COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL January 28, 2015s
7A
Just what we
needed:
Intoxicated cats
Loving Pets Who Love Us
or
“Paradise is open to all God’s
creatures”
Dearest Pet Lovers,
I
n December, 2014, when Pope Francis con-
soled a young child at the lossa of his dog,
the Pope’s observation did not surprise pet lovers.
The Pope quoted apostle Paul, “One day we will
see our animals again in eternity of Christ. Para-
dise is open to all God’s creatures.”
Since a child, it’s been my innermost feeling that
animals’ spirits are just as holy as a human’s. Both
are divine creations of God/The Universal Force.
Both think, feel and are devoted to their offspring.
When you look into an animal’s eyes, you see the
light of their soul shining back at you.
Animals were not made “dumb” by a creator, as
in mentally dull; only silent to our understanding.
They are telepathic communicators teaching us to
be still, to hear and to LOVE.
It is man that is slow to understand (dumb),
slow to comprehend the wisdom and strength of
an animal’s inner sense. Most people see their pets
as divine creations with thoughts and deep feel-
ings. Many people have observed that animals
are wise and patient creations of God/Spirit, far
greater than some humans.
Open your hearts, think and see them, as never
before. Be open to understanding that the power
of the human is not in our ability to dominate,
overpower and control, but to Love, understand
and show compassion.
Here are some loving examples of how animals
touched their pet parents’ hearts and changed their
lives.
“The sudden passing of my cherished Dachs-
hund, Rita,” said Stephen, “devastated me and left
me with questions about the nature of animals’
spirits existing after death. Mary Ellen, your
heart-felt feelings on pets are beautiful, appreci-
ated and helpful.
Rita is sorely missed. She was such a love and
“glued” to me. I wondered if she would somehow
‘visit’ me. Then, I had a dream or a vision - it felt
too special to be ‘only’ a dream. I was sleeping
and found myself in a conscious state, in an ethe-
real white space much like a cocoon. Standing a
few feet away was a woman, (Angel?) in a white
dress, with white-silver shoulder-length hair and
Courtesy Photo
Stephen enjoys a last loving memory with
his Dachshund, Rita, who gives him a
kiss during last year’s falling snow.
her skin was white with a slight blush. She smiled
and I saw that she was holding Rita! Rita looked at
me with love and happiness. In that brief moment,
I knew Rita was well and all was good. It put my
grieving heart to rest.
The woman handed me Rita, who smothered me
in familiar kisses. The vision lasted fi ve seconds
before vanishing. I woke up, perplexed as to what
had just transpired. But, either way, it was special
and wonderful to have had that moment. I don’t
generally share these type of things, but knew you
and your readers would understand.”
“Thank you for your beautiful-comforting mes-
sage on the animals. Our beloved-old-golden re-
triever, Bailey, died yesterday,” said Karen in San
Francisco. “Bailey had a special spirit, a wise-old-
white face and he opened our hearts in indescrib-
able ways. He loved everyone and gave love until
his dying day. I didn’t realize until after his death,
that he taught me how to love. Although my heart
is broken, I want to live my life like that dog!”
“We know that not ALL humans are capable of
true love, the kind that gives freely without tak-
ing,” said Pat in Washington. “Life and love are
gifts from God. Animals that love with candor are
found in places where they are loved from the time
they are babies. Our dog, Sir Galahad, felt that I
was worthy of his love. Wherever I went, he fol-
lowed. He slept beside me, and when I went into
the bathroom, he joined me. When I showered, he
sat in front of the shower, when I went outside,
so did he. While working in the kitchen, he laid
in his ‘special spot’ where he could be close and
watch me. At all times, he positioned himself
so he could see me. He did not have to do these
things, he CHOSE to.
When our little dog, Misha, was dying he spent
most of his time sleeping. I was watching our
other dog, Ari, playing with his favorite stuffed
tiger — the toy he covets and guards with his life.
Then Ari carried his tiger over to Misha, shoved
the toy’s head under Misha’s head for a pillow;
then he gently washed Misha’s face and eyes.
One of our kitties, Rafferty, is determined that I
am HIS Momma. He jumps up on the top of our
shower, sits there and talks the whole time. I prize
these sweet little ones’ love that they generously
bestow. They don’t have to, they want to. I fi gure
that heaven isn’t heaven if my pets aren’t waiting
for me. But I know they will be!”
TIPS
On dark-night walks, use a lighted-safety leash
or put your dog in a refl ective vest. Or purr-chase
refl ective tape and attach it to your and your pets’
jackets so vehicles can clearly see you.
The all natural stress relief Bach Flower Pet
Rescue Remedy is a staple in our home for when
our cats experience stressful situations such as:
nervous, surgery, fi reworks, storms, introducing
a new pet, rescues, injuries, moving, visiting the
vet etc. The books “Animal Healing” and “Bach
Flower Remedies for Animals” contain valuable
information on pet emotions and how Bach Flow-
ers work.
Share your pet tips and tales.
angelscribe@msn.com
“LIKE” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales
https://www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales
Adopt Loving Pets
www.PetFinder.com
Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance
Program. (541) 942-2789
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
June Apple in Creswell
Moveable Feet Community and Family Dance
features live music by Eugene quartet “June Ap-
ple” on Friday, Feb. 6 from 7-9 p.m. at Creslane
Elementary School cafeteria at 996 West A St.
in Creswell. Folk and traditional dances will be
taught and called by friendly, experienced dance
leaders. The free event is meant for those school-
age and up. More information is available at http://
moveablefeet.weebly.com or 541-895-2254.
912 Project
The next meeting of the Cottage Grove 912 Proj-
ect will be Monday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Stacy’s
Covered Bridge Restaurant, 401 E. Main St.
Richard Burke and Jeff Kropf will analyze the
Nov. 4 elections and what the results mean and
provide training on lobbying the legislature in
front of committees and boards.
The meeting is open to the public and there is
no cost to attend.
Garden Club to meet
The Cottage Grove Garden Club plans to meet
in the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 3 with a 6 p.m.
business meeting followed by refreshments and a
presentation that will begin at 7 p.m.
“Not Your Usual Garden Variety Show” is the
theme for the evening, which will also include in-
formal round-table discussions.
Gardeners will share some of their tried-and-
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CT opens 2015 with ‘Twelfth
Night’
Cottage Theatre opens its 2015 season at the end
of January with a production of “12th Night” set
in 1950s Cuba. William Shakespeare’s classic love
triangle becomes a comic “triángulo de amore” in
this version set at the “Club 12th Night” in Ha-
vana, complete with an on-stage band. The play
runs for three-weekends starting Jan. 30.
The production is directed and designed by Tony
Rust. Costume design is by Marjorie Steen and
lighting design is by Amanda Ferguson. The on-
stage band consists of Jim Reinking on drums and
Chris King on piano. The cast includes Davis N.
Smith as Don Orsino, Tracy Nygard as Viola, and
Martha Benson as Olivia, along with Dale Flynn,
Mark Anderson, Earl Ruttencutter, Tony Rust, So-
phie Blades, Melissa Miller, Randall Brous, Ward
Fairbairn, Bil Morrill, Amanda Ferguson, Rachael
Dahlen, Keith Kessler and Zoe Muellner.
Performances are Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at
2:30 p.m.
BY NED HICKSON
News Media Corporation
A
s if we didn’t have enough to worry
about with North Korea, ISIS and the
very real threat of another Justin Bieber al-
bum, now we can add “drunken cats” to our
terrorist watch list. That’s right. Because it’s
not like cats didn’t already have enough at-
titude, right?
Thanks to Japanese manufacturer B&H
Lifes, cats can now get drunk and REALLY
disagreeable while drinking a new wine de-
veloped specifi cally for the feline palette.
According to B&H Lifes, the wine is made
from a combination of Cabernet grapes and
catnip, two fl avors cats fi nd irresistible —
and the second of which manufacturers ex-
plain “helps cats release their inhibitions.”
Apparently cat inhibition is a big problem
in Japan.
I may be overstating this, but I have yet
to meet a cat in the U.S. that has a problem
releasing its inhibitions. Or anything else
for that matter if the mood strikes. In fact,
if anyone needs to be drinking catnip-laced
wine to release their inhibitions it’s Ameri-
can cat owners, many of whom spend more
time picking out dinner for their cat than
they do their family.
Why?
Because even though they may whine,
complain and refuse to eat dinner, most chil-
dren won’t climb onto the back of the couch
while you’re watching TV and bite your
head. I say “most children” because, hey
— I don’t want to seem unfair to cats. The
truth is, even the names of cat food demon-
strates the level of servitude we have come
to accept.
Fancy Feast: How DARE you offer a plain
feast!
Tender Vittles: Sure, cats have razor-sharp
teeth made specifi cally for chewing and
grinding. But why should they have to make
the effort?
Royal Feline: Just a reminder that you are
but a cat’s handmaiden or squire.
Let’s take a moment to compare this with
the names of dog foods.
Science Diet: We‘re basically experiment-
ing on you, buddy.
Old Yeller: Your dinner is named after a
dog that was shot after contracting rabies.
Eat up, boy!
Pedigree: We just don’t want you to forget
you’re actually a mutt from the pound.
It’s easy to see the hierarchy cats have
already established while sober. Do we re-
ally want to add the unpredictability of cats
with a drinking problem to the equation? We
all know alcohol affects people differently.
It stands to reason the same applies to cats.
That’s why I’m not willing to roll the dice
with my own cat, who I’m pretty sure would
be an angry drunk. The last thing I want is
for my children to see “Mittens” on a drunk-
en tear, meowing about how we love the dog
more, that birds constantly mock his failure
as a hunter, and how being neutered has kept
him from having a meaningful relationship.
While it’s true manufacturers say there’s
no actual alcohol in its cat libation, called
Nyan Nyan Nouveau, which is Japanese for
«Meow Meow Wine,» it does contain catnip
— which has the same intoxicating effect
as “a feline slamming Jack and Cokes with
Charlie Sheen,” warned Animal Planet cat
behaviorist Jackson Galaxy. “Nothing good
can come from making wine available to
cats. Or Charlie Sheen.”
My thoughts exactly.
So thanks, Japan, but I’ll stick to being a
manservant to our cat while it’s sober and
indifferent.
I’m used to it.
Ned is a syndicated columnist with News
Media Corporation. His book, Humor at the
Speed of Life, is available online at Port Hole
Publications, Amazon Books and Barnes &
Noble. Write to him at
nedhickson@icloud.com