MovingSophia

09/20/2024

09/07/2024

Adolescence occurs between six months and 18 months of age—a time when guardians typically struggle the most with their dogs. Some guardians are so overwhelmed and underprepared for this developmental stage of their dog’s life, they choose to surrender the dog to a local shelter or rescue group. In a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that the majority of the surrendered dogs (47.7 percent) ) were between 5 months and 3 years of age (M.D. Salman,John G. New, Jr.,Janet M. Scarlett,Philip H. Kass,Rebecca Ruch-Gallie &Suzanne Hetts, 2010)

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, changing s*x hormones effect the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to process information they are receiving from the environment including the presence of dogs, vehicles, people, or really anything around them. They behave in ways that might feel frustrating or upsetting for the dog’s person.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control. We see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

So what does this mean? This could mean that what was once no big deal to the dog now feels scary; what was once easy to do is now stressful; what once made sense is now confusing. At times, the world can feel like ‘too much’ for the adolescent dog.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, our own frustration and impatience can cause us to act unpredictably. This adds to our puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for our dogs to adjust.

If you have an adolescent dog, what can you do? You can give your dog the time and space to observe what is going on around them when on leash at a distance away from the activity when possible. You can give your dog long walks to sniff and explore in nature, giving their brain time to decompress. You can offer your dog a quiet space to sleep so that they can consolidate memories effectively. You can continue training various skills, breaking them down into easier steps that can be generously reinforced.

By understanding what our adolescent dog is experiencing we gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best adult selves.

09/01/2024

One Pittsburgh dog rescue done differently.

Harmony Dog Rescue is filling a critical gap in the community, ensuring that no one has to surrender their beloved pet due to unforeseen emergencies:

https://www.pghcitypaper.com/specials-guides/harmony-dog-rescue-provides-crisis-care-for-canines-26581775

08/25/2024

Butler County Humane Society Butler, PA near Pittsburgh

08/23/2024

Hello! In the coming weeks, the Pittsburgh practice will be reopening. Exciting! As things have been in transition for a few years, I would like to ask those of you who've worked with me to please write up a review so I can become more visible as well as known in the area - ultimately helping more people and dogs!

This applies to all the work I offer humans and canines 🐾

Many many thanks!
L'aura Marie Campisi

Post a review to our profile on Google

08/19/2024

If we react, we're coming from the wound.
If we respond, we're on the healing journey.
If we interact, we're coming from the lesson.

What are your thoughts...

08/14/2024

New Yorker article from Dec 2023 by the famed author Jonathan Franzen about the cat over-population and no-kill shelters (Best Friends figures in the article). I don't remember the article being so conclusive, but it did raise questions around the whole shelter population/adoption/ issues.

By keeping cats outdoors, trap-neuter-release policies have troubling consequences for city residents, local wildlife—and even the cats themselves.

08/10/2024

ANIMALS AND KARMA

Animals choose to come into our lives. They are part of our karma and we are part of theirs.

Sometimes they are found "abandoned" or wandering, in the middle of a road or in danger, in the heart of the night; other times they meet at the front door of the house, as fate sends them; other times they come from loved ones, neighbors or strangers.

At least the animals were already in our karma. In this life, as in the others.

According to Brian Weiss, the same animal often incarnates multiple times during our lives, simply changing shape and coat, and being recognized by small gestures, details, and subtle habits. This is clearly seen with cats.

When a "new" animal comes into our home and knows exactly where to go, it's a sign that it just says back.

Many people, at the moment of passing, receive the calming vision not of a deceased relative, but of an animal. This means a lot. Because for our soul there is no difference between one species and another.

Animals are on our evolutionary path just like we are on theirs, so we must respect them as sacred creatures and take great care of them.

They are part of us, in a different form of the universe.

Author Unknown

Artist: Olga Simonova

Blessings to all, please follow/like Faye Rogers Animal Communicator

08/10/2024

This is what a traumatized dog looks like who’s been kenneled way too long, unsocialized, etc..

08/10/2024

Dizzy Owl 204

by L'aura Marie

Mingling sticky soul parts.
Heart-foam on the merry-go-round.
Your handkerchief, mine, one two feet under.
Thirty feet from the door is close enough.

[ GDV is a dangerous life-threatening circumstance found in the canine and horses. Gastric dilatation-volvulus is a serious condition and is fatal if left untreated. Commonly referred to as "bloat," GDV occurs when a dog's stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid and subsequently twists. It's when there is too much room in the stomach. GDV develops without warning and can progress quickly. It is always an emergency. The cause of GDV is not completely understood; however, dogs that exercise too quickly after consuming large amounts of food and water may have an increased risk as are deep-chested dogs of certain breeds: hounds, Great Danes, boxers. GDV is impossible to predict and preventative surgeries to tack the stomach to the body wall during spay/neuter is highly controversial among vets. ]

My name is Chloe Ramone. And this is just a wee part of my story. I was a Black & Tan Coonhound / Lab mix. I was a big girl and why my parents loved me! I have a caramel angel spread over my face and L'aura used to call out to me way before I found them. "Angel face," she would say over and over again to Rhody, her beloved dog before me. I finally found Gregory and L'aura when my angels were making their descent. And boy did they carry me through. I was only in discomfort for a little while before my final physical rest. I am now flying high... way above the mesa and mountains of New Mexico and beyond. I will carry L'aura to Pittsburgh along with Rhody and be next to Greg at every band rehearsal till the end of time.

Do you have experience with GDV in a horse or canine? I would love to hear your story. I'd like to thank all of you who've talked with me over the week, you know who you are..

Warmly, L'

08/05/2024

That early morning light and tempo that only dog parents know. The 'take me outside' waggie tails. The hungry bellies. The eagerness to see what is new in the world, smells on Chamisa, who's been down the road, who's coming up the road...who, what, where... all the smells. Life.

Dogs truly live life in the now and remind us of this every single moment.

This is the last picture taken of Chole Ramone and I. We are crushed and know we did right by her, loved her, welcomed her in, and honored her in the end. She was never alone with us.

No, we cannot save them all, but we sure as s**t can give them all of us!

I'd like to share more about her story in the coming days, for now, please hold a place in your heart for Chole's passage. She was a beaming light, and now pure light.

07/29/2024

That split second.

Today we took Chloe to a new vet for a second opinion on a few things. As we pulled in, I saw an older woman coming out of the building in tears. She had blood all over her t-shirt and walked towards the vehicle next to us which still had the back gate open which Chole was sniffing. I watched her while preparing Chole for entering the building - she was a mess.

I walked over to her and asked if there was anything I could do, I figured she had just put her pet companion down. Worse. The dog was hit by a truck during a rabbit chase across the street. The dog's spine was severed and that was it - nothing she could do would save the dog's life. Beyond tragic and our worst nightmare as an animal guardian.

We've all done it... let the dog out for that unleashed "quick p*e". Oh let him off just for a minute to run, he/she has great recall. We think it's safe and it usually is.. until it isn't and their prey drive kicks in as it did in this case then BAM, game over.

I have been thinking about this woman since we got home. The guild she must feel, the grief. That this was her fault, that she wronged her companion, the multitude of feelings she is now experiencing as this great loss.

Loss is never easy and I like to think that it's God's way of waking us up a little, even those around us in witness. That perhaps this was the little fella's time, and this was how it was supposed to happen for whatever reason as rough as that sounds. I have personally struggled with pet loss far more substantially than the loss of a human and I realize by saying that you may think I am cruel or weird. But it's honest.

Animals come in with unconditional love and joy. And when their time comes, however, that happens, I think it is this at its core that we struggle with on top of any guild that it may have been our fault. So in those short moments, those split seconds, we are given the gift of this wild life to feel our immortality and the fleetingness of all things moving and breathing. This certainly slowed me down to pause...

With love, L'

07/22/2024

Aloha Friends!!

It's been quite a run here in TAOS! Arriving in January this year to property sit, then all the dogs and horses and cats...and falling in love.

I will be booking up to the 24th of August then Chloe and I shove eastward where we'll spend much of the winter work and being with family.

If you would like to schedule your doggo for August, please reach out soon! Meantime Chloe is being fitted for snow boots :)

www.LauraMarieCampisi.com

07/20/2024

Good Morning,

It's been several weeks with Precious now, my one hospice client here in Taos. Precious' mum reached out to me a while back to care for her while she was away. Handing me specific and delicate instructions about her care as she was deteriorating in the spinal column. Precious has days she can move, days she cannot not, and almost always cannot get outside to relieve herself.

This is an enormous strain on any dog owner - the physical decline.

Since early July, the owner has reported "She's giving up, I've given up, she's getting worse, it's too hard.." sound familiar? I was there not that long ago with Rhody, it's just exhausting and feels defeating - particularly when you're doing it solo.

In BCST, biodynamic craniosacral therapy, it is taught that we focus on THE HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL, not the issue. We focus on WHAT IS WORKING and ENHANCE THIS. This is the one solidly valuable attribute I try my best to weave into every part of my life.

The unfolding.

Precious' mum requests me to work with her and the dog, to reassess things and "show me what you do with her" as she is usually out at work when I go to treat Precious. Upon this first-of-its-kind visit on our regularly scheduled Monday night visit, the owner is there and quite upset, sad, frustrated, hurting both head and heart. She is reporting her back is out and she cannot lift Precious anymore..." it's time I think," she says over and over.

I encourage her "Now just hold the phone, let's see what Precious wants to do right now and just go really slow." I begin to work with her which I will share looks many ways from just getting her up to urinate (approximately a 5-minute process) to feeding her by hand, to the actual hands-on session with her physical body and positive reinforcement dialog and connected eye gazing.

--- In BCST we are aware of the energetic map that underlies one‘s basic health and symptomology. We believe that health is never lost no matter what the ailment. ----

A few 20 minutes or so in, the client goes to lie down. Precious is now up and moving around. All has calmed and is back to a sense of HOMEOSTASIS. The client returns a few moments later with a smile on her face and reports her head and back have lifted. "How did you do this, you never even touched me...!"

Tuning Forks.

I go on to share with her that the weight of actively losing a loved one, is one experience the human brain has a deep attachment towards. That the actions involved in caring for a loved one in this way can be a challenge all around and that SELF CARE in the deepest sense is not just a nice thing to do for ourselves, but NECESSARY.

A few days later, I received the following report from the client along with multiple bookings into August. Precious talks to me while we are working, she guides me along during our time together. She is strong, happy, and content that her body is breaking down yet her spirit and mind stay intact.

We have so much to learn from them.

Happy Saturday,
L'aura Marie Campisi

MovingSophia

06/30/2024

Muscle Pain / Fascial Pain

What's the difference?

[ Muscle-related pain often feels loose around the affected area and can be sharp and/or searing pain while more pain when moving and triggered by specific movements. It is usually specific or localized pain. ]

[ Fascial-related pain often feels difficult to pinpoint with stiffness around the affected area. Tingling or numbness and aching are present. More painful when not moving and triggered by a variety of movements. ]

It takes a trained and skillful eye to spot the difference and to make matters even more confusing; muscular pain almost always comes with fascial constriction and pain caused by fascia will almost always come with muscle pain.

One of the many jobs fascia has is to hold muscles, ligaments, and tendons in place, including when injured and not functioning as normal. This causes fascial constructions and stiffness when left untreated.

Muscles will often adapt to postural changes caused by fascial constrictions. The smaller and secondary muscle groups become overloaded by postural changes and eventually injured.

Training yourself to pick up on what is happening in and around your body will help you determine what methods of care are best for you and break any cycle of pain. A combination of Structural Bodywork, Visceral Manipulation, and Craniosacral Therapy can address all of these issues.

To schedule with me for the PITTSBURGH clinic, click here:

06/24/2024

Dear Community,

I'll be scheduling the PITTSBURGH practice in the coming weeks.

Featuring... New Client Specials for the 10 Series Structural Integration Process + Existing Client Specials + New Private RolfYoga Movement + Canine Therapy Rates for All!

All info will be posted here and on the webpage.
See y'all soon ✨

www.LauraMarieCampisi.com

05/31/2024

This sweet pup is the victim of negligence on every level. His owner is in jail for assault and was taken to a HIGH KILL shelter. Can we find him a home? Transportation costs can be worked out as well as transport.

05/03/2022

A tragic story of this sweet angel being attacked in the shelter providing space for her. I suspect it's a story that is all too common that goes unreported. FORTUNATELY he is getting care and will recover from this! You can still contribute..

We want to share an update with you on Elso and address some of the comments we saw on his initial post last night. Elso is in a critical care hospital, being closely monitored. He is on IV antibiotics and fluids, and the doctor cleans and debrides his wounds every 4 hours. Despite his severe injuries, Elso has been an excellent patient thus far; he is sweet and gentle and allows the staff to manage his care without any trouble. Thankfully, the X-rays show no trauma to his trachea and no fractures. To everyone who donated towards Elso's care, thank you. Because of you, he is on his way to recovering from this nightmare.

We understand the outrage that Elso's images and videos have sparked in our community. We understand the desire to "fix things" or hold someone or something accountable. However, we do not condemn the dog that did this. We do not condemn them to capital punishment. We do not wish for them to be euthanized, and we are saddened by how many comments demanded that call to action.

Please, try to imagine how traumatizing it is to live in an overcrowded shelter. These dogs are in a strange, cold environment, surrounded by dogs and people they don't know. Most have just been abandoned or were found wandering the streets. They're cooped up, frustrated, scared, and waiting for their turn to see some sunlight.

This is not a shelter problem. This is a direct result of overpopulation. This is a societal problem. This is what happens when legislation prohibits a massive community of dogs from entering housing. This is what happens when animal abuse goes unpunished. This is what happens when backyard breeders and puppy mills get more support than rescues.This is what happens when people feel more comfortable with dropping their dogs off at a shelter than working with a trainer. We know that life happens, but this throw-away society we live in starts to take a toll.

As far as the question of how two dogs are able to reach each other through neighboring kennels: shelters are underfunded and overcrowded. They are constantly running out of room. Either they make room where they can or they are forced to decide between life and death. Human error can play a part. Animal stress can play a part. We do not know. All we know is that Elso needs help, and we are going to help him.

We encourage everyone to move away from pointing fingers and to become a part of the solution by donating, fostering, and adopting from their local shelter or rescue.

If you'd like to contribute to Elso's ongoing care, please visit nycscr.org/donate or:
Text NYCSCR to 24365
Venmo: NYCSECONDCHANCERESCUE
PayPal: [email protected]

05/03/2022

NM - FIRE relief for Horses.

NM Fire Evacuees - we have room for horses and are happy to offer free horse accommodations during this time of need. Please email us at [email protected], or call/text 505.316.0311 to make arrangements. Stay safe! 🙏🏼

05/03/2022

RE::: NEW MEXICO FIRE EVACUATIONS

🔥 Resources for evacuees with pets and for those wishing to help displaced pets: we will continue to update this post as we know more. 🔥

The City of Santa Rosa, NM is welcoming evacuees to the Blue Hole Convention Center with crates available for pets.

Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center has been deployed to the Glorieta Conference Center exit 299 address 11 NM-50 to set up a 911 animal evacuation center. Pets are not allowed in rooms so families are sheltering pets outside their doors; a large tent is housing displaced dogs who don’t have shelter and pet food and supplies are being distributed to those who need it.

The Downs at Santa Fe (former racetrack) on the frontage road is welcoming evacuees - campers and their pets!

The SF County Extension Office next to the Rodeo grounds has set up a temporary shelter in the small animal building for Animal Welfare Coalition of Northeastern New Mexico’s evacuated dogs. They need help with walking dogs, cleaning, and laundry. On-site coordinators are organizing volunteer shifts and there is more space available for displaced pets and livestock (large and small).

From Felines & Friends New Mexico: Cat owners in areas under fire evacuation orders: Santa Fe Cats has space available for caring for your cat(s) while you are evacuees. For those without insurance reimbursement for pet boarding, a donation is appreciated. No cat will be turned away for lack of insurance or inability to donate. Call SFC at 505-216-5141 to make arrangements.

Poeh Marketplace next to the Poeh Cultural Center in Pojoaque is accepting donations of dog and cat food to distribute to evacuee locations.

Evacuation centers are located in Peñasco and Angel Fire, pet status is unclear; Taos Rodeo/fairgrounds sheltering displaced livestock.

Pecos Rodeo Grounds have space and feed for livestock.

04/28/2022

URGENT CARE NEEDED.

🆘911 URGENT HELP NEEDED- DOG MAULED IN SHELTER.

No shelter personnel would ever want to wake up to the sight of one of their dogs in this condition.
When the staff arrived in the morning, they found Elso in his kennel clinging to life and covered in blood. In the middle of the night, a nearby dog broke out of his kennel and broke into Elso’s, and mauled him.��He is left in critical condition with severe, life-threatening injuries. His neck has been ripped open near his jugular vein, his body is covered in deep bite wounds, and part of his ear has been ripped off. He has lost a tremendous amount of blood.

Elso literally brought the entire shelter to their knees, and it is understandable why. This poor boy has been a resident at the shelter for weeks. He is a sweet and gentle boy who has been patiently waiting for his forever home; now, Elso waits for his life to be saved. The shelter staff tried their hardest to stabilize him but it became more clear as they examined him that they do not have the resources to save him. They reached out to us and there was no way we could walk away. We immediately agreed to help.

We apologize for the footage, but obviously, we are posting this so you can see the severity and reality of the matter. We are a medical rescue, and he needs the funds for his critical care. We wasted no time and pulled Elso from the shelter. He has been rushed to a 24-hour critical care hospital for treatment. We cannot predict the outcome, but we will fight our hardest to save his life. His story cannot end this way. Please consider donating towards Elso's care today. We are his only hope.

To donate please click the link below or:
▪️Text NYCSCR to 24365
▪️www.nycsecondchancerescue.org/donate
▪️Venmo: NYCSECONDCHANCERESCUE
▪️PayPal: [email protected]

04/26/2022

04/22/2022

🃏 🎲 🃏 We have a full house! Give a dog a lucky break and take advantage of 50% off all adult dog adoption fees through April 29 ‼️

04/18/2022

Canton, Ohio!