4 Legs & a Tail Keene Winter 2019

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Southern NH & VT Winter 2020

Love To Spoil Your Dog? Forensic Science and Wildlife The Dogs of Helen Keller Are Two Cats Better Than One?

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

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2. 4 Legs & a Tail Dateline Pet and animal news from around the world 4. Fostering Pets Kim Casey

Experience the joy of opening your home to a dog 5. Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering Annie Guion

The Windham County Humane Society embraces a growing trend in the animal welfare community 6. Celebrate National Walk Your Dog Month 7. The Four-Legged Friends Behind the Co-op’s Products: The Cats of Walpole Valley Farms Jen Risley 8. The New Cat Ashley Okola What is the ideal situation for a two cat household?

9. The Best of Both Worlds Marti Eagle Should you keep your cat inside or let it out to roam?

Pg. 7 10. Putting the Dog Before the Cart Cathy White

Meet a couple of Newfoundlands who are no strangers to hard work 12. An Introduction to Therapy Dogs Deb Helfrich The benefits your dog may bring to others 13. Flea and Tick Prevention Is Just As Important During The Winter Months 14. I Wanna Hold Your Hand Dorothy Crosby Expert tips to enhance the partnership between you and your horse 16. Do You Love To Spoil Your Dog? Paula Bergeron What happens when we love our dogs too much 17. Peanut Butter Treats The recipe for a fun snack to make this winter

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18. How Forensic Science is Saving Wildlife Catherine Greenleaf 19. Farewell Old Friend Scott Borthwick Recalling the fond memories of Kaci 20. Fat or Fluffy Is your pet overweight?

22. The Winter Blues Did you know that pets can suffer from depression too 24. When Things Go Wrong, Sometimes They Go Really Wrong, Part 2 Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS 26. February is National Pet Dental Health Month Erin Forbes, DVM There is a 70% chance that your pet will have periodontal disease.

Have their teeth checked this winter!

27. Helen Keller’s Dogs Kate Kelly The canine involvement of this legendary figure will surprise you

4 Legs & a Tail Volume K.419 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 KarynS.4LT@gmail.com Winter 2020

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Sales Manager: Karyn Swett Graphic Design: Kristin Wolff

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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 Southern NH & VT. 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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THAILAND - In this photo, the female green turtle nicknamed “Bank” swims in a pool at Sea Turtle Conservation Center n Chonburi Province, Thailand.

Veterinarians operated on “Bank,” removing less than 1,000 coins from the endangered animal. Her indigestible diet was a result of many tourists seeking good fortune tossing coins into her pool over many years in the eastern town of Sri Racha.

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MONGOLIA - Runner Dion Leonard and the stray dog who ran with him through the Gobi desert as part of the 2016 Gobi March race. The dog, named for the desert, later went missing in China, but Leonard was able to find it after a search using new and old media. Leonard has written a book about the experience, and their story has been sold to 21st Century Fox for a movie.

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IDAHO - This photo provided by Adam Pearl shows Pearl with his pet squirrel Joey in Meridian, Idaho.

Joey made headlines in 2017, when police nabbed a burglary suspect who reported fleeing a home after being attacked by a squirrel. Pearl says Joey was so young he still had his eyes closed when friends found him on the ground in the summer of 2016 after he fell out of his nest. Pearl says Joey climbed onto his shoulder for an affectionate goodbye earlier in June 2017, then scampered up a backyard apple tree at his Meridian home and hasn’t been seen since.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Fluffy the cat almost froze to death when her owners found her in a snowbank, snow crusted in chunks around her fur. The 3-year-old cat, whose temperature didn’t register on the clinic’ thermometers when she was first bought in, later made a miraculous recovery. The temperature outside where she was found was just below freezing.

MAINE - A dog in Maine shifted a car into gear, rolling it into a lake. The local police department thanked a local towing company for their help retrieving some submerged property after “a dog took a truck for a wild ride.”

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NEW YORK - A couple of NYPD cops paid $40 of their own money to bail out a goat that escaped a slaughterhouse in Jan. 2016, taking the gruff former fugitive to a Long Island sanctuary. “He fought crime with us,” Sgt. Mary Humburg said. “Best $40 I’ve spent.

CA L IFOR N I A The U.S. Nav y found a missing puppy that fell off a fishing boat nearly five weeks ago in the waters off Souther n California. Luna, a German Shepherd puppy, was presumed to be lost at sea after falling overboard on February 10. She was reunited with her surprised family.

TENNESSEE A coyote made its way into a bathroom at Nashville’s Music City Center Sunday, Jan. 12, 2019, police said.

The animal, which police said was scared, was safely trapped and released in a wooded area.

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Fostering

Finding love in a new home

Kim Casey

W hen I first tell people I foster animals their response is almost

always “I wouldn’t be able to do that; I would get too attached”. Fostering an animal takes a lot of time, commitment, and dedication to get that pet ready for their forever home. For me it is always a rewarding situation, you take an animal out of an unfit home

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and you keep them until they are either well enough to be adopted or in my most recent experience until the court case is over and they are allowed to be adopted into their forever homes.

My husband and I were volunteering at the Monadnock Humane Society when we got word of a hoarding case involving a bunch of dogs. At first, we just went and walked them and helped to socialize them. The two dogs we worked with the most, we focused on introducing them to new experiences. They were so afraid of everything!

They wouldn’t leave their runs, we would crawl on the floor with them and feed them treats trying to get them to go outside and go for walks with us.

Then an opportunity came when they were looking for foster homes for all of these dogs. We applied and were accepted to take on the task of fostering. We had grown close to these two adorable dogs we had been working with so we decided to take on the challenge of fostering them.

It wasn’t a walk in the park at the beginning, we had to introduce them to our clan at home. We had 2 of our own dogs and 3 cats. The foster dogs were very unsure about their new environment, we had to put blankets on the floors just to get them to walk on them, we had to carry them up to bed at night because they were afraid of the stairs, and it took us 6 months of working with them before we saw improvements in their social skills.

We also went through a few health scares with one of them. We noticed

a mass growing on his side, we scheduled an appointment with the vet and we were told he had a mast cell tumor and he would need to have it surgically removed. After a few weeks of recovering we came home and he couldn’t walk very well, we immediately took him to get blood work and he had anaplasmosis, which is a tick-borne illness similar to Lyme disease, which was treated with a month of medications.

It has not been an easy road but I wouldn’t change it for the world. They have brought so much joy and happiness into our lives and it has been the greatest accomplishment to see where they are today. They are now ready for adoption and we are hoping they will find their forever homes together. Sadly, we will miss them, but they will bring another family the same joy they brought to us and we will be able to help get another animal out of a shelter and into a loving home.

Kim Casey has volunteered at the Monadnock Humane Society for a few years. She is also an Animal Care Attendant at VCA Windham Animal Hospital. A life-long pet lover, this was her first foster experience and she hopes to be able to welcome many more pets into her home and heart in the future.

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Dr. Susan Kelly, volunteer vet, and Keri Roberts, Director of Operations

Photo Courtesy Skippy and Sam Photography

Photo Courtesy Skippy and Sam Photography

SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ANIMAL SHELTERING T here is a fascinating movement afoot in the Animal Welfare community

– Socially Conscious Sheltering. At the last meeting of the Windham County Humane Society’s Board of Directors, board members voted unanimously to sign on as a partner to this new credo, and other shelters in Vermont are considering signing on as well. Here are the tenets: 1. Place every healthy and safe animal.

Healthy is defined as either having no signs of clinical disease or evidence of disease that a veterinarian determines has a good or excellent prognosis for a comfortable life. Safe means that the animal has not exhibited behavior that is likely to result in severe injury or death to another animal or person.

2. Ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care. An animal’s opportunity to be nurtured, healed, and rehomed should not depend on their age or condition.

3. Assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed. Animals housed in shelters and rescues must be assessed for disease and injury and must have all medical conditions addressed so the animal does not suffer. These animals must also have their behavioral needs assessed and met, including enrichment sufficient to make them comfortable and to prevent self-destructive, obsessive-compulsive coping behaviors.

Annie Guion - Brattleboro, VT

6. Enhance the human-animal bond through thoughtful placements and postadoption support. Integrating a living being into a new home can be difficult.

As adoption agencies, Socially Conscious Shelters have a responsibility to support the new family. This can mean post-adoption behavior advice, classes for new pet caregivers, addressing shelter related medical needs and being willing to accept the animal back if the pet and the family are not a good fit. It also means not placing animals into homes that disrupt the human-animal bond by injuring children, other pets and other people. Many behavior issues can be addressed through behavior modification and positive experiences. Other behaviors are dangerous and that cannot be mitigated.

7. Consider the health, wellness, and safety of animals for each community when transferring animals. Moving dogs and cats from communities that do not have homes available for them to communities where people are actively seeking pets saves lives. However, bringing pets into a community is a responsibility. It is a responsibility to the animals already living in that community to not bring in infectious diseases that would make them sick. It is a responsibility to those living within the community to bring in animals that will live in harmony. And there is a responsibility to the community from which animals are being moved to impact that community’s animal welfare struggles through humane education and spay and neuter programs.

4. Align shelter policy with the needs of the community. Socially Conscious Shelters listen to their communities.

8. Foster a culture of transparency, ethical 5. Alleviate suffering and make appropri- decision making, mutual respect, continate euthanasia decisions. Compassionate ual learning, and collaboration. Socially euthanasia is a gift. It is not acceptable Conscious Shelters are committed to full to let a terminally ill, suffering animal transparency. This can include reporting languish in a cage until it dies naturally accurate statistics, sharing policies, and when compassionate euthanasia can ease fully and quickly admitting when mistakes that endless pain. It is not acceptable to are made. Integrity must be the foundation house a known dangerous animal who of all decisions. Every shelter can learn cannot be safely placed in the community something from every other shelter—it for years until it goes crazy in a cage. Each is important to be curious and to share euthanasia decision is difficult, and every innovative solutions to common problems. decision must consider the welfare of the Only by working together can we ensure individual animal. the best outcomes for all animals.

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The Windham County Humane Society (WCHS) has been practicing these tenets for many years. So what is the impetus for taking on this designation? Animal sheltering has been changing dramatically for the past 10 to 15 years. In New England in particular, the population of homeless animals has decreased dramatically. At the same time, better practices result in a shorter length of stay. Our average length of stay for both dogs and cats is 12 days – a far cry from what it used to be, and also from what most people think. Both of these changes create space in shelters for animals from overcrowded shelters to come to New England to find homes.

This, in turn, has changed our population dynamics. The local animals that do come into the shelter are more likely to have serious behavior or health issues, which impacts whether or not we can safely adopt them out to our community.

In recent years, the language used in animal sheltering has become divisive – “kill shelters” vs. “no-kill” shelters. An arbitrary number of 90% or better of animals saved earned a “no-kill status”. The quest to reach that status was creating policies that were not good for animals or communities, such as turning away those most in need so that “no-kill” status can be maintained, or adopting out dangerous animals to keep that designation. It also shamed the shelters in areas where daily intake is simply overwhelming. The divisiveness was not helping the overall cause of animals in need.

When I shared this new model with the staff here at WCHS, I got a resounding “yes” to adopting this credo. We have felt the pain that divisive language can create, and we have long worked to meet the needs of our community. We started the first affordable wellness care program in Vermont, keeping pets healthy and happy and with the families that love them. We are grateful to the hard work of our animal welfare community to re-define our goals and mission with this well-crafted statement. We are proud to call ourselves a socially conscious animal shelter. For more information on the movement, visit: http://scsheltering.org/ www.4LegsAndATail.com 5

Celebrate National Walk Your Dog Month J

anuary is Walk Your Dog Month. Get up, get moving and don’t let the plummeting winter temperatures slow you down. Dogs need plenty of exercise throughout the year and, the best way to keep them active in winter is to take them for regular walks. Even a short walk around the block on a cold day can make a big difference. So, begin this year with a pledge — better health for you and your dog!

HOW TO OBSERVE WALK YOUR DOG MONTH Shake things up Change your walking route so that your dog has something new to sniff at. Dogs learn by discovering their surroundings and need some excitement every now and then.

Get some company Get a friend with a dog to walk with you. Not only will you enjoy a good chat, you can also keep each other motivated to walk in the winter!

Throw a dog sweater party in the park Now, that’s another reason to walk all the way to the park! Make sure you have plenty of treats.

WHY WALK YOUR DOG MONTH IS IMPORTANT Walking is in their genes Most dog breeds have been selectively developed for herding, sporting, or working. Which means they need to stay active, or they will become hyper and resort to excessive chewing, digging, and scratching.

Your dog’s health depends on it To stay healthy and live long, dogs need plenty of exercise, even in winter.

Besides, a walk is good for your health too!

It’s a great way to bond Spending quality time walking and bonding with your dog is the best way to beat the gloomy and lonely winters!

History of Walk Your Dog Month

2011 - Walking Strong The largest dog walk, “The Great North Dog Walk” was organized in the U.K. 22,742 dogs took part in it.

1964 - New York’s First Dog Walker In New York, Jim Buck started out walking an acquaintance’s dog. Later he went on to employ assistants that were walking hundreds of dogs. He also opened a training school for dogs.

1929 - Service with a Walk The first school for training service dogs in Nashville, TN, started training dogs to become intelligent walking companions for the visually impaired.

7000 B.C. - The First Strong Walkers In north-eastern Siberia, dogs were getting trained to pull sleds in the snow and go to places that were inaccessible to humans.

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Winter 2020

The Four-Legged Friends Behind the Co-op’s Products:

The Cats of Walpole Valley Farms Jen Risley - Keene, NH

I love shining a light on all the farmers and producers who provide a

bounty of local food and other locally made products to our community. In this article, however, I move the spotlight over and down, from the business person to their four-legged friends -- the working dogs, cats, and other animals who also make these local products possible.

Our next Four-Legged Farm Friend article highlights the feline workers at Walpole Valley Farms in Walpole, NH. Farmers Caitlin and Chris Caserta operate a multi-generational, family-owned farm raising 100% grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chickens, turkeys, pigs, and eggs. Also, their family owns neighboring Inn at Valley Farms and The Hungry Diner, a farm-to-table restaurant about five miles from the farm.

Now, more about their cats! Their feline family currently includes six adult cats and two litters of kittens. The cats sport a diversity of names, including Anonymous, Fluffy, Moses, Em, Jasper, and Peter. “We have two sons, so the names have all come from them,” explains Caitlin. “As for the kittens, our kids and their friends have named a few of them, Noah, Nutmeg, and Meowza.”

While it may look like their number one job is being adorable, these cats have work to do! “Barn cats are important on a farm as there is grain stored in the barns, and rodents can take a toll on supply and taint the feed,” explained Caitlin. “Rodents also carry disease, so keeping them at bay is a huge job which the cats do well.”

Caitlin adopted two barn cats from Malnati Farm in Walpole nearly ten years ago. While those cats are no longer at the farm, their offspring are. “We’re pretty sure there’s some Maine Coon in there, and that makes them great hunters and

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adaptable to our cold winters,” said Caitlin.

“We love this mix because they are all so friendly and lovable.”

People don’t often think of barn cats as friendly – but Caitlin goes on to explain, “Our boys love finding newly born kittens in our barn and taming them to the point where they’ll be good pets for people. One mama came into the house one day to visit and ended up having her kittens on our son’s bed!”

Many farm visitors get a greeting from their cats. And sometimes the cats are a little too friendly. “A few of our barn cats, when they were small, would hop into cars with inn guests or farm store customers,” said Caitlin. “One cat even took a ride to the airport with a guest, unfortunately in the engine. Luckily, she made it and the folks brought her back. Happy ending.”

Learn more about Walpole Valley Farms at walpolevalleyfarms.com. Also, be sure to pick up a package of Walpole Valley Farms’ beef the next time you visit the co-op.

Interested in having a barn cat at your farm? The Monadnock Humane Society and other animal shelters offer Barn Cat programs. “We call them ‘barn cats’ but they can be happy living and working in a wide variety of buildings—a warehouse, a workshop, or a garage can all provide a great life for a cat,” states the Monadnock Humane Society’s website.

“As long as the cat(s) will be safe from vehicles, machines, and chemicals, we are willing to consider creative locations!”

Learn more at monadnockhumanesociety. org/adoption/barn-cat-program.

Know of a farm animal I should highlight in a future article? I’d love to hear from you! Please email me at marketing@monadnockfood.coop.

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Ashley Okola

P eople who love cats, typically own more than one. In the perfect

setting, all their cats would immediately get along with one another, living contently and sharing space with ease. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but this is not the reality for most cat introductions. People bringing in a new friend for their feline should be prepared for initial management between resident cat(s) and the newbie.

First things first. While this is probably not something a person should say whose job is to find new homes for the felines in Monadnock Humane Society’s care, your cat likely doesn’t want a new friend. Cats are loners when it comes to their species.

Outside of their familial relationships, cats are territorial and don’t like to share. So we all need to admit to ourselves bringing in a new feline is really for us and to feed our love for cats.

Now that that is out of the way, our focus can shift on what is important.

In the ideal world, two cats would be the best of friends, hanging out when their people are gone, cuddling on the couch or grooming one another in the adorable cat bed for two.

Instead, be realistic with expectations. The goal is to help them coexist with one another, decrease stress between both cats, and provide an environment that can accommodate both of their needs.

Right off the bat, believe us when we tell you to keep your cats separated from the new arrival. This is for at least one to two weeks of complete separation, w ith no v isu al contact between cats. When a new cat is plopped down in the middle of a new place, with resident animals present, a couple of things happen.

From the resident cat’s perspective, there is a foreign intruder on his/her 8 4 Legs & a Tail

territory that poses a threat to all the resources—a feeling that is ingrained in a cat’s nature.

From the new cat’s perspective, everything he/she has come to know as familiar has changed. From being introduced to new people, put in a carrier, driven in a car, then brought into this unfamiliar place with other animals, brings with it all kinds of stressors. New smells, new sounds, and new sights can completely overwhelm even a well-adjusted cat.

Setting the new cat up in their space will allow them to decompress from all the changes that are happening, and give the resident cat the peace of mind that their territory isn’t being completely overrun by the newcomer.

With a week or two of adjustment, cats have time to overcome the newness of the arrival. Everyone’s smell has permeated each other’s space, and the new sounds are no longer foreign or scary. The next step will be setting up a physical barrier between spaces where the cats can see one another but unable to physically interact. This may mean setting up baby gates or screen doors to create this barrier.

These controlled interactions will start as short, positive moments between cats. This may include parallel play with the cats or using treats as a positive reinforcement when interactions are neutral. These meetings shouldn’t be rushed for the sake of time. Successful introductions are those that consider the needs of the cats first and foremost. If there are reactions from either of the cats, then things are moving too fast.

Over the course of a couple of weeks, extend supervised meetings to longer and longer shifts. This will help your cats become more comfortable with one another while still feeling safe and secure in their spaces.

When controlled interactions are showing consistently positive reactions between cats and interactions are going on for longer periods, it is time to move onto supervised interactions. These occur when the physical barriers are removed and cats can investigate each other’s space. Again, it is important to build on these meetings, starting with short interactions and slowing building over the course of a few weeks. Reinforcing the good behavior of both cats through treats will help drive these positive meetings home.

Supervised interactions may have to go on for even a couple of months until the owners are positive that the cats involved can cohabitate peacefully together. Sometimes this may never be feasible and cats will need to be separated when owners are not present to monitor.

While I wish it was easier to get cats to accept one another under one roof, the reality is that it isn’t. If we are determined to welcome multiple cats into our home, the wellbeing and nature of our cats need to take top priority. Skipping or rushing through the introductions will only result in stressed cats and a lot more work on the ow ner’s end to rectify the already-damaged relationship.

Ashley Okola has been with Monadnock Humane Society for over 6 years. She worked as the feline coordinator and then moved to the assistant shelter manager position during this time. Ashley’s background is in both creative writing and animal welfare, graduating with an MS in Animals and Public Policy from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She lives with her husband and daughter, as well as their many animals, in Jaffrey, NH. Winter 2020

The Best of Both Worlds Marti Eagle - Corinth, VT

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t’s a question most cat owners will ask themselves: “Should I keep my cat indoors or let it roam outside?”. Many factors will need to be considered. Will the cat be in an urban or suburban environment where cars or neighborhood cats pose a threat to their safety? Or is the cat in a rural environment where natural predators abound?

When we lived in a more suburban environment, my husband and I allowed our cats to go outside.

Although both our previous cats survived to old age, they both suffered wounds from fights with other cats and “went missing” for a day or more, causing us great emotional distress! After the death of our last “indoor/outdoor” cat and our move to a much more rural area, we decided that our next cat or cats would stay indoors. Nine years ago we adopted two cats (brother and sister) from a local shelter who were 9 months old at the time.

At first, we stuck to our guns and kept

Darcy and Lizzy inside, although there was a part of us that felt they should be able to experience the sights, sounds and smells of being outside. But fear of them being attacked and killed by a predator, or going off to explore and not returning home strengthened our resolve to keep them inside and safe. Our vet had told us shortly after we adopted them that the average age of an indoor cat in Vermont is 15 years, but an outdoor cat is only 2!

Friends and fellow cat-owners told us: “You know what they’re missing, but they don’t!”.

Two years ago I began to wonder if it might be possible to teach our cats how to walk on a leash. Most websites I visited said that the older the cat, the more difficult it is! Our cats were over 7 years old at the time so it didn’t seem very promising.

Many pet stores offer nylon harnesses but they looked pretty flimsy and I thought our big Norwegian Forest cats would be able to escape pretty easily. Then one day Winter 2020

I found a website that sold what’s called “The Kitty Holster”. This is a soft vest with super-strong velcro closures that fasten under the neck and belly. There is an “O” ring on top where you attach your lead.

We decided to give it a try and ordered a tiger print vest for Darcy, our male cat (to match his beautiful orange and white fur) and a grey vest for Lizzy, who is grey, black and white. Hey, if we’re going to take our cats outside, we want them to look stylish!

We started by laying the vests on the floor so the cats could inspect them. Next came laying the vests on them, but both cats would immediately lay down on the floor. Finally, we decided to just do it and while I held Darcy, my husband got the vest on him. We attached the lead, carried him outside and put him down on the grass. He loved it but as he began to pull on the lead I was afraid that somehow he would get out of the vest. That first walk was pretty short, but we began to take him out each day and as time went on, he became accustomed to the feel of the lead (we use extending leads so we have some control over how far we let them go). Meanwhile, Lizzy seemed interested

and would watch from the window but resisted the vest for a while.

Eventually, she indicated that she wanted to go outside, too, so we followed the same procedure with her.

She was not as adventurous at first, wanting to stay very close to the house, but over time she also has come to love her walks. In fact, it has become a daily routine to take them out as soon as we get home from work. During the summer, they like to find a spot to watch for chipmunks, so my husband and I carry portable camp stools and will sit while they patiently wait and watch. Lizzy has actually caught two chipmunks while out for her walk and has quickly released them, not being sure of what to do with them! Things will change soon when winter comes when both cats prefer to stay in their cat beds by the woodstove. But next spring we expect to be outside with them again.

We feel that they truly are getting the best of both worlds - experiencing the outdoors and getting some exercise, all while remaining safe.

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Putting the Dog Before the Cart Cathy White - Walpole, NH

Y ou’ve been through the fields at Bishop Farm in Springfield, VT and chosen

that special Christmas tree. You can’t wait to get it home to decorate.

Typically, you’d hear the thrum of an ATV or the grinding of tractor gears announcing your tree’s arrival at check out; but on one special Saturday in December, you’ll hear a very different sound.

A melodic sleigh bell rings as it nears, and there it is, conifer perfection coming to you in a sled pulled by a huge… black bear?

Rest assured, it’s not a bear. It’s a Newfoundland dog (though Newf owners regularly hear the “bear” comparison.).

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Today it’s Cash, a beautiful 5-year old, 150pound boy delivering your tree with bells on. (Whether by bright red sled or wagon is Mother Nature’s choice.)

Each December, the Newfoundland Club of New England and Bishop Farm partner to host a tree pull that draws Newfs from all over the region. This special event is a great chance to get your tree delivered by a festively attired, jingly Newfie (any proceeds go the rescue division of NCNE).

These big loves are ready for meet-andgreets, photo ops, and chats with their equally friendly owners. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to sample everything else the farm offers during the holidays.

Cash belongs to Barry and Linda Jones of Springfield. They’re regulars every December, but you can bet that Cash isn’t spending the other 364 days of the year just lolling about.

Tree-pulling is an off-shoot (pun intended) of the dog sport “drafting” (or “carting”). Many breeds, from Bernese Mountain Dogs to Rottweilers, excel at this discipline, but the Newfoundland is about the largest of the bunch.

Cash and Barry, who handles him, love drafting; though it should be noted that Cash is no one-trick-pony. He’s also active in water rescue, conformation showing, rally and competitive obedience.

Cash, Barry and Linda were kind enough to demonstrate for me the intricacies of carting, and it was fascinating.

Linda says: “He loves to draft. He is so happy when that cart comes out.” And you can see that Cash was clearly eager to

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show off his skills as he saw his equipment being unloaded. Once set up, the team gets to work.

First up: the harness. There are three types: competition, freight and parade, and each does what its name suggests. Each harness is fitted very specifically to the dog. Inquiring whether it takes a long time to properly fit the harness, Barry responds with an emphatic “Yes!”.

Next up, Cash’s wagon, which involves shafts, traces, brakes, and weights inside the cart itself. It’s bright red and small, with enormous wheels (picture the “sulky” that harness racing horses pull).

Tacked and ready to go, the team moves forward. And backward. In a circle. In a straight line. Parameters are predetermined by the level of competition in the sport. This includes Beginner, Draft, and Advanced.

Members of the latter group, (Cash) exhibit their talents completely off-leash. They must - amongst other requirements - complete an 18” circle without the wheels of their cart touching the circle itself. (Picture a 150pound dog pulling a cart around an extra-large pizza.) Compare that with Beginner level drafting, where dogs are on-leash and have a 36” circle to navigate.

Narrow straight-aways and acute right angles are also requirements for competitive drafting. Wheels cannot touch or rub the borders of the set-up. Cash negotiates each with amazing precision, Barry at his side handling him with his voice alone.

The palpable bond between the two is both beautiful and intense.

Barry points out that the structure of the harness and the cart result in Cash actually “pushing into the pull”, rather than merely dragging weight behind him. This is an interesting concept that is somewhat difficult to imagine unless you see it - then it makes perfect sense.

So, no real strain on Cash at all, and you can see that in his ebullient demeanor.

He truly loves this work.

The Joneses haven’t always had Newfies, so how did this partnership come about?

The couple had previous experience with Labs, Rotties and Mastiffs, so they were no strangers to large breeds. Fifteen years ago, though, Barry decided that he wanted a pinto pony for his 60th birthday. Though the Joneses are both experienced riders, that seemed like a bit much - so Barry’s request was downsized to a Newfoundland (practically pony-sized). He wanted, in particular, a Landseer (black and white, not unlike a pinto). Linda vetoed the color, but she was completely on board with the breed and the Joneses have been owned by shaggy black Newfs ever since.

In addition to Cash, they have a younger pup named Gulliver - “Gully” for short, who is right on track to follow in his big brother’s footsteps.

A key motivator behind Barry’s desire to draft with his Newfs was when he “realized how many things you can do with these dogs”. And he’s right. Newfoundlands are incredibly versatile gentle giants. Who knows, maybe we’ll keep up with the Joneses in the future, and discover how the breed goes from drafting to water rescue.

Cathy White lives in Walpole with her husband Jeff and Labradors Pippa and Nigel. Cathy is a Boston University alum, with a degree in Journalism.

Winter 2020

www.4LegsAndATail.com 11

An Introduction to Therapy Dogs Deb Helfrich - Therapy Dogs of Vermont

I

t’s been a dreadful day. The car wouldn’t start.

Traffic made you late. You spilled coffee on your new pants. The boss moved your deadline UP by a week. Full of frustration, you throw the front door open…and there is YOUR dog. Her entire body wags. She rolls on her back for a tummy rub. You can’t help but smile. As you touch her soft fur and feel the warmth of her body, thoughts of stained pants and looming deadlines slip away.

Think about the capacity our own pets have to ease stress, make us happy, offer comfort. Apply this to elders in nursing homes, patients in hospitals, children in day cares—this is the heart of canine therapy.

Canine therapy works toward the emotional health of people in a wide variety of settings. In fact, elder care facilities may be one of the most frequented types of places for therapy dog vis its. Visiting with elders can be a wonderful experience for both dog and handler! For example, the highlight of my week is visiting my friends at Starr Farm Nursing Center. I’m sure any of our TDV members can tell you a heartwarming story or two about the places they visit and the people they meet. It is a joy to me when my dog lights up the face of an elder who perhaps doesn’t get many visitors, and I enjoy listening to the wonderful stories elders carry with them. And, the special moments when I can comfort an elder who may be depressed, disoriented, anxious, afraid, or ill are ones that simply make everything worth while; these are the moments when the magical interaction between animal and human is unmistakable. Tears dry. Frowns become smiles. Inactive hands caress soft fur. Silence becomes a conversation whispered softly in a dog’s ear.

During visits, dogs may play ball with a patient, sit to be patted, do a few tricks, or take walks with those who 12 4 Legs & a Tail

are able. For a bedridden patient, a dog might hop on the bed and rest quietly with him or her. Sometimes, all a dog can do is be there for someone to look at. There are all sorts of activities and levels of interaction possible— based on whatever the person needs at the time.

Dogs can have a profound abilit y to touch and engage people. For example, during their visits, therapy dogs routinely: • Bring joy and laughter to institutions that might feel sterile, cold, and frightening.

• Give something to do, talk, and think about other than the illness, difficulty, or problem.

• Help people cope with illness, loss, depression, and loneliness.

• • • •

Encourage communication and break the ice.

Stimulate the senses, facilitating exercise and activity.

Provide a source of touch and affiliation.

Boost morale and lower stress levels.

Therapy Dogs of Vermont (TDV) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization of well-mannered, sweet tempered, peopleloving dogs and their handlers. Our handler/canine teams work toward the emotional health of people in a variety of settings such as hospitals and other health-related venues, nursing and retirement homes, child and adult day care centers, correctional facilities, and schools. All dogs are certified and insured. For more information about becoming a certified therapy dog team, to request therapy dog visits, or to make a donation, please email us at admin@therapydogs.org or visit our website: therapydogs.org Winter 2020

Flea & Tick Prevention Is Just As Important During The Winter Months F

lea & Tick Prevention Is Just As Important During The Winter Months Many pet owners make the mistake of thinking that when winter begins, it is time for flea and tick prevention to end.

This could not be further from the truth.

Just because your pet will be spending more time indoors during the colder months doesn’t mean you stop. Fleas and ticks can threaten your pet’s health and your home year-round if allowed.

Even in colder climates, leaving your pet exposed to the diseases and harm that fleas and ticks can cause exposes your pet to a variety of problems.

Here is the reason why. Even though many fleas, flea larvae, and even the flea eggs will not survive the harshness of the winter, flea pupae actually can. This means that the threat of fleas never really goes away. Just because your pet isn’t scratching, does not mean there is not something lying beneath the surface. Also, take into account if you travel with your dog or live where the climate is warmer and adult fleas can still thrive. Your pets are like your kids, you never know what they may get into. If fleas are already inside your home then they will continue to thrive in the environment you have provided for them.

It doesn’t matter how much you vacuum or spray, it is very likely you still have a flea or two still kicking around between the cracks or corners of your own home. It only takes one of those fleas to find your pet and start a new infestation that will grow and spread.

Fleas aren’t the only year-round problem to worry about. Ticks and even heartworms also hang around after the temperature drops to cause harm to your pet. Contrary to popular belief, ticks do not only reside in tall grasses, woods, or brushy areas, Ticks can also be found in your home and in other areas such as your patio and a parking lot. There seems to be a misunderstanding that when the winter comes, the bugs just go away and for some insects that may be true, but for the ones that can harm your pet and home it is not.

Please don’t put your pet at risk by being stubborn and thinking these parasites are just a seasonal threat. Your pet needs protection all year long and to do that your need to continue to provide flea and tick treatment year-round. If you are unsure about winter flea and tick Winter 2020

prevention or want to try a new product how to protect your pet from fleas and to further protect your pet, consult with ticks year round today. your veterinarian first. One of the busiFor expert tips on pet care, est times for veterinarians is during the visit the professionals at Lebanon or winter months. Book your appointment at your local vet now and ask them about Claremont Pet and Aquarium Center.

www.4LegsAndATail.com 13

I Wanna Hold Your Hand Dorothy Crosby - Stoddard, NH

A mongst the most misunderstood concepts in riding are “following

hands” and contact. Every rider’s manual mentions “following hands” - the what - but few explain how. Long-time riders often comment that they’ve never received instruction on what this means.

And no discussion on contact is complete without some mention of bits.

Thanks to Sally Swift, Centered Riding® uses lots of imagery; here’s one I created: Imagine crossing the street with a young child, holding their hand. Halfway across, without explanation, you let go. The child is free to stay, or run; what does this mean? Your support is suddenly gone; they must decide for themselves. Some continue to walk alongside you; others run off; many might wander, staying nearby, but taking advantage of the undefined freedom. Regardless of their choice, they are aware they are suddenly on their own; your relationship with them – at least in that context – has changed.

This is what our horses experience when we avoid or eliminate contact.

14 4 Legs & a Tail

In most cases, they don’t need to be unduly controlled and restricted, just supported as part of the team. They count on the directives and support of their Team Captain; without it, they are not really one of the partners, or worse, will self-elect themselves as Captain.

A 1,000-pound leader whose instinct is to throw his weight around rather than reason is a little scary to me. The partnership of working so closely with an independent animal in whatever task we perform is simultaneously a powerful and humbling experience!

The chosen bit is a huge variable in how much contact is beneficial for or detrimental to the partnership and the task. Sometimes riders defer to the popular bit, the bit the horse came with, the one their friends use, with no idea how – or why – those bits work. As we have all heard, a bit is only as severe as the hands that use it. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves on bits and what our horse needs to do his particular job well. Perhaps more importantly, it is our job to educate our hands: following hands, soft hands, giving hands, independent hands.

Think back to hand-holding. We use it for children, romantic relationships, friendships, comfort for someone who is ill, sad, happy, emotionally upset, or Winter 2020

anxious. A form of inclusion, support, and security, all of these demonstrate who can be trusted and depended on and not throw us to the wolves! Do horses feel all of that? Possibly not, but we do know that communication and support aid them in performing well with less difficulty; connection allows us to be one with them in the task at hand.

There’s the what and why. How do we achieve this? The secret: allow the horse to move your hands, keeping the connection consistent and soft. You’ve heard the usual directives: keep your hands still, close your fingers, don’t hang on his mouth… etc. But those are not things we DO; those are the results of an independent seat and consistent, soft contact.

Try this: Sitting on your horse, ask for a walk. Observe the movement of your arms and hands, however, you normally hold them: Do the reins maintain their tautness or does it change? Does your horse’s head move a lot or a little? How tight are your reins? Do your arms swing up and down or forward and back?

Now straighten your arms with no bend at the elbow and notice again if and how your shoulders and hands move. Are your hands higher or lower than the bit? Do the reins keep the same tautness or does it change? How much does his head move?

Next, bend your elbows, allowing your arms to hang at your sides a little in front of the side seam on your shirt.

Find a straight line from your elbow to the horse’s mouth. Again, observe the movement: swinging arms, the direction of movement, head swinging, etc.

Observe and Evaluate: Which movement is free and which movement is restricted? Which movement allows you to feel the horse slightly “rest” in your hands (not lean or hang!) as they move forward? Which scenario allows you to do less to give a directive to turn, stop, or move forward? In which position does the horse move you, rather than you trying to keep up or actively follow; can your relaxed hands receive the horse’s movement, rather than trying to create it?

In all honesty, this is not an easy thing to find. It can take months or years of practice to achieve consistent, soft, and effective contact. But every time we seek awareness of that hand-holding concept and our horse’s reaction to it, we improve ourselves, our horse, and our partnership.

Owner of Equi-librium and based in Stoddard NH, Dorothy Crosby is certified as both a Level III Centered Riding®Clinician/Instructor and CHA English and Western Instructor. Director of the Riding Program and Barn Manager at Southmowing Stables in Guilford VT, she loves working with riders and horses of all ages and abilities.

Recently certified with Conformation Balancing, a program for fascia release in horses, Dorothy loves the softening and changes in the horses.

Dorothy offers clinics, lessons, workshops, and fascia release bodywork sessions both on and off the farm.

Winter 2020

www.4LegsAndATail.com 15

Do You Love To Spoil Your Dog? W

hat happens when we love our dogs too much.

When I meet with new clients I often hear phrases like, “he’s spoiled” or “I love to spoil my pets.” Such phrases are accompanied with an edge of pride expressing a desire to tell me just how much they care about and love their dog. While I appreciate the willingness to give to their dog, there needs to be an understanding between what we love to give and what our dogs really need to live their best lives.

Some of the things I see that people love to give their dogs in excess are: attention, freedom, excitement, protection, affection, and of course fooooood! Here are some of the issues that can come from too much…

Paula Bergeron - Grafton, NH

3. Protection: Humans often want to treat their dogs as tiny infants, but this is truly unhealthy. I see people step in whenever their dog encounters an obstacle or challenge. For example when a dog is learning a new behavior there is a period of time when they do not understand exactly what is expected. This can look like fear, or worry.

If we constantly step in to save them from the discomfort that comes from learning our dogs are denied the confidence that comes from the joy of attaining success.

4. Excitement: Too much excitement can create a dog unable to relax. We see this with dogs who constantly circle, jump, 2. Freedom: When a dog has no bound- whine, and bark. Dogs can even become aries the results are often unruly behavior. addicted to the dopamine that is released Tantrums complete with barking, howl- during the excitement causing them to 1. Attention: Too much attention can ing, whining, chewing and destruction constantly try to engage in overexcited affect a dog’s ability to handle alone time. can be expected if you suddenly try to ask activity to regain that rush.

Giving attention every time he/she whines for better behavior. Another big issue with 5. Food: We all understand that giving can result in a dog feeling uncomfortable too much freedom is it can increase anxi- our dogs too much or unhealthy food can when they are not receiving attention. This ety in dogs who are unsure of themselves. cause our dogs to become fat, but do we is one of the common origins of separa- Boundaries provide a mental structure for consider that we are shortening our dog”s tion anxiety. It is healthy for your dog to dogs, calming the brain and allowing for a life, setting them up for pain in their joints have downtime that is not snuggle time. clear sense of success which is incredibly and spine, or causing them to be at risk So unless you are never going to leave your important for anxious pups! for disease? If we truly love our dogs we dog give them a healthy balance of attention, and time on their own.

will limit the amount of food treats and incorporate other treats such as a brisk walk, some training exercises, or a fun ride to a new destination to explore.

So can you really love your dog too much? Well, I am not sure about that exactly but can we express our love in unhealthy ways. To help you change your unhealthy habits with your dog next time you think about spoiling him/her reflect on what spoiling truly means. To spoil something is to allow it to go bad, to let it rot. Picture the last spoiled food you had to throw out and maybe that will help you recognize the damage you can do to your dog’s behavior and sense of self.

Provide a balanced life for your dog filled with discipline, structure, boundaries, exercise, peace and downtime, along with the loving snuggles, exciting play, and treats now and again. With restraint, you can truly love your dog into their best healthy and joy-filled life.

Happy Training

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Paula Bergeron and the gang at Good Dogma embrace a holistic approach to bringing balance to your dog’s behavioral issues. Exercise, training, relaxation, massage, grooming, play, socialization and energy healing are incorporated into your dog’s routine. www.Goodogma.com Winter 2020

Peanut Butter Treats INGREDIENTS: • 2/3 cup pumpkin puree • 1/4 cup peanut butter

REMEMBERt:for

trea These are a part of yo ur dog, not . the daily diet ty! en pl is t ui sc One bi

• 2 large eggs • 3 cups King Arthur Whole Wheat Flour, or more, as needed

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat pumpkin puree, peanut butter and eggs on medium-high until well combined, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add 2 ½ cups King Arthur Flour at low speed, beating just until incorporated. Add an additional ¼ cup flour at a time just until the dough is no longer sticky.

Working on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough 3-4 times until it comes together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to ¼ - inch thickness.

Using cookie cutters, cut out desired shapes and place onto the prepared baking sheet.

Place into oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

Let cool completely.

Winter 2020

www.4LegsAndATail.com 17

How Forensic Science is Saving Wildlife Catherine Greenleaf

W ildlife trafficking is big business. According to multiple government investigations, poachers and smugglers earn $20 billion each year illegally capturing and transporting wildlife or wildlife body parts over the borders into foreign nations.

Nearly every day, law enforcement officers at Miami International Airport seize and confiscate live birds, reptiles, and mammals from criminals attempting to smuggle animals into and out of the United States illegally for big profits. Wildlife body parts like the powder of rhino horns (which purportedly enhance male virility) or tigers’ whiskers (which supposedly prevent tooth aches) also offer a big cash pay-out to people willing to sneak these items over the border. The tragic irony is that 80% of all live smuggled animals die in transit.

Even more disturbing are recent findings by global wildlife law enforcement that insurgent groups throughout Africa and the Middle East, including Al-Qaeda, are now turning to wildlife trafficking as a way to make big money, which is then used to buy weapons.

HOPE FOR WILDLIFE This is where wildlife forensics enters the picture. Wildlife forensics is the application of science during a criminal investigation regarding wildlife cruelty. The aim of forensics is to produce compelling evidence that links the animal in question with the suspect and the crime scene, thereby leading to a conviction and prison time.

A wildlife forensic scientist is faced with quite a challenge.

While a human forensic scientist must be knowledgeable about the male and female human body, the wildlife forensic scientist must know or have access to knowledge about the intricacies of thousands of species of animals. Imagine law enforcement bringing a tiny piece of bird bone to a forensic specialist and asking for identification. Thanks to improved, state-of-the-art DNA analysis, identification can now be made quickly on thousands of species, speeding the prosecution of court cases.

HISTORY OF AMERICAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION In the year 1900, the United States federal government took the first step ever to regulate ownership of wild animals by forming the Lacey Act. There had been a great deal of transport of live game between states during that era and non-indigenous animals were destroying valuable eco-systems and trampling farmers’ crops.

However, hunting still went largely unregulated, resulting in the mass slaughter of wildlife. Hunters were shooting migrating hawks by the thousands as target practice every fall at Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania. Water bird populations in the Florida Everglades were decimated for their beautiful feath18 4 Legs & a Tail

ers to adorn ladies’ hats, and passenger pigeons were shot and killed by the millions, resulting in their extinction in 1914.

And then the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1966.

This was the first act formed to truly protect wildlife and had the teeth of enforcement. In 1969, the first list of Endangered Species was compiled by the Department of the Interior and released to the public. Today, the U.S. government also issues a Threatened List as well as a List of Species of Special Concern.

In 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed, safeguarding whales, seals, walruses and manatees.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ENFORCEMENT Another big push toward stronger enforcement occurred in 1975,with the formation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. CITES maintains protection of 35,000 wild species all over the world. Over 175 countries, including the United States, are signed on to cooperate with CITES in its efforts to carefully monitor and prevent illegal poaching and smuggling.

But the most promising development for wildlife protection occurred in 1989,when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory was opened in Ashland, Oregon. It is the only lab in the world completely dedicated to investigating crimes against wildlife. The Ashland lab takes on 800 to 1,000 high-profile cases every year and has been instrumental in reducing the number of Pangolins being poached in southeast Asia. Thanks to the lab’s success in getting convictions, over 150 new wildlife forensic crime operations have opened in various countries around the globe in recent years, all of whom are modeling their practices on the Ashland protocols.

WILDLIFE CRIME DOESN’T PAY Thanks to an anonymous phone tip and efforts by forensic experts, a Pennsylvania man just pleaded guilty to charges involving the poaching and smuggling of thousands of rare turtles from New Jersey marshes, which were sold to underground animal dealers in Canada. He is now facing prison time along with owing over $500,000 in fines.

This case has had an astonishing chilling effect on some major black market operations, and law enforcement officials are crediting several new forensic technologies, along with enhanced DNA analysis, as instrumental in the swift apprehension and conviction of wildlife criminals.

Catherine Greenleaf is the director of St. Francis Wild Bird Center in Lyme, N.H. If you find an injured bird, please call (603) 795-4850.

Winter 2020

Farewell Old Friend Scott Borthwick - Canaan, NH

N

ormally in this column, I talk to make sure nothing breakable was in about dealing with nuisance wildlife its way. She will be missed. and the problems they cause. This issue however I would like to write about our Scott Borthwick owns Estate Wildlife dog Kaci who we had to put down this Control. He lives in Canaan, NH with his wife Donna, two dogs, a couple last October after 14 years.

Kaci came into our life 13 years ago of horses and one tough old chicken named Henrietta. after a friend’s niece tried cage training her. She did not like it and one day the young lady forgot to properly latch the cage and Kaci got out after everyone had left for the day. Being a Pit Bull puppy she decided to entertain herself by disemboweling the brand new $5000.00 couch the family had just purchased.

The niece’s parents were not amused and Kaci needed a new home.

My wife Donna and I have had the good fortune over the years of receiving other people’s unwanted dogs. Seven so far. Kaci was now part of this group.

She fit in well with the other dogs and never bothered our couches which at the time had a value of about $5.00. I guess she had expensive tastes.

We live out in the boonies which makes a great place for dogs to run around and be dogs. Kaci enjoyed this as well. The only negative was her fondness for Meadow Muffins fresh out of the oven. She loved to run around with the horses. We have never had a dog as vocal as she was. She had a different howl when she wanted out, another when she wanted in, and another when she wanted dinner.

As my business grew my employees got to know her as she would come to greet them when they returned to the shop. First to receive a treat of some sort and second to inspect what sort of creatures were brought back. Kaci had a full tail it was always wagging. We had Winter 2020

www.4LegsAndATail.com 19

FAT OR FLUFFY? T

20 4 Legs & a Tail

he exploding number of obese humans in the US is mirrored by the exploding number of obese pets. We want to show our pets that we love them, but sometimes we are loving them into shorter and less fulfilling lives. Before we even talk about food and treats let’s establish if our pet is fat or fluffy. We see photos of clearly overweight animals and think…my pet is not that fat! So maybe your pet is not obese…but are they overweight?

Dogs and cats with longer hair make it that much harder to detect if your pet is car r ying a bit too much weight. It can be a slight difference and in smaller pets it can be something as small as a pound.

What should you look for? Here is a transition of a dog or cat from underweight to overweight.

If your pet is furry then I would suggest you go by feel. If you feel your pet’s mid-section softly you should be able to feel their rib cage without fat covering them. Their ribs should feel like the back of your hand. Your pet should have visible a waist (which is most easily judged from looking down over them).

This can be a delicate subject. In general people do tend to over feed their pets and it is more common than not that pets are slightly over-weight. Did you know that a pet that maintains a healthy weight averages 1.8 years longer life? The consideration of quality not just quantity of life is important too. Healthy weight will lower the risk that your dog will have pain in their joints etc., reduce risk of injury, but also research tells us they suffer lower amounts of anxiety and have more general well-being.

Winter 2020

Body Condition Score

1

3

UNDER IDEAL

5 IDEAL

1 Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences evident from a distance. No discernible body fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass.

2 Ribs, lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones easily visible.

No palpable fat. Some evidence of other bony prominences.

Minimal loss of muscle mass.

3 Ribs easily palpated and may be visible with no palpable fat. Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bones becoming prominent. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck.

German A, et al. Comparison of a bioimpedance monitor with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry for noninvasive estimation of percentage body fat in dogs. AJVR 2010;71:393-398.

Jeusette I, et al. Effect of breed on body composition and comparison between various methods to estimate body composition in dogs. Res Vet Sci 2010;88:227-232.

Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. JAVMA 2002;220:1315-1320.

Laflamme DP. Development and validation of a body condition score system for dogs. Canine Pract 1997;22:10-15.

4 Ribs easily palpable, with

minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdominal tuck evident.

5 Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from side.

7 OVER IDEAL

6 Ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible viewed from above but is not prominent. Abdominal tuck apparent.

7 Ribs palpable with difficulty; heavy fat cover. Noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent or barely visible. Abdominal tuck may be present.

8 Ribs not palpable under very heavy fat cover, or palpable only with significant pressure. Heavy fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent. No abdominal tuck. Obvious abdominal distention may be present.

9 Massive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail. Waist and abdominal tuck absent.

Fat deposits on neck and limbs.

Obvious abdominal distention.

wsava.org

©2013. All rights reserved.

OK, so my pet might be a little pudgy…. and calorie intake is a great idea. Choose what next? Here are some tips to getting a food that uses good quality ingredients with high digestibility, so they are getting your baby in tip top shape: the most nutrition from their calories and #1 - Portion Size. This is a more stay satisfied. complex question than you might think.

Every food has general feeding instruc- #2 - Feeding Schedule. If you are tions for a pet based on weight, but this still free feeding your pet this is a great can vary drastically based on the activity place to start. Control the amount of level of your pet and frankly the quality their daily intake at scheduled times of the food. Every pet can also have a dif- throughout the day. Once you have idenferent metabolism, so one 40-pound dog tified their portion size divide that into may need a different portion than another at least 2 meals. If your schedule allows 40-pound dog. The best thing to do is to for 3 per day even better. start with what the current portion is and reduce it from there. If you are going to keep the same food start with a 15-20 percent reduction in portion and see if their weight changes in 1-2 weeks. If you have not seen a difference then you will want to cut their portions by another 10%, until you can find a portion that causes weight loss.

When the ideal weight is reached, increase 5% at a time to determine a portion that maintains their current weight. The goal is to see a gradual reduction, not a sudden swing. A 5% change in weight in a two-week period is good progress. Premium pet foods with higher quality ingredients will tend to have smaller portions prescribed for the pet to receive balanced nutrition. A high-quality food designed for limiting fat Winter 2020

9

#3 - Reduce/Discontinue Snacks.

Who doesn’t want to show our pet we love them by giving them a treat…right? Food rewards will only perpetuate their weight problem. Especially difficult to gauge the calorie consumption for their proportional size are the human foods. You must realize a 1 oz. cube of cheese given to a 25 lb. dog is the equivalent of a human eating 2 cheeseburgers! One single potato chip is like us eating an entire chocolate bar. So even if you have a 25-pound dog on a strict diet of 2/3 cup twice a day, that can all be ruined with an ounce or two of cheese. If you must give an occasional human treat try a small piece of apple, banana or a bite of carrot. Remember our pets most valuable reward in the world is our attention.

Reward your pet with love, hugs, kisses and snuggles. Our undivided attention and praise are just as valuable to them as food. #4 - Increase Activity. The same principles apply with pet fitness as with humans…increase the burn and reduce the intake. Adding some exercise will make a huge difference. Start with a short walk and increase gradually.

Maybe your schedule does not allow long walks. Get a ball and have your pet chase the ball even if it is while you sit on the couch watching TV. Also practice obedience, the mental exercise can provide increased calorie burn.

Be strong for your loved one. They may act like they are starving all the time, begging etc. Their stomach will begin to adjust to their new plan. Once you see them in ideal physical condition you will realize what a great thing you have done for them. Let your pet be their best…. overweight pets really are not to blame for their condition, we are the hand that feeds them and exercise them. It is worth repeating- maintaining a healthy weight will prolong their life and will reduce their likelihood of painful injury.

Always review your pet’s fitness plan with their vet. www.4LegsAndATail.com 21

The Winter Blues…

Pets Suffer From Depression Too S

Jill Feinstein

hort gray days at this time of year can make anyone feel a little low.

I attended college in Binghamton, New York where the sun didn’t shine from late October until late April. I can tell you with certainty that when I was there, I suffered from seasonal affective disorder (SAD)… winter depression. It’s a problem for many people.

But how about our pets? Is it possible they’re affected by seasonal changes too?

And what about depression in general?

Can our pets be depressed?

If your pets are used to enjoying the outdoors—long walks in the park, games of fetch in the yard, hikes in the mountains— you can be sure they’re feeling down if bad weather’s keeping them housebound.

Are you noticing signs of the winter blues? Our pets don’t care if the weather’s nice or not. They still want and need to exercise… both their bodies and their

22 4 Legs & a Tail

brains. Keeping a regular exercise routine, even if you have to take it indoors to an agility gym or play games of “Find It”, is essential to keeping your pet happy in every season.

But what about just generalized depression? Have your pets ever been in a bad mood at other times of the year?

It’s likely pets experience depression, but maybe not in the same way people do.

We can’t be sure how our pets feel depressed because they can’t tell us.

In humans, doctors diagnose depression through dialog with a patient. The patient can tell the doctor what they’re experiencing. An animal has no ability to explain their state of mind. So it’s a little more challenging to say they’re suffering from depression, as we think of depression.

But we know our pets suffer from depression-like symptoms.

Because of their inability to talk to us

though, we can’t be sure that the symptoms they are experiencing are being caused by depression and not a medical problem.

The signs of depression are also linked to other health issues.

See your veterinarian as soon as you notice any of the behavioral changes I talk about in this article to rule out a health problem that needs treatment.

How do you know if your pet is depressed?

A pet that’s depressed will act differently. So take notice of any changes in their normal behavior. Things like: • Lack of interest in playing • Sleeping more • Changes in appetite • Drinking less • Hiding • Destructive behavior • Aggression • Pottying in the house or outside the litter box • Lack of or excessive grooming • Lethargy • Withdrawing from attention • Moping • Pacing • Whining or crying

Winter 2020

What would cause your pet to become depressed?

In pets, depression is shortlived, and it’s generally brought on by change. A new home, a new baby or pet in the house, or a stay-at-home owner getting a job outside the house. These can all lead to depression.

But the most common reasons for depression in our pets are the loss of an owner or companion animal.

Unfortunately, loss is a part of life… for everyone. But there are ways to lessen the blow for our pets.

How can you keep those tails wagging?

During periods of change in your home, try to keep your pet’s routine the same. Keep up with daily exercise, play and cuddle time—even if your new circumstances make it difficult. Your pet needs their regular routine.

If your pet is moping, try not to reward that behavior by lavishing affection on them. Instead, get them to do something that makes them happy and reward that behavior.

For instance, grab the leash for a walk. If they wag their tail and show excitement, praise that happy behavior.

With a cat, give them their space. But when they come to you, try to engage them in an activity they like and give them affection when they respond.

Winter 2020

If you use this method of behavior modification early on, you can often avoid a prolonged period of depression.

Most pets bounce back in a few days or weeks. They just need a little more TLC, exercise, and attention.

But if your pet falls into a depression you aren’t able to help them shake, talk to your vet about meds. Some of the medications used for depression in people are also available for our pets.

Vets often prescribe drugs like Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft.

Medication takes time to kick in—up to 2 months. But your pet probably won’t need to be on it for more than 6 to 12 months.

If you prefer to take a more holistic approach, herbal supplements are available for pet depression. A holistic vet can help you find the one that’s right for your dog or cat.

But remember, never give your pet any drugs or supplements without talking to your vet first. They can have adverse effects if your pet is sick or is on other medications.

Depression is treatable in people and pets. It just takes a little education to see the signs so you can act… because happiness is something we all want for our pets.

Has your dog or cat suffered from depression? How did you know and what did you do about it? Share your experience in the comment section at the top of the page.

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When Things Go Wrong, Sometimes They Really Go Wrong, Part 2 Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS

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hen we last saw the Portuguese Water Dog he was 24 weeks and 1 day old and had managed, with some help, to have 5 upper incisors and 2 lower incisors appear. He still had 4 baby canine teeth. There were more incisors to uncover and the adult canine teeth still needed to appear. He was still growing, of course, and it was time for the molars to appear as well.

When he was 27 weeks and 3 days old, he had lost all but the upper right baby canine tooth. There were bulges and holes in the gum over the adult canine teeth, but it seemed that these teeth would also need some help. In addition, the lower molars were also covered with a thick covering of gum.

The last remaining baby canine

The pink spot was a small hole in the gum over the lower canine tooth.

There was thickened gum covering the lower first molar.

Right Side

After the surgery. The top of the crown of the first molar is now visible.

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It doesn’t look like much, but the top of the crowns of the canine teeth were also visible (Blue arrows).

Left Side

Dental X-ray of the lower incisors and canine teeth. The lower incisors had moved into a more normal position but were still covered by thick gum tissue (Yellow arrows).

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The blue arrows point to the newly uncovered lower canine teeth. The gum which had to be cut open and away from these teeth is quite a bit thicker than normal. (Yellow arrow).

Unfortunately the lower corner incisors that were visible in the last article had to be extracted because they were preventing the canine teeth from erupting. The other lower incisor teeth had moved up towards the top of the jaw and were uncovered.

Dental x-rays of the lower right first molar (Red arrows). On the left is the tooth at 27 weeks and 3 days old. After removing the thick covering of gum, the tooth could erupt into a more normal position. The second x-ray was taken at 31 weeks and 6 days old and the tooth is in a normal position. A tooth has the potential to erupt as long as the bottom of the root is not fully formed, or is open. All of the teeth in the above x-ray still have open roots (Yellow arrow)

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 Pet Dental, PLC.

31 weeks and 6 days old. The blue arrows point to the adult canine teeth. The gum around the incisors had healed.

The lower left canine is hidden by the upper incisors in the middle and far right photographs. The upper canine teeth were erupting nicely but the lower canine teeth were impacting with the upper incisors. In the next issue of 4LT you will see the final outcome.

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February is National Pet Dental Health Month Erin Forbes, DVM - Mountain View Animal Hospital

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he Vermont Veterinary Medical Association would like to remind all pet owners that February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), National Pet Dental Health

Month message reminds pet owners that dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

Veterinary dentistry includes the scaling, polishing, extraction, or repair of your pet’s teeth and all other aspects of oral health care. These procedures must be performed by a veterinarian and begins with an oral exam of your pet’s mouth. If there is dental disease present, dental work will be recommended. Most dental disease occurs below the gumline, where you can’t see it, so dental work is all performed under anesthesia in order to be safe and effective. Signs of dental disease include bad breath, broken or loose teeth, abnormal chewing or drooling. One may also notice bleeding from the mouth, reduced appetite, and swelling around the mouth.

If you notice any of these signs, schedule an exam for your pet.

Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in dogs and cats, in fact by the time your pet is 3 years old there is an estimated 70 percent chance they will have periodontal disease. The earlier it is detected, the faster treatment can be recommended, which is important as advanced periodontal disease can cause severe problems and pain for your pet. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition of the gum and bone support (periodontal tissues) surrounding the teeth. It starts with plaque that hardens into calculus. Calculus above the gumline can often easily be seen and removed, but below the gumline it is damaging and can cause infections and damage to the tissues or bone. This can cause loose teeth, bone loss, pain around the tooth, and fractured teeth.

Prevention of periodontal disease in pets consists of frequent removal of the dental calculus that forms on teeth that are not kept clean. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need for periodic dental cleaning by your veterinarian. Daily brushing is best, but it’s not always possible and brushing several times a week can be effective. Most dogs accept brushing, but cats can be a bit more resistant – patience and training are important. There are many pet products marketed with claims that they improve dental health, but not all of them are effective. Look for a seal of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) and make sure to discuss any dental products/diets you are considering with your veterinarian.

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s dental health, please contact your veterinarian.

The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA), founded in 1898, is a professional organization of 370 veterinarians dedicated to compassionate animal care and quality medicine.

26 4 Legs & a Tail

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H elen K eller’s Dogs H

elen Keller’s life was filled with dogs. Though she was born before dogs were being trained as guide dogs for the blind, Keller knew what dog lovers around the world know—dogs are great companions.

“A dog never let me down,” she once wrote.

Kate Kelly

Sullivan knew that if there was a way to build more advanced communication between the two of them, then she needed to teach Helen sign language. Because Helen could not see the signing, Anne would teach by making the signs in the palm of Helen’s hand.

head on her knee. Efforts to entice him away were in vain.

“Since that time, the blind girl [sic] often expressed a wish to own Sir Thomas [identified as a Boston terrier], but without any expectation of doing so. Her college friends took up a collection and purchased the dog to present to her.”

The Breakthrough As they worked together, Sullivan signed Helen was thrilled when she received various words in Helen’s palm over and the little dog as a gift. At some point, Sir over again. Helen learned to mimic some Thomas Belvedere became known as “Phiz.” of the spellings but did not understand the Phiz was with Helen on campus at all times, patiently sleeping through college lectures. purpose of what she was doing.

As correctly depicted in The Miracle Worker, it was Sullivan’s spelling of the word “water” followed by putting Helen’s hand under cold running water that opened the world to Helen. Once Helen understood that the hand movements provided information on specific objects, she was hungry for knowledge. She eagerly went from object to object for Sullivan to provide her with the name. Within a matter of days, Helen learned more than a hundred words.

Helen Keller’s Childhood Helen Keller was born to a well-to-do family in Tuscumbia, Alabama. When she was just 19 months, she became ill with what was probably scarlet fever. When she recovered from the illness, she was deaf and blind.

The family looked for solutions, consulting doctors and other advisors. For Helen, they hired an aide to be with her at all times. Helen encountered much frustration and vented her emotions by having tantrums. By necessity, she and her companion devised a personal form of sign language so that Helen could make her basic wants known, but she was young, and the process was imperfect.

Her calmest, happiest moments were with the family dogs.

Anne Sullivan Arrives Helen was almost 7 when the family connected with Anne Sullivan who was recommended by the staff of the Perkins School for the Blind. Sullivan could identify with some of what Helen experienced as she had low vision, even after several surgeries on her own eyes.

Sullivan’s early work with Helen required patience. Helen was accustomed to getting what she wanted, and she fought and kicked if she was not satisfied. Sullivan asked that she and Helen be permitted to live alone in a small cottage elsewhere on the property so that Helen would learn to trust and rely on her.

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Life Continues After receiving her college degree, Helen Keller lived with Anne Sullivan Macy and her husband John Macy, who was now part of Helen’s support team.

During this time, Keller devoted herself to writing and campaigning for what she believed. She stood up for worker rights, women’s suffrage, and became involved in the newly-formed American Civil Liberties Union.

However, her primary focus was campaigning for funds to help the blind. She became the official representative of the American Foundation for the Blind and traveled the world for the cause.

During the Depression, administrators with the AFB established a trust for Helen to take care of her financial needs for the rest of her life. She continued to travel and speak on their behalf until she suffered a stroke in 1961 and had to curtain her work.

Family Dogs Numerous photographs of Helen Keller depict her with various dogs. When Helen was a girl, her dog Belle was a particular favorite. She writes that she tried to teach Belle sign language, but Belle was utterly bored by the process and napped instead.

The family also had a dog named Jumbo that may have been a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and there was a bull mastiff named Lioness.

People and Dogs in Her Life Anne Sullivan Macy’s devotion to Helen Teaching Continues The Kellers managed to work out a plan was life-long. Though she and John Macy where Anne Sullivan remained with their eventually divorced, Helen continued to daughter for the rest of her schooling and live with Anne, and John remained part beyond. Sullivan accompanied her to of their support system. boarding school, and Helen fulfilled her Later when Anne Sullivan Macy sufdream of being accepted to attend Radcliffe. fered health problems, Helen and Anne During this time, Sullivan married a fel- added an assistant to their team. Polly low named John Macy who also became Thompson became an important figure in the household and traveled frequently a part of Helen’s life. with the women.

Dog at Radcliffe As an adult, Helen always kept dogs with By the time, Helen Keller entered her. One dog was named Stubby, and a Radcliffe, newspaper reporters often took French bull terrier was called Kaiser. Helen note of her whereabouts and her activi- described Sieglinde, a Great Dane, as the ties. One story that became syndicated most beautiful and intelligent of her dogs. concerned a visit Helen and classmates (More on Sieglinde in a moment.) made to a dog kennel in nearby Newton, First To Bring Akita to U.S. Massachusetts: “Last October the group visited the In the late 1930s, Helen Keller visNewton Kennels. One of the keepers ited Japan on behalf of the American released the dog, Sir Thomas. Though the Foundation for the Blind. She was enordog was said to be averse to strangers, he mously popular with the Japanese, and deliberately looked over the group of girls she loved her experiences there. and walked over to Miss Keller and laid his Continued Next Page

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During her trip, she heard the story of Hachiko, a loyal Akita (a medium-sized Japanese breed). Hachiko lived with his owner near Shibuya (the business center of Tokyo). One day the man left on a business trip for Hong Kong, leaving the dog with others. The fellow died during his travels, but for the rest of his life, Hachiko met the train that should have brought his owner home. At the Shibuya train station, there is a bronze statue honoring Hachiko.

Keller loved meeting other Akita dogs while there, and the story of Hachiko’s devotion truly touched her. She asked if she could have an Akita to take back to the United States. A few months later, a well-known Japanese Akita breeder sent a staff member to the United States by ship with a gift for Keller… an Akita named Kamikaze-Go.

(Keller and Sullivan Macy lived in Easton, Connecticut for a time) noting that the police received a call about the fact that “Helen Keller’s Japanese dog” was missing.

The dog was always found, but the household members must have been very worried.

“If I Could Choose but Two Items…”

In late 1929, Helen Keller was in Paterson, New Jersey, where her purebred Great Dane, Sieglinde, was to be shown in a dog show. While there, she visited a school, and a local columnist named Arthur Dean reported on her visit with the children: She told them: “Were my Maker to grant me but a single glance through these sightless eyes, and I could choose but two objects to behold, I would without question pray that my eyes portray of all things beautiful, first a child and then a dog.”

And More About Sieglinde Sieglinde, the Great Dane, was to make headlines later for learning to talk. In 1926, a reporter named Virginia Swain visited the Keller household to learn more about this amazing feat.

The sub-headline to her resulting story read: “Virginia Swain Hears Canine, Taught Like Blind Girl, Say Mama.”

The article is priceless on many levels, but from the beginning, Swain realizes this is no ordinary pet. She is let in by a houseman and Swain writes: ”A great tawny animal catapulted against me and I staggered.”

“Sieglinde won’t hurt you,” the houseman reassured her about the animal Swain New Akita Arrives Only months after the dog’s arrival to live describes as “the color of honey and “smallwith his new mistress, he died of distem- er than a pony.” per. (There was no commercially available Swain is then joined by Helen Keller’s vaccine for the disease until 1950.) When assistant, Miss Polly Thompson. Thompson the breeder heard what happened, he sent enters the room and speaks to the dog.

Kenzan-Go, a younger brother of Kamikaze Swain: “Sieglinde ceased her gyrations and climbed upon the davenport.” as a replacement.

Kenzan lived many years with Keller. As Thompson talks of the dog, she She referred to the breed as “angels in explained to Swain that Sieglinde never gets fur—gentle, companionable, and trusty.” out of anyone’s way—except for Helen’s.

Kenzan-Go, however, must have been a “If we stumble over her, she considers it bit of a wanderer. There are two separate our own affair.” But when Helen enters the mentions in Connecticut newspapers room, Sieglinde steps aside and watches her master until she is settled. Once Miss Keller sits down, Sieglinde runs to her puts her head in her lap to be petted.

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nothing happened, Helen asked them to stop. She felt Sieglinde was unsettled by not being able to learn what was being taught.

“Mama” Then Thompson explained: “A couple of months later we were all in the study when Sieglinde suddenly sat up and said “Mama!"

“We all startled at the noise.”

Over time, Mrs. Macy worked with her further to refine the sound, and now Sieglinde very clearly says “Mama!” Swain verified that the dog really did say the word.

She concluded the article with: “The dog now knows that’s her trump card."

“We are quite accustomed, when the meat platter passes, to hear a pathetic voice calling ‘mama from Sieglinde’s side of the table,” says Miss Thompson.

“If anybody questions the story, we are always ready to prove it.”

Thompson noted that they had not shared this story before was “because we should have to carry Sieglinde around country with us to prove the story. And she is too heavy to travel with.”

One presumes Sieglinde got to travel a little more than before.

The Love of a Dog “Nobody, who is not blind, as much as they may love their pet, can know what a dog’s love really means,” Helen Keller once told an interviewer. Even without sight or hearing, she could feel the inquisitive nudge of a dog’s wet nose and sense the love from a canine as he rested his head in her lap.

While any lover of dogs will feel that they, too, understand the importance of the love of a pet, no one will disagree with the fact that Helen Keller set a stellar example of human spirit and potential.

If she achieved what she did with a dog by her side, so much the better for her and for the world.

Teaching the Dog to Talk Sieglinde lived in the household for a few years, and the women were impressed by her intelligence. One day Mrs. Macy announced that she thought the dog could be taught to talk. She used cakes for training and started with the This article first appeared on the webword “mama.” Though Helen learned site, www.americacomesalive.com to voice sound by feeling the vibraAmerica Comes Alive publishes more tions in Sullivan’s throat, the women stories about American dogs and other felt Sieglinde could be taught to imitate animals. Visit the website and sign up for sound by hearing it.

“American Dogs” to receive the stories Work with the dog became a pleasant in your In Box. Or email Kate Kelly at entertainment for the women, but when kate@americacomesalive.com Winter 2020

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Love To Spoil Your Dog? Forensic Science and Wildlife The Dogs of Helen Keller Are Two Cats Better Than One?