Keeping Your Pet Healthy and Safe

 With all the news going around about this "mysterious" illness affecting dogs, it seems like a good time to talk about routine pet care and staying ahead of any problems that may occur.

We discussed this illness before in the previous post and you can read that here.

When you adopt a pet, it is a life-long (for the pet) commitment. You assume total responsibility for the care and health of that animal. In return, the pet will love you and look up to you and obey you. We all know that having a pet is a wonderful experience. Pets enrich your life more than anyone can say.

One of the things we need to do is be organized about keeping them healthy, the same way we do for keeping our children healthy and safe. In that vein, you need some type of way to keep up with routine health items.  Having a checklist for the normal and routine things you need to do is a time saver and I have created a simple checklist for you here.  Just click this link to get a copy. 

As for this "mystery illness" going around, there are some things you can do to be proactive and try to protect your pet. 

1. Know your pet's normal demeanor--By being familiar with what is normal behavior, you will be alerted when something is "off".

Here are a list of things to look for:

Dog respiratory illness symptoms include:

• Coughing and sneezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid breathing
• Wheezing or nasal whistling
• Dehydration
• Difficulty exercising
• Fever
• Nasal or eye discharge
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Lethargy

Experts encourage dog owners to contact their veterinarians immediately if any of the symptoms occur, especially those that can lead to pneumonia.

2. Make sure you are feeding quality food to your pet.  I am aware that we all are suffering from this economy, but food is really not a good place to cut back.  We really are what we eat, so quality in makes quality life.

3.Try to limit or eliminate totally having your pet interacting with strange or unfamiliar animals. Just like during the pandemic, we had to limit our interactions with others.  Pets can't wear masks or use antiseptice hand cleaners, so the next best thing is to keep them isolated as much as possible.

4. If your pet goes to a groomer or a daycare facility, be sure to ask them about the measures they are taking to prevent outbreaks of illness to pets there. They should be aware of this situation and they should be doing something to prevent their clients from becoming sick.

5. Have the numbers of both your regular veterinarian as well as a 24 hour ER veterinarian available in case you need them.  In emergencies, every second matters and you don't want to lose time searching for these.

6. If you pet becomes sick, put that pet into some type of quarentine if you are a multiple pet household.  There is so much unknown about this illness that you don't want to take any chances with your family.

7. Don't panic. Your pet will respond to your emotional state and become agitated and frightened if you are in a frenzy. Remain calm, treat the symptoms and get your pet seen by the vet as soon as humanly possible.

8. Know that this illness requires agressive treatment and the cost will be high, so be prepared for the bill.  If possible, have pet insurance on your pet, or at least have a credit account you can use for emergencies.

The news about this illness is not good, except for the number of dogs dying is not astronomically high. There have been deaths but unfortunately it happens. The current thought by vets all across the country is that the sooner you catch it, the better the outcome. So, know your pets.

Resources:

• Reports of mysterious, deadly dog disease now surfacing across Western Washington
• WA veterinarian warns of respiratory illness affecting dogs across nation
• Mysterious and fatal dog respiratory illness now reported in 14 states: See the map.

Rescue dogs, so many to choose from!

 My daughter has lost two of her dogs this last year and it was heartbreaking.  One was an older rat terrier and he was grumpy but loveable.  The other was a mixed breed rescue dog that came from a terrible hoarding situation and had many issues because of it.

We loved these two very much and miss them to this day; but I think my daughter is finally ready to get another dog or two and has been viewing rescues, shelters, and the pounds on the internet looking for just the right one.

I have been appalled at the sheer number of dogs that are currently looking for homes just in our area of this state.  It breaks my heart that so many dogs need a forever home.  These are all good dogs, but do not have pedigrees so they are viewed as less-than worthy.  

I have always had rescue dogs my whole life.  I currently have two; they are getting up there in years and I worry about losing them but for now they are mine and I love them so much.  I cannot tell you how much love and entertainment you get from a dog.  It seems that rescue dogs, unlike pedigree dogs, seem to realize how lucky they are when they find a forever home and they give back in large amounts of love.

In this current time, there just is no reason for so many dogs, cats, and other animals to be waiting for homes.  If people would just spay and neuter their pets, we could completely erase this problem.  However, for some reason, there are so many people who refuse to spay or neuter their pets.  

Maybe it is a money thing; but if so there are numerous low and no cost spay/neuter clinics around. Maybe they are misinformed about the overburdened pet population in our country and don't see the issue of having puppies all the time.  If so, there are so many ways to learn about how to be a responsible pet owner that you wonder why they don't already know this.

I firmly believe that we need to become a "No Kill" country and with a concerted effort by us all we could make that happen.  No Kill supports shelters and rescues in spay and neuter for their animals.  Trap-Neuter-Return programs catch feral cats and spay or neuter them then return them to their home communities to live out the rest of their lives without offspring.  

It is doable sometime in the future that we could have a No Kill country.  That is my prayer and hope.

Search and Rescue Dogs at work

 Since I live in Oklahoma, I am no stranger to disasters.  We frequently have tornadoes that leave people and animals in dire straits.  I was trolling the internet yesterday and came across an article about an Oklahoma Search and Rescue dog that was, himself, a victim of a tornado.  He went on to become an impressive search and rescue dog.  Here is the article if you choose to read about Little Man.

That article, of course, led me down the "rabbit hole" and I found numerous wonderful stories about these amazing dogs and what they have to go through to be called search and rescue dogs, as well as the type of work they are trained to do.  I also read about the health hazards and dangerous activities they willingly take on to do the job they love. You can read about that here.

Dogs are truly a remarkable thing.  I have said before, and I will repeat here again, the dogs truly are a gift from God.  

These dogs are trained to find missing people, like an 82 year old Alzheimer patient that wandered away from his home in 33 degree temperatures wearing only a thermal top and pajama bottoms.  He was outside for approximately 7 hours in the weather before Tick, the search and rescue dog, found him and barked to alert his handler.  All that man could remember about his experience is being licked in the face by a dog! Amazing.  

Tick was a stray that had been picked up by police and taken to a shelter but the officer noted that he wanted to adopt him if no one came to get him. Once Tick was with the officer, he underwent rigorous training and became the search and rescue dog that saved this man's life. Here is a link to the article about Tick.

Not only do the dogs undergo rigorous training, but the handlers must also be trained to interact with the dogs in such a way that it encourages the dogs to do their jobs without distractions.  Here is a story about one of those handlers and all she had to do to become a search and rescue dog handler.

Search and rescue dogs find missing people, dead bodies, crime scenes, disaster victims that are buried in debris, they also find bombs in war torn areas.  Here is an article about Children against Mine Programs where a little girl in New Hampshire helps to raise funds to train mine sniffing dogs.  This is an amazing program and I was totally unaware of it before reading here.

This was an amazing "rabbit hole" adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed and I hope you will too.  Below, I have listed several videos about these dogs for you to enjoy.

https://youtu.be/CzgbambZVPI

https://youtu.be/8Q5r6fm_Dwg

https://youtu.be/qdDmCJ-A2-M

https://youtu.be/OuuB4JsvRU8

https://youtu.be/8-1MjvKdJSo

Dogs Really Are Man's Best Friend

 I love dogs.  I love all dogs.  I even love dogs who bark and snarl at me.  I have been bitten by stray dogs and I even love them.  Call me crazy, but I think dogs are God's gift to mankind.  

I have always had a dog, sometimes without any parental permission.  When my mother told me I could not have a dog, I found a puppy and built her a home in a vacant lot and went there everyday before and after school to feed and play with her.  I had her for almost a year before my parents found out and called animal control to come get her.  She was such a dear and I was mad for months and months.  She was well cared for and well fed, so I did not see the reason for them to pick her up.  Of course, I was about 8 at the time.

Anyway, I love dogs.  I also love cats, birds, lizards, insects, mice, rats, hedgehogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, llamas, burros, horses, etc.  I think you get the drift.  I love animals, period.  I think animals are way nicer than most humans I have been exposed to in my life.  With an animal, what you see is what you get.  They do not play games about who they are.

So, how does all this relate to the title of this blog?  I'll tell you.  I have been thinking quite a bit today about all the dogs in the Ukraine and Turkey that are at risk of either starving or being killed.  I feel very sad by that thought.  I do understand that people will put people first in emergency situations, but I don't necessarily agree with that idea.  I think all life is important and has value. 

On that note, let's talk about dogs that have been abused, mistreated, or worse and how they were still able to be loving and friendly with humans; even to the point of rescuing those humans. If you search Google, you will find numerous articles and stories about such dogs that proved themselves to be heroes.  Here are a few such articles: 

• https://www.rd.com/list/shelter-dogs-who-saved-lives/
• https://www.newsweek.com/21-times-dogs-saved-owners-lives-proving-mans-best-friend-1570567
• https://iheartdogs.com/12-incredible-stories-about-dogs-saving-humans-lives/
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/02/28/dog-saves-baby-fire-detroit/11364181002/?utm_source=usatoday-EveryonesTalking&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=baseline&utm_term=hero&utm_content=USAT-8872UT-E-Everyones-Talking

Dogs have always been of service to humans.  

They were first tamed and socialized to help shepherds protect and herd their flocks.  They spent centuries doing this and helping the families they lived with.  In today's world, dogs fulfill a myriad of protective uses.

Dogs are trained for search and rescue--

There are dogs trained especially to find various things such as bodies, blood, wounded people, drugs, bombs, chemicals and more.  These dogs routinely risk their lives to perform dangerous jobs with only a pat on the head for a good outcome.

Dogs are trained to assist people--

There are dogs that routinely work with disabled and chronically ill people to help them maintain independence and keep them safe.  These dogs provide daily living help as well as mental health benefits.  There are so many people that could not be maintained at home if not for these wonderful dogs.

Dogs are used for social support and mental health care--

There are dogs who have been trained to be support dogs. Who monitor their person for signs of distress and have been trained on ways to help.  There are dogs who smell signs of oncoming seizures and alert their person to lie down and remain safe.  There are dogs who identify health concerns by smell and alert their person to seek medical assistance.

So, now I hope you can see why I love dogs.  They truly are God's gift to mankind.

Does Anyone Remember the Michael Vick Victory Dogs?

 Back in 2007, Michael Vick was exposed as an owner of the Bad Newz  Kennels in Virginia.  It was a place of unbelievable horror for the dogs residing in those cages.  Mr. Vick and his crew routinely tortured and killed those dogs when they would not fight with each other.  They provided dogs for illegal dog fighting venues, so if a dog would not become vicious enough, even with torture, they would kill them for sport.

When this cam to light, the Feds raided the kennels and rescued 48 Pitbull dogs from the confines of the kennels.  Mr. Vick was charged with numerous crimes and spent 18 months in prison, which ended his NFL career as a quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons.

The site was purchased in 2011 and turned into the Good News Rehab Center.

This case was the first time that the animals were not summarily destroyed, but rather they were sent to Utah and other rescues to rehabilitate them.  This had never been done before and happened in a large part because of the uproar of normal citizens and the intervention of the Best Friends Animal Rescue in Utah.

It seems that we, as a group, have a very short memory, because Mr. Vick returned to football upon his release and now is into sportscasting.  He claims to be sorry for the events in his past, but mostly it seems, he is sorry he was caught and caused his career to implode.  He has never one time expressed any concern or regret for his actions that caused such harm and injury to those dogs.  

Unfortunately, despite a large outcry by the public, he has also been allowed to own a dog again.  He now owns a Belgian Malinois despite his past crimes against dogs.

His response in an interview was as follows:

In 2019, Vick told The Washington Post that his animal rights crimes are merely a thing of the past. Water under the bridge.

“I think people have moved on. I think they’ve moved past it. It’s been 12-plus years since it all happened, so I don’t get any questions about it anymore. People don’t talk about it. They don’t ask me about it. Life is kind of normal. But I still have a responsibility, and that will never change.”

In a follow-up interview, he told the news site in 2021 he regrets it all — mainly because the case affected his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame.

'S--t, it hurt [my chances of] going in the Hall of Fame. It's going to impact everything. But it was all self-inflicted. I was young. I didn't have no guidance. I don't use this as no excuse. I could've said, 'No.' I could've made those right decisions, like, 'This ain't for me.' That's a blemish that I will never be able to erase." (https://www.greenmatters.com/p/michael-vick-dogfighting-ring).

Upon rescue, many of the dogs were able to be adopted because they showed no damage to their ability to bond with people (possible they were new recruits to the kennels).  However many of them were judged too damaged to be adopted and went to live at the Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah for the rest of their lives.  

Once there, they received constant supervision, positive reinforcement, love and affection from staff and even spent the night at various employee's homes to give them a feeling of family.  They lived a very good life while at the Sanctuary and many were able to be deemed fit for adoption, which is what many people were waiting for.

There is a book on Amazon that discusses this event in detail and is a quick read.  I highly recommend it.  Here is the link to pick it up if you are of a mind to. (I am an affiliate, so I might get a few pennies if you buy through my link)

I also recommend you read several of the posts here and here on this blog about the struggles made by the Vick dogs to be rehabilitated.

Here is a link to an article by the Best Friends Sanctuary about the dogs if you would like to see how they did.  They had the best life possible after they were rescued and they proved the resilience and the heart that these dogs possessed.

Unfortunately, all of the Vick Dogs have gone over the Rainbow Bridge and are all now together again.  What bothers me though, is that there are so many people who choose to forget Vick's crimes, choose to minimize his crimes, simply don't know anything about his crimes, or were born after the fact and no one educated them on this issue.

Cruelty to animals is a crime, period.  It is a legal crime, it is a social crime, it is a personal crime, it is an emotional crime.  When will we start teaching our children how to behave with animals so as to prevent such things from every happening again.

Unfortunately, the Vick event did nothing to stop the abuse of animals for fighting rings.  It just makes me sick.

Here is a link to read the legal charges filed against Vick and his crew.

Research about dogs in the Pandemic

 During the Pandemic, when we all were basically shut down for 2 whole years, the one thing that made life bearable for me was my fur babies.  I talked to them when I was lonely and they returned unadulterated love and attention.  I walked them to get out of the house (wearing a mask, of course) and in return they jumped and performed for me causing me to relax and laugh at their antics.  

My dogs kept me sane when our world was insane.  I just thought that was me and my babies, but I found this article on the internet that discusses a research project to define and quantify the effect of having a dog on us during this dark period in our lives.  It is an interesting article and supports my findings personally.  You can read part of this below but do click over to the article to read it all.  See if you agree with their conclusions.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsung Heroes of the Pandemic: Dogs

By Cara Murez
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Dec. 16, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Coping with the isolation, fear and sadness of the pandemic may have been a little easier if you had a trusting and loving dog by your side.

But you don't need to tell that to Francois Martin, a researcher who studies the bonds between animals and humans. His two Great Danes helped him through the last two years, and he just completed a study that shows living with a dog gave folks a stronger sense of social support and eased some of the negative psychological effects of the pandemic.

"When you ask people, 'Why is your dog important to you? What does your dog bring to you?' People will say that it's companionship. It's the feeling of belonging to a group that includes your family dog. It keeps people busy," said Martin, who is section leader for the Behavior and Welfare Group at Nestle Purina in St. Joseph, Mo. "If you have a dog, you have to walk the dog, you have to exercise the dog. It gives you a sense of purpose.

It's "just plain fun," Martin added. "I don't know anybody who is as happy as my dogs to see me every day."

His team saw the pandemic as a unique time to better understand how dogs provide social support to their owners...
(read the entire article here)

Tuesday True Stories -- Dogs of War

Dogs of War' Save Lives in Afghanistan

U.S. troops depend on young dogs to find hidden explosives and lost soldiers.

 Thu Jan 28, 2010 08:43 AM ET
Content provided by Jason Gutierrez, AFP

A group of U.S. Marines and a bomb-sniffing dog manuever around a building in Mian Poshteh, Afghanistan.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

THE GIST:

• "Dogs of War" are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan to assist in finding bombs, lost soldiers.
• Bomb squads prefer Labradors. The dogs start training when they're puppies.
• These military dogs save lives and boost morale among troops.

---

For the U.S. Marines patrolling the dusty footpaths of southern Afghanistan, a bomb-sniffing black Labrador can mean the difference between life and death.
These "dogs of war" have saved countless lives and their record for finding hidden explosives has won them a loyal following.
"They are 98 percent accurate. We trust these dogs more than metal detectors and mine sweepers," says handler Corporal Andrew Guzman.
Trained to detect five kinds of threat, from military grade C-4 plastic explosive to common chemicals used by the Taliban to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the dogs play a vital role alongside their human comrades.
Bomb expert Sergeant Crush is all concentration as he leads a foot patrol by two squads of US Marines deployed to Afghanistan as part of Washington's fresh surge to end an eight-year insurgency by the Taliban.
His job along with Corporal Goodwin is to lead the men to safety through dusty footpaths and compounds where Taliban militants plant deadly bombs that have left many troops dead in recent months.
They are from a group of four Labradors, who are on average four years old and have all seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"These dogs are great. They keep our Marines alive," says First Lieutenant Aaron MacLean, 2nd Platoon commander of the Marines 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment Charlie Company, to which the dog team is attached.
Crush suddenly goes on a swift bound, sniffing out a corner of a compound in the outskirts of a Taliban stronghold in Helmand province.
There is a quick change in his demeanour, his muscles tense up, he freezes, sticks out his tail and then lies down with his paws extended up front.

WATCH VIDEO: Courageous stories of soldiers who beat the odds to bring their canine combat buddies home.

Related Links:

---

• MIA Dog Found in Afghanistan After 14 Months
• Military Dogs Get New Vet Hospital
• HowStuffWorks.com: Dogs on Patrol
• PetFinder.com

---

The area turned out to have been a former storage place for ammonium nitrate, a fertiliser compound recently banned by the government that the Taliban commonly use in making powerful homemade bombs.
"It's better safe than sorry," Guzman says.
Just days earlier two squads of Marines were ambushed and trapped in a compound. Two Marines died after stepping on the pressure plates of IEDs, just minutes before the dogs were to have cleared the area.
The force of the explosion threw the handlers and the dogs to the ground, but they quickly got up and resumed their jobs.
The dogs also provide an emotional crutch for young Marines facing death every day. They crowd around the dogs and play with them inside the camp. There are frequent questions about adopting them after the Labradors end their tour.
Lance Corporal George Grimm, the handler of Corporal Brooks, says most Marines feel safer with his bomb team leading the way.
Brooks, a three year-old Labrador with tan fur, has been deployed three times in Iraq and Afghanistan and has helped with the recovery of approximately 14 bombs and saved many lives.
One sniffer named Ringo gained a legendary reputation for having found as many as 30 daisy-chain landmines in Iraq, he says.
"Our life is in this boy's hands pretty much," says Grimm, a 19-year-old who has been Brooks' handler since late last year. Grimm grabs a rubber toy called a "konk" and lets Brooks nibble on it.
"They don't ask for much except to be taken cared of," he says.
Handlers say the US government spends huge amounts of money to train the dogs in a civilian-led program contracted out by the defence department.
They begin training when they are puppies, and by the time they reach two and half years old, are ready to be deployed.
The bomb squad in Afghanistan prefer using pure-bred Labradors over sentry dogs such as German Shepherds because they are easier to train. Labradors are also hunting dogs who can pick up a scent as far as 500 meters (yards) away.
With the Taliban increasingly relying on IEDs to cripple the US advance, officials say up to 70 dogs are now on operation in southern Afghanistan alone, where the insurgency is festering.
More are expected to be deployed in the coming months, officials say.

Thursday's issues -- Treating Cushing's Disease

Here is an excerpt from an email I get regularly from a Vet in Canada.  He is very knowledgeable about both medical and holistic care and he has a wonderful course you can take on his website.  This particular email talks about ways to help your pet when Cushing's disease is diagnosed or just a possibility.  Let me know if you find this useful and I will post other excerpts from his email here.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

A dog was recently diagnosed with as disease called
Cushing's Disease - He is producing excess cortisol
in his body.

In most cases this is caused by a Pituatary Adenoma,
but in 15% of dogs it is caused by an Adrenal Tumor.

This dog had EXCESS panting and pacing- he
could NOT settle down

Here is part of what's in my book:


SIGNS
Your older dog drinks and urinates excessively.
He has a distended, swaying belly. He has hair
loss and a sparse hair coat. His appetite may
be increased. He may pant often. He has been
tested for other causes of increased drinking
(including diabetes, kidney and liver disease)
and all tests have come back negative.

CAUSES
The disease is an overproduction of a hormone
(Cortisol) which produces the signs of excessive
 drinking and urinating. The most common cause
is due to a tumor on the pituitary gland (a
gland at the base of the brain). A small
percentage of cases are caused by a tumor on
the adrenal gland (a gland in the kidneys).
In some cases, pets can get all these signs
by being on steroids, such as prednisone. In
this case, the treatment is to wean the pet
off the drug.

SOLUTIONS

TO THE VET.  If your pet has some of the signs
of Cushing's (excessive drinking and urination)
then it is first important to rule out other
diseases. Your vet will check for diabetes,
kidney disease, and liver disease. A general
blood screen will be suggestive of Cushing's.
At this time, they may recommend further
screening tests and discuss traditional
treatment.

------------------------------

-------------
Here is what worked GREAT for this dog:
-------------------------------------------

VALERIAN. High Cortisol levels will make your
pet feel anxious. Valerian is great at
decreasing anxiety levels. The dog dose is 1
drop per lb of body weight twice daily.

Here are some additional remedies...

ANTIOXIDANTS. In Cushing's, the cells are more
prone to injury from the high Cortisol levels.
The three most effective antioxidants are Vitamin
E, Vitamin C and Selenium. These are best given
in combination: give 100 IU of Vitamin E, 100 mg
of Vitamin C and 20 ug if Selenium per 10 lbs of
body weight daily.

FLOWER. Flower essences can also help to decrease
anxiety, such as panting. One to two drops of Bach
Rescue Remedy given twice daily may help calm your pet.

HERBAL:

GINKGO. This is a herb called Ginkgo Biloba. It has
been shown to reduce Cortisol production.
The dose of the tincture is one drop per lb of
body weight twice daily. The dried concentrated
extract is also available, give 3 mg per lb of
body weight daily.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

P.S. IF you are looking for a COMPLETE resource
of ALL of the specific At Home Remedies for Cushing's
Disease ( along with over 100 common dog diseases)
then get my manual here:

Helping Pets stay healthy and at home

Related articles by Zemanta

• Natural Remedies for Cushing's Disease in Dogs (brighthub.com)

Tuesday True Stories -- Jailed dogs are cut a break

Here's an article I found on DogTime.com that tells the story of one woman's determination to make a difference in the lives of a forgotten population of shelter animals.  This story broke my heart initially when I learned of these animals, but I was thrilled that they now have such a determined champion.  Please visit the site and read the article.  Maybe you would like to help her?

_________________________________________________________________________________

A maverick program shines a light on a population of dogs the world rarely hears about and offers hope for others like them.  

Stella arrived at the San Francisco Animal Care and Control shelter (SFACC) seven months ago, emaciated and exhausted. Since November, the four-year-old pit bull has been held in city custody while her registered owner is investigated on charges of starving an animal. She now spends her days in a small kennel, waiting for the legal system to decide what should happen to her.
Stella is but one dog among thousands that the American public only rarely, if ever, sees or hears anything about. These are the dogs who end up in shelters because their owners are in the hospital, have been evicted from their homes, have been jailed or--as with Stella's owner--are being investigated for animal cruelty.

Dowling gets a kiss from Pippa

---

To listen to the Road to Rescue interview with Give a Dog a Bone founder Corinne Dowling on Animal Radio Network, click here.

---

Give them a chance to be dogs

When she started volunteering at SFACC in the mid-1990s, Corinne Dowling had no idea these "custody dogs" existed. Ironically, many custody dogs become some of the shelter's longest-staying residents, spending months there before the court decides their fate. In most shelters these dogs are kept apart from the adoptable animals, and regular volunteers, for legal and safety reasons, aren't permitted contact with them. So when Dowling learned that an entire group of dogs was neither walked, nor touched, nor even taken out of their kennels to relieve themselves, she spoke to SFACC administrators about tending to these dogs herself. "After all they'd been through, I just thought they deserved better," she says.
An experienced dog handler, Dowling began taking the custody dogs, one at a time, out to the small enclosed yard on the SFACC grounds. There they could chase tennis balls, sniff leaves, and simply relieve themselves in an area apart from where they eat and sleep. In essence, Dowling began giving them the opportunity to just be dogs.
By 1999, her dedication to San Francisco's custody dogs became a full-time endeavor, and Dowling made her undertaking official. She founded the nonprofit agency Give a Dog a Bone specifically to address the needs of dogs in long-term shelter care. Its mission: to relieve the extreme loneliness, boredom, stress, and suffering dogs in enforced custody endure.

Reaching through bars

Dowling's challenges, however, were just beginning. Custody dogs arrive at SFACC, with a whole host of issues--after all, most of them are there because they've been beaten, starved, or medically neglected. A few come in so fearful and distrusting they're deemed dangerous, and aren't allowed to leave their kennels. But Dowling was not content to simply attend to the dogs that are allowed walks and petting. She was determined that all dogs in the custody wing receive affection, attention, and mental and physical stimulation.
With that goal in mind, Dowling created an environmental enrichment program expressly for the wing's kennel-bound dogs. She developed games to encourage as much stretching and moving as possible-[read more]

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday True Stories -- Faith Walks

This is just absolutely too awesome for words!  Just watching this happy hound makes me happy.  For all of us who like to roll in our own misery, I recommend watching these videos.  Shame on us if a dog can out do us in the happiness area and can overcome massive adversity with a cheerful attitude!  Please watch these incredible videos.  You will be amazed.

Wordless Wednesday

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?


__________________________________________________________________________________

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

Related articles by Zemanta

• Meet Oreo! (magnoliavoice.com)
• Imagining puppies (timesunion.com)

The foster dog Saga continues!

Tomorrow is the day we are taking the little foster dog in to be neutered.  He will get his last shots and then have his procedure done.  After that, I will have done all I can to give him a good life--except adopt him which is looking more and more likely. 

My Satchmo, however, is not pleased.  I spent the entire night last night being the referee between the two dogs.  Satchmo likes to sleep under the bed covers but up by the pillows so his nose is exposed.  This little dog, Austen, usually will sleep at the foot of the bed on top of the covers, but last night he wanted to sleep under the covers and when he could not do that, he wanted to sleep on top of Satchmo.  Guess who didn't exactly agree with the sleeping arrangements?  Yep!  I spent most of the night separating the fighting dogs.  I was not pleased with either one, but I do have to agree with Satchmo that he should not have to give up his spot just  because there is a new dog here.  I cannot quite make Austen see the sense of this, as he very much wants to have his head right up Satchmo's butt.

Anyway, the two will just have to work it out, or one of them will be sleeping in the cage at night.

Dog Problems

I came home today from work only to discover that the foster dog had eaten my shoes and destroyed my blinds in the living room window. Since these particular blinds are about 80" across, I hate to think what they will cost me to replace. The shoes will be cheap compared, I think.

The new dog's name is Austen and he just went to the vet last week to get shots and wormed. He is a mess. As soon as I can, I hope to get him in to the "beauty parlor" for a shampoo and cut since he can barely see with all that curly hair in his eyes.

I don't know what got into him today. This is the first time I have had any issues with him since he came to visit us. My Satchmo is not acting crazy and seems resigned to having a "friend" living in HIS house. He has even let Austen play with some of him toys--just not Baby!

Rat Terrier: Dog Breeds, Info and Pictures

I keep finding really good sites that describe these wonderful little dogs.  I wholeheartedly recommend this breed for anyone looking to have a loyal, loving, enjoyable companion.  There are some negatives to this breed, but overall, they are the best!  If you ever bond with a Rattie, you will never want any other type of dog.

Anyway, below is an excerpt from CanineCrib.com that I hope you will visit and read the excellent information they have available about this breed as well as many other dog breeds.

---

Country: United States
Size: Toy 4-6lb, 8in - Min 6-8lb, 8-14in - Stan 12-35lb, 36-56in
Temperament: Alert
Grooming: Little
Recognition: UKC, CKC, NKC, UKCI, ACR, APRI

History - The Rat Terrier, popular in the 1800’s with the English miners was used to kill the rats found in the mine shafts and the shacks where the miners slept. The miners bet on which dog would kill the most rodents, and also used them in dog-fighting. These game were a popular pastime for the English miners.Once known as “feists” for their feisty nature, the dogs were a cross between several breeds: the Smooth Fox Terrier, The Manchester Terrier and the white English Terrier, long since extinct. Over time, they were also paired up with the whippet, and the greyhound to induce great speed and stamina. The beagle was introduced in the line to sharpen hunting skills.Teddy Roosevelt hunted with his Rat Terriers earning them the distinction of being called Teddy Roosevelt Terriers. But as time passed they were simply known again as Rat Terriers.There are two types of Rat Terriers- a short-legged Rat Terrier believed to have been crossed with either Corgis or Dachshunds. The short-legged terrier was the one favored by Teddy Roosevelt.Over time, they were also paired up with the whippet or the greyhound to induce great speed and stamina, and the beagle was also introduced in the line to sharpen the hunting skills. This gave way to the long- legged Rat Terrier capable of great speed and stamina. These Rat Terriers are used by hunting and sporting enthusiasts.Appearance - The Rat Terrier has a thick, short-haired shiny coat. They are suitable for trailing and exposing game birds and hunting jackrabbits or squirrels. Their Heads are braod and ears a V-shaped. The ration of length to height is 10:9 with short legged dogs disqualifying in the show ring. They are good-natured, active and intelligent dogs with a nose for scenting and speed and grace for the chase.Description - The Rat Terrier seems always alert and are a very active breed, think of the the Jack Russell Terrie and multiply him by 2! When not hunting however, the Rat Terrier is a great companion, getting alone with children, other dogs and even cats. The breed was defined and accredited in 1995 with a breed standard being written and faithfully maintained by conscientious breeders today.
Color - Variety of Colors
Life Expectancy - 11-14 years
Other Names - American Rat TerrierRat Terrier
 Reviews
Grooming (90%)
 Exercise (90%)
Feeding (90%)
 Temperament (100%)
Watchdog (100%)

Rat Terrier: Dog Breeds, Info and Pictures

Blogged with the Flock Browser