Check out our November newsletter!
NOVEMBER 2018
903.587.2210
Pet Gazette
From Your Hometown Vet
TRADITIONSVETCENTERS.COM/LOCATIONS/LEONARD-ANIMAL-CLINIC
Something to Be Thankful For
Stella Celebrates Thanksgiving
Hello there!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday — not because of the food, but because it’s all about being thankful. And boy, do I have a lot to be thankful for today! You see, before I came to live with Brea and Mike, I spent all my time chained up outside. I wasn’t allowed inside my old house, and I didn’t get fed regularly. At 2 years old, I only weighed around 30 pounds. I tried to run away several times, which I know is pretty dangerous, but I didn’t know what else to do! Mike found me and brought me back the first time, but after I ran away again and he saw how sad I was, Mike let me come home with him. Brea and Mike already had five other dogs and a cat living with them, but everyone welcomed me with open arms and wagging tails. Brea knew what I needed to be healthy again, and now I feel like a brand-new dog. Apparently, I’m not the first sad animal Mike has brought home. He often said he had to marry a vet. Who else would take care of all the animals he brings home? It’s so nice to live in a place where everyone has so many things they are thankful for. Brea says she’s thankful for all the people who surround her and that her family, friends, and pets are all happy and healthy. My big sister Kalika says she’s thankful for long swims. My brother Jaxon is thankful for balls and Frisbees. And as for me, I am thankful for regular meals, soft sofas to sleep on, and that I found the right human to take me home! This Thanksgiving, I hope you all get to spend time enjoying great food and good times with your loved ones. Have a happy Thanksgiving! –Stella
I’m Stella, a boxer who lives with Dr. Brea Smith and her husband, Mike. I joined the family about six months ago, and as the newest addition, I am really excited to celebrate Thanksgiving with everyone for the first time. I hear this is a holiday full of food, which is awesome because Brea loves to cook. With her busy schedule, she usually doesn’t get to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so she’s really looking forward to cooking up a storm. Rumor has it she’ll even be making broccoli rice casserole and green bean casserole — family recipes passed down from her grandmother.
“It’s so nice to live in a place where everyone has so many things they are thankful for.”
All this food sounds wonderful, but I know dogs aren’t supposed to have table scraps, especially around the holidays. When everyone sneaks the dog just a little bit of human food, it adds up quickly, and dogs can get really sick. A lot of dogs come into the clinic after the holiday weekend with pancreatitis because they ate too many treats from the Thanksgiving table. Even though I won’t be enjoying the feast myself, I know my bowl will be full of healthy dog food, which I am really grateful for.
1
Your Hometown Vet
903.587.2210
TRADITIONSVETCENTERS.COM/LOCATIONS/LEONARD-ANIMAL-CLINIC
Throughout November, everyone is eagerly looking forward to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, but you shouldn’t let the rest of the month slip past you! Enjoy these other fall activities with the whole family. Homemade Caramel Apples Homemade treats are no doubt far better than their store-bought counterparts. Try your hand at making your own caramel apples for the whole family to enjoy. You can also add a number of toppings to liven things up, such as nuts, white or milk chocolate, coconut, sprinkles, or pecans. Backyard Bonfire During these cold months, you may be tempted to stay indoors, but heading outside for a bonfire is a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying the brisk weather. If you have a fire pit in your backyard, now is the perfect time to take advantage of it by bundling up with some hot chocolate and s’mores. Autumn Arrangements It’s time to get crafty! Creating your own fall arrangements will ensure that your home has the seasonal decorations you want. Making beautiful fall flower arrangements for your kitchen table or wreaths for your front door to greet guests will create the desired autumn vibe you’ve been searching for. Movie Night Gather your loved ones in the living room with popcorn, blankets, and a great film. Make the most of your autumn evenings by cozying up and spending quality time with each other while watching some family holiday favorites, like “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” or the Thanksgiving comedy-drama “Pieces of April.” Home-Cooked Food When autumn rolls around, pie and warm cider may be high on your list of tasty treats you’re eagerly anticipating. This fall, encourage your family to take part in making annual goodies and sharing them with your neighbors. Nothing warms the heart more than receiving a loaf of freshly baked pumpkin bread during these increasingly cold days. Knitted Scarves If you’re handy with knitting needles, now is the season to put them to work. Hand-knitted scarves are great gifts to give throughout the fall and winter, and you can also make it a family activity! Take some time to teach your kids how to knit and crochet to create scarves of their very own. Enjoy These 6 Autumn Activities Fun for the Whole Family!
Thanksgiving Prep For the Whole Family
Thanksgiving is more than just a feast; it’s about coming together as a family and being thankful for one another. So why wait to get into the spirit until everyone is seated at the table? Here are a few ways you can make the actual preparation of Thanksgiving dinner fun and engaging for the whole family! Give Everyone a Role No, not those rolls — yet. Making the feast a family project can turn the day from a hectic list of chores into a magical bonding experience. It’s important to match each family member to a job that best fits their abilities. Young children can mash potatoes or rinse ingredients in the sink. Older kids can take on more responsibility, like measuring ingredients, keeping an eye on timers, and setting the table. Teens and young adults can supervise their younger siblings and cousins in these important tasks and may be called upon to stir what’s on the stove while an adult checks on the football game. Roll Out the Decorations Still not talking about bread. Not everything in Thanksgiving preparation needs to be tied to the kitchen. Creative family members of all ages can work together to bring some seasonal flare to the dining room. Maybe this means picking up some Thanksgiving coloring books, or perhaps the family can venture outdoors to collect autumn trimmings for crafts. It’s a great way to let each family member put their own personal spin on the holiday! Have a ‘Roller Derby’ Finally. While an adult should be the one to put these delicious baked goods in the oven, the whole family can help shape the dough. In fact, Care.com recommends making this a contest. Set aside a time when everyone can vie for the title of Fastest Roll Maker, and you’ll have plenty of warm, flaky, delicious treats come dinnertime. Letting everyone play a part may take a little more planning and add slightly more chaos to your Thanksgiving preparations. But it’s sure to produce a lot of great memories and bonding moments among your loved ones. And by the time you sit down to eat, you’ll all have something to be thankful for right in front of you — Those. Delicious. Rolls.
2
Your Hometown Vet
903.587.2210
TRADITIONSVETCENTERS.COM/LOCATIONS/LEONARD-ANIMAL-CLINIC
A Special Thanksgiving Message From Your Pets
It’s Thanksgiving, and we are most thankful for our clients and their wonderful pets. We wouldn’t be here without your support. To express our gratitude, we’re giving our clients $10 off any treatment or service priced $25 or more. We also asked some pets what they’re thankful for this year.
“Walks! Oh, my gosh, I love walks so much! There is nothing more fun than going outside with my best friend and exploring our neighborhood. We find so many interesting smells! And just yesterday, I barked at a squirrel.” –Olive, chiweenie, 10 months
“My family has recently claimed a new territory, and I am quite thankful for the perch at the top of the stairs at the new house. From there, I can swipe at the humans as they head up. Claws sheathed, mind you. I’m not trying to hurt them, just remind them who is really in charge.” –Olive, domestic shorthair, 5 years
“I don’t spend much time on social media, but I am thankful for the Instagram account @catxplorer. Seeing all the internet cats climbing mountains and strolling through town inspired my human to let me go outside — while wearing a leash and harness, of course. It turns out that walks aren’t just for dogs anymore.”
“This year, I am most thankful for the fact that I don’t have to live at the shelter anymore. I’m an older cat, and after seeing kitten after kitten find their new home, I started to think I was never going to leave. Then Adeline came in, and I knew I had found my new best friend. Sleeping on a bed at night is way better than sleeping in the kennel.”
–Hiro, tabby cat, 8 years
–Checkers, tuxedo cat, 10 years
“Goodness, what am I not thankful for this year? I am thankful for treats and new toys and long walks! But most of all, I’m thankful that when my humans are watching a movie on the couch, I get to climb under the blanket for cuddles. Couch cuddles are the best kind of cuddles.” –Ginger, pitbull-Lab mix, 12 years
Food Hounds ! AMAZING THANKSGIVING DRESSING
PAWSitively Hilarious !
Who doesn’t love a little dressing with their turkey? Enjoy this recipe with family and friends. Ingredients
• • • • •
1 pound breakfast sausage
•
44 ounces chicken broth
1 stick butter
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
•
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
16 ounces Cornbread Stuffing Mix (Pepperidge Farms) 16 ounces Herbed Seasoned Stuffing Mix (Pepperidge Farms)
• • •
1 cup Craisins
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
•
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Directions
1. In a very large saucepan, cook breakfast sausage until browned. Place sausage on paper towels to drain. 2. In sausage drippings, add butter to melt. Add celery and onion, and sauté until soft. 3. Add both stuffing mixes and toss well. Season with sage, thyme, and poultry seasoning and add Craisins. 4. Spread into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour broth over it and bake at 350 F for 60 minutes or until thoroughly cooked through and no longer soggy.
3
Your Hometown Vet
903.587.2210
TRADITIONSVETCENTERS.COM/LOCATIONS/LEONARD-ANIMAL-CLINIC
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
400 HWY 69 South Leonard, TX 75452
903.587.2210
TRADITIONSVETCENTERS.COM/LOCATIONS/LEONARD-ANIMAL-CLINIC
Inside
A Word From Stella the Boxer
1
Caramel Apples, Knitting, and Bonfires Let Kids Play a Role This Thanksgiving
2
What Are Pets Thankful For? Amazing Thanksgiving Dressing
3
Chips, the WWII Hero Dog
4
Meet Chips
The WWII Hero Dog
War heroes are revered for their acts of bravery in times of combat — and Chips, the shepherd-collie-husky crossbreed, is no different. During World War II, the Wren family donated Chips to Dogs for Defense shortly after the U.S. joined the war. Of the 40,000 dogs donated to the corps, more than 10,000 were selected to participate in the program after training. Chips was shipped off with his handler, Private Rowell, to French Morocco. Chips and Rowell patrolled the Casablanca Conference, where Chips was introduced to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Following the meeting, Rowell and Chips went to Sicily to support the invasion as part of Operation Husky, which was where Chips earned his hero status. On July 10, 1943, Allied soldiers were attacked on the beach by an enemy machine gun team. Chips ran for the hut where the barrage of bullets was coming from and tore into the enemies. His handler described
hearing rapid noises and seeing Chips gripping one of the men by his throat until Rowell ordered the dog down. Three more men came out of the hut, their hands raised. Chips left the fight with burns and a scalp wound, but his actions saved the lives of all the men in his platoon, and later that day, he discovered more enemy soldiers. On Jan. 15, 2018 — 75 years after the Casablanca Conference — Chips was posthumously awarded the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Dickin Medal, the highest award an animal can achieve for their time in military conflict in Britain. After his service, Chips returned to live with the Wren family. On U.S. soil, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart. These honors were eventually stripped by the Army after a policy barred animals from earning the same medals as people, but his platoon awarded him the Theater Ribbon and battle stars for his eight campaigns. To the men Chips saved, medals didn’t make him a hero — his selfless actions did.
4
Your Hometown Vet
903.587.2210
TRADITIONSVETCENTERS.COM/LOCATIONS/LEONARD-ANIMAL-CLINIC
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker