H om e Alo n e Pet s By Am anda Marcum , CVT One positive side effect of the recent Covid pandemic was a tremendous surge in pet adoptions. Shelters across the country were emptied as people suddenly found themselves at home for long periods of time. These pets provided much needed companionship for those who were isolated from friends and family, and were a source of comfort during a stressful time. Now that the country is returning to normalcy, these “pandemic pets” are suddenly finding themselves home alone while owners go back to work, and kids go back to school. For many of these pets, being alone is a completely new experience, and without acclimation, behavioral issues can develop. That same isolation that prompted the adoption is now happening to the adoptees. The best way to help these pets adjust to the new lifestyle is to ease them into it slowly. Leave the house for short periods of
time, and gradually increase your time away over several weeks. When you leave AND return, don’t make a fuss. By remaining calm, you are reinforcing that leaving isn’t a big deal, and aren’t bringing extra attention to either event. Offering a size appropriate toy, such as a peanut butter filled Kong, will give your pet something positive to focus on. Be sure the toy is removed as soon as you return so it remains a special treat, and doesn’t turn into the same boring toy they see everyday. Exercising pets before you leave will help deplete them of that pent-up energy and help them relax. Synthetic pheromone products are available that mimic the same soothing chemical that’s produced by nursing mothers. And music can also be a calming influence while you’re away. There are even species specific playlists available on most of the online music apps. Destructive behavior, vocalization, and inappropriate urination/ defecation can be signs of true separation anxiety. Your veterinarian will help guide you through treatments that may include medication or a referral to a behavioral specialist. By taking the time to acclimate your pet, you will hopefully avoid more serious behavioral issues in the future.
Boyette Animal Hospital is proud to provide your pets with the highest quality of treatment and care from twelve veterinarians and a devoted staff. To make an appointment, please call (813) 671-3400.
BOOK REVIEW What are motherly sayings, words of advice, observations and even tender insults called? Momilies—those motherly sermon snippets that were admonitions or moralizing discourse to keep children safe and protect them. They were passed from mother to child, never forgotten, and usually handed down to one’s own offspring. These memorable sayings were usually wise, witty and treasured, especially when as adults, we don’t have to listen to them anymore.
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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2022 • 2
The original collection, “Momilies: As My Mother Used to Say,” by Michele Slung, was published in 1985 and then reissued in 1987. Both became national bestsellers because readers remembered their own Momilies imprinted on them from birth. In 1950, while riding on a plane, Slung decided to jot down her mother’s all-time favorite words of wisdom. She asked her friends for even more aphorisms and grew her collection. “It’s huge,” says Slung, “and almost universal for mothers
Momilies: Mother’s Most Precious and Lasting Gift by Kathy A. Megyeri around the world who probably say the same thing in different languages: ‘I’m only doing this for your own good’.” Michele notes that most Momilies are upbeat and attempt to teach positivity. Some don’t make sense, but they grab hold of one’s imagination. She says, “They’re implanted at such an early age you can’t judge them for logic. The truth is that you don’t forget them. Think of a saying, and your mother’s voice is in your ear, whether you like it or not.” For those printed in the book, there’s no attribution because Michele believes Momilies are generic. Slung also divided the aphorisms into chapters like “Love and Marriage,” “Let Me Feel Your Forehead,” “What You Wear,” “Foodstuffs,” and “Around the House.” A most charming addition was photos of famous people’s mothers like Thomas Alva Edison, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and Elizabeth Taylor. Personally, I just ordered a dozen copies for friends in my age group for Mother’s Day. We need the laughs, memories and admonitions ourselves. After all, how many times have we offered a saying or piece of advice ourselves, prefacing it with, “As my mother used to say…” And what I wouldn’t give to hear them again from my own mom.
