4 Legs & a Tail 2016 North Winter

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Winter Wonderland 2017 Northern VT & NH

Tips To Keep Your Cat Young At Heart Choosing The Right Dog The Best Diet For Your Pet

Tracing The Roots Of An Award Winning Morgan Can Hemp Be The Right Choice For Your Pet?

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

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Help Make Christmas Wishes Come True For Shelter Animals De-Stress Your pet This Season, Pat Jauch Alternatively Speaking: When It Comes To Food, Fresh Is Best, Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA Your Pet May be in Pain, M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM How to recognize the signs

Hemp: A New Way to Better Your Pet’s Health, Holly McClelland and Benjamin Burroughs

Got a puppy? Helia Zamprogno, DVM, MS, PhD

How to check if your puppy might be predisposed to hip dysplasia

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The Different Roles of Therapy Dogs and Assistance Dogs, Katie Ziegler Make a New Year’s Resolution: Get Those Teeth Cleaned and Keep ‘Em Clean, Dr. Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS Helping Your Cat Stay Spry Helpful tips to keep your kitty sharp When Your Cat is an Early Riser (and you're not)

What to do when you want to sleep in on Sunday morning and your cat doesn't

18 Choosing the Right Dog, Nancy Holmes

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Some points to consider when you want to expand your family

19 Eden Ethical Dog Sledding, Deborah E. Blair, M.S., Ph.D

Living the good life in Vermont

21 The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, John Peaveler

23 On The Bit, John Killacky

24 The Drumming of Hooves, Tanya Sousa

25 Kenyan Sand Boas, DJ Nelson 27 Owney the Post Office Dog, Kate Kelly

28 The Golden Snitch, Mark Carlson

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In the wake of devastation to Haiti, how one international disaster responder and Upper Valley resident made a difference.

A Shetland moment in Vermont The champion line of an award winning Morgan

The amazing adventures of a world traveler

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When you can't even trust your own dog

4 Legs & a Tail Volume N.416 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com Winter 2016

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Senior Editor: Scott Palzer Office Manager: Beth Hoehn Graphic Design: Kristin Wolff, Lacey Dardis Kerry Rowland Sales: Heather Young, Scott Palzer

If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Northern VT & NH. 4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is locally owned and operated and acts as a moderator without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data or claim.

Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

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Save the Date!

Join us for an evening of purses, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails on February 9, 2017 at the Burlington International Airport. An exciting live and silent auction offering new and like new purses, in addition to many on sale; this event is one that you won't want to miss!

Gather your Bags!

Drop off your new or like new purses at the Humane Society of Chittenden County or Spruce Mortgage!

Sponsors:

Contact: Kylie deGroot | kylied@chittendenhumane.org | (802) 862-0135 x15

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Help Make Christmas Wishes Come True for Shelter Animals I

n a perfect world, every homeless animal would be adopted by a loving family today. But in reality, animal shelters and refuges remain very busy places, especially around the holidays. Just like children, these animals have Christmas lists too, filled with wishes that caring community members can help fulfill by donating petrelated items to Claus for Paws.

The simplest wishes – cleaning supplies, bedding, food, collars, leashes, and toys – often go unfulfilled or add up to a substantial expense.

But with the community’s help, local shelters, rescue groups, and other animal refuges will be gifted with the wish-list items they so desperately need to provide the best love and quality of life for the animals in their care.

During this time of making your list and checking it twice, Claus for Paws asks everyone to please consider supporting the thousands of homeless animals who don’t have a voice to express their needs. And they thank everyone in advance for giving lots of tails a reason to wag this holiday season.

Second Annual “Claus for Paws” organization focuses on collecting gifts for our furry friends during the holiday season.

Claus for Paws is a nonprofit organization that helps shelter animals live better lives while they await their forever homes.

Simply look for specially marked “Claus for Paws” donation crates at these local businesses: Berlin City, Burton Snowboards, Dealer.com, Doggie Styles, Guys Farm & Yard, Healthy Living Market & Cafe, Passion For Pets, Pet Advantage, Pet Food Warehouse, Small Dog Electronics, Tractor Supply, and Vermont Dog Club. That’s where you can drop off your donation of new pet-related items to support the love and work of area shelters.

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De-Stress Your Pet This Season Pat Jauch - Caledonia Animal Rescue, Inc.

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ith Thanksgiving behind us and the December holidays rapidly approaching, schedules become busy and stress levels escalate. This can also be a stressful time for your pet or pets. Guests are coming and going, some staying for days or perhaps weeks. Decorations are being hung. Special foods are being prepared for festive meals. In the flurry of activity, people often forget that their companion animals still need love and affection.

In the midst of holiday preparations, Fluffy and Fido are trying to cope. However, with free time at a premium, the attention devoted to the four-footed furry family members can be drastically reduced. Less attention can trigger behavior problems when pets do not understand why they are missing their cherished time with loved ones.

As the season progresses, try to remember that a long walk with Fido can be as much of a stress reducer for you as it is for him. Those few extra minutes will reassure him that he is not being forgotten and the exercise can be an added benefit for both of you. When company comes, and the house fills with friends and loved ones, make sure that there is a quiet place for your feline to find comfort and some solitude.

While preparing the festive meal, remember to avoid sharing dangerous foods such as onions, grapes, rich gravies, and certain bones with your canine. Decorations such as tinsel and aluminum icicles, as well as many plants, can be fatal if eaten by your pet.

When celebrating your special holidays remember to consider your pets and make the days as enjoyable for them as you do for your human companions. Caring for pets will make a happier holiday season for all.

Finley from Barre Electric really gets into Holiday Lighting

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Alternatively Speaking:

When It Comes To Food, Fresh Is Best Dr. Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA

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have probably written more about nutrition than any other single topic, and with good reason. Food can be an essential part of treating illnesses, especially chronic conditions. But the most powerful way to use food is for prevention. A well-nourished body has the tools to protect itself from disease, and maintain its tissues to avoid wear and tear. I have long been a proponent of the value of fresh foods to provide the most useful, absorbable and vital nutrition for pets. I have had that passion rekindled this September at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association conference where the topic of creating truly balanced homemade foods was given a lot of attention. No one debates the value of fresh feeding, however it is the seemingly overwhelming task of doing it right that drives most of us to the convenience of processed foods. It is my hope that we can make homemade food an attainable goal and part of our pet’s meal plan.

Most of us would love to be able to cook fresh for our pets just like the rest of our family. But it’s the uncertainty of what is OK versus harmful that makes us hesitant. Bodies have a lot to do every day.

They generate energy, regulate normal organ function, maintain defenses from disease, and repair or turnover old tissues.

All of this requires very specific nutrients for cells and enzymes to perform these fundamental tasks. It is not OK to just throw together a beautiful array of wholesome foods and assume they will provide all the nutrients in the correct amounts.

What pet owners need is an informed recipe. When asked for guidance in this area, many veterinarians shy away from recommending fresh feeding because they equally don’t want to cause harm.

Unless you pursue board certification in nutrition, most veterinary education does not include how to formulate a balanced diet or evaluate the many frozen diets appearing on the market to tell if they are complete. It was assumed, back when I was in school, that pets would be eating bagged and canned foods which would be evaluated and cleared by authorities that regulate the pet food industry. Luckily, today there are increasing resources for vets and pet owners to help navigate a Winter 2016

safe and complete diet formulation.

With all these valid cautions and concerns, one may ask, “Why would we bother to make fresh pet food and not just buy the bag off the shelf?”

The reasons are many, but basically it comes down to control.

When buying commercial food we can’t see the ingredients used Pumpkin and Klinger to judge their enjoying a healthy diet quality, we can’t tailor the diet to our pet’s individual needs, and we have to accept synthetic supplements for vitamins and minerals in amounts and quality that are arguably not ideal for many pets. We also have to accept a higher starch and glycemic index than what is ideal for a dog or cat to eat. If you look at the ancestral diet of a dog or cat and do a nutrient analysis of the contents, it is often a far cry from what we purchase at the store. In comparison, when we make fresh food, the nutrients are not degraded by processing and are more bioavailable. The diet can have ideal amounts of protein and fats from sources that better match the animal’s natural diet, which means it is less likely to promote inflammation and obesity without all the starches. Organic or non-GMO ingredients can be used and we can include the range of vitamins and minerals that match their natural diet.

After all, why would a dog need less of these nutrients as a domesticated pet than they would in nature? And if your pet has certain medical issues, your veterinarian can increase or decrease nutrients in the diet to assist their condition. In the end, even if home cooking is intermittent or a low percentage of your pet’s overall diet, it is still really easy to see the health benefits.

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So let’s talk about some of the common advice I give when building a homemade diet plan. Remember, these are generalizations and all specific diet changes are best discussed with your holistic veterinarian to make sure they are a good match for your individual pet. First, unless you have a really stubborn pet that won’t eat commercial food once enjoying homemade, (and who can blame them really), you can you mix homemade or raw diets with dry or canned foods. Feeding is not an ‘all or none’ proposition for most animals. It is fine to feed a small topping of homemade or a fresh meal once a week, as fits your budget and lifestyle. Rotating foods

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is considered ideal to provide a variety of different nutrients, but some individuals with allergies or digestive issues can’t tolerate change. If this is the case, then respect their digestive needs and adjust to what works for them.

Second, you do need to follow a balanced recipe. In a pinch or when your pet is not feeling well it is ok to just use some meat and rice to get by, but more than a week or two of a diet deficient in nutrients is not ideal. Over time deficiencies will be occurring that are very slow to show outwardly unless you are young and growing. Then these effects can be devastating rapidly, especially in large breed puppies. There are many people that do not agree with ‘balanced recipes’ or using supplements for dog food. They argue that eating is effortless in the wild and there aren’t nutritionists hovering over the wolf reminding him to eat more magnesium. They say that we should just be able to give a variety of meats and some organs and be good to go, right? But we have to remember that most prey is consumed whole in the wild, including the fur, glands, organs, muscles, and each part is rich in some vital nutrient.

As with anything in life, things that are worthwhile do take a bit of effort. It is easier to throw up your hands in despair and

just keep doing what you are doing even if you don’t feel good about it. However, after a small learning curve, fresh feeding can be an easy addition to your pet’s meals. Your efforts will be rewarded in the satisfaction of seeing your pet enjoy the yummy taste and aromas wafting from the real food in their dishes, made even better by the knowledge that they will be healthier for it. And for those of us out there that find boiling water a challenge, no worries. The raw food industry is getting better and better with balancing diets and most of the dehydrated varieties are sterilized for those with concerns about bacteria. So whether fresh from the crock pot or freezer, everyone can treat their pet to a wholesome fresh diet.

Dr. Anne Carroll is owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she practices both conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Her associate Dr. Betty Jo Black brings classical homeopathy to the practice. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www. chelseaanimalhospital.com

Winter 2016

Your Pet May be in Pain M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

Animals suffer from pain, just like we do. Some forms of pain are obvious such as surgical pain or an acute injury. Because most of us have had surgery at some time in our lives (or know someone who has), we have an idea of the pain animals must feel after having an operation. The same holds true for an acute injury such as falling down the stairs or having an ear infection.

Unfortunately, the majority of pain in animals is chronic and harder for most pet owners to detect. Arthritis is often misinterpreted as the pet “getting old” or “slowing down”. It is important to remember that age is not a disease, but pain is!

Cancer and dental disease are chronic pains from which animals suffer in silence. A common misconception is that animals will whine or cry out when they are in pain. In fact, it is very uncommon for this to occur.

Signs of pain in dogs can vary between dog breeds and individual dogs. The majority have one or more of the following signs: decreased interaction with owners, decreased activity or appetite, reluctance to move, growling, guarding, aggression towards people or other pets, or even chewing or licking themselves where it hurts. For example, a dog may not want to be petted around the head if its ears or mouth hurt. An older dog with arthritis may growl or snap at kids or other dogs, trying to protect itself from being hurt. Cats are very good at hiding when they don’t feel well. This is because in the wild, if they show they are sick, they can quickly go from predator to prey. It is rare that a cat with chronic pain will cry out. Instead, it may stop grooming and have matted fur, be stiff, lose weight, hide, be less active, eat less, or groom excessively at an affected area. A cat who “doesn’t like to be petted there” is usually painful at that location.

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Dental pain is rarely obvious to most pet owners. The assumption by many is if the animal is eating, there is no mouth pain. Since the alternative is to stop eating altogether and starve to death, even pets with very painful teeth will still eat. They just may not eat as much, may lose weight and may not chew their food well. They may chew only on one side of their mouth.

A thorough annual wellness exam by your veterinarian will help to determine if your pet is in pain. If you suspect your pet is painful, call your veterinarian right away. There are many options available to treat pain in our pets: prescription Continued Next Page

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medications, physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, laser therapy and therapeutic massage.

Remember, do not ever give human pain relievers to your pet: the majority of them are toxic to our pets. Even a little bit of certain human pain medications can cause kidney failure and death in our pets. It is our moral responsibility as pet owners to provide for all aspects of our pets’ needs. They give us unconditional love and depend on us for their care and comfort. Besides giving them food, love, and shelter we must realize that they may get sick and will definitely get old. Along the way there are times they will be in pain, for which there is help. For more information about pain control and how to tell if your pet is in pain, talk to your veterinarian and go to www.ivapm.org, the website of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

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The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) is a professional organization of 350 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine. For more information, visit www.vtvets.org or call (802) 878-6888.

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HEMP: A New Way to Better Your Pet’s Health Holly McClelland & Benjamin Burroughs

A ll loving pet parents would agree that they want their furry friends to

experience optimal physical, mental, and emotional health. If given the chance, do you think these pet parents would jump on the opportunity to give their dogs and cats one ingredient that could improve calming, cognitive functioning, joint mobility, digestive health, and inflammation … along with many more conditions? This idea might sound like an impossible endeavor, but the solution could be as simple as one short phrase: hemp with CBD. CBD, known as cannabidiol, might sound like a fancy term. In reality though, CBD is simply one of the 80 active ingredients found in hemp that is purported to have a wide range of medicinal benefits.

When people think of hemp and cannabis, their minds naturally gravitate toward the compound THC, which has psychoactive properties. Anyone who has experienced marijuana can likely claim that THC has affected their mental state in some way, shape, or form. CBD, on the other hand, may provide many medicinal benefits without affecting psychological functioning. This means that ingesting a strain of hemp with CBD might improve overall health without producing a “high” effect.

In recent years, pet food manufacturers have invested significant time and money toward concocting the perfect ingredient mix of superfoods into their products — ranging from blueberries, quinoa, kale, chia seed, pumpkin, goats milk … the list could keep going on and on. But, wouldn’t it be great if it was possible to obtain the same level of superfood health benefits from hemp and CBD alone?

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While the advantages of hemp are still undergoing research, there has been a recent surge in specialty pet supplements and foods that contain this ingredient.

Manufacturers are enthusiastic about promoting products with one flagship ingredient — hemp/CBD versus having to cite a laundry list of items. This doesn’t necessarily mean that these companies are only including one active ingredient in their products. They just recognize that hemp/CBD is a powerful superfood that is instrumental in supporting overall health and wellbeing. Notable companies that are dedicated to their hemp/ CBD-based products include Cani Bits, Canna Pet, Pet Releaf, Steve’s Real Food, Therabis, True Leaf, Grandma Lucy’s, and Vermont-based Reilly’s Hempvet.

Bill Reilly, co-founder & head of manufacturing for Reilly’s Hempvet, recently met with us at a local coffee shop in Burlington, VT to share his opinions about the benefits of non-psychoactive hemp in supporting pet health and wellness. Reilly’s Hempvet is a team of animal nutritionists and pet professionals that developed a line of products with a proprietary superfood blend of organic hemp/CBD supplements. According to Mr. Reilly, “Hemp is nutritionally important because it contains the highest levels of phytocannabinoids of any plant.

Studies have shown that phytocannabinoids are essential for stimulating the endocannabinoid system – a key system that supports overall health and wellness.” In order to substantiate claims, Reilly’s Hempvet researchers relied on cannabis studies originating overseas

in Britain and Israel. However, the recent reduction of U.S. federal barriers on hemp research means that domestic studies will soon be available. This will lead to an even deeper understanding about the medical benefits of hemp.

In terms of specific health advantages, Mr. Reilly noted that there are differences in the quality and efficacy of hemp-based products. Some are functional treats and use basic hempseed oil as the active ingredient. While high in omegas, hempseed oil contains low levels of CBD, and has little, if any, effect on the endocannabinoid system. Reilly’s Hempvet products are true nutritional supplements and contain a proprietary, full-spectrum, organic hemp blend, in combination with other scientifically proven beneficial ingredients. The products are engineered to support joint/ mobility, calming, immune, and neurocognitive systems. Since many pet parents may not recognize hemp as a standalone supplement with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-seizure properties, Reilly’s Hempvet combines hemp with other well-known ingredients, such as glucosamine and MSM, which are used in the “Rewards+ JointSupport” and «Hempjoints high potency supplements.” Reilly’s best-selling calming supplements, “Rewards+CalmSupport” and “HempCalm” are fast-acting and combine hemp with a proprietary colostrum peptide. Calming supplements reduce pet anxiety triggered by vet visits, thunderphobia, and separation anxiety. The goal is for pets to be calmed, relaxed, and alert.

Now that we recognize the health benefits of hemp for our furry friends and the need for ongoing research, the next question is: where should we turn to for hemp sourcing? Most manufacturers are obtaining hemp from Europe, but there has been an increasing interest among U.S. farmers to grow hemp in America. If we grow more and more hemp in the U.S. and scientific studies continue to demonstrate efficacy, how many hemp products will we see on the market by 2020? www.4LegsAndATail.com 9

GOT A PUPPY? Helia Zamprogno, DVM, MS, PhD

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re you worried that your puppy might be predisposed to hip dysplasia?

At Burlington Emergency Veterinary Specialists, they offer the PennHIP screening for hip laxity. A test that can be performed as early as 16 weeks of age and will allow us to predict the chances and development of future hip dysplasia.

PennHIP evaluation is the best test for early detection of hip laxity, which is the key factor in the development of canine hip dysplasia. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint, with the ball of the femur (femoral head) fitting into the hip socket (acetabulum). Hip laxity refers to the degree of “looseness” of the ball in the hip socket.

It has been proven that dogs with loser hips are at higher risk of developing hip dysplasia than dogs with tight hips. PennHIP evaluation allows them to identify hip laxity as early as 16 weeks of age, helping breeders make decisions on breeding strategies and allowing us to advise dog owners on life style adjustments and preventive approaches to minimize pain and progression of the disease.

PennHIP screening includes three separate radiographs (x-rays): 1. extended view, 2. compression view and 3. distraction view. For the distraction view, a custom distraction device is applied to reveal the maximum amount of hip laxity. To achieve this, the dog’s muscles are completely relaxed by administering sedation or general anesthesia. The next page displays examples of the three PennHIP radiographs of a 4 year old Labrador Retriever.

Traditional hip screening methods rely solely on the hip-extended view (picture 1) to evaluate both the presence of hip arthritis and joint laxity (subluxation). Using traditional systems many dogs hips would be considered normal because the hip-extended view might not show evidence of arthritis or subContinued Next Page

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Extended View - Photo 1

luxation (laxity). While the hip-extended view can detect existing arthritic changes, it often conceals hip laxity thereby giving a false impression of joint tightness.

So, in the absence of arthritic changes, the hip-extended view does not reliably distinguish between dogs that are disease susceptible and those that are not.

For the compression view, the dog’s hind legs are positioned in a neutral, weight bearing orientation and the femoral heads (balls of the femur) are gently seated into the acetabulum (hip sockets).

This view can identify critical anatomic landmarks of the hip and determine how well the femoral head fits into the acetabulum.

For the distraction view (photo 3) the dog’s hind legs are positioned in the same neutral position as the compression radiograph and a distraction device is used to reveal the dog’s inherent joint laxity. This exclusive feature of the PennHIP procedure permits accurate measurement of maximal hip laxity. When comparing this dog’s hip-extended view (photo 1) to the distraction view (photo 3), the distraction view reveals much greater joint laxity, if present. The PennHIP method uses the amount of joint laxity revealed in the distraction view (photo 3) to tell us if a dog is actually susceptible to developing hip dysplasia and hip arthritis later in life.

The report also includes a full description of arthritic changes and a breed laxity profile ranking. Based on the DI, dogs are ranked within their breed. For the dog breeder this ranking helps in the selection of breeding candidates—dogs in the tighter half of the population are recommended for breeding. By selecting breeding dogs with tight hips (lower DI), meaningful progress toward better hips Winter 2016

Compression View

Distraction View - Photo 3

can be made within a few generations.

For breeders: Information compiled in PennHIP’s international database permits informed selection of breeding stock based on hip tightness relative to other members of the same breed. Breeders can reduce the incidence and severity of Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) in future generations of dogs by applying selection pressure towards tighter hips. Among current hip screening methods, PennHIP has the highest heritability value to bring about these genetic changes.

For service and working dog organizations: Service and working dog organizations were the first to adopt PennHIP as their main method for hip screening. The investment in training service/working dogs is enormous. The ability to prescreen the dog’s genetic predisposition to CHD is an invaluable tool

when evaluating a future service/working dog’s hip integrity.

For companion dog owners: If your dog is identified to be at risk for CHD, your veterinarian can recommend, at an early age, appropriate strategies (diet, medication, and/or activities) to delay or diminish the ultimate course of the disease.

Prior to her arrival at BEVS, Dr. Zamprogno completed a small animal surgical residency at the University of Illinois. Her greatest interest is in the orthopedic field, including joint replacements, stem cell therapy, and minimally invasive fracture repair techniques. Dr. Zamprogno managed her own mobile practice in Brazil, prior to moving to the US to pursue further surgery specialization.

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Snow Blindness in Dogs W e are in the heart of winter! It is time to go skiing up on your favorite mountain. Don’t forget how much fun snow shoeing or hiking with your dog is as well! When people go outside to play in the snow, we are acutely aware of how bright the snow can be on our eyes.

So we wear eye protection, like goggles or sun glasses. However, the snow can be just as bright to your dog’s eye, only he can’t ask you for glasses. Snow blindness is a painful and serious condition and your dog can get it just as easily as you can.

SYMPTOMS OF SNOW BLINDNESS 4 Tearing and watering of the eyes 4 Eyelid twitching 4 Bloodshot eyes 4 Swelling of the eyes 4 Painful eyes

TREATMENT 4

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There is not much that can be done to treat snow blindness.

Remove your dog from the bright light Put a cold compress over their eyes Put eye patches on to help block all light Prescription eye drops to alleviate the pain and help with the corneal inflammation

PREVENTION

You can get goggles that are designed for dogs, these can help cut glare and reduce the likelihood of snow blindness. Also, take your dog out when the sun is not as high in the sky, so it is not as bright on the snow. If it is really bright to your eyes, then it is really bright to their eyes too.

Resting the eyes is the best thing you can do. If your dog gets snow blindness, bring them to the vet for evaluation. The vet may prescribe eye drops to help with the pain and treat the inflammation.

The Different Roles of Therapy Dogs and Assistance Dogs A

Katie Ziegler

ssistance dogs and Therapy dogs are two forms of highly trained dogs that work to improve the lives of people. Although both types of these working dogs have an amazing impact on the lives of their humans, their roles are very different.

The term assistance dogs, is used to describe a variety of working dogs that assist their handlers with everyday activities, while also enhancing their quality of life and providing the means necessary for a sense of independence and freedom. There are three main subtypes of assistance dogs. The most well-known and original role of the assistance dog is the guide dog. This type of assistance dog has been formally trained by organizations and placed with individuals for over 70 years. Guide dogs are trained to help their blind or visually impaired handlers navigate the world around them. The second form of assistance dogs are hearing dogs. These dogs can alert their deaf or hard of hearing owners to dangers, alarms, important noises, and perform many other vital tasks. The third form of the assistance dog is known as a service dog. Service dogs are specifically trained for individuals with a variety of other physical or mental disabilities. Service dogs can range from mobility dogs that assist individuals in wheelchairs, to autism service dogs and dogs that help those suffering from PTSD. Assistance dogs are guaranteed legal access to all public places that their owners go.

Therapy dogs have been providing comfort, support, and love to patients in hospitals, nursing home residents, school children, and many other people in need, for over one hundred years. Today the use of therapy dogs is also known as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Activities (AAA). AAT is a “goal directed intervention” where animals are used to assist in a specific treatment program of a patient. These animals are highly trained and work with professionals within their profession, such as in conjunction with therapists or doctors. In contrast, animals involved in AAA programs are pets of volunteers that visit with patients. These animals must also be highly trained to act appropriately and behave in these working conditions. Unlike AAT animals, they do not take part in a specific treatment program. All therapy animals however provide support, comfort, social experiences, and love. These therapy dogs can visit different facilities that allow scheduled visits.

Unlike Assistance dogs, they are not guaranteed legal access to all public places and their visits must be approved.

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Make a New Year’s Resolution:

Get Those Teeth Cleaned and Keep ‘Em Clean Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS - Windsor, VT

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ebruary is Pet Dental Health Month, so after you make your resolution, you can get your pet’s teeth cleaned by your veteriLet’s look at some teeth: narian and then keep them clean for the rest of the year. Keeping the teeth clean is the path to keeping periodontal disease at bay.

And why should you do this? Because periodontal disease is the most common disease found in dogs and cats, and it has been shown that periodontal disease can shorten a pet’s life span. Even though dogs and cats do not complain about dental pain, they certainly are affected by dental pain.

Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, that sticky substance that is on your teeth when you wake up in the morning. It is a normal substance that forms within the mouth every second of every day, as it is made up of a component of saliva (mucoproteins), bacteria, dead cells from the mouth and debris. It is not caused by food. If it is not removed routinely placque will accumulate in the space between the tooth and the gum. Here the bad guy bacteria can flourish, as they like an environment that has no oxygen. These bacteria produce toxins which cause the body to remove the ligaments and bone that 14 year old Yorkshire Terrier. This dog’s teeth are support the teeth. Eventually the teeth become loose. Loose teeth completely covered with tartar. It takes years for teeth do not readily fall out on their own, but seem to be quite tenacious to get this bad. at hanging on.

While teeth without visible tartar can have severe periodontal disease, usually severely affected teeth will have quite a bit of tartar. There is also a distinctive “rotten egg” or “swamp gas” smell to periodontal disease and the owners often note that the pet no longer eats dry food or hard treats.

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Winter 2016

Complete loss of bone around one root of this double rooted tooth (yellow arrow).

A common misconception is that teeth will quickly and easily fall out if they are loose. These three teeth have very little to no bone holding them in (red arrow). Yet it might take years for them to fall out on their own.

Even though the owners may not be aware of any problem, they routinely comment on how much better the pet feels after all the bad teeth are removed. The kisses are a lot sweeter too!

Dr. Waugh is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She also holds a Masters Degree from Washington State University of Veterinary Medicine and is owner of Windsor Veterinary & Dental Services.

The proof of the amount of bone loss requires dental x-rays. The red arrow points to a tooth with three roots. There is no bone on at least half of the length of the roots.

Cats also get periodontal disease.

The bone loss from periodontal disease has created large holes in the skull (red arrows).

Note how much worse the bone loss is in the xray than is apparent in the photograph

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Helping Your Cat Stay Mentally Spry Amy Shojai

1. Train the Brain Early. To slow the progression of aging in the brain, make sure your cat is physically active and mentally engaged throughout her life — starting when she’s a kitten.

2. Play Daily. Cats thrive on routine, and building play

into everyday life increases the chances that she’ll stay active in later years. Homemade cat toys like wads of paper, socks stuffed with catnip and ribbons that you can drag on the floor cost little but bring huge rewards.

3. Keep Her Physique in Check. Overweight cats avoid

physical exertion and prefer sleep and lap time to brainteasers. To encourage exercise and problem solving, place food bowls at the top of stairs or cat trees.

4. Create Some Kitty TV. Place bird feeders and birdbaths outside

windows for your cat’s viewing pleasure and brain-stimulating enrichment.

5. Build Obstacle Courses. Set up cat trees, empty boxes, paper bags and other hiding spots, so your feline can lounge, climb and explore.

6. Adopt a Younger Pet. A playful cat or dog, when introduced safely and correctly, can turn back the clock and inspire an old-timer to move her tail — and jump-start her sluggish brain.

7. Offer a New Leash on Life. Teach your cat to walk on a leash, so she can

safely explore the yard — or simply use her brain to troubleshoot how to get out of the darn thing.

8. Teach With Treats. Call out “Fluffy, come!” Then turn on the can opener, and when the cat runs to you, reward her with a snack.

9. Pick Up a Puzzle. Toys that dispense treats mimic feline hunting behaviors, keeping cats entertained and mentally sharp.

10. Make Treasure Hunts Out of Meals.

Hide saucers full of small amounts of food all over the house — and place them at different levels, so your cat must seek out the morsels. Once cats reach their senior years, their companionship becomes even more precious. If you pay attention to your kitty’s mental health, you’ll keep her connected with life — and you — as long as possible.

Amy Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including Complete Care for Your Aging Cat. Shojai also appears on Animal Planet’s “Cats 101" and "Dogs 101", as well as writes for puppies.About.com and cats.About.com. She lives in Texas with a senior citizen Siamese and a smart-aleck German Shepherd.

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When Your Cat is an Early Riser and You’re Not O

Mikkel Becker - Vetstreet.com

ur cat wakes us early every morning by meowing and yowling outside of our closed bedroom door until we get up and serve her wet food for breakfast. We leave a bowl of dry food out for her, but it doesn’t seem to tide her over. We’ve tried ignoring her but she just doesn’t stop! Is it possible to change her morning routine so we can get some sleep?

Your kitty’s clock is clearly not synchronized with yours. She may be waking early in response to internal cues, like hunger, or external cues, like sunlight. But it is also possible that your cat’s tactics are a learned behavior driven by desire for a tasty meal, companionship and attention.

Whatever the cause, the behavior has become a habit and is unlikely to stop unless you implement some changes.

Your first step should be to talk with your veterinarian. Your cat’s behavior may be caused by an underlying medical issue. Some conditions, like thyroid disease, can cause excessive vocalizations, restless behavior and changes in sleep and eating patterns. It’s important to rule those out before making any other alterations to her routine.

Once your cat has a clean bill of health, though, there are several ways to address her early rising.

BR E A K FAST I S S ERV E D — But Not By You It sounds as though your cat is willing to eat dry food but is waking you because she’s finished what you’ve left out and is ready for more.

In that case, a good place to start would be by giving her a last meal of wet food before everyone goes to bed at night. You should also check to be sure she’s getting enough to eat during the day — if she’s eating the dry food you leave out at night and waking you early for another meal, she may simply need more to eat.

Winter 2016

Since it sounds like your cat is willing to eat dry food, another good option may be an automatic feeder. This would enable her to wake early and have her breakfast but not rouse you.

Start by familiarizing your cat with the device by feeding her normal meals from the dish. Once she’s comfortable eating from the dish, set the automatic timer and give her a chance to get used to the tone or sounds. She will quickly come to associate the feeder’s noise with mealtime.

Once she is used to the automatic feeder, set it to go off in the morning just before the time she normally starts crying at your door. If you would like to have her wake later, you can try to reset her internal clock by moving the feeder’s timer back a few minutes each day until you reach a more ideal feeding time.

Another option is to leave one or two food puzzles filled with dry food or treats for her at night. Both strategies offer the possibility of meals being delivered independently, which should mean that everyone gets a little more sleep.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

Choosing the Right Dog Y

Nancy Holmes

ou’ve decided to get a dog. You have the time, space, money and love. The big question is how do you find the right one?

Are you looking for a cuddly couch potato, a hunting companion, a protector, an incentive to exercise, or a playmate for the kids? Do you plan to spend time brushing, send a dog to the groomers regularly or do you want a lower maintenance dog?

Are you picturing a purebred or a one of a kind mix?

Breeds of dogs were developed for a purpose. Looking at that purpose can help you decide what dog is right for you. The same goes for mix or cross breeds if you can figure out what the ancestors were!

A Hound that wanders off following its nose, a Terrier that digs holes in the lawn, a Guard or Herding Breed that barks at strangers should be no surprise as they are doing what they were designed to do.

Now you have an idea of what you are looking for, where to look?

Many people get a dog when a friend, co-worker or relative realizes the pet they have isn’t right for them. This sort of source usually can give you a good idea of the pet’s personality and prior veterinary care as well as the dog’s good and bad points. You may also find an owner placing a pet via classified ads.

There are as many reasons as there are pets for why one must change homes.

When possible visit the dog in its old home.

Ask if it’s a good watch dog as that may get you information on how aggressive the dog is. Ask if you can offer a treat and see how the dog acts about food and if it will sit on command. Ask about medical care including heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, shots and who the dog’s veterinarian is. Bring a list of questions to ask and observe and handle the dog while you ask them.

A rescue or shelter may have adult dogs, young adults or even pups available. Your interest may be sparked by an online ad but visit the dog in person before making any decisions on becoming its new home.

While looks are important, a personality fit can’t be seen in an image. Make sure the group is licensed, and following the laws on quarantine, shots and health certificates for the best chance to get a healthy pet with its vet work done. Speak to the caretakers, whether a foster or a shelter worker, to get their opinion on temperament and behavior.

Some people want only a special type of pup and seek out breeders. Online ads, dog club referral lists, and word of mouth might help you find a breeder. Make sure breeders follow the laws on the age of puppy placement, health certificates, shots etc.

Again don’t buy based on a picture. Meet at least one parent. Puppies, particularly purebreds, tend to be like their parents. Ask questions, handle and play with pups. No matter how cute the pups are if you don’t like the parents find a different puppy.

Because of the need to see parents to help you decide, I do not recommend a pet store pup.

A breed rescue is where you can find the special breed you might want and get it from people knowledgeable in the particular breed’s traits. Most dog breed clubs have a local or national rescue they work with to help rehome dogs of their breed.

Of course some purebreds do end up in a more general rescues and can be found there.

Good breeders, rescues and shelters help you choose the right dog for your home instead of trying to get you to buy any dog they have available. Good former owners will too. Always ask what your options are if the dog does not work out as expected. When choosing a lifetime

Puppy Buyers If you require a puppy that Isn’t noisy and doesn’t chew, Won’t pee on the carpet, Or one who Will never fight, Or make a mess, Will never bite Under severe duress, There is only one breed That will bring you Joy It’s the All-American, Plush Stuffed Toy! NEH ‘88

companion what is most important is not looks, size or even health but how well temperament and personality suits you.

Young adult and adult dogs can be a great option for people who do not have the time to housebreak or spend hours teaching a pup all the basics. An older dog that is already or easily housebroken, where you can see the size, fur, personality, energy, health, training etc. can be a real advantage for a new owner.

Some of what your new pet will become depends on its parents. The rest depends upon your care and effort to make this dog the best one in the world. Whether you get a puppy or an adult dog, plan and budget to train. Training improves the dog human bond and gives you a set of signals you both understand, making living together much easier.

Choosing carefully in the beginning, then following up with appropriate care and training, is the best way to make a happy future for you and your new dog.

Dog Owners of the Granite State (DOGS), founded in 1991, monitors legislation in New Hampshire to protect the interests of pets and their owners. For more information visit www.nhdogs.org or www.facebook.com/nhdogs/

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Eden Ethical Dog Sledding H

Deborah E. Blair, M.S., Ph.D

ere at Eden Ethical Dog Sledding, our dogs are magical! Each has their own unique gifts to share with us! If we give them proper support, they share fun, comfort, wisdom, friendship, unconditional love, and become our family members. We just give them the chance.

Unfortunately many dogs are not given these opportunities. This is especially true with many of the commercial tourist tour and racing sled kennels. Despite the romance that Hollywood paints of dog sledding; under working dog laws, which override pet laws, many sled dogs face lives chained, with unacceptable housing conditions, and culling. Twenty years ago, international champion sled dog racer, Jim Blair, founder of Eden Ethical Dog Sledding, set about demonstrating to the professional sled dog world that a better quality life style could be had for both mushers and their dogs, if they changed the way the way their dogs were cared for.

“I was raised by a German Shepherd. From childhood, I bonded with dogs as equals, family members, and found ways to always include them in my life. My other love is sports, so I combined the two. After three years as U.S.A. Skijor champions – a sport combining cross-country skiing with dogs - I put together a sled dog team, and soon we were international champions. I feel that the championships totally belong to these wonderful dogs – they win because Continued Next Page they have been loved and given a chance to be who they are.”

“International racers contact us for our formula for winning. When I tell them, “Just love them!” – they don’t understand!

They are sure that it is all about the way we are feeding, training, etc.”

“Although many mushers love and care for their dogs, many of the professional race and tour dogs - intelligent, sensitive beings - are kept on short chains, as if they were equipment to produce income or win race titles. As I saw dog yards with 150 and more dogs, learned about the industry standards of culling excess dogs, pups who are not up to expectations, those needing vet care and elderly, I was heart broken. I saw that efforts to bring these abuses to the public’s awareness, as with grey hound racing and dog fighting, were not having any effect on the dog sled race and tour industries because the public had trouble believing the real hardships of many sled dogs’ lives.”

“This led me to buying 140 beautiful acres in the midst of thousands of acres of northern Vermont mountain wilderness. As the only center like this in North America, our miles of private trails through the meadow vistas and forests host pubic tours and race training. We have large paddocks for the dogs to live, run and play in –no chains here except for our rescues from chaining race kennels, while they learn to transition to living with freedom. Our dogs – The UN-Chained Gang – are loved from their planned conceptions to beloved retirements. In our seventh generation of Winter 2016

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pack raising of litters, visitors and experts who come to interact with these dogs, are fascinated by the level of intelligence, ability to make choices, gentleness and individuality that the each dog displays.”

“After twenty years we are influencing the tour and race industries. Mushers write to ask how they can convert their kennels to chain-free, not an easy task with dogs that have been chained all of their lives. However, with effort, patience and a long-term plan it can be done. It is good for the dogs and good for the mushers, resulting in quality of life for both.”

“Our year-round, interactive Discovery Channel type tours are about sharing quality time with these special dogs. Our prices reflect the high cost of keeping sled dogs unchained, healthy diet, year-round enrichment, and a good retirement. Tours help fund our vision that, hopefully, will go on for generations through the educational non-profit we are founding. Where else can you find a gang of dogs, hanging out on couches, cuddling, warm weather wading in our ponds, racing and playing for you? Or the magic of snowy mountains, as you learn about dog sledding in a wilderness paradise?

“Many children and adults fall in love with these dogs, coming back year after year, every season, to spend quality time with our canine family. We also have guests staying with us in our rental cottages for the relaxation the wilderness beauty provides.”

With non-profit donations, Eden Ethical Dog Sledding hopes to offer educational programs, books, and seminars on Canine Consciousness, exploring the healing that dogs bring, along with community outreach to schools, and other venues. What can do to support the effort? Only support ethical dog sledding. Ask touring companies if they chain, provide retirement, and how they care for their dogs in the warm months. Animal lovers can help make a difference in the lives of sled dogs across North America!

Deborah E. Blair, M.S., Ph.D. – a Jungian psychotherapist and author, lives with Asperger’s autism and other life challenges.

Dogs, cockatoos, cats and horses have helped her quality of life. Her new novel – The Luna Tales – Book One – The Wisdom Runners, available on Amazon, is part of a mythical series, staring the UN-Chained Gang, for children and adults. She lectures on living with autism, healing from abuse, journal writing, working with dreams, and meditation. With her brother, Jim Blair, she promotes ethical care for sled dogs and all of our fellow co-species. www.edendogsledding.com

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Winter 2016

The Aftermath of Hurricane Matthew I

John Peaveler - W. Fairlee, VT

’m climbing slowly up and up, above what was once the tree line and onward into the clear blue sky. I’m especially cautious as I make my ascent, carefully placing right foot and right hand, then left foot and left hand in a steady sequence. The ladder continues for about 100 feet, but I choose a spot about halfway up with several horizontal supports, again set my hands and feet with diligence, take a deep breath, and look around. The scene on the ground below is as terrible as I expected it to be, but that doesn’t make it any easier to see. My breath catches in my throat as I look around. I can see 360 degrees, moving slowly on the steel supports. The visibility is about 10 miles. I look down and see the heavy steel door that in normal times secures this tower. It’s been ripped off and twisted. Across the street, a large complex of blue-roofed buildings belonging to a Taiwanese development organization has been heavily damaged. Forty-foot shipping containers have been thrown into buildings, destroying everything in their path. Trees around me now exist in three configurations: snapped in half, blown over, and a select few are merely leaf-less. Worse yet are the houses. Some are decimated, many are roofless, and all have been damaged.

It looks near apocalyptic from this birds-eye height. The destruction is pervasive.

It’s all encompassing. It’s heartbreaking. I look into the distance and see shattered lives everywhere, as far as the eye can see. The hundred or so animals I can see from this height appear listless and bedraggled. I snap a few photos, take a deep breath, and slowly make my way back down into the debris field left by Hurricane Matthew in Les Cayes, southern Haiti.

My job, as simply as I can describe it, is to help animals. That means a lot of different things in a lot of different places, but when it comes to my mission as an international disaster responder, I’m driven to do good in a place where something very bad has happened. That challenge comes with much uncertainty in the midst the chaotic and changing circumstances that follow natural disasters. I went there in early October to provide rescue and veterinary relief to animals affected by the storm, on behalf of Humane Society International (HSI), a non-profit organization with a global mission of improving the lives of all animals. With programs on six continents, HSI is always ready to provide leadership, experience, and support to help a wide-range of animals in need. As a responder, my role in many disasters is to assess the situation to see how animals have been effected, to identify resources both available and necessary, support local animal welfare organizations, provide assistance however possible, and to help formulate a medium to long term recovery plan. That is why I was climbing up a communications tower in Haiti. I needed to see what had happened firsthand.

Haiti is a very special place to me. It is stunningly rich culturally and filled with natural beauty, but it is still one of the poorest nations on earth. Much of the country’s 10 million people live on less than $2 per day. When anything goes wrong, such as sickness, loss of transport, or loss of an animal, it creates a desperate situation. Therefore, when a major disaster strikes, the effects are instantaneous, wide reaching, and life threatening. I saw that first hand in 2010 after the devastating earthquake. People with very little cannot afford to lose anything. They can’t afford damage to property, and they can’t afford to lose the animals that they absolutely rely upon for survival.

It is difficult for anyone who has never seen or lived in such poverty to understand what that life must be like. For instance, when you walk through a poor Haitian neighborhood, you’ll notice there are no cars and few bikes or motorbikes. There are no toys, fences, or decorations. Most houses are not painted and do not have windows or doorknobs. There is no landscaping, no grass, no playgrounds. Many places don’t have electricity. Animals either roam or are tethered nearly everywhere.

Food prices are high, and in many markets you can find Mud Cookies, a food item made from salt, vegetable shortening, and edible clay. It is among the least nutritive foods on earth. A person near starvation can eat it as a source of salt, calcium, and fulfillment. It is literally cheaper than dirt is in the United States. This is a snapshot of life in Haiti.

Leaving the communications tower behind, I worked to assess the disaster area and find out what the people and animals had been through. I asked several people what the storm had been like. Without exception, they all described terror. Several told me how they had clung to trees and prayed that floodwater would not cover them.

HSI Disaster Responder John Peaveler gives food to an extremely hungry street dog in Robin, Haiti following the destruction of Hurricane Matthew. Notice the sharp lines of the dogs’ ribs. He is one of many that need help today. It’s estimated that thousands of animals died during the storm. Those who survived often do not have clear evidence of physical trauma, but without a doubt the extreme stress of 145mph winds and up to 40 inches of rain over two days has weakened many and put them in an even more precarious position than before. HSI is on the scene to get them the care they need.

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Winter 2016

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This is the inside of a Taiwan based aid agency. Winds were so strong they threw 40’ shipping containers that were welded into place as the walls and foundations of warehouse space.

Others who been able to weather the storm in their homes spoke of the overwhelming roar of sound as 140mph winds roared over their tin roofs. They struggled for words to describe the feeling that the world was ending. I could still see the trauma in their eyes. I could see the trauma in the eyes of the animals there too. It does not require much to imagine what it must have been like for animals tethered or loose outside.

Put simply, Hurricane Matthew was absolutely horrifying for every being that lived through it without adequate shelter.

I am an international disaster responder for animals. Animals are my passion in life and my area of professional expertise. Still, as an individual, my biggest chal-

lenge in a place like Haiti is wanting to help everyone and turning that raw emotion into a plan to do something meaningful. What plan then could I as an animal welfare professional possibly enact? How, in the face of such a tragedy, could I act on behalf of HSI to work in a way that helped animals without ignoring the obvious needs of desperate people? Those questions weighed on me, but the answer slowly became obvious: do anything that improved the situation in any way. And helping animals is critically important – for Haitians, they are a source of livelihood and survival. I also needed to tell the world what had happened in Haiti, now for a second time, so that the needs there could be met through responsible organizations.

So I assembled the available resources and set to work. On my third day in Haiti, a veterinarian and a veterinary technician from the Dominican Republic joined me on behalf of HSI. Together we worked with a local NGO called 4Patte (Four Feet) to conduct two open clinics and pave the way for a follow-on team a week later. The clinics treated goats, sheep, cows, pigs, cats, and dogs, nearly 300 of them in two days. But I was painfully aware of how little our impact seemed in the midst of so much need. I also wondered how people would respond to our presence there and the work we would do. Their reactions were unbelievable. Smiles on faces that hadn’t smiled in days (especially when I received a rope burn, courtesy of a 1000lb cow). Gratitude from people who hadn’t received any aid after more than a week.

Children watching, observing compassion and kindness toward animals, perhaps for the first time in their lives. The simple, harsh, and beautiful reality is that the people were happy we had come to help.

The animals received vaccines, wound treatments, wormers and other care they never would have received otherwise. In some ways our work there was merely a drop in a bucket, but that drop left a ripple. I went home with the knowledge that we had all done what we could to make a difference, with a promise to tell this story, and with hope for the important work that HSI would continue on behalf of animals in Haiti.

You can learn more about the important work of HSI by visiting www.hsi.org or by following their Facebook page: @ hsiglobal John Peaveler is an Animal Welfare Consultant with over ten years experience working with all types of animals on three continents. He lives with his wife and two children in West Fairlee, Vermont and continues to work and write at home and abroad.

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Winter 2016

On The Bit John R. Killacky

The Shetland is the smallest horse breed

W ith me holding the reins long and soft, my Shetland pony pulls me along

in a cart. We work on cadence, trot, and turns. The arc of her neck and impulsion from her hindquarters are my focus. Her relaxed mouth accepting the bit, results in a sublime interplay between us. We fly through space and then help each other slow down and come to a stop.

She teaches me to see differently. Equines have eyes on the sides of their heads, emphasizing peripheral vision. Imagine the world opening up in startling ways. Space and light are transformed. No place is more important than another; the image behind is equal to that in front.

As I drive her in the ring, I try to look beyond the animal before me and perceive the world as she does. A bridle with blinders lessens her visual stimulation and helps focus her on tasks ahead.

Training intently every day – I seek to learn the animal, not master her. As with humans, equines have a dominant side.

Circling and turning to her right is easy, to the left requires ongoing calibration.

Attention and refinements are important, equal to patience and consistency.

Unexpected challenges arise. One day, she started refusing to go back into her stall. This went on for weeks, until one barn mate suggested spending more time post-workout before putting her away.

So we now spend slow time together, with her cross-tied in the open passageway, as I take off tack and brush her down. She stands quietly, contentedly watching the other horses being groomed as cool summer breezes wash over us. Ten minutes of hands-on time and she goes back in with no hesitation.

Another dilemma was loading her into a trailer in preparation for an off-site workWinter 2016

shop. We graze by the open door, gently nudge her toward the ramp, and bribe her with grain to enter the dark, scary chamber. It takes more than a few attempts to normalize this transition.

Easy trailer entry and exit is vital when traveling to clinics. A calm focused animal is crucial. You don’t want to lose the lesson in transport.

Learning in a new context from another expert allows me to better receive information. It’s been a year since we worked with this coach. Both the pony and I are more assured. My hands on the reins are in sync with her mouth. She relaxes, and then bends her head slightly forward and down, redistributing the weight, and freeing her trot.

All our time and hard work together pays off. I am driving, she is pulling – we are one.

John R. Killacky is executive director of Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT. Originally published as a commentary for Vermont Public Radio.

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The Drumming of Hooves and History Tanya Sousa - Derby, Vermont

I

shudder to think that it was 34 years ago when I stood at the Orleans County Fair with my two-year-old Morgan horse, Drummer. I’d stabled him at a friend’s house the night before and then walked him to the fairgrounds when the sun was just rising. There wasn’t any action to speak of yet, but the horse ring and barns Ethan Allen 50 - photo courtesy of the would soon be full of activity. The morning sun made his chestnut coat gleam.

American Morgan Horse Association His white socks were bright as I could get them, and he willingly moved wherever I wanted or needed him to go.

I wasn’t skilled or experienced with horse shows, but I thought I’d give at least the two-year-old confirmation class a whirl.

I walked my horse and friend to the tracks where I could already imagine the sound and feel of pounding hooves in my ears and through my body. The trotters were a long-standing part of this fair. Drummer’s ears pricked up and he nickered. I remember wondering if he longed to do what some of his ancestors had done – pace the track and set records.

I didn’t learn until recently that my beloved and beautiful Morgan probably has the blood of a great champion running through his veins. It was a horse I’d never heard of before, but yet not a far off descendent of Justin Morgan. The famous horse that we have managed to forget was named “Ethan Allen 50”, but was often referred to as simply, “Ethan Allen”. Though this horse was sired in 1849 in New York State, his mother was originally a Vermont mare, later sold and bred, eventually producing the last and greatest foal in her life – Ethan Allen.

In an old article from around 1950, author Mable Owen wrote, “His appearance on any track in America was cause for the wildest demonstrations. His long, thick, slightly waved main and tail, his wonderful speed, his well rounded Morgan appearance even in racing trim, and above all his absolutely perfect disposition made him the universal favorite.”

Tanya and Still Hill Drummer at the Orleans County Fair Grounds when she was 12 - the same day described in the essay, and before it was time to go into the show ring. The wind was whipping that day!

Ethan Allen was a trotting champion up to the age of eighteen years and was Champion of the World at age four. How famous was this horse whose blood “survives in the bloodline of every Morgan Horse” according to Owen? Not only did he cause a stir at the tracks and was he immortalized in Currier and Ives artwork where his fine form and trotting action is shown “without exaggeration,” Owen wrote, but he was also the inspiration for the trotting horse weather vanes now so common.

How famous was he? When he was sold to a farm in Kansas where he eventually passed away at twenty-eight, they buried him in the trotting park there with a monument – this horse of Vermont origins. Later, they retrieved his skeleton and mounted it in the Natural History Museum in Lawrence, Kansas.

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My Drummer, “Still Hill Drummer” on record, was never a champion of any horse show or race track, but he was certainly a champion of my heart even after his untimely death in a lightning storm.

Instead of winning money and pulling drivers behind him, he pulled me, laughing wildly, behind him as he swam across the pond. He happily spent hours with me as I read books, sometimes lying over his back while I did. He shared his beautiful temperament and fine eyes with me – the ones that were perhaps passed down by this famous Morgan that somehow we’ve forgotten. The next time I go to the fair and feel the thunder of the hooves as the harness racers speed by, manes and tails flying, I’ll think of Ethan Allen 50 and thank him for helping to make history – and for bringing me such a beautiful creature as Drummer almost 150 years after his own birth.

Tanya Sousa is a published author of many magazine articles and several children’s picture books. Most recently, her environmental novel, The Starling God, made the short-list for the national “Green Earth Book Awards,” in the Young Adult Fiction category. www.RadiantHen.com www.forestrypress.com

Kenyan Sand Boas DJ Nelson - St. Johnsbury, VT

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ne of the exciting things about owning a pet store is getting to work with some pretty fantastic animals and meeting some awesome people. After 21+ years of being in the pet trade, it still makes me feel fantastic when I get to show/talk/educate someone about something new to them, or something new altogether. Lately, I have had many folks walk into my store or on Facebook asking about snakes that don’t get very big. They like the thought of a Boa or Python, but are worried about the size and temperament.

I figured I would address a few things for those looking for a smaller, nicer snake.

In my experience Pythons (with the exception of a few like the Ball Python), tend to have more “attitude” whereas boa constrictors are a bit more laid back. Don’t let the constrictor part of the name scare you, most snakes that are not poisonous, will constrict their food.

Most people think of the Columbian Red Tail boa, that can reach as much as 8ft in length, and don’t want a snake that gets that big. There are a couple of boas that come to mind that believe it or not reach 2 to 3 feet; Rosy Boas and Kenyan Sand Boas.

Today I will be talking about the Kenyan Sand Boa. If you are looking for a smaller snake with a decent temperament, this is the snake to get.

This snake can be housed in a 20-gallon For more information on keeping your long aquarium with a locking screen lid. pets happy and healthy contact your vet, Substrate can either be shredded aspen or a or your local pet store can help you out. calcium based sand for reptiles. Providing a hiding place and fake plants for them to DJ Nelson has worked in the pet indusclimb on or hide in, is a good idea. try for almost two decades and is the Some information will say to give the owner of AquaRealm Aquarium & Pets snake water and some will say do not give in St. Johnsbury Vermont. He works with the snake water as it can cause respiratory Reptiles, Birds, Small Animals, Fresh/ issues and that it will get moisture from the Saltwater fish, and Dog & Cat Nutrition. food it eats. If you give the snake a water Since proper care is constantly changdish it should be a smaller dish, so as not ing, educating customers about their to raise the humidity. pets is the most important.

They will eat live or thawed from frozen www.aquarealmaquarium.com mice, check with your local pet store when and Facebook buying your boa to see what they are feeding. Snakes are carnivores, and those kind of squeamish about feeding rodents many find it easier to feed thawed/frozen.

These snakes are nocturnal so they will be up during the evening and sleeping during the day. They will spend a good part of the day under the substrate and this is normal.

Kenyan Sand Boa: (Gongylophis Colubrinus) Native: East Africa Approx Length: 2 to 3ft Life span: Approx 15 years Humidity: Low Temperature: 85 to 90F day 65 to 70F night Winter 2016

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THIS NEEDS TO BE THE LAST PAGE

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Owney, The POST OFFICE DOG Kate Kelly

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he time was winter 1886, and the place was the post office in Albany, New York, where a cold, bedraggled fox terrier made his way inside looking for shelter.

The postal clerks took him in, fed him, and provided the dog with a warm place to sleep. Owney, as they called him, felt right at home and decided it was his job to follow the mail wagons from the post office to the rail station and back again.

One day he slipped on to a rail car, and several days later he caught another

Mail Carrier and Owney

train back to Albany. Owney began to travel regularly, probably encouraged by some humans, but he always returned to the home office. The clerks in Albany were fond of him and were worried about losing him, so they gave him a collar with the inscription, “Owney, Albany P.O., N.Y.” For eleven years, Owney traveled the U.S. from New York to California. He had the tags to prove it. Other post offices began providing him with “postmarks” that specified where he had visited. Miners in the West inscribed some molded silver as a label of his visit to a mining community; others labeled him with tags of leather or scraps of cloth. Owney started each trip fresh, because in Albany his friends removed and preserved the tags from his previous trip. Occasionally a “travel” book was sent along with him to further document his trips.

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In July of 1894, a report in The New Orleans Times-Democrat noted that Owney was back in New Orleans again.

His last visit to the city had been in the winter of 1892. The article notes: “He never travels in any but mail cars, and when he reaches a town that he forms a good opinion of from the car door, he follows the mail wagon to the Post Office, and when he is ready to travel again, he follows the wagon to some train and is off for parts unknown.

“Since he was here, Owney has taken in the World’s Fair and a part of the widespread labor troubles…[traveling] to Seattle, Washington, Kansas City, Mo.; Memphis, Fort Worth, Taylor, Texas; Waco, San Antonio and Houston.”

Eventually Owney traveled internationally. One of his medals documented an audience with the prime minster of Japan. Owney had become quite a celebrity.

Today Owney’s body has been stuffed and preserved and stands guard in a glass case in Washington, D.C., serving as a reminder of the importance of goodness and loyalty. (New York Times, 3-20-1910) In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in honor of Owney.

This article first appeared on the website, www.americacomesalive.com America Comes Alive publishes more stories about American dogs and other animals. Visit the website and sign up for “American Dogs” to receive the stores in your In Box. Or email Kate Kelly at kate@americacomesalive.com www.4LegsAndATail.com 27

My Golden Snitch © 2013 by Mark Carlson All Rights Reserved First printed in San Diego Pets Magazine, 2013

A

ll you Harry Potter fans out there know what a Golden Snitch is. Well I have one. Her name is Saffron. She’s a 2-year old Yellow Labrador. And like the seeker’s target in a game of Quidditch, she’s just as fast, just as elusive and when I catch her, the game is over.

But it’s not that easy. For one thing, I don’t have a Firebolt. And my eyesight is lousy. But I still have to catch my little Golden Snitch.

Saffron is a playful and energetic dog. When my older Guide Dog Musket retired, I went back to Guide Dogs for a new one. And I was given Saffron. Here’s the deal. I’ve been working with Musket for so long, I was used to his easygoing, slow pace. It was like driving a 40-year old VW Microbus and then getting a Formula One Ferrari. What a change. She’s a great Guide Dog, but that’s not the topic of this story.

Saffy loves to run, and play and fetch.

When I played fetch with Musket I’d throw the (ball, Frisbee, Kong, etc) down the lawn and he’d run for it.

After about three throws it dawned on him that he was doing all the work. On the fourth throw, he’d say “Ah, you go and get it this time. I’m tired.”

So the blind guy had to go and find the (ball, Frisbee, Kong, etc). And often I never found it. They love me at Petco. “Ah, Mark. Another Frisbee, right?”

But Saffy is very different in temperament from Musket. She LOVES to run! I can’t keep up with her. She’s like a superball in a paint mixer. Jane calls her a ‘Gazelle on crack.’

Her favorite toy to fetch is a thick short rope knotted at both ends. I just throw it once and then I can sit down and have a beer. She’s off and running. And running back. And running off again. Back and forth. I’m no longer involved. She has more energy than a nuclear chain reaction. No, that’s not right. A runaway reactor eventually dies down. Saffron could provide power to the entire U.S. if I could just connect her to a grid. But I’d have to catch her first.

There must be some hunting instinct in her because she doesn’t just get the rope and run. She has to ‘kill’ it. With one end in her mouth she snaps her head from side to side as if trying to break her prey’s neck. I don’t know how she keeps from beating herself unconscious. That heavy knot bashes her on both ears like a nunchuck.

Finally I am tired from drinking a beer and say “Okay, Saffy, that’s enough. Let’s go inside.” Then I snap my fingers and she obediently comes to me.

If she’s ready. If not, I have to go get her. “Sigh, where’s my Firebolt?”

There’s another reason she is a Golden Snitch. I’m not only blind I’m a guy. So sometimes I break things. It happens. In the morning after I feed the dogs I make tea for Jane and bring it up to her. Saffy always watches me until I bring the tea upstairs and then sits on Jane’s lap.

One morning I was at the counter and opened the upper cupboard and heard a ‘clink!’ noise on the granite counter. I was sure something was broken. But I couldn’t find it on the counter or floor. I began to panic. I knew there had to be something broken (and probably valuable) on the floor. I had to find and dispose of it before Jane came down. I was on my hands and knees, feeling my way around the floor. Cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck as time ran out.

Then I heard Jane call from upstairs, “Honey did you break something?” Damn her Vulcan hearing. “Uh, I don’t think so. Why?” “Because Saffy just brought me a piece of broken tea bag plate.”

BUSTED! So my loyal little Guide Dog Saffron saw the broken plate and grabbed it, took it up to Mommy and dropped it in front of her. “Daddy broke something! What are you going to do to him?”

That’s why Saffron is my little Golden Snitch.

When not visiting his in-laws in South Royalton, Mark Carlson spends much of his time in North County, CA with his wife, Jane and his Labrador Retriever, Saffron.

He is an award writer and an aviation historian, with numerous articles and books including his latest, Confessions of a Guide Dog. Legally blind, he travels and works with Saffron, and is a member of several aviation, maritime, and veteran organizations. www.musketmania.com 28 4 Legs & a Tail

Winter 2016

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