Although it’s tough to say this because there are so many, I think probably my favorite patient from yesterday was Biz. He is nearly 15 years old, and a relatively new patient to us, having moved here from California about 2 years ago. He is a medical miracle. He has Cushing’s disease, inexplicable focal seizures, he has had one lung lobe removed, he has chronic rhinitis and requires an inhaler. Besides all that, he is terrified of coming into the vet, shakes terribly in fear and growls and lunges at us whenever we try to touch him. Well, he used to. It is so rewarding to look at his medical record and see how we used to have to muzzle him all the time. And now, after months of pleasant visits where we spoke kindly to him, never pushed him too far, and fed him a lot of treats, it is heartwarming and rewarding to see him no longer needing a muzzle. Mom holds him and talks to him, and he still shakes like crazy, but he now trusts her, and us, enough, to no longer have to wear a muzzle for vet visits. And that is such a beautiful thing. I am grateful for Biz and his Mom and their trust in us.

You know, no matter how long dog’s live, I think most would say they do not live long enough. I don’t understand why that’s true and will be one of the first things I ask when I leave this place. When they mean so much to us, and give us so much peace and love, I don’t know why they live an average of 10-15 years, while my Mom’s mean Cockatoo who destroys all of her things, is over 40 years old and still unpleasantly screaming his fool head off! This unfairly short life span of dogs and cats is why I created the DrQ’s Animal Life Skill Report Card. It’s a list of 10 items that, as being a holistic vet with now over 20 years of experience, are all of the things that need to be addressed, and in tip top order, to set up pets to outlive their expected lifespan. It’s not just about diet, foods, and exercise, it’s all the things that I think an animal must have to succeed. If you would like to meet with me, either over the phone or in the office, and take a deep dive into your animals' health, inside and out, to set them up to live as absolutely as long as possible, then this is time well spent. Think about animals you have lost in the past. How much would you pay to have another year with them? Even another 6 months? One month? If you feel like that, then taking some time to schedule this 45 minute session with me, the One and only Life Coach for People with Pets, will not only set you up for a tremendous new year with your animals. Our animals don’t live long enough for you not to take advantage of these limited availability sessions. Call Aspen Park Vet Hospital to schedule your deep dive into helping your animal outlive their expected lifespan, today.

And in the meantime, sign up for Pet Pictures with Santa and don’t forget we will have CSU’s Sci on the Fly van there as well! It will be so fun! I can’t believe we are getting them to come to our little place in Conifer! It will be a great time for the kids, and animal crazy adults, to see all the exhibits and STEM learning modules the van offers teaching about animal biology. I am so excited for us having this van! I am so grateful they agreed to come to Conifer! Your sign up is here https://www.resqranch.org/pet-pics-with-santa-signup

And as the holidays approach and you consider charitable giving, won’t you please consider supporting the rescue horses of the ResqRanch? Thank you! I am grateful for all of you who have already donated this giving season https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Resqranch

I am excited to see what this day brings. I am grateful for you reading this, and for placing your trust in me and my team. I am grateful my team is increasing with excellent people, I am grateful I am the architect of my own life and get to choose how and who I spend it with, and I am grateful for being on the board of the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce and for getting to know all the good people there who really work hard to do their best for this beautiful community.
​Today, I hope you too are grateful for being the architect of your own life. Set an intention for your day. For example, you could think to yourself, everything I speak today is filled with power and good intentions. This day is easy and comfortable. Today, I will only meet good and kind people. My body has enough energy to get through this day. I am safe, and free of any worries today. I choose to forgive myself for yesterday’s mistakes. It’s a new and wonderful day, and everything good and wonderful comes to me on this day.

Thank you for being here, you Animal Loving Angel, have the best day of your life!
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Check out my YouTube channel for a daily "Good Morning!" from the rescues and lots of free tips and training resources. https://www.youtube.com/@the1drq​