Heart 2 Heart Pet Services

Heart 2 Heart is an online resource for animal lovers just like you!

2015-07-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

On this site you'll find...

Easy to make pet food recipes
Heart centered stories about animals
Book suggestions (great reading for animal lovers)
Resources to find pet sitters, dog walkers & other pet care providers in your area
...More (check back from time-to-time to see what's new)

Chicken Medley

2011-03-27T02:55:00.000-07:00

I love making this easy breezy crockpot dish.
Les animaux love it as well!

Waiting patiently for chicken stew

4 pounds, organic boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped
2 pounds carrots, chopped
1 apples, sliced
1/2 c pearl barley
1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
5 stalks of celery, sliced
5 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/2 c fresh kale, chopped

Toss these ingredients in a crockpot + enough water to fill it 1/2 " from the top and cook about 6 hours.

Homemade Beef Stew

2011-03-27T02:11:00.001-07:00

Sandy has a friend over for dinner

Last week I made a scrum-deli-yum-cious stew for the animals...

2 pounds beef
8 carrots, chopped
1 can, sardines
5 potatoes, washed w/ skins, chopped
1 bunch, parsley, minced
3 cloves, garlic
1 bunch, celery, sliced

Cook in crockpot until soft & stewy. Serve in amounts appropriate for your cats & dogs. (I feed my golden retriever 11/2 c per meal and the cats 1/3c per meal)

2009-01-21T06:51:00.001-08:00

Share your favorite animal story here!

Sandy

2009-01-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

Sandy came to me as a foster dog when I was stationed in Georgia. She was pregnant, heartworm +++ and had vaginal and respiratory infections. Someone left her tied to a vet's office doorknob. I was told "not to get attached" because "our goal is to save the pups, we don't expect momma to make it." Hmph! Among other things, Sandy would not eat. After trying several brands of food...the vet said to feed her ground beef with rice. I did that...she ate!! I was curious and started reading...the more I read the more I was interested in feeding her home cooked/ raw foods. Out of her 11 puppies, 2 lived. After having Sandy for 4 months her 2 healthy pups were adopted and she was well enough to be treated for her ailments. At 7 months her coat had grown in and was full and soft. The black discoloration on her belly went away and she too was well enough to be adopted.....I was the lucky new pet parent!

She was in an accident in 2005 and her knee and hips were damaged. Her bladder ruptured three days after the accident. She received so much bodywork and energy work. It was amazing. Our community participated in her healing. Interestingly enough, about a month before the accident a strange plant grew in the garden. I hadn't planted it. I asked a friend of mine to help me identify this volunteer. It was comfrey. After Sandy's accident, I read up on comfrey (as my friend told me volunteers show up for a reason). Turns out...comfrey is great for healing bone and joints. WOW! That was the beginning of my studies in herbs for pets. I was a comfrey oil and salve making fool. Sandy (unable to walk) was toted about town in a yellow wheel barrow. We even took her (in this autumn gold chariot) to the local belly dance festival that summer. When her 3 month check up came the vets were surprised at how far she'd come....she was walking! At six months I took her to visit the pet rehab facility (that I initially couldn't afford) and they couldn't believe their eyes.

What touches me most about Sandy is that she has a heart of gold! The day of her accident (deep in my heart) I felt like she was going to be okay. However, on the day we rushed her to the vet who would perform emergency surgery for the ruptured bladder Sandy was crying out in pain, I was scared and not so sure how she'd fare. I told her if she couldn't hang in there...I'd understand...and it was OK to do what was best for her. When she got quiet I cried (thinking she was fading)....she looked up at me and stretched out her paw. It landed right over my heart. I cried more.

I expected the surgery to last 1-2 hours. When the vet came out in 20 minutes I was sure he was going to say that she'd died. She didn't... he was done! And she was fine! When they wheeled her out moments later...she was wagging her tail like nobody's business and making the sound she makes when she wants a treat!

Nowadays she goes swimming, camping and on leisurely walks. She is the dog that is the mediator/ ice breaker when I visit sick dogs and/or people. She is the dog people who "don't like dogs" LOVE. She is the dog that has inspired my food and herb practice with people. She is truly and inspiration!

Talisker (in memorium)

2008-12-16T18:40:00.001-08:00

Talisker 3/6/1997 - 12/15/2008 "a.k.a. Mr. T (he pitied the fool), or One who sits fancy"

It's with heavy heart, and deep fondness that I look back on the life of such a sweet creature. Talisker was a rescue in every sense, from his humble beginnings as a neglected show dog, to his glorious end as a rough and tumble hiker. But in his naive frailty and his sweet demeanor he so endeared himself to all. A leash was wasted money with Talisker, for he never wanted to be far from us...always looking up longingly "Am I being a good boy?" Yes boy, you're good.

Talisker got to live much larger than any of his show dog brethren; having acres of forest to romp around in, wonderful companions like Bandit and then Tiki, trips to Candlewood Lake, the bogs and trails, and traveling across country to incredible locations where he was a sight so out of place, you'd think a movie crew was somewhere close without their star.

Like the Scotch of his namesake, Talisker was a top shelf, sophisticated and proud little boy. He always seemed to find that one ray of sunshine in which to perch, front paws crossed, chest out and lighting up the entire scene with his smiling eyes. That little guy would also light up your soul when you needed a friend most...he always knew. He was always there, by our side looking up...

Yes Talisker, you're a good boy.

Written by Craig.

With sadness,
deb, tiki, bear & baci

Sang's Rendezvous

2008-11-24T09:06:00.001-08:00

Sang's Rendezvous
Originally uploaded by HoodieR

I participate in a fun photo experience group called WE. This was one of the entries. I loved the story so much I wanted to share it with other animal lovers. Interesting how we can all be connected through play?

If you want to see more entries (including mine) and start playing yourself click here.

... the story....

Sang belonged to my roommate Ray Cox. Ray and I lived on Quidi Vidi Road with Sang. Every once in awhile, usually on a Sunday, Sang would vanish from the back yard and be gone for quite some time. We would look, unsuccessfully for her and hours later she would turn up again overjoyed at being home. It was a mystery.
One day, it happened to be a Sunday, I was wandering along the waterfront with my camera and looked ahead and thought I saw Sang. This was afternoon and she had been missing since morning. I got as close as I could without getting her attention and took this shot. Just after this she saw me and trotted over wagging her tail as if to say, "What are you doing here?"
I went up to the fellow whose head was in the porthole and asked about Sang. It turns out this was fishery boat that often was in port on Sundays. Sang had been visiting for some time and was handsomely fed for her visits.
My question was, "How did she know when the boat was in?" Their berth was a good mile from Ray's place and it was only certain times she disappeared. I've always thought it was a great story and I managed to capture it on film.

Paypal Test

2008-08-14T12:17:00.000-07:00

Bella Sprout

2008-07-20T14:27:00.001-07:00

Quelle surprise! On the day that I saw Ben for the last time (and had just visited my brother --for what would be the last time before he would die two weeks later) I went for a walk to clear my head and ease my sadness. On my way home...I decided to walk down one street over from mine. As I walked a tiny tortie bounded across the street. She looked JUST LIKE PHOENIX! I wondered if Phoenix had been walking with me the entire time (which would have been unlikely). Noticing the size of this baby cat I thought...hmmm...a kitten all alone...and fearless! I pet her for a while then walked away thinking she'd go home...nope! She bounced and pranced alongside me all the while looking up at me. I scooped her up and pet her again. I knocked on doors trying to find her home....no luck. Later in the day I went looking again and found a neighbor that said she'd been "hanging around" for some time....no one knew where her home was....after making more efforts, I decided she'd be part of our menagerie. One of my teachers, Megan Sillito, came up with the name Bella and I loved the name Sprout. Sprouty Katz, as she is also affectionately called loves the snow...weird, right? Doesn't mine the rain, can catch birds like nobody's business, much to my frustration and likes to lick you to death until she falls asleep in the crook of my neck purring loudly. That I Love!

Ben Cover (in memorium)

2008-07-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

...rhymes with Beethoven? That's what my mom thought anyway. Sounds funny, I know, but if you imagine her saying Ben Cover w/ her Jamaican accent...it actually seems plausible. When my mother retired from nursing after 30+ years in the ER, she decided to move to Florida. I cared for Ben as she made that transition. He had always been "special" in that he had strange behaviors. He ran in circles incessantly and was afraid of the sound of metal (even his dog tags) and tape being pulled from the roll. His head was unusaully large and he bumped into things. Mommy had him checked out numerous times in his short life and no one could answer what was wrong with him. When he came to me I took him of grains and fed him by hand for a time until he grew acustomed to eating regularly (something he was reluctant to do). I inquired about canine autism and was told there is no such thing. Hmm? He improved slightly. While I was away visiting my brother in the hospital Ben began having seizures. He was taken to the vet...it was decided that puttinghim to sleep was the humane thing to do. I was so sad to be away when this happened and still remain curious about what ailed him. Two days later I came back from my trip and got to see Ben one more time before we cremated him. I was prepared for a scary experience...he was so well preserved and looked beautiful.

Later that day the most interesting thing happened (see "Bella Sprout").

Poetje

2008-07-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

Poetje is my step-dog. He is a feisty Yorkshire Terrier. He used to be aggressive. We learned that he is afraid more so than angry. Over the years we have changed his diet and worked with him and...what a huge difference it has all made. He is now beginning to understand that people want to love him. He is a great lesson in patience and perseverance. BTW, he is the greatest little hiker and camper...ummm...he even knows when to say "no mas" as you can see from this photo of him napping in the sand.

Phoenix

2008-07-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Phoenix, was a foster cat I thought I'd found a home for. Three years after the adoption I received a call from animal control that someone was turning in a "stray." Fortunately, because of her microchip, they were able to contact me. I rushed over to AC and got her out. I decided to formally adopt her. Phoenix, surely fits her name. She is resilient and ever changing. She is chatty and cuddly. This pretty kitty has a home for life!

Site Credit

2008-07-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

Website Design and Layout:

Amanda Howland

(email) slc.gut@gmail.com

Karen's other projects:

Rex (in memorium)

2008-07-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

At 12 years old, Rex was adopted from Companion Golden Retriever Rescue (UT). Although our time together was short I am thankful for having had him in my life. He was a great companion. I will always miss his sweet face and goofy ways. I pray he will have eternal happiness just over the Rainbow Bridge.

Frazier (in memorium)

2008-07-18T00:45:00.000-07:00

An orange kitty for my 21st Halloween birthday. A gift from my partner Jo. I didn't know back then the woes of pet store animals. I also didn't know back then the stories behind declawing cats. Now I know so much more and Frazier is living a charmed kitty life!

At 3 months old, Frazier was so orange she looked like FIRE! She has seen more cities than some humans. My first pet as an adult, she was with me when I was in the army and when I found my way back to the sanity of a civilian lifestyle. She has lived by the ocean, in the mountains, the desert and in big cities. She now enjoys lazy afternoons on my lap while I read. Like Sandy, she has been eating homemade pet food since 1999. Since that time, Frazier has been in great health. She is now 15 years old.

Frazier is the grandma of the crew. She keeps everyone in line with a rare "SPLAT" to the head if they get out of order. She seems to enjoy talking to the birds at the feeder through the picture window. Her personality has changed so much over the years from selectively sweet to playful and amicable.

Up Close: A lesson from a horse

2008-06-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

I was on a walk with a friend of mine and met a horse. My friend has cancer and was given a week to live. She invited a few of her friends to visit her favorite fishing sanctuary. We din't fish...we walked and talked. We came upon a horse farm. They came over to us seemingly just as curious about us as we were about them. I connected with one in particular. He allowed me to pet him and rest my hand on him for long periods of time. At one point he leaned over as if to put his forhead on mine. The next time he did it I took him up on it ...as we were leaning, afraid, I flinched...he shook and rounded his head as he stepped back. I feel like he knew I was scared. I felt sad that I was afraid to let him in "too close." I realize that I do that with people too. The horse walked slowly up to me again and we re-connected. He seemed so gentle and patient. What a lovely experience.

Who is Heart 2 Heart Pet Services?

2006-07-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

Heart 2 Heart Pet Services began as a pet sitting company in 2004. These days, H2HPS provides care to the community by way of being a free online resource for animal lovers just like you! I invite you to explore this site and check out the recipes, pictures, stories, videos and other features here. And of course, if you love this site, please invite your friends to visit as well. Thanks!

In the News:

Testimonials:

Our dog, Barkley, loved and trusted Karen immediately. He had no reluctance at all about going with her, which is unusual for him. She made him feel comfortable right away. Karen has a natural way of relating to animals, finding the right balance of putting them at ease and setting appropriate limits. From the start our communications with Karen were clear and thorough, and she kept us updated about our dog while we were gone. She provided plenty of opportunities from him to play with other dogs, and we know he was well loved in our absence. The month our dog spent with Karen was a very happy one!

Heather Wertheimer
Portland, Oregon

When I was moving overseas I was afraid of boarding my pets for the time I would be away. I called on Karen. Fortunately, she was going to be in Minneapolis for TTouch training around the time I was going to be away. My friends thought I was crazy for hiring an out of towner. I had a great feeling about Karen and turned out to be right! She is professional, warm, patient and funny. Even my shyest kitten, Pretty Girl, felt right at home with Karen. I found her rates to be quite reasonable. When it came time for my cats to cross the pond is was Karen who transported them the the airport.

Tara Larkin
London, England (by way of Minneapolis)

I am the owner of a miniature Chihuahua named Cry Baby Jones. I work out of town so Karen watches him 15-20 days a month. She is always timely with pick-up and drop off as well as calls back to confirm services needed. As you might imagine Cry is a bit more to care for than a larger dog and I feel Karen takes his care very seriously and professionally. I never worry that he is in great hands and very safe at all times. My only concern is that he won't want to come home after all the love, affection and great walks he goes on while I am away.

Bogart McAvoy
Salt Lake City and California

My dog Ben is very special to me. He was born with many health problems. Karen took great care of my dog after I retired and was going back and forth to Florida shopping for a new home. I will never forget the compassion and tender loving care she gave my boy Ben.

Roberta L. Dove
Long Island, New York & Florida

Moka and I would both be nuts if it weren't for Karen and Heart 2 Heart Pet Services. Moka gets to play with her best friend ever, and some cool dogs too, and comes home happy, tired and mellow. I get to work without worrying about my girl being home alone, and I never worry about her when she is with Karen. We love Heart 2 Heart Pet Services!

Lorna D. Vogt
Salt Lake City, UT

Classes, Services and More

2006-07-09T11:46:00.001-07:00

Healthy Pets III: Touch
Give your pets the lifetime gift of loving, healing touch. In this class, you will learn and practice the techniques of TTouch, acupressure, and massage. We will look at each type of touch for general well-being as well as for specific issues. Learning will be through demonstrations and practical, hands-on exercises. You’ll take home handouts that picture TTouch techniques and feline and canine acupressure points, as well as information on holistic vets in Utah and local pet first aid/CPR classes.

Thursday, Feb 4, 2010
6:30-9:00 PM
LOCATION: TBA
FEE: TBA

To register please contact the University of Utah at: (801) 587-5433 or www.lifelong.utah.edu

Pet Food Making Class: You are what you eat, and that includes your pets. This hands on class is loads of fun! I've been making my own pet food since 1999. I'm excited to show you how easy it can be. You will learn what to look for in store-bought food as well as how to make your own pet food. We’ll also discuss raw, cooked & organic foods and how to stay within your budget. Each participant will receive recipes, informative handouts and a doggy/kitty bag to take home!

Location: TBA
Price: $30

Gift Certificates
Certificates are available in any amount through PayPal. Perfect for a friend or family member who will be out of town and wants to give their pets extra care.

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2006-07-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Garlic Chicken
Boil the chicken in water, heavily seasoned with garlic. When boiled, cut the chicken into tiny bits, spread on a baking sheet and sprinkle a lot of parmesan cheese on top. Put the bits in the oven (low heat, around 225 degrees Fahrenheit) and bake them until they become hard.

Fishy Treats
· 2 6-oz. cans tuna in water, do not drain (salmon)
· 2 eggs
· 1 to 1 ½ c. flour (rice flour is best, but any kind will do)
· 1 clove garlic
· parmesan cheese (optional)

Mash tuna and water in a bowl with a fork to get clumps out, then liquefy in blender or food processor. Add extra drops of water if needed to liquefy completely. Pour into bowl and add flour and garlic powder; consistency should be like cake mix. Spread into greased or sprayed pan; I find that a round pizza pan or square cake pan is perfect. Sprinkle with LOTS of parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes; edges will pull away and texture will be like putty. Use a pizza cutter and slice into teeny squares. These freeze beautifully, and the dogs love them...and, no liver to mess with!

Turkey Treats
· 1 lb. ground turkey (pure turkey, NOT turkey sausage)
· 1 cup oatmeal
· 1 egg
· 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
· 1 clove garlic

Mix all ingredients together using hands and pat into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool *thoroughly*, then cut into thick strips (these do not hold together when slicing into small squares); freeze unused portions and keep the portions you're using refrigerated. Has the consistency of meatloaf.

Special K (for dogs w/ vegan option)
This recipe (originally named Kibble a la Cipes) was a vegan dog kibble recipe written by Greg Cipes. I like this fancy recipe as a special treat for my dogs!

1/2 cup avocado, diced
1/2 fresh coconut grated
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, soaked
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup ground lamb (vegan = 1c watermelon rind, pureed)
1 1/2 T flax seeds, finely ground
1/2 T Brewer’s yeast
1/2 tsp sea salt

Mix all ingredients gently and serve.

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Carnivore's Delight (for cats)

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Rise Up

1c oats (soaked overnight or cooked) - optional
2 c ground beef
2T plain yogurt
1/2 c parsley, kale or other leafy greens*
1/2c apple (cored/ seeded)

Combine all ingredients. (For cats, blend to a soft/ even consistency). Refrigerate or freeze to keep fresh.

Liver Feast

1c cooked pasta, barley or quinoa (optional)
4 pieces of Liver (cooked in 1T garlic)
2c vegetables*
2 cloves of fresh garlic (pressed, mashed or minced)

Combine all ingredients. (For cats, blend to a soft/ even consistency). Refrigerate or freeze to keep fresh.

No Place Like Home-made Stew

1 pound ground meat (chicken, lamb....)

1 cup veggies, chopped*

3 cups stock (made with meaty bones) or water**

1/2 cup quinoa or amaranth or sweet potatoes

2-3 cloves garlic

Place ingredients in a crock pot. Cover and cook until meat is cooked through. Cool and add any supplements such Dr. Pitcairn's Vita Mix or The Missing Link. Serve to dogs or cats.

*When you prepare your meals during the week, save some of your veggies (in the freezer) for your pet food.

**Vegetable and fruit juices are a great alternative. If you make fresh juices for yourself reserve the pulp and add water.

Pet Services Guide...at your fingertips

2006-07-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

Peaceable Paws

Info about Taurine for cats

Holistic Veterinarian

Become a Dog Trainer

Professional Pet Sitter

Dog Walker

Groomer

Four Legged Scholars

Day Care & Boarding

Dog Park

First Aid for Pets (through the American Red Cross)

Pet Friendly Hotels

Raw Food for Pets

Well Pet

Whole Pet Diet

Tellington Touch