Animals and Daylight Saving Time

I was at the gym yesterday, riding the bike and visiting with my friend Jennifer. She loves animals and is a rescuer at heart. Her recent rescue is a calf named Jersey. Jersey is four weeks old and is bottle fed three times a day. Unfortunately, when we sprang forward in time, Jersey’s tummy didn’t make the leap. He moos sadly because his schedule has changed.

After the gym I went to visit my friend Pat. She has an adorable fluffy gray cat named Electra. During our visit Electra came in to demand her dinner. Pat explained that her dinner wasn’t until later. Well, regardless of what the clock said, her tummy didn’t agree. Electra knew it was time to eat. In fact, she was quite offended that we had ignored her request and snubbed us royally.

It dawned on me that we humans live by the clock, and when we set the clock forward or backward, we adjust our schedules too. So when you apply daylight savings time to your routine, it confuses animals. Just like humans, animals have internal clocks that tell them when to eat, sleep and wake up. This timekeeper is known as circadian rhythm and is set in motion by natural sunlight. Electricity has minimized the effect because we have light at the flip of a switch from an animal’s point of view when humans change the clocks for daylight savings time, we are suddenly behaving oddly. To animals, it is inexplicable that dinner hour is suddenly an hour later or earlier than expected. So, that explains Jersey’s mooing and Electra’s meowing.

My own experience is waking up to Watson’s licks and insistence that I get up to feed him. I certainly will be glad when we all readjust to this schedule. Until then, I will stumble out of bed to get his breakfast on command. Good grief, I’m certainly not saving my sanity; daylight savings = daylight sleepy.

WHO’S WHO

Our Who’s Who this week is the Bailey family, owners of the Flower Tree Nursery. It is with heartfelt gratitude we thank them for supporting CAPS. Mike and Joe have graciously supplied lovely living trees for our raffle. If you have a chance, stop by and tell them thank you for making our community such a great place to live. CAPS gives you a four paw salute! We thank and love you!Congratulations to Linda Deffauer the winner of our March tree raffle. We thank everyone who bought tickets. Your support of CAPS is awesome, and we are grateful for your contributions.

WHO’S NEW AT THE CAPS’ ZOO?

Zazu is a beautiful one-year-old Lab mix who is just waiting for someone play with. He is very playful, fun and absolutely great with other dogs. Zazu is a happy, goofy bundle of joy. He needs a secure fence because he can climb if he is left alone. Come out for a ballgame with this boy and have the time of your life.

We also have kitties ready for their new homes. Policy, however, prohibits adopting out puppies or kittens under the age of six months to a home with children under five years of age. This is to protect both the children and the animal.

CAPS’ NEWS AND EVENTS

Flower Tree Nursery is again raffling a 15-gallon tree of your choice. The drawing date is June 15, and the winner doesn’t have to be present to win. Raffle tickets are available at Flower Tree, and they are $1 for one ticket and $5 for six tickets.

CAPS will be at Walmart on April 16 along with adorable Ki at our Kissin’ Booth. There may also be a “mystery” kisser. Please come by and give our boys a big hug and kiss. We have hoodies, sweatshirts and caps, so please check them out before or after greeting our canine volunteers.

Bark in the Park will be held May 7: watch here for details.

CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89407. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. Please visit our Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are really likable. Our website is presently undergoing construction. Watch this column for the grand opening of our new site.

Do you have questions, comments or a great story? Contact me jkwmil@outlook.com.

Kathleen Williams-Miller, a CAPS volunteer, contributed this week’s column.