Good News | Everybody Loves Sammy

Melanie Raccoon

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

We have a fascinating feature today. Say hello to Melanie Raccoon. As you know, we have been writing on all kinds of animals for years, but I have never in my life come across such an intelligent and sweet animal as Melanie Raccoon. I have to believe Melanie is one of the smartest animals on Earth, and certainly the smartest Raccoon. Kimberly Unger, originally from the US and now living in England, is Melanie’s human mom. Kimberly says, “Melanie is like a daughter to me because we have such a wonderful bond.” — Just recently a documentary was filmed about Melanie and Kimberly, and will most likely be broadcast on Television. Sammy & Family would love to see that.

Melanie Raccoon and human mom, Kimberly Unger chilling in the car together. Photo credit goes to; http://vsitv.net

Kimberly is originally from Delaware, and moved to England 5 years ago. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Equine Science. Equine science is a specialization within animal science, which involves the study of reproduction, physiology, behavior and nutrition of horses. To say that Kimberly knows animals, is the understatement of the century.

Melanie can be very curious and inquisitive. She loves to explore and learn.

Kimberly has done animal behavioral research with internationally renowned animal behaviorists. She has had animals all of her life, has worked with, and trained other animals, including horses, dogs, parrots, etc. Kimberly has ridden horses for over 20 years and used to compete in show jumping. Kimberly currently has 3 baby raccoon’s that she is training and socializing.

Despite Melanie being a domesticated house pet, she makes time to get in touch with nature.

There is a stigma about animals that know so many tricks and behaviors, that they are not really happy. Often people think of the circus when they see such a smart animal. I want to make the distinction in this feature, that a raccoon or most animals for that matter, if taken care of and loved, can be just as great as having a dog. The fact that an animal is so smart is not indicative of the animal’s state of happiness or unhappiness. The treatment of the animal is.

The “Everybody Loves Sammy” community, which is comprised of animal lovers around the world, can say unequivocally that Melanie Raccoon is extremely loved, cared for and happily stimulated with all that she learns.

Melanie always make time for recreation. She’s smooth as a cucumber on her little Scooter.

OK, so lets find out who Melanie Raccoon is and what she’s all about. Melanie is four years old. Kimberly got her when she was 8 weeks old. Melanie is captive and hand raised. She knows over 100 behaviours. This little raccoon has the intelligence of a child. She’s almost human, but in critter form, so to speak.

Melanie Loves her Porridge. Look at that smile while she prepares for her next taste

It’s funny, people normally think of raccoons in the sense of the animals that knock over our garbage cans at night while we sleep. But all animals would do that in order to find food to survive, even domesticated dogs if they had to. Kimberly shows us that raccoons, if loved and taken care of, can be just as great as any other pet companion. You can also see Melanie on Instagram.

Auditions for Britain’s Got Talent 2013. Kimberly and Melanie were judged by David Walliams, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell. Photo credit goes to ITV.com

Melanie Raccoon’s YouTube Channel – You can also just click on picture above to bounce to Melanie’s YouTube Chanel. Friends, this Channel is a must see. Melanie Raccoon can do things some people can’t even do. I truly have never see anything like this in my life.

Melanie is very musically inclined, despite nibbling on the drumstick sometimes.

Melanie is so smart that she does not need a GPS to know where she is going. She can just look out the window and know exactly where she is. You can find Melanie on FB also; Melanie Raccoon.

Melanie can be very preppy and academic. Being from England she has learned to be very proper.

Information about Melanie and Kimberly

Visit Melanie and Kimberly at their upcoming website: www.melanieraccoon.co.uk (the site is under construction, but please bookmark it for future reference).

Melanie is four years old.
She is captive bred and hand raised.
I got her when she was 8 weeks old, and I have taught her over 100 behaviours.
She loves people and other animals.
She is used to traveling in trains, buses, cars, and boats.
She loves to go for long walks and is used to traffic.
Melanie is like a daughter to me because we have such a wonderful bond.
Teaching her behaviors has strengthened this bond.
I have 3 baby raccoon’s who I am training/socializing now
I am from Delaware, in the USA, and moved to England 5 years ago.
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Equine Science.
I have done animal behaviour research with internationally renown animal behaviourists.
I have had animals all of my life and have worked with and trained other animals, including horses, dogs, parrots, etc.
I have ridden horses for over 20 years and used to compete in show jumping.
Besides Melanie, I have three baby raccoons, an Aru Island Eclectus parrot, an Indian ring neck parakeet, a red-whiskered bulbul bird, a Hovawart dog, and two rare rabbit breeds.

Melanie can be very Shakespearean; “To Swing, or not to swing, that is the question?”

Fun Facts About Raccoons

President Coolidge and his wife had a raccoon named Rebecca.

The raccoon’s scientific name, Procyon lotor, means “washer dog” but it is a closer relative to the bear family.

Raccoons rank higher than cats and just below monkeys on the mammal IQ scale.

The word raccoon means “one who rubs, scrubs, and scratches with its hands”, and has been derived from the Proto-Algonquin language.

Raccoons are highly intelligent and have a manual dexterity close to that of apes. Their long delicate fingers easily open clam shells, trash cans and doors.

A raccoon can run at speeds up to 15 miles per hour.

Racoons are omnivorous animals, and eat acorns, leaves, grasshoppers, crickets, worms, frogs, clams, turtles and their eggs, snakes, fish, and squirrels. In urban areas, they survive on garbage and are sometimes seen eating roadkill.

Raccoons do not like tomatoes due to the high acidic content in them.

Scientists say that raccoons can make over 51 different sounds! They purr, whistle, growl, hiss, scream and more.

A raccoon’s hands are so nimble they can unlace a shoe, unlatch a cage and easily retrieve dimes from your shirt pocket.

Raccoons can rotate their hind feet a full 180 degrees in order to climb down from trees head first.

Sammy & Family wants to thank Kimberly Unger for making the world a better place for animals. Through her love, care and knowledge about animals, Kimberly’s got the Magic touch. She has literally dedicated her life to animals and sets the bar for the rest of us to follow. Kimberly, we commend and salute you for all you’ve done for animals around the world.

On Facebook; Melanie Raccoon

On Instagram; Melanie Raccoon

Story continues here; Unfortunately, there are numerous cases where orphaned raccoons have been cared for by loving people, only to have them confiscated by intimidating numbers of armed officers, and put to death. Kimberly hopes that she and Melanie will be able to help educate people, so this will not continue to happen. Here are some stories you can read. (Warning – they are hard to read):

The Government Took This Man’s Raccoon Away Because of a Viral Video
http://www.vice.com/read/the-government-took-this-mans-raccoon-because-of-a-viral-video

Tenn. agency rules with iron fist to end wildlife adoptions, some say (with video)
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2014/apr/06/out-of-the-wildthe-twra-takes-seriously-its-duty/136436/

Pets of ‘Raccoon Man’ euthanized on Friday
http://www.alligator.org/news/local/article_725104ee-a588-11e2-91b9-0019bb2963f4.html

Poppy Tuesday on October 13th, 2015

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Happy Poppy Tuesday. A day filled with Hope and Possibilities. Remember, if the Pops can do it, anyone can. Let the story of the Pops propel you through your challenges. The odds were so stacked against him on having a good life, and now his life so grand its hard to believe. Poppy has become the heart of this family, without him, there is no us.

In the lyrics of Barry Manilow’s song; “I Made it through the Rain” — The lyrics are ♫♫♫, When friends are hard to find, and life seems so unkind, sometimes you feel afraid. Just aim beyond the clouds, and rise about the crowds and start your own parade. Cause when I chased my fears away, that when I knew I can finally say, I make it through the rain ♫♫♫. Powerful lyrics, right ?

OK, lets kick this Poppy Tuesday off with two Positive Notions.

1. I made some mistakes, I will improve on that. I’m not going to beat the hell out of myself for something that already was. What’s done is done, I’ll do better next time.

2. Today is another gift. Good, bad or indifferent “today” is another gift. We know that because many people that were with us yesterday, won’t be with us any longer. That’s how you confirm to yourself today is a gift. We get another shot at life today.

See you tonight friends. Dr. Harp Seal here on day 276 in Puerto Rico.

Two New ways to figure out your Real Age

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Dr. Harp Seal here. Thank you for stopping by. So today we are going to review two new mathematical ways to find out your real age.

The first way is take your current age and subtract the year you kind of figured life out. So in my case, I am 46 years old and I sort of figured life out at 40 years old. So we take 46 – 40 and we get 6. I am currently six years old.

The Second way is take your current age and subtract the year you figured out what you really love. Lets take Vanessa for example. She is 47 years old. When she was 45 she learned that she loved working out in the gym. So we take 47 – 45 and we get 2. Vanessa is really two years old.

So there it is friends. That is how Dr. Harp Seal calculates people’s real age.

Have a great day.

Jo Ann Smith and the Banking Crisis lead me to Henry

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Recently we were asked to share the story of how Henry came in to our lives. I have told you the story of Sammy and my Kentucky friend in 2005, and Vanessa and I told you the story of when we got Patrick.

So today I will tell you the story of how Henry entered the picture. If you remember in 2008 our country went through a “Financial Pearl Harbor” — Banks were going down for the count left and right.

Additionally, on April 21, 2008, my mother had open heart surgery. She had an aortic valve replacement. So I moved in with her for about 6 months while she was rehabilitating. Between her recovery and commuting to North Jersey for work everyday, I started feeling Sammy was a little lonely. I did Not know what to do. The stock markets were extremely intense and the country was shell shocked.

When Lehman Brothers went down within 48 hours of their original news, which was a company that had been around for 100 years, I knew it was lights out for the economy for years to come. The point being is trading was not letting up, and between work and my mother, I was exhausted.

So one night after work, I went into a pet shop and went right up to the guy and said; “I want the most timid and shy dog in the store. He said; “that’s an interesting request” — I said; “I know, but I have a very confident little Pomeranian at home,and I don’t want anyone stepping on his toes, but he needs a friend”

So the salesman said, I have the perfect dog for you. And he handed over this baby Havanese who was shaking like a leaf. I mean shaking like I couldn’t believe. The dog would not even look up to see who was holding him. I looked at the salesman and I said, “Perfect, I will take him” — This guy was looking at me like I was the craziest person he has ever seen walking into his store. So we get to the register, and he said, that will be $3200. I said to myself, “Did he just say $3200?” And yes, he did. Havanese’s are very expensive dogs. Anyway, I paid the tab and brought this little guy home for Sammy.

When I walked in the apartment, I said to my mother, “Say hello to our new roommate” — I put him down on the Floor and named him “Henry” right on the spot. It was the perfect fit. Sammy came right up to him, Henry immediately looked down.

Mission accomplished, Sammy had a friend that was not going to try to be the dominant male. This all gave way to how the “Soldier of Love” was formed. His original purpose was to keep Sammy happy. When Sammy was happy, I was happy. So Henry knew to keep Sammy happy. Now of course years later, life without Henry would be unimaginable. Henry is way more to the Smith Family then just Sammy’s sidekick.

And that is the story of how Henry came on to the scene. Happy Sunday Funday. Day 274 here in Puerto Rico. Dr. Harp Seal for Sammy & Family.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Pink: It’s not just a color, it’s a message, it’s a mission, it’s you, it’s me, it’s to fight breast cancer together.

See you all tonight.

Bung and Felix the Cat

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good evening friends.

We hope everyone had a nice day. Every now and then life throws us a gift. Tonight that gift is 11 year old Nathan C with a fun story. In the picture is his mom Tiffany. Nathan is wearing this pink t-shirt to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Tiffany is a great friend of Sammy & Family. This gal is a great mother, a great pilot, yes pilot, a great freight conductor and she is hoping to be flight attendant soon to have more personal interaction. In essence she is like a female Indiana Jones.

OK, let’s hear Nathan C’s fun story. Here we go;

Once upon a time there was two cats. One was named Bung and one named Felix the Cat. There also was a vicious dog named Roodie.

Bung and Felix were by themselves on a plane headed to South America. As Bung and Felix were traveling they spotted an enemy plane that started firing marsh mellows and gumballs at them. If they did not lose some weight on their plane they were doomed to go down. So then Bung talked Felix into jumping out of the plane with a parachute so that he would not go down. Felix made it to the ground safely.

But then Bung saw Roodie flying the enemy plane. Roodie started shooting at Bung and the plane was going down. Felix just stood there waiting for Bung to crash land. Bung was freaking out! The plane and Bung hit the ground with a lot of force good but Bung made it out OK. Bung realized she still had her marsh mellow shotgun and blew down Roodie’s plane. Bung called a rescue helicopter to save himself and Felix. Wow, what a day these two cats had. When Bung and Felix got back home, they said they would never do that again. The End. By Nathan C.

Great story Nathan, we can’t wait to hear your next one.

Monkey see Monkey do

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Dr. Harp Seal here. Thank you for stopping by. A fun one for today. We all know the expression; “The grass is greener on the other side” — As an example, when i give my boys treats, they each take one, and then put it down and try to take the other ones from each other.

Now interestingly enough, and I have only seen this of late, when one of them does not take the treat, the other two wont take the treat either. I guess this is what they mean when they say; “Monkey See, Monkey do”

Have a great day friends.

Michelle and Sammy

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Happy Throwback Thursday. This Sammy & Family’s great friend Michelle Colucci from California. We had the pleasure of meeting her back in November of 2012.

Michelle is a flight attendant and had a layover one night in NY. If I remember correctly she was staying in Brooklyn and it was very rainy evening. Nonetheless she trekked all the way to the upper east side in NYC to meet Sammy & Family. It was a real treat for Sammy and the crew.

Michelle has two amazing kitties. Checkout their Instagram account; https://instagram.com/ragamuffin_pumpkin_marine/

Friends Have a great Thursday and we will see you tonight. Scott Smith for Sammy & Family.

Hensday

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Its great to be here with everyone on Wednesday, September 30th, 2015. We see its a rainy week back in NYC so we figured this was a fitting picture.

Henry reminds us that Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, all he needs is his ball and life will be OK. Look at the peace and satisfaction he feels just sitting with himself and his ball. It reminds of Tom hanks and his volleyball Wilson from the movie “Cast Away”

OK friends, let kick this day off with three Positive Notion.

1. Today is Hensday. Henry + Wednesday = Hensday. And we know Henry is the Soldier of Love, so that makes today a day of love. So happy National Love day.

2. Its nice to have woken up today. Many people that were with us yesterday are no longer with us. We owe it to them and ourselves to suit up and show and do the best we can today.

3. Here is my response if someone says; “I don’t like you” — The response is; “I understand, take care”

See you tonight friends. Day 262 here in Puerto Rico.

Poppy In Pink

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Dr. Harp Seal

Good morning friends.

Happy Poppy Tuesday. A day filled with Hope and Possibilities. Remember if the Pops can do it, anyone can. The odds were completely stacked against him when his life started. And now, he is the heart of the family.

Today’s post is called “Poppy in Pink” — Boys and Men can wear Pink too, just look at Pops here. I think he wears pink very well.

Just for fun lets do an acronym for “Poppy” — Here we go. “Poppy – Opportunities -Poppy – Poppy – Yahoo”

OK, lets kick this Tuesday off with two Positive Notions.

1. Real men wear Pink

2. Doesn’t “Poppy in Pink” kind of set off the lyrics in your head by Madonna; ♫♫♫ Papa Don’t Preach ♫♫♫

3. Things can always be better, things can always be worse. What am i grateful for today ? That is the question.

Have a great Poppy Tuesday friends. See you tonight.

Melanie can be very preppy and academic. Being from England she has learned to be very proper.

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