4 Legs & a Tail NR Winter 2023

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUPPY DAY

Prepare yourselves for an overdose 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 consider 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 recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year. It’s also an excellent opportu nity 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 ador

able 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 typically have the highest intake of dogs around summer time. With 30 to 40 animals entering the shelter daily, we need public support to help save lives, and these national holi days do just that — by encouraging and reminding people to adopt, donate, and love their animals more 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 popular, and pet clothing lines have gone mainstream as well. Puppy flicks like “Wishbone” and “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” 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 work ing specifically for the welfare of dogs.

POKER

BY THE NUMBERS

1921

LADDIE BOY IN THE WHITE HOUSE

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

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 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.

1943

UNFUR-GETABLE MGM

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

1950

SNOOPY HITS THE PAGE

Snoopy

NATIONAL PUPPY DAY ACTIVITIES

1. Teach your pup a new trick

2004

1st CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL DOG DAY Colleen Paige successfully created the world's first holiday to promote adoption.

At their young age, puppies are always open to new things and teaching a trick can be a great learning experience 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 grooming 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 medicine, no matter your state of mind. There are so many you might be at it for a while.

FIVE IM-PAWS-IBLE PUPPY FACTS

1. Jolly Green Puppy

In rare cases, the fur of a light-haired puppy can get tempo rarily stained by a green pigment in the mother’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 Guggenheim Museum in Bil boa, Spain has been home to a 40-foot tall puppy 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 pretty 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 environ ment. 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 handful, but chasing them has surprising health benefits. They keep us constantly exercising, which helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Who knew puppies could help us revamp our workout routine?

makes his first comic strip appearance.

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

Unconditional Love

A few months ago I got a call from a friend who breeds dogs.

“Do you have a litter of puppies?”

My cautious reply was “Yes, but just two puppies,” which made her even more excited.

“This could work!” she exclaimed.

It turns out she was helping a Bernese Mountain dog breed er find a foster mom for her singleton puppy. The puppy was the only one in the litter and her mother did not have milk to nurse her. As it turned out, the mother of my litter, Cammie, having only two puppies, had an abundance of milk. In fact, she was producing so much milk that her two puppies were growing more quickly than average litters do.

It was a perfect situation and solution! We decided to put the six-day old Bernese Mountain dog in with the two ten-day old Golden retriever puppies and let them grow up together. This would not only provide milk for the lit

tle Berner puppy, but also siblings to grow and learn with.

I had never taken on the responsibility of raising some one else’s puppy before, especially this young, but I knew we had to try. Though my answer was “yes,” I knew the final decision was up to my six-year-old Golden. I had to find out if Cammie would accept a puppy that wasn’t hers, if she would care for it, clean it, feed it, and teach it.

Within a few hours Dorie the small Berner puppy arrived. Dorie was tiny for her age and younger than Cammie’s own puppies and we held our breath as we introduced Dorie to Cammie and her pups.

It couldn’t have gone any better than it did! Cammie met the puppy, sniffed her all over and immediately started cleaning her. We hoped that Dorie would be strong enough to nurse and that Cammie would allow it. We need not have worried. Cammie and her two pups made plenty of room for Dorie to nurse and she began to thrive almost immediate

Alice Ayres - Rutland, VT

Cammie and the three puppies

Photo courtesy of Alice Ayres

ly. The daily weigh-ins confirmed that Dorie was growing. After just a couple of days she was back to her birth weight, and she just kept on going.

As the days passed the three pups’ eyes opened and they all started walking and exploring and playing together. Any fears and concerns I had started to dissipate and were replaced by unexpected joy. Cammie was a wonderful mom raising three happy, confident, and outgoing girls who saw each other as litter mates.

Fostering a puppy and offering my breeding dog as a wet nurse and Mom was a unique and wonderful experience. To be able to offer help (both human and canine) to others that could use a hand was extra special and a reminder that this happens in nature all the time.

Today all the pups are in their forever homes and thriving and bringing joy. I recently heard that Dorie has taken to carrying a toy in her mouth wherever she goes, which is not so typical of a Berner, but very common for Goldens. I like to think that Cammie and her pups taught her a thing or two.

Alice Ayres is a therapy dog owner, Golden retriever breeder and Strategic Financial Analyst in the Finance Dept. at Rutland Regional Medical Center.

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% already knew someone who included their dog in their wedding.

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

And just shy of one in ten (9%) 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% of respondents agree that guests would react positively to having dogs involved at a wedding.

BecameHowDogsthePerfect Companion

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

Descended from wolves, the domestication of dogs which enabled their special relationship with humans has baffled evolutionary experts for decades.

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

Dogs’ emergence has been tracked back to wolves scav enging leftovers discarded by early humans on the edges of settlements. 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 Nagasa wa. “Because stray dogs that are not brought up in human households show this characteristic, it has been previous ly suggested there is a genetic component involved. Our results support this hypothesis.”

To investigate the phenomenon Dr. Nagasawa and col leagues ran experiments in which 624 domestic dogs were split into ancient and modern (general) breeds.

The ancient group consisted of those considered geneti cally 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 tes ters than the latter, and it was due to the MC2R variants.

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

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

Blood samples showed changes to the MC2R gene were associated with correctly 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 Scientif ic Reports.

“The results show both groups have capabilities in under standing human gestures and adjusting their responses accordingly, (but) in contrast, the general 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 characteristic that was inten tionally chosen for, through human-selected breeding, after dogs had evolved.”

Man’s first best friend was a grey wolf that made con tact with its first human companions about 33,000 years ago, somewhere in south east Asia. About 15,000 years ago, a small pack of domesticated 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.

Rehabbing a Beaver

Aberth - Roxbury, VT

O n 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 landowner armed with a backhoe who deemed their presence a “nuisance.” I am a volunteer licensed wildlife rehabilita tor 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 necessities of food, warmth, and protection, but also companionship, since beavers are very family-orient ed 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 parents 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 formulat ed “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 “roommate” and they were released together. BK and Mrs. Beaver were released on land owned by the New Eng land Wilderness Trust (NEWT), at an old, unoccupied beaver pond which they quickly made their home and maintain as a marvelous wetland habitat.

Beavers are heavily trapped in Ver mont, even though this orphans kits who remain dependent on their par ents all through regulated “seasons.” Traditionally trapped for their fur, bea vers are also viewed as a “nuisance” because their dams occasionally flood roadways and block culverts. But bea vers are considered by biologists to be a “keystone” species for their ability to create wetland habitats whose bio diversity is comparable to rainforests and coral reefs. They are also dubbed “climate change superheroes” because their wetlands act as carbon sinks and as drought buffers and wildfire breaks. Because beavers, like all furbearers, self-regulate their populations in accor dance with the carrying 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 beaver-human conflicts, since new beavers quickly move into a trapped site. (Beavers are very territo rial and, when alive, are the best way to keep out other beavers!) Instead, highquality 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 nonprofit, offers grants to help landowners and towns coexist with beavers, which is a winwin 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

John with BK at one week old.

Beavers Away

Beavers Away! is based on a true story in which seventy-nine “nuisance” beavers were reintroduced, through para chute drops, into a remote and degraded wilderness in Idaho in the late 1940’s. Consequently, these areas were success fully 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 perspec tive of Elmo Heter, the game warden who designed and directed the parachute proj ect, 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 species, and their ability to mitigate the effects of climate change in wetland habitats.

Many mammals, from moose to mice, depend on beaver-engineered habitat for food and shelter. In fact, nearly half of all endangered species in North Amer

ica rely on wetlands for their survival. Beavers are remarkably efficient and suc cessful at restoring degraded wetlands and the associated ecosystems. Across the United States beavers are being suc cessfully reintroduced, often on or near large farms and ranches, to create sources of clean water for livestock and wildlife and to restore habitat for diverse species of plants and animals.

Today’s young people are growing up in a world that is dramatically impact ed by the effects of climate change. In the coming decades they will confront many daunting environmental chal lenges and they will be responsible for developing the necessary tools and meth

ods for solving complex problems that will face the global community. Beavers Away! presents a remarkably uplifting story in which an innovative and rel atively simple approach to a difficult situation results in an effective solution. Game warden Elmo Heter and the stal wart 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.

The Life of a Very Special Dog

Being a Vermont pet portrait artist is an extreme ly gratifying and rewarding joy. Not only am I able to be artistically creative, but I can also learn about the pets I paint and hear their stories. Getting a glimpse inside the life of an animal helps me to capture their spirit and essence in art form, since most times, I will never see the animal face-to-face.

On one occasion, I was commissioned to paint a series of four Bernese Mountain dogs for South Burl ington couple, Kyle and Starr Albee. In addition to the Albee’s reference photos of their dogs, I was fortunate to visit their home and take a series of my own photos and meet a few of their dogs in person. I was imme diately struck by how very large and fluffy they were! They were outgoing and friendly and enjoyed attention. Their large, expressive eyes made them seem like old

Beautifully Detailed Pastel Paintings From

Pet's Photos

souls, full of wisdom and understand ing. I was smitten!

Kyle, Starr, and I took time to discuss which photos would make the best por traits. In the portrait line-up was the Albee’s sweet girl, Cassie, who sadly, had passed away. The Albee’s were Cassie’s third home and they adopted her at 18 months of age, and she lived another elev en or more years with them. Because she was so people-oriented, they felt she would make a great therapy dog. She was trained by volunteers at the Ther apy Dogs of Vermont Association who trained and guided her to work in settings such as hospitals, schools, and nurs ing homes. Cassie often visited people at The Converse Home, a private, nonprofit senior community in Burlington’s South end. “She was very gentle with everyone and was an expert at working the room, “Kyle explained. “As soon as one person stopped for a moment pet ting her, she would gently nudge them. If she was not immediately pet again, she would simply move on to the next. Whether visiting patients or seniors, or reading to school children, that’s where Cassie was most at home.”

Cassie brought a shining light to many as a therapy dog. She brought smiles to the staff members, and they would often have treats waiting for her at their desks.

A Portrait of Cassie by Kim Provost

Kimberly Provost - S. Burlington, VT

Kyle explained, “Cassie was the sweet est girl. She was always joyful and ready to share her love. One could sit on the floor, and she would come right over and plop down with you. She was insatia ble for attention and was very intuitive as to who was ready to give it to her, or who needed attention.” According to Kyle, his mother who is now 96 years of age, still speaks of Cassie. “Cassie had the gift to engage those with memory issues, especially, folks that would not communicate much with others. They looked forward to her bi-weekly visits,” Kyle said. “We found that if you are a dog person at three, you’re still a dog person at ninety-three!”

I often paint pet portraits for people to give as wedding, anniversary, birth day, and Christmas gifts, however, I also paint memorial portraits of pets so own ers can keep their family member close to them always. Being able to look on the wall or mantle at your pet, daily, helps keep their memory alive. It’s nice to feel that they are still with you, in a sense, watching over and sharing your daily life. I asked the Albee’s why they decided to have Cassie’s portrait paint ed and they answered: “Cassie exuded an effervescent joy to all. We wanted to capture that for all time, wearing her official Therapy Dogs of Vermont bib.”

A special girl like Cassie certainly

must be watching over the Albee’s. Kyle explains that

Cassie literally changed our lives. The circle of friends we have today are the result of lifelong friendships made through Therapy Dogs of Vermont. The expe riences we shared with Cassie, providing pet therapy to those in hospitals and nurs ing homes, were some of the greatest bless ings of our lives. Kim completely captured the essence of her per sonality, in her portrait. The sheer love that was in Cassie’s heart, right down to the twinkle in her eyes.

Out of their experiences with Cassie, and her big heart, the Albee’s founded PAWSVT.org to help shelter animals live better lives until they find their forever home. Their annual Claus for Paws fun draiser begins each year, the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas. Collec tion crates are placed in businesses and retail stores across Chittenden Coun ty and items such as cleaning supplies, toys, treats, and food may be donated.

They also collect monetary donations throughout the year to continue their mission to help provide essential items to shelter and rescue animals.

As you can see, being a pet portrait artist is so much more than one might think. Sketching and painting is just a small part of what happens when I begin a portrait for a client. The experienc es and opportunities to meet amazing people and their special pets is far more enriching than I had ever imagined it would be. I know it is the best part of what I do.

Cassie In Snow

Dee Michaels

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

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!

1. What is the most popular pedigreed cat breed? Persian Russian blue Siamese Maine coon 2. Which of these pets communicate by chirping? Hermit crab Corn snake Goldfish Rabbit 3. If an animal’s coat is “Piebald” or “Pied” what does that mean? Spotted Tabby All white Solid color

4.

5.

16%

62%

6.

7.

8.

9. Where do golden hamsters live in the wild? Central America Wilder, VT African savanna Middle East 10. What is another name for a Siamese fighting fish? Goldfish Tetra Betta Molly 11. Which of these senses is the most acute for a dog? Sight Hearing Smell Taste 12. What historical figure was the first to introduce Japanese Akitas to the U.S.? Ben Franklin Marilyn Monroe Helen Keller Bernie Sanders 13. When does a cat purr? When it’s scared When it’s content When it’s in pain All of the above 14. What is unique about the many cats that live at writer Ernest Hemingway’s Key West home? They are deaf They have no tail They go swimming They have extra toes 15. Calico cats are almost always __________. Male Female 16. It’s okay to give your pet acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol)? True False

ANSWERS ON PAGE 28

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!”

ASHLEIGH 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.”

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.”

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS IS ESPECIALLY STRONG

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.”

AMANDA 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.”

Buttercup and Addy

Beth Fish's Dad's Dog Echo

Matt, Rocky and Clark

Tyson

Boone with Caringi Family

Pit Bull Saves Woman and Has a New Best Friend

his 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 apart ment from a walk when the pup suddenly started barking 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 talk ing 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 Sim ba’s story will help other people to reconsider their views on pit bulls as well.

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 fam ily. 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 hat ed whenever he had to go sleep in his own bed.

She was frantic because Raven was missing, so she looked in all his favorite 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 devel op his own nap rules from now on! He informed us that he would not be sleep ing until he was snuggled up and tucked in with his sister. Addison, 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.

Simple Tips forWinterSuccessful Bird Feeding

• Put out feeders with good size capacity: And/or use multiple feeders to provide ample food especially during snow and ice storms.

• Provide nutritious winter seed foods: For most birds theses often include seed mixes of: black oil sunflower seed, hulled peanuts, niger seed and white millet seed.

• Offer fatty food too: Birds need to burn more calories in the winter just to stay warm. Suet is considered a high energy food because it consists of fat that has 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates or protein. Peanut Butter is also popular with our flying friends but is more expensive than suet. Suet feeders are a favorite of woodpeckers and other insect-eating birds

• Keep your feeders full: Winter birds need to stock up on calories especially for those long, cold winter nights.

• Be consistent and keep feeding through the winter: Birds grow accustomed to your feeders especially in severe weather when the snacks you offer may mean their very survival. If you leave home for an extended period, try to have a neighbor or friend keep the feeders going.

• Remember water: Birds can become dehydrated in winter even if surrounded by ice and snow. Putting out a pan of water near the feeder on warmer days is a terrific idea.

• Stamp down the snow below: Ground-feeding birds such as dark-eyed juncos, doves and many sparrows will be able to gather up the seed that drop from the feeders if they don’t have deep snow to try to manage.

• Hang feeders in cat-safe locations: Place bird feeders in locations that do not also offer hiding places for sneak-attacks by cats and other predators. Think of placing the feeders ten to twelve feet from shrubs or brush piles. This gives the birds some time to react.

• Remember feeder cleanliness: Your feeders can get a little grimy. Because natural food sources are scarcer in the winter, more birds may be attracted to backyard feeders and those feeders will need to be cleaned with some hot water and dried a few times during the season.

Animals Need You

Pat Jauch - Caledonia Animal Rescue, Inc.

H ow 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 frost bite and freezing. Southern climates cause dehydration, heatstroke, burns and blistering. Tsunamis, forest fires, earthquakes and similar catastroph ic events destroy habitat for man and beast alike. Have you seen those pho tos of dogs and cats in need of a home? They are right here in your communi ty 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, ignor ing the problems in hopes that others will solve them. Yet, if every individual volunteered to do something – any thing – much of the suffering could be reduced or even eliminated. Fund ing your favorite charity can certainly help. Working with legislators 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.

Help Save a Life.

Supplements & Functional Foods Replace Functional Treating

Peter Kenseth - Manchester, NH

SuperZoo 2022 saw one the industry’s largest tradeshows return to pre-pandem ic attendance levels at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nearly 10,000 pet food buyers congre gated to view 1,000+ exhibitors from August 23rd-25th.

tions. Rather, they are more likely to represent a new marketing strategy that caters to pet parents’ desire to ensure optimum health for their dogs. It also allows manufacturers to educate con sumers about the functional benefits of specific ingredients. Some manu facturers are even going so far as to add sections on their websites where consumers can look up the function al benefits of every ingredient in their dog’s formula. For example, Canadian manufacturer FirstMate explains that blueberries are “antioxidant rich,” and “provide fiber, promote eyesight and memory, and may help prevent uri nary tract infections as they contain substances that discourage bacteria from attaching to the lining of the uri nary tract.”

manufacturers appear to be focused on five core indications: calming, skin & coat, mobility/joint, digestion, and immune. However, similar to functional diets, there are an increasing number of “all-in-one” supplements offering multifunction support.

The growth in supplements is driv en in a decline in functional treating, which had been an area of growth for manufacturers in previous years. How ever, it appears that manufacturers are adjusting to pet parents’ desire to be able to administer supplements in a precise, quantifiable amount, rather than through administration of ran dom amounts in treating.

One of the most prominent trends of the show was a continued focus on func tional diets for dogs. First noticed as a prevailing trend at Global Pet 2021, in 2022, functional claims have become a table stakes requirement for most dry dog foods, as well as wet cat foods. Man ufacturers are promoting “all-in-one” claims that are based on a naturopathic approach that links known function al benefits of ingredients to overall functional claims. For example, a man ufacturer might market their product as supporting a “healthy skin and coat” because of the Omega-3 levels in the diet. “Digestive support” claims are generally tied to the inclusion of probi otics. Formulas with glucosamine and chondroitin are often promoted as sup porting joint health.

Another common claim is around “immunity” or “immune support,” which is a more general claim that can be tied to a number of ingredients. Some manufacturers make their immuni ty or immune support claims because of the levels of antioxidants in their formulas, while others are moving to include postbiotics, or simply basing their claims of immune support on the ability of the overall formula to keep pets healthy. Frequently, manufactur ers combine several of these claims on their packaging.

While these functional claims are new, they don’t necessarily represent drastic changes in product formula

Complementing the trend of function al claims becoming increasingly more common in dog diets, the growth in pet supplements was also prominent at Super Zoo. Many pet food manufacturers are expanding into the supplements space, alongside supplement-focused manufac turers. Across the supplements space,

As we have noted in previous articles that discuss functional diets, these OTC products are not intended to replace pre scription diets deemed necessary by your veterinarian. Rather, these functional claims are intended to highlight the holistic ben efits that these ingredients can provide to your dog. However, it’s always best to check with your veterinarian before mak ing dietary changes, or starting your dog on a new supplement.

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.

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 cyanobacteria has bloomed in Lake Champlain. In recent years, cyanobacteria or blue-green algae blooms have increased in the lake we hold so dearly. When these organisms bloom, they release natural toxins or poisons that can hurt us or our pets. Blue-green algae can be beneficial for the lake environment, but human actions have allowed this bacte ria to grow in alarming 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 abundant organisms on the planet. They are micro scopic organisms capable of photosynthesis. 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 environ ments, increased warm temperatures and nutrients can lead to large blooms of cya nobacteria. The bacteria 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. Exposure can cause diarrhea, nausea, skin or throat irritation, and allergic reactions. The blooms could impact our recreational 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 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 cyano

bacteria. Large blooms of blue-green algae look like green-colored patches of cloudy water. More images can be found on the Ver mont Department of Health website. Next, we can report a bloom to the Department of Health by filling out a form or email ing BloomAlert@vermont.gov. Reporting these blooms helps us monitor them and protect people and pets from the harm they can cause. Also, you can volunteer for the Lake Champlain Committee to monitor and test water conditions. It is a perfect oppor tunity to get some volunteer hours in, and it helps the whole community. Lastly, the best thing we can do is watch our environ mental footprint. Be aware of the products you are using. This can be regular grocer ies, fertilizers, or other cleaning products. Everything we do can impact the environ ment 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 harm ful 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=d5027ec671864780991f 18be3e 71d893

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

RESOURCES:

• www.healthvermont.gov/health-environment/recreational-water/lakeconditions#:~:text=Cyanobacteria%2C%20also%20known%20as%20 blue,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-Cyanobacteria-TheirDiversity-in-Time-and-Space.pdf

• Silva, Talita FG, et al. "Impact of urban stormwater runoff on cyanobacte ria dynamics in a tropical urban lake." Water 11.5 (2019): 946.

• link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-4080-6_13

Juliet Hoven

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 show ing improvement, maintain that dose for as long as you see results. You’ll usually find that lower doses will work well for stressful situa tions 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

oth 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

Spiked at the End Curved Downward Closer Together

Relaxed, spread out and loosely curved

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

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.