A FREE LECTURE FOR TUCSON ARIZONA PET PARENTS

"Help Prevent Your Pets From Ever Developing Cancer"

On Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 6:30 pm, The Holistic Animal Care Shoppe 6336 N. Oracle (SE corner of Oracle and Orange Grove) welcomes author and certified holistic pets/toxic-free lifestyle consultant, Nadine M. Rosin who will help you stack the odds against your pets ever developing a degenerative disease.

One in 4 dogs will die of cancer according to the Morris Animal Foundation. That's over 60 dogs per day in AZ. But 8-year-old Buttons didn't die when she was diagnosed - even after the vet gave her only 6-weeks to live without chemo, radiation and amputation. That's because Rosin didn't fight Buttons' cancer. Instead, she implemented a "clear/cleanse/build" protocol to help Buttons' body HEAL ITSELF. After 4 months, Buttons was cancer-free and thrived an additional 11 years to the age of 19.

This free, interactive lecture will include valuable information from Rosin's one-on-one holistic consultations followed by a question and answer period with the audience. Afterwards, she will be signing copies of her book, The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood available now for purchase at both Holistic Animal Care Shoppe locations (part of the book's proceeds the night of the lecture will go to the Humane Society of Southern AZ).

"Be it human, canine, or feline, the body's natural state is one of vibrant health," says Rosin, "But we've forgotten that because these days we know few, if any people who are vibrantly healthy. Cancer isn't something we 'catch', but rather, something the body develops when the immune system is overburdened with unnatural substances. These toxic offenders enter our bodies through our food, water, the air we breathe, what our skin absorbs and how we handle stress. Because their bodies metabolize everything so much faster than ours, our pets are even more vulnerable than we are when it comes to developing cancer, and most home environments are teeming with substances that are toxic to pets, unbeknownst to even the most aware pet parent."

Who: Certified holistic pets/toxic-free lifestyle consultant and author, Nadine M. Rosin

What: Free interactive lecture & book signing

When: Thursday, April 7, 2011 - 6:30 pm

Where: The Holistic Animal Care Shoppe 6336 N. Oracle (SE corner of Oracle and Orange Grove)

Why: To help save your pet's life!

A WORTHY CAUSE

Proud to be a part of this upcoming Tucson event:

GIFTS FOR YOU FROM THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!

In honor of my girl's Feb. 12th birthday anniversary, my gifts to you...

In the past year, so many people have encouraged me to RAISE my consultation prices- insisting that "Your time, experience, study and expertise are so valuable and you should charge accordingly!" But I know that in these economic times, those "standard consultant" prices are not in many people's budgets.

My main goal is and has always been to put myself out there and share Buttons' healing story in hopes of helping others. She developed cancer for the same reasons most every dog does: I'd become somewhat lax about what she was exposed to: treat/food-wise and environmentally via everyday products and items I used in our home.

Luckily, I knew enough about holistic care ("clear/cleanse/build" so the body can HEAL ITSELF) to help Buttons' body become cancer-free and thrive for an additional 11 years w/o chemo, radiation, or amputation. I believe it would be nothing but selfish for me to keep our story and my knowledge to myself when I could instead, help SO MANY other pets avoid ever even getting cancer!

Times are tough and pet parents are even more likely to switch to cheaper food, treats, and household products- most are filled with cancer-causing chemicals and additives. Now, more than ever, we need to be vigilant about ingredients. Our beloved pets' lives depend on it. Well-being shouldn't depend on economics.

In honor of Buttons' birthday, I am substantially reducing my holistic consultation prices as my way of doing my part to help, while still being able to pay my own bills.

I hope you will take advantage of this. A holistic pets/toxic-free lifestyle consultation can help you prevent degenerative disease, enormous vet bills, and heartbreaking sorrow.

IN ADDITION: every consultation paid for on Feb. 12th and 13th will receive a free pdf copy of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood as Buttons' and my birthday gift to you! Now...where's that organic, vegan cake?!!

A VALENTINE'S DAY WISH

Originally written for PetWise

It's February and love is in the air! Can you FEEL it? If you've ever watched a cat lolling in the sun, or seen a dog with its head out the window of a moving car, then you know that for our beloved pets, love is ALWAYS in the air. And not just on Valentine's Day or during the Christmas season, but every day of every year - 24/7.

Their mantras are ones of enjoyment, play, adoration, and as they embody the best of our humanity - often better than we ourselves do - I believe we have much to learn from them. Unlike most of us, our four-legged apostles remember that beyond the actions of others or outside circumstances, regardless of the state of the economy or worldly events, life is supposed to be fun and savored and appreciated - it is supposed to be lived with delight in this very moment wherever we are.

I have had the honor of living with several dogs throughout my life. Two of them, I consider my heart dogs; our souls connected beyond space and time and physical death. They continue to teach me everyday the lessons of joy, living in the Now, and appreciating whatever is. All I have to do is think of them to consider that in any relationship, how I treat other people is far more important than how anything (like my hair or my house) looks. I keep them alive - those furry bodhisattvas of mine - by remembering that a smile from the heart can go almost as far as an enthusiastic tail wag.

My second heart-dog, Buttons, is the subject of my book, The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood. It is the story of how we saved each other's lives. In short - I helped her body heal itself of cancer. She helped my heart heal itself of fear. Both of us used an entirely holistic approach.

February is Buttons' birthday month. It is also the anniversary of her body's death. I will always miss her physical presence, but her love can never die. I am so deeply appreciative to continue Buttons' healing legacy by helping other pet parents, through my personal consultations, prevent their own pets from ever developing cancer or other degenerative diseases.

I want every pet parent and their animals to have at least as many happy and healthy years together as Buttons and I did (one week shy of nineteen) and will continue helping that happen at every opportunity. In the meantime, I encourage you to please take a cue from your pets and have a VERY Happy Valentine's Day…EVERY day.

MORE HEALING

Thank you all for your patience with my not posting... my plate feels so full right now- so many close friends of mine were directly affected by the devastating events here in Tucson last Saturday:

A bodywork client of mine was a fellow church member of one of the civilians killed. My closest Tucson friend's son works in Judge Roll's office. My friend and former landlord is a close personal friend of Congresswoman Giffords' and has been part of her bedside vigil since the shooting, giving us real time/unsensationalized updates. A friend of 30 years arrived a few minutes after the shooting and took most of the photos you've seen that were picked up by the Associated Press. The lawn of Gabbie Giffords' offices, surrounded by TV News trucks and flooded with people, prayers, candles, flowers and balloons, is just a few blocks from where I live.

It's so easy to forget how connected we really are when these kinds of things happen in someone else's town. There's no forgetting when it happens in yours.

I will do my best to get a new post written and up in the next week. At the suggestion of one Facebook fan, I'm thinking info on vaccinations... please stay tuned.

NEW YEAR'S SPECIAL CONSULTATION PRICE!

2010: a year FILLED with holistic consultations; I have "met" so many wonderful doggies and their pet parents. I thank everyone for all their positive feedback regarding:

• how enjoyable the consults were

• how easy it was to make the suggested changes

• the dramatically beneficial improvements those changes have made in their pets' physical and emotional lives.

2011: Let me help you start your new year right by stacking the odds against YOUR beloved pet ever developing cancer or some other degenerative disease.

Simply book via PayPal, a 1-hour holistic consultation (regular price: $120) anytime between now and January 8th at the special price of only $45! (go to bottom of PayPal drop down menu where it says: SPECIAL PROMOTION)

We can schedule the actual consult to take place at your convenience anytime before March 1, 2011.

Save on vet bills. Create a safer, healthier home environment for your entire family. Disappear chronic conditions.
For more information on consultations, please go HERE

**This is NOT a veterinary or diagnostic service**

Happy, Healthy New Year!

MY BUTTONS AND MY BUTT

Well, this post doesn't have anything to do with pet health, chemicals, or reading labels. It is, however, as the blog header states, quite literally an "all things after the book" post. The short and sweet of it is that like many of you, I spend most hours of the day at the computer and on the phone. When I'm not consulting with pet parents, I'm giving interviews or networking with pet related businesses in an effort to market my book and consultations. For me that translates into 8-10 hours/day talking about Buttons while sitting on my butt. Last week I even purchased a gel/foam desk chair seat cushion off eBay while part of me thought, "What's wrong with this picture?!"

Regardless of remembering to get up and stretch, go for a walk or run (it happens), or grab an hour at the health club I belong to (ok, that one happens... not so much) the truth is, most days I swear I can FEEL my cells that meet the chair multiplying and spreading as I sit.

As those of you who follow me on Facebook know, this past summer I completed a 92-day green juice fast. Among the many emotional and physical benefits I experienced, was a 60-pound weight loss. I knew once I weaned myself from the juice and back onto solid food, it was normal to expect a weight gain of anywhere from 6-12 pounds. As the weeks passed, that happened, and lately I've noticed that as more time passes, a few more pounds are starting to creep back on. Unacceptable.

So I reserved a few walking dvd's from the library in the hopes of being inspired to spend some time on the treadmill that gathers dust in my living room. I'm willing to admit to you that 2 of them became overdue and required I pay a fine and return them, before I watched either one. Chalk it up to my graciously supporting my local library, which I'm happy to do.

But none of that was preventing my ever-widening posterior from changing course and avoiding an unwanted destiny. Then the last dvd I'd reserved became available. Only when I went to pick it up, I found that it wasn't a dvd, it was a book: Move a Little, Lose a Lot by Dr. James A. Levine.

That evening I devoured the entire book (better than an entire box of Trader Joe's Christmas cookies, right?) which raises awareness about how little the average person moves their body during a day anymore. When you think about it, as the book goes on to say, nearly every new convenience item to hit the market robs just a little more movement from our lives. Not only are most of us spending our work (and leisure) time sitting at the computer, but then we sit in our cars to do errands, look for the closest parking space, and finally flop on the couch at night with the remote control to relax. Even using an electric can opener instead of a manual one is an issue when combined with every other appliance and convenience.

Enter, the stand-up and treadmill work stations, which Dr. Levine says are saving the lives of people tethered to their computers/desk chairs 8 or more hours/day. I walked from the couch to my desk and sat searching online. Lots of great articles, videos , and testimonials all with rave reviews. People feeling better, with more energy, weight loss, brain function and far less fatigue, all from walking while they work. But I didn't want to spend the $500 minimum to purchase the computer desk that would fit over my treadmill, so I got up, went for a walk around the block and got my creative juices flowing.

To make a long story end, I moved some furniture around including putting the hutch of my desk on the far end of the kitchen island with the treadmill moved up against it. My 20" monitor is now at the perfect height and distance while I stand on my treadmill. A quick trip to Home Depot (I drove) and a nice piece of scrap wood (they cut it to my specifications for free) and 51 cents later, and I now have the perfect treadmill work station.

I can't believe how easy this is. Typing is a breeze. Dr. Levine says just walking 1-1.5 mph while at your computer will translate to a 25-30 pound weight loss per year, not to mention the benefit to joints, lungs, etc. Yesterday I walked 5.5 miles without even noticing. I walked a half mile while writing this post. Actually, standing at my work station with one hand on the mouse, I kind of feel like I'm on Jeopardy! "I'll take 'Goodbye Twitter Butt' for $400, Alex."

And the answer is: anyone want to buy a hardly used gel/foam desk chair seat cushion?

Caring For Your Senior Dog

By Nadine M. Rosin For The Dog Files

My greatest wish, is that every pet parent is lucky enough to someday have to face the issue of senior canine care. When my own dog, Buttons, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 8, the vet referred to her as a senior dog. Not only was I unwilling to lose my beloved canine to an insidious disease, but I remembered as a child, dogs commonly living into their late teens. So, 8-years old… middle-aged? Maybe. But senior citizen? Definitely not!

How I implemented an intense holistic cleansing and nutritional regimen to successfully heal the cancer without the vet’s prescribed treatment of chemotherapy, radiation and amputation, is a whole other story. This article is about senior canine care. Since Buttons not only survived the cancer, but thrived for an additional 11 years, until passing peacefully of old age at 19, I am blessed to have some life experience with a canine elder.

Of course, regardless of age, a pure, clean diet and chemical-free environment are essential for a strong immune system. Dogs metabolize everything so much faster than we do-whereas our bodies can endure a certain amount of toxic abuse for 40 or 50 years before retaliating, a dog’s body will start showing disease in 5-7 years. In my experience, it’s wise to take note of what chemical exposure there is in your own home via often overlooked things as cleaning products, laundry products, and air fresheners.

Past a certain age, supplements start taking on an even greater role and I encourage every pet parent to do their own online research of the many available choices. Personally, I had a lot of success with Yucca Extract to ease any joint stiffness or swelling Buttons had. Yucca is a natural steroid with no negative side effects and is easy to mix in food. Also, after much reading on its use in Germany and Italy on human stroke victims, I began using Alpha Lipoic Acid to help with any symptoms of CDS (doggy Alzheimer’s).

The last 3 years of Buttons’ life, I was very careful to keep a steady routine, not move any furniture, and basically keep everything in her world as predictable as possible. When the time came, we experimented with different brands of diapers. For her 18th birthday I bought a cushy, fold-up baby stroller to take with us on hikes for when she got tired. At one point, due to her aging eyesight and cognitive function, I covered the sharp edges of our furniture with foam.

Ok. Now here’s the hard part- the one that isn’t so comfortable to read, but the part that is, in my opinion, essential. Take lots and lots of photos and video- they will help comfort you through the grieving process when the inevitable happens. When Butts was 17, I bought a bunch of disposable cameras. Every time I filled one up with pictures of her, I’d put it in a box in the back of my closet. It wasn’t until months after her passing that I began having them developed, one by one. What a comfort it was to have new photos of her even after she’d gone.

Take a day here and there away from your busy life to shut out the rest of the world and really connect deeply with your animal’s spirit- to consciously and uninterruptedly just BE with this unconditionally loving soul who’s been such a deep and delightful part of your life. Believe me, there will come a time when you will be so glad you did.

Do any research about what your choices are and how you will handle the details of your dog’s body after their passing. It’s so much easier to think clearly and gather facts well before the day you are thrown into that gut-wrenching grief.

Most importantly, as much as you can, treasure each moment for what it is- find the joy in it, rather than missing what was or fearing what’s to come. I mean, our dogs never stop teaching us how to do just that, right? Having a senior canine can be so precious and such a profound learning experience. Your canine may not be bounding along the beach or scampering up the trail any longer, but your relationship will be as priceless as a rare, old cognac, and by then, you’ll undoubtedly be finishing each others sentences, too.

SWEET MEMORIES SET IN STONE

I am continually blessed with wonderful doggies and pet parents coming into my life via The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood. One of those incredible pet parents is Jodi Jarvis-Therrian, a passionate artist and animal lover who contacted me through Facebook as she was reading Buttons' and my story.

When she finished the book, Jodi shared her deeply moving experience of the read in a beautiful email and then invited me to view her website where I could see examples of her custom-created, hand-made memory stones. Jodi's care and flare with color, shape, and effect was lovely and I was thrilled when she requested I send her a bit of Buttons' fur and some of her ashes so she could fuse them into a gift pendant for me.

While my precious package made its way to Jodi's door, she plied me with questions: what size pendant did I favor, what shape, what colors did I love, and most importantly, what did I feel would best represent Buttons where those things were concerned? The process left me feeling very special and cared for- she obviously wanted to "get it just right" for me and Buttons.

My photography doesn't do it justice- but here's a photo (double click on photo for close-up) of my wonderful Memory Stone by Jodi. I love that some of the black in it is Buttons' fur. I love that some of the white is her ashes. I love that it was made with such respect, love and care.
I have no doubt that Jodi brings herself in this way to every piece she creates with every person. She also makes sun catchers, pocket stones and key chains- each piece unique and fashioned with your loved one's hair, fur, and/or ashes. I'm sure your experience with her will be as heart-warming as mine was.
*I have no business affiliation with Jodi Jarvis-Therrian or MemoryStonesByJody wahtsoever*

WHEN IT COMES TO KIBBLE- YOU CAN TELL A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Awareness is a result of questioning. Those of you who've read the new edition of my book and other posts on this blog know I encourage intense label reading (in every store- of every product) and consumer research.


Personally, I'm an advocate of home-made pet food. I like the feeling of buying individual ingredients and doing preparation in my own kitchen as a way to have a little more quality control. Buying my own organic turkey, organic beans, whole grains & locally grown veggies, preparing them in my own stainless steel and iron pots and pans, adding my own informed choice of superfoods and nutrients gives me a more satisfying sense of responsibility, influence and peace of mind regarding a pet's well-being.

But for those of you who buy kibble- please keep in mind not only the ingredients and processing of the product you're buying, BUT ALSO THE PACKAGING!

Many pet food companies keep their profits up and costs down by using lower quality, unlined paper bags that allow air-flow. This can translate into oils and animal meals in the kibble becoming rancid. By the time the food travels from manufacturing plant, to distributor, to store shelves, and finally your kitchen, its contents- however high quality it started out- may have already lost any semblance of nutritional value, AND may already be turning rancid.

Call the company that makes the kibble you buy. Ask if the packaging they use is plain paper (if so, what's the cc air flow) or a barrier packaging. If lined- what is it lined with- something you want your pets' food to be absorbing?

Also keep in mind how you store it in your home. Is it continuing to spoil due to exposure to air flow through the bag or is it now sitting in a plastic bin leaching petroleum based chemicals? Why not consider a stainless steel bin to hold your pet's food?

As a pet parent who went through the horror of my dog's cancer diagnosis and also the miracle of aiding her holistically so her body could heal itself, I'll say it over and over: we are what we eat and so are our pets. Their life spans are short enough as it is- let's not make them shorter by overburdening their immune systems with low-quality food and chemicals. There's so much we can do that's simple, inexpensive, and highly effective in preventing disease. Why fight cancer? There's so much we can do to avoid it altogether.

THROUGH A DOG'S EAR™ and EMOTIONAL TOXINS

Those of you who've read The Healing Art Of Pet Parenthood have a clear understanding of how important a non toxic environment is for the health of our pets- not only when it comes to chemical toxins, but emotional ones as well!

You've heard me describe my own experience of my dog "shunting" for me; about how I and many others believe that because of their great sensitivity, our heart dogs will often take on and help shoulder some of our own illness and emotional trauma. Point being, if you're stressed-out, chances are your dog is, too.

I do not believe in symptom-treating, and feel it is always, first and foremost, important to find and remove the cause of physical or emotional stress/burden/breakdown in the body. That said, if your dog is stressed-out, whether from an outside source such as thunder, or from your own emotional stress in the home, this product can help.

It's a musical CD series entitled, Through a Dog's Ear™-clinically tested music for dogs, created by musician, pet parent, and graduate of The Juilliard School, Lisa Spector. If you go to her website, you can read about the extensive, interesting research and study gone into creating this beautiful, scientifically-based music. You can also listen to some samples, buy the CD or purchase and download files.

After finding me on Facebook, Lisa was kind enough to send me a CD (volume 2) requesting my review. Those of you who visit here often know I don't usually review and seldom recommend products - that more often I encourage every pet parent to do their own research and decision making when it comes to the care of their pets. But since Lisa hails from Half Moon Bay, CA, right up the road from Buttons' and my old stomping grounds of Santa Cruz, I made an exception.

I don't currently live with a dog- my regular blog readers know why- but I DO have neighbors with dogs: noisy, barking dogs. Of course, they only bark when my neighbors aren't home, so last time they went out for the evening and the dogs began their nervous, anxiety barking, I took the opportunity to pop the CD in the stereo, turn up the volume and open my windows. About halfway through the very first track the dogs fell silent and I was sold.

But for the sake of this review, I took the test a little further. Again, readers of my book know that one of the things I do for a living is therapeutic bodywork. Last week, for my (human) bodywork clients, I played Through a Dog's Ear while they received treatment. Several fell asleep on the table, including ones who normally want to talk throughout their session. One client enjoyed the CD so much, that I explained to her what it was and lent it to her to try at home on her own dog. She happily reported back that it visibly relaxed her pooch who has been rather hyper from storms of late.

So with 5-stars and a big thanks to Lisa for creating such a lovely, non toxic product, I encourage pet parents to run from things like doggy prozac (don't EVEN get me started) and instead, give the Through a Dog's Ear series the serious consideration it deserves for the well-being of your pet.

"One of the Greatest Love Stories Ever Written"

"I began reading The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood and literally could not do anything else until I finished it.

It is the most beautiful and engrossing story of unabashed love and devotion, personal growth and selfless kindness, trust and healing between a woman and her canine daughter, Buttons.

The touching bond that Nadine and Buttons share serves to heal them both on many levels throughout their physical life together and beyond.

Their story is a testament to all of us to look beyond the appearance of separation between ourselves and the animals that bless our lives. It also serves to substantiate the value and effectiveness of natural methods of healing. This beautiful story will make you laugh and cry and leave you feeling all the better for having experienced it."

~ Stephanie Crain

I was delighted to find Ms. Crain's review recently posted on Amazon.

Although the new edition (May 2010) of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood includes even more reference information on the specific holistic techniques I used to help heal Buttons' cancer, and exactly how to lean into grief in order to embrace its precious gift, it seems my original intention of offering a novel-like read remains unaltered.

Please consider gifting a copy to all your family members and friends. Even if they are not pet parents... who doesn't appreciate a good love story?!?

Is Your Pet a Bag Full of Chemicals?

Pet parents are always asking me what I think the best pet food is. An important question for sure, as we are what we eat, regardless of species. Ultimately, a body is only as healthy as the food it is made up of.

My answer is always the same: do some research so you can make an informed choice for yourself and your pets. A good place to start is here.

Personally, I feel best when I keep it simple and have the most control over individual ingredients. For me, that means shopping at my local health food store and home-cooking from scratch, 2-3 organic, all-natural ingredients (organic, free-range ground turkey, organic quinoa and/or millet, grated raw veggies) and adding a few very high quality, clean (no additives, fillers, or flavorings) supplements (I've had great success with Azmira Sea Supreme and Mega-pet Daily).

Please take the time to be informed about what your pet is consuming so they don't end up being a bag full of chemicals. Remember, even processed food labeled "all natural" can be deceiving. In addition, every consequent treatment hinges on the foundation built by diet as well-respected herbalist, Michael Tierra reminds us,

"Diet is the essential key to all successful healing. Without a proper balanced diet, the effectiveness of herbal treatment is very limited. With the appropriate eliminative or balanced diet, herbal treatment will prove itself to be effective where no medicine will work and will often be faster than the quick but temporary relief of Western drugs."

~The Way of Herbs
Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D.

PET HEALTH IN A NUTSHELL

THE BASICS:

the body was created by nature. What is natural to the body is what allows the body to thrive. Start introducing unnatural elements, and the body has to start using its "thriving energy" to overcome the unnatural elements and survive. Too many unnatural elements and the body starts losing the battles. Over a long enough period of time it loses the war.

More simply put:

GARBAGE IN:

things like processed food, chemical laden tap water, non-organic organ meats, chemical-dipped rawhide, plastic toys & bowls, chemical cleaners & laundry products, chemical air fresheners, outdoor lawn and garden chemicals, over-vaccinating, chemical flea products, too many pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics, over exposure to alcohol-based perfumes, colognes and skin care products, emotionally negative, stressful environment

EQUALS

GARBAGE OUT:

things like allergies, skin problems, fatty tumors, cancerous tumors, organ degeneration, behavioral problems, fur loss, poor digestion, premature aging, disease, premature death

P.S. Same is true for human bodies

P.P.S. The new edition of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood has more details of how I cleared Buttons' inner and outer environment as part of her healing from cancer. Available now on Amazon

ARE YOU AS SMART AS A RAT?

By Nadine M. Rosin written for The Dog Files

Many years ago I heard that the behavioral science department of a major university did the following study:

They built a rectangular maze that consisted of one straight pathway (we’ll call “A”) with six straight perpendicular pathways or rows leading off of it (rows one through six). At the end of row number six only, they placed a piece of cheese. Everyday they’d put a rat in the maze at the point in pathway A where it opened to row number one. Everyday the rat would run up and down rows one through six until he found the cheese.

Eventually, the rat learned that the cheese was always at the end of row six and when put in the maze, would ignore rows one through five and go directly to row number six. The researchers let this continue for thirty days and then they moved the cheese to the end of row number two. They put their rat in the maze. As usual, the rat ran immediately to and down row number six but this time- NO CHEESE! The rat kept running up and down row number six but of course, the cheese was not there.

The conclusion of the researchers? The difference between humans and rats is that eventually the rat will try going down a different row in search of the cheese. We, on the other hand, are far more subject to being stubborn creatures of habit, even when we know it is not in our best interest.

Through the years, I’ve done my best to remind myself of this story. It’s my way of trying to keep my mind open to cutting edge information, new ways of thinking about things and new paradigms. It’s helped me in many ways: moving on from situations like jobs or relationships that were no longer healthy or growing, changing eating habits or products I used – basically anything I knew I could improve but for the most part, was also comfortable with or used to.

It is with that in mind that I encourage you to embrace change when it comes to the food and products you use for yourself and your dogs. Just because something has been sold in stores for years doesn’t mean it’s safe. It is more likely to mean that the manufacturer has a huge advertising budget. It really is up to us as consumers to take the time and do a little research of our own. It’s not difficult.

For instance: take a look at some of the ingredients listed on your moisturizer. Does it contain methylparaben, ethylparaben, or propylparaben? Now Google any one of those. You’ll find that parabens are commonly used preservatives included in countless products since the 1920’s. Recent studies have found that repeated exposure can cause cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies, endocrine disruption, and organ system toxicity. Bad enough to be rubbing into your own skin on a daily basis, but how many times a day does your dog lick that skin on your face or hands?

Same goes with perfumes and colognes that are alcohol-based- they are full of potentially toxic chemicals. Ever notice how some people seem to be marinated in scent? It’s because many of the ingredients in those scents actually create addictive pathways in the brain and the “user” can no longer smell it in small amounts. It’s comparable to an alcoholic or drug addict needing more and more to get off.

So what are some alternatives? (is there cheese down a different row?) Clean is sexy. Pure castile soap also comes in peppermint, lavender and almond. Essential oils are wonderful, though some in large doses can be toxic to birds and cats, so again, a quick Google can help you out there.

For moisturizer, I use pure shea butter on my face. I buy it in a small tub. It’s scent-free, effective (use a little and rub in well to avoid it being greasy), inexpensive, and natural (make sure you’re buying pure shea butter not one processed with additives. It will say on the label. If it doesn’t- don’t buy it). As far as body and hand moisturizer, once I started eating more fruits, vegetables and omega-3 rich foods, I no longer needed any other moisturizer (and I live in the desert!). All of these items can be found in most natural markets and health food stores.

I hope this has encouraged you to take a few simple steps to becoming more ingredient conscious for the sake of both you and your pet. And by the way… all metaphors aside, as delicious as it is, I would never feed cheese to my dog. It’s extremely mucous-forming which is hard on the immune system and is usually made with milk full of growth hormones (BST- Bovine Somatotropin: synthesized growth hormones injected into cows for more milk production) and antibiotics. Carrot sticks are a much better treat.

A New Way of Letting Go

Discussing a new way of letting go and healing in this interview airing Tuesday, June 29 11am PST as I talk with astrologer, CA Brooks

IN REVIEW: 2nd Edition now available!

Highly Recommended for all Pet Lovers!, February 4, 2010

By	Rhonda Tedesco "Rhonda" (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood (Paperback)

After reading the book and having done a consult with author, Nadine M. Rosin (see link to her blog from "about the author" page), I can truly say she has made my 2 dachshund babies so much more healthy! I actually noticed that once I started using her recommendations my 11 year old's health and looks improved immensely....ie...he was missing hair on his tail for years and the vet chalked it up to some type of dermatitis and after changing his diet, and getting rid of toxins in my home (which I didn't realize were toxins) his hair has grown back!!! I LOVED having this consult and cannot thank Nadine enough for all her valuable information she shared with me! I highly recommend anyone that loves their babies to purchase this book and have a consult with her...it is truly worth every penny!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: An Emotionally Moving Masterpiece, January 17, 2010 By Beth Temple-holmes (Arizona) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood (Paperback) The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood As a Pet Loss Counselor, I have been searching for just the right book to recommend to my clients. Ms. Rosin has created a masterpiece with her book, The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood. She has tenderly and honestly captured the stages of grief that we all experience when we lose a beloved pet. Her words allow pet parents to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are understood, accepted and loved in their time of bereavement. And she offers hope to all pet parents that we will find our way back to our lives having learned, and grown, and experienced a love greater than many humans could ever imagine was possible. ~Beth Temple-Holmes, RN, Certified Pet Loss Counselor

My 1st Consult With A Famous Canine!

She's the most famous canine blogger in Canada and I got to talk with her mom! Here's what Sadie Shih Tzu had to say about that consultation:

The talk that may have just saved my life

When my person gets ready in the morning she squirts herself with Gap’s Heaven perfume.

It smells lovely.

But she keeps it in the kitchen.

Which is about one foot away from my water bowl.

Guess what happens to all those little ‘Heaven’ particles? They float around the kitchen but mostly land in my water bowl.

That’s no good.

Hey, if you want to feed me poison put it in my food bowl.

My person had a very long talk with a special lady who told her about the perfume thingy.

Miss Nadine

Nadine M. Rosin is a holistic pet/toxic-free living consultant, pet bereavement facilitator, researcher, speaker, and author of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood: a true story about the person-animal bond, healing canine cancer naturally, and an empowering new take on the grieving process when a beloved animal passes away.

Woo! Thems big long words for a doggeh.

Like I said, my person spoke to Nadine to understand ways to help me live toxin-free. She’d never thought twice about the perfume thingy but her talk with Nadine made her realise she was doing some dumb stuff which can be easily fixed.

It’s amazing what stuffs persons can do to give us doggehs happy lives.

To read the entire post and be a part of Sadie's wonderful world please go to HER BLOG

Wholesome Pet Solutions PART 2

PART 2: A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by yet another wonderful pet parent: Debbie Guardian, founder of OPIE & DOXIE/Wholesome Pet Solutions. Here is a little bit about her and our conversation together. Enjoy!

How and when did you realize that Buttons was suddenly thriving, and that her cancer seemed to have “reversed?”
For 4 months after her initial diagnosis, Buttons was getting different combinations of cleansing herbs, tinctures, and homeopathic remedies every few hours throughout the day. It was at that 4-month mark that I realized from her shiny coat and boundless energy, that I now had a healthy, 9-year old puppy on my hands! She thrived for an additional 11 years and the cancer never returned. She died peacefully, at home in my arms, of old age exactly 1 week prior to her 19th birthday.

I can’t even imagine how I will go on when my Opal and Dixie leave this earth. Yet, you survived losing Buttons, who was as much the center of your universe as my girls are to mine. How did you survive, day-to-day, without her by your side? What helped you through your healing process? And, do you ever really heal?
Wow, Debbie, it would take an entire book to answer that question...oh, wait! :) The last third of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood is everything I went through after Buttons passed. Since I could find no pet loss books that fully addressed the depth of my pain, I decided to write one. Many things helped me through the healing process as I describe in the book: music, journaling, movement, meditation and mostly, communing with Buttons’ spirit. Even Einstein said that you cannot get rid of energy- that it can only change form.

So I figured out ways to tune into that finer vibration: physical energy is dense and observable with our 5 physical senses. Spiritual or soul energy, if you will, is accessible through our hearts when our minds are quiet enough. Who hasn’t had a “feeling” from time to time that could not be “explained”? I believe that what we as human beings know compared to what there is available to know, could fit on the head of a pin. That said, physically, I miss Buttons everyday and always will, but I have found a peaceful place for that pain and seldom focus on it. Instead, I am focusing on getting the word spread about this book in the hopes of it helping as many other dogs and pet parents as possible.

What would you like readers to take away from your book?
Even though the book is in narrative form and reads like a novel, it has a 3-fold mission:

• Helping pet parents realize we may be unconsciously contributing to the skyrocketing increase of cancer in our pets by unknowingly creating highly toxic environments in our homes.
• Providing comfort, camaraderie, and validation for pet parents experiencing the devastating loss of a beloved pet
• Helping to remove the words, “It’s just a dog/cat” from the lips of non pet parents everywhere

In addition, I want pet parents to feel proud and open about the deep bonds they have with their pets.

In my fund raising speech for animal non profits, I often say that our animals are like furry Buddhas, embodying the best of our humanity and here teaching us that life is supposed to be enjoyed and in the moment, regardless of circumstances, other people’s opinion, or economic climate.

One of my favorite emails from a reader was from a lady who’d recently lost her 13-year old Bichon. In her 5th week of deep grief, her grown sons insisted she “get over it already” and/or “get another dog.” The woman’s reaction to her sons was to feel even more pain, anger and isolation. A few weeks later, she came across my book. Immediately after finishing it, she went onto Amazon.com and had a copy sent to each of her sons. She promised them that if they both read the book as soon as it was delivered, she would never again mention her grief around her beloved dog. Well, a week later, her sons came by with flowers and family photos the Bichon was in and apologized profusely to their mom saying that after reading The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood, they now understood what she was really going through. They said they would support her in any way they could for however long her grieving lasted.

My greatest hope is that the book goes on to help many, many pet parents and non pet parents, alike!

Thank you so much for sharing Buttons with us, as well as your beautiful relationship with her.
Thank YOU, Debbie, Opal, and Dixie!

For those of you who have not yet read Nadine’s book, “The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood,” whether or not you have ever lost a pet, I encourage you to not only read the book, but to watch the video on the homepage of Nadine’s site.

TO ALL MY WINTER FRIENDS:

Just heard on the news that they're predicting another 2 feet of snow...
Stay warm & dry, y'all!