Life goes in circles. The last time I owned any cat was more than 20 years ago. In fact, I owned

4 at the same time. Well, a few months ago a stray cat birthed her 6 kittens in my barn. I was able to trap all of them and transferred them to a great cat rescue. Three of the kittens have been adopted but grown cats are not what people are looking for so I told the cat rescue lady that I'd take the momma cat after the kittens were weaned and she was fixed, which I paid for. That has occurred so as of today I am again a cat owner. A tabby. However, the momma was really attached to one specific kitten so when I went to pick up the momma she asked if I'd take the baby to help with their transition, promising that she'd take the baby back if it didn't work out. So I am the owner of a cat and a kitten. The momma is in hiding in the upstairs room, and the baby is hiding under the dresser in the same room. I hope they can find their food and litter box on their own. Momma was a good barn mouser but those days are over. She'll be an inside cat. I go into the room every hour for a few minutes and just sit quietly.

With all the fear and hate in the world under trump I swore to myself I wasn't going to let any animal be killed if I was able to rescue it and provide it a good home.

Being a stray - not feral - she'll need time to acclimate cuz right now her favorite thing to do is hiss and swat. But she better hurry cuz I've also got 2 dogs. Husband does not yet know about the kitten!

Don't know how to post pics but just wanted to share my good news.

Bentonite clay for COVID-19??

I've used this in the past to "detox" my horses but had no idea it had a suggested use for fighting COVID-19. Before going on line to order more I updated my research. According to research, including NIH studies, Bentonite clay is a treatment for diahrrea induced by the coronavirus and the respiratory infections caused by the coronavirus. I'm not going to post a lot of info -- merely putting this out there as an alternative and something to have on hand if anyone experiences these symptoms with the coronavirus. My cost was $25 for a pound and humans use is 1 tsp/day. My caveat is to make sure you purchase calcium bentonite clay food grade. There are sodium BC products on the market but sodium BC is mostly for industrial use.

BC is also known as montmorillonite clay, which is a finely ground clay, kaolin clay, which is a finer ground clay.

Lastly, while the site info is from 2016 (I think) the FDA says not to purchase the brands "Best Bentonite Clay" from Guthrie, OK or "Bentonite Me Baby" by Alikay Naturals, although I went on their site and it is no longer listed.

When I've used BC in the past I alternated between French Green Clay and BC.

Do your own research and make sure, if you're on other meds, that you follow the guidelines: 2 hours before or after RX or 1 hour before meal.

Here is one of the many links I went to in my research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378113598002417?via%3Dihub

Maybe others have tried this or something similar

but I decided to try to jazz up the taste of the Quorn meatless roast. I thawed it and then made four slices lengthwise in the roast, spread the slices apart, added Brie cheese and dried cranberries, tied it together, covered with foil, and baked according to directions. It’s good but I don’t think that Brie adds enough flavor variety. Without going super-spicy does anyone have any suggestions for a cheese?

Thanks.

Just checked my DU mail. I got two hearts --- thank you two and all!

This is not really a discussion, but as a Pets group I couldn't find any other place on

DU to post this news. I have no links.

Last night, on the local news, it was reported that 14 wild horses had been shot in Heber, AZ. Intentionally. Some were foals.

It is hard to concentrate on forgiving people when they show they are monsters.

There are no clues.

Are you sure you're getting enough iodine?

The addition of iodine in table salt began in the US in the early 1920s to help decrease the occurrence of goiters, or swelling of the thyroid gland. Knowing the importance of iodine in the diet, for more than 30 years I have added 2 oz. of iodized table salt daily to the wet feed of each horse on my property. I have purchased this iodized table salt in 25# bags at the local bulk food grocery store that caters to the commercial and restaurant businesses. During the past year or so, however, the store has carried only evaporated salt. Not knowing what evaporated salt was I did some research and learned that evaporated salt does not contain iodine (unless it is specifically added and labeled as such.)

Iodine is a mineral/electrolyte needed by humans and animals. Restaurants and manufacturers of commercially-prepared foods (generally) use only evaporated salt in their baking/manufacturing process. So, if your required daily amount of iodine is not in the restaurant food you eat, is not in the salt of commercially-prepared food you consume, and you do not salt your food with the required daily amount of iodized salt or eat iodine-rich foods, what is the source of your iodine? Just because your consuming sodium does not mean you are consuming iodine.

To prevent thyroid disease and help maintain a normal electrolyte balance read the label to be sure you’re getting iodine, or consume foods that naturally contain iodine. If your doctor tells you to lower your salt intake because of high blood pressure ask him or her how to go about supplementing with iodine so you don’t end up with thyroid disease.

Arizona is a dry desert. We have wind, sometimes in the form of haboobs

but very little rain . . . until yesterday.

It was around noon and I was in the grocery store when suddenly everyone’s phone was ringing. A tornado warning for Maricopa County had just been issued by the NWS! I got home just as the worst was hitting. Some wind gusts registered over 40 mph. The rain meter evidenced over 2 inches of rain in less than an hour. Had it rained a full hour it would have been the equivalent of more than 8 inches an hour.

Didn’t see this news on the news last night, but the timing of a tornado in AZ occurring on the day of the UN Climate Summit makes me suspicious of those darn climate deniers.

Has anyone (vegan) contacted Burger King and others to ascertain whether or not the

vege burgers are cooked where no beef is cooked and that there's no crossing of utensils? I have emailed BK directly but have received no response. It is important info for me cuz I'm allergic to beef. If you've contacted them and received a response could you please post the information? Thanks,

Concern for the welfare of the animals in Hurricane Dorian's path, as well as concern for the

scheduled slaughter of 200 wild horses in Nevada made me remember that the animal right's groups that are working to rescue these animals have a horse named Beautiful Jim Key to thank for today’s animal rights groups.

The horse who started it all was named Beautiful Jim Key. His owner/trainer, was "Dr." William Key, a former slave, a self-trained veterinarian, and a patent medicine salesman.

Over a century ago, at a time when our nation was at war over a belief in slavery, it was the love and compassion shared between a man of color and his horse that motivated citizens of all colors to change their negative beliefs and negative behavior for a collective and positive social purpose. The love and compassion Dr. Key and Beautiful Jim Key shared with the world sparked a movement that launched not only the animal rights movement of today, but the child protective movement, as well.

A lesser known but just as positive a social impact created by a horse is the story of Old Joe, a horse who was shot and killed during a stagecoach robbery in 1901. His senseless killing left a hole in the hearts of the passengers traveling the California stagecoach trail and in the hearts of the children who lived along the trail, as they considered Old Joe their stable friend.

The positive social impact that Old Joe had on the lives of those who knew him is reflected in the stories of those who declared themselves to be better people because of knowing him. Moved by the story of Old Joe, succeeding generations are keeping Old Joe’s gravesite neatly trimmed and clear of weeds while talking to their spirit friend as if they, too, had been passengers on the California stagecoach trail.

If you haven’t read the book, it’s a good read: “Beautiful Jim Key: The Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World” by Mim Eichler Rivas.

To my knowledge there is no book about Old Joe, but here’s a 2011 NPR link that contains the broadcast transcript and audio: https://www.npr.org/2011/07/23/138635459/along-stagecoach-line-hero-is-a-horse. This link is about where Old Joe is buried: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/6249.

Horses are smart -- engineering smart. They know exactly where the weakest part of the fence line

is 'cuz that's where they always go to scratch!

I feel for my guys in this day after day of heat and humidity in AZ, and I do what I can to make them comfortable but it's hard to watch the fence line bend to the pressure of their scratching. Oh well, life on the ranch . . . there's no place I'd rather be.