FREE Fall 2022 ThoseHowOldestBlackCelebrateNationalCatDayWagItForward!MeetTheWorld’sDogStinkyPetBreath?AboutBats
8. Dollars, Cents and Your Pets Making your budget go further in today's economy 10. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Barks Meet Kim Provost. A local artist with a flare for your loved ones 12. The Dog Twins Karen Sturtevant Tom and Tim Radford have more in common than just looks 18. Oh No! Your Pet has Halitosis Emily Sullivan, DV 19. The Secret Life of Jasper the Cat Tim Hoehn 20. The Center of My Universe Dorothy Crosby Several exercises will help you and your horse along the road to lightness balance, and communication Pg.20 22. CBD for Pet Health CBD can be used across a wide variety of species as a safe natural alternative to prescription pain and sleep medications 23. Meet the new world’s oldest living dog, Pebbles the toy fox terrier Erin Keller 24. Canine Dreams Pat Jauch Have you ever wondered if your dog dreams? 25. Caring for Creatures of the Night Juliet Hoven The bats need your help! 26. What You See May NOT Be What You Get Sandra Waugh, VMD, MS Proper dental care can make for a much happier pet Pg. 25 2. Celebrate National Black Cat Day And everything you need to know about these iconic cats 4. One-eyed Cat Missing For 5 Years Shows Up on Offshore Oil Rig Baffling Owners 5. Wag It Forward! Don't miss the largest dog event in New England on October 2 in Essex Junction, VT 6. Mascoma Bank – Giving Beyond Treats Clara Cole From dogs and cats to horses and fish, Mascoma Bank supports animals and pets as well as the businesses they rely on Pg. 8 Inside this issue of 4 Legs & a Tail® Publishers: Tim Goodwin, Tim Hoehn Office GraphicBethManager:HoehnDesign:KristinWolffSales: Scott Palzer, Rebecca Smedy If you have a tale about a tail or a photo that will make us smile, we’d like to hear from you. 4 Legs & a Tail is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout Northern and Western VT and Northern NH. 4 Legs & a Tail, Inc. is locally owned and operated and acts as a moderator without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data or claim. Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited. 4 Legs & a Tail Volume N.322 P.O. Box 841 Lebanon, NH TimH.4LT@gmail.com603-727-921403766 www.4LegsAndATail.com 1Fall 2022
This 13th century Latin PopedocumentchurchiswhereGregoryIXfirstsuggestedblackcatswereassociatedwithSatan.
EDGAR ALLEN POE’S BLACK CAT Poe published his story “The Black Cat”, about a murderer carefully concealing a crime, but eventually revealing himself because of a nagging reminder guilt.
Celebrate National
This relationship would prove to hold severe consequences for owners of black cats in America in the early 17th centu ry. As the Pilgrims established their occupancy on the east coast of the country, they maintained a strict suspicion of anything remotely tied to the perils of witchcraft. The black cat served a symbol of the supposed evils and Satanic sym pathies of witches, and as a result, those found harboring black cats would receive harsh punishments; some would even be sentenced to death. While, in general, the fears surrounding the demonic potential of witches has subsided significantly, the black cat will be left wondering why it still must suffer the con sequences of a damaged collective reputation. According to several animal-advocacy groups and adoption agencies, black cats experience lower rates of adoption and higher rates of euthanization relative to other cat breeds. Because of this, National Black Cat Day stands as a fantastic opportu nity to subvert these trends and demonstrate appreciation for an animal that could itself use a little luck.
Is today National Black Cat Day? It is if it’s October 27th! Show some love to black cats everywhere in the lead-up to Halloween, which is only four days after! Are black cats less likely to be adopted? Unfortunately, they are. According to PETA, black cats are two-thirds less likely to be adopted than white cats and are fifty percent less likely to be adopted than tabby cats.
The black cat Gladstone achieves the position of Chief Mouser to the Treasury in the United Kingdom. 1232 1843 1880 2016 National Black Cat Day Timeline It’s National Black Cat Day on October 27th! Black cats need a little positive PR as their reputation as an omen of bad luck is well-known (and unearned, frankly). In the lead-up to Halloween, National Black Cat Day provides the chance for feline fans to show off their love for the oft-maligned, but always iconic animal.
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ARAPBAD
Since the 1880s, the color black has been associated with anarchism, and the black cat in alert, fighting stance was later adopted as an anarchist symbol.
ASSUMINGOFFICE
The black cat carries a unique status among the wide batch of different cat breeds. In some locales, notably Scotland, Britain, and Japan, the presence or appearance of a black cat is indicative of imminent good fortune and prosperi ty. Beyond these regions, though, public favor of the black cat runs sharply southward. In much of the Western world, black cats are considered to be harbingers of misfortune and wickedness. This unfortunate association stems from an image that will be familiar to many readers, which is that of the black cat serving as a companion to potion-brew ing, spell-casting witches everywhere. Black Cat D ay !
Whatever you think is best! There are plenty of directions to head in. You can choose to be straightforward (Blackie), ironic (Snowflake), or referential (Felix), among other options! What breed are black cats? Black cats can come from many differ ent breeds! According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, there are as many as 22 recog nized breeds of cat that may have a solid, black coat of fur.
National Black Cat Day FAQs
THEBLACKANARCHISTCAT
History of National Black Cat Day
What should I name my black cat?
National Black Cat Day Activities Show Off Your Black Cat on Social Media
Why We Love National Black Cat Day Black Can Be Lucky, Too The myth that black cats bring bad luck persists, but we’d like to consid er the fact that the opposite may hold true, too. As mentioned before, in some parts of the world, coming across or owning a black cat is just as likely to bring you good fortune. Why not focus on the positives? Black Cats Match Dark Furniture Cat fur proves to be a nuisance in homes everywhere. That said, if you happen to own darker furniture, then a black cat’s fur won’t show up on it!
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Adopt a Black Cat
If you’ve been thinking about adopting a cat, then National Black Cat Day is a great day to head to your local animal shelter and bring home a new dark-furred friend!
Watch a Black Cat Some of the most famous cats in popular culture are black cats! Watch a TV show or movie that embraces the black cat. Examples include Salem from “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” Sylvester from “Looney Tunes,” and Snowball from “The Simpsons.”
If you already keep a black cat as a pet, today is the day to celebrate it on social media. We’re sure you never post photos of it on any oth er day, right? Show it off, drawing particular attention to its fur color, and hashtag it with a reference to National Black Cat Day!
Just one consideration that can be fac tored into your decision of what kind of cat to adopt next… They’re Cute!
Forgetting all their cultural ties, black cats are still just as cute as any other cat! If anything, their dark fur brings greater attention to the color in their eyes, which are often a rich gold due to their higher melanin content.
One-Eyed Cat Missing For 5 Years Shows Up On Offshore Oil Rig Baffling Owners
“We were alerted to an incident of a cat being found in a shipping contain er offshore,” Aimee Findlay, a Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer, said in a statement. “We’ve no idea how the cat ended up there, but attended the heli port to collect him.”
Then a most unexplainable thing hap pened: One-eyed Joe somehow ended up in a shipping container a mile-anda-half away at the town’s port, before being shipped onto an offshore oil rig, where workers “ran away frightened” after the all-black cat jumped out of theAftercontainer.filling out an incident card, (which must have been humorous) the staff aboard the rig took to Joe most kindly, who was now quite comfortable with living alongside the rig workers.
A five-year odyssey for a cat named Dexter seems to have finally come to an end, after a long, covert stay at a prison was interrupted by his arrival onboard an offshore oil rig, which finally result ed in a call to animal services.
“We are so glad that he was well looked after for the time he was missing but we’re even more delighted to be able to reunite him with his original own er, thanks to his microchip being up to date,” Findlay said.
The cat was a regular “well-loved” hang about at Her Majesty’s Prison Grampian in Peterhead, Scotland, where staff used to “fuss over” him and even gave him the nickname One-eyed Joe.
According to The National, he was “spoiled rotten” during his time there.
Eventually though, someone called the Society for the Prevention of Cruel ty to Animals (SPCA) in Aberdeen, who retrieved Joe after the cat had been flown off the rig on a helicopter—a remarkable feat considering how hard it is normal ly just to get a cat into a carrier.
One-eyed Joe was microchipped, and upon scanning the staff learned his name was actually Dexter, and that his owner had lost the cat five years ago.
Dexter 4 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
Octopus Level: American Natural Pre mium; Identity Pet Nutrition; Triumph Pet Foods; and Vital Essentials
WagForward!It
You are invited to plunge into the biggest annual do-good pet fest in Ver mont! Pet Food Warehouse is excited to once again present Wag It Forward: A non profit festival for pets at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT, from 10am to 4pm Sunday, October 2nd! Tickets are only $5 for adults; kids 12 and under are free; and leashed pets are encour aged to join. Parking is free. All festival profits are split equally between the par ticipating local animal nonprofit groups. Dive into pet-friendly fun with the whole family for a great cause! We had a blast raising over $10,000 for rescues and animal nonprofits last year at our outer space themed festival. This year we are bringing things down into the deep blue sea to deliver dog-gone good times with an Under the Sea theme. Start the day with the Chase Away Canine Cancer 5K fun run before the event at 9am (register ahead at groupswillandtrucksdemonstrationscurrentinBashspendWIFoneralticipation!oraearlythemedpupslythroughoutthemafreebibRace/VT/Essex/ChaseAway5Khttps://runsignup.com/).Your5Kgetsparticipantsintothefestivalforwhenthedoorsopenat10am!Ifyourdogpreferstomakeasplashoverlaparoundthetrack,youcanregisterforDockDogsjumpingcompetitionsthedayatwww.dockdogs/eventsWearekeepingthingsfunandslightcompetitiveforeventhelessathleticwithafamilyfriendlyUndertheSeacostumecontestat2pm.CometoregisterwiththePFWteamforchancetowinoneof3prizepackagesjumpintotheparadeforinformalparOutfittedintheme,ornot,swimbysevselfiestationsandsharepicsofthedaysocialmediawiththehashtag#PFWforachancetowina$50giftcardtoatPetFoodWarehouse.Wewillalsobejoinedbythe99.9BuzzCrewwithcoffeecourtesyofDunkin’themorning;livemusicwillkeepthemovingintheafternoon;animalarescheduledallday;foodandbeveragetentwillprovidefuel;craftsandactivitiesintheFunZoneentertainall.Greetsomeofthemanynonprofitthatworktirelesslyeveryday
Dock Dogs! for animals in Vermont. Learn about pets available for adoption, find out how you can help support your community’s shelters, play games, and chat with the folk that “just keep swimming” for the sake of the pets! Explore dozens of pet-related vendors with a wide variety of premium pet products and foods, including some of our generous sponsors. Find samples and treats to pur chase, spin wheels, and learn how your pets’ foods are sourced and made from the manufacturers themselves! We’d like to specifically thank these top sponsors for supporting this continu ing voyage: Whale Level: Pets Global Family of Brands (Essence, Fussie Cat, Inception, and Zignature) and Wellness Pet (makers
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of Wellness, Holistic Select, Eagle Pack, Sojos, Old Mother Hubbard, and Whimzees).
Dolphin Level: Andy & Audies natural pet chews; Best Western Plus Windjam mer Inn; Darford; Edward Jones; Healthy Hemp Pet; Island Memorial; OC Raw; Sim ply B Vermont; Sit Pretty Grooming Salon; Sticky Brand; The Honest Kitchen; and Waggle Woof & Wander!
We can’t wait to Wag It Forward with you and your pets on a beautiful fall day. For more details about the event, visit www. pfwvt.com/wagitforward. For questions about the day’s events, please email wif@pfwvt.com.
Through Mascoma Bank’s Volun teer Time Off program, employees get 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year. Many employees choose to volunteer their time with humane societies, animal rescue organiza tions, and other nonprofits that put animal rights at the forefront of their missions. Mandy Wright, the Leba non Branch Support Assistant Branch Manager has been volunteering with Potter’s Angels Rescue for 6 years. This Vermont-based nonprofit is a foster and rescue organization dedicated to finding homes for unwanted and neglected animals. Mandy has fos tered many dogs over the years and says, “Watching animals get a second chance at life is the best sight. The sooner one of my foster dogs is adopt
Mariah Davis, Community Impact Manager at Mascoma Bank adds, “Through philanthropic efforts, we have donated nearly $20,000 to ani mal care causes to date in 2022. It is great to see the large impact Mascoma Bank can have on animal well-being. Through these donations, as well as through our paid employee volunteer program, Mascoma Bank shows a true commitment to animal advocacy.”
GIVING BEYOND TREATS
Clara Cole F rom dogs and cats to horses and fish, Masco ma Bank shows love to them all. Yes, we have dog treats at every branch drive up, and you might even see a sweet pup lounging in a branch lob by from time to time. But, here at Mascoma Bank, we do more than provide the yummi est snacks ever and a much loved “come to work with mom or dad” day. In fact, Clay Adams, President, and CEO of Masco ma Bank says, “Mascoma Bank has shown a great commitment to animal rights and protection through strong volunteering efforts and philanthro py work. Being a dog owner myself, it is great to be part of an organization that cares and takes action to better the lives of our pets.”
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ed, the sooner we can pull another dog out of neglect and save a life.” In January of this year, Mandy was able to visit Houston, Texas on behalf of the nonprofit and brought 31 dogs back to Vermont to find forever homes. Mandy explains that Mascoma Bank was the reason she started working with Potter’s Angels all those years ago. “The bank not only supports me through my volunteer time, but also introduced me to this organization. If I didn’t start working at Mascoma Bank, I wouldn’t have found this passion.” Ta Clarke, Office Manager at Mascoma Wealth Management is another employee who has done outstanding work for neglected animals. Ta has used her volunteer hours to work with many rescue organizations, most recently Bonus Dogs in North Hartland, VT. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit not only finds homes for neglected animals, but also for animals that typically wouldn’t be adoptable. Bonus Dogs helps these pets through tough times, heals them back to a stability, and finds them family. Ta says, “Every year my Volunteer Time Off (VTO) goes to rescue organizations. It is so nice to be able to use my VTO, help these animals, and do something I love.” Because supporting our furry friends is so important to us here at Mascoma Bank, we have also built many customer relationships who give back to our animals. By servic ing our customer’s banking needs, small businesses like Willow Farm Pet Services and West Lebanon Feed and Supply are here to help our pets stay healthy, clean, fed, and more! Caro lyn Tourville, owner of Willow Farm Pet Services in North Springfield, VT says, “When it came time to buy my business, I worked closely with Dan Harrington and Patti Putnam at the bank, and it went great. When I think of Mascoma Bank I think of commu nity. They’re always willing to help business owners in this town.” Wil low Farm Pet Services caters to pet grooming, boarding, and retail pet supplies.Similarly, Curtis Jacques, from West Lebanon Feed and Supply says, “Mas coma Bank is the bank we choose because of their community values, and of course their support. Not just to us as a customer, but to the commu nity at large.” West Lebanon Feed and Supply offers a variety of pet, large animal, and wildlife products for sale. With the bank’s value of mutual respect and trust at the forefront of all our customer relationships, we are able to give back through phil anthropic efforts, as well as through supporting businesses like Willow Farm Pet Services and West Leba non Feed and Supply. We thank our partners who continue to help our pets each day. Clara Cole is a rising senior at Bryant University. This is her second summer as an intern in the Mascoma Bank Marketing Department. www.4LegsAndATail.com 7Fall 2022
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 ship ments 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.
Like most goods, the cost of pet food has been subject to inflationary pressures 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 oth er items, you’re not imagining it. Petfood Industry recently reported that “for June 2022, pet food inflation registered at 10.3% year-over-year (YOY), compared to 9.1% for the CPI.” That means that inflation in pet food is outpacing the Consumer Price Index. Pet parents can’t simply decide to stop feeding their pets in response to inflation ary 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 increas es 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, manufac
The Future Looking forward, several factors will influence whether pet parents continue to see the cost of their dog or cat’s food con tinue to increase. Fuel prices 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 transportation costs. Additionally, while seemingly unre lated, renewable diesel is also acting as a catalyst for continued price increases.
Peter Kenseth
Supply Chain Disruption – Raw Materials and Packaging Supplies
DOLLAR$, CENT$ AND YOUR PET$
Raw materials that have suffered supply shortages range from the obvious – beef, chicken, lamb, duck, liver, grain, and corn – to less obvious ingredients that pet par ents might not immediately think of as being part of their pet’s meal – chicken fat, pea protein, and corn starch. Meats in particular represent an ongoing chal lenge 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.
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 block age of the Suez Canal, to the Texas freezes, to a shortage of truck drivers, meant that manufacturers experienced shortages of raw ingredients and packaging materi als. Given that pet food manufacturers are often competing with other industries for these raw materials and packaging sup plies, the competition for restricted goods lead to increased raw materials and pack aging costs, which ultimately increases the price that pet parents pay at checkout.
Packaging supplies have also contributed to increased prices. The cost of alumi num 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.
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However, don’t be surprised to see more aluminum alternatives like plastic tubs, Tetra Paks, and flexible pouches on the shelves, as manufacturers look to circum vent shortages and mitigate cost 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 created 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 driv ing similar cost increases 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 disrup tions 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 avail able in the market, pet parents that find themselves needing to trade down can rely on knowledgeable retailers to help them find an acceptable substitute.
turers had to allocate supply, and found themselves investing in new manufactur ing facilities or new production lines to ensure that they had the capacity to meet the increased demand. In many cases, these costs were passed on to consumers.
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Poem by Molly Ritvo
PictureAIsWorth A Thousand Barks
A Portrait of Truffles by Kim Provost
South Burlington based artist, Kimberly Provost, enjoys sharing her art passion. As a true pet and ani mal lover, she has a soft spot for these subjects, “I have a great love of animals and find pet portraits extreme ly gratifying. Working to fully capture the personality of a beloved pet for my clients, is both challenging and rewarding. The variety of subject matter keeps me excit ed and looking forward to my next painting.” Kim says. Many of the pet portraits Kim paints are for those who have lost their pets. A recent pet portrait client, Molly Ritvo, commented about her artwork: “I really can tell how much you really get the love and grief we all feel when losing animals. Thank you for capturing that!” Molly and her father had recently ordered a pet portrait as a gift to Molly’s mother. Along with the photo refer ences that were sent in preparation for the portrait, Molly shared a poem she had written about their late pet, Truffles: A chapter ending today as we say goodbye to precious Truffles. This dear doggie. Jesse & I met her 14 years ago after she had fulfilled her duty of being a mama to many puppies. She was ready to retire and find a new home. My mom instantly fell in love with her and after living as Jesse’s dog for a bit, she soon moved in with my mom. Hubbard Park (with The Tired Puppy LLC) was her favorite place and soon she and my mom became soul mates. Every one else was just extra. They were always together. Sometimes it was hard to see where my mom ended, and Truffles started. She was there for death and a birth and two marriages and a move to Burlington. She was gen tle and stubborn, especially around food left unattended. She was ten der and just wanted to put her head on someone’s lap. She was the only dog my dad actually enjoyed. Thank you for your love, dear sweet old girl. I’ll always see your gentle eyes watching for my mom to come home. “Why love what you will lose? There is nothing else to love.”
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As a young girl, Kimberly Provost spent much of her time outdoors. Whether fishing, walking in the woods, riding her horse or just being still, she would constantly be analyzing nature and all its details. Since then, she continues to appreciate the beauty that surrounds her. Whether she is painting a Vermont landscape or the soft muzzle of a basset hound, she enjoys spending time work ing on the details and creating the world as she sees it. “My method of painting with pastel is one of care with details and the smooth blending of colors and edges when I feel it is necessary; my fingers being my pri mary blending tool. Occasionally I will work with an alcohol and pastel under painting, although I prefer to sketch and paint directly onto a colored sup port and add many layers of pastel.”, says the long-time resident of the Bur lingtonKimberlyarea.Provost is a visual artist born in upstate New York in 1966. At an early age she took an interest in art and this interest continued through high school and college. Although she followed a career in the health care field, raised four children, and later, owned and managed an electrical business with her husband, Kimberly continued to do draw and paint when time allowed. Sadly, in 2009 her husband was diagnosed with ALS and as a result their business closed in 2013. The diagnosis of her husband’s ALS was dev astating, however their family remains hopeful. Now, as his full time caregiv er, Kimberly has turned to her art for solace. In her home studio in South Bur lington, Vermont she is able to take time to reflect and rest from her caregiving role, as well as define herself as an art ist. She is devoted to ongoing learning and experimentation in art and remains engaged in several art groups. Kimberly’s work is represented at the Art Works Frame Shop and Gallery in South Burlington Vermont and the Arthound Gallery in Essex, Vermont. She has exhib ited her artwork at the Strand Gallery in Plattsburgh, New York and the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, VT, as well as, in several group exhibits including the Vermont Pastel Society.
“I hear so many wonderful stories and antics about the pets I paint.” Kim says. “It helps me to capture the animal’s per sonality and character within my work. I hope that by working through the pro cess of the portrait, it will help to bring healing to my clients, as they share their memories. I feel honored to be a part of their journey with their pet. I under stand how much our pets mean to us all and how they become a special part of our family.”
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Kim Provost with Deacon
A s my friend and artist, Cat McKeen, maneuvers her Subaru into a shaded parking spot beside the Town Commons, I gather my sunglasses and apply ChapStick. The drive from Vermont was smooth sailing with blue skies and lots of girl talk. With Cat’s fancy cam era safely secured in her bag, we walk to our destination. Our trek to Newport, New Hampshire has led us to this lush, green location to connect with The Dog Twins, Tom and Tim Radford. When I first met Tim Radford, I had to remember not to say things like, “Oh my gosh! You look just like your broth er. Amazing!” I was an adult, after all, and would act accordingly. I know his brother Tom from working with rescue dogs. Tim and Tom are fraternal twins. Boy, are they twins! On this sunny morning, the two were teach ing puppies and their owners the basics of obedience. This adorable class was in session. The Radfords are the type of broth ers who, admittedly, get along well with one another. Their similari ties don’t end with their friendly smiles and easy-going laughs. They share a devotion for family, sports (Go, Patriots!), and all things hav ing to do with canines. Between them, they have nine children and ten dogs! They not only roomed together as boys, but also as students at The University of New Hampshire. Tim earned a Bach elor’s degree in Mathematics; Tom in Communications. Life’s big-picture plan would separate them after graduation only to reunite them decades later. Tom Radford became a police offi Karen Sturtevant Tim and Tom Radford
Photo courtesy of Cat McKeen Photography
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Protecting and serving for 21 years, then-Sargent Radford retired from the Burlington Police Department in 2016. “I’ll bleed blue for the rest of my life. I loved being a police officer.” Keeping his interest in canines sparked, Thin Blue Line K-9 Training was found ed in 2018, specializing in solutions for aggressive dog behaviors. With a shiny, newly-built training center and mile-long agility course in Williston, Vermont this was the premiere place for New England dog owners seeking expert guidance. At its peak, the center employed ten people with a boarding capacity for five dogs.
“There were dogs coming and going all day. It was awesome!” comments Tom. With hard work, long days, and riding on the reputation of being a former K-9 cop, Tom quickly sealed his prominence as a five-star trainer.
Tom made a cameo appearance in the children’s book, K9 Duke The Comfort Dog, available through amazon.com. Just when life is sailing along, an unexpected wave sometimes hits and our best laid-out plans get sidetracked.
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Cody courtesyPhoto of Cat PhotographyMcKeen www.4LegsAndATail.com
cer with the Burlington Vermont Police Department in 1995. His love of dogs led him to the cov eted position of Police K-9 handler with German shepherd, Stoney, in 2000. Pushing himself and his dog to learn everything he could from his instructors and peers regarding what it took to be an extremely successful K-9 team, the next few years were used finetuning techniques. This innate drive set the precedent for Tom Radford’s professional life. Whenever I’ve asked K-9 handlers about their dogs, the emotional reaction is always the same: one of compassion, of respect. Tom speaks with reverence about his canine compan ion. “Stoney was the best. He was put on this planet to find drugs.” And, he did. The team was honored with numerous awards including being named the Ver mont Police K-9 Drug Team of the Year three times and were inducted into the Vermont Police K-9 Hall of Fame in 2008 by the Vermont Police Canine Associa tion. Stoney unexpectedly passed away on the drive home from that ceremo ny. With admiration Tom comments, “Stoney gave us a gift. What a better send off than at that time.”
Such was the case in 2022 when the last dog maneuvered the ramps and tunnels and Thin Blue Line K-9 closed its doors.
Continued ON PAGE 16
As fate always wins, Tom was headed back to his hometown to be with his fam ily, including his brother, Tim. With an Bachelor degree in math, it’s not surprising how Tim Radford describes himself: “I’m a numbers person, a poli cies and procedures guy.” After college he found himself in Arizona and Texas, often talking to his brother, in Vermont, several times a day. Using his mastery of facts and figures he managed sev eral successful companies. Years later circumstance would bring him back to his childhood stomping grounds where he and his wife, Sandy, reside today.
Sandy Radford began Paws In Motion in 2013 visiting homes to offer dog sit ting and training. In 2020 she took a leap of faith and leased a physical loca tion bringing Paws In Motion more visibility and opportunity to the dog owners of Newport and surrounding New Hampshire towns. Within the first six months, the business grew in clients and standing. It was then Tim resigned from his job to join her full time. A selfproclaimed logistics guy, Tim’s mind is continually reconfigur ing the business model. With canine blood running through the Radford veins, the natural progression was to bring the trio together. Short ly after returning to Newport, the brothers and Sandy commit ted themselves to make Paws In Motion a one-of-a-kind destina tion. The services increased to include one-on one-training, board ing, packages, and group classes for all ages and levels. The facility currently offers large kennels, agility equipment, cute individual cubbies for each pup’s belongings along with outdoor kennels for socializing and fresh-air play. Future plans may include additional locations as well as offering a more specialized, higher level of a training agenda for those looking for advanced options. This program would be especially popular for working dogs. Trainings are often held on the Newport Town Common as was the case on this Saturday visit.
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www.4LegsAndATail.com 15Fall 2022
“We know how to navigate the really dangerous cases because if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re going to get bit,” comments Tom. Even the most astute trainer will be injured. Taking regular precautions to mini mize that inevitable injury is crucial.
Although not the original sought-out outcome the clients were hoping for, in this case, the resolution of using a long lead was the right answer.
“There are great trainers but I would put what we have to offer against any body in New England,” comments Tom. Welcomed with open arms into their community, the future looks bright for the team. Smiling, Tom says, “My life
Tom, Tim, and Sandy Radford believe that every day being greeted with enthusiastic, tail-wagging canines is a blessing. This is their calling. Their passion. The trust placed in them by dog owners is a responsibility they do not take lightly. The energy is palpa ble. The professionalism, unmatched. They embrace the philosophy that training is a group sport, success can be measured, and is within reach. Each dog brings a unique history. Meeting them where they are to create a custom plan catered to their specific needs is imperative for long-term success. Read ing canine body language while being open-minded and innovative are traits this team offers. Their goals are lofty and attainable. With their can-do attitudes and streaks of determination, I am confident this is the beginning of a successful and fulfilling journey for the Radfords, their human clients, and of course, all those dogs.
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Combining Sandy’s expertise with Tom’s motivation, Tim became a quick study and today is comfortable lead ing classes with Tom and Sandy as mentors. With Tim’s managerial knowhow, he is continually studying ways to improve, be competitive, and offer additional services without compro mising“Withquality.thethree of us and our com bined knowledge I truly feel we have a huge advantage. It’s almost like we’re a three-headed dragon and we can han dle any situation. Every day is new a challenge. It’s not always easy but the dogs are why we do it. Working with dogs is amazing,” comments Tom. Bringing different strengths to the team creates a workable synergy. “We’re always learning. Because we run both a daycare and boarding facility, we see dogs interacting each day. We have a fine mix of dogs who we utilize in our training,” says Tim. With experience in the veterinary health care field, Sandy brings her knowledge to sticky situa tions as when Tom’s dog got a face full of porcupine quills or when a pup has a minor medical emergency. The majority of clients are looking for assistance in teaching their dog to calmly walk on a leash, show prop er recall skills and act in a controlled behavior (not show reactivity) when meeting another dog. For more intense, aggressive behaviors, Tom comments, “Our job is to solve or resolve the prob lem, find a solution for the owner, and get a game plan going forward.” He shares a story of a couple who con tacted him because their dog refused to come (recall) to them when he was called. The home area was on 100 acres frequented by deer—too much of a stimuli for the dog to refuse. After an extensive period of training time and with prior proven techniques exhaust ed to no solution, the problem was deemed unsolvable. Instead of being solved, it now had to be resolved. In this case, the solution was the use of a long lead each time the dog went out as he simply refused to return on his own. “We still had a game plan and did not give up.” The clients accepted the out come knowing all other avenues were explored. We mostly have super success es, but there are exceptions to the rule.”
Tom adds, “The trick to dog training is that every dog is different. It’s a dif ferent puzzle, so you’ve got to have a lot of tools in your toolbox because if one thing’s not working you’ve got to transition to the next. It’s a really inter esting, fun job.” Tom and Tim Radford may be the only twin brothers in the U.S. in business together offering dog training services—great bragging rights!
Tom invented what he calls “The Shield.” This apparatus was made with the intent to introduce multiple dogs without having them make physical contact with one another. Constructed with plexiglass and wheels, safety for both handlers and the dogs is at the fore front of each day. After seeing this post on social media, a New York dog trainer reached out asking permission to use it in his work. Networking is encour aged within the group as well as with other professionals. Sharing informa tion along with challenges and possible solutions is another piece of success.
“I feel like we can take on any dog, any problem and we’re going to have a game plan, the knowledge, and experi ence. If we can’t do it, nobody else can. That’s the mindset I have,” comments Tom. With an array of equipment rang ing from various collars, bite suits and sleeves, catch poles, and different leads, the team has handled every tempera ment including challenging behavior such as dogs who have previously bit ten or shown aggressive tendencies.
withRadfordTimBlitz courtesyPhoto of Cat PhotographyMcKeen is dogs, dogs, dogs.” In between the ses sions, behind-the-scenes preparation, and resting tired muscles from dog wrangling, Tim describes this time in their lives as, “Nuts and bolts everyday training dogs. We love it!”
Vermont Police K-9 Drug Team of the Year (2000, 2003, 2007)
Lifesaving Award (2005, 2006)
Instagram:YouTube:www.instagram.com/pawsinmotiondogtrainingWeb:www.pawsinmotionnh.comyoutube.com/thedogtwinschannel
Connect on social media Email: pawsinmotionnh@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/SandyTRadford
Lauren Sullivan
Amanda Lee Wagner
“Tom Radford is exceptionally good with canines. There is no dog that Tom cannot help. He specializes in tuning in to what each specific dog needs, and executing a plan specially created for that dog. In an environment like board and train, you will inevitably get dogs that are scared to be away from home or out of their element. It was impressive to see how dedicated he was to ensuring that not only did each dog get proper training and care, but most impor tantly the proper energy release that is so essential for every dog.”
Instructor at the Vermont Police Academy (current)
Seized over one million dollars in illegal drugs and currency.
We had some interesting moments, one that I am thinking of now is a dog who was in the board and train program, a shepherd, had broken his collar while on the agility course working with anoth er trainer while I was in the yard working with a dog at about the same time. I get a text from my coworker about this dog I see the dog running down the driveway! It was a little comical watching the four of us (Tom, me and the other two trainers) trying to cor al this pup! But we did it and the dog learned not to escape and went home well trained.”
“One major take away I got working for Tom is dog training is 90% in the mind of the dog owner. When he/we educate the owners we make them more confident which builds confidence in the dog. Building confidence is one of the first steps and that starts with early basic training. Another major takeaway is disci pline for unwanted behavior, positive reward for completed tasks. Patience, patience, patience and name once, command once. After working with Tom I realized I was a helicopter parent and actual ly taught my dog how to be afraid of everything. After a year of my new knowledge, my little Japanese Chin has made a great improvement. Dog training is very hard work. Time, consistency and repetition. He always said that if you’re frustrated, you’re doing it right. Have fun with training.
Vermont Police K-9 Team of the Year (2004, 2005, 2006)
Vermont Police K-9 record of 1,010 drug finds.
Chairperson of the Vermont Police Academy K-9 Committee (2007 - 2016).
TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMER THIN BLUE LINEK-9
Currently active with the Committee.
VVMA Lifetime Achievement Award (2007)
17Fall 2022
It is so rewarding when a cranky pants/reactive dog in a weeks’ time turns into a completely different wellbehaved dog. I remember forming a very special bond with 100+ pound Rottweiler who would growl when you did anything with his neck. Three weeks later he was putty in my hands. He would do just about anything. We had a mutual respect for each other and I know how much he loved me. We had a great team. Tom is very easy to work with and for and I wish them both the very best.”
Inducted Vermont Police K-9 Hall of Fame (2008)
“I loved working for Tom at Thin Blue Line K-9, I learned so much from him, especially about working with aggressive dogs. Tom is a great boss and an even greater trainer. It was definitely a fun and busy place to work. I enjoyed it so much I quit my job as an LNA and started my own business (just part time as I also work at a ken nel) when he closed his and moved to NH to work with his brother. I know he will do well in any place he trains dogs!
TRAINING EMPLOYEES:
Burlington Vermont Police Distinguished Service Award (2006, 2007, 2008)
Tom Radford’s Professional Accomplishments
Founded Vermont Police K-9 Hall of Fame (2007)
www.4LegsAndATail.com
Nancy Davis
Emily Sullivan, DVM works at Riverside Veterinary Care & Dental Service in Rutland and Ludlow. She obtained her Veterinary Medical Degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. She has an Australian Shepherd named Kiah, and two cats named Jamo and Yeti. www.RiversideVetCare.com
18 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
OH NO!
concerns for your pet. In order to combat halitosis, it is helpful to understand what causes it. There are numerous causes of halitosis, including dental disease, eating bad smelling items (what dog doesn’t enjoy a trip to the trash can or litterbox?), skin infections, respiratory diseases, and systemic diseases such as diabetes or kidney diseases. With some of the causes of halitosis in hand, we can turn to what halitosis can mean for your cat or dog’s health. We will focus on the dental causes of halitosis.Halitosis is a common indicator of periodontal disease which is disease of the gums and supporting structures. Tooth roots, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligaments all support the teeth and keep Your Pet Has Halitosis!
Emily Sullivan, DVM them from moving. These are subject to disease and infection just like teeth. You may not notice periodontal disease, because these structures are not visible. If you are looking closely at your pet’s teeth, you may see a lot of tartar on their teeth or you may only see irritation of the gums (gingivitis). Sometimes halitosis is the only clue of periodontal disease so make sure to consult your veterinarian if your pet has Beforehalitosis.wediscuss what can be done to address halitosis, let’s discuss the cause of periodontal disease. Food and bacteria cause plaque buildup on teeth. Those same bacteria can spread from the teeth to the gums and then underneath the gum line, causing infection of the supporting structures of the teeth. Such an infection causes irritation of the gums. If left unchecked, the infection can undermine the roots of the teeth and the surrounding bone. This can lead to loose, painful teeth. If your pet has halitosis, what can be done? In the early stage, halitosis can be managed by homecare techniques that most people can do. If things have progressed further, your veterinarian will need to takeTheaction.best way to manage gum disease and halitosis is to prevent it. Prevention begins at home.. Brushing your pet’s teeth effectively reduces tartar build up. Tartar can start forming after 24 hours so brushing every day is ideal. Introducing your pet to brushing when he or she is young and rewarding your pet during the process helps brushing go smoothly. If you are unable to brush your pet’s teeth, a variety of specially formulated dental diets and chews can be helpful, although less effective than brushing. There are many products out on the market. As a guide, look for products with The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VHOC) seal of approval. Having a veterinarian regularly evaluate your pet’s mouth, and scale and polish your pet’s teeth when needed, will effectively remove tartar that is not eliminated by home brushing. If you suspect your pet already has periodontal disease, an oral exam and cleaning under anesthesia is the first step in treatment. During an oral exam, each tooth is evaluated and probed to assess its health. Dental x-rays reveal what is going on under the gum line. Your veterinarian will clean the surface and under the gum line to remove any tartar that is present. If the examination reveals teeth with advanced disease they may need to be removed. So give your pet’s mouth the sniff test. Halitosis may be the first clue to periodontal disease. Your veterinarian can help locate and treat the source of bad breath. Starting oral care early in your pet’s life is a key step in preventing dental disease. As a team, you and your veterinarian can keep your pet’s mouth healthy.
www.4LegsAndATail.com
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It was almost a typical early spring day. My wife and I were doing outside clean-up, raking, pulling out patio furniture, and hos ing off the deck. When we stopped to take a break, we sudden ly noticed that we had a visitor. A Maine-coon cat with green eyes and a sunny disposition. He was very affectionate and well kept, but had no collar. He hung out with us most of the day and our young daughter took to him instantly. We’ve had cats before and most will quick ly bolt at the sight of kids. But not this cat. Not only did he let her brush his thick coat, but was more than willing to play the starring role of “baby” and gladly paraded around in her doll stroller. She even gave him a name; Jasper. After an entire day, we told our daughter it was time for Jasper to go to his own home. “But he’s hungry. We can’t let him leave on an empty stomach!”, exclaimed our daugh ter. Jasper quickly lapped up a bowl of milk and we said our goodbyes. Much to our surprise, the next morning Jasper was on the back deck, resting on the lawn chair. Our daughter was very excited. Since he didn’t have a collar, we called our veterinarian to check Jasper for a microchip. We were certain his owner would have tak en that precaution for such a wonderful cat. But the scan came up negative. Jasper stayed as our house guest for almost two weeks. He would play with our daugh ter. Watch TV with the family. At the end of the evening, we would put him out, won dering if we would see him in the morning. Then one day he was gone. We were all sad to see him go, but we were thankful for the time he had spent with us. Over the next few days, the first thing our daugh ter would ask in the morning was, “is Jasper back?” Soon he became just a fond memory. It was Memorial Day weekend and we were having friends over for the first official bar beque of the summer. As I pulled the grill out I noticed an old familiar face. “Hello, Jasper.” Everyone was excited to see him again and he was a big hit with all of our guests that afternoon. Jasper stayed with us for a cou ple of weeks and just like his previous visit, one morning he was gone again. Jasper’s pattern stayed consistent that sum mer. He would show up unexpectedly and stay for a spell and be gone just the same. This happened several times. It had been longer than usual when Jasper came to visit on Labor Day. Although this time was different. We noticed Jasper was limping and had blood coming from his leg. We live in a typical New England town. Small enough not to have a local high school, but large enough to have two animal hospitals. My wife called our veterinarian to see if they could take a look at Jasper’s injury but being a holiday the answering machine said they were closed and that the other vet in town was covering for them in case of an emergency. We quickly called the other vet and they asked us to bring Jasper in as soon as possi ble. Jasper is such a great cat and let us put him in a cat carrier without incident. We walked into the animal hospital and the vet tech behind the counter asked us for pre liminary information; i.e. billing info, the cats’ name, etc... As she gently pulled Jasper from the carrier, a confused look came across her face, “This cat is not a Jasper. He’s Winston!” It seems this was the cat’s regular veterinar ian and was as loved by the staff as he was by us. As the doctor quickly patched up Jasper/ Winston, the tech called his owner. We talked for a while and he shared that Winston was 19 years old and he had him since he was a kitten. When his daughter was little, Winston was her best friend.
“I often wondered where he went on his excursions because when he came home he always appeared happy and well fed”, said Winston’s man. We wondered the same.
Here’s one way to find it and then use it: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with your knees relaxed. Place your thumb over your belly button with your hand open and below it and the palm of your hand resting on your abdomen. Place your other hand behind your back, directly behind the first hand. Close your eyes and become aware of the space between your hands; get a sensa tion of the energy or presence that is there. Try an experiment with chang ing yourself: see how deep breathing vs. shallow breathing, tension in your shoulders or legs, or curling your toes affects it. Notice how the heaviness or lightness of that spot or its actual relo cation occurs. My Universe
20 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
Dorothy Crosby- Stoddard, NH I
recently taught an Open Cen tered Riding Clinic where we went over Sally Swift’s 4 Basics…the group want ed to focus on Centering because the challenge for so many riders involves balancing and staying “with the horse” so that smooth, non-jolting riding can occur. Many riders find themselves being jostled, especially during transitions or unexpected changes in movement.
The Center of
Sally Swift called it centering, but one could consider that shorthand for cen ter of gravity, center of balance, center of communication, center of your pel vis, …of stability, …of lightness… Along with the other 3 Basics: Soft Eyes, Breath
ing, and Building Blocks, centering is an important piece of balanced, soft, and effective riding that is gentle on both the rider and the horse. Together the Basics culminate in a solid, secure, balanced feeling that Sally Swift called Grounding.Therearemany exercises, both mount ed and unmounted, that contribute to us finding our center and learn ing to use it. One’s Center can move and be controlled by the rider; unlike your appendix, it cannot be surgically removed, but it is very real. It is affect ed by emotions, tension or tightness, movement, and other environmental or anatomical situations. It sits at the bottom and middle - or center - of your pelvis, directly in front of your spine.
Think of it as a ball of energy, or some thing moveable like sand or water (one little boy asked if he could use a bowl of M & M’s!), that sits at the bottom of your pelvis, and helps direct your movement and intent. If you are truly sitting on the middle of your seatbones, you are in the best position to be balanced over your feet and under your shoulders, the ultimate position for Building Blocks. Every directive on the part of the rider emanates from their Center, and every movement of the horse affects and ema nates from theirs.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 21Fall 2022
These exercises will help you along the road to lightness balance, and com munication. Happy experimenting, and may you find your Center both on and off a horse!
2. Transfer this to under saddle. Initi ate a walk – it’s ok to use leg aids, the lightest you can, but generate start ing the movement from your center first. Repeat. Success? Attempt a few walk/halt transitions. generating the starting or stopping of movement from your center.
Owner of Equi-librium and based in Stoddard NH, Dorothy Crosby is certi fied as both a Level III Centered Riding® Clinician/Instructor and CHA English and Western Instructor, Director of the Riding Program and Barn Manager at Southmowing Stables in Guilford VT, she loves working with riders and horses of all ages and abilities. Recently certified with Conformation Balancing, a program for fascia release in horses, Dorothy loves the softening and changes in the horses.
Dorothy offers clinics, lessons, workshops, and fascia-release bodywork sessions both on and off the farm.
Next, try walking with an aware ness of that spot; perhaps keep your hands placed there as a remind er of where your focus should be. See if you can take your first steps initiating the movement from that Center; instead of leaning forward with your shoulders or stepping way in front with your feet either pull ing or propelling, experience how your whole body moves in a flow starting from your center. Then, shift direction, or halt a few times, directing or stopping your center; check how it impacts this. Repeat and alternate until you can do this with less effort on your part and it feels lighter and more natural. In our culture, we tend to not pri oritize this, but movement from our center first is balanced, good for our posture, and creates calm, con fidence, and smooth movement in humans even when not on a horse!
We want to ride our horses back to front and they must engage their hindquarters to do so. Horses could be said to have two centers: one is in their forehand, between their shoulders, which is why they stand in balance with 60% of their weight on their front legs; the other would be when they adjust their balance, so it lies underneath their rider, shifting more weight onto their hindquarters and requiring them to engage their hind legs.
Try these: 1. Lead your horse in-hand, beginning to walk while initiating from your cen ter. If he hesitates, don’t pull on him; wait a second, take a deep breath and try again. Repeat to establish success. Then halt a few times. You might be pleasantly surprised at how your horse begins to follow your lead as you initiate from that center.
CBD for Pet Health
Animals’ immune systems show benefits from CBD treatments. Conditions like rheumatoid arthri tis are not just a consequence of old age. Inflammation that contributes to joint pain is an auto-immune response from the body that goes too far. In such instances where the body fights against itself, CBD helps curb those misdirected defenses. CBD will not transform the immune system, at least through our present knowledge of it, but it does help produce a more stable immune response. This assists in the management of autoimmune diseases like lupus and inflammation of the CBDbowels.canbe used across a wide variety of species as a safe natural alternative to prescription pain and sleep medications. Furry, scaly, feath ered, bald—the testimonials from pet owners are abundant. 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 consult a veterinarian with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your pet’s health condition.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of 100+ cannabinoids contained in full spectrum hemp extract. It is a non-psychoactive (it does not get you or your pet “high”) that can be given as a tincture oil, edi ble, and topical ointment. Humans are using CBD as a natural way to relieve stress, joint and other chronic pain, promote a healthy metabolism, and get better sleep. Did you know your pet can benefit from CBD too? The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is part of an organism’s regulatory system. Depending on the creature’s needs and anatomy, it helps control energy levels, metabolism, stress responses, balance, and more. The ECS is still undergoing much study, but endocannabinoid sys tems have been observed to be prevalent in both vertebrates and some invertebrates, from rats to ball pythons to cockatoos. When CBD interacts with the ECS, it has shown a positive effect on the autonom ic nervous system (ANS). The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary actions of the human body, like digestion and heart rate. The following are some specific examples of how CBD influenc es pet CBDhealth.helps reduce physical pain and promotes mobility. CBD has anti-inflam matory properties, which helps animals with joint pain, like elderly dogs, stay active. A dog who is able to play, go for walks, and sleep comfortably is a dog who will be able to enjoy life more. A cat who can still climb their kitty con do, groom, and chase the laser pointer into old age is more content than one who is not ready to slow down. Reduced stress. CBD promotes a calmer mood in general and is especially valuable in situations that are commonly distress ing to pets. For instance, some pets love to ride in the car, but it terrifies others, and a safe, well-tolerated substance to keep stress at bay is good for the animal and their humans. No one wants to see their friend cry, cower, struggle, shed feathers, and exhibit other signs of unhappiness with circumstances that can’t be avoid ed, like trips to the vet or moving house.
“Rebah, our German Shepherd, had an Achilles strain. Rather than load her with pain meds and such, we opted to try a 10mg CBD chew. Prior to CBD she had tenderness in her affected leg and such. After a few days of regimented CBD chews, we noticed Rebah was less tense with better activity tolerance. Her pain improved after about 2-3 weeks of consistent CBD therapy.”
22 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
-Russ, Bennington, VT
www.4LegsAndATail.com 23Fall 2022
Julie said the pocket-sized dog and her husband had an immedi ate connection when they visited an adoption center, originally searching for a big Althoughdog.
Pebbles the toy fox terrier poses with her Guinness World Records certificate.
T
Pebbles celebrated her recordbreaking achievement with a special meal and bubble bath.
MEET the NEW WORLD’S OLDEST living dog, PEBBLES the toy fox terrier
Erin Keller
In her spare time, Pebbles likes to play under palm trees in the back yard, go on walks with Bobby and sunbathe by the pool. She also enjoys getting dressed up in different outfits, and a cowboy hat is her favorite accessory.
Pebbles’ parents, Bobby and Julie Gregory, told Guinness they decided to reach out to the record-keeping company after seeing TobyKeith’s story all over the news. “Bobby was sitting on the couch and friends and family started tex ting and calling about a story they saw about a 21-year-old dog getting the record,” Julie said. Give them a happy, positive environ ment as much as possible, good clean food, and proper health care.”
When asked about Pebbles’ secret to longevity, Julie said, “Treat [your pet] like family, because they are.
obyKeith the Chihuahua had a quick reign as the world’s oldest liv ing dog, but that’s before Guinness World Records met Pebbles the toy foxTheterrier.4-pound pup from Taylors, South Carolina, is now the oldest dog alive at 22 years and 59 days old.
Pebbles didn’t fit their ideal description, they couldn’t pass up the bug-eyed canine.
Canine D reams
24 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
H ave you ever wondered if your dog dreams? If so, do you wonder about what your dog dreams? According to experts, dogs do dream. Following a busy day of activity, interaction with other canines, or just plain taking it easy and being lazy, there may appear to be a difference in the dreams. Some seem to be comfort ing, reliving the events of a pleasant experience. Some dreams seem trou blesome, accompanied by harrumphs, Pat Jauch Caledonia Animal Rescue, Inc. soft whimpers, or out-and-out barks. The feet will start moving, eventually achieving a racing pace. The body will stiffen in an aggressive posture and a sense of agitation prevails. At other times there will simply be a sense of contentment and relaxation. After a day of barking at delivery people or protecting the home from loud outside noises, some dogs assume a defensive posture, sprawled out from total exhaustion, and growling into a crescendo of ear-splitting barking. No doubt the canine’s dream has revived a memory of the events of the day. Some one approached the house or passed by noisily, and the dog is in total protec tive mode even in sleep. Following a peaceful interlude filled with playful interaction with its master or anoth er animal, you may find that your dog is relaxed, quietly almost purring, and obviously happy even to the point of gently wagging its tail. When awak ened from a disturbing dream your dog may remain agitated for a short time, just as humans react when their slumber has been interrupted. Like wise, a pleasant dream may find the canine slightly disoriented but still carefree and happy to be in familiar surroundings.Thunderor fireworks often upsets pets and the ensuing dream state seems to elicit heightened activity and the appearance of discomfort. Mean while, following a day of calm, you may find your pet enjoying a night of what seems to provide happy dreams. Think about this the next time you find your dog growling, grinning, or grumbling during sleep. If you provide a loving atmosphere for your pet you may be helping to create a happy dream state, that is, if you could truly understand what dreams are being dreamed.
Juliet Hoven
www.4LegsAndATail.com 25Fall 2022
To begin, bats are unique and fascinating animals. Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. They can flap their wings to propel them in flight rather than glide. A bat’s wings are thin skin membranes stretching between its finger bones, hind legs, and tail. This adaptation has earned them a special classification among mammals called Chiroptera. Chiroptera quite literally translates to “hand wing.” Furthermore, bats live in numerous types of habitats. They prefer locations with swarms of insects and sustainable resting. During the winter months, they must find suitable places to hibernate or migrate south. Bats are also nocturnal, doing their hunting from dusk until dawn and sleeping during the day. Bats consume more than 50% of their own body weight in insects each night effectively making them nature’s best pest control.
The fungus thrives in cold, damp, and dark environments, or unfortunately, the same conditions where bats hibernate. The fungus disrupts the wing membranes, blood tissue, and nerves. To fight the infection, bats need to increase their metabolism and keep warm. This ultimately forces bats to come out of hibernation and use the fat they reserved, to fight the fungus. Without their stored fat, bats cannot sur vive the remaining winter months.
Several bat species native to the northeast including the northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, and tricol ored bat, are affected by white-nose syndrome. White-nose syndrome is caused by a fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The fungus originated in Europe and spread to the U.S. through human travel in the early 2000s. It has since made its way throughout the American northeast and affected every bat species living here.
As stated previously, bats can eat up to half their own weight in insects each night. If they were to disappear, we would not know how insect populations would be affected. In addition, when populations of one species change in an environment, we do not know how the others in the envi ronment will change as a result. Bats are also the primary consumers of mosquitoes and other agricultural pests, so it would be in our best interest to make sure these pests have a predator.
Now with the idea of mosquito control in your mind, you might ask yourself, “What can I do to help?”
Caring for Creatures of the Night
extension.psu.edu/a-homeowners-guide-to-northeastern-bats-vtfishandwildlife.com/node/236vtfishandwildlife.com/node/261Resources:and-bat-problemswww.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/bats-nh.htmlwww.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/white-nose-syndrome.htmlReportedsightingscanbesubmittedthrough:anrweb.vt.gov/FWD/FW/BatColonyReporting.aspxwww.surveymonkey.com/r/batcolonies
F or centuries bats have carried a negative stigma in Europe and the U.S., but they have crucial roles in their environments. These creatures have been given a negative stereotype as bloodsucking, disease-carrying animals. While they carry disease, they do to a lesser extent than other animals, such as dogs or cats. It is important to recognize that bats contribute substantially to their ecosystems and humans. Most importantly, bats are on the largest decline in history in the American Northeast. A fatal disease called white-nose syndrome has wiped out over 90% of bats in Ver mont and New Hampshire. Attention to this issue is needed by the public to continue to find a resolution.
Juliet Hoven is currently a double major in zoology and ecol ogy 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.
Moreover, why would you want to help an animal with such a bad reputation?
There are several ways you can help! One way is to leave bats alone if you find them! We want them to remain at peace and breed. Another way to help is to participate in the statewide colony surveys! In New Hampshire, you can contact the Wildlife Division and have a professional come out to record data on bat colonies. This helps us gather gen eral data about summer colonies and guide us to where we should focus next. A third way to help is to build or buy bat houses. This provides a safe designated place for bats to stay, while also providing an opportunity for us to watch bats from a distance.
Lastly, bat colonies can be reported through the Vermont or New Hampshire Fish and Wildlife Department state web site. We can gather more general data and give biologists an idea of how bat colonies in the area are doing. Overall, bats have an undeserved bad reputation. They play criti cal roles in our environment and do more good for people than one would ever expect. Let’s hope we can make some progress in their conservation!
W hen a dog or cat is brought in for an awake examination, I always warn the owner that we often find more dental disease once we have our den tal x-rays. Why is this? Dogs and especially cats are often not very compliant for an awake exam. Even if they are willing to hold still, we get to look but rarely get to touch much less use any instruments on the teeth. And teeth are like ice bergs - the crown is 1/3 of the entire tooth, the remainder is in the jaw bone. The only way to see the roots is to take dental x-rays. And dental x-rays can only be taken on a pet under general anesthesia. In my experience both dogs and cats can have hidden disease, but it seems much more likely in cats. I have an example to show you. “Oscar” was only 4.5 years old and under general anesthesia when the photographs and x-rays were taken. There are some problems visible in the photographs, indicated by the green and blue arrows. The green arrows point to areas where the gum tis sue is growing up on the side of the tooth. This happens when there is a tooth resorption underneath. The blue arrow points to an area of very rough tartar with pink tissue underneath. All of this could be seen during the awake exam ination, but the examiner needs to be able to spot these areas very quickly!
WHAT YOU SEE WHATNOTMAYBEYOUGET
26 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
As the saying goes “Don’t count your extractions before x-rays have been hatched” (well, taken). Here are the x-rays of Oscar’s upper right, lower right and left and upper left canine teeth.
This much resorption in a 4.5 year old cat is very unusual and was a totally unexpected finding from the outward appearance of beautiful white teeth.
Sandra L. Waugh VMD, MS Windsor Pet Dental Upper Incisors Lower Incisors
For comparison this is a normal canine tooth. It has a consistent white density in the entire tooth. The darker area in the middle of the tooth is normal and is the pulp chamber in the crown and the root canal in the root. Oscar’s teeth are undergoing root resorption, meaning that the structure of the roots is being removed (by Oscar’s cells). This process starts at the bot tom of the roots and in this case it has reached the crown. These teeth are likely to break off at the crown root junction (red arrow) if not extracted. They can be a source of intense pain once the resorption enters the crown, as it exposes the inside of the tooth to the bacteria that are pres ent in the mouth.
The other teeth in the photographs look normal as do the canine (fang) teeth in the photograph of the front of his mouth. After an awake oral examination it would appear that 4 teeth would need to be extracted.
The blue arrow above points to the same tooth in the photographs with a blue arrow. That tooth had the very rough tartar, but now you can see that most of the tooth is gone! This tooth has three roots and it is easy to imagine that in the near future the crown of this tooth will be gone and the roots may very well be left behind. The red arrow points to a tooth root left behind (retained) from the similar tooth on the other side of the mouth. The other teeth in these x-rays are also undergoing tooth resorption but it is not as obvious. And here we have the lower jaw teeth with the green arrows matched to the photographs. The destruction occurring these teeth is easy to see, as well as the tooth with the yellow arrow. The other two teeth are also undergoing resorption but it is not as obvious. Tooth resorptions can also be found using a dental explor er. I always examine all of the teeth in a cat’s mouth with an explorer because tooth resorptions are so common in cats. At the end of the day Oscar had all of his remaining teeth and retained root extracted except for the upper incisors! This added up to 21 teeth and 1 retained root extracted. Cats without any teeth do well because they have loving owners to provide them with easy to eat foods during recovery. Once the mouth has healed in 14 days, they can eat what ever food they like. Cats that like dry food will usually go back to eating dry food, even if all of the teeth are gone. Oscar’s teeth were no longer function ing as teeth. Instead they had become a source of pain and a reason to find eat ing difficult or unpleasant.
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.
www.4LegsAndATail.com 27Fall 2022
28 4 Legs & a Tail Fall 2022
