SPIRIT PET SANCTUARY

A Dog's Life Expectancy

2011-11-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Jo-Anne Vandermeulen's Best Friend - OSCAR and her daughter's STEWIE

How long will your *best friend* live...on the average stats?

SOME FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO A DOG'S LIFE EXPECTANCY:

•       Small dogs live about 1.5 times longer than big dogs due to the fact that the heart of a large body works harder & wears out faster.
•       Just like humans, gender plays a role with canine life span. Female dogs are expected to live a year or two more than males.
•       Spaying and neutering increases your dogs' expected life span as there are cancers and diseases associated with intact sex organs.
•       Nutrition is a major factor in your dog's life and high-quality, human-grade food will reduce the stress on the immune and waste systems.
•       Exercise is important for the mental and physical longevity of every dog.

Average Life Expectancies By Breed

Afghan Hound (12.0)
Airedale Terrier (11.2)
Basset Hound (12.8)
Beagle (14.3)
Bearded Collie (12.3)
Bernese Mountain Dog (7.0)
Border Collie (13.0)
Boxer (10.5)
Bull Terrier, Staffordshire (12.9)
Bull Dog (7.0)
Bullmastiff (8.6)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (10.7)
Chihuahua (13.5)
Chow Chow (13.5)
Cocker Spaniel (12.5)
Corgi, Pembroke Welsh (13 years)
Dachshund (15.5)
Dalmatian (13.0)
Deerhound (9.5)
Doberman Pinscher (10 years)
English Setter (11.2)
English Toy Spaniel (10.1)
Flat-Coated Retriever (9.5)
German Shepherd (11.0)
German Shorthaired Pointer (13.0)
Golden Retriever (12.0)
Great Dane (8.5)
Greyhound (13.2)
Irish Setters (12.9)
Irish Wolfhound (6.2)
Husky, Siberian (12.0)
Labrador Retriever (12.6)
Maltese (14.0)
Miniature Dachshund (14.4)
Miniature Poodle (15.0)
Miniature Schnauzer (14.0)
Mutt (13.2)
Old English Sheepdog (11.8)
Pekingese (13.3)
Pomerania (15.0)
Pug (13.5)
Rhodesian Ridgeback (9.1)
Rottweiler (10.0)
Labrador Retriever (12.5)
Rough Collie (12.2)
Samoyed (11.0)
Shetland Sheepdog (13.5)
Shih Tzu (13.4)
Standard Poodle (12.0)
Springer Spaniel (13.0)
Terriers –
Bedlington Terrier (14.3)
Border Terrier (13.8)
Boston Terrier (13.0)
Cairn Terrier (13.2)
Jack Russell Terrier (13.6)
Norfolk Terrier (10.0)
Scottish Terrier (12.0)
Wire Fox Terrier (13.0)
Tibetan Terrier (14.3)
West Highland White Terrier (12.8)
Yorkshire Terrier (14.0)
Toy Poodle (14.4)
Viszla (12.5)
Weimaraner (10.0)
Whippet (14.3)
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CANINE FEATURE POST - We are INTERESTED in your BEST FRIEND! Got a photo you wish to share with ALL the SPIRIT PET SANCTUARY followers? Please send your pdf photo to: http://www.spiritpetsanctuary2@yahoo.ca AND a short bio...and stay tuned...YOUR BEST FRIEND may be the next FEATURED CANINE on SPIRIT PET SANTUARY

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Every Pet Owner Is IN THERAPY!

2011-10-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

At first I thought it was only Lulu that had the gift. A round butterball of a Shih Tzu, Lulu came to me through friends who heard of people wanting to give her up because "she didn't fit in to the family." Lulu accompanied me to work at my Massage Therapy Clinic and greeted every client belly up on the couch. Much to my delight, she embraced this role as greeter and everyone loved her being there. Often she would lay on the floor directly under the moving hands of clients, getting a massage too! But, more often she would lull the clients to sleep with her snoring! Ahh, the sound of a dog sleeping....!

Then along came Charlie, a Psychotherapist disguised as a Pug-Poodle mix . Charlie's first owner was an elderly woman; his second owners, a family who didn't like his barking; his third owners...every one of my clients, he thinks! (Charlie's enthusiasm for socializing is unsurpassed only by his delight in treats.) He lets everyone know that they are special in their own right. He has his own language and his advice is passed on with weird growling gurgles as he mashes his face into the pile of used linens behind the screen. He will use a different approach if you're thinking too much about the past or the future and not the NOW of the dog in front of you. He will push his lower jaw out and grunt bark until you pet him, or do a dance around you and flip his head back, one side then next to show you where to put your hands. No, Charlie is not shy about letting you know what your role in life is all about!

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The Dogs We Help...Help Us Too!

2011-10-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

After rescuing over 220 dogs in 2 and a half years I am still in awe of the canine's ability to help me be a better human being! Georgia is such a dog that has me shaking my head in wonderment. Her homely pound photo was easily overlooked and that was exactly the quality that made me add her to my rescue list in July. After working her way out of a few foster homes with naughty behaviour she is now by my side constantly day and night as we work our magic together and get her ready for her adoptive home to find her. She looks up to check with me when walking by my side, asking perhaps "Are you watching where we're going?" She stands as navigator on the centre console of the car, by my side, eyes glued to the road ahead in keen yet relaxed anticipation of the next curve. She is my precious cargo that I have a duty to protect, thus I am more aware of my surroundings in and out of the car.

Chester is another of these helper dogs that has just recently left my daily life to go into a foster-to-adopt home. He was with me for eight months after I picked him up, a limp and lifeless creature. He whined alot and ducked his head when I tried to pet him. He literally ran away if any serious tones were being spoken. This little dachsund mix responded positively only to play. I had to learn to speak only in lilting and soft tones no matter what was going on at home! I think this helped change my brain chemistry! It also made me study up on positive reinforcement training techniques which work wonders on alot of rescued dogs that have past-trauma. Thank-you Chester for giving me perspective on myself!

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When Pet Owners Die: Loving Home Solution

2011-10-20T03:38:00.000-07:00

Have you thought about what to do with your pet after you die? A Comox Valley animal rescue group has, and it thinks it's barking up the right tree when it comes to what to do with your pet after you're gone.>CTV News with Gord Kubis Oct 10, 2011<

If you are unable to see the screen below, click HERE for the show/news broadcast.

What is "Spirit Pet Sanctuary"?

2011-10-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

SPIRIT PET SANCTUARY - MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE....

- A place where your best friend can go if you die tomorrow

- A promise made by extreme animal lovers to take care of pets that survive their owners

- A hope for animals to stay safe and loved

- A lending hand for Seniors that find they cannot provide the care for their pet anymore

- A belief that every pet deserves to live on and find happiness again

- A desire to bring kind people together in their quest to love animals

- A step in the right direction for pet owners who want to make sure their pet receives the best treatment always

- A continuation of the same care you provide...when you cannot provide it anymore

- A way to make the best plans for your pet right now

At Spirit Pet Sanctuary we will provide:

CONTINUING CARE AND LOVE - We will give your pet the individual attention and treatment we know they deserve. We understand the grief your best friend may feel and the time it may take to adjust to his or her new life. Only extreme animal lovers will be tending to the pets at SPIRIT PET SANCTUARY.

*24 hours per day, 7 days per week*

SAFETY – Separate pack home for different personalities and types of pets. We envision high solid wood fences with special toppers to prevent jumpers and poured concrete bases to prevent digging.

HIGH-QUALITY LOCAL FOOD and SPRING WATER.

WARM FAMILY-FEELING HOUSING and COMFORTABLE CLEAN BEDDING.

HEALTH CARE – Full annual Veterinarian check-ups, including up-to-date vaccinations and dental care. Also available are massage, energy treatments, holistic care and natural remedies to keep your pet healthy and happy.

EXERCISE & FREEDOM – Scheduled safe walks among the shady rainforests of Vancouver Island; free run and unleashed trail walks for the higher energy dogs; beach and river excursions for the swimmers.

Listen To Our Initial Vision On Blogtalkradio

2011-10-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

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Click HERE to Purchase!

Be entertained! Listening to the dynamic speaker, Jo-Anne Vandermeulen, as she sizzles with energy and introduces her special guest, AWARD WINNING AUTHOR - LINDA ATNIP

– For the past ten years, Linda's dream life has been a very fertile ground that directed her to write two collections of poetry, “WHEN THE HEART SINGS” and “EARTH'S SACRED CHANT”. Her nightly excursions are not random events, but a series of carefully orchestrated messages leading her toward a life's work of inspiring others to live their dreams.

In this evenings show, Linda is happy to her unusual path as an author and how she came to write her two books: The award-winning children’s book “MIRANDA'S MAGIC GARDEN” & the young adult book, “CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. KIKI”. The latter is a non-fiction account of a dog's adventures in the afterlife. It reads like a fantasy, but it actually happened. Linda is still scratching her head in wonder as to how it unfolded.

Losing a Best Friend, after 15 years can be devastating...but, for Linda, Kiki has NEVER left.

Welcome to listen to this 1/2 hour podcast (Just Click The Button Below...) as Jo-Anne the vision of SPIRIT PET SANCTUARY with Linda Atnip and how their NEW connection has so much in common...TOTALLY AMAZING!

Listen to internet radio with Jo-Anne Vandermeulen on Blog Talk Radio

Note: There's about a 20 second delay during the introduction...slight tech difficulties...BUT, then the entire show contines...SO keep those speakers turned up. Thank you for listening.

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