Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Satchmo is healing well and feeling much better!


It's been a week today since Satch's ordeal with the vet and his lost teeth.  I am being religious about his antibiotic and he seems to be healing quite nicely.  He still is scratching at his muzzle, but not quite as frantically.  I think his mouth must itch as it is healing, but he eats a soft diet without any problem and he has become much livelier and stubborn--more like himself.

He has begun to play with his toys again, much to the chagrin of the foster dog, Austen.  Austen had begun to believe that the toys were all his and yesterday, Satchmo had to explain the facts to Austen--complete with loud growling and snapping and barking.  Austen is no dummy and immediately gave up the toys!

Satchmo has also begun to be very loving again.  His breath is so much better!  He is a licker, has been his whole life, so having improved breath is really good.

Next week, he needs to go back for a checkup and to get his stitches out on his leg.  He never even looks at that incision anymore so I know it has been healing well.  I can only hope that his follow-up gives him a clean bill of health.  He is my little man and I want him to be happy and healthy as we move into the new year.
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Friday, December 25, 2009

Satchmo lost 10 teeth!

Our trip to the vet Wednesday went well.  I guess losing 10 teeth during a cleaning can be classified as going well.  According to the vet, my little man had several loose teeth and three definite abcessed teeth.  She felt that to make him well she had to pull the teeth and pack his mouth with antibiotics.  While he was out, he also had that ugly thing removed from his leg.  So, needless to say, he is not a very happy camper. 




I am being religious about giving him his antibiotic and his pain medication.  He whimpers and cries if I am even a few minutes late on his dose.  I feel so bad for him.  I wish this had not happened, but it has and we just have to deal with it. 



On a good note, his appetite is returning and he is eating soft foods without any trouble.  So far, he has not really bothered his stitches, but his mouth is still bothering him--he keeps pawing at his muzzle.  I took the collar off him at home because he was so miserable in it.  I may have to put it back on if he keeps scratching at his mouth.




So, for Christmas this year, I gave myself a healthier little man.  For that I am eternally grateful.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas!

 This is the cutest video.  I just had to post it here for you to enjoy.  These dogs certainly have a knack for decorating.  I hope you and yours have a wonderful and happy holiday season!



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Something new to worry about!



-----------------------------
Pet dog recovers from H1N1
-----------------------------

CBC News

A dog in New York has been confirmed to have the pandemic
strain of H1N1.

The pet, a 13-year-old mixed breed, seemed to have caught
the virus from his owner, Michael San Filippo, a spokesman
for the American Veterinary Medical Association, said Tuesday.

It is the first reported case of H1N1 in a dog, but other
pets, including cats and ferrets, have caught the strain
from humans, veterinarians say.

In theory, the strain could be transmitted from a pet to a
human, "but so far it's really looking like a dead end in
pets," San Filippo said.

The dog came in for a checkup Tuesday and is "getting back
to his old self" but has not fully recovered, said veterinarian
Julie Steffens.

It is rare for pets to spread flu viruses, and people should
not be afraid to enjoy the animals, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
___________________________________________________________________________________


Okay, I knew that the ferret and cat had contracted the H1N1, but now I have to worry about my little man getting the Swine Flu? 


Great! This comes in my email today after I have dropped Satchmo off at the vet's office for his yearly teeth cleaning and to get that ugly thing taken off his front leg.  Now, I have to worry if his immune system will be depressed after this procedure and keep him away from all other dogs!


Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to be a nurse because you know too much about how these things work.  The only good thing for me to focus on is that I got both flu shots and so did my sister, so the chances of him catching the "flu" from us is nil. 


If it's not one thing, it is millions of others!


By the way,


MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Satchmo is going to the Vet on Wednesday--Oh boy!

Well, I finally broke down and made the appointment for my little man to go get his teeth cleaned.  He has started not wanting to eat crunchy foods, which usually means trouble.  The last time that happened, he lost 9 teeth with the cleaning.  Anyway, I am mildly excited because he will have the growth on his foreleg removed at the same time.  I am so happy because that growth is really worrying me.  It is ugly and is still growing.  He won't stop bothering it, either, so the hair around it is constantly wet and grey and looks disgusting!

So, wish us luck--we want this to go smoothly so my little man can get back up to snuff soon!

Here is the latest on the Foster Dog situation:  I think that Austen will be staying with me indefinitely.  My sister is really attached to him and I think my neighbor wants to give him to her for Christmas.  I'll let you know when I find out.  It's okay with me either way, but he does need some additional training if he is to stay here.  Also, he needs to go to the vet for some Prozac to deal with his separation anxiety!

Christmas is upon us, but let's not forget our treasured pets or the unloved animals out in the world.  If everyone would do something good for just one stray, the world would be a much nicer place.  For my part, I am feeding two beautiful feral black kittens who seem to be living on my front porch.  Hopefully, in the near future I will be able to capture them and get them neutered and get their shots--then I will let them return back to my porch. 
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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Here is the most amazing video of a rattie and a rat playing!  I have watched this several times now and each time I am still amazed.  The sad thing is that this wonderful dog was lost during Katrina and never found.  If you know where she is, let the video owner know, or let me know & I will forward the info to the owner.
Such a loss!  I don't know how you get past such a devastation.



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Monday, December 14, 2009

Foster a dog for the Holidays?

Cover of "101 Dalmatians"Cover of 101 Dalmatians
Here's a great idea.  I found this article and decided to post it in time for the Christmas holiday.  As a foster dog mom, I can tell you that knowing you are preventing a pet from the horrors of a cage in a shelter really is worth it.  I can also tell you that this author is quite right when she points out that you need to think ahead before you begin to foster, not all dogs are the same.  You need to think it through and get a foster animal that will fit in with your life and your lifestyle. 

If you work all the time, or you are gone quite a lot, then you may even think about fostering a cat.  There are so many animals in shelters that would love to spend time with a real family, even for a short time.  This is preferable to spending days on end locked away in a cage with other frightened animals.

So Happy Holidays!  Think about this, won't you?


********************************************************************************
 
The last time I wrote about Valerie Kennedy, the movie "102 Dalmatians" was a holiday blockbuster and Kennedy wanted to spread a message to shoppers:

Do not go out and buy a Dalmatian just because you like those movie dogs. That cute dotted puppy could turn into an unhealthy, hyperactive hound you'll soon discard.

Kennedy got in touch a couple of days ago with a different Christmas tune: Why not adopt a dog, even if it's just for the holidays?

Kennedy isn't suggesting giving pets as presents. Shelters are filled with barking Christmas gifts the recipient didn't want or couldn't handle.

But a foster dog is different from a gift dog. It's a gift you give yourself, maybe just for a while.

"I keep seeing stories in the news -- and in e-mails that I get -- about dogs who are dumped at the shelter these days because the economy is so bad," Kennedy says. "I can't imagine what it must be for them to go from the arms of a child, or the dog bed on a kitchen floor in someone's home, to a shelter. In the spirit of Christmas kindness, maybe folks could consider fostering a homeless dog."

Kennedy owns four dogs. She's drawn to mutts, rejects, orphans. The dog rescue service she founded was once featured in People magazine and though she gave up the business when she got breast cancer, she never gave up the cause.

One of her dogs, until his recent death, was Lucky, the paraplegic, incontinent son of the dog who played Pongo in "101 Dalmatians." Lucky, who had been abandoned in a house in Malibu, wore a diaper and ambled around attached to a wheelchair. Kennedy adored him.

Since we talked about dogs nine years ago, Kennedy's life has changed. She has moved from Chicago to Wilmette; left her job as Midwest media director for Humana to work with her husband's TV production company; survived cancer, lost Lucky and acquired Wrinkles, another Dalmatian.

One thing hasn't changed. She hates to see a homeless dog.

"I had my son at 41," she says. "People said, 'Oh, when you have that baby, you're not going to care about those dogs.' That might have been somebody's truth, but it's not mine."

Helping dogs, Kennedy says, doesn't mean you don't help people too. And vice versa.

"There are a lot of sad things in the world," she says. "There are people who have different passions. And these guys, they bring me joy. Whatever I do for them, I get back in spades."

I'm not a dog person, but I admire passionate people who act on what they love, which is why I think Kennedy's message is worth airing.

And she's not alone in advocating a foster dog. Petfinder.com, an online consortium of more than 13,000 pet adoption agencies, including many in the Chicago area, is running a program this year called "Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays."

If you do it, Kennedy warns, think about it first.

Does your mother-in-law who hates big dogs baby-sit for you? Don't get a big dog. Do you work all day? Don't get a puppy. Consider how much dog hair you can tolerate.

Then give it a try.

"It's like test-driving a car," she says, "or going on a date."

You may fall in love, but if it doesn't work out, you haven't lost much.

"If someone's looking for an easy Christmas kindness," she says, "this is such an easy kindness."

Here is the link for the original article 

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Friday, December 11, 2009

Oregon Humane Society stretched to care for record influx of dogs

 Here is the third article about the rescue of rat terriers in Oregon.  Look at those faces!  I wish I was rich because I would take them all and play with them.  This particular story has a relatively happy ending, thanks the the Humane Society.  Not all puppy mill puppies have any fairy godmother.

If you can do anything to help these adorable ratties, please respond to the address below.
If you want to adopt any of these babies, notify the Humane Society.
 
********************************************************************************
By Lynne Terry, The Oregonian
December 10, 2009, 8:50PM
 PUPPIES.JPGView full size 
Motoya Nakamura/The Oregonian 

Nearly 100 rat terriers were taken away from an overwhelmed breeder in Tillamook. These are 7-week-old puppies at the Oregon Humane Society.

To donate or adopt
Visit the Oregon Humane Society at 1067 N.E. Columbia Blvd. in Portland. The agency is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday. Adoption hours end 30 minutes before closing time. Call 503-285-7722 or visit the agency's Web site for more information.

The agency, which depends entirely on private donations, needs crates, long-shredded paper and cash contributions.

Dog adoption rates vary from about $85 to $300 depending on the age and health of the animal.
The Oregon Humane Society snapped into battle mode. Kennels were cleaned. Vaccines were lined up. Volunteers were called in, and staff stood ready with collars, leashes and paperwork in perhaps the agency's biggest influx of dogs in its 141-year-history.

This week, the organization in Northeast Portland took in about 185 dogs in two rescue operations. Big dogs, small dogs, puppies and 10-year-old dogs, friendly and frightened dogs arrived in vans stacked with carrying crates. They were whisked inside, weighed, given shots and examined for obvious medical problems. Each was named, given a collar and trotted to clean kennels with food and water awaiting.

These dogs, which had been chained up, crammed into cages and left in the bitter cold, have never had it so good.

But the intake of so many animals in such a short period has taken a toll on the humane society.

"There's a lot of exhausted people here today," Sharon Harmon, the nonprofit's executive director, said Thursday.

Half of the humane society's canine capacity is now filled with dogs from the two rescues. Nearly 100 rat terriers came from an overwhelmed breeder in Tillamook, who was living in a trailer while dogs overran her barn and house, the kitchen covered in feces.

"She didn't have the time, resources or money to care for these rat terriers," said David Lytle, spokesman for the humane society.

The rest of the dogs came from a property about 20 miles south of Burns in Harney County. A couple, now facing allegations of animal neglect, kept the dogs in subfreezing temperatures outside, some of them penned up and others tied to posts and farm equipment. Mostly border collie, Australian shepherd and Shiba Inu mixes, they were fed cattle carcasses that the couple obtained from a meat processing plant.

Fortunately, most of the dogs from the two rescues are in good health.

On Thursday, smock-clad vets, veterinary technicians and veterinary students from Oregon State University scrambled in three surgical suites, spaying and neutering rat terriers.

"It's been all hands on deck," said Kris Otteman, medical staff director. "We did more surgeries yesterday than we've ever done."

The total count: 88 operations, with dozens more under way Thursday.

At least 50 of the rat terriers will be ready for adoption this morning when the shelter opens at 10 a.m.

With the rat terriers spayed and neutered, the staff will work through the dogs from Harney County, which could go up for adoption Tuesday.

The sooner they find homes, the better, Lytle said.

"There's a strain and stress if the animals are not adopted," he said. "There's a stress on the animal, and there's a stress on the budget."

Each dog costs the shelter $22 a day. That might not sound like much, but the bill quickly adds up. In March, the humane society rescued 126 dogs from a breeder in Burns. Caring for them cost about $140,000, and the agency could spend $200,000 on the rescues this week.

Lytle hopes the animals will be adopted quickly. Some, including a 3-year-old yellow Lab named Tonka and a 7-year-old German shepherd mix, Wolverine, have immediate appeal. The two dogs, who came from Harney County, wagged madly at visitors, playfully jostling for attention.

But other dogs, which crouched fearfully in their kennels, might have more trouble finding homes.

Besides ensuring that the dogs are in good health, each one is evaluated according to its temperament. A "green" rating means the dog is suitable for the whole family. "Yellow" indicates a dog that would thrive best with an adult or older children.

The agency tries to match each dog with the right owner.

The Harney County dogs are mid-sized and range from a few months old to about 10 years. Many appear to have easygoing personalities.

The rat terriers vary in age as well and include puppies that were born this week. Although short-haired small dogs, weighing 10 to 15 pounds, they burst with big personalities.

"Terriers are not poodles," said Sandra Farnsworth, customer care manager. "They're aloof, independent and dominant. The owner needs to understand the terrier breed."

In a good home, she says, they will turn into "snuggle bunnies" that will love your lap and burrow under your covers.

They will keep your property rodent-free as well.

Both the rat terriers and the Harney County dogs need to be housebroken and trained, and owners have to pay an adoption fee of $85 to $300 depending on the dog.

Prospective owners started showing up Thursday morning along with donors answering an appeal for cash and supplies.

Aram Cartozian, a 60-year-old sound engineer and animal lover in Portland, brought in five bags of dog food.

"I love animals," Cartozian said. "They rely on us to take care of them, and when people treat them like that and they're rescued, I want to reach out and help."

-- Lynne Terry 

Go here to read the original article and see related posts.
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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Tillamook Breeder Surrenders Nearly 100 Dogs to OHS

Here's a follow up on the posting from yesterday.  This is about the rat terriers that were surrendered.  This is a terrible thing.  I know that this person really loved these animals, but everyone needs to understand that there is a limit to the number of animals you can actually take care of.  Love is not just food.

If you can help, these little dogs would really love you for it.

************************************************************************************

 
Help Needed:
Rescued animals
need these supplies:





OHS volunteer Julie Honse lends a hand as the Tillamook dogs arrive at OHS.
 

One of the many rat terriers surrendered; seen here with Patty Melnichuk of OHS.








Dec. 8, 2009:  A Tillamook dog breeder today surrendered 118 dogs to the Oregon Humane Society, following a lengthy investigation by OHS and the Tillamook County Sheriff.

98 dogs, almost all of them rat terriers, are arriving this afternoon and this evening at the OHS Shelter at 1067 NE Columbia Blvd. in Portland. The dogs will be available for adoption after they are spayed/neutered and get a clean bill of health from the OHS medical team.

Another 20 dogs were also taken from the breeder and will be offered for adoption through other organizations.

"The dogs were living in terribly overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to food and water," said Dr. Kris Otteman, OHS medical director.

The owner was charged with animal neglect by OHS Humane Investigators and relinquished ownership of the dogs to OHS.

OHS, working in concert with Tillamook County’s Sheriff, responded to years of complaints about the residence. When the owner made the decision to surrender the animals today, the Tillamook Sheriff's office and Tillamook Animal Control department provided vehicles and staff to transport the animals to Portland and assist with their processing. Also Tillamook Animal Shelter was instrumental in helping with this case and took in 20 of the dogs.

The Tillamook rescue is not related a second rescue now happening in Harney County (details here).

Monetary Donations Needed

OHS relies entirely on private donations to to rescue neglected and abused animals.

You can fight animal neglect and abuse by making a online donation to the OHS Animal Rescue and Investigations Fund.

Here is a video of the dogs arriving at OHS today.



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Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Humane society rescues 100 dogs in eastern Oregon

 This kind of "hoarding" has got to stop.  As a psychiatric nurse, I understand the compulsion these people may have felt and the obsession they had with collecting more dogs, but these are living, breathing, feeling beings--not things.  Animal abuse is animal abuse, period.  Please help stop such terrible abuse.  If you know of any animal that is being abused, please report it.  An investigation may or may not support your claim, but at least you will have tried to help.  Dogs, cats, other animals cannot speak for themselves and depend on us to provide safe and secure living conditions.  Don't we owe them the respect we would want given to our own loved pets?


***********************************************************************************
December 08, 2009, 8:14PM


A suspected case of dog hoarding has turned into one of the largest cases of animal neglect in state history, the Oregon Humane Society said Tuesday.

The case involves about 100 dogs on a sprawling, desolate piece of property about 20 miles south of Burns.

David Lytle, spokesman for the Oregon Human Society, said the dogs were living without shelter in icy conditions, surrounded by cattle bones gnawed clean.

The dog owners, who live in trailers on the property, fed them carcasses from a local meat processing plant.

"The whole property was scattered with the carcasses," Lytle said. "I've never seen anything like it."

A couple and another woman living on the property were arrested by Harney County Sheriff Dave Glerup on suspicion of animal neglect.

Glerup said the couple -- 43-year-old Ronald Steven Anderson and Anita Darlene Anderson, 55 -- and 34-year-old Kathlean Fuchs-Goyogana,  34, agreed to give up the dogs and were released on their own recognizance.

Glerup said the couple has lived on the property on Frenchglen highway for more than a decade and are currently unemployed. The property is owned by a woman who used to live in the area but moved near Joseph after her husband died. Glerup said the Andersons sublet to Fuchs-Goyogana, who has a 9-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.

A friend of the girl's sparked the investigation, telling her mother about conditions on the property. The mother called the Department of Human Services, which in turn called the Harney County Sheriff's Office.

Glerup said Fuchs-Goyogana agreed to take her kids off the property. She is currently under investigation for child neglect, he said.

As for the dogs, most of them are border collie, Shiba Inu and Australian shepherd mixes. Lytle did not see any obvious injuries, though he said some had nails so long they were curled over and growing into their paws. But he said the dogs did not appear to be malnourished.

"I would call this a hoarding case," he said. "The woman was very attached to a lot of the dogs."

This is the second large animal rescue from Harney County this year. In March, sheriff's officials and the humane society rescued 131 dogs from breeder Ted Tellefson, who had dogs chained, in house trailers and roaming on his property in Burns.

This latest rescue also involved dogs stuck outside without shelter. With temperatures plunging to 11 degrees below zero Monday night, officials found dogs tied to posts and farm equipment or trapped in a wire pen. Several small dogs had sought shelter by digging a hole below a few wooden planks.

"When we came by, they popped their heads up out of the ground like prairie dogs," Lytle said.

He spotted the carcass of one dead dog on an oil drum.

On Monday, Lytle and two other people from the humane society rescued 14 dogs, including a mother and four 1-week-old pups, and brought them back to the agency's headquarters in Portland.

A second humane society crew left Tuesday in three vans to bring back as many dogs as possible.

The first group should arrive at the humane society on Wednesday to very full shelter. On Tuesday, the agency was rescuing at least 70 rat terriers from an overwhelmed breeder in Tillamook.

Lytle said the agency's investigators had been talking to the woman for a long time, trying to persuade her to give up the terriers.

Dogs from the two rescues will take up half of the agency's kennels at its headquarters in Portland.

"Fortunately, a lot of the dogs are small dogs so we can put several in the same kennel," Lytle said.

But the humane society said it needs donations of puppy food, large crates, shredded paper and cash as officials scramble to care for the dogs.

The dogs will be examined, given medication and neutered to prepare for adoption.

"Our medical staff is going to be very busy over the next few days," Lytle said.

To read the original article>>click here

-- Lynne Terry
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Look at Austen now!

Who would have thought that underneath all that curly hair was such a cute dog?  I know I would never have guessed. 

I guess I should back up and start at the beginning.  Today, we took Austen to the "pretty parlor" to get him all "gussied" up for the holidays.  My sister was determined that he would get his nails painted red and get a haircut, so she made the appointment.  I simply wanted him neatened up and clean.

Anyway, we took him in this afternoon and left him there.  He was really quite happy to be there which surprised me and he happily went away with the little lady in the front.

Two and a half hours later, we picked up another dog!  He was beautiful and smelled so good.  He did not get his nails painted (no one told my sister she had to bring her own polish with him to get that done) but he did get a snappy bandana tied around his neck.

He came in and started playing with my Satchmo.  Satch, on the other hand, was not quite sure about the changes in Austen.  Satch had to sniff and sniff and sniff him before he was sure he could relax and play with this funny looking sissy dog!

Here are the pictures I took when we got home.  All in all, this has been a pretty good day.





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Sunday, December 6, 2009

How to Pet Proof Your Home for the Holidays

IMG_0010Image by jessie.whittle via Flickr
With Christmas fast approaching, I would like to present an article I found on the Petco website about your pets and the holidays.  Most of this information is simply common sense, but for new pet owners knowing this may mean the difference between a happy or a sad holiday.

Some people believe that giving or getting a pet for Christmas is a good idea.  Maybe or maybe not.  It could be a good idea if the purchase of the pet has been well thought out and planned.  Getting a pet is a commitment of 15 or more years and should not happen on a whim.

All the holiday decorations and activity can be fun, but for your pets this time of year may be confusing and frightening.  Pets are exposed to new people in their home and lots of noise and movement.  Please think about your pet's welfare during this holiday season and let's all have a Merry Christmas!


********************************************************************************
The bright colors and intoxicating scents of the holiday season are enough to transform any moping mutt or cranky cat from melancholy to downright jolly. Unfortunately, many of the delights and decorations of the holidays pose significant risks to companion animals.

PETCO offers the following safety tips on keeping pets safe and healthy for many holidays to come.

Christmas Trees. Pine needles can lodge in an animal's esophagus, making it difficult or impossible for your pet to swallow. Even drinking water from the Christmas tree base is enough to cause diarrhea, mouth sores, vomiting and loss of appetite. Cover your tree stand tightly with skirting and distract your companion animal from temptations with holiday toys and treats.

Deck the Halls. A bunch of fresh mistletoe may be a symbol of love, but to your curious cat or canine, tempting red berries look more like a sweet treat. Eating the leaves and berries could cause a drop in blood pressure. Ivy can cause diarrhea, convulsions and in some cases even death when eaten in large quantities. Holly, poinsettias and other plants are best kept away from inquisitive companion animals.

Tinsel and Lights. A flickering flame and shiny decorations intrigue companion animals. When lighting and once lit, the Menorah, Advent wreath or decorative candles, keep pets in another room where paws and claws can't reach them. With electrical lights, remember to tape exposed electrical cords to walls or the floor to ensure no chewing or tripping. Also use bitter training aids that impart a bitter taste to an object to discourage your pet from chewing on dangerous cords. Tinsel and gift-wrap may look like fun toys but they can cause choking, upset stomach or even more serious problems.

Visions of Sugar Plums. Dogs may love to sniff your holiday goodies but theobromine, an ingredient found in chocolate, is toxic. Don't ever offer dogs chocolate as a treat. If your dog develops a sweet tooth and discovers an improperly stored stash, it could lead to tragedy. Keep dogs' jaws busy with holiday rawhide candy canes and oversized bones. If he or she shows signs of illness such as vomiting, loss of appetite, or excessive water intake, contact your veterinarian immediately. Proper nutrition and plenty of fresh water are essential to your companion animal's winter health.

Let it Snow. Pets, especially very young and older animals, can suffer stress, frostbite and hypothermia when their body temperature drops just a few degrees below normal. The tips of the ears, feet and tail are commonly affected areas. Watch for the formation of ice balls between your companion animal's toes and regularly trim the long hair between the footpads to avoid frostbitten feet. If you suspect frostbite, do not rub the area but simply apply warm moist cloth packs and contact your veterinarian.

Antifreeze Alert. Automotive antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which causes rapid and permanent kidney damage to your companion animal if it ingests even a very small amount. It takes only 6 milliliters or less than 1/4 ounce of antifreeze to kill an average-sized cat. A cat can walk through an antifreeze puddle and ingest it while cleaning its paws. For a dog, it takes only 60 milliliters or about 2 ounces of antifreeze to kill a 30-pound pup. A dog could ingest this much with a few laps out of an open container or from a puddle on the garage floor.

Home for the Holidays. If your pet cannot be in the house with you, a proper shelter can be a lifesaver for a chilly dog or feline. When selecting a doghouse or shelter for your cat, the space should be only as large as necessary for the animal to maneuver comfortably, since the animal's own body heat will serve as a heater. You will have one chilled Chihuahua if he or she is hanging out of a Doberman-sized doghouse. Nitrogen plastic insulated pet house work well to keep the heat inside the house with the animal. Some houses even have an offset door that provides additional protection of your companion animals from winter drafts.

Remember, the best present you can give your pets this holiday season is good health and some extra love and attention.

You can read this article and others about pet care here
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Friday, December 4, 2009

Brody needs some help! Will you give it?

Here's and article about a little rattie named Brody.  Brody was thrown out of the window of a moving car and ended up with two broken front legs (see the xray below).  He was rescued from his shelter and placed in a foster home by Ratbone Rescues.  Unfortunately, the first attempt to repair his legs is unsuccessful and he will now need another surgery.  The cost for the surgery is around $2000.00, but after completed Brody should be just like new!





Here's where you and your help come in.
Brody after he was picked up by a Ratbone volunteer. At this point his legs were not set correctly so he was in pain.

This was his legs UNDER the casts. No wonder he was grumpy and didn't want to be touched.

Now he has cleaned up skin and padding under the casts. He is now friendly and smells good. If that little change made him happy, imagine how happy he will be after the surgery!


This is from the original posting I found online at "two humans, three dogs, and a cat":




Brody's surgery will cost $2,000 and will be worth every penny to make this little fellow healthy and whole again. Of course, that's a lot of money for a little homeless dog, so here's where we need more of those kind souls; those who might be willing to make a small donation towards his surgery. After hearing Brody's story, several of us are taking him on as our Christmas project. (Note: We are not associated with Ratbone Rescues, other than to be supporters of and contributors to their cause to save Rat Terriers who are in danger. Also, we are not fundraisers. We are just people who care and want to help.)

What better way to show the Love of the Season than to help a little dog like Brody. Let's prove to Brody that the human race is full of kind and caring people! Let's show those awful people who mistreated this little guy that they will not win, but that Love wins each and every time! Will you help?



If you wish to make a donation to help Cody Brody with his surgery, there are two ways to do so. You may make a donation through the Ratbone Rescues website:
http://www.ratbonerescues.com/ or by “snail mail” to Ratbone Rescues, P.O. Box 3237, Seminole, Florida 33775-3237. Please note that the contribution is for Cody Brody's surgery.

Thank you all and God bless us everyone!
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Thursday, December 3, 2009

Okay, here are the final results of the Vet hunt!



Yesterday I got to looking at the "growth" on Satch's leg and decided I really had to do something about it.  I spoke to my neighbors with the Corgi and got the name of their vet.  I called and they gave me a same day appointment.

Somewhat reservedly, I went to see this vet.  First, let me say, the place is a long way from my home, but first impressions were great.  It is located in a lovely two-story house type structure and had lovely gardens and statuaries all around.  They also had a stand with baggies and a trash receptacle in the yard.  That was good because Satch's first impulse when faced with a vet's office is to poop!

Anyway, after cleaning up after him, we went into the foyer.  Satch immediately eyed the Doggie Butler standing by the door with a tray of homemade dog treats and begged for one.  So I gave him a treat and he proceeded to carry it around in his mouth the entire time we were there.

The staff and the vet were wonderful, I felt that they actually heard my concerns and wanted to address them in a way that would be beneficial for my Satch.  The vet did a needle biopsy to see if the growth needed to be removed immediately or if it could wait until after the holidays.  She came back with the good news that this was the human equivalent of a mole and she saw no reason I could not wait until next month to have it removed.

I did get an estimate for cleaning his teeth, but I had to ask for it.  All the vet said was, "Yes, he does seem to have some tooth and mouth issues that you will need to think about addressing soon."  Her estimate included not only the cleaning but also the surgical removal of this nasty growth and the total was only $453.00.  You can bet I will make that appointment after Christmas.

So, finally we have a vet we seem to both like and my little man will get the care he deserves!
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Okay, this is really too much!




Yesterday, I took the little man to the vet.  Seems that he has a small tumor/growth on his right forearms that he has been chewing on and it is inflammed and has been bleeding.  So, like any concerned pet owner, I took him in to see the vet.  This was a problem, as I don't much care for my previous vet so I had to try out a new one.  Anyway, after finding another vet and getting an appointment, I took him in.

Granted, this is the first time I saw the vet, but really.  She looked at his leg and then looked at his teeth.  She said that his teeth were really in need of cleaning (no surprise there) and I should schedule that and while he was out she would remove the "growth".  She had her aid come back in with an "estimate" of over $600.00 just for the teeth cleaning.  My God!  Do you know people who spend that type of money on getting their dog's teeth cleaned?  I work for my money, so I told them I would get back to them.  I paid my $42.00 office fee for nothing and took my little man home again with no change in his condition and no prospect of change either.

Then I got to thinking about my old vet and I knew that I had a coupon for 50% off dental cleaning with him.  So I called his office for an estimate.  He also had the most recent labs on Satch that were done this summer, so I figured I would save that amount of money at least.  The vet called and we talked and he gave me an "estimate" of over $600.00.  I asked about the 50% off coupon and was told that this figure was with the discount!  Who do you know spends over $1200.00 to have their dog's teeth cleaned?

So, now I am really perplexed.  I need to get my dog's leg looked at and fixed before it turns into something more involved, but I don't have any vet I like that will even talk to me about treating my dog unless I want to pay large sums of money to have his teeth cleaned.  What a racket!  I am not really sure where to go from here.

Satchmo has insurance that I pay monthly for.  It is supposed to cover routine wellness, accident and illness.  However, after calling the company, I now find out that my policy only pays $100.00 for dental care and only pays $60.00/year for labs.  For this policy, I pay $50.00 a month.  Hmmmmm...............
Maybe I should just put the $50 a month in a savings for Satchmo to pay towards getting his teeth cleaned?

I am not a happy camper and my Satch is not either.  Today he started limping on that leg, so I know that he is in pain and I want to get that taken care of.  I'm not sure how, though.  Any suggestions?
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Here's a post called "Adopt a Senior Pet Month"

 I just found this wonderful blog and wanted to share it with you.  Below is a delightful story about her experiences in adopting a senior pit bull.  I found this to be both sad and uplifting.  Such a character!
Anyway, I love when I find someone else who is crazy about dogs and I love when I find such great posts.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
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ASPCA’s Top 10 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog
Olive was my first senior adoption. She was already an older adult when she was rescued from a horrid situation with forty other neglected animals (check out my friend Michelle’s wonderful Ode to Maggie - a fellow quirky dog from the same cruelty case).pc190061.JPG
Olive was a strange dog. Sometimes she’d stare into space, or leap up from a deep sleep barking for no apparent reason. She had doggy OCD that manifested itself in the habit of curling into a tight ball to suck on her hip. She stamped her feet when she barked, which mostly happened at dinner time as if she was cheering me on as I prepared her food. She was flat-footed due to neglect, so she had a funny, uneven trot as she raced across the yard in the winter to come back inside the second she’d finished her business. She actually liked wearing sweaters in the winter - she’d prance around as soon as you dressed her up. In the summer, pc250079.JPGshe could lay in the sun for hours.
She never quite got the hang of training. One obedience class instructor tried to use Olive to show tricks that would get a difficult dog to lie down. It never worked, no matter how many different types of cheese or hot dog or liver we tried to lure her with; no matter how long the class stared at me sitting on the floor with Olive standing over my legs licking my face instead of lying down to root out the treat I was holding beneath my knees. Right until the end, she would kill a stuffed animal with gusto, but she was never destructive around the house. On walks, Olive would march straight ahead with a sense of purpose, not bothering to sniff the ground like the other dogs. Any unexpected turns (especially a turn-around to go home) would cause her to freeze and the walk would degenerate into a negotiation of coaxing her a few steps at a time…until I gave up and carried her as far as I could.img_1915.JPG
Olive was one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. Everyone of every species was greeted with a wagging tail. She was always gentle, even with packs of children crowded around her to say hello. And, despite everything she’d been through, she was a happy dog. If she heard you talk about her when she was napping, her tail would thump against the couch. This little 40 pound pittie LOVED to be carried. As soon as she was picked up, she’d lay her head on your shoulder and fall asleep with the corners of her mouth turned up in a peaceful smile. If you put her down, she’d blink at you, like she wasn’t sure what she did to deserve it.
By the time I adopted her, she was already a senior dog. I didn’t know how she’d adjust to being in a home after the cruelty case and then two years with a rescue group. I didn’t know if she’d ever get housetrained or bond with the other animals and me. But she did. It was an immediately rewarding adoption, with none of the training frustration that can come from getting a younger dog, or the uncertainty about what sort of dog you really got. Olive already was who she was - in all her weird and wonderful ways.
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I only got six years with her - she was estimated somewhere between sixteen and a hundred and sixteen by the time mammary cancer took her. It was a tough loss, definitely not enough time together. When is it ever enough time? That’s the hard part with a senior dog, but it’s worth it.

Please visit her blog and read all her wonderful posts!
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Monday, November 30, 2009

Dog toy mountain to be built at Barrhaven business

2009 Barrhaven Santa Parade-0322Image by David.R.Carroll via Flickr
This is really a great idea!  There are many dogs and cats out there that need help from us and this is a very good way for you and I to give assistance.  If there were more of these types of people around, the dog rescues would not have to struggle quite as much economically.

Let's all put on our "thinking caps" and try to get something like this started in our own communities.

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New shop hopes to give canines a good Christmas

November 30, 2009
A new business in Barrhaven is hoping to draw some attention to canine charities this Christmas with its version of Toy Mountain for dogs.

Bark & Fitz, which recently opened at 4100 Strandherd Dr., is collecting gently used dog toys, leashes, water bowls, blankets, beds, and other assorted canine products to distribute to local dog rescues in the first week of January.
 
“People always do Santa drives for children’s toys, but there really isn’t a drive in Ottawa for pets,” says managing owner Gaetan Ladouceur. The main exception for donations is that they will not be collecting dog food.

The store is planning a grand opening on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will give a 15 per cent discount on purchases to people who donate to canine toy drive.

The items will be donated to local dog rescues such as BARK (Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines), Good Dog Rescue in Manotick and Hopeful Hearts.

The store sells high-end dog and a few cat products such as holistic foods and educational toys in a smaller setting with more personal services. Gaetan’s wife, Rosi, has also moved her 12-year-old grooming business from their home to the store.

Ladouceur describes the store as a family-run business, where his children Ashley, Cory, Andrew and his son-in-law AJ Mouchet all work together with him and his wife.

To read the original article>click here.  
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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Grieving family fetches son’s dogs from Iraq

I know that today is Thanksgiving and I should be posting something about the holiday, but I found this posting and felt it deserved to be featured.  This family made a significant sacrifice to give their son's dog a long trip home.  I'm sure they will always be grateful to have such a loving and playful reminder of the love of their son.

After reading this, I am truly thankful for the pleasure and love I share with my Satchmo.  He has given me great joy and comfort, as only a pet can.  I wish everyone could experience the unconditional love you get from having a four-legged friend.

God Bless!

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Sgt. Peter Neesley holding puppy Boris We learned about this story from author, Greg Mitchell, who has been pursuing stories about non-combat American deaths in Iraq. Greg is the esteemed editor of Editor & Publisher, the journal of the newspaper business which has won several major awards for its coverage of Iraq and the media. He has written eight books, his latest just published today: So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits and the President Failed on Iraq.
books.jpgIt is often said that a free press is the watchdog of democracy, insuring that the conduct of our leaders is examined with a critical eye. This makes Greg Mitchell the watchdog of watchdogs, his weekly column “Pressing Issues” over the past five years intensely scrutinizing the coverage of the Iraq war, the media’s views of the credibility of the Bush Administration, and such related topics as 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, and the CIA Leak Case.
Actually, back in 2003, Mitchell was one of the few mainstream journalists to question the grounds for war, this book providing a unique history of the conflict from the hyped WMD stories to the “surge.” It is a must-have book for anyone concerned with how we got into Iraq and why we can’t seem to get out.
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This photo shows Neesley on a visit to his nephew’s 4th grade class in Grosse Pointe Farms, the school’s newsletter, describing it this way: “Sergeant Peter Neesley, uncle of Patrick D., visited Richard Elementary while home on leave from Iraq. Sgt. Neesley led the school in the Pledge of Allegiance and visited several classrooms answering questions from our inquisitive students. Thanks for spending valuable time with us Sgt. Neesley and don’t forget to write and keep in touch. Thanks to all the men and women in the armed forces. We are so proud of you!”
According to Greg, this is how the discovery began.
Peter Neesley died in his sleep on Christmas Day in Iraq last December but the dogs he rescued there live on, miraculously, back at his home in the USA. I’m proud to say that I had at least a tiny something to do with it. I wrote about Sgt. Neesley’s passing right after Christmas, both at Editor & Publisher (which I edit) and on my blog, when few knew about it. I also printed a photo of him taken recently with a group of kids at his old elementary school. The outpouring of response I received from friends (near his Michigan home and scattered) and family was incredible. Through their postings, many were able to get in touch with each other. He was clearly quite a young man, someone who hailed from a very well-off area who had a lot of other choices in life but joined the military.
But the story didn’t end there. It turned out that all of these people, and more, soon learned, from my writings or elsewhere, that Peter, 28, had saved and cared for a couple of dogs over in Iraq, and they were now in peril. So his family and friends, with the help of media and local groups, launched a campaign to rescue them, again, and bring them to the U.S.
dh.jpgAn AP story revealed: “In e-mails and phone calls from Iraq, Neesley talked about how he came across Mama, a black Labrador mix, and Boris, her white and brown spotted puppy, while on patrol in their Baghdad neighborhood. One of Mama’s puppies was later killed by a car, so Neesley and his friends built a doghouse to shelter the animals. Photographs show Neesley feeding the dogs and kneeling next to the red-and-white doghouse and Boris walking along the cracked sidewalks of Baghdad.”
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After he died, “Still grieving, the family decided that they would honor Neesley’s wishes and try to bring the dogs home to Michigan. ‘To have something that they can hold and touch and care for that Peter cared about, that’s the whole thing,” said Julie Dean, his aunt.”
After four weeks of work, and the help of the Iraqi Society for Animals, the dogs recently arrived in the U.S.
Carey Neesley said her brother decided to re-enlist in the Army in 2005 after learning that one of his friends was killed in Iraq, leaving behind a wife and two children. Protecting others was part of his life, she said. “He didn’t want another young man who had a wife and kids at home to die,” she said. “He’s always had such a strong sense of family and protecting those who can’t protect themselves. Caring for a mother and her stray puppy, why would you ever think to do anything else?”
My own small role concluded when the well-known Banfield Pet Hospital office in Portland, Ore., contacted me saying they wanted to offer free lifetime care to the two dogs, at one of their local hospitals in Michigan, and asking me to put them in touch with the family. I contacted Julie Dean and last week the offer was accepted and announced. Peter, at least, would be happy about this.
ira.jpgYou can also hear a 4 minute NPR “All Things Considered” Feb 19th report with Sgt. Peter Neesley’s sister, Carey. In this AP photo by Paul Sancya, Patrick Neesley is petting Boris as his mom, Carey, holds him after arriving in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, from Iraq. She has indicated that the dogs are slowly adjusting to their new environment.
Neesley says both Mama and Boris are “very sweet and very mild-mannered dogs,” but Mama is used to having to protect her pup, as well as her food and territory. “So we’re just kind of trying to ease her into the fact that she’s safe and sound here, and nobody’s going to hurt them,” Neesley says.
The dogs also have to adjust to the Michigan winter. “They’re not used to the cold and especially not the snow,” Neesley says. “I have to carry the puppy out in the snow; he will not go. He goes to the bathroom right away and wants right back in the house.
“I think they’ll adjust. You know, right now, their coats are very thin because of the weather in Baghdad. And I think, you know, [once] their coats get a little bit warmer and they get used to it, they’ll be OK, but I think right now it’s a shock.”
Neesley says the family is thankful for all the help they got with the dogs. “They’re tremendous dogs, and we are so fortunate to have them and so grateful to everyone who played a part, down to the soldiers who were caring for them on the base, you know, making sure they were safe and fed until we could get them,” she says.
The family still keeps in contact with those soldiers, Neesley says. “There are two in particular … who were very concerned about the dogs’ welfare, and were very close to Peter, and we exchange e-mails,” she says. “I think part of what we’ve learned from all of this is that there are so many good, kind people in this world. There really are.”

Posted on Land of PureGold Foundation
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Puppy Love

Here's a cute little article about ratties and children at a Mother's Day Out.  I thought I'd add it because I chuckled when I looked at the photo.  I hope this brings a smile to your face also.


I am thankful for the love and devotion I get from my little man, Satchmo.  I hope to enjoy his company for many more years.  Won't you take a moment and be thankful for the animals in your life, too?


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Daily News Photo,
11-25-2009

First Baptist School’s “Mothers Day Out” class invited two special guests to campus Thursday. Rat terriers Alice and Rudy shared kisses in exchange for doggie treats, which the class donated to Animal Relief Foundation’s no-kill animal shelter. The class, instructed by Dale Robertson-Agosto, spent the entire day learning about animal friends. Participating students included Reese Monvoision, Avi Coleman, John Mason Futch, Kameron Kratzer, Jamell Davis, Jack Guidry, Olivia Benoit, Hudson Carter, Rossi Armstrong, Ian Albro, Waylon Wild, Abby Ortego, Ahnnie Albro and Mason Futch. (At left) Olivia Benoit makes a face after receiving a kiss from Alice.

For more local news, please subscribe to Jennings Daily News by clicking the “SUBSCRIBE” link at left or by calling 337-824-3011.

This article is from The Jennings Daily News online

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Our foster dog is healing nicely!

We took Austen to get all of his shots and then we took him to be neutered.  It seemed irresponsible to not do this for him, even though his real mom was not terribly excited about it.  She thinks he is SO cute and should be allowed to breed, but when you see how many homeless animals there are all over the world, it doesn't seem quite right.  Anyway, we did it and he is finally all healed.  I don't really think he cares one way or another because he has not acted any differently.

But now he is a legal and healthy pet.  My sister is really campaigning for us to keep this dog.  I don't think it will happen, but if it does then that would be fine.  My little man is slowly adapting to having Austen around and they have begun to have spurts of real play-time in the mornings.  I think this is really good for my Satchmo.  He was getting so old and crotchety.  Now he at least is being more active.

Anyway, here are some pictures of Austen in his lovely collar (that lasted about as long as it took to take the pictures).  He obviously hates it and the look on his face says, "Hurry up and take the picture so I can pull this thing off me!"





Now we are looking into some grooming for him because he is getting pretty shabby looking.  He has poodle hair and doesn't shed, so that means he will need to be clipped.  Great!
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Losing a Pet: What to do to deal with the grief

Losing a pet is an experience that cuts deep. These furry, feathered, or even scaled companions become part of our families, our daily routi...