My Friendly Pets

Our first dog was a German Shepard mix (mixed with what, we don’t know), but Ziggy loved to chase cars. It always mystified me that dogs would engage in that type of behavior when it is so easy to see that the dog could get hurt….don’t they see that? I guess not, or the dogs wouldn’t keep chasing the cars and many suffer injury and death as a result.

So why do the dogs chase the cars? According to Dr. Jon of www.petplace.com, dogs will chase cars for a couple of different reasons. Basically, the dog is either playing or hunting. Dogs like to chase things that move. It is part of their instinctual behavior and is known as their prey drive. When dogs are utilizing their prey drive in play, they will chase smaller animals, kids on bikes, frisbees, balls or other dogs just for the fun of it.

However, dogs might also be using their prey drive in a more serious fashion. Dogs that have a more developed prey drive which is part of their gene pool, chase because they are invovled in the hunt. Dogs that were bred for herding or hunting have a more developed and intense prey drive. These dogs, given the right opportunity can search, stalk, attack and kill the prey they are chasing. However, when a dog engages in this behavior, it is known as predatory aggression and the dog could dangerous to those around, including children and small animals.

If you are aware of your dog’s prey drive and you feel it is strong, your dog should remain on a leash when outside for both the public’s protections as well as for the safety of the dog.

Some of the most innocent victims of Hurrican Katrina were the pets that were left when owners either left by choice, were evacuated or never made it out alive. After Katrina, there were many stories about dogs that were left to fend for themselves. Many died, but many were later rescued and sent to shelters across the country. There were far too few stories about families that were reunited with their dogs.

The Louisiana SPCA is working hard to insure that whatever Hurricane Gustav delivers in the days to come, the animals will be protected and kept from harms way. In preparation of what could be another storm of historic proportion, certain SPCA facilities in Lousiana closed on Wednesday afternoon to make plans for evacuation of the dogs and other animals. All owned animals that were receiving care were evacuated on Thursday. Yesterday and today, all other animals including strays and adoptable animals were evacuated and moved to shelters that are partners with the LA/SPCA. Most of these shelters were located in Texas.

The director of the Louisiana SPCA, Ana Zorrilla said in a recent press release that the lessons learned from Katrina should help everyone take better care of their pets should a crisis occur because of Gustav. According to Zorrilla, “This is not a time to panic, but a time for pet owners to do a final review of their personal evacuation plans, and be ready to evacuate if needed.” It is hoped that pets don’t get left behind this time and in an attempt to minimize that occurence, the state will release information on pet shelters that will be established throught the state of Louisiana. The following is a list of items that residents should have ready in case they need to evacuate with their dogs or cats:

Place the following items in a waterproof container so you’re ready to go if you need to evacuate.

Dogs and Cats

Your veterinarian’s contact name and phone number
Copies of pet vaccination records
Medications
Leash
Extra collar
Food and water bowls
Bottled water
Toys
Treats
Paper towels
Plastic baggies for picking up pet waste
Muzzle, if necessary
First aid kit
Current photo of your pet
5-day supply of pet food and can with opener if you need one
Kitty litter
Small travel kitty litter box

Good luck Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Well, another episode of the Greatest American Dog this week had a truly sad ending for those of us who held Bill and Star in our hearts. I know they were one of my favorite teams and I was saddened to see them lose and have to leave.

Let’s look at the show as a whole. Courage was the theme of the show and the dogs were greeted by a 9000 lb. elephant named Suzy who tested the dogs and their ability to face their fears. It was amazing to watch these dogs face Suzy and hear them begin to bark in surprise and wonder. The dogs had to stay in a spot and let Suzy get closer and closer. The dog who stayed in the circle the longest would be the winner. Laurie’s Maltese, Andrew was amazing. He watched Suzy come closer, but never moved out of the circle. Star couldn’t contain her curiosity and moved out of the circle. Travis and Presley as well as Laurie and Andrew had to go through a tie breaker and the winner was
Laurie and Andrew.

For the Best in Show challenge the dogs had to climb a series of ramps and at the end make a final jump. Some of the dogs just couldn’t make the jump. For a small dog, Andrew was amazing. Those ramps were high. But he wouldn’t make the jump. Star had a disappointing performance and in the end, the judges sent Bill and Star home. It was sad to watch them both take their final lap. We have all grown to love Bill and Star. They are kind, gentle and the love that Bill shows for Star warms the hearts of dog lovers and nondog lovers alike.

Galaxy was limping around and next week we will learn the severity of his injury. With only 4 pairs of dogs left, the competition will truly heat up, so stay tuned.

Check out the episode by clicking here.

As part of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, DogTown is known as the “shelter for lost canine souls” located in southern Utah. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is one of the largest no-kill shelters in the country with 33,000 acres of canyon land for the dogs to roam.(with shelter volunteers, of course).

About 1500 animals are housed at the Santuary. DogTown may be the last stop for many dogs who require longterm health or rehabilitative care. Many of the dogs who are there either temporarily or permanently come to DogTown as a result of a rescue operation, as many of these dogs have been victims of abuse or neglect.

Some of the most famous dogs to be part of DogTown were rescued from BadNewz Kennels, the facilities where Michael Vick kept the dogs he used for his extensive dogfighting operations. When the dogs came to DogTown, they were evaluated to determine whether they could or would become adoptable animals. Many of the dogs could be trained and later adopted by a hopefully loving family. However, even with much of the training, love and attention that the dogs will get from the staff and volunteers, some of the dogs will be unable to be adopted and will spend the rest of their natural lives at DogTown.

National Geographic TV will be continuing their series on DogTown, with specific episodes dedicated to the dogs that were rescued from Michael Vick’s estate. Four of the most challenging cases will be followed on the show. The beginning episode will air on the National Geographic channel on Friday, September 5th at 9:00 p.m.

For more information, click here to check out the website.

In several entries in this blog, I have spoken about the heroics of the dogs we love. Sometimes dogs do the most amazing things to help both animals and humans alike. I have a couple of stories I would like to share with you today regarding some really special dogs.

At the Ringwood Raptor and Reptile Centre in Hampshire, England, a six month old greyhound named Torque has adopted a tiny baby owl named Shrek. Shrek was taken from her mother at three days old for her own protection. The zookeepers were fearful that if stressed, Shrek’s mom might attack and eat her. Shrek, a rare long eared owl has won the heart of Torque and he follows Shrek around, insuring that the owl is safe and staying out of trouble. At the home of John Picton, one of the falconers at the zoo, Torque and Shrek often cuddle on the couch watching tv in the evenings. Picton says the following of their relationship, “Torque seems to have adopted Shrek as his daughter and is now very protective. He follows her around at home and keeps his eye on her. They play with each other in the evenings while I’m watching television and it is an opportunity for Shrek to wander and strengthen her legs.” What a great story!!!

And on this side of the pond, a similar heartwarming story. Angel, a two year old pitbull/boxer mix rescued six abandoned kittens near the Nevada Humane Society shelter in Reno. While being walked by volunteers, Angel heard the kittens, found them and carried them one by one out of harm’s way. Angel even found one of the kittens that had wandered off before animal shelter personnel had arrived!!! Go Angel!!!

Many people feel awful when they are going away on vacation and have to “kennel” their dog. However, there is a way now that you can go away guilt free, knowing that your pup will be pampered and comfortable. But you will have to pay greatly for it and that is just what some dog owners are willing to do. Luxury pet resorts are getting more and more popular and the services and amenitities they provide are just what your dog needs to be away from you in style!!!

Your dog could be privileged enough to enjoy a luxury suite, 24 hour room service, spa services, private pool facilities and even a personal canine chef for the finicky dog in your life. If you’re concerned about the television your dog is watching, you can specify human or animal focused programming.

The Holiday Barn which has two locations in Virginia has been in business since 1972. They have seen the face of pet boarding change drastically. They offer many services to their “guests” that include 2 x a day room service, various types of luxury suites that are seasonably heated or air condtioned. The spa services would appeal to any pooch looking to be pampered. Some of the services offered include Style and Cut grooming, baths that come with full body massages, anti-shedding treatments, pedicures, special dental attention and of course, the needed expression of the anal glands. (o.k., that doesn’t sound so luxurious, but isn’t it better to have someone besides yourself doing that???!)

Rates vary depending on the type of accomodation you require for your dog as well as any additional services you would want your dog to experience. Check it out!!! The Holiday Barn isn’t the only facility to provide luxury for your dog. If you have the time to look and the money to spend, you can give your dog the vacation of a lifetime while you enjoy yours!!!!

It was the 7th episode of The Greatest American Dog and much fur was flying over this one. The competition is getting tighter and now much of the support and adoration we showed for our favorite pair,(Bill and Star) might be waning as a result of this week’s show.

Bella Starlet has had a meltdown and is growling and snipping at the dogs and owners alike. She growled and nipped at Travis, and he is the cutest guy there!! Beth Joy is in tears watching her dog exhibit this behavior. She says the dog just stressed by the competition.

J.D. and Laurie had a discussion about dog training and they take totally opposite positions on dog training. They were paired for the Dog Bone Challenge. This is the first Dog Bone Challenge where dogs and their owners were paired together for an intelligence/agility challenge. A series of steps had to be taken by both dogs including ringing a bell to free one of the owners. The ones who completed it in the shortest amount of time under 5 minutes would be the winner. The teams that won were Travis/Presley and Bill/Star.

Now for the Best in Show. This is the really interesting part, and it wasn’t the activity completed by the dogs that was the most intriguing, it was the fight between the judges. They snipped at each other worse than Bella Starlet in a bad mood. 6 Golden Lab puppies were introduced to the dogs and Star (Bill’s dog) was none too happy about these additions.

Surprisingly, Bill was very tough on Star and the dog responded accordingly be behaving poorly. The judges started fighting over J.D. and Galaxy and it got worse from there. In the end, Bella Starlet and Beth Joy were asked to leave and it was a sad event for all. Stay tuned as the drama continues.

For the full episode, click here.

Unfortunately, I have to bring you a sad story about a toy for a dog that caused horrible damaged and maimed a dog for life. I was sent this in an e-mail and honestly, I couldn’t watch the whole thing because it was too upsetting, but I will post it here for you to watch if you wish.

The toy that caused this this horrific injury was the Pimple Ball with bell (
Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9). This toy is put out by Four Paws, Inc. See the picture below.

The defect in this toy is that when the dog chews the ball and a hole develops, it causes a vacuum in which the dog’s tongue can get caught.
This is what happened to Chai. All the ball required was an additional small hole where air could exit and thereby prevent the vacuum effect. His injury was so severe that eventually his tongue had to be amputated. What suffering Chai has experienced. That doesn’t include the angst that Daniel, his owner, has endured during Chai’s ordeal. Daniel says it continues to be difficult because Chai now has to be fed and it which takes a great deal of time. Daniel is employed as a hair stylist and works out of his home, and this has proved to be a challenge, since Chai requires a constant amount of care.

Daniel has received an apology and compensation of all the expenses that he has incurred as a result of this tragedy from Four Paws, Inc., but I don’t think any amount of money could compensate for the difficulties both Daniel and Chai will experience for the rest of Chai’s life.

Please read Chai’s story by clicking here.

I don’t know how many of you remember Ron and Tillman from the Greatest American Dog. Well, Tillman was a lovable English Bulldog. Watching the Olympics the other day, I saw one of the first interviews with Michael Phelps, the 8 gold medal swimmer who had just broken Mark Spitz’s 1974 record. When asked how he felt, Phelps said he missed his dog. Michael Phelps has an English Bulldog named Herman, who is adorable. So what is it about this breed that is making it so popular? Well, of course, they are just so darn cute…but there is more.

The English Bulldog is a descendant from Mastiffs that originated in Asia and were brought to Europe by Nomads. They were bred as ferocious dogs for fighting and taking down aggressive prey. For several centuries these dogs were used as baiting animals for bulls and other large game until this practice was outlawed in England in 1835. The working bulldogs were then bred with the Pug dogs to create the stocky, sweet temered dog we know today as the English Bulldog. These dogs were first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1934 and has remained a popular American dog ever since.

The English Bulldogs are great family dogs because of their great disposition. They get along great with kids and even though they can be stubborn at times, but are extremely affectionate. Their coat needs to be brushed regularly to keep their coat shiny. They require minimal exercise and are considered an indoor dog. They are prone to drooling and snoring, but if this doesn’t bother you, the English bulldog is a great family pet who has deep loyalty for everyone in their “pack”!! Just ask Ron and Michael Phelps!!!

As with our health and well being, it is especially important to be aware of your dog’s health and conditions that might indicate illness. As I have mentioned before, that isn’t always easy because dogs don’t have the ability of telling us how they feel or describing symptoms. I have spoken about a dog’s behavior and how lethargy, low appetite, and the inability to want to engage in activities could be an indication that something is wrong. I want to highlight a couple of illnesses today and what owners should look for.

Canine diabetes is a disease similar to the diabetes shown in humans. It is a breakdown in the endocrine system of the dog that results in the dogs ability to produce and use insulin. Dogs can develop diabetes similar to humans. Meaning that there is one form of the disease that is mainly genetic and is similar to juvenile onset diabetes and there is an acquired type of this disease that is similar to adult onset diabetes and could be brought on by factors within the dog owner’s control!!

If your dog is eating, drinking and urinating excessively, this might be a reason for alarm and a visit to the vet. Even with all the dog is eating, he/she would most probably lose weight as the dog’s body will break down protien and fats looking for the energy it needs that the diabetes is stripping away.

Once the illness is diagnosed, the standard treatment is usually insulin injections. Working with your vet to insure that your dog receives the best care with this condition is important. The monitoring of blood sugar and food intake for your dog is imperative. Your dog will be a healthier and happier dog once the disease is diagnosed and treatment is given.

Well, Wednesday night on CBS brought us another great episode of The Greatest American Dog and the theme of the evening was intelligence. The Dog Bone Challenge had each of the dogs in the teams figure out the way to get behind the 3 sided building to recieve a great treat. Their owners were only allowed to shout commands, they couldn’t physically lure them around the building. However there were slots in the walls of the building, but the dogs had to figure out that they wouldn’t be able to fit through the slats and would have to go around. The dog that got to their treats the quickest would be the winner. And the winner was, Bill and Star (the team that is one of my favorites). In a gesture of kindness, Bill turned the winning bone, which gains entry to the Dog Bone Suite over to Teresa and Leroy, as she exhibited the same kindness towards Bill last week when she won and Bill was pining for pictures of his wife. In giving this bone up, Bill also gave the “leg up” assistance to Theresa for the Best in Show challenge.

The Best in Show challenge involved the owners and dogs painting a picture that describes their relationship. This seemed a bit odd to me and really didn’t show much training between owners and dogs. In fact, I think it was one of the worst challenges on the show thus far. But there was some “cattiness” (pardon the expression) going on. Laura ratted out Beth Joy to the judges and said that she was hurting Bella Starlet in trying to get the dog to paint. However, Bella Starlet just has a thing with getting her feet touched and that’s what caused her to yelp. Travis, who had the hots for Laura, defended Beth Joy and you saw the daggers come from Laura’s eyes. In the end, it didn’t matter because Laura and Preston lost and had to take their final lap. I was fond of Laura and Preston until I saw that she could really get bitchy!!! Stay tuned for more challenges and more doggie drama!!!

Check out all the details, but clicking here.

In my last entry, I talked about the Dutchess County SPCA’s special fundraising efforts. I had hoped to bring you more information a couple of days ago. Unfortunately, after being a little under the weather for a couple days, I am back to bring you some more great information about the Pets In The Park Petwalk, to be held near my hometown on September 13th.

Leading the Petwalk this year will be Blitzen, a very special dog. Blitzen is a purebred Shetland Sheepdog who was brought to the shelter last year on Christmas Day. Blitzen had some socialization issues and was very shy. However, an employee at the shelter saw the potential in Blitzen and worked with him for countless hours. Her efforts resulted in a dog that has come out of his shell completely and Blitzen has recently passed the test to become a Certified Therapy Dog. So, this dog, once homeless and abandoned will now become a wonderful addition to any loving family and will work to help heal the physical and emotional wounds of others.

Blitzen was chosen as leader of this Petwalk to raise awareness of how much the DCSPCA does to help the homeless animals of our area. It is hoped that in showing others what can be done with animals that others have abandoned, more support will come the way of the shelter. In addition to the many fun activities that will be held on the day of the Petwalk, there will also be pet health and other informational sessions. One of the best services that will be offered is the microchip id clinic that will be housed out of the DCSPCA mobile adoption unit. GET THOSE DOGS CHIPPED!!!!

If you would like more information about the Petwalk or the Dutchess County SPCA, check out the links below.

http://www.pawsintheparkpetwalk.com/home.html
www.dcspca.org

In the area where I live, about 90 miles north of New York City, in the heart of the Hudson River Valley, we are very fortunate to have a very well supported SPCA. The Dutchess County SPCA is extremely active and offers many pet related services in our area. Of course, they offer pet adoptions, but also Pet Lost/Found Services, an Animal Behavior Hotline, Humane Law Enforcement, Humane Education, the Faithful Companion Cemetery and Crematorium, an Animal Food Bank for needy families, locw-cost rabies vaccination clinics, low-cost spay and neuter clinics and many other community related activities.

To support these many services the Shelter relies on donations and fundraisers as less than 5% of county funds and no federal or state aid is used to support our local ASPCA. Individual donations are always being solicited, but the DCSPCA also has some great fundraisers that take place during the year.

One of the most popular events is the Paws in the Park Petwalk. Like many walk-a-thons, funds are raised from people walking (with their dogs) and getting pledges from family members and friends. The funds raised can and do save the lives of animals that are lost or abandoned or waiting to be adopted. Animals will be fed, supplies will be purchased, and services will remain in place to care for the animals that have somehow ended up in a place that will treat them humanely and with love.

This year is the 14th annual “Paws in the Park” event. Each year it gets bigger and better and that means that more and more animals will get the care that they truly deserve. Check out the DCSPCA site by clicking here.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you a bit more about the wonderful dog who is leading the Petwalk this year!!!

During World War II, there were many heros. Bamse, a St. Bernard, was the offical mascot of the Norwegian Navy minesweeper called the Therrod. Recently a book has been written in Bamse’s honor. Bamse was owned by the Hafto family, who lived in Norway. Captain Hafto would take Bamse on the ship with him and the dog proved to be an excellent soldier. Bamse would stand guard at the furthest most gun tower and would not leave until the worst of the fighting was over.

Bamse loved the men on the ship and took extremely good care of these sailors. There are a couple of famous stories about Bamse that illustrate his love for the men. The ship docked at both Montrose and Dundee. At Montrose, many of the men would hit the pubs during down time. Bamse knew when the men had to be back to ship and would go from pub to pub gathering the men (drunk or not) and herd them back to the vessel.

Dr. Willie Jarl Nilsen tells the story of his father’s near death experience and how without the assistance of Bamse, his father may not have lived. The Thorrod was docked in Dundee and Dr. Nilsen’s father, a sailor on the ship was taking a walk along the dog. All of a sudden, a man appeared out of nowhere to attack the man with a knife. Bamse, seeing what was happening, took flight and on up on his two rear legs overcame the attacker. With his weight and determination, Bamse got the attacker away from the stunned sailor and the villian was quickly pushed off the dock into the nearby water.

Read more about Bamse, his history and the love that his countrymen have for him by clicking here.

Since its Sunday, a day for rest and relaxation, I thought I’d bring you a couple pieces of dog information that’s hot off the press. First of all, if you are a myspace.com or facebook.com addict and a dog lover you are going to enjoy a great new doggie social networking site called doggyspace.com Check it out by clicking here.. The site allows dog owners and dog lovers from around the world to meet, greet, virtually sniff and share what everyone shares on networking sites. Dog owners create profiles, share pictures, videos and accumulate friends.

For many people the site is much more than just looking at dog pictures. There is one woman who went on the site to share information about her 12 year old dog named Boomer who has cancer. Connie Mandrozos got so much more from the site than just information. She received friendship, compassion and support from others who had gone through similar experiences with their dogs. So if you (oh, I mean your dog) is looking to make friends with at least one thing in common (the love of dogs), check out www.doggyspace.com

Now for a story that will give hope to anyone who has lost a dog and prays for its safe return. First of all, remember this happened because the dog had a microchip implanted in him when he was adopted. Kobe is a terrier who was adopted by the Ontiveros family in Bellflower, California. One day the dog just simply vanished. However, a month later the dog was found by a stranger in Denton, Texas, some 1400 miles away. How Kobe got to Texas and how he was scanned in Texas to determine who his true owners were remain a mystery as well. This should confirm to those hesitant about getting a microchip implanted in your pet, it is well worth the time and low expense to do so. Imagine life without your dog….the microchip could prevent that and grant to you the same happy ending experienced by the Ontiveros family.