4 Legs & a Tail LK Fall 2020

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Fall 2020

The Purrfect Cat Story The Lucky Donkeys Is Your Pet in Pain?

The Right Pet Diet Friend or Farm Animal

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

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3. The Donkey Days of Summer Found Their Way to New England Freedom rings for eight donkeys rescued by Tomten Farms

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5. The Four-legged Friend Behind This Year's Plaid Friday Event: Chuck the Chinook Jen Risley 6. Monadnock Humane Society Seeks Quantum Jump in its Ten Thousand Eyes Volunteer Membership Gary Lee 8. The Importance of Microchipping Your Cat Susan Tarczewski Will you be one of the 5% to find your missing cat?

9. Choosing The Right Rescue

Annie Guion

COVID has fueled pet adoptions. Make sure you pick the right rescue

10. Charity Begins at Home Marina Kinney From South Korea to New Hampshire, Charity settles in to her new life with her forever family

12. Bentley's Big Improvement

Caitlin Richard

A 12 year old shares her love of the family dog

14. National Fire Pup Day

Check out the timeline of the fire department dog on October 1

16. Veterans Wanted

A look at one professionals career in training service dogs

17. Litter Box Training Your Rabbit

Pg. 12

Crystal Milbauer

It's easier than you might think!

18. The Unexpected Snap!

Paula Bergeron

Pg. 30

Why shy dogs don't like to meet strangers

20. Therapeutic Riding During a Pandemic

Susan Miller

Check out the fall programs available for you at High Horses in Sharon, VT

22. In The Moment: Horses and Mindfulness

Now, more than ever is a time to connect with your horse

26. Friends, Family, or Farm Animal?

28. Love is Blind

Dorothy Crosby

Gerda Silver

A lack of eye sight didn't stop two horses from finding happiness

30. 2020: The Year of the Chipmunk?

Fall 2020

Scott Borthwick

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Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

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31. International Dark-Sky Association: Keeping The Skies Dark To Help The Planet Catherine Greenleaf

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How light affects animals

32. Your Pet May Be In Pain

M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

34. Arthritis in Dogs & Cats

Catherine MacLean, DVM

What your pet may be telling you The signs and solutions when arthritis sets in

36. Alternatively Speaking: Pets Have Anxiety Too! Anne Carroll, DVM, CVA 40. I Am Afraid of Anesthesia for My Pet Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS

It's a fear many of us have, but is it really warranted?

42. An Unexpected Visitor

Karen Sturtevant

During these unprecedented times, you never know who might show up

46. Pup With A Purpose

Karen Sturtevant

Meet the newest member of the Essex, VT police department

49. The Purrfect Story

Tanya Sousa

How disaster brought a cat and a young women together

50. For Pet's Sake: Adopting Any Pet Requires a Sense of Humor Ingrid Braulin

Pg. 42 52. Meal or Whole Meat?

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Choosing the right diet for your pet

54. John Muir's Dog, Stickeen

Kate Kelly

A historical account of the naturalist and his dog

58. Pets and Infectious Diseases in Children Peg Bolgioni 60. Proven Ways to Keep Cats and Wild Birds Safe Mallori Longevin

4 Legs & a Tail Volume L.320 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH 03766 603-727-9214 TimH.4LT@gmail.com 2 4 Legs & a Tail

Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Graphic Design: Kristin Wolff Sales: Karyn Swett, 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 Centeral & Southern 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.

Fall 2020

And this Fall, at Tomten Farm and Sanctuary, freedom rings for not one, not two, but eight special donkeys intended for slaughter.

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t is not often that one hears of a donkey going to slaughter but that is just where six recently rescued donkeys were originally destined due to the increasing demand for ejaio. But the universe had other plans and despite a world wide pandemic and a shortage of private auction buyers, they found their way to safety at Tomten Farm and Sanctuary of New Hampshire.

When made aware of their plight, Tomten embraced their “do more, be more and give more� philosophy and opened its gates to welcome the six lives in need. That number has since increased to eight, as two of the jennies are in foal!

Unhandled, mishandled and underweight, these needy lives were lucky to make it out of the auction pipeline thanks to the collaborative efforts of Tomten Farm and Sanctuary, out of state rescuer, Diana Darnell and the more than 50 Tomten supporters who rallied on their behalf. Their stories have already touched hundreds as they raise awareness, become ambassadors for others like them and begin their journey of peace, protection and possibility.

Continued Next Page

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As the demand for donkey hides continues, donkeys are losing their lives at an alarming rate as they are processed for their skins to make ejaio, a donkey hide gelatin used as an ingredient in Chinese medicine. According to Scientific American magazine, this product is in such high demand that, “if the current pace continues, more than half of the world’s donkeys would need to be slaughtered in the next five years”. Surprisingly, the United States is the third largest consumer of this product but thankfully, animal welfare organizations such as Tomten Farm and Sanctuary and industry leaders such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners are creating awareness of the 1.8 million donkey skins traded each year and condemning the inhumane transport and killing of donkeys to satisfy the escalating global trade.

“No matter what the season,” says Tomten Founder, Jenifer Vickery, “it is always a good time to give the gift of life and promote kindness. Every animal deserves to have their dreams come true and we are committed to giving each donkey a today, tomorrow and many happy years to come.” She, her loyal supporters and the unpaid volunteers of the nonprofit are hopeful that their recent donkey rescue will stimulate thought and spread joy at a time when many need a pick me up. They invite all to follow each donkey’s journey of healing and health on the organizations facebook page and are delighted that their presence has already brought joy to so many of all ages.

Tomten Farm and Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to providing peace, protection and possibility to animals in need. It is home to 50 + rescued animals, staffed solely by volunteers and relies 100% on donations. The Sanctuary has a temporarily hold on public events due to Covid-19 but is still offering limited size visits for their life giving supporters throughout the year.

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The Four-Legged Friend Behind This Year’s Plaid Friday Event:

Shown in comic relief and wearing an Official State Tartan (aka Plaid) tie, he is thought of as “Chuck

Chuck the Chinook Jen Risley - Keene, NH

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his article highlights a different kind of four-legged friend, a wonderful one-year-old Chinook dog from Keene, NH named Chuck. Chuck and his owner, Dan Brown, volunteered to promote this year’s Plaid Friday event in the Monadnock Region and throughout the state.

Please keep reading to learn more about Chuck and Plaid Friday.

Chinooks, the official state dog of New Hampshire, were bred as sled dogs in Tamworth, NH by Arthur Treadwell Walden in 1917. Walden was an arctic explorer and sled dog driver. “Chinnoks are smart, gentle, strong and love New England winters,” Dan shared. To learn more about Chinooks, see the Fall 2019 Four Legs and a Tail issue.

“He and I routinely take a walk through the downtown and on most Saturdays through the Farmers’ Market.” Dan continued. “Chuck can also be found on the rail trail, at the Surry Dam, Stonewall Farm and sometimes chasing trout in the Asheulot river. His favorite things are meeting people, educating them about his officialdom, and belly rubs.

His least favorite thing, like most dogs, is being told leave it.”

Chuck takes none of our New Hampshire businesses for g ranite. His LupinePet Eco collar and leash, made from recycled plastic bottles in Conway, NH, is the color granite, of course. As big buy local fans, Chuck and Dan love Plaid Friday.

Plaid Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, celebrates the diversity and creativity of local and independent businesses. It’s a fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday” consumer frenzy. Also, it’s a way to show your support for our local economy. Please plan to wear PLAID all day on November 27.

Last year, Chuck’s interest in Plaid Friday peaked after he saw a poster highlighting another Keene-based dog named Chloe. She was sitting outside of Prime Roast Coffee Roasters on Main Street, sporting a plaid coat complete with plaid ear coverings. Chuck was smitten.

So, he and Dan dreamed up an annual pet photo contest, a fun way to educate people about Plaid Friday. We made Fall 2020

Chuck the inaugural winner to get things started. “He now thinks of himself as an Economic Stimulus Chuck,” joked Dan. “As a sort of an Ambassadog, Chuck hopes everyone will join the Monadnock Plaid Friday gala, with the tag line: Wearing plaid gets a discount, ties optional.” Stay tuned for more Plaid Friday details at tlcmonadnock.com/ plaidfriday.

Why did Dan pick the name, Chuck?

“So a person can enjoy Chucking the chin of Chuck the Chinook,” answered Dan. “Chuck’s official AKC name is Forever Greene Moses Fisk. He was born to a mom from Vermont and a dad from here in Cheshire County. Chuck is a nephew by kennel to Charger the Chinook, a Vietnam veteran.” Learn more about Charger at intervalechinooks. net/Charger.html.

Following in his Uncle’s paw prints, Chuck befriended members of the 238th Medevac Helicopter Co, NHANG. “He wants to give further howdies to Operational Support Airlift Detachment 18, The National Guard members helping with the COVID crisis, and all New Hampshire Servicemen and women away from home,” said Dan. “He thank you for your dedication and awaits your safe return.”

We look forward to seeing you and your pets in plaid on Plaid Friday! Know of a working dog, cat, or other animals 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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Monadnock Humane Society Seeks Quantum Jump In Its Ten Thousand Eyes Volunteer Membership Gary Lee - Keene, NH

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here is power in numbers, you’ve heard it before. Large sums of people banding together to do a deed not possible by the few. But it isn’t just a numbers game, any goal-oriented effort needs coordination in the form of a leader or a tool to funnel disparate group energy into a game-changing focus.

I recently watched a Buzzfeed video on Facebook where a small crowd of people were trying to figure out how many of them —men and women mixed— it would take to lift a 2700 pound automobile completely off the ground. They started, comically, with just one person and added others after each failed attempt. At nineteen, two tires had remained touching the pavement and so they added four more bodies to the team. They failed again. Did they lack the muscle? Nope.

Their effort was, simply, uncoordinated.

One of the Buzzfeed team observed that

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they were not lifting at the same time, meaning not at exactly the same time.

He instructed the lifters to listen more carefully to the 1,2,3 count and to focus their maximum effort specifically on the word “three” instead of on the beat that followed. They practiced their timing several times without lifting and then tried once more. This time all four tires lifted a couple of inches off the ground for several seconds.

What made the difference in this example is what we can call collective power, the summing of each individual’s strength at the exact moment when it is needed, versus the distributed power of a fullstrength, yet offset, lift effort where the maximum force is never great enough for success. Here we see that the brute force of big numbers is important but so is a groups’ concerted effort. Social revolutions happen in this way. Whether they succeed or fail can be a matter of a groups’ power is that of the collective or the more distributed, hence dissipated, nature.

The Volunteers At MHS, using the TTE website and database, we want to experiment with a related phenomenon in an effort to reunite lost pets and their families. There are two main components to this model: 1. The brute force of a “standing army” of volunteers numbering 5000 or more.

2. The organizing, collective power of the Internet, and the ubiquitous use of computing devices to immediately inform our volunteers of newly posted missing pets and rouse them in a call to action. Like lifting the car, we first need enough TTE Micro-Vols to provide the overall brute force of so many informed eyes looking out for lost animals and their quick action if it is needed. Timing is crucial because the length of time that a pet is wandering has an alarming effect on its ever being recovered. After only five days away from home, the chance on a cat being reunited is less than half what it was after the second day. A dog’s chance is a little better.

Our volunteers agree to receive an email from us —no more than 1 in a single day— announcing all pets lost in the last twenty-four hours and their last known Fall 2020

TenThousandEyes.org

is a lost pet reuniting strategy that combines, equally, the power of technology and the power of The (pet-loving) People of the Monadnock region. TTE was created in partnership between a private donor and MHS.

Note: This is something you will feel good about, it isn’t hard work, and it is a certified MHS social-distance activity.

It takes only about a minute or so to sign up at tenthousandeyes.org and, we promise, you’ll have all available missing pet alerts on your device early in the day, to browse while savoring that first cup of morning coffee. Mmmm.

location. A link in the email leads to the lost animal’s photo and other critical information needed to identify the wayfarer. Also, each pet’s post contains a link to contact the owner directly or to contact MHS. Once a “spotter” connects with a likely owner by email, the two may continue to correspond, trading updates. All volunteers receive the email alert at the same time, —the 1,2,3 count— are asked to look at the post(s) and, as they go about their daily routine, to maintain a heightened level of awareness about these lost animals. As a volunteer, your role can be as active as you want it to be: Paste the missing pet information into your social media page. Click the share link on the Missing Pet info. card to forward an email to a friend. Take a walk in an area where one of these pets has been reported missing —bring your smartphone for a positive id check if you do— Of course, even nonmembers can check tenthousandeyes.org at any time, though they won’t receive those friendly email nudges from TTE. The Numbers Mission With the organizing technology in place, our aim now is to increase the number of our Micro-Vols from 400 to 5000 within the next 2 years. And to keep going from there.

What You Can Do to Participate Donate your eyes by joining the MHS/ TTE Micro-Vols, take a healthy walk now and then while keeping your eyes peeled.

See what happens!

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The Importance of Microchipping Your Cat Susan Tarczewski

Bernard is ready for his cat nap

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arlier this year, a local woman opened her door only to find a skinny, disheveled male Persian cat on her doorstep. This kind woman made some phone calls, and the cat was brought to the Sullivan County Humane Society in Claremont. He clearly had been on the streets going hungry for some time.

Shelter staff determined that he needed

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to see a vet very quickly because he was so underweight, and had some eye discharge. He was christened Bernard and sent to the vet for evaluation and treatment. Upon examination, the vet found that he was a very affectionate senior cat in need of medical treatment. Shelter staff initially thought he might have been abandoned because of his age and health conditions. Bernard was able to be treated right away so he could start on the path to better health and quality of life. The goal of the staff and volunteers of SCHS is to preserve, protect, and provide for stray, neglected, and abused animals. Bernard was desperately in need of that help. Luckily for him, SCHS has a microchip scanner to use on any cats brought in as strays.

A microchip is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device implanted under an animal’s skin. Unlike a collar, the microchip can’t be lost or deliberately removed. The chips, when scanned, activate an identification number in

the scanner. This number can then be used to link to the owner of the animal.

An essential piece of the puzzle is the registration of the microchip. When a chip is placed, it must be registered by the owner of the animal. Importantly, the registration must be kept current!

Registration with a disconnected phone number is useless when trying to reunite a lost pet with its owner. Most shelters in the United States have a scanner available to use when taking in a new lost or stray animal.

In terms of safety, microchips are very safe for animals. A microchip is encased in a non-toxic material and will not cause any issues as long as the chip is properly implanted using a sterile needle.

Implantation is a little uncomfortable, rather like having blood drawn. The entire device is about the size of a grain of rice and is usually implanted between the shoulder blades, although sometimes the microchips migrate to another location in the body. This makes it important that the RFID scanner used to detect the chip be waved over the cat’s body, not just between the shoulder blades. If your pet has a chip, it may be worthwhile to ask your vet to check the location of the chip during annual exams.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that approximately 3.4 million cats enter animal shelters each year in the US. Of these, only about 100,000 cats who enter as strays are reunited with their owners, well under 5%. Sadly, about 41% of cats entering shelters nationally are euthanized.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the return rate for microchipped cats is dramatically higher, about 38%. Our friend Bernard was one of these fortunate few. When SCHS staff checked him for a microchip, they found one. It turned out that this sweet elderly gentleman was a 16-year-old beloved pet who had snuck outdoors while his mom was distracted. She was simply elated when she received the call notifying her that he had been located!

They were both relieved and grateful to be reunited. While we can’t release his real name, his mom told SCHS staff that he had a new middle name: Bernard!

Bernard’s tale is one with a happy ending, but not all cats are so lucky. Sullivan County Humane Society is there to help animals in trouble. It is a no-kill shelter and provides many other services to Sullivan County, including regular low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

For more information about SCHS, please visit their website at https://sullivancountyhumanesociety.org/ or their Facebook page.

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WCHS and other VT shelters work with our trusted partners, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey. One reason we love transporting with St Hubert’s is that they work with the sending shelters in the south to improve their overall operations. Every dog brought north for adoption results in a $25 payment to the sending shelter in the south. St. Hubert’s staff visits with these shelters to help improve their daily operations and has also sent shelter staff to national conferences for professional development.

While brick and mortar shelters in Vermont honored the ban, not all rescues did. If you are looking for a dog online, here are some recommendations to help you choose wisely:

Choosing The Right Rescue

• Do your research and make sure the organization is truly a non-profit. Don’t take their word for it on their website. Check them out on the IRS webpage or look them up on Guidestar to see their financials, mission, and more. Any group transporting dogs that is not a non-profit might be taking dogs from puppymills and marketing them as “rescued” to profit from the sale of dogs.

• All pets being transported over state lines are required to have a health certificate. It should be signed by a veterinarian within 10 days of transport.

Ask any group you are working with if they are aware of and comply with this requirement • While many places will list their animals as located in Brattleboro, the dogs are often actually somewhere down south. Some rescue groups are doing great work pulling dogs from shelters and ensuring that adopters get excellent postadoption support. Some, however, have no staff or foster homes in New England.

Ask any group you are working with to share their policy for post-adoption support and ask what happens if the adoption does not work out.

Annie Guion - Brattleboro, VT

If you choose to adopt with Vermont’s brick and mortar shelters, you can rest assured that the animal came from a shelter and not from a puppy mill, that all n 2019, 55% of dogs and 30% of cats the required regulations around transport were followed, that your adoption fee coming to the Windham County Humane will support all of our programs, and that we will be here if things don’t work out.

Society (WCHS) came via transport. WCHS Adopting a new family member is a huge undertaking. It’s not always a perfect fit is not an anomaly in that regard. Most right from the start. We are here to make sure that you, your family, and your pet shelters in New England transport ani- are all doing well and navigating your new lives together successfully. mals both to meet the desire for families who want to adopt and to save the lives of animals in places where euthanasia is still a way to deal with overpopulation. New England shelters transport these animals while still meeting the needs of local animals. This is largely due to progressive practices, most notably providing affordable spay and neuter services, which led to a decrease in the local pet population.

The pandemic resulted in a ban on the importation of animals into Vermont. This was a wise move on the state’s part, because due to a lack of laws around importation, many large trucks come just over the border to hand puppies and dogs out to eager adopters. This practice was leading to large groups of people gathering in parking lots. The problem is, no one is monitoring those large trucks, some of which have 200 dogs on board and come to VT every week. Some are viable, reputable rescues. However, there are reports from police of trucks that don’t have a current transport license or health certificates for every dog, as required by law. Some of these trucks are transporting dogs for organizations that look like non-profits on their website, but are not a registered 501©3. There is some concern that some of these dogs are coming from puppy mills while being marketed as “rescues”.

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Charity Begins

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Home

Marina Kinney - Enfield, NH

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henever a family brings a new pet home, there is some degree of uncertainty about the pet’s true personality.

Though modern shelters like UVHS work hard to reduce stress on the animals and enrich their experience, it still remains an unfamiliar place. For that reason, pets can behave differently in animal shelters and only let their true colors shine when they relax into a new, loving home with a family they can call their own.

That was the case with a dog named Charity. Charity was rescued from a meat factory in South Korea. In April 2016, she came to UVHS through the husband of our former executive director.

Charity’s journey was difficult, to say the least. Having been raised in a metal cage, her paws were deformed and her toes splayed. She may not have ever seen the outside of her cage at the meat farm.

At UVHS, she had to learn how to walk on normal floors and even grass, which was also a phenomenon to her. In fact, it took her a couple of months to conquer her fear of the play yard.

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She was a quirky dog with a dark past and needed a very special human to love her. It took over two years until that person came along. When Peg met Charity, she started crying and exclaimed that she was so excited to bring her home and give her all of the love she deserved. Peg knew it was going to be a journey with many ups and downs, but she was prepared and had patience.

All of the staff at UVHS cried tears of joy when Charity went home and are excited whenever they receive updates on her progress. Peg got in touch with UVHS in July 2020 to let everyone know how Charity is doing.

“Charity-Ann is just thriving in family life. She is such a character - she is sweet, lovable, and loves her kids to the moon and back as they do her. Once I realized she is blind as a bat, all the problems were resolved. She no longer charges people or attacks everybody that approaches her if they just talk to her first. She is very relaxed now and very secure with her surroundings. We are together 24/7. She sleeps with her face on my shoulder and sits with me all day while I work. She is so human and smart it is just unreal. Charity is in good hands and living like a queen.”

Charity is incredibly lucky that she found Peg and that Peg had the patience and understanding to let her canine friend adjust to her new home.

Staff at UVHS are always available to assist families that adopt from us no matter how long it’s been. We want to help address behavioral issues or concerns that families have to ensure their happiness and the well being of their new furry family member.

In case you’ve recently adopted a dog or are considering it, here are some of the helpful tips we offer adopters: 1) When You Get Home, Give Them Time to Settle: While it is tempting to introduce your dog to your friends and extended Fall 2020

family right away, we caution you to give your new pet some time to settle in. Going from the shelter to a home environment can be very overwhelming. Giving them time to get to know you and your home first can help ease their transition.

2) Leash Them Up!: Keeping a leash on your dog in the house when you first get them home can be incredibly helpful. By stepping on the leash or picking up the leash, you can prevent your new dog from running away from you, getting into things, or marking (house-soiling).

If you do not have a fenced-in yard, we recommend keeping your dog on a leash outside until you are 100% confident that they will come when you call. Remember, your dog is brand-new to you. Letting it off-leash too soon could result in your dog running away.

3) Introductions: Making introductions too quickly can be very stressful for all involved. By taking your time and introducing everyone slowly, you will hopefully have one big happy family. With any introductions, make sure you’re totally comfortable with interactions before leaving them alone together!

Teach your kids to respect the new dog.

When they engage, watch the dog for signs of stress, such as licking their lips.

If you have a dog at home already, you hopefully had a dog introduction before adopting. When you get home, acquaint

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them slowly over a couple of weeks and give them plenty of time away from one another.

When introducing your dog to your cat(s), make sure you do so in a place where your cats can safely retreat if needed. Having your dog on a leash during the introduction will help give you more control over the introduction. Some hissing, growling, swatting from your cat is to be expected. Treats as a reward for good behavior are always a great idea for both dogs and cats!

If you have space in your heart and home for a new pet, make sure to visit our website at www.UVHS.org.

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Bentley’s Big Improvement Caitlin Richardson

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y name is Caitlin Richardson and I have a Black Labrador named Bentley. This story about Bentley is to tell about his improvement in his behavior and happiness.

Bentley is my first dog. My birthday wish every year when I was younger was to get a dog. I didn’t even know we were getting a dog, so I was so happy when we got Bentley. He came to us from the Upper Valley Humane Society when he was one year old. When Bentley came to live with my family and I in Grantham, NH, he caused lots of trouble. He would get into the trash, steal food from the counter, and he wasn’t good to people or dogs. He was always territorial and very protective of our family.

When Bentley was six years old, he started living with my grandparents on their farm in Sunapee, NH. He was introduced to the dogs that lived there, and luckily he adjusted to them after a while. He got better with people too by greeting people at the door when they come through. Now at eight years old, Bentley loves being with our family. He loves to go on walks with me and ride in the car, and just this year I taught Bentley many new tricks! I never thought I would see Bentley so content as I do now. I have so much fun with him when I see him every weekend. Bentley is now living happily on my grandparent’s farm.

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Caitlin Richardson is 12 years old and enjoys reading the 4 Legs & a Tail magazine.

Fall 2020

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National Fire Pup Day

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ational Fire Pup Day on October 1 honors canine members of America’s fire departments. Dogs have historically worked, lived, and slept alongside members of local fire departments. Although most people only associate Dalmatians with firefighting, there are actually many different breeds that do this kind of thing. And they’re not just companion animals, either. Many of these pups work fires and their aftermath, participating in search-and-rescue missions. There’s a long, interesting history surrounding fire pups. Let’s take a look.

NATIONAL FIRE PUP DAY TIMELINE

​2 000 s

​F ire Pups Became Mascots ​As firefighting techniques became more modernized, fire departments began using Dalmatians and other fire pups as resident mascots. In addition to serving as companions, they guarded the firehouse and assisted with community outreach.

1800 s

​Carriage Dogs Became Fire Pups When fire departments began utilizing horse-drawn fire carriages, Dalmatians remained alongside these contraptions since they proved to have a calming effect on the horses.

1700 s

​ almatians Became Popular D ‘Carriage Dogs’ ​Wealthy noblemen used so-called carriage or coach dogs to protect themselves and their possessions during long treks through bandit-infested territories. Dalmatians proved to be especially adept at this task.

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HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL FIRE PUP DAY 1. Adopt a fire-rescued dog Fire stations sometimes take in dogs who have survived a fire — only to get left behind in the aftermath. You can adopt these dogs, usually during fire department benefits.

2. Donate to the cause There are a lot of ways to get involved with your local fire department, and educational initiatives are especially helpful. Find out how you can donate your time or money.

3. Become a volunteer firefighter Volunteer fire departments protect many communities across the U.S. If you think that might be a good fit for you, look into becoming one.

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(WELL... 3 ) REASONS WE LOVE THESE DOGS

1. They help catch arsonists Dogs have moved beyond being “carriage dogs” and firefighting mascots to actually helping investigators determine the cause of a fire. The super-sensitive noses of “acceleration detection canines” can sniff out evidence of arson.

2. Talented Dals Dalmatians made great “carriage dogs” and firefighting companions since their unique look made them easy to spot during nighttime, smoke-filled situations.

3. Canine instincts are uncanny ​In 2012, a blind, deaf, three-legged Dachshund named True alerted its owner to a fire in their home. Everything was destroyed, but the family and True made it out alive.

WHY NATIONAL FIRE PUP DAY IS IMPORTANT 1. It’s time to honor their bravery Animals have a long history of assisting humans in dangerous situations. Fire pups are just as brave — and deserve to be recognized — just as much as dogs who have worked in wars, during natural disasters, or at crime scenes.

2. We owe fire pups our love and admiration Dogs have been bred to be loyal and loving. Firedogs have the added responsibility of providing that loyalty to people who work in especially dangerous situations.

3. Firefighters need all the help they can get Firefighting is a tough gig. Dogs provide a measure of companionship that helps keep our firefighters happy, content, and focused.

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Veterans Wanted!

onroe’s K9 Academy in Charlestown NH is actively looking to work with Veterans. If you are a veteran and would like to have some help with training your dog Deb is offering discounted rates for you. She is also qualified to train Service Dogs.

When it comes to training our dogs there are many options.

Deb work to teach your dog to be obedient, polite, and accepting. Utilizing a Trainer/Owner at Home Training Method helps dog learn quickly. Beginning in an unfamiliar environment and ending the lesson in the familiar surroundings of the dog’s home. Owners learn how to reinforce the skills learned after class at home.

Dogs can provide many services to people in need. Everything from physical handicaps to PDSD and beyond our fluffy little friends can be there 24/7. This relationship is priceless for both the owner and the dogs. Deb has had many service dogs she has helped. She loves telling the stories of the successes.

Deb has been an animal trainer since 2007. Working with animals is her passion, but more than anything, she wants to help individuals in need of a guide, hearing or service dog. “I believe that many people with handicaps can lead a much fuller life if they have a trained service dog.”

A service dog is a dog individually trained, to directly benefit a specific individual with a disability, such as visual or hearing impairment. Additionally, some are trained to do other work, such as mobility assistance, seizure alert or other medical alerts, and as psychiatric service dogs.

Fully training a service dog can be very expensive. In some cases, organizations do not charge for a service dog, while in another they may charge thousands of dollars. In any event there is a waiting period.

She works directly with individuals, helping them to train their own dog. In this way a stronger bond is created, and that person’s service needs are met, resulting in a happier animal and a fuller life for the owner.

Debra has trained a Doberman to be a mobility service dog, and trained a rescue dog to be a service dog. She had a long-haired German that was trained to get her shoes in the morning,

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turn a light switch on and off, pull her jacket off as well as pulling socks on and off, and open a cupboard with a leash as well as retrieving a TV remote or the phone. One of her dogs was also trained to respond to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This came in very handy when her dog woke her in the middle of the night to warn of an alert in the basement. Even her Aussie has gotten in on the action, herding the family therapy goat!

This is from one of her clients: My name is Katherine Kopij and I have had the privilege of working with Debra Monroe the last few months with training our two standard poodle pups to be allergy alert dogs for my two children.

We started when the pups came to us around age 6 months, and since then we have gotten to a point where they both behave nicely in public and are starting to learn to detect certain allergens.

Both dogs have their own personality and Debra has been able to work around what learning style works best for each pup. One of the unique challenges that we have come up against is that one of the pups is blind, I was hesitant in the beginning, but Debra help show us that a disability shouldn’t hold one back, so shadow our blind pup is now showing us what she is made of and acing everything she is taught. Debra is also able to work around our schedule, and is extremely reasonable with her pricing, you can tell she is in it to help not just make money off of people. Life with two children with additional needs can be very expensive and being able to get an assistance dog for them seemed to be way out of our reach, but with the help of Debra, a dream of having assistance dogs to help give my two children and myself a safety net for them is now coming true.

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Litter Box Training Your Rabbit Crystal Milbauer - Beau’s Maple Leaf Rabbitry

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id you know you could litter box train your rabbits? Well, you can it is very easy! Rabbits are very smart and they can learn very quickly.

One important thing to remember when having your rabbit use a litter box is using the correct litter.

Wood pellets, Pine shavings, Feline Pine, or Care Fresh Bedding is good to use. The Wood Pellets or Feline Pine will help absorb the urine more and help cut down on the smell.

Never use cedar shavings for litter or bedding, it can cause upper respiratory. Also never use regular cat litter or clumping litter, if ingested it can cause a blockage.

Once you have the supplies you need, follow the steps below, and you’re on your way to having a litter box train rabbit!

LITTER BOX TRAINING: Start with a litter box in the cage. If she/ he urinates in a corner of the enclosure, not in the littler box, move the box to that corner until she/he gets it right. Take some of the dirty shavings/ poop and place it in the litter box. Don’t be concerned if your bunny curls up in her/his litter box; this is natural.

Once she/he is using the box in their enclosure, open the door and allow extra space. Watch them go in and out on their own. If she/he heads to a corner where there’s no box or lifts up the tail in the characteristic fashion, cry “no” in a single, sharp burst of sound. Gently herd her/ him back to their enclosure and into one of the litter boxes. Be careful, you don’t want to make the enclosure or the litter box seem like a punishment.

Rabbits like to graze and poop at the same time so keeping hay in the litter box gets them to use it and to eat more hay. If a few poops end-up outside the litter box place them in the box. After she/ he first uses the box, praise and give a favorite treat. Once she/he uses the box in her room a couple of times, you’re well on your way, as her/his habits will be on their way to forming.

As she /he gets better trained in her/ his first room, you can increase the space.

Don’t hurry this process, and if the area becomes very big, or includes a second floor, be sure to include more litter boxes Fall 2020

so as not to confuse. Remember, as she/he becomes more confident and uses fewer boxes, you can start to remove some of the early “training” boxes.

PILLS (POOP): All rabbits will drop pills around their enclosure to mark it as their own. This is not a failure to be litter-trained. It is very important for your rabbit to identify the enclosure as her/his property so that when she/he leaves the area for the bigger world of your house, she/he will distinguish the family’s area from her own and avoid marking it. To encourage this, make the rabbit the king of her/his enclosure. Try not to force her/him in or out of it; coax them. Do not do things to her/his cage that she/he doesn’t like while she/he is in it. Spay/Neuter can help also!

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THE UNEXPECTED

SNAP! Why shy dogs don’t like to meet strangers.

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Paula Bergeron - Grafton, NH

ave you ever gone to pet a dog who seems to want your affection but at the last minute they shy back, growl, or even snap in your direction? Generally when this happens owners are baffled and embarrassed and guests feel surprised or put off by what they deem an unfriendly dog. In truth this is not necessarily the reaction of a grouchy dog, it is a natural reaction of a shy or anxious dog.

Why is it natural for a dog to run or snap when you go to pet them????? The answer is as old as time… the instinctual response to a threat; Fight or Flight.

When any creature, including humans, feels threatened we instinctively respond to either run for our lives or defend ourselves and our dogs are no different. When a dog is looking to flee you may see them crouch, crawl, turn their head away, or actually bolt in a panic.

To defend themselves a dog may growl, become suddenly still, raise their lip, air snap, or lunge forward and bite.

The fight or flight response becomes confusing when it seems that the dog was seeking attention by coming towards you with a wagging tail. Why then do they suddenly feel threatened??? Well, it is more than likely that when the dog came forward to seek attention, you also came forward to meet them. At some point, we overstep the dog’s tolerance for a stranger in their space. Space is an important instinct to maintain safety, and even we feel this as humans. We all know the uncomfortable feeling when

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someone steps in too close… usually we feel the need to move. lean, or at least tilt our head away from the invader. Our dogs tend to have a stronger reaction… taking away their space means we have taken away their ability to flee…. now have nothing left but their fight response.

How then can we meet shy dogs without triggering the fight or flight response?

EASY! Don’t move. Allow a dog to come up to you. Do not walk into, bend over, or reach out your hand to invite a dog to sniff. Just be still, allow the dog to come to you. Let dogs get to know you by their favorite method of investigation, sniffing. Be still as they sniff, then ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE. BUT…. I WANT TO PET DOGS screams every dog lover who can hardly restrain themselves from touching every dog they see. (by the way, I get these folks… I feel the same way) Well, the rule of thumb is if a dog chooses to sniff you, when they are finished they will turn away. If they return to you within 3 to 5 seconds they are probably comfortable with your presence enough to be touched, but to play it safe I let the dog do their sniffing routine a second time, before I attempt to touch them. Before I go in for an under the chin scratch I always ask owners if I have their permission to engage with their dog. And let’s be clear don’t ask for permission as you are reaching out to the dog, look at the owners and be ready to accept the answer of no. Remember you do not want every person on the street to touch you, then why on earth do we expect our dogs to be any different.

If you love dogs, then you will be willing to give each dog what they want and need, and shy dogs need space. So next time a dog attempts to come to meet you, stay still, allow them to sniff, and allow them to leave if that is all they want, they will truly love you for it! Happy Training!

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 Fall 2020

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Therapeutic Riding During a Pandemic W

Susan Miller - Sharon, VT

e’ve been dealing with some strange and uncertain times just lately with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though High Horses had to close its doors for a while and restructure. We took the time to revise our services, devised plans for safely phasing back our riders which is still a work in progress. We are delighted to see that the community has a need for our services. Even in the midst of a pandemic we are gaining new riders wanting to join our programming. We are coming back stronger than ever. It is with heartfelt thanks to our supporters that we continue to move forward. We have discovered that High Horses is a moving experience in so many ways, whether riding or bonding with the horses and volunteers. It’s more than just a ride. High Horses is a place of inclusion, where its normal to be different, it’s even appreciated, the barn is a place to come for alternative approaches to wellness.

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We have been working hard to come up with new programming that can help during the odd lifestyle changes we are navigating with family’s home more and the uncertainty of kids going back to school. We are aware that some families may be choosing to home school with the demands of new work schedules. High Horses has two great new offerings. We have virtual lesson programs where students can learn about horses by taking a virtual lesson. In a virtual lesson, you can learn about yoga that is good for riding, learn about horses’ colors & markings and enjoy Storytime with one of our horses too. Our virtual lesson program continues to expand.

This fall High Horses is also planning a morning class at the farm where small units of school-age children from the same family or neighborhood can come to learn about the horses for hands-on experience. No more than 6 children at a time. There is no riding offered in this program, but many opportunities to interact with the horses and learn about them.

We will offer parents a comfortable quiet area with the internet to relax or get some work done while the kids enjoy a learning environment. There will be coffee and water available.

We continue to offer our SAGE program on Thursday evening for anyone that is dealing with chronic illness, especially cancer. A group of no more than 8 can sign up each week to explore experiential learning utilizing the power of the horse for regaining strength and a sense of peace. Other modalities like Yoga, music, aromatherapy, journaling, etc… may also be incorporated.

We of course are still offering all of our other programs as well. Our Hippotherapy program now offers Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy & Speech Language Pathology. We are excited to now be offering all three of these much-needed modalities in an environment other than a clinical setting. Hippotherapy is a service that is prescribed by a physician and is a modality that is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional goals.

We continue to offer the Unbridled Freedom Program for veterans. The Vermont Veterans Affairs Department in White River junction can help veterans enjoy time horseback by paying for the first 10 visits and finding other grants. Both our therapeutic riding and Connections Fall 2020

our aging population to feel isolated. We want them to get out and enjoy mobility & what better way than horseback! Riding quickens reflexes and memory. If you are having posture, balance, or impaired coordination we can help you with this program. No prior horse experience is needed.

Our most popular program is therapeutic riding which can cover a broad range of issues to help participants to achieve goals that enhance physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral, and educational skills for people who have disabilities.

All of our instructors are trained & certified as Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH International) riding instructors and have many years of experience helping those in our community enjoy time with horses whether riding or facilitating a bond with the horse in an unmounted program.

programs can be geared toward veterans with physical or psychological barriers including PTSD. The Connections program combines equine facilitated activities and experiential learning. This program provides the participant with opportunities to enhance

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self-awareness, to practice adaptive behaviors, to explore thoughts and feelings, and experience support. This program is facilitated by a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and an equine specialist.

Our Grey Horse program is open to anyone over the age of 50. We don’t want

If you have an interest in any of the programs we are offering, please visit our website for further information or email program@highhorses.org or call our office at 802-763-3280. We are also always looking for good volunteers, whom many say they get just as much out of a lesson as the clients do. For volunteer information, please contact Ellen Zaika our volunteer coordinator at volunteer@highhorses.org or 802-763-3281.

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IN THE MOMENT:

HORSES AND MINDFULNESS The Cheshire Horse

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or many equestrians, methodically cleaning stalls transcends into an act of unintentional meditation. Your mind clears and you can focus only on the job at hand which in turn has calming effects. However, the power of spending time around horses goes far beyond the meditative value of chores.

In this blog post, we explore the connection between horses and mindfulness, while taking a look at how approaching our equestrian activities with mindfulness and intent can improve our relationship with not only our horses but also with ourselves.

What is Mindfulness?

Before mindfulness connected with horses can be examined, it’s important to understand what mindfulness is on its own. According to Tom Bassarear, the founder of the Monadnock

Mindfulness Practice Center (MMPC) in Keene, NH, “Mindfulness is the bringing of one’s full attention to the present moment.” Many of the practice members

at MMPC use different types of meditation (breathing, walking, etc.) to deepen their practice of mindfulness.

“The practice of mindfulness enhances clarity, deepening our understanding of [the] self and others while opening the capacity to make a positive difference in the world around us,” Tom explains. “Multiple studies of the benefits of mindfulness meditation have demonstrated that regular practice can enrich daily living. People who come to the Center report that developing a meditation practice helps to deal with challenging stresses and anxieties, including parenting, a demanding job, a serious illness, or loss of a loved one.”

Mindfulness can come in many forms.

It can be an expanded guided meditation practice or as simple as slowing down and striving to pay more attention to the world around you. Mindfulness encourages you to disengage from the media and take in the sights and sounds of the moment while vacating your mind from problematic thinking, stress, and worry.

The benefits of mindfulness are seemingly endless and continue to grow as research increases. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Meditation and mindfulness have been studied in many clinical trials. The overall evidence supports the effectiveness of various conditions, including stress, anxiety, pain, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure (hypertension). Preliminary research indicates that meditation can also help people with asthma and fibromyalgia.”

The Equestrian Connection So, what does this have to do with horses? When we are in the barn, stress, unwelcome thoughts and anxiety tend to melt away. Instead, time with our horses encourages us to be in the moment and focus on our link to these incredible animals. As human consciousness evolves, our connection with ourselves deepens and we can realize the incredible connection between thought-free awareness and our equine counterparts.

Because horses live entirely in the present, they are a living study of mindfulness.

Their acute ability to be in the moment Continued Page 24

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allows them to pick up on our subtle body language cues and emotions. Horses often mirror our feelings and if we are displaying stress, nervousness, or strong emotions, they tend to display the same. This equine unbiased feedback gives us the ability to see ourselves better and challenge us to steady ourselves.

Once equestrians begin to practice mindfulness themselves, the results radiate outward to others. As you and your horse begin to forge a deep, peaceful connection with one another, you can communicate more clearly and without fear. Many people discover that they can show more patience and fully listen to their horse’s needs once they have discovered the power of living in the moment and paying attention to the world around them.

Many equestrian-based programs are using mindfulness training and the power of horses to help humans become more in tune with their emotions and heal from past traumas. Equine-assisted and equine-facilitated therapies focus on the shared consciousness of horse and rider or handler to expand awareness and establish a calm and relaxed feeling of safety. Equine-guided therapies that focus on the mindfulness movement and connection with horses have proven to be effective in recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD), anxiety, addiction, and many more mental health challenges.

Charles de Kunffy, USDF Hall of Fame master horseman, author, clinician, and judge, summed it up perfectly in his journals, “Horses forge the mind, the character, the emotions and inner lives of humans. People can talk to one another about all these things and remain distanced and lonesome. In partnership with a horse, one is seldom lacking for thought, emotion, and inspiration. One is always attended by a great companion.”

Exercises in Mindfulness While the act of being with our horses encourages us to be in the moment, it makes sense to practice mindfulness both in the barn and in our everyday lives. In Our Horses, Ourselves: Discovering the Common Body, dancer, choreographer, and passionate equestrian Paula Josa-Jones combines her love of movement and meditation with the inspirational power of horses. In this book, she showcases how guided meditations and movement exercises can help equestrians achieve a soft, fluid connection with our equine partners.

Paula’s teachings incorporate 65 mounted and unmounted exercises, as well as strategies to build on your mindfulness practice. She explains, “The result is we not only have a closer, more intuitive connection with our horses, we are more

trustworthy, more comfortable in our own skin, and better prepared to act with balance, sensitivity, and kindness in all our relationships.”

Try it out for yourself! Try this mounted meditation that will increase the communication between you and the horse.

It also helps you to melt into the saddle, soften your seat, and relax in conjunction with your horse. Once you have practiced this mindfulness exercise, try it whenever you feel the tension building in either you or your horse.

Opening With Heart Meditation PURPOSE: Imagine bringing a quality of openness and vulnerability into your riding and your time with your horse. How would that feel in your body?

In your mind?

Practice this meditation: 1. As you breathe, feel your lungs surrounding and “holding” your heart.

Visualize the heart-expanding into this cradling support. Picture your horse’s heart enfolded by his lungs.

2. Can you bring this quality of nurturance into your body and mind as you ride? As your legs drape on the sides of the horse, can you imagine them like another pair of lungs, surrounding and supporting the heart of the horse?

3. Instead of looking for what is wrong, what needs to be improved, or some difficulty with your horse, focus on what is pleasurable: your legs receiving the warmth of the horse’s sides, the undulating sensation of your hips in the saddle, the softness of his eye.

4. While you are riding, try saying out loud, “How can I help?” and notice how that changes the conversation between you and your horse.

This excerpt from Our Horses, Ourselves: Discovering the Common Body by Paula Josa-Jones is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com).

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Now, more than ever is a time to truly connect with our horses and be in the moment. Many of us are staying home at the moment due to the COVID-19 crisis, and mindfulness with horses helps us cope with the changes and stresses of this unprecedented situation. The next time you head to the barn, pay close attention to the sights, smells, and sounds of your horse. As you groom your horse, feel their soft coat and the rise and fall of their breath. Soon, you’ll also be able to feel your shoulders loosen, the stress fall away, and a general feeling of contentment.

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Friends, Family, or Farm Animal?

Dorothy Crosby Stoddard, NH

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In horses, the hierarchy, or pecking order, is important! But most horses don’t care if they are number 1 or number 101; they just need to know their place in line: who is ahead of and behind them to function happily in a group. There’s an Alpha in charge, a passive leader selected and respected by the others who rarely has to enforce their position. Sometimes an aggressive leader is aspiring to be boss; he rarely has friends. Horses stand together but retain their independence.

Every horse has a unique personality (horse-onality?) that identifies it as different from the others. We have Non-animal person Friend: How do you tell them apart? (in all fairness, a boy-ish gelding needing a baseball at home I have bays: dark, mahogany, cap and a worm in his pocket and an elusive boy who rarely shows any emobrown with points…) tion or attachment, but loves attention Me: Can you tell your kids apart? and happily hangs out if the bodywork Friend: they don’t look alike! is an option. We have the mare putting others in their place and literally makMe: yup. ing faces at the perpetrators. We’ve had Friend: ?? But… the shy, submissive one hanging back, Me: Does your dog look like mine?

Friend: Your dog is a different breed rejecting any responsibility, and the old respected one, who simply leads than mine. the way. We’ve loved honest and giving Me: Yup! lesson horses, and those who don’t give Friend, during a child’s lesson: that anything away for free but expect prehorse doesn’t respond the same way cision and attention to detail for their the other one does... perfect response. We know the funMe: yup. loving silly ones, who like to play and Fall 2020

e’ve all been there; someone points out, in your dire situation: it’s “just a horse” (or a dog or a cat or a…). Ask any animal person, and in the species of their choice, the specific representative in question is a family member, a “fur baby”, a partner. That animal lover is emotionally invested; life without this precious one is unimaginable– they dread the day that emptiness occurs.

To say it’s “just” anything is a major infraction and has caused many a rift in relationships.

Just one more time humans can learn from animals!

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sometimes need reminding their humans are not horses. We have completely submissive, opinionated, or independent -yet cooperative- types. Some horses are suited for and love their jobs, some are not but tolerate them, some express loudly and clearly that life is not what they expected and they should be able to call the shots, some carry on despite their disdain. There are those who are social with other horses, some who are social with humans – who comes when we whistle or shows up for that carrot? - and those who prefer being alone when the situation allows. Some are affectionate and love a good rub after a happy ride, some are not much into touch. Many are driven by food or their favorite treats; some are beggars and others are so polite and careful. Some are anecdotal, some pranksters, some playful, some serious…and I am talking about the horses!

Pairs of horses, students, or owners and horses, can change the dynamics of any interaction. Not all horses are compatible, but when they bond, they are loyal friends. I can pair a horse and student for a lesson, but have a completely different lesson if I pair another horse with that student or another student with that horse just an hour later! One owner and a horse will have a different relationship than another owner with the same horse. The skill level of the rider can determine the outcome, but the sensitivity of the horse can, too!

And we all have good and bad days/ hours/moments… all of us!

As with people, their level of education or fitness can make a horse more or less capable of doing his job. Or she may be a natural at tackling a particular type of task. Regardless, so many variables may determine suitability and attitude, both in work and play and in relationships. The rider/owner and horse can seriously impact the way each other views life…and their working relationship, as partners in a common task, can define their existence both together and individually.

The souls of two species intertwined are something animal people understand and applaud.

However you interact with your horse or other animals, in whatever defines your relationship together, I hope it is a mutually beneficial and satisfying relationship that provides pleasure and meets the needs of both of you.

May you have the absolute joy that is possible from this unconditional and binding relationship that feeds both of you in various ways!

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.

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Love Is Blind “ From the moment I saw her picture, I never stopped worrying about Sophia."

- Gerda Silver, founder of Gerda’s Equine Rescue

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erda Silver, the founder of Gerda’s Equine Rescue in Vermont, learned of a big 17.1 hand Belgian mare named Sophia. Along with other horses, Sophia was destined to be shipped to a slaughterhouse in Mexico. These horses are kept in a holding pen for one week, available to the public to purchase in hopes of saving their lives.

Gerda kept a vigilant eye on Sophie’s ad all week, waiting to see if anyone was going to save her But unfortunately, no one wanted her.

The sad reason: Sophia was blind.

So Gerda got to work raising enough money to bail Sophia out of the kill pen and transport her to the rescue.

“We’d figure out the rest once she was safe,” said Gerda.

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Sophia soon arrived safely in Vermont, and after a month of quarantine, the decision was made to find her a sanctuary where she could live out her life.

Finding a reputable sanctuary was not that easy, however—all were full and had long waiting lists.

Then something special happened.

Gerda called Draft Gratitude, a rescue in New Hampshire that specializes in saving and re-homing draft horses. These horses are the giants of the equine world.

In sharing her story with Becky Roy, founder of Draft Gratitude, Gerda was shocked to learn that they had a big 19-hand Belgian gelding close to Sophia’s age—and he is also blind! Mighty Mike, as he is called, came to Draft Gratitude last February. Since then he has been

Mike and Sophia

living with a companion horse who has now found herself a home, which will leave Mike alone. Mike was in need of a new companion.

Mike is a former workhorse, like Sophia, and he had become unable to keep up with the workload. And he is huge—the cost of feeding him was the tipping point of him becoming unwanted.

“Mike arrived very thin and filthy,” Becky said. “He is blind in both eyes, but he’s extremely brave and well adjusted.

Over the past few months, he has reached an appropriate weight, and he looks healthy and handsome after shedding out his winter coat.”

Was this all just a coincidence, or was it a meant-to-be miracle? Gerda and Becky agreed they both believe in miracles, and they got to work on matchmaking ideas.

So, how do you introduce two blind horses to one another? What if they don’t get along? Can two blind horses be each other’s companion?

It was decided the best approach was to bring Sophia to New Hampshire and introduce her to Mike while his companion horse, Patty, was still there.

Mike knows his current paddock well.

Becky and her workers took a lot of time walking Sophia around the paddock, making sure she knew where to find the hay and water. Amazingly, Sophia quickly adjusted to her new surroundings and learned her way around.

Thankfully, Mighty Mike and Sophia hit it off. They quickly started sharing the same hay basket and stick pretty close together.

“We’re excited to have Sophia join us as a companion for Mike,” Becky says.

“The two will be able to stay together as mutual companions and live out their lives safely.”

Now there is an urgent call for heroes!

In order for Sophia and Mike to stay as sanctuary horses at Draft Gratitude, they need to have their own permanent paddock built. The paddock requires safe and secure fencing appropriate for Fall 2020

blind horses (at a cost of approximately $2,500), as well as a run-in structure for shelter (approximately $5,300). And they need monthly/annual sponsors to financially maintain them throughout their lifetime. These giants need lots of hay and care.

Gerda and Becky are hoping Sophia and Mike’s story touches people and inspires them to help with the funds needed to build the two horses an appropriate home.

“Their handicap may have ended their ability to serve humans, but they still each deserve to live out the safe and loving retirement they have earned. To have found each other is a real-life love

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story that should be allowed to live on and flourish—but we need heroes to help us make that happen.”

A fundraiser has been set up for Sophia and Mike, and those who wish to help can donate to https://www.draftgratitude.com/mike-and-sophia/ .

Gerda’s Equine Rescue (GER) is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose primary mission is to save the lives of slaughter-bound horses. Once horses are rescued and in our care, we begin the rehabilitation of their minds and bodies. They are evaluated for their overall health and serviceability and are given any necessary training. The last and most

important step is careful re-homing, as we do all we can to ensure each horse a safe and loving home for the rest of his or her life.

For more information, visit https://gerdasequinerescue.org/ You can also like Gerda’s Equine Rescue on Facebook and follow @ GerdasEquineRescue on Twitter and Instagram.

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2020 Year of the Chipmunk?

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Scott Borthwick - Canaan, NH

t would be nice to think that the biggest problem we have to deal with in the year 2020 is an abundance of chipmunks. Covid 19 has infected so many human lives but not the Chipmunk. In fact, they are thriving. These ground dwellers are showing up everywhere.

It is reminiscent of the Squirrel Apocalypse of 2018. The main reason for their overpopulation was a mild winter and abundant sources of food.

However, I believe part of the reason for their increase can be blamed on the corona virus. Yes I know the virus is blamed for everything, including not getting my power restored for 4 days after the rather lame Tropical Storm Isaias, but hear me out.

In March when the lockdowns started both NH and VT had a mass migration of summer residents. While dealing with other wildlife issues in vacation areas I noticed a lot of out of state plates. When

they arrived they had to quarantine for 14 days. One of the ways to deal with the boredom of the lockdown is to put up a bird feeder. The name “Bird Feeder” is really not an accurate name for this device. A more realistic name should be “Wildlife Feeder” because they attract so many types of wildlife. Bears, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and especially chipmunks. The other problem for the chipmunk is now there are far more people noticing them and that’s when the calls to my company started.

For those of you who don’t know I spent my first 18years in the flatlands of Massachusetts. I was always amused with the title “Flatlander” since I lived at a higher elevation in Mass than I do now in NH but that’s a different story. Anyways, one of the things I looked forward to as a child in coming to New Hampshire was seeing Chipmunks. I never imagined that someday I would have to deal with them as nuisance wildlife. Are they a nuisance? To some maybe. They dig holes in the ground from the size of a golf ball to the size of a tennis ball. They eat seeds and nuts so could cause some minor plant damage but for the most part, they are harmless.

When people call I try and talk them out of removing them.

They are territorial and prolific breeders.

So if I clear out a population in one area in a short period of time others will move in. Which usually aggravates the customer.

There is an old saying in the North Country that if you kill a coyote 50 will show up for the funeral. The same applies to Chipmunks. In closing, bring in your bird feeders and learn to live with the Chipmunk as long as they remain outside.

Rarely do they move into a house. If they do move into your house then it’s time to call a professional.

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Scott Borthwick owns Estate Wildlife Control. He lives in Canaan, NH with his wife Donna, two dogs, a couple of horses and one tough old chicken named Henrietta.

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International Dark-Sky Association:

Keeping The Skies Dark To Help The Planet Catherine Greenleaf

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s a young girl, I grew up in New Haven county, a very commercialized and industrialized area of Connecticut.

It wasn’t until I was 14 years old and traveled with a girl’s club on a camping trip to New Hampshire that I saw the spectacular night sky full of stars for the first time in my life.

Nocturnal light pollution, or skyglow (as it is commonly called), is the result of overly bright, poorly targeted, improperly shielded and often unnecessary commercial, industrial and residential lighting, according to the International Dark-Sky Association, a non-profit organization that seeks to educate people about the adverse effects of light pollution on wildlife and ecosystems. Sadly, there is a 6% worldwide increase in night sky illumination each year.

PLEASE TURN OFF THE LIGHTS Artificial night lighting alters the planet’s natural rhythms of day and night. Birds, mammals, pollinators and amphibians like salamanders and frogs, are impacted because light disrupts food foraging, rest and sleep cycles, as well as mating and reproduction, according to scientists. For example, toads and frogs emit their croaking sound in the evening to attract mates.

If a wetland is exposed to artificial light, this reduces the mating calls of amphibians, greatly reducing populations.

PUSHING BIRDS OFF COURSE Excessive nighttime lighting can lead to birds missing vital migration cues. As a result, birds can end up migrating too early or too late in the season, resulting in malnutrition and starvation due to being out of synch with available food sources along their route and at their destination.

Many species of birds migrate at night, using the moon and stars to lead them home. Millions of these birds die every year due to the confusion caused by outdoor illumination, which can lead them to fly into skyscrapers and other buildings, as well as misdirect them to areas with no trees for roosting or food sources.

WAYWARD TURTLES Street lights in the parking lots of shoreline condominium developments and restaurants can cause sea turtle hatchlings to become disoriented, leading them in the wrong direction away from the ocean.

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The hatchlings mistake the artificial glare for the light of the horizon line, where the ocean is located. Millions of sea turtle hatchlings die every year in parking lots in Florida.

Multiple studies are showing that light at night also adversely affects the growth of trees and plants, affecting the ways in which they absorb water and undergo photosynthesis. Night light also disrupts the growth of spring buds and interferes with normal flowering times. The wrong flowering time can have monumental impacts on the insects that rely upon these blossoms for nectar and pollen, severely reducing populations of insects. This, in turn, leads to starvation of birds, since insects are a bird’s primary protein source.

Excessive night lighting can also lure trees out of dormancy far too early, leading to premature death, since dormancy is what allows a tree to withstand the harshness of cold winters.

CONFUSED POLLINATORS A moth’s delicate life cycle is also impacted when subjected to light at night.

Moths engage in transverse orientation, meaning they constantly fly at an angle relative to a distant light source, usually the moon. Light causes these nocturnal insects to completely stop their feeding activity and instead spend their time in confusion, flying into the light in order to correct their internal navigation system, leading to starvation and death. The light can also cause them to revert to inactive roosting behavior ordinarily reserved for the daytime, leading to delayed or non-exis-

tent egg laying, resulting in diminished populations.

Moths are very efficient pollinators.

With their extra-long tongues and hairy bodies, they can carry a lot of pollen and their work is vital to both fruit and vegetable crops, not to mention trees and native perennial plants. In fact, some studies are showing they are generalists when it comes to pollinating and are better at their jobs than honey bees, who have a tendency to pollinate only select plants or species.

HOW TO HELP: • Remove any unneeded lighting. Remove floodlights, spotlights and motionactivated lights. There is little data to support the idea that outdoor lighting prevents crime.

• Provide an enclosure for bulbs, and aim the bulbs straight downward.

• When buying lighting, look for the International Dark-Sky Association seal of approval. Search IDA’s database for products that minimize glare.

• Advocate for a lighting ordinance in your town.

• Push for motion-sensitive street lighting.

• Talk to family and friends about reducing light pollution.

• Get involved by contacting the International Dark-Sky Association, headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, at darksky.org.

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.

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YOUR PET MAY BE IN PAIN M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM

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nimals 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.

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 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.

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

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SEPTEMBER IS ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH

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Arthritis in Dogs & Cats Catherine MacLean, DVM - Grantham, NH

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t may feel like it started overnight. Your once agile puppy seems to wake up one morning and not really be able to go up the stairs, get on the couch, or jump in the car easily. Sometimes early signs of arthritis can be as subtle as being unable to go for the long walks they once enjoyed. If you have noticed one or more of these signs, your dog may have arthritis.

The signs in cats are not as obvious since they are very good at hiding pain.

You may notice subtle changes, your cat is no longer jumping on things he once did; or more obvious changes, your cat is now limping or his walk seems different. He may even be hiding more.

If you notice any of these signs in your pet you should first discuss it with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will check your pet over and may check your pet’s range of motion in his legs, palpate for neck and back pain, and possibly recommend x-rays. If you and your veterinarian determine your pet has arthritis, a treatment plan can then be made. There are different ways to treat arthritis and which treatment you chose will depend on your pet, what you feel comfortable with, and what your veterinarian thinks will help your pet the most.

Some treatment options that are available include: omega three fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain medication, acupuncture, and Adequan.

Below are some of the most common treatment options used. This list is not all inclusive and you should discuss with your veterinarian which options are best for your pet.

Omega three fatty acids have antiinflammatory properties. It is safe to be given to both dogs and cats, and is often needed at much higher doses than what humans normally take. The effects of omega three fatty acids are not usually dramatic but can be helpful with managing arthritis pain.

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to bring pain relief to your pet by placing acupuncture needles at specific points.

The success rate depends on the individual animal and to some degree the duration and severity of the arthritis.

It can be used alone or in combination with one of the treatment options mentioned above.

The take home message is that as your pet ages, there are things that you can do to help your pet enter the golden years with comfort. Animals feel pain just like humans, they are just better at coping with it. There is no one size fits all when it comes to pain management in your pet. With the help of your veterinarian you can find what works best for your pet.

Over 90% of geriatric cats and 1 out of 5 dogs over the age of 7 has arthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are found in many over the counter joint supplements. Both glucosamine and chondroitin make up cartilage and are believed to help repair cartilage when taken orally. When using these supplements it can take several months to see an improvement. This option is also available for both cats and dogs.

Joint diets are typically high in fatty acids and have glucosamine and chondroitin in them. They can be used in animals that may be prone to arthritis or joint issues such as very active dogs.

They can also be used in conjunction with pain medications and other treatment options. There are several choices available. Ask your veterinarian which one is best for your pet.

Adequan has an injectable cartilage component called polysulfate glycosaminoglycan. Adequan has numerous beneficial effects for the arthritis patient including the inhibition of harmful enzymes involving joint cartilage destruction, stimulation of cartilage repair, and increasing joint lubrication. It works in an injection to your pet, having the ability to go to all of your pet’s joints. Usually a series of eight injections over the course of four weeks is given, and then it’s used on an as needed basis after that.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are fast acting medications that are good at decreasing inflammation quickly. This family of medications act quickly by suppressing the inflammatory biochemicals that ultimately lead not only to the pain of arthritis, but also to cartilage damage. These medications also require monitoring since they can have negative effects on the liver and kidneys in some pets. This being said, Fall 2020

most dogs tolerate this family of medications well, when used appropriately.

Your veterinarian can guide you on the proper dose and monitoring. There are very few medications in this category that are approved for cats and none are labeled for long term use.

Acupuncture is another pain management option. The goal of acupuncture is

Dr. MacLean completed her Bachelor of Science from Penn State University, her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Atlantic Veterinary College, and her pet acupuncture certification from Chi Institute. Her areas of special interest include general practice and acupuncture. She opened Sugar River Animal Hospital in 2013, and she has been practicing veterinary medicine since 2010. Dr. MacLean’s family consists of her husband Matt, her daughter Katarina, son Alexander and their three pets: Jack and Misty, two cats, and Arrow, a dog.

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Alternatively Speaking:

Pets Have Anxiety Too! W

Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA

hat a time of uncertainty we are all living in these days. Everything about life has changed and continues to change all the time. Even if COVID hasn’t created worries about our health and finances, the inability to create a “new normal” to have predictability and stability is stressful for many. Humans are not the only ones feeling stress and anxiety; pets can struggle with those issues too. Stress can cause behavioral issues, trigger new fears, and even impact their health. So in this article, we will talk about how to recognize how your pet is doing emotionally, how to help them, and in doing so maybe even help yourself navigate these difficult times.

It may not be obvious how current circumstances impact our pets, but they do pick up on our emotions so they often share our emotional state, and changes in our work schedule impact their schedules 36 4 Legs & a Tail

too. Granted, most dogs are enjoying the quality of family time and exercise that comes with more of us homebound. The verdict is still out for some cats, clients tell me they feel like a relative who has outstayed their welcome when they intrude on their cat’s ‘alone time’ in the middle of the workday. But even if this change has been a positive for many pets, when it is time to return to work that transition may be hard for dogs with anxiety, or for new pets that haven’t experienced being left home alone yet. It is safe to say any pet will miss our company as we are away more in the future.

Another new stress for our pets is going to the veterinarian. Car-side appointments and pet-only entry into hospitals is the new norm for most veterinary practices since social distancing between staff and pet owners is not possible in small exam Fall 2020

rooms. Our practice was lucky to be able to divide a dedicated space for people so they can video conference with the Doctor for their pet’s visit, but that still means watching exams from another room apart from your pet. With all the extra toys and treats veterinary staff is using to ensure a fun visit, most pets will do fine especially if they were socialized, or are just confident in general. But for timid pets unfamiliar with the veterinary experience, not having their people there for reassurance may pose a challenge.

So how can we address these potential stresses for our pets? The first thing to do is to assess how much they are at risk for anxiety. Are they timid in general, easily startled or afraid of noises? Do they need to be with you all the time, even as you move from room to room in the house? Are they fearful of new situations, or meeting new people, and have trouble relaxing even with time? Pets with these personality traits are prone to anxiety and stress. As they age, they build upon their basic impressions of what is frightening or unpleasant and try to avoid those experiences with more gusto. So a young dog that wants to be with you all the time may later develop separation anxiety behaviors, that escalate so it is impossible to safely leave them. Or the dog that pants and is nervous during storms start to notice other noises, like cars, fireworks, or falling snow, and can become increasingly terrified.

The key to preventing these unhappy escalations is to recognize the potential for anxiety and intervene early. For some, intervention may include Chinese herbs, food supplements, nutraceuticals, or medications for anxiety. Personality is one part of the overall constitution of your pet, and in addressing their root imbalances to help with physical symptoms, behavior issues can also be impacted quite successfully.

But for many pets, all they need is some structure and life skills to feel more secure and less anxious.

Here’s a silver lining - being at home during COVID may actually provide opportunities to help anxious pets!

The first place to start is to provide structure by keeping some stable routines even as other things change. Identify one or two things that can be reliably the same every day and stick to those as best you can. It may be mealtimes, walks, grooming, or just that few minutes of belly rub or treat time – anything that can stay predictable instills a feeling of security and that does help with anxiety.

The second tool to instill security is training. Learning a new trick or game provides security in the predictable responses to certain actions – sit and you get rewarded. Puzzling out how to get the reward can be as tiring as exercise, and tired dogs have less nervous energy for Fall 2020

worries. Learning also builds communication skills and therefore the feeling that you have each other to rely upon for support. Plus, there are snacks or some fun rewards, and fun always helps with stress!

Even better, these games can teach your pet valuable life skills. Learning to jump on a mat and be quiet and calm inside or outside, in all kinds of places, creates a security blanket dogs can take to feel safe in new situations. Using that blanket to teach your dog to wait while you are out of sight can acclimate to separation.

Special treats in or near the car on their blanket, or chasing a ball thrown through Continued Next Page

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the car open doors, help dogs learn to like cars. Teaching your pet to let you place a yummy treat in their mouth, or letting them lick baby food from a jar while you handle ears, mouth or toes gets your pet used to veterinary exams and taking pills.

Bringing their blanket to veterinary visits and practicing the same games you do at home will help them feel at ease – the

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more familiarity you can bring with you the more secure they will feel. For very nervous pets, ask your vet if you can do some socially distanced exercises car-side to help prepare them for future visits. There are also many natural and prescription products to help lower anxiety and help new experiences be positive ones, wherever needed. Check with your vet for options, and online for Dr. Sophia Yin’s training videos and resources to use at home.

Lastly, I would like to share an exercise we learned from a holistic veterinary colleague who treats pets with cancer. Take a moment every day to do something your pet really loves - groom, snuggle, throw a ball – and really be there in that moment.

Feel how happy they are, and feel how happy that makes you. This is an awesome stress-buster for both you and your pets.

So if you have more home time imposed upon you than you’d like, or if you are an essential worker dealing with the stress of putting yourself at risk, take some time to be with your pets. Engage in some constructive learning so they can be better prepared as life goes back to normal, or just exchange some unconditional love.

Use this time to be ready to hit the ground running better and stronger than ever to face whatever the future holds.

Dr. Anne Carroll is the owner of the Chelsea Animal Hospital where she and her associates practice conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com .

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I Am Afraid of Anesthesia for My Pet PART 1 Sandra L Waugh VMD, MS

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hen we discuss a dental procedure with a client they almost always express a fear of anesthesia, especially if their pet is very young, very small, or elderly. In this series of articles I will address what anesthesia is, the important risk factors, types of drugs used, equipment used and the importance of staff training. While I can’t make the risk of anesthesia go away, I hope I can relieve much of your anxiety.

In order to do any involved dental procedure we need to induce a state of unconsciousness so the pet holds still, doesn’t react to what is being done and does not feel any pain during the procedure. Different drugs can be used to maximize the efficiency of this procedure and can be tailored to the specific needs of an individual patient. The first step is to give preoperative medications to relax the patient and provide relief from pain. At Windsor Pet Dental this usually consists of a narcotic for pain relief and a low dose of tranquilizer to relax the patient. After a 15-20 minute wait the patient is ready for the induction of anesthesia. Induction consists of giving drugs that quickly cause a state of unconsciousness sufficient for an endotracheal tube to be placed into the windpipe. These drugs don’t last very long in the body. An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed because induction drugs are designed for IV use and because during the dentistry we give IV fluids and other drugs IV as needed.

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There are many different drug combinations for this but we use alfaxalone and midazolam. These drugs are given to effect, meaning that the drugs are given until the desired effect is reached rather than by a fixed dose. We then connect the pet to an anesthesia machine which delivers an anesthetic gas called isoflurane dissolved in oxygen which the pet breathes.

“I weigh all of 5.8 pounds and my owners worried that I was too small for anesthesia. I did just fine, though, and my mouth feels so much better.”

11 year old Maltese

“My teeth were causing me pain and I really wanted to get them fixed but my owners worried that I was too old for anesthesia. But I wasn’t and now am much happier with my mouth.”

14 year old Jack Russell Terrier.

We can change the amount of anesthetic inhaled during the dental procedure by turning a dial which increases or decreases the percentage of anesthetic gas depending on the level of anesthesia the pet is showing. We can increase the amount of inhaled gas if the pet is light and we see muscle movements such as swallowing or moving of the jaw or (for example) if the blood pressure goes below a minimum value indicating the patient is too deep we can turn the level of gas down. Changing the percentage of inhaled isoflurane provides a change within 20-30 seconds.

Most people are unaware that anesthetic gas has poor pain relieving properties, which is why we started pain medicines at the beginning. If we are going to do a painful procedure such as an extraction we give a small initial dose of a narcotic or combination of pain medicines as an IV bolus in the catheter and then a slow drip of a low dose of the medicines via the catheter during the procedure. This is called a continuous rate infusion or CRI. Intravenous fluids are run in to maintain hydration and blood pressure. If the blood pressure is low the fluids are increased, if high the fluids are decreased. If any additional medicines are indicated they are also given via the catheter for quick effect.

A local anesthetic is also given just like your dentist does for you. This is a combination of a local anesthetic plus Fall 2020

a light dose of morphine to temporarily deaden the nerve and provide numbness to the area of the mouth being worked on. Pain messages never reach the brain and when the pet wakes up they not in immediate pain. This make the recovery from anesthesia much smoother.

As the procedure is coming to an end, the anesthetist starts turning the gas and pain medicines down so the patient begins to wake up. Our goal is to have the patient awake 10 minutes after the procedure is done and walking an hour and a half later regardless of how long the procedure takes. If needed, medications that speed recovery can be given via the catheter during the recovery period as the catheter is not removed until the pet is awake and out of any danger.

There are four things to consider when evaluating a patient’s risk for anesthesia. They are:

“Too young for anesthesia?

Not any of us. We did great!”

3 month old Australian Shepherd and two 8 week old Domestic Shorthair Cats

(1) the pet’s health (2) the drugs to be used (3) the equipment used (4) the skill and training of the staff running the anesthesia.

Notice I did not list age or size per se. It is safer to anesthetize a healthy 15 year old pet than an unhealthy 15 month old pet. While everyone is afraid of the risk of anesthesia, we forget there is a risk in everything we do even in daily things such as driving to the store. Not doing anything also has risks and is a conscious decision bearing responsibilities for its consequences. A pet that has severe dental disease runs the risk of adverse side effects from the bacteria and toxins shedding from the infection as well as the pain and discomfort from the infected teeth. Hopefully we can relieve some of your anxiety in this series of articles so you will authorize the needed dental procedures for your pet improving the quality of their life and making their mouth pain free. I will continue the series in the next issue of 4 Legs & a Tail.

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. Fall 2020

Find PART 2 of this series in the next issue of 4 Legs & a Tail www.4LegsAndATail.com 41

An Unexpected Visitor Karen Sturtevant

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recently had an encounter with an unexpected guest, similar to a colleague showing up without an appointment. As I wrote my thoughts, I wondered how this experience could be equated to the world of business on a professional level. What follows is the original writing with additions related to today’s workers.

Next door stands a slice of Vermont history. A-seen-better-days, however, a still charming barn built in the 1800s.

With its foundation of rock and fixes from years past, it’s a landmark quickly disappearing from our rolling hills. The barn lives at the end of a so-far undeveloped open field. During COVID-19 and the governor’s stay at home orders, my little dog and I had ample opportunity to trespass. Trespass and explore we did.

Under the barn, around the field, through the cemetery, and into the marshland.

What a fascinating ecosystem we found.

And later, as it would turn out, found us.

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Our daily commune with nature gave me an appreciation for the continuous movement of workings typically unseen. Has the chipmunk population exploded this spring? They’re everywhere. Chirping their authority, I watch with awe as my curious canine strains at her leash. In the era of COVID-19, the daily scenery from traffic lights and stop signs have changed to sunrise viewing and watching the frantic maneuvers of gray squirrels.

It’s hard to justify being late in signing in when the total travel is from up to downstairs.

Just this morning, we garnished the alert attention of a mother groundhog sounding the alarm to her four young to retreat and retreat quickly.

Baby groundhogs are darn adorable rodents—really they are! You wouldn’t think they could move fast, but their stubby legs led them to the safety of a woodpile allowing both parties (human and animal) to pass without incident.

And the birds! My grandparents had a large bird feeder (build by my granddad) just outside their living room window. They would watch for hours. As a kid, I couldn’t understand the allure. Now, some 40+ years later, I do. With the birds’ distinctive chirps and spastic, ticking movements, bird watching is a new pastime. I may need to invest in a good set of binoculars.

Dare I admit, I am turning into my grandmother? I should be so lucky.

Bird viewing has taken the place of people watching. As an expert introverted people-watcher, I admit I miss the interactions and awkwardness of my actions in my ‘former’ workplace.

My coffee buddies, the guy in the warehouse, and the vendor who restocks the snack machine. Birds over people?

Sometimes yes, other times, no way.

There is a lot to be said for human-tohuman connection.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the rabbits. Little brown, white-tailed-cute-as-a-button bunnies.

Like chipmunks, there seems to be a surplus this year—just ask my dog who thinks she’s a master tracker and hunter. Rarely, we don’t encounter a few on our daily walks.

As I’ve been working from home since March, I take move-around breaks in Fall 2020

and out of the house. Recently during a glance out our back door, I spotted a monster thing leisurely sunbathing in the driveway. And you thought monsters didn’t exist. Not so! As my heart skipped a beat trying to catch up with what my brain was registering and my eyes seeing, all finally synced to determine this thing was a snapping turtle.

As I grabbed my camera and admonished my timid dog to stay inside, out I went to meet this fellow trespasser. She (he?) didn’t seem to mind the interruption.

If you’ve not had the chance to see this reptile up close, it’s a sight unlike any other. Imagine a fierce looking prehistoric creature mixed with a really angry-looking uncle. After taking way too many pictures, I went back to my home office. During the course of the afternoon, she made her way back to the wetland behind our house.

She’s been doing her turtle gig for 90 million years—no assistance needed from the work from homer. I wished her well and back to work I went.

As that faithful day wained on, my thoughts took me to a time where she had to survive in a land of dinosaurs and birds the size of 747s. Her durability has lasted longer than any of my fancy work shoes or trendy bracelets.

Fast forward to the next day, another look outside yielded another surprise.

She was back. This time smack in the middle of our front lawn. Congratulating myself on my bravery, I approached.

I noticed her right back leg was missContinued Next Page

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ing its foot and claws. Perhaps due to an encounter with another snapper or possibly a trap. As she lumbered, tilting a bit on the right side, she was impervious of the middle-aged woman watching her in wonder.

As a lover of all things animals, I appreciate the cuteness of a puppy, the innocence of a lamb, and wonder how in the heck the Monarch butterfly population knows how to navigate the thousands of miles during the time of migration. On the visual surface, this particular critter left a lot of wiggle room in the beauty department. Working within the same company for over

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a decade, I’ve come to appreciate the uniqueness of our work family. As in any conglomerate of beings, diversity, thankfully, runs high.

“Miss Snapper” could not be described as remotely pretty, but she did have her own mystic. She was scaly with an algea-covered shell. Her thick legs were similar to that of a lizard with claws jutting out from stumpy feet. Her eyes: alert and intelligent. Her beak-like jaw was intact, her best survival tool.

Her neck: snake-like and long. No, she wasn’t aesthetically pleasing. She was more than than. She was admirable for her longevity and fortitude, her survival instinct, and endurance. She was beautiful, in her own reptilian way.

Was this my spirit animal? Was she delivering a life-altering message to me? Or, was she simply doing what she does, maybe looking for a nesting spot, and it just happened to be while I was at home to witness? Most likely, the latter. I can live with that.

A litany of questions remain. Did she lay her eggs? How many will survive? How long has she been our quiet, stealthy neighbor? Will she come back to visit? In the corporate world, a subset of inquires: how has the company culture evolved over the past year?

Are we leaning toward an environment of equality and forward-thinking individuals? Do our leadership teams welcome us worker bees with our ideas, concerns, and solutions?

Since our initial encounter we, my little dog and I continue to walk the field next door and explore the barn.

Discovering new flora and appreciating the changing cloud formations, we are now on the look out for our enduring friend. Working from home has its advantages. One I never imagined was having the opportunity to be hurled back tens of millions of years to experience, up close and personal, this ancient and impressive, beautiful creature. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder.

Segueing from a reptile confrontation to a working-from-home conclusion is not easy. What I will end with is this: we humans are at our best when we’re challenged and determined, like our friend the snapper. Whether we’re settling into the muddy bottom of a pond or embracing on a new project, we both need to use our instincts and brain power. Life: personal, work, family is challenging. Snapper has proved her reliability. It is my hope that in our new, ever-changing world of covid-19, we will meet our new trials with the same determination and courage as our reptilian friend.

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PUP WITH A PURPOSE C

Karen Sturtevant

orporal Bryon Wehman has a busy life. When he’s not donning his spiffy Essex Police Department (EPD) uniform he’s enjoying time with his family, two German Shepherds, and a wondering cat. The Colchester resident and threeyear veteran of the EPD already has a full plate, but that hasn’t stopped him from heaping on a second helping of responsibilities.

I arranged to meet Corporal Wehman to talk about his latest, long-term assignment. After identifying myself and the reason for my visit through the intercom, I was buzzed into the waiting room where the walls are adorned with accommodations, photos, and patches from by-gone policing eras. As I glanced through the interior windows observing the surrounding areas, my eyes focused in on the reason for my visit: four little legs trotting through an adjacent room.

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Cpl Bryon Wehman and Nova

Whenever I see a canine my heart speeds up and my excitement screams to be set free. However, as I was here on a professional level, I did my best to keep my inner child on her finest behavior. With both of us wearing face masks, thanks to COVID, Corporal Wehman introduced me to Nova, the most popular and furriest member of the force. Nova is a Dutch Shepherd/ Belgian Malinois puppy destined to be top K9 in the Essex Police Department.

Outside while keeping our social distance we chatted about Nova, a name decided upon by the Wehman family, and her future. This alert little firecracker made her independence obvious as she explored, sniffed, and chewed anything she could find and fit in her mouth. The EPD recently retired their K9, Wes, creating an opportunity for one hardworking pup.

Nova was specifically selected by a California breeder who was familiar with Corporal Wehman’s household dynamics, the puppy’s future responsibilities, and the training programs available. Police dogs need to meet specific criteria; Nova was the chosen and gifted to the department by Corporal Wehman’s father.

Being a mere pup, Nova is not yet privy to her future obligations. She was happy to chomp on sticks and shirt sleeves during our visit. “Right now we are allowing her to just be a puppy. Getting her used to her new environment, my home, here at the department, inside a cruiser, inside a car. There’s not a lot of pressure on her right now, there can’t be,” said Corporal Wehman.

Police canines, Nova included, typically live with their handlers. This police-pup-in-training is learning what her new home life is like with German Shepherd brothers, Nike and Rumble.

She watches and learns. “The dogs are like this is what we do when we go outside where Nova’s young enough where she wants to play at three o’clock in the morning. I lean on the other dogs in the household to teach her. They will help out more than I could actually do myself.”

The serious work starts in February 2021 when Nova will begin six weeks of drug detection training at the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford. After she masters this discipline, she will be trained and then certified in patrol and tracking––a twelve-week course. When Fall 2020

Nova’s final skill set will include finding drugs, locating missing people, discovering crime scene evidence, and patrolling. Recertification in each area of expertise is required yearly. “She will be the Essex Police Department’s dog.

I will be her handler from the EPD but if another agency in or around Chittenden country needs a dog and they call us, we will respond,” said Wehman.

Community reaction has been overwhelmingly positive with Pet Food Warehouse and River Cove Animal Hospital donating supplies and discounting services. Belgian Malinois are known for their drive and focus. With their sharp minds, learning comes easily as they are poised to please their owners.

“Malinois are go go go go/sleep/go go go/sleep. Dutch Shepherds have a little bit of an off switch, which I get to see a little bit in her, which is nice.

She can be really sweet when she wants to be, she’ll cuddle in my lap and then the Malinois comes out and the switch will go on and she’ll go, go, go again.

This combination has been proven to make an amazing working dog,” said Corporal Wehman. her instruction is complete, she will be One glance at the officer’s scratched considered a dual purpose police canine. and love-bitten arms and hands are a Not only will she gain initial skills but testament to the go go go instinct in her endurance and advanced training will be ongoing throughout her career.

Continued Next Page Karen Sturtevant with Nova

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Nova. Harnessing this innate drive will be critical as she matures. Training at the Vermont Police Academy and membership in the Vermont Police Canine Association (VPCA) ensure continuous behavioral, emotional, and training support for both K9 and handler. A longterm goal for Wehman is for he and Nova to be honored by the VPCA with the distinction of Vermont Police K9 Team of the Year.

Nova has a lot to learn.

“Malinois are a little different,” Corporal Wehman comments. “She has her moments, right now she’s chewing on a rock, last night she was chasing an ant. The other night she was pulling the car seat across the driveway.” Allowed and encouraged to be a clumsy, silly puppy is essential to Nova’s development. “We’ll start getting her out from the EPD and out to other departments so she’ll be used to being around other officers.”

Until Wehman’s police cruiser is completely outfitted to accommodate Nova, she rides on the passenger seat.

“Right now, she’ll walk on buttons and hit the sirens.” The completion is close for the K9-friendly cruiser––much to the delight of the unsuspecting motorists who are within the path of the mistaken sirens and blue lights!

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Corporal Wehman is committed to setting up Nova for success. Bonding with one another is key and by the results of their so-far interactions, they are ahead of schedule. Nova’s a spunky spirit with an obvious affection for her human dad. Her current days are filled with socializing and play; very soon she’ll be focusing her attention on obedience and intense learning. Corporal Wehman hopes that Nova will be well known within the community and dependable when she’s asked to perform her trained tasks. With her nature, she’s destined to be a superstar.

As we were concluding our conversation while walking to my car, Nova happily followed chewing on her handler’s pant leg––a common occurrence right now. Meeting Nova and seeing her personality shine was an absolute pleasure. Watching her evolve into a practiced and honed police dog will be equally as satisfying. She has a long road of intense education before her.

She’s also got the advantage of having a strong team of professionals who will help her with each step. With Nova’s strong attitude and foundation of support, this pup with a purpose will be earning her badge and stripes in record time.

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W

hen I was a young journalist, I was exposed to many new people, places and events. I learned a lot, but my lifestyle was fast and inconsistent.

Consistency didn’t enter my life until a silver-grey tabby did.

I’d been covering a meeting when a friendly reporter from a rival newspaper slipped me a note just before the event adjourned. He’d heard there was a barn fire in a nearby town – severe. I thanked him as we both hurried to our cars to rush to the scene, cameras and notepads in tow.

The entire building was an inferno, and men in coveralls dashed back and forth with buckets. Somehow my rivalpal had heard about this before the fire department had even arrived. I was feverishly snapping pictures when one of the men strode towards me with purpose, holding something, it seemed, close to his chest. “Can you take a kitten?” he asked.

“I think the fire killed most of ‘em, but somehow this little one got away.”

I’d always loved cats, but hadn’t had one since I lived with my parents. My mind raced – I had a small apartment.

Money was tight. Would a kitten scratch up that new couch I finally dared to spring for? What about my plants? Would the cat decide to eat them?

The man was still standing before me.

He held out the kitten as though he were reading my mind and knew I needed a little extra push to convince me to take it. Maybe he thought I would change my mind if I only saw the kitten. “Please,” he said again, “I don’t have time to take care of it now, and it doesn’t have a place to go anymore.”

I could only see the shape of a small creature, but I wordlessly accepted it.

The kitten clung quietly to me. I felt a strange sense of warmth as I walked down the road to my car, parked a quarter of a mile from the blaze. The kitten slowly crawled up my chest until the small head butted into my chin and the curve of my neck.

When I finally walked into my apartment and turned on the light, I noticed bloodstains covering my white shirt, some in obvious paw patterns and others smears. I swept up the kitten again and set it on the kitchen counter where the true condition made me gasp. The normally tough skin on the paw pads was burned off completely, leaving a bloody mess. The kitten’s fur was singed all over and its whiskers, or what was left of them, were kinked and twirled – melted as a result of the intense heat.

She may have even been on fire at one point. I also noticed the kitten wasn’t just an “it”, but was a “she”.

It took weeks of constant care for her Fall 2020

The Purrfect Story Tanya Sousa

paws to heal and much longer for her fur to grow out, but by the time she was a year old, Miss Kitty was luxuriously plump and shiny. No matter what happened in my life during that year or the fourteen years following, Miss Kitty, the silver-grey tabby, remained a constant and repaid me tenfold for her rescue.

She moved with me three times without complaint. Because of her, each place I lived was a true home.

Find Tanya Sousa’s novel, “The Starling God”, her art and photography notecards and much more at Etsy.com/ market/NatureArtsExpressed

www.4LegsAndATail.com 49

For Pet’s Sake: Adopting Any Pet Requires a Sense of Humor Ingrid Braulin - Grantham, NH

I

was supposed to be writing an article about animals and burns when a friend asked me to write something about needing a sense of humor when you adopt a pet. I figured, with everyone still trying to cope with all of 2020, I’d put burns on the back burner for next time and try to help make your lives just a tad lighter.

No doubt about it, whether you adopt a parrot, cat, dog, rabbit, or anything else it requires some re-adjusting of your responsibilities, your lifestyle, and the re-tooling of your sense of humor. Especially if you have one of two conditions: 1. You have never had a pet before; 2. You are a senior citizen like me, looking to recapture the good old days.

Whenever I hear from a client that they are adopting a new pet or adding to their stable of non-human friends, I hope they are prepared for some lifestyle changes.

I hope they researched it and are certain they are ready to take on this new addition/s. This is not only for their sake and the sake of all those around them but also for the pet’s sake.

Needless to say, the internet is awash with all kinds of great hints and lessons but also some pretty gnarly and useless ones. I’m going to try to walk you through some of the more important things to remember that they conveniently miss.

You should NOT under any circumstances even consider taking on a pet whether parrot, cat, dog, muskrat, turtle, etc. without being absolutely certain of its specific expected longevity. Example: there are over-filled shelters for parrots and cockatoos in America because their owners did not stop to think: “I’m 60 and this bird will more than likely outlive me by at least another 40 years.” Dogs and cats have been put to sleep in shelters because

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their older owners ended up dying or going to a non-pet-friendly nursing home and no one wanted their 10-year-old Schnauzer. It is important that if you DO take on a pet, that you have a succession plan.

Who (in their right mind, in writing, and ahead of time) promises that they will care for the animal should you no longer be able to do so? Include your pet, no matter what your age, in your will. Try to leave an amount of money to cover some of the cost of your pet’s care. You have no idea how much that endears you to the heart of the pet’s eventual caregiver. It will give you and them, peace of mind. Oh, and make sure you tell the future pet-parent of their good fortune ahead of time. Please, no awkward surprises.

A puppy? A kitten? Really? Good luck with that! My favorite calls were from retired folks who just got a Lab Retriever, a parakeet, or a kitten. After all, they had one when they were first married in their 20’s and “just knew this is what they wanted.” Oh Boy! Let us not even discuss the sleepless nights, the boundless energy, the constant cleaning up-after, and the expense! “Oh, we figure we’ll just take him with us when we travel.” A PUPPY? A bird?

A kitten? Even most full-grown cats will drive you crazy after 10 minutes in the car.

So be prepared. This decathlon of babyhood you will be undertaking might last only 2-3 years, but it will age you at least 5. There are all kinds of things you will need to think about for a “baby” pet, all the training you MUST undertake to be on the same page; the physical strength and endurance you will need to provide it with exercise and stimulation (no, puppies do not come with a cuddly bed and fireplace where they lie for hours on end, not disturbing you). Then you will need patience and humor for all the “funny, cute, ha-ha” things they do like peeing on your best quilt…the cat, chewing your 1950’s comic book collection-the rabbit, shrieking for hours for attention…the parrot, and taking the raw filet steak off the kitchen counter when you turned your back…that “sweet” retriever puppy. Do not howl in pain or anger…they don’t get it and besides, you’ll frighten the dog into submissive peeing or the cat in hiding under your king-sized bed never to be seen again, or the parrot turning your finger into a snack. You’ll just have to put a hearty tone into your chuckle and tell your spouse and neighbors, “Isn’t that cute?”

In two earlier segments, I spoke about Fall 2020

any shelter dogs coming into your home as a permanent solution so I won’t cover that again. But I will say that no matter what you decide to do in bringing in a new pet, the worst thing you can do is show anger or frustration at all the things they will do or get into. All animals, yes, including fish, can sense tension. I had a huge Oskar fish years ago that would swim to the corner at the bottom of his 75-gallon tank behind his rocks and sulk if we were arguing…well, it looked like sulking. He also knew when it was dinner time because he’d hang out near the surface blowing bubbles at us.

So, instead of tearing your hair out, weeping from your soul, or screaming at the animal, you may as well look at the bright side (?). Humor, affection, re-direction of their focus, and fake enthusiasm on your part will definitely help almost any pet get over the newness of your home, their youthful “indiscretions”, and will help them learn the rules and regulations.

You show, you repeat, dog tries, dog gets it, treat, try, repeat, treat …That is the rhythm section of teaching a pet to do almost anything you want, except cats.

Cats you show, you repeat, cat licks his paws, you show, you show, you show, cat is done washing his paws and walks away.

I know, I hate to burst your bubble but if a cat decides it wants to learn, it will. Otherwise, dream and weep on.

Finally, find a pet sitter with training, a sense of humor, and a daring-do attitude about life and animals. No sense in the meek or brash, you want professional and dedicated. Make sure that the pet sitter is comfortable with your type or breed

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of animal. Leaving your Pitbull with me is a no-go, for some unknown reason, I am terrified. Leave your Akita, Shepherd, vulture, or lion cub and you have me as a dedicated, easy-going stepmom who will let them sleep in her bed if need be. Credentialed pet sitters are an important part of your pet’s life. If you travel, they should visit your dog 3-4X a day (it’s the peeing, folks), cat twice a day, parrots 3 visits (they are SO conversationally needy), rabbits 2-3 times a day. All these are minimums. Better yet, have the sitter stay in your home.

Expensive? It should be, they work and play with your animals like you probably can’t, besides the pets are your kids.

Sleepovers? That’s where your pet goes to the sitter’s home and stays. Not always an option, but great if you can get it. Your pet becomes one of the sitter’s family.

There you have it, folks! Ingrid’s Try Humor to Help You through your folly and enjoy your great animal. You will never, ever find a more fantastic or loyal companion then your pet/s (unless you have a Lab…they’ll go with anyone for a snack).

Ingrid Braulini is the owner of Pet First Aid & Wellness. She is a Certified Pet Tech and Wellness Instructor, a NAPPS Board Member, and NAPPS Certified.

For more information, visit www.

PetAidClasses.com.

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Meal r Whole Meat?

PETNOURISH

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ike so many simplistic questions in the pet food industry the answer is not simplistic. Let’s start by just telling you more about what “meal” is. Here are some basic facts: • Meat meals are exceptionally concentrated dry forms of the corresponding whole meat. So, analysis will show that pet foods using this concentrate contain more protein than the whole meats.

• Whole meat, before it is cooked, contains about 70 percent water and around 15 percent protein. After cooking away, the fat and water… the remaining protein weighs very little. Brands that use whole meat will usually have to use a meal (later in the ingredient list) to get to the minimum protein percentage they are stating. They use whole meat because it is heavy from water weight and can look like a small amount of protein is the first ingredient because this is how the order of ingredients is determined. You must investigate this; if you are buying a fish-based food for instance and the first ingredient is a whole meat fish, there could be an alternate protein meal later in the ingredient list. This is to make the higher cost protein appear first in the ingredient list.

• The actual “by-weight” nutrient content before cooking? Whole meat, 15% protein… meat meal, 65% protein. Pound-for-pound…that’s more than four times as much protein in meat meal… as in the whole meat itself.

Now, these statistics alone will only tell you about the difference between meal and whole meat. As with all ingredients you read on a pet food label it tells you nothing about the quality of the meal or the meat! Choosing a meat over a meal or vice versa alone will not provide higher quality. Meal is more concentrated than its whole meat version but that does not mean higher quality. So, at the end of the day all meal is not created equal just like all whole meat is not created equal. You still must choose a company that only uses the highest-grade meats. Do not be afraid to ask about how much your provider knows about the sourcing and traceability of these ingredients. Another thing to watch out for are by-products; these are an example of a low-quality meat regardless if it is a whole meat or a meal. Low quality whole meats and meals will not be as digestible in the body of your pet; meaning low quality will deliver less overall nutrition.

The last piece of information to provide is that fresh whole meats are more prone to bacteria growth. In this age of a recall every other day it is a consideration. Did you know what meal was before this read?

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John Muir’s Dog Stickeen Kate Kelly

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54 4 Legs & a Tail

tickeen wasn’t even naturalist John Muir’s dog, yet he was Muir’s faithful companion as the explorer made a treacherous journey across a glacier in the southeastern section of Alaska.

Who Was John Muir?

John Muir (1838-1914) was to become a an inf luential conservationist who led many battles for conservation and wrote persuasively about the importance of preserving our natural world.

He was born in Dunbar, Scotland. His family emigrated from there, finding their way to Madison, Wisconsin, when Muir was 11. Though he always loved being outside, one of his early jobs as an adult was in Indianapolis working on machinery. A bad accident, however, caused him to re-think his life.

When he recovered from his injury, he resolved that he would look for a way to be outside full-time. Leaving Indianapolis, Muir hiked to the Gulf of Mexico and sailed to Cuba. From Panama, he caught a ship going up the West Coast to San Francisco. Eventually he also traveled up the coast into Canada and Alaska.

He particularly loved California. He and his family settled on a ranch in Martinez, California, where he could still easily travel to his beloved Sierra Fall 2020

Nevada mountains. In the Sierras, he was intrigued by the land formation and the glaciers. He came to believe that the valleys were created through “glaciation.” His theory was new and controversial, but scientists and explorers were intrigued and came to visit and see what he observed.

Second Trip to Alaska In 1880, Muir planned what would be a second trip to Alaska. The southeast part of the state (north of Juneau) had not been well documented. Muir was to explore by canoe with two men–his friend, the Reverend S.H. Young, and an Indian guide. When he and the guide paddled to Fort Wrangell to pick up Reverend Young, a short-legged black dog with silky hair jumped into the canoe behind Young.

Muir immediately requested the dog be left on shore: “This trip is not likely to be good for dogs.”

Young protested that Stickeen—named after a native Indian tribe—was a goodluck totem. Everyone found him to be “filled with wisdom.”

Out of respect for Young, Muir dropped the matter. Stickeen was now part of the crew. (We have Stickeen’s story because Muir so enjoyed regaling people of what happened with the dog, that his daughters encouraged him to write it down to share with future generations.)

Stickeen the Explorer At first, Stickeen kept to himself, writes Muir. “[But] when he heard us talking about making a landing, he immediately roused himself to see what sort of a place we were coming to and made ready to jump overboard and swim ashore as soon as the canoe neared the beach…

Fall 2020

“Though capable of great idleness, he never failed to be ready for all sorts of adventures.”

Stickeen was always the first out of the canoe and the last to get into it. When the men were ready to depart, Stickeen could never be found and refused to come to their call. “We soon found out, however, that though we could not see him at such times, he saw us. From the cover of the briers and huckleberry bushes in the fringe of the woods was watching the canoe with wary eye.

“As soon as we were off, he came trotting down the beach, plunged into the surf, and swam after us, knowing well that we would cease rowing and take him in,” writes Muir.

Glacier Bay The goal of the trip was to further explore Glacier Bay. When they reached an inlet known as Taylor Bay at about 5 p.m., they guided the canoe to the shore and made camp.

The next morning Muir awoke before the others. The day was cold and windy, and he sensed a coming storm but this only heightened the thrill he felt for the area. He hoped to go off on his own, leaving the men and Stickeen behind.

But Stickeen rose, too, and would not be dissuaded from coming.

The wind was strong. Muir and Stickeen pushed forward across the lower part of the glacier. When it began to rain, they took cover in a grove on the east side of the glacier. Muir pulled out his notebook and noted in words and in sketches the topography.

When the weather improved, they continued up the glacier. Muir described it as a “prairie of ice.”

Snow on Way The rain continued, but Muir did not grow concerned until he smelled the coming of snow. He picked up his pace, wanting to return to camp before dark.

As he and Stickeen traversed the glacier, they encountered numerous crevasses. Muir looked for the narrowest point of each opening, and then he made a big jump to get across, followed

by Stickeen. When it was particularly dangerous, Muir cut hollows for his feet to avoid the risk of slipping as he jumped. This helped Stickeen as well.

As the temperature dropped and snow began to fall, Muir’s concern deepened.

He knew they could weather one night on the glacier, but they had skipped breakfast. He wanted to return if possible.

As they continued, Muir encountered an extremely wide crevasse with steep sides. As he always did, Muir went in search of a better spot to cross. He hiked about a mile north and found nothing.

Continued Next Page

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Muir—like all experienced mountaineers–preferred to re-trace his steps rather than forge into the unknown at times of bad weather or nightfall. But Muir made an educated judgment. They were midway across the glacier, and it was too late to go back.

How to Cross?

As he evaluated the crevasse before them, Muir estimated that it was 50 feet wide. Further complicating the situation was the fact that on both sides of the crevasse there was a sheer drop. But as Muir looked, he saw that about ten feet down there seemed to be a thin bridge connecting the two sides.

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“The ice bridge dipped in the middle like a jump rope held between two giants,” is the apt description from author Donnell Rubay, who wrote a picture book about Muir and Stickeen.

If Muir and Stickeen could find a way down the ten-foot drop, then they could probably make it across the rope-like ice. It seemed their best hope.

First, Muir chopped footholds down the face of the crevasse and climbed down to the bridge. Once there, he straddled the “rope”—one leg on each side—and began scooting across. He knew this method of travel would be impossible for Stickeen, so he chopped to make a

f lat surface along the top as he went.

This might provide Stickeen with a tight-rope style path on which to walk.

Muir Safe Once Muir was across, he chopped footholds up to the other side. Then he turned to encourage Stickeen to begin his crossing.

Stickeen had been absolutely fearless up until this time, but was he now beside himself, crying: “After taking another piercing look at the tremendous gulf, [he] ran away [moaning and wailing] in desperate excitement, seeking some other crossing.” Could this be the silent, philosophic Stickeen?

Muir encouraged and called. He was perplexed as to what to do, and he resolved that he might have to leave Stickeen and come back and fetch him the next day Muir told Stickeen as much and then the man then started off as if to abandon him. Stickeen still moaned and looked down.

Finally, Muir gave it one more try.

Speaking severely, he shouted to the dog that he would be left if he did not come.

Stickeen understood the tone. “With the courage of despair, hushed and breathless, he crouched on the brink of the crevasse in the hollow Muir had made for his knees. He then pressed his body against the ice as if trying to get

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the guide maintained the fire and had a big supper waiting for them.

For the rest of the trip, Stickeen was constantly at Muir’s side. “Whenever he caught my eye, he seemed to be trying to say, ‘wasn’t that an awful time we had together on the glacier?’”

After the trip, Muir dropped Reverend Young and Stickeen off at Fort Wrangell.

Muir returned to California, but he frequently asked after Stickeen.

Then in the summer of 1883, Young wrote sad news: A tourist reportedly picked up Stickeen and took him with him.

John Muir went on to attract the attention of President Teddy Roosevelt regarding the importance of conservation and to create the Sierra Club. But he never forgot Stickeen: “Doubtless Stickeen has left this world— crossed the last crevasse—and gone to another. But he will not be forgotten.

To me, Stickeen is immortal.”

the advantage of the friction of every hair, gazing [straight down] at the first step. He put his two front feet together and slid them down to the first notch, followed by the back feet, perching with all four feet in each notch before sliding down to the next step.

When Stickeen made it down to the level where the bridge began, he seemed to do a one-two-three against the wind, and then he walked carefully across the rope-like span. Muir barely breathed during Stickeen’s passage. When Stickeen reached the other side, Muir murmured, “well done, well done little boy,” and reached down to pull the dog up.

But Stickeen did not wait. As Muir reached for him, the dog launched himself out of one of the footholds and seemingly flew right over the explorer’s head. Muir writes about the scene that followed: “Never before or since have I seen anything like so passionate a revulsion from the depths of despair to exultant, triumphant, uncontrollable joy,” writes Muir. “He flashed and darted higher and higher as if fairly demented, screaming and shouting, swirling round and round like a leaf in a whirlwind.”

Onward With that, Muir pointed them both toward where he expected the camp site to be. Stickeen “flew across everything in his way,” and did not settle down until darkness fell.

About ten o’clock, they walked into camp, very hungry and tired. Young and Fall 2020

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 stories in your In Box. Or email Kate Kelly at Kate@AmericaComesAlive.com

www.4LegsAndATail.com 57

H

ow can you prevent the spread of infectious disease from your pet?

Correct care of your pet may prevent the spread of infection or illness to household members. To prevent the spread of disease from your pet, be careful to: • Keep your pet’s vaccines up-to-date.

• See a veterinarian regularly with your pet for health checkups.

• Keep your pet’s bedding and living area clean.

• Feed your pet a balanced diet. Don’t give your pet raw foods or allow it to drink out of the toilet.

• Clean cat litter boxes every day. Pregnant women should not touch cat litter. It may contain infectious diseases that cause birth defects, including toxoplasmosis.

• Wash your hands thoroughly after touching animals or cleaning up animal waste. Your children should do the same.

• Washing hands is especially important after handling reptiles. These animals may harbor a bacteria called salmonella. Salmonella can cause salmonellosis.

This disease lead to diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most people who contract salmonella will have symptoms that last from 4 to 7 days and will get better without treatment.

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Pets and Infectious Diseases in Children

In North America, rabies happens primarily in skunks, raccoons, foxes, and bats. In some areas, these wild animals infect domestic cats, dogs, and livestock.

In the U.S., cats are more likely than dogs to be rabid. Generally, rabies is rare in small rodents, such as beavers, chipmunks, squirrels, rats, mice, or hamsters.

Rabies is also rare in rabbits. In the midPeg Bolgioni Atlantic states, where rabies is increasing in raccoons, woodchucks (also known as What is the relationship between wild animals and infectious diseases? groundhogs) can also be rabid.

Wild animals and insects can be carriers for some very serious diseases. These include rabies, tetanus, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, hantavirus, and the plague. Animal bites and scratches, even when they are minor, may become infected and spread bacteria to other parts of the body. Whether the bite is from a family pet or an animal in the wild, scratches and bites may carry disease. Cat scratches, for example, even from a kitten, may carry “cat scratch disease.” It’s a type of bacterial infection. Bites and/or scratches that break the skin are even more likely to become infected.

How does rabies happen?

What immediate care is needed for The rabies virus is most often passed animal bites? on through the bite of a rabid animal. It • Wash the wound with soap and water travels to the central nervous system. Once under pressure from a faucet. Don’t the infection is established in the brain, scrub. It can bruise the tissue. the virus travels down the nerves from the • If the bite or scratch is bleeding, put brain and multiplies in different organs.

The salivary glands are most important pressure on it with a clean bandage or in the spread of rabies from one animal towel to stop the bleeding.

• Dry the wound and cover it with a ster- to another. When an infected animal ile dressing. Don’t use tape or butterfly bites another animal, the rabies virus is bandages. They can trap harmful bac- transmitted through the infected animal’s saliva. Scratches by claws of rabid animals teria in the wound.

• Call your child’s healthcare provider are also dangerous because these animals for guidance in reporting the attack. lick their claws.

Your child’s healthcare provider will What are the symptoms of rabies?

The incubation period in humans from decide whether more treatment, such as antibiotics, a tetanus booster, or rabies the time of exposure to the start of illness vaccine, is needed. This call needs to can range anywhere from 5 days to more be made even if it looks like a minor than a year. But the average incubation injury, and even if the animal involved period is about 2 months. Each person may have different symptoms. Initially, is your pet or a neighbor’s pet.

• If possible, find the animal that inflict- there are no symptoms. When symptoms ed the wound. Some animals need to do develop, they may include: • Pain, numbness, and tingling around be captured, confined, and watched for the wound site rabies. Don’t try to capture the animal • Low-grade fever yourself. Instead, call the nearest animal warden or animal control office • Headache in your area.

• Appetite loss • If the animal can’t be found, if the ani• Intense thirst, but drinking will cause mal was a high-risk species (such as painful throat spasms a skunk or bat), or the animal attack • Restlessness was unprovoked, the victim may need • Hyperactivity a series of rabies shots.

• Disorientation, confusion, and anxiety What is rabies?

• Seizures Rabies is a widespread, viral infection of warm-blooded animals. It is caused by a These symptoms may look like othvirus in the Rhabdoviridae family. It attacks er health conditions. Always talk with the nervous system. ONCE SYMPTOMS your child’s healthcare provider for DEVELOP, IT IS 100% FATAL in animals. a diagnosis.

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Proven Ways to Keep Cats and Wild Birds Safe E

Mallori Longevin - Green Mountain Animal Defenders

verybody loves the fresh Vermont air and sunshine, and cats are no different.

However, the harsh reality is that domestic cats allowed outdoors are a dangerous threat to wild birds. There is much debate regarding the impact cats have on bird populations. According to the American Birds Conservancy, cats have contributed to the demise of birds, mammals, and reptiles, and they can negatively affect a variety of other wildlife.

Allowing cats to roam free can also cause detrimental health problems to the cat. Outdoors, cats face hardships and injuries that indoor cats do not. Cats who go outdoors have to contend with predators, cars, diseases, leghold traps, poisons, and other dangers, as well as getting lost. In fact, cats who are allowed to roam freely are estimated to live only about half as long as indoor cats.

A concern that cat guardians may have is how to entertain and stimulate their cats without letting them outside. Options include scratching posts, toys, and interactive playtime, which can make a world of difference. There is also the possibility of adopting another cat as a playmate. ​G reen Mountain Animal Defenders (GMAD) strongly recommends building an

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enclosure, known as a “catio” (https://bit. ly/outdoorcatios), which can be attached to your home and allow your cat to transition from inside to outside safely. Another way to exercise your cats outdoors is by taking them out on a harness.

To keep cats and wildlife safe, you can install an enclosure, such as the Purr... fect Cat Fence (www.purrfect fence.com), which has created a unique product that claims to keep even “Houdini” cats from escaping. Made from a flexible material, it prohibits cats from climbing and can be attached to an existing fence or used as a freestanding fence.

Fortunately there are many options that may help keep birds safe from outdoor cats.

Using a breakaway cat collar with a bell attached may provide a warning of your cat’s presence. Birds Be Safe (www.birdsbesafe. com) has created a line of cat collars that utilize bright colors and patterns to make cats more visible to birds. Birds are able to see and potentially identify the brighter colors as a threat. Many types of birds will sound an alarm call that will warn other birds in the area of nearby danger.

By keeping cats indoors as much as possible, especially at sunrise and sunset, when

most of the ground feeders are out, you will be protecting many birds from harm.

Please remember that birds who have been bitten by cats need help from a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. Cat saliva contains bacteria that is usually fatal to birds unless appropriate antibiotics are administered very soon after the injury.

Although cats play a role in the decline of bird populations, they are not the only danger. Chemicals are also a threat, so be sure to use natural fertilizers and avoid the use of pesticides. By planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers, you can create a natural, bird-friendly habitat.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center researchers estimate somewhere between 100 million and 1 billion birds are killed by collisions every year. Birds fly into glass because they see a reflection of the surrounding environment and believe they are on a clear flight path. There are several preventative steps that you can take to stop birds from flying into your windows. If you have a bird feeder or bath, moving it to within three feet of your windows or a minimum of thirty feet away can help divert birds.

Another solution is making your windows less reflective. Marking your windows with some washable paint or soap can be inexpensive and very effective. Using window screens and netting or adding some decals and reflective bird tape to your windows are also effective tools.

Taking all necessary precautions should drastically cut down the probability of negative encounters, but what should you do if a bird flies into your window? Please check out this comprehensive step-by-step guide from the Humane Society of the US: https://bit.ly/birds-safe-windows.

If you find an injured or orphaned bird or other wildlife, please check this list of Vermont wildlife rehabilitators for assistance: http://bit.ly/WildlifeRehabberListVT. For advice on keeping cats indoors, check out https://bit.ly/cats_indoors. For information on any animal-related issue, please visit www.gmad.info, or e-mail us at info@gmad.info.

Working together and utilizing these tips can help create a safer environment for our furry and feathered friends!

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