Is Living Offgrid Right For You?-Some Things To Consider Before Moving Offgrid
The following are some things to consider before packing up and moving to an offgrid location.
Cost:
How will you finance your offgrid home? Cash, pay as you go, home mortgage loan, private loan? The answer to this question effects how your plans will progress.
If you have cash to pay for your offgrid home, do you have enough? Conservatively speaking, building the home yourself will cost between $80.00 to $100.00 per sq. ft. That's if you userecycled materials where possible and depending on your own your own skill level, cut labor costs. Research home mortgage loans for offgrid, they are not as easy to get as a conventional loan.If you are relocating the mortgage company is going to need to know how you will pay for the loan.
Building permits:
Check with your local city, county and state codes. Laws for your state may supercede local laws. Be sure that you understand the building codes and their cost. Your local office may or may notbe very helpful with this information. You will need to talk with building inspectors to insure that you both understand what is needed to pass inspections. In rural areas this may be up tothe interpretation and the discretion of the inspector.
Where to purchase land:
Are you relocating? How far away is the property you want to develop from your current location?Will you live on the property while it is being built? What permits do you need? Does the landhave any improvements like well (shared or private) or septic? Be sure that the land is ratedfor it's intended use as there may be restrictions on the type of home that you are able to build. Modern conveniences you cannot live without:
If you cannot live without an air conditioner, you may want to rethink living offgrid unless youhave unlimited funds. Large energy consuming appliances are unrealistic for offgrid applications.
Type of home construction:
The type of construction for your offgrid home should reflect your climate and region. Assess the climate were your home will be located. If it is a cold climate, heating and weatherizingyour offgrid home may be your main concern. If it is a hot arid climate, keeping your home coolfrom the scorching hot sun may be the prime issue. If it is hot and humid, cooling and moisturemay be relevent. There are many factors to consider when chosing the type of construction of your offgrid home. Personal style, environment, pests, insects, weather, type of soil and land elevation are also to be considered.
Who will build:
Owner/builder, contractor, some subcontractors. Owner/builders need to assess their skill levelsto insure they are capable of building the type of home chosen. Chose your contractor and subcontractors wisely. Just because someone you know had a good experience does not mean thatyou will. Research local contractors and get to know them to see if you communicate well.Communication is the key with contractors. Be sure you both understand what you are receivingfor the services rendered. You cannot assume everything is included. Ultimately it is the owner'sresponsibility to insure all is done right and on time. If there is a building boom in your areayou can expect delays.
Life style:
Does your personal life style mesh well with offgrid living? If you have no experience with livingoffgrid, read articles of other people's life styles to see if feels right for you. Depending onyour location and building choices, life can be fairly rugged.
Environment:
Is the natural environment where you choose to build your offgird home compatable with your visonof how you want to live?
Usually, but not always, offgrid homes are off the beaten path. This means that you will be living in a natural habitat with animals, reptiles, insects where you or your pets could be the prey. Learn all that you can about the area in which you would like to build. If there arepotentially dangerous animals, learn about their behavior and habitats. Sometimes we createand invite animals close to our homes because we are unaware of their habits. They need food, shelter and sometimes water. If we provide these, they will come.
Employment/how to make money:
If you do not have a home based business in mind, look for one. Or check the local newspapersfor employment before you build. Now what types of industries that may be nearby.
Written and submitted by Jeanne Patera
http://www.offgrid-desert-living.com
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Killer Bees
On August 12, 2007 my husband Ron walkd out to our trailer which we now use for storage. He was stopped dead in his tracks about 30 feet from the trailer by a very loud humming noise. Hovering above the trailer was a black cloud. He looked at the trailer which is 31 feet long and all of the windows were covered in bees. He backed up and came back to the house. The house is located approximately 120 feet from the trailer.
We were going to wait 24 hours because we knew that sometimes bees make a stop and then move on the next day. Later on that evening we were outside in the front of our home and the scrub bushes and mesquite trees were buzzing. It sounded like a huge wall of constant humming moving toward us. I told Ron we needed to get into the house...now. I had images of our home being engulfed in bees. Since we live in Arizona I knew these were not garden honey bees. A swarm that large terrified me. The swarm moved in unison straight for our trailer congregating above it before landing and finding every crack to go inside.
Monday morning I called the Killer Bee Guy. I explained our situation to him over the phone. He met me at the end of our road within an hour. We made our introductions and drove to the trailer. The bees were crawling and swarming the trailer inside and out. He told me that we had a lot of bees and to go up to the house and he would suit up. He put on a white jumpsuit, gloves and a hood. He walked around the trailer a few times and then went inside. When he was finished he came up to the house.
He told me it was a good thing that we did not try to disturb the bees. They had already built a hive and they had only been there 24 hours. He said that the queen sends out about 30 bees and if they do not come back she does not send anymore to the same location. If they come back she will send about 30,000 and in a 24 hour period there can be over 100,000 bees. Which is what had occurred in our situation.
They were Africanized honey bees (killer bees). He tried to take them with him for his hives but he said that they were too aggressive so they had to be killed. Many of the bees escaped when the bombs went off. There were still thousand laying in pools under the trailer the next day. There were hundreds still swarming the trailer so I could not go inside. They had mainly moved to a nearby mesquite tree blocking our main gate to the property.
I tried to walk my dogs on Tuesday but for three days the bees remained highly aggitated. They had moved up to the house making it difficult to go in or out. The bees were on my dogs as soon as we went outside. I cut up some white T-shirts and put them on all four of my dogs. Bees have a hard time seeing white. I made sure I had no fragrances from soap or deoderant. The white T-shirts worked for the dogs but kept swarming around my face. I got stung on the back of the neck. Killer bees will attack the face and eyes as well as anything black in color. One of my dogs is black and small so I did not think he would survive a bee attack.
Africanized honey bees arrived in Arizona in 1993. They are a hybrid of European and Africain honey bees which were an experiment gone terribly wrong in Brazil. Honey bees are not indiginous to the Americas. From what I have read 26 African queen bees were accidentally let loose in Brazil. Brazil was trying to produce a bee that would withstand the heat better. They mated with the European honey bee and spread very quickly.
Some of the consistant observations are:
Africanized honey bees are not particular on where they colonize, they will set up a hive in a hole in the ground, in a soda can, on the side of your home, in a wood pile.
They swarm more than 30 times a year. This means they divide the colony, usually due to a new queen bee being born.
The queen lays between 1500 and 2500 eggs a day
They can be very aggressive when a threat is perceived
They can chase a threat up to 1 1/4 miles
They are moving north through the United States and have arrived in Utah. It is not known whether they can survive the colder climates.
Africanized honey bees a difficult for the beekeepers and farmers to control. I assume that this means they do not come back to the box hives to make honey. They go off and start their own colony where they want.
I am sure this is not the last time we will encounter killer bees. I am told we live in the heart of killer bee country and that there are no European honey bees in this area anymore. There are more and less aggressive Africanized bees.
We were going to wait 24 hours because we knew that sometimes bees make a stop and then move on the next day. Later on that evening we were outside in the front of our home and the scrub bushes and mesquite trees were buzzing. It sounded like a huge wall of constant humming moving toward us. I told Ron we needed to get into the house...now. I had images of our home being engulfed in bees. Since we live in Arizona I knew these were not garden honey bees. A swarm that large terrified me. The swarm moved in unison straight for our trailer congregating above it before landing and finding every crack to go inside.
Monday morning I called the Killer Bee Guy. I explained our situation to him over the phone. He met me at the end of our road within an hour. We made our introductions and drove to the trailer. The bees were crawling and swarming the trailer inside and out. He told me that we had a lot of bees and to go up to the house and he would suit up. He put on a white jumpsuit, gloves and a hood. He walked around the trailer a few times and then went inside. When he was finished he came up to the house.
He told me it was a good thing that we did not try to disturb the bees. They had already built a hive and they had only been there 24 hours. He said that the queen sends out about 30 bees and if they do not come back she does not send anymore to the same location. If they come back she will send about 30,000 and in a 24 hour period there can be over 100,000 bees. Which is what had occurred in our situation.
They were Africanized honey bees (killer bees). He tried to take them with him for his hives but he said that they were too aggressive so they had to be killed. Many of the bees escaped when the bombs went off. There were still thousand laying in pools under the trailer the next day. There were hundreds still swarming the trailer so I could not go inside. They had mainly moved to a nearby mesquite tree blocking our main gate to the property.
I tried to walk my dogs on Tuesday but for three days the bees remained highly aggitated. They had moved up to the house making it difficult to go in or out. The bees were on my dogs as soon as we went outside. I cut up some white T-shirts and put them on all four of my dogs. Bees have a hard time seeing white. I made sure I had no fragrances from soap or deoderant. The white T-shirts worked for the dogs but kept swarming around my face. I got stung on the back of the neck. Killer bees will attack the face and eyes as well as anything black in color. One of my dogs is black and small so I did not think he would survive a bee attack.
Africanized honey bees arrived in Arizona in 1993. They are a hybrid of European and Africain honey bees which were an experiment gone terribly wrong in Brazil. Honey bees are not indiginous to the Americas. From what I have read 26 African queen bees were accidentally let loose in Brazil. Brazil was trying to produce a bee that would withstand the heat better. They mated with the European honey bee and spread very quickly.
Some of the consistant observations are:
Africanized honey bees are not particular on where they colonize, they will set up a hive in a hole in the ground, in a soda can, on the side of your home, in a wood pile.
They swarm more than 30 times a year. This means they divide the colony, usually due to a new queen bee being born.
The queen lays between 1500 and 2500 eggs a day
They can be very aggressive when a threat is perceived
They can chase a threat up to 1 1/4 miles
They are moving north through the United States and have arrived in Utah. It is not known whether they can survive the colder climates.
Africanized honey bees a difficult for the beekeepers and farmers to control. I assume that this means they do not come back to the box hives to make honey. They go off and start their own colony where they want.
I am sure this is not the last time we will encounter killer bees. I am told we live in the heart of killer bee country and that there are no European honey bees in this area anymore. There are more and less aggressive Africanized bees.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Offgrid desert living-not remote anymore
Offgrid desert living used to mean that you had to live in an excluded remote area of the state. One might have been considered anti-social or a deviant from mainstream society. Living offgrid lends itself to think about your surroundings, what in the desert is living with you. Every day you need to consider whether you have enough water or power for the day or do you need to run the well pump or shut some things down to conserve.
It is not like city dwellers, but it isn't a desert rat either. You can be offgrid and still have neighbors who are relatively close. Our neighbors are unique people bringing with them their own experiences, skill levels and knowledge in which to draw.
They each came with their own thoughts on how they wanted to live. The desert valley where we settled is as diverse as the city. We range in ages from early thirties to mid eighties.
There is no mistaking each others home, no one home is anything like the other. We have school buses with additions to two story farm houses and everything in between. Each had an idea and acted upon it. Each are living our dreams.
In many ways offgrid desert living is a- learn- as- you- go process. Problems are encountered with no apparent solution. Creativity kicks in and if it doesn’t, call one of your neighbors. You know them all well enough that you would know which one to call for a specific problem.
We have get togethers, cookouts and parties or we may go into Tombstone together for a drink , lunch or dinner. But one aspect of our neighbors that impressed me the most is that property and time is tenaciously respected. We all work hard and we do not just show up at each others’ property.
Everyone puts a lot of time and effort into offgrid desert living and there is always work that needs to be completed.
It is not like city dwellers, but it isn't a desert rat either. You can be offgrid and still have neighbors who are relatively close. Our neighbors are unique people bringing with them their own experiences, skill levels and knowledge in which to draw.
They each came with their own thoughts on how they wanted to live. The desert valley where we settled is as diverse as the city. We range in ages from early thirties to mid eighties.
There is no mistaking each others home, no one home is anything like the other. We have school buses with additions to two story farm houses and everything in between. Each had an idea and acted upon it. Each are living our dreams.
In many ways offgrid desert living is a- learn- as- you- go process. Problems are encountered with no apparent solution. Creativity kicks in and if it doesn’t, call one of your neighbors. You know them all well enough that you would know which one to call for a specific problem.
We have get togethers, cookouts and parties or we may go into Tombstone together for a drink , lunch or dinner. But one aspect of our neighbors that impressed me the most is that property and time is tenaciously respected. We all work hard and we do not just show up at each others’ property.
Everyone puts a lot of time and effort into offgrid desert living and there is always work that needs to be completed.
Offgrid desert living - dream or reality
Offgrid desert living and other offgrid areas are coming to the forefront as a feasable way of life. Living offgrid in the Arizona desert soon will no longer be an alternative way of life. Information is being shared on the most efficient way to live, how and where to start and what type of home to build.
If people are looking for autonamy in their lives, offgrid desert living offers that autonamy. The changes in building codes, the initial cost of solar and the price of land rising are making it difficult for the owner/builders to realize the dream of living in a home that she or he built for themselves.
Information is being shared on one the most efficient ways to live. Information that lets you know how and where to start. This vital information is being written for people who want to build their own home or at least take an active part. Information is being shared so that you know that you can build your own home offgrid.
If the power companies do have a failure, it does not effect those who live offgrid. As long a the sun shines or the wind blows or the water falls the families living offgrid will have power.
It all starts with an idea for your offgrid desert home. Picture it in your mind, see your home and you living in it. write it down, think about it, modifiy your idea. Research your idea. See if others have useful information that would help you know that your idea would work. It is possible. Okay now you can take action with confidence.
You can send an email regarding a specific question. They may have an answer or at least point you in the right direction. Be sure to visit several websites and other forms of research as no one person has all of your answers.
Ideas plus action equals realization of dreams.
Owner/builder with no prior experience and moderate skills sharing information on offgrid desert living - a modest way of life.
If people are looking for autonamy in their lives, offgrid desert living offers that autonamy. The changes in building codes, the initial cost of solar and the price of land rising are making it difficult for the owner/builders to realize the dream of living in a home that she or he built for themselves.
Information is being shared on one the most efficient ways to live. Information that lets you know how and where to start. This vital information is being written for people who want to build their own home or at least take an active part. Information is being shared so that you know that you can build your own home offgrid.
If the power companies do have a failure, it does not effect those who live offgrid. As long a the sun shines or the wind blows or the water falls the families living offgrid will have power.
It all starts with an idea for your offgrid desert home. Picture it in your mind, see your home and you living in it. write it down, think about it, modifiy your idea. Research your idea. See if others have useful information that would help you know that your idea would work. It is possible. Okay now you can take action with confidence.
You can send an email regarding a specific question. They may have an answer or at least point you in the right direction. Be sure to visit several websites and other forms of research as no one person has all of your answers.
Ideas plus action equals realization of dreams.
Owner/builder with no prior experience and moderate skills sharing information on offgrid desert living - a modest way of life.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Jul 2, FIBERGLAS REINFORCED STUCCO ON OFF GRID DRY STACK CONCRETE BLOCK
Jul 2, FIBERGLAS REINFORCED STUCCO ON OFF GRID DRY STACK CONCRETE BLOCK: "Fiberglas reinforced stucco was used on exterior walls of our off grid home"
Jun 29, Dogs anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction
Jun 29, Dogs anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction: "Dogs anaphylaxis is a rare, life-threatening, immediate allergic reaction to something ingested or injected. If untreated, it can lead to shock, respiratory and cardiac failure, and death."
Jun 30, Target practice is essential living off the grid especially with dogs.
Jun 30, Target practice is essential living off the grid especially with dogs.: "We target practice as much as possible, setting up a schedule for shooting targets would be more routine. The more practice shooting you have the more likely you will remain calm in an emergency"
Jul 3, Gun safety is the most important issue when handling guns.
Jul 3, Gun safety is the most important issue when handling guns.: "Gun safety is always the most important issue when handling guns. No matter where you are target shooting always adhere to gun safety rules."
Jul 3, Daily living off the grid makes you aware of conveniences
Jul 3, Daily living off the grid makes you aware of conveniences: "Living off the grid makes your daily life more aware of conveniences that we had taken for granted. Like laundry, water, electricity...If we don't watch, it will run out."
Jul 2, Atv riding in the Arizona desert with five dogs is fun.
Jul 2, Atv riding in the Arizona desert with five dogs is fun.: "I go atv riding with the dogs every morning. It insures that the big dogs get enough exercise and the small dogs get out of the house."
Jul 3, Things to do in the desert like visiting the adobe ruins by our property
Jul 3, Things to do in the desert like visiting the adobe ruins by our property: "One morning we looked for things to do and visiting the adobe ruins, an old windmill and farm house that are near our property"
Monday, July 2, 2007
Offgrid in the desert-Silver mine tour-Tombstone, AZ
We took the silver mine tour that recently opened up in Tombstone, AZ. The first thing that everyone noticed is that it is about 70 degrees and very pleasant. The air was crisp and clean. The mine shafts are ventilated so well that it only took about two hours for the dust to clear after explosives were used. This meant that the miners did not have respiratory problems.
I was looking around for spiders and other critters, but there weren't any. The mines twist and turn for hundreds of miles in the Tombstone hills. The information was nicely presented by the guide. They had some silver ore there so that we could see what it looked like. I would have passed it by. It is very dark in color. Our guide said it would take about one ton of ore to yield 14 ounces of silver.
Some of the artifacts that were uncovered during the restoration of the mine gave a glimpse of what it would have been like in the 1860s. The miners dug for silver in total darkness except for candles.
The tour lasted about an hour and was reasonably priced.
I was looking around for spiders and other critters, but there weren't any. The mines twist and turn for hundreds of miles in the Tombstone hills. The information was nicely presented by the guide. They had some silver ore there so that we could see what it looked like. I would have passed it by. It is very dark in color. Our guide said it would take about one ton of ore to yield 14 ounces of silver.
Some of the artifacts that were uncovered during the restoration of the mine gave a glimpse of what it would have been like in the 1860s. The miners dug for silver in total darkness except for candles.
The tour lasted about an hour and was reasonably priced.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Veterinarians are spread thin in this county
Veterinarians are spread thin in this county
By Dana ColeHerald/Review
Published on Monday, June 25, 2007
SIERRA VISTA — Pet owners need to be aware of their veterinarians’ policies when it comes to emergencies, especially if they happen after regular hours when animal hospitals are closed.With a recent decline in the number of veterinarians serving the area, vet hospitals that once offered extended services to accommodate emergencies during off hours have been forced to cut back. While they still make special arrangements to handle emergencies, clients are sometimes referred to 24-hour emergency animal facilities in Tucson.
“If we had three or four veterinarians we could probably be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said David Bone, the veterinarian who owns Sierra Animal Hospital. “But I don’t believe any of the clinics in Cochise County have more than two full-time veterinarians, and the problem is getting worse, not better.”Local animal hospitals once staffed with several veterinarians have experienced reductions in the number of doctors. Some of the vets are retiring and some are moving out of the area. As they leave, there are no new practitioners coming in to replace them.“For example, Apache Animal Hospital had as many as four or five veterinarians at one time, and now they’re down to two,” said Mike Falconer, office manager at Sierra Animal Hospital. “And if you look at Cochise County in the past year, three clinics have basically closed.”There is a nationwide shortage of veterinarians, a problem that’s hitting rural communities hardest. In Arizona, the shortfall has become so dire that a Rural Affairs Task Force has been assembled, aimed at identifying the state’s most critically underserved areas.“The goal of the task force is to identify the underserved areas, and then see what can be done to help alleviate the problem,” said Emily Kane, executive director of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. “The task force is looking at a number of different things, hoping to come up with ways to attract more veterinarians into the underserved areas.”One proposal is the possibility of starting a vet school in Arizona. “Another vet school would help the state and national picture, but it’s something that we’re still researching,” said Karter Neal DVM, who chairs the task force. “There just aren’t enough vet schools to keep pace with the number of vets that are needed.”New Frontier Animal Medical Center, a busy small-animal practice in Sierra Vista, also is feeling the vet shortage. Down to one full-time veterinarian, Pam Drake, the hospital could easily use one more doctor.“People need to check with their own vet hospital so they are prepared in case of an emergency,” Drake advises. “Everyone should be knowledgeable about what steps they’ll need to take to care for their pets. Know the locations of the 24-hour emergency animal hospitals that your veterinarian recommends.”Tucson’s 24-hour emergency clinics are set up to accommodate critically ill and injured animals with around-the-clock supervision. While it’s a service not yet available in Sierra Vista, having emergency facilities in Tucson gives local veterinarians and their clients a viable option for treating seriously sick or injured animals that need extensive care and hospitalization.“There may well be times that the best place to be treated and the quickest way to get treated is to take the animal to an emergency center in Tucson,” Bone stated. “That being said, we often see genuine emergencies out of hours here at Sierra Animal Hospital for both our patients as well as those of other veterinarians. The only caveat we have is that the owners have to be willing to treat the animal and that it has to make logistical sense for us to seem them.”As much as local veterinarians and their clients would like to see an emergency clinic in this area, it’s not something that is expected in the near future. Falconer pointed out that, “As a rule, it takes 20 clinics to support a single emergency center. There are six small-animal clinics in Cochise County.”Drake maintains it’s one of the trade-offs of a rural lifestyle.“When you look at Sierra Vista geographically, it’s still a rural area,” she said. “And when you live in a rural area, these are the kinds of sacrifices you’re going to be making.”Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
By Dana ColeHerald/Review
Published on Monday, June 25, 2007
SIERRA VISTA — Pet owners need to be aware of their veterinarians’ policies when it comes to emergencies, especially if they happen after regular hours when animal hospitals are closed.With a recent decline in the number of veterinarians serving the area, vet hospitals that once offered extended services to accommodate emergencies during off hours have been forced to cut back. While they still make special arrangements to handle emergencies, clients are sometimes referred to 24-hour emergency animal facilities in Tucson.
“If we had three or four veterinarians we could probably be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said David Bone, the veterinarian who owns Sierra Animal Hospital. “But I don’t believe any of the clinics in Cochise County have more than two full-time veterinarians, and the problem is getting worse, not better.”Local animal hospitals once staffed with several veterinarians have experienced reductions in the number of doctors. Some of the vets are retiring and some are moving out of the area. As they leave, there are no new practitioners coming in to replace them.“For example, Apache Animal Hospital had as many as four or five veterinarians at one time, and now they’re down to two,” said Mike Falconer, office manager at Sierra Animal Hospital. “And if you look at Cochise County in the past year, three clinics have basically closed.”There is a nationwide shortage of veterinarians, a problem that’s hitting rural communities hardest. In Arizona, the shortfall has become so dire that a Rural Affairs Task Force has been assembled, aimed at identifying the state’s most critically underserved areas.“The goal of the task force is to identify the underserved areas, and then see what can be done to help alleviate the problem,” said Emily Kane, executive director of the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. “The task force is looking at a number of different things, hoping to come up with ways to attract more veterinarians into the underserved areas.”One proposal is the possibility of starting a vet school in Arizona. “Another vet school would help the state and national picture, but it’s something that we’re still researching,” said Karter Neal DVM, who chairs the task force. “There just aren’t enough vet schools to keep pace with the number of vets that are needed.”New Frontier Animal Medical Center, a busy small-animal practice in Sierra Vista, also is feeling the vet shortage. Down to one full-time veterinarian, Pam Drake, the hospital could easily use one more doctor.“People need to check with their own vet hospital so they are prepared in case of an emergency,” Drake advises. “Everyone should be knowledgeable about what steps they’ll need to take to care for their pets. Know the locations of the 24-hour emergency animal hospitals that your veterinarian recommends.”Tucson’s 24-hour emergency clinics are set up to accommodate critically ill and injured animals with around-the-clock supervision. While it’s a service not yet available in Sierra Vista, having emergency facilities in Tucson gives local veterinarians and their clients a viable option for treating seriously sick or injured animals that need extensive care and hospitalization.“There may well be times that the best place to be treated and the quickest way to get treated is to take the animal to an emergency center in Tucson,” Bone stated. “That being said, we often see genuine emergencies out of hours here at Sierra Animal Hospital for both our patients as well as those of other veterinarians. The only caveat we have is that the owners have to be willing to treat the animal and that it has to make logistical sense for us to seem them.”As much as local veterinarians and their clients would like to see an emergency clinic in this area, it’s not something that is expected in the near future. Falconer pointed out that, “As a rule, it takes 20 clinics to support a single emergency center. There are six small-animal clinics in Cochise County.”Drake maintains it’s one of the trade-offs of a rural lifestyle.“When you look at Sierra Vista geographically, it’s still a rural area,” she said. “And when you live in a rural area, these are the kinds of sacrifices you’re going to be making.”Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
Snakebite! Where's a vet when you need one?
Snakebite! Where’s a vet when you need one?
By Dana ColeHerald/Review
Published on Tuesday, June 12, 2007
TOMBSTONE — Most pet owners would agree. There’s nothing more unsettling than trying to find a veterinarian during a medical emergency and not having any luck.That’s exactly what Jeanne Patera went through Saturday evening when her dog, a Chinese pug named Chase, was bitten by a diamondback rattlesnake sometime between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.
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Jeanne Patera comforts Uno, who has sustained a rattlesnake bite, evidenced by his swollen jowl. Her other Chinese pug, Chase, did not survive the Saturday incident. (Photo courtesy of Jeanne Patera)
“Chase was staggering and falling over and seemed disoriented,” Patera said. “I immediately started calling my veterinarian, but couldn’t reach him. There was no answering service, no message, nothing.”Within 15 minutes after being bitten, Chase was comatose.Patera, who lives in the Tombstone area, said she called every Cochise County veterinarian listed in the yellow pages, but none could be reached.“At some of the hospitals I got messages that told us to go to an emergency hospital in Tucson. But for us, going to Tucson was out of the question. It was obvious Chase needed immediate medical attention. He wouldn’t make the trip to Tucson.”Patera has another pug named Uno who was bitten by the same rattler that night. Out of sheer desperation, Patera packed up the two dogs and raced to Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, hoping someone at the medical facility would be able to treat the dogs, or at least give her some advice.“They couldn’t do anything for my dogs, but they did get on the phone and try to help me find a veterinarian,” Patera said. “They were absolutely fantastic. They called every vet they knew, but finally recommended that we go to one of the emergency vets in Tucson.”While Chase died not long after being bitten, Uno survived the ordeal.“His face is very swollen and he may require surgery on the left side of his face, in the event that necrosis sets in.” His left eye is affected, requiring treatment with an antibiotic eye ointment.“I took him to see Dr. (Ed) Kroger at Coronado Animal Hospital,” Patera said. “He put him on antibiotics, an eye ointment and recommended that I keep him on Benadryl for awhile.”Patera, who has four dogs, is planning to take them to a snake aversion class in Marana.In addition, Patera has ordered a snake repellent called Snake-A-Way. An EPA approved, university tested product effective against poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes, Snake-A-Way is safe to humans and animals. The repellent interferes with the snake’s sensory reception ability, causing the creature to become disoriented, uneasy and leave the area. Patera plans to sprinkle the repellent around the perimeter of her home.“I just don’t want to lose any more dogs,” she said. “Also, I think people around here need to know how difficult it is to find veterinarians on an emergency basis. If you have an emergency, plan to pack your animals up and head to Tucson.”When calling local veterinary practices about emergency services, they referred to emergency clinics in Tucson for treatment during late evening hours and weekends.From Monday through Friday, Coronado Veterinary Hospital is open until 9 p.m. and until 6 p.m. on weekends.All calls coming in after those times are referred to Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center. Coronado and New Frontier Animal Medical Center trade off emergency hours, giving veterinarians at both facilities some freedom on weekends and after hours.Sierra Animal Hospital, Apache Animal Center and Cochise Animal Hospital also refer clients to Tucson emergency facilities during off times.“I really want to let people know there are no veterinarians available on weekends,” Patera said. “With Chase, I had five dogs, so knowing where to take my animals during an emergency is really important to me.”Following are a couple of emergency animal hospitals located in Tucson.There are no emergency veterinary hospitals in the Sierra Vista area.• Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, 141 E. Fort Lowell Road, (520) 888-3177.There is another location at 7474 E. Broadway Road, (520) 888-3177.• Animal Emergency Services, 4832 E. Speedway Blvd., (520) 326-7449.Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
By Dana ColeHerald/Review
Published on Tuesday, June 12, 2007
TOMBSTONE — Most pet owners would agree. There’s nothing more unsettling than trying to find a veterinarian during a medical emergency and not having any luck.That’s exactly what Jeanne Patera went through Saturday evening when her dog, a Chinese pug named Chase, was bitten by a diamondback rattlesnake sometime between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.
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Jeanne Patera comforts Uno, who has sustained a rattlesnake bite, evidenced by his swollen jowl. Her other Chinese pug, Chase, did not survive the Saturday incident. (Photo courtesy of Jeanne Patera)
“Chase was staggering and falling over and seemed disoriented,” Patera said. “I immediately started calling my veterinarian, but couldn’t reach him. There was no answering service, no message, nothing.”Within 15 minutes after being bitten, Chase was comatose.Patera, who lives in the Tombstone area, said she called every Cochise County veterinarian listed in the yellow pages, but none could be reached.“At some of the hospitals I got messages that told us to go to an emergency hospital in Tucson. But for us, going to Tucson was out of the question. It was obvious Chase needed immediate medical attention. He wouldn’t make the trip to Tucson.”Patera has another pug named Uno who was bitten by the same rattler that night. Out of sheer desperation, Patera packed up the two dogs and raced to Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, hoping someone at the medical facility would be able to treat the dogs, or at least give her some advice.“They couldn’t do anything for my dogs, but they did get on the phone and try to help me find a veterinarian,” Patera said. “They were absolutely fantastic. They called every vet they knew, but finally recommended that we go to one of the emergency vets in Tucson.”While Chase died not long after being bitten, Uno survived the ordeal.“His face is very swollen and he may require surgery on the left side of his face, in the event that necrosis sets in.” His left eye is affected, requiring treatment with an antibiotic eye ointment.“I took him to see Dr. (Ed) Kroger at Coronado Animal Hospital,” Patera said. “He put him on antibiotics, an eye ointment and recommended that I keep him on Benadryl for awhile.”Patera, who has four dogs, is planning to take them to a snake aversion class in Marana.In addition, Patera has ordered a snake repellent called Snake-A-Way. An EPA approved, university tested product effective against poisonous and nonpoisonous snakes, Snake-A-Way is safe to humans and animals. The repellent interferes with the snake’s sensory reception ability, causing the creature to become disoriented, uneasy and leave the area. Patera plans to sprinkle the repellent around the perimeter of her home.“I just don’t want to lose any more dogs,” she said. “Also, I think people around here need to know how difficult it is to find veterinarians on an emergency basis. If you have an emergency, plan to pack your animals up and head to Tucson.”When calling local veterinary practices about emergency services, they referred to emergency clinics in Tucson for treatment during late evening hours and weekends.From Monday through Friday, Coronado Veterinary Hospital is open until 9 p.m. and until 6 p.m. on weekends.All calls coming in after those times are referred to Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center. Coronado and New Frontier Animal Medical Center trade off emergency hours, giving veterinarians at both facilities some freedom on weekends and after hours.Sierra Animal Hospital, Apache Animal Center and Cochise Animal Hospital also refer clients to Tucson emergency facilities during off times.“I really want to let people know there are no veterinarians available on weekends,” Patera said. “With Chase, I had five dogs, so knowing where to take my animals during an emergency is really important to me.”Following are a couple of emergency animal hospitals located in Tucson.There are no emergency veterinary hospitals in the Sierra Vista area.• Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Center, 141 E. Fort Lowell Road, (520) 888-3177.There is another location at 7474 E. Broadway Road, (520) 888-3177.• Animal Emergency Services, 4832 E. Speedway Blvd., (520) 326-7449.Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Snake Aversion Training
Snake aversion training is imperative to the life of your pet. I took my 4 remaining dogs this weekend.
After they had all encountered a rattlesnake, I was amazed at their reaction to the training.
My mastiff George acted like the snake did not exist, would not look at it, smell it or acknowledge just stood very close to me. The trainer had to bring the rattlesnake up to George's nose and zap him. The second time George was by my side when he got zapped and dragged me clear across the parking lot. George is 200 lbs. and when he is scarred there is no stopping him. I had to drag him back over to where the rattlesnake was to see if he got it. He did. He ran across the parking lot again dragging me with him.
My rhodesian ridgeback Mya walked over the rattlesnake and laid down next to as though it was not there, but was also very close to me. She paid no attention to it just to the trainer. Watched him like a hawk. She wouldn't go near him afterwards. Not sure if she will just bolt from trainers and rattlesnakes from now on. She finally got it and went and hide by my van with George.
My pug Bugsy who was cornered by a rattlesnake the week before walked right passed it also. Made no attempt to avoid it. When he got zapped, he jumped and screamed. They train by sight, sound and smell. When we got home, I thought Bugsy was bitten by a rattlesnake because he jumped and screamed when he was sniffing around outside. I could not find anything but I think he must have heard or smelled one. I rushed to get him and he was shaking but appeared to be okay.
My other pug Uno has to go in a couple of weeks because he was bitten last weekend and needs time to go through his medication. It is odd that he is afraid of my shed where he was bitten, but does not appear to be afraid of rattlesnakes. The trainer said that they just do not make the connection.
Since I lost my oldest pug Chase last weekend from the rattlesnake bite, it has made me much more aware of my ignorance regarding the desert I live in. I am trying to change that by educating myself of my surroundings in order to protect myself and my dogs.
The trainer said that my dogs acted like they did with the rattlesnake because we had a strong bond and they were looking to me for guidance and protection. Since I was not reacting neither were they. He said it would be much different when they are by themselves. I hope so because I am counting on this training to keep them alive.
After they had all encountered a rattlesnake, I was amazed at their reaction to the training.
My mastiff George acted like the snake did not exist, would not look at it, smell it or acknowledge just stood very close to me. The trainer had to bring the rattlesnake up to George's nose and zap him. The second time George was by my side when he got zapped and dragged me clear across the parking lot. George is 200 lbs. and when he is scarred there is no stopping him. I had to drag him back over to where the rattlesnake was to see if he got it. He did. He ran across the parking lot again dragging me with him.
My rhodesian ridgeback Mya walked over the rattlesnake and laid down next to as though it was not there, but was also very close to me. She paid no attention to it just to the trainer. Watched him like a hawk. She wouldn't go near him afterwards. Not sure if she will just bolt from trainers and rattlesnakes from now on. She finally got it and went and hide by my van with George.
My pug Bugsy who was cornered by a rattlesnake the week before walked right passed it also. Made no attempt to avoid it. When he got zapped, he jumped and screamed. They train by sight, sound and smell. When we got home, I thought Bugsy was bitten by a rattlesnake because he jumped and screamed when he was sniffing around outside. I could not find anything but I think he must have heard or smelled one. I rushed to get him and he was shaking but appeared to be okay.
My other pug Uno has to go in a couple of weeks because he was bitten last weekend and needs time to go through his medication. It is odd that he is afraid of my shed where he was bitten, but does not appear to be afraid of rattlesnakes. The trainer said that they just do not make the connection.
Since I lost my oldest pug Chase last weekend from the rattlesnake bite, it has made me much more aware of my ignorance regarding the desert I live in. I am trying to change that by educating myself of my surroundings in order to protect myself and my dogs.
The trainer said that my dogs acted like they did with the rattlesnake because we had a strong bond and they were looking to me for guidance and protection. Since I was not reacting neither were they. He said it would be much different when they are by themselves. I hope so because I am counting on this training to keep them alive.
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