Vet Wisdom® Café

Oscar Worthy Animal Performances?

I read an article the other day about animal performances in movies that might be worthy of an award. Apparently a website called the Dog Daily News (I had some trouble accessing their site, so click with care) created their own awards for dogs called the Golden Collar Award, and Director Martin Scorcese got wind of them. 

His movie,  Hugo, is nominated for ELEVEN Oscars in the upcoming awards. (We saw Hugo last weekend. Unfortunately, it was only playing in 2D, but it was still a wonderful film - very magical!)

But his dog actor, a black doberman called Blackie, was not nominated! Scorcese wrote an op-ed piece in the LA Times about Blackie and his astonishment that she was not nominated. 

Scorcese wrote, "I'm proud of Blackie, who laid it on the line and dared to risk the sympathy of her audience. Let's just say that on the set, she had a fitting nickname: Citizen Canine. The bath scene alone is a masterpiece of underplaying, with Blackie's wonderfully aquiline face accentuated by the 3-D.... I protest the omission of Blackie the Doberman from the first Golden Collar nominations." Scorcese goes on to request that LA Times readers send write-in nominations to the Dog Daily News for Blackie. 

Well, Scorcese has been successful, and Blackie has been added to the list of nominees. Blackie will go up against Uggie who was in both The Artist and Water for Elephants, Cosmo who was in the movie Beginners, Denver who was in the movie 50/50, and Hummer who was in the movie Young Adult. Winners will be announced on February 13. 

Who do you think will win? Have you seen any of the dogs who were nominated? Or do you think they forgot a dog who should have been considered, like Blackie? I've seen Hugo and Water for Elephants. Of the two performances, I think that Blackie was more memorable, so I'd have to go with her as my choice! 

--Tammy

ClayPaws Prints in the News!

I picked up our local Coloradoan newspaper the other day and flipped over to the Life section.

Yes, I admit it. I'm not a news junkie. While I care deeply about contributing to society and my community in a positive way, I don't like reading about murders and cranky polititians. I prefer lighter fare. So, I usually postpone the hard news and turn first to the feature stories.

Imagine my surprise when the first thing I saw on page B3 was a beautiful ClayPaws® print and the greying face of a sweet, old dog named Ruby.

The accompanying story was from The Nashville Tennessean newspaper.  It had been picked up by our local paper and given a Fort Collins polish. In the article, Ruby's parents, along with their veterinarian, were interviewed about the care they had received through their local pet hospice service.  It was a very positive article about the difference end-of-life care and compassion can make in our lives when we need a little extra TLC.

I'm encouraged to see how pet hospice programs are growing in our country. I think they're the wave of the future, in terms of how, where, and when we will say good-bye to our beloved companion animals. And I'm proud that ClayPaws® prints are a small part of this very helpful trend.

Have you had experience with a pet hospice?  Leave a comment and let all of us know how it went for you.

--Laurel

Domestic Violence Shelters and Pets

Were you aware that many women who need the assistance of a battered women's shelter will not leave their abusers because their animals can't come with them to most shelters? I didn't either until I read this story last week.

This woman and her Great Dane had both been pushed from a second story window (after she was beaten with a hammer) by her boyfriend. She was trying to leave and go to a shelter, but they wouldn't allow her dog too. She refused to leave without him. The shelter chose to make an exception for her.

The executive director said that the shelter realized what a difference it makes in the lives of women to have their pets with them. "40 percent of women will not leave their pets, so they live in their cars or they stay." The shelter, Rose Brooks Center in Kansas City, MO now accepts pets. They are expanding to include 25 more beds, and seven kennels.

Were you aware of these statistics? I didn't know! It makes sense to me. If I were ever in this situation, it would be extremely difficult for me to consider leaving without the cats. I would worry for their safety if I left too! I'm pleased to hear that shelters are realizing this and are now starting to allow women to seek shelter along with their pets! (Full story and image.)

--Tammy

Uggie at the Golden Globes

Have you heard about the new Hollywood sensation? He is Uggie the Dog, star of the film The Artist. (I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my list!) 

On Sunday night, Uggie was in attendance at the Golden Globes. His film won Best Picture - Musical or Comedy. Uggie accompanied the actors on stage to accept the award. He promptly stole the show! One of the actors was accepting the award, but Uggie interrupted by prancing on two legs and then "falling over dead". He was so cute that the audience definitely didn't focus on the speech! You can see the clip over at People.com. It's worth a watch! 

Uggie also starred in Water for Elephants (a film that I have seen, and loved!) He was rescued from the pound by animal trainer Omar Von Muller. There is a Facebook campaign called "Consider Uggie" to get him an Oscar nomination!

Have you seen Uggie's film yet? What is your favorite dog movie, or dog in a movie or TV show? I always loved Eddie in Fraiser myself!(Photo from ABC.net.au)

--Tammy

Animal Cruelty in Politics?

So, I'm guessing you're aware that the political season is upon us for the presidential race later this year. You can't miss it (though I don't watch TV so I don't have to see the endless ads there.) I don't often bring up politics because it is such a hot button issue. But... 

You may have heard this story making its way around the internet and news outlets. It seems that one Republican presidential candidate (possibly the likliest to get the actual Republican nomination, though that seems to change nightly these days) has a sordid story of animal cruelty in his past. 

Mitt Romney, so the story goes, placed his family dog in a cargo carrier, strapped it to the roof of their car, and headed out on a trip to Canada (in the 1980s). (I read the story at this link, but you can also find it at many news sources, pick your favorite.) And it gets worse. The dog apparently had a bout with diarrhea while they were traveling, and soiled his cage and the car. Romney apparently then stopped at a service station and "washed down Seamus [the dog] and the car, then hopped back onto the highway." 

Romney hasn't denied these claims, or even allowed that putting Seamus ON the car was cruel. He recently told Fox News' Chris Wallace that Seamus loved it up there. 

So, I know you're all animal lovers, so I can guess your take on this story. But, what I want to know is: does a story like this have an impact on how you would choose to vote? There are many big issues in a political choice, obviously, but are stories of animal cruelty in a candidate's past something that you would take into consideration before choosing them for elected office? 

For me, a story like this disgusts me, and I have to wonder about how a person who would do something like this to a family pet would choose to treat other humans. Especially a person who is seeking high political office - the highest in our land in fact. I certainly hope we don't hear more stories like this one as our march towards November continues. 

--Tammy

Congrats to Jane Shaw!

Our friend and colleague Dr. Jane Shaw was recently awarded the Outstanding Faculty Member by the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.  Congratulations, Jane!

Each year, the CVMA recognizes a Colorado State University faculty member who provides "unselfish assistance to practitioners" and makes significant contributions to teaching and continuing education.

Jane does this in spades!

As the Director of the Argus Institute (where Tammy and I used to hang our hats!), Jane helps veterinary students and veterinarians develop their communication and emotional support skills.  She does this through cutting edge research, innovative workshops and clinical labs where students role play client interactions and receive constructive feedback on their work.

Dr. Shaw is one of the outstanding leaders, showing us all how to enhance the relationships between people and their pets---and their veterinarians!

Way to go, Jane!  We honor your work and are grateful for your continuing dedication to the program that is close to our hearts, the Argus Institute.

--Laurel

The Napping Seal

Nope, it's not the name of a new coffee shop near you.

This story was something I saw shared on a few friends' Facebook walls last week. It's pretty astonishing!

In New Zealand, Annette Swoffer was shocked to discover a baby seal in her house, taking a nap on her couch! She heard a noise and went to investigate, and there was a little seal. The seal had made its way from the water to Swoffer's house by crossing a busy road, her long driveway, a fence, cat door (and cats), a dog, and a set of stairs. Wow!

Ms. Swoffer said, "It was a lovely experience I'd have to say, a real treat." She thought she might be dreaming! She then called the SPCA who helped her get in touch with the Department of Conservation. A ranger came out to pick the little seal up.

It turns out this seal may be quite the adventurer. They think he was the same one spotted at a roundabout, and in someone else's garden. They apparently do take these adventures now and then!

What would you do if you found a seal in your house? My closest wildlife encounters have been raccoons and skunks!

--Tammy

 

China's Gay Penguins Adopt

I saw this story last week and knew I wanted to share it!

Last week, two male penguins who are paired with each other adopted a baby chick. This baby was born as a twin to a mother, an unusual occurence for penguins. One of the twin chicks can often be in danger as the mother cares for one instead of the other. The male couple has been in "trouble" in the past for trying to steal eggs to care for. They were given the twin chick to care for. With penguins, it doesn't matter what sex of the parent - they can all feed the baby. This little chick will likely come to recognize the male couple as its parents. Right now, all it needs and wants is someone to feed it.

Apparently, the zoo will split up the couple soon for breeding season. Zookeepers want them to breed with females to help with populating their species, which is endangered. If Buddy and Pedro want to be back together once breeding season ends, they can.

These cute penguins have an affection for each other, and hopefully they can do a good job of raising and taking care of their adopted chick!

--Tammy

Dogs are More Aggressive if Walked by Men

There is a new study out that shows dogs who are walked by men show more aggressive tendencies than if walked by women! According to study results, dogs are four times more likely to threaten and bite other dogs and act aggressively when handled by men.

Petr Rezac and his team wrote, "We propose that the occurrence of threat and biting in dogs on a walk may have some connection with aggressive tendencies and/or impulsivity in people," adding that "dogs are able to perceive subtle messages of threat emitted by another dog. Simultaneously, dogs are unusually skilled at reading human social and communicative behavior." (Full story at MSNBC)

Also found in the study - dogs on leash sniff other dogs more often than when off leash, and they also threaten other dogs more often when on leash. Apparently there is even a term for this phenomenon - it's called leash aggression, and is likely because they can't have their freedom to run around and do what they would "in the wild". 

Have you noticed a difference with your dogs if he/she is walked by a female or a male? I think in our house, this study would simply result in my husband saying that walking the dog was MY job! (Our imaginary dog, of course, as we only have kitties!) (photo from bigstockphoto.com)

--Tammy

Panzee the Chimp

So, we really are a lot alike our ancestors, chimpanzees. This story from Discovery News tells us about Panzee.

Panzee understands more than 130 English language words. She isn't responding to just a particular person's voice, but really understands the words. She can recognize them when spoken in "sine-wave" form - a synthetic speech. Researchers say that her understanding shows that our common ancestors may have been able to use speech like sounds before the evolution of actual speech.

Some of the words that Panzee can understand are tickle, M&M, lemonade, and sparkler. She knows what the words mean and can match them to photos illustrating the word. Researchers say that Panzee can understand these words because of her early experiences with speech, just like a human learns to speak.

I think that my cats can understand a lot more than we will ever know. (OK, maybe not Henry... he's not the brightest bulb...) But, Oscar really does seem to understand us. And Ben... well, Ben is a special case. Often, it feels like he understands our conversations. He reacts in ways that you wouldn't necessarily expect him to, but fit for what we were talking about. Are we anthropomorphizing? Yeah, probably. But... given what we know about Panzee, I think we don't give animals enough credit for understanding us humans! What do you think?

--Tammy

Subliminal Advertising?

So, I came across this story in Discovery News yesterday.

It seems that in Austria, there is a TV commercial running that includes sounds that only dogs can hear. It is for Beneful Dog Food. It includes sounds that are in the high frequency range that dogs hear much better than humans.

Now, I don't have dogs, so I could only watch the commercial to see if I could hear the sounds. What about you? Play it for your dogs and see if they pay attention! (The ad is in German.)

 

What do you think of an ad aimed specifically at your pet? Is it OK for the company to have included these sounds, even though we as humans likely can't hear them all? Or is it riding that fine line of being embedded subliminal messaging?

--Tammy

Fined for Brushing

I came across this story the other day.

In Nottingham, England, Roy Wyre has been fined for brushing his dog while in a public park. The town has been "cracking down" on people who leave pet hair in public places apparently. The officer who wrote the ticket also thought that Wyre might be impersonating an officer because of his hi-visibility jacket. (I think it sounds like that was the larger issue - more than the dog hair!)

The ticket was for "litter, large amounts" and was $120. Wyre said, "You could brush Spencer [his dog] all day and there wouldn't be more than a handful of hair coming off, one of the birds will pick it up for a nest." Wyre decided to fight the ticket with the town, and has since won the fight and had the ticket dropped. The town apologized as well.

What do you think of this? Do you ever brush your pets out in a public place and leave the hair? Do you consider it litter if you see someone else doing this? I have noticed pet hair a few times in parks or on beaches, and honestly, it doesn't really bother me. It's natural, and like Wyre, I think birds probably do use the fluff if they come across it. I personally haven't ever done this, but if I had a dog, I might, and probably wouldn't really think I was littering!

--Tammy

Cat Cancer Study Could Help Humans

Laurel and I used to work with Dr. Kim Selting at the CSU Veterinary Hospital.

She is involved in a study at the University of Missouri on intestinal cancers in cats from 1964 to 2004. Most were lymphoma. Dr. Selting "said the researchers are looking for cancer development in animals in order to find common risk factors. She believes this information can be used to identify risk factors and treatments for humans." (Quote from full story here.)

Because cats and humans share the same environment, the findings from this study might be helpful for humans with cancers too.

We love hearing about these amazing studies that not only help our companion animals, but can have positive outcomes for humans with similar diseases too. Congratulations to Dr. Selting and her colleagues on excellent research!

--Tammy

Five Years Missing

My husband came across this story, and I knew I had to share it with you!

Can you imagine your cat going missing for FIVE years, and then turning up clear across the country? Well, that is what happened to Willow the calico cat.

Willow lived in Colorado as a kitten, and she had a micro-chip implanted. Willow escaped her home during some home renovations. Her owner, Jamie Squires, said that they thought Willow had probably encountered a coyote or some other trouble. They definitely never expected her to turn up so many years later.

They got a call from Animal Care & Control in New York City because of the micro-chip implanted in Willow. Jamie and her husband were very skeptical that it could really be Willow, and waited to tell their kids until they knew for sure! And it turned out, it really was Willow!

Willow isn't back home with her Colorado family yet, but they are making the arrangements for her to come back home. There are no clues as to how she wound up in New York City, but it's sure to have been quite an adventure! She is staying with a foster family until she can return home. They don't think she's been on the streets much as she is a very friendly, well-mannered kitty!

My cats aren't microchipped. But, hearing stories like this one - I think I probably should consider it! I know for future kitties that join us, I will microchip them when they are young. Our old boys probably won't do too much escaping or adventuring at this point! Are your pets microchipped? If not, will you ever consider it? (Photo and full story here.)

--Tammy

Dog Mourns Soldier

You may have seen this story last week online. I did, and wanted to share it with you.

The photo accompanying the story is rather haunting. Hawkeye, the labrador retriever who belonged to the fallen soldier, walked up to the casket at the beginning of the funeral service and lay down near it throughout.

Navy Sealman Jon Tumilson was killed in Afghanistan. Tumilson was one of the soldiers who was killed when their helicopter was shot down by Taliban insurgents.

His cousin snapped the photo and said, "I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members who couldn't make it or couldn't see what I could from the aisle."

Apparently, Hawkeye was a huge part of Tumilson's life. He led the family into the funeral service, and laid down near the casket after the service started. Hawkeye will now go home with a good friend of Tumilson's.

We wonder if animals grieve. I think in seeing this photo and story, that yes, they do. Maybe not in the same ways we humans do, but Hawkeye clearly misses his friend, and knew he needed to stay near the casket. You can read the full story here.

Now, if you're like me, you'll be compelled to go give your pets a little bit of extra love now. 

--Tammy 

Tegon the Glowing Dog

Did you hear about this?!

In Discovery News, we were introduced to a pup named Tegon. She is a beagle and has been genetically modified so that she glows florescent green under an ultraviolet light. You can't tell that she is glowing in normal light - that requires a UV light and goggles.

Now, why does she glow?!

Tegon is a research puppy. She was created by a medical research team and they hope to do studies with Tegon that will benefit humans. ByeongChun Lee is the doctor in charge of the team of researchers working on and with Tegon. From the Discovery article: Lee said the genes injected to make the dog glow could be substituted with genes that trigger fatal diseases. He and his team would then be able to chart the course of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and more, better understanding how such diseases develop.  Dogs also make good candidates for this kind of research because they have "good communication skills with humans, which enable them to have good response skills to direct orders. They are also easy to handle." He added, "Compared to mice and other smaller animals, dogs provide a much larger sample collection."

Now, I can understand this process with Tegon and using her for medical research. I don't particularly like it, but I do understand it. What I didn't like in this article was a statement that was made at the end by a Dr. Ko - another researcher:  [the] "technology could be used for producing a variety of unique cats and dogs, possibly creating a new area of commercial interest."

Research is one thing, but genetically altering animals so that people can have a "glowing" dog.... That's a step to far in my opinion. What do you think of this? Is the research part OK with you? Would you buy a glowing dog? I'm interested to know what you think! (Photo and full article: http://news.discovery.com/animals/beagle-dog-glows-green-110801.html)

--Tammy

 

Friends with Benefits

Get your mind out of the gutter! The title of a new research paper is: Friends with Benefits: On the Positive Consequences of Pet Ownership. This research has just been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

The researchers, psychologists from Miami University and St. Louis University, wanted to find out about the benefits of pet ownership for every day people. 217 people answered a detailed questionnaires to determine whether pet owners are different from people who don't have pets.They looked at things like depression, loneliness, illness, activity levels, and relationships (with humans). The research found that pet owners tend to score better than people who don't have pets!

In a second part of the study, 56 dog owners were studied (they did the same questionnaire). Having a doggie companion who "complemented rather than competed" with humans was found to be the most beneficial. From the research paper, "In ... studies, we observed that everyday people enjoy well-being benefits from pet ownership and that these advantages are stronger when pets fulfill one's social needs."

In a third part to the study, 97 people (undergraduates at Miami University) participated in a study on "Pet owner's experiences" (in exchange for research participation credit in their coursework.) The participants had to own a pet. Then they were randomly assigned conditions, such as social rejection. This study showed that a person's pet was as effective as a best friend in "staving off social needs deficits in the wake of rejection."

Wow! I guess we all knew this to be true, since we're all "pet people" here at the Café! But, I guess I never really put it into words. I definitely look to my pets for comfort. They seem to know when you need a little TLC, and it is unconditional. (Well, at least in most cases... My grumpy Oscar might put a condition on his TLC.)

What do you think? Do you see yourself benefitting from being a pet owner as this study suggests? (If you're interested, the full study paper is available at  http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-ofp-mcconnell.pdf) (photo from istockphoto.com)

--Tammy

ClayPaws on the NoJoeSchmo Blog

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know that I've pretty much left my one-on-one pet loss counseling days behind me.  And I often miss it!  For me, there was no more rewarding work than being able to spend hours, or even days and weeks, with pet parents as they said good-bye to their beloved animals.

So, it was fun for me this weekend to revisit those days a bit during an interview with Megan Hess who writes the NoJoeSchmo blog.  Megan is a recent Syracuse University grad with a degree in journalism.  She's interested in how people like me have built careers that aren't exactly in the business mainstream.  On her blog, Megan has collected interviews with all kinds of innovative and creative people.  It's really inspiring to read about how other folks like me were able to take an idea  or opportunity and create a livelihood for themselves. Megan defines a NoJoeSchmo as people who "aren't necessarily featured on Fortune 500 lists, and you probably wouldn't recognize them on TV. But their stories and career paths are just as worthwhile." (photo from the NoJoeSchmo website.)

If you've been thinking about changing jobs or, if you're interested in learning a bit about the ClayPaws® prints history, check out my interview and others like it at http://nojoeschmo.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/clay-paw-prints

Thanks, Megan!

--Laurel

Pets Do NOT Raise Allergy Risk

So, I've read in numerous places recently that researchers have found that having pets does NOT raise the risk of children developing allergies.

Now, I don't have children of my own, but I do know if I did, I would want them to have pets as well. I never really thought about the risk of allergies, but apparently this is a concern for many parents out there. (Is it or was it a concern for you with your children?) I find this quite interesting because my husband's brother and wife are expecting a baby very soon. His brother loves cats, but his wife has not allowed them to have one because they are "too dirty". Now that they are expecting a child, I imagine that she won't change her tune, and will still not allow pets. (Her logic is flawed, in my humble opinion, because children are dirty too!)

So, my niece-to-be-in-law will likely not have pets as a growing child. Now, that may change down the road - it remains to be seen. But, her chances of allergies aren't any different than a child who does grow up with pets! The study monitored a group of children from the day they were born through to adulthood. They and their parents were contacted regularly about their contact with pets.

"When 565 of them reached the age of 18 years, blood samples were taken and tested for antibodies to cat and dog allergens.

The scientists found that exposure to a specific pet during the child's first year of life was the key exposure period. In some groups, this exposure was, in fact, protective.

Young adult males who were exposed to dogs during their first 12 months of life had a 50% lower risk of becoming sensitized to dogs compared to young adult males who had no dog in the house during the same period.

Adult males and females were much less likely to be sensitized to cats if they lived with a cat in the house during their first 12 months of life, compared to peers who did not have a pet cat during the same period." (Read the full article here.)

So, what is your take on it? Are you protective of letting your child be near animals for fear of allergy risks? Or is it something you never really considered and you had pets? If you don't have children, what would you do if you did? (Photo from istockphotos.com)

--Tammy

Don't Kill Bill

We received an interesting email last week from an organization called Up For Pups. We definitely wanted to share about them with you!

Up For Pups is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mistreated domestic animals through creative public education initiatives.

The organization has several initiatives for 2011:

• Develop a community of artists using their unique talents for humane education purposes and help to promote their events to maximize their impact
• Provide free animal advocacy materials to rescue organizations to help them educate the public about pet overpopulation, puppy mills, responsible pet selection and parenting, and volunteer opportunities
• Gather information from the top existing dog rescues to develop a comprehensive guide to starting/running a rescue
• Create a simple dog training program for children and dogs in low-income communities that is easily replicable across the nation  (Directly from their website at www.upforpups.org/about)

The email we received was specifically about a program that they are sponsoring called "Don't Kill Bill". It is a stage show that is produced by Kyla Duffy who is both an author and an aerialist. (And the president of Up for Pups.) Don't Kill Bill is to help inspire rescue and to raise awareness about adoption of pets.

Now, I was lucky enough to see Kyla perform last year at the Blogpaws conference. If you aren't familiar with what an aerialist does, a video follows about the show with clips of the aerial work Kyla does. It was AMAZING to watch in person! The show contains stories, and performances, and has been very well received!

 

There are a number of upcoming performances. Maybe one of them is in your area! Check out the dates listed at http://upforpups.org/events/ If you don't see an event near you, there is a way that you can get involved and help set up a Don't Kill Bill event of your own! http://upforpups.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/DKB_Show-Hosting.pdf

This is such a unique idea and a great way to really raise the awareness of all the homeless pets out there!

--Tammy

June is Adopt-a-Cat Month

June is adopt-a-cat month. Every spring is called "kitten season". Newborn kittens in shelters all across the country join the other shelter kitties waiting for new homes!

If you've been thinking of adopting a new pet, now is the time for a kitty! If you are considering adopting, read these top ten adoption tips from the American Humane Association:

1. If you're thinking about adopting a cat, consider taking home two.
2. Find a cat whose personality meches with yours.
3. Pick out a veterinarian ahead of time and schedule a visit within the first few days following the adoption.
4. Make sure everyone in the house is prepared to have a cat before it comes home.
5. Budget for the short- and long-term costs of a cat.
6. Stock up on supplies before the cat arrives.
7. Cat-proof your home.
8. Go slowly when introducing your cat to new friends and family.
9. Be sure to include your new pet in your family’s emergency plan.
10. If you’re considering giving a cat as a gift, make sure the recipient is an active participant in the adoption process.

These are great tips, and ones I wish I'd thought of more when I adopted my first cat! I wasn't exactly prepared for kitty, and we had a rocky start! (He was my sister's cat, and needed to be in a single pet home. He wasn't very happy about it, and wound up having some pretty serious issues.)

But how can you help shelter kitties find homes this month if you can't adopt? Well, Petfinder.com has a great list of ways to help that don't include bringing a kitty home with you!

1. Donate your Facebook status. Just paste this message into the "What's on your mind?" box at the top of your page: "June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month. Save a life: Adopt a cat! http://www.petfinder.com"


2. Tweet, retweet and repeat the following (or your own brilliant message): "June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. Save a life: Adopt a cat! http://www.petfinder.com"


3. Contact your local shelter or rescue group (you can search for groups near you here) and ask if they have a donation wish list or other flyer they'd like to you to post around your office or neighborhood. They may be holding special events for Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month which you can help promote.


4. Share an adoptable cat or a Petfinder cat-adoption Happy Tail on your blog, Facebook or Twitter page each day of the month.


5. Sign up as a foster parent or shelter volunteer then tell your friends how great it is. Contact your local shelter or rescue group, or register in our volunteer database.


6. Add a Petfinder widget or banner to your Web site or blog.


7. Write an op-ed about the importance of pet adoption for your local paper.


8. Contact your local shelter or rescue group and offer to photograph their adoptable pets and upload the pics to Petfinder.


9. Donate to your local shelter or rescue group or to the Petfinder.com Foundation in honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.


10. Pass on an understanding of the importance of pet adoption to the next generation. Talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and other up-and-comers about animal shelters and why Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, and pet adoption in general, is important.

 While I won't be adopting a cat this June, I will find ways (like this blog post hopefully!) that I can help kitties who need forever homes! And the next time we decide to add a furry member to our family, we'll definitely be adopting from a shelter or a rescue! How will you help kitties in need this June? (Pictured above are 1) Sgt. Pepper. Available for adoption in Newport, OR. and 2) Muffin. Available for adoption in Fort Collins, CO.

--Tammy

World Turtle Day

I am a big fan of turtles. I've never had one as a pet. (I don't count the one I found when I was  kid. I called it "Brown Eyes" and we released it at the lake near our house.) My aunt and uncle had giant tortoises (I think that's what they were) in their yard in northern California that I loved seeing and hanging out with whenever we visited there. I have collected large numbers of turtles in all forms (little boxes, figurines, PJs with turtles, you name it!)

When I read that May 23rd is World Turtle Day, I had to share! According to Wikipedia:

The purpose of World Turtle Day, May 23, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive.

  

I learned that there are quite a few turtle rescues around the US. If you need to rehome a turtle, or you're in the market to adopt a turtle, you can find out how here.

Go hug a turtle! :)

--Tammy

National Dog Bite Prevention Week

This week (May 15-21, 2011) is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. While I don't have a dog currently, I know that this is a big issue! A friend just had their little chihuahua bite their 2 year old son. (I don't know what they've done or how they've handled things at this point.) According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs every year. And children are by far the most common bite victims.

So, what can you do to be sure and avoid being a victim of a dog bite? Or protect your children?

From the AVMA:

• Carefully select your pet. Puppies should not be obtained on impulse.
• Make sure your pet is socialized as a young puppy so it feels at ease around people and other animals.
• Don't put your dog in a position where it feels threatened or teased.
• Train your dog. The basic commands "sit," "stay," "no," and "come" help dogs understand what is expected of them and can be incorporated into fun activities that build a bond of trust between pets and people.
• Walk and execrcise your dog regularly to keep it healthy and provide mental stimulation.
• Avoid highly excitable games like wrestling or tug-of-war.
• Use a leash in public to ensure you are able to control your dog.
• Keep your dog healthy. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies and preventable infectious diseases. Parasite control and other health care are important because how your dog feels affects how it behaves.
• Neuter your pet.
• If you have a fenced yard, make sure the gates are secure.
• Be cautious around strange dogs, and treat your own pet with respect. Because children are the most common victims of dog bites, parents and caregivers should:
• NEVER leave a baby or small child alone with a dog.
• Be alert for potentially dangerous situations.
• Teach their children – including toddlers – to be careful around pets. Children must learn not to approach strange dogs or try to pet dogs through fences. Teach children to ask permission from the dog's owner before petting the dog.

Do you have anything to add? Have you ever experienced a dog bite for your or your family? Being aware of this issue and taking steps to be safe is an important part of owning a dog! I never realized how many people are bitten by dogs each year until I researched this post! I'm very cautious when approaching strange dogs, and even then, I've been nipped at a time or two! (Though the owners assured me it was OK for me to pet the dog!)

--Tammy

Water for Elephants

I'm sure that many of you are familiar with the new movie that's out based on the novel "Water for Elephants". I read the novel several years ago, enjoying it very much. So, I went to see the movie last weekend, and I enjoyed it also.

There are some serious issues about animal abuse that surface in this movie. The scenes are difficult to watch, and I found myself really rooting for the elephant. Rosie the elephant, played by Tai, was the star of the show!

What I didn't know until after I saw the movie is that these elephants are facing some serious issues. In a great blog post by Dr. Donald Smith, Professor of Surgery and Dean Emeritus of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (which was the college that Robert Pattinson's character attended in the movie), he shares that Tai and elephants like her are facing a virus that is killing them. It is called Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV). This disease is apparently fairly new and it can affect baby elephants both in captivity and in the wild. According to Dr. Smith, Tai's "nephew" elephant died at 3 1/2 years of age in February of EEHV.

This disease is a hemorrhaging disease that has no cure or vaccine as of yet. There is research going to learn about this disease and find ways to prevent or manage it. You can learn more about it at the International Elephant Foundation. http://www.elephantconservation.org/elephant-endotheliotropic-herpes-virus/   

I was so impressed with the performance of Tai as Rosie in this movie. I was so sad to hear about this disease. Elephants are a kind of a mystical animal to me. Have you seen the movie?

--Tammy

Are You Insulting Your Animals?

I recently encountered a study that says calling animals pets is insulting to them. Dogs, cats, hamsters, birds and other domestic animals should be called "companion animals" and pet owners should be called "human carers". Even calling wild animals wildlife is insulting and should be called "free-living".

The editors of the Journal of Animal Ethics have put out the call to change the way we think of animals. The journal is edited by the Reverand Professor Andrew Linzey, who is a theologian and director of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. His journal and editorial argues that "derogatory language about animals can affect the way that they are treated. Despite its prevalence, 'pets' is surely a derogatory term both of the animals concerned and their human carers. Again, the word 'owners', whilst technically correct in law, harks back to a previous age when animals were regarded as just that: property, machines or things to use without moral constraint."

I personally don't think of using the term pets as derogatory. My pets are not my possessions, though I do call them pets. They are companions. They are part of my little family. We use both terms - pets and companion animals - on our websites and in our articles. Companion animal really does describe how many people think of their animals. But pets is how I would guess most people think of them!

I also do call myself a pet owner, sometimes a pet parent. I certainly have never used the term human carer for myself, though we do use caregiver as a term in our articles and websites.

What do you think? Can you see yourself changing your use of these words and adopting carer and companion animal rather than owner and pet? Is this journal onto something we should really take into consideration, or do you think they are "over the top"? (photo from istockphoto.com)

--Tammy

Your Partner or Your Pet?

We talk a lot about the human-animal bond. We all love our pets! But if it came down to a decision, would your partner or your pet win?

I ran across an AP-Petside.com poll recently that said while most people would choose their significant other over a pet, a pretty sizable number would actually be sure to hang on to the pet! 84% of the respondents would decide in favor of their partner. 14% though, said that their pet would win.

I personally think that 14% is a pretty shocking number. I wouldn't have thought it would wind up being that high. After all, our pets have a much shorter life span (typically anyway) than our human partners. I have never been put in a spot where there was a choice. I had my cats when I met Mike. (Pictured is my cat Henry with Mike.)He knew we were a package deal, and thankfully, he liked the cats, and they liked him. If, early on in our relationship, Mike had disliked the cats, I'm not sure how things would have gone. I don't think we would have become committed to one another if there was an issue with the cats though.

I can say now, though, if I answered this poll, my husband would win out over the cats. Much as I love my cats, I love my husband more. So, there's no chance I would ditch my husband and keep the cats! I hope it never becomes an issue that I would have to even consider.

How would you have answered this poll??

--Tammy

Does Your Dog Feel Sorry for You?

I think most people who have pets do tend to assign human characteristics to them (anthropomorphize - one of my favorite words!)

But, according to scientists, dogs may really empathize with humans! According to a study from the Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, "Indeed, a study showing that pets, namely dogs, behave as 'upset' as children when exposed to familiar people faking distress, strongly suggests 'sympathetic concern'. Also it has been reported that untrained dogs may be sensitive to human emergencies and may act appropriately to summon help, which, if true, suggests empathic perspective taking."

In their experiments, the researchers had people fake heart attacks or distress to see how the dogs would react. Many dogs just act confused, but apparently the scientists think that in a real emergency there are sounds, smells, and other things that cause a dog to react. (So, faked doesn't give them the same things as real.)

The scientists think that further study is needed to answer a large number of questions too. Is the ability breed-specific? Does training make a dog more likely to empathize?

What do you think? Do you think that dogs really do empathize with humans? Or is it just us humans assigning our characteristics to an animal? Since I don't have dogs, I have to comment about my cats. I really think that they can feel what is happening with us crazy humans. Our boys can definitely sense stress (or distress) and know when we need them to comfort us. Ben, in particular, is great at knowing when to just cuddle up to me, rather than being pushy for attention. (When I have a migraine, he is really good at being very cuddly - exactly what I need!) How about your pets? (The photo is Ben and Henry - our buddies! Ben definitely shows a lot of emotion for a pet. He is missing Mike right now as he is traveling.)

--Tammy

Being Prepared for an Emergency

So, in the wake of the disaster in Japan, we had an emergency tsunami warning affect us here on the Oregon coast. It was rather nerve-wracking and it really got me thinking too.

I awoke that morning to find that we had gotten a reverse 9-1-1 call saying to evacuate to higher ground. (I never even heard the phone or answering machine... yikes... and my husband was out of town.) Luckily, we live just above the mark that they were saying, so I wound up just staying put. (They were saying low lying which meant below 50 feet above sea level. We sit at about 60 feet above, and half a mile away from the shoreline.) Right after I woke up, the civil defense sirens started going off too. Scary! And then the phone calls from friends and family who were concerned started rolling in.

Luckily, I didn't have to pack up and get out in a hurry... because I sure wasn't prepared to do that! I learned a few things that day about what I should do in case of something like this happening in the future!

In thinking about this further, I know what I need to do in case an emergency comes up in the future. First off, I need to make sure that our cat carriers are all together, and all ready to go! (Currently, they are stowed randomly in places where they fit, and I'm not sure I could find all three when needed!) I also need to make sure we always have a couple of extra cans of cat food, and a baggie of their dry food stowed away with their carriers so we can just grab and go! I need to remember to take Henry's medications with us as he needs them daily. It would be a stressful situation, so not remembering his meds would be problematic!

The other things I realized had less to do with the cats, but more general things... like having bottled water ready. And we need to buy an emergency radio (and extra batteries!) We don't have television, so I relied on the AM radio station to keep up with the warnings and happenings with the tsunami. But we kept power during this emergency, so I was OK. If we'd lost power, I wouldn't have even had the AM radio because we had no batteries! Yikes.

So, I learned my lessons from a tsunami warning. I will be making some preparations in the coming weeks so that we humans AND felines are ready to go if we need to in the future! What have you done to be sure you're ready for an emergency (including your pets)? Do you have a plan?

--Tammy

Jane Goodall's Lessons from a Dog

I find Jane Goodall a fascinating person. I am compelled by her life and her work.

When I read this story recently, I knew I wanted to share it with you. It seems that she attributes everything she knows about animals to a childhood dog.

She told a group of fourth and fifth grade students in CA, "I learned everything I know about animals in general from the dog I had as a child. He taught me that animals have personalities and minds and feelings and what a true friend was. I never would have been able to go to Africa if Rusty hadn't died, because I would never have been able to leave him." She went on to tell them that she was able to do the work she's done with chimps (with no formal science training) because of Rusty.

I always wonder how things would be different in my life if a certain thing had been different. Just imagine if Rusty had not been a part of Jane Goodall's life. Would she have even gone to Africa and done her amazing work with chimps? I, for one, am very glad of Rusty and the lessons he taught a young Jane.

Have you learned lessons from an animal in your past? I think we all can learn from our pets, but do we always listen? I'm afraid that Henry's purpose in my life is to teach patience!

--Tammy  

Helping Japan

Tom Collins of BlogPaws has a son who lives in Tokyo.  (Thankfully, he's fine!)

Tom, being the kind soul he is, has scanned the blogs, Facebook, Twitter and so on for the links to places where we can pitch in and help the people and animals of Japan's earthquake and tsunami. Here are a few groups that, as Tom puts it, already have feet on the ground:
 - World Vets news and donation page; Facebook page
 - American Red Cross

Or are actively planning their response:
 - International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
 - World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
 - American Humane Association's Red Star Animal Emergency Services

The WSPA Animals in Disasters Blog caputured the human-animal crisis this way:

... a top challenge for the Japanese authorities managing these shelters will be the need to house families together – families that would consider their ‘families’ are incomplete without their pets. (Photo from a Japanese newspaper of a man being reunited with his dog - posted on the World Vets Facebook page.)

 
Dr. V of the great Pawcurious blog is hosting a "blog hop" today in hopes of raising awareness of the plight of those in Japan. Head on over to her blog to see numerous other pet blogs who are trying to help!

Do you know of other ways we can all help out Japan?  Please leave a comment here!

--Laurel

Pets Vs. Children?

So you may have read about George Clooney's new girlfriend. Her name is Elisabetta Canalis. And she recently stated to the press that her "maternal desires are fully satisfied with my dogs." (She told this to Italian Cosmopolitan and I read about it at People.com. But just Google her name and you'll find many articles on blogs about her statement!) Apparently some of these bloggers are up in arms that her statement is a selfish one. She and Clooney apparently "should" have children... Hmmm?? Really? He is a confirmed bachelor, she is a super model... do they have the right lifestyle for kids? Probably not, at least in my opinion.

This got me to thinking. (**warning: much opinionated-ness ahead.) I am married, age 36, and don't have any children. Nor do I plan to. This is something that my husband and I decided well before we ever actually got married. It was important to both of us. We don't want children. We have cats, three boys now, and we had five when we first moved in together!

My family, in particular, hasn't met our "no kids" idea with rousing approval. One of my sisters tried to convince me that I'd change my mind. She told me that we "had" to have kids... I argued with her for a bit, but finally let it drop. I don't need to justify my own decisions to my family at this point in time. But, there are a lot of people out there who seem to think that married couples are really supposed to have children. (I also understand that people hold religious beliefs that are different from my own, and that's OK. But for me, this is what works!)

Well, in my own personal opinion, my husband and I are better pet parents than we would be human parents. And I like my cats just fine, thank you. I have no desire to have a child other than my cats. But is this selfish of me? Yes, you bet it is. But also in my opinion, being selfish in this way is a good thing. Being selfish and choosing to not bring a child into this world is OK at this point in our time. There are too many humans on the planet already (and animals probably too...) and one more from me isn't necessary. I think that George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis are probably being selfish too, but again, that's not a bad thing here.

So, this is a bit of a controversial subject. There's a lot of chatter about Ms. Canalis' statement. What is your take on the matter? Do people have a responsibility to have children? Or is it OK for a couple (like my husband and I, or like George Clooney and his partner) to choose to have just pets instead? (And I never thought I would ever be able to lump myself together with George Clooney! Photo is NOT Elisabetta Canalis! Image from istockphoto.com)

--Tammy

Top Pet Toxins

I learn something new every day... and often many new things!

I came across an article on the ASPCA blog recently that talked about the top ten pet toxins for 2010. I was surprised at the list, so I thought I would share the list with you. Being aware of what your pets could get into in your home is a good idea. Pet-proofing a home may be just as important as child-proofing!

Here's the list:

1. Human medications: many over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can make pets very ill if they ingest them.
2. Insecticides: Always follow the directions on labels for insecticides. Using something on your pet that isn't specifically for a pet can be dangerous!
3. Rodenticides: Yes, mice can be pests, but the baits you use to kill them can be lethal to your pets! Use caution!
4. People food: There are many people foods that can be toxic to pets. Grapes, raisins, onions, to name just a few. Be cautious in sharing bites with your pets or leaving food where they can help themselves!
5. Veterinary medications: This one gave me pause. What? Why would veterinary medicines be toxic to pets. But then it's explained - they make these medicines so they taste good to pets, so sometimes pets will get ahold of meds and eat way more than they should because of the taste. Be sure you're keeping their medicines where they can't get into them!
6. Chocolate: Keep your emergency chocolate stash well away from where Buddy can get to it!
7. Household toxins: Cleaners, batteries, potpourri... many things can make pets sick. Be sure to keep things that might be harmful out of reach of your pets. Our Henry got sick because he liked to jump in the tub and lick the water off of the bottom after a shower. But the soap residue made him really sick... We learned our lesson to not allow that behavior!
8. Plants: Keep your houseplants up and away from where pets can chew on them. Lilies and sago palm, among others, can be deadly if ingested. (So posing your cute new, puppy with lilies as in the above picture? Probably not the best idea!)
9. Herbicides: Apparently, herbicides can taste salty so pets will lick at them. Be sure if you're using one to keep your pets away!
10. Outdoor toxins: Antifreeze, fertilizers, ice melt - common things that pets have ingested outside the house. If you use them outside, be sure that your area is clean and safe before allowing your pets out. Store extra supplies away from where pets can get to them.

Many on this list are common sense suggestions. But it bears repeating. To keep your pet safe, keep things on the list away from them or away from where they might have access to them. Better safe than sorry!

Have you experienced a pet getting ill from ingesting a toxin on this list? How do you handle keeping your house safe for your pets? (photo from dreamstime.com)

--Tammy

Mandatory Dog Insurance

So how would you feel if your state mandated that you have insurance for your dog? I know I hear a lot about how people feel about the mandate for humans to have health insurance, but what about pets?

There is a proposal in Texas that would mandate that dog owners would have to get liablity insurance for their dogs. Unleashed, un-neutered dogs over 20 pounds would be required to have a liability insurance policy of at least $100,000 if House Bill 998 passes. State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon said "large, un-neutered dogs present the highest risk for property damage and injuries to others, and that owners should be held more responsible for their dogs' behavior." (See the full article at http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/16/texas-dog-owners-barking-mad-proposal-mandate-dog-insurance/.)

It looks like this bill will have a hard time actually passing. Opponents think that this is just too much. According to the article, Wendy Diamond, pet expert and author, said, "There are more bullies at school playgrounds than dog fights in dog parks... when they demand liability insurance on children then this will be fair."

What do you think of this representative's bill? Would you support pet owners having to buy insurance on their male, un-neutered dogs, just in case? I personally don't like the idea and I don't think it will do the good that the representative hopes it will. After all, these same pet owners are the ones who don't neuter their dogs, too... Mandating that might be a better idea... I don't know!

--Tammy

Dogs are the best medicine?!

I've heard, of course, that laughter is the best medicine. But the headline of an article I came across recently really caught my eye. "Dogs can be the best medicine". And it seems to really be true in many cases!

In Omaha, NE, there is a pet-facilitated therapy program in the Children's Hospital and Medical Center. There are five certified therapy dogs who make visits to patients. "Such programs are based in large part on studies that show that patients... who interact with animals exhibit reduced stress levels and improved emotional well-being."

Melissa Wilke is a child life specialist who helps facilitate the visits. She says, "They [the patients] look forward to them [the dogs] coming. If they're sleeping, they'll perk right up and smile and be excited. It helps them get up and going for the day."

I loved reading about the hospitals and their program (I hope you'll go read the full story.) I really think it is beneficial to the patients, and the dogs who are involved do really seem to love the work they do. I remember a nursing home where my grandparents lived for the last few years of their life. They had dog visitors who came in regularly. My Grandaddy loved dogs, and he really enjoyed getting to see a dog now and then, if only for a few minutes and a pat or two. I saw the benefit, even just briefly, that the residents gained from these visits. I've never seen this same situation in a children's hospital, but I can imagine how much the children LOVE the dogs.

Have you ever been involved in or seen a program like this in a hospital near you? Have you or would you get a dog involved in doing therapy of this sort? I think, if I ever do have a dog, I would love to see about the training required to do work like this! (photo from dreamstime.com)

--Tammy

"I see dead people"

OK, so I couldn't resist the movie tie-in line.

I recently came across an Associated Press-Petside.com poll. Do Pets Have a Sixth Sense? Apparently, according to the poll results 43% of Americans think their pet has a sixth sense about bad things happening to their person."Of these [43%], 47 percent attribute the quality to dogs, 41 percent to cats, 36 percent to fish and 45 percent to other types of pets."

There were several stories quoted in the article about dogs letting their owners know there was a fire by barking. Another owner saw her cat hide under the bed, something the cat never does otherwise, when there was a fire in her building.

One of the most interesting stories to me though, was about a dog named Buddy. Buddy "throws a tantrum" to predict seizures in others. "'Before Gail had a seizure, Buddy would make these jerking movements -- like he was having a fit -- and we realized he could sense the seizures coming on.'"

What do you think? Do your pets have that sixth sense? Can they predict something bad happening, or bad weather approaching? Do you have a story to share about something your own pet has done? I think that pets might not really have a "sixth sense" but I do think they have ways of letting us know about bad things, or changes.

--Tammy

Related articles you might find helpful:

50 Ways to Build the Bond with Your Pet

Encouraging Clients to Keep Linking Objects

Seasonal Affective Disorder

I came across a really interesting article just the other day. Apparently, our pets can be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) too!

Having grown up in Colorado, I always had sunshine. Now, living on the Oregon coast, we have weeks (not just days) with no sunshine! (We actually thought this was a myth. Last winter, our first here, was unseasonably sunny. However, we're really in a more typical winter this year, and just emerged from about 3 weeks of solid grey!)

I don't have SAD. I like the grey rainy days. But even so, after three weeks, I was ready for a bit of sun to peek through the clouds! I didn't think about how this lack of sunshine might affect our kitties when we moved out here. I had many people warn us about depression and hating the rain and grey. I didn't think it would be a problem for me, and it hasn't been, but what about the cats?!

The article in the Oregonian warns that pets can become depressed, lethargic, and refuse to eat if they are affected by SAD. They give warning signs to watch for in your pets during winter months of less sunshine. They include things like lethargy, aggressive behaviors, and reduced appetite.

The answer to helping keep the lack of sunshine from being an issue for your pet (or yourself!) is to provide extra light. The article states that even 30 minutes in the sunshine can perk your pet up. If sunshine isn't available, like here on the coast, you may even consider buying a full spectrum light. It will help you AND your pets!

I notice that Henry, in particular, relishes the sunshine when it's available. (That's him in the picture above, on the balcony on a sunny day!)  He moves around with the sun spots, and wants to be out on the balcony. (He isn't allowed by himself after his "diving" incident last year, but when we have sun, I will usually go out with him for a few minutes so he can soak up some rays.) I don't think any of our boys are adversely affected by the lack of sun, but they really do enjoy it when we get a sunny day (or a sunny period during a day even!)

Do you notice that your pet is affected by grey and crummy weather? How do you or would you help them out if you noticed it being a bother to them? We definitely don't regret our move to the Oregon coast. We love the rain and the weather here... and our kitties seem to be OK too!

--Tammy

Safe travel with your pets

I got an email the other day from FIDO Friendly magazine. Apparently, car makers are designing cars for people who like to travel with their dogs. They are including options in new cars that will help make things safer for pups!

For 2011, there are several cars that take top honors for being "fido-friendly". The article names six, each from a different car maker. Each car has different features that make them friendly for dogs. Some of the features include:

• Being able to put a large crate in the back more easily (corners are more square than rounded, making it more crate-friendly)
• Tri-zone climate control, allowing you to control the temperature in the back for the dog
• Power-lift tailgate
• Seats that fold flat for extra room in the back.

What I found most helpful in the article, though, wasn't really the car reviews. I'm not in the market for a new car, and I also don't have a dog (at this time!) But, I really liked that they included some travel tips for keeping your dog safe.

When I worked at the Argus Institute at CSU, one of my co-workers was just crazy about people keeping their pets safe while in cars. She actually came into the office one morning all fired up because she had seen a large dog loose in the back of a pick-up truck bed. She literally had gotten out of her car and gone over to the driver of the truck to yell at him for this! And she had good reasons behind her worries. We saw numerous dogs come into the vet hospital there because of accidents where they weren't secured in vehicles. They had either fallen out, or jumped out, of the back of trucks or from open windows.

Being prepared when you take your dog along in the car is a good idea. Restraining pets in the car is also a good idea, both for them, and for you! A small dog under your feet while driving could easily cause you to have an accident! Don't forget to bring along water, toys, and other things you might need for your pet, of course! And also, keep them in a harness or collar so you can easily get them leashed up before opening doors, so there's no chance of them running off!

How do you assure that your pets are safe when they travel with you?  (photo from bigstockphoto.com)

--Tammy

Popularity of dog books

I read an interesting article the other day talking about the rise in popularity of dog-related books. There are so many right now, including numerous titles that have made it to the bestseller list! It seems that we are a little bit dog-crazy!

I am not necessarily a "dog-person". As an adult, I've only been pet parent to cats. I had a poodle while I was growing up - Beau-Beau (he was a French poodle). And when I was a teenager, my dad rescued a standard Chihuahua from a puppy mill - called Little One. But since being out on my own, I have had cats (lots of them!) (That's me - holding my Beau-Beau. He was always very scruffy!)

I do, however, like to read dog books! I've joined in some of the craze and read a number of these dog books over the last couple years. Marley and Me, A Dog's Purpose, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle... I have The Art of Racing in the Rain on my "to be read" shelf. What is it about a story about a dog?

And it seems that the sappier the story is, the better the book does. Is it because of all the bad news we hear all the time that we want to read these stories about dogs?  I think that is, at least partially, true for me. I appreciate reading about these creatures who can bring us so much joy. While I don't have dogs, I do love them. I enjoy it when I get to be around one for a bit of time. They are so different from cats!

Just in reading this article, I found a couple more titles that I have added to my "to be read" list. (Yes, I do have a real list, and a stack of "to be read" books too!) What dog books have you read? Do you have any that you highly recommend? And, if you could write a dog book, what would your subject be?

--Tammy

Related products you might like:

Dog Heaven

Old Dogs are the Best Dogs

Haiti's Animals One Year Later

There have been a lot of news stories lately about the one-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. I hadn't heard any updates about the rescue efforts aimed at the thousands of animals who needed help, though, so I thought I'd check it out.  A quick Google search brought up a couple of encouraging stories.

The first update that caught my eye is from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) site.  This organization led a coalition that together is referred to as the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti or ARCH.  ARCH reports that they have treated over 50,000 animals, which far exceeds the 14,000 that was their initial goal.  The animals they've helped include dogs, cats, horses, cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep.  Read more about this and their many other accomplishments at www.ifaw.org/ifaw_international

The other story I liked said conservationists have found six rare frog species that are unique to Haiti and have not been seen in two decades!  Among the unusual ones they found were a speckled frog with dazzling sapphire eyes and a "ventriloquist" frog that can throw its voice to send predators in the wrong direction.  One of the lead scientist on the "frog finding expedition" said the discovery of the rare frogs represents the resilience of the people and wildlife of Haiti. Read more about Haiti's frogs (and see photos!) at www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-species-haiti-lost-frogs.html 

Since we're talking about "No Regrets" this year, this is one of the efforts I feel good about.  All of us at World by the Tail, Inc. got organized last year and made donations to the relief efforts.  It always feels good to know you've helped, even a little bit.

Do you have any other updates about Haiti's animals to add?

--Laurel

More information you might find helpful:

World by the Tail's philanthropy efforts

CSU students help elderly

Imagine being an elderly person who is facing losing a pet because of your own illness. Many people DO face this every day.

There are students at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO (right near World by the Tail headquarters) who are helping! I read an article recently that tells about a class called Pets Forever. Pets Forever is a class which pairs social work students with pre-veterinary students who then work with elderly folks who need help in keeping their pets.

Lori Kogan (a colleague of Laurel's and mine while we worked at Argus Institute) is the creator of the Pets Forever class. Kogan says about why she created the class, "I would hear these really sad stories about people who had to give up their pets because they couldn't walk the dog anymore, couldn't clean the litter box, and there are cases where the relationships people have with their pets are sometimes the only relationships they have left, because everyone else is gone." The vet-to-be students learn to care for animals in a home setting. And the elderly folks receiving the help get to keep their pets! It sounds like a win-win situation.

The class is the first of its kind at a university. There are other programs out there designed to help people keep their pets. The Pets Forever program just won a $25,000 grant from the Heska Corporation (in Loveland, CO) to continue the work they are doing. Do you know of anything like this in your area? I can imagine the people who are benefitting from Pets Forever are so grateful! (photo from istockphoto.com)

--Tammy

Related articles you might find helpful:

8 Tips to Help Pet Parents Make Decisions

Is Veterinary Pet Hospice Right for You?

Microchip success story

I'm always amazed at these stories I read in the news of pets finding their way home after years!

This latest one I came across is a success story for microchips, to be sure. To date, I've never had my pets microchipped, however, I'm wondering if I need to consider this! They never go outside, but as we learned last fall, it happens! (Henry jumped off our balcony and was missing for 27 hours.)

Scrub the kitty was recently brought into an animal shelter. A woman had been feeding him as a stray and was worried about him during a cold snap. The Humane Society of South Mississippi found Scrub's implanted microchip and called his owner, Jennifer Noble.

Scrub had been an indoor cat prior to Hurricane Katrina, but apparently following the tragedy aftermath, his family couldn't keep him indoors comfortably. They let him roam outside and he went missing. Now, five years later, Scrub has come home to them!

Do you have your pets microchipped? I have had pets go missing never to know what their fate was. In many ways, the grief I feel about them is worse than for other pets. I know for sure if I ever have an indoor/outdoor cat again, I will get him or her microchipped, but I also think I would rest easier knowing if one of my indoor boys did get out, they might have a chance because of a microchip!

--Tammy

Related articles that you might find helpful:

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A Secret Tree in Central Park

Susan Cohen, my friend and colleague from the Animal Medical Center in New York City, sent notice of this news story about a special holiday tree in Central Park.  It seems it is mysteriously decorated each year with photos and tributes to pets who have died.

It's a lovely idea and one each of us could do in our own yard, church grounds, city park or even national forest.

I love knowing that someone on New York City's parks' crew understands this particular memorial and allows it to continue.  Read about it here:

http://www.examiner.com/neighborhood-dogs-in-new-york/hidden-christmas-tree-central-park-memorializes-cherished-pets

--Laurel

Related products you might like:

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How Can Your Pet Get Healthier Quicker?

Have you ever gone to your vet with a sick pet and only understood about half of the stream of words and instructions they've said to you?

I know it all seems simple to them.  They're doctors.

But, I worked with veterinarians for 20 years, side-by-side, in the "trenches" and I still don't know what they're talking about in many situations.

Some of it is due to the anxiety I feel.  I'm upset and their lack of empathy or reassurance prevents me from being able to calm down enough to listen...

Some of it is due to their use of medical jargon. 

And a lot of it is due to the fact that they just don't connect with me.

'"Once we get the connection with the client, there will be a lot more follow-through and the animal will get healthier more quickly," according to Jane Shaw, DVM, director of the Argus Institute at Colorado State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital in a recent article on denverpost.com.

Dr. Shaw is continuing CSU's leadership role in training veterinarians to truly connect with their clients.  This means learning how to communicate effectively with pet parents like you and me.

Shaw justifies her teaching by noting that clients who feel they have been listened to and consulted (rather than simply told what to do) are more likely to follow through on treatment plans for their animals.  And, when clients provide the right care for their pets, the pets get better---quicker!!

If you're a vet and would like this training, contact the VTH at CSU.  Dr. Shaw trains vets from all around the country.

And, if you're a pet parent working with a veterinarian who is a great communicator, don't forget to thank him or her for their skills and compassion.  Most vets work really hard to provide the right kind of treatments for their patients and that means caring for their human clients, as well!

Working with a vet who truly knows how to talk with you is the best and quickest way to get your pet back to health.

--Laurel

Articles you might find helpful:

8 Tips for Making Decisions for Your Pet

8 Tips to Help Pet Parents Make Decisions

Please pardon our dust

We are attempting to make some changes to the designs here at the Café! Please pardon the dust as we change things up!

 

Courthouse dog

Pono, a black lab, is a courthouse dog. She is a 3 year old black lab and has been specially trained by Hawaii Canines for Independence. She will be the first courthouse dog in Honolulu, HI. She is trained to "help victims and witnesses - especially traumatized children - navigate their way through the criminal justice system." (From the full article in the Star Advertiser - Honolulu, HI.)

Apparently, this is becoming a more common sight - to see a dog with someone in a court room. These dogs have been found to help people feel more comfortable, less nervous, and they even help people (children especially) talk about their experiences. Children especially seem more comfortable telling dogs their stories than people (in cases of abuse especially.)

"A dog can make a particularly stressful situation less so," says deputy prosecutor Scott Spalina. "Anything that anybody can do -- whether it's prosecutors or defense attorneys -- to make court less stressful, especially for special victims, we're all in favor of that."

What do you think about these courthouse dogs? I had not heard of this, but I really like the idea. I can imagine, especially for a kid, that having a dog to pet, talk to, etc. might really help if you're in a stressful court situation. I have been to court one time (I had to testify in a shoplifting case. I caught the girl shoplifting...) It was terrifying! I would have loved to have a dog like Pono nearby! (photo of Pono by Craig T. Kojima, StarAdvertiser)

--Tammy

Related articles that might be helpful:

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Is your dog a pessimist?

So, of course you know that some people are naturally optimistic or pessimistic. But, did you know that dogs can be one or the other as well?!

In "oddly enough" news, I found that there was a study done in the UK about dogs and their dispositions. The study looked at whether dogs are naturally gloomy or "sunny". And author of the study, Mike Mendl, said, "We know that people's emotional states affect their judgements and that happy people are more likely to judge an ambiguous situation positively. What our study has shown is that this applies similarly to dogs."

The study found that "dogs' temperaments correlated with their behavior when separated from their owners. Dogs that saw the bowl as half-full were calmer when left alone, sure their owners would return, while pessimistic dogs were more likely to worry, bark and misbehave."

What do you think about your pets? Can you see that one of them is more pessimistic than another? While we don't have dogs, I think with our cats, we can certainly tell that Oscar is our pessimist. There is NEVER enough food in the bowls for Oscar. He worries that we're going to forget to give them more I think. Henry is the eternal optimist. Everything might be a treat in his mind!

--Tammy

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Does it Rain in California?

Ah taxes....almost everyone talks about them pretty much all the time. This is especially true now that election time has come. It's similar to a  rain storm...you can't escape it. No matter what a person's own political leanings are, taxes are always an important issue given all the economic implications that follow.

I am curious to know what you all think about California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his new "Veterinary Sales Tax." It's very controversial (just as many taxes are). Obviously, this has implications for the veterinary profession and all pet owners (particularly those in California). (Read about the proposed tax in a DVM Newsmagazine article to learn more.)

What are your thoughts? What do you think about the  "Governator's" latest proposal?

--Dana 

 

Dogs in China

I didn't know that dogs were once banned in China. In 1983, officials banned dogs (and seven other animals including pigs and ducks) from the city of Beijing. They were a luxury during hard times, but now that things are better economically, the ban isn't in place any longer.

In 1994, the ban was relaxed to only "severely restrict" dog ownership. And in 2003, it was changed to allow anyone to own a dog, but dogs must be smaller than 14 inches in height. Dog owners in Beijing don't exactly follow this restriction though!

Now there are at least 900,000 registered dogs in the city, and there are many new businesses popping up for these pets. It seems that there are many factors in this huge growth in the dog population in China. Many dog owners have said that China's one-child policy has something to do with the dog population boom. According to the article I read in the New York Times, "... [one-child policy] has fanned enthusiasm for dog ownership as a way to provide companionship to only children in  young households and to fill empthy nests in homes whose children have grown up." It also seems that having a dog has become somewhat of a status symbol - or a way to identify yourself with a group of people - to meet new people.

One other interesting note about China and dogs... Dog has been on the menu in many restaurants in the past. It still is today, though less often. There is a proposal in the legislature to ban the eating of dogs.

What do you think of China's dog policies? Would you, if we were restricted to only having one child as in China, get a dog as a companion? And lastly, what about eating dog? Would you? Do you think it should be banned? A story from my past... my brother was a Marine and spent several years living in Korea with the military. (I am much younger than him - 20 years in fact.) He sent a photo to us that I recall vividly. It is him and a buddy eating in a restaurant. On the back, the only comment was "I think it's poodle". I don't know if he was really eating dog or not, but we had a mini poodle when I was a kid, so the photo had the intended reaction... I was quite upset. I do understand that different cultures have different ways of doing things, but I like that China is considering the ban on eating dogs! It seems right.

--Tammy

Related articles that may be helpful:
50 Ways to Build the Bond with Your Pet

Talking elephants

Nope, it's nothing like "pink elephants on parade". There is supposedly an elephant in South Korea who can speak.

Watch this CBSNews Video and see what you think of this elephant who can speak a number of words. 20-year old Kosik can speak about 7 words. Scientists want to know more about his ability. They might be able to prove, through Kosik, that elephants are capable of learning language. (If you're in a reader, visit the CBSNews website to view the video. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6939495n)

 

You've probably seen the videos of the dog saying "I love you" too. Do you think animals are capable of actually learning language? (Whether speaking or just understanding?) I know that my cats definitely understand certain words... but they don't always choose to pay attention!

--Tammy

Human cancer drug for dogs

Dr. Kim Selting at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine is studying a cancer drug used for humans on dogs. She is the lead investigator on a study of the drug Attaxol™ in dogs with naturally occuring cancer.

"Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in dogs,” Selting said. “This study is important because most chemotherapy drugs available to people can be used in dogs, except for the highly successful taxanes that can keep cancer from proliferating throughout the body. The Attaxol™ formulation is built specifically for dogs and could allow taxanes to be used by veterinarians." (Full story here.)

The study is very interesting to hear about. I know that many studies of this kind are done all the time in veterinary medicine. I'm always amazed at what these incredible doctors do to ensure that our pets can be taken care of in the best ways possible. I also am very intrigued by the cross-over of these studies with human medicine.

Have you read about or has your animal ever participated in a research study? I know I'm glad that these studies happen. Cancer in pets is one of the scariest things to have happen to your pets. These doctors really do all they can to help you through it!

--Tammy