My Friendly Pets

A couple of dog notable stories popped up recently. One is a bit bizzare, and sad. The other is amusing and interesting. First, in Dutluth, Minn., a dog got out of the house by accident and runs into the road. The dog was a miniture doberman pinscher weighing about 13 pounds. The dog was hit by a car and killed instantly. The owner of the car is suing the dog owners for about $1100 damage to his 1997 Honda Civic. According to the car owner, the dog damaged the bumper on the car as well as caused radiator damage that did not exist prior to the accident. He is suing for the repairs and money lost when he wasn’t able to go to work. The dog owners said the dog jumped out of the house when the door was open for a moment and dashed into the road. They are counter suing for $2400 to cover court expenses, and to replace the dog that was killed. I bet we see these two parties on People’s Court…not much mention of the poor dog that was lost.

O.K., if that wasn’t ridiculous enough….how about the convict in Athens, Ohio who is suing the police search dog who found over 50 pounds of marijuana in the convict’s furniture store? Andi, the sheriff’s police dog was part of an investigation that discovered the drugs. Accordning to Wayne Green, his furniture store was illegally searched and has named the dog in the lawsuit. As a result of the investigation and seizure of the drugs, Green was convicted of drug possession and trafficking. The Athen’s County prosecutor wanted to do everything by the book, so he took Andi’s paw print as evidence that the dog was served. This entire episode caused a lot of jokes and laughter in the Sheriff’s department. They are hoping to settle with a box of biscuits.

I guess the above stories indicate just how litigious our society has become. Even dogs who try and live a peaceful and quiet life, serving us in the many ways that they do now are subject to lawsuits. HMMMM…we’ll have to think about that one!!! Perhaps dog attorneys will be the next growing group of lawyers coming out of law school!!!

For all of you LOST fans, check out a great recap by fellow blogger, LiRa

As we know, there are so many dogs waiting to be adopted. Some are in shelters and with the popularity of the internet, other dogs obtained and held by rescue organizations can get the information out there freely regarding the dogs that are ready for adoption. Just because an organization calls themselves a “shelter” or “rescue” organization, it is important to look at them carefully to insure that their interests are in the best interests of the dogs they are trying to get adopted.

There are some guidelines to be aware of when looking at an animal from a shelter or rescue organization. First and foremost, the rescue/shelter organization will always put the welfare of the dog first, as that should be their mission, the safety and well being of those they care for. Don’t expect to walk into one of these establishments, find an animal and they give the dog to you without a second glance. A reputable establishment will require a formal application as part of the adoption process. They will follow through by checking on the references to insure the best dog goes to the right home.

A good quality shelter will have the dog spayed/neutered before it is adopted. If the animal can’t be spayed or neutered for some reason, the adoption contract should contain a stipulation that the surgery is done at the earliest opportunity. Never take a dog from an organizaiton that has not had the animal examined by a veterinarian. The dog should also be current with whatever shots are required by the age dog to be adopted. A very important part of the examination of the dog should also be temperament evaluation. It is essential to determine if a dog will be a good dog with children, other dogs, or cats before it is placed in a household. If adequate temperament testing is not done, the dog might be returned to the shelter and this causes further distress to the dog.

A good shelter/rescue will offer support to those who adopt their dogs on an ongoing basis. Also, when you sign an adoption contract, most good contracts will require you to return the pet to the shelter if you want to relinquish the dog. They will not want you to go through other measures and try to get rid of the dog yourself. If you remember, that is what happen to Ellen DeGeneres and it made for a very bad situation for everyone. Click here to check out the prior entry.

Most importantly, go with your gut…if something doesn’t look or sound right, turn around and find a place where you feel comfortable and where you know you will find a dog that will become a true member of your family.

Well, just in case you needed another reason to bring a dog into the family, here it is. Having a dog in the house while your children are young and their immune system is developing could help prevent the development of asthma, eczema, and hay fever. In today’s day and age, when many children seem plagued by these conditions, simply bringing a dog into the lives and homes of these children could be a major help.

According to German researchers who released this report several weeks ago, the theory is that growing up with a pet, helps to train the immune system to be less sensitive to the many germs carried into the home on the fur of the dog. The early exposure to these germs helps the child build up strength or immunity to these germs. As a result they are less likely to be victim of the allergens that could lead to the allergic reactions mentioned above.

The findings mentioned above are based on a 6 year study of over 9000 children. With children who had contact with dogs, but did not have dogs in their household, the same effects were not seen. Many of these children developed allergies later on that the children who lived with a dog did not. The results of this study had been stated before, but the results were based on questions asked after the fact, rather than while the study was being conducted. In this study, conducted in Germany, parents were asked detailed questions about their children from birth through the age of 6, which focused on allergy related symptoms. Blood samples were also taken from a third of the group to test for antibodies to common allergens. This helped the scientists track those developing the antibodies and comparing that fact with whether or not the child was in a home where a dog lived there consistently or the child was merely exposed to dogs periodically.

So go get the puppy from the shelter that you have been waiting for and know that your child and the puppy will grow up happy and healthy together.

I did an entire entry a while back regarding the stigma of black dogs. Well, a fellow blogger, Alison Faria, has something to say about black cats in her blog. Check it out.

It is rare that I will write about someone in this blog, as I would much rather write about a dog, dogs or issues about dogs, but there are cases where the efforts of special people need to be acknowledged. I have read about an individual from various sources who has provided those in need with the assistance they require. This person. Jennifer Arnold continued a program her father had started called Canine Assistants and the mission of the program is to provide those in need with the dogs who can make their lives enriched with quality and purpose. Jennifer knows about this mission from first-hand experience. As a teenager, Jennifer was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and it was during those difficult teenage years that she spent two years in a wheelchair. Jennifer’s father, who was a physician in Georgia, found out that there was an organization in California that provided dogs to people with disabilities, but they were short on dogs as there was a huge waiting list, and there was nothing on the east coast. Jennifer’s father decided to start a program like the one in California in Georgia. He began planning for this monumental venture and 3 weeks after the first planning meeting he was killed by a drunk driver while taking a walk around a local park.

Devasted by this tragedy, as you can imagine, Jennifer and her mother decided to forge on with this cause in honor of her father’s memory. After 10 years of work, the program became a reality in 1981. This has grown into a phenomenol organization that provides dogs to people with disabiities and other special needs. Currently there are four types of dogs that are trained and given to needy recipients. The type of dogs that come to the needs of others from Canine Assistants include service dogs, companion dogs, seizure response dogs and hearing dogs. These dogs are specially trained for whatever type of need they will serve. For many, these dogs provide the first step in the independence of these people who have been limited by their disability. There is so much more to Canine Assistants. Please check out this great site by clicking here and honor the work of a strong and determined woman…Jennifer Arnold.

Everyone knows it is not inexpensive to own a pet. There is food and health care for the dog/cat as well. It seems like a pitence when you compare it to the cost of a child. Check out the entry of fellow blogger, Erinn to see what I mean.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s entry (click here to check it out), more and more amusement parks are making arrangements to have your dog with you during your visit to your favorite park. While you ride the wild rides, your dog can have just as great an experience and you have the peace of mind, knowing he/she is near. You can stop by during your day to visit and play and then go on your way.

Yesterday, I spoke about Disney World in Florida. Many of the other Florida parks such as, Sea World, Universal Studios and Busch Gardens also offer accomodations for your pets, but these parks are definitely “no frills”.

However, if we go across the country to California, your dog will be pampered in style…remember, this is California!! At the Disneyland Kennel which serves Disneyland and California Adventure Park, you would pay $20 for the day, but your dog would get cared for, get a meal and also be allowed to ride the famous Disneyland trams to get to their kennel accomodations…first class!!! Universal Studios in California offers air conditioned accomodations that are free. The dog owner is responsible for all of the items the dog requires. As you can imagine, the kennels get filled up very early, so if you are going to Universal in Los Angeles with your dog, get there early. If you snooze, you might lose!!!

For a truly pet-friendly theme park, consider Dollywood…yup..that’s right, Dolly Parton’s theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There are climate-control kennely runs for $12.00 per day and if you really want your dog to live it up in style, there are four rustic doggy cabins that rent for $30.00 per day. These seem to be very popular, so it is recommended to make reservations early in peak vacation season!!

There are four Six Flags amusement parks in the country that are pet-friendly; one in California, one in Missouri, one in Georgia and one in Illinois.

Before taking your dog to any “pet-friendly” establishment, make sure that your dog is up-to-date with all of their vaccinations and that you bring documentation. Also, to provide for your dog’s comfort, bring comfortable bedding, toys and food for them. Always have identification on your dog and make sure you leave all phone numbers and contact information with the facility where your dog is residing during your trip. These measures will ensure a happy trip for you and Rover, alike!!!

It is almost time for planning those summer vacations. While many of us are cringing at the rising cost of gas, there could be an amusement park close by your home that welcomes both you and your dog!!! Amusement parks with pet facilities are becoming more and more popular as these establishments are realizing that families don’t mind travelling with their dogs if they know the dogs will eventually be in a safe, secure and fun place, while the rest of the family is busy being “amused”.

There are many amusement parks around the country that will host your dog while you are at the park. One of those popular amusement park destinations with these types of facilities is Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. In Disney World, there are five kennel locations located throughout the park from Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Fort Wilderness. The charge is $15.00 per day, and you have to make the food arrangements for your dog. You can arrange for extra walks, cuddles, an ice cream break or even the administration of the dog’s medication for additional charges. People feel comfortable if during their day’s activities, they can come and periodically check on their dog, give them snacks and play with them a bit.

Customer service is a huge part of what Disney parks are known for. Their goal is to keep the customer satisfied and happy. Understanding the desire that most dog owners want to pamper their pups, Disney World is going a step further. In the planning stages, with construction to begin next year, is a luxury pet resort. This is proposed to be unlike any facility ever made and will feature pet hospitality services, including dog and cat boarding, day care and grooming services, and doggy day camp. The luxury suites will have television and raised bedding, activities such as nature walks and playgroups, and pampering services ranging from ice cream treats to bedtime stories. The unique aspect of this facility is that it will be open to park and resort guests as well as Walt Disney World employees, who may want to board their pets while they work.

There are so many other parks to talk about, but I will leave those to another entry.

For those who are or feel “sleep deprived” (aren’t we all?), it can really do some damage. See what fellow blogger, Brick ONeil has to tell us about not getting enough zzzzzzzzzzs by clicking here.

For many dogs, the end of a school year is an extremely happy time!!! They have missed their buddies who have been school bound for the last 9 or 10 months. When these dogs miss the kids, it results in a type of separation anxiety. In fact, you can refer back to a prior entry on separation anxiety by clicking here.

When a boy named Daniel, who is 11, went back to school last fall, the family’s 4 month old puppy seemed truly depressed. They had played all summer long and the dog really missed his good playmate. According to Daniel’s Mom, the dog began to perk up when he figured out the schedule and would anxiously await Daniel’s arrival home. It is not unusual for dogs to exhibit this type of behavior. They are creatures of habit and also pack animals, so when members of their “pack” are not around when the dogs expect them to be, it causes anxiety, depression, or general malaise in the dogs.

In a related article, the author mentioned that when she left for school several days after returning from summer vacation, her dog would jump their stucco wall and arrive at the school a short time later to be found outside the child’s classroom. The only way that the dog would leave is when the child’s mom came to the school and escorted the dog home.

My father often tells the story of their dog Teddy, who was a collie mix. In those days, the kids walked to school as they lived in the city and there was no bus service. Teddy would walk the kids to school, leave and return at lunch time. Back in the 1920’s and 30’s there were no cafeterias, so the kids would go home for lunch. Teddy would escort the kids back to school after lunch, leave again and return to the school when it was time for the students to be dismissed. Teddy did this on his own without the slightest teaching or training. Remarkable.

Dogs have the same type of devotion today as Teddy did for my father over 75 years ago. So keep in mind when your kids leave for school, or longer, for college, you dog will need to adjust. Keep the dog active, have other members of the family try to interact more with the dog, and perhaps the separation won’t be so difficult for your dog!!