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July 2020 www.surfacecreekveterinarycenter.com 970-856-4474
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TAKING IN THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE TETONS AppreciatingWildlife
Something you notice after being away for a little bit, of course, is how much more you appreciate the little things when you get back. We got back to Cedaredge happy to be back home and grateful to see our little community again. Now that we’re home, we’re looking forward to caring for your pets and helping you make sure they are healthy and well. As the weather gets warmer and warmer, we get to see many pets for their annual shaves, which is a great way to help them stay cool for the hot months. A full shave now leaves time for their fur to regrow for the fall. Besides keeping pets cool, a shave will help keep awns — those pesky stickers that grow on many kinds of grass — and other nuisances off their fur. Allergies also tend to come up in late spring and summer, so reach out to us if you think your pet may be experiencing them. After talking about it, we’ve decided we won’t be hosting our open house this year. Follow us on Facebook to look for other ways to stay engaged with Surface Creek Vet Center. We’re so grateful for our community! We look forward to staying connected. Have a great rest of your month! Dr. Susie and Dr. Jeff
Tetons are. You don’t have the same crowds of people that Yellowstone gets. And the wildlife in the Tetons was incredible! We saw otters, buffalo, six grizzlies, and so much more. The weather was also a nice break from the Colorado heat. While it was in the 70s and 80s at home, we enjoyed cooling off in temperatures that stayed around the 50s. It was a pleasant change and helped the trip really feel like a vacation. We also tapped into our sense of adventure on a raft trip along the river, which was a fun way to experience another side of this beautiful area. While we spent plenty of time outside, there were also hours spent just relaxing in our Airbnb, watching TV, and hanging out together as a family. If you have the opportunity to go to the Tetons, we would encourage you to go. While this wasn’t the trip we originally planned for this summer, all that mattered is we finally got to go on vacation to see something new to us. We appreciated it all the more because of all the trips that were canceled this year. We know not everyone has the opportunity to travel, and we realize how lucky we are that we got to take this trip. We had a really good time as a family, and it was the relaxing vacation we all needed.
After being at home for months, we finally got away for a week to visit Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and we are so glad we got to see this beautiful place! Something we’re trying to do as a family is visit all the national parks in the country, so when we thought about where we could go that isn’t too far away and wouldn’t require a plane ride, we thought of Grand Teton. We’d been planning to go to Glacier National Park this summer for a continuing-education vet course, but at the last minute, it got canceled. So we adapted and changed our plans, heading to Wyoming. We’ve been to Yellowstone, but not to Teton, and we appreciated how much quieter the
“SOMETHING YOU NOTICE AFTER BEING AWAY FOR A LITTLE BIT, OF COURSE, IS HOW MUCH MORE YOU APPRECIATE THE LITTLE THINGS WHEN YOU GET BACK.”
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Looking at your sweet pup wagging her tail beside you, it’s clear she brings infinite benefits to your life. She’s loving and cuddly, and she doesn’t care if you’re having a bad hair day or are wearing the same pair of jeans you wore yesterday. For anyone who doesn’t know how great having a pet is (or if you’re just trying to convince your spouse it’s time to get another fur baby), here are three of the many ways pets benefit your health and happiness. THEY HELP COMBAT FEELINGS OF LONELINESS. During periods of change, especially when the relationships around you are evolving, a pet can provide a source of stability and companionship. In addition, a pet can offer the opportunity to start new friendships with other pet owners and animal lovers. THEY DECREASE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND STRESS LEVELS. Playtime with your pets has measurable health benefits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pets are associated with lower blood pressure levels and triglyceride levels (a type of fat associated with heart disease). THEY GET YOU TO TAKE MORE WALKS. There’s nothing like a dog staring at you with their sweet, sad eyes to get you to put on your tennis shoes and head outside for a walk. Even on days when you feel like hanging out on the couch and watching Netflix, your pet will remind you how much healthier — and happier — you’ll be if you head outside. If you and your family are looking for a pet, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. Take the time to consider your needs and the needs of a pet and do some research before you adopt, ensuring you can provide a happy environment and life for a new companion. There are also many foster programs that allow you to get to know a dog or cat before you adopt. Talk to us at Surface Creek Vet Center if you’d like some suggestions! THE MANY GIFTS OUR PETS GIVE How Furry Friends Make Our Lives Better The Best Companion
Meals onWheels Goes the Extra Mile A MEAL FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY Meals on Wheels doesn’t often get the credit it deserves. The international nonprofit ensures those who are unable to buy or make their own meals get the food they need to survive. Of course, for many recipients, the efforts of the organization go far beyond “survival.” For those who receive food daily or weekly, those deliveries may be their only source of social interaction. And during times of social distancing, the program became more important than ever. Meals on Wheels doesn’t just serve meals to the elderly and people with disabilities — it also serves those people’s pets. In 2019, Meals on Wheels Atlanta realized there was a huge need in their community to feed the pets of senior citizens. It stands to reason that if an elderly individual is unable to shop or cook for themselves, their pets may be in a similar predicament. And when someone’s pet is their entire world, making sure the animal is fed and healthy means everything. In response to this need, Meals on Wheels Atlanta began stocking up on cat and dog food, creating their own pantry to serve the local pet community. When volunteers made their rounds delivering meals to seniors, they made sure to bring cat and dog food along too. One volunteer with Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Larry Auberbach, had a unique experience delivering meals to Jeffery Jones and his dog, Grizzly. The volunteer told 11Alive News in Atlanta that Jeffery and Grizzly “have their own special relationship.” Larry loved Grizzly long before Meals on Wheels Atlanta started the pet pantry because he saw how much Grizzly’s companionship meant to Jeffery. Now, Larry enjoys his service that much more since he gets to provide for Jeffery’s beloved pet, as well. On top of delivering food to seniors and their pets, Meals on Wheels Atlanta also delivers pet toys and pet beds, and they are happy to take in any pet-related food or items for donation. The organization says this endeavor was done out of love, not only for the people they serve but also for the whole family — wagging tails, fuzzy whiskers, and all.
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BROOKE HELPS CARE FOR ANIMALS OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES TeamMember Spotlight
T his month, we’re so happy to introduce you to our Surface Creek Vet Center team member, Brooke. Brooke is a junior in college studying elementary education. She started working for us last summer, and we happily welcomed her back this year to help out at the clinic. Brooke grew up on a ranch, so she’s been around animals from the time she was little. Her family raised cows, sheep, chickens, horses, pigs, and “basically any kind of animal that you can think of,” Brooke says. “I’ve always enjoyed it.” Her grandparents also own a dairy farm, so she grew up helping on both farms and having access to fresh milk and meat. “It’s pretty cool to be able to be a part of the production of our food,” Brooke says.
She’s also known the Hirschs for a while, so the combination of being comfortable around animals and already being familiar with our doctors made Surface Creek Vet Center the perfect fit for her. She’s been helping us a ton with cleaning, holding animals, and being there to lend a hand wherever she’s needed. “It’s not as technical as what Desiree does, but it’s enjoyable just being able to help with animals and help them get better,” Brooke says. In addition to helping animals, Brooke is also passionate about education. It didn’t take long for Brooke to realize this was what she wanted to do as a career. “When I was in high school, I helped in a second grade classroom. I thought, ‘I could do this for the rest of my life.’ Education had always been something that was
a possibility because I love learning so much.” Brooke also has a lot of family and friends who are in education, so she’s been able to see what the profession is like for them. Between work, school, and helping out at her parents’ and grandparents’ farms, Brooke stays busy. While she plans to go on and teach students, she’s happy to spend her days with animals of all shapes and sizes right now.
lients Spreading the Word Thanks so much to these clients who referred new patients to us the past two months:
Sweet Pup-tato Pretzels
Ready to get more creative with your dog treats? You’ll have as much fun making these pretzel treats as your dog will have eating them!
Inspired by BrownEyedBaker.com
• Mark and Teressa Carlton • Dave and Shannon Smith • Kassey Montoya
• Darlene Story • Myles and Lisa Roberts • Caitlyne Scriver • Meda and Lorren Britain
INGREDIENTS
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1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
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1 3/4 cups whole-wheat flour
1 egg
1 tbsp flaxseed meal
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan, cover sweet potatoes with water by 2 inches and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain the water, and allow sweet potatoes to cool. 3. Transfer sweet potatoes to a food processor and purée until smooth. 4. In a small bowl, beat the egg. Set aside 1 tbsp for Step 7. 5. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and flaxseed. Add sweet potato and remaining egg. Stir with a wooden spoon until dough forms. 6. On a lightly floured surface, roll a small piece of dough into a 10-inch rope. Shape rope into a pretzel twist and repeat with remaining dough. 7. Place pretzels on a baking sheet and brush with the remaining beaten egg. Bake for 25 minutes, until golden brown. Let pretzels cool completely before surprising your dog with a crunchy treat.
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Visiting the Untamed Animals inside this issue
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How Meals on Wheels Atlanta Stepped Up for Its Community
What Our Pets Give to Us
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Team Member Spotlight
Clients Spreading the Word!
Dog-Friendly Pretzel Treats
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The Wacky Evolution of the Knock-Knock Joke
Knock Knock! Who’s There?
THE WACKY EVOLUTION OF THE KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
U nless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before
Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and-forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock knock, who’s-there dialogue” in Act 2 of “Macbeth” (though it likely wasn’t intended to be
you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock-knock jokes are
funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox, whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio.
Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa. Theresa who? Theresa crowd!
a quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock-knock joke today?
Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock-knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short-lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.” Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of “bad dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!
Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one:
Do you know Arthur? Arthur who? Arthurmometer!
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