4 Legs & a Tail LK Winter 2023

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

Prepare yourselves for an over dose of cuteness, because March 23 is National Puppy Day! Established in 2006, National Puppy Day is a paw-some day for all dog enthusiasts to celebrate unconditional love and fawn over the undeniably cute furballs that bring so much happiness into this world. While we’re all softies when it comes to our four-legged friends, today is also designed to raise awareness about puppy mills and help prospective pet owners con sider adoption.

WHEN IS NATIONAL PUPPY DAY 2023?

Man’s best friend is celebrated on National Puppy Day on March 23. All the cutest and most adorable puppies are put in the spotlight and get the roy al treatment on this day!

HISTORY OF NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

Founder, Colleen Paige’s mission is to help galvanize the public to recog nize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year. It’s also an excel lent opportunity to show off your dog’s supermodel side and give them some extra cuddles for all the joy they bring. So sit back and indulge in the endless stream of adorable puppy photos, but keep in mind that today might be the best excuse to bring home your own fluffy canine as your next best friend!

Colleen Paige first brought adoption awareness to a national level with Nation al Dog Day in 2004, which was later adopted by the New York State Legisla ture in 2013. This day is celebrated on August 26 and is the day Colleen adopt ed her first dog, “Sheltie” when she was 10 years old. Since then, Colleen has inspired millions with her compassion and has brought worldwide attention to animals in need. She has shone a light on dogs putting their lives on the line every day for personal protection, for

law enforcement, for the disabled, for our freedom, and for our safety.

National Puppy Day and National Dog Day are now great opportunities to adopt a dog because shelters typi cally have the highest intake of dogs around summertime. With 30 to 40 ani mals entering the shelter daily, we need public support to help save lives, and these national holidays do just that — by encouraging and reminding people to adopt, donate, and love their animals more every year. Continued Next Page

1894

1921

LADDIE BOY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

BY THE NUMBERS

15–20

The number of hours puppies spend sleeping.

1

The age at which puppies become ‘adults.’

24

The largest litter born to a masti breed dog.

2-4 WEEKS

The age at which puppies start teething.

10,000

The number of puppy mills in the U.S

1943

UNFUR-GETABLE MGM

1950

SNOOPY HITS THE PAGE

2004

CELEBRATION OF

9.4 The estimated number of puppies per breeding female per year.

2005 The year when the world’s first canine was cloned.

17 TONS

The weight of the giant puppy sculpture in Bilbao, Spain.

38,000 The number of flowers covering the giant puppy sculpture in Bilbao, Spain.

165,474 The estimated number of dogs kept solely for breeding purposes in USDA licensed facilities.

1,011,046 The estimated number of puppies produced by USDA licensed facilities every year.

TRADITIONS OF THE DAY

There are no specific traditions on National Puppy Day. It is all about lov ing and cherishing your pet pup and having a fun time. Puppies are lavishly treated to their favorite treats and even given spa treatments by some. It’s worth noting that pet marketing agencies are often offering freebies and deals on this day, so keep your eye out for something nice for your pup.

Personalized toys are very popu lar, and pet clothing lines have gone mainstream as well. Puppy flicks like “Wishbone” and “A Pup Named ScoobyDoo” are aired on television, so owners enjoy getting cozy with their beloved pets to watch them. Donations are also made generously to animal shelters and organizations working specifically for the welfare of dogs.

NATIONAL PUPPY DAY ACTIVITIES

1. Teach your pup a new trick

At their young age, puppies are always open to new things and teaching a trick can be a great learning expe rience for both of you. Activities like these can help further develop your puppy’s social skills and even strengthen your companionship — your pup will enjoy the extra treats along the way too!

2. Pamper your pup

Sometimes your pup is worthy of a 5-star spa treatment. Start with a bubble bath and end with a groom ing session to bring out their baby soft coat. An extra belly rub can’t hurt too — your pooch will be sure to thank you later!

3. Look at photos and videos of adorable puppies

Puppies are often the best medi cine, no matter your state of mind. There are so many you might be at it for a while.

Snoopy makes his first comic strip appearance.

President Harding’s “Laddie Boy” becomes the White House’s “First Dog”

POKER

The Dogs Playing Poker Oil Painting by Cassius Coolidge was created.

1st

NATIONAL DOG DAY Colleen Paige successfully created the world's first holiday to promote adoption.

Hollywood gets its first glimpse at Lassie with “Lassie, Come Home.”

FIVE IM-PAWS-IBLE PUPPY FACTS

1.

Jolly Green Puppy

In rare cases, the fur of a light-haired puppy can get temporarily stained by a green pigment in the moth er’s placenta, making them appear green at first.

2. The Tiniest Tea-cup

According to Guinness World Records, the smallest puppy in the world was a Chihuahua named Milly, measuring as an adult at 3.8 inches tall.

3. Bilboa’s Botanic Puppy

Since its opening in 1997, the Gug genheim Museum in Bilboa, Spain has been home to a 40-foot tall pup py statue adorn with 37,000 flowers.

4. Spotless Puppies

Dalmatian puppies are born without any spots and instead accrue them over time.

5. Sleepy Puppy

Though their energy picks up pret ty fast, much like human’s newborn puppies sleep on average of 15-20 hours a day.

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

1. They’re Great Listeners

Puppies are a judge-free, guilt-free zone. No matter how big or how small the problem, they’re always there to comfort and lick your problems away.

2. They Sniff Out Health Problems

Studies show that babies raised in close contact with a puppy get sick less often than those who aren’t. Not only do they help build up our immune system against allergens but their strong sense of empathy promotes a stress-free, nurturing environment. Puppies can help shed and sniff your way to better health.

3. They Keep Us Active and Stress-Free Let’s face it, puppies can be a hand ful, but chasing them has surprising health benefits. They keep us con stantly exercising, which helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Who knew puppies could help us revamp our workout routine?

Beavers Away

Beavers Away! is based on a true story in which seventy-nine “nuisance” beavers were reintroduced, through parachute drops, into a remote and degraded wilderness in Idaho in the late 1940’s. Consequently, these areas were successful ly re-colonized and stream ecosystems were repaired. The re-located beavers were able to quickly restore the eroded and barren landscape and create lush habitat that provided food and shelter for many other types of animals.

The book is written from the perspective of Elmo Heter, the game warden who designed and directed the parachute project, and from the viewpoint of a beaver he nicknamed Geronimo. The narrative follows Geronimo through the process of capture, relocation, and release and it incorporates much of the actual story as originally told by Elmo Heter in an article written for the Journal of Wildlife Management in 1950. In addition to the story of the parachute drops, background is provided on the morphology and life of beavers, their specific adaptations for a semi-aquatic life, their critical roles as ecosystem engineers and keystone spe cies, and their ability to mitigate the effects of climate change in wetland habitats.

Many mammals, from moose to mice, depend on beaver-engineered habi tat for food and shelter. In fact, nearly half of all endangered species in North America rely on wetlands for their survival. Beavers are remarkably efficient and successful at restoring degraded wetlands and the associated ecosystems. Across the United States beavers are being successfully reintroduced, often on or near large farms and ranches, to create sources of clean water for livestock and wild life and to restore habitat for diverse species of plants and animals.

Today’s young people are growing up in a world that is dramatically impacted by the effects of climate change. In the coming decades they will confront many daunting environmental challenges and they will be responsible for develop

ing the necessary tools and methods for solving complex problems that will face the global community. Beavers Away! presents a remarkably uplifting story in which an innovative and relatively simple approach to a difficult situation results in an effective solution. Game war den Elmo Heter and the stalwart beaver, Geronimo, joined forces 74 years ago to bring the eroded wilderness back to life. Their inspiring story should motivate today’s young to energetically confront the many formidable problems that their future may hold.

Geronimo and Elmo embody the sto ry of man working together with nature toward the goal of a mutually sustain able world. The fact that both characters really existed and had a true bond makes the story heartwarming and inspiration al with enormous power and appeal for kids of all ages. The sanguine conclusion of Beavers Away! should inspire children to think positively about their own solu tions to the many difficult environmental issues they confront in daily life.

Jennifer Lovett, author and illustrator of Beavers Away!, is a conservation biolo gist who lives in Starksboro, Vermont. She learned about the amazing true story of Idaho’s parachuting beavers while work ing on her master’s degree in environ mental science.

Rehabbing a Beaver

On May 10, 2020, I received an orphaned beaver kit, weighing just oneand-a-half pounds, whose entire family was killed when their dam was breached and their lodge crushed by a private land owner armed with a backhoe who deemed their presence a “nuisance.” I am a volun teer licensed wildlife rehabilitator who specializes in beavers. Beavers are one of the most challenging animals to rehab: The entire process takes two years, since that is how long beaver kits remain with their parents in the wild, and orphaned beavers require not just the basic neces sities of food, warmth, and protection, but also companionship, since beavers are very family-oriented animals who form tight-knit bonds within a colony through grooming behaviors, communal feeding, nursing, etc. The rehabilitator must then take the place of the kit’s par ents and form those bonds with him or her. Needless, to say, I got to know beavers real well as a result of this experience.

Using a specially formulated milk replacer, my wife and I fed BK (short for Beaver Kit) and he grew big and strong. At three months he weighed 15 pounds and at a year old he was 38 pounds. By the time I released him, two years lat er, he was up to 50 pounds! His favorite sticks to eat were willow and poplar, but I also fed him specially formulated “rodent chow” nuggets that supplied him with nutrients he’d normally find in the wild. In May 2021, when BK was a year old, I received another orphaned yearling, this one a female, who became BK’s “room mate” and they were released together.

BK and Mrs. Beaver were released on land owned by the New England Wilderness Trust (NEWT), at an old, unoccupied beaver pond which they quickly made their home and maintain as a marvel ous wetland habitat.

Beavers are heavily trapped in Ver mont, even though this orphans kits who remain dependent on their parents all through regulated “seasons.” Tradi tionally trapped for their fur, beavers are also viewed as a “nuisance” because their dams occasionally flood roadways and block culverts. But beavers are con sidered by biologists to be a “keystone” species for their ability to create wetland habitats whose biodiversity is compara ble to rainforests and coral reefs. They are also dubbed “climate change super

carbon sinks and as drought buffers and wildfire breaks. Because beavers, like all furbearers, self-regulate their populations in accordance with the car rying capacity of the landscape, there is no need to “manage” their populations through trapping, as Fish and Wildlife agencies often assume. Trapping is by far the least successful solution to bea ver-human conflicts, since new beavers quickly move into a trapped site. (Bea vers are very territorial and, when alive, are the best way to keep out other bea vers!) Instead, high-quality flow devices provide long-term, sustainable solutions that allow human communities to live side-by-side with beavers and enjoy the many benefits of their wetland habitats. Protect Our Wildlife, a Vermont non profit, offers grants to help landowners and towns coexist with beavers, which is a win-win for all!

John Aberth is a volunteer licensed wildlife rehabilitator based in Roxbury, Vermont. He is also a board member of Protect Our Wildlife, a Vermont-based wildlife advocacy group.

John Aberth - Roxbury, VT John with BK at one week old.

BecameHowDogsthePerfect Companion

Dogs became ‘man’s best friend’ because of a gene that lowered their stress and made them more relaxed around peo ple, according to new research from Japan.

Descended from wolves, the domestica tion of dogs which enabled their special relationship with humans has baffled evo lutionary experts for decades.

Now, a team at Azabu University reck on they have solved the riddle. Dogs carry two mutations of a gene known as MC2R (melanocortin 2 receptor), which pro duces the hormone cortisol—nature’s built in alarm system released during fear or anxiety.

Dogs’ emergence has been tracked back to wolves scavenging leftovers discarded by early humans on the edges of settle ments. Over generations, their offspring became bolder and moved ever closer to the people they relied on.

In time, humans saw the animals as natural allies and began training them to be better hunters and herders.

“It may have become necessary through the process of domestication for dogs to gaze at humans for instruction and initiate communication to build a more successful relationship,” said corresponding author Dr. Miho Nagasawa. “Because stray dogs that are not brought up in human house holds show this characteristic, it has been previously suggested there is a genetic component involved. Our results support this hypothesis.”

To investigate the phenomenon Dr. Naga sawa and colleagues ran experiments in which 624 domestic dogs were split into ancient and modern (general) breeds.

The ancient group consisted of those considered genetically closer to wolves such as the Akita and Siberian Husky. Others, such as gun dogs, mastiffs and Jack Russell terriers, are more distantly related. All participants were recruited voluntarily from their owners.

They found the ancient group felt less attached to the testers than the latter, and it was due to the MC2R variants.

“We focused on ancient dog breeds to investigate breed related differ ences in social cognitive abilities,” explained Nagasawa.

“In a problem solving task, ancient breeds showed a lower tendency to look back at humans than other European breeds.”

Blood samples showed changes to the MC2R gene were associated with correct ly interpreting gestures and gazing at the experimenters more often.

There were no differences in other genes—including those for the ‘bonding’ hormone oxytocin and another linked to hyperactivity.

Their research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

“The results show both groups have capabilities in understanding human gestures and adjusting their responses accordingly, (but) in contrast, the gen eral group showed higher eye-contact behavior in the problem solving test.”

“This suggests the capability of dogs to understand human commands and adjust their own behavior accordingly evolved early in the domestication of dogs. The stronger tendency of gazing at humans, as tested by the problem solving test, was a desirable character istic that was intentionally chosen for, through human-selected breeding, after dogs had evolved.”

Man’s first best friend was a grey wolf that made contact with its first human companions about 33,000 years ago, somewhere in south east Asia. About 15,000 years ago, a small pack of domes ticated dogs began trotting towards the Middle East and Africa.

The species, known as Canis lupus familiaris, made it to Europe about 10,000 years ago, when humans began to build farmsteads and villages and erect walls.

Dogs were already there to help keep guard and herd the first flocks—and the outlines of the great adventure are written in DNA.

Nearly two-thirds of dog owners want to get their pets involved in their wedding day—acting as ring bearers, bridesmaids, and even the best man, according to a new poll.

Of 2,000 dog owners, 60 percent already knew someone who included their dog in their wedding.

The most popular roles for dogs on the big day were ring bearer (50 per cent), flower girl (17 percent) and page boy (13 percent).

And just shy of one in 10 (nine per cent) would even have their dog as the groom’s best man.

It also emerged that couples would be prepared to spend an average of $75 to get their pooches ready for the nuptials.

“This poll reflects the growing trend of newlyweds wanting to involve pets in their big day, whether it’s to walk them down the aisle or be a ringbear er,” said Xavier Flamand, of Amazon Handmade which launched its new wed ding store and commissioned the poll.

The survey also found that a full 93 percent believe that because a dog is part of the family, they should be involved at the wedding.

76 percent of respondents agree that guests would react positively to having dogs involved at a wedding.

Mom Panics After Senior Rescue Dog Goes Missing, Finds Him Napping With Her Baby

Dee Michaels

Kristin Leigh Rhynehart, from New Jersey, lives with her 10-year-old rescue dog Raven and daughter Addi son. She adopted him about a decade ago and he brings immense joy to their family. When Kristin gave birth to Addison, she knew that Raven would make the perfect big brother!

Kristin found it amusing to notice Raven’s possessive tendencies toward Addison; He would always keep an eye on her and never let her out of his sight. In fact, he hated whenever he had to go sleep in his own bed.

She was frantic because Raven was missing, so she looked in all his favor ite places and even turned the house upside down. But when she went into Addison’s room, instead of being upset, Kristin found that Raven had been sleeping with her the whole time!

Raven apparently had decided to develop his own nap rules from now on! He informed us that he would not be sleeping until he was snuggled up and tucked in with his sister. Addi son, on the other hand, was more than delighted to have her cuddly brother in bed with her. It appears that Addison has the greatest brother in the world!

Let’s spread this dog tale that shows just how much love senior shelter dogs still have left to give.

People Keep Dumping Dogs Near His House, So He Builds Them A Special Doggie Train

Dee Michaels

W hen this 86-year-old retiree moved to the outskirts of Fort Worth, Texas, several shady owners made covert visits to dump their unwanted dogs. So

he turned his 13-acre home into a safe haven for these frightened and aban doned canines. These animals grew to become his family over time, and one of the main causes of his retirement was pleasant!

It was Eugene’s Dogs that led him to the quirky idea of a doggie train. noticing his dogs were always happi est when they were together, he got to work. A skilled welder, he punched holes in plastic barrels and attached wheels before hooking them up to a mini tractor – giving his dogs the ride of their lives!

The local dogs have taken a liking to Eugene and his train. Their father ly figure takes them on lengthy rides twice a week, during which they go wild with excitement!

Each time they board the train, they become tail-wagging pups with gleaming eyes while Eugene whisks them away through the woods and secluded parts of town. The most joyful sounds and sights to them are when they smell the air and feel the sunshine! They smile with the biggest smiles as they observe life go by around them!

Eugene finds true happiness and meaning in his life by rescuing these dogs, and every now and then, more show up in the abandoned area. Not only does Eugene take them into his home, but he also makes sure there’s enough room for everyone on the train by adding another barrel car!

Pit Bull Saves Woman and Has A New Best Friend

This attentive pit bull is a perfect example of why you should never judge a book by its cover.

Simba lives with his owner Arjanit Mehana in an apartment building in Sweden. Despite how Simba has always been a sweet pup, the neighbors in their building have negatively judged him for being a pit bull.

One elderly woman who lived on the floor below Mehana and Simba always took particular care to avoid the pup and shun his advances.

“He always tried to greet her, but she called him mean and looked at him with fear,” Mehana told authorities. “She never liked him because he was a ‘bad’ breed.”

Her attitudes changed, however, after Simba saved her life.

Mehana and Simba had recently been returning to their apartment from a walk when the pup suddenly started bark ing and pawing at the elderly woman’s door—and he refused to leave.

As Mehana pulled on Simba’s leash in bewilderment, he heard a faint voice calling for help from inside.

The elderly neighbor had fallen and broken her hip. For two days, she had been stuck on the floor without any way of calling for help.

Mehana then called medical services and waited with her until an ambulance arrived—and she was sure to thank her rescuers for their intervention.

“She said, ‘Thank you for hearing me.’ I thought she was talking to me at first,” Mehana recalled. “But then she said, ‘No, not you—the nice doggie.’”

Suffice it to say that the woman has had a change of heart towards her new canine friend. Mehana also now hopes that Simba’s story will help other peo ple to reconsider their views on pit bulls as well.

CRATES: NOT JUST FOR HOUSE BREAKING ANYMORE How To Crate Train Your Dog

Paula Bergeron - Grafton, NH

In a previous issue of 4 Legs & a Tail, I explored how crates can be used for more than house training. If used properly crates can be used for physical comfort, physical safety, and emotional well being. In part two, here is a basic guideline for conditioning your dog to use a crate comfortably.

It is best to give you and your dog plenty of time to get used to a crate BEFORE you need to crate your dog. If you wait until the day before a vet visit, a kennel stay, or the first time you are scheduled to be away, it will be a much less gentle transition. So plan ahead and begin early.

Keep in mind that crate training is a process rather than an event. Begin by placing the dogs food at the front of an open crate and allow them to eat with their paws outside of the crate. Once they are comfortable with having their heads in the crate to eat, begin to move the food farther back into the crate until they are eating with their whole body in the crate.

Depending on the age of the dog and their past experience with crates, this step could take one day to one month… let your dog’s sense of comfort lead you. Once your dog will comfortably enter

the crate without fear, have your dog go into the crate while you stand in front of the open door. No need to say any thing, just quietly stand there until your dog sits down. Once they relax enough to sit down gentle step away. Do not say anything because you do not want your dog to jump up and race out…keep these exercises quiet and calm. Once you have accomplished having your dog sit vol untarily, repeat the process until your dog lays down in the crate voluntarily.

Some dogs will skip the sit and go right into laying down in the crate just because they are already comfy, for more sensitive or anxious dogs this step will take much more time. (Hint: for the anxious dogs, bring a good book and place it on top of the crate so you will be able to enjoy some read ing time as you stand or sit in a chair in front of the crate waiting for them to sit or lay down. Stay relaxed. Your dog will NOT relax if you are frustrat ed with waiting. Once your dog will lay down in the crate voluntarily, gently close the crate door, and leave it shut for just a moment then gently open it again to allow the dog to know they are not trapped. Shut the door again, leave it for 30 seconds or more and open it

again. Walk away allowing the dog to either remain in the crate of come out on their own… remember to keep this calm. Continue this step of closing the door and keeping it closed for a period of time, lengthening the time the dog stays in with the door closed until you feel they are relaxed enough for you to shut the latches and go and sit down somewhere in the room. Eventually you will see that your dog has begun to understand that the crate is where they are fed, and where they relax which is setting the crate up to be a wonderful safe and calm spot for your dog.

A Few Guidelines For Crate Use:

• Use the crate for night time sleeping with just the occasional treat of having the dog sleep at the foot of your bed.

• Use the crate for feeding and for high value toys.

• Use the crate for safety when guests arrive or other times of high excite ment in your home.

• No child should be allowed to enter or play in your dogs crate even if the dog is not in the house. Allow the crate to be your dogs place just for them.

• It is important to stress to children and adults that it is unkind to approach a dogs crate while they are inside. A dog who feels trapped can become defensive and growl, snap, or bark if not allowed to rest and be left alone.

• Do not use the crate as a baby sitter while you are at work. The rule of thumb is dogs are comfortable for a night of sleep and no more than a 4 hour stretch during the day.

• If you need to use a crate for your dog during the day, hire a dog walker to come mid day to let your dog out and walk them and get some exercise. You can not expect a dog to have good behavior if they have spent too much time being still.

• Do not place items in the crate for them to chew if you are not in the home with them such as bones, toys or plush animals.

• Do not leave collars on while your dog is in the crate as they can become tangled and choke your dog.

• Keep the crate in a space that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

• Always treat the crate as a lovely home for the dog, never as a punishment for unwanted behavior.

• Use the crate to prevent unwanted behavior but be aware if you treat the crate as a punishment then your dog will no longer want to go there.

Your attitude is the beginning of your dogs understanding of the crate. So if someone comes into your home and asks… why is your dog in that cage…. just tell them that is Bruno’s crate… his own slice of peace in our house and see if by just reframing the language you are able reframe what the crate means for your neighbor, for you, and most importantly for your dog. Love your dog, by gifting them with a crate of their very own!

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.GoodDogma.com

Intervertebral Disc Disease

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a disease that can affect any creature with a spine. In small animal veterinary medicine, it is com monly seen in dogs with long backs such as the Dachshund, Corgi, Beagle, and Basset Hound. The back is divid ed into three regions: cervical (neck region), thoracic (over the rib cage), and lumbar (lower back). The back is also made up of bones called verte brae. In between each vertebra is an intervertebral disc. These fluid-filled discs act as shock absorbers by helping displace the weight load on the spine during our daily activities.

What Causes Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease?

Canine intervertebral disc disease occurs when a disc in your dog’s spine ruptures or herniates. This causes leak ing of the disc fluid, pain, and severe inflammation. Once the disc ruptures or herniates it can no longer act as a shock absorber or help with the weight load on the spine. The side effects of IVDD are serious, and the symptoms will vary depending on where the disc ruptures or herniates in the spine.

When a disc herniation or rupture occurs, it is important for medical attention to be sought. The condition is very painful, and if left untreated, the dog can become paralyzed. Possi ble symptoms include stiffness of the neck, back pain, crying when handled or picked up, shivering, reluctance to play or run, weakness in the limbs, an unusual gate, and paralysis.

How Is IVDD Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of IVDD is made with a thorough physical and neurological exam and diagnostics such as x-rays, MRI or CT Scan, or a Myleograph (injection of dye into the spine). Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin.

Catherine MacLean, DVM - Grantham, NH

Types Of Treatment Options For IVDD

Treatment options depend on the severity of the clinical signs that the patient is exhibiting, the location of the herniated or ruptured disc, and cost. Some dogs can be managed with medication and strict cage rest. The medications used will help decrease the swelling and relax your dog’s muscles. Surgery is another option in some cas es. This can be very expensive, but in some cases, due to the location of the herniated or ruptured disc, it is the best option. Finally, acupuncture is anoth er effective treatment option.

Over the years, I have treated a num ber of dogs with a combination of medication and acupuncture. One dog that I treated recently was a Dachshund named Fargo. Fargo was originally seen at an emergency clinic for acute onset of pain. It was determined that Fargo was having neck pain, which was lat er confirmed on x-rays. He was started on pain medication and muscle relax ants and put on cage rest. Fargo was still having pain after the weekend, so after a discussion with the owner, we decided to add acupuncture to his treatment. After two treatments, Far go improved and made a full recovery.

Another Dachsund mix that had back issues was a dog named Winny. He had an acute loss of use of his left hind leg. Radiographs showed issues in Winny’s lumbar spine. He was started on medi cation and rest. Over the next couple of days, Winny did not improve and still seemed painful. We started acupunc ture on him and saw rapid improvement during his treatments. He has also made a full recovery.

Reach Out For Support From Your Veterinarian

Intervertebral Disc Disease doesn’t need to be a death sentence for most dogs. In many cases, with quick diagno sis and intervention, a positive outcome can occur.

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 con sists of her husband Matt, her daughter Katarina, son Alexander and their three pets: Jack and Misty, two cats, and Arrow, a dog.

Animals Need You

Pat Jauch - Caledonia Animal Rescue, Inc.

How many T-shirts do you have?

Tote bags? Address labels? Photo folios? Calendars? Other trinkets describing the plight of animals that solicit funds? We all know folks who could paper their walls with the labels or die before send ing enough mail to deplete their supply. Yet the bottom line, the message, may be missed. Worldwide there is an ani mal overpopulation problem leaving many unfortunate creatures to die slow, agonizing deaths from starvation or in vicious attacks while desperately strug gling to gain a share of food. Abuse occurs in many forms. Some cultures use dogs and cats, even bears and more exotic species, for their presumed aph rodisiac effects. These animals are held in deplorable conditions and often are tortured before death. Dogs and cocks are used by gaming groups for fighting. The list goes on.

Often we go about our daily lives unmindful of the plight of the animals

around us. Here in Vermont our harsh winters take their toll on the food sup ply of our wild animals. The excessive cold and heavy snow leads to frostbite and freezing. Southern climates cause dehydration, heatstroke, burns and blistering. Tsunamis, forest fires, earth quakes and similar catastrophic events destroy habitat for man and beast alike. Have you seen those photos of dogs and cats in need of a home? They are right here in your community and they need your help.

There are no easy solutions. Wellintentioned contributors soothe their consciences by sending money for relief efforts. Others turn a blind eye, ignoring the problems in hopes that others will solve them. Yet, if every individual volun teered to do something – anything – much of the suffering could be reduced or even eliminated. Funding your favorite charity can certainly help. Working with legis lators to effect change can improve the quality of life for all creatures. Feeding the birds, trapping-neutering-returning feral cats, supporting a shelter, teaching a child to be kind to animals, adopting a homeless animal or finding a home for it, and supporting spay/neuter pro grams are all ways that you can make a difference.

Help must begin somewhere. Show that you care and let it begin with you.

DOLLAR$, CENT$ AND YOUR PET$

Peter Kenseth

Like most goods, the cost of pet food has been subject to inflationary pres sures this year. However, if you feel as though the increases in the cost of your dog or cat’s food have been higher than on other items, you’re not imagining it. Petfood Industry recently reported that “for June 2022, pet food inflation reg istered at 10.3% year-over-year (YOY), compared to 9.1% for the CPI.” That means that inflation in pet food is out pacing the Consumer Price Index.

Pet parents can’t simply decide to stop feeding their pets in response to inflationary pressures, so for many pet owners, continued increases in the cost of their pet’s food may cause them to look for less expensive alternatives. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the factors that have driven inflationary pressures in pet food, and understand if pet parents can expect a leveling off in prices to come any time soon.

The Pandemic Pet Boom

Pet food is not unique in that many of the root causes driving price increases are linked to the pandemic. However, one cause that is somewhat unique is the record number of new pets that were adopted or bought during the COVID-19 crisis. The ASPCA reported that 23 mil lion American households acquired a pet in 2020, which created a demand that the industry was not fully prepared to meet. Throughout 2020 and into 2021, manufacturers had to allocate supply, and found themselves investing in new manufacturing facilities or new produc tion lines to ensure that they had the capacity to meet the increased demand. In many cases, these costs were passed on to consumers.

Supply Chain Disruption

– Raw Materials and Packaging Supplies

While the increase in pet adoptions drove an overall level of increased demand, and manufacturers scrambled to ensure that they had the capacity to meet it, supply chain disruptions were affecting every facet of the economy. Pet food was not immune to this. Global supply chain disruptions ranging from COVID-caused factory and processing plant shutdowns, to the blockage of the Suez Canal, to the Texas freezes, to a shortage of truck drivers, meant that manufacturers experienced shortag es of raw ingredients and packaging materials. Given that pet food manufac turers are often competing with other industries for these raw materials and packaging supplies, the competition for restricted goods lead to increased raw

materials and packaging costs, which ultimately increases the price that pet parents pay at checkout.

Raw materials that have suffered sup ply shortages range from the obvious – beef, chicken, lamb, duck, liver, grain, and corn – to less obvious ingredients that pet parents might not immediate ly think of as being part of their pet’s meal – chicken fat, pea protein, and corn starch. Meats in particular rep resent an ongoing challenge for pet food manufacturers, as the increased demand is creating a protein shortage that ultimately affects the cost of meat for both people and pets.

The supply of grain and corn is anoth er thorny issue, as Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine put a halt on exports from the country, which is one of the world’s largest exporters of both ingredients. While shipments of grain have been allowed to leave Ukrainian ports for the first time since the invasion this week, it is expected that it will take months to clear the backlog and return production to prewar levels.

Packaging supplies have also con tributed to increased prices. The cost of aluminum has spiked in the last few years, and manufacturers have faced can shortages, which impact production of wet foods. Many manufacturers are switching to can alternatives, like Tetra Paks, but even these alternatives have been in short supply. However, don’t be surprised to see more aluminum alter natives like plastic tubs, Tetra Paks, and flexible pouches on the shelves, as manufacturers look to circumvent shortages and mitigate cost increases.

The Future

Looking forward, several factors will influence whether pet parents contin ue to see the cost of their dog or cat’s food continue to increase. Fuel pric es have been a recent contributor to increasing pet food costs, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent the price of diesel and gas to record levels. This leads to increased shipping and trans portation costs.

Additionally, while seemingly unre lated, renewable diesel is also acting as a catalyst for continued price increases. Renewable diesel relies on animal- and plant-based oils and fats for production, and both federal and state mandates and incentives around the use of renewable fuels have creat ed another industry that is competing with the pet food industry for some of its core ingredients.

While it doesn’t ease the pain of the current inflationary environment, pet parents should be aware that these recent cost increases are the result of

a perfect storm of interrelated factors that are driving similar cost increas es in other areas of the economy. Pet food inflation may be outpacing the CPI, but there was an unprecedented acquisition of pets that accompanied the supply chain disruptions that are affecting nearly ever other industry. Manufacturers are still playing catch-up, and the current price situation reflects that. Fortunately, with the vast number of quality pet food options available in the market, pet parents that find them selves needing to trade down can rely on knowledgeable retailers to help them find an acceptable substitute.

Helping Your Companion Animals Thrive During Your 9 to 5

Jackie Stanley, Executive Director Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society

Shorter days and freezing temper atures – welcome to winter! The changes in season affect all of us both mentally and physically, including our animal companions. But while we have the lux ury of being able to come and go as we please, our four legged friends are usual ly left cooped-up inside while we’re gone.

The result is good old-fashioned cabin fever for our four-legged family members. Destructive behaviors, like excessive chew ing on items, staring off into the distance, or racing around the house like they’re possessed are all indications that the long cold winter has finally gotten to them. So, how do you stave off cabin fever for your beloved dogs and cats?

While many of us either loathe or love winter, many dogs absolutely love it! If you’re naturally a snow-bunny, consid er taking your dog along with you while

snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or running. If there’s a winter sport you love, then make your dog a part of it. As always, make sure your dog is hydrated and well protected.

Commit to waking up 30 minutes ear lier in the morning to spend with your dogs outside making sure they get the daily exercise they need. Layer up and go for a nice brisk walk or play a long game of fetch in the yard while you drink your morning coffee.

Has the weatherman predicted snow for tonight? Start the next morning off with a fun round of shoveling with your pup. Catching shoveled snow becomes a ter rific game and work-out for both you and your dog. Use fresh snow only to be safe!

Not a fan of winter? No problem. Dogs by nature are pack animals and thrive on companionship. Consider enrolling

your dog in doggie day care a couple times a week. Many incredible places offer excellent pricing making the finan cial investment minimal.

If your dog must spend the day inside alone, plan ahead and make the environ ment fun. Put your dogs to work with a smart toy that will make them literal ly work for their treats. These toys are like puzzles for dogs, engaging their minds and offering the rewards of food. Just do your research to make sure the toys you choose are safe to leave while unsupervised.

Worried about your kitty’s continual listless staring out the window? Yup, even indoor-only cats will suffer from Cabin Fever, too. While cats are a completely different creature than dogs, they need and deserve some extras during their long winter stays home alone as well.

Cats will sleep longer during winter months. Make sure you place their favorite cat bed in a place where the sun regu larly enters your home so they can curl up and sunbathe when the opportunity presents itself. Either buy or make some new cat toys. Interactive toys for cats are great but never underestimate the pow er of a crinkle ball or fuzzy mouse toys. Roll that toy in catnip and voila!

Grow some c at grass inside for them to nibble on. Start a new pot every cou ple of weeks and you’ll be able to offer fresh kitty salad all winter.

Offer a break to the daily silence and leave some classical music playing. Stud ies have shown that music reduces stress among both anxious dogs and cats.

Most importantly though, make sure the time you spend with your animal companions counts. Spend extra time grooming them or just petting and cud dling with them. Don’t take their love and companionship for granted. Yes, you may have had a long day at work, but your animal companions had a long day waiting for you to return, too!

Supporting Feral Cats

By Providing Winter Shelter

Susan Tarczewski

With winter soon coming to our region, local animal lovers may be won dering how they can help stray or feral cats in their neighborhoods. There is a differ ence between a stray cat and a feral cat. Strays have been socialized to humans. They may be lost or abandoned, but with care can usually be reacclimated to living with humans and successfully adopted. If you are unable to take in a stray cat your self, contact your local humane society for assistance. In Sullivan County, NH, the Sullivan County Humane Society is a great resource!

Feral cats, on the other hand, have not been socialized to human contact. They are difficult to handle, and do not gener ally make for successful housecats. A stray may approach you, will often look dishev eled, and can be seen at any hour of the day. Feral cats will avoid human contact and tend to be nocturnal, coming out only at night. Many local humane societies, including SCHS, have Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Feral cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, given vaccinations, and returned to their outdoor homes. The universal sign of a feral cat that has been altered is a “tipped” ear; one that has had one centimeter of the tip of the left ear removed. For assistance with trapping a feral, please contact the Humane Society. It is not safe to handle a feral cat without the appropriate equipment!

If you are aware of feral cats in your area, one simple thing you can do to help them is to provide shelter. A home-made shelter is fairly inexpensive and simple to make and can easily be the difference between life and death for an outdoor cat or even more than one! One simple meth od is the use of a large plastic storage bin, lined with thick Styrofoam and with a doorway cut into the side. The door should be a few inches higher than the bottom of the box. Straw is placed loosely on the bot tom to provide an extra layer of warmth. It is important to use straw rather than a material like hay, as straw repels mois ture. Other options include a Styrofoam shipping box with a door cut in one end. You can even buy a kit or premade shel ter online! The shelter should be placed somewhere familiar to the cat. If you are providing food to a cat or colony of cats, a location near the feeding site is ideal. The area should have low foot traffic to help them feel safe. The shelter should be placed out of the wind but with sun expo sure if possible. Try to place it somewhere that snow will not build up, blocking the entrance, perhaps under some sort of over hang, and be sure to weight it down so high winter winds don’t blow it over.

A few simple steps on your part can help a feral cat survive the cold winter. What a great return on investment!

If you have questions, please call the Sullivan County Humane Society. Our mis sion 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 pro vides 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.

GOLD RUSH DOGS TRAVELED VIA SHIPBOARD

Kate Kelly

Dogs were very much a part of the California gold rush. While it is easy to see how dogs would be brought along by hopeful miners traveling west on horse back or by prairie schooner, dogs were also brought on board the ships that were sailing from the eastern seaboard to San Francisco via Cape Horn. This route took five to eight months, a very long time for both people and dogs to be at sea.

Here are two first-person accounts of separate shipboard trips, both of which happened to include Newfoundland dogs: RoveR to the Gold Rush

Fanny Foley, the daughter of the medi cal officer on board the ship, The Wildfire, wrote a book about her experiences. In Romance of the Ocean: A Narrative of the Voyage of the Wildfire to California (1850), Foley wrote of her observations of Captain Black’s dog, Rover:

“Captain Black had a beautiful New foundland dog, of a large size, spotted white and brown, and named Rover. It is always at his side, except when he sends it into the water, which he does daily in calm weather. [Rover] generally swims about for half an hour, diving and play ing with sticks and pieces of cork that are thrown over to him.

“When the captain senses Rover has had enough, he has a boat lowered so Rover can climb into it and be pulled back up to the ship.

He appears to love the animal devoted ly, often stopping as he paces the deck, to pat the dog’s head and say, ‘Fine fellow, fine fellow!” At dinner, too, Rover lies at his master’s feet, and is always remem bered as soon as the guests are helped.”

AnotheR Gold Rush doG

Another Newfoundland traveled to Cal ifornia by sea with the Bates family. Mrs. D.B. Bates and her husband purchased a Newfoundland before they left Baltimore, and they reportedly were very glad they had done so as the dog’s cleverness never ceased to amuse them.

The couple would promenade along the deck daily with the dog: “Whenever a sail was discovered in the distance, he would place his huge fore-paws on the ship’s rail, and send his loud hoarse bark reverberat ing far over the swelling wave.”

doGs WeR e C AlminG And distRAC tinG

Dogs were also found to provide a calm ing influence on passengers. Those who were making the journey tended to be a competitive lot, all of them hoping to beat out the others for the better claim once on land. The presence of a dog reportedly helped neutralize some tense situations.

Animals also helped distract passen gers from the monotony of the long trip.

William Hoffman wrote about the birth of two kittens and eight pups on board a ship in 1861 and the great pleasure the occurrences offered to passengers: “I had not before learned to attach so much importance to these subjects, nor show the feline and canine race such marked attention as then; and I suppose because I had never been favored with pleasing proximity for so long a peri od; and as the saying is, ‘in order to love well, one must know well;’ so by contact with this distinguished troupe, I became somewhat attached to them from their comeliness, and the daily interest thus afforded us on our voyage.”

This article first appeared on the web site, www.americacomesalive.com

America Comes Alive publishes more stories about American dogs and other animals. Visit the website and sign up for “American Dogs” to receive the stories in your In Box. Or email Kate Kelly at kate@americacomesalive.com

There are countless stories of shad owy lake monsters lurking in the water, or horror stories of the dangers of swim ming, but there is something else we need to pay attention to in the water. A dangerous microscopic organism called cyanobac teria has bloomed in Lake Champlain. In recent years, cyanobacteria or bluegreen algae blooms have increased in the lake we hold so dearly. When these organ isms bloom, they release natural toxins or poisons that can hurt us or our pets. Bluegreen algae can be beneficial for the lake environment, but human actions have allowed this bacteria to grow in alarm ing numbers. Attention is needed by the public for our health, and the well-being of Lake Champlain.

Cyanobacteria are commonly found in most lakes and are one of the most abun dant organisms on the planet. They are microscopic organisms capable of pho tosynthesis. When they bloom in high quantities, they create an array of different

colors in the water. The name blue-green algae is derived from the most common colors they create when in bloom. In freshwater environments, increased warm temperatures and nutrients can lead to large blooms of cyanobacteria. The bac teria thrive in warmer waters with more nitrogen and phosphorous. In intense blooms, blue-green algae release harmful toxins killing fish and causing a variety of symptoms in people and pets. Expo sure can cause diarrhea, nausea, skin or throat irritation, and allergic reactions. The blooms could impact our recreation al activities in Lake Champlain.

The bacteria have been reported in Lake Champlain for decades, but they have not become an issue until recent years. Unfor tunately, global warming has caused waters to get slightly warmer in Lake Champlain and provide a more desirable environment for blue-green algae. Additionally, runoff from human activities has aided in the massive blooms of cyanobacteria. As areas

Kali

Tucker

Juliet Hoven

become more populated along the lake, the use of fertilizer and products has become more common. The runoff of these prod ucts washes into the lake and increases the nutrients blue-green algae thrive on.

How do we go about solving this issue? What can we do to help ourselves and Lake Champlain?

The good news is that there are many things we can do to help out with this issue! The first thing we want to do is identify cyanobacteria. Large blooms of blue-green algae look like green-colored patches of cloudy water. More images can be found on the Vermont Department of Health website. Next, we can report a bloom to the Department of Health by filling out a form or emailing BloomAlert@vermont. gov. Reporting these blooms helps us mon itor them and protect people and pets from the harm they can cause. Also, you can vol unteer for the Lake Champlain Committee to monitor and test water conditions. It is a perfect opportunity to get some vol unteer hours in, and it helps the whole community. Lastly, the best thing we can do is watch our environmental footprint. Be aware of the products you are using. This can be regular groceries, fertilizers, or other cleaning products. Everything we do can impact the environment around us and if we are even making the smallest difference in our own lives, it can have a huge impact on our ecosystems.

The algae blooms affect the wildlife, our pets, and our lives on Lake Champlain. It’s a place we can get a taste of the beach in the Northeast, a place we can take our dogs for a walk or our families on a pic nic, and a place we have fun and spend our livelihoods. Let’s hope that we can make a difference to keep these blooms of harmful bacteria down!

Juliet Hoven is currently a double major in zoology and ecology at UVM, excited by any opportunity to do ecological work with amphibians or reptiles. She wrote to us at the suggestion of Green Mountain Animal Defenders.

Cyanobacteria Bloom Report Form: ahs-vt.maps.arcgis.com/apps/GeoForm/ index.html?appid=d5027ec67186478099 1f18be3e 71d893

Who to contact for volunteer info: lcc@lakechamplaincommittee.org

RESOURCES:

• www.healthvermont.gov/health-environment/recreational-water/ lake-conditions#:~:text=Cyanobacteria%2C%20also%20known%20 as%20blue,they%20die%20and%20br eak%20down.

• onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2017.03243.x

• www.researchgate.net/profile/Brian-Whitton/publication/321621138_ The_Ecolog y_of_Cyanobacteria_Their_Diversity_in_Time_and_Space/ links/5eafdfa692851cb26773 0fca/The-Ecology-of-CyanobacteriaTheir-Diversity-in-Time-and-Space.pdf

• Silva, Talita FG, et al. "Impact of urban stormwater runoff on cyano bacteria dynamics in a tropical urban lake." Water 11.5 (2019): 946. • link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-4080-6_13

Carrie cruz caught Joie ready for winter. Don't tell Sawyer tennis season is over.

Gordon Miller's flat coated retriever is a real working dog.

Matching beards on Sam and Yorick.

Yorick and Roxann

Marcie the Bernedoodle turned two in October and loves riding shotgun with her mom Vickie Langevin.

Kara Borowczyk says Nova was built for a Vermont winter.

Rachel Valliere snapped Kingsley enjoying winter.

“D

eplorable” was the word used to describe the conditions that the 27 Labrador Retrievers were living in prior to arriving at the Monadnock Humane Society. On October 5th, the dogs were seized by police and Beth Doyle, the

Humane Society’s humane agent, and moved to the animal resource center. The 13 adult dogs were skinny and weak with hunger, and the poor puppies had become used to living in an unfavorable and crowded environment. They were in need of love and care from anywhere they could find it. Luckily, the people of the Monadnock region willingly stepped up to give their compassion.

It began in December 2021, with a call to the Winchester police about a skin ny dog being spotted at the property where the labs were being held. Beth Doyle, MHS’s humane agent, began the investigation with help from the police. Doyle viewed the other dogs at the prop erty and saw no cause for concern save for a few signs of fleas, a common side effect of keeping or breeding many dogs. The humane agent notified the owner that the dogs had fleas, and remind ed them of the importance of diligent care, then left satisfied that all would be well at the property. Later in the year, on September 28th, Doyle returned to the house after another call, this time about a puppy with an untreated facial injury. This time, things were differ ent, and the reality of the dogs’ living conditions came to light. The puppy in question had a deformity in the lower jaw as well as a thick substance in her mouth signifying a likely infection. The puppy’s mother was very skinny and described as “emaciated” in the affi davit. Thorough investigations showed rooms filled with dogs and puppies, and floors covered with newspaper, feces, and urine. The environment was unfit for living beings, and on October 5th, Doyle and police took the dogs into the care of the Monadnock Humane Society.

Finally, the dogs and puppies had a place where they could be cared for and no longer had to exist in an unsanitary environment. The staff at the Monadnock Humane Society checked and treated the dogs for illness and fed them so they were no longer suffering from hunger. The puppies played together, and the

adult dogs were happily going on walks and getting exercise. The joyous yips and barks of happy puppies and dogs could be heard throughout the building, bringing smiles to the faces of visitors and staff alike. They couldn’t be hap pier with the state of the now healthy Labrador residents.

The owner of the dogs attended a hearing where they surrendered the dogs to the Humane Society. Now the Labs could continue to receive the proper care they so desperately need ed without worry of returning to their previous situation. They were moved into foster homes with loving families where they could be cared for in a nor mal, loving, clean, home environment. They no longer had to worry about liv ing space, they no longer had to worry about food, and they no longer had to worry about neglect. The owner of the dogs will be held accountable for their actions, and they will never be able to cause harm to these resilient and hap py dogs again.

The Monadnock Humane Society is thrilled to see the rescued dogs in won derful caring homes and is very glad that no lasting damage was done. With all the support the people have giv en these adorable puppies, they will never have to live in “deplorable” con ditions again.

For more information about the vital work Monadnock Humane Society does, please visit our website at monadnockhumanesociety.org . MHS is 100% funded by the generos ity of people within the communities we support. Contrary to what many mistakenly believe, MHS receives NO FUNDING for our shelter operations when you donate to national animal welfare organizations such as ASPCA, The Humane Society of the United States. Nor do we receive funding from any national, state, or local government agency. Please consider donating and support the lifesaving work we do.

Benjamin Jasper Field

NAVIGATING INDOOR PLANTS WITH PETS

Having indoor plants is a wonderful way to work on your green thumb while also enjoying all-natural air filtration benefits. As an added benefit, plants are also beautiful and truly make an impact as part of your décor. However, for pet owners, indoor plants can pose a potential danger as well. Many cats and dogs like to nibble on the greenery or fallen leaves, and some plants can be high ly poisonous and even deadly if consumed. Because of this, it is imperative that households with pets choose their plants wisely, while also placing certain plants in areas away from temptation (many people think that their pets will instinctively avoid toxic plants, but this just isn’t the case). Keep reading to learn more about pet-safe plants for your house, while also learning about some plants that you should avoid at all costs.

PET SAFE PLANTS

Households with pets will love this selection of plants. While you may not want your pets to con sider your plants their own personal salad bar, these plants are all safe if your 4-legged companion chooses to munch on them. Refer to the tags when you are shopping for plants, many nurseries will indicate pet-safe plants on the plants themselves, often with a paw print icon or something similar.

l Areca Palms

l Basil

l Bird’s Nest Ferns

l Boston Ferns

l Bromeliads

l Calatheas

l Chinese Money Plants

l Date Palms/ Robellini Palms

l Echeverias

l Gloxinias

l Haworthia

l Money Trees

l Mosaic Plants

l Orchids

l Parlor Palms

l Peperomias

l Pony Tail Palms

l Prayer Plants

l Purple Waffle Plants

l Rattlesnake Plants

l Royal Velvet Plants

l Rosemary

l Spider Plants

l Staghorn Ferns

l Thyme

l Venus Fly Traps

Some plants are only toxic if your pet ingests them in high quantities. Many pet-owning households still successfully own these plants, but they require a bit more attention. Place these plants in areas away from heavy pet traffic and monitor them closely. If you find that your pets are eating these plants, move them to a more difficult-to-reach area or remove them from your house immediately.

PLANTS THAT ARE TOXIC IN LARGE QUANTITIES

l Asparagus Ferns

l Chinese Evergreens

l Chrysanthemums

l Daisies

l Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron l Geraniums l Kalanchoes

l Lavender l Morning Glories l Peonies l Polka Dot Plants

l Rubber Tree Plants

l Strelitzias

l Swiss Cheese Plants

Some plants are highly poisonous to pets and are best kept away from your house hold. If consumed, these plants can have disastrous effects on your pets, from digestive upsets and seizures to fatalities. It is not only the leaves and flowers of these plants that can cause trouble, many times even the pollen and the roots can prove to be dangerous. In addition to the plants, use caution when bringing cut flowers into your home, as some of these flowering plants are commonly seen in store-bought bouquets.

EXTREMELY TOXIC PLANTS

l Aloe Vera Plants: When the leaves are eaten, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The gel and juice of the plant are edible, however.

l Autumn Crocus: Symptoms of ingestion include diarrhea, shock, bloody vomit, multi-organ damage, and bone marrow suppression/damage.

l Azaleas: Highly toxic, azaleas can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and cardiac failure.

l Begonias: If eaten, begonias can cause vomiting and excess saliva tion. The most toxic part of the plant is the roots

l Calla Lilies: These beautiful flowers can cause oral irritation; intense burning of the mouth; irritation of mouth, tongue, and lips; exces sive drooling; vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

l Cannabis: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis can cause depres sion, vomiting, incoordination, sleepiness, hypersalivation, dilated pupils, low blood pressure, low body temperature, seizure, and even coma or death. It is important to note that Cannabidiol (CBD)-based products that do not contain THC are extremely beneficial and not at all harmful to dogs or cats.

l Cyclamen: If your pet eats the leaves or flowers, they are at risk for excess salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. If they eat the tubers (roots), they are at risk for heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.

l Daffodils: Small amounts of ingestion can lead to vomiting, salvation, and diarrhea. If your pet eats large amounts it may cause convulsions, low blood pressure, muscle tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. The bulbs are the most poisonous part of the plant.

l Devil’s Ivy/Golden Pothos: If your pet eats this popu lar house plant, it can lead to oral irritation (including pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips,) exces sive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

l Dieffenbachias: When eaten, Dieffenbachias can cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

l Easter Lilies: These plants are only toxic to cats, they do not affect dogs. In cats, they cause vomiting, inap petence, lethargy, kidney failure, and death is possible.

l English Ivy: Eating English Ivy causes vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea. The decorative foliage is more toxic than berries.

l Fox Gloves: Highly toxic, eating just a small amount of Fox Glove can cause cardiac arrhythmias, vomit ing, diarrhea, weakness, cardiac failure, and death.

Photo courtesy of @ranasaysbe on Instagram

l Hyacinths: This popular spring house plant can cause intense vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and muscle tremors.

l Iris: Eating the rhizomes (roots) of an iris plant can cause salivation, vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and diarrhea.

l Lantana: This plant is known to cause vomiting, diar rhea, labored breathing, weakness. Liver failure is also a possibility, although this is more common in livestock.

l Lily of the Valleys: Eating this perennial plant can cause vomiting, an irregular heartbeat, low blood pres sure, comas, and seizures.

l Japanese Yews: Extremely dangerous, Japanese Yew can cause tremors, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and sudden death from acute heart failure. Early signs of canine ingestion include muscular tremors, dys pnea, seizures.

l Peace Lilies: Eating even small amounts of this house plant can cause intense burning and irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips; excessive drooling; vomiting; and difficulty swallowing.

l Oleanders: Ingestion of this shrug can lead to drool ing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression, and, in extreme cases, death.

l Sago Palms: Highly toxic, these large, ornamental plants can cause vomiting, increased thirst, liver dam age, liver failure, and death.

l Tiger Lilies: Only poisonous to cats, these flowers cause vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and possibly death for our feline friends.

l Tulips: Eating these plants, particularly the bulbs, can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and excess salivation.

l Weeping Figs: Skin contact can cause dermatitis. If ingested, it can lead to oral irritation, excessive drool ing, and vomiting.

PLANTS JUST FOR PETS

Sometimes, it makes sense to give your canine and feline companion a plant all their own! Many cats and dogs enjoy eating plants, and evidence has demon strated that fresh greenery is healthy for their digestive systems and also pro vides mental stimulation. Try growing cat grass, such as the Van Ness Oat Gar den Kit, which is both quick-growing and attractive to pets. As with any new treat or foodstuff, be sure to monitor your pet while they have access to the grass and only allow them to consume it in moderation.

Oat grass is proven to help freshen cats’ breath as well as to alleviate digestive problems associated with hairballs.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET EATS A TOXIC PLANT

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our pets get into things that they should not. If you suspect that your pet has eaten a toxic plant, you need to work quickly for the best possible outcome to occur. Call your veterinarian immediately for advice, most likely they will have instructions for you prior to bringing your pet to see them. Never induce vomiting unless you are instructed to do so by your veterinar ian. If you are unable to get in touch with your veterinarian, contact the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) for expert advice (Fees apply). Adding plants to your home can be rewarding, beautiful, and even beneficial. However, it is important to plan ahead to prevent poten tially tragic events from occurring. Choosing pet-safe plants and keeping toxic plants away from your beloved pets means that every one in your house will breathe a little easier.

This post is only meant to be used as a reference guide and is not an exhaustive list. Please speak with your veterinarian prior to bring ing any new plants into your household because they are familiar with your pet and their individual needs.

Van Ness Oat Garden Kit

ALL IN A DAY'S WORK!

DeCamp

Our drivers experience a lot of ani mal encounters; some are scary, some are funny, and some are just adorable. We have compiled some of the stories of their four-legged friends. Here are a few they have shared:

Long days being alone in a truck can take a toll on you. One pup along George’s route is always happy to give him some company. This fur baby is Cooper! He will sit, give high fives, and greet the driver warmly to make his day special. He waits patiently for his cookies. If George does not have treats on Monday mornings, he will settle for a good belly rub!

From Cooper’s Mom: “Cooper adores George. On Monday mornings Coo per can hear the truck coming up the road from the neighbor’s house and

waits patiently for George to pull in. We always have to look out the window to see the smile on George's face. That makes our

Steve is our jack of all trades and with being around so many places he has seen some things! Steve has shared with us TWO stories and it seems that feathered friends find their way to him often. From Guinea hens to turkeys, you never know what may be around the next corner. Steve shared with us that he had a very interested turkey chase him away from our trash cart and he had to wait inside of his truck until the turkey walked away. Anoth er time, he turned his back to pick up a roll off container and came back to find a Guinea hen making his place on the hood of his truck!

Waste Services is proud to say that we consider our customers a part of our family; this includes the two legged and the four-legged kind!

day too.”

Two of our drivers, Josh and Nate, shared this amazing sight. A momma black bear and her babies cross ing the road. Sightings like this are so special, we were lucky to get a picture to capture the memory!

Brent is our last story sharer. Like our first, he has also had a fur baby steal his heart. Miss Sally, a pup who waits (impatiently) for the garbage truck to come by each Tuesday. Miss Sally used to bust out of her home to eagerly greet him for treats until her Mom and Dad realized they had to hold the door shut until the truck stops. Brent makes a special trip out of his truck to greet her and make sure she gets her Tues day morning treats!

HELPFUL TIP: This is a great way to “bear proof” your cart! This image was sent in by a clever customer, it seems to be working...for now!

One driver reported a skunk that refused to leave the trash cart. After taking some time to ponder his situa tion, the driver decided to tip the cart on its side (and run) in hopes that the little creature would vacate on his own. He was stubborn, but eventually he moseyed off.

A special thank you to Becca for com piling these stories and photos & thank you to 4 Legs and A Tail for helping us share these special memories!

The owner of the company shared a story of an angry raccoon. He was attempting to move an empty dumpster when he heard “strange noises” coming from the container. He carefully peered inside to find a raccoon staring up at him, hissing and showing it’s teeth. Knowing that the little guy couldn’t get out on his own, the driver placed a long piece of wood into the dumpster so that the raccoon could escape safely.

WHY RESCUE A DOG?

Bernice Clark

Mascoma Bank employees are passionate about a lot of things. Every day, we strive to provide our customers with the best financial services and products all while delivering A+ customer service. But that’s just part of who we are and what we do. We are also downright nuts for animals. Through the Bank’s philanthropy arm, Mascoma has donated more than $20,000 to animal welfare organizations in 2022. Our employees donate their personal time, energy, finances, and emo tions to animal welfare. From Keene, NH to Burlington, VT and beyond, our commitment to our four-legged friends is especially strong. We asked some of our employees to tell us why they had chosen to rescue a dog.

MANDY WRIGHT, Branch Support Assistant Branch Manager II

“I recommend adopting a rescue dog because it gives them a second chance at life. There are so many amazing dogs, of all breeds, sizes and ages, that would otherwise be put down if it wasn’t for people giving them that second chance. There is one, or more, out there wait ing for you.”

JESSIE

WHALEN,

Relationship Banker I

“I love my mutts and rescues are in such need of homes. We have always adopt ed from shelters and rescue missions.”

Mandy, Doug and Bourbon

MATT POST, End User Computer Engineer

“We love being close to nature, but some animals, such as bears, were com ing in too close for comfort. We chose some larger dogs, Rocky and Clark, to help keep the family safe outside. Plus, they are great companions all the time!”

BETH FISH, Accounting Officer

“When my father was grieving the loss of his dogs, I showed him a German shep herd dog, Echo, that was missing part of his tail. My dad felt that if he didn’t adopt him, nobody would. Now, my dad has an almost daily post about Echo and his adventures. It’s a great friendship.”

ADDY GOSSELIN, Assistant Vice President Customer

Care Center Manager

“Each dog has their own needs and personality. Adopting a dog reminds you to be humble and brings you so much love.”

PELLERIN, Relationship Banker I

“Our family always wants to give dogs their best life. Max was just what we needed, a burst of joy and energy to take away the blues of missing our pre vious dog, Tyson, when he passed away.”

CARINGI, Branch Manager III Officer

“So many dogs need love and we want to help dogs have a second chance at a life. When we do lose a dog we have loved, we feel we should pay that love and devotion forward by rescuing the next dog.”

ASHLEIGH

AMANDA

Buttercup and Addy Beth Fish's Dad's Dog Echo

Matt, Rocky and Clark

Tyson

Boone with Caringi Family

Giving Local Helps Local Shelter Save Lives

Maya Richmond - Executive Director Windham County Humane Society

Inflation impacted all our lives. Everything from pet food to heating oil, vac cines, and insurance has soared beyond what annual donations can match, thus prompting charities like ours, WCHS, to ask supporters to give another gift or increase their donation by a few dollars.

For the animals in our community, economic uncertainty and inflation don't just stop at soaring expenses. They also lead to more animals in need. The shelter's voice and email boxes are filled with sightings of stray animals, questions from owners unable to keep their pets, and inquiries about the hours of the Pet Pantry.

For WCHS, 87% of all our annual funding comes from people – not foundations, companies, or municipalities. It is people's donations that keep the shelter ready to aid homeless or injured animals…every day.

Every animal has a story. This holiday season, will your help write the chapter where a homeless animal is made well and finds his/her new loving home?)

Being ready to help takes the help of a lot of caring people. It is people like you that saved Marko, Triumph, Seeker, and Ollie. I invite you to read their stories to get a glimpse into a typical day at the shelter.

Marko hid under the bed while EMTs rushed around his home. When they left, Marko was alone. Days later WCHS's phone rang. In a shaky voice, a man said, “I live in a nursing home. My wife is in the hospi tal. No one will be home ever again. Please help my dog. Tell him we love him.” Mar ko was suddenly homeless after 14 years.

The staff gave the aged dog an exam. Volunteers showered him with love. Mar ko settled in behind the bars of his cage listening to the barks of fellow captives. Then a woman dressed in scrubs walked

MARKO

Marko

in looking to adopt Marko. Marko greet ed the woman with a tail wag. There was something familiar that made the old dog excited. The two departed like longlost friends. Marko's former owner was so relieved when he learned his old friend was safe that for a moment the grief of losing his wife of 70 years lifted.

TRIUMPH & SEEKER

These two kittens hid from predators but couldn't escape a nasty infection. Their runny eyes worsened until their corneas ulcerated and their eyes sealed closed. Unable to find food or water, they huddled together waiting out their days under a pile of wood. Then the wood moved. Unsure if they were alive their Hero scooped them up and headed to the shelter.

At the shelter, the team examined them. As fast as their eyes and noses were cleaned, they filled back up. These little kittens required around-the-clock care, antibiotics, and medication to kill the fleas feasting on them. After weeks of care, they improved. Yet their eyes were destroyed. Blind and in pain, the veterinarian made the decision to remove their eyes.

Huddled together and recovering from surgery, they caught the eye of a visitor who previously owned a blind cat and knew that, with some accom

modations, these two kittens could live nearly normal happy lives. Today these two survivors remain tightly snuggled together basking in the warmth of a sunny window.

OLLIE

Our hearts hurt for Ollie. A Good Samar itan spotted the puppy and contacted officials to perform a “welfare check”. He was a bundle of skin and bones when he arrived at the shelter. Just weeks old, he was put outside in a defunct rabbit cage. As he grew, malnutrition combined with being constrained caused the bones in his front legs to bend. Everyone on WCHS's small team got working to save Ollie. They treated him for worms, put him on med ications, fed him high-quality food, and consulted experts on how to mend his bowed legs. Once he gained strength, he started a routine of exercises and short walks to stretch his leg tendons. His first few steps were agonizing. He didn't want to move. But his “therapist” wouldn't ease up. Ollie now has a family who plays with him every day.

All of us at WCHS want to thank our donors for making it possible to share sto ries like these. It takes a lot of resources to deliver 365 days of services, treat sick and injured animals, and provide access to low-cost spay/neuter surgery, the Pet

Food Pantry, humane education initia tives, and so much more. The “giving season” is a critical time for WCHS because that is when 40% of all the shelter's donations come in.

When you hug your beloved pet, please think of the animals that don't yet have anyone to care for them. Local charities like ours need your support now more than ever. I ask you to become a friend of Windham County Humane Society. Every gift - any amount - helps heal a pet in need.

Ollie

The Tale of a True Survivor

Survivor’s Paws Animal Rescue was started from our dedicated team of volunteers to save dogs and cats from kill shelters from down South. We are a 501c3 non-profit and NH charity.

Survivor was an incredible 3 year old emaciated dog that was dropped off by his original owners at a New York City kill shelter. He was only 32lbs of skin and bones with sores on his poor body. Survivor was pulled from the kill shel ter. After extensive tests were done at the veterinary’s office, it was found that Survivor was emaciated due to his original owners not feeding him. Rescues support each other. There was a post for a dog needing transport from New York City to Burlington, VT. As the call of duty, the post was answered. Survivor had the rides he needed to get to his forever home.

Survivor was fostered in New York City for little bit. He was given a ride to Hartford, CT and transported to White River Junction, VT to meet his supposed family from Burlington, VT. That Burlington, VT family failed to show up to pick up this beautiful soul. It was their loss.

Survivor was quarantined and ended up in his furever home in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire.

Survivor didn’t know what grass was....he kept picking up his feet for the first couple of days. It was kind of funny to see him do that. Survivor was fed multiple small meals through out the days and he thrived in his new environment He learned how to be a dog, and loved playing with his tennis balls. He would play fetch for hours.

Survivor was an ambassador for his breed and for the rescue world. He loved all creatures, dogs, cats, horses, chick ens, goats, - even bees and humans of all sizes. AND he loved to smell flowers.

Survivor was taken on rescue missions, he did numerous home visit checks with his furever Mom.

Survivor was temperament test dog, With his great laid back temperament, it was the perfect job for him. He loved puppies....even at 12 years when there was a couple of foster puppies in his home...he played with them.

Survivor even went on dog rescue missions to find lost dogs. He was 12 years when he went on his last lost dog mission. Survivor and Mom hiked for hours thru the woods of White River Junction, VT for this 6 month old puppy that got lost during doggie transport. We spent 3 days looking for this poor puppy from Louisiana. Survivor’s Mom was on rescue mission in Boston, MA when this puppy, Avery, got loose during transport in White River Jct, VT. By the time Survivor’s Mom got home from Boston, MA it was almost midnight on that Saturday night.

Survivor’s Mom was catching up on rescue pages and saw that Avery was loose and all by herself in the cold in December right before Christmas. It was too later and Survivor’s Mom was too exhausted to go looking that night. The next morning, Survivor and Mom went out looking for Avery, and the next day. Survivor looked for 3 days with his Mom. Finally on Christmas

Freedom

night....we got the miracle we were hoping for. Avery was caught in the dog trap that Survivor’s Mom was able to borrow from the Upper Valley Humane Society. The family that let Survivor’s Mom put up the trap, they were terrific and they caught the first sighting of Avery which lead to her capture. Thank you, Chris and Megan. Survivor was a trooper hiking thru the snow and cold. Survivor’s Mom fed Survivor a special Christmas dinner for all his hard work.

Survivor was with his furever family for almost 10 years, it wasn’t enough time. Sadly, Survivor passed away on April 6, 2020 at 13 years old due to cancer.

The best way to honor Survivor and his legacy was to start Survivor’s Paws Animal Rescue, to prevent cruelty to animals and to continue to save dogs and cats from kill shelters down South.

Fast forward to April 2022, Survivor’s Paws Animal Rescue has seen a drastic change in the rescue world.....COVID puppies aka dogs that were adopted or purchased during the COVID pandemic are being owner surrendered in high volumes in the Upper Valley. We have shifted our focus on being a responsible rescue that we have NOT being taking Southern puppies or dogs as a rule from down South. We have been focused on taking owner surrenders from the Upper Valley. We can not take aggressive dogs.

The term COVID puppies means puppies or dogs that were adopted or purchased during the COVID 19 pandemic. People have gone back to work and back to their normal lives and use tons of excuses.....I don’t have time for a dog in my life now, we are moving and can’t have a time, I am pregnant, I didn’t train my dog and now he is teenage dog, etc., etc.,.

Survivor’s Paws Animal Rescue believes that puppies and dogs are meant to be with their owners for

life....for the dogs complete lifetime.... 12 to 15 years plus.

Most of the COVID puppies/dogs are NOT spayed or neutered or up to date on their shots. People just wanted to get a puppy during COVID. This is causing a HUGE increase in our vetting costs here in the Upper Valley. We are paying between $900.00 to $1,200.00 to vet these COVID dogs. The vetting costs are 3 to 4 times as much to save a COVID dog here in the Upper Valley instead of getting a puppy vetted down South and bringing them up here to the Upper Valley. We need your help, we need donations to help us to continue

to save these COVID dogs including purebred and designer dogs that owners are surrendering in droves.

Please consider making a donation to honor Survivor and to help save other dogs and cats.

Our mailing address is: Survivor’s Paws Animal Rescue, Inc 10 Benning St Suite 160 #278 West Lebanon, NH 03784

Our Paypal is: survivorspawsanimalrescue@gmail.com

Thank you to our hard working board members, volunteers and supporters.

Bubble Emily Gunner

Leena Ollie

What’s better than being a “Barn Cat”, my life as an “Agway Cat”

My name is Dijon, where and when this label became mine is pure ly the result of rumor and faded memory. I have enjoyed living in my Walpole coun try home for close to sixteen years, give or take a couple, one way or another. Age becomes a number rather than a lifetime when you are able to enjoy nine. I have totally enjoyed sharing my surroundings with most of my Agway companions. Over the years humans have come and gone. I have observed them arrive in the ear ly morning hours and leave as the sun gently sets. The evening hours into the light of early dawn is when I am able to patrol my territory and secure peace and order to my surroundings. For the most part my home has been a Purr-fect place to live. There have been times, howev er, that would test any feline’s patience. The presence of uninvited canines into my territory can sometimes be quite unnerving. When they become a little too friendly I feel it is my duty to let them know that I am the boss and that their presence is only allowed because of my love for my humans. Life is good. My home is my castle and now I think it is time for a little nap.

H

Dijon

ello My name is Rosy. I live in Keene, New Hampshire. My home is full of animal and plant supplies. The sign outside says Agway but to me this is my cozy abode. I have been here much longer than most of my fellow residents. My name implies my beauty but beware, even a lovely rose can have a thorn or two. Napping is my most exhausting activity. I call it my feline Beauty Sleep. It seems to work for me. My soft,long, black and white fur is proof that a rose needs perpetual care. I enjoy watching shoppers come and go and have been happy to share the seasonal changes of my surroundings. Today my task will be to move my nap ping spot to a warm spot in the Autumn sun. There are so many spots to chose from it might take a few min utes and then I can settle down to be snug and warm. Good day, good night, it’s time to ZZZZZZ.

Rosy

Family Left Stunned When Their Dog Escaped–Only to Return Later with a Ribbon from a Dog Show

An English family was left stunned when their dog escaped only to return later that day with a ribbon won at a local dog show.

Peter and Paula Closier became sick with worry when their five-year-old bea gle-mix vanished on Sunday morning.

They called the police, the dog warden, and looked all over their house in West Sussex—and their neighbors also joined in the search for little Bonnie.

When Peter saw that the gate had swung open, he thought ‘oh no’.

Little did they know that John Wilmer had spotted Bonnie by the side of the road while on his way to a dog show in Surrey where he was entering his own two dogs.

Soon after, the family’s fears were eased when Paula spotted a Facebook post by John hoping to locate the pet’s owners. He was running late for the dog show and asked, ‘does anyone know this dog’?

John then decided to enter Bonnie into the competition. He thought “I might as well enter her into the ‘best rescue dog’ category”.

And she returned to her family with a third place ribbon!

“We couldn’t believe it,” says Peter. “You could not make it up.”

When she was just one-year-old, the couple rescued Bonnie from the streets of Crete, in Greece, but they had never entered the pup into any competitions.

“We never pursued it with Bonnie, but we should now.”

Bonnie and her Third Place Ribbon

A New Career Could Be the CAT’S MEOW!

Cat grooming is something that many people don’t realize is an actual thing, much less a needed thing, until it becomes available in their area. Until the last 10-15 years, while dog grooming had long been widely recognized and accepted, the feline community did not have as many places to bring their cats for relief from matting, being skunked, or for regular maintenance. Often it was left to veterinarians to shave matts from cats, largely under sedation, because there was

no salon alternative. Thankfully, in recent years, cat grooming has begun to spread across not just the country, but across the globe as well. There are cer tified cat groomers in Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, the UK, and throughout parts of Europe.

There’s even one right in the KeeneBrattleboro area that is looking to search out and train her replacement! That’s right, I have been established in this area since May, 2018, having previous ly groomed in Illinois since 2009, and I am looking to hang up my clippers and retire.

Now, no two days are alike in cat groom ing! In any given day a variety of cat temperaments can be shuttled through my door in carriers. We get shy cats, inexperienced-to-grooming cats, total ly chill cats, cats who will let you know that their appointment, which they had previously been unaware of, has com pletely thrown a wrench into their day, and cats that look at us as a challenge to be conquered. These cats are long or short haired, middle-aged, elderly, downright geriatric, or brand new kit tens. All of them deserve to look and feel their best. For the new or young ones it’s all about training them on what to expect a grooming to look, sound and feel like. Those for whom a visit isn’t their first rodeo look forward to getting their extra hair combed out or clipped off of them. They look forward to being bathed so the grease and oil they have accumulated since their last groom can be washed off their coat so they can feel clean again. Bonus for their parents is

that they smell wonderful for weeks after wards! My particular salon also offers an ozone spa treatment. Elderly cats, cats with various conditions which put stress on their joints, or cats who come in matted especially enjoy this 15-min ute experience which has a side benefit of oftentimes releasing even more hair so that cats are sleeker coming out of it than when they went in.

There are cats for whom we know we made a marked difference in their life experience, having either shaved off pelts that were attached to them like a wool coat that they could not remove and that restricted their movement and caused them pain, or combing out so much hair from their coat that it looked like a second cat had appeared next to them. We’ve de-flea’d cats who had tried their best by scratching their skin to the point of hair loss to try and remove the little parasites but to no avail. On those days my assistant & I look at each other and know that yet another cat has had their day improved because their pet parent saw the need their cat had and wanted to relieve them of their predicament. And our very favorite cats? Those who come in regularly, whom we know well, who do not get to the point of grooming emergency status, whom we can sim ply clean up and get back to their living rooms all clean and fresh without a lot of muss and fuss.

become certified will make your work stand out. There are expenses involved with gaining this knowledge in the form of training materials, tool purchases, and testing expenses. But for the right person, you would be fulfilling a great need and helping cats to live their best lives, all the while cultivating an informed clientele who become even more knowledgeable about their cat’s needs for having visit ed your establishment.

For more information, please contact me via email at Info@TheCatGroomer. com, or you can leave a voicemail expressing your interest at (603) 757-3578.

Do you know someone who might like to help out the local cat commu nity and learn how to propel cats into their best comfort and appearance? It’s not for the faint-hearted, but it does pro vide a clear purpose for the right person who is passionate about their love and respect for cats.

Requirements include not being aller gic to cats, and not being afraid of them (even when some of them can be very scary!). The right candidate will be some one looking to run their own business on their terms, and do all the background work associated with that. A commitment to excellence in the form of training to

What Dose of CBD Is Right for My Pet?

If you’ve been thinking about giv ing your pet CBD for better health we’ve got some information on how to start doing so safely to get the best results.

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is the regulatory system that governs appetite, the autonomic nervous system, energy and balance, immune function, metabolism, sleep, stress response, and more. Both humans, cats and dogs have the endocannabinoid system, and CBD can have a health-positive impact on your pets mobility by supporting the hip joints and connective tissue.

Here are some of the benefits of CBD for dogs:

• Supports a calm disposition and healthy brain function

• Can promote calm in distressing situations

• Can support hip, joint, and bone health

It is important to note that CBD can be used as needed or on a regu lar basis. Some pets benefit from an everyday regimen of CBD, and oth ers can use it on a short-term basis. A common short-term use for CBD is to help recover from a gastrointesti nal upset, or to calm them down for a trip to the groomer. A common longterm use is supporting hip, joint & bone health. For long-term use give your pet the CBD product consistent ly for best results, because like with any dietary supplement, consistency is important.

There are three major factors that influence the dosing of pets.

1. The potency of CBD in the oil, treat or capsule

2. Your pet’s size and weight

3. The ailment you’re treating

The best way to determine the optimal daily pet CBD oil serving for your dog or cat is to start with a small serving based on your pet’s weight and incrementally increase the dose until your pet is show ing improvement. Optimal CBD Dosage for dogs, cats, and other pets is most effectively determined with consideration for each animal’s unique physiological condition and health status. Each bottle of CBD has a specific concentration expressed in milligrams per bottle and milligrams per dropper (or treat). Once your pet is showing improvement, maintain that dose for as long as you see results. You’ll usually find that lower doses will work well for stressful situations and more severe joint/mobility or pain will require an increase in the dose. You may have to increase the dosage again as their body adjusts to the effects over time.

Keep a CBD journal for your pet and record these items as applicable:

• Your pet’s condition before starting treatment

• Each day’s dose amount in milligrams (mg)

• Any noticeable relief from negative symptoms

• Improved mobility

• Calmer sleep

• Improved mood

Every animal responds differently because of course, each pet is unique! With tincture oils administered orally many pets start showing results within 15-30 minutes; however, some animals may take longer. When CBD is mixed with food or taken as a treat it can take about 30-50 longer because it’s absorbed through the stomach.

Finding the right dosage of any med ication is crucial for your dog since their systems are more sensitive than humans. But the encouraging news about CBD is that it has been found to be safe and well tolerated by animals by the World Health Organization. And there don’t appear to be any harmful side effects from using a more natural remedy, even on a regular basis.

These statements have not been evalu ated by Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diag nose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

The information on these pages are designed for educational purposes only.

It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your veterinarian. Please con sult a veterinarian with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your pet’s health condition.

Our Newfoundland Shadrach is getting to be an old man now, so to help him stay extra comfortable we give him Organic CBD oil.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CAT IS IN

PAIN?

Sandra L. Waugh VMD, MS Windsor Pet Dental

Both dogs and cats can be very good at pretending to be “just fine”, even though they may be feeling quite a lot of pain. One explanation is that any evidence of weakness may make one more vulnerable to attack by other predator type animals and therefore it is safer to appear healthy and strong. Of course, some diseases are easier to disguise than others. A limp is usually easy to see, as is vomiting and/or diarrhea. But other kinds of pain are not so obvious, and dental pain is often well disguised. Even with consid erable pain in the mouth dogs and cats will eat a normal amount. They may eat using just one side of mouth, may tip the head consistently to one side, allow food to dribble out of the mouth, be a bit slower to eat, or refuse to eat dry food and it can take care ful observation to perceive this. Eating, after all, is necessary to sustain life and to not eat due to pain means dying of starvation. Humans have the ability to put their pain into words. Dogs and cats cannot talk and it is up to us humans to become detectives. To help you detect pain in your cat go to www.felinegrimacescale.com. The Feline Grimace Scale was developed in 2019 at the Université de Montréal with funding from Zoetis. As the name implies, it is a means of assessing your cats facial characteristics to produce a “pain score”. There are diagrams as well as photographs to demonstrate how it is done. A video can be found on You Tube by searching for “A new tool helps measure pain in cats”. (And now there is even “an app for that” for iPhone or Android!). To give you a quick idea of this, you would observe your cat undisturbed for 30 seconds. If your cat is grooming, eating or meow ing, wait until she/he is done. If sleeping, wait until she/he is awake. You are then going to observe 5 different parameters: Position of the ears, eyes open or squinted, muzzle relaxed or tense, position of the whiskers, position of the head in relation to the shoul ders. Then score each as 0, 1 or 2 as shown below. If you get a total score of 4, your cat is experiencing some pain. The higher the score, the more pain and the more serious the problem. See your veterinarian with a pain score of 4 or more.

POSITION OF THE EARS

The ears are normally facing forward. As pain increases the distance between the ear tips increases. Eventually the back of the ear becomes visible.

HOW SQUINTED ARE THE EYES

When the eyes are squinted, the upper and lower eyelid move towards each other.

HOW TENSE IS THE MUZZLE

The red lines are all the same length. Tension causes the muzzle to become oblong rather than round, flattening out and lengthening to the side.

POSITION OF THE WHISKERS

Curved Downward Closer Together

Relaxed, spread out and loosely curved

Whiskers closer together at origin. Can be slightly curved or straight.

Spiked at the End

Whiskers are tense and spiked at the end. (moved forward and away from the face)

POSITION OF HEAD IN RELATION TO SHOULDERS

The position of the head is evaluated along with all the other parameters.

And here is a real world example.

I WOULD SCORE THIS AS:

EARS: I can see the back of the ear 2

EYES: Squinted almost shut ................... 2

MUZZLE: Hard to see but at least a 1 1

WHISKERS: Still have some curvature but definitely have tension ......................... 1

HEAD: Below the shoulders with the chin toward the chest 2

TOTAL SCORE ......................8

This kitty has Stomatitis, a very painful condition in the mouth.

Behavior changes can also occur with pain and cats that are experiencing pain will often hide. If your cat sudden ly changes his/her routine, this would be an excellent time to use the scale. They are working on a Grimace Scale for dogs. Until then, there are other references for dogs which I will write about next time.

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