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Moderated 30% off The King¡¯s Feet for Pick-Up on Door Dash!

 

Not sure how long that promotion lasts.? If you are near Berkeley...--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Save the Bumblebee

 

Save the American Bumblebee




Moderated Omens and optimism for orangutans

 

Podcast: Omens and optimism for Sumatran orangutans




Moderated Re: Right whales are nearly extinct. You can help.

 

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Dear Tara,

Again, thank you?for your wonderful letter.
You are a poetic wordsmith.

Please, pardon my error in having mistaken your becoming vegetarian - in ways that related to sweet Vincent.
I loved learning about your cat, Carrots - a great name for an orange feline! - and am so sad that he was killed by a car.
I will keep shining thoughts of him, your sweet giant, Gilbert, who actually enjoys being carried-about, and lovely brothers, Theo and Vincent!

A gentle mention - the stellar veterinarian who founded and ran 9 Lives Foundation, Dr. Monica Rudiger,?
recently, had to retire as she has a debilitating auto-immune disorder - possibly linked to her heroic work in rescuing cats with FIV.

Her Foundation continues.
She wrote letters to her former patients, so, perhaps, you already knew this...

On another note - I thought you might be interested in this event -

Have a lovely day,

Paula

?

Please join us at the virtual launch of Kathleen Dean Moore's new book?Earth's Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending the Songs of the Natural World?(Counterpoint Press). The live event will include readings, guest appearances, games, and a Q&A with the author.

Earth's Wild Music is a meditation on the music of the natural world. Moore celebrates the call of loons, howl of wolves, bellow of whales, laughter of children, and shriek of frogs, even as she warns of the threats against them. Each group of essays moves, as Moore herself has been moved, from celebration to lamentation to bewilderment and finally to the determination to act in defense of wild songs and the creatures who sing them.

?


This event is free and open to all. It is hosted by the Spring Creek Project and co-sponsored by the Center for Humans and Nature, Counterpoint Press, Grass Roots Books & Music, Greenbelt Land Trust, McKenzie River Trust, Orion Magazine, and The Safina Center.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SFBAA
Listen to more music from Dire Straits here: https://direstraits.lnk.to/bestofplaylist Order ¡®Dire Straits: The Studio Albums 1978 ¨C 1991¡¯, available now: 6CD Box Set: https://direstraits.lnk.to/6CDBoxset 8LP Box Set: https://direstraits.lnk.to/8LPBoxset Follow Dire Straits: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DireStraits Instagram: https ...
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Judith Gottesman <judithrachelleg@...>
Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2021 2:18 PM
Subject: [BAARN] Right whales are nearly extinct. You can help.
?


for North Atlantic right whales

Judith,

North Atlantic right whales are on the brink of extinction.?

Current population studies estimate that there are fewer than 366 living whales, with only 82 reproductively active females. Entanglement in commercial fishing gear and vessel strikes are the leading cause of serious injury and death for this majestic species.

The law requires NOAA Fisheries to make new rules to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales in U.S. waters. After years of delay, the agency finally released a proposed rule to reduce entanglement risk, but its risk reduction measures are based on outdated science and do not go far enough to save right whales from extinction.?

The time to speak up for the North Atlantic right whale is NOW. With our voices combined, we can act to save one of the world¡¯s most endangered whale species.

?

Lobster and crab are caught with vertical buoy lines in areas where right whales concentrate. Because vertical lines run from the trap up to the surface buoy, traps and pots can entangle marine animals including endangered North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and grey whales. The effects of entanglement can range from no permanent injury to serious injury and death. If the traps are weighted down, entangled whales, dolphins, and sea turtles can drown if they cannot reach the surface to breathe.?

NOAA Fisheries estimates that entanglement risk from lobster and crab fisheries needs to be reduced by 60% to 80%. The calculations in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement showing how NOAA Fisheries proposes to achieve that risk reduction rely on an old stock assessment using 2016 population estimates, whereas the most recent population estimates indicate that the North Atlantic right whale has further declined to about 366 animals.

So there is no question that a risk reduction target of at least 80%¡ªwhich accounts for unseen whale mortalities¡ªis required. The alternative measures that NOAA Fisheries released would achieve only 60-69% risk reduction.?

North Atlantic right whales can recover if NOAA Fisheries takes swift, effective action to protect them from the vertical buoy lines that entangle and kill them. The proposed rule must be revised, and the final rule must meet the level of risk reduction required by the most recent scientific information.?

?

Human beings are responsible for the right whale teetering on the brink of extinction.?

But we can help save these magnificent whales. With your help, we can conserve and recover the North Atlantic right whale population, so this enormous, gentle animal can continue to? play its vital role in our ocean ecosystem

For the ocean,??

?

? ? ?Annalisa Batanides Tuel
? ? ?Policy & Advocacy Manager?
? ? ?Turtle Island Restoration Network

?


Make a Splash!

????

Turtle Island Restoration Network
PO Box 370, Forest Knolls, CA 94933

415.663.8590
info@...

supporter
--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Pitties Who Lost Their Dad Do a Magical Thing When Meeting Their New Fam...

 

Watch till the very end of credits. A real tear-jerker.

--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Right whales are nearly extinct. You can help.

 



for North Atlantic right whales

Judith,

North Atlantic right whales are on the brink of extinction.?

Current population studies estimate that there are fewer than 366 living whales, with only 82 reproductively active females. Entanglement in commercial fishing gear and vessel strikes are the leading cause of serious injury and death for this majestic species.

The law requires NOAA Fisheries to make new rules to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales in U.S. waters. After years of delay, the agency finally released a proposed rule to reduce entanglement risk, but its risk reduction measures are based on outdated science and do not go far enough to save right whales from extinction.?

The time to speak up for the North Atlantic right whale is NOW. With our voices combined, we can act to save one of the world¡¯s most endangered whale species.

?

Lobster and crab are caught with vertical buoy lines in areas where right whales concentrate. Because vertical lines run from the trap up to the surface buoy, traps and pots can entangle marine animals including endangered North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and grey whales. The effects of entanglement can range from no permanent injury to serious injury and death. If the traps are weighted down, entangled whales, dolphins, and sea turtles can drown if they cannot reach the surface to breathe.?

NOAA Fisheries estimates that entanglement risk from lobster and crab fisheries needs to be reduced by 60% to 80%. The calculations in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement showing how NOAA Fisheries proposes to achieve that risk reduction rely on an old stock assessment using 2016 population estimates, whereas the most recent population estimates indicate that the North Atlantic right whale has further declined to about 366 animals.

So there is no question that a risk reduction target of at least 80%¡ªwhich accounts for unseen whale mortalities¡ªis required. The alternative measures that NOAA Fisheries released would achieve only 60-69% risk reduction.?

North Atlantic right whales can recover if NOAA Fisheries takes swift, effective action to protect them from the vertical buoy lines that entangle and kill them. The proposed rule must be revised, and the final rule must meet the level of risk reduction required by the most recent scientific information.?

?

Human beings are responsible for the right whale teetering on the brink of extinction.?

But we can help save these magnificent whales. With your help, we can conserve and recover the North Atlantic right whale population, so this enormous, gentle animal can continue to? play its vital role in our ocean ecosystem

For the ocean,??

?

? ? ?Annalisa Batanides Tuel
? ? ?Policy & Advocacy Manager?
? ? ?Turtle Island Restoration Network

?


Make a Splash!

????

Turtle Island Restoration Network
PO Box 370, Forest Knolls, CA 94933

415.663.8590
info@...

supporter
--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Cooking with Mayim, A Valentine's Day Fundraiser

 

Hadn¡¯t heard of the org. but it looks like a good one and a nice program if you¡¯re into online cooking classes and entertainment.? I see Mayim is on the board.?

Also hadn¡¯t heard of the dating coach, my competitor!

A Valentine's Day Fundraiser with Mayim Bialik Tickets, Sun, Feb 14, 2021 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite



Moderated Sign up! Re: [BAARN] Presentation on Fishes and the Fishing Industry Tomorrow

 

I saw Hope do this presentation in person at the Conscious Eating Conference in Berkeley. It is excellent. I highly recommend it!

On Tue, Feb 2, 2021 at 2:42 PM Hope Bohanec <hope@...> wrote:
I¡¯ll be presenting tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11 am PT on the complex emotional lives of fishes, the fishing industry, aquaculture and more. Hope you can join me! Register here:?







--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Presentation on Fishes and the Fishing Industry Tomorrow

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I¡¯ll be presenting tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11 am PT on the complex emotional lives of fishes, the fishing industry, aquaculture and more. Hope you can join me! Register here:?








Moderated Sylvia Earle makes great point on value of fish & whale lives- Year-end Special

 

--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Dive In with Liz and Sylvia Earle with guest Carl Safina - 11 February

 

His books sure sound nice, especially?Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ocean Elders <info@...>
Date: Tue, Feb 2, 2021 at 1:56 PM
Subject: Dive In with Liz and Sylvia with guest Carl Safina - 11 February
To: Judith Gottesman <judithrachelleg@...>


No images?

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DIVE IN WITH LIZ AND?SYLVIA? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? WITH GUEST CARL SAFINA

Carl Safina is an ecologist and award-winning author of nonfiction books and other writings about the human relationship with the natural world. His books include Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace; Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel; Song for the Blue Ocean; Eye of the Albatross; The View From Lazy Point: A Natural Year in an Unnatural World; and others.

He is the founding president of the Safina Center, and is the inaugural holder of the Carl Safina Endowed Chair for Nature and Humanity at Stony Brook University. Safina hosted the PBS series Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina. His accomplishments are too numerous to list here, but you can learn more about him and his organization at

Come join us for this incredible opportunity to hear directly from Carl Safina as he and Liz and Sylvia discuss nature and animals, on land and in the ocean.
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DIVE IN with Liz and Sylvia is a casual, free-flowing, and educational conversation and encourages ocean and nature enthusiasts of all ages to join. Sylvia, Liz, and Carl?will take questions via Q & A text and voice call-in from the attendees. Get your questions ready!

Register to join the conversation.

Post your comments on Twitter and use #DIVEINWITHUS

Presented by

THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY

6PM ET / 3PM PT

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LINKS TO DIVE IN?ARCHIVED VIDEOS:

Ian Urbina joins Dive In with Liz and Sylvia. See it

Dive In - Ask Me Anything - Year-End Special. See it

Dive In with Murray Fisher of the Billion Oyster Project.? See it

Amos Nachoum, big animal photographer and expedition leader. See it

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DIVE IN WITH LIZ AND SYLVIA SERIES

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #19
Ian Urbina,?author of The New York Times 2019 bestseller The Outlaw Ocean, joins Liz and Sylvia to discuss the high seas & the need for its protection,?not only for the health of the planet, but in defense of human rights.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER?17, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #18
Liz and Sylvia answer some questions from earlier episodes that went unanswered, and take new questions that can span the realms of the ocean, nature, and human health.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER?3,?2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #17
Murray Fisher, founder of the NY Harbor School and the Billion Oyster Project, talks with Liz and Sylvia on how education, waterway health, oysters, and jobs have come together in New York City.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER?12, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #16
Amos Nachoum, big animal photographer and expedition leader, joins Liz Taylor and Dr.??to talk about an ethical and non-invasive approach to photography and ecotourism.

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THURSDAY, NOV.?5, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #15?- SHARKTOBER?
Vicky V¨¢squez, scientist and educator, in conversation with Dr. Sylvia Earle?and Liz Taylor on the current state of shark science and conservation in education.

THURSDAY, OCT.?29, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #14?- SHARKTOBER?
Dive In hosts the founders of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) -?Jasmin Graham, Amani Webber-Schultz, Carlee Jackson, and Jaida Elcock to talk about sharks and the importance of diversity in marine sciences.

THURSDAY, OCT.?22, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #13?- SHARKTOBER?
Dr. Sylvia A. Earle and Liz Taylor host renowned underwater photographers Michael Aw and Alex Rose, sharing their stories and a trove of iconic images showing their fascination with sharks.

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THURSDAY, OCT.?15, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #12 ?-?SHARKTOBER
Shark Stewards¡¯ David McGuire? joins the conversation with Sylvia and Liz and shares his mission to save the shark species.

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THURSDAY, OCT.?8, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #11? ? ? ?- SHARKTOBER?
Dive In hosts Dr. Sylvia A. Earle and Liz Taylor join Blue?Hope Spot Coordinator Shannon Rake for a conversation about their personal experiences with whale sharks.

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THURSDAY, OCT.?1, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #10
Ocean Economist and Mauritius native Nishan Degnarain?joins Sylvia and Liz to talk about the ecological impact of the recent oil spill.

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THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #9? Ocean artist and philanthropist @Wyland joined hosts Liz Taylor and?Dr. Sylvia A. Earle?to discuss art, science, and?the ¡°water cycle".

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THURSDAY, SEPT.?17, 2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #8? Policy expert Max Bello and marine activist Cristina Mittermeier join Sylvia and Liz to talk about threats to the Galapagos?Islands, a?UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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THURSDAY, SEPT.?10, 2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #7? Amos Nachoum is a unique storyteller who brings the wondrous, the vulnerable, and the surreal anomalies of nature to each of us through his awe-inspiring images.

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THURSDAY, AUG.?20, 2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA"?#6? ? Liz Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle share?their stories about whales, telling of their love for these highly intelligent creatures, who ¡°sing¡± to each other in their own language.

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THURSDAY, AUG.?6, 2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #5? Liz?Taylor,??Dr. Sylvia Earle and?special guest Cristina Zenato take?a deep dive into the wonderful world of sharks.?

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THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #4?? Liz?Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle take a deep dive into the deepest parts of the ocean in small underwater submersibles.? .

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THURSDAY, JULY 9,?2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #3??? Liz Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle discuss what we can learn about the planet and ourselves by living underwater.??

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FRIDAY, JUNE 26,?2020

¡°DIVE IN WITH LIZ & SYLVIA" #2?? ? ? Ocean explorers?Liz Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle talk about why the ocean matters.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2020

"DIVE IN WITH LIZ &?SYLVIA" #1? ?A?bimonthly exploration of anything and everything about the ocean, with the ocean explorers Liz Taylor and Dr. Sylvia Earle.

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--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Forager, local vegan co, on Amazon & 20% off

 




You can now order Forager Project chips on Amazon! Made with leafy greens like spinach and kale, each bag of organic chips has at least one and a half cups of leafy greens.?Try all the flavors in our variety pack and let us know your favorite. Take 20% off your first order - valid through February 10, 2021*.?
"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like."

- Mark Twain
*Offer valid while supplies last.?Offer ends on 2/10/2021 at?11:59pm PST.?Redemptions per customer limited to one unit in one checkout.
? Forager Project, All Rights Reserved
|
--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated Sea Shepherd featured in Attenborough s ¡°Perfect Planet¡±

 

Sea Shepherd Global




Moderated My SD article is out: Insider's Guide to San Diego with Kids - ROAM Family Vacation

 

My best friend from high school added the non-vegan parts. Since she is editor, she gets final say.

Insider's Guide to San Diego with Kids - ROAM Family Vacation




Moderated Giant Panda Family Rolls, Slides and Tumbles Around in Snow at National Zoo

 

Giant Panda Family Rolls, Slides and Tumbles Around in Snow at National Zoo ¨C NBC4 Washington




Moderated Baby geese & monogamy

 

Parental behaviour and family proximity as key to gosling survival in Greylag Geese ( Anser anser ) | SpringerLink




Moderated UCSC study: Coot chicks use bright colors to get preferential treatment

 

Coot chicks use bright colors to get preferential treatment




Moderated Lead poisoning & dogs

 

Cammie looks like a twin of Curtis, my special Berkeley Milo boy I pet-sat for and visited when he & Stella moved?
Date: Sun, Jan 31, 2021 at 4:39 PM
Subject: Rolling Dog Farm - Cammie's Story



This sweet girl arrived just before Christmas from our friends at the Spartanburg, South Carolina humane society. She immediately stole our hearts. Cammie is one of the most loving, affectionate, and smartest dogs we've ever known. But her story is a ...
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Here are the latest updates for judithrachelleg@...


"" - 1 new article

  1. Cammie¡¯s Story
  2. More Recent Articles

This sweet girl arrived just before Christmas from our friends at the Spartanburg, South Carolina humane society. She immediately stole our hearts. Cammie is one of the most loving, affectionate, and smartest dogs we¡¯ve ever known. But her story is a distressing one. So are a couple of the X-ray images in this blog post.

Cammie had been shot in the face, neck and upper body with a shotgun at some point in the recent past. That¡¯s why her eyes look like that in the photo above. When her owner went into the hospital, animal control picked up Cammie and the other three dogs she lived with. Cammie was in bad shape, so rather than put her in the county shelter, the animal control officer took Cammie to the humane society where she could receive medical care. Here are the X-rays the humane society sent us when they asked if we could take Cammie:

You can see all those pellets in her face and eyes, across her back and shoulder, and ¡ª most worrisome of all ¡ª that clump at the base of her head.

Here¡¯s another view:

(If you¡¯re surprised to see a person¡¯s hand in these X-rays, so were we.? Someone was getting some unnecessary radiation.)

By the time the humane society contacted us about Cammie, the wounds had healed and the only visible evidence of the shotgun blasts was her sunken eyeballs. Even before Cammie arrived, I had forwarded the X-rays to one of our veterinary surgeons and to our veterinary ophthalmologist at Peak to find out what they thought we could do for her. We were worried about all those pellets still lodged inside her. We had consultation appointments scheduled with both specialists.

Our pet transportation company, Royal Paws, delivered Cammie early on a snowy December morning. She was scared, tail tucked but wagging nonetheless between her legs. She cowered, acting as if she had reason to be afraid. When we¡¯d pet her, she¡¯d lean into us and relax a bit, but most of the time her body language was all about fear. It took almost three days for her to relax and realize all she¡¯d get here was love.

Her first couple of weeks were uneventful, and she settled right into the routine. Cammie got along well with everyone, even letting Stella sit on her while she enjoyed laying in front of the wood stove:

First, The Vomiting

Then, on the afternoon of Thursday, January 14th, Cammie threw up in the living room ¡­ her entire breakfast, undigested. But later that evening, she wanted to eat dinner, so we gave her a small meal. Overnight, she threw up just a little in her crate, but as soon as we let her outside Friday morning, she vomited again. Then she came inside, went straight to the water station, and began sucking down water. A minute later, she threw it all up. We had some anti-nausea medication on hand, so we called our emergency veterinary hospital ¡ª Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists, or BEVS ¡ª and asked if we should give it to her, or hold off. They advised not giving it but to withhold food and restrict her water access to small, frequent amounts, see if she could hold it down, and monitor how she did.

Then The Seizures

Cammie was quiet and subdued for the rest of the day. She lay on a bed in the living room and barely budged. Around 7:30 p.m., we were just about to start feeding the dogs their dinner and had put them in their various places. Cammie and our little Chihuahua, Jake, eat in the kitchen. All of a sudden we heard a loud crash. We rushed over and saw Cammie had flipped upside down, head first, and was thrashing on the floor. She was crying out, gyrating, trying to lift herself up, only to smack herself back onto the floor. She was having violent, grand mal seizures. We¡¯ve seen plenty of seizures over the years, but this was the worst we¡¯ve experienced. We pulled her out into the center of the floor and held her as best we could to minimize any injuries to herself.

Once the seizures subsided, we called BEVS to let them know we were bringing her in. Fifteen minutes later, after she had recovered from the seizures and could stand on her own, I lifted her into the vehicle and took off for Burlington.

Just as I was getting on the interstate outside of Montpelier, Cammie started crying from the back seat ¡­ piercing, wailing sounds I¡¯ve never heard before. It was ear-splitting and heart-rending. I called Alayne so she could hear it, and asked her to call BEVS to let them know this bizarre vocalization was occurring. I assumed something else was now happening to her, but learned later this was in fact another type of seizure. Fortunately it subsided after several minutes, and she was quiet the rest of the way to Burlington.

At The Hospital

Cammie had another seizure literally seconds after she went inside the hospital doors, and then another a short while later. The emergency vets immediately got anti-seizure meds on board, along with supportive care, but Cammie continued to seizure off and on throughout the night. But finally, around 9 a.m. the next morning, she had one last seizure before the anti-seizure meds took control. Then the emergency vets initiated long-term treatment by starting Cammie on ¡°loading¡± doses of phenobarbital, which they would taper to a regular twice-daily dose by the time she left the hospital.

When I dropped Cammie off that Friday night, I had told the vet team about the shotgun pellets in her, along with the rest of her history. And when I got home about 1 a.m., I emailed them the X-rays you saw above.

Over the course of the weekend, as each rotating emergency vet came on shift and took over Cammie¡¯s care, we¡¯d ask: ?What could cause the vomiting and the seizures to occur almost simultaneously? It just seemed so weird to Alayne and me that Cammie would start vomiting for no reason, and then 24 hours later start having horrific seizures. Was that a coincidence, or somehow related?

No one really had an answer to that question, and the working assumption ¡ª because her blood work was otherwise unremarkable, her abdominal ultrasound was also normal, and no other diagnostics turned up anything else amiss ¡ª was that Cammie most likely had idiopathic epilepsy and that the vomiting may have been a random event, unrelated to the seizures.

Those Shotgun Pellets

But we kept thinking about all those pellets. On Sunday afternoon, Alayne started looking up ¡°lead poisoning¡± online, and learned that possible symptoms of chronic lead toxicity included both vomiting and seizures, among many other awful things. We found multiple reputable sources that cited vomiting and seizures for lead poisoning, compiled them into an email, and sent it to the ER doctors. We asked if they could test her blood for lead exposure, just in case those pellets were involved.

They reviewed the material we sent and agreed that it would be a good idea to test for lead. But it wasn¡¯t at the top of anyone¡¯s list of presumed culprits because lead poisoning typically occurs from the lead being?ingested into the gastrointestinal tract. There is almost nothing in the veterinary or medical literature (we looked for hours) about lead poisoning caused by pellets in soft tissue or under the skin. We found only a couple of medical references that even mentioned ¡°lead pellets¡± in a long list of bullet points as a possible source of exposure, but we couldn¡¯t find any actual documented cases. And we didn¡¯t even know for sure if the shotgun pellets were made out of lead ¡ª they might have been made of steel or even tungsten.

Moreover, Cammie hadn¡¯t vomited since Friday, another sign it may have been unrelated.

Coming Home

The ER team at BEVS took amazing care of Cammie over the weekend, calling us with regular updates on her progress. On Monday morning that week, one of the internal medicine specialists at BEVS, Dr. Bryan Harnett, took over Cammie¡¯s case. He agreed it made perfect sense to test her blood for lead poisoning. It¡¯s a complicated assay that needs to go to an outside lab, and it takes 5 to 7 business days to get the results. So Dr. Harnett told me he¡¯d send out the blood test and that I could head over to Burlington to pick up Cammie.

When the veterinary nurse brought Cammie out to me, I could tell she was a little wobbly on her back feet because of the phenobarbital. At first she didn¡¯t know who I was, so she hid behind the nurse with that cowering body language we had seen when she first arrived. I was kneeling down, talking to her, trying to reassure her. When she finally realized it was me, she came over, pressed herself into my chest for a few moments, then tried crawling onto my lap and then onto my shoulder. At that point the only thing left to do was to stand up, holding her tight, and carry her over to the vehicle.

She was relieved to be back home, and she went right back into her routine here. The only difference is that she is more subdued, and sleeps more, because of the twice-daily phenobarbital. But her appetite¡¯s been great, and she¡¯s had no more seizures or vomiting.

The Diagnosis

Dr. Harnett called the following Monday, having just received the lead test results. Not only did Cammie have lead poisoning, she had ¡ª literally ¡ª off the charts lead poisoning! On this particular assay, the threshold for lead poisoning was 60, and the high end stopped at 120. Cammie¡¯s results simply said, ¡°>120¡±.? This level of extreme lead poisoning astonished everyone, because no one expected lead pellets to produce that degree of toxicity.

Later that day, Dr. Harnett spoke with a veterinary toxicologist about Cammie¡¯s findings to discuss the best mode of treatment. He also posted Cammie¡¯s case and lead blood test results on a listserv for veterinarians to see if anyone else had seen something similar. A number of veterinarians commented, and all were surprised by Cammie¡¯s results. One of the vets was located in Mississippi, and tongue-in-cheek noted that half the hunting dogs in Mississippi are carrying some degree of shotgun pellets in them ¡­ and said that while he hadn¡¯t seen signs of lead poisoning, no one was actually testing these dogs for it. He suggested that Cammie¡¯s case may make them consider doing so in the future.

The Treatment

After consulting with the toxicologist, Dr. Harnett started Cammie on a chelating medication called that binds to metals like lead and gets them out of the bloodstream. (This particular drug is used in the treatment of other unrelated diseases and conditions, too.) We had it specially compounded at Wedgewood Pharmacy in New Jersey, and by Thursday Cammie had taken her first dose. It¡¯s given three times a day, eight hours apart. So far she¡¯s tolerated it well.

But the problem is that the source of her lead poisoning remains in her body: ?all those shotgun pellets. It is extremely difficult to try and surgically remove hundreds of tiny pellets scattered across different parts of her body. They¡¯re hard to find, you have to make incisions to look for each one, and it can be very challenging for both the patient and surgeon.

Nevertheless, tomorrow morning, Monday, February 1st, Cammie will be going in for surgery at BEVS. The surgeon there, Dr. Jacob Helmick, will concentrate on removing that big clump of pellets in her neck first, and then removing whatever else he can. The goal will be to reduce her lead exposure as much as possible, but knowing we won¡¯t be able to get it all out. We will see if the surgery can reduce her lead poisoning to a low enough threshold that ongoing chelation therapy can keep her from having chronic lead toxicity. But we don¡¯t know how this will turn out.

Finally

Last week I emailed the Spartanburg humane society folks to let them know what had happened, and I wrote: ?¡°Cammie is one of those dogs we just instantly fell in love with. Because of her adorable personality, she¡¯s what we call a ¡®once-in-a-lifetime¡¯ dog. We feel so lucky to have her.¡±

When Cammie hears Alayne or me speak ¡ª to each other, or to another dog ¡ª she happily thumps her tail on the floor. Whenever we walk by her, she starts wagging her tail. She really is this incredibly sweet dog who wants nothing more than to love and be loved. She has endured unspeakable abuse at the hands of humans, and yet keeps giving people another chance.

Please keep her in your thoughts this week.

And to end on a happy note, here¡¯s a photo I took of Cammie several days ago:

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Moderated Re: A season with a river otter family

 


???? They are cute, but polyamorous is more adorable. Share the love!? ;-)

Love & Liberty,

((( starchild )))

-----Original Message-----
From: Judith Gottesman
Sent: Jan 30, 2021 8:48 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: [BAARN] A season with a river otter family

They are in need of donations and have a free Zoom webinar to see the otters. Otters are so adorable! They are monogamous and super devoted parents!

From: River Otter Ecology Project <megan@...>


Dear Friends,

With renewed hope for our country, we wish you a healthy, happy 2021. We begin the year with many thanks to all of you who supported us during the wild ride that was 2020. Your support through gifts, cards, emails, joining our presentations, participating in our Art, Poetry, and Photography Splash Contest, and of course Otter Spotter reports, inspired us to move forward with otterly determination.

During late winter and spring, we look forward to getting back together virtually with our Tomales High School students, whom we have missed!? We will meet with them over Zoom to talk about conservation, mapping, why, and to whom river otter range matters.? We will include some surprise inspirational guests to engage with the students over Zoom, helping them see how they can become involved in science and conservation and why it matters.

You can be part of one of our public presentations, described below.? We hope you will join us, because it's going to be great fun!

See you there,
Megan and the Otter Crew
We hope you can join us!?
Register now, and mark your calendars.
We have a favor to ask!?
If you would consider making your annual gift a monthly donation, it will truly help us keep our all-important cash flow moving along like a healthy river. If you wish to, please make the easy switch. Of course, you can change or cancel it at any time.
Email
Copyright ? 2021 River Otter Ecology Project, All rights reserved.
You're receiving this email because you opted in at our website, or signed up at one of our events. If you'd like to opt out, you may at any time!

Our mailing address is:
River Otter Ecology Project
PO Box 103
Forest Knolls, CA 94933



Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .

--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer























Moderated A season with a river otter family

 

They are in need of donations and have a free Zoom webinar to see the otters. Otters are so adorable! They are monogamous and super devoted parents!

From: River Otter Ecology Project <megan@...>


Dear Friends,

With renewed hope for our country, we wish you a healthy, happy 2021. We begin the year with many thanks to all of you who supported us during the wild ride that was 2020. Your support through gifts, cards, emails, joining our presentations, participating in our Art, Poetry, and Photography Splash Contest, and of course Otter Spotter reports, inspired us to move forward with otterly determination.

During late winter and spring, we look forward to getting back together virtually with our Tomales High School students, whom we have missed!? We will meet with them over Zoom to talk about conservation, mapping, why, and to whom river otter range matters.? We will include some surprise inspirational guests to engage with the students over Zoom, helping them see how they can become involved in science and conservation and why it matters.

You can be part of one of our public presentations, described below.? We hope you will join us, because it's going to be great fun!

See you there,
Megan and the Otter Crew
We hope you can join us!?
Register now, and mark your calendars.
We have a favor to ask!?
If you would consider making your annual gift a monthly donation, it will truly help us keep our all-important cash flow moving along like a healthy river. If you wish to, please make the easy switch. Of course, you can change or cancel it at any time.
Email
Copyright ? 2021 River Otter Ecology Project, All rights reserved.
You're receiving this email because you opted in at our website, or signed up at one of our events. If you'd like to opt out, you may at any time!

Our mailing address is:
River Otter Ecology Project
PO Box 103
Forest Knolls, CA 94933



Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can or .

--
??Judith Gottesman, MSW??
Matchmaker and Dating Coach
Soul Mates Unlimited?


510.418.8813
Here's what clients say about me:


Love is at the root of everything; love, or the lack of it. - Mr. Rogers

Until people extend their circles of compassion to include all living beings,
they will not find peace. - Albert Schweitzer