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Pet Press KALISPELL FEB 2023
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35 YEARS OF LOVE HEAD OVER HEELS
My birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so maybe that’s why I’ve been so lucky in love. I was only 18 when I met my wife, Rose Ann, and we’ve been together for 35 years. A lot has happened in all that time, but I’ve never forgotten the first moment I laid eyes on her. I was in my first year of college, hanging out at my buddy Mike’s dorm room on a Friday night when another one of his friends stopped by. They’d done youth group stuff together in high school, and while I don’t remember what they talked about, I know I was transfixed. She was gorgeous, the prototypical ‘80s blond with poofy hair. “Who’s that ?” I asked after she left.
It was love at first sight; there was no doubt in my mind she was the one for me.
It was love at first sight; there was no doubt in my mind she was the one for me. Rose Ann probably didn’t feel the same way, but she did agree to go out with me. I think our first date was at TD’s, a dance club across the street from the dorms that allowed those under 21. We had fun listening to music and dancing with all the bright lights around us, and we dated for four years after that. We were both residential advisors (RAs) in the dorms for our entire four years at college. That probably made us nerds, but I wouldn’t change anything about it. We got into the habit of taking a walk in the local park after dinner. When I decided to propose, I planned to do it during one of those nightly strolls. Unfortunately, this was Laramie, Wyoming, and it was 39 degrees F and raining on that spring night. So, my lovely romantic proposal went out the window. I asked Rose Ann to marry me in the dorm rooms, and she said yes. We got married in 1991 and are still together all these years later.
not uncommon for one of us to have a conversation with the kids and leave the room, only for the other to enter and ask the
same exact questions. When the kids chuckle as soon as I start talking to them, I know I’ve done it again! I guess that’s what happens when you’ve been together as long as we have. Back to my birthday being on Feb. 14, my thoughts about it have changed a lot over the years. As a kid, I thought it was great that I got extra attention on a special day. Then, when I started dating as a teenager, I was less than enthused buying gifts for someone else on my big day. Talk about stealing my thunder! But now, I think it’s a lot of fun to share my birthday with a day dedicated to love. You can never have too many things to celebrate, and the connection makes my and Rose Ann’s Valentine’s Day plans all the more special. The day doesn’t have to be all about me if I can spend it with the woman I love the most.
– Dr. Jevon Clark
At this point, Rose Ann and I are a hive mind. We can often finish each other’s sentences or know what the other is thinking before they say anything. It’s
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Challenge Yourself to Expand Your Mind Your Intellectual Wellness Matters!
A New ‘Leash’
These days, as taking care of our health becomes more important than ever, we hear a lot about our physical wellness and how to improve it using nutritious foods and exercise.
Some dogs just want to have fun — but others have a job to do. My name is Max, and I’m a trained narcotics detection dog. My dad was a drug enforcement agent at the Sanders County Sheriff’s office, and we spent seven years working together. Being a drug-detection dog was great because Dad and I got to go on adventures. We’d walk through the woods, trudge through feet of snow, and visit lots of houses to get the job done. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of the hunt! But while it was a lot of fun, work was also serious business. There’s no fetch when you’re on duty.
But what about our intellectual wellness?
What is intellectual wellness? The University of New Hampshire defines intellectual wellness as “being open to new ideas, thinking critically, and finding ways to be creative.” Essentially, this means thinking about the world around you with an open mind and putting energy into what you’re thinking, not just allowing your brain to run idly. Signs of healthy intellectual wellness include: • Ability to see an issue from all sides • Purposeful exposure to ideas, beliefs, and people who differ from yourself • Awareness of your core values • Capacity to learn new things How to Foster and Develop Intellectual Wellness Intellectual wellness differs from other types of well-being. You need to work hard and challenge yourself to stay intellectually healthy. If you’re looking to improve or nurture your intellectual wellness, here are three ways to do it.
I’m especially good at sniffing out marijuana. It’s my specialty! But when the law changed in Montana, it meant the police no longer needed my services. So, Dad and I retired together about a year ago. I liked work, but I’m also having a good time relaxing at home — especially since my doctors at the Animal Clinic of Kalispell help me with my arthritis.
Yellow labs like me are prone to a lot of trouble with our joints. I previously had TPLO surgery on my back knees, but I was still having
Valentine’s Day Dog Trea Celebrate your four-legged valentine this month with these adorable and delicious treats! Inspired by PrettyFluffy.com
1. Learn a new skill. One of the main components of intellectual wellness is working to acquire more knowledge. This doesn’t need to be physics or engineering but can be something as simple as cooking a new healthy recipe, learning to draw, or attempting a DIY home repair project. The important part is that mastering something new provides an information-based approach to the world around you. 2. Remove subjectivity. We view every situation with a pre-formed opinion or bias. The truth is our brains are wired this way to streamline thinking, but to be intellectually healthy, we must work hard to push past it. Remove subjectivity by learning a different way to perform a task or challenge yourself to understand (or simply read) the ideas of others. Be objective, even when you disagree with them. 3. Improve your critical thinking. Next time you’re engrossed in conversation, try being thoroughly engaged and think about what is being said. Ask questions to yourself and others, and hash out what you agree with and things you don’t. Work to keep your brain active in everything you do by finding a connection to everything around you.
Ingredients
• • •
2 eggs
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1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 tbsp coconut oil
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3–4 tbsp coconut flour
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STEM CELL THERAPY IS CHANGING DOGS’ LIVES NO BONES ABOUT IT
on Life
MEET MAX!
problems with arthritis in my elbows, and it was hard for me to get up and go places. Dr. Wilson recommended stem cell treatment to make me feel better. It was a fast procedure, and I could tell the difference in just a few days. I felt like a whole new dog! I’m not jumping in and out of patrol cars all day like I did when I was a younger dog, but I can do a lot more of the things I enjoy. I still go everywhere with Dad, and I like to help him feed the horses and shovel snow. I can also get up to my favorite spot on the sofa and cuddle with the two feline friends who live with Dad, Mom, and me. I also love any snacks people want to share with me while I go about my business. I think Dad and I are settling nicely into retirement. I make sure everyone knows when the UPS driver is here, but that’s the extent of my detective work these days. If I smell anything interesting on you the next time we cross paths, it will be our little secret.
Many dogs have arthritis, and while we have excellent medications that can help, the condition is degenerative. As arthritis worsens, drugs can stop providing the relief they did in the past. In the worst cases, dogs can become completely crippled and face euthanasia, even though they’re otherwise healthy. I never want to see my patients in that position. Many will say there’s nothing you can do in cases of advanced arthritis, but the stem cell therapy we began using at Animal Clinic of Kalispell in 2021 has proven the old thinking wrong. We’ve seen incredible results in our patients — one of whom you can read about on Page 2.
The process works by drawing marrow out of the dog’s bones, concentrating it, and reinjecting the tissue into the pain points. The process helps regenerate and heal the affected joints quickly and can last for a year or more. We’ve seen dogs with trouble standing become active and mobile within 2–3 days after treatment. Stem cell therapy won’t make arthritis disappear, but it can dramatically improve a dog’s quality of life. We’re proud to be leaders in the field offering this treatment to the Flathead Valley, and we want to ensure everyone in our area knows that options are available. We perform many other orthopedic therapies in our office as a matter of course, including repairing fractured bones. Unfortunately, we do hear stories of patients in the area being told they have to wait extended periods of time before an orthopedic injury can be repaired.
ats
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 F. 2. In a small bowl, beat eggs and set aside. 3. In a separate bowl, combine almond flour, coconut oil, and dried cranberries. 4. Once combined, pour in eggs and mix with your hands. (The dough will be very wet.) 5. Add coconut flour 1 tbsp at a time; mix well after each addition. You want to achieve a consistency that is easy to roll, is not super sticky, and easily forms a ball. 6. Roll out your dough and cut treats using bite-size cookie cutters. Tip: Sprinkle a little coconut flour on top of your dough to keep it from sticking to the cookie cutters. 7. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, place your treats. Bake for 15–18 minutes or until crisp. Let cool before giving to your pooch!
No one wants to see their dog in unnecessary pain, but many people feel they have no choice. The Animal Clinic of Kalispell is more than ready to help, and we can get your dog treated much faster than these extended lead times suggest. We don’t want any animal to suffer, and we have the resources to offer prompt treatment. If you know someone who is struggling to find orthopedic treatment for their pet, we hope you’ll send them our way. As a pet lover, I know they are crucial members of your family and deserve the best care and longest life possible. We’re constantly investing in new technologies to provide the best treatments possible. Stay tuned for more advancements and tell your friends and family they may have more options than they think.
– Dr. Jevon Clark
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406.755.6886 WWW.KALISPELLVET.COM 1408 AIRPORT ROAD KALISPELL, MT 59901
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Inside
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How Dr. Clark Met the Woman of His Dreams
2 Intellectual Wellness: What It Is and How to Improve Yours
2 Meet Working Dog Max!
2 Valentine’s Day Dog Treats
3 Orthopedic Treatments for Your Dog
4 The Unlikely Heroics of Cher Ami
The Story of Cher Ami HOW ONE PIGEON
Animals have always played a role in military efforts during wartime. Cats were kept aboard naval ships for pest control, horses and camels provided transportation for supplies and soldiers pre-World War II, and dogs are still used to this day for search and rescue
of their location. With nowhere to run, Whittlesey tried to send runners to contact the allies about their predicament. Unfortunately, their enemies consistently intercepted or killed these runners until only 194 men remained. Whittlesey decided to dispatch messages by pigeon. The first pigeon got shot down almost immediately, so he sent a second pigeon with the message, “Men are suffering. Can support be sent?” That one also got shot. Finally, Whittlesey turned to his last pigeon, Cher Ami, and scribbled down a quick note on onion paper that read, “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.” Cher Ami took flight, but even after being shot down by the Germans, the bird defied the odds and actually took flight again! The effective delivery of this message helped save 194 men, but Cher Ami did not escape unharmed. He had been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and had a leg hanging only by a tendon. Army medics treated Cher Ami enough so he could travel to America, where he eventually succumbed to his wounds. The bird was then taxidermied and dsisplayed in the Smithsonian, where you can still see him today. So, the next time you’re in Washington, D.C., stop by the “Price of Freedom” exhibit at the National Museum of American History where you can personally see this brave pigeon.
efforts as well as mine detection. But one animal profession became obsolete with the advancement of communication technology: messenger. Often used during World War I, many dogs and pigeons became responsible for delivering messages of high importance. Of all the animals used during World War I, one pigeon named Cher Ami defied the odds to save nearly 200 American soldiers.
SAVED 194 AMERICAN SOLDIERS
On Oct. 2, 1918, Major Charles Whittlesey got trapped along the side of a hill in Northeastern France with 550 of his men. They ended up behind enemy lines with no food or ammunition, and — to make matters worse — his battalion started to suffer from friendly fire since allied troops remained unaware
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