European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 29, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I Jim Willis holds Piggy one of his orphaned hedgehogs which has become used to people and does not Roll into a Ball when handled. A amps Carlos Bongioanni caring couple among animals Best Friend by Carlos Bongioanni staff writer l Ying motionless upon the Couch eyes covered by his own drooping ears Dudley appeared uninterested in the world around him. At 14, the decrepit looking Mutt seemed a bit worn. But like the other 30-plus animals sharing his masters farmhouse he was Happy. Dudley is one of seven dogs living in the Home of american Jim Willis and his German wife Nicole Valentin Willis. Six cats six chickens five hedgehogs five Birds three ducks one sheep and an unknown number of fish also make up the Willis Quot family Quot near Speyer Germany. Quot we be taken in our share of unwanted abused and injured animals Quot said Valentin Willis. Quot Many people have Given us animals they Felt were mean and vicious or not properly behaved. It s always rewarding to watch so called problem animals become Friendly when you give them the right  the couple have always loved animals and provide a Loving environment for their Many pets. In the past 3v years since moving into their farmhouse their Home has become an unofficial rehabilitation. Center for All sorts of animals. Quot when i first got Dudley from the animal shelter i could t come near him a without getting bitten Quot recalled Willis a free Lance writer and artist. Quot he was beaten and starved by his previous owner. He did t have any hair because he was covered with sores. Eight years ago he did t like anybody but now he lives for me Quot. 1 not All animals in the couple s Home Are so Friendly. In another Corner of the House Kinky the cat stalked around with a sour disposition. The sound of her Hiss told everyone to keep their distance. Saturday october 29, 1994 Quot when we got her nine years ago she would t come out of the closet for three months Quot Willis said. Quot i had to take her food water and litter Box to the closet. Quot the american military family that owned her did t want to pay the $75 shipping Cost to Send her to the states so they were going to put her to sleep. The children broke her Tail and to this Day she does t like  Willis said military commands should make a concerted Effort to promote responsible pet care within their communities. Quot too Many soldiers come Over Here and decide they have to have a pet Quot he said. Quot they Don t realize that pets especially its always rewarding to watch so called problem animals become Friendly when you give them the right  a Nicole Valentin Willis dogs Are companion animals and require More than just food and water. They need attention and Loving care to have a healthy personality. To neglect them is psychological  the couple Aren t just concerned about Domestic animals. Currently under their care Are also five Little hedgehogs. These animals generally Are not familiar to americans Willis said. Covered with Short Needle like spikes the hedgehog looks like a minature Porcupine and stings like one too if handled improperly. However the prickly Little creatures Are valuable friends to gardeners. They eat harmful Garden pests including insects slugs snails snakes and mice. In Germany hedgehogs Are a protected species. Willis said the hedgehog is particularly the stars and stripes Active at this time of the year As it gets ready for hibernation. Unfortunately they Aren t always Able to take care of themselves Quot hedgehogs Are nocturnal Quot Willis said. Quot when they see headlights coming at them at night their natural defense mechanism is to Roll up into a Ball. Needless to say they Don t stand much of a Chance against a . A a a a  a As a result a lot of Little ones Are left Parent less confused and in jeopardy of freezing As colder weather approaches. Quot if you find a hedgehog that you believe requires care Contact a local veterinarian zoo animal shelter or animal Rescue society. Under the animal Protection Law in Germany any veterinarian will treat a hedgehog free of charge Quot Willis said. Quot they Are Peculiar Little creatures with very specific needs improper care May kill.  v / caring for the Willis Quot family Quot requires a lot of work a and Money. Medicine and veterinarian Bills Cost the couple thousands of Marks each year. Quot a bag of dog food alone costs about $25 in the German markets. With seven dogs some of whom have huge appetites we go through a lot of dog food Quot said Willis. The couple Are always thankful when friends Stop by with leftover food and supplies saying every Little bit helps. Quot we Don t separate our regular life from animal care. Feeding a dog or cat is the same to us As answering a Telephone or a Knock at the door Quot said Valentin Willis. Watching their animals live happily together is one of the couple s greatest Joys. Quot the animals All seem to have a reason to live. Every time it s seems cur Basket Case dog Dudley is on his last leg he rallies again. It s a Good feeling knowing he lives because of  although Jim Willis and Nicole Valentin a lulls Don t have an official Ammal care business they do take in unwanted or abused animals. There is no charge but they accept donations to help defray the cos of food and care. For information Contact Willis at Telephone number 06344-8010 or fax number 06344-6311. A a a on the family a can you offer any advice for dealing with recurring bed wetting in a 6-year-old boy be enuresis can produce emotional and social distress for the older child. Thus it is Wise to help him conquer the problem As soon As possible. I would recommend that you make use  Buzzer device such As a wee Aler which i found effective when used properly for children 4 years or older. Bed wetting occurs in most cases As a result of very sound sleep which makes it difficult if not impossible for the child to learn nighttime control on his own his mind does not respond to the signal reflex action that ordinarily awakens a lighter Sleeper. Fortunately that reflex action can be trained or conditioned to awaken even a deep Sleeper. The wee Alert system for example produces an irritating sound when urination occurs at night. The child has been instructed to awaken one Parent who must place him in a tub of cold water or splash cold water on his face. Both alternatives Are unpleasant of course but Are essential to the Success of the program. The cold water awakens the child fully and gives him a reason not to want to repeat the experience. It is a form of aversive conditioning such As is used to help break the smoking habit. Later the relaxation immediately prior to urination is associated with the unpleasantness of the Bell and the cold water. When that connection is made urinary control is mastered. The child must be told that this is not a form of punishment for wetting the bed. It is necessary to help him break the habit so he can invite friends to spend the night and so he can go to other Homes As Well. It is never appropriate to punish a child for any involuntary action to punish someone for something he simply cannot avoid doing is to set him up for serious problems. Of course if you have reason to think that your son is awake and simply lies there in bed and urinates because he is too Lazy to get up and go to the bathroom that is another matter. However True enuresis is totally involuntary. Or. James c. Dobson is president 61 focus on Tho family an organization dedicated to preserving the Home. Correspondence should to sent to him at focus on Tho family . Box 444, Colorado Springs Colo. 80903. James Dobson 15