do you want to live longer, be healthier and save 2 lives? Here's how...go to your local animal shelter and adopt a dog"

what will happen? You will save a homeless dog's life and you will improve your health, be happier, live longer with the beneficial aspects of owning a dog, walk more, not feel lonely, reduce stress, improve your mental health. In fact, owning a dog is a low cost health improvement. Holistically speaking, your body will improve as you walk more, spend more time out doors maybe meet other owners which could mean less boredom and more socializing, commune with nature, celebrate the spiritual bond between you dog and yourself...good, no? For sure, sun shine and fresh air is medicine for your body, mind and soul as is the movement of simply taking a walk. Mentally, by walking accompanied by your furry friend, your body releases endorphins which improve your mood, lowers your blood pressure and helps combat pain, stress, etc. The spiritual benefits of having a dog are many. You're connected to something bigger than yourself...the rescue of homeless dogs (and cats) with millions dying every year. Dogs know loyalty and love, your investment will result in your feeling good about you, you will be joining rescue efforts around the world, you will be a part of something beautiful! You win as a member of an elite club whose compassion and empathy stands tall in a world that cares little about critters....the numbers are growing to combat the breeding of puppies and dogs by adopting and not shopping. There's plenty of material around to help you teach a dog...it's easier than you think...check out the TV shows, the books by Cesar Milan for dogs and Jackson Galaxy on TV. You will find free information all over the net AND you will be in an elite club of famous people like Betty White, Loretta Swit, George Clooney who are standing up and saying "ADOPT DON'T SHOP." Here's the reasons to own a dog to improve your health: An Incredible Benefit of Owning a Dog When Rover happily wags his tail and sloppily licks your hand in greeting when you arrive home, he may do more than make you smile with delight. He may also help you to live longer by improving your heart health, according to the American Heart Association, which has dubbed the effect "Rover Rx." The American Heart Association may call it the "Rover Rx." But we're not naming our dogs Rover. Find out the top 10 most popular names for dogs (and cats). People who own dogs appear to have a lessened risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Why? Your dog will get you walking--even if you don't want to. And walking reaps huge benefits, including lower blood pressure, increased mood-related brain chemicals, lower cholesterol, healthier weight and improved stress response. The AHA reached this conclusion after examining several studies that looked at pet ownership and heart health, including a study of more than 5,200 adults that found that dog owners were more likely to do more walking and get more physical activity than those without dogs. In addition, dog owners were 54 percent more likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity. While it can't be proven that owning a pet directly reduces heart disease risk, there does appear to be an association between the two. Dogs not only make you get out and walk no matter the weather, but also provide a loving presence that can lower stress and anxiety, assuage loneliness and increase your sense of well-being and self-esteem. The AHA statement was published online in the journal Circulation ISN'T ALL OF THIS AN INCREDIBLE WAY, AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO SAVE A LIFE and be rewarded by loyalty, affection, compassion and better health?

Buddy's progress with d. mange from May 21-June 29, 2013

Under the care of Jack Biederman, DVM, of Petcare in Flushing Queens, Buddy has had an amazing recovery in about 6 weeks from a nasty case of d. mange. I believe that Buddy got mange because his immune system was compromised at a critical time in his life. As a 6 month old puppy he was hormonal. He received vaccines the day he was neutered and he erupted with d. mange. We use a great dry dog food, he and Bella get a very effective vitamin and we add a home cooked formula (see below for recipe) of high nutrition wet dog food we make. Both dogs get a little less than 1/2 cup of wet food and about 1 cup of dry food a day. Buddy is an amazing eater and that fact alone may be the reason why at 3 weeks old, weighing only 2 lbs and being savagely attached as a bait puppy, Buddy managed to survive without his mother. He does have some emotional issues about abandonment however and time, we hope, will resolve that. He, like Bella, is a highly intelligent animal. We believe judging by his softening coat, longer fur and thicker tail, increasing interest in getting himself into water whether its the garden hose or a bucket of water, we have here a lab pit mix. So here are photographs taken the 3rd week of May, June 13 and June 29th. What you will see is how curable d. mange is, how fast it can resolve and we hope this will re-enforce what everyone says about d. mange and IT IS NON CONTAGIOUS as despite our best efforts, Bella was with him almost all the time. Also, Bella had d. mange and yet Buddy did not catch it either. BTW: Dr. Jack suggested fish oil to help Buddy heal, I researched it and found that vit. E is also suggested as is lysine. Also, a very nice member of my Facebook team added that she uses coconut oil as well and its helped her mange prone dog as well. Please check with your vet about any information given here. What we write here is not to be considered professional advice. Please check with your licensed doctor of vet medicine before using any alternative, complimentary or adjunct therapy. We do appreciate Dr. Jack's advice re: fish oil but please get YOUR VET's opinion before attempting to medicate your pet. This is how the recovery went from May 21-June 29th in photos which were also suggested by Dr. Jack.

Happy Father's Day, Dad....this is Elder Abuse Awareness Day...my father died of elder abuse and elder exploitation and it's on this that my book Paradise Costs-A Victim's Daughter Fights Back against Elder Abuse is based.

Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 16, 2013. Paradise Costs-A Victim's Daughter Fights Back against Elder Abuse has been reduced in cost and made available as a download at my shop at Etsy. The name of the shop is Kayla Grace Designs. Here's the link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/128403276/paradise-costs-a-victims-daughter-fights It's sad to remember that abused children, seniors and animals have something in common...they are unable to fight back, their voice in not heard in Washington and they cannot walk picket lines and have sit ins and, sometimes, their vulnerability beckons the lower forms of life here on earth. My father taught me to rescue animals and never buy them and he was a life long animal rescuer and he saved many and each one rewarded him with life times filled with love. Dad also taught me about nature, growing plants, appreciating a sunset, doing my best and making the earth a better place. Though today is Elder Abuse Awareness day I would like to ask readers and supporters to always keep an eye on A-N-Y living thing that is vulnerable. There are too many predators around walking on 2 legs and, unfortunately, my father was a victim of a group of people who acted in concert to stalk him, the fleece him and do away with him...and they succeeded without punishment. However, in my world, I know, what goes around comes around. Meanwhile, Daddy, Happy Birthday & Happy Father's Day, RIP.

DO NOT ALLOW YOUR DOG TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED WHEN THERE IS ANY SKIN ISSUE

Buddy went into being neutered with a slight rash the vet tech at Kent Animal Shelter called correctly: D. Mange. Unfortunately, he was vaccinated despite that and the mange exploded. He's doing very well and on Monday 6/17/13 he starts his 4th week of treatment with mega diet and Ivermectin. We're very grateful to his vet Jack Biederman at PetCare in Flushing for suggesting fish oil. We added vit E, zinc, echenasia, lysine and then things really went into full swing! Here's what he looked like about 10 days after he was neutered and vaccinated: As he started his 3rd week of diet changes and medication this is what he looked like: Here he is with Bella...Bella's diet was improved as well to make sure her immunity stood high with Buddy with mange. This is the non contagious form of mange: d. mange. Please never let this stop you from adopting a dog or puppy, it's highly curable but diet changes are needed to speed up recovery so make sure you do that very slowly as well and check with your vet FIRST..always check with your vet first as he or she is your licensed professional. Diet changes are adjuncts only and not a replacement for care. However, you and your vet working together can create miracles! See below for the pictures of Buddy and Bella, 2 toss away puppies that were used for bait. Buddy was only 2 lbs and bitten and only 3 weeks old. Bella had a fractured skull had been bitten and was hit by a car. A lot of work went into saving them but the love and connection you can create with an injured pet is so rewarding and it can create a lasting bond. Love is the most powerful force in the universe and it, along with good vet care, can do incredibly amazing things to heal. here are Bella and Buddy when found:

Buddy & Bella were neutered and spayed last Thursday at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton, NY...what a terrific place

Bella and Buddy were spayed and neutered last week at Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton, NY. What a lovely place filled with warm and loving people in a beautiful peaceful place on Long Island. We prepared the pups, because they were bait pups and have had their share of injuries and infirmities, for this by building them up as much as possible. They have been on a super vitamin for months, have gotten plenty of exercise, we’ve made our own high nutrition food to mix with an excellent dry food. Bella now age 9 months weighs 42 pounds, Buddy now age 7 months weighs 42 pounds. Buddy is going to be a big boy. His paws are massive. I put my holistic principals in place for the surgery as preparation and for immediately after. Bella was very much affected by the anesthesia. We assumed she would be as she’s a very sensitive girl. She had all the side affects vets warn about…she was spaced out for hours and hours after the surgery, she wouldn’t take anything to drink and she vomited. We gave her small amounts of water on our finger tips as it was a very warm day and her mouth was extremely dry on the way home. We pulled off the road several times and just rubbed a little water on her gums, we shielded her from the rays of the hot sun and took it easy on her. Once home the affects of the anesthesia seemed to worsen and her breathing was shallow. She was trembling and it was kind of scary. We used one drop of the homeopathic remedy Rescue Remedy and put on some very soft music, gave her Dr. Doloras Krieger's famous therapeutic touch - please see http://www.therapeutictouch.org/ and let her sleep. An hour later, we swabbed her gums again with warm water, wiped her face and eyes with a warm wash cloth, propped her head up in her E collar and sang her favorite song…she loves music and there’s a certain song that she reacted to when she had a fractured skull that has become Bella’s song. Bottom line…she did not pull out of the anesthetic until the next morning and then it was like nothing happened. Turns out all of the above is normal however we think Bella is very susceptible to anesthesia and we will certainly make that part of her medical record at her regular vet. Buddy? He flew through it as usual. Buddy's spirit soars which we were told is probably due to the fact that he may be part lab which seems to make a dog young forever. Thanks again to a great Long Island resource…Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton. They were animal shelter of the year in 2009 and we could see why! And as always, thanks for to the prayer team!

Bella and Dad, she's now 8 months old and thriving thanks to lots of love from Vet's Choice dog food, Dr. Jack, her gal pal Meeka the pit bull and of course Daddy and Buddy

Bait puppy no longer, Bella, now 8 months old got help from so many people including many on Facebook who helped us get through a rough time. Bella needed so much care and we had no intention of adopting a dog (or 2!) - it seems to be some higher message about healing, helping animals present. We all love them so. We struggled with bills initially as Bella had a fractured skull, hurricane Sandy was upon us but sure enough help just flowed. We're so grateful to so many. Please pray for this family as prayer really made a difference in Bella's recovery as did music, nutrition, excelled vet care, strangers. Pictures of Bella, Buddy and Meeka on the way ASAP. Meeka lives in Nassau county and Bella and she love each other as they run laps around a one acre yard. Bella sleeps very soundly after a visit with Meeka. Buddy on the other hand, since he knows no one but daddy who nursed his from 2 lbs to 37 pounds, sticks close by.

GOOD NEWS....home was perserved for Ed, Bella and Buddy....it's Bella...she's just magical!

When Bella was very ill and we didn't know whether she would live, I came across someone by accident. This woman proclaimed that she was a working psychic. I asked her, "Will Bella live?" She said, "that's not a dog you have, she's an angel with fur! There's only one thing that can save her: LOVE!" She also said Bella loves music. We were caring for her in her dazed state due to the skull fracture and she rarely interacted but slept all the time. Then one morning, I sang a song I made up for her with her name in it. For the first time, she stood up and wagged her tail. She still reacts to that song...it makes her so happy. And, she absolutely is an angel with fur! Wow, Hurricane Sandy really kicked the North Shore's butt...we hope all of you are okay!