The lighter side of Sam

1.4.13 Today we laid Sam to rest. She is my kitty and my Human has had her in her life for over half of her adult existence. Her emotions so visible on the video she made the same day she was put to sleep. http://youtu.be/eqDcIoYlDLc But there is a lighter side to Sam and aspects I think my human is going to miss, 3 of them to be exact that I can think of. One, EVERY night our Human would get in bed and laid down on her back, head on the pillow and let out a big days sigh. Ready to relax and just wind down and maybe watch a little TV. EVERY night Sam would wake up upon her arrive to the sack and walk right on top of her and EVERY night for 18 + years she said the same thing, "DAMN IT SAM, GET OFF MY NIPPLE!" :-) Funny how that tiny 6 pound cat could find the same spot to stand on a nightly basis. Two, Sam has slept in the same spot for years, right between our Humans legs. For 18 years she had to retract her legs up to her waist and then turn over and then extend her legs again. You know how it goes, God forbid you disturb the cat! Some nights it seemed almost a workout for her if she needed to turn over more than once! Funny how you Humans work, she never once concerned moving the cat! :-) Three, Our Human sleeps flat on her face and EVERY morning there she was! Sam! In what our Human called "her personal space". Typically waking with a "ugh" or and "don’t" she couldn't stand the ONE TINY WHISKER that would BARELY touch her face each more. "It's horrible" I've heard her say before. She compared it to torcher! After a few years a hand jester began to immerge. It was the thumb placed between the side of her face and the pillow, the nose gently covered by the palm of the hand and the four fingers spread over the opposite side of her face. This became known as, "the great whisker barrier!" LOL Sam started at her EVERY morning. My Dad wakes up early to go to work and he said it was absolutely hysterical how Sam would be standing there just starting at her waiting for her to blink. I think if you ever want to know anything about my Human's face. The shade, the couture, the lines, the story you should ask Sam someday if you ever met her in Heaven. I am sure she knows more about her face than anyone else ever has. She stared at her that much! When you're in a relationship there will be things that drive you nuts! Things you absolutely cannot stand. Things you so wish the other person would just stop fricken doing. These are the things you’re going to miss. These are the times you will remember. Think of that next time someone drives you nuts. The next time a pet pisses you doing the same bad or unwanted behavior. The next time a human does something you just can't stand about them. Smile, for this is what you will miss. :-) Life is funny that way. Sam, we love you! Your Humans and Sister Emma Zen

Picture This!

Today I went to wall mart and as usual I parked way out in left field as I like further parking spaces it helps me get more walking in. The parking lot is on a downward slope towards the store. It is one cold and slightly windy day and in front of me is a man pushing his cart back to the store. He is dressed in long pants and long sleeve Pendleton and he is wearing one of the kid’s hats that look like animals with long ears or tassels to cover your ears. When all of a sudden he jumped on the cart! The cart picked up speed as he rode it down the parking lot aisle back to the store. You could see him using his body to try and manipulate the directions it was taking. When he got to the sidewalk he lifted up the shopping cart and left it there and turning around I noticed something I didn't expect! He must have been 45 years old! I smiled. As I approached I said, "Nice Ride!" then laughing I continued "how long has it been since you've done that?" I haven't done that in years the man replied with the best expression on his face I have seen in a while and as he passed me he through both of his arms into the air and shout, "I highly recommend it!" I smiled, again! I know this story has nothing to do with dogs. But it's a good story, a really good story!

A Letter to Emma Zen

I don't even know how to write you a letter? A novel, now that I could easily do. Every moment of your story is so incredible, from the 5 days I spent guarding your kennel at the shelter while you were on fire hold so that no one else would adopt you. To all the miles we put together on our Harley and Sidecar to the foundation I started in your name because your presents simple moved everyone you met. I couldn't write you a letter but a movie, I could make that. Emma Zen, you and I have been together every moment of your life with me. I wonder how many people really know what that's like? I took you to work and then you became my job. I don't think you ever been alone for more than an hour since we lived with each other. I touch you every hour, kiss you every hour, and tell you I love you every hour. We see the day together, the road together the wind together our lives together. I know you will probably leave this world before me and when you do I hope I am strong. Never will I have this experience again; everything fell in place when I met you. I am so happy to be your human. I am so in love with you and I am so changed to have lived in your life.

You make us who we are

You see my Human is the President of a foundation that is named after me, a foundation that in its year and a half has made great strides in establishing safety equipment for pets in emergency situations. Great strides! There are those that tell her, Debra Jo you need to take the credit you work so hard behind the scenes doing so way more than people would ever know and while that may be true, it is not this that makes us what this organization has become. What does? Our reputation. Our ability to be where we say we’re going to be when we’re going to be there, our hard work and our honest to do the right thing and our best job. Our compassion for others and for the animals and pets they love. In other words, Our VOLUNTEERS! It is you, each and every one of you who make this foundation what it is. Well I, Debra Jo, am so proud to finally do something in my life I feel is worthy and to have that credit in my life of leaving something good behind. I have to stop and tell you that without you not only could we have not achieved all we have but neither could I have achieved what I have in my own life. We each have standards; mine are to show my best side, to be honest, to try, to put forth effort, to succeed. If we I started this foundation I realized that those attributes on this foundation would have been up to others? I would have never started it. It wasn't until time had passed that I realize how how fortunate not only this organization is but I am, to have each and every one of you represent us with the kind of quality and respect I would wish. How did we ever get so lucky? So here here!!! To the volunteers of the Emma Zen Foundation: I sit with tears in my eyes as I write so grateful for all that has been accomplished, so fortunate to be a part of it and so enriched by those that are involved with us. I love to hear the words when I deserve them, "Thank you" but when I say them to you I hope you understand why they just don’t feel enough. My forever gratefulness for your help and for having the opportunity to work with you and have you in my life as well. Debra Jo Chiapuzio / President The Emma Zen Foundation

Seatbelt Check!!!

This dogs safety harness was approved by an officer of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department My Human (knock on wood) hasn’t had a ticket or been pulled over in over 20 years, until today. The Officer expecting the worse was none too happy to see a dog flying down the freeway in a sidecar! That was until in examined my rig... He was impressed that I was strapped at three different points in the sidecar and that all three anchors were connected to metal that was connect to or was part of the sidecar and or motorcycle frame. He also noted that at the top of my harness where a plastic clip typically holds the harness together that mine had a metal clip on it so that the strength of the harness was based on the harness and it's anchors and not the strength of the plastic. A point we did not care to discuss with the Officer was that sidecars do not require any seat belts. However exposed dogs in beds of trucks in the state of California must be wearing a seat belt! My human has seen far too dog flying around the back seat of pickup trucks so she was happy that Officer Ferris pulled us over... If he has his eyes out for doggie seat belts than maybe he will get more of those dogs in the beds of trucks! He said his department was cracking down on that!!! (Finally) I find it funny, now that I have been pulled over. That this is the only time in 4 1/2 years of riding any law enforcement has ever stopped to check on me.. He gave me the thumbs up for safety! I hope he is as vigilant where other pet safety is concerned... Good Job Officer Ferris! We APAWS you!!!

Yesterday my Human spent all day cleaning. She cleaned all my blankets in the car. She cleaned the car. She cleaned my harness seatbelt too. Then she clean me up after a long dusty desert vacation. Then she cleaned herself.. You should have seen us this morning! All Spic n Span! I had on my pretty collar and my Human had on some nice summer pants and shoes, not flip flops. We were lookin' good. Off to start the days adventures, she had an appointment which she keep and at about 10AM as we left that building she said, "Hey Emma did you know the beach was only a couple miles away!" Well, that was all it took and there we were, me and my Human! Playing on the beach on a warm summer's day, it was perfect and I was as happy as my Human was too. A few hours later you wouldn't have recognized us when we pulled into the driveway... The newly washed blankets were crumbled and wet and I looked like I brought half the beach home with me because there weren't any towells in the car. And my Human,, BOL she was a wreck! Hair all stringy and wind blown her socks and shoe covered with sand and her good summer pants wet all the way up past her knees... We were a disaster! She took everything back out of the car and stuck most of it in the washing machine. She gave me another bath smiling the whole time talking to be about the wonderful unplanned morning we had. She vacuumed the car as I layed down on the tile with my wet clean body to rest from the mornings play... And I heard her taking anohter shower as I feel asleep to the sounds of the clothes drying machine... I love my human's way, where having to do everything twice isn't a chore, proof of a celebration!

OUCH!

My name is Emma Zen and I am pure temperament. You know one of those souls you Humans always hope you get in life, when choosing a canine for your family. I am loving. Slow moving. Gentle. Intuitive. Well behaved. And that's just all in my nature. On top of it I am well socialized, experienced and trained. I am a therapy and service dog. I have passed many test and many will attest to my nature.

Until this week April 2012 I have never been in a fight. I think I curled my lip up once about a year ago but that was a day when I was laying in the front yard after I hurt my knee and I wasn't' feeling good. But I didn't even growl. In fact I didn't even bark until I was almost four years old. I will be five this year.

Last week an extended families dog whose history we do not know decided the hall we were both in was to small for the two of us, and I found myself in my first fight. Don't kid yourselves folks, we are dogs and we turn to wolf the second we need to defend ourselves, even sweet little me... Within that sentences lies a reminder for you to tell yourselves this about your own pet too. Look into those sweet loving I'd never hurt a souls eyes and know, when push comes to shove, your powder puff is going to become a wolf! Know that in your soul, just so your mentally prepared if it ever happens.

Yes this is the point where the 'safety dog' in me tells your Human to take Pet First Aid and CPR. You well more than likely be the first person on the scene when your pet is injured so PLEASE know what to do BEFORE it happens. You do not want to be sitting there with a wounded pet and no idea on what to do or where to go... PLEASE take care of your pet, by being properly prepared.

Some of the effects of trauma are the adjustment in attitude that "can" occur after a pet has been attacked. I use to always hear that old antage that if a dog kills one cat, it's probably going to kill another. So if a dog gets in one fight, is it more likely to get in another? I do not know the answer to this question though I venture to guess that the answer lies somewhere between your pets temperament, training and socialization and your physical and mental reaction to the situation. You know how are you going to act differently passing your next dog on the street, or at a dog park or wherever your situation happened?

Six weeks after this fight, Emma Zen was playing with a neighbor dog who has become friendly in the past few months. Almost just enough time to forget that she had a problem to begin with. She had a new toy in her mouth and Emma Zen to a look at it and SNAP before you could take a breath, dog fight! Good Lord, what is going on here?

This time my dog got a couple of puncture wounds, enter the confidence I have to do the right thing... (Take Pet First Aid & CPR! I have told you that already, right?!)
The wounds are small and only effect the nerve and muscle to the level of tenderness and well heal nicely with time. But now I am worried all over again about my dogs disposition.

Tuesday after fight one, I didn't take Emma anywhere for 4 days. Then on day 5 I took her to met another ZENfull soul. (By the way thank you Buddy) Day 6 another fight... I guess am going back to my friends house!

I choose to share this story because what I would like to give you are reminders that are "pets" are not us. They are animals with animalistic behaviors. I believe putting yourself in check may aid you in the event of a crisis. Also for you to hear again that a calm and collective demeanor may best give you that "clear head" you need in the case of emergency. And it never hurts again to told that you should take an emergency preparedness class (pet first aid & CPR..)I have said that already, correct?! :-)

life is, well life and anything can happen even to those who you don't think deserve it. And people change, so why not your pet? Make sure your medical attention includes after care damage control.

Emma Zen has already played nicely with both dogs that hit her. She has played with friends, and she has met a stranger. Next week were going to CANIDAE because their family includes a pack of friendly canines.

Ouch hurts. Ouch is not just skin deep. And Ouchs heal! Be well.

Debra Jo (aka Emma Zen's Human)

www.facebook.com/emmazenfoundation