Precious Pets Vol 2, Issue 7 by PreciousPets

Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their companions LIKE US ON

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

In this issue Guardian’s need

Care

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“en fra n m lu o c t s ir F

5 Concierge 4 Pa

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Former pro Bobby Dollas is a Natural Hound Lover

Photo courtesy of Bram D. Eisenthal

Changes... thanks, David Bowie

I liked David Bowie a helluva lot prior to 1997, but then I worked with the legendary rocker on the second season of the televised horror series, The Hunger, and not a day goes by that I do not think of my encounter with Major Tom’s creator, Ziggy Stardust himself. I hear his music everywhere, so it’s natural to envision him acting accompanied by his career soundtracks. So, reading this column while listening to Bowie’s classic hit, Changes (“ch-ch-ch...”), is probably a good idea, because we have a plethora of positive changes to offer you starting with this issue, with more changes to come down the road. First, I

am proud to state that, as of this issue, we will be starting to provide a wee bit o’ the ol’ French content. This will always be an English-language paper, mainly because that is what I choose to do. But since we are available mainly in Quebec at present and we do have a significant percentage of bilingual Francophone readers, the odd column or two in the French language will certainly not hurt anyone... and, let’s be honest, our animals won’t mind. Also, after speaking with Quebecois reader Joane recently, we are changing our cover tag-line to “The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their companions.” The old word, “owners,” rubbed some people the wrong way... and I agree. God, the Creator that goes by many names on this Earth, but is an omnipotent being (in my opinion, of course... But everyone is entitled to their own belief) owns all living creatures... man does not. So, we make the change gladly and hope you appreciate them. Additionally, we would like to welcome young artist Marta Barnes to the fold. Marta is the daughter of Clarence Barnes and Belinda Shneider, an artist I worked with in 1989 at Montreal’s since-renamed Allied Jewish Community Services. Boy, did we work well together, my trusty pen and her creative mind. So,

Barking Bram with Bram D. Elsenthal it with no small sense of pride that I welcome Marta to Precious Pets... even though she is teaching English as a Second Language in Korea at the moment. Her work, which we will make available for sale to anyone who asks, starts this very issue. She renders animals good! New sections on the way You will also notice, starting with the next issue in March, that we will be presenting our paper in various sections, such as Lifestyles and Leisure, Health and Nutrition, Travel, Entertainment, Sports and such. We are always open to making this paper better and we never claim to know it all, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to contact me anytime... 514-975-7745 or via the e-mail address on our masthead. We welcome we also welcome Ian Shulman to our pack. Ian, whose new business Concierge 4 Pattes advertises on our pages, is a veteran of the pet milieu locally and knows a lot of people in the field. Ian is our new sales rep and has already made inroads during his short time with us. Thanks, Ian! We look forward to working with you.... and you can read more about Ian in this issue’s Business Profile. Sad farewells There are two people, very important to me in my life, whom I wish to bid a safe journey and eternal rejuvenation in the Spiritual Realm: My friend Peter Klein, originally from

Europe and a resident of Cote SaintLuc, where I live, who died far, far too young and who was one of the most genuine, positive people I have ever known. Peter had recently retired from his job as an engineer with CAE Electronics in Montreal, leaving to mourn his widow, Roz, and his recently-married daughter Julie. And not long afterward, I received the news of the sad passing of retired accountant and “all-around-mensch” Stanley Rosenthal, a resident of the US. His widow Sally is the cousin of my late father and she and I are quite close. Stanley was a lifetime fan of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball franchise and in his case, his passion for “his” team likely extended his life by at least two years. Rest in peace, Peter and Stanley. I will miss you both terribly. On another sad note, my great and good friend Barry Mager, a high school English teacher in Toronto whom I am pictured with in a nursery school photo taken in 1963 at Talmud Torah in NDG, lost his mother Helen Mager very recently. Helen joins Barry’s late father, Daniel, a well-known local cab driver who died quite a while ago. My sincerest condolences to Barry, his family (wife Ardys, children Daniel and Ariela) and to his siblings Michael and Gail. I note that Helen died with Alzheimer’s and that Montreal’s Alzheimer Group Inc (AGI) provided her with much care during her terrible ordeal. If you knew Helen, a donation to AGI would be much appreciated.

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Precious Pets The ultimate monthly paper for pets and their owners Precious Pets is a publication of Precious Pets Media Group Inc. Volume 2, Issue 7, February 2015. Copyright 2015. Precious Pets does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not presumed to be the opinions and statements of Precious Pets Group Inc.

VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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MAILING ADDRESS: ..............................................P.O. Box 66521, Cavendish Mall, Côte Saint-Luc, QC H4W 3J6 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR:.....................................................................................................Bram D. Eisenthal SALES MANAGER:........................................................................................................................ Tina Di Salvia CREATIVE DESIGN:...............................................................................................................James McCafferty ART DIRECTOR: .............................................................................................................. ..............Marta Barnes ONTARIO DIRECTOR & DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA:...........................................................Janet Boiangiu

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

Guardians need care, too Responsible pet guardians are always there to sooth the ills of our four-legged friends. They are there through the pain, the fear and the medical intervention. This loving dedication takes its toll, and pet guardians dealing with difficult situations involving the animals they have become so attached to need care as well. A diagnosis can bring with it shock, fright, and grief - and providing long-term care for animals can be exhausting. While guardians will rise to the occasion, they will, more often than not, forget to take care of themselves. Recognizing the reaction to difficult situations is vital, for guardians need to be objective and centred if they are to deal with the problems the animal is facing. They need to be able to think clearly in order to gather all the information required to perform effectively.

For guardians who are caught off guard and/or shocked by a serious diagnosis and are having trouble re-balancing, homeopathy can help. Consider the following remedies: • For a sudden frightful experience that puts guardians into a state of panic and terror, Aconite will help. • For those who have provided long-term and palliative care and are exhausted from lack of sleep and providing nursing care - and are suffering from a combination of physical and emotional stress Cocculus is the remedy. • When nerves are on edge and the guardian is suffering from nervous exhaustion, Kali Phosphoricum will be of great help. • If the reaction is one of apprehension, dread of the ordeal and when the problem weighs heavily on the guardian and is paralysing,

Pet Healer with Barbara Etcovitch

Gelsemium is a good choice. The remedies can be dissolved on the tongue in 30ch or 200ch potency, depending on the severity of the reaction. A competent homeopath should be consulted if the state of imbalance is not resolved in a few days. Barbara Etcovitch is a Classical Homeopath, Interfaith Minister, freelance writer and lecturer. She has a BA from Sir George Williams University, a MA in Literature from the University of Ottawa and a diploma in Classical Homeopathy from the School of Homeopathy in Devon, England. She was ordained

by the All Faiths Seminary International in New York City in 2004. She offers naming and funeral services for animals, grief counselling for guardians and includes the treatment of animals in her homeopathic practices in Quebec and Ontario. Her services are available worldwide via Skype. ED. NOTE. And let’s not forget all the stress that this horrid winter visits upon us. It’s hard to successfully care for an animal or another person when you yourself are feeling stressed and unhappy....

For Pets And People In Motion

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

At Dollas’ homestead, it’s still NHL (Natural Hound Lovefest) all the way Story and photos by Bram D. Eisenthal

Several weeks ago, my buddy Mike Cohen (journalist, city counsellor, communications director) took me to a hockey game. We were off to see the Club de Hockey L’Arctic de St. Leonard of the Ligue de Hockey Junior de Quebec (LHJQ... a AAA junior league). Owned by entrepreneur Joe Perretta and a serious project for his hard-working entrepreneur wife Lina (who also operates a brain cancer fundraising organization) and his kids, the team has a very special component aside from the talented, athletic 17-20 year olds who lace up their skates and battle on the Arctic and opposing ice surfaces: A very special coach. Bobby Dollas, recently turned 50, joined the team not too long ago for his first assignment behind a team bench after playing defense in the NHL for nine teams over 17 years, starting in 1983-’84 until after he found himself slowing down significantly as an older player. A local boy, Bobby had the opportunity to play for the Habs under GM Rejean Houle, but was not interested in enduring all of that local pressure. So his career took him to Winnipeg, Quebec, Detroit, Anaheim, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, San Jose and, not last and certainly not least, Pittsburgh, where he had the pleasure of playing with legend Mario Lemieux. He also played in eight leagues until he retired in 2005-2006, and his record shows 646 games, 42 goals, 96 assists and 467 penalty minutes. Tough guy, huh, Bobby? I liked Bobby a lot. Tall, confident, friendly and knowledgeable, he also managed to keep his temper well-hidden, even though his team had just been blasted by their op-

ponent on the ice. Then I found out about his love for dogs and I knew I had to write this story. Bobby and his beloved Lucy have four Yorkshire Terriers, two “regular” Yorkie

brothers and two miniature Teacup Yorkies (also brothers). Their West Island menagerie is therefore a haven for four special animals that appeared quite happy and content.... as well as extremely poseable for my camera. Then there was Bobby, who was quite a pleasure to talk to when I was in the home he and Lucy share with the four dogs. I had plenty of time to speak with him about his love of hockey and animals, too. “I was born In Montreal and raised in Chateauguay, the oldest of two children,” he told me. “My father is from Greece and my mother from

Ukraine. They did not have pets when they grew up in their native lands. Although I always wanted a dog as a child, we ended up having a Siamese cat named “Pom-Pom.” “But I have since developed a philosophy regarding dogs,” Bobby continued. “Whether you have a bad day or a good day, your dog will always be happy to see you... no matter what. No complaints, no judgments and pure, unconditional love! I do believe animals have souls. They each have their own personalities/characters, making them unique in their own special way. I believe you can learn a lot from them. They teach you what unconditional love is and teach you that this is reciprocal.”

If you wish to catch some of the Arctic’s remaining home games, you still have Feb. 22 (4 p.m.) and 27 (7:30 p.m.) and March 1 (2:00 p.m.) to see them, Bobby Dollas included, at their current venue, Arena Garon, 11212 Garon St., Montreal North, H1H 1M6. The team website can be found at : http://arctic.lhjq.ca/fr/index.html

Bobby’s goals and thoughts in life are simple: They are generally about the love of hockey. “I grew up watching the Montreal Canadiens on TV whenever I could, scrutinizing iconic players like Larry Robinson and Guy Lafleur. They made me dream of playing in the National Hockey one day. All of these dreams made me the player I once was and later helped transform me into the coach and hockey developer I am today.” For Bobby, being the head coach of the Arctic has been a fantastic and rewarding experience. “The Perrettas are newcomers as owners and a real treat to work with and for. They are hands-on and believe in always offering their help with an added personal touch. Operating the team involves dealing with young men from 17-20 yrs of age. My role is teaching them the game and the way it is supposed to be played. It’s a rebuilding year for us and we were all well aware of this – and the ensuing challenges - since the beginning of the season. “As for my future, who knows what is being instilled in me as a coach, going forward? Maybe one day I will have a chance to coach in the NHL against the infamous Mike Babcock? As far as my philosophy, I try to teach the way I was taught, focusing on the love and respect of the game. Winning is important, but passion and commitment towards your teammates is a reward that you will never forget.” Bobby added that current play-

ers on his team to look out for are: Caleb Amousse (“a good, young 18-year old”), Massimo LoRusso (“a solid d-man, 17-years old”) and Loic Carriere (“another solid d-man, 17-years old”), amongst others.

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

Next Issue:

FRIDAY. March 27, 2015

DEADLINE WEDNESDAY, March 11, 2015 info@preciouspetscanada.com

Pourquoi un reptile? Pourqoui aujourd’hui en 2015 beaucoup de gens se tourne vers le monde des reptiles. Premièrement, les reptiles sont divisé en quatre familles: Les tortues, les lézards, les crocodiliens et les serpents. Les reptiles sont des animaux au corps recouvert d’écailles. Aujourd’hui dans nos année ou la vie est vécu a un rythme fou, souvent les gens recherche un animale de compagnie qui va nous demander beaucoup moins de temps, autant en entretien que du temps consacré au contact avec le petit être choisi. Les reptiles vivent dans leurs environnement souvent appelé terrarium ou vivarium. Ils demandent ou nécessitent donc peu d’entretien contrairement au animaux qui vivent en communauté dans la maison avec nous. Ca prend que quelques minutes pour nettoyer leurs terrarium. De plus avec un reptiles, on aura pas a soucier pour les poiles laissé dans la maison, ainsi que les personnes qui pourrais être allergique au poiles laissé un peu partout dans notre chez nous.

Editorial Board The Editorial Board of Precious Pets is comprised of individuals connected to the pet field in some manner, who are ready to advise the partners and/or staff when

asked for their opinions. They are:

Michael J. Cohen, Councilor, City of Cote Saint-Luc (Quebec) and founder of its Cats Committee Averil Robinson, owner of Pet Friends (Vaudreuil, Quebec) Gerdy Gouron, owner of Gerdy’s Rescues and Adoptions (Quebec) Dr. Wojciech Wybranowski – Veterinarian (Montreal’s West Island) Gaby Dufresne-St. Cyr – Owner of Dogueshop (Montreal) Suzanne VIlleneuve – President: Suzanne Villeneuve Associates Inc. & SVbiz Inc.

En générale, ils sont facile a garder en captivité et ils sont très bien dans leurs habitats qui doit être adapté a leurs besoin respectif. Certain demande beaucoup de chaleur, surtout pour les reptiles désertiques, comme les dragons barbu, par exemple. Il y a aussi les habitats tropicales gardé moin chaud et un peu plus humide, comme pour les geckos a crête par exemple. Les lézards, tortue et serpents sont des animaux qui peuvent être manipulé si vous le désirez, même que plusieurs on beaucoup de personnalité, ils ont tous leurs trait de caractère comme nous, ils peuvent avoir des petits sautes d’humeurs. Il ont trois different régime alimentaire, dépendant de l’animal choisi, il peut être carnivore, insectivore ou bien végétarien. Un choix de reptiles peut être fait selon le type de alimentation que vous préfère donner ou refuser de donner a votre an-

Nos Animaux... en français, S.V.P... with Dawn and Yan

of Monarch Reptiles (Chateauguay, Quebec)

imal, Il coute peu cher de nourrir son reptiles donc correspond a tout les budgets. En terminant, les reptiles sont peu exigeants, c’est une alternative a réfléchir, nécessite que peu d’espace et d’entretien et ne cause pas de réaction allergique. Le monde des reptiles est un monde fascinant. un passe temps comme une expérience de voire vivre un animal exotiques qui vie de façons très different de un chien ou

un chat. L’essayer c’est l’adopter ED. NOTE: This will now be a regular French-language column, since we have a lot of Francophones reading our paper. Sorry it took so long... and the writing tandem is affiliated with Monarch Reptiles on Montreal’s South Shore, so look ‘em up if you need advice or merchandise. Merci, Dawn et Yan!

Who walks who? We’ve all been there: We think we’re walking our dog, but it’s the dog that’s walking us, pulling on its leash, yanking us all over the place. As you may well imagine, many of my calls pertain to dogs that pull on their leashes. So, you’re not the only one. While it may be a common problem, it’s often not difficult to fix. It’s actually quite simple. Yes, simple. But not necessarily easy... as with any type of training, consistency is key, and not everyone finds that to be as simple as it sounds. The first thing is to determine why the dog is pulling in the first place and how the dog has been reinforced, or rewarded, for pulling. Because they have been rewarded for it, otherwise they wouldn’t do it. The answer is simply that the dog wants to move forward faster. He wants to get “there” as fast as possible... meaning wherever the dog is trying to go. Keep in mind that we walk at less than 30 percent of the speed that dogs want to go, whereas most dogs trot, at the very least, if not outright run. Few walk. They just want to get there faster than we do. My “go-to” method to curb this embarrassing behaviour is Dr Ian Dunbar’s Red Light/Green Light. The rules are simple: If the dog pulls, we stop. This means that any amount of tension that the dog puts on the leash makes us stop. Very important to stop as soon as there is tension, but to keep our hands at our sides! Too many people stop their feet, but let their arms get pulled until the end of the leash...which still rewards the

Doggie Doggie DoDo with Meira Frankl

with Meira Frankl dog for pulling! The “green light” comes on as soon as the dog releases the tension on the leash. This could be as simple as the dog exhaling, shifting his weight, sitting down, or looking somewhere else. As soon as the dog releases the tension, we punctuate the desired behaviour with a “Good!” and move forward. Consistency is really the key here and I cannot stress that enough. Once you move forward again, the dog is most likely going to move faster than you, which will result in more

pulling within just one step. Keep this in mind and be ready to stop as soon as there is tension. Rinse and repeat... Over and over until the dog learns that pulling will just get him to where he wants to go slower than he wanted in the first place. The forward motion, the getting where he wants to go - is the real reward here. Make your behaviour equal to the dog’s behaviour and you’ll get what you want. If you need help, please contact a professional trainer in your area. Good luck and happy training!

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

Business Profile

Concierge 4 Pattes:

Making life easier for pets and people in motion By Bram D. Eisenthal, Photo courtesy of Ian Shulman

Ian Shulman with Bernese Timo

As a relative newbie in this business, I’m always happy to come across individuals who “really” know their stuff and are involved in making the world a better place for people and their pets. I had previously encountered the very hard working and pet-committed Ian Shulman when he was co-owner of a successful pet boarding facility located off the island. Shulman is not a novice entrepreneur; he owned a high tech business in Montreal in the 90’s. When I heard that he was reinventing himself, it was a no brainer to get in touch with him. So without further ado, here is a peek into Ian Shulman’s new business venture, Concierge 4 Pattes. Shulman has loved animals as far back as he can remember. “As a child we always had a dog and it was a big part of our family life,” he told me. “There was a time when we had a cat, a rabbit and a turtle along with the dog! My mother has always been a big lover of animals and at 88, she still has a tank of tropical fish and two birds. I have three brothers and between them there are five dogs. A love of animals obviously runs in our family.” In addition to loving pets, Shul-

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

man became an entrepreneur at a young age. “In late 1989, I opened Cartunes, a car radio and accessory store on Jean Talon that became the cellular store that is still there today. I sold that business after 15 years and purchased a pet boarding facility in Rigaud. I lived and worked there for almost 10 years. I moved back to Montreal last year knowing that I wanted to continue working with animals. Concierge 4 Pattes came to fruition when I combined my love and knowledge of animals with my years of customer relations to provide a professional, useful and valuable service for pets and their owners”. Years of taking care of a variety of animals taught him that they are not just pets, but family members. “Each one has its own personality, just like people, and because of that they each need to be treated in their own special way,” Shulman said. He has also learned how to assess a dog’s behavior, how to integrate a new animal into a pack and how to manage large groups of dogs. To further his pet education, Shulman even took a pet first aid course, and also became proficient in administering medications-even giving them by injection. Prior to opening Concierge 4 Pattes Shulman researched pet businesses in the US and found that there was a void in Montreal. “In-home pet visits and in-home pet boarding are something that had been missing in Montreal— until now,” he stressed. “During my years of running a kennel, I saw dogs that would have been a lot happier at home, like older dogs, dogs with medical issues, dogs recovering from veterinary procedures and timid dogs that do not react well to the noise and activity level of a busy facility. And you can’t forget our feline friends. Cats are much less adaptable to change and some of them would really be better off remaining at home.” So, with

Pattes Continues Page 8

They Call Me Dr. W

February is National Pet Dental Health Month! (by Dr. Wybranowski, B.SC. DVM CCRT)

Traditionally, February is Pet Dental Health Month, but every month is pet dental health month as far as I am concerned, because 85% of pets above 3-years of age have some form of dental disease. It is by far the most common and most unappreciated disease of our pets. Cats and dogs hide their pain, so owners cannot see it.

have now been permanently directed away from the palate, no more pain and no more problems. There are many things your veterinarian can do to help your pet. Please remember that he can only do it if you ask him. An oral health examination is an essential part of any regular general

health assessment. So don’t wait for spring, bring your pet to the vet this month! At Animal 911 Veterinary Hospital we have been fortunate to be able to help many pets with dental problems, give us a call at (514) 685-8387 and it will be

our pleasure to answer your questions. Also for a list of veterinary approved dental diets and products for your pet, consult the website of the Veterinary Oral Health Council at www.vohc.org and click on the link to Products Awarded the VOHC Seal.

Prevention of dental disease is easy: • Brush your pet’s teeth daily. Visit our website to watch a video on proper technique for teeth brushing: http://www.animal911. ca/information/dog-care-feedingdental-care/ • Use a veterinary-approved specially-formulated dry food that scrapes plaque off the teeth • Give veterinary-approved dental treats that help reduce the plaque • Bring your pet - at least once per year - for an oral exam followed by scaling, cleaning and polishing Early dental disease like plaque, tartar and gingivitis, is 100 percent controllable and preventable. Once gingivitis has progressed to periodontal disease, the changes become permanent and more aggressive therapy is necessary. Now, let’s also look at another aspect of dental disease that is fully preventable. I am referring to orthodontic problems that occur mostly in young dogs. Pets, like people, have baby teeth and permanent teeth. Puppies and kittens change their teeth at the age of 4.5-to-6 months. Retained baby teeth occur frequently and they need to be extracted as soon as the permanent teeth appear. If baby teeth remain, they will cause crowding, which leads to inflammation, gingivitis, pain and infection. Toy breeds are especially prone to having slightly shorter lower jaws, which result in the lower canines hitting the upper palate and making a hole. This is a very painful situation but treatable. The solution is the installation of an acrylic apparatus called an “incline plane” on the upper jaw that will direct the lower canine off to the side away from the soft tissue. After wearing this apparatus for 3-to-6 weeks, it will be removed. The end result is that the teeth

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

For avians, feathers are much more than pretty attire… but they help The number of feathers on a bird will vary from one species to another. Most songbirds will have between 1500 and 3000 feathers. The lowest recorded number is 940 for the Ruby Hummingbird and the highest is 25,216 for the Whistling Swan. By the way, did you know that it is considered good luck when

Birds of a Feather with Chantal Gargano Have you ever wondered what a bird would do or look like without its feathers? Besides not winning any beauty contest, our poor plucked and bald avian friend would never be able to fly! Birds have both feathers and scales. The scales are mainly found on their legs and feet. Feathers are incredibly strong and very flexible. When a feather is growing it receives its blood supply from an opening at the very tip of its base and once the feather is fully grown, the blood supply is sealed off and the feather becomes “dead,’’ similar to what occurs at the ends of our own nails. There is a very large range of wing shapes in the avian world. Feathers are what provide the overall shape of the wings and flight characteristics. Hawks and eagles have broad and slotted wings, perfect for gliding and soaring using very little energy, while gulls have long and narrow wings for high speed gliding. Other birds, such as swifts and falcons, have long and pointed wings because they rely on high speed to feed in the air, while doves and woodpeckers have elliptical and short rounded wings which offer amazing mobility and fast take off.

Feathers also play a role in bird romance. Just like humans, birds are very selective when choosing a mate. In most species the colour and markings of the male plumage will have a direct impact on how attractive he will be to the ladies. Research indicates that birds in good health have brighter feathers. Therefore, males with strong colours will have more success in establishing a territory and in mating because it is a sign that they are strong and fit. One easy way to observe the colour differences between males is to observe the black bib on a male House Sparrow. Males with larger and darker bibs will tend to be more dominant, have better nesting territories and, of course, more females admirers. Most of our feathered friends will molt at least once a year and normally this will occur during or after breeding season. Molting is when birds drop old feathers and grow new ones.This is also when beautiful birds like cardinals and blue jays may look bald and ugly for a while. On average, a complete molt will take 4 to 16 weeks, but this process might take up to 2 -3 years for larger birds, such as eagles.

you find a feather? It can also be a sign that your guardian angel is watching over you! So, be on the lookout for them. In conclusion, here is a beautiful quote by Douglas Coupland: Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain.

Pattes

Continued from Page 6 all of his pet experience and a business background, Shulman recently opened his new company catering to all aspects of pet care. Concierge 4 Pattes takes care of every service you would need, or could think of, as a pet owner. “We do dog walking on leash in your neighborhood, off-leash in a dog park or in a natural venue like Mount Royal. We also offer in-home pet visits, from one to three times per day. During these visits, your dogs are taken out and/or your cats have their litter cleaned. We’re happy to help by turning the lights on/off, take out the garbage, bring in the empty bins, collect the newspapers and such. This is a terrific service, if you need to stay late at the office or go out of town at the last minute,” Shulman stated. Concierge 4 Pattes also offers in-home boarding. “A bonded (the company is also fully insured and a list of referrals is available upon request) caregiverstays in your home over-

night for the time you are away,” Shulman noted, “This works great for people who prefer that their pet stays in its familiar environment.” Concierge 4 Pattes is also available to transport your pet to and from the veterinarian or groomer. Pet food delivery and yard cleanup are also available and they can help pet owners with other odd jobs/tasks that they may not want to do themselves. “No job is too big or too small for Concierge 4 Pattes.” Concierge 4 Pattes has an up-to-date website and is regularly posting pictures, articles and information on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “I am almost 50,”revealed Shulman, “But thanks to my three daughters, I am quite ‘with it’ as far as social media goes.” I know Ian Shulman and I also know that he cares deeply about animals and how to treat them right. If I am a pet owner looking for a good business with which to entrust my beloved pet, that’s good enough for me.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

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Our lives are a canvas that we paint our experiences upon Our homes are a canvas that we paint our lives on Our neighbourhoods are canvasses where we collectively create Our cities are canvasses of our collective neighbourhoods Our country is a canvas of the collective cities Our world is a canvas of all the countries and the Universe is a masterpiece of creation.

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PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca

TIDBITS Art from

Marta Barnes

Marta Barnes is a graduate from the creative writing program at Concordia University and studied abroad in Australia for six months in 2011. At the moment she is an ESL teacher at an elementary school in South Korea, from whence her inky illustrations currently propagate. She loves food, tea, and most other things that a Hobbit might - including the occasional adventure. Follow her travel blog at www.downfromthedoor.com

Puzzles

THIS WEEKS SOLUTION

PRECIOUS PETS • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 • www.preciouspets.ca