If you could ask your cat or dog any question, what would it be?

A very long post without pictures!!
I know that we’ve been gone for a long time but between work, dog classes, rescue transports, business trips and trying to have a family life, blogging has not been at the top of our list. But something so interesting happened that we have to share.

For many years, I’ve been interested in using a animal communicator to talk the fur-kids but was concerned about finding someone who appeared to really be able to do it and not be a fraud. I came across the blog of a fellow “Belgian” person who has used the same one several times. There was a lot of detail given and I thought “Why not?”

So I contacted the animal communicator that she had used and set up an appointment. I prepared my list of questions and was ready when the appointment time came.

How it works – Sometimes it is done in person but usually it is done over the phone. No, I didn’t hold the phone up to Eva and Brice’s ears but the phone was used for the Communicator and I to talk. The only information that she was given in advance was their names, their breed and the city that we live in. She connects telepathically with the animal, gives me some information to confirm that she connected to the correct dog and then the questions/answers begin. The communication between the communicator and the subject is non-verbal- mostly images, emotions, sounds, smells etc.

This is not a exact transcript but a lot of paraphrasing. The communicator is shown as C, I’m shown as M and additional information for you is ()

The communicator made contact with Eva. Her connection with Eva is very low-key

C- Oooh! She's a very polite young lady. Not a pup and not old (Eva is 6 yrs old)

M -What scares Eva ?

C- a big burly man with big mustache and ruddy complexion that laughed like Santa but mean.
Seemed like a stereotypical biker dude. Very loud . Eva kept saying that he’s scary! He’s very scary!

M - Is this current, in the recent past or before she came to live with us?

C- There are lots of dogs around, more than two. Before she came to live with you

M - We found out after we got Eva that she was potentially from a puppy mill or her parents were(long story). Was it a puppy mill situation?

C- Not like a warehouse situation but there were a lot more dogs but not all looked like her - Not all puppies but not all adults. Seems like there were maybe six different breeds.

C- Eva doesn't like other loud noises - storms, fireworks, nail guns. If we re-roof the house, we need to take Eva somewhere else during that time. The loud noises coming from overhead will really freak her out.

C- But she wants you to know that she feels safe with you

M - Does it help when we give her a pill, some liquid and put her shirt on? (Eva has a tight fitting t-shirt to wear during storms and she gets Rescue Remedy and a children’s Benedryl to help her cope. Otherwise she is a trembling drooling extremely clingy girl)

C- She likes the shirt. Really likes her shirt. Not sure of the pill or liquid(side discussion to make sure that we don't give her ACE). She knows when the storm is coming before you do.

M- Is there something that I can do to make her feel safer?

C- Not that she is aware of. Just keep telling her that she is safe or thinking that she is safe. She can hear you when you’re thinking. Eva knows that we would never let anything hurt her.

M- Does Eva ever see Tasha? (Tasha crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2008)

C- She sees a dark dog more but Tasha does look in on us once in a while. The dark dog looks kind of like her but darker.(The communicator described Tasha's tail and color. That her white chest was very striking) (Tia was a black with tan legs shepherd/husky but crossed the Bridge before Eva joined our family so Eva did not ever meet her)

M- Does Eva like going to the dog park?

C - No, too many people and dogs. (The image that the C had given Eva was of a smaller park where it can be really crowded. I explained that we only go to very large dogs parks and do not stay near the gate but walk the trails.)

C- She's OK when nobody else or just a few dogs/people are at the park and she can just run with Brice. But she's just happy being with you and wants to go places with you.

M - What does Eva think of Brice?

C- He's silly! He's goofy! He's very brave but she doesn't think that he's very bright.

M - Healthwise - does anything hurt or feel uncomfortable?

C - When she runs a lot, her left hind leg gets tender. Not her hip or her knee. More lower back/sacrum area. (Suggested a chiropractor may help)

C – Eva loves when you rub the right side of her neck from her ears to her shoulders.

M- Tell her that Daddy will be home this weekend.

C- Eva said that she knows. You think it all the time.

When the communicator made contact with Brice it was very upbeat, full of giggles and laughing

C- He bounces. He keeps saying "I bounce"

C- Brice has a very healthy ego. He thinks that he is all that! He thinks he's funny. Very different personality than Eva, Brice is very outgoing and "in your face"

C- The communicator asked if Brice is still intact (No) said that he did not lose any of the attitude when he was snipped.

C- What is his job? He needs a job. He’s making up his own jobs around the house because he doesn’t know what his job is.(suggestion given that it is his job to protect the doors and windows and can bark but only at people or dogs that he has not seen before)

M - (Discussion that I would like to compete with Brice in obedience, agility or rally)

C- He thinks obedience class is boring. Do the same thing over and over again. He already know how to do those things.

M- Which would he prefer to do?

C- very excited about doing agility. He loves to jump.

C - (told him that he needs to be polite and do what I ask him to do in order to show everyone how smart he is and then he can earn the right to train in agility)

C- Make sure that Momma keeps talking to me in her head. I can hear her. Then I won't get worried when she stops talking out loud.

M- Does Brice get queasy in the car?

C- A little but only when there is a lot of stop and go or variance in speed. On the highway, he's fine.

M - Did Brice like daycare?

C- They thought I was very nice

M - But didn't you get in trouble and that is why you don't go to daycare anymore.

C- The other dogs needed someone to tell them where to go. If I didn't do it, no one else would. (He got in trouble for trying to herd the other dogs and some dogs reacted negatively to it)

M - Healthwise - does anything hurt or feel uncomfortable?

C- His back can get a little "ouchy" when he jumps too high, twisted or often for his flying squirrel. (he gave the image of him being straight up and down)

M- Why does he get a little growly?
(Communicator said she wasn’t getting any images of him rally growling, I said that it usually happens when someone or Eva walks near him when he’s laying down or walking into a dark room when he’s sleeping. We never took it as aggression, more of just a way to communicate)

C- He's just talking and saying "watch out, I'm here". Before us, sometimes he was around too many dogs and they would get too close, push him or he would get stepped on. If he felt that we needed to be defended, it would be a very different tone.

M – what does Brice think of me (since I’d like to compete with him, I wanted to know if he thought of us as equals, if I was the leader etc)

C- not a specific answer but he gets very “mushy” when it comes to you.

M- Tell him that Daddy is coming home this weekend.

C- Brice got excited and talked about rolling around on the floor with their daddy

This ‘meeting’ gave me a lot to think about – much of it, I already knew or thought but I learned a few things. The pups will be seeing a chiropractor to see if we can address Eva’s left hind leg issue and if Brice needs any adjustments.
Will we do it again? I’m hoping to make this an annual appointment but will probably do a follow-up appointment in a month or so. I thought of so many other things that I’d like to ask or get additional information on.

We're still here

Sorry that we've been gone so long. Momma was abducted by aliens and was just recently returned.

Meanwhile it's be a lot of our normal activities - going to the park, playing in the pool and going to daycare.

The other day at the park someone asked if we are long-haired greyhounds. Momma is still speechless.

I may be skinny(when wet) and fast but I an 100% Belgian.



I've also been expanding my redecorating skills and exploring the concept that everything is edible. There may be pictures coming soon.

Brice

Warning!

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Word on the street...

is that we may be ready to re-enter the blogging world. No, Momma still hasn't designed our website that she promised us but we'll just be happy to be back.

In the meantime, here is a video from a few weeks ago. Apologies to those who may have already seen it on Facebook.



Woof ya soon!
Princess Eva & Brice

Barkday at the Dog Park

First - we apologize for our assistant's lack of time management skills. For some reason, she seems to think that blogging is not at the top of her list of things to do.

Second - thanks to everyone for my barkday wishes!!!

Here are some of the videos and pics that Dad took when we went to the dog park on Monday.


We had the park to ourselves


Princess Eva always has a thick coat but during the winter, she has enough fur for at least two more dogs


Brice likes to get snow on his snooter



Silly Dad actually thought that he needed to ask if we wanted to go to the park



Doing Zoomies!!





And more Zoomies. Brice and I usually zoomie in circles because he's faster so he runs bigger circles than me.

Thanks for stopping by. We're going to sit on Momma until she visits each your blogs.

Woof ya later,
Princess Eva & Brice

Eva's Barkday!!!!

Today is Princess Eva's 6th birthday!!!!!

Sadly, Momma is at work so she can't help us celebrate but Dad stayed home with us today. We know that there will be special treats involved but not sure what else.

We hope to be back later with a more current picture if blogger will cooperate.

Another star will shine tonight

After living a long and much loved life, Khyra's sibe-sister, Kyrye, has made the journey to the rainbow bridge. Kyrye did not have her own blog so please go to Khyra's blog to offer your support during this difficult time.

We'll be lighting a candle tonight in Kyrye's honor and watching for her star.

Message From Valhalla

You were with me to the very end and even after I had "gone" you held me,
and as my soul left my body and I looked down and saw you crying,
I wanted so much to tell you that I understood. You did this for me.

I tried to tell you in my own way that it was time for me to leave,
and I thank you for understanding. No other will take my place,
but those I left behind will need your love and affection as I have had.

You still think of me, and there are times you try to hide your tear-filled eyes....
but please...be happy and think not of sadness,
but of how I made you happy and made you laugh at the funny and smart things I did.

There are no fences in Valhalla, for no one has the desire to "dig out".

There are no thunderstorms in Valhalla, therefore fear is never present.

There are no fights in Valhalla. Everyone is congenial.

There is no hunger. There is no thirst. There is much to explore.
Many of us who are older take care of the little ones and guide them.
It's fun watching them run with their ears flopping and their curly tails wagging.

We have four seasons in Valhalla, and most of us agree, winter is our favorite.

So you see, my loved one, I am very happy...

When it comes time for my friends to leave,
I will meet them at the gates of Valhalla,
and I will acquaint them with this beautiful and serene place,
and I will take care of them for you.

Thank you for loving me, caring for me, and having the courage to let me go with dignity.


Jane S. Morris

This is a wolfhound? Are you sure?

It was down to the wire but the transport list from our last post has been filled. Here are three of the pups that Momma will be driving. She'll have one more but not sure which yet.

Dorian - a very small wolfhound mix

Her brother Creed

Lilly - a shepherd mix

We are planning to return to the blogging world but aren't sure when. We have some major changes going on - a blog redesign, possible new site and Momma gave us the devastating news that she is quitting as our unpaid doggy nanny & resource manager and is returning to the corporate world. To hold you over until we return, here is a picture of me practicing one of my napping positions.

Woof ya later,
Bricey

p.s. Princess Eva prefers to nap in her cave (kennel) which does not allow for napping pics.

Please help!

I know that we have a lot of anonymous readers in MN and Iowa.

We really need your help.

If any of you do rescue transports or would like to donate your time to help save lives by transporting dogs and puppies from Missouri to no-kill shelters in Minnesota , please contact me at ep_tasha_eva@yahoo.com and I will connect you with the transport coordinators that I work with. All that you need is a few hours of your time and a vehicle and in return, you get the warm fuzzy feeling that you helped save a life.

We usually don't blog about our volunteer efforts (we save that for Facebook) but there are two large transports for a total of over 50 dogs coming up from Missouri shelters this weekend and there are not enough drivers. If more drivers are not found, these transports will fail and the dogs and puppies will be left in the shelters for at least another week.

Transport driving is very easy and the feeling that you get from helping save these dogs is very rewarding.

Here are some of the transport legs that need to get filled.

Beginning Location - Ending Location - Drive Time - # Miles - Scheduled Transport Time

Saturday

St Louis, MO to Warrenton, MO 1 hour 3 minutes 57.8 Miles 11:15 AM – 12:20 PM

Warrenton, MO to Columbia, MO 1 hour 5 minutes 69 miles 12:55 PM – 2:00 PM

Columbia, MO to Marshall Junction, MO 48 minutes 51 miles 2:30 PM to 3:20 pm

Sunday

Olathe, KS - Bethany, MO 1 hour, 25 minutes 90 miles 8:00 am to 10:00 am

Bethany, MO – Des Moines, IA 1 hour 47 minutes 104 miles 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM

Des Moines, IA – Clear Lake, IA 1 hour 43 mins 113 miles 12:50 pm to 2:45 pm

Clear Lake, IA – Owatanna, MN 1 hour 4 mins 70 miles 3:15 pm to 4:20 pm

Owatanna, MN - Bloomington/Brooklyn Center 55 minutes 55 miles 4:50 pm to 5:50 pm

(This is the transport leg that I drive and I'll be helping save 2 wolfhound mixes and a shepherd mix but if you have a small vehicle, there are lots of little dogs on this transport too)

If you live along this transport route and can help, please let us know.

Princess Eva, Bricey and their Momma

On vacation

Due to an issue with our regular laptop, we're taking a blog vacation for a while. Momma's old laptop has been dusted off but it runs really slow. We'll try to get access to read your blogs but we may not be able to comment and hope to be back with a new post in a few weeks. Please don't forget us!

Playtime

We decided to do a little belgian wrestling.

But then somepup had to go whining to Momma that I was playing too rough!

Snow Day

It started snowing early this morning and is suppose to continue all day. We love to play in the snow so we turned our puppy-dog eyes to Momma and she resisted. Brice knew what to do - he started shaking pillows and shredding paper and she caved! Loaded us up and off we went to our favorite dog park.



We're hoping for another trip when Dad gets home from work.

Woof ya later!
Princess Eva

Do you see what we see?

It's not much.......

It will be gone before long........

But our first snow of the season......





Woof ya later!
Princess Eva

Raining!

It's been raining everyday but we did sneak out to the park during a break in the rain.



Woof ya later!
Brice

You can see or you can hear. Pick one!

Dad told us to stop wrestling on the couch cause he couldn't hear the TV.

Is this better?

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Momma was tired of our fur showing on the boring foyer rug. So she got us one that matches our personalities and our fur.She tried to find a cheetah print that would match Eva's crate pad but had to go with tiger stripes.

Woof ya later!
Brice the Big Game Hunter

Dog CPR

Since not everypup can use our PSA from our earlier post, we found the following video for how to do pet CPR.




Since our mom could panic in this situation, she practiced finding our pulse today.

Woof ya later!
Princess Eva

Lazy Rainy Days and a PSA

We've had a few gray & rainy days so we have not had any adventures in the past few days. Momma got tired of rescuing the sofa pillows from me so she put them away. That made me so sad because I love to shake them! Meany Momma told me to settle down and take a nap. Thankfully, I'm big enough to use the arm of the sofa as a pillow! But the sun is shining today so I'm nipping at Momma's heels to take us to the park to run off some pent up energy.



In the current economy, we wanted to share with you several ways to save money on some of your medical needs. We do like to shop local and support our vet, but there are times that getting medications at our vet cuts into our treat and toy budget. Were you aware that many of your dog and cat prescriptions can be filled at a regular pharmacy for less? There are online options too but they would include a shipping cost. Plus the convenience of having the prescription filled while your parents do their other shopping.

Publix will fill your prescription for some antibiotics for free!

Walgreens includes pet prescriptions in their Prescription Savings Club. There is a fee for this program but this includes 400 generics priced at $12 for a 90 day supply. Plus many Walgreens are open 24/7

Walmart also has a list of generics priced at $10 for a 90 day supply. This may be a good option for those of you on Prednisone.

These are just some of the options. So have your parents check with pharmacies in your area...... and suggest that they spend some of their savings on a new toy for you!

Woof ya later!
Brice

Our weekend

Those of you who were in on the secret were correct. The picture from Friday's post was 3yr old Belgian Malinois named Dodi. A Belgian Malinois is just like us but with shorter fur. Of course we must give a tip of the hat to Khyra for hosting Dodi at her home for a few hours and for letting her mom be part of the wonderful transport team that got her from Maryland to her foster home in Wisconsin.

Note from Momma - If you know someone that could provide an active foster home for a Belgian in need or would like to adopt one of these amazing dogs, please contact ABMC Belgian Malinois Rescue via their website.

Dodi

Our Momma was suppose to be doing a transport of her own on Saturday but her portion was cancelled so she took us to the park instead.

Nothing like a good game of zoomies to burn some energy

then Eva thought it was time for some snoofing

Brice gave us a heads-up that there was something interesting at the gate

This pup came to the park. Her people said that she was an Akita/German Shepherd mix.
We think she may have been an Akita with a Terv coat.

Today, we did a family walk in our own neighborhood.

Princess Eva always walks with Dad

And Brice always has Momma at the end of his leash

Our neighborhood has wooded trails that run between some of the streets

Sometimes we see other pups but today, it was our neighbors Bob and Jane.

There is a rumor that now that the weather is starting to cool and the leaves are beginning to change colors, it may be time for a bath before it gets too chilly. We're going to try to distract the humans so that it doesn't happen this week.

Woof ya later!
Princess Eva & Brice

I wonder......

Who this very special little girl is?