Exogeny Network ™

Red Dog has been my companion for eight years now.  I’ve seldom spent nights away from her, and there are times we could debate which of us is more dependent on the other.  Along the way, we’ve had many journeys. 
Some were great, like the trip in New Mexico where we stopped at a tiny campground all too close to the main road, then hiked the “Catwalk” the next morning.  This was part of the National Forest, and I was surprised when the ranger’s office informed me that “Sure, the dog can hike the trail…but she won’t walk it.”

I guess the reason he figured that no dog would walk it was because it was almost totally made of expanded steel suspended over the canyon.  Red never had walked on such material before, but there wasn’t more than a split second of hesitation when I stepped out onto it.  The alternative to walking the trail with me was being left behind, which in her mind was a totally unimaginable horror, far worse than being able to see some hundred feet below her own feet.  We had a great time, despite the fact that Red was having a day with horrible violent gas.

The problem with her gas was complicated by the trail itself.  With the expanded steel walkway, there were often stairs, steep steel stairs very similar to old fashioned fire escape stairs.  Going down, she followed behind me, but going up, she went ahead of me.  This was a tactic that we normally employed on steep slopes, often of scree, and prevented her from causing me to lose my footing.  In effect, on slopes like that, she would act as my brakes.  To her, it was only natural to take the same positions on these strange stairs.

Ever follow a mid-to-large dog up a set of steep stairs?  Do you have any idea what was right at my head’s height?  Yep, you are right!  The offending orifice that was liberally releasing vast clouds of the most noxious gas imaginable.  It’s just after dawn, we’re hiking in the open air, the canyon is cold in the shade because it’s early November, and I’m choking and gagging because of her gas.

On another camping trip, once again in New Mexico,  and in the southern portion, I was delayed by getting caught in two road blocks, which meant I did not arrive at the campground until after the sun had set.  My campsite was rocky, the wind was blowing, and there was a worrisome ravine that made its way up into the surrounding hills, all known for such large animals as black bear and cougar.  Traveling alone with Red Dog, who was a teenage pup at this point, I was a bit edgy as I struggled with the tent in the dark.
 
  I broke a plastic stake, mangled metal stakes, and finally just barely staked the tent down with four stakes.  The tent was erected, and the rainfly went on, and in the cold night air, the sagging tent became a draft ridden miserable sleeping place.  In addition, my stomach was complaining, as I had opted to not cook in the dark, as Red Dog had fixated on staring up the ravine and growling softly, making me more nervous about what could be lurking in the thick, thorny brush.  Deciding that a meal would just be bait to any predator out there, I had skipped an evening meal.
  
 Before dawn, my bladder was insisting it was time to wake, and my stomach was sending messages once again that it wanted food, and I was up, despite the cold and wind.  Too windy to cook outside, I just started packing up my gear in disgust, as Red Dog continued softly growling at something I could not see up the ravine.  Finally, the sun was up, and in the increasing but gray light, I could see the source of my misery all night.
  
 In the bush, there was a tiny finch, roosting there for a night’s rest with fluffed feathers.  Very tiny, maybe 3-4” long total, it was the source of Red Dog’s worries…and my own sleepless, stomach-growly night.  As I pulled out the fixings for a big breakfast, which I had elected to cook inside of the now empty tent on my small butane stove & folding table, I informed Red Dog of my utter disgust at her alarm over a bird, and a very small one at that.
 
  I have to admit, she has never again alarmed me over a bird in the brush.  She still hates birds, and many a dove has met its ends in her jaws (doves apparently survive by numbers, not by brains.) but no more growling in the dark at roosted birds.  Was it my rant? Probably not, in the last nine years, she has become a much wiser companion.
  
 Not all of our trials have been by camping mishaps.  Another event, while she was once again a young dog, involved a motel room somewhere in Texas near an interstate long lost in memory.   Texas does not always surround its interstates with the fences typically found in other parts of the country, and this was true here.  Just a frontage road and some narrow strips of grass divided the interstate from the motel where we were staying for the night.
 
     I was unloading the luggage and other items from the Jeep we travelled in, as I had a soft top and didn’t leave anything in it to tempt a potential thief.  Apparently, I had not closed the door tightly, and with Red in the room already, I turned around to see her darting out of the door and directly towards the interstate.  A mad dash after her, and a coaxing call, and massive relief when she returned to my side, as well as a note to myself to work on some new commands for just-in-case situations in the future.  I had been terrified that a car would come barreling down the frontage road just as I called her back from the grass on the other side.  In addition, she should not have even stepped foot out of that motel room until she was told to.  Training dogs to not go through gates, doors, or car doors without a command to do so (or attached leash) is a great way to protect them from mishap.  Most car encounters result from a dog that has darted out of an open door when a visitor or family member arrived, and this one lesson can prevent your own dog from becoming a statistic.
 
   There have been other near misses, through no fault of Red’s, as a result of changes in motel policies and failure to change their websites.  Always call your destination hotel to ensure that your pet will be welcomed, and this is particularly important when traveling with a larger dog.  The problems of traveling with Red has encouraged me to travel with basic camping gear just-in-case, especially when making unexpected trips or other trips without reservations at a pet-friendly motel.  Even motels listed as pet friendly on some sites may have in fact changed their policies since being rated as pet friendly.
 
   The rooms in motels accepting pets may also be their lesser rooms.  I have encountered rooms where the carpeting was so dubious that I didn’t want the dog to walk on it, let alone lay on it.  Even when attending motels hosting major dog events such as shows, it has appeared to me that their old bedspreads and linens had been returned to service, apparently out of fear of damage from the dogs in their rooms.  The rates, however, will seldom be lesser, and often include ridiculously high damage deposits.  I don’t mind paying a cleaning fee if it’s reasonable, since I know that dogs shed and require more extensive laundering and vacuuming than a room without a dog.  I do resent having to pay outrageous non-refundable or vague “damage” deposits, and will usually pass over the motels that have such requirements.  It is unfortunate that some dog owners make the motel management feel that such fees are necessary.

    Be a responsible pet owner with these rules

1) Train your pet to be well behaved with people and other pets.
2) Maintain control of your pet, using leashes and crates appropriately.
3) Leashes are usually mandatory, nationwide.  Use them.
4) Don’t let your pet disturb other guests with barking or other noise.
5) Clean up after your pet, and carry “poop bags” with you when walking your pet.
6) Support businesses that are pet-friendly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exogeny Network does not have any official connection wtih the rescue group, the sale of this necklace, etc.  We are merely helping this group attempt to raise money to defray some of the expenses it normally faces.  We also receive no compensation for our efforts, and all sales will be handled by the rescue group itself.

 

 

  

Gia Pets is all about the pets, and in a whole new way.  We cover the topic for the regular owner, avoiding the cutesy stuff and getting to the meat of the relationship between humans and their animal companions, whether its training, paranormal connections, alternative diets, health benefits, or just how to bake a new treat.  These podcasts will soon be available FREE OF CHARGE , so check back.  In the meantime, check out some of our text content. 

 

 

 

 


Red Dog modeling pink faux leopard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

by MaryMartha Miller

 

Ok, we have covered some great recipes for the dogs. Hove you got the hang of it yet? Have you been able to create some dog-gone good meals? Don't worry with my chow hounds there will be plenty more recipes to come!
We are going to explore some recipes for our highly exalted, over ruling, kings and queens, in other words--our Cats! I have also got some great recipes for our informants--the Birds!
Now I don't know about your cats, but mine don't think it is a treat when I cook for them. After the first time, they expect it. After all, it is my job right? To cook and serve them? I think when they see us cooking it is because we are perfecting something for them in the future. Now, after I have served them their dinner, they sit back and say "Ah, they do have a use after all. I knew they were put here to do something greater for us"! Don't we just love our cats? Despite their superiority complex, I do love mine and greatly miss the ones that have passed.
Now my birds are a bit funny. I call them my informants because they are. The cats stay separated from the birds. The dogs are around the birds all the time. When we have been gone or if we are in another room, and the dogs are doing something they are not supposed to be doing, my Ring Neck (Bruce) screams. He does this until I come to see what is up. Now he does not realize that the dogs are allowed to get up and move! Bruce will scream non-stop, despite my presence, if a neighbors dog enters our yard. He will continue until someone goes outside to remove the intruder. My love bird (Sunny) sings all the time, until the Dogs are doing something interesting like shredding or chewing on something out of the ordinary. When they are doing something like that, then she is silent, not one peep!
Now, if you are wondering who all my kids are her are their names and species. Sky is a female chihuahua and will be six in August, Shadow is a male lab/Shepard mix and will be 3 in December, Lil' Bit is a female Shih Tzu and her age is unknown. The veterinarian estimates her at 5-8 years of age. Jade a male short hair cat and he just turned six in April, Ashley is a female short hair will be three in August. Bruce, I am not sure of the age or sex but I think it is a he, and he is a ring neck parrot. Sunny is a female love bird and will be 3 in October. Thai is a male red slider turtle and will be two in July. Thi does live with a school of guppies but they come and go I just call the the "gup-gup co," That is my crew right now..
Cats should have 50% of their diet meat and 50% carbohydrates. I also add vegetables in their food, about 25%. My cats love veggies. My male cat (Jade) is neutered and has had some medical problems. About two years ago Jade almost died. He had three kidney stones. I didn't know what the problem was until it was all most to late. A trip to the vet and $1,500.00 later we found out that neutered male cats tend to develop stones. The problem, according to our veterinarian, too much fish oil. I have to watch how much omega fats he consumes, and fish is a vary special treat for him. Consult your veterinarian about this topic if you have any concerns about your feline. With my birds I feed them seed and make treats for them. Sunny is a lot more picky then Bruce. Sunny prefers sweet treats with lots of millet and sunflower seeds. Bruce will try anything and likes most of it, even hot peppers! Some foods are on the do-not-feed list. These include foods that contain high amounts of sugar or fats (junk foods: potato chips, doughnuts, etc.), avocado (guacamole), chocolate, alcohol, or caffeine. Do not give fruit pits. Persimmons are also on the do-not-feed list. If you go to: www.fosterandsmith.com and click on the articles tab you can find information regarding foods to avoid.


Mackerel Dinner
Calories:159.8, Carbohydrates: 8.5, Protein: 11.4

1 tsp olive oil
2 small mackerel or 4 mackerel fillets
2 cups water
1 cup brown rice
2 cup sliced carrots

Directions: Bring 2cups water to a boil, add rice. Return to boil cover and reduce heat. cook 15-20 minutes or until water is gone. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Set aside.
Heat oil in frying pan. Add mackerel and cook until fish flakes. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature. Don't drain off the pan juices.
Steam carrot slices until they are tender about 15 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature.
If you used whole mackerel remove the bones.
Take one half fillet or 1/4 half of one fish mix with 1/4 cup rice and 1/4 cup carrots. Drizzle the a little of the pan juices over the top. Serve at room temperature. Makes approx. 8 servings


Budgie Brownies
Calories: 103.4, Carbohydrates: 10.8, Protein: 5.1

1 cup cornmeal
1 tsp. finely ground cuttlebone
1 cup hulled millet
2 tbsp. liquid honey
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 eggs
2 tbsp. raw wheat germ
4 egg yolks (for larger birds add 1/2 cup peanuts)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350* degrees .
Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Pat into a greased and floured baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes or until firm (if edges start to get too brown, cover with foil).
Cool and cut into small squares. Makes approx. 20 treats

Bone Appetite!