RMB Newsletter Vol 3:3     Raw Meaty Bones seminars update   August 2003

Dear Reader, How are things? Well I trust. A small but growing number of ‘raw feeding’ enthusiasts continue to make a difference and a large majority of veterinarians continue their resistance -- although there are some encouraging signs. Back home in Australia Irene holds the fort and enables me to travel. Thanks Irene. Here’s a brief update on the 2003 lecture tour. Wishing you the best of health, Tom Lonsdale _____________________________________________________________________ Raw Meaty Bones lecture tour – highlights and personalities 16 April 2003 Sydney University Veterinary School Back in April the 2003 tour got underway with a lunchtime lecture hosted by the students at Sydney University Veterinary School. Perin Vale issued the invitation and organised the event within a short space of time –- with military precision. Perin, in her former life, was a member of the RAAF. A good turnout of students stayed to the end of the talk and then engaged in some lively questioning. Apparently some academics had recommended the students to attend and gain an ‘alternative’ point of view. (Is a ‘thaw’ on the way?) It’s also noteworthy that some academics sat quietly at the back of the room. Dr Michele Cotton, acting Director of the Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science, sat at the front and offered open encouragement to the students in line with her previously published position http://www.rawmeatybones.com/pgf/rmb_doc.htm 29 April 2003 Guide Dog Services, Auckland, New Zealand Lauren Elgie, Breeding Services Manager for Guide Dog Services, knows the importance of a natural diet and knows the importance of communicating the message. Lauren, at her own expense, hired an audio-visual system and worked hard to ensure the success of the evening. Guide Dogs for the Blind, Seeing-eye dogs, Pets-as-therapy dogs, they all do such an important job -- yet the world over these unfortunate animals are made to work on a junk food diet. Junk food ensures ill-health and suffering and an early retirement –- leading to more distress for their owners. Let’s hope more folks gain the courage to follow Lauren’s example. 14 June 2003 W Sussex, UK The weather was superb during the UK tour and things got off to a great start in W Sussex when a sizeable gathering filled the Sullington Village Hall. My thanks and congratulations to Jenny Sanders and Sue Merrikin of ‘Tune in to your dog’ for making the event a success. Sue and Ted Merrikin provided wonderful hospitality for me and new veterinary ally Dr Johan Joubert who flew down from Manchester. Johan specializes in dental treatment. That’s Johan at http://www.rawmeatybones.com/readers_pics/cheetah.jpg and this is what he says: http://www.rawmeatybones.com/joubert.html 19 June 2003 Essex, UK Stephen and Josie King of Crosskeys Select Books and Dog Training Centre were the prime movers for the UK tour http://crosskeysbooks.com/ Not only did they organise an enjoyable seminar, but also coordinated two other events and a wide press campaign. A delightful drive and meal in rural Essex made the evening one to remember. Thank you Stephen and Josie for all your hard work. Fran and Chris Thorne and Debbie Hill attended a 2002 talk and then brought a large group of followers to the 2003 Essex talk. Thank you. 22 June 2003 Rugeley, UK Scallywags did us proud during the one day seminar http://www.scallywags.force9.co.uk/ Erica and Alan Bennett were my charming hosts and Sheila Harper is the driving force behind this thriving organization. Once again the sun shone and the audience was knowledgeable and keen -- grass-roots organisation at its best. Thank you all. 23 June 2003 Norwich, UK Dr Attila Szkukalek of Happy Pets www.all-dogs-cats.cwc.net organised the Norwich seminar. Roger Meacock MRCVS and partner Julia Walsh www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk were there and so ensued a robust discussion with a number of dog trainers and interested persons. Dogs fed a more natural diet tend to be easier to train and suffer less hyperactivity and neurotic behaviour than those poisoned daily by junk food. These points were discussed as was Professor Kronfeld’s 1983 report that a pet food company was researching the influence of diet on behaviour. In 1986 Dr Roger Mugford published a paper revealing how untrustworthy Golden Retrievers showed dramatic improvements on a home prepared diet. Clearly the junk pet food industry knows the harm its products can do –- not only to pets but to the toddlers mauled by aggressive dogs ‘wired’ on junk food. How many more people must be disfigured or killed before something is done about this scandal? Thanks to Attila for making the evening a success. 28 – 29 June 2003 Saarbrucken, Germany In 2002 we all had a terrific time at the Gesunde Hunde (Healthy Dogs) http://www.gesundehunde.com meeting that Swanie Simon and her supporters resolved to do it over again. This year a forest conference centre near Saarbrucken, not far from the French border, provided the venue for another joyous gathering. People traveled with their dogs from Switzerland, Holland and all parts of Germany to hear nine first-class speakers. At short notice Dr Cindy Engel, author of Wild Health, had to cancel her talk and Swanie asked me to fill in. Christiane collected me from the airport, Petra translated and everyone was warm and welcoming. Self-help, energy and enthusiasm powers the raw feeding movement and nowhere is it more focused than in Germany. Congratulations to Swanie and all for a terrific job well done. 12 July – 20 August 2003 Emory Center for Lifelong Learning, USA Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA is a renowned seat of learning. The Evening at Emory program has a wide following http://www.emory.edu/eve/ and I consider myself honoured to be delivering a series of classes to enthusiastic, knowledgeable and mostly young people. One disappointment concerns the lack of vets in the audience. The Atlanta Veterinary Association was informed but chose not to respond. Nevertheless, in the class, we do have a young student who is about to go to vet school and the future belongs to the young. Alison Tyler leads by example, assists newcomers to raw feeding and works tirelessly on the discussion lists. Alison played a key role in the establishment of the Emory courses and continues in a supporting role. Thanks Alison. 16 August 2003 Anderson, South Carolina Beth Dunn and Jane Fink are organising a one-day presentation. For details and to register please contact Alison alison@rawmeatybones.com or telephone: 770 757 1498 Forward planning late 2003 and 2004 Planning is underway for the next round of seminars. If you have suggestions or would like to host a seminar we would appreciate to hear from you. Many thanks. Best wishes, Tom Lonsdale ___________________________________________________________ We welcome copies of correspondence/emails/faxes for possible inclusion in future RMB Newsletters. Please circulate, distribute or reproduce this newsletter as you wish. ___________________________________________________________ The Raw Meaty Bones Newsletter is published by: Tom Lonsdale Rivetco P/L PO Box 6096 Windsor Delivery Centre NSW 2756 Australia Phone: +61 2 4574 0537 Fax: +61 2 4574 0538 Email: rivetco@rawmeatybones.com Web: http://www.rawmeatybones.com To subscribe or unsubscribe go to: http://secureshop.rawmeatybones.com/newsletter