4 Legs & a Tail LK Summer 2021.pdf

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Dog Days of Summer 2021

Vermont’s 1st Exotic Rescue Keep Your Cat Safe This Summer Tracking Your Dog’s Vital Signs

Celebrate National Mutt Day! The Law vs The Animals

Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

®

3. National Mutt Day, on July 31

A focus on the mixed breed dogs who sometimes get overlooked

4. Fur, Feathers, Tails, and Scales!

Eva Erdogan

The Story Behind Vermont's First Exotics Rescue

5. The Good Samaritan

Marina Kinney

What would you do if you found puppies in a box on the side of the road?

6. Planning For Your Pets When Bad Things Happen Susan Tarczewski

How to plan for a disaster BEFORE it happens

8. A Safe Haven for Pets…and Peace of Mind for Their People Carol Laughner

Monadnock Humane Society expands a vital community program.

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10. Buddy’s Story

Mark Stanley

The staff at Lucy MacKenzie makes this a "happily ever after."

12. How Trap, Neuter, Return has Transformed Animal Welfare 14. The Four-Legged Friends Behind the Co-op’s Products: The Dogs of Generation Farm Jen Risley 16. Nova––Grown and Ready to Serve

Karen Sturtevant

Meet the soon-to-be newest member of the Essex, VT police department

Pg. 14 22. Summer Tips for Keeping Your Cats Safe 24. ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Review

20. 8 Tips for Helping a Dog That's Scared of Fireworks Victoria Schade, CPDT-KA

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A must have for any chicken owner

26. In the Presence of Horses

Sue Miller

What you may not know about the majestic horse

30. Which of Us is the Athlete?

Dorothy Crosby

If we expect the horse to be able to perform his job, then it is up to us to be fit enough to participate with him and facilitate that job performance

33. The Hole Problem

Scott Borthwick

When those critters start digging, it can create a "hole" new set of problems Summer 2021

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Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail

®

34. Helping Bumblebees in the Native Flower Garden Catherine Greenleaf

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36. Snout to Tail Assessment…Or, the vital tracking of your pet’s health and wellness Ingrid Braulini 38. Emotional Support Dogs: The Good, The Bad, and how to avoid the Ugly Paula Bergeron 40. Duke on a Mission: Bringing Comfort, Helping People Karen Sturtevant 44. Precious's Story

Michele Hall

The personal story of how one cat survived all nine lives

46. Did You Hear About the Blind Encounter?

Deborah Hodges A chance encounter between two dogs, each with their own challenges

47. Heat Stroke

Pat Rauch

Know the signs when too much summer is too much

48. OTC Functional Diets: A Great Tool, but Don’t Forget Your Vet! Holly Kenseth and Peter Kenseth 50. Alternatively Speaking: Happy Cats are Healthy Cats Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA

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54. Veterinary Medicine Is Not Fast Food Service Angie Young, CVT Why patience and communication may be the key to your pets health

56. Planning for an Emergency

Catherine MacLean, DVM

A look at must have items every pet owner should have on hand this summer

58. Medieval Law

Gus McLeavy

Odd but true stories of ancient prosecution of pets and animals

4 Legs & a Tail Volume L.221 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 Central & 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.

Summer 2021

NATIONAL MUTT DAY July 31, 2021 D

ogs are special and there are oodles of national (and international) holidays to prove it. But unlike most of our doggy days, National Mutt Day, on July 31, focuses on the mixed breed dogs who sometimes get overlooked. This holiday inspires people to learn more about adopting one.

National Mutt Day also brings attention to the many great mixed breed dogs in need of homes. In fact, they benefit from the spotlight so much that we celebrate mixed breed dogs not just once, but twice a year! On both July 31 and December 2, join us in celebrating all the mutts and mixed breed dogs that make our lives so great.

NATIONAL MUTT DAY TIMELINE

1800s

DEROGATORY TERM

‘Mutt’ is considered a derogatory term, meaning ‘stupid person.’

September 17, 1884

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB OPENS

The world’s largest and oldest not-for-profit all-breed registry is founded.

September 13, 1969

“DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY” Cartoon dog Muttley debuts in the show “Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines.”

September 5, 1994

COMIC MUTT

“Mutts” is a daily comic strip created by Patrick McDonnell.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MUTT DAY Adopt a mixed breed dog There are lots of great dogs out there who lack a home just because they don’t have the right pedigree. But you can do your part to change all that. Getting any dog is a big responsibility, but a mixed breed will likely be healthier, happier, better behaved — and live longer than a purebred of the same age.

Donate to your local shelter Not in the position to adopt a mutt? You can still help out your local shelter with a donation. Your money goes to things like food, toys, and medicine. Every dollar counts, so you can really make a difference in the lives of all the dogs at the shelter.

Volunteer to help out If donations aren’t your style, you can always volunteer. Shelters need volunteers to befriend the dogs, play with them and take them for walks. A few hours of your time can make a big difference in their happiness and happy dogs stand a better chance of getting adopted.

WHY NATIONAL MUTT DAY IS IMPORTANT All dogs love us for who we are Whether your dog is from a famous breeder or your local shelter, he or she loves you in a way that can’t be expressed in words. Though mixed breed dogs aren’t usually as highly regarded as their purebred cousins, they’ve got lots of love in their hearts. And some people even argue that since most mutts weren’t born on Easy Street, they love us even more.

Mixed breeds have better health These dogs have hit the genetic lottery. The blending of genes helps fight deficiencies by providing healthier gene sequences from other breeds. Think of it this way: the smaller the gene pool, the less healthy the genes. Your mutt, on the other hand, has a sampling from all over, adding to the dog’s overall lifespan and well-being.

Mutts need people, too Often passed over for their pedigreed cousins, mixed breed dogs end up at a pet shelter more frequently and they tend to wait longer before getting adopted. But mutts have all the doggedness we love about dogs and National Mutt Day is about getting them the love and attention they deserve.

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Fur, Feathers, Tails, and Scales!

The Story Behind Vermont’s First Exotics Rescue

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Eva Erdogan

f you take a look around New England, and you’ll find no shortage of rescues geared toward cats and dogs. You may even be able to adopt a rabbit from a humane society near you. But when you have a bearded dragon, hamster, or betta fish you are no longer able to care for, the options used to be essentially non-existent.

Safe Haven Critter Rescue, formed in November 2020, hopes to open up a dialogue about the increasing popularity of keeping exotic animals as companions.

They are readily available in every chain store, but what happens to them when they cannot be cared for anymore?

My passion for animal care started when I began work in a retail pet store back in 2016. I was shocked that the only option for most people when they

Plato, a gecko with Metabolic Bone Disease who was rehabilitated and adopted.

could no longer care for their animals, was to bring them back to the store. The store simply resold the surrendered animals and the cycle continued. I took in a couple of particularly bad critters in and from there and got my first experiences with animal rehabilitation. Since that job, I also have gotten the opportunity to work at my local shelter, as well

as volunteering with wildlife rehabilitators. It was time to go out and start my journey (with the continued support of everyone I had met thus far)!

So far, we have done 18 adoptions, which feels phenomenal for only being 6 months in!

One of the first animals we took in was two rabbits who were being given away for free on Craigslist. They had been living outdoors and both had bacterial respiratory infections when we took them in. With the help of the folks at our vet, we were able to get them treated to a manageable level, but they have a lifelong condition that needs a little extra monitoring from their human caretaker. Echo and Ember have been with us since November and are still looking for their new home!

We most frequently take in red ear sliders, rats, and small birds as well. Reptiles especially are incredibly resilient creatures and we had a couple of rehab cases where we’ve seen them make amazing, unexpected recoveries and be able to go on to a new loving home. There is a much bigger need for exotics rescue than we have the capacity for, and we tend to have a running waitlist for animals in need. We’ve been very lucky to be able to lean on the other two New England reptile rescues, HerpHaven in Maine, and Rainforest Reptiles in Massachusetts, for support with cases we are unable to take

Echo (white) and Ember (tortoiseshell), available for adoption

on, as well as being able to direct to wildlife rehabilitators and farm sanctuaries.

We hope that we are only the beginning of many resources to come for people with exotics who need information or a place to rehome safely.

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If you’d like to learn more, visit our website safehavencritterrescue.squarespace.com, or check out our Facebook and Instagram pages, @safehavencritterrescue. We’d love to hear from you!

Summer 2021

Eleanor

Myrtle

The Good Samaritan W

Marina Kinney - Enfield, NH

hat would you do if you found puppies in a box on the side of the road?

That was the question that someone faced on March 1st when they stumbled upon five, whimpering, shivering puppies left outside on a busy road in New Hampshire.

The good samaritan rushed the littermates to our medical team at the Upper Valley Humane Society. Quick action was critical. Right away all five were examined, given fluids, fed Karo syrup (boost of sugar), and got a dose of dewormer. The good news was that despite being left in the cold, the pups all seemed pretty healthy.

The Puppies

They were so small and so cute! The puppies, who we named Eleanor, Myrtle, Beatrice, Henrietta, and Henry, weighed in at just under 3 pounds and the team estimated their age at 7 or 8 weeks.

Puppies are a handful! Thankfully, UVHS is lucky to have amazing foster volunteers with experience taking care of puppies. Even though our team had to call them late in the day, one such family was more than happy to take on all five energetic youngsters.

The littermates were with their foster family for three weeks. It didn’t take them long to recover from their ordeal and take over the house! In no time they Summer 2021

were tumbling around with one another, joyfully yapping away, and getting into all sorts of mischief. Sadly, there were a few casualties - chewed shoes!

At 7 or 8 weeks old, puppies are at the perfect age in their development to start forming strong relationships with people and learning how to properly bond with human friends. This time with a foster family was really important for the puppies’ development.

Soon, though, they were ready to come back to UVHS for their spay/neuter surgeries and to find families to call their own. Within two days of them becoming available for adoption, Henry, Henrietta, Beatrice, Myrtle, and Eleanor all found loving homes. Since their adoptions, we’ve heard from their new families and all are doing well!

During their stay with us and their foster family, these puppies had a total of 15 exams, got up to date with their vaccinations, were spayed or neutered, microchipped, and given all of the food a growing pup needs (not to mention more love and snuggles than they could ask for).

These young pups were lucky that a quick-thinking good samaritan stumbled upon them and that UVHS has a wonderful team of staff and volunteers to provide these examinations and excellent care. UVHS is lucky to have you - compassionate community members who value your local humane society and continue to fund our programs.

The Upper Valley Humane Society extends thanks and gratitude to everyone who donates to our shelter so we can always be here to care for stray animals like these young puppies.

Marina Kinney is the Assistant Director at the Upper Valley Humane Society in Enfield, NH. For more information visit their website at www.uvhs.org www.4LegsAndATail.com 5

r o F g n i n Plan n e h W s t e P r u o Y n e p p a H s g n i h T Bad Susan Tarczewski

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omething none of us like to think of yet all of us should consider is planning for the care of our beloved pets when unfortunate events occur. During a crisis, a plan will help you and your furry friends have the best chance of getting through unscathed. While this article primarily discusses house pets, consideration should also be given to outdoor animals like feral cat colonies and farm animals.

Collars, with tags including cell numbers in addition to landlines, are the first and simplest way to be sure you can be notified if a pet escapes its house or enclosure. It is extremely important to

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microchip your pets if possible. A microchip cannot be seen by the naked eye, but if a Good Samaritan finds your pet and brings it to a local shelter or veterinarian who can scan for a chip, a reunion is possible. Always keep the information on your pet’s tags and registration with the microchip company up to date.

If your home becomes unsafe for you, do not leave your pets behind! They will be subject to the same hazards as a human and are less able to protect themselves.

If you think you will be evacuated due to a hurricane, forest fire, or some other disaster, plan to leave as early as possible.

Leaving before mandatory evacuation will help keep the situation calm and

manageable. Keep a kit prepared with several days’ worth of necessary supplies. Include medicines, food, especially prescription diets, as well as items that might be needed such as leashes, bedding, or crates. Use watertight containers for perishable items like food. Make every effort to line up shelter for yourself and your pets before evacuation, bearing in mind that you may not be able to bring pets to an emergency shelter. State or Federal Offices of Emergency Management should be able to advise you about the most current information in your region. Try to have alternate plans lined up, such as a relative or friend not living in the immediate area. In an emergency, a kennel, veterinarian’s office, or even an animal shelter may be able to help Summer 2021

but may be overwhelmed. When leaving home for travel, plan for someone to care for your pets in the event of an emergency. You may not be able to reenter your home during this type of occurrence.

If you will be away from home, whether for something fun like travel or less pleasant like hospitalization, be sure to leave your pets in the care of someone reliable and responsible. This is not the time to throw a big bowl of food on the floor and hope for the best. Options include a trustworthy friend or relative, a reputable pet sitter, a kennel, or boarding facility. Even some veterinarians offer to board or can recommend a good option for you. Whatever option you select, the plan should include what to do in case of emergency. Be sure to leave contact information for yourself and your veterinarian. Discuss ahead of time what treatment you would want to be given for an accident or sudden illness, and do not forget to leave a letter authorizing the caregiver to make decisions. Have a plan in place for a neighbor or other trusted person who is familiar with your pets and has a key to your home in case something sudden comes up that prevents you from returning home. In the interest of being a good neighbor, if you become aware that someone you know is suddenly unable to care for their pets, reach out to ask if you can be of help!

Another thing few of us want to think about is that we may die before our pets do. At SCHS, like many other shelters, some of the saddest intakes we do are for elderly pets whose owners died.

How incomprehensible and terrifying it must be for them to lose all they have known so suddenly. If you have a beloved animal companion, it is of the utmost importance to have a plan for what will happen to them in the event of your own death. The most common method is including a provision for their care in your will or living trust. A pet trust can be created in which you name a trustee, who will then be obligated to provide for the care of your pet. Clearly, either of these options should be discussed with the person you wish to assume the care of your pets.

If you have any questions about this or other issues to do with your pets, please call the Sullivan County Human Society. Our mission is to preserve, protect, and provide for stray, neglected, and abused animals in Sullivan County, NH. Donations to the shelter are always needed, always welcome, and can be mailed to PO Box 111, Claremont NH 03743. SCHS is a no-kill shelter, and provides many services to the public, including regular low-cost spay and neuter clinics, and a pet food bank. For more info about SCHS, please visit our website at sullivancountyhumanesociety. org, or our Facebook page, Sullivan County Humane Society of NH.

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A Safe Haven for Pets…and Peace of Mind for Their People.

Monadnock Humane Society expands a vital community program.

Carol Laughner - MHS Marketing Communications Manager

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t was hard for Cassie (not her real name) to remember when things started going off the rails in her life, but the day came when she knew, without question, that she needed to make a change. She had been physically abused by her husband for many years and he had just beaten her for the last time. He was arrested and sent to jail. Now, Cassie needed to find a new place to live where she would be safe.

During this transition, she also needed to find safe housing for her two precious dogs – her source of unconditional love and emotional support – because homeless shelters and transitional housing are typically unable to care for pets. She knew

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she had to get her situation under control but struggled with what to do next.

In fact, the main reason she remained in this dangerous situation for so long was that she felt she needed to stay with her dogs and ensure their safety in their abusive household.

Domestic violence is, sadly, a fairly common occurrence in our community.

In New Hampshire, 33% of women and 24% of men have experienced intimate partner violence as reported by the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Research also shows that offenders of domestic violence often have a pattern of abuse involving all family members including pets. Kathy Collinsworth, MHS Executive Director, wanted to help. She had attended an animal sheltering conference in 2017 where she learned about a program started by the SPCA of Los Angeles called the Animal Safety Net – an initiative geared towards helping victims of domestic violence and their pets. She immediately got to work with MHS staff and local agencies to set up a similar program to serve, not only those dealing with domestic violence, but also those experiencing other personal challenges such as homelessness, substance abuse rehabilitation, or other emergencies. This program would provide safe shelter, food, and medical care for the pets of people who are temporarily unable to care for them due to unfortunate circumstances. The MHS Animal Safety Net was launched and received substantial funding from the 100+ Women Who Care community organization, as well as from individual donors.

The MHS Animal Safety Net program grew quickly. Early on, Kathy and her team recognized that they would need more dedicated onsite space for this program. Part of the vision was to increase the housing space and build a visiting room for pets and their owners to spend time together, providing each other with comfort and peace of mind during their stay.

Kathy, together with the MHS Facilities Summer 2021

Committee and the staff, developed an expansion plan which included the conversion of an existing garage. MHS recently applied for and received a grant for $70K from two organizations – RedRover ($20K) - a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the animal-human bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and humane education; and Greater Good Charities ($50K) – another national non-profit organization that works to amplify If you feel inspired by Cassie’s story and wish to the good in the world to support the MHS Animal Safety Net, improve the health and well-being of people, pets visit our website to make a donation – and the planet.

Construction began in earwww.monadnockhumanesociety.org. ly April of this year. Rescue Rebuild, a shelter renovation program of Greater Good Charities specializing in repairing and renovating domestic violence and animal shelters in need, came together with RedRover. They sent their volunteer teams to MHS to install six raised dog runs (each including a dog bed, toys, easyto-clean flooring, and access to a private relief area). The renovations also included a beautiful visitation area that was constructed and comfortably furnished to allow people to spend quality time with their pets. Now, MHS has the expanded facilities needed for this growing and evolving program. Additionally, Kathy is in touch with several local human service agencies to explore the possibility of offering onsite counseling for those in need.

Since the MHS Animal Safety Net began in 2017, over 175 pets have been helped. Some of the families who took advantage of the program have expressed their deep gratitude because knowing their animals were safe made it so much easier for them emotionally and gave them the strength to pursue their personal recovery. They would not have entered a domestic violence shelter had they not been able to place their pets with MHS. This is because of the overwhelming concern that abusers would likely neglect, threaten, torture, or otherwise hurt their pets as a way to continue to control or torment them. Some told us they would stay in a dangerous situation rather than abandon their pets in homes during a natural disaster. Still, others said they would choose to live outside in freezing conditions and remain homeless rather than leave their pets behind.

Cassie eventually learned about the MHS Animal Safety Net program when she reached out to a local domestic violence prevention organization for help.

They put her in touch with MHS, and, within hours, her 2 dogs were housed and given a safe haven. They also were spayed/neutered which made it easier for her to find housing. This allowed Cassie to focus on finding a home and getting her life back on track.

If you are experiencing a difficult life experience and need a temporary place for your pet(s) to stay, contact us at 603.352-9011, ext. 203.

MHS knows that pets are family and the unconditional love they give us is more important than ever during these difficult times. Thanks to the help of RedRover, Greater Good Charities, Rescue Rebuild, and so many in our region and beyond, we were able to help Cassie and so many others like her and are now even better positioned to support the community.

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Buddy’s Story Mark Stanley

Buddy

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uddy, a 7-year-old Collie, spent his entire life with a woman that loved him dearly and he, no doubt, loved her just as much. One day, his beloved human companion became ill and had to go to the hospital only to never return. Her family did their best to take care of Buddy and the other animals in the home, but they knew that care and routine were only temporary.

It wasn’t long thereafter that Buddy arrived at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society. This sudden change in life – becoming separated from a beloved human companion – is often traumatic for an animal. Buddy, who was highly motivated by human interaction, was no different. Gone were his normal routines and the people he once knew, and in their place were now new routines and new people. It was a whole new way of life for him and a chapter set in between chapters.

As with every animal that arrives at Lucy Mackenzie, the goal is to make sure they always feel safe, loved, and protect-

is known as bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus). The outcome for a dog diagnosed with this condition is often not good. If they are cleared for surgery, the success rate is only 50/50.

Thankfully, Lucy Mackenzie’s staff were quick to note that something wasn’t quite right with Buddy and insisted upon getting him to the vet right away – an action that undoubtedly saved his life. Buddy was cleared for surgery that same day and came through with flying colors. And, his success on the operating table wasn’t the only truly great thing that happened to him that day – one of the vet technicians that cared for him also fell in love with him and would become his future mom!

ed. Buddy’s transition to the shelter was a smooth one. Even though he was a senior dog with several medical ailments and conditions, he adapted to shelter life fairly quickly and soon found his way into the hearts of all the staff and volunteers that worked there.

Nothing, though, would prepare him for the turn of events that lay ahead. A mere day before he was officially cleared for adoption, Buddy’s stomach became twisted in a life-threatening condition that

For all the ups and downs that Buddy had experienced, his life would once again now only be filled with love and happiness – thanks, in large part, to the many kind and caring individuals that he met along the way.

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Established in 1915, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society is dedicated to enhancing the bond between animals and people by providing shelter and care for homeless animals and educating people about the care and training of animals in a humane community.

Lucy Mackenzie’s shelter is located at 4832 Route 44 in West Windsor, VT, a ¼ mile away from the intersection of Route 106 and Route 44. Visit Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society online at www.lucymac.org.

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Keri Roberts, Director of Operations, and Phoebe Wolfman, Manager of Owned Animals, check cats prior to surgery. WCHS fixed and vaccinated 29 cats from a colony on the Putney Road in Brattleboro.

How Trap, Neuter, Return Has Transformed Animal Welfare A

Annie Guion - Brattleboro, VT

nimal welfare organizations (AWO) have made huge advances in how we work with cats. It used to be that stray cats who weren’t friendly or healthy were euthanized in shelters. Euthanasia is not cheap and it’s hard on staff.

Legal requirements to hold a stray for 5 or more days led to overworked staff and a shelter full of terrorized cats whose fate was euthanasia after days of torturous imprisonment. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs spay/neuter and vaccinate healthy cats, friendly or not, and returns them to where they were found.

Most cats found outside are within a few doors of their home. Because people are less likely to put a collar on a cat, and microchips require a scanner, it is easy for Joe Public to assume a cat is a stray, but more often than not, the cat has a home…or multiple homes. Many cats work the system, having breakfast 12 4 Legs & a Tail

at one house, afternoon nap at another, dinner at a third and bedtime at yet another unsuspecting “cat owner’s” home.

Who owns who? Towns don’t have leash laws for cats. It is not illegal for a cat to roam the neighborhood, looking for cat friends, food and sunny places.

Bringing a cat to a shelter is a good way to ensure it does not get back to its home. Nationwide, an estimated 2% of cats are claimed in shelters. At the Windham County Humane Society, that figure is 21%. Better, but by no means good. Research shows that when a dog goes missing, owners start looking that day. Cat owners wait 3 or more days, often assuming their cat has been hit by a car or been eaten by a predator.

The cultural bias against collars on cats is a problem. Owned cats end up in shelters or roaming free in local colonies and predating on wildlife, including Summer 2021

songbirds. If the cats have not been sterilized, a small population can grow at an alarming rate.

Just removing cats from a colony doesn’t actually work. Trapping and euthanizing cats leads to the “vacuum effect”. Remove 30 cats and 30 more will move in! It's also very stressful for the cats to be moved to a new location. Keeping freeroaming cats in cages is inhumane. The best approach for managing community cats is Trap-Neuter-Return.

Researchers have found that you need to spay/neuter 75 % of a colony to stop population growth. Less than that and the reproduction rate will outstrip your efforts and the colony will get bigger instead of smaller. Once the majority of the cats are spayed and neutered, the colony will continue to shrink and the cats will roam and fight less, leading to happier, healthier cats. There are ample studies on the effectiveness of this approach with titles like “Florida County Achieves 51% Decrease in Shelter Intake of Cats With Nonlethal Solutions” and “Bay Area Colony of 175 Reduced to One Through Trap-Neuter-Return”. Visit Alleycat.org for detailed information on TNR. The approach is more humane, saves non-profit and government funds and doesn’t wear down staff with endless euthanasia. Managing colonies and keeping them small protects wildlife, including our beloved song birds.

Like many animal issues, cats are not really the problem. Humans are.

We domesticated cats and we need to take more responsibility for our feline friends. Get your cat fixed and microchipped. Your local AWO probably offers a low-cost option. Brightly colored break-away collars with bells lets your neighbors know your cat is owned and keeps them out of your local shelter. Take a sharpie and write your phone number on the collar. You can purchase a pack of 14 collars for $14 and be ready when Fluffy comes home without her collar. Check out Bird-Be-Safe which goes over a break-away collar and reduces predation by 87%. Better yet, keep your cat inside or build a “catio” so they can enjoy watching wildlife safely. Working together we can make the world a safer place for all animals.

Tiffany Palmer, Kennel Technician, vaccinates cats and cleans their ears before they wake up from surgery.

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

The Dogs of Generation Farm Jen Risley - Keene, NH

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love shining a light on all the farmers and producers who provide a bounty of local food and other locally made products to our community. In this article, however, I move the spotlight over and down, from the businessperson to their four-legged friends -- the working dogs, cats, and other animals who also make these local products possible.

This Four-Legged Farm Friend Feature highlights the dogs at Generation Farm in Concord, NH. Farmers James and Marley Stever specialize in certified organic salad greens.

The farm’s team includes two English Shepherds named Rue (age 3) and Mango (nearly age 2). “Their names are a culinary theme and evocative of their personalities,” Marley shared. “Rue for the herb -- she is intense, complex, and spicy.

Mango, he is like honey and sunshine.”

Without livestock to corral, how does a pair of English Shepherds help on a fruit and vegetable farm? English Shepherds are both herders and hunters, making Rue and Mango much-needed assets on Generation Farm.

Marley explains, “Before we got our dogs, we used to have terrible trouble with precocious deer breaking through the netting along the sidewalls of our greenhouses.

Our property was a veritable deer superhighway. Now with dogs on the property, the deer keep a far more respectful distance! We have had no more hassles and even feel comfortable leaving the gates of our deer fence open on occasion.”

Each morning, Mango wakes James and Marley with a gentle nudge right at sunrise, anxious to start the day. Mango and Rue’s first order of business: chasing off any unwelcomed critters. “Wild turkeys especially enjoy helping themselves to our blueberry bushes in late summer and are often caught red-handed in the early mornings,” said Marley. “[Rue and Mango] are keenly aware of their property and will alert me to anything that is off -- like coyote scat near 14 4 Legs & a Tail

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our gates or a new groundhog den in the old stump pile.”

English Shepherds, also known as Farm Collies, make great all-purpose work dogs and true companions. Rue came from a breeder in Maine, and Mango, a breeder from Vermont. “The English Shepherd community is small, and I am still close with the wonderful people who bred my dogs,” added Marley. “It feels like being part of a family.”

Marley continues, “These dogs are very trainable, learning routines quickly, but are also capable of useful independent thinking,” boasted Marley. “What I love most is they are typically like Velcro, moving faithfully beside their person like a shadow, always looking for ways to be useful.

They possess a type of empathy that is hard to put into words. I also adore their coat, which has a Teflon quality that sheds dirt and debris effortlessly, requiring very little maintenance.”

Discover more about Rue and Mango’s breed at englishshepherd.org and learn more about Generation Farm at generationfarmnh.com.

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

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Nova

Grown and Ready to Serve

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Nova and Officer Wehman

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Karen Sturtevant

s I walk toward the police cruiser, I’m met with some serious barking and a display of sharp, white teeth. I’m glad the windows have guards. Typically, dogs barring their teeth don’t scare me. This one gives me pause. She’s doing her job, just as she’s been trained. As the world emerges out of covid hibernation, I’m taking advantage of a warm spring afternoon to catch up with the Essex Police Department’s top K9, Nova, and her handler, Corporal Bryon Wehman.

The last time I was with Nova she was more silly than substance. She was playfully biting her human dad’s arms, chasing insects, and chewing on rocks. Her attention span was limited, but her brain was always on alert. Now, at almost a year old, Nova’s development is progressing nicely. She’s acting less like a clueless puppy and more liked a honed professional. As Officer Wehman opened the door to allow Nova out, I was amazed to see this stunning girl, no longer a little puppy, but all grown up. As we chatted, she looked on with interest and lunged at her leash at blowing leaves.

Nova’s heritage of Dutch Shepherd and high-energy Belgian Malinois creates major challenges for Officer Wehman. Her innate need is to be mentally and physically engaged. She’s a work-oriented breed. Nova doesn’t stay still for long. She’s a dog that needs action and exercise to be at her best. “Just you wait,” his coworkers warned him when he expressed interest in Nova.

Officer Wehman compared the well-meaning advice to having a child. “You think you know what you’re in for, think you’re prepared. She was a nightmare as a puppy. If it wasn’t glued down, it was in her mouth. If it was in her mouth it was gone.” A colleague sent him a meme reading Belgian Malinois are good at doing everything. Not good at doing nothing. Those words would prove to be true. With the confidence and approval of his department and the commitment of Officer Wehman, Nova was chosen.

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Allowing Nova to learn family and work dynamics were the most important goals for her first year. She was allowed to simply be a puppy. Formal schooling would begin soon enough.

Knowing how to correctly train this mentally stimulated dog is key to her long-term success. “We don’t want to set her up for failure,” said Corporal Wehman.

Socializing, one of the key components to early healthy development, proved difficult in a time of shut down due to the pandemic. Trips to locations where the public congregated were not an option.

Corporal Wehman relied on colleagues and close family to fill the void. Even Corporal Wehman’s two-year-old daughter was recruited. She and Nova are the best of buddies, going on walks together while she holds the leash.

When the restrictions were loosened, socialization resumed. Some days they found themselves at Lowe’s walking the aisles and eventually becoming the unofficial greeters at the entrance. Shoppers’ reactions to Nova were either walking past her giving a wide berth or hardcore softies, like me, who asked to pet her. She’s an intimidating sight to behold.

Being a K9 in training is not easy.

Besides Corporal Wehman her canine support network includes German Shepherd brothers, Nike and Rumble, human handlers, and professionals from the Vermont Police Academy and the Vermont Police Canine Association. When Nova was mentally and physically ready, basic training began. As she matured, advanced techniques were added. Training sessions are done most days broken up into long and shorter bursts. Always keeping in mind that Nova needs enrichment, situations vary. Officer Wehman may set up a scenario where drugs are hidden in a car while the next location may be a warehouse keeping Nova’s interest piqued.

Tracking on a dirt surface may be done during one session with tracking on payment the next.

Basic foundation commands are reinforced regularly while bigger issues are saved for the time when mandated training hours are logged with a certified trainer.

Vermont K9 handlers are required to have at least 16 hours each month of training in the presence of a certified instructor.

Although Nova’s exterior may look tough, her emotional reaction to both humans and other canines can be quite tender––a well-known attribute of Malinois. Officer Wehman explained: “They can shut down pretty easily. She can be super annoying to Nike and Rumble when she can’t turn her switch off.” They will let her know when enough is enough. Nova will become submissive, retreat, and attempt to lay underneath them on her back as if to say, “I’m so sorry.” The pack hierarchy Summer 2021

is being established; Nova is learning the rules of engagement.

Nova’s training regiment is specialized for her temperament and needs as an eager, intelligent young dog. It’s not unusual for Corporal Wehman to arrive well before his shift to run Nova through scheduled paces after additional training at home. Fun activities like hiding bits of food around the department sharpen her skills and keep the day interesting.

When they are on the road, Nova enjoys her space in the back of the custom police cruiser. At the time of our visit, a few additions still needed to be installed including a door opener plus a heat and alarm system. With the press of a button on his belt, Officer Wehman will be able to roll down the windows and open the door allowing Nova to exit the vehicle.

Officer Wehman is cognizant in trying to keep Nova’s working time fun. With frequent stops for ball fetching or rope tugging, Nova is associating work with reward. As keen as she is to please her handler, dogs also yearn for outside rewards. In Nova’s case, some days she prefers playing with a toy, other days it’s food. After putting Nova back in the vehicle, Officer Wehman opened the back to show me his latest and greatest currency for Nova: a Lotus ball. This treat-dispensing, pull-apart toy is recommended for food-motivated dogs during training. With this specific

gift, Nova gets both her favorites: toy and food. This gold standard only comes out on occasion. A favorite today, tomorrow it will most likely be something else.

When training sessions don’t go as expected, Nova will often feel this uneasiness from her handler. “She knows when I’m frustrated with her, or in general.

Malinois are hard to work with in the beginning. They’re super-sensitive, super touchy, way over the top in emotions. She can shut down pretty easily.” Knowing where that line is between encouraging her further or deciding to attempt again at another time is critical.

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Over the winter, the Vermont Police Academy hosted Nova along with other K9 teams for a demanding four-week class in narcotics detection. She excelled in earning her certification, which needs to be renewed yearly. This summer they will be actively participating in patrol school, a sixteen-week program designed to teach tracking, building searches, and protection work. Nova’s gaining confidence with every training session while her hardworking tendencies are apparent. She’ll need these traits and the direction of Officer Wehman to perform in this next round of learning.

Police dogs need to be steadfast. “Environmentally, she is the most sound dog I’ve ever seen.” Nova is not rattled by loud noises or cars speeding by when she’s on the side of the road. She doesn’t try and hide or retreat but looks to her handler for direction. During a recent training exercise, the team was asked to ascend and then descend an open metal spiral staircase. While Officer Wehman was a bit apprehensive, Nova proved to be a fearless warrior. This dog doesn’t shy away. She does what’s asked of her with great enthusiasm and agility.

Remembering the fact that Nova is still technically a puppy had me laughing at her latest conquest. When Officer Wehman was on a call, Nova was left in the vehicle with an installed window

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fan. Upon return, the officer noticed some type of debris on the ground. On further examination, he determined it was chewed wires from the fan. “She ruined it,” he says with a good-hearted chuckle. Fortunately, she only chewed, not swallowed any of the components.

We talked about goals for the team. “Her potential is off the charts. When she is committed to working and most days she wants to work, she absolutely nails it. If we haven’t touched it [training practice] for a long time and I want to see where we are with it, she will blow my mind. I couldn’t ask for a better training session than what we just experienced.”

“It’s on me to make sure I’m reading her. She’s super subtle with her cues.” In searching for narcotics when trained dogs are following the scent, they are said to be ‘in oder.’ That body language can be overt or obscure. In Nova’s case, the tip of her tail will waive ever so slightly while her body posture changes. That detailed behavior changed took Officer Wehman some time to discover. Nova was communicating in her language, her handler is now interpreting it correctly––another tool for success.

From basic to complicated, the amount of resources Corporal Wehman has, are in his words, “1,000 percent.” Making a phone call at 1:00 a.m. to a senior handler is commonplace. Texting with a group of other handlers is a daily occurrence.

Working as a collective team, situations are shared, possible solutions offered.

Toward the end of our chat, Nova did allow me to rub her belly, but not without first chasing and catching a blowing leaf––she’s still partial to her puppy mentality. An impressive figure with her elegant natural beauty, this pup with a purpose is on her way to do important tasks. With patrol school quickly approaching, not only will her body be worked, but that beautiful, inquisitive mind as well. Corporal Wehman has his hands full with Nova and her budding potential. He’s ready for the next challenge and the next.

Nova has made great strides in her short time as a police K9. Her support team is proud of her accomplishments and looking forward to helping her take her next professional steps. She’s loved, understood, and living in the best of both worlds of home and work. The future holds great possibilities for this talented canine. Aren’t we fortunate that we can share in her achievements and cheer her on?

Contact Officer Wehman: bwehman@essex.org Follow: www.instagram.com/k9_nova_vt Visit: www.facebook.com/ essexvtpolice/ www.essexvt.org Summer 2021

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8 Tips for Helping a Dog That’s Scared of Fireworks Victoria Schade, CPDT-KA

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ireworks might be awe-inspiring for some people, but many dogs are scared of fireworks and find the sound and spectacle of them terrifying. Dog fireworks anxiety can leave your pets in a panicked state.

It should go without saying that anxious dogs don’t belong at fireworks displays, but even dogs that are at home can be overwhelmed by the noise, especially if the neighbors are setting off their own. That’s why it is so important to help your pet.

Dogs that are scared of fireworks might hide, tremble, pace or whine in response to the sounds, leading pet parents to consider trying pet meds to help deal with the behaviors. But there are alternatives.

The following tips might help reduce dog fireworks anxiety—whether you choose to train before scheduled fireworks or need tips that you can use right away.

Use Sound Training to Relieve Dog Fireworks Anxiety You can help dogs that are afraid of fireworks learn to cope with them by setting up training sessions throughout the year, well in advance of events such as the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve. Begin by playing a fireworks sound effect (many are available free online) at a very low level for a brief period while giving your dog a series of small, tasty dog treats and lots of praise when they remain calm. Then turn the sound off and stop giving treats.

Repeat the process with the sound at a low level until your dog looks to you expectantly when it starts. Always be sure to check that your dog is comfortable with the sounds and not displaying signs of anxiety.

Gradually turn up the sound in subsequent training sessions, varying the recordings to include a variety of firework types, until your dog begins to associate the noises with goodies and praise for having a calm demeanor.

Try a Dog Anxiety Vest Much like swaddling helps to calm infants, a snug garment that puts gentle pressure on your dog’s torso can reduce fireworks anxiety.

Get your dog used to wearing a pressure wrap—like a dog anxiety vest—before fireworks so that by the time the event arrives, your dog will be comfortable with the garment.

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You can either make your own by wrapping stretchy fabric around your dog’s shoulders and chest (make sure it’s not so tight that it restricts blood flow or the ability to breathe) or opt for a ThunderShirt that uses a patented “hugging” design to help reduce stress from dog fireworks anxiety.

Schedule a Pre-Fireworks Workout Going for a long hike or spending time playing with pals during the day will help wear out your dog before the fireworks begin.

A dog that’s mentally and physically exhausted might be less likely to react to fireworks, so plan a day of fun activities that will leave your dog ready for a snooze.

Schedule Meals and Potty Time Early It’s important to time your dog’s dinner and potty trips well in advance of nightfall since fireworks typically start as soon as the sun sets. There’s nothing worse than a dog that’s scared of fireworks that needs a potty break but is too terrified to step out the door.

Give your dog enough time to finish his dinner, digest, and potty before the noise begins so that he’s not forced to hold it during an already stressful period.

Keep Your Pup Occupied During Fireworks Provide distraction by giving your dog something delicious to focus on during fireworks, like a KONG Classic dog toy.

Stuff the busy toy with special goodies like your dog’s all-time favorite treat so that he has something else to focus on during the noise.

Muffle the Noise It’s easy to understand why dogs are scared of fireworks; the unpredictable booming sounds can be perceived as an impending threat and make a dog feel vulnerable.

While counterconditioning with a fireworks recording throughout the year will help your dog learn to cope with the noise, an easy way to manage dog fireworks anxiety during the event is to simply muffle the sounds with something else.

Plug in a white noise machine or turn on some calming music loud enough so that the fireworks are camouflaged. If your dog’s “safe zone” is his crate, you can also cover the top, sides, and back with a thick blanket and play music or sounds for him. Just make sure your dog can leave the crate if he wants to.

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Comfort Your Dog You might have heard that comforting your dog in times of stress can reinforce his fears. However, your dog’s reactions to fireworks are based on a legitimate fear. Providing comfort during this time is appropriate and often helpful.

Sitting close to your dog, petting him gently, and offering quiet words of reassurance during scary events like fireworks can help to center your dog and might even reduce his fearfulness. Plus, doing so will help your dog understand that you’re his partner and that he can always turn to you when he’s feeling scared.

Consult a Professional If your dog’s behavior doesn’t improve, find a positive trainer to help you and your dog work through relaxation protocols.

If your dog’s fireworks anxiety puts him or you in danger, talk with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist about anxiety medication for dogs and whether it is necessary.

Remember that your dog’s fireworks anxiety is a visceral response, and it will likely take a multi-step approach to help your dog feel more comfortable with the sounds.

Banjo celebrating his 14th birthday in human years!

Photo credit: Banjo's mom, Diane Dodd, Savannah, GA

Kaia at Sunset in Burlington

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Summer Tips for Keeping Your Cats Safe

W

hile you prepare for summer by planning vacations, holidays, and activities, take a second to prepare your colony cats for the season. The warmer days can bring cats some serious problems if they aren’t properly taken care of. Here are some tips and things to be aware of so that your companion can enjoy the summer.

IN GENERAL: • Cats with paler fur are more vulnerable to sunburn, particularly on the ears, nose, and sparsely haired areas.

• Older cats are particularly vulnerable to dehydration. Kittens, pregnant mothers, older cats, obese cats, and cats with heart or respiratory issues have an increased risk of heatstroke.

• Signs of overheating include heavy panting and loss of energy. If you recognize these signs, encourage the cat to drink water.

• Signs of heatstroke include stumbling, collapse, excessive panting, bright red tongue, and dribbling. If you recognize these signs, move the cat to a cool place, wet their coat with cool (not freezing!) water, and contact a vet immediately.

COMPANION CATS: • Keep your cats indoors when the sun is strongest, between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

• Cover vulnerable areas, or regularly apply a non-toxic waterproof human sunscreen. There is also sunscreen specifically for pets.

• Make sure clean water is available to your cat at all times.

• Grooming is important, especially for cats with longer coats. Some cats may need their coats trimmed. A tangle-free coat helps to protect the cat’s skin and keep them cool.

• Check your cat’s paw pads for signs of burns from walking on hot asphalt.

• Speak to your veterinarian about flea preventative and which product would be best for your cat.

• Sometimes cats seeking a cool breeze fall out of open windows and get injured or killed. Install tip and tilt windows that allow air into the room without offering access outside to cats, or use a screen across windows when they are open.

• The risk of cats getting shut in sheds, greenhouses, and garages increases during the summer because more cats are left to wander outside. Make sure that your cat is microchipped, with the details up to date. If your cat goes missing, make inquiries and contact local vets and animal shelters in case your companion has been taken to one.

COMMUNITY CATS • Make sure the feeding station and shelter are in a shaded and cool place. If it’s too hot for you to stay there, it’s too hot for the cats!

• Provide lots of fresh, clean water at all times. You can put ice cubes in the water to keep it cooler for longer.

• Use light-colored bowls if possible. Dark colors absorb heat.

• If you see fleas on the cats, ask your veterinarian about flea preventative for the cats you can handle safely.

• Keep insects off of cat food: if you place the food bowl in the center of a tray that’s filled with an inch of water, the cats can lean over the water to eat, but ants won’t be able to cross it. Don’t leave wet food unattended.

• Trapping community cats: schedule spay/neuter appointments before you trap, and trap during the cooler hours of the day to avoid keeping the cats in small quarters when it’s hot. Don’t place traps in sunny spots or on asphalt, which gets extremely hot!

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ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener Review

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will be the first one to admit it, having an automatic chicken door has been a complete game-changer for me and my flock. Due to my busy schedule, I often stress about getting home from work or my volunteer position to be able to safely lock up my birds in the evening, particularly during the cold winter months when the sun goes down so early in the afternoon. Additionally, I have found that the ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener & Self-Locking Door Kit has allowed me to enjoy evenings with my family (a true luxury due to the pandemic) and even sleep in on an occasional weekend morning, without angry chickens who have had their schedule disrupted.

Once I brought the ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener & Self-Locking Door Kit home, I found that the entire system was easy to install and set up. The included instructions

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Unit can be wired to an outlet or solar panel.

It alerts when batteries need replacing so that your chickens never get locked in or out.

make attaching the door to your coop a breeze. We were able to use our existing chicken door hole, to install the automatic door, simply screwing the side rails to the outside of our coop.

If you have a prefabricated chicken

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coop, the door is manufactured to work with a myriad of designs. For chicken keepers who are repurposing another building, you may need to cut a door into the wall, much like you would for installing a cat door.

The aluminum door and opening measures in at 10"x12", and is large enough for even my roosters and largest hens.

It features large, easy-to-press buttons with a big LED screen to make programming easy, even outside at dusk.

The control panel is weather-resistant and mounts to the outside of the coop, which makes it simple to operate. You can also manually open and close the door if needed.

The system is extremely convenient, you can set a schedule for opening and closing the coop door at certain times, or you can set it to open upon sunrise and close at sunset. I really appreciate the light sensitivity meter, which you can adjust so the door opens when it is light out and closes when it gets dark. This feature is great for fall and spring when the days get shorter or longer every day.

I appreciated all of the thought that was put into developing the system.

There is a light to indicate when batteries are low and need replacing so that your chickens never get locked in

however, is the security that it offers.

The coop door has a locking mechanism, which ensures that rodents and other varmints cannot nose their way under it and into the coop. I sleep more soundly knowing that my flock is safe.

I highly recommend the ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener & Self-Locking Door Kit to poultry owners who are looking for a The door kit has been designed convenient way to care for their flock with a unique self locking mechanism. while also giving them top-of-the-line security. It has allowed me to enjoy my chickens more while being confident or out of the coop. The unit can also that they are safe and able to maintain be wired to an outlet or solar panel if their optimal schedule. you have access to power. It even features a blinking red light when the door is closed so that you can easily tell from inside your house (no more late-night trips to the coop to confirm that I remembered to shut the door!).

I was pleased that the system worked well in winter, even with snow and ice.

I do recommend spraying the side rails with a silicone spray before the winter months, this helped to keep the rails free from ice build-up. Fun fact: The side rails are made from environmentally-friendly, recycled plastic!

One of the best features of the ChickenGuard Automatic Chicken Coop Door Opener & Self-Locking Door Kit,

Cooper, Remy & Yona

Bird watching gone bad

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In the Presence of Horses Susan Miller - Sharon, VT

“When we listen to our horses, we get an education. When we don’t, we get experience.” ~ Mark Rashid E

ach time you enter the pasture, barn or stall you’re engaged in the vital act of reading. Not words on paper. You’re taking in clues about the current situation and figuring out whether you’re safe or not, and so is the horse. Horses are magnificent animals full of grace and beauty, strength and gentleness.

Your first greeting should show respect and reverence. A nose touch with an extended gentle fist and a look away will encourage the horse that you are wanting to make friends and get to know them. Horses talk mostly with body language and facial gestures. Sometimes horses do whinny or neigh. Each horse has a different sounding voice and if you listen well, you will learn to distinguish one neigh from another and know which horse is calling out. It's usually the sound they make for greeting, pleasure excitement or fear. The neigh or whinny can sound a bit different for each emotion, if you pay close attention, you will learn the sound of the horse's voice and what those calls mean. Sometimes the breathes they take can have meaning as well.

You can learn a lot about what a horse is feeling from the way they are standing, how their ears are pointed and the way they hold their tails. Horses are hap26 4 Legs & a Tail

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piest when they are at an inner calm or zero state of emotion. Try your best to understand and remember how horses behave under certain circumstances.

Knowing what to expect can help keep both you and the horse out of trouble, and ensure an agreeable partnership.

Horses are very aware of their personal space. They have a personal comfort zone just as humans do. As much as we humans want to be close to horses, the horses need their comfort zone respected. Humans want to touch; horses value their personal space within their herd above being touched.

Horses behave like horses and not like dogs or cats. In general horses are friendly and gentle and usually like people. They like to be patted and brushed and talked to. People like to pat the horses face, but the best place to make first contact with the horse is the neck or shoulder. This way you are a safe distance from the teeth and heels of the horse and the horse can see where you are.

Horses have what is called monocular vision. That means that they see separate images from each of their eyes. Horses can see almost 360 degrees around their bodies. They have a blind spot in Continued Next Page

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front of their nose and directly behind them. When a horse lifts its head and looks forward, their vision can change to binocular vison, they see one image from both eyes, like we see. It’s best to talk gently when approaching a horse so they are aware that you are coming, especially if they are not looking at you or have their back turned.

Horses can get scared, called spooking or shying, of things that people take for granted like loud noises, umbrellas, commotion of too many people, plastic bags that get away and f ly in the wind and running children. Horses' reactions might be to pull back if they are tied, spin around and run away if

loose or ridden. Changes in the weather can affect the horse's behavior. When the wind blows horses can become quite lively as it is harder for them to rely on their senses like hearing, sense of smell & taste. Cool and brisk days can also bring up the horse's energy.

Humans need to remember that they may go through their day yelling at kids, arguing with coworkers, inadvertently butting in line at the supermarket, or having a bout of road rage on the highway. Then they just assume they can work with horses and suddenly become patient, calm, aware and understanding.

Most people that own horses have a

limited amount of time to spend with them. Spending an hour, a day with horses is wonderful. The other side of that is the horse is spending 23 hours a day being a horse, on their own or with herd mates not thinking about being ridden or training. It’s not always easy to be in a frame of mind to be understanding when working with horses, but that’s part of the beauty of working with horses as they always draw our attention back to being in the present moment focusing on them and not worrying or thinking and projecting about near future events like what to make for dinner.

Time is a human construct. We often think in terms of the time it takes to do something. Horses have no sense of time as we think of it. Horses know routine, seasons and length of day or sunlight hours. We might think we’ve done a great job putting in an hour of work with riding or training a horse, the horse likely has a totally different perspective.

Sue Miller is a PATH Registered Instructor & ESMHL, PATH Vermont State Chair, and President of the Vermont Horse Council.

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Which of Us is the Athlete ?

Dorothy Crosby - Stoddard, NH

I

read an interesting post on FB the other day, where the writer was discussing rider fitness and the comments were all over the map. One of my favorites, paraphrased, was concerning the partnership and equality of the horse/rider relationship: If we expect the horse to be able to perform his job, then it is up to us to be fit enough to participate with him and facilitate that job performance!

Yes, this. But I believe it is two-fold.

YOUR BACKYARD DREAMS START HERE!

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I encounter many riders each week, each with their own strengths and challenges. Some have balance issues, both on and off the horse. Some have weak muscles or little stamina. Some might be considered overweight, but are quite fit. Others are tiny and lean, but powerhouses of strength. Yet others are average size and ability, but struggle to do anything beyond their normal range of balance, strength, or movement; even mounting or dismounting is challenging because of their flexibility, range of motion, or willingness to exert and make the effort beyond “easy” isn’t there.

Many riders with balance or fitness issues depend on their hands: balance, communication, stabilizing, and directing are all initiated from the use of their hands and arms. They are frustrated when the horse is ahead of them, or behind their efforts to get it done.

They have great moments, but they have difficult ones more often. Sometimes they don’t even know it. They often have difficulty maintaining their position or having/using independent aids.

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I hear complaints about how the horse won’t stop (_insert behavior__) or how the horse won’t do (_another behavior or maneuver_). They might grip with their legs to compensate, which creates a whole other set of issues…

When asked about how to achieve light hands, former US Eventer Denny Emerson would reply (possibly paraphrased): “Do 3 things: 1. Develop an independent seat, 2. Develop an independent seat, and 3. Develop an independent seat!”

One cannot have an independent seat without the fitness required to have one.

It takes exercise, practice, intent, and work. There are no shortcuts. Some equestrians believe that cross-training is the only way. Some think that one only has to participate in their specific tasks to be strong for those needs. Whatever you believe, just like your horse’s suppleness depends on her ability to stretch in all Summer 2021

directions and her strength and stamina are built up over time and with effort, riders need to develop themselves to be agile and supple and strong….

Recognizing that often riders block a

horse’s movement, Sally Swift, founder of Centered Riding® asked how she could help horses; how do I get out of the horse’s way so he can do his job? Understanding Continued Next Page

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that it was not all about muscling it, she developed the concept of “comparable parts” and noted that horse and rider are reflections of each other’s movements; we mirror each other and any limiting stiffness or amazing flexibility will happen in both, assuming there are no actual physical issues. How the horse moves is generally a direct reflection of its rider!

She suggested this exercise: create awareness in each of your body parts and then that of your horse. For example, notice your (tight?) neck and check-in with your horse’s neck; note whether your shoulder is tight, and check-in with your horse’s shoulder, etc. Move your awareness around your body and note each place, but don’t consciously do anything about it. Then, check back again periodically, and notice if anything has changed for you or your horse.

Simply by creating awareness, we begin to soften; that allows our bodies to move or reposition, rather than us making it do so, which creates tension and tightness.

The ultimate reality of moving together, in sync – dancing, if you will – is when both sets of body parts align and function as a unit, each allowing the other the movement it needs. By focusing on ourselves, we can easily “fix” the horse that couldn’t be fixed by coercion, convincing, or force.

Though they appear to be conflicting

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or in opposition, true strength comes in achieving both: we need to be able to simultaneously combine body control and letting go to achieve the strength, fitness, and suppleness, along with the balance, softness, and freedom of movement necessary to perform. As we do, we are better able to move with the horse, encourage and allow the horse’s own movement, and achieve the softness, clear communication, and teamwork we are all striving for. No doubt the dance can then begin and the music will go on….

Have a wonderful horsey spring and summer!

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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The Hole Problem P

Scott Borthwick- Canaan, NH

hone calls in my business are sometimes more interesting than the job itself. People trying to explain what their problem could be. Most of them start out as, “I have a mole, vole, or woodchuck problem.” Sometimes they think it’s a hedgehog, groundhog, or badger problem but it all comes down to a hole in the yard. One customer said there was a woodchuck hole in her backyard. When I arrived I discovered a hole the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. I informed them that it was most likely a sinkhole and that if it was a woodchuck hole I didn’t have a trap that big. Now let’s get on with the hole story.

Holes the size of a nickel or smaller are sometimes called a snake hole. These are often old tunnels dug and eventually abandoned by some other creature such as a chipmunk. Snakes don’t dig holes but sometimes will use them for cover or will enter in search of food. Holes the size of a golf ball are either voles (field mice) or chipmunks. Most of these show no sign of excavation, just a neat hole in the ground.

Every once in a while we have come across a small hole with a large pile of dirt dug out. That is a chipmunk making that mess. Mounds of dirt scattered about with tunnel-like humps going between them are moles. These underground dwellers tunnel through people’s yards looking for grubs, worms, and such. Holes the size of a softball or volleyball are normally woodchuck or groundhog holes. These are used as a dwelling. They can have a series of tunnels with 3 or more entrances and go thirty feet into the ground.

Unfortunately for the homeowner and sometimes the woodchuck is that other creatures may move in. Like skunks and opossums. Holes dug under decks and slabs are usually access points to holes dug under the structure and again may be used by multiple creatures. Holes dug in your lawn that are the size of a silver dollar and only go in a short distance are usually skunks but sometimes opossums digging for grubs. Raccoons occasionally will tear up whole sections of the lawn looking for grub snacks. Holes the size of a basketball are most likely fox dens.

They are normally abandoned by midsummer when the young can venture off on their own.

Well, that’s the hole story. Hopefully, I covered the hole topic so you can now determine what your hole problem is.

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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Helping Bumblebees in the Native Flower Garden T

o me, nothing says summer better than the pleasing hum of the bumblebee in a sunny native f lower garden.

These fuzzy teddy bears with wings play a vital role in the pollination of native plants, not to mention important food crops like tomatoes, squash, raspberries, and blueberries. However, some bumblebee species are in decline and could use some help from backyard gardeners.

Catherine Greenleaf - Lyme, NH

They are extremely social and prefer to live in colonies in cavities under the ground. In very early spring, a queen emerges from her winter lair under the ground, sometimes when there is still snow present, and searches for an adequate space to build her colony. She may choose an abandoned animal burrow or an opening at the base of a stone wall. She lays her first round of eggs and feeds the larva nectar and pollen. She will produce a colony of several hundred VERY FRIENDLY AND SOCIAL bumblebees throughout the summer.

Bumblebees are often referred to as This is where you can help by planting “the gardener’s friend” due to their abil- early flowering native plants and trees. ity to go about their business gathering The queens are often frantic for nectar nectar, undisturbed by your presence in once they emerge from the ground. A the garden. They are solitary bees and do lack of early flowering plants can result not swarm, only sting when provoked, in starvation of the queens and failed colonies on your property. and, quite frankly, are fun to watch.

Bumblebees draw sustenance from the blossoms of willow, maple, crabapple, American hazelnut, and northern black cherry trees. They are also attracted to pussy willow, clover, columbine, blue flag iris, bleeding heart, dandelion, mayflower, Jacob’s ladder, pulmonaria, and geranium.

As spring turns into summer, bumblebees also benefit from roses, viburnum, spicebush, spirea, bee balm (monarda), anise hyssop, toadflax, lobelia, penstemon, and milkweed.

You can also plant annuals to help the bumblebees. These include zinnia, sunflower, cosmos, and morning glory.

Herbs like rosemary, oregano, catmint, lavender, and borage are also extremely beneficial.

Late summer and fall plants that help bumblebees include goldenrod, aster, Joe Pye weed, and boneset. Planting large clusters of these species rather than individual plants will make it easier for the bumblebee to find them. As always, please be sure your plants come from a nursery that does not use deadly pesticides like neonicotinoids, and avoid cultivars.

GIVE THEM SPACE You can help protect bumblebees by limiting or restricting your activity in the garden until queens emerge from their underground dens in the spring.

This usually occurs after 5-7 days of a consistent soil temperature of 50 degrees.

The soil’s temperature can be taken by using a digital meat thermometer. Once this occurs, it is safe to dig in the garden without harming the bees.

Bumblebees are also sensitive to loud noise. Gasoline-powered lawnmowers and leaf blowers will drive them away from your property. Also, try to avoid the use of weed cloth or heavy mulch, so bumblebees are not trapped underground.

VITAL POLLINATORS Bumblebees are buzz pollinators. This is a specialized form of pollination that is essential to 300,000 native plant species in the United States. The bumblebee vibrates in order to knock the pollen off the blossom, which it then catches on its hairy body and legs.

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Bumblebees are not honey producers like the honey bee. What they produce is for self-consumption by the colony. Not surprisingly, entomologists claim bumblebees are far better at pollination than the commercialized honey bee, which is non-native. Bumblebees visit flowers in cold temperatures and will even forage during cloudy and rainy periods, whereas honey bees are primarily active when it is warm, sunny, and dry. Their fat bodies allow them to carry larger loads of pollen and their tongues are longer than those of honey bees, allowing them to access nectar from many more species of flower.

REDUCE YOUR LAWN Consider converting part of your lawn to meadow and plant patches of native flowers to provide nectar and pollen from the beginning of the season to the end.

Providing a succession of plants from the very early spring until the fall will ensure that bumblebees survive and nest on your property.

At the end of summer, all bumblebees die except for the newly designated queens. The queens find a hollow tunnel under the ground and prepare for a long winter’s hibernation. You can help protect the queens in your yard by leaving the leaves in your garden, as they provide protective covering from rain, snow, ice, and predators.

Go to bumblebeewatch.org for more information.

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

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Snout to Tail Assessment…

Or, the vital tracking of your pet’s health and wellness Ingrid Braulini - Grantham, NH

I

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n other articles I have referred to the Snout to Tail Assessment as the most vital health practice you can do for your pet along with an annual vet check-up.

Although I will be concentrating on dogs and cats in this article, I urge you to research the fundamental baseline for your particular pet’s health whether it be a ferret, a pot-bellied pig, parrot, or a bearded dragon. These fundamentals are heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, capillary refill time (not possible in non-mammals), mucous membrane color, and weight. Although not always easy to determine they are an important part of establishing general health.

As soon as you acquire a pet, establish its individual baseline, and track it at least monthly (I do my dogs and cats when they get their flea and tick meds) and compare it to the month before. Please keep track of this so you can refer to it and share it with your vet as needed.

When you begin an assessment be reminded that most mammals find this a wonderful bonding experience. After starting with full-body caresses and gentle, reassuring words, you start at the head beginning with the snout.

It is not accurate that the snout needs to be cold and wet. What it needs to be is pliable and soft. There should be no discharge, nor should there be a cracked, dry nose. Run your fingers along the muzzle checking for bumps and cuts. Be gentle in lifting her muzzle to investigate the mouth. The gums (mucous membranes) are a sign of the immediate health of your pet and should be bubble-gum pink (unless you have an animal with black gums). If they seem white or very pale this can be a sign of anemia or shock. If they are yellow, or yellow-tinged, it can be jaundice or a liver issue. If they are grey or blue, it can signify a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) or shock. Her teeth should be white and there should be no unusual bad breath.

Now is the ideal time to check the CRT (capillary refill time) by pressing down on the gums gently but firmly and releasing. It should only take 1.52 seconds to have the color fill back in.

Any longer time may mean “circulatory shock” as in cases of poisoning, heat exhaustion, and others. Now check her eyes. They should be clear with no discharge, should track movement, not be pinpointed, dilated, or unequal.

As you move to her ears check the skull. It should be free of lumps, bumps, with no pain response, heat, or fluid.

The ears should have no odor, no discharge, debris, or be painful to the touch.

Anchoring the spine at the neck with one hand, slide the other down her neck and spine checking for bumps, tenderness, sores, or abrasions. As you begin checking the chest you may prefer to have your pet on her side for better access.

This will also be the time to check her breathing and heart rate.

Examine her ribs under her coat and feel her rhythmic easy breathing by placing your hand on her chest.

Count for 30 seconds. Each time her chest rises and falls count that as one, then multiply that by two. That equals total breaths for a minute. The normal Summer 2021

EYES Clear, No Discharge

MUZZLE Cuts or Bumps?

EARS No Pain or Discharge

SNOUT Pliable & Soft Check CRI

GUMS Pink TEETH White

HEAD No Bumps or Lumps

LEGS No Pain or Abrasions Good Range of Motion

BACK AND TORSO No lumps, bumps or tenderness

SKIN Quality Texture Color Dandruff TAIL Flexible No Pain

MAMMARY GLANDS No Discharge

RIBS No Pain Count Breaths

GENITALS Clean No Discharge Take Temperature

ABDOMEN No Tenderness DEW CLAWS Not Cracked

And check WEIGHT!

breath rate for dogs is 10-30 breaths per minute. For cats, it is 20-30 breaths per minute. The gold standard is to check your pet at rest, play, and in-between (should be fun trying to figure that for birds and lizards because they are SO compliant). Be sure to check her chest for lumps, tenderness, and sores.

You can either check her heart rate now while she is lying down or later when she is standing again. In either situation, you will want to access her femoral artery on the inside of her upper thigh. Slide your middle two-fingers inside the upper thigh feeling for the pulse. Use a watch or timer and count the beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 giving you the beats per minute.

Here are the average ranges: Large dogs = 60-100 bpm Medium dogs = 80-120 bpm Small/toy = 90-140 bpm Cats = 140-200 bpm (maybe too fast to count with some cats and you may not live long enough for the full 15 seconds. Maybe for a cat, I would do 6 seconds and add a 0).

While sliding from her chest to her abdomen, check the mammary glands for discharge and then palpitate the abdomen which should not be tender, painful, or rigid. Now, give her a good belly rub. The genitals should be clean and not exhibit any signs of discharge or odor. The anus should be free of hair, debris, or feces. While there, you may want to take her temperature. (cats just love this one!). Insert a lubricated digital (ONLY) thermometer gently into the rectum, twisting as you insert. Pet’s temps vary and you need to find out what is normal for “your” pet since this is one of the first things to indicate a sick or injured pet. These numbers are Summer 2021

FEMORAL ARTERY Check Heart Beat NAILS & PADS No Sores or Cuts

approximate and may not indicate what is typical for your pet when she is ill or hurt. Newborn puppies 96-97 F, dogs 100,4-102-5 F, or for cats at 99.5 F=102.5.

While checking her legs you are examining for cuts, bumps, and range of motion.

Dew claws and toenails should not be cracked or split. Check between toes for

cuts, foreign objects, or excessive hair and her pads for tears and severe dryness. Finally, we are at the tail which should be checked for deformity, pain, and range of motion.

While doing the assessment, you are also checking her coat and skin for color, texture, quality, and dandruff.

It may be difficult to establish your pet’s weight if she is big, but generally, you can weigh yourself, then pick up your animal and weigh again. Subtract the difference and that is her weight (not yours!). You are done and your pet is grateful for all the love and attention you have given her. Please record all this information and keep it handy along with previous assessments so that you will be aware of and can show any changes, to your vet.

If you want more information on doing a snout-to-tail assessment or want to see one done, please let me know and I’ll be glad to fill in the blanks or show you how it’s done.

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

www.4LegsAndATail.com 37

have physical or medical needs. Emotional support dogs are neither hand-picked nor are they required to pass any exam or be trained to perform their tasks. And this sets us up for…..

THE UGLY To have an emotional support dog accompany a human in public environments the only requirement is a physician's agreement that an ESD would be helpful for the human. The ability of the dog to tolerate these stressful environments is often not taken into consideration. Dogs put into situations they are not equipped Paula Bergeron - Grafton, NH to handle can result in stress behaviors such as barking, chewing, destruction of property, lunging at other dogs and THE GOOD people, and dangerous biting. These The term: Emotional Support Dog is ugly disasters could lead to the ban of relatively new in our vocabulary but emotional support dogs in public places, the fact that our dogs do much to uplift which would be such a shame, as many our mental health has been known for provide an incredible service. some time. Some studies show people with pets tend to have better physical WHAT CAN YOU DO? It is important to understand that not health, are better able to relax, and suffer less from loneliness. Personally, my all dogs can cope with the stress of busy dogs make me laugh….a lot… and we all human environments. Too many dogs are chosen because they are cute, or because know that's good for whatever ails ya.

E.S.D. or emotional support dog is a they have been through similar trauma, term used to identify that a dog is with or medial issue believing this will lead you for a reason, that reason is to help to deeper understanding and bond. This the human cope, most commonly it is line of thinking puts undue stress on the in reference to coping in a public set- anxious or traumatized dog leading to ting. What the dog does specifically for unwanted behavior.

When looking for an emotional suptheir human companion varies widely, but is it clear by the shear number of port dog do your homework. Choose a them, that for many having their dogs confident dog who has a steady temperaaccompany them in the wider world ment, is physically healthy, and has had makes a difference in their ability to a positive puppyhood. If you already have a dog invest your time and efforts into live their best lives. training. Have a goal to attain a Canine THE BAD Good Citizen certificate and slowly expose Emotional Support Dogs differ from your dog to the environments you want Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs in many them navigate. You may need help to ways. Therapy Dogs need to pass a test accomplish these tasks, look to family, to make sure they have the tempera- friends, professional trainers, behaviorment and skills to behave well, be gentle ists, breeders, and veterinarians, to guide and safe in whatever environment they you in your choices and training. enter. Service Dogs are handpicked for Having an emotional support dog is a temperament and are expertly trained powerful strategy that opens the world in specific skills to assist humans who up for many people. If you are contemplating getting or using your dog for emotional support, please prepare and train your dog so you both feel success and enjoyment as you navigate the world with more confidence together.

Emotional Support Dogs The Good, The Bad, and How to Avoid the Ugly

Happy Training, Paula Bergeron and the gang at Good Dogma 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 38 4 Legs & a Tail

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Summer 2021

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DUKE ON A MISSION : Bringing Comfort, Helping People Karen Sturtevant

W

here do you find comfort? Is it in a trusted family member or friend, at the bottom of a quart of ice cream, during a sweaty physical workout, or perhaps after a good cry? When I was a toddler my mother gave me ‘red blankie.’ I carried that thing everywhere, giving me comfort. My anxious rescue dog takes her choice of stuffed animals with her when we venture into the world. Whether it’s a pink primate we named Creepy Monkey or a small white cat appropriately called Kitty Kitty, she’s comforted with her little buddy.

For dog lovers, we know the value of having a cherished companion in our lives. With a wagging tail and soulful eyes, they are always happy to be with us. Never judgmental, always endearing. The bond created is much like that

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of child and parent. Simply being near a friendly dog brings solace. When the possibility of pioneering a comfort dog program in the Williston Police Department arose, Officer Matthew Cohen, a ten-year department veteran, was intrigued. When Williston Police Chief Patrick Foley gave the green light for the program, the search for the perfect candidate began.

The functions of a comfort dog are to provide interaction during situations involving children and adults impacted by violence, tragedy, or traumatic events and to reduce anxiety and increase communication between the victim/witness and investigators.

The pursuit would conclude in May 2020 when Officer Cohen drove to the highly-regarded Boonefield Labradors

in Rindge, New Hampshire to welcome an eight-week-old fluff ball called Green Puppy. Known for their charity and quality of English Labradors, owners Peggi and David Brogan have gifted several puppies to law enforcement agencies.

Duke was number eleven.

Upon arrival in his new home and thanks to the students in Williston schools, Green Puppy will now be forever known as Duke. A year later, I met with the team to find out what this pup’s first year has been like, the triumphs and challenges.

We were greeted at the gazebo in front of Williston Central School, where Duke has been a regular guest. On this sunlit day, Duke was wearing his official neon green and black dog-in-training vest along with a shiny gold badge affixed to his collar. Gone was the furry puppy.

In his place, a mature, blocky-headed handsome canine. Duke busied himself with chewing sticks and tree bark pieces while trotting from person to person.

Photographer, Kelly Hinds, made duck sounds to get his attention and snapped photos—lots of photos.

Despite restrictions due to the pandemic, the past year has been productive.

The team has been in attendance with regular training sessions at Thin Blue Line K9 under the supervision of the owner, Tom Radford. First came basic puppy obedience, then agility activities to build confidence, and finally, exposure training intended to confront any fears. “We have a very confident, young dog here,” comments Officer Cohen.

Along with his current recognition of AKC Canine Good Citizen, another goal for Duke is to receive certification in therapy dog work. Potential therapy dogs are screened, evaluated, and trained in order to attain certification.

Deb Helfrich at Gold Star Dog Training has been preparing the team with lessons in developing new skills needed for his designation.

Duke will be asked to show his skills in obedience and basic commands, conduct impulse control with other dogs and control his tendency to be overly excited when people approach him. The Summer 2021

Golden Rule: four feet on the floor. Boonefield Labradors is an affiliated partner with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, an international registry of certified therapy dog teams.

Officer Cohen and Duke may travel to Duke’s birthplace for their testing.

Duke’s primary job is to be himself and in doing so bring smiles and help relieve stress in upsetting situations.

The comfort dog is a valuable tool in fostering dialog and communications between the police department and the community. Duke’s first mission was to visit the Vermont National Guard and Vermont Food Bank while the staff was issuing readyto-eat meals to the public.

He’s helped children feel loved after their parent was arrested, soothed the nerves of crash victims, consoled first responders after the loss of one of their own, and help relieve tensions of students and staff as they returned to school in the fall of 2020. “Just for a few minutes of taking someone’s mind off what just happened/what they just witnessed is important. Sometimes he acts like a goofy Lab, other times he’s stoic and calm and just there. It’s very interesting as his handler to watch,” explains Officer Cohen.

Being the first law enforcement agency in Vermont to offer a comfort dog program is uncharted territory.

Officer Cohen keeps expert records on Duke’s accomplishments and training.

The first year of service was active with 117 total deployments (29 school visits, 68 community engagements, 20 emergency responses).

A noteworthy case involved Duke rendering comfort on the side of a road.

After a driving-under-the-inf luence (DUI) stop where a parent was arrested, Duke stayed with the two children who were passengers in the car. Duke remained with the children roadside until the other parent arrived. Upon follow-up by the Vermont Department of Children and Families, the children recall interacting with Duke, not the arrest of the parent.“ You can’t put a number on how much that interaction helped those kids through that process.

What could have been a traumatic event with a parent being arrested became a positive interaction with a dog,” said Officer Cohen.

The word predictable doesn’t belong when referring to police work. The same Summer 2021

Officer Cohen, Karen and Duke

can be said for Duke’s daily schedule.

He and Officer Cohen find themselves in a variety of locations. Duke was utilized with staff and students at Williston Central School after the untimely death of a student. The team continued ongoing support for three days. They have visited vaccination clinics, the emergency department at the University of Vermont, numerous classrooms, first responder meetings, and homes to provide support to both adults and children during a time of grief. “This is a one-to-one, we know good things are happening,” said Officer Cohen.

The team sees a lot of positivity and immediate gratification. Victims or witnesses leave the experience feeling better than when they arrived. “Most of policing is negative reinforcement.

You do something bad, you get a consequence. This is positive reinforcement.

Police show up, Duke and I interact with someone, and they leave feeling happier.”

“From an officers’ perspective, if I write a speeding ticket, maybe you slow down the next time you drive a car. If I pull over someone who is DUI before them crashing, maybe I save someone’s life. As an officer, you don’t see or know if you have helped someone or saved a life because you intervened. You don’t see the life of a child that you saved after they ran into the street and the car was able to stop in time because they were Continued Next Page

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driving slower after receiving a ticket.”

“You do not see the grandparents who were not victims of a DUI crash driving home from dinner because you stopped the DUI driver and got them off the road that night. You go through this career hoping, but never knowing that your actions are helping someone even though that might be by sending a consequence to someone else.”

“With Duke, we show up, I immediately know we’re helping. His program is that positive interaction police need especially within our communities and how much strife has been happening in general––in policing, politics, in our lives. It’s great to come into a situation that is truly just positive. We’re here, we’re going to help, making people happy and that is a great feeling as an officer. You can see it in peoples’ faces.

He does help,” said Officer Cohen.

The program is fully funded through donations with no cost to the town or taxpayers of Williston. Along with complementary training from Thin Blue Line K9, Guy’s Farm & Yard is donating a lifetime of food, Mountain View Animal Hospital provides medical care at a discounted rate and Community Bank has been extremely gracious in their donations. For Duke’s first birthday, Officer Cohen streamed the party

live. With a seemingly endless pile of toys and treats, it was obvious Duke had reached celebrity status. It was at the end of the party that Chief Patrick Foley awarded Duke his badge.

Officer Cohen comments, “This program is what some agencies see as a luxury. Others, like ours, see it as a need. There is a need to get to that crisis response. There is a need to get to first responders after they’ve witnessed a fatal car crash to help them work through it. There’s that need. There are a lot of unseen benefits.”

Other police departments have reached out to Officer Cohen in collecting information on the comfort dog concept.

Will see more programs like this in law enforcement? I hope so. Duke’s visits to vulnerable individuals provide calm in a time of chaos. From classrooms to kitchens, the benefits are undeniable. At the end of each shift, Duke rides home with Officer Cohen to transition from work to home time. Finding ‘his person,’ Officer Cohen’s four-year-old daughter, his leisure time is spent acting as her shadow and playmate. Big brother Cooper provides canine interaction while Duke decompresses into domestic dog bliss.

Duke and Officer Cohen have gently interwoven themselves into the heart of this community.

Duke may be the top ticket performer, but Officer Cohen is the manager.

The first comfort dog program in Vermont has been an astounding success.

Beyond the therapeutic benefits that come with floppy ears and puppy kisses, the positive impacts are far lasting. I still have my red blankie now with more holes and tatters than blanket. As a toddler no more, I sometimes still wrap myself in it on difficult days. For times calling for more than a cotton blanket, Duke will be there. One dog can not save rid the world from tragedy. He can not undo a terrible circumstance. Duke can offer the best of himself with his gentle nature, his sweet disposition–– gifts that will stay with the recipient long after Duke has left to begin his next comfort mission.

Contact Officer Matthew Cohen: matthew.cohen@vermont.gov Visit Duke on Facebook: www.facebook.com/k9dukevt Follow Duke on Instagram: www.instagram.com/k9dukevt Visit Duke online: www.willistonpdvt.org Visit Kelly Hinds Photography: facebook.com/photography-by-kelly-hinds and www.photographybykellyhinds.org

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Precious’ s Story Michele Hall

M

y story begins on March 13, which was Friday the 13th. Late on that night I was hit by a car and left lying on the cold wet road. At about 9:30, a car stopped and someone moved me to the side of the road. The next thing I knew, a light came on and someone picked me up and carried me into a house.

I had a really bad headache and could not move. I spent the night laying on the lap of my new best friend. In the morning, I still had a headache and could not move. I remember being put gently into a carrying case. The next couple of hours are kind of foggy.

I don’t remember much of the ride.

When we arrived at the Veterinary Hospital, a nice lady took me into a really bright room. I must have fallen asleep after that, when I woke up I was laying on a soft bed with a pink bandage on my right front leg. After a couple of days, I think, I’m not sure how long I was at the Veterinary Hospital, they put me back in the carrying case and I was in

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the car again.

When I was let out of the carrying case I ran under the bed and went to sleep.

When I woke up and started looking around, there was a Precious litter pan set up and some food and water.

I was wondering who the lucky cat was to live inside with food and water right there. I didn’t go far from the bed, I felt safe under it.

For the next few days, I stayed under the bed, only sneaking out to use the lit- Every day at 2:00 she would come in by ter box and get something to eat. My the bed and say “Precious, do you want new friend kept the food and water dish- a treat?”, then she would leave the room es full. I never did see another cat, so and when I came out from under the bed it must have been just for me. there was always a special treat to eat.

My friend slipped a really soft bed After a couple of weeks, I finally under the bed for me. She never tried answered her when she asked me if I to bother me, she was always talking wanted a treat, just a meow. I don’t to me. She kept calling me Precious. remember if I had ever spoken before. I

think I surprised my friend. She sounded so happy that I had spoken to her.

About a week later, my friend fixed a nice box with a soft cushion on it, in front of the window so I could see outside. a few days later a birdfeeder appeared, hanging outside the window, now I could watch the birds. That didn’t last too long, a big black bear came and took the feeder. I thought it might come inside so I stayed under the bed, where I feel safest. After a couple more weeks, my friend brought in a tree and put it in the corner by the window. I didn’t feel like climbing it at that time. I had been feeling really tired and my tummy was getting big. One night I tried sleeping on the foot of my friends’ bed, it wasn’t too bad. The next night I moved a little closer, she didn’t chase me away or try to touch me. It was really nice sleeping next to her. One night she put her hand on my back. I was scared but didn’t move, then she went to sleep and I did too.

It is nice having a friend. One night as we were going to bed, I was starting to have some pains in my stomach. My friend got out of bed and turned the lights on to see if I was ok. I started to go to the closet in the bathroom, where a couple of weeks earlier I found a box with a bed in it. As I got closer to the closet door I turned to my friend, I wanted her to come with me. It’s like she read my Summer 2021

mind, she sat by the closet door talking to me, like she did the night of my accident. Every time I looked out of the box, my friend was still sitting there.

It took 3 hours and I had 4 beautiful babies. After a couple of days, I moved my babies out of the box, it was too dark and I didn’t like the darkness. My babies started crawling around the closet after a couple of days. Now I know why my friend put a board across the doorway.

After 2 weeks my babies started climbing over the board.

I tried to tell my friend that we needed a bigger board.

I think she understood what I wanted because the next thing I knew she had brought in a bigger board and put it across the bedroom doorway. It made it easier for me to keep track of the 4 babies.

It was a lot of work trying to keep up with the 4 babies.

I had 2 tiger babies, one with short hair like me and one with long hair. One of the babies was all black and one was black and white. After a few more weeks, the babies were climbing up the bedspread to the top of the bed, then crying because they couldn’t get back down. My friend put a pile of pillows on one side, so they could get down. I was really glad about the gate at the bedroom door. My babies were wearing me out. Then they started jumping off the bed instead of using the pillows.

At about this time, my friend put a bigger litter box in the bedroom. I had been wondering how I was going to teach them to use a litter box when mine was so small and under the sink. This box made it much easier for me and my babies. I had trouble with the all-black one, he just could not get the hang of it. My friend put a couple of litter boxes where he was going on the floor. I don’t know how she knew about it, I kept cleaning up the spots so she wouldn’t see it. After a while he finally got it.

One day, my friend, had someone in the house. She stayed by the gate. The babies were all curious about a new person. I was under the bed keeping an eye on my babies the entire time she was here. All the time she was here she sounded familiar and she smelled familiar.

Later I remembered, she was in the car with my friend when I was hurt.

The babies are getting big now, and full of so much energy. It was a few weeks after my friends’ friend had been to see the babies, that another friend stopped by.

She sounded nice. She was looking at my babies. I was watching her from under the bed. When she left, she took 3 of my babies with her. I had a good feeling about her and that my babies would be alright.

That night I had my first good night’s sleep, with just one of my babies. My friend didn’t sleep very well. I think she missed my babies. I tried to tell her they will be alright. A mother knows these things.

My baby is doing good and is always using the litter box. He keeps me busy, always finding new things. He figured out how to climb over the gate. Baby doesn’t miss a thing. He puts everything in his mouth. I look forward to nap times.

I was very lucky that Friday the 13th, but not all animals are that lucky.

Anything you can do to help a stray dog or feral cat like I was, is really appreciated.

If you are ever at the Veterinary Hospital in South Deerfield, MA, tell them Precious says “Hi!” Stay safe and hug your friend, I’m sure they need it with everything going on in their world.

Precious

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Did You Hear About the Blind Encounter?

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Deborah Hodges - Meriden, NH

hroughout the summer my Golden Retriever, Pippin and I walk morning at 5am. The temperature is pleasant, black flies and mosquitoes are sleeping in, and we get to see some cool wildlife: deer, porcupines, skunks, foxes, beaver, and snapping turtles to name just a few.

Walking back up the road home after our hike, we saw a middle-aged couple walking down the hill with a beautiful sheltie. They were on the left side of the road. Pippin and I were on the other side. When we were opposite the shelty and his owners, the man handed the leash to his wife and hurried ahead to talk with us.

He explained that their sheltie sometimes attacked other dogs. They had consulted with their vet about the problem and learned that their dog was completely deaf; he was just being defensive! The vet explained that he suspected that was the problem because there was so much white fur in his coat (and the dog was a gorgeous animal!)

I told the man that our encounter must be unique, since my Pippin had been born with no eyes and thus had been blind since birth.

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HEAT STROKE

Taking a dog’s temperature requires the use of a rectal thermometer and, preferably, a good helper to assist in holding the animal still. With the dog’s rear end facing the same direction that you are facing, wrap one arm around the dog’s body, holding it firmly against Pat Jauch - Caledonia Animal Rescue your side. Lubricate the thermometer (shake it down below 96 F or 35 C) with mineral oil or petroleum jelly and insert s our hot, humid weather con- it gently, keeping it in place for several tinues, our pets are more susceptible to minutes. You will need to hold the tail a condition called heat stroke. Body tem- to keep the thermometer from slipping perature will rise when the animal is in out or breaking. If the thermometer rega very hot place. Without sufficient water isters 104 F (39.6 C) your dog has a fever.

Consult your veterinarian immediately and air circulation, particularly in older animals and certain breeds of dogs with short snouts, the onset of heatstroke can be swift and devastating.

The ASPCA lists the following warning signs of heatstroke:

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if you suspect that your dog is suffering from heatstroke since extreme cases may require the administration of intravenous fluids. Measures that you can take to alleviate the symptoms include placing the animal in an air-conditioned room and giving it some cold water or ice chips. A cool bath may also help, but be careful to regulate the water temperature so it is not too cold. Ice may also be applied to the dog’s head and between the rear thighs, but this should be done carefully so as not to develop hypothermia (low temperature). Once your dog’s temperature returns to normal you can stop these procedures.

• Rectal temperature over 106 F (41 C) • Excessive panting • Fast-pounding pulse • Vomiting • Seizure-like tremors • Weakness • Collapse If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms you need to take immediate steps to rectify the situation.

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OTC Functional Diets: A Great Tool, but Don’t Forget Your Vet! Holly Kenseth and Peter Kenseth

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rom March 24th-26th, we had the pleasure of attending the Global Pet Expo, which like so many other things in the past year was impacted by COVID-19. Ordinarily, the event is held at an exhibit hall that is the size of three football fields, but this year’s iteration was hosted entirely online through a digital platform. More than 250 companies presented virtual exhibits, where they featured new product innovations in the pet food, treat, and supplement space.

One of the most notable trends to arise at the show was a proliferation of new food products that claimed to offer functional benefits or targeted nutrition. Of the products that claimed to offer functional benefits, digestive formulations were most common, followed by joint, weight management, and skin & coat claims. Interestingly, a year after the DCM study, the prevalence of heart-related claims in functional diets dropped precipitously. Although many of the manufacturers of these functional diets cited the ingredient formulations that allowed them to make their claim of functional benefits, none were supported by clinical data.

For example, WellPet released Wellness CORE Digestive Health, which is “crafted with prebiotic fiber, probiotics, and superfoods to support digestive health.”

While no one can deny that these ingredients support good digestive health, the claim is based upon the ingredient formulation and commonsense nutrition wisdom, not clinical science. Similarly, Wellness CORE Bowl Boosters claim to

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offer skin & coat, joint, digestive, and heart health benefits. Other functional launches included “Zen Life” (calming) and “On the Move” (joint) functional formulations from Natural Balance, and the Nutrisca line from Dogswell (hip & joint, skin & coat, and digestive health.

However, while many of the functional diets released at Global Pet were promoted on their nutritional merits, some releases bore a strong resemblance to a prescription diet that would be administered by a veterinarian. Evanger’s released EVx Restricted Diet Dinners, with formulations such as Bland Diet, Urinary Tract, Weight Management, Low Phosphorus, and Senior & Joint Health.

Similarly, SquarePet launched SquarePet VFS, with Skin & Digestive Support, LowFat, Active Joints, Ideal Digestion, and Low Phosphorus formulations. Evanger advertises that its EVx Restricted Diet Dinners are “formulated with nutritionists and experts,” and SquarePet notes that its products are “formulated by veterinarians including [a] boardcertified veterinary nutritionist.” Still, the strong similarity to a prescription diet made us wonder: is there a danger in pet parents having over-the-counter access to these diets? Are we entering a stage where pet parents may begin a practice of self-diagnosis and treatment of their dogs or cats?

We reached out to Dr. Ryan Canales at Long Trail Veterinary Center in Williston, VT for his thoughts on the matter, and he noted that many pet owners will opt for an OTC product because of the

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high cost of prescription diets from manufacturers like Hill’s, Royal Canin, and Purina. While the cost of prescription diets is high, Dr. Canales noted that it is important to remember that prescription diets should be thought of as medications and that their OTC counterparts do not undergo the same level of clinical testing as prescription diets. Additionally, many prescription diets are manufactured in closed facilities, eliminating any chance of cross-contamination.

“The OTC diets themselves, they probably aren’t going to hurt your pet on their own,” said Dr. Canales. “However, where people get into trouble, is when their pet really needs the prescription diet, and they opt to switch to an OTC diet that claims to address the same health concern. Take urinary diets in cats, for example. I cannot tell you how many times I see clients who bring their cats in with urinary problems, and we prescribe a urinary diet, like Royal Canin Urinary SO. And then a few months later, that client is back, and I ask what diet they have the cat on, and they have switched to an OTC product that claims to address urinary symptoms. The OTC products, just do not have the same levels of efficacy, so the risk you run is that you’re going to end up seeing recurring symptoms if you switch off the prescription diet.

Whereas, with the prescription diet, I rarely see cats who stay on SO, and have recurring symptoms.”

“But what about healthy pets? ” we asked. “What are the risks of giving your healthy dog or cat a functional diet that they may not need?”

Again, Dr. Canales noted that the diet itself would not likely cause harm to the pet, although he did note that pet owners should take advantage of their relationship with their veterinarian to ensure that they were making an informed choice about their pet’s diet.

“I’d say it’s not likely to cause problems, but I’d want to look at each diet individually before telling people that all of these functional diets are safe,” Dr. Canales told us. “Take digestive diets – not all of them are created equal. What ingredients are they using that is allowing them to make that claim? I am always happy to call up pet food manufacturers and ask for more details behind their diets. It is one of those things – people are becoming less and less likely to turn to their veterinarian for advice about their pet, but your veterinarian can work with you to help make sure you are making the best choice about the diet that your pet needs. Nobody really talks about carbs, fats, or minerals, but those are all important components of a pet’s diet. However, most of the marSummer 2021

keting I see these days is focused on protein content.”

When it comes to OTC functional diets, Dr. Canales raises an important point.

These diets are not likely to hurt your pet, but it is worth consulting your veterinarian to make sure that your pet is receiving the purported benefits of the diet you choose to provide. If your pet is truly in need of a prescription diet, attempting to “band-aid” the situation with an OTC diet may end up causing greater medical issues for your pet. If your pet is healthy, OTC functional diets can be a great dietary option, but it is still worth discussing with your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is truly in need of the functional benefits that the diet provides. Your vet can call the manufacturer and work with you to make an informed decision that truly considers your pet as an individual.

In the new age of pet parenting, it is critical to remember that a good pediatrician has always been one of the most valuable resources at a parent’s disposal when it comes to the wellbeing of their children. The same adage can be applied to our “fur babies” – a good veterinarian can help to ensure that a pet parent’s desire to provide the best possible care does not result in unintended harm.

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Alternatively Speaking: Happy Cats are Healthy Cats Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA

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n veterinary school, we were repeatedly reminded that cats are not little dogs, but you don’t need a medical degree to know that cats tend to have more introverted personalities compared to the dog’s effusive enthusiasm.

Instead, they are masters of subtle emotional expression. A squint of the eyes, a flick of the tail, the angle of their ears – with one look they convey their feelings clearly, leaving no doubt if you are in their good graces or disfavor. While this may be mistaken for a lack of feelings, cats are in fact quite sensitive, and when upset they will internalize stress just as they do other emotions. Chronic stress contributes to health issues, so cat caretakers have to watch for clues to know if their felines are unhappy or 50 4 Legs & a Tail

feeling unwell if the goal is to minimize illness. In this article, we will practice “thinking like cats” to better enrich their lives for maximal happiness and health.

When we talk about enrichment and animals, the best example is how zoos use interesting activities to mimic physical and mental wild behaviors. Cats are arguably our most ‘wild’ companion, natural hunters and stalkers even if it is from behind the couch and many are not shy about using their claws to teach us how to behave properly around them.

Cats have the energy and instinct to practice their skills and need opportunities to do so to stay entertained and active.

This is especially true for indoor cats that don’t have the stimulus of the outdoor world to engage with. They are at

the most risk for obesity and emotional stress, both of which impact their health.

Simple ways to engage your cat’s inner lion include climbing structures, shelves, or window ledges that give them the elevated perches they love, games that mimic hunting prey and end with a pounce on a hidden special treat or even dividing meals into hidden snacks that your cat has to search to find. Large bags of crumpled newspaper with a treat hidden inside or cardboard boxes they can hide in or use as dens are a big hit. Another engaging activity is to teach your cat tricks, some of which can be very useful like going into their carrier for treats, or letting you put a treat into their mouth like a pill. You can find many training tips at drsophiayin.com, or her videos Summer 2021

on YouTube. Of course, simply spending some quality time with your cat is a fantastic way to enrich their lives.

Watch their body language to tell what they like, and for how long, so the interaction is something both of you enjoy.

Have a cat that doesn’t like a lot of handson contact? Respect their feelings and share quality time by playing hands-off games with catnip toys or treats they like. Forcing physical interaction will just stress them and may cause them to act out aggressively.

Even if your cat’s life is full of enter-

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tainment, love, and comfort, other environmental factors are often overlooked that from a cat’s perspective really impact how they feel. The most common of these easy-to-miss stressors is the litter box. As one veterinary behaviorist put it, imagine your bathroom is a beautiful spa. You would feel so wonderful using that space, right?

Now imagine it is a dirty outhouse that smells from being uncleaned or heavily perfumed, and you kick up enough dust going in it makes you choke. What if it is also near a loud noise, or you have to go somewhere frightening to get to it?

Most cats accept that their bathroom is not their dream spa. But over time that tolerance can wear thin, and any added stress can cause a revolt and suddenly they are soiling your house. Remember that their sense of smell is far more acute than ours, so if you can smell their cat litter it is likely overpowering to them. If dust plumes up into the air when you top off their box, consider one of many natural litters that are perfume and dust-free, and control odors as well as traditional brands. Other considerations are location, ideally somewhere quiet where the dog can’t go, and size, big enough to fit into and for older arthritic cats, low enough Continued Next Page

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for ease of entry. Lastly, to avoid competition and the distaste of treading in a freshly soiled litter, try to have at least one box per cat that you scoop out daily.

Another important environmental stress for cats is who they live with. Other pets can be wonderful companions, but roommates can be difficult. Our dog Pumpkin loves our cat, and Klinger will happily give her a facial grooming when Pumpkin is calm. But Pumpkin is large and sometimes unpredictable, so Klinger has to avoid being too near the dog’s treats or getting trampled in play.

Being watchful all the time is a stress, so Klinger has his own spots like our daughter’s room where he can often be found taking up more than his share of her bed. A half-door in the kitchen and a cat door into the bathroom also keep his food and litterbox dog-free. Separating cats from each other to provide private areas is not as easy. Having multiple high perches, window seats, cardboard boxes, or beds can offer alone time and avoid competition for resources. Also, consider the humans in the house. A cat whose ideal life is sitting on a retired person’s lap may live in constant stress in a busy household where young children are too loud and just like Pumpkin, may not respect a cat’s personal space.

Houseguests, new babies, dinner par-

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ties – any of these may be upsetting.

Imagine if you got out of bed and your house was full of strangers, wanting to touch you! If your cat is timid, arrange food and litterbox in a quiet area apart from guests so they don’t have to venture outside their comfort zone. Talk to your vet about aromatherapy, supplements, homeopathy, or even prescription medications to ease stress. A little preplanning can avoid flare-ups of upper respiratory disease, chin acne, bladder infections, or any of your cat’s pre-existing health issues.

This brings up the important point that not all stresses are external, some come from within. Eating a diet that doesn’t

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quite agree can cause digestive discomfort and a ‘finicky’ cat that eats grass or needs constant diet variety. Arthritis, dental disease, declining kidneys, or hyperactive thyroids are all predictable aging issues that bother your cat long before they have visible symptoms, especially since they won’t advertise discomforts until they are too ill to hide them. Just as stress can trigger illness, the illness will create stress, often setting a cat up for self-perpetuating problems. Caretakers should be watchful for any changes in their cat’s routines, appetite, thirst, weight, or litterbox activity. A vet visit is in order when anything unusual is noticed, even if kitty seems ok overall.

Wellness visits themselves are invaluable for finding stressful issues before they fester into larger problems. In our practice, we use food therapy, homeopathy, and Chinese herbs to treat both the emotional and physical side effects illness causes.

This brings us to the last place to help reduce stress – the trip to the vet. Whether your cat needs a problem addressed, wellness care, or even a discussion on stress-relieving strategies, the car ride is often an obstacle. Call your vet in advance to discuss non-prescription calming pheromones, flower essences, or supplements that can make the trip to the vet much easier for kitty and their chauffeur. For timid or motion sick felines, after their initial visit anti-nausea or mild sedatives can be prescribed to alleviate fear and discomfort. Follow up with games and training so your cat associates the carrier with comfy pleasure and yummy treats!

Unfortunately, life is not a utopia for any of us, including cats, and not all stressful circumstances can be eliminated. But measures can be taken to help ease tensions where we can. The first step is to pay attention to each cat’s personality and comfort zones. Be mindful of what your cat is experiencing, identify possible stressors, and then discuss strategies with your veterinarian to address your cat’s environmental, emotional and physical needs. The effort will be rewarded with more purrs and contented looks from your happier and healthier kitty!

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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Veterinary Medicine Is Not Fast Food Service Windsor Pet Dental, Windsor VT - Angie Young, CVT

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e have all had mornings where we’re running late, forgot our coffee or tea, and are in an absolute rush. When your pet needs to visit the veterinarian, please take the time and not rush. Medicine is not an exact science and animals can’t talk and tell humans what is bothering them. Veterinarians and their team need to be intuitive and objective to be able to help your pet.

It can be frustrating at times to not know exactly what is the root cause of your pet’s symptoms and you may want answers now. Veterinarians and their team have been through a lot of education, training, and experience to be there for you and your pet. Everything they do is for the well-being of you and your pet.

In an age where you can have instant gratification to use an app to order a latte or lunch and get it moments later, this doesn’t apply to veterinary medicine.

As much as we want to provide speedy service, some things can’t be rushed. If your pet is having a surgical procedure, you wouldn’t want to rush the surgeon as surgery is a very detailed orientated skill that needs focus. You are paying for a professional just like you would pay for a lawyer or physician. When the veterinary team is working with your pet that is their primary focus.

Communication is key. As veterinary professionals, we do our best to keep pet owners informed of what is going on with their pets. It can be helpful

Miley

to write down your concerns ahead of time just as we would write down a grocery list. That way, when you reach the veterinary office you haven’t forgotten the important questions you want to ask. Tell your veterinarian if you don’t understand something so he or she can better explain it. Make your expectations clear and let the veterinary team know if you do have time constraints. We can’t always guarantee we can get procedures done by a certain time; however, we can be mindful of your time concerns.

Veterinary professionals and their staff went into this profession as they have passion, care, and empathy for their patients. Veterinary medicine can be truly rewarding. Veterinarians and their support staff work long hours, but also find joy in helping their patients heal.

Whether climbing in the recovery cage and holding a dog’s paw after surgery or snuggling with a cat so it doesn’t feel frightened, we entered this field to help animals. Providing good quality medicine for your pet will take time and isn’t something that can be rushed.

Lilly

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PLANNING FOR AN EMERGENCY Catherine MacLean, DVM Grantham, NH

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s all our lives have changed during COVID, we are now spending more time at home and outdoors with our pets. As a result, more accidents and emergencies are happening.

There are some things that are useful to have handy in case an accident or emergency happens.

If an accident or emergency happens with your pet, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, try not to panic. They can pick up on our anxiety and emotions, which may escalate their own fear and anxiety.

Try your best to stay calm. Second, you may have the sweetest dog or cat, but when something extremely painful happens or they are very fearful, they may react by biting. This does not mean they are a bad pet. They do this because they are not in their normal state of mind, and they are reacting. So be safe, even if you have the sweetest dog or cat. Finally, when traveling or doing outdoor activities know where the local emergency veterinary hospital is and their phone number. Nothing is worse than dealing with an emergency and then trying to figure out where to go with your pet in an area you are not familiar with.

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Below is a list of things to consider having at home or in an emergency kit when traveling with your pet: o Thermometer o Disposable gloves o Flashlight o Clean towels or washcloth o Triple antibiotic ointment o Saline solution (for washing out wounds) o Antiseptic cleaner o Alcohol wipes o Benadryl (the plain kind with no added medication, also known as diphenhydramine. Discuss proper dosing with your veterinarian.)

o Hydrogen peroxide o Tweezers o Small scissors o Dawn dish soap (in case your pet encounters something with grease)

o Gauze (both squares and rolled) o Muzzle (in case something painful happen. This way both you and your pet are protected from bites)

o Cotton balls and Q-tips o White adhesive medical tape o Non-adhesive pads o Stretch bandaging Although this is not an all-inclusive list, it is a start and will help with many of the most common injuries and situations that I see. The most common injuries I see with dogs that have been outdoors are lacerations, torn toenails, allergic reactions, ingesting things they shouldn’t, run-ins with other animals, and porcupine quills. Many of the things on the above list will help you stabilize the injury until medical care can be found.

Remember not to panic and to let your veterinarian or local emergency clinic know that you are on your way so they can prepare for your arrival.

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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Medieval Law Gus McLeavy - Fitzwilliam, NH

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uaint as such a legal custom may seem to us today, for hundreds of years in Europe people held both wild and domestic animals responsible for their actions, as if they had the power of reason and knew the difference between good and evil. Granted, we expect this of our pets to some degree. We want the family dog to demonstrate its shame when it “knows” it’s been bad; we sense that way down deep, the family cat knows better, too (not that any self-respecting cat would ever show it). But from the time when court systems were formally organized until the middle of the 18th century, animal transgressors were considered to be subject to all ecclesiastical and local civil laws throughout most of continental Europe, just the same as people.

As in most legal proceedings, there were some very strict rules and regulations associated with bringing beasts before the bar. Domestic animals had to be tried in municipal courts, while wild animals, as God’s creatures, were tried in courts of the Catholic Church.

Both courts could impose the death penalty, but the church could also prescribe banishment, exorcism, and ex-communication. Biblical authority for putting animals on trial was found in Exodus 21:28 (“When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be clear”) and several other places in the Old Testament.

In every trial, all the formalities of justice were observed, from the opening of the proceedings to the passing of the sentence, and each animal had a right to an advocate on its behalf. In France alone there were more than 90 docu-

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mented proceedings during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance; the last one occurred in 1740 when a cow was tried and executed.

Animal trial procedures were not without some ambiguity. Arguments were raised regarding the propriety of legal action against animals, especially in the ecclesiastic courts. Some theologians felt that because God had blessed the lower animals, and because they had preceded man o Earth, the church should have no dominion over them.

The church insisted that, as God’s representative on Earth, it was incumbent upon that body to exorcise, anathematize, and excommunicate all sinners, living or inanimate. Still, others challenged the church on the grounds that it could not anathematize that which it did not baptize. The church stuck to its arguments, though, and went right on exorcizing guilty beasts, birds, and insects. (Actually, the church avoided the exorcism ceremony whenever possible. The success rate for the practice was low, and it was an embarrassment when an exorcized creature did not “wither off the face of the earth” as it was supposed to, or, indeed, behaved worse than it had before.)

Enforcing laws against animals was frequently anything but easy. The residents of the French commune of St. Julien brought suit in 1445 against a golden beetle for what was then the legal equivalent of harassment. After years of courtroom hassling, the people proposed that a certain part of their land be given in perpetuity for the use of the bugs. The insects’ lawyer agreed to this on behalf of their clients, and it looked as if the lengthy litigation was

finally over. Then someone who had a right of way through the property in question insisted on his legal use of it. The court decided this would disturb the beetles and declared the original compromise void. The case dragged on for a total of 42 years, but no one knows its resolution: the documents describing the outcome are too deteriorated to be legible.

Several other remarkable cases occurred in France about this time. The residents of Autun had papers served o the rats of that village to appear in court on a certain day to answer to specific charges related to their ratty behavior. So that there would be no mistake who was meant, the rodents in question were carefully described: “dirty animals in the form of rats, of a grayish color, living in holes.”

Court=appointed counsel for the animals was a man named Bartholomew Chassanee, who later became one of France’s legal luminaries.

When the rats did not appear in court to answer the first summons, Chassanee argued that the summons, although read at a place frequented by rats, was of too local a character. Furthermore, as all the rats in the area were interested parties in the case, each should be addressed individually-the court could not assume the infallibility of the rats’ grapevine. The court acquiesced, and the curate of each parish in the district was instructed to inform every rat under his jurisdiction when and where to appear in court. When no rats came the second time, the lawyer explained that, as all rats had been summoned, young and old, sick and well alike, many preparations were necessary, and there hadn’t been enough time for them to be made. The court again agreed and set a third date.

When no rats appeared on the third appointed day, Chassanee argued that the administration of the paperwork was faulty. Although a summons was supposed to guarantee the safety to and from the court of the parties involved, adequate protection had not been provided to his clients from the plaintiffs’ rat-hungry cats, which lined the rats’ routes to the courthouse. The rats were most desirous of obeying the court’s order, Chassanee insisted, but until the plaintiffs would post a bond to ensure the good conduct of their cats toward the defendants, the rats did not dare attend. The court admitted the legitimacy of this argument, too, but the plaintiffs refused to be bound over for the conduct of their cats, and Chassanee won the case by default.

In 1451, in Lausanne, leeches were brought into an ecclesiastic court to hear a monitoire (admonishment) of their conduct. They were then ordered to leave the district within three days. When they Summer 2021

did not do so, they were formally exorcised by the church. It was reported that after the exorcism the leeches began to die and disappeared entirely in a very short time.

In the town of Levigny, a sow and her six piglets were placed on trial for murder in 1457. It was alleged that they had killed and eaten a baby. Counsel for the defense was able to get the piglets acquitted because of their youth, their mother’s bad example, and lack of hard evidence against them, but the sow was convicted and executed.

France was not alone in the prosecution of its sinning animals; it just kept the best court records. Similarly, bizarre cases were prosecuted in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. In Basel, Switzerland, in 1464, a rooster was charged with laying an egg. The prosecution alleged conspiracy with Satan, while the defense argued that a dumb animal could not enter into a contract with the Evil One. The court found that, even though there was no proof of an affiliation between the cock and Satan, simply because the cock had laid an egg (the egg of a rooster being a commodity much sought after by witches) the fowl was the instrument of his evil, and must be condemned. In other words, guilt by association in a conspiracy to commit sorcery.

In Switzerland, it was not unusual for all animals to be witnesses in court, even in murder cases. Swiss law at the time permitted a householder to kill an intruder in his home between sunset and sunrise. Some individuals took advanSummer 2021

tage of this to settle scores, inviting a person to their homes and then murdering him after dark, claiming later that they had believed the guest to be a thief. Without witnesses, courts could not prove that such murders were not committed in defense of property. In such cases, animals often were called to the box. The accused would be made to swear his innocence in front of a family pet before the court would give a verdict of not guilty. The Swiss believed that God would not allow a guilty man to go unpunished for murder, and would therefore intercede by making a cat meow or a dog bark in an obvious fashion if the master were really guilty.

The fates of innocent men unlucky enough to own naturally vociferous pets are not recorded.

Gus McLeavy operates an out of print book business called AardBooks.

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Dog Days of Summer 2021

Vermont’s 1st Exotic Rescue Keep Your Cat Safe This Summer Tracking Your Dog’s Vital Signs

Celebrate National Mutt Day! The Law vs The Animals