![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/stretching.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Now and Then<\/strong> – A death in the family<\/p>\n by Jean Martin<\/p>\n A week or so ago the mother of our son-in-law died. Her health had been bad for quite a while; and yet when the end came, it was still a shock. We suspect that it\u2019s usually somewhat of a shock when it actually happens.<\/p>\n For a moment time stands still, and then the frenzy begins. The boys have all outgrown last year\u2019s suits; there are travel arrangements to make, in some cases hotel reservations to make. Family members make plans to fly in. In one instance one young man makes it out of Atlanta just before the power failed.<\/p>\n Next come the undertaker, the priest, the funeral dinner. Appointments must be made and schedules consulted.<\/p>\n The daughters visit the florist. Mom\u2019s favorite flower was the lilac, and they ask if it would be possible to have some. The florist says that she wishes that Mom could have hung on until spring; there would be plenty of lilacs then. Yes, the family agrees, they all wish she could have hung on until spring.<\/p>\n And so it goes. Every time we read another obituary notice, we must remember that countless lives have been upset, inconvenienced, and yes, devastated. Every death sends out ripples into the immediate community and beyond. Whether every death diminishes us is open for debate, but every death changes us, all of us.<\/p>\n Remember that the next time you scroll casually through the week\u2019s obituary list. One life here has ended, but we are all changed.<\/p>\n A Look Back<\/strong> – Sidewalk Sales<\/p>\n by Barry Clark Bauer<\/p>\n A look back at warm weather and the Sidewalk Sales circa 1972. It\u2019s 11:30 on the clock at Pierce Bakery, and the young ladies look like they\u2019re shopping at Bennett\u2019s Jewelry.<\/p>\n We had Sidewalk Sales for many years, and they were used to reduce their inventory of things that didn\u2019t sell during the year. We have a lot of service businesses downtown today but very few retail businesses which basically led to the end of Sidewalk Sales.<\/p>\n Bennie and Jessie’s Pet Info<\/strong> – FDA Warns Against Giving Dogs Bones and Bone Treats<\/p>\n Give a dog a bone? You may want to think twice about that, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. <\/p>\n In a recent release the FDA said giving pets bones or bone treats to chew on can have major consequences.<\/p>\n The FDA has received “about 68 reports of pet illnesses related to ‘bone treats,’ which differ from uncooked butcher-type bones because they are processed and packaged for sale as dog treats.” The reports, which were received between Nov. 10, 2010 and Sept. 12, 2017, involved about 90 dogs\u201415 of which reportedly died after eating a bone treat. <\/p>\n The bone-related treats mentioned in the reports include “ham bones,” pork femur bones,” “rib bones,” and “smokey knuckle bones.” <\/p>\n The possible consequences linked to these bones, which often contain preservatives and seasonings, include choking, blockage in the digestive tract, vomiting, diarrhea, cuts and wounds in the mouth or tonsils, bleeding from the rectum, and even death. <\/p>\n “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet,” said FDA veterinarian Dr. Carmela Stamper. <\/p>\n In order to keep dogs safe during the holiday season, and throughout the year, the FDA suggests that pet parents keep bones from family meals out of reach of pets and properly maintain trash cans. <\/p>\n If you want to give your dog a toy or treat to chew on, the FDA recommends consulting with your veterinarian first about the best and safest options. <\/p>\n However, if your dog “isn’t acting right” after chewing on any kind of toy or treat, seek immediate veterinary care, Stamper advised. <\/p>\n Letter<\/strong> – Voice for Clinton County’s Children says thanks <\/p>\n The Voice for Clinton County’s Children expresses our appreciation to all who provided holiday cheer to the children we serve! Special thanks to all who adopted our families for the holidays, Nicole’s Salon & Day Spa for hosting a giving tree, Lowe United Methodist Church for supporting our families at Thanksgiving and Christmas, Toys for Tots. <\/p>\n We are also appreciative of all who made a financial gift to our program and Redeemer United Methodist Church for their special gift. Thank you on behalf of the children and families we serve.<\/p>\n Happy New Year! Maralyn’s Pet Corner<\/strong> – How to Stop Fighting Between Cats<\/p>\n It\u2019s not always easy to keep the peace in a multi-cat household. Hissing, biting, and scratching can be as hard on pet parents as it is on the cats. Fortunately, there are ways to stop cat fights before they start.<\/p>\n Why Do Cats Fight?<\/em><\/p>\n The first step to stopping cat fights is to understand why they start. In the wild, cats generally have strong relationships with their moms, aunts, and siblings, says Dr. Jill Sackman, head of behavior medicine service at BluePearl Veterinary Partners. But once they\u2019re on their own, they tend to be more solitary creatures.<\/p>\n Should another cat cross into what they consider their territory, there\u2019s bound to be a stand off, she says. This applies in the home as well. Many fights start with a cat protecting what she considers hers, be it an area, a toy, or a human.<\/p>\n Then there are cats who used to get along, but the relationship changed after a traumatic event. Sackman says she is working with a cat who had a painful accident in the kitchen. The kitty got her foot caught in a wire rack and, after falling to the floor, the first thing she saw was her brother. She now associates him with the pain, and the two fight like mad, Sackman says.<\/p>\n Signs that cats aren\u2019t getting along can be obvious\u2014all you have to do is listen for the hissing. But other times, the aggression can be subtler, says Dr. Franklin McMillan, director of well-being studies at Best Friends Animal Society.<\/p>\n You might notice one cat leaving the room when the other enters. Or a more submissive cat may try to hide or disappear to avoid a confrontation when the more dominating cat gets close. \u201cCats have different personalities,\u201d McMillan says. \u201cAnd sometimes those personalities just don\u2019t mix.\u201d<\/p>\n How to Stop a Cat Fight<\/em><\/p>\n When a cat fight starts, your first instinct may be to yell, clap, or break out the water gun. But this could just make things worse, Sackman warns.<\/p>\n Instead, you should take a deep calming breath and insert an object like a large piece of cardboard between the cats, McMillan suggests. This creates a gentle but impenetrable barrier between the two felines. If the cats are locked together, pick one up by the scruff, which will force him to release the other cat.<\/p>\n Keep the cats separated for a while to let them cool down. \u201cEvery time you have a fight, the relationship gets worse,\u201d Sackman says. \u201cThe longer the fights have been going on, the harder it is to correct the relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n How to Make Cats Like Each Other<\/em><\/p>\n Trying to mend a bad relationship between cats takes time, space, and a whole lot of patience. The following tips can also be helpful when introducing a new cat into the household.<\/p>\n Start by putting the cats in separate areas with their own food and water dishes, litter pan, and climbing spaces. Make sure to spend plenty of quality time with each cat in their respective areas.<\/p>\n Then, slowly reintroduce (or in the case of a new cat, introduce) the two cats. The exact timing of when to start this process will vary from case to case, depending on the severity of the relationship problems.<\/p>\n The first step is to allow the cats to share scents. Feed the cats at the same time on the opposite sides of a door, the doctors recommend. This allows them to associate the other\u2019s smell with something pleasant, like treats or their favorite wet food.<\/p>\n Continue the scent swap by mixing their used litter together, Sackman says. You can also take a cloth, wipe down one cat\u2019s paws and tail, and let the other smell it. McMillan recommends switching the cats\u2019 spaces so they get a full dose of the other\u2019s smell.<\/p>\n After that, it\u2019s time for a face-to-face meeting. Put the cats on opposite sides of a screen or baby gate. This setup allows them to see and smell each other, but there\u2019s still a protective barrier between them.<\/p>\n Once they get to the point where they can see each other without trying to start a war, you can remove the barrier completely. You\u2019ll likely have better results if a friend or family member helps with this step.<\/p>\n Bring the cats into the same room and lavish each with tons of attention and praise in the presence of the other, McMillan says. Over time, this classical conditioning allows the cats to start associating their former foe with positive experiences instead of fear, domination, or pain. \u201cIt\u2019s a matter of teaching them to like the presence of one another,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Keeping the Peace Between Cats<\/em><\/p>\n To prevent future disputes, make sure each cat has her own food dish, play space, and litter pan. Both doctors also recommend having an extra pan, just in case.<\/p>\n Cats like to climb, McMillan says, so give each cat her own perch where she knows she can get away from the other if needed. \u201cThe most comforting thing for any animal is to be able to seek out your own safe haven when things aren’t going well,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Pheromone dispensers may also help relax anxious cats. Both doctors say they\u2019ve also seen positive results with nutraceuticals, though they recommend talking to your vet first. You want to make sure these products won\u2019t interact negatively with any medications your cat is prescribed. Your vet may also recommend anti-anxiety drugs to help preserve the peace.<\/p>\n Remember: some cats may never get along. But hopefully, you can get to the point where they at least tolerate each other. \u201cLiving in peace is the goal,\u201d McMillan says. \u201cThey may not like each other, but they can at least live together and not cause problems.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Now and Then – A death in the family by Jean Martin A week or so ago the mother of our son-in-law died. Her health had been bad for quite a while; and yet when the end came, it was still a shock. We suspect that it\u2019s usually somewhat of a shock when it actually Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8808\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stjindy.com\/indylite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/sidewalk.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\nKelly Schafer, Executive Director
\nThe Voice for Clinton County’s Children<\/p>\n
\n