Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

Barbara Eash antiques column Page 3B Michael, has polio, diabetes an gout and, in 2007, called Comfort Keepers for assistance with homemaking services like meal prep, housekeeping, laundry and grocery shopping. Jenean, Michael's caregiver for the last two hears has become a great friend and that rapport is evident in the way they interact with each other. Interactive Caregiving Michael's love for sports memorabilia is evident in his collection of baseballs, helmets and movies. Having the peace of mind that Comfort Keepers offers helps Michael know that his daily needs will be taken care of and that he can count on Comfort Keepers to help him remain independent. Written and Edited by Shar Meller, Comfort Keepers Loss of mobility, health changes or loss of independence can lead to sadness, loneliness and depression. Comfort Keepers is your best "choice" to remain in your home and the surrounds you love. Offering services up to 24 hours a day, Comfort Keepers creed is to "Treat each and every client as if they are our own family member. Comfort Keepers provides homemaking and personal care services • Transportation • Light Housekeeping • Meals • Laundry • Companionship • Incontinence Care • Overseeing Medications • Bathing • Transferring • Hoyer Lift • Legal Live In #1 Best Senior Care franchise by Entrepreneur 500 249152202 ACTIVE BODY AND MIND A KEY TO INDEPENDENCE! Comfort Keeper Jenean with Michael 414-858-9400 Waukesha & Milwaukee Counties. Keeping the Comforts of Home ComfortKeepers.com ©2015 CK Franchising, Inc. • Most offices independently owned and operated Caregivers: Want to make a difference in a senior's life? Call 414-858-9343 249816002 The FREEMAN INSIDE PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WAUKESHA, WI PERMIT NO. 3 Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WaukeshaFreeman Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WaukeshaFreeman Brookfield & Elm Grove T H I S M O N T H MAY 2016 MAY FOCUS Adding a pet to the family Teaching teens money smarts Think it through before getting pet Page 3A Brookfield Central grad gets grant to help jailed women Page 2B Give pets the best life possible By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD — You might do more harm than help when you buy your pets silly clothing and engage in poor feeding habits in an effort to spoil them. You and your pet are better served if you focus on treating them to the best life possible. "A great pet starts with the com- mitment that this is an animal that unless you or your children are in har m's way after you have tried training and other various behavior assessment methods you make a com- mitment to for the animal's life," said Lori Mendelsohn Thomas, owner of Wisconsin Pet Care LLC. Wisconsin Pet Care LLC serves southeast Wisconsin and offers dog walking, cat sitting, in-home pet sit- ting, poop scooping, training and more. WPC is on the web at http://wisconsinpetcare.com. Mendelsohn Thomas stresses that you are making a change with far- reaching effects on a number of lives when you decide to take an animal as a pet. More than hugs needed You are not choosing an accessory. You are taking a living being into your home, one that will come to view you as the center of its world. More important than spoiling the animal is realizing the influence you wield. "Dogs, in particular, you are the most important thing to them," Mendelsohn Thomas said. "You need to go through at least a basic obedi- ence class." Mendelsohn Thomas said to teach your dog basic skills — sit, stay, wait, come and small tricks such as shake and roll over — if you know how. You must also work to socialize your dog, meaning the animal will become used to other dogs and not be reactive in their company. Proper veterinary care is another critical component to proper pet own- ership, and is more than getting the right shots at the right time and seek- ing medical attention when injured. "If the dog has itchy skin, you don't just say 'They all itch,'" Mendelsohn Thomas said. "You seek veterinary attention, just as you would if your child had pink eye." There are differences among veteri- narians that speak to the differences humans hold regarding medical care. Mendelsohn Thomas uses a holistic veterinarian, meaning the condition of the body is treated as a whole and typically through natural methods. Some veterinarians incorporate chiropractic techniques and acupuncture in treatment, and some use water therapy and Reiki. Reiki is the process of healing by channeling energy through the sensation of touch. And don't forget proper dental care. Disease starts in the mouth of ani- mals the same as it does for humans. You should also get blood work done, if needed, when visiting the veteri- narian. Mendelsohn Thomas said reading food labels and seeking advice regarding your pet's diet also are essential. "You are what you eat," Mendel- sohn Thomas said. "What you put into your body is what you get out of it." The maxim holds true for pets. Read food labels for your pets as you do for you and your family. Mendel- sohn Thomas suggested the website petfoodadvisor.com for dogs and cat- info.org for cats for more diet infor- mation. Be prepared to ensure your pets get sufficient exercise, especially in the case of certain high-energy dogs. Mendelsohn Thomas advised exercis- ing at least twice each day. The little things Mendelsohn Thomas also suggested a number of small steps that, taken Care for them as you would a child, expert says Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Hercules, a dog available at the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha Coun- ty, shakes hands. Good training helps create a well-behaved dog. See PETS, PAGE 3A Page 2B Consult vets for dietary advice SPORTS Area coaches react to WIAA realignment plan Page 4B Page 2A as a whole, will make a significant

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