INTERVIEW

Confessions of a Bibliophile

For a generation that has grown up with digital devices attached to themselves, Mirhan Kermani is a rarity! In a world of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, the 15-year-old bibliophile easily devours at least three novels a day.

As a seven-year-old studying at Mission Heights School, Mirhan first discovered his love for books. He remembers checking out stacks of books from the school library as well as public libraries. Most of the times the pile-up was a lot higher than him.

Much as the teenager now enjoys sport and other extracurricular activities, he admits his happy place is undoubtedly, the library! It’s where time stops still!

Ask him about his first love and he waxes lyrical about his favourite hangout, a library.

“A thick wooden scent envelops me, its presence calming me. What I love about spending time in a library is that the pages of the books give off a musky scent from all its previous borrowers, and comfort oozes out from the hard worn cover,” says Mirhan.

“It’s comforting seeing thick wooden shelves run down as far as the eye can see, nicked and worn, and the books on them sit still, inviting and inanimate.

“To me, a library, is a place of rest and utmost comfort. A place in which many lives can be lived all at once, through the vast collection of exciting books on shelves. In a society which values instant results, the existence of a library can be a steadfast, safe haven for those too caught up in the tumultuous rapids of modern life. stories of heroes slaying dragons and rescuing princess; the grim and eventful life of famous historical figures! The library is jampacked with profound knowledge and philosophies, culture and entertainment,” says the librarian’s delight.

“My favourite at one time was the biography section, reading about lives of great leaders, the struggle and the turmoil they went through and how they changed their lives and those of others, around. It’s very inspiring and thought-provoking.”

Talking about the environment in a library, he says, “At peak hours it can be packed with people but still silent enough to hear your own breathing. Its walls are close together and crowded by people, but somehow it doesn’t feel stifling. It is so easy to lose yourself in a fictional world and become oblivious of your immediate surroundings.

“I do believe that a good book helps with the creative thinking process with its intriguing plots and sub-plots as it allows the reader to conjure a scene within their own headspace. Often these visualisations can be far more elaborate and enjoyable for a reader than it would be if they were supplied with a mere visual of the scene. For me, it has enhanced my understanding of the complexities of life. Books have been a gateway to diverse cultures, knowledge and entertainment” Mirhan Kermani

Quoting Dr Seuss the 15-yearold says, “The more you read, the more things you will know, the more things you learn, the more places you will go.

“Books have a positive impact on the reader’s mind, alongside the obvious improvements such as vocabulary and grammar comprehension. It aids in reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, preventing age related cognitive disease and even increases our brains ‘mental capacity’.

Photo Wayne Martin

ACHOO!

Spring can be an itchy time for our furry friends. Watch out for signs of itch and scratch. DR ADRI ROSSOUW of True Vets Ormiston suggests some practical tips for your best pal who may be suffering from seasonal allergies.

Spring is in the air! The flowers are blooming, and it is time for park walks and picnics with man’s best friend! Unfortunately, it is also time for a… a... allergies. Just like us, a lot of our canine friends suffer from seasonal allergies and Springtime can be tough for them and their owners.

Atopy or environmental allergies are caused by things in the environment like grass and pollen. It usually affects the areas of skin that has the most contact with the allergens, especially the feet and tummy, but it can also cause itchy ears and eyes.

Itchy dogs will scratch and chew! Since their teeth and nails are usually not that clean, this often causes secondary skin infections which can be very uncomfortable. Another common presentation of seasonal allergies is recurrent ear infections. Chronic inflammation of the ear canals caused by allergies increases wax buildup and wax is an ideal growth medium for bacteria, yeast, and fungi.

It is thus very important to act if you notice that your best pal is scratching and chewing! Photo: @oscar.intheworld

Here are a few practical tips if your dog suffers from seasonal allergies:

• Stick to the path, try to avoid long grass and dense foliage • Give your dog a good rinse with lukewarm (not hot!) water when you get home • Invest in a good quality sensitive skin shampoo

It is also important to make sure that your pet’s flea treatment is up to date! A lot of dogs with seasonal allergies will also be allergic to flea bites and thus a single flea bite can cause a severe itch.

But if your dog is persistently chewing at its feet or scratching its tummy, it might be time to head to your local vets for a checkup.

There are numerous treatments available that can make a big difference for our “Spring itchers”!

We provide

True Vets Ormiston is a beautiful new small animal clinic situated in Flat Bush. Our philosophy is True Compassion, True Quality, True Care, something we strive to in everything we do. We believe pets are part of the family and we have created a welcome environment for both you and your pets when you need us. We offer consultations, surgery, dentistry and so much more. Dr Adri is a talented ultrasonographer and Dr Jennifer is passionate about animal reproduction. We look forward to having you as part of the True Vets Family!

truevets.co.nz (09) 265 2838 enquiries@truevets.co.nzTRUE CARE

We believe pets are part of the family and have created a welcoming environment for both you and your pets. CONSULTATIONS, SURGERY, DENTISTRY AND SO MUCH MORE

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PUPPIES

It’s not only babies born during Covid-19, but also puppies born during the pandemic have shown significant signs of behavioural and socialisation challenges.

Auckland Council’s Animal Management Annual Report reveals that many of the lockdown puppies now young dogs weren’t socialised adequately because of lockdown restrictions, causing increased undesirable and unacceptable behaviour in the region’s dog population.

The report states that the total number of dog attacks reported this year increased by 20.3 per cent. There were 92 more attacks on people and 230 more attacks on other animals reported this year. Dog attacks data indicated a steady downward trend since 2017 but since the start of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, attacks started to increase to the current level which is the highest in five years

Mervyn Chetty, acting general manager Licensing and Regulatory Compliance, says significant changes have been seen in Tāmaki Makaurau’s communities over the last year following extended lockdowns, isolation requirements and an increase in people working from home.

“Vets couldn’t perform desexing during lockdowns, meaning there has been an increase in litters of puppies born over the last year.

“This, combined with more Aucklanders welcoming dogs into their whānau during the pandemic has increased the region’s dog population.

“We also noticed the pandemic changed dog behaviour more broadly, with many dogs being over-stimulated through high human interaction, increasing territorial behaviour.”

The council’s Animal Management department are currently undertaking analysis to inform targeted initiatives for the most affected communities across the region.