My Friendly Pets

An amended law in Piscataway, New Jersey is limiting the number a dogs that a household may own and care for. Wow!!! That sounds crazy, similar to what it is in China, where they limit the number of children a family can have. This is America, right? The law, which went into affect last Fall limited the number of dogs to three that a household could own. However, the law was recently amended to those registering their 4th or fifth dog in 2009 and from here forward.

There are a number of problems with this law. A resident of Piscataway, says the following, “It’s like limiting the number of cars we can own, or the number of children we can have,” said Jeff Powers, a Piscataway resident since 1993 who breeds dogs, but not professionally. Also, people fearing that they have violated the law will abandon their dogs or drop them off at local shelters, causing the shelters to exceptionally overburdened.

There is one gentleman in the town who rescues greyhounds after they have been injured and can no longer race. This law would significantly hurt and perhaps curtail these efforts. A current law on the books in Piscataway says that if you have five or more dogs, it is considered a kennel and you must have a separate license anyway….so one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing.

Why a law such as this? Well it appears that there were some complaints about two homes in the township where there was constant barking. One turned out to be an illegal puppy mill. So, is it right to limit the activities of dog owners who take good care of their dogs, three or more, because their are but a few people who don’t live up to their responsibilities? I think not.

We have all waited so long for winter to leave and spring to begin. I think it may truly be here this time as the temperatures and sunlight are finally agreeing with the calendar. With the arrival of spring, most of us will come out of hibernation and venture out into our yards to do some much needed gardening. We’ll want to spruce up, plant some flowers and even lay some mulch for a nice look to our landscape.

However, it is very important that if you have dogs or dogs come to visit that you are careful about the mulch used in your yard. Cocoa Mulch has a wonderful chocolate color as well as an similar inviting aroma. However, a primary ingredient in this product is Theobromine and this ingredient is toxic to dogs. This is the same ingredient that is in chocolate, especially dark or baker’s chocolate.

In fact in the story that came with this warning, the owner of two young labs bought the Cocoa Mulch in Target (it is also sold in Home Depot and other garden centers) and began to do some gardening. One of the dogs, strongly attracted to the mulch, ate some and promptly threw up. There were no additional symptoms. However, the following day, when out for a walk with the owner, the dog began to have to have a seizure and died as a result of that seizure. This is not the only account of such a tragedy. We know that dogs should not eat chocolate because of the primary ingredients that cause the dog serious illness and perhaps death.

Insure that your dog does not eat things they are not supposed to and that you keep toxic products away from the pooch you love so much.

Seattle is known as one of the most dog friendly cities in the country. They love their pooches in that city and to prove it they tout 11 dog off leash areas in the city where dogs can run free and play and are not subject to the constriction of being kept on a leash.
However, lately, the Parks Department in Seattle has become concerned because people seem to be taking excessive liberties with their dogs and allowing them to go leash free in areas that are not designated as such.

While many people love dogs, there are people who don’t and this has led to complaints to the Parks Department. The Parks Department has teamed up with the Seattle Animal Shelter to insure that people who violate the leash laws are fined appropriately. Of course there is a source of controversy here. More citations are being issued to people who have their dogs off-leash in areas that are not designated to be so. This has led to a response by Russell Harley who part of the COLA non profit organization. COLA stands for Citizens for Off-Leash Areas. This organization was put into place to help create and support these off-leash areas. Harley feels that there is a need for more of the off-leash parks in the Seattle area. More of these areas would lead to a decrease in the amount of violators. Since most people walk their dogs and would love to be able to walk the dog to an off-leash park or area, Harley feels that an off-leash area should be within 5 miles of a person’s home. That means that a lot more off-leash areas are needed in Seattle. Violators of this law can be fined anywhere from $54-$162 dollars and if found at the beach off-leash in a leash area, the fine can be as high as $500.00. So keep your money in your pocket and your dog on a leash when he/she is meant to be!!!

The SPCA of Connecticut is doing a wonderful thing for the dogs in Puerto Rico!! By the time this is read, many people will have adopted one of the hundreds of dogs that are available by the SPCA of Connecticut. These aren’t local dogs. They were rescued from Puerto Rico by Dr. Gwen Davis, her partner Peggy and volunteers from the Puerto Rico Animal Welfare Society.

The conditions for the dogs in that country are simply deplorable and inhumane. Because of a lack of strict laws in Puerto Rico, there is no dog registration or licensing and very few dogs are spayed or neutered. Of the dogs that actually make it to a shelter, very few remain alive. Most are euthanized. The stray dogs, that are referred to as SATOS, which means mutts, often starve to death or are set on fire and left to die in the streets. How can civilized people treat living creatures like that?

This is an ongoing effort for the volunteers and Davis. In December 160 dogs were rescued and brought to Connecticut. They were all adopted within three days. Truly amazing!!!

This weekend, the SPCA of Connecticut held a Super Adoption Event at Petsmart, 288 West Ave., in Stamford. The reason hundreds of people lined up to see the dogs for adoption is not a surprise. They are wanted and loved before they even have a home. Hank DeMazza of Old Lyme said the following, “Our dog died 3-years ago and we’ve been holding off and holding off and then we saw this, and that convinced us we needed another dog.” I would imagine that many of these dogs will now have forever homes and never have to endure the ordeal that so many dogs experienced in Puerto Rico!!!

Check out the website of this organization by clicking here!

Augie is a two year old greater Swiss mountain dog who lives with the Davis family in Apex, North Carolina. Kelley Davis works as a physical therapist and sometimes does extra duty to make some additional money during these tough economic times.

She wanted to deposit the money, so it would be there for a rainy day. When she went to take the cash out of her pocket, she realized it wasn’t there and that she had left it in her bedroom. However, on closer inspection, there was no cash in the bedroom and that’s when it dawned on Kelley that their dog Augie may have eaten the funds!!!

Well, Kelley didn’t have to wait long to find out where the money actually went. When Davis took Augie for a walk, the dog had to do what dogs do naturally and upon examination, Davis found the remnants of three $100 bills and five $20s. There it was all $400 of the missing money. While the money was in several pieces, Davis is trying to salvage whatever she can. After a thorough washing of the money with a garden hose, she will dry the cash and hope to piece it together enough so that the bank will accept it as a deposit to her account.

Now the question is whether the ingestion of the cash will have any long term effects on Augie. According to a professor who was contacted at the North Carolina State University Veterinary School, Augie should be just fine and cash just passed as quickly through the dog as it usually does our hands…LOLOL!!!

Today has been a sad day for humans and dogs alike. I just read that Natasha Richardson, actress and wife of Liam Nesson has died as a result of injuries she received while skiing. A loss of any type of life is tragic.

I told you in a recent entry about Oprah adopting Sadie, a cocker spaniel puppy from a litter at a local shelter in Chicago. Oprah went back and adopted one of Sadie’s brothers, and named him Ivan. Sadly, between vaccinations, Ivan contracted Canine Parvovirus Type 2c. The puppy died last Wednesday and Sadie because of her exposure to Ivan when he was ill is now being treated and responding well to treatment according to Dr. Jean Dodds, the veterinarian who supplied the plasma. Dr. Dodds founded Hemopet, a non-profit animal blood bank that is used to supply plasma to dogs fighting the parvo virus. It is hoped that Ivan’s death will not be in vain and that people will learn how important timely vaccines are for your dogs.

I spoke recently about the famous Iditarod race and the hard work of the dogs and their mushers. As it stands now, the race is almost over and for the 3rd time in a row, Lance Mackey won this amazing race. He is only the third individual to achieve that feat. However, there is some sad news as well. Several dogs have lost their lives as a result of this race. There have been at least three canine deaths as a result of this race and for the two latest, tests are being conducted to determine the cause of death. An phenomenal achievement, yes….worth the death of at least three dogs, I don’t think so!!!

Dogs just like humans are subject to catching Lyme disease from the bite of a tick. The bacteria that carries the lyme disease is called Borrelia burgdorferi. Dogs who are bitten by the tick tend to develop the disease very rapidly with symptoms showing themselves in a matter of hours. One of the most prevelant symptoms that veterinarians see in dogs is limping in one of the front legs. Yes, only one leg. The dog usually has swollen lymph nodes in that leg and can also have a fever. A dog may seem fine one day and within a period of 2-3 days the dog may be unable to move due to the severe joint pain he/she is feeling.

The dog is usually treated right away with a three week dosage of an antibiotic such as tetracycline and if severe pain exists, medication to make the dog more comfortable. Most dogs will be successfully treated, but about 5% of the dogs will experience some neurological or cardiac problems as a result of the infection.

Currently there are no vaccines for humans to take for lyme, but there are vaccines for dogs. There are three vaccines that are available for lyme prevention for dogs. Topical products for ticks can help as well. Some are perscribed by your vet while others are available over the counter. It is very important that you follow the directions when administering these products. Only use in the dose directed as any more that needed could cause severe health effects to your dog. Always check your dog after he/she has been outdoors. Don’t use insecticides on your dog that are meant to be put on people’s clothing!!

As spring comes and all things come alive, beware of the tick…and protect yourself and your dog!!!

They call them mushers. These are the human aspect of the Iditarod race. These are the people who “man” the sleds while the team(s) of dogs race the sleds.

It is said that the Iditarod race honors Alaska and its history. So much of that history is about the sled dogs that assisted this frozen land to become civilized. As Alaska was being explored and settled, mail and supplies went into Alaska via the Iditarod Trail. When miners rushed to Alaska for the gold rush, the supplies went in and gold came out, all via dog sled. In 1925 a Diphtheria epidemic threatened Nome, Alaska. Serum was brought to the area by the mushers and their hard driving dogs.

According to the mushers, winning the race with their dogs relies on unique strategies. These include dog feeding and snacking tricks as well as team specific training for their dogs.
Required equipment for the team includes boots for each dogs’ feet to protect against cutting ice and hard packed snow injuries.

A priority of this race is that the dogs be cared for in the most humane ways. In order to assist that, there is a veterinary staff is comprised of volunteer veterinarians from around the world. All participating dogs are required to have an extensive health exam in February, prior to the race including blood tests and ECG scans. All dogs have the identifying microchip implanted and must be current with all vaccinations. It is a requirement that the dogs are dewormed prior to the big race as well. The dogs used in this race are familiar with these procedures and provide no objections to the tests. Somehow they must know it is all for their own good as they wait to begin “The Last Great Race!”

It is known as the “Last Great Race on Earth” and is called the Iditarod. This is an 1150 mile dog race across the width of Alaska. The 2009 Iditarod began last Sunday, March 8th and this is the the 36th year of the long distance race. For those who aren’t familiar with the Iditarod, it is more than simply a dog race.

According to the official Iditarod website, (click here), the following is said of the mission of this great race, “The Iditarod Trail International Sled Dog Race shall be an open class race for all dog mushers meeting the entry qualifications as set forth by the Board of Directors of the Iditarod Trail Committee, Inc. Recognizing the varying degrees of experience, monetary support and residence locations of a musher, with due regard to the safety of mushers and the humane care and treatment of dogs, The Trail Committee shall encourage and maintain the philosophy that the race be constructed to permit all qualified mushers who wish to enter and complete the race to do so. The object of the race is to determine which musher and dogs can cover the race in the shortest time under their own power and without aid of others”

This race begins in Anchorage and travels across the great state of Alaska, where the winning dog and team cross the finish line in Nome, Alaska. The race can take anywhere from 10 to 17 days. This year that are 79 “mushers” who have entered the race and each musher has a team of between 12 and 16 dogs.

There is so much more to this race and I will be adding information relevant to the Iditarod in further entries…so stay tuned!!!

The entry I shared yesterday identified the some of the breeds of dog that are considered the most intelligent. I gave information about 6 of the dogs that are considered to be the top ten brightest breeds. Today, I will divulge what are known as the top 4 dogs in terms of intelligence. Like I said yesterday, I’m sure you feel your dog is the brightest and he/she probably is, but just take a look at these breeds.

The fourth brightest dog is said to be the Golden Retriever. The characteristics that these dogs possess are the reasons why we love dogs so very much. They are great with kids, are loving and loyal to their families. They are also considered one of the 10 most affectionate dogs.

Number 3 in terms of intelligence is considered to be the German Shepard. As someone who owned one of these great dogs, I can tell you that they are extremely smart. They are very protective, and like to have a job to do. That’s why they make great guard dogs.

The number 2 dog in terms of intelligence is considered to be (believe it or not), the poodle. These dogs are highly intelligent and known as one of the easiest breeds to train. These dogs tend to be sensitive and pleasant which adds to their breed appeal.

Finally, what you have been waiting for…..the dog breed that is known as most intelligent and ranked at number 1 is the Border Collie. They were bred to be working dogs and they are happiest when they have a job to do. These dogs have superior ability when it comes to agility, obedience and showmanship which indicates their high ability to be trained, thereby defining intelligence!!!

If your dog isn’t on one of these lists, don’t worry…it really doesn’t matter how smart they are as long as you love them for the dog they truly are!!!

We all think that our dogs are the brightest, most intelligent canine to walk the earth, but believe it or not, they have come out with a list of what are the most intelligent dog breeds out there.

Lets look at them and I’ll comment as we go along. At #10, the Australian Cattle dog is a mover and a thinker. Originally bred to herd cattle in Australia, they must be kept active and are very protective of their property, including owners!

At #9, the Rottweiler has a bad rap as a BAD dog, but in actuality, his bark is worse than his bite. He is a great family dog and an especially good guard dog.

At #8, the Papillion is small, but smart. They are very devoted and possessive, but that is due to their strong loyalty. The smarts of this dog make them very easy to train.

At #7, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most beloved dogs and it one of the most popular as family pets. They love kids and other dogs and are very easy to train.

At #6, the Shetland Sheepdog is said to have intelligence that mirrors that of humans. The dog was originally bred to herd cattle and that takes, concentration, focus and intelligence. They are loyal and affectionate to their own family, but not necessarily strangers.

At #5, the Doberman Pinscher also has gotten a bad reputation over the years for being a cruel and agressive dog. However, they are loyal, assertive and fearless, which makes them one of the top breeds of guard dogs. These dogs can also be very gentle, with many of them working as therapy dogs.

I will continue with the last of the brightest dogs, revealing the dog known as most intelligent in tomorrow’s entry.

The world is sure a crazy place and all of that craziness effects the dogs we love. For example, the shootings that took place in Alabama yesterday were horrific. Ten people were shot and killed by a 28 year old man, who shot and killed himself. However, in addition to the ten people, four dogs were also the victims of Michael McLendon. The four dogs lived in the home that McLendon shared with his mother. He shot his mother in that home as well. This man must have been very tortured and sick to inflict that type of carnage on these Alabama communities.

The next story is sad as well. In Sandpoint, Idaho the Humane Society is offering a $2500 reward for those individuals who can be identifed, arrested and convicted of poisoning two dogs. The owners of the dogs came home from work and found one of their dogs experiencing continuous seizures. The dog had not been ill. The couple rushed their dog to the vet, but unfortunately, the dog died on the way there. Questioning themselves about their second dog, a small Pomeranian, they rushed home to check on that dog’s condition, only to find the dog dead under their bed.

Shocked at the sudden loss of both of their dogs, the veterinarian requested autopsies which revealed chunks of meat and pellets that resembled the chemical, Strychnine, in the dogs’ stomachs. Samples of the food and the dog’s digestive tissue were sent to labs at the Univeristy of Idaho, where it was confirmed that the pellets were inded Strychnine. What can cause people to commit such attrocities. This was not a sudden defensive act, but rather an act of deliberate malice. I hope they do find the coward or cowards who commited this crime and I hope they receive the maximum punishment allowed by law!!

If you live in the Spokane, Washington area and are looking for a English Springer Spaniel puppy to adopt, they are on the way….or perhaps have already arrived!!! Their future looks bright, but their past has been anything but pleasant.

A puppy mill in Missouri was the sight of a rescue that took place because the owner of a puppy mill had allegedly set fire to their kennels after officials contacted him about not having a breeder’s license. I know, it is deplorable and from the information I received, the conditions that these puppies existed in were horrible as well. The mill actually had about 200 dogs, 95 of which were reported to be Springer Spaniels. Members of a local Springers rescue group went to Missouri to save the dogs. This local group picked up 41 dogs. Twelve of those dogs were brought to Spokane where they have been cleaned, groomed and getting ready for adoption. The rest of the dogs were brought to places in Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Montana. In Spokane, there will be even more Springer Spaniel puppies emerging as 2 of the dogs brought to Spokane are pregnant!!!

An east coast contingency of Springer rescue individuals picked up the rest of the dogs and will hopefully find them homes in the eastern part of the country. The Springer Spaniel rescue organization has been very busy getting the dogs ready either for foster homes or adoptions and this includes the initial vet exams, heartworm tests, fecal exams, vaccinations and spay/neutering. If you are interested in fostering or adopting a beautiful English Springer Spaniel, please visit their website by clicking here!!!

Like many truckers, 59 year old Robert Shields took his year old puppy with him on the road when he traveled. The dog’s name is Zak. Zak will be returning home from this trip to Poway, California, but unfortunately Shields will not. While driving in Nebraska, Shields tractor trailer drifted off of the highway and hit a bridge support. It is suspected that Shields suffered a heart attack. Shields was killed, but Zak only had minor scratches. The Nebraska Humane Society, who was holding Zak made contact with Shields wife and was told they desparately wanted the dog back home. Pam Wiese is the spokesperson for the Humane Society and she put a call out for help to get Zak home to his family. An American Airlines general manager out of Omaha said they would fly Zak home and pay for the cost of the $300 flight. The grief the family is suffering with now will be helped somewhat by the return of the dog that they knew Shields loved so much.

I told you about Oprah’s new dog yesterday and she introduced Sadie to the world on her show and brought Sadie’s siblings on who also are available for adoption through PAWS. Like any new parent with a “baby”, Oprah hasn’t gotten much sleep in the past couple of nights. Winfrey, as mentioned is a strong supporter of adoption through shelters and she encouraged her voters who are looking for a new pet to look no further than their local animal shelter. She took the opportunity on her show to thank PAWS - the no kill shelter where she adopted Sadie.

I thought I’d offer you a couple bits of dog news to highlight that it is Friday and we need just “a little bit of this and a little bit of that!”

Oprah Winfrey has been a staunch supporter of animal rights and a loud voice against puppy mills. Last year, Oprah lost her beloved cocker spaniel, Sophie. Well, it has been just about a year since Sophie passed away and last Sunday, Oprah and Stedman Graham Oprah’s signficant other, went to the local PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) shelter and adopted a female cocker spaniel puppy. Oprah has two other dogs who are golden retrievers!!! She lost a male cocker spaniel named Solomon last year. You go Oprah!!

Also, more and more people who are learning to live and eat organically are doing so with their dogs as well. The executive chef at the State University of New York at Geneseo has written an organic cook book for dogs. Anne “I want to make sure (my dogs) are healthy as long as they live.” She has seven dogs of her own and one is prone to various allergies. Many of the recipes that she used to help with her dog are in the cookbook. The foods identified in her cookbook are meant to supplement the well balanced dog food one gets in a pet food store or quality grocery store. In developing her book, she worked with a canine nutritionist and a veterinarian. Her book is titled “The Healthy Dog Cookbook” (T.F.H. Publications, 2008), and can be found in Barnes and Noble as well as on Amazon.com. So c’mon, this weekend, get the book and start cooking some healthy stuff for Fido, he deserves it!!!