We asked our readers some questions about their lives during the Covid-19 outbreak. We’ll continue to post their responses here and on our Social Media pages. In this installment, our friend Lin Kinucki added some additional questions and answers about being a healthcare worker. We appreciate her sharing her perspective with us!
We’re wishing a safe and happy week.
QUESTIONS:
- Without dog shows to attend, how are you keeping busy? What is your typical day like? What are you doing on weekends?
- If you are on “house arrest,” are you doing anything differently at home? Has the quarantine changed your daily habits? Has it changed your mindset? Has it altered your plans for the future?
- If you’re a handler, are you offering (online) handling or grooming classes? If you’re an owner-handler, are you doing more training? If you’re a judge, are you studying? If you’re a breeder, are you going ahead with breeding? If you’re a designer, are you experimenting with any new tools? If you’re a photographer, are you honing your art?
ANSWERS:
Lin Kunicki
Starlite Shelties
http://www.starliteshelties.com/
1. Do you work in healthcare?
Yes. I work for a private duty Home Care agency called BrightStar Care of Chicago and La Grange, we care for all ages.
2. What type of position?
Community Liaison- I work with families, discharge planners, case management and social workers on care coordination when a patient needs care in their home. The families need help with figuring out the next steps for discharge and that is even more difficult with all the COVID-19 precautions. We can do services that help with personal care as well as skilled nursing duties wherever home might be. During this COVID-19 outbreak families have needed home care for loved ones that can be discharged from hospitals and rehabs to home so beds can be prepared for others.
3. Your name and breed
Linda Kunicki, Shetland Sheepdogs aka Shelties – Starlite Shelties- IL
4. Without dog shows to attend, how are you keeping busy? What is your typical day like? What are you doing on weekends?
Since I work full time in healthcare, I’ve been a bit busier during the week and weekend. So, it would be hard to do dog shows right now if there were any. However, I have back up help from my husband, Len Kunicki, in caring for the dogs. Len is working from home for now and I am occasionally during this time so the dogs love that.
If I do have extra time I have a lot of old and new photos to catalog.
5. If you are on “house arrest,” are you doing anything differently at home
Our state of Illinois went into shelter in place on Saturday, March 21. Again, with being in healthcare my help may be needed outside my remote work. I was delivering supplies on 3/20 and 21 to caregivers who are working at our patients homes.
Has it altered your plans for the future?
I think it’s too early to know if plans for the future have been altered as we are in flux day by day with COVID-19. Who can predict when both jobs and dogs shows will fit into our lives again.
6. If you’re an owner-handler, are you doing more training?
For myself, I will study video of dogs I have been showing. Hone my grooming skills as those can always be improved, As someone who was in the top 10 NOHS with my dog two years in a row and went to Orlando in December, it’s hard to visualize getting to that spot with all that is happening now.
Also, if there is time outside of healthcare work I will reread books on the topic of showing your own dog.
If you’re a breeder, are you going ahead with a breeding?
I think from what I’ve been reading that most of us are evaluating what our next steps will be with breeding. At the current time there is either social distancing or shelter in place situations in most states. We have to see how things move forward as veterinary care locations could be impacted and must be easily accessible if doing a breeding. Also for the moment gathering to pick a puppy will take special precautions or can’t happen.
As responsible, preservationist breeders I believe that we have and will continue to consider if there will be homes, either show or pet, for puppies that will be born and that is one of the priorities. As the public may be putting puppy monies into their day to day expenses until things are more stable again. So, I think much more watching how the COVID-19 pattern moves along will be a part of the planning. Then figuring out how many show pups we can keep and what the market will bear in purchasing pups will be our considerations.
Susan F. Shephard
Deja vu Pekingese ROM
www.dejavupekes.com
1. Without dog shows to attend, how are you keeping busy? What is your typical day like? What are you doing on weekends?
More time for puppy socializing and training, kennel make over, re-org my AKC records and a little gardening. Definately catching up on NetFlix…..who knew there was so much good stuff to watch! I have to say, my house is remarkably clean and maybe for the first time in 20 years, the laundry is 100% done including being folded and put away.
2. If you are on “house arrest,” are you doing anything differently at home? Has the quarantine changed your daily habits? Has it changed your mindset? Has it altered your plans for the future?
Definately was on 2 weeks house arrest after coming home from Crufts as I had bronchititis. I am far more aware of people close to me, not touching my face and washing my hands about 20 times a day. We spray our mail and packages with Lysol before touching. Wear gloves now when at the store, getting gas, etc. I’ve got a 90 day supply of bleach, Odo-Ban and dog food.
3. If you’re a handler, are you offering (online) handling or grooming classes? If you’re an owner-handler, are you doing more training? If you’re a judge, are you studying? If you’re a breeder, are you going ahead with a breeding?
Training is at a far higher level than ever before here………captive audience. I have a couple of breedings I want to do and if the girls oblige me and come into season, yes, we are going ahead. Saying this, I am blessed with a remarkable vet who works with me (we are about 99% c-section), without her I would not be able to continue moving forward.
Mayno Blanding
Merryell Bichons Frises
https://www.merryellbichons.com/
1. Without dog shows to attend, how are you keeping busy? What is your typical day like? What are you doing on weekends?
I’m going to plant a big vegetable garden this year and take care of the dogs.
2. If you are on “house arrest,” are you doing anything differently at home? Has the quarantine changed your daily habits? Has it changed your mindset? Has it altered your plans for the future? I’m in isolation because of high risk.
I order all groceries, etc to be delivered. I have retired my special, sadly, as I don’t know when it will be safe to show him again; however, I’m keeping him intact just in case.
3. If you’re a handler, are you offering (online) handling or grooming classes? If you’re an owner-handler, are you doing more training? If you’re a judge, are you studying? If you’re a breeder, are you going ahead with a breeding? If you’re a designer, are you experimenting with any new tools? If you’re a photographer, are you honing your art?
I’m writing a book and also my life history.
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