Editorial by Trudy Evans

This month has been a busy month for us anyway. It’s also been a sad month. It has been a joyful month! It’s been a month of learning, and a costly month. I guess it’s a month of feelings. Happy, sad, mad, hurt, and guess we can throw tired in there as well.

Most of all this month has taught us, nothing lasts forever. New replaces the old, a newborn baby can put a smile on your face after a loved one passes, we get new pets, while loved pets cross the rainbow bridge or move to different homes. And words are hurtful, if they are said that way, but the heart forgives. I don’t know how, but it does.

When we got our newest poodle puppy, Jessie, a few weeks ago, I had to make a hard decision based on the size of our little house. Our sweet inside bunny Lola was going to have to find a new home. So, we found a rescue that took bunnies. We have a rescue cat, so we know the protocol for adopters, and this was going to be the best for Lola. We wanted her to be an inside pet at her new home because she has been one with us from day one. She loved our cats and dogs and they loved her, especially our one+ year old standard poodle, Milo. They loved to snuggle together. They all played together like siblings and it was so fun to watch. But the size of her hutch was just taking up too much room and it was going to be the best option for her to find a new home. We miss her like crazy, but the new puppy brings so much joy and laughter.

Friends welcomed their precious baby/grandbaby Lyla into this world and former employer, Don Beene, passed away from this mixed-up world we live in. Joy and sorrow, happiness, and loneliness, new and old – this is my life of feelings. Sometimes you give, sometimes you get taken from while wanting to help. Shutting someone out of your life – feelings are involved. Feeling blessed, taken advantage of, excited, or feeling used. Again, all these feelings we have experienced this month.

My feeling about feelings, wake up in the morning, put a smile on, share your smile with everyone, because you never know who needs that smile!

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College student Peyton Wilson, pet and house sitter poses with her family dog.

PHOTO provided by PEYTON WILSON

PHOTO provided by MIKAELA MEYER Mikaela Meyer, OSU student, riding her horse, Lightening Bug.

A Window into PETS

in Our Community and Homes

by ALANA OWEN

Pets.

We all have them (well most of us). We typically all love them. What was once considered “just an outside animal” has become the mainstay of many homes, our pet dog. I mention dogs over other animals first because of their remarkable evolution over the years; from their grey wolf ancestors to our dedicated companions. Studies suggest that dog owners score higher on measures of well-being and are happier, on average, than those who own cats or no pets at all.

For some, our four-legged friends represent consistent companionship and daily rituals. This possibly explains the reason the loss of the family pet can be more devastating than the loss of a family member or a friend.

I recently spoke with an Oklahoma college student who doubles as a pet sitter, Peyton Wilson. Peyton described her role as a “pet and house sitter”. After

For some, our four-legged friends represent consistent companionship and daily rituals. This possibly explains the reason the loss of the family pet can be more devastating than the loss of a family member or a friend.

her freshman year of college Peyton decided to take a semester of school off. While doing so, a family friend asked her to stay at her house and take care of her two dogs while away on vacation. Soon after others began reaching out to Peyton to receive assistance with pet and house sitting. Peyton said she primarily cares for dogs and cats, while their human companions are away. Peyton said she enjoys spending time with the animals and getting to know all of their personalities. The most memorable job for her was a large dog named Duke. It was raining the entire week she spent with Duke and he was required to wear doggy rain boots when he went outside. Peyton said Duke was “really good about wearing the boots and so cute!”

Another four-legged friend which serves many purposes is the equine. Equines can also be companions and used in therapeutic settings. Yet many use them for sports and hobbies. I recently ran into some horse enthusiast out trimming the trails at a local lake. The group, who are members of a Facebook group named Central Oklahoma Trail Riders Networking, were enjoying their first spring ride of the season. I visited with the youngest member, Mikaela Meyer, from Kansas, who is in school at Oklahoma State University (OSU). Mikeala was riding her horse, named “Lightening Bug.” Mikeala said she hopes to become part of the OSU Ranch Horse team with “Bug”. Mikaela has had family horses but Bug is especially important to her because the horse represents the start of her future direction as an adult. Mikaela will be working on a ranch in Montana this summer and will return to OSU in the fall.

I reached out to veterinarian Dr. Lisa Mauzerall to see if she had any pet stories to share. Lisa has offices in Chandler and Stillwater, and I am forever grateful to her for saving my dog many years ago when he was diagnosed with heart worms. My pooch, Mr. Bojangles, is now a 14-year-old terrier with a terrible attitude who sometimes barks and growls at my husband when he talks loudly or moves quickly. Unfortunately, I am the only one in my home who finds this entertaining or funny. My husband claims he can’t wait for “that old dog and his stinky breath to pass”, however, he is often seen petting his ears and making sure the terrible terrier is well cared for. Dr. Mauzerall shared a story about a dog who was severely burned in a home fire. Lisa had heard of a burn treatment being used with tilapia skin. After much research and effort, Lisa was able to obtain some information about the treatment used by Brazilian doctors with the fish skin, and utilized the process with great success for her client. Dr Mauzerall explained that “tilapia skin bandages” are useful in treating second and third degree burns while preventing scaring and promoting healing. It also helps to reduce the pain caused by burns. Such a wonderful story of human dedication to our animal friends.

While traveling to Nebraska last month, I was amazed at the way people in the large cities are willing to accommodate their life-styles to keep their pets. While staying with family in Omaha I witnessed numerous people with pets living with them in a high-rise apartment building. This takes some serious dedication. Rain, snow, blizzards, heat, extreme temperatures; regardless, dogs need walking, and city etiquette requires proper clean up and disposal. I sat down stairs in the lobby of the Brandeis Apartment building and met with various pet owners as they exited the elevator. The apartment building advertises their pet friendly policy as one of the building’s amenities. For a non-refundable fee of $350, and $40 a month, tenants may reside with their pet. Tenant “Shirley” and her dog “George” stopped to visit with me. Shirley advised that the pet policy was a major factor when deciding where to live. When I drove back home to my ranch life in Oklahoma, I thought about how different my life style is from Shirley’s, yet one thing is undeniably the same. I too, must have my pets. Horses, chickens, dogs, and cattle; just in an entirely different setting.

Another four-legged friend which serves many purposes is the equine. Equines can also be companions and used in therapeutic settings. Yet many use them for sports and hobbies.

Enjoy and embrace your wonderful pets, whatever kind they may be. Don’t be afraid to openly grieve the unavoidable and painful day of their loss, even if others can not relate.

After all, they are family. n

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Neighb rs Helping Neighb rs

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION has created a page on

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DAVENPORT LOCATION: 900 Broadway (9th & Hwy 66) Davenport, OK 74026 / 918-377-2341 CHANDLER LOCATION: 1906 E. 1st (Hwy 66) Chandler, OK 74834 / 405-258-2274 EMAIL: cofcu@cofcu.net