Spay Neuter Animal Network is behind Rite Aid off the Avenue.

Spay & Neuter Clinic of Simi Valley will be performing the surgeries.  The cost is only $10 for low and no income cat and dog owners.

Please call  584-3823 to make your appointment.  Cats must be in carriers and dogs must be in carriers or on leashes.

Thank you for supporting Spay Neuter Animal Network thrift store that makes this clinic possible.

•  All for Love Animal Rescue (AFLAR) is a 501c3 nonprofit all-volunteer animal rescue organization. AFLAR concentrates on the most at risk for euthanasia dogs and those in the most need, which includes pit bulls, seniors, Chihuahuas, pregnant mommas, and dogs needing medical care or surgery.

A special fundraiser is planned for September 11 at Paddy’s, 2 West Main St.  The event starts at 6 p.m. Get there early to get a good seat!  Ages 21 and over.  Cost is only $10 to play 10 rounds of bingo.  There will be 10 prizes to win, and several special auction items to bid on. Cash only for everything—to play bingo, bid on auction items, drinks in the bar, etc.  100% of the proceeds go to AFLAR, to help with medical care, surgeries, and to continue their life-saving work.

For more information, please call  445-3535.

•  Forever Friends Golden Retriever Rescue has announced that its annual Adopter’s Reunion/Fundraiser will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11th at Camarillo Grove Park – 6968 Camarillo Springs Rd, Camarillo from 11a.m. – 4p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.ffgrrescue.org/. Purchases may be made online by credit card, PayPal or send a check to the post office box listed at the website, but must be purchased by Sept. 1st so you can receive them by mail in time for the event.

A 7 year history with the mission of  helping alleviate the suffering of Golden Retrievers in need: those who have been abandoned, abused, neglected, have lost  their homes or families, or are in need of medical treatment.  The fundraiser is open to the general public and their dogs and all supporters are invited to attend.  There will be great Bar B Q, soft drinks and desserts.  Games with Goldens and humans, a kissing booth, silent auction, raffle, and a Talented Dog Contest are scheduled.  All dogs must be on a leash.  Kong or tug toys, or gently used blankets and towel donations for the Ventura County Shelter will be collected at the event.  Visit the website or call 222-6059 with any questions.

•  As you know we are having very warm winters and summers and some of the hottest weather ever recorded (I think this what is called global warming but some of my dog friends don’t believe that we are having that)). This means an earlier flea and tick season. And I should know because they love me (can you blame them?).

Ticks survive the winter in microclimates and a breeding female tick can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at one time. Fleas can even survive freezing temperatures on wild or feral animals, cocooned as immature pupae, or inside houses and buildings. An early spring also means an early season for these bloodsucking parasites (ugh)  that also bite some humans.

When you and your family enjoy the warm weather of spring and summer, don’t forget to take steps to help protect your dog (and cat)against fleas and ticks. So be sure to keep us well bathed and treated with flea stuff to kill those nasty little creatures.

•  Paw’s Corner by my friend Sam Mazzotta
(Actually I don’t know him but I’m sure that we would be friends if he met me)

Dear Paw’s Corner:

I’m in a dilemma. I’ve had my dog for about five years. “Shera” stays with me in my apartment, and there have been no problems until now. Now, a new owner has bought the house and told me I cannot have a pet: I must either get rid of Shera or move out. What can I do? — Desperate in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Dear Desperate:

I feel for you, and I hope I can give you some useful advice in this limited space. My first tip is to act fast, and the sooner the better. I recommend immediately contacting your state’s legal services or aid resource, if there is one, to discuss the problem. You also could find free or low-cost legal advice through the state’s bar association or perhaps at a local university. Your local library can be a great resource, too — you can get online for free, and the librarians can be very helpful.

Renters have fairly extensive rights in most states. A new landlord usually cannot simply walk in and demand you get rid of your pet. The existing lease typically cannot be changed suddenly, either. And even if you don’t have a signed lease the landlord typically must still give reasonable notice of a change in the terms. If you don’t have a lease he will be able to remove you by following your state’s legal procedures.

You also might try offering your landlord a non-refundable pet deposit. These are sometimes required in rentals that accept pets.

•  The Canine Adoption and Rescue League(CARL) 19th annual Pooch Parade at San Buenaventura Beach State Park was another great event and day.

League President Mary Saputo, of Ventura, said they hoped the event would raise at least $25,000 for the nonprofit that has helped more than 6,500 dogs since its inception in 1996.

On Sunday, about 150 dogs participated in the parade and some participated in four contests, best kisser, best costume, best tail wag and the most obedient.

I wasn’t there because I was at the Surf Rodeo looking for some cute lady French poodles in bikinis.

And speaking of CARL they are the proud temporary home of 26 dogs under the care of the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation (LBWF). The dogs were evacuated from a Santa Clarita Valley facility in the face of the encroaching Sand Fire.

The dogs, primarily American Staffordshire Terriers, are safe at CARL’s Santa Paula boarding facility. The evacuation effort was the result of cooperation between CART,  LBWF, and Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team , a non-profit that transports dogs from high-kill shelters to out-of-state homes.

CARL  is well-equipped to aid neighboring rescues in times of need with the use of its 112-pen boarding facility.  “Rescues need to stick together,” commented CARL Executive Director Sharon Clark. “We’re all in this together to save lives, and we’ll never forget when we had our own time of crisis in December 2014 when an industrial accident at a nearby waste water treatment plant spread toxic chemicals across the area.”

There are so many wonderful people helping us 4-legged ones I would cry if I could.

•  Honor our 4-legged friends (the dog type) and promote dog-friendliness on Saturday, August 6th, 8:00 am-12:00 pm at the VBG trail head.

There will be  the funniest, smartest, silliest and down-right cutest dogs to adopt from the Ventura Humane Society. There will also be dog treats! For the little human ones, there will be face painting by Monica Diaz-Valenzuela along with face and body painting from Paint Me Please.

Bryce Kulzer, VBG event coordinator, will be hosting this free event. All donations will go to the “Dog Fountain Campaign”.

Bring your family, friends and, of course, your dogs (on leashes please)! If you have any questions, please contact Bryce Kulzer at  [email protected] or 754-9596.

•  Herman Bennett Foundation’s Fundraiser ticket pre-order!

3rd Annual Halloween @ Bard Mansion on Oct. 28th & 29^th.
Formal dinner, psychics, séance, ghost tour and magic at bard mansion benefiting the Foundation’s Spay & Neuter Programs across Ventura County.

Tickets available by phone at 445-7171.
$10 off until August  31!  Only 100 tickets offered each night!

Visit hermanbennettfoundation.org for more information.

A very loved dog who used to go to the gym every day with her Dad, Larry.
She will be greatly missed by all.

Primo – 2006-2016

•  I received this from a reader that I want to share.

“On page 6 (last issue) you mention the Paws For Reading program. Would appreciate it if you would issue a correction in the next issue that the dogs are Certified Therapy Dogs, not Service Dogs. Service Dogs are trained to serve one person and their specific needs.”

“Certified Therapy Dogs are all AKC Canine Good Citizens, and have been certified as Therapy Dogs by passing a fairly rigorous evaluation with lots of training. Love On A Leash, for example, recertifies its animals and handlers every year. Many of our therapy dogs have advanced degrees to work with young children and seniors.”

•  Buddy Nation helps homeless dogs! Fabulous, fantastic, fun yard sale benefitingand helping homeless pets and their human companions will be held Saturday, July 30th from 8am-4pm. 545 San Clemente(between Ocean & Channel) Come and shop and help a Buddy!

•  A fundraiser will be held on July 24th, 6:30-9:30 at the Ventura Improv Company 34 N. Palm for the All For Love Animal (AFLAR)rescue group. A fun evening at a fun venue. serving Santa Barbara and Eberle Wines for a small price. Desserts and tasty tidbits will be complementary!

$25 per ticket and it helps animals that are rescued, cared for and fed. Volunteers take them to vets for care, back and forth to foster homes and to the weekend animal adoptions all over the county, not to mention all the walking and loving these special animals get. Contact 445-3535 for reservations

•  Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) has announced its new “CARL’s Golden Oldies” program. CARL’s Golden Oldies is funded in part by a grant from The Grey Muzzle Organization. The program focuses specifically on the unique needs of dogs aged 10 years or older (I guess I’m a senior citizen but don’t look it). The program was designed to save the lives of senior dogs who might otherwise be overlooked by potential adopters in the overcrowded shelters.

CARL’s Golden Oldies is a partnership between them and The Grey Muzzle Organization, in close cooperation with Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) and Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC).

Senior dogs are historically considered difficult to adopt, with most families gravitating towards younger animals. Under the new program, VCAS and SPARC identify these less-adoptable senior dogs. C.A.R.L. will then either place the dogs in pre-approved foster homes, or board them at CARL’s Pet Care Center, a public boarding facility that doubles as the temporary home for a number of rescue dogs.

The funds provided by The Grey Muzzle Organization are used solely for the medical and dental care of  Golden Oldies dogs. Food and board is $10 per day per dog, and is paid by tax-deductible donations from the community. To learn more about C.A.R.L. and how to volunteer or donate towards CARL’s Golden Oldies, visit http://www.carldogs.org.

VCAS is hosting its annual blockbuster Adopt-A-Thon and it’s going to bigger and better than ever! This year they have merged this event with the nationwide Clear the Shelters event sponsored by NBC4, Telemundo52 and the Petco Foundation.

The event will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 11:00am – 4:00pm at VCAS

at 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo. All dog and cat adoption fees will be fee-waived ($20 license fee if applicable). VCAS operates two shelters within the county. The shelter in Camarillo houses over 400 pets and the administrative offices. Their smaller facility in Simi Valley houses nearly 40 pets at a time.

•  A Ventura man has pled guilty to Failure to Properly Care for Animals a misdemeanor (better than nothing I guess). He must spay and neuter all personal animals, agree to a search by probation or peace officers and complete 36 months of probation. Humane Officers worked with Animal Control Officers, Code Enforcement Officers and Ventura Police Department to bring charges against him.

Ventura County Humane Officers are at the Humane Society of Ventura County in Ojai, where cases of animal neglect and abuse throughout the county are investigated.

To become a Humane officer hundreds of hours of training is required as well as an extensive background check performed by an outside investigations agency.

Jolene Hoffman Shelter Director, Humane Society of Ventura County stated “We would like to thank all of the deputy district attorneys for their hard work in prosecuting animal abuse cases from the past to present. “

•  by Victoria Usher

A ten-year-old Anaheim police dog by the name of Bruno needs to be recognized for his heroism. This brave German Shepard has recently passed away due to complications from a shooting that happened two years ago. Bruno had recently been taken to a hospital where he had to have emergency surgery related to the injuries that he got from the shooting. It wasn’t too long after the surgery that his organs started to shut down and a heartbreaking decision was made to bring an end to his pain, that same day Bruno was euthanized.

When Bruno was shot he was in the process of helping his handler, Officer R.J. Young search for a suspected parole violator. The man had been hiding behind a trashcan with a gun and he had caught both of them by surprise. Bruno is without a doubt responsible for saving the lives of at least a couple police officers who were at that shooting. The brave police dog had been living with the Young family and Young’s wife, Rachel, actually wrote a children’s book about Bruno and dedicated it to all law enforcement officer families.

A very loved dog who used to go to the gym every day with her Dad, Larry.
She will be greatly missed by all.

Primo – 2006-2016

•  Local non-profit dog rescue Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) will host its 19th Annual Pooch Parade fundraising event on July 17th, from 9:00am-4:00pm at San Buenaventura State Beach. The theme of this year’s event is “Friends are Fur-Ever”, highlighting the lifelong commitment between a family and their pets.

The Pooch Parade is a Ventura County tradition, with attendance in the thousands. The event begins with the parade itself, which is a 3-mile fundraising dog walk from San Buenaventura State Beach to the Ventura Pier and back. In 2015, approximately 250 dogs and their owners participated, many in costume. Registration numbers are expected to increase this year.

The event continues at San Buenaventura State Beach for the rest of the day, featuring:Live blues music by Kelly’s Lot, DJ and MC Marty Glassman, Over 50 booths, pet-related arts, crafts, and services, Local animal rescues, food trucks, silent auction, agility and disco dog demonstrations, dog contests, including best costume and best kisser.

“The Pooch Parade is our biggest and my favorite event of the year,” said C.A.R.L. President Mary Saputo. “It’s like a fair, but everything is all about dogs and other pets. C.A.R.L. runs entirely on volunteers and donations, so the Pooch Parade is vitally important to the work we do saving the lives of homeless dogs. We’re very grateful to the community for welcoming C.A.R.L. and the Pooch Parade, and everyone gives 100% to make it a big success.”

Admission is free, and community members are welcome to volunteer to support the rescue. To learn more about the Pooch Parade, how to register, or how to volunteer, visit http://www.poochparade.org or call 644-PETS.

To learn more about C.A.R.L., how to donate, how to adopt, or how to volunteer, visit http://www.carldogs.org or call  644-PETS.

•  I’m so sorry to read that Long Beach Police K9 Credo has been killed in the line of duty. Both the Belgian Malinois and the suspect were killed while officers attempted to take the wanted man into custody.

•  I have always wondered why Savana is such a funny eater. When I am served my dinner I eat it in 2 minutes while she kind of looks at hers, take a bite or 2 leaves it, goes back a bit later nibbles some more and maybe by midnight she is done eating.

Maybe this is why, cats have evolved to eat foods with a certain ratio of protein to fat so maybe she needs to check it out each time to make it is the correct ratio. So evolution is the reason.

Aroma, taste and texture of food are less important to cats than is nutrition, according to a new study that helps explain not only finicky feline behavior but also what primarily controls cat cravings.

Cats as it turns out are driven to eat foods with a preferred ratio of protein to fat 1 to 4. This translates to about 50:50 in terms of percentage of energy from protein and fat, according to the authors of a study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

What’s more, “Cats can display neophobia,” lead author Adrian Hewson-Hughes wrote “This means they are unwilling to try a food that is new or different to their normal food, which may make them appear fussy.”

But for me the only ratio is the amount of food compared to the size of the bowl. It needs to be 1:1.

•  by my friend Victoria Usher

New Hampshire had their 100th Newport Winter Carnival  and many attended and had a wonderful time with their family and friends. There was however a bit of an issue when an international animal advocacy group decided to protest against a specific event that was at the carnival which was billed as “Greased Pig on Ice”.

They did end up backing down once they discovered that that there were in fact no real pigs involved in the event, only a man on skates dressed in a pig costume. One of the organizers of the carnival, Steve Smith, explained that that he did actually tell a PETA investigator in an email that there would be no real animals involved at all.

• LostCatVentura.com and LostDogVentura.com are free resources for finding lost cats and dogs in Ventura County. And where you can post a notice for your lost pet.

• The Summerfest All Breed Dog Show, by the Ventura County Dog Fanciers Assoc. is June 30-July 3 (7am-8pm) at the Ventura Fairgrounds. And if you like horsies the Ventura County Fair Youth Horse Show is July 15-17(8am-4pm) at the Fairgrounds Morgan Equestrian Center.

• Ventura resident, John Darling has kicked off his fund raising site, Tinker’s Treat(www.tinkerstreat.com).

Mr. Darling explains his effort and why he started Tinker’s Treat. “Tinker’s is a site dedicated to raising money to pay the adoption fees of Senior Animals. My little dog, Tinker, died on April 1, 2016 after having lived with my family for 2 ½ years. She was the quietest, most well behaved, and most loving little dog I have ever had but before I adopted her, she lived at Humane Society of Ventura County for a year. Despite being very cute and very sweet, no one wanted her due to her age. She was seven years old when I took her home. In an effort to encourage others to adopt older animals and take pleasure in the pure joy I had while Tinker was with me, I want to raise funds that will pay the adoption fees for Senior Dogs because old dogs need love too.” For more information, Mr. Darling can be contacted at 824-7901. Those who have older dogs should consider getting proper nutrition for your aging pup.

• Recently a 15-month-old yellow lab died in Salt Lake City after being left in a hot car for about four hours. Officers responded about 2 p.m. to a call about an unresponsive dog in a car in a parking lot.

The lab was removed from the car by an animal control officers. Officers took the dog to the Utah Veterinary Center, where a veterinarian pronounced the dog dead.

The dog’s human told police he’d checked on the dog at 10 a.m., but hadn’t been back outside until after the officers arrived. I’m sure that he is a loving dog person but there’s a chance he could face possible felony or misdemeanor charges.

This type of incident happens far too often, people just don’t realize that the inside of a car on a hot day can reach more than 120 degrees within minutes, and dogs who are left inside can’t sweat, so our organs overheat.

A good rule of thumb is that when the temperature is 70 degrees or higher, it’s too hot to leave an animal in the car. Or just never leave us alone in your car, we get lonesome.

If a dog shows signs of distress from heat ­— heavy panting, glazed eyes, a deep red or purple tongue, vomiting or staggering — people should help gradually lower their body temperature by using cool water and wet towels and by taking them to a veterinarian.

• I hate fleas they make me itch. It’s practically impossible to keep fleas and ticks completely at bay but there are some steps you can take to try and minimize the opportunities for contact with your pet.

Wildlife, including opossums, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks, and even untreated cats and dogs can deposit flea eggs into a yard. It may be possible to reduce flea infestations by limiting the access these animals have around your house and yard. Your local nursery or garden professional may have some advice on what to plant or other strategies to discourage animal trespassers.

It can be helpful to alter the landscape around your homes to make it unsuitable for ticks and their hosts. For example, keep the lawn mowed, remove leaf litter accumulations and prune shrubs and trees.

Contact a professional pest specialist if you have any questions regarding environmental treatments for ticks.

Despite your efforts to reduce the fleas and ticks in your yards, we may still be exposed to these parasites, so you should take measures to help protect us. Treat all dogs and cats in the household with a flea and tick control product. One untreated pet can lead to a flea infestation in the household. Topical products can help protect your dog from unexpected flea and tick sources by killing adult fleas, eggs and larvae, and all stages of ticks.

Consistency is key. Even one missed dose of your monthly flea and tick control can set the stage for a flea infestation that takes months to resolve, or put your pet at greater risk of exposure to a tick borne disease. So be sure you treat your pet now and continue monthly applications throughout the rest of the year. You know that you hate to see us scratching all of the time.

“Al, my sweet boy. I’ll keep you in my heart forever.”

•  The Humane Society of Ventura County is having an open house. See page 8 for all of the details.

•  June – August summer adoption specials at Ventura County Animal Services(VCAS)
Mondays: Mixed-Breed Mondays $30
Tuesday: Twenty Dollar Tuesdays $20
Wednesdays: Wabbit Wednesdays $40 (white rabbits) $70 (bonded pairs)
Thursdays: Throwback Thursdays – 1992 rates $22
Fridays: Fifteen Dollar Feline Fridays $15
Saturdays: Super-Size Saturdays – Large Breeds ($25
Sundays: Senior Sundays – Humans 55+ or Pets 5+ $25

Please visit www.vcas.us for information and exclusions.

•  Across China and in the city of Yulin, thousands of dogs are being rounded up. Pets have been stolen, and strays are being snatched off the streets. Trucks and motorcycles are roaring into town with cages full of animals captured, some from thousands of miles away, others from nearby provinces… all in preparation for the annual Dog Meat Festival, just weeks away.

The dogs’ journey to this dreaded place—crammed on top of each other and transported for days without food or water—is only the beginning of their suffering.

Once they arrive, they’ll be beaten to death in front of each other; each one waiting, terrified and helpless, until it’s his turn to be pulled out by the neck with iron tongs and hit repeatedly on the head with a metal pole to stop him from fighting. Finally, his throat will be cut open to let the blood run out.

Please urge China to stop this cruelty towards animals now. With support from international and local animal advocates, media, celebrities and—the outraged and appalled—members of the Chinese and global public, momentum is building to stop this barbarity, which brings shame to Yulin and the rest of China.

•  My friend Donna Iverson runs Walkabout Ventura. She provides all kinds of services for us dogs including park excursions, pet sitting (even for cats), pet taxi and much more. She can be reached at 766-8425 or [email protected]. Tell her I sent you and she will give me some good dog treats.

•   Paw Works opens storefront in the Pacific View Mall
by my good friend Barbara Hinton

Did you know that there is now a “store” in the Pacific View Mall where you can adopt animals who need homes, purchase pet supplies and shop for gently used clothing?  Paw Works, a nonprofit animal rescue organization, opened a pet adoption center in the mall in November of 2015.  The center is located on the second level of the mall next to JC Penney.

Paw Works has a second adoption center in Thousand Oaks at the Oaks Mall.  The adoption centers allow the organization to introduce rescued cats and dogs to potential adoptive families in a calm and comfortable setting.  The Ventura center includes an upscale resale boutique that sells donated clothing and household items, with proceeds benefitting the nonprofit rescue.  They accept donations of gently used clothing or other items, and if you call them they will even come and pick up your donations.

Launched in January 2014, Paw Works is dedicated to partnering with county and city shelters to give abandoned animals a second chance at life.  The group has saved more than 1,900 pets to date and placed them in caring homes.  They have also spayed or neutered close to 250 rescued animals.

Animal rescue work requires the assistance of dedicated volunteers.  Paw Works is looking for individuals who are willing to help at the adoption centers or at local adoption events.  If you are willing to provide a temporary home for a rescued pet, they also need caring individuals or families that are willing to foster rescued dogs or cats.

Paw Works has accomplished much, but still has more to do.  Goals include the acquisition of a mobile spay and neuter van and creating a training facility and sanctuary.  For more information on how you can assist Paw Works, please go to their website:  www.pawworks.org or email them [email protected].

•   Ventura County Animal Services(VCAS) and SPAN are having a free shots and licenses clinic for homeless and low income people. Cats in carriers and dogs on leashes please. Wednesday May 25, 11 to 12 at SPAN 110 N. Olive Street, Ventura.

For low income cat and dog owners $10 spays and neuters at SPAN on June 9.

Call to schedule an appointment  584-3823

•   Pet cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore if you follow Cesar Millan’s quick and easy tips. You and your pup will both be happier and healthier if you do!

Your dog’s bedding tends to attract a buildup of dirt and grime. Follow these four steps to ensure a clean, comfortable sleep for Fido.

Vacuum the bed regularly to remove hair, dirt, and other debris. Follow up with a lint roller to pull away any hair the vacuum may have left behind.

Wash the cover and the bed base (if it’s machine washable) in cold water. Use a mild laundry detergent—no dyes or fragrance. Add a cup of baking soda to help neutralize odor. Dry for about 20 minutes.

A stinky collar can ruin the pleasures of a freshly groomed dog. But how do you clean a dog collar without damaging the webbing material or hardware? Put a couple of squirts of dog shampoo (which will help prevent skin irritation) in a bowl and fill the bowl with hot water. Let your dog’s collar soak for about 15 minutes. Rub the collar against itself to extract any ground-in dirt. If necessary, apply extra shampoo directly to the collar. Avoid using a brush, which could damage the material. Rinse the collar under running water and hang to dry.

To remove pet hair from furniture, drapes, or other fabric-covered items, use rubber gloves. Slightly dampen a glove on your hand and sweep the fabric with it. Hair will ball up and be easy to pick up. Wash and dry gloves between uses.

The rain (what is that?) means muddy paws, but a little prevention can keep your dog from tracking dirt inside the house. First, trim the hair around your pup’s paws regularly — mud won’t clump to his feet when the hair is kept short. On days that you can’t avoid a little mud, keep a bucket of warm water and a towel near the door.

Over-bathing your dog can cause dry skin, which results in itching and flaking.  Avoid these issues—but keep your pup smelling fresh—by giving him a quick dry bath. Brush out his coat first to loosen dead hair, dirt, and debris. Wipe him down with a towel spritzed with a solution of half apple cider vinegar and half water. Follow up by sprinkling baking soda on him and rubbing it in, which will neutralize the smell of the vinegar. Let it sit for a minute or two, then brush it off.

Wash dog toys to keep them germ-free and in good shape for years of enjoyment. For soft toys, pop them in the washing machine, ideally in a garment bag. (Be sure to use dog-safe detergent.) Line dry or put them in the dryer inside a pillowcase. Hard toys can be cleaned in the sink with a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar and a brush or sponge. An easy alternative: Put your pal’s toys in the dishwasher with her bowls.

Bailey was a C.A.R.L. adoption dog who passed away in April from cancer, she was 14 years old and will be greatly missed by her family.