on by some of the mayor’s buddies. Second is that the left leaning liberal mayor is allowing his feelings to create policy rather than rational analysis and heeding of advice and evidence brought forth by experts. Whatever the explanation, each of these two reasons are mirrors of the governing which takes place in Atlas Shrugged and ultimately leads to the demise of both the people and the looter government officials who govern via feelings and self interest rather than facilitating individual and collective growth of the nation through policies encouraging individual enterprise and development by the people. Eh, just a fictional writing, can’t happen in real life. Wrong.

A prime example of governing on feelings vs rational is the decision once again to essentially ban horse slaughter and processing for meat by not providing funds for the inspection of meat for European export and consumption. The ban on horse processing in the United States has resulted in horses intended for processing to be trailered to Mexico and Canada to meet their fate. Now, the European Union has banned importation of horse meat processed in Mexico due to several violations of EU standards ranging from humane treatment of horses to traceability to outdated and inadequate first aid kits. So will loss of the EU market spare more horses? According to one industry expert, and it only seems rational, that the Russian and Chinese markets will easily absorb the volume of EU meat, likely for a cheaper price and undoubtedly with less stringent attention to the care of the product pre or post processing. So, now while officials and horse processing opponents can “feel good” about not processing horses on American soil, these same horses are being subjected to a more dismal ending to wind up as food product for Russia or China, and isn’t America fixing to begin importing chicken from China? But nobody ever said horse meat tastes like chicken, have they?

I don’t like the idea of horse slaughter, cannot imagine ever sending one of my horses to that ending for a few bucks. However, I can remove my feelings from the situation enough to realize it may be the option acceptable to someone else, may provide a business opportunity or a job for someone else. Processing horses in America may lead to development of a more humane method of termination, may lead to a healthier product for a European or Russian or Chinese, and maybe we can rest assured that there ain’t nothin’ in our chicken, but chicken. In spite of my feelings towards processing horses for food, I can rationalize the industry.

At an annual meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioneers (AAEP), not too manmy years ago, a veterinary speaker involved in the legislative process spoke about his experience discussing the horse processing laws with a Congressman. The veterinarian presented the facts of what was happening to horses sent to slaughter outside of the United States, the likelihood of dramatic increases in the number of unwanted horses, and the negative effects of the slaughter ban on the equine industry. He then related how the Congressman looked him in the eye and said he saw his point, and personally agreed with him. However, he next said that when he has hundreds of constituents calling his office to voice their opposition to horse slaughter while very few voice support, he would be voting to continue the ban, after all, it’s his desire to be re-elected.

So we are left with a choice. it is either necessary for us as citizens to be a voice of reason more vocally to our elected officials, or to elect leadership with enough backbone to make rational, economically sound and rational decisions in spite of what the verbose feel good movement may advocate. There is plenty to feel good about when we can maintain industry, job...

Anxiety? Bullying? Low Self Esteem? Corporate Team Management and Leadership? Interpersonal Relationship Strengthening and Conflict Resolution?

Winston Churchill has been credited with the comment that “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” I see this almost everyday and continue to be amazed by the influence sharing time with a horse has on people. Annette Crooks has been a long time friend and client of mine and I am pleased to share the mission she has adopted to combine her experience and expertise in Human Resource Management with her expertise and passion for horses, along with her friend and Licensed Professional Counselor Glinda Digiacinto, to help people solve their problems by interacting with horses. All of her sessions are performed on the ground, no riding or prior horse handling experience required and the service is certified by the Equine-Assissted Growth and Learning Association (EAGLA).

Patience and presence, being completely immersed in the moment and situation that is in front of you RIGHT NOW, are only part of the depth of life a horse can bring to a person. The saying, “Each of us needs all of us, and all of us needs each of us”, may never be more applicable than when dealing with a horse. While I don’t think I could ever fully describe the relationship that develops between man and equine, and especially woman and equine, it is unique, with components and characteristics which translate so seamlessly into relationships with not only other people, but probably more importantly with SELF, perhaps the most frightening relationship of all. Do you fear the horse stepping on your foot? Is he doing it now? Do you believe he wants to step on your foot? So take the belief that the horse doesn’t want to step on your foot, learn to put yourself in a position to avoid having your foot stepped on, and overcome the fear that may be inhibiting you from enjoying the life experience which allows you to take the next step in our life journey. Yes, it will hurt if the horse does step on your foot, but. like most pain, it is temporary (even if you lose a few toenails, trust me, I KNOW!). As legendary horseman Ray Hunt stated, ” The horse will teach you if you will listen.” Thanks for stopping by!