How to Avoid Buying a Lemon

Buying a car is exciting.  But no one wants to buy a lemon.  

Wrecked cars, even after repaired, can have serious problems down the road.  And flood cars, which are becoming a large problem, are dangerous and should be avoided.  Here are some telltale signs that a used car has been in a flood or wreck:

1. Paint that chips off or doesn't match indicates damage repair and poor blending.
2. Paint over-spray on chrome, trim, or rubber seals around body openings reveals that the adjacent panel was repaired.
3. A car can be repainted, straightened and buffed out. It might look good, but it could hiding damage. Run a magnet along the car and if the magnet drops, there's bondo under it. If it's a really large area, this is a car you don't need. If it's small, still question it.
4. Misaligned fenders suggest a poor repair job or use of non original equipment manufacturer (non-OEM) parts.
5. CAPA (Certified Automotive Parts Association) sticker on any part may indicate collision repair.
6. Uneven tread wear reveals wheel misalignment, possibly because of frame damage.
7. Mold or air freshener cover-up suggests water damage from a leak or flood.
8. Silt in trunk may mean flood damage.  Another trick is to run your hand along the underside of the dashboard in the crevices and if you pull out a handful of dirt or dry mud, that's the best indicator of a flood car.
9. Rust where it should not be is a sign of flood damage. If there is rust on the inside of the car for example on the door frames where the interior panel meets the frame that's not a good sign.
10. Fresh undercoating on wheel wells, chassis, or engine strongly suggests recent structural repairs covered up.
11. Door that doesn't close correctly could point to a door-frame deformation and poor repair.
12. Hood or trunk that doesn't close squarely may indicate twisting from side impact.
13. Dashboard lights, power windows, and other electronics with intermittent problems could be a sign of flood damage.
14. Dashboard airbag indicator that doesn't light up could mean the airbag was replaced improperly--or wasn't replaced at all--after an accident.
15. Big dents, kinks in structural components, or crimped or crunched fuel lines and pipes underneath are the easiest problems to find because re-builders assume you won't be looking there.
16. Uneven surfaces on frame components could be filler, seam sealer, or welding beads.
17. Damaged/gouged nuts and metal on top surface of strut tower (which connects the front wheels to the frame) in engine compartment may mean the frame was realigned.
18. New metal on only one part of the hood apron shows section repair rather than replacement of the entire apron piece.
19. Welding bead anywhere on heavy frame members underneath the engine suggests frame-rail sectioning or sloppy repair of a cutout made in the rail to perform repair work.
20. Inconsistent welds around hood apron, door, door frame, or trunk exemplify a non-factory weld.
21. Frayed safety belts or belt fibers that have melted together because of friction indicate a previous frontal impact above 15 mph.
22. Missing car emblem or name on trunk may mean a non-OEM part was used.
23. Missing VIN number plates.  Aside from the dashboard plate, every panel on the car has a manufacturers sticker with the VIN number. They are located on the underside of the hood and trunk lids, door jambs and on the bumpers.  If you notice any of them missing then the car more than likely was in an accident and the panel was repaired or replaced.

Do You Know What Your Dog is Really Trying To Tell You?

Our Dogs. They are for many of us a constant companion by our side. For others they may be valued more so for duties, that can only be completed by none other than the dog himself. But as we share our day to day lives with these one of a kind creatures, who scientists now believe may have began co-existing with humans over 15K years ago, we must ask ourselves if we really know our dogs as well as we think we do.

Dogs are generally social animals, meaning they often live in a group, pack or family, therefore making clear and effective communication a vital role in their ability as a species and as an individual to survive & evolve. Communication serves many important factors in our dogs day to day lives, including conflict resolution as well as a dogs ability to gain access to resources they want or need on a day to day basis. (Resources are anything & everything an individual dog may desire, such as food, water, toys, attention, etc).Although there is ongoing and fascinating research that is leading many top researchers in the field of canine cognition to believe that dogs are evolving to be “expert human behavior observers and manipulators”, dogs have yet to evolve to the point in which they communicate primarily through vocalization, which is ironically the way we as humans tend to try and primarily communicate with our dogs. Dogs primarily communicate through a series of artful, yet often subtle to the human eye, movements and body postures.

One of the most fascinating aspects of dog behavior, is the dogs ability to literally regulate stressful, exciting or over stimulating situations for themselves by using a series of what are called “Calming Signals”. Have you ever noticed your dog randomly doing a “shake off” (literally shaking his whole body, as if he just took a bath) after something exciting or maybe even something stressful happens? He may also, in these situations offer behaviors such as yawning, licking his lips, turning his head (looking away), stretching, randomly sniffing or scratching, or maybe even raising his paw.

These behaviors can be indicators that your dog may be feeling overwhelmed by a certain situation.

One behavior that is somewhat misunderstood, but is gaining a new understanding in the field of dog behavior research, is the tail wag. When your dog wags his tail, does that mean he is always happy?

While some wags are indeed associated with happiness, and positive emotions, other tails wags can indicate stress or fear. The newest research on this topic, has shown that a dog who wags his tail with a bias to the right, is generally in a more positive emotional state, while a dog who wags his tail more so to the left may be in a more negative emotional state. As well as the direction of the tail wag, look for specifics as to how high or low your dog may be holding his tail. Is it tucked tightly between his legs but slightly wagging? This may mean he is nervous. It is held very high & stiff with a slight but quick wag? This could mean he is on high alert, but not necessarily always mean he is “happy”. The best indicator that a tail wag is intending to communicate a friendly interaction, is that the tail is wagging in big swoops, set at half mast, usually accompanied by a loose body.

One point that I try to leave with all of my clients as I work with them to help resolve problems or teach their dog new behaviors, is that as much as we as the dogs owner want our dogs to “obey” and respect us, we must first respect and understand our dogs, in order to expect that our dogs will return the favor.

by Heather Polechio, CPDT-KA, CTC. MindfulMutz Training & Behavior Consulting.

How to Remove a Tick From Your Pet

Pet owners who find a tick on their pets typically act swiftly with the goal of removing this parasitic arachnid as quickly as possible. However, moving too quickly can hurt the pet and even its owner. Tick removal kits can be highly effective and are often inexpensive, but owners can remove the tick themselves as well. The following are a few tick-removal tips courtesy of the ASPCA.

Be prepared to keep the tick
Some tick bites are worse than others, and if your pet falls ill after a tick bite, the tick itself might provide some valuable insight for your pet’s veterinarian. So owners about to remove a tick from their pet should prepare to keep the tick, ideally in a screw-top jar containing some rubbing alcohol. Keep the jar close to you when you begin the removal process.

Protect yourself
Ticks, even those that have already bitten your pet, can carry infective agents, which may enter your bloodstream through breaks in your skin or if you touch your eyes, nostrils or mouth. When removing a tick, be sure to wear rubber or latex gloves to protect yourself from direct contact with the tick or the bite area.

Enlist help
Pets will likely try to squirm away as you remove the tick, so enlist some help to hold the animal still or help it relax.

Prepare the area, and remove the tick
When you’re ready to remove the tick, treat the bite area with rubbing alcohol. Once treated, use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the animal’s skin as possible before pulling the tick straight upward with steady, even pressure. During removal, do not twist or jerk the tick, as doing so can leave parts of the tick embedded in the pet or cause the tick to regurgitate infective fluids. Once the tick is removed, do not squeeze or crush it, as this can cause it to expel fluids that may contain infective organisms. Immediately place the tick in the jar you’ve selected for storage.

Examine the area where the tick was removed
It’s not always possible to remove the tick entirely. Sometimes parts of the tick’s mouth will remain embedded in the animal’s skin. If the area is not red or inflamed but parts of the mouth remain, disinfect the area and leave the mouth parts in. Apply a warm compress to the area, which may expel the remaining mouth parts.

Clean the area and yourself
When the tick is removed, disinfect the bite area thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean yourself as well, washing your hands even if you wore gloves. Sterilize the tweezers with alcohol or carefully run them over a flame.

Continue monitoring the bite area for infection
Even if the tick removal process goes smoothly, continue to monitor the bite area for infection. If the area is red or inflamed or becomes red or inflamed following the removal, visit the veterinarian and bring the jar with the tick inside along.

Animal Haven of Asheville

Animal Haven of Asheville (a 501c3 organization) has been in operation for 14 years and is located in East Asheville.  The ten acre sanctuary is currently home to 100 homeless and abused animals, with an emphasis on farm animals.  Current residents include sheep, goats, geese, pot belly pigs, ducks, rabbits, chickens, cats, and dogs.  Animal Haven receives many of the farm animals from cruelty cases and animal shelters all over Western North Carolina.  Each animal that comes to live at the sanctuary receives any necessary medical treatment, rehabilitation, and enormous amounts of nurturing from the volunteers.  Animal Haven of Asheville is a cage free environment and those animals unable to be placed in a forever home live their lifetime at the sanctuary.

Animal Haven of Asheville is a volunteer based organization with volunteers ranging in age from six to sixty six.  Opportunities for volunteers range from hands on with the animals i.e. feeding, cleaning animal habitats, walking dogs to working in our on site Thrift Store.  The 1500 square foot thrift store was built by volunteers and through the generosity of the community is overflowing with housewares, furniture, clothes, books, tools, electronics, jewelry, and more.  Since Animal Haven is a volunteer based organization, all the proceeds from the thrift store benefit the animals.

Animal Haven has a very strong and all inclusive Humane Education program.  Throughout the year, many schools come to the sanctuary either to work directly with animals or for an educational tour about the current animals and the plight of homeless and abused animals in the community and beyond.  Once a month for the past seven years, 2nd and 3rd graders come out to help feed the animals and clean their habitats.  Groups of college students also come out for major projects such as fencing, painting, cleaning the creek etc. Rehabilitation centers also pitch in as well as church groups, mentor programs, and Brownie Troops, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Eagle Scouts.

Animal Haven is also involved with the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women (for the past 8 years) and the Craggy Correctional Center for Men(for the past 2 years) through the “New Leash on Life” program.  This program allows up to five homeless dogs to live at these facilities for an 8 - 12 week period where they are taught basic obedience, crate training, housebreaking, socialization etc. by inmates selected to be their trainers.  An outside trainer visits weekly to instruct the inmate trainers and to address any other issues.  Animal Haven provides all medical, food, crates, toys, treats, food, blankets etc.  During this training period new homes are actively sought for the dogs and upon graduation, complete with “pomp and circumstance”, the dogs are united with their new families. 

This program is a new leash on life for the participating dogs, making them highly adoptable, well rounded and well loved.  But it is also a lease on life for the inmates/trainers directly involved and for the entire inmate population.  These dogs allow an outlet for love, compassion, friendship, and nurturing for the trainers, a reason to get up every morning, responsibility for a living, breathing creature.  For everyone involved, new friendships are made, grievances are down, and morale sky rockets.  The presence of these dogs has created a powerful environment in these facilities, and a change in the lives of the trainers that has no limits and will be with all of them forever.  To learn more about this program or to learn about the dogs for adoption, call Animal Haven at 828-299-1635.

Animal Haven of Asheville is located at 65 Lower Grassy Branch Road in East Asheville and is open to the public Tuesday - Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm.  Visit the website at animalhaven.org.

Four Healthy Hobbies for Men

How a man spends his free time can go a long way toward improving his quality of life and overall health.

Family- and work-related stress might be unavoidable, but a healthy hobby can make it easier for men to cope with that stress. But even if you aren’t stressed out, the following healthy hobbies can improve your quality of life and help you make the most of your free time.

1. Dust off that old guitar
Playing an instrument, whether it’s the guitar, the piano, the drums, etc., is a great way to relax and, depending on when you started playing, may have a significant and positive impact on your mental health in the years to come. A study published in the July 2012 issue of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that playing a musical instrument may reduce the effects of mental decline associated with aging. Researchers behind the study based their findings on adults who learned to play music in childhood, so men who learned to play their guitar or tickle the ivories as a child might benefit more than those who learned to play as an adult. But even grown men with no previous musical experience can benefit from playing during their free time.

2. Hit the dance floor
Perhaps thanks to the popularity of the hit television show “Dancing With the Stars,” which has seen professional football players like Emmitt Smith, Donald Driver and Hines Ward excel on the dance floor, more and more men are taking up dance, which can improve cardiovascular health and help men shed a few extra pounds. Dancing is also a great way to build muscle and improve bone health. What’s more, few women can resist a man who isn’t afraid to show his stuff on the dance floor.

3. Escape into a good book
Reading is a great way to keep abreast of what’s going on in the world, and reading also provides several health benefits. Research has shown that activities like reading can improve memory function, delaying or even preventing age-related memory loss. Reading is also a great way to cope with stress, providing a welcome respite from the daily grind that allows you to peacefully unwind at the end of the day.

4. Get your hands dirty in the garden
Gardening is another great way to relieve stress while also getting some time in the fresh air. A 2011 study from researchers based in the Netherlands found that gardening is more effective at improving mood than reading. That study examined two groups of people who were instructed to read or garden for 30 minutes. When the half hour was up, the participants who gardened reported being in a better mood than those who read, and the gardening group also had lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress. Additional studies have also linked gardening to reducing the symptoms associated with depression.

by Metro Creative Connection