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Pet Press KALISPELL OCT 2022
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CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN PAST AND PRESENT CHILDREN, CANDY, AND COMMUNITY
I don’t care much for Halloween now, but when you’re a parent with young children, you have little choice but to get into it. I will admit, it’s great when your kids are babies. You get to dress them up without the hassle of trick-or- treating! For our older son Daniel’s first Halloween, Rose Ann sewed him a lion costume. Of course, he looked absolutely adorable. We raised our boys in Butte, and like most of Montana, you never know what weather you will get on Halloween. It was reliably cold there thanks to the 5,000-foot elevation. I remember always buying Halloween costumes that would fit on top of our kids’ coats because you certainly couldn’t go without them. Still, the whole town would get in on the festivities. We lived in a great neighborhood where we knew everybody, and about 20 kids on the block more or less grew up together. The volunteer fire department would bring out some trucks to light up the streets and keep cars off the road, making it extra safe for the kids.
to the next house 50 feet down the road. They invited us in, too. We repeated that same pattern for hours. It was the lengthiest trick-or-treat session we ever had, and I think we only hit about 10 houses, but it’s my favorite Halloween memory because it was like a little block party. These days, our neighborhood is an extraordinarily popular trick-or-treating destination. Kids come from all over town, and there are so many that it’s not worth closing the door. We now sit on the porch and hand out candy there to the continuous train of children. Rose Ann is a teacher, and one of her students inevitably ends up on our doorstep. Then, they tell the other kids that Mrs. Clark is giving out candy, and they all end up coming over. She also likes to keep a stack of small books for kindergarten-age children, and she’ll ask them whether they’d prefer candy or a book. You’d be amazed how many kids are willing to pass up candy. It’s not only the kids who are trick-or-treating tourists. Some of my kids’ high school friends live in the rural part of Kalispell, where houses are too far apart for trick-or-treaters. More than once, they’ve come to our home and passed out candy on our behalf. They were excited about the idea because they never got to do it as kids and always felt like they’d been missing out. Halloween was fun when the kids were little, but I now have no complaints when someone else wants to take over candy duty while I go inside and relax. If you also want the thrilling experience of greeting trick-or-treaters, feel free to stop by. You can hand out all the candy you’d like.
But one year, it was much colder than normal. We had a cold snap in the early 2000s, and it was legitimately 20 below zero — no exaggeration! All the kids still wanted to go out, so we bundled them up. The kids got their candy at the first house, and our neighbors invited us inside to warm up. We took off our coats, chatted, and watched the kids eat
– Dr. Jevon Clark
their goodies. Then, we put all our gear back on and headed
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Every T
Doing Good Does You Good
BUILD THE COMMUNITY THROUGH GIVING
Nathan Rehmer didn’t set out to make a career change; he just wanted a better-behaved dog. After hiring an expert from Lorenzo’s Dog Training Team, his wife Amanda entered the business. “She’d bring home these dogs with heavy bouts of anxiety or aggressive behavior, and I would see their demeanor completely change after a couple of weeks,” he remembers. Soon, Nathan gave up his role as the food service director at a hospital to join her new vocation.
Volunteering not only strengthens the community but also benefits the person who serves. For those who enjoy spending their time giving back, check out how volunteering opportunities can benefit you! Improves Mental and Physical Health When you do good, you feel good. Those positive emotions lead to emotional resilience, which helps you in the face of crisis or stress. They also decrease stress while increasing positive, relaxed feelings. Volunteering gives you a sense of meaning and appreciation, which can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Volunteer activities also keep people moving. Whether it is carrying donation boxes, walking around the neighborhood, planting a community garden, or even cleaning litter from the roads, this moderate physical activity can help strengthen muscles, reduce blood pressure, and even alleviate symptoms of chronic pain.
“I wanted to help dogs get out of the vicious cycle of adoption, bad behavior, and surrender,” he says. Nathan now helps dogs and their owners with basic training, anxiety, and aggression using a balanced approach. “We
give physical corrections with the leash and collar, but we never want to scare or hurt the dogs,” he says. “We don’t think dogs should live in a perpetual state of obedience or try to change their personalities.” Effectively training dogs with anxiety requires understanding canine psychology. “Anxiety stems from fearfulness, but not the shaking, neglected, terrified dog we see in commercials with Sarah McLachlan,” Nathan says. Dogs, like young children, require structure and boundaries. “The anxiety stems from dogs making their own decisions for too long. Dogs become fearful because they don’t know what is happening or what to expect.” Mummy Bones Dog Treats The pups want in on the Halloween fun, too! These pumpkin and peanut butter treats are sure to have them drooling and getting festive! Inspired by TheCottageMarket.com
Prevents Isolation and Promotes Socialization Many older adults face social isolation, and it can have negative impacts on their overall health. Volunteering is a great way to network with members of the community and meet new people. Likewise, after moving to a new neighborhood or leaving a career, it is difficult to find a new social group. But when you work with people toward the same goal, you may find you have common interests with other volunteers. You can even invite your family or friends to help, and then catch up while doing something good for the community. Gives a Feeling of Purpose Sometimes as life changes and you grow older, your sense of purpose may begin to fade. Volunteering can help recharge a zest for life and may even motivate you to set and accomplish new goals. You should volunteer for many reasons, whether it’s to give back to the community, help the environment, or satisfy your own personal needs. No matter why, it’s a great way to get out there and do some good.
Ingredients
• • • • • • • • • • •
1 egg
2 tbsp honey
3/4 cup almond milk or water
1 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
Yogurt chips
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NATHAN REHMER HELPS ANXIOUS DOGS THROUGH TRAINING Trick in the Book
SCAREDY DOG
Through training, Nathan says, “We start to form a language of respect and empathy. In the end, dogs need a job, and good behavior is a job.” When dogs start acting anxious — through excessive barking, destruction, cowering, or otherwise acting out — training can “give them boundaries and hold them accountable,” he says.
COPING WITH CANINE FEAR DURING VISITS Most humans like to be a little scared — it’s why we enjoy Halloween and watch horror movies. But few of us enjoy abject terror. That’s what many dogs feel when they come to our office for a visit. It breaks our hearts to see them frightened, too. But responding the wrong way will only reinforce the fear. “People assume that dogs lashing out are ‘aggressive,’ but most of the time, they’re fearful,” Dr. Clark explains. “They’re hoping people will leave them alone if they act that way.” Many owners whose dogs are fearful at the veterinary office ask for sedatives to help their dogs cope. The intent is good, but Dr. Clark says, “There’s a lot of data showing those pills make the dogs worse. They can’t react the same way and seem better on the outside. But their cortisol levels show an increase of stress.” It’s not a quick fix, but the solution to a dog’s fear is behavioral, not pharmaceutical. “When a dog is afraid, I ignore them,” Dr. Clark says. “I don’t talk to them, pet them, or look at them. I make sure they don’t see me as a threat. Then, they have time to calm down before we even touch them.”
Nathan is also a family man who understands that training is a matter of safety. He and Amanda have three children: Suzannah (5), Alannah (4), and Marjorie (11 months). They also have a son on the way they will name Rowan. If you see him out and about, his two dogs, Arya and Noelle, will likely be well-behaved by his side.
“One of my favorite things is educating people about their dogs’ behavior and how compassionate training can help,” Nathan says. “We pride ourselves on training
the dogs other trainers won’t take and consider a lost cause. I believe I can take any dog and make them a suitable companion for somebody.”
If you want to learn more about Lorenzo’s Dog Training Team, call 866-436-4959 or email NathanRehmer@ lorenzosdogtrainingteam.com .
Directions
That’s the opposite of what many owners do. “If a dog acts scared, it’s our natural human nature to coddle them,” Dr. Clark acknowledges. “But when you go out of your way to comfort them, they start to think maybe there really is something to be afraid of. I sometimes have to point out that the owner’s reaction is making the situation worse.” Though it hurts to do, not acknowledging the dog’s fear is a better approach in non-dangerous situations. Dogs are perceptive and can even tell when their humans are on edge. “It takes time,” Dr. Clark says. “You have to be really motivated and understand that you’re trying to undo years of learned behavior.” Normalizing the veterinary office also helps. “I encourage owners to bring dogs in just because,” Dr. Clark says. “Stop in, grab a cookie, and leave. That way, the dog will learn this isn’t a bad place, and they don’t have anything to be afraid of.” It might not work immediately, but combined with a nonchalant approach to veterinary visits, you’ll eventually have a more relaxed pup.
1. Preheat oven to 325 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, mix wet ingredients together (egg, honey, almond milk, pumpkin, vanilla extract, and peanut butter). 3. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients together (flour, whole- wheat flour, baking powder, and cinnamon). 4. With your hands, combine the wet and dry ingredients until the dough is pliable. 5. Roll the dough until it’s about 1/2-inch thick. 6. Using cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes of your choice. 7. Place “bones” on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. 8. Flip the bones and bake for another 15 minutes. Allow to cool. 9. In a small bowl, melt the yogurt chips in the microwave, stir, and use as icing. 10. Serve to your pups — and watch them enjoy!
– Dr. Jevon Clark
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406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Inside
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Dr. Clark’s Favorite Halloween Memories
2 Benefits of Volunteering for Older Adults
2 How Training Reduces Anxiety
2 Mummy Bones Dog Treats
3 Helping Fearful Dogs
4 A Cat Helped Write a Physics Paper?
THE TRUE STORY OF F.D.C. WILLARD
A Cat Coauthored an Influential Physics Paper
Cats defy the laws of physics all the time, so it’s only fitting a cat would teach us physics more directly — by coauthoring a highly cited, influential physics paper.
Of course, the name Chester wouldn’t look convincing as a scientific paper coauthor. So, he invented “F.D.C. Willard.” The initials stand for Felis Domesticus Chester . The last name, Willard, was the name of Chester’s father. The professor didn’t feel too guilty for trying to deceive the publisher: “Why would I do such an irreverent thing? … If it eventually proved to be correct, people would remember the paper more if the anomalous authorship were known. In any case, I went ahead and did it and have generally not been sorry.” The journal loved the paper, but the ruse stayed secret among his close colleagues until a visitor arrived to meet the authors. When Hetherington told them the truth, they laughed, and not long after that, the feline coauthor became quite famous. F.D.C. Willard not only saved Hetherington from rewriting the entire paper, but also continues to inspire cat-related academia antics. On April 1, 2014, the American Physical Society (APS) announced all cat-authored papers would be made freely available. “Not since Schrödinger has there been an opportunity like this for cats in physics,” they wrote. We couldn’t agree more.
In 1975, Jack H. Hetherington was a professor of physics at Michigan State University, and he completed a paper on
atomic behavior. However, he had a problem: As a sole author, Hetherington had used “we” throughout the paper. A colleague pointed out that publishers reserved that language for papers with multiple authors.
With today’s software, this would be a minor inconvenience. But to fix his error in 1975, Hetherington would have to retype the entire paper manually on his typewriter. Time was short, and Hetherington had done all the work himself. According to Hetherington’s 1982 book, “More Random Walks in Science,” he explained, “After an evening’s thought, I simply asked the secretary to change the title page to include the name of the family cat.” And that’s what happened; the professor named his Siamese cat, Chester, as his coauthor.
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